Kingdom Hearts II The Untold Chronicles
Chapter Four – Master
As children, Ashley and Shuku were talented. When they both were around three, they were able to cast simple water and fire spells. They always played games together with their powers. Their parents would smile at them from the distance. But it was clear those smiles were fake—as not to alarm their children that their gift was truly a curse.
Their parents had to hide Ashley and Shuku. Many of the town people believed that Ashley and Shuku had some type of contagious disease. They always asked questions about where their children were. Their parents made up lies to keep them hidden. Ashley and Shuku's desperate eyes looked from the corners at windows at the children allowed outside to play. When the other children would look, they would duck. It gave a haunting effect and so the children told ghost stories about their homes.
Ashley and Shuku were only allowed to play at the river next to their small village. Shuku manipulated the water to make spheres of water. Ashley scorched the ground, being bored.
"At least we have each other." Ashley said.
"What good is that?" Shuku complained.
"Hey! I have feelings, too."
"Well everyone else thinks we don't! Even our own parents think we don't!" Shuku pouted. "They hide us away. It's one thing for the town's folk not to talk to us, it's another thing that mommy and daddy shun us as well!"
"It doesn't bother me. I want to run away." Ashley said. Shuku smiled, thinking that was a great idea. A red ball rolled past Shuku falling into the river. A group of kids rushed up with shocked expressions.
"Why'd you kick it so hard?" A boy shouted at a girl. She didn't say anything.
"Man that was the only ball we had!"
"Don't worry, I'll get it!" Shuku volunteered.
"You'll get pulled away by the water!" Ashley smiled when she heard that.
"Go ahead, Shuku, get 'pulled away'" Ashley mocked. Shuku smiled back. She held her hand out. With black charcoal she kept with her all the time to practice her magic, she drew a pentagram quickly.
"O Leviathan, I summon you. Fulfill your vow to me and appear before this sacred symbol of might! Incrementum Aqua Deus!" The river stopped moving and the kids gawked in awe.
"Dude, she stopped the river!" A teenage boy pointed.
"I've never seen anything like this!" Shuku turned the flow of the river backwards. The ball moved up the river and Ashley stuck her hand in, pulling it out.
"Here you go." Ashley handed the ball to the group of kids. They dropped the ball in fear.
"Witches!" They cried, pointing and accusing. Even though they were scared, they mocked and made fun of Ashley and Shuku. They both frowned. Ashley was the first to lose it.
"We help you, and you make fun of us?" Ashley threw a fire ball at their feet. It was a warning shot.
"You witch!" A boy shouted. Ashley intentionally hit him with a blast of fire. His garments caught fire and his friends had to put him out. Shuku was pleased, but she knew this wouldn't settle well with her parents.
"Do you know what death is like? It is possibly a gentle release compared to what Shuku and I go through everyday!" Such young children—but they were scarred deep by their families and town people's betrayal. The children ran off, ready to tell anyone they could find about what Ashley and Shuku did.
"Witches!" An angry mob was starting to form around Ashley's house. Shuku was staying the night so that they could watch each other's back. They both looked out the window with no shame. They could see the torches waving back and forth.
"We should have burned them when we had the chance!" It was a primitive town… A pity. They really liked the fields the town was next to, but if the town people wanted to play the burning game, Shuku would be sure to sick Ashley on the town before they got to them. They were starting to become tainted with all the unwanted and negative attention. Ashley's parents went outside to try and negotiate.
"Please, we can fix them." Her father said. Fix? A detestable selection of vocabulary.
"They are good girls, they can help you with tasks." Her mother reasoned. Help? Help those that would abandon them? Ashley and Shuku put their hands up to the window's glass.
"We aren't saintly creatures. Why would we want to help those ingrates?" Shuku asked.
"I'd help them die and that's it." Ashley muttered with no sympathy.
"Bring them out!" A villager shouted.
"Do they want to see us that badly?" Ashley's finger tips burned with fire.
"Maybe it's not us they want to see. Maybe, they want to see the other side." Shuku was talking about death. "Let's do this."
