Title: In The Darkness We Meet
Written By: Astaldothôlwen
Point Of View: Kairi
Chapter Five: A Golden Mirror and Black Destiny.
Darkness. That is this entire world really is, is it not? Everything, in some way or other, is comprised of Darkness. Why do I bother? I have a nagging feeling, I shall never find him, or at least how I used to know him. Even in the world that is embraced in the Darkness, there are days when you don't want to wake up, facing the harsh rays of light. However, I know I must.
Slowly opening my eyes, as I had thought, even in Hallow Bastion, the early morning beams of light are still dreadful.
'I had a dream last night,' I think silently to myself. 'We were all there, all of us, sitting so happy, and I was there, in your arms Sora, watching the sun go down, resting my head against your chest, listening to your heart beat, in sync with the waves crashing upon the sandy shores of Destiny Islands.'
Sighing to myself, I know it will never be. At least not anytime soon.
Am I thinking of something false, which will never be? I hope not. I wish, on all stars that are lucky, that my dream had meant something. That one day, everything will be back to normal. Swinging my legs, as capably as I can, sitting in an armchair, I walk over to a near window.
There is not much to see. This is no sunrise. Not like the ones at home, this sunrise is different. There is something cold and untrusting about it. Home. I can't recall the smell of the sea at this precise moment or even the ever present sound of the gulls flying over head. I feel nothing.
'That is because you are nothing, my dear.' The Inner Voice purr's in my ear
Is it true? Am I really nothing? Is all this pointless? My meaningless existence here, searching for someone, I may not find.
What is wrong with me this morning?!? Have I lost all hope? What happened, that I no longer know that you are the same, either or you?
'I wouldn't lie to you my dear, go find Ansem, he can show you the one you seek.' It says again.
That mustn't be true! Ansem, he cannot know where Sora resides! How can he?! What if, what if Sora is . . . dead? No, no! Sora must not be dead!
Feeling very mobile, I break into a run, running down corridors, past numerous doors and windows, arch ways and hidden alcoves. Finally when I stop, I find something, huddled by the doorway of two large doors: Ansem's chambers. Kneeling down closer, it is a bundle of cloth. Cloth? How very strange. Extending my arm cautiously towards it, nothing happens. Sighing a breath of relief, I walk closer and pick the item up. Unravelling the cloth that has kept this item so preciously safe it is something I did not expect.
Gasping slightly, I realise it is a mirror. A beautiful golden mirror, with autumn looking leaves entwining themselves around the handle, towards the rim of the mirror. It was one of the most beautiful items; I have ever placed my hands upon. I remember, as a child, hearing a story. Many women, far, far away, held mirrors such as these, to ward of evil spirits, drawing them a way, allowing the women to walk freely at night.
Of course, this is only a folk tale, is it not? Glancing around me, I notice there is nothing around me, except halls of stone, that seemingly go on for miles upon miles. It is so appealing, I would hate someone to crack the pristine glass and destroy it. Tucking the tiny mirror inside my pocket, handle down, I realise, that it doesn't really fit, and looks quite awkward, having the face of the mirror hanging out of my skirt. Sighing to myself, I wrap the mirror back up, and decide to put it back where it belongs.
Whomever it belongs to, it must be very precious to them. Placing the object in the corner, where it was only moments ago, I give it a knowing look, tapping quietly on the large wooden doors. No answer.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Still nothing. I am not sure what to do, so I open the door, ever so slightly, to merely peak in, wondering if maybe Ansem was in there, only preoccupied with something.
Poking my head around one of the wooden doors, I speak once more, 'hello?' my tiny voice, echoing off the walls. Ah, the joys of emptiness. Noticing there is no one inside, I walk silently, as if my feet are walking on nothing but a cloud of air, no footsteps and their noises are anywhere to be heard. Glancing around, I see his chair, and the smaller one. Am I stupid? There is nothing here to see. All it is, is a dimly lit room with thrones, there is nothing to be seen elsewhere.
Taking another glance around the Hall, I find myself walking towards one of the far wings towards the left-hand side of Ansem's throne. Strange, there is a small light, coming from where the floor meets the wall. Walking towards it, it appears to be the downstairs of the castle.
Crouching down, lying horizontally on the floor, I squint my eyes as best I can. A cellar? Chains? It looks so unlike the rest of the castle, it looks, like a jail cell. What use would Ansem need a jail cell for? He is mighty, and very powerful too, it seems rather pointless to me.
Trying to adjust my eyes to the dim light of the hole in the wall, I am distracted. The sound of the large doors swinging open and many footsteps distracts me. Turning around, I see the events about to unravel.
"What do you mean you cannot find her?!" A bellowing voice demands.
"I-its just that. The Princess, she is not in her room my Lord." Speaks another.
"Well then you must find her," The first voice said, a little less menacingly than the first time, "or else you shall end up like him!" And with a quick motion of his hand, I notice Ansem had totally obliterated a near by Shadow Heartless.
