I had some fun writing this one, it's kind of like the sequel to "Realization" Please don't mind the gayness of the letter when you get to it.
Disclaimer: I do not own The apprentices or any other Kingdom Hearts characters,
oh but if I did...
"Xehanort you can't deny the way you look at him, everyone can see it! It's just indescribably wrong." Xehanort gazed at Even in an innocent manner. "Why Even, who ever, are you talking about?"
Even stamped his foot out of frustration, for Xehanort was never straightforward. "You know very well that it's Ienzo!"
"Oh, him, well I have to admit he is interesting, but nothing more than that."
"I don't believe you."
"Oh really?" Xehanort said with a strange smile, almost that of a madman. " Well that's just too bad for you." Even shrank back into a corner in the white workroom, as Xehanort grabbed a rope from one of the work benches, and began struggling to tie him. Even tried to fend him off as best as he could, but Xehanort easily overpowered him. Even ( who now had his hands and legs bound) had begun wishing that Dilan had gone with him when he had the chance.
"What are you going to do with me? Unhand me this instant you ingrate or Master Ansem will punish you!"
"That is highly unlikely seeing as you and Dilan are going on hiatus for a little while." With no more than that Xehanort tossed Even into a small broom closet with nothing but a few water bottles and some blankets.
For the remainder of the day everyone was low key, except Dilan who was wandering the massive halls looking for a certain lanky, dirty blond apprentice.
"Xehanort, where is Even." He said in a very serious tone, arms folded.
"I'm not quite sure, Dilan. Why do you ask?" Xehanort said indifferently.
"Because Even told me a few hours ago that he needed to confront you on something important. Out with it, where did you put him."
"Search me." Xehanort threw up his arms, as if to emphasize his statement.
"I think that you will, come with me to the work room." Xehanort knew that wasn't a request, and when Dilan had his back turned, Xehanort smiled a familiar sick smile.
Dilan spent some time looking around the workroom, but could not find his lover. He did not even notice, Xehanort coming after him with a coiled rope. Soon enough Dilan found his lover, and shared Even's fate. "You two play nice now." Xehanort chuckled, in a psychotic way.
By the time dinner rolled around Dilan and Even's disappearance was noticed. So when Ansem asked him if he knew anything about the situation he said, "Why yes, sir, they left this letter for me to give to you." It read:
Dear Master Ansem,
We have decided to take a vacation together, to relax. Also to take some time to our selves, which we have not done in a while. Mainly we did not want to tell you for fear that you would say no. So please don't worry about us, we will be back soon.
Sincerely Dilan & Even
"Well, I guess they were tired and needed some time to themselves, still, one would think that they would have at least given me better notice." Master Ansem tried to say calmly, but Xehanort could detect a tone of hesitation.
Xehanort noticed Ienzo staring at him, as if he knew that it was he who put Dilan and Even away. But Ienzo quickly looked away as Xehanort returned his stare.
"Hi Briag! What might you be up to?" Xehanort grinned politely at the semi-confused boy.
"Um, well, right now I'm working on my target practice. Dilan says that there's room for improvement, but don't see how I can get any better." He boasted.
"Since your so good already, do you mind if I show you an important discovery in the lab?" Briag did not like Xehanort very much, but he figured that, he wasn't much of a threat. So he want along. On the way there Xehanoprt asked him a strange question. "Briag, do you notice if I pay a certain person more attention than everyone else?"
Briag who was stumped, answered truthfully. "Well ya, do kind of pay Ienzo a little more attention than the others, like staring at him and stuff...uh"
"We're here, oh and Briag, thank you for informing me." He said sweetly, like honey dipped in tea. He pushed Briag into the lab, and no one saw him again for the rest of the day.
Ansem had to leave on important business, apparently the farmers of Radiant Garden needed more land for better crops. (Which is why he did not comment on Briag's disappearance.) So that left Ienzo, Elaeus, and Xehanort alone in the castle for the day. Ienzo was isolated in the library, and Elaeus was in the white workroom.
