Chapter 20: The Descendant
Balthazar awoke with a gasp, his senses immediately overwhelmed by a cacophony of sensations. A loud wave of metallic crashes rolled around him, the air was thick with the scent of blood, and he could hear the deep and satisfied taunting of a powerful Darkness.
In the middle of it all, more powerful than anything else he could sense, a light burned deep within him. He lifted his head to see a black, scraggly arm that he recognized as his own. He glanced down to see that he was once again an Angel of Darkness, and though his body was heavily damaged it was reforming.
He was back on the battlefield of the Keyblade War. This was the moment just after he'd nearly died to Aced's blade.
A voice unfamiliar to him called out, distinct among all other sounds. "I have to find her."
His fingers dug into the dirt and he began to pull himself along the ground as his body rebuilt itself, knowing that he had to find Velcia. He didn't know why he was back here, but he had to make sure that Velcia survived.
The voice was still in his head, repeating "I have to find her" over and over. He tried to turn his head to look for the source of the voice only to find that he himself had no control over his own body, and a panic began to set in. Something else was guiding his movements, and he did not know what.
No matter what he tried, Balthazar was entirely unable to direct the course of his Heartless body and even his attempts to shout his frustration were in vain, and his mind finally collapsed into a stunned horror at the realization that he was truly only an observer. Looking ahead now to where they were going, he could see that the Heartless was heading straight to where Velcia was laying near-dead.
"Please, don't hurt her," Balthazar pleaded in his mind, though he was unsure to whom. The Heartless came slowly upon Velcia, observing her quietly for a moment before moving in. As before, Velcia took notice of the creature, but was too injured to do anything about it. Balthazar wished he could look away, but much to his sudden relief the Heartless spoke.
"Don't worry," it said.
Balthazar's thoughts halted in shock. Why was this happening again?
Shortly, the Heartless began working to heal Velcia. A surge of Dark Magic rushed through the Heartless form when it did, and the sudden influx made Balthazar feel sick and light-headed.
Areshmin's voice rang out in his mind. "Balthazar, your Heart Station!"
His Heart Station! Of course! He may not be able to command his physical form, but surely his Heart-! Focusing inwards, his consciousness made the jump and upon arrival in the Station an overwhelmingly blinding light greeted him, and he held his hand up to cover his eyes.
"Turn around, Balthazar," Areshmin called out, and Balthazar did so.
He opened his eyes gingerly, seeing now that he was facing away from the center and looking out away from the station. Something behind him was casting this light, so bright that even when facing away he could hardly see a thing.
"W-what is happening…?!" he exclaimed, to no-one in particular.
"I do not know," Areshmin said, resting his paw against Balthazar's leg. "Someone else has joined with your Heart. They are behind us in the center of the Station platform, protected by a powerful magical shield."
Balthazar took a squinting peek over his shoulder, and was just barely able to make out the outline of the dome. "Were you able to see who was inside?"
"No, but I am able to sense their Heart. They are familiar, and yet… I cannot place from where."
Balthazar closed his eyes. "It's the same heart I felt on Olympus, this must be the person I connected to with my Heart Link. If only I could remember who it was."
He turned slowly, squinting with his eyes open just a crack. Other than the outline of the shield, he could see nothing through the light - but he could sense the person within. He took a careful step forward, making his way to the magic dome. He placed his palm against it, but jerked back immediately with a yelp.
"That burns!" he exclaimed, looking down at his hand to see what looked like Darkness bubbling out of it and fading away. "Who is that…?"
"What is happening out in the Crossroads?" Areshmin asked.
Balthazar closed his eyes, and in his mind he could see glimpses of the world outside.
"It's… it's the same thing as before, but I'm not able to control my body out there. I don't understand why, but I'm starting to hope that this person can tell me, " Balthazar said, holding his hand to his head. "But who are you…?" He paused, studying the feeling of the Heart within the bubble as his mind strained to connect the dots.
"Oh… oh my goodness," he said, a wave of realization coming across him. "It's her, Areshmin, it's the orange-haired girl from Olympus."
Areshmin jumped in surprise. "The potion-maker's daughter?! What is she doing here?"
"She… she must be trying to save Velcia…!" Balthazar said, shaking his head. "But I don't know why she would need to; we already saved her, didn't we?"
"I believed so," Areshmin said, shaking his head. "But now I do not know what to believe."
Balthazar stood as close to the barrier as he could, and called out. "Hey! Hey! Who are you? What are you doing?"
The figure inside remained motionless, their focus irrevocably elsewhere. Balthazar looked to Areshmin, and the two exchanged bewildered expressions.
"What do we do…?" Areshmin asked.
Balthazar paused, turning away from the barrier to relieve the strain on his eyes. "I don't know. I don't think I can do anything."
"...Could you enter her heart?" Areshmin asked.
"...I can try," Balthazar said. "I'm not sure what will happen if I try to bypass this barrier, but I don't see any other options. We know I already have a Heart Link with her, so if it's anything like the others it should be easy."
He held his hands out towards her, focusing on the connection between their Hearts. As he'd worried, it felt as though there was some magical force resisting his attempt to traverse the Heart Link, but with a push of great effort he made the connection.
The moment Balthazar arrived he regretted it. The entire station was inundated with a powerful magic that overwhelmed his senses, the only distinct feeling was a burning sensation that coursed through his entire body. He let out a pained scream and fell to his hands and knees. He could feel himself burning from the light, and knew he had to leave immediately. Mustering the last of his strength, Balthazar returned to his own Station where he immediately collapsed onto his back.
"Balthazar!" Areshmin cried out, running to be by his friend's side. The poor boy's body was smoking and had become somewhat translucent, as if his very essence had been eroded. Areshmin looked up towards the figure in the dome, his eyes squinting angrily.
Balthazar coughed and sputtered, straining to lift a shaky hand to see the damage for himself. He could feel himself fading away, and as before closed his eyes and reached out towards the sky.
Swirls of dark clouds began to form in the air above Balthazar, sparks of lightning-like energy jumping down and into Balthazar's body. A deep purple mist began to permeate the air around him, drops of dark sludge building on his skin and streaking down to form a puddle around him as he slowly regenerated his body with the power of Darkness.
