Me: Welcome shadows to the final arc of Days of a Heartless! However, this doesn't mean Nico's adventures are completely over. Instead, I decided to have Days of a Heartless be about KH 1.5, so for those worried about this being the end, it's not even close.
Meanwhile, the new trailers for KH3 recently have been amazing and confusing! Giving us more of Kingdom of Corona and even Winnie the Pooh! We only have a month until KH3 and this game is going to be wild!
?: Ahem. Oblivion, we should get back on topic!
(I turn at the sound of a new voice, finding that a teal haired girl wearing a black dress was sitting next to me)
Me: Silvia, what are you doing here?
Silvia: Organization 13 was busy out on missions, so I came instead.
?: Don't forget about me!
(Suddenly a corridor open as Xion came in)
Xion: I came as well! I was just a little far behind. (Whispers) Also if Roxas calls you, I'm not here.
Me: Umm… okay. Now, I'm a bit concerned and afraid of what happened, but now that everyone is here, I think it's time we start the chapter and stop rambling on.
Xion: Disclaimer - Miss Oblivion J owns nothing of Kingdom Hearts by Square Enix and Disney. All she owns is her artwork, plot, and OC.
Silvia: So, without further ado, we hope you all enjoy the chapter!
Arc 3 - Of Vices and Virtues
Chapter 37 - Aftermath
Falling.
Drifting.
Being guided by the current, slowly waking up -
I opened my eyes, feeling my being swept around in the murky waters around me until finally landing on something. Looking around, I tried to find something, yet found nothing but darkness. Stepping forward, light broke underneath me, sending doves to awaken around me beginning to fly up, one after another, revealing a circular platform underneath me. The doves that ascended upward, soon fading into the darkness leaving me here on this station.
Recovering from my amazement, I switched to a more observant manner, starting to look at the station in all its glory. There painted upon the glass, a short haired, blond boy sleep around one half of the circle. He wore a long red blazer closed up by gold buttons, jeans, and black sneakers. Next to the boy's head sat pictures of people: a girl with long hair, a boy with an eyepatch in another, and the last circle below them was an anthropomorphic rabbit. Next to the sleeping boy's legs was a small depiction of a cozy and small town at sunrise, surrounded by the woods.
Here you know the truth that the darkness blinded you from. Yet you sleep and have yet to awaken again. Don't you want to know the truth hidden away?
I walked forward more, heading toward the sleeping boy's face. He looked so familiar...
Who you were? What you did? Don't you have questions?
I stopped midway, feeling that someone was watching me. Turning around, I froze seeing that the boy on the platform stood before me. And, he was very much awake!
His emerald eyes stared into mine, "Don't you want to know?"
"I know everything," I responded.
He began to circle around me, "But, not the truth. Our memory tells us one half, yet our heart tells another." he stopped in front of me, "How long are we going to lie to ourselves?"
I try to hit him -
"I'm not lying!"
He vanished before I could land a hit. I looked around, trying to find him, but he was gone.
If you're so sure, then open the door -
Suddenly two doors appeared on each side of me, a foot from where I was standing. One door was white and the other was black, yet both had the words - Truth on their nameplate.
But make sure it's the right one.
The voice faded away leaving me in silence and to make my decision. Two doors stood there mocking me and waiting for my decision. I only had one chance and this had to be the right choice. One door leads me to my truth and another would lead me to a lie.
Looking from the black door to the white door, I took a deep breath, walking toward the door that would lead me to the truth.
"I know the right way. It's this one," I told the voice, grabbing the handle of the white door. "And, it leads me to the light."
Slowly, I began to open it, expecting light to pour out from the gaps, yet that didn't happen. Instead, I was pushed back as darkness broke the doors open and wrapped around my body like a snake, beginning to drag me with it!
You claim to have to know the truth, yet this IS the truth!
I yelped, trying to break free from the darkness' grasp. My hands flailed for the platform, hoping to pull myself out. No, good the station itself was falling to darkness as well. "Ahhhh!"
If it's the truth you crave, then don't be afraid.
Suddenly darkness grabbed me harder, until my feet began to sink faster and I couldn't move anymore!
"HELP!" I yelped, but the darkness snuffed out my voice.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. All could do was listen as darkness welcomed me to oblivion.
Because in the deepest darkness…. Light always shines the brightest.
Everything was dark.
