#naude lucem

[orangemoonxworks]

ORANGE MOON works | List of works + updates ------------------------------------------------------------------- LIFTED Episode 1: Notebook Nostalgia > Part 1 | Part 2 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- KINGDOM HEARTS: //DIVERGE Volume 0: March of the Fools > Prologue, The Foretellers — I > Prologue, The Foretellers — II > Prologue, The Foretellers — III > Prologue, The Foretellers — IV > Prologue, The Foretellers — V > Prologue, The Foretellers — VI > Prologue, The Foretellers — VII > March of the Fools, Part I — I > March of the Fools, Part I — II > March of the Fools, Part I — III > March of the Fools, Part I — IV ----------------------------------------------------------------- ORANGE MOON works | working for the moon

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 MARCH OF THE FOOLS, PART I — IV WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -------------------------------------------------

The Argentum Tower was the second tallest tower in the Seventh District – the tallest being the Vulpes Unionis Praetoria, the headquarters of the Vulpes Union. The Argentum Tower was known for its unique clockface which had thirteen numbers instead of twelve. Out of the seven clock towers in Daybreak, each district having its own, it was the only one whose clockface wasn’t functional. For some reason, its hands never moved – both were stuck thirteen. This led to many theories and conspiracies. Nevertheless, it was the perfect place for both the Union Cross students since the surrounding atmosphere was calm.

The balcony below the clockface was a spot known only to a few, and those few were currently there: Blaine, the Vulpes Union’s only Keyblade Master, a man in his early twenties whose black and grey hair fell past his shoulders. His face was mostly hidden by his tipped down fedora. All Keyblade Masters had to don their white and silver union robes but were free to wear whatever under them. Black was his style, so his clothing and fedora was just that.

Ephemer, the white-haired young man with the red scarf around his neck, was bent over the railing and gazing down below through a pair of binoculars. His short hair and scarf blew with the wind. “Whoa, I’m seeing loads of new faces down there.”

“Why are you wearing those ridiculous things?” said Lauriam, the other young man with short dark-pink hair, looking up from the small book in his hand. Unlike Ephemer who was dressed somewhat stylishly, his attire was similar to a bartender’s. He continued “And peeping at others no less.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m just checking out the new blood.” he replied, flapping his hand. “I guess Grandmaster Ava recruited more people this year.”

“You should be focused on the task at hand.” said Auden, the young woman sitting on the floor with her legs folded. Her stringy and curly sand-colored hair was short, and her eyes green-ish black. She was intensely monitoring a device. Its screen suddenly shut off and she slapped her thighs. “Damn it! Stop screwing up every five seconds!!”

“You’ve been tinkering with that since we got here.” Lauriam said, watching as she annoyedly rebooted the device. “Are you sure it’s not broken?”

“No, it’s completely fine. I’ve just been toying around with it for fun!” Auden sarcastically replied.

“What is that thing anyway?” Ephemer asked.

“It’s an Aether Meter. It scans an area within a set radius then measures and records the concentration of aether in the atmosphere.” Auden explained. “Normally, it’s used for detecting aetheric imbalances but due to the recent spike in shadow scourges, somebody requested it to be modified to detect darkness. And guess who got stuck with field testing this stupid crap? You guessed it.”

Ephemer looked at the device in awe. “Wait, can it really do that?”

“Apparently. You could use it as is to detect darkness just by observing the recorded aether balances, but that’s not reliable. Because darkness, or “nether”, has a unique energy signature, modifying these meters to detect it is a nightmare since the slightest exposure could corrupt your own aether. Luckily, the Mages at the Ars Magna Guild were crazy enough to make it work – or so they thought!”

“Cool. So, what’s wrong with it?”

“If I had the answer to that, I would’ve fixed it by now!”

Blaine groaned then spoke, slightly lifting his hat. “You’re too loud. Relax and take a break.”

“Shut it, you lazy bum!” Auden shot back. “Why don’t you get off your butt and help!?”

“Nope. That’s your expertise. Try turning it off and on. Works on most things.”

“It’s not a light switch! And if that was the case, it’d be working now given how many times it’s –”

A beep sounded off. The aether meter’s display began fading. “Damn it! It shut off again!”

Ephemer kneeled down and tapped the meter. “Maybe it’s out of juice.”

“Or it’s an old piece of crap that needs to be overhauled. Yeah, let’s go with that.”

“Why did you bring it anyway?” Blaine questioned. “Not like it’ll be any help if a scourge appears.”

“Gah! Were you even listening?! I told you earlier!” Auden snapped then groaned. “Somebody, probably one of the Grandmasters, wants the guardians to start using these in hopes that it’ll give them an edge when dealing with the shadow scourges. In theory, it makes sense – less destruction and casualties if they can get to a scourge-inflicted area faster. But in practice? Tch! Who knows. If it works, maybe.”

Lauriam closed his book then tucked it away in his back pocket. “Well, we’re here. If anything happens, we’ll know even without that meter. On a different note, I should visit my sister once we’re done. It’s been a few days since we’ve talked. I wonder if her classes are going well.”

Ephemer poked a finger into his cheek. “Oh, right. She’s studying to become a Mage, isn’t she?”

“Yes. It’s unfortunate – she’s much more adept with aethereal arts than I am. She would be a great addition to the Lux Unitas if she could only get through the physical hurdles. But my sister has never been a fighter. I feel that’s for the best. She’s a bit too soft-hearted for the battlefield.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that.” Ephemer backed into the balcony’s railing, then relaxed his hands behind his neck. “Being a Guardian isn’t just about the action. Everyone contributes in some way. I mean, without Mages we’d be toast.”

“Still, it’d ease my mind if she’d learn how to protect herself.”

“She’ll have to regardless.” Blaine spoke up. “Can’t become a Guardian or a Mage without knowing your way around a keyblade. She’ll need to train under a Master for a little while.”

“Huh? Really? Isn’t that just for the Lux Unitas?” Ephemer asked.

“If it was, then Auden wouldn’t be here.” Blaine answered.

Ephemer’s eyes widened as he turned to her. “Wait, you’re not a Guardian???”

“Not important.” Auden replied, brushing him off. The aether meter’s small screen slowly lit up and displayed a pixelated version of the Ars Magna Guild’s insignia. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew! Okay, here we go. It’s working again. Now I just need you to stay on long enough for me to get a reading. Expand the radius a bit, and…”

She smacked her palms together then giddily grinned. “Bingo! Now we just wait for the meter to measure and record the aetheric balance here.”

Still surprised about the Auden revelation, Ephemer continued “Huh. Didn’t know we could take apprentices out on missions.”

“If something serious happens, say a shadow scourge, then the students of Union Cross are obligated to act for the safety of themselves and others around them. They don’t have keyblades for nothing.”

“Isn’t that dangerous though? I mean, they’re only students. There’s but so much they can do.”

“Like it or not, that’s what you sign up for when you enroll in Union Cross.”

“Well, yeah but, still…”

“Yes!!!” Auden shouted out if the blue, startling Ephemer whose body instinctively jerked. “Er, I mean, crap! We’ve got something!”

The guys, including Blaine who reluctant peeled himself off the bench and dragged his feet, crowded around her and stared the meter’s screen. “Based on the aether concentration reading, there’s an aetheric imbalance about two kilometers from here which lines up with the darkness detection point. What’s worse is that the darkness gathering there is steadily growing by the sec – hold on, I know this area. It’s on the campus grounds.”

Lauriam backed away and stood up. “Then it’s a shadow scourge. We should get going then.”

Auden raised her hand. “Wait! That’s not all. It’s also picking up another detection point but…there’s something strange. The aether balance in this area is fine and there doesn’t appear to be darkness accumulating there, at least not for now. I wonder what set the meter’s detection off.”

