Epilogue - Exception: Beyond the Door
A red-coated man walked into the computer terminal in Hollow Bastion's basement. He approached the keyboard, then put a disk in the drive. A password screen popped up, and he entered the password. Six more password screens popped up, and he then entered them. The disk then slid out, and he took it and tucked it inside his coat. He walked a bit further into the Heartless factory, where the ground shimmered and split apart, revealing a staircase.
The man tread down the stairway, turned, then walked down a very long spiral ramp to a door as the ground came back together and the staircase disappeared.
Only those that can both sense and manipulate aura can open it...
The door opened itself with a wave of his hand, and he proceeded past ten chained doors on both sides. At the end of the hallway was a door with the Nobody symbol on it in two places. He waved his hand again, and the door opened. Inside was a white room with black chains on the floor, leading to a small seat with the Nobody symbol on its back. In front of the chair was a suit of armor, tinted blue in places, and a Keyblade.
The red-coated man walked in and sat down in the seat, causing the chains to become white.
What is it you want, demon?
"Call me what you will. It's not gonna change anything," the man said.
Again... what is it you want?
"I came... to learn the truth. The whole truth."
The whole truth? What does that mean, exactly?
"I've learned all I can about the present... about what happened around fifteen years ago, with Xehanort and whatnot... but I need to go further back, and you're the only one I can count on for something like that."
You mean... the Keyblade War, and the Sealed Story of Truth.
"Yes."
Why do you want to know about that tragedy?
"History is bound to repeat itself... it nearly happened again. A war with Keyblades."
So that was what happened before... I see.
"If I learn the truth about the past, perhaps I can break the cycle and stop history from repeating itself."
But you're a demon... immersed in the darkness, not even fit to wield a Keyblade. What can you possibly do?
"Darkness or light... it didn't matter to me. For those I must protect, I cannot lose... and darkness, despite being costly, is an easier to obtain power than light."
So...
The red-coated man summoned a serrated black Keyblade with a broken keychain.
"Even being a demon, immersed in darkness... I broke fate. I know fates are necessary... but I..."
If a demon can wield the Keyblade, I suppose I can tell you.
"Thank you, Aqua."
Your name, demon?
"... Hartmut. Roy Hartmut."
Roy Hartmut, the first one I have seen since Xehanort a few months ago... the Sealed Story of Truth is a long tale.
"It's all right. I've got time."
END