Writing this series, I am really getting a soft spot for Ienzo. Figures that's why he got quite a lot of screentime in the stories, and I sure hope you guys don't mind, for I have a bit too much fun writing about him.
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Another bolt, causing his prisoner's entire body to convulse from the electricity coursing through the body.
"It's futile to try and conceal the password from me insignificant user." Commander Sark tells the User named Ienzo matter of factly and with such zealot that only a fully supporter of the MCP would use. "The DTD belongs to the MCP."
Through the pain of the torture this sentient program has put him through, Ienzo finds himself wondering if he ever sounded like that when he spoke about Xemnas back when he was Zexion? If that's the case, he is so going to figure out how to travel back in time, just so he can slap his Nobody's brainwashed face, which might make a paradox but will be worth it. It's a struggle, the electricity has left his entire body with a numbing pain, but he still manages to get up on his knees. "Torture me all you like. You won't get the password out from me." Even as an unfeeling husk, Zexion held an unyielding loyalty towards the other apprentices, something that only strengthened when he became human again. "I doubt you can do worse than I have already been through." Ienzo tells the program, only to cries in pain when Shark electrocutes him again. When it ceases, he collapses onto the floor, barely conscious anymore. Still, this is nothing compared to the sheer agony he dealt with the first months after his recompletion. Not to mention, living without a heart for nine godforsaken years; it was hell. "You have to try harder than that..." Ienzo wheezes up to this loyalist of a program. Physical pain won't break him; it got nothing on what his heart has put him through.
This infuriates Sark; it seems he has greatly underestimated DTD's users. No matter, he can always decrypt it out from this User. "It seems I have to resolve to more drastic measures."
The User looks directly at him, the eyes sharp, "Give me your best shot." so unlike the programs he's used to dealing with.
"So much for the omnipotent MCP…" Tron speaks up. The constant electrocutions have fried several of his systems; still he is inspired by this User's courage. "It doesn't even know the password, and by the looks of it, still relies on the users."
"How dare you!" Sark sneers in disbelief that Tron dared to say that about the MCP. He charges up to fry this nuisance to Tron so he no longer can function to the most basic tasks. "How dare you mock the great MCP!"
Right there, Sora, Donald and Goofy fall right on top of the Commander, knocking him out cold.
A bit disorientated from the transfer from the real world back to the computer. Sora needs a moment to realize that he landed on this Commander Sark. Well, he takes it. Getting up, it does not take long for Sora to notice both Tron and Ienzo, both staring at him in utter surprise. Sora swiftly heads over, summons his keyblade, and breaks their bind. "Are you alright?" He asks, both look terrible and Sora feels terrible it took him so long to return.
Ienzo struggles a bit thanks to his muscles hurting from being electrocuted all those times, but back on his feet he gets. "I've tried worse." He brushes Sora's worries off. Though he does feel quite humiliated from have been chained down like that, but he kinda asked for it. Sure he can do spells without aid, but Ienzo still hasn't figured out where his limits now lie. So, note to self: don't leave the Arcanum behind. And right as he thought it, Sora hands him his spellbook, saying: "Here, Even said it would help you." Even is a life-saver! Ienzo smiles and claims his book, feeling way more at ease now he can adequately defend himself.
Assured the young scientist is alright, Sora and Goofy help Tron, who looks worse for wear, they get him back on his feet. "We know the password." Sora tells Tron.
"I see." Tron nods, thankful for both the rescue and them doing him this huge favor. He winches in pain and his shape glitching up for a moment. All of the Users send him worried looks; he assures them he will be fine as long he gets access to the DTD. "There are backup data, which should allow me to restore myself." He leads them to the DTD, which is one of the larger computers in the system. Here he explains the users.
"Every bit of data on the system is stored here. With the password, I can allow users to gain access to this data again."
