The screen flickers for a bit before the author appears.

*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 and welcome back to another chapter of Familiar of Twilight, after 9 months of time.*

*And yes this story is not dead!*

*Sorry for the long wait, no excuses except for a backlog and issues with real life. But I doubt that you all want to hear it. Instead how about we keep things short and move on with this chapter that you all have been waiting so long for.*

*So anyway this is the first chapter of the Fouquet arc and where things start to diverge from DrWriter21's story a little. But moving onto this chapter here everyone is settling in for the aftermath of the last arc along with Roxas meeting Henrietta, alongside having a bit of a falling out with Louise. Which I hope that you all will enjoy.*

*Now before we move on. There is two things to address.*

*First is that I do not own Kingdom Hearts or The Familiar of Zero.*

*Secondly I must also thank you all for your continued support, for that this story was the second one to pass 300 followers. I couldn't have done this without you all and I thank you all for your continued and very patient support.*

*Now then let's begin, shall we.*

*Just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I will see you all at the end of the chapter.*

The author snapped his fingers, turning the screen to static as the chapter begins.


Disgrace


In the Headmaster's office Osmond was currently in the middle of a nap at his desk while the sun was starting to set, which his secretary Longuenville was busy writing away at her paperwork. Currently she was taking a quick look at the sleeping mage, with his familiar curled up next to him also asleep.

He had been out for at least 20 minutes now, so it might be time to finally make her move.

Longueville let a smirk grace her features as she rose up from her desk and silently casted a spell before exiting the office, not making a sound at all.

It had been four days since the incident that happened with the former Count Mott, and about four days since his former manor had been cleaned out of quiet a few treasures by the thieve Fouquet.

Considering the former noble's manor was pretty much unsecured for the most part since Louise's familiar had raided the estate besides a few guards according to Osmond, it made for a tempting target.

After all Mott wasn't going to need it after his well deserved fate.

Still enough time has passed and now was the perfect time to do what she came to the Academy in the first place.

One the floor below the Headmaster's office was the treasury, a storage for a collection of artifacts in Tristain with some of them predating even the Academy and perhaps the kingdom itself. But Longueville only had her eyes on one such artifact and it lay just behind these doors.

She quietly muttered the incantation for a spell while surveying the nearby room. Longueville flicked her wand in the middle of the incantation caused it to triple in size and trained it towards the enormous iron padlock doors that stood between herself and her prize.

Yet nothing happened.

"I figured a simple unbinding spell wouldn't work." Longueville said calmly.

The first spell was mainly a test to see if there was any hidden defenses placed on the doors. She was confident enough to slip away just in time with that old fool currently asleep and make it look like it was just a false alarm. Yet it seemed that only a simple but powerful enchantment was placed on the door.

It should be simple enough to overpower with her own speciality of magic.

Longueville quickly began to recite her spell and sent it towards the door's lock.

The spell hit the lock and she waited for the effects to activate.

However after a few minutes of wait nothing happened. Not even the slightest sign of rust and decomposition on the locks.

"Looks like I underestimated the treasury's security." Longueville said with a frown as she lifted her glasses to inspect the lock.

The reinforced enchantments on the locks and doors would basically stay in the same state forever, safe from the ravages of time and the elements unless they were destroyed or the caster releases the spell. And only a mage of equal or a stronger level could breach these doors.

Something Longueville knew that she was not.

She needed to find another way into the treasury.

Longueville quickly undid the spell on herself and returned her wand to it's original size before putting it away as she heard footstep approaching her location. The secretary already knew what she was going to say when she encountered the origin of the footsteps.

"Miss Longueville what are you doing here?" Professor Colbert inquired.

"I was about to start cateloging the contents of the treasury Mr. Colbert, but as you can guess..." Longueville trailed off, getting him to nod.

"I see, you have quiet the task ahead of you then. The treasury is quite the cramped space and it will take you days to get through you all. Along with identify the actual artifacts from the excessive amount of junk in the room." Colbert explained, getting the greenette secretary to nod.

"Which is why I planned to start cateloging. There is no rush to completing this task, but I believe it is best to get an early start." She explained.

"Indeed, I always find that to be the best solution usually. But why didn't you use the key Old Osmond has. I believe that he would lend you it if you asked Miss Longueville?" Colbert asked.

"I would, but current he is asleep in his office and I decided to just leave him be." She explained, getting the professor to nod.

Although it was also that she was confident that Osmond would notice it missing, try something, or both if she removed the key.

"Of course he is, Old Osmond is a deep sleeper." Colbert sighed out. "I was expected to give him news on the preparations for the Familiar exhibition and the Ball of Frigg afterwards. But I suppose that will probably wait til the morning then."

"It would seem so, but what is the Ball of Frigg Mr. Colbert? Forgive me for asking, but I am unfamiliar with the term." Longueville said honestly, getting Colbert to nod.

"Given that you have only been in Tristain for a few months I would not be surprised. The Ball of Frigg is just a party of sorts that is celebrated at the Academy at this time of year. Though there is a tale that those whom dance together are destined to be together or something of the like. Of course that is just a petty legend to it after all." Colbert explained, getting Longueville to nod.

