AN: OMG a new chapter! And on the same day! I am setting unrealistic expectations lol, my bad. xD It'll probably peter out soon enough, just you wait... :D I really wanted to get to this particular chapter though. I mean I know I probably say that about a lot of chapters lol, but I mean it. xD I'm just sooo excited I can finally get into some of this long awaited stuff! :) It was a long road, with some long setups, but we are here!
End of AN!
Aqua entered the mountain tunnel ahead of Natsumi (even if the latter woman was the one with a weapon).
Keyblade Master instincts died hard, apparently. Or were they just Aqua instincts...?
It was so hard to tell where the woman she'd made herself to be ended, and the woman she really was underneath it all began...
She sent an orb of light out ahead of them, lighting up the darkness as they went further in.
It was definitely a man-made tunnel. Wooden beams framed the sides, and spanned the ceiling. A mine shaft?
They walked deeper in, minutes passing in silence, until they'd left the mouth of the tunnel behind - and its light.
Now there was just this darkness on the edge of vision, ahead and behind, as they walked on. Forever forward...
Until it changed.
The passage opened up, suddenly, into a large, open cavern. A vast chamber, with several more tunnel entrances on the far side, leading off in different directions. The walls of the cavern glistened with minerals and strange rocks. Aqua spied large, green crystals growing out of stalagmites on the dry, cracked cave floor.
Natsumi eyed the crystals as well, a smile on her lips. "Oh, how beautiful."
"They're lovely," Aqua agreed, quiet.
"And they're not YOURS!" a low voice suddenly echoed out across the cavern.
Aqua turned, looking all around her for the source - but it was impossible to even try to pinpoint it. Not with ears or eyes alone. She took a breath, honing her senses - and she turned and looked up to the ceiling, in time to see a glistening shape move in the dark.
Aqua tracked the shape now, as it moved at a startling speed across the high ceiling, darted down over one of the walls...and came to a dead stop. She raised her hand, directing her light toward it, flaring it brighter, lighting up the cavern more fully. She stepped back with a gasp, clenching her jaw as her body tensed.
A large and lengthy, milky white creature was hanging from the wall - long and segmented, like some sort of insect, with a hard shell. There were a dozen or more pale, skinny legs and feet beneath them: startlingly human-looking legs and feet. The toes ended in long, sharp claws. Rising from their backside, spread out down the entire length of their body, were skeletal, white human arms, with hands that ended in claws, the same as the feet. These arms were several times the length of any natural human limb, however. They swayed in the air, like hair in the wind.
The creature lifted the front half of their body from the wall, and a head and face came into view. White. Taut. Skeletal, like the arms and legs. But where the mouth and nose might have been, there was only skin. Furrowed, almost like it was burned, or scarred. They did have eyes, though: eyes that were several times bigger than a human's - almost too big for the face they were resting on. These eyes were pitch black, sclera and iris all - the pupils were tiny, swirling white spirals, constantly in motion, looping forever...
Natsumi stepped forward, looking entirely unfazed - except for the hand that went to her hip. The hip holding her sheathed sword, of course. "We apologize for the intrusion - we didn't know this cave was already taken," she spoke, calm and smooth, in that voice of hers.
Those huge, strange eyes moved to Natsumi - then, to Aqua. "Why should I trust the words of humans?" the voice came again, impossibly, without a mouth. "The last ones to wander through came back with dozens more...all in an attempt to kill me, and steal away what's mine..."
"I am not a human," Natsumi spoke easily. "I'm a kitsune, in fact."
"Show me," the being demanded, instantly.
Natsumi obliged them, in a sudden roar of burning flames around her, becoming her true self again. She took a great step forward, her large, red canine eyes boring into the other being's.
"And her?" the being said in response, looking to Aqua once more.
"We're really sorry," Aqua spoke quickly. "We were just looking for a way forward, and we thought this might be a quicker way. But we were clearly mistaken; we'll leave without troubling you, and be on our way."
The being hummed-
Then they suddenly rushed forward in a blur, down the wall, across the ground - stopping directly in front of Aqua. Several of those long, thin white arms shot forward, fingers curved - claws hovering all around Aqua's form.
Aqua clenched her fists, staring at those hands. She looked into the face of the being before her - into those spinning eyes...
Natsumi turned her head with a snapping of teeth, and a deep growl. She slinked forward and around Aqua, her eyes on the being now as well. Singularly focused, and brimming with a fire. Her nine tails swished behind her as a whole.
"Well..." the being said, in a soft, almost whispering tone. "the last humans who came into my home did their best to kill me on sight. You're either too scared to try the same, or...well, you are with a kitsune...that speaks volumes, these days, doesn't it...?"
Natsumi came up on Aqua's left, dwarfing her with her hulking size and hanging fur, which couldn't conceal the power and muscles in her great body.
