Chapter 7: The Erased One
Shadow and Aqua emerged from the desolate corridors of the ARK, finding themselves now at the threshold of a once-thriving city, Soleanna. The twists and turns of this dark realm changed the landscape once again, allowing the two heroes to travel with ease. The air hung heavy with an oppressive darkness, a stark contrast to the city's former brilliance. The vibrant hues that once painted the skyline were now replaced by an inky abyss, casting shadows that seemed to devour the very essence of the metropolis.
Soleanna, once celebrated as the City of Light, had succumbed to the insidious grasp of the Realm of Darkness. The towering structures that once reached for the heavens were now veiled in an unnatural gloom, their outlines distorted by the encroaching shadows. The streets, once bustling with life, now lay eerily silent, broken only by the distant echoes of a realm swallowed by despair.
As Shadow and Aqua stepped further into Soleanna, their surroundings revealed the twisted remnants of a city frozen in time. The once-gleaming train station, now draped in darkness, stood as a haunting monument to the city's fall. The docklands, once a hub of activity, were now desolate, with the ghostly silhouettes of abandoned ships silently moored in the Stygian waters.
Aqua couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity, as if she had traversed these cobblestone streets in a distant memory now obscured by the fractured fragments of her past. Shadow, on the other hand, scanned the surroundings with a discerning eye, recognizing the signs of a world tainted by the Heartless and the looming presence of an unknown darkness.
The air hung heavy with the weight of forgotten memories as Aqua and Shadow continued their journey through the desolate streets of Soleanna. The remnants of what was once a thriving city whispered tales of its former glory, and Aqua's eyes reflected a mix of recognition and frustration.
"Shadow," Aqua began, her voice a soft echo in the eerie silence. Her aqua-blue eyes scanned the crumbling structures and the pervasive darkness that clung to every corner. "There's something about this place that feels... familiar. Like I've been here before. But I can't quite put the pieces together."
Shadow, walking beside her, remained the embodiment of stoicism. His crimson eyes surveyed the desolation, acknowledging the mystery surrounding Soleanna and the enigma etched across Aqua's features.
"Soleanna," he mused, his tone carrying a hint of contemplation. "I've heard of it, but I've never set foot here. It's known as the City of Light in Mobius – or at least, it used to be."
Aqua's brow furrowed as she grappled with the elusive memories that danced just out of reach. Frustration laced her words, mirroring the dissonance within her.
"I can't explain it," she admitted, her voice a delicate melody of uncertainty. "But the aura of this place, the echoes in the air – it's like a distant echo of something significant."
As they walked, the abandoned streets unfolded the tale of Soleanna's history. Shadow, ever the guide through the shadows, shed light on the city's past.
"Soleanna was renowned for its vibrant energy and rich history," he explained, his crimson eyes narrowing in thoughtful reflection. "It was a city with ties to royalty, a center of trade, and a hub of cultural exchange. But that was before the Heartless."
The revelation hung in the air, and the two halted in their steps. The remnants of grandeur surrounded them, starkly contrasting with the oppressive darkness that now engulfed Soleanna. The hollow echoes of its past painted a haunting picture of what once was.
Aqua, still grappling with the fragments of her fractured memories, seized the opportunity to delve into the enigma surrounding Black Doom's ominous warnings.
"Ansem's plans to open the door to darkness," she began, choosing her words carefully, "That's what that phantom said earlier."
"Black Doom," Shadow replied deep in thought, remembering Doom's words carefully.
"So, this Black Doom is part of your history," Aqua asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Your connection with him seems... complicated."
Shadow's expression darkened momentarily before he responded.
"'Complicated' is an understatement," Shadow replied. "Black Doom's DNA is part of my creation, part of Project Shadow."
Aqua listened, sensing the intricacies of Shadow's identity woven into the threads of a complex past.
"Is he like your father, then?" she asked, her curiosity leading her to explore the dynamics between Shadow and Black Doom.
"No," Shadow replied firmly, his crimson eyes locking onto Aqua's. "He will never be. Family isn't about blood ties or shared DNA. It's about the ones you choose to stand by, the ones you truly cherish. The Professor, despite everything, is the one who made me who I am. He gave me a purpose beyond just existing."
Aqua nodded, a glimmer of understanding reflecting in her eyes.
"I can relate to that," she admitted. "Master Eraqus, Terra, and Ventus – they're like family to me. The bonds we share go beyond mere connections. It's about trust, loyalty, and a shared journey."
Curiosity crept into Shadow's expression as he ventured into a more personal territory.
"What about your biological family, Aqua? Do you remember them?" Shadow questioned.
Aqua's gaze turned distant, her mind delving into the fractured recesses of her memories. The pain of forgotten moments lingered, and she sighed.