“Hmm. I’ll go check it out.” Blaine said then stood up and removed his hat, then cast it away at the snap of his fingers. His gaze shifted to his subordinates. “You two get to the campus grounds. It’s likely to be engulfed in chaos by the time you get there, so do whatever you can. Once the area is evacuated, find the inception point and destroy the harbinger. That’s the only way to put a stop to the scourge.”

Ephemer summoned his keyblade then leapt onto the railing. He stood perfectly still even with the wind pushing against him. Looking over his shoulder at Blaine, he eagerly replied “Roger that, Master!”

Lauriam sighed. Summoning his own keyblade, he leapt into the air, briefly stepping on the balcony railing, then pushed himself off and vanished. He reappeared in a flash, stepping on a rooftop a short distance away, then vanished again. It was a technique called “quick step” that guardians used for fast traversal. Ephemer jumped from the balcony and followed after.

With them gone, Blaine spoke to Auden “You stay here. Let me know if anything changes.”

“Will do.” Auden lazily waved her hand, focusing on the aether meter. “You know, when you actually act like a Master, there’s a part of me that almost respects you. Almost.”

He lightly groaned. “I’ll pretend that was a compliment.”

Blaine placed his hand over his chest, then teleported away. -------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 MARCH OF THE FOOLS, PART I — III WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -------------------------------------------------

The First District was the central point of Daybreak and at its heart stood a massive clock tower that rose into the clouds. If one were to reach the highest point of it, not only could they see all six of the districts surrounding it but a vast stretch of grasslands, an endless ocean to the west, and a barren wasteland far out in the distance. The clock tower, Arx ad Arbitris Tempus (“Stronghold for the Arbiters of Time”), was the base of operations for the Foretellers and the Lux Unitas. Of the seven districts that made up Daybreak, the First was naturally Ira’s jurisdiction.

As the others gradually arrived in the assembly chamber, finding their place around the long oval shaped table at the center of the room, Ira stood by the row of wall-sized windows gazing outside. Once everyone was fully present, he made his way to the head of the table. Since this was a private gathering, none of the Foretellers wore their iconic masks.

Ira cleared his throat then began. “Good. You’re all here.”

“You summoned us.” Gula snarkily replied.

“Well, I know you’re all busy – myself included. I’ll try to keep things short.”

Invi asked a question. “Is this about the Second District? Has any progress been made?”

“That happens to be one of the purposes of this meeting.” Ira replied. “We’ll be discussing what’s been happening lately concerning the scourges and the catastrophe that befell the Second District. I’m sure you’re all eager to know what’s going on, so that’s where we’ll begin.”

Ira continued. “We’re still eradicating the darkness. It hasn’t been easy, and we’ve lost some people in the process. I imagine it’ll be a long time before the district can return to any semblance of normal. Still, we’ve made some strides. We’ve managed to clear out a big portion of the district which has allowed our Guardians to advance further in. We’ve also strengthened and condensed the size of the barrier as we’ve progressed to keep the remaining darkness contained, and our mages have been hard at work cleansing the darkness and restoring the aether that once permeated the district.”

“Unfortunately, aether degradation is a serious concern. The black coats the Master provided us do well enough to stave off the darkness, but they were made specifically for us. The Master didn’t leave behind blueprints for them either, so reproducing the black coats is next to impossible. That means our Guardians and Mages are unprotected and perpetually at risk. And that’s something I can’t allow to continue. I’ve asked the Ars Magna Guild to study the coats and see if they can come up with an alternative. For now, we’ll have to lend our spares to those stationed in the district.”

Invi spoke in agreement. “That’s fine. I’m sure no one here has an issue with that.”

Aced interjected. “Tch. I don’t mind handing over the coats, but don’t go speaking for everyone.”

“It’s not as if it’s negotiable. Our Guardians and Mages need them.”

Aced replied, “Even so, our choices aren’t dictated by circumstance. We just happen to collectively agree on the matter at hand. It isn’t as cut and dry as you believe.”

Invi’s eyes narrowed. “These are trying times we’re in, Aced. You can feel however you want but we don’t have the luxury to be selfish and petulant.”

“What was that?” Aced sharply replied, arms folded against his chest.

Ira quickly interjected. “Enough, you two.”

Gula mumbled under his breath. “Looks like the meeting’s starting smoothly as always.”

Ira continued. “Anyway, let’s move on. Putting aside the Second District’s restoration, there is another important matter that must be addressed. Many lives were lost during the scourge – an estimation of 700 according to the Vitalis Registrum.”

Invi’s eyes widened. “700? That’s… so many.”

Ira went on. “An entire district of unsuspecting lives was taken. It has… been a challenge dealing with the aftermath. Understandably, people are in distress. Loved ones, friends, partners and whatnot all perished either due to fatal encounters with the shadows, or affliction of aether degradation. We’re doing what we can for those in mourning, but we can’t alleviate their sorrows.”

Ira extended the palm of his hand in Ava’s direction. “Ava and I have been preparing a grand ceremony to honor the lost. Their names will also be engraved in the Garden of Remembrance’s Wall of Memories. It is the least we can do. From this point forward, our goal – no, our mission – is to ensure something of that magnitude doesn’t happen again.”

Ira briefly paused. “That being said, although we’ve been working to the best of our abilities to pinpoint the cause of the shadow scourges, we’ve not made any significant progress other than detecting them the moment they occur. It isn’t enough time to act or prevent catastrophes. With the recent spike in scourges, our realm is in danger. We need to figure out what’s causing them and why.”

Aced chimed in. “We all have our own theories. You know where I stand, but I’m curious to know what everyone else’s thoughts are. Maybe one of us could add some insight.”

“Yes, and that’s next point of discussion.” Ira declared. “It’s why I’ve summoned you all here today. Of course, if there are other issues you’d like to bring up, they will be accepted within reason and discussed afterward. With that said, the floor is all yours. Any thoughts?”

Invi spoke first. “Hmm, well given the frequency in which they’ve been appearing, I can only assume that gaps have formed along the barrier. Even when the Master was here, it was under constant threat from the darkness. Luckily, he was able to maintain it. Without him here, the barrier likely can’t sustain this realm anymore. I believe the scourges are splinters of the darkness that’s managed to push its way in.”

Ira nodded in agreement. “Then you and I are of the same mind.”

Gula interjected. “Anyone could come to that conclusion. Since this realm’s inception, there haven’t been any run-ins with the darkness. The fact that we’re dealing with this now is reason enough to believe that.”

“Then what’s you’re take?” Invi asked.

“I don’t have one.” Gula replied while sighing, leaning back with his arms behind his head. “We don’t know jack shit and speaking on hypotheticals is a waste of time.”

“If you don’t have anything to say, then don’t speak.” Aced said, irritated.

“You don’t decide that. Gula isn’t wrong, but this is still a discussion.” Ira told him.

“That he should contribute to!” Aced angrily cut in. “He doesn’t get a pass for being a lazy prick!”

Gula grinned. “Wow. Those are some sharp words. Someone’s been studying comebacks.”

“You cheeky little bastard. Don’t make me –”

“Enough. Both of you.” Ira sternly spoke.

Ava spoke up. “If you’re both done, I’ll offer my opinion. For the sake of discussion, let’s assume that there are two truths; one where we have darkness intruding from the outside, and one where there’s someone orchestrating events from the inside. I take it that you lean toward the latter right, Aced?”

Aced responded with a nod, arms tightly folded.

Ava continued. “If there is someone causing the scourges to happen, then that means we’re likely dealing with someone who follows the path of darkness and knows how to wield its power. Darkness warps the heart, the mind, and the soul but it can’t strip away a person’s will. Whatever they decide to do is purely their own choice. The darkness only gives them a nudge.

“So? What are you getting at?” Aced asked.

