||horizon's end||

At least he had the decency to send someone else, and not leave her alone. That counted in his mind. He couldn’t imagine why it mattered so much to her that it was he who showed up at her door. She didn’t seem to care for him. That aside, he continued.

A weak little nod. “Yes…they come from me…when I feel intense emotions they’re summoned…they’re different from the other heartless…they aren’t aggressive or hostile…and they don’t care about hearts, at least I don’t think so…”

She was truly a special case of her own, but he didn't say so. She had already expressed that she disliked the idea of being studied. He would leave her be for now, but he couldn't help the little speculations that came up every now and then.

Finally, on the seventh day, it was Xemnas who appeared when the door was opened. As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he nudged the door shut carefully, holding the tray with her lunch.

He looked up, across the room, to her bed. He could see nothing at first, but as he got closer, the mass on the bed stirred, a few pairs of little yellow eyes opening, fumbling around as if lost, gazing back at him, as if waiting to see what he would do. He blinked, then slowly placed the tray beside Aqua, pursing his lips.

Demyx had mentioned this, he recalled, though the report had been late. The little creatures that followed Aqua. They originated from her, and though they took on the appearance of a shadow, Xemnas couldn’t imagine how the requirements necessary to create them had been met. Perhaps they were somehow a part of her… He didn’t know.

“…Aqua,” he said, calling her attention.

She was hurt, angry when she realized that Xemnas was not coming back, and had felt revolted when she realized she had trusted him enough, only for it to falter and break. In result she had cowered more in her shell, barely trusting Demyx and believing him to not show up eventually.

Those notes that he took, she didn’t like, and she had requested that he not do them. She was no dummy – he was doing them when he wasn’t with her. The thought created a strange sense of anger within her. Everything created rage and frustration from these overwhelming emotions flying about.

Most of her day was spent sleeping. There was little else to do, really. Boredom drove her mad, and she had gotten the courage to open the curtain at night and watch the city below and the sky above. It gave her some form of entertainment, but this was no different from her time in the Realm of Darkness.

When she felt the little Shadows scurry and fumble on top of her, she groaned, slowly rolling over, her back to the voice. She felt a few trip and fall, and she wordlessly caught one when it was about to tumble off the bed, cradling it close to her chest as she curled up.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke.

He watched as she held the Shadow close, pursing his lips.

“You broke your promise.” She choked out, shaking her head in dismay. “How could you…just…leave me like that…? How will I know you won’t leave me again?”

At least he had the decency to send someone else, and not leave her alone. That counted in his mind. He couldn't imagine why it mattered so much to her that it was he who showed up at her door. She didn't seem to care for him. That aside, he continued.

Finally, on the seventh day, it was Xemnas who appeared when the door was opened. As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he nudged the door shut carefully, holding the tray with her lunch.

He looked up, across the room, to her bed. He could see nothing at first, but as he got closer, the mass on the bed stirred, a few pairs of little yellow eyes opening, fumbling around as if lost, gazing back at him, as if waiting to see what he would do. He blinked, then slowly placed the tray beside Aqua, pursing his lips.

Demyx had mentioned this, he recalled, though the report had been late. The little creatures that followed Aqua. They originated from her, and though they took on the appearance of a shadow, Xemnas couldn’t imagine how the requirements necessary to create them had been met. Perhaps they were somehow a part of her… He didn’t know.

“…Aqua,” he said, calling her attention.

She was hurt, angry when she realized that Xemnas was not coming back, and had felt revolted when she realized she had trusted him enough, only for it to falter and break. In result she had cowered more in her shell, barely trusting Demyx and believing him to not show up eventually.

Those notes that he took, she didn’t like, and she had requested that he not do them. She was no dummy – he was doing them when he wasn’t with her. The thought created a strange sense of anger within her. Everything created rage and frustration from these overwhelming emotions flying about.

Most of her day was spent sleeping. There was little else to do, really. Boredom drove her mad, and she had gotten the courage to open the curtain at night and watch the city below and the sky above. It gave her some form of entertainment, but this was no different from her time in the Realm of Darkness.

