||Episode 2 - Part IV: A Dark Cloud Over Town||

*Night of Fate*

Much to my dismay, there were Heartless pouring into the town from all over. I had no idea where they came from, but they were snatching residents of the town from left and right. So it was true that they were coming to invade this town.

The Heartless chasing after me provided a grim reminder of all that happened at the islands. But, the difference now was that I knew they were after my heart. Losing it would probably mean becoming one of them, just like what I saw earlier with the man who owned the clothing store.

"No, there's too many for me to fight on my own..." I grimaced as dozens of Heartless surrounded me at the gates leading back to the Second District. Dozens more were rising from the ground as I stood there. It turned out to be a bad idea coming as far as the Third District, but I didn't realize they would be here so soon. Already, I took out a good portion of them, but more kept replacing those that were defeated. It was endless! Gotta get someplace safe.

Taking in a deep breath, I slipped through the gates and slammed them behind me to try and prevent the Heartless from following me. They were trying to break through, but I held them back for as long as I could. Not that my strength would last against the lot of them. I could feel all of the Heartless pushing back against me.

Sora... Riku... Kairi...

I gritted my teeth as I struggled to hold back the doors. The hotel wasn't too far from this point. Through the alleyway to the next door would cross me over to the courtyard, then the hotel would be right there. It was the safest place I could think of going to for now.

No doubt, the Heartless might try and get through to me there. I had to try and escape regardless of that fact. Taking in a deep breath, I pushed off the gate doors and made a mad dash to the hotel, where I was sure I could safely stay for a time.

Riku, I hope I find you first. Where are you?!

間

"They'll come at you out of nowhere."

Sora whipped around, spotting a man leaning against a light pole. They were in the First District's courtyard, just outside the Accessory Shop where Cid was working. He was a tall man who looked very intimidating with that cold gaze of his. Nervously brandishing his Keyblade, Sora faced him with a glare and stood his ground.

"Who are you?" he asked, swallowing a thick glob stuck in his throat.

"And they'll keep coming after you as long as you continue to wield that Keyblade." The man stood up straight and continued speaking as if Sora had said nothing. His dark blue eyes trailed over the silver and gold Keyblade in the boy's hands, referencing what he spoke of. Suddenly, the stranger sighed and shook his head. Light briefly traced over his face, giving Sora a good look at his facial features. Most amazing was the long scar running diagonally over his nose. "But why? Why would it choose a kid like you?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Sora growled in annoyance. "Who are you anyway?!"

"Never mind it," the man responded curtly. Sora didn't notice it before, but there was a silver sword in the man's other hand. With his free one, as he walked toward the boy, he reached out for the Keyblade. "Now, let's see that key."

"What?" Sora gritted his teeth and jumped away to keep him from taking it. "There's no way you're getting this! I need it to find my friends!"

"Alright, then have it your way..." He frowned and gripped his large sword tightly. Sora knew he was in for a fight, but he was willing to put up with it if he had to.

間

I sat on the bed in my hotel room with a damp cloth draped around my neck. My escape from the Heartless was narrow, but I managed to get away and retreat to my room. There was no sign of them when I went out to look today, I thought to myself about my friends. Now it was too dangerous to wander around outside, unless I wanted to fight for my life the whole time. Although, I had to admit that the Heartless were good practice for me in wielding the Keyblade.

Swinging around the Keyblade was getting easier and easier with each confrontation I had against the Heartless. Those shadows could hardly take a single hit from it. Even that much was enough to surprise me, but it was a good surprise. They wanted it, most likely, but taking it from me was a risky effort for them. The only problem was... I wasn't sure if I could handle huge swarms on my own. No, my strength was not enough for something as daring as that. I had no chance without someone else who could fight. That was why I needed to find Sora or Riku, whichever one of them was here.

