Me: Hey Shadows and welcome to the second arc of Days of a Heartless. This arc has also been revamped just like Arc 1.
Axel: In regards to the questions with the reviews from Twixst, here are the answers.
First off, Twilight Meadow. The place that Ashley and Nico fall to last time is not a real location in the games. It is a place in the Realm of Darkness I made up and thought it would be the best place for Nico and Ashley to end up in. Better a safe place than a trap full of their kind.
Second, Why do Nico and Ashley help the light? The reason for Nico is simple since all he wants is to be helpful and even if he has to risk dying to protect light or it's followers so be it. Nico fights for people he cares for even Sora, Riku, Kairi, etc. (Example Chapter 10: When he knocked Hook down). On the flipside, Ashley long ago was taught by her family to fight to protect anyone and everyone whether your friends or foes (Example Chapter 15: When Ashley gained her power to fight and she defended Sora instead and even spared some of Neal's gang). When the darkness hurts the light, both shadows are going to side with light for friendship or for the sake of the worlds.
Second, Ashley and Nico's true beliefs about the light and the darkness differ from one another's. The little mage, Ashley thinks what half of everyone in KH thinks. She believes that darkness is only bad. Why that is, comes from all her memories of the darkness ruining her and others lives. For her despite being darkness itself, Ashley thinks of darkness as something that only destroys. While the light is good and pure.
Meanwhile, Nico is still learning about the darkness and the light. Trying to understand both and find answers to how great both sides are. At the moment, he sees darkness and light as the same - both equal in power and the good or bad it can do. Her thoughts on this could change.
Thirdly, Light can be just as powerful as the darkness and darkness will always overthrow the light. Ashley and Nico don't know much about how powerful their kind or the defenders of light are. Even with watching Ansem vs Sora, they do not know if darkness or the light can destroy either side. From my point of view, light can win against darkness, but there has to be a balance between light and darkness since neither can exist without each other.
And, finally… does Kingdom Hearts have a darkness counterpart? The answer is No because I believe that two heart moons one for light and the other for darkness would be chaos. If an antagonist really did that in a fic or even the KH series I would love to see what craziness it could cause for everyone.
Axel: Also readers before we begin, Oblivion didn't mean that there would be a year until the next update. Oblivion meant that THIS arc was going to take place within a year because this arc is based on KH 358/2 Days.
Me: Sorry for the confusion, but I hope you guys are ready for the storm that's coming! Seat back, relax, and let's begin this! Axel, disclaimer, please!
Axel: Yeah, yeah. (clears his throat) Miss Oblivion J owns nothing of Kingdom Hearts by Square Enix and Disney. She only owns her OC, plot, and that's all.
Me: Without any more answers or rambling, enjoy the next arc of Days of a Heartless' first chapter.
Act 2: The Realm of Twilight
Chapter 21– Sleeping Beauty
Entry 76
It's been ten hours.
Not days.
Not years.
Not even centuries since I last heard Nico's voice or seen him move as a sign of him EVER waking up. He hadn't woken at all since collapsing!
I dragged him behind a rock, but he only continued to sleep. Shouted in his ears. Nothing happened. Tickled his feet hoping he'd wake up. Nothing at all, until Nico kicked me in the face. Gee… he's a deep sleeper.
From now on, I'm going to start calling him Sleeping Beauty.
Entry 77
Waking up and checking on Nico, I felt happy to see he was okay. After that I wondered to the shoreline, looking out at the light in the distance. The ocean waves crash upon the shore, so softly and calm, on my feet letting me remember the months and years I spent here. Gee time flies...
Yet I still have that same question: why does this place - the Realm of Darkness - have such a wonderful place that only I knew about. In the days when I needed to escape from Hunters, I found myself here alone. No other Heartless dared to come here, so I was safe until I went out again.
The Dark Margin was my shelter, which now is our shelter. Funny enough it feels more like a home. Home sweet home. Yet a peaceful place in the realm of darkness kind of seems strange. I wonder if a darker place is in the realm of light. If a place like that existed, would it be a haven for us Heartless?
Maybe I'll never know or I will in time?
