It'd been almost a week since Axel has been sent to castle Oblivion, and Roxas has missed him a lot. He'd become very close friends with number XIV, Xion, which he was very happy about, they would share the icing on the cake after every mission, and Roxas could sense a very special bond between the two of them, but Axel was his first friend and he still missed him.
Saix was no help at all, telling him that Axel will come back when his mission was done, and that he doesn't know when said mission would be over, and after the third time Roxas asked that day, the blond just gave up.
Walking through the corridor he arrived at the Grey Area, where he surprisingly found the Superior there. Roxas decided to take a chance and ask Xemnas if he somehow knew when Axel would come back.
"Superior?" Roxas called politely.
"Number XIII, do you need something?" the silver haired man asked in his raspy whisper of a voice -that deep down striked Roxas as wrong, but he never knew why- Ignoring that feeling he approached Xemnas closer and asked.
"Do you, by any chance, know when Axel would be coming back from his mission?"
It took Xemnas a few seconds to answer, "Unfortunately, I do not. He will come back when the mission is done."
"I see," Roxas said dejected hanging his head for a few seconds, "Thank you, Superior," the blond boy said before turning around and leaving. Before Roxas could step out of the door however Xemnas called him.
"XIII."
Roxas turned around questioningly. "Yes?"
"I do have something to speak to you about. Come with XIV to my private champers in an hour."
"Yes, Superior, I'll look for her immediately." Xemnas nodded at Roxas' answer, and watch the boy run out looking for his friend.
An internal argument was waging inside of the silver haired Nobody, not something out of the ordinary of course given the situation of his creation, however, this time, the other side, the one that must be Terra was being very...helpful.
"The plan is stupid. Why sacrifice either of them to have the same power as one child when you can train both as they should've been trained and make them stronger?"
"... The plan is just fine. And why are you helping now?"
"I'm not helping you do this atrocity… this is a compromise. Both of them become stronger, giving this Organization more powerful welders, and neither would have to be destroyed because you couldn't bother raising them."
"We're not a babysitter, we're the leader to a very dangerous, very powerful Organization."
"Who does nothing all day but hail a damn heart shaped moon that isn't even the real Kingdom Hearts! Face it, your original plan was one has more benefits."
"It really displeases me that any part of my new self would be attached to these children."
Xemnas' other side did not answer. However it was clear that the battle was won. Training Numbers XIII and XIV-
"Roxas and Xion."
As his other side was so happy to remind him, would be much more beneficial to him and the Organization in many ways, especially if whatever Number XI's plan would come to fruition.
So he instructed Thir-Roxas to come to him along with Xion. He should start thinking on how to approach this, loath as a part of him was to admit it, a speech would not be that beneficial. They were children, with hardly any memory or an exact identity, and he should approach them both as such.
An hour past, it was the longest time Xemnas has gone without hailing Kingdom Hearts since it started being constructed... and another battle waged inside him…'Maybe I should stop doing that so much...No, no it's necessary...Not really, I look a little stupid...No I don't,' his thoughts were thankfully interpreted as a knock came.
"Enter," he called.
The door to his champers opened and the youngest members of his Organization tentatively entered them.
"Hello Superior," XIV said. Her face to him had kept on changing, sometimes she looked like Ventus, other Times like Vanitas, even a companion of both. At the moment however she looked faceless, just unclear features under the hood. Xemnas didn't spare it much thought for now, opting instead to start executing his plan.
"Hello XIV, XIII."
"Is something wrong, Superior?" asked Roxas, tilting his head.
"Not at all, in fact, I do believe that things would be rather improving for both of you. You see, I had a certain plan for you. However after… a lot of arguing with myself, I've decided to change it into something less… self destructive."
Both of them blinked in confusion, exchanged a confused look, then turned back to him.
"Yes, I know that what I said is rather greatly confusing, but you don't have to worry about it. Instead, you will start being trained."
"Trained?" asked Xion confused.
"Don't we know all that we need to know by now? I mean the other members-"
Xemnas raised his hand to silence Roxas, and the boy stopped talking immediately.
"While you both have learned rather quickly, even further than I expected, you have only scratched the surface of what you could learn."
Understanding dawned on both of them. "The new things that we'll learn are a part of the new plan," Roxas said. Xemnas nodded.
"The training will only be at my hands, no one should be told about it currently, not even Saix. At times I will ask you to go on special missions for your own training, and you might come back exhausted, so if Saix assigns you a mission that neither of you feels strong enough to complete, just come to me, no need to give excuses to number VII. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Superior," They answered simultaneously.
"Any questions?"
"Can't I tell Axel when he comes back? He's my friend, and he'll be asking what I do if he doesn't find me."
"Perhaps, when the time is right to inform him. At the moment however, you two are to tell no one about it."
"I understand," he replied, looking at the ground a little dejected again.
Xion glanced at Roxas, then asked, "When do we start?"
Roxas' attention immediately returned to Xemnas.
"Now," he answered.
"Right now?" Xion exclaimed in confusion.
"Do either of you have a problem with that?" he asked.
Both glanced at each other once more and shock their heads. "No, sir."
