Kingdom Hearts: Tale of a Nobody

[AntiSora92]

Hey guys, okay this is like my first fan fic. It's a Kingdom Hearts fanfiction but in a alternate universe where...well just read it. I just felt like I had to put this up. Please comment if you will.


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EP001: Prologue

End of the World, 10 AC

This was the battle to end all battles. It was either a descisive victory for the forces of the worlds of Light or defeat leading to submission into the power of the Dark Realm, this would be one of the few times that there is no such thing possible as a middle ground. The Seeker of Darkness would have to be defeated here and now at the End of the World, homeworld where physical manifestations of the darkness in the hearts of living beings known as the Heartless dwelled.

Many worlds had been destroyed by this creatures under the leadership of this seeker of the darkness. More importantly countless numbers of lives were lost to these creatures as one world by one was destroyed by these creatures. Despair spread among those helpless people whose lives were afflicted by the one who led these creatures, a silver haired man with a dark skin tone whose name was known as Ansem. A name which when known by the victims of this malestrom of Heartless destruction..it brought tears to people who saw him as a role model, to others...it caused them to curse at the name of the former renowned scientist ruler.

Once renowned as a great wise kind-hearted ruler of the peaceful paradise kingdom known as Radiant Garden as well as a scientist who dedicated his life into research concerning the heart. He was beloved by all his subjects from the young children to the elderly; what kind of kind-hearted soul like that would ever dedicate his life into ruining his good name by creating these creatures as said through those reports written by the Seeker of Darkness himself and seek out the ultimate power from which darkness can cast a shadow upon all worlds...Light, Dark and those of the middle path.

What power could be strong enough to cast only the darkness out to the worlds?

Kingdom Hearts.

A legend considered as myth by most people in the worlds ignorant to acknowledge this sentient being's existence and as ancient as the sands of time began pouring down on the hourglass of Father Time himself. No one knows how the legend started, but basically Kingdom Hearts is the ultimate source of knowledge and power, both of light and darkness. It is the strongest heart of all and is the mythical realm where all hearts go to once it and the soul leave the body heading to the Underworld.

This myth has given headaches to the wisest of scholars and scientists who dedicate their life to this myth throughout the ages after a Keyblade War raged throughout the worlds between three young Keyblade apprentices and a man named Master Xehanort. Now they were gone, the secret knowledge concerning the location died with them only to popularize to countless others to seek this Kingdom Hearts, all ending in failure.

At least until Ansem the Seeker of Darkness broke that rule by becoming the first person in a while to learn the location of Kingdom Hearts.

"I have suceeded in doing what many others before me had failed in, I know all secrets regarding the heart. The ultimate source of all knowledge and power that I seek, my Kingdom Hearts will soon be mines."

It was Ansem who learnt of Kingdom Hearts through his research concerning the heart and of the darkness residing in all hearts which enticed him to learn more and more. It was he who would know that Kingdom Hearts was the ultimate being where all power and knowledge reside, power enough to change the fabric of time and reality itself. Through the acquistion of seven young virgin maidens whose hearts only contained light, purged and resistant to any darkness within them, who together as a group can pinpoint the location of Kingdom Hearts. Of course, Kingdom Hearts proven itself to be the door from the Light Realm to the Dark Realm.

"Right before me, I am finally will be one with Kingdom Hearts." smiled Ansem as he let out a passionate sigh and raised his head up in the air.

Ansem stood floating in the dark aroma that the air was filled with. The ornately designed white colored stained glass doors which held within Kingdom Hearts remained closed for the meanwhile although the clouds of darkness were slowly emerging out of it; pushing the door to release its power on the worlds and destroy all remaining light that resists. The glowing yellow eyed pupils of the Seeker of Darkness were concentrated at his opponent. His yellow pupils were filled with confidence, apparently his opponent didn't put much fear into him.

"This is the final step towards my unification with Kingdom Hearts. Only the Keybearer stands againist me, that pathetic little boy." thought Ansem as he eyed his opponent sensing fear from him. "He has doubt of himself. Can he really believe that he can defeat me?"

Who could prove to be the one who will bring balance to Light and Dark once again and stop Ansem?

"Is he the one that the Keyblade chose? Hmmm...even the body of that boy Riku could have proven to be a much more intimidating opponent. I have nothing to fear." thought the Seeker of Darkness as he withdrew his weapon, the double-bladed Soul Eater polearm. He felt no need to continue fighting him. "Any minute now, the boy will break, I can sense his heart weakening each second his friends are consumed by the darkness."

Who is the Chosen One in which the Keyblade chose to repel the darkness?

Sora Hikari.

A 14 year old chocolate haired boy from an backwater group of tropical islands known as the Destiny Islands. Fate, or in the case of Sora a mere accident of identity, would lead him to wielding the legendary and uniquely designed sword known as the Keyblade, a semi-sentient sword which chooses the wielder depending on the strength of his or her heart within the person. Traveling throughout the worlds fighting off Heartless and making allies alongside his traveling partners, Donald and Goofy, he was now despite his scrawny body, the last hope for the worlds. This was his chance to become a hero, he was right before Ansem and Kingdom Hearts ahead. His eyes closed and his fists, holding the Keyblade, clenched tightly.

"I wish though Donald and Goofy was with me. Where are you guys? I can't seem to sense you guys near me, what's happened to you two?" thought Sora as he opened his eyes, revealing them to be a bright cerulean blue. He looked, his eyesight blinded by the misty aroma of the darkness, unable to see nothing else for the exception of Ansem and Kingdom Hearts ahead. Sora began to glow a bright yellow which illuminated his entire scar filled body. His eyes slowly closed again as his spiky, chocolate-colored hair began to change into a bright blonde.

