Relief: Man, am I ever glad that I wrote up a planner for the whole story. Otherwise, I'd be so lost! Heh...well, glad to see some of my readers are back! You guys are a real motivation boost! Anyways, it's good to be back. And now, thanks to DS, I've got Sephy plush, a Riku plush, a Sora plush, and an Axel plush! Well, this chapter introduces some more clockwork Shadowless, who I assure you all have names having to do with their numbers. And also, now we finally get Arc's full history! The mystery is revealed!

Well, RR, hope you enjoy the Chapter!


tick

"I wonder who it'll be" sighed Ricksen.

"Who what'll be?" asked Orchid.

"Who's gonna die," he answered grimly. The mood around the hideout was downtrodden and depressed. Even the ever optimistic Orchid was looking down.

"Why does anyone have to die?" asked Orchid, turning to face the man.

"Because," he explained "it almost never rains here."

"Kupo...so what does that have to do with dying" asked Montblanc.

"They say, 'When rain falls, so does royalty'," quoted Jenine, looking out the window at the pouring rain. She had been almost silent since Arc had disappeared into the Clockwork Tower. Melina was off crying in her room. "Everytime it's rained, one of the royal family has died."

"It's rained only three times in all my memory," added Ricksen. "Once when Lady Winia, Vins's mother, passed on, next the day Lord Mousseux died, and last the day when Arc led the rebellion." He sighed. "We thought it was a sign that Vins would fall that day."

"But...if he didn't fall, and it rained, doesn't that make that superstition false" reasoned Orchid.

"It puzzles me too," said the man, shaking his head. "I just don't get it. And how did Arc get in the Tower? Did he open the secret entrance?"

Jenine shook her head sadly. "No. He just walked right in. Right through the Thorn Gate."

"What" the big man exclaimed. "But that's impossible! Only members of the royal house can slice time that thin"
"He said he was going home."

"That...that doesn't make sense..." stuttered Ricksen.

"It does. You just can't believe it," sighed Jenine, still staring into the pouring rain.

"What's going on" asked Orchid, entirely confused. "I don't get it."

"It all makes sense now," said the older girl. "Do you remember, Ricksen? The day that Arcanis and Dar'ck came to us."

"Of course I do" snorted Ricksen. "Why would I forget? They were standin' out there like two lost puppies so we pulled them...out of...the pouring...rain..."

His voice trailed off into silence.

"They never did tell us where they were from. And that was the day old Lord Mousseux died. The day Vins announced his presence to the world, and exiled all who threatened his reign. Which would include any brothers he had."

"Are you saying that..." asked Orchid, starting to see the picture.

"The day that they led the rebellion. It rained then too. And they failed. They fell" said Jenine. "That day, royalty did fall."

"Kupo...a prince in our midst...and we never knew" breathed Montblanc in stunned shock.

"How could you not know" asked Orchid. "I mean, they show up the day Vins gets rid of his brothers? Couldn't you make the connection"

Ricksen shook his head. "The royal family is shrouded in mystery. Almost no one's been inside the Clockwork Tower, and no one knows anything of the royal family. Heck, we didn't even know Lord Mousseux had a wife until they held her funeral. There's no way we'd know she had a son, or how many. When Vins announced his taking the throne, we had never even seen him before. We never even suspected he had any brothers."

"But he did. And now they're going to meet" sighed Jenine. They all looked at her for more, but she had gone quiet. Orchid thought she might also be crying, but she wasn't sure.

"So is that it, kupo" asked Montblanc. "We just wait until one of them comes out and announces the other dead"

"No" shouted Orchid, surprising everyone. "I'm not gonna let him go! We have to help him"

Everyone in the hideout stared at her in stunned silence.

"We're going to help him" she said in tone that would not be argued with. Then she said quietly"I've already lost one friend to this adventure. I won't lose another."

She rounded on Ricksen then.

"You said there was a secret enterance" she demanded. "Show me."

