Prologue: Picture in a Locket
"Um… H-Hello? X…Xemnas? You in here?" the shaky voice of Demyx comes as he knocks lightly on the door to the Superior's bedroom. He had just returned from a mission, earlier than expected, in fact. And so, he wants to report back, perhaps get some praise finally. But… …It's a tad hard when you can't find the person you're looking for.
After a moment of no response, Demyx cracks the door open. When Xemnas is deep in thought, you'd have to touch him to get his attention. He automatically tuned all else out. But upon peering in, he finds… …No one? The dark room is empty. And Demyx is juuuust about to leave, when something golden and shiny on the bedside table catches his eye.
"Hm?"
He opens the door and slips into the room, slowly creeping up to the table. There, upon its surface, is a golden, heart-shaped locket. Curious, the Melodious Nocturne picks it up, opening it. One side is hideously marred, no longer able to hold photos. But the other side… …A beautiful young woman, smiling brightly. Long, silver hair and bright, blue eyes—the blue of the shallows of a white-sand beach.
"Whoa…" he can't help but comment as he stares at it. What's this doing in here? Did Xemnas have a sister? Or a lover? Either way, he realizes, he should just close it and put it back on the table, out of sight and out of mind.
"What'cha got there, Number IX?"
Demyx jumps about ten feet in the air before turning around, glaring at the red-head. …Who snatches the locket from the blondette's hand.
"H-Hey, Axel, that's Xemnas' locket!" Number IX whines, looking around nervously. Number VIII raises a brow, getting a wicked little grin. He wraps one arm around Demyx's shoulder, and begins to lead him away, still holding the locket.
"Well, I'm sure he won't miss it for a little while. Just long enough for us to figure out who this pretty thing is."
And with that, Demyx finds himself swept away from the room, wishing he'd never opened the door in the first place.
~*~
"…Silver hair could mean they're related."
"Then why destroy the other side? I say they were lovers."
"She's got a point, Saix. It's obvious he was jealous about whoever was in the other side. Got it memorized?"
The duo of Axel and Demyx had found themselves expanding in the past hour and a half, until ever single lower member of the Organization had gotten in on this. Demyx's nervousness hadn't eased in the least, even though Saix was present. It all just seemed to be asking for trouble.
"It's a troubling matter… She could be anyone. And this is proving how little any of us truly knows about the top six. While they know almost everything about our pasts, we're not allowed to know a thing about theirs, it seems." the pink-haired male muses, holding his chin thoughtfully. There's a moment of silent agreement between them before, with an annoyed sigh, Axel snatches the locket from the card-playing blonde.
"What're we doing? I mean, the real question isn't who she is…"
All of the lower members look to him, staring at him and waiting for him to continue. Making sure all eyes are on him, he opens the golden necklace and lets it dangle from his hand.
"…The REAL question is why does XEMNAS have a heart-shaped locket with the picture of such a hottie in it?"
Axel checks their expressions, only to realize they weren't looking at him, but behind him. He gives a nervous little chuckle.
"…Aaaaaaand, he's right behind me, isn't he?"
And sure enough, Xemnas is there, his expression being one of someone NOT amused.
"And what is wrong with me having a 'heart-shaped locket with the picture of such a hottie in it?' Hm?" Number I asks, Axel slowly turning and giving a sheepish chuckle. He then winces in slight pain as the locket is roughly snatched from him. Luxord, Marluxia, Saix and Larxene all head off, not wanting to get in trouble. Demyx, however, remains.
"For having one of my personal items without permission, and insulting your Superior, Axel, you're to mop the entire Castle." Xemnas states, beginning to walk off to go do other things. Axel just stares after him, jaw dropped as the punishment processes. Demyx, however, finally speaks up.
"U-Um… …S…Sir…? …Who IS the pretty lady in the locket…?" the blondette asks nervously. Xemnas pauses, slowly lifting the locket to gaze at the photo. Memories flood his mind, and a pang of regret rips through his chest, causing him to lightly place his hand there. There's another emotion there—an old emotion he thought had finally dissipated in his shell. His face momentarily softens, and a small smile forms upon his lips.
But then, the moment passes and he clears his throat, looking over his shoulder at the younger member. Demyx winces, fearing some sort of punishment coming on. But it never comes. Instead, there's an audible sigh.
"…My reason."
A cryptic response. And Demyx can only watch, thinking over it, not understanding. Axel, meanwhile, scratched the back of his head, a frown on his lips.
"Ah, so that's it. Makes sense, I guess… Well, later, Demyx."
And with that, Demyx was left alone to contemplate what Xemnas had meant. And upon not thinking of anything himself, he decided to ask one of the older members—those who had known Xemnas the longest.
~*~
Target practice was one of Xigbar's favorite pastimes. Well, if he could enjoy anything. But he SEEMED to enjoy it. Especially when he happened to be on the ceiling. And this is exactly how Demyx finds him.
Number IX looks up, making sure to stay out of range of any of the targets. He pokes his forefingers together, somewhat embarrassed…
"Hey, Xigbar…? …Who's the pretty lady in Xemnas' locket?"
