Loyal Hound ep. 7
Rexoz the Copycat
"Yaaauuugh!" shrieked Zant as Rexoz hit him with a blast of his own magic. She nervously aimd and fired while hoping to avoid being burned. Rexoz frantically ran around Zant while trying to attack him with her new power but fear kept her from landing enough blows to actually harm Zant, although he does look exhausted. All that went through Rexoz's head was fire, avoid the fire, fire, avoid the fire.
"Ah!" she yelled as she almost tripped.
"You're not fit to fight, so why not just give up now?" said Zant. The answer was simple; Xemnas. If Rexoz was to see him again and help Organization XIII she had to win this fight. After all, Saix did not save her years ago only for her to die so soon. Death would be a reward for a later day she thought to herself. What other escape was there?
"There is no escape!" said Zant as if he had heard what Rexoz thought. No, wait, escape! The answer was obvious now. Zant can teleport and Rexoz can copy spells if they have been used on her. Now, all she has to do is goad Zant into using that magic spell again so she could learn it.
"You're no king," said Rexoz.
"Be silent, girl. I have the throne and all of the Twilight at my command. Not to mention, I have innumerable Heartless to answer my beck and call," said Zant.
"Then show me, Zant," said Rexoz.
"This room is too small and too unstable. What will it matter to someone who's about to die soon anyway?" asked Zant.
"I want a good challenge," said Rexoz.
"Fine, but I'll make sure you die quickly. I've never faced an opponent so idiotic yet amusing," said Zant as he teleported away while the air became cold. Now! Rexoz imitated Zant as he teleported into a frozen room with a floor covered in mirror-like ice.
"And now to- wait!? What did you do?" asked Zant as he looked down at the reflective floor and saw the reflection of Saix behind him.
"I copied you," said Rexoz.
"How?" said Zant as he bagean throwing a tantrum.
"Who gives a crap!?" shouted Saix.
"What sort of magic did you use?" wondered Zant.
"Blue magic but that's beside the point. Zant, you're beaten and tired, but I'm willing to make a deal with you," said Saix.
"What sort of deal?" asked Zant.
"I was going to collect your heart, however, if you tell us how what you've been doing with those heartless and everything else you know about them, I'll hand over Midna and let you live," said Saix.
"And Link," said Zant.
"Yes, him too, but talk first," said Saix.
"H-huh!?" said Rexoz, shocked at what Saix was offering. He silenced her with a stern glare and she dared not question him.
"Deal. I stumbled across a woman named Maleficent and an oaf named Pete. She offered me greater power to better serve my god. She told me these Heartless creatures would serve us well and that you would betray me after you got Midna and Link's hearts, that you would take mine as well. However, she also mentioned one other detail," said Zant.
"Oh?" said Saix.
"The girl over there with the burns, Zero, I believe," said Zant.
"No, I won't!" said Rexoz, hiding behind Saix like a frightened animal seeking shelter. Saix put a hand on her head and glared at Zant.
"Rexoz. Her name's Rexoz and you won't have her," said Saix. Rexoz buried her face into his chest in a fearful embrace. Saix stood in front of Rexoz protectively.
"She told me if I turned Rexoz in that I would have Hyrule, the Twilight Realm, and more. You see, I must kill you now and take the girl and I don't care what her name is," said Zant.
"Ah, then it was a good thing I lied about handing over Midna and Link. You know, if you were going to kill me, you should have told me after the exchange you fool," said Saix.
"Over my dead body," said Zant.
"Just another part of the plan. Rexoz, if you could teeport us to the throne room, please," said Saix.
Rexoz teleported them to the throne room where Link and Midna were waiting.
"There you are, Blueberry," said Midna.
"Never call me a blueberry again, imp," said Saix.
"I'm NOT an imp!" said Midna but she turned towards Zant to take out her anger on him.
"Well, I guess you'll do for a stress reliever!" said Midna as pieces of armor fell into place before she ripped Zant apart as a keyhole appeared on his chest where the heart was located.
"Rexoz, your keyblade! Open the keyhole and take his heart now," said Saix.
