The screen becomes scrambled...
"Restoration at 79%" repeated the computer
Diz continues to sit at the computer screens while the cloaked man is juggling the blue crystal ball from the Tournament trophy from the strugglematch yesterday that Roxas had. "His progress is astounding"
"So what happened?" asked the cloaked man looking at Diz as he places the ball back into the munny pouch that he stole. Walking closer to the computer, "Namine's encounter with Roxas put his heart in contact with Kairi's. And that, in turn, affected Sora. You see?" explained Diz pointing at the screen at digital boy asleep. As his scale of progress was raising beside him.
"Naminé?... She's a wonder" commented the cloaked man.
"She wasn't born like other Nobodies. She can interfere with the hearts and memories of Sora and those aligned with him"
"But whose Nobody is she?"
"I could tell you... But first, perhaps you could tell me your true name?" asked Diz looking at the cloaked man. The cloaked man revealed his face from under his hood. His dark tan skin with bright cold amber eyes, his long white hair went down to his lower back.
"It's Ansem" said the man in a glare.
Diz laughed, "It's an honor, Ansem!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In round room with chairs of different heights sat some strangers in black coats with Axel also amongst them.
"Get rid of him?!" Exclaimed Axel slamming his hands down at the arms of the chair. "Wait I just need more time! If that girl didn't interfere!-"
"It's an order! The girl had nothing to do with Roxas' deception. Why are you hesitating?"
"Aren't you the one who dealt those ones that turned their back against the Organization? This girl should not cause you any trouble" said one
"She's part of their plan! Anyways he hasn't turned his back on us! He just hasn't come back yet! That's all!" Explained Axel
"If he doesn't come back, Then he must pay the price!" As a spear was summoned beside the stranger; "And if you oppose those orders, you will be the the one to pay" he said as it flew and struck Axel's chair by Axel's head. Who didn't flinch as he sat there arms crossed. The stranger looked at the other hooded stranger and dismisses the spear. The other one just looked towards Axel and a flash of light appeared in his hand.
Axel looked at him surprised; "You would turn me into a dusk?" As he put his head down as the leader still was warning Axel.
"Fine, I got it! I'll do it! I'll do it! " Snapped Axel looking back at him. As the one put away his threat.
"But what about if the girl-"
"The girl will not be harmed! If Sora doesn't play his part then she will"
Xxxxxxxx
Roxas is falling through space, when suddenly he wakes and sits up quickly looking around; finding himself back in his room. He composes himself and sighs.
"I'm dreaming...But which parts...were the dream?" he asked himself looking down from his bed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The train passes by over the Usual Spot, where the five friends are gathered, Olette standing in front of Pence, Falcon and Hayner upset with her arms on her hips. She walks up to Roxas and crosses her arms at him. He looks away at her looking at the others for help; "Only three days left of summer vacation-so don't even mention that assignment!" said Hayner.
"But we agreed we'd get it finished today" said Olette.
"Yesterday... I fell off the station tower, didn't I?" asked Roxas. They gang looked at him, "You wouldn't be here if you did!" answered Hayner leaning in.
"But man that was a close one..." said Pence.
Olette runs over toward Hayner and Pence angrily, "Stop changing the subject!"
"Okay, already! You win. We'll do the homework. Stupid independent study. So, anybody got any bright ideas for a topic?" asked Hayner giving a sigh.
"Maybe we could study the stuff that's happening to me. You know, the dreams- and the guys in white..." answered Roxas as he went up to the group.
"Forget it"
"Why?" Asked Roxas surprised.
"You know, things have been weird with you and the town since the photos were stolen, right?" asked Hayner
"Well, tomorrow, we're all gonna search the town and find out what's been going on" commented Pence
"Lots of people are helping out" finished Olette
"All that for me?"
He brightens up considerably, "I'll go get some ice cream!" He runs out of the Usual Spot. Later, the friends are all back eating the sea-salt ice creams.
"Hey where's Andi?" Asked Roxas looking around.
"Don't know. Went by her house and nobody answered" replied Falcon.
"And She hasn't came by yet?" Asked Roxas
The gang shook their heads. "I'm sure she's fine. She'll catch up with us at some point. Besides Andi didn't handle it with your close call of falling off the tower yesterday" said Olette
"Yeah if Hayner didn't grab Andi you and her would have both been gone" commented Falcon.
