A/N: Involves a scene in which we see Ariexan's fighting before the Darkened Light and when she was about Agent Rank.
Dream
Her sight began to go black. Xemnas pulled the Ethereal blade from her and disappeared, leaving her to fade into the Darkness alone. Blackness crawled over her eyes. Then she felt a hand on her face, a gentle caress.
"Wake up, Love." She heard his voice she opened her eyes and saw Luxord. She gasped and went to throw her arms around his neck but stopped due to a sharp pain in her stomach.
"Am I Dead?" She asked. He closed his eyes and shook his head.
"No Love, not yet. But you can defeat Xemnas before you do." Luxor told her kneeling. She met his eyes.
"What, how?" She asked him, grabbing his lower arm.
"Xemnas wants the Darkened Light, yes?" Luxord asks her.
"Yeah, he wants an attack dog more or less, but in a way, yes." Ariexan told him. Luxord leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
"Give him what he wants." Luxord told her.
End Dream
Her eyes fluttered open. Give him what he wants? What? Why? That would just get her killed. Ariexan shrugged and got out of bed. She got ready and went to meet Saix for their daily morning meeting. Walking into the office, she saw Saix with his head down.
"Are you stressed out or are you just too tired to pull your head up, I need to know so I can laugh and not get in trouble." Ariexan told him, starting the coffee.
"Tired." Saix muttered. Ariexan asked and got out the two coffee mugs. Saix still didn't pull his head up. It was nice now that he was semi relaxed.
"How are the clones coming around?" She asked. Saix didn't say anything for a minute.
"I checked in with Vexen and he said they'll be done physically about by the time you hand out all the missions. He also said he'll be able to put in some basic attack combos, no powers or anything. I think you held up your own against him and his powers quite well.
"He didn't use any powers…" She told Saix. Saix pulled his head up and looked at her, his eyes half awake.
"He didn't. So he was holding out on you? Odd." Saix says. The coffee maker goes off and she gives Saix his coffee, black, then went back to doctor her own.
"Yeah. I'm afraid of what it's going to be like when he does use his powers." Ariexan said, leaning against the counter and taking a sip of her coffee. Saix nodded.
"But you will be able to take him. We're making sure of that." Saix told her, waking up a bit. Ariexan looked into her coffee, her tired reflection stared back at her.
"I hope so." Ariexan said.
"Did you have another dream?" Saix asked her, Ariexan nodded and took a drink of her coffee.
"Yeah." She said. "I was in the Dark Realm and Luxord was there, it was after Xemnas had basically done me told me in to give Xemnas what he wants. What Xemnas wants is the DarkenedLight. And that would just get me destroyed." She told him. Saix thought long on this.
"I don't know. Its six, you should head on to the Communing Room." Saix told her, taking a glimpse at the clock on his computer. Ariexan nodded and finished her coffee.
She paced in the Communing Room, a new habit she had taken up recently.
"Yeah Luxord, just give Xemnas the Darkened Light, yeah, that'll get this done and over with, with me joining you in the Dark Realm and the rest of the worlds falling with it. Ugh, what does that even mean! I mean, that is just a stroke of genius! Humph." She growled angrily. She wished he were with her, badly.
"Morning Ariexan." Came Driaxenne's voice at the entranceway to the Communing Room. Ariexan looked to the older woman.
"Hi, Driaxenne." She said as the Immortal approached her.
"So, what's my mission for today?" Driaxenne asked.
"Recon with Demyx. You're investigating a place called New Orleans." Ariexan told her. Driaxenne nodded and went to rouse the still sleeping Demyx. Ariexan turned and looked up at Kingdom Hearts. Suddenly frustrated she slammed her fist against the glass wall in rage. She unleashed an angry animalistic scream and fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around her stomach, she hugged herself. Tears of frustration leaked from her eyes.
"Hey Arie-oh my! XIGBAR!" It was Exeane, two sets of footsteps thundered in her general direction. She stood before they could get to her. Putting her weight on the glass, she cast a look-over her shoulder at the two. Xigbar was looking at her with a wildly worried look and Exeane looked terrified.
"I'm fine." She told them. Xigbar took a small step towards her. Ariexan was taking slow deliberate breaths, trying to compose herself. She looked full them when she felt in control again.
"Xigbar. We need you to stay today. I'll go deeper into detail later. Exeane. You have a mission in Beast Castle." She told them. Exeane nodded and left immediately.
