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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2014 22:51:44 GMT -5
It...really had been a while.
How long again? Only a few months, maybe. And yet it all seemed like such a distant memory. It was strange how time seemed to stand still in such a place. An endless infinity, stretching far beyond the bounds of reality...all just waiting for something. But what? Now that Kingdom Hearts had been destroyed and the Organization practically destroyed, was there really any purpose for this barren land? Maybe. Then again...
The light echo of paws along the water was all that broke the endless silence at the End of the World. The eerie stillness of nothing surrounding the mighty king of the lions, forcing him into the depths of his own mind. And what rest there, well...more than just happy memories. In every inch of nothingness he could see the strife that had been laid out before him, from the day he was brought into the world to that cataclysmic battle with his only uncle. And then the repeat battle...after the Nobodies and Heartless did their work. It was such a hectic time, the constant chaos and battling, all just to regain the peace that once made his home so wonderful. Peace...yes, they had it back at long last. But as the large lion padded slowly along the endless void, he couldn't help but wonder...
...for how long?
Another sudden break of the silence came in his melancholic sigh, head shaking lightly to nothing in particular. Maybe he should take a break from wandering around this vast emptiness. Collect his thoughts for a moment. As he approached a small sandbar within the strange reflective water, the thought struck that remnants of other worlds still remained. Simba sat casually on the small fragment of a lost civilization, looking down at the sand beneath his paws as he wondered. Was there really still that same evil out there, tearing the worlds apart and causing such a havoc? Why hadn't everything returned after Xehanort was defeated? What was keeping these small fragments stable within this existential void? Too many thoughts, too few explanations! A growl came from deep within the lion, claws extending and digging their way angrily through the lost sand.
"Father...I don't understand. Sora brought with him the saving graces of the worlds, but still there are some that have not found their way back. How can this be? Did we not end the evil that plagued the land?" His golden-brown gaze stared wistfully up at the sky, searching for an answer in the stars that weren't there. Silence. It was all this world had to offer. Not even the cool breeze of his father's spirit could be felt. This world truly was the ultimate end. No spirit could exist where nothing reigns. And still did Simba stare up into the sky, hoping for some signal, some sign that even in this vast endless abyss, his father could hear him. Concerns were rising again, and for the first time in ages...
Simba was afraid.
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Post by Archer Zero on Apr 19, 2014 18:37:55 GMT -5
On that sandbar wandered another person. He was lost for answers as well, but for more arguably difficult questions. He had come here to think, to ponder. It was hard to do, given his position and responsibilities, but he managed to make some time for himself, away from his subordinates and fellow commanders. And although he often spent every moment of his rest period with his wife and mate, some peace and quiet for himself was necessary.
Matthias sighed. For years and years now, he had worked, labored, and suffered for atonement. For all his crimes and deeds in a distant past that was now permanently engraved in history. For all the hurt he had done to the souls who were howling for his blood in the land of the dead. For the longest time, he had denied himself happiness, believing himself undeserving of it. His wife had changed that a bit... but not much. Still he worked to atone, and still he didn't believe he didn't deserve much of the happiness he felt. But it was his life in the end. He chose to atone, yet he chose to enjoy the few patches of sunshine that broke through his darkness here and there.
It had been how he lived his life. And given who - or what - he was, he would most likely continue so for eternity.
His sensors picked up something, and he looked up. In the distance, there sat a lion. He had a noble but sad bearing, as though he was a good king in exile. He couldn't sense any threats around, and especially not from this lion. And judging from his eyes, he was most likely sentient and intelligent too. He walked over until he stood a distance away from the lion, and then turned to watch the endless sea, its waves lapping up at his feet in a quiet melody. After a moment of silence had past, he asked softly,
"What brings you here, to the End of the World?"
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2014 17:46:49 GMT -5
The irony that Simba was not alone certainly wasn't lost upon him.
After all, the universe existed in a state of duality. There never was just a single creature or entity, but a pairing that seemed to go with each and every one of them. Good was paired with evil. Death was paired with life. Light was paired with dark. And in the absence of his mate, it seemed as if Simba would be paired with some mysterious stranger. His ears quickly picked up on the muffled footsteps padding closer to him on the sand bar, though there was no ill will in the air. A good sign, to be sure. Times of uncertainty were never aided by conflict, especially when strangers were involved. The man was out of Simba's sight, but his scent was unmistakable. Someone from farther away...not quite human, but something close? Fortunately, not a figure like the Heartless or Nobodies exactly. And yet..something Simba had not encountered before. Perhaps it bore further investigation?
