Revenge of XIII
Darkness. Total and utter darkness. Axel opened his eyes but saw nothing. For a moment he thought maybe he was blind, but then, like a tidal wave, the memories came rushing back.
Sora. The Keyblade-wielding hero.
They had been surrounded by the Nobodies-the soul and body left after a heartless claimed a strong willed person's heart. He and Sora fought with valor, to say the least, but the waves just kept coming. In a last effort, Axel recalled how he had focused all his being into his fiery shakras, unleashing an explosion that wiped out the threat. But the cost was high.
In that last moment, he released his hold on life as well as his inner power. Just before the world faded into black, he remembered the face of the sixteen-year old boy who was destined to save the worlds from darkness. The boy brought peace to his soul…just like Roxas had. Roxas was the only one in the Organization who Axel had really liked. The rest seemed so distant and selfish.
Then again, Axel mused, they're Nobodies. Guess I shouldn't've expected them to be happy-go lucky..
The eighth member of the Organization sat up, and peered as hard as he could into the blackness surrounding him. Nothing. So signs of life whatsoever. Except…for his own self. He looked himself over and realized that he could still make out every detail and color of his gloves and coat. Although they were black, their shade was practically glowing amidst this total darkness. He began to pace in the darkness, and was overcome by an odd thought.
Why in the world am I still here? Obviously he was dead, but why did he still exist? Was this the fate that awaited all life? Or perhaps just the Nobodies? If that was the case, why was he alone?
"What on earth make you think that you are alone, Axel?" The voice came from nowhere.
"Who the heck are you?"
"I am nothing," the voice responded, "Nothing, and the only afterlife that a Nobody like you is worthy of."
Axel ran his fingers through his fire-red and black hair. I can tell this cat's gonna get old…
"This cat is the governing force of your pitiful existence, fool."
"Wait a sec. What do you mean, 'existence'?" There was a long pause.
"You are different, Nobody. You are the third of your kind to be what we see as an exception. Namine. Roxas, and yourself. Your situation is almost unexplainable, because when you perished, you did not disappear from existence like your comrades from the Organization. The eighth member shook his head.
"I dunno. I think 'comrade' is too strong a word. But what's so special about my situation?"
"You, Axel, unlike the other members, retained a small portion of your heart. This effectively means that you are not a full Nobody. In fact, if you would like to be technical, you are not a Nobody at all. Just a lost soul."
"But if that's the truth, you wanna explain why I'm still stuck in this darkness?" Then, from the blackness, a portal of light appeared, and out came a man dressed in an outfit identical to the Organization's outfit, exceptthat the leather was white.
"Because Xehanort's heartless…who called himself Ansem, wascorrect about one thing. At least, partially anyway. Every heart...returns to darkness."
The clearwords hung in the air like a plague. Xehanort's Nobody had been the leader of the Organizaton. Xemnas.At the pace that Sora and his friends are going, Axel figured, He's probably well on his way to his final moments. The man spoke, his voice solid.
"Indeed, Axel. The two Keyblade-bearers and their friends, along with the King, meet Xehanort this very second. To be honest with you, I do not know what the outcome of the battle will be. The two Keyblade-bearer's have unfathomable power together, and this strength is greatly increased by the close bond they share with one another."
The man rested his index finger on his chin, as if he was reconsidering. "Perhaps…" his voice trailed off, blending with the darkness. Axel suddenly collapsed, feeling a powerful exhaustion come over him. The man in white moved with a quickness to his side.
"The darkness is starting to affect you, Axel. We must depart before the precious remnants of your heart are lost forever." He stood, helping the eighth member to his feet. "Come with me."
Axel clutched his forehead, struggling to fight off the sudden dizziness and nausea. As he followed the man through the portal of glowing light, he couldn't help but wonder…
What is happening to me…?
