Fic: "Torn Beginnings" (Organization XIII, Darkness #4)
Title:
Author: dracomalfoy05
Claim: Organization XIII
Theme Set: Darkness
Theme: 4. Knowledge
Disclaimer: Nothing owned by me, we all know this.
Warning: KH2 spoilers.
Notes: This is one of my very first attempts at writing something in the KH universe. I´m really trying to keep this to canon and I´ve done what research I can in trying to keep it all consistent :D
I will say this, when dealing with Ansem and the rest, things can really get confusing! lol
Its up to you if I should continue! Let me know :D (is incredibly nervous about this)
This eventually encompases all of Organization XIII, of course. Chapter by chapter, you´ll get in the head of each of them.
Summary: Six disciples to Ansem the Wise, by delving into the darkness, became lost to the darkness themselves, giving birth to Organization XIII. This is their story.
Torn Beginnings
1. Xehanort
A man walked the streets of a glorious world, a world that was lush and green, and where the people were always smiling, their faces full of hope. This man, Ansem the Wise, the ruler of this world, had brought it into this radiant being. Which was why the world was named, rightly, Radiant Garden.
He often went walking on clear nights such as this one, the cool air refreshing and the stars shining brightly overhead. He was a scientist by nature and as such, he observed even the tiniest detail. His world was beautiful, with its brightly-coloured flowers and its pure, flowing water. But at the same time, something lurked behind all the beauty and peace. Darkness. There was a darkness in people´s hearts. He had seen what it had done to other worlds and vowed not to allow it to happen to his. But to discover this darkness in people´s hearts, to truly understand it, he would need to gather a group of researchers, disciples, to help figure out the workings of the heart. He already had two, but he wanted four more at least. But I must proceed with caution, for I wish to take time in gathering those that will be loyal to me and my experiments.
He paused at the crossroads, by a fountain and became lost in a memory of an event that had happened six years ago.
He was walking the streets on his nightly stroll when he saw a figure lying in a heap in the street that led into the square at the center of town. Frowning, he hurried over to the small figure, his white robes flowing behind him. He knelt beside the boy. Yes, it was merely a child, perhaps ten at the most. The boy had obviously collapsed and this concerned him. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby, but seeing no one, he slid his arms beneath the boy and picked up the limp form, holding him against his chest in a secure grip.
“Let´s get you inside, shall we?” he said softly, looking down at the peaceful features of the unconscious boy, his face framed by chin-length, wavy, white hair. There was something about this boy, he didn´t know what exactly, but it was important. He turned, carrying the boy back to the castle.
Ansem took a seat on the stone ledge that rimmed the fountain, looking out over the square and to the houses, windows aglow with light and life within. The boy, Xehanort, as he had named him, had been very peculiar indeed. The boy had possessed none of his memories, remember nothing of what had happened until the point he had collapsed in the street. However, the boy’s mind had been far beyond anyone of his age. Even now, at the age of sixteen, Xehanort possessed a remarkably inquisitive mind. He took in my teachings effortlessly, learning and surpassing even my wildest imaginings. His ability to grasp all these facts, deepening his knowledge, is truly amazing. I will speak to him of my thoughts, of this darkness in people’s hearts, and listen to his thoughts. Though underdeveloped in maturity, given his young age, his mind is that of someone far older.
Standing, Ansem left the square to continue his walk, thinking about what the future possibly could hold in store for this world and all the others.
&&&&&&&&&&
Ansem, indeed, spoke to Xehanort that night and they discussed the possible experimentation well into the night. Xehanort offered himself as a test subject for Ansem to use to delve deep into the heart and find what was locked within. Even, his other disciple, seemed to have a particular interest in trying to retrieve Xehanort´s memories as well. Though there was a small part of him that worried. Ansem worried that there was something else there, lurking in Xehanort´s heart, for the boy truly possessed a rare quality. One that far surpassed any human he had ever met. Whether that was good or bad, he would find out.
In the meantime, over the next two years, while his psychological experimentation continued with Xehanort, Ansem would recruit four other disciples. Braig: a man entering his forties, very talkative, and a veteran of many wars, with a mind as sharp as his shooting skills. Dilan: a more soft-spoken man, mid-thirties, possessing a knowledge of experimentations and an eagerness to learn more. Elaeus: a tall, muscular man of only twenty-five, but despite his quietness, quite knowledgeable. He is the one that often spots the tiniest errors in calculations and in their experiments. Finally, Ienzo: the youngest of all his disciples, at a mere age of seventeen, one year younger than Xehanort presently. An enthusiastic researcher, even more so then his other disciples, Ienzo possesses a keen mind for strategy and calculations, abilities critical to the success of his experiments.
Little did Ansem know that while his own experiment was being performed, the disciples would gather together under the leadership of Xehanort to perform their own experiments. Guided by Ansem´s research of the darkness in people´s hearts, they would use this knowledge to discover the true darkness and what lay beyond.
&&&&&&&&&&
Xehanort stood on one of the many balconies of the castle, looking out over the land that stretched far below him. The world of Radiant Garden was one of peace but something not so peaceful stirred in its depths, in an underground facility made specifically for an experiment with darkness. Or, rather, one designed to target the heart and discover its inner workings. It was a risky undertaking but Xehanort was no fool. He knew the risks but he also knew that this could quite possibly be their greatest discovery.
