Kingdom Hearts: Hearts Desire

Chapter 7: The First Keybearer, Sin's of the Past.

It was there on the Lookout that Nathaniel watched Sora's gummi ship take off towards Radiant Garden, a world Nathaniel knew had a special connection to the three on board. "How strange," He said to himself from his place at the balcony where he had first met Raven. "The Garden always seems to be a center point in this story." He knew the Garden was special for him, it was his home for 8 years, a man of the Kings private body guards, only 4 others were allowed that pleasure. He recalled their names from the back of his mind. Brave Samuel, knight of valor and guardian to all innocents. Kind Lucia, maiden of the blade and protector to all in need. Careless Ross, duelist of the wind and the arm of the queen. Bold Alistair, warden of the ax and the silver tongue of the king. Out of all his fellow royal guards, he thought Ross was easily the most likable. Sam was far to serious and Alistair was always trying to learn more about you. But Ross was kind, quick of wit and a terrible gambler, always betting Nathaniel he could do this or that. But Ross was far to hot headed, diving head first into battle without any idea of what he was getting himself into. It brought a smile to his face to remember some of his old friends, who had long since passed.

"Remembering the good old days Nate?" Said a voice from behind. The voice was all to familiar for his liking, knowing it for so many years, and sometimes it haunted his dreams, turning peaceful slumber into nightmares. He merely shrugged as he felt more of beings slip onto his world. Nathaniel turned to see 7 figures standing before him, all had their faces hidden, though the one at the far left seemed familiar as well.

"So," He began, turning his attention to the one in the middle, who was wearing a black long coat and hood, but black gauntlets covered his hands, and Nathaniel assumed the one in the middle was wearing armor very similar to his own. "Have you finally decided to face me? All of you? This was a bold move indeed. Tell me, did Xeph send you, or was this your brilliant plan Spark?" He asked, addressing the leader, who at this point was most likely scowling at his remark.

"How dare you address the Captain in such a manner!" Said a female voice, standing next to the one at the far left. She was wearing a simple black jacket and pants, black dress shoes, but at her sides were two very large, very deadly looking pistols. She grabbed the pistol to her right, and was about to draw when the leader held up a hand, indicating to her to hold her fire.

"Trust me when I say number 5, you wouldn't even draw the gun from its holster, you would be dead." He said as a feeling of shock entered the area. "In fact, most of you would be. But even he must know he can't beat us all, especially myself." The one known as 'Spark' said, chuckling slightly to himself.

"I see these long years haven't changed you at all, still as arrogant as ever Spark." Said Nathaniel as he gazed around. Pools of a black, inky, substance began forming around his castle, Heartless of all shapes and sizes materializing. "And it seems you brought back up. That's just sad guys, Heartless? Really? You couldn't send Shades or Dark Trolls, or even Night Terrors? Heartless are pathetic in comparison." He said smiling at his own remark. In the past, the Legion had sent other beings of the darkness to attempt to kill him, and he eradicated their entire race, destroying all of the Shades, Dark Trolls, and Night Terrors to attempt to bring order to the universe. Heartless were tricky though, as long as there was darkness in the hearts of man, Heartless would continue to exist, and even he couldn't destroy human nature.

"We come only to offer a truce." Said an older man off the the right. He wore a black mages robe with a hood and cape, the look of a necromancer, one of the black arts of raising the dead. "You agree to leave us alone, and we shall leave you to yourself and your world. You must not interfere with the affairs of other worlds, nor our plans." The necromancer said, a tone of hope ringing through his voice.

"Ah," Nathaniel said, looking back to Spark. "Now this sounds more like Xeph. He is afraid I'll mess up your delicate plans yet again isn't he?" He said, looking to Spark, smile playing across his lips. "See the thing is Captain," He began, stepping forward and walking straight up to Spark's face. "I rather like the universe the way it is, so I'm not going to allow you and your little band of freaks to ruin the only good thing left. Tell his majesty, that he can shove his truce up his ass, no deal. Now leave my world." He said, looking towards the shadows that covered the Captains eyes, turning and moving back to his perch and added "And take your little monsters with you to!"

