When Aqua emerged through the door she was blinded for a second but then the light cleared and she was standing at a crossroad of sorts on top of a crystalline platform, the sky completely black, leading off in four different directions.
A desert.
A grassy plain.
A lake.
And a temple atop a mountain.
Where was she supposed to find these spirits Drasil spoke of?
She noticed the path in front of her led directly to the desert and sighed, deciding she would just take the easiest route first and decide where to go from there. She began walking, coming upon the desert very quickly as if she had already been there. She looked down and saw a stony path and followed it, eventually coming upon a large cave. The tunnel was lit up glowing crystals similar to the tree she had entered and at the very end she came upon a massive space.
All around her were buildings made of translucent blue crystals covered in various runes.
"Well, what do we have here?"
Aqua looked ahead and saw a woman sitting on a throne overlooking the entire city.
At least it looked like a woman but she actually resembled Drasil.
She looked human but was larger; her skin light blue like Drasil's that was glowing and gave off smoke. She had elongated, pointed ears and even thought she was naked she appeared to lack human anatomy that would be found on a normal woman. Her eyes were dark blue in the sclera and light blue in the irises like Drasil. Trailing below her waist was a veil of whip like smoke resembling a skirt or a dress.
She wore no clothing but had on various accessories, all of which were gold, such as a chain headdress, big hooped earrings with an extra hearing in the right ear, a choker, cuffs on her wrists with chains dangling from them like broken shackles, a single bracelet on her left forearm, anklets, and a belt of chains around her waist that ended in a large ring with three prongs.
She floated off her chair and slowly flew towards Aqua who kept a wary look on her but didn't summon her Keyblade. "No need to fear me. I am Jinn, a being created by the God of Light to aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge." She gestured to the surrounding crystals, all of them showing places, people and events happening all at the same time. "Here I see all and know all…Except how you got here."
The being known as Jinn suddenly stopped with an inquisitive look on her face now. "Of course, me being summoned to aid in finding said knowledge only happens when someone summons me to the mortal realm from my lamp to ask me one of three questions. How you are here is interesting."
"I…I was told to come here by someone named Drasil. She said you could answer my questions." Aqua explained.
"Drasil…So she sent you to me." Jinn smiled as she floated around Aqua. "How rare it is for someone to appear in her realm."
"I have questions that I need answered. I need to understand why I am here." Aqua said, watching as the spirit hovered around and then stopped right in front.
"Well, I am supposed to answer only three questions every one hundred years but that only applies when mortals summon me from my lamp. But since you are here, directly in my realm I can bend those rules a bit." Jinn said, leaning forward while resting her chin on one arm and her cheek on her free hand. "So I will answer three questions you ask of me."
Aqua considered this proposal for a moment and nodded. "All right."
"Well, ask away." Jinn gestured.
"…What is this world?" Aqua asked, deciding to ask the question that was at top of her mental list.
"Well, that is a long story. It is a world that has been created and has created life." Jinn said as their surroundings began to change.
Aqua watched as everything became a deep black void before a single light appeared, forming into the very tree she had seen upon arriving.
"Long ago, there was only the Tree. And then two Brothers were born. They were highly ambitious, using destruction to cleanse the land and then creation to start anew. However the world could not handle it and thus the two Brothers were sent out into the great beyond." Jinn's voice echoed as Aqua was shown two dragons, one a long serpent dragon glowing brightly with eyes shining with a deep light and the other was a four legged dragon with wings that emitted a dark purple glow Aqua felt was deeply associated with darkness. "These new beings, the God of Light and the God of Darkness, would leave to create many new things. Thus, they chose to create a new world together."
The new dragons came together and took humanoid forms before bringing their hands together. Together a single orb of light appeared and grew, engulfing them and Aqua who covered her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she was standing on the empty plain of a newborn world. The sky was now lit up with light from stars and a sun began to rise.
"When the sun rose, the God of Light would awaken and would spend his days creating forces of life. Plants, animals, water."
A garden grew around Aqua, followed by rivers and animals that together created a landscape of such beauty that not even the greatest artist could ever hope to capture as the God of Light appeared over the water.
"When night came, the God of Light would sleep and his new brother, the God of Darkness awoke."
Aqua watched as the God of Light sank into the water and the God of Darkness appeared next.
"Disgusted, the God of Darkness brought the forces of destruction to counter his brother's creations."
The beautiful landscape was then burned away, leaving nothing but scorched ground, death and decay.
"Despite his efforts, life would always return to the world. Thus one night, the God of Darkness would create a force that would share his taste for destruction."
The God of Darkness spread his arms out and behind him, creatures made of what could only be described as darkness with eyes glowing the color of blood appeared. They reminded Aqua uncomfortably of the Unversed.
"These were made to be the ultimate harbingers of destruction that would destroy anything and everything. Finally, the God of Light decided that they should not fight anymore and make peace by creating something together. The God of Darkness agreed and together they would create a new form of life that was gifted with knowledge, self-awareness, fear and the comprehension of life and death while having free will and the power to decide what to do with that knowledge."