Areshmin stepped back in fright at the sight, shaking his head. "B-balthazar, no-!"
"I'm not going… to die now…!" Balthazar groaned, his body beginning to shake from the pain.
"Stop Balthazar, stop!" Areshmin cried out.
"Augh!" Balthazar let out one last scream, and fell silent. The clouds around him dissipated; though the puddle continued to seep out across the platform like writhing tendrils. Areshmin stepped forward through the shallow muck, wincing at the chill that shot up through his legs, and rested a paw on Balthazar's chest. The boy was still alive, that much was certain, but the Darkness was deeply ingrained in him now.
Areshmin climbed up on top of him and sat on his chest to get out of the muck, grateful that as a Chirithy he was exceedingly light and would not discomfort his friend further.
"Oh, my friend… what have we gotten ourselves into now…?" Areshmin asked, shaking his head. "Perhaps… Perhaps this is the price we pay for going against The Master's wishes…"
When Balthazar next awoke his ears were ringing and his entire body stung. His back was cold and his body was stiff. He opened his eyes slowly, his vision blurry, to see an indistinct blue glow in the space above him. His fingers twitched, and he felt the unmistakable texture of the glass-like surface of the Station Platform beneath him. So, he was still here. Someone nearby let out a gasp, and when he turned to look all he could see was a blurry orange-and-green silhouette.
A woman's voice spoke softly. "You're awake…!" It sounded as if she were coming over closer, and the orange suddenly took the distinct shape of a familiar hairstyle.
"V-velcia?" he asked, lifting his hands to his face.
There was a small pause before the reply. "...No," she replied hesitantly. "Your friend Areshmin tells me your name is Balthazar. I am sorry for what I've done to you."
"...Yeah, I'm Balthazar. What exactly did you do to me?" he said. His vision began to come into focus a little bit better now, and he started trying to sit upright.
"I'm afraid that the Light magic that was meant to protect my Heart from Darkness is responsible for burning you so badly. I've been doing what I can to help heal you, but I am so sorry that it happened in the first place," she said.
Balthazar nodded slowly. "So you're the one who was in the barrier, the potion-maker's daughter, right?"
The woman seemed surprised at this, and nodded. "That's right."
Areshmin came up beside Balthazar, resting a paw on his leg. "I have not told her much, yet, but we have been busy. You have been unconscious for some time. Our visitor has been working diligently to help Velcia, and I have been doing what I can to help provide support against the will of the Heartless."
The woman turned her head sheepishly. "When I first began to hear his voice, I did not trust him. I thought he was some sort of trick of the Darkness, and when I came here into this Station I thought the same of you, Balthazar. Your body… you were so steeped in Darkness that it was difficult to feel the Light inside of you. Areshmin's help has been a blessing… I am glad that you are recovering as well."
Balthazar took a deep breath, mulling over the information. "How is Velcia? What's going on with her?"
Areshmin smiled. "She has gone and met with the Pantazis family this very morning. Already, everything is nearly back to the way it was before."
"...With one exception," Balthazar said, turning his focus to the woman now. His vision was clear now, but looking at her he could not believe his eyes. "You really do look so much like Velcia," he said, shaking his head. "Just like in the Projected World."
The woman nodded slowly. "I have been wrong about so many things that I feel hesitant to speak so surely of this, but yes, I believe that your Projected Olympus contained a vision of me from a little over ten years ago."
Balthazar perked up at this. "Ten years ago…! And from Olympus, too! So are you and Velcia related? We've been trying so hard to learn where she is from, to find her family-"
"We are related," the woman said with an amused grin. "But not the way you may think. It is terribly complicated to try to explain fully, but the Velcia you know is my Ancestor, from hundreds of years in my past."
"Wait, wait…" Balthazar's face scrunched up and his eyes narrowed as he tried to process this. "But that would mean, what, you've come back in time somehow? Is that even possible?"
The woman chuckled. "I did not think so, but a very clever man named Ansem found a way."
Balthazar stared slack-jawed, shaking his head slowly. "So you… you're her descendant…! So… so everything goes well for her then?"
"Yes it does," Velcia nodded. "I've read all about her in her journals, which have been passed down through the generations. She doesn't write about her time before the War, but after she arrives on Olympus-"
Balthazar let out a cheer, tears of joy streaming down his cheeks. "She'll be okay, Areshmin, everything will be fine."
Areshmin cheered as well, clapping his paws together. "It is better than we could have hoped."
The woman's face was beaming, and she held her hands together. "I know I said otherwise earlier, but I was afraid that I may confuse you. But, to introduce myself - my name is Velcia. I was named after her… your friend, my Ancestor. It's a name that has been very special to our family, and passed down through the generations."
Balthazar cracked half-smile, rubbing the back of his head. "It's almost too much to believe…!"
"Ah, I wonder," Areshmin started, holding a paw to his chin, "If that could be the reason that her name was missing from the Projected World. If The Master knew, do you think he would omit it on purpose?"
"He must have known," Balthazar said, shaking his head. "I wonder why he would include them, but hide their names?"
Velcia nodded slowly. "I'm afraid all of this is rather new to me, but Ienzo explained to me something called a paradox. I wonder if our names were missing for something like that…? But, if our names weren't there, it must have been rather awkward for us to speak to each other."
"I'll say," Balthazar said, shaking his head. "The Projected versions of you would talk like everything was normal, but whenever one of you was supposed to say your names there was only an incomprehensible, silent sort of noise in its place."
"...That is difficult to imagine," Velcia said.
Balthazar paused, holding his hand to his chin. "So if you are really from the future… why are you back here now?"
Blushing, Velcia averted her eyes sheepishly. "I'm afraid that's a rather complicated series of events. You see, I was recently given my Ancestor's old journals and was rather surprised to find one of them was sealed with a locking spell - one which used my very own variant of the enchantment, at that."
Now it was Balthazar's turn to blush. "I'm afraid that is my fault. I'm the one who gave Velcia the medal to cast that spell."
