End of Exile [Intro to New Plot!!!, Azalea, Closed]

[Deleted]

How long...

How long had it been...

Years? Decades? Centuries? Millennia?

Breathing the same stale air of the Realm of Darkness

Seeing only the Heartless...

Craving Hearts but never able to satisfy the hunger.

The being now known as Tenebra had been sealed here for so long, time had become meaningless. His perception was only corrected by his "eyes" and "ears". The Heartless. They were practically his family. Others in the worlds used them as fodder and slaves for their own will. Tenebra considered them his children, even those Emblem Heartless that wretch created. In return, he knew the events of the worlds. So much had transpired. Keybladers came and went. Worlds coming within a hair's breadth away of being annihilated. All... so pointless. Everything ended in darkness and the struggles of the Worlds were ultimately futile against the tide. Tenebra longed to break the seal the Keybladers had made to imprison him. But for all the power he had amassed before being sealed and being stuck in the Realm of Darkness, he was powerless against the seal. He had long ago figured out that only another Keyblader could break the seal.

So he watched...

And waited...

Eventually, the presence of a certain Keyblader awoke his desire to be free again. Her heart was filled with sorrow and denial. Guilt. Anger at herself. Yesssss... He found the right one. The darkness within her Heart would be the catalyst needed to destroy the seal. From within the Realm, Tenebra looked up at the Seal, smiling maniacally. At long last... he would be free. Once again, he would feast on the Hearts of everyone and every world. It took every fiber of his being to keep from losing his patience. No, he needed to approach this as carefully as possible. He may not get another chance. Through the Darkness... he sent a subconscious message to the Keyblader named Azalea. Telling her to come to the Keyblade Graveyard.

Telling her to come see her long lost brother...

[Deleted]

Nothing made sense in her mind. Logically, she was aware of her brother's death. The death caused by Mael. She had begun to remember the man after their chance meeting. The beast had slain her brother in cold blood. It was not something she would so easily forgive. Mael had looked to destroy all the keybladers in his path, the control the future, her present. It was by chance that she had managed to find a way back to change her own future, to protect the keybladers.

She had managed to gather a few allies along the way, other had been lost in the vast distance between worlds. But, in the back of her mind, she felt hope of seeing her brother. It was extremely illogical, but the urge could not be suppressed. Eventually, she collapsed under it's weight and followed what she believed was her heart.

The young keyblader stepped out into the graveyard, surprise appearing on her face. The amount of keyblades littering the field were quite shocking. "Wha-?" She didn't understand at first till she remembered the war from the past. It was not her future. Why she was here, she didn't understand. That is, not quite yet. "Hellooooooo? Is anyone here?"

What she was not aware of was the deep darkness that was coaxing her into his den.

The girl walked for a bit, one foot in front of the other. No weapon in her hands as she leaned and turned to look in all directions at once. If anyone was watching her, they would find her movements quite childlike and silly. But, even though it was a large expanse of sand, she had no intentions of being snuck up on.

"It's just a big world of sand, sand, and more sand." She mumbled, stopping to get some sand out of her boot.

[Deleted]

"Well, well, well... you seem lost, little one."

The voice seemed to come from everywhere and also from inside Azalea's mind itself. It had a soothing tone to it, like a mentor guiding his student along. If only Azalea knew that the presence the voice was attached to was anything but calming. He had watched her search for anyone else in the area, amused by her child-like movements. "Lost... yes, that is what you are, isn't it? But not in just the physical sense of the word. Your Heart is lost, too, isn't it? Yes... I see it..."

Now to set the bait...

"You miss him, don't you? Your brother, correct? Cut before his time by a monstrous being. Such a tragedy..." Such a comedy, rather. The presence thought to himself before continuing his web of lies. "Of course... something good can come out of any tragedy. If you wish it, I can help you. You can be reunited with your brother after so long. And the both of you can save your future from that tyrant. You can set things right, Azalea. All you have to do is make one choice. It is a simple one... look above you." If Azalea looked hard enough, she would see a faint magical Seal in the sky flicker in the sky. "It has been so long ago that I have long since forgotten, but once upon a time, I was a hero. A hero to all before I was ruthlessly cut down by villains of such depravity that I dare not speak of it." Tenebra mentally cursed the Keybladers who sealed him before continuing. "They sealed me in the Realm of Darkness and left me to be taken by the Heartless. I'm sure you would agree that is a fate worse than Death. But I have survived until this very moment, in spite of those who would do me harm. However, I fear I will not survive for long. Break the seal that binds me here and I will bring your brother back as gratitude for your kindness. I know of a few ways to aid this endeavor. I believe this is an acceptable trade, isn't it?" And then Tenebra waited, as he had for so long. Darkness started building towards the seal in anticipation. ... I swear, if she starts interrogating me...

