-1Welcome to the Ultimate Fantasy.

Chapter 1: Chris: More Then It Seems

Four thirty-five found me on the floor, blood pouring from a slash in my side, my spine snapped at a strange angle, my skull cracked, and myself barely hanging on to life, watching a man with long black hair and snake eyes slowly walk towards me.

I'm not what you'd call a wuss. I've fought my share, and probably more then that. I never walk away after someone begins. I've never been scared of a fight in my life.

Until five minutes ago.

Now, I watched the Snake Ninja walk towards me. A large white snake coiled around his hand, and he chuckled evilly.

Then his eyes fell on the cards.

On the floor were four cards, Yu-Gi-Oh variety. Each one was on a black background, and each one showed a different figure.

A few days ago, I had had an idea: talk to a bunch on my friends, and create a new card game using OC's and fully customizable cards. The first ones I made now seemed like they were going to be my last.

Now, the ninja that I recognized, impossibly, as Oruchimaru, looked down at the cards, freezing in place. Suddenly, he turned, and fled.

Five minutes ago, I had been sitting at my computer, saving changes and printing the cards. I had heard a sound and gone to investigate.

There, at my front door, was this ninja.

He had lashed out, and I had flown backwards. I hit something as I collided with the floor, and I heard my arm snap.

I heard him say something, and a large, black ball of fire slammed into me. I hit the edge of my couch, and I felt something in my back snap as well. Broken spine. The roaring pain from all over my body was suddenly dimmed.

Oruchimaru had picked me up yet again, and had tossed me around the room for a few minutes. I supposed it was a miracle that I was still conscious.

Then he saw the cards, and I was brought into the present.

I just got messed up by someone who's not even real. Was my first thought. Funny. You would think that at a time like this I would be more focused on my injuries, or screaming my head off. But as it was, I was just in plain old shock.

I heard more footsteps. I struggled to move, to do anything…

Then I heard a soft voice. (Cue song: "More then it Seems" by Kutless)

"He'll be back soon." the voice said. From the tone and sound, I couldn't tell whether it was a male or a female. "And this time he won't be scared off by your cards."
"What… the hell…" I gasped. "Who… Are… you?"

The voice seemed genuinely surprised. "Don't you know? I am that which saves all. I am preservation."

"Can't… you… help me…?" I asked.

"Yes. If I wished." the voice spoke. "But why should I?"

"Be… because!" I gasped. "If… if you do this… I'll do anything…. Any…thing."

The being was silent for a moment, and then spoke. "I can revive you. I can even give you the power to fight off the one who has done this to you. But if you do this… there is no turning back. Do you understand?"

"Yeah…" I coughed blood. "Help…"

I felt a hand press against my forehead. Out of the corner of my vision I saw another hand grab the four cards I had printed. It held them up for me to see.

The first one was a picture of me, dressed in black armor that looked like it belonged in kingdom hearts. In one of my hands was the sword that Riku wielded: Soul Eater. In his other hand was a keyblade named Last Chaos.

The second one was a picture of a demon. It was nearly identical to the form that the Prince of Persia took on in Prince of Persia: the Two Thrones and in Prince of Persia: Rival Swords. However, its eyes, instead of being red, were a glowing white. It still carried its Daggertail chain.

The third card was of a human form covered in silver dragon scales. The only part of its body not protected was its face. From its fingers, brutal claws sprung. His eyes were a burning blue, as were his fangs.

The fourth figure was a man who looked like a final fantasy character. He wore a short sleeved black trench coat, with a dark gray belt cinching at the waist. He had black spiky hair and deep gray eyes. Around him hovered six swords, of various shapes and varieties.

Each card glowed for an instant. Beams of light shot from them until I couldn't see and had to close my eyes.

When I opened them again, I was standing, my injuries gone, and completely well. I looked around, and received the shock of my life.

I seemed to be standing in the exact center of a large circular platform, with a symbol of a scissor on it. In the background was nothing but blank glowing black tiles. The tiles making up the pictures seemed to be stained glass, and there was light shining through them, as well as a light far above that cast my shadow.

"It is only your heart that is here now." the voice hovered just beyond the platform edge. "You are without any powers of darkness and light, without any power or weapon you might have. This is the Station of Awakening!"

