Chapter 2: An Artificial Ally

Two days earlier;

Silence flooded the computer room the moment her hood fell. The flickering screens coated with numbers and grids, the cold, dark machinery that lined the walls… all of it sank away. Faded. In the dim light cast by the monitors, one figure alone stood out. No matter how hard Kairi tried, she couldn't look away. Foggy blue eyes gazed back at her, unblinking and unreadable. Short black hair stretched just below her jaw line with bangs swept to the right. Yet even with the darker hair color and the black coat draped over her form, this girl's presence hit Kairi with the force of a loaded truck.

After all, they shared the same face. There was no way this was coincidence.

Without even realizing it, Kairi's hands had rolled into tight, shaking fists. Heat shot across her cheeks, and she slammed her eyes shut. This was DiZ's way of combating the Organization? What was she supposed to think? He'd given them no warning. No explanation, yet Kairi already saw the puzzle pieces strewn across the floor. He had called this girl a tool, and that only meant one thing; with Riku out of commission, he'd created his own replacement.

A replacement uncannily like her. But how? Why? Was this all some sort of sick joke? Were she the more aggressive type, she would have stomped right up to him, grabbed him by the scarf, pulled him down to eye level and demanded to know what he'd done.

As it was, she remained petrified. Maybe she should've told him about her Keyblade after all.

Regardless, she couldn't change what had been done. It wasn't fair to blame this girl, anyway. When Kairi opened her eyes, she found her lookalike staring back at her with her head tipped to the side. A gloved hand grabbed Kairi by the shoulder, and she looked to the left to find Goofy gazing at her with a frown along his muzzle. Shaking her head, she forced a quiet laugh before setting her eyes back on DiZ once again.

"I don't understand," she said. "Why does she…?"

"It is the result of complications." DiZ growled his words, posture tense and rigid. A sigh followed. "However, her appearance is ultimately irrelevant. After all, it is not the look of the tool that determines its worth so much as the role it fills."

Kairi's face tightened into a scowl. There he was again, calling her a tool. Worse, the girl didn't even bat an eye at his words. Her shoulders sank by a hair and her eyes drifted towards the floor, but otherwise, she kept the same blank look. Nothing changed.

Donald huffed, looking the girl up and down. "Are you sure it's smart to send her after Naminé? She looks kinda…" He paused and squinted. "She looks like a zombie, and I bet she'd just get lost out there."

The girl's mouth cracked open, but she didn't make a sound. Kairi hated to admit it, but Donald raised a good point. So far, that girl hadn't reacted much to anything. Was she even there at all?

A smirk wormed across DiZ's lips. "If she becomes lost among the worlds, she is to return to this mansion and begin her search anew."

Donald groaned. "And what if she gets caught in a fight? It's not just the Organization she'd have to worry about. What about all the Heartless?"

Chuckling, DiZ pressed one hand against the keypad, fingers tapping against the edge. "Do you think I am a fool? I have already stated that she will combat the Organization and, indeed, she is to eradicate any Heartless she encounters. You have raised valid concerns, of course, but one cannot evaluate the performance of one who has yet to act."

Donald's beak opened and shut, and he stomped one of his huge, webbed feet. "Quit being so cryptic!" He turned to girl, looking her up and down. "How exactly is she gonna do that?"

"Why, it's quite simple." The moment DiZ looked the girl in the eye, she extended her hand.

Zeroes and ones swirled around her palm, and in a bright red flash, a Keyblade appeared. Golden handle, silver blade, and yet… something was off. Black and red, vein-like patterns ran up and down the weapon, like a half-loaded image in a video game.

Her arm dropped to her side, and she stood motionlessly.

"As you can see, this puppet wields a Keyblade of her own. Moreover…" He snapped his fingers, and the girl immediately straightened, turning on a heel and swiping her weapon in an arc. Crackling sparks burst from its tip, striking a wall clear across the room.

"She already possesses an innate aptitude for combat. I would demonstrate further, in fact, but I'd rather she not make a mess of my machinery."

