Standard Disclaimer Applies For All Chapters: I do not own Square Enix, Disney, KH or its cast.
a/n: I got more reviews! I'm so happy on how this story is progressing! Thanks a lot you guys!So thankies to: SharleaNorth, Shadow Oblivion, TheHentaiHero and Thunder-Angelist.Rawr! Shadow Heartless hugs to all you guys! (And I promise they won't kill you! :3) Enjoy!
Chapter Four: Death and Life of Poor
The strongest, richest, handsome creature is only as powerful as its weakest point.
--Defender--
…Oh The Power That Wander Wished Isn't Such An Angelic Thing After All…
It has been over a year since I met Princess.
A quirky, annoying, blabbering, Neoshadow that became a Darkball after we worked together to take down two very bright hearts. We are still together after all this time. Honestly, I have no idea why I let her come and follow me! She scares all the Light Hearted away with her inconstant chattering and talks about things that don't make sense. I mean, who cares about the way she twirls her antenna or how she should give the final blow to steal a Hearted? Does she have any idea how much it tortures the surrounding Heartless? Being with her is causing me to loose so much respect from the other Heartless in such a way that even the Shadows have started prattle about us, laughing behind our backs!
I'm quite surprise that Princess hasn't notice yet. Then again, I don't think she's even conscious where she is going, because half the time she's slamming into inanimate objects such as Hearted walls, pots, signs, trees, fences and other countless barriers. I can't see why I don't blast her head off. But I guess… maybe I just need a companion. Oh well, at least we work well as a team.
It's almost like a game when we hunt. First, we see who can sense the most Lighted-Heart before the other. Then we raced towards the Hearted, seeing how many other Heartless we can pass before we reach the target. Afterwards, we would both take turns in moving the prey towards a dead end. I would often alternate between Firaga and Blizzarda to scare the Hearted in one direction, while Princess would use Gravitara or Magenera to slow them down before we close in, taking our share of the Hearts, leaving the weaker ones to the Shadows. As we switch Worlds, we would often spit apart, but soon enough we would find each other again. Her scent was too different to not notice and too strong to not forget. It was always the same thing over and over again.
"Wander! Wander!"
Princess broke off in mid-sentence with her cries of my name, "Ohhh, do you smell it! Like roses on a good afternoon! Have you smelled flowers before?!" I scoffed at her, my shield hiding my eyes; of course I never smelt flowers, it's a Hearted thing. Besides, I don't have a nose to even-
Wait. That smell… only once before did I smell one, but that scent was far, far away! The world we were in was completely desert, almost nothing lived in it. Only strong Hearted with the stamina to survive in such grueling conditions. It was a bit of a hide-and-seek instead of a chase. But we would always win because their scent calls us to them, like moths to a flame. But the scent that I smelled was so… so… inviting, yet not exactly Hearted. What… is this?
I saw Princess's eyes flare with the usual spark of blood-lust as she let out a savage growl, "Ohhh! Wander, Wander! It calls, he calls! Poor, Poor, Poor! Do you not see?! We must answer the Belmoth!" Before I had time to question her words, she went flying in an eastward direction, floating above the sand dunes with ease as she kicked up the dust that landed within my amour. I curse my iron-wrought body, wishing to become the small Nocturne I once was. At least all sorts of junk don't get caught in-between your body parts! Princess, oh why must you go on this insane crusade? I let my inner mind outward to find Princess's scent, started trudging through the desert sands, trying to cover myself with my shield.
--
It was late afternoon when I found Princess at a strange place.
And what a sight it was. In my entire four years of life, I have never seen a Belmoth. Oh yes… I have sensed them in the 'Alter' realm, a place where I hear some other Heartless call the 'Void' or the Afterlife for all Dark beings. It's true that anyone can just go there, all you have to do is conjure a portal to the Betwixt and Between and you are half-way there. The only reason no one goes is because no one can ever return from the Alter realm. Once you step through, you can't go out. No hearts there, only thousands of 'failure' Heartless, starving in agony from the loss of Hearts. That's when the Belmoths come in. They are second to Darksides, and they don't feed on Hearted. Oh no. Not unless they are desperate. They feed on the Heartless that stole strong Hearts.
