I toyed with the idea of taking on some of the data battles, but decided there was more than enough to be getting on with for now. For starters, the second plot in each world was now accessible, and that meant I had work to do.
As is my usual habit at times like this, I followed the original path through the worlds I'd taken, which meant our first stop was the Land of Dragons – this time with Axel and Demyx, who spent most of the trip exchanging stories, Demyx of only slightly exaggerated stories of our adventures and Axel of his possibly exaggerated and daring escape from the Organization's attempt to off him for not eliminating Roxas. There was no real harm in letting them tell their stories, trying to outdo each other for the place of having had the best adventure the other had missed.
I checked in the book while I half-listened to their stories, as it was another quiet journey. Sora was still leaving me the occasional entry on what was going on, keeping me up to date on what to me is the terribly boring affairs of our world. This suggested that Roxas's guesses about his vision back in the Pride Lands had not been entirely accurate. If Sora was still writing these, he could hardly be with Kairi. So who was there with her? There didn't seem to be any way to tell for sure, and Roxas wasn't saying anything either. He probably didn't know any more than I did anyway.
So we landed in the remains of the town in the Land of Dragons, partially rebuilt by now. We lent a hand as we passed through, Axel lighting several small fires to help ward off the chill from the snow, and melting some of the snow so Demyx could direct it safely away from the town to ease efforts slightly. Goofy and I just passed lumber and such up to the workers, not having much else we can do.
We paused on the edge of the town though, seeing an Organization member with their hood up.
Xigbar, Roxas said. I think. But didn't you destroy him?
"Xigbar," Demyx and Axel together at the same time. "But-"
"Yes, I thought I did too," I sighed, interrupting them. "I'm starting to re-evaluate a number of ideas when it comes to Xigbar. He's up to something."
"Sora!" Mulan's voice called. She was running toward Xigbar, sword at the ready. Xigbar left quickly. "Behind you!"
"Wait, Mulan! These two are my friends now."
Now Mulan paused, eyeing Axel warily. "But he looks like-" then broke off. "No time for that! We've got to go after that other one!"
"No argument from me there," I replied, then she rejoined us to head up the peak.
"I haven't done this much running around in one place for a long time," Axel remarked to me along the way.
"You're just out of shape," I teased.
"Don't bet on it," he puffed back. "I can keep going as long as you can. Except maybe in a fight," he added as an afterthought. "I used to run around Radiant Garden a lot, picking small fights and things so people would always remember me. That was back before I became a Nobody though."
"Remember Ventus at all?" I asked, trying to sound casual about it.
"Ven? Sure thing, he and I sparred once back then. Roxas reminded me of him – the two could almost have been twins."
"Was there ever anyone else with him?"
"Who, Ventus?" I just nodded. "Strange that you mention it, Xigbar stopped by Castle Oblivion to ask me the same thing. That was just after Naminé put you to sleep, not that you remember."
"And?" I prompted.
"It could just be a trick of my memory," he answered doubtfully. "But I could swear there was a kid with him that looked just like you. But you couldn't have been there, could you?"
"Me? Of course not!" I scoffed, though inside I wasn't so certain. Somehow, I had become a part of Ventus's story. But how and why? "It was about eleven years ago now anyway," I said. "I'd look different that long ago. It couldn't have been me."
"Guess that's true. Look sharp, up ahead."
Xigbar was still running up the Ridge, just visible beyond some rocky outcroppings. Then he disappeared behind one of them. The area behind came into clear view just moments later, and there was no sign of a dark corridor – they take a little time before they close and disappear, and if he'd used one there wouldn't have been enough time for that. He was still here somewhere.
But when we got to the summit, he was nowhere to be seen.
"We lost him," Mulan said, disappointed. "I thought I had him when you showed up."
"We're after him too. All of us," I quickly added, as Mulan still seemed concerned about Axel. I was going to have to do something about his appearance too – some few still recognised Demyx as an Organization member despite his coat's new colours, but Axel still bore the normal black.
Leave it to me, Roxas murmured, picking up on my thoughts. Once I'm done with this though. It'll be ready soon, so don't be impatient. By the way, look up.
I looked up, then nudged the others into doing the same.
"Them guys again?" Goofy said on seeing the mass of Rapid Thruster Heartless.
"Again?" Demyx asked. "You mean you had to fight all that before?"
"Last time we were here," I confirmed. "We'll do it the same way we did last time – everyone slightly separate from the rest and take on a bunch. They're not hard to defeat. Mulan, Goofy and I have done this before, we'll back you two up if you need it."
So we split up, and the Heartless descended to our level. Within a few moments, there were clear circles around each of us where we'd cleared those that had dropped a little further to attack. Axel appeared to have no trouble handling them, the chakrams leaving blazing trails of fire that decimated the Heartless. Demyx stole the melted snow from around Axel to create water forms to aid him. I'd learned on the way here that if Demyx summons the water himself, the resulting water forms aren't as powerful because some of his magic went into creating the water, whereas using water that's already around frees up more magic, and therefore more power.