Before Aqua's eyes the Gods of Light and Darkness came together and formed…Humans?
"This new creation, Humanity was blessed by the Gods but they were also tested many times. The God of Darkness would test their limits and creativity by sending its children to face them. This would lead to another conflict with his brother and both reached a seeming agreement. Despite it, the God of Darkness would continue creating more of its children in many different forms while at the same type, gifting mankind with magic while the God of Light gave them a secret gift to fight against his brother's creations." Jinn then showed the very island with the massive tree where Aqua had landed. "To gift humanity with magic that could be passed down to their offspring, the Gods created a connection between world of the tree and their new world where the source would give humanity its magic by using their souls as the link: Yggdrasil."
Aqua then looked up at the tree as ethereal roots grew from it and reached out across the worlds, connecting with the people on their world while her eyes widened at the name. 'Yggdrasil…Drasil!'
"The Tree was gifted with life itself, connected with the souls of mankind and thus was embodied with the very ideals that the Gods gave their creations. Through knowledge it gained intelligence, through choice it gave self-awareness and through the ability to create and destroy it understood the nature of the power it was gifting the children of the Gods. And because of that, other forms of life would be born. Spirits, beasts and many others were born in mankind's world, the source's world and were given other worlds to exist on when some were considered dangerous to the humans." Jinn continued, now highlighting sections of the tree. "Separated but still connected. For the spirits such as me, we were given the world known to mortals as Fantasias which is where you are now."
The top of the tree was highlighted next.
"The very top of the tree leads to Aesir, the realm of the God of Light."
She then skipped the second which was Fantasias and highlighted the third section.
"The next is the mid-realm, known better now as Remnant."
"Remnant?" Aqua whispered in confusion as Jinn highlighted the fourth section.
"Next we have the realm of the beasts. Creatures that were not animals but other forms of life the gods created before they created humanity. It is also called the Demon Realm and also home to the Elemental spirits of Ice." Jinn continued and highlighted the next section. "This is land of shadow, the domain of the God of Darkness."
Aqua looked at the section of the tree that led to the realm of the God of Darkness as Jinn moved on.
"Then we have the realms of Earth and Fire, home of the elemental spirits of Earth and Fire."
Aqua wasn't sure what to make of that.
"And finally, the land of the dead." Jinn finished, surprising Aqua. "Thus the nine realms created by the gods as part of their grand experiment."
The images faded, returning back to Jinn's sanctuary as the spirit of knowledge sat back on her thrown. "There, does that answer your first question?"
Aqua took a moment to compose herself, taking a deep breath before answering. "It did."
"Good. Now you have two more questions." Jinn reminded her coyly.
Aqua closed her eyes, thinking of her next question carefully. "How did I get here?"
"Hmm…" Jinn leaned forward with a fascinating look on her face. "Well, that is a good question."
Jinn hovered forward, looking closely at Aqua who took a step back as the spirit of knowledge leaned in to take a closer look at her.
"You come from outside this world. You fell to the Ever After is connected to all the other worlds made by the gods. So you are not of the Tree or the gods' creation." Jinn stated.
"My name is Aqua. I come from…the Realm of Light." Aqua said as Jinn hovered around her. "I fell here when I fell into darkness. Does this mean this place is part of the Realm of Darkness?"
"Hmm…Close but I'm afraid the light and darkness aren't dictating control here, little one." Jinn answered. "In fact both have more or less forsaken the other realms. From what I can see, you fell between the realms of light and darkness into Drasil who exists in between these realms and yet is isolated from them. I am the Spirit of Knowledge but I can only questions pertaining to this reality, not outside it."
Aqua thought this over as best as she could. So she was in a world between the realms of light and darkness that was connected to several other worlds or they were all part of the same world created by these gods like how the Olympic Coliseum which was part of the world known as Greece was connected to Olympus, home of the gods and the Underworld, the land of the dead. Drasil was the connection to these worlds who brought her to Jinn for answers. So far she was keeping up with what she had learned but there was still one more question.
"My final question," Aqua looked up at Jinn. "How do I leave and return to my world?"
She may have her master's Keyblade but she couldn't access its glider form, if it even had one. And without a glider or her armor she was stranded.
Jinn leaned forward with an ominous smile. "…You can't."
She could see Aqua's go wide in shock, trying to process what she meant. She thought she could leave it at that but this wasn't the mortal realm where she could retreat back into her lamp. It's unlikely she would leave if her question was left with such a vague answer like that.
"I see that you are confused. While I will not answer another question I am allowed to elaborate. You are unable to leave because you do not have the power to do so. Your weapon, I know it has the power to traverse worlds or it should but the one you have does not have the power to allow you to leave." Jinn explained. "But perhaps there is someone here who can help you. A fellow spirit, who unlike me is capable of creating a way to return to your world. His name is Ambrosius, the Spirit of Creation and his realm dwells next to mine."
