Chapter Fourty Six: Hope

"Aagh..." I muttered, opening my eyes. "Where am I?"

"On our Gummi Ship," I heard Serenity say. I got up out of a bed I was in, putting my arm back into its sling, then went to the bridge, where Serenity was seated in the captain's seat.

"Hey, get outta my seat," I grumbled. She did so reluctantly.

"So what happened to you?" she asked me.

"I... couldn't beat the Black Knight," I said. "He kinda beat me up."

"I thought you could beat him?" Serenity asked mockingly.

"Ah... shut it," I muttered. "So what now?"

"I think we should go talk to Sora and Kairi," she said. "They're the only people that have seen the Black Knight, as far as we know."

"Right..." I muttered.

The Black Knight... Oryx... he told me 'hope.' I wonder what that means?

"No... there's at least one other person who's seen the Black Knight, and I have a message for him," I said. "We have to talk to Sora and Kairi, then... find Roy."

I gotta wonder, though... if the future I went to never existed now, then how did I recieve that message?

"Okay. I beamed them a message and told them to meet us on the Destiny Islands," Serenity said. "Riku might be there, too... Sora just sent us a message saying he hasn't left the islands in a few years."

"Oh," I muttered absentmindedly. We went over there, then beamed down.

"Yo! Sora!" I shouted. He was just around a corner, and walked over towards Serenity and I.

"What's up?" Sora asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all," I said. "So how's it goin'?"

"Just fine. What were you doing in the Hall of the Cornerstone?" he asked.

"Looking for you... and the Black Knight," I said.

"Why? He said he'd protect us," Sora said.

"Protect you?" I asked.

"Yeah. He was totally silent, but said a single word," Kairi said. "Guardian."

Guardian...

"So Riku's here?" I asked.

"Probably. He set up a Nobody hunting shop... he hasn't left because he's afraid if he does he'll FINALLY get a customer," Sora said. "It's just over here. Let's go."

We went over towards Riku's shop, emblazoned with the Nobody crest. We could hear loud noises coming from within.

"Riku!" Sora shouted, shoving the doors open. Inside, Riku was sitting at his desk while Roy stumbled around.

"'sup dudes," Roy slurred, still stumbling about.

"What's wrong with him?" Sora asked.

"He found the town's ale and helped himself to it," Riku said.

"Hey... I am... hic... not drunk," Roy slurred. "I'm just... hic... taking my medicine..."

"Medicine?" I asked.

"He said 'ale heals all wounds," Riku said.

Well... not in that regard... and there's a kind of wound no amount of ale can heal...

Roy stumbled, fell onto his back, and passed out.

"Damn. I had a message for him," I muttered. "Well, I decided we should all meet here because there's something we need to take care of."

"Senka?" Riku asked.

"No... she's dead, remember?" I asked. "It's... about the Black Knight."

"What of him?" Riku asked.

"He's hostile," I said. "We need to eliminate him, or bring Roy to do battle with him."

"Why?" Sora asked. "He protected Kairi and I."

"He helped Roy and I to to take down Xehanort," Riku said.

Hm... this is a bit of a delicate situation...

"Okay, we find him first," I said. "Before that, we need to compile all we know about the Black Knight. He says almost nothing, has invincible armor, and is really strong."

"When I asked him who he was, he said that 'it doesn't matter,'" Riku said. "He also has what Roy calls 'aura,' but his is 'hollow.'"

"He protected Sora and I," Kairi said. "He told us 'guardian.'"

I decided not to divulge the information I'd learned in the future.

"He told me 'hope,'" I said. "What does it all mean?"

"I will tell you, but you must come alone," a mysterious voice called.

I know that voice... it still haunts me in my dreams.

Senka.

"Who are you talking to, Senka?" Riku shouted.

"Jason."

I looked at everyone, then nodded. After that, I walked out of Riku's shop and to the beach, where Senka, still dressed in her purple cape, was waiting.

"So what do you know about the Black Knight?" I asked.

"There's no need to refer to him simply by his title," Senka said. "I know his name... Oryx."

"Okay... what do you know about Oryx?" I asked.

"He is searching for something," Senka said. "The Keychain for a Keyblade known as 'Hope.'"

"Why are you helping me?" I asked.

"I realized something, something important," Senka said. "Let us leave it at that."

"Okay... but where is this 'Hope,' and why is he searching for it?" I asked.

"Oryx wants to find Hope so that he can preserve his self," she said. "Hope is a special Keychain... crafted from Light itself, it can be used to either lock or unlock hearts."

"Why is a Nobody, something without a heart, searching for something to lock or unlock hearts?" I asked.

"That much, I do not know," Senka replied. "I believe it may be linked to the few memories of his past life he possesses, but I cannot be sure."

"Well... thanks for the info," I said, going back to the shop. I saw a dark flare along the way, and realized she'd killed herself. I kicked the doors to Riku's shop, walking in.

"Why does everyone like kicking my doors down?" Riku grumbled.

"Ah... can it," I muttered. "They're free right now."

"So what did Senka have to say?" Riku asked.

"We have to find a Keychain known as Hope," I said. "If we do, we'll find the Black Knight soon after."

"Keychain? Where do we find that?" Kairi asked.

"No idea... so everyone, move out!" I shouted, making a dramatic pose. Everyone looked at me like I was stupid.

"Eh... sorry. Can't help myself," I chuckled. "Well... let's go anyways."

We all beamed up to our ships, save Roy, who was still passed out on the floor in Riku's shop.