February 20th, 2011
January 23rd, 2011
((Continued from: http://community.livejournal.com/kingdomdressing/2520523.html?thread=227296971#t227296971 ))
[Xeha's room's not much to look at. While the corridor outside is currently full of rubble and odd Wonderland flowers, the interior is no more of a mess than the average fifteen-year-old boy's. Clothes piled on a chair, a desk covered in computer bits and disks with a broken Wayfarer charm tacked to the wall next to it, sheets just about chucked off the bed... nothing too unusual.
This would be the scene, then, that would greet him and Braig on their flight from the battlefield that the dressing room had become.]
[Xeha's room's not much to look at. While the corridor outside is currently full of rubble and odd Wonderland flowers, the interior is no more of a mess than the average fifteen-year-old boy's. Clothes piled on a chair, a desk covered in computer bits and disks with a broken Wayfarer charm tacked to the wall next to it, sheets just about chucked off the bed... nothing too unusual.
This would be the scene, then, that would greet him and Braig on their flight from the battlefield that the dressing room had become.]
August 8th, 2010
April 23rd, 2010
March 14th, 2010
May 9th, 2009
The boy dreamed. It'd been the state of his life for so long that this was nothing unusual... live from second to second, new world to new world. The state of all their lives.
This one, however, was different.
It was sunset, and he was alone. A vast, dry plain lay in front of him, and a cold wind howled. It seemed almost to whisper to him - was he ready? To go on, to return, to become what he always was?
He nodded and walked on.
It seemed almost every square foot of the terrain was covered with odd blades, stretching out to the mountains on the horizon. Different shapes, different sizes, but the configuration remained similar for each.
Something called him onwards, through the labyrinth of weaponry. Slow, careful progress. As he went, he looked at what surrounded him, crouching to examine them, picking them up, putting them down. He'd know what he was after when he saw it. No, that one was too long, too heavy; no, that one was too awkward, all backward...
In the end, it was nothing elaborate that he chose - not compared to the myriad of designs he could see around him. A dark golden toned hilt, the rest almost black metal with lighter edging along the teeth and details.
That one would do. He clutched it in his hands and drew it slowly from the ground.
Again, that whisper. It almost seemed familiar.
Remember, this is the path you chose...
Before he could react, the floor shattered, and he fell. Below him - what, now? A stained glass pillar, shining in crimson, bearing images of himself and his friends and family. He landed on his feet and looked upwards - into darkness around him. Two other pillars stood nearby, apparently broken and ruined: halves of a whole, he slowly realised. But what had done that?
No time to think about that issue, though. Something was approaching.
Someone.
And there was nothing to do but fight.
This one, however, was different.
It was sunset, and he was alone. A vast, dry plain lay in front of him, and a cold wind howled. It seemed almost to whisper to him - was he ready? To go on, to return, to become what he always was?
He nodded and walked on.
It seemed almost every square foot of the terrain was covered with odd blades, stretching out to the mountains on the horizon. Different shapes, different sizes, but the configuration remained similar for each.
Something called him onwards, through the labyrinth of weaponry. Slow, careful progress. As he went, he looked at what surrounded him, crouching to examine them, picking them up, putting them down. He'd know what he was after when he saw it. No, that one was too long, too heavy; no, that one was too awkward, all backward...
In the end, it was nothing elaborate that he chose - not compared to the myriad of designs he could see around him. A dark golden toned hilt, the rest almost black metal with lighter edging along the teeth and details.
That one would do. He clutched it in his hands and drew it slowly from the ground.
Again, that whisper. It almost seemed familiar.
Remember, this is the path you chose...
Before he could react, the floor shattered, and he fell. Below him - what, now? A stained glass pillar, shining in crimson, bearing images of himself and his friends and family. He landed on his feet and looked upwards - into darkness around him. Two other pillars stood nearby, apparently broken and ruined: halves of a whole, he slowly realised. But what had done that?
No time to think about that issue, though. Something was approaching.
Someone.
And there was nothing to do but fight.
April 9th, 2009
Donald,
Sorry to rush off without sayin’ goodbye, but there’s big trouble brewin’. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin’ out, one by one. And that means disaster can’t be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I’ve gotta go check into it.
There's something you can do for me, though.
There's an old friend of mine I haven't heard from in a long time. He knows a lot about these things. So if you can get in touch with him, that'd be just great!
Go to Radiant Garden and find Ansem. He'll be able to help us.
P.S.
Would ya apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.
Sorry to rush off without sayin’ goodbye, but there’s big trouble brewin’. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin’ out, one by one. And that means disaster can’t be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I’ve gotta go check into it.
There's something you can do for me, though.
There's an old friend of mine I haven't heard from in a long time. He knows a lot about these things. So if you can get in touch with him, that'd be just great!
Go to Radiant Garden and find Ansem. He'll be able to help us.
P.S.
Would ya apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.
