Shairo: I'm glad you enjoyed the previous chapters. There's plenty more fluff, angst and feels coming up.
Arika Koski: It most likely would be rated R due to the swearing and topics that I've touched on and will continue to touch on in the story.
A/N: Hey guys, Shay here back with another chapter and another time skip. I know it's been a while, but I am trying to get back in a writing groove. I'm back at work now after lockdown number 3 but that's not going to stop me from getting these chapters out to you. So, sit back, relax and enjoy this chapter. Also, can you believe that this story is now two years old? It's crazy.
The next 3 and a half weeks went by without much incident, Xion managed to relearn how to summon her keyblade which Shaylex was happy for. She found out the day after when she bumped into Roxas and Xion in Twilight town after their missions as the younger Nobody showed her. Shaylex's missions were uneventful, she would go to the same worlds with Tenebrae or other members of the Organization but today was going to be different though. Shaylex woke up a little bit earlier than normal, she couldn't sleep and decided instead of trying to lay in bed, waiting for her alarm, she would get up, get ready and make a proper breakfast and not just toast or cereal for breakfast. She washed her face, got dressed and headed down to the kitchen where Xigbar was already sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee. He looked up and smiled at Shaylex. "Hey, sweetheart. You're up early." He said, his one yellow eye keeping a close watch on her as she went to the cupboards and started making the mixture for pancakes.
"Couldn't sleep so I decided to get up and do something productive before my mission today," Shaylex explained as she placed a pan on the stove and turned on the heat, adding a small drop of oil into the pan. "Did you want some?" She asked Xigbar. Might as well be polite to him. Xigbar chuckled.
"I'm good thanks, sweetheart, but you could've stayed in bed today, we haven't got any missions today, The Superior and Saïx decided to give us a vacation day today," Xigbar explained as Shaylex poured some of the batter into the pan. She turned to face the older Nobody.
"We have what?" She asked, just making sure she heard that right.
"A vacation day. A day off to do whatever we wanted." Xigbar repeated as he finished his coffee. "I thought everyone got the message last night?" Xigbar asked. Shaylex shook her head.
"I must have been so tired last night from all the missions recently that I must not have registered it." She said as she flipped the pancake over. "But a vacation day is quite generous from Lord Xemnas."
"Eh, you and the other younglings have been doing a fantastic job with collecting hearts for Kingdom Hearts, you kids deserve a break, plus with everyone taking on extra missions after the Castle Oblivion incident, we all need it," Xigbar explained.
"That's fair." She said as she plated up the first pancake and poured some more batter into the pan. "So, what are you going to do with your vacation day?" She asked Xigbar.
"Probably relax, maybe sleep. What about you, sweetheart?" Xigbar responded. Shaylex shrugged.
"I don't know. I'll probably go somewhere nice to relax, get out of the castle, maybe do a little bit of training just to keep my reflexes sharp." Shaylex replied as she made 3 more pancakes and stacked them one after the other on top of the first pancake she made, she then quickly washed up and took the plate of pancakes, with some butter and syrup over to the table. She then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and some cutlery and sat down to eat.
"Sounds like a good idea. I mean, you do have this time to figure out your lost memories too, if you wanted to." Xigbar said casually, Shaylex almost choked on the first bite of her pancake.
"Sorry, what do you mean? I've been trying to figure out my memories for some time now and I'm not exactly getting anywhere closer to figuring out my past." Shaylex explained as she took a long sip of water.
"But you're getting breakthroughs, right? Don't pretend that your little nightmares have not woken up everyone else that sleeps in this castle. As if." Xigbar chuckled. Shaylex blushed lightly.
"Well… Who can I turn to? I don't really know anyone. Tenebrae is supposedly from that time, but our paths never crossed back then."
"If I know you, Shaylex, you'll figure it out. A powerful keyblade wielder from the age of Fairytales like yourself should be a piece of cake." Xigbar smiled at Shaylex. The blonde Nobody looked back up at Xigbar.
"What did you call it?" She asked curiously. The Age of Fairytales? That was new to her. But it did make her wonder, how much did Xigbar know?
