Chapter 8! And here I thought I'd have trouble getting it done.
Well, regardless of what I imagined; things are moving right along.

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Comment on the plot, or how you think it should be different.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER VIII
QUESTIONS

When I opened my eyes, I leapt to my feet and balled up my fist around the keyblade.
My breathing was labored as if I had just finished a sprint.
Finally I slowed my breaths and reflected on the situation.
I must have fallen asleep. But the ambient light outside looked no different from when that pain started.
If it wasn't a dream… what was it?
My eyes drifted to the keyblade clenched in my hand.
The knuckles in my hand were white from the force of my grip.
I relaxed my grip and it vanished in a shower of sparks.

So, Ventus? I guess he had given me his power…?
I didn't feel any different than usual.
But it felt so real…?

"Was it a dream?" I asked the empty room.

A voice from the window asked, "Who were you dreaming about?"

Yuffie. Again.

"That's none of your business Yuffie. What are you doing here?" I asked with irritation evident in my voice.

She pouted with her hands on her hips, "Now that's not the way you talk to your friends!"

I smirked evilly at her, "Friends? Since when?" I dismissed my keyblade and said, "Friends don't start fights like you did."

Yuffie jumped from the windowsill, "Okay true, but can you blame me? I'm in love Sora. Love makes you do stupid things…"

"Maybe it does, but you know better. I told you a few years ago that I just thought of you as a friend."

She shrugged, "Yeah, but you didn't tell me 'No' when I kissed you today."

Now I was starting to get angry, "You didn't give me much of a choice did you? You're not stupid. You could feel me struggling. I gave a SPEECH."

"I wasn't thinking clearly alright? I was upset, angry, and sad. I wanted to kiss you, and I wanted you to know how I felt. What's wrong with that?" She held up her hands in mock surrender, "I got what I wanted, but unfortunately it just made me want more."
She took a step towards me with her arms open like she wanted a hug.
I stepped back and summoned the keyblade.

"No more funny business, I'm off limits Yuffie. If you can't understand that, then you and I are not friends."

Yuffie frowned, "I just want a hug Sora."

"No hugs. I don't want you to touch me, I don't want to talk to you, and I don't even want to share the same world with you. Got it?" My grip on my weapon tightened, "Get out of my room, I don't want you here."
When she didn't move, I turned and stomped to the door. But I froze when I heard the distinctive sound of someone lightly crying.

I turned back to Yuffie. She was sitting on my bed with her head in her hands. Crying.
Great. Crying. Female blackmail.

I groaned in exasperation and took two steps toward her, "Don't cry. I just want you to understand that I am not interested in you. You're a good friend Yuffie. Better than some friends I've had. But you must know that what you pulled on me today was not right. You don't force someone to kiss you, or hug you, or touch you, or even in fact talk to you. It's not okay."

I sat beside her and gently laid my hand on her shoulder, "I'm still your friend, but I will not be in a relationship with you. Have you any idea what I've been through for Kairi? Three years of searching. I fought for her. I begged for her. I gave up my heart to save her. You and everyone else need to understand how much I gave up and how much I struggled for her to notice me. Now… I have what I want."

Yuffie turned her head to look at me, her eyes were red and swollen, "Look Sora… I get it, I really do… but I've been in love with you for three years. How can I just… drop that?

"I can't help you with that I'm afraid. I've never been in that situation."

I released her and stood, "Are we square?" Yuffie gazed at me and said, "Yeah... I guess we are."

"Good. Now, would you please leave my room? I have something I need to do."

When she cocked an eyebrow at me, I put my hands on her back and pushed her to the door, "Please leave."

"Alright, alright. But I do have to tell you that Ansem was looking for you earlier. Better stop in and see him some time before you go to bed."

I nodded and finally pushed her outside.
Now then… Ventus.

I spent the next hour thumbing through my journal of the past three years, looking for any sign or reference to Ventus or Terra.
Unsurprisingly, there was next to nothing.

Around that time, there was a knock on my door. Riku stepped in.

"Hey Sora, what are you up to?" He asked when he saw the journal laying open and my travel bag strewn about the floor.