This world doesn’t even realize what is happening, just beneath the surface. Foolish world, he thought, his lips curving upwards slightly into a smirk. His hands rested on the cool, stone surface of the balcony rail, a light breeze washing over him. His long, white hair shifted in the breeze, the air feeling refreshing against his face. It had been getting rather stuffy down in the lab, what with Even and Ienzo snapping at each other every other minute. Even had a way of becoming very protective of his part of the lab, always fiddling with vials and his own experiments, which Ienzo seemed to find annoying, especially when he hadn’t slept much. Though Xehanort didn´t think the youngest of the apprentices was far different from Even, working with his various puzzles. It was true that Ienzo seemed to be the risk-taker of their small, elite group. He had spoken to Xehanort on several occasions about other paths they could be taking, other horizons they had yet to explore, and he had been the one who had initially spoken to Master Ansem about creating the underground facility in the first place.
But then Xehanort would have to remind him that Ansem was more cautious then them and for now, they had to do what the man wished. We appear to be doing the research that Master Ansem wishes us to perform but at the same time, we have begun our own experiment with the darkness. And I am eager to test my theory.
The sound of voices brought Xehanort out of his thoughts and he looked down to see a group of people walking across the bridge, heading into the castle. I wonder who has come to visit today, he thought as he turned away from the view of the expansive gardens far below and the city beyond. The sky was too clear, the day too warm, and the birds too chipper for his tastes. He walked back into the castle, making his way through the cool, dark corridors.
The six of us make quite the team. Even now, our experiments continue. Even if we do use ourselves as test-subjects, that is the only way to perform to the utmost of our capabilities. While one of us tries yet another vial, another watches and observes, recording what is seen. We´re so close, I can almost taste it. And if Braig was successful in accumulating the test subjects, the six of us may yet have the chance to witness proof of our theories.
Xehanort´s amber eyes glowed intensely with anticipation in the dimness of the corridor. He smiled softly, remaining the calm, well-mannered man that everyone knew him to be. Making his way down into the lower levels of the castle, he finally came to a large door. Unlocking it with a swipe of his identity card, Xehanort entered the secret laboratory and walked over to the edge of the balcony he currently stood on. Resting his hands on the cool, metal railing he looking down into their laboratory, he watched as the other five members of his team continued to work, preparing for their experiment. Yes, his team. Though he was by no means the oldest out of their elite group, he had slipped effortlessly into the position as their leader.
His gaze traveled over his team, pausing for a few moments on each of them. Braig was the oldest out of their team and wore an eye-patch that he wore, a jagged scar running down the other side of his face. Braig was probably the most sarcastic one out of the group but he also brought humour to their long days. He was currently in the process of checking up on the others, pausing near Dilan, who was finishing up his observations from their last experiment.
The test subjects’ hearts had collapsed. A shame, for they had been so close! Perhaps if they had used stronger hearts…it would have made a difference. If Braig had collected the necessary test subjects, they would be able to try another experiment that afternoon. They had made several attempts to revive the test subjects, but none had worked. Therefore, Xehanort had confined the test subjects beneath the castle. There wasn’t anything else he could do, since they had lost their hearts. They were mere shells and useless to him now.
His gaze drifted to the youngest member of their team, Ienzo, who was standing in front of a white board, sketching different figures and working out mathematical numbers. Ienzo paused, looking thoughtful. Xehanort watched as Elaeus, a tall, broad-shouldered man, walked over to Ienzo. The two began to speak and their voices drifted up to where Xehanort stood. Even above the hum of machines, the squeak of a chair being moved, and Dilan laughing at something Braig had said, Xehanort heard their voices with perfect clarity.
“See here and here,” Ienzo was saying, pointing to two spots on the board, covered in his scribbled handwriting. “These two don’t add up. We’re so close, I can feel it!” A grin flashed across his face as his eyes studied the calculations in front of him. “Once Xehanort returns, we can start.”
“And the test subjects?” asked Elaeus.
“Braig brought them in earlier. They’re ready.” Ienzo chewed on his lip thoughtfully, glancing at Elaeus before looking back at his board. “However, even with our preparations, one miss-calculation could throw off the entire experiment.”
Elaeus nodded. “Understood.” He turned his attention to the board. After a few minutes, he said, “Here,” and pointed to an area on the board. “That square shouldn’t be there; it needs to be down on the second line. That should fix things.”
“The tiniest of errors,” muttered Ienzo, quickly fixing it. He grinned up at Elaeus, who smiled in return. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Elaeus turned, walking back to the table where Even stood. Elaeus returned to aiding Even in the set-up of the second part of their experiment and Ienzo began scribbling again on the board.
Xehanort tapped his fingers idly on the metal railing before turning and walking down the stairs to the lower level of the laboratory. “Braig,” he said curtly and the older man turned to look at him.
“Xehanort,” he greeted in return. “We’re nearly ready.” Braig smirked. “I tracked down the runts you wanted. They’re in the other room.”
“Very good. Go prepare them. I would suggest straps this time so that they don’t attack themselves like the last time.”
“I agree. They went nuts last time.” Braig chuckled and turned, heading to the side room, his white lab coat swirling around him. Xehanort watched until Braig disappeared into the other room and then turned, walking over to where Dilan sat, writing in his journal. “What have you found, Dilan?”
Dilan looked up at Xehanort, tucking a strand of his long, black hair behind his ear that had fallen out of his ponytail. “The hearts collapsed rather quickly but I was able to make some observations.” He tapped his pencil on the paper on which he had written his observations. “We will have to be more cautious with these test subjects, but this time we have stronger hearts. Even is finishing up a treatment that can be used in the event that our experiment causes the heart to collapse too quickly, like last time.”
