When we reappeared back before Ansem's computer, I found the keychain for Photon Debugger had been given to me along the way. Good one for areas where there's a lot of Heartless that are weak to thunder attacks, assuming you ever remember to use it.
Leon had not yet returned, so while we waited for him I accessed the DTD, originally intending to retrieve the limited data on the Organization and Ansem. The only files for the Nobodies that were intact were, of course, those who'd been lost at Castle Oblivion. While I still had no idea of what I'd done there, when I read those files I noted that there seemed to nothing that suggested whatever I might have done, so I relaxed a little and stopped worrying about the missing memories so much.
On the other hand, one of the files did provide handy links to the Somebodies that those Nobodies had once been, and more curiously to a file on Ventus himself. Though that file was also damaged and not fully readable, what was in there gave me something to think on, because it suggested there had not been three, but four apprentices to Master Eraqus – and there was nothing on this fourth one. More changes I'd wrought without realizing it? Even Roxas was silent on this.
"I see ya got it working then," Mickey observed, joining us.
"Naturally," I replied. "Your Majesty, do you remember Ventus at all?"
"Ventus? Hmm, lemme think..."
"About ten years ago. He was an apprentice under Master Eraqus. Here, there's an image of him on the computer," I added, showing him.
"Of course! I remember him now. Never did find out what happened to him."
"Was there someone else with him when you saw him?"
"I think so. In fact..." he frowned, then glanced at me thoughtfully. "But that's impossible. You'd remember that."
So somehow I'd been seen, as Sora with Ventus. Mickey was right, I would remember that if I'd done it. So what was going on here?
"Leave it with me and Roxas," I shook my head. "We'll figure it out sooner or later. Anyway, you need to find Ansem."
"Ansem?" Goofy said. "But didn't we defeat him?"
"Oh. I guess you never explained it to them, huh?" Mickey asked me.
"Slipped my mind," I replied ruefully. "Simply, it goes like this – we defeated Ansem, who was the Heartless of Xehanort, who went around telling people he was Ansem after he exiled the real Ansem, Ansem the wise. The leader of Organization Thirteen is Xemnas, the Nobody of Xehanort. If we defeat him too, then the original Xehanort is free to come back, and we can defeat him too, which should release Terra's heart and revive him." I frowned, then added, "In theory, at least."
"You knew where Terra's heart was all this time?" Mickey asked me. "You coulda saved Yen Sid and me a lotta work if you'd told him."
"Sorry. I guess I forgot you were looking. I could tell you where the others are too though."
"Don't worry about it for now. I don't think we're that close to having to do anything about it just yet."
Something exploded outside, shaking the room violently and almost making Mickey get thrown to the floor if I hadn't quickly grabbed hold just as it hit us.
"I think we'd better check up outside," I said when it subsided. "Just in case that was something serious."
You don't say. Hope you're ready for a long fight, because that's what's headed your way.
How nice of him to warn me. I was starting to wonder if it wouldn't have been better not knowing these things in advance. Not that I don't like having to fight, that's Demyx's department – but I prefer to avoid having to do it for extended times, mostly because there's no break in between. Even if I don't need it.
Back outside, Maleficent stood clear of everyone else, watching the Heartless fight the Nobodies below her, but on noticing me she commanded the Heartless to attack me instead before she disappeared off. Apparently she didn't trust me not to repeat our last encounter with her. Can't say I blame her for that though.
Unexpectedly, the Gullwings came to our aid in that fight, having seen Maleficent take off and decided that it was no longer in their interests to work for her. A few words with them persuaded them not only to work with us and Leon, but without a single mention of treasure.
I was tempted to go looking for the Cavern of Remembrance along with the Garden of Assemblage inside there and then, but that could wait. It'd still be there – somewhere – after we'd handled this current crisis, so we pushed on to the Postern only to get attacked by Nobodies instead.
This time, it was Sephiroth who turned up to come to our aid, though unintentionally.
"Cloud is looking for you," I told him before he'd had a chance to say anything.
"Is that so?" he replied. "Then I should give him what he wants."