"But...it's useless" said Ricksen, backing away slightly in the face of such determination. "It won't open. There's a keyhole, but not even our master lockpicks can even so much as make it click. The thing's a dead end, though we're sure it goes into the Tower."

"A key, huh" said Orchid. "I wonder..."

Jenine stood up, the first movement she had made since sitting down by the window. "I'll show you."

"But, Jenine" Ricksen started to protest.

"We're going, Ricksen. You can come or not. She has the key, and we're going to save Arcanis."

tick

"Welcome home, Master Arcanis."

Arc ignored the clockwork as he walked up all too familiar steps. He was too far lost in his own thoughts to notice a mere servant, something he had lived the first ten years of his life with. He remembered days long since passed. Early days, when the three of them used to play games of knights and bandits around the tower. Before Vins started becoming distant to him and Dar'ck. He remembered their father, the stern, meticulous man he was, remembered his hearty laugh and great long beard. He remembered their mothers; Vins, he and Dar'ck were only half brothers. Polygamy was sometimes allowed by the royal family, for cases such as they had had; Vins's mother, Lord Moussuex's favorite wife, had always been frail and delicate, as had Vins himself. Lady Winia had died in childbirth, and it was feared Vins would die also within the first few years of his life. That was why Lord Mousseux had sired both Arcanis and Dar'ck approximately one year after Vins's birth; they were twins from seperate mothers.

He remembered their playfights; even then, the boys had each developed their unique styles. With the help of their mentor, a clockwork masterpiece made by Lord Moussuex's father, they perfected them. Vins had favored the long, slim sword; he had always had his eye on the Kikuichimonji, the master sword that had hung above the mantel. Dar'ck himself had always favored two swords, while Arc had liked to play the traditional knight, sword and shield, though he had even then had the tendancy to use the shield as just another weapon. While Vins had never been quite as fast, or as strong, or had such endurance as his brothers, he made up for it with reflex, finesse and skill.

Vins had started drifting from his brothers after they started their lessons in clockwork when he was eight, and they were seven. Only Vins recieved a full education in such matters, being the eldest son and heir to the throne; perhaps that was why he had grown seperate from them. Arc and Dar'ck had only recieved rudimentary teachings in clockwork, such as the history of the city, the workings of the Clockwork Tower, and the Clockwork Heart. After their lessons stopped, they didn't see Vins for more than a month, and when they met him again, he sported the clockwork armor that he wore almost constantly from then on, and still wore to this day.

Some years later, the old Lord Moussuex died of illness, and Vins was named Lord of Adonis. He had announced his presence to the world that very day, there in the rain, from the Clockwork Tower, and the masses had cheered in the streets, and mourned for their loss. He had waved the Kikuichimonji high in the sky that day.

Arc and Dar'ck had known what was in store for them: death, or exile. They were threats to Vins's reign, as other possible successors. So they had left the Clockwork Tower, but not before arming themselves from their father's personal armory. Arc had taken a small shield that had suited him, and also a sword, which he only discovered later to be the legendary Sequence, the living sword. Dar'ck had armed himself with two strange mechanisms that had been long ago been given to Lord Mousseux, and two matching wooden-hilted blades, with matching wooden sheaths. These later turned out to be the blades Ayvuir blades, Red and Blue. The mechanism turned out to be things called "guns". Once armed, the brothers had fled the tower to hide in the city, until they came back later. And they would come back, and take on the tower. For they knew, Lord Mousseux had died of no illness. He had been poisoned by his own son.

The next six years of their life was spent living in the fugitive hideout. There, they had met Jenine, and Ricksen, and old man Barlep. There had always been people avoiding the timing laws of Adonis, but as Vins's rule progressed, laws became harsher, and more and more people fled, or were executed. Melina was only a little girl, but she was to be executed for the tardiness clause, her lateness had held up things for almost fifteen whole minutes. Arc had lead a group to save her. Jenine, with her knives, rained disorder and chaos, while Arc took out the guards. It had been Dar'ck who had pulled Melina from the jaws of death, and ever since then, she had always looked up to him. Life continued on, and nobody ever suspected who Arc and Dar'ck were.

