Text Kingdom Hearts: Dark Heart (Complete)

[khoathkeeper13 429]

More ^.^ its getting reeaaallyyyy good!

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Don't worry, I have got a 4 day weekend this week, so I will try to get another chapter or two done.

[khoathkeeper13 429]

I still LUV this! Aren't you going to finish it??

[Naminé15 0]

Since the beginning I've been readng this fan fic and never comented, now I shall do wah tI should heve done a long time ago when i firt saw it mnay months ago: I wnat oi say I love this!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Well here is the next chapter. It is long overdue. Sorry about that. But it is quite a long one, the longest yet. Please enjoy.

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Chapter Eleven: Oni's End

 

 

Kazari! Someone was calling his name. Kazari! There it was again. No, just a little longer, let him lie there for a few more seconds. Let him be in peace for just a few more seconds. Kazari! There it was again. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t quite remember; he was just too hazy to remember. Kazari! The name was on the tip of his tongue, no, let him sleep longer. Kazari! Yes, the voice, he recognized it now; but why, oh why, can’t she let him have a few minutes longer of sleep.

“Kazari! Wake up! Get out of bed now! Hurry!” shouted Arlene as she burst into the room, rousing Kazari from a dream induced haze. She shook her brother wide awake.

“Arlene! What the heck! What is wrong! What could possibly be so wrong that you have to wake me up!” Kazari shouted, angered by his abrupt awakening.

“Oni’s gone! Someone took her! Her parents woke up and she was gone!” Arlene cried, tears running down her cheek. Kazari felt his face go red, suddenly he wished he woke up when she had first called him, and he felt like a jerk.

“Huh?” was all he could say, all he could muster up from his mind to say. He couldn’t quite process this. How could Oni be gone? Who would take Oni? Who in their right mind would want to take Oni? No, she couldn’t be gone. She just woke up early and decided to play a trick. That was all this was, a trick. But Kazari knew this wasn’t the case, he knew that Oni would never go so far with a trick, the look on his sister’s face told him. This was real.

The next moments were a haze. Rushing to get dressed, quickly retrieving his sword and daggers. In his haze, a thought occurred to bring the book his dad gave him too. Arlene rushed him out of the house, her sobbing heavily, and his mind in a vast fog. They met at the usual place, where they watched the stars at night. Holley, too, had brought her sword. And without discussing, they all knew what they had to do. They all at once had realized who took Oni, and they knew what they had to do to get her back. Kory and Arlene had no weapon, they would need protection. Kazari gave them each one of his daggers. The one with energy magic to Arlene, and the one infused with dark magic to Kory. He could get by with his sword and book, though he was doubtful the book would be of good use. Together, they set off towards the castle, were they knew their friend was kept.

They didn’t really speak at first. But it was Kory who broke the silence.

“If we are going to rescue her, we need a plan,” he said. The others walked in silence for a few moments.

“I say, we go in, crush anyone who gets in our way, and find Oni,” Kazari finally said.

“We can’t do that. They would probably beat us in a second,” Holley replied, “We’ll have to sneak into the castle and try to find Oni without being found.”

“What? I say we give them what’s coming to ‘em,” said Arlene, all the sadness in her now replaced by vicious hate and anger.

“If you want to save Oni, then you will have to keep yourself safe too. We are of no use to her captured, or dead,” Holley retorted. This shut Arlene up. “So its decided then. We sneak into the castle, find Oni, and get out. We don’t fight unless absolutely necessary.”

“Who made you leader?” Kazari asked angrily. But eventually he grunted his agreement.

When they finally made it to the castle, they saw that there was no guard outside. This could mean two things. Either they weren’t expecting them and saw no need for guards, or they were expecting them and had gathered inside to trap them.

“Come on, let’s sneak around the back,” Kazari said. The group took an hour long trip to the other side of the castle, trying to make sure they couldn’t be spotted by anyone from the castle. Once inside they found a weird maze like room. They wandered around for a while, but found no one. Eventually they found a door. With nowhere else to go, they opened the door and went through.

