Roxas stared at the pet store windows colourful display of chewable toys and soft beds. "Hey, Xion."

"What is it Roxas?"

"Do you remember that big dog you brought back to the Castle with Axel that time?"

"Of course I do!" She sadly shook her head. "He ran away and we never saw him again…" She remembered bringing the golden dog his freshly cooked food and finding his basket empty.

Roxas laid a hand on her shoulder. "Y'know, Axel told me something. He said that dog was King Mickey's, and he's okay! He just went home."

"He did?" She clapped her hands and bounced on her heels. "Oh Roxas that's great! Can we go see him?"

"I'll ask Axel! C'mon!" He ran up Station Plaza's slope. "I'll race you!"

"No fair!" She chased him.

Between school, work and summer jobs there was a gap in the makeshift family's day when they would all meet for ice cream every evening. Saix was already there; perched beside Axel, drained from a long day on his feet while Axel, half-lidded, yawned, having not long woken up to begin his evening shift into the following morning. "Axel!" Xion darted ahead, hugging his neck, leaning her weight on his shoulders.

"Woa! Woa! Woa!" He struggled to stay aright. "Hey! You wanna push me over?"

"Roxas said the puppy's ok!" She smiled into his ear

He raised a confused brow. "Puppy?"

"The Dog That Never Was!" Roxas stepped upon the Clocktower, obviously unhappy to have lost his race with Xion. "Remember?"

Axel chuckled and pointed a finger to his temple. "You think I don't have it memorized? How could I forget? You guys nearly burnt the kitchen down!"

Surprisingly, Saix also smiled at the brief memory. "I can't say I remember much about the kitchen, but I do remember that dog eating my paperwork."

Xion's eyes lit up. "What? When was that?"

"The day you brought him back to the castle. It was the end of the day and I went back to my office."

Every piece of paperwork in Saix' office was slippery with drool, chewed into mush and scattered like snow. Xion's dog sat among the chaos. It had its back to him… wagging its tail.

"What have you done?" He barked! The dog noticed him, guiltily whined and hung his head; its tail darted between its legs. "I knew this would happen!" Saix picked the papers off the floor, examining each piece for anything salvageable as clear drool dribbled over his gloves. "Look what you did!" The dog tried to look cute but kept its eyes cast down. "Sit in the corner." He watched the dog skulk there. "I suppose this isn't your fault. Fortunately I keep my most important paperwork in the filing cabinet." He heard movement. "Did I say you could move?" The dog turned back to the wall. "I thought Axel would have encouraged Xion and Roxas to keep you entertained, you're just bored aren't you?" The dog dared to look over its golden shoulder with saddened eyes, whimpering.

Saix got off his knees. "No one's taken you out yet have they? Come." He opened the door and the dog desperately ran ahead of him, following him out the Castle. He watched the dog sniff around The World That Never Was before darting to mark his territory and chase the occasional Dusk.

Saix knew his lenient actions would have baffled Axel, but for all Axel had memorized he had easily forgotten that Isa liked dogs, LOVED dogs. The feeling of adoration and love was non-existent as a Nobody but the memory led him to act.

Radiant Garden had been abandoned for nearly a decade, he wondered how his old room looked, whether the posters of dogs were still pinned to the wall, the little figurines his friends had gifted him at every birthday and holiday were still neatly arranged on their shelf… and whether Scamp had made it to safety or died of starvation in the Heartless lain streets… alone.

Those thoughts could stir no feeling, but the memory of Scamp running to-and-fro chasing Lea's frisbee prompted Saix to take a bobble-head from one of the old abandoned cars and throw it. Pluto fetched it back and ran in circles until it was thrown again. He growled and lifted his ears when Saix pretended to throw it, chasing it with more vigour when it was finally thrown over his head.

He had lost track of time and the mess in his room needed tidying. Assured the dog had run off most of his energy and wished to refill its bladder; Saix tossed the bobble-head aside and returned to the Castle, Pluto running circles around him.

"Axel." He saw him in the hall.

