May Your Heart Be Your Guiding Key Side Story: Sunset of a New Universe

A lone bright sparkle could be seen high in the bright blue sky as Master Sunset shot out of a distant portal on her keyblade glider. She looked around and dispelled her armor helmet as she looked down to see a familiar island covered in structures built from scavenged drift and various other items.

Sunset smiled softly as she pulled back on the handles of her glider, causing it to come to a hover in mid-air.

Sunest's glider

Susnet's armor

“It's exactly the same…” She sighed contently. “I hope they're here…”

Her helmet reformed around her head and she took the controls and headed to the beach.

She jumped off her glider, recalling it and her armor before slowly walking around.

The wind blew and she could smell the salt from the ocean causing her to remember Kair, Sora, and Riku from her universe. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she reach up and took a firm hold of the crystal pendant around her neck.

Sunset took in a deep breath and steeled her resolve, “No time for tears right now,” She looked around with clear signs that no one had been her for a while at least, “Can’t be helped with kids getting older and stuff… It’s always hard to tell when school is in session in this world too. Tropics…” she groaned as she walked on.

“First I need to search for any trace of Master Xerra,” She said as she pulled up her left arm, and the nanomachines reformed into a glass eye. “I think some drones would be useful here,” she said as spotted a piece of driftwood. “Lunchtime boys!” she smiled as the machine peeled off her limbs into a shimming mist.

The cloud swiftly flew over to the wood and engulfed it before nearly tripling in size and forming into various small robots.

“Pops sure has some nifty toys,” Sunset said as he held up her prosthetic arm and allowed a little bit of darkness to flow through it, “Look for any traces of darkness that were here in the last few months to a year ago,” she ordered the drone and the all scanned her power the darted off in varying directions, some bumped into each and bigging smacked by the bumpee.

“I’m goin to go check out the door,” Sunset shook her head and went into the hidden area by the waterfall where the kids would draw on the walls.

Walking in the area Sunset looked around as she neared the door. She eyed the door and walked over and placed a hand on the main entrance of this world and immediately felt out with her senses.

“Yep, still locked up tighter than Celestia's cookie stash,” Sunset smirked as she pulled her hand back and turned to the right, and looked down. “That’s definitely a sign for concern…” she said as she noticed a very important lack of two drawings of a boy and girl each feeding the other a star.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised with the Kairi of this universe having never actually grown up on the islands,” Sunset said. “Something doesn't feel right here but not even the heartless are active here right now..”

She checked the status of the scan bots on her arm but they hadn’t found anything as of yet either. She sighed and left the room and headed for a very specific spot as the sun had started to set.

Sunset slowly walked across the bridge that led to hte small island with a few trees on it not far from the main island. She walked over to the specific tree she wanted, the Paupu tree.

She placed her left hand on the and with little effort she hefted herself up onto the trunk of the tree and stared off into the distance. The sun now setting and turning the ocean just as red as the sun itself, looking as if the ball of fire were merging with the body of water.

Sunset took in a deep breath and reached up to the Stopaga pendant around her neck with her right hand. Squeezing the piece of jewelry around she chooses to open her hand and let the light shine through the crystal. With the light now shining through the crystal the technology and magic her adoptive father used on the pendant activated and a projection of everyone Sunset loved and who did all they could to save her could be seen all standing behind the young keyblade master.

Sunset then started to sing.

“You know, it's rude to listen to someone else’s woe without permission,” She called out to the two who’d shown up while she sang.

Sunset looked over her shoulder and saw one of the people she came to find and another she’d never seen before.

“You must be the Sora of this universe but I don’t recognize the other one…” she remarked as she spun on her butt to face the kids with a tilt over her head.

“Other one? What am I, chopped liver?” A rather annoyed female voice snarked out. Sunset found standing next to Sora an almost identical figure, with the clear difference being that she was, well, a girl. She was even dressed identically, with the main difference being her top was more of a crop top that was predominantly red. “The name’s Saiya, and I’m Sora’s twin sister!”

“Well… that’s very unexpected…” Sunset said with shock as she blinked a couple of times. “I must say you do look a lot like him but you,” She turned to Sora now, “Are nearly identical but with some odd changes here and there…”

“What?” Sora raised an eyebrow. “How can I look a lot like me but have changes here and there!?!” He threw up his hands. “Craze ladies make no sense at all!”