"I see, you seem to be quite knowledgeable about Tristain's history." Longueville said, getting Colbert to smile. "So would you know if there is anything of value that would warrant such protection for the treasury? If you do not mind me asking?"

"Not at all, although most of the important treasures have been located to the capital long ago. Back then a majority of the royal treasures were stored here, so a few square class mages enchanted the doors to withstand any magic and the ravages of time. It what I do know is that the Staff of Destruction and the Staff of Storms matches the description." Colbert said, surprising Longueville.

She didn't know about the later or hear anything like this Staff of Storms in Tristain.

But if Colbert speaks of it in the same reverence as the Staff of Destruction, then it seemed like something she would defiantly be interested in.

"I have heard of the former, but never of the latter. Which is quite a shame, I pride myself on my knowledge of magical artifacts." Longueville said, knowing that she had him in a position to get what she wanted.

"Something which I can admire Miss Longueville. For the Staff of Destruction it has a most interesting shape, which is honestly hard to describe except for as strange. But as for the Staff of Storms, if you attempt to catalog it whatever you do just don't unwrap the cloth around it." Colbert said sternly.

"I take it that you tried to do so yourself." Longueville inquired, getting Colbert to nod looking a little embarrassed.

"I did, and Old Osmond gave me quite a lecture for it a few years ago. I am not sure of the exact origins of the staff as he was the one to found it, but the item has a curse attached to it. And a rather peculiure one at that." Colbert said.

"And what would this curse maybe Mr. Colbert?" Longueville asked.

Depending on this curse, the item in question might be worthless or more valuable than she thought.

"The curse was that it teleports to a plot of land not that far from the Academy in a burst of wind and light. The only thing that lies there is an unmarked grave on a small cliff. But from there anyone who disturbs the Staff of Storms while it is not bond in the cloth is supposedly hounded by an apparition of death until the staff is returned. Along with anyone disturbing the grave. Other than that what Old Osmond has told me is that the curse will be lifted by one who is worthy, something which he has not clarified to me." Colbert said with a sigh.

He he began to think that perhaps he had seen a similar effect to when the staff disappeared somewhere else. Though he could not exactly think of when though.

As the teacher was try to think of where, Longueville had her interest peaked.

Perhaps she could hold onto the item for a while and if nothing came of it, just undo the cloth and leave it for the Academy to find. Nothing for her to worry about, except for maybe to keep the cloth on it at all times. But she needed to know more details for her plan to work.

Considering how late it was, she had an idea on how to do so.

"Mr. Colbert while I do enjoy this conversation, perhaps we should continue this conversation elsewhere. Perhaps over dinner." Longueville said with a smirk, getting Colbert to look surprised for a moment before he nodded.

"Of course, I believe that todays menu has flounder baked in herbs. But if that is not you want, I can have anything else prepared for you. If I ask Marteau I am pretty sure that he can prepare for anything that you would-" Colbert said, before Longueville cut him off.

"The flounder is fine Mr. Colbert, but I would rather we continue our discussion on the way to the mess hall." She said, getting Colbert to nod as they began to walk towards the stairway. "Now is there anything else to know about the treasury?"

"Indeed, like that perhaps it is nigh impenetrable to break into the treasury except for physical attacks. But it would take the force equivalent of a dragon attack to breach it." Colbert said, getting Longueville's eyes to gleam with interest.

Turns out this change of plans was working better then she would have expected.


Louise looked at her surroundings in confusion, wondering just how she got there.

Currently she was in cage with several other women. One of a few cages in a dark, poorly lit room. She turned to the one of the other rooms to demand why she was here.

Only for Louise to find out that she could not speak.

She continued to try to speak, all she got was silence.

It was then she noticed the state of the other women in the cage. All of the other women were malnourished, wearing rags, and covered in scrapes and bruises.

The same conditions that she had seen in the basement of the former Count Jules de Mott.

The same conditions that Louise found herself in right now, to her confusion.

What was going on?

She heard a heavy door open in the darkness and all the other women gasped in terror. As heavy footsteps reverberated in the poor conditions, they huddled together in horror. Louise looked on in confusion and panic in what was going on.

Until she saw to her horror the former Count himself at the cage's door, unlocking it with a sickening grin.

Louise tried to demand him for answers, but once again found herself unable to speak.

And to her shock found herself malnourished and draped in rags.

She tried to back away in horror, but found herself bound to the spot as Mott approached her as he put the key back in his robe.

Louise tired to yell at him, demand that he let her go, put as much distance between herself and the Count, run away, just anything to get away from him!

But she could not move nor could she scream.

Count Mott grabbed her arm roughly, his grip feeling cold and unrelenting as she winced in pain as the former noble drew himself closer to her.

"Scream all you want commoner. No one will hear you scream. No one will come or wants to you." Count Mott said as she recoiled in disgust as he was so close his breath was grazing her ear. "After you are nothing more than a lowly commoner. Someone who is lower than the dirt on the bottom of my shoe."

