KINGDOM HEARTS: Edge Before End.
EX VI-Zukunft im Kurs.
Following her final confrontation with Master Xehanort, at the end of her Melody of Memory...Kairi had spoken with both close friends and allies. Trying to make sense of the defeated's last words...they were soon approached by a rather very unexpected Character. Led by this Character in question...Kairi and Riku were guided to the Final World. Here, they had met...with a nameless star. Like them, the star was acquainted with Sora...having known of him for a while now. Upon learning of his untimely fate...the star resolved itself towards helping Sora's friends locate him. Riku decided to go on ahead...waiting for Kairi, once she has properly finished completing her Keyblade training.
Following Riku's decision to travel alone, Kairi then informed Master Yen Sid; Mickey and the others of what she learned from the nameless star. About a World...by the name of Quadratum. A World...which lies on the other side...of reality itself. Intending to take further action into investigating the matter of this unknown World...Yen Sid has now assigned everyone their respective roles.
Kairi has decided to train under Master Aqua, once she; Terra and Ventus have returned from the Realm of Darkness. Both Donald and Goofy shall go inform Roxas and his group at Twilight Town, as well as the researchers of Radiant Garden about this Quadratum World. Leaving King Mickey, the last with an assigned role...towards investigating Scala ad Caelum.
With Kairi, Donald and Goofy taking their leave...Yen Sid imparts words of wisdom to his former apprentice. "...Mickey, it is time. You must now begin your trek across time, space and illusion. To reach the nexus...where all Keyblade wielders once stood within a seat of power. Be forewarned...that World is ancient. No one lives there any longer...it is...a forgotten vestige." says Yen Sid, warning Mickey of a potential danger that he will be facing...
"...Master Yen Sid? gosh. It sounds like...I'll be having my hands full. You sure that it's okay for Donald and Goofy not to accompany me? I mean. I wouldn't complain...but. I'd feel safe...having my best pals by my side." says Mickey, however...Yen Sid replies "...Believe me Mickey, if there were any other way...I would allow them. Like Sora...they have a knack for disregarding a king's direct command." says Yen Sid...a slight smile appearing on his expression.
The smile was enough to shock Mickey...before the mouse king started to laugh, finding himself agreeing with his former master. "Ha ha! yeah...Sora's been a bad influence on them in that regard. Though...I am no better. Still...I'm concerned. I can't help but worry...if...this new quest of ours will affect parties asides our own. If...it is possible. Master Yen Sid...I...I would like to request HIS service." says Mickey, surprising Yen Sid...
"...Oh? you wish...to speak with...your brother?" says Yen Sid. "Yes...yes I do. I know it's been a long time...he...he probably still hasn't forgiven me. But...even so! we will need his help. He is a Keyblade wielder, just like me...in fact. He is a Keyblade wielder EXACTLY like me...even. If he is not a Keyblade Master...regardless. I trust my brother...I trust his opinion. And I know...deep down...he'll help us out. After all...we're brothers! ha ha!" says Mickey, patting his small chest whilst letting out a big smile.
"...Sigh, very well Mickey. I shall speak...with Oswald. Hopefully, he shall oblige our request...hopefully." says Yen Sid, before Mickey speaks up again. "...Actually...there's also someone else...I'd like to trust with helping us out. Though...Goofy probably wouldn't approve of this. Still...a promising knight in training needs to prove his worth sometime, am I right?" says Mickey, as Yen Sid becomes curious by his suggestion.
"Oh? you mean...Goofy's son? the young Maximilian? are you sure about that, Mickey?" says Yen Sid, slightly questioning Mickey's idea. "Yes...trust me, Master Yen Sid. Max Goof isn't just the son of my most trusted captain of the guard...he is also a capable messenger. Goofy knows the talents of his own son...but. I think the protective father in him would disagree...therefore. I'd like to keep this secret between us two, that includes keeping Donald in the Dark." says Mickey, wishing to go forwards with his plan in mind...
"...Your brother-a former Keyblade wielder...and the son of your captain of the royal knights. An unsuspecting duo...to say the least. Very well then...if you can trust the two to accomplish their mission...I shall place my faith in them too, Mickey. I will arrange to contact Oswald, whereas you will handle the matter of the young Goof. Mickey...we cannot afford to fail. Not...when there is still much needed to be done..." says Yen Sid...a Dark cloud hanging over his wizard's hat whilst slowly stroking his beard...
"Yes...I understand, wholeheartedly; master. Yen Sid...may our Hearts be our guiding Keys." says King Mickey, saying the signature phrase of Keyblade wielding heroes. With a simple nod from the elderly retired Keyblade Master...Mickey at last takes his leave. Leaving Yen Sid to ponder his thoughts...standing up from his chair and looking outside his window.
"...Master Verdandi...please. Forgive me...but. I wish...I wish to change...this accursed future of ours. Keyblade wielders and masters...should not be made subservient. Not towards Darkness...and. Not...towards Light, either. Kingdom Hearts...is a Light that should better the lives of the youth, not curse them...to further failures. I failed to meet with Xehanort...and confirm my theory. What was he researching...asides...the Keyblade War. This Quadratum...the World where you...and the other Keyblade forebears once travelled. Could it...truly be...hmm..." says Yen Sid, appearing to know a least a little about Quadratum...the World where Riku is currently heading towards...
