Hello, everyone! I'm back with chapter 2 of RE: Shattered Memories. Let's get going!
Chapter 2 : A Dark Encounter
Atlas was walking around in Twilight Town, on the Market Street going down the slope road and saw his two friends at the bottom of the street, talking to each other. The first one has long brown hair, blue eyes and pale sand skin, wearing a white hoodie over a black T-shirt, black jeans, brown steel toed boots, and a black hat with a flat silver bill. The second one has peach colored skin, brown eyes, dark brown hair at the top and turned blond at the bottom in a side braid that reached her waist, wearing dark blue jeans, a long sleeved white shirt with black claw mark designs on the front, a black cloak, a silver chain star necklace and black lace up boots with a silver buckle.
"Hey, Pep. Hey, Kyla." Atlas said as he approached the two.
"Hey." The two said back.
"How was your sleep?" The second girl, now named Pep, asked Atlas.
"Strange as usual." Atlas answered.
"Weird dream?" The first girl, now named Kyla, said.
"Yep." Atlas simply answered.
"Blur again?" Kyla added.
"Yeah, again." Atlas simply said.
"That's what you said the last two times." Pep reminded him.
"Well, they were a blur. Ain't my fault I have a bad memory when it comes to dreams." Atlas said.
"Or the dreams are hiding their meaning from you." A random voice from behind Atlas spoke.
Atlas, Pep and Kyla turned towards the direction of the voice to see a man in a black hooded coat. He is wearing a black shirt under the coat, which was only zipped at the upper part of his torso and the sleeves look a bit tight, black gloves, black pants and black boots that reaches up to below the knees. All they could see under the hood was the mouth, which had facial hair that was grey and had a mustache and goatee style.
"Usually you remember a strange dream, but some become a blur to hide its meaning. It could be a future event that has yet to happen, as I experienced." The hooded man continued as he walked to them.
"I see. Who are you?" Atlas asked.
"Just a man who may have an answer to your problem." The hooded man simply answered.
"OK..." Kyla said to herself.
The man then puts his index finger on Atlas' forehead, "You have seen people who are complete strangers to you. Yet, you also seen four others who may have a connection to you, one way or another."
"How did you do that?" Atlas asked.
"Simple, I looked." The man smirked as he puts his hand down and puts his hands behind his back.
"I.. You know what, never mind." Atlas said, but quickly dismissed.
"Well, if you want the answer, follow me." The man said as he then started to walk up the slope road.
The three followed the man up to the train station, where the four stopped near the balcony that shows the view of the town and the sunset. "All right, why do you want to come up here instead?"
"For the sunset, of course. Plus, I prefer to have no one eavesdrop on my conversations." The man answered as he looks at the sunset.
"I hate it when people do that too." Atlas said to himself.
"Now, the strangers in your dreams are people who are heroes of the worlds in our universe." The man started.
"These heroes have fought countless enemies from the darkness who threaten the light. And only a few months ago, they have defeated the man who was behind those threats and the worlds have been saved from the darkness that would destroy them. However, not long ago, a new threat has risen, leading to another conflict." The man continued.
"Battles between light and darkness? Wouldn't that be like an endless war?" Atlas questioned.
"What makes you think there won't be an end?" The man asked.
"Light and darkness are always around us, always together, never separated. What would be the point?" Atlas answered.
"Simple. The threats from the darkness are named the heartless, creatures that seeks hearts of those who reside in the light realm, people or even the world themselves. There are also creatures that are made from someone's will named nobodies, empty shells of someone who has their hearts taken by the darkness."
"Then if that is the case, what about the man you said they defeated?" Kyla asked.
"His name is Master Xehanort, a devious man with many tricks up his sleeve. He was behind the suffering of the heroes that protects the worlds in the realm of light." The man answered.
"However, he believes that light and darkness should be in balance together. But, the actions he has made during his conquest were very dastardly, viewing himself to the heroes as a villain." He continued.
"Then, why would he do all that if he wants balance?" Pep asked.
"He believes that light has excluded the darkness to the point where the light has become like tyrants to it, even though the light is simply defending themselves and the realm, due to the fear that the darkness will consume it as it did long ago if they didn't protect it." The man answered.
"How do you know all this?" Atlas asked.
"I have met this man once. We talked about our views and ideals on this subject." He simply answered.
"Then, what is your opinion on the subject?"
"I'm afraid that would have to be for another time. I believe I didn't catch your names." He answered.
"Atlas."
"Pepper, but call me Pep for short."
"Kyla."
"And I believe it's fair that you give us your name." Atlas said.
"My name is Zander. Until we meet again." The man, now named Zander, simply said as he reached out his left hand for a handshake.
Atlas gladly shook it, only to start feeling a little pain. He then looks down at his hand, becoming slowly covered in darkness. He tries to pull away, but it looks like Zander had an iron grip. The other two noticed and Pep tries to pull him away, but Kyla goes to punch Zander. Zander simply jumped back after he let go of Atlas' hand to avoid Kyla's punch.
"What did you do to him!?" Kyla yelled at Zander.
"I'll tell you, next time we meet." Zander simply said with a smirk.
He then summons a small portal under Atlas' feet, him then falling into it as it then quickly closed up, preventing Pep and Kyla from chasing after him.
"Where did you send him!?" Pep yelled at Zander.
"To a different world-" Zander managed to answer before dodging a downward swing from a silver haired teen, landing on the rail of the balcony. The teen got ready to attack again with his key shaped blade.
"Well, I didn't expect to see you here, Master Riku. But, you arrived a little too late to save him. Have fun searching." Zander said before jumping off the balcony.
The teen, now named Riku, ran to the balcony to see Zander gone. "Damn it."
"Who are you?" Pep asked, getting Riku's attention.
He turns to face them and answers, "My name is Riku. And you are?"
"I'm Pepper, but call me Pep. And this is Kyla." Pep answered as she then gestured to Kyla.
Meanwhile, with Atlas
Atlas opens his eyes to grass with a pond nearby. He then got up to his feet as he look around at his surroundings. He then saw his left arm that is visible is now wispy black with his fingers altered to look more like claws.
"Well, I'm not seeing things." Atlas said to himself as he pulled down his sleeve to hide his dark arm, reaching right past his wrist.
He then looks up to see a tall tower with a waterfall behind it. "But, I am seeing that." He said to himself as he then started walking to it.
And we shall continue this next chapter. So, this man named Zander has corrupted Atlas' left arm, which is gonna be part of his fighting style. Tell me, what is your opinions on that idea? Also, take a guess on what world Atlas has ended up at. Until then, see ya later!