"Yes, Saix!" said Rexoz as she pointed her keyblade at the keyhole and released a pitch black heart which disappeared into the air.
"We did it then, for now at least," said Link.
"Yeah, we did all three of us," said Midna.
"But there's four of us," said Rexoz, using her fingers to count.
"Okay, Blueberry-hair helped a little," said Midna.
"Midna…" said Link.
"Fine...Thank you Rexoz and…Saix…" said Midna hesitantly.
"Yes, thanks so much! You two are friends to us now and we'll never forget you," said Link.
"You're welcome," said Rexoz. Saix remained silent and muttered something about Midna being 'alright for an imp'.
"Where will you guys head next?" asked Link.
"Back to our home," said Saix.
"Come back soon, okay? I'd love to introduce you to my friends in Kakariko Village sometime," said Link.
"That'd be fun," said Rexoz kindly.
"Maybe we will if we have a day off. Let's return home Rexoz," said Saix calmly.
"Alright," said Rexoz, troubled. She remembered what Zant had said about Maleficent and knew that nothing good could come of it. She realized that she had grabbed Saix's coat just then and was sweating a river.
"You're safe with Organization XIII, Rexoz," assured Saix as the two disappeared into a black portal.
Back at the Castle…
"Ah, I see you two have returned," said Xemnas.
"I had Rexoz fill out the mission report but she's locked herself in her room. She seems paranoid and I did not approach her so she could calm down," said Saix.
"I'll handle it," smiled Xemnas.
"Yes, sir," said Saix, leaving Xemnas to handle Rexoz.
Inside of her room, Rexoz was huddled up on her bed and sobbing. Fear was on her face like a mask as she put her face close to her knees as if to hide it. She pulled her hood up to hide the scar on her face as well as her tears.
"Fifteen," said Xemnas calmingly as took a chair and sat down in front of Rexoz. She peeked up and hid her face once more.
"Rexoz, you're upset, but what for?" asked Xemnas.
"Zant…he, h-he was…working with Maleficent and now she's…after...m-me," said Rexoz in between sobs. She told him what Zant had said.
"She's after me…I swear I don't know why since Maleficent never even told me what she wanted from me," said Rexoz.
"It's alright, Fifteen. Rexoz, I mean," said Xemnas as he put his hands on Rexoz shoulders comfortingly.
"But what if she hurts you guys because of me?" asks Rexoz.
"I'll kill her if she even looks at you, Rexoz," said Xemnas.
"But she's horrible. You saw what she did to me. I can't show my face to anyone without them staring at me like a freak," said Rexoz. She always had her hood up to hide her scars.
"You're not a freak, Rexoz. No matter what, Maleficent will not get you or hurt you ever again," said Xemnas. Rexoz peeked at him again but barely showed her face.
"Rexoz…" said Xemnas solemnly.
"Maleficent…what do you want from me?" asked Rexoz.
"Rexoz, let me tell you something," said Xemnas. Rexoz listened.
"When you had your heart, right before I took it, there was a strong light that coexisted along with a strong darkness. It was as though both sides were at peace and I could tell that the darkness did not corrupt you. It kept you strong while the light kept you pure. That was likely what Maleficent wanted but you have no heart anymore, so you should be safe," said Xemnas.
"Light and darkness in my heart?" said Rexoz.
"Yes, they coexist within you. Your heart is a source of power and Maleficent wants to take that from you," said Xemnas.
"But why?" asked Rexoz.
"I do not know, but she will never harm you, I promise, Rexoz," said Xemnas. Rexoz began to turn red and was glad that Xemnas could not see her blush. Xemnas stayed with Rexoz in her room until she stopped crying.
"Thank you, Superior," said Rexoz.
"You may call me Xemnas if you wish," said Xemnas, his tan skin turning slightly pink. No, Rexoz was likely just imagining it. Xemnas left Rexoz's room with a smile before saying, "Cheer up, Rexoz."
"Thank you," said Rexoz before falling asleep. Rather than a nightmare she dreamed of an island she had never seen before and of sitting on the branch of a tree with fruit shaped like a star. Rexoz felt happy.