Naminé - The Emperor

Just as this thought crossed my mind, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Oh, no…

"What are you doing here?" An anxious voice asked.

"Naminé?" The hand spun me around, and I came face-to-face with Axel.

"Axel!" I paused, before throwing my arms around his neck - if anyone saw, I hoped they would assume it was an embracing couple. "There's no time to explain!" I pulled away, keeping my hands tight around his forearms.

"Explain what?" He was still looking at me with that strange light in his eyes. I finally bit.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine." Axel glanced behind me. He must also be nervous about being seen, and he pulled me back so we were half-hidden by a large fern. "I just didn't…didn't expect to see you."

"I know. I need to tell you something." I glanced around. The garden was quiet, the high wall lowering the crowds outside to a murmur. "Why are you out here, anyway?"

"Well, Roxas needed some support, and brought me as a guest to the ceremony. I was killing time out here. But…what are you doing-?"

I shook my head quickly. "The group of Huns that were buried in the rockslide - including Shang Yu - survived. They survived, Axel." His eyes widened. "I saw the rocks where they had forced themselves out. I saw their footprints. They followed everyone here." I fought to keep my voice low. "I overheard a pair of scouts - are going to attack the emperor. And apparently they have someone on the inside…inside of the palace government, I guess. I have a feeling they're going to try to hurt Roxas! And anyone else out there! We need to stop them!"

Axel took a step backwards. "Naminé…you have proof? Because I don't think they'll listen to you - no offence, but with what you've been doing-"

I quickly shook my head. "That's why I need help. I don't know if I'll be able to ward them off alone." I cut him off as he started to speak. "You go look for some guards, to get some extra protection. I'm going to go ahead to where the emperor is."

"Wait, Naminé." He reached towards me, his voice urgent. "Maybe you shouldn't - if what you say is true, they'll have men-"

"I can still fight." I insisted. "Just because you know I'm a girl doesn't make me any less of a soldier."

Before he could respond, I darted off among the plants. I ran quickly through the garden, typing my hair up as I went.

I crept through yet another hallway, but there wasn't a guard to be seen. My only company were the numerous statues. My neck prickled in the silence, and I wished I had brought Axel with me. It was just too eerie. Where is everyone? Shouldn't they be stationed somewhere near the entrance?

The cheering of the crowd outside grew as I neared the large doors to the outside. I jogged down to the left, ducking behind a large vase. I felt something behind me, and slowly turned. In that small space behind the vase, not a foot away from me, were at least seven guards. They were gagged, but their eyes were closed and their bodies limp. Not wanting to waste time, I decided there couldn't be much point in untying them in their unconscious state anyway.

After a moment of debate, I stooped and ripped off the gags anyway.

I paused. The moment of stillness allowed me to hear the footsteps. Grabbing one of the guard's weapons, a heavy stick about two feet long, I crouched in wait.

"There she is!" I heard someone say, and barely had time to react to the two men coming at me. I'll admit I was scared - there was no one who had my back this time - but I made myself think of it as training. I could hear Roxas' instructions in my head.

"Just keep your eyes on your opponent. Inner strength is the key."

It didn't take long to take the first one down; as he ran towards me, I threw myself down, swinging my leg out under his feet. He stumbled, hitting his head hard against the rock wall as he went down. I flinched at the crack. The second man, on the other hand, was much larger. I received a blow against the side of my face, and I skidded on the marble floor.

"Okay, that really hurt." I grumbled, rubbing it angrily, working my jaw as I took a gamble. I flung my weapon in his direction, and it hid him directly between his legs.

As he crumpled in pain, I used his defenseless stance to my advantage; with the help of one of the smaller vases lining the walls, I finally was able to knock him out.

The murmurs outside turned into a full-out cheer. I knew time was running out; there was something stirring out there. I headed back down the same hallway, to the large doors.

"Roxas!" I yelled, my jog turning into a sprint. As I flew out the door, I was filled with relief when I saw Roxas looking back at me. His jaw dropped; my feet caught on something, and I rolled onto my side, landing in a heap in front of both the emperor and Roxas. I raised my head, staring at the sheer multitude of people crammed into the palace grounds.

Not to mention most of China, it seemed.

"Nam-Naminé? What are you doing here?" Roxas asked, while the emperor - a surprisingly tall man, with a surprisingly long beard watched, a curious light in his eyes. I felt my mouth go dry.

His attention was caught by movement on the roof. Wordlessly, I spun around. Both Roxas and I slid into defensive stances as multiple figures emerged from the shadows, dropping one by one onto the ground. But one had already lunged forward, knife in hand, and there was no time to get out of the way.

I bent my body forward, pushing my shoulder forward as I slammed my body against the man's, and we tumbled forward; my lungs screaming in protest as he landed on my chest. Gasping for breath, I swiftly knocked the man out with the bottom of my stick, and rolled him off of me.

The next few minutes passed incredibly quickly, I almost have a hard time remembering it all. The vast crowds of civilians seemed to fade as I faced the Huns. I could see the guards making their way up the tall staircase, but there didn't seem to be any more approaching.

Shouldn't there have been more? Or were they already taken care of? That would make sense why it was so easy to get in...

There wasn't enough time to think it all through. I tossed Roxas my small sword attached to my hip as another masked man dove at him. I could hear the crowd's shouts of horror rise into screams.

The emperor!

Author's Note: Okay, yes, I HATE WRITING ABOUT THEM FIGHTING. I just find it hard not to repeat myself. And it's hard to include enough detail so you know what's going on, but not too much that you take it away from the actual story ._. poop.

Also...yes, there would probably be more than just the emperor and Roxas up there. But...it just doesn't work. I apologize to the gods of reality!