284 days remaining…
Not much had happened in the thirty seven days since Luxa's "disappearance" from the Organization…unsurprisingly Xaldin was the only one who missed her.
Axel and Roxas had blamed her disappearance on her going mad with hatred against Roxas for being Superior's favorite…a flat out lie which Superior bought hooked line and sinker.
Namine hadn't been seen since the incident with Luxa. Roxas was frequently checking with Cissnei to see if she had returned.
Roxas had been sent out for missions to defeat large heartless semi-frequently and in his off hours he and Axel would go in frequent search for clues regarding Roxas's connection to Sora. They had also added Forte into their little investigative ring…mostly to add a voice of reason when things would get out of hand.
But today Roxas was being sent out on a mission to collect the heart from a very powerful heartless in a world called Midgar.
"Roxas!" Genesis yelled as he ran up to the Key of Destiny.
"What is it Genesis?!" Roxas asked.
"You must allow me to come with you, the heartless your facing isn't any ordinary heartless…he's very strong and very powerful." Genesis explained as Roxas shrugged.
"Ok fine…come along." Roxas said as Genesis nodded.
"Wait for me!!" Axel shouted as he ran up, "You don't expect to go off without me do ya?"
"Of course not Axel." Roxas replied as the three donned their hoods and portaled away.
Midgar.
The three portaled into a city in absolute ruin.
"What happened here?!" Axel asked as they looked around.
"It looks like a meteor hit this place." Roxas replied.
"Were that the case, then there would be a large crater where we are currently standing." Genesis replied.
"True." The other two replied in unison.
"Whoa look at this." Roxas said as they entered the ruins of an old church. As they entered they found a hole in the ground with numerous flowers growing in the bottom of it.
"Why does this feel familiar?!" Axel asked.
"Because a Cetra once tended to them…and its presence still lingers within the flowers…giving them life." Genesis replied as he knelt down as if silently praying.
"The who?" Roxas asked.
"The Cetra…long believed to be the creators of Kingdom Hearts…they are practically extinct now save for one or two running around somewhere." Genesis replied.
"What happened to them?" Axel asked.
"They were at war with a race of xenophobic creatures called the Calamities, who were determined to destroy all the Cetra…those that didn't die at the Calamities hands, are believed to have sacrificed themselves for some unknown purpose." Genesis explained.
"I think it would probably be best if we kept moving." Roxas said as he started getting a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach that something very dark and sinister was lurking around…he also felt an eerily familiar presence too. But he kept those feelings hidden as they moved on out of the old church.
Elsewhere…
Two figures stood atop a tall structure in the center of the city.
"What sort of deal are we talking about?" one figure, a long silver haired male, with a long sword and a single dark feathered wing on his right shoulder asked.
"A simple offer…you eradicate the one that wields those two key shaped swords and anyone else who's with him and in exchange I shall give you the head of your…(ahem) 'mother." A hooded figure said as the silver haired man thought carefully.
"An attractive offer indeed." The dark man said.
"Does that mean we have a deal?" the hooded figure asked.
"It's a deal." The man said as he shook the figure's hand.
"Good, and I think it would be only fair to warn you that a certain spiky haired blond with a bat wing on his left shoulder is here as well…I spotted him within the city." The figure said as the silver haired man smiled sinisterly and the figure vanished in a black portal.
Meanwhile…
"So where is this oh so mighty heartless?" Roxas asked after a while. They still had their hoods up.
"He's around here somewhere…and…well, well, this is a surprise." Genesis said as he stopped and changed into his crimson civvies.
"What?" Roxas asked.
"My other is here too." Genesis said as he summoned his sword.
"I hope he's friendly…if not I hope he fights like Demyx…I've seen you fight and frankly I don't think I could even come close to beating you." Roxas said as Genesis smirked.
"Thanks for the complement…but I myself am unsure of whether or not he's a friend or foe." Genesis said as he started looking around.
After a moment the sky started turning black.
"I think…we've been made." Axel said as he summoned his chakrams and Roxas summoned his Keyblades.
"So…the shell returns to the heart." A grim voice said as a tall man with long silver hair wearing black clothing similar to Genesis's own, with a large black wing on his right shoulder and carrying a long katana sword emerged from the wreckage.
"Sephiroth!" Genesis said as he entered a battle stance.