"Kitsune are tricky to fight on the best of days - and almost impossible to kill," the being went on, more to themself than to Aqua or Natsumi. "Your heart needs to be completely removed and destroyed - or your head removed from its body. Even I know I'd more than likely lose against one of you. And I wouldn't throw away my life to get at one little human woman, no...especially not one who doesn't seem like much of a threat to me."
The being slowly backed away from Aqua, withdrawing those arms as well.
"I'm not a threat," Aqua said firmly. "I don't mean anyone harm."
"Then you can prove it to me, human," spoke the being. "I'll let you pass through my home, on account of the kitsune - but you'd best stay by her side. And if I see so much as a single finger of yours touching one of my precious crystals...I'll show you why I am still here, and a small army of humans - mages among them - are not."
Aqua gazed into the being's face. "I understand. You have my word."
"We'll see what that's worth..." came the response.
Aqua turned to look to Natsumi - up at her large, canine face.
Natsumi tilted her head down, looking back at her. She gave a very human nod, before turning and starting off toward the other side of the chamber. Her powerful, large form should have made heavy, lumbering footsteps to shake the cave - but in fact she barely made a sound, moving with grace and lightness.
Aqua followed after her, doing her best to stay right beside her.
As she walked, her Heart was troubled by the encounter. Not for reasons of primal, bigoted fears or anything like that - but because of what it said about this world. What Natsumi had spoken of, briefly, before...
This world really could use a Keyblade wielder...
Or...maybe...something else?
Xehanort - the one stuck out of time - stretched his arms and swung himself up in the bed.
He dressed himself in these plain clothes: a simple, grey top, with long sleeves and a loose collar. A simple pair of black pants, and black boots to match them.
He moved across the small room, to the mirror. He gazed at himself. Silver eyes and hair. He took up a brush and began styling his hair how he liked it, then strode from the room.
He stalked through the hallway, emerging into the light of the living room. He sighed as he heard the sounds from the kitchen. He shook his head and entered it.
And, yes, there she was again.
Amaya - standing there - cooking.
So careless, but so focused.
Well, she certainly had reason to be: her powers vastly eclipsed his own - and he also lacked any of his powers now. Keyblade included. He was as weak and helpless as anyone could be. A fact he still hadn't gotten used to these last few days - and probably never would.
"You're wasting time - and food," Xehanort spoke up, making his way to fall into a chair, laying an arm on the table's surface casually. "I told you: I don't need it."
Amaya turned to look at him slowly, casually, over a shoulder. Unsurprised at his presence. At his sudden voice. Or, if she was, she hid it so well even Xehanort couldn't have sensed it with his abilities. She gave a simple, small smile, a humorous glint to her brown eyes. "You're going to need it again in just a few days; you need to get into the habit again, don't you, child?"
"I am not a child, I am twenty years old, and I-"
"Oh, Xehanort, you are still very much a child - especially in my eyes," she interrupted him, with a laugh.
That laughter sent a thrill through his body - a flash of old memories. He found he couldn't be too irritated with her now, really... He sighed, looking away, out the nearest window, saying nothing in response. The morning sun streamed in, casting down on the glistening street outside. The rows of ordinary houses, with ordinary people in them...living daily, boring little lives...
"It's good you woke so early today," the woman spoke again. "I was going to wake you, myself, soon."
"Why is that?" Xehanort said, curious now.
"We're going on a little trip together, you and I - to another world," Amaya went on, every word so clear and slow, yet easy and light.
"Hm? Why?" Xehanort looked at her in honest surprise. He'd thought he would be confined to this little house, on this plain, ordinary little world, for the rest of his days, really. That to take him to other worlds would be to open up certain risks. Risks that she...that the rest of them...wouldn't want to take.
Amaya gave a stir of a pot, then fully turned around to face him - looking him directly in the eyes. "Because you've refused my last two offers to go out to the park, and because it's important for you."
"How is this trip of ours going to be 'important' to me?" Xehanort asked, confused. And more curious than ever...
"You'll see," Amaya said, turning away and going back to her cooking.
Xehanort scowled at her back, shaking his head. He sat back in the chair, putting his hands behind his head, turning his gaze to the plain white, painted ceiling.
What an irritatingly cryptic response. Really, she could simply say things plainly...
He let his mind wander as the smells and sounds filled his senses.
Minutes later, and the woman was sitting before him, pushing a plate at him.
He sat up straight, staring down at its contents. He looked at her - at that face that was just...watching him. He dropped his gaze with a sigh, took up the fork, and began to eat. He supposed she had a valid point, after all. And...
It did taste exceptionally good.
He couldn't recall the last time he'd ever eaten anything like it. Or enjoyed eating it...
But he savored it now, uncaring of the woman's ever-present gaze.
Almost immediately after he'd finished, she took the plate from him and went to dump it into the sink. Then she came back to stand in front of him.
