From Whence He Came [Mordred]

[sephirothcrescent]

As part of his journey to learn more about the keyblade and its power, Sephiroth soon found himself within the Realm of Darkness itself. In a sense, this was just as much a hope to him as Gaia was. Though he was born and lived on the latter, it was the former that gave him new life and immortality through his ties to the darkness in Cloud’s heart. Without this place he quite simply may have not been able to come back into existence. Of course the forces that brought back many of the other villains may have brought him back, but by using the method he did Sephiroth gained immortality and if the system that revived the others ever broke down they wouldn’t be able to return. He wouldn’t be eliminated so easily in those circumstances, since this place needed to exist for the Light to exist and Cloud was unlikely to do what was ultimately necessary to eliminate him. Then, after he’s gone, no one would be able to stand in Sephiroth’s way to prevent him from creating the shining future he desired.

The only true thing that Sephiroth needed to do, was wait.

Knowing this wasn’t enough however, the one winged angel wasn’t intent to just sit and wait for the time to come. Leaving things to fate, to chance, meant that you truly had no control of the situation. If there was one thing he was certain he had in his life it was control, if he was going to succeed it was going to be through his action and knowledge that he would get where he wanted to go. Thus, after learning about Heartless in his studies he thought it best to learn about them in their natural environment. It was interesting to him how in places they would swarm him in attempt to take his heart, despite being so deeply aligned with the Darkness. He thought that simply having a dark heart and power was enough to control them, but that simply wasn’t the case.

Unable to control the heartless, it seemed that additional time in the Realm of Darkness would be pointless. There were no worthwhile abilities that he could gain, and no sign of any intelligence that could give him any answers that he was searching for. He prepared to leave when the sound of lapping water caught his attention, and slowly he made his way to it. Much to Sephiroth’s surprise there was what seemed to be a moon in the darkness, illuminating the water and showing massive branchlike objects flowing in and out of the water. If he had seen this years ago he may have thought of it as beautiful, but now it simply unimpressed him. He shook his head, turning his back to it as he spread his wing.

It was time to leave, his time was better spent elsewhere...

(Sorry this is shorter than the others >< At least it gives us a place to begin interacting)

[Deleted]

Why am I here...

Mordred had been pondering this question as he sat on one of the branches jutting out of the water. The Realm of Darkness held nothing for him. The only Hearts that could exist out here were ones that were already flooded in Darkness and even then, that was a rare sight. So, the question remained... why was he here? He wasn't even sure why he came here beyond some subconscious instinct. Perhaps he needed a quiet place to ponder recent events. Strong Hearts of the Light had begun appearing since he begun his search, including new worlds. They all had potential and Eden thirsted for more Hearts. Mordred looked up at the sky, at a pinpoint of light. Eden was up there, still incomplete. It was a fledgling world that Mordred needed to complete. Without it, he was purposeless and was better off not existing. Mordred reached up to the sky, as if trying to reach for his world...

?

Mordred looked behind him at the presence of another Heart. True to his theory, this Heart was practically pulsing with Darkness. What he saw was a white-haired man, his hair practically reaching to his waist. He wore strange clothes, which seemed to be a common theme among the new people Mordred was encountering. This man also seemed to be pondering something. His purpose, possibly? Mordred wasn't sure but he had a feeling the answer was yes. Why else was he here? Mordred Analyzed the man before him and got quite the history. The Nobody cocked his head. If he was capable of being interested in anything, this person was most certainly a viable candidate. Mordred turned fully to the man, and stared at him, trying ascertain anything else about him. With as much Darkness as Mordred could feel within this person, it was clear he was powerful. The Nobody's mind then put a plan to action. Perhaps this man could be useful in the near future.

Mordred then saw the man turn and leave and sighed. Heart-Bearers were too dynamic for their own good. Mordred then stood on the branch and looked down on the man. "Unable to find your answer, Sephiroth?" He was sure the utterance of his name would get his attention. Mordred jumped off the branch and fell towards the water. Before he hit it, however, he slowed his descent to a crawl and his feet touched the water. With his own Kinetic Energy, he managed to stand on the surface of the water. Combining this with his cloak billowing in the wind and his hood over his face, red eyes gazing out at the man, he had the appearance of a wraith. Given what he knew about being a Nobody, Mordred was sure that the analogy wasn't entirely inaccurate. He walked across the water for a few steps before stopping.