"You forget Nate," Began the Captain as his Heartless vanished into nothing and the other six beings vanishing as well leaving only the two on the balcony. "You were once the leader of this little freak show. Oh and it's not Spark, it's Caesar, try to remember that you old fool." Said Caesar as he disappears into the darkness. Nathaniel stood in silence for a moment as he felt the presence of his old ally slip away.

"Old fool?" He asked himself quietly. "When does he get the right to call me that? I'm only 22 years older than him." He chuckled to himself. Nathaniel himself was 564 years old, or was he 565? He couldn't remember anymore. Immortality truly was the greatest gift and curse he had ever received in all of his time. Thinking of his long past, he remembered the people he had met, friends and foes alike. His days began as a slave, nothing more than a common boy, now here he stood. A man. An old, old man. "From slave to dark warrior." He muttered to himself. Even though it was so long ago, it had become mere legend, the story of the two twin of the keyblade was completely wrong in hindsight. "Say something enough times it becomes fact." His keyblade materialized in his hands, and he thought back to the atrocities he had committed in his service to the darkness.

KH:HD

Night had fallen, and night would stay. It lingered in the coldest reaches of the dead city, corpses starring in horror at what had happened to the beloved world they had once lived in. Buildings crushed and broken across the streets, it would seem there was no life in this whole world now. In the darkness, being stirred, moving slowly, checking for life among the dead. There were two figures that stepped into the moon light on the steps of the castle grounds. One stood tall in shining black armor that seemed to draw darkness into it, his long swords at his side, blood dripping down the blade. The other was not as menacing as his fellow, a foot shorter and not as bulked up. He dressed in a black robe, his face shrouded by a hood, and wore a large glowing amulet in the shape of a heart that glowed a soft red in the darkness. "It seems there are survivors my knight." The shorter man spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, yet it seemed the entire world listened intently to his words.

The knight nodded his head in approval of the statement, stepping forward and continuing down the road a ways before stopping suddenly. "My master." He said, voice muffled by the helmet he wore. "I do not understand. There should be no life left, I cannot feel the pull of a soul here." As soon as the word 'here' left his lips, a shadow moved fast as lightning and shoved a short blade in the gap between his armor on his neck and his helmet. Blood spurted from the wound as the knight fought for breath.

After the knight had fallen to the ground, dead in his black armor, the being who had done the deed turned to the man in the cloak. The being turned out to be nothing more than a boy of 18 years, short cropped black hair on his head and deep blue eyes. He stood at the height of 5'7" and starred down the man. "Who are you?" The boy demanded, reaching to grab his short sword from the body of the man beside him.

"I must say I'm impressed." The cloaked man said, ignoring the question completely. "He was a rather skilled warrior, and you killed him as easy as swatting a fly. Impressive." He said. The cloaked man took steps towards the boy, who attempted to rush the cloaked figure. The figure then shot at the boy faster than a bullet, launching forward with such speed that the boy couldn't dodge the attack coming. The figure drew a long, thin, black longsword from under his cloak and slashed at the younger opponent, who made a clumsy block with his short sword. The short blade shattered on impact, leaving the younger opponent stunned for a moment, but soon he stabbed the now broken blade into the shoulder of the older warrior and shoved him away.

Blood ran black in the darkness down his robe and the older warrior staggered a bit. "Very impressive boy!" He exclaimed, ripping the blade from his shoulder and tossing the fragmented sword to the ground. "It has been many a year since I was last injured. Tell me boy. What is your name?"

"My name is Nathaniel, servant of the Blacksmith." He stated with practiced ease, never moving his eyes away from his enemy. "Who are you?" He repeated to the cloaked man. The older man didn't answer, just turned on the spot and began moving away. "Wait!" Nathaniel called after the retreating figure. He ran after the cloaked man, feet hitting hard on the ground, when the man stopped and turned.

"I am a king of sorts. They call me Xeph, King of Darkness." He said, now turning his head to the boy. "You are a powerful warrior, Nathaniel the servant. I would three questions, would you answer them honestly?" Xeph asked, now removing his hood to show his face. Long black and silver hair came to his shoulders, tied in a braid that ran down his neck, silver and black interweaving. He had cold, deep, red eyes with flakes of black in them.