"But there are thousands of permutations for the lock," Velcia started, shaking her head. "The chances of yours matching mine precisely-"
"Are better than you might expect," Balthazar chuckled. "It was you and your father who taught it to me."
"I see…" Velcia said, taking a deep breath to try to compose herself. "So, is that why you chose the name Magissencia as well?"
"I… I didn't want to tell her my real name. The Darkness was going to destroy us, everybody had to forget me, even her. But I couldn't stop trying to help her, so I… heh, yeah, I don't know why I did, but I started using the name Magissencia. I hope you don't mind."
Velcia shook her head, holding her hand to her head and chuckling awkwardly. "Then I have been an incredible fool." She caught Balthazar's inquisitive expression, and sighed. "You see, finding my locking spell on the journal was strange enough; but when I read my Ancestor's account of her escape from the Keyblade War, and saw that the person who saved her was named Magissencia - a name that I made up as a little girl - I'm afraid that I assumed that it must have been me that did it somehow." Velcia paused, shaking her head again. "The more of the journal I read, the more I believed it. I believed it so strongly that I asked Ansem for help, and it is thanks to his machines that I have been able to travel back through time to save her."
Balthazar felt like his head was spinning. "Don't tell me that's what Cronos meant when he said that I brought you here," he whispered, shaking his head. "That feeling started back when I began learning your magic spells. All of the things that made you think you had to come back here to save her were because of choices I made. I didn't expect that any of it would lead to this."
Velcia's ears perked up at Cronos' name. "So Cronos knew of this…? I suppose I should not be surprised. I wonder if Ansem would know how to contact the Olympians?"
"I don't know if he would have told you anything," Balthazar said, shaking his head. "Even Hestia seemed confused by it all."
"...This is almost too much to believe…" Velcia said under her breath.
"Says the time traveler," Balthazar chuckled.
Velcia laughed softly, shaking her head. "Ienzo did mention that my interpretation of events would be paradoxical. We weren't sure how it would work out, but I believe now I understand. You are the Angel of Darkness, and you are the one who saved my ancestor and brought her to Olympus. But, somehow, you had met my family and I in one of these so-called Projected Worlds and learned magic from us there, and used that in the process of saving her."
Balthazar nodded. "Yeah… and Velcia always writes everything in her journals, so of course she wrote everything in there."
"Then they were passed down through the generations, until they were given to me, where I found the writings about the Angel of Darkness and… oh dear. But what of you? What happened to you?"
"I… I died," Balthazar said. "The Darkness inside the Heartless shell was too powerful for me, and I had to ask Velcia to use her Keyblade to destroy me."
"The terrible request…" Velcia whispered to herself.
"After that, Thanatos was going to bring me to The Underworld, then Hestia stopped him. She said I had to go meet someone named Zros instead, but then Cronos showed up-"
Velcia's face scrunched up. "They stopped Thanatos?"
"Yeah. I think it was The Master's fault… he must have tricked The Fates into helping him somehow, Hestia said Zros works with The Master. But when I felt your Heart approaching, I escaped from them." He paused, thinking over their situation. If things in the outside world really had progressed in the same way, then that meant they were likely still heading for the same conclusion.
He let out a weary sigh, and chuckled wryly. "Heh… I guess not for long though."
"What do you mean?" Velcia asked.
Balthazar crossed his legs, leaning his elbows against his knees. "My world fell to Darkness a few years ago and a man named The Master of Masters saved my heart by turning me into this. My body is a Heartless, but deep down… well, you see how I really am. After I left The Master's tower I met Velcia, uh, your ancestor. She was… no, is, my best friend." He paused, taking a deep breath and shaking his head. "So, when the Keyblade War broke out, I knew I had to save her."
Areshmin nodded, turning to Velcia. "This is now our second time doing so. The first time we experienced this sequence of events, you were not here."
"I remember you had mentioned that… I didn't understand before, but I believe I do now." Velcia said, shaking her head. "I am sorry to make you relive these events again."
"No, I need to apologize to you," Balthazar said sadly. "This Heartless shell, the Angel of Darkness, well you must realize that it really is a Heartless still, even if we control it. Our first time through these events, the Darkness eventually overcame us. Like I said, I had to ask Velcia to destroy the Heartless before it got too strong for me to control."
"Yes… I understand now," Velcia said. "She wrote about that in her Journal, but didn't say specifically what had been requested of her."
"The light in this Velcia's Heart is strong enough that I believe it will be some time before we succumb once again," Areshmin said, nodding, "But, do you remember? Her light was so powerful that, like Khosrow, it damages the Heartless."
Velcia grimaced, closing her eyes. "Before sending me back, Ansem's machine cast a powerful spell of light to protect my Heart. That is what has caused so much damage to your Heartless body… and I believe it is what has burned you in here as well. I did not realize that you would be here, otherwise-"
Balthazar shook his head. "No… no, it's alright. The important thing is that Velcia is safe. But… What about you? How are you going to get back home, to your own time?"
"Ansem told me that my Heart would have to be freed from the Heartless, and when that happens it would find its way back to my Nobody at the proper time," Velcia said, shaking her head. "I have a terrible suspicion that I too will have to ask the same favor of my Ancestor as you did."
"Nobodies again…" Balthazar whispered to himself. One of the other Angels, Khosrow, had been destroyed by a Dark Specter only to reunite with one of these so-called Nobodies to regain his true form. If it was true that she had one waiting for her too, then he knew that she would be alright, but for him and Areshmin…
"So… nothing changes then…?" Balthazar asked no-one in particular. "You go back home, and I… Heh, I'm stuck doing what The Master wants again." He glanced over at Velcia, surprised to see the regretful sorrow on her face. "It's alright. If nothing else, I'm glad to know for sure that my friend is going to thrive here on Olympus."
Velcia nodded slowly. "I… I wish that I could do more to help you, too. It doesn't seem fair at all, what I have done to you."
Balthazar chuckled, picking up Areshmin and setting him in his lap. "I think it's our own fault, really. We've cheated death too many times now, haven't we?"
Areshmin nodded. "Indeed. Each time we eke by, we do so with the understanding that it will likely not happen again."