Ava replied, “If we’re going to stick with that theory, then a reason has to exist.”

Aced’s face instantly scowled at her suggestion. “Tch! Does a reason matter if they’re a traitor? That should be enough for them to be dealt with.”

“Understanding their motives is important for what we’re dealing with.”

Gula responded, “Anyone who follows the path of darkness is either inadvertently or directly carrying out its will – which is to erase light from existence. We all know this from our teachings. That doesn’t help us solve the problem of who’s responsible.”

Invi agreed. “Right. We need to pinpoint a culprit.”

Ava continued, “In a general sense, you’re right Gula. But apart from the will of darkness, people have their own goals and desires that they pursue. Let’s think about it this way; if there was something you really wanted from the bottom of your heart, then you’d do whatever’s necessary to get it, right?  We should look at a potential culprit the same way; what would they want that’s worth the destroying this realm? And what if the shadow scourges aren’t just coincidences but calculated distractions?”

Ira spoke. “You’re implying the culprit is searching for something? I assume you have an idea.”

“It could be many things.” Ava replied then explained. “Our realm’s Heart crystal, the Kingdom key, the Hands of Caelum, the Cubis datums on Project Vitas Replica, or even the Book of Prophecies. These are all things that have been carefully hidden – all of which are important to the future of not only this realm, but also the continued preservation of light.”

Aced nodded. “Hmm, that makes sense. But if what you’re saying turns out to be true, then we’ll have no choice but to address the elephant in the room.”

“Being?” Ava asked.

“The only people who know they exist are the people in this room.”

A deafening silence immediately filled the room. Although Aced wasn’t fazed, the glares from Ira, Ava, and Invi were scathingly sharp enough to stab through one’s soul.

Ira spoke, his voice dark. “Aced, you…”

“I can’t believe you. Are you seriously implying that one of us is a traitor?!” Invi shouted.

“Everything Ava’s said so far falls in line with what I believe to be true. It’s almost uncanny.”

“I was just posing a hypothesis, nothing more.” Ava responded.

“Are you sure? You seem to be very interested in the matter.” Aced eyes narrowed suspiciously. “In the eight years I’ve known you, you’ve never gotten deeply involved with anything other than the Academia. Of course, that is your district so that’s to be expected. But still, it’s uncharacteristic of you. Hmph. I wonder, if what you’ve been saying this whole time is your actual thoughts, or…”

Ava’s brows and voice rose. “So, you think I’m a traitor??”

Invi furiously yelled, “No, I’m not letting that slide! Nobody in this room – including you, Aced – is a traitor! That you would even come to such a conclusion is sickening!”

“And she wasn’t nudging us to this point?!” Aced angrily shouted back. “We’re the only ones who know about those things! A traitor being in our ranks makes perfect sense! If one of us was corrupted by the darkness, then they’d have the power to bypass the barrier and allow darkness to break through!”

“For what reason would any of us need to risk the well-being of this realm?!” Invi responded. “Over the Heart crystal whose domain is protected by the World Gate and can only be opened with the Kingdom Key of which neither of us knows where it is?! The same goes for the Book of Prophecies! And not to mention the Hands of Caelum is a lost art! We’ve barely, barely scratched the surface on that! And Project Vita Replica is nothing more than a fantasy that will never be realized! Don’t you understand that?!”

Gula chuckled. “Wow, Aced. You’re on fire right now.”

“Shut your damn mouth, lazy bum!!!” Aced screamed.

Ira raised his voice. “Aced, calm yourself now!

“I won’t! I’m not backing down from this!” Aced furiously yelled back. “You say the traitor couldn’t be anyone in this room, but what of the people around us?! Anyone could be eavesdropping on us at any moment! Anyone could know about those things and gain an understanding of how to weaponize them against the realm!”

Invi jumped in. “So, what? We’re supposed to be suspicious of the entire realm?! By your logic, everyone is a traitor. The people’s trust lies with us, and ours lies with them! You’d rather we trample on all that just so you can feel some sort of vindication?!”

Aced’s large beefy fists crashed down onto the table. “I’d rather we get rid of the damn traitor so we can keep protecting this realm and the light!! You’re all too soft, naïve, and indecisive!! At some point, after everything that’s happened over the past year, it should’ve crossed your minds that there’s likely a traitor amongst us! Even that know-it-all buffoon we called our master would’ve come to that conclusion!!!”

Invi’s eyes widened and burned ferociously. She could tolerate Aced’s vitriol to a certain extent, but his disrespect for the Master was something her heart wouldn’t let slide. As the air rushed from her lungs to her mouth, the veins in her neck bulged bright red. “Don’t you dare speak about him like that!!”

Ignoring her outburst, Aced turned to their leader Ira. “And you – the man of the hour. You’ve let things spiral this far out of control to the point that the realm is on the verge of collapsing. And you’re supposed to be our leader? Tch! What a joke. I knew he made the wrong choice.”

Invi summoned her keyblade and, in a flash, appeared above Aced swinging her keyblade down on him. Aced quickly drew his own keyblade, blocking strike. The clash sent a small shockwave through the room. Despite the intensity of her strike, Aced’s raw strength easily overpowered her. He swung his keyblade. Invi leapt back, avoiding his attack, and landed on the table. She extended her arm out slightly, turning her keyblade sideways while still gripping the handle, then grabbed its tip with her other hand. Thin streams of water begin swirling in the air around her.

Aced kicked his chair back and readied himself. Suddenly, a white beam of light shot between them. It tore through the table, cutting it clean in half. Instead of piercing through the wall and leaving a gaping hole, it bounced off and traveled around the room hitting several other surfaces before returning to Ira’s keyblade. The chamber was nearly demolished – only the others stood unaffected. Invi, lying on one half of the split table on the floor, glared at him. Ira lowered his keyblade and sighed.

“I’ve had enough. This discussion doesn’t seem to be going anywhere meaningful, and I’d rather this not escalate any further. For now, the meeting will be adjourned. We’ll resume another time.”

Aced withdrew his keyblade and cast it away. “Fine by me. This was a waste of time.”

As he walked away, Gula smirked. “How about that – we actually agree on something.”

Ignoring Gula’s comment, Aced left the assembly chamber. Gula and Ava quietly followed shortly after. Invi pushed herself off the halved table then dusted off the back of her robe. Once she stepped out of the way, Ira cast a restoration art on the room, bringing it back to its former state.

“That didn’t go as well as I hoped.” Ira said.

“You should’ve expected that at this point.” Invi replied. “It was foolish of you to think that we’d all be on the same page, or even come to a collective agreement. That might’ve been true over seven years ago – before the Master disappeared, but definitely not now.”

“Maybe so. But we all took an oath to protect this realm together. As comrades, we should –”

“Look at us, Ira. Whatever comradery we had back then is long gone. Neither of us are who we used to be, and the divide between us keeps growing with each passing day.”

“I’d like to believe we can mend that.” Ira said then cast his keyblade away. “I can’t deny that it’s been difficult for everyone these past seven years. Being thrust into undertaking massive responsibilities all while shouldering the fate of an entire realm is too much for anyone to bear. Being the leader of the Lux Unitas and the overseer of this realm, trust me – I understand. You’re not alone in this.”

Ira paused, taking a short breath and briefly shutting his eyes. “To be honest with you, I find myself questioning if he made the right choice. The Master was known for his bizarre and illogical judgments but, in the end, they were always correct. I can’t help but feel this is the one time he was wrong.”

“Regardless of how things have become between us, I don’t want you to think for a second that that’s a reflection on you.” Invi said as she walked over to him, then placed a hand on his shoulder. “The Master chose you because he believed in you – just like I do. You’ve always been a leader, Ira. No matter where you go or whatever’s going on, you always manage to inspire everyone around you. You’re a light in the darkness. People see you as a symbol of hope because of how brave and selfless you are.”