"Guys, give me your strength. I need it now more than ever if I ever want to restore the worlds. Kingdom Hearts, please allow my request to reach them in time." thought Sora as he relayed his message telepathically to the direction of Kingdom Hearts ahead of him. Ansem's eyes widened since he immediately realized what was going with Sora, it didn't matter exactly what was happening going on, he needed to stop it.

"He's gathering strength as we speak-"

"All for one-" appeared the spirit of the Royal Captain of the Disney Knights, Goofy at Sora's left behind him.

"Such extraordinary power I sense in the boy, could I have been underestimating him. Yet such power can not be emitted from soley the boy. It must the boy's promixity to Kingdom Hearts that's feeding him this power using the Keyblade to transport its power."

"One for all-" appeared the spirit of the Royal Magician, Donald at the right shoulder of Sora behind him. Ansem began to smile as he heard the doors beginning to open.

"As much power he is drawing, he cannot hope to eliminate me like he hopes to-" Ansem's body was beginning to glow as well, although it glowed a purplish black color, his eyes now completely yellow in color. "The Keyblade's chosen one isn't the only one who can draw Kingdom Heart's full potential. If he wishes to use the light, then I'll call on its darkness to equal it!"

"It's like they said, our hearts are all connected. My heart and my faith in it is the strongest weapon of all." His hand was right in his chest touching where his heart was. He could feel in both of his shoulders the spiritual manifestations of his friends Donald and Goofy's souls. He flashed a smile at both of them.

Thanks you guys for helping me. With your help and the power of the Keyblade, I can bring Riku back and we can return with Kairi to our home. Where we belong." He brought out his hand from his glowing hand, he felt two soft hands touch his. He looked up to see it was Kairi and Riku, rather their spirits, hold his hand.

"Giving up already Sora? Come on, I know you can beat him-"

"Sora, don't give up. Remember our promise that we made back at Traverse Town. I still want that lucky charm-" Kairi said, flashing a smile directed at the Keyblade bearer causing him to blush. Riku laughed a bit.

"Sora, whatever you do. Don't let us down-" Riku turned his body around and disappeared. "You're our only hope."

"It's time for me to leave now-" Kairi went close to him and laid a small kiss on his cheek giggling seeing him lay his hand upon the spot where he was kissed. "Bye Sora! Don't forget our promise. I'm always in your heart." She disappeared as well following Riku into the beam of light which was Kingdom Hearts.

"I promise Kairi...Riku...Donald...Goofy...everyone." Sora opened his eyes, glaring at Ansem. His Kingdom Key held by his right hand transformed itself into Oathskeeper suddenly while his other hand now held the Oblivion Keyblade.

"Two Keyblades? I admire his determination...perhaps...I can acquire his body. Riku is too weak for me to continue controlling if I have a chance to survive."

"Riku and Kairi are with me along with my friends Donald and Goofy.." mumured the chocolate haired boy to himself and shouted at Ansem.

"It isn't over yet Ansem!" The Seeker of Darkness laughed, impressed by the perservance of his Keyblade wielding opponent despite the odds overwhelmingly againist him. Although that same perservance was now beginning to annoy him, he was the only thing that stood againist him and Kingdom Hearts. "I won't let you win. You caused enough suffering of many people because your power hunger for darkness!"

"I can see you're still ignorant calling me power hungry when I only seek the knowledge which Kingdom Hearts holds secret from us all. It's people like you that give reason for Kingdom Hearts to withdraw." said Ansem as he immediately took on the form of Riku, identical in all features save his voice and eye color.

"Riku!" shouted the spiky chocolate colored haired boy. "Fight him off! I know you can! Do what you did at Hollow Bastion!"

"Riku's heart wanders in darkness." said the Seeker of Darkness as he brushes his hand through his white-silver hair. "You can never get him back." Seeing Sora return to his battle stance, both Oblivion and Oathskeeper in each of his hands, he laughed. "It is futile! Look ahead of you, I am within reach of the heart of all hearts! The Keyblade alone cannot seal the Door to Darkness." He turned his body away from Sora, his eyes directed at the black heart-shaped figure below and lunged his hands towards it.

"Kingdom Hearts! Fill me with the power of darkness..." At Ansem's humble bequest towards the sentient being, the twin white colored ornately designed stained glass doors of Kingdom Hearts slowly began to open. Dark, toxic smoke with the aroma resonating of darkness began to come out and spread throughout the area. Sora began to cough a lot. "Supreme darkness spreads among us Keyblade Master! Submit to the darkness, it's not to late to change your ways."

"No...no...no!" shouted Sora repeatedely towards Ansem, raising his two Keyblades with difficulty pointing the blades of the two swords towards the direction of Kingdom Hearts. "I know now...without a absolute doubt that Kingdom Hearts is...-" His eyes closed shut and he immediately began to descend down to the ground yet with a smile on his face. "It looks I failed you Kairi, Riku, Donald, Goofy, Aerith, Leon, Yuffie, Cid...everyone." He soon crashed into a floating piece of rock below, his body now lifeless.

"Due to the boy sacrificing his heart back at Hollow Bastion-" said Ansem as he saw Sora's body just laid there on the ground in a pool of blackish colored liquid. "Because of Sora now lacking a body and soul, his heart alone couldn't manifest the energy he was requesting from Kingdom Hearts. He had much potential...I wonder now what to do, asborb the Keyblade's chosen one or risk having to find Kingdom Hearts again..." Ansem began to think it over and a smile emerged.