THUMP.
Xigbar slowly gets up, rubbing his head. He's just fallen from the ceiling at that statement. He really hadn't expected that. So, the kid had found the locket…?
"Geez, I told the dude not leave it lyin' around… I'm not sure I should be the one to recount that story, little dude. Too many bad memories, y'know? Try askin' Zexion." Number II offers, scratching the back of his head. Really, he doesn't want to go over this.
So, with a frown, Demyx leaves. He's not about to ask Zexi, though. Zexi hates him! So, maybe he'll have better luck with one of the others… And, what do you know? There's Xaldin, walking down the hall ahead!
"Hey! Xaldin! Got a minute?" the younger Nobody calls. Xaldin pauses, looking up to Demyx and waiting. Once the boy catches up, the two begin to walk together.
"You wanted something, Number IX?" the taller asks. Demyx bites his lips nervously, then heaves a sigh, staring at the metallic floor. Poor Axel would have a lot of work…
"…I asked Xigbar about, and he said to ask Zexi, but Zexi hates me, so I'll ask you. Who's the pretty lady in Xemnas' locket?"
Xaldin stops dead in his tracks, eyes somewhat wide. Demyx looks back at him, frowning. This… …Doesn't seem to be good for him. Finally, Number III clears his throat.
"Xigbar is right. You should ask Zexion. He'll be able to tell you who she is much better than me." the violet-eyed man states, opening a portal and leaving before Demyx can protest. With an annoyed expression, Demyx runs off to find the others…
~*~
After a few hours, and everyone telling him to go see Zexion, Demyx finally plops down in the library to sulk. His question hadn't been answered at all! And now, he fears, he won't ever know, and it won't ever quit bugging him.
"And what's wrong with you?" comes a sudden, almost scathing question. Demyx winces, then looks up. …Zexion. Of all people. The blondette whimpers a bit, then suddenly spills.
"I went looking for Xemnas in his room earlier, but he wasn't there, and I noticed something shiny on his nightstand so I went to check it out and it was a locket with a pretty lady in it, and then Axel showed up and took it because he wanted to know who it was, so we walked and talked about it, even though I wanted to put it back, and then all the other lower members showed up, and then Axel said something mean just as Xemnas found us, and then Xemnas said that the lady was 'his reason,' so then I asked Xigbar, but he told me to ask you, so I left, and it was the same with Xaldin, and Vexen, and Lexaeus, but I didn't wanna ask you 'cause you don't like me and-and-and…!"
Zexion just stares at the boy, bewildered that someone could say that much in one breath. Though, granted, it was said extremely fast and was nearly a jumble of words. However, he shakes his head and sighs, somewhat amused.
"Come on. I'll tell you the story. But first, we're going somewhere." Zexion states rather matter-of-factly. Confused, Demyx gets up and follows the shorter elder. The blue-haired boy opens a corridor of darkness, and the two enter, exiting into the entrance hall of an old castle. A dark, foreboding place, though it speaks of a long-lost grandeur.
"Whoa. What happened here…?" the younger but taller Nobody asks, spinning around to take in the entire room. A soft chuckle escapes from Zexion as he takes a seat at the fountain.
"This is where all six of us uppers grew up. Lots of memories drift through the silence here, not all of them good. Plenty of them dealing with that woman in the locket—the original owner." Zexion begins, cerulean eyes shifting up to the ceiling, becoming distant. Yes, plenty of memories with HER…
"This is where you guys grew up…? It's, uh… …Interesting?" Demyx offers, plopping down next to Zexion. He'd tried to be polite. It's got a haunting and dark beauty to it, sure, but it's also creepy. He's not sure he wants to stay here. With another, more subdued chuckle, Number VI stands and walks to the center of the room.
"If you think it's lovely now, you should have seen it in the glory days, before it became this shell of itself." the boy says, looking back to Demyx. The Melodious Nocturne becomes confused. This wasn't how it always was?
"You mean it was, well, 'prettier,' Zexi?"
Zexion smiles softly, closing his eyes as he lets the waves of memory wash over him, submerging him in a lost familiarity. The days of his youth, when he was an Apprentice, when he was human, returning vitality to his empty shell…
"Here. Let me… Show you."
And with that, the cerulean eyes open. Spreading outwards from the boy in the middle of the hall, the castle takes on new life, becoming much brighter and much livelier. A new energy fills the castle as the illusion takes hold.
The glory days of Hollow Bastion, when it was known by another name, one long forgotten, slowly return in the form of a golden illusion. Demyx can't help but be awed by the power of the shorter but older boy before him, who just stands with a smile. He holds out a hand.
"Now, Demyx… …I believe you wanted to know about a certain woman's photo in a certain locket? And what Xemnas meant when he said that she's his reason? Well, then, let me tell you. In fact, let me show you." Zexion offers. Demyx slowly takes Zexion's hand, feeling that his view of the older six would be changed completely by the completion of this story. The younger begins to lead Demyx away, a look of distance in his eyes once more.
"And so, Demyx… Let us begin the tragic tale of the ones known as Xehanort and Rise."