Disclaimer: Pirate ship…
Sora: Riku! Where are Donald and Goofy?
Riku: Are they that important to you? More important than old friends? Instead of worrying about them, you should be asking about me!
Sora: But Riku…
Riku: Oh Sora, you don't know how I missed you. But now that you're here, I have nothing to fear!
Warning: Fairly be warned, ye all. This chapter includes almost fanatical obsession with DARKNESS!
Author's Note: Time to ask for forgiveness again on the late update. Actually, it was Shattered Mirror01's updated fic which reminded me, 'Hey, fool. You have a fic left un-updated for God-knows-how-long!'
Well, I blame the character cast in KH. Do you know how difficult it was to find an appropriate Hierophant?
Appreciation to:
Fugitive, Shattered Mirror01 and Sing of the Skies. Your support always keep me going, especially Shattered-san!
V. The Hierophant – Ansem (Xehanort's Heartless)
I was born, in darkness.
It appears I have reached the final stages of my research.
Hearts and darkness. They are irrevocably connected. By subjecting myself to be the final sacrifice in the research I adapted from that failure of a teacher, my existence now transcend beyond that mortal shell.
Ansem, he was such a fool. A coward. He refused to see what potential his research could have yielded. He should be duly credited for his role in initiating this project, but he had no desire for grandeur, which did no justice to this awesome power.
Yes, the power of darkness, which I now wield with abundance.
If my findings correspond well with that of my foolish ex-teacher, my Nobody should have been born too. The genius that is Xehanort should not be wasted, indeed.
Whatever the machination of my counterpart, it is not of my concern. I shall now finalize my research on darkness, a power which should be glorified and allowed to be amplified and stretch beyond this pale world.
I shall show all worlds the marvel of this wondrous might which they have shunned for so long. Darkness shall stir a new revolution, and all worlds shall fall. It shall be for the better, as these worlds would then subscribe to a most basic rule.
Survival of the fittest.
----------------------------------
Master, oh foolish master, rejoice.
I am treading grounds which you cannot even begin to fathom. The darkness which is coursing through my veins fills me with such delectable joy and satisfaction. You were truly a simpleton to have even attempted to reject and elude it. What separate you, oh sagacious Ansem the Wise, from the ignoramus in the worlds?
Nothing. One who knows nothing can understand nothing.
Yet I am grateful to you, master. If not for your kind rescue, Xehanort would not have survived to this day.
So, in memory of you, I have adopted your name, master.
The name Ansem shall now be revered once more, but now, as the Seeker of Darkness.
----------------------------------
All is progressing well. Ignorant villains of a sort have gathered, believing they could utilize the power of darkness and the Heartless to their will.
Fools, darkness cannot be stirred to achieve their pathetic dreams of political power and glory. They believe themselves to be puppeteers, when the Heartless are the ones pulling the strings.
However, I shall allow them to indulge in their fantasies, sacrificing them on the chess board when the situation demands.
Yes, I do need fodder. The realm of light is not giving up without a fight, after all.
The rodent mogul should have left his realm to battle the looming darkness.
His potential is worrisome, for he wields an ancient weapon which could turn the tables.
The Keyblade.
Its wielder is said to be either capable of saving the world, or destroying it.
If my studies are correct, another Keyblade would soon materialize.
I must intercept it, and let it fall into my hands.
----------------------------------
Destiny Islands.
Such a tiny, pathetic place.
Interestingly, a young child shares my sentiment, and aspires nothing more than to leave this prison.
His heart is strong. Surely, he must be the potential Keyblade wielder. That would explain why the Keyblade would choose to materialize in this backwater land.
His heart has great potential. I could feel the darkness brimming within. He is more than worthy to be my new vessel.
What glee. Not only shall the new Keyblade Master fall to obscurity, he shall also open the Door to Darkness here, and bring ruin to yet another world.
This world has been connected. Tied to the darkness, soon to be completely eclipsed…
----------------------------------
Inconceivable!
Two potential Keyblade wielders on one tiny island? I have ignored the younger brunette, and now the Keyblade is in his hands.