When she felt the little Shadows scurry and fumble on top of her, she groaned, slowly rolling over, her back to the voice. She felt a few trip and fall, and she wordlessly caught one when it was about to tumble off the bed, cradling it close to her chest as she curled up.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke.

He watched as she held the Shadow close, pursing his lips.

Finally, on the seventh day, it was Xemnas who appeared when the door was opened. As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he nudged the door shut carefully, holding the tray with her lunch.

He looked up, across the room, to her bed. He could see nothing at first, but as he got closer, the mass on the bed stirred, a few pairs of little yellow eyes opening, fumbling around as if lost, gazing back at him, as if waiting to see what he would do. He blinked, then slowly placed the tray beside Aqua, pursing his lips.

Demyx had mentioned this, he recalled, though the report had been late. The little creatures that followed Aqua. They originated from her, and though they took on the appearance of a shadow, Xemnas couldn't imagine how the requirements necessary to create them had been met. Perhaps they were somehow a part of her... He didn't know.

"...Aqua," he said, calling her attention.

“Aqua,” he breathed, thinking. “A lovely name, but the mark of your former identity. Those of us here have taken on new names, to distance ourselves from the past, and look forward to a brighter future where we can reclaim those names later. If you wish, you may choose a new name. One that bears our signature mark, χ, such as in Xemnas. Embrace what you are now… You can’t change the past, but you can carve your way to a new future.”

“I was raised in a culture of keyblade masters.” she muttered softly. “It had once been grand, a culture of warriors. But it has since deteriorated from the war…” a hand rested against the recusant’s sigil upon her chest. “I am the last living warrior from the Land of Departure…the last one to carry that culture.”

A shake of the head. “I am forced to remove everything of my past life…is what you say? That culture shall die out then, won’t it? I will not be able to support it on my own shoulders if I must shed my name.”

She shrugged. “What must be done, then. I shall choose a new name, with the letter ‘x’ in it, then? I understand. A new name…a new identity…”

"That culture may be lost, as long as it does not live through you, however... One day you will be able to reclaim it," he said, looking out the window with a distant look in his eyes. Clearly, he was enjoying his own display. His hand extended, clutching at nothing and balling his hand into a loose fist. "I suppose that is yet another reason for us to work towards our final goal. The rebirth of a culture lost. It can be yours again, in time."

He moved towards the door slowly, then looked back at her, pursing his lips. “…don’t put too much stress on yourself. I mean that. You remind me of someone, almost… I don’t want to see you hurt yourself.”

She was crumbling, falling apart, her heart thumping frantically and unable to handle all of the stress that pounded against her chest in a painful matter. She wanted it to stop. All the noises of the castle were intensified, the sound of her own body functions filling her eardrums. It hurt. she wanted everything to shut up–

“I’m hungry.” she choked out softly, stroking her hair back with a nervous touch, tears welling up and dripping down her marred, disgusting face.

She shifted away, making sure to avoid the light. However, she paused, glancing back, her yellow eye twitching briefly.

“I don’t mean to discredit your ‘humanity-’” He said the word slowly, as if he wasn’t quite sold on the notion. “-as I am not human myself. I only want to know the true nature of your condition. How it came about… Whether it can be restored… Can you find fault with me for being curious?”

She felt it, truly, but…it just…didn’t feel right. She just couldnt’ feel comfortable in her own skin, and her shoulders trembled briefly, a strangled sound ripping from her lips after a moment’s hesitation. The darkness crawled under her skin, biting at her flesh, and she trembled as the weight fully hit her.

Meekly did she finally shake her head, her back to him. “Leave…” she choked out softly. “Just…leave me alone.”

There was a pause, and she pulled her hands away, giving a screech to him.

He moved towards the door slowly, then looked back at her, pursing his lips. "...don't put too much stress on yourself. I mean that. You remind me of someone, almost... I don't want to see you hurt yourself."