"I'm willing to take that risk." He soon summoned his Guardian Heartless which sprouted from the back of the Seeker of Darkness and both Heartless had a mutual smile. "You mind retrieving the boy for me so I may use him as a replacement host?" The Guardian nodded and began to slowly descend towards where Sora was and grab the apiky chocolate colored hair boy in the abomination's muscular arms. Despite easily defeating the alleged Keyblade Master, he knew this was just only the beginning.

"Once I fully am in control of the boy...the Nobody wherever he is next, both his and mines." thought Ansem as the lifeless body of Sora was now presented for him ready for him to take over. "A new age will begin, a era where darkness reigns." said Ansem as he took out his double bladed Soul Eater polearm and stabbed Sora in the chest.

"Once my spirit has emerged with the body of the Keyblade's Chosen One, now my journey to seek out the Promised Land that is Kingdom Hearts to renew once again. Only this time, the worlds are under my grasp now." smiled the Seeker of Darkness as he transferred his spirit to the lifeless body of Sora. Sora's closed eyes soon opened, no longer blue in hue but now replaced by a bright yellow. "Now my reign of terror shall begin."

"Now the tide has turned in favor of the darkness. Worlds of the Realm of Light and those of Twilight are now assured of attacks by the Heartless. If the light failed to destroy the darkness, perhaps beings of the middle path of Twilight shall take that task. But to which Twilight path will he take? The Dawn or the Dusk."


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Twilight Town 10 years/2 months AC

"So my name is now Roxas? I kind of like the name, sort of sticks with me."

At least that's what I told myself in the four hours I spent outside the abandoned mansion in the forest staring out at the stained glass windows of the mansion ever since that guy in the black trench coat with the weirdest and sort of scary yellow eyes came up to me and gave me the name Roxas.

Ever since then, I always ran from my last period class at Sunset High, freshman year that is, and run down outside this mansion hopefully to find the guy and thank him for giving me a name. I felt happy, I know had a name in which people can refer to me as instead of just being a nobody amongst a small town full of normal jolly people. I have the belong of these people, this will be my home.

"I can finally belong and be a Somebody like everyone rather just nobody. Now I have a name, a life, and a purpose."

I then remembered that I was late, my new friend Olette who I met a month ago when she and her friends Hayner and Pence found at me lying at Twilight Town's beach near the blue-green salty tasting ocean water, was probably waiting for me to come back; I was staying with her and her grandmother at her house until the Twilight Town Adoption Agency. I decided to see what time it was on the new watch Olette's grandmother Elmyra Gainsborough bought for me. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped as I saw what time it was.

"Seven o'clock!"

I gulped my throat nervously, Olette's grandma as sweet as she may be when she's selling flowers back at the shop at Market Street, she can be quite fiery in her attitude when can be.

"And this is one of these moments! Oh damn it, I have to get my stuff!"

I grabbed the books that were escaping from my backpack that I left there lying on the grass and placed them back in. Closing the zipper on my backpack, I quickly ran out of the vicinity of the abandoned mansion. Hopefully Olette or her grandmother won't kill me for being late and especially since I didn't do my homework yet. Damn. Please don't let notice I've been late.

"Run all you want Key of Destiny, you are the Chosen One who will stop the darkness from reaching the Promised Land. Millions of stories from many people you will keep are disconnected, your adventure as the Connection will bring these stories together and weave a saga of adventure. May the luck of the Gods guide you safely Roxas. The World will need you soon..."


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World that Never Was 10 years/5 months AC

Today was another day as I stood alone in the Altar of Naught meditating in front of the glowing moon which would become my Kingdom Hearts in due time. I was by myself for today, most of the members were not in the castle at the moment collecting hearts from those mindless wretched creatures of the darkness known as the Heartless. Only myself along with the core founding six colleagues of mines decided to stay, I needed to make sure that no trepassing Heartless would ever set their sights on the heart of all men, we all worked too hard on this. It was then when I felt a gloved hand on my shoulder.

"Superior, I have news to share with you.-" said the voice coming from behind me. I turned my head around and saw it was nothing more than Number VI Zexion known by the title I bestowed upon him when he joined our ranks, the Cloaked Schemer. He was one of the founding core members of our brotherhood of the void.

"Zexion, what brings you before my presence?" I asked of him, despite the fact whether the news that he looked anxious to share with me was important or not, he was disturbing me. Especially when I'm in the middle of watching the progress of the very thing which will make us complete.

"What is your excuse for being here? I assumed you were collecting surveillance information upon the research files done by my other at Hollow Bastion with Vexen?"

"Don't fret Superior, Vexen is collecting the information upon the Heartless and the Keyblade that you have been seeking as I speak right now-" Zexion, my loyal, young pawn said to me reassuring me that the mission was not in jeopardy. Although I can't feel worry through my lack of a heart or anger if they fail, they do know that failure isn't a option or something worth mentioning to me.

"The information Vexen is collecting will add much to the archives of information that we had collected so far. I think you'll be impressed, my liege." Impressed I am, perhaps if the information which Vexen has collected from my weak-minded other of a Heartless Ansem is more than what I had needed, perhaps I should reward them. It was right then and there was that I felt a large pang where my chest, specifically where my heart...if I had one...would be. Something was wrong and I could attribute it to one reason only, the balance between Light, Darkness and Twilight is now shifted towards darkness. I immediately fell down upon my knees clenching my chest, was this what I had felt when I was human? Pain?

