Chapter VI; Heart of Light
Outside of the castle in Enchanted Dominion Terra turned to look at X. X looked up at him calmly, waiting for whatever it was Terra was going to say.
"Can you use that dark corridor thing to follow me?" Terra asked. X shook his head.
"No, I'd have to know where you were going." He replied. Terra looked at X in confusion. He blinked a few times trying to figure out X's method of travel.
"How did you know I was here then?" Terra asked. X nervously rubbed the back of his head. He gave a small grin before replying.
"I kinda, had a smaller Heartless follow you," X explained nervously. Terra blinked in confusion yet again. It was clear he really hadn't been taught anything about the Heartless. But why he hadn't was a mystery to X. Heartless were thought to be the only real threat to the light since the ancient war. Dream Eaters were so rare now, a Nightmare was no threat.
"There are smaller Heartless?" Terra asked. X nodded.
"A lot of them. It's pretty unusual for one to look human like I do." He explained. Terra frowned and nodded. He placed his hand on his chin in thought. Eventually, he looked up at X again.
"Can you go into the lanes between and not be harmed?" Terra asked. X thought about it for a minute before nodding.
"I think I should be able to." X said. Terra nodded and put on his armor and turned his key into the glider.
"Hop on, we'll stick together." Terra said. X looked at him warily before doing as asked. It was rather uncomfortable for the both of them but it would be a time saver. Terra looked at X amazed as they went through the lanes between. The blonde wasn't affected at all by the darkness that supposedly hung close. He looked more relaxed and at ease than Terra had ever seen him. Heartless must have been at home in the dark.
The next world the arrived in they were inside of a castle. The castle was dark and far from welcoming. They found themselves on the lower floors, not far from a woman who looked to be a queen of some kind. She stood in front of an ornate mirror.
"Spirit of the mirror, come from farthest space. Through wind and darkness, I summon thee, speak! Show me thy face." The queen said rather dramatically. X was about to make a comment about how crazy the queen was, after all, she was talking to a mirror, but was stopped when the mirror actually responded.
"What wouldst thou know, my queen?" The mirror asked. X blinked in surprise and looked at Terra. Terra shrugged and returned to watching from around the corner they were hiding behind.
"Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" The queen asked. X frowned glancing around Terra to see into the room. The queen didn't look that impressive to him, but her vanity was great.
"Famed is thy beauty, majesty, but hold, a lovely maid I see. Alas, she is more fair than thee." The mirror replied in the same neutral voice it had before.
"Alas for her! Reveal her name." The queen demanded.
"Lips as red as the rose, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow." The mirror responded, rather than giving a name. The queen however still knew who the mirror was talking about.
"Snow White!" The queen snapped in anger. X held back a snicker.
"Someone couldn't think of a better name. I thought X was bad." He muttered under his breath so only Terra could hear him. Terra shot X a glare but was smiling a little, as if holding back a laugh.
"A mirror that knows and sees everything," Terra said quietly. "How about that."
"The heart of Snow White doth shine bright. Beware, my queen, a heart of light." The mirror said. Terra frowned looking to X.
"Another one? Wait. What if Master Xehanort is here?" Terra asked. X frowned.
"Then we should probably get looking." X whispered. Before the two could sneak away to begin their search the queen turned towards them.
"Who goes there?" The queen asked in a demanding tone. X rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"She has super hearing too." He muttered. Terra ignored him and went to face the queen. X hung back watching from a distance.
"My name is Terra. I'm looking for a man named Xehanort...Master Xehanort. I thought maybe you might have seen him." Terra said calmly. He was surprisingly calm for having been caught trespassing. X wondered if it was bravery or stupidity.
"That name is of no consequence to me." The queen said. Terra nodded and turned to leave, returning to where X stood. Before he could get far the queen seemed to realize something. She spoke catching Terra's attention. "Wait. I have a task for you. If you succeed I will ask the mirror where you might find this Master Xehanort."
"And the mirror will know?" Terra asked suspiciously. The queen crossed her arms angrily.
"Do you dare to question me?" The queen asked. X glared at her from his hiding place.
