{Morne} Still so Small

Destiny Islands. There was something special about this world that made it unlike any other. It wasn't simple to describe what exactly that was, but under the warm sun and surrounded by the gentle sounds of the gulls and the waves' embrace Morne knew it was a place of beginnings and ends.



Just over the horizon, a spot appeared, at first small but gradually growing bigger as the object approached the coast. It was a makeshift raft, and on it, a sitting figure, leisurely operating the sails.

To be honest, Morne didn't know why he was here either. Sure, he had his factual reasons -he had decided to come to investigate after sensing a familiar darkness-, but that didn't explain the pull he felt from this place, beckoning him ever so strongly. It was certainly a vibrant world full of life, but so it was a world of secrets and mystery.

Soon enough, the wooden ship ran into the shore a couple dozen meters from where master Xehanort stood, and the white haired man stood. He was wearing the armour proper of a keyblade warrior, but this was a much more primitive design tracing back to times of yore, the kind that now rusted away in the dead lands of the Keyblade Graveyard along with relics of come-and-gone ages. This one though, it shone under the sunlight like it had just been donned.

The man inside was quite the enigma too. He gave off a ridiculously strong light, one that surpassed the limitations of its vessel, sipping, overflowing from every crack as if refusing to be contained. There was darkness too, of course, but it had been drowned in the pouring light until it had become little more than vestige, proof that this is was an actual human, rather than some sort of light elemental in the shape of one. This degree of purity was something that only a bunch of the most dedicated masters had managed to achieve throughout history, yet this light was still somehow tainted, just not by darkness.

His eyes momentarily set on Xehanort. For an observer as good as him, they'd reveal a profound tiredness, a sign of a heart grown callous. For a moment it seemed like he was gauging the olden master too, but if he could see into his darkness, he didn't seem to mind as he simply turned his head and simply moved inland. What guided his steps not even Morne knew, but it took him towards the giant tree in the center of the island.

It was here, he knew it. The darkness he had been searching for. One so pure that it could only come from the very bottom of the abyss, the unseen realm know as the dark world. Darkness manifested itself in many forms when disturbed, but the great, still volumes that guarded the foundations of this universe were unmistakable for their complete harmony, so different from that which tried to swallow it.

The corner of his eyes caught an aperture in the stone among enormous the tree roots, a cramped passage into some sort of cave, but that was without a doubt where the feeling originated. Not one to make fate wait, he didn't hesitate to go in.

The cave was damp and cool, shilded from the eternal summer heat of the islands, its walls were covered in all sorts of drawings. It seemed children used to play here often. It was baffling that darkness in such concentrations hadn't affected them, but at the same time it was a clear sign that he was in the right place.

Then he saw it.

A door, made of rotting wood. There was no doubt, a much greater darkness laid beyond. His mark.

"It's time to open".

He kneeled on the floor and reached for the floor, to his senses, it was almost identical to reaching into the darkness present in the room itself. Winding circuits of radiant white started appearing under his skin as his very veins were flooded by the element, descending to his palms and from there unto the floor, as they carved pathways in the stone and up the walls, lighting up the drawings of the children.

Finally, the net of light reached the door and it started rumbling ever so slightly. He got up, ready for the moment of truth. Then his weapon appeared.

Strangely enough, it wasn't a Keyblade. However, it was very reminiscent of one. A giant arrow with its point in the shape of a key, probably designed to be wielded like a spear, was held in his hand, giving off a soft golden glow. He pointed it at the door and a beam came out of its end and unto it. The rumble started growing and growing to the point it seemed the door would burst in a thousand pieces... But it held on.

No matter how hard he tried, the door wasn't giving in. Morne knew better than to try his full power, lest he disturbed this peaceful darkness, but he had a feeling even if he did, the result would be exactly the same. The beam stopped and the net of light dispersed as the radiance died down.

"It seems it won't be that easy".

"... Yes. And so do you, it would seem".

He didn't even bother to turn. He didn't need to. In this sacred place hearts resonated in such a way that his perception was even better if he looked inward rather than outward. "The flip side to our realm. I can reach it through here", his words echoed in their detached tone as Morne went forward, laying his hand on the ancient door lowering his gaze, "I can feel the primeval darkness swirling just beyond. It's been waiting".

"... Who are you?, If you know of this you must be a wielder", his head propped up "Are you going to try to stop me?", he said, with just a hint of curiosity "I advise you don't. I've already failed and I don't want to hurt an old man either, as stupid as it sounds. Maybe call an apprentice instead", he suggested, "Just make sure its one you aren't very attached to".

He didn't mince his words, but for a good reason. Whatever happened, he couldn't allow anyone to stop him, not when he still had so much work to do "If you don't, though, we could talk instead. I've been looking for a Master of the ways of the Keyblade. There is much I need to know to give the next step forward. But I guess I should introduce myself".

