The entire dungeon seemed to be a blurry rush of sounds and movement. The instant that Sora had been thrown inside the cell, his two friends were at his side on the hard floor. He was a horrible sight, teetering between conciousness and unconciousness, a desperate gleam in his blue eyes. Riku cast three spontaneous heals, nearly passing out with the effort, in hopes of easing the younger's continuous suffering. Sobs came from Kairi, who was kneeled with Sora's head on her lap, stroking his ashen face and hair. Tears drops came to plaster his face from his love's own eyes.
After about five more heals from a wobbly Riku, Sora began to come around. He made no sudden movements, but at least now he was sure that all of his limbs were indeed attached, and that his head would not soon implode.
"Kairi, stop crying. It's okay...I'm fine," he urged in a barely audible voice, looking strongly up at her and giving a difficult smile.
She nodded and hastily wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. Riku finally sat down next to the two, giving Sora a pat on the shoulder.
"You gave us a scare there, Sora," he said. "Probably shouldn't go provoking any dark witches again soon."
"Provoke!? Riku, I didn't-!" Sora gasped, hardly believing his ears. He was in the process of trying to sit up to face the other boy when their eyes met in such a way that could only be known by a best friend whose other was unrestrictedly willing to take his place of torture. He stopped mid-sentence, and gave Riku a nod and smile. He knew in that brief glance that the boy had been just as worried as Kairi had been.
Kairi, meanwhile, gave a suspicious mutter of 'boys!' and embraced Sora as soon as he pulled himself up. Sora, who could not help but feel guilty over making her so sad, held her close.
"Is he okay? Is Roxas okay?" Demyx spoke quietly from behind them. He had been watching, but similar to how the trio had felt over imposing on Axel and his conversation earlier, he felt like he didn't belong near them now. So, he waited until things had calmed before speaking up.
"Sora," the Keyblade wielder corrected him habitually. But he knew, as much as he had disliked Demyx before, he owed so much to the Melodious Nocturne.
"Yeah...right," Demyx responded questionably, as if not quite accepting the identity of the other.
"Don't show weakness, Dem!" called Zexion, who walked to his side. He grinned slyly at the prisoners.
"And yeah, I'm okay now, thanks. But...I've just never felt anything like it. Who knew Maleficent had such power? It's terrifying, actually," Sora said over Kairi's head, ignoring the presence of Zexion.
"She's cruel...just, cruel," Demyx whispered, shaking his head.
"She's one with darkness. And you should know better than to speak of your leader like that, Demyx," Zexion chastised him with a glare.
Demyx was not quieted by his fellow Nobody's words. He knew what he believed in, and he also knew when the fine line between what he accepted and what he would never accept was crossed. Maleficent had crossed that line. "That witch isn't my leader. Even Xemnas wasn't evil like that. The old Superior had his moments, but unnecessary torture? He wasn't cruel, he just did what needed to be done," he retorted. His words made clear that Demyx still contained some respect for his old leader.
"So? It's about time we've had some change around here. Maleficent's bringing us power, Demyx. That's all us Nobodies want," Zexion spat. An argument was spurning between the two.
"Power? What ever happened to getting hearts? We were supposed to get hearts from Kingdom Hearts." His fists balled.
"You're a broken record, Demyx, calm down. Clearly we're not getting hearts, so let it go. Besides, what's so great about emotions anyway? They just get in the way of what's important," Zexion snapped. He was getting aggravated at Demyx's ignorant defiance, not understanding where it all came from. Little did he know, he would soon understand all too well.
"What's important..." Demyx murmured, looking down to his black boots in thought, then back at the young man. "No, Zexion. You're wrong. I don't agree anymore with this. I don't agree with Maleficent, either, or what she's doing to Leira. I'm not cruel, and I have my own ideas of what's important. Whether or not you accept it, I'm not doing this anymore. I'm going to help them." He looked to Riku, "I think it's time we awaken Leira."