He turned, looking up at her.
She reached a hand out, briefly grasping his shoulder.
"What?" he said, tensing at her grip, brief as it was.
"Stand up - come on," she stated simply.
Xehanort huffed, obeying.
He followed her into the living room - then stopped, staring as she moved from one window to the next, closing the heavy, blue curtains. The room was plunged into a considerable darkness, without the lights on. He could have believed it was honestly nighttime, now...
"What is this for?" he asked casually.
"For this."
Amaya summoned her Keyblade in a flash of light, lighting up the room. Then she raised it out - and a portal of swirling blue light appeared in the middle of the room.
Xehanort eyed the portal. He eyed her. Whatever this was, she wasn't going to hurt him. She never had (not physically, at least; she had certainly given him a most terrible pain in his Heart before). Though, he knew now that that had not been by her choice or intention...but an unfortunate side effect of a profound attempt to do the opposite for him...
Xehanort shook his head, then raised it high and strode into the portal with as much dignity as he could have now.
She followed close behind him, her weapon vanishing again.
Xehanort strode out the other side of the portal, taking in his new surroundings with some interest.
It was a large, open city of yellow brickwork and sturdy buildings. Decorated with plants and little statuettes. Open shop windows advertised their wares. People were coming and going, wearing cloaks and robes, and outfits much more fashionable and familiar to Xehanort.
Even with his Heart locked so tightly now, he could still sense the sheer magic in the air.
It was prevalent, here, in this world. A more mystical one, indeed...
Xehanort was relieved, really. It was a far cry from the dull, ordinary world Amaya was intent on keeping him stuck within, now.
The woman herself came stepping up beside him, the portal disappearing behind her.
No one gave it another look, on these streets. Apparently it was common enough on this world for people to simply emerge out of energy portals.
Xehanort smirked to himself with mild amusement.
"This way," Amaya spoke, moving out down the street.
Xehanort followed her again.
She led him down the street, around a corner, down another street - up a flight of stairs - and into an open square. It was ringed by various shops. A large fountain sat in the center, with ornate carvings on it, and a statue of a group of what appeared to be mermaids, situated in the middle of the fountain's deep pool of clear waters. Women of the sea, with lengthy, powerful fish-tails and bared chests.
"Has something caught your eye?" Amaya's voice came to him, as he felt her elbow nudge him.
He turned to her swiftly, opening his mouth- then closed it. "No - but if something had, did you have to get my attention that way?"
"So you aren't denying it. Interesting."
"What's interesting - what, exactly, am I not 'denying?'" Xehanort was just confused now, more than irritated. Why was this woman so perplexing, even when he now knew everything about her exceptionally unique and long life?
The woman gazed at him with a face full of humor. Her lips spread into a grin. She turned her gaze to the statue, nodding. "Well, you said it: you are a twenty year old. And they are beautiful, aren't they?"
"What...?" Xehanort looked from her to the statue. Back again. "Are you serious right now?" he said flatly, his eyes boring into her.
"Not really, no," Amaya admitted freely, that grin growing still.
Xehanort scoffed, turning his head aside. "Ridiculous. Did you bring me here to make me a spectacle? To mock and point at me?"
He heard a sigh. "I wasn't trying to mock you, Xehanort - I was trying to have a little fun with you. To bond-"
"Do I seem amused by it?"
"No. I'm sorry," came sincere, subdued tones.
Xehanort looked at the woman. He sighed, now, too. "Whatever we're actually here for, can we just get on with it?"
The woman gazed at him for a long moment. "Yes. Of course..."
She turned, heading off across the square. Xehanort strode along in her wake, trying to let his feelings of annoyance go.
The woman led him to a wide, curved storefront of large glass windows. Beneath an awning, there were two people sitting out in front of the shop, Xehanort noted: an older man, with long dark hair and beard, and a young girl. A girl rather pale, plain, with sun-yellow hair, done back into a long ponytail. She looked no more than ten, perhaps. Nothing particularly interesting about such a child. But what did get Xehanort's interest... The man may have been sitting in a wooden chair - but the child seemed to be occupying a wheelchair. And, as well...
"There you are - earlier than I expected," the grizzled man called out - to Amaya. The man's dark eyes found Xehanort, next. "Is he the one?"
"Yes," Amaya said simply.
"Am I what?" Xehanort said. "What's-"
"Don't ask questions just yet; just listen," Amaya spoke, firm and yet quiet, her eyes intense as they locked with his.
Xehanort closed his mouth. He hesitated, then nodded. Whatever this was, it certainly had him intrigued enough. An excellent change of pace from the last few days...
"So, your name is Xehanort, is it?" the older man spoke, gazing up at him with nothing but curiosity and amicability. "It's good to meet you. The name's Rowan."
Amaya looked at him again, as he stood silently there. Her gaze was silently demanding. Willing. Beseeching.
