Inverted Sky: KH 358/2 Days
Chapter 14: Twilight Town part IV
Xion's Log: Day 164
After telling Zack the whole story, he was pretty understanding of our situation. Though, he did show quite a bit of annoyance at my plan, and how dangerous it was. While definitely not the safest idea, he did come to terms with the fact that it is the best option we currently have. Even after accepting to help us though, Zack himself admitted that his contribution likely wouldn't be very much. Apparently, Genesis was way stronger than him in the past, and is the main reason why he's been training with Hercules so much.
The fact that someone needed to train with an actual Demi-God to stand a chance against Genesis, is not a very encouraging notion. But it honestly makes a lot of sense from my own experience.
It's not all doom and gloom however, even after just one day...Sora's condition has already improved a lot. DiZ even stated that she'll probably make a full recovery in less than two weeks. Afterwards, Namine will be able to finish her own work with reconnecting Sora's memories. Since the mutation and now 'de-mutation' is quite straining on her, adding mental tension to the mix might a little too much. But it won't be long before Sora will be fully back to her normal self.
"Still nothing?" Riku asked with a raised brow while looking at Xion.
The pair heading down the stairs, and into the mansion's laboratory. Them having returned from their respective missions around the same time, to which they decided to check on Sora's condition together. All the while, the girl simply nodded her head slowly in response to the boy and shrugged. "Yeah...these sorts of things take time, and there is no telling when things will start to move. But when they do, it'll be a very quick and immediate chain events that follow." the raven-haired teen explained.
Though the boy appeared vaguely unconvinced, he still nodded to her words. "And you're sure they'll use that spell you mentioned?" he questioned while tilting his head slightly.
"Positive. The first thing I was taught to do when facing an enemy of unknown origins, was to mark it with a specific spell that would allow us to keep track of its movements." Xion began, a confident expression on her features as they continued on through the lab door.
"It's something they were using to monitor me. Hence why, when I dispelled it...they came running to investigate. And since I had to study the spell extensively to learn how to get rid of it...I also figured out ways to use it to my advantage." she continued with a small smile curling her lips.
"Each of the illusions I've had all of us make, will absorb that particular spell when it's cast. Which, in turn, will give us a warning signal in our minds. Letting us know when and where it was cast." the girl finished, to which she looked to the side as DiZ muttered to himself while sitting at the main computer.
"Sorry...we'll get out of your way." Xion said a bit quieter, to which she and Riku headed further in and into the large while room to see Sora's progress.
Despite looking more like her usual self, the sleeping girl still had the appearance of a devil with the two twisted horns on her head. While smaller than previously seen, they were still quite pronounced. As Xion stared at them, she couldn't help but gain a small smirk while speaking up. "I know you said she doesn't normally have those horns, but do you think she could keep them somehow?" the raven-haired girl asked, letting out a soft chuckle as she did.
"Let me guess...'because they look cool'?" Riku muttered back while rolling his eyes and sighing.
"Of course. Even you have to admit they look pretty awesome." Xion declared as her grin simply widened.
The silver-haired boy just shook his head with an even heavier sigh; "You really are a lot like her in so many ways." he whispered silently, shrugging his shoulders.
"But no, I don't think she'll be able to keep them. Regardless of how 'cool' they might look." Riku finished, crossing both arms across his chest.
With a soft chuckle and smile, Xion nodded her head to these words. They also however, led the teen to recall her original goal, to find out more about herself. It had been a while since she was compared to Sora, so the boy's initial comment simply reminded her of this. She got so wrapped up with everything going on, that those desires had been unconsciously pushed to the side. Even without speaking to Sora directly, Xion had the means of finding out more. The simple question she needed to answer to herself though, was whether or not she was ready to hear it.
"Oh well." she hummed out as she just turned her gaze toward Sora once more.
A brief silence seemed to take the room. While Xion watched the sleeping teen, Riku was staring at Xion herself. He noticed the brief pause before the girl responded to his words, which was a tell tale sign of her thinking about something else. Yet he also knew better than to pry, as the girl would usually tell someone what was on her mind, given enough time. Despite not seeing his gaze upon her, Xion could practically feel it as she continued to look at Sora. Said girl having an ever so faint smile tugging at her lips, and a very peaceful expression.
"Looks like she's having a good dream, huh?" the raven-haired girl uttered out silently, turning toward Riku once more.
Wordlessly, the boy just nodded his head in response, his eyes briefly shifting toward Sora. "You know..." he started, his eyes shifting back to the other girl.
"...I haven't thanked you for all that you've done." he continued with a shrug of his shoulders as Xion simply looked at him in surprise.
"You've been helping us out for a while, without asking for anything in return. And since I really do appreciate all that you've done...I wanted to say 'thank you'." the boy stated, speaking as honestly and forthright as he possibly could.
Xion could only continue staring at him in shock, not expecting such a heartfelt thanks. But this actually increase, as Riku spoke his next words. "So if you ever need help at some point, just let me know and I'll be there."
