Author's Note: Blah. . .Be happy I'm keeping my (empty) promise. The computer I usually use is occupied right now, so I'm forced to use Microsoft Word on an outdated Macintosh, not to mention it's so chock-full of useless crap it's a wonder I can even open a single browser at a time. Funny thing is, I have two open right now - I needed to find all the stuff I had saved elsewhere again. Oh what a cruel, cruel life. Moving right along to the point, I'd like to thank my desperate reviewers for sticking with me this far. It's been a long, troublesome road, and unfortunately a construction crew just came along to make some additions. Warning: Innuendo warning ahead.

Disclaimer: If Kingdom Hearts were anything but a copyrighted production, I probably still wouldn't own it.

Anthem's Report: Chapter 10

By Deus Magi

Ansem was disappointed to see King Mickey's gummi ship fly off to join the stars far out of his reach. Their conversation had lasted long into the night and well into the morning after. Ansem's particular point of interest was this Keyblade. Ansem had speculated on the subject even after the king had blasted off to return to his world.

Obviously, a blade was a weapon, at least in most cases. A key opens - and closes - locks. The Keyblade must be a weapon, a fantastical weapon used at the same time to operate locks. What was its purpose? Evidently, it not only opened simple doors, but even the mystical doors that every world possessed.

The door that Hollow Bastion's castle hid.

Ansem's Heartless guardian trailed enthusiastically behind him as he hurried to that room. The hidden room holding the very door keeping every secret the universe has ever known a mystery to Ansem's anxious eyes. Finally he met the door, the portal. Its surface seemed to move more than it ever had before. Was it open? Had it finally open for him?

That power he had felt before now stood before him. Before he touched it, the portal's force brutally caressed his soul, beckoned him to enter. Ansem crept closer, slow as possible, for fear the portal would close, like a bird fluttering away before one could touch its soft feathers.

The guardian almost drank in the portal's energy. There would never be enough for the lost soul. It could consume a thousand hearts and never be satisfied. Even it realized the universe, in all its deepest majesty, was horrible and pricey to take advantage of.

In the meantime Ansem was reminiscing his first experience with the portal. So close and the door had mocked him, slamming shut before he had the chance to breathe upon it. Yet now it remained open, welcoming him with the force of a world's open arms. The whole world. This was its heart.

Ansem closed his eyes. Finally, he would learn what kept the planet thriving. All his research had brought him here. Would it be enough? Everything he had learned: the heart of the world, the key, the fuel of the core's very existence. . .

His arms involuntarily spread open, accepting any blow the core, the heart of the world was prepared to offer him.

"Just as people have hearts, so do worlds. The same can be said of stars in the night sky. And deep within each world lies a door to its heart. The Heartless desire those hearts. Born out of darkness in people's hearts, they seek to return to a greater heart. Yes that's it. The Heartless come from people's hearts, as does the darkness.

"Is the core of the world's heart the world of the Heartless? I will pursue the answer there and become all knowing. My path is set. I shall seek out the wielder of the Keyblade, and the princesses.

"My body is too frail for such a journey, but I most do this.

"I will cast it off and plunge into the depths of darkness."