Obvious Disclaimer: Not mine.
A Monopoly on Emotion
Twilight Town- First Visit
When Goofy and Donald wake up, they immediately look between them to find Sora. But he isn't there, and the room is full of pods like the ones they woke up in, all empty. At a loss, they start to search the strange rooms they've found themselves in.
There is a crash beyond the only doorway they've found. Donald leads the way, charging at what he believes is a locked door. Instead it slides open as he approaches and Donald falls through. Only Goofy's quick grab prevents his friend from being burnt to a crisp by the wall of flame before them. They shield their faces against the heat while trying to peer through the fire. There is the clash of metal, and a familiar voice can be heard above the din.
"Sora!" They shout in unison. Suddenly the flames are gone and a man in a black coat disappears into a portal of darkness.
Blue eyes turn to look at them and again they shout.
"Sora!" But something was wrong, Sora did not run to them, he did not break out in a smile or laughter. He frowned.
"That's not… that's not my name." He brushes blond (not brown, nowhere near) hair away from his eyes.
"I'm Roxas." The not-Sora says, firmly.
"But you had a keyblade!" Donald squawks. Roxas' eyebrows crease together. There is a familiar shimmering around Roxas' hands. Not one but two keyblades appear in his hands.
"I guess you could call them keyblades." Goofy is sure this isn't Sora, because Sora had never been so. Emotionless. Roxas didn't sound surprised or happy or even sad. Just empty. He says as much to Donald, trying to whisper.
"Y'know, Donald, I don't think he's Sora." Donald huffs but nods miserably. Roxas is still staring at them, silent.
"So just who is this Sora everyone's been talking about?" Sora's eyes stare at his friends from Roxas' face, with its solemn mouth, set in a hard line.
"He's our best friend! Yup!" Goofy exclaims, followed by Donald's "He's a hero!"
"But we lost him." Goofy says sadly. Roxas smiles, and Goofy sees real emotion from the boy for the first time. Pain. Sorrow.
"I lost someone too."
"Well gawrsh, why don't you come with us?" It's out of his mouth before he thinks about what he's said. Donald pulls Goofy around to face him and they know what the other remembers, the night they met Sora in Traverse Town. But Roxas is suddenly looking hopeful and Goofy continues, ignoring Donald's glare.
"We've got a gummi ship, or we did, so we're gonna go find Sora. Why dontcha just come with us?"
"I'd. I'd like that." Roxas smiles, a simple curling upwards of the corners of his mouth. His eyes sparkle and even if he isn't Sora, Goofy thinks he might be the key to finding him.
When they leave what was apparently an old mansion, Roxas grows wary. He looks from side to side, eyes darting from Goofy to Donald and then to door they came from. Too busy readjusting to the bright sunlight, Goofy doesn't ask. A strange sound breaks the silence and Roxas is on his feet in an instant, keyblades dancing through the air. By the time Donald and Goofy pull out their weapons all but one have disappeared. The thing is strange, white and definitely not a heartless. It appears intelligent, slipping around them, always just out of reach. An emblem is emblazoned on its head, almost like a fractured heart. A zipper opens and closes, an eerie parody of a smile on the thing's head. Finally, Donald sends a well-aimed blast of fire at it and it vanishes at last.
The pair exchange a high five, turning to find Roxas (still not Sora) behind them. His keyblades are resting on his shoulders and he doesn't seem to have broken a sweat.
"Garwsh, what were those things? They weren't Heartless!"
"They are Nobodies. Those were some of the lowest kind, Dusks." Roxas answers in perfect monotone.
"Well phooey." Donald says, unimpressed by this new enemy. "But what are they?"
"What's left behind when a Heartless is created from a particularly strong heart. There are probably as many kinds of Nobodies as there are Heartless." Goofy glances sidelong at Roxas. The boy is scowling and looking back towards the mansion, remembering, perhaps.
"And how do you know all this?" Donald demands. He's still suspicious of the boy. Roxas pulls himself out of his reverie and his face softens.
"I don't… know." He answers quietly. Donald opens his mouth to question Roxas further and Goofy intervenes.
"Y'know, Maybe we oughta find someplace safe before we start talking? I sure wouldn't want to be attacked by more Nobodies here." Roxas agrees hurridly and Goofy pushes Donald forward, not giving the duck time to complain.
Beyond the gates of the mansion is a tangled forest of dark trees and hanging vines. There is a small path, indistinct in this world's seemingly perpetual sunset. Goofy has already tripped over roots several times, but Roxas leads them without a single misstep. Goofy ponders this, and their new companion's strange knowledge as they walk. His thoughts quiet only when Roxas stops and Donald walks into him, and Goofy into Donald. They've reached a large hole in an imposing wall. Roxas ducks through without a word and they follow, blinking when they step into relative brightness.
"Twilight Town." Roxas mutters, and Goofy finds it apt. The sun hasn't moved an inch from its position on the horizon since they left the mansion, though time had clearly passed. The entire town is painted pale blue and orange, dipping into purple here and there. Against the horizon runs a railroad, winding into the distance.
