Hey everyone, so this is a first for me. I had an idea bouncing around my head ever since I started playing Birth by Sleep and I wondered how would have the events of the series played out if Master Xehanort had taken a young apprentice in from another World (in this case, Earth) and trained them as the story of BbS was carried out, and how that would affect the series as a whole. And Amel Abdalla was born. I'm also trying my best to play around with different races, religions and point of views. With this fan fiction, I tried to do Amel reflecting on her memories from when she was five years old. Any feedback on how I can improve on anything is encouraged, but please note that any hate or flaming in the review section simply because my story feature's an original character will not be tolerated. Other than that, I hope you enjoy this first chapter.
DISCLAIMER: I am not Muslim, I was raised Catholic for nearly 18 years, so I cannot guarantee that any info regarding Islam is correct or accurate. However, if you have a correction, please feel free to leave a review or PM me about the issue.
PUBLISHED: 11.07.15
EDITED: 07.16.16
With a knapsack of trinkets
I'm off to seek my fortune again
Chasing ghosts of dead orphans
Friend, cousin, or kin
We wave to the passer by
Moth wings of a butterfly
Endless tracks where no car pass
Close your eyes and you can fly
I'm off to meet my soul mate
A naked fawny jail bate
Wading into ponds
Filly with pollywogs at dawn
Mournin' the light
That slipped from my eyes
A little child with dirty nails
And dirty hair
I had dirty things scrawled upon my mind
-Lost Girls ~ CocoRosie
I dug further into the garbage heap, ignoring the sounds of the other kids squabbling around me over the scraps they had found. I dropped a slightly rotted apple core into the small cloth bag I had with me, trying not to gag over the sickly sweet scent of the rotting garbage in front of me. I shifted through the garbage to find more scraps and bones, anything that could keep me from starving to death over the next few days, finding a few small chicken bones and a banana peel.
Sighing, I discreetly put them in my bag with my other findings before standing up from the ground. Looking around at the other children and families digging through the garbage around me, I quickly walked away from the heap with a tight grip on my bag.
I could feel the hot desert sun on the dark skin of my face, the heat reaching it's burning fingers towards my hair and scalp. The hot sandstone burned the bottoms of my feet as I walked through my village, avoiding the eyes of those who can afford to provide for themselves without digging through trash.
I slowly made my way home to my little misshapen hut, dropping my bag beside the fire pit. I relished in the cool shade the hut gave, the thin linen of my dress helping to cool me down faster.
I would've fallen asleep right then and there if my stomach hadn't alerted me of it's need for food. I crouched down and began making a small fire in the fire pit, shifting through my scraps to see what I could possibly make with them. The apple core and banana peel obviously had to go first or they'd rot away. I could maybe fry them on the small pan I had found in my mother's old things, so they don't taste as bad... The crusts of bread could last another day before eating, and the bones could be boiled whenever to make a thin broth when I couldn't find any scraps..
I pulled my mother's pan over and place the apple core on it before carefully chopping it into pieces with my father's old knife. I did the same with the banana peel, throwing the top away to be used in something else. Putting the pan on the fire, I went and tucked my scraps bag back behind the bag of sand I used for a pillow at night.
As the fruit cooked, I walked over to the jug of water I had sitting in the corner in order to begin separating my drinking water from the water I'd use to wash with later. With my drinking water laying in a small bowl, I turned back to see if my "dinner" was finished cooking. Grabbing a small sharpened twig, I began spearing the fruit bits and eating them.
The fruit tasted bitter or overly sweet in my mouth, depending on which fruit I ate. While it may have tasted terrible on my tongue, it filled my stomach and I was glad to not go hungry that night. After I finished with my food, I headed back over to my water, hoping to cleanse my mouth of the taste of the fruit.
I drank half of the bowl of water before I began removing my clothes in order to wash up. I grabbed a small square of cloth before removing my linen dress, putting it on the pillow as well.
