DAY 315

"Sora has a pretty powerful effect on her, and Hallie has a powerful effect on Callum. That's all I'm saying. That must explain what's been going on between the two: destinies and feelings carrying on through lifetimes." Xigbar said as he, Saix, and Xemnas sat in their designated chairs in the Round Room. "Which makes me wonder... If Xion and Callum were to return to Sora and Hallie, would those emotions transfer? Would the feelings of the Nobody mix with the feelings of the Somebody? Would Hallie's love be because of the Sora she sees on the outside, or would it be because of the Xion that Callum sees on the inside?"

"That's enough of your poetry, Xigbar." Saix said.

"But I'm just getting started! I'm not the only one that's trying to figure out what the heck is going on around here."

"We did not meet here to exchange haikus. We came to discuss the matters at hand."

"Yes, Xion was not supposed to gain a mind of its own, nor become the person we see." Xemnas said. "But in the end, it only proves that the puppet is the more worthy vessel."

Xemnas bowed his head and closed his eyes for a few moments. He reopened his eyes and smiled.

"Saix, are the devices ready?" he said.

"In a matter of days." Saix said.

"Good."

"And what of Roxas?"

"They both have a connection to Sora, but we only need one of them under our thumb. Whether Xion takes from Roxas the rest of what he has to give... or, whether he destroys her first and takes back what is his, there is no change to our plans. No matter how, Sora's power will belong to us. Hallie and Callum will shortly follow after."

"Speaking of Callum, our last mission together ended with a pretty intense interrogation." Xigbar said. "Hallie's leaking back into his mind. How long do you think it'll be before he finds out he's...?"

"The day lingers closer and closer." Xemnas said.

"All he needs is the final push that will restore all his memories." Saix said. "And then he'll rebel in order to find her."

"And when that happens, he will lead us right to her."


Callum was sent to Beast's Castle after hearing that Xaldin had gone missing inside the world, so he was ordered to find him.

How could a big, beefy Nobody like Xaldin go missing? He is extremely intrigued by those inside this castle, especially the Beast and his rose. Maybe that has something to do with it?

Callum entered the castle through the secret tunnels and entered the ballroom, where Belle stood on the other side of the room staring out the window.

"He just isn't himself lately... I wonder what's happened." she said. "I'll go ask the others. Maybe they know of some way I can help."

Belle walked towards the door, and Callum hid behind one of the pillars and watched her leave the room.

When hasn't the Beast been acting strangely? I get the feeling Xaldin's name is written all over this.

Callum headed out of the ballroom and towards the East Wing. He stopped and peeked around the corner as he saw the talking candelabra and clock in the middle of the hallway.

"Lumiere, the master is out of sorts- again. Have you any idea what it is this time?" the clock said.

"No, I am completely in the dark..." the candelabra, Lumiere said, and Callum rolled his eyes at the unintentional pun.

"Hmm... I wonder if it has anything to do with that stranger Mrs. Potts spotted in the castle."

Stranger? He must be talking about Xaldin.

"A stranger?" Lumiere said.

"Yes. She said it was a man in a black coat with black hair."

Yup. Definitely Xaldin.

"And you suspect he may have antagonized the master? Surely no one would be so foolish." Lumiere said.

"Still, the possibility remains. We must sweep the castle for signs of this man immediately!" the clock said.

Maybe if I find the Beast, I'll find Xaldin. He was awfully intrigued by him.

Callum headed through the castle towards Beast's room, having to navigate through the dungeon tunnels in order to get to it. He peeked through the crack in the door and saw the Beast pacing the floor.

"No... I won't believe it. He must have been lying." the Beast said. He paused before he walked to the end of the room and gazed at his shimmering rose. "Belle, betray me? He said she would take everything from me. That's not possible. I trust her!"

Callum gasped quietly. Xaldin told the Beast that Belle was a backstabber? She's as sweet as sugar! Callum couldn't believe he would that! He had to find Xaldin and confront him about this.

Callum searched the castle with no sign of the Lancer Nobody. Finally, when he reached the courtyard, he saw Xaldin standing next to the corridor of darkness.

"Xaldin!" Callum cried, running over to him. He paused to catch his breath. "Where have you been? Saix sent me here to find you."

Xaldin grunted and turned his back on the young Nobody. "How presumptuous."

"Why have you been here for so long?"

"Just making a few preparations."

"I know you came in contact with the Beast. You told him Belle was betraying him, didn't you? What else did you say to him?"

Xaldin glanced back at Callum with a smirk. "Let's just say things are about to get very interesting around here soon. A shame you've wasted your time. We return immediately."

Callum nodded and the two Nobodies entered the corridor of darkness.


DAY 316

Callum and Xigbar were sent to Olympus Coliseum today. Memories of the last time they were both in this world brought renewed anger and suspicions to Callum. Maybe he'd be able to press more information out of the one-eyed Nobody.

They headed straight for the arena, where their target, the Scorching Sphere, appeared in the center and began to spin around the arena rapidly. When it bounced off the barriers, it left a small fire in its wake. Callum took care of it with a few Blizzard spells. And just like that, their mission was complete.

"What's wrong, Callum?" Xigbar said, nudging the young Nobody as they headed back to the corridor of darkness. "Got somethin' on your mind?"

