(AN: Hi everyone! sorry for no chapter yesterday, but I was at a gaming tournament, and when I got home, I was too tired to write a quality chapter. So, here is an extra long one. And, to make up for it, I'll get another chapter out later today. So, of course, I own nothing but the plot I'm making. Anyways, here we go!)
Luxord shuffled his cards, dealing out a new hand. Playing Solitaire was the way he tried to pass time when he was either bored or nervous. That is, if he could've felt either emotion. He grimaced, trying to concentrate on his game. But Sora was still bothering him.
That boy was so powerful, even as he was chained by false memories. Luxord still didn't understand. He was so much like a hero Luxord has once known, as a somebody.
The first time Luxord has met that hero, they had been surrounded by monsters. But those monsters were their friends. They had all come from underground, and yet, so many accepted them. Luxord had always considered himself lucky to meet that hero. The monsters he met too, had been nice as well.
But then the heartless came. They had attacked everywhere, and, no matter what Frisk did, the heartless kept coming. In a last ditch effort to save the world, Luxord had challenged a monster possessed by a heartless to a duel of wits. But Luxord's heart hadn't been strong enough to endure the battle. He had been defeated, his heart taken, and he was left behind, as a nobody.
The heartless had taken the world. He spent weeks searching. The king, queen, the skeletons… No one was left. He did find what was left of Frisk though. Frisk had been turned into a heartless. The spirit within them had helped fight off the heartless, but they were overtaken even with the spirit's help. Both had been taken, taken away by the heartless.
It had been there, as he stood over what was left of Frisk, in the city that burned around him, that Zexion had found him. His words often echoed in his head.
"A great tragedy had been wrought upon this world. Come with me. We will help restore your heart. And restore this world. The deaths of your friends will not be forgotten, as long as you persevere." Zexion had said, extending a hand. Luxord had stared for a while, wondering how he could ever change anything… But he had still grasped Zexion's hand, and he had taken him to The Castle That Never Was.
Sora reminded Luxord too much of Frisk. Close with friends, and a heart that never seemed to give in. But Frisk's had failed her. Would Sora's? Luxord didn't know. Luxord then remembered when Marluxia had approached him about betraying the organization.
At the time, Xion had joined, but only for a few months. Marluxia had approached him while Luxord was relaxing in his park. At first, Luxord almost eliminated Marluxia right then and there. But something in his voice had convinced him to listen. Luxord was glad he had. Knowing the truth about Xemnas and his plans meant that there was a way to stop him. Luxord hasn't joined the Organization to become a puppet of someone. He had joined to restore his heart and his world. And that he would do. Not even Sora would stop him from doing so.
*********************IN DEMYX'S ROOM*********************
Of course, Axel walked in without even knocking, which meant Demyx jumped quite literally 5 feet into the air. Once he crashed back down, Axel was laughing. In fact, he continued laughing for several minutes as Demyx tried to fix his hair.
"What do you want, Axel?" Demyx asked, angrily once he finally stopped laughing.
"Why, just to go over the plan with you, waterboy!" Axel laughed.
"Don't call me waterboy…" Demyx mumbled.
"Well, waterboy, I'm glad you asked. The plan is to let Luxord go down to Sora. Sora can take care of him. We'll try to eliminate Marluxia, then Namine and Sora can be reunited and all that happy endings." Axel said, ignoring Demyx. "Any questions?"
Demyx thought for a bit, before testing his luck. "Yeah, actually." Axel raised his eyebrows at this. "So… Marluxia and Luxord are traitors… But do we know why?" Demyx asked. Demyx of course, did know.
"Why would it matter?" Axel responded. "A traitor is a traitor no matter how you slice it."
"W-well yeah… But what if he had a really g-good reason?" Demyx asked.
Axel raised his eyebrows. "Do you think he does? If so… I would need to eliminate you too."
"N-no, but… I just wonder, you know? Why would he betray us?"
"I doubt we'll ever know. Not that it matters. Like I said… A traitor is a traitor." Axel got up, stretching. "Anyways…. I want you to do something for me. Go to my room, and guard it. Don't let anyone in. It's very important. I believe that Zexion may be a traitor too, and is trying to use the keybearers. Because of this, I've brought them to my room. They're both unconscious… But I need you to make sure no one comes in. Got it?" Axel asked.
"Zexion is a traitor too? Oh no… He is the last person in the organization we want as an enemy…." Demyx fretted.
"Exactly. So protect my room, and the keybearers. If you fail, you'll likely die… But succeed… And you'll have succeeded, and likely taken down one of the traitors. Now go." Axel said as he walked out of the room.
Demyx stood and stretched as well. This was not going to be fun, especially if he had to face Zexion in battle. The Cloaked Schemer was capable of amazing feats in battle.
*********************TIME SKIP*****************
Lexaeus returned to the basement meeting room, after a while.
"I thought you were supposed to wait for Riku and the King?" Zexion asked.
"I was. But something came up. Vexen had been eliminated." Lexaeus got straight to the point.
"Yes… I thought that I felt him vanish." Zexion replied.