"That's right…" Balthazar said with a nod. "Say, Velcia, you don't happen to know anything about a man named Zros do you?"
"I… I cannot say that I've heard of him," she said.
"Guess we'll meet him soon enough," Balthazar mused. "Don't worry about us. Do what you need to do to get back home. Just… don't mention either of us to her, alright?"
Velcia tilted her head. "I will not, but, may I ask-?"
"Why?" Balthazar finished, shaking his head. "She doesn't remember who I am. The Master locked away all memories of me, in order to keep us safe from a Dark Specter that haunted Daybreak Town. I'm sure she's safe here in Olympus, but after everything else she's lost she doesn't need to remember that she's lost us too."
"...I understand," Velcia said with a nod. "If you don't mind… I would like to try to spend some more time with her, before I return back to my time. I've spent so much time daydreaming of what she was like," she paused, chuckling to herself. "My Gran told such grandiose stories, but it seems that she is very different to what I have heard. I want to know her for who she truly is."
Balthazar smiled warmly, his eyes looking out into the distance. "...Go ahead. She's… she's a girl worth knowing."
In the cavern on Olympus the lonely Angel of Darkness sat silent, its eyes glowing a dull orange. It awaited the next return of the girl from Daybreak Town, when it would come to life again and the Hearts inhabiting it would enjoy their time with the young girl and help her to acclimate to her new life on Olympus.
But times like these, where the body was dormant, the Hearts inside were far from inactive. The Descendent Velcia was eager to know more about her ancestor and her unlikely acquaintance Balthazar, and he had spent days telling her of his time in both The Master's Tower and Daybreak Town.
When at last he could remember no more, Balthazar decided it was his turn to ask questions. He, Velcia, and Areshmin sat in a circle on the Station Platform underneath a protective dome. Darkness had started to overtake the unprotected exterior, dark muck covered most of the platform now, but this defensive barrier kept the hearts inside safe.
"Can you tell me more about your time?" Balthazar asked, cautiously eyeing the bubbling chaos outside the light. "All of this scheming and planning of The Master's… has he succeeded in defeating Darkness?"
"I'm afraid not," Velcia said, shaking her head slowly. "From what I have seen, it is just as bad as what you saw in your Projected Worlds; but light does live on. In my time, it was only recently that a terrible man named Xehanort tried to recreate the Keyblade War from which you've just escaped."
Balthazar scowled, his fingers digging into his pant legs. "Why would anybody want to do a thing like that?"
"I do not know. Xehanort was a terrible, terrible man. I was told that he believed the war was the key to forming something called a Chi-Blade, but I'm afraid I know little more than that. He caused untold suffering on countless worlds, and it is he who was responsible for the deaths of my father and cousin."
Balthazar's hair stood on end, and a sadness came over him. "I remember in the Projected World, we saw you and your family under attack by a mysterious, dark figure and another called Vanitas. Velcia - your Ancestor - managed to drive them off in the Projected World, but I… I'd hoped that your family would have been able to escape harm in the real world as well."
"I'm afraid not. Vanitas destroyed both my father and my cousin, and he would have destroyed me as well if it weren't for Master Aqua. All because they saw my old Keyblade…"
"Oh…!" Balthazar's ears perked up at this. "You're a Wielder as well?"
"No, I'm not. The Keyblade I have was the one my ancestor used, passed down through the generations. By the time it made it to my hands, it had long since been devoid of any power. I believe Vanitas simply saw me using it, and they came to investigate. Ansem believes that they were looking for potential candidates for Xehanort's new Keyblade War," Velcia said.
Balthazar let out a low growl, casting his gaze out into the waves of darkness outside the barrier. "Schemers… First The Master, then this Xehanort." His scowl softened, and he shook his head. "I'm sorry to hear about your father and your cousin. I know it wasn't the real potion-maker-"
"Hephestus…" Velcia said, her voice laced with warmth and longing, "And my Cousin was Denerre."
"Hephestus and Denerre," Balthazar said, closing his eyes as he pictured them in his head. "It's good to finally have names to put to their faces. I know that the versions of them I met in the Projected World weren't real, but I was happy to know them all the same. I really admire the potion-maker, er, Hephestus… I'm sorry I'll never get the chance to know him for real."
"I am, as well, for I am sure he would like you. When you speak of these Projected Worlds, I find myself wishing I could visit one to see them one more time. But… I know that I cannot. I must get back to my own time, when I am able to."
Areshmin nodded. "It is easy to lose oneself in the Projected Worlds."
Balthazar grinned, remembering how much time he'd spent there with the other Velcia. "It sure is. So this Ansem fellow, is he another magician from Olympus?"
"Goodness me, no," Velcia laughed. "No, he is something else entirely. A king, a scholar, a mad scientist… I owe quite a lot to him, and not just for helping me to come back here. He's taught me quite a bit, and he saved my life as well. I'm certain that he would find you fascinating."
"I guess you'll have to tell him about me when you get back," Balthazar grinned. "Maybe he can make some sense of all of this."
Velcia's smile faltered. "I'm… I'm afraid I won't be able to. I've only just remembered, but Ansem's told me that when I return to the future I won't retain any memories of this time."
"...Oh." Balthazar's shoulders slumped, and he patted Areshmin on the head.
"I'm very sorry," Velcia whispered. 'I wish there were something I could do."
Balthazar shook his head. "It's not your fault. I'm stuck where I am, and that's that. If I hadn't taken refuge in your Heart and come back, I'd be meeting Zros right now anyway. Even if this was only a detour, I'm still glad to have… huh…"
"What is it, my friend?" Areshmin asked, his ears perking up.
A curious, quirky little smile came over Balthazar's face. "We came back in time by connecting with this Velcia's Heart, right…? If her Heart is going to return to her own time in the future, do you think that perhaps we could go with her that same way…?"
Areshmin's beady eyes shot wide open, and his fur bristled in shock. "I… I do not know," he said, turning to Velcia. "Do you?"
