And here we are at the next one! I'm getting excited for how the next few chapters are going to go. But there is a surprise in this one, if you haven't already read Shaylex_Cosplays "A New Destiny". If you have, then you know why I'm excited! Let's go!
Tenebrae exited his portal into the Light Protectors' apartment. It was late at night, and the others seemed to have been in bed. The table was cleaned, save for one plate.
He had a small smile as he sat down. It was refreshing to have friends…allies, who were watching out for him. While he still wasn't an official member, they still treated him like a friend. Tenebrae was grateful for the invitation.
When he finished heating, he went to clean his dish. He let his mind wander as he did.
'What is stopping me? They are a constant source of Light. And I don't have the urge to abandon them.' He clutched his chest with a soapy hand. 'So why can't I call them my friends? What is the concern?'
Tenebrae rinsed off and put away his dishes. After drying off himself, and the sink, he walked back to the couch. He laid back and tried to sleep. Once again, he dreamed of the Light Protectors and Wielders he met, but with the three unknowns he saw in Halloween Town.
One looked to be a young man with short pinkish hair and a beanie. Next to him, there was a young woman with shoulder-length pink hair. And the last new face was a young woman with long brown hair. No other features were there, but there was a feeling of camaraderie from the dream.
When Tenebrae woke the next morning, he was coughing. He sat up and rubbed his head. The Light in him was growing again. He needed to do something quick.
Tenebrae saw Keval leave his room and head out the door. Tenebrae was always surprised when Keval left so early to exercise and still have so much energy for missions. But it worked for him too.
Tenebrae walked into Keval's room. He grabbed his toiletries and went to take a shower. As he washed up, he used his magic to clean his clothes. He picked up the trick from Mojie, but it helped that his clothes were linked to his own mana.
When he cleaned up and exited the shower, he was back in his mission gear. He exited Keval's room and saw no one was awake. He went to the pantry and grabbed something quick. He'd rather not explain why he was leaving so early.
Tenebrae opened a portal to Shaylex's World. As the missions went on with the Nobody, Tenebrae found himself subconsciously putting his portals closer to the castle. Luckily, he wasn't stupid enough to open one near it. He did open today's portal at the giant skyscraper.
He leaned on it as he thought, 'What is with these dreams and visions? First in Halloween Town and again last night. Who were those three? Do I know them?'
The feeling of a corridor broke his thoughts. He looked up in time to see Shaylex walk through and close her corridor.
"So? What's the mission today?" he asked as he pushed off the wall, standing his full height.
"The usual," Shaylex explained, "but we're going to Neverland this time."
Tenebrae couldn't hold down his disgust and rolled his eyes. He remembered the day he spent with Ray and Mojie. The memory of flying was still fairly new in his mind. The entire experience was bright and flashy for him. He wouldn't admit it to Shaylex, but he did enjoy the day.
"Hmmm, never was a fan of that World," Tenebrae replied.
Shaylex nodded at his comment. "Yeah, it isn't exactly my favorite either." He saw a shift in her emotions. They went back to normal as she said, "But we have a mission."
'Don't pry,' he thought as Shaylex opened another corridor. 'If she wants to tell you, she will.'
Both Wielders walked through. They were deposited on an island. The area was a bit different then where he went with Mojie and Ray. Shaylex had dropped them off near a cove of sorts.
As soon as the corridor closed, the Heartless appeared. The pair summoned their Keyblades and rushed in. The heartless were small fry and easily dispatched. Tenebrae was having a good time, and his blood lust was being sated.
Tenebrae glanced in Shaylex's direction and saw a Heartless lunge at her. He noticed she was distracted and rushed the Heartless. He took it out and went back to his little group.
When the swarm was defeated, the two Wielders rested. Tenebrae look Shaylex over and sighed. There was nothing physically wrong, but she was underperforming.
He rested Kingdom Key D on his shoulder. "You've not been focused recently," he said.
Shaylex just sighed. "Just a lot on my mind right now." Her walls were up again.
