Roxas's cheeks felt cold. "Huh…?" He rubbed his face. Somehow it was wet. His vision was all misty.

He lay in his bed, and outside the window, Kingdom Hearts hung in the sky.

He'd been dreaming. It left him in terrible anguish—a nightmare about his two best friends being torn away from him because he was too weak to protect them. Because he had lost the use of the Keyblade.

He wondered if Xion had felt that same helplessness when she couldn't use her Keyblade.

Roxas got up and stared into space. He felt so…heavy. So tired and listless. Like he hadn't slept at all. He just wanted to go back to sleep.

Was it because of the dreams? But he dreamed all the time. Even if he couldn't always remember them so vividly, the dreaming was nothing new.

His reflection in the mirror was no different from usual. Maybe his eyes were a little red—probably because he was so tired.

He got himself ready and headed for the Grey Area.

Axel was having a dream, too.

Lea was sitting on one of the benches in fountain court with Isa. It was dark out. He looked up at waning crescent moon. It looked the same as the moon on Isa's jacket.

"Hey, Isa."

"Hmm?"

"How come the moon glows? It's not a star, right? And how come it changes shape every night?"

Isa sighed. "You never pay attention in class, do you?"

"Hehe. Whoops. Guess we already covered that?"

"Ugh. You're completely hopeless."

"C'mon, tell me! Please!" Lea wriggled in his seat like a little kid.

Isa decided to tell Lea his favorite bedtime story he heard as a kid. "It's the rabbit's heart."

"Huh? Rabbit?"

"Yeah. They say long ago, the moon used to be dark. But that all changed one day. The Man on the Moon decided to visit the animals in the forest, to test their hearts. So he transformed himself into a beggar. He was so hungry, he didn't even have the strength to stand on his own. He asked each animal in the forest to help him. The fox brought him fruit, and the bear brought him fish. But the rabbit felt helpless."

Lea was listening intently.

"He was small and weak and was only used to collecting grass for food. He wasn't able to find anything to save the dying man. Ashamed, he went back."

'I am so sorry but I have not yet found anything; I will search elsewhere. Please make a fire and await my return.'

"Standing by the old man, the smug fox and bear were getting impatient."

'The rabbit brought back nothing and now he tells us to make a fire and wait for him? Useless!'

"A little while later, the rabbit returned, still with nothing to offer the man. So instead he offered his own body to eat. He stared into the fire, then jumped into its flames."

"That's going...a bit too far..." Lea said, a little sad.

"Well, that was when the old beggar revealed that he was the Man on the Moon. He was touched by the rabbit's sacrifice. He renounced his own self for the sake of another. The rabbit was reborn and his heart was taken to the moon, where he was able to live forever. There, the Man in the Moon told him something."

'You may be just a rabbit, but everyone will remember you. Here is your heart's light in the sky, for all people and for all times to see.'

"That's why the moon's phases exist in a cycle of waxing and waning. It represents the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth."

"I don't think that's what we learned in school," Lea joked.

Isa simply smiled at him.

Lea couldn't help but think that his green eyes looked beautiful under the moonlight.

"It'd be nice to live forever, huh?" he remarked to Isa, gazing up at the moon.

Axel woke up suddenly from his dream and looked at the heart-shaped moon outside his window. He reclined on his bed with hands behind his head. He couldn't help but recall Roxas's words.

"We're supposed to be best friends."

Then Saïx's words came to mind.

"If you could save one of them, why would you choose the puppet?"

Guess it's time for me to make some decisions soon.

He sighed, then got up and headed to the Gray area.

That dream again, Xemnas thought looking up at heart-shaped moon.

Was it really just a dream? Or was it a vision of his future?

He saw himself sitting atop a great throne, clad in silver armor. Surrounding this throne were many weapons, once used by his fallen comrades. He, No Heart, had devoured their hearts and their strength along with it. He was engaged in a fierce battle with Sora over the fate of Kingdom Hearts.

"Face them. Face the unquenched thirst for battle of those who have returned to the void!"

"Unquenched thirst for battle? You're just using them."

"And why not? The power of the weak exists to feed the strong. You too may become my strength."

