Hey readers. I am Shaded Truths and this story marks my foray into the world of writing fanfiction. I would have never gotten the guts to write this story if it weren't for my best friend, who threatened to do bad things to me if I didn't. I want to thank her and all of you who clicked on the story. I know that people don't normally like OC's, myself included, but I beg of you to at least give this a shot. Real Kingdom Hearts characters will be involved in this series frequently. This is also a crossover with Harry Potter, but I put it here because I know there are people who don't look at crossovers, and if I were to put every volume in it's respective crossover secton, this series would be all over the place. I warn you that Volume one will not be as good as the ones following, but I hope you can stick with me in this. Well, enough of my prattle, I give to you the Prologue of, The Wings of Freedom Volume One.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom hearts or Harry Potter, the only part of the story I own is my OC.
Prologue:
Freedom. What is Freedom? Is it being able to do what you want, when you want to? Is it not having to be confined against your will in the place of your creation? Freedom is something that I have not obtained. No, I have been essentially confined to the fortress that is Castle Oblivion. An empty, monochromatic fortress that, before the days of the organization's occupation, had just been an empty place too close to the darkness. The pure, white walls with the even whiter decorations of fake flowers and pedestals of the inside of this empty place are the only things I know, besides the Organization.
The members of Organization XIII are the only people that I have had any form of contact or communication with since as far back as I can recall.
I opened my eyes to nothing but white. It was so blinding that I had to close my eyes again. After another moment or two I tried to open them again, this time being significantly less traumatic on my sight. Gradually, my vision cleared and I was greeted with the sight of two people hovering at my side. Both male, wearing long black coats, and appeared to have noticed my awakening. I sat up and discovered that I was lying on a table that was as white as most of my surroundings. I took a look around and observed that I was in what appeared to be a laboratory of some sort. I saw computer monitors and tables lined with glass beakers and test tubes, as well as a huge white board with a myriad of indecipherable babble scribed on it. I turned my attention back to my observers who appeared to be just watching me take in my surroundings. As soon as I faced them I realized my strength was failing me and I fell back into a lying position on the table. One of the men, a tall, older looking man with long, blonde hair and green eyes was quickly by my side and had a hand on my shoulder to keep me from sitting back up.
"You need to rest," said the man, "You are very weak right now."
"Where am I…? What happened to me?" I asked, realizing that I sounded drained.
It was then that the other man, this one with tanned skin, orange eyes, and long, white hair that reached his shoulders spoke for the first time. I couldn't help but feel a modicum of worry looking at him. His entire being exuded something untrustworthy.
"What do you remember?" the blonde asked me with a hint of intrigue in his voice.
I put my hand on my head for a moment and realized that I was wearing gloves. I glanced at myself and discovered that I was wearing the same black, hooded coat, gloves, and knee length boots the other two men were. Getting over the initial distraction, I set my mind to thinking about how I ended up where I was. After a minute I finally replied.
"Nothing, I don't remember anything." I told them then I looked away, not noticing the smirk appear on the snowy-haired man's face.
"Well then allow me to explain," the tanned skin man said, "My name is Xemnas. You are in Castle Oblivion."
"Well, Xemnas," I began, "How did I end up in this place?" I looked over at him and he retained a passive face.
"I had just made my way to this castle in order to make sure my associates were moved in nicely and to check with operations in the castle." Xemnas explained, "When I arrived I was surprised to find you, unconscious, outside the entrance. When I checked you I called this man here, Vexen, to come and retrieve you to make sure you were all right. After all, beings like us have to help each other, seeing as no one else will."
"What do you mean, 'beings like us have to help each other'?" I ask.
That was the time that I had met Xemnas and Vexen. They went on to explain to me that I was a Nobody, something that was once human, but lost its' heart. The empty shell left behind. This was what my memory loss was attributed to, meaning that I had just been born as a Nobody. The fact that I could talk coherently meant that I had to have existed for at least a few days. That is what they tell me at least. I can't really explain why or how I know, but I knew almost immediately that I needed to watch myself around these people. After the initial conversation on Nobodies they had told me to go back to sleep and they would answer some more questions when I recovered.