Ashley and Shuku walked out side casually. Their faces were blank. They knew they were going to commit a sin, but it felt so good. The mob stepped back, alarmed that the duo actually showed their faces. They appeared in white night gowns with long sleeves.
"You wished to burn us." Shuku's voice was quiet. "Would you like to see how it's like before you determine to burn us?" Shuku raised her hand. "Do as you wish."
"What's she talking about?" They talked amongst themselves. Ashley stepped forward. Ashley wrote on her concrete stepping stone called a porch. She made an elaborate casting circle, with beautiful curves and foreign languages. Shuku joined in the summons.
"O Bahamut, I summon you. Fulfill your vow to me and appear before this sacred symbol of might! Incrementum Incendium Deus!" They recited together. The ground the circle was cast upon turned into a ring of fire. A dark bull like creature rose from the pits of Hell. Ashley grabbed onto furry neck pulling herself onto the bull.
"Let's burn it all down, Bahamut!" Ashley commanded. Bahamut gave a roar, shaking the town. Bahamut sent a stream of flames from his mouth. It rolled over houses, going up in flames. Ashley laughed as Bahamut leaped around the town crushing houses and setting things aflame. The villagers in front of Ashley's home were terrified by now. They were concerned with their items and started to run from Shuku.
"Where do you think you're going?" Shuku questioned the group. "If you want these fires out, I suggest you apologize. Ashley can cause fires but I can create water. I can put these fires out—but it will be at a price and that price is worship." Shuku folded her arms with a cruel smile. "Beg for forgiveness, impudent mortals!"
"Only witches would do something this foul!" Some one said as others got down on their hands and knees, bowing to Shuku. Shuku heard the remark and turned fierce.
"You people said we were bad news before we decided to show you that mask you've given us! You people branded us with labels and now that these labels are a reality—you can't handle them can you? Can you? I suddenly act the part and you act surprised! If you would have never judged in the first place, you'd have somewhere to stay. But now, I'm questioning if I should flood the area. Don't make me think twice about it. The second time I always change my mind." Shuku grimaced.
Ashley screamed. Bahamut was going mad. He began bucking like a rodeo bull. Ashley held on for dear life as Bahamut compacted more homes but Ashley was unable to control her beast. Bahamut bucked her off and she was sure to take a fall that would kill her.
Strong arms caught her. Ashley grasped onto the Gucci suit. She looked up and a sharp looking young man, Caucasian, with silver hair to his back and crimson eyes, looked at her. He raised his hand and gained control of Bahamut.
"Sit!" He ordered. Bahamut sat on all fours. "Go back to your domain!" Bahamut sunk back into the ground without a trace. "Now…" His warming voice said. Shuku was enraged.
"Who are you to cancel Ashley's summon?" Shuku stomped up to the mysterious man. He frowned. He set Ashley down like a gentlemen, then dealt with Shuku. He waved his hand over her quickly. WHAM! Shuku reached for her mouth and the words would not come. Shuku looked up and saw her own personalized thought bubble with three periods. She had been silenced. Her magic was useless in this state. Shuku went to kick the young man in the shin. Her foot bounced off a force field. Ashley argued.
"How dare you do that to Shuku?" WHAM! Shuku and Ashley both sat down with big tears in their eyes. The town's people stood up and they were grateful.
"Thank you, sir." Some people said.
"Don't thank him; he's just the same as those two hoodlums!" Others commented. He adjusted his tie and dusted of his suit.
"No, I'm not like them. I have control over my actions and I do not use my gift recklessly. My name is Ansem. And I'm taking these two girls. They have great potential." He said. Ashley and Shuku couldn't object.
"They are our children!" Ashley and Shuku's parents voiced. "You just can't take them!"
"It would be for the best, don't you think? Look at your homes. They have been destroyed by the likes of these two. How long did you seriously think that you could keep them under control without the proper training?" He questioned. They remained hushed. Their parents looked at them.
"I think it's for the best…" Shuku's mother said with warm eyes. "You could get a handle on your power—and someday return." Shuku bowed her head and nodded. Ashley did, too.