"Oh, the Age of Fairytales. I read a book about it. I'm just guessing that that's where you're from, judging by the company you keep with that other wielder and the nightmares you have." Xigbar explained. Shaylex couldn't tell if he was lying or not.
"Can I see this book? If it can tell me anything about my past, it'll help greatly."
"Sorry sweetheart, I think it got destroyed when our old world was engulfed by the darkness." Xigbar shrugged. Shaylex sighed softly.
"Oh, right." She said softly as she finished her plate of pancakes and went to wash up her plate and cutlery. She felt Xigbar place a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry sweetheart. You'll figure something out. Ask your friend, he could probably tell you more about it." The older Nobody said as he turned and left the room. Shaylex sighed as she finished washing up her stuff.
"Way to be so encouraging, Xigbar," Shaylex mumbled as she finished washing up her dishes and went back up to her room. She sat at her desk and pulled out her journal, quickly writing in it before sitting on her bed to call Tenebrae. "Tene?" She asked into the link shell.
"Yeah? Where are we going today then?" Tene asked.
"Actually, the Organization has given us a vacation day today. So, there's no mission. If you still want to meet up and chill, I'm going to the islands to relax." Shaylex explained.
"Oh, well, I'm probably going to go on my own little mission then, today. Enjoy your vacation day, Shay." Tene said as he hung up the link shell. Shaylex sighed as she went through her draws and found a yellow two-piece set that she bought before the islands were destroyed and went into the bathroom to change. She came out a few minutes later in her old clothes with the two-piece on underneath. She grabbed her bag and put her coat on and went down to the lounge to teleport to the islands. On her way down, she passed Roxas.
"Hey, Shaylex, did you hear about the vacation day?" He asked her. She nodded.
"Yep, I'm heading out to make the most of it. What are you planning on doing today?" She asked the younger Nobody. Roxas just shrugged.
"I don't know. I've never had a vacation day. What are you going to do?" Roxas asked her. Shaylex chuckled.
"I'm going back to my old home to relax. Just spend some time there. I haven't been back since I left... Almost a year ago now. Wow, time sure does fly." She explained. "Just do something that doesn't involve going to another world to destroy heartless." She added as she placed a hand on the top of Roxas' head and ruffled his hair as she made her way to the lounge where she opened up a portal and thought of the islands. She stepped through and felt the sand underneath her boots as she looked out around the play islands. She smiled softly as the portal closed. She dropped her bag on the sand and shed out of her coat and clothes and ran into the sea. The Nobody swam around, diving underneath the water to look at the fish. She stayed underneath the water for a while as she swam around, just enjoying the downtime. She soon came up for some air and swam back to the shore. Stepping out of the ocean and towards her bag, where she took a towel out of it and laid it on the sand. She then lay down on the towel and closed her eyes, letting the sun dry her body off as her mind drifted back to the islands before they were destroyed. To the memories, she made with Sora, Riku and Kairi before the world was destroyed. She thought back to her 15th birthday when the four of them agreed to spend their summer vacation travelling to different worlds on a raft. Shaylex stood up and took her things and walked to the other area of the island with the obstacle course. She looks around and saw the remnants of their raft, still in the same place as it was almost a year ago. Shaylex sat on the sand in front of it and looked out to the ocean. "What would have happened if the islands weren't destroyed?" She asked herself softly. "Would we have found a new world? Would… would Riku and I? Would I have found the Light Protectors again? Would I have my memories back now?" She asked all these questions as she picked up a stone and threw it into the sea. "I guess I'll never know…" She finally said after sitting in silence as she saw the sun begin to set. She stood up, put her coat on, grabbed her bag and opened a portal to Twilight Town. She decided to get some ice cream and maybe see if Roxas, Xion and Axel were at the clock tower. She walked through the shopping district to the ice cream shop where she passed Cetus' flower shop. The young girl was beginning to close down for the day and nodded a hello to Shaylex as she walked past. Shaylex nodded a hello back as she bought her ice cream and headed up to the clock tower. She looked up and saw Roxas sitting there on his own and Shaylex chuckled. Of course, he would go there on his vacation day. She made her way up the clock tower and walked around the corner. "Hey, Roxas." She said as she sat down on the ledge. Roxas looked around and smiled.
