Okay, so I don't think people like this story. Oh well. I'll post anyways. I feel like posting this story. The chapters will be pretty long, so expect a nice long story of nuisances. Ja.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts
Chapter 2: A Separation From Myself
The inside of the train was blue, with a cushioned bench on either wall. I didn't bother looking to see if Goofy and Donald had followed me, and went straight for the end of the train. I plopped myself on the bench, slowly lying down. I was savoring the feeling of being able to lay down. Heaven knows how long it had been since I had truly lain down. I chuckled to myself at the thought of heaven.
I could hear Sora, Donald and Goofy talking on the other side of the train. It wasn't long before we started moving, and I found myself lulling into a deep haze. I couldn't sleep, technically. Vampires were never aloud to truly sleep. Somehow, that flower I had been inside of was able to break those rules, which I was thankful for. A good year's rest was nice, after living for such a long time without a wink of it.
The time was spent with memories, painful and happy. One moment I was remembering the fresh breeze of the sea at midnight, standing with no shoes on in the sand while looking high into the stars, and then I was thinking of the fight where I had lost my katana. It had been quick. They had sapped it in half with their hands, being younger and stronger than I was. Younger vampires were always stronger during the first year. They still had their own blood inside of them.
After going through that memory, I was standing at my mother's grave, a single dead rose in my hand. I knelt down and placed the rose softly on the top of the grave, and stroked her name. Then I was watching as my creator showed me how to hunt my prey. Then I was facing my most miserable, most painful memory.
I was watching myself as I hunted my best friend. I hunted her down, I pounced on her, and then I killed her. Or at least…that's what was supposed to happen. As soon as I had realized what I had done, I had pulled away and ran. I wasn't sure if the scream I heard had erupted from her lips, or from someone else's as they found her. I never took the time to find out.
My eyes opened when I felt someone sitting by my feet. I looked down, and found a sideways Sora. I sat up, so that he was right-side-up, and frowned. "Is something wrong?" I asked. He looked at me, and blushed.
"Sorry if I disturbed you," he mumbled. I shrugged out of my stupor and stat up completely, crossing my legs.
"No problem, really. You just saved me from past recollections," I said with a small grimace. Sora looked at me in slight surprise, but then looked back down at the floor. I furrowed my brow in suspicion and confusion. "You have something to ask, right?" Sora looked up, surprised.
"How did you-?" he began. I shook my head softly, rubbing my eyes.
"Just your expression. You're thoughtful, and you don't seem like the kind of person who would be this thoughtful unless they needed something answered. I have plenty of experience in reading people. After all…you sort of get used to it, after so many years…" my voice went to a whisper, and I stared out the window that was beside me.
"Sorry," Sora uttered at once. I looked at him in surprise. "Ah, for bringing up something painful. You got kind of sad when you said that. Actually, my questions were sort of about you." He admitted, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Well, I was wondering. Do you…come from the Greek underworld, under the rule of Hades?" He asked. I stared at him for a long moment, before I burst out laughing.
"Good lord, no!" I gasped out. "That phony little critter only takes care of the dead human souls. He deals with nothing. No, I come from a different underworld. Actually, calling it an underworld is just a nickname for the place. It's a city. Full of dark people, creatures you only read about in mysteries and horrors, and only see in the really gruesome movies. The humans there may as well be just as dark as those creatures. My underworld is a horrid place, with nothing good about it. There are very few people you can trust that aren't the same race as you, and only a few more that are your race."
"Sounds kinda gruesome…" Sora mumbled, his face scrunching up as he thought of the place. I chuckled.
"I wouldn't suggest going over there. All that innocence of yours would vanish in an instant." I said, and sighed. "You really are innocent, you know? Maybe too innocent for your own good."
"I've had my fare share of experience, saving the worlds and creating peace through the borders again…" Sora muttered, once again blushing. I smiled softly.
"Yeah, the great keyblade wielder. Stories traveled about you throughout the city back then. I'm surprised it's someone like you who did all that. I guess, in the end, it was because you're so innocent." I mumbled, and frowned. Sora chuckled nervously, the blush deepening. After a moment, when the blush had disappeared and Sora seemed a little more at ease, he asked another question.
"How old are you?" He asked, and I looked at him. It was my turn to blush, if I could. No blood ran through my veins, so to have it suddenly rushing to my cheeks would be impossible. Instead, I fidgeted slightly nervously.
