(Yay! Three chapters about a week! That's gotta be some kind of record
for me.
Akumi: Yeah, 'cause you can't type.
True...
Akumi: Or spell, or use words in the right context or-
OKAY!! Shut up already! Must you always put me down like that?!
Akumi: Yep! I _am_ your anti-conscience after all.
... ... ... ... ...that's nice.
Naomi: Hey, Di! What are we s'posed to do about him? *points at still unconscious form of Ansem*
Hmmm...let's decide that after I type this chapter, 'kay?
Akumi: Awwww, but he'll have woken up by then! I wanna torture 'im!
*sweatdrop* You would. Erm...Naomi? Can ya stuff him in my room 'til I'm done typing?
Naomi: In your...Di, he'll get lost in there.
So?
Naomi: ... ... ...fine.
Anyway, who'd miss him?
Naomi: Good point. *tosses Ansem into "The Abyss"*
Akumi: Wonder if he'll ever find his way outta there...?
[Meanwhile...]
Ansem: *wakes up* Ugh, where am I? *looks around* What is this place? It's so...cluttered. I don't think I like it here...
???????: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...!!!!
Ansem: O_O; Mommy...)
~Those Who Learn~
"Explain to me the true nature of the Endless Road."
That had been the statement that had begun that long, yet important conversation. Cloud knew that it was the aforementioned Road that had a great part in his missing out on the last five thousand years. And so he had asked Ansem to explain it's "true" nature, hoping that there had been more to it than had been previously told to him. How could five millenia go by without his noticing?
"The Endless Road was buitlt on a disruption in Time, about eight hundred years before Those Without Hearts, also called the Heartless, came and began to destroy worlds. It was originally designed to keep anything that stumbled across it there for eternity. But something happened; someone interfered. Who it was is still unknown. So it did not work as it was meant to. If one wanders it aimlessly, then they will remain there. If one knows their destination, however, and your need or want to get there is great enough, you will eventually find your way. Very few know this.
When you stumbled across the Road, Cloud, you had no destination, as you had no idea where you were. So you were wandering aimlessly. And because of the disruption, the time you spent there was much longer than it felt. You thought you had walked for five years, when, in truth, it was five _thousand_."
"Should I have aged?"
"Yes, but your powers had manifested themselves enough to grant you demonic longevity."
Cloud nodded, staring at one of the wall murals distantly. Then:
"What about carts, and things like that?"
"For some reason they are exempt from the rule."
Another nod. And silence ruled for a few minutes more. Finally, Ansem turned to him.
"I believe it is time for you to learn the rest of your abilities, Shadow Hunter."
Cloud looked indecisive for about half a second before nodding once more. Without another word, the Guide began to walk away, Hunter of Shadows close behind. After a good deal more walking (which Cloud thought he did too much of) they reached a room filled with weapons and floating mechanical circles, probably targets. He glanced at the Guide, who turned to him after a moment.
"The next and most crucial ability for you to learn, aside from the Shadow Tunnel, is your Magic, the "Heart of Darkness." It is the control of your Element, bending it to your will. As yours is Darkness, you can use your Magic for decimation and defense. I would suggest beginning with defense; decimation would use up far too much of your energy."
"What do I do?"
Ansem replied, "Reach for that same force in your heart. Then mold it into a shield around you."
He complied, feeling the force rise up within him, becoming a warmth that spread throughout his being. It was as if the energy was exploding from his skin, yet it was not at all uncomfortable. Then, using his will, he brought it into a half sphere around the area he stood. Ansem had since cleared the area, and now stood beside the doorway, nodding in approval as Cloud completed the Dark Shield.
"Hold it for as long as you can," he said.
The Shadow Hunter did not acknowledge that he had heard, but Ansem knew he had, for the shield remained. For a time-perhaps about an hour- Cloud held the shield; never moving an inch, never letting his concentration waver. A few minutes after that hour, the barrier still stayed, the one holding it in place not seeming any weaker than he had when he had first put it in place. Another few minutes and Ansem told him to take the shield down, that he needed to move on to the other part of the Magic: decimation. After he rested that is. For now it could be seen that Cloud's breaths came heavily. He was quite worn out from the effort of keeping the barrier up for so long, despite his refusal to show it. But though he attempted to insist that he was fine, it was rather obvious that he was not.
"There is a room across the hall that you may rest in," Ansem said. "I suggest you make use of it."
Finally, the young man agreed to rest, and started to the previously mentioned room, muttering a next to inaudible "thank you." He walked across the hall and entered the room, closing the door behind him. He sat on the bed in the back, trying to re-focus. But it was hard; the "Heart of Darkness" was very draining. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. His eyes began to droop just seconds after that.
And then, for the first time in five millenia, the Hunter of Shadows, Cloud Strife, slept.
~We are taught and we learn ~becoming weilders of knowledge ~but then as time passes, ~we forget, and forget ~for in the end,~
~Those Who Learn Know Nothing.~
(R&R!!!!! Please!!! Oh! And someone please tell me how to get the fonts, like italics and bold and stuff to show up when a chapter is uploaded! I know I'm stupid, but that's okay!!)