And yet, the girl's face remained blank. Once the sparks died down, she grew limp like a ragdoll, head down and arms dangling. Could she hear any of this? Did she even understand? Or was she just a mindless automaton with a stolen face? Was this what would have become of that poor Replica, if they had followed DiZ's orders and captured him in the end?

Kairi had half a mind not to approach the poor girl and pull her into a hug. Show her some kind of support. But it seemed Goofy had already beaten her to the punch, as he closed in, waving with no response.

"Well, shucks, it's nice to meetcha! Name's Goofy. And these two are my pals, Kairi and Donald."

Though the girl briefly looked up, no words came. Soon her focus fell back to her feet. Just the sight of it all left Kairi's throat tight and her heart heavy.

Still, she couldn't help but ask, "Does she have a name?"

"Fear not; I am not so cold as to leave a tool without a moniker." DiZ gestured to the girl before slipping his hands behind his back. "You may call her Xion, if you so desire. It's as good a name as any."

Donald's brow arched. "Shion? How'd you come up with a name like that?"

"You may thank the Organization for providing… inspiration. The name is spelled with an X, you see." A low, throaty chuckle escaped him. "Remove the X, and perhaps you will understand the significance in time."

By now, DiZ's vague answers hardly surprised her. Still, the name Xion… Kairi's face scrunched up in thought. What was so important about the letter X? This didn't even make sense… but, well, that hardly mattered. Like Goofy, she waved at the girl. "Well, it's… nice to meet you, Xion."

Her head bobbed up and down just once. Beyond that slight movement, Xion remained silent and still. It was hard to tell whether she'd understood or not, but at least she gave some kind of response.

"You will have plenty of time to acquaint yourselves later," said DiZ, sliding towards the center of the terminal. He looked up at one of the highest screens before peering over his shoulder. "For now, I advise you all to rest. I imagine the day has been quite strenuous for you all, given what has become of Riku. And Xion…" His tone sharpened. "I will need to debrief you on your mission. Then, perhaps, you may join the others."

What more could they say? After giving his instructions, DiZ pulled his gaze away from the group and glued his eye to the wall of screens once more. The sound of his fingers striking the keys created a slow rhythm with the computer's buzzing. Beyond that, the computer room sank into silence, and after giving Xion one final look, Kairi turned towards the entrance and wandered away.

One step through the metallic doorway led her into a similarly dark room. Her shoes clanked against the metal floor, and she took a brief second to soak in the bluish pipes that spanned across the walls. Thankfully, the light from the library above guided her to the stairway with ease. By the time she set foot on the first step, she spotted Donald and Goofy dashing after her. Once the two caught up, they hauled themselves up and past the shelves stuffed with dust-coated books.

When she reached the doors, Kairi pressed her back into the frame, muffling a yawn with one hand. While she stood there, Donald stomped his way over to one of the shelves and crossed his arms.

"What a mess, but that's not gonna stop us, right?"

"Of course not," said Kairi. "DiZ has his way of doing things, and we have ours. Still…" She looked to the floor. "I don't know how to feel about any of this. I knew DiZ was desperate, but this?" Her fingernails dug into her palms, and she suppressed the urge to raise her voice. "He created someone just to treat them like his puppet!"

"Gee, sounds familiar, doesn't it?" said Donald, to which Kairi immediately nodded.

"You know, I almost thought about telling him about my Keyblade, but after this? …I just don't know, guys. Even if he does find a way to stabilize Riku's darkness, his methods are just so…"

Once again, she felt a glove's fabric brush against her, and Goofy leaned in with weak little smile. "Heartless?"

"Basically." She folded her arms, gazing back toward the basement. "It'd be great if Naminé and the Replica got back to us. At least then we'd have something to look forward to…"

But what were the odds, really? By now, they'd doubtlessly burned all their good will with their former masters. To come here now was, as the Replica said, too great a risk. And who knew if they'd have time to leave messages the way Sora had in the past?

Sora…

Her heart sank at the thought of him, off galivanting around enemy territory again. But at least he'd had the sense to leave messages before- it was just a matter of time, right?

"Gawrsh, Kairi. You feelin' all right?"