"The first clone is almost done. It will be done by the time I hand out all of the missions for today. You and Lexeaus are to be on stand by in case the thing goes hay wire and I can't stop it by myself." Ariexan told Xigbar.
"Ariexan. You, I." He gave a type of sighing growl.
"If you ever feel like you're about to have another episode like what I just witnessed. Come find me. Alright? I-I care too much to see you suffer like this." Xigbar told her. Ariexan wasn't shocked by his seriousness. She knew it would turn up one day or the other.
"I know. Thanks Xigbar, I appreciate it, I really do." She told him. Xigbar gave her one final meaningfu llook before he retreated back into the depths of the castle. Ariexan watched him go. She gave a heavy sigh and turned to the glass window in front of her and pressed her forehead to the glass. Tucking a lock of black hair behind her ear. She lost herself in her memories.
She stood at her window, the Sky Deck up and to the side of her window. She could just barely make out Saix and the Superior having a meeting. She pressed her head to the glass in front of her and gazed into the reflection of her eyes. A hand grabbed her arm and a set of loving fingers tucked her hair behind her ear.
"What's wrong, love?" He asked her. She turned around and wrapped her arms around Luxord's torso and fell into him lightly.
"I'm just stressed with this whole Darkened Light thing. If one thing sets me off, the Darkened Light can come in and take over." She told him. Luxord wrapped her in his arms.
"Everything will be fine, love."
Tears fell down her cheeks, shesobbed silently. Nothing was fine, he lied, he couldn't keep his promise. Luxord let himself die…
The pain tore into her chest andshe fell to her knees. Her heart jerked violently and she leaned against the wall of glass. Someone came into the Communing Room.
God, this is the worst place tohave a mental breakdown. She thought to herself. Axel stood there, froze,watching her. He came forth and knelt.
"Today just isn't your day is it?" He asked, embracing her in his brotherly fashion. She wrapped her arms around his scrawny torso and shook her head.
"It's alright Rix." He told herquietly. Ariexan gave a shaky sigh. She wasn't entirely sure if work was thebest thing for her now. She mentally shook her head and stood, wiping her tearsaway. Axel stood with her.
"So, what's on the agenda for today?" He asked, as though her break down hadn't happened. Ariexan gaveanother sigh.
"Shadow globs in Neverland." She told him absently. Axel nodded and opened a Dark Corridor. He gave her one last look before he left. Demyx came groggily into the room, being tailed by Driaxenne. Demyx looked at her, they met eyes momentarily. She looked away two disappeared through a Dark Corridor. She stood alone in the Communing Room for about fifteen minutes until Lexeaus came in.
"The Xemnas clones are almost done. They'll be done by the time that I finish handing out missions. Saix needs you to stay here so if something goes wrong and I can't stop it myself, you and Xigbar can help me stop it." She told him as the gentle giant walked up to her. She avoided eye contact with him. Something about meeting eyes with Lexeaus made her uncomfortable. He said nothing, keeping his usual vigil of silence. She watched him walk out of the Communing Room and down the hall.
Eventually everyone had gone out on their missions and Ariexan went out to the training hollow in the woods behind the castle. She walked out and saw the woods looming ahead of her, thestood tall in front of her, making her feel small and insignificant. Lanterns lit the path leading into the woods. Ariexan walked into the woods. She looked around her. The woods were thick, but not thick enough for a human to hide in. She shuddered; the blood chilling feeling of being watched by hostile eyes overwhelmed her.
Ariexan conjured a Keyblade and kept walking, quickening her pace. She got a clearing and saw Xigbar, Lexeaus standing on the other side of the bridge that connected one side of thetraining hollow with the other. Saix, Vexen, and the Xemnas clone stood on thestone bridge. It arched over the stream that cut unevenly through the clearing.
It watched her with curious eyes. Ariexan nervously locked gazes with it. Saix peered over its shoulder.
"It can't hurt you, well not yet, at least. Vexen told me it was done. I thought me meant mentally as well. But it didn't." Saix told her.
"Its still creepy." She walked to them timidly.
"Um, so I was walking here and I got a creepy feeling. Someone might want to check that out." Ariexan told them, Xigbar's attention flicked to her.
"Come on, Princess, I'll go withyou to do that. The clone won't be done for another fifteen minutes." Xigbar told her and walked over the bridge, he himself giving the clone an unnerved returned the look blankly, watching Xigbar walk past and then watched his back. Xigbar guided Ariexan away by her shoulder. She gave him an odd look, he kept his gaze ahead.