"She tried to save me? Did I say anything to her?" Asked Roxas
"You were quite out of it. Almost like you weren't really there. That was when she started yelling at you then stormed off" answered Hayner, Roxas putting his head down.
"Hey! She'll show up! She always does! She...just needs...to cool off for a while" said Falcon trying to cheer Roxas up. He looked up and her and nodded.
"Anyways...there's this strange rumor going around. Wanna hear it? You know the stone steps at Sunset Station? We use 'em all the time, without even thinking about it. But this is the weird part!...the steps count different going up and down!" said Pence
"Seriously!" said Hayner
"And there are six other weird stories like that. It's like...the seven wonders of Twilight Town" answered Pence acting all spooky.
"We should investigate those for our school project! Pence, you're a genius!" said Hayner as he stands up.
"There might be other rumors going around, too. Let's split up! I'm gonna look for the seven wonders..." continued Pence.
"Olette, Falcon and I will go find some new rumors! C'mon!" said Hayner
"That leaves you and me, Roxas! Let's try the train first. To the station!" suggested Pence to Roxas as the others left. They nod and proceed to Central Station. As they walk inside thy stop a little ways from the train,
"The time has come! Our hunt for the seven wonders begins!" said Pence acting all spooky again.
Footsteps come from behind as the boys turn to see Olette, Falcon and Hayner walk in after them; "Whoa! Find new rumors already?" asked Pence surprised that they got to the Train Station really quick.
"Nothing on Market Street" answered Olette
"You twerps aren't gonna scoop us. We're going to the terrace with you" said Hayner still holding on Falcon
"Hayner, it's not a race!" Scolded Olette
"Well, it is now!" said Hayner looking at Olette
"C'mon, we can all go" chuckled Roxas
They all run to the train and it begins taking them to Sunset Station. They all sit down inside the train as Olette pulls out her yellow crystal ball and holds it up as Hayner and Pence follow pursuit with theirs. Roxas searches for his, but when he realizes his crystal was missing. He sits there sadly as the train comes to a screeching halt at Sunset Station. Hayner runs out of the train.
"Olette! Falcon! Hurry!" yelled Hayner running out of the train with Falcon and Olette following behind.
Pence and Roxas walk out together. Roxas stretches for a sec and looks down at the steps to leave the train stop.
"Huh. Aren't these the steps you talked about? The ones that count different going up and down?" asked Roxas, Pence turned and replied "Umm...actually, it's the stupidest thing ever, but..."
"What?"
"Rai's the one who counted. He's like, "Every time I count, it's different, Y'KNOW?" Ha ha ha ha!" laughed Pence at the image seeing that. "So...he just counted wrong?"
Pence nods. Roxas sighs as he slumps his shoulders.
"Hey, no worries"
Roxas and Pence walks around Sunset Terrace. Roxas finds a dead end where strange balls fly out at him. He runs to the wall dodging the balls and searches around the wall until the balls just stopped.
Pence sees the ball fly out, running into the dead end and finds Roxas standing there.
"Oh, it's just you, Roxas. Were you throwing a ball? That ball flew out of nowhere and totally startled me. Hey, I know! This explains one of those seven wonders!" said Pence turning around and walked out with Roxas behind him.
As they leave, a mysterious energy slightly shudders in front of the wall and vanishes.
Roxas goes over and sees a tunnel and decides to investigate and to his surprise sees Vivi alone.
"Vivi?"
Roxas runs to Vivi, who then splits into three Vivis. Roxas looks and goes to a battle stance as he holds his struggle bat. Roxas attacks on of Vivis and they turns into data, Roxas smirks seeing that was too easy when he saw another one appear again. The Vivis come from different sides with attacks hitting Roxas as he was tossed in the air. He back flips and lands on his feet attacking them again. As they disappear and reappear there came more cloned Vivis. Roxas attacks and defeats the last ones as they turn into data. Vivi walks in from the entrance of the tunnel.