Entry 78
Day 1…. It's been 24 hours since Nico fell asleep and we left Sora, plus everyone else to seal the door shut. Destiny Islands probably was restored now, freed from its dark prison, so Sora and Kairi could have their world back. Except Riku had still trapped her within the realm of darkness. Even where we were now, I could feel his darkness filled with sorrow all the way from his location. If Nico was awake, then we could save him. Sadly, my friend wasn't and I couldn't summon a portal like him.
No matter how many times I tried to summon a portal, they never formed. Nico thinks I need more practice, but what I believe is that I'm an off color or someone different from my other fellows (even Nico). Weird coming a Heartless, right? But, that's what I mean.
I'm a Heartless, born with weaker or stronger powers than others. For instance, I can't fight like Nico, my claws barely sharpen to attack, even my antennas are different since I can sense darkness at a faster rate unlike him or others of our kind. Shadows are born with very little powers, weaker than our fellows so we team up since we can't win by ourselves.
Yet everything changed when I reawakened my powers to use fire, ice, and many more spells. I could win. Nico and I could win. We could survive forever. I didn't know why I could use this stuff, but I was grateful.
Entry 79
Day 2…. Sleeping Beauty is snoring way too loud today than ever before. I left for a second, coming back to see him snoring louder. So, loud I couldn't hear myself think at all! Nico is a real heavy sleeper!
On the other hand, today has been better than yesterday. Earlier hearts came falling down into the realm around Twilight Meadow. Like nature instincts, I snatched two hearts, for Nico and I (if he ever wakes up), before any others of my kind could get to the area. When I got into range, Nico's snores could be heard from afar.
Meanwhile, this was the longest he ever slept, yet it's his fault for not falling asleep in Traverse Town. He used up some much power getting from point A to Point B, so of course, he was worn out by that much stamina. Heartless needed food or sleep to keep their energy up. Eating only does good for two hours, while sleep restores you completely.
Nico, you hopeless sleeping beauty. I hope you know learned that lesson now.
Entry 80
Day 3…. Not far from the Dark Margin, I snooped around hoping to get some excitement and explore more of the area. What I found wasn't much, just a few tunnels that lead me to a swarm of Water Cores. Of course, I didn't invade, but I wanted to examine the Hunters, so I stayed. Why not, Nico wasn't getting up anytime and I had NOTHING else to do. So, hiding behind a rock, I began to watch with a flame in hand just in case I got into any battles or was spotted.
Hunters - the most dangerous Heartless - weren't as I expected, when they weren't hunting. They were like Nico and me (well almost like us). The tribe of female Water Cores fought with each other like sisters, gossiped about other Heartless like friends, and gave dark humor about "prey" like the soulless and heartless creatures they were. All of them never felt bad about hurting anyone, even told each other how great it was seeing their prey run even if they knew they'd die.
Fed up with their conversation I was about to leave before they started talking about someone once coming into the realm. Someone human - or a reaper as Nico would put it - was in the realm one time and didn't fight at all, but only ran ending at the sea's end. (Which was Hunter's speak for Dark Margin.) But, that's what got me thinking, besides Aqua, the king, and Riku, someone else I didn't know had come here.
One said she saw him escape, leaving this place his darkness full of rage and never returned. Another Water Cores said it was made up, just a rumor among the other Heartless, but the one next to it said the story was completely true and real, saying she'd seen him vanish herself.
I was happy to find new information, but also I didn't know anything about this person. Who was he? His name! I didn't have a clue and neither did they, so once they finished I tried to leave, but ended up getting trapped by and spotted when I accidentally shot off the flame I had. All of them saw it and became furious, "Kill her!" one barked as they approached my area. I quickly jumped down and bolted. They chased after me before I formed a barrier behind me out of ice and ran home.
Once I reached the Dark Margin, I caught my breath and began to think about the new info. It was clear someone had left the Realm of Darkness somehow. If they were human, they had to know of a way to use the portals like Nico. Surely if the man could then Mickey or Riku could.
They could form a portal. Get out of the realm. Then, everything would be the way it should
be.
