It was a cold day in the World That Never Was when the storms first came; the lashing of wind and sleet-like rain that no one had seen coming. They were all so used to rain in their World of Nothingness that they were little prepared for the pounding the rain suddenly took, the wind whipping anything it could grasp from the ground. The one's who were unfortunate enough to be caught outside when it began cursed their luck, quickly pulling their hoods up and returning to their castle as quickly as they could. The one's who were still safe inside stopped what they were doing in curiosity, looking up to the ceiling, wondering what was bringing on the onslaught. No one knew the cause for this newfound storm in their world, nor, they soon were to find, did any of them know the cure.
He didn't know half the world's secrets, and never would he deny that. The Freeshooter wasn't one for lying about his faults, even though he lied about many other things. He had seen so many different worlds in his life, had been through so many strange turns of events, and still felt no closer to uncovering the mysteries of the worlds than he had when he was only a young apprentice, eager to find the secrets of his own heart. One thing could not be denied, the Freeshooter knew as he gazed out of his window at the steadily falling rain; this was not normal… It rained all the time in their world, nothing new there. What was new was the ferociousness with which the rain lashed out, and that it had been doing just that for three weeks straight.
No, nothing normal there… He could remember tales from some world that he had once ended up about the world raining for forty days and forty nights, only the family of one man surviving… What was his name again…? John? Maybe Bill…?
Xigbar shrugged it off as something to ponder about later. Whatever his name was, he had barely made it out alive. Xigbar sighed. That seemed to be the situation they might soon be in, as the ground was already covered in water. Not even Demyx was taking pleasure in that matter anymore, and Number II knew it was bad news when the kid wasn't taking much pleasure in his own element… Even Saïx was graver than usual, though this could have been linked to the fact that the clouds were constantly passing over the Moon these days… And their Superior, Xigbar laughed at the thought of his old friend. He had become more vague than usual, trapped inside from his Alter of Naught. Not that Kingdom Hearts was visible anyway… No, something was defiantly wrong…
A Dusk suddenly appeared, sent by Zexion, no doubt, to announce that breakfast was ready.
Xigbar smirked. At least breakfast was still always an interesting event.
Xigbar entered the dining room to find himself one of the first one's there. Zexion was busy going around and setting the table, Lexaeus helping him out as always. Vexen was there as well, in his seat and writing vigorously in a small book. After five days of nonstop pounding rain, the task had been passed to Vexen to find out what exactly was going on. This was no usual experiment of Vexen's, and he had been seen wandering outside the confines of his lab more than ever, watching the rain and taking samples for later observation.
Zexion continually passed by Vexen, gazing over his shoulder to see his new discovery or theory. In these past few weeks, it seemed that Zexion became truly aware for the first time that he was seated next to the Chilly Academic, something Xigbar had always been aware of, taking pleasure in torturing him. Of course, Xigbar had stopped that too, taking to acting just as Zexion, always staring at the new details Vexen was writing about.
Looking down the table, Xigbar saw that the Diviner was there looking serious as always, staring at Vexen like everyone else kept doing. Saïx stared at the book with such intensity that Xigbar thought he was probably able to see through the covers and read the words Vexen was writing. Normally, Xigbar would have asked Saïx if he had some other freaky power that he had never told them about, but the gravity of the situation caught his tongue. He had just seen what Vexen had written.
"A month? What do you mean, 'The ground will be flooded in a month?' Isn't it flooded already?"
Vexen didn't even glance up at Xigbar as he spoke, something he always did when he was interrupted.
"It is flooded, but next week, there will be no more ground for it to cover."
Xigbar tilted his head. But, wouldn't that mean…?
"The water will begin to flood the castle."
Xigbar started, having almost forgotten what it sounded like when Saïx spoke; he hadn't spoken to any of them for some time.
"Flood the castle?" Demyx had come in the room, rooted in his spot, staring at them. "But, what will happen then? Where are all of the Heartless going now?"
Saïx motioned him over, Demyx obeying and taking his seat next to the Diviner.
