Ranger24: Screw hiatus. I don'thave time.
Chapter 20: The changing of the guard.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but myself.
Roxas's boot's clicked as he walked down the aisle of honor guards that defended the prophet's. He was in their inner sanctum. You could only enter this place if you were summoned by the prophets themselves.
What came to a surprise to him was a sight he wasn't prepared for. Urk-hia were disarming the honor guards and taking their ceremonial pikes for themselves. Many were fighting over pieces of armor. The dejected nobodies hung their heads in shame.
Roxas's eye's filled with pity and anger as he watched them. They had always protected the prophets for thousands of years the nobodies had defended the prophets. But thing's were now in motioned that seemed to be spinning out of control. Only three hours before it had been announced Xemnas was dead. Killed by the toons.
Instantly things were set in motion. Elite nobodies were being replaced as the protectors of the prophets. The urks had been ordered to relieve the honor guards of duty. In the city riots had broken out and the urks had been sent in to settle them.
As he approached the door he saw two of Lurtz's most trusted warriors standing guard over the door. Muglap and Snaga both bedecked in the regal armor of an honor guard. Their Urk broad swords at their sides. They lowered their pikes as he came to the door.
Muglap: You know the drill nobody. No weapons are permitted inside the sanctum. You'll hand your weapons over to me now.
Roxas: I know the laws of the sanctum! But the Arbiter is permitted to bear arms inside the sanctum.
The two urks chuckled.
Snaga: Things have changed. No weapons are permitted inside the sanctum period. Now hand them over.
Roxas glared at the two of them. But still he had to follow the laws of the sanctum. The penalty for breaking them was death by starving ninja cannibalism. He handed over his plasma rifle along with Oblivion and Oathkeeper.
Once this was done the two urks still grinning raised their pikes and Roxas walked inside. Feeling more naked then when he had been branded with the mark of shame. Without the keyblades the Arbiter was almost power less.
The chamber was a dazzling sight. Three doors positioned on either side of the room lead to the prophets individual suites. The room it's self was vaulted in the ceiling and on one side was a massive view port. At the center of the room was a dais that normally held recently discovered Forunner artifacts. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice.
Axel: This is unprecedented. Unacceptable!
Roxas looked around to see Axel facing Maleficent and Rufus. Behind him on either side were Demyx and York all of three looked really pissed off. But none more so than Axel. Rufus seemed unphased by his words though.
Rufus: A hierarch is dead commander.
Axel spat into a small jug Demyx was holding. Demyx just looked disgusted.
Axel: His murder was within our grasp! If you had not withdrawn our phantoms…
Rufus raised his head. The slightest flash of anger light his eyes. But only for a moment.
Rufus: Are you questioning my decision?
Axel shook his head quickly. That seemed to make the other warriors seem a slight bit uneasy. Roxas knew that Axel rarely backed down from a challenge but when it came to the prophets backing down was the only thing you could do. Saying that you disagreed with the prophets even in private was considered heresy and heresy was high treason.
Axel: No holly one! I only wished to … express … my concern…
It seem as though he chewed on each word before spitting it out. Even though it was a sign of weakness it was a good idea to think carefully on your choice of wording when speaking to a prophet.
Axel: … that the Urk-hia…
Before he could finish his sentence Rufus cut him off.
Rufus: Decommissioning the guard was a radical step. But recent events have made it abundantly clear that the nobodies can no longer grantee our safety.
Axel was silent for a moment. Roxas could have sworn he could hear Axel's teeth grinding together. Finally Axel broke the silence.
Axel: I shall relay … your decision … to the council.
Axel turned around and his guards followed him. As he past by Roxas he nodded to him. Roxas knew that meant trouble. Roxas returned the node and walked forward. As he did he heard Rufus whisper something.
Rufus: Politics. How tiresome.
The two prophets looked at him with intense scrutiny. They seemed a bit annoyed with having to deal with another nobody. But still he was the Arbiter and they called him when he was needed. Rufus was first to break the silence.
Rufus: Did you know Arbiter. The nobodies have threatened to resign. To quit the high council.
Roxas decide to defend his own kind on this one.
Roxas: We have always been your protectors from the founding of the organization.
Rufus: These are trying times for all of us.
Roxas (thinking): My ass.
Maleficent: Even as the toons annihilation filled us with satisfaction the lose of one of the sacred rings racked our hearts with grief.
Hearts. It was something rarely mentioned around nobodies. It was a unbecoming fact that nobodies didn't have hearts. But they still had anger, pleasure, and pain but that was it. They were shells otherwise. The prophets had promised at the formation of the organization that once the great journey began all nobodies would become whole and filled with joy. But right now it seemed as though sorrow would do better.
Rufus: Putting aside our sorrow. We renewed our belief that other rings would be found. And see how our faith has been rewarded!
The massive view screen came to life to show a live feed of the massive ring. Roxas looked at the ring with awe and shame. Shame for his failure for which he bore the mark.
Maleficent: Halo. It's divine wind will rush through the stars! Propelling all who are worthy along the path to salvation.
Rufus stroked his chin.
Rufus: How to start this process? For ages we searched for one who would unlock the secrets of the ring. An Oracle.
They turned to the dais and there was an unconscious Dojo.
Rufus: And with your help we found it.
Maleficent: With appropriate humility we piled the Oracle with questions. And it, with clarity and grace, has shown us the key.
A small hologram of a T-shaped object appeared.
Rufus: You will journey to the surface of the ring and retrieve this sacred icon. With it we will fulfill the prophet's age old promise.
Maleficent: Salvation for all!
Rufus: And the beginning of the great journey.
Ranger24: What will become of the organization? Find out next time!