Chapter 16

INTERMISSION Dark Margin THE FLOW OF TIME IN THIS WORLD WAS DIFFERENT from the realm of light. Here, it was as fickle as the waves. The soft whispering of the tide against the sand filled the beach. The sky was dark, as was the water, but beyond the sea, a hazy light hung in the dim, cloudy sky. Perhaps it was the sun, perhaps the moon. Aqua and a man sat on the shore, staring out at the horizon. She had no idea how long the two of them had been here, but she knew the man had arrived here and met Aqua after the two heroes completed their second adventure and brought peace to the worlds. The man had told her the name of the boy responsible for saving them. “His name…is…Sora.” Tears had run down her cheeks when he told her. Everything is connected. It’s all connected, even now. “Tell me, will you stay here?” asked the man in the black coat, his hood still hiding his face. Aqua did not know who he was, nor that he had once been called Ansem the Wise. “I can’t shake the feeling that these waters touch another shore I’ve visited.” Ansem the Wise knew the place she meant. “The Destiny Islands.” Aqua was surprised to hear the name from him. How much time had passed since she fell from the realm of light? “You’ve heard of them?” Aqua smiled and looked over at the man. “Yes. They are quite lovely—a far cry from this wasteland.” He was smiling faintly, too. “I’m staying. Someone will come for me.” Aqua’s gaze turned back to the horizon. “These waters are the in-between of dark and light, its shores the margins of day and night. They brought you and I together, so why not also you and another?” “Yes.” Both of them returned their eyes to the light beyond the sea. An uncertain amount of time passed…until Aqua felt an evil presence behind her. “Who’s there?” She spun around, ready for trouble. The man wore a black coat with its hood down, revealing his face. His long silver hair was slicked back, and an aura of darkness oozed from his skin. Ansem the Wise got to his feet as well, then gasped when he saw who it was. “You’re…” It was his former pupil who had stolen his name and plunged willingly into the shadows—Xehanort. “Master…I must have a word with you.” Ansem the Wise removed his hood and turned his deep gold eyes on his former apprentice. “‘Master’? So now you mock me.” “Do you recall those experiments of the heart you bade me cease? Among the test subjects was a girl. She had lost her memory, just as I had. But…you can reconstruct memories. You did with Sora. I believe you have seen the girl’s memories,” Xehanort replied as he strode toward them. Ansem remained unperturbed. “What is your question?” “Where did you put the girl?” Xehanort asked accusingly. “What girl?” “Very well. If you won’t tell me here…” Xehanort reached out to grab Ansem’s arm, but Aqua jumped in between them and swatted his hand away. She was not holding a Keyblade. “I think you should go,” she said. “A lost guardian of light? You wait here…for the king and his fool.” An enormous black shadow rose behind Xehanort and batted her away. “Where’s your Keyblade?” Aqua landed on the sand a few yards away. “Don’t need it!” she shouted, throwing herself at the dark figure once again. She then sprang into the air and launched a kick at its head. Unfortunately, before she could get back to a safe distance again, the black shadow caught hold of one of her legs and held her dangling in the air. Ansem the Wise ran over to Aqua. “No more! I’ll go.” “You are wise,” replied Xehanort with a touch of laughter in his voice. Aqua used the distraction to kick the shadow with her free leg and escape. Once she was back on the ground, she drew herself up, ready to fight again, and glared furiously at Xehanort. “Poor thing. I mustn’t leave you with nothing,” Xehanort said. Pure, near solid darkness gathered in the gaping hole in his guardian’s chest, then burst out in a wave that slammed into Aqua and sent her hurtling toward the black waters of the sea. The lightless depths drew Aqua down, deeper and deeper, swallowing her up. What…am I feeling? She drifted down toward the bottom of the dark abyss.