Xehanort looked down at the ground, his mouth creasing slightly. Well...he supposed he could play along - as long as it held his attention. He schooled his features and raised his head again, meeting the other man's gaze. "Well, what is this all about, exactly? Apparently I'm the only one who wasn't informed," he said dryly.
The man turned in his chair, his expression turning grave and serious, as his gaze found the child beside him. "It's about my daughter, Penny."
Xehanort's gaze slid over to the girl again, as well. He examined her closely, for several long moments.
The girl remained as she was: sitting in that seat, her glazed eyes of bright green staring straight ahead - at absolutely nothing. Her hands folded in her lap, gripping some little doll.
Xehanort returned his eyes to Rowan. "What is wrong with her?" he spoke. Even if asked to satisfy curiosity, rather than out of any real care, the words were still unfamiliar on his lips.
The other man sighed heavily, sitting back in his chair. "She was attacked, months ago, now - by the evil sorceress, Marise."
"An evil sorceress, you say?" Xehanort inquired.
"Yeah." Rowan looked over at the girl, a moment, his face twisted with sorrow and grief. Emotions that escaped the man...flowing over into Xehanort, faintly. Such powerful emotions, he didn't need physical contact to sense them. It was...uncomfortable. "It was...damn stupid, damn petty. And it was my mistake, not Penny's - but she paid the price for it anyways. I'm a magical weaponsmith, you see - finest in the kingdom, and that's not bragging, just a fact. Marise came to me and asked me to make her a sword fit for a queen. So I put all I had into the task, and when it was ready, I gave it to her. Thought that was the end of it, but..."
"But what?" Xehanort said mildly.
"A week later, Marise came back, in the middle of the night. I woke up for a drink and walked out and...she was just there. Sitting. Waiting. She had the sword in her hand - what was left of it. The handle, a few inches of mythril. She said it had failed against her enemies - that it had shattered, during a battle. So she said she was going to pay me back in kind for it. She bound me, I couldn't move, couldn't have stopped her - she went and got my daughter, brought her back out to me, confused and scared as could be...and she used magic on her. Magic that...broke her Heart apart. Shattered it. She held the pieces in her hand, as she walked out, telling me that she was going to scatter them to the winds."
Xehanort stood silently, feeling fresh waves of intense emotions. Palpable. As if his own. He looked down and away, letting out a breath. He raised his head, and found himself looking at Amaya again. She was watching him, still. Had she ever stopped? "Well...that was an interesting story - but why am I here?"
Amaya's expression changed. Her eyes narrowed at him, her lips set with anger.
Rowan simply nodded, looking again to his daughter. "I was told that you have special abilities - concerning Hearts. That you have experience with traveling, with magic, with helping people."
Xehanort now looked at Amaya with some anger of his own. What was this? What was she even doing?
In face of his anger, hers seemed to soften again, for whatever reason. Her eyes glistened at him. Her lips parted with a soft sound... "I know...that it's asking a lot of you..." she spoke out, in soft tones. "but I know that you can do this, Xehanort. I know you can help this girl. You can put her right again. You can save her."
"Why?" Xehanort said flatly.
"Because it's who you are," the woman whispered. "You're good. You're kind, and thoughtful, and compassionate. And I know you can do this."
Xehanort turned his head, looking to the lifeless child in question. Why? Why did she want him to do this so badly? Was it a test? To prove a point? A challenge? Even like this, yes, he agreed with her that he very well could still accomplish the task, however...what reason did he have to?
Well, doing so would extend his time away from that boring little world. It would keep his boredom away, itself, plain and simple. And it would probably also keep the woman from being incredibly angry and upset with him for the foreseeable future...which wasn't bound to be pleasant. He did rather like her current demeanor toward him. And he wanted to keep it that way. And...
He stepped forward, gazing at the girl's face, breathing in and out slowly. He extended his senses - not magic, not darkness. The senses of the Heart that he still had available to him. His unique abilities, as well...
He did sense a Heart within the child. A portion - a piece. But thoughts, feelings? There was nothing going on inside the Heart. Not that he could-
The girl's hands curled, and her head turned his way, as a jolt of something went through Xehanort's Heart.
He gasped, stepping away.
The child's fingers went slack, and her head dropped to her shoulder.
Xehanort stared at her for a moment, but nothing more happened. He looked to the father, Rowan, who gazed at Xehanort now with a face of pleading, of hope, of... He looked to Amaya. Her similar look, on soft features, those sparkling eyes holding his so intently...
He ruminated on that feeling, that moment, as the child had...
"I'll see what I can do," he spoke at last, gazing into his caretaker's eyes alone. "But I can't make any promises - so don't expect anything."
The wave of emotions that came off of Amaya in that moment, blasting his Heart, were overwhelming.
But not something he minded - from her...
