A normal night, like so many others, this was the spectacle that appeared before her eyes, on another night she would spend sleepless.
There would have been nothing wrong with seeing a girl who can not sleep at night, except for the fact that she was walking through the deserted streets of her city. She was alone and walked with a slow and steady gait. Her clothes were covered with a dark cape, her salty eyes kept scanning the streets for something. The girl continued to walk for endless minutes until she found what she was looking for: a black creature was stalking around, as if it were looking for something. The girl covered her brown hair and part of her pale face with the hood of her cloak and two long sharp swords appeared in her hands, she eliminated in one fell swoop the creature, which disappeared into nothingness, making no noise.
-Stupid heartless!- She said, making the two weapons disappear and resuming her journey.
After about ten minutes she stopped in front of a house, entered a half-open window on the second floor, as she had been doing for so long that she had lost count.
Taking care not to make the slightest noise, she took off her cloak and hid it in a small chest near the bed. Before closing it began to rummage inside stopping to look a crumpled photograph and then put it back in place. She closed the case and put a greenish crystal in the lock, she heard the typical sound of the lock closing, that way no one could open it.
Then she went to bed, where, however, despite the tiredness, she could not get to sleep, her eyes began to examine the room: a normal room, without posters, with a small television and a shelf full of video games, comics and objects concerning the computer.
No one could have ever imagined that Ibris, the girl who was always alone, listening to music with a pair of earphones and renowned for her apathy, at night rushed around the city ready to eliminate monsters who tried to take possession of hearts of people. She snuffled loudly and then forced herself to sleep, but first turned her gaze to the window, from which the stars could be seen and at that moment she noticed something strange: a star. A common star that emanated a faint light and that suddenly died out, as if it had never existed. A very hard day awaited her.
When she arrived at school, she sat down at her usual place, ignoring all her friends.
- Did you hear? It seems that even those creatures were seen last night, and like the last sighting, the guy who eliminated them came, -said a boy, who was sitting behind Ibris.
Ibris pretended not to be interested in the discussion.
-Bah, I think it's just fantasy. For years now this rumor has turned, and it seems strange to me that this person has nothing better to do than eliminate imaginary monsters every night. -The blonde girl who had just talked turned to Ibris.
-Hey, Ibris, what do you think? - she asked.
- What are you talking about? Sorry, but I was not listening- replied Ibris, simulating an embarrassed smile.
-We were talking about that individual who appears at night. You say it really exists or not? - asked the second boy.
-Bah, all stupid things.- Ibris replied. -Rather ...- she said trying to change the subject. - Does any of you have a newspaper? This night I thought I saw a strange phenomenon, but it could have been the fault of the hour.-
-Still those problems of insomnia?- The blonde asked when she was giving her phone.
-Unfortunately ... Thanks- answered Ibris, taking the device and looking among the latest news. If she was right, the news had to be on the front pages, if not the first. And indeed she was right. -Disappearance of a star in the constellation of Ottuno!- The title cited.
-What? How does a star disappear into air in a few seconds?
-Ah, do not ask me, Clare. I've never been interested in the stars, -she replied.
Clare was an energetic and sporty girl, with blonde hair and cerulean eyes, Ibris had known her for years, she was her classmate, her best friend, her sister. Yet Ibris never had the courage to open up with her about her greatest regret, her greatest weight.
-Hey, Ibris, what's wrong?- She asked, noticing how the girl was immersed in her thoughts.
-Eh? No nothing, excuse me, I was lost in my thoughts, -she said, then take a notebook and start writing.
-It's not possible ...- Kairi said. - The Heartless and the Nobody should not cease to exist after the defeat of Xemnas? -
-So it should have been,- Sora said, folding the letter and putting it in her pocket.
-This means that the worlds risk being attacked again,- added Riku.
-Yes, and this can only mean one thing... -Sora began. - Restart our journey.- Sora seemed enthusiastic about the idea of traveling with his friends. After trying in vain to pass the examination of mastery could not wait to start another adventure with his best friends.
-Will Lea come too?- Kairi asked.
-Maybe. What do you think about Riku? - asked the silver-haired master keyblade. Riku, however, was not paying attention to the conversation.
-Earth calls Riku! -
-Yes? Sorry I was distracted, -he said. He had a strange feeling.
-You think that Lea will come with us? -
-Probable.- was his dry reply. -We are going to get ready! -
-Yes, sir!-
After the lessons Ibris made to go back home, Clare tried to fit her in a lunch at the new club but without success. The girl walked through the streets when her phone rang, not even paying attention to the number on the screen, she already knew who was.
-Hello... Yes ... All right ... By when? ... I'll be ready ... seriously ?! But this does not complicate things? ... ok, I'll wait ... I'll see you tonight.- she hung up and then hurry up. If Hart was right then she would meet them soon. How much time had passed? She did not even know it either. She hurried home to get ready: she changed her uniform with a shortsuit, high boots to the knee and a belt from which a long strip of pink fabric with floral trimmings ran from the end that covered her right leg almost to at the ankle. They had not dressed in that way for centuries, and perhaps those clothes started to be tight. She looked at herself in the mirror, observing the features of her face framed by long hair partly held in a small bun. She looked at her reflection with undecided and then take her phone and type in a long number. After a couple of seconds, her interlocutor answered.
