The dark blue sky is illuminated by a heart-shaped moon. Below it, a large white castle floats above a black city of nothing. Nobody lives here, not a single person. But there are things that live here, called "Nobodies". Nobodies are strange beings, some of them are small white creatures that squiggle around the places like snakes. while others resemble regular humans. One thing that sets them apart is their inability to feel emotion, after all, nobodies have no heart, they are hollow shells of their former selves. At least, that's what most people say. But is it really true? a girl thinks to herself. this girl is a resident of the strange floating castle. she wears a large leather jacket, the black of the leather almost matching her short hair. She puts aside the distracting thought and continues writing in her diary. Tears start to form as she nears the end of her diary entry. The girl, wiping the tears from her eyes, closes the diary and goes to her bed. Tomorrow is another day.
After receiving her mission in Twilight Town, Xion goes to the clocktower, only to discover that her friend, Roxas, is also there. His spiky gold-blonde hair contrasting the black leather trenchcoat the organization members dawn.
"Roxas?' the girl is surprised, normally the three would meet up after completing their mission, so why was he here?
"Xion? Do you have a mission in Twilight Town too?" Roxas asks. It seems the two of them had been assigned to the same place at the same time.
"Yeah. What a nice coincidence. Wanna do our missions together?" Xion asked, though she already knew he would agree. Roxas was her first friend, the two shared a close bond, almost like they were destined to meet each other.
After completing their mission, the two go back to the clock tower. Roxas sits down and begins eating his sea salt ice cream, but Xion begins to walk off.
"Xion, wait-" Roxas is confused, she's never passed on the opportunity to watch the sunset and eat ice cream before. Xion turns around
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay? I know Saix has been really awful towards you lately, if you need to talk, please, just let me know. I'm all ears." Roxas said, hoping to help his friend.
"Don't worry, I'm fine" Xion says, as she walks away. Roxas is not convinced.
It's the next day, Roxas and Axel are hanging out on the top of the clock tower, Xion again is not present. Roxas tells Axel about the recent events going on between him and Xion and asks for advice on how to help her out.
"Man, girls are complicated. They react to things differently than most guys do. As a friend though, I think it's best we just give her some space." Axel said.
"I don't know. I feel like letting her dwell on such negative feelings for so long can only do more harm." Roxas responds.
"Look, Roxas. I know you're worried about Xion, I am too. But she's her own person, er- non-person. What I'm trying to say is, Xion is strong. She can get through this." Roxas didn't respond, he stared at the large town below. "Roxas, look at me. Promise me you'll let Xion sort things out herself, okay?" Axel said, hoping to get Roxas to stop worrying so much. After a long pause, Roxas responds
"I promise." Roxas didn't like lying, especially to Axel or Xion, but considering how up until Xion joined the organization, the only woman present in Axel's life was Larxene, definitely not a good example of what the average woman is like. If he wanted to help Xion, he'd have to do things his own way.
As the days go by, Roxas learns about Love. the love between friends, lovers, and family. Which only further strengthens his resolve to help Xion. One day, however, similar to how Roxas entered a coma while in Agrabah, Xion entered a similar coma as well. As the days went by, Roxas looked after her in a similar manner to how she cared for him, giving her a seashell he collected for every day she was asleep. One of these days, Roxas is caring for Xion, when he notices her diary on a desk in her room
"Was that always there?" Roxas said to himself. He must not have noticed it. Seeing this as his only chance to peek into the problems Xion is experiencing, Roxas opens the Dairy and looks at the latest entry.
Day 142 -The Imposter-
I was sent to Beast's Castle, with the purpose of finding and destroying the silver-haired boy impersonating as a member of Organization XIII I finally found him and engaged him in battle, but he was far more powerful than expected. He had defeated me in battle and claimed that my keyblade was a sham, and he advised me to run from the organization. I've never before met this person, yet despite that, he seems, oddly familiar. He seems to know more than he lets on, and I don't know what to do. Organization XIII has been my home for a while now, It was always nice to sit atop the Twilight town clocktower with Roxas and Axel, and enjoy sea salt ice cream as the sun-sets. They're my only friends, they make me feel like I have a heart. But the strange memories that don't belong to me, and the increasing hostility from others like Saix can only get worse. Just today he scolded me for my failure, calling me a mistake, that I should never have been created. I'm so tired of this, I never asked to be created. . .