'I need to pick my words carefully,' he thought. 'Or this won't change.'
"You know," he said, "Talking about your problems with a friend can help you out." He thought of Axel, maybe the red haired Nobody was her confidant.
"Yeah, well, I don't have any friends!" she snapped.
'Shit!' he looked down. 'Guess I was wrong.'
Shaylex must have seen his look. Because she sighed and said, "I'm sorry. I'm just not ready to talk about it. I want to figure it out first before anything else." She sat on the floor and rubbed her face, distressed. "Why must not having a heart be so complicated?"
Tenebrae thought about his own heart and the conflict within it. He placed a hand over his heart. "Beats me," he said, "I wish I could know, so I could help out."
Shaylex's eyes met his. There was a look that said it was a bad idea. "Trust me, that is the last thing you want to do," she said, standing, "I wasn't given a choice when I lost my heart. But you do. I'm telling you, it's not worth the trouble. It's a pain in the ass."
She had a point there. But it didn't excuse her performance.
"Well can you at least tell me what's been bothering you?" he asked. "We may not be friends, but we are Partners, and I need you to stay focused, okay?"
Shaylex took a deep breath and turned to face him. "Can I ask a question first. Would Keval lie to someone? What was he like before the War? You said you knew him before you left. What was he like, besides big-headed and egotistical?"
'Oh great, this again,' Tenebrae thought as he sighed and rubbed his neck. 'And I never mentioned my pep talk with Keval. Dammit.'
"Well, I didn't hang out with him much. Because of his ego, he was super popular, hyper-focused on training and getting stronger." As Tenebrae explained, a small smile graced his lips. "But I guess, he had a good heart, always sticking up for his friends, no matter what. He wouldn't lie to anyone, he'd be honest. As much as I disliked the guy, he knew the true value of friendship." Tenebrae did look at Shaylex a bit confused. He was wondering where the conversation was going. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I saw him last week, in Twilight Town." She said softly.
"You did?" Tenebrae had genuine shock.
'Oh right, Keval only told me he saw her. He never said exactly what happened.'
Shaylex nodded. "Yeah, I asked him about the memory Mama Odie showed me," she explained. "I asked if he remembered it and to tell me exactly how it happened."
She paused. But Tenebrae knew there was more. So, he asked, "And?"
Shaylex had a smile as she placed her hand over her necklace. "He was correct. He pointed out every little detail that I saw. He even recited his promise to me, word for word."
'Of course, he did,' Tenebrae thought as he looked away.
"That son of a bitch," he muttered.
"What did you say?" Shaylex asked.
Oh shit! Had that come out? "Oh nothing," Tenebrae said, hoping to divert the attention and glean a bit more. "Did he say anything else?"
"He wanted me to leave the Organization, to join him and, I guess, our friends," she explained. "That we could work together to get my heart back."
'And judging from what Keval and I talked about,' he thought, 'That answer was no.'
"So why didn't you?" he asked. She was letting her guard down slightly, so he proceeded with caution.
"Because I don't want to put them in danger. I understand now that we have a past, but the Organization, they're not ones to take betrayal lightly," Shaylex explained. "And after I broke rules by going to Hollow Bastion against orders, I'm still in the doghouse. I don't want the Organization to destroy them. Or worse…" Shaylex clutched her chest.
Tenebrae realized what she was going to say. "Turn them into Nobodies," he said in a low tone.
She nodded. "Yeah, and that's a fate I wouldn't want to wish on even my darkest enemy," she said, as her hand started to fiddle with her necklace. "And even then, if I did go with him, how could someone who isn't whole? Who can't feel? Who only remembers emotions? As I said, that's not a fate I would wish on anyone."
'That wouldn't matter to him,' Tenebrae thought.
He walked up to Shaylex and lightly punched her arm. "You did it to protect him. I understand. I would have done the same thing, probably."
Shaylex smiled. "Yeah. Come on, enough with the talking. We have a quota to fill."