"A man of your power and yet, you seem so purposeless. What a waste." Mordred said, blunt as ever. "What did you expect to find in this desolate waste? Answers? The only beings that live here are the Heartless and they are incapable of answering any questions you have." Mordred looked over to find a few Shadows crawling around before turning his gaze on Sephiroth. "Though... I sense that it is someone you seek and not something. This "Cloud"... I doubt he is here. Thus, we circle back to the subject of this conversation. Why are you here?"

[sephirothcrescent]

The suddenness of a voice behind him brought Sephiroth’s walk to a halt, and he looked over his shoulder to spot the cloaked figure as it leaped from one of the branches onto the water of the beach. The fact that he was able to stand on water was... Interesting, enough so to keep Sephiroth’s attention. What really drew him though was what he had said, how did this being know he was searching for something? The fact he knew him name didn’t faze the EX-SOLDIER, there was plenty of ways he could’ve been found out by the being, but his search for answers hadn’t brought him across enough paths for him to be randomly found and spoken to about it. Perhaps the simple fact that he was here was clue enough, after all why else would someone come here outside of trying to control the darkness? Though that would’ve been his first guess if he saw someone else, it was still a possibility. As the creature started towards him Sephiroth turned to face it, slitted green eyes meeting red as he let it speak.

Again with mentioning his search for answers, this brought Sephiroth to narrow his eyes a bit. What was he getting at, what was his purpose in antagonizing him? The wraith seemed to know exactly why Sephiroth was here, and also came to the same conclusion about the pointlessness of being here in this realm. Had who he met in Hollow Bastion really revealed so much to him? No, Sephiroth doubted there had been the time or motivation for it to be done. Still, it was puzzling how this being knew so much about it. Then the word, sense escaped its mouth and it became clear to the one winged angel that his feelings and perhaps his thoughts were being sorted through by the being and that was why he was able to deduce things so accurately. It didn’t surprise him, the realm of darkness was sure to harbor creatures with unnatural abilities. The fact that he had only found this one intelligent being in the darkness confused him a bit, but he let that thought go as the wraith finished his thoughts.

Cloud. Though the blond was in fact part of his plans, he wasn’t seeking him at the moment. Sephiroth had made sure to break his nemesis the last time they met, and he had plenty of time to sort through his plans before he'd have to worry about interference from him. Perhaps the creature was merely inferring after all, and he had given it too much credit. No matter, its interference was little more than an annoyance and the silver man grunted as he ran his fingers through one of his bangs.

“The puppet is of no current concern to me, what I seek are answers that I apparently cannot find here,” Sephiroth replied calmly, letting his arm drop to his side.

“I should grace you with the same question, intelligent life does not seem to be natural around here.” Catching the shift in the gaze of the red eyes Sephiroth glanced towards the Shadows he apparently saw, then returned his attention to the being before him. They were of little consequence, easily eliminated if action was called for. Though he was curious about the situation at hand, there was no fear without Sephiroth. He was confident in being able to defend himself, and beyond his search for answers he for the most part felt in control of his life. Whether it was a delusion or the truth he didn’t know, nor did he pay any mind to that.

[Deleted]

"'Current' concern... interesting." The Nobody said those words with great enthusiasm, putting particular emphasis on the word, "current". It said a lot more than Sephiroth had vocalized. It insinuated that this Cloud was either a past or future concern, which in turn insinuated that regardless of when he would be a concern, these two had a past that warranted Sephiroth planning ahead for when Cloud would be a current concern. Mordred didn't vocalize on this, merely adjusting the glasses under his hood as he pondered. He then shrugged as he continued to stare at Sephiroth "One cannot seek answers without knowing the questions beforehand. I wonder what questions have motivated you to set foot in the homeland of the Heartless..." Mordred walked a couple more steps, his footsteps on the water's surface causing small ripples.

He then heard Sephiroth's question and stopped, as if to ponder how to answer the question. Then he sighed. "There is truth in your words. The Heartless only mindlessly seek out Hearts. Only intelligent life who enter this world can live in it and even then, only a select few. Beings such as yourself, who bathe their Hearts in Darkness, are capable, but run the risk of being devoured by the Heartless, if their Hearts are not strong enough. Judging from your continued existence, I can assume your Heart is strong enough. Others of the Light, but are strong enough to resist the Darkness can also walk here, but I've only known Keybladers being of sufficient strength and that's only from the research I've conducted. I've not seen such a thing first-hand." Mordred then took off his glasses and began cleaning them with the edge of his cloak. It was a completely superfluous action, but the Nobody didn't feel like staring at the white-haired Fallen Hero throughout the entire conversation.

