Rain pattered quietly upon the streets of Traverse Town. Instead of setting colorfully in the horizon, the sun merely faded away, giving heed to the gloomy gray that comes with rain. Sylvia bustled around the living room giving everyone their tea.
"What has begun professor?" Sora asked. The professor set his pipe in an ashtray next to his wing chair. He thanked Sylvia as she handed him a delicate china cup with gold characters swirled around the lip.
"The fulfillment of an ancient prophecy my boy," the professor replied, neatly picking a fluffy pastry from Sylvia's silver tray. Sora looked at Phoenix in confusion.
"What exactly do you mean?" she voiced. By now they were all sipping piping hot tea and enjoying Sylvia's chocolate croissants.
"I mean exactly what I say. Sylvia, be a dear and bring me another of those heavenly pastries".
"I think you had better explain professor," Sora said. The professor nodded.
"I suppose I should. Let's see, where to begin… I suppose the best place to begin is 1000 years ago, when the worlds were new. The Master of Light had created all beings, and had in turn given them hearts and souls. Hearts to give them life, souls to protect their hearts. All lived peaceably, without world barriers. Anyone was welcome to come and go as they pleased. This time of happiness and prosperity lasted for 100 years. But alas, those times were soon forgotten. A man named Dante Shadow was on his deathbed, furious that he was to die so young as 23. He called upon all the dark entities of every world, promising them his soul if they allowed him to live. The powers of Darkness descended upon Dante and devoured him, allowing him to be reborn through death. But once he was reawakened, he was no longer the Dante he was before. He was infected with evil, crazed to the point of insanity. He killed many innocent people with his newfound strength and demonic powers. He thirsted for blood, and fed upon the living. He used the Darkness for personal gain too much, and eventually called down the wrath of the great demon high-lords. His powers were taken away from him and given to a young man named Ansem, an unsuspecting boy of 17 apprenticed to a locksmith. Ansem thrived under the power of the dark. He had full control of the Darkness before he was 20. But you know how his story ended. However, this is not about Ansem. This is about you two," the professor said, pointing to Sora and Phoenix.
"Us? Why us?" Phoenix questioned.
"Once Ansem was granted the power of Darkness, Dante was lifeless. The Master of Light sealed him away in an unknown world while he was powerless. Infuriated at his entrapment, Dante used the last of his human strength and inhuman power to call down a curse upon all mankind. He created a giant portal, through which he channeled the soul of every being. He imprisoned everyone's power to repel the Darkness. Then he closed the portal forever with a great door that the elders named the "Final Gate". The Master of Light could not undo what the evil Dante had done, but he used his power over the Light to summon a prophecy. He promised that one day, the Chosen One would emerge from an unconnected world. He would battle many evil entities on his search for the truth. The Master also said that the Chosen One would discover the Key, the only thing that could bring Dante down if he ever reawakened. The last part of the prophecy stated: "And the Chosen One shall destroy the Master of Darkness, releasing the tide of salvation for all worlds". This means, of course, that the Chosen One shall destroy Dante once and for all and release the souls he holds prisoner". The professor set his teacup to one side and rang a small bell. Sylvia came bustling in, gathering the remains of tea and carting them off to the kitchen. Sora only stared at the floor, lost in thought. Phoenix was thinking too. She raised a hand to the area around her heart and stared at the professor.
"So then, you know," she said quietly. The professor nodded slowly.
"He knows what?" Sora asked sharply.
"Phoenix, listen to me. You bear a great burden. You hold the Key, the salvation of all worlds. You understand what such a responsibility requires. I know of your plight simply because I am old enough to recall the memories of the Old Worlds. You will face many trials on your journey to find the Final Gate, but in the end you will save everyone," the professor replied in a hushed tone. Sora looked at Phoenix. Tears had begun to fall softly to her pale cheeks.
"I know. I'm just so afraid of… of everything". She wiped at her tears with one hand. "But I'm not going to give up. I will stay the course till the very end. This is my curse. I am the only one fit to bear it". Sora arched a brow. 'Her curse?' he thought. 'What does she mean by curse'? The professor stood and stretched, his joints popping and squeaking.
"Well then, I suppose you adventurers will be needing transportation," he said as he shuffled over to the bookshelves.
"We need a gummi ship professor," Sora confessed. "And we need to leave as soon as possible". The professor chuckled as he inspected a row of books.
"And what will you do if I don't have a gummi ship to lend you"?
"Then I'll keep looking. Phoenix isn't giving up, and neither am I". The professor pulled a book with a worn cover of sage green off the shelf. A grinding sound came from behind the wall somewhere, and all of a sudden the shelves rotated to reveal a large underground stairwell.
"That's what I wanted to hear!" the professor exclaimed as he motioned for Sora and Phoenix to follow him.