Chapter 1: The First Step of Many

Roxas placed the sea shell Xion left behind in his left inside pocket so that it would be as close to his heart as possible. He found it funny that he was talking about his own heart. He's a Nobody...right? But he did feel something; something deep inside of him. He decided to ponder on the matter later and opened a dark corridor. Once he was inside the realm of darkness, Roxas was surrounded by dozens of Darksides. This confused him. The cloak organisation members wear was supposed to protect them as they travelled through the darkness.

"Were these things sent after me by the organisation?" Roxas thought to himself. One of the Darksides reached out to grab Roxas but he managed to some light energy to his feet to perform a light dash towards the exit and found himself in the World That Never Was and continued do so until he reached the castle. "No matter what heartless are after me they can't get inside the castle because it's got a protective barrier around it." And he was right. The Darksides, Shadows and Neo Shadows all stopped pursuing him once he reached the castle.

Roxas entered Organisation XIII's stronghold in the World That Never Was with fierce determination in his eyes. But with each step he took, he realised how foolish he was being. Xemnas would never let him waltz in and destroy kingdom Hearts. He would have to defeat each of the organisation's members before even thinking of destroying Kingdom Hearts and freeing the hearts that he and Xion collected over the past year and he'd also need to avoid using dark corridors to get to the top because the organisations heartless would be after him. He'd also need to hold back on all of his fights so he could save his strength. But before he could strategise a plan of action, he had lost his concentration. He felt a familiar presence.

Roxas looked up and saw Xaldin leisurely descend from above. He always liked to make an entrance from above.

"So you have returned, Roxas. But with no intention of rejoining us I presume." Xaldin said in his usual superior tone.

"No."

"Surely you know we cannot complete Kingdom Hearts without the Keyblade. Join Organisation XIII again and we can complete Kingdom Hearts!"

Roxas only shook his head and said, "I've got a better idea. How 'bout I destroy you both!"

Xaldin let out a maniacal laugh at the new level of naivety Roxas had reached. "So be it. We have other methods of using the power of the Keyblade. In the end you are as expendable as everyone else." And with that, Xaldin launched five of his six lances straight at Roxas. Roxas leapt to his left but Xaldin used the wind to redirect his attacks. Realising that evading the guided attacks were impossible, Roxas summoned his Oathkeeper and Oblivion to skilfully knock away the incoming +projectiles. He regained his balance and dashed towards Xaldin to make his counter attack. Xaldin used his remaining lance to parry his foolish opponent's attacks. As the two were locked in combat, Xaldin beckoned his other lances to return to him with his index finger, hoping to stab the Keyblade wielder from behind and finish the fight. Roxas realised Xaldin's plan in time to counteract the attack by hurling his Oblivion into a Strike Raid with his right hand whilst expertly defending himself with his left hand from the lancer's direct assault. Xaldin soon realised that Roxas' fighting skill was greater than his. So to turn the tide of the battle in his favour, he decided to overpower Roxas. He let out a powerful shockwave with himself as the epicentre which sent Roxas flying. This gave Xaldin the time to extend two of his lances and spin them with such force that they created a huge horizontal vortex of wind which pinned Roxas to the wall. Roxas tried with all his might to hold out his Keyblades in the shape of an X to negate the force of the intense winds but they were just too strong. Xaldin smirked at the opportunity and sent three of his four remaining lances all spiralling towards Roxas' chest as the vortex raged on. Roxas just managed to redirect the lances with his Oathkeeper right past his left shoulder but he didn't notice the final lance which shadowed the other three which impaled his right shoulder, leaving him pinned to the wall. Xaldin watched as his plan unfolded perfectly and finally stopped his vortex and returned the two lances causing the vortex to his hands. He slowly approached Roxas as he savoured his victory over the Keyblade wielder.

"You never were the...brightest member of our organisation. Definitely the most useful but only because you were fortunate enough to be the Keyblade's chosen. Pity it chose an imprudent weakling like you" said Xaldin as he raised his two lances to make the final blow.

Out of sheer desperation Roxas pulled out the lance in his right shoulder with his left hand and held it alongside the Oathkeeper. The sudden pain was immense but his will to fight was greater. Roxas performed a Strike Raid with his Oathkeeper. Xaldin decided to block the attack but it knocked one of the lances out of his hands. Roxas did the same with the Oblivion regardless of the pain he inflicted on himself by doing so. Once Xaldin was defenceless, Roxas launched the lance that was once in his shoulder though the air and into its Xaldin's chest.

"To think...I could be proved wrong...so...easily..."

Roxas watched as Xaldin and his lances slowly faded into darkness piece by piece. Once he finally disappeared, Roxas saw out of the corner of his eye another organisation member leaving through a dark corridor. His hood was up so you couldn't see his face.

"Was he watching the whole time?"

Roxas realised that whoever was watching must've left to inform the other organisation members about him. He had to move quickly while he still had the element of surprise on his side. Roxas took a step forward but winced as he remembered the pain in his shoulder. He hesitated, but then continued on as he clenched his wounded shoulder.

"I have to go on...for Xion."