When I woke up I was alone in the lab. I sat up, this time with no problems, slid my legs off the table, and stood. After getting my bearings, I made my way to the door. After opening the door I ventured out and into a hallway. I shut the door and was about to head off in any direction when someone got my attention.
"Hey!" someone called. I turn around and see another person in a black coat, this one a blonde woman with green eyes and her hair done in a style so that it appeared as though she had antennae on her head. She quickly strode over to me and began to speak again.
"So, your finally awake I see. I was just sent here by the boss to get you. Names Larxene." she said with what appeared to be a condescending look on her face.
"Who is the boss?" I asked her, "Xemnas? Where is he? I have questions for him."
"Alright, alright." She replied with an exaggerated sigh, "Right this way. Now why don't you quit being rude and tell me your name."
"You're the one being condescending and I am the rude one? Huh?" I said with a monotone voice and a blank face.
Larxene just glared at me, huffed, and started walking away. I followed her so she could lead me to Xemnas. After what seemed like forever, we made it to a large room. The room, unsurprisingly had white walls like the rest of the castle, and had random decorations spread around. We made our way across to the hall entrance on the other side when a third party decided to join us.
"Ah! So the stiff's awake." We looked over and see a tall red headed man with spiky hair, green eyes, and what appeared to be green markings underneath his eyes. "Nice to see you up and about. My name is Axel, A-X-E-L, got it memorized?" he asked me.
"Sure Axel. My name is-" I started then I realized, "I don't remember my name." I finished and looked away. Axel just sighs and puts his hands on his hips.
"Well that is to be expected. Chances are with you being recently coming into existence and all; you probably don't have a name yet." He said to me, "No worries though, I'm sure the Superior will give you a name, He named all of us, Larxene, Vexen, myself, and the rest of the Organization."
"Xemnas did mention associates," I said, "That would be this organization right?" I asked.
"Give the man a prize," Axel said with a grin, "You're quick, I like you already."
Larxene rolled her eyes.
"Blegh. Axel shut the hell up and let's get going. We need to meet with everyone else and the boss." She huffed. "And of course I am the one stuck getting Mr. Comedian here, so can we just go. Talk on the way."
I looked over and Axel just looked back at me with an amused expression on his face.
We walked together in silence. After a while we made it to what appeared to be a meeting room. There was one long table with eight chairs, one on each end and three on each side. We walked in and Xemnas was seated on the end seat farthest from us. On his left in the first chair in the row of three was Vexen, and then, to Vexen's left was a huge man with slicked back, auburn hair that was oddly spiked, and blue eyes. He had angular features and appeared to radiate strength. To his left and in the final seat on the left row was a younger looking, smaller framed male with steel-blue hair with wavy bangs that completely covered one side of his face from view. He was staring at me with his visible aqua colored eye. On Xemnas' immediate right sat a tall man with feminine features, the most prominent of which was his ruffled, shoulder length, rose-pink hair, he also has blue eyes and light pink lips. This one made me uneasy. Although not as much as Xemnas did. I must have been good at hiding my apprehensions because no one appeared to notice.
Xemnas waved his hand and Axel and Larxene immediately took their seats. Larxene to the pink haired man's right, and Axel to hers. Then it was just me standing there alone while seven pairs of eyes examined me. Before the awkward atmosphere overstayed its' welcome Xemnas gestured to the empty chair on the end opposite him and between Axel and the younger man.
"Please, do have a seat," he told me and I sat down, "Now then let me be the first to welcome you to our castle and convey how excellent it is that you are out and about."
"Thank you Xemnas." I replied politely.
"Now then to get acquainted, You already know my name, and Vexen's, and you came with Axel and Larxene, so allow me to introduce, Marluxia," he gestured to the feminine man, "Lexaeus," then the auburn haired giant, "and Zexion," finally gesturing toward the aqua eyed man next to me.
"Nice to meet you all, however I regret to inform you that I do not remember my name. For all I know I have no name to remember." I said keeping a straight face and looking them all in the eyes one by one. Xemnas then smirked, indicating his first expression since this meeting began.
"I shall give you a name," He stated, "so then you will have something to be called."
"I would appreciate that Xemnas, I have been told you named all of the members of your organization," I said.
