:D Another update!
This one's a doozy! I hope you like it!
"Xion didn't come to the clock tower again today. She and Saïx had some kind of argument.
Axel and I talked for a while about the things we can't bear to lose. Axel thinks that for Nobodies, it's our pasts, because that's all we have to remember the pain of losing something. I don't remember my past, but the idea of losing the present—Axel or Xion—scares me." Roxas's Diary Entry XXIV
Chapter 9 – Putting Pieces Together
Axel and Xion were on missions together during the next few days. It was Saix's orders for Axel to keep a watch on Xion. They both arrived in the familiar setting of Twilight Town. There were a couple of Heartless running around. Axel narrowed his green eyes at the Heartless remembering what Saix ha told him earlier today. He was supposed to observe Xion's actions like she was some kind of experiment to them.
'Saix you jerk,' Axel thought. 'What aren't you telling me?' Making his chakrams appear in his hands, the red head called to Xion, "This one's all you Xion!" He told her.
Xion whole heartedly nodded making the keyblade appear in her hand. "Leave it to me!" She ran at the Heartless swinging her keyblade. Axel observed her movements. Her movements felt so familiar to him.
'Come to think of it I don't really know her all that well,' Axel thought as he watched her fight. 'The second wielder of the keyblade,' He watched her motions while swinging the keyblade reminding him of Roxas. 'She really is the spitting image of Roxas when she fights,' He thought taking down Heartless that were in his way. 'The same keyblade, the same fighting style… its almost uncanny…'
Xion caught her breath sending her finishing blow to the last Heartless. "Phew." She panted.
"Not bad for a solo mission," Axel commended. "Sorry you had to take that one by yourself."
"Oh not at all." Xion replied with a smile. "When I fight with the keyblade it's like I can be of use to everyone. That's why I wanted it back so badly."
"Well don't push yourself." Axel to her.
"I'm fine – Kya!" Xion screamed falling over as a dog tackled her to the ground.
"Xion!" Axel yelled.
The dog was mustard-colored about medium-sized short-haired with long black ears. The dog was wearing a green collar and wagging his long thin tail happily. This was King Mickey's faithful dog, Pluto.
"A dog?" Axel questioned. "Pooch, don't scare people like that," He looked at Xion who was still on ground. "You ok there, Xion?"
"Uh-huh…" Xion groaned.
Pluto barked happily.
Xion looked up at the friendly dog. "Oh my gosh!" She cooed and squealed hugging the dog.
Axel looked at Xion like she had been possessed by a happy demon or something. "Uh Xion…," He said to her. "Come on, you're gonna get attached to it at this rate."
"But, but, but..!" Xion protested already attached to the dog. Pluto returned Xion's affection by licking her.
"Hey!" Xion giggled. "That tickles." The small girl hugged its neck feeling something in the dog's collar. "What's this?" It was a piece of paper that read: "Please take care of me, woof."
"What now?" Axel asked.
Xion showed Axel the note. "There's a note," She told him. "It says, 'Please take care of me, woof.'"
Pluto happily looked at Xion wagging his tail. Xion couldn't take it anymore, she wanted to bring the dog back to the Organization. She looked at Axel with pleading eyes.
"Say…" But Axel instantly cut her off.
"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to." He told her.
"But I didn't even say anything yet!" Xion protested.
"You really think the Organization is gonna take care of a pet?" Axel asked her. "I sure wouldn't waste my breath. Saix'll never agree to it."
Xion looked at Pluto lightly saddened. "I'm sorry puppy." She frowned.
Pluto just looked at Xion happily panting with his tongue out.
Axel looked at the dog. "I'm sorry too." He said and then saw Xion's sad face. It was like she was about to cry. Axel sighed. "…Well I guess it couldn't hurt to ask."
Hearing this Xion's face brightened up. "Really?!" She squeaked. "Oh thank you Axel!" She beamed.
"Don't thank me yet," Axel told her. "You still have to get permission to keep it."