“Hello there. Glad to finally meet you. You friend is down through there, if you wish to visit her. Though, I doubt you will be leaving the comfort of this room.” The voice was hollow and monotone. They quickly realized that a man with white hair was standing besides the open door. He closed it quietly. They were trapped, in this bright room. As the white haired man circled the room, the kids noticed their surroundings where not as they first appeared. There were papers scattered about the room, and leaning against the wall was a portrait of a man, and hanging above it was a portrait of a different man, the one who had captured them.

“What do you want with us?” Kazari demanded.

“In due time, all will become clear. However, there are other matters to attend to now. Your poor little friend, for example,” the white haired man said. By the coat he wore, it was obvious that he was some sort of scientist or something similar.

“What do you want with Oni?” Arlene cried. The man smirked, and gave a light laugh.

“Why don’t you go on and see,” he said, pointing to an opening in the floor, “down there is your friend.”

“No, we are doing the talking around here. First you are going to tell us who you are. Then you are going to tell us what you want with Oni, and the rest of us. I know the people of this castle are responsible for my parent’s murder. And finally, you are going to tell us your plan, so we can get the police and have them stop this. And if you even make one wrong move, or try to avoid answering, we will kill you,” Kazari declared, stepping forward, sword drawn.

“My, my, my, so eager. If you really want to know, I am known as Xehanort, and this is my domain. I am a researcher, of sorts. As for what I want with you, well that relates directly to my plan. To discover that, you will have to watch it play out, all the way to the end,” the man, named Xehanort, said to Kazari.

“That’s it! You three go get Oni, I’ll take this Joker,” Kazari yelled. Immediately Holley, Arlene, and Kory went through the opening into the next room.

“Now, let’s get something straight. We are not some specimens for your sick experiments, or research, or whatever it is that you think is an excuse. We will not be used by you,” Kazari growled.

“So you think. But you are all just specimens in my research. An you all will eventually run out of use. You, your friends, even my fellow researchers and guards. And even that boy Ienzo that fool Ansem “adopted” has a use, and he too will run out of it,” Xehanort replied casually. It made Kazari sick.

“No! We will not be your lab rats. Get out of the way!” Kazari screamed. He swung his sword and nailed Xehanort it the side with the broad side of the blade. Then he followed the path that his friends had taken. What he found was a disaster. There were the guards, including the one that killed his parents, fighting his friends. On a table in the center of the room, strapped down, was Oni. A machine loomed above her, and a little ways away was another man in a lab coat.

When he saw Kazari looking at him, he flipped a switch that caused the machine above Oni to start emitting a low, humming sound. Oni began to writhe in pain. She let out a deafening scream. Distracted, one of the guards, holding a spear type weapon, took Holley down. Her sword slide away as she scrambled to get back up. Kory yelled her name and threw her his dagger, as one of the other guards grabbed him. Holley tried to resist, but the dagger was an insufficient defense against a lance. She too was captured. Kazari was triggered into action. He leapt forward and swung his sword, remembering the techniques he learned in school, using his natural talent, magic, flow and improve his swordsman-ship. He took out Holley and Kory’s capturers in one swipe and the one who just went for Arlene with another.

The scientist in back realized that his defenses had failed. He hit a few buttons on his computer, pulled another lever, and then fled. The machine torturing Oni was now emitting what was a loud, demonic rumble. Energy shot through Oni, actual sparks and what looked like small bolts of lightning came from her skin. Her screaming was awful. Arlene and Kory rushed to her and tried to cut her free while Kazari and Holley went to the computer to try and turn it off. Their efforts were in vain, the computer was too complex compared to what they were use to. They rushed to Oni’s side. Her eyes opened and she stopped screaming. Still writhing, a single tear fell from her eye as she looked at her friends and mouthed the word “help”. All of a sudden the machine above emitted an electronic wail. There was a flash of light, and Oni’s body began to be consumed by what appeared to be the darkness itself. In just seconds she was gone, nothing but one lone light remaining. It floated there for a few moments and as the light died down, they made out the shape, a heart. It floated towards them, wandering by each of them for a few seconds. It stopped at Kory and then there was a flash and the heart was gone. Oni was no more.