"Good. Now I want you both to summon your Keyblades."
Both of them complied, it was quite confusing that both of them had the same Keyblade, but it didn't matter... it would change soon enough.
"These Keyblades that you use are fine, however there is more than one form of Keyblade. Each with its own powers and benefits. As time goes on, I expect both of you to claim your own."
"Sir, if I may ask," XIV said. Xemnas nodded.
"How do you know so much about the Keyblades?"
"It is because I can use the Keyblade as well," he answered with no hesitation. "And that information is one of the things that you must keep a secret."
"Of course, but…"
"If you can use the Keyblade, then what's so special about us?" Roxas continued.
"You both are very special, in your own way. There are things that I can not yet explain, but I promise will become clear in time. You see, there is no "Chosen One" of the Keyblade, no only "One Master" of it either, merely people strong enough to use it. Not everyone has that strength. In that alone, you two are quite special, understood?" Both nodded once, in determination.
"Good. Now," he said opening a corridor of Darkness, "Follow me," he ordered and both of them complied, putting their hoods on and entering into the Darkness.
"Where are we?" asked Xion, looking around.
"A world made of dreams, devoid of any logic but its own, it is called Wonderland."
"I've been here on one of my missions with Luxord."
"Indeed, this place would be just fine. Summon your weapons once more, and stand across from one another."
Once more both did as they were told.
"Assume your battle stance." Both mirrored each other. "Now show me your abilities."
Roxas and Xion jumped at the same time, launching at each other with the Keyblade, clanking sounds raised as the Keyblades met, both of Xemnas' students giving it their all.
Roxas jumped back and Xion followed him, raising the Keyblade to hit but the blond boy dodged, before trying to hit number XIV himself. Xion blocked his attack, both of them struggled, trying to push the other back, but it was clear that they were both evenly-matched, neither of them could get the advantage.
Both jumped back and attacked, Roxas was faster, sending Blizzara her way. The attack hit and Xion was flung back with a yelp.
"Xion!?" XIII called back in concern.
"I'm fine."
"Resume fighting, XIII, number XIV is stronger than a mere Shadow." Roxas glanced at Xemnas and nodded, Xion giving their leader a grateful smile for the trust in her.
Roxas ran towards her ready to strike, but Xion was ready thanks to Roxas' hesitation and was able to dodge him easily. She sent fire at her friend, which also sent him back, she ran with no hesitation towards him but Roxas had recovered quickly and was able to block her. Both became locked again trying to defeat the other.
"That's enough," Xemnas called, both immediately stopped, breathing hard. "You did quite well for the minimal knowledge that you have, you are both quiet powerful. That is enough for today, we shall work on your spells and strength in time. For the moment. XIII, do not hesitate next time, in any fight that you might have, if you do not wish to hurt someone, merely control the strength of your attacks, understood?"
"Yes, Superior," he nodded.
"XIV, we will work on your speed and reactions, as it seems that XIII has you beaten in that department."
"Yes, Superior," she nodded as well.
"Let us return to the castle now," he opened another corridor, returning them all to his campers.
"Before you leave, I have to ask you, has your mission from Saix been exhausting today?" Xemnas asked. Both of them opened their lips to answer but stopped, looking down.
"It's alright if you both are. I merely ask both of you not to lie to me. Are you both, or either of you exhausted?"
"Yes," they answered.
"Very well. That is all for today. I want to both to think about the revelations that you've had today. Remember that you can not tell anyone, and we will do this once again tomorrow. I will order Saix to give you a small mission, or one for both of you. Be ready."
"Yes, Superior."
"I want you both to remember this," he said, -as his other side urged him to do so- stepping closer to them, putting his hand on their shoulders and kneeling down to be at their level, "You are both important, there is nothing and no one more important than you, no matter what anyone says. You're both strong, but you can always get stronger. Have each other's backs. We have a lot of enemies some that would be happy to tear you both apart, never trust them, only trust each other and me."
"Yes, Superior," they said, a small smile on their faces. Number XIV's hood fell down, and her face was no longer blank to him. It no longer looked like Ventus or Vanitas, not even Sora. She was a young girl with black hair. Her face was the face of the seventh Princess of light, with Ventus' eyes, a small sweet smile on her face. Xemnas blinked, but stood up, and dismissed both of them.
"XIV," he called. Both of them froze at the door, and she glanced back at him.
"Yes?"
"Do not allow Saix to insult you anymore." Her eyes widened before giving him a happy smile and nodding enthusiastically, both heading back to their own chambers.
"I do not like this."
But Xemnas saw clearly, that what he was doing was making things better, making his plan stronger, and the margin of error less. Even if he would somehow get attached -which he didn't believe to be possible- it wouldn't really ruin anything that important.
Xehanort had trained children before, but their loyalty was questionable at best. He had been cruel, unyielding and unforgiven. Because of that he was quite sure Vanitas would have turned on him given the chance, and that wasn't what Xemnas needed. What he needed was their loyalty, which means he shouldn't be doing anything to jeopardize that loyalty, however annoyed part of him was at the prospect of it.