I didn't know why, but it felt like I was slowly waking up. Was I sleeping? How long had I been asleep then? My body ached and moaned unable to move at all, maybe I'd been asleep for centuries without movement. Am I alive? Have I died? Is this where people go once they're gone?
I didn't have any answers. Only more pointless questions that lead me nowhere.
"Do you think he'll pull through?" A voice from above spoke, sweet and warm like butterscotch tea. It was a male voice, one I'd never heard before. Who is that? A god? An angel?
Was I in the afterlife after all?
"He should wake sooner or later, but I can't say when. There is only so much I can do and control in this project, y'know." Another voice, one deeper and harsher. It was a female's voice - one I did not recognize it. "The fact that his body is stable enough and darkness isn't destroying his physical form is great. His heart rate is beating normal, so he's alive at least, however, it's so strange…... his heart is kind of small compared to others."
"Will he be able to awake or will he -" "I can't be for sure. Science can only go so far. I'm sad to say I can't determine if he'll even wake up. We kind of just need to let faith handle this one," the female interrupted him.
"It's so strange. His heart…. Is so much smaller than yours or mine. It's hard to ever see he's not dying right before our eyes," she went on.
"B-But, he's not!" the male shouted, a faint nervousness in his voice. "And soon enough he'll be whole again, right?"
Slowly the voices faded away to silence, as I began to feel myself succumb to sleep once more.
"He's been sleeping for three days now, master. Do you think he'll ever wake up?," a male voice entered, as I began to wake up once more.
"He'll wake in due time, Branden. The boy's heart was weaker than yours, so in turn, it's trying to cope with the newfound body. Along with his memories, emotions, and blood flow - the boy's body is adjusting since he hasn't had a human body since he becoming a Heartless. Needless to say, it could take days before he wakes up."
"Right," the male said, a bit unsurely in his voice. "Let us hope he wakes."
The voice faded and in turn, all I saw were flashes of images. A girl with black and blue hair, a man with a top hat, an army of Heartless, then out of nowhere a man in black clothing coming at me, ready to strike!
"AHHH!"
Bolting upright, I awake from the nightmare, opening my eyes for once in a long time. Breathing heavy, unable to focus, I find myself staring into the bright lights around me. Sweat came down my face, as I pant deeper, trying to calm myself down.
"Are you okay?" a female voice asked. Suddenly a blur of color, yet the only thing I could spot was purple coming toward me. "Can you hear me? If you can, then say something."
Slowly, my vision cleared up, allowing me to see the female in front of me. She looked like she was in her mid-twenties. The woman had scarlet red eyes, fair skin, and her hair was a dark purple, cut to her shoulders. She wore a white coat which made her look like a doctor.
Who is this woman?, I wondered, before looking around the room. It looked like a laboratory of some kind, having many glass cabinets full of random labeled jars, bunts and burners on the counter. However, on the other side, was a door leading to somewhere else and a male sitting with his hood up, making himself unidentifiable. Who is he? Who are they?
"W-Where am I?," I thought out loud. Suddenly noticing my mouth as dry as a desert.
"You're in my lab at the moment. Don't worry your safe?" she said, calmly.
Safe? How am I safe! I'm in a room full of reapers, how is that safe!
"Why am I here! How'd I get here! I was just in -" I cut myself off in realization. In where? I don't remember a thing! Where on earth was I before I came here! What the hell is going on here!
"He brought you here. You were in danger and hurt, so he jumped in," the woman informed, looking over to the man.
I was barely listening to her at all. Did I get kidnapped? Ended up here and accidentally fall asleep in a strange place? All I remember is getting blasted off by Monstro - is that how I ended up here? No, that can't be right.
"If anything, what's your name?" she asked.
I need to get out of here -
She looked at me unsurely, "Do you remember your old name? Do you have any recollection of it?"
I need to go! Before she kills me!
The woman dawned a worried look, "Please, can you speak again?" She asked, getting closer to me. Once the young woman did, I kicked her in the chest sending her down to the ground.
"Master!," the male shouted, scrambling toward us.
I took the chance to jump down from the table I was on, hitting the cold wooden boards, then rushing for the door. I grabbed the knob, but it won't open!
"Don't worry about me! Get him!" the woman shouted, causing the male to stop going towards her and now heading toward me.
I gasped, seeing that I had nowhere to run or hide. Panicky, I opened a corridor of darkness, ducking inside before the man could grab me.