"What is it, Roxas?" asked Vivi
Vivi walks toward Roxas holding a Struggle bat
"Oh, did you need this, Roxas? Planning on getting in some practice, I bet" said Vivi
"Er, no, it's just that... there were so many of you..." said Roxas
"Huh? So...many of me? I don't get it. Anyway, I'm done with this, Roxas. You can take your time" said Vivi
Vivi walks out while Pence runs in as he pass Vivi.
"So the mystery voice was just Vivi practicing" said Pence
"Listen, there were a whole bunch of Vivi clones here just a minute ago..." said Roxas
The Vivi that had just walked out turns into a white creature and it floats out from behind Pence. Roxas runs out of the tunnel and goes down and passes a small waterfall, where he sees his reflection. Suddenly, the reflection walks out of the waterfall and through Roxas. It turns into a dark form and is ready for battle. Roxas gets out his struggle bat as well. Shadow Roxas attacks first with his shadow struggle bat and hits Roxas. Roxas brushes it off and attacks. Roxas attacks with a few swings and Shadow Roxas blocks them, Roxas attacks again and gets couple smacks then Shadow Roxas dodged the third one. Shadow Roxas attacks but Roxas blocks it and swings again. Shadow Roxas goes for another attack and Roxas blocks it again. Roxas jumps and hits Shadow Roxas in the head; defeats Shadow Roxas who absorbs into data.
"Roxas!" yelled Pence
Roxas stands up and dusts himself off
"You all right?"
Pence looks over at the waterfall. Roxas and his' reflections are back where they should be.
"Now that's spooky! I thought I saw someone, but it was just my reflection. I bet this is behind one of the seven wonders!" said Pence as he runs off.
"Another...me?" wondered Roxas as he walks away as his Shadow form appears briefly in the waterfall.
Roxas walks to Sunset Hill on the top of the hill where trash cans with a big garbage bag. Roxas gets closer when it starts bouncing bag running around. Roxas jumps onto the bag to keep it from moving around as it jumps over the trash cans Roxas holds on tighter as the bag moves fast. Roxas holds tighter as it jumps the trash cans until it gets tired and slumps over as Roxas stands up.
"Yikes!" said Roxas
A dog comes out of the bag. Pence walks in.
"Oh, it was just a dog. Did you let it out of the sack, Roxas?" asked Pence as the dog walks off.
"This explains one of those seven wonders!"
Another white creature appears from the dog on Roxas and Pence side without being noticed.
"You know...that last wonder wasn't exactly wonderful" said Roxas standing the enterance of Sunset station.
"I understand, say no more. But this next one's gonna be really great! Wonder number Six!" said Pence
Hayner, Falcon and Olette run in
"We got another lead!" said Hayner
"The Ghost Train Mystery" said Olette
"Everybody knows about wonder number Six!" said Pence
"Yeah, well, I didn't" confessed Hayner crossing his arms.
"I did" said Falcon grinning really big
"Did you find out where the train runs?" asked Roxas
"You can see it from Sunset Hill" said Olette
The five walk to Sunset Hill by the wooden fence, underneath them was the underpass.
"If the rumors are true, it'll be here any minute..." said Hayner as they all looked down at the tracks.
"For they say the train is empty. No driver, no conductor, no passengers... NO RETURN" said Pence trying to scare his friends.
The girls rolled their eyes.
"Whatever Pence" said Falcon.
Pence sunk as Falcon looked at the tracks waiting for it. They all eventually get tired waiting and end up lying on the ground
"We've gotta make it to the beach next year" said Olette with her head resting on her hands
"Yeah. We better get jobs the second vacation starts" agreed Hayner
"Good afternoon, slackers"
Everyone turns and sees Seifer standing over them looking at Hayner and Roxas.
"What are you doing out here?" asked Seifer
"What do you care?" asked Hayner
"I don't. Tell me anyway" he said
"We're waiting for the ghost train" answered Pence flatly.
"Waiting for the ghost train!" mocked Seifer.
He laughs and Roxas stands up, annoyed. They look at each other angrily, "Why does looking at you always tick me off?" asked Seifer
"I dunno. Maybe its destiny" answered Roxas, glaring.
"Destiny... In that case, let's be friends. I don't feel like cooperating with destiny" said Seifer as he turns to the sunset. Almost like he had a lot of things to think about.