"Superior, did you sense something right about now?" said my loyal servant and fellow Nobody Zexion. I saw in his eyes that he felt this feeling of pain in his chest. It seems that darkness is beginning to strengthen at the expense of the opposing light. What does that make deizens of the void such as me, Zexion and the rest of our small Organization.

"Master Xemnas, did you sense what I sensed just about now?" asked Zexion, I simply nodded in response.

"There is no longer a balance between the three paths. I can sense the darkness beginning to strengthen." I immediately frowned realizing who was behind the imbalance, it was no one other than that the my other, the man whose name claims to be Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. Zexion was right in guessing it was Ansem, only a stench that horrible in smell and originating from the Realm of Darkness out of all places could only be attributed to my weak half, Ansem.

"So it looks like fate is beginning to favor my weak half and the power of darkness." Remembering that Zexion earlier on when he disturbed said to me he had information which he considered important enough for me to listen to him speak regarding wahtever subject it might have been. I didn't look like it, but I was interested in what he had to say.

"Not to change the subject of conversation regarding that weak excuse of my dark half Ansem, but what was it that you wanted to share with me? What is the information regarding Zexion? Perhaps if this is interesting and the rest of the Organization finds this intriguing as well, perhaps I shall promote your rank."

"The Keyblade bearer Sora, the warrior of the Light Realm-" answered Zexion, the Cloaked Schemer and began to drone on and on. I didn't pay attention, my mind began to wander on its own.

Ahhh, what a interesting answer in which my servant has bestowed upon me which strikes my interest out of all subjects, second only to my interest in Kingdom Hearts. So Zexion had information regarding that of Sora, how interesting that is? As I let my thoughts within my head wander on the thought of Sora, I could only be impressed with the chocolate haired boy. Not only was he the Chosen One in which the weapon the Keyblade had chosen as its wielder.

In the many times I myself personally assigned on surveillance watching his progress, I could remember many residents of many worlds question the Keyblade's choice, even I had doubts whether he would suceed. He defeated many Heartless, liberating many worlds, making many allies. He has even defeated me at Hollow Bastion in the chamber where he fought the witch Maleficent in pitched combat. Surely he proved himself to be the better swordsman, even if I was just using only half of my powers againist him as a test of endurance and power. If only his other was more like-

"-I can no longer sense the boy's scent any longer and in replacement of it, could sense a scent more like of the darkness...being more specific, his heart residing with his body has been replaced." said Zexion putting his head down, crossing his arms. "He no longer has a will of his own, Ansem has completely tooken him over for a host in replacement of Riku." So those feelings were true, surprisingly it wasn't that much of a surprise, I had a feeling back when I felt that pang of pain in my chest that Sora had been defeated by the Seeker of Darkness.

"So Sora is now under the influence of Ansem?" Zexion nodded.

"Yes Superior. Ansem now controls the Keyblade bearer Sora." I simply shrugged my shoulders.

Oh well, something like this was bound to happen to the Keyblade's chosen one despite the legends which I had read which said of the Keyblade hero purging the worlds of the darkness. But if Sora failed to defeat Ansem and now served as his host, then because of the ancient Keyblade legend was infallible and could not be wrong, then my first observation of them when he arrived at Traverse Town was wrong, he was not the chosen one. I knew that Ven wouldn't pass his legacy off to him before he was sealed away, then again Sora wasn't a complete failure. After what he did back at Hollow Bastion to save his little beloved redheaded Princess of Heart sacrificing his heart, he brought back the chosen one. His Nobody, the boy whom I met at Twilight Town just a month before.

"Xemnas, do you have anything you wish for me to do regarding Ansem?" asked Zexion. "Sora is not completely under Ansem's control yet, if we can both get there and time or if you want summon the rest of the members, we can-" I had to stop him there, despite Zexion wishing to uphold my best interests, I needed to declare right there and there that Sora is not my concern. "stop Ansem and liberate Sor-"

"Enough Zexion" I said to him sternly, hoping to get him to be quiet for once and let me speak.

"Superior?"

"Sora is no longer my concern any more. Let Ansem take over his body." I turned around and walked past Zexion and gave my final statement to the silver haired Cloaked Schemer.

"Our new concern is the Key of Destiny...the Keyblade's true chosen one. Do you understand me?" Zexion nodded at me, fear in his voices due to the sterness of the tone of my voice. "Zexion, status on the Nobody of Sora."

"The Keyblade wielder has a Nobody? What is his name?"

"Roxas." I say, now it was only a matter of time before the rest of the Organization would learn about Roxas. Right now wouldn;t be the time to make Roxas join, let him enjoy his life thinking he is a normal human child. Let him think everything is normal while the worlds of light are in war with the darkness.

"He will soon learn of his destiny. He can never escape from it, he is the true legacy of Ven, the Keyblade's chosen one. The key to aiding us in becoming whole Somebodies once again."


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Olympus Coliseum 10 years/5 months AC

"The sky looks so beautiful right now.."

I said as I looked up at the clear black night sky, it was so beautiful out this night with all the stars deciding to grace the night and keep the moon company. Laying my warm body on the cold, moist green grass at the hill outside Olympus Coliseum near the city of Thebes with my sword nearby after a long day of practicing for the Hades Cup Tournament where I had to ice a guy named Hercules for my employer Hades, Lord of the Dead.