I dipped the cloth into the jug and began scrubbing at my dirtied skin, washing away the dust and sweat from the past two days. As my skin became cleaner, I then took my dress, and began cleaning them in the jug.
I could feel dusk cooling the air against my wet skin as I wrung out my clothes in the fading light, hanging the article of clothing off a piece of wood from my haphazardous roof. I picked up the jug with what remained of the water, and walked over to the small opening to my hut. Bending over in the doorway, I dumped the contents of the jug over my dirty hair, rinsing it with the remaining water. I wrung it for a bit before heading back into the hut.
I placed the jug back in the place where it belonged before I hurried onto the mat where I slept. Pulling the linen blanket over my naked body, I laid my small head on my sand-bag pillow before letting exhaustion take me away.
I woke to the sun shining through the opening of my hut, the embers of my fire from last night slowly dimming as the morning went on. I quietly rose from my matt and moved to put on my now dry dress.
I dressed quickly before I drank the remainder of the water from last night and nibbled on a crust of bread from my scrap bag. I sighed as I realized that I would have to go to the well today and get more for the next two days. I frowned as I picked up the empty jug from the dirt floor and began walking towards the well in the center of the village.
As I walked, I watched as children ran about the roads, and as mothers tended to their sickly children or went to collect water as I did. Upon reaching the well, the noise from people became louder and less of a distant hum. I tried my best to ignore it as I dipped my jug into the well.
As I lifted the now full and heavy jug from the water, I nearly dropped it in surprise as an elderly man's voice addressed me in strangely accented Arabic.
"Now, what is a young girl like you doing the work of an adult?"
I quickly adjusted the jug in my arms as I turned to see an older man before me, bald and with skin darker than mine, his eyes glowed like the embers of my fire last night and his short beard the colour of steel. He was dressed oddly to be traveling through the desert, a heavy coat with gloves and long pants made of thick materials. I blinked before managing to reply, my voice coming out quiet and timid.
"I'm just getting water, sir. Just like my mother taught me before she passed away."
"Ah, I'm sorry for your loss, young one. Is there no one else to care for you now that she is gone?" He asked, bowing his bald head in apology.
"No, I'm all alone now." I responded as I began walking away from the well, the heavy jug of water resting against my hip. I could hear him following behind me, at a slow and almost silent pace.
We continued on in silence until I came to a stop in front of my hut. I set the jug down in the opening before turning back around to face the man again.
"What is it that you want from me, sir?" I asked, looking up into his fire coloured eyes. I was afraid of him but I tried to stay strong as he observed me before responding.
"I'm searching for someone strong enough to become my apprentice. You have a strong and willing heart, which is remarkable considering the darkness clouding this world and it's hearts. Your heart is the kind worthy of becoming a Keyblade Master, if you so wish."
I gaped at him like a fish out of water for a few minutes, trying to process what he'd said to me. I didn't know what a Keyblade was at the time but, the thought of some elderly man wanting to adopt me in a sense was beyond my comprehension. Especially since he wanted to train me in his art or craft.
"You want me to be your apprentice? Are you crazy, mister? I'm five!" I shrieked in my high pitched voice, which surely disturbed some of my closer neighbours. My hands flailed about me in exasperation as I tried to get my point across.
"Your youth only convinces me further to take you on as my apprentice, as you are young and have plenty of time to learn before taking the Mark of Mastery exam once you come of age. I can offer you a home, an education, companionship, and training. Will you become my apprentice, my dear, and aid my fellow masters and I in keeping the balance between the Worlds?" the old man said, staring deeply into my eyes, as if trying to convince me with his intense gaze.
I worried my lower lip with my teeth as I considered his offer. He was offering many things that I wouldn't have the chance to get in a lifetime, and I had nothing to leave behind, no family, nothing to say I existed here. I let out a wavering breath before replying, "I'll be your apprentice."
The old man smiled slightly, his tone sounding more lively than before.
"Wonderful! A truly wonderful decision, my dear. I do hope you enjoy your time as my apprentice. Now, introductions. I am Master Xehanort, and you, my dear?" the old man, who I now knew as Master Xehanort, inquired.