"Hearts quivering with hatred... Hearts burning with rage... Hearts scarred by envy... Hearts are the source of all power. Hear me, Kingdom Hearts! I will feed to you as many hearts as it takes."

Keyblade Masters had a special gift. They could extract a heart, be it their own or that of another. By continuing that cycle, it was possible to remain in the world of the living forever. They were effectively immortal. But such an ability required them to hollow out another person and steal their body. That is what Master Xehanort did with Terra. And that was exactly what Xemnas was planning to do. Offer up thirteen vessels, thirteen bodies, as an offering to Kingdom Hearts so that "they" could live forever.

"Lord Xemnas. How is the progress of Kingdom Hearts?"

Xemnas turned to look at Saïx, who had just arrived.

"Pitiful Heartless, mindlessly collecting hearts. And yet they know not the true power of what they hold. The rage of the Keyblade releases those hearts. They gather in darkness, masterless and free…until they weave together to form Kingdom Hearts. And when that time comes at last, we can truly exist."

On that day the Replicas will truly finally exist. We shall finally be able to exist in the realm of light without the aid of human vessels. Somewhere deep down, Saïx must be aware of that.

"There is no need to worry. The time will come very soon," Xemnas replied confidently.

Isa already had Xehanort's heart planted within him long ago. Due to the mind control experiments, he renounced his sense of self, leaving him unable to reject Xehanort's heart. All who had Xehanort's heart planted within them were gradually swallowed by it.

The hearts were consumed, but they did not disappear. They were dragged to the deepest abyss by the Lich. This being wasn't like other Heartless. It was a powerful wizard, skilled in necromancy, who sought eternal life. The captured hearts returned to the void, leaving behind empty vessels for the Replicas to inhabit.

Isa's body was a host to one of these Replicas. One of the thirteen dark beings that would be present in Scala ad Caelum on the promised day. Saïx therefore was not like the other members. He was not Lea's childhood friend. He was a Replica who had devoured Isa's heart, absorbed his memories, and took control of his empty shell. Due to those memories, he truly thought he was Isa, just as the Riku Replica thought he was Riku. And so did Axel. This was why Xemnas never bothered to punish them, even though he was well aware of their intent to betray him.

Xemnas thought of Xion. He knew that Xion's true form was an armor-clad Keyblade wielder, just like him. No Heart. A Replica with the ability to absorb the memories and strength of others and use it as her own. Xion herself had no idea of her true nature, however. At least for now. Soon, she would awaken to her true purpose and desire only one thing: strength.

When Axel arrived in the lobby, Demyx and Luxord were sitting at the table. Xion was already there, too. He decided to wait, so he stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. After I brought Xion back that day, we all went up to the clock tower. But none of us said a word. For the past three weeks, it's been pretty awkward. Nobody's said much. I can tell Roxas is still mad at me.

"Hey, did you know that Luxord can, like, predict the future with his cards?" Demyx was petty bored waiting for Saïx to show up, who was uncharacteristically late.

"Mind doin' a reading for me?" Xigbar, who had just entered the lobby, walked over to the table.

Luxord addressed his superior in a formal way. "I didn't know you were interested in this kind of thing, sir."

"Oh, I think it sounds pretty fun. I'll bite."

Lurord shuffled his deck and laid a handful of cards face down on the table. "All right. Choose one."

Xigbar flipped a card.

"The Devil."

Yeah, that sounds about right, Axel quietly thought to himself as he observed from a distance.

"So, what's it mean?"

"It represents being seduced by the material world and physical pleasures."

Xigbar flashed a somewhat devious-looking smile, which creeped Demyx out.

"This card is associated with Capricorn, one of the twelve signs of the zodiac."

Demyx cocked his head to the side. "Zodiac?"

"I've been to many a world. I recall one with a magic mirror that knew the answer to any question asked of it. On that mirror were twelve symbols. Those were the signs of the zodiac. They are said to each represent a certain type of personality."

"Oh. So what's Xigbar's personality like?"

"Capricorns are ambitious, organized, and practical. They also love making their own rules and will overcome whatever stands between them and their long-term goals. They don't let anything distract them from getting ahead. Because of their unwavering focus, however, they are often perceived as cold and unemotional."