Goofy and Mulan fought just as hard without any magic, Mulan showing considerably more prowess with her sword than she had last time we were here. I on the other hand changed tactics after a time, pulled out Wisdom Form with the Book of Retribution, and conjured a rock shower out of the empty air, taking care to prevent the others from being harmed by it, and even more care to ensure I didn't cause an avalanche – not as easy as it sounds when you're also trying to maintain the illusion in the first place. The drain on my magic severely shortened the time I could keep it active, but the damage was done. The Heartless that remained after the illusion flickered and faded out broke ranks and fled.
"Where did you learn to do that?" Axel demanded of me.
"Oh, Roxas and I figured out a way to borrow Zexion's book, that's all. Aren't illusions fun?" I grinned.
"You coulda told me it wasn't going to affect me! D'ya know how freaky it is when a rock goes right through you?"
"I cherish my ignorance on the matter," I replied, smiling benignly. "Now, why don't we head back to the city?"
"What for?" Mulan asked. "That man is still up here."
"Actually, unless I'm much mistaken he escaped in the fight and is busy down in the city below, where the Heartless that's about to come over the peak is headed."
Everyone turned to look up to the peak as the mountain shook slightly, causing several small avalanches. A larger one was caused with a matching larger shake as the massive Storm Rider Heartless burst out of the snow and started flying down toward the city.
"Told you so," I said smugly.
One of these days, doing that is going to get you into trouble, I was told as we headed back down. I'm done, by the way – you remember what I did for Demyx and your Drive forms?
"Of course," I muttered back so the others wouldn't hear.
I did the same thing for Axel, except he counts more like Goofy. Pick both him and Goofy and you'll have a heavy power-oriented form instead. I've got a few ideas for Master form when you get it, but that'll have to wait. Have fun with the Heartless, by the way.
"Oh, sure," I replied sardonically. "Because beating up giant Heartless is fun."
Be nice.
"Whatever. Mulan!" I called to her. "Go on ahead and warn the soldiers about Axel, will you? He's definitely on our side!"
Mulan nodded, running faster still. She has a fair turn of speed behind her, I have to admit. I could have gone a bit faster, but I didn't want to leave the others behind.
The soldiers waited with Mulan at the palace doors, apparently already having discovered that the doors were locked. When we arrived, they nodded to each other then stood one on top of another leaning on the pillar for extra support, to give Mulan and the rest of us an easier climb to get up and down into the hallway below.
"Xigbar!" I shouted, seeing him at the far end of the corridor, hood still up. "Come back here and fight me, you trickster!"
"Trickster! As if!" he snorted, stopping at the far end of the corridor, pushing the hood back. "You're just gullible."
"Gullible! I don't know what you did at Hollow Bastion, but I'm coming for you, you little coward!"
"Ooh, harsh words," Xigbar grinned. "Hope you can back them up!" He snapped his fingers, causing Sniper Nobodies to appear. I charged him, ignoring the Snipers unless they got too close. Xigbar made no move to defend himself, instead grinning even broader than before as I slammed into him full on, not bothering with Keyblades until he was pinned against the wall.
"This time, you're gone for good," I told him as he started to fade again.
"You're missing one thing, kid," Xigbar laughed. "But why should I tell you, when you can have all the fun of finding out for yourself? Just remember Vexen, and it'll come to you."
"Vexen? But-" I started to ask the question, but he was already gone. "What does Vexen have to do with it?"
Then the sounds of fighting behind me cut through my wondering and it was temporarily forgotten while I came to their aid, finishing off the last of the Nobodies with them. Once the were done I had Mulan guide us toward the Throne Room.
"What did Xigbar have to say for himself?" Axel asked me on the way.
"Something about missing one thing, something to do with Vexen," I replied. "He didn't bother to defend himself or anything, which doesn't seem like him at all."
Axel looked thoughtful for a moment. "I could be wrong," he warned me. "But I heard a rumour while I was at Castle Oblivion that someone had stolen Vexen's research notes on Replicas, like the Riku Replica – ah, but you don't remember that, do you?"
"No, but I have a rough idea of what went on there. I know of the Riku Replica. Are you suggesting that..."
"Xigbar might have been the one to steal them, and that would mean..."
"I've been destroying Replicas of him," I finished. "I've probably never even seen the real Xigbar. I wonder if Xemnas knows about this?"
"I wouldn't count on it. After I got back from Castle Oblivion, I got the strong impression that Xigbar had his own plans. Maybe this is the result of them."
"If it is... it's long range planning. He'd have to have knowledge in advance..."
Drop it, Roxas told me ominously. You don't want to continue that line of thought. You already know what's going on, don't concern yourself about the rest.
Apparently Roxas did not know Xion had told me about the favour he'd owed to Xigbar, and what he'd done to repay it.