"Indeed I have. Now a name is something sacred and should not be taken for granted. A precious gem in a being's existence. With his said you shall be so named," he then put his hand in the air and a translucent orange "X" appeared then silver letters circle around it so fast that I can't make them out. With a small twitch of his hand the letters stopped and my name was revealed.
"Gnocx," I said.
"A fitting name if I say so," Vexen stated, "You pronounce as 'nox' which hides the true meaning."
'Awfully cryptic,' I said in my head, thus adding to my suspicions. I awas pulled out of my thoughts when I felt Axel clapping my shoulder.
"Congratulations new pal of mine," Axel congratulated, "Welcome to the fold,"
The rest of the meeting included me agreeing to staying at the castle and using the time to try to adjust to my body and mind. That night I slept in a bed and not a table. Over the next several days I had to go through a variety of things. I needed to learn how to fight. I needed to be able to defend myself against the forces outside these walls. I trained with Axel and Lexaeus. During this training I realized I didn't need as much help as we first thought. It appeared that my human self was accustomed to fighting and my body remembers. In no time at all I am able to manifest my weapon just like Axel manifests his chakram and Lexaeus his axe sword. My weapon turned out to be two thin Rapiers. One had a black blade with a white hilt while the other had a white blade with a black hilt. Both had guards that are shaped like a wing. Both wings differed according to the hand I held them in. Left wing in my left hand and right wing in my right hand. I learned that I was fairly proficient in swordplay, however I was lacking in hand to hand combative skills. While I could use my legs pretty well, it appeared as though my body just wasn't wired for me to use fists.
Having really no need for the combat training. I took to learning magic under Zexion. Magic fascinated me simply with the unlimited possibilities of its' uses. The same principle with my swords came to apply to magic. Apparently whoever I was must have been someone who could handle themself. With magic taken care of I took to a myriad of activities like talking with Axel or Lexaeus and reading with Zexion in the castle's library. Marluxia and Larxene tended to avoid everyone, however no one minded. Shortly after the meeting where I got my name, Xemnas left to return to the main headquarters. After word I have had everyone fill me in on the organization, including the goal to get their hearts back. I suppose if I had a heart I would sympathize, but none of us do have hearts so feeling is out the window. Although there are times where Axel or Vexen will appear to genuinely have some sort of emotional reaction, we all know it isn't real. I found it better to just not bother with the act. It would only be a matter of time before the Organization completed its' goal and they all got their hearts back.
Five days after my awakening I had decided that it was time that I leave the castle and try to figure out who it was that I was before I lost my heart. However, things started going downhill fast.
"What?" I asked.
"I thought I made myself clear," Vexen coolly replied, "We are under strict orders to keep you here until further notice."
"Why?" I demanded with a slightly raised voice. Vexen sighed
"Because the Superior thinks that you would make a magnificent addition to our organization."
"But I don't want to be a part of the group." This got Vexen's attention.
"We are all trying to obtain the light of Kingdom Hearts and restore our hearts. I believed that that is what you wanted as well is it not?" Vexen asked me.
"I don't even know who I was before I lost my heart," I said, "I need to find out, so I am leaving to do this."
"It's not that simple," Vexen stated, eyes narrowing, "As I said we have orders, we will not just allow you to leave. There is no way you can fight all six of us. You do not even know how to use the dark corridor; therefore you have no way of getting anywhere."
I closed my eyes and looked down. All of my suspicions confirmed; for whatever reason they did not want me to leave the castle. I turned and walked out of Vexen's lab. As I reached it Vexen's voice fills my ears.
"Even if you manage to get away, there is nothing that can be done. You can't run from the Organization. We will always find you and bring you back. Just keep this in mind." Vexen warned me then walked past me and out the door. I smirked. What Vexen didn't realize was that I didn't stop to listen to him. I stopped because, in one of the cabinets lining the wall beside his tables full of beakers and chemicals was a small blue item shaped like a star with one of the five points broken off and a yellow circuit in the center with a piece sticking out of the place the fifth point would be. With a formulating contingency plan in mind, I left the lab to go to the lounge.