[Naminé15 0]

Poor Oni (will her nobody appear in the story?)

[DragonMaster 1,166]

@Namine

I haven't planned to include a nobody for Oni in the story, sorry. The next chapter will be coming later tonight. Been too long since I update it, so forcing myself to write the next chapter. Also, I will be adding a dedication to the first post.

[DragonMaster 1,166]

One Chapter left. Well, an epilogue is also coming, but not a complete chapter.

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Chapter Twelve: Requiem

 

 

Screaming filled the room just seconds after Oni disappeared. While they had been distracted the three guards had grabbed Arlene and Holley. Kazari and Kory stood there, still in shock, as their friends were carried away. The guards went three separate directions, assuring that one of them would make a clean get away. At the same instant, both Kazari and Kory were filled with rage.

“You go after Holley, I’ll get Arlene,” said Kory, malice in his eyes, and an icy chill in his voice that Kazari had never heard before. Quickly, he pick upped the two daggers that Holley and Arlene had dropped and the guards had been so kind to leave behind. Then, seeing that they had also been careless enough to leave Holley’s sword, kicked it to Kazari. As Kazari took the sword in his other hand, he and Kory looked each other in the eye one final time, understanding between them. Kory nodded his head, and went the way that Arlene had been taken. Kazari followed suit, going the way he knew Holley had gone.

He met no one in the corridor, and the further he went, the more his fury grew. Eventually it became so much that he began smashing every vase and table, slashing every painting, and kicking each door down as he passed them. He could find absolutely nothing to give a hint to where Holley had been taken.

Kory, on the other hand, only had to walk a few antagonizing minutes before finding where Arlene was being kept. She was locked in a makeshift cell, gagged. A guard stood there holding a mighty sword. Kory rushed forward, planning to take down the man with his speed, however, the man with the spear sprung from the darkness to counter him. He had fallen right into their trap. Kory couldn’t evade their simultaneous attacks. His daggers went flying as the huge man with the sword carried him away. Arlene watched in horror, but out of the corner of her eye caught something, one of daggers Kory had dropped. Thankful her hands weren’t bound, she quietly reached through the bars of the cage and picked it up.

“Don’t worry, your time will come soon enough. Consider yourself lucky that they don’t wish to take you now.” The man had taken Kory out of the castle and thrown him onto the ground. Kory tried to rush back into the castle, but the door was firmly in place. Besides, what would he do if he got back inside, Kory thought to himself. He bowed his head.

“Arlene, I swear I will come back. And Oni, I will avenge you,” he said, and he knew then what he must do. He smirked sadly. He began to walk home, hoping his mother wouldn’t be there to try and stop him.

 

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Chapter Thirteen: Heart of Rage

Eventually, Kazari reached the end of the corridor, and found that it had led him to some sort of garage area that lacked a roof. He glanced around and then saw a small boy in a lab coat standing next to a bizarre, space ship looking thing. Kazari approached the boy.

“Where have they taken her?” He asked of the boy. When the boy didn’t respond, Kazari resorted to hostility, “Tell me where they took her, now!”

“I don’t know they said something about a city and this ship and then left on the other ship. They said that someone would come and that I should wait for them,” The boy answered. He sounded scared, thought Kazari. Then he remembered something Xehanort had said, “even that boy Ienzo that fool Ansem “adopted” has a use, and he too will run out of it.” How pathetic, using someone so young for whatever task Xehanort had planned.

“Are you Ienzo?” Kazari asked the boy. The boy nodded. “Then I want to give you something,” Kazari said as he took out the book his father had given, finally knowing what he would use it for. “These people are not good, Ienzo. They will play nice to get you to do what they want, but then they will just abandon you, or worse, kill you like my parents and friend. You can’t run away, they will come after, so I am giving you this book. It contains info on many things, and enhances the power of magic. When the time comes, use it to help you,” he said, wishing he could better explain, and gave to Ienzo the book. He then turned towards the ship. It was big enough for one person, he wondered if they had taken Holley somewhere with one that could carry more people. Perhaps they had made this one specifically for this plan, specifically for him. As he climbed in, Ienzo spoke from behind him.

