Broken fell and fell into the massive dark realm. He landed on a …a something. It was solid, like a stone platform. He took one cautious step forward. Suddenly, the dark ground erupted! Thousands of doves flew up and away into the darkness. He looked down. The platform was a stain-glass painting of a strange creature. It was a humanoid hedgehog. She had pink hair and wore a red dress. 7 Jewels were circled around her.
So much to do. So little time.
"…What?" Broken had no clue where the voice had come from. He couldn't tell whether it was male or female, as it spoke to his heart without words. 3 pedestals slowly rose up from the ground. Each had a different sword on it. But they were all built in the same fashion: a purple hilt with 3 triangles arranged on it.
Well, let's get started. Choose your weapon wisely.
Broken went to one of them. The sword was relatively long and very thick.
The Blade of the Buskgrowlsh. Might and power unto its beholder. Is this your weapon?
He decided it should be. It was a little heavy, but not too much. Broken really liked the feel of it. The sword disappeared into thin air.
You must also give up a power. Again, choose carefully.
He walked to the second sword. It was short and thin, like a wand. The blade looked more like a staff.
The wand of the Spellastrulo. Strange, but useful powers you do not know of yet. Do you give this up?
"No. I might need this. Besides, I should probably check the other one first."
He placed it back and checked the third one. This was very long and thin.
The sword of the Sritike. A swift and deadly expert. Do you give this up?
Broken frowned. I'm confident in my skill, but I'm no expert. Besides, I prefer power over speed. He thought as he gave it up. The Sritike sword faded and the Buskgrowlsh Blade rematerialized in his hands.
Your path has been set.
Suddenly, Broken was teleported onto another pillar! This one had a girl dressed in a Japanese school uniform. Except she had two very long locks of hair with two balls at the top. The painting showed her floating in front of a moon.
Wield your sword. The enemy will come soon.
Small, black blotches appeared over the painting. Slowly, they grew and sprouted to life!
"What the-?!"
Heartless. Those that have no hearts. You must defeat them.
Broken slashed his blade! One Heartless burst into particles. It didn't take much effort to destroy them all.
Then he was teleported again! The last platform held a girl dressed in long, white robes. She had long, whitish-silver hair. But her eyes were an eerie bright blue. She held a book with a strange symbol on it.
Your training is nearly complete. There is one last trial you must face.
Broken looked behind him. Something was odd about his shadow. He just couldn't quite place it…
But be warned, the closer you get to the light…
The shadow suddenly jumped to life! It was a giant, all-black version of himself!
The greater the darkness becomes.
The shadow lifted its massive hand and punched! Slowly, Broken was sucked into it. As the darkness swallowed him, the "voice" said one last thing.
But always remember…you are the one who will-
Broken's eyes quickly opened. He was on the beach. Clearly, he'd fallen asleep. "It was just a dream…" He muttered. But as he lay back down to try and sleep, a girl's face blocked the sunlight.
"GOOOODDD MOOOOORRRRNING!!!"
"Augh!" Broken jumped back up again. "Pan!"
"Heh heh! I knew I'd find you snoozing down here, big brother."
"Listen, I had the weirdest dream! I was…" He went into deep thought. "Aw, man! I forgot already."
"That apparently wasn't all you forgot." A humanoid black hedgehog stood behind them with a log under his arm. "Some of us are working on the raft!"
"Shadow, it's just a break!"
Broken was forced to go find some food. Naturally, he had to find mushrooms: an ingredient in most of Pan's favorite meals.
"Mushrooms?! On the islands? You're kidding, right?" He demanded of his sister.
"They should be in a dark place. Try the secret spot."
The "secret spot" was a cave near a local waterfall. The only entrance was a little hole. Broken, Pan, and Shadow always used to hang out there, drawing pictures on the walls, playing games, and stuff. But Broken saw something strange today: A door situated on one of the cave walls. Technically, it looked like a door, but there was no way of opening it without a knob or a handle. Though there was a strange yellow light coming from the other side.
As Broken approached it, he heard a voice from behind him. "How foolish. You know nothing of it."
"Huh?" He turned around. A man in black robes was standing behind him, his face covered by a hood.
"The door will open soon. And this world will plunge into darkness."
"What are talking about? Are you on drugs or something?"
"One who knows nothing can understand nothing."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" But he blinked once and the man was gone. Confused, he simply continued looking for mushrooms.
Destiny Islands – Nighttime
Broken suddenly woke up in his room. A large storm was raging outside. "Oh no, the raft!" He quickly jumped out of bed, got dressed, and ran out to the dock. The raft that was finished earlier that day was undamaged.
But something was wrong. Heartless began to emerge from the beach sands! The Buskgrowlsh Blade materialized in Broken's hand! "The sword…the monsters…that was no dream!"
The Heartless attacked! Broken made a huge, sweeping slash! Several of them were destroyed! It took some effort, but he wiped out a lot of them. Unfortunately, more and more kept appearing! It wasn't long before Broken began to lose. He rested his heavy sword in the sand but kept it gripped tightly. This is tougher than I thought…
Surprisingly, the Heartless ran away and began to attack other parts of the island. Then Broken noticed Shadow standing in front of him. A very strange and determined look was in his eyes.
