Chapter 7: Shooting Star
After getting ready she headed to the dining hall and started a very memorable day with Ienzo. They had not felt better in weeks. Time flew and suddenly it was the late afternoon. It was the perfect time to visit the place where they met.
The familiar music filled their ears as they strode silently through the chapel. Both of them had never had the time to visit for months. Okari felt all of her worried thoughts from the morning drift away as she became entranced by the music, as she had been whenever she visited the chapel since she was very young. Subconsciously, Okari started to hum the melody. Then a question pricked at the back of her mind, one that she had been willing to ask for a while.
"Ienzo, what do you think of the others?" she asked.
Ienzo blinked. "Um…"
"You know, I'm talking about your research group."
"Do you mean the one under Ansem the Wise?"
"Yes."
Ienzo pondered for a while before answering. "I like Dilan. He respects me and often helps me with my research. I am also fond of Elaeus. Although he is quiet and—I have to admit it—not very bright, he is very kind to me and tends to only really speak to me or Xehanort.
"Even… at first he admired me until he learned that I was your friend. Then he never accepted me and thought that I was not fit for the job because I was so young. And there's also Braig. I don't like him; he's childish, rude, and irresponsible. The last is Xehanort… I admired him and couldn't help but feel loyal to him. When he asked us to follow him to conduct secret experiments, I followed him blindly. But yesterday, I realized the grievous error in our ways. Now I regret ever following him."
They were silent for a long while, the music being the only thing heard. Once the sky visible through the windows began to darken, Okari spoke again.
"Do you ever feel like everything is woven together in a great web? Like all events that change our lives, our fates, are connected?"
Ienzo thought for a moment before answering. "Are you thinking about what happened to your eyes?"
"Yes, my eyes and something else. But what do you think, Ienzo?" she asked.
"Well… I don't think that that idea is entirely unscientific. I believe that we are led though our lives by the consequences of our actions," he stated.
"You mean like our destinies are made from what comes out of choices we make?" she asked.
"Perhaps in simpler and more optimistic words, but that is almost exactly what I just said."
"Sorry."
Once the sun sank below the horizon they left the chapel. Ienzo stared at the twilit sky, seeing the stars appear one by one.
"Okari, I spoke with some of the elder mages and they told me that there is going to be a meteor shower tonight," he said.
"Do you really believe anything they say?" asked Okari doubtfully.
"No, their predictions are often inaccurate. Well, meteor shower or no, lying down under the stars will be very enjoyable," he told her, wearing a rare smile.
Okari grinned widely. "Thank you so much. This is one of my favorite things to do. I really hope there is a meteor shower. There hasn't been one since…"
Okari looked up into the sky with wide hazel eyes, absorbing the majestic starry sky. There was not a cloud this night. The girl of three years swept her pudgy bare feet across the soft grass of her backyard. She was sitting on her mother's lap. Her mother had her arms around her small child, watching the sky as well. Okari was happy that her mother could finally have a respite from her sadness.
"Oh look!" cried the mother in her musical voice, pointing to the sky.
"I saw it! I saw it!" Okari screamed, bouncing up and down. "A shooting star!"
"Make a wish, sweetie." The girl clasped her hands together and closed her eyes tightly.
"Done wishin'," she said after opening her eyes again.
"Now don't tell me what it is. Your wishes are secret," her mother whispered into her ear.
"Secret!"
Her mother gasped and Okari's eyes shot to the sky and she cried out in glee. The night sky was showered in falling meteors. Stars seemed to travel across the sky, beams of light streaking behind them. The toddler did not dare to blink, for the shooting stars disappeared into the void within seconds. The mother hugged her child closer to her, and they both stared into the heavens.
"Okari? Are you all right?"
"Huh?"
Okari snapped back to the present. "Oh I'm sorry, Ienzo. I was dazed," she said.
"If you say so. I brought a blanket for us to lie on," he said.
"Great!" The sky was now dusted with stars upon stars, great rivers of them in the air. They walked to the grassy hills behind the castle, an ideal place for stargazing. A few other people were already on blankets and searching the stars. Once they came to a nice area away from the other people they unfolded the broad blanket and rested it on the ground. They lay upon it and stared into the sky.
"I had… forgotten how amazing the night sky is," whispered Ienzo. A cool breeze blew over the two. Okari shivered.
"It's kind of cold tonight," said Okari, huddling close to his body for warmth.