Xehanort nodded. “Master Ansem is currently busy with visitors so we should be free to conduct this experiment without interruption.” An eager smile slowly appeared on his face and he could feel his heart beat rapidly in anticipation. Finally…we are so close…I can feel it! The last experiment failed but now we know what we did wrong and we can fix it. Master Ansem has been doing those psychological experimentations on me and the others, but once he sees the results of our efforts I believe he will be eager to continue. This could quite possibly be the greatest discovery of all time, if we can pull this off.
He walked past Ienzo, who had his arms folded over his chest, looking at the board in front of him, deep in thought. Chin-length, pale, lavender hair framed the seventeen year-old’s face, amber eyes scanning the numbers on the board, calculating within his mind. This one has a powerful mind, I will agree, thought Xehanort with a small smile. He has proven quite useful. He decided against speaking with Ienzo currently, not wanting to interrupt the mathematician at work. He made his way over to where Even stood, hunched over one of the lab tables, scribbling away furiously.
The thirty-year old paused, brushing some of his long, dark-blonde hair out of his face, and scribbled one last note. He looked at Xehanort and handed him the paper. “This is what I’ve noted for the recovery methods,” stated Even. One could perceive Even as a very cold intellectual, given his piercing, amber gaze, but Xehanort knew that Even wasn’t quite so icy as he appeared. Especially when an experiment was going well, Even could be quite enthusiastic. He didn’t joke around as much as Braig and Ienzo, but he still had a good sense of humour (when he was in a good mood that is). Even always loved observing and making notes on everything they did. Xehanort had known him the longest, ever since he was young, Even had always been there. He knew that Even had an interest in his memories and for that matter, so did Xehanort. He was curious as to what his past contained and why he couldn’t remember anything, not even a flicker. But that did not matter currently.
Xehanort looked down at the paper in his hands, amber eyes scanning the numbers and words. Nodding, he handed it back to Even. “Prepare vials for all of the test subjects. How long will that take you?”
“An hour at most,” said Even. A small smile flickered across his lips and Xehanort could see the eagerness in his amber eyes. “I already have most of it prepared.”
“It will most likely take that long to conduct the experiment.” Xehanort glanced over at where Elaeus had been and, not seeing the broad-shouldered man anywhere, Xehanort frowned. The sound of a door swishing open caused him to look towards where Braig had gone to prepare the test subjects. Braig and Elaeus stepped out, making their way to Xehanort.
“They’re ready,” said Elaeus.
“One of those runts tried to bite me,” scowled Braig. “I would have shot him if not for Elaeus coming in and helping to restrain them.”
Xehanort, too elated at the prospect of finally getting to test his theory, merely chuckled. “Then it’s a good thing that Elaeus was there. If you shot all our test subjects, how would we ever get anything accomplished?” But even though Xehanort was smirking and looking amused, there was a hidden threat in his amber eyes. Braig was impulsive and that sometimes created problems, but Xehanort had talked to the older man and had made him realise that it would be a mistake to allow his temper to interrupt the experiments. Things would get rather…difficult if he didn’t control his urges to shoot anything that pissed him off.
It was quite fascinating, actually, how much power Xehanort had over the other disciples, despite being younger than all of them (except Ienzo). Xehanort’s presence commanded respect and while he was submissive to Master Ansem, he had his own plans in progress. He had already begun a journal under Ansem’s name in which he planned to write down the different observations and hypotheses that he made during their experiments.
Xehanort looked at Ienzo. “Is everything ready, Ienzo?”
The younger man looked at him and then nodded. “I’ve double-checked all the calculations. We created an injection that should stimulate the darkness in their hearts, magnifying it so that we can study it. There are risks, of course.”
“Worthwhile risks for our ultimate goal,” said Xehanort simply, with a wave of his hand. “Let us begin.”
&&&&&&&&&&
“Even the strongest of hearts failed,” said Xehanort, clearly frustrated as he looked upon the test subjects that lay before him. Their hearts had collapsed and even with Even’s treatment, they had not recovered. Xehanort looked at the other five that made up his team. “We’ll simply have to get more test subjects and try again. There must be something that we’re not doing correctly.”
They nodded. “And what of Master Ansem?” asked Dilan from where he sat on a stool, arms resting on his thighs. “He’ll want to know any progress we’ve made.”
“As we talked about before, there is no need for him to know of what we’re currently trying to do,” said Xehanort. He smiled but it came off as more of a smirk than a true smile. “I will simply inform him that we have continued the psychological experiments and show him the notes on the strength of hearts. In any case, we need to prepare the next set of experiments.”
Even smiled at this, his amber eyes glittering eagerly. “I’ll start right now.” He stood, pausing to glance at one of the test subjects: a boy that had shown great potential but even in the end, his heart had collapsed as well. Even looked back at them. “How many more subjects do you think we can gather until someone starts noticing a great number of disappearances?”
“They’re just orphans; who’s gonna miss them?” chuckled Braig, folding his hands behind his head. “And the adults we used volunteered.” He grinned.
“Volunteered as in forced?” smirked Dilan.
“Something like that.” Braig laughed.
“There are still many more test subjects available,” said Elaeus. “I wouldn’t worry.”
“When are you going to get more?” asked Ienzo, looking at Braig.
Braig glanced at Xehanort, who said, “Take these failed test subjects underground to where the others are confined and then retrieve more.”
“Can do.” Braig gave Xehanort a two-fingered salute before moving towards the door.
“Can I come?” asked Ienzo hopefully.
Braig looked at Ienzo and shrugged. “Sure, kid.”