She moved her hand then continued, “You go out of your way to help anyone – even to your own detriment. You’ll willingly sacrifice yourself for someone else’s sake if it means they’ll survive. And whenever the going gets tough, you never give up and never back down. You’re too stubborn for your own good. And while that does irk me sometimes, I admire that. The Master did too. That’s why, in spite of our differences, we come together whenever you need us. We trust you and you trust us. Tell me Ira, doesn’t that sound like a leader to you?”

Ira’s eyes slowly brightened and the tenseness in his body began to dissipate. All that escaped his mouth were small breaths, but subtle smile on his face was clear enough. But even so, he was still the leader of the Foretellers. Even if her words were enough to temporarily soothe his heart and mind, he had to keep up the role. And so, Ira turned away, averting her gaze, then cleared his throat. “I guess so.”

Invi’s eye lids slightly narrowed. She briefly shut her eyes, then took a small quiet breath. “Even if I think it’s futile, I’ll do what I can to help. You’re right; we may not be comrades now, but we must put our issues aside. We owe it to everyone to continue protecting the light of this realm and ensuring it thrives into the future. That was the oath we took and the promise we made to him.”

Ira’s brows nudged a bit. For some reason, his eyes dimmed.

“I’ll be looking forward to your assistance.” He replied.

“I’ll be on my way then.”

Invi said then started toward the chamber’s door. After she opened the door, she held it open with her palm pressed against it, then looked over her shoulder. “Oh, the next time you step in between me and that hot-headed grizzly bear, make sure you don’t accidentally slash my robe again. This took days to thread, you know. And this robe happens to be my favorite one.”

Ira choked then sighed. “Right, sorry about that.”

Invi closed the door behind her. Standing alone in the assembly chamber, Ira looked around the room. A ray of light broke through the clouds and shone through the thick glass windows, but it was short-lived. It was soon snuffed out by the clouds above – their shadow cast over most of the First District. Going over to the window, his gaze fell to the grounds below.

“The future, huh.” -------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 MARCH OF THE FOOLS, PART I — II WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -------------------------------------------------

Seven months later.

There were three bell towers that stood in Union Cross’s campus and upon the arrival of noon they’d rang out simultaneously. Even though they weren’t particularly loud they could still be heard throughout the vast campus that was the Seventh District. Union Cross was a haven for the students – many who aspired to become Guardians. As such, it was always busy. The Fountain of Knowledge, a large circular stone fountain surrounded by buildings, food stalls, and shops was a central hub of respite. Aside from being a symbol for the academy, the fountain was little more than a bench for the students.

“Finally! We’re done!” said Amica, a tomboyish girl with messy dark scarlet hair and eyes to match. She laid flat along the fountain rim, stretching long enough for her joints to crack, then groaned in relief. “My brain is so drained right now. I could pass out.”

“Hmm. Our lectures did run a bit long today.” This was Nos, the person sitting beside her. They were slightly taller, caramel colored hair, and eyes as blue as a clear sky.

“A bit? Today was a huge slog! Sitting through one long boring lecture after the other made me want to gouge my ears out.” She yawned, letting her arm dangle lifelessly off the edge. “My eye lids feel like dumbbells. I just wanna sleep.”

“You think hearing you whine all day was music to my ears?”

“That’s funny coming from you, ‘O silent one.” Amica said mockingly. “I’m probably the only person here who’s ever heard you speak. People think you’re a mute, you know.”

“That’s not true. And I’m not a mute.”

“Right, right. You’re just being cautious or whatever. Pfft! I think you’re afraid of people. Doesn’t matter to me though. I like being the only one who gets to hear your sweet, majestic voice.” Amica teased again, though they didn’t respond this time. She lifted her head to see them then grinned. “Oh ho-ho, is that red I see? Go on, say something. My ears are ready for pleasure.”

Nos sighed. “Cut it out.”

“Anyway, it feels good to be outside. Cool breeze, the sky’s blue, and the sun’s shining. I could close my eyes, spread my arms, and drift into the wind. Let it take me wherever.”

“Like a leaf, huh.” Nos replied.

“Yep. Light as can be and one with the wind. Free from the crappy burdens of life.”

The thought of such an experience intrigued Nos. Unfortunately, as soon as they began to imagine, reality crashed down and spoiled it all. They let out a sigh of disappointment. “If only it was that simple. I wouldn’t mind being carried by the wind. Probably feels nice.”

As the two carried on, a group of Guardians dressed in white uniforms began patrolling the area. It wasn’t unusual to see them walking around but these Guardians were from the Lux Unitas, a special force under direct order of the Grandmasters. Given the jagged fox symbol imprinted on the backs of their jackets, they were from the Vulpes Union. Nos watched as they strolled around the fountain. A few of them had their keyblades at their side, and one with it sitting over their shoulder.

“I wonder why the Lux Unitas have been patrolling the campus lately.”

“Probably because of the shadow scourges.” Amica replied, now lying on her side, face resting on her stretched arm. “They’ve been popping up more and more lately. Remember the one that totally destroyed the Second district? Everything fell to ruin, and nobody survived. I heard it’s still being quarantined until the Lux Unitas can get rid of the darkness there.”

“There’s still darkness after all this time? Do you think they can get rid of it all?”

“Doubt it. Even if they could somehow get rid of it all, that district is too far gone. It’d take years, hell, even decades to rebuild. Besides, they’re more likely worried about the next scourge.”

“Next one, huh.” Nos’s eyes followed the two Guardians who passed them. As they thought about the inevitable coming of another scourge, a sense of dread and worry crept onto them. “I wonder what’s going on. Everything was fine up until a year ago. What changed?”

“Beats me.” Amica replied.

“We’re still working towards becoming Guardians, but we have no real experience with darkness. There’s a huge difference between fighting shadows in a simulation and fighting them for real. Most of us would choke if we ever came face to face with the real thing. It’s hard to think about being in that situation.”

“Nothing we can do but try to survive.” Amica said. “No use in crying at that point. Whoever wants to fight will fight, and whoever doesn’t will run away. Honestly, I’d probably be one of the people running for their lives. Fighting sucks.”

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“You don’t know me well then.” She rolled over on her back again. “Believe it or not, I’m the world’s biggest coward. Any sign of danger and I’m heading straight for the hills and not looking back. Better to live than die trying, right?”

“Be serious for once.”

“I am. Becoming a Guardian isn’t what I want – it’s just all there is. We’re taught from the moment we’re born that being a Guardian is the end-all-be-all. And for most people, it is. Almost everyone dreams about being a hero so they can live out fantasies or protect whatever they love. But for the people who just want to live, all we can do is chase other people’s dreams. What we want doesn’t matter.”

She continued, a pitied smile on her face. “Sounds messed up, doesn’t it? Nothing to be sad about though. We all have our roles to play in this parade. Some people just get the shorter end of the stick.”

“I…didn’t know you felt the way.”

“Eh. Guardian or not,” she sat upright then pivoted herself so her legs could hang off the fountain’s edge. “I’m going to live my life the way I want. You should too. Life would totally suck if you just go with the flow and not try to be whoever you want to be.”

“Sure, but I don’t know who I’d want to be? Almost everyone in the Lux Unitas is special. They all have something that sets them apart. As for me, I can’t say that I’m special in any shape or form, so being myself is out of the question.”

“You’re selling yourself short as always. You don’t have to be special to be somebody, you goober. Just be true to yourself. Besides I like you just the way you are.” Amica grinned then poked her finger into the side of their cheek. “And don’t go getting all strawberry faced. You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I know. Now stop poking me! The edge of your nail feels like a razor blade!”

