"Hey, Ordix!" After several days of various medical and intellectual testing Ordix awoke to the sound of the familiar red head from his first day in the Organization knocking on his bedroom door and calling for him. The young boy sat up, the cluster of white sheets falling from his small frame in a pile.
"Come in!" He called to Axel. A moment later the red head entered the room holding a small box.
"I brought ya something!" Axel grinned, handing the package to the very sleepy looking boy. Ordix quickly went to work tearing into the package, opening it to find a pair of red framed glasses inside a small black case.
"They came in this morning so Vexen told me if I picked them up I could come watch your combat testing today!" The red head was wearing a wide smile.
"Oh right," Ordix yawned before putting on the glasses, "That's today isn't it?"
"Yeah," Axel said, "Vexen wants me to take you to the Hall of Empty Melodies when you're ready."
"Okay," Ordix said, "I'll get dressed and meet you down the hall in a minute."
"Great," Axel said, "I'll see you in a couple minutes."
The red head left the room leaving Ordix in his privacy to get dressed. He went about his now usual morning routine at an even pace. He combed his ever messy black hair just enough to detangle it, brushed his teeth, and put on his coat and boots. After only a few minutes the young boy emerged at the end of the hall.
"Can I grab some breakfast first?" He asked Axel who was lounged out on one of the couches.
"Yeah sure," Axel laughed, "Wouldn't want you fighting on an empty stomach."
Ordix smiled and headed into the room next to the small sitting area, picking out a small single serve cup of fruity cereal and some milk along with a plastic spoon. He poured the milk into the cup of cereal, stirring it some to make sure each sugary cluster was covered thoroughly before returning to the tall red head who was to escort him, shoveling spoonfuls of colorful cereal into his mouth.
Axel chuckled at the young boy, who tilted his head in confusion.
"What's so funny?" Ordix asked between mouthfuls.
"Nothin'," Axel shook his head and ruffled Ordix's inky hair, "You just remind me of myself a bit. You ready to get goin'?"
Ordix nodded, taking no break from consuming the rainbow mixture.
They walked for what seemed to be awhile to Ordix. It was enough time for him to finish the cereal and chug the milk from the bottom of the bowl as well as find a garbage can to throw away the waste. When they finally arrived at the place Axel had called 'the Hall of Empty Melodies' Vexen and Zexion were already waiting with some clipboards in their hands.
"Good morning, Ordix," Vexen smiled.
"Hey." The young boy said.
"Today we'll be seeing how you fair in combat against some fairly low level Nobodies. There's no pressure if you find it difficult and they won't hurt you too much, so there's no need to be overly worried. They'll mostly just focus on trying to knock you down," The older man said, "Are you ready?"
Ordix nodded, determination in his eyes.
"Alright, go stand in the middle of the room and we'll get started then." Vexen said.
Ordix obeyed, placing himself in the center of the room as the other three men took their seats to watch him. When the first Nobody, a type Ordix had learned was called a 'Dusk,' appeared the young boy raised his hands out to his sides. In both of them appeared the ends of what appeared to be some kind of aluminum jump rope. The three men standing on the sidelines looked on with mixed expressions of bewilderment and excitement.
He stared at the Dusk for only a moment before smirking to himself and dropping the metal handle from his right hand. The piece hit the floor with a loud metallic clank. Ordix began swinging the weapon in circles around himself until it was spinning above his head like a helicopter blade had sprouted from the hand still holding the other end. Just as the Dusk was getting bored and slithered itself low to swipe the boys legs he jumped to the side and brought the other metal handle down against the opponent's grey head. It wasn't enough to completely finish the job in one go but the Dusk stood completely still.
"He stunned it in one hit!" Axel yelled excitedly.
Hearing the man's excitement Ordix grinned and took his jump rope into a more traditional position. With both handles in his hands he began to use it in a way you might more expect, jumping through it back towards the Dusk. As he drew close the boy leaped high into the air, his boots landing directly on the grey figure's head. As he used the head as a vault the rope came swinging back under beneath the boy, slicing right through the Dusk's body causing it to disappear.
Just as the first Dusk disappeared three more appeared in a formation surrounding Ordix. Once again he dropped a handle and started swinging it around him, the metal smacking each other foes one after the other making it so they couldn't dare to approach him. After only a few circles the handle in succession removed the heads of each Dusk effectively ending their presence. Ordix didn't stop swinging the jump rope though. He knew more foes were coming.
After some rounds with the Dusks an enemy that appeared was different. It had a more white looking body with bronze accents and very wide shoulders. Vexen looked with surprise and then fear. Ordix hadn't learned of this Nobody but Vexen knew what it was and the danger approaching.