However, the silver blond is under Maleficent's control. Useless as she is, she would definitely be able to sway him to our cause.
My cause, of course.
Despite 'falling' to darkness, that child still has a stronger heart than his younger friend. Certainly, he will reclaim his prize as the true wielder.
At that point, he shall surrender himself to me, and with him as a new vessel, I shall allow supreme darkness to conquer all worlds.
Now, it is nothing more than a waiting game. Entertain me, Riku.
----------------------------------
Such entertainment indeed!
As I predicted, the silver-haired child was brimming with potential. His utilization of darkness was magnificent. The only reason for his defeat would be his momentary weakness due to his hesitation and reluctance to hurt his friend.
It is time, then, for me to show him the true potential of the darkness within his heart.
The seventh Princess is my trump card. I need not have the Keyblade under my control. Everything is going according to plan after all.
The more pure-hearted of the two boys will no doubt sacrifice himself to release the seventh untainted heart, and the End of the World shall lay out its carpet to me.
And I shall have my prize. The world of eternal darkness.
Kingdom Hearts.
----------------------------------
Such… miscalculation…
How unimaginable. That boy is no scientist, and probably knows nothing beyond basic algebra, if he even paid attention in his classes.
Yet his heart defied all my research, and logic itself. Kingdom Hearts is supposed to be my ultimate source of power…
But… light? Why…
----------------------------------
Such absurdity.
However, I could only blame myself for my judgment. Now my only sanctuary is the dark realms of Riku's heart.
The silly boy still rejects his greatest weapon. Darkness.
What a fool. Doesn't he know that he would only grow weaker without it? Bow to me and I will grant you eternal power!
Bah, obstinate child and meddlesome rodent.
You will yield to me soon, Riku.
----------------------------------
My Nobody have performed splendidly, it seems. He granted me this stage for persuading this pig-headed boy.
Such perfect coincidence!
Riku's presence in this castle is only because of Sora. These two boys play a most interesting game of catch, when they are polar opposites!
When I awaken, this body shall allow me to annihilate Sora with the help my Nobody and his so-called organization. My ambition shall not be deterred.
----------------------------------
Nobody of mine, you did find some perfect talents.
Who would have thought of it? A replica of this stubborn boy?
This adolescent should understand by now my powers and yield, but he remains fearful and fights in such futility. What a waste of good talent.
----------------------------------
Every time an Organization member falls, Riku's darkness becomes more apparent. If not for that troublesome mogul…
But that man, number VI has been the final straw for Riku.
He finally accepted his true calling.
Come then, boy! Join me in darkness once more!
----------------------------------
Foolish boy!
How is it that everything is so incogitable!
I should have conquered the boy who gave his heart to darkness!
Where have I gone wrong…?
----------------------------------
The Hierophant – Xehanort (Heartless)
End rants: Never again. The word 'darkness' in this chapter rivals the frequency of the article 'the'.
Okay, I definitely owe some explanation on how I chose the Hierophant to be Ansem. Card V. The Hierophant is actually also known as The Pope. Now, it should be almost blasphemous to connect someone so holy to this, this obsessive jerk (sorry, my brain is mush now). Actually, the Hierophant also represents religion, any religion, and encompass all aspects of it, positive or negative, cult or not.
Have an idea where I'm going with this now? Ansem's fanatical obsession on the 'teachings' of darkness is bordering on heretical, isn't it?
If anything, Ansem fits the reversed reading of the card very well.
'Shifty eyes'
Alright, I admit that it's actually based on lack of choices. My sis kindly suggested Merlin, which seemed suitable, but was absolutely weird (and boring) to write. I do intend to shift POV to Radiant Garden, but Merlin was more of a neither-here-nor-there wizard.
Then again, I will definitely write on the Restoration Committee by card VII, since he's a member there.
…oops. You didn't hear that.
Okie then, you know what to do. Clickity click click.
V. The Hierophant – Education, Knowledge, Status quo, Discipline, Belief system
(Reverse – Ill advices, lies, persecution)