They wander through the town, taking in the quaint shops and the sleepy trolley, circling through Main Street. A few people chat on street corners or examine store windows. Roxas no longer leads the group, he trails behind, studying the people they pass. Donald is leading up a hill when Roxas stops, staring at an open gate leading into an alleyway.
"What's the matter Roxas?" Goofy asks. Roxas shakes his head.
"Nothing. Just thought I'd been here before. But I must've imagined it." Goofy doesn't remind Roxas that he'd known the town's name before. Donald grumbles, but he's curious and goes into the alley. Behind a ragged curtain are three kids, sitting on crates and an old couch. The blond jumps to his feet, scowling.
"What do you want?" He demands sourly. Goofy waves his hands in apology.
"Sorry bout that. We were just wonderin' what was back here."
"Well now you know." The other boy stands up and comes forward.
"I'm Pence, that's Hayner and this is Olette. Are you guys new around here?" He sounds curious, looking the three other intently. The girl, Olette joins him, but Hayner only stalks past, muttering about things to do.
"So what're your names?" Olette asks.
"We're Goofy, Donald and that there is Roxas." Goofy says. Donald waves but Roxas just nods, his mouth pressed in a tight line.
"Oh!" Pence exclaims. "We just met someone who was looking for you. He was in an awful hurry, never even took off his coat. But I did notice he had these big round ears!" Donald and Goofy exchange grins.
"King Mickey!"
"Where'd you see him?" Donald asks eagerly.
"At the station." Donald and Goofy shout their thanks as they drag Roxas from the alleyway, following the street signs up the hill to the station.
"Later!" Pence shouts cheerfully after them.
They approach the steps of the station, Goofy and Donald craning their necks, hoping to see their King. Instead, they hear the strange whooshing sound that heralds the appearance of Nobodies. Dusks surround them, swaying back and forth and advancing slowly. All three grab their weapons and begin to fight. From the corner of his eye Goofy can see Roxas with his dual keyblades, one light and one dark. He fights differently from Sora, relying on not one but two keyblades. His stance is different, straight-backed and uncaring. It's a sharp contrast to Sora's determined crouch and tight grip on his keyblade. Then it's back to focusing on the new enemies before them, not their new companion.
Eventually the three find themselves back to back, surrounded by a ring of Nobodies. For every Dusk they've killed two more have appeared and Goofy feels his legs giving out beneath him. Next to Donald falls as well, and then only Roxas is left, leaving on one of his keyblades for support. The nearest Dusk slinks toward him and he raises his blades, but no matter how strong, Goofy knows he doesn't have enough strength left to block the coming blow.
Then there is a black blur that streaks across his vision and the Dusks vanish in a burst of stars and the clash of metal, slain. The black figure straightens, extending a golden keyblade in his hand.
"King Mickey!" Goofy and Donald shout and muster the strength to jump to their feet. The person turns and sure enough it is Mickey's face under the black hood.
"Ssh!" He says. "You gotta board the train and leave this town! The train will know the way." He hands Roxas a bag of munny, then freezes.
"Where's Sora?!" Goofy looks down at his feet and then up at his king.
"Ya see, Your Majesty, we kinda. Uh, well."
"We can't find Sora." Donald interjects, sounding upset.
"But we found Roxas here when we woke up. He was fighting some guy in a coat like yours. And he's got a keyblade. Two of 'em!" Goofy explains. He knows it's unnecessary to say that, Roxas hasn't let go of them yet. But the air has grown thick and tense, not with fear like before, but something deeper. Darker. The king doesn't take his eyes away from Roxas. Then he grimaces.
"I know why you left, and because of that I won't take you to DiZ this instant. But we will meet again, and this will be dealt with." With that he's gone, running away from the station. All three are too weary to follow and the king has already disappeared from sight.
Instead they stand wearily and climb the stairs. No one speaks, each lost in his own thoughts. As they push open the doors of the station, Goofy thinks on how it was supposed to be, Sora's laugh is ringing in his head. He knows that Sora would be smiling now, having gotten hope from the King's arrival, hope for finding Riku. Roxas is frowning, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
"Roxas!" The boy turns and Hayner runs up to him, followed by Pence and Olette.
"We wanted to say goodbye. It just seemed like something we oughta do."
"Really?" Roxas smiles, a slow, quiet thing that spreads across his face until it's practically radiant. "Thanks." The train's whistle blows, loud and shrill.
"Oh! You guys should go get your tickets." Olette says. Roxas nods and goes to the ticket booth, pulling out the munny pouch the King gave them. Olette makes a questioning sound and hold up her own bag.
"They're the same!" Goofy exclaims. Olette nods. Roxas shrugs and buys the tickets, tucking them into a pocket.
"Let's go, Donald, Goofy." They step on the train and Roxas turns to the kids from Twilight Town.
"Roxas, you sure we haven't met before?" Hayner asks.
"Positive." He answers. Goofy wonders why he sounds so sad. "Right. See ya." He brushes something from his face, a tear? And waves a final time as the train doors close.
Roxas stands at the train door as Twilight Town fades into the distance. Something glimmers in his hand, a blue stone. Finally Goofy brings himself to say something.
"Roxas, maybe you should tell us who ya are."
AN: Thanks for reading. The next several chapters have already been written, and more are on the way. Reviews are always appreciated!