I awoke in the castle once again. Surprisingly, I had no dreams whatsoever. Which made me slightly upset, as I didn't have one yesterday either. And if I did not dream, then I did not remember things from my past. And I was remembering a lot more. To be honest, I could have sworn that because of this, I was remembering what it was like to feel. All the sensations that overcame me, could have been an attempt to feel. But of course, it wouldn't be possible. At least, that what Xeros said. And I assume he learned that from Saïx. Which made me somewhat uneasy as to how true the information was. This made me determined to actually go to Xemnas and see. Being the oldest, wisest, and most powerful of all of the Nobodies, I would assume he would know if perhaps we Nobodies could eventually feel again.
I jumped out of bed and headed straight to the Grey Area. It was actually quite early, so no one but Saïx was in there. I walked in as he stood there, basking in the moonlight as he always did. He then turned his head slightly as he heard my footsteps. He turned back to the moon and I walked right up behind him. I stood there as he did not say anything. It seemed he was waiting for me to speak first, or was trying to ignore me.
"Good morning, Saïx." He then turned to me.
"You are up early. This is surprising." I wanted to tell him how full of surprises I was and just smack him with my hammer for that comment.
"Have you processed my request to see Lord Xemnas yet?"
"Lord Xemnas is quite busy tending to the Organization's more important manners. Any questions you have for him, you may ask me." There was no way I could tell him. If I were to do so, he would have probably just lied to me.
"It's been weeks. Isn't there a time where he is not busy?" Saïx merely sneered at me. He then leaned in as he was about to speak when I heard the sound of footsteps behind me and he then stood back up.
"For the moment, I am unoccupied." I turned to see Xemnas standing behind me.
"Lord Xemnas!"
"What do you wish to see me about, child?" He spoke softly in his monotone voice. I turned back to Saïx, who was still sneering at me.
"May we talk somewhere in private?"
"Of course." He then began to walk out of the Grey Area. As I walked out with him, I looked back to Saïx one more time as he then turned around and just started looking back to Kingdom Hearts. Xemnas and I walked around until we reached this corridor, this room I'd never been in because this was the path I never took. I had always gone down towards the entrance of the castle, never going through these halls. In this corridor there were these large weird panels. Each one with a symbol underneath them, at the foot with the shape of a weapon. They were glowing blue but some were actually red. We continued to walk through as we headed up some stairs and paths up the castle.
We entered another corridor, where there were large platforms floating in the air. I watched as Xemnas headed straight for the edge of the platform, and it seemed like he wasn't going to stop. He then took a step off and I panicked. I rushed to him but suddenly an invisible bridge appeared under his feet. He continued to walk as these bridges appeared, connecting the platforms. The further we traveled, the stranger the castle seemed to get. I followed him up until we reached an exit. As we walked through, there were some curved stairs and he walked up to the very top. I reached the top to see Kingdom Hearts floating right above the castle. This was probably the closest I'd ever get to Kingdom Hearts. Its glow was so warm and radiant, like I could sense the energy it was emitting. Xemnas stood at the edge as he then turned to me.
"Do you see, Xaik? Do you sense the power OUR Kingdom Hearts gives?"
"Um...y-yes." I spoke with slight hesitance. I was a bit nervous being here with Xemnas. But I needed my answers. "Lord Xemnas?"
"Yes?"
"I have something of concern I wished to share with you." He then walked up to me. He placed his hand on my shoulder as I looked into his amber eyes.
"What concerns do you have?"
"I was just wondering if..." He then looked at me with slight curiosity. "...it is possible for us Nobodies to eventually 'feel' again." He continued to look at me with his expression. He then took his hand off of me.
"Unfortunately Xaik, though some of us may remember what it was like to feel, we cannot begin to feel again. We are not like beings with hearts."
"But...are you sure...?" He then walked away towards Kingdom Hearts. He raised his hands in the air as he looked up to it.
"This is our salvation. This is how we become whole again." He then turned to me. "Only when Kingdom Hearts is complete, will you feel again." I looked away as he then turned to me. He walked up to me and then I looked to him as he looked into my eyes. It was kind of uncomfortable but his expression was also somewhat comforting. It was softer than I'd ever seen it. "To ease you troubles, why don't I assign you on a more helpful mission?"
"But, Saïx wanted Xeros and I to go on a mission."
"And go on a mission you shall. But one of greater import. See, I know of a great Heartless threat that resides in the Land of Dragons." That was the world I visited with Scyrux on our last mission together.
"You want us to destroy it?"
"Yes. But I also want you to harvest the heart of the Heartless as well." I stepped back, confused. Xeros said that we could not collect hearts, and yet Xemnas was saying we were going to collect them.
"But...how can we do that?"