Oh sure they are powerful enough to take out entire Light Hearted villages, but they refuse and thirst for Heartless instead. Such scum they are! Avoided by all Heartless, except Darksides, they are nothing more then outcasts! Fools to take our Hearts instead of freeing the Light-Hearts. Why is Princess so attracted to this… thing!? Then again, why is all these Shadows surrounding the Belmoth?
The creature was laying side-ways in what seems like a large crater, with Princess in front of it, stroking its head with one of her tentacles, scaring off any Shadow that would come even one step closer to the Belmoth. A Heartless ring that kept growing and growing formed around the two and Princess had to resort into using magic to frighten them off. I gave a vicious growl as I commanded the Shadow Heartless to move to the side to let me through. What in Light-Hearted's name, is she doing!? Protecting the very thing that lives off us!? This time, she has gone too far!
"Princess!!" I mumbled toward her as she spun around to strike me with Thundraga, "What are you thinking!?" Princess gasped as she pulled me by her tentacles, "Oh Wander! Please! Listen to Poor! Poor Poor! Poor! Listen! Listen!" I was pulled towards the beast's face, its golden ember eyes starring at me with curiosity.
'Poor… I, Poor. I, Belmoth. I, A Nobel in Rags.' His ragged breathe pouring over my body.
I watched the Belmoth with nervous eyes, afraid of him striking me and stealing everything from me. Poor noticed my defended position and gave a weary chuckle, 'Do not worry, little one. I, Poor is to be free.' Free? Free? It's dieing, isn't it?! It should be dead right now! Only if Princess would stop-
"It is polite to say your name, Defender."
I scoff at him in an attacking tone, reminding him that I could slay him right now, "I, Wander. I, Defender. I, acknowledge." Poor lifted his massive head, just slightly as I spoke my title, "Acknowledge? What is your knowledge?" I closed my eyes for a minute, almost hesitant, but the answer was so obvious!
'Darkness.'
'And what is this Darkness?'
'It's…' I stutter over my words. How could this be? I, Wander. I, Defender. I, acknowledge! I know… Darkness. Darkness is… Everything! Right?
'If Darkness is everything, Wander, then what are the Light-Hearted?' He read my mind! I look at Poor, my eyes in wonderment, as my mind run with million questions that I never wondered about before. Poor blinked a few times, his coat shivered a bit from Heart-desperation, 'I… I think I have sometime, before I am free… Come, Wander… let me tell you about Poor… Come and touch my horn.' I put up my defenses and took a few steps back, not trusting the creature.
Princess practically pushed me towards the Belmoth's horn, 'Learn to trust, Wander! Oh please, Wander! Listen, Listen!' It wasn't long before Princess was able to get me to somewhat sit on the horn. And what happened after that, was… amazing… unknowing! A knowledge that even the Darkness didn't hold. Soon, Poor's words started to come into my subconscious as I fell into a dark slumber…
I, Poor. I, am not Heartless. I, a Nobel in Rags
I loved. I hated. Please, my dear Wander. Listen to the worlds of a Nobel in Rags. I born a Neoshadow and already, I was treated differently then the usual ordinary Heartless. I was a Neoshadow. A creature born strong, faster, better! Right from the first day, I was a leader. A lord. A ruler! I was the strongest. I evolved stronger, I am stronger. I took the lights from the Hearted and feed it to myself for my own cause, only knowing that I needed it because I did. Not did I care much. My Hearted was a young scholar, often looked down by his peers. He always looked to the future to not feel lone.
Finally, when I was a Wyvern, I meet a strange Heartless. Just like your 'Princess.' Eccentric and bold, he and I followed and weaved through the path the Darkness lead us. But oh, the Darkness wasn't for him and I wasn't willing to listen! He would mumble about how the water is so blue during the morning dew and how the sky would light up with the sunlight that made our bodies glitter like a thousand shattering suns. Wander… Listen! Listen! You must not let the Darkness fully complete you! Keep this beautiful 'Princess' PROMISE ME!