“To regain our hearts and our sense of purpose. To be complete,” he said, free hand over his chest in a loosely clenched fist. “Of course the choice is yours… But it is in your best interests to join us. There is no place for these empty shells in this world, or any other. No one will be understanding… We are undesirable. Even the darkness has no need for us, and so this world sits in between the realms of Light and Dark. If you wish to venture away from us, you may. But know that you will be more alone than you ever were in your previous life.”

It was…so uncomfortable, that feeling of emptiness, longing. It left her hollow, and so very, very alone. Yet this man offered her a solution to that problem, and promised her company in others just like her, with that familiar pang in the chest. Was there really no where else for her to go…? Her memory was hazy, but…she had no home, anyways. A lost wanderer in the world, heading for home. Was this to be her home for the time being.

A small nod, confirming that she would agree to stand beside him.

"Aqua," he breathed, thinking. "A lovely name, but the mark of your former identity. Those of us here have taken on new names, to distance ourselves from the past, and look forward to a brighter future where we can reclaim those names later. If you wish, you may choose a new name. One that bears our signature mark, χ, such as in Xemnas. Embrace what you are now... You can't change the past, but you can carve your way to a new future."

“Besides that… This room should be as comfortable as any other,” he said, thinking. “I’m going to alert the others to your presence, so you can tell one of them to reach me if you need anything and I’m not here. I’ll be checking in on you as well. Once you’re strong enough, you may wander the castle, but I don’t really advise trying to leave without assistance. The castle itself is suspended in mid air, several thousand feet away from any land. Just a warning.”

The pleasant emotion vanished when he spoke once more, and she scowled, looking away, hugging herself tight. The darkness still came off in waves, like an inky black cloud, smoke, and she shook her head softly with a sight.

"I don't mean to discredit your 'humanity-'" He said the word slowly, as if he wasn't quite sold on the notion. "-as I am not human myself. I only want to know the true nature of your condition. How it came about... Whether it can be restored... Can you find fault with me for being curious?"

“I know…” she murmured softly. “I miss the light terribly…but it hurts so.” she frowned a bit. “I guess I need to wean myself, bit by bit, then.”

"Besides that... This room should be as comfortable as any other," he said, thinking. "I'm going to alert the others to your presence, so you can tell one of them to reach me if you need anything and I'm not here. I'll be checking in on you as well. Once you're strong enough, you may wander the castle, but I don't really advise trying to leave without assistance. The castle itself is suspended in mid air, several thousand feet away from any land. Just a warning."

“Here… Follow me,” he sighed quietly, stepping through the portal.

On the other side as he resurfaced was a vacant room, the only light coming from the window, the light of the moon above. Though the walls were just as bright, the harsh white unforgiving, the light shouldn’t have been too intense.

It spooked her, that darkness had this effect on her. Light burned her…what a terrible fate. She was a being of light, but she had become so bathed in darkness…how ironic.

The light still stung her, but it was no where near as intense as it originally was, and she was able to pull her hands away from her face. A blink, and she looked back to Xemnas, relieved.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he said, turning his eyes to the door. “It does seem like it’s been a very long time.”

When she stood, he took a few steps forward, then stopped, and it was fairly obvious he wanted her to follow.

“You intrigue me. I spent years studying the heartless, and yet… I’ve never seen anything exactly like you before,” he mused. “Exposure to darkness over time, never seeing a single shred of light in that period… This is a rare gift you’ve presented me with.”

He smiled, if only a little, as he finished speaking. Perhaps it was the line of his throat, or the shape of his jaw, or the curve of his lips as they smiled, but there was something familiar about him. That is, if Aqua could even see his face clearly in the light. The window closed once again, and he turned on his heel to the door, waiting for her there.

The light in the castle illuminated her disgusting features even more, showing her gross, slimy skin of the heartless, and her pale, clammy, human skin. She was hunched slightly, favoring the leg that was still resembling a human, which gave her a crooked posture and appearance, the shadowed arm bent and pressed against her side.

A monster was what she resembled. It was difficult to tell, but she had at one point been pretty. Beautiful, even. But those days were long gone, and she was unrecognizable from her old days, before she had been trapped and taken b the darkness.

