[IC] Kingdom Hearts: Reversal of Light & Darkness

[CrimsonLady180]

The carriage ride was filled with Junithal voice, the sound of the horses' hooves, and the wheels of the carriage clicking against the cobblestone ground below them. It was peaceful minus the eerie stares of the onlookers as the carriage passed by many people on the city streets, it made Wilhelmina wonder if their arrival was known to the people before they arrived. Perhaps that is why they act so strange to newcomers... Her mind started to wander a bit as she listened to Junithal talk about the many different places in the city that are of interest.

"Stop," Mina heard a yell when caused carriage come to a stop startling her. It was Ardeth who's voice filled the air that brought their tour to a halt as he jumped out of the carriage and took off running. The others seemed just as surprised as her at this turn of events but she quickly came to her senses.

"Ardeth! Wait!" Wilhelmina called after Ardeth then she began to follow after him sprinting as quickly as her feet could carry her. When she finally caught up with him she could see a large group of people along with reanimated corpses attacking the guards who were putting up a good fight but were losing ground. Especially with the many bodies that lay on the blood stained ground after being slain. Wilhelmina was startled by the amount of blood and bodies that lay strewed about on the ground, the shock of it all left her staring in awe of what to do as if expecting to wake up for a nightmare.

"This c-can't be happening...," she muttered softly as her eyes drifted to the ground to Ardeth as he drew his sword and joined the fight attacking one of the undead. It wasn't until Junithal walking in behind her watching the fight unfold before them she realized she had no business standing around, her keyblade appeared in her hand as she headed into the fight herself. "Blizzara!" Wilhelmina yelled summoning ice magic shooting it out of her keyblade freezing a handful of targets then twirling as she broke the now crystallized people with her keyblade and calling forth more ice magic.

[Lady Celeste]

Ardeth caught a glimpse of Wilhelmina joining the fight as well, and couldn’t help but smile briefly. Her initiative was certainly admirable, and by all accounts she was holding her own quite well. A bandit lifted his crossbow to try to shoot her, but Ardeth quickly distracted the bandit with a battle cry and charged at him, forcing the bandit back and knocking the crossbow out of his hand.

"Chosen children of the Light, you need not worry.” Junithal said at last. “We are blessed and protected by the Light herself in this place. From her we are giving weapons that are unbeatable by the forces of darkness." He raised a hand and twitched it forward, prompting the constructs to dive into the battle. Quickly the tides turned and the bandits started to retreat, still firing behind them, while Ardeth took the opportunity to approach Wilhelmina and see how she was faring.

Just then, a priest ran up to Junithal. "My holy lord. The south gate is being sieged. This may be a plot by her."

The high priest gave a nod before turning to his guests. "Forgive me children. Urgent matters regarding a fallen warrior needs my attention. I am well aware there is something with me that you wish to discuss, but it shall have to be put off till this evening. If you wish to continue the tour of the city the my subordinate Priest Hethlo will be pleased to lead it." The priest bowed as Junithal turned away, moving with a purpose to the south.

[CrimsonLady180]

As the battle continued the bandits seemed to single Wilhelmina out for her magic capabilities and doing their best to stop her, so she began using her keyblade much like she would a rapier dispatching the enemies as best as she could considering she was a stronger magic user. For a moment she glanced over to see a bandit with a crossbow ready to take aim at her when Ardeth quickly came to her aid and dispatched the bandit. She gave a gentle nod of thanks before returning to battle herself when Junithal sent the constructs into battle which quickly sent the bandits retreating while still shooting to make their escape. Mina was healing the guards with her magic that had suffered some pretty bad injuries when one of the crossbow bolts grazed Wilhelmina's shoulder causing her to yelp in pain.