"Ahh, shoot." I groaned. "Are you serious? I'm NOT in Kingdom Hearts, for God's Sake!"

The voice seemed to chuckle. "No, indeed you are not. The initiation trials are different for everyone who will follow your path: some never even have a test. However, your soul has resonated most strongly with the dual presence of light and darkness in this place, and so this is where your training will occur."

"Come on, can't I go anywhere else?" I whined.

"Of course, we could take you to the Nine Tailed Fox's room, deep in the mental realm of Naruto…" the voice seemed to laugh. I quickly shut up.

Around me hovered a sword, a mage's staff, and a knight's shield.

Choose your item! The voice told me.

I automatically gripped the sword. I knew no magic, and the shield would be useless.

Ahh, you are a warrior! You do not deceive yourself about what you are.

Then the other weapons disappeared, and a small stairway appeared, leading up. I ran up it. I reached an identical platform, but instead of the previous black background, there was a dark green background.

Here, a book, a magnifying glass, a whip, and a pair of glasses appeared. I picked up the book.

You wish to see the story of life, and want only for a happy ending for all. That is true.

Another stair appeared, and I climbed yet again. The next platform was red. On it were a floating Heartless symbol, a floating Nobody symbol, and a floating Heart symbol. They spun in a blindingly fast circle.

Test your determination.

I reached out. I grabbed, hoping it was the Heart. However, I had grabbed the heartless symbol. Instantly, the platform below me broke, and I fell down to the previous stage. However, as I hit the floor, I became a heartless. I was completely black, with yellow eyes. Anti-Chris… Several heartless appeared around me. I ran at them, and defeated them with the strength of a heartless. When I again climbed the stairs, I reached the same red platform. This time, I accidentally grabbed the Nobody symbol, and again fell. This time, I became a strange type of variation to a Dusk. I was humanoid, but my arms had blades on them, as well as having my own head on my shoulders. Huh… Xsirch… I defeated a group of other dusks. When I returned to the platform, I knew that if I missed again, I would never escape. This third time, I grabbed the heart, and I transformed back into my normal self.

You still continue, despite setbacks. That is good.

This platform was a light yellow. It was empty, except for my huge, black shadow.

Beware: the closer you get to the light, the larger your shadow becomes.

From my shadow emerged a huge figure: the dark being from Fantasia 2000. I raised my sword from the black platform. Instantly, a mixture of light and darkness shot from it, striking the demon in the center of its chest. It faded into darkness. Another stair appeared.

At the next, white stage, I stood alone. Suddenly, on the other side of the stage, my mother appeared. And across from her, my brother.

There will be times when you will not be able to save them all. Who will you choose?

I was torn. How could he expect me to choose between this? I wondered. As I watched, a line of darkness appeared around each, about to cut them in half.

NO! I cried in my heart. Suddenly, it all made sense.

My mother was dead before I turned five. Let the dead rest in peace. The beam of darkness sliced through the woman who was my mother. My brother is also dead. Let his soul rest. The dead should never be brought back. If they are dead then they are at peace. A peace they well deserve!

Very well done! But you have made your next trial all the harder.

In the places of the two dead beings, a monster appeared. It appeared to be a snake. I merely smirked, and slashed at it. It fell, dead.

Quite well executed. You may proceed. Only the strong of heart can become worthy.

I ran up the flight of stairs. This final level was multicolored, with all of the colors of the rainbow spiraling into a black center. In the center was a sword shaped slot. I inserted my sword, and it evaporated.

Your heart tells the truth. You are able to save the friends that you can, and you do not deceive yourself about life. You are not weak when it comes to combat, for your heart has a purpose, and you will not allow yourself to die before that happens. You are also quite determined, for you escaped the Heartless and Nobody trap. You are quite decisive. Now you must pass the ultimate test.

A figure appeared. It turned around… What-

Can you defeat yourself?

The other me reached into his pocket, and drew out a pair of scissors. Holding it like a punch blade, he began charging at me.

I reached into my back pocket, and picked out a scissor as well.

We hurled ourselves at each other. We tried to hack each other apart. Slash, spin, block, duck, slash, uppercut, punch, dodge. Neither of us was getting anywhere.

