Hi everyone, it's time for another chapter. Thank you to everyone who had reviewed last time. So we left off at a cliffhanger where Axel was about to challenge Vexen after hearing some not so good news about Roxas. Well let's see what happens shall we? Enjoy!
I watched as Axel charged at the crazy scientist, as I liked to call him, jumping in the air and throwing both chakrams at Vexen who only had to hide behind the shield. I sighed and pulled something out of my pocket, I had a feeling we were going to be here a while. I pulled out the sketchbook that Saix took from Namine before she was taken away and began to flip through the pictures. There were ones of the Sunset of Twilight Town, I glared at the one focused on the street performer that Namine had waved at the other day, there was also one of Castle Oblivion.
'How does she…' My thoughts were cut off by Axel's scream and I looked up to see his progress. He had succeeded in hitting Vexen in the shoulder. The Chilly Academic glared at him.
"I guess I should get serious," he stated, raising his arm to the ground.
I noticed something begin to form around Axel's feet, "Axel run!" I shouted and watched him follow my order.
A spike made of the thick ice that the barrier was made of had sprung from the ground, only seconds away from impaling Axel. The red head continued to dodge each ice spike that rose from the ground, occasionally stealing a glance at Vexen who continued to smirk at him. Suddenly without warning Axel stopped, a Cheshire grin plastered on his face. I scowled as ice began to form under his feet.
'What is that idiot doing?' I thought, putting my book away and summoning the Way to Dawn to my hands. There was no way I was going to let this idiot go suicidal on me.
Axel raised his hands above his head, allowing the chakrams to spin, fire engulfing both of the weapons. He hastily took the twin chakrams back into his hands and fire began to spread all across the ground and engulfing the walls as well. I sighed, now what was I going to lean against. Vexen looked at the ground with surprise.
"What do you think Vexen? You're little ice tricks don't work on someone who controls fire," Axel said cockily behind teleporting into the fiery walls. I crossed my arms, I had to admit that Axel had made a good move, Vexen would not be able to use the ice against Axel with fire surrounding the entire vicinity. I looked over to my left, the castle seemed like it was taunting me, we had to hurry though. I have had this uneasy feeling since hearing about Roxas getting hurt by Marluxia.
"Burn baby!!" Axel shouted as he busted through the wall he just went through moments ago, his chakrams breaking Vexen's blue shield.
Axel continued to slashed mercilessly at the insane scientist. Even though he was grinning like mad right now, his eyes expressed worry. I know he understood that we didn't have time for a long fight and that he should finish the job quickly. The red head kneeled to the ground for a split second before lunging at Vexen, the walls of fire disappearing. I leaned back against the wall as the battle ensued, Axel having the upper hand.
"That was for the lie you made about Roxas," Axel stated angrily.
The Chilly Academic coughed as the cuts and bruises decorated his face, his Organization cloak was torn to shreds, revealing the torture he had been put through under the hands of the Flurry of the Dancing Flames. Then out of nowhere the mad scientist began to laugh. I glared at him in confusion and noticed Axel had done the same.
"You are in no position to be laughing old man," the red head stated while throwing one of his chakrams at him. However, Vexen countered Axel's attack with his shield which appeared fully intact.
Vexen used the shield he had just materialized for support, "I find it funny that you think what I have told you is a lie."
Axel's eyes narrowed, the grip on his weapons tightening, I could tell his patience was dwindling and if Vexen wasn't careful, Axel would tear him to shreds in an instant.
"I was there collecting data for my newest invention, I know from what I saw, that it would be impossible for Roxas to survive that attack. And now I think I will use that invention…you're going to love this one Axel."
Vexen had his hand held computer in hand typing in several digits, Axel didn't wait for him to finish and began rushing towards the blond haired man, flames began dancing around his entire form as Axel closed in on his target. Suddenly something dark had begun to rise from the ground, causing the chakram wielder to come to a complete stop. I narrowed my eyes to get a better look at what could cause Axel to halt in the middle of an attack and the sight surprised me to say the least. There, standing in front of him, was a clone of Roxas…in fact it was so close that I almost had mistaken him for the real thing.
"Do you like my newest creation Axel? It's a Roxas Replica, completely copied to have the same exact skills and looks as the original except this one follows my commands," the old man smirked, "Roxas attack him!" He ordered and Roxas Replica drew his keyblades to his hands.
"Attack him Axel!" I screamed when the red head just dodged every attack that the fake Roxas swung at him.
It was like Axel didn't hear my words and just continued to dodge the constant attacks, not even lifting his chakrams to the boy's clone. I noticed Axel's eyes showed reluctance to attack when he had the chance to because his mind thinks of him as the actual Roxas. Damn his weakness for the boy, I knew it would get him into trouble someday.
"What's the matter Axel? Can't bring yourself to attack? That soft spot you have for the young keyblade wielder is going to be the death of you," Vexen said, enjoying the scene in front of him.
The Roxas Replica finally landed a hit on Axel, who clutched his shoulder and sunk to the floor.
'Dammit,' I thought as I raced towards Axel, parrying what would have been the final blow.