"I uh… I had another dream earlier. At least, I think it was a dream? I don't know." I quickly explained the dream.

"Ventus? Terra? You know what? I think I have heard those names before." He thumbed his chin, "I think we had better go ask Ansem about them. He always seemed to know more than he let on when I was working with him."

We walked to the library where Ansem worked and knocked on the door.
From inside his voice rang out deep and loud, "Come in!"

When I walked in, Ansem stood and smiled, "Ah, Sora. I was hoping I might see you this evening."

"Yuffie said that you were looking for me. Can I ask why?"

"Certainly my boy. I have a matter that I would like your insight on… one of the keyblade's chosen would certainly have better perspective than most on this." He started round his desk towards the computer room and then stopped short.

"Ah, I am forgetting myself. Was there something that brought you here to me this evening besides Yuffie?"

I nodded and looked at Riku who decided to finally speak, "Yeah actually. We heard two names earlier and wanted to know if you have heard them before?"

A look of curiosity crossed Ansem's face, "If I can be of service, I shall. What are they?"

"Ventus and Terra." I said.

Ansem's curiosity dropped from his face and was replaced with a look of mild illness.
"I see… I haven't heard those names in quite a long time. Ten years I believe."

Riku put a hand on the desk, "Who are they?"

Ansem looked up at the ceiling, "Ten years ago, strange happenings began in Radiant Garden. Creatures of all forms appeared in the streets threatening my citizens. I knew not what to do… until one day, our mutual friend The King visited my world."

He continued the story, taking deep breaths at each pause, "For a time, I experimented with my knowledge of the Heartless and the Keyblade. As you both well know, nothing good came of this line of inquiry. I despaired of ever finding a way of ridding Radiant Garden of these pests… The visitors to this world were many during that time. Three of them were young and bore keyblades of their own.
Their names were Aqua, Ventus, and Terra."

I tensed as he described them in turn.

"Aqua was a young woman of age 17 I would guess. She had blue eyes, short blue hair, and a countenance that well hid her deep thinking. I perceived that she must be very wise for her age.
Ventus was also very young, no more than 15 or 16… blonde hair, blue eyes, and the same sunny disposition that you yourself bear Sora. Both Roxas and he looked so similar; one might mistake them for twins.
Now Terra… there was a young man that held an inner strength that I have not seen in anyone for long enough. He could not have been over the age of 19. Tall and lean of build. He had long hair of an earthen brown, and blue eyes as well. He… came into my world under odd circumstance. He seemed to have a kind of disposition that made one think him naïve."

Ansem sat down heavily in his chair as he spoke of Terra.

"That young man… I could only see in him an ill fate. One that would see him stripped of all he held dear. I personally have not seen nor heard from any of these in a decade."

He stood suddenly, "Where, pray tell did you hear those names?"

"I had a dream of sorts… the figure in it claimed to be named Ventus. He asked me to mention Terra to The King." I said, leaning on a bookshelf opposite his desk.

"We thought you might have some kind of knowledge of these two." Riku chimed in.

"Well then… I have told you all that I know of them. I wish that I could tell you more." He mused.

I sighed heavily and stood on my feet, "Thank you for sharing that with us. What was it you wanted to ask me?"

Ansem flinched, "Ah! Thank you for reminding me!" He quickly walked to the door of his lab and beckoned us to follow.
"I have been pouring over all sorts of knowledge and material from ages past, and came across something extraordinary in my research."

He pushed aside the chair at his desk and wrenched open the drawer.

"I found this book titled, 'The Heart of The Mind' some months ago. Your Master Yen Sid said that the book is a remnant from a realm once called 'Daybreak Town'. It has since vanished according to him."

Ansem lifted a book onto the desktop. Its cover seemed to be made of a thinly hammered sheet of bronze, and was richly decorated with riveted accents and carven scrolls.
When he opened the book, the writing inside looked to be very hurried and sloppily written.