Or...perhaps he'd let it be.
"You know..." The Lion King began, letting a slight smirk spread across his muzzle. "There are few people in the universe with the sense, if you'd call it that, to approach a seemingly wild lion in the midst of concentration." Simba was quite unused to random strangers approaching him outside of the Pride Lands without screaming bloody murder at the sight of a wild beast. In their defense, Simba's life on the Pride Lands wasn't exactly...civilized, but his sentience was unmistakable, as was his poise. His head turned toward the newcomer, his golden-brown gaze giving the man a quick glance up and down. Certainly no one Simba had seen before...and not the type with which he historically associated. Still, within every newcomer is a story just as new, and with the lion's current unease with the state of the worlds...perhaps a stranger wasn't the worst he could encounter.
"But I suppose I could ask you the same thing. There's nothing this...lack of world has to offer anyone." His voice dropped as he finished his statement, gaze dropping to the water resting just beyond his paws. Deep within the water's surface could he see his own reflection, swirling gently as the vibrations from his body's slight movement upset his visage. It shifted within the surface, at times creating an image of his father...and at others, an image of his uncle. The renewed duality brought a gentle sigh from the civilized beast, his mane falling lightly over his face. "...Fear, I suppose. Uncertainty? I...feelings I haven't experienced since everything had gone horribly wrong. Peace has returned to the worlds, but...something else is making me uncertain." Each word felt strained, coming out slower than the one before. Simba turned to face his visitor, hesitation and unease filling his expression.
"This world should be empty.After Sora defeated Ansem, the world remnants that were kept here returned to their natural states. And yet, fragments are still littered across this world, larger than before. I...I don't understand." His head returned to the endless horizon, gazing upon the miles and miles of reflective water before him. There were other sandbars. Some mountains...a river...even a couple of rock formations. Each one from a different world, and each one with a different story. One that would never be told again. "These sorts of things don't just happen. Something...I-I don't know what, but...something has to be causing it."
He sighed somewhat more audibly, claws idly digging their way through the sand in lost thought. Talking helped...only slightly. Though listening could often solve problems. And so he smiled, looking back at the man with a sincere gaze and flick of the tail. "Forgive an old lion, I'm sure you didn't come here to listen to me babble. My name is Simba.This isn't my home, but...something drew me here. I am curious what it was that brought you to this barren place. Surely you have other places that you could be? Better ways to spend your time than staring into the void?"
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Post by Archer Zero on Apr 25, 2014 15:40:35 GMT -5
You know... There are few people in the universe with the sense, if you'd call it that, to approach a seemingly wild lion in the midst of concentration.
Matthias looked over at the lion, but made no motion to defend himself. He knew the lion was merely joking, and pointing something out. Quite honestly, most normal people indeed wouldn't approach a lion. Matthias, however, had seen far stranger things. A talking lion, and one with such a bearing, honestly hardly fazed him. If he thought that the lion was savage or unfriendly, he never would have even approached him. But obviously, that wasn't the case. So he just kept silent as the lion kept talking.
But I suppose I could ask you the same thing. There's nothing this...lack of world has to offer anyone.
Was there? In that case, what was either of them doing here? Matthias knew well enough that they both came here simply to think and rest. Perhaps under different circumstances, but that was their intention. He kept listening, though, as the lion kept talking, explaining his problems. Perhaps he might be able to help. Perhaps he couldn't. But he would never know unless he figured out what was going on.
But I suppose I could ask you the same thing. There's nothing this...lack of world has to offer anyone. This world should be empty. After Sora defeated Ansem, the world remnants that were kept here returned to their natural states. And yet, fragments are still littered across this world, larger than before. I...I don't understand. These sorts of things don't just happen. Something...I-I don't know what, but...something has to be causing it.
Ah. It was definitely a natural concern, considering that supposedly, the evil that had caused this had vanished. But Matthias knew better. Ansem was evil, yes. But he was not alone. Too many had aligned themselves with evil, power, and corruption, seeking to come out on top however they could. The fact the End of the World still existed held proof of that. Matthias knew all too well what kind of villains would do such a thing. Those who cared little of anything else except for themselves and power. Those who could sacrifice entire worlds simply for their own gain.