Chapter 3
Following Jinn's directions upon leaving her realm, Aqua walked in the direction of the grassy plains. As she walked, Aqua noticed everything beginning to change around her and the ground beneath her had vanished. Aqua panicked for a moment, thinking she was going to fall or suffocate since there was not a planet anymore but to her shock nothing happened. Instead of the blackness of space she floated in a multi-colored void.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Aqua looked up and saw a man who looked similar to Jinn and Drasil. He had the same blue skin was larger than a human with the ears and eyes. The difference was that he had short spiky blue hair in a ponytail leading down to his thighs. Like Jinn he appeared nude while missing some human anatomy(much to Aqua's relief) and wore golden accessories like Jinn: the golden earrings, a ring for his pony tail, an arm ring on his left upper arm, bracers on his wrists with chains dangling from them like broken shackles, vine like ornaments on right thigh and lower left leg and an ankle bracelet on his right n chains around his torso crossing his chest and terminating in a point.
"A Human is somehow in my realm. Now this is a rare occasion." The man leaned in with an eager grin. "And you're not an ordinary human are you? You have the scent of magic on you but different from the first batch of humanity."
"I…" Aqua looked down, seeing the void they were in. "My name is Aqua. Are you Ambrosius?"
"That I am!" The spirit known as Ambrosius happily introduced himself with a bow. "Now if you are worried about not being on solid ground, try to imagine this forest as something else. Think of a planet you have been to and project that image. Remember to consider the images, the shapes, the color, and the smells."
Aqua took a deep breath and did as she was told. She tried to imagine her home, the Land of Departure as she best as she could recall despite it falling into darkness. She remembered the clear sunny weather, the mountain, and the temple she raised born in.
Then to her surprise the void slowly morphed into an exact copy of her former home, standing before the temple
"A wonderful first try." Ambrosius praised as he enjoyed the scenery. "Such detail too. I love it when they come with a clear image in mind. The exactness, the attention to every conceivable detail. It is always so beautiful."
"This was my home." Aqua said, sadness and longing in her voice.
Ambrosius noticed the sad look on her face and sighed. "Oh boy. I am not one for emotional support and all that. I just build and create things. I am an artist, an entrepreneur, not a psychiatrist. You'd be better of seeking for that kind of help from Nimue."
Not that she would be of much help in that regard.
Aqua sighed as she faced Ambrosius. "I came for help because I am lost. Drasil sent me here so I could find answers. First she sent me to Jinn who answered my question and she sent me to find you because might be able to help."
"Oh, a chance to engage my creative wiles! All I say it better be worth it after my last project. A floating city?" Ambrosius rolled his eyes in disdain. "How pedestrian."
Aqua ignored that. "So you can help me?"
"Sure. Just as you know, I'll make what you want exactly the way you want it and I want no complaints when it doesn't turn out the way you want." Ambrosius said as if he knew exactly was going to happen.
"I need a way to return back to my world." Aqua explained. "" Can you create a door or perhaps some sort of vehicle capable of traversing worlds?"
"Sure, I can. I just need coordinates and specs for building a door through space and time and if you want to make a vehicle I need to know the shape, what powers it and what it will be made of." Ambrosius answered.
That surprised Aqua as she hadn't expected that. "…I'm sorry I think this might be harder than I thought. Can you explain how your powers work?"
"Oh sure. Well, first thing is I can't bring the dead back to life but I can make anything as long as you explain how to make it. Like any real blacksmith or artist, I will need references, blueprints, every single detail helps and I can only make one thing. Anything else I have made before will disappear." Ambrosius explained, holding a single finger up and then counted down the rules of his powers.
Aqua then remembered something else he had said. "And you made a floating city last time?"
"Well, I supplied an infinite amount of energy to lift a city up from the surface in the mortal realm." Ambrosius clarified.
"And if you make something for me right now, it will fall back to the surface?" Aqua asked, now imagining a floating city crashing down and everyone dying.
"Well, that is a good question. Now, technically I can only make one thing in the mortal realm while you are somehow in my realm. Just how did you get here again?" Ambrosius asked.
"I was sent here by Drasil. She thought you and Jinn could help." Aqua answered.
"Ah, Drasil. I had no idea she was even still active. After all these years, I figured she up and decided to quit." Ambrosius said dryly. "Anyways, in my realm I can create almost anything, any time. Allow me to demonstrate."
Ambrosius gestured for Aqua to follow which she did, following Ambrosius through sceneries which changed every few dozen meters, turning from some vast cityscape to an elaborate garden teaming with life forms she could never imagine and then to a field of elaborate ice sculptures which seemed to shift and move. "Amazing. It's like anything can exist here!"
"That is rather the point." Ambrosius chuckled softly, "There are no limits here that are imposed everywhere else. Time and space have little meaning here, save what we allow them. Now then, here I am able to create what I please. Outside however, I can only create one thing at a time and the staff that is used as my vessel channels my power to ensure whatever I create exists."
"And right now you are keeping a city afloat." Aqua reasoned as they stopped in the middle of a field. "So you can't create anything else?"
"Well that is not true. I can create what you want me to create here in my realm without sacrificing what I have made outside. However, even if I create a door to another world which I would need the coordinates to, factoring in an explanation for bending space and time to account for your travel from one side and the single point to the other." Ambrosius explained.