My blue-colored eyes looking at the peaceful sight before me. I wonder if Aerith right now wherever she ended up in some distant world where hopefully she is safe from the likes of the Heartless, is looking at the stars at the night sky thinking about me like I'm thinking about her. I let out a sigh, I wonder despite these nearly ten years if she still remembers our promise that we made back at the air hangar at Radiant Garden before we parted ways when the Heartless first invaded our world being led by Maleficent.

"I always wonder if she still loves me like I always loved her."


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Radiant Garden Hangar Sector 0 1 year/5 months AC

Gummi ships were escaping by the droves each second, filled to maximum capacity with frightened civilians escaping from the Heartless invasion. I was in command of SOLDIER Company 101 as orders given by my boss Director Lazard in charge of the evacaution of any remaining civilians. I ordered my company's forces to maintain their position by the entrance shooting down any approaching Heartless that would threaten the fleeing civilians trying to escape and ordered my friend Kunsel to command the troops while I head towards the northern hangar where I got word from Tseng that Aerith was along with the guys, her parents, grandmother along with her little sister Olette, her tiny, bushy auburn-haired head buried in her grandmother's bosoms. Just like Olette, I was scared too.

Aerith immediately spotted me from the crowd, waving her hand. I saw her and began pushing through the lines at the building gaining the ire and shouts of many angered civilians. Aerith held out her hand and I finally pushed my way up to her so I could be with my brunette vixen of a girlfriend whom I loved so much. I took out my other hand and held her other one; I laid a kiss upon her forehead. Things were getting hectic each second, I could hear the wall-piercing screams from my own company as one by one were being consumed by those wretched Heartless. Only Aerith's beautiful eyes and reasurring smile could warm my heart in these kinds of time.

"Come on Zack-" Aerith pleaded as she tugged to my left arm pointing with her finger to a nearby yellow colored Gummi Ship with old man Cid right outside waiting apparently for all of us to head in.

"Cid got his old rusty Gummi Ship the Highwind from the workshop working so he can take us along with Yuffie and Squall to Traverse Town! Come on, he's been waiting!" It pained my heart terribly as I realized the meaning of the words that had escaped from my loved one's lips, Cid had been risking everyone in the Gummi Ships's lives and including Aerith by waiting on me.

KA-BOOM!

An explosion sounded off nearby causing the uneasy and frightened civilians within the crowd to become quite restless and scream in terror, calmed down only when SOLDIER advance in further and shoot warning flares to the crowd to calm down. The warning shot flares only caused the crowd to become more restless and civilians began pushing one another to the ground, running over them just to head to the already crowded Gummi Ships. I just had to buy more time for these helpless people to await their assigned Gummi Ships before all my men would be killed by those damned Heartless.

KA-BOOM!

Another explosion sounds off, this time a bit more closer than before. The cries of my SOLDIER friends echoed through the crowded atmosphere, I could hear the satisfied growls from the Heartless as they consume the bodies of the people whom I thought of as family, it just pained deeply. Come on Kunsel, buy me some more time! I'll be there in a second to help you out evacuate the civilians. Just let me speak to Aerith first! I turned my head away from Aerith for just a second seeing the open doors revealing that my suspicisions were right, I wished I could just pry my eyes out.

Tears were forming in my eyes as I saw my comrades fall down one by one to the advancing horde of Heartless. I felt a tug on my arm, I looked back opening my eyes seeing it was Aerith, a worried look on her face. How am I going to break this to her? Tell her that I'm going to stay behind where I'll most likely be killed by the Heartless army led by Maleficent and never see her again. Why does everything bad have to happen to me?

"Zack?" said Aerith, her green eyes along with her hands were locked into mines. "Are you coming with us to Cid's Gummi Ship?"

We ignored the fact that the city in which we loved so dearly and our lives revolved around, Aerith being the innocent flower girl tending to her flowers at the abandoned chapel in Hollow Bastion and me as one of SOLDIER's finest, next to the heroes Angeal and Genesis. We were always thought of as a perfect match brought together by the work of Fate, especially by my friends within SOLDIER. Despite the fact, my obligation to Radiant Garden, to Ansem the Wise and SOLDIER, I will stay on and fight for my world againist all threats ever since Lazard took me in like a son. I will not fail him and make his death go in vain. I looked at Aerith's eyes and said to her.

"No."

"Zack...but why?" responded Aerith, her beautiful green eyes about to let loose her tears. "How could you just go on and break my heart like this? Zack I..I..I-"

I saw Aerith's eyes begin to tear up at my cold-hearted response. She threw her arms around my waist crying on my black leather SOLDIER uniform. I let out a sigh and decided to hug her back, I just couldn't see her like this sobbing. And the sad part was that she was crying because of me.

Because I was the one who preferred to maintain his SOLDIER honor and die with his comrades attempting to fight a battle I can never win no matter having the love of my life lost to me forever to some other guy while I lay breathing my last breath instead of going with the one who I planned on spending the rest of my life with and go to Cid's Gummi Ship at the expense of seeing my home destroyed, my honor and dignity gone. Aerith's head unburied itself out of my clothes and she loosened her grip on me, her eyes staring into my eyes. I try to read what kind of feelings she was feeling now, I could sense darkness and sadness in her eyes; I guess I wasn't the only one feeling sad about now.

"Aerith, I'm sorry but I have to stay behind and help my fellow SOLDIERs in evacuating the stragglers to the remaining Gummi Ships so they can escape safely."

