A Daemon's Second Chance (Tales of Berseria x Kingdom Hearts)

Chapter 3: New Abilites and clothes

Sora still had more questions to ask Yen Sid. "But wait a sec," he said, "how come the Heartless are still running around?" Goofy and Donald also wanted to know.

"Your past endeavors did prevent an immense effusion of Heartless from the great darkness, make no mistake about that." Yen Sid reassured them, "However, the Heartless are darkness made real, and darkness yet lingers in every heart. The Heartless are fewer. But while darkness exists in a single heart, it will be difficult to eliminate them."

The three of them slumped, feeling let-down. Velvet and Laphicet could see how upset they were feeling. Suddenly, Goofy had an inspiration. "Gawrsh, that must mean that if everybody's heart was full of light, them Heartless'd go away!" Both Donald and Sora agreed in his words.

"That's gonna be impossible to accomplish." Velvet said bluntly.

"Still," Laphicet cut in, "it's worth trying out. Besides, it's the best idea we have to defeating the Heartless and I did the same to you." Yen Sid nodded in agreement.

"Now, it is time to speak of the enemies that you will encounter." the wizard said to them. He waved his hand, and on the far end of the room, a bright circle appeared, and a duplicate of Donald Duck appeared out of it. Suddenly, the duplicate vanished, and a Shadow appeared in its' place. "If one such as you, Donald, yields to the darkness in their heart, they too will become a Heartless." Yen Sid warned them, "But you know this." The others acknowledged. Donald looked at where his duplicate was at before.

"They are like daemons in a way..." Velvet mumbled and she turned to Laphicet, who looked worried as he heard this new info.

"The Heartless are always lurking and ever seeking to capture new hearts." Yen Sid explained, "Never let your guard down! Now then..." He waved his hand again, and another bright circle appeared, and in it was a monster just like the ones that attacked them at the clock tower. "At times, if someone with a strong heart and will, be they evil or good, becomes a Heartless, the empty shell they leave behind begins to act with a will of its own." Yen Sid informed them. The circle with the Heartless disappeared as he continued, "An empty vessel whose heart has been stolen away, a spirit that goes on even as its body fades from existence. For you see, Nobodies do not truly exist at all. Nobodies may seem to have feelings, but this is a ruse; they only pretend to have hearts. You must not be deceived!"

"Nobodies..." Sora muttered sorrowfully, "They don't exist."

"They sure hurt like they exist." Velvet said sarcastically, remembering how they attacked them.

Suddenly, three more of them appeared close to the five heroes, startling them. "Now then," Yen Sid continued, "the being you see before you is known as a Dusk. They are the most common form of Nobody. But there are others; some larger, some with frightening and unique powers. Be vigilant!" Everyone turned to Yen Sid and nodded. "On your journey," he continued, "you will meet an alarming number of Dusks. They will all attempt to do you harm."

"Don't remind us." Laphicet moaned, also thinking of the battle before.

The three Nobodies disappeared as Yen Sid continued, "Still, they are nothing but empty shells, destined to return to darkness. But..." He waved his hand again, and three more bright circles appeared, containing human-like figures in black coats, with black hoods that covered their faces. All five heroes were startled at their appearance. "The beings before you now are different." Yen Sid told them, "These powerful Nobodies have formed a group called Organization XIII. It commands the lesser Nobodies."

"Organization XIII..." Sora repeated, something in his face said that they seemed familiar to him. He looked at Donald, Goofy, Velvet and Laphicet, wondering if they knew who they were. They all shook their heads one after another.