Yes, he knew all too well. In a distant past, he had been one of those people himself.
Forgive an old lion, I'm sure you didn't come here to listen to me babble. My name is Simba. This isn't my home, but...something drew me here. I am curious what it was that brought you to this barren place. Surely you have other places that you could be? Better ways to spend your time than staring into the void?
Matthias looked over at the lion, who was now smiling at him, sadly. "There wasn't anything that drew me here," he said calmly, looking over the ocean. "I merely came here to think and ponder. Perhaps I could have chosen a less dangerous place to do so, but... there is something calming about this location. I'm not quite sure what. Perhaps it's the simple quiet that it offers me and no interruptions." Well, that was definitely the truth. Aside from the waves gently lapping up against the sand, there was not a hint of sound - no people in the distance, sounds of nature, nothing. Just him and his thoughts.
"And as for this world, why it isn't empty..." he sighed. "If only defeating one man would end it. It isn't so simple, unfortunately. The worlds are myriad, and in them are filled with countless people. Some heroic, many of them corrupt. I do not doubt they had consorted with heartless themselves, seeking ever-greater power to grant themselves. While it is possible to stop them for a time, they always spring back up, in one form or another." Matthias knew all too well of the endless path of a hero who had dedicated themselves to stopping that evil at all costs. In fact, two of them were now his enemies, much as he didn't want them to be. They had pursued their path to the very end... and found only despair. They had managed to stop themselves from being the evil they wished to destroyed, but only just. Still, Matthias knew they had to be stopped, no matter what.
"And as for my name... It's Matthias. A pleasure, Simba."
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 12:24:22 GMT -5
(Congrats on your position! Also, college life is busy and stressful.)
Thought...
Had Simba wished for a quiet repose to ponder the mysteries of the universe, he wouldn't have left the Pride Lands. Even then, as he was looking across the shallow ocean into the endless depths of forgotten worlds, he could find no peaceful respite in the emptiness. That feeling...knowing there were worlds out there, still resting in darkness as its inhabitants waited for someone, anyone to hear their pleas. But was there any hope to save them? Each world was as unknown as the small sandbar upon which they stood - no tiny fragment of identity left of those small pieces of existence. The lion could only give a sigh of discontent, perhaps looking just a beet too deep into the symbolism of this world. His gaze dropped once more, smiling at the brief and slightly informal introduction. Definitely an adjustment from his home...
"Matthias. That's a good name." He managed to let a brief smile cross his muzzle in the midst of their conversation. "Though I question the calm you find in this world." Maybe it was a human thing. Even in his brief time with Sora, Simba found the creatures were not very capable of using their sixth sense: Intuition. Instinct. Feeling. This world was setting his senses off more and more with every second he spent there. Even the scent of this world was off, with too many intermixing aromas from too many different locations. For the first time in ages, he was filled with a dreadful fear. It was making him restless, so much so that he had to stand up and start pacing with unease. It couldn't have been doing anything good for his acquaintance, but there were some habits that could never die.
"I'd be foolish to think that all evil in the world would disappear with Ansem. My uncle proved that one pretty quickly." A low growl accompanied those last few words, bespeaking a history that was best left unmentioned. His teeth were bared for the briefest moment before Simba realized what he was doing. It was in very poor taste for anyone, a king especially, to treat a stranger approaching in peace in such a way. His pacing came to a pause, the lion king sighing at his lack of tact. "You'll have to forgive me, Matthais. Some wounds don't heal so quickly."
"No, I'm well aware that Heartless and those who control them still exist. I just..."[/font] There was a strange hint of uncertainty in his tone, one that didn't quite seem characteristic of such a proud lion. He spoke in a hushed tone, golden brown eyes looking up toward the sky as if searching for even the slightest sign of those great kings...to find none. "...I'm worried. When the worlds started disappearing, I could sense it. Everyone in the Pride Lands could. Even Yen Sid and Mickey and all these other great heroes could tell something wasn't sitting well, even before we could see it. But now...nothing. These fragments of worlds are still here, and this one just appeared in the past month. Either worlds are still being consumed by darkness, despite the keyholes having been locked, or...well, I don't know."
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