firstnothing

The afternoon before had been ... enlightening. And with the egg he'd acquired hatching just after dark, bringing his team to three (two and a half he supposed; a newborn pokemon wasn't terribly strong), things seemed to be going well. The dusky little fox was more than content to curl up with Sorrow and Regret and sleep there the entire night through, and he'd had no reason to disturb them. Come the morning, all three would be put to work.

That had been the plan anyway. Something seemed off as he set up breakfast; he's almost completely certain there had not been four pokemon sleeping there last night. And now there were. Regret's obvious black-and-white, Sorrow's vivid green, the little zorua's dusky gray, and ... orange, cream and black, all curled up.

Frown.

Ousting the doglike pokemon proved to be more troublesome than it was worth, and Xemnas quickly settled on simply ignoring it in favor of straightening out his own, handing out breakfast, checking for lingering injury from the day before, and heading on his way. Honestly he had intended to catch a growlithe sooner or later, preferably sooner, but this one was ... overaffectionate. And far too exuberant for his tastes, with the way it bounced in happy, barking circles around himself and his bewildered team.

Thus went the day. The constant energetic presence of the growlithe didn't really interrupt the hunting any, as wild pokemon seemed to ignore the noise and darting about for the most part, including one sleeping abra at the base of a tree. Abras, according to his pokedex after a quick scan, wouldn't ordinarily counterattack. And the little zorua was more than happy to test its small claws and sharp teeth on the sleeping psychic-type.

Repeatedly, given the thing kept teleporting. It was annoying enough to all of them (except the growlithe, who seemed impossible to annoy) that actual effective teamwork seemed to be rapidly forged between his three pokemon out of sheer determination to corner and catch the abra. It kept teleporting. How often could it do that?

Quite a bit it turned out. But eventually, with a lot of effort and a well-timed Grass Whistle, Xemnas had the little psychic-fox neatly trapped in one of those red-and-white pokeballs. The first one he'd ever bothered to catch, and that probably due to the frustration levels of chasing it around all day.

As sunset approached and he set out for the distant city again, the growlithe followed.

[Audio]

[From the sound of sharp little hooves on road, he's managed to find a proper route to follow.]

Is it ordinary that a pokemon might decide to join you, whether or not you wish it to be there?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

lastcharge

So it becomes something of a cycle. Take a new heart, create a new Heartless. [The amused tone doesn't put him off, no, it's interesting to him; the process. It somewhat reminds him of the Unversed, that it's just another cycle.]

Mm, who knows then. There weren't many left, in my time, from what I knew. Only three Masters, one perished, one old, the other too damn mysterious for his own good. Technically four, I guess, but I've no idea what happened with her.

From:

firstnothing

Yes. However a keyblade is capable of destroying them, releasing the heart to join Kingdom Hearts freely. If someone were to destroy one without a keyblade, it would simply reform somewhere else later on. Although I had a hand in their initial creation, time has proven that they likely existed in some form before our work.

[It interested Xemnas as well. If he had the leisure and ability to continue his studies here, now that he COULD be interested in it.. The thought is swiftly shaken off.]

There are no masters in my time. Only children using weapons they don't understand. ..Though. 'Her'?

From:

lastcharge

Probably. Darkness has it's ways of slipping through cracks into any world, whether one beckons it or not.

Ventus had two friends who he trained with for three years, they were Terra and Aqua. Both have been here at a point. Aqua and Terra were students who took the Mark of Mastery exam under Master Eraqus, and only Aqua passed, as Terra had too much untapped darkness for his liking. Honestly, for what I know, she could be the only one left of their group, if Masters plans of a new body really were successful.

From:

firstnothing

[It sounds familiar.

Xemnas didn't remember his life before waking at Radiant Garden, not completely. Fits and starts, brief flashes of familiarity or a short memory of something not quite grasped. Like the armor he kept safely locked away. That had been significant once.

The names Vanitas provides echoes the same way. Almost-familiar, like they should be important. The silence from Xemnas's end of the communication extends for several minutes.]

It is possible. A true master is often very adept at surviving under the radar if they must. These individuals were here when you were as well, or did you hear of them after their passing?

From:

lastcharge

They existed in my time, then have arrived here. I've fought with Aqua on numerous occasions, and Terra was sent on the wild goose chase of finding me, when I was following Ventus, who was to stay home but didn't, because he was following Terra. Really, they all kept missing each other until they reached a world called Radiant Garden, and by then no one was seeing eye to eye any longer.

[It was a plan that worked, as much as he dislikes it now.]

From:

firstnothing

Like ships in a fog. It seems for the best all things considered. When one is strong, three can be a nightmare to face. Presumably their friendship did not swiftly mend..

From:

lastcharge

No. Terra was too wrapped in the idea of becoming a Master, that Xehanort used him to his advantage. Aqua was too wrapped in trying to trust that Terra wouldn't veer from the light, and trying to catch up to Ventus. Ventus was convinced Terra would change, because I told him he would. Making him leave the safety of his Masters world was of my doing, so that I could test his strength to be sure the X-blade would be successful.

The last I recall, I knocked Aqua out before taking on Ventus. Master was beckoning Kingdom Hearts close to take Terra's body, and some guy he found, a Braig, was hanging around to potentially get a keyblade. I don't know what deal Master made with him, just that he was willing to work with him if that was his reward.

From:

firstnothing

I see. There is much some individuals will do if they think it will gain them a keyblade. Foolish things that may cost them more than they could ever gain.

How does all of this affect you now that you are free from your fate? Do you hate the man who created you, develop friendships with your once-enemies?

