Ahllixe awoke, still weary from sleep. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, stretching like a little kitten. Her gleaming, red eyes scanned the darkness. Her mind was contently empty: no concerns, no worries, and no fears.

Well, she could count Vanitas as a growing fear. She didn't understand why he hated her so much. She didn't even know him, and she was certain he didn't know her either. So why this burning abhorrence?

"Good morning, Ahllixe." Ahllixe turned her head and watched Xehanort approach her. "I trust you slept well?"

"Yes. Thank you." she said timidly.

"Come now, child, you needn't be shy around me." Xehanort said.

"Okay." But it didn't calm her sheepish attitude. After all, she had just met this man and his scary apprentice yesterday. "Where's Vanitas?"

"He must be wandering around somewhere. Why do you care?"

"Oh, no reason, but... he doesn't seem to like me very much."

"Oh, posh." Xehanort waved her comment away. "He's always this way; a rather dramatic little boy. Nonetheless, I'm sure he'll open to you... some way or another."

Ahllixe nodded, ignoring the uneasy chills of his last words.

"Now, Ahllixe, shall we begin?" Xehanort said.

"Begin what?" Ahllixe said.

"Your training, of course. I promised I'd help shape you into what you can become. We ought to fill you up with as much knowledge as we can."

"All right..."

Xehanort extended his hand, and a corridor of darkness appeared. He gestured for Ahllixe to enter, and she obeyed. The two walked through the darkness within the darkness until it opened up. The end gushed with light, and Ahllixe winced from her burning corneas. She squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed them until the spots stopped dancing. Xehanort gently guided her through the corridor of darkness, and they stepped out on the other side.

Ahllixe slowly opened her eyes, allowing the light to fill her vision steadily.

"Woooow..." she gasped.

The scenery was a burst of relaxing colors: ocean blue, forest green, and sunset orange. The large expanse of water surrounded the island they stood on, lapping up the creamy shore of sand and making Ahllixe feel rather insignificant. She turned around, gazing up at the wild array of trees and plants, filled with green with pops of blue and lavender. It seemed like the trees had been formed to create huts and shacks. A wooden bridge connected the main island she stood on to a much smaller island resting right next to it. The sky above her glowed with orange and dark yellow, reflecting beautifully against the blue waters like a mirror. Ahllixe crouched down and grabbed a handful of sand. She lifted her hand, feeling the way the sand ran between her fingers.

"What is this place?" Ahllixe said, looking to Xehanort with wide eyes.

"Destiny Islands." Xehanort said. "My home from many years ago. I have only visited this island just recently, and before that, I hadn't set foot on these shores since I was a young man. One of the many worlds this universe has."

"Worlds? As in, there are more than one?"

"Yes. It is said that each star in the sky is a world." Xehanort said, gesturing for Ahllixe to look up. She did, and gasped in awe at the blazing white dots that started to appear in the sky, sparkling like diamonds. "We don't know how many worlds there are, but I guarantee that there are hundreds, thousands, perhaps millions out there, thriving with different people and creatures."

"Oh..." Ahllixe said, looking down at the ground.

"What's the matter? Was it something I said?"

"It kind of makes me feel really... small."

"You are not alone. There's always someone who wonders about what's out there; someone who desires to see those worlds."

"I'd like to see those worlds." Ahllixe said quietly.

"And you will." Xehanort said. "Which brings me to your training. The stronger you get and the wiser you become, the greater the opportunity will be for you to achieve your heart's deepest wishes."

"Heart..." Ahllixe said, resting a hand against her chest. "Do I have a heart?"

"It is small, almost minuscule, but it is there. Every creature that breathes has a heart, even Nobodies."

"Nobodies? Is... that what I am?"

"Very perceptive, child. Yes, you are. You were born from someone who has a strong heart. When the heart of a person, or a Somebody, is swallowed in darkness, the heart forms into a Heartless, and the body left behind becomes a Nobody."

"Wow. Was the girl I came from someone special?"

"Some might agree... but I view her as foolish." Xehanort said. "A girl like her couldn't handle the darkness brewing around her. She failed to recognize how darkness is needed in order to live long and prosper. Light begets darkness, and darkness shadows the light; you cannot have one without the other. Some believe the darkness should be vanquished entirely, but those are the ones that are the first to fall victim to their ignorance. Darkness needn't be vanquished, but channeled. Your Somebody is a weak and naive girl. I hope you do not turn out the same."

Ahllixe gulped. "No, of course not. I don't want that. I want to be smart! I want to be strong!" she said. The excited sparkle in her eyes returned. "I like listening to your stories. Can we visit some more worlds?"

Xehanort smirked. "As you wish, my dear. But my old bones cannot function as vivaciously as you. I wish to limit traveling so my poor soul may rest."

"Okay, Xehanort."

"Now that you are my apprentice, you may call me Master."

"Okay... Master." Ahllixe giggled. "Apprentice? Does that mean I'll have to train with Vanitas, too?"

"My, you are a curious child. I understand that, considering who you are. However, Vanitas has been under my mentoring much longer than you, and is therefore much more experienced. For now, I will teach you. When the time comes, and you're ready, I may allow Vanitas to train you."

"Train? You mean, like, fight?"

"That's enough questions for now. When you are older and wiser, you'll understand. Come, let's return to the Realm of Darkness."

Darkness. The word would've struck fear into people's hearts, but it brought comfort to Ahllixe's. The darkness was intriguing and exciting to her. If what Xehanort said was true, she hoped she could learn to harness the power of darkness.

She remembered yesterday, when that pool of darkness formed, and her pet Shadow, Veni, appeared. Excitement churned in her stomach. Maybe she already could.

Xehanort summoned a corridor of darkness, and Ahllixe marched readily into it.