"Why I'm here... well, this is a quiet place to ponder one's purpose, is it not? I, myself, have much to ponder and ruminate over. Research to conduct, targets to assess, et cetera, et cetera. Surely, you can appreciate planning for inevitable threats." Mordred then put on his glasses, his face still concealed under his hood. "Such is the fate of the ambitious, I suppose. Planning against setbacks and those who cause them is ceaselessly tedious. Pest Control is the only reasonable response to them. Isn't that right, Sephiroth?"

Mordred then turned and looked at the moon, the waves splashing gently against his ankles. "So... for one seeking answers, what is the question motivating you?"

[sephirothcrescent]

The analysis by the cloaked figure continued as he repeated Sephiroth’s words, and one winged angel keeping his gaze fixed upon the creature as it moved a hand under the hood as if it was adjusted its glasses. He had a point, and it made Sephiroth wonder. Was he searching in vain, was the reason he was having trouble finding answers because he didn’t know the questions he should be asking? No, of course not. The information he’d already gathered was sending him in the right direction, and there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he could find the information he sought. It was merely going to take longer than he’d anticipated, and it wasn’t like Cloud was going to follow him anytime soon. He had the time he needed, Sephiroth just needed to be patient and continue forward.

Not only had it a point, the being also wondered aloud what Sephiroth was searching for. The silver haired man began to ponder if he should say, but a sign from the being brought his attention outward instead. As it began to answer the question Sephiroth returned to it, the silver haired man took a few steps towards it before coming to a halt to listen. At first he spoke what he’d verified from the research about the Heartless, and his assumption that intelligent life did not exist here. He did give more information though, how even those of the Light with powerful enough hearts could come here. Again the keybladers... Just what gave them that kind of power? Did the blade give them that, or were you only able to claim it with a powerful heart? If it was the former, where did that power come from? These were the sorts of questions he needed to have answered, so he could claim such strength for himself.

It was confirmed that it was glasses under the cloak when he started to clean them, a motion Sephiroth paid little attention to. He spoke of this location being a location to ponder a purpose, something Sephiroth was trying to answer through research. Remaining in one place to ponder for a length of time wouldn’t get him anywhere; there was plenty of time to do that as he traveled from one location to another. Sephiroth could agree about planning at least, that’s why he’d taken Cloud out of the picture. He closed his eyes at the question of pest control, merely answering with “Hmph,” as he crossed his arms over his chest. Simply killing off the pests was an option, but if he did then whose strings would he pull? That aside, there was no guarantee he could kill Cloud if he wanted to. That was after all the reason he’d begun this crusade.

When the being’s question finally came Sephiroth opened his eyes to look at him, then followed his gaze towards the moon. Should he spill the questions of his search to a stranger? He supposed that it couldn’t hurt, he was verifying what he’d been told through his continued research in case any of his sources attempted to lead him astray, and this would be no different if he attempted to do so.

“I came here as an aside during my search, trying to follow a lead,” he began, returning his eyes to the cloaked one. “I do not yearn for a keyblade of my own, yet I wish to know where the weapon gains its power so that I may claim its source for myself. With it I will create a shining future for all worlds, a mission my mother began long ago...”

Sephiroth fell silent, closing his eyes as he bowed his head. There was a lingering question in the back of his mind... Was following his mother’s will truly what he desired? Is that really what he wished to do? Of course it was, it was a vision to rid the worlds of the inferior dullards like those who robbed the Ancients of their resources back on Gaia. Foolish being such as them needed to be purged from existence, and only with him as ruler could this be accomplished. Deep down inside, that was all he truly wanted.

[Deleted]

The Keyblade. It always came back to the Keyblade. Even Mordred couldn't avoid it forever. It was why he couldn't harvest Hearts from the Heartless outright. He had decided long ago that he would avoid contact with any Keybladers, not out of fear, but it was in his own best interest. Any Hearts freed by Keybladers could be used to build his world. Regardless, Sephiroth wanted to know the source of the Keyblade's power, rather than the Keyblade itself. He supposed that was logical, but it was also a complicated question.