“Anyway,” she said, having stopped. She pushed herself off the fountain then raised both her arms up as if she were cheering, letting out a relieved grunt. “Enough of the gloomy talk. We’ve got the rest of the afternoon to ourselves, no? Let’s hit up some of the food stalls for some grub. And maybe we can cop a treat or two on the side.”

Nos smirked. “Uh huh. You just want an excuse to go to the shop that sells the star-shaped fruit.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let’s go!”

Amica snatched Nos’s arm, yanking them up from the fountain and almost causing them to trip over themselves, then pulled Nos along with her. -------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 MARCH OF THE FOOLS, PART I — I WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -------------------------------------------------

A never-ending ominous black haze permeated the sky over what was once a bustling residential district. Most of the Victorian-esque buildings and structures had either been reduced to rubble, partially collapsed and nearly ruined beyond recognition, or stained black across their facades. The cobble stone streets were ripped up, broken apart, and eroding. A foul stench cursed the air, and what bits of aether remained would soon be wiped away by the overflowing darkness. And that meant there were no survivors.

All of this was the aftermath of a Shadow scourge.

In spite of the Second District’s desolate and dire state, two men – Ira and Aced, both clad in fancy white robes adorned with silver and gold, strolled through. Neither could believe what they were seeing. Ira, the one wearing the unicorn mask, let out a dejected sigh. “It’s much worse than I thought.”

Aced, the burly one in the bear mask, groaned. “As usual, we’re too late. How many has it been now? I’ve lost track by this point.”

“More than enough, that’s for sure.” Ira raised his head to the black sky. “Shadow scourges have been popping up at an alarming rate. That the darkness somehow made its way here to realm whose defenses are nigh-impenetrable, and whose barrier is bathed in primordial light, is unthinkable.”

“Is it really? We’ve been dealing with this crisis for more than a year now, and despite how much investigation we’ve done, we’re just as clueless as were before.” Aced frowned. “I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time to consider that the cause of the shadow scourges isn’t coming from the outside.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I’m saying that there might be a traitor among us. Someone’s been playing with darkness.”

“That’s impossible.” Ira quickly responded in disbelief. “Teachings of the darkness have always been forbidden here. There isn’t a single person living in this realm who follows the path of darkness. The Master made sure of that.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“As I said before, the barrier that protects this world is bathed in primordial light. Assuming a force of darkness could hypothetically break past the world’s defenses, it’d be snuffed out the moment it made contact with the barrier. Darkness can’t penetrate it. That said, no realm’s defenses are foolproof.”

Ira subtly stroked his chin. “As much as we’d like to believe that the barrier will protect this world forever, it has significantly weakened over time. I’d imagine that by now it’s nearing its end. And we don’t have the tools, power, nor knowledge to maintain it. The Master was the only one who possessed that. It pains me to say it, but the barrier was always meant to be temporary.”

“Even more reason to suspect that there might be a traitor.” Aced replied. “Like you said, teachings of darkness are non-existent here. We only know what the Master told us. That, and the many stories of those who’ve migrated here from fallen realms. You can bet your ass that there are people who’d be stupid enough to give into that sort of temptation.”

“Be that as it may, I’d rather you not jump to conclusions. Even if what you said was true, hypothetically speaking, what would you expect us to do? Go on a mass witch hunt and interrogate each and every living soul in this realm?” Ira’s voice began to rise. “We are this realm’s keepers. Destroying the trust and harmony we’ve fostered over the years because of that would be foolish! It’d be a disgrace to the Master and everything he’s done.”

“That’s not what I was saying, and you know that.” Aced sighed in annoyance. “Ira, don’t you think it’s time we’ve moved on from the Master’s vision? It's been seven years, and as much as everyone else would hate to admit it, he’s not coming back. This realm belongs to us. We should be following our own vision, our own will, not one handed to us by a man who abandoned his.”

“That’s enough, Aced.” Ira sternly replied.

Aced sucked his teeth. “Tch. Always the loyal lapdog.”

Although his eyes were covered, Ira glared at him. The two continued on, passing through what was left of the Second District, until they heard a faint and frail voice. They stopped and listened. It seemed to be coming from the alley across from them. They stepped inside, crossing over the debris from the some of the buildings along the alley, eventually finding a woman collapsed on the ground. Ira rushed to her side.

There were scratches and deep bruises all over her arms, legs, and face. Her eyes were partially shut, and her breaths were becoming smaller and fainter by the second. Just as Ira reached his hand out to touch her, Aced grabbed his arm and pulled him away.

“What are you –”

“It’s too late. Look at her.”

Ira’s eyes traced the woman’s weak and frail body. Darkness oozed from her like hot steam, and her skin was hard as stone, cracked, and blackened all over except for half her face.

“Aether degradation.” Ira said sorrowfully.

“That was careless, you know.” Aced pointed out.

“I…was just caught up in the moment.”

Despite the woman’s condition, Ira moved closer to her.

“Can you speak?” he asked.

The woman’s voice was gone. A subtle strain to utter a sound was all they could hear.

“Don’t force yourself.” He subtly shifted his head, then spoke to Aced. “Cast telepathy.”

“I’ve already done it. She’ll hear you.”

Ira took a deep breath then removed his mask, setting it on his lap, then peered into the woman’s darkening eyes. Her breaths were farther and fewer in between now.

[I know…I know you don’t have much time, but…can you tell me what happened?]

It took a moment for her voice to reach him.

[The sky…it was black. And everything…fell apart. People…they couldn’t…there was nowhere to go. Those monsters…killed them. They left, but…the darkness, it…I couldn’t…I couldn’t save them.]

Ira’s eyes shifted right to the end of the alley. Aced teleported over only to find several blackened and eroded corpses. His eyes widened in shock. Ira lowered his head and clenched his fist hard enough that his bones creaked. The telepathic connection began to fade.

[Please…don’t let them be…]

“I won’t. I promise.”

The woman’s eyes slowly closed. She was gone.

Ira smashed his fist against the floor, clenching his teeth.

Aced made his way back. Ira looked at him for some sign of assurance, but all Aced could do was shake his head. Ira briefly closed his eyes, letting out a disheartened sigh, then rose to his feet with his mask in hand. He stretched his right arm out, widening his palm, then summoned his keyblade and placed it over his chest. Suddenly, his white robe transformed into a long hooded black coat that draped to his ankles. His mask also vanished from his other hand. Aced immediately followed suit.

“Let’s go.” Ira quietly spoke then stepped forward.

The two headed further into the depths of the Second District’s ruin. -------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 THE FORETELLERS, PROLOGUE — VII WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Master’s abrupt disappearance, while not a shock to the Foretellers, left an empty feeling in the air. Still, they carried on as instructed. His parting gift to them was the Chirithy, an anthropomorphic cat meant to assist them in their future endeavors. It was the last time they were able to speak to him, and the last time they’d ever see him. And although he was gone, his dreams and ambitions for the preservation of the light remained strong in the hearts of his apprentices.

The Foretellers formed their unions soon after. The first were Ira and Invi’s unions Unicronis and Anguis. Aced formed Ursus shortly after and Gula followed along with Leopardus. And lastly, perhaps the smallest of the unions, was Ava’s union Vulpes. Over the next few years, they managed to recruit over 100 prospective keyblade warriors. To prepare them for the future, they were sent to train inside replicas of the Worlds Beyond; one of the master’s more grandiose creations, placed inside pocket dimensions, and complete with artificial life and creatures of darkness.

