Chapter Text
“Sanctuary!” a voice cried out.
A burst of light flushed through the realm of darkness. What followed were rays of darkness flying through the blackened world. Some larger than others. All at once, they broke through the surface of the Abyss. Each left for the Realm of Light. One of the rays came out at a world with a white beach in the dead of night. Kneeling on the beach was a young girl with shoulder length wavy green hair. She wore sandals with a black one piece swimsuit. She was making a wish on a falling star. The dark ray struck her heart making her gasp and look around. Something felt odd, but she wasn’t sure what. Near her, a dark corridor opened. As if beckoning to her, she slowly stood and approached it.
Nervously, she stepped through and soon found herself on the lush fields of the Realm of Darkness. She wasn’t sure why she went through, but something was compelling her along. The longer she walked the more comforting the dark of the area became. Soon she entered yet another dark corridor and came out onto a station of awakening featuring an image of a black heart with six other smaller hearts to its right and left.
“ The darkness inside of you has awakened… but the First Darkness has not vanished. A strange turn of events… a winding road we cannot predict the end of. The dark key that would be yours remains dormant… but with time, it can be awakened… if we plant the seeds within the soil. ”
A body mirror then appeared not far from the girl. Approaching it, she saw a dark version of herself. Her eyes glowing yellow, her flesh turned to black muscle structure with red gradient here and there, and sharp claws on her fingers and toes. On her back were two small devil wings and swaying below was a tail made of smoke. Shocked by it, she backed away.
“ Do not be afraid. This is the ‘you’ on the other side. The darkness that dwells in you, given shape. We call them ‘Heartless’. This one belongs to you. Of course, the heart is not the only thing that can take a new shape. ”
Another mirror then formed behind her. Turning around, she gasped seeing a strange person. It had the shape of a woman, but wore the silver jumper of a Dusk. Its hood was unzipped showing a dark face with sharp teeth within with red headlights shining out to show where the eyes are. She didn’t like the way the woman twitched and undulated, flexing her sharp finders now and then in an unnatural way.
“ This is your ‘Nobody’, what becomes of the body after falling to darkness. Given time, it will claim a new heart. In the same darkness, however, they can become one and rebirth the original. In time, you will need to learn how to do this. ”
The mirrors then vanished and a dark corridor replaced them. When she stepped through, she came out at the Dark Horizon. Standing out over the water were thirteen figures wearing white robes bearing black designwork. Each had a different emblem emblazoned upon their hoods.
“ We are the Thirteen Heralds of Darkness. The Guardians of the Dark Prophecies. We foretell the coming of the Age of Darkness. We have remained in a deep slumber since the First Dark Master’s time, but very soon we shall awaken one by one. With us, shall come the advent of darkness growing in power. Without Dark Masters, the darkness shall overwhelm everything and swallow the light whole. Before all of us awaken, you must become a Dark Master. Every master that is crowned shall slow the process by just that much. It is up to you… ”
Darkness then appeared below the girl’s feet and began to swallow her. She struggled and struggled, but couldn’t escape the pull. When she was fully consumed she couldn’t move nor breathe. She then began to feel someone shaking her. When she opened her eyes she was on the beach of her home world again. The one shaking her was a bald man bearing a thick golden mustache. He wore sandals, blue jeans, and a white t-shirt.
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
“Uncle Fink… I was… someplace else…” she tried to tell him.
“You were lying on the sand like you’d gotten conked with a coconut. You didn’t drink sea water did you?” he questioned.
“What…? No… I’m not stupid…” she huffed tiredly.
“Can you walk?” he asked.
“Of… course I can walk…” she told him, getting to her feet in a wobbly fashion.
“Well. I’ll have the doc check you out before I call you safe. No more night swimming for a little while, you hear? Stick to the shallows during the day, too.” he nodded.
“I get it, I made you worried… I’m sorry, uncle.” she sighed.
“I just don’t want to lose you too. You’re the only family that I’ve got left, kiddo.” he nodded.
“You’re the only family I’ve got left too. I’ll see the doctor.” she nodded understandingly.
“Atta girl.” he smiled.
She then began walking with her uncle back toward town. On the beach a black door with stained glass windows in it appeared as she left.
“ Soon… this world shall fall to darkness. On that day, your dark key shall awaken, and this door shall open. ”
>KH Fragments of Darkness 01: The Dark Key