Anatomy Of A Dream

[Jopari]

Well. I've decided to throw in my lot and post a fan fiction. This is totally free from the game and will only have a few cannon characters. I know that it might not appeal to everyone, but I prefer working with my original characters. The story starts on a beach like the one that Kingdom Hearts 2 ends on.

I have a plot worked out and have most of the first few chapters ready to be posted, but for now I'll be posted every two or three days with an update. One last note, Jaan is pronounced John. Enjoy my newest work, Anatomy Of A Dream.
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The waves washed up on the dark shore, stirring the black sand around her feet as she watched the moon set into the sea. She smiled as she heard the hiss of a portal opening behind her, followed by the soft crunch of boots on the sand. “You really should wake up,” the man said, pushing his hood back to let the moonlight fall across his face.

“You keep telling me that,” Grace replied, tossing a smile over her shoulder. Her eyes swept across the black cloak and up to the man’s sharp yellow eyes and long black hair in the moment it took to make that small movement. “I think I’ve figured it out though,” she told the raven haired man, smiling at the setting moon as it reflected off the calm sea.

The man chuckled lightly, “What makes you think there’s something to figure out?” His boots crunched on the black sand as he stepped forward to stand next to Grace. He paused, looking at the moon with her for a moment before kneeling and scooping up a handful of the black sand. He stood back up, letting the sand run through his gloved fingers, as he spoke, “You’re asleep and you need to wake up.”