"Axel struck him down." Lexaeus added.
"Yes… Something I find deplorable. Why would he strike down another member of the organization? He was sent to eliminate the traitors, who must be Marluxia and Luxord… But why get rid of Vexen?" Zexion wondered.
"Perhaps Axel thought him a nuisance."
"Even so…" Zexion trailed off. "He still has the keybearers locked in his room. He has intimidated Number IX into guarding them."
"Do you want me to go get them? It is dangerous for them so close to Namine." Lexaeus offered.
"No. Go back and wait for Riku and the King. I already have a plan to get them back. And perhaps have Number IX back on our side."
"Very well. I trust you have a plan?"
"Of course. Also… Please be careful with Riku and the King. I don't want to lose you to them, my friend." Zexion said.
"Do not worry about me. I have no plans to die fighting them." Lexaeus said, giving Zexion one of his rare smiles, before leaving.
"That is exactly it." He muttered. "You do not… But what if they do…"
*****************IN FRONT OF AXEL'S ROOM****************
Demyx didn't think that there could be anything more terrifying then Saix angry. Clearly, he had repressed the memory of Larxene angry at him a bit too much, because this was far more terrifying. Larxene, her death glare on her face, approaching him with her knives drawn was almost enough to make him faint. "Uh… H-hi?" Demyx tried.
Larxene dashed forward, setting her knives against Demyx's throat. "One wrong move and I end you. Blink if you understand." Demyx blinked nervously. "Good. Now here's what's going to happen. You and I are going to go into Axel's room. We're going to take Roxas and Xion down to Zexion, and guard them there. I received a letter from Zexion, saying Axel's actions were endangering them."
"G-got it. By the w-way… There is something you should read… It's in my coat pocket…" Demyx said. Larxene, not moving her knives from his throat, dug into Demyx's pocket, and retrieved Marluxia's diary. "T-there's something in there that y-you s-should know." He stuttered.
"Fine." Larxene said, pocketing it. "But first, we get the keybearers." With that, she turned Demyx around, and marched him into Axel's room.
Larxene finally stopped holding her knives to Demyx's throat when they entered Axel's room. She marched over to Xion, and picked her up, seemingly without too much effort. Demyx, then picked up Roxas, struggling a little. He thought of something. "Larxene… Since w-when do you care about the keybearers?" Demyx asked, genuinely curious about the answer.
Larxene glared at Demyx, holding Xion in her arms. "I don't really. But Zexion wants to protect them. And… I think we all owe Zexion some. Besides…. I do care about getting my heart back. And if rescuing the keybearers and protecting them is part of it, I'll do it." Larxene answered. "Why were you helping Axel?"
"The truth is… I didn't want to. Especially after what I read in Marluxia's journal. But Saix threatened me, and so did Axel. I was afraid." Demyx said. "That is, whatever I can feel that is like fear."
"Fair enough." She said. "But now you're helping us." Xion shifted in Larxene's arms, nestling closer to her. Demyx didn't comment, and Larxene exited the room, and opened a dark corridor, and led the way down, to the basement.
******************WITH RIKU AND THE KING**************
Riku and the King exited the door, and saw someone waiting for them. It was a large man, with brownish red hair, and a stern face. Both keyblade wielders gasped and charged forward.
"You! You're another one of those nobodies!" Riku shouted, summoning his keyblade.
"Correct. I am Lexaeus." Lexaeus stated.
"Well you should know I already beat another one of your friends! Don't think that this will be any different!" Riku taunted Lexaeus.
"Yes… You beat Vexen. He is no more now. But I am not him." Lexaeus answered.
"Well, what's so different about you fellas? You all have no heart. And you're trying to stop us." Mickey objected.
"On the contrary… You are the one intruding in this castle. You are the one trying to stop us, from what? Regaining our hearts?" Lexaeus pointed out.
"We've been watching you. We know your motives aren't what they seem." Riku growled.
"If you wish to believe that…" Lexaeus began. A massive axe sword, that many men would struggle to hold with twice their strength, Lexaeus wielded effortlessly with one arm. He leaned back so slightly, and gathered power, a malevolently red aura surrounding him. Mickey and Riku readied their keyblades. "Then you leave me with no choice but to eliminate you. You may wield the powers of darkness and light. But I hold the power of the earth. You came from the earth. And now, I shall return you!" Lexaeus shouted.
There was a flash, for the third time. Riku and Mickey were now in the arena where they had battled Vexen and the Riku Replica. Lexaeus had a grim look of determination on his face. Mercy was not going to happen in this fight. Lexaeus waited for Riku to strike first.
Riku dashed forward, and slashed at Lexaeus, but Lexaeus blocked the shot. Mickey sent a ball of light at him, which he also blocked. Lexaeus slammed Skysplitter into Riku, who was sent flying. Roaring, he slammed Skysplitter into the ground, triggering an earthquake. Mickey was thrown off balance by this, and Lexaeus took advantage of this, to send pillars of earth up at both of his opponents. He slowly recovered, as Riku and the King got up, bruised.