"Oh!" Plucked from her daze, she forced her lips into a smile. "Sorry. Didn't mean to worry you, Goofy. This is just a lot to unpack…"

"Then maybe ya oughta put a pin in it for now! We've all had a rough day as it is, and I betcha a little rest could do us all some good."

"Mm. Right. Just because I'm filling in for Riku doesn't mean I have to act like him, too." She rubbed her neck. Was it in poor taste to joke like that so soon? Ugh. And there she was, falling into his habits of overthinking again.

But despite the situation, her words got a chuckle out of Donald. "Ha, I can't even imagine you brooding."

She leaned in, hands on her hips. "Is that supposed to be a challenge?"

Glancing between the two, Goofy began rubbing his chin. "Ya think I oughta try it, too?"

Oh god. She couldn't help herself. Laughter burst out of her like an explosion, forcing her to clutch her sides. Goofy? Brooding? Seriously? She and Donald flashed each other enormous grins, while he stood there, arms limp and head tilted.

For all of five seconds. Didn't take long for a grin to crawl up his snout. "Well, shucks! Glad to see ya bouncin' back so fast."

Kairi tried to speak, but only more giggles followed. She probably needed to breathe. In, then out, in, then out. "I… Yeah. I think we both needed that."

"I'll say! That ship's not gonna fly anywhere if we're all sulky." Donald winked before gesturing out into the hall. "Now, c'mon, Kairi. Goofy's right—we need to rest up if we're gonna hit the skies tomorrow!"

"I know, I know." She held up her hands, pushed away from the door, and traipsed ahead of the others. But she stopped midway, peeking over her shoulder. "But, y'know, Donald, with those bloodshot eyes of yours, I think you might need it more than me."

And, true to form, he huffed and stomped. "Hey! My eyes are just fine!" He paused, looking up at Goofy. "Aren't they?"

While the two debated Donald's ocular health, Kairi stifled another yawn and carried on her way. Instantly, the light of the library's candelabras flickered out, replaced with the blackness of the hallway. With the chandeliers unlit and no sunlight filtering through the glass doors down below, Kairi had to squint in order to see her way across the walkway. On her way around the corner, she passed a painting that had long since slipped down from the wall and became home for dust bunnies and cobwebs alike.

She moved about two more steps before she heard hushed murmurings from Donald and Goofy. When she turned around, she caught the two of them rubbing their eyes and giggled at the sight. Once they reached her, she continued along, passing a landscape painting and then one other picture that hung vertically. Even in the dark, she faintly made out double doors and the handrails of one of the stairways. She had just reached out to open those doors when she heard a creak, followed by slower, heavier footsteps.

A little unexpected, sure, but nothing to worry about, right? Rather than panic, Kairi pushed the door halfway open. Then she heard Donald squawk.

"Wak! Where'd you come from?!"

Propping the door open with her shoe, Kairi glanced across the hall, though it took a moment for her to see what'd ruffled Donald's feathers this time. Between her coat and her hair, Xion blended perfectly with the shadows. Only the color of her pale skin stood out among the darkness. And, much like earlier, she looked to the group with the same blank expression as before.

Nonetheless, Kairi cracked a half-smile at the sight of her. "Oh, hey, Xion. What are you doing up here?"

She said nothing and made no other moves. As for Donald, his beak bent into a stiff frown, and he placed both hands on his hips.

"Can you even talk? You haven't said anything so far, and it's getting really creepy!"

"Oh."

Kairi nearly crashed into the door. Gasping, she turned around completely with one hand hovering over her lips. Though her expression didn't change much, Xion now wore a tiny frown, just barely visible. She blinked two times before tipping her head down towards Donald and speaking once again.

"Should I… talk more?"

Donald covered his face with his palm. "Well, yeah. I'm not some kinda mind reader, you know."

"But what am I supposed to say?"

"Gawrsh…" Goofy folded his arms, tilting his head to the left. "Well, I'd say that depends on what you wanna talk about!"

"Oh." She blinked slowly. "I don't know. Am I supposed to want something?"