Velcia was just as taken aback by the suggestion as Areshmin. She held her hand to her chin. "Ansem never said anything about that. If you were able to follow me back here, then… I don't see why it shouldn't work going the other way. But if it doesn't work, I couldn't begin to say what will happen."
"If we do go forward with her," Areshmin started, "We would still be stuck as Hearts in this same fashion."
"I… I do not know if this works the same way…" Velcia started hesitantly, "But… in my travels I have seen and heard of a science that allows the creation of a sort of an empty copy body for a Heart to inhabit. It is beyond my understanding, but it is possible, if unlikely, that Ansem-"
Balthazar jumped to his feet, and began pacing. "I don't want my fate to be controlled and manipulated by The Master anymore. Whatever this business is with Zros I want nothing at all to do with it. I… I would take any chance at all to get away from him now. But…" he stopped, turning to Velcia, "There's so many 'ifs'. If we try this, if it works, if I can go with you in your heart… and your friend Ansem is not able to find a way to get me out, I'd be stuck with you forever." He chuckled, running his hand through his curly ponytail. "That's too much to ask of you."
"I-I'll do it," Velcia said, jumping to her feet. "The more I've come to know you, the more I've lamented that I've done nothing but give you a false hope. I can't bear to leave you behind without trying something, anything, to help you."
Balthazar stepped back, shaking his head. "N-no, I can't ask you to do that. I've ruined enough-"
"I'm asking you," Velcia said, clasping her hands together. "Balthazar, will you please try to come to my time with me?"
"I-i-" Balthazar stammered. He looked into Velcia's eyes, and in her couldn't help but see a reflection of his best friend inside pleading with him. "...Okay, I'll do it. I'll try it."
Velcia let out a sigh of relief. "Good… Next time my ancestor comes to visit, I will ask her to destroy the Heartless."
It was not long until once again the night of reckoning was upon them. Young Velcia had made her way back up to the remote cavern one last time, and was saying her goodbyes to the Angel.
Balthazar stood in the center of his Station, doing his best to maintain a dome of light magic much like what had protected the Descendant Velcia before. The outside of the barrier was encircled by several powerful Heartless, and the platform floor was covered in dark muck from geysers of dark magic borne out of the Heartless' last desperate struggle for control.
"You are doing well," Areshmin said. His paws were pressed against the barrier, as he too did his part to help protect this last refuge of light. "Be ready, they are saying their good-byes now."
Balthazar's cheeks puffed out, and he slowly turned his feet to find as much stability as he could muster. He'd had experience reinforcing magic barriers such as this, back in The Master's Tower, it was a vital part of the process of turning a dying Heart into an Angel of Darkness. Light magic pooled in his hands, and he held them out to the sides, sending twisting streams of energy out and into the glowing dome.
"Here it comes-!" Areshmin warned, grabbing tightly to Balthazar's leg.
The Station Platform began to glow with a brilliant light, and in a flash Balthazar and Areshmin found themselves blinded by the overwhelming power of the Keyblade as it incinerated the Angel of Darkness. The light was so bright that even closing his eyes did not help, but Balthazar did not dare move his arms for fear of losing the barrier. He lowered his head and let out a yell, hoping that it would end soon.
And then, suddenly, the overwhelming light ceased. Balthazar's eyes slowly blinked open to see that now he appeared to be in an endless, empty void. He felt nothing under his feet, and there was nothing for his eyes to see.
He could not even feel any air, and his lungs took in this vacuum without complaint.
"A-areshmin…" he said, his own voice sounding hollow to him now. "Are we dead…?"
But as with the rest of the universe, Areshmin was nowhere to be seen.
Balthazar tried to turn around, but though he could feel and see his limbs moving they had no effect, he could feel no motion or contact with anything at all.
"What have I done…?" he whispered, wide eyed.
"...WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"
Panic set in, and Balthazar held his hands to his head, gritting his teeth. He cried out in anguish, and in his mind found himself awash in a flash of memories. Everything he'd left, everyone he missed, and all of his mistakes.
All of his many, many mistakes. How much more could he have done? How many of those he lost could have been saved had he done better? A feeling began to well up inside of him; cold, familiar… dark. He shuddered, but despite his discomfort he found himself relieved to be able to feel anything at all.
He wiped his tears from his cheeks and looked at his hands to see that they had begun to fade. He was fading, slowly, but he wasn't sure if time existed here. A cold chill coursed through his chest like a spike, and after it subsided he could sense it out in the void - Darkness. Looking down at his translucent limbs once more, he grit his teeth with determination and reached out his hands to try and tether the dark magic to bend it to his will.
Out of the aether, glowing purple dew drops began to form and swirl towards him. He took these in greedily, like a lost man in the desert falling face-first into an oasis, and as the power surged within him he could see his body begin to return.
Behind the drops of dew, two glowing eyes opened. They were sharp and cunning, and though Balthazar found himself wary of these eyes he dared not stop.
"Very wise…" a voice spoke from beneath the eyes. "You understand what you must do to survive. Take this power, it is yours to do with as you wish."
Balthazar nodded, his body shaking. Some of the purple dew began to accumulate in the air around the eyes, as condensation sticking to some unseen form. The drops turned into puddles, and the puddles slowly rippled together until they took the form of a large robed bear. The Bear lifted his arms, his paws reaching back and pulling a hood over the top of his head.
"Come with me, Balthazar…" the Bear said. "Let me show you what you will learn to grow beyond."
A pulse. A deep, rumbling beat. Ground began to form underneath him, starting as a shapeless dark purple ooze and transforming into solid, brown dirt. Crashes of thunder boomed from the distance as mountains grew up around him, and in a moment of horror Balthazar recognized this newly-formed land as the Crossroads.
"Come now," the Bear said, leading Balthazar out and into the center of this place. "You have been fighting against the Darkness for so long, and what have you gained by this defiance? Nothing. You have lived as Darkness, and have embraced it for your own survival; but you deny your friends this same opportunity."
Twelve phantoms appeared behind the Bear, six to either side, and slowly these phantoms began to take shape as people. People Balthazar knew - the rest of the Angels of Darkness.