"Zack! They can handle it! Please don't stay...you'll get hurt." She then took my hand and laid a kiss on it with her soft, pink lips on them. How I wish I could kiss them right about now. I knew that she had good intentions to have me what I consider abandoning my men and forsaking my SOLDIER honor. I am torned between my duty and my future, how am I supposed to choose? She held on to my arm, almost like a leech. Wait am I thinking...?

"I'm sorry Aerith-" I raised my arm easily getting her off me, somehow I could feel anger in my heart, was the darkness getting to me like Cloud? "-but I can't let more people than I let die in the hands of Maleficent and the Heartless, I have to maintain my SOLDIER honor!"I turned my back on her and began to walk my first steps, having a small desire somewhere in the hellhole that I called my heart, I wanted to die...to disappear. I felt a hand touch my hand as I tried to make my escape.

"Then...can you at least promise me something?" I sighed, it could only be Aerith. Why did she had to make it so difficult for me to leave? Why can't she be like the others and forgot me? Aerith, what makes you so unique that I love you so much? Why is it so difficult to have those memories of me shattered.

"Of course Aerith...anything...just name it." As long as it does not involve me abandoning my men. My honor is all I have left alive in me, don't take that away from me Aerith Gainsborough. Why do I feel like crying? I can't let you escape from my mind and heart.

"Promise me that...wherever you are, you'll always come back to me. Can you promise me Zack?" Yes I will, I can live with myself escaping with you yet with my honor tarnished. Yet I can hope...I mean promise to always have your interests at heart. I love you so much.

"Of course Aerith! I promise. This won't be the last time you seen me Aerith! Goodbye Aerith!" I let go of her hand finally, her loosening grip means she will wait for me. Maybe there is hope for me, maybe there is hope for me. I walked away towards the directions to help my SOLDIER comrades, my honor depends on it. Yet my love will always exist.

"I love you Zack!" shouted Aerith as I began to run towards the horde of Heartless, I grabbed my sword. Time to avenge the deaths of Lazard.

"As long as our hearts are connected, no power can ever break the force such as love. Not even the advance of time and power of darkness."


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Hollow Bastion Castle Bailey, Radiant Garden 10 years/ 5 months AC

"Where are you right now Zack while I think of you?"

That's what I said to myself as I looked out at the night sky at the bailey of the abandoned castle of our former King, Wise Ansem. The Radiant Garden looked so beautiful and serene at night compared to it at the daytime, it's just different. Me, Yuffie, Cid, Squall...well he calls himself Leon now along with the friendly old wizard Merlin have really spruced up the space and brought many of the former inhabitants who had long fled many years ago when the witch Maleficent had invaded our world with the Heartless although I still haven't heard from Barret, Vincent, Shelke, Tifa, and Rinoa along with some others in a while. The city looks almost what it looked like when Wise Ansem ruled over us as our benevolent king and researcher upon the heart, the grasslands still needed time to recuperate and I have spent countless days replanting those fields of flowers destroyed. I hope when Zack returns, he will smell them. If he comes.

"Please-" I closed my eyes and clasped my hands kneeling down on my knees. "Goddess Minerva, guide Zack towards me so we can have a normal life again. Please."

"Be patient, young flower girl. Love is hard to break, just be patient and the one whom you love will return to you."


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?? 10 years/ 10 months AC


Why Sora didn't you resist?

You gave yourself into darkness.

I was counting on you.

Me and Kairi were counting on you.

You disappointed me Sora.

Now I'm forced to go to sleep.

While you become Ansem's new puppet.

"While I'll drift off to eternal sleep until the day Kingdom Hearts redeems from my dark past, I am nothing now except a demon of darkness. Until I can destroy the darkness in me, I will always be plagued with those dark memories."

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Underworld 10 years/ 10 months AC

“Come on SOLDIER boy!” Hades' voice bellowed. “I haven’t been training you for this entire year ever since you came here to have you miss your chance to be free! Huh kid? Big day soon coming in a couple of months."

The raven-haired SOLDIER groaned as he awoke from his nap in his chamber, memories of his past with a certain girl still swimming in his mind torturing as well as calming him. His thoughts and dreams always led him back to Aerith somehow, and the loss of the future he could have with her if he had just decided to go with her to Cid's Gummi Ship while the Heartless took over the city.

"Are you coming with us to Cid's Gummi Ship?"

"No."

What would have been his fate if he decided in the cost of the honor he vowed he would uphold to everyone, to have gone with Aerith on Cid's Gummi Ship and escape from Radiant Garden leaving it for Maleficent and the Heartless claimed it as their own. Most likely, they would have difficulty crossing the asteroid fields and the airbone squadrons of Heartless assault ships attacking them but it would not be impossible to avoid them. They along with the bulk of the refugee population fleeing from the Radiant Garden in their gummi ships would have settled in a new world far away from the Heartless or found refuge in a already settled world ike the world Aerith and the others planned on going to, Traverse Town.

What would go on from there for the innocent flower seller Aerith Gainsborough and the ex-SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair as they abandoned Radiant Garden to the Heartless like all the others? Well let's see, Zack and Aerith were in a very close relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, considered a perfect match by fellow couples such as Rinoa and Squall or Tseng and Elena from the Turks department. They would probably be married in a church, well at least that's how Zack remembers Aerith saying that's the sort of wedding that she would prefer. Since about nine...ten years or so had passed since they were seperated from each other, Aerith and Zack would be happily married in a household.

