Master Plan

Xemnas stared raptly at the hearts sailing toward the barely constructed Kingdom Hearts. You could almost hear the "music", the gentle humming.

Xemnas had waited this long, he could wait longer. The plan was in motion. Patience was always a key attribute-

A "key" attribute. Xemnas smiled humorlessly. Always keys. Keyblades, Keyblade masters… A portal opened behind him, and Xemnas heard three pairs of footsteps. Hood lowered, Xemnas turned to look at Axel, a girl that he did not recognize, and Vexen.

"Lord Xemnas." Vexen bowed low. "Greetings. We have successfully recovered the Nobody of the Princess of Heart."

Xemnas looked at Axel. "Who acquired her?"

"Xigbar." Axel replied.

Xemnas smiled again. Axel was going to take Namine to Castle Oblivion, or he was, soon. First…

"Leave."

Vexen and Axel exchanged a glance but quickly vanished into a portal that snapped up behind them.

The girl had blonde hair and a simple white dress and sandals. She stared at Xemnas in fear, but she wasn't shaking or crying.

Xemnas knelt down, still smiling. "We have many plans in store for you."

The girl said nothing, her eyes just narrowed.

"Do you remember Sora?"

Namine put a hand over her mouth, but she didn't look surprised, just sad that her suspicions had been correct.

"None are closer to him than you. You will be sent to Castle Oblivion, and you will alter his memories. We will keep a close eye on you, and if you do your job wrong…" He smiled wider, orange eyes shining. He placed a glove hand on Namine's cheek. She pulled back. Xemnas simply stood up, towering over the girl.

"Axel."

A portal opened immediately and Axel emerged.

"You know what to do."

Axel took Namine and pulled her into the portal. Xemnas turned back to the window, staring at Kingdom Hearts. If this did not work out, he had many other ideas. All would lead ultimately to his Master Plan.

A Kingdom Hearts.

***

"Master Ansem, with the knowledge of what happened on the experiments earlier, with your permission, I'd like to proceed."

"I forbid it! Xehanort, cease this nonsense on the heart of all worlds, and darkness. Subjects like that are best left forgotten."

"But-I-"

Xehanort hadn't stopped. He had proceeded, along with the other apprentices. Machines to create Heartless, machines to replicate darkness. Human hearts and the heart of a world.

Was there darkness in a world? Would a world have a Heartless?

The questions never stopped, the answers to them were fascinating.

Xemnas touched the area where his heart was. The heart was there physically, but there were no emotions there. When Kingdom Hearts was complete, there would be no gaping emptiness in his chest. Where there was nothing there would soon be something.

Xemnas whirled around and descended the stairs, deciding not to utilize a portal. From a hidden balcony he surveyed the other members in the "lounge".

Demyx was stringing his sitar, singing under his breath. Saix was staring out a window. The Castle Oblivion members had left today, and only half the members remained. Luxord and Xaldin were playing a card game; Roxas was speaking quietly to Xion, who kept rubbing her eyes like she was tired.

Amusing.

Even members who seemed to have given up emotions clung onto these simple things from their human life. Xemnas knew Xaldin, as one of the apprentices, and knew he had always stood with his hands behind his back, like he still did. Demyx's sitar was constructed from his human memories.

Xemnas wondered if all of the Nobodies in the room were clinging to human habits. His gaze fell on Roxas and Xion, talking. Xion was smiling slightly.

So. Roxas was doing the same thing Axel was in favor of, pretending to have friends. He need not get too attached, Xion needed to merge with him for his plan on a replica, a complete one, of Sora to work. No need to yet, however.

Xemnas silently ascended the stairs, still thinking.

He was no fool, he was well aware of Marluxia's petty attempt at a coup. Let him try. Axel's job ever since he had joined the Organization with Saix had been the one to ruthlessly destroy all traitors. He had sent Axel to play both sides, and either kill them himself or get Sora to. Axel was clever, and Xemnas was certain that it would soon cease to be a problem.

However…

If Axel happened to fail he was not opposed to dealing with the would be traitors himself.

Of course, all was going according to plan. Soon a new world could be crafted, and he as the ruler!

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"Any world created by you would be an empire of ignorance."