"So... those black monsters are called 'Heartless', right?" Gatomon asked. "And some of them were being created by the apprentice of that Ansem guy?"
"Right!" Riku nodded. "Several people have used the Heartless for their own sinister plans ever since..."
"But we showed them who's boss," Sora grinned as he brandished his Keyblade.
Kari took her own little keychain and compared it with the small chain that was dangling down from Sora's weapon. "Those two... look different from each other."
"They are," King Mickey said. "I remember now... Ansem the Wise... he successfully created an artificial heart, made of digital data. Heartmon!" He once again gestured over to where Heartmon was sitting. "And that keychain you are holding, Kari... it's one of the components that he needed to accomplish this feat. The 'Keychain of Light'!"
"Light..." Kari sighed as she clutched the keychain. "It's always light with me. The Crest of Light, the Digi-Egg of Light... and now the Keychain of Light."
"But, um, King Mickey..." Goofy spoke up. "How come that keychain appeared in her world?"
"That's what I was wondering, too," Sora nodded. "And what has Heartmon to do with all of this?"
"Well, you see..."
Just then, the door opened, and some other people entered the room.
"Sorry we're late," Leon apologized. "We just had to find Cid. He and that Gearloose fellow just couldn't stop talking."
"Hey, it doesn't happen every day that you meet someone as smart as me," Cid chuckled.
"It's all right," King Mickey said. "Everyone, meet Kari and Gatomon. And... Heartmon."
Aerith gasped. "H-heartmon? Can it be?"
"You know him?"
Cid scratched his head. "Well... he does look familiar, ya know?"
Heartmon looked up from his fruit, into the face of the young woman that was looking down at him. Those bright, cheerful eyes... has he seen them before?
"Aerith-chan?"
Aerith clasped her hands in joy. "It IS him! And he remembers us! Leon, come here! You know who that is? It's little Heartmon, the small guy we used to play with as children."
"Heartmon?" Leon wondered. "Yes... yes, I remember him. Wasn't he the little guy that lived at... at..."
"At Ansem's place," Cid nodded. "I thought he looked familiar. I wasn't as small as you two back then, so I think I remember a little more than you."
Heartmon looked from one face to another. "Squall? Cid? Why are you so big?"
Leon sighed. "That's Leon..."
Aerith smiled. "Such things happen when people grow up, Heartmon. We're adults now." She shook her head. "But, where have you been all the time? We almost forgot about you! You disappeared before... before..."
"Before the darkness claimed our world..." Leon grumbled.
"So, you know this Digimon?" Gatomon asked. "But even if he is an artificial heart, why is he just like a Digimon?"
"I think I can answer that question," Mickey replied. "I remember that one day, when I once again visited my old friend, Ansem the Wise..."
----
The door to the computer room opened. "Ansem?"
Ansem the Wise turned around from his computer. A smile parted his blonde beard. "My friend! Good to see that you made it." He turned back to the console and looked at the screen in excitement. "Will you look at that? I believe we finally managed to find the right components."
King Mickey stepped up to the tall man. "You are still researching the hearts, are you?"
"Of course! Imagine what we can accomplish with the results of my research! It's all so exciting... I almost feel young again."
He shook his head, smiling. "Well, however... Would you take a look at this? My assistants just found another, new world the other day."
Mickey looked at the computer screen, which showed pictures of an unknown land, populated with strange creatures.
"They took those pictures upon landing with the Gummi Ship," Ansem explained. "By the way, I still have to thank you for providing us with such a vessel. Researching the other worlds has become much more easier this way."
"You're welcome, but... what about that world? There aren't any humans living there, correct?"
"No, definitely not! From what my boys could learn, those beings call themselves 'Digimon'. And, my friend..." Once again, a big smile appeared on Ansem's face. "They're completely made of digital data."
"Truly?" Mickey said in awe. "Living beings, made of data? Wow! Now that's amazing!"
"Indeed, it is... and that's not all! This so-called 'Digital World' exists right next to another world, populated by humans. And it seems like the Digimon are able to cross the border between those worlds, even though the other world does not consist of data. It is most intriguing..."
"Well, but what does this have to do with your research?"