“They took her to someplace called Day Break Tower. You can only get there by one of these ships. It is in the center of a big city,” said Ienzo. Kazari, glanced at him, thanked him, and went inside the ship. The controls seemed simple enough. None to gracefully, he took off and flew out of the roofless garage. As he flew towards the sky he checked the screen in the middle of the control panel. There were two names listed; Radiant Garden and Luce City. He selected Luce City and the ship engaged into auto-pilot.

* * *

The ship landed just on the outskirts of the city, right next to another, larger, ship. Most likely the one that they had taken Holley away in, Kazari assumed. He paused for a moment, then drew his sword and smashed one of the wings and the cockpit window. Don’t want them trying to escape now, do I, he thought. Continuing onward towards the city, there was a gleam that caught Kazari’s eye. As he picked it up he realized it was the necklace that Holley had always worn, the one with a star charm, made to look like the fruit in that one silly story parents always tell their kids. He put it in his pocket and continued.

As he walked through the town, Kazari realized that it must be dusk, not sunrise like he had first thought upon entering the city. There were few cars on the streets, and he could smell the scent of people’s dinners being made coming from their houses. Then, he saw it. It loomed high in the sky, much taller than any of the buildings around it. This had to be the Day Break Tower. As he entered the main area around the square, he found Xehanort standing in the open lot. He was about to draw his sword when something moving in one of the tower’s windows distracted him. Holley was on one of the mid-level floors, pounding on the window, screaming. Kazari couldn’t hear her, but as he watched, she mouthed to him one word, a tear in her eye. Run. As Kazari turned to run, he watched in horror as Xehanort produced a remote controller from his pocket and pressed a button. In an instant, a huge noise filled the city, as the tower was blown into pieces. The blast sent Kazari and Xehanort flying. As the dust settled, Kazari weakly got back up. The tower was largely gone, however the blast had been small enough to leave the ruins of about three floors of the tower still standing. Probably to avoid killing Xehanort when he detonated it, he though. Xehanort! As he turned he found Xehanort standing up, smirking.

“And so it seems her poor hero turned up to late. Pity, perhaps you could have saved her from her tragic fate. Though, now we may see to what extent the heart can truly force itself to function,” Xehanort said, then turned to run. Kazari drew his and Holley’s sword and chased after him, fire in his eyes, mind consumed with blood lust. He was intercepted by the man who had been operating the machine that had killed Oni.

“Ah, but to follow him, you must first get through me. My name is Even, and I will be the one to end you,” the man said, taking the shield that was strapped to his back.

“I don’t care who the heck you are! Get out of my way, I’ll come back for you later! Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance to die!” Kazari shouted at Even. He rushed forward, swords in hand, ready to kill. He found himself being blocked by Even’s shield, and then tossed back.

“Try as you might, you won’t win,” Even said calmly.

“I’ll show you!” Kazari charged forward. His swords clashed again with Even’s shield. However, this time he was the one to push the other back. As Even stumbled backwards, Kazari took a swing at his legs. Even tried to evade but tripped. In an effort to protect himself, he raised his shield as Kazari brought both his swords down on him. The power behind the slash of the swords split Even’s shield and cracked his arm. Kazari left him writhing on the ground and chased after Xehanort again. There was only one path this way, so it must lead to Xehanort.

Soon, Kazari realized that this road just circled where the tower had once been, and went through a flat, park like, area. Just as he entered the area were the road curved to go back towards the tower, he was stopped as three arrows flew into the ground in front of him.

“You really think it would be that easy to get to Xehanort? As if. Even, is less competent in a fight than you and your little friends. But that probably isn’t a problem for you, seeing as how you would probably want to avenge your parents,” said a man as he jumped from the top of a house.

“You!” Kazari exclaimed in disbelief. Regaining his train of thought, he responded, “Heh, wouldn’t be much to satisfying, getting revenge on you. Hey what happened to your eye, by the way? Hold your gun the wrong way?”

