Hey there! I just wanted to let you know that I plan on doing different people's view from now on, just so that you can understand the story better. BTW – Thank you Kari for the reviews!
PS – there will be times that a name will have little quotation marks around it. That just means that it's a fake of that person. Just so you know for the future of the story. It'll be confusing at first, but I hope that you can still follow it through. If you have concerns about the story, please review.
Anyways, on with the story!
Chapter 7 – Dancing Flames
"Hey, Adina?" Axel said as we (including the twins) sat in the cafeteria near the windows later that same day, licking our treats that turned out to be sea-salt ice cream. To me, it was a strange combination of both saltiness with sweetness, but at least it tasted good enough to continue eating it. "What do you think of the academy so far?"
I swallowed the ice cream that was in my mouth as I thought about it in my mind. "I can't really say much about it, considering that I haven't even started the classes yet. I heard that they start three weeks from now." I glanced out the window and watched the northern lights dance around even at dusk. "Of course I think the scenery is nice outside and there are many interesting people in here, but other than that, I haven't met any of the teachers besides you and really haven't learned much as of why I am here in the first place."
I looked back at the twins who were busy, engaged in a simple game of hangman on a piece of paper. It seemed obvious that Andre was winning, considering the pouting face that Ash put on and the small triumphant one on Andre's as they took turns writing and guessing. I felt a smile forming on my face as I watched them debate it to each other, while their own ice creams in their hands were long forgotten. Axel's chuckle was heard as the twins waved around the poor dripping ice cream that was going everywhere, including the paper and the twins' faces. When they realized that they created a mess, they glanced towards me and Axel, only to find us laughing at them. Andre blushed and Ash smiled sheepishly as they excused themselves to their rooms for the day, but not before cleaning up the mess at the table.
When the twins finally left, I saw that there were still a few people hanging around the cafeteria. But at the rate they were going, they would probably leave soon enough anyways. I sighed and went back to finishing my ice cream bar. I saw through the corner of my eye that Axel had stayed in his seat next to me, even though I saw him finish his ice cream long ago. I felt his eyes staring at me with intense curiosity. It went on for a few minutes until I felt uncomfortable with his staring. "May I ask why you are staring at me like that?" I asked as I turned to him.
There was a smirk playing on his lips as he stared at me some more. "Of course." He replied. I waited for him to say something more, but he remained quiet. That was when I realized that he was playing with me.
I smiled and put my question on a more direct route. "Ok, why are you staring at me?"
"Now that's a better question!" He exclaimed with a laugh. He leaned towards me and said, "I was just wondering whether you want to practice some more now without the distractions."
I finished my ice cream and placed the wooden stick onto the table. I then turn to Axel with my fullest attention. "Can I ask another question before I answer yours?" Axel nodded towards me to continue. "Why are you so intent on training me? Don't you have other students to train as well?"
Axel looked away uneasily as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… let's just say that you're behind all of the students here."
I nodded slowly with understanding. He's hiding something, I surmised to myself as I glanced at the stars that were appearing by the tens. And I intend to find out soon enough. "Alright then Axel." I acknowledged with a nod. "Let's go train."
I picked up the stick as I stood up, and went towards the nearest trashcan. When I got there, I looked up to see another dark form walking towards us from across the way. I felt annoyed at first that he had his hood up, considering that there really was no need to have it up in the first place. Sure, I understood from Andre that the Nobodies don't have a true existence in the first place, but there was no need to emphasize it by covering the face!
The next thing that I felt was confusion. The figure had stopped in front of me and was just standing there, not saying a word. The figure was about my height, which was unusual, seeing that the people in black that I met so far were at least a head taller than me.
I was so intent on watching him that I jumped when Axel's voice seemingly popped out of nowhere. "What are you doing here, Roxas?" I looked behind me to see Axel standing behind me with a look of surprise in his eyes. "I thought that you were going on your mission?"