I mustn't make a noise. If I do, who knows what will become of me! Crawling as silently as I can, I find a near by pillar, and sit against it, with my back leaning upon it. I won't make any noise that way, I hope. Squeezing the cloth of my skirt in my hands, I notice that my knuckles are white with tension and fear.
"Everyone, leave my chambers, I need to figure out what we will do with the fair-haired one, he is weak from the attack by his counterpart, now leave." Ansem said at last.
Fair-haired? Riku? Is it really you? Are you here, somewhere in this confounded castle? You can lead me to Sora can you not? Filled with a new hope, I ready myself for a run, filled with such anticipation! Slowly standing up, I realise. I can not run, without Ansem finding me, so I slide my back down the pillar. What ever will I do? How long will I be stuck here? I need to see Riku! That is, if it is Riku he's talking about. I hope he is okay, what did he mean by saying the 'fair-haired one, he is weak' or whatever it was?
Snapping me out of my thoughts, were the sound of retreating footsteps and the opening of the large doors. Peaking around from my hiding place, I notice I again am alone. I am feeling, somewhat unhappy. There is a pit at the bottom of my stomach, which I cannot erase.
'I have lingered here much too long.' I think silently to myself. Rising myself to a standing position, I begin to walk down the long, carpeted corridor. I feel the eyes of another on me, turning around, there is nothing there. Not releasing the feeling, the hairs upon the back of my neck, I can feel them raise themselves.
'I must leave, I must hide.' Breaking into a run, this is enough to keep my thoughts from what could be watching and stalking me.
'Run, please, run faster!' I scream to myself. Footstep after footstep, the room I have considered my new home comes into view. A feeling of complete and utter relief washes over my body and soul. Breaking from my run, I regain a walking pace. Getting rid of the sweat that has accumulated on my brow, I can finally relax. I am near my sanctuary.
Pant. Pant. Pant.
I don't quite understand what I am tired over, I didn't run that much, not compared to racing and playing with the boys at the Islands. Releasing my from my thoughts, I walked into something hard, or rather soft, the feeling of a body and clothing. Looking upwards, I meet the eyes of none other than Ansem.
'Great,' I mutter under my breath, 'this is exactly what I need right now.' How ironic. Can't my luck ever change for the better? It feels like those wonderful and lucky stars are blinking out just to spite me.
"Oh this is fantastic for you Princess. I know where to find the ones you seek." The coyness in his voice is not undetected by my ears.
Continuing on; "Oh yes, I can tell you where they are. The ones you wish to see the most. Sora, and, the other's name, Riku I believe? Yes, that is his name. I can show you them, that is, if you wish to see them." He utters smiling.
"See them? I can see them again, why yes, of course, I would love to see them!" My luck is changing! I can see Sora, and even Riku! Thanking the stars, I don't believe I've felt such excitement for a long time.
Turning his hands inward, creating a circular shape of a ball with his hands, I know there is something up his wicked sleeve, but I don't care, I can finally see that they are doing well! There was a tiny ball of light, in the centre of his hands, the light grew into a shiny and beautiful orb of golden light of exquisiteness. The light subsided and suddenly, there was the same golden mirror that I had seen previously.
"You are sure you wish to see them? The mirror will show you nothing but the truth, and once you see what is happening in their lives, there is very little you can do to change what you will see." There was something unsettling about the underlying tone in his voice, but I was so far from caring, any reasonable thought that had crossed my mind, was diminished.
"Yes, I will look into your golden mirror, but you say I can't change anything, I see, what do you mean by that exactly?" Okay, so not every decent thought was gone, but I was curious.
"You will understand what I mean in due time. Now, will you look?" Nodding my head, he began uttering words that sounded of a discarded language from long ago. Suddenly, the mirror started rotating quickly, and stopped as suddenly as it had begun.
Gazing into the mirror, there was Sora, sitting with his back to me. Beside him, there was another body, with chestnut hair flowing down their back. They seemed to be sitting on a grassy hill watching the sun go down. The second figure placed their head on Sora's shoulder, he accepting it, stroking the hair of the figure. The angle of the view changed, and the second figure was none other than some miscellaneous girl, whom I've never seen before in my life.
Feeling a pang of annoyance in the pit of my stomach, I look up from the mirror at Ansem, who is leering evilly, staring right into my eyes. Meeting his gaze that looks towards the mirror, I see something I never thought in my wildest dreams.
The girl, who was very beautiful, with her long locks of hair, and stunning maroon coloured eyes, stood up from the gentle embrace she was receiving from Sora, had Sora get up with her. Turning her body towards him, she wasn't very tall, not much taller than I.
Stepping upon her tiptoes, she planted a tiny kiss on Sora's waiting lips.
"This is enough, I can't bare to see him like this! Make it stop!" I scream, tears waiting patiently in my eyes to fall at any given moment.
