Previously: "Wha-! This is getting ridiculous! I know that this world exists! Why can't I get any information on it!" Mickey said in disbelief. Aerith spoke up, "Wait, your Majesty, I have an idea.
"Tron, you said the closest thing to 'Arvia' was the name Arvina. That's just one letter away from the name of the world. What if, for its protection, Ansem altered the name of the world in his computer, and referred to it as a person?" she suggested. Leon nodded thoughtfully.
"That's an idea. Tron, please look up this Arvina."
(O(o(O(o)O)o)O)
/World: Radiant Gardens
POV: Third person:
"On it!"
"But why would Ansem take such care in hiding this world away? He must have had a good reason…" Yuffie said as Tron did his search. Mickey had the answer.
"While in Arvia, I noticed that the twins, the new chosen, had darker hair. I think they originally came from another world, other than Arvia, because they had the only dark hair of everyone in that world! I think…somehow…those twin are related to Ansem."
Yuffie stared at him incredulously. "You mean they're his kids!"
Mickey shook his head and replied, "Not blood related…but have a connection to him…" He was then interrupted, again, by Tron.
"It was difficult, but I found it. Information on Arvina Kokoro," he said.
"Proceed."
"The records I found are that of an electronic journal by a woman whose name was Arvina Kokoro. I am currently transferring the document on the screen," he said as another box popped up.
I am grateful for this opportunity to record my thoughts, the screen read, I thank Ansem-san for his generosity. Out of fear, I am using the name Arvina Kokoro, a name inspired from my home world. My dæmon's name shall not even be named, though he is famous for being one of the only dæmons to belong to a twinless twin. I knew that other worlds existed outside my own, though all those I had tried to explain this to have shunned me. The elders of my society won't even abide the talk of the possibility. But I defied them. I dared to know.
I proved to them that there were other worlds. I found a mysterious substance like rubber, and managed to make a ship to travel through space with. I left, and landed upon a world of giant felines, who called themselves lions. They were adorable, but had enormous claws and teeth; they were nothing like my dæmon's form of a cat. I found some plants that I knew didn't exist on my world, and brought them back as proof.
Instead of the hero's celebration I expected, the elders destroyed my evidence, dismantled my ship (for only the engine could be truly destroyed. That material sure is durable), and said they'd make me disappear for good if I tried to tell anyone of my adventure. They were scared, I realized. I confronted them of this fear, and they explained it to me.
Something big was happening to the other worlds. They knew it. But it wouldn't affect us because we had this shield around our world, kept in place by our world's priests and monks. Of course I knew of the barrier, I had thought for a minute that my world had gone up and left when I had returned. It was only a barrier that rendered the world invisible from a distance.
But I scoffed at them. I told them they were stupid and silly old fools. With my dæmon's encouragement, I repaired my ship, and continuously went back and forth between my world, and another world I had found, one with ships that sail the water! I had never seen a ship that sailed water, when the ones in my world flew! And the weirdest thing was that no one there had a dæmon! They all thought mine was something evil until I explained he was part of me. Then I met a handsome young man, with hair the likes I'd never seen. His hair was dark, like the night. All the people on my world had light hair, the darkest ever being a red colour. I'll admit now, I fell in love.
The elders were not happy with me. Twenty-three, and causing more trouble than the street rat kids that ruled the underground passageways. One found out about my romantic reasons for always leaving, and went…well, berserk. We fought, and exchanged nasty words. They told me someone of my status, next in line for the position of Holder (someone like a mayor and king mixed in one who made the decisions for my world) should not be 'running around like a whore.' He even went so far as to try and tie up my dæmon to keep me on my world. I was in such a rage I attacked the old fools, and left for one who would understand me.
I planned to never return, and did indeed spend a while upon the strange world with my lover. But he was something called a pirate. And pirates were always risking their lives for their income. His ships were outnumbered, and I was informed of his death through his sister. As if that wasn't enough, I found out I was pregnant.
His sister generously took me in, but when I was three months far, she was arrested for her own piracy. I had nowhere else left to go but back to my world, the one that never understood my wanderlust. I got on my ship, and went back.
Or tried to.
They were sorry to see my return, and told me so in my face. I asked them to forgive me, but of course, they didn't and told me to leave and not ever come back. Heavy with child, and with no home, I left in despair.
My days upon my ship, wandering aimlessly through space, were not pleasant. It could have only been a few days, but it was, to me, an eternity. Only my dæmon was my comfort. I was weak; not only was I hungry, but the life inside me was too, and I had no food and barely any water. At one point I tried returning to the world of water ships, but I was lost and couldn't find my way. My dæmon was losing strength, and spent most of his time sleeping, so that he could conserve energy. If he died, I'd have a great chance of dying as well.