[Deleted]

The girl felt alone and lost, not really sure why she'd let herself wander here. There wasn't any rhyme or reason to coming, just this deep feeling that she would find someone she had lost. But, there was nothing here worth coming for. The keyblader was planning on looking for a way out soon if things did not change at all.

That's when a voice seemed to echo in her head, causing the blonde to practically jump out of her skin. "WAH!?" She squeaked, spinning around to find the source. But, there wasn't anyone within earshot. Her bright eyes shot up to the sky, scanning to see if it had happened to have come from overhead. Unfortunately, it had not and she felt like prey all of a sudden. Then again, it was probably the fear that had struck her. "WHO? What?!?" She asked, still spinning and looking about.

The deep voice continued to talk, the keyblader still feeling quite lost in more than one way. "Lost? What do you mean? Who are you?" She asked once more, unsure if this voice could even hear her. The girl was very naive and it had always been a flaw of hers. Tenebra seemed to know this and was exploiting one of her weaknesses.

The expression on the girl's face became broken at the mention of her brothers. "How do you.....who are you?" She missed her brother dearly, having lost him at the hands of the fiend Mael. The beast had cut him down and she had been forced to escape to the past to save the other keybladers, as well as her brother. This voice was offering what she truly wanted. The girl listened to the instructions, her eyes moving to the sky above her head.

It was a nice deal, the voices freedom for her brother's life. Who would turn down such an option. Even if it was a fleeting chance, it was something she would regret taking. "...You can bring him back?" She asked, feeling like a child again. He did say he was a hero that was trapped...

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Tenebra's excitement and anticipation nearly blew his cover as his patience started to wear thin. However, he kept calm. He couldn't let himself lose out on his one chance of freedom over such an idiotic mistake. Might as well entertain her questions. What did he have to lose? "'Who am I?' That... is a question I've not been asked in a long time. A long, long time. My isolation has caused me to forget so much. I have deigned to call myself "Tenebra" these days, or "Ten" if you so wish. I thought it was rather appropo when I came up with it." Tenebra heard Azalea's meek voice speak of her brother and he tried so hard not to laugh. Such a naive little child she was. How comfortable was she living in denial, Tenebra wondered to himself.

"I can, my dear. Though my power has waned over time, I can still bring those who have passed back from the afterlife... for now. If my power continues to diminish or I can no longer survive this dangerous Realm, then even that ability will be lost forever. I'm sure you can understand the gravity of your choice, little one. It's either now... or never." That part wasn't a lie... sort of. If Azalea didn't believe Tenebra, then it truly was now or never. "But don't let me pressure you, my dear. After all, it is a simple choice to make and I doubt you will have met anyone with the power to bring your brother back. I don't think even a Keyblader could manage it, at least not any one person. Trust me... granting me my freedom will be the best thing you ever did."

[Deleted]

Was it truly hope that lay inside Pandora's Box?

Azalea felt the gravity of the choice as well as the hope pushing from inside. A chance like this she could not miss. The keyblader sensed no darkness from this voice. He claimed to be an ally to her cause, someone that only wanted to help her stop Mael and reclaim the future she prayed so desperately to be able to see again. This was not a chance she could pass up. There was no way this could be false hope.

It didn't make logical sense that some being trapped for years in the darkness could perform such miracles, but the keyblader was not using her head. The only thing she thought she was using was her heart. What a farce that was. The only thing she was feeling was personal gain. All she cared for was her brother and she would have given up the worlds to see him alive and standing there next to her.

"Tenebra...." She repeated, feeling only faintly hesitant. "....alright. I'll agree to the terms. My brother and our future fixed for your freedom." She nodded, destroying all the work those years ago at sealing away this darkness.

The keyblader raised her arm, summoning her keyblade in a flash of light. It was then that she unlocked the door.

[Deleted]

Tenebra felt the seal shatter into pieces. It could hardly believe it was happening. How long had it been since he was imprisoned? It didn't matter. NONE of it mattered. It laughed... it laughed loud and maniacally, glad that all of its plans had finally come to fruition. Azalea could a rift appear in the sky, like a long tear. Darkness smoked out of the rift as it finished spreading across the sky. Then Azalea could see unbelievably giant hands grab the sides of the tear and open it further, allowing Azalea a glimpse into the Realm of Darkness. Then the hand's owners leaned out of the rift. It was a massive Heartless, dwarfing even the Darksides. It had eyes and mouths everywhere on its body, including where they should be. It looked around at the outside world, leaned down... and roared. The roar was deafening and mind-shatteringly unearthly. Shockwaves of Darkness emanated from the roar to spread throughout the worlds.