Axel looked worried. "Hey – wait, how'd that get out?" He pointed at the trotting dog.

"I found him eating my paperwork. Why isn't Xion taking care of him? He hadn't been walked."

"But I locked him in a room, there's no way he could get out!"

"And why did you lock him in a room?" He frowned.

"I'm really tired of your attitude; I have enough on my plate!" He moved to walk away.

Saix narrowed his eyes and grabbed Axel's arm. "This isn't like you. What could you possibly have to manage?"

Axel rested his tense hands on his hips. "Xemnas. Xion and Roxas insulted him. I sent them to their rooms but… he heard." He gustily sighed. "He wants to see me tomorrow."

"Insulting the Superior has never boded well."

"I know," Axel groaned, "I don't suppose you could find out what he's planning?"

"Even if I could there's no point," Saix passed him, the dog following; "you'll see him tomorrow."

"That's so sad…" Xion held her hands to her chest. "Poor Scamp…"

"I'm sure he was fine." Axel insisted though his eyes told a sadder tale.

Xion finally sat down. "I can't believe you took care of the puppy Saix!"

He bashfully remained silent.

Roxas bit his ice cream. "What did you and Xemnas talk about Axel?"

Xion hung her head. "I remember what happened after that. We were disciplined." She moved her eyes to stare at Axel, as did Roxas.

"Oh yeah…"

"Don't look at me like that!" Axel sulked. "It wasn't like I wanted to do it!"

Xion tilted her head. "So… what did Xemnas say to you?"

When Axel entered the round room, Xemnas was already awaiting him.

They sat in silence, Axel knew that Xemnas should be the first to speak, and he had sworn to himself that if kissing up to his Superior could spare Roxas and Xion from something terrible he would humble himself for once.

"I am led to wonder where it is that Roxas and Xion are learning their unacceptable behaviour. Could it be your influence, Axel?"

"No. I disapproved and sent them to their rooms after the…" He crossed his arms and pondered the correct word, "incident."

"The structure of Organization XIII is balanced by obedience. Roxas and Xion must adequately face the consequences of their insubordination or face their end."

"Can we really call it insubordination? They were disrespectful but their mission compliance is impeccable!" He leant forth in his chair, balling his fists on the hard pale arm rests.

"The moment our members begin to doubt their superior's; chaos is plotted, the balance lopsided, something must be done. Do not tell me you have forgotten the traitors you handled at Castle Oblivion already?" He slowly blinked; his voice a slow dangerous rumble.

Axel looked away. "No, I have not. But Roxas and Xion… they're not like that!" He desperately frowned. "They're kids! They made a mistake!"

He was too loud for Xemnas liking; Xemnas raised a palm to silence him. "Even so, there must not be a repeat of this incident. You have been entrusted with the education and guardianship of our youngest members, discipline falls into your hands. I trust you to carry out the duty acceptably and earnestly. It is for the sake of the Organization."

"Yes… Superior." He hung his head.

"Good. You may consider this an assignment. I wish to know what punishment was carried out, and, if I consider it suitable, I shall refrain from administering punishment myself." He disappeared in dark as did Axel, not daring to mutter insults under his breath.

Reappearing in his room, Axel sat on his bed, wondering what punishment would be acceptable. He felt Roxas and Xion had already been punished, they had been sent to bed without dinner and he was ready to give them a stern talking to… but Xemnas' words… that he would punish them if he did not approve of Axel's methods… that changed everything.

He stared at his hand, the memories of Castle Oblivion weighed heavily upon his shoulders as a flicker of flame came to his fingers. "Alright," he vanquished it, clenching his hand, "I'm sorry guys." Decision made, the first person he sought was Saix. He found him alone in the grey room, flicking through the pages on his clipboard. "Roxas and Xion need to be relieved of their missions today."

"If Lord Xemnas ordered it he would have informed me personally." He didn't one glance up from his papers.

"It's not Lord Xemnas' order, it's mine. He wants me to administer punishment to them and if it's not done to his taste he'll do worse."

Saix finally looked up. "And what are you planning on doing to them?"