He finally turned, "I am Morne Caelis, of Unicornis. Herald of the Morning and Sworn Aegis", he opened his arms for emphasis "... These were all words that used to bear great weight. Now, they are meaningless".

"... I am but a man. A pilgrim on a quest to expy the sins of the past before going back to obscurity".

"My... Relevance?"

He let out a hollow cackle "I am best left forgotten. Every man has a time to leave the stage and mine is long overdue", in truth, he had never truly cared about his fame, it was merely a byproduct of his skill and though at first he had been proud, now he resented it. "To be in the eye of the world I might as well be in chains. I already had to endure the weight of expectation placed upon me by others. Now only I decide my path and for better or worse, it shall be this way until I am no more".

Next, the old Master inquired about his weapon, ah, his Absolute Conquest, “I cast away the Keyblade, never to wield it again. The blade that our forefathers bequeathed us is cursed. Its corruption lead us all to ruin and is sure to do again it in the fateful hour we falter. That is why...”, he made a pause to raise his weapon, “... I shall vanquish the scourge that threats to poison the hearts of men once more”.

The edge of the arrow glimmered “And I’ll do so with my own power, my guiding moonlight”, he smiled wrily as his eyes drifted through the metal surface, “... It was here with me all along, but I never realized it. Not until I chose to rely on my own light”.

Letting it fade away into wisps of light that danced between his fingers, Morne walked towards Xehanort, looking him straight in the eye “Tell me... War is coming, is it not?, Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Who will fight, and for what cause?”.

This man, who in the eyes of the Masters would have been declared an heretic without a doubt, he spoke so brazenly, so openly about opinions and intentions that would make most a foe of him... He was either suicidal, extremely true to his word or both.

"No, that's not right", he shook his head, "Hundreds of thousands of hearts all struggled endlessly to defend the realm of light, and yet their efforts were crushed. Was it truly darkness that made them go astray?, I don't think so. Even at the darkest hour, Wilders held fast to their conviction in the face of their inevitable demise. No, the root of our loss of sight lies within the blade itself. It is us who are the tools it uses to enact its twisted will".

He pointed at Xehanort "And as long as you wield it, you'll be its pawn too", that same hand clenched into a fist "To be free is to be as you are. The chains of fate aren't easily broken, but before the end, old man, you and I owe it to ourselves to try and reclaim what is rightfully ours. Relinquishing the keyblade is but the first step".

Next, he was given some grave yet expected news, "So, that's what fate had in store for me...", he knew there was a reason why he had been brought back from the dead. "One thing is clear. I'm not one of these seven lights. I closed that door when I refused the Keyblade and yet...", his voice was filled with a deep grief, like a wound that not even time could close "... I cannot stand aside while the mistakes of the past are reenacted. I cannot stand aside while the world is torn apart even further". He walked past Xehanort, towards the entrance of the cave "So be it. As an outside force, I shall destroy all these lights and darknesses until only I remain if I must. Fate cannot move forward if I tear its instruments asunder. Then I shall come before Kingdom Hearts and do what must be done".

He paused a brief moment before exiting, "... There was once one time when I also tried to pass judgement over my peers. That turned out to be the single greatest mistake of my life... And yet what's left for me to do but try and shoulder this weight?, who else will if I don't?, I only pray to be a little better than the fool I was".

"A... Boy?"

Morne made a pause, "To think the fate of our realm would rest on the hands of children...". He would have liked to say he felt sorry, but somehow, he had known it would be this way all along, "The light inside a child's heart is not to be underestimated, but alas, this cannot continue. We can't let our young pay the price of our transgressions".

"Even if it costs me my life, even if my blood runs dry, my bones turn to dust and my soul is swallowed by Darkness. Even if I'm to be damned for it until the end of time, I shall take these burdens to my grave and never let anyone be sacrificed to fuel this endless strife. This is my gift, my final mercy".

But ah, there was just one thing before he left, "Old man, despite this lofty talk, there is one thing I would like to do for myself. The thing I came here to do", he turned "When I return, will you show me the way into the realm of Darkness?".

Just what did Morne hope to find?, Probably nothing at all, as the dark eventually devoured all. But despite his reason telling him how pointless the whole thing was, he needed to see for himself, in the name of his oath, he'd plunge deep, deeper than any man before if only to make sure. It wasn't simply his duty, it wasn't simply redemption, it was something even more precious and he would hang on to it as long as there was hope.

"... This realm can hardly be saved anymore", he said dejectedly, "With the light broken, It is a sinking ship, going down and down ever so slowly. Now, only ruins can be salvaged. That is my task, merely to grant someone, someday the chance to follow through in my stead and everyone else's".

His form begun to fade, gradually turning into sunlight, He left Master Xehanort with his final words,

"There shall be no glory. But I don't mind. Our reward shall be knowing that, in the end, we managed to pass the baton".

And so, he was gone with no trace, like a dream of days gone.

[Exit]