"You can repay me for telling you that first."
"Did I not just defeat those creatures for you?"
"They were just Dusks," I shrugged. "I've fought far worse than a bunch of weak Nobodies like them."
Sephiroth paused to think for a moment, then said, "Very well. I will... assist you in this battle. But only until the point Cloud finds me, or I him." And then he was gone. Well, if he honoured his word it would have done something, at least.
Once he had gone we headed onwards again, this time pausing at the Restoration Site to take out a number of Dancer Nobodies. Demyx tried to take back control of them, but none of them listened to him, much to his annoyance. For a Nobody, sometimes he can have some surprising outbursts of emotion to him – or perhaps because he'd been hanging around us for too long, he was starting to get feelings of his own, much like Axel does between his keeping company with Roxas, Xion and Sora.
Mickey took off almost as soon as we were done, running on ahead to the Bailey and what was left of the Restoration Site, only to see the mass of Heartless heading for Hollow Bastion. The Gullwings, Aerith, Leon, Cloud – from our vantage, we spotted them all somewhere along the cliffs below, busily fighting them off. Once I even thought I spotted Sephiroth among the rocks, but the craggy landscape made it difficult to tell for sure.
"What a party," I muttered. "One we'll have to crash though."
"Sora, you gotta go looking for Riku and Kairi," Mickey told me. "And Donald too."
"I'll find them, don't worry. But this comes first."
"There's lots of help already here. We'll take care of this."
"Mickey, if I told you that even with all that help you're going to fail without me, would you change your mind?"
I wouldn't place any bets on that myself, Roxas told me. Watch out, by the way – I can't tell what'll happen where you're meant to defeat Demyx.
Mickey sighed, giving up. "Alright. But as soon as you're done here-"
"I know. I'll get back to work as usual," I grinned back, then we headed down into the canyon toward where Sora fought Demyx. With Roxas's warning and Demyx right with us, I was both worried and curious about what would happen.
As it turned out, Xemnas was what happened. He stood waiting for us where Demyx should have been. After the unexpected battle back in Hollow Bastion where I'd somehow managed to beat him without any idea of what to expect, I was fairly confident I could take him on – but I wasn't expecting him here right now, and that was, to say the least, worrying. Who knew what he had up his sleeves?
To our surprise, he held up one hand with a faint smile.
"Fear not," he murmured. "I have not come here to indulge your misunderstood need to destroy the Organization."
"Don't be so sure about the misunderstood part," I told him harshly.
"So loyal to your heart even in the face of your greatest adversary. You continue to be a stimulating opponent, Sora. More than once you have given me reason to curse your name."
"Good! I hope I give you many more reasons to!"
"I have little doubt that you will. However, I must address my original reasons for being here. If you wouldn't mind Sora, I wish to speak with Roxas. I know he is awake within you, so there is no point to hiding the fact."
Roxas muttered a few unprintable comments, then pushed me aside to talk through me again.
"What do you want, Xemnas?" he demanded roughly while I spread my arms to show the others it was really him talking. Mickey looked particularly surprised. "Out with it. I don't have patience to stand here all day."
"I imagine asking you-"
"Oh, forget it," he cut Xemnas off in disgust. "I thought you'd have gotten the idea when I left the castle. I don't care what you promise me, I've got no interest in helping you any more."
"You could regain yourself. Be your own person again."
"And leave Sora incomplete? What do you think I am, selfish?"
"Wouldn't you rather have your own existance again?"
"Of course. But Sora needs me still, and I'm not going to turn my back on him. By the time that's over with, you'll be long gone, and there won't be any point. Besides, I like Sora's company."
Thanks, I guess. Try not to get me into any trouble, will you?
"You're making a mistake, Roxas," Xemnas told him.
"No, you just think I am. Give up, Xemnas. You've got nothing I want. At least, nothing I want that I have a reason to accept. Just give up and go away."
"You may come to regret this choice," he warned Roxas.
"Or you will," he retorted as Xemnas vanished into a corridor. "I certainly hope he does," he muttered afterwards.