Axel rubbed the back of his flaming hair. "I… don't know… I was hoping you could tell me."

"You have seen and experienced the Superior's discipline; you know what he does." He paused; the memory of a cruel smile was hinted upon his face. "His order's for you to carry out discipline is genius. This is your punishment."

Gaping and wide-eyed, Axel exhaled before turning away. He had seen what Xemnas could do. He had seen Nobodies punished, beaten into nothingness else turned into Dusks by Xemnas' own hand. Even him, during his first week of being a Nobody he himself had his arms outstretched and was stabbed with broiling hot red shards, piercing him like hot needles every hour until his will finally gave way and he accepted that leaving the growing Organization had worse consequences than staying.

The memory sent a shiver of sickness down his spine, he couldn't imagine allowing Roxas and Xion to go through such a thing… he had been bedridden for weeks, moving only to prove he was useful and avoid eradication.

It was an impossible situation.

Roxas swallowed his ice cream. "We got you into a lot of trouble, didn't we?"

"You sure did."

Xion shrugged. "At least Xemnas didn't tell you to hurt the puppy."

"Really?" Axel scoffed. "You were alright with getting disciplined so long as the dog was alright?" He dramatically waved his arms. "How did the dog get out?"

Saix crossed his legs. "He'd broken through the door; I had to ensure it was replaced."

"What?" Xion's eyes widened. "The puppy broke through the door? How could that even happen?"

Roxas laughed. "Because he's a big dog Xion! I still can't believe you still call him a puppy!"

She nudged him with her elbow. "Hey! Puppies are cute so of course he is one!"

"He was a full-grown mongrel." Axel announced. "I wonder how the King walks him without getting pulled flat on his face?"

Saix had an odd, curious, expression. "What did Axel do to you both?" Three pairs of wide eyes looked at him. "Xemnas certainly approved of Axel's actions, he never mentioned it again."

Roxas lowered his eyes. "Axel came into my room after he saw Xemnas, I guess."

Roxas was hungry and bored. Sat on his bed he had been fidgeting,waiting for Axel to tell him he could leave his room. Beginning to think he had been forgotten the door opened. "Axel!" His greeting was so chirpy it obviously hurt Axel somehow, making the tall man recoil a little as he stepped into the room. "I've been in here forever! Can we ask Saix if we can work together today?" Roxas walked to him, noticing that something was wrong with his friend. "Axel?" He tilted his head.

Axel crossed his arms, staring down at the difficult boy. "No. Xemnas spoke to me this morning."

"He did?"

"Yeah… he's not happy with you and Xion… the way you behaved yesterday. He wants something done about it."

"Like what? It's not a really hard mission is it? Is he gonna make me work with Demyx again?" His shoulders slumped.

"No Roxas it's –"

"Another double heart quota?"

"No –"

"TRIPLE?"

"Roxas!" Axel barked. "Xemnas is never so lenient! He wants me to punish you in a way he approves of."

Roxas was perfectly still, his hands and feet twitched, obviously pondering whether to summon a dark portal and escape. "What're you gonna do?" He swallowed.

Axel paused; he didn't want to hurt him, the boy had done little wrong – it was un-just. "I'm gonna take you somewhere we can talk." He opened a portal and followed Roxas through, stepping onto an empty location, grassy for miles with only a winding pathway to break up the scenery. There was nothing else to see, the world was almost barren.

"Where are we?" Roxas looked around.

"We won't be disturbed here. Sit down, we need to talk."

Roxas obediently sat cross-legged on the grass. "This is so not like you!"

Stern faced, Axel stood opposite him, wondering where to begin. "When I was your age –"

Roxas laughed. "You were my age?"

"Quiet Roxas!"

He seemed almost hurt. "It was just a joke."

"I am not in the mood for jokes; this is the face of a very troubled man!"

"Oh… what is it?"

"I have to tell you… that is… I have to let you know…! There's no easy way to say this!" He stopped rubbing his head to stare Roxas in the eyes. "You're not in Xemnas' good books, and now I have these icky orders to punish you until you and Xion know you're never to behave in such a way again."