Xigbar burst out laughing. "Ahahaha! Oh, man, I just love me some card games. Well, I gotta get to work." Then he promptly left.

"Man. That guy is weird," remarked Demyx after he was out of earshot. "Hey Xion, why don't you give it a try?"

Xion walked over to the table. "Ok...sure." The card she flipped over had nothing but a large X on it.

"Death," Luxord said.

Xion and Demyx both gasped.

"It's nothing to fear. Death does not mean physical death, mind you. The Death Tarot card usually signifies spiritual transformation and a time of change and new beginnings, not actual death."

"...I see," she said quietly.

"Huh. So, what's Xion's personality?"

"Scorpio. A water sign."

Xion thought about that. Water. The sea. The sound of the waves.

"Scorpio is the most mysterious and intense sign in the zodiac. They are known for their passion, assertiveness, determination, and decisiveness."

"True, Xion is pretty hard-working," Demyx added. He turned around. "Hey, Axel! Come here and let Luxord tell your fortune!"

"Oh, whatever. Fine." He walked over to the table and flipped over a card.

"Ah, the Sun. This card conveys a sense of bounty. It is concerned with the cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth. This is a very warm and happy card. It comes up to light the way forward during a time of darkness. This is also a card of healing, especially on an emotional level. It promises hope and happiness, along with a new sense of safety, protection, and recovery. You could say that when this card appears, miracles happen."

"Wow, pretty sweet! So what's his personality?"

"Well, Leo is the sign ruled by the Sun. It is a fiery sign known for being generous, warm-hearted, and affectionate. They are confident and ambitious, and are usually the center of attention. Why, they can charm the pants of just about anyone and it's never boring with them around. And like the lion that represents them, Leos are also strong, brave, and ready to dominate everything they set out to do."

"Sounds pretty cool, man!" Demyx thought about it for a second. "Oh, oh! I know! Do Saïx! Do Saïx!"

"Oh, boy..." Axel sighed.

"All right. I suppose we can give him a reading before he shows up." Luxord shuffled again, spread the cards out and flipped one over. "Hmm. The Moon. Interesting. This card represents fear and the shadows that lurk in the subconscious. It is also a card of illusion and deception. It suggests that something is not as it appears to be."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Demyx wondered aloud.

"I couldn't say. But the Moon rules Cancer. It is an emotional water sign. Those born under it tend to be the most sensitive of all, despite their tough outer shell. They are extremely nurturing, loyal, and selfless."

Demyx gave Luxord a bewildered stare. "...Uh, dude? I think you must have made some kinda mistake."

Luxord just stroked his beard. "The cards have spoken. I am merely a messenger."

"Yeah, but come on. X-face? Sensitive? Nurturing? Pffft. What a joke!"

"Well, Cancers do have a dark side. They are known for their moodiness. This is because the moon waxes and wanes with the changing tides. Their deepest fear is abandonment, which makes them needy. They don't open up to others easily, but when they do become comfortable with someone, they cling to them for dear life. They can be quite desperate for that person's affection. If they don't get it, they can be very withdrawn and jealous."

"Moody, huh? Well, I guess we better watch out on a full moon. Saïx might be having his time of the month, if ya know what I mean. Hahaha—Huh?" Demyx suddenly whirled around when he noticed Luxord's expression. "Oh, uh. Saïx. G-good...morning..."

It was uncertain if Saïx overheard anything. He said nothing and simply walked to his usual spot.

Not long afterwards, Roxas finally arrived. He saw Xion and Axel in the lobby. But he no longer knew what to say to either of them. Why had Axel attacked Xion like that? He'd been for real. Serious enough that he almost seemed about to take her down for good. The thought made Roxas nervous. Axel wasn't saying anything to him, either.

As the awkward silence settled over them, Demyx spoke up.

"Yo! Morning, Roxas!"

"Morning..."

"Man. You look tiiiired. Hey, wanna hear your fortune? That should wake you up." Demyx wanted to satisfy his own curiosity more than anything.

"Huh? Oh, uh, sure." He flipped over a card.

