Author's Note: Hello again. I was just on FFN, wondering which new .hack
fanfiction I should start reading, when I realized I had a story of my own
to work on. Besides, I'm waiting for updates on a few stories already.
*Ahem* So, I opened my word processor to see where I could lead off for
chapter 5, and I had a wonderful idea. Two already-documented segments -
YES! Well, enjoy, readers. This will hopefully sound familiar if you paid
enough attention to the very boring details. And please, don't mention any
repetitive lines. I know, already, I know! PS. I'm still waiting for an e-
mail about my HTML problems... PPS. Um.Slight Kairi bashing ahead.not to
mention a long chapter methinks.
Disclaimer: Heinz - America's favorite ketchup.
The Real Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.
Anthem's Report: Chapter 5
By Deus Magi
Ansem wandered the castle aimlessly for a long while, searching for answers that seemed far beyond his reach. He knew in turn that the night was his only friend while performing live-specimen research, lest he alert the inhabitants of further casualties that might ensue. Constantly he was reminded-
-Darkness was truly his only companion.
Evening slowly crawled over the horizon as Ansem grew restless. The people of Hollow Bastion didn't seem in any mood to sleep from Ansem's vantage- point. This was all wrong! What could be happening below the castle as the Heartless multiplied? The longer he left them on their own, the longer they had to find a means of escape. He seemed to recall watching them grow into larger, different creatures as well. What then?
His only solace from the excited rush of the people was the vast library. He would just have to hope young Kairi hadn't dragged Aerith along yet again.
Ansem's thoughts were thoroughly focused on the glossy floor as he passed through the masses. When have there ever been so many feet littering these halls? he pondered, glancing with narrowed eyes at every shadow's flicker. Or perhaps, there was suddenly less than he had remembered. Now he felt lost in maze. As if this wasn't bad enough.
Ansem was violently jolted back to reality when he stumbled over a small figure. A very familiar figure, and a very familiar keychain. The two-faced flower glittered brightly in the dim lighting of the Entrance Hall, the very same glitter he remembered from his first encounter with the keepsake. Without thinking, Ansem bent to pick it up.
"Evenin' Master Ansem," Kairi called over the crowd's hustle. Ansem dropped the keychain into her waiting palm. "Thanks."
"Good evening, Kairi," Ansem said, an ever-so-slight hint of irritation fashioning his voice. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
Kairi was beaming, clutching close her small accessory. "The library, of course! My grandma's there and she promised to tell me a story."
Ansem raised an eyebrow. "A story, eh? Of what sort if I might ask?" he queried, not in the least bit curious.
Kairi's own brows contracted in thought. "I dunno, actually." Her expression changed - yet again - dramatically. "I guess I'll find out when I get there." Before Ansem thoughtlessly had the chance to say anything else, Kairi had disappeared through the many people, leaving him lost yet again.
"Then I'll just have to find somewhere else to go," Ansem muttered dejectedly to himself. He continued walking, and never again stopped, not when he heard his name sung out above all other voices, not when he heard a boisterous, feminine giggle, not when a group of people blocked his path (his broad shoulders took care of that ever-so-common obstacle). He kept walking.
Gradually, the crowd diminished. Ansem's spirits were lifted with the fresh air surrounding him. It's about time, he thought. I think I might almost prefer the Heartless' company, if I ever manage to get there. Ansem finally halted when he came to a door. This was obviously his destination. He donned a grin and pushed open the door - only to wear another frown.
Ansem was in the library, the very place he was determined to avoid. Snarling under his breath, he hastily headed toward the staircase. If he was here, he was here for a reason.
An elderly voice brought him to a steady stop. All his previous woes were blown gently out the darkening window. He stealthily tiptoed to the banister and glimpsed over its edge. He saw two people: Kairi and the old woman he recognized from the evening before. This, by any assumption, was Kairi's grandmother.