"But we won't Axel!"

"I know that! And you know that! But Xemnas wants something done about it something… physical."

Roxas grimaced. "Discipline? Like punishment? So… no ice cream for a month?"

"A bit more serious than that Roxas. That's why I'm… I'm giving you a choice. You can either let me punish you, it will hurt but it will come from me, or you can let me hand you over to Xemnas and he'll do as he likes."

"What kind of choice is that?" Roxas yelled, getting to his feet. "Get hurt or get hurt? Can't you talk him out of it?" He stomped his foot. "Forget this!" He tried to summon a portal but it wouldn't come. "What?"

"Your powers work differently in this world. Getting in and out takes a special skill that you don't have. You're not leaving until you give me an answer." Roxas growled and balled his gloved fists. "Who do you want Roxas?"

He lowered his head, speaking quietly. "What will Xemnas do?"

"When I was a bit older than you, during my first week as a Nobody he…" he shook his head, "it was really bad. I couldn't move for weeks and then I had to get right back to work or become a Dusk."

"What will you do?"

"I don't want you to endure two punishments because Xemnas doesn't think mine is good enough so I'll be harsh… I'll hurt you bad… so Xemnas can't hurt you worse. It's your choice, Roxas."

Roxas looked defeated, obviously thinking the matter through. To be humiliated at Xemnas' harsh hands… or hurt by his closest, reluctant, friend. "You." He quietly said.

Axel took a deep breath. "This will hurt a lot but it will be quick. Take some deep breaths and try to stay calm."

"How can I stay calm when I don't know what you're gonna do? This isn't fair!"

"I know, so let's make sure I'm not told to do it again."

Upset, Roxas stared at his boots, obviously planning to put up a fight. Taking the quiet opportunity, Axel clicked his fingers and flame attacked Roxas' body just as it had Vexen's! He controlled the heat this time, not enough to scar or kill but enough to scold.

Roxas' scream echoed through the plain! Axel kept the burn going until he heard Roxas struggle to inhale a breath of fire! He stopped. Roxas fell to the grass, smoke rising off his coat; it had protected him from the worst.

"Roxas?" Axel ran to him, turning him onto his front. The boy was unconscious, hot to the touch, face flushed blood red, skin drying. It was nothing compared to his treatment of Vexen.

Summoning a dark portal he collected Roxas in his arms and returned the boy to his bedroom, muttering apologies.

Xemnas was there. Leant against the far wall, staring at him.

"Xemnas?"

"I thought I would come and see the results for myself." He kept his eyes on Roxas as Axel laid him on the bed, removing his boots. "To think I was unsure you would do it." He disappeared.

Axel was disgusted, with himself or Xemnas? He couldn't be sure. He carefully undressed Roxas, examining the damage. He hadn't hurt him too badly; it had mostly been extreme heat and smoke inhalation, no worse than a terrible sunburn.

He kept muttering apologies as he wet a cloth and laid it over Roxas' forehead, another over his chest, placing a cool glass of water on his bedside. "I have to go to Xion now. I'll be back soon."

He reluctantly stepped across the hall to Xion's room. There was no sign of her. "Xion." He growled, guessing where she'd be he approached the kitchen, it still stank of smoke and bleach but lesser than the day before. "Xion!"

Xion looked away from Pluto, she was knelt on the floor stroking him while he ate, she had made herself toast with eggs, it was placed on the table on the last surviving plate. "I told you to stay in your room!"

"But it's morning and the puppy needed breakfast!" Her stomach rumbled. "And so do I."

He crossed his arms. "Why won't you do as you're told? The dog would have been fine for the morning!"

Xion's upset expression matched Roxas' defiant one as she stood on her toes, pouting up at him. "Saix might have done something terrible to him! And why did I have to stay in my room when I could have been training? It was a waste of time!"

"It was punishment."

"Punish-ment?" She tested the word. "What's that?"

"Punishment is when someone does something to tell you off so you don't do the same bad thing again."

"But you already told us off when you yelled at us!"

