Inverted Sky: KH 358/2 Days
Chapter 25: Twilight Town part V
It was hours before anyone had heard from Mickey and Zack. Master Yen Sid finally contacted Merlin about the pair's condition, which was apparently quite severe. And while he assured everyone that they would be alright, it would take quite a bit of time before they would recover. Until then though, they had no way of finding out what had transpired. However, it was abundantly clear that it was the work of Xemnas. Which created a deep sense of dread in the group, even more so than when they retreated from the battle.
There was a feeling of failure, regret and loss that lingered in the air, almost suffocating the room. Everyone could handle losing to the Organization, and even expected it in a small way. But they lost three of their friends along the way. Whether or not they could somehow return, was still just a theory at the moment. So regardless of how much they tried to convince themselves otherwise, it was a heavy toll none of them were prepared for. Roxas least of all.
After these long few hours passed, many of them began to make their way elsewhere. Not only had this incident put things into perspective, but they all realized what it was they were truly up against. Kairi returned to her training with a heavy heart, not even being able to look at anyone in the eyes as she left. Both Leon and Yuffie joined her though, as both felt as though they weren't able to do enough during the fight. Both Namine and Roxas were already gone by the time anyone started to leave, yet they went in complete opposite directions.
Riku though, had followed the blond as he was the most unsure of what he might do. Using a corridor of darkness, they arrived on the top of Twilight Town's train station. Upon which, he watched as Roxas lingered at the raised ledge for a few long moments. His eyes were unfocused as he gaze downward, as though reliving some of his memories of this particular spot. Riku simply kept his distance, so that the other boy had some space to think. Roxas himself slowly sat down on the edge of the tower and let out a long breath he didn't realize he was holding in.
With his eyes eventually finding the sunset ahead, the blond teen seemed to find a bit more peace than before. Riku then took this moment to sit beside Roxas, whom didn't even react to his presence, showing that he already knew the teen was there. As a long silence fell around them, it was suddenly broken by the vaguely strained voice of the Nobody. "You know...I was found in this world." he started, his eyes drifting down to a group of people slowly making their way inside the train station.
"I've always thought of it as my true home." he continued silently as the boy's throat was still tightly clenched.
"Not simply because it's where I had formed...but because it's where I made my closest friends." Roxas explained with a slight shiver in his voice midway through, trying to keep himself from crying once more.
"Yeah..." Riku uttered out with a slow nod of acknowledgment.
"Sora, Kairi and I all wanted to explore other worlds, outside of our island. But at the same time, we each knew that it would always be 'home'. And we could come back to it any time." he furthered as his own gaze eventually drifted to the sunset.
Roxas turned to him for a moment, before returning the boy's nod and looked ahead as well. "All of you are really close, huh?" he questioned, yet it seemed more like a statement, than an inquiry.
"We are...and always have been." Riku answered regardless, letting a quiet breath escape his lips.
The blond Nobody's eyes closed for a few seconds before reopening, showing a great deal of pain in them. "I've always had friends beside me too." he began as he swallowed down hard.
"Axel was the first person I ever formed a bond with. He taught me how to speak...and even to laugh." Roxas continued while wiping away a few gathering tears from his eyes.
"Xion showed me kindness and generosity...as well as what it was like to share in one another's happiness." the boy furthered, yet it was obvious that he was getting closer and closer to breaking down again.
Riku nodded his head to these words, fully understanding what such things feel like. "I really only got the chance to speak to Xion...but she definitely has a heart of gold from what I could tell." he whispered out as a faint smile formed on his features.
"She could have beat me pretty easily when we first met, but she instead just used it as an opportunity to help me. Pointing out my flaws, so I could get better." the silver-haired boy added.
As Roxas turned toward the boy, he also couldn't help but gain a small smile of his own. Simply hearing about his friend through Riku, almost made it feel as though she was still alive in an odd way. While a few quiet seconds passed of settling their minds, it was a more comfortable silence than before. After which, the blond spoke up once more as he gazed out to the town in front of them. "I also got to know Lexaeus and Zexion when we were sent to this world for a mission." he started, lifting a hand out and pointing toward an area the locals called 'The Sandlot'.
"Lexaeus gave me a lecture about honor and the 'warrior's code'. While Zexion taught me almost everything I know about magic." Roxas claimed, his gaze shifting back to the sunset as another nearly invisible smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Even though Zexion specializes in illusion magic, he started using more elemental magic after Xigbar taunted him in saying that he was the weakest member of the Organization. Though, everyone speculated that he was simply using illusions to make it appear as if he was using elemental magic. Which...I think would make it even more impressive." Roxas continued with a half-hearted chuckle.
The blond took in and let out a slow breath, but it was still very shaky from the emotions he was trying to keep under control. Though, he turned toward Riku with a small, yet sad smile on his lips."He probably wanted to fight Xigbar in the last battle, but got stuck with Demyx instead." he said while attempting to force a laugh.
Instead, it sounded like a mixture of a sob and shivering exhale of breath. This led for the silver-haired teen to place a hand on Roxas' shoulder, nodding his head slowly. The blond starting to cry silently with his head tilted down, unable to hold back his tears. Riku patted his shoulder a few times, before beginning to speak in a sympathetic tone. "I didn't get the chance to speak to Zexion much, as he took to training Kairi for the most part. Apparently, they made some kind of agreement in Castle Oblivion." he spoke, shaking his head dismissively.
"Though, I too learned a lot from Lexaeus." he stated, his gaze meeting the setting sun once more as he slowly retracted his hand from Roxas' shoulder.