"The author of this book was definitely a man of knowledge not unlike me. He talks of experiments with Darkness and manipulation of hearts. What I wanted to show you is this strange entry here:

Some may call me a madman for my studies here. But the fools fail to see the necessity of my work. Whom else will be at liberty to protect this world if I do not pursue this knowledge? Surely, not that half-wit in the castle that calls himself the 'Master of Masters'! Ha! That old fool can barely speak without making some off-color joke or making light of serious matters! His own apprentices are in disarray this very morn! So, I took the initiative and have moved further along in research than any of the Foretellers! We have knowledge of the beasts that rise from the Darkness. The ones that are called 'Heartless'. Manifestations of the Darkness that feed on the hearts of the people. A heart stolen and enshrouded in a living veil of Darkness. It is given power in accordance with the disposition and countenance of the heart in question. What then is left behind when the heart is stolen away? A discarded body and a soul to animate it. If the will of the original is strong enough, that body begins to move with renewed strength and purpose. Becoming a creature not of this world or of the Darkness. Its home lies in the realm between realms. That of Nothingness. Yet in my study, I did make a discovery that is both separate and dependant on both of the previous entities. I found three young ones in the town that have had encounters with the Heartless. They told me tales that would chill the marrow of even the Foretellers themselves. It seems they came across a beast of Darkness called a 'Darkside' near the Sunlight Grove. They all three watched their friend taken by this creature… A boy met his end in a most… grisly manner. All three of them bore the signs of potential which the Unions look for in the young. Tenacity, resilience, cunning. Surely these three children were potential Keyblade bearers? I observed each of them for several weeks; the youngest was the first to show signs of his awakening. I pitted him against one of the Nobodies I had captured in the Maw some weeks ago. Quicker than I expected, he summoned a weapon that at first… appeared to be a Keyblade. But there was something about it that seemed inherently flawed. The blade looked as if it had been broken. Cracks ran up and down its length. Yet the boy wielded it with all the confidence and skill of the Chosen. His two companions also manifested their keyblades in short order when faced by one of the Heartless or Nobodies. Each in turn also bore weapons that looked… wrong. I observed them closely. Asked to examine their blades. Something about them seemed off. But in ways that eluded me. I began to despair that I would ever learn the truth of this matter. Then a true breakthrough! One of the young men began to speak of their fallen friend. Recalling fond memories and speaking of his strengths. When next he summoned his keyblade, there was a definite change in its appearance. His powers too seemed to be fuller and of a higher magnitude. I can only surmise that their experience with the Heartless and the loss of their friend affected their powers in a kind of 'fracturing'. So in essence, their powers were broken. Once they confronted the loss of their friend and reconciled themselves with his memory, they were healed. I have therefore come to the conclusion that if one experiences emotional or physical trauma of the right degree and strength, a potential Keyblade wielder can develop into what I call a "Fragmented". A bearer with fragmented abilities. With this discovery, I have made a new breakthrough with our students and potentials here in Daybreak Town. Those who have power incomplete, or are unable to wield their keyblade effectively may in fact be one of these "Fragmented". This bears more study to affix the conclusion with our established knowledge. I can only hope that my research bears more fruit. Lest I miss something and our world falls to the Dark plague that is ever encroaching on this most wonderful world…

As I read the passage, I could feel a distinct connection between the reports I read during my travels. The Ansem Reports and the Secret Reports.
For some reason, this sent a chill down my spine.

"Where exactly did you find this book?" I asked

Ansem sat in his chair and sighed, "Well… you see… I was trapped there for quite some time. I had no choice but to explore while I could. I came across several different ruins in that realm."

Riku stepped forward, "Ansem… where?"

He balked at the fierceness in Riku's voice, "The Realm of Darkness."

Riku and I looked at each other, "You found this book in the Realm of Darkness?"

Ansem nodded gravely, "Yes. On the Dark Shore in fact."

I looked down at the book in my hands, the cover suddenly felt colder than before and it felt heavier.
I thumbed through it and snapped it closed.

"You need to get rid of this book Ansem. Something about it doesn't feel right." I said suddenly.

Riku nodded and grunted in agreement.

"Very well… If you are sure. Might I ask why you feel this way?"