Shaylex went on first, heading down a dirt path. Tenebrae knew that was it for now and followed behind her. The pair walked away from the clearing, down the path. They didn't say much as they progressed. But the progress was halted as the pair made it to a split in the path.
"This again?" Tenebrae sighed, frustrated. He didn't want a repeat of what happened in the Bayou.
"Come on, let's split up. We still haven't met our quota for the day," Shaylex chuckled. "We would be able to get things done quicker that way."
At least she was being positive again. He chuckled as he said, "Fair enough."
"Meet back here in half an hour," Shaylex said.
"You got it!" Tenebrae said. He turned to head down one of the paths.
"Hey, Tenebrae," Shaylex called to him. He turned to her. "Do you remember when we first met, and you said that I could use a friend? But I shut that notion down…"
She seemed to be at a loss for words. But Tenebrae was a bit intrigued.
"I remember," he said softly.
Shaylex took a deep breath and looked at him. "Well, maybe… maybe having a friend isn't such a bad idea after all. If you still want to be friends that is?"
'She wants to be friends!?' Tenebrae thought. He couldn't mistake the happiness and Light within him.
"Yeah. Of course," he said with a smile. "Friends it is then!"
Tenebrae held out his hands. Shaylex walked up to Tenebrae and shook his hand. The two Wielders shared a smile before down their separate paths.
'A friend! I have a friend,' Tenebrae thought as he walked down the path. 'I mean, technically she is the second, with Laci being first. Though, I'm in love with Laci, so how does that work? Well that doesn't matter, I have a new friend.'
Tenebrae walked on for about 10 minutes, coming across a large tree in the middle of the clearing. Some Heartless appeared and Tenebrae didn't let that ruin his mood. He took them down in no time. He didn't use his flames but was strong enough to take the wave down like it was nothing.
He breath a sigh of relief. Tenebrae couldn't help the feeling of Light he had. He knew this is what Mama Odie had meant, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. And he was surprised he didn't feel any pain.
After a bit more fighting, Tenebrae shouldered his Keyblade. He decided to head back to the fork in the road. He should have been able to make it back in time.
Tenebrae walked down the path and let his mind wander. 'Maybe this can help. Shaylex and I had shared a similar mindset when we met. But we were able to open up to each other. Can I do the same for the others?'
Tenebrae was back at the fork and leaned against a tree. He hummed a tune as he thought. He thought about the Light Protectors and how he could be ready to join. He thought about Laci and how he needed to find her, to tell her his feelings. And he thought about how the missions with Shaylex would be better.
'Maybe I won't need to rely on Darkness anymore,' Tenebrae thought, looking at his hand. 'I fought just as well without it. Maybe I should just stop.'
Tenebrae yawned and looked up. He looked up at Neverland's sun and realized how long he had been waiting. They had agreed to meet back up thirty minutes after their parting. Tenebrae was sure it had been closer to an hour by this point.
'Don't freak out,' he thought, getting up from his tree. 'Unlike the Bayou, there isn't a strong Darkness. The Heartless here are pushovers.'
He started to walk down Shaylex's path. Tenebrae didn't want to assume the worse, but he had to check. He walked along the path and kept his eyes open. Nothing was out of the ordinary, and after 30 minutes, he found nothing.
Tenebrae walked into an open area surrounded by tents. There was a cliff that overlooked the sea. In the center was a large totem pole and a drum. Tenebrae realized this was where he was when he fell into the sea last time he was here.
Tenebrae walked up to the totem pole and placed a hand on it. The entire structure was smooth to the tough. He looked around and opened his senses.
Besides the Heartless, there was nothing unusual. But he also didn't sense Shaylex. She could just be out of his range. But if that was the case, where could she have gone?
"Look at that, we finally have a chance to talk." Heloa's voice sent a shiver down his spine.
Tenebrae sighed, before turning to face him. Heloa and Hashley stood at the entrance to the tent area. Heloa had a smug look on his face, while Hashley wasn't looking at him.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Tenebrae growled.