Aqua thought over what she had learned in her mind, trying to see if there was a way to make something that could help her. So Ambrosius needs description of what he makes and can only use his power to create one thing at a time outside of his realm along with the fact that even if he makes a doorway to exit this world he can't send her back to the Realm of Light because he doesn't know where it is.
So creating a doorway was out.
Perhaps she would just need a way to recreate her armor and a copy of her old glider so she could leave herself but that still didn't solve the problem of how Ambrosius could only create one thing at a time with his power.
His own power…
"What if you didn't use your power to create something for me?" Aqua asked suddenly.
Ambrosius raised an eyebrow. "And how would I do that?"
Aqua summoned her Keyblade, surprising Ambrosius who stared with wide eyes before leaning in with a magnifying glass.
"Fascinating…" Ambrosius whispered in slight awe. "And what is this?"
"It's called a Keyblade. It's my weapon but it's capable of many things. One of those things is being a natural conduit for magic." Aqua explained, holding it out in both hands for the spirit to see.
Ambrosius floated around Aqua, staring at the Keyblade, admiring its shape and form. "Yes, I can feel a great power in it. Unlike anything I have seen before. How did you make it?Y"
"Well, the Keyblade chooses its wielders." Aqua explained, deciding she had no choice but to explain. "It has a will of its own and it's born from the hearts of those who are worthy."
"Hearts?" Ambrosius leaned in. "I assume you are not talking about the organ that pumps blood."
"No, I mean the emotional core of a person. One of the three components that form one's being. Hearts are responsible for our emotions, have strong bonds with others and allow us to even feel the emotions of others." Aqua explained. "Those with strong hearts can wield a Keyblade."
"And you say it is a natural conduit for magic?" Ambrosius asked, looking over the Keyblade in detail.
"That's right. Even a novice with no formal training can be capable of rivaling an experienced mage. Perhaps this can be used as loophole." Aqua suggested, holding the Master Defender up to Ambrosius. "Rather than use your own power, you channel your power through the Keyblade to create something new."
"Channel my power through another source of magic? That's never been done before." Ambrosius said with an intrigued look on his face. "And its magical power is unlimited?"
"It only limited by the wielder. If one has experience and is skilled enough it might work." Aqua reasoned.
"I see where you are going with this." Ambrosius said, smiling at the possibilities. "You are connected to this Keyblade because it bonds with your heart as you say, making you a conduit for powerful energies. You could act as a vessel for my power, and I could create what you want through you and this Keyblade. Such a thing has never been done before."
He floated up and around Aqua, conjuring transparent screens that he drew on, twirling in the air to make a series of complex hand gestures, apparently doing some calculations.
"The possibility of a human being able to handle divine energy." Ambrosius muttered, drawing an outline of Aqua and then one of himself. "This is exciting and very dangerous. I don't know what the results are going to be."
"It doesn't have to be very long. Can I project what I want?" Aqua asked.
"By all means." The spirit of creation gestured.
Aqua closed her eyes and focused on creating a copy of herself in front of her. That copy raised her hand one of the armor pieces and in a flash of light she was covered head to toe in armor.
"This is Keyblade Armor. We used it to travel between worlds and it protects from darkness and even space since that's kind of what the Lanes In Between resemble." Aqua explained and then conjured an image of her glider form. "This is a Keyblade in its glider form. Mine doesn't have a glider form unfortunately. If you can't create a portal for me maybe you can recreate the tools I need to leave."
Ambrosius leaned in close, taking in the details of the armor and glider. "Well, it is possible but it would have be done at the same time so I am not creating two things at once. So you conjure the armor from one of the pauldron's but you can't change your Keyblade into one perhaps it is stored in the other paladin."
Aqua looked at the paladin on her right arm. "I suppose that will have to do."
"So we can add magical conjuring, possibly creating a pocket dimension in those spheres which can act as the reference." Ambrosius noted, adding some more details to his calculations. "And what is the power source?"
"My Keyblade." Aqua answered. "It would be the same with my old armor and original Keyblade. All of it is tied to Keyblade which is tied to my Heart."
"Hmm…" Ambrosius brought a hand to his chin before snapping his fingers and smiled. "I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it! Let's do it!"
Ambrosius stepped forward and raised his hands as the atmosphere turned dark, making it appear as if it was nighttime and the area around them slowly morphed into what appeared to be a shrine with pillars and statues of alien looking deities lining the walls, its style seemingly gothic with its mix of black and dark blue coloring lining the walls and floor while a glass window shined a pale light on Aqua and a mirror with a watery surface showing the armor and glider she wanted to make.
"Just a reminder, if you die I am forbidden to resurrect the dead." Ambrosius lightly said, floating around her.
Aqua watched as Ambrosius appeared before her, taking a deep breath before he changed into a blue mist and that shot towards her, engulfing her in a bright blue misty light as the impact of the misty formed Ambrosius entering her body through her chest so quickly launched her off the ground and into the air for a moment before she slowly levitated softly back onto the ground and opened her eyes, revealing them to be match for Ambrosius, Drasil and Jinn.