“Yes!” Ienzo nearly fell out of his chair in his hurry to get to his feet. They laughed, watching as Ienzo moved quickly to where Braig stood. “And I’m not a kid.”
“You are to me,” smirked Braig and then he looked at Elaeus, pointing to one of the adult test subjects. “Can you take that one? Ienzo and I will take the other two.”
Elaeus nodded. “Sure.” He moved over to the table, picking up the limp form of one of the adults and headed out of the room. Ienzo and Braig followed with the other two, leaving Even, Xehanort, and Dilan alone in the room.
“I’m going to get started on the preparations for the next experiment,” said Even as he walked towards the door.
“While you do that, I’m going to go to the kitchens and bring us some food,” chuckled Dilan as he stood. He gave them a wry smile. “We’re only human, you know. Still have to eat occasionally.”
Xehanort smiled softly. “This is true. Very well. I will go brief Master Ansem on our progress with his experiment. Once Braig and Ienzo return with more test subjects, we’ll try yet again. Dilan, look into what caused the hearts to collapse this time. They were stronger than our last test subjects’ but still they failed.”
Dilan nodded. “I’ll see what I can find.”
Xehanort watched as Even and Dilan left. Then he turned back to the tables where the test subjects had been bound, clasping his hands behind his back. This experiment into the darkness of people’s hearts had become somewhat of an obsession for him and he had noted that the others were beginning to share this obsession. Many times they wouldn’t sleep, working through the night, conducting their experiments. It was the only time they really could work on their own experiments for Master Ansem only came down the laboratory during the earlier part of the day. Being ruler of the world, Master Ansem was kept quite busy, but that suited Xehanort just fine. It gave him the freedom to do what he wished and continue his own experiments.
The heart is frail. We will have to be more cautious in the future. In our eagerness to attain knowledge of the heart, I believe that we have made errors and even the tiniest of errors can lead to larger problems.
Everything he had learned under Master Ansem’s tutelage had brought him to this point. Now he was going farther than his teacher had gone and it struck a chord deep inside his body, resonating within his heart and his mind. And one day, I will surpass him.
&&&&&&&&&&
It had been a week since their second experiment and they had conducted several more during that time. However, every single time, it seemed that the hearts collapsed far too rapidly and Xehanort didn’t understand it. There was something they were missing, but none of them could figure out what.
It wasn’t until he went underground with Even and Dilan to place their most recently failed test subjects in the chamber that they discovered something incredible.
Xehanort swiped his identity card, unlocking the door, and watched as it swished open to reveal the large, underground chamber in which they had been discarding the failed test subjects. He motioned for Even and Dilan to lay down those that they carried in their arms and the three of them turned to leave. Dilan and Even had already stepped out of the room but Xehanort paused in the doorway. It was far too quiet in the room. Those whose hearts had collapsed eventually regained consciousness, but they were mere shells, doing things on impulse. Which was why he had confined them here, so they would not cause chaos everywhere else.
But they at least made noise.
It wasn’t until a few moments later that he heard a strange scratching noise. “Even, Dilan,” he called and the other two came back into the room.
“What is it?” asked Dilan, frowning.
“Listen.”
After a few moments of silence, Even’s eyebrows rose. “What is that?”
“I don’t know.”
And then it came into the light shed from the doorway. Actually, there were three of them, if one could even call the creatures ‘them’. “What the hell is that?” asked Even, startled.
“It…I have no idea,” said Dilan, staring at the creatures that waddled before them.
The three creatures in front of them appeared to be creatures made entirely of darkness: black figures with glowing yellow eyes and quivering antennas. They crawled along the ground, their claws scratching across the tiled floor, acting almost like a dog would when it was sniffing out a scent.
Xehanort wasn’t someone who felt fear but he did step back as one of the creatures crawled towards him. He held out an arm to keep Dilan and Even at bay. In his heart there was only morbid curiousity as he wondered exactly what these strange creatures were. This was something going in his journal.
“This is something to research further,” said Xehanort, “but for now we should leave. We’ll come back later to make more observations and see what we can find.”
The other two nodded and they left the room, Xehanort quickly shutting the door behind them. They were silent as they made their way back up to the laboratory, deep in thought on what they had just discovered. Even when they parted, they said nothing. Xehanort made his way back to his room adjacent to the laboratory, where he kept his journals and other notes.
Taking a seat at his desk, he pulled out the journal he had planned to use, writing under Ansem’s name. It was fitting to use his teacher’s name for these experiments, as he had been the one who initially had begun them.
Xehanort opened the blank journal and picked up a pen, beginning to write.
Report 1:
The experiments caused the test subjects hearts to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatments proved no signs of recovery. I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle. Sometime later, I went below and was greeted by the strangest sight! Creatures that seemed born of Darkness. What are they? Are they truly sentient beings? Could they be the shadows of those who lost their hearts to my experiments?
Closing his journal, Xehanort placed it on the shelf and folded his arms on the desk, looking ahead thoughtfully, his gaze not focused on anything in particular. Who would have thought we would have discovered something like this! It’s truly remarkable! His heart beat quickened in anticipation of going back down to study these creatures. I will gather the others and we will study them further. I do not know how many are there but we will use what we have. If, indeed, these creatures are sentient, perhaps we can learn from them the inner workings of darkness and how it affects the heart. Or, they could be mindless shadows, just remnants of our failed test subjects. In either case, this is fascinating.
He grinned and stood up from his desk. He didn’t want to wait to learn more about these creatures and once the others knew, he was sure that they would feel the same. He left the room, his white lab coat swirling behind him as he walked quickly towards the lab, his pace quickened by his eagerness to conduct an experiment with these new creatures.