“Aw, does the baby want his mommy back? Did mean, old-man Braig kill her? Going to take revenge? And shoot my own eye out? As if. If you really want to know, I got this wound from another smart aleck like you,” Braig said.

“What’s their name? I wanna send ‘em flowers.”

“Something tells me you wouldn’t.”

“Whatever. So are you going to fight me now, or should I come back after I get your boss.”

“Now would be good,” Braig said, and shot at Kazari.

Never being quick to react, Kazari took an arrow to the leg. Despite the pain, he rushed Braig with both swords in hand. Braig was too quick, however, and easily countered the attack. Kazari slashed at Braig with his right sword, and when the older fighter tried to evade, bashed him with his left sword. As Braig stumbled he fired a wild shot that caught Kazari in the ear. Kazari reached for his ear and Braig shot off another three shots. Kazari was on his knees now, and Braig stood in front of him, ready to finish him off executioner style.

“Well, it was fun, but now we have reached the end. Say hello to your parents for me,” Braig said, as he reloaded his gun.

“You’d like to think so, wouldn’t you? You’re right though, it is the end, for you,” retorted Kazari. Just then he hit Braig with the broadside of his sword, and then nailed him in the gut with the hilt of the other. Braig fell with a thud onto the ground, unconscious. Kazari continued onward. When he reached the ruin of the tower again, Xehanort was waiting.

“And so we have come to the final chapter of your story. You have provided me with valuable research, and now you must die,” Xehanort said.

“You sick, twisted, devil of a man! I was not born to comply to your every wish! And you will be the one to die today!” Kazari screamed back.

“Nonsense. In fate, there is coincidence. This was always meant to happen. You and your friends have been bound to your fate since you were born. It was no coincidence that you met the key blade wielder Aqua. Here you will die, and I will live on.”

Kazari charged, his rage was now uncontrollable. “You will die for what you’ve done! I will rip you apart!” he shouted. As his swords came down upon Xehanort, energy shot through the man’s hands and sliced through Kazari’s weapons. He dropped the now useless weapons, and was then kicked onto the ground by Xehanort.

“Your words are true but meaningless, Xehanort. In the end we will all fade to darkness. Everything we have will be lost. We will wither away to nothingness. Everything we know will end. But you fail to understand. All actions repay themselves in the end. Then, when that time comes, you will know that I was right. What you have done in your life is meaningless. You and I are bound together, both of us connected, because our fates are the same. You, I, and the rest of the world are all doomed to die. But it is how we chose to do so, that will determine if our existence was worth it. And you, Xehanort, are not worthy of existing!” Kazari said as he knelt on the ground. Then, from his hands came a great energy and two weapons materialized. Resembling keys, they were a solid, metallic gray. One had a wide blade, while the other had two prongs protruding from the hilt. Xehanort gasped in shock.

Now, Kazari charged forward once more, and in a flash his blades were countered by Xehanort, who had summoned his own weapons. As Kazari stumbled back he caught a glimpse of Xehanort’s weapons. They were glowing red and extended straight from his palm, and looked like they came straight from a science-fiction movie. Regaining from his brief shock, he blocked just as Xehanort went for him. Now with the advantage, he smashed both blades into Xehanort’s side. Angered Xehanort took aim and shot his blades from his hands. Kazari barely evaded, and the two beams of energy hit a building behind him and set it ablaze. Xehanort re-summoned his weapons and Kazari attacked him again. In a flurry of movement, each combatant took turns going on the offensive and defensive, neither one gaining an advantage over the other. Kazari, finally deciding enough was enough, launched a massive magic attack. Xehanort tried to evade, but got caught by the edge of the blast. He now launched his own attack, launching blast after blast from his hands. Finally he hit his mark, hitting Kazari directly in the chest.

“Where’s your strength now? Where are your friends? Face it, you are all alone. You are weak! Pathetic! Just like every other one of your useless friends! Now you see that I was right, I am the victor! All your strength has failed you!” shouted Xehanort triumphantly.

