Chapter 2 is in Rytex's Point of View. He is still in Sora's Heart, but this stuff that he's receiving has major impact on the rest of the story. This is mostly based on Birth by Sleep, but it does have major implications later.
Chapter 2: Shadows of the Past
Memories floated inside of Rytex's mind, though they did not belong to him. His heart had begun to heal as he lived on inside of Sora. He learned much from the memories, but one question plagued his mind. Who did they belong to? There was a figure like Ryet in them, but these look as though they took place centuries ago.
-X-
"Today, you will be tested for the Mark of Mastery. Not one, but two of the Keyblade's Chosen stand before me today. This is neither a contest nor a battle for supremacy. It is merely a test to see whether you have achieved mastery over the Keyblade. One of you may succeed or the other. Both of you may succeed or neither." said the younger of the men before them.
The first person, a man with long spiky brown hair that stuck back, and a chiseled face with blue eyes bared his Keyblade. It was long, with uneven teeth around it.
The other, a boy younger, thinner, and shorter than he, with shorter spiky brown hair and blue eyes bared his Keyblade also. His was short, with three teeth arranged in an asterisk shape.
They began to duel, with the older boy fighting more aggressively. The younger boy dodged and struck in a more defensive approach, sometimes going on the offensive.
They dueled for several minutes before the older boy managed to land a blow launching the other dueler back. Instead of landing hard on the ground, the boy back flipped, then shot off the wall he hit and knocked the Keyblade from his hands.
Finally, the officiator said "Stop."
The two boys stopped.
"Master Ganon and I have conferred throughout the duel. The victor was undoubtedly Ryet, but Panadorf showed Mastery as well. Congratulations. We have decided to award you both the rank of Keyblade Master." said the officiator, applauding them. He had black hair tied into a ponytail, with one jagged black bang hanging in front if his face. He was old, but still strong. His face had two scars, one on his cheek and one on his eye. He wore a white coat. The other man was older, bald, with a white beard, though with a few solitary red strands, and amber eyes. He wore a white coat as well, but his was open, showing a black pad of metal.
They both clapped for them.
"Panadorf, you showed admirable fortitude when fighting. I could sense a great darkness inside you, fighting to be released, yet your light prevented it from doing so. Now, as Masters, I have a task for the two of you. Two countries have started to develop aside from us in the Land of Departure. You are to give them aid as they do so. Panadorf, I am asking you to go and provide help to King Daltus Harkinian as he unifies Hyrule. Master Ganon can sense that it will play an important role in the world's events in the distant future. Ryet, you will go to the castle of Cornelia, located far to the south of here. I can sense that the nation Cornelia will help to start will also play an important role in the world in the future."
Ryet nodded and Panadorf bowed.
They both exited the castle-like palace, followed closely by Master Ganon.
"Boy, Ryet." he said.
Ryet turned and raised an eyebrow.
"I sense a great future for you. You should be proud to be a Master at such a young age. I myself was not made a Master until I was nearly twenty-five years old."
He nodded curtly, then opened a white corridor, stepped inside, and vanished.
Panadorf smiled, waved at Ryet as he began to leave on the road south toward Crescent Lake Port. Ryet smiled and waved also as he followed a different path south, this time more west, toward Cornelia.
-X-
Ryet returned to the Land of Departure after assisting King Hecanta in uniting the surrounding land under one banner, namely the Kingdom of Cornelia. Three years had passed and he was about to meet Panadorf again.
Panadorf walked through the gates. Immediately, Ryet sensed a change. Panadorf seemed older, and not just in appearance. He seemed more mature and calmer since they had parted ways.
They greeted each other like old friends and walked inside.
Master Xehanort stood there, awaiting their arrival.
"Welcome back, Master Ryet and Master Panadorf. I trust everything went well?"
"Swimmingly." said Ryet.
"The same." said Panadorf.
"Excellent. Did either of you encounter any trouble?"
"Only a small amount, though Master Ganon aided me." said Panadorf.
Xehanort nodded briefly, then he hesitated.
"Panadorf, I sense that the darkness inside you has tempered somewhat. Have you been relying on it?" asked Xehanort sharply.
Panadorf nodded briefly.
"If by relying on it, you mean mixed it with the power of light, then yeah, I have."
Eraqus looked astounded.
"What madness is this! Panadorf, I thought you had enough sense to avoid the darkness!"
Panadorf grew angry.
"Darkness is nothing to fear! There is nothing wrong with it, and light and darkness must exist in balance anyway, else we risk another Ruin and Creation!" he protested.
"Another!" asked Xehanort.
"Yes. The Hylians have a legend about how this world was formed. They say a Keyblade wielder who was so steeped in light opened the Door to Ultimate Darkness, but because of his radical devotion to the light, it rejected and consumed him. Then it destroyed everything."
Xehanort stared at him.
"We are not called to be balanced ourselves. We are called to be a balancing of the scales. Should one with a heart of darkness appear, we are the ones who will stop him. I ask you to shun the darkness inside you, Panadorf. Do not give it a foothold or it will dominate you."
-X-
A month later, and they hadn't heard from Master Ganon in weeks.
"His silence is beginning to worry me. Panadorf, I want you to find him. Ryet, I need you to go and speak to Master Yen Sid in Tycoon. He may be able to shed some light on the recent occurrences. I sense the forces of darkness growing stronger with each passing moment, particularly in Hyrule. Something is happening there that will change the world."
And change the world it will. R&R as usual.