"By…By the worlds." Aqua whispered, looking down at herself.
"As the Spirit of Creation, I was made to guide mankind, creating whatever they deem fit." Ambrosius whispered in Aqua's mind. "You are not from this world and yet you have the same drive and determination that fascinated my creators. Now let us see if you can exceed my expectations."
Aqua clapped her hands to her head as pain began to build within her skull, but over the following moments Ambrosius' voice s began to speak harmoniously, forming a melody as the essence of the Spirit of Creation poured himself through the conduit that was her body and soul, tapping into the flow of her bond with the Keyblade and reaching beyond the boundaries of the rules dictating his existence. She witnessed countless forms, blue prints and ideas that were what Ambrosius created and the knowledge of every creation past and present, made him, humanity and even the gods.
She could see it all.
Every invention.
Every ingredient used to make whatever was the result.
Every living form made by the gods.
For a mere second she saw it all.
"You are viewing the infinite forms of what has been created, Aqua. Block them out, deafen yourself to what could be and focus your vision on what is now."
Aqua did her best to comply, pushing the visions away. She brought her Keyblade up and Ambrosius poured his power through it, harnessing its nature as a natural conduit of magic combined with Aqua's own skills and ideas.
There was a flash of light and she blacked out.
Chapter 4
She groaned a bit as she finally began returning to the world of consciousness.
"Aqua…"
Aqua opened her eyes and noticed that she was sleeping on something that was very comfortable. She sat up and looked around, finding herself in her room, back in the Lan of Departure. Grunting slightly from a pounding headache Aqua brought a hand to her head as she tried to remember what happened.
And she did.
Falling into the Realm of Darkness to save Terra…
Waking up in a strange world with a giant tree…
Meeting Drasil who sent her to a land called Fantasias…
Meeting Jinn who supplied her with the knowledge of the strange world she found herself, a world cut off from the Realms of Light and Darkness.
Meeting Ambrosius who offered a way to help her return to the Realm of Light.
Merging with Ambrosius to help her create what she wanted.
She hadn't anticipated the headache it would bring but it was worth it if she could get back to Ven and Terra. She had literally turned herself into a vessel for a literal Spirit who became a being of pure energy who fused with her and she could barely remember it all.
Only that she felt like she could have done anything and everything at once.
"Feeling well rested?"
Aqua looked at the door and saw Ambrosius floating at the door. "I feel better…Could do without the headache."
"Can't be helped. You did something only a handful of beings have ever done." Ambrosius said as he floated up to Aqua's bed.
"Did it work?" Aqua asked.
Ambrosius grinned as he summoned a mirror. "See for yourself."
Aqua looked at the mirror and saw herself looking normal. She looked at Ambrosius who made a gesture to her pauldrons and she placed a hand on her usual one and in a flash of light Aqua was clad in her Keyblade Armor.
Or rather a copy of it.
"It worked…" She marveled at her appearance, seeing the armor resemble her old in every exact detail.
"Yes, I am a miracle worker." Ambrosius said with a pleased smile.
Aqua dispelled the armor when she saw she couldn't touch her other pauldrons in armor form and touched it, summoning a complete copy of her former Glider. She stepped on it and looked at Ambrosius who changed the setting back to outside the temple. Now that they were outdoors Aqua took off, letting out a shout of jubilation as she flew around the temple, almost feeling like she was back at home.
But she knew she wasn't and getting back there was why she went through the trouble of remaking her armor and glider.
She chose to take a chance by pointing her Keyblade and from the tip came a beam of light that should open a pathway to the Lanes Between.
Only when it tried, the portal appeared unstable and a second later it collapsed.
"Oh…" Ambrosius muttered as Aqua flew back down. "I guess that wasn't supposed to happen."
"It's never done that before. It looked unstable…like it couldn't open up to the Lanes." Aqua muttered, frowning as she dispelled her Glider.
"Well don't look at me, I did what you asked." Ambrosius shrugged. "I told you not to complain when it wouldn't work."
Aqua sighed. "Perhaps because of where this world is I can't just leave…Or rather what the nature of this world is."
So far, she could see that this world was made up of nine different worlds, all somehow connected and all-What was it that Jinn said?-existed in a world between realms and yet isolated somehow.
"Isolated…" Aqua brought a hand to her chin. "We're isolated from the other worlds."
"Say what?" Ambrosius asked.
"When I spoke with Jinn, she said this world exists outside the Realms of Light and Darkness so the conventional rules for travel between worlds do not exist here." Aqua explained, looking up at the Spirit of Creation. "But still, if I fell here that means there is a way in…"
"And logically there must be a way out." Ambrosius said, seeing the logic in Aqua's statement. "Will if there is, I am sorry I cannot create one, at least not without taking some considerate risk. Like I said, I need coordinates, details, perhaps some knowledge on what lies outside this world."
"And Jinn said she would only answer three questions I had." Aqua sighed. "So she's out. That leaves the other two I believe from what Drasil told me. Destruction and Choice."