"When have you ever cooperated with anything?" asked Hayner looking at Seifer
Seifer turns around and pats his chest with his fist, then leaves
"Seifer!" yelled Olette walking a few steps at him.
"I know. Tomorrow" answered Seifer annoyed
"Look!" said Roxas running to the fence and holding its edge as he looked down the others turned around at the tracks. A mysterious blue and gold train decorated with stars and moons pulls through the underpass.
"It's really true...And there's really no one aboard! What's the catch? There's gotta be a catch, right?" asked Roxas looking at his friends as the other four look at each other and than at Roxas.
"Then it's real? Let's go to the station!" said Roxas
The five rush to the station to catch the train, Roxas leading the way. The train is there when they arrive at the station.
"Let's go in!" said Roxas
Hayner stops Roxas grabbing his arm.
"What?"
"Um...you'll get hurt" explained Hayner letting go of Roxas.
Roxas look back and the train has disappeared. They looked around and the train had disappeared almost like a blink of an eye.
"Huh?"
"The train will be arriving shortly"
The usual orange train pulls into the station. A few passengers, including Fuu and Rai walk out.
"C'mon" said Hayner
"A train came from the beach. There was no driver, right?" asked Roxas
"Let's go..." said Pence sadly
"Right?"
He pleads to Olette with his hand. She shakes her head. Hayner growls and pushes Roxas onto the train. Later, after arriving back at the train station, they walk toward Market Street
"Let's go home and work on the paper" said Hayner
"The rumors were bogus. The end." Said Pence
"We can still make it sound good if we write about all the work we did" said Olette
"But what about the last one-the seventh wonder?" asked Roxas.
"Who cares?" asked Hayner as Falcon also glanced at Roxas.
"I do. C'mon, Pence" pleaded Roxas
"Whatever!" said Hayner and he ran off. Falcon glanced between Hayner.
"Roxas..."said Olette
Pence sighs at Roxas' determination
"It's at that haunted mansion" replied Pence
Pence, Falcon and Olette follow Hayner as Roxas proceeds to the Old Mansion.
"You know something..." said Pence
Roxas gets startled and turns around, seeing Pence standing there behind them.
"We were gonna check the mansion out tomorrow. It IS the most suspicious place" said Pence
"Right..." agreed Roxas as they look at the mansion.
"Even Seifer's gang was gonna help" replied Pence
"Seifer?" asked Roxas surprised.
"Yeah, Hayner asked him to"
Roxas looks up to the dusty window of the mansion. Naminé is in the window standing there looking at them.
"So, what're we looking for?"
"Well, they say there's a girl who appears at the second floor window even though no one's lived here for years" said Pence like if he was telling a ghost story.
Roxas looks back up to the window...
XXXXXXXXXX
He appears inside in a white room with a long table and picture drawings on the walls. Everything but the colors in the pictures is white. One of the pictures Roxas focuses on is Kairi with a paopu fruit.
"Roxas..." said Naminé
"Naminé?" Roxas looked around the room. Another of the pictures he looks at is of him and Axel, both in the Organization cloaks.
"This is...me? ...And Axel's here too" said Roxas
"You ARE best friends..." she replied
"Very funny" he laughed
"Don't you want to know the truth about who you really are?"
"No one knows me better than me"
"Of course..."
"But...I don't get what's been happening lately?" he said as he passes the window to another picture seeing a picture of Sora, Donald, and Goofy looking all happy.
"You know these three, don't you?"
"Yeah. Sora, Donald, and Goofy. They're from the dreams"
"About a year ago, some things happened, and I had to take apart the memories chained together in Sora's heart. But now...I'm putting them all back exactly the way they were. It's taken me a long time, but pretty soon Sora will be his old self again. The process has been affecting you, too, Roxas" she answered
"You mean...the dreams?"
"Yes... You and Sora are connected. And...In order for Sora to become completely whole again... He needs you"
Roxas sees a picture of himself with Sora holding hands.
"Me? What for?"
"You hold half of what he is... He needs you, Roxas"
"Naminé?"
Roxas and Naminé sit at opposite ends of the long white table, looking at each other.
"Naminé...who are you?"
"I'm a witch with power over Sora's memories and those around him"
"A witch?"
"That's what Diz called me. But I don't know why I have this power...I just do. I'm not even sure there's a right way for me to use it" she explained sadly.