Looking at her shoulder it was a clean cut since the bolt grazed her skin rather than pierce it. As Ardeth approached her she smiled softly at him as she gently wrapped her shoulder due to her magical energies being depleted for the time being. "Hey, thank you for coming to my aid. It's too bad I was still careless enough to get injured. Once I rest I'll be able to heal this in no time, but perhaps we should leave the tour and head for that south gate. I really want to find out what's going on here..." Wilhelmina said tightening the wrap on her shoulder before composing herself to see how Ardeth felt. Perhaps he'd rather stay out of this world's affairs after what they had just seen, but Wilhelmina felt more inclined to interfere with the strange happenings of this world.

[Lady Celeste]

Ardeth nodded his agreement. Mina's injury thankfully didn't look too bad, and Ardeth likewise wasn't too badly injured but it gave them both a perfect excuse to leave the tour, so Ardeth quickly seized the opportunity.

"Mina's energy is low right now, and our wounds will still need treatment." Ardeth told Hethlo. "Could you take us to a healer?"

"Certainly." Hethlo said. "Speak to one of the city watch, and they will be pleased to escort you."

Ardeth promptly thanked the man, and with that, they parted ways, Hethlo ushering their somewhat reluctant teammates back into the carriage to continue the tour. Ardeth started to walk toward the nearest watchman, but watched out of the corner of his eye as the carriage disappeared, at which point he turned back to Mina to signal that the coast was clear.

Moments later, however, a peal of thunder filled the air, prompting nearly every onlooker in the area to look up at the Temple of Light.

[CrimsonLady180]

She nodded in agreement as Ardeth spoke to the priest, "Yes, thank you. So much needed rest will have me right as rain," she replied softly with a smile. Once Hethlo set them on the right path she stayed close to Ardeth taking a moments breath as they waited for the carriage to leave their sights. When Ardeth signaled the coast was clear for them to leave Wilhelmina used her last bit of energy on Ardeth healing him of any injuries he may have while she waits to recovery her magic energies to heal herself.

"I think I'll need some rest, I've never used so much of my magic at once before. I feel so drained, but shall we keep going?" Wilhelmina asked just a thunder filled the air leading to the temple she saw in her book. "There it is! We should go quickly!" Mina said quickly as she took off run as fast as she could to make her way to the temple. This had to be the reason everything was so off, all the pieces should start to come together...

[Lady Celeste]

Ardeth appreciated the gesture as Mina used whatever energy she had left to heal him, but at the same time he was worried that she might strain herself too far. He was just about to say as much when the thunder struck, at which point he and Mina took off running toward the temple.

Upon their arrival, some of the temple guards and constructs saw Ardeth and immediately readied their weapons, prompting Ardeth to set down his sword and dispel his Keyblade to signal that he meant no harm. Not all of them seemed convinced, but then a glow of light suddenly caught their attention.

Junithal's hammer was pulled out in his hand, glowing with an aura of light. He waved his free hand at the others. "These two are among the Chosen of the Goddess and my guests, despite their appearance." The guards and Constructs stopped, and with that done, Junithal turned to Ardeth and Wilhelmina.

"You don't have to follow me in. We'll be going up against a warrior born of the crystals, stolen from the Light by Darkness. Meant to be raised as a hero, she was instead brought up under the tenets of evil."

"I understand your concern." Ardeth said calmly, "But for thousands of years my people have guarded against this kind of darkness, and I've seen how high the price of failure can be." He left it at that, deciding it was best not to go into too much detail.

Whether or not Junithal accepted Ardeth’s explanation was unclear, but the High Priest approached the temple doors all the same.

"She believes herself to be the daughter of Darkness and refutes the holiness of the Light." Junithal said as he opened the doors. "And it seems she has come into new powers she never had before..."

Ardeth’s eyes widened in shock at the sight that greeted them when Junithal opened the door, bringing up his arm in front of Mina as if to try to shield her. Black frost and burn marks could be seen throughout the hall, along with the corpses of guards littered across the ground. The damage to the hallway in and of itself was extensive, but what really held Ardeth's attention were the bodies of slain guards strewn across the hallway. Seeing so many dead brought back several painful memories, many of them personal. That this invader would kill so many in pursuit of her goal with no apparent remorse... she must have been tragically misguided or brainwashed at best, or a soulless monster at worst.