Author: dracomalfoy05
Claim: Organization XIII
Theme Set: Darkness
Theme: 4. Knowledge
Disclaimer: Nothing owned by me, we all know this.
Warning: KH2 spoilers.
Notes: This is one of my very first attempts at writing something in the KH universe. I´m really trying to keep this to canon and I´ve done what research I can in trying to keep it all consistent :D
I will say this, when dealing with Ansem and the rest, things can really get confusing! lol
Its up to you if I should continue! Let me know :D (is incredibly nervous about this)
This eventually encompases all of Organization XIII, of course. Chapter by chapter, you´ll get in the head of each of them.
Summary: Six disciples to Ansem the Wise, by delving into the darkness, became lost to the darkness themselves, giving birth to Organization XIII. This is their story.
Torn Beginnings
1. Xehanort
A man walked the streets of a glorious world, a world that was lush and green, and where the people were always smiling, their faces full of hope. This man, Ansem the Wise, the ruler of this world, had brought it into this radiant being. Which was why the world was named, rightly, Radiant Garden.
He often went walking on clear nights such as this one, the cool air refreshing and the stars shining brightly overhead. He was a scientist by nature and as such, he observed even the tiniest detail. His world was beautiful, with its brightly-coloured flowers and its pure, flowing water. But at the same time, something lurked behind all the beauty and peace. Darkness. There was a darkness in people´s hearts. He had seen what it had done to other worlds and vowed not to allow it to happen to his. But to discover this darkness in people´s hearts, to truly understand it, he would need to gather a group of researchers, disciples, to help figure out the workings of the heart. He already had two, but he wanted four more at least. But I must proceed with caution, for I wish to take time in gathering those that will be loyal to me and my experiments.
He paused at the crossroads, by a fountain and became lost in a memory of an event that had happened six years ago.
He was walking the streets on his nightly stroll when he saw a figure lying in a heap in the street that led into the square at the center of town. Frowning, he hurried over to the small figure, his white robes flowing behind him. He knelt beside the boy. Yes, it was merely a child, perhaps ten at the most. The boy had obviously collapsed and this concerned him. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby, but seeing no one, he slid his arms beneath the boy and picked up the limp form, holding him against his chest in a secure grip.
“Let´s get you inside, shall we?” he said softly, looking down at the peaceful features of the unconscious boy, his face framed by chin-length, wavy, white hair. There was something about this boy, he didn´t know what exactly, but it was important. He turned, carrying the boy back to the castle.
Ansem took a seat on the stone ledge that rimmed the fountain, looking out over the square and to the houses, windows aglow with light and life within. The boy, Xehanort, as he had named him, had been very peculiar indeed. The boy had possessed none of his memories, remember nothing of what had happened until the point he had collapsed in the street. However, the boy’s mind had been far beyond anyone of his age. Even now, at the age of sixteen, Xehanort possessed a remarkably inquisitive mind. He took in my teachings effortlessly, learning and surpassing even my wildest imaginings. His ability to grasp all these facts, deepening his knowledge, is truly amazing. I will speak to him of my thoughts, of this darkness in people’s hearts, and listen to his thoughts. Though underdeveloped in maturity, given his young age, his mind is that of someone far older.
Standing, Ansem left the square to continue his walk, thinking about what the future possibly could hold in store for this world and all the others.
&&&&&&&&&&
Ansem, indeed, spoke to Xehanort that night and they discussed the possible experimentation well into the night. Xehanort offered himself as a test subject for Ansem to use to delve deep into the heart and find what was locked within. Even, his other disciple, seemed to have a particular interest in trying to retrieve Xehanort´s memories as well. Though there was a small part of him that worried. Ansem worried that there was something else there, lurking in Xehanort´s heart, for the boy truly possessed a rare quality. One that far surpassed any human he had ever met. Whether that was good or bad, he would find out.
In the meantime, over the next two years, while his psychological experimentation continued with Xehanort, Ansem would recruit four other disciples. Braig: a man entering his forties, very talkative, and a veteran of many wars, with a mind as sharp as his shooting skills. Dilan: a more soft-spoken man, mid-thirties, possessing a knowledge of experimentations and an eagerness to learn more. Elaeus: a tall, muscular man of only twenty-five, but despite his quietness, quite knowledgeable. He is the one that often spots the tiniest errors in calculations and in their experiments. Finally, Ienzo: the youngest of all his disciples, at a mere age of seventeen, one year younger than Xehanort presently. An enthusiastic researcher, even more so then his other disciples, Ienzo possesses a keen mind for strategy and calculations, abilities critical to the success of his experiments.
Little did Ansem know that while his own experiment was being performed, the disciples would gather together under the leadership of Xehanort to perform their own experiments. Guided by Ansem´s research of the darkness in people´s hearts, they would use this knowledge to discover the true darkness and what lay beyond.
&&&&&&&&&&
Xehanort stood on one of the many balconies of the castle, looking out over the land that stretched far below him. The world of Radiant Garden was one of peace but something not so peaceful stirred in its depths, in an underground facility made specifically for an experiment with darkness. Or, rather, one designed to target the heart and discover its inner workings. It was a risky undertaking but Xehanort was no fool. He knew the risks but he also knew that this could quite possibly be their greatest discovery.