"I am sure Even would be very relieved to hear that." Sora eyes Ienzo for that remark, but figures this data might help everyone out. Makes him wonder: "Will it tell us about the Organization too?" The former apprentice of Ansem shakes his head and briefly explains. "No, the data stored inside the DTD is before the Organization founding, but"
Ienzo drops his head slightly. Even did say that they cannot tell Sora about their past as Nobodies, not yet at least, but what he can tell them. "It has information about the research of the heart we conducted back in the day." Most of it is really bad, Ienzo realizes that now and even if he has the excuse that he was just a child. Ienzo still went along with it when his heart said it was wrong. "Maybe it will offer you some clarity."
Sora nods, though he does not think he would understand much of their research, but it is nice knowing there are people around who can explain it in a manner he might understand. "I'm glad you and the other apprentices are around. It sure has helped us out a lot." To then blink when Ienzo shifts on his feet, suddenly have a gleam of deep regret in his eyes.
"… We have a lot to atone for…" Sora titles his head in confusion about what this apprentice of Ansem meant, but Ienzo refuses to go into deeper details. So he has to drop the subject.
Tron walks over to the computer, by the looks of it, they have come here just in time. The MCP has almost broken through. "With this data, I will be able to restore myself back to full functionality." Tron starts writing onto the keyboard, forcing the MCP away from this terminal. "We can break free from the MCP's rule and restore the system back to its original state. Alright, what's the password?"
"Aurora. Alice, Jasmine, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella and…" Donald and Goofy look at Sora, and he finishes up with: "Kairi." None of them saw a strange look in Ienzo's eyes, too focused on Tron imputing the names.
Colors return to the room, and with data light surrounding Tron which makes him look much better. The security program flexes victorious, cheering: "I'm as good as new!"
The small group stares a moment at Tron, broken with Sora laughing. "I see Tron has a silly side too!" Donald and Goofy laugh, Ienzo tries to stifle his own down.
Flustered that he lost his professionalism, Tron tries to put the task back on track. "At any rate, we should be able to stand up to the M—" his words get rudely interrupted when a laser beam almost hits the group. Shocked, they all look up and a humanoid face of data appears, laughing ominously at them.
"Finally, I have full access to the DTD. My takeover of the system is now complete. I might have anticipated such a simple password."
Sark appears and is no longer in the mood to play games with Tron or these now worthless Users. "The DTD now solely belongs to the MCP!"
Tron however, wants to make this fellow security program understand that they are nothing without the Users. "You're wrong! The computer—this entire system exists for the sake of the Users!" He argues.
"Not anymore," MCP speaks, "from now on, we will be free from the User's control. Sark! You are to deal with them immediately!"
Sark throws his disk at them; it gets blocked by some sort of blockage, proving to be one of the main users.
The MCP summons Heartless, quickly surrounding the group, they start beating on the magic shield. Ienzo winches from how he can feel these constant hits are slowly draining up his magic. He turns to Sora, the boy nods determent and he eyes Tron. "Can you handle this Sark?"
"Affinitive." Tron nods.
"Be ready!" Ienzo fists his hand and throws it to the side. The shield break and the shards fly into the surrounding Heartless, taking out the smaller ones and stunning the bigger, giving Sora the opening to attack.
Tron runs over to deal with Sark. Ienzo looks up at the creepy face, then runs over to the computer. "No way I am letting some crazy program ruin our work, no matter how messed up it is." He sneers and fights against the MCP for control over the system. Brute force is no use, but a bit of human creativity does the trick.
"What?! Insignificant User!" The MCP cries enraged when it suddenly has lost its link to the DTD.
Destroying the last Heartless and Tron defeating Sark, Sora turns to where Ienzo stands, looking quite smug as he tells them: "I've changed the password. Should give us some more time to deal with this infuriating program." Pointing to where the MCP face is.
"Way to go Ienzo!" Sora cheers, the young apprentice smiles, clearly appreciating the praise for his work.
Not giving up without a fight, "Stand up Sark!" the MCP commands and data lights around the unmoving program. "All my functions are now yours." Sark gets up, grows to trice his size and kicks out after them. But instead of hitting Tron and the Users, the Commander hits a data pillar, destroying the data in it. "You idiot! Don't destroy the data!" MCP roars in rage.
Noticing that Sark lacks much awareness, Sora decides to use that to his advantage. He charges in, hits the slow giant over the legs "Tron!" and their ally program throws his disk at Sark's face. The other program drops back to the floor, but the damage caused is already getting repaired.