"I would." Nathaniel answered wearily. Rumors of a King of Darkness were old legends that all children knew. The King was supposed to be a dragon 100 feet tall and breathed death, this man didn't appear to be a dragon in the least.

"Question one." Xeph said, now facing Nathaniel, red eyes trained on blue. "Where did you learn to fight?"

"My master taught me basics and the knights of the castle liked to spar." He said, speaking as though this were a common thing for slaves.

The king tsked softly. "Knights don't teach that kind of fighting. That was an assassins tactic, go immediately for the kill, now who taught you to fight like that boy?" This was a demand now, the king seemed to not like the generic answer at all.

Nathaniel paused a moment before answering "Some days... You have to learn things to survive in this world." The King nodded, seeming to understand the simple statement.

"Question two. How do survive when all these others have lost their lives?"

"They were fools." Nathaniel said, shrugging slightly to show his point. "They stood gawking at the destruction those things caused, while I found a quiet spot to hide and wait for my opportunity to attack." Again the king nodded in agreement to the statement.

"Question three. How is it, you, a mere slave to a blacksmith, cause so much power to be released?" Nathaniel looked confused at the statement. "A mere child who causes so much pressure to be released, you must have an incredibly strong heart."

"I don't understand." Nathaniel said, confusion seeping in his tone. "What pressure?" Again the king tsked, in a disappointed way this time.

"When strong opponents face each other in battle, their hearts release a pressure, or power signature if you will. Normal people don't register the pressure for their hearts are weak you see? Those with strong hearts will release a pressure to other strong hearts. A tightness in your chest will occur, meaning the other heart is stronger. There are cases where the mere pressure can kill an enemy." The king explained in a casual tone, as though this were common knowledge. "Your heart is powerful, incredibly powerful I must say, which in turn makes you a stronger person. You killed my knight with one attack, then blocked an attack I myself did and managed to injure me." He gestured to the injured shoulder. "Now why would someone like you be here?"

"I have no idea." Nathaniel answered honestly, he had no idea what this guy was talking about. Hearts, pressure, power signatures. None of it made any sense to the slave turned warrior. "I'm just a regular man."

"Far from it Nathaniel." The king answered, his voice calm and soothing. "You are one of the most powerful beings I've ever known. I can help you realize your power, give you power you've never dreamed of." He said, stepping closer to Nathaniel. "I can turn you into the greatest warrior the Realm of Light has ever seen, the Realm of Darkness as well. I can make your dreams reality." He was now an arms length away from the boy. "I'm asking you Nathaniel the slave. Will you become my Knight? My Legionary? My soldier? The choice is yours and yours alone."

Nathaniel considered it for a moment before answering "Yes." The king gave him a look that spoke of an explanation. "I've been treated like garbage my whole life, some dirty thing people despise. Well now all of those people are dead. I can be anything I want now, and you're offering me a knighthood? Count me in." He said, a small smile playing across his lips.

"Very well, but a knight requires armor does he not?" The dead knights body rose into the air, and the armor pried itself off the corpse, moving towards Nathaniel and attaching itself to him. The armor fit perfectly and was surprisingly comfortable. "And a blade." The sword of the knight flew into Nathaniel's grasp as well, actually shrinking to better accommodate it's new wielder. "You are no longer Nathaniel the slave. You are now Nathaniel, Captain of my Legions, knight of the darkness!"

KH:HD

Years had passed since that day, 20 to be precise and Nathaniel stood tall in his shining black armor, his sword in hand as he glanced down at the small town before him. A man who stood next to him turned to Nathaniel, gray eyes trained on his Captain. Nathaniel stood unmoving in the darkness of the cold night air. The man who stood next to Nathaniel was no where near as impressive as the Knight of Darkness, he stood at 5'11", a black shirt that was tight to his upper body, red stripes crossing across his chest, long tight fitting black pants, and black hiking boots. He had two short daggers attached to his belt, and a large bastard sword across his back. "Captain." The man started, voice timid and quiet. Nathaniel stirred and motioned for the man to go down to the village.