This world doesn’t even realize what is happening, just beneath the surface. Foolish world, he thought, his lips curving upwards slightly into a smirk. His hands rested on the cool, stone surface of the balcony rail, a light breeze washing over him. His long, white hair shifted in the breeze, the air feeling refreshing against his face. It had been getting rather stuffy down in the lab, what with Even and Ienzo snapping at each other every other minute. Even had a way of becoming very protective of his part of the lab, always fiddling with vials and his own experiments, which Ienzo seemed to find annoying, especially when he hadn’t slept much. Though Xehanort didn´t think the youngest of the apprentices was far different from Even, working with his various puzzles. It was true that Ienzo seemed to be the risk-taker of their small, elite group. He had spoken to Xehanort on several occasions about other paths they could be taking, other horizons they had yet to explore, and he had been the one who had initially spoken to Master Ansem about creating the underground facility in the first place.
But then Xehanort would have to remind him that Ansem was more cautious then them and for now, they had to do what the man wished. We appear to be doing the research that Master Ansem wishes us to perform but at the same time, we have begun our own experiment with the darkness. And I am eager to test my theory.
The sound of voices brought Xehanort out of his thoughts and he looked down to see a group of people walking across the bridge, heading into the castle. I wonder who has come to visit today, he thought as he turned away from the view of the expansive gardens far below and the city beyond. The sky was too clear, the day too warm, and the birds too chipper for his tastes. He walked back into the castle, making his way through the cool, dark corridors.
The six of us make quite the team. Even now, our experiments continue. Even if we do use ourselves as test-subjects, that is the only way to perform to the utmost of our capabilities. While one of us tries yet another vial, another watches and observes, recording what is seen. We´re so close, I can almost taste it. And if Braig was successful in accumulating the test subjects, the six of us may yet have the chance to witness proof of our theories.
Xehanort´s amber eyes glowed intensely with anticipation in the dimness of the corridor. He smiled softly, remaining the calm, well-mannered man that everyone knew him to be. Making his way down into the lower levels of the castle, he finally came to a large door. Unlocking it with a swipe of his identity card, Xehanort entered the secret laboratory and walked over to the edge of the balcony he currently stood on. Resting his hands on the cool, metal railing he looking down into their laboratory, he watched as the other five members of his team continued to work, preparing for their experiment. Yes, his team. Though he was by no means the oldest out of their elite group, he had slipped effortlessly into the position as their leader.
His gaze traveled over his team, pausing for a few moments on each of them. Braig was the oldest out of their team and wore an eye-patch that he wore, a jagged scar running down the other side of his face. Braig was probably the most sarcastic one out of the group but he also brought humour to their long days. He was currently in the process of checking up on the others, pausing near Dilan, who was finishing up his observations from their last experiment.
The test subjects’ hearts had collapsed. A shame, for they had been so close! Perhaps if they had used stronger hearts…it would have made a difference. If Braig had collected the necessary test subjects, they would be able to try another experiment that afternoon. They had made several attempts to revive the test subjects, but none had worked. Therefore, Xehanort had confined the test subjects beneath the castle. There wasn’t anything else he could do, since they had lost their hearts. They were mere shells and useless to him now.
His gaze drifted to the youngest member of their team, Ienzo, who was standing in front of a white board, sketching different figures and working out mathematical numbers. Ienzo paused, looking thoughtful. Xehanort watched as Elaeus, a tall, broad-shouldered man, walked over to Ienzo. The two began to speak and their voices drifted up to where Xehanort stood. Even above the hum of machines, the squeak of a chair being moved, and Dilan laughing at something Braig had said, Xehanort heard their voices with perfect clarity.
“See here and here,” Ienzo was saying, pointing to two spots on the board, covered in his scribbled handwriting. “These two don’t add up. We’re so close, I can feel it!” A grin flashed across his face as his eyes studied the calculations in front of him. “Once Xehanort returns, we can start.”
“And the test subjects?” asked Elaeus.
“Braig brought them in earlier. They’re ready.” Ienzo chewed on his lip thoughtfully, glancing at Elaeus before looking back at his board. “However, even with our preparations, one miss-calculation could throw off the entire experiment.”
Elaeus nodded. “Understood.” He turned his attention to the board. After a few minutes, he said, “Here,” and pointed to an area on the board. “That square shouldn’t be there; it needs to be down on the second line. That should fix things.”
“The tiniest of errors,” muttered Ienzo, quickly fixing it. He grinned up at Elaeus, who smiled in return. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Elaeus turned, walking back to the table where Even stood. Elaeus returned to aiding Even in the set-up of the second part of their experiment and Ienzo began scribbling again on the board.
Xehanort tapped his fingers idly on the metal railing before turning and walking down the stairs to the lower level of the laboratory. “Braig,” he said curtly and the older man turned to look at him.
“Xehanort,” he greeted in return. “We’re nearly ready.” Braig smirked. “I tracked down the runts you wanted. They’re in the other room.”
“Very good. Go prepare them. I would suggest straps this time so that they don’t attack themselves like the last time.”
“I agree. They went nuts last time.” Braig chuckled and turned, heading to the side room, his white lab coat swirling around him. Xehanort watched until Braig disappeared into the other room and then turned, walking over to where Dilan sat, writing in his journal. “What have you found, Dilan?”
Dilan looked up at Xehanort, tucking a strand of his long, black hair behind his ear that had fallen out of his ponytail. “The hearts collapsed rather quickly but I was able to make some observations.” He tapped his pencil on the paper on which he had written his observations. “We will have to be more cautious with these test subjects, but this time we have stronger hearts. Even is finishing up a treatment that can be used in the event that our experiment causes the heart to collapse too quickly, like last time.”