During my readings with Zexion I would learn a few things, many of which included other worlds. One thing, however, that I came across was the methods of traveling between worlds. While there are many ways, such as gummi ships, dark corridors, and keyblades; I have access to no gummi ship, no keyblade, although if Axel's friend, Roxas, were here I could at least have one in proximity, and I never learned to use the dark corridor. I could've tried to after my confrontation with Vexen, but then it would have been too suspicious and no one would have taught me.
I made my way to the lounge. I was about to go in when I heard voices coming from inside around the corner. I put myself against the wall and quietly moved closer to the corner. The voices grew clearer.
"Xemnas isn't gonna be happy with this," said one of the voices.
It was one I didn't recognize, so I turned myself around and quickly looked around the corner. It was only a second but it was enough. Around the corner, Larxene, Marluxia, Lexaeus, Zexion, Vexen, and Axel were all in a semi-circle talking to an older looking man in the same black coat we were wearing. His hair wass black with gray streaks going through it. It was long and tied in a ponytail. He was wearing an eye patch over one eye, had scars in a couple places on his face, and his one visible eye was the same orange as Xemnas' eyes. Marluxia then spoke up.
"Are you suggesting you are going to tell him Xigbar?"
Then it was Larxene's turn.
"Yeah, you gonna rat us out?
"As if, but Gnocx needs to be brought under control. It won't do us any good if he gets out of here. People could recognize him," The man labeled Xigbar said.
"Then what would you have us do?" Lexaeus asked the man.
"Do I have to spell everything out?" Xigbar asked in mock exasperation.
"Apparently you do." Zexion piped in.
"Fine, you six need to incapacitate him so Vexen can work on him. Voila! He's fine and perfectly docile. It's perfect. Besides, he'll still be ready for when Mr. Master needs 'IT' back."
I hadn't stuck around to hear the rest. It was obvious that it was time to go. So then as I found myself running towards Vexen's lab I was trying to think of how I may have to fight my way past seven people. I reached the lab and dashed inside. Walking over to the cabinet I quickly located the star shard behind the glass windowed door. I pulled open the door below it and dig through a stack of papers. At the bottom was a medium sized box. I grabbed it and opened it. Inside was a small black pouch. This black pouch, which Vexen had spatially distorted on the inside in order to make hiding It easy, contained his research fund. I took the pouch and put it in the pocket of my coat. Then I covered my face with one arm as I use my other arm to smash the glass window of the door the star shard is behind.
I barely had time to grab the star shard when, all of a sudden, a series of alarms went off. I quickly pocketed the star shard with the little black pouch full of money, turned on my heel, ran out the door, and sprinted down the hallway toward the stairway. Vexen's lab was on the third floor, so I started my descent once I reached the staircase to floor two. Each floor of this castle is essentially one long hallway, with several rooms and smaller corridors branching off. I started the sprint down the seemingly, endless hallway to reach the stairs on the other side.
I had not expected my escape to go smoothly, so it came to no surprise when two dark corridors appear in front of me. The corridors disappeared and Lexaeus and Zexion appeared in front of me. I stopped and we had a stare down, all the while I was trying to formulate a plan to pass them. Zexion was a strategist like I am and Lexaeus was easily the strongest physically of any organization member, however his stature made him incredibly slow.
"Escape is impossible. Surrender now and you will not be harmed." Lexaeus told me, while manifesting his axe sword.
Zexion made no move.
"Awfully presumptuous of you Lexaeus," I said before vanishing in a flash. Their eyes widened briefly before Lexaeus spins himself around and uses his axe sword to block one of my blades. Anticipating attack not working, I pointed my other blade, the rapier with the white blade, at Zexion and shouted, "Stop!" before he could get himself away from me and he was frozen in time. With Zexion removed from the fight, I jumped away from Lexaeus and, took advantage of my speed, hightailed it towards the stairs.
I was about 20 feet away when, all of a sudden, I was hit in the back with something and I was launched forward. I managed to look behind me to see that, while Lexaeus was not fast enough to chase me, he was still able to use his affinity for earth and send a medium sized boulder hurtling at me, explaining what struck me. Unfortunately for both of us his boulder had enough strength to send me flying the remaining 20 feet to the stairs where I proceeded to attempt to right myself and failed, resulting in my flying down the staircase landing on it halfway through and tumbling down the rest of the way. I landed face first on the ground at the bottom of the stairs. I looked up to see the giant brown doors that lead to my freedom.