“No, you’re wrong. I am not weak, I will beat you. You may think my heart has given out, that mine alone cannot stand against you, but your wrong. Besides, I am not alone. I have my friends, my family, and no matter what you do, you cannot truly take them away from me. Our hearts are connected, united even. And as long as I have my heart, they will be with me, and together, we stand against you!” Kazari got up, and brought both of his hands up into the air clashing his two key blades together. There was a flash, and then the two blades united. The new blade was three pronged, two thinner ones on each side, with the middle one being wide. From the hilt a hand guard emerged, and it looked as though many slender pieces of metal had been weaved together elegantly. Pure anger flowed from Kazari’s body, his eyes changed, going from a vibrant green to an intense orange. Taking his new blade in hand Kazari declared, “When many hearts become one, they can stand against many more that stand alone! This ends here!”

Xehanort couldn’t move quick enough, for even though his sword was almost as long as he was tall, Kazari swung it with much speed and ferocity. As it hit Xehanort, it felt as if he was hit by a truck. Falling, he rolled just in time to avoid another massive blow, which left a crater in the ground where it hit. Scrambling to get up, Xehanort shot a small blast in Kazari’s direction. The boy deflected it with a simple flick of his wrist and shot his own magic attack. Xehanort fell to the ground just in time for the attack to miss him, and instead the blast wiped out another building.

“Fight me you coward!” Kazari yelled. With an inhuman growl he jumped into the air, then came down, smashing his key blade into the ground with amazing force. The impact sent a shock wave in all directions, mimicking the power of a small earthquake. Fearful for his life now, Xehanort made an attempt to use a stealth attack. Kazari blocked it and brought his blade down upon him with incredible force. He now relented, waiting to see if his foe would get back up. In one quick motion, Xehanort fired a single blast into Kazari. Kazari fell to his knees, and Xehanort summoned his blades, ready to finish him once and for all. Finally, Kazari’s anger consumed him completely. Using all of his strength he used an attack that seemed to come straight from his body. The massive amount of energy that he released devastated the area, leveling it completely. In one final attempt to get Xehanort he swung his key blade with every ounce of strength he had left, and hit Xehanort directly in the chest. When the attack connected, he could hear the man’s ribs crack. As he looked upon his unconscious enemy, he prepared to deal one final, finishing blow. Just as he brought his sword up, an arrow flew through the air and hit him directly above the heart. Falling to his knees with a thud, he watched as Braig came and revived Xehanort.

Xehanort coughed up some blood then spoke, “See know what you have done? You have destroyed not only yourself, but the inhabitants of this world, and the world itself. Now I see how far the heart can be pushed. Now I wonder to what extent one can go without one,” he coughed again, “but no matter. Here I have succeeded. You and this world will fade. Good-bye.” Even then ran next to Xehanort, his arm limp. Xehanort weakly raised his hand, and out of nowhere a pillar of darkness rose and the three men disappeared inside it.

The night had finally come, and the dying world began to change as its last glimpse of sunlight began to disappeared. Kazari knelt there, besides the ruin of the tower, as he felt the world go cold. “I’m sorry, Holley… Sorry to you and Oni, and Arlene, and Kory. I… have failed.” He took out Holley’s necklace as tears streamed down his cheek. Memories of him and his friends started running through his mind. “I don’t deserve these memories… I have destroyed so many lives, and couldn’t protect those I cared about.” Focusing the last bit of energy he had left, he willed all of his memories into the small glass charm. “Now, these memories will never go away… Hopefully, one day… we will all meet again…” Kazari smiled sadly. “Until then… the memories of us together will always exist.” Then, as the light completely left the sky, Kazari was gone, only the charm he had been holding remained, glowing with the memories stored inside. Then, a city that had once been full of light went dark, any hints of the battle that went on disappeared. The world dissolved into one that never was, a world shrouded in darkness. One lone light was left in the world, a screen on top of a tower that stood where the ruins of the one before it had once been, showed a picture of a boy and two girls in a park, each of them holding a stick in their hands.

