Writer Note: Not related to the story, but I've just heard Passion, and it sounds like it's going to make a good theme for KH2. Just four months people!

I STRONGLY suggest going to (or any KH2 site with media) and download the Promotional Trailer! It's only 10megs, so not that big for dial up people. (bigger versions are about 26). Hopefully you find a translation if your Japanese isn't up to par, but this is THE COOLEST thing ever, I take back everything I once said that questioned the KH2 plot. Drools thinking about Sora's last line It totally kills my story…but hey, you'll find out sooner or later.

On the story, #7 is officially male, apparently there are no female Jusan Kikan beyond Larxene, I thought there would be though so I gambled. But for purposes of continuity, and cuz I'm lazy, I will still refer to #7 as female.

29

Vexen

I ran through the lower chambers of our hideout. Someone, anyone, had to see this. I had to tell them. I was keeping sentry over the worlds, studying the last few months of the Heartless' movement, and I had seen quite possibly the biggest development of the war.

I ran into Zexion at the bottom of the stairs to the upper floor. Literally, ran into him. He seemed somewhat heightened as well. "What happened?" he asked me.

"We need to see everyone, immediately," I told him, "this is important, we can't even wait for DiZ." I said short of breath.

"He's coming, but I could smell something interesting around his presence too. Everyone's upstairs waiting for him, I was coming to get you." He told me as he led up the flight of steps.

All of us were gathered here. Except for Lexaeus, he was in a battle with the Heartless right now, leading a group of warriors of some kind, some people called the Powhattan and the English, whatever that meant.

I took the small parchment of paper I was studying and laid it out on the table in the reception room DiZ had in this place. I pointed at a battle we'd fought several months ago in a forest world, "Here. As you can see, the Heartless were definitely under direction here. They made moves on us in massive groups, in set numbers. It's the style we've seen before, Ansem and Maleficient were controlling them likely."

"Yes, it's how they've fought since the beginning, what's your point?" Zexion asked me.

I pointed at another section, which was a map of a different world, one we'd known as Port Royal, it had fallen only a couple days ago, "But here, the attacks were dispersed, almost random. I think they were. Utterly random attacks."

Number 2 looked at the map intently, "So you mean to tell us that you believe the Heartless have been let off their leash?"

"Exactly," I said, "Now, according to the natives in Port Royal, there was a seemingly ghost ship spotted not so long before the Heartless attacked. It was said to be a malevolent thing, but within a day's time, they were under attack by Heartless."

"So…it's a magnet?" Zexion asked, "The Heartless are attracted by darkness…and Ansem is letting them go where they please now?"

"Exactly," I concluded.

"What does that mean for us?" asked Number 7 in the back.

"It's the most brilliant thing Ansem's done," I said, "Now, he sent his artificial princess of heart to the Keyblade master, right? Well, the two hearts combined are likely generating a LOT of light. So strong, it might even be repelling the Heartless from it. As long as there is no source of significant darkness, the Heartless will stay away from the world that the Keyblade master and the artificial princess are on."

"Thus making it even more in his favor, that world will quite possibly be the last world to be destroyed," Number 2 concluded.

Zexion's nose twitched a little, like it always did, "Well DiZ is back, we can tell him."

DiZ walked in the front door, or at least it opened and that's what I expected. I heard a shuffling sound, and saw DiZ enter carrying a man with flaming red hair on his shoulders.

Number 2 stepped forward and tensed up, "DiZ, what's the meaning of this?" he asked nervously.

"You may ask Zexion," he said, "I'm sure he felt this one's powers with darkness and light." he answered as he rested the unconscious man in a chair.

"I could smell something powerful, you and this guy, apparently. I didn't think a normal person would be that strong though," he said, staring intently at our guest.

DiZ looked to us, "This man has immense power. Far superior to that of any of us when we first took up our fight. I am going to make him our eighth," he told us very matter-of-factly.

"How do we know he can be trusted?" a deep voice said behind us. I turned and looked to the doorway, and Lexaeus was standing there.

"Did the battle go well?" DiZ asked Lex, maybe he was trying to change the subject or stall for time, maybe he really wanted to know, I wasn't a good judge of character though.