Roxas's silence continued as he faced me still. What is with everyone and their staring today? I thought as I grew more and more uncomfortable with the pressure of the silence. Even more so with the fact that I noticed that us three were the only ones left in the cafeteria at that point.
Roxas shifted uneasily and said in a low voice, "My mission is to test the girl, Adina." He gestured vaguely towards me.
I raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. Now why would that be? I thought to myself. Why am I that special to them? I only came to this academy to get some answers to my past, not obtain questions for the future!
Apparently Axel had the same thoughts. "Really?" He fell silent as he had a look of regard. Then he turned to me and said, "Well, good luck Adina!"
It took a moment before I registered what Axel said. I stared at him dumbfounded. "What do you mean 'good luck Adina'?"
"Just like I said Adina." He replied with a smirk plastered onto his face as the three of us started walking back to the Training Area. "Don't worry though; I'll be on the sidelines if you need me."
"Oh don't I feel assured." I muttered to myself.
It seemed Roxas heard me though. "Why do you say that?" He inquired with a puzzled voice.
I sighed in annoyance, but I froze when I turned to look at him, for I realized that he finally shown his face to me. He had spiky blond hair that slightly curved to the side and framed his face. He had bright blue eyes and had the face of a boy who was 15 years old. It was actually interesting to see someone so young as a part of the Organization, but then again, he was probably talented enough to be there.
I must have had a strange look on my face for he grinned and asked, "What? Is there something on my face?"
I suddenly felt my face turn red and looked away quickly. "It's nothing." I said a little too quickly.
When we reached the center of the Training Area (without Axel), I took a few steps away and summoned Shadow's Reflection. When I took my battle stance, Roxas summoned his weapons in a couple flashes of bright lights.
His weapons were shaped like two oversized keys. One was white with a keychain of white and blue seashells in the shape of a star while the white guards wrapped around and were shaped like folded back white feathered wings. The shaft had a division of two, and the sharp end was similar to the keychain but bigger and has yellow in it. The other one was black with a keychain of a black crown and the black guard wrapped around with folded back black bat wings. In the center of the black weapon was a violet gem, the shaft had a chain running through, and the sharp end was mostly square, but had intricate designs cut into it. I vaguely remembered Ash telling me that Roxas's weapons were called Keyblades; or for more accurate names of both – Oblivion (black) and Oathkeeper (white).
Roxas held them in either hand as he took his stance in front of me. Without warning, he lunged forward. I barely had time to block with my weapon as his Keyblades slashed towards me. The ringing of metal against metal struck my ears again and again as Roxas kept beating at Shadow's Reflection. When I thought that I was going to give way to the relentless Keyblades, I saw that both the Keyblades and Shadow's Reflection started glowing with a silver sheen.
Apparently Roxas was just as confused as I for I stopped feeling the vibrations and hearing the ringing of metal as I heard him say, "What the –"
He was interrupted as the light grew brighter and brighter until I couldn't see anything but the unbearable light. I barely noticed that the weapon's shaft felt different and that my hands gripping the shaft were moving more freely that before.
I felt my sight return when the light finally subsided, but I was shocked I saw what was different. My weapon had changed into a pair of pure silver Keyblades. I lifted one to examine it. The shaft of the Keyblade was extremely long and had strange symbols all along it that somehow reminded me of runes that foretold a destiny. The guard that went on both sides of the grip handle was shaped as a heart with the pointed end facing away from the blade and the curved part ended with the curls inside (sort of like the Kingdom Hearts symbol that you see on the title). Near the far end of the blade was a silver block on the side with what looked like half of the Nobody symbol cut out of it. What caught my attention the most was the long and thick chain that connected both of the Keyblades together with a heart-shaped charm dangling from the center. Before I got to examine them closer, they changed again with a lower flash and they changed into the Chakrams that Axel uses, only they were just silver.
"That's an interesting weapon you have there, Adina." An unfamiliar voice called out from behind me. I spun around and faced another cloaked person. He had a weapon in his hand that was of a pink hued scythe with a green handle. The extremely sharp blade was inches from my throat.
