Here's Chapter 12! Enjoy!
Chapter 12 – A Day Off
The previous day had been interesting, to say the least. So far, I had been on missions with Axel, Demyx, Zexion, and now Lexaeus. Lexaeus had definitely been different than the others I had met so far. I laid in bed in my castle room taking all of it in.
Since being brought here, I had had darkness invade my body, Ansem terrorize me, materialize a Keyblade, receive an Organization coat that I now wore full time, and was now going on missions with different members of the Organization. It felt like a lifetime had passed. As Axel had said to me before, I had basically become an honorary member of the Organization. No number, and no 'X' in my name, but I was essentially fulfilling at least part of the role that the others were.
What was Xemnas's plan for me? Since gaining the power of the Keyblade, they had trained me how to fight, and even to use magic. Why teach a captive how to fight? They probably figured that if I tried to use it against them, I'd be no match for them. And they'd be right. By teaching me to use my powers, they could use me to complete missions.
Something still tugged at me though. They wouldn't be doing all this just to have me complete missions for them. That was something I had to keep in mind. I had become so integrated that it was getting harder and harder each day for me to remain aware that the Organization weren't the good guys. Sure, there seemed to be some nice people in it, but they took orders from Xemnas and Saïx.
My head began to hurt trying to figure it all out. I decided that was enough for now, and to leave it at that. I got up from the bed, headed for the door, and made my way to the common room. Arriving through the alcove, I was surprised to see that Saïx wasn't there. I paused for a moment, looking around the room. I spotted Axel and Roxas at their usual couches in the back-left of the room.
Walking down the centre, I noticed Luxord and a few others sitting at couches here and there. I headed to sit with my friends.
"Good morning Megan" said Axel cheerfully as I sat down opposite both of them. He was never this cheerful in the morning, only after a mission. They both seemed to be in high spirits.
"Uh… morning Axel" I said half smiling, trying to figure out why they were both acting differently. "What's going on today? No mission?" I asked.
"Nope" said Roxas. "Today's our day off! Yours too!" he said happily. I looked at him with confusion.
"I get a day off?" I said incredulously.
"No one can do missions if they're completely exhausted" said Axel. I looked at him, still in disbelief. "C'mon, we may not have hearts, but we're not completely without heart, if you know what I mean". I laughed.
"That's good" I said. "So then… what's the plan for today?".
"We got permission from Saïx to take you outside the castle" said Roxas. I looked at him curiously.
"Where are we going?" I asked, my eyes growing wide. Excitement was building in me. I was going to get to explore somewhere in the Kingdom Hearts universe!
"We were thinking Destiny Islands" Axel said. "There's this spot with a palm trying bent sideways that you can sit on and look out at the water from". I was having trouble containing myself at hearing that. I knew exactly where it was. It was the spot where Sora, Riku and Kairi hung out. I was so excited that we were going to go there!
"Sounds beautiful!" I said, trying to contain my excitement. Axel looked at Roxas, who nodded. He then looked back at me.
"Well, you wanna go now? We're ready whenever you are" he said.
"Sure!" I said smiling. With that, we all stood up. Axel opened a portal at the back of the room, and we walked through.
Coming out on the beach, I turned and looked out at the bright sun over the water. I was in awe. It was beautiful. The sunlight was glistening over the water, the waves lapping gently across the shore. They stopped a few feet in front of me.
"Hey, Megan!" I heard Roxas call from a short distance away. "You coming?". I turned to face his direction, tearing my eyes away from the water. Him and Axel were already up on the second level of the beach, heading for the palm tree. Roxas waved his arm to indicate I join them. I jogged toward where they were standing to catch up.
Walking across the bridge, we came to the palm tree I had seen so many times in the Kingdom Hearts games. I looked at Roxas, who nodded, before running up to it and climbing up to sit. Roxas came up and sat beside me; Axel coming to his left and leaning against the bottom of the tree.
At first, we just sat there and stared out at the water. It was like a dream come true for me. The wind rushed by, gently rustling our hair. I stared out across the blue water.
"It's so beautiful…" I said. I saw Roxas and Axel turn their heads in my direction out of the corner of my eye.
"We try to come here whenever we can" Roxas said looking back out at the water. "It really is a nice view. One of the best we've found, aside from the clock tower in Twilight Town of course!". I smiled. Of course. Twilight Town would always be their favourite. For me, I couldn't decide which one now that I had seen Destiny Islands. I wished this moment could last forever.
"Roxas, how long have you been in the Organization?" I asked.
"I stopped counting after the year mark" he said. "It's been a long time. Why?".
"Just curious" I said.
"Axel here's been in for even longer. He's a fossil!" Roxas teased. At hearing that, Axel turned and gave Roxas a shove on the shoulder.
"Hey! I'm not that old!" he said, mocking taking offence. We all laughed. I paused for a moment, and looked down before looking at them once again to ask my next question.
"Guys… we're friends, right?" I asked.
"Where did that come from?" said Roxas. "Of course we are".
"Then… can you tell me why I'm here? Am I just going to keep going on missions every day? Just doing whatever Saïx tells me? Surely you didn't need to take someone from another universe for that…". Roxas looked down, avoiding eye contact. Axel's face became serious.
"You know we can't tell you that" Axel said quietly. I sighed, looking down. "To be honest, I don't actually know. Orders came from the top to capture you. From the Superior himself". I looked at Axel, who looked down, but I could see him looking at me through the corner of his eye.
"Thank you, Axel" I said. He turned his head to look at me. "Thank you, both of you, for being so nice to me. I'm glad we're friends. I don't know how I could've gotten through the last month without the two of you". They were both looking at me now. "Roxas, I heard I have you to thank for me being put into a room instead of a cell, even though you didn't know me. So thank you for that as well". Roxas looked out at the water once again.
"I… just thought it would be nicer for you. You seemed like a nice person when we met, and you still are" he said calmly. I blushed. Roxas wasn't the same boy as he was during 358/2 Days; he had matured a bit since being in the Organization past the end of the game's timeline.
"So… it's back to missions tomorrow, huh?" I asked, trying to move the conversation in a different direction.
"Yep, they never end" said Axel a little more upbeat. He was looking out at the water along with myself and Roxas. "Suppose we'll just have to keep going until we complete Kingdom Hearts!".
"Yeah!" said Roxas determinedly.
Some members of the Organization had gathered in the circle room on their thrones. Xemnas addressed the group from the highest throne.
"Megan has had darkness within her for some time now, however her dark powers have yet to awaken" he said calmly.
"She has learned how to fight, but as yet has only utilized her powers of light" said Saïx. "Perhaps she needs some encouragement".
"She's a good little girl" said Xigbar. "Won't be easy getting her to go in that direction".
"I agree" said Luxord. "She is solidly a being of light. I've sensed no darkness within her other than that which invaded her body". A few others in the room nodded in agreement.
"Well then, we will need to strongly encourage her to tap into that part of herself" said Saïx smiling cruelly. "Larxene, you will bring out her dark powers by any means possible. Try not to harm her too much".
"You got it" Larxene said with a satisfied smirk.
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