I then crashed upon a new world, as I had fallen unconscious from fatigue. I had no strength to move, and when I awoke, someone was trying to get me out from my wreckage. As he helped me back to his home, I asked if I was on another world. He wasn't surprised I knew of other worlds, since I just crashed upon his. He explained I was in the world of Radiant Gardens, and his name was Ansem, who ruled and protected the people of the world I was on.
"Well, that explains the gummi ship wreckage you called the King about," Yuffie said in astonishment. "This answers so many questions!"
"Yes, but there are still some to be explained. Like why didn't he ever mention this woman to me when I visited him?" Mickey said.
"And why her home world is so carefully hidden, aside from this here text," Leon added.
"Well, then let's continue to read. There's more," Aerith said. They turned back to the journal.
Once at his home (which is mighty large), he gave me food and told me I could stay at his place until I had a place to stay myself. I decided to stay until I had delivered. I was still torn up about having to leave home, so he has given me my own electronic journal. I am currently eight months pregnant.
Ansem is a very kind fellow, but he is doing research on the darkness of people's hearts or something. I'm trying to convince him that it's dangerous, and I think he's beginning to realize this, but his curiosity is too great. He recently had yet another visitor from another world, a king of sorts. I glimpsed him as Ansem showed the way to his study. He looked like a giant mouse! As much as I was intrigued by the mouse-man, I didn't go meet him. I didn't know why, but I felt that no one must know I was here. That's why I am not using my real name.
After talking with the mouse-king several more times, Ansem-san finally agreed that the study of the darkness was dangerous. The king had told him that the study was affecting other worlds. That was what my elders had warned me of before. Ansem-san told me today that he will cease his studies.
"Well lookit that yer Majesty! This chick was mere meters from ya, and ya didn't even know!" Cid said. Mickey was indeed amused.
"That is a funny coincidence! Who'd have thought that my visits to the real Ansem would be recorded by a stranger whose help I could use right now?" he said half-laughing.
"King Mickey, that is the end of that entry, but there is another one dated about a week after this one. I'm transferring it to the screen," Tron announced. The screen changed, and Arvina's words appeared once again.
Not good. My news is not good at all. My poor dæmon is pacing back and forth, feeding off my nervousness.
While Ansem-san told me he'd stop, his apprentices, especially his apprentice Xheanort, have now taken an interest in Ansem-san's studies. A morbid interest. I never trusted him.
Ansem-san has just told me that he needs to run. Xheanort will eventually try to get rid of Ansem-san, and Ansem-san must stay alive to eventually fight back. I am close to delivering, I know, so he will try to stay until I have given birth.
But I must describe a dream.
These past few nights, it's as if a play has been playing every night in my head, continuing from when I wake up. It doesn't make much sense, as it keeps jumping around and there is practically no sound, but I know it's all connected. I see three kids, on an island where it is warm and sunny, with clear waters, and colourful flowers I've never seen. I-I'm not sure who they are, but I know, through the dream, that they're important to the worlds. I see them grow up, in bits and flashes, and I see their world disappear.
I cry for them, as I try to understand the torment and sorrow they go through, as one loses their heart, the other gives his away, and one strives to save them both.
The next night, I see them, older, and still fighting creatures whose name I don't know. I'm not sure, but somehow I know that one is trying to find the other, the one who had given up his heart. I see them fighting, first each other, then together, and…it seems all is happy.
I've described these dreams to Ansem-san, and he thinks I may be seeing the future. I'm not sure if I believe him, but it seems a possible explanation.
But last night was the most vivid dream. It was of myself. I saw my future. It was of my child, or, children, as they will be twin girls. It makes sense, since all those on my home world have a twin. Well, I was a twinless twin, born without one, and so was their father. I half expected them to be one, but my native blood runs stronger than I thought. They will have their father's dark hair. Will they have dæmons, I wonder?
I'm not sure what their future is exactly, but I see them with the three children I had seen the nights before. I wonder if my daughters shall save the worlds as well? That I cannot answer, but I do know one thing: I shall die in childbirth, and my children sent back to my home world.
I told Ansem-san this. He is very sad that that is my fate, but will try to make my last days the best I can have. My poor dæmon hasn't been looking well the past few days. I have already made arrangements that Ansem-san shall take my daughters to my world, if he can find it. I am confident he will find it though, for why else would I see them living there? He is already hiding my world from his apprentice, deleting its existence from this here computer.