The Bear motioned towards them. "You remember them, of course… Areshmin, Farah, Juangshi, Perere, Binh, Tomislava, Hadrianus, Spyridon, Hadassah, Tadataka, Meresankh, and Khosrow… you could have saved them, if only you had embraced the Darkness sooner. The fate they met was senseless, foolish."
Then, without warning, each of the twelve fell to the ground, lifeless.
"N-no, I didn't… it's not my fault…!" Balthazar sputtered, closing his eyes and turning his head away.
"You know the truth," the Bear said. Its voice was that of malice, but it spoke in a soothing tone. "Now, embrace the Darkness, and find for yourself the power and the will to never make these mistakes again."
A muffled voice called out from the distance, and Balthazar turned towards it only to see a blur of orange before the Bear moved to block it. Balthazar held his hands to his head.
"I… I…" He swallowed. He did not believe the Bear. He could not believe it. But… this Darkness seemed to be the only way forward, and so with shaking breath he stepped forward, holding his hands out and pulling more darkness in towards himself. His senses were overcome, and a chill filled his body.
Blackness again, punctuated occasionally by random flashes of light. A woman's voice called faintly, and when it did the sky flickered in streaks of color. In the distance, somewhere, a warmth that soothed him. He began to seek this out, but when he opened his eyes all he could see was Darkness.
"But Darkness is not your nature," the woman's voice rang softly. "I know in you there is light."
"W-who are you?" Balthazar called out. In the distance he could see… something. A small light, as a star, and he longed to reach it. His feet began to move, and then his body.
He plodded slowly forward towards the light. The Bear came up beside him, whispering terrible things to him and clawing at his back with his terrible paws, but Balthazar grit his teeth and pressed past the pain, shutting out the accusations and threats. He did not know for how long he marched, only that both the Bear and the Light grew stronger as he did. All he could hear was the voice of the Bear, reminding of his failures. The images of the other Angels, slain, littered the sides of his path. He could feel the claws of the Bear nipping at his back, but he kept his eyes on the light and continued towards it. His senses dulled and his mind began to fall into a haze, until at last all he could see was the singular light in the distance.
The star grew closer until it was within his grasp and he held it closely to his chest, feeling his body fill with an overwhelming warmth. Somewhere, out in the distance, the roars of the Bear could be heard fading away. The Star shone ever brighter until it was blinding, and Balthazar could only begin to sob at the sensations of relief that washed over his heart.
The light faded, and Balthazar opened his eyes once more. There were sounds now, mechanical. Other senses began to return to him as well.
Cold. Hard. Metal.
A gentle, sterile breeze.
He lifted a hand to find his knuckles bumping against another metallic surface, and curiously he placed both his palms flat against this and felt this shape before him. He was inside of something.
In an instant, Balthazar knew where he was. This was a pod, surely one of The Master's. Something had gone wrong, and he had awoken once again as an Angel of Darkness within The Master's Tower.
"No! No, no, no!" he cried out, bashing his fists against the pod door. "No, not again, please, not again!"
He couldn't breathe, and he felt his head go numb. His hands fell slowly by his side and he shook his head, crying softly.
"Balthazar… can you hear me?" a voice spoke from outside the pod. This was not The Master, it was-
"It's me, Velcia," she continued. "Everything will be okay."
Balthazar shivered, swallowing hard. "I can't see anything. Where am I?"
"A man named Ansem the Wise has created a replica body for you, and we've helped move your Heart inside of it. You're in his castle, inside a pod that was meant to keep you safe while we waited for you to wake up," she explained.
Another voice spoke up. "Do you remember, Balthazar? Ansem the Wise is the one who sent her to help us."
This voice… Areshmin. The woman… Velcia. His memory felt foggy, clouded, but things were beginning to come back to him. Slowly, the time spent in the cavern on Olympus began to return to him.
"I remember…" he said, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, Areshmin."
"Areshmin?" Velcia asked curiously.
Balthazar lay his head back against the hard cushion behind him. She'd told them that she wouldn't remember anything from the past when she returned to her own time, but…
"You really don't remember, do you?" he said, shaking his head.
"I'm afraid not," Velcia admitted. Some of the mist within the pod appeared to be thinning out, and Balthazar could see now some sort of window before him. On the other side, the silhouette of a curious person looking inside. Velcia continued. "You're both so familiar to me, but I have no idea why. I'm sorry I don't remember who you are."
It was not long before Ansem the Wise arrived. He was an intense person, in every sense of the word, and for some time Balthazar thought that there was no end to the man's inquiries. When at last Ansem found himself satisfied that Balthazar meant no harm, he released the young man from the pod. Balthazar was surprised, but relieved, to find that he did indeed seem to be a normal human once more; but this relief quickly turned to discouragement as Ansem quickly turned his attention to questioning Balthazar further.
Ansem, Balthazar, Velcia, and many white-coated men that Balthazar could not remember the names of spent several hours over many days going over what Balthazar could remember of his time in Daybreak Town, the Keyblade War, and most curiously of all what little Balthazar knew of The Master of Masters. Every day felt as though they were dragging on only to end as a blur until at last Ansem found himself, for a time at least, satisfied with what he had been given.
Through it all, Velcia was determined to stick by his side. She was just as he remembered her being, back in the cave, and though she didn't say it Balthazar felt that she must have remembered something of him too; whether she knew it or not.
And now, Balthazar sat on a bed in the room that Ansem had provided for him. It was comfortable, no doubt, but Balthazar felt so raw and so exhausted that nothing felt comforting to him. He listened to the birds chirping outside, and slowly stood up to go look out the window.
This room was high up in a mighty castle, overlooking a place called Radiant Garden. The town was visible in the distance, beyond the castle walls, and even from up here he could see that it was bustling and alive with people. There was a warmth here, and despite everything Balthazar felt a glimmer of hope.
"How are you, Balthazar…?" Areshmin said, clambering up onto the windowsill.
"I don't know," Balthazar said, his voice hoarse. "None of this feels real, and my emotions are so mixed up I'm not sure if I want it to be."
Areshmin nodded, placing his paws on the warm glass. "I understand what you mean. It has been some time since I felt so lost."