"The Star."

Stars. Roxas did always enjoy looking at them for some reason. "What's it mean?" Roxas asked.

"When the Star card appears in a reading, it indicates renewed hope and faith. You could say it's the card of inspiration."

"Oh..." Roxas didn't seem to think it fit his current situation.

"So, what's Roxas's personality?" Demyx asked.

"Aquarius. Despite the name, it's actually an air sign. They are kind, friendly, and generous, though you may find that they are quite guarded and may choose to keep some emotional distance. Despite their friendly nature, they have a reputation for being outsiders, sometimes feeling detached from the world around them."

"We don't have time for these childish games. Get going on your missions already," Saïx barked.

"Yeah, yeah..." Demyx whined under his breath. "Killjoy."

Xion cocked her head. "Roxas, is something wrong? You don't look so good…"

"No—I'm fine."

"Are you sure…?" Xion looked uncertainly to Axel, but he had nothing to say.

Roxas gave up and quietly dragged himself toward Saïx.

"I'm deploying you and Xion together today," was the order.

That let Roxas breathe a bit easier. He was glad the mission was with her. Especially since it meant he wasn't with Axel. "All right. Let's go, Xion."

"…Right."

Roxas started off by himself, opening the portal to the Corridors of Darkness.

"Hey, Roxas, wait up." Xion came after him, but she stopped right in front of the portal to glance back at Axel.

"Don't push yourself," Axel said.

What he said reminded her of the day she collapsed and Axel said the three of them were best friends. She smiled at him and disappeared into the corridors.

Axel left on his own mission. All he was told was the usual: find Riku. He'd already searched all the worlds Sora had visited. So, today he went to a new world.

Riku is very cautious. He wouldn't let Xion anywhere near the hero until she made her final decision. I wonder if Xemnas is disappointed that she didn't lead him to Sora. Now what do they plan to do with her?

Axel searched all day and, unsurprisingly, found nothing. He sat down in a tree on top of a cliff overlooking a great oasis. There was a waterfall nearby. He looked out at the scenery for a while until three inhabitants of the world showed up. A lion, a warthog, and a meerkat.

Since I'm sitting up here in this tree, I don't think they can see me.

This was where the three friends lived. Three outcasts named Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa. Axel knew a little bit about Simba, since he was an acquaintance of Sora. He was hiding his past from his two relatively carefree friends. Both he and Axel had something in common.

At night Simba liked to watch the stars, just as Axel liked to watch the sunset. To Keyblade wielders, the stars were the hearts of the worlds. But Simba was taught something else. He sauntered on over towards the cliff and plopped down, causing flowers to be carried off in the wind.

"Simba, what's eatin' ya?" asked Pumbaa.

"Nothing. He's at the top of the food chain! Get it? Ahhhhhhha ha haaa!" Timon howled with laughter at his own joke, but suddenly realized Simba didn't find it so amusing. "C'mon, Simba. What's the matter?"

"Oh. It's nothing. I'm just...watching the herds move."

Timon approached the cliff where Simba was and looked down. Far off in the distance, towards the savannah, movement could be seen. All sorts of animals were heading towards the Pride Lands. "Ah, you're right. Wonder where they're all going?"

Simba responded in a monotone voice. "Maybe a new future king has been born."

"A king?" Pumbaa asked, clueless. Timon didn't seem to know what he meant, either.

Simba explained in a detached manner, staring off in the distance. "A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, the sun will set on the current king's time, and will rise with a new king. I think that a new future king must have been born. So, animals from all around the kingdom are going to pay their respects before his time rises."

"So, uh, no offense Simba, but why is the king a LION?" Timon asked cynically.

"Because he's the strongest," Pumbaa said as he nodded, satisfied with that simple explanation.

"Right...the strongest rule..." Simba replied quietly, thinking of his father.

"But why are there antelope heading to pay respects to a lion as their king? Don't lions, ya know, EAT antelope?"

"Yes, Timon. But when we lions die, our bodies become the grass. And the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life. Everything exists together, in a delicate balance," he said reciting his father's words as he remembered them all those years ago.