Donald slapped a feathered hand over his face. "That's just something you gotta feel. And decide for yourself."

"I…" She paused, rubbing a shoulder. "What were you doing? I heard you making these weird 'ha ha' noises."

"Huh?" Kairi placed a finger to her lips. "You mean… you don't know what laughter is?"

"…No." She looked away. "Is that bad?"

Oh geez. She didn't even know something so basic? So… natural? A tightness seized Kairi's chest, and she moved over to Xion's side. "It's okay! You're still new. You don't need to have all the answers."

"That's good. I think…" She gave Kairi a long stare, even raising her hand for a moment before letting it drop. "Um. But that sound… is it okay? You were holding your sides like you were in pain, so—"

"No, no, it's not like that." She gently grabbed the other girl's shoulder. "We laughed because Goofy did something funny. That's all."

"Funny… right. And that's a good thing." She hesitated, staring at Kairi's hand. "…Sorry. You probably have other things to do."

"Eh, it ain't much," said Goofy. "We were just gonna hit the hay."

"Huh?" Xion glanced from side to side. "I don't see any hay. And how come you have to hit it?"

"Oh brother," said Donald. "That's just an expression! It means we've gotta get some sleep."

"But why didn't you say that in the first place?"

"Well," said Kairi, "sometimes people say things they don't really mean. It's…" She paused. "I guess it's just one of those things most people take for granted."

"Oh." Xion frowned, gazing across the hall. "DiZ never told me about that. He only said to stay quiet and keep outta sight. I'm supposed to be… covert?"

"Aw, shucks." Goofy slumped. "That's really all he said?"

"Well, not exactly." She reached for her chin. "He said that my designation is Xion, that my sole purpose is to serve the worlds. That I need to find Naminé, a girl in white with blonde hair who is probably with a silver-haired boy. Black coats like mine belong to the enemy, and I'm to eliminate them on sight with extreme prejudice." That Keyblade flickered into her clutches again, and she swept her arm toward the floor far below.

The room flashed bright blue. The sound of buzzing filled the air. "I think extreme prejudice means hitting them with stuff like this."

A prolonged silence followed as Kairi, Donald, and Goofy all exchanged stares. The scent of smoke drifted up to the walkway, but Xion scarcely batted an eye.

Tittering, Kairi set her sights back on her twin. "Well… that's one way to go about it. Just, uh. Maybe be a bit more careful where you sling those spells. We don't want this whole place to burn down…"

Instantly, Xion grimaced and backed away. "Did I do something wrong?"

"What?! No!" said Donald. "'Course not. In fact, that was some top notch magic for a newbie! You just need to learn some restraint."

"Restraint…" She repeated the word slowly. "But that doesn't sound like extreme prejudice…"

"Just save the flashy stuff for the bad guys, then! And the Heartless." Donald's eyes widened, and he added, "You do know what Heartless are, right?"

"Born from the shadows, they feed on hearts and devour worlds. They are the enemy of light." She said it all in a monotone voice, as if reciting from a script. "That's what DiZ told me."

How… surprisingly thorough. At least he was being somewhat practical in how he instructed Xion, even if his attitude could use some work. Still, even with all this information, a question weighed on Kairi's mind. "But that's it? No direction? No place to start?"

"No. Every world is a target, so I have to be thorough."

"Geez," said Donald, "and just when I thought he'd made some progress… 'Course he's gotta be vague still."

"Is that bad?"

"Well, it sure ain't smart of him," said Goofy. "There's loads of things to know besides that mission of yours. Like how to greet people, what's right 'n what's wrong…"

"All that, too?" She pulled her arms close to her chest. "But I have to leave tomorrow."

Kairi's hand squeezed the other girl's shoulder. Xion wasn't the only one short on time. As soon as the sun rose, she'd be out on the field with next to no prep time beyond her fight with XIII. But then, at least she had prior world hopping experience. But poor Xion… she was essentially a newborn in some respects. A super intelligent newborn, but the inexperience shined clear as day.

"Well…" Releasing her grip, Kairi looked over her shoulder again and swept her bangs out of her eyes. "Tell you what, Xion. If there's time, I'd be happy to give you a few pointers for the road."