Squinting in the light, she was taken aback by surprise as she stared at him, able to see a sort of warmth in his appearance, that soothed her aching heart. She shifted, a hand resting on her thin chest, and the antenna twitched.

Something stirred as she stared at him…how odd…how unusual.

“I do not consider this a gift, but rather, a curse.” she sneered softly, limping forward after him, clearly uncomfortable and pained, holding herself and cowering away from the sources of light. “The pain I’m in–its too intense.”

"Here... Follow me," he sighed quietly, stepping through the portal.

On the other side as he resurfaced was a vacant room, the only light coming from the window, the light of the moon above. Though the walls were just as bright, the harsh white unforgiving, the light shouldn't have been too intense.

The bright light suddenly caused her to stumble back, nearly cowering back against the shadow corridor. But she forced herself forward, covering her face shakily, the light burning against her skin. Each step was forceful, a stumble, until she found herself out of the Realm of Darkness.

After twelve years, she was free.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he said, turning his eyes to the door. “It does seem like it’s been a very long time.”

When she stood, he took a few steps forward, then stopped, and it was fairly obvious he wanted her to follow.

“You intrigue me. I spent years studying the heartless, and yet… I’ve never seen anything exactly like you before,” he mused. “Exposure to darkness over time, never seeing a single shred of light in that period… This is a rare gift you’ve presented me with.”

He smiled, if only a little, as he finished speaking. Perhaps it was the line of his throat, or the shape of his jaw, or the curve of his lips as they smiled, but there was something familiar about him. That is, if Aqua could even see his face clearly in the light. The window closed once again, and he turned on his heel to the door, waiting for her there.

The bright light suddenly caused her to stumble back, nearly cowering back against the shadow corridor. But she forced herself forward, covering her face shakily, the light burning against her skin. Each step was forceful, a stumble, until she found herself out of the Realm of Darkness.

After twelve years, she was free.

“My name is Xemnas,” he said, the cruel note leaving his voice. “I am the byproduct of another like you, a Nobody. I have no heart. I’m afraid if you were looking for human company, you haven’t found it, but… I do come from outside this place.”

He was intrigued now. What would happen to her if she were brought outside the Realm of Darkness? Darkness flowed off of her… She belonged to it. But she was, at least on some level, still human.

It was cruel, almost. Eraqus had warned her of traversing the dark without her armor. And she had given it to Terra in a desperate attempt to protect her. The effects were visible. A poster child of what not to do, and she had suffered dearly for it. Even she did not know the full effects, a shaking, petrified woman, clutching Master’s Keeper in her trembling hands.

Seeing another human spooked her terribly, especially after fighting for her life in this damn hell. Near insanity from boredom and constantly at war with the shadow heartless of the realms. She didn’t know how to react, and Aqua breathed heavily, pointing the Keyblade still at him.

“Xemnas…” she croaked out softly, looking down and away for a few moments, coughing a bit from the darkness wafting off of her. Her brow furrowed, and the keyblade was lowered slightly at the question.

How…how long?

“You shouldn’t be here,” he repeated, frowning. “Surely you should know that. You are a Keyblade wielder. I can tell it has been some time since you’ve seen the light… But you don’t belong here.”

He didn’t recognize her in the least, that chance ruined by her marred face, and the darkness that masked any semblance of herself, but he did sense that something was wrong with this situation. That, and this was something he had never had the privilege of seeing with his own eyes before. It was too intriguing to pass up.

He opened a new dark corridor, looking to her. “I know you don’t want to remain here. Whatever you may be, this realm was not meant to contain you. I’m offering you only one chance. Through this corridor is a world that lies between light and dark, but you will be safe there. If you remain here… I don’t know how long it will be, but you will lose yourself. It could take years, but this is the only time I will offer you escape.”

So similar to the portals the heartless had come from. They had to have come from somewhere, and she had speculated multiple times that they travelled between here and the Realm of Light. The man himself looked human, not a monster like these heartless. Not like herself. He offered to take her out of here.