Evidently, Kairi hadn't arrived too long before Ansem. They were still in discussion over a book Kairi was busy waving carelessly about. If Ansem hadn't missed his guess, she apparently had enjoyed the read. Sighing, Ansem looked around the bookshelf to his rear at the lonely desk. A single quill lie in wait, shadowed by a dying candle. If he was here, he was here for a reason.
Ansem sat tiredly at the desk, plucked the documents he had been flipping through days ago from numerous drawers and began his work once more. He felt immersed for a while, almost enjoying his return to his studies. Yet, it couldn't have been more than ten minutes before the old woman's voice came back to him, often shattered by Kairi's excited ramblings. The tiny pieces were delicately replaced over and over again, spun into life by the soft voice. This was her story. This was his story.
"Long ago, people lived in peace bathed with light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people's hearts. It covered everything, and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived.in the hearts of children."
Ansem blinked awake. Without realizing, he had drifted to sleep, the story dancing in his dreams. What he saw was rather astonishing, yet strangely familiar.
"With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It's the world we live in now. But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness. That's why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other."
"But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open. And the true light will return. So, listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light and the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away. Do you understand, Kairi?"
Ansem straightened abruptly. Once again, he had fallen asleep. He had a smidgen of ink smeared along his cheekbone, which was swiftly brushed away. The library was dark. The candle had dwindled to a puddle of wax dripping onto the table. The only light provided was the crescent moon floating just outside the window. Ansem stuffed the documents into random drawers, paying no heed to tidiness. Once everything was less than neatly tucked away, Ansem left the library.
The people had retired, giving Ansem free reign to secrecy. Fortunately enough for him, his eyes were accustomed enough to the darkness by now. For now, he didn't mind at all.
Silently he prowled the corridors taking lift after lift until he was finally beneath the castle where the shadows seemed endless. They crawled along the walls, piling over each other in an attempt to climb toward their sleeping, unsuspecting prey. Ansem nudged a single Heartless onto the lift, activated it, and set it loose in the castle.
"To study the Heartless behavior, I picked one out for observation. It wiggled its antennae and, as if sensing a target, headed deep into the castle.
"In the deepest part of the castle, its antennae began vibrating, as if searching for something. Suddenly, a strange door appeared. I'd never known of its existence.
"It had a large keyhole, but didn't seem to be locked. So I opened the door.
"What I saw on the other side mystified me.
"What was that powerful mass of energy? That night I observed a great meteor shower in the sky.
"Could it be related to the door that I have opened?"
Disclaimer: Heinz - America's favorite ketchup.
The Real Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.
Anthem's Report: Chapter 5
By Deus Magi
Ansem wandered the castle aimlessly for a long while, searching for answers that seemed far beyond his reach. He knew in turn that the night was his only friend while performing live-specimen research, lest he alert the inhabitants of further casualties that might ensue. Constantly he was reminded-
-Darkness was truly his only companion.
Evening slowly crawled over the horizon as Ansem grew restless. The people of Hollow Bastion didn't seem in any mood to sleep from Ansem's vantage- point. This was all wrong! What could be happening below the castle as the Heartless multiplied? The longer he left them on their own, the longer they had to find a means of escape. He seemed to recall watching them grow into larger, different creatures as well. What then?
His only solace from the excited rush of the people was the vast library. He would just have to hope young Kairi hadn't dragged Aerith along yet again.
Ansem's thoughts were thoroughly focused on the glossy floor as he passed through the masses. When have there ever been so many feet littering these halls? he pondered, glancing with narrowed eyes at every shadow's flicker. Or perhaps, there was suddenly less than he had remembered. Now he felt lost in maze. As if this wasn't bad enough.
Ansem was violently jolted back to reality when he stumbled over a small figure. A very familiar figure, and a very familiar keychain. The two-faced flower glittered brightly in the dim lighting of the Entrance Hall, the very same glitter he remembered from his first encounter with the keepsake. Without thinking, Ansem bent to pick it up.
"Evenin' Master Ansem," Kairi called over the crowd's hustle. Ansem dropped the keychain into her waiting palm. "Thanks."
