Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or anything related to it.
A/N: Big milestones this chapter! First, we're entering the double digits and secondly… well, I'll leave that a surprise. Before we start I would like to thank all my loyal reviewers! You truly make the writing process much more fun.
Chapter Ten: The Attack
It was a sunny day in Radiant Garden and Ienzo was outside in the castle's garden. Since he was not allowed outside by himself, Aeleus was watching him from a bench. Ienzo was currently matching various types of flowers to the pictures in his book about flora and fauna. He was having an excellent time of it, until Aeleus had to go inside to discuss something with the other guards. He told Ienzo he would be right back and to stay in the garden. The small scientist watched his friend's back disappear into the castle and then got back to work. Moving on from flowers, Ienzo decided to investigate the insects that inhabited the garden.
He was working for a while observing a grasshopper when he heard an intriguing noise. It sounded like something scratching the pavement. Then there was suddenly a crash from a few feet away. The wall separating the castle's garden from the outside world had been broken down by something Ienzo had never seen before.
It stood on four strong legs, the back two were hooves and the front feet were claws with very sharp nails. It was three times his size and covered in plated armor. The monster's face contained sharp teeth and above them, sticking out of its head, was a great horn. Ienzo recognized the sigil on its chest. The beast was an unversed.
The child slowly backed away, trying not to draw its attention, but it was too late. The unversed had seen him and charged. It easily knocked him up and into the air. When he crashed down to the ground he tried to crawl away, only to be halted by the monstrous beast stepping before him, effectively blocking his path. It growled menacingly and Ienzo's orbs locked with the unversed's own smoldering ones. The boy was so terrified, he could not move. His eyes clenched shut out of fear. Then, without even realizing it, he did what came instinctively. He screamed.
"Aely!"
He heard noises. Roars, and then a large thump. Then he felt great big arms lift him up and cradle him. He opened his eyes at last to see Aeleus holding him, asking if he was alright.
Ienzo tried to answer, but through all his tears and shaking, all that came out were whimpers of "Aely, Aely".
Aeleus was stunned. He had gone inside to deliver some news to Braig and when he had returned, there was a large unversed in the garden. He could not believe it. Unversed hardly ever attacked the castle. But there it was, beating on little Ienzo. He was brought out of his stupor by a scream. Ienzo had called his name for the first time. Aeleus had immediately jumped in and slayed the unversed with his axe-sword.
He picked up the small child, surprised as the boy clung to him fiercely with all his might. In some far point of his mind, he briefly took note of the scratches adorning Ienzo's arm and decided that they would need stitches. But for now, his mind was on something much more intriguing. Since he had picked the lad up, Ienzo had been softly whispering his name nonstop. For the first time in two years, he was talking.
"There, there. You're okay now. The monster's gone," Aeleus comfortingly cooed to the tiny boy. Ienzo lifted his head up to look at his savior, tears in his eyes.
He quietly whispered, "Aely, scared." His voice was hoarse from years of unused and he barely recognized the sound of it. Aeleus patted the boy on the back and carried him inside.
"We're going to have to have Even take a look at that arm of yours," he said. Ienzo blinked. He had been so terrified he had neglected to notice the pain in his right arm. Aeleus carried the child down the stairs to the lab, where he knew he would find Even. And find him he did. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Aeleus spied Even speaking with Master Ansem. When the two men noticed Aeleus and the state Ienzo was in, they immediately directed their attention to the duo.
"My goodness! What happened?" Ansem asked while Even got out some medical supplies.
Aeleus was about to answer when, in a small voice, Ienzo said, "Monster." Ansem and Even were stunned for a moment. At last Ansem smiled and took Ienzo from Aeleus's arms, being sure to apply pressure to his wound.
"Well, I'll be," Ansem started. "So that is what your voice sounds like. Wonderful." Even cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention.
"While I'm sure this is quite the cause for celebrating, that wound needs treating," the scientist said. So Ansem gently set Ienzo on an examination table, carefully rolling up the boy's sleeve.
"Now this may sting a bit," Even told the child, getting out some antiseptic. He put some on a cotton ball and carefully dabbed the claw marks. Ienzo winced at the stinging sensation, but kept his arm still. Once Even was finished cleaning the gashes, he picked up a curved needle attached to some thread and told the boy to hold still. Upon seeing the enormous needle though, Ienzo started whimpering and backing away, nearly falling off the table in the process. Ansem caught the small child and firmly held him still so Even could work. When Ienzo continued his whining and even started to tear up, Ansem whispered comforting words to him. Undeterred, Even continued stitching.
It only took fifteen minutes for the entire process to take place, but for a child such as Ienzo, the biting pain seemed to go on for hours. Once the stitching and cleaning was complete, Even applied an anesthetic.
"Aeleus," Even called the man to attention. "If you would, please get Ienzo a clean shirt so he can rest comfortably. He'll be staying down here for the night so I can monitor him." Even started removing the tyke's shirt. The last thing Ienzo remembered before his consciousness gave way to the anesthetic was Ansem brushing stray strands of hair out of his face and the feel of the cold steel from the table bleeding into his back.