Ardeth allowed himself a moment of silence for the fallen. Either way, the sight of the carnage that this ‘stolen child of the light’ had left in her wake cemented Ardeth's resolve all the more. Whoever she might or might not have been in the past was irrelevant; now she was a danger to this city, and had to be stopped.

[CrimsonLady180]

When Wilhelmina arrived with Ardeth close behind it seemed the temple guards and constructs were still on high alert from whatever had happened before their arrival. Obviously someone used magic much her own to cause unnatural lightning to appear so suddenly and disappear just as quick. From her understanding no one near by could of caused such a occurrence with how tense everyone was. Wilhelmina gently let her keyblade slip from her fingers and fade into light partials to show she was no threat, but with the tension between everyone it was natural that outsiders like her and Ardeth would be suspects for what had happened so Mina stayed close to her fellow keyblade wielder remaining cautious.

It wasn't until a sudden glow of light caught everyone off guard that the tension broke. It was Junithal with a hammer in hand as the air around him emitted a glowing light that seemed to drain away the tension, with a wave of his hand towards the guards and constructs Junithal set them at ease telling them that Ardeth and Wilhelmina are his guest as well as those chosen by the Goddess. "Goddess? Does he mean their Goddess? But we were chosen by Sora...," Wilhelmina muttered softly to Ardeth giving him a inquisitive look for a moment before returning her attention to Junithal who had turned his attention to them.

Junithal spoke of a warrior born from the crystals that was once of Light then stolen by Darkness. 'This hero was a girl which makes me more curious. Why would someone born to bring goodness turn to evil? Perhaps something happened that drastically changed her... Or are appearances not all as they seem?' Mina thought to herself. Either way Wilhelmina didn't full trust Junithal, the city, or the people in it for something didn't feel right nor could she believe and innocent could be so easily tainted by darkness if they were born of goodness. Mina looked to Ardeth wondering if truly believed all he was hearing or was he just as unconvinced as she was, but she couldn't tell.

When Ardeth told a bit of his past of a darkness he guarded against, but the high price of failure. 'Was it the darkness that infested his world and brought him with the others chosen by Sora? What darkness lied within my world and brought ruin to my people?' Wilhelmina sighed inwardly at the thought frustrated with herself for not knowing. A cold shiver went down her spine just thinking about why everything was happening then quickly pushed the thoughts away, but reach out her hand to comfort Ardeth with a gentle yet sad look as she touched his shoulder before dropping her hand to her side wincing a little at the pain from her earlier injury as Wilhelmina continued to listen to the priest speak as he open the doors following quietly behind.

Mina jumped back a bit when Ardeth's arm came in front of her blocking her view through the doors, but unfortunately she could avoid knowing the truth. She gently pulled Ardeth's arm down to see the destruction that was laid out before them. Tears welled up in her eyes to see such a massacre before her. She's never seen so many slain before her in such a cruel way.

"How could this happen...? So many lives lost in an instant... This is all wrong...," Wilhelmina said softly as tears flowed down her cheeks feeling the anger, loss, and sadness from the lives lost. "One person couldn't of caused this much destruction on their own, right? There's no desire that should lead to some many lives lost...," Mina continued to mutter at a loss for what to think besides the fact she much confront this warrior and stop their desire for so much bloodshed.

"Ardeth...? What should we do...?" Wilhelmina said quietly looking to him for his thoughts searching his eyes to make sure he was looking at her and not the carnage.

[Lady Celeste]

Mina was trying to keep Ardeth’s focus away from the carnage, and he was grateful for that, but in all honesty he was more concerned about how she was holding up. This kind of bloodshed was not new to him, but she was already starting to lose her composure, even as she tried to help him keep his.

“We can’t change what happened here, but we can make sure that this does not happen again.” Ardeth said, finding the nearest clean cloth for Mina to dry her tears with.