Timon wasn't convinced. "Nope. Still don't get it. They worship something...that eats them. Sure, the lions become the grass, but they're already dead. Us? We're alive! I mean, everyone's gotta eat to live and all, but I ain't a fan of sacrificin' myself to become someone else's meal, if ya know what I mean."

Simba wasn't sure how to answer. That was just what he was always taught.

Axel lingered in this world until the sun began to set. He wasn't planning on going up to the clock tower today. He couldn't stop thinking about Roxas and Xion.

Xion wanted to talk to someone about Roxas. She needed advice… Well, Axel's advice, specifically. She felt like she had to talk to him. Back in the castle, Xion searched for him. She was heading for Axel's room, when she caught a glimpse of a redheaded figure in the hallway.

"Axel!"

He paused and turned toward her. "You need something?"

Xion ran up to him, but then the slight chill in his words nearly froze her. She could hardly talk. "Well, um… It's just…"

"If you don't, I've got places to be." Axel started walking.

She caught his sleeve. "I just— There's something wrong with Roxas. You don't know why, do you?"

Axel looked at her again.

Xion gathered her courage and kept going. "He says the Keyblade wears him out now when he goes to use it. And suddenly, I find myself fighting the same way he does…" She was trying, but she couldn't quite explain it.

Axel heaved a sigh. "Well, you know him better than me."

"Why would you say that?" Xion stared up at him. It still felt like he was speaking coldly to her. But she didn't understand what he was getting at, and she had to ask.

"Well, what do you think, Xion?"

"I'm not sure."

"Not sure, huh? Is that because you're just a puppet?"

She gasped at that word.

"Come on, don't look shocked," Axel went on. "You already know you're a replica. A puppet whose original purpose was to duplicate Roxas's powers. If he's getting weaker, and you're getting stronger, maybe you're taking a little more than you oughta be."

He didn't gloss over anything. Confronted with the plain truth, she looked away. "…What should I do, then?" she mumbled at the floor. She didn't have the answer.

"You gotta think for yourself. 'Cause I know you're not just a puppet." Axel took hold of her shoulders, and she turned up to him again. There was sincerity in his eyes and kindness. "We're best friends. You, me, and Roxas, that is. Got it memorized?"

"Yeah." Xion nodded. Riku probably would have told her the same. "Um, Axel, can I ask you one other thing?" she said.

He let go of her. "What's that?"

"I saw a boy today who looks just like Roxas…"

Surprise registered on Axel's face for a moment.

"Is he…who I think he is?" Xion asked. "Was that boy…Sora?"

Axel folded his arms and said nothing.

"Am I just—? I mean, is copying Roxas's power all I do?"

"…I can't answer that for you, either."

"Oh…" Xion's gaze dropped again. Her chest felt tight with apprehension.

"Power and memories…" Axel mused.

Xemnas stood at the top of the Grand Hall in Hollow Bastion's Castle. Members I-VIII were all gathered around him, now reborn as Nobodies. The large Keyhole of the world was right before them, but it was still sealed without the seven princesses.

If artificial Heartless were defeated, the hearts they released would create an artificial Kingdom Hearts. Every heart captured by the Keyblade would go to this Kingdom Hearts—the power of all hearts. When it was completed, they would unite with it.

These are the vessels that will be offered to Kingdom Hearts. If the vessels are to fight on the promised day, they will need power.

Xemnas summoned a glowing pair of pink blades knows as ethereal blades. He could no longer wield the Keyblade. So his weapons took the shape of the blades he wielded in his boyhood. The χ-blade was said to be forged via a high-dimensional clash between two opposite poles. Xemnas's weapons represented those two poles. "Interdiction". The blades symbolized his authority.

"Now. Call upon your memories. Draw forth a weapon and show me your true worth," Xemnas commanded the rest of the members. He watched as each member summoned a weapon created from their memories.

Xigbar summoned arrowguns. "Sharpshooter".

Xaldin, a pair of lances. "Lindworm".

Lexaeus, an axe sword. "Skysplitter".

All three had weapons similar to the ones they remembered wielding as castle guards.