"He also gave me a speech about the 'warrior's code' and how important it was. But he really taught me what it really means to be a protector." Riku said with a deep, and almost reflective breath.
"He said; 'In order to truly protect others, you must neither be willing to kill or be killed for them. You will lose yourself in those whom you take the life of...but you are also no good to them when you do nothing but sacrifice. Therefore, train yourself to overcome all obstacles. Regardless of how insurmountable they might be...you can and will succeed, because that's what it means to be a true warrior.'" the silver-haired boy echoed, him having memorized this speech after hearing it only once.
Roxas blinked a few times to this, as Lexaeus' words now felt far different than before. Upon which, another gentle smile formed on his features as he nodded slowly. The blond feeling a small sense of drive once more, though there was only one direction he could think to go in. His gaze briefly drifted down in his thoughts, to which he noticed three teenagers rushing toward the train station. Each of them laughing and calling out to one another while they ran. The trio loudly declaring their glee about summer vacation finally starting, and how they wanted to head to the beach.
"You know..." Roxas began after a moment, his eyes still directed toward the three down below.
"...I once thought that I'd approach them one day. See if I could befriend them." he stated while letting out a long sigh.
"That time has probably long since passed though." the boy added, briefly shaking his head.
"But maybe after one last thing...I could finally give it a go." he finished before turning toward Riku with a rather determined expression.
The silver-haired teen arched a brow slightly to the other boy, yet was still taken by surprise by the request he made. "Could you take me to see Sora?"
While Riku looked down in thought for a few moments, he very quickly came to his conclusion with a nod. "Follow me." was all he said before standing to his feet and beginning to make his way down to the ground level.
The other boy merely nodded his head in return, immediately trailing after Riku. While they briefly passed by the three teens on their way, the pair simply continued on their way. Despite the trio stopping momentarily to stare at the two, they couldn't help but silently wonder who they were and where they were going. Each of the three appeared ready to question them, but the opportunity had swiftly vanished together with duo, as they were very swiftly out of sight.
Riku led Roxas to the mansion, where they were allowed in by Goofy and Donald. Eventually, the blond Nobody found himself in the basement of the large home, and staring at the sleeping form of Sora. His eyes remained fixated on her for a few long moments, seeming to be utterly surprised by the fact that her resemblance with Xion was uncanny. He then approaching the outside of the pod slowly, all while keeping his gaze on the girl in front of him.
"Sora...so much has happened while you've been away, and so much more will probably happen before you finally awaken." he spoke silently, placing a hand on the smooth surface of the container.
"For everyone's sake...I hope you'll be able to do something about it." Roxas finished before turning around and looking to Riku.
"What can I do to help?" he questioned with a determined gaze in his eyes, very similar to what Xion had shown not long ago.
Just as the silver-haired teen was about to speak up, DiZ did so instead from the doorway. "You can return all the memories you gained from Xion." he claimed in a somewhat firm tone while looking toward the blond.
Whom shifted his eyes in the man's direction, leering in a slightly suspicious manner at him. "What are you talking about?" he asked, opening his right hand slightly as though ready to summon his Keyblade.
"Xion had, over the course of her existence, absorbed some of Sora's memories that Namine has been trying to put back together. Many of which are extremely important, and are required to make sure she can awaken once more." DiZ answered, both hands placed behind his back while walking into the room.
"Because of Xion's constant visits to this world, she unknowingly disrupted Namine's work and absorbed the memories themselves. While I have finished fixing the issues with her heart, Sora cannot regain consciousness without those memories. Which currently reside within you, as you're the only other individual they could go to, besides Sora herself." he continued as Roxas himself could only gaze at him in confusion.
"Why me? I didn't even know about Sora until recently." the boy claimed with a shrug of his shoulders.
"The answer should be obvious...you're her Nobody." DiZ stated, yet it led for both Roxas and Riku to look at him in surprise.
The bandaged man simply glanced between them before sighing and shaking his head; "You appeared around the same time that Sora herself became a Heartless, so it was simple to piece together. Plus, there is no way the Nobody of someone as powerful as Sora wouldn't be targeted by the Organization." he said while walking up to the pod in the middle of the room.
"Had she remained a Heartless...it's very likely that it too would have become just as much of a problem as Xe-...Ansem had been." the man continued, his single visible eye lingering on Sora for a moment before turning back to Roxas.
"It'll take time to extract the memories from you, so I can either put you to sleep in a pod like Sora's...or I can place you in a simulated world so that you might be able to train yourself to gain further power." DiZ added, clearly putting more emphasis on the second option than the first.
"Either way...you'll end up rejoining with her, so that she can become a full being once again. It's the only means we have of defeating the Organization. The only difference being, if you gain more power, she will gain it as well after the merging is complete." he finished in a firm manner once more, his eye narrowing slightly on the boy.
Whom did not notice Namine standing in the doorway, as she simply gazed to him sadly. Roxas simply stared at DiZ shock for a few moments, his head slowly tilting down. Despite not knowing what this would mean for him, he somehow felt like it was going to be okay. As though, it was always going to happen and that it was natural. His eyes slowly shifted over to Sora and her sleeping form, a sense of hope filled him as he simply nodded slowly.
"Well Sora...I heard that summer vacation has just begun. But it looks like mine is already over."
And there you have it, this part is officially done. I hope all of you enjoyed it even more than what I had originally.
I do plan to take a few weeks off before starting the next part, which will probably start the week after Christmas.
Anyway, let me know what you thought of this new version of 358/2 days. Until next time.