"Observe!" Ansem pushed a few buttons, and the images of the Digital World vanished. Instead, the picture of a cute little creature appeared on screen.
The king blinked. "That... that is..."
Ansem nodded. "Yes! It is just like those Digimon that are inhabiting the Digital World. An artificial being, made of digital data. Although I have yet to create it, I think I might be able to do it, using this computer and my machines. And, think of it: The Digimon are living creatures, meaning they have hearts as well. And because they were made of data, it was very easy for my assistants to scan one of them. I put this data into my computer and designed this new Digimon."
He turned around to face his friend. "King Mickey... I might be able to create a heart! A heart for this little creature. Isn't that marvelous?"
Well, Mickey was astonished... but he also was worried. "My friend... I've known you for some time now, and I have to ask you: Is that wise? Creating life out of thin air? Who knows what might happen."
"I know what you mean," Ansem replied. "And I agree that hearts can be very unpredictable, but... I believe the scanned data of the Digimon can help me with my project. Imagine... if this will be a success, we can understand the heart and its functions so much better. And, who knows... maybe we can use this knowledge for the good of all living beings."
Mickey sighed. Well, he would respect his friend's decision for now. But still...
"Well, there is one thing I'm still curious about..."
"What could that be, my friend?"
Mickey gestured at the image of the small mouse with the big heart on its stomach. "Is it just a coincidence that he looks so much like me?"
Ansem the Wise laughed. "No, you are right... As you are my friend and the closest confident I ever had, I simply wanted to honor you... by giving this Digimon several of your traits. You don't mind, do you?"
"Um... no, that's fine. I was just wondering..."
"Master?" A tall, muscular man dressed in a white lab coat entered the room.
"Yes, what is it, Aeleus?" Ansem asked. "You see that I have a guest, don't you?"
"I'm sorry, master, but..." the tall man seemed nervous. "Mr. Norg wants to talk to you. He sounded very urgent."
Ansem sighed deeply. "I see... He probably wants to talk about our finances again. Very well, Aeleus... thanks for the message. Is that all?"
"Yes, master!" The assistant bowed and left the room.
"I'm afraid we have to adjourn our conversation for now, my friend," Ansem said. "It has been a pleasure, like always."
"But Ansem..." Mickey spoke up one final time. "About this Digimon project... do you really believe that..."
Ansem the Wise looked directly into his friend's face. "I appreciate your concerns, but trust me with this one. I know what I am doing, and I know I can trust all of my assistants with my life... as I trust you, King Mickey!"
Mickey sighed, then shook hands with Radiant Garden's ruler. "Very well then... I'll leave everything to you. Until we meet again, Wise Ansem!"
----
The others had listened in awe.
"So, you knew about the Digital World and our own home world," Kari realized. "Sounds exciting... having visitors from another world visiting and never noticing."
"So, all of this happened before Xehanort went mad and used Ansem's own name to continue his research," Kairi said. "Still, what's with that keychain?"
"There are eight aspects of the Digital World that every Digimon is composed of," Mickey explained. "Some more, some less, but nevertheless every Digimon contains at least a tiny bit of each aspect within. Ansem created eight keychains, each of them containing just a bit of one of the aspects."
"And what aspects would that be?" Donald asked, impatiently.
"I think I know..." Kari said. She looked at the crest of light that was visible on her new keychain.
"Light... Hope... Courage... Friendship... Love... Knowledge... Sincerity... and Reliability."
"The eight crests!" Gatomon gasped. "He created Heartmon using their powers?"
Sora looked at Heartmon, and the cute little guy looked back at him with a curious face. Sora looked back at the king, and at Heartmon again. "You know, you two DO look similar to each other..."
"I never realized the similarities," Leon smirked. "But I do wonder where Heartmon has been for all those years."
Heartmon smiled. "Did you miss me, Squall?"
The gunblade-wielding warrior sighed. "I am Leon..."
"Of course he did," Aerith smiled as she scooped up Heartmon in her arms. "We all did. But where have you been, little guy?"
Heartmon blinked, then gestured at the Keychain of Light.
"In there!"
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(Posted Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:20)
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