I stood up and started running toward the door. Once again my freedom was blocked when another dark corridor appeared and Vexen stepped out.
"Just you? Where are the others?" I ask.
"Marluxia is making preparations for a project we are working on, as is Larxene." Vexen explains with an uninterested look on his face, "They obviously felt you weren't worth the time. As for Axel, Why don't you turn around." My eyes widened and I turned around fast enough to block the chakram aimed for my face. I didn't give Axel a chance to recover and I disappeared. I reappeared behind him like a flash and struck; however, he is faster than Lexaeus and blocked my blades with one of his reclaimed chakram. Before I got a chance to get away he kicked me in the stomach, winding me, making me drop my weapons, and sending me to the floor. Using my momentum I roll myself back to my feet. Axel is on me before I can catch my breath and I dodge his strikes as quickly as I can. Unfortunately he managed to hit my shoulder. Puncturing it with one of the blades on his chakram and it starts to bleed. I flashed away just as he is about to attack me again. He gasps in surprise at this and turns to block at hit, however he is met nothing but air.
"Did you honestly think I would try the same thing twice?" I asked before I kicked him in the side. The kick sent him back a few feet and I held my open palm out toward him. "Freeze!" I shouted and a chunk of ice flew at him. He couldn't react and my spell hit him, Freezing his legs in ice and removing him from the battle. I needed to quickly dispatch Vexen before Axel thawed himself, so I turned my attention toward him and saw an ice spell flying at me. I manifested my black bladed rapier and knock the spell away. Vexen was physically inferior and his only real strength was his mind. Knowing this I charged. As I ran toward him, he raised his hand in the air and a big blue shield manifested on his arm. He then crouched down and slammed his other hand into the ground. From that point spikes made of ice sprouted from the ground in sequence making their way toward me. Rapier in hand I continued charging to meet the ice needles and then jumped, getting a good height and use a spell to light my rapier on fire. I swung it down and a wave of fire issued forth, destroying the spikes, extinguishing the spell on my rapier, and clearing a path. I landed and took off again. As I was closing in on Vexen he raised his shield above his head and his cloak flapped around him from the energy of the attack he is preparing.
His shield then elongated to about four times its' length. On closer inspection he used his power over ice to create an extension on his shield to make it into an ice blade. With his attack prepared he glided along the ground toward me. He went to swing and I ducked, the massive blade missing me by so little that I felt the bite of the cold on my skin. I raised my rapier to block the second attack, however Vexen was stronger than I estimated and he hit my rapier with enough force to knock it out of my hand. With a smirk on his face he brings the blade above his head, thinking he's won when I surprise him by jumping back. He brings the blade down creating a shockwave of ice where I was and the ice blade breaks. Seeing an opening, I recalled my black rapier and used it to slash at the air, a wave of black energy flew from my blade and hit Vexen sending him back. Then I dashed toward him, knocked him into the air, jumped, and finally used my legs to kick him in the chest. With a painful gasp, Vexen is sent through the big doors leading to the outside. With the doors open, I looked back to see Axel almost thawed out and Lexaeus and Zexion running down the stairs from the floor up.
Realizing my time is short; I ran out of the door and jumped over Vexen, who was unconscious from my attack. I ran on the path leading away from the castle. While running I reached into my pocket and pulled out the star shard. I needed to activate it so I started pouring my energy into it. While doing so the only thought on my mind was, I don't care where you take me; just get me away from Organization XIII. Then, as I felt the fatigue of my energy being drained, coupled with my bleeding shoulder, starting to get to me, the star shard started glowing. I stopped running and picked up the energy flow, pouring more in, desperate to get away. Finally, almost as if it heard my plea, a bright light enveloped me. The last thing I remembered thinking was that I was finally out of that empty place. I was free.
I hope that this wasn't to bad for you. Please leave a review, so I can improve on any mistakes. Remember that this is my first fanfiction... ever. Constructive criticism is welcome, but please, no flames. See you next Friday.