Chapter 1
The laws of the Worlds say:
'When a person looses their heart, they become a Heartless and a Nobody. The Heartless consists of raw emotion and the darkness of that person's being. The Nobody is the empty shell of who they used to be.'
When the soul and body split, what is left? A person, or a shell?
"Xarlo, please, don't stare," the polite and mannerly voice of a woman requested. The younger girl sighed.
"I can't help it. Look at them, why don't they look right?" Xarlo asked. She was sitting with her friend at a small café in the World That Never Was.
"Because, they have given up their normal forms to help protect us from danger. These people deserve your respect. They are trying to find a way for us all to become whole again," the older woman answered as she sipped her coffee.
Xarlo looked a second time at the bulky build of the berserkers as they glided through the city, holding on to their mallet like swords tightly. They didn't look like the Nobodies she knew. Axelia, the woman seated beside her, was sophisticated and philosophical. She thought everything out and acted and looked human. But… these other Nobodies looked more like brutes than the humane population of the many tall, brightly lit buildings.
But Xarlo had no clue which group was the majority. Dusks, or Bodies? She referred to herself and others like her as Bodies, since that's what they were. The empty bodies, right? And like people, they lived lives they enjoyed, where they could teleport from world to world and live in the casino like city.
But… they all felt something was missing.
"Axelia?" Xarlo turned back to her older friend.
"Yes?"
"You named me, right?" her young voice pondered.
"Correct, chickadee. I named you as nice as I could. I cut the 'F' out since it would have made you sound like a boy's name. I liked your true name better though," the experienced woman added.
"Then, why couldn't I keep it?" Xarlo asked as she finished her latte.
"Because, in order for us to be Nobodies, we must extinguish all that our Others had. Including your name. That is why you can't remember. The Heartless has your memory," Axelia called for the check.
"Can I ever know my name?" the still confused girl asked. She had just become a nobody a few weeks ago and was still accepting the idea that she didn't exist. It was hard to deal with since she felt very much alive and existing.
"Sorry, child. That would break the rules. Only I know your name and who you used to be," Axelia winked cheekily.
"Well… what was I then? Surely you can tell me that much," the teen bargained.
"That I can. You were a lovely flower. Pretty as can be," she smiled and touched Xarlo's nose.
The young girl frowned, "How could I have been a flower and be a person now? Flower's don't have hearts. You really are no help."
"Say what you like," Axelia signed the bill, "But we must be on our way. I must go seek permission to check if we can take you on a trip today."
Xarlo perked up. She had never left the World That Never Was before. She was looking forward to her first look at other worlds. But, she had to pass the test given by one of the thirteen Officers. They had strict rules to keep everyone safe.
"You think I'll pass?" she asked her mentor.
"Do you remember everything I've taught you? About self-defense, how to act, manners?" Axelia questioned.
"Yes…" Xarlo fibbed. She remembered most of it, but she had problems with some lessons since she had fallen asleep one day while Axelia was enthralled with one topic.
"Then you'll do fine. Remember, I was taught by one of the Thirteen, so you're learning from the second best," the woman once more winked slyly. Xarlo smiled as they walked down the streets. They went past the big Hotel and down side streets for short-cuts. After a bit of walking, though, the pair was standing in front of the gaping hole that housed the esteemed castle. Crawlers and Dusks patrolled the front and sides dutifully.
Axelia just strolled up the path and smiled warmly to the Dragoon watchmen.
"May I?" she asked, waiting for them to accept her. One nodded and motioned for her to enter the large facility. She led Xarlo through the front rooms, passing many different forms of fighter Nobodies. The young, blonde girl gaped at the toughened forms of Nobodies. She hadn't even known there were so many types.
"Axelia, what're you doing here? Coming to help us with our homework again?" a cheery voice welcomed the tall, dark-haired woman who was in front.
"Ah, not at all, Demyx. I'm actually here to see if my protégé is ready for her first trip!" the woman happily greeted the younger Nobody. The tall, blond man looked around Axelia at Xarlo, an eyebrow up.
"Well what do you know! You got a newbie! Look how small and cute she is!" he giggled, "Makes me wanna just pinch her cheeks!" the mullet headed man in the black cloak clapped his hands. Xarlo frowned.
"I'm not a child you ass," Xarlo retorted. Demyx jumped.
"Such a mouth. She fits in perfectly with Saix," he remarked before turning back to Axelia, "Well, be sure and say goodbye before you leave. It's been a while since I've seen ya!" he waved as he walked past them.
"Who is he?" Xarlo asked her mentor.
"Demyx. I know many of the Thirteen, see I was trained by number six, so I know everyone here and was present for the younger ones' births. They're like my younger brothers and sisters," Axelia informed as the two continued, "They'll all be treating you like a child, after all, you're only two weeks old."
"Two and a half," Xarlo corrected, "And I'm not that short, am I?"
"Shorter than most your age, chickadee," Axelia laughed.
"How old am I anyway?" Xarlo wondered aloud.