~ X ~ X ~ X ~
On the shores of the Dark Margin, I tried to catch my breath and understand everything. Still I had many mixed emotions. Angry - for losing my journal. Hatred for not remembering anything after Monstro and that I was missing something important. There was a feeling of sadness inside me, but I had no idea why.
This doesn't make any sense, I thought, continuing to watch the calm waves. Why can't I recall anything that leads me to that lab?
I sighed, pulling the black cloak around my body. That woman or man had put this on me, so I should take it off. But, I felt cold and needed something to warm me.
I'd been in the Realm of Darkness for an hour since leaving that strange lab. Sitting on a rock, I'd been lost in thought for a while now and was no closer to finding the truth of this predicament. Maybe bolting off like that was careless… I don't even know what happened. Yet I can trust reapers who kill my kind and want to kill me. If I stayed, I would have been slain… All of a sudden I remember the woman's worried eyes…. Right?
I groan, hitting the rock. Now I'm confused… Just great!
"So you run and seek refuge here of all places. I thought for sure you'd go somewhere I couldn't find you. Not that I wouldn't find you anyways." Suddenly a corridor of darkness appears, as a man - the same one from the lab - steps out coming toward me.
"YOU!," I yelled, jumping off the rock and into a fighting position. "What are you doing here? Why did you follow me!"
The man halted, raising his arms in defense, "Easy there shadow, I mean you no harm. I'm not looking for a fight, all I need is for you to come back with me."
"Why! Why should I come back to be killed by reapers like you! People who don't care about my kind whatsoever! So, what are you waiting for? Why not kill me already?," I shouted.
The man hesitated. "Because I have no reason to," he said, before letting down his hood. My eyes widened, staring at a man in his early twenties, with gentle yellow eyes and tan skin. His yellow-orange hair was combed over to the left, but one stand stubbornly stood up in the middle.
The youthful man met my eyes, "I have no reason to commit a murder against another person nor my own kind. I'm not bloodthirsty after prey like others. I come here to take you back to the master before you do more harm to yourself than good." My eyes widen more. "You should easily trust me because we're not so different you and I."
I back away. "H-How am I-I anything like a reaper like you?," I asked in disbelief.
"For starters, I'm not human like the master. I'm not dead nor alive like a normal person. My very existence is impossible under normal circumstances. However, I live a stable of pure darkness and human beings - a Heartless hybrid."
My jaw dropped. H-Hybrid!
"I used to be human long ago before my world was attacked by Heartless. Many died, several lost before even I died becoming a Red Nocturne. From two years to now, I've been restored to a human state, thanks to my master. And, so have you, shadow."
"Huh? W-What do you -" My words trailed off before I could say "mean?", as I looked down at my hands. No longer where they black like oil matching a usual shadow, now they were pale enough that I could see blue veins faintly underneath. Suddenly I looked below me, seeing that my body had changed as well underneath the cloak. I had human-like feet, long legs, and arms. Suddenly I rubbed my head feeling soft fuzzy, known as hair and then grasping onto my antennas. Accidentally yanking one, which sent sharp pain through me.
"W-What is - What happened to me! Why am I like this! Why did you turn me into a human!," I demanded, marching toward him.
"It was either save you or let you died. I saved you before that keyblade wielder could kill you. Once a Heartless dies they're gone forever. If I can save a life, then I'm glad to save yours -"
"Wait! Hold the phone! I was attacked? I-I don't remember," I said, trying to recall recent events. Nothing was current. Why can't I remember what happened! What's going on! Why are there holes in my memory?
"You don't remember? I don't know why that's happened. Maybe, the master will know." He reached out for me. "Come -"
"NO!" I back away before he could grab my arm, "Why should I have any right to trust you! Even if your a Heartless, you're helping a person who could potentially backstab us! Kill our whole kind! Why the heck should I go back with you, knowing nothing about you or if you as well couldn't go rogue or murder me in my sleep!"
The man closed his eyes, giving a deep sigh. "You're very sharp for a shadow, which means you have survived for a long time and seen the cruelty of the worlds. The Chaos. And, faced many struggles as a Heartless. However, in this time, you should consider right now a new path into a new life whether you like it or not. You could walk with me to my master and we get this whole situation talked about, OR you can rot here... dying from your body as it slowly destabilizes. The more you stay here in the darkness, the more you die." He opens his eyes, changing to a serious expression. "You have only twelve hours of life if you stay, shadow. That is if you come with me right now."
I glared at him, "I'd rather die!"