Everything Roxas had already known was bothering Xion was in this entry, nothing answered his questions. If anything, this entry only created more. What does this mysterious imposter know? Does she really plan on leaving? Roxas didn't have the time to think about all that right now though. if he wanted answers. he would find them eventually. Closing the journal and leaving it where was before, Roxas left the room.
Weeks had passed since then, and everything slowly returned to normal, Xion awoke from her slumber, and the trio were hanging out at the Twilight Town clocktower again.
"Hey Axel, why weren't we get sent to castle oblivion when everyone else went?" Xion asked, out of the blue.
"Hmm, well, You two had only just joined the organization, and being those chosen by the keyblade, you were too important to be sent on a life-threatening mission," Axel responded. But Xion isn't quite convinced. The next day, Xion sneaks off to castle oblivion and accesses the main terminal, where she learned the truth. The silver-haired imposter had indeed told her the truth, her keyblade, Roxas' keyblade. They were a sham. She always knew she was a replica, but what she didn't know, is that she was formed from the memories of a boy named Sora the real one chosen by the keyblade. Unbeknownst to Xion, she was not alone in the room.
Ever since he had read that diary entry, Roxas had spied on Xion during her missions whenever he could, hoping to find, and interrogate the silver-haired boy, to find out the truth. And it seems he finally found an answer. It wasn't much, but it gave him hope.
A few days later, a meeting was called in the organization castle. It was short, but there was a very important message. Xion has gone missing, and everyone was instructed to not look for her. Roxas knew what he was going to do, but he'd have to complete his mission first. Roxas was sent to a new world. Heartless had recently been appearing there, and he's been sent to collect more hearts, and to defeat a powerful heartless, known as a Demon Tower, this world was known as the Destiny Islands.
Xion awakens next to a large palm tree with star-shaped fruit. She had a massive surge of memories going into her mind much earlier, causing Xion to collapse out of sheer pain. In front of Xion was a familiar face. The silver-haired boy was here yet again. This time, he wasn't here to fight. He told Xion about a girl named Namine, and how she's the reason Sora's memories were put into her and Roxas. He told her how Sora's been induced in a deep sleep and is having his memories reconstructed, but since fragments of his memories reside within Roxas and Xion, he cannot reawaken.
"So, I'm guessing you hate me for taking your friend away huh?" Xion says, awaiting an inevitable yes in response.
"No, not really. The only person that can really be blamed for any of this is me. My name's Riku, I was the one that lead to the creation of you and Roxas" Xion is surprised by this, and continues to listen. He explains how a while ago, He had fallen to the darkness and allowed a heartless known as Ansem, Seeker of darkness, to take hold of his body. Sora had defeated Ansem, but to save their friend Kairi, he had to unlock his own heart to release hers, causing him to split into a heartless, and a nobody. Before he could continue in his story, a commotion was heard from a distant island.
Sometime before Xion had awoken, Roxas arrived at Destiny Islands. The heartless there were mostly weak, common heartless, such as Shadows, and Soldiers. He does his job and keeps slashing at the heartless mindlessly. All he can think about is Xion, where she could be, and how he could find her. Suddenly his train of thought slows to a halt, as he hears footsteps behind him, and a new, but vaguely familiar voice.
"Another person in a black coat? Who are you?" Roxas turns around to see the person, only to stand there in awe, the person looked almost exactly like Xion. the hair and clothes were different, But they were so similar, it was uncanny. "You're a lot shorter than the one at Hollow Bastion, How many of you are there? The girl asks. Roxas, snapping out of his daze, responds with another question.
"You've met another? What did they look like?" Roxas asks, beginning to walk towards the scarlet-haired girl. She jumps back and draws a shimmering gold keyblade. "A keyblade!?" Roxas says in shock, He'd never seen another keyblade wielder outside of himself and Xion. Her keyblade looked different than theirs too. It was gold with red and blue streaks near the tip and handle. And it shimmered like a morning star.