"You did well to return unscathed." I popped my head up when Ansem suddenly appeared. Of course he was standing in the shadowy part of the room, but I was quicker at spotting him this time. At least he didn't startle me as bad, unlike the past two times we met. He's gotta have some kind of teleportation powers, I thought for sure. There was no other way to explain him getting in this room when the doors were locked tight. "How was your search?"

"Not so good," I said quietly, leaning back against the bed frame. "I couldn't find anyone... except those Heartless. They're everywhere."

"Yes, and they are adamant in taking this world," Ansem said. Closing my eyes, I thought of that horrific scenario. I found out that these people came here to escape the Heartless, but now they were in the same kind of danger that they were trying to get away from. "The Heartless will eventually track you here. Rest while you can."

As good as rest sounded, I thought for sure that I had enough of it. How could I rest now knowing that this town and I were in danger? Whichever way I looked at the situation, I continued to see myself running out there into danger and fighting. That was all there was to it, really. Knowing Sora and Riku, they'd be the first to run into danger if they had a fighting chance. I did learn that from them...

Sooner or later, the Heartless would find me. I was prepared to face that truth, and I was ready to fight for my life if it meant finding my friends. They would do the same for me, right? I thought to myself about Sora, Riku, and Kairi. Then, I better do everything in my power to help them.

My mind flickered back to the Keyblade at that moment, when I built up the resolve to fight. It first came to me when I was about to be snatched away by the darkness. A voice whispered to me. No, there had to be two different voices, I thought. One urging me to follow Riku into the darkness, and the other insisted that I release my power and fight the darkness. I had to assume that this power it was referring to was this Keyblade.

Starlight, I said its name in my head. That was the name that came to me the moment I received this peculiar sword, and it stuck ever since. With the experience I got from fighting the Heartless and with what Ansem told me to do when confronting the Heartless in this world, I knew that the Keyblade would help me through this huge obstacle. It was a matter of willingness, wasn't it? Yeah... I can do this. I know I can with Starlight.

"Ansem." I spoke, calling out to the hooded man in a soft-toned voice. He was still there with me as my attention remained fixated on the Keyblade. So many things that I wanted to ask him, but the lack of time prevented me from doing so. I could feel the darkness approaching. "What can I do to stop the Heartless in this town?"

"...Somewhere, there is a leading force," he said after a short moment of silence. "Defeat it, and the Heartless attack will be thwarted."

"So, it's like they have a boss," I realized, looking up from my Keyblade. Because the Heartless numbers were so high all around Traverse Town, I didn't doubt that it meant their leader was someplace nearby. "Alright, then I'm going to go out and find it-"

Crash!

Coming from the hotel room next door to mine, I could hear loud shouts and the sound of shattering glass. I jumped off the bed and held Starlight tightly in my left hand, ready to face what I knew was on the other side of the door connecting my room to the other. This feeling in my chest... I gulped. It throbbed and pounded loudly. The Heartless have finally come.

"Let us meet again another time," Ansem said to me before disappearing.

I nodded and barged through the door with the expectation that there were tons of Heartless attacking unsuspecting people. But, when I got through, I noticed that no one was there. Broken glass was spilled out on the carpet. It came from the window looking out at the balcony and alley where I woke up.

"Don't bother with the small fry! Find the leader!"

Someone's outside? I gasped, hearing a man down in the alley. Quickly running to the balcony, I peered down below to see many Heartless getting tossed aside. There was a person knocking them down with a giant key. My eyes widened in surprise as I watched the skilled fighter defeat the Heartless in his way. He had spiky brown hair and red shorts. Big yellow shoes that were a size too large for his feet. He was running passed a majority of the enemies, so they weren't entirely what he was concerned with. That boy down there was going after the Heartless boss!

"Sora!" I shouted, but he didn't hear me. Sora was too far now and heading to the Second District. "I've gotta catch up to him..."

I jumped down from the balcony to land on the brick ground below, taking out two Heartless attempting to go after Sora. If he was going straight after their leader, then I had to do so as well. He'd have a hard time if he was fighting all alone. Apart from that, I couldn't leave one of my best friends to fend for himself.