Part Ten

Through The Looking Glass

Galbadia Garden

When Sora and Riku regained their bearings after the rather violent trip through the Gateway it wasn't long before they were attacked. The small brunet had almost been trampled on by a large bull-like creature when Riku used Way to the Dawn to slice into its head. Sora pulled out Ultima and stood back to back with Riku, his sapphire eyes wide and holding the smallest hint of fear.

He had no idea where he was and he couldn't see the others anywhere. Something had to have gone wrong during the transportation. For now Sora and Riku would have to fight these things off. They managed to cut through them easily enough until they reached the steps of a large red building.

Sora moved up the marble steps while Riku battled against creatures that looked like a cross between birds and bats. Eventually the beats began to withdrew and Sora breathed easily again. The brunet glanced around his surroundings until his eyes fell on a very welcome and familiar sight. Among a group of people wearing navy and gold uniforms stood Squall Leonhart. Sora only felt pure joy at seeing his surrogate big brother alive and well that he ran straight for him without thought. He wrapped his arms around the taller brunet and squeezed him.

"Leon!" Sora cried with joy.

"Sora! That's not Leon." Riku called to his best friend.

"Don't be silly Riku of course it's..." but Sora trailed off when he pulled back and got a good look at the scarred man.

His hair was shorter than before and he was wearing an all black leather outfit. He still had that infamous scar but it was his eyes that made Sora retract his arms and step away. Those stormy eyes looked so cold and lifeless.

Leon hadn't been the most warm-hearted of people but his eyes always held a certain spark of warmth for his friends. Sora stepped back, a lump forming in his throat as realization set in. This man had to be Leon's double. Sora felt lightheaded just from the thought. It was then he caught sight of Zell Dincht.

Sora thanked god that the little blond martial artist still looked the same. He even had the same tattoo on his face. His large blue eyes were wide and inquisitive and held that same childish warmth Sora had always associated with Zell. At least some things were the same.

Riku stood beside his best friend, his aqua eyes narrowed at the silent group of people gathered in front of him. He had been expecting a lot of things but not this. Even Selphie was here but she still looked the same as ever.

"Who are you?" Squall asked coldly. Riku winced at the tone but he kept his expression neutral.

"The name's Riku and this is Sora." Squall narrowed his eyes at the silent brunet boy.

"Where did you come from?" a middle aged man asked.

"That's a long story but we're looking for someone." Riku replied quickly.

"Yeah, his name is Axel." Sora spoke up.

"Never heard of him." Zell shrugged.

"You can't miss him. He's really tall and kinda lanky with bright red hair and green eyes with tattoos under them." Sora explained.

"He couldn't mean Seifer's GF could he?" Selphie asked.

"Seifer's here too?" Sora cried out.

"How do you know Seifer Almasy?" Leonhart demanded. Sora gulped and lowered his eyes.

"Look, is Axel here or not?" Riku groaned.

"We're going to have to escort you into the Garden for now." Martine clicked his fingers.

"But we come in peace!" Sora cried.

"It is just until we determine who you are." Martine replied haughtily.

"Please, we really need to talk to Axel." Sora pleaded. Riku scowled at the guards but said nothing as they stood beside him and Sora.

"Where are your weapons?" Squall asked.

"We can summon them whenever we want." Sora said. "You don't know what a Keyblade is?"

"A Keyblade?" Selphie scratched her head.

"This is bad..." Sora muttered. If there were no Keyblades in this world that meant no Keyholes and no routes to other worlds.

"Look, if you see Axel then tell him Roxas is here." Riku sighed.

Squall narrowed his eyes at the two boys. The small brunet seemed to be upset about something while the tall silver haired one glared at the people standing around them. Martine told the guards to keep a close eye on the two boys then put them in a secure room for the time being. Squall watched the boys walking away and his frown only deepened. They knew about the Phoenix and Roxas. Those boys knew things that could help them. And why did the burnet call him Leon anyway? Zell and Selphie also looked disturbed by these turn of events.

"We should talk to them about Seifer." Rinoa suggested.

"They knew about the Phoenix and this Roxas person." Zell pointed out.

"Maybe they know something about the Sorceress and her Knight." Rinoa added.

"Do you think those boys know something about the Sorceress?" Martine asked.

"Let's ask them." Squall muttered.

The Ice Prince followed Martine back into the Garden along with Rinoa, Selphie and Zell close behind him. Riku and Sora knew things that would prove to be beneficial and Squall wanted to know the answers to his questions.

After asking the guards Martine learned that the two boys were placed in a room a few doors away from Seifer Almasy. Apparently the blond Gunblade expert was beginning to make a ruckus in his room, demanding to be let out or he'd have Phoenix burn the place down.

Squall passed the room but stopped when he heard faint murmuring coming from behind the door. No doubt Seifer was conversing with that GF again. Squall shook off the anger he felt in his heart and continued on to where Sora and Riku were being held. Asking the others to wait outside Squall and Martine entered the room to find Sora lying on his belly on the bed while Riku flipped through a magazine he had found.