"So you have seen one before. Was it Sora? Do you know where he and Riku are?" he had never heard of a Riku before, but with the little information he knows, he assumes that it must be the silver-haired boy.
"Sora. . ." Roxas finally says after a long pause "I've never met him, but I know of him." Roxas finally says after a long pause.
"Where is he? What happened to him!?" Kairi says, in frustration.
"I don't know where he is, but I know you won't like what happened," Roxas said without thinking.
"What did you do to him!?" the girl says, as she jumps towards Roxas, swinging her keyblade. Roxas barely reacted in time, summoning his keyblade and blocking the attack. "That keyblade!" the girl says in shock. Roxas, taking advantage of her shock Parries her keyblade, and hitting her with the blunt end of his. He couldn't hurt her, he didn't know how, but she was tied to Xion and Sora, and he needed all the connections he could, the girl though, had no such reason to hold back. Recovering from the attack, she dashes at Roxas and slashes at him multiple times in quick succession, he blocks what he can, but she jumps back and aims her keyblade, and shoots a myriad of light shots that home in on Roxas. He's knocked back several feet before landing near the water. He can barely get back to his feet before a barrage of spells land at his position, now facedown on the water, Roxas summons his keyblade, using it as a support to get back on his feet. This keyblade wielder is strong, much stronger than him.
"Are you ready to give up and tell me what you did to Sora?" The girl says, her keyblade only inches away from Roxas.
"I didn't. . ." Roxas says, gasping as he tries to catch his breath.
"I don't believe you, tell me what happened!" The girl swings at Roxas, he barely blocks in time. He parries her keyblade again and the girl jumps back.
"Can't. . . lose. . ." Roxas utters under his breath.
"What?" the girl is caught off guard by the statement
"I can't lose, I still have to find her!" Roxas says, before getting a surge of power. His keyblade disappears as he draws two keyblades out of thin air. One, a black keyblade with a purple gemstone in its handle, the keyblade is known as Oblivion, while the other, a total opposite, a silver, gold, and blue keyblade with a wing-like handle design, this keyblade is known as Oathkeeper. Xion and Riku hear this commotion, Xion gets closer, trying to see what's happening, while Riku slips away, out of sight.
"Is that-!?" the girl is shocked, the crown keychain on Oblivion being a dark version of the one on Sora's necklace, and the charm on Oathkeeper. . . is the same as her good luck charm. She snaps out of the daze quickly though, jumping back as the boy begins to strike rapidly at her with his keyblades. Roxas finally begins to fight for real, his life depends on it. Kairi parries his blades and knocks him back, the two-point their keyblades at each other, the girl shooting homing light magic at him, while Roxas Casting homing spheres of light at the girl, Roxas isn't particularly good with magic, and gets hit by a couple of the light beams, finally, the two charge at each other with full force, their keyblades about to clash. The girl predicts Roxas' movements and parries his keyblades, knocking them out of his hands, the keyblades fly to her side. Roxas can't even react as he's hit with the power of three keyblades slashing at him from all angles.
The barrage of blades stops, and Roxas collapses, unable to stay conscious. The girl gets closer to Roxas, with unknown intentions. Xion, witnessing what happened, begins to dash to Roxas' aid, completely forgetting about everything she had just learned, the only thing she can think of is that her friend is in danger, and she has to help him. The red-haired girl jumps back before the two stop in their tracks. their appearance is almost like that of a distorted mirror.
"Who are-?" the red-haired girl asked, but Xion ignores her and gets back to her main goal, she reaches Roxas, and Holds him close. . . He's alive, but barely. "are you two-?" The girl asks but is cut off by Xion.
"Please stop! He's my best friend! Please!" She says, tears in her eyes. Xion gets up and uses herself as a physical barrier between Roxas and the other girl. Seeing her distress, The red-haired girl puts away her keyblade.