Unbeknownst to the two of them, Pluto had a small tracker in his collar. The tracker was beeping sending signals to someone else who was watching the two members of Organization 13 closely. He too was shrouded in an Organization cloak.
"I'll leave it to you, Pluto." He said.
Once returning to the Organization, Axel and Xion met up with Saix. The Lunar Diviner stared at Pluto emotionlessly. Xion looked on anxiously hoping that Saix will let her keep him here.
Pluto happily looked at Saix.
'He's definitely going to say no.' Axel thought.
"I suppose I can allow it." Saix said.
"What?!" Axel was completely appalled.
"Really?!" Xion beamed smiling at Pluto. "Isn't it great puppy?"
Pluto barked as if replying back to her.
"Come on!" Xion said running off. "I want to introduce you to Roxas!"
Pluto happily followed the girl.
Axel looked at Saix lightly smiling. "Well, well, will wonders never cease." He said.
"I was fond of dogs once." Saix said.
Axel remained silent for a moment and then laughed. "So you do still have memories left from the good old days." He told him.
Saix said nothing to this and then turned his attention to Axel once more. "By the way you'll be heading back to Castle Oblivion soon."
"Wait what?" Axel asked. "Seriously, that's low."
"So what are your observations of Xion?" Saix asked demandingly.
Axel shrugged sarcastically saying, "Ah well…Nothing to report sir. No changes observed," He then said calmly. "She took the mission very seriously and finished in record time."
Saix stared at Axel hard. "Continue your surveillance in that case." He ordered.
Axel scratched the back of his head. "Man how annoying," He replied. "How long am I going to have to keep an eye on her?"
"Indefinitely," Saix answered and walked off. "Should anything unfortunate happen to Xion, you are to file a report immediately, understood?"
Axel watched Saix walk off. 'I need to find out what he's up to.' He thought.
Xion took Pluto to meet Roxas.
"This is Roxas!" Xion beamed.
Roxas looked down at the dog who was happily looking at him. "Nice to meet you…" He seemed to be a little frightened of the dog.
Pluto ran up to Roxas resting his paws on the boy's lap. Roxas lightly smiled and looked at Xion. "We still have some time before our next mission starts."
"What about the prisoner…er Levina?" Xion asked curiously.
Roxas rubbed the back of his head. "I'm not supposed to let her out of her cell." He replied.
Pluto watched as the two conversed.
"Maybe the puppy can stay with her!" Xion beamed.
"In a cell?" Roxas asked. He looked at Pluto. "Well she could use the company while we're gone on missions."
Xion lightly smiled. "Well you go tell her she has a new friend to keep her company!" She said and went off to her room.
Roxas looked at Pluto. "How about it pup?" He asked. "Want to keep my friend company?"
Pluto barked wagging his tail.
Roxas smiled at the dog taking him to see Levina.
'To be able to understand,' Saix mused as he walked to Xion's room. 'What the imposter bearing our signarture coat is planning,' There have been reports of an imposter wearing the Organization 13 coats. Something that was dissatisfying to Xemnas. 'Aside from Roxas, there is someone else who can annihilate the imposter.'
"Are you there?" Saix asked as he knocked on Xion's door.
"Yes," Xion replied opening the door slightly. All Saix could see now was Xion with her hood up. "What is it?" She asked.
"It's a direct order from Lord Xemnas," Saix told her. "The organization imposter has been spotted. Go to Beast's Castle immediately."
"Yes sir…" Xion said.
"Failure is not an option." Saix ordered. "Understand, Xion."
Xion looked up at Saix. She saw the hate in his gold eyes. 'The way Saix glares at me with disgust, it's like he's treating me like an object,' she thought making a dark corridor appear which led to Beast's Castle. 'Oh well,' she shrugged the feeling off. 'We're nobodies we're not really a 'person' so to speak…,' she stepped through the dark corridor. 'Besides, I don't have memories of when I was a person.' She held onto the Kingdom Key keyblade tightly. 'If it wasn't for the keyblade, I'd probably be good for nothing.'