"I will have one of our Keybearers with you on the mission. Meet them in the Grey Area." I turned and started walking away. As I began to walk down the stairs, I then heard him speak again. "And make haste. The quicker we collect hearts, the sooner you get to feel again." I turned back and nodded to him as I continued to walk down the stairs. So, this was going to be an interesting day, it seems. I was going to work with another member of the Organization aside from Xeros, Scyrux or Varijex. And a wielder of the Keyblade none-the-less. I proceeded down the castle, thinking of how interesting this might be.
I reached the Grey Area pretty soon. I wasn't sure how I was able to get down the castle so quick, but I did. I suppose the excitement and nervousness of working with a new member had gotten to me. I entered as I saw Xeros waiting for me. I walked up to him as he was standing, retying his ponytail and then he turned to me. He looked at me with this smile, not like "glad to see you" smile, but more like a "look who just showed up" kind of smile.
"Hello, Xeros." I said as he then finished tying his ponytail.
"Hello, Xaik. I hope you are doing well."
"I guess I am. I assume Xemnas told you of the change in our mission?" He then looked up to the side and then back to me.
"Saïx told me, actually."
"I bet he seemed upset about that." Xeros then chuckled to himself. We then turned as we heard the sounds of footsteps. I then saw as a figure walked towards us. When they stepped into the room, I saw that it was Xion. Hood still on, she walked right up to us and stood.
"Good to see you again, Xion." Xion then smiled.
"Good to see you, too. And who is our teammate?" She asked as she looked towards Xeros.
"This is Xeros. Xeros, this is Xion." Xeros then nodded to Xion.
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Of course. So, shall we be heading out?" Xion said as I turned towards Xeros. Xeros nodded and then I turned back to Xion.
"Let's go." Xeros then opened up a portal as we were about to walk away. We then heard the sound of running as someone called out.
"Xion! Wait!" We all turned as we saw that one member running towards us. The boy with the blond, spiked hair. He rushed to Xion and Xion looked surprised.
"Roxas?" The boy was panting and he then looked at her, seemingly upset.
"Saïx told me there was a change in the mission. I just wondering if when you were done, we'd still go for some ice cream like we wanted to." I was confused as Xion then smiled at the boy, whom she referred to as Roxas.
"Yeah. We will. I'll see you later." Roxas' face lit up and he smiled. He then turned and walked away, as we also turned and departed for the Land of Dragons. We appeared in the area where Scyrux and I discovered the military camp. I looked towards Xeros and Xion, who were looking around. I was guessing this was probably their first time being here. Xeros then turned to us.
"Alright, Xemnas briefed me that the Heartless we're after is somewhere in the vicinity of the mountain. I suppose we should start heading up."
"Understood." Xion responded as she then began to walk. Xeros and I started walking as well as we headed up the path. We walked through these crevasses in the mountain and pretty soon it began to get cold. As we walked, I noticed that Xion was just observing everything she came across. Being a new world for her, she must have been pretty excited. I know that it was going to be interesting working with her on this mission.
"Xion?" I asked as she then turned to me.
"Yes?"
"That boy, uh...Roxas. What was he talking about?" She then tilted her head slightly.
"Roxas? Oh, he and I usually go get ice cream after we're done with our mission. Sometimes with Axel." I remembered Axel. I started thinking about them getting ice cream together, and it sounded nice. But it made me wonder why.
"Oh, you do? Why?" She giggled and then turned forward.
"Because we're all friends." Friends. So, I suppose that regardless of us lacking our hearts, we could still have friends. I mean, I knew that Scyrux considered me a friend, and I guess I him. Xeros, though, did not really seem that interested in being friends. I didn't know what that made me to him. But I sort of stopped bothering with the thought. Because every time I did, it would just give me that weird sensation. And that would make me miss my past.
Soon enough, we found ourselves further up the mountain. There was snow everywhere, covering the ground. Our feet crunching with each step. As we trekked up the mountain, we came across a small village. It was vacant, though the reasons why were unclear. Xeros stopped as he then looked around. Xion also looked around with him and I stood wondering what they were looking for. Xeros then proceeded to split up from us and walked in one direction while Xion looked to me. I looked at her and walked around as she followed me. I found a nearby cave and looked to Xion, gesturing that I was going to investigate it. She nodded and followed me as we walked into the cave. It was not very damp, probably because of the cold, but it was pretty dark. However, I saw a glowing light at the end and so I walked towards it. I entered a larger part of the cave and Xion was right behind me. There appeared to be some sort of strange shrine in the cave, surrounded by candles. I walked over to it when I heard an all too familiar sound.