Axel then made himself known as he appeared right by my side. "What do you want Marluxia? Adina is in the middle of training right now."
The said man lifted his free hand and pushed back his hood. Underneath was a person who had rose tinted hair and blue eyes that held no warmth in them. What? I can't have fun with her? What a waste." He moved his scythe away from me and pointed it at Axel instead. "How about you give me some entertainment then?"
Axel gave a smirk that looked dangerous in my opinion so I started to edge away from the two. Axel summoned his Chakrams and said, "Ok, but you asked for it!"
At first, everything was silent and unmoving. Without warning, the strike of metal against metal rang out once more within the area. I realized that Axel hasn't even closed in with the attack, but rather threw his Chakrams from the distance. Of course, it barely made any difference for Marluxia because he swung the scythe and knocked away the flame-covered Chakrams, but it looked like that it bought his attention for the moment as Axel closed in fast. The Chakrams were spiraling away one minute, but suddenly some unseen force pulled them back into Axel's grasp as he swung the Chakrams up close at Marluxia. Marluxia disappeared, however, when Axel's weapons tried to cut him up, leaving only Rose petals in his wake.
I was beginning to wonder where Marluxia had disappeared to when a familiar cold blade edge was pressed near my throat. I stood rooted to the spot as I felt radiating waves of accomplishment emitting from my captor.
"Adina!" I heard Roxas call out, though for some reason it was starting to get faint…
Axel, who was several feet away from where Marluxia and I stood, cursed under his breath as he tried to get nearer. The cold blade pressed even further, enough to break the skin open a bit. "What do you really want Marluxia? It can't be just for show, now can it?" The voice was beginning to be just a whisper…
I know my captor said something, but the sound was now muted to my ears. In fact, I heard nothing at all: Not even my own breathing was auditable.
I looked up and stared at Axel. He was staring back at me with determination in his eyes. I noticed his expression changed to confusion as he continued to look at me and I noticed that he took a step back hesitantly. The person behind me didn't seem to realize any changes for his scythe stayed in the same position.
There was a sudden subtle feeling deep within my chest that felt foreign yet familiar to me, but as it expanded even further, I somehow knew that it was both my own power and Axel's. How I knew, I couldn't figure out. All I knew was that if I don't release it soon, I might lose consciousness in a very violent way. At that moment, everything first turned white, but then slowly faded to black.
********
Axel had just chanced a look at Adina and immediately knew that something was wrong. Her eyes had glazed over and changed into pure silver with no black pupils within them. She was emitting a faint silver aura around her, but then it grew brighter until it covered all of her features. He stepped away cautiously from her and Marluxia, then he waited to see what would happen next.
Marluxia took a minute longer to notice what was happening. His blue eyes widened as he immediately tried to shove the girl away, and was barely in time. Adina had bursted into white flames and Marluxia's cloak caught fire. When he saw this, he brushed them away like dust. The fire faded away and revealed Adina's form.
"Interesting… So that's her ability." Marluxia finally said after a few moments of silence, save Adina's heavy breathing that echoed throughout the area. He was impressed by it in the least. He created a portal behind him. "I'll tell the superior the news."
Axel and Roxas were stunned when they saw Adina. Her features she used to have had made her a completely different person: She was 'Axel' to be more exact. The only thing that set her apart from the real one was that she bore the pure silver Chakrams in her hands, dangling them from her fingers.
"Adina…?" Roxas stepped forward hesitantly.
She turned her head and stared emotionlessly at Roxas's approaching form. Her eyes were glazed over and weren't focused clearly. Without warning, she attacked.
********
Marluxia teleported to his chair in the meeting room with a smirk on his face. The rest of the group was there, excluding Roxas and Axel of course, for they were still with the girl.
"Well?" The expecting tone came from the highest of the chairs, the face hooded.
Marluxia's smirk became more pronounced as he replied, "It has been done, Superior."
"Good." The Superior said calmly. "Now onto the next stage…"