"I'm sorry, I- I didn't know. I just wanted to know what happened to Sora." Xion begins to calm down as she says this. But still makes sure ot keep Roxas behind her.
"I don't know what Roxas would know about Sora, But I can tell you what I've been told." Xion says
"Thank you. I'm Kairi, your name?" Xion hesitates before speaking.
". . . I'm Xion." Xion begins relaying everything Riku had told her before.
"Thank you, so much," Kairi says. "I haven't heard from Riku or Sora since we defeated Ansem, I'm glad to know that they're alive at least." Xion doesn't have time to respond, as Roxas begins to show signs of waking.
"I'm sorry, I have to go, please, don't tell him I've been here," Xion says, as she runs off before Kairi can even say anything. As Roxas wakes up, he sees Kairi Crouching beside him. He jumps back, but Kairi quickly apologizes, and explains to Roxas what had happened, despite Xion's wishes.
"Xion. . . She's here!?" Roxas says in high hopes. Kairi begins to respond but is cut off by the sound of something behind her, she turns around and Roxas stands up, they draw their keyblades. A horde of shadows appeared out of nowhere, The two attack with the energy they have, before the shadows converge onto a singular position, forming a large swirling tower of shadows. Putting aside any differences they may still have, Roxas and Kairi Split up and attack the Demon Tower from both sides. Kairi, performing powerful light magic, while Roxas provides the physical strength. The unstoppable pair shred through the heartless like butter. on its last leg, the demon tower charges at them, Seeing this as an opening, Kairi Jumps onto Roxas Keyblade as he pushes her high into the air, aiming her keyblade at the heartless, she shoots a myriad of homing lights. They surround Roxas as he charges the demon tower with full force, the light and Roxas' keyblade collide with the tower, finishing it.
With the demon tower finally slain, Kairi finally has time to introduce herself to Roxas. The two exchange some words of apology and go their separate ways. With the newfound information, Roxas starts to think about Sora, about how to save him, and if there's any other way besides him and Xion dying and being one with sora once again. All that thinking and the fights he just endured were exhausting, so Roxas goes to his room and sleeps. Tomorrow is another day.
The next day, Roxas is assigned a mission in Twilight Town. With Xion gone his missions require him to take out twice the heartless, they used to require. Roxas is deep in thought about everything he's learned recently when he hears cries coming from the Underground Conduit. Inside, Roxas sees two boys and a girl surrounded by a few heartless. He recognizes them as a group of friends he's seen during his missions on Twilight Town. Roxas, left with no real choice, Swoops in and slays the heartless with ruthless efficiency.
"That was awesome!" Roxas heard from behind him. He turns around to face the three friends. They're all about his height and age, One of the boys wears a camouflage jacket over a black shirt, and has blonde hair. the other boy has a black headband and a red shirt, and black hair. And the girl has brown hair, and she wears yellow shorts and an orange tank top. The blonde one walks up to Roxas
"Hey! I'm Hayner, the one in the red shirt is pence, and she's Olette. How about you?" Hayner says, not comprehending the fact that he just approached and gave his identity away to a mysterious figure who has shown that he is capable of killing a multitude of creatures rather quickly. Luckily for them, Roxas has no ill intent, pulling down his hood, to reveal his face.
"I'm Roxas, I'm glad I was able to get here in time."
"What were those things?" Olette Inquiries.
"They're monsters called heartless. It's my job to go out and get rid of them. At least that's what I do most of the time." Roxas responds
"Wow, Killing those things for a living sounds tough, are you okay?" Olette asks, It seems they're genuinely worried for their new friend
"Oh uh, I guess everything is fine."
"You don't really sound convinced, are you sure?" Hayner responds.
"Well, maybe? A lot of strange things have been happening, related to me and a friend of mine. And it's been on my mind a lot. But It's kind of personal though, so I don't really want to talk about it." Roxas says, hoping they would drop the idea.
"Oh, alright. Well, if you ever need to talk, we're here" Olette says in a comforting manner
"heh, thanks," Roxas says, his spirits lifted. He turns around and leaves the three to their own devices. Upon returning to the castle, Roxas is approached by Axel and is told that he'd been ordered to bring back Xion, dead or alive, and he asks Roxas to help him so that they can bring her back without hurting her. And Roxas agrees to help.