"Elaeus, it's Ienzo, he's been hurt! You must come quickly and help!" The two apprentices rushed to the labs. But not a soul was to be found there.
"Where is he?"Elaeus asked in a worried tone. "Xehanort, what do you think, you're doing."
"I'm doing what is best for me and Radiant Gardens." He said viciously as he closed the door of the laboratory.
Ienzo began to get nervous as time past. Elaeus had promised to meet him in the library, after he was finished repairing a broken cabinet door in the workroom. Just as he made up his mind to go off and find Elaeus, Xehanort entered the library, wearing an unreadable mask for a face.
"Xehanort, is Elaeus with you?" Ienzo asked politely.
"No he's not Ienzo, my dear, in fact he wont be coming back at all." He said with cold smile.
He glided across the floor to the small shaking youth. "What are you saying Xehanort?"
"What I am saying is that you and I are very much alone now."
Iezno squeaked with fear and sorrow. 'How could this be?' He thought. 'Has Xehanort really done away with all of them?' It could not be, Ienzo would not let it. He pushed past Xehanort's bulk and ran down the many halls until he reached the lab. But it was as empty as a picked over battlefield.
'What!?' He checked everywhere for any of them. The dinning room, kitchen, shooting range, even the gardens, but to no avail. He tried to make his way to his room, but Xehanort was waiting outside the door.
"Dearest Ienzo, will you please let me explain?" He said softly.
"Don't call me pet names! And what do you mean by 'explain'?" He shrieked. Xehanort patted him on the head, " There was a terrible accident, the darkness over powered them all, they were consumed by their own dark hearts."
"I don't understand." Xehanort looked into those deep gray blue eyes, that seemed to want everything. "How about you get some rest, and when Ansem comes back I can explain everything to the both of you."
"It's Master Ansem." Ienzo corrected.
"Not for long" Xehanort said venomously under his breath as he tucked Iezno in.
That dawn Ansem arrived, only to find Xehanort waiting at the bottom steps of the castle. "My boy, Xehanort, you did not have to wait for me to come back. What a nice surprise."
Xehanort smiled cutely. "Why yes it is, and there are more surprises to come! I have an important experiment that I am just dying you show you. Right this way."
Xehanort led Ansem to the workroom. "All right now close your eyes, and no peeking!" Ansem too soft hearted to say no, did so. The fool did not notice Xehanort's ropes until his feet were tied. Anesm fell onto the hard marble floor. Stunned after the fall, he tried to untie himself, paying Xehanort and his anaesthesia no mind. Until of course it was too late.
Just before his lost concousinos Ansem said, "Xehanort what do you think you're doing!" "Claiming what belongs to me," The white haired youth hissed, as he removed the needle. "Your kingdom, and precious Ienzo with it." Ansem had a look of horror on his face before descending into his sub-consciousness, and was roughly thrown into a small broom closet with the others.
Ienzo awoke to the dawn's daylight creeping into his room. He felt numb, physically and emotionally, so he decided to go for a walk in the gardens. Today the sun shone brightly, proud to cover the land in light. Almost as if it would never be able to do so again. Ienzo clutched his small brown teddy bear, he would rarely bring it with him anywhere outside of his bedroom, but today he needed the soft comfort that Mr. Bear had to offer.
His peace of mind was shattered by Xehanort. Who ran up to him out of breath. "What is it Xehanort? Is something wrong?"Xehanort waited to catch his breath and said quietly, "Yes it's Master Ansem, he's be killed in a train accident on the way back to the castle."
Ienzo sunk into the warm earth beneath him. His hands burying his delicate head. "You have suffered enough for today, Ienzo my pet, let me taking you to your room." Ienzo, so melancholy already, did not have the will power to say no.
"Would you like me to bring you some tea and bread?" The ensconced form nodded and Xehanort happily went to the kitchen to make some tea with a little more than just honey in it.
"Please eat something darling, you look so awful." Ienzo wearily poked half of his head over the covers. "No thank you Xehanort, I just don't feeling like eating or drinking."