What choice did she have here? There was little. She was going insane, and was desperate to claw her way out and return from where she came. If not for herself, then for the two friends she desperately needed to save.

She was a monster…

Even if he did lie to her about her safety, oh, she’d fight like hell to get out. She’d use the portal to free herself, and move from there.

Slowly did she dismiss her keyblade, watching him with a frightened expression, before nodding, shakily stepping forward to the dark corridor beside him, preparing herself to enter.

“My name is Xemnas,” he said, the cruel note leaving his voice. “I am the byproduct of another like you, a Nobody. I have no heart. I’m afraid if you were looking for human company, you haven’t found it, but… I do come from outside this place.”

He was intrigued now. What would happen to her if she were brought outside the Realm of Darkness? Darkness flowed off of her… She belonged to it. But she was, at least on some level, still human.

It was cruel, almost. Eraqus had warned her of traversing the dark without her armor. And she had given it to Terra in a desperate attempt to protect her. The effects were visible. A poster child of what not to do, and she had suffered dearly for it. Even she did not know the full effects, a shaking, petrified woman, clutching Master’s Keeper in her trembling hands.

Seeing another human spooked her terribly, especially after fighting for her life in this damn hell. Near insanity from boredom and constantly at war with the shadow heartless of the realms. She didn’t know how to react, and Aqua breathed heavily, pointing the Keyblade still at him.

“Xemnas…” she croaked out softly, looking down and away for a few moments, coughing a bit from the darkness wafting off of her. Her brow furrowed, and the keyblade was lowered slightly at the question.

How…how long?

"You shouldn't be here," he repeated, frowning. "Surely you should know that. You are a Keyblade wielder. I can tell it has been some time since you've seen the light... But you don't belong here."

He didn't recognize her in the least, that chance ruined by her marred face, and the darkness that masked any semblance of herself, but he did sense that something was wrong with this situation. That, and this was something he had never had the privilege of seeing with his own eyes before. It was too intriguing to pass up.

He opened a new dark corridor, looking to her. "I know you don't want to remain here. Whatever you may be, this realm was not meant to contain you. I'm offering you only one chance. Through this corridor is a world that lies between light and dark, but you will be safe there. If you remain here... I don't know how long it will be, but you will lose yourself. It could take years, but this is the only time I will offer you escape."

No, it was the Keyblade that caught his attention. Then its owner.

The weapon pointed directly at him gained the creature a scoff, and a cruel smile as Xemnas looked her over. However, as the corridor faded away, he stepped back. While unafraid, it was unwise to let himself be caught in the way of her blade.

“What is this sad thing?” he asked, shaking his head. “A lost soul with a toy far too powerful for such an unsightly creature. Do you make a point to threaten any stranger who happens by?”

Still, her appearance in the Dark Margin was an odd one. Where had she come from?

A snarl crossed her lips at his cruel words, an intense anger bubbling in her chest. It was feirce, animalistic, and briefly did she debate on lunging towards the man with her keyblade raised, to dig, dig into him–

But she stopped herself.

How long…how long had it been since she had seen a human being?

More importantly, how long had it been since she had seen her own reflection, her own image?

Briefly did she debate on turning around to look into the water, but held back, instead focusing upon the man before her. She was shaking, trembling, her eyes narrowed, the unseeing yellow one piercing the darkness, completely blind in that half.

“This is not some toy!” she spat out, her sharpened teeth gnashed together, the antennae twitching slightly, mist from the darkness coming out even more. She was terrified, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest. “And I am not a creature! I’m a human being with a heart and soul and feelings!”

She wasn’t one of those.

"My name is Xemnas," he said, the cruel note leaving his voice. "I am the byproduct of another like you, a Nobody. I have no heart. I'm afraid if you were looking for human company, you haven't found it, but... I do come from outside this place."

He was intrigued now. What would happen to her if she were brought outside the Realm of Darkness? Darkness flowed off of her... She belonged to it. But she was, at least on some level, still human.