Everywhere, on all worlds, the Heartless froze and looked towards the Keyblade Graveyard, sensing that their master had finally come back. They then disappeared to meet him. Those beings with Darkness in their Hearts could sense the presence of the monstrous creature and feel a pull to serve him lest they be destroyed. Ansem's Computer in Radiant Garden started blaring an alarm, sensing the presence of a powerful Heartless. Back in the Keyblade Graveyard, the creature stopped roaring and dropped through the rift. As it fell, it stopped halfway and reformed into a sphere, like it was an ooze-like substance. The sphere of darkness started to draw in the darkness that was leaking out of the rift. Once it had done so, the rift closed and disappeared. The sphere then began to grow smaller and smaller, condensing further and further. Once it was small enough, it changed its shape until it resembled a man. The figure had its back to Azalea and seemed to be wearing a yellow cloak and a suit, with leather wrapped around his arms and gloves over his hands. He floated down to the ground and as soon as his very toes touched the ground, veins of Darkness immediately arched out from his feet, corrupting the very ground he walked on. A pool of darkness beneath his feet spread a few feet from him, with the veins spreading out from the pool. He took a deep breath, savoring the air.

"No pleasure so great can compare to the loveliness of freedom." Tenebra said, chuckling darkly. "After so long..., I'm finally free. Free to do what I please!" Tenebra laughed again, then looked at the female Keyblader behind it. "And it's all thanks to you. Let's see... what was it you wanted..." Tenebra mockingly stroked his chin in thought at Azalea. "That's right! Your brother! Just one moment..." Tenebra clenched his fist, held it to his mouth and then opened his hand, blowing across it as if he was blowing Azalea a kiss. A Corridor of Darkness shot up in front of Azalea for a few minutes and then sank back into the ground. In its place... was Azalea's brother, back among the living. Well, to Azalea, the brother was living and breathing. The real deal. However, to all outside observers, the truth was clear. It was a Heartless, merely in the form of the brother's silhouette. Tenebra knew the truth behind Azalea's shattered heart, the reason why her dark obsession was the only thing left in her Heart. So, he used his control over darkness to override her shattered will and make her see only her brother. "I hope you are happy with this." Tenebra smiled. The "brother" looked up at Azalea.

"S-Sister?"

[Deleted]

Azalea had no idea what she had let loose upon the worlds. The moment that she unlocked the gate was the exact moment she felt a wave of fear and regret wash over her. This was not hope in the box, it was the end. She could not remember the last time she'd felt this emotion in the past. All she knew was that this being was exiting the Realm of Darkness and had this overwhelming presence that could stop all being in its place.

All the keybearer could do was stand there and watch. There was no place to run or hide in the wide open field from such a terror. The creature let out a mighty roar that caused Azalea to scream a bit in surprise, causing her to fall back. She supported herself with her hands, catching herself in the fall.

The creature calmed a bit, morphing and descending nearby. From that pent up darkness came a man, strangely garbed as if taken straight from the past. The girl may have been naive, but even she knew what she had done wrong. The darkness practically dropped from his form. Had the being not spoken up when it had, Azalea would have probably stuck her foot quite deeply in her mouth. Tenebra spoke up about the freedom before bringing up their barter. Azalea slowly moved back to her feet, slowly brushing the sand from her skirt as Tenebra spoke.

Azalea nodded faintly, remaining absolutely quite. Could he truly bring her brother back? If anyone could do something like that, someone from the darkness could. Right? She began to open her mouth to speak when Tenebra remembered what it was that she truly wanted. How he knew that desire to begin with was beyond her.

Tenebra made a gesture with his hand before blowing a kiss toward her. In front of her, the direction of the kiss, a form began to emerge from the darkness. Azalea backed up a bit instinctively in case it was another trick. However, sheer shock and mixed emotions struck her face at the sight of her brother. He was there, standing, in one piece. "Aius!?" The tears began to flow down her cheeks as she gasped for air and quickly moved to hug him tightly, squeezing her eyes shut as she cried into his shoulder. "You're okay.....you're here....." She sobbed, holding him closely. She was just like a child.

