||Episode 2 - Part II: A Man Named Ansem||
Half past noon, I had already finished getting ready and eating some lunch down at the lobby. It was surprising to me that it was still fairly early in the day. I was so sure that it'd be night time right about now, but it seemed that I was wrong about that. No matter. All that it meant was that there was today and tomorrow to figure things out in this town. The last half of the following day... I had no idea what I could do with that much time.
I'd probably have enough munny by then to extend my stay if needed. But, other than that, I had a day and a half. It'd take me that long to find out if my friends were also here. We'd be able to find a way to get the islands back together and then return home. That was my hope, anyway. I had doubts that my plan would actually turn out like that. Most likely, it was a slim to none chance that any of them actually ended up in the same place as me. Just... I hoped that someone did.
"Well, I guess I'd better go out looking for them," I sighed, tying my shoelaces. Although I wanted to make a thorough plan on what to do for getting situated in this world and finding my friends, there just wasn't much I could come up with on my own. The best I could really come up with right now was simply going out to look for them throughout the town. If I did, then maybe my luck would bring in some good for me and I'd find them along with some spare change. But, that might have been me being too hopeful.
Things were bound to turn out differently once I actually got out there. Plus, it was apparently very dangerous in this district according to that one guy working at the clothing store. I can fight, though. If those shadow things come up again, then I'll just have to beat them. "Sora. Riku. Kairi. I'm on my way."
Outside in the Second District, I saw that it was just as empty as it was earlier this morning. There were no people, and even all of the shops were closed. I was a little surprised that everything was closed up right now. Usually, stores went on until the dead of night. Not that it really mattered. I didn't have to do any major shopping at the moment. Instead, I just looked around the district for signs of my friends. Some kind of clues had to be laying around someplace.
What's down here? I wondered as I followed a path leading to another alley. It was dimly lit compared to the rest of the district. All of the doors to the homes lined up along the alley were also boarded up as though the people living in them had no interest in stepping outside. Or, maybe they were trying to keep something from getting in there with them. I found it strange and terribly suspicious.
An uneasy feeling was bubbling up in the pit of my stomach. It was both familiar and unsettling. Something about this town was off compared to the time I arrived, and that had to be just a few hours ago. For it to change that fast, something had to be up. This feeling... It's like someone is watching me. I'm not alone here.
"So, this is where you have been."
The chill rapidly trailing down my spine was strong, freezing me in place for a moment. I heard a hissing voice somewhere in the alley. It was a voice that hissed in the wind, but there was something oddly familiar about the way it did. Instinct told me to turn around, so I did just that as though this mysterious presence was indeed right behind me. My nerves trembled madly for a brief moment when I saw exactly what I was hoping not to see. That someone or something I thought was watching me was standing a few meters away, their appearance obscured by brown robes.
"You... I remember you," I mumbled to myself, recalling the last time I saw that strange person. It was back at the secret place on the islands, where I found a bunch of mushrooms. "How did you get here?"
"Back then, I had the desire to see the door to the world you called home." His words were calm and thoughtfully put. What he said actually rung a bell in my head. Back then, he did say something about that door my friends and I once found at the secret tunnel's end. I thought he was crazy for what he said at the time, but I also remembered when that very same door was thrust open the night of the storm. "What lied beyond that door piqued my interest. However, that world no longer exists on part of the imbecilic darkness that invaded it."
"You're talking about those monsters that attacked me and my friends," I said, making the hooded man chuckle out loud. "W-What's so funny? Our world was torn apart because of those things. I don't see how that can be funny."
"My apologies..." he said lowly, almost in a whisper. This was the second time the mysterious stranger apologized to me over something. It prompted me to soften my stance toward him, but it was only slight. "It is a scenario that brings much sorrow to your heart. I can sense it. Nonetheless, you must keep your heart strong. If not, then what more could you possibly do as the Keyblade's master."
"Well... I'll figure out how to get the islands back somehow, so no matter," I said, shaking my head back and forth. With the tension in my body starting to lighten up some more, the more I talked with him, I straightened my composure and managed a small smile. I was sure that the thought of returning to Destiny Islands with my friends was what enlightened me. Although, it sounded like a long shot. My heart continued to tell me that it would be possible at some point. I just had to aim for it to happen. "Anyway, there must be some reason why we're meeting again. Did you come all this way to find me? And what's all this about me being the Keyblade's master? I don't really understand what you mean."
"Yes," he answered slowly. But, before he went on, the hooded man turned away and shuffled over toward the Second District's courtyard. "Let us speak of this elsewhere. Let us go to the top of that shop and talk more there."