"And staying in your room was supposed to be punishment so you could reflect on what you did." He uncrossed his arms. "And to keep you safe."

"Safe? Safe from what?"

"You insulted Xemnas. He doesn't take such things lightly."

Xion lowered her head. "We didn't mean to burn the kitchen."

"And?"

"…Shouldn't have spoken about Xemnas like that." She muttered.

"Xion, this is important. Xemnas spoke to me this morning, let's go somewhere we can talk." He opened a portal.

"We can talk here." She shrugged, walking into the portal regardless.

"Somewhere we won't be interrupted." He followed her through; taking her to the same place he had Roxas.

Xion's eyes lit up, she seemed so delighted that Axel knew if he had a heart it would have broken. "It's so pretty!" She noticed something and hurried to it. "What happened here?" She was examining the black scorch marks on the grass. "Did you do something Axel?"

"Sit down Xion," she seemed to notice something was wrong by the tone of his voice, "I've already spoken to Roxas, I'll tell you the same thing."

"Roxas was here?" She anxiously looked at the scorch marks. "What did you do?"

"Sit down." He harshly demanded, staring at her until she sat on her knees, staring up at him.

"You and Roxas were disrespectful to Xemnas. He saw me this morning and told me that if I don't punish you in a way he approves of he'll deal with you himself." He ignored Xion's small anxious gasp. "Xemnas is harsh, I should know, so I'm giving you the choice. You can let me punish you, it will hurt but it will come from me, or I can hand you over to Xemnas. It's your choice."

Xion swallowed. "I don't even understand what punishment is! What's the difference between you and Xemnas? Are there different types of punishment?"

Stoic and stern, Axel didn't move. "There are many different ways to punish a person, sometimes just with words, in some worlds if you do something against the law they lock you away in a prison or a dungeon, or even torture you, punishment can be a lot of things, but none of them are nice."

"Wait a minute; you already punished me and Roxas! You sent us to our rooms!"

"I did, but that wasn't enough to satisfy Xemnas."

Xion sadly looked at the grass, playing with the green strands in her hands. "He wants you to hurt us, doesn't he?"

"He does, and if I don't he'll hurt you himself."

"He'll turn me into a dusk?"

"After he's hurt you."

"I still don't' understand!" She stood, just as Roxas had when his temper flared. "What's the difference between you and Xemnas if you're going to hurt me like he would?"

"Not like he would. Just in a way he approves of. It's your choice, Xion, you can let me hand you over to Xemnas to do whatever he wants for as long as he wants, or you can let me do it. It will hurt a lot but I'll be quick… just like I was with Roxas."

"Roxas? You hurt Roxas?" She shouted, horrified.

"It was his choice. This is yours."

She eyed the scorch marks. "You'll burn me?" He didn't answer. "What will Xemnas do?"

"Same thing he did to me when I was just a little older than you." She gasped, staring at him, awaiting further description. "He… it was my first week as a Nobody and… I couldn't move. He stabbed me with those laser things all day until I…" He couldn't say anymore.

"All day?" Xion gasped.

"Last chance Xion." He snapped. "If you don't give me an answer I'll go get him!"

Hands gripped to her chest, Xion bit her lips, staring at the green grass. "…You… I think – AH!" Flame engulfed her body! She breathed fire and inhaled smoke, her skin blistered and reddened! She couldn't count the seconds, seeing black spots before her body hit the ground.

"I'm sorry Xion." He pulled her limp body onto his lap, watching her rapid breathing. "C'mon, let's go." He lifted her up just as he had Roxas and transported her to her room. Xemnas was not there this time, obviously trusting him to get the job done.

Laying her on the bed he removed her boots, noticing her feet were blistered through the looser seams of her soles, then removed her coat, glanced away as he removed her shirt and pants and laid a wet cloth on her forehead, trying to grant her some modesty by laying the other wide across her chest.

He left her side to check on Roxas, he could hear small groaning's from his room before he walked in. Roxas was trying to sit up, his eyes were hazy with heat; his skin was flaking. "Don't sit up." Axel approached. Roxas winced away from him. "Hey, c'mon man, it's all over now."

