EDITED 6/24/2010
Author's Comments: Thank you for reading this far!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, its characters, or its story lines (as noted with an *). I own Imani and Aden.
Ever since waking up, I've been drowning in my thoughts. The voice told me to call it "Maxiin," which is my Nobody's name, and it told me it was the embodiment of the darkness within me. Master Yen Sid mentioned something about possibly reverting back to my Nobody if I wasn't careful.
Is that what's happening? Am I becoming a Nobody again? That explains why my heart stops beating every time that cold voice speaks.
But then why doesn't Xemnas know what's going on? Would he show concern if I was reverting back into my Nobody? Doesn't he want darkness to fully consume me so that he can return? Isn't that the whole reason he let me escape and become a Somebody?
And then I remember: I didn't insult others or call the Heartless my friends when I was a Nobody. I was locked up in a white room. All I focused on, day in and day out, was my nothingness, not darkness. I wasn't aware if I had darkness in me—watching memories record in my brain was too distracting.
No. This has to be different. The darkness inside me is what's overpowering me. Could my memories have anything to do with this? My body reacts and I hallucinate when I remember particularly powerful memories. What memory could overpower my mind so vividly that I lose myself?
Ah! Va—
"BOO!"
I shriek and slap my hands to my face, the claws on my fingertips grazing my skin. The three troublemakers cackle and dart off to think up another way to scare me half to death—again.
"Scaredy-cat! Scaredy-cat!" the three kids taunt mercilessly and I groan. It doesn't help that I happen to be dressed up as a cat, either, as the nickname has stuck since meeting them. I got so close to coming up with a possible answer this time, too...
"Don't take it so seriously," Jack coaxes, placing a bony hand on my shoulder. "They're just playing. You should be delighted that they've taken a liking to you."
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I'm sure they have.
With a flourish he proceeds with his tour of the graveyard and I tune him out. I still haven't come up with a solution that protects the worlds and gives the Nobodies their hearts, either. I'm just relieved that Sora, Riku, the king, Donald, and Goofy have decided to stick by my side, even after I told them my crazy plan.
"You told us to trust you," Sora answered for everyone this morning at breakfast. "If we can't do that, then what are we doing here?"
Jack strides around in the graveyard as he happily reminisces the dearly departed. The only way I find myself coping with the creepiness is by keeping my eyes shut half the time and distracting myself with these dilemmas.
"Isn't it all marvelous?" Jack's laughter booms. "I love being here!"
Despite my jitters in my stomach, I pry open my eyes and take a moment to just watch him breeze between gravestones. How can he be so happy in such a dark place? How does he embrace light and yet constantly keep up a dark demeanor? How does he balance both so easily?
Wait. Balance both? Like a compromi—
"BOO!"
Again I shriek and cover my face. The three troublemakers had stacked themselves on each others' shoulders and disguised themselves with a cloak and a gruesome mask. They loom above me by at least a few inches, the twisted fanged smile of the mask level with my face. "H-Haven't you had enough?" I rasp.
"Scaredy-cat! Scaredy-cat!" they sneer.
"Now, now, you three," our long-legged host gently chides, "don't cause trouble for Imani. She's already got a lot to handle without you scaring her."
I bet he secretly thinks its funny, too.
"Run along now!" Jack dismisses them.
As they dash off, I clear my throat (and wince in pain) before turning to Jack. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything!" he exclaims. "You are our guest and a friend of Sora's! I would be honored to fulfill any request you have."
I take a breath but stop. Oh great. I don't know how to ask without possibly insulting Halloween Town...at least, I might sound like I'm insulting Halloween Town, especially after Jack's given us an extensive tour.
"Anything at all!"
"U-Um," I stutter, mentally smacking myself. "You've lived here a while, haven't you?"
He throws his arms open. "Yes! I love it here. Of course, I visit Christmas Town as well to offer my assistance to Sandy Claws, too."
"Of course," I nod. "But...even though you're here, you're always happy and light."
"Because I'm happy to be here!"
"Y-yeah, but...but here..."
"Here? Is something wrong with being here and being happy?"
"No!" I almost shout. "No! Of course not!"
"Then what's the problem?"
Of all the times to come up blank. "I-It's just..."
"I think what she means to ask is how you balance the light and darkness in your heart, even though you're always in a place shrouded in darkness like Halloween Town."
I gape at the smug look on Riku's face. How did he do that? He's not even the one trying to figure out how to work a compromise.
"Oh, is that all?" Jack laughs. "It's quite simple, really. I just remember."
"Remember?" I repeat, tilting my head. "Remember what?"
"Everything!" he cries eagerly. "The times I've laughed or cried, my triumphs and my failures, my friends...everything! I remember everything, and I believe in the person I am today because of those memories."
I blink, trying to wrap my mind around what he's saying. "Believe..."
Jack bends down to my level. "Certainly, not everything I remember is pleasant. I have my own dark memories, as does everyone. It isn't the memories we necessarily need to rely on but the process of shaping and molding ourselves according to those memories, no matter how light or dark they are. After all, there is both light and darkness in everyone."
"Right..." I nod uncertainly.
Jack nods. "Do you understand, Imani?"
"I...think so..." I concede, my heart sinking with each passing moment.
"Good!" He resumes his full height with a smile that no longer seems as fake as I once thought. "I'm glad you do! It's bound to be important to remember, isn't it? Especially for you."
"BOO!"
An angry string of quacks streams from Donald as he chases Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Goofy and the king watch on the side, bending over in their laughter.
"Shall we return back to town?" Jack suggests.
"Sure! I'm starving!" Sora immediately walks beside Jack down the dirt pathway.
"Next time, just say it." Riku tugs on a whisker before following everyone back.
Author's Afterthought: I thought this one came out pretty well, considering Imani did some thinking without excessive amounts of sap. What'd you think? Please review!