"Uh, everything okay, Xigbar?"She asked him while trying not to trip; he was pushing her faster than she was walking.
"No." He said briefly.
"Want to talk about it orsomething before I fall on my face?" She asked him, Xigbar stopped.
"Is this where you felt weird?" He asked, not answering her question. She looked around, shaking her head.
"No, I think it was a little bit further." She told him. He gave a slight grunt and continued on, leaving her behind this time. Ariexan followed him he stopped and summoned his SharpShooters.
"Other members have reported that. I'm getting tired of it." Xigbar muttered as Ariexan walked up to him.
"What doyou think it is?" She asked.
"I don't know. But I think we're gunna find out." He almost set out into the woods until they heard Saix's call.
"Ariexan, Xigbar, come on, Vexen is almost done with the programming and I don't want ton have to come hunt you two down when he's done with it." Saix said approaching them. Xigbar looked disappointed but he followed anyways. They came back into the clearing and Xigbar returned to his post. Ariexan was at the bottom of the bridge, looking up at the silhouetted Xemnas clone. What was he like? Who was Xemnas?
What was he like, if he had a heart, if he had decency, if he was, good? Ariexan then realized how much good for the world someone of Xemnas' intellect could do. How much good Xemnas could do. But she soon remember just how, gullible he was. How she and Saix plotted against him and he never once became suspicious.
Those orange eyes now looked at her in wonder, curiosity. Not like she was a something with consciousness, looked at her with a type of respect. She walked up to Vexen.
"Does it know it's a clone?" She whisperedquietly. Vexen looked at her oddly.
"No, actually." Vexen nudged the clone it looked at him.
"Do you know, what you are?" Vexen asked. The clone looked at him like the question was crazy. Ariexan took a step back, afraid that it was going to say Xemnas, Superior of the In Between. She kept walking back until she was against the stone railing of the bridge.
Saix saw her fear. Saix was now certain that she feared Xemnas. The way she merely retreated from a clone of Xemnas. She had good reason, but she had to get over it if she were to face Xemnas and win.
"I am a clone of something far more dangerous." It said. Ariexan let out a relieved sigh. Vexen nodded.
"Interesting." He noted
"Now, simulate Attack Pattern A." Vexen demanded, the clone summoned the signature weapons of Xemnas, Ethereal Blades. Ariexan flinched a little, but she steeled her nerves. The clone swiped at the air at a blinding speed, Ariexan had to duck.
"Careful Thirteen!" Vexen hissed and pulled Ariexan behind him, out of the danger zone. The clone came to a rest.
"Simulate Attack Pattern B." Vexen said.
"It feels nice being able to boss Xemnas around, huh, Vexen?" Xigbar called in a taunting tone. Vexen sent a glare over his shoulder at Xigbar as the clone swung around in a circle. There was something chillingly familiar about Xemnas' attack patterns… Ariexan watched it perform the dry runs. Then she realized it.
"Why does Xemnas fight like a Keyblader?" Ariexan asked. The founding members became tense and awkward. Saix noticed this too, giving them all odd looks. Ariexan looked at Xigbar, who looked moist uncomfortable. She squinted at him, he saw this and looked down, rubbing his neck.
"Why don't we get to work, Ariexan." Saix said. Ariexan gave Xigbar one final glance.
"Yeah, sure." Ariexan walked past the Xemnas clone and conjured her Keyblades, waiting.
"Alright," Vexen cleared his throat. "Activate Attack Mode, Target, Ariexan, Number Thirteen, Keyblader." Vexen demanded. The Xemnas clone attacked, Ariexan land slid back, swiping her Keyblades through the air, keeping a distance. The clone blocked and dodged. Ariexan leapt forth, breaking pattern and brought the Keyblades down, one more blocked. Calm orange eyes watched her, studied her, like Xemnas used to…
13 Months Ago.
Saix walked into her room. She looked at the blunette, this was before she trusted him. She stood, locking eyes with him.
"Yes, Saix?" She asked.