"Shaylex! How was your vacation day?" The young nobody asked. Shaylex chuckled.
"I went to my old home and relaxed on the beach. What about you?" Shaylex asked as she took a bite out of her ice cream.
"Oh, I just wandered around here today, met some of the other kids. I didn't know what else to do." Roxas explained as they heard another voice coming behind them.
"I knew you'd be here," Axel said as the redhead came around the corner.
"Axel!" Roxas exclaimed. Shaylex nodded.
"How was your day?" She asked. Axel stretched.
"Whew, I slept like a log." He responded as he sat down next to Roxas and looked down at the group of kids running about. "Are the kids here on summer vacation? Nah, can't be. It's too early." He asked. Shaylex looked down too.
"Can't be. There's at least another 4 months left of school before summer vacation. Maybe it's a holiday?" Shaylex asked. Axel shrugged.
"Summer vacation? What's that?" Roxas asked curiously.
"It's a dream come true, that's what—where they get a whole month off," Axel explained. Shaylex chuckled.
"A month? Back on the islands, we got three months, but then again, the world is in a perpetual summer." Shaylex said with a chuckle.
"A month!? I wouldn't know what to do with that much time. I can't even figure out how to fill a day, let alone a month or three months." Roxas exclaimed.
"You'd be surprised. They give you plenty of homework, and of course, you have you play with your friends every day. Trust me, it's over before you can blink." Axel explained. Shaylex nodded in agreement. She remembered the homework her teachers gave her, Sora, Riku, and Kairi for the summer vacation.
"Hmm... I could deal with seven days, maybe." Roxas thought. Shaylex chuckled.
"Most kids spend summer vacation just goofing off with their friends. They save the homework till the end and then help each other finish it." Axel added as Shaylex nodded in agreement.
"That sounds fun, I guess," Roxas muttered softly.
"It is when you have friends to spend it with. Sora, Riku, Kairi and I would always goof off to the play islands and spend the whole day there." Shaylex chimed in with a soft smile as she remembered the weeks before the world was destroyed and the fun they had.
"Hanging around with friends is fun. I'd forgotten all that since becoming a Nobody, I guess. So, how'd you spend your day?" Axel asked as they heard footsteps approach and Xion's voice spoke from behind them.
"Hey, guys. How did I know you'd be here?" The dark-haired Nobody chuckled as she sat down in between Roxas and Shaylex.
"Where did you go, Xion?" Roxas asked Xion. The young Nobody shook her head.
"I didn't go anywhere. What about you two? Did you guys go somewhere without me?" She asked Roxas.
"Axel says he was asleep all day." Roxas joked.
"What? What's that about? You wasted a day off?" She asked. Axel just waved his hand.
"Unlike you two lazybones, I work hard, so I'm tired, okay?" He retorted
"Unlike me, Roxas, and Shaylex, maybe you're just out of shape!" Xion quipped back. The four of them on the clock tower started laughing as they swapped stories of their vacation day. Shaylex talked about how she went to the islands to relax. Roxas said he just ran around Twilight Town and killed some heartless. Xion said she spent her time in the castle's training room, practising as the evening began to wind down and the Nobodies had finished their ice creams.
"Tomorrow, it's back to work." Axel sighed. Everyone nodded.
"Yeah..." Roxas added to his nod
"Hope we get another vacation soon," Xion said softly. Shaylex nodded.
"But knowing Saïx, how long do you reckon that would be?" Shaylex asked, Roxas and Xion nodded in agreement as Axel stood up.
"Oh yeah... I might not see you guys again for a while." The redhead said as he stretched out more.
"Huh?" Roxas asked, looking up at him.
"They're sending me out on recon for a few days," Axel explained.
"Where?" Xion asked curiously. Shaylex was also curious.
"Can't tell." The redhead said but he looked at Shaylex with a look that gave her an idea.
"What's up with that?" Roxas asked, also with a curious tone to his voice.
"It's a secret mission." The older Nobody said as he crouched down in front of his friends.
"But I thought we were friends," Xion said softly.