Then was the rebellion. Finally thinking they were ready, they invaded the Clockwork Tower. Many lives were lost in the siege, but eventually they won through. More lives were lost in the destruction of the Thorn Gate, including old man Barlep, who sacrificed his life to finally jam the infernal mechanism. But the citizens of Adonis were determined to overthrow Vins's harsh rule, and they charged on through, despite the cost. Eventually, Dar'ck and Arc made it to the top of the Clockwork Tower, where they knew Vins would be. As the fighting raged below in the Tower, they faced their once loved brother. Much blood was shed. Most of it theirs.

Arc and Dar'ck were carried out by the survivors in shame and defeat, barely with their lives. Arc had lost his arm, Dar'ck, his eye. Sequence was shattered, and one of the rebels carried the fragments in a white cloth, stained red with blood. It had rained that day, yet Vins still stood. No one, but three royal princes, knew why.

After that, they had left. At the age of sixteen, the sky had opened up, and mysterious meteors had rained down. That was the time of the first Heartless attack, and that was when the brothers made good their escape, their exile, with the help of the gummi blocks, and were not to be seen again in Adonis for at least four years.

That was also when Vins had begun his study of the Heartless, and the darkness of the heart. He admired them, yet was disgusted by them. He wanted to become everything they were not. And when he was visited by a beautiful lady, all in white, he learned all about them, his desires, her power, and much, much more. And that was when his shadow started to fade.

Her voice was like a call from out of eternity.

The brothers, Arcanis and Dar'ck, had only been in exile for a year, when they became seperated. The fighting had been fierce, and each thought the other dead. A year after that, Arc had landed at Hollow Bastion, and become a citizen there. He made new friends there, and tried to forget his old home, the brothers he lost, the family he had, the love he never knew. But he never forgot. Deep down, he would always remember them.

After that, it was all common knowledge. The Heartless had come, and the people had fled. He and a close group of friends had ended up in Traverse Town. And that was when he had met Orchid.

"Hello, Arky" said delighted twin voices, interrupting his thoughts. Looking up, he was greated by the sight of two identical girls, each in matching outfits. Their only differences were the numbers on their forheads, eleven and twelve.

"You two are new" said Arc coldly. "You must be some of Vins's personal pet clockworks."

He checked the stairs in front of the girls. Their shadows were mechanical clockwork mannequins.

"Shadowless clockworks" he corrected himself.

The girls nodded happily.

"Lord Mousseux wishes to see you" said Elf.

"What if I don't want to see him"

The two girls whipped out their arms, and suddenly, Arc found his arms bound in ribbons, tight and sturdy. They pulled a little, and his real arm started to bleed slightly.

"You will come" assured Zwolf with a smile.

tick

They paused and caught their breath on the stairwell. The way to the secret enterance was far from ungaurded, and there were more gearfreaks on the way as they spoke.

"It's not gonna open" persisted Ricksen, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"It will" said Jenine quietly.

"Come on, let's just go before more of those Heartless catch up with us" shouted Orchid as she ran up the stairs. They continued running, and the way became narrower. Soon, they could only walk two abreast, and it became crowded, as their group numbered almost twenty. The cry came from the back that the Heartless were coming.

"It's right up ahead" yelled Jenine, pointing over Orchid's shoulder. There was a light up ahead, and soon, the group was stumbling into a wide, brightly lit cavernous room. It was filled with Heartless.

"Take this" shouted Orchid as the battle began. "Moonlight Rave"

As Orchid blurred in and out of focus, trailing destruction, Montblanc set about unleashing every spell he knew. Meanwhile, Jenine wreaked havoc with her knives, while Ricksen helped some of the others hold the stairs against the flood of Heartless.

"Blizz-kupo" cried Montblanc as an air soldier slammed into his back. Immediately, he was buried under a pile of Heartless, shadows and gearfreaks tearing at him recklessly.