"…Shadow?"
"It has begun, Broken. We don't need the raft to go to other worlds now. I don't know about you, but I'm not afraid of the darkness; we cannot turn back now."
A black cloud began to consume the both of them! Broken leapt out just in time, but Shadow stayed. When the darkness faded, he was gone. The "silent voice" spoke again!
Always remember. You are the one who will open the door.
"The…door?" Then he realized something. "You don't think…" He ran back to the cave. Nothing had changed; the knob-less door was still there. Suddenly the Buskgrowlsh Blade glowed and shot a laser into it!
The door opened! Broken couldn't see what was behind it because he was immediately blown off his feet and onto the beach! Slowly, he rose out of the sand. The giant Heartless shaped like himself from the dream loomed over him!
"You…" Broken lifted the sword. "This is my home! Get out!"
The Heartless punched the ground! But Broken was smart enough to jump back and dodge it! When the fist struck the sand, smaller Heartless began to sprout to life! Quickly, Broken slice his foes away and began to stab at the massive hand!
But then it stopped attacking. Confused, Broken looked up. A giant ball of darkness, fire, and lighting was looming over their heads! Broken lost his footing and was sucked in! Everything went dark…
Traverse Town -1st District
Two young women were searching the streets for a person who knew about the Heartless. The older one, a magician, was tall and had long, light blue hair. She wore white and blue robes and wielded a staff. The younger girl, a lumberjack, was little and had spiky pink hair. She wore a simple purple dress and wielded an axe bigger than she was. They looked up at the sky and saw something.
"Look, Presea! A star's going out!" The magician pointed to it.
"Mia, do you think this is what the King's letter was talking about?"
"It has to be. We need to find Auron and this 'Master', fast!"
They ran off, continuing the search. Meanwhile, Broken woke up in a nearby alley. He stood up, though with much effort.
"Ohhh…What hit me?" He looked around at Traverse Town. "Please tell me this is all a dream…" With no particular goal in mind, he started walking.
Traverse Town – 2nd District
Broken emerged onto a balcony overlooking the central plaza. In the distance, a giant building with a clock at the top was visible. Suddenly, three Heartless emerged right in front of him!
He pulled out the Buskgrowlsh Blade. "You…you're the freaks that attacked my island! You'll pay!"
Slash! Al three went down. "Heh heh. I'm getting better at this." But then another trio appeared! Broken cut them down, but more kept coming back.
"Grr…there's too many!" He retreated back to where he had woken up…
Traverse Town – 1st District
"huff…Man, this is tough."
"Hey, you." A voice said.
Broken turned around. A man in red clothes with black under-armor was there. His right arm was tucked in his robes, and a jar hung from his side.
"That sword…is that what I think it is?" He pointed to the Buskgrowlsh Blade, looking through his sunglasses.
"I don't know. Is it?"
He grinned. "Hmph. You're too cocky for your own good. I need you to come with me. The world may be at stake."
Broken looked at the jar, assuming it contained beer or rum. "Are you drunk or something?"
"No, and I'm serious. Come. Now. We have very little time."
Broken readied his sword. "Forget it."
The man sighed. "I didn't want to have to do this…" He pulled out a huge, thick sword with his hidden right arm! The blade itself was taller than Broken!
"Holy-"
THUNK! The flat side of the sword hit Broken's head with a nasty, metallic bang. He dropped unconscious.
A thief in green clothes stepped next to him. "Didja get him, Auron?" She asked.
"He's right here. Rikku, things are worse than we thought." Auron looked at Broken and the Buskgrowlsh Blade. "A lot worse."
Traverse Town – 2nd District - Alleyway
Mia and Presea continued searching for Auron and the "Master". The King's quest could not be ignored.
Mia held her staff close, but at ready. "Um…Presea?"
"Yes?"
"I…uh…I've got a really bad feeling about this place."
"It is a bit spooky." Presea admitted.
"What are the odds the 'Master' would be in this alley?" Mia asked.
"12. Very unlikely."
"Um…excuse me." Someone tapped Presea on the shoulder. They both jumped high and yelled. Another woman in white summoner's robes was standing there.
"I'm sorry I startled you. Did the King send you?"
Mia and Presea gasped. "Yes!"
"I have a lot to tell you. My name is Yuna."
Traverse Town – 2nd District - Hotel
Broken slowly woke up. He had a huge lump on his head. Pan was standing over him. "Wake up, sleepyhead."
"Ungh…Pan! I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Pan? What are you talking about?" Slowly, her image changed to Rikku's. "Auron! I think you hit him too hard!"
Broken jumped out of the bed. "Who are you people?! What do you want with me?!"
"It's about them…and you." Auron replied. "Those black creatures…they're called the Heartless."
"Just what do they want?"
"What they don't have: hearts. As their name suggests, they have no souls. So they seek them. They cannot be truly stopped unless…" Auron pointed to the Buskgrowlsh Blade.
"Unless the Chosen of the Master Sword appears."