Xehanort nodded. “Master Ansem is currently busy with visitors so we should be free to conduct this experiment without interruption.” An eager smile slowly appeared on his face and he could feel his heart beat rapidly in anticipation. Finally…we are so close…I can feel it! The last experiment failed but now we know what we did wrong and we can fix it. Master Ansem has been doing those psychological experimentations on me and the others, but once he sees the results of our efforts I believe he will be eager to continue. This could quite possibly be the greatest discovery of all time, if we can pull this off.
He walked past Ienzo, who had his arms folded over his chest, looking at the board in front of him, deep in thought. Chin-length, pale, lavender hair framed the seventeen year-old’s face, amber eyes scanning the numbers on the board, calculating within his mind. This one has a powerful mind, I will agree, thought Xehanort with a small smile. He has proven quite useful. He decided against speaking with Ienzo currently, not wanting to interrupt the mathematician at work. He made his way over to where Even stood, hunched over one of the lab tables, scribbling away furiously.
The thirty-year old paused, brushing some of his long, dark-blonde hair out of his face, and scribbled one last note. He looked at Xehanort and handed him the paper. “This is what I’ve noted for the recovery methods,” stated Even. One could perceive Even as a very cold intellectual, given his piercing, amber gaze, but Xehanort knew that Even wasn’t quite so icy as he appeared. Especially when an experiment was going well, Even could be quite enthusiastic. He didn’t joke around as much as Braig and Ienzo, but he still had a good sense of humour (when he was in a good mood that is). Even always loved observing and making notes on everything they did. Xehanort had known him the longest, ever since he was young, Even had always been there. He knew that Even had an interest in his memories and for that matter, so did Xehanort. He was curious as to what his past contained and why he couldn’t remember anything, not even a flicker. But that did not matter currently.
Xehanort looked down at the paper in his hands, amber eyes scanning the numbers and words. Nodding, he handed it back to Even. “Prepare vials for all of the test subjects. How long will that take you?”
“An hour at most,” said Even. A small smile flickered across his lips and Xehanort could see the eagerness in his amber eyes. “I already have most of it prepared.”
“It will most likely take that long to conduct the experiment.” Xehanort glanced over at where Elaeus had been and, not seeing the broad-shouldered man anywhere, Xehanort frowned. The sound of a door swishing open caused him to look towards where Braig had gone to prepare the test subjects. Braig and Elaeus stepped out, making their way to Xehanort.
“They’re ready,” said Elaeus.
“One of those runts tried to bite me,” scowled Braig. “I would have shot him if not for Elaeus coming in and helping to restrain them.”
Xehanort, too elated at the prospect of finally getting to test his theory, merely chuckled. “Then it’s a good thing that Elaeus was there. If you shot all our test subjects, how would we ever get anything accomplished?” But even though Xehanort was smirking and looking amused, there was a hidden threat in his amber eyes. Braig was impulsive and that sometimes created problems, but Xehanort had talked to the older man and had made him realise that it would be a mistake to allow his temper to interrupt the experiments. Things would get rather…difficult if he didn’t control his urges to shoot anything that pissed him off.
It was quite fascinating, actually, how much power Xehanort had over the other disciples, despite being younger than all of them (except Ienzo). Xehanort’s presence commanded respect and while he was submissive to Master Ansem, he had his own plans in progress. He had already begun a journal under Ansem’s name in which he planned to write down the different observations and hypotheses that he made during their experiments.
Xehanort looked at Ienzo. “Is everything ready, Ienzo?”
The younger man looked at him and then nodded. “I’ve double-checked all the calculations. We created an injection that should stimulate the darkness in their hearts, magnifying it so that we can study it. There are risks, of course.”
“Worthwhile risks for our ultimate goal,” said Xehanort simply, with a wave of his hand. “Let us begin.”
&&&&&&&&&&
“Even the strongest of hearts failed,” said Xehanort, clearly frustrated as he looked upon the test subjects that lay before him. Their hearts had collapsed and even with Even’s treatment, they had not recovered. Xehanort looked at the other five that made up his team. “We’ll simply have to get more test subjects and try again. There must be something that we’re not doing correctly.”
They nodded. “And what of Master Ansem?” asked Dilan from where he sat on a stool, arms resting on his thighs. “He’ll want to know any progress we’ve made.”
“As we talked about before, there is no need for him to know of what we’re currently trying to do,” said Xehanort. He smiled but it came off as more of a smirk than a true smile. “I will simply inform him that we have continued the psychological experiments and show him the notes on the strength of hearts. In any case, we need to prepare the next set of experiments.”
Even smiled at this, his amber eyes glittering eagerly. “I’ll start right now.” He stood, pausing to glance at one of the test subjects: a boy that had shown great potential but even in the end, his heart had collapsed as well. Even looked back at them. “How many more subjects do you think we can gather until someone starts noticing a great number of disappearances?”
“They’re just orphans; who’s gonna miss them?” chuckled Braig, folding his hands behind his head. “And the adults we used volunteered.” He grinned.
“Volunteered as in forced?” smirked Dilan.
“Something like that.” Braig laughed.
“There are still many more test subjects available,” said Elaeus. “I wouldn’t worry.”
“When are you going to get more?” asked Ienzo, looking at Braig.
Braig glanced at Xehanort, who said, “Take these failed test subjects underground to where the others are confined and then retrieve more.”
“Can do.” Braig gave Xehanort a two-fingered salute before moving towards the door.
“Can I come?” asked Ienzo hopefully.
Braig looked at Ienzo and shrugged. “Sure, kid.”
“Yes!” Ienzo nearly fell out of his chair in his hurry to get to his feet. They laughed, watching as Ienzo moved quickly to where Braig stood. “And I’m not a kid.”