Aerith would probably continue what she had done when she lived at the Radiant Garden selling flowers of many different varieties and colors from many different exotic worlds to people for the cheap yet reasonable price of one munny. Zack seeing that SOLDIER would be disbanded due to most of them probably dead by the Heartless being Heartless themselves or hiding in other distant worlds refusing to come out from obscurity, would serve as a mercernary or a security guard or some sort of militaristic job, what else could he do? He wasn't going to plan on wearing a apron and selling flowers without having his dignity tarnished in seeing guys pass by laughing at him.

They would have several kids, probably three to five by now, probably the oldest be eight or nine. What would their kids if they ever got to have them would look like? Would they have Aerith's beautiful silky skin, green eyes or auburn hair or Zack's blue eyes or black hair. What would their personalities be like if they ever existed? Sweet, innocent and naive like their mother or brave like their father. Those thoughts had always plagued Zack every day since he was seperated from her, serving under Hades as an assasin in training didn't make those thoughts go away.

“Zack! Get your butt out here NOW!” Hades hollered loudly echoeing across the Underworld and Zack was sure that his room had literally shaken at the God’s rage. He quickly changed into his black leather SOLDIER uniform, feeling sick of the tough fabric against his skin. He took out his rusted, decrepit SOLDIER mandated sword that was right under his bed and went out to meet the Lord of the Dead in his private chambers where the Lord of the Dead sat upon his throne and did whatever what came to his mind to do.

The God had his back to him, a young brunette woman dressed in purple drapes next to him. She smiled in greeting and waved her hand when she saw the porcupine haired SOLDIER warrior approach Hades' private headquarters as the twin doors opened to him. Seeing the somewhat friendly greeting from the brunette, he simply grunted in response, too tired to give a proper greeting to the brunette woman..

"I guess you're full of manners, huh SOLDIER boy." commented Meg as she gave off a smirk in the direction at him. Zack just gave her a fake laugh. "I guess Hades here is rubbing off on you quite a lot this past year training in this dump." Hades' hair burst into red flames and he shouted at the moment.

"QUIET YOU!" Meg quieted down knowing what was the limit to angering a God, especially the Lord of the Dead, especially when he has your soul in his hands. "Good, stay quiet like that." Zack grinned and Meg gave him a thumbs up.

"Looks like Hades is a bad mood, guess that's what happens when you look and smell like a barbeque."

Meg, or her full name Megara, reminded the SOLDIER of Aerith a lot, except Meg was more hot-headed while Aerith was definetely not so hot headed like the Greek woman on the opposite side of the room. She was also a lot like him in some ways meaning that the two of them spent a lot of their spare time together throughout the year that passed planning on making the guy that made their lives all for naught have the worst years of his godly life. Despite them being good friends, to Zack Meg may remind him of Aerith but she could never replace the innocent flower girl he once knew at the Radiant Garden when he fell down to that church landing on the field of flowers. To Megara, Zack was no Hercules, whom she harbored hidden feelings for.

“Ah so Soldier boy appears finally.”

"Hades, what made you wake me up in the middle of the night? -"

The raven haired SOLDIER greeted the god, gritting his teeth by the meanwhile showing his hatred in working for the Lord of the Dead. Seeing what would seem to look like a big fight between two easily angered people about to start, she cleared her throat, excusing herself from Hades' private chamber entering into a portal that would take her to the Coliseum to visit Hercules to see how was he doing with his training. After all, Hades intended to kill Hercules using Zack, a skilled swordsmen and of SOLDIER.


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Twilight Town Clock Tower 10 years/ 10 months AC

"Today was probably one of the best days of my life, especially since I got to spend the entire day with Roxas."

At least that's what I thought as I stood at the edge of Twilight Town's Clock Tower watching the sun as it sets down the crimson red horizon over Twilight Town eating a popsicle of sea salt ice cream bought from my friend Cissnei's mom's ice cream parlor down at Market Street near the Tram Station. I was pretty happy today other than the reason of finally having time to spend with Roxas without having Hayner or Pence bothering us like they always do when I try to go near him, today was the last day of school of the freshman year at Sunset High. What a relief to me, summer I thought was never going to arrive

"No more tests or homework...especially no more mean Mr. Sukizo. Just me and Roxas for today at least."

I let out a sigh of relief, no Hayner or Pence trying to bother Roxas into playing another of their stupid Struggle Matches preparing for some tournament that says to be in a month in order to take out the Champion and school bully Seifer Almsay whom Hayner hated especially for some unknown reason he didn't specify. I only go to the Tournaments only because Roxas always decided to go to cheer on Hayner or fight himself, he was such a good swordfighter I can tell...almost as good as Seifer himself. Thinking about the cute blonde, I turned towards my left where I saw Roxas holding his melting ice cream, moping.

"Wonder what's bugging Roxas right now? He looks like he has something on his mind."

I roll my eyes knowing how stubborn my Roxy always is, he would never admit what was on his mind no matter how much I beg of him. Boys will always be boys. I wonder if my older sister Aerith at Radiant Garden ever had problems with that boyfriend of hers when she was my age I forget his name already...I think his name was Zack Fair.

"Why Roxas couldn't be a bit more like Zack? A little happier like normal boys, then again it always makes him so mysterious-"


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Twilight Town slums 10 years/ 11 months and three weeks AC

"The Keyblade's true Chosen One is nearby...I can sense his presence getting closer by the minute..How intriguing?"

I could sense the boy's essence, his scent reaking not of the superior and powerful temptations of the Darkness nor the peaceful, inferior, ignorant stench of those beings who dwell in the path of Light but instead of the path in the middle, the Twilight, rejected by both Light and Darkness. Somehow I don't expect much of a resistance from this world once I find the Door to the Heart of this world to bring out the physical manifestations of the darkness in people's hearts known as the Heartless.