"You sure you want to know?" I asked, and Sora paused for a second, then he grinned, and nodded. He was too eager, I decided. He probably rushed into everything he did. I groaned, and bit my lip, I did that when I was nervous, to substitute for blushing. "God, now I feel so old…I'm 213…well, actually, 214 now."
"Are you…really…?" Sora looked ready to faint as he stared at me in amazement. I gave a brief grin. He suddenly composed himself, and gave me a very serious look. "You honestly don't look a day over sixteen." This irked me. My eyebrow twitched, and I ground my teeth. He seemed to notice my agitation.
"I was fifteen…" I whispered, and Sora blushed.
"Sorry," he mumbled. I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"I suppose it can't be helped. Everyone says I look older than I really am." At this, I chuckled. "I mean…in vampire terms."
"Ah, right," Sora was once again scratching the back of his head nervously. I watched him, as he dropped his hand and stared hard at the floor, looking nowhere else. He seemed almost too concentrated on staring at the floor, like he was trying to make it seem he was just observing the patterns. However, the way his neck was straining from the pressure, and his brows were furrowed, he only looked comical.
"You have more to ask?" I mumbled, and he sighed out. Automatically, he relaxed, and I twitched. "I didn't mean create a mantra," I muttered as he closed his eyes in sudden peace. He opened his eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling, and for a moment he looked like he could have seen more than he had ever let on. He was suffering inside, and he wasn't letting anyone know. I wondered how hard it was for him, a mortal with no secure mask that he had been working on for years and years.
"I can't help but feel…like I'll never see that town again," he whispered. I shook my head softly.
"It's not like it's just going to be up and gone, Sora." When I uttered his name, he seemed to blush again.
"It's just, I feel like there's something missing, like I should have known where I was and who those people were, and where and why I was going. Like…I had already been there, you know?" he seemed almost lost, and I had the sudden urge to comfort him. So I did, to the best of my abilities.
"Some people believe that they used to exist in a different time, a different life. You know, with no real recollections, but then you suddenly get this feeling like you've been somewhere before when you had never even heard of it in your current life." I shrugged. "There's always a possibility. Personally, I don't follow any religion. It's not like it'll help me. I'm damned to this life for eternity."
"I'm sorry you have to deal with such a burden," Sora mumbled, and I laughed softly. It was a dry, sad laugh.
"Don't worry about it, kiddo. It's not like it's your fault." I whispered, and brought my knees to my chest.
"I'm really not a child anymore," Sora said, grim. "I'm strong. I'm experienced. I know to you, my age is like nothing, but I do know a lot. I could tell you everything about Destiny Islands, about the king, and heartless and battle strategies and…" he stopped, and I noticed tears gathering. I stared at him in both wonder and shock, and was suddenly on my knees in front of him. I was just in time for the first tear to fall.
My finger caught it gently, and I bright it to my face. It was a curious thing, a tear. I wasn't sure if a vampire could cry, but I knew that ever since I was changed I had never cried once. I had never felt the need. Now I was curious. What was Sora feeling right now that caused these tears? Was it pain and sadness, or was it just frustration? Or was it both?
"You shouldn't cry, silly," I whispered, and licked the tear off my finger. It was salty. "That's the sign of a kid," I winked, and sat back down in a flash. My speed seemed to surprise him, because it was a moment before he caught his bearings again.
"Saku was your name, right?" he whispered, and I fidgeted.
"Actually…I was lying." I muttered. "I wasn't sure if I could trust you. I'm still not fully sure, but I guess I have no choice in the matter right now."
"So what's your actual name?" Sora asked. He didn't seem affected by the fact that I hadn't told him my real name.
"It's Kiera." I mumbled, and bit my lip again. Sora smiled softly, and leaned back on the bench. His head rested against the window.
"That's a pretty name. Suits you, you know," he murmured softly. I laughed again, and wondered how many times I would laugh in his presence. I hoped it would be a lot, with plenty of good memories and smiles. For some reason, I felt this boy deserved that much.
"So, got any girlfriends?" I asked randomly. The question had popped into my head as I tried to think of a conversation starter. Sora blushed.
"No…" he mumbled, trailing off. I stared at him, studying the way he reacted. I could see a hint of a smile on his face.
"But you like someone," I guessed. He looked at me, suddenly sheepish.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that…" he said, and then looked out the window on the opposite end with a faraway look. He was frowning, as if trying hard either not to remember something, or to remember something very far off.
"She's important to you, though. You miss her." I stated simply. He sighed, and gave another of his sheepish grins.
