middleofsomewhere | What their Eyes See: Conclusion

The End?

The Voidtreckers make their way through the circles. Some pressing forwards, others gathering civilians and evacuating them back to the city. Some get lost, stuck among dreams or nightmares.

Those voidtreckers who manage to press on through the third circle will find themselves surrounded by colours, the same colourful almost-lightning that had crackled overhead as they made their way through the maze. Here the colours are thick, swirling. Getting close is almost like getting close to a bonfire. It is not heat but power, something no Voidtrecker can withstand.

Something no creature could withstand yet for those that risk the blinding colouful light they will see a shape. A person? Perhaps. It shifts shape, never still. Thick multicoloured veins run over it. It is hard to focus on, just trying to look into the colours is difficult.

"Fine. Fine. Fine."

It is not just those in the centre who hear the voice but everyone. As if it is speaking directly into their minds.

Indeed for any Voidtreckers who are with civilians, those in the city do not seem to react, as if they cannot hear it at all.

"I know where I'm not wanted. I'll go. I'll go. But know this. KNOW THIS."

For those in the centre the colours seem to pulsate, enough to cause anyone looking at them a headache if they don't avert their eyes.

"I know you now. I will find a place. I WILL FIND A HOME and you will pay. YOU WILL NOT STOP ME. I know you all. I know your souls and you will WEEP BEFORE MY MAJESTY."

The colours seem to erupt, dazzling anyone close enough to see and then they vanish. It all vanishes. The maze, the circles, the illusions. Those inside the maze or the circles still will find themselves stood in the smog, outside the city. Those in the centre of the circle will find themselves in fog, unconscious citizens scattered around them.

Clean Up

It takes a few hours for the last of the civilians to be found and returned to the city, once again the hospitals are full but it seems the quick action of the Voidtreckers prevented any fatalities.

The city bounces back quickly, the people shaken but not broken, not bowed. Any help the Voidtreckers offer will be accepted but it quickly becomes clear that the illusions are gone. No more creatures, no more strange images. The fighting rings have paused for now, as they take stock and try and understand what had happened.

But after a couple of hours all Voidtreckers get a message on their SCA. All teams to return to the Voidtrecker Express.

Their maps will pin point the station, which is luckily a lot quieter with everyone still coming to terms with what has happened. The Voidtrecker Express is there and once all passengers have boarded it flies off, into the void once more.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"We both did."

This time, he takes a seat next to Ansem, only to scowl at the far wall. His mentor doesn't need to bear the brunt of a glare meant for someone else.

"I had never regarded him as anything worse than a harmless troublemaker, and yet...I cannot deny the fact that he associated closely with Xehanort from the beginning."

"This web of deceit seems to be complex, indeed." Ansem rubs the bridge of his nose, frustrated. "Though, I almost wonder- nevermind." There is some dissonance in his memories, but he assumes that once the blanks fill in, he will be able to understand them. "For now- I would ask you about your 'diminished' heart."

A sideways glance, from curiosity more than any sort of suspicion.

"Another deception. While it is true that a freshly formed Nobody is utterly devoid of emotion, Xemnas kept from us the fact that we would, over time, develop replacements. It is a slow process, particularly when not aided by bonds with others. I must still pay attention for subtler emotions, and there is little in the way of nuance to what I feel."

It's unsettling, really. Knowing that subtle emotions could easily be lost beneath more intense ones, with little ability to feel delicate nuance. He might remember how complicated emotions feel, know his own heart enough to guess at what should be there...but it's not the same as really feeling it.

"It will improve with time, particularly as I do have people here who are close to my heart, but there are still aspects of myself that are a combination of memory and deliberate effort."

Had Ansem not the reassurance that there was hope for Roxas and Namine, he would have been further appalled. As it is, he grimaces, thinking of how he must have stunted their growths- but that is not the point of this matter. Right now...

"Then it seems we both have our own recoveries," he wryly notes. Though- another thought. "Does that mean- 'Even' and 'Vexen' might exist at the same time, as 'Roxas' and 'Sora'?"