Balthazar hummed in agreement, turning to his friend. "Did… did we do the right thing? Coming here?"
Areshmin closed his eyes. "We chose our own path. If doing so was a mistake, it was our own."
A wry smile cracked upon Balthazar's lips, and he let out a weak chuckle. "I guess so, yeah. I guess, whatever happens here… we know it was our choice."
"Hm, to an extent, anyhow," Areshmin said, shaking his head. "This Ansem certainly seems to have an agenda of his own."
"...Have we traded one Master for another…?" Balthazar said, swallowing uneasily. "Velcia seems to trust him…"
Areshmin's ears perked up. "Yes, she does. She may still be learning to remember us, but I remember her. I believe she is trustworthy, do you?"
"I do. She can help us. We'll… we'll see what she thinks about this."
Areshmin nodded, and looked back out across the town. "It does seem beautiful, doesn't it? I suppose there are worse places to call home."
"Heh, yeah…" Balthazar said.
There was a knock at the door.
"Um, come in," Balthazar said, and he and Areshmin turned to see one of Ansem's assistants stepping in. He had blue hair with long bangs that nearly covered one of his eyes. Balthazar couldn't remember his name, but-
"Hello again, Ienzo," Areshmin said. "Does Ansem have yet more questions for us?"
"Of a sort," Ienzo said, noting the weariness in Areshmin's voice. "But I believe this will be the last of the requests that he has for you."
Balthazar and Areshmin exchanged skeptical glances. "What is it…?" Balthazar asked.
"In your recounting of events, you mentioned that your friend, this ancestral Velcia, left behind a bag of belongings in the cavern on Olympus. Our data is limited, but from what we know it does not seem like the known contents of this bag ever left that cavern," Ienzo explained. "We would like for you to accompany us to Olympus, to show us this cavern so we may see if anything remains."
"...Us…?" Balthazar asked, shaking his head. "What do you want with Velcia's things?"
"We do not intend to keep them," Ienzo assured him. "What artifacts we may find are certainly the rightful property of Miss Anthes and will be given to her. We only wish to inspect these, and see if they can provide any more information about your era. As for the make-up of our party, it will be myself, you and your Chirithy, and Miss Anthes."
"...If Velcia is coming along, I'll do it," Balthazar said with a nod.
Ienzo gave a courteous smile and a respectful bow. "Excellent. We leave immediately, follow me."
Balthazar and Areshmin followed after Ienzo, looking around at the grand and spacious halls as they went. This castle was so enormous that Balthazar still had very little idea of where anything in it was, only that he had traversed a very small amount of it.
They entered another room, this one a meeting room with a long oak table. Velcia was here, sitting in one of the chairs and wearing an anxious frown. She was relieved at the sight of Balthazar, and stood up to greet him.
"Thank you for coming," she said. "I am sorry that we have asked so much of you."
"As is Ansem," Ienzo said with a nod. "But I assure you both, this is the last request. You are both free to do as you wish."
Velcia nodded, turning to Balthazar. "Do you think we will find anything…?"
"I don't know," Balthazar said with a sad shrug. "And I'm not sure if I want there to be anything there. But… I… I need to go."
Velcia reached out, placing her hand on his shoulder. Balthazar smiled weakly, and placed his hand atop hers before turning to Ienzo.
"How are we going to get there?"
"As such," Ienzo said, stepping back and turning his hand in a circle. Magic crackled through the air, and a Corridor of Darkness appeared before them.
Balthazar couldn't help but recoil at this, shaking his head and looking over at Velcia questioningly.
"It's okay," Velcia assured him. "We can trust him."
Ienzo nodded graciously, then led the way through the portal. Balthazar took a deep breath, and closing his eyes, he followed after.
Once on Olympus it took Balthazar some time to regain his bearings, but with Areshmin and Velcia's help the group managed to find the remains of the ancient cemetery, all but worn away to dust now. From here, Areshmin led the way until at last they reached the cavern.
Standing at the entrance, Balthazar could feel his skin crawling. This was surely the place where, seemingly only a short time ago, he both lived and died as an Angel of Darkness. Doubts began to creep into his mind, but his heart ached. He missed Velcia, terribly, and the more time he spent recounting and remembering his days with her the more he hurt. If there was anything left of her in there, anything at all…
"This is it, then…" Velcia said, stepping up beside him. "It's so eerie. I don't remember this place, and yet it feels that my Heart does…"
"Yeah… this is the cave," Balthazar said, shaking his head. "It's hard to believe it, even for me. Come on, let's go."
Velcia nodded, and with a twist of her fingers a small flame appeared floating above her hand. She stepped in ahead of Balthazar, her magical torch lighting the way ahead. The cave was not overly deep, and it did not take long to find the end.
Balthazar's eyes scanned the space. Over in the dark corner underneath some fallen rubble he could faintly see what looked like a dusty old strap, and he made his way over to it. He lifted the rubble carefully to find Velcia's old backpack underneath, coated in a thick layer of dust and dirt.
Gingerly, he reached down to open the top flap only to find it disintegrating in his hands. He cursed under his breath, and tried to do his best to move what was left of the bag without damaging it too much; but it only lasted for a few seconds before giving way; spilling out medals and trinkets across the cavern floor with a clatter.
"Oh, dear," Velcia said, shaking her head. She looked at these curiously, and knelt down to pick up one of the medals, turning it over curiously.
Ienzo came up beside them, holding out a few small sacks. "I have brought these, we can use them to bring whatever we find."
Balthazar took one of them, shaking his head as he looked across the scattered medals, pencils, and old, musty books. It felt wrong to disturb these long-lost objects, but it was too late to turn back now.
"...Right…" he said, and he knelt down. He picked up the trinkets first, remembering his time with Velcia. He knew what each of these was, and he was there when she'd first collected many of them. A tear began to well up in his eyes.
"Oh, what is this?" Velcia asked.
Balthazar looked over to see her holding the old golden necklace, now caked with a thick layer of dirt. He smiled warmly. "That's her old necklace. When she first came to Daybreak Town, it was a Tiara from her original world, but she had it turned into a necklace when she grew too big to wear it on her head."