As the man moved forward towards the small town, his Captains voice called "Garth. Leave no survivors." At these words, a sadistic smile crossed Garth's face as he unsheathed the sword strapped to his back. Nathaniel turned around and headed back quite a ways from his companion, all the while listening to screams that pierced the night. Why have us kill these people? Nathaniel thought as he moved farther and farther away. They meant us no harm, nor were there any strong hearts there. Its almost as if my King would have us kill for the sake of killing. Nathaniel had slaughtered thousands in his masters name, never questioning, just reacting as a sword being swung would. That's all he was anymore, a sword. Why must we- no I- fight like this. I only joined him because it's what my heart was telling me to do. These were thoughts that were not meant to be drawn forth, but it's as though his mind was letting these ideas flow unbidden, as though his heart was yelling at him that he was wrong. I don't enjoy killing. This simple sentence shocked him beyond all belief. He truly did not enjoy the act of taking another mans life, even when he was demanded to do so.

Nathaniel moved farther and father away, his own thoughts plaguing him, his heart torn between duty and what was right. So lost in his thoughts, he never heard his companion moving towards him, nor did he see the glint of the bastard sword, black in the darkness. But he did hear the swish of the blade as it sliced the air. Nathaniel reacted upon pure instinct, easily turning, drawing his sword, and blocking the down cut. "Garth?" Nathaniel asked, shock evident in his tone. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"What I was ordered to do." Garth answered, pulling his blade away and going in for a forward lunge with two hands. Nathaniel parried the blow, striking the large sword and turning to the right to block an incoming backhanded slash Garth used often. The backhand slash was easily blocked, but Garth quickly pulled his blade back again, striking faster and faster never letting Nathaniel do anything but block. "You're washed up!" Shouted Garth, emphasizing his words with an attack to Nathaniel's uncovered face, which was blocked with ease. "The King says you're losing your grip on what you should be doing, you hardly ever fight anymore, and your slashes are reluctant and filled with apologies! So I'm going to kill you and take your place as Captain of the Legion of 7!" All of these words were corresponding with an attack, but all were blocked or dodged by the Knight of Darkness.

"So this was the Kings idea was it?" Nathaniel asked, drawing back a few feet and waiting for the attack. Garth charged sword parallel with the ground, moving in for the kill. That's when Garth felt Nathaniel's cold steel pierce his chest, running him straight through. "You had everything planned out." Nathaniel whispered in his ear, softly so Garth would be forced to listen to these words before he died. "You were my second in command, it would make sense for you to believe you could kill me. But you were wrong Garth. Now I'm going to pay our liege a visit, and I'll let him know how you died by my hand, and how you died like a pitiful coward who had to surprise his opponent to stand a chance." Nathaniel then twisted his sword violently, then pushed, his arm sticking out the other side of Garth's chest. "Your duty is complete soldier, now burn in hell traitor!" At these words, a black flame covered Garth, Nathaniel pulling his arm out of the dying man's chest slowly as Garth screamed in agony. And that's how he died, in complete agony.

KH:HD

Nathaniel's trip home was filled with rage, the portal of darkness opened before him to reveal his home, or what could be called a home. A large castle, old and magnificent, stood towering above the gardens of this world. This world was stuck in perpetual darkness, no light save for a moon in the shape of a glowing, pulsating red heart. The castle was made of old black stone, doors of ancient oak, and menacing all around. Nathaniel walked to the front door and with one hand opened them both. They slammed into the walls, expressing his rage of the situation to all inside the great hallway before him. The other five Legionaries looked over in shock, then relaxing seeing it was Nathaniel. A young boy of only 16 ran over to the black armored Legionary, look of excitement and wonder. "Captain!" He said as he ran directly in front of the warrior, jumping and giving him a hug that nearly knocked the knight to the ground. Nathaniel stood unmoving to embrace the boy. The boy looked up in worriment and asked "Is something wrong Captain?" This child was only 16 yet proved he was very handy with a short sword and thunder magics, so upon arrival into this world, the King judged his heart worthy and strong enough to join the Legion of 7 as it's seventh member.

"Move aside Spark." Nathaniel said briskly, voice filled with a contained rage waiting to burst. "I must speak with his majesty." Nathaniel then pushed past the boy moving straight towards a long set of steps that would undoubtedly lead him to the audience chamber.