"If it's a secret mission, then he can't tell anyone, not even his friends. Must be super important." Shaylex tried to explain to help Axel out. Axel nodded.
"I'm not about to tell you ALL my dark secrets. Got it memorized?" The redhead said, pointing to his temple.
"Dark secrets?" Roxas asked softly, looking down.
"Haha. I'm kidding. I just gotta keep my mouth shut about it, or else Saïx will get on my case. You know how he can get." Axel chuckled as he nudged Roxas. You could tell Roxas still wanted to know what Axel was referring too but he understood the gravity of the situation.
"Heh, yeah." The young Nobody said with a smile.
"Try not to bungle everything while I'm gone." Axel joked which earned a raised eyebrow from each of the keyblade wielders sitting next to him.
"Now, why would we do that?" Xion asked innocently.
"Well, considering your track record, I just can't count on you guys." Axel chuckled t which Shaylex stood up and lightly punched him in the arm.
"Hey! We can handle things just fine." Xion quipped with mock offence.
"That's right, just you watch," Roxas said defiantly as the four friends began laughing.
"Don't worry, I'll keep these two in check while you're gone." Shaylex chuckled. Axel nodded.
"Thank goodness there's one of you that's responsible." Axel joked.
"Hey!" Roxas exclaimed
"We can be responsible too, you know!" Xion added. Shaylex and Axel continued laughing.
"I'll believe that when I see it," Axel said as he stood up straight again, said his goodbyes and left. Shaylex also said goodbye to the younger Nobodies and made her way back down the clock tower and through a portal back into the castle. She made her way to her room where she undressed and jumped in the shower. As she stood in there, she thought back on the day and her mind drifted back to what Xigbar said.
"The Age of Fairytales…" She muttered as her mind began searing in pain. She closed her eyes, and, in her mind, she watched as she and a group of people were surrounding a fountain. There was Keval, Cetus, Laci, and 3 other people there.
"What do you mean you forgot to study, Keval?" Cetus exclaimed quite angrily at Keval
"I was busy training! There's a tournament coming up at the arena and I want to be ready for it."
"You're so obnoxious sometimes," Cetus said as she waved her hand and a blast of water came up from the fountain and splashed Keval square in the chest, knocking him on his ass.
"Hey" Keval shouted as everyone around him laughed.
"It's just a little bit of water, Keval." Ashley chuckled.
"Yeah, what Ash said. No need to get so grumpy. When was the last time you had a shower?" A young red-haired boy quipped as an older red-haired guy got him into a headlock ad gave him a noogie.
"Quite the troublemaker, aren't you, Ray" The older red-haired guy chuckled as Ray moved out from his grasp.
"Like you're one to talk, Rylan!" Ray quipped a goofy grin on his face as another girl, one who Shaylex saw in a memory from the keyblade war nudged Ray. "Hey, what was that for, Mojie?" Ray asked.
"You're as bad as the both of them combined," Mojie said with a soft giggle as Laci walked over to Keval and tried to use her magic to dry him off, only for the speel to backfire, sending Keval flying into the fountain. Causing everyone to start laughing again as the memory faded and Shaylex's vision came back into focus as she found herself kneeling on the floor of her shower, the hot water running down her back.
"Was that… a memory?" She muttered as she slowly stood up and finished her shower. She quickly changed into some pyjamas and sat at her desk where she wrote down the events of the day in her diary, including her recent vision. "Was life… really like that?" She asked as her hand clutched at the pendant around her neck. "Why did I forget then?" She said softly as she closed her diary, placed it in her draw and crawled into bed, looking up at Kingdom Hearts through her window. "Kingdom Hearts, help me understand… please?" She said softly as she drifted off to sleep.
A/N: And there we have another chapter. I had fun writing this fun little fluffy chapter before we started getting into the angst and feels that's about to come. Thank you to my fellow Light Protectors, Kale, Knightmare, Aya, Mojie, Rosie and Wheels for letting me use their characters briefly in this chapter. I hope you all have a great day, evening, morning, afternoon, night wherever you are in the world and I will see you hopefully sooner rather than later in the next chapter!