"Amel Abdalla, sir."
"Well Amel, come along. There is somewhere we must go to make this offical." Master Xehanort ordered as a large mass of shadows appeared behind him. He turned and walk straight into it, disappearing from sight. I stared at the shadows for a moment before following him into the darkness.
I gasped as the shadows seemed to stretch out into a long hall, the darkness weighing down on my tiny shoulders. I didn't enjoy the feeling. I sprinted forward, not stopping until I reached the exit.
I was in a strange place, completely devoid of life. Red stone canyons scored the land as the wind picked up the dust and dirt on the ground. I looked forward to where Master Xehanort stood; to his right was an older boy with a pale complexion, dark black spiky hair, and golden yellow eyes that seemed to be staring straight into my mind.
"So this is the brat you chose? Looks like a breeze could knock her down." the yellow eyed boy stated, his voice filled with contempt and feigned boredom.
"Vanitas, it is none of your concern about whom I have chosen. You do your part." the bald master turned his eyes onto me before commanding, "Come forth, Amel."
Putting one uncertain foot in front of the other, I walked towards the two before I was only a pace away from them. Master Xehanort reached his right hand out, a large blade appearing in his hand, resembling a key,only it looked much more deadly.
Reaching the hilt out towards me, Master Xehanort began reciting in his old, weathered voice: "In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend—no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."
I carefully wrapped my hand around the hilt as he began the incantation, his hand carefully leaving the Keyblade in my hand. It was a beautiful weapon, made of shining silver metal that was all sharp and deadly edges, and a blue stone resembling an eye sat in the end of the blade.
Looking back up at my master, I saw his eyes gleaming with approval as I attempted to hand the Keyblade back to him. With a wave of his hand, it disappeared from sight, causing me to jump slightly. I looked from my empty hand up to Master Xehanort and Vanitas, waiting for one of them to speak first.
"Congrats, brat. You're now officially his apprentice." the dark haired boy said with a huff, sarcasm written all over his face. His arms crossed his chest as he said this, his yellow eyes glaring down at me. I flinched under his gaze before Master Xehanort intervened.
"That's enough, Vanitas. Come you two, let us retire so we may begin Amel's lessons tomorrow." the bearded master commanded as he strided into another shadow mass with Vanitas soon to follow.
I trailed behind the older boy trying to ignore the darkness around me as it attempted to suffocate me. At the end of the tunnel was a corridor with many doors leading off of the hall, made all from dark tiles and stone.
"What is this place? I can feel the darkness fighting to get in but something's keeping it out." I asked out loud, glancing at the hall around me.
"This is a realm between the worlds, it exists as a type of refuge for travelers in the corridors of Darkness. This is where Vanitas and I reside when we are not on other worlds." Master Xehanort explained as he stopped before a door, "This will be your room, my dear. It will have everything you require while staying here. Please do not hesitate to ask for anything, I am your Master and I will see to it that you prosper under my tutelage."
"Yes, Master. Thank you for everything." I bowed slightly to Master Xehanort as he turned and walked away. Vanitas merely "humphed" before disappearing behind a black door.
I quickly entered my new room excited to see what was in store for me as an apprentice to a Keyblade Master.
For the first time in my life I awoke from my sleep fully refreshed and not worried about how I would eat that day. I had bathed the night before, scrubbing my skin and scalp raw in order to remove the dirt that has covered my skin for years.
My hour long bath had revealed smooth caramel skin free of bruises thanks to some of the Master's magic, and glossy brown hair that had dark streaks of black running through it. What was most surprising was seeing my eyes clearly for the first time. I'd never owned a mirror before, so I spent a lot of time looking into it, observing my eyes curiously.
They were a a deep, rich brown that resembled an expensive spice I'd seen some traveling merchants try to sell on Market day. Cocoa, I think it was. My eyes were set in in a slightly thin but still childish face, scrubbed clean of dirt and grime.