Suddenly, I was aware of a ticking timer. It was not in the Station, but in my mind. I knew without a doubt that if I did not escape soon, I wouldn't be escaping at all, but would go to join the others in the eternal fall from the top of the station.

I hurled myself again at the other me. This time, I reached for his -MY- headband that was wrapped around the head of the other me, just as it was on me. I pulled it off. I threw it over the edge of the Station. The other me did exactly the same thing as I, but its throw was muddled. In a flash, we were both at the edge of the Station, and then we were falling. On instinct, I lashed out with the scissor, and caught the edge of the station, barely hanging onto it. The other me wasn't so lucky. He caught his headband, but missed the edge. He fell the eternal fall of those who could not escape the Station of Awakening, screaming. I clawed my way back to the top of the station, and replaced my headband on my head.

I had started walking towards the doorway that had appeared, but suddenly I seemed to be moving at the speed of glue. The floor beneath me began cracking. I ran in what seemed to be slow motion, and seemed miles away from the door.

Is this it? I wondered. Have I come all this way merely to be defeated by this final test? No… I will not allow it to end this way… not yet!

I sprinted at the speed of glue for the doorway. I was almost there! I reached out and touched the door frame. My hand closed around the handle. I pulled the door open, and I started going inside, but the floor beneath me crumbled away. I fell, once again barely saving myself by grabbing the edge of the door. I pulled myself up, and fell through the door, into-

I sat up. I had escaped the trials of the Station of Awakening.

I was standing in my apartment.

In my hands was a scissor. Its handle was the same size as usual and thus easy to grip, but the blade which protruded from between my ring finger and middle finger was now three and a half feet long. A scissor sword.

From the halls, I saw Oruchimaru appear. I quickly looked around.

"Hey voice, got me outta here!" I whispered.

"Not yet." the voice said again. In the air in front of me, a single card appeared. It was of the dragon man, with his claws. "You must master the cards."

"Does everyone get cards?" I asked crossly.

"No." the voice said smoothly. "Some get stones, some get other objects. For you, it is cards."

Then Oruchimaru appeared.

On instinct I slashed with the scissor sword. Oruchimaru dodged, and his hand blurred towards me.

To both of our surprise, I dodged.

Until that moment, I hadn't even noticed my physical state.

On my hands were black gloves that were missing everything from the top of the palm up - in effect, fingerless. I was wearing black jeans with a chain running through the belt loops. My shirt was now a dark gray, with a black and red insignia on it. My feet wore black combat boots, and around my head was my black headband.

But that wasn't all.

Formerly, my eyes had been a deep brown.

My eyes were now a dark black.

Oruchimaru saw these changes in a glance. He quickly backed up.

I looked in my hands. A single card was in them.

Without really knowing why, I held it up.

In front of me, a figure materialized. A human form covered in silver dragon scales. The only part of its body not protected was its face. From its fingers, brutal claws sprung. His eyes were a burning blue, as were his fangs. He glanced at me, and smirked.

Then he slashed his claws across Oruchimaru's chest.

The snake ninja screamed, and vanished in a flash of light.

"It is done." the voice said. "Come quickly now. We must get you to safety."

"Hey wait!" I yelled. "What the hell is going on here?"

"No time." the dragon man grunted. He placed his hand over his heart. He dissolved into a shimmer of light, which vanished suddenly. The card glowed dimly for a second before returning to normal.

"Did this card… summon him?" I asked.

"Yes." the voice said.

I looked at it for a moment before wondering the obvious question. "Hey! Where are my other cards! I might need them too!"

"My apologies." the voice said. "When one first starts out, one receives only one artifact of Summoning."

"Come on!" I sighed. "How many cards can I get at a time?"

"I have never heard of anyone possessing more then three, unless you count the Dark Master, who has thousands. You will receive others as you go along… maybe even a Fade."

"What's a Fade?" I asked.

"A final card. It not only gives you a new summon, but enables you to bodily integrate with your summons." the voice said impatiently. "Now, hurry! The others will be here soon!"

A large doorway of light appeared in the middle of the room.

I glanced around the room, taking in its state.

I shrugged, and walked through the doorway.

After all, it wasn't like I had anything better to do. Besides, this summoning issue could get interesting.