"A rather odd question." Mordred said, turning back to Sephiroth. "From my research, the Keyblade chooses its wielder. The wielder tends to be a creature of immense strength of Heart, whether they be of Light or Dark. Once they obtain the Keyblade, the wielder becomes incredibly powerful. One would then believe that the Keyblade itself is a source of great power. But who chooses who gains the privilege of wielding the Keyblade? I do not know that. However, I do have a theory." Mordred seemed to think for a bit. Then took a step. As soon as his foot hit the surface of the water, he disappeared and reappeared behind Sephiroth in an instant, having Quick Stepped there. "It involves the Heart of all Worlds. Kingdom Hearts."

Mordred stood behind Sephiroth, his back to the One-Winged Angel. "If Kingdom Hearts is the Heart of all Worlds, then by proxy, it is the Heart of everyone who exists. Thus, something so intrinsically connected to the Hearts must be involved with the Keyblade in some way. I dismissed the idea of either the Realm of Light or the Realm of Darkness, since the Keyblade can be used by either side. But if you want a definite answer, you will need to do more research. For I don't think there is anyone who truly knows the origins of the Keyblade." Mordred then turned to Sephiroth and Analyzed him again. His mention of a mother and a shining future intrigued him and he wanted more information on both, which he got ample supply of.

"I see... Jenova. Her cells flow within your veins. Through that, you feel a bond towards her that drives you to this future. I suppose the Black Materia was not enough..." Mordred admittedly found Sephiroth intriguing... well, as much as he could. He was a powerful creature, but he, too, was shackled to the bonds of his Heart. "However, for your shining future, if you are not seeking the Keyblade itself, then you will need to find someone who can and manipulate them to do your bidding. That will be harder, given their immensely strong Hearts. Regardless, all Heart-Bearers have a failing. It's just a matter of finding it." Mordred adjusted his glasses again and shrugged. "Does that answer your question, Sephiroth?"

[sephirothcrescent]

He supposed that the figure was right, watching him as he turned around. Logically, one would merely search for a keyblade of their own to wield. There were also many abilities it granted the wielder, but the ones he knew of did not interest Sephiroth. He cared not for locking or unlocking the hearts of the worlds, or those of people for that matter. Its power alone when added to his would be enough to subdue any opposition, besides the range of Masamune had no equal and in power and ability it already matched the keyblade. Thus, gaining its power while keeping his weapon was the ideal scenario. Still, to one that knew not these facts it would seem a rather odd question.

The bulk of the cloaked man’s opening agreed with the research that he’d already conducted, that there were keyblades of Light and Dark that chose their wielder. The increase in power with the weapon was evident, as Sephiroth had already been sure that without it Sora would pose no threat to him at all. He respected the admittance to not truly knowing the answer, thus listened on as it continued this theory. The source of his voice moved behind him, but it gave Sephiroth little cause for concern. As he listened on, he let the words soak into his mind. Books in Hollow Bastion had only alluded to these things, but none had expanded on that knowledge. To a man from Gaia, this theory made a lot of sense. Perhaps much as life returned to the planet, the hearts of individuals eventually returned to Kingdom Hearts only to be reborn once more. At least, that was his understanding of what it being the heart of everyone that existed means. If all beings were connected to their worlds, which were further connected to this Kingdom Hearts, it only made sense.

Perhaps these keybladers had a more direct connection to Kingdom Hearts? Indeed, as was spoken he would need to continue his research. At least he’d gained a new perspective from this trip, alongside confirming information on the Heartless. It would be useful to him as time continued forward. He’d begun to turn around once more in order to face him when the cloaked figure mentioned his history on Gaia, forcing him to pause and turn towards him once more. How did he knew so much about him? Surely it was some sort of ability, he would have noticed him should he have been on the world during that time. The heroes may have spouted that information as well, but something didn’t sit right with that theory. The way he came across was all knowing, not a way someone would be from here say...

Unless they wanted something.

Pushing that thought aside for now, he let the man finish before turning his back to him once more. It seemed that he felt the only way to access this power was through the keyblade itself, something which Sephiroth didn’t agree with. Nonetheless if it came to that then he would have one, but until his research made that clear Sephiroth would continue to search. Even if keybearers got in his way and managed to meet his strength, only Cloud could truly defeat him and in the end they would all fall before the might of the chosen one. His will would be followed, no matter the cost. Besides, it wasn’t like he was incapable of pulling the strings of one’s heart when it would help him further his goals. When the cloaked one finished he nodded, returning his gaze towards the endless sky above.