“Do you need to rest?” Ardeth asked next. It was clear that this carnage had had a very profound effect on Wilhelmina, and with her injury there was no shame in her staying behind if she needed to. On a more personal note, however, this moment with Mina gave Ardeth a much more positive outlet for his own emotions, which to him was a great relief in and of itself.

[CrimsonLady180]

Wilhelmina gave Ardeth a small yet gently smile trying to put him at ease as he wiped away her tears. "I've never been injured like this before, but it's alright. I'm more worried about you and everything else. I'll be able to heal myself once my magical energies aren't all tapped out. I appreciate you worrying about me, it's kind of you. Thank you...," Mina said softly trailing off considering the option to rest may be a wise one but she wasn't going to leave Ardeth side during a time like this.

"As much as rest would be best I want to stay with you if that's alright. I may be a princess but I am no damsel and I refuse to be an inconvenience to you, I'll be able to heal myself soon. I just need a little more time is all, by then I should be prepared to fight along side you once more. Is that alright, Ardeth?" Wilhelmina asked titling her slightly to get a better look into his eyes which made her soften her own taking a moment to hear his response before leaning against a pillar when someone coughing nearby.

Her eyes scanned the near by surrounding when her eyes landed upon a man still moving among the massacred bodies around them. Wilhelmina left the pillar making her way over to man kneeling beside him, he seemed to be wheezing in pain. "Oh my... Ardeth! Come over here quickly, please! There's a man he needs help!" Mina called to him taking the man's hand to comfort him try to gather enough energy to heal him instead of herself for the time being. "It will be alright. My friend is coming to help, can you tell me what happened to you, sir?" Wilhelmina asked gently with a troubled look in her eyes.

[Lady Celeste]

The man Wilhelmina spoke of was in grave condition, holding his bleeding side. Junithal had already found the man and was kneeling next to him, and Ardeth paused only to step outside and call for a healer before joining the others next to the wounded man.

“The healer is on his way, but there isn’t much time.” Ardeth quickly explained, finding another clean cloth with which to try to stop the bleeding. “He’s lost too much blood.”

"M..My lord..." The wounded priest spoke up, looking up at Junithal. "It is... Her... But she wields a... Holy weapon..." He continued to cough as Junithal listened to his words.

"A blade of the soul... A we-weapon... of unlocking... Why would... A dark warrior... Be able to use a weapon... Not even you..."

Just then the healers arrived, and Junithal motioned to both Ardeth and Wilhelmina to move aside as they went to work.

"Do not fear. The Goddess shines her blessings where they are needed. She will protect us with her Light." Junithal said, but then looked back toward the wounded priest as the healers continued to try to save him.

"We've no more time to lose. If she has corrupted a weapon born of the Light itself..." Junithal closed his eyes and gripped his hammer tightly as a wave of light shone over everyone, enhancing their speed.

"We waste no more time!"

And with that, Junithal dashed off at a speed that didn't seem fully possible, expecting the warriors to keep up behind him.

“There’s nothing more we can do here, and the invader is still loose in this temple.” Ardeth said softly to Wilhelmina. “We should go.”

Once Wilhelmina was ready, Ardeth took off in the direction through which Junithal had gone, surprised by his newfound speed. As they ventured deeper into the temple, they encountered even more of the same carnage that they'd seen in the hallway, and the sight of each broken body spurred Ardeth onward even faster until he was almost right next to Junithal. At the same time, as the atmosphere felt darker and heavier the farther into the temple they went, part of Ardeth was reminded of the vast maze of catacombs at Hamunaptra and the dark forces sealed within that the Medjai were honor-bound to protect their world from at all costs. Ardeth felt a pang of grief as he remembered his people, and how he would likely never see them again thanks to the very darkness that this invader now sought to unleash upon this world, but set it aside as they continued onward. Now all Ardeth had left of his people was their honor, and no servant of evil would take that away from him.

"You can't keep me from him!"

The voice coming from the deepest chamber in the temple sounded familiar, and Ardeth was briefly taken aback, but he set aside the thought for now. Their first and only priority right now was to stop the invader, and now they were getting closer.