Prologue

Today I have met someone very intriguing. That 'someone' was none other than the door which I had come across during my endless wandering in search of a way to escape this forsaken world.

At first glance, it was a very old door, large and ancient looking. At the center of its structure there was a queer-looking pattern – a magic glyph. When I discovered this, I felt excited beyond measure. I thought I had finally found the way out.

But no matter how hard I pushed, the door would not open. I had pushed, and pushed and pushed even harder with every ounce of sheer strength I could muster. Still it would not move. Finally, after half an hour had passed, I gave up.

I had stood there, glaring at the door. "Open!" I shouted. "I, Ansem the Wise, demand you to open at once!" My attempts were futile. Without the power of the keyblade, no door can be opened by one's will.

"Your name?" a voice, neither male nor female, had said suddenly.

"Who's there?!" I had looked around, but there was nothing in this world to look at. Finally, my eyes rested on the door, and I had then realized who had spoken to me.

"Your name?" the door had said again. It wasn't a request, but a command.

"My name is Ansem. And you are?"

"I am known as the Gate Rune, one of the 27 True Runes of my world," the door replied coolly. There was a vast powerful quality in its voice, and I immediately knew I was speaking to a god.

"Pardon me, Oh Great One," I remember saying. "I know this may sound rude of me, but could you help me escape from this world? I was imprisoned here long ago and I would very much like to go back home."

"I cannot interfere with the affairs of this universe," the door said. "I am only here as an observer."

My hopes had fell. "Universe? I'm afraid I don't quite understand you."

"The universe in which our world resides in. Our Mother, who was once called Darkness."

I remember falling to my knees at the time. "Then all hope is lost. Xehanort has won."

"I never said I would not help you," the door had said, amusement present in its voice. "You wish to save your world and many others. If that is the case, then I can send you help."

The offer was too good to be true. However, I could not help but feel suspicious towards the door's generosity. "At what price?" I had asked.

"You know how to bargain well, I see," the door observed. "Very well. The information concerning the price will be given to you when the time comes. Beware, mortal. Should you break our bargain, I shall hand over your body and soul to my brother and sister, the Rune of Life and Death and the Rune of Punishment. They will take great pleasure in handling your fate from then on."

The door's warning was no laughing matter; that much I knew. "I promise, Great One," I had said, bowing low.

"The deal is sealed. Now, I must speak with my brothers and sisters. They will need to know of our bargain if they wish to lend their assistance." After that, the voice had gone.

It has been a few hours since I've spoken to the door. I have nothing left to do but to wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.

- Extract from the diary of Ansem during his imprisonment in the World of Nothingness.

The pain in his hand woke him. Hugo sat up abruptly in his bed, his mind in a state of utter panic. The hand that was in pain was the one that bore the True Flame Rune. What's happening to me?! he thought fearfully.

Suddenly, a strange light appeared in the middle of his bedroom. The light flashed once, and then it disappeared. In this place there stood a long, black haired woman clad in white.

"Who are you?" Hugo demanded. The pain in his hand was still hurting. His other hand reached for his dagger next to the bed.

The woman did not answer. The expression on her face was strangely unfocused, as if she was in a trance. "The True Fire Rune has agreed to send assistance. I shall now transport your consciousness to the other world."

"Consciousness? What do you—" his voice trailed off. The bright symbol of a rune appeared on the woman's chest, and the brilliant light that had appeared in his room a few moments ago had returned. "Good luck, young one," the woman said kindly.

There was a blinding flash. Hugo fell back to his bed. Darkness clouded over his vision as he felt his consciousness slipping away. Then his eyes closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.

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Comments from Author:

Short prologue, I know. But aren't some prologues short? Enjoy the story, everyone! Oh, and I do not own Suikoden and Kingdom Hearts. But I do own this fic.

P.S. The World of Nothingness is NOT the World of Emptiness. They're two different worlds and have abosolutely nothing to do with each other. Thank you.