"It's blurry," Aqua retorted. "I remember my mother's name—Willa. But my childhood memories are like fragments, lost in the fog of time."
Shadow, sensing Aqua's struggle to remember her mother and family, gently placed a hand on her arm. In a soft, reassuring tone, he spoke words that would become iconic between them.
"Memories are like stars in the night sky," Shadow said, his crimson eyes reflecting understanding. "Sometimes, they're obscured by clouds, but they never truly fade. Keep searching, Aqua. The light of your memories will guide you through the darkness."
Before Aqua could respond to Shadow's comforting words, a chilling voice echoed around their location.
"So, are you enjoying your journey down memory lane?"
The dark corridor materialized, and from its depths emerged a ghoulish and crystallized creature. Aqua's eyes locked onto the crystallized being as recognition dawned upon her. A shiver ran down her spine as the memories flooded back, revealing the being's role in her current state.
"Long time no see, Aqua," the being sneered, its voice dripping with mockery.
Aqua took a step back, her azure eyes widening in a mix of disbelief and realization. The memory of her last encounter with this being flooded her consciousness like a chilling wave. His ghoulish form, those malevolent lime green eyes, and the sinister laughter that echoed in the recesses of her mind. It was a moment etched in the tapestry of her existence with the ink of agony.
"You're the one who... who split me and Oscura," Aqua stammered, her voice tinged with shock and a hint of lingering trauma.
The mere presence of this creature sent shivers down her spine, each crystallized facet of his form a reminder of the pain he had inflicted upon her.
The recollection surfaced like a nightmarish dream – the sensation of her heart being callously plucked from her chest, her form dissolving into nothingness, and the haunting laughter that seemed to reverberate through the corridors of her very being. Aqua's memories, once cohesive and whole, shattered like fragile glass, leaving behind a fragmented mosaic of her past.
As she faced this darkness once again, the weight of those memories bore down on her, an emotional tempest swirling within the recesses of her being. Her grip tightened on Master's Defender, not just a Keyblade but a symbol of her resilience in the face of darkness. Aqua was no stranger to adversity, yet this creature embodied a darkness that transcended the physical, seeping into the very essence of her existence.
Shadow, sensing the tension in the air, stepped forward, his crimson eyes narrowing towards this mysterious creature.
"Who are you?" Shadow demanded, his tone blunt and unwavering.
The crystallized being chuckled darkly, the eerie sound resonating through the darkened city. "What, you don't recognize me?" he taunted, his lime green eyes looking intensely at Shadow. "Oh, that's right, you wouldn't."
"Cut the crap," Shadow responded with frustration in his voice. "Who are you?"
"I would think it's pretty obvious," sighed the being. "I am Mephiles, Mephiles the Dark."
"The Erased One?" Shadow questioned, his crimson eyes locking onto this foe.
"Ahh, yes - The Erased One," Mephiles coldly responded. "I am the one Black Doom warned you about."
Aqua's memories clicked into place, the lime green eyes, the stench of darkness – it all fell into the puzzle of her fragmented recollections.
"Mephiles," she whispered, her voice filled with both disdain and recognition.
"Ah, your memories are slowly returning, aren't they, Aqua?" Mephiles said, with a sinister look playing on his crystalline features. "I must admit, watching your struggle to piece it all together is rather entertaining."
"Cut the cryptic nonsense," Shadow snapped back, his patience becoming thin. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
Mephiles slowly circled them, his crystalline form gleaming in the dim darkness.
"Revenge, Shadow," Mephiles replied coldly.
"Revenge?" Shadow asked with confusion. "I don't even know who you are?"
"Of course you don't," Mephiles responded sharply. "You and your meddling friends erased me from my timeline."
"Timeline?" Aqua asked, still taken back by this being of pure hatred and darkness.
Mephiles, reveling in their confusion, continued his taunt and explanation. His mouthless face echoed chilling words of how he came to be.
"Ah, the ignorance. Allow me to enlighten you," Mephiles began to explain. "In a timeline that exists no more, Sonic, Silver, and Shadow sealed me away, banishing me to the abyss. I merged with Iblis, creating Solaris, but the flames of our existence were snuffed out, and neither Iblis nor I had a place in the new timeline. Yet, I survived, barely making it into the Realm of Darkness."
"So, you blame us for your timeline's erasure?" Shadow responded, his eyes narrowing on the circling crystalized entity. "Tell me, what role did Sonic, Silver and I play?"
Mephiles chuckled darkly, the sound sending shivers down their spines.
"Your meddling in affairs beyond your comprehension, erased the very fabric of my existence. Sonic, the hedgehog with a heart as naïve as his speed; Silver, the time-traveling idealist; and you, Shadow, the pawn in a game you never understood."
Aqua, sensing the tension, summoned her Keyblade and tightened her grip on her weapon.