The next day, the two search the various worlds that Xion had visited during her missions, and after many hours of searching without finding anything, they finally start searching in Twilight Town. With how big the Town is, they saved it for last and hoped they would find her in one of the smaller worlds. Roxas suggested two split up and search separate areas to save time, to which Axel agrees. Little did Axel know, however, Roxas had planned to do this from the start if they ever went to twilight town, hoping that he would find Xion first, and try to talk to her about Sora. After a while, Roxas overheard a commotion and ran over there. When he got there, he found what made the noise. Axel had found Xion first, and by the looks of it, she refuses to come back.
The Two dueled with unparalleled fury, both parties putting in as much of their power as they could, without permanently harming the other. Roxas only knew one way to end this. He jumped down and ran towards the two, the sharp edge of the keyblade dragging across the ground making sparks along the ground along with a loud noise, making his presence clear. Axel drops his guard thinking he's got back-up and is blindsided by the blunt edge of Roxas' keyblade. Before either party could react Roxas aims his keyblade behind Axel and casts a spell
"Magnera!" As Roxas casts the spell, Axel is pulled near the wall, incapacitating him for just long enough for Roxas to grab Xion's hand and pull her into a Corridor of Darkness, before quickly closing the door. The two continue to run together knowing they're not safe just yet. They hop in and out of various worlds before finally stopping at the Destiny Islands. After catching their breath The two finally talk.
"Thanks, Roxas, but why?" Xion asked, confused as to why Roxas would help her escape.
"I wanted to talk. . . About Sora"
"So you know huh?"
"Actually, I've known for a while. You see, After you'd left after our mission in twilight town, I couldn't help but feel something was wrong. So when you fell into a come, I read your Diary. When you went to Castle Oblivion, I followed. And when I woke up after the battle at Destiny Islands, Kairi told me everything." Roxas said, finally getting all those secrets off his chest.
"What!?" Xion said, with a mixture of shock and anger.
"I'm sorry, it's just, ever you encountered Riku, everything has gotten worse and worse for you, and it hurts me. I don't like seeing you like this Xion. I don't want to do something you might come to regret."
"So you know what I have to do, don't you?" Xion asked, anxiety building up within her
"That's not true! You don't have to do this. Xion, when something is locked, there are two ways to get through, you can break the lock forever, permanently damaging it, or. . ." Roxas summons his keyblade and holds it upward, to face the sky "You can use the keys to unlock it. We don't have to destroy ourselves to awaken Sora. Look at our keyblades, They're not shams, they're the real deal, and together, we can find a way to get Sora's memories back, AND be our own selves."
"You think so?" Xion asks
"I know so," Roxas responds without hesitation. "So Xion-" Roxas extends his arm and opens his hand "Would you like to unlock the way to our future?" Roxas asks. There's a long pause, but Xion takes his hand with hers
"Okay, you win. But what will we do about, y'know. . ."
"I don't know. But for now, I know some friends who can help us out, at least for tonight." Entering the corridor of darkness, and after some walking, find themselves in Twilight town at dusk. After navigating the area, making sure no organization members are nearby, Roxas and Xion find who they've been looking for, Hayner, Pence, and Olette. After Explaining the situation and discussing possible areas to hide, Hayner takes them to an empty house that no one has yet to buy, thinking they can get away with sleeping there for one night. With nothing but two sleeping bags that Olette gave them, their dairies, which Roxas had snuck with him before the previous mission, and their organization coats, which they can use if needed to make a quick getaway. the two take off the uniforms for the first time in months, revealing their somewhat normal clothes beneath.
Roxas wears a white jacket over a dark green shirt. And pants that go from dark green to white the closer the pants get to the shoes. Xion wears a black sleeveless Jacket. A black belt is worn over it to accentuate her waist, and below her jacket, you can see the ends of a white skirt that she wears below it. The two set everything up and sleep across from each other in their temporary room. Tomorrow is a new day.