"You know exactly what's up." Callum growled.

"Hey, now, the Organization had good reasons for taking your memory away. Once you find out who you really are..." Xigbar let out a chuckle. "I don't think anything will ever be the same."

Callum stopped and stared at the ground. Omega Weapon appeared in his hand and he examined the mystical weapon. He looked up at Xigbar, who continued to grin at him.

"The Keyblade... Hallie used to wield one too, didn't she?" Callum said, holding out his Keyblade.

Xigbar crossed his arms and nodded.

"And... my friends... me, Roxas, and Xion... we're connected to each other through Hallie and Sora, right?"

Xigbar raised his eyebrow. "Ah, I see you know who Sora is."

"Yeah. Apparently he's a really important person to you and the Organization."

"Bingo. And guess what? So is Hallie. In fact, I know Hallie's twice as important to us than Sora."

"But why? Who is she?"

"You really want to know?"

"Yes!" Callum cried desperately.

"Fine, then..." Xigbar said. He uncrossed his arms and took a few steps towards Callum. He loomed over Callum and stared him down. Callum was already terrified with the one yellow eye; both of them might've made him wet his cloak. "Hallie... is you."

A force with the equivalency of a large brick smashed into Callum's head. He gasped and gripped both sides of his head as he doubled over in pain. His brain ached intensely, and he let out a scream. He tossed his head back as images flowed in his mind.

One by one, Callum's memories returned to him. He saw himself in the Realm of Darkness as a little boy, gazing at a girl as she floated silently alongside him. He remembered sending her off into the Realm of Light, dragged into it by a strange, blue creature. He saw himself being engulfed in the same light, guided by the hand of a mysterious and kind woman. He saw himself when he was the age of a twelve-year-old, and a girl's face filled his mind: her teasing smile, her brown hair that cascaded down her back and over her shoulders, and her amber eyes as they glistened in the hot sun of the Olympus Coliseum arena.

Hallie was always the stubborn one, who kept pushing Callum to keep training and to not give up. One day, however, Callum showed up at the arena, but Hallie was nowhere to be seen. He approached Megara, a friend who was like a mother to him and Hallie, and asked about his best friend's whereabouts.

"It's strange for her not to be here. She always gets here before me. She usually trains by herself while she waits for me to get here." Callum said.

"I went to check on her this morning when I realized her door was still shut. The lights were out, and when I turned them on, she was covered in her blankets. The poor thing... She doesn't look so good. Maybe it's from exertion and pushing herself too much." Megara said. She placed a hand on the young boy's shoulder. "Just let her rest and she'll feel better in no time."

Still, Callum abandoned the arena and hurried to go see her. He saw her the same way Megara described. A thick blanket was draped over her body, with only her head sticking out. Callum approached her bedside and gulped. Her face was ghostly pale, and a heavy sweat covered her face. When he loomed over her, her eyes peeled open.

"Callum..." she said weakly. Her amber eyes were sunken and dim.

"Don't move..." Callum said. "What happened to you?"

"I just don't feel good... Maybe I've been training too hard." Hallie said.

"Do you have a fever? A stuffed nose?"

"No, none of that... But... my chest... really hurts... I can barely breathe..."

Callum tensed with concern. He rested a hand on Hallie's shoulder. "Get some sleep, okay? You'll feel better soon."

Hallie nodded, flashing a faint smile, and she closed her eyes. Callum took a step back, and he gulped nervously.

At that point, Callum knew who he really was... and why Hallie was sick. She was incomplete- her heart, to be exact- and it had been for many years at that point. The consequences were finally taking effect. As the next few days went by, Hallie still didn't come to the arena. Her condition grew worse as his feelings for her grew stronger. He knew there was only one solution to helping Hallie feel better- if he left.

Callum remembered staring at a corridor of darkness that had appeared to him, glancing back at the Coliseum that had become his home for the past four years, and remembering the people he was willing to leave behind. He remembered stepping through, where he was lost in the darkness again. One day, he stumbled upon a dark, gray beach with a moon hanging low in the distance. He remembered approaching a large rock with a man dressed in a black cloak seated on top of it, staring out into the ocean. The hole of the hood turned to him, and the image of a much older man's face filled the black. The man had a bald head, a gray goatee, and sinister yellow eyes.

Xehanort.

Callum let out another painful scream and fell down onto the ground. Tears spilled down his face and absorbed into the dusty ground.

"Boy, that was a doozy." Xigbar said casually. "Looks like our time is up. You finally remembered."

"You... you..." Callum said. Rage coursed in his veins and Callum reached his hand out. In a quick motion, Omega Weapon appeared in his hand, and Callum scrambled to his feet and lunged at Xigbar with all his might. "You monster!"

Xigbar moved out of the way and disappeared into the corridor of darkness with a smile. Callum heaved deeply as he stared at the churning darkness. More tears spilled down his cheeks, and he gripped his Keyblade until his knuckles grew numb. He reached his hand up and rested it over his chest.

Hallie... He thought. A wave of tender feelings washed through him at the echo of her name. I remember you, now. I remember everything...

Callum dispelled his Keyblade and entered the corridor of darkness.


They'll pay for this.