"You blame them for your own misfortunes?" Aqua asked, holding Master's Defender tightly.
The lime green eyes of Mephiles gleamed with malevolence as he responded, "Oh, it goes beyond mere blame. It's about rewriting the tapestry of time. I merged with the eternal flame, Iblis, to create Solaris, an entity that transcends the boundaries of existence. Yet, in this new reality, neither Iblis nor I had a place, and my flame flickered in the darkness of the Realm of Darkness."
"Sounds like you deserved to lose," Shadow scoffed. "Shame you ended up here and survived."
"Ah, the arrogance of the Ultimate Lifeform," Mephiles retorted with a cold chuckle. "But I am no stranger to survival, Shadow. And now, I'm here to ensure your new life, and the countless worlds tethered to it, crumble into despair."
"Are you working with Ansem?" Aqua asked, her gaze unwavering.
Mephiles shook his crystallized head slowly, the malicious glint in his lime green eyes unwavering.
"No, the seeker of darkness can pursue his ambitions," Mephiles revealed. "Whether he fails or succeeds, it matters not to me. I will endure, untouched by the whims of Ansem or the unraveling of worlds."
"Because win or lose, you're a being of pure darkness?" Shadow questioned, connecting the dots. "Which means you'll always be around?"
Mephiles's crystallized form seemed to ripple with a dark energy as Shadow's words lingered in the air. The malicious glint in his eyes remained unwavering.
"Indeed, Shadow. I am a creature born of the shadows, untouched by the ebb and flow of the worlds. I transcend the limitations of time and space. Whether in the light or the dark, I endure."
"So, you're here for revenge on us because we erased your timeline," Shadow responded, his usual stoic expression holding a hint of realization. "What's your endgame, Mephiles?"
"Revenge is but a means to an end," Mephiles said cryptically. "My ultimate goal is to plunge this new reality into an eternal abyss of darkness. A realm where chaos reigns supreme, untethered by the feeble threads of order."
"Why? What satisfaction does that bring you?" Aqua asked, gripping her Master's Defender even more tightly.
Mephiles's lime green eyes gleamed with an unsettling light, a reflection of the malevolence that fueled his cryptic desires.
"Satisfaction is an emotion for the living," he responded with an air of detached indifference. "I seek only the fulfillment of my purpose—to disrupt the harmony of existence and witness the worlds descend into disarray."
Aqua, her eyes narrowing with a mix of frustration and determination, couldn't restrain the question burning within her.
"Is that why you took my heart?" she questioned, her voice carrying a weight of both accusation and anguish. "Turning me into a Nobody? Creating my Heartless, Oscura? All because you wish for disarray and chaos?"
Mephiles, the embodiment of cold cunning, met her gaze with a calculated stare, his sinister eyes betraying an unsettling gleam.
"Your heart, Aqua," he revealed with a chilling calmness, "was a fascinating blend of light and darkness. It intrigued me. I sought to release the potential within you, to see if the bonds of your heart could endure the fracture. You became a canvas upon which chaos could be painted, a living testament to the discord I crave."
As the truth unfolded before her, Aqua felt a surge of emotions—anger, sorrow, and an unyielding determination to defy the darkness that had manipulated her existence. The being before her, once a mere whisper in the shadows, was the architect of her suffering, and his revelation stoked the embers of her defiance.
"Why me?" she demanded, her voice carrying the weight of her experiences. "Why target me? What did you hope to achieve?"
Mephiles, ever composed, responded with a sinister calmness.
"Simple, Aqua," Mephiles began. "A Keyblade Master wandering the depths of darkness, trapped by her loyalty to save her friends. Your heart's imbalance intrigued me. Your dedication to the light, while teetering on the edge of darkness, created a symphony of emotions that resonated with the very essence of chaos. You were a pawn in a grand design, a masterpiece waiting to unfold."
Shadow, standing beside Aqua, could sense the turmoil within her, even without the beating of a heart. He knew that beneath the composed exterior of the Keyblade Master lay a storm of emotions—hurt, anger, and an unquenchable thirst for justice. The Ultimate Lifeform stepped forward, placing himself between Aqua and Mephiles. The hedgehog's iconic coolness was momentarily replaced by an aura of protective resolve.
"Your twisted games end here," Shadow declared, his voice cutting through the tension-laden air. "Aqua may have been a pawn in your scheme, but she's not a puppet. She's a warrior with a will stronger than any darkness you could conjure."
Aqua, appreciative of Shadow's support, felt a surge of gratitude. The normally reserved hedgehog was unveiling a side of himself that transcended his solitary demeanor, stepping into the role of a protector.
Mephiles, however, responded with a sinister chuckle, his crystalline form gleaming eerily in the dim darkness.