Together, without even speaking, they charged Lexaeus. They landed blows on him, but the Silent Hero didn't even flinch as he took the hits. He punched Riku in the face, and turned to receive a ball of light to the face. Mickey leaped toward his friend, grabbing his hand.
"Come on!"
"Time's up!"
With these two cried, Mickey and Riku went back to back, and spun around, blasting balls of light all around. Lexaeus got hit by several, but was able to block much of them. The two friends jumped, pushing off of each other, moving in different directions.
"Just give up!" Lexaeus roared. He summoned his Gaea's Gift, powering up even further. He rushed forward, raising a massive pillar of stone. It hit neither opponent, but it did send them backwards, by the sheer aura around it. Lexaeus slammed his weapon down into the ground again, this time, tilting the entire arena to the side.
Riku and Mickey went flying up in the air, and Lexaeus leaped into the air, and slammed both his opponents down into the still rocking floor. Both were knocked unconscious, and Lexaeus fell down to the floor of the arena. He was panting heavily now. That was one trouble of his Gaea's Gift. It drained his power once a battle was over. The arena faded away, and Lexaeus approached his downed opponents.
"You fought well." He said to them. "But I'm afraid your journey must end here." He raised Skysplitter high, and brought it down on both. Or at least, that's what was supposed to happen. Instead, Lexaeus hit a barrier above the two heroes. Confused, he tried again. And again. The next time, he held it down against the barrier, forcing Skysplitter downwards. With the sheer force of his strength, the barrier finally shattered. But then Lexaeus was forced backwards by something flying by his face. Then another thing came, which Lexaeus blocked. It was a chakram.
Lexaeus gasped as he saw Axel, grinning widely. "Axel. Why do you interfere when I am eliminating two dangers to the organization? Have you truly turned traitor?" Axel sighed, and shook his head. His chakrams both reappeared in his hands.
"Sorry, Lexaeus. I can't let you eliminate them. I know that you and Zexion are protecting Roxas and Xion. They've been taken from my room. And Demyx is gone. Did you eliminate him? I guess I have to thank you for doing my job… But still. I did still want to use him for a while."
"I have no knowledge of the location of the keybearers. Nor the fate of Demyx. Why? Does Marluxia want them?" Lexaeus asked.
"Sort of. Just like he wants to stop you from eliminating Riku and the King. They too, could be used for collecting hearts." Axel explained.
"Fool. Riku's heart is too strong. As is King Mickey's. There is no reason to try and control those who will not obey." Lexaeus argued.
"Unfortunately… I have no choice. You're in the way of the organization. Zexion too. So now, I must eliminate you." Axel said, his voice becoming dangerously low. He charged Lexaeus, and Lexaeus raised Skysplitter, to meet Axel's Eternal Flames. But Lexaeus didn't realize, as their weapons met, that the Royal Duo had gotten up, slowly. As Axel and Lexaeus pressed against each other, Axel winked at the two. Lexaeus turned just in time to see Riku, powered by the darkness, and the King, his keyblade wreathed in light stab their blades at him, followed by Axel blasting fire at Lexaeus.
Lexaeus began fading away, leaning against Skysplitter. "Forgive me, Zexion." Lexaeus begged. "I should have been prepared for Axel…" He sighed, as the darkness overtook him, and Lexaeus knew no more.
**************************IN THE BASEMENT MEETING ROOM****************
Zexion turned to face Demyx and Larxene. "First Vexen… But now, Lexaeus is gone as well. That's two members down now… Both in our side…"
"So what is our plan now?" Larxene asked. "Lexaeus was our strongest ally."
"Yes… We have almost no options left now. You… You brought me this information from Marluxia's diary. If he is correct, we… As much as I do not want to say it, we are all now in grave danger. And we cannot return to the organization. Axel is intent on destroying me, and Demyx likely. You as well, Larxene, should he figure out that you are in fact here." Zexion said.
"So… What are we gonna do? Join Marluxia? I don't like the idea…" Demyx said.
"I agree. Marluxia's plan, no matter how just, is still dangerous. I say that we wait for Marluxia to finish his plan. Then, we either flee the castle should he fall, or we join him, should he succeed." Zexion said. "In the meantime, I want the two of you to try and waken up the keybearers. I don't want them defenseless if something happens to endanger them." Zexion added.
Larxene nodded. "Don't worry, Zexion. We'll get them up as soon as we can." Demyx nodded in agreement, and followed Larxene out of the room.
Zexion sighed, as he was left alone. "Oh, Lexaeus. Why did you have to leave me now, of all times my friend? I guess I now have no choice… It's going to be time soon. Time to go back in time." Zexion said to himself. He opened up his Lexicon, and began reminding himself of what he needed to know.
(AN: Hey everyone! I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter of Illusions of Hope! If you did, please favorite and follow, and share it with everyone you know and love! Also, please feel free to send me a PM or leave me a review with any questions, comments, or criticisms. So, I am now off to go write chapter 11! See you later today, and I hope you continue to enjoy!)