"Yeah. I made a promise that I'd come back to her, no matter what…" he mumbled. I sighed, and reached forward to ruffle his hair.
"You shouldn't make promises like that, you know. That girl could be sitting there everyday, not eating, not sleeping, waiting for your return…" I was whispering, but I felt like making myself invisible and wished I'd never said those words.
"That happened to you?" Sora guessed, and I looked at him in surprise.
"Yeah, sort of," I mumbled. "Except, it wasn't over a guy…" at this, Sora seemed to blush. I realized what he had just assumed, and rolled my eyes. "Even if I did like girls, there shouldn't be any problem with that. But no, I'm not attracted to girls. She was my sister, she promised me she would come back in a week…"
Sora stared at me, embarrassed but interested. I stared at him for a long time, deciding on how deep into this conversation I would get. I decided that, since I would probably never see the kid again, I would let him into my mind for a little while.
"I waited a year, never eating, drinking or sleeping. I only ate enough and drank enough to stay alive. Not like it mattered. I don't think she ever came back. Anyways, exactly a year later, my creator found me. He made me into what I am today, and now here I am as a vampire when I should be six feet under with a pretty grave stone." I shrugged, and closed my eyes softly. Sora gave an audible gasp, and I smiled. "No worries. I ended up forgetting about trivial things like grudges and hatred after a hundred years or so." Even as I said it, I could hear the bitter tone I was using.
"Sorry…" Sora muttered once again. I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"I already told you, there's no point in saying sorry. None of it was your fault." I paused, and then looked at him. He still looked deep in thought. How many things did this kid have on his mind? "So, anything else?" I hinted, and Sora looked up at me, a little surprised, then smiled gently.
"Sort of. I was just…hoping I would be able to find my friend. Riku." He shrugged with a small frown. "He went to the other side with the king, but if the king is here…then that must mean Riku is here too. I didn't ask the king back on the plaza, but I know he has to be here somewhere. I have to find him. I have to…" he trailed off, and I knew he was unsure of what he had to do. "I guess, I have to finally win in that sword fight."
"Rivalry, huh? He was the kid who beat you at everything, but was your absolute best friend?" I asked, and Sora shrugged.
"Yeah. He's a year older than me, so I never complained or thought I was weak. But still…it would be nice to win, just once." Sora seemed slightly depressed, and I ruffled his hair again.
"Don't worry about it, kid. You'll find him somewhere on this journey." As if responding to my words, the train came to a stop. Sora and I both tumbled over slightly from the unexpected jolt, and then straightened ourselves and stood. Goofy and Donald, who had fallen asleep, were now on the floor and untwisting themselves.
We got off the train as the door slid open, and we found ourselves on a small, floating island with a crooked castle on it. at the door, someone was banging. As we got closer, not bothering to watch the train leave, Donald and Goofy both gasped. "That's Stinky Pete!" They both said at the same time. I looked at the fat dog figure, who was wearing a type of expensive armor and clothes that seemed to barely fit him.
"Funny looking guy, huh?" I muttered to Sora, who broke out in a grin. We approached the huge dog, and I began to play with my nails as Donald and Goofy confronted him. I listened, but barely. My thoughts were on my conversation with Sora. Only one thing caught my attention. He said he was creating an army of heartless.
"Aren't heartless…things that come out of people who have darkness in their hearts or something?" I mumbled to Sora, who gave a small nod. He had just been pulling at my shorts, which made me laugh. "Let's hope this guy has something in his wardrobe for you, huh?"
"Heh…yeah," Sora mumbled with a blush. However, before we could continue with what seemed to be the start of a friendship, five creatures appeared. Each of them were the same, shadowy creature that crouched low even though it was already small. All that could truly be distinguished in their features were two glowing yellow eyes.
"Ugh. Do we constantly have to fight?" I muttered to myself. I readied myself, flexing my fingers. I tried to strike through one of them, but my hand just went through it. I stared in shock, and backed away with wide eyes. Why hadn't it worked? Why couldn't I hurt them? I looked over at Sora, who now had the keyblade, and watched as he easily struck through them, and as Goofy and Donald defeated their own enemies. I sat there, stumped and confused for the second time that day.
Eventually, the creatures stopped coming. The huge dog, Stinky Pete, was grumbling to himself as he ran down the steps. "Just you wait! I'll come back with more!" He called, and I watched him leave. I barely noticed as Sora came up in front of me with a concerned look on face, and didn't really respond as he held out a hand.