"But… he said I have to hurry."

Kairi crossed her arms. "Well, if he cares about your mission, then I'd say he should let you prepare for it, too. It's stupid to throw you to the fishes without a life jacket."

"Does this count as a life jacket?" She tugged at the sleeve of her coat, prompting a crooked smile.

"Not quite, Xion. It's… well, never mind. Right now, you should take it easy! And if you need anything, we'll be right here." She gestured to the door.

"Really? But we just met…"

"So?" Goofy gave a great big grin, bringing a hand to his chest. "We're still on the same side! And the way I see it, you could use a pal or two. 'specially with DiZ bein' so…"

"Insufferable," said Donald.

"So try not to worry, okay?" said Kairi. "I know DiZ made your mission seem urgent, but I don't think he even expects you to find her in one trip."

"Well, I'd still like to try." Xion looked down, knitting her fingers. "It's why I exist, so I can't let him down."

Kairi fought back the urge to groan. She'd have to remember to give DiZ a stern talk later about positive reinforcement. For the time being, though, they needed to wind down, and Kairi soon cracked the door open once again. Just as she prepared to slip inside, Donald marched ahead, rubbing his eyes.

"We can worry about this more tomorrow. Right now, I'm beat!"

Goofy covered his mouth, muffling his chuckles behind a glove. "Gee, Donald, aren't ya at least gonna say goodnight?"

He stopped, grumbling under his breath. When he turned around, he grinned sheepishly at the others. "Okay, goodnight! Now let's get some sleep already."

Some things never changed, like Donald's impatience. On her way through the door, Kairi snorted and clamped her mouth shut to hold back any further laughter. She slipped into the white room, now as dark as the hall, and felt her way past the long, narrow table. In a matter of moments, she reached the back corner where four sleeping bags lay bunched together with pillows pressed against the wall. While Donald slithered into his bag at the first chance he got, Goofy spent a few moments looking at the door, where Xion still stood. After giving a little wave, he flopped down beside his buddy, leaving Kairi standing in front of two empty bags.

This'd be the first night they spent without Riku by their side. The thought just hadn't hit her until now. Wincing, Kairi lowered herself onto her sleeping bag and turned away from its neighbor. She kicked off her shoes, slipped her necklace beneath her pillow, and closed her eyes halfway. Xion still stood there beneath the doorframe the whole time.

"Um… goodnight," she said. "And thanks for being so nice. I'll… see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, you will." Kairi beamed, letting her eyes slide completely shut. "Try not to let DiZ get to you, okay?"

"Mm, okay."

Though Xion lingered for a few more seconds, she soon turned around and let the doors swing shut. Soon the white room, the sleeping bags, and even Donald's snoring faded from Kairi's mind, and she slipped into carefree slumber.

Yet, somehow, her sleep didn't feel as long as she had hoped. When morning arrived, Kairi awoke with a jolt at the sound of voices in the hall.

"But how will I know which world is right?"

That had to be Xion. Blinking slowly, Kairi dragged herself out from beneath the covers and wandered over to the table. DiZ spoke up next, his tone firm as ever.

"Follow your instincts," he said. "If that castle does not yield results, then consider the multitude of other worlds. Assess which seem the most likely to hide in- for instance, Traverse Town provides sage refuge to many a weary heart."

"But… how do I get there? I know I should use those portal things, but…"

"Sink or swim, you must proceed. If you must, search the confines of your mind. I imagine you will find at least something of worth buried in the muddled abyss of your memories."

…Memories? Squinting, Kairi moved closer to the door, keeping one hand against the table's surface. Part of her wanted to slip outside, but on the other hand, this did provide an opportunity to learn more about DiZ's intent.

After a few seconds in silence, Xion spoke up again. "But I already told you, I don't remember anything. I can fight, but everything else is—"

"Resting beneath the surface, and it is your obligation to sift through it. If you do not…"

"I know." Xion's voice came out as a soft squeak. "I guess I'll just have to try."