"Where's Garth?" Called a man who was nearest the door, the Number 6. He was a short man, a large mustache covering his face and laugh lines upon his forehead. Long red hair tied into three separate braids down his back, and a large claymore strapped to his back, almost as tall as him. The man was called a dwarf, from some obscure world Nathaniel couldn't remember, and was dubbed one of the strongest warriors on his world.

"Gone Balthazar." Nathaniel answered before opening the doors at the top of the stairs, and slamming them shut behind him, leaving his companions in complete confusion.

The audience chamber was a large room, pillars connecting the floor to ceiling all along the sides, a large glass domed roof above him as he walked, spilling a soft red light across the room. There in his throne sat the man who changed his life, the man who wanted him dead. He was reading a book in some ancient language Nathaniel couldn't understand. "My liege." Nathaniel said, stopping just short of the throne that sat atop a short flight of steps. The throne was made of a black stone known as obsidian, a stone that could only be found in the core of a dying world, Nathaniel noticed how the shiny stone throne and his armor looked eerily the same.

The King looked up, a bored expression on his face when he saw Nathaniel. "It seems Garth has failed me." The King said coolly, as though he expected as much. "I should have known he was to weak to kill a warrior of your caliber Nathaniel."

"Enough!" Nathaniel called, rage spilling out of his tone. "You think you can just use me? Treat me like a weapon and when your done with me, throw me away?!" His anger was evident, a black aura spilling forth from him, and a pillar cracked suddenly, pebbles were lifted off the ground, mere inches above the floor.

Yet the King of Darkness looked casually down to the knight below him. "Yes." He answered simply, smiling slightly "That's exactly what I think I can do to a pathetic excuse for a knight like yourself." The King closed his book, a loud echoing noise traveled through the chamber. "And I think," He began, extending his arm, and in a flurry of black feathers, his black longsword appeared. "That your service is complete, Nathaniel the Slave!" He moved. It was simply a blur of movement and he struck Nathaniel's armor, a loud cracking noise echoing through the chamber.

Nathaniel stepped back, reaching for his sword, drawing it in one swift move, trying to block the next attack. But it was a moment slow, Xeph struck out like a viper, striking the sword he had once given Nathaniel, snapping the blade in two! Nathaniel looked in horror at the sword, then lashed out with the smaller sword in hand, never coming close to his target. Xeph moved to fast, striking him all over until Nathaniel stood, bloody and winded. His right eye was bloody, closed to keep blood from pouring in and he was breathing heavily, blood dripping from his fingers as his armor, once beautiful and magnificent, was cracked and broken all over. Xeph stood triumphant over his old friend, new adversary. "You... Won't... Beat me..." Nathaniel said between breaths, his broken sword still clutched in his hands. "I won't lose to you." He said, taking one step forward. "My heart is screaming at me to kill you." He stepped forward, never stopping as he tried to reach his enemy. "I was a fool to join you, an arrogant fool. But no more!" He stopped, now at the foot of the steps that led him towards his enemy. "I was foolish, my heart led me astray that day, for my own good, but I see now. My heart is trying to reach the light that was lost on that day! I will find my light! I will fight for what I desire, not you!" His body began to release an aura once more, but this one was a white light, just barely visible but noticeable none the less. "I shall follow my own heart! My hearts desire! I fight for only what my heart tells me! No man, beast, demon, or god can ever take that from me!" The light grew brighter and brighter until Nathaniel was only a silhouette inside an orb of light.

"What is this?" Xeph asked astonished, eyes wide with fear. "How can light enter the world of darkness?!"