“I think you have it wrong,” Grace returned, calmly. She took a step into the sea, the water sweeping up around her legs, soaking through her jeans. She turned around, meeting the yellow eyes of the man before she continued, “You’re asleep. So please, wake up.” In a rush of water Grace turned and dived under the dark waves.
~~~~

Jaan felt his head slip out of his hands, crashing against the desk with a thud. He lurched back up, his forehead stinging and the eyes of his classmates burning upon him. ”Jaan, could you please attempt to stay awake,” Mr. Rahn said, looking up from the lectern.

“Yessir,” Jaan mumbled, feeling heat rush to his face as he stared down at his sadly useless notes. Mr. Rahn began his lecture again, his monotone voice droning on about useless history that they’d gone over almost every year. Jaan tried to pay attention, but the boredom was impossible to overcome. He let his eyes wander as drowsiness flooded his brain again, hopping from person to person as Mr. Rahn droned on.

Jaan’s eyes met with another pair; they were questing the room just like his own. The dark eyes belonged to a girl sitting across from him, who blushed and looked away quickly, realizing she’d been caught staring. Jaan waited, knowing she’d glance back over at him, but she didn’t. The drone of Mr. Rahn’s voice lulled Jaan back into the sleep that had overtaken him in the first place.

The touch on his shoulder woke him, and he looked up, expecting the harsh gaze of Mr. Rahn. The dark eyed girl smiled at him, “Wake up, it’s time to go.” She stepped back, her messenger bag hanging loosely across her shoulder over the weathered bomber jacket she wore.

“Thanks,” Jaan murmured, shaking sleep from his head as he stood up. He searched for the name of the girl, but her dark hair and equally dark eyes brought forth no memories. “Are you new?” he asked, stumped for a more tactful question.

The girl laughed, smiling as they walked put into the bustling campus of the high school. “Yeah, I’m Grace,” she replied, holding out her hand as she did.

The gesture was odd, out of place in a high school, but Jaan took her hand, shaking it as he said, “I’m Jaan.” They walked in silence, the rush of sounds as students scrambled to get home fading behind them. Their footsteps soon became the only sound as they walked, but Jaan and Grace never mentioned the fact that they seemed to be on the same path. A thought occurred to Jaan as they walked, and he asked the girl, “When did you get here? I didn’t even see you come into class.”

Grace laughed again, her laugh unnerving this time and Jaan felt the tingle rush down his spine as he realized that something was off. He glanced around, seeing that everything was fuzzy, as if viewed through a thin veil. He stepped back, edging away from Grace as his vision returned to her. Grace was the only clear thing, sharpness defining her above everything else. “I’m sorry, but I had to get out eventually,” Grace apologized, as she spoke the world around them began to fade. Grace seemed to notice, barely turning her head to look at the dissolving world. “I think I’ve gotten you stuck as well.”

The world fell away from underneath them, shattering like a pane of glass and dropping them into the abyss. Jaan cried out, fear rushing into his veins as he fell. Grace kept her wits, obviously having done this before, and as soon as the world dropped from beneath them she controlled her fall. Jaan slowed as he fell, and his cries abated as he landed on his back on the cold floor beneath him. Opening his eyes he saw Grace land lightly on her feet, smiling at something he couldn’t see.

“Welcome back,” a cold, deep voice greeted them, or rather, greeted Grace. Jaan rolled to over, standing up and seeing that the floor was really a stained glass mural. Ignoring the voice for a moment he scanned the mural. He recognized the dark, and almost pretty face of Grace, but in the background lurked a shadowy figure. “I see you’ve brought a friend as well,” the voice continued, pulling Jaan’s attention from the mural and to the black cloaked man. His face was shadowed by the deep hood of his coat, but Jaan recognized him. He was the lurking shadow in the mural below.

Grace stepped forward, standing slightly in front of Jaan, as if protecting him. “Well, I need some company, because you aren’t the greatest at conversation,” Grace tossed at the man, sarcasm thick in her voice.

Even beneath the dark shadows of the hood Jaan could feel the wicked smile of the man at the sharp tongue of Grace. “Sorry ‘bout that, Gracie,” he apologized. “But we only have room for one on this ride.” The man raised a black gloved hand, snapping his fingers with a click. The noise echoed as two creatures appeared, flanking the caller. The ivory creatures were eyeless, but they had fierce mouths of jagged zipper teeth. The slow swaying motion of the creatures carried them forward.

“Just let me go,” Grace shouted at the man, throwing a punch at one of the creatures. The slow movement immediately stopped and the true speed and power of the creature came forward. It dropped to the ground and snaked its way around Grace, lunging at Jaan.

“Take charge,” Jaan heard the voice clearly; the calmness and commanding nature it carried forcing him to open his eyes. Before him the world had stopped. Grace had paused with her arms in front of her, preparing to fend off the other creature as the black clad figure watched. The creature in front of Jaan was close enough now that he could see its skin wasn’t ivory, but rather a light gray colour. The voice spoke again, this time calling forth more power, “It is time to step forth. Step into the light and wake up, grasping for the strands of life that make up the world you belong to.”

The air around Jaan seemed to vibrate with power as the voice fell silent again. Strands of light began to weave themselves around him, and Jaan followed the commands of the voice without thinking. He took the burning strands in his hands and felt the tingling of power as they weaved around his hands, stretching up his arms and bonding into him. The rush of power overcame him and the world exploded in a burst of light.

[Lectori Salutem]

Wow, you're good! The only critique I can think off is, well, I want to read more!!!

[Haku]

This is a very nice start so far.

[Darkness of White]

nice start
i could see the characters perfectly

[Jopari]

The light faded, and the attackers were gone, obliterated by the light. The three stood alone, Grace and the man in black staring at Jaan. The glow faded from him, his clothing having been changed by the power that had course through him. The three looked in amazement at the changed clothing.

