The four of them were sitting atop one of the bastions of the city, watching the sun disappear beneath the horizon, leaving behind nothing but its last glimpses of reddish light. The weather was becoming colder, so all four of them were holding onto a steaming mug of hot chocolate instead of their trademark ice cream. It was equally satisfying.
Lea raised his mug and blew at the dark liquid. He was generally associated with fire, yet he had a hard time swallowing hot food or drink. He took a sip and silently noted that it wasn't too sweet, neither too bitter; it was much to his liking, which meant that the others would find it far too bitter for their taste.
"These last couple of days were the best ones' I've ever had" Xion said suddenly, looking at the boys beside her. "I know this is a difficult time for the two of you and I do hope that we'll find your friend. I just-"
"No need to apologize for anything." Lea interjected with a grin. "There is no harm in having fun."
"And besides. We also had a lot of fun rediscovering our hometown" Isa agreed. "But I do hope Ienzo and the others will finish their preparations soon."
"Did they say how long will it take?" Xion asked.
The boys both shook their heads. "A couple of days was the last version we've heard" Isa added.
"Which means it can take for weeks before we get any actual results!" Lea complained sarcastically. "Well, you know how it is with these science people."
"Oh I recall you being similarly punctual" Roxas nodded with a snarky grin.
"I was… am a busy guy! Told ya to get that memorized!" he winked at the boy. "At any rate, we'll be enjoying this view for a little more while."
"Not for long" said someone behind them with an awfully cheerful voice. The four peeked back at the eavesdropper at one (Isa and Roxas turned, while Lea and Xion merely tilted their heads backwards to see who was it). It was Yuffie, standing there with hands on her hip. "Your scientist friends sent me. They said: Tell the two good for nothings that everything is in order."
"Really?" Lea asked, eyes wide with surprise. "Already?"
"I dunno. Just brought you the message."
"Thank you" Xion said kindly. She looked at the boys, who exchanged a quick, hopeful look. They rose to their feet, downed their drinks and started on their way back to the Castle. After a few short steps however, Isa turned back. Lea gave him a puzzled look; he didn't know what the blue-haired boy was waiting for. The other seemed lost in thoughts, thinking about something carefully. Finally, he cleared his throat and asked away:
"Would you two like to come with us?"
"Sure!" Xion said with a newfound eagerness, jumping up faster than light-speed. "Come on, Roxas!"
The boy gave out an agreeing sound and stood up as well. Lea looked at him and thought for a second what he had just seen in his eyes. He wasn't sure, so he put the thought in the back of his mind. "Let's go" Isa declared and off they went.
The group hurried up to the Castle, which led them through the vendor lane and the central square. The remains of the festival still decorated the square even though the rest of it had been cancelled after Even came out with the truth and told the people that their beloved leader was in peril. Since learning the truth most citizens had been praying for his well-being.
Beyond the gates of the castle premises, the number of guards increased greatly, which wasn't surprising after what had happened. Though Dilan and Aeleus were not amongst them, Lea saw Leon and a couple of his companions hiding nearby in case the guards would need additional assistance. "Guess you can count on them to be ready for a good brawl." Lea commented with a grin, though he deeply hoped there would be no need to draw swords in the castle for some time.
Naminé greeted the group in the great hall, along with Dilan and Aeleus who took charge of the guards inside the building. She seemed surprised, but happy at the same time to see them all. "Sorry it took so long" she offered an apology. "Master Ansem was in a bad shape, so we had to make extra precautions so we may not do more harm than good."
"It's alright" Isa said. "We're thankful for your help."
"Please, this way" Naminé pointed at the stairs and led them up. As they ascended she told them how Ienzo and the King's friends prepared a separate room for this, using a re-calibrated and modified healing pod and a wide range of special materials to ensure their and especially Ansem's safety.
"I hope this will work out" Xion said quietly.
"It will!" Lea turned and gave her a hopeful look. "You haven't seen what I saw in Castle Oblivion. Naminé here is a real memory witch. Like a real master at it!"
"Can you make new memories?" the black-haired girl looked at her.
"Sure. If you want, I could forge you and Roxas a new past."
"I'm not sure that would be necessary" Roxas raised his hand in defense with an awkward smile. "Had enough of that funny business."
The room was well guarded. Ienzo and Even (contrary to his promise) stood in front of it, the later tapping his leg impatiently. Lea felt a curious odor emanating from behind the door. It felt unnatural, like a medical room; only the smell was more powerful. The scientists looked at them, and Lea raised his hands for a wave.
"Kept you waiting?"
"Not really," Ienzo said with one hand holding onto the other and two of his fingers caressing the end of his long fringe.
"So, what's going to happen?" Isa cut straight to the point.
"First, we are going to use the translocator to place you all inside a datascape generated by using Master Ansem's mind. Once inside, we will begin to upload the memories so they will play out in front of you."