But Lexaeus gets these eyes, they're like stone, and nothing can be read from them. But that's the giveaway; he only got like that when something happened he didn't want to talk about. "Can we trust him?" he asked.

DiZ looked to the stranger, "Oh yes, he thought I was Ansem, and almost gave his life fighting me. We can be assured of his loyalty."

I looked to the red-headed man. He was young, at least compared to me, maybe a year or two younger than DiZ, and his eyes had tattoos or markings of some kind, they went over his eyes vertically, and were black, like they were scars or something. He was certainly a strong heart. I had studied them enough to know that. But I didn't know that he was going to be such a big annoyance back then. He was starting to stir though.

He opened his eyes, and seemed confused, as he was likely trying to take in his surroundings, and then apparently we came into focus, "It's you guys! The ones in black, the legendary would-be saviors, isn't it?" he said sarcastically as he stood up. Before he really made a move, Zexion had his whip out and lashed this man's hand's together. The red-haired man looked down to his now immovable wrists, Zexion's powers were some of the most impressive of our group's, "What the hell?"

DiZ went to him calmly, "Please, listen to me, and I can tell you everything," he said, his arms raised to settle him down.

"And why should I listen to you?" he asked angrily.

"Because we both want the same thing," DiZ answered him, "The end of the war, and the destruction of the Heartless."

This seemed to settle him down a little bit. But I could still feel the tension emanating from him. He sat down again, "I'm listening…"

"So…you guys are trying to stop the Heartless…but you're vastly outnumbered, out gunned, and out classed in almost every way, am I right?"

The explanation had taken about thirty minutes, although I was impressed he could do it in ten seconds. "That about sums it up," I answered.

He looked to DiZ, "So what is there I can do?" he asked.

"You ask to join us, you've seen us, but you do not even know what side we are on. For all you know, we could be trying to get rid of the Heartless so we ourselves can rule this universe," DiZ said, casting a glance to Number 2. Kind of weird.

The red-haired man looked to Zexion, and then to DiZ, "Well, I see a few good faces here. I think generally you're good people. Count me in."

"In that case, I accept your offer of help," DiZ said, bowing his head. "May I ask your name?"

"It's Axel," he answered, extending his hand, "I'm glad to be of help."

Later that night, I went downstairs to my study, trying to figure out what we could do against the Heartless. Axel was a little off the wire in terms of formality, he didn't have any at all, but I knew he would get the job done. DiZ would be handling his training. That was when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in," I said, not looking up from my notes. Lexaeus walked in, and took a seat across from me, not saying a word. I took a glance at him, his face was serious, solemn, but I'd known him long enough to know he was seriously thinking about something, something to tell me, but he wasn't sure. "If there is something you wish to tell me, Lexaeus, please tell me."

He cast a glance to side, apparently a trifle embarrassed. He turned back to me, his voice dead serious, "Vexen, you remember when we founded this group, right? Remember how strong our convictions were? How we were going to incorporate both darkness and light into our being, and through the fusion, beat Ansem, and restore order and such." He was staring intently into me, through me, this was an answer he had been waiting to hear for a long time it seemed.

"Yes, I remember Lexaeus, but what is your point?" I asked him, confused, but I had a hunch where this was going.

Lexaeus looked down now, not able to look me in the eye as he said his next statement, "That zeal has lost its effect, hasn't it?"

I thought for a few moments, and looked towards him now, trying to look him I the eye, "Yes, I suppose it has."

We were both quiet for a long time, it must have been ten minutes we sat there. It felt so much longer. A part of me wanting to continue speaking, but the other part wanted him to leave, so that I wouldn't have to go where I saw this conversation heading. Lexaeus looked to me again, "I was thinking…if the fusion powers of Twilight are so much better…why are we losing so badly? I know, absolutes are something to be avoided, but, Ansem…" he stopped, trying to find his words, "Ansem has chosen the path of darkness. And whether we want to admit it or not, the truth is that the fate of the universe lies in his hands. His darkness wields absolute power over our twilight, and there's nothing we can do…"

I tried to remain optimistic, but admittedly, part of me was actually playing devil's advocate, "The truth is only what we make of it Lexaeus. If we feel we are on the true path then we are."

"But we're losing to darkness…" he said softly. He shook his head, standing up. "Well, just a few thoughts."