Author's Note: Phew.Even a miserable birthday isn't going to stop me from detailing the despondent travails of our beloved Ansem. Before I get started, I'd like to follow last chapter's drill and answer some reviews. Not a whole lot, since last chapter's word count was due probably in part to that. *nervous laughter*

To everyone who thinks Ansem is a jerk: Just providing a little more depth to his being a villain. I don't think he appeared enough in the actual game for anyone to hate him that much. In fact, I'll bet people hated Captain Hook more than Ansem just because he moved too much.

To Ari Powwel: Heh, I was wondering when someone would ask. Thanks! I call him Ansem during the narration and Anthem (which is his Japanese name) whenever someone is directly referring to him. Frankly, it doesn't really matter, but I just did it to annoy people. If you're curious enough to care, Ansem and Anthem are pronounced almost the same way, seeing as how in Japan Anthem would be pronounced "Anshem". Interesting, ne?

To Shinji Ikari: Thanks again. What would I do without people like you, always lending me a hand? I do remember all the Maleficent chatter now. And by the way, I was only joking about it being an AU.

To Victorious Light: So do I! *chortle*

Thanks again, reviewers! 'Thoughts', *Emphasis*

Anthem's Report: Chapter 12

By Deus Magi

The Heartless sailed along, carrying a lifeless, glowing figure in its strong arms. Space and stars, many of them blinking and falling out of the sky, surrounded it. The star it was moving away from still remained; the shadows there had yet to be unleashed upon its world.

The glowing figure stirred and attempted to sit up. The Heartless untangled its claws from Ansem's silver hair, strolling a short ways backward. In the meantime, Ansem took in his surroundings. After many minutes of studying the many shooting stars that, in a defiant manner, seemed to hold on to life as though any reluctant human would do, he looked directly at the Heartless. "Where are we?" he whispered, his voice weak and unfamiliar.

The Heartless did not respond. Instead, it turned to face the world they had left: Hallow Bastion.

Ansem's eyes gleamed, disbelieving. After casting his body off, transcending to an existence of only the heart, somehow he had retained characteristics no Heartless had ever shown signs of. He remembered who he was, he remembered every moment of his life on Hallow Bastion (excluding the times he had entered the Portal). His spirit reflected Ansem before he'd made his bold leap. In fact, he was still wearing his long coat. He eyed his Heartless companion, who had its eyes set on the nearest star. It looked hungry.

Ansem still remembered wrapping the Heartless in magically bonded white tape in an attempt to keep it from attacking his people. Though the Heartless had torn the tape to tattered ribbons, its action was simply out of irritation, and the only "unauthorized prowling" of the halls at night was done by stray shadows. Bits of the ribbons still remained on the Heartless, including a forbidding cross over the lower portion of its face.

Ansem pulled his knees to his chest He felt lost in this sea of unfamiliar stars. 'What was I thinking?' he thought miserably. 'The quest for answers is hopeless.' The Heartless's arm passed in front of Ansem's line of vision, encouraging him to follow down a pointing, clawed finger. Immediately a blinking star caught his attention. It was much brighter than all the others. Simply scrutinizing the star made Ansem feel refreshed; the feeling was almost familiar. . .

~

The castle's master roamed the empty halls of Hallow Bastion. Had there been anyone left in the world, they would not have noticed, for the king no longer remained visible to the human eye. A new identity was needed to pass between worlds. In creating a stronger identity, he would be able to locate the final door - the ultimate darkness, the ultimate light.

Kingdom Hearts.

"I have transcended to an existence of only the heart. I should have come back as a Heartless, but there is no sign of such a transformation.

"My body has surely perished. However, I am different from the other Heartless, keeping the memories of before, and I have not taken on the form of a Heartless. It is clear that there are still many things to be studied.

"In order to cross over to the dark side, which is not this world, you must go beyond the door of Kingdom Hearts, the place connected to the world's heart.

"The innermost part connected to the world's heart, the place connecting to the world of darkness. (I will record the details in another report...)

"There are still so many unknown worlds.

"The present world. The world of darkness. The world of light.

"And, the world in-between.

"Where does the true paradise lie, I wonder?"