The man averted his eyes, turning back. "It's your choice. I won't push you anymore on the matter nor will I force you in any way. I could have made a deal. You could have found your friends and every answer you ever wanted. I guess you don't want to find Cross or anyone you care for."
My eyes widened, remembering the girl from my dream. "Cross? Who is she?"
"I don't know, but maybe if you keep on living you'll know her. You'll see your friends again. You would understand exactly what happened before now," he explained.
I bit my lip, Cross? My friends? What happened to lead me to this day… I hum lowly to myself.
"Oh well…. Good luck dying. I'll just get going." Suddenly the man began to stroll off heading for the other side of the margin.
"Hey! Come back here!," I yelled after him, racing to get to him.
"Nope, you already made up your mind and I have made up my own."
"I don't care! Wait, I'm coming with you!," I shouted, jumping in front of him, yet he jumped right over me.
Landing on the ground, the man walked on," Sorry, no can do."
Growling, I grabbed hold of his coat, pulling him back. "You are not leaving without -"
I lost grip of his clothing, falling headfirst into the ocean. I gargle a bit of water, before jerking up for air, coughing and spitting out the over salted liquid."Ugh!"
I continued to cough, slowly catching my breath, then felt my breath halt as I looked down at the person in the water staring back at me. Their eyes were orange once I met them, yet slowly turned yellow with confusion. The boy looked to be a teenager, baring pale skin, a button nose, and short, shaggy raven hair with two dancing antennas moving around. He was also in a black cloak the same as me.
"Who is this?," I asked.
"That's your new self little shadow reflecting into the water. You're different from before, so it might be odd to see yourself. It was like that for me too. Until my master showed me the way," he answered, before standing behind me. His appearance reflected into the waters as well. "Come back with me, corporate and never run off like that again, and in return, I'll allow you to get as many answers you want. The choice is yours."
Answers to every question? Cross… my missing memories… I close my eyes, then reopen them knowing clear well my answer.
"Deal," I agree, beginning to get to my feet. I turned around to see the man smiling at me warmly.
"Then, let's go," he said, happily.
"Wait, before we go what's your name?," I demanded.
"My name is Branden Autumns," He introduced himself, giving a bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Yet since you're asking my name, what yours?"
"Nicholas Rider, but call me Nico."
= Chapter End =
Me: Okay, so this chapter may have been unforeseen and a bit of a plot twist. Nico is now a hybrid/human being instead of a normal shadow Heartless like before. Branden and Nico are like Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, without the Heartless Emblem. They are still pure darkness and have powers from their previous forms.
Xion: So, they're like Nobodies just with darkness.
Silvia: Yes, but way cooler!
Me: The next thing to discuss is Nico's station of awakening. I've thought about this again and again but never made it a reality until now. The boy Nico sees is, in fact, his old human self, yet the one talking to him is his own heart. This scene was inspired by Ven's scene at the start of BBS, where he meets another heart and regains his power to wield the keyblade. (Sorry for spoilers lol.) For the most part, Nico had to reawaken from his slumber and his heart needed him to understand that telling himself lies can only get him so far.
Silvia: Meanwhile -
(Suddenly my phone goes off, causing me to open and answer it. I head off telling the others to continue)
Xion: Nico doesn't remember anything after Monstro, yet retained his memory of Cross. The reason for this is because of connects to Sora and Kairi. As of this time placement, Sora is sealed away for sleeping by Namine and DiZ, which in turn affects Nico and his memories as a whole.
Silvia: Also, it is a great thing to note that now that Nico is part human, he could be more affected by Namine's powers. If he remembers Sora at all could very on what happens in the future.
Me: I'm back. So, what's left to talk about?
Silvia: We just finished. Meanwhile, what happened to you?
Me: Just got off the phone with Roxas. He says He'll be right over.
Xion: What! I told you not to tell him!
(Suddenly the office door breaks down to see Roxas, standing with his hood up and Oblivion and Oathkeeper in his hands. Everyone paled.)
Xion: Roxas, can't we talk about this?
Roxas: (only readied his keys) Talking won't help anything! We are fighting instead.
Me: Xion, you might want to run.
Xion: Agreed.
Roxas: Get back here!
Silvia: I'm going to go after them. Bye shadows!
Me: Umm...Well while I go stop Roxas from killing Xion. I'm going to say this really quickly. I hope you guys are excited for this arc and ready for more chapters! Like always, review because I love to hear your feedback, and have an awesome day or night!