"I am not sure what you could expect from going to Nimue but maybe she can offer an idea." Ambrosius said, pointing to great lake in the distance. "She is the Spirit of Destruction and lives in that lake."
Aqua followed Ambrosius' finger, looking at the lake and then at the spirit. "What would the Spirit of Destruction have to help me find a way out?"
"As the Spirit of Destruction, Nimue can destroy anything, matter and even non-corporeal entities given the right price." Ambrosius explained. "That includes being able to break through whatever barriers block this world from the rest. She could at least force open a way for you to use."
Aqua considered it for a moment. Truthfully she doubted that was a good idea but she was still open to considering all ideas at this point. "All right. I'll see her next but if that doesn't go well can you tell me what to expect from the last one?"
"Ah, Choice. That would be Janus." Ambrosius recalled. "Their powers allow them to show anyone who wears the Relic they are bound to a vision of a choice they will make."
"A vision?" Aqua raised an eyebrow.
"Of a choice they will make along with the possible consequences of that choice. Of course these visions are completely random and there's no way to know if they will be remotely connected to your current dilemma." Ambrosius clarified. "And of course this can only be used once in a person's life time. Much like how Jinn can only answer three questions per one hundred years, I can only create one thing at a time and how Nimue can only destroy anyone or anything for the right price except for Gods and immortal beings. The vision shown by Janus shows up to the point where one is to make a choice and nothing after that as it only can be used once."
"Only once?" Aqua asked slightly confused.
"I see you're confused. Basically it shows a choice and the ramifications of that choice. It could be good or it could be bad but the point only you can see the future of what that choice will make right from the beginning to the very end." Ambrosius said seriously.
"Right to the end…As in-"
"Right up to your death!" The Spirit of Creation said cheerfully. "However long or short that is."
Now Aqua was surprised by that. A vision of a future made by a certain choice that would lead up to a likely death?
"And these visions…?" Aqua took a deep breath. "Are they absolute?"
"Depends on the choice. It will usually be a serious one, one that you cannot back out of. If one choice leads to a quick death you can try and avoid it by making the opposite but then you could just hasten your end if you're note fully careful of whatever backlash that comes." Ambrosius shrugged.
Aqua sighed at that but if she were to have a vision of herself being able to return home maybe it would be worth it. She was considering visiting this Janus first but decided to visit the Spirit of Destruction and see if she could offer any help to finding a way out.
"I guess I have no choice but to try." She looked up at the Spirit of Creation. "Thank you for your help. It may not be what I wanted but I am glad to have at least tried."
Ambrosius raised an eyebrow before smiling. "You are interesting, Master Aqua. Perhaps the most interesting human since the old man."
Just as Aqua was about to leave, something stopped her.
GROWL!
This was not a monster growling.
It was her stomach and Aqua blushed while Ambrosius just chuckled. "…I don't suppose I could trouble as you for some food around here."
"Well, you conjured the temple here. I am sure the kitchen is exactly the same." Ambrosius chuckled.
After a long earned breakfast and washing her teeth, Aqua summoned her Glider and boarded it, nodding at Ambrosius before taking off in the direction of the lake.
"Hmm…I wonder how Nimue will handle her, given what I felt from that Keyblade weapon of hers." Ambrosius commented with a smile.
It would certainly be interesting.
Aqua landed just about a yard or two from the lake where the Spirit of Destruction was said to live. She wasn't sure what to expect but decided to give this Nimue plenty of warning time so she could be ready for company. The lake was surrounded by a forest and with a blue mist surrounding it while the same black sky that seemed to permeate this realm was present. She could see a path of small rocks leading out to a single small island and on the center was a stone slab.
Seeing she could do nothing else Aqua slowly walked along the stone path towards the island and stepped onto it. So far she couldn't see anyone but from what she saw of Jinn and Ambrosius, spirits lived differently than people. She walked up to the stone slab, seeing a hole in the center that didn't appear naturally formed.
It was more like something had been inserted into it.
"Who dares?!"
A blue mist shot out from the slab, knocking Aqua back. She jumped up and stepped back as the mist took form, solidifying into a shape similar to that of Jinn but that was where the similarities ended. A blue transparent body appeared encased golden armor around the chest, arms and legs with chains falling from the wrists and ankles like Ambrosius along with a golden cape. She wore a golden helmet over her head, covering the upper part of her face with the same blue eyes as the others glaring at Aqua and her lips set in a scowl.
A sword like pin rested in the center of her chest armor as a symbol.
"You dare disturb my slumber?! I, the Great Nimue?!" She glared down at the young Master. "A mortal dares set foot in my realm?! I answer only to those who holds my sword! Speaking off…"
In her hand, a golden ornamental sword appeared.
(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Extreme Encounters Starts)
"In my realm, my powers are not limited by the rules of the God of Light. So I can dispose of you how I see fit." The woman named Nimue pointed her sword at Aqua with an orb of purple energy appearing at the top of the blade. "Disintegrate!"
The orb exploded into a shockwave that shot towards Aqua who summoned and raised her Keyblade. "Defend!"
A spherical transparent barrier formed from blue light, made of hexagonal panels appeared around her and blocked the shockwave as she was sent flying back to the shore.
