Shadows and Magic (Edea/Open)

[Anti-Sora]

(As promised, here ya go. Happy posting and welcome aboard. =))

The Corridor of Darkness opened into the quiet flower fields of Archipelago, releasing a strange shadowy figure wearing a cloak. As the figure stepped out and the soft thick grass folded under his feet, the Corriodor snapped shut quietly behind him. The figure stood for a moment, taking in the area and listening. The sweet song of Light was here. Irritating. Another world to cleanse and bring sweet darkness to. Everywhere he traveled to he seemed to run into Light more so than Dark. What was going on here? There was a war between Light and Dark, right? So where on Earth was all the Dark worlds?! All he had been running into were Light or mixed Hearted ones. Where was the Darkness?!

The Heartless sighed before he let his eyes travel from the vibrant green grass to the rest of the area around him. The sky was blue and the sun shining bright and happily. A cool breeze was blowing through the area, bringing the scent of the various flowers in the area across on the wind. It was nice and soothing here. A place that made even this little Heartless feel safe despite the Light that surrounded the area. The Heartless looked around at the sea of flowers around him wondering if there was anything interesting out here. There were certainly no creatures or Heartless here, so what to—Hm?

Anti’s eyes landed on the only structure in the area. A humble little house on the edge of a cliff. Seagulls were flying around it before diving behind it and over the edge of the cliff, going down towards the sea that could be faintly heard and smelt on the wind. Curious and wondering if there were any Hearts (outside of the wildlife's in area) nearby, Anti headed into towards the structures. As he approached, he paused outside and looked around it cautiously, moving from one side to the next before coming back around to the front, finding nothing of interest on the outside at least. Where was everyone? He didn’t even hear anything moving. Had this place been abandoned? He hoped not. That would be no fun at all. Hmmm...Maybe the inside would be better, no?

He approached the door, turn the knob, pushed the door open and…was disappointed. This place was as empty and quiet as the outside. Anti-Sora sighed slightly as he stepped into the cooler interior of the structure and began looking around. This place….maybe at one point or another it had been lived in, but now only the remains of life remained. Empty rooms with empty bed neatly made up, toys in toy boxes, a small kitchen old and yet somehow still clean with neatly lined up dishes and canisters were only some of the places the Heartless found in the place. Was this a place for children then? It certainly seemed that way, but why would children be out here? Was this a playhouse, then? No…that couldn’t be. The adults with their Hearts all so protective would not let their little ones go so far or to such a lonely place.

It was too dangerous and quite lonely even with friends. Wouldn't a child get bored with nothing, but flowers to see? The Heartless wouldn't know the answer to that. He never had been a child or had parents, so how would he know the joys of imagination and such? Still the place made the creature wonder as he moved about the place still exploring.

As Anti-Sora entered a room, he sat on the edge of the bed and looked over at the strange brown bear, sitting slightly propped against the pillows. He had never seen a bear that small. Was it even alive? He didn't since a Heart from it, so what was it. Frowning slightly confused, he picked up the strange bear examining it, noticing it gave no reaction to his touch. Was it dead then? Edible? What?

Such a confusing little bear, but it was no threat and he didn't want to eat it so he let the small bear sit in his lap as he looked out the window wondering what to do next since there was definitely no Hearts here....

[EDEA]

The sound of the sea crashing against the coast was always so peaceful. Coupled with the seagulls calling to each other and the wind softly sighing from time to time only added to the serenity of it all. There may be no life here besides the two of them, though at the moment it was just her. The one she called her Knight had left for Balamb not long ago to rendezvous with a few SeeD members to discuss mission parameters, leadership tiers, and other military-esque sort of things. Despite being a co-founder of the world’s student military she found no joy in war or struggle. After all, the simply sound of the sea or the sight of the flower fields at the top of the cliff was all that she needed.

Of course, she missed the sound of the little ones. All of her children, or rather the many children that had passed through the doors of her orphanage, had all but grown and made something successful of themselves. It was almost discouraging, like she had no purpose anymore. However she knew better. Sooner or later some lonely, lost child will find their way to her orphanage in need of a home, a home at which she would gladly provide for them. But, despite all of that, she still couldn’t help but be a bit anxious and want that time to come sooner rather than later.

Inhaling a deep breath of the sea air, a smile cracked at the edge of her lips, the soft yet beautiful features of her face stretching to accommodate the smile she now wore. Turning from the beach, Edea made her way back to her small home. She smoothed out some wrinkles in her simple black dress before making sure the ties for the gray apron she wore were securely tightened before she got back to work. Once fully prepped she quickened her pace, though only in the slightest, as she climbed the small path up the craggy side of the cliff towards her home. It was just another peaceful day in paradise—hardly.

