Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios trudged back to his room, his body dragging with the exhaustion of the past two days. His mind raced with the events that had transpired—the fall of Ansem the Wise, the shadowy maneuvers to ensure the old man's survival, and the rapidly escalating situation with Xehanort and his apprentices. Yet, at that moment, all he wanted was rest.

When he entered his room, the sight of Cloud's body sprawled across his bed greeted him. Helios let out a soft sigh, running a hand through his hair. 'Of course,' he thought. With nowhere else to go, he grabbed a spare blanket, threw it on the floor, and collapsed onto it. The hard surface beneath him wasn't ideal, but he was so tired he didn't care. Within moments, sleep overtook him.

Meanwhile, at Ansem's castle a few hours later, Xehanort sat at a workstation, his golden eyes glinting faintly in the dim light. His fingers danced across the keyboard with practiced precision, finalizing the doctored video footage he had prepared for this very moment. The sound of approaching footsteps pulled his attention from the screen, and he turned to see Braig entering the room.

Braig was followed closely by Even, Ienzo, Dilan, and Aeleus. The four apprentices carried a heavy air of despondency, their expressions clouded with confusion and hurt. Xehanort smiled faintly, a calculated gesture that conveyed just the right amount of shared sadness.

"Ah," Xehanort said, standing as the group entered. "I see Braig has told you of Master Ansem's… departure. I was as shocked as you are. I couldn't believe he would abandon us so easily."

His words hung in the air, eliciting a range of reactions from the apprentices. Dilan and Aeleus exchanged uneasy glances, their stoic facades cracking under the weight of Xehanort's statement. Ienzo's small hands clenched at his sides, his youthful face twisted in disbelief. Even, however, stepped forward, his usual composed demeanor giving way to fiery determination.

"I demand proof," Even said sharply, his voice cutting through the tension. "I refuse to believe this without evidence. Master Ansem would never abandon us—not without good reason."

Xehanort nodded solemnly, his expression one of understanding. "Of course," he said, gesturing to the monitor on his workstation. "I felt the same way, Even. That's why I confornted the man before he left and the thing he said shocked me. I reviewed the security footage and found the instance. It was not a pleasant conversation, but I'll let you see for yourselves."

He pressed a key, and the screen flickered to life, displaying a video file. The footage showed a conversation between Ansem the Wise and Xehanort. In the doctored video, Ansem's voice carried a tone of disdain as he said, "I've grown tired of looking after my apprentices. This castle, these experiments—they mean nothing to me now. I've wasted too much time on those orphans. It's time for me to follow my heart and seek something greater beyond this world."

The Xehanort in the video pleaded with him, his voice laden with desperation. "Master Ansem, please reconsider. We can change whatever it is you find distasteful. Just don't leave us."

But Ansem's response was cold and unyielding. "You cannot change what is broken, Xehanort. My time here has ended." The video showed him turning and opening the unstable dark corridor, his form disappearing into the swirling darkness.

As the footage ended, the apprentices stood in stunned silence. Even's face twisted in anguish, his hand trembling as he gripped the edge of the table. Ienzo's wide eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Dilan and Aeleus exchanged looks of shared devastation.

"Master Ansem…" Ienzo whispered, his voice barely audible. "How could he…"

Xehanort stepped forward, his presence commanding as he addressed the group. "I know how much this must hurt," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "Your hearts are aching, consumed by the betrayal of the one you trusted most. It's a pain I too feel deeply."

His golden eyes swept over the apprentices, each of them looking to him for guidance in their time of despair. "If only there were a way to escape this pain," Xehanort continued, his tone softening. "If only we could shed our hearts—the source of all suffering—and free ourselves from the torment they bring."

The words hung in the air, sinking into the minds of his audience. Xehanort's gaze lingered on each of them, gauging their reactions. Even's brow furrowed as he considered the idea, his analytical mind already processing the implications. Dilan and Aeleus exchanged uneasy glances, their loyalty to Ansem conflicting with the growing seed of doubt.

Ienzo, the youngest and most impressionable, looked up at Xehanort with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Is that… possible?" he asked hesitantly. "To live without pain?"

Xehanort placed a reassuring hand on Ienzo's shoulder, his smile warm but calculated. "Perhaps," he said. "It's a theory I've been exploring—one that could allow us to transcend the limitations of our hearts without losing who we are. But it would require research subjects, dedication… and courage."

Even stepped forward, his expression conflicted. "You're suggesting we discard our hearts?" he asked, his voice laced with both skepticism and curiosity. "How could such a thing even be possible? The heart is the essence of our being. To lose it would mean losing ourselves entirely."

Xehanort nodded thoughtfully, as if he too shared Even's concerns. "You're right, Even. The heart is integral to who we are. But what if there were a way to separate it from the body and mind? Does our hearts truly contain all we are or does it work in tandem with the body and mind? I hypothesized that the heart does hold memories but only memories of how things made us feel rather than the whole picture. So in theory, if the heart were to be removed we would still be ourselves but things would no longer touch us emotionally."

The apprentices exchanged uncertain glances, the seed of Xehanort's manipulation taking root in their minds. Braig stood silently at the back of the group, his arms crossed as he watched the scene unfold. His expression betrayed none of his thoughts, but those who knew him knew better than to underestimate him.

"So, what are we gonna do now?" asked Braig