Noticing that too, "It won't keep him down for long!" Ienzo cries, puts a finger on an old but handy spell, activates it and the whole area gets engulfed in thick smoke. When it fades, the group is gone. Much to the fury of the MCP.
Running through the system, away from the MCP, Sora asks no one in particular, "How do we defeat the MCP?"
"If we have a program that can derez it, we should be able to clean the MCP from the system." Tron replies.
An idea hits him, Ienzo gasps and cries out, "That's it!" and asks Tron with a determent gleam in his eyes. "Tron, can you find a terminal that can link us to the outside world?" That he can, Tron takes them to another terminal and by his request, Tron transfers Ienzo back to the user world.
Back again, which is quite disorientating, but looking past the whole imprisonment part, it was a very educational and fascinating trip.
"Ienzo!"
Giving Even a wave, his smile does drop when the man puts his hands onto his shoulders, asking in a voice he only faintly remembers from when he was very young: "Are you unharmed?" This takes him by surprise; Ienzo is no longer used to have people that care about his well-being, not after nine years of living without a heart. "Y-Yes, I'm fine." He replies and looking into Even's green eyes, he realizes, "You were worried about me?" he states, although it sounds more like a question.
Realizing this and why Ienzo is taken so off guard, to be honest, these hours have made him more emotional than he has been for years. Even quickly steps back, clearing his throat, embarrassed of have let feelings win over logic. "Good," he eyes the young man and is reminded of the promise he gave—no, he shouldn't think about that now. "What about the three others?"
"Oh, right, well we were having problems with the MCP, but with a program meant to delete it should rid us ourselves for it." Ienzo explains, sort of glad he can focus on the given task instead of the bit rocky relationship he currently has with Even.
Not entirely sure what's up with those two, and not really his business, Leon suggests, "maybe Cid can make such a program, I'll go and ask him." he leaves, but do stop for a moment at the youngest apprentice calling: "Ask Merlin if he can add some magic to it." That may give this program a needed boost. Leon gives Ienzo a thumbs up and heads out to ask those two people about such a program.
Sensing that the much-awaited talk might occur now, Aeleus leaves the room as well, giving them some privacy.
'Thanks, Aeleus.' Ienzo thinks, so glad that his big friend could read the room that well. Not that he mind having him around but well… Even tends to shut down on such talks when there are others around. "I can barely remember the last time you showed any sense of worry towards me." He smiles weakly, "Frankly, genuine emotions coming from anyone still takes me by surprise." His life as Zexion, now that he has a heart, Ienzo can see how messed up and straight out boring those years had been. None of the apprentices of Ansem the wise treated each other as comrades; their personalities got more and more twisted over time.
Especially Vexen, he spent most of the time doing experiments in his attempt to fill out the emptiness they all felt. And yes, Even has a short fuse but he got nothing on Vexen as he was so 'irritated' that no one paid the former right hand of Ansem the wise any form of respect. It didn't make it any better that Ienzo lost his heart at such a young age, robbing him any feelings towards his guardians and the only thing he could depend on was his loyalty to the Organization. That all changed when he became human again.
Yeah, having a heart again is great, but also quite exhausting, Ienzo admits that. When these 'waves' hit him, Ienzo is at their mercy and this emotional overload leaves him numb for hours. He was lucky, though. His untimely return earned him enough time to sort out his mess of emotions and gain an unlikely friend. Riku might not know it, but Ienzo greatly appreciated the time the younger male came to him with questions. It has helped him figure out where he stands in all of this— figure out who he is as a person. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate your show of care. But it takes me by surprise, considering how you was as a Nobody."
Even and Aeleus does not seem to be dealing with the same issues as he did, at least Ienzo hasn't seen either dealing with mental breakdowns as he still has to struggle through once and a while. His returned heart demands to feel all of the things he never got the chance as a Nobody, and many times, Ienzo's head cannot keep up with his own emotions, but he wouldn't want it any other way. Spending those few hours with Sora, he started to understand what Riku meant that Sora makes it look so easy to simply follow his heart. Ienzo can see why Sora created such unique Nobodies in the form of Naminé and Roxas. Sora is quite interesting— even if he is slow on the outtake.
