CHAPTER XLII
MORE TO LEARN?
Mickey settled Goofy, Donald and Yuffie down as the screen changed again, showing just the Legion uniform with no one inside. It was shown from several angles with scribbles in a strange handwriting none of them could read.
"This is the uniform of the Legion Knight. Everyone we've just seen makes up the Legion, and they're all issued them as soon as they join forces with Maximilian. These suits are really strange. They have powers beyond any accessory or armor you've ever equipped…we've discovered that the suit also has a defense mechanism to protect the wearer from the Dark One…" Mickey said, once again pacing under the screen.
"That's why I couldn't summon my keyblade around Jafar or Maximilian, remember?" Riku asked Sora and Kairi. They nodded, though Kairi asked, "but why did it weaken you like that?"
Riku shrugged as Merlin chimed in. "All part of the defense mechanism…the suit can't actually stop Riku from summoning his keyblade…it just puts him in a great deal of pain when he tries, making him choose to stop…it's quite a bit of technology…" Merlin said, surprising everyone in the room with his last statement. "Well, I must give credit where credit is due…"
"On top of that effect, it also raises the strength and magic power of the wearer…" Mickey went on. "The next bit is important, so pay attention."
The screen changed to one which had six large images in a circle formation. Each object was different, but they all seemed to be artifacts of some sort. The artifacts were shaped like small animals, each of which was made of a strange bronze material.
From the top of the circle, Sora looked at each of the artifacts closely – an eagle with a large sun etched in its belly; an eel with an ice crystal on its head; an butterfly bearing a tornado shaped gust of wind on its wings; a tiger marked with a large lightening bolt on its back; a small lizard with a flame on its tail; and a large bear marked with a boulder.
In the center of the circle was a picture of an eclipsed sun, and directly below that was an image of Riku.
Noting the confused look on everyone's faces, Merlin stood up and walked to the screen, extending his wand into a long pointer.
"The Artifacts of Solace…in the distant past, these items were forged by shamans and wizards across the universe, before the ties between the worlds were broken. They were imbued with the powers of each of their respective civilizations, each with a different outlook on life," Merlin said slowly.
"The civilization that valued power worshipped the Flame Salamander…speed was an attribute of the Wind Butterfly…defense was valued by all worshippers of the Boulder Bear…magic was the most important feature to those who revered the Frozen Eel…and those who prayed to the Thunder Tiger were happy just with the time they were given to exist…" he pushed on, trying to keep everyone with him.
"The last group to forge an artifact was the Eagles of Light. Their views were only brought on by the existence of the final group…the Dark Ones. The forging of the ancient artifacts was essentially the signing of a universal pact – the Pact of Solace. This pact prevented any one attribute from growing too powerful…but also prevented any of them from growing too weak, by drawing powers from one and giving to another. It was sort of an equalizer."
"However, the forgers didn't want to include the Dark Ones in the pact…they weren't allowed to imbue an artifact with their power, and thusly were doomed to grow weaker and weaker as their following dwindled. But unbeknownst to the rest of the forgers, the leader of the Dark Ones did imbue their powers in an artifact…just not one forged from bronze…"
Everyone's heads began to swim with all the new information they had just acquired. Finally, Aerith spoke. "So…what's the final artifact?"
Merlin stared at Riku. "The leader of the Dark Ones imbued the power of darkness unto his son, Xarrakesh. Xarrakesh was a foolish man who knew very well of his power and tried to begin an army of darkness…though only one of his sons was still alive when Xarrakesh died…"
"His only surviving son's name was Xehanort."
"Xehanort didn't survive by chance, however…on his father's deathbed, he swore he would live on and father another son to carry on the dark power…but after Xarrakesh died, Xehanort killed his three brothers…leaving only him to carry on the legacy of the Dark Ones. Since the Pact of Solace's purpose was to maintain balance between the forces, it did just that – many people worshipped the power of the Fire Salamander, so the power was split up amongst those followers…the same for the Frozen Eel and so on…" Merlin continued on, the room hanging on his every word.
"But as the followers of the Dark One were destroyed by Xehanort, he soon became the only worshipper of the darkness. So, he was imbued with the equivalent strength of all of the other groups…and he began to destroy them, one by one, so as not to disturb the gentle balance of power between the elements…at that point in time, things get a bit hazy. We know that eventually, the artifacts were separated out, amongst the universe. No one can say they lay claim to one particular tribe any longer…except the descendant of the leader of the Dark Ones…"
"Riku…you've fused with Xehanort…and now that he has died, both Nobody and Heartless, you're the sole carrier of the ancient power of the Dark Ones. The other artifacts lie dormant, now that their followers have been slain by Xehanort…but the Dark Ones power lives on in Riku…if the seven artifacts are gathered together, the balance of power would be off…there's not any information on what would happen…but I have a feeling Maximilian has done his research and he has a few more ideas on the subject than we do," Merlin summed up.
A collective sigh echoed through the room, as Eddy clumsily bumped into the Cornerstone of Light.
"That's why Maximilian wants Riku…something of this magnitude could easily destroy the universe…or at the very least, destroy Riku…" Mickey said sadly.
Riku stood up from his seat, hatred pouring from his face. A single tear broke from his blue eye, as he said, "I hate Xehanort, your majesty. I'll do whatever I have to…in order to make this end."
"Well, that sends us into the next bit of news we've got…" Mickey said, drawing everyone's attention to the strange contraption positioned over the Cornerstone. "This thing…well, I'll let Cid explain it…"
"Heh…this thing is basically an amplifier – it stops all heartless and their vessels from coming near the world. The closest that the Nexus Machine could get is fifty miles from the surface…so Disney Castle is officially the safest place in the universe," Cid said. "That being said, I don't think it's a good idea for Riku to stay here, where the Legion knows where he is. The Cornerstone Amplifier is powerful…but the Legion won't stop until they find Riku, and if they bombarded the planet…"
"You're right, Cid," Mickey approved. "Sora, you're gonna take Riku with you to the next world you go to."
"Okay!" Sora said, very glad to be reunited with Riku once again. He hesitated and looked back at King Mickey. "Where are you sending us now? To find the Nobodies?" Sora asked excitedly.
"We still don't have any leads as to where they might be. Biggs and Wedge promised to keep an eye out in the World That Never Was, so that's a plus…but right now, the most important thing is getting the Artifacts of Solace before the Legion. I know they can't do anything without Riku…but if they have the six statues, it'll be much easier for them than if we beat 'em to the punch," Mickey explained. "I think that pretty much explains everything up to this point…any questions?"
Yuffie's hand shot up in the air like a dart, but Aerith just grabbed it and held it back down…