Xion arrived at the gates of Beast's Castle. Looking down at her keyblade, the weapon that made her so useful to the Organization, the small girl screamed. "I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S GOOD FOR NOTHING!"
Xion looked around. 'A direct order from Lord Xemnas,' she thought. 'I'll definitely ace this mission and make everyone see!' The small girl felt confident. 'I'll definitely triumph!'
Xion walked around the castle looking for the imposter. 'Why don't you just show yourself.' She thought wondering where the imposter was hiding.
She suddenly fell backwards as something struck her. It was the imposter. They were holding a keybalde.
"It…," Xion stammered. "It's here!"
The imposter raised his keyblade striking Xion again. The small girl tried her hardest to block, but the imposter was too strong for her.
"So strong…!" Xion exclaimed trying to fight back.
"Do you resent me?" The imposter asked before striking Xion again.
This time Xion was able to withstand the imposter's attack.
"Not bad." The imposter commented.
'That was close…' Xion thought gasping and then lost her keyblade as the imposter's keyblade struck hers. 'What's with this guy…?''
Suddenly flashes of memories began invading her head. She saw someone, a boy's face with silver hair and sea-green eyes.
'Do I know this person…?' Xion thought holding her keyblade tightly.
The imposter took off his hood, revealing the same silver-haired boy which Xion had just seen in her head. His sea-green eyes were covered by a blindfold. It was Riku who was fighting her all along. He held his Way to Dawn keyblade.
'I can't be careless now.' Xion thought picking up her keyblade off the ground. She charged at Riku, but the boy merely stepped to the side punching her in the side making her fall over.
"Ugh…" Xion panted.
Riku walked over to her gently lifting Xion's hood. "You're coming with me now." He said lifting his blind fold from his eyes so he could see Xion's face.
'She looks like…' Riku took a step back. He looked down at the girl. "Your face…," He stammered.
"Who are you really…?! Why do you have a keyblade?!"
Xion looked at him as she got up slowly. "What about you…?" She asked. "Tell me first…," She gasped. "Why are you dressed like one of us…what is it that you're trying to achieve…?"
"My intention was to be followed, and in turn allowed me to hunt down the pursuer." Riku replied.
"That's my line…!" Xion growled lightly as she got up.
Riku looked at her and said, "You don't know anything, I don't know what you're supposed to be, but I won't be defeated by a fake."
"Fake…?!" Xion exclaimed. She watched as Riku picked up her Kingdom Key keybalde.
"I can feel it…," Riku told her. "This keyblade is a sham," He said tossing the keyblade to the ground carelessly. "Worthless."
"My keyblade is not a sham!" Xion yelled. "What gives you the right to say that?!"
Xion got up from the ground clutching her keyblade in her hand. "I'll show you 'who' doesn't know anything!" She charged at Riku angrily.
Without even facing her, Riku swung his Way to Dawn keyblade at Xion striking her down.
Xion stared at her keyblade in numb shock as it hit the ground with a clang. "But…," She stammered. "Why…?"
"Find a new crowd," Riku told her. "Those guys are bad news." He said referring to Organization 13 and walked off.
'I wasn't able to subdue him.' Xion thought as she angrily banged her fists to the ground letting out a blood curdling scream.
Xion arrived at the Castle that Never Was. She was in the Round Room with Xemnas and Saix.
"Explain yourself!" Xemnas ordered.
Xion looked nervous. "…I was at Beast's Castle," She stammered. "I encountered and challenged the Organization imposter," The small girl lowered her head. "And lost…" She bit her bottom lip. "Please forgive me…"
"It doesn't matter…" Saix stated matter o' factly. "After all, you were a failure to begin with."
Xion bowed her head in dismay and left as Xemnas dismissed her.
Saix looked at Xemnas. "We must act now."
"Indeed." Xemnas replied. "Her heart is weak enough."
To these words a dark corridor opened up. Stepping out of the corridor was another Organization member. Xemnas was the superior of Organization 13, but there was someone higher when it came to the commanding ranks.
