Artorié and Arthur

After finishing their meal, Novis quickly made some Water beds for everyone, the platform they were on wasn't the biggest, but it was big enough for all of them to sleep together.

"Whew, one day and we're not too far from the Thunder Kingdom." -The fool.

"Seer is pretty impressive, at this point, he could make the most random thing out of simple scrap."-Novis.

"Thanks for the compliment, but really it's not that impressive, what you and your Water is way cooler, and Luce with his new magnetic whatever was even more insane." -Seer

"WHATEVER WHATEVER GIVE YOURSELF SOME CREDIT SEER, YOU SURVIVED THAT DEMON KNIGHT GUY AND EVERYTHING, YOU ALSO CREATED A GOOD WAY OF TRAVEL FOR THE ORDINARY PEOPLE, SO BE NICER TO YOURSELF." -Pandora's Wanderer

"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT I WILL, speaking of which, don't you know more about Artorié Luce?"

"Hmmm, are you trying to say you want a bedtime story?"

"Hey I'm not that young alright, and either way I'm sure we all want to know no?"

"Bedtime story or not whatever you say Luce I'm sure I'll enjoy listening to."

"Someone's awfully polite this night huh? What about you Pandora? Want to know?"

"I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A BEDTIME STORY, SO TELL ME YES, PLEASE DO."

"So much enthusiasm, well first, how about we all get comfortable?"

They all got into the perfect sleeping position around each other, Seer was at the far left, then it was the fool, Novis, and finally Pandora's Wanderer in a straight line.

"Everyone close your eyes, alright? It'll help with the story."

"Alrighty."-Seer

"Okay."-Novis

"WILL DO."-Pandora's Wanderer

"So it all began a long long time ago, back then none of the magics now even existed, the concept wasn't even there, only Light and Dark, two Kingdoms who enjoyed each other's company.

The strongest of the Dark Kingdoms army was a man named Artorié, he was quite the amazing man, he loved everyone an incredible amount and had a pet dog, I think his name was Arthur I believe, Artorié loved his wolf greatly, almost as if it were the most important thing to him, the second thing he loved just as much was his blade, Excalibur.

It is said that Excalibur was a bright golden blade that could pierce through anything and anyone, whether it was something that could surpass the speed of time itself, the blade could cut it, it would not matter what it was it could be slashed, and destroyed.

This all sounds quite nice almost like the opposite of the man you once knew, it seems a little weird how a man with this many blessings was even a part of the Dark King's army, which is where his first mistake started.

The King grew greedy, he wanted more and more power, he had heard of a place with so much power and resources, enough magical energy to change the world as we know it, it truly was an incredible find, but the issue was reaching it, anyone that dared enter would immediately start to feel sick and crumble, after a couple of attempts and expeditions the King grew impatient.

He knew that Excalibur could potentially guide Artorié through the Darkness, so he sent him after he had just eaten lunch.

I believe his last words were."

"Do not fear my friends, I doubt I'll take long, in case I take at least a day please take care of Arthur, he needs at least three meals a day."

Arthur ran towards him and his gleaming armor.

"You've gotten pretty big over the years haven't you Arthur? No one can ever replace you in my heart you know that? You are the best friend any man could ever ask for, sure Excalibur is quite the powerful blade but you, you are something else, we have a bond unlike any other, I'll be back before dinner, so don't you worry."

He said as he ruffled and hugged him, after saying goodbye to everyone he walked straight into the darkness with his sword steady in his head.

He slashed and slashed again and again and again and again, it was almost as if he was walking on thin air and he could not tell up from down or left from right, but thanks to Excalibur, he was able to somewhat tell he was going straight, the sword was almost magnetized to whatever was inside the Darkness.

"This feels, off, I'm not sure what it quite is but, this place this, everything, something isn't right, maybe I should go back."

He turned backward and headed back straight, up to this moment, only about thirty minutes have passed, although on his way back, he kept walking for almost an hour.

"This is the way back right? Right? I'm sure it is it must be, calm down Artorié, just trust yourself for a little longer."