"Genesis…It's been a while." Sephiroth said to the crimson clad nobody.
"He's not alone SEPHIROTH!!" a voice said as a spiky haired man in a blue uniform similar to Sephiroth and Genesis's own except without the overlaying trench coat. On his left shoulder was a large black bat-like wing.
"Good to see you…Cloud." Sephiroth said as Axel and Roxas stood dumbfounded.
"Genesis." Cloud nodded.
"It would seem that all the pieces have arrived." Sephiroth said as he entered his battle stance and Cloud held up a large bandaged sword. (A/N: Cue the Advent Children version of "One Winged Angel.")
"Who are you betting on?" Axel asked.
"At the moment…I'd say it's a good anyway bet." Roxas replied as the three came together in a single flash of light which faded revealing only Cloud and Sephiroth in battle.
"Where's Genesis?" Roxas asked as the One Winged Angel repelled Cloud away and charged at Roxas.
"YIE!!" Roxas yelled as he blocked the blow and portaled out of range along with Axel.
"Oh...a light wielder eh?" Sephiroth asked calmly as with one swing of the sword cut the beam that Roxas and Axel were standing on into two pieces causing them to fall to the ground.
"Axel!! Get out of here!" Roxas yelled as he began blocking the blows from the Heartless warrior.
"No way Roxas!!" Axel replied as he ignited the debris around them.
"I've been offered a hefty reward to make you fade away Roxas." Sephiroth said after a moment of intense battling.
"I can only imagine by whom." Roxas said knowingly as Cloud bolted in attempt to take the One Winged Angel off guard. Unfortunately Sephiroth just knocked him away and continued after Roxas.
"Uh hey Blondie…where's our nobody buddy?" Axel asked Cloud who just glared at him and started to glow with a crimson aura for a few seconds.
"Oh…I hate reunions at times like this." Axel pouted as he realized that Genesis and Cloud had reunited as one.
Roxas continued blocking Sephiroth's attacks as best he could, as he found himself on the very top of the tall skyscraper in the center of the city. Sephiroth landed on the roof only a few feet away from him, as Cloud appeared on the opposite side.
"Roxas…" Cloud said as he started to glow crimson again and Genesis emerged from within Cloud but this time with his long crimson katana glowing bright crimson and a large dark feathered wing on his left shoulder. Cloud's bat wing however had vanished.
"Let me take care of this." Genesis said as he flew up into the air and started swinging his sword in mid-air, sending long red ribbons of energy towards the heartless who countered by flinging blue versions of the same attack back at him.
"Roxas, Run…he's too strong for you." Genesis said as Roxas nodded and black portaled to the ground where Axel was watching. As he did though Sephiroth came from out of nowhere and attempted to run him through. But Roxas blocked only to wind up falling through the ground into the dark depths below.
"ROXAS!!" Axel yelled as Sephiroth smirked sinisterly and vanished in a bright blue beam of light.
Axel walked to the hole where Roxas had fallen through as Genesis landed nearby with a shocked face as he saw the hole in the floor. Axel fell to his knees as a faint crack of thunder was heard and it started to rain.
"Roxas…" Axel said as from nearby Cloud noticed what had occurred as a dark spiky haired man appeared in a flash of light.
"Cloud where is he…let me help…you?" the man said as he noticed his friend's expression.
"Isn't that Genesis?" the man asked as Cloud nodded.
"What just happened?" the man asked.
"Another life taken by the darkness." Cloud said solemnly as he turned and he, along with the dark haired man vanished in a flash of light.
Down on the ground, Axel silently mourned his lost friend as Genesis pulled out his copy of Loveless and read aloud.
"My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honor remains
The arrow has left the bow of the goddess"
"My soul, corrupted by vengeance
Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey
In my own salvation
And your eternal slumber"
"Legend shall speak
Of sacrifice at world's end
The wind sails over the water's surface
Quietly, but surely"
"Loveless, Act four." Genesis said softly as he closed the book and transformed back into his black organization robes, with the large wing still present.
"I just hope…he went to a good place." Axel said as he stood up and Genesis placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I believe he has." Genesis said as they black portaled away.
It was bright, warm, and dry as he opened his eyes.
"Where am I?" Roxas asked as he sat up and looked around and saw what appeared to be a tropical island.
"What is this place?" Roxas asked as he stood up.