"Yes." X muttered too himself. Luckily neither the queen nor Terra heard him. Terra considered the offer for a moment. He looked up at the queen before nodding.
"What is this task?" Terra asked. The queen gave an evil smile to Terra.
"There is a young maid who resides in this castle. Her name is Snow White. Kill her. And to makes sure you do not fail, bring back her heart in this." The queen gave a box that had a dagger as the lock. X blinked in alarm. He hoped Terra wasn't actually considering this.
"Her heart? I don't understand. You're after the hearts of light too?" Terra asked looking at the queen in confusion. The queen turned away.
"What I demand is her life. I've had more than enough of her light." The queen snapped.
"What did this maiden do to you?" Terra asked curiously.
"That is no concern of yours. Now, heed my words. My radiance is all the light this kingdom needs." The queen snapped. Terra didn't look convinced but decided not to question it at the moment.
"Where can I find her?" Terra asked, sounding almost exasperated.
"Outside the castle, there is a glade of wildflowers. You are dismissed. Go seek her there." The queen ordered. Terra nodded and turned away once again. His eyes met with X's but he didn't say anything.
The two got out into the main portion of the castle before actually speaking. Terra was looking at the box with the dagger in it in thought. X frowned watching him. It wasn't like Terra to actually consider something like this. At least not the Terra X had seen.
"I think this is a bad idea," X stated. Terra glanced at him with a small smile. It was like he was glad to see X showing concern.
"I'm not going to hurt her. I'm going to ask her about Master Xehanort." Terra said simply. X blinked in surprise. Terra wasn't as easy to read as he thought.
"Oh, I thought you were actually going to do as the crazy queen asked," X said with a nervous laugh. Terra raised an eyebrow at him.
"Would you?" Terra asked. X shook his head.
"No. I'd probably just make her get the mirror to tell me," X replied. Terra looked at him curiously, setting the box on a fountain as they passed.
"How?" He asked. X smirked.
"Use your imagination." He said. Terra looked at him in disbelief. X shrugged looking away as they continued their way to the glade.
As promised in the glade was a young girl, probably not much younger than Terra. She had short dark hair that could definitely be compared to ebony. X wasn't one to judge the color of her lips, just because that was kind of creepy. Her skin was pretty pale, maybe to the point it could be considered snow-like.
"Think that's her?" X asked. Terra looked at her and shrugged.
"Let's find out," Terra said. He approached her calmly, not speaking. He stopped behind her. He looked like he was about to speak but couldn't find the words. The girl turned and looked at Terra. She jumped a little but didn't seem scared. X slowly drew closer, cautious of the girl.
"Oh, hello. Who are you?" The girl asked cheerfully. X blinked in surprise. Terra also seemed to be surprised. That wasn't the normal reaction.
"Aren't you startled?" Terra asked. The girl tipped her head to the side.
"Should I be?" She asked. Terra looked at her with a smile. X peeked around Terra and looked at her. He allowed his eyes to turn yellow, taking a look at her heart. Just as Aurora's had been it was pure light. Not a trace of darkness. It almost unnerved X.
"Is something the matter?" The girl asked looking at X. X stepped away from her quickly. Terra glanced at X over his shoulder. He turned to the girl again, trying to take her attention off of X.
"Does the name Xehanort mean anything to you?" Terra asked quickly. The girl thought about it for a moment.
"Why...why no. I don't think I've ever heard that name." She said tilting her head to the side. Terra sighed looking to X.
"Now what?" Terra asked. X shrugged looking at the castle. The best bet was to go back to the castle and force the information out of the queen. Before he could suggest that a group of Unversed appeared, surrounding the young girl. "Unversed!" Terra said in shock.
Terra and X summoned their weapons preparing to fight the creatures. The girl screamed in terror before taking off towards the woods.
"Hey, wait! Don't go in there alone!" Terra called after her.
"That's how you get killed!" X called. Terra gave him a dirty look. X looked at Terra with wide eyes. He shook his head in question. Terra shook his head in return, confirming that wasn't ok. Terra turned to go after the girl but was stopped by the Unversed.
"Out of my way." Terra demanded. The Unversed, of course, ignored his request.
