Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Heart or any of its affiliates.

I wrote this chapter while watching my grandpa on his deathbed. What a year. Without further ado, here's chapter two! (Hey, that rhymed)

Chapter Two: The Other Apprentices

Approaching the castle, Ienzo was awestruck. The magnificent building towered over them majestically with a lush garden below. Intricate designs covered the entire structure from top to bottom and two enormous white pillars stood framing the front entrance where two guards stood.

The first had jet black hair pulled back into ponytail and thick sideburns framing his face. His glaring eyes pierced Ienzo, making him flinch and take a tighter hold of his adoptive father's hand. His cowering was halted, however, by the disarming smile flashed to him by the other guard.

This second man was massive like a boulder with broad shoulders and wiry auburn hair. His rigid facial structure and hard blue eyes, which would normally intimidate the small boy, instead gave off a calming, protecting effect. A few feet from the entrance, they stopped. Ansem cleared his throat.

"Ienzo," he began,"these are two of my other apprentices. Dilan," he gestured to the frightening one. "And Aeleus," he said nodding to the mountainous one. He continued, "You can usually find them here guarding the door, or down in the lab." Ienzo nodded his understanding, still shy. The two made their way into the castle. Inside, the main hallway was long with many different directions to choose from. Ienzo, slightly frightened once more, shrunk back a little and tightened his grip on Master Ansem's hand. The man stopped walking and turned to him, concerned.

"Ienzo, my boy, what's wrong?" he asked. The scientist was met with silence. He sighed. "I know you're a little apprehensive, but you are perfectly safe here. I promise. You will see. The other two apprentices, although a little eccentric, are harmless." Ansem smiled at the small boy. He gently pulled the boy forward, towards a large room at the end of the hall.

Upon stepping inside, Ienzo realized the room was actually a grand dining room with a kitchen through an adjacent doorway. In the middle of the room was a long table surrounded by chairs. Two of the chairs were already occupied. There was a scrawny man with long limp blond hair and bright green eyes in a pale gaunt face. He was busily leaning over a mound of important-looking documents, a cup of tea beside him. On the other side of the table sat a younger man with sleek, long black hair eating his lunch. When he noticed the newcomers, he suddenly disappeared. Ienzo gasped in surprise as the man reappeared just inches from his face. The man was hanging upside down in midair, staring the young boy intently in the eyes. He grinned.

"Who's the pipsqueak?" he asked. Ansem chuckled.

"Braig, this is Ienzo. Ienzo, Braig," he said motioning to each of them. "Ienzo's going to be staying here with us from now on."

Braig, now right-side up, laughed and ruffled Ienzo's hair. "Glad to have you aboard, kid," the man told him.

Ansem smiled at the sight before him and continued on. "And this man here is Even," he gestured to the blond man who took his nose out of his papers and stood up.

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm sure," Even offered his hand skeptically, which Ienzo accepted.

Braig furrowed his brow. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" he asked jokingly. Ienzo's expression darkened and he looked down as if waiting to be ridiculed just like he had been at the orphanage.

Luckily, Ansem answered for him. "Actually, Braig," he said quietly as he maneuvered the petit boy into a chair. "While he physically has the ability to speak, he hasn't used his voice in a long time due to unfortunate circumstances. About two years, according to his file."

As this conversation continued, Ienzo, bored, opened the book Master Ansem had given him, Alice in Wonderland, and started reading.

"Selective mutism" Even stated, going back to his makeshift workplace. 'Due to trauma, I'd bet,' he added silently in his head.

"Wow," Braig commented. "That must suck, not being able to talk and all."

"Yes," Even chimed in. "I daresay you cannot keep quiet for even one day, much less an entire year."

"Hey!"

"Yes, well," Ansem looked down at his newest ward with a contemplative look. "With time, perhaps you'll open up to us, one day," Ansem said, patting Ienzo's silvery purple hair.