Episode 4: Cruel Clues

Episode 4: Cruel Clues is the fourth episode of .
==Story summary==
==Quest No. 71==
Before quest
:[1 year ago]
[Xehanort and Eraqus are seen playing chess.]
*: "Have you heard of the ancient Keyblade War?"
*: "Huh?"
*Eraqus: "Of course I have."
*Xehanort: "Long ago, Keyblade wielders waged a war over the ownership of light."
*Eraqus: "Yeah, the Master's favorite story."
*Xehanort: "I wonder what they planned on doing with Kingdom Hearts after... making it appear."
*Eraqus: "Who knows? I don't get why anyone would initiate a war."
*Xehanort: "So..."
[The screen zooms in on Xehanort.]
*Xehanort: "you know the "Lost Masters"!"
[The screen moves to Eraqus.]
*Eraqus: "Who?"
[The screen moves to show both of them.]
*Xehanort: "They're the ones who started the Keyblade War."
*Eraqus: "Never heard of 'em. Where'd you hear about that?"
*Xehanort: "Or... they're the ones for whom the war started."
*Eraqus: "I'm not following you."
[The screen shows Eraqus.]
*Xehanort: "You can drop the facade."
*'Eraqus: Facade?"
[The screen moves to Xehanort.]
*Xehanort: ""On that land shall darkness prevail and light expire." A prospective Keyblade Master should know this."
[The screen moves to show both of them.]
*Eraqus: "If you say so."
[The screen moves to a Keyblade hanging on the wall.]
*Xehanort: "The Gazing Eye sees the fate of the world."
[The screen moves back to Xehanort and Eraqus.]
*Xehanort: "The future—it's already been written."
*Eraqus: "Really? I'm not so sure about that. Besides, who's to say I can't change it? And maybe light will prevail."
*Xehanort: "Pretty confident. But things aren't in your favor."
[The screen moves to Eraqus.]
*Eraqus: "Perhaps. But unlike darkness, there is more to light than meets the eye. You might be surprised."
[The screen moves to Xehanort.]
*Xehanort: "Oh, I hope so."
[The screen zooms out and goes black.]
[Vor is seen walking through the Courtyard in Dwarf's Woodlands.]
*: "Well, it's official. I'm lost."
*Vor: "But I did find this amazing castle! I wonder if anyone's home."
*Vor: "Oh, I think I hear someone."
[Vor enters the castle, where she sees the Queen and the Magic Mirror. Vor hides behind a pillar.]
*: "What wouldst thou know now, my Queen?"
*: "Magic Mirror on the wall, who shall forever tule o'er all?"
*Magic Mirror: "Thou will, my liege."
[The Queen smiles and walks away.]
*Vor: "Wow, that mirror knows all the answers!"
*Vor: "Maybe... it can help me too."
[Vor approaches the Magic Mirror and the screen goes black.]
[Xehanort and Eraqus run into Vor in the Dark Forest.]
*Eraqus: "There you are! We were worried."
*Xehanort: "Are you all right?"
*Vor: "Yeah."
*Eraqus: "You said you wanted to come with us, and then you went off on your own!"
*Xehanort: "We need to stick together."
*Vor: "I know, I'm sorry. I was chasing a butterfly, and then I looked around and you were gone."
*Eraqus: "Why am I not surprised?"
*???: "Hurry, men! Hurry!"
[Xehanort, Eraqus, and Vor look toward the voice, and see three Dwarfs.]
*: "Bah! I told ya that mine tunnel was brewin' trouble!"
*: "That's why I'm coming with ya!"
*: "No time for fussin'. We gotta help 'em outta there!"
*Grumpy: "Don't ya think I know that?!"
[The Dwarfs run off.]
*Xehanort: "They must be from this world, but I don't think they're likely to harm us."
*Eraqus: "I don't think so either. It also sounded like they had their hands full."
*Vor: "Something about a mine?"
*Xehanort: "There must've been a cave-in."
*Vor: "If someone's trapped, we might be able to help!"
[Vor runs off.]
*Eraqus: "What did we just say about going off on your own?!"
[Eraqus heads after her.]
*Xehanort: "You're one to talk."
==Quest No. 72==
==Quest No. 73==
Before quest
[Xehanort, Eraqus, and Vor run through the mine, until they reach the Dwarfs.]
*Grumpy: "Who are ya? An' what're you lookin' at!?"
*Doc: "Aw, don't find...uh-uh, mind him."
*Happy: "Yeah, it's nice to meet ya!"
*Eraqus: "We thought you might need a hand."
*Xehanort: "So someone's trapped behind that boulder..."
[Vor summons her Keyblade and walks up to the boulder.]
*Eraqus: "What are you gonna do?"
[Vor holds out her Keyblade.]
*Xehanort: "That's not a bad idea. A Keyblade might do the trick."
[Vor dismissed her Keyblade.]
*Eraqus: "Or not...?"
[Vor lifts the boulder and tosses it behind her. Bashful peeks through the hole.]
*: "Gosh, thanks!"
[Bashful jumps out the hole to join the other Dwarfs, and Sneezy comes out behind him.]
