Author's Note

Well, here we are.

I really hope this book lives up to all the hype I've been giving it on AO3 (this site doesn't handle comments as well), because I'm super proud of this. And the main person to thank for that is (I can't believe I'm saying this) Mickey Mouse. So as those of you who have been reading to this point know, the entire series of A Flickering Light was made to remove Mickey from the Kingdom Hearts series. But when I got to Re:Coded, Mickey started to play a different role, as the king instead of the warrior. I could leave him in for that, and not diminish anything that Ignus was. As such, it gave me space where I didn't have to follow Mickey's script. Instead, I got to really write for Ignus from this point on, since Mickey could still fill the story beats that fit him better. Heart of the Data is really where I stretched and made this story my own. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do.

Thank you to all of my readers who have stuck with me through this journey. Thank you especially to the readers here on . The great reaction and support I've gotten from you guys is why I've felt good enough to keep uploading on both sites.

-WolfWing

The screen flickered and a wave of static overtook it. Ignus sighed.

"So, Chip and Dale somehow managed to create digital worlds from a blank journal…summon a digital Sora…and now he's helping with the data recovery. Of the written words. In a blank journal." He shrugged, turning to pace behind Mickey's chair. "Whatever. I give up on trying to make this make sense."

"That's funny." Donald mused. "We were there…was Pluto with us?"

"Well, I sure didn't write anything like that in the journal." Jiminy replied.

"Hey, do you fellas think that maybe the journal's tryin' to tell us something?" Goofy proposed.

"Are we assuming the journal has become self-aware?" Ignus asked over his shoulder and snorted. "Because why not at this point, right? In that case, maybe we could…" He stiffened. "Your majesty, get down!"

Ignus vaulted across the desk, kicking back a Heartless that had leapt at King Mickey. Two more grew out of the floor as it flew back. Spark appeared in Ignus's hand and he sliced all three in a single arching swing. He began reciting the Oath of Spark as more began to rise out of the tiled floor.

"How did they get into the castle?" Mickey demanded.

"I'm not sure. The defenses should have kept them out. Fira!" Ignus cut down another Heartless and sent a fireball to blast one out of his reach. "Your majesty, you need to get out of here. Donald, Goofy, escort the king, there may be more around."

Mickey ran to the door and pulled. They didn't budge. "It won't open!" He declared as Donald and Goofy strained against the doors. Mickey began beating on the wood. "Hey! Hello! Anybody out there?"

Ignus turned from the dissolving fragments of the last Heartless. "Your majesty, stand clear!" He raised Spark, which began to glow as Mickey, Donald, and Goofy scrambled for cover.

"Firaga!" Ignus called, launching a trio of spiraling fireballs at the door. They exploded against the wood, not even leaving a scratch. Ignus raised Spark again, the keyblade glowing white-hot and causing the air around it to shiver. He leapt forward, thrusting the weapon at the doors. "Firugara!" He shouted. A massive blast shook the room with a wave of heat and noise, sending Ignus skidding back to the middle of the room. The doors stood strong.

"This is not our day." Jiminy moaned.

"Well fellas," Mickey said, "I hate to say this, but we're trapped."

"That should have taken out the whole wall." Ignus was panting slightly. "Something's keeping us sealed in here."

"But there could be Heartless roaming the castle!" Donald exclaimed.

A beeping noise drew them all back to the computer, where the journal on the screen had turned to the next page.

"What's that?" Jiminy pointed.

"'Undo the hurt to unbar the way'?" Mickey read.

Goofy sighed. "Gawrsh, we're tryin'. It said we've already undone some of it, right?"

"There's a something else going on here, your majesty." Ignus cut in. "That 'unbar the way' comment has to be referring to the doors of this room. But that just appeared on the computer. And something about those Heartless I fought…"

"What's your point, Ignus?"

"I'm not sure, your majesty. I need to think it over a bit."

"Well then, we'll just have to keep going, repairing the journal's data as fast as we can."

"Your majesty, I think Sora just might've reached the next world!" Jiminy announced, hopping across the keyboard to step on a key. The screen flickered to show Sora in what looked like a hedge maze, surrounded by bugged data blocks.

"But we gotta do something about the castle." Donald reminded everyone.

"Well, for now we're trapped in here." Ignus walked around the desk and put a hand on the doors. "I'll see if I can at least figure out what's keeping us here. Focus on the journal in the meantime."