“I appreciate your honesty, but I still have a few places to look. I merely wished to test the information I’d already collected, which for the most part has rung true. The information you’ve provided me has given me answers, and also questions that will better allow me to coordinate my research. You have been a great aid to me, yet I doubt that it has come for free,” he looked over his shoulder, his silver hair flowing back and forth in front of his face. “I wonder, just what is it you’re after? And how do you know so much about me, while I know so little of you?”

[Deleted]

Mordred stared at Sephiroth. He didn't much care that Sephiroth understood him, but then again, he was incapable of doing so. He merely stared at him and when Sephiroth asked his question, he adjusted his glasses. "You are not the only one looking to the future, Sephiroth. Others see the present with disgust and wish to change it according to their whims. Whether you succeed or any other person remains to be seen." Mordred didn't think anyone could compete with his future, but he also knew it behooved the Nobody to keep Sephiroth alive, if only to see what a Heart steeped in such Darkness would do. Perhaps the SOLDIER could even give Mordred a perspective he did not previously see. "As for how I know so much about you... well..." Mordred waved his hand in a dismissive manner, opening up a Corridor of Darkness.

"A Heart is like an open book... one must just know how to read the data within." Mordred turned and walked towards the Corridor. "I'm sure we shall meet again, Sephiroth... and I'll be sure to send Cloud your regards, should I see him..." Mordred then disappeared into the pulsating Darkness before the Corridor dissolved completely, leaving Sephiroth alone in the Realm of Darkness.

----------------

Mordred has exited the thread.

[sephirothcrescent]

The answer that he relieved was swift and direct. The cloaked figure reminded Sephiroth that he was not the only one with dreams for the future, which was entirely true. Every living person had a dream for the future of one type or another, even if they didn’t outwardly seek it. Whether it was peace, world domination, just spending time with friends, it varied as much as there were hearts throughout the worlds. Like many others his efforts could end in vain, his dream never truly realized. That certainly was a possibility, which was part of the reason why he’d done what he could to keep Cloud out of the equation so that he may have a better chance at success. With his strength, knowledge, skill, and the edge being tied to Cloud gave him Sephiroth was confident that he would succeed. He merely needed to bide his time, and take this one step at a time.

Conveniently, the being forgot to tell him just what it was that he wanted. What he did Sephiroth though, with a wave of his hand as he prepared to leave, was that a heart was something that could be easily read if one knew now. He supposed this was true, though without direct connection to someone or studying them for a great amount of time it was doubtful one could do so so easily. This told the one winged angel that somehow this being had an ability designed to do such a thing, something that would make him a very valuable ally and enemy all at the same time. He would need to be careful around him in the future, and try to find some way to counter this.

The last thing that was said made Sephiroth narrow his eyes at the cloaked figure as it vanished through a corridor of darkness, earning a cold “Hmph,” as the chosen one turned his back towards the closing corridor. He shouldn’t underestimate Cloud, he was quite the opponent to be able to match the legendary hero of SOLDIER in battle. He thought perhaps he should check on Cloud, to make sure the man didn’t interfere in the state he’d left the blond in. Then again, even if it riled up Cloud to pick up his blade once more hopefully Strife would go after it instead of him. Though, with the information he knew he could easily manipulate Cloud into going after him instead, so he truly needed to keep an eye on things. Yes, after researching a little more he would check on Cloud once more just to make sure that things were the way they should be and continue onward with his quest.

Pushing these thoughts to the back of his mind, Sephiroth knew it was time to leave this place. Trying to make sense of the worlds on the other side was more difficult than he’d expected, but even if he reached the wrong destination once there he could find his way back on track once more. He wasn’t worried; there was no need to be. He’d learned all he could about the heartless, now it was time to learn of nobodies and continue his search for the source of the keyblade’s power. Armed with the information and questions that the man had left to him, Sephiroth opened his arms and began to rise into the air while light and darkness both began to emanate from him. A glyph pulsed in the air, the energy consuming him before retreating into the glyph. It vanished shortly after, removing any trace of Sephiroth in the realm outside of a few stray feathers.

Just another step closer to finding the answers, Sephiroth chuckled as he moved on.

----------------

Sephiroth has left the thread, and it is now complete.