"It's early spring. There are still winter winds blowing around," he said, a red tinge coming to his face from the close contact.
They watched the sky. An hour passed.
Okari sighed. "I guess there's no meteo…" Suddenly she gasped as she saw a streak of light flash in the sky. "Ienzo, watch the sky! The elder mages were right."
The sky was covered in short streaks of light. At first there were few, but as the minutes passed more crossed the sky until it looked as though it was raining light.
"Beautiful," whispered Ienzo.
"It's just like that time…" said Okari.
"Hm?" Ienzo glanced over at Okari, but she didn't say anything else. Her large eyes were wide open and reflecting the lights of the meteors like small silver mirrors. Her ivory skin and contrasting ebony hair were beautifully highlighted by the starlight. As soon as Ienzo realized he was staring, he shook his head and watched the skies again. Soon the stars began to lessen.
"I guess it's almost over," she said. She leaned her head on Ienzo's shoulder and he put an arm around hers. Right then, they truly felt at peace. But this was soon shattered as the last few meteors came.
"Ienzo, look at that one. It's enormous!" said Okari, pointing to a large falling star. Ienzo squinted at it.
"It looks like it's getting bigger," he whispered. Then he gasped. "Okari, run!"
Okari and Ienzo got up with a start.
"What about the blanket?" she asked.
"Don't worry about it," he said as he broke into a run.
She ran after him and glanced up at the sky once more.
"It's going to crash!" she gasped. Suddenly, they were blinded by a flash of light and were knocked down by a big shockwave. When it subsided she stood back up and blinked the dark spots out of her vision. There was a crater in the place where they had just been. It was about ten feet wide and as deep as Okari was tall. They slowly walked to the edge and peered down into the pit. At the center of the crater lay a meteorite. It was unlike anything they had seen in pictures and books. It was small and had a perfectly geometric shape.
People started to gather around the hole, although no one went in because the meteorite was red-hot. Okari joined some castle guards in getting buckets of cold water to cool it down. Once they had gotten the water they walked down as far enough as comfortable and splashed the water onto it. Steam clouded the air and as soon as it subsided Okari saw Ansem the Wise looking down at them, closely followed by Even. The meteorite had completely cooled down to a bright resinous yellow. She carefully picked it up, instantly surprised at the stretchy plastic texture. Climbing up the hill, she reached Ansem and handed it to him. He took it and examined it closely.
"Even, Ienzo, Okari, gather my other disciples and meet me at my study," he said curtly. He turned and walked back to the castle. People started to leave and Okari walked away from Ienzo and went back to the castle. Inside, she found Dilan and walked with him to the study.
Once they entered they saw that everyone else was already there. Okari stood at her usual post by the door. Ansem sat at his desk and sighed.
"I am afraid that I will have to shorten your probation. Tomorrow we will start experimentation on our world's newest visitor," said Ansem. He showed them the meteorite. "It is unlike any extraterrestrial object ever found in Radiant Garden. I will require the help of my six disciples." Even and Dilan looked in awe and leaned forward for a better view of it. Ansem put it away. "But if I ever find out any of you have been doing any dangerous experimentation again, I will not hesitate to banish you from the castle." The six researchers winced. "Especially if it has to do with the darkness in the heart or the heart of all worlds," he added, giving Xehanort a dark glance.
The six expressed their acknowledgement and then Ansem dismissed them.
That night Okari did not encounter any hellish dreams at all. The next morning she reported for duty as normal. Ansem the Wise spent his morning searching through piles of papers and writing down notes. But then, about noon, Xehanort entered through the door behind Okari.
"Master Ansem," he greeted with a bow.
"Yes, Xehanort?" said Ansem.
"Several more samples of the same meteorite have been found in several places throughout Radiant Garden. We are currently having them transferred to the underground laboratory."
"Very good, I will be there shortly."
Xehanort did not leave. "We also have just encountered another visitor to our world."
This piqued Ansem's interest. "What?"
"It is the king of another world. He came on a most peculiar ship. This king wishes to speak to you," Xehanort informed him.
Ansem looked nothing less than astonished. "Tell him that I will meet him in the throne room. Commander Okari, you will be relieved of duty for today once I am gone. Xehanort, what is this visitor's name?"
The corner of Xehanort's mouth rose in a slight grin. Okari shivered.
"His name is King Mickey."
