Prologue Part II: The First Birth

Scream. Scream for all your worth. That's right scream.
You liar. You know you can't feel anything, quit pretending.
Quit fooling yourself. You don't fool the world anymore.
You're just a nobody.

That's right. Nobody.
Nothing.

Just.
Memories.

Just a grasp of breath.
Just one last hopeless chance.

A young Ienzo stared out of he's window watching the children play. He wanted to be down there, he wanted to experience the fun. He'd never had the chance to make friends and lead a normal childhood. He stood there in a one piece plain baby-blue pyjama suit, he's silver hair growing over he's eyes.

"Ienzo darling." He's mother strained.

Ienzo stared down at the medicine in he's hands solemnly before continuing to he's mother's room. She was ill. He's father was no longer with them and there was only him to look after her. Ansem supplied the medicine, and taught him knowledge into the world of science. Ienzo knew he's mother wouldn't make it. Ienzo understood every word Ansem taught him, he understood more than he let on. To them he was just a five year old boy who they could spin fantasies to. He'd discover a cure one day. He couldn't save he's mother. But he'd save anyone else he could. He poured a spoonful and helped feed it to he's mother. One day.

"What's the catch with just us?" Xigbar asked once the four members were alone.

"Because I can only trust these words between us." Xemnas told them, "The others either do not know, or it may cause a bit of… unrest with the ones who do."

"I take it this dates back to the Radiant Garden days?" Vexen asked.

Xemnas nodded, "We know full well we weren't the first of our kind – That's when Ansem really started getting he's back up."

Zexion's hairs rose on the back of he's neck as he frooze to the spot clutching he's seat. It didn't go un-noticed by Xemnas as he may have hoped.

"Oh come now Zexion; we have only you to thank for that." Xemnas smirked watching he's unease, "Calm youself, you have no heart, you can feel no remorse. Only remember what it was."

Zexion remained silent.

"What did Ansem do with her?" Xemnas asked.

Silence past before Zexion spoke, "I don't know. He never told me."

Xemnas glared, "He kept you in touch."

"That was all."

"He took you to visit."

Zexion fell silent again.

"Did you not know we knew? Ansem was too soft to separate you from the only person you had. He did it more out of fear over you getting involved in our darker experiments. He was a fool."

Xigbar and Vexen could only watch the smallest member get slaughtered.

"Come now, you wanted to help her then, we'll bring her here. We're all after hearts."

"I don't know where she is."

"Now number six, do you think you're noble to defend the location? Ansem's last wishes to you maybe? Look where you are because of him bringing you to the Castle."

"I don't know-"

"How ca-"

"Hey maybe the kid really doesn't know." Xigbar interrupted.

"Don't ever - EVER interrupt me again number two." Xemnas glowered.

"It wouldn't be hard to figure out Ansem's thinking pattern, and he would have always of left some form of record behind." Vexen evaluated, "I have no doubt Zexion was not entrusted with the location for fear that we ever did try to find her to further research on. But I assume you believe it's the key to finding out our full extent in this form, and what happened?"

"I do." Xemnas replied calmly, "And so much more."

"What to you think they're up to?" Xaldin asked walking down the corridor.

"I don't know- but I don't like it." Lexaeus replied, "The sooner we find the others the sooner we can find out."

"Larxene and Axel always had something up their sleeves. Do you think we should be doing this?"

"What?"

"Wasting a second chance following after Xemnas. We weren't a part of the apprentices; we were simply guards, which got swept into this. That's why I have a bad feeling about what they're discussing."

Lexaeus contemplated it briefly, "We have no choice for now. If the worst comes to worse, we can make a move together."

Xaldin nodded grinning, "Agreed. I'm heading to Twilight Town I'll see you around." He opened a dark portal.

"You know Axel's not foolish enough to return there."

"I think he may he foolish enough to make a brief return and then leave. Someone may have seen him."

Lexaeus nodded, "Good luck my friend."

"You to." Xaldin told him taking he's portal.

Lexaeus opened he's own, he was planning to search Castle Oblivion. He knew Larxene wouldn't be willing to re-join Xemnas without a fight - maybe she had the right idea. She'd always regretted joining with them in the first place. Maybe all four of the missing members had the right idea.

"Yen Sid, I've been seeing them again."

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. You may go now, can you ask for Flora, Fauna and Merryweather to come see me please?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm going to make some more sandwiches." A restless Aerith declared standing up.

"Aerith sit down. You've made them enough sandwiches for one day." Yuffie told her cleaning her oversized shuriken, "Vicky's still up there anyway so they clearly haven't finished the first batch."

"You're right." Aerith sighed, "I'm just really nervous lately."

"Hey, they're probably isn't even a threat, King Mickey's just being extra cautious." Yuffie smiled, "We can go back up and help excavate the area later if you want."

"I guess." Aerith replied sitting back down nervously, "I just have a really bad feeling lately, and I feel useless."

"So, I haven't seen you around here before." Sora smiled food in he's mouth and stuffing a further two sandwiches into he's mouth almost simultaneously,

"God Sora, chew your food." Kairi sighed.

"Hey- These are really good sandwiches!" Sora defended.

Vicky laughed, "Aerith made them. She's been getting really nervous lately and wanted to help out more."

"So what's your story anyway?" Riku asked.

"Oh- I was just one of the people who got misplaced when Radiant Garden fell into darkness; I found my way back home a few months ago." She told them, "And anyway, I've always been sat in the background helping out at Cid's shop when you've briefly visited, thanks for noticing me guys!" She playfully pouted.

Sora grinned cheekily, "Sorry."

"It's cool. I just hope everyone else manages to find their way home soon that's still missing." She smiled weakly.

"It's hard to believe this far on the destructions still around from the heartless." Kairi stated sadly.

"Well we always knew the heartless aren't gone for good, we see the occasional gathering of them but they're on a much lesser scale and more controllable." King Mickey added.

"Hey as long as me and Riku are about there's nothing we can't beat!" Sora encouraged triumphantly striking a heroic pose, before high fiving Riku.

"And just what about us?" Donald demanded.

"And you and Goofy to." Sora grinned.

'Axel! Axel, w-what am I doing here, oh my- Axel.'

'Hey come on little buddy it's gonna be fine. Got it memorised?'