“You are to me,” smirked Braig and then he looked at Elaeus, pointing to one of the adult test subjects. “Can you take that one? Ienzo and I will take the other two.”
Elaeus nodded. “Sure.” He moved over to the table, picking up the limp form of one of the adults and headed out of the room. Ienzo and Braig followed with the other two, leaving Even, Xehanort, and Dilan alone in the room.
“I’m going to get started on the preparations for the next experiment,” said Even as he walked towards the door.
“While you do that, I’m going to go to the kitchens and bring us some food,” chuckled Dilan as he stood. He gave them a wry smile. “We’re only human, you know. Still have to eat occasionally.”
Xehanort smiled softly. “This is true. Very well. I will go brief Master Ansem on our progress with his experiment. Once Braig and Ienzo return with more test subjects, we’ll try yet again. Dilan, look into what caused the hearts to collapse this time. They were stronger than our last test subjects’ but still they failed.”
Dilan nodded. “I’ll see what I can find.”
Xehanort watched as Even and Dilan left. Then he turned back to the tables where the test subjects had been bound, clasping his hands behind his back. This experiment into the darkness of people’s hearts had become somewhat of an obsession for him and he had noted that the others were beginning to share this obsession. Many times they wouldn’t sleep, working through the night, conducting their experiments. It was the only time they really could work on their own experiments for Master Ansem only came down the laboratory during the earlier part of the day. Being ruler of the world, Master Ansem was kept quite busy, but that suited Xehanort just fine. It gave him the freedom to do what he wished and continue his own experiments.
The heart is frail. We will have to be more cautious in the future. In our eagerness to attain knowledge of the heart, I believe that we have made errors and even the tiniest of errors can lead to larger problems.
Everything he had learned under Master Ansem’s tutelage had brought him to this point. Now he was going farther than his teacher had gone and it struck a chord deep inside his body, resonating within his heart and his mind. And one day, I will surpass him.
&&&&&&&&&&
It had been a week since their second experiment and they had conducted several more during that time. However, every single time, it seemed that the hearts collapsed far too rapidly and Xehanort didn’t understand it. There was something they were missing, but none of them could figure out what.
It wasn’t until he went underground with Even and Dilan to place their most recently failed test subjects in the chamber that they discovered something incredible.
Xehanort swiped his identity card, unlocking the door, and watched as it swished open to reveal the large, underground chamber in which they had been discarding the failed test subjects. He motioned for Even and Dilan to lay down those that they carried in their arms and the three of them turned to leave. Dilan and Even had already stepped out of the room but Xehanort paused in the doorway. It was far too quiet in the room. Those whose hearts had collapsed eventually regained consciousness, but they were mere shells, doing things on impulse. Which was why he had confined them here, so they would not cause chaos everywhere else.
But they at least made noise.
It wasn’t until a few moments later that he heard a strange scratching noise. “Even, Dilan,” he called and the other two came back into the room.
“What is it?” asked Dilan, frowning.
“Listen.”
After a few moments of silence, Even’s eyebrows rose. “What is that?”
“I don’t know.”
And then it came into the light shed from the doorway. Actually, there were three of them, if one could even call the creatures ‘them’. “What the hell is that?” asked Even, startled.
“It…I have no idea,” said Dilan, staring at the creatures that waddled before them.
The three creatures in front of them appeared to be creatures made entirely of darkness: black figures with glowing yellow eyes and quivering antennas. They crawled along the ground, their claws scratching across the tiled floor, acting almost like a dog would when it was sniffing out a scent.
Xehanort wasn’t someone who felt fear but he did step back as one of the creatures crawled towards him. He held out an arm to keep Dilan and Even at bay. In his heart there was only morbid curiousity as he wondered exactly what these strange creatures were. This was something going in his journal.
“This is something to research further,” said Xehanort, “but for now we should leave. We’ll come back later to make more observations and see what we can find.”
The other two nodded and they left the room, Xehanort quickly shutting the door behind them. They were silent as they made their way back up to the laboratory, deep in thought on what they had just discovered. Even when they parted, they said nothing. Xehanort made his way back to his room adjacent to the laboratory, where he kept his journals and other notes.
Taking a seat at his desk, he pulled out the journal he had planned to use, writing under Ansem’s name. It was fitting to use his teacher’s name for these experiments, as he had been the one who initially had begun them.
Xehanort opened the blank journal and picked up a pen, beginning to write.
Report 1:
The experiments caused the test subjects hearts to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatments proved no signs of recovery. I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle. Sometime later, I went below and was greeted by the strangest sight! Creatures that seemed born of Darkness. What are they? Are they truly sentient beings? Could they be the shadows of those who lost their hearts to my experiments?
Closing his journal, Xehanort placed it on the shelf and folded his arms on the desk, looking ahead thoughtfully, his gaze not focused on anything in particular. Who would have thought we would have discovered something like this! It’s truly remarkable! His heart beat quickened in anticipation of going back down to study these creatures. I will gather the others and we will study them further. I do not know how many are there but we will use what we have. If, indeed, these creatures are sentient, perhaps we can learn from them the inner workings of darkness and how it affects the heart. Or, they could be mindless shadows, just remnants of our failed test subjects. In either case, this is fascinating.
He grinned and stood up from his desk. He didn’t want to wait to learn more about these creatures and once the others knew, he was sure that they would feel the same. He left the room, his white lab coat swirling behind him as he walked quickly towards the lab, his pace quickened by his eagerness to conduct an experiment with these new creatures.