"Welcome home…Roxas." a familiar voice said from behind.
"Namine?" Roxas asked as he saw the blond standing behind him.
"No…" she said shaking her head, "…I'm only a vision of her…I'm not really Namine."
"Then…am I dreaming?" Roxas asked scratching his head. He then looked down and noticed that he was in different clothes than his Organization robe or his civvies.
"Where did these come from?" he asked…He was in a plain white t-shirt with a black vest, red shorts, big yellow shoes, and he had a silver crown shaped necklace around his neck.
"They are an example of your true self." Another familiar voice said from nearby as Roxas turned to see…
"Zexion?!"
"No…like Namine here I am only a vision…the real Zexion still lives despite what happened at Castle Oblivion...he currently resides in Forte's homeworld no less" Zexion replied.
"What happened there?" Roxas asked.
"Axel was tricked into believing that I was in league with Marluxia and Larxene…and had me killed…do not blame him, he didn't realize it until too late that I was not with them but with the Organization." Zexion explained.
"Oh…but why didn't he tell me?" Roxas asked.
"Because he didn't want you to know he killed a friend." A white haired boy wearing a yellow shirt with a pair of crossing blue suspenders, blue jeans, and big blue shoes said as he approached. "He didn't know how you would react so he lied and said that he was killed by the intruder."
"Wait…I know you…you're Riku…or are you another vision?" Roxas asked as Riku nodded.
"Your just like him you know…but your right…I am a vision of Riku." He said as Roxas walked closer to him.
"Who am I just like?" Roxas asked.
"You have to ask?" Riku replied.
"I'll come back to that later…if Riku is here, then where is this Kairi girl?" Roxas asked as Namine put a hand on his shoulder and he turned to look at her.
"Kairi is right here." She said as her hair shortened and turned a deep red, and her clothes changed into a white tank top, purple shorts and big white and purple shoes.
"Huh?" Roxas asked getting more confused.
"It's the way the worlds work…" Zexion replied.
"What are you talking about?" Roxas asked as he started to lose his temper.
"It is the gift of the goddess." Another familiar voice said.
"Vera?! Where did you come from…you're not dead too are you?" Roxas asked.
"No…I may be a vision but I represent the Lifestream that courses through all life…including nobodies." Vera replied as she approached.
"What happened to me…am I dead?" Roxas asked.
"Very near death yes…but your time to fade isn't here yet Roxas…there is still much to do before your time comes." Vera replied as Roxas started scratching his head.
"Like what?" Roxas asked.
"Find out who you are…and find out where you belong." Kairi said as Namine appeared beside her in a blue glow.
"I've been trying to do that…but where do I even start?" Roxas asked.
"Stay with your friend Axel…and the Maestro Forte…Forte may be friendly at times but, he has his own goals and is not that trustworthy…but for the time being you need him as much as he needs you." Riku replied.
"How does that help?" Roxas asked.
"They will help to guide you to the answers." Vera replied.
"And don't forget your adopted sister Cissnei." Namine said with a smile, "She will help keep you going when the times are tough."
Roxas then felt a strange rush of energy as all but Vera started to fade away…the island started fading away as well.
"We leave you these final clues…" Vera said as the island vanished leaving only the glowing figures of Riku, Kairi, Namine, Zexion, and Vera behind.
"Think on Sora's name…and imagine it in empty light." Namine said as she vanished.
"Think on the keychain of Oathkeeper…imagine the heart of what it represents." Kairi said as she vanished as well.
"Think on the keychain of Oblivion…imagine the resolve of what it represents." Riku said as he vanished also.
"The three hundred and twenty fourth letter does not belong with you." Zexion said as he too vanished.
"Now Roxas…awaken…and discover your true being." Vera said as she transformed into the glowing green energy ribbon that Genesis had called the Lifestream and Roxas's eyes slowly closed.
End Chapter 11.
I really wanted Roxas and Genesis to run in with Sephiroth.
Oh and if you haven't figured it out…here are the answers to how Genesis is a nobody.
Cloud at some point in the past lost his heart, and caused Sephiroth to come into being, making Sephiroth his heartless.
At the same time Genesis comes into being making Genesis, Cloud's nobody…do ya get it now?
Hope that solves one mystery.
Oh and yes the spiky haired man that appeared along side Cloud was Zack.