I have not long to live, but I will help Ansem-san make preparations for his escape, with my twins. But they will not go without names. My darling daughters, whom I shall never meet, I shall name you. I have told Ansem-san that the first one to be born is Hane, and her twin shall be Kane. He'll know by their eye colour, for that is the only way to distinguish twins at birth.
Be safe my daughters. Someday, I hope you can travel the worlds more than I was able to. May you have the wanderlust, and always question. Never let anyone tell you who you are, or what you can do, for only you can decide. I love you…
The room was silent as everyone finished reading.
"So many questions answered within just two journal entries," Aerith said quietly. "The poor woman. But what she saw all came to pass. Sora and his adventures, and her own death. I think we can assume she did die in childbirth, since this appears to be her last entry."
"I think that she's a little hypocritical," Yuffie said crossly. "I mean, she sits here and says that she will accept her fate and all such nonsense, then tells her kids to never let fate decide for them! Then she shouldn't have let fate tell her she can die!"
"She was probably tired and homesick. Her lover is dead, her home pretty much banished her, and she must rely upon a stranger to take care of her and her kids. I think she was ready to just rest," Aerith said. Yuffie shrugged and rolled her eyes.
"At least this explains why we can't find any records of the world. She asked Ansem to protect it, so he got rid of all traces," Leon said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"If we can correctly assume that the woman's dreams were indeed what shall come to pass, then here," Yuffie pointed to a place in the text on the screen, "She says she sees her daughters with the three kids from the island. I'm sure we all know that those kids are Sora and his friends. But King, this means that the new Keyblade Masters will join the fight. We can't deny something evil is brewing again, and this time Sora can have more help! I think that we should teach these girls how to fight before it's too late."
Mickey bowed his head in thought, and eventually sighed.
"The sake of the worlds comes before anythin' else. Let's head back to my castle; Sora should be back home by now, and we'll ask him to come train them —"
A loud alarm split the air, and everyone could hear it echoing across the rest of Radiant Gardens.
"Your Majesty! There is activity within the castle where the Door to Darkness lies! Hurry!" Tron said over the wailing of the alarm. At once everyone ran out the doors towards the lift stop.
"Do these things even work anymore?" Yuffie shouted to the Merlin over the alarm and the pouring rain that fell through the holes in the passage ceilings. For an answer, the Merlin tried to call the lift. Nothing happened.
"Well, that answers that. Now how do we get up to the chapel?" Yuffie asked. Leon was silent, then bounded down the slope. "Where are you going Squall?!"
They all followed him, where he was ripping more vines and plant growth off the crashed ship of Arvina.
"Cid! Think you can get this to fly again? We just need it to take us up!" Leon shouted to the mechanic.
"Move over!" Cid took control, and within two minutes had the ruins roaring to life.
(O(o)O)
Soon they emerged into the castle chapel and took off through the door that led to the Grand Hall. As they entered, they immediately saw the giant mechanism was most clearly active. The keyhole opening was alive with swirling colours, and they all knew that someone who knew how to manipulate the darkness was trying to break through.
"Should we shut it off?" Aerith asked with wide eyes.
"How?!" Yuffie said panicky, "Only Sora was able to shut it off with the Keyblade!"
"Your Majesty! Try your Keyblade!" Leon said urgently. Mickey nodded and readied his Keyblade. He pointed it at the door, but nothing happened.
"Why isn't it working?" Merlin asked as the swirling in the door became faster.
"I don't know! We'll just have to fight whatever comes out!" Mickey said. Yuffie and Leon readied their weapons, while Cid pulled Aerith behind him and the Merlin stood by with his magic.
Soon they saw a silhouette of a someone approaching the opening. Mickey tightened his grip. The figure came closer.
"Is it me, or does the person in there seem to be fighting someone off?" Merlin asked.
"Shh! They're about to come out, and…it looks like-!" They could start to clearly see the person's features. Everyone tensed their bodies, waiting for the person to come out and sure enough—
"Riku!" Mickey shouted as the boy fell through the opening. Riku didn't waste time, and yelled before he hit the ground, "Shut it! Now!"
Mickey once again aimed the Keyblade, and this time it actually shut the door. They could distantly hear a chilling voice screaming in anger that its prey escaped. The mechanism slowly shut off and a ringing silence filled the air, punctuated by Riku's sharp, heavy breaths.
"Riku – are you okay?" Mickey asked as Aerith helped the boy sit up. He was dirty and torn up with several fresh, bleeding wounds along his arms and legs. Several shiny, black feathers lay on the ground near him.