Vexen was never a guard and had no combat experience. But he tried his hardest to protect Ienzo throughout the ordeal and summoned a shield. "Frozen Pride".

Zexion had no memories of fighting, either. But his intellect was his weapon. He summoned a tome. "Book of Retribution".

Isa had no weapon of his own. He always used one of Lea's discs to fight Heartless.

Xehanort had his sights set on Terra as his new vessel because he was strong, like the earth itself. Though well-intentioned, he sought power single-mindedly and fought with equal ferocity. He fought with the intensity of a berserker—a legendary warrior said to be filled with such a lust for battle they were possessed by the spirit of a wolf or bear. His ferocity resembled that of Aced, the bear.

But Isa was the opposite. He had no such lust for power. He fought only out of the love he had for his friend. It was that love gave his heart tremendous power. However, his body was weak. If the spirit of any animal represented him, it wasn't a wolf or a bear or even a fox. It was a rabbit. Just a rabbit.

To Xemnas, the weak existed only to feed the strong. The rabbit had no right to exist. Its only purpose was to provide sustenance for stronger creatures. So Isa's heart was rightfully swallowed and his body became an offering to the Replica. The rabbit was devoured and provided sustenance for the werewolf.

As a vessel, he needed to fight. For Nobodies, weapons were created out of the memories of their human lives. The boy's own heart would become his weapon. Just like Terra's heart had become Ansem's.

Terra was imprisoned behind Xehanort, his consciousness—his heart—sealed away. Aqua sank to the Realm of Darkness. Ventus was asleep, dreaming. Terra was in a world of nothingness. A world without Darkness or Light. And that void became pain and sorrow and anger that rushed over him. All he could do was writhe in its grasp. Nothing could spring forth from there. The void only took in grief and suffering. A world where hope and joy could never exist. The place where the Unversed came from.

In that void, Terra's captured heart became a weapon. Ansem's Guardian. His feelings of pain and sorrow manifested as a dark being with large-muscles, yellow eyes, and a heart-shaped chasm in its chest. Its mouth was bound. This being no longer had a voice of its own.

Isa's body was weak. However, his heart was strong, due to the powerful feelings he had. Hearts were the source of all power. That heart, which now existed in the void, would be Saïx's most important weapon. His rage and anguish could be channeled into power.

To be of any worth whatsoever, he'd have to engage in every fight as if it was life or death. He'd have to be filled with so much rage, it would compensate for his lack of raw strength. He would require the power of a berserker. A werewolf.

Xemnas approached Saïx. "The purpose of your existence is to become stronger. Saïx."

Xemnas rearranged the letters in his name and added a large X. Isa was now dead and Saix—an alter ego of Xehanort—would now rise up to take his place.

And so Saïx summoned in his hand a weapon that had the power to call upon the power of the pain in Isa's captured heart. Usually cool and calm, he would turn into a berserker when he gripped this giant blade in combat. A cursed claymore in the shape of a certain magical rune—his old name:

"Isa", meaning "Ice". This weapon kept Isa's consciousness stuck in a static frozen state, unable to interfere. The large X on the tip glowed with power. "Lunatic".

Axel received his new name, then summoned a pair of chakrams, based on his memories of the toy discs he fought with. "Eternal Flames". They took the shape of Chaos. No authority. No objective truth. Absolute freedom.

Lea and Isa always had opposite, though complementary, personalities.

"Lea, we don't have time for this."

Isa lived his life according to Order. He always tried to make the right decisions. He was trustworthy, obedient to authority, and reliable. On the down side, he often scolded Lea. He was against sneaking inside the castle because it was against the rules. But if they were gonna do it, he figured they should at least stay on task and not goof around. That was just how he was. His personality made him suited to be Xemnas's right-hand man.

"Lighten up, Isa. It'll only take a sec."

Lea lived his life in alignment with Chaos. He always resented being told what to do and followed his own set of rules. He did whatever he felt like. He was free-spirited, adaptable, and flexible. On the downside, he could be reckless and irresponsible. His personality made him suited to be Xemnas's hit man.

As a Nobody, Axel had only one principle to live by. The Rule of Chaos:

"Do as thou wilt."