Still though, even in a world overflowing in the warmth of light, the shadows cast by its radiance were always nearby. And although things seemed to be going well, what was lurking within those shadows was beyond dangerous. As for what, that would be discovered – but far too late. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 THE FORETELLERS, PROLOGUE — VI WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ava was the youngest of the Foretellers and, despite her young age, she was adept at magic – even being able to cast grand spells. Still, she was naïve. As a Daybreak native, she lived a mostly sheltered life free of any exposure to darkness. It was hard for her to imagine that a calamity such as the darkness scourge existed, even much less that there were realms beyond the skies of Daybreak. In her eyes, things couldn’t have been as bad as they’d seemed. Ava, like many, was spoiled by the light’s grace. However, that gave her the freedom to be her spunky and cheerful self. Her heart was so pure it was infectious, but that’s what drew people to her, and what allowed her to get close to others.

Having received his request the day prior, Ava ventured to the Master’s chamber. When she arrived, he was deeply engrossed in an alchemic experiment. He was unusually silent, which was a rare occurrence. After finishing up his notes, he turned in his chair then slapped his thighs.

“So, you're curious about the Book of Prophecies, right?”

“Huh? Uh, well, maybe. Is that the reason you asked me to come by?”

“Hmm, yes and no. The Book of Prophecies is a golden trove of information. But unfortunately, that's all it is. It can't prevent catastrophes from happening, and it can't change anything. However,” The Master paused for a second, then wagged his index finger. “Knowledge is key. And with enough knowledge, you can do just about anything ‒ even tip the scales of destiny. So, the Book of Prophecies is a must have! Unfortunately, that's what makes it extremely dangerous. In the hands of someone with dark intentions, they can turn our reality upside down.”

“That’s why you keep the Book hidden?”

“Yeah, it's a bummer though. I don't get to read it at all” the Master pouted, palming his cheek. “Just imagine the kinds of juicy secrets that are in there?! So many things to know like, for example, my face under this hood! The Book knows what I look like! If you were curious enough, you could find out just how dashing and drop-dead handsome I am! Who knows, I could be an Adonis under here!”

Ava frowned. “Uh, Master, what you look like doesn't matter.”

“Huh?” The Master replied in a softened and dejected voice. He lowered his head then whimpered while clutching his chest, “My spirit is broken, and my heart is irreparably damaged.”

“I didn't mean it that way. You're our Master, and we value you and your guidance. So...”

The Master lifted his head for a second, then leapt from the chair to his feet, stroking his chin. “Of course, you do!! I mean, I am amazing. Hehe.”

Ava couldn’t help but frown again.

(Didn’t take long for him to snap out of it…)

“Anyway,” the Master continued, looking down at her. “Having limitless knowledge opens the door to infinite possibilities. And who doesn't want that kind of power? In fact, I can think of one group of dastardly creatures that'd absolutely LOVE to get their hands on it. Care to guess who?”

“Hmm…the Darkness?”

“Bingo!” he nearly shouted. “Like I said, whatever the book records will happen. Well, that is, unless someone comes into possession of it and starts throwing everything out of whack. So, in preparation for that eventuality, I have an mission for you and only you.”

“Uh, me?” Ava asked, confusedly pointing to herself.

“Yes. You might be the only hope of keeping the light from expiring.”

“Light expiring? W-What do you mean? And why me??”

“Because you’re like a light that never stops shining.” He said, then placed his hand on her shoulder. “A little candle whose fire never fades even in darkness. And you’ve got a heart stronger than anyone that I’ve ever come across. Who, better than someone like that to carry on the legacy of the light? Hmm?”

“Uh huh. You’re just trying to butter me up, aren’t you?”

The Master chuckled. He tapped her shoulder then took a step back. “More or less. The fact is, is that you’re the only person I can turn to for such a huge undertaking. The others simply aren’t reliable enough. This is something that you, and only you, can do.”

Ava paused for a moment. On the one hand, knowing he’d had that much faith in her made her happy. But on the other hand, the “important mission” he was coaxing her into didn’t inspire much confidence. After all, she had no idea what the “mission” would entail, and she lacked the experience the others had. Still, she could see that he was being sincere. The Master was never one to take serious matters lightly. So, having thought about it, she made up her mind.

“All right, if you say so. What is it that you need me to do?”

“It's simple – forget the notion of unions, find keyblade warriors with potential, and nurture them until they've fully matured ‒ in secret, of course. Then, when the time comes, send them off to another world. They will keep the light alive.”

Ava lowered her head and gripped her robe’s sides. “Are you sure that I’m right person for this?”

The Master gently lifted her head with his hand. “Ava, you're the only person for this. I know you can do it, and I trust you wholeheartedly. If I didn’t have some faith in you, then I wouldn’t have taken you under my wing. So, lighten up. This is your big break.”

“I understand but...you said that the Book falling into the wrong hands is something that could happen. But from the way you’ve been talking, it almost seems like you know something will happen. I-I'm not doubting you or anything! It’s just that…if someone does find the book, then…”

“Let me guess, you want to know what’s inside the Book that’s sooo dangerous, right? Hmm, I guess I could give you a hint. But you have to promise me one thing…” Suddenly, his voice darkened. “Don't get involved in anything going forward – not even squabbles between the others. You hear?”

“O-Okay. I promise.” Ava nodded.

“All right then. Tell me Ava, what is the one thing that people fear the most?”

She thought to herself for a moment. “I guess...the end of life? Or the darkness, maybe?”

“Good choices but no. The answer is rather simple.”

The Master bent down to her level then whispered into the side of her hood.

“It’s the truth.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 THE FORETELLERS, PROLOGUE — V WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of the Foretellers, Gula was the quiet and reserved one. He mostly stayed to himself and, despite being somewhat of an underachiever, his proficiency with the keyblade was on par with Ira’s. Much like the Master, he preferred to sit back and observe everything and everyone around him. As a result, he could see through and pick up on just about anything. Because of how nonchalant and detached he was, there was always a gap between himself and the others. Only Ava was able to bridge that gap. She was the only one he saw as a comrade. Perhaps it was her pureness that helped.

Gula reluctantly dragged himself up to the Master’s chamber. He was so deeply entranced by an alchemy book, talking to himself out loud in awe, that he didn’t hear nor notice his young apprentice trying to get his attention. Gula sighed, and his shoulders sagged.

“If you’re busy, I can always come back later.”

“Sure…” the Master responded, flapping his hand, mostly ignoring him. Then, having remembered, he quickly turned to Gula who was nearly out the door. “No, no, no! Stay, stay!”

Gula could only groan. The Master flipped to the ends of the alchemy book, tore out a page he’d written on, then handed it over to Gula. As he read over what was written, confusion wore across his face.

“Wait, hold on, this seems like –” he started to say but was cut off.

“Yup. That’s exactly what it is. Call it a premonition or whatever.” The Master stood from his chair then stretched his arms then yawned. “Things are going to be different when I’m gone, and I won’t be around to keep everything in check. It’ll be up to you five to keep this realm safe. That said, no matter how ‘unified’ people may claim to be, there’s always someone in it for themselves. In this case though, it’s a bit more complicated than that.”

“What are you getting at?” Gula suspiciously asked.

“Your objective, of course.” He said then pointed to him. “Like I said, it’s just a hunch. Nothing to lose your mind over. But if I’m right about this, then I’ll need you to find the one responsible and stop them before it’s too late.”

“Okay…but what would they be after? And why?” Gula asked.

“I’m glad you asked that question!” The Master gleefully shouted, his arm raised and index finger pointing to the ceiling. “I’ve told you all about the Book of Prophecies, right? It records everything – knowledge, history, and the whatnot across time and existence. It’s gotta have some juicy secrets in it, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want to have access to that kind of info?”

“You did.” Gula pointed out.

“Yeah, well, I’m not a TRAITOR!” The Master snapped at him. “As I was saying –”

“The Darkness prays on people with faint hearts, right?” Gula cut him off then began pacing back and forth. “Any moment of weakness can lead to corruption. No one is truly safe in this world. Eventually, like you say, someone will fall and that can only spell disaster. Whoever this person is will want the Book of Prophecies to carry out their objectives. But what would that be? What would they want? There must be something in there – something that could turn this world upside down, right?”