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Epilogue

Brenna sighed as she carried home the heavy bags. How awful a day it had been, her son’s friend had disappeared, and here she had to go to work, not even able to comfort her son. She hoped that she would be able to cheer him up by cooking his favorite dinner, then she eyed the bags she was carrying. While she was distracted, she bumped into a man and they both fell over. The man was wearing a hoodie, so she couldn’t see his face, but she got a glance at the man’s hair, which she swore looked almost pink.

“Pardon me ma’am,” he said helping her pick up the things she had dropped. Brenna couldn’t help but think that his voice sounded familiar.

“Oh no, it’s my fault,” she responded kindly. She noticed the man seemed anxious as he picked something up from the ground. In horror, she noticed it was a scythe.

“Hey you! Come back here. If you think you are going to get away taking something from my store paying nothing but a note and some flowers, you are sorely mistaken,” shouted a plump merchant. The man began running, and was pursued by the merchant. How strange, Brenna thought.

When she got home she realized Kory wasn’t there. Must be with his friends, she guessed. As she set the groceries on the counter she saw something on the table. She walked over and found a small note.

“Dear Mother,
I am sorry that I have to do this, but I am leaving. It is too dangerous for me to stay at home any more. The people who took Oni are going to come for me next. They already took Arlene and Holley. Kazari went after Holley while I failed to rescue Arlene. Me being at home puts us both in danger. I don’t want to see you get hurt, I just couldn’t live with myself if that happened. I have taken on a new name and plan to rescue Arlene and stop these people once and for all. Maybe we will be able to see each other again when this is all over. I hope you understand why I am doing this, and please don’t be sad or angry. I am sorry it has to be like this.
Love,

Aruliam (Your Son)”

Brenna sat down, shaking her head in disbelief. She glanced at the signature and let out with a start. Aruliam: A, Kory’s father, Adrew; Ru, Rue, Brenna’s mother; Liam, her father. It was a combination of the names of all of the family members she had lost. Tears began to slide down her face. Then, at the bottom of the note, she found a pink rose.

* * *

A note from the Author

Now, after finishing the story, you are probably wondering a few things. I will try to address the questions that I believe you might be asking as best I can.

First, what the heck is Luce City? Well, it is actually partially of my own creation, and was partially already apart of Kingdom Hearts. This place is actually Dark City in The World that Never Was, before it became what it is now. I am not exactly sure if the World that Never Was actually was a different world before it became what it now is, or if it was always like it is, but using a little imagination never killed anyone. The word “luce” is actually Italian for “light” (or so says the Babelfish translation website). I actually considered calling the place Light City or Day Break City, but the former I found to be lame, and the latter sounded too much like a knock off of a town in the Pokemon anime.

So, is Day Break Tower what Memory’s Skyscraper was before Luce City became Dark City? And if so, why does the Memory’s Skyscraper have a TV that shows memories? Yes, Day Break Tower and Memory’s Skyscraper are one in the same. As for why it has the memory screen (as I call it) I guess would have something to do with the fact that when Kazari disappeared, the necklace that he had poured his memories into had remained right next to the ruin of Day Break Tower.

So is Oni Xion? And if she is, how? There is no possible way that I can think of to make that work out without it felling like some really crappy fan-fiction. Also, why the heck didn’t you answer this question first? Ah, yes you are correct, partially. Originally, I had planned for Oni to become Xion, but of course anyway I could think of for that to actually happen felt really stupid, so I abandoned the Idea. I considered going back and changing Oni’s name to Kassidy (see the dedication of the story) but it just felt like too much work for something so insignificant. As for why I didn’t answer this, the most confusing thing in the story, first; because I didn’t feel like it.

So how did Alene and Kory/Aruliam come to join Organization XIII? And what exactly happened to Arlene? Did she escape? Yes, I believe Arlene did escape. After hearing what happened to Kazari and Holley, she used the dagger she found to pick the lock to her cell, and evaded the guards when they were distracted by Xehanort’s return from Luce City. Eventually she and Kory/Aruliam met up and started to plot revenge. When Organization XIII rose, they willing gave up their hearts in order to gain the trust of their enemies and then back-stab them. Kory likely got in without being found out because he had taken on a new name, and they didn’t recognize him completely. As for how they didn’t recognize Arlene, well, we’ll just have to use our imagination.

