A/N: This story is a collaboration between myself and aliceupsidedown! *spaz*

aliceupsidedown: We should introduce ourselves a little. Like "Hi, I'm aliceupsidedown. I am super excited (Spaz dance excited) to be a part of this Collab with Reyaa. We totally started emailing and chatting on here, and lo and behold, an idea was formed..."

Reyaa: Yes! And then I go, "Hi, I'm Reyaa and am just as excited and spazzy as aliceupsidedown - after sharing our life stories and deciding we were going to be the best of friends, we also decided to merge our writing together to write ya'll a story! So here it is, the story..."

aliceupsidedown: Then maybe at the end we could add, how we will be updating?

Reyaa: Good plan, So like this, "We will update every ten days or so, beware that we both lead busy lives - so there might be a glitch from time to time, but considering the fun we have while creating this story - I doubt we'll let glitches happen regularly. The story is obviously posted on my account here on fan fiction, and you may find the story on aliceupsidedown's deviantart page aliceupsidedown dot deviantart dot com"

Prologue:

"Sir, the issue is not 'when can we do it', it's 'what can we do'?"

I sighed, looking around at the nodding heads. The small meeting room beneath my warehouse was stifling and the air was stale. It helped keep covert meetings short, but didn't make it any easier to come down here in the first place. Looking at the uncomfortable members of the group, none of them would meet my eyes. It was hard to be a merchant in this day and age, and in this area. The Organization had it's claws in everyone and we all felt the pinch. I had brought together this group, in hopes that perhaps we could come up with a plan or way to keep us all afloat. I chuckled internally at my joke. Afloat.

"I am not asking you to fight back against the Organization. I am suggesting that we all try and be a little less passive when it comes to certain things that transpire in the town. Perhaps, instead of just giving in to their demands, let us instead try and make them work for it a little."

"That's all very well and easy for you to say, Merlin. You run a bookstore. I am being run into the ground, having to provide food whenever they walk into my restaurant." The burly man, Pete, looked disgruntled at the others around him.

"I understand it is difficult for all of us. But it is only going to get worse." I pointedly looked at every person. A collective sigh went up, as they realized and understood. Something needed to change. I'd been around long enough to know that the Organization didn't back away from anything it truly wanted.

"Let's meet back here in a few weeks and discuss this further. I have alerted my contacts on Traverse Island that perhaps shipments should slow down for the time being. Be prepared." The group grumbled, but saw the wisdom in making a shortage in some of the finer things. The Organization had less of an influence in Traverse, than it did here on Destiny Island. I felt relieved as I climbed out of the storage room and into the cooling air of my warehouse. I was tired. Tired of the fighting, of the fear, of the sense of disaster that lurked behind every corner.

The Organization. They controlled three of the Islands, and they were only going to get bigger unless something was done. I remembered a little over 13 years ago, when they were but a shadow here on the Islands. Instead of the stain that threatened to overwhelm us all.

It had all started when they discovered oil. Oil, here on Destiny Island. We were all surprised, but things hadn't changed right away. It was discovered on government land, which was a relief because it would be easy to make so many improvements with the wealth that followed. However, before even the first oil pump was installed, the mayor of the town had suddenly relinquished command of the Island to one called Xemnas. It was sudden, and entirely unorthodox. The community had been shocked, even more so when the mayor had fled to the mainland in one single night.

And things had gone downhill from there.

I was able to find out parts of the real story. I wasn't sure now whether it had really done me any good to understand the lengths these people would go to. Perhaps, had I remained ignorant, I would not be having covert meetings in my basement.

The Mayor had two sons. The older boy, Riku, was on track to be a fine young man. At thirteen, he had a wonderful and solemn personality, already trying to follow in the footsteps of his father. Athletic and strong at that young age, he was the darling of his mother and father, and most anyone he met. The younger son, Zexion, wasn't quite as noticeable as his brother. He often found his way into my store, reading for hours at such a young age, and as quiet as can be. I hardly remembered him. He had been so young when they disappeared, I often found myself trying to imagine him as a young man.

Riku was thirteen and Zexion was probably about eight years old when they discovered oil here. I would not be surprised if they didn't notice anything different. However, before things could improve, Zexion was kidnapped. No one knows exactly who was behind it, even now. There are whispers of course. Whispers of shadow assassins who leave behind no trace, ghosting through walls. That day, the mayor was sent a letter. I have never learned the contents of it, despite my contacts. And the day following the arrival of that letter, we found no trace of the mayor or his family on our Island any longer.