"Hm?" Nimue raised an eyebrow. "You survived?"
That was impossible.
She was the Spirit of Destruction, representing one of four gifts to mankind.
She was made to destroy anyone and anything except for beings more powerful than her.
And yet this human survived a blast from her made of pure destruction.
Aqua landed perfectly on the ground in front of the lake, settling into a ready stance as she stared Nimue down. 'So much for things being easy. I might just have a few words with Ambrosius if I get out of this.'
"Impressive." Nimue said she floated towards the Keyblade Master. "I see you hold an object of great power. Powerful enough to survive a direct hit from me, Nimue. The Spirit of Destruction."
"I am not here to fight." Aqua said, trying to avoid a fight.
"Well, unfortunately for you I cannot allow an intruder to trespass in my domain unchallenged. Especially one who can wield a power that rivals me." Nimue pointed her sword at Aqua. "With Creation, comes Destruction!"
Nimue launched herself at Aqua, slashing down at her but Aqua cartwheeled out of the way as the sword hit the ground and left a rather large crater.
Aqua landed on her feet and pointed her Keyblade at Nimue. "Fire!"
A triple Firaga spell shot out, creating three fire balls as they flew right at Nimue who scoffed and slashed through them, extinguishing them instantly.
"Fire? Please." Nimue rolled her eyes. "What part of Spirit of Destruction do you not understand?"
She flew at Aqua with incredible speed, bringing her sword down again but Aqua raised her Keyblade, reinforcing it with a barrier that managed to block and deflect Nimue's sword. She let go of her Keyblade with one hand and pointed it at Nimue.
"Freeze!"
Nimue was stunned to feel herself being frozen which Aqua took advantage of as she jumped up and delivered a few slashes before Nimue broke free and swatted her away in anger. She went on the attack, swinging her sword wildly and anything it touched disintegrated into dust. Luckily, despite her power it was evident Nimue was not a skilled warrior while Aqua had been trained since she was little to be a Keyblade Master. She fell back, dodging as best as she could and conjuring a barrier to block any hits she couldn't dodge in time.
Just as Nimue swung her sword again Aqua vanished, blurring from sight and reappearing behind the spirit who looked confused.
"Ragnarok!"
From the tip of Aqua's Keyblade came a cluster of energy shots that hit Nimue in the back, stunning her and making her scream. She spun around, letting out an angered scream as she swung her sword down into the ground. As soon as the sword made contact with the ground, a blast of magical energy traveled through the ground towards Aqua who quickly preformed a Double Jump, jumping over the attack that surely would have vaporized her. She fell back down and swung her Keyblade down on Nimue who quickly blocked with her sword.
"How is this possible?!" Nimue grunted, seeing her opponent's weapon would not disintegrate. "Why doesn't the power of destruction destroy your sword?"
"If you stop attacking me, I'll tell you." Aqua grunted as she landed before the spirit.
"A mortal who intrudes in my realm does not dictate terms to me!" Nimue growled, holding up her hand.
Aqua watched as another orb of purple energy appeared before Nimue launched it at her. "Reflega!"
A barrier appeared in front of her but instead of simply blocking the blast, it actually deflected it and sent it right back at its owner! Nimue's eyes went wide and she hastily batted it back with her sword. Aqua used Reflega again, sending the orb back at Nimue who then batted back again. The fight quickly devolved into a round of tennis with both opponents sending the orb of destruction back and forth and it was moving a little fast with each hit. Aqua realized that and saw that it was unlikely Nimue would tire out before she could and came up with a quick-if not insanely desperate-idea at the last second as she deflected the orb of destruction again and then teleported behind Nimue.
"Thunder!"
The Spirit of Destruction was caught off guard by the lightning attack that came down from above, disorientating her enough for the orb of destruction to hit her. At the instant she was hit, Nimue let out a howl of pain and anguish through the realm.
Jinn opened one eye, sporting an amused smile from the sound of Nimue's scream and seeing the fight projected by one of her crystals.
Ambrosius snickered a bit, guessing that Nimue had bit off a bit more than she could chew.
(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Extreme Encounters Ends)
Aqua watched as Nimue fell to the ground, looking completely stunned and was frozen. She pointed her Keyblade at the Spirit of Destruction, waiting for her to make her next move.
Nimue slowly looked over her shoulder, Nimue just stared in disbelief. "Who…are you?"
"My name is Aqua and I did not come here to disturb you. I came here seeking help." Aqua answered, keeping her Keyblade trained at the spirit. "I was sent by someone named Drasil because I am lost and in need of answers of how to get back. I have already visited Jinn, the Spirit of Knowledge and Ambrosius, the Spirit of Creation who then sent me to you."
"Ambrosius…That sneaking…" Nimue growled. "He told you to find me?"
"He thought you could help me after he tried but I think this was a little more of a joke to him." Aqua said, lowering her Keyblade slightly. "I only seek to return to my world."
Nimue grunted as she slowly got up, clutching her chest. "You are human…But you do not seem to be like the humans I and the others were made to guide. I thought humanity lost the ability to use magic."