Roxas took Pluto to the dungeons after his mission. Pluto happily trailed beside the boy.
Levina looked up seeing Roxas.
"Did you bring me more ice cream?" She asked.
Roxas smiled lightly shaking his head. "Nope," He told her. "But I brought someone to keep you company while I'm gone on missions."
Pluto looked at Levina barking at her.
"A dog?" Levina asked.
"Xion found him in Twilight Town." Roxas answered.
Levina reached her hands out through the barks patting Pluto's head.
Pluto wagged his tail panting happily and licking her hand.
Levina lightly giggled. "He's cute." She said.
Roxas beamed at her. "I knew you'd like him!" He smiled watching Levina and Pluto getting acquainted with each other.
'I hate to leave her here by herself,' Roxas thought. 'But as long as she's not hurt, that's all that matters.' He touched his chest lightly. 'What's this funny feeling in my chest?''
Levina looked at Roxas. "Are you ok?" She asked.
Roxas shook his head lightly. "Y-Yeah.." He stammered. "I'm fine," He told her. "I've gotta find Xion." The boy looked down at Pluto. "Keep her company while I'm gone ok?"
To this Pluto just barked sitting beside the cell.
The following day, Roxas went in search for Xion at their base.
'Why didn't Xion come yesterday?' Roxas thought. 'Maybe her mission took longer than she thought.'
He then heard Xion's voice.
"Just give me one more chance, please!" Xion begged Saix.
Saix turned to her. "How obstinate," He said rudely. "Since we're all preoccupied for the moment," He looked at her. You are to leave for your mission."
Xion ran off and passed Roxas.
"Xion!" Roxas called to her, but Xion ran right passed him.
'Why am I running away?' Xion thought panting for breath. 'But I don't think I can face Roxas.'
After missions Roxas and Axel would eat ice cream together on the Clock Tower. Xion never came.
"Where's Xion?" Roxas wondered.
"She not coming today?" Axel asked.
Roxas sighed. "Was it something Saix said?"
Axel said nothing to this.
For the next couple of days Xion would stay locked up in her room. She would only go out on missions and slay Heartles with the keyblade. On the Clock Tower she was finally able to talk to Roxas.
"I'm sorry," Xion apologized.
Roxas looked at her.
"Yesterday," Xion began. "I shouldn't have run off like that," She sighed. "And for not showing up here."
"It's fine," Roxas said to her gently. "It didn't bother me," He smiled lightly. "There's gonna be times when you might not feel like coming, right?" He then looked at her. "…What happened?"
Xion looked nervous. "I don't quite…," She mumbled. "Understand happened either." She gulped nervously. She looked at Roxas and asked," Why does the Organization need us?"
Roxas thought about that for a moment. "Well," He began. "…We're the only ones who can use the keyblade," Roxas smiled at her. "After all we're 'special' right?"
'Special…?' Xion thought. She got up from her spot and opened a dark corridor. "We may both be special Roxas, but I don't think we're the same…" She said and left.
"Xion?" Roxas called to her. "Wait!"
Levina sat in her cell petting Pluto. "I wonder where you came from?"
Pluto just barked happily at her.
Xion anxiously came down the stairs to the dungeons. "Puppy!" She called to Pluto. "Where are you?"
Hearing Xion's voice, Pluto instantly ran over to her.
Levina smiled lightly. "I guess that dog likes everyone."
Xion hugged Pluto looking relieved. "Oh good, he's here," She looked at Levina sheepishly. "I'm happy Saix let me keep him."
"He seems to be happy here." Levina smiled and then frowned as she saw Saix behind her.
Xion cautiously turned around nervously. Pluto growled at the man behind his friend, all Saix did was glare at the dog.
"Leave now." Saix ordered. He leered down at Levina and said coolly," Lucky you, the master wishes to speak with you."
"You're Master?" Levina repeated.
Xion pulled her hood up and scurried off. She looked at Pluto. "Come on puppy!"
