A/N: Hi guys! I figured you would like something fresher and newer coming from me. It's been a while, and I'm storing "High School Hearts"(currently known as "The Awakening") for another time, since my creativity with that story has been relatively spent and I am not as inspired as I used to be. I'm SO sorry for my lack of work, but I hope this new story will make up for it. This story is based off of "Confusing Dreams" by WishingDreamer5, but this story is AU. Like, completely Kingdom Hearts-altering. If you have not read any of WishingDreamer5's stories, I recommend you do so (after giving me a chance, of course :3). WishingDreamer5 is a fantastic writer and helpful constructive critic, so go look at their profile after reading what I have to offer! :3

When you doubt the path trod thus far, when the hand you held is lost to you, gaze anew at the heart that once was... for all the answers are within.

Another night passed, and Xehanort was sure he was being haunted. How else could he explain these strange dreams that consistently occurred? There was no explanation for these hallucinations, these illusions that came from his subconscious and delved into his thoughts for the rest of his days.

Xehanort briefly remembered these dreams beginning ever since Ansem the Wise and his apprentices found him in Radiant Garden, his previous life a mysterious subject. When Xehanort offered himself up as a test subject in the experiments on darkness in people's hearts, his dreams became stronger, more vivid. Almost as if they were…memories.

Stop it, Xehanort thought as he entered the underground laboratory underneath Ansem's castle. He was returning to the lab to speculate more on the darkness in people's hearts. How could he stop it? Then again, Xehanort didn't even know if there was darkness in his own heart, or if there was light. It was too much for him to try to remember more about himself; he passed out last time he tried to remember. The scientists wouldn't let him out of bed for a week, as they were trying to determine the cause of his collapse.

"It is time that we experiment on our machine," Ansem spoke eagerly, with a jolly look on his face. He obviously didn't know that Xehanort was standing there, or he would have immediately acknowledged him then continued his statement.

"What? But, Ansem, do we even know if the machine is ready yet?" young Ienzo asked, his blue-grey eyes peeking from his slate-colored fringe of hair. He was the youngest apprentice of them all, and he was definitely the one who questioned everything being done, as if everything must be an illusion.

Ansem, with a proud stance no matter the time, day, or situation, swiftly turned and glanced at Ienzo with a piercing gaze. Xehanort was always thrown off by how brown Ansem's eyes were, and how the amber glow radiating from his eyes was so familiar to that of Xehanort's. "Ienzo," he calmly said with a deep, booming voice, "Experiments are meant to reveal the nature of our subject and show what it is capable of. Have faith in this machine. We will never know if the machine works if we do not try to make it work."

Ienzo looked mildly taken aback, but he nodded in agreement. It was obvious to Xehanort why Ansem was known as "Ansem the Wise". The man not only had a knowing look, but he could give you faith in whatever he had faith in, even if he didn't know what would happen.

"Ah, Xehanort! Are we ready to test the machine?" Ansem asked of him, to which Xehanort could not say 'no'. "Well, Ansem, it is really up to you, but I propose that we give our machine a try."

"Splendid!" Ansem's eyes glowed brighter than usual, Xehanort thought. It was as if he was expecting something special to happen. The men got to work, preparing to test the machine on Xehanort. Meanwhile, Xehanort was mentally preparing himself for the test. The dreams, however, were still on his mind. He was coming to the point of insanity, but he knew that these dreams had some meaning. What meaning, he did not know.

Before Xehanort could push his dreams to the back of his mind, Ansem brought him aside to the back of the room and into another room the size of a closet. All of Ansem's elixirs and potions and chemicals were stored here, and it was in Ansem's best interests that he keep them away from above ground. Xehanort didn't know why Ansem drug him there, but he assumed that there was some good reason for it.

Ansem left the door open and spoke quietly, "Xehanort, I suspect that this trial of our machine may revive your memories from their slumber."

"What brings you to this conclusion?" Xehanort inquired, his bright brown eyes thoughtful and wondering.

"If there is lingering darkness in your heart and this machine separates this darkness from you, the light may bring your memories back; whether in an instant or through an eternity, I cannot say." Ansem looked solemnly at Xehanort, the scientist obviously hoping for his hypothesis to come true. He continued, "Just trust in me that this may work, my friend."

Xehanort did trust in Ansem, that much was true. What Xehanort could not comprehend was the return of his memories. He felt as if his memories were slowly coming through to him, but only through his sleep. This was a new birth by sleep, a time when Xehanort could come to the conclusion of whether or not he is who his dreams interpreted him as. Only one thing could be done: Xehanort must go to the machine.

The men stepped out as Dilan, another apprentice, approached them with a skeptical visage gracing his features. "Ready, Xehanort?"

The silver-haired man thought to himself, Am I really? "As ready as I'll ever be," Xehanort chose to respond, Ansem becoming moderately giddy. The scientists all receded from the machine and Xehanort in case something should happen. He moved forward, his heart pounding and his vision already growing blurry. Anything could happen in the next minute, he knew. But it was his job as a scientist to go out into the unknown and discover everything that can be discovered.

The metal steps clanged and creaked under his hard shoes, and that sound reverberated through the silent space underneath the castle. Xehanort made one last step to the center of the machine and stopped, the suspense killing him as he waited for the scientists to begin. He heard the booming sound of the lever being pulled and beaten against the panel that activated the machine, and as Xehanort heard the first hissing sparks he immediately lost his breath. Images took over his vision as the electricity pulsated through him and flashed about the room. The initial shock alone made the man scream, but what haunted him was another vision of two… no, three or four… people who often occurred in his dreams night after night. The last thing he felt was an electrical surge running through his veins. The last thing he heard was, "Come back! Don't give in!" The last thing he saw was blue hair and blue eyes on a young woman.

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