Soras face beamed as he saw Namine walking down the stairs. His face became even brighter as he saw Riku Replica not too far behind.
"Riku!"
Sora bolted off towards his pseudo friend to give him the hug he'd wanted to give him forever, but was cut off as Riku Replica held his hand out.
"Sorry Sora, but now's not the time. And furthermore-"
"We want to help you stop the shadow." Namine blurted out. She gave Riku Replica an unsteady look. Trying to tell him that letting Sora know that all his memories were bogus right then and there was a bad idea. Instead of dropping the bomb, Namine looked back to Sora and smiled. "Thanks for rescuing me."
"Well! Now that we've found her can we get outta here?" Donald squawked, "That shadow could be coming back!"
"Hey…" Sora seemed wavered about Donald's concern over the monster, "Namine, I know you said that now's not the time for talking, but did you see, a monster not too long ago?"
"We would have seen it climbing up the stairs Sora…"
Sora was silent, he had heard the monster climb up the stairs and knock down the door. If they had come down the same way… why hadn't they seen it then? Going up the stairs and coming down, and yet they hadn't seen each other? How was that possible?
"Sora?"
He snapped back to reality and then looked back to his friends.
"What?"
"You say the shadow climbed up the stairs and went into the next floor, and we didn't see anything. So how do you explain how the monster ran by? I mean a monster of that size couldn't be missed that easily…"
"WHAT!" Sora jumped in surprise, "You saw the monster too Riku?"
Riku Replica looked down at his feet and scuffed the floor. He looked back up and nodded.
"Yeah, I did see it, it talked to me, and then I…." He trailed off, he didn't want to spill the beans just yet about him being fake, so… " Well, he attacked me as I guess he attacked you, and then well, here I am."
The news didn't settle with Sora that well. He knew something was up, but he decided not to pursue it. Instead he gave off a cheesy grin and gave a thumbs up.
"Well, now that we're all here, we can finally get the real show started and show them who's boss!"
He raised his keyblade into the air. Soon a shield, wand, and a Soul Eater joined it. Since Namine didn't have a weapon to call her own she raised her hand and placed it on the hilt of the keyblade.
"Alright!"
The five stepped back and looked at each other. Even with false chains connecting some of them, there was no way that they would be separated now. As Sora looked to his friends he couldn't help but see how happy all of them were. He decided upon himself that he would keep all of them safe, after all, he had promised Namine on the night of the meteor shower, so why not promise all of them?
"Lets find the shadow guys… and then… we can all go home."
Little did Sora know, while one team had finally united, another one was about to do the same…
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Vexen grumbled as Lexaeus helped him onto a marble chair. Looking over he saw Zexion phase into the room.
"Glad to see that you're in one piece."
"Same to you old friend."
Zexion pulled up a chair and sat across from Vexen. Lexaeus took his post at the doorway, incase anything else happened.
"Vexen, we need to talk."
"Talk? What about?"
"For being so brilliant you sure are shallow sometimes, Vexen, we know that you're hiding something, and what it is, we want to know."
Vexen bit his lip. He already knew that Zexion had a good idea as to what he was hiding, but why did he want to know? Well…
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because we're the ones who have been with the Organization the longest, along with Xigbar and Xaldin," Zexion said, his voice rising along with him out of his seat, soon he towered over Vexen like some angry bull, "So tell us already!"
"Well first off, there's no need to yell in my face. And second, what I've been keeping a secret from you is that … experiment that I've been saving… I was hoping to use it against Marluxia before he made his move, or the shadow that Namine drew… it's too late, and, here's the result." he held a fragment of his once trusty shield.
Hearing his friend spill out all the beans on what he was scheming Zexion relaxed and let his glare soften. He looked over his shoulder to Lexaeus, who was still standing by the door.
"You heard him Lexaeus."
Lexaeus only gave a nod and went back to guarding the door. A stagnant silence filled the air and was broke by the scrape of marble as Vexen got out of his chair.
"And where are you heading?"
"I'm going back to check on Lorenzo, she'll certainly have recovered by now."
"You don't have to go searching for her…"
Vexens attention immediately went to Lexaeus.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean," Lexaeus pointed out the door as he explained, "That she's coming for you right now…"
And on cue Larxene walked in, supporting Lorenzo with her arm. Looking into the room Larxene was relieved to see that Vexen was alright, but in the company of others she decided it was best to keep quiet and act like her usual bitchy self.
"Managed to drag your wreck of a toy all the way with me." Larxene spat as she shoved Lorenzo in Vexens general direction, " Vexie, why don't you have your turn?"
Vexen walked to the experiments side and helped her gain her support. Seeing the state Lorenzo was in Zexion gave a look of doubt and crossed his arms.
"Vexen, are you serious? That… thing's weaker than a shadow heartless!"
Lorenzo looked up and gave a weakened glare at the silver haired unknown before whispering to Vexen.