Pluto took one last look at Saix and followed Xion.
Levina watched as her cell door opened and Saix walked in. She wished she was able to summon her keyblade.
"On your feet." Saix ordered glaring down at the girl. When Levina did not move, Saix yanked her up by the arm and pulled her to her feet shoving her towards the stairs.
Levina nervously walked up the steps wondering what was going to happen to her. She had been sitting in her cell for months. The only friends to her were Roxas, Axel, Xion, and now Pluto.
She was led by Saix to the Round Room. She noticed that Xigbar was there too along with Xemnas. She tightly clutched her wayfinder nervously.
Xemnas was sitting regally on his seat smirking down at the girl in front him.
"W-What do you want with me?" Levina stammered nervously. "Why did you keep me locked up all this time?"
Xemnas looked at her. "You are an anomaly," He said. "Something that shouldn't exist, but does," He looked at her menacingly. "Where is the room?"
'Room?' Levina thought. "What room?" She asked.
Not getting the right answer, Xemnas slapped his hand on his chair. "Don't play games with me!" He sneered. "The room that is in hiding at Castle Oblivion!"
Levina lowered her head. She had vague memories of Castle Oblivion. She remembered that there was a room. A room where her friend, Ven slept in. He was supposed to be safe there. 'Are they looking for the room, where Ven is asleep in?' She thought worriedly. 'What do they want with him?''
"I….," Levina began trying to remember where the room was, but couldn't. "I don't know…!" She gasped as Xemnas suddenly right in front of her. Frightened by the man she held onto her wayfinder tighter as he grabbed her by the front of her shirt.
"Then I will make you remember!" Xemnas seethed.
Xigbar was in his seat polishing his arrow guns watching what was going on. "This ought to be good." He smirked.
Terrified of what might happen to her, Levina shut her eyes tightly. "I'm telling you the truth!" She begged. "I don't remember anything about a room!"
Irritated by not getting the answer he wanted, Xemnas threw Levina to the ground. The girl groaned in pain as she hit the ground.
"Maybe he can jog your pitiful memory." Xemnas snarled.
Levina looked up seeing someone whom she thought she wouldn't ever see, but he looked different now.
"T-Terra?!" Levina gasped jaw dropped.
Terranort chuckled evilly. There was no sign of the Terra Levina knew. Master Xehanort's heart had completely taken over.
"Well if it isn't Eraqus's darling little girl," Terranort grinned. "Castle Oblivion preserved you well."
Levina bit her lip. "What happened to you, Terra?"
Terranort sneered. "Always so concerned about your stupid little friends," He demandingly stared at her. "Where is the Chamber of Awakening in Castle Oblivion?!"
Levina trembled. "I-I don't know…" She shook wishing she could summon her keyblade, but wasn't able to due to all the darkness embedded inside her heart. She tightly held her wayfinder which was dimly lighting up.
Terranort smirked at her. "I still have use for you."
Levina looked up at her former friend now possessed by a man who stole everything from her. "Use for what?" She squeaked out.
Riku was no standing in the World That Never Was. Thanks to the tracker on Pluto, he was able to find this world.
'Her face…?' Riku thought of Xion. 'Who is she really?' He wondered. 'She's the spitting image of..,'
A girl's face flashed in his mind. A girl who he had liked for the longest time, but she liked his best friend. Because of this, he let his jealously over take him and his heart became vulnerable to the darkness. But now he would fix all the things he had done wrong to his friends. He walked along the dead streets of the World That Never Was.
'Kairi…' Riku thought thinking of Xion again. 'She's not a special Nobody.' He suddenly heard barking and turned around. It was Pluto. Pluto must've ran off and left the castle.
Riku smiled at the friendly dog. "Let's go, Pluto." He had found out where the enemy's base was. Soon he would be able to help his best friend, Sora.
The boy suddenly stopped getting an unnerving feeling about the world he was in. 'Is the darkness growing stronger?'
Dun, dun, dun!
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