As he traveled through the darkness, Xanthas reminisced. There was something strange about his being…something he'd forgotten. He shouldn't be able to remember his human days like this…he shouldn't have these phantom feelings…love…regret…despair. Something happened to him when that creature had taken his heart. Something extraordinary.

---

Asher was knocked back. Something had hit him, hard. When he opened his eyes, he saw only darkness. He was falling into darkness.

What…what is this place?

Asher found his mind blanking, his thoughts…his memories…his being slowly fading away.

What's…happening…to me?

He looked down, and saw his very hand starting to vanish, becoming part of the darkness.

Is this…the end? I don't understand. I don't even know what hit me…Oh, no. Trista…she's gonna hate me for this…I'll never get to see her again…

Asher managed to utter a single word, as a tear dropped from his eye. "Trista…"

Suddenly, Asher saw a light. He felt a strange warmth that he'd never felt before. His eyes closed as the light surrounded him, and flowed through him.

When he opened his eyes again, he was on the street in Tempest Town. The creature that had stolen his heart was there.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­---

Xanthas thought hard. According to everything he'd read, all the research he'd done on the Heartless, he was sure he should have been turned into a Heartless. He was sure he should have lost his heart to the darkness forever. He wasn't sure why he was thinking of all this now, but while he was running from Remnant, he figured he might as well go see someone who might know they answers he sought. And he knew just where to find him. He opened another portal of darkness, and stepped out of it into a world.

He was greeted with a strange look from a blonde man, seemingly in his late thirties or so. "It's very odd that a portal of darkness would open directly in my office. I certainly never expected a Nobody to try to set foot here. Just what are you up to?"

Xanthas stepped closer. "Wise Ansem…I seek knowledge. I need your help."

"And just how may I be of help to one such as yourself? Or perhaps first, I should be informed of whom I am giving advice to, and for what purpose."

"Sir…my name is Xanthas."

"Xanthas…Hm. How quaint. But what is your TRUE name, my friend?"

"My true name…is Asher. I used to live in a place called Tempest Town, but I was attacked…and my heart was taken from me."

"I see. If your heart was taken from you, then you are not truly Asher."

"That's why I came to see you. I know I shouldn't be Asher. I know I should be a Heartless, or if I was Asher, and somehow overcame being a Heartless, I shouldn't be a Nobody. I was wondering if you might be able to help me find out why."

"Interesting. So, you were not turned into a Heartless, but you didn't regain your heart?"

"No, I didn't. I'm stuck like this, unfeeling…"

"Hm. The heart is a strange thing. It cannot be contained by any simple vessel, save a human…and a Keyblade. It seeks a vessel…it won't rest until it finds one. If you did not regain your heart, then it has found a new vessel. But don't fret. I am sure that once you find it, you can get it back without too much difficulty."

"But why am I a Nobody?"

"I assume that you are a Nobody for the simple reason that you are not a Heartless. There are only two types of creature that do not entirely have a heart. There are Nobodies, who don't have a heart at all, and Heartless, who have lost their heart to the darkness. It would appear that your incident pulled out of the darkness that would have otherwise swallowed your heart, but at the moment it was most vulnerable, something took it from you."

"But what would have pulled me from the darkness?" Xanthas asked.

"Only strong emotion and strong connections can break darkness, my friend. Were I to guess, I would say that love would be enough to bring someone back from the darkness."

"Love…"

Ansem smiled. "It was love that sent you on this quest, was it not?"

Xanthas frowned. "Not even love…the memory…"

Ansem chuckled. "Well, that's something that not even I could have foreseen. Someone fueling a journey on a simple memory of an emotion. Your love must be strong for it to have brought you this far. I'm afraid that I have no advice to give you."

"Are you sure you can't help me at all?"

"You seem to have a handle on the situation as it is, my friend. What you lack is confidence. You have confidence that you will find your heart, but you do not have confidence that you will know what to do when you do find it. Be optimistic. I am sure that when you find your heart, what to do next will come naturally to you."

Xanthas began to walk away. "Well, I suppose you did help me…in a way. Thanks for that."

"Leaving so soon?"

"I need to keep moving. I'd rather not draw Remnant here."

"Remnant? Who is Remnant?"

"He's what's left…of Xemnas."

Ansem's eyes widened. "Xemnas? Xeanhort's Nobody…is still alive?!"

"Apparently."

"So…after all that trouble, Sora and Riku didn't finish the job."

"I kinda gotta get going before he finds me…and you. You appear to know him."

"Yes, he was my apprentice, at a time. When he turned into a Heartless to try to take control of Kingdom Hearts, Sora defeated him. However, he returned as a Nobody, still determined to control Kingdom Hearts. I assumed that Sora and his friend Riku defeated Xemnas…But I guess I was wrong."

"I guess so. I guess the guy wouldn't really be happy to see you, either?"

Ansem laughed. "No, I suppose not. He'd probably try to destroy me."

"All the more reason for me to leave now."

"Remember, Xanthas…Have confidence. When you find your heart, you'll know what to do. And don't be afraid. You won't lose your strength. Your strength is inside your heart. With a heart, pure and strong, you cannot lose a battle."

Xanthas smiled, and opened a portal to the darkness. "I'll keep that in mind, Ansem. In the meantime, keep safe. I don't know what Remnant's gonna do when he finds out I'm still running. Probably not half of what he's gonna do once I start fighting back."

Xanthas disappeared.