It had all been worth it in her mind. Yes, she had done a great evil, but she had her brother back. Maybe he would keep the remainder of his word and help her restore the future, not that she would make it her concern if not. All she had wanted to change was her brother's fate in her reality.

[Deleted]

Tenebra chuckled again as he watched the little girl embrace the Heartless. If she only knew. The thought of taking away the illusion and making the Heartless destroy her made him feel so happy. He walked towards the couple, his toothy smile etched into his face. "Well, this is just precious. Now, normally I'd have you be indebted to me, Azalea." Then he shrugged. "But since you did me such a huge favor, I think I'll let you think about working with me. Take as long as you need. I think you and your brother have a lot to catch up on." Aius looked up at Azalea and smiled, hugging her close.

"Just remember, little one. Your brother came back with the power of Darkness. There are a lot of people who'd see your brother as an abomination. Personally, I think they're idiots. Light, Darkness, it's never been anything more than how you use them. But they don't care... if it's aligned with the Darkness, it needs to die. How's that for justice, right? So who are you going to work for? The guy who resurrected your brother or the people who'd kill him simply for existing? Sounds a lot like a bunch of Maels running around to me." Tenebra turned away to hide the malicious grin he couldn't hide any longer. "But go on. Be with your brother. You deserve it more than anything, right? If you want to talk about work, you know how to find me." Tenebra then looked up at the sky and waited for Azalea to leave... or to take him up on his offer. Either way, she would come running to him eventually.

[Deleted]

Azalea couldn't hear or think much over the thoughts running through her head. Her brother was safe and in her arms. That was all that mattered in this fleeting moment. The world could have literally been falling apart around her and she wouldn't have cared. He was safe and alive. Things could not be much better than this.

It took the keybearer a moment to hear the voice that seemed to catch her ear just over her own emotions. The girl sniffled, rubbing her eyes as she shifted from her brother's arms to look over at Tenebra. His words didn't really mean much to her right now. They were even and she had no intention of working with darkness. Tenebra seemed alright for the moment, but she knew of the darkness and it was not something to be messed with.

Her brother hugged her close and she smiled faintly at him, weary of Tenebra. It was obvious to her that he was trying to swing her to his side of the war he was about to wage. She shook her head defensively. "You're wrong." She stated, looking down. "...I do appreciate your help and I am sure you do mine. However, you are wrong. They aren't like that. They won't shun someone with darkness simply because of that." Her allies would not harm her brother. She felt it deep in her heart that this was true.

She nodded faintly to him, frowning a bit in confusion. "....I know where to find you? How would I know that?" She asked, not understanding how she'd know.

[Deleted]

Tenebra sighed and shrugged. "Very well, it's your choice. Just... remember this conversation and remember who exactly was the one to set me free. As for where you can find me... well... just follow your Heart." He then teleported to the complete other side of the world, leaving Azalea all by herself with her "brother"

Tenebra walked to the edge of the cliff and looked over it. Down below was not just a group of Heartless. Not a battalion or even an army. It was a flood. The ground beneath the cliff was completely covered in Heartless of all different shapes and sizes, from the smallest Shadow to the aptly-named Groundshakers. Tenebra smiled as it held its arms out. "My BROTHERS! It is so good to be back in the worlds again!" He spoke with an excited and bombastic tone. "Your King... No, YOUR EMPEROR is free once again! And now it is time we take what is ours! No longer will we fear the Keyblade! The worlds will tremble in fear. FOR THEY ARE OUR MAIN COURSE!" Tenebra laughed at the idea. "All of the Hearts that exist will be for our banquet. And when we have eaten every Heart that exists, we shall go to Kingdom Hearts... AND WE SHALL CONSUME IT! NOW GO! GO AND DESTROY EVERYTHING!"

Tenebra laughed as the Heartless teleported to the various worlds, eager to serve their "true master", as Tenebra so preferred to call itself. It still had one thing to do... taking a deep breath and stabbed himself in the torso with his own hands, laughing maniacally as he did so. It pulled two large orbs of Darkness and the veins and pool of darkness that had been corrupting the ground beneath him shrank away and disappear. It then threw the orbs into the sky, which flew off in different directions. "KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GO! GO AND CAUSE CHAOS! STRIFE! MAKE THEM SUFFER AND SCREAM AND CRY! AND WHEN THEY'RE ON THE EDGE OF DESPAIR, TAKE THEIR HEARTS!"

It then laughed and laughed and laughed...

Kingdom Hearts: Confused Memories

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Forsaken Blight