What…is this feeling that I’m sensing? Are my powers reacting with something in the area…?

Ever since she figured out that she still somehow retained her original Sorceress powers visions and nightmares had been plaguing her of other worlds falling to darkness. It was either that or of Ultimecia seemingly taking on her own appearance in another world fighting Squall and Laguna under the command of an evil God of Discord. Despite this, she continued on living, choosing to ignore all the signs that her inner mind was giving her for what was to come. Nearing the door to her home, she noticed it ajar, causing her normally peaceful brown eyes to harden and narrow into a glare. Somebody was here. It would seem that the feeling she had previously had tied in with the intrusion.

Combing through her long, ebony hair to be sure to remove any strands from her face, she inhaled sharply before stepping forward and softly pushing the door wide open. Her eyes scanned the general area of her home before she took a few steps in. Nothing seemed to be disturbed or moved, let alone broken or stolen. Everything was the way it had been before she had left to go down to the beach. How odd. It was when she turned to the bedroom that once belonged to the children that her heart seemed to skip a beat. What was this feeling?

There is nothing in this world that can rival me. My nature may say different, but I am a Sorceress. If I display my power I can defend myself and my home.

With determination she walked towards the bedroom before stopping, collecting herself once more, and then continuing forward. Edea walked to the doorframe and stood there in the doors absence. At first her eyes went wide at the sight of the boy in the cloak. He wasn’t a normal boy. Shadows clung to him like an ephemeral darkness. However her eyes softened, though slightly, as to not be too intimidating.

“My child, you know it’s not polite to enter someone’s home unless invited. What can I do for you, hm?”

[Anti-Sora]

Quiet calm continued to be the only company that Anti-Sora had for a long time and then just like that the Heart hidden within the Light made itself known. It was a Light Heart almost blended completely with the Light of the area, but it was not in this house. It seemed to be far away, so the Heartless simply sat on the bed watching the wind blow through the grass outside the window. He had been plotting his next move, but after watching the calm scenery for a long while the Heartless kind of forgot about plotting as his mind sunk into a peace that left him for once wanting nothing. No Hearts. No Darkness. Nothing except this peace. Away from war and chaos... just this paradise. He wanted this place. He wanted to be able to exist in it with his kin. Exist without fear and hate of things such as keyblades. If only, if only things were this simple…and just like that Anti-Sora’s mind was made up.

He’d gather allies, build his strength back up, and in time he’d come back to this paradise and sink it too in Darkness, making it the perfect home for himself and his family. Yes at the end of it all, this paradise would be their resting place. Instead of children roaming the fields and filling the house, it would be Heartless and sweet Darkness. This place would be a symbol of peace and serenity for the Dark and all would flock to it and be happy. Yes. Yes. This place had to be his.

Anti-Sora had begun smiling at the thought, so wrapped up in the pleasant thoughts that he kind of forgotten about the Light Heart in the area. He was still looking out the window imaging how wonderful this world would be when it was finally his when the elegant and beautiful lady came into her home once more and stood in the door frame. Not once did he notice her, even when the Light was so close. He was distracted and focused on something else and probably would’ve remained that way if the woman had not spoken.

However, the woman did speak scaring the living daylights out of Anti when she did. On instinct, he was off the bed in an instant letting the bear fall to the floor as he backed up against the wall witth the window to put some distance between himself and the source of the sound as his sense swirled around him before finally focusing on the Heart of Light in the room. At first, Anti-Sora lowered himself into a battle position and growled slightly believing the Light that startled him to be a threat, but then as the immediate fear began to wear off and he saw who was there, he Heartless at least stopped growling as he took in the tall pretty lady. She seemed to be nice, but what Light Heart wasn’t? Still on edge, Anti-Sora tried to calm himself, but found it kind of hard to do now that he was wound up. He shook his head slightly trying to focus on what the woman had said. Help?

“Light Heart no help Dark,” he said a bit more biting than he had intended to. He wasn’t going to attack for no reason, but in his current on edge state the woman would have to be careful how she handle the Heartless. One wrong move and this could turn ugly.

On a side note, despite his wound up state Anti’s eyes briefly went to the bear on the ground between them before looking back up at his potential foe, locking an icy and somewhat hostile glare on the woman.