"Oooh, wrong answer Demyx." A dawning expression of comprehension overtook Zexion's blank face as he came to know what had happened before he arrived. "There's no more room for traitors in the Organization...or even in the universe, I believe." Now, he was just amused and surprised. "Of all people, Demyx, I never would have thought-"
But that final thought never got a chance to escape Zexion's lips. Before anyone had any grip of the situation, a quick whistling wooosh could be heard, and Zexion's face showed only the slightest hint of shocked fear before he collapsed to his knees. The sudden strike was defined only by the flaming, red and silver chakram sticking, quite appallingly, out of the slate-haired Nobody's back. His lack of belief in Demyx and inability to act quickly was his downfall.
Axel ran forward and reclaimed his chakram. The instant he pulled it out of Zexion's back, the other gave a piercing shriek, and with some quiet groans he faded quickly from existence. Axel twirled his chakram around before both disappeared, as if untouched by the fact that he had just erased a being from the world.
"That was...abrupt," Demyx gulped, seemingly shaken by the sudden attack.
"You know it was necessary. He would have alerted Maleficent...besides, better now than later. We have to get rid of all of them. Got it memorized?" Axel said, and looked to the jailed three. "Sorry about what happened, Sora. I listened through a portal...if she had been about to kill you I would have returned, but as it were, Demyx stepped in..."
Demyx was not prepared to explain himself, and did not want unnecessary time to pass before the rescue, so he interrupted. "Well, let's get them out now." He pointed towards the big lock.
"Hmm...how does it open?" Axel inspected the thing, green eyes full of concentration.
Demyx shrugged, and summoned his sitar. "I don't think it's too hard," he said. No one quite expected him to be successful, but as soon as he pressed the narrow side of his weapon/instrument against the lock, the doors swung open with a click.
"Hey, nice one!" Axel congratulated. He never would have expected it to be so simple.
Riku helped to pull the still-weakened Sora to his feet, and then all three of them walked out. Freedom, after several days of captivity, was bliss. Sora gave a sigh, and Riku stretched a bit. Kairi, on the other hand, bounded forward, and prior to anyone noticing what she was doing, threw her arms around a wide-eyed and very intimidated-looking Demyx.
"Thanks so much!" she exclaimed into his ear.
Never had Demyx received such a hug (at least in his days as a Nobody). He was so taken aback that at first he thought she was trying to strangle him with her bare hands.
"Umm...your welcome?" he mumbled, and pat her on the back gently, about three times.
After what felt like several awkward ages to everyone in that room (though much more to Demyx), she released him and landed back on her heels. She gave him a small giggle, and a cute sort of smile. Sora then walked up, and offered his hand out, which the Melodious Nocturne shook.
"I really appreciate what you did," he said.
"It doesn't take a heart to notice that what Maleficent was doing was wrong. I'll admit, even after Axel left I was still torn...but I guess now I'm in too deep to turn back," Demyx responded in a small voice.
"Yep. You're a traitor now. Just like me," Axel smiled and pat him on the shoulder. Demyx gave a playful roll of his blue eyes.
Riku, standing behind Kairi and Sora, and hiding his face under strands of his silver hair, had not spoken once since the release. It was clear that he still felt lost in the situation, and was unsure whether or not Demyx could be trusted. Yet, he resigned himself to the fact that he would need the Nobody's help, whether or not he wanted it. He finally raised his head and stepped forward.
"I still don't like you, Demyx, but I'm thankful for your help," was all he could bring himself to say.
"You have reason not to like me...but we want the same thing; for Leira to be safe. I owe you my life, don't think I forgot, and I plan on paying back that debt sometime. Until Leira's safe, I ask you to trust me...then, by all means, go back to loathing me with every breath," Demyx responded, looking eye-to-eye at the other. Riku gave a nod.
"Let's go to her," he added, and formed a portal. He walked through first, followed by Riku, then Sora and Kairi, and lastly, Axel.
o--------------------o
A/N: Oh my goodness! Only about three chapters left! Eeek. This story that has been with me for over a year will soon be complete. How will it end? Only I know, and I'm not telling! Hehehe. I'm evil...only not. I have my Maleficent moments once in awhile.
I've pretty much decided on what my next project will be. It will be another songfic, though following the song alot less than "I'm Sorry I Hurt You" did. I have some decent ideas for the plot, which will include one Nobody's former self in some tragic flashbacks, one particularly hyper ninja, and everyone's favorite lionhearted soul. It will be about 10 chapters. Then I might get back to the other idea of epic proportions I had.