"We have some more questions." Martine began.

"What do you wanna know?" Riku asked without looking up from the magazine in his hands.

"Do you know a man called Saix?" Squall crossed his arms.

"Saix?" Sora stared at Squall. "Saix is here?"

"He said he came through a Gateway." Squall continued on. "Seifer's GF seemed to know him."

"The Gateway?" Riku had gone pale. "They must've jumped before Axel..." he trailed off.

"What do you mean?" Squall asked.

"If Saix is here then you're in trouble." Riku was on his feet. "That guy is totally sadistic."

"He mentioned two others with him. Luxord and Xigbar." Squall watched the reactions carefully.

"Those two?" Sora cried out as he paced the room. "They're here with Saix. Oh this is bad."

"They've aligned themselves with the Sorceress." Martine put in.

"Sorceress..." Sora narrowed his eyes. "A user of Dark Magic right?"

"We assume so." Martine murmured.

"I've seen Dark Magic twist the most innocent of people." Sora spat bitterly. When he felt Riku's hand on his arm he allowed his sadness and anger to subside a little.

"If you have knowledge then you can help." Squall stated firmly.

"Please, if Axel is here let us talk to him." Sora pleaded.

"If you want our help let us see out friend." Riku affirmed.

Squall turned to the Headmaster of the Garden and a silent agreement passed between them. It was no coincidence that these two ended up here just as the Sorceress emerged along with her three new Knights. Martine stood aside while Squall motioned for the two teenagers to follow him out. They walked down the white corridor until they reached the room where Seifer was being kept. Martine punched in the code then stood aside for Squall to enter.

Sora felt his heart beat quicken and for a moment a surge of joy when through him. There stood Seifer Almasy, albeit taller and slightly more intimidating than his counterpart from Sora's dimension. But it was the person standing beside him that drew Sora's attention completely. Tall, lanky and wearing quite the revealing outfit Axel was still the same as Sora remembered him to be. His blue eyes widened at the sight of the fiery red and gold wings that were now attaché to the red head's back. He looked almost god-like.

"Sora?" Axel gaped.

"Axel..." Sora murmured then, before the red head could stop him, Sora had lunged forward and wrapped his arms around that painfully thin waist.

"I didn't know you missed me that much." Axel joked.

"Axel...you died to stop Sokar!" Sora cried. "You didn't have to but you did!"

"Sora," Axel pulled the boy away. "It's good to see you guys here." He gave the boy his trademark smirk.

"You proved us all wrong you know." Sora murmured. "You didn't have a heart but you were so selfless in what you did."

"Stop, you're making me blush." Axel grinned.

"Roxas is here too you know." Riku smiled softy. He watched as those green eyes became as wide as dinner plates and the colour seemed to have drained from Axels face.

"Roxy is here?" Axel breathed.

"Well we got separated when we were brought here but yeah, Roxas came with us with Zexion, Leon, Cloud and Baralai." Sora was making crazy hand gestures now.

"There are more of you?" Squall interrupted.

"Take is easy Puberty Boy." Axel waved his hand. Sora couldn't contain the burst of laughter that escaped him.

"That's Seifer name for you by the way." Axel quickly pointed out when Squall shot him an icy glare.

"Sir!" someone called from outside the door. "We're getting a communication from Balamb Garden."

"I'll take it in my office." Martine replied. "The rest of you better follow me."

"So tell me what happened after the whole Sokar thing." Axel asked.

As they walked towards the Headmaster's office Sora and Riku filled Axel in on what happened after he died. He was surprised to hear that Demyx had been turned into a GF just like him but the surprise turned to happiness.

Demyx never deserved what happened to him. He deserved this chance at life even if he had to live in Zexion's head of all places. Eventually Axel had to return to Seifer's body and the blond stared at the two Keyblade Masters.

"So how did Axel end up being your GF?" Riku asked.

"It was during a duel with Ice Prince over there." Seifer pointed towards Squall. "This weird flame came from the sky and hit me in the head."

"What's it like having Axel as a roommate?" Sora grinned.

"You have no idea." Seifer muttered.

"Martine, do you have Squall there with you?" Cid asked. Martine was staring at a screen behind his desk.

"Yes he's here. We've also picked up two intruders who seem to possess knowledge about the Sorceress' Knights." Martine answered.

"Squall..." Cid called and the brunet warrior stood before the screen. "We've picked up three people who claim to know Seifer's GF personally."

"Do you want Squall and the others to return to Balamb Garden?" Martine questioned.

"I think they may have to. One of them has a GF who claims to have once been a Sorcerer." Cid said gravely.

"Who are they?" Squall asked, his eyes holding a mixture of apprehension and fascination.

"Their names are Baralai, Ienzo and Roxas."