Before Terra could begin fighting off the Unversed X shot forward and sent several of the creatures flying back. Terra blinked in surprise. It was the first time he and really seen X fight. Unlike Terra, he was more of a speed type. He moved from target to target so quickly he was almost a blur. What was odd was that X seemed to have a specific tactic for dealing with each Unversed. Some he'd sneak up behind. Others he would go for head-on. It was like he had fought the Unversed for a long time.
Before long all of the Unversed were gone. Terra looked to where the girl had vanished with a frown.
"She's gone." Terra said disappointedly. X nodded.
"Looks like it. What's the plan now?" X asked. Terra sighed and looked at the castle.
"I guess we go back and try the mirror for answers." He decided. X laughed and shook his head.
"Right, good luck." X said. Terra raised an eyebrow at him.
"You're coming too." Terra said. X gave a heavy sigh.
"Ok. If you insist." He said in defeat.
Back in the castle, they returned to where the queen has been. This time X didn't waste his time hiding. The queen turned to face them. Her face was livid as she glared at Terra, completely ignoring X.
"How dare you return here you blundering fool!" The queen yelled. Terra looked at her concerned.
"What are you talking about." Terra asked. The queen glared at him.
"I ordered you to bring me Snow White's heart!" The queen snapped. Terra nodded slowly as if just remembering.
"A request I chose to ignore. You claim to be radiant, but all I see are shadows of jealousy, hanging thick on your heart." Terra said simply. His eyes narrowed at her as if he was trying to see her heart like X could.
"You will pay for such insolence! Magic mirror on the wall, consume this fool, once and for all!" The queen yelled. Terra summoned his keyblade, preparing for a fight.
"Alas my liege, that I cannot do. I have no power save answers true." The mirror said calmly. Terra seemed to relax a little but didn't put away the keyblade.
"You dare defy your queen?" The queen yelled. X looked at her in disbelief.
"It's not defying you, it literally can't do anything," X said exasperatedly. The queen ignored X's complaint. She threw something, a potion of some kind, at the mirror. The mirror glowed brightly. Terra narrowed his eyes at the mirror in confusion.
"What?" Terra asked. Before an answer could be given the mirror flashed and Terra disappeared. X blinked a few times confused.
"It ate Terra," X said in surprised. "I hope that's not permanent."
"Who are you to dare trespass the queen's castle?" The queen asked angrily. She must have just noticed the young blondes existence. X glared at her.
"A creature from the dark. I wouldn't mess with me. Would end up nasty for you." X said calmly. He watched the queen for a moment. He let his eyes turn yellow once more. Her heart was dark, but not in a healthy way. It looked sick and dying. It was oddly small as well, hardly worth noting. "You know, Terra's not wrong. You have one ugly heart. Maybe I should cut it out for you."
"You would not dare." The queen said raising her chin as if looking down on X. X matched her look with a smirk.
"You're right. Can't go making a scene. Gotta behave." X said, venom seeping into his voice. The queen looked at X afraid but didn't speak. The silence lasted for the rest of the time Terra was in the mirror. The mirror shined brightly once again before Terra reappeared.
"How did you escape?" The queen asked. Terra didn't reply, only putting his keyblade away. He looked straight at the queen calmly.
"Now you will ask the mirror. Where can I find Master Xehanort?" Terra asked. The queen glared at him but turned to the mirror angrily.
"Magic mirror, instruct this knave. Give him the answer he doth crave!" The queen ordered. Anger was clear in both her voice and on her face.
"Beyond both light and dark he dwells, where war was waged upon the fells." The mirror said. Terra frowned at it.
"Is that all?" Terra asked. The mirror remained silent. Seeing that was all he was going to get he nodded. "Thanks. You've been a big help." Terra said turning to leave. X followed after him, waving at the queen as he left. The queen glared at him.
"Did that mean anything to you?" Terra asked as he and X walked through the castle corridors. X shrugged.
"Could have. I'm not sure. I'll let you know if I figure it out." X answered. Terra nodded.
"Right," Terra said, walking a little ways ahead. X watched him in interest. It surprised X, Terra didn't know about this. What was Eraqus teaching his students?