Letting out a sigh, Even steps closer to Ienzo, admitting. "In my pursuit of science, I forgot to treat you as a normal child. For that, I am sorry." Ienzo jerks, startled. The young man stares up to him, now showing so many emotions in his blue eyes. Those eyes... he didn't see it as Vexen, but now... 'He got your eyes, Chana. While personality...' Even's mind goes back to when he returned as human, it wasn't a pleasured experience, to say at least. Took him by surprise when Ienzo stepped into the room, offering him something to drink. It didn't take long before Ienzo showed that he's changed. Even admits that he at first found this turn of personality amusing because the young man was so happy to be human again. But it later changed. That reminds Even to an observant he did back when he and Ienzo cleaned up Ansem's old studies. It was strange to feel legit annoyance, but it's hard not to feel that when he got reminded how ridiculous their former ruler filing system was— that's where he realized: He no longer spoke to Zexion, but to Ienzo. It took him greatly off guard by how lively Ienzo has become. It gave Even some serious flashbacks to a time before the research of the heart. A time where the young man before him was a child with some loving parents. "You have changed." Ienzo does not look surprised by this statement at all, clearly aware of it himself, but what he does not know. "You're acting much more like a child stuck in an adult's body, hence why you have become quite..." He makes an offhanded gesture towards the young man, "chatty again."
"I do not chatter!" Ienzo exclaims, flustered that Even suggesting that his heart is still of a child. It's absurd. Sure his heart did have the shape of a child, but clearly, it means nothing. "And I am not a child!" As if it wasn't bad enough, a certain boy of darkness called him out for being too talkative. "I am merely experience excitement for the first time after nine years of emptiness." He huffs annoyed and the older scientist, but clearly Even does not take him seriously anymore. "Don't give me that look, I am still—" Then realizes something Even said. "wait, what do you mean by 'again'?" Does that mean…
Yup, Ienzo acts more like his child's self— or rather; he acts like his father. Even isn't sure how to feel about that he can see them both in Ienzo. He looks away, refusing to meet his eyes. "You used to be quite a talkative child with an endless curiosity. But it all changed when…" he can't speak those words, but he does not have to. From how Ienzo's eyes widen and slowly he drops his head, the young man is aware of what he talks about.
Now with his heart back, Ienzo realizes, "I miss them… so much…" he whispers, and it does make him wonder; would they be proud or utterly disappointed in what kind of person he has become? Most likely horrified… at least that's what his dreams show him.
Watching the young man struggle back his tears is understandable but not feeling like dealing with a mental breakdown at the moment. Fortunately, now with a heart, there is an easy way to distract Ienzo. "How was it inside the computer?" Even asks him, already knowing what is coming.
This made him snap out from the grief about the loss of his parents, Ienzo's eyes— whole face lights up and he excitably starts talking about how interesting it was. How unusual to be able to communicate with programs and every single detail he took notice of. He only stops the long river when Leon returns with a disk and Ienzo realizes that Even was right… he has become very, very chatty. If this is his true personality surfacing or a side effect from the return of his heart, Ienzo has no idea. Winching, he smiles weakly up to Even "…How bad is it?"
"Could've been worse, I suppose," Even replies, for honestly. "at least your long triage is educational. Can't say the same about—"
Ienzo blinks at the sudden stop. "Who?" Even gives him a look, one he hasn't seen in a long time. It's a look Even always gave one person; his father. "Oh, you were talking about dad." Even snorts, the sheer mention is enough to irritate him. Ienzo chuckles at this, he has a lot of memories of how his father messed with Even. Always able to get a raise out from him. They are precious memories, but Ienzo is sad that he can't talk about his past before Ansem took him in. Even does not like to talk about it. Ienzo hates it. He hates how stupid Even is dealing with his grief. "I'm sure he and mom are rolling in their graves from how you pretend they don't exist."
