(no subject)

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

Who: Maleficent and a certain Keybearer
What: The fairy had request of Koios and Jagannatha - a corrupted Keybearer - and they're ready to make good on it.
Where: Maleficent's castle
When: Friday afternoon
Status: Complete

There was a quiet, but firm, knock at the entrance. He'd dealt with faeries before, during his travels, and he knew how they felt about courtesy. He never found it to be irritating, though, not once. This was one thing, he believed, that they had gotten right, whereas humanity had lost that respect over the years. So he knocked, and waited patiently to be admitted into the castle.

Perhaps she would remember him.

Comments

[lefthandedsidhe.livejournal.com]

The door opened on its own revealing a long hallway lit with torches that glowed with a sinister green light. Their illumination was only just sufficient to walk down the corridor, faint enough for ominous shadows.

At the end of the hall there was a staircase leading upward in a spiral. For some time, it climbed, and the torches grew fewer, so that one had to clutch at the damp stone as one climbed and feel hesitantly for each step.

When at last, the stairs ended, there was a circular room, only slightly better lit than the way that led to it. Maleficent sat in a throne, idly stroking Diablo's feathers. Across from the throne, a sickly green fire burned in the hearth. The only other furniture in the room was a small round table, and a three-legged stool.

"Greetings," Maleficent said coolly.

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

He braved the climb with little difficulty, and respectively bowed his head toward her. "Greetings, Maleficent. You have my most sincere apologies for requesting such a sudden meeting, but I understand you have been waiting long enough."

Raising his eyes to meet hers, he smiled slowly. "Master Jagannatha has said that you require someone of my skills. At his request, I have come here to offer my assistance in your endeavors, should you still desire it."

[lefthandedsidhe.livejournal.com]

A slow, malicious smile spread across Maleficent's face. "I do desire it, though the time when I will need your skills is not yet at hand. One of my associates must bring me an object which I have long sought, and then it must be . . . well, there are magics that must be worked upon it, and that will also require some time. After that, there is the simple matter of the conquest of a world, more magic, and then . . . then at last I will require your talents. It is after all, what your gifts were meant for."

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

Still ambitious, this one. Still arrogant. And she didn't appear to remember him, after all, strange as it seemed.

Perfect.

That dark smile of his remained locked in place. "You would have me open the Door."

[lefthandedsidhe.livejournal.com]

Maleficent looked at him steadily. "And close it again," she replied calmly.

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

"Of course."

He paused for a moment, thinking back to his talk with Jagannatha, after the Nobody had left. His Master had made him a proposal, should he agree to help this fairy in her machinations. They had yet to request anything of her, instead, they only offered their assistance. He would be allowed to ask for payment, Jagannatha had told him. It could be anything, so long as it did not serve to insult her. And, knowing his desires, the Master had told him the story of a child who had chosen to apprentice under Maleficent... a child who had been greatly rewarded for her efforts.

"There is one thing I must ask of you, however," he told her. "I have been told that you are capable of creating something to contain the soul, or perhaps the Heart itself. A phylactery."

[lefthandedsidhe.livejournal.com]

"A portion of the Heart, yes," Maleficent agreed. "That is how a phylactery is created. You would not be the first I have helped to create one, nor the last." He voice turned thoughtful. "So, you still quest after immortality."

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

Ah, so she did remember. His smile only grew.

"I do. My earlier attempts have failed, and I do not dare try the same again. During our most recent meeting, he informed me of your method, and I find it intriguing. I would be very grateful if you allowed me to study under you until I have accomplished my goal."

[lefthandedsidhe.livejournal.com]

"That is certainly within reason. I have a number of . . . students, at the moment. Perhaps you would even be interested in meeting some of them. I am sure you have heard enough to know of my Academy of Shadows." Maleficent tapped her fingers languidly on the arm of her chair. "Some of them, I suspect, would be quite interested in meeting you."

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

"I would be honored to meet those deemed worthy of being your pupils. I had heard about them, but the details managed to escape me," he admitted. He bowed his head, just as he had in greeting her. "And you have my utmost gratitude."

[lefthandedsidhe.livejournal.com]

"As you will have mine, Xehanort," Maleficent replied. "When all is said and done."

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

"I look forward to hearing from you again." One more respectful bow, and Xehanort turned to leave. Not once did that dark smile leave his face.