I had new clothes as well, a dress made of dark green material that looked like the trees in the pictures on my walls. I had a brown jacket and belt too, as well as new boots to wear on my feet. Shoes seemed so odd to me after spending a lifetime going without them.
I had a proper meal last night, and didn't go to sleep hungry for once. I exited my bathroom to find my breakfast on my desk, waiting to be devoured. There were some cooked eggs on the plate, as well as a few unknown fruits that were ripe rather than rotted.
I ate them with a ravenous appetite, everything on the plate within ten minutes. I had just set the plate aside when Master entered my bedroom.
I hurried to stand from my chair, stumbling a bit before managing to bow. Master Xehanort nodded in acknowledgment before seating himself in the spare chair beside my desk. I sat back down, giving my Master all the attention a five year old could possibly have.
Master fixed me with his golden stare as he addressed me.
"Now, Amel. I'm going to tell you the history of the Keyblades and the Masters of the past, so listen well child: 'In the age of fairytales, an age of great beauty, magic and myths, there were three entities in the cosmos: the World, Kingdom Hearts and the X-blade. Humans lived in peace and harmony, blessed by the light of Kingdom Hearts. But soon, more and more people craved to possess that precious light, thus the seeds of Darkness began to spread.
Thousands and thousands of people then started to create their own version of the mighty X-blade. These blades were the first Keyblades in existence, capable of many things, but used both for the Good and Evil. Some wielders fought for the protection of the Light, others for the balance of Darkness and Light. It was the beginning of the Keyblade War.
The Keyblade War broke out and the legions of Light and Darkness met and battled in the ancient land now called the Keyblade Graveyard. Today this land is just a grim reminder of that bloody and glorious clash, a desert of death. During the battle, the lives of thousands of people were not the only thing lost: Kingdom Hearts was lost forever, in the deepest Darkness.
Then, the X-blade was lost as well; it shattered into twenty pieces: 7 of Light and 13 of Darkness. The World then began to disintegrate into tiny islands, divided by invisible walls, thanks to the light remaining in the hearts of children. The Keyblade wielders who remained made a vow to the new Worlds: they would protect the last of the Light in the Cosmos from the clutches of Darkness.'"
I was entranced by my master's tale, the idea of a single pure light existing to protect everything being lost in the darkness; it was both magical and terrifying for a child's mind. My young mind processed the story a while after Master Xehanort had finished before coming to a question that needed an answer.
"Master, what side do you fight for?" I had asked, referring to the protectors of the Light and the protectors of the balance of the two forces. Master's golden gaze stared at my face for a long moment before he answered, as if he was searching for the answer in my eyes.
"I am in favour of the balance of the Light and Dark powers. We should not have to fear the Darkness as an evil power when it can be used as a strength. If you walk for too long in the Light, your shadow will only grow larger than you." His words weigh heavy on my heart now, for at the time, I truly believed that what my Master told me was the truth. I didn't question it at all during the time that I spent under his tutelage.
"Are there any other Keyblade Masters besides you?" I asked, curious to know if there were others with the same ideas as Master Xehanort.
"Why yes, there are two my dear. There's Yen Sid, a powerful wizard who gave up his title many years ago. And there is Master Eraqus, who I trained with before we both became masters. He resides in the Land of Departure and has three apprentices himself- Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. You will meet them all soon, considering both of Eraqus' elder students will be going through the Mark of Mastery examination within a few days and we shall both be in attendance." Xehanort replied, stroking his silver beard as he spoke. I watched him as he slowly stood from his chair and headed towards the door, another question on my tongue.
"Are they Protectors of the Light or do they believe in protecting the Balance?" Master Xehanort paused at the door, his hand resting on the handle. He glanced over his shoulder as his orange eyes sought my green ones.
"Eraqus believes in crushing the Darkness within one's self, and teaches his students such. It would be wise of you to not say otherwise whilst we are visiting him."He opened the door, stepping through it before addressing me again, "Come, we shall begin your first magic lesson."