So why exactly did Aqua come to visit Radiant Garden for like a day and then disappear? You know, I haven’t actually come up with a good reason for this. However, her appearance happened it the story as to foreshadow future events, and the fact that she came and went on the same day Oni and Arlen where born is no coincidence. Also, it was through his connection with Aqua, his immense rage, and the pain of losing those he loves that gave Kazari the ability to summon and wield a key blade at the end of the story.

If you wanted Kory becoming Aruliam/Marluxia a surprise, why did you leave such painfully obvious hints? Well, I really have no excuse... I wanted to leave hints, but I would blame my still developing writing skills. I have come up with an alternate way to have this come about, with no clues, but this would also make it feel as if it came out of no where, so I kept it as is.

So wait. There are thirteen chapters to the story, along with a pseudo fourteenth chapter in the form of an epilogue. Coincidence, I think not! Heh, I never really intended it to be that way. Kind of weird how that worked out actually. You would think I did it on purpose, but nope. Just kinda happened that way.

Thanks for reading Dark Heart! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as enjoyed writing it. This is without a doubt the biggest thing I have ever written, boasting over 11,000 words in all. It has taken me along time, but I am proud of the result. Once again, thanks for reading!

“Rage is a fire, all consuming. It ensnares the mind and eclipses the heart. It will eat away at us, devourer every other thought in our head. It will destroy ours sense and eradicate all other emotions. Eventually, it will be all that’s left. This anger gives birth to obsession with revenge. In our blind fury, we will lose control, and thus ourselves.”

~Myself

[Naminé15 0]

You've just written the backstory of kh that no one could ever imagine becasue we don't have that wich you had/has: imagination [creativity]. F A T A S T I C [mainly beacuse it somehow makes sense, no doubt] ! ! ! From now on, everytime I see Marluxia or Larxene in kh I'll remember about this story (and Kazari and Kassidi/Oni and Cori ... ^^). Seriously, you did well :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Thank-you, I appreciate your complements! Glad you liked it!

[khoathkeeper13 429]

I also love it!!! Its amazing! This is the best (and I mean the very best) fan-fic I have ever read!

[DragonMaster 1,166]

@khoathkeeper13

Thank-you! Glad you liked it! Thank you so much for reading!

[got it memorized 3]

not sure how long ago you wrote this by now, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. very well written.

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Thank-you! I finished a little over a month ago. Glad you enjoyed it!

[MasterAqua 0]

WOW!...I cant find the words to describe how awesome this was. Really good work, I hope you make more Stories soon .

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Thanks! ^_^

I have a lot of ideas, for both Kingdom Hearts stories and independent ones. I hope to actually write a few of them down, but I often lose motivation quickly. For example, in this story I sometimes went months without posting a chapter. But anyways, I am glad you like it, and I am very glad you wish me to write more!

[MasterAqua 0]

Well, with stories that awesome I don't really care if I have to wait a whole year :D

[DragonMaster 1,166]

, thanks. Maybe I will start a new one, but if I do, probably not until summer (or at least late May).

[Naroco 26]

I loved it. I cried multiple times out of saddness. I could feel the pain that the main character felt. It was so vivid. Thx for writting this wonderful story

[DragonMaster 1,166]

Thanks! I can't wait to see how your story unfolds.

[DragonMaster 1,166]

UPDATE: I am now going through and fixing everything. The first post was so annoyingly difficult, I have just fixed it enough to be readable. These updates may take a while. PLEASE BE PATIENT.

 

EDIT: The links in the first post do not work and it will be too difficult to fix them. Sorry for any inconveniences!

[TheHeartsDepths 13]

Great story wish I could write something like this!!!

 

~Anyway Please continue & maybe write a bit more about Arlene pretty-pretty please~

[Namine` 28]

i read this and i was like, "omg, so THIS is why it happened!" keep writing meh friend, maybe i should post one of my own stories as well! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!! THIS STORY!