"Roxas is...a peculiar case. Much like Xehanort, Sora's Heartless retained his sense of self. Roxas was thus born without a will or identity of his own, and developed one during his time with the Organization. Not only did he develop a separate heart of his own, but he possesses unique soul as well."

He shakes his head.

"In my case, 'Even' and 'Vexen' are two states of the same individual. One might be able to put my original heart in a Replica body, but it would lack a will and memories to drive it."

"Such explains much." His focus on Roxas, for example. "I take it Namine is special, as well- and Kairi..."

His brow creases. He knows there's something about her, he just doesn't know what, precisely. Nonetheless...

"Xehanort, I imagine, is also a unique case." A combination of unique factors that contributed to the situation, hurtling them forwards like...well. Like they were on an unstoppable train. A humorless smile tugs at his lips, but he continues; "Then you plan to become whole, eventually?"

"Namine is even more unusual than Roxas. She was born from a heart void of darkness, released from a body not its own. Kairi's heart was hidden within Sora, and both Roxas and Namine were born when Sora used a Keyblade to free it, along with his own heart. Ultimately, I question whether we can truly call Namine a Nobody at all, or if it is merely the closest comparison we have for a truly unique being. She possesses neither the will nor the form of her originator, having arose independently from the simple act of a heart being separated from a body and left free, however briefly."

Or maybe it's simply that their understanding of where Nobodies come from is flawed, to begin with. But as Namine is the only known instance of a Nobody arising independently of a heartless body and will, he's more inclined to consider her a special case.

"I am less certain as to what caused the oddity in Xehanort's case, but...I have observed that his Heartless seems more like his original self than his Nobody. Xemnas, I wonder at times how much of his original life he is even able to recall. Since his purpose in the split was to send his heart into the past, it may be that he was able to somehow split his will itself, leaving only the barest spark of his identity with Xemnas, as the majority remained with his heart. As for myself, I do indeed intend to become whole eventually, either through the full regrowth of my heart, or by reclaiming my original one. Although...if I must resort to the latter, I hope to first find a less painful method than the one I currently know."

Fascinating. There's a drive in him to know more, to ask questions; there's also a newfound appreciation for patience. For now, that appreciation is weighing out.

...in certain aspects.

"The heart, arguably, can contain much of the drive of a person; while the will and body remain behind when one's heart is lost, it does not surprise me that the heartless was more like his former self, prior to the loss of his memories." Ansem cannot not believe that Xehanort was not amnesiac for at least part of his stay with them; how soon he regained his memories, though...

He's silent for a moment. Then takes a breath.

"Yondu also mentioned...that you had suffered a brutal encounter with fire. Is that why...?"

The scars remain?

"Interestingly, the original Xehanort and the Xehanort who betrayed us did not...seem to entirely be the same person. It could have made for the basis of a fascinating study of the malleability of the heart in the absence of stabilizing memories, had he not been so vile a person."

But oh, that...question. He reaches for his arm, where a Firaga Bangle is secured snugly under the sleeve.

"As for...your question, yes. Those scars were all from a single incident, wherein I was attacked with a powerful fire spell while already in a weakened state."

Another subtle proof of Even's loyalty; he did not hesitate to try and stabilize those memories in Ansem himself. There have been no lies, no conflicts with what he has naturally recovered and of what Even has spoken. Again, Ansem scolds himself for believing the lies so readily. He will not make this mistake again.

And after a moment, he reaches up to squeeze Even's shoulder once more.

"I will not press further," he says gently. "Only that I agree it would be best to find another route. Though- I will insist we continue our arrangement of my assistance with your scars."

"Any method of destroying a Nobody serves to reunite will and heart, should the latter be freed, it need not be quite so...brutal. Regardless, I would rather not experience another death-like event unless it is the only way to avoid losing my grip on my priorities."

He doesn't consider that to be a high likelihood event, at least as long as they find a way to excise the fragment of Xehanort's heart from him, but...hope for the best, plan for the worst.

"And...I do not foresee anything changing my need for assistance in treatment, so I would be grateful if you were willing to take the time to help me see to them."

What their Eyes See: Conclusion

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