"This is what you wanted, was it not? You wished to see Sora, and you have. You are feeling anger towards his happiness. If this is what you want, shall we look at Riku's life?" He says, with a evil smirk adorning his face.
'This can't be real, it must be lies, Sora would never abandon me, would he?' I think sadly to myself.
"He will, and he has. As I said, you cannot change the images you see. They are nothing but the truth," Although I still do not believe what I had just viewed, I wonder if Riku is as happy as, Sora is with her.
"Then, we will see how Riku's life has progressed after you."
Focusing my gaze back into the mirror, there was Riku, in a bed, looking very pale, in a cold sweat.
'Riku?'
Concentrating my attention back to the mirror, he opens his aqua eyes ever so slightly. Turning his face from my view, he closes his eyes. Noticing his chest no longer moving, I can't bare to watch any longer.
"No! This is enough! I can't take it! Sora can't have forgotten about me! Riku, he can't be dead! It can't be! How can any of this be?!" All the strength in my legs, has left me, crumpling to the floor, my unshed tears are falling freely.
Footsteps nearing me, I look up to see Ansem's caring face looking towards me. "Kairi, there was not a lie in what you viewed, or stated."
Raising me to a standing position, he snakes his arm around my waist, and walks me out of the room.
"Kairi, I can help you, come to my chambers, and we will talk." Nodding in agreement, we walk towards Ansem's chambers, through the large doors, into the halls and onto the tiny throne.
Not finding anything worth watching, my gaze continues to focus towards the ground. Sora? How could you have betrayed me like this? Riku, you went through so much pain, I can feel it in my heart. I hate this.
"Kairi, I don't expect you to approve of this right away. However, I will try to aid and lessen the pain that is plaguing and constricting your heart. If you only give into the powers of the Darkness, everything those two young men have done to you, will be lifted from your conscious." He slowly explains.
There is a bitter tone in his voice. I don't know what to do. The one person I loved more than life itself is off snogging with some girl as I sit here, one of my best friends is alone in a bed lying there lifeless. I hate this so much.
'Then, give into the Darkness Kairi dear.' The Inner Voice purrs in my ear.
"Kairi, I will leave you to consider your choices and juggle your thoughts." Turning around, Ansem begins to walk off.
"Wait," stopping, he turns around to face me, smirking evilly.
"You promise that you will alleviate this pain?" His smirk turning into a full-fledged grin.
Replying, his voice smooth and silky, with sickly sweet tones. "Yes, of course Kairi, I wish for nothing more than you're absolute happiness and pleasure."
What is there left for me to live for, all rational thoughts have fleeted through my thoughts into oblivion. I feel betrayed and hurt. I know what my choice is.
"Then I shall give into the Darkness. There is nothing left for me."
With that, my world went dark and my body numbs. Hearing him cackling evilly there is nothing I can do now.
'There is nothing I can do.'
My heart is being constricted and twisted into unnatural terms. Shrieking, I can't take the unbearable pain any longer.
Light slowly filtering through the Darkness, I crack my eyelids open and see I am not alone for once. Surrounded by Heartless and Ansem. Gazing around the room, I am still in Ansem's chambers. My eyelids feeling heavy once more, I fall into a deep sleep.
"My Master, how ever did you get her to agree to giving into the Dark powers of the world?" Inquires a Heartless.
"Oh it was simple really, lies and deceit. The mirror, she found it, and admired it for its beauty. I showed her the mirror, and had her gaze into it. Depicting her most wretched nightmares was easy to torture her already tormented soul. It was simple. The boy Sora, he is fine, as is the other counterpart."
"You tricked her Master? You tricked her wonderfully! And now, we have a formidable ally in the destruction of the Worlds, creating a realm of eternal Darkness." Retorts the Heartless.
"Yes, it is true. However, she is brainless. She gave into the Darkness with little or no effort by my part. I assumed her stronger in will and it would take more effort. Sora, he had been conned into nearly killing his best friend over food, before arriving here. It is pathetic, but there is nothing there to stop us any longer. Darkness will reign supreme!"
Authors Notes: Ari Powwel, LiquidGirl, you two are amazing! When I read your reviews, it makes me feel as though putting these chapters up aren't a waste of time, and for that, I thank you. hugs
And thank you to my newest reviewer; Kahlia too!
I have come to a decision however, I think I will be putting this story on hiatus. With my homework worse than last semester (approximately eight hours a night ¬.¬), it makes it really hard to do much of anything when I don't have homework. Its unfair to you guys that I'm not updating, so I suppose this is the best way.
Have a great March Break, I know I will. I'm going to the other side of the ocean, and completely away from my element; Europe. It'll be a life changing experience, which reminds me, I'm leaving on March 11, and I haven't started packing sweat drops
I tried making this chapter longer than the others; it was about 3000 words, for my lack of updates. This is a shameless plug, but go to my good friend Brody's stories. If you like Final Fantasy VIII stories, his are wonderful!
- His username is Shive!!!