Jaganthunder here with my first ever Kingdom Hearts story. This story is about young Ienzo and his life leading up to when he becomes Zexion. It takes place two years prior to BbS so by my estimate Ienzo is six.
This story is dedicated to my best friend Emily Tomlin, who lost her life Nov. 12, 2012
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of its affiliates. I do, however own the plot to this story.
Ansem the Wise had heard of the boy who had read every single book the Radiant Garden orphanage had to offer. He had heard of the boy who, at age five, had witnessed his parents' murder and had yet to speak a word since. Ansem had heard of him but had never seen him. Yet as Ansem stepped into the dimly-lit bedroom and took sight of the boy, he could not help but wonder why he had not come to see the prodigy sooner.
He was a small boy, quite small for a six-year old. In fact, he looked closer to four. He was sitting cross-legged hunched over a thick tome, his metallic periwinkle hair covering most of the right side of his face. The child was wearing a worn pair of jeans and an overly large tee-shirt that did little to hide the boy's skinny frame. The one visible azure blue eye did not budge from the pages even as the middle-aged man stepped into the room. As the man moved closer he caught a glimpse of the book's title.
"Reading the dictionary, I see. Looking up any word in particular?" the man questioned. The child briefly looked up before returning his gaze to the book, shaking his head.
"Just reading for the sake of reading then, hm? A fine pastime if I do say so myself. Besides, if I've heard correctly, you've already read everything else here, haven't you?"
Ienzo, realizing this strange man was not going to simply leave be, closed his book and looked up. The man continued.
"My name is Ansem, and you are Ienzo, correct?" Ienzo's eyes widened at the name. Everyone knew who King Ansem the Wise was. But why was he there? Ienzo gave the king a questioning look, causing Ansem to chuckle.
"I see I have your attention. In that case, I have a proposal for you," he said.
Ansem visited a few times during the two weeks that followed. During these visits he would have more or less one-sided conversations with the six-year old. And every time Ienzo surprised him a little bit more. The boy scored extremely high on all his I.Q. tests and, while his social skills had much to be desired, his intelligence level was that of a college student.
On Ansem's final visit, the day he was to bring Ienzo home, the man found the child in quite a state. Ansem knew there had been some bullying from the older boys and such was to be expected. After all, with Ienzo's higher than average intelligence and diminutive stature he was a prime target for such sport. Ansem had seen the small child look roughed up before, but never like this. Apparently word had gotten out about the ruler's interest in what the other children deemed a freak and the aggression had escalated.
Ienzo was currently sporting a black eye, a twisted ankle, gashes, bruises and, to the man's horror, several intricate burns where pieces of wire had been heated up and pressed into his skin. According to the matron, Ienzo had gone missing for several hours. When she had finally found him, he was bound at the wrists and locked in a chest. Still, the boy shed no tears. As Ansem approached to brush his hand against one of Ienzo's bandaged arms, the boy drew back, a frightened look on his usually emotionless face.
"Shush, little one. It will be alright," he said to the child as he knelt in front of him, quietly muttering, "cura". A bright green light enveloped the child. Bruises, burns, twisted ankle, and his black eye disappeared before their eyes, leaving only some light scratches on him. "Now then," he said, standing up. "Ready to go see your new home?"
Ienzo nodded shyly, taking ahold of the man's hand. The two proceeded to leave the orphanage for the final time.