-Diamond Weapon
Akumi: Yeah, 'cause you can't type.
True...
Akumi: Or spell, or use words in the right context or-
OKAY!! Shut up already! Must you always put me down like that?!
Akumi: Yep! I _am_ your anti-conscience after all.
... ... ... ... ...that's nice.
Naomi: Hey, Di! What are we s'posed to do about him? *points at still unconscious form of Ansem*
Hmmm...let's decide that after I type this chapter, 'kay?
Akumi: Awwww, but he'll have woken up by then! I wanna torture 'im!
*sweatdrop* You would. Erm...Naomi? Can ya stuff him in my room 'til I'm done typing?
Naomi: In your...Di, he'll get lost in there.
So?
Naomi: ... ... ...fine.
Anyway, who'd miss him?
Naomi: Good point. *tosses Ansem into "The Abyss"*
Akumi: Wonder if he'll ever find his way outta there...?
[Meanwhile...]
Ansem: *wakes up* Ugh, where am I? *looks around* What is this place? It's so...cluttered. I don't think I like it here...
???????: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...!!!!
Ansem: O_O; Mommy...)
~Those Who Learn~
"Explain to me the true nature of the Endless Road."
That had been the statement that had begun that long, yet important conversation. Cloud knew that it was the aforementioned Road that had a great part in his missing out on the last five thousand years. And so he had asked Ansem to explain it's "true" nature, hoping that there had been more to it than had been previously told to him. How could five millenia go by without his noticing?
"The Endless Road was buitlt on a disruption in Time, about eight hundred years before Those Without Hearts, also called the Heartless, came and began to destroy worlds. It was originally designed to keep anything that stumbled across it there for eternity. But something happened; someone interfered. Who it was is still unknown. So it did not work as it was meant to. If one wanders it aimlessly, then they will remain there. If one knows their destination, however, and your need or want to get there is great enough, you will eventually find your way. Very few know this.
When you stumbled across the Road, Cloud, you had no destination, as you had no idea where you were. So you were wandering aimlessly. And because of the disruption, the time you spent there was much longer than it felt. You thought you had walked for five years, when, in truth, it was five _thousand_."
"Should I have aged?"
"Yes, but your powers had manifested themselves enough to grant you demonic longevity."
Cloud nodded, staring at one of the wall murals distantly. Then:
"What about carts, and things like that?"
"For some reason they are exempt from the rule."
Another nod. And silence ruled for a few minutes more. Finally, Ansem turned to him.
"I believe it is time for you to learn the rest of your abilities, Shadow Hunter."
Cloud looked indecisive for about half a second before nodding once more. Without another word, the Guide began to walk away, Hunter of Shadows close behind. After a good deal more walking (which Cloud thought he did too much of) they reached a room filled with weapons and floating mechanical circles, probably targets. He glanced at the Guide, who turned to him after a moment.
"The next and most crucial ability for you to learn, aside from the Shadow Tunnel, is your Magic, the "Heart of Darkness." It is the control of your Element, bending it to your will. As yours is Darkness, you can use your Magic for decimation and defense. I would suggest beginning with defense; decimation would use up far too much of your energy."
"What do I do?"
Ansem replied, "Reach for that same force in your heart. Then mold it into a shield around you."
He complied, feeling the force rise up within him, becoming a warmth that spread throughout his being. It was as if the energy was exploding from his skin, yet it was not at all uncomfortable. Then, using his will, he brought it into a half sphere around the area he stood. Ansem had since cleared the area, and now stood beside the doorway, nodding in approval as Cloud completed the Dark Shield.
"Hold it for as long as you can," he said.
The Shadow Hunter did not acknowledge that he had heard, but Ansem knew he had, for the shield remained. For a time-perhaps about an hour- Cloud held the shield; never moving an inch, never letting his concentration waver. A few minutes after that hour, the barrier still stayed, the one holding it in place not seeming any weaker than he had when he had first put it in place. Another few minutes and Ansem told him to take the shield down, that he needed to move on to the other part of the Magic: decimation. After he rested that is. For now it could be seen that Cloud's breaths came heavily. He was quite worn out from the effort of keeping the barrier up for so long, despite his refusal to show it. But though he attempted to insist that he was fine, it was rather obvious that he was not.
"There is a room across the hall that you may rest in," Ansem said. "I suggest you make use of it."
Finally, the young man agreed to rest, and started to the previously mentioned room, muttering a next to inaudible "thank you." He walked across the hall and entered the room, closing the door behind him. He sat on the bed in the back, trying to re-focus. But it was hard; the "Heart of Darkness" was very draining. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. His eyes began to droop just seconds after that.
And then, for the first time in five millenia, the Hunter of Shadows, Cloud Strife, slept.
~We are taught and we learn ~becoming weilders of knowledge ~but then as time passes, ~we forget, and forget ~for in the end,~
~Those Who Learn Know Nothing.~
(R&R!!!!! Please!!! Oh! And someone please tell me how to get the fonts, like italics and bold and stuff to show up when a chapter is uploaded! I know I'm stupid, but that's okay!!)
-Diamond Weapon