“Your outfit is different first off, The Sora I knew wore something a lot more like your sister there did at one point,” Sunset listed on her fingers. “Your hair is a lot less spikey and a little lighter with the small patch of dirty blonde being the dead ringer. You look a lot more modern than the last guy I knew.”

“What the hell?! I’ve never crossed paths with you before!” Sora stared. “Lady… I’ve met a lot of people when we-” he started to say but was elbowed in his gut by Saiya before he could say anymore.

“Don’t get him started,” Saiya sighed with a roll of her eyes. “He’ll go on for hours otherwise.”

“That’s what makes him cute in an odd sort of way,” Sunset giggled as she jumped down from her perch. “You didn’t need to shut him up about otherworlds so harshly though,” she said with a smirk, causing the twins to flinch slightly.

“Sis, I don’t like this…” Sora said as he took a ready stance. “We’ve never met before yet you say you know me and then you say something about other worlds. It means you’re not from here!”

That’s when his sister slapped her face.

“10 points to the genius,” Sunset twirled her finger in the air as she rolled her eyes. “You two are clearly keyblade wielders,” she said, and the twins called forth their weapons upon the mention of them. “What are your thoughts Saiya? Going to let your big brother do all the talking?”

(Saiya's keyblade)

(Sora's Keyblade)

Saiya grits her teeth, eye twitching. “First of all, this idiot DOES NOT speak for me. Second, he is my YOUNGER brother. Mention my height, and I WILL maim you!”

“AHAHAHAHA!” Sunset belted as she fell on her back and grabbed her sides for a good five minutes, “Oh… oh now that was funny!” She sat up and crossed her legs with her right hand now resting under her chin. “Your very cute by the way, are you seeing anybody?”

Saiya violently recoils, face going green. “Um, well, uh, I’m flattered, but I REALLY don’t swing that way.”

“Too bad,” Sunset shrugged and then blurred away from sight, leaving the twin to start looking around.

“This lady is clearly strong,” Sora remained focused as he kept his wits about him. “Can you sense where she went?”

The brunette frowned, eyes closing. She whirled, placing the tip of her Keyblade right above where Sunset’s heart was located. “Did you really think you could sneak up on me?”

“Sweethearts,” Sunset smiled as he placed her left pointer finger on Siaya blade and pushed down, the young girl doing everything she could to try and keep it up, “If I wanted to sneak up on you two it’d be simple,” She smiled evilly as she shot behind them again.

“This is bad…” Sora said as Sunset turned and green Strand energy on the left side of her body, shocking the twins even more., “Not good, very not good!”

With a quick motion of her hand, Sunset sent out a shockwave of Strand, sending both of the twins flying onto the main beach.

The twins got to their feet spitting out the sand they nearly swallowed.

“I can’t have simpletons weighing me down, so let’s see just how strong you two really are,” Sunset smiled as she summoned her secondary keyblade.

“She’s one of us…” Sora looked on in shock.

“Sora,” his twin barked. “Shut up.” Saiya then turned back to Sunset. “I know better than most that Light can’t exist without Darkness, and that both need to be in balance. Just because she can use a form of the Darkness doesn’t mean that she’s an enemy.”

“SHE THREW US ACROSS THE BEACH!” Sora barked back, “And she is literally pointing a keyblade at us and saying come at me full speed ahead!”

“Never thought I’d see the day when Sora was the one who put two and two together so fast,” Sunset commented as she tapped her shoulder with her keyblade. “If you’re not gonna fight me cutie then I’ll just take that kiss now!” She winked at Saiya.

The brunette shuddered, before hefting her Keyblade into a ready position. “As a pirate I met once said, I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request!” She charged forward, taking a swipe at Sunset, who expertly blocked it. “That means no!”

“I never said I needed permission!” Sunset remarked with a chuckle as she sent Siaya back with a hard motion only to meet Sora at her left, having dashed in to deliver an upward slash, “Oh my,” Sunset whistled as she leaned back and avoided the blow. “Kids got some moves after all! Now I want that kiss even more!”

“Why are you talking like we’re kids? You can’t be much older than us!” Sora fumed. “Saiya, you go in for the right and I’ll hit her left then we swap with Strike Raid at the last second.”