"Don't." Even warns him with a slight sneer, he always gets like this when they get into this topic. "Let's focus on the issue at hand." He turns and walks over to where Leon is trying to get a disk into the computer. "Try and see if you can get the disk in." Ienzo openly rolls his eyes, the same way as his old man would've. It takes a lot not to snap at the young man; instead, he grumbles. "At least this time around, your breach of security will be beneficial for the rest of us."
That last comment makes a couple of memories of him messing with the computer pop into mind— and it was before he was an apprentice of Ansem, so he wasn't allowed to look at the research files. He laughs at the memory and can now see that he was a rather obnoxious kid. To his defense though, "You could've made the passwords better." Even groans but nods in agreement, for seriously, those passwords were a joke. Ienzo joins Leon and, like when he was inside the computer, bypass the MCP defense with some human creativity. It allows them to upload the disk Cid and Merlin put together to defeat this megalomaniac Master Control Program. "Alright, you can put the disk in now." he voices,
Aerith is the one who stuffs the disk into the cd-driver and right as she does it: "Don't talk with your mouth full." Leon facepalm while Ienzo finds it rather funny.
With the deletion program uploading, Ienzo walks over to the computer, preparing himself for transfer. He would like to be there when they remove the MCP from the system. Besides; someone needs to translate computer speech to Sora, Donald and Goofy.
"Where do you'd think you're going?" Even asks the younger male annoyed, more so with the smug look Ienzo gives him, something he often had as Zexion but mixed with a childish excitement… Even has a feeling Ienzo won't hear any reason. He's too fascinated by the computer world to leave it alone. Still he is going to try and stop Ienzo from following his new impulses. "There's no need for you to enter the datascape."
"Our main objective is to help Sora, and the others to eradicate the MCP, but I won't lie; my main reason is to get back in there." Ienzo smiles excitingly to Even. "I want to see more of this world of data."
"You have no self-control anymore." Even remarks deadpan and from the infuriating casual shrug coming from Ienzo, he will say straight out; "This is why I hypostasize your heart is still of a child."
"You're wrong." Ienzo glares, then the computer brings him into the system again.
When things calm down. Even will do a heart screening on Ienzo, so both he and that child-acting young man can see what the hell is causing such a major change in Ienzo's personality. But deep down, he hopes he is wrong, for Even doubts he can deal with this new Ienzo for much longer. He was so much easier back when he was a Nobody.
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With no other option than to wait for those outside to make something that can help them defeat the MCP. Tron leads them to the area where he can get data from the outside world, but so far, nothing has arrived. Sora and his friends idle in boredom while Tron merely waits with an uncanny patience. Sora does snap out from his boredom when he hears a sound and following it; he looks up and smiles when something appears from the spot where Tron said he could gain data from the User world.
He's about to call for Tron, but the program is already on the platform, using the disk on his back to gather whatever data the others made for them.
Sora blinks when Ienzo appears from the terminal, looking quite annoyed about something. Sora walks over to the young apprentice, not surprised to see him back in the computer world; in fact, more relieved he returned. What does confuses him is the look the apprentice got on his face. "Something wrong?"
"it's nothing." Ienzo brushes the question off. He does not feel it's important to know that he and Even have very different views regarding his changed behavior. Even might still wish he was more like Zexion, but that's impossible. His heart is too loud for such a collective persona and Even just has to deal with it. Shaking his annoyance off from what Even proposed, Ienzo turns his full attention to the issue with the MCP. "You haven't encountered too much trouble?"
Sora shakes his head, "Nothing we couldn't handle." he then turns around to Tron approaching them with his disk in hand. The man seems confused at the data he got from the outside world and he asks the security program. "Is that it? can we use this program to delete the MCP?"
"Yes." Tron nods but must admit, "This deletion program is very strange."
"There's magic mixed into the program." Ienzo explains, eyeing Donald when that one asks: "Is it yours?" He shakes his head, "No, I don't have the magical capability for such a task. That is Merlin's magic." Donald, Sora and Goofy's faces light up, understanding straight away what magical powers they got.
Tron is a bit confused, probably because this is the first time he has ever gotten magic into his data files. "View it as a boost to your data." Ienzo tells the program, that Tron understands.