"Kiera, please!" His yell woke me from my stupor, and I looked up at him blurrily. The expression of concern intensified, and I tried to give a weak laugh as I stood with one fluid movement. Sora was still looking at me with concern as I began to step forwards, towards the double doors. Before I could start going up the steps, a hand gently laid itself on my shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah…fine…I'm just going to need some answers is all." I mumbled. My mind wandered back to the white creatures. I had been able to strike through them with my fists, but yet I found myself helpless with tiny little shadow creatures.
"Those were heartless," Sora explained. "You can't strike through them unless you possess magic, or wield the keyblade." I looked at him with a frown, wondering how he had guessed. He gave me a small smirk. "I know what it feels like to not be able to strike through them. It was before I knew how to summon the keyblade."
"Right…" I mumbled. "Well, let's get going then. I don't want to waste any time." Sora gave affirm nod, and he and Donald and Goofy followed me up the steps. Donald and Goofy were both whispering to each other about something, and I glanced back at them suspiciously. They both straightened, trying to give me an innocent look. I gave a brief glare before turning back to open the doors.
Inside, Donald and Goofy both called for attention. We turned around to listen to them. "We have to be very careful. Pete said that there were Heartless in here, so be on your guard Sora! Also, Master Yen Sid lives here!" Donald quacked, and I winced. What would I do? I couldn't protect any of them, let alone myself, and Donald seemed to make that clear by not mentioning me. I didn't bother with asking who Yen Sid was, because I didn't really care.
So I went ahead of them. I didn't bother waiting to see if they would protest or follow, and began to climb the long spiraling steps. As we walked up the steps, Sora held the keyblade at the ready for anything. Heartless did show up, only two, before we reached a door that lead to a small platform.
Whoever lived here must have been magic, because the whole place looked like it was floating on nothing, with stars everywhere. Just as I was about to head across the platform the door ahead, Sora held me back. Heartless were appearing, blocking our way. I hissed, standing aside and watching them fight.
When the heartless were gone, I went straight for the door grumbling to myself. Not being able to defend myself bothered me greatly, and the three companions seemed to notice this. Behind the door was yet another staircase, also looking like it was floating in space. I grimaced, and Sora held me back.
"You shouldn't walk in front of us. You could get hurt." He said, giving a brief grin. I scoffed, but let him go in front of me.
"Vampires can't get hurt. Not many things can kill us." I replied curtly, and held out my hand. "Our skin is like marble, and no blood flows through us. You'd have to be another vampire, or some other hideous creature just as formidable, to do any sort of harm on me. These creatures can do nothing. I'm only humoring you."
"Alright." Sora said, grinning. "Let's go." So we did. We headed up the path, and when I looked to the side I could see the staircase we had went up originally. This must have been the last staircase. Only a few heartless appeared this time, as if they were slowly wearing down. When we got to the door though, Sora looked a little tired. I nudged him, giving him a small smile.
"Come on, you only woke up what must have been four hours ago," I said. "Can't be tired already."
"Sorry," he mumbled. I blinked, confused.
"You've gotta stop saying sorry. We're going to practice on that, alright?" I said, just as Donald and goofy opened the doors and stepped through. As we followed them, they suddenly stood rigid at attention, Sora and I leaning back to see what the deal was. I looked up to find an old man wearing a wizard had and a blue robe. Classical, I thought.
"Master Yen Sid! It's an honor!" Donald quacked. Sora gave a short wave with a quick "Hi there", and I just gave a grim smile before studying the room. I could almost feel magic running through me. Donald looked at both of us, glaring. "Show some respect to the master!" however, the old man waved it off and folded his hands together, resting his chin on his knuckles.
"So this is Sora?" he asked, and the boy gave a small grin with a scratch of his head. The old man's voice was scratchy, old, and aged. It was easy to tell he had seen a great deal, and knew a great deal. "Have you seen the king yet?" he asked, looked at Donald and Goofy.
"Yes, master, but he was in a rush." Goofy said, and Yen Sid gave a small nod of understanding.
"Yes, the king has been quite busy as of late. It would seem, then, that the task of instructing you lies upon my shoulders." Yen Sid leaned back, and his gaze lifted to mine. He hadn't acknowledged me until then, but his eyes simply went back to Sora as if he hadn't seen me. I wasn't sure if I should have felt offended. "You have a perilous journey ahead of you, and you must be well prepared."