"How large is the playground?" Lea asked with a grin.
"Fairly large. We've managed to upload most of the castle and the outer grounds. That said, I'd like you all not to wander off" Ienzo said sternly. "No need to get lost between the codes and the unscripted space."
"We won't" Xion promised.
"Alright. Any questions?"
"Should we worry about anything inside?" Roxas asked, looking at Naminé. "In the digitalized Twilight Town there were quite a few Nobodies."
"Because of me" Lea said proudly. "But you have a point."
Ienzo shook his head. "Nothing should be able to endanger you inside. Our techniques have developed quite a bit since that. But if that makes you feel better, summon your weapons and we'll place them inside along with you."
"I shall do that, thank you" Lea nodded, summoning forth his Flame Liberator. The others didn't follow his example, causing him to feel slightly silly. "Oh alright" he added disgruntled and dissolved his blade, following the rest inside.
The blindingly white room was much too similar to the one in Castle Oblivion. But while that other one gave Lea the creeps, he didn't feel any weird inside this one. Ansem was resting within a special healing pod in the middle of the room. The so-called translocator was far behind him at the back. It was a weird machine with flashing lights, millions of buttons and a bunch of cameras on it. There was a large red X on the ground where they had to stand for the process. They stepped on the mark and waited patiently, as the machine buzzed and huffed loudly.
"Listen everyone" Naminé stepped in front of them. "I've been working with Master Ansem's memories and there are a few moments in his life that he is greatly ashamed of. I've managed to separate moments related to Roxas and Sora from those that consider a third person, who is referred to as X-subject."
"That is her" Isa nodded, seeming impatient for the briefest of moments. Lea put his hand on the other's shoulder, calming him, but there really was no need. He saw such a warm smile on the blue-haired man's face she had never thought she could. "Thank you." Isa said finally to both Naminé and Ienzo.
"Good luck!" she said with a smile and disappeared behind the modified healing pod.
"It'll be only a flash" the scientist said and pushed a couple of buttons. "And don't worry. We're here, monitoring you."
"Whatever you say, Ienzo" Lea gave him with a hapless look. Truth be told, he didn't understand half of what he had been told the last 10 or so minutes. He could use a computer for basic things, but he wasn't that tech-savy either.
Thankfully Ienzo was true to his word, and it was only a flash. The four of them stood in a completely different room. It was a bedroom with a large window looking at the back garden of the castle. The walls were decorated with portraits and landscapes. Furniture included an old bed that cried painfully the moment Xion touched it, a bookcase full of blank books and locked cupboards and wardrobes.
"Even its touch feels odd. Doesn't feel like wood at all."
"Sorry, but we had to introduce certain limitations." they all heard Ienzo's voice as if he was talking to them through a speaker. "The objective of this datascape is for you to view Ansem's memories, so while we made sure to implement the correct audio and visual data, we did not care to perfect other sensory datas."
"Meaning?" Roxas asked with an irk in his voice.
"Meaning, don't trust anything but your ears and eyes" Isa explained. "Basically don't touch things unnecessarily and don't even think about eating or drinking anything." The others gave an acknowledging nod and Isa stepped ahead of the group. "Where should we go?" he asked loudly, probably in hopes that Ienzo might hear him.
"Wait a moment... Naminé says down and into the hall. You're about to witness Ansem's first meeting with her." Ienzo didn't even have time to finish the sentence Isa was already out the door, running along the corridor. Lea rushed after him and heard Roxas and Xion following them as well. They descended the castle and reached the great hall within minutes.
Ansem, Even and a small Ienzo were standing in the hall, looking at Aeleus who held someone in his arms. Dilan and a one-eyed Braig (also known to most of them as Xigbar) were standing beside him.
"Who is she?" Ansem demanded.
"We've found her lying outside near one of the reactors. Tried waking her, but she's unconscious" Braig said plainly. "Should we throw her out of the premises?"
"God, no" Ansem shook his head and stepped closer to see her better.
Lea and Isa exchanged a quick glance and descended the final flight of stairs to see her. Lea circled them from the left, while Isa took the right. They reached Aeleus at the same time, and looked at the girl in his hands…
...but it was merely a black silhouette.
"What the hell!?" Isa's eyes flared up in anger. "Zexion!"
"Whoah, there!" Lea said immediately. "And his name is Ienzo. Calm your horses, Isa."
"We're looking into it!" Ienzo's voice repressed the quiet dialogue of the scientists. Isa looked back at him, his face darkened by anger.
"We're going to find her, Isa. Trust me, please."
"Opressed memories" Naminé said suddenly.
"What does it mean?" Roxas asked as he and Xion reached the group.
"It means that Ansem actively hid information, but why I cannot tell."
"I can" said Even. "Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas were both looking for the girl, so he tried erasing or hiding traces of her."