*: "Ah-ah-achoo!"
*Sneezy: "*sniff* It was awful dusty."
[Sneezy joins the other Dwarfs, and Sleepy comes out the hole.]
*: "Yawwwn... Yeah, it was too dark to sleep good in there."
[Sleepy joins the other Dwarfs, and Dopey comes out the hole.]
[Dopey grabs Vor's hands, and jumps with joy. He then joins the others.]
*Happy: "We're mighty grateful for your help, friends!"
*Grumpy: "Hmph! We coulda fixed it fine."
*Grumpy: "But...I s'pose we oughta thank ya."
*Doc: "Now all seven of us can go back to work."
*Vor: "Seven, huh? Just like us."
[Eraqus runs to Vor.]
*Eraqus: "That was awesome!"
[Xehanort senses something, and looks behind him.]
*Xehanort: "We've got company."
[The others look while a Driller Mole crashes down from the ceiling.]
*Grumpy: "Oh, for pete's sake! Now what!?"
[The Driller Mole moves around, and digs into the ground.]
*Doc: "If this doesn't stop, the whole mine'll collapse!"
[Vor summons her Keyblade and runs to the Driller Mole.]
*Vor: "Get somewhere safe!"
[The Dwarfs run off, as Eraqus and Xehanort summon their Keyblades and join Vor.]
*Eraqus: "Do you think it caused the cave-in?"
*Xehanort: "I don't know, but the only thing to do now is to—"
*Vor: "Clobber it!"
After quest
*Eraqus: "Whe're supposed to be tracking darkness, right? I don't know if we're gonna get anywhere by just defeating random Heartless that we encounter."
*Xehanort: "We all knew it wasn't going to be easy."
*Vor: "Actually, it might be."
*Eraqus: "A castle?"
*Xehanort: "An all-knowing mirror?"
*Vor: "Come see for yourselves!"
[Vor runs off.]
==Quest No. 74==
==Quest No. 75==
Before quest
[Xehanort, Eraqus, and Vor approach the Magic Mirror.]
*Xehanort: "So this is it."
*Magic Mirror: "What wouldst ye know?"
[Eraqus runs up to the Magic Mirror.]
*Eraqus: "Ooh, can I go first? I want to know how to beat Xehanort in chess!"
*Xehanort: "...Eraqus."
*Vor: "...Eraqus."
*Eraqus: "It's a game with black and white pieces called Alba and Ater and—"
*Xehanort: "Please ignore him."
*Eraqus: "Aww..."
*Xehanort: "We're looking for some classmates who went missing. Do you know where they are?"
*Magic Mirror: "The friends you seek travel hither and yon. Along separate paths, alone they forge on."
*Xehanort: "So they're on their own. Let's see if we can at least track down one of them."
*Eraqus: "Can you tell us where Vidar is?"
*Magic Mirror: "The one—"
*The Queen: "Silence! Must I remind you whom you serve!?"
*Eraqus: "Who're you?"
[The Queen enters the room.]
*The Queen: "Insolent boy! From this castle I rule all."
[The Queen walks past the others to the Magic Mirror.]
*Eraqus: "Oh, um... Well, we—uh—we heard about the mirror and wanted to check it out."
*Eraqus: "Do you mind if we ask a few questions?"
*The Queen: "You barge into my keep and dare ask a favor? The Mirror is mine... and mine alone!"
*The Queen: "Mmm... But you may approach this once... if you wish."
[The Queen smashes a potion against the mirror.]
*Xehanort: "I have a bad feeling about this."
*The Queen: "Magic Mirror on the wall, consume these fools once and for all!"
*Eraqus: "Huh!?"
*Xehanort: "What!?"
*Vor: "Hey!"
[A bright light shines from the mirror and pulls Xehanort, Eraqus, and Vor in.]
[The three end up in the mirror.]
*Eraqus: "Where are we?"
*Vor: "Not in the castle, that's for sure."
[The Magic Mirror's giant face appears, shooting a fireball, which Xehanort deflects with his Keyblade.]
*Xehanort: "Look out!"
[Vor summons her Keyblade.]
*Vor: "It's the Magic Mirror!"
*Eraqus: "Why does it reek of darkness?"
*Xehanort: "I doubt it's gonna answer any of our questions now. You two ready?"
*Eraqus: "You bet!"
*Vor: "Of course!"
After quest
[Xehanort, Eraqus, and Vor end up outside the mirror. They slowly dismiss their Keyblades.]
*Vor: "Are we back?"
*Xehanort: "I think so."
*Eraqus: "Phew! It looks like she's gone too. All right, let's find out where Vidar is."
[Xehanort nods and approaches the mirror when they hear a voice behind them.]
*: "That's not necessary."
[The three turn around and find Vidar.]
*Eraqus: "Vidar!"
*Vidar: "Hi, everyone."
*Eraqus: "We've been looking for you!"
*Vidar: "I figured you'd show up. Master Odin sent you, right?"
*Eraqus: "Yeah. ...Wait, you knew? Then why didn't you just come home?"
*Xehanort: "Are you alone?"
*Vidar: "You must be Xehanort."
*Vidar: "The visitant."