"Then, come with me…" Ansem held out his hand…
Ashley and Shuku walked hand in hand with this 'Ansem'. They had been Dispelled.
"What do you plan to do with us?" Shuku asked.
"Nothing dirty like child pornography." He said. That shut Shuku up.
"Where are we going?" Ashley asked.
"To a fort called Hollow Bastion—from there we will go to Ansem the Wise's castle."
"I though you were Ansem." Ashley said.
"No, I just use his name sometimes. I'm his lab assistant, Xehanort."
"Why should we trust a man who lies?" Shuku asked, thinking back about the child pornography remark.
"You have every right to be concerned." Xehanort said. "But if you want to be as powerful as I am someday, you're going to have to trust me for now."
"If we live up to someday." Ashley whispered to Shuku behind Xehanort's back.
"Hollow Bastion is starting to appear over the horizon." He said.
Ashley and Shuku let go of Xehanort's hand. They looked at all the strange houses and amazed at the merchants. It was a bustling city. They had never seen anything like it. Ashley and Shuku looked at one another and started chasing. Ashley chased Shuku up a flight of lavender stairs. Xehanort followed with a smile. He was amused with their innocence, even though they nearly burned their town to the ground. Ashley and Shuku rushed up to a railing and they looked down. There was a beautiful view of the setting sun, reflecting off the sea.
"Wow…" Ashley said. Shuku took a deep breath in.
"I love the smell of it." Shuku said. They could hear a group of people walking towards them. They looked in the general direction. Strong looking body guards surrounded a short hooded creature. Ashley and Shuku could see the two perfect spears on top of its head. Xehanort's smile faded. It was time for him to get into his role of good lab assistant. Xehanort grabbed Ashley and Shuku by the hand and walked them towards the group. They were scared.
"Are these the two that Ansem the Wise had his eye on?" The figured asked in a cheerful, high pitched voice. Ashley and Shuku moved behind each of Xehanort's legs, hiding. Xehanort put his hands on their shoulders to comfort them.
"Yes, these two girls are special. Their magic is beautiful for children who are self-taught." Xehanort flattered them. The hooded figure tried to get a good look at their faces. Ashley and Shuku still hid their dirty faces, wild hair, and tarnished night gowns from the fire last night. "They are shy."
"Ha-ha! That's okay. They are still very cute. Ansem will be pleased that you found mages so young and talented!" The figure said. With that, he was off, the body guards keeping him safe.
"Who the hell was that?" Ashley cursed. Xehanort whacked her upside the head. Ashley rubbed her head
"You have a foul little mouth." Xehanort said.
"Yeah, so?"
"I don't want you to be a typical black stereo type and curse all the time… It defines you as a person who doesn't know any sophisticated words to express your self. Other than your magic, your language is all you have to help express yourself. So, clean it up, or else." Xehanort gave her the benefit of the doubt. There was a pause.
"No! You don't scare me!" WHAM! Ashley's eyes filled with water, unable to speak or retaliate with magic.
"Now you see how important your language is. Now that you can't use it to express your anger, or politely ask me your question—you see its value. I'm trying to teach you to know and appreciate something's value before you take it for granted." He scolded.
"Please," Shuku pleaded. "She doesn't have people skills."
"And I'm teaching those to her. If she wants to be unruly then I can fight fire with fire."
"Alright, okay… Who was that?"
"That was King Mickey. He is king of all worlds. He commissioned Ansem to create a key to keep the darkness from his worlds; a key that would be to difficult to find for those who wish to take his thrown." Xehanort said beginning to walk the way that King Mickey had come from. He took Shuku's hand and then he reached for Ashley's. She whipped her hand away from Xehanort. She was crying. He ignored her.
"That makes no sense. Why not destroy the door?" Shuku asked looking up with big, curious eyes. Xehanort smiled down to her.
"If there is no darkness, good does not exists. If one is in a state of good all the time, one will lose the sense of the word and they just are. With out darkness, one does not know what it is to be happy. And they will take that happiness for granted and end up like Ashley in a sense." He looked at Ashley with no emotion. "Usually what happens is a rein of good ensues and everyone knows happiness, but then a bad apple will appear and try and put everything into a state of darkness to suit his—or her—own needs."