March 27th, 2009
Time wore on. Hours turned to days, turned to months under the spell.
Around them, everything slowly changed. The beauty of Radiant Garden faded, becoming nothing more than an echo.
Yet, the slumbering group slept on, untouched by the madness that overtook their world. Sleep cycles dived into the depths of oblivion, and back out... back into the flickering images that were the closest they could come to reality.
A hollow shell of the castle arose. Dark figures gathered in the corridors, where once people had dwelt in the light. In a way, its inhabitants remained, though not what they once were. Their shadows reached out beyond the world.
...As the boy who would one day have been their king could do nothing but dream.
Around them, everything slowly changed. The beauty of Radiant Garden faded, becoming nothing more than an echo.
Yet, the slumbering group slept on, untouched by the madness that overtook their world. Sleep cycles dived into the depths of oblivion, and back out... back into the flickering images that were the closest they could come to reality.
A hollow shell of the castle arose. Dark figures gathered in the corridors, where once people had dwelt in the light. In a way, its inhabitants remained, though not what they once were. Their shadows reached out beyond the world.
...As the boy who would one day have been their king could do nothing but dream.
"...So that's what happened."
"I can't believe it. You let that-"
"Don't tell me you wouldn't have if you were there," Ienzo said flatly.
Xehanort opened his mouth, closed it, and finally answered, "...You're right." He knew it too well. He knew that, given the chance, he'd have given his all for that knowledge so easily. Hindsight was always a wonderful thing...
The group found themselves sitting in an uncomfortable silence. The youngest of them the least comfortable of all.
Dilan broke the hush. "Have any of you noticed anything odd around here?"
"Apart from what's been going on out there?" Ienzo added, flatly.
"Only there was only one door into this room before."
The six of them looked, hearts almost stopped.
It opened - a figure stepped through in a blast of dark. She looked around at them, a cruel smile on her face.
"So you are the ones who opened the gates?" she asked.
"We had no idea..."
"Well! But your foolishness has not gone to waste."
"What do you mean?"
"You have given me the worlds. You have given me the darkness. And more - your princess."
It took a moment for it to register in Xehanort's mind. He knew, technically. But to him, she'd never been anything more than - "Kairi?!" he yelled. "You took her! Give her back!"
He leapt to his feet, running at the enigmatic stranger. She raised a hand. In a green glow, he found himself flung back to the floor.
"Sleep in silence! See the light of your world turned to darkness!"
Xehanort blinked, looked around through rapidly-closing eyes.
Above him, through the glass, it seemed a star winked out.
But he wasn't awake to see it.
"I can't believe it. You let that-"
"Don't tell me you wouldn't have if you were there," Ienzo said flatly.
Xehanort opened his mouth, closed it, and finally answered, "...You're right." He knew it too well. He knew that, given the chance, he'd have given his all for that knowledge so easily. Hindsight was always a wonderful thing...
The group found themselves sitting in an uncomfortable silence. The youngest of them the least comfortable of all.
Dilan broke the hush. "Have any of you noticed anything odd around here?"
"Apart from what's been going on out there?" Ienzo added, flatly.
"Only there was only one door into this room before."
The six of them looked, hearts almost stopped.
It opened - a figure stepped through in a blast of dark. She looked around at them, a cruel smile on her face.
"So you are the ones who opened the gates?" she asked.
"We had no idea..."
"Well! But your foolishness has not gone to waste."
"What do you mean?"
"You have given me the worlds. You have given me the darkness. And more - your princess."
It took a moment for it to register in Xehanort's mind. He knew, technically. But to him, she'd never been anything more than - "Kairi?!" he yelled. "You took her! Give her back!"
He leapt to his feet, running at the enigmatic stranger. She raised a hand. In a green glow, he found himself flung back to the floor.
"Sleep in silence! See the light of your world turned to darkness!"
Xehanort blinked, looked around through rapidly-closing eyes.
Above him, through the glass, it seemed a star winked out.
But he wasn't awake to see it.
March 16th, 2009
Things had been tense in the castle over the past few weeks.
Kairi's disappearance had only been the start. People were vanishing - first from the castle itself, then from the town. It was hard not to hear the gossip, see people becoming ever more wary. Rumours were spreading.
Xehanort had noticed his fellow apprentices becoming even more anxious than anyone else. Once, he'd heard arguments, seen Even storming down the corridor from his father's study; he had no idea what it could be about.
They were rather quieter as they wandered down a hallway, that evening, though. Xehanort and Ienzo were chatting idly; Braig, Even and Dilan discussing theories, while Aeleus listened. Nothing remarkable.
Along the corridor, the lights flickered.
It took a while for any of them to notice that things weren't quite right. By the time that the lights began to fade all the way out, though, they all knew something was up.
Yellow eyes shone from corners of the hall; deeper darkness than anywhere else pooled on the floor. From all around them, figures formed from the shadows. Far down the corridor, lights still shone, but they were giving out one by one.
