Summary: What if everything had been a bad dream? The Heartless were never created and the Nobodies never existed. What if one apprentice woke up from that dream, only to relive every moment of it again? He would try to stop it of course.
Warning: This story is an Alternate Universe from the original Kingdom Hearts world(s). There may be slight Out of Character-ness and some parts of the original Kingdom Hearts plot-line may be changed. If you do not like fanfictions like this, please click the back button. Also SPOILER WARNING FOR BIRTH BY SLEEP!!
Dislcaimer: I, KradsLover, do not own Kingdom Hearts.

Ienzo didn't go back to sleep after Ansem left. He was too terrified to sleep. His dream, all those horrible things that happened.. It was all about to be real.

Unless he did something about it.

"I have to stop it," Ienzo whispered to himself, resting his hand back on his chest. He listened to the steady rythm of his heart. It was hard to imagine that someone could lose something so important to them. The heart was what gave one life, strength, emotion, and the need to go on. He needed his heart, he wouldn't give it up.

The small apprentice sighed and glanced out the window. The sun was starting to rise above Radiant Garden, showing a unique beauty of the city. Ienzo was certainly lucky to live on such a beautiful world but it was quiet moments like this that made him think that his home truly was the most beautiful place in the cosmos.

Ienzo got out of his bed and dressed himself in the usual jeans, black shirt, lab coat, and slipped on his shoes before leaving his room. It was time to face the day and try to keep his nightmare from coming true.

-

"Good morning, Ienzo," said Aeleus as the tiny apprentice passed by him in the hallway. It was an odd sight seeing those two talk to each other. They were complete opposites, both mentally and physically.

Ienzo blinked and looked up at the large man. The guard was his own personal lap dog. Aeleus didn't realize it but he did a lot for Ienzo, and he was manipulated all the while.

"... Good morning.." Ienzo said softly. "Are you heading to the meeting room?" he asked, still staring up at the giant with his blank eyes. He saw the faintest of nods. "Good. Walk with me." he said simply and they headed off together.

The walk was quiet, as it always was with the two. Ienzo and Aeleus were not ones for conversation. Aeleus spoke with his actions and Ienzo used others to speak for him.

In minutes they got to the meeting room, where Ansem and the other apprentices were waiting.

"Good morning you two." Ansem said, smiling warmly at them.

Ienzo mentally cringed. Reality still mirrored his dream exactly. It almost made him sick to think of the fate that awaited his guardian. That warm smile and those kind eyes would soon be filled with sadness and regret. His mouth would be turned into a frown from the pain of being betrayed.

Ienzo was going to do what ever it took to change that.

"Well now that we're all here, I believe Xehanort had something to show us?" Ansem glanced over at his second youngest apprentice.

Xehanort's eyes were void of all emotion as he looked at the others. However there was a smile on his lips as he explained his most recent finding; a being without a heart.

Ienzo stared in horror at the small black creature. It's large yellow eyes were unblinking as its body moved with jerking motions. It growled and scratched at the cage it was trapped in.

"I know it's uncreative, but for now let's call it a Heartless."

Author's Notes: I know this chapter was short and kinda slow taking off, but trust me. It'll get better in future chapters.

Please review and I'll try to update as fast as I can.