"You didn't tell me you were going to do that." Roxas rasped.

Axel handed him the water. "If you were too tense it would have hurt worse."

"My head hurts."

"It's just a heat headache, like when you stay in Agrabah too long. I can get you some painkillers but it will take a while, Saix has to approve them and I have to fill in the paperwork."

Roxas didn't dare nod. "Yeah…"

"Alright, you stay here and rest, I'll be back."

Roxas knew he must have fallen asleep because when he awoke the pills were at his bedside and Axel was gone. Swallowing the pills, Roxas tried to stand, he was wobbly on his legs but managed to put on his dark pyjamas and hobble to Xion's room.

"Are the painkillers working?" He heard Axel speak inside.

"You didn't give me a warning." Xion sounded upset, her voice just as raspy as Roxas'.

"If I had I might have hurt you more." He turned his head when the door opened and Roxas limped inside, gripping the doorframe for support. "You should be in bed." He moved to guide him back.

Roxas growled. "I want to see Xion!"

"Xion needs her rest and so do you. C'mon, back to bed." Roxas kept trying to move around him, to approach Xion, but Axel wouldn't allow it.

"We can rest together." Xion croaked.

"Huh?" Axel tilted his head.

"Come on Roxas." She scooted over allowing him room on the bed.

Roxas blushed but sat beside her, holding his head as he laid down.

"Good grief!" Axel huffed! "You two are hopeless!" Musing at the sight of the two of them struggling to share a pillow he almost smiled. "You can share a bed just this once ok? I'll go get your pillow Roxas, you two hungry?"

"No Axel! Don't go!" Xion called, surprising him.

"Stay." Roxas begged.

He rubbed the back of his flaming head. "You uh… you really want me to stay?" 'Despite what I did to you?'

"Yeah." Roxas would have nodded had his head not been so painful.

Xion didn't raise her head off the pillow. "Why wouldn't we?"

"Alright, move your feet." He sat at the foot of the bed, unsure of what they expected him to do. "Did you know the sea is blue because of red light? You see, without red the colour blue would not exist because they're at opposite ends of the spectrum." He knew he was prattling, but his nonsense must have soothed them, he watched them fall asleep and was surprised when he too slept, waking between the two sleeping Nobody's snuggled into his sides.

"The punishment must have worked because we never did it again." Xion decided, finishing her ice cream. "It took us a few days to get better."

Roxas smiled. "And Axel brought us ice cream every day!"

Saix raised his brow. "Every day? Really Lea?"

"I had to do something to make amends!"

"And when we were better" Xion continued "Axel taught us how to take care of the puppy properly, he took us to the pet store here and we bought him bowls on a stand, real puppy food and a big basket! We got a free ball so we could play with him."

"Yup," Axel got to his feet, "we did." He stretched and yawned. "Alright guys, I have to go to work you have to do your homework." He ignored Xion and Roxas' exaggerated moans, walking down to Station Plaza. "I'll see you in the morning." He yawned.

"Axel," Xion quietly spoke, "can we get a puppy?"

Roxas' lit up. "Yeah! We have money saved from our summer job; we could take care of one!"

"What?" Axel was horrified! "After everything we just spoke about did you not memorize what happened last time?" He held a finger to his head.

Roxas shrugged. "But we're not in the Organization anymore!"

"Please Axel; we know how to look after one now."

He put his hands on his hips, keeping a close eye on the giant clock above them. "When you guys are at school, Saix is at work and I'm sleeping for my shift who would take it for walks? Feed it and play with it? We don't have time for a dog! Tell them Isa!" He frowned, awaiting the scolding his friend would deliver.

Saix sternly looked at them. "I wouldn't mind a dog."

"WHAT?"

Xion gasped! "Thank you Saix!"

Roxas excitedly leapt and practically galloped down the slope. "I'm going to the pet store!" He and Xion disappeared out of sight.

"They'll never do their homework now!" Axel scowled. "What were you thinking?"

Saix smiled. "I like dogs."