"Brave words, Shadow," Mephiles sneered, his lime green eyes piercing through the shadows. "But you, too, are a creation of experiments and manipulation. The Ultimate Lifeform, a pawn in the hands of those who sought to harness the power of Black Doom's bloodline."
Shadow's fists clenched at the mention of his origin, but he remained resolute.
"I may be a creation, but I'm not defined by my past," Shadow responded. "I've forged my own path, and I won't let the likes of you threaten the worlds I've come to protect."
Aqua, fueled by Shadow's unwavering support, tightened her grip on Master's Defender, ready to stand beside the hedgehog in defiance of the darkness that sought to unravel her existence
However unfazed, Mephiles widened his crystallized arms, and the very fabric of reality seemed to warp at his command. The once darkened Soleanna, already steeped in an eerie atmosphere, now succumbed to Mephiles' manipulation. Buildings twisted, shadows danced in unnatural patterns, and the air itself seemed charged with the dark energy he harnessed.
The warped surroundings painted a surreal scene, a manifestation of Mephiles' malevolent design. Shadows elongated into twisted figures, and the ground beneath them undulated like a dark ocean. The distorted reality echoed Mephiles' power to shape the very essence of the world around them.
"Come at me," Mephiles taunted, his voice echoing through the warped Soleanna. "But I assure you both, you'll not survive."
Aqua and Shadow exchanged determined glances, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. As they prepared to face Mephiles in this nightmarish landscape, the air crackled with anticipation. The battle that loomed ahead promised to be a clash not only of physical prowess but also a confrontation with the twisted reality Mephiles wielded.
Doctor Gerald Robotnik's Writings
In the dimly lit confines of my private research chamber, surrounded by the hum of machinery and the palpable scent of lingering experiments, I find myself contemplating the intricate dance between light and darkness, the eternal struggle that defines the very essence of existence. The Black Arms, heralded by the ominous Black Doom, present a looming threat that transcends the boundaries of Mobius and reaches into the vast cosmos. As I pen these words, the government's relentless efforts to shut down the ARK and the research facility are in progress, casting shadows over the culmination of years of experimentation and discovery.
The Black Comet, a harbinger of destruction hurtling through the cosmos, holds a dark secret that few comprehend. Fifty years from now, it will descend upon Mobius once again, and the fate of our world will hang in the balance. It is a cataclysmic event, a dire prophecy etched in the annals of time, and I have foreseen that only one being possesses the power to thwart this malevolent force—Shadow the Hedgehog.
My time is short, and the urgency of my actions weighs heavily upon me. The Eclipse Cannon, a creation borne of desperation and necessity, holds within it the destructive power akin to that of the Black Comet. It is the key to eradicating the impending menace posed by Black Doom and his vile kin. Shadow is our last hope, the harbinger of salvation for Mobius and, perhaps, the countless worlds that lie beyond our celestial abode.
Yet, even as I dedicate myself to averting the impending doom, my thoughts are drawn to the ancient pages that reveal the secrets of Kingdom Hearts, the epicenter of light and darkness. Maria's stories have guided me, providing a semblance of understanding, but hidden within the cryptic verses lies a prophecy that foretells the rise of 'The Seeker' and their relentless pursuit to open the door to darkness. The haunting words of Equilibrium echo in my mind, a concept that demands exploration and integration into Shadow's very being.
I delve deeper into my research, driven by an unwavering resolve to prepare Shadow for any future clashes, especially those involving the Keyblade. The Keyblade War, a catastrophic conflict that scarred the very fabric of reality, serves as a somber reminder of the consequences when light and darkness collide. It is imperative that Shadow be equipped not only with the physical prowess needed to thwart the Black Arms but also with the wisdom to navigate the intricacies of the cosmic balance.
In my final moments of contemplation, I address Shadow directly, for he is not just a creation but a son—my son. The anxiety and weight of the knowledge I bear are evident in my words as I impart a cryptic message, urging him to look deep within his heart for answers. The uncertainties that lie ahead may demand an awakening, a revelation that will guide him through the shadows and towards the elusive nirvana of Kingdom Hearts.
As my pen scrawls the last lines of this missive, I am acutely aware that the destiny of Mobius and the far reaches of the universe rests upon the shoulders of one hedgehog, born of both science and chaos. May the cosmos be kind to my son, for in him, the convergence of light and darkness may hold the key to salvation.
TO BE CONTINUED!
(WRITER'S NOTE - A very short chapter than the normal. I think going forward, I will be making these chapters shorter and less lengthy. It helps with story building and telling. Too much, it becomes way too much to read and review. Thank you for being patient with the delays in chapters being released, I look forward to writing up a few more chapters in the next few weeks to move the story along - connecting also with the KH Final Mix Blue Blur Edition plot also).