"I see. I bet it is beautiful underneath this dirt," Velcia said, wiping her finger across it.
With a nod, Balthazar returned to collecting the medals and placing them into the bag.
A surprised yelp echoed through the cavern, followed by the clanging of metal on stone. Balthazar and Ienzo turned to see that Velcia had dropped the old tiara, her eyes wide and her face as white as a ghost.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Balthazar asked, but Velcia could only gape and point towards the tiara.
"This…?" Balthazar said, picking it up. She'd wiped off the dirt, and the mysterious old symbols were visible once more. He glanced up from these curiously. "Do… do you know what these mean…?"
"I-i-i don't," Velcia said, voice shaking, "But… if I am correct…" she swallowed hard, and held up her hand. A flash of blue magic burst in the air above it, and a book appeared. This book's cover was adorned with a strikingly similar set of symbols to those seen on the tiara.
Balthazar's eyes grew as wide as platters. "What is that…?!"
Velcia opened the book wordlessly, flipping through the pages as she glanced at the symbols etched into the gold in Balthazar's hand.
"It's a book a dear friend gave to me recently…" she said, voice trembling. "I believe I can use it to translate that writing."
"No way…! Where is this from?"
Velcia shook her head, mouth moving wordlessly. "Here… these symbols on the back spell out a name," she said, running her finger across the etchings. "It says… Valencia Florere."
"Valencia Florere…" Balthazar repeated slowly. "But her name was Velcia, wasn't it?"
Areshmin held a paw to his chin. "She did arrive in Daybreak Town when she was very young. Perhaps she was so young that she had difficulty saying her name?"
"Valencia… Velcia…" Balthazar said, shaking his head with a loving smile. "Heh… I could see that. But where is this from?"
Velcia sat down, folding the book and placing it on the stone beside her.
"Come now, Miss Anthes," Ienzo said, "You can tell us."
Velcia's eyes flickered up to Ienzo, and despite her best efforts she could only manage to speak just above a whisper. "...Eos. This Tiara is from Eos."
"Eos…?" Balthazar repeated, shaking his head. "I've never heard of it. What's wrong with Eos?"
Ienzo swallowed slowly, shaking his head in disbelief; but he did not for a second doubt Velcia's claim. "Eos…" he said slowly, "Miss Anthes, are you-?"
Velcia nodded suddenly. "I will be."
Areshmin and Balthazar exchanged confused glances, shrugging to each other. "Can one of you explain what's wrong?"
Ienzo glanced over at Velcia, who nodded towards him in return. He took a breath, and turned to Balthazar. "Eos… is a world of great importance to Miss Anthes, and… one that has recently fallen under a shroud of darkness."
Velcia swallowed hard, looking up at Balthazar. "...I will collect myself as soon as I can. Let's finish here, and return to Ansem's Castle… I will tell you everything later."
Balthazar nodded slowly. "...Alright," he said, picking up the tiara. "Eos, huh…? Velcia… we finally figured out where you're from."
They finished gathering the old artifacts, though Velcia seemed to be in such a state of shock as to hardly notice their completion. Ienzo instead allowed Balthazar to carry the sacks for the time being, and they returned back outside of the cave.
Balthazar sat down, opening the top of one of the sacks to look inside it. These old medals and trinkets were now all that he had left of his friend.
"It's not enough…" he whispered softly, dropping the sack to the ground. His head hung, and he held his hands to his face. His chest ached, a terrible pain that he'd never felt before. His memories were not enough, and no trinkets, medals, or books could ever replace her.
"She's gone," Balthazar said, a single tear running down his cheek. "She's gone and there's nothing left that matters."
He lifted his head, and saw Ienzo not far off preparing to create a portal back to Radiant Garden. Areshmin came up beside Balthazar, resting a paw against his shin.
"She may be gone, yes… but she was safe and lived well, Balthazar. You and I are not alone, even here and now. Remember, something of our friend lives on," Areshmin said, turning and pointing towards Velcia.
Balthazar nodded, taking a deep breath. "You're right."
He stood up, hands clenched resolutely and went over to her. "Hey…"
Velcia took a breath, a kind smile returning to her face. "I'm sorry about this. I will be alright, but it has given me a lot to think about."
"Heh, yeah, I get it," Balthazar said, shaking his head. "Um, if there's anything I can do to help with this Eos thing, let me know."
"There's nothing any of us can do about it," Velcia said forlornly. "But we must walk tall regardless."
"Come now, it is time to return," Ienzo called out to them, motioning towards the portal.
"We shouldn't keep him waiting," Velcia said with a chuckle. "Balthazar, I know it must be hard for you to be here after everything that has happened. When we get back to the castle, I'd like to introduce you to some of my friends."
Balthazar took a breath. Friends. He wasn't sure he was ready for that yet.
"I know it must seem daunting, but they are wonderful. Have you ever watched a movie before?" she asked.
"A movie… I can't say that I have," Balthazar said, shaking his head. "What is that?"
Velcia smiled. "Hm. You will have to see for yourself."
Ienzo entered the portal, followed by Velcia. Balthazar walked up to the horizon, then turned and took one last look at the old cave. His dear friend was long gone, but had lived a good life and left a legacy behind - a descendant that had now saved Balthazar himself.
There was a tugging on his leg, and he looked down to see Areshmin's face peering up at him inquisitively. "Well Balthazar, aren't you going to follow her?"
Balthazar nodded slowly, then picked up Areshmin. "...To the end of time."
THE END
Author's Note:
(Curry's Husband)
Thank you all so much for reading the story and coming along on this journey with Balthazar, Areshmin, and Velcia. I really hope that you've enjoyed it!
There will be one more update next weekend, the epilogue, and then that will be it for this story. I have many more ideas and plans for more stories yet to come, but it will be a bit to work them all through - and we're at a point in the KH Timeline where it is hard to navigate much further without a better understanding of The Master of Masters. Still, with Balthazar in the 'modern era' now, I am very excited for him to get the chance to meet Hinata, Sam, Lupe, and the rest of the crew. I hope you're looking forward to it, too!
Thanks again, everyone!