"Hmm...I can't help you there" he said looking over at the drawing of himself and Axel. Then sees a picture of him and Andi on the clock tower in his black coat and Andi in a red dress.
"Andi?..."
"Do you remember this?" Asked Namine
"Kinda...I don't know why I was talking to her. But she was begging me to not leave" explained Roxas
"That seashell! That's on her wayfinder"
"Guess you kinda kept your promise huh?"
"Yeah...I guess I did. To never forget her but I guess we both forgot about this."
"Her memories are quite foggy since the last time you seen her. But she's slowly gaining back what she has lost."
"How do you know that?" Asked Roxas.
"I have a hunch" replied Namine with a smile.
Roxas nodded looking down at his hands; "It's funny... Suddenly I feel like I don't know myself at all... I guess I would like to know. What do you know about me...that I don't?" he asked
"You...you were never supposed to exist, Roxas" she said looking at him very sadly
"What...? How could you even say such a thing...even if it were true?"
"I'm sorry. I guess some things really are better left unsaid"
Xxxxxxxxx
Pence shakes Roxas out of his staring contest with the window.
"Roxas! Roxas!" said Pence
"Huh?"
"Did you see her?"
"Yeah. Watch the window-closely" said Roxas pointing up to the window, where Namine was gone.
"Oh, lame. That's just the curtains moving. There must be a draft somewhere. I'm surprised this old place even has curtains" said Pence.
"...Yeah" replied Roxas
"Well, let's head back to the usual spot. Hayner, Falcon and Olette are waiting" said Pence
The two boys walked off.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Pence and Roxas walk in to the Usual Spot as Falcon and Olette looked at them
"Hey guys, how'd it go?" asked Olette
"The girl in the window turned out to be a curtain flapping in the wind" replied Pence walking up to Olette.
"I figured as much. The report's already done"
"I mean all the others didn't exist so why should that one" asked Falcon
"All right!"
"So, wanna go find Hayner? He's probably at the station" said Olette.
Roxas looks up
"You know...we only have two more days together" said Olette looking at Roxas
"Huh?"
"Summer vacation, remember?" asked Falcon
"Oh...right" said Roxas sadly
The four walk to Central Station. Hayner is on the ledge eating ice cream.
"Tomorrow we search the town" ordered Hayner
"Next day's the fair" said Pence
"The last day of summer" replied Olette
"Don't say that! You'll give me an ulcer!" said Hayner putting his head down
"Not if you explode from all that ice cream first" answered Pence as Hayner put the ice cream far from his head.
Everyone but Roxas laughs as the bells ring in the background.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In a dimly lit room, Diz is sitting in a large wooden chair in front of a broken table as the cloaked Ansem walks in, "Why did you show him the train?" asked Ansem.
"Because he missed the trip to the beach" replied Diz
"Hmph...That's almost kind of you."
"Now...what about you? Are the holes in your memory starting to fill in?" asked Diz
"Yes...the haze is clearing"
"The same thing is happening to everyone who had ties to Sora. Very soon, to them, he'll be like a good friend who's gone away for a year" explained Diz
Ansem sits in an opposite chair, "I've waited, and now I want to know. What is it that you want?" asked Ansem
"Revenge" replied Diz
"Revenge..."
"And the girl?" Asked Ansem.
"Her use now is to help Sora...Now, for the finishing touches. First, we must dispose of Naminé. She did a splendid job with Sora, but it's high time she disappeared. Roxas isn't the only one who was never meant to exist. Take care of it, Ansem" ordered Diz.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Andi groans as she flitters her eyes open; finding herself sitting on the floor against the wall. Putting her hand on her forehead she slowly looks around and realizes she's in a white room. She had been in this room before this is where she seen Namine for the first time. Putting her hands on the wall she pushes herself up leaning against the wall for support.
"Easy"
Andi looks and sees Namine standing a few feet in front of her with her arm stretched out almost ready to help her in case she fell. Andi looking around she sees drawings hanging on the wall stopping at the one behind Namine with Roxas and her on the clock tower. Slowly walking past Namine she stops at the picture. Andi was in her red dress from her school dance that they were having inside the tower, Roxas was in his black coat that the two guys she seen worn and the blue shell from the center of her wayfinder in the middle of them.