"I'd estimate about eighteen. Maybe younger, maybe older. It's hard to tell with flowers," the tall one shrugged.
"Stop with all the flower crap."
As the odd looking couple of one tall, tan woman and one short, fair girl continued through the halls and rooms, they reached their destination. Or at least close to it. They were in a room filled with blue archways. Each had the Nobody coat of arms, and below was a slate with a weapon printed on it. Axelia walked through the one with a book below.
Before walking on, Xarlo stared at the mark on the ground. How was a book a weapon? Did this one bludgeon his foes over the head? Or did you read them to sleep and then attack?
"Xarlo! Come," an order snapped the girl into reality as she stepped through the blue, gel-like structure.
She was greeted by Axelia and a large room with book cases on each side. Crawlers were relaxed and reading along each side, some Dusks were sitting too, but they seemed to be in pairs, helping each other read the informative novels. One figure stood out, he was not settled on the floor or in a cushion as the other Nobidies were, he was seated at the top of one bookshelf, with a large and thick, leather bound book on his lap.
"Zexion?" Axelia called up to him. His eyes averted from his novel as he looked down at the two females present. He slowly closed the book and jumped down. He fell fast, and it looked like it would hurt, but he showed no signs of pain at all.
"Axelia, how have you been?" the semi-short man asked with a respectful bow. His dark hair shifted into his face.
"Fine, I've kept up on my studies," Axelia smirked and bowed in response. The woman rose and motioned toward Xarlo, "My student wishes to take a trip. I think she's ready, but only one as smart as you could know."
Xarlo quickly curtsied when Zexion glanced at her. He stared at her, lids half open for a minute before saying anything.
"She's young. How old?" he asked both members there. Xarlo decided to answer.
"About eighteen, sir," she replied.
"Hm, damn Heartless, they're robbing cradles," Zexion huffed. His face still held apathy more than anything else, "Well, let's get on with it."
He turned around and went to a desk in the corner where he rummaged through a drawer or two before coming upon a sheet of paper. He grabbed a pencil and showed them to a seat. Once all parties were comfortable, he began.
"What are the three beings in all worlds?"
"People, Heartless, and Nobodies," Xarlo answered quickly.
"And what are the three world realms?"
"Um… Light, Dark, and the World That Never Was," she recalled the specific lesson that involved one of Axelia's enthusiastic shpeels.
"Do you know your real name?"
"No."
"And do you know what world you are from?"
"No."
Zexion turned to Axelia, "Do you know?"
"Yes. I've already done all that," she answered vaguely so Xarlo couldn't understand what he meant.
"And, can she summon portal gates on her own?" he asked them both hoping for a demonstration.
"Xarlo, please show him," Axelia ordered. The young one rose and went to the center of the room. She put out her hand and concentrated.
Xarlo's eyes were clenched shut as she focused on her hand and summoning a dark gate. A bead of sweat trickled down her brow as the shadows swarmed into an awkward oval. She could hear a soft clap from Axelia. Xarlo felt it safe to open her eyes and turn back to the two. Zexion was jotting down a few notes.
"Did I do good?" Xarlo whispered to Axelia.
"Did you do well? Yes, your best portal yet, dearie," the tall woman gave her friend a pat on the back.
"Congratulations, you've passed. You may visit this list of worlds right now, I want you to wait one month before going to any others," the dower man handed Xarlo a slip of paper. It listed:
Twilight Town, Olympus, Atlantica, and Never Land.
"Thank you very much, sir!" Xarlo graciously smiled. Zexion still didn't look to care.
"Good day to you both, and it was good seeing you again, Axelia. You've done well for yourself," he said his apathetic good byes as he climbed back to the top of the book case.
As the two exited the castle and returned to the bustling center of World That Never Was society, Xarlo caught sight of a friend.
"Baxstain, Baxstain! I passed!" she giggled as her friend turned. Baxstain was an average height brunette boy with large green eyes and a skinny build. He wore a nice shirt and vest with an accompanied tie. He smiled and began to join Xarlo in her gleeful jumping.
"Brilliant, Xarlo! Absolutely brilliant!" he spoke with a heavy British accent. His pocket watch fell out of his vest pocket during the hop fest. "Where shall we go, luv? What's your list?" he grabbed the paper slip and read for a second.
"What's the best one, I'm not sure," the girl asked. Axelia stood back a bit and just chuckled at two younger Nobodies gab like teenagers.
"Hm… Well, Twilight Town is just like here, only brighter due to the sun and all that," he began," Olympus is and odd place. Their men wear skirts, but I believe it's just a different time," he shrugged at the thought of that, "they always sing in Atlantica. And they're fish people! With fins and everything!"
"Really? That's insane!" Xarlo gawked.
"I know! And… Hm… I've never been to Never Land. Jax says it's no good. Let's not do that," Baxstain finished, "So, where do you want to go, luv?"
"Hmm…" Xarlo thought. She had her choices, but didn't know where to go. "How about Atlantica? I want to see the fish people!"
"That's the spot then!" Baxstain smiled.