"Vexen, the shadow… the thing you created me for… one of them anyway...the shadow, is now in the castle… Vexen… You'll need to work yourself if you want us all to get out of here…"
And Vexens felt as if his body had been chilled over. The shadow that Namine had warned him about, the shadow that she said would come after them, was now loose in the castle. He looked to his comrades and only a dry whine came from his lips.
"Everyone... we've got to work together now, we have to. or else…. The shadow will grow in power and soon be too powerful to stop."
Lexaeuses eyes glowed in interest as he looked away from the door. "The shadow that Namine drew? It really exists?"
"No time to explain," Vexen said hurriedly as he limped with Lorenzo, "We've got to find a way how to stop it now!"
"Then you won't have to look far Vexen." Zexion stated as he took out his two beam sabers and brandished them, "We're here for you and the Organization, don't forget that."
Lorenzo let her constant glare on Zexion soften as he stated his loyalty to her creator. She then nudged Vexen, slid off his shoulder support, and shakily stood on her own; much to the shock of the others. With a dry gasp she spoke.
"If Zexion's willing to put his life on the line I will as well… like I promised Vexen, I'll keep the Organization going…"
Lexaeus and Larxene also stepped into the small group.
"Count me in with it."
"Hmph, someone else has to watch over the toy…" Larxene mumbled as she lightly shoved Lorenzo, "Who else but me?"
"Then it's decided," Vexen stated as he spoke above them all, "We'll restore order to the Organization and wipe out all who threaten it!"
It was at that moment that they would be put on trial. A scraping noise alerted the team and they turned to the door. And what they saw knocked their boots off.
Lexaeus stood at the doorway, a look of fear appearing upon his face and draining the life from it. Walking down the hallway, was darkness. It was incomprehensible as to what it truly was though. But it seemed that darkness muted all around it, and the closer it came, the more it covered. Lexaeus backed away and clenched his tomahawk. And for the rest of them, they all knew what was coming.
The Shadow.
The scraping became louder, and Vexen swore that he heard the clicks of a mechanical jaw. Every click and scrape became louder than the last. He instinctively wanted to duck behind his shield, but the thought came back.
It was broken, broken, broken, broken. And there was no way he could fix it now, now that the shadow was coming and…
"LEXAEUS!" Vexen bellowed to his comrade, "GET BACK NOW!"
It was because of this that Lexaeus lived to tell the tale, because right when he leapt away a giant golden beam stuck the entryway. When the lightning died the Organization saw that the once pearly white marble was now a dead moldy black.
Larxene quickly brandished her knifes and jumped to Lexaeuses side.
"What the hell was that?!"
Another click, and another. All of them became tense, waiting for the next strike. With each click, they held their weapons tighter; each prepared for the worst.
Then, the clicks stopped.
Larxene lowered her dukes. Zexion willed his sabers away and folded his arms. Lexaeus shouldered his tomahawk and looked to the others.
"You think it ran off?"
The room remained silent. Not a single soul dare answer, afraid that if they were to speak again, the shadow would come back. They waited in the silence, fear still held fast to them. Five minutes, ten minutes, how much longer did they have to wait? Vexen began to whisper under his breath.
"The shadow is still here, it's waiting for us to falter, to us to give ourselves away, it knows that it can give us a fight… But how… how can we get past it?"
Lorenzos ears twitched. Hearing Vexens worried thoughts put even more of a strain upon her.
It was then that she decided to act.
To the shock of the others Lorenzo ran out into the hallway, her shields clashing against the walls as she ran at a full sprint.
"LORENZO! GET BACK HERE!"
But this time Vexens warning came too late as another gold beam was fired and found its mark. Lorenzo went flying back and struck the wall with a thud. Vexen wanted to come to her aid, but going into the hallway meant being open to attack.
Or did it?
They looked on as the shadow began to focus only on Lorenzo; a figure began to emerge from the darkness. It's tails thrashed and it clicked its jaw with excitement. It was so huge that it loomed over Lorenzo like a Tsunami ready to crash upon a beach.
It had its back to them…
Just before it lunged Zexion flung one of his sabers at its back. There was a hum of energy as the blade struck the hazy darkness. The shadow lurched back at gave out a bellowing roar as the pain shot through its body. It was then that Vexen realized why Lorenzo had stormed out. To let the shadow drop its own guard and give THEM the advantage!
Taking the opportunity Vexen shot an ice crystal at the monsters back. It again lurched back and swerved around. It's ruby eyes glared down upon him and it began to bring its claws down on him. The shadow was cut off in attack however as Larxene shot a lightning bolt in its face. Its metal jaw intensified the lightning strike and it was blown across the room. Lexaeus then came down on the shadow; swinging his weapon like a baseball bat he sliced off one of the shadows many tails. The shadow gave out a cry and brought one of its hind legs up, kicking Lexaeus square in the chest and in return sending him flying across the room. Vexens first instinct was to run to his downed friend, but that was what the shadow wanted, to drop his guard once again. Keeping his stare upon the shadow Vexen only uttered one sentence.