"Since when did you know about this?" It was Lea's turn to be angry. "What else are you hiding from us, Even? Hm?"
"I don't know the details, but I was aware that Master Ansem was pursued by Xehanort's Heartless. That's how I managed to save him in Twilight Town."
"Whatever." Isa said darkly. "Let's go on to the next memory…"
Naminé did as Isa asked, but as it turned out the next memory was just as hazy as the previous one. And it turned out that every last regarding Subject-X were just like that. Her voice was distorted, the words spoken by her or to her damaged, her appearance a black silhouette. Ansem masked her presence perfectly.
After hours of work and nothing to show for it, the four heroes felt they were dried powerless by Ansem's mind maze that allowed them not even the slightest peak into the truth, but instead masked it even further. Isa cycled between calm, angry and depressed over a dozen times, while Lea began to randomly lit things on fire (much to Ienzo's annoyance).
"There is one last event I'd like you all to watch." Naminé said finally after about a 30 minute long break. "Please go to Master Ansem's study."
Lea looked at Isa, who gave a disgruntled sigh but nodded nonetheless.
They made their way to the master's study where a digitalized Ansem was talking with a digitalized Braig.
"You called boss?" Braig asked.
"Yes. I would like you to do something for me." he said from behind his desk, fiddling with hands anxiously. Braig stepped closer, putting his hands on the desk. They looked into each other's eyes, remaining silent for a few seconds.
"Does it concern that place?" He meant the laboratory under the castle, where the test subjects, such as X, were held.
Ansem waited, considered his reply. "It concerns the girl." he answered finally in a grave tone.
"Oh?" Braig suddenly seemed more interested. "What do you want me to do?"
"Take her away. She is… recovering. But Xehanort's continuous attempts at tempering with hearts are becoming more and more dangerous. I fear for her, so I'd rather have her put to safety."
"Very well. Know any good spots?"
Ansem stood up and stepped walked across the room, picking up a book. "As scientists, we are privy to secrets only few know of. This book contains many information about different Worlds out there."
"Worlds? As in cities?"
"As in different Worlds, Braig" Ansem replied promptly. "There are many Worlds out there, and she is from another one. Her secret must not get out, but to ensure this you will need to take her away. Not just from the castle, not just from Radiant Garden… but also from this World."
"As if I could do that" Braig said, folding his arms.
"I had my friend prepare a ship for you and the girl. You'll find it at the abandoned bastion in the vale. Can you do this for me, Braig?"
"I could, but where should I take her?"
"Of the many Worlds out there, this I find the most peaceful one. Bathed in a constant lukewarm sunlight, there is a cozy town here that could nurture her back to life." Ansem handed the book over to Braig and leaned closer to hip, whispering something in his ear.
"T…" Braig began to repeat the name of the World, but he suddenly froze alongside Ansem. Isa, Lea, Roxas and Xion looked around confused.
"What now?" Isa asked, tension rising within him.
"It is Ansem" said Naminé. "He is…"
- O - O - O - O - O -
When the four of them returned, Roxas could finally after all those years look into Ansem's eyes for real. The elderly scientist was sitting on a chair, sipping tea. He looked old and frail, yet more serene and friendly; unlike the red-robbed man that had done such horrible things with Roxas.
"Master Ansem" said Lea and Isa in unison, bowing before the scientist.
"Young Isa and Lea. It is good to see you two returned to your original states." he nodded with a pleasant smile. "And young Roxas." he looked at the boy, sadness glinting in his eyes. "I believe I owe you an apology."
"You… did what you had to do" Roxas said. "I cannot be happy about it, or remember it fondly. But it all turned out well in the end."
"Thanks to Sora and his friends;" Ansem conceded. "This old man does not deserve any forgiveness."
"You do not deserve any forgiveness." Xion agreed, and stepped in front of the boys spreading her hand. "You have caused quite a mess."
"Xion!" Lea tried interrupting, but she looked back at him with determination, silencing the boy.
"You… you had hidden every clue and made us see all these memories of you. And when we could've finally learned where she was, you wake up and slow us down again. There is no forgiveness in making Isa or Lea wait any further so please Master Ansem, tell us where the girl is."
Ansem's eyes widened with surprise. "Is that what you've all been doing here?" he asked weakly, looking at the machinery. "I see. Isa, Lea… so you two really did join because of her?"
"Yes, Master" Lea nodded.
"I see. Little Ienzo, you were right." Ansem said suddenly, looking at the boy. "Sorry I have doubted you."
"Not to worry Master. I'm happy you're back with us."
"Me too my boy, me too. As for Skuld; she had been taken to the Old Mansion in Twilight Town. I tasked Braig, Xigbar's somebody, with hiding her from Xehanort. But I've been there since, we've all been there at one point. She's gone I'm afraid."