Sighing at the dark memories invading my mind, I locked up the front of my store and wandered down the sidewalk, in the direction of my humble house. I passed by the music store, owned by a youngster by the name of Demyx. He was a young one, still new to being a merchant, in my opinion. But, he was enthusiastic, very cheerful. I passed the high school next. It was sad to know that the youngsters attending here, were slowly influenced and desensitized to life with the Organization. They'd grown up with them and didn't know anything different.

I arrived at my small cottage with little fanfare. Just a flapping of wings from the pigeons that roosted on my roof. Not letting the evening go to waste, I climbed my porch and turned to sit down on my favorite chair. Pulling out my pipe, I lit it and was just content to sit and think of better days.

"Merlin." A voice came from the shadows. Of course those with more energy and without back problem, didn't grant me the thought of better days.

"Ah, young Master Riku. What brings you here this evening, or do you simply enjoy stalking the shadows in the dark?"

A snort, and a striking young man stepped into the light from my dim porch light. I looked him over, as I always did in hopes of cracking his careful facade. He had striking silver hair, a fighters build, which wasn't surprising considering the background he had. He was dressed in dark clothes, easier to blend in with the shadows it seemed.

"I stick to the shadows, only to blend in with my surroundings. Sort of like you wear outdated Hawaiian shirts, and bermuda shorts with sandals. You wish to seem a harmless old man, when in fact you are probably more sneaky than I am."

Riku had the knack of complimenting one whilst insulting in the very same phrase. "Oh, you flatter an old man. What brings you here this evening?"

"We have received and confirmed some intel on the Organization. We have verified all you have told us concerning Xemnas, aka Number One. He is apparently the fifth one to hold that title. He took the place of Xehanort, like you said. A little over 15 years ago, and after the discovery of oil here, he moved the bulk of the Organization here, but left a few of his key people on the mainland." Riku shifted his feet as he rattled off the facts, as if he were still a Lustitia agent reporting to a superior officer.

"Was that all you were able to learn?"

Despite no longer being with the agency, I knew that he had many contacts still willing to work with him in his effort against the Organization.

He paused, and seemed reluctant to go on. "No. According to inside information, my brother was killed only a few months after being kidnapped." I felt my shoulders sag in defeat. So there it was. I knew there was a reason he wasn't more willing to charge in and take the Organization first hand. It was too late for his brother.

"I am sorry to hear that. And what of the others that are with you? Are things going well for them?"

"Everything is fine. Thanks to you, we were able to get Axel to the ranch without anyone knowing. Again, thanks for helping us find that place and get it set up." I waved my hand, dismissing his thanks.

"It was the least I could do for you. What else have you learned?"

"That we are going to need someone to help us infiltrate the Organization. But don't worry about that. The less you know the better. I just came to keep you updated. I'll get back to you in a couple of weeks." And with that he nodded in respect, stepped back into the shadows and was gone.

I sighed. That boy had more hardship than any person should have to endure. He had popped back into island life a few months ago. I'd immediately recognized him as he wandered down mainstreet. He was the spitting image of his father. After inviting him into my shop, I'd learned a little bit about how his family was doing on the mainland. Apparently, he had joined the Lustitia in hopes of finding his younger brother and perhaps stopping the Organization from expanding anymore than it already had. Instead, he had only been dragged along on pointless smaller assignments, though he did learn a little more about the Org. But perhaps the biggest piece of news, was that the assassination of the Undersecretary of Defense, was in fact planned and carried out by a member of the Organization, Number 8 who was still at large.

Riku had been a key member of the team in charge of tracking down the killer. However, due to internal conflicts the search was called off, and the case was deemed 'on hold'. Unable to understand the politics involved, Riku had been secretly investigating on his own. However, things didn't go to well for him and he was forced to quit, taking his partner, Sora and another agent, Roxas with him, in hopes of taking the Organization on themselves.

I'd introduced Riku around, informing him about the merchants desire to get out from under the Org. It worked out that Riku had made contact with me early on. I'd helped him purchase a suitable base in the area, as well as being able to smuggle much needed equipment.

Although they no longer played by the rules, I had high hopes for Riku and his team. Quitting the Lustitia agency might actually work out for the best. As without law, there are no restrictions - and over the many years that I had been obliged to stand by and watch the Organization slowly take over everything without being able to do something to aid the people that were hurt in the process. It was very clear that the Organization wasn't holding themselves back because of the law. Playing by the rules had only made the Organization stronger. Maybe now that their enemy had tossed the law out of the window, an equal match could finally take place.

A/N: We hope you'll stick around for the rest! Zexion will be your guide through chapter one! Stay tuned :D - We love reviews!