"I should be – that thing can't get through now, right?" he asked anxiously staring at the now inactive door.
"Yes, we hope so. We honestly didn't think anyone would be able to, but you did, so we can't be sure," Mickey replied. "What happened to you?"
Riku laughed a bitter laugh. "I lost, that's what. But you need to know, we've got a new enemy."
Mickey nodded. "Yes, we've had that feelin' for a while now. I suppose you were runnin' from it?"
"No, I was escaping its minion. When Sora and I got back from the trip, Kairi told us about you looking for Donald and Goofy. We were about to set out to find them when this person in a cape and hood materialized out of nowhere and knocked Kairi out. And no, it's not the Organization.
"Sora and I barely had a chance to retaliate before the caped figure took out Sora and threw myself into the ocean. I pretended to be unconscious, waiting for a chance to surprise him, but he tied Sora and I up good. He must've known I was faking it. We never had a chance against him!" Riku slammed his fist into the ground.
"But how'd you get away? Where are Sora and Kairi?" Yuffie asked looking around as if they were hiding. Riku smiled bitterly.
"I'm getting there. Well, the caped guy opened a gate to the realm of darkness where he threw us on the ground and laughed. He knew he had power over us. So we bought for time to undo one of our ropes. Sora asked him what he wanted, but he wouldn't say. He only said he was sent to capture us, but hinted they wanted our hearts.
"For some reason, the guy had to wait for permission to leave the realm of darkness. He kept pacing around and yelling at someone through some communication orb. While he was busy, Sora was able to untie the ropes around my hands. He told me to run for it when I had the chance. So when the chance was ripe, I took off, hoping my experience with the darkness would help me. I remembered this gateway here," he motioned to the door he'd fallen out of. "It was hard, but I got here, and had to fight him off. Damn he's skilled, and he uses these great, huge black birds to help. And so that's how I'm here."
Everyone had looks of worry, and Leon inspected the closed gateway.
"What will happen to Sora and Kairi?"
"Sora told me he had a plan. Remember his Nobody, Roxas? He's going to detach himself and put his heart in Roxas. Roxas is technically a denizen of darkness, so Roxas will be able to travel through the realm of darkness much better than I. Even if they have his body, they won't have Sora's heart. I fear that they'll get Kairi's though; she was unconscious all the while. But if Sora was successful, Roxas should be appearing soon." He gazed at the gateway.
"Well, we'll wait for a while. But we need to tend to your wounds," Aerith said pulling out a First Aid kit. As she cleaned his cuts, the gateway started acting up, and a figure fell out. The gateway then quickly shut down again.
A boy with sandy-blonde hair stood up and dusted himself off.
"You…must be Roxas," Yuffie said slightly awed. "I've never met a Nobody who wasn't trying to kill me." She held out her hand.
Roxas shook it and said, "It certainly is nice to meet all of you in person. I know you all through Sora's memories, but never actually have gotten to meet you." He turned to Riku.
"Good, you managed to escape. That'll make getting Sora and Kairi back easier," Roxas said. Riku nodded and stood up.
"Well, we'd best leave and start planning. So Sora was able to transfer his heart?"
"Yes. I'm the first Nobody to actually have a heart," Roxas smiled a little. "I tried to wake Kairi up so she could to the same and transfer her heart to Naminé, but I couldn't. She was out cold."
"Ya tried and did your best, so don't fret it. At least you and Riku are safe," Mickey said. He paced back and forth. "Yes, this decides it. Four will be better than two under these circumstances. Riku, Roxas, I have a mission for ya. We're going to train the next Keyblade Masters."
"Wait," Aerith said as they were getting ready to leave. "You said something about legends?"
"Ah…" Mickey groaned. "We'll get to the Warriors of Heart another time. For now, we should concentrate on getting to Arvia."
"Your Majesty? What are you talking about?" Riku asked.
"We'll explain. Come."
(X(x(X(x)X)x)X)
Review! Please? We'll get down, dirty, and finally meet the two heroines! And if you're wondering, yes, we purposely made it so that Kairi wasn't able to be saved. We're cruel bitches who don't like her that much, so this keeps her out of our way. Sora fans, we're sorry, but we think you'd kill us if we actually let Sora be captured like Kairi, so think of it as a silver lining that they don't get his heart. As a consolation, he'll be "coaching from the sidelines." Roxas fans, you may worship us. Riku fans, BACK OFF HE'S MINE. Please read the next installment!
