Reunion
A Kingdom Hearts fanfic
By:
Chison
Iris slammed her fists onto the ground, "how…how did Xemnas just walk away? Now what am I going to do?" she thought to herself, "well, you won't get much done just sitting there…" a male voice came echoed, a black ellipse formed, and Axel walked out, standing above her. Looking up, Iris smiled and got to her feet, "Axel!" she shouted, and tried to hug him, but he quickly moved out of the way, "I'm not here to help you…" he said, turning away from her, Iris' happiness suddenly faded away, "what?" she asked, confused, "Xemnas thinks your friend holds the secret to getting out hearts back." She shook her head, "but…he is just a Nobody, just like you!" Axel grinned, trying to hide his anger, "you don't think I know that? Xemnas thinks everything has a purpose…but I really don't know…" but his grin faded, and a frown came across his face, "I have to do what Xemnas tells me…I don't want to be a Dusk, so I need you to disappear…" "What? Axel…" Iris started, but he lifted his right hand, and a portal appeared behind her, "Why don't you come with me? Leave the Organization…" He turned his eyes away from her "Iris…its not as easy as it sounds… Please, just go." Iris turned around, facing the portal, and walked through it.
Being suddenly surrounded by darkness, Iris felt her memory slip just a little, "I…must be in the Realm of Darkness…" she felt a small warming throughout her body, "What is this…Zashi must be in here!" Iris cupped her hands, "ZASHI!!" she shouted as loud as she could, but it was only an echo that seemed to travel endlessly. Taking a step forward, Iris felt like she had dropped something, but remembered Zeoshi's words that people loose their memory in the Realm of Darkness. Suddenly, Iris felt a hand on her shoulder, turning around quickly, she saw a tall man dressed in black, "hurry, you have to come this way…" he said, removing his hand, and creating a vortex which he passed through, and Iris did the same. Opening her eyes, she realized that she had been transported back into DiZ's chambers; the figure moved towards the sofa and took off his hood, revealing Ansem causing Iris to panic, "Who…who are you really?"
He sighed, "I was once controlled by this man…but one day, I wont need the darkness to fight my battles…" She took a step towards him, "once controlled…by the real Ansem?" Ansem nodded his head, "then…you must be Riku!" Iris shouted at the top of her lungs, and he gave a nod, "it's about time you figured it out." She walked towards Riku, "listen, Xemnas has taken Namine and Zeoshi! I don't know what he is planning to do…you've got to help me…" This caught Riku's attention, "I know who Namine's whole is…but who is Zeoshi?" Iris took a deep breath, "Zeoshi is Zashi's Nobody, and he can wield a Keyblade like Marlena!" "Marlena…" Riku repeated, then his face lit up, "oh…I remember saving her in the Underworld…she wouldn't stand a chance against Maleficent."
"I wonder how Marlena is faring being the Keyblade bearer…" Riku spoke out loud, "I don't know…but I could really use her help…" Iris sighed, and he got up from the sofa, "the best place to start looking would be Hollow Bastion…" he said, raising a hand and creating a black vortex, "this will take you straight there, I hope you find her…" Iris smiled and walked towards the portal, stopping to give Riku a wave and she passed through. Coming through the other side, Iris felt a warm wind pass through her hair, and looked over the small town that had started to form: various shops had opened, with people performing their 'to do' lists. Walking slowly down the flight of stairs, she wandered into the middle section of the town, making her way past the crowd she descended down another set of stairs.
Iris looked up at the various buildings towering over her head, and she pressed on, however a small group of Heartless appeared in front of her, "Heartless?" she asked herself, "What are they doing here?" she thought to herself, but summoned her trident and started attacking the monsters. Slicing one in half, it disappeared in a puff of black smoke, and two of them jumped in the air, Iris looked at them, and started spinning her trident, effectively knocking them away. In an instant, she dashed toward the heartless on her left and destroyed it, turning her attention back to the three other ones. They tilted their heads in confusion and they suddenly vanished, "what?" Iris asked herself out loud and continued along the winding path, eventually coming to a small clearing, walking towards the house, Iris peered through the window, to see Marlena inside.
Quickly grabbing the handle of the door, Iris let herself in, and looked directly at Marlena, "MARLENA!" she squealed, and she rushed towards her best friend, giving her a good hug, "am I glad I found you!" Iris said, "Me too!" Marlena said, wiping a tear from her eye from seeing her best friend. After making acquaintances with everyone, Iris sat down and started explaining everything, "Marlena…Zeoshi has been kidnapped by Xemnas, the leader of the Organization and he plans to use the Keyblade somehow!" Marlena put a hand to her chin, "that's Zashi's nobody right?" and Iris nodded, "but…" she started, "I can feel him in the Realm of Darkness…" Marlena stood right out of her chair, "in the Realm of Darkness? Then that means…" she turned to the Heartless that had been sitting next to the chair, "this little guy has been playing me for a fool…" In that instant, Marlena summoned her Keyblade, but the monster simply vanished. "But it's not safe to go into the realm…" Iris said, turning her head, "Why not?" Marlena asked, concerned, "when you enter it…you begin to loose your memories…" Iris said, causing Marlena to let her gaze fall to the ground, "but…" Leon spoke up, "What if there is a way to restore memories?" Everyone turned their attention to Leon, "Leon…that is a great idea!" Marlena shot from her chair, "all we need to do is find Namine, and she can fix Zashi's memories!" A smile broke across her face, but Iris lowered her head, "its not that simple Marlena…"
"What…" she started, "what do you mean?" Iris looked back at Marlena, "Xemnas also has Namine…" Marlena sat down, "Iris…just who exactly is Xemnas?" "Do you remember Ansem?" Iris said, and she nodded her head, "well Xemnas is Ansem's nobody…he is really strong… Plus he has all of the Organization behind him…" Marlena slowly slumped back into her chair, "great…things can't get much worse…" she let her voice trail, "Zashi is in the Realm of Darkness right?" Marlena questioned Iris who nodded, and a smile came to Marlena' face, "its looking better already…"