"What are you?"
The shadow looked up at him, the same eyes keeping their glare, keeping their message of hatred and destruction. It snarled as it got its footing back.
"LE-VI-A-THAN!"
The roar it let out sent a shock wave through the room; all the other Unknowns fell down from the tremor. "Leviathan" then let out another snarl and looked back to the hallway.
"Your blasted little experiment struck at me!" It said as it began to lumber, ignoring them as if it had never conversed with them, "Let me get back at you!"
Vexen turned to the doorway and bit his lip as he saw Lorenzo struggling to her feet. Just as she got up Leviathan was once again upon her and it batted her into the room.
"Join your little friends!" It bellowed as it once again came through the door, "And I'll take you all out! And then Sora'll be next!"
Lorenzo growled as she once again got to her feet and held her shields out.
"Come and get me then, I'll take you on, and if I fall, then the rest of the Organization shall stop you!"
Leviathan backed away at the threat that the once downed unknown hollered. Looking into the unknown's eyes Leviathan saw the determination that was only held by… crazy people. Leviathan chuckled and regained its footing.
"Let's see them do it then!" Leviathan roared as he let his claw fall upon her. But this time Lorenzo was prepared for the assault and sent her shields up to block the attack. Leviathans claw bounced off with a strike of metal and he glared down with a look of bewilderment. He then came down with both his claws, and this time Lorenzo gave way and rolled to the side as the two claws crashed down onto the marble.
Seeing as how "Leviathan" was once again busy with Lorenzo Zexion let one of his sabers fly at the monster. The blade made a humming sound as it struck one of its dorsal fins. Lorenzo was allowed a little breathing space as Leviathan recoiled and diverted his attention to Zexion, who flung his second blade at him. Leviathan ducked and it went sailing by before hitting the wall and turning off. Leviathan then started for Zexion, but was cut off as Larxene stood in his way.
"What do you hope to accomplish you puny being?" Leviathan said in a mock chuckle, "I'll stamp you flat!"
"You'll be the one stamped flat!" yelled Larxene as she sent a few kunais at Leviathans face. The little needles seemed to bounce off its skin but it was still enough to get it riled up again. Larxene teleported onto the monsters back and rode it upon it's higher dorsal fin.
"Get off you ingrate!" Leviathan started to claw at its back, trying to knock off its pesky adversary, but even the combined effort of claws and tails couldn't strike Larxene enough to knock her off.
As all of this was going on Zexion and Vexen ran to their downed friend. As Zexion administered a cure spell Lexaeus gave out a grunt and held fast to his tomahawk.
"How long have I been out?"
"Only five minutes…"
"And the shadow?"
Vexen gestured to the abomination as it was still trying to claw off Larxene and Lorenzo was firing small blasts of lightning energy at it.
"I've seen worse…."
Lexaeus used his weapon as a crutch as he hoisted himself off the ground. With the rest of the strength he had Lexaeus raised the weapon over his head
"Let me handle this one Vexen."
"What!" Vexen said with alarm in his voice, "that attack… you'll take Larxene with it!"
"Well then, just tell her to JUMP!" Lexaeus commanded as he slammed the head of the weapon down.
The ground gave a might shake, and starting at the tomahawk a huge crack began to jut out. The crack raced its way over to Leviathan, who only had a moment to see that the crack was opening into a fissure. It gave out a roar as it began to fall. Larxene at first didn't realize the danger that she was in but the moment the monster began to give way she let go and levitated.
Leviathan grabbed one of the sides and looked up at Larxene, a glint appeared in its eye as it loosened its grip on the ledge.
"Let me take you with me, into the darkness."
Vexen realized the immediate danger and yelled to the unknown.
"LARXENE! HIS TAILS!"
But it was too late, a second later Leviathan wrapped one of its tails around the lightning blonde and let its grip go. And as Larxene gave a shout of surprise the two fell into the darkness below. The trio was dumbfounded by the incident, but before they could take it in and act could act, Lorenzo ran full sprint toward the fissure.
Seeing what Lorenzo was planning to do Vexen tried to get between her and the hole, but she proved too fast and dived into the darkness after them.
Silence.
Vexen looked down into the abyss. Not a single speck of light shone. Nothing to even hint at Larxene or Lorenzo using their lightning magic. He turned to Zexion and Lexaeus.
"Zexion, what floor are we on?"
Zexion remained silent. The air around them became static and unbearable. It was after a good few minutes he finally spoke.
"We're… inside the 12th basement"
Vexens heart felt as if it had been chilled over, and being of the ice element, this was a first. He looked back down the darkness. What could possibly be waiting for them down there?
Was there anything at all?