I was led to the top of the white building at the far end of the district. A sign named it as the "Gizmo Shop", and it didn't look particularly busy. Once we were inside, there was a staircase through a door leading to the upper floors. Eventually, we came to the rooftop that overlooked the town's shopping district. It was an interesting spot to have a conversation with someone. I hopped up onto a crate sitting near a blocked off part of the shop. Through the cracks of the wood, it looked like there was a giant bell behind the wall. As for the hooded man, he remained standing a short distance away from me.
What is he going to tell me? I wondered. He was silent for a moment longer, making me feel a little bit awkward just sitting there.
"In truth, I do find you to be a person of interest, someone with a heart strong enough to withstand the darkness." The man was very blunt with his wording, but I wasn't too unnerved listening to what he had to say. Actually, it was a little flattering to me. "For that reason have I come in search of you, girl. I know it was no mere chance for the Keyblade to have chosen the likes of you. Perhaps it was your blood that was the deciding factor. I haven't a clear idea yet as to why that may be the case. The answer must be hiding somewhere in one of these countless worlds."
"O-Okay," I nodded slowly. "But, I can't just go to other worlds only to figure that part out. I have to find my friends. They're out there somewhere. Lost. You know, like me. We were split up when that storm came, but I know that all of them are alive. Once I find them, then I can figure out why I have the Keyblade."
"Ah, yes," he hummed. "Well, there is plenty of time to learn the truth about you. If you wish to find your friends, then go and do so. Try and get to them before the Heartless do, if you wish to return home with them. They might even be somewhere in this town. But, it will not be much longer before the untamed Heartless wreak havoc on this world. Can you feel the looming darkness?"
My friends? Here in Traverse Town? I gasped in response to his claim. If that were true, then I had to go out and search for them right away. Riku, Sora, and Kairi. One or all, it didn't matter all that much. If I could find one, then it was possible to find the rest. I have to make sure I get to them before the darkness does.
間
Sora was lost but not afraid. This new world was something to really admire, especially with it being his first time. He wandered all around the First District, looking for anyone to help him figure out the layout of the town. At the same time, he was eager to find out where his friends were and wanted to find them on his own.
There was still no sign of them as he looked all over the place. Beyond those large gates at the top of the stairs– there had to be something interesting on the other side. Second District. Sora gulped and hesitantly walked through them to investigate. At the same time, he was worried about what he might run into if he went through the gates. Everyone he talked to in the First District tried to steer him away from ever going through these gates.
Immediately, there was trouble. Some man was running away from a threat Sora could not see. He fell to the ground all of a sudden, and shifted around to see the young boy standing there. His face was full of fright and pain. The injuries Sora could see on him looked terrible and painful. Sora tried to approach him to see if there was anything he could do to help, but the man yelled in agony as a light burst from his chest.
Sora watched with fright as a heart drifted away into the shadows, leaving the body of that poor man. And, in an instant, the heart was sucked into a black mass. Black webbing stuck around the heart, ensnaring it in darkness. That very darkness transformed into something else. It became a creature with red claws wearing a silver helmet. The eyes it scanned around with were glowing yellow.
The monster vanished at some point after appearing, and the body of the man who fell faded away into nothing. Sora was distraught at what he had just seen, but he could not take a moment to process what happened. Monsters appeared around him now. These creatures were awfully familiar.
"Ah!" Sora gasped as his silver-bladed sword appeared in his hands. "It's those creatures from the island!"
間
*Strange Whispers*
The hooded man took me out into the night of Traverse Town, back at the Second District. I was horrified to see the place crawling with those black monsters he told me were called Heartless. It looked like they were hunting for their next prey. They'd probably come after me if I stepped out of this alley. Rather than taking that daring step, I remained behind the man until he said it was okay to go out.
"Behold." He pointed out toward one of the shops, where someone was coming out from the safety of the building. My eyes widened when I realized it was the shopkeeper who sold me my clothes. What was he doing coming out when it wasn't safe? If he didn't go back in, then the Heartless would take him. "All hearts possess light in them, and all have at least a small amount of darkness. The Heartless aim to devour the light and bring out the darkness."
"Aah!"
I gasped at the sound of his screaming. The older man was confronted by a group of the Heartless, and they boldly attacked him. He was lucky to have avoided major harm, but I could see that the evil creatures landed a few scratches on him.
Get away, was what I wanted to shout. However, there was nothing I could do from here. The Heartless swarmed around him and gave the man no chance of escape. That was what I thought, though. The shop owner managed to find a way out by squirming through the dog pile of Heartless, and he ran away.