"Gone." Isa replied quietly.
Ansem nodded with a heavy heart. "I've searched the mansion, looking for clues. I even took Xehanort's Heartless there, hoping that through him I may find her. But… well the rest is history."
"So nobody knows where she is" Lea assessed their hopeless situation. He turned to Isa with a painful look on his face, but before he could've said anything, the blue-haired boy raised his hand, index-finger held out warningly.
"Do not dare say you're giving up, Lea." he said.
Lea's mouth opened in his surprise, though Roxas wasn't sure whether it was because Isa's calmness, or determinedness. Either way, he couldn't help but smile.
"We're not giving up on her" Lea said, pointing to his head. "Got it memorized."
"We will find Skuld" Isa reinforced. "And you'll lead the way!"
"Hm?" Isa's proclamation surprised everyone, Lea the most. He pointed at himself with an awkward look. "What do you mean, Isa? I haven't the faintest clue of where she could be."
"May our heart be our guiding key," Isa quoted Skuld. "She used to say it. Or did you forget?"
"How could I" he smiled. "But I can't, Isa. I am not Sora or Riku. I can't use this power like they do."
"Of course you can!" Xion said suddenly, looking at the boy. "You are just as strong as they are, if not stronger! I memorized what you said to me when I tried to leave! Can you remember? You'll always be there to bring me back. And you did. So if there's anyone who could bring her back… it is you!"
"Xion's right" Roxas agreed and stepped forward. "You were there for her and for me too. You always outdid yourself for others, for your friends. And fair enough, even you couldn't succeed always, but this time we'll do this together!"
"Guys" The only thing that became redder than Lea's hair were his cheeks. He seemed very humbled by the others' trust and didn't really know what to say, which itself impressed even Isa. "Very well!" he proclaimed with a new surge of determination. "I'll do my best!"
"I'll have Cid lend you one of our fastest Gummi ships." Ansem offered. "It is the least I can do for you."
"Thank you Master" Isa bowed before him with a grateful look. "We will bring Skuld back, I promise."
"I'll bring Isa and Skuld back in one piece, I promise that!" Lea added with a cheeky smile.
"And we'll take care of Lea" Roxas and Xion chimed in, giving the scientists a good laughter.
Ansem and his apprentices invited them for dinner, and brought them additional food and medicine to take on their journey. Dilan had a few of the guards take the equipment to the shipyard, where Cid had already prepared a fine vessel for them to travel with. Finally, Ansem and his apprentices walked down to the front gates with them to bid them farewell there.
"Take care all of you. And remember, you are always welcome to visit" Ansem said fondly.
"Thank you Master" Lea and Isa bowed their head. The blue-haired boy turned to leave, and Lea added "We'll be back before you know it!" before joining his friend. Roxas and Xion waved them goodbye as well and turned to leave, but something in Roxas stopped him from moving on. He looked back at Naminé and for a second felt his throat go dry.
"I'll go ahead with the boys" Xion said knowingly, joining Lea and Isa.
Roxas turned back and saw Ansem and his apprentices leaving, while Naminé too had stayed behind. The girl flashed a smile at him, which he tried to return but suddenly felt really ashamed himself. Ever since meeting her once on Destiny Island, he hadn't been in touch with her at all. Lea, Xion, Isa, Hayner, Pence, and Olette had completely drawn his attention and just…
"I'm sorry" he said, stepping closer to Naminé. "I should've got in touch with you and I should've come to visit sooner, not because we needed your help."
Naminé shook her head. "Don't worry about me. Being back here, alive, is quite a lot to handle anyway. And helping out Master Ansem has kept me busy, so I didn't feel lonely at all. I've met wonderful people here!"
"I promise I'll be back, and I'll spend time with you. Take you to Twilight Town with us, go to the beach, have sea-salt ice cream together."
"That would be wonderful!" she clapped her hands happily.
"Then it's a promise" Roxas swore, smiling finally. "I've not forgotten you, Naminé."
"Don't worry!" she pulled Roxas into a hug for a few seconds then released him. "I was never mad at you. But hurry now, they are waiting for you. Don't keep Skuld waiting. She needs friends, like we did."
"See you later, Naminé."
"See you later, Roxas."
The others were already aboard the ship when he arrived. Lea grinned and winked at him, while Isa was more focused on their journey. It was hard to tell what Xion thought about. She smiled at the boy bashfully, though her eyes hinted at a distant sadness. Then again, it might've been only Roxas seeing things.
"So, ready to go everyone?" Lea asked.
"Let's see where you take us" Roxas nodded wholeheartedly.
"May your heart be our guiding key, Lea" Xion prompted him.
"Let's hope it will be" Isa agreed, and followed the instructions left to them by Cid. The ship slowly took off and off they went into yonder, following the flaming heart of Lea, wherever it took them.