"Then leave at once, and do not return until you have thoroughly scoured the area. Understood?"

"But Kairi was supposed to—"

"This is no time for excuses."

"…Yes, sir."

Footsteps echoed outside. No more words followed, just the sound of the air whipping and a portal swelling. By the time Kairi pushed the doors open, she found herself staring into an empty hallway; even DiZ had left.

So he really did intend to thrust her in blind. Her fists shook at the mere thought. If she'd just explained herself, maybe they could've bought Xion just a little more time.

But too little, too late, it seemed. With DiZ gone, she stood in silent solitude, until the sound of squawky mutters pulled her focus back into the room. When Kairi turned around, she spotted Donald and Goofy both stretching their arms and climbing back to their feet. Goofy marched ahead, smacking his lips and wiping his eyes with his glove. He stopped at the foot of the table and leaned against the back of one of the chairs.

"Gawrsh, did somethin' happen out there? I coulda sworn I heard you 'n DiZ talkin' and…"

"We'll have the cancel the training plans." Kairi scowled at the door. "Can't believe this…"

"That big palooka!" As Donald flailed his arms, a small bolt of lightning struck the floor, leaving a blackened smear. "How's she supposed to accomplish anything if all she knows is how to light stuff up?"

"He did say she's expendable." Kairi grimaced and groaned. "But that's not all, guys. I heard them talking, and he kept placing all this emphasis on her memories… Called them a 'muddled abyss'."

"Gawrsh." Goofy scratched his noggin. "Must be some kinda techno-science mumbo jumbo."

"Yeah, well, whatever it is, it's weird!" said Donald. "Everything about this is weird, and if we weren't in such a big hurry, I'd say we oughta go down there and make him tell us what's really going on."

Right. Today was the big day. No time for asking questions.

"Well, he isn't out there now. If we want to get anywhere, now's probably the time to do it."

"Then I guess we'd better get ready to hit the road, huh?" Already, Goofy'd make it back to his sleeping bag, and after nudging his pillow aside, he scooped up his shield. "Well, look on the bright side. It'll be great seein' ya put that Keyblade to good use!"

Donald nodded. "And I wouldn't wanna spend another day cooped up in this mansion."

"But, Donald, it's only been a day since—"

"One day with the worlds in danger and the Organization doing who-knows-what. I'd say that's plenty of reason to hurry!"

True. No sense postponing it any longer. After strolling back to the wall and slipping on her necklace and shoes, Kairi returned to the door and nudged it open with her elbow. With the others by her side, she marched out into the foyer. Together, they descended the stairs and passed the scattered hunks of debris, piles of broken glass, and winged unicorn statues coated in dust.

Upon reaching the front door, though, Kairi froze for a moment, and she tipped her head back. She could do this. She'd traveled countless worlds before, so why the bubbling feeling building in her chest? Why the last minute woes? Shaking her head, Kairi seized the door handle in her grip. She pulled her lips into a tight smile, took a deep breath, and burst out into the glaring sunlight.

It was like DiZ said. Sink or swim, they needed to move, too. How else would they protect the worlds?

TO BE CONTINUED

END NOTE: This chapter was revised on 1/24/18 to be more congruent with the Act 2 revisions. Original author's note below.

Want to see more of Sora and Aqua? Don't worry. We'll be checking in on them again in Chapter 4. I just needed to get Xion's introduction out of the way before I get to their next scene. You'll see why when I get there.

At any rate, when I first started planning this chapter, I deliberated over how to have Kairi, Donald, and Goofy react to Xion. While all of them can be quite friendly, I figured that Donald would take some time to warm up to her. He's pretty impatient and not used to someone with her lack of social awareness, and he's still frustrated over what happened to Riku. Of the three, I'd say Goofy is the most optimistic about the situation, with Kairi being sympathetic, but a bit wary, more at DiZ than anything. At this stage, Xion is still very naive, even with her being made up of the data from Riku's memories, and it probably doesn't help that DiZ holds a low opinion of replicas.

By the way, if you like DuckTales, you may be pleased by some of the characters appearing in the next chapter. :) See you next time!