The Master groaned then pouted. “Way to steal my thunder, show off! It’s not fair! I had a whole thing planned where I was gonna ease into that, but no! You just couldn’t let me have it, huh?!”

“I’m…sorry?” Gula confusingly apologized. ‘But I wasn’t wrong, was I? If I’m going to catch them, I’ll need to know as much as possible, such as where the Book of Prophecies is.”

“I suppose you have a point. Fine, I’ll give you a hint.” the Master said then paused for a moment. He slapped his hand above his heart then spoke, “It’s in the heart of Daybreak. You might not understand it now but if ever that time comes, it’ll make sense…hopefully. If the culprit does manage to find the Book, then it’ll be easy for you to tell who they are.”

“Why is that?”

“Because they’ll know the truth.” The Master answered seriously. His oddly darker than usual tone sent a slight shiver through Gula’s body. It was rare that the Master was ever serious. He sat back down, leaned forward, then crossed his hands and rested his chin on them.

After a brief silence, Gula spoke. “The truth…? What does that mean?”

“All you need to know is that you can’t trust anyone – not even yourself. Act normal and stay focused.” The Master paused for a second, letting a small air silence flow before he spoke again.

“Don’t be anything more than what you already are.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 THE FORETELLERS, PROLOGUE — IV WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aced was the next to meet with the Master. He was as prideful as he was ambitious, and that’s what separated him from his comrades. Competitive by nature, he always strove to be the best. Neither loss nor failure was ever an option for him. Although he was self-centered, stubborn, reckless, and prone to pettiness, he possessed a strong sense of justice. He respected his comrades – even Ira, who he held a one-sided rivalry with.

Aced entered the Master’s chamber only to find he wasn’t there.

He glanced at the clock then scratched his head. “Uh…maybe I’m early?”

The Master strolled afterward then proceeded to his chair. He stretched arms, letting out an exhausted groan, then yawned. Finally noticing his apprentice, he asked “Soo…what do you want?”

“You didn’t forget, did you?” Aced asked, confused. “You’re the one who called me here.”

The Master laughed and flapped his hand. “Lighten up, I was just kidding! Heh, I didn’t forget. Give me a little credit here. I was, uh, just testing you.”

He plopped his back against the chair then continued. “Now then, allow me to tell you about your objective. You’re going to be Ira’s right-hand man.”

Confusion struck across Aced’s bear masked face. “What? Ira’s right-hand man? What do you mean?!”

“Well, Ira’s going to be the new leader after I’m gone, you see. So, once I disappear,” the Master said spookily, wiggling his fingers. “I want you to stand by and support him. Don’t disappoint.”

“Explain to me, Master! What do you mean Ira’s going to be the leader?” Aced nearly shouted.

The Master was puzzled. “Hmm? Is that disappointment I hear? Did you want to be the leader?”

“Uh, n-no!” Aced quickly replied. “Well, I mean, if you had asked me to be the leader that’s a different story. I wouldn’t say no to the that, but I wasn’t trying to –”

The Master cut him off. “You really want to be the leader, don’t you?”

Aced tried to hide his desire, but the half smile on his face gave it away.

The Master sighed then laid his cheek into the palm of his hand. “Look, I know you want it but that just isn’t enough. Any chump can say, ‘You! Here’s a huge promotion! Good job!’ and make you head honcho, but enthusiasm alone doesn’t make you a great leader. Being the one in change is a lot to handle, trust me. Between the two of you, Ira just simply has what it takes.”

“I guess I can sort of agree with you.” Aced reluctantly replied, “But never mind that. Why do we need a new leader at all, Master? Does…does that mean you’ll no longer be teaching us?”

The Master folded his hands and spoke somberly, “Well, like I said, I’m going to disappear…”

Aced’s jaw dropped. His body immediately froze, and confusion ran across his hidden face as he tried to process the news. Puzzled by the lack of reaction, the Master started to repeat himself but was cut off and startled by Aced’s panicked response “Disappear?! What?! Why?! Where?!”

“Speak up sooner if you’re listening! That was embarrassing for me!” the Master said, hand on his chest from shock. “Anyway, I don’t know when I’m gonna disappear. It’s anyone’s guess right now. Regardless, you need to support Ira. I’m counting on you to spur him into action when he needs the push.”

“And yeah, I know you’re not happy with your role, but it IS an important one.” He began to elaborate, wagging his finger, “No leader is perfect. And we all know how Ira can be. At some point you’ll probably find yourself whining “Weh! he’s terrible at this!”. That’ll be your cue to step up. And who knows, maybe your leadership will be just what everyone needs.”

Aced smiled in eagerness as the Master approached then patted his shoulder.

“May your heart be your guiding key. Best of luck, Aced.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 THE FORETELLERS, PROLOGUE — III WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invi was the second of the Foretellers the Master met with. Out of the five, Invi liked, admired, and respected the Master the most. Invi was stubborn and strait-laced yet somewhat motherly to Ava and Gula. She considered Ira to be her equal since they were the same age and like-minded. Much less could be said of Aced whose pettiness and rowdy tendencies she could barely bring herself to tolerate. After receiving a request to meet the Master in his chamber, Invi visited the Clock Tower in which he stayed. Once she arrived, he began explaining the objectives he assigned her. It only took a few minutes.

“So, to sum it up, I’ll need you to observe the others. Easy breezy.” He said then patted her right shoulder. Invi’s snake mask only covered her eyes. It couldn’t hide the blood rushing to her face.

“Like I said,” He continued while circling her. “Ira will have to take over for me. But don’t be shy, just be fair. And do not be afraid to speak up. Even though I say ‘observe’, you’ll need to be the mediator – you know, make sure people get along.”

“I understand, but…” Invi lowered her head. “Without you or Luxu here, forming and maintaining that kind of society on our own is…it’s a little unnerving, to be honest.”

“Oh, come on. Lighten up a little! Maybe I’ll never disappear.” The Master placed his hand on his chest and playfully gasped. “Wait, don’t tell me, do you…do you want me to go?”

“What?! N-No! Of course not!” she quickly responded then looked off the side. “D-Don’t joke like that. It’s…it’s not very funny, you know?”

The Master laughed then patted her head again. “Come on, I was just kidding…sort of.”

“But you are going to leave. I just don’t…I don’t know if I can handle that.”

“Look, I get that change can be hard for everyone, but things need to keep moving forward.” His eyes shifted to the star-patterned window above his desk. “And you need to keep up. Otherwise, you’ll get left behind, and you’ll be all alone. And I’m sure you don’t want that, right?”

“Uh, n-no…I don’t.”

“Well,” He turned back around, quickly twirling on one foot. “You know what you have to do then. And speaking of that, now that you’re aware of the perilous path you all must follow, Invi, what’s your heart telling you right now?”

Invi thought for a moment. “May your heart be your guiding key, right? I want to tell you not to leave, but you’ve already made up your mind. I’ll trust in you, Master. I may not know where you’re going, but I’ll always value your teachings and your wisdom. And, also, you’ve –”

The Master pressed his palm into his cheeks then leaned closer to her. “Mmhmm, go on. Don’t stop there. Shower me with more praise!”

Invi sighed. “Master, you know, you really should try being humble.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 THE FORETELLERS, PROLOGUE — II WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Luxu left, the Master individually met with the other apprentices – the Foretellers. Ira was the first among them. As the eldest and de facto leader of the Foretellers, much to Aced’s disappointment, he was trusted and respected. They all looked to him for guidance. This didn’t escape the Master’s eye. In fact, he found his status among them intriguing – so much that he officially appointed Ira to lead the Foretellers in a long letter. Despite how massive of an undertaking that was, but he didn’t seem to mind.