"Montblanc" shouted Orchid. The girl turned and charged the mass of darkness, the Clockwork Grape working overtime as she slowed the Heartless down to near stopping. Some of them were crushed under the power of Demi, then easily fell to the keyblade, only to be sucked back into it. She soon had them dispersed and destroyed, but the damage had been done. Montblanc lay only semi-conscious, bleeding profusely all over. "Cure"

White light covered the little moogle and fell sparkling, but he continued to bleed.

"Cure"

Again, there was a burst of holy magic, but the blood continued to flow.

Flourish and prosper, bloom of need, the healing light is at your call.

The voice from eternity.

"Cura" cried Orchid. Intense bright light, surrounded the fallen form of the little moogle, and when it cleared, he bled no more. "Montblanc"

The moogle squeaked weakly as she hugged him tightly.

"Montblanc, I thought I'd lost you too" she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Kupo, I thought I had also" replied Montblanc. "How did you know that spell"

"It was..." started Orchid. But she couldn't remember. She shrugged. "It just seemed right."

"Well, I'm glad it did, or I might've..." He left the statement unfinished, as if mentioning it was to invite it.

"Orchid, Montblanc, you two okay" asked Jenine, running over as the Orchid put the moogle down.

"Yeah, now we are" she replied.

"Well, Ricksen and those guys are sure they can handle any Heartless coming up the stairs, so I'll show you up to the secret entrance."

They walked across the room to an opening opposite to where they had come in. Walking up a short flight of stairs, they were followed by Ricksen and a few others.

"What are you doing" asked Jenine.

"I just wanted to see how you intended to open the blasted thing" replied Ricksen. "Besides, the other guys can hold the stairs. It's narrow, they can only come a few at a time."

Jenine shrugged, the stopped when they reached the top. There was a door, with a keyhole in its center.

"That's the door" said Ricksen. "Do whatever magic you mean to do."

Instinctively, Orchid raised her keyblade level with the keyhole. A beam of light shot out, and there was an audible click. The door slid easily open into the wall.

Ricksen gave a low whistle. "Now that's handy."

Orchid stepped through cautiously into the dark beyond, followed closely by Montblanc and Jenine.

"You sure that's a good" Ricksen never finished, because the door slammed shut again behind the three, sealing him and the others from them. Pounding on the door as the three inside did the same, the portal refused to open, and this time, there was no keyhole.

"Ricksen, gearfreaks" came the shout. Ricksen turned, then turned back, then turned again. Giving one last look at the door, he sighed and ran down the stairs. They could worry about that later. They had Heartless to worry about now.

tick

Lights suddenly shone in the dark. Shielding their eyes as they adjusted, the trio looked around.

Sourceless laughter filled the air.

"Well, well, well" said the voice. "I see the Keyblade Master has come to pay a visit. I'm honored."

"Who are you? Where are you" demanded Orchid.

"Right here." He stepped out of the shadows and into the light. He had short black hair and an almost triangular face. He had a well muscled physique that was struck by a scar down one arm, all of this displayed prominently by his lack of any clothes other than some tough looking old pants. He had no weapons apparent. What he did have, however, was a clock in the middle of his chest. A big, analog clock. His shadow showed it and some inner extensions to be his only clockwork parts. "I am Kuroku."

"Get out of my way" snarled Jenine, several knives in hand, ready to be thrown.

"I don't think so" said Kuroku. "Master Vins is not expecting you. And he would so hate to have unwelcome guests."

The trio watched warily as the clockwork began swinging his arms about in fluid motions. The hands of the clock in his chest began moving double time, and Orchid took action when she noticed the familiar blue shimmer about him.

"Slow" she shouted. The clock hands suddenly came to almost a complete stop. "Hah, so now you can't slice time"

"Is that what you think" mocked Kuroku, grinning widely. As he spoke, his clock hands started to gain speed again, and the blue shimmer returned.

"What? Did he break the spell" asked Jenine.