"And that's when the fun will begin.."

Walking through the abandoned, quiet cobblestone streets of the world in which I had sensed where the Keyblades' True Chosen One dwelled, the peaceful commmunity of Twilight Town at the dead of night within the slums where the unfortunate lived, perfect hosts for my Heartless to take over. A strange ringing was heard far off, I assume this was judging from the sound coming from the clock tower, I decided to raise my head to see what time it was in which the clock was ringing.

"Twelve o'clock, midnight." I let out a faint smile knowing what that meant, the night was still very young and everyone in this backwater town was still asleep, I had much time left in my hands for me to find and eliminate the Nobody of the host I control, the one named Roxas, Key of Destiny as what my weak Nobody half Xemnas said to me when we met in our last confrontation several months back at the Crossroads of Fate.

"Why do you consider yourself superior to me when you cower behind your so-called Organization to protect you when the odds are againist you, Xemnas! Submit to the darkness!"

"You have no idea what power you're going to face soon! A power being emitted from a boy stronger than either of us, stronger than the heart who kept him locked inside, Sora!! This boy will be your downfall, my Heartless."

"I'm intrigued Xemnas, could you be referring to the Nobody of Sora, Roxas? I don't expect any serious threat from a Nobody."

"Don't underestimate the boy...doing so will be your downfall."

That's when the cowardly excuse for someone who was my Nobody Xemnas left in a corridor of darkness, presumably back towards his own homeworld wherever that was with his wounded Organization weaklings doing the same thing retreated via their corridors of darkness before I could end their nonexistence with the sharp and deadly blade of my sword forged from darkness, the Soul Eater. I sigh as I continue wandering through the streets of Twilight Town's slums, no results of finding the exact location of the Nobody child in which Xemnas warned would be my downfall.

"How could a mere boy threaten me, the Seeker of Darkness?" After all, "Look what happened to Sora...he is now my puppet."

Although I had learned through beginning again my research in my headquarters at Villain's Vale, the castle where my former deceased pawn of a witch Maleficent had once resided before I shown her of the ways of the darkness through the reports that I written long ago when I resided at the Radiant Garden. I decided upon a second look of the files compiled from what the Keyblade Master Sora collected regarding on darkness, it had flaws in which I needed to correct.

"How proud would the legacy of Xehanort be in reaching this far?"

I spent the year between coming here and taking over Sora's body looking over my Reports and writing a new batch of them, this time concerning about the Twilight counterparts to the Heartless, the Nobodies along with the Organization and their leader my Nobody Xemnas. I also had discovered a counterpart to the Princesses of Heart, the Seven Guardian Princes of Heart although their own conenction to Kingdom Hearts, I will have to compile more research on them. But I digress, I find myself right at a dead end, only a poster adorning the brick wall right in front of me.

"Hmph. I must have went the wrong direction- what's this." There was a poster written in large blue ink speaking of some Struggle Tournament, probably the local sport that the residents of this backwater town participate in, Finale about to happen in a week in order for the local residents participating to win some sort of prize and opportunity to face some Champion named Seifer Almsay, nothing to get worked about. Well that's what I thought before I read what it said at the moment regarding the challenger vying for the Championship Title in large black ink.

"A newcomer in the Struggling scene, Roxas Hikari has blazed through the rounds and now has the chance to defeat the Champion Seifer and win the Champion Belt as a prize. See this grand Struggle between two amazing swordsmen, Roxas Hikari and Seifer Almsay. Which of these blondes will come out on top!"

How interesting...it appears that finding Roxas, the Keyblade's true Chosen One, wouldn't be too hard to locate in this town. I will have to return back to Maleficent's castle at Villain's Vale to conduct more research upon the Seven Guardian Princes of Heart before I continue to tail the Nobody Keyblade Master. Plus I can not maintain my presence here too long, Xemnas and his blasted Organization will seek me out and send out his Nobodies to try and snuff me out. I won't let him have that chance. I disappeared through a corridor of darkness awaiting for that Struggle Tournament finale, maybe I can use this opporunity to see if I can take over other's people's bodies.

"The light is on the brink of submission to darkness and the worlds of the state of Twilight are now threatened by the expanding influence of the forces of darkness led by Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. The Chosen One will soon show himself to us.


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Twilight Town, Sandlot Park 11 years AC

"Be careful Roxas, Ansem is going to do the same thing to you like Xehanort did to me, your past incarnation. Watch out for him! He cannot be trusted and a word of advice before going out there. Keep your enemies close and especially your friends closer."


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World that Never Was 11 years AC

Ansem has arrived at Twilight Town.

I will inform the King of this matter.

Doubts that I will be welcomed.

For I am part of Xehanort too, but I am also another.

It doesn't matter to me at all.

All what matters is that Roxas survives.

Ansem must be killed.

Roxas is at some Struggle Tournament it appears.

I sense Ansem's presence nearby.

I will trigger the Chosen One's Station of Awakening.

Hopefully he will accept his fate being the Keyblades' Chosen One.

And as the legends of old proclaim of the mythical Chosen One.

He will rid the worlds of darkness.

"As much you will harbor feelings of hatred for bringing you to the light, you will learn to forgive me. After all, you're a Nobody. Nobodies like you and me have no hearts. We can only pretend our feelings- thats why we need Kingdom Hearts more than Ansem."