The end of the letter, which was full of details and notes about his role, had a request for him to meet with the Master at Daybreak’s Peak during the next morning. When he arrived, he found the Master standing at the edge of the peak. It overlooked all seven of the districts in Daybreak which surrounded the city’s massive Clock Tower. Although the air was misty, the morning sun shone vibrantly over the horizon. Without turning to face him the Master asked, “So, did you look through the letter I sent you?”

“Yes. It was rather lengthy. But I’m still analyzing it.” Ira replied.

The Master finally turned to face him. “Wow. No quick skim for you, huh?”

“I just prefer to be thorough.” Ira clenched his fists. “Master, is what you said in that letter – you know, about you leaving – is that true?”

“Oh, yeah that. Bummer, huh?” the Master replied, turning back to the sunrise. “By the way, whenever I do suddenly disappear, I’m counting on you to keep the others calm. Okay?”

“Huh? Disappear?” Ira replied, watching as the Master walked to the cliff’s edge and sat.

“Vanish? Dim? Fade? I don’t know how to explain it. Don’t worry about it.”

The Master took a deep breath. “This universe is full of light. It’s comprised of many smaller worlds, all connected, stretching out further than one could imagine. At the core of this universe is the one great light that protects all of existence. Its ethereal light is spread across the universe like streams in an astral river. But in sharing that light, we also share its fate.”

“I take it you’re talking about the Great Heart, the Heart of Kingdoms.”

“Yep. You’re right on the money. People believe that the Great Heart’s light will last forever. But if its light were to disappear, the universe would be enveloped in darkness.”

Ira nodded. “I understand. That’s why you’ve granted us the keyblades. With them, we can spread the teachings of light and protect the Great Heart from the –”

The Master cut him off. “No. They’re not for protecting the Great Heart.”

He stood up, dusting off his back, then looked over his shoulder. “They exist for another purpose.”

“But isn’t it our duty to protect the Great Heart from the darkness?”

“Nah, not possible” the Master said then stretched his arms above his head. “Do you really think that thing can be protected by just seven people? Listen, what’s important is that we focus on what comes after – you know, assuming the worst-case scenario comes to pass.”

“But we have to at least try! With enough Guardians we could –”

The Master cut him off again. “Well, if you wanna give it a shot…”

“Yes.” Ira valiantly nodded.

The Master turned from the cliff’s viewpoint and walked toward Ira. As he passed by, he tapped Ira on his shoulder and chuckled.

“All right. Good luck.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[orangemoonxworks]

KINGDOM HEARTS: DIVERGE, VOL. 0 THE FORETELLERS, PROLOGUE — I WRITTEN BY: Naude Lucem -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Master of Masters, an enigmatic genius inventor, presided over the world Daybreak – a beautiful and vibrant world separate from the lanes connecting all the worlds beyond. Prior to the birth of Daybreak, the Master created a sentient book called the Book of Prophecies. Its sole purpose was to observe, record, and archive all aspects of existence throughout time. So, he placed the book somewhere it could perform its duties undisturbed – a place no one, not even himself, could easily access. Even so, he kept a link to the book via his Gazing Eye; his own eye that he implanted on his keyblade. But even that vanished in time.

The Master used the Book’s descriptions to create various machinations such as the World Replicas, the Chirithy, and even keyblades. It was all part of his objective to “protect what comes after”. At the heart of this objective were his six apprentices Ira, Aced, Gula, Invi, Luxu, and Ava. He taught and trained them until they mastered keyblade. He then instructed his apprentices, whom he called the Foretellers, to form unions that each would preside over. Their objective was to train prospective guardians to protect the worlds beyond from the darkness and cleanse their corruption.

Unfortunately, the Master wouldn’t be around. For some reason, he strangely disappeared without a trace. Before that, he left each of his apprentices with important objectives of which they were instructed not to disclose to the others. Luxu, his most valued apprentice, was the first to be given his objectives. Luxu arrived at The Master’s chamber wearing a smaller version of The Master’s black coat that only he was given. The reason was never clear.

“But why am I the only one who doesn’t get a flashy robe?” Lux asked him.

“Because I said so, humph!” The Master replied, childishly folding his arms. “Also, I ran out of ideas for designs. But don’t get all mopey about it. I think it suits you.”

The Master threw his arm around Luxu’s shoulder. “Look! Now we’re twins!”

“Uh huh…” Luxu then replied, unconvinced.

The Master sat at his desk flipping through an alchemy book. He turned to Luxu and spoke, “…so that makes you the indispensable number seven”.

Confused, Luxu blankly stared. The Master stood from his seat then held out his hand. Streaks of electricity writhed in his palm, and then a black and silver keyblade appeared. He handed it off to Luxu who couldn’t help but notice the strange eye implanted near the tip. Before he could ask about it, the Master tapped the keyblade’s sharp edge and chanted “Behold, the Gazing Eye!”

“The Gazing Eye? So, that’s the name of this keyblade then?”

“That’s not what it’s called. Hmm...come to think of it, it doesn’t have a name.”

Luxu examined the keyblade, gliding his hand across it. “No name, huh…”

“Well, gazing or not…” the Master sighed, titling his head back. “That keyblade does have an eye in it – my eye, to be exact”.

“Ew!” Luxu winced in disgust.

“Oh, you think that’s GROSS do ya!?” the Master shouted, somewhat annoyed. “Anyway, about your objective. I need you to pass down that ‘nameless’ keyblade to your apprentice, and then them to theirs, so that I can observe the future as it unfolds.”

“Observe? Wait, does this have something to do with the Book of Prophecies?”

The Master smirked. “Bingo! Since my link to the Book was severed, I can’t see its archives. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen next – well, not entirely. The Book doesn’t dictate fate – it only records what it sees. So, by my telling you this, you’ve already succeeded. That means you found an apprentice, passed down that handsome keyblade, and fulfilled your objective! Congratulations!”

The Master clapped hysterically, ignoring Luxu’s confused face.

(Why’s he all giddy and proud? I haven’t even done anything yet.)

“Unfortunately…” The Master clasped his hands then stretched his arms. “You’ll be on your own from here on out. Nothing to keep you company except for that keyblade and –”

The Master suddenly slapped his fist into his palm.

“Right! I completely forgot. Hold on a sec.”

The Master rose from his seat. He pulled a large and dusty black chest from underneath his desk, then dragged it to the center of the room. It had strange red and silver symbols all round its sides, and a large symbol with arrows pointing in every which way on its lid.

The Master cleared his throat. “As I was saying, it’ll just be you, that keyblade, and this chest. Once you’re completely out of sight, all you have to do from then on is watch with your own eyes – and my eye, of course – as things unfold. Then when the time is right, go off and do your thing.”

“What’s in it?”

The Master began to giggle uncontrollably.

“It’s a secret. And, well, you see, the thing is…you can never open it!” he said, nonsensically, then slapped his hand onto Luxu’s right shoulder. “Buuuut since I’m feeling generous, I’ll indulge you. This secret stays between us though, and you have to promise to never open the chest.”

Luxu nodded. The Master leaned in and quietly whispered into his ear. Luxu hung on to every word. The realization of what lay inside the box shook him to his very core. He stared at the man he admired and followed, bewildered, then asked “But why?!”

The Master smirked while staring him in the eyes. “You’ll see…”

After that Luxu met with the Master a couple more times before moving onto his mission. And just as the Master had done, he disappeared and patiently waited for what would unfold.

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[orangemoonxworks]

Kingdom Hearts: //Diverge is a fanfic series written by Naudé Lucem. It's a near-complete re-imagining of the original series' story, characters, and lore. //Diverge is set within an alternate universe and loosely follows the plot lines from the original series. The inspiration for this project came from the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.

Story updates for this series will be posted periodically. More information on that will come in the future.