"So we have to go on another quest?" Sora asked, his face falling. It looked like he would have cried if he could. I nudged him lightly, encouraging him. He looked at me and I gave him a small wink. His only reply was a half-hearted smile. "I was hoping I could find my friend Riku, so we could go back to the islands." He admitted, shrugging.
"Whether you will find Riku, find heartless, or find nothing, your journey depends on you. You, Sora, are the key. The chosen wielder of the keyblade." Yen Sid stated, and Sora looked bewildered. As if to answer his statement, Sora held out his hand and the keyblade appeared in a light flash, blowing his hair back briefly. Yen Sid nodded, as if in approval. Finally, his eyes rested on me and did not move. "I wish to speak with you alone."
"Why?" I mumbled, crossing my arms and leaning against a bookshelf. I refused to be polite for an old man who seemed to think very highly of himself, and it seemed that he had a way of making other people think highly of him as well. He was old, and powerful, wise, someone that took time to trust. Sora I had unknowingly trusted right from the start. He was that kind of person. Was I?
"We have matters to discuss. Questions you wish to be answered. Sora, there are three fairies in the other room who will help prepare you for your journey and give you much more suitable clothing. As you are doing this, I will take the time to talk with this young lady." I twitched, raising an eyebrow. He didn't bother correcting himself. "First, we must discuss your enemies."
Beside us, a light flashed and we found ourselves looking at transparent white figures, the ones who had attacked us at the plaza. "These are nobodies. At times, when a strong heart, whether evil or good, turns to a Heartless, the empty shell they leave behind begins to act with a will of its own. It is an empty vessel, a spirit that goes on. Even when they fade from existence. Nobodies do not truly exist at all."
The image changed to Donald, and the actual duck gave a small quack of shock. "You must also be aware of yourselves, for one such as you, Donald, may turn into a heartless." As he said this, Donald faded slowly into the impish black creature. "You must not wield to the darkness in your heart. This, of course, leads us to the enemy that you all know. The Heartless, the ones who have dwindled in numbers but will never truly be gone until all of the darkness is gone from everyone's hearts. As long as darkness is there, Heartless can and will exist.
"There is one more enemy that you must know about," Yen Sid said, and the projection faded to reveal another one. A figure clad in a black cloak, face shrouded by the hood. "Organization XIII, a group of organized, thoughtful Nobodies who have taken a completely human shape. They will be your most formidable foe, as well as always there to cause trouble. They are a special kind of Nobody, a rare kind, where they can think completely for themselves and plan and organize. They take control over other Nobodies, considering themselves their leaders. You will learn more of them in your journey." My teeth ground as I looked at the figure, and my fists clenched.
"As you well know, there are many different shapes and forms these enemies will have. The further along in your journey, the stronger and more formidable they are." The image disappeared, and I looked grimly at Yen Sid. I was tired of his droning. It took him forever to speak, and I was becoming impatient for my answers. At the same time, Sora pulled down on his pants. "Ah, yes. I will leave you, Sora, to get your new clothing. Donald, Goofy, please accompany him. This requires a private audience."
"See ya later," Sora said cheerfully as he waved to me, and then disappeared behind a small wooden door that had been hidden by the projections. As soon as Donald's tail had disappeared behind the door, I swung my head to look inquiringly at Yen Sid. He was once again resting his chins on his long, bony hands.
"You have a great many questions," he stated, "But you must choose which ones wisely. You only have so long before Sora comes back out and your journey begins."
"My journey?" I snapped, narrowing my eyes. he said nothing, and I breathed slowly. I chose my first question, the one that was most obvious and had been bugging me since we arrived. "Why can't I strike them down? Why could I dispose of the Nobodies, but not the Heartless?"
"Ah, but the reason you struck down those first Nobodies in the presence of Axle was because you wished to protect. The same happened on the plaza. Outside just now, you only felt smug and sure of yourself." His voice was slow, and I stared at him in disbelief.
"So I'm supposed to want to protect Sora?" I asked, crossing my arms. "The kid can take care of himself. He doesn't need my help."
"Sora needs your help more than you know," Yen Sid droned. "Your destiny is to protect him as he continues his journey through this. As you are a thing of darkness yourself, there is no need to worry about such enemies as he does. You are to protect the light in his heart. This journey is as much yours as it is his, however. You must discover these things for yourself."
"But it still doesn't make sense. Why can't I kill them?" I was growling low. Suddenly, my yes went wide. You can't strike through them unless you possess magic, or wield the keyblade. Wasn't that what Sora had said? You needed power, magic… "The blade that showed up in my hands on the plaza…what was it?"
