Interlude I: Growing Shadows/Gathering Light
In the Realm of Darkness, five portals opened up. From each of them, a person in a black cloak emerged. The place they'd arranged to met seemed strange. Despite being in the Realm of Darkness, a flowery field stretched on as far as they could see. The slight light of the Realm illuminated the members.
"I assume everything is going according to plan." one hooded member spoke.
"But of course." the other hooded member said. "I've gathered them together. Truly, they will help our cause."
"Hopefully they will be better than that buffoon you stuck me with." a pink haired woman said.
"Worry not. That assignment is over. There is another matter for you to attend to." the first hooded member spoke. Whoever he was, he seemed to have a commanding presence to him.
"In my observation of a certain world, I met one of the Keyblade wielders." spoke Genex. "We thought little of that girl Ushio, but it seems she's begun to follow in her father's footsteps."
"Ah, her." the pink haired member joined in. "I too encountered her. If we are to take her off the board, now's the time."
"Kizuna, that will not be necessary." said the second hooded figure.
"It is exactly as she said." the apparent leader stated. "Much like her parents, if her journey will continue as you say, she too will function as a cog in our grand design. Iwa, as I recall, you met her the night I sent you to the Destiny Island."
"Yes." spoke the white haired man.
"Why not have a reunion with her. I have no doubt you'll be able to locate what world she has gone to."
"As you wish." the white haired man, Iwa, answered.
"Now, shall we discuss the other wielders and the other Seekers who could not attend this meeting?"
—
Heartless swarmed as the silver haired man in black walked through the woods. The creatures of darkness tried to overwhelm him with numbers, but with a grey flash, they disappeared. With the path cleared, the man stepped out into a clearing. In front of him, a large, deserted mansion was bathed in the twilight.
"Brings back memories, huh?" Riku said as he turned around.
"Indeed. Though I can't say all are pleasant." said a girl. Clad in a white dress that ran to her ankles, the girl had long, blonde hair that reached her back.
"To think that they'd be looking for something in this old place." Riku said as he opened the mansion's doors. "Everything important was moved to Ansem's lab in Radiant Garden long ago."
"That my be truth, but the past still lingers here. Everything that was down, everything that was performed, slight traces remain even now." the girl trailed her ringed, left hand over the stairway banister as dust flew into the air.
"I just wonder what he would think about all this. Coming back here, facing the mistakes your past self made." Riku reminisced with a trace of sadness. "Even I can't help but recall my mistakes from back then."
The girl walked over to Riku before grabbing his hands, looking into his eyes.
"And yet, you've come a long way."
"But even then, if what Ushio said-"
"We'll face it when the time comes. You've held it in from the others for far too long. They may have forgot, but we haven't. It'll all be okay in the end."
Riku took a step, drawing the blonde girl into a deep, loving embrace.
"Thanks Naminé."