- Hey Doc! It's me, I need a favor, -she said, touching her steel prosthesis. No one knew how Ibris had lost her right leg, even Clare was aware of it, when the girl took the subject Ibris always changed the subject making it understand her will to keep this information secret. After the call was ready to leave.
-Why do you need a new prosthesis? - Clare's voice made her jump. When did she enter? The blonde was standing in the doorway of her room and holding a plastic bag full of food.
-Were not you at lunch? - asked the brunette trying to remain impassive.
-I did not want to leave you alone. Why do you need a new prosthesis? Does it hurt?-
-I'm leaving! You can keep the emergency keys. I will not go home for a while .- needless to hide the truth at this point. Clare's cerulean eyes widened.
-Leave? For where? Why? When?-
-This evening.-
-Why do not you tell me? You do not trust me? We've known each other since childhood! - Ibris took the box near the bed and without looking at her friend told her not to meddle.
- Explain that you take it lately? You were already suspicious but now ... now it's even worse. Whatever happened, we can solve it together. -
-Clare- Ibris pushed her away from the door and with a cold, impassive and cruel look she told her -Never come closer to me if you care about the life.- before Clare could retaliate the earth trembled. Ibris ran out of the house to find the streets full of heartless.
-But ...- Clare did not finish her statement that Ibris launched the attack. They were simple neoshadow but their number worried her. They had found it. She could not wait any longer, she had to leave immediately. Immersed in her thoughts she did not see the heartless that was about to hit her from behind. When she noticed it was too late, the shot that was now ready to cash but did not arrive.
-Are you okay?- Asked a young guy with silver hair and with a keyblade in his hand. -I admire your desire to fight, but your swords will not be able to stop them- she told him as she started the attack again. Ibris was banned for a moment and then unsheath the blades and exterminate a dozen heartless in a few seconds.
-My katanas are as efficient as your keyblade,- she said in her pedantic tone as the boy looked at her in surprise.
-Riku, careful! - said two guys. A brown pointed hair young man and a red-haired girl. Riku whipped around hitting a full-bodied Nobody nearby. The two newcomers joined the clash and when all the heartless were defeated Ibris scoured the surrounding area noting that Clare was no longer there.
-She must have been safe.- She thought, -Better like that!- She started to leave.
-Hey! Wait! - said the dark one. -Thanks for your help. I am Sora. They are Riku and Kairi.- the boy was lively.
-How do you know the keyblade? - said the albino instead. Straight to the point. Ibris wanted to ignore them and continue on her way but it was too risky to stay in the city. She turned around, looking at the three and with one of her fake smile introduced herself.
- I'm Ibris.-
-How do you know the keyblade? - again with that question.
-I know a lot of things.- was her answer.
-Such as?-
-Like the heartless, the nobody, the guardians, Xehanort,- she said that name in a slow and intimidating tone.
-You're on his side, are not you?-
-I am not on the side of anyone except mind sweetness. Even if I would be happy to sell some information.
-To sell? But we do not have so much money- the redhead made her way.
-Information in exchange for a passage with the gummyship.-
- You also know the gummyship.- Riku seemed irritated by the figure before them.
-If you take me to Radian Garden, I can tell you what I know.-
Getting that passage was easy, too easy. The gummyship was not very large, it seemed designed for just four people.
-We were still going to Radian Garden. We stopped in that world only because of the heartless.-Sora told her as she helped Ibris to get on the shuttle. Ibris had just had time to take her specially shrunk box before departure.
-You know ... you're really stupid: you make me go up without even making sure she has told the truth.-
-Sora's Idea.- the albino grumbled. Sora smiled radiantly, she wanted to try to trust, she did not know why but she wanted to. -We are still waiting for answers. Who are you?-
-Yet? My name is Ibris and I had a pretty lousy life to know all about this stupid war between light and darkness. -
-Are you a guardian ?- Kairi asked her. - Toy have a very strong light.-
-If you like to call me like that.-
-So why do not you use your keyblade to fight?- Sora summoned her royal chain proudly.
-My business will be, no?- At that moment her phone rang.
-Yes? ... I'm sorry I did not have time to call you ... I know ... I know ... I promise ... you do not have to worry is locked ... yes ... see you there ... hi!. -She hung up, finding herself looking at the three of them.
-I hope there is the autopilot.-
-That girl is strange.- Kairi made off after her long talk with the brunette.
-We're giving you a ride and we do not have a shred of information yet.-
-Riku, calm down.- Sora told him. -Getting nervous does not do anything.-
-It could be our enemy.-
-She's a guardian! Kairi answered.
-Also Xehanort.-
As the three argued Ibris listened to the conversation, pretended to sleep while deciphering everything that was happening. Of course, she could have used it but she already knew what she would find out. She smiled a little 'seeing their naivety or maybe she was a great actress. She felt Riku scold Sora and, although her eyes were closed, she could perfectly imagine the scene. She turned her back to the three of them while she thought of Clare: she had left the girl alone, she knew she had lost her friend but she told herself that it was right, she had already lost too much in recent years.