"Where does that bad apple come from?" Shuku asked.
"Couldn't tell you. It just happens. It's like the inventor that develops something new. The idea came out of no where."
"I still don't understand this whole good thing."
"Well how about this: Man cannot live with out woman, and woman cannot live with out man. Does that make sense?" Xehanort asked, turning a corner. A tall castle appeared in the distance as the city turned into tall lavender cliffs.
"What are you talking about?" Shuku was stunned. After all, boys had cooties. Xehanort turned red, forgetting that they probably didn't have that talk yet.
"Okay, the door to darkness is practically impossible to destroy so King Mickey wants to be able to control it, at least."
"Why didn't you just say so?" Shuku huffed. Xehanort laughed to himself.
"My apologies." His eyes wandered to Ashley who was lagging behind.
"Welcome!" The true Ansem said. His hair was a fading blonde. He was a middle-aged Caucasian man. He wore a white lab coat with pens in the top pocket. "This will be your new home. Xehanort will show you to your quarters. I hope you both enjoy it here." Ansem leaned down and pat Shuku on the head. He turned to pet Ashley on the head, but she was saving up a wet one. She spat into his face. Xehanort gasped and backhanded Ashley. Ashley grabbed Xehanort's hand and bit it, breaking the skin and drawing blood.
"YARRG!" Xehanort shook her off. Ashley chewed on some of his flesh. She spit out the chunk and some blood landed on the floor. Shuku nodded putting her arm around Ashley.
"I told you, Xehanort. She doesn't have people skills and the way you treated her, you only have yourself to blame." Shuku said. Ashley wiped her bloody mouth with her night gown sleeve. Ansem cleaned his face with a handkerchief.
"She's a handful. We should select another candidate for this." Ansem said to Xehanort like the girls weren't standing there. Xehanort healed his hand with a simple spell.
"We don't have any leads as to anyone as gifted as they are…" Xehanort whispered.
"Excuse me, sons of bitches." Shuku spoke up. "Ashley is part of the package. You want to keep me for what ever you plan to do, Ashley stays with me."
"You don't have to curse." Xehanort said. "I'll do the same to you as I did to Ashley."
"I don't care. She bit you for a reason. You talk all this smart junk about good and evil and you can't even conclude something simple!" Shuku held Ashley's hand. "Ashley tried to be herself and got reprimanded for it. This is just like from where we come from. The gift you claim we have, set us apart and for that we were reprimanded. When you arrived, you caught us in the middle of lashing out—like Ashley did to you both."
"Xehanort, did you discipline the black one?" Ansem asked.
"LOOK!" Shuku was pissed. "We have names. We'd appreciate it if you'd ask us what they are!" She turned to Xehanort. "This isn't what we live for. Dispell her and we're gone!"
"If I'm nicer, will you stay?" Xehanort asked.
"I don't know. We'll stay if you Dispell her." Shuku bargained.
"Alright." He waved his hand over Ashley's head. Her bubble was gone but she did not speak. She stared at the floor.
"…Xehanort will show you to your quarters. He will be training you with your individual gifts. You will call him Master from this moment forward." Ansem said turning around immediately.
"These girls are intolerable!" Ansem said from his laboratory. "They need to be disciplined, thoroughly." Xehanort watched an experiment, taking notes on a clip board. He wore goggles and a white lab coat.
"I don't know if I can do that. Shuku made a point. They come from a pretty rough background. The last thing they need is ruthless authority. To see the pent up anger that Ashley was harboring. I put the silent spell on her not even an hour ago. And she nearly took my hand off!"
"They must be contained in order to give them the power. Put a leash on them, Xehanort. They will thank you once they become powerful and not so… Naïve." Ansem said leaning back in a leather chair.
Xehanort put down the clip board and sighed. Maybe he started off on the wrong foot. He applied tactics that a distant man taught him. It would be time to disregard those tactics and get personal.