There was a hearken gasp from Poor as I stumbled from his trance, dizzy and dazed about the echoing words that clouded my mind. There was a sudden surge of Shadows as Poor's eyes closed and his body… oh the light! The blinding light that engulfed him… engulfed Princess… engulfing… m...e...
'Wander!'
My eyes snap open to see only darkness. It wasn't comforting as it was before. It wasn't as loving as it was before. It wasn't-
'Wander! Wander! I can't see you! Wander! Wander!'
Who… who was that? Wander… is that my name… i don't understand… this darkness is telling what i know… wander wander… i, wander… i, am dark-
'WANDER!'
…PRINCESS…
light… A light… A comforting light… Princess?
My eyes awoken as I founded myself laying flat on the ground… my body different then what it used to be… Poor is gone.
The Shadows are gone.
'tis only me and… what is that? Is that… a Wizard?
I tried to move, but my arms have turned into bracken leather wings that were long and powerful. The feeling of wishing the wind could soar through the haggled wings was upon me and I felt, my hind legs, much more stronger then my wings helped me up. Along with my lizard-like tail, I was able to set myself upward to the sky, so I could at least feed the need of flight. I angled my wings downward, the two 'shoulder armor' near my head, ready to take lift. With one sweep of my wing, I was able to gain some lift, but then I needed to flap harder to gain lift and height. I bent my head down in concentration as I rose; only watching the Heartless emblem on my chest. Then suddenly, I saw the Wizard moving and I notice something.
Princess.
Where was the Darkball?
Poor said not to… loose Princess… Have I already failed the Belmoth? Why did this… Wizard and I survived?! While the countless other Heartless and… Princess didn't! Why!? WHY!?
A flare rose within me. A predatory flare that I haven't felt since I was a blind shadow. My golden eyes sparkled with hate and revenge that with a gigantous roar, I propelled my body forward, spiraling around like a large dart, which's only purpose is to hit the bull's eye. The Wizard noticed me speeding towards itself and it gave a cowardly gasp, deflecting me with a quick reflectaga spell.
It's mind tried to coax me to become calm, but I couldn't stand it! I needed to fight! I need to-ARG! Gravitaga!?
I was being held down by my will! COWARD! FIGHT ME! FIGHT ME WITH YOUR-
'Wander! Wander! It's me! Princess! I am the Wizard!'
Princess!?
My flame of hatred went out in a milli-second as I watched Princess in her new form, floating above me. Tasting in her strange scent that she always had… I let out a small wail. I… I almost killed Princess! How could I be so blind? I wobbled on my hind legs away from her in shame trying to shrug off the Curaga she has cast upon me. I felt a small trickle of liquid fall down my leather body. Princess came near me, touching my armor plated shoulder, trying to soothe me with her mind, 'Wander… you'll waste the darkness…'
I look at my tears as they fall in a pool of black. Black… darkness… 'So this is what we are, Princess?' I mumbled as I tipped the end of one of my wings into the pool, 'Blindless creatures who feed off innocents… IS THIS WHAT YOU BELIEVE?!' I shook my head towards her and my tears of darkness burnt into her Wizard's form's arm. Princess flinched as I spoke my harsh words, but she took the blackened tip and cleaned off the darkness, which turned into a gooey mixture. I watched her curiously as she moved it around in her hand, 'No… this is not what I believe, Wander.'
Letting it float up between her left and right palm, right in the center of her chest, it formed and glowed a deep purple. 'What I do believe though…' The blackness was suddenly covered in a white globe. 'Is that the path that they set for us… isn't our only path we can choose.' The globe broke apart and out dropped a small chained necklace of a black crown. It's dark color resonated in darkness… yet it wasn't… wasn't an evil aura… it was more of a protective aura. '…and when the day comes for you to make a choice…' She took the chained necklace and placed it around my neck, so it rested on my chest. '… you will make the right one…'
The necklace felt light upon my body, yet it almost seemed to make me stronger and make me see clearer. I bowed my head down as I placed it against her Heartless emblem, 'I know I will… Princess…'
Thus, the sands swirled around us as I almost could feel the light… not burning… but comforting.
a/n: Kudos to you, if you know what the chain necklace is. (Hint: No. It's not Sora's!) Reviews are loved!