Chapter Fourty Nine: The Reason I Exist

I arrived in a city, then got something to eat. Sasuke and I hadn't found much to eat along the way, and I was kinda hungry.

After taking a nap, and wandering through the misty air, I came upon the bridge Sasuke and I passed under on our way. It was covered in a rolling fog, but even through the fog, I could see the Black Knight's armor. I walked slowly across the bridge, then stood a bit behind the Black Knight.

"Black Knight... Oryx," I said. "By the Light of Hope and in the name of justice, I challenge you!"

A sharp wind blew past us.

"Many years ago, I began to exist," the Black Knight said. "I didn't know who I was, where I was, how I got there, or even have a purpose. I didn't even... have a name."

I looked at him oddly.

"In order to find a purpose, I began to wander across these lands. However, all I found was death and injustice. I could not bear to continue to watch this, but I didn't know what to do," he said. "However, in order to continue existing, I still needed a purpose. This is what I came up with: I exist to protect all others that would be harmed unjustly."

The Black Knight turned around.

"Two months ago, I was visited by a black-cloaked man by the name of Xemnas," he said. "He told me he could give me a purpose and a name. I refused to be given another purpose, but the stranger still gave me a name other than 'Black Knight'... he named me Oryx."

Black Knight... was that your name? Only a title...?

"The stranger named Xemnas summoned energy blades and engraved seven scratches on my gauntlet," the Black Knight said. "XIV... Number Fourteen."

"Oryx... I just want to reunite you with your former self," I said.

"My former self... almost all I remember of him is bloodshed and strife," he said. "Though I long to end the feelings of emptiness I have always had, I have no intention of joining a murderer. He is not me; he seeks to destroy, while I seek to protect."

"That's not true," I said to him. "Roy... just doesn't know how to protect without destroying."

"That's not why," the Black Knight said. "Roy... my other self has forgotten something very important, and that's why he can only destroy."

"Something very important?" I asked as the Black Knight began to remove his armor. Underneath was the traditional coat of Organization XIII... and his ice-blue eyes, same as Roy. "I was told once that he had forgotten something very important, as well... but... what is it?"

"A very important promise," he said. "Now, if you intend to take me on, I suggest you summon your Keyblade... Hope."

Oryx pulled out his large purple Keyblade, still left in its sheath, as I summoned Hope.

"I've been looking forward to this since last time," Oryx said with a smirk as another sharp wind blew past us.