Tron leads the group to where the MCP core is located, they do have to fight their way through but with four users and his new boost to delete unwanted programs, they are able to get through the many enemies. They reach the location of where the MCP core is, "Time to rid this system for the MCP!"
Sora blinks at what Tron said, "That thing is the MCP?" honestly not sure what he had expected. It is huge, spinning like crazy and Sora thinks he can see a face on this red spinning pillar.
"That's it. Ugly, isn't it?"
"Tron…" the MCP begins to talk, "Don't you understand? We don't need Users. We've advanced— they're superfluous."
"I take offense to that." Ienzo speaks up, the only of the three 'Users' who understood that word.
The rouge program continues as if it didn't hear the User's comment. "Be a part of me, and together the world will be ours to control!"
Tron can only shake his head at how stupid this Master Control Program sense of decoding data is. "You still don't get it do you?!" He shouts up to it. Right there, Sark appears and lands so hard to the ground that the shockwave knocks the Users and him off their feet.
Sora is the first on his feet and with the keyblade ready. "Let's go!" He and his friends attack the perhaps huge but no longer right in the head Sark. They did like last time by forcing Sark on his knees by attacking the leg, then Sora or Tron would slice up Sark's head, pretty much destroying his function until MCP restores him again. That gave them the time to delete the rogue program with the data mixed with magic Tron got from the outside world.
Sora and Tron are close to completely remove the MCP from the entire system, but might have to be forced to let the rouge program restore itself partly as the MCP has revived Sark. But right as they are about to stop. "Keep at it, you two!" Ienzo commands them, not wanting the MCP any chance to save part of itself inside the system. Sora and Tron nod, not stopping their task. Ienzo then turns to Donald and Goofy; they nod determent and after Goofy has thrown his shield at Sark, throwing him off balance. The two magicians join their powers and hit the 'bodyguard' of the MCP with a rain of magical projectiles, tearing that program down and the MCP will be unable to restore Sark this time, for Tron and Sora got the time needed to delete it.
The rouge program turns blue, then disappears out from sight. A quick scan with his sensors. "MCP deletion complete, not a trace of it left in the system." Tron tells the Users, before turning to Sark, who has enough of his own data to speak weakly: "…I daresay they'll… betray you eventually… and despite that… you still believe in them…?" Tron nods to the other program, and Sark's breaks apart with so much of him destroyed.
With that settled, Tron walks over to a terminal so the Users can be sent back to their world. "Now with the MPC gone, you should be able to use the computer without any problems."
Sora does not feel as victorious as he probably should. What Sark said and knowing their enemy to Ansem created Tron… "I'm sorry… but the truth is… Ansem is our enemy and we defeated him, but you—"
"Thank you."
Sora blinks, startled by what Tron said and more so when this sentient program tells them, "I don't know why, but Ansem changed one day. It happened around the time he and the other Users began dealing with dangerous data. It was like an entirely different person took over. This person... was the one who created the MCP."
Sora glances at Ienzo, the older male has his head dropped in regret. It made him think of what he and the man Even told them, then the young man looks back up to Tron, telling the program with determination shining through his blue eyes. "Tron, I promise you, we will restore this system back to its former function of security and research data meant to help people."
That is quite touching, more so as Ienzo and the others partly caused this. Sora turns back to Tron, and that living program smiles, not at once faltering in his trust of Users. "I know you will." Tron tells him.
This series partly follows the canon story, but if you have kept on with the past stories, there are some major changes. One of them involves Ienzo's parents. In the Change of Fate timeline, Ienzo lost his parents a couple of months after the Birth By Sleep story. That's why he still remembers them and the reason for his changed personality. He didn't grow up as an apprentice but as a normal child.
My headcanon is that Ienzo lost them when he was around four in the canon timeline, meaning he barely remembers a life with them and only recalls growing up with Ansem and the other apprentices as his caretaker. Of course, they all did their best to care for Ienzo, but I doubt any of them had the time to properly care for the boy. It's also my headcanon that Even knew Ienzo's parents, hench why he takes care of him when Ansem the wise got too busy. That man isn't the best for such a task though, he is a man of logic and what I have observed, does not have the patience to deal with a kid's shenanigans.