"Isn't that?" Axel asked.
"Yes," Vexen nodded, "It's the Sorcerer. It wasn't part of the plan."
"Does that mean Xemnas is here?" The red head followed.
"Most likely. This is his revenge for Ordix's stunt on the day he arrived." Vexen's voice was nervous.
Despite the intimidating foe before him, Ordix didn't falter. He put more swing into the jump rope and suddenly the rope began to glow. Strange dark colored orbs which seemed to have a smoke to them began appearing with each swing over his head. Vexen watched the boy closely, analyzing his moves.
"Vexen, look." Zexion pointed to the balcony that hung on the other side of the room. Vexen and Axel both looked up to see the familiar orange eyes staring down into the training field.
"This will certainly be an interesting battle." Vexen said, returning his eyes to Ordix who had now swung his jump rope so fast it now spinning in a cone pattern above him. The small smoking orbs followed the rope, giving an appearance to the whole thing that looked somewhat like a tornado. Ordix grinned with confidence.
"You wanna play? Let's play." He said quietly.
Suddenly the boy cracked the handle from the air straight down onto the Sorcerer which prompted the orbs to go flying in many directions around the room before exploding only seconds after. Several of the apparent firecrackers flew to the men who had been watching him and brought a loud cackle from Axel as he leaned to dodge one. Another few launched directly at Xemnas who had summoned glowing red blades in each hand to block them with. As the explosions went off around him Ordix soon realized they didn't seem to be doing much damage to the foe in front of him and went to lashing at it with one of the metal handles as if it was a whip.
The Sorcerer attempted to break the chain of attacks by charging at the boy but he was too fast. Ordix leapt into the air over his opponent swinging the handle of his jump rope back into his hand and quickly swinging it directly at the white and bronze figure's back. The enemy was pushed several feet forward by the hit and Xemnas glared, recognizing it was getting weak. As soon as Ordix went for another swing both the Sorcerer and Xemnas disappeared from the room.
The young boy blinked and looked around.
"Where'd they go?" He asked with a sadness in his tone as if his playtime had just been interrupted.
Axel laughed and walked towards the boy, ruffling his hair playfully.
"I think you pissed him off pretty good," The red head said, "Good job."
"Yes that was uh," Vexen looked on in amazement, "Quite the performance. I think you'll be just fine in the field."
Ordix smiled proudly. He was sad he hadn't gotten to completely finish off the Nobody Xemnas had summoned against him but pleased with the praise he was receiving from the others in the room.
"Hey, Vexen?" Axel asked.
"Hm? What is it?" The older man answered, jotting some things on the clipboard in his hand.
"Can I take the kid somewhere?" The tall male questioned.
"I shouldn't say yes, but just keep a close eye on him and don't be long." Vexen responded reluctantly.
"Sweet," Axel said, "Let's get going then!"
He stuck his arm out and summoned one of the now relatively familiar portals in front of Ordix, leading the way through it.
When they emerged they were in a brick town bathed in the golden glow of twilight. Ordix recognized the place immediately. It was where he had woken up when Axel found him.
"Remember the last time you were here?" Axel laughed.
"Yeah," Ordix nodded, "Thanks for saving me back then. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't have shown up."
"It's no problem," The man chuckled, "There's a place around here that sells some great ice cream. What do you say we get you one to celebrate that awesome battle?"
Ordix nodded excitedly and followed Axel as he walked towards a little stall in the town. He bought two ice creams and began leading Ordix up a walkway towards the edge of the plaza. They walked for a few minutes until they reached the massive clock tower at the top of the hill. As Ordix climbed the last few steps Axel was holding a door open. Inside there were many train tracks with platforms. Ordix stared in awe at the large station inside the tower before Axel caught his attention.
"This way," He called, "Up these stairs."
The two walked only a little bit further before emerging on the back side of the balcony at the top of the tower.
"The view up here is great." Axel said, "It's my favorite place to come after missions."
"I can see why." Ordix said as he looked around.
The two walked around the side of the balcony and towards the front when Axel stopped suddenly in his tracks. Ordix, paying less attention than he probably should have, bumped right into the red head from behind.
"Hey," Axel said, "Don't do it, please."
Ordix peaked around the man to see a girl standing on the ledge of the tower. Her hair was a deep blue like the night sky cut near her shoulders, blowing gently with the breeze at the top of the tower. The ends of a blue accented ends of a black dress also blew a bit as she stood there still before she turned her head quickly in surprise of the two boys there. She let out a small squeak of shock before slipping.