The light seemed to shatter like glass, even a glass shattering noise filled the air, and there at the foot of the steps stood Nathaniel. Only now he was slightly different, his wounds were gone for starters, and across his shoulder and down his back, was a large red cape. His armor completely fixed, looking even stronger than before. But the most astonishing thing he carried was his sword. The broken blade was now completely different. Where as once it was a simple longsword, it now resembled a large key. The guard was simple, very blocky and met into the middle, looking ordinary save for its golden color. Same for the 'blade', which was nothing more than a blunt piece of silver metal, the teeth resembling a crown of sorts. Nathaniel took notice of the new sword as he heard the eerily familiar, yet unknown voice ring through his head. 'Keyblade. Keyblade. Keyblade.' An endless repeating cycle until he took his fighting stance, keyblade held to his side parallel to the ground. "Time for you to pay for your sins Xeph!" Nathaniel called, moving faster than the eye could blink, striking Xeph in the right collar bone in a vicious down cut. Xeph stumbled, but Nathaniel gave him no time to react, slashing wildly at him, each hit either connecting with blunt force, or slicing him. At the end of his attack, Nathaniel launched Xeph into the air with an upper cut and fired a large whit light from the tip of his keyblade screaming "Bane of Darkness!" The light pierced through Xeph's chest, leaving him stunned in midair, a look of shock covering his face. After a few moments of hanging in the air, he feel with a sickening noise, dead to the world.

Nathaniel turned, moving back towards the door he entered through, knowing what he had to do next. He had to kill the Legion of 7. It was the only way to repent his crime. So from the moment he left that room and entered the hallway beyond the door, and the time it took him to easily slaughter his old companion's, was mere minutes. None could match up to him. After dealing a finishing blow to Balthazar, he turned to look at the young boy standing in the doorway to the gardens. "Why Captain?" He asked, tears running down his face. "Why are you doing this? What did we do?"

"You are still a boy who has taken next to no life Spark." Nathaniel said, moving forward. "Repent your ways and move on with your life."

"Never!" The boy shouted, drawing his short sword. "You were like a father to me, to all of us!Why turn on us?!"

"You are a child who knows nothing of the ways of mans heart." Nathaniel said quietly, shaking his head. "I cannot kill you, for you are simply a boy, an idiotic boy who reminds me so much of myself." Nathaniel then disappeared, reappearing behind the boy. "I am truly sorry Spark." The keyblades hilt then connected with the base of the boys neck, just enough force to knock him out. Nathaniel looked pityingly down at him, then once again moved forward to leave this god forsaken place.

Or so he believed. His life would never be the same after this day.

"Leaving so soon?" A taunting voice called. Nathaniel turned and saw someone he didn't expect to see alive. Xeph. He stood tauntingly above the body of Spark, moving closer to Nathaniel, who at this point couldn't find words.

"But... How?"

"You see boy," The old King said, moving closer until he was only two feet away from the ex-knight. "You cannot kill me, for I am the ultimate being! Centuries ago I discovered a spell that could conquer death itself, and I used it! I am the immortal being! The ultimate King! And you." He looked Nathaniel dead in the eye's, glaring slightly. "Are not worthy of death."

KH:HD

Nathaniel shook his head, relieving himself of the memories he suffered from. So many times in his life he should have died, and his becoming immortal was one of them. The spell caused the most painful experience the mind, body, and heart could handle, stretching them to the limits, then holding them there. When the pain stopped, you could no longer die, and your tolerance for pain was a lot higher.

Nathaniel watched the sky once more, finding Sora's gummi ship flying straight towards Radiant Garden. "Sora." He said, eyes trained on the ship. "Your journey is difficult, but you must overcome this. You are the key that connects us all. Including myself."

So I can't really say I have an excuse for not posting this earlier simply other than I've been to lazy to write. I suffered from a massive writers block, and forced myself to write this partial back story of my character Nathaniel.

In other news, I would like to inform all of my readers to check out another fan fiction that you can find here on ! Kingdom Hearts: Genesis of Destiny. It is one of my all time favorite stories. Sir Angelo does a fantastic job with his writing, the characters are likable, villains are pure evil, and the little facts you learn about his characters are interesting. Over all, I'd give this story a 10 out of 10, plus his story is complete with ideas of a sequel. It is long but worth it my friends. But any who onto the preview!

Sora, Riku, and Kairi have landed, but is this exactly how they planned their first mission to be? A battle between the Legion and Kairi's heritage unfold here on the Kingdom of Everlasting Light! Next time on Kingdom Hearts: Hearts Desire. Battle for the Kingdom, Sora's Duel and Kairi's Choice!

Nothing can stop me when I fight for my friends! I'll stop anyone who tries to hurt them! How could I live with myself otherwise?

- Sora Hikari