I handed the book back to him, "I'm not sure. Items from the Realm of Darkness tend to carry bad energy with them. Especially if they have been there for a long time."
I yawned and rubbed an eye, "I think I'd better get back to my room. I need rest and we have quite the trip tomorrow."

Ansem nodded again and carefully put the book back in his desk, "Agreed. You have my word that I shall dispose of the book as soon as I have the means."

On the way back to my room, I started thinking about Ventus and our battle.
Something about it felt different.
I felt different.
I turned suddenly and took the stairs upwards in the opposite direction of my room.

I found an open window that led to a balcony that overlooked the town.
The night air was cold enough to make me shiver, but I sat down with my legs dangling over the edge.
I had to be about sixty-seven floors up. Three hundred feet or more from the ground.
Normally, I'm scared of heights; but for some reason this was more relaxing than I thought.
Radiant Garden looked as peaceful as it could possibly be.
Not a single sound could be heard, which only reinforced the feeling of seclusion.

A streak of reddish light shot across the sky and came down across the canyon.
How long has it been since I had seen a shooting star?

"You don't see stuff like this in Twilight Town."

I looked to my left and smiled, "Hey Roxas."

He held out an ice cream bar without even looking at me, "Take it, you need it."

I muttered my thanks and took it.
Of course it was sea-salt ice cream. He knew my favorites just as well as I did.

"What brings you out tonight? I didn't think you had enough strength to leave on your own?" I asked with my mouth full.

"Your little battle with Ventus stirred something inside of you. When I woke, I could just… leave."

"How much of the battle did you see?"

"All of it. You and I have the same memories."

"Thanks again Roxas… say, you know what it feels like to be between a rock and a hard place don't you?"

He gave his ice cream a lick and nodded, "Yeah… I've been there many times before. With Namine too… and Xion… girl troubles man…"
He gave a huge sigh and took a big bite out of the bar, "You love Kairi, and I'm not sure if I even know what love really is… I don't know if I love Namine or Xion. But I do know that they're both incredibly special to me."

He closed his mouth over the remnants of his ice cream and pulled out the stick.

"You and I are alike in more ways than one Sora. We both have a lot to lose in this life, and a lot to gain. We both have friends that mean the world to us. We both have been misled by people we trusted. There's one thing we don't have in common though… You have a goal. I don't. You have a purpose. I don't."

As he continued, I wanted suddenly to hug him.

"Roxas… You're too hard on yourself, you know that?" I slapped him on the back, "You're not thinking it through. You DO have a purpose. You wouldn't exist if you didn't."

He smiled, "I suppose you're right Sora. I sure wish I knew what it was though."

I nodded and took a bite out of my ice-cream.

The wind was starting to pick up. It was cold, but I couldn't care less at the moment. "Roxas, do you think… I'll be strong enough to face this next challenge?"

"Yeah, I do... don't you?" He asked with genuine concern.

I shook my head, "Barely... I don't even know what it is we are supposed to be fighting."

Roxas nodded, "True, but aren't we supposed to be figuring that out at the castle tomorrow?"

Roxas flicked his popsicle stick out into the air and watched it drop.

I leaned back, bracing my arms against the cold stone, "So, I have access to all of Ventus' abilities?"

"That's what Ven said. Have you thought about testing any of these abilities?"

With my head pointing up, I looked at the parapet above us and sighed, "I have… but there's no place around that I can do that safely."

He raised an eyebrow meaningfully, "Really? What about the Great Maw?"

"Oh yeah… but it's getting really late. I need to get to bed." I braced my hands on the ground and flipped into a standing position, "C'mon man, let's head back." I held out my hand.

Roxas shook his head and mimicked my actions. He tucked his hands behind his head and grinned, "Anything you can do, I can do better." I rolled my eyes and started back to my room.

The original version of this chapter was painfully short and dramatic.
I simply had to rework this one; it was in serious need of it.
As I said, I have plans to redo the plotline and make it… less sporadic.

I do hope everyone enjoys this one as much as I did writing it.

This is Soulless1 signing off, Until Next Time.