I turned to see that Heartless had appeared behind us. A magical barrier sealed us in as Xion summoned her Keyblade. I summoned my hammer and prepared for battle. There were more of the Nightwalkers and another Assault Rider like I faced last time. Xion immediately charged in and went for the Nightwalkers. I figured I should go after the Assault Rider and take it out as quickly as possible. I rushed towards it and it swung its spear at me. I jumped up and swung my hammer right in its face and knocked it back. It fell over, dizzy, while I landed. I then turned and threw my hammer, vanquishing it. I turned to see Xion was dispatching the Nightwalkers. She turned and slashed through another when a very large Heartless appeared behind her. This one was new to me. It was tower-shaped, with three yellow spikes at the base, red and purple body and an antennae on the top. The head was near the base of its body. It then threw its own head at Xion and she blocked it, but it knocked her back.
"Xion!" I rushed over and the Heartless then wound up its body. I slowed down as it then slammed its body down and created a small shockwave and sent me flying into the air. As I was airborne, I noticed that its antennae began to glow. Suddenly, it shot a bolt of lightning at me. The electricity shocked me, which hurt a lot. I fell to the ground, still in pain from the lightning as the Heartless began to float to me. It then turned as Xion rushed in, yelling. She slashed it and it disappeared. She held out her hand and I grabbed it as we then saw two more appear in front of us.
"I got the left, you take the right!" She yelled as she then rushed to the one on the right. I then rushed towards the one on the right as it wound its body up like the last one. I then jumped as it slammed into the ground, dodging the shockwave. I then began to vibrate my hammer as I came down.
"I can do that, too!" I slammed my hammer into the ground, creating an even bigger shockwave and sending the Heartless flying back. I the immediately rushed in as I swung my hammer, destroying it. I then turned to see Xion still fighting hers. She jumped into the air and held out her hand as she shot a fireball. The Heartless wriggled in pain as it was burning and Xion then came down and slashed right through the Heartless. The Heartless was slain and her Keyblade disappeared from her hands. I made my hammer disappear as I walked up to her.
"You did good, Xaik."
"Same to you, Xion." She smiled as the barrier then fell. Xeros rushed in, his weapon in hand as he looked at us, cautiously.
"Are you alright?"
"We're fine, Xeros."
"Do you get attacked by Heartless as well?" Xion and I nodded yes as he then looked surprised. "So, you took care of them?
"Yes. Xion and I dispatched some Nightwalkers and Assault Riders. Also some new Heartless I have not face before."
"What did they look like?" He asked as I then turned to Xion.
"They were large tower-shaped Heartless." Xeros then had a puzzled expression on his face.
"The ones I faced looked like paper dolls..." I stood confused as he then turned to the outside, then back to us. "Let's go." He then rushed outside and Xion and I looked at each other. We rushed outside where Xeros was looking around. He was looking up the mountain side when he then began to rush up. I was confused as to why he was just running up the mountain when I saw what he was rushing towards. A large paper doll made of black and red paper, with the Heartless emblem on its chest. It ran away as Xeros chased after it.
"Xeros! Wait!" I rushed after him and Xion followed me. We ran quickly as we were running over a ridge. We could see an entire town below us in the distance. I heard the sounds of struggle as I rushed even faster up the mountain. We reached a large area of the mountain and Xeros was on the ground. I rushed to him as he rubbed his head. We both looked forward to see a rather large Heartless was standing before us. It was ghost-like, wearing long red and dark blue robes. It had paper in its hands, and it began to fold it up. We stood, confused as it continued to fold the paper. The paper then came to life in the form of one of the paper dolls we saw. The paper doll then came towards us. Xion rushed in and attacked it. Xeros got up and rushed towards the Heartless, as it made more of the paper dolls. I also rushed after it as it unleashed more of the dolls to attack us.
I stopped to fight the dolls, which were pretty easy to vanquish. Xeros was easily dispatching the dolls as well and Xion was headed for the Heartless itself. The Heartless then rose up into the air as a long tube-like appendage appeared from below its robe. It curved up and was "looking" at Xion as she rushed towards it. It then grabbed her and she was stuck in from the waist up.
"Xeros! Help Xion!" Xeros finished destroying another paper doll as he turned to see Xion struggling and kicking inside the tube. He rushed over and tried to slash her free, but the Heartless flew back. He then rushed in quickly and grabbed Xion's legs. But the more he pulled, the tighter the tube became. The Heartless then raised its hand and smacked Xeros into the side of the mountain. I rushed over, avoiding the paper doll that was attacking me. I ran over and also tried to pull Xion out, but it was no use. I couldn't pull her out. But, then as I felt the strain releasing as I stopped pulling, I got an idea. I then pushed Xion and the tube loosened. Xion fell out as the Heartless then raised its hand once more. It swiped at me, but I ducked and ran away. It turned to me, as it started making more paper dolls. The paper dolls ran towards Xeros and Xion as they recovered and were ready to fight again. I looked at the Heartless as it then raised its hands. A fireball appear above it as it then lower its hands in front of its face. Then it blew and the fire came bursting towards me. As it was breathing fire at me, I ran from side to side, avoiding the fire and approaching it to attack. But then the tube appeared once more and grabbed me. I was constricted from the waist up and I turned as the Heartless was turning towards the others. I then got an idea.