From:

lastcharge

Heh, he lost an eye for his troubles, earned himself an ugly scar all up the side of his face when Master encouraged Terra to use darkness against him. He used guns before, so I don't know how much of a good shot he is now with only one eye.

It's... strange, I guess. [He pauses, quiet for a few moments to just pull his thoughts together. Xemnas is a relative stranger, and yet Vanitas is certain he's connected to this mess in some form.] I've been here for nearly four years. The first years were relearning how to live, to be a person, not just an extension of darkness. It was only when I realized I made bonds with some of the people here, that I couldn't go back to being who I was before. Master would scoff at what I've become, I'm sure. I'd be useless to him now.

Ventus and I came to terms, and when Terra was here, we.. came to some agreements. Aqua, unfortunately, hasn't stuck long enough for me to really speak with her, but then again, she watched me try to kill Ventus on more than one occasion.

From:

firstnothing

[Vanitas' willingness to discuss it openly with a veritable stranger was both odd and refreshing. Was it some instinct, some sub-conscious recognition of a being who was partly his master that allowed for it?]

I would not be so certain you would be 'useless'. For your original purpose perhaps but anyone may be useful if one knows how to apply their skills. There were a few in my Organization who were all but useless unless they were properly applied. If you did not wish to be useless to him, were he ever to arrive, then a way could be found. The only real difference being ... now it is your choice, yes?

[Choice is .. a big deal. The ability to select one's future. Xemnas couldn't, his fate was already decided. But not so for others.]

Perhaps she would have been forgiving, if you and the other two had reached an accord. If only in public.

[There's a brief pause, then, bemused:]

Having only one eye did not prevent him from being a lethal gunman, when I knew him. Of course, I knew him by another name.

From:

lastcharge

Mm. [It is his choice, and though Master did teach him.... plenty to do with warfare, there were many things he lacked to teach him out of preventing him from growing past a being of hate. That does make him curious though, quirking a brow despite the other on the feed not being able to see it. Silly audio feature.]

Yeah? Did he actually leave Radiant Garden, or is that where you met him?

From:

firstnothing

He was at Radiant Garden until darkness swallowed it up. If I met him before that place, I don't recall it well. An eerily good shot, and capable of manipulating gravity to his own whim. One might see him as often sitting on a wall or the ceiling as in a proper chair. Given a task he could perform admirably but left to his own devices inevitably there would be ... issues.

[There's a brief, dry chuckle.]

He had his role to play.

From:

lastcharge

Manipulating gravity itself is... interesting. [Well damn. Now he kind of wants Braig to show up to ask him about this shit. But Radiant Garden itself sinking, huh.]

I'm surprised Radiant Garden itself fell to darkness, it looked like it was doing well at being a fairly balanced world. There was plenty of light, but enough darkness to sustain curiosity.

From:

firstnothing

It harbored an infestation in the deepest parts of the castle, where several apprentices of the king explored further than they should have while researching the effects of darkness on the heart. Due to their actions, the world fell to darkness, and nearly everyone in it.

From:

lastcharge

I'd actually call that hilariously ironic, considering how much it just called the darkness in. [He's been around trolls too long, that he finds this tragedy almost funny. Sighing, he falls quiet again in thought.]

There was a Princess of Heart on that world, I remember briefly encountering her through the Unversed. Aqua destroyed them before I really investigated further, but she likely escaped. [The rare survivor.]

From:

firstnothing

Ahhh yes. I know this girl. Her name is 'Kairi', and she is a good friend of the boy whom you resemble. I don't know precisely how she made it out of Radiant Garden, but she managed to without any obvious harm done.

From:

lastcharge

[... Oh. Well shit. His back straightens a bit.]

She's been here. Shit, the details are fuzzy enough that I couldn't remember the face, but she was very young, probably only three or four years old. [Ughhhhhh lining up the pieces, his life.] I wonder if it was her status of a pure heart that kept her safe then? I'm surprised the darkness didn't swallow her whole.

From:

firstnothing

Perhaps the darkness simply can't touch a heart so bright. I admit I do not know. I haven't had the leisure or opportunity to discover the answer. Perhaps before Radiant Garden fell she was simply taken from her home and moved elsewhere, conveniently for her.

From:

shadowdive

Maybe. There was another apprentice around at the time, the King from - [an obnoxiously colored, bright, SO FUCKING BRIGHT place] I forget it's name, but he was called Mickey. He may have moved her. [It's a thought, anyway.]

From:

firstnothing

A mystery for the ages. I had heard she'd arrived in this world ... again, if you have the right of it. But it has been some time since I have heard mention of her.. I wonder, might someone appear and just as swiftly disappear again?

From:

shadowdive

It has happened before, I wouldn't be surprised. This world is honestly fickle as fuck with who it brings, only to throw them out a week later, or to keep them for years.

From:

firstnothing

And no rhyme or reason for the pattern?

.. I wonder if another version of me has been here before. Or yourself for that matter.

From:

shadowdive

From all the time I've been here, I haven't seen or heard you before. Myself?

I heard when I first arrived, I attacked and physically beat the shit out of everyone in New Bark Town except mom, because for some reason no one can get in the door.

Since I've never been to New Bark Town, I can guess there was at least one other me once. I woke up in this world in Mahogany Town.

From:

firstnothing

[That elicits a laugh that seems far more genuine than the hollow chuckle from before.]

That is certainly one method to make a lasting impression on New Bark Town. I was under the impression however that everyone arrives there. This is not so?

From:

shadowdive

[That is awful but the laughter ends up making his mouth quirk up; it's something he can chuckle about now, is it?]

No. I was part of some dumb organization called Team Rocket when I arrived, but I've since been thrown out after my first year when I was busy with my own plans. I don't think Rocket members arrive in Mahogany town anymore though.