*Vidar: "I see why you caught the Master's eye. There's something...different about you."
*Vidar: "And you, Vor. There's something on your mind, isn't there?"
*Vidar: "You're wondering if you really belong with these friends of yours. Why not join us instead, then?"
*Vor: "Huh?"
*Eraqus: "What are you talking about?"
[Eraqus grabs Vidar's arm.]
*Eraqus: "Aren't you coming back with us?"
[Vidar brushes off Eraqus's hand.]
*Vidar: "I can't. Not yet. There's something I have to do."
*Xehanort: "What is it?"
*Vidar: "You'll see."
*Vidar: "I need your help. What do you say?"
[Vidar holds out his arm to Vor.]
*Vor: "I...I belong..."
[Eraqus steps between Vor and Vidar.]
*Eraqus: "Vor, you're coming with us, right?"
*Vor: "Actually, I...I asked the mirror a question of my own."
[A flashback shows of Vor's first visit to the mirror's chamber.]
*Vor: "Maybe... it can help me too."
[Vor approaches the mirror.]
*Vor: "Can I ask you something?"
*Magic Mirror: "What wouldst thou know?"
*Vor: "Will I ever become a Keyblade Master?"
*Magic Mirror: "With friends thy heart doth lie, content and free of woe. In comfort stagnant calm, forward thou fail to go."
*Vor: "That's not true!"
[Vor angrily runs close to the mirror.]
*Vor: "I want to become a Keyblade Master as much as everyone else. Stop making things up!"
*Magic Mirror: "No power have I save to offer what is true."
*Vor: "...Oh."
[The flashback ends.]
*Vor: "Lately, I've started to realize how I really feel. I like what we have now, but if we all keep studying and eventually pass the exam, we'll go our separate ways."
*Vor: "And I'm not sure I'm ready for that."
*Eraqus: "Vor, you and I— we're never gonna change. Isn't that right?"
*Xehanort: "Change is inevitable. You should embrace it and learn to build new relateionships."
*Eraqus: "...That's not what you were supposed to say."
*Vor: "Thanks, Eraqus. Thanks, Xehanort."
*Vor: "...I've made up my mind. The longer I stay in this bubble, the harder it'll be for me to leave."
[Vor walks off.]
*Vor: "Let's go, Vidar."
[Vidar follows Vor through a Corridor of Light.]
*Xehanort: "Her heart and her mind are made up."
*Eraqus: "Vor..."
[Eraqus thinks back on their time in class.]
*Vor: "So... why do you all want to become Keyblade Masters?"
*Eraqus: "It was more of an obligation at first. Like a family tradition. But now, I know in my heart that I need to become one and put an end to darkness once and for all."
*: "Serious much?"
*Bragi: "For me, it's easy. I want to do what's right."
*: "I agree that power and justice go hand in hand. My dream is to learn and explore. If I become a Keyblade Master, I'll be able to see all the worlds for myself."
*: "I want to protect what's important to me."
*: "What you all said. Plus, I want to uphold the greater order. Simple as that."
*Xehanort: "I don't know why. But...I have friends... I want to see again."
*Eraqus: "Wait, why would you need to become a Keyblade Master for that?"
*Eraqus: "Fine, don't tell me. Vor, what about you?"
*Vor: "Oh, me? I..."
*Vor: "I'm not telling!"
*Vor: "Wishes don't come true if you say them out loud. So now none of you will get to become Keyblade Masters. Ha!"
*Eraqus: "Hey! No fair!"
[Eraqus chases Vor around the classroom.]
[Back in the present, Xehanort and Eraqus leave the castle.]
:[64 years later]
[Master Xehanort enters the mirror chamber through a Corridor of Darkness.]
*Magic Mirror: "What wouldst thou know?"
*Xehanort: "Do you recognize me?"
*Magic Mirror: "A young boy then, now a man grown. Fewer hairs grace thy head, but you are known."
[Master Xehanort touches his head.]
*Xehanort: "A demonstration of my resolve."
*Magic Mirror: "What else wouldst thou know?"
*Xehanort: "Over the years, I have lost many comrades. Some passed on, while others chose a different path."
*Xehanort: "However, there will always be a special place in my heart... for those friends I never met save in my dreams as a young lad."
[Master Xehanort walks up to the mirror.]
*Xehanort: "Alas, my efforts to find them have been in vain. I don't even know their names. But I can see their faces still."
*Xehanort: "I ask you: did they ever exist, or were they merely a figment of my imagination?"
*Magic Mirror: "Much lies beyond our world,Even more beyond our time,Some in this world reside,Their toll has yet to chime."
*Xehanort: "How can you be sure? Without even their names?"
*Magic Mirror: "Your heart speaks more clearly than your words."
*Xehanort: "Where are they now?"
*Magic Mirror: "Where indeed?"
[A wasteland covered in Keyblades is shown.]
*Magic Mirror: "Amongst an ocean of keys on a vast barren land,"
*Magic Mirror: "a boy bearing great light and darkness doth stand."
*Xehanort: "The Keyblade Graveyard!"
[Master Xehanort summons a Corridor of Darkness and leaves.]