"No" smiled Kuroku. "I'm just this fast. Without that infernal magic, I'd be even faster."

He blurred out, only to reappear when Jenine blurred out and came back blocking his strike. He dodged easily out of the way with inhuman agility as she countered.

"Fira" cried Montblanc as he reappeared. The clockwork only smiled and blurred out, the fireball missing entirely.

"Where'd he" started Orchid. She was interrupted as she was sent sprawling by a blow to the back from Kuroku, appearing behind her. The clockwork Shadowless laughed, but his victory was short lived as Jenine blurred into existence to his right throwing knives. He leapt out of the way, but one still cut his arm.

"You...I'll get you for that" he snarled, blurring out again. Jenine also blurred out, slicing time around her.

Orchid and Montblanc could do nothing to help. Occasionally, when the two combatants slowed down enough to be visable, they would fire off spells, but they would always miss, and soon stopped as they realized they ran the risk of hitting Jenine. All they could do was wait, and hope for the best.

"Give up. You can't win" grinned Kuroku as he knocked away one of Jenine's knives.

"I will" shouted Jenine, whipping out another. In the blue haze of the time sliced world, she leapt at him, and he dodged to the side. However, she was ready for this and turned, knives flying. He ducked, lashing out with his legs. He recieved several cuts; she was sent sprawling.

Leaping out of the way as he slammed his fist down, Jenine quickly scrambled to her feet and leapt at Kuroku again. He turned, and caught one of her arms. She slashed with her other hand, and he let go to avoid letting her cut his arm. He swung with his other hand, but she dodged to the side and thrust with her left, knife in hand, going for the throat. He caught her wrist once more with his hand, just barely before she cut him open, and his other hand went for her throat, catching her easily. He slowly began to crush her windpipe.

"Now...will you turn back" he asked grimly.

"Never" she rasped through gritted teeth. Then she swung her free arm, knife point at his chest, his clock. "Hastebreak"

There was a noise like shattering glass as she connected, and the world regained natural color once more. Stumbling back from his crushing grip, Jenine dropped her knives and started rubbing gingerly at her throat.

"What happened" asked Orchid, staring at the frozen form of Kuroku, as Montblanc cast cure on the young woman.

"I used Hastebreak" Jenine said, as the throbbing pain of her throat lessened. "It's a technique that would normally slow a person, like your spell. However, if the target is Hasted, or slicing time, it makes it backfire, and entirely Stops them."

"Wow...that's really cool" said Orchid as she poked at the Shadowless with her keyblade.

"Yeah, but I have to be close, and know their weak spot" said Jenine.

"Kupopo...what was his weak spot" asked Montblanc curiously.

"The black six on his clock" she replied, pointing to where her knife still stuck, piercing the bottem number of the clock in Kuroku's chest. "He was the sixth of the clockwork Shadowless, so I gambled that his six would be significant."

"Whatever, Arc's in trouble" shouted Orchid from the stairs out of the room, which she had already started climbing. "Let's go"

tick

Arc came to the final room, the uppermost level of the Clockwork tower, led by the clockwork Shadowless Elf and Zwolf. At the end of the room was a door, guarded by a man reading a book. He had long, shoulder blade length white hair, and pale, angular face, almost otherworldly. He wore a white trenchcoat, clean white shirt, and pristine white pants. He read a book, and behind him spread mechanical wings of such fury, complexity and beauty, that they were both awesome and terrible to behold.

"Hey, December" said Elf cheerfully.

"He's here to see Whitey-locks" smiled Zwolf.

The clockwork Shadowless named December said nothing, but merely moved aside.

The ribbons unwrapped from Arc's arms and he rubbed them where they had bound him. Then he walked up the stairs that had been gaurded by December.

Sometimes you have a choice. Sometimes your choices are already made. And sometimes, you have no choice at all.

It was raining up there on the roof.

"So you've come" said the figure that stood there, waiting for him. Vins turned and faced Arc. "Welcome back, dear brother."