The Roxas Replica glared at me with intense hate and charged for another attack. I countered with a simple horizontal strike to the chest and the clone disappeared. I turned around to Axel and handed him a potion.
"Riku…" he said, feeling ashamed to look me in the eye.
"That isn't the real Roxas, Vexen is using the clone to his advantage knowing that you wouldn't dare think of hurting Roxas. Snap out of it because for all we know the real Roxas could be dead by now along with Namine!" I explained, trying to keep calm.
Axel rose to his feet, placing a hand on my shoulder and began to walk towards the shield wielding Organization member.
"You're right Riku…I guess I just wasn't thinking straight," he confessed before walking over to the shocked Vexen.
His green eyes narrowing on me, I simply glared back. I'll be glad when this nutcase is finished with, it will make our lives a whole hell of a lot easier. I looked at the barrier that separated me from the castle, the ice didn't look like it was melting at all. I looked down at the sketchbook in my hand, I would save her no matter what.
'Axel you need to hurry,' I said in my mind as the red head stood about five feet from Vexen.
"Do you really think you can attack when I can summon Roxas at anytime to do my bidding?" he asked confidently.
"Heh that won't work on me anymore. The Roxas I know needs my help somewhere in that labyrinth of a castle. Your replica isn't the real Roxas," I heard him say.
Vexen seemed taken aback, glaring at me even further, "We'll see Axel…Roxas finish him!" he shouted.
A Roxas Replica appeared through a dark portal in the ground and began to throw attacks left and right at Axel. The red haired man lowered his head, mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' and sent his chakram straight through the clone. Vexen's eyes widened as Axel's fiery glare locked on him, he hid behind the shield in fear.
"Don't you ever use Roxas against me!" he yelled losing control.
He rose into the air and began to shoot an army of fireballs at the helpless scientist, when the smoke cleared the shield had been broken again. Axel took this opportunity to lunge at Vexen, exploding on contact. I drew my arm over my eyes as the intense heat felt like it was burning my skin off. I lowered my arm to see a battered Axel standing over the now dead form of Vexen. A pool of darkness formed under the dead body of Vexen, causing it to dissolve up to the sky. I walked over to Axel and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You did good," I said.
I handed him a potion to recover any minor injuries Axel might've sustained in the battle and turned around to see the large barrier of ice begin to melt away rather quickly.
"Let's go," I began, "The people we care for need us."
Axel nodded and we took off in a run down the street that lead to the newest stronghold of Organization XIII. It was massive, Roxas and Namine could be anywhere in that fortress.
"Where would they be keeping Namine?" I asked.
"In the dungeon that sits right next to the throne room," Axel explained.
"Well then what are we waiting for?" I asked impatiently before I took off in a run for the entrance.
We didn't even step two feet into the door and we were already being attacked by dusks and dragoons. Damn the smaller minions. I continued to slash through them, only attacking the ones that were in my way. The sound of music could be heard from somewhere further in.
"Dem and Zexion are already here," Axel stated as he impaled a dusk with his weapons.
I sighed, at least Demyx and Bookworm were okay. We continued through the maze-like corridors of the first floor, killing all of the nobody minions that stood in our way.
"You know I think I liked it better when they were on my side," I heard Axel say before attacking another dusk.
I looked at him over my shoulder, "Are you regretting your decision?"
He shook his head, "Nah not really I was just thinking out loud."
We followed the sound of Demyx's sitar, that meant that him and Zexion were in a battle right now and needed our help, hopefully Roxas and Namine were with them. I continued running, attacking the occasional nobody that stood in my way. Then at last, there was a flight of stair leading to a doorway. I felt my heart stop when I saw Larxene and the person she was holding by the throat.
'Namine.'
I didn't think as I took off in a sprint up the flight of stairs, leaving Axel far behind and completely ignoring the nobodies that attempted to attack me. My eyes only saw Namine who was struggling to breath at the moment and Larxene holding the dagger up to her.
"Time to die little girl!" she yelled and the kunai was reaching it's destination fast.
I ran faster than I thought possible, my Way to Dawn ready to slice Larxene's arm off if need be.
"Namine!!" I shouted as my keyblade came into contact with Larxene's arm, causing her to drop Namine to the ground. She let out a scream of pain and clutched her arm tightly. Her green eyes softened slightly at the sight of me.
The sound of Namine breathing in heavy breaths of air behind me only seemed to fuel my hatred for the woman in front of me. She had crossed the line this time, nobody attacked Namine while I was around.
"W-Why?!" she exclaimed, heartache filling her voice.
I said nothing as I continued to glare at her, she wasn't worth anything in my eyes. I held my Way to Dawn keyblade in front of me.
"R-Riku?" I heard Namine speak.
Her voice sent shivers down my spine, I hadn't realized how much I missed hearing her speak. I felt her arms wrap around my waist and her head lean against my back. Larxene stared angrily as I allowed Namine to hug me. I placed my free hand on hers.
'I'm glad that she's safe.'
Finished woohoo!! Hoped you guys liked it, sorry if the fight scene between Vexen and Axel had too much talking in it. Well Riku and Namine are finally reunited, next chapter is when Riku goes up against Larxene. Until next time!!!