"They're all leaving." Zexion told him, setting his plate before him. "Fleeing to other worlds. Something that we all may be wise to do."
It was at that moment that Marluxia and Axel entered, both looking annoyed. Neither had taken that well to all this new found water, for a flower would die from too much of it, and fire couldn't handle it at all.
"I have to agree with Number VI." Marluxia intoned, taking his seat next to the Nocturne. "We can't just stay here and be flooded."
Axel let a bitter laugh escape his lips as he took his seat.
"Do you think Superior's going to let us leave? Not with Kingdom Hearts here, not that anyone can see it anymore anyway."
Marluxia and Zexion nodded in agreement, Saïx narrowing his eyes at Axel for speaking against their Superior. Demyx merely ignored all the disagreement, leaning ever closer to the eldest of the neophytes. Vexen was too busy to be paying any mind to what they said.
"Good morning, my lovelies!" A few heads turned to greet Larxene, no one quite sure why she was still in such high spirits. It seemed her dislike for water was outweighed by her enjoyment of all of their suffering. No doubt Marluxia would have enjoyed it too, if his life wasn't endangered from it.
Larxene took her seat, smiling at her fellow members before turning down the table to look at Vexen.
"Found anything out yet?"
Vexen sighed, not giving her a glance either.
"Not as to why this began. It seems to be just normal rain. Nothing new for this world. I don't know why a sudden tempest like this would break out."
"Maybe this world has hurricanes?" Roxas had entered, picking up on the topic. Xigbar rolled his eyes. Of course, it was the same topic it had been for over two weeks…
"If it has hurricanes, then why haven't we had any before?" Zexion asked of him, getting prepared to bring the food out.
Roxas shrugged. "It was only a suggestion."
It was at that moment that their Superior appeared, causing all of them to fall silent. It was always a question these days if Xemnas would join them or not, locking himself up in his room more than ever. Xigbar knew he was doing the same as Vexen, working out a reason for all of this, but that he hadn't found one yet. Hell, Xigbar wondered if there even was a reason. Maybe Kingdom Hearts was just toying with them for fun…
Xemnas took his seat, and as always when he did happen to grace them with his presence, his gaze fell on Vexen.
Vexen did look up this time, looking more tired and grave than Xigbar ever remembered Even looking. They were getting desperate.
"Have you found anything, Number IV?" His voice was even, but Xigbar knew him better than that. He was worried.
"Not as of now, Superior. There's nothing special nor different about this rain."
Xemnas nodded, motioning to Zexion to begin handing out the food. It happened the moment Zexion had himself sat down to eat, that the doors out in the hall flew open, allowing the wind and rain to lash inside for a moment. Another moment, and the two who had entered managed to slam them shut, which was no easy feat.
Luxord was the first to take his hood off, looking at all of them through the haze of rain he could still see.
"The Heartless have all gone. Fled to somewhere else, though we're not sure where."
Xaldin took his hood off, his hair hanging in front of his face, heavy with rain.
"They were panicking, almost crazed. We think it must mean this rain isn't done yet."
"If it'll ever be done." Xigbar dared, Xemnas glancing at him with stern eyes.
"Once we find the cause…"
No one challenged him, but no one's spirits were much lifted either. The two newcomers took their seats, and everyone ate the rest of their meal in silence.
Author's Comment: A new story for the New Year! I have a few notes that I want to get out of the way now at the start of the story:
First off, I know that some things that have to do with the actual world of Never Was are not exactly as they are in the game. This was done intentionally, because the events in this story were based on the Organization not long after they formed completely, so the castle and parts of the city aren't as developed yet as they will be later, like in Kingdom Hearts II.
Second, I wrote this story a year ago, during January 2009. So yes, Days hadn't come out yet, and Roxas' story had not been told. So I know that this doesn't follow the plot line as it is now, but I still love this story with all my heart.
Third, I imagine that the worlds of Darkness have some control over how the Darkness in that world acts, as will come into play later on in the story. So if the world is affected, I think that the Darkness in that world will be affected as well.
I hope that you enjoy the story!