"It was the keyblade. You are the keyblade's chosen guardian. It is only a very faint legend that such a thing exists, and the last guardian was thousands of years ago, yet there is a new guardian as we now face a much more perilous journey than we have in centuries." Yen Sid was finally starting to make more sense, and I suddenly found myself stretching my hand as if willing the blade to appear. Surprisingly, it did. "It doesn't take long to catch onto these things." He noted.
"So, I have to follow around some kid and his two helpers as he tries to save the world? Why does that sound so dramatically cheesy?" I sighed, looking down at the blade, then closed my eyes. In a flash, the blade was gone.
"To put it in your words, yes." Yen Sid almost seemed amused, and then his face turned serious again. "You have lived for a great many years, vampire Kiera. Yet you show the knowledge of a child." This struck home, and I looked to the side bitterly.
"I guess I just liked being a child. The personality stuck with me, always hidden. That sleep I had, that was a year long…I think that was what caused it to come back." I admitted. The great many years I had lived were just faint memories now, something I was ignoring as I attempted something like a new life. "I think that being around human emotions as soon as I woke up from what would seem like such a long rest is was really caused it."
"Wise words, but only to be expected. Young child, and yes you are still quite young, you must trust in this journey to help you along. You cannot let your mind tell you that you are an emotionless soul, something that does not feel. An immortal can feel just as much as a mortal. Remember that." Nothing more was said, because Sora suddenly burst through the doors looking very proud.
And I could immediately tell why. Much to my embarrassment, I had to admit he looked good. Even Yen Sid had a secretive smile. Sora now wore a black, short sleeved sweater with white hemming and metal shoulder pads, with yellow straps on the shoulders, and a pair of fingerless gloves with white crisscross on them and steel knuckles that looked almost too large for his soft hands. A blue shirt with red pockets was underneath the opened sweater, and his chain necklace with the crown attached was still there. He had two attached red pockets, jeans shorts with black covering, and yellow with black boots. All in all, the outfit was pretty cute. They fit perfectly, just baggy enough to make him look like he was sinking in them, but still tight enough that showed he was tall and proud. In fact, he was an inch or two taller than myself.
I whistled low to show I was impressed, and Sora gave a light blush. "They were making a commotion about the whole thing and wouldn't decide. I think I surprised them when I told them to get on with it."
"Ah yes. Fairies are argumentative aren't they?" Yen Sid said, and then looked at me once more. His eyes seemed to be saying something, but I couldn't understand what. When he turned back to Sora, he suddenly waved at the window. "I have one more thing for you, before you leave. I think you will rather like this gift."
Outside, an orange, ship-like figure appeared, and what looked like two chipmunks. They both waved, and Sora, Donald and Goofy all cheered. "The Gummi Ship!" Donald cried out, and I looked at Sora.
"We use it to travel from world to world," he explained. I nodded, and then looked over at Yen Sid. He was now standing, going over to the window.
"The paths to each world have disappeared, since after your endeavors they have returned to their original state." This caused a few groans, but Yen Sid just waved his hands. "Not to fear, because if what the king suspects is true, then the worlds have prepared new pathways to which you can travel. At each world there will be a gate which you must pass first before arriving there."
"So we can go now?" Sora asked, over eager. I rolled my eyes, and placed a hand on top of his head. He looked at me sheepishly.
"One more thing," Yen Sid continued. "When you reach each world, whenever your keyblade glows you shall return to your Gummi Ship. The keyblade will guide you on this quest. When and where this will happen I do not know, but trust in the keyblade.
"Remember all that has been said, and remember that each world only brings you closer to what you are searching for." Yen Sid said, and we all gave a small nod. As Sora, Donald and Goofy all climbed aboard the Gummi Ship and talked with the two chipmunks-I barely heard them say their names were Chip and Dayle-I stayed behind to say one last thing.
"You know, you're not so bad. You should work on that scowl of yours, though." I winked, and then sighed. "Thanks…Master Yen Sid. The blessings of a vampire befalls you, and may you use this well." It was a blessing, something very powerful and that could only be used once. Whatever it was used for, it would work so long as you desperately needed it. It was the greatest gift, and kindest, a vampire could ever give. There was only one above it, but it was a horrid, dreadful thing. Something I never wished to even think of.
I climbed aboard the Gummi Ship, leaving a very happy, old wizard behind. I wondered how long it had been since he had smiled like that.
End Chapter