The Journey of One
Chapter IV
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Location: Atlantica
Everything around me seemed blurry and bright as I slowly awoke. I squinted, giving a chance for my eyes to adjust to my surroundings. I almost choked when I realized I was underwater but I soon understood that my adaptation allowed me to breathe in water. This world was a vast and deep ocean, and I remembered what the strange shadow had called this place: Atlantica. I looked around to see that I was not with any of the others. Quickly I set out to find them still denying all that the shadow had said. I somehow convinced myself that when I found them, all would be better again and back to the way it was. But that didn't happen. Somewhat accustomed to my new form, I swam through the ocean as best I could. Using my antennas once again, I searched for the presence of the others.
As I swam in their direction, I did something I had never done before: see. Not just to observe what was around me, but to really see where I was and how things looked. Coral formations of all colors littered the ocean floor, and together they seemed to emanate rainbows through the water, schools of fish gracefully danced through the water and around the rocks, and many other creatures I could not name filled the waters. I continued to swim onward taking in all that I saw, but I started to feel amazed, excited. I shook my head trying to get those 'emotions' out of me and concentrated on getting to the others. 'This isn't true,' I kept repeating to myself, 'It can't be.'
It wasn't long before I reached a sort of aquatic palace lit with a bright yellow light. Inside I heard sounds of commotion and, quickly becoming accustomed to the water, I rushed inside the aquamarine castle. After I entered the throne room, I caught a glimpse of a familiar merman escape through a window and a large number of the others follow him. Briefly glancing around the room, I swam after them.
The chase led me through a number of tunnels and alcoves draped with green seaweeds. I eventually reached a grotto where I saw the merman waving a Keyblade around tossing the others aside. He turned around revealing that he was really the Keyblade Master, Sora, accompanied by Goofy and Donald. Their bodies had somehow adapted also to this underwater environment. Bewildered, I remained motionless until Sora swayed the weapon and sliced through me once again.
What I had experienced the last time I came in contact with Keyblade happened again then, but it was much more intense. If what I was going through was somehow 'truth,' then the one thing that had changed since the last time was that my mind was more open. I could accept more 'truth,' but that hadn't changed the fact that the flashes I saw or felt were incomprehensible to me. As the weapon's edge slowly pierced my body, a more powerful rush of energy surged through me. The flashes were more vivid and they seemed to wrack even the armor I had on.
I was experiencing pain and pleasure, fear and excitement, loneliness and wholeness, joy and sadness. All the emotions that were buried and shut deep inside of me awoke with a vengeance and they all took over my senses. Soon, all this became too much for me to handle and I felt my body begin to disintegrate. The Keyblade continued to slash through my skin and it felt as if my soul was being torn asunder. A momentary eternity slipped by as I lost my consciousness and was thrown back into an abyss of darkness.
When I opened my eyes, I saw no different than if I had closed them. I was in the same place as I was when I met the shadow seemingly moments before; an everlasting emptiness that consumed itself. I stood on nothing, there was nothing all around me and even when I looked at myself I saw nothing. I drifted forward this time; I didn't run because I had no legs and there was no rush. I knew what was going to happen; I knew that I would meet that shadow again. Inevitability is inescapable and unapproachable.
"You've returned… I imagine that you were—"
"Killed," I interrupted, "By the Keyblade Wielder."
"You don't seem confused, only despondent."
"Despondence carries you toward death, not passed it…"
"You are beginning to use your mind I see, despite knowing what it means—"
"—That I am not like the others. I am… something different…"
"Yes, you are 'unique.' But, you've made that assumption even without meeting them to be sure. Are you relying on your feelings?"
Reluctantly, I confirmed its conclusion.
"You are quickly coming to terms with the truth. I suppose it is time that I give you your name."
I was confused. "Name? I have a… name?"
"You are One. The only 'One.' This is your identity and this is your truth."
As those words echoed, the light consumed the emptiness and I was sent falling again. To another place, another world, another existence. As I fell, I closed my eyes to try to accept reality. My body began to adapt again. My claws became nails; my boots became flippers, my helmet extended back with propellers. A pike also appeared in my hand. I felt sadness, and a shadow of a tear escaped my eyes into the fading nothingness.
"I am One," I whispered to myself, "I am One..."