"Xemnas has requested you to spar with him, he wants to see how you've improved since your arrival." He told her, Xemnas? Ariexan hardly saw the silvernette, how was his fighting, she never saw him fight, she didn't even think that Xemnas had missions. Saix waited for her reply. She didn't, she just got up and went to the Hall of Empty Melodies and there he stood, radiating with power, Xemnas, Superior of Organization XIII. She stopped short somewhat, feeling entirely insignificant. Saix bumped into her. She blushed slightly and quickly got out of his way. She descended the stairs that led to the main floor panicking slightly, what if she didn't meet the standards? What would he do?
"Thirteen." She jumped slightly as she realized she had stepped out onto the main floor from the doors.
"Superior." Her voice squeaked. Xemnas conjured his weapons, red glowing, blade looking things without handles. She swallowed a little and conjured Crown of Guilt Keyblade. She looked around nervously and saw Axel.* He stood on the opposing side of Saix, with his arms crossed, leaning against a wall, he winked at her and nodded, giving her a small boost in confidence.
She didn't know who was supposed to make the first move. She watched Xemnas closely, those orange eyes watching her calmly. He attacked unexpectedly and nearly hit her. She ducked and stuck her leg out quickly, tripping him. He landed on the ground with a thud and a muted grunt. She stepped back, seeming to slide across the ground, Keyblade ready, she'd have to get in close to him to land a hit, Crown of Guilt wasn't made for fighting, it was made for magic. She was not used to physical attacks such as the ones Xemnas possessed, she was not used to fighting something with a consciousness.
That nervousness she had felt that day had steadily grown to full blown fear. Now she faced a watered down version of what scared her the most. The clone came after her, Ariexan leapt to the side and front kicked the clone, it lost its balance and fell face first into the ground. Ariexan took the opportunity to lay out her next plan. The bridge was cleared, an idea came to mind. She ran underneath the bridge and pressed her back to the stone underbelly.
"What is she doing, she can't be hiding from it." Xigbar said, she sent a glare at him, he continued to grumble.
"Shut up, Xigbar, I think I see what she's doing." Saix hissed. Xigbar crossed his arms over his chest and looked to the side. Ariexan waited for the sound of footsteps on the bridge, they came. Ariexan quickly grabbed the edge of the bridge and swung herself over, kicking the clone in the face with full force. It stumbled back, giving a small shriek of pain, a chill going down her spine, Ariexan watched the clone fall over the railing into the water. Xigbar's jaw dropped
"So that's what she was doing..." Xigbar thought.
She jumped down, but was caught by the clone and it threw her into a tree on the training side of the creek. It quickly progressed on her, she picked up a Keyblade and went after it, the clone met her with a combo, landing several hits and then jumped back. Ariexan fell to her knees, attempting to get her breathe back. She recovered and jumped up, cart wheeling after the clone and attacking it. Ariexan had picked up the cartwheel attack from when she practiced with Aqua. Gaining mulmentom from the cart wheeling, she jumped up into the air and brought down both Keyblades on the clone.
"Where did she get that cartwheel move from...?" Xigbar asked.
"Xigbar, we don't need your commentary." Vexen hissed at him annoyed. Landing she went into a whirlwind attack. As she had done with Axel when they were sparring, she knocked the clone off its feet and pressed a Keyblade to its neck.
Those eerie orange eyes looked up at her in an almost awing way. She was panting as she met its eyes. They both were. The clone unexpectedly grabbed Oblivion's blade and jerked down, bringing Ariexan to the ground, it pinned her down and struggled with the blade, each hand on one end of Oblivion. Ariexan glared into its eyes. It was only doing what it was programmed to do, it was almost like an animal, merely following instincts.
The clone was trying to press the blade horizontally across her throat to strangle her. Ariexan heard footsteps pounding over the bridge.
"NO I GOT IT!" She yelled, switching her force to one side of the blade and hit the clone's temple with the blunt end of Oblivion. It gave a disoriented cry and jumped back, blood trickled down the side of its face. Ariexan jumped up dismissed her Keyblades, giving the clone a look, she went into a spin kick. Her foot connected with the already wounded temple and the clone fell to the ground, mortally wounded. Vexen came into the clearing.
"Terminate Attack Mode." Vexen ordered. The clone stopped trying to get up and just fell limp to the ground, panting and trying to stop its bleeding at the major wounds. Ariexan almost felt bad, no she did feel bad. Saix and Xigbar led her away from the clearing.
"That was great, Princess!" Xigbar praised her, ruffling her hair annoyingly.
"Thanks, Xigbar." She said, ducking down and covering her head with her hands. He gave a laugh and they headed for the castle.