"Thank goodness, he got away…" I breathed a sigh of relief. "I-I should've gone over there to help him."
"You are not yet strong enough to thwart the efforts of those Heartless on your own." I was told. "Too many of them run wild and untamed."
The hooded man made a gesture to the upper level of the district. I was looking in the direction that the old man had run into. At first, I saw nothing but a pink light floating along. It turned out to be something else, at a closer glance. A crystalline heart that had a bright glow.
"What is that?" I asked, admiring the beautiful object. "It's…"
"Beautiful, indeed." The hooded man nodded, but his tone was less than kindly. "That, you see, is the heart of that dear old man you met hours ago. It appears that he was no match for the darkness."
"It disappeared into the darkness!" I gasped, witnessing a net of darkness wrapping around the heart. It swirled until becoming a creature unlike those Shadows. This one had a strange emblem on its chest, red claws, and a silver helmet. "Is that a Heartless?"
"Yes." He answered me calmly. "What you see here is an Emblem Heartless. It happens to all those who are consumed– transformation into Heartless. A cruel fate for those who never asked for it."
I was saddened deeply by all that I had seen. The kind old man who I met today was gone and turned into one of those evil creatures. Before I could dwell on it anymore, the hooded man took me away from the dangerous area and to the Third District. We were returning to the abandoned home for some rest. I was glad to be able to have a place to get some decent sleep after having to deal with so many of those Heartless.
This stranger was dark and suspicious, ever since I met him back on the islands. But, now, I'm glad to have someone with me. I had my doubts about him, and I got some weird vibes around him. He has helped me out through this, as of yet, though. I can at least get to know him before I start judging him.
"What's your name?" I asked the hooded man, finally. This house was dark with there being no light except from the burning candles. It was hard to see where he was, but that creepy silhouette could be made out by the window. "I… I never got it before."
"Many know of my name but the past is still misunderstood regarding who I am," he said to me. "I am Ansem."
"Ansem?" I repeated thoughtfully. There was something about the name that rang familiar, but I couldn't exactly say why that was. Nonetheless, I was grateful for the insight he gave me. "Well, Ansem. Thank you for helping me back there."
"It is merely my pleasure in doing so. The Keyblade's heir and chosen one cannot be allowed to fall so soon." Ansem's voice grew quiet. The shuffling of his robes told me that he was moving. I barely noticed that he was moving closer to me. "Though you may not understand your importance just yet, you will grow acquainted with your destiny as you travel the worlds."
"I..." My voice fell before I could mutter anything else. Suddenly, it felt like everything made no sense at all. I tried hard to recount everything he told me, but nothing was straightening out in my head. All of it was giving me a nagging headache. "Heartless, Keyblade, destiny. I can't wrap my head around it all!"
"Hm." Ansem hummed softly, locking his gaze with mine a moment later. He was thinking something; I could tell that there was something he wanted to say to me. I just didn't know what. "Piece by piece."
"Huh?" I blinked.
"You will be guided to your destined path, piece by piece," he said. Ansem paused and looked up at the night sky, then he scanned over the district. Is something coming? I wondered, quietly following his wandering gaze. "It seems we have very little time to discuss it. They draw near."
"Don't tell me you're talking about those Heartless things..." I groaned, searching about to try and spot any more of them. Those creatures were obviously a threat to people's lives and mine. If more of them really were coming and because I am still in this town, then there had to be something I could do about it. Although, I dreaded the idea of confronting a ton of Heartless by myself. "Those Heartless... What exactly are they? Can I do anything about them?"
"In short, they are denizens of pure darkness who mindlessly seek the hearts of men. Even you are a target, for the Keyblade lures them to you," Ansem answered promptly. "For now, if you wish to save this town, you must fight with all your might. Use the Keyblade and let your heart reign strong against them."
"R-Right," I nodded. Turning around to head for the way back down, I began walking off to see what I could do to prepare myself for what was to come. Then, something abruptly stopped me in my tracks and jolted me back around to face Ansem. "Hey! Have you seen any of my friends at all? I do want to help this place, but I also really need to find them."
"Ah, those other children from that tiny island," Ansem recalled. "I have seen that one boy again... He is in this town as well. Go find him, if you wish."
"So you have!" I grinned. Whether he was referring to Sora or Riku didn't matter all that much to me. He knew of them, probably, and it seemed like he had an idea about where one of them was. I was excited to be able to find someone at last. Ansem... I might've misjudged you in the beginning. "Thank you, Ansem. Will we meet again? You know a lot, a-and I'd like to talk to you more about all of this."
"In due time, our paths will cross again," he said to me. "Go, there is much to seek before then."
*Music End*