There's no such thing as good or bad, right or wrong. There's only what I want, and what I don't want. That's all.

Xion was back in her room, looking out her window.

Axel's always helping me out, so I just assumed he would again. How long has he known about me? Maybe since long before we met in Castle Oblivion.

But he told me to think for myself. I was so happy. But now, as I get stronger, Roxas keeps getting weaker. I shouldn't exist anymore. They say that Nobodies were never meant to exist, but I'm the real affront. But before I'm gone, I want to help Roxas and Axel. Even just a little.

I think the boy I saw today is the same Sora from my memories.

The next morning, only three of the thirteen chairs were occupied. Xemnas, Xigbar, and Saïx sat in their respective seats.

"Sora has a pretty powerful effect on her," said Xigbar, pensively stroking his chin.

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

Saïx studied the two others. Become the person we see. Yes, Xion had such a power— transforming in response to the memories of those it encountered. But Saïx himself had only ever seen the blank void of Xion. Not just anyone's memories would do. It had to be those with some connection to Sora—to the wielder of the Keyblade. Xion would take on a different form based on the memories of anyone bound to him in some way. And to those who had no memories of him at all, Xion would manifest as no more than a puppet. Saïx had to wonder what Xemnas and Xigbar saw when they looked at Xion. He'd done some research into their human pasts, but he found more mysteries than answers.

"The time has come. Saïx, are the devices ready?" Xemnas drawled.

Saïx nodded. "All three will be operable in a matter of days."

"Good."

"And what of Roxas?" Saïx inquired.

"Both of them have connections to Sora, but we only need one of them under our thumb," Xemnas replied. "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."

"Understood."

Xemnas disappeared nearly before he heard his order acknowledged.

"…Well, do your best. The best a kid without a heart can do, anyway," Xigbar told Saïx. Then he was gone, too.

Alone in the Round Room, Saïx raised his eyes to the high domed ceiling. All they needed was Sora's power. Everything was proceeding as anticipated. If Xemnas's plan remained unchanged, then so would his. Still, Saïx saw a potential wrench in the works—Axel and his patently obvious doubts. It might have been a mistake to let him get so close to Roxas and Xion.

Saïx let out a rather human sigh and vanished from the room.

Axel barely slept a wink thanks to all the thoughts turning in his head. He scowled at the throbbing pain in his temples. These sleep deprivation headaches were awful.

Rather than going back to sleep and getting a lecture, he went to the Grey Area before anyone else and claimed the sofa to keep thinking.

Xion and Roxas… Memory and power. Sora, the Keyblade master. A replica whose only purpose is to copy another. Back in Castle Oblivion, I met the Replica created from Riku's memories. Although I'm not sure it's appropriate to say we met. But I encountered the Replica there—that much is a fact.

Vexen's creation had gained Riku's powers by copying his memories. The copying itself involved Naminé's abilities as a memory witch. But Vexen always said Naminé's very existence was an anomaly—meaning the original plan had never accounted for her. There had to be some method of copying memories without Naminé's power; otherwise, the Replica would have remained an empty shell.

Axel reflected on the operations of the Organization members in Castle Oblivion, extracting memories from Sora and Riku.

Larxene took them from Sora, and Vexen from Riku, by doing battle and sealing those memories in cards. They gave the cards over to Naminé, who then subtly rewrote the memories stored there before they were returned to Sora and the Riku Replica. So perhaps Naminé's power was only necessary for the rewriting part. What if copying memories and abilities could be accomplished simply through battle…?

Having Xion and Roxas work together, then, let the puppet copy his memories. Memories and power are inextricably entwined, which was how Xion gained Sora's abilities along with his memories. Last night, I told Xion that she might be borrowing more from Roxas than she needed. But that wasn't quite right.

"So do you have any idea how you absorb other people's powers?"

"…I devour their strength by defeating them. That's what Vexen said."

"Devour, huh…?"

I have it memorized, all right. The Riku Replica had another way of gaining strength—completely absorbing an opponent's powers by destroying them. Knowing that, I goaded the Replica into terminating Zexion. At the time, I believed it necessary.