"In your world, maybe. But not in mine. I don't come from this world. I fell here and I met Drasil who told me I could find help here." Aqua explained.
"Drasil…She's of no use as long the four relics remain separate and the Gods do not return to render their judgement." Nimue grunted. "Why would she send you to me?"
"She didn't. I went to Jinn first and then Ambrosius, like I said before." Aqua sighed, lowering her Keyblade. "He recommended I visit you, thinking it was possible you could help me."
"Hmm…No doubt, wondering how I'd react to someone like you." Nimue grunted, making a note to get back at Ambrosius for that. "I am the Spirit of Destruction. How would he expect me to help you leave this world?"
Aqua pointed Keyblade away and emitted a beam of light that created a portal for a few seconds before it collapsed. "Ambrosius thought you could help force open a path through whatever is blocking me from leaving."
"Hmm…" Nimue had seemingly recovered and stood up straight, staring at the portal. "To actually use my power to destroy a dimensional barrier…I don't know whether to be thankful to Ambrosius or strangle him for playing his little joke. Still, I haven't used my power since the old man needed me and Janus to end his silly little war for him."
"So, you think you can help?" Aqua asked.
Nimue shrugged but grinned. "Let's give it a try."
Aqua conjured another portal, trying to open a way to the Lanes Between again and Nimue plunged her sword into the portal, attempting to force it to stay open through her power of destruction. The portal fizzled and seemed to want to collapse but Nimue continued struggling to keep it open. As the Spirit of Destruction tried to force the portal to stay open, Aqua tried to peek in and see what lied beyond the portal.
All she could see was…Darkness!
"Nimue, wait! Stop!" Aqua called off. "You're letting in Darkness!"
"Well, duh! It's dark out there!" Nimue barked back.
"No, the power of Darkness! It's going to spread!" Aqua shouted.
Nimue grunted as she pulled her sword back, stepping back to see a purple miasma seeping out of the portal. "What in the-"
Aqua stepped forward and pointed her Keyblade at the portal, summoning another beam of light that slowly sealed the portal. "This realm…It maybe be outside the Realms of Light and Darkness…But it's close proximity to the Realm of Darkness. Too close that if the portal remained open, we'd risk letting the Darkness in. This barrier may be the only thing keeping this world from being overrun."
"I'll take your word for it." Nimue scoffed as her sword vanished. "Though, I will admit. I never came close to destroying something like a dimensional barrier before. I actually think I got it pretty good before you made me stop."
Aqua only hoped it wasn't good enough.
If Nimue had weakened the boundaries between this world and the Realm of Darkness, it would risk letting Darkness spread across this world.
Aqua sighed. "I see my attempt here is no better than it was with Ambrosius or Jinn."
"You're lucky I find you interesting now or I would be insulted." Nimue glared at the Master. "Now, who are you and how does your weapon match the power of destruction?"
"And now, I'm looking for a way back."
Nimue had patiently listened to Aqua's story, both of them now sitting in front of the lake that was part of her domain.
"Drasil sent me to Jinn who sent me to Ambrosius who then sent me to you." Aqua finished her tale.
"Hm, well I will admit this much…You are the most interesting human I have met in a very long time." Nimue said with a smile. "A weapon capable of locking and unlocking hearts, sealing any door and can resist my power. Made from your own 'heart' as you say. Never would I have thought something made by mortals would rival a creation of the gods."
"Well, the Keyblade chooses its wielder. It's not a weapon of mortals. It's more like…balance. A balance between light and darkness and it chooses who must help enforce that balance." Aqua clarified.
"The fact that a mortal can be made worthy of such power is a feat unto itself. I have seen many battles throughout history, the sword that I am bound to passed from one hand to another and each warrior paying the price for the destruction of their enemies." Nimue recalled her own history. "Though, recently I was left to slumber by the previous man who wielded my sword after ending a war he failed to prevent. The old fool had noble intentions but is idealistic and too soft with a mind that has been worn down by eons of struggle and failure."
Aqua raised an eyebrow at Nimue's description of this man.
"Still though, I suppose I shouldn't have much to complain about. The wonderful destruction he had me inflict to end the war…" Nimue sighed blissfully. "It was beautiful."
"This still doesn't help me." Aqua stood up. "So I am now left with the choice of seeking out the Spirit of Choice or I make my way back to Drasil."
Nimue looked at the Master in interest. "Perhaps Janus can be of help. If a vision of you somewhere else, perhaps back in your world is shown then all might not be lost."
Aqua stared back at Nimue. "Could it be that simple?"
"As galling as it is to admit, Choice is perhaps more dangerous than myself along with the others for the simple fact the ability to create, destroy and seek knowledge is barely of use against the power to see into the future." Nimue pointed to the temple off in the distance. "Janus resides there. Be prepared when you face them. The visions made by the choices exact a heavy toll."
Aqua followed Nimue's finger before activating her armor and glider. "Thank you, all the same."
Nimue watched as Aqua took off towards the temple where the Spirit of Choice resided. "This might be enough to truly change everything."