As it held me, I began to vibrate myself. Stronger and stronger, I began to shake intensely inside the Heartless' tail. Soon, the tube burst from the vibrations and the Heartless writhed in pain. I fell to the ground and landed as it then began to fly away. I looked to Xion, who saw the Heartless trying to get away. I stood, feet firm and locked my fingers together as I gestured her to come to me. She then noticed my position and nodded. She ran towards me and just as she got to me, she jumped onto my hands as I pushed her up. I boosted her into the air as the Heartless then turned to her and she sliced through it. She fell and landed on the ground, doing a roll as she then turned to see the Heartless wriggling and shaking. It seized until it fell to the ground and then I watched as the Heart flew out of its body and stead of just floating up, it floated in another direction. I made my hammer disappear and Xion walked up to me. Xeros also walked up to me and we all looked at each other.
"Great work, you two." Xeros said as Xion and I smiled at each other.
"Great work, everyone." I responded as Xeros gave me this look. An approving look. He then turned and held out his hand as a portal appeared.
"Let's RTC." He then began to walk through the portal. I followed him but then I heard Xion speak.
"Xaik." I stopped and turned as I looked at her.
"Hm?" She then grabbed her hood and pulled it off to reveal her face. Her face was very vaguely familiar, it was a girl who I thought I might have seen before. But that would be impossible. She smiled to me and I smiled back.
"It was nice working with you."
"And you, too." I said as she then pulled her hood back up and we both walked through the portal.
We appeared in front of Memory Skyscraper, where Xeros was waiting for me. Xion waved to us as she headed back towards the castle. I was about to walk away when Xeros held out his arm. I looked at him, confused as to why he was stopping me from going to the castle.
"Hang on."
"What is it?" I then heard the sound of a portal appearing behind me as I turned. I saw as Varijex and Scyrux appeared through it and then looked at us. Scyrux seemed pleased, but Varijex's expression remained indifferent.
"Hey, guys!" Scyrux exclaimed.
"Hello, Scyrux. How was the mission, Varijex?" Varijex merely rolled his eyes.
"So, what is it, Xeros? Why did you stop me?" He then looked at me, then the other two.
"Well, I believe Scyrux had something he wanted to say to all of us."
"That's right! Thanks for reminding me!" Varijex and I stood confused as Scyrux then walked over to the skyscraper. "Come on! Let's go to the top!" He then cast out his whip as he went to the top. I then looked to Xeros, who looked to Varijex. Varijex rolled his eyes again as he then summoned his sword and got on it. He rode it to the top and Xeros looked to me. He held out his hand and I took it. He rose up and started walking along the side of the skyscraper. Reminding me of the time I told them about my dreams when they first started. We got to the top and Varijex just stood as Scyrux was sitting on the edge. I sat next to him and Xeros stood next to Varijex.
"So, what is it you want to tell us, Scyrux?" I asked as he turned to me. He smiled and looked to all of us.
"I was thinking the other day, after I took Xaik to see my home..." He then looked up to Kingdom Hearts. "...you know, we don't have hearts. And we may only be able to remember what it's like. But I am starting to think that, in my own way, I am starting to 'feel'."
"Ha, yeah right." Varijex chuckled.
"Hush, Jexy." Xeros said as Scyrux began to laugh.
"I know it sounds stupid. A Nobody that can feel. I know I can't. But what I mean is that, when I remember those feelings I used to have, back when I had a heart, I often remember them because of you guys." I was surprised to hear this. And I think Xeros and Varijex were as well, as their expressions changed. Xeros then walked over to Scyrux and rubbed his head.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Scyrux." He then looked to me and I smiled.
"I'm glad you shared that with us." Varijex then exhaled sharply out of his nose and looked away. Xeros then looked at him as Varijex then sighed.
"Alright. Fine. I admit it. You all aren't as intolerable as I think you are. Even though you bug the heck out of me." Xeros laughed as he walked over to him and patted him on the back.
"Don't strain yourself, Jexy."
"Oh, shut up!" Xeros then chuckled to himself.
"I have to say, I'm glad I've got to work with you all. I know that I can be a bit difficult..."
"Try impossible." Varijex retorted.
"...But I think that you are all very reliable members of the Organization. And I respect that." That was probably the nicest thing Xeros had ever said.
"Of course! After all, what are friends for?" Scyrux exclaimed as I turned to him. He smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back. I looked to Varijex and Xeros as they looked to each other, and nodded. I then turned and faced forward, looking over the Dark City. It was strange, as this familiar sensation came over me again. I couldn't stop smiling at the thought of all of us. Together in the Organization. Together...as friends.