"Good evening, Kairi," Ansem said, an ever-so-slight hint of irritation fashioning his voice. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
Kairi was beaming, clutching close her small accessory. "The library, of course! My grandma's there and she promised to tell me a story."
Ansem raised an eyebrow. "A story, eh? Of what sort if I might ask?" he queried, not in the least bit curious.
Kairi's own brows contracted in thought. "I dunno, actually." Her expression changed - yet again - dramatically. "I guess I'll find out when I get there." Before Ansem thoughtlessly had the chance to say anything else, Kairi had disappeared through the many people, leaving him lost yet again.
"Then I'll just have to find somewhere else to go," Ansem muttered dejectedly to himself. He continued walking, and never again stopped, not when he heard his name sung out above all other voices, not when he heard a boisterous, feminine giggle, not when a group of people blocked his path (his broad shoulders took care of that ever-so-common obstacle). He kept walking.
Gradually, the crowd diminished. Ansem's spirits were lifted with the fresh air surrounding him. It's about time, he thought. I think I might almost prefer the Heartless' company, if I ever manage to get there. Ansem finally halted when he came to a door. This was obviously his destination. He donned a grin and pushed open the door - only to wear another frown.
Ansem was in the library, the very place he was determined to avoid. Snarling under his breath, he hastily headed toward the staircase. If he was here, he was here for a reason.
An elderly voice brought him to a steady stop. All his previous woes were blown gently out the darkening window. He stealthily tiptoed to the banister and glimpsed over its edge. He saw two people: Kairi and the old woman he recognized from the evening before. This, by any assumption, was Kairi's grandmother.
Evidently, Kairi hadn't arrived too long before Ansem. They were still in discussion over a book Kairi was busy waving carelessly about. If Ansem hadn't missed his guess, she apparently had enjoyed the read. Sighing, Ansem looked around the bookshelf to his rear at the lonely desk. A single quill lie in wait, shadowed by a dying candle. If he was here, he was here for a reason.
Ansem sat tiredly at the desk, plucked the documents he had been flipping through days ago from numerous drawers and began his work once more. He felt immersed for a while, almost enjoying his return to his studies. Yet, it couldn't have been more than ten minutes before the old woman's voice came back to him, often shattered by Kairi's excited ramblings. The tiny pieces were delicately replaced over and over again, spun into life by the soft voice. This was her story. This was his story.
"Long ago, people lived in peace bathed with light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people's hearts. It covered everything, and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived.in the hearts of children."
Ansem blinked awake. Without realizing, he had drifted to sleep, the story dancing in his dreams. What he saw was rather astonishing, yet strangely familiar.
"With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It's the world we live in now. But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness. That's why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other."
"But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open. And the true light will return. So, listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light and the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away. Do you understand, Kairi?"
Ansem straightened abruptly. Once again, he had fallen asleep. He had a smidgen of ink smeared along his cheekbone, which was swiftly brushed away. The library was dark. The candle had dwindled to a puddle of wax dripping onto the table. The only light provided was the crescent moon floating just outside the window. Ansem stuffed the documents into random drawers, paying no heed to tidiness. Once everything was less than neatly tucked away, Ansem left the library.
The people had retired, giving Ansem free reign to secrecy. Fortunately enough for him, his eyes were accustomed enough to the darkness by now. For now, he didn't mind at all.
Silently he prowled the corridors taking lift after lift until he was finally beneath the castle where the shadows seemed endless. They crawled along the walls, piling over each other in an attempt to climb toward their sleeping, unsuspecting prey. Ansem nudged a single Heartless onto the lift, activated it, and set it loose in the castle.
"To study the Heartless behavior, I picked one out for observation. It wiggled its antennae and, as if sensing a target, headed deep into the castle.
"In the deepest part of the castle, its antennae began vibrating, as if searching for something. Suddenly, a strange door appeared. I'd never known of its existence.
"It had a large keyhole, but didn't seem to be locked. So I opened the door.
"What I saw on the other side mystified me.
"What was that powerful mass of energy? That night I observed a great meteor shower in the sky.
"Could it be related to the door that I have opened?"