"He's really one of them?" asked Andi
"Was" replied Namine.
"Did I know?" asked Andi looking at Namine.
Namine shook her head; "as far as I know. You didn't know"
Andi looks back at the picture and then puts her hand on her wayfinder pendant. She walks through the walls to see the different drawings of a boy with spiky brown hair with two friends. Continuing to look at the pictures stops at a picture of -Roxas and Axel.
"So they were friends" said Andi glancing at Namine.
A small smile came on Namine's face as she sat down at the big long white table in the center of the room. Andi looks at the other empty chair across from Namine and sits down looking down at her hands forming fists in her lap. "Just tell me. What is going to happen to Roxas?" asked Andi her voice shaking slowly looking at Namine.
Namine's smile faded and looked down avoiding Andi's gaze. Andi stood up slamming her fists into the table startling Namine.
"What will happen to Roxas?!?" snapped Andi
"He will no longer exist"
Andi turns to Diz's voice where he appears through a dark portal. Andi glares at Diz
"You!" Growled Andi as she summoned her keyblade she runs at him to attack but is blocked by the hooded man with his bat wing keyblade. Jumping back she holds a defensive stance.
"Why?! What did he do to deserve that?!" Snapped Andi
"He's the enemy. He's part of Organization 13. He can never change from who he was" replied Diz.
"He's not one of them anymore! People can change!" exclaimed Andi
"Is that what he told you?" chuckled Diz as Andi looks down at her keyblade.
"How can you trust him? His organization knows how to munipulate a heart without even contain one for themselves. You only made it easy for him to twist his way into your heart thinking you were friends. When he only plans to use you and to hurt you" said Diz.
"That's not true! I know that our friendship is real!" Exclaimed Andi looking at Diz swinging her keyblade to her side.
"How? Because your heart tells you?!" Yells Diz angrily at Andi.
"Yes...I know who...my friends are"
Diz turns his back to Andi; "Hmph...You would rather believe in a fake friendship? And trust your heart when you couldn't even tell that your friends were made out of data?"
"What?..."
"Yes. That world was completely out of data except you and Roxas of course" continued Diz glancing over his shoulder.
"So That Axel guy was right..."
Diz chuckled, "Yes. Another member from the Organization. He's managed to manipulate the system. He's able to leave the data world and come back to the real one. Roxas could do the same if he remembered his life before. Thanks to Namine"
Andi looks at Namine which Namine looks down at her lap. She looked torn by Diz's words. Andi's keyblade vanishes and curls both her hands into fists looking at her feet.
"So why am I here?" Asked Andi
"To stay out of our way" said Diz
"What did you need me in the first place?!? If you wanted me away why was I put in that data world?!?" Exclaimed Andi
"I didn't think he would like to be there lonely" teased Diz as he disappeared into the portal with the other hooded man.
Andi started rapidly breathing as she punches the wall and then screams holding her head and falling to the ground. A small tear comes down her face as she brings her body close and leans against the wall. One of Namine's drawling sways itself to the ground and lays beside her. Glancing at the picture it showed her punch mark where she had hit the wall. She sees it's the boy and his two friends from a previous picture. She picks it up and looks at it.
"His name is Sora" said Namine
Andi looks at Namine and gets up leaning against the wall still.
"He's going to save the worlds" continued Namine
"Hmph...is he now?" Said Andi as she sits back in the chair across from Namine. Still holding the picture in her hands.
"He must be one special person" said Andi flatly as she pushed the picture away making it scoot itself on the table.
"Was that really you?...in the data world?" Asked Andi
"Yes"
"So are you the one also flooding memories in my head that was once taken away?"
"Yes"
"Can you do that to Roxas as well?"
"Yes. You and Roxas are getting your memories back together. But Roxas' memories are a little more complicated. So it takes longer to get through" replied Namine.
"So you can save him?"
Namine looks down again.
"Namine...please" asked Andi in desperation.
Namine looked at Andi in the eyes; "I will save him" she replied.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Author's Notes: This was a long chapter and ideas for the ending of this chapter was fighting on which one to do. I hope you guys liked this chapter. See what happens in the next one. Fav and review!