Xion is already copying memories from Roxas—or rather, the memories from Sora that Roxas harbors. Not all of them. Not yet. She's still incomplete. So what will the Organization have her do? Is she going to...devour Roxas until she's a complete Replica of Sora?

Roxas felt awful. He slept fine, but he felt totally exhausted. It took all his strength to drag himself to the lobby.

Saïx was there to meet him and assign a mission. "Roxas. Xaldin hasn't returned. I'd like you to find him and bring him back. He was assigned to Beast's Castle."

"...Okay."

"Are you feeling well?"

"Yeah. I think I just caught a cold. I'm on my way."

Saïx remained expressionless as he watched Roxas leave.

Then Xigbar approached. "So, everything's going according to plan? Maybe it's about time we put a stop to their little game of make-believe."

Axel went to Agrabah today. This time he decided to explore the expansive desert. He looked up at the waning crescent moon in the starry sky. "Ugh, this is so pointless."

Just then, he saw a short peddler in a turban riding on a camel. "Ah, Salaam and good evening to you, fellow traveler. You are also doing a little treasure hunting, I take it?"

"Something like that," Axel replied.

"You should stop by my shop later. Perhaps I might have something that interests you. I specialize in the extraordinarily rare."

"Have you seen anyone else out here tonight?"

"No. Only you." Then he spotted something. "Ah! Is that...why yes, it is!"

Axel watched the peddler kneel down beside a cactus with a white flower blooming on it.

"There she is. The Queen of the Night. If you take your eyes off her, she will slip away with the moon. An unattainable treasure of nature."

"Gonna sell it then, huh?"

"Ah, if only! These flowers cannot be purchased. They are truly priceless. They take about a year to bloom and then blossom for only an hour or so and are dead before dawn. They only survive for a single night. They cannot even be picked without dying. Their nocturnal beauty is truly fleeting. They tend to bloom on the day of the Full Moon, so it's unusual to see one tonight. These flowers are indeed poetic. They have a spectacular but very short lived moment of glory."

"So...a one hit wonder..."

"Yes. Or more precisely, a one night love affair. A fleeting, but magical moment that will never be forgotten. If only they could be picked! Nobles would pay good money to gift this flower to one of their mistresses. The Queen of Night is also called 'Beauty under the Moonlight'."

Axel looked down at the dying flower, and sadly thought of the past.

Beside the Beast, who had once been a handsome prince, stood a man in a black cloak. "That girl is scheming to take everything you have," said Xaldin, his hood pulled low to hide his face. "Your castle, your treasures…and then your very life."

"Belle, betray me? That's not possible. I trust her!"

"Trust no one. Feed your anger. Only rage will keep you strong!"

The Beast hung his head. "I've had enough of strength. There's only one thing I want…" The Beast gazed, unmoving, at the glass bell jar around a single red rose. Its fleeting power and beauty were slowly slipping away as the Beast's 21st birthday drew nearer. "To love and be loved in return."

Xaldin now knew exactly what the Beast's weakness was. The seed had been planted and he vanished.

Saïx approached Xemnas at the Altar of Naught. "Roxas is getting weaker by the day. I doubt he'll be of much use at this rate."

Xemnas smiled just a tiny bit. He raised his arms up as if he were praying. "Lexaeus, Vexen, Zexion, Marluxia, Larxene. So ephemeral was their existence. Those without power are always sacrificed."

Saïx scowled, the scar on his brow furrowing as he remembered his past self—weak and useless.

"Will Xion take from Roxas the rest of what he has to give? Or will he destroy her first and get all his power back? The two powers have fallen out of balance. What we need is one complete power... It makes no difference which."

Saïx was the ultimate utilitarian. If he saw something he could use, he would—and without a second thought. Without a heart, he had no value. He couldn't have friendship. He couldn't be loved. But he could still be of use. And he had successfully gained Xemnas's approval as his right hand man. Thus, he awakened to a new purpose—to become stronger.

He looked up at the heart-shaped moon. He was very powerful now. But he was sick of strength. There was only one thing he wanted. Kingdom Hearts was almost finished and the time was almost here. But he had to wonder if Axel wanted it as badly as he did. Could he really be trusted?