"It means like I said," Heloa chuckled. "We finally have a chance to talk. You picked a pesky World to come to, by the way. It's far too bright here."
"It wasn't my choice." Tenebrae summoned Kingdom Key D. "My friend and I were here for her mission. So, buzz off so I can find her."
"Oh, you mean the 'friend' who abandoned you here?" Heloa asked with a smirk.
Tenebrae tensed. His eyes went wide.
Heloa continued. "Yes, your friend isn't here. That's why I thought we would have a chat. About you."
Tenebrae started to shake. He lowered his head and clenched his free hand. Shaylex wouldn't have just left. She would have told him.
"You're lying Heloa," he said in a low tone. "She wouldn't do that."
"But she did. And now you know how she truly feels." Heloa laughed a bit. "Just like with my other, she chose her group over you. She doesn't value you at all."
"Shut the fuck up!" Tenebrae shouted. There were tears in his eyes. His Light was pulsing and hurting him. "You don't know her! So shut up!"
"You just don't realize it. You are nothing more than a means to an end." Heloa walked up to the Seeker. "Can she truly be your friend, when her entire reason for agreeing to have you join was for your Keyblade?"
Tenebrae didn't want to listen, but Heloa had a point. But it didn't change that the two had become friends now. It didn't matter how they met originally.
"So tell me, old friend," Heloa lifted his chin. "When will you finally accept you true calling? I can see the pain in your eyes. But I can also sense the discord in your heart. Accept your calling and join us."
Tenebrae growled. He raised his Keyblade to strike. With Heloa so close, he couldn't miss. But he didn't expect a slash to his chest.
Tenebrae stumbled back, with his arm outstretched. He looked at Heloa and saw a Keyblade in his hand. Heloa had access to the Keyblade Oblivion. The black bat design was the personification of Darkness.
"How?" Tenebrae coughed.
"I just couldn't show my hand before," Heloa smirked. "But my point stands. Your Light is slowing you down. If you don't get rid of it, you won't ever be as strong as me. And your friend will just replace you for another. And not just her, but those other fools as well. We are the only ones who truly understand you, Tenebrae." Heloa held out his arms, gesturing to himself and Hashley.
Heloa's words hit Tenebrae hard. He wasn't even sure what he wanted anymore. Did Tenebrae want friends, or to be alone? Did he want to be with the others, or not? Could he fight with Light or Darkness? His mind and heart were spinning, and it made him sick.
"Make the choice soon," Heloa said, walking back to Hashley. "You know they won't want you. And we will be there for you." The two Heartless were surrounded by a corridor before disappearing.
Tenebrae fell to his knees. He let go of his Keyblade, letting it dismiss. He stared into nothing, with tears falling down his face. His emotions were in flux and he couldn't control them. The Light and Darkness were clashing, and it was causing him pain.
'Who can I trust?' Tenebrae thought. 'Who is truly there for me? Who… Who am I?'
Tenebrae stood up, moving like a zombie. He summoned his Keyblade and opened a portal. He walked through, having only one place in mind.
The fact that the Realm of Darkness still felt familiar should have worried him. But he didn't care. He had one thought in mind.
Tenebrae took a deep breath and yelled at the top of his lungs. He released as much of his aura as he could. He wanted to be a beacon for the Darkness, to draw as much as he could to him. He needed to know.
Many Heartless appeared. They were everywhere he could see. The sight both scared and invigorated him. The Heartless twitched when he raised his Keyblade.
"Guess what?" he said to the monsters. He grew a feral grin. "I've got a lot of shit to work through. So, come at me motherfuckers!"
The swarms of Heartless converged. The Darkness covered everything, including the Wielder. But his laughter could be heard among it. -
And the excitement turns to concern and fear...
Friendship formed and already questioned. This chapter marks a new arc for the Seeker. I hope you all are ready for this particular journey. And of course, Thanks Shaylex for having something for me to work off of.
See all in the next one!