This kept going on for five hours.

"Back, I MUST GO BACK, TAKE ME BACK, EXCALIBUR TAKE ME BACK ALREADY SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT."

Although he had not noticed as he was too focused on getting back, Exaclibur had already long lost its original glow and was severely weakened.

"S-Surely this is just, this is just longer than I think right? Just calm down Artorié, you are strong you are amazing, just think about Arthur waiting for his hug, just focus on that."

His mind would only calm down for short bursts, whilst his insanity would only increase, especially after realising Excalibur was ruined, it originally started with just a few voices and sounds around him, then his eyes would create fake insects crawling over his body, his overall endurance started to decay, and so did his mental.

Artorié would constantly talk to himself, some words were cruel about how he deserved this, others were about how useless he is, and about how he is a terrible friend to Arthur, and that Excalibur only left him because he wasn't worthy anymore.

He had thought of killing himself over and over again but in the end never did, although he really wanted to, the thoughts of Arthur being left alone were far more important and gave him enough motivation to carry through the endless Abyss.

"Please just, end me, please, I don't want to suffer, I don't deserve to suffer, please just, someone, anyone, just make this end, I can't sleep I can't eat I can't drink, I can only walk forward and hope that maybe just maybe, something will turn out fine."

This entire exploration lasted three months, and within those three months he kept considering ending it all, not doing it, and suffering even more, he wouldn't hunger but he needed nutrients, he wish he could sleep but there was no floor, he had no clue how he was walking even, but he knew at some point he was diagonal, if he tried sleeping it would end up with him being even farther away.

After all this time, he eventually found the exit.

"F-Finally, I can't believe it just, finally, I can rest, Arthur, ARTHUR, WHERE ARE YOU."

The entire Kingdom was Darkened, and only a few lights were on, he limped toward his room to which he found Arthur laying down.

"Sleeping aren't we buddy? You've got lots to tell me, but first I must apologize, sorry for not coming back sooner, It was just, horrible really, I don't even think I am the same man anymore, I just, I just need you Arthur, mind if I hug you for the night?"

"Arthur?"

The second he touched him he noticed, his body was too cold to be alive.

"WHY, JUST, JUST WHY MUST THIS HAPPEN TO ME, WHAT DID I DO WRONG TO DESERVE THIS, WHY MUST I SUFFER ALL OF THIS TIME JUST TO EVENTUALLY GET BACK, FOR NOTHING GOOD TO HAPPEN, WHY JUST, WHY CAN'T I BE HAPPY, WHY WONT THE WORLD JUST ALLOW ME TO BE HAPPY, GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK, MY OLD LIFE BEFORE I ENTERED THAT ABYSS JUST, JUST, WHY, MY BEST FRIEND JUST WHY, TAKE AWAY MY LIFE TAKE AWAY MY SWORD, TAKE AWAY THE WHOLE KINGDOM I DON'T CARE JUST BRING HIM BACK, BRING ARTHUR BACK, MY ONE AND ONLY JOY JUST PLEASE, PLEASE I BEG JUST, LET ME BE HAPPY, LET ME AT LEAST HAVE SOME SORT OF JOY IN MY LIFE THIS IS ALL MESSED UP, I JUST WANT, ANYTHING NICE AT ALL WHY, WHY MUST HE DIE, I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE, I CAN'T STAND THIS LIFE OR ANYTHING WITH IT, I GIVE UP."

As he says that, he claws his eyes out and screams slowly transforming his armor and face, his screams become louder and louder echoing throughout the Kingdom.

The man who was once seen as the luckiest was known as the unluckiest, how one decision can change someone so greatly is almost insane.

Artorié would never gain any friends again, he left the Kingdom and went on by himself, he would eat anything that moved and would rely purely on sound, he still used Excalibur but the blades name does not live up to its legend anymore, it still may be somewhat unbreakable, but it's glow was consumed by the Abyss, all that was left is a hollow man with his hollow blade, slowly roaming around the world, fighting everyone and anything, crying only tears of blood for his long lost companion.