Speaking of, Riku; using the Power of Waking as his means of transportation...is seen sleeping. Next, he shockingly enters...a Dive to the Heart sequence! falling downwards upon his personal Station of Awakening. Riku slowly opens his eyes to his surroundings...seeing nothing...but Darkness, everywhere in sight...
"...Mickey...Namine...and...Ansem. The ones...closest to my Heart. But...where are Sora and Kairi? why aren't...they here?" says Riku...until sensing something approaching. "! Whose there!?" says Riku, summoning his Braveheart Keyblade. From a Corridor of Darkness...emerges...a figure. Wearing...a white coat! "!? W-What the!? a...white coat!?" says Riku, seeing not the traditional black that is associated with the kind of coat he recognises...but instead. A completely different colour...the colour of white.
"...That coat...it's...not like the others I've seen up until now." says Riku, slightly lowering his battle stance. The stranger in white remains silent, leaving Riku to do all the talking. "...Not a speaker, huh? well. I can't blame you, I guess. I...I'm not much for conversations either. In the past...I had...trouble making friends. Though...there was this one kid. Shorter and definitely much more annoying...whom would always trail after me. He said...that he wanted to be my friend. At first, I didn't believe him...but. Eventually...I found myself talking with him. Soon enough, we started to have fun like normal friends do...and finally. That guy...ultimately became my best friend. Now...it's the other way around. I'm trailing after him...trying to bring him back home. The question is...I don't know where to start. Hopefully...I'll find some clues from where I'm heading next." says Riku, placing a hand on his Heart...pondering his thoughts.
"...What is the essence of the Human Heart that weakens us...or...empowers us?" says the white coated individual, surprising Riku. He recognises those words...having once heard Yen Sid speak them. "Your journey will take you afar...and yet. You will only reach so little of your intended destination...such...is the way of things." says the white hooded figure, slowly walking away from Riku. "!? Wait...what do you...mean by that!?" says Riku, questioning the white silhouette's words...
"...Is Darkness, masquerading as Light the true essence? or. Is it Darkness...in it's absolute black coloured purity? these things...I do not know. Humans have founded their hubris through Darkness...merely using Light to give themselves comfort. The Door towards Darkness...did not end up within the Dark World, simply because it was banished there; following the Keyblade War. No...the Door was left there...to serve...as a linchpin." says the white silhouette, shocking Riku with it's words.
"A...linchpin? what...do you mean, exactly?" says Riku, questioning the silhouette. "...When the Door was left sealed away, inside the Realm of Darkness...it...had maintained a certain threshold. Much like the other in-between Worlds you have encountered...the Door of Darkness...had guarded...a kind of secret. The purpose of in-between Worlds, either in reality or fiction...is to safeguard the balance. Without that safeguard...the balance would tip towards whomever was in favour with power. Those possessing power...will use it, without a shadow of a doubt. And...just as the saying goes. Absolute power corrupts absolutely...thus. With the Door now locked...the seal...has been broken..." says the silhouette...
"!? S-Seal? what seal? just what...are you saying here!?" says Riku, waving about an arm; becoming slightly panicky. "...There is a World, beyond the outskirts of the place towards which you are heading. A town...locked inside of a time loop. It...is nearing it's inevitable end. However...what follows...is the most important piece of the puzzle. I was hasty...in saying that the seal had been broken. Rather...the sealing lock upon yet another seal was cracked wide open instead. For you see...by closing the Door to Darkness with the two Keyblades of both Light and Dark. The 1st seal gave way...unlocking entry towards the town of which I speak. The Door to Darkness is required to be open at all times...in order to maintain the 1st seal remaining intact." says the white silhouette, although...Riku is merely left confused.
"! Wait...you're saying...when Sora and Mickey closed the door back when we defeated Ansem...this seal that you mentioned...was broken?" says Riku, trying to make sense of things. "Correct...the 1st sealing was unlocked. This allowed more seekers of Darkness...to intrude upon the town in question. There...the destruction of the 2nd sealing is already underway, having been thusly for some time now...
"!? W-W-WAIT A MINUTE..." exclaims Riku with a look of grim upon his face, fearing...what he may have just correctly realised. "...Do not fret. That...was never your story to take part in. Rather...your part will be within the story...to follow directly after. The town of Midlight will be destroyed...breaking the 2nd and final seal. Once that is done...the Worldlines will no longer be halted by the edge before the end. The edge is the name of the ley line...that separates multiple Worldlines from one another. Letting them go about their respective business practices...however. For some time now...the Worldlines themselves have "leaked" into this one. Causing unintended influences upon certain both areas and peoples of great interest..." says the silhouette, again; shocking Riku...unable to comprehend these enigmatic words...
Lastly, Riku says the following. "...Then. What is...the purpose...of these so called Worldlines? what will happen...if...they overlap?" says Riku, gulping...though. The white silhouette refuses to answer...instead. It looks upwards...seeing a bright Light shine down upon Riku's Station of Awakening...