Hello, everyone! Here's the first chapter of Hearts of is a sequel to my Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep story so if you haven't read it, please do. Thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts

"Much of my life has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. That knowledge has guarded this world well. Not a soul doubts that. I am blessed with people's smiles and respect. But though I am called a sage, there are things I do not understand. I believe darkness sleeps in every heart, no matter how pure. Given the chance, the smallest drop can spread and swallow the heart. I have witnessed it many times. Darkness…darkness of the heart. How is it born? How does it come to affect us so? As ruler of this world, I must find the answers. I must find them before the world is lost to those taken by the darkness."

Ansem the Wise set his pen down and leaned back in his chair. Someone knocked on his door.

"Enter." Ansem the Wise said. A young man about 18 stepped into the room. He had silver hair, wore a white lab coat, and black pants. "Master Ansem?" he said.

"Yes, Xehanort, come in, come in." Ansem the Wise said. "You wanted to see me?" Xehanort asked. "Yes, can you bring all the apprentices here? I have something to ask you all." Ansem the Wise said. "Right away, Master Ansem." Xehanort said.

As Xehanort shut the door to Ansem the Wise's study, he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey there, Mister Master."

Xehanort sighed. "Braig." he said. "Master Ansem would-"

"No need to repeat it." Braig said. "I overheard everything."

Xehanort turned to look at the man. He had short black hair, wore a guard's uniform, and a tattered red scarf around his neck. He also had a eyepatch on his right eye and jagged scar on the left side of his face along with his usual mischievous grin he constantly wore as if he knew something everyone else didn't.

"Don't you ever get tired of eavesdropping?" Xehanort asked. Braig simply shrugged. "What else is there to do here?"

"How about doing your job?" Xehanort said. "Like anything's gonna happen here." Braig said.

Xehanort sighed again. "Fine. Now if you'll excuse me I need to find the others."

Xehanort continued to walk off then turned back to Braig. "By the way, did you see the one new apprentice? The girl?"

"You mean Ria?" Braig said. He shook his head. "No."

"Ria!"

Ria ran through the streets of Radiant Garden clutching her books to her chest as she hurried to the castle. She waved to her friends, Lea, Isa, and Laina, who had been calling her name. "Talk to you guys later!" she yelled to them.

Ria hurried up the steps saying hi to Kairi's grandma, Kairi, and Sakura who were leaving the castle. Ria quickly ran into the castle catching up to Dilan and Aleaus, the two guards who protected the castle.

"Sorry, I almost forgot we had meeting today." Ria said. Dilan and Aleaus looked at each other and didn't say anything. The three of them went to Ansem the Wise's study and found Xehanort and Braig there along with Even and Ienzo two scientists who worked in the castle.

Once everyone was there Ansem the Wise spoke. "As the seven of you know, I been considering doing an experiment to solve the darkness of the heart." The other apprentices all nodded.

"I have set up a machine." Ansem the Wise said. "That will allow us to explore the depths of a person's heart. The only question is who can handle such an test?"

Xehanort stepped foreword. "Why not me sir?" he said. "If you explore my heart perhaps we'll be able to unlock my memories."

"Yes…" Even agreed. "This can lead us to find out about Xehanort's past. I prepose we experiment on him."

Ansem the Wise looked deep in thought. "I will consider it and get back to you all tomorrow. Until then, not a word of this to anyone."

The seven apprentices nodded and left.

So how was it? Was it good? Review guys. Thanks!