Everyone stared for a moment.
"Stay back, all of you! We're sorry! We were wrong!"
The shadowed figures paused for a moment, then rushed onwards.
"Run!" Dilan yelled.
Xehanort didn't need telling. The six of them pounded up the halls of the castle, chasing the remaining lights, occasionally making a wrong turn; but following the light was all they could do.
Not so easy, though. There were too many close encounters. Xehanort found himself cornered on occasion; one ambush had led to Braig jumping in to attempt to chase the creatures away, improvised weapon at hand. It was enough to clear them some breathing room. It hadn't come without a cost, though, and the blood streaming down his face and arms - from his eye, even - bore testament to what he had done. The boy's heart fell as he saw what had happened.
"You shouldn't have-"
"No, I should. We're in this together. And there's no way I'm letting you handle those things on your own."
That was that.
Up a staircase, now, not really looking where they were going as long as they got away. Braig stumbled over his own feet, unable to quite concentrate - in the end, Aeleus was forced to carry his fellow apprentice just to keep moving.
At last - a lit room, enough ahead of the racing shadows that they could get in there before them.
They slammed the door shut. Aeleus and Dilan threw whatever they could find against it. There was a rush of pounding at the door, but it subsided eventually.
Safe, then - but trapped. At least they could see, here; the ornate glass roof of the observatory room allowed moonlight in. Around them lay telescopes, orreries, star charts. This had always been Xehanort's favourite spot in the castle - but right then, he'd have given anything to know he'd be able to leave it again.
As Even attempted to bandage Braig's wounds the best he could with the limited resources available, Xehanort looked up into the skies, and back down at the others.
"What were those things? Have any of you heard of anything like it?" He had his suspicions, but he didn't want to say the word. He couldn't accept it. Not so easily. Accepting that would mean accepting that he'd failed - that all his efforts were in vain.
"We have."
"Kid, it's about time we told you everything. This mess is all our fault."
That was enough confirmation.
He just slumped back onto a chair and dropped his head into his hands.
Kairi's disappearance had only been the start. People were vanishing - first from the castle itself, then from the town. It was hard not to hear the gossip, see people becoming ever more wary. Rumours were spreading.
Xehanort had noticed his fellow apprentices becoming even more anxious than anyone else. Once, he'd heard arguments, seen Even storming down the corridor from his father's study; he had no idea what it could be about.
They were rather quieter as they wandered down a hallway, that evening, though. Xehanort and Ienzo were chatting idly; Braig, Even and Dilan discussing theories, while Aeleus listened. Nothing remarkable.
Along the corridor, the lights flickered.
It took a while for any of them to notice that things weren't quite right. By the time that the lights began to fade all the way out, though, they all knew something was up.
Yellow eyes shone from corners of the hall; deeper darkness than anywhere else pooled on the floor. From all around them, figures formed from the shadows. Far down the corridor, lights still shone, but they were giving out one by one.
Everyone stared for a moment.
"Stay back, all of you! We're sorry! We were wrong!"
The shadowed figures paused for a moment, then rushed onwards.
"Run!" Dilan yelled.
Xehanort didn't need telling. The six of them pounded up the halls of the castle, chasing the remaining lights, occasionally making a wrong turn; but following the light was all they could do.
Not so easy, though. There were too many close encounters. Xehanort found himself cornered on occasion; one ambush had led to Braig jumping in to attempt to chase the creatures away, improvised weapon at hand. It was enough to clear them some breathing room. It hadn't come without a cost, though, and the blood streaming down his face and arms - from his eye, even - bore testament to what he had done. The boy's heart fell as he saw what had happened.
"You shouldn't have-"
"No, I should. We're in this together. And there's no way I'm letting you handle those things on your own."
That was that.
Up a staircase, now, not really looking where they were going as long as they got away. Braig stumbled over his own feet, unable to quite concentrate - in the end, Aeleus was forced to carry his fellow apprentice just to keep moving.
At last - a lit room, enough ahead of the racing shadows that they could get in there before them.
They slammed the door shut. Aeleus and Dilan threw whatever they could find against it. There was a rush of pounding at the door, but it subsided eventually.
Safe, then - but trapped. At least they could see, here; the ornate glass roof of the observatory room allowed moonlight in. Around them lay telescopes, orreries, star charts. This had always been Xehanort's favourite spot in the castle - but right then, he'd have given anything to know he'd be able to leave it again.
As Even attempted to bandage Braig's wounds the best he could with the limited resources available, Xehanort looked up into the skies, and back down at the others.
"What were those things? Have any of you heard of anything like it?" He had his suspicions, but he didn't want to say the word. He couldn't accept it. Not so easily. Accepting that would mean accepting that he'd failed - that all his efforts were in vain.
"We have."
"Kid, it's about time we told you everything. This mess is all our fault."
That was enough confirmation.
He just slumped back onto a chair and dropped his head into his hands.