Entry 81
Day 4…. Today I've been thinking about my past life before becoming a shadow. Back in Hollow Bastion, I learned I was raised there and that Wise Ansem had been not just a scientist - but the ruler. So, did that make me a princess? No one in my memories ever called me princess only by my real name, so maybe I wasn't in a royal family.
Still, I knew Ansem.
He'd been like a father figure to me but was only a mere mentor to me by teaching me about the heart, while I helped him do experiments. He recorded things on a computer behind his office, everything we discovered in the day - while eating ice cream. Ansem said every day he would crack the code with his apprentices - the code and hidden message of the heart.
Yet one day, he stopped. Ansem halted the projects, forcing everyone to stop everything and never work on them again. I didn't know why, but he did and no one - not even I questioned him. But there was one: a man older than me who always wanted to push Ansem to reopen the project. He'd end up getting yelled at, but he kept trying. That's all I really can recall about Ansem.
If Ansem could see Heartless now, what would he think? Would he strive to understand Heartless like I've been doing in my reports, or even try to figure out a way for Heartless to become human again? I wonder what he would he think. Even more, I wonder where is Ansem the Wise or… if he's still alive?
Entry 82
Day 5…. There were people here. Two people with bells that rang every time they moved. Two males that entered our home and were more interesting than Sora, Aqua, or even Nico.
When I woke up today, I saw a tall figure emerged from a corridor walking to a rock just by the shoreline. At first, I thought I should run, but the figure just sat there by the water and my half-asleep self decided not to move. Yet the person in the black coat was silent, so I crept over to the rock hiding on the other side where he sat. I used my antennas to feel his nature but felt nothing, no light nor darkness within the new person. It was strange.
He was like a Heartless, having no heart and all, but held nothing. Just like them Hunters in white, I encountered, just before Nico rescuing me. The person before me was Heartless, only a body with no nature within him. As I tried to understand why I felt no darkness - another man appeared from a corridor coming up to the other man.
"I've been to see him. He looks a lot like you.." The voice was deep, menacing and cold. So lifeless and dull. His voice was male of course, but as well he was older than Riku or Aqua.
"Who are you?" The other male was younger, I could tell his voice was lighter than the other's. The voice was like Sora's, but duller.
"I'm what's left or maybe I'm all there ever was…" What does that mean? What's left? What was left of him?
"I meant your name." -
"My name is of no importance…" After that, he turned to the younger man, "What about you do you remember your true name."
"My true name is…." The boy had stopped not knowing his name. His true name?
"You have been with us for six days now. The time has come." The man got up from the rock letting down his hood, revealing dark skin, golden eyes, and silver locks that were cut to his chest. He looked like a twin of Ansem, (the Ansem who tried unleashing darkness), but his eyes were emotionless - stale.
He walked past the other male, touching his shoulder and saying the name. A name that must have been his true name. A name that was - Sora!
After that I was lost, having no clue of who these two were, why they came here of all places, or even why the man who left said Sora to the other. The shorter male's real name was Sora, but the one Nico and I have been tailing has a heart. A heart of light and very little of darkness. So were their two Soras like there are two Ansems?
I know this is hard to comprehend especially after closing the door. Everything is so hard to take in and I feel like those guys in the coats are definitely bad news. When Nico gets up I wonder what he'll think about this, but for now - I'll just try to ponder on all that's going on.
= Chapter End =
Axel: We're back to the story and all there is are entries by Ashley. Why did you do this?
Me: Better than having nothing, but just a little report. Besides that, I knew Nico was going to sleep until Day 7 of KH 358/2 Days. Ashley had nothing to do in that spare time, so I knew she'd write for all seven days. I'm sorry if this chapter was a little on the boring side, but I hope you guys enjoyed it.
Hex: I'm sure they will, Jay. Furthermore, 358/2 days has only just begun and soon will Chain of Memories.
Me: But, I'm not doing Chain of Memories, Hex.
Axel: What that sucks!
Me: Well, this arc of the story doesn't involve Sora and Riku too much, so Chain of Memories is kinda unseen. I'm sorry to disappoint, Axel.
Axel: It's cool.
Me: Meanwhile, it's time this chapter came to a close. I hope you guys are excited for this new arc as I am! I'll see you guys later!