Jaan’s natural school clothing had been changed as the power had flooded through it, twisting into a crazy version of what it had been. Now white and black dominated the colouring, and the clothing was loose and layered. He pulled at the loose open shirt over the tighter one underneath it, looking down at his oversized shoes in amazement.

“You’re not so special,” the man laughed at Jaan. He pushed back the hood, letting his white hair spill across his shoulders as he glared at Jaan with sharp yellow eyes. He held out his hand, and blackness spread from it for a moment. The shadows solidified, forming a long wicked sword in the man’s hand. “Now die,” he ordered, leaping up and flickering out of sight.

“Jaan, watch out!” Grace shouted, pointing behind him.

Jaan spun, raising his hand to protect himself as the man flickered back into sight above him. The sword came down first, propelled by the force of the man’s fall. A burst of light swelled from Jaan’s hand, catching the wicked sword and saving Jaan. “Ah, so you do have some skill other than quick wardrobe changes,” the man laughed, flickering out of sight again.

The light solidified in the same way the shadows had, forming a weapon in Jaan’s hand. Jaan stared at the misshapen blade, confused by the shape until he recognized it. The weapon was an oversized key, a Keyblade of sorts. He twisted around, examining the weapon as he kept watch for the man. The guard seemed to be made out of bone, except for the bottom of it, which was embellished with a golden set of wings forming a pommel of sorts. The chain hanging from the end held a small charm in the shape of a circle with three crosses made out of thorns.

The man appeared again, his black cloak billowing out as he lunged at Jaan. Acting on instinct and fear he parried the blow, twisting his blade around the wicked sword and pushing it away. The gold and silver blade of the Keyblade shined brightly as it countered the attack, the spikes on the back catching the man’s sword as he pulled away. The two blades locked together and Jaan and the man stared back across the sparks that flew from the connection.

“That’s quite an impressive weapon you have,” the man said, eying the ‘teeth’ of the Keyblade. The ‘teeth’ were shaped almost like the backswept wing of a bird.

“Kill him, now!” Grace shouted at Jaan, drawing his attention for just a moment. The yellow eyed man saw the advantage and pressed forward. The blade slipped from the thorns on the back of the Keyblade and plunged at Jaan’s chest. The sudden lunge caught him off guard, and he felt the blade nick his chest as he fell backward.

Grace rushed forward, tackling the man and throwing him backward. Jaan stumbled backward, his hand feeling his chest, searching for the wound, but finding only a scratch. Grace and the man tumbled across the stained glass floor as Jaan rushed to help her. He could see that Grace was trying to keep the sword pinned down, but it kept edging closer to her throat. Fear rose quickly in Jaan’s throat as he saw Grace fall back, smashing her head on the glass floor.

Thin cracks spider webbed beneath her, spreading out and causing everyone to freeze in hesitation. The black clad man jumped away, landing on the edge of the platform, watching as Jaan walked slowly towards the fallen form of Grace. Blood had matted the back of her hair, and Jaan carefully avoiding the cracks as he knelt to examine her. His quick examination couldn’t deduce much, but he could tell that she was still breathing and worry abated. The cracks snapped outward, spreading farther as Jaan stood back up.

He swept the Keyblade around, pointing it at the man with the yellow eyes. “Who are you?” he asked, glaring at the man.

The man chuckled under his breath before he answered, “I’m an old friend of Grace. But in terms of a name, you can call me Xemnas.” He stalked forward, smiling menacingly at Jaan.

Jaan glanced down at the form of Grace, not sure whether Xemnas was lying or if he could trust Grace in the first place. Pushing those thoughts from his mind, deciding that Grace was more trustworthy after she’d tried to stop those creatures from harming him, Jaan decided to make a risky move and hope it got them out of Xemnas’ yellow sights. He spun the Keyblade, pointing it straight down at the cracking glass beneath his feet. Fear and doubt flashed through his mind, almost burying his resolve, but he managed to slam the point of the blade down, shattering the glass.

They were falling again, Grace tumbling less gracefully than her name. Jaan glanced over to see a flash of black and white disappearing as he fell. Jaan turned his attention back to the falling form of Grace. He flicked his wrist, somehow immediately knowing what to do, the Keyblade in his hand shrinking in a tangle of light, reforming as an emblem on the back of his glove. Sweeping beneath Grace he put his arms around her, pulling her close to make sure they stayed together.

As they fell he could see that Grace was waking, her eyes flickering beneath her eyelids. Light began to gather beneath them, signaling an end to the darkness. The ground appeared beneath them and Jaan slowed as his feet touched down lightly. He glanced around at their new surroundings. “No sign of Xemnas,” he told himself, reassured by the fact.

Of course the large ship in front of him was much more distressing than the black clad attacker. Light spilled from a panel in the side, and the silhouette of a woman stepped out. She dashed down the ramp and looked at Grace, seeing the blood matted hair. “What the hell happened?” the young girl asked, glaring at Jaan like it was his fault. The girl’s hazel eyes drilled into his, and he stumbled over his words, unable to get them out.

“Explain in the ship,” the girl snapped, turning away and walking up the ramp, returning to the oddly shaped vehicle that crouched before them on spindly landing gear. Jaan stared after her, confused, but she turned and snapped her fingers at him, “Come on, come on!” He followed the girl up the ramp and into the bright portal, carrying Grace in his arms still.
~~~~

So, the second chapter is up now. Xemnas and the place of the Organization will be explained in the next chapter by the newest addition to the cast and more about who Grace is will be explained as well. Hope you enjoyed reading. Please tell me if you see anything I can improve on.

[Haku]

So far this has been really good.

[Lectori Salutem]

You are a very good writer! I can't wait for more!