The girl blinked many times from his offer, as despite not knowing him for long, she still somehow knew this was something he only said to his friends. After a quick few seconds to collect her thoughts, Xion gained a small smile and nodded slowly. "Thank you, Riku. I'll definitely remember that." she claimed in an acknowledging manner.
Riku gave a returning nod, yet chuckled briefly while making his next comment. "Just make sure the favor isn't something as simple as; buying that ice cream you always ask for."
This immediately made the pair let out a laugh in response, which filled and echoed through the room. But while there were only the two of them, it almost sounded like there were three separate laughs. "No promises." was Xion's response as the two made eventually made their way out of the room.
Once the door closed behind them though, Xion paused for a moment as her head tilted down. "I've been thinking." she started, leading for Riku to pause and turn to face her.
"I'm gonna ask DiZ to have a look at me." the girl said claimed with a somewhat nervous tone and expression.
Riku's eyes gradually widened for a moment, before returning to normal soon after. Him realizing that 'this' must have been what Xion was musing over a few moments ago. He then nodded slowly to the girl, yet arched a brow in question. "Are you sure?" he asked in a curious manner.
Both knew that depending on what Xion would find, it could change her attitude toward things going forward. Which had been one of many unconscious reasons for why she delayed for so long. But no more. The nervousness in the raven-haired girl slowly turned to determination, to which she merely gave a returning nod to the other teen. "Yeah." she started, taking in a deep breath.
"I've been putting it off long enough. Plus...I don't know if I'll survive my next encounter with Genesis. So if I'm going to find out, now might be the only time I have." Xion stated silently, but with a great deal of finalization in her voice.
This tone showed that she had come to terms with the idea that she could be destroyed. But if it was going to happen, then she at least wanted some level of closure. Recognizing this, the silver-haired teen let out a silent breath and nodded back. "Alright." was all Riku could say as they moved back into the laboratory.
Deep down, Xion knew that whatever answers she was about to find, wouldn't be something she would like.
But she still had to know.
Xion's Log: Day 165
…
And now I know.
Being Sora's 'replica' is definitely not what I was expecting, but I guess it's why Vexen never referred to me as a 'Nobody'. As it turns out though, I was always going to be a failure.
The sample that the Superior collected from Sora, was corrupted from the moment he took it. DiZ couldn't figure out how or why, but it does mean my creation was never going to work from the very beginning. Which was why my hair was already black, and why darkness poured from my eye.
It turns out, my form was actually breaking down because of how unstable it was, yet somehow...I still managed to stay intact. Because of this instability however, my power has been severely limited and my growth greatly slowed. Apparently, I only have around a fourth of Sora's actual potential.
But it would have been fine if 'that's' all there was.
The actual sample I was created from, was a piece of Sora's memory. Which means that, so long as I'm around, all of Sora's memories Namine fixes have a 50% chance of going into my mind instead.
I knew I wouldn't like the answers I'd find, but this is so much worse than I could have imagined.
Xion sat silently in her room, head tilted toward the floor as she let out a long breath. It was only a few hours after DiZ told her all this, yet it hit her like a pile of bricks. She was scanned all night to make sure that there were no possible errors, so she knew none of this was simply 'misread'. Though, the big question floating in the girl's mind now was; 'What do I do now?'
'In order for Sora to make a full recovery, I probably have to be destroyed. Is there a way for that not to be the case though? Is there a way out?' she asked herself over and over again.
This cycle just continued as the minutes ticked by, her merely awaiting the others' return so she could tell them. Riku had been sent out to patrol the town, while the others remained to survey the forest. The only other two inside the mansion were DiZ and Namine, but Xion was sure that the blond likely knew all of this from the very beginning.
'I wonder if 'this' was the real main reason why she didn't want to speak to me. I can't blame her...it would be hard to talk to someone you knew would likely disappear in the end.' she thought to herself, still looking at the floor beneath her.
'Although...she did finally speak to me. Was is out of guilt? Or perhaps she thought of a way out? Or maybe...she just has faith that I'll find a way out myself.' Xion continued while slowly rising to her feet.
'It's probably the last one, as she likely would have been trying to offer hints leading up to now. Though, if there is a way out...who would be able to tell me?' she questioned inwardly, placing a hand under her chin in thought.
The raven-haired girl mused for a brief few seconds before a look of realization formed on her face. "Him." she whispered in a determined manner.
With a quick, yet firm nod, Xion headed out the door. Upon which, almost like mirroring the previous time, Namine was standing there waiting for her. The blond giving the other girl a sympathetic gaze before avoiding direct eye contact all together. "I assume you know now?" she asked with a clearly apologetic tone.
"Yeah..." Xion started silently, yet there was a fire in her eyes that took the other girl by surprise.
"...and I plan to ask about a possible way out." she continued as if it were a declaration, further amazing Namine.
"But it does mean I'll need to find a certain someone, my creator...Vexen."
Xion finds out the truth, and now, the search for the missing Organization members begins. I hope all of you are enjoying this new version of the story and will let me know what you think. Until next time.