“Right!” Saiya replied, charging in on Sunset’s right flank, a Dark Firaga ball launching itself at the Keyblade master. “Also, Sora, if she hits you particularly hard, you probably offended her with your age comment.”

“Oh I don’t mind,” Sunset said with a bit of malice, “I just turned twenty not that long ago so it's actually more of a compliment, so thanks,” Sunset placed both hands on her weapon.

“Wait that’s-” Saiya started to say as Sunset shot forward in blinding speed.

“Not this time!” The twins said in unison as they crossed their keyblade and blocked Sunset’s strike.

“You recognized the attack,” Sunset smiled. “NOT BAD FOR A COUPLE OF BRATS!” She laughed as she immediately readjust and sent them both sailing in opposite directions, “But Sonic Blade has a much better effect when angling up in close quarters.”

“I think that’s enough,” came a new voice.

“And who might you be tall dark and handsome?” Sunset turned to see the latest edition to hte party.

“Rigil!” the twins sigh with relieved excitement.

“Well…” Sunset raised an eyebrow, “I guess that answers that question…”

“Don’t you think you’ve tortured them enough Master Sunset,” Rigil said as he jumped from his spot on the walkway of the treehouse to land across from Sunset in front of the twins. “And you two should’ve taken her a lot more seriously yet you let her teasing get into your head, Saiya.”

“Wait a minute,” Sora threw up his hands, “Can we go back to the part where you said MASTER Sunset?”

Saiya rolled her eyes as she smacked Sora upside the head. “It was actually pretty obvious, considering how her skills completely outclass ours. You really need to get it through your thick skull that you need to be observant!”

“That and the fact she was just playing with you while not even using her main weapon and opting for her offhand keyblade was much more obvious,” Rigil rolled his eyes then held a suitcase up and dropped it in front of the twins. “You will be needing these. They will help protect you when you guys have to go into the realm of darkness.”

“You sure know how to spoil a girl's fun,” Sunset miffed.

“Master Xerra said you would say that,” Rigil said as he looked back at the young master.

“So the old bastard did make it to this universe,” Sunset gave a relieved smile, shocking the twins but her statement left them puzzled.

“Yes, but I believe I should take my leave now,” he said as he summoned his Dark Eater and cut a hole to hte dark realm.
“You should take the time to get to know your new apprentices,” he smirked at the twins as he left and the tear closed.

“Right,” Sunset puttered and looked to the twins. “Questions now?” She playfully smiled.

“Other than Master Xerra, why are you here?” Saiya asked with a tilt of her head.

“Okay, first things first little girl,” Sunset’s gaze narrowed on the teen causing Saiya to flinch, “Don’t question me unless you really mean it, second how do you know my master?”

“I think she’s serious about this sis,” Sora looked over, causing Saiya to glare at her twin who was more or less unphased at this point. “You’re question so you look at her and, cause even I can figure out after Rigil’s visit that she’s our new teacher.”

“Hey look he can be taught!” Sunset laughed, “But seriously, I am your new master, and you’re my students. Me and my friends need your help, more specifically me though. Now I’d like my answer today please?”

“OK then,” Saiya grumbles under her breath, before turning back to the master. “What exactly was that green, stringy, energy? I know it was a form of darkness, but I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“That would be my strand power,” Sunset held up her hand and emitted the green life strand power. “It's a recent power I gained that not even my master had when I was his apprentice. It’s not simply dark either but also light. My power is more specifically that of the titan and it's also meant to deal with paracasual abnormalities or paradoxical beings similar to my pops. It's also really fun to punch things with a really big fist. Now about my question about how you know my master.”

“Old man Xerra showed up here about 3 months ago,” Saiya explained. “He stuck around for a bit, before moving on. I’m fairly certain I heard him say something about lockpicks, or something…”

“Mmmm…” Sunset thought, “Looks like I wasn’t the only one who thought our enemies had other plans in the works,” she said as she summoned her true keyblade as neo-shadow heartless started to appear. “And it looks like they’ve also noticed me now. Make your choice now kids, join me and fight, or… stay on this island and let time pass you by!”

She changed forward and started to cut through the heartless.

The twins glance at each other, shrug, then summon their Keyblades and charge in after the Keyblade Master.