Ignus dashed through the corridors of the fortress, finding another ramp that led him higher up. The castle was starting to be infested with Heartless and Nobodies, he thought, as he cut through a few of them on his way up. He reached the top and saw a group of Dusks standing over a red-robed body. Ignus moved in quickly and sliced the group to pieces. The figure stood slowly, revealing the red-wrapped visage of DiZ. He stumbled, and Ignus caught him, helping him rise. DiZ reached up and unwrapped the bindings on his head, slowly revealing the face of…

"Ansem the Wise." Ignus inclined his head respectfully.

"It's been too long, my friend." Ansem replied.

"So then why didn't you come to me before now? Before the situation got this bad?"

"Xemnas, the Organization's Superior, is the Nobody of Xehanort, my foremost apprentice. The burden was mine to bear."

"That's it? That's your best excuse?"

Ansem wandered over to the rail and looked out over the darkness. "I won't deny there was more. I was…obsessed with thoughts of revenge. My apprentice stole everything precious to me, my research, and my pride."

"I won't help you with that. I'm not jeopardizing the promises I've made for your revenge."

"I know. Riku's told me a thousand times."

"You know where he is then?"

"He must be with his friends by now. Riku has been a great help to me. I found him wandering the darkness, after you and he lost track of each other."

"He told me he was still having trouble with Xehanort's Heartless, and he wanted to deal with it alone. That I get, but it doesn't explain why he looks like that now, when his heart is his."

"I am to blame. When I met Riku the first time, he still had the appearance of a boy. Probably because he had such a strong heart. I asked him to find a young man named Roxas from Organization XIII and bring him to me. When I told him it would help Sora awaken from his slumber, Riku left without a word."

"That's Riku for you. Despite everything he's been through, his love for his friends stays strong."

Ansem nodded. "He fought Roxas. And I can only surmise Riku lost that fight. Riku must have realized then: to fight in the realm of darkness, he would have to immerse himself in that same darkness. And when he did…you saw what became of him."

"Xehanort's Heartless took him?"

"When Riku brought Roxas back to me, he was introducing himself…as Ansem. If that was what it took to awaken his friend, he was ready to live in darkness. Riku was the victim of my revenge. Oh, how my heart ached. I could only laugh to hide my shame."

"So then, after that was when he came to see me." Ignus speculated. "He said he wanted to help Sora, but he made me promise that I wouldn't let Sora find out what happened to him when he fell into darkness."

"My friend, the time has come. I must make amends to these young people." Ansem turned and walked over to pick up the strangely-shaped device on the ground. Ignus walked with him back inside the fortress.