Ansem the Wise looked stood out upon a balcony of the castle that overlooked the glorious town of Radiant Garden. He was simply in awe how beautiful the town was, and how pure of heart the people who took residence were. Ansem the Wise was the one who governed those people, helping create the town from nothing, giving it life. The town contained the most precious flowers with the sweetest aromas, and the waters nearby the town were soft and clear. Ansem had grown old, showing the signs of his old age in his face. He was wrinkled, and his hair was thin, but his wisdom did not entirely take away his youthful appearance. He managed to retain the golden sun-streaked color of his long blonde hair.
He stood there; a gentle breeze surrounded him on another beautiful day. Ansem decided to see the people of the town on such a nice day, although everyday in Radiant Garden was a pure one. He put on a long red scarf and headed for the town.
When he reached the village, he noticed three aspiring youths: Squall, Yuffie, and Aerith. "Good morning," he said to each of them.
"Good morning, sir," they each responded. Yuffie was a young girl always full of energy and spunk. Squall was quiet and reserved young man, but brave and strong. And Aerith was a young woman who reminded Ansem of himself when he was younger. She was always optimistic and looking forward. These three were just three of many aspiring young men and women of the town. There was also an engineer named Cid, although he wasn't young in age, he was young in spirit. And there was also a man named Cloud, who, like Squall, was very reserved. However, Squall would socialize with the people of the town, namely Yuffie and Aerith, whereas Cloud was often on his own doing his own thing.
"How are today?" Aerith asked Ansem.
"I'm doing alright." Aerith had always been precious to Ansem. Of all of the people in the town, she had always been the purest of heart. Ansem the Wise didn't leave the castle often anymore; he had begun to take up research of the heart. The study of the heart had fascinated him, and all because of the townspeople of Radiant Garden, namely Aerith. Ansem noticed the way she acted around Cloud, on the few occasions he showed up. Although it wasn't as much of a loving nature, she just seemed generally concerned about his well-being. You might even say Aerith is the one who inspired Ansem to begin his research.
"Well, I must be on my way, good day," he told the three of them. He wanted to find Tifa, another young woman of the town. She always seemed to be concerned about Cloud too, and always in search.
Day quickly turned to night. He never managed to find Tifa. "She must be out of borders looking for that boy," he chuckled. "That young lady never seems to give up." Ansem was always taken back by how determined Tifa was. "She's the most hard-headed person in this town," he laughed again. But the smile quickly faded, as he had run into an unconscious individual lying on the ground. Ansem ran over to the silver haired youth and took a pulse to make sure he was alive. "Oh dear…" he muttered, the pulse wasn't a very fast one. He picked up the young man and held him over his soldier. Although Ansem was aged, he supported him quite well, and carried him back to the castle.
Ansem took the young man to his room and laid him down on the bed. He had long silver hair that trailed halfway down his back, and bronze skin. Ansem let him rest while he went to fetch him some hot tea. Upon his return, he found the young man awake, but still resting. As he poured him a cup of tea, he asked, "Might I inquire a means of Identification?" The youth groggily grunted in confusion. Ansem laughed again. "I'm only teasing boy. What is your name?" The man opened his eyes and looked up at Ansem.
"Xe…Xehanort. My name is Xehanort."
"Xehanort…hmm, that's a fairly uncommon name…" whispered Ansem. Xehanort's vision was a still little blurred from his unconscious state. Once his eyes focused, he realized whose presence he was in.
"By the stars…you're Ansem the Wise!"
"Yes boy," Ansem chuckled, "have you only just noticed?"
"I-I apologize sir, I didn't realize," Xehanort got down onto the floor to kneel before him. "Forgive me."
"Now, now Xehanort, no need for formalities." Xehanort's eyes met with Ansem's. Just like Ansem, Xehanort had deep golden eyes. Although there was something strange in Xehanort's eyes, something about them made Ansem feel a little uneasy.
"I'm sorry sir, but I've heard of your work before, and I have always wished to study under you."
"Ah, then perhaps our meeting is by fate, and not just some unfortunate coincidence."
"Perhaps…" Xehanort pondered.
"Xehanort, how exactly did you end up laying unconscious in the middle of nowhere?"
"Oh…I, um…I was attacked…"
"Attacked!" Ansem shouted, quite surprised at his statement. "But Radiant Garden is a nation of peace! Surely you must be mistaken."
"I'm not exactly sure…perhaps I wasn't attacked, but I remember my own shadow staring at me with two golden eyes, and then I felt a strange feeling in the pit of my heart, and I collapsed.
Ansem wasn't sure what to think of this. He'd never heard of anyone being attacked in Radiant Garden, although his story fascinated him. "Hmm…your heart seems to have collapsed…fascinating." Xehanort's experience puzzled Ansem, but it also made him grow ever more curious in the study of the heart. "Xehanort, I have a proposal for you." Xehanort looked up as Ansem walked towards the window overlooking the town. "I have been studying the secrets of the heart lately, but anything can be said in words and books, and I've been wanting to conduct experiments on the heart." Xehanort's eyes started to grow wide. "And a foolish old man such as myself wouldn't be able to accomplish such a feat on my own." Xehanort's eyes grew even wider. "So, I ask you Xehanort…will you aid me in my quest to unlock the secrets of the heart? Will you follow alongside me as my apprentice?"
Xehanort was silent for a moment. Ansem turned back to look at him, and Xehanort stared into the eyes of Ansem the Wise. Xehanort smiled a little, "Yes."