Taking up the blue china tea cup, Xehanort tried to prop Ienzo up a bit, "Come now, it's good for you. It will make you feel better, and all your cares will melt away."
"I don't see how tea will simply make me feel any better." Ienzo grumbled, but took the tea and sipped it carefully. Xehanort smiled as he noted Ienzo's eyelids getting heavy and his movements sluggish. Ienzo soon lied back and began to talk about pretty flowers and butterflies.
"You know Ienzo, my precious, I'm so very glad that Ansem taught us that sleeping spell. It's seemed to have worked wonders on you." but Ienzo paid no mind to the off kilter comment, and instead fell asleep.
The next day Ienzo awoke to the sounds of multiple feet running against marble. Being as curious as he is, Ienzo dressed quickly to see what all the fuss was about. In the stone white halls a clamor of servants were nestled close to the giant doors of the castle's entrance.
Ienzo tapped a squat man on the shoulder. "Excuse me sir, but could you tell me what is going on?"
The man answered quickly, "That young apprentice Xehanort, is being crowned king, apparently King Ansem the wise left a deed, stating that if anything should happen to him the oldest apprentice was to receive the entire kingdom."
"So this is a coronation ceremony." Ienzo said to himself. He did not like the idea of Xehanort ruling the beautiful Radiant Gardens, nor did he like the fact that Xehanort now had total control over every life in it. Wait, didn't he read something similar to this in Xehanort's room?
Ienzo stayed in the library for most of the day. His heart was weighed down by the deaths of his 'family' and the thought of his new ruler.
He was in the middle of 'In depth Analysis of The Human Mind'. When who else, but Xehanort came in. "No doubt you have already heard that I am to rule in Ansem's stead as king."
"Yes" Ienzo said quietly. "But in order for me to properly rule I must first choose a queen." Ienzo did not like where this was going. He tried to flee out the side door and into the kitchen, but Xehanort caught him by the wrist. Writhing with panic Ienzo cried out for him to stop. Xehanort did not like seeing him like this at all of he let Ienzo go, and watched him run.
Ienzo was so stretched mentally, that physically he could not run any further than the castle's entrance. Looking behind him to make sure Xehanort wasn't following, he sat down and inhaled/ exhaled deeply. Trying so hard not to think of anything that had been going on for the past week.
* Flashback*
Xehanort: Ienzo, what would you do if there was no one left, but you, in Radiant Garden?
Ienzo: Well, I would read every book in the library! *He smiled in a kidding way*
Ienzo: and when I got bored of that I would, use that teleportation spell that Master Ansem taught us to go to other worlds.
Xehanort: That sounds so lovely, so you really think that there are, 'other worlds' out there?
Ienzo: Well there's no proof that they don't exist.
Xehanort: I guess so, maybe you and I came from another world.
Ienzo: Maybe.
Xehanort: Ienzo, have I ever told you how good of a friend you are to me? You are truly the only person I can talk to. Probably because we are so very much alike.
Ienzo: um, thanks, listen Master Ansem is calling us, we had better going inside.
* End of Flashback*
His memory of the past was shattered by the sound of small dancers feet leaping against the stone steps. Afraid, Ienzo slowly turned around to find strange, white creatures, with zippers for mouths, and black bands around their arms and feet. They had some sort of insignia atop of their heads, but they swayed so quickly that Ienzo could not make out what it was.
Then (as if poor Ienzo was not scared enough already) they began to speak to him a low sharp voice, "Come with us our queen, yes come back to safety."
Ienzo tried to assess the situation, but, was not given the chance, for the white creatures grabbed at him, and carried him (up off the ground) onto their backs, all the way to his room. When Ienzo was tossed inside, he crawled under the covers and stayed there.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this, I know I sure did. Heh heh, Ienzo is gonna be queen! (I smell a certain David Bowie song coming on) I will defiantly write more Chapters for this. I will also write a story on the details of the apprentices and Ansem's disappearances. Review nicely or Ienzo will end up in da closet too!