He drew in closer and spoke a few words that shook Louise to her core.

"You are nothing."


Louise woke with a start in a panic, before trying to calm herself as she realized that she was still back in her room at the Academy. Her heart was still beating like a drum and she was completely covered in a cold sweat, but she was still safe here.

Except for the same nightmare that had been haunting her dreams for the past four days now.

Five days since her familiar went on the warpath and her discovering the horror's that were in Mott's basement.

She had never seen such a horrific sight before. She only began to suspect that Count Mott was only corrupt with his power from what Kirche and Tabitha had said, but it only grew worse when she saw how he threatened and treated that maid in order to spite her familiar. Her opinion after seeing his basement was that he was a depraved man far worse then any rumors that commoners could spread about corrupt nobles.

Just seeing the physical and mental state of those woman shocked and horrified Louise to no end. She could scarcely comprehend what the former noble did to them nor did she want too.

But what truly scared her was the realization on why Count Mott had been able to get away with this for so long. It was just for one single reason.

They were all commoners.

Louise had always thought that nobles were above commoners, that what happened to them didn't really matter as long as they treated in accordance to the laws of Tristain. But seeing those woman and how they were treated for their social standing as commoners by a depraved noble was sickening.

And the thought that she could have ended up like them if she didn't show even the barest traces of magic or was born into a noble family made her shudder in disgust. With the nightmares only hammering in that point for her.

Louise felt like she had calmed down enough that she took a look out the window and groaned once she realized that it was still late at night. Meaning that she would probably have to experience the same nightmare all over again.

Louise grumbled as she tried to think of anything other then her nightmares before settling on anything else.

Settling on something else that had been on her mind for the past few days, her familiar Roxas.

Everything about him was practically flipped from her perspective.

She had thought that her familiar was a commoner, but in reality he was capable of using magic. Perhaps he was a commoner born mage, a rarity. And he was possibly square class, but Roxas never made a grand showing of his magic and seemed like that he was using it to defend others.

He cared nothing about social status and treated everyone the same. Caring not if someone was a noble or commoner and seemed content with his position in life. Even going as far as to defend a maid he considered a friend against two nobles.

Coming out on top both times and not really caring about what those victories would do for his reputation or not. Along with not really caring about the attention or even publically spreading it. Her familiar was just content with the maid being safe.

He was supposed to listen to her as a familiar's duty to their master, instead he hardly did so and treated her like they were partners.

But what was most confusing to Louise was for the reasons why he even stayed. Roxas as much as she hated to admit it was a better mage and had shown that he could easily slip away to somewhere else, he stayed because he owed her everything in his words. For reasons that he would not disclose at all to her irritation. Yet then again she owed him for being able to continue learning on how to be a mage, summoning Roxas was her first success at magic and she would have been sent home otherwise.

Roxas didn't even care about her lack of magic, something she was thankful for but would never admit to her familiar.

Yet she knew one thing that irritated her to no end besides his apparent ability to teleport away when she tried to question him.

It was that for someone who had practically nothing, he was happy in life. While she had everything most commoners would dream of, she was unhappy with her lot in life.

The pinkette noble let out an irritable sigh as she shook her head to clear her thoughts.

She needed to get some sleep and these thoughts would only keep her up longer.

Louise needed to prepare for tomorrow as she was determined to finally get some answers from her familiar after what had happened with Count Mott.


Roxas sighed as he walked down the halls of the Academy. For the past few days things had mainly been quiet for the most part and Siesta had started to go back to work a few days ago.

What happened five days ago with Count Mott still made his blood boil when he thought about it, but the Nobody was happy that Siesta was doing better. She was still a little jumpy around some of her coworkers and the students, but she was getting better with each day.

Roxas was just glad that she didn't have to experience a nightmarish scenario.

He did wonder if the other women were alright and he at least heard from Colbert that they were doing better, but that had been a few days ago.

Right now he was trying his best to avoid Louise at the moment and heading towards to kitchens. Hoping Marteau had maybe finished recreating

For the past few days Louise whenever she wasn't in class she had been trying to track him down and ask him questions. Mainly about his abilities and magic, she wouldn't stop asking him questions most of them time no matter what he did to deflect them or just not listen. Usually resulting in him having to find a way to distract her before slipping away in a Corridor of Darkness.

It was especially irritating when Kirche joined in on the questioning.

While she did ask less questions than Louise did, they were mainly concerned with his magic as well. When it was the two of them they would just one question after another. Before their questioning between each other her would devolve into bickering with one another, letting Roxas to be able to slip away easily.

The worst instance was when one of them and he had a feeling that it was Kirche, managed to convince Tabitha and Slyphid to help out.

By having the dragon pin the Nobody down and than lied on top of him while Louise and Kirche questioned him. Roxas was also sure that Tabitha was also sure that she was more interested in knowing more as she glanced up at him while reading her book.

Something he honestly should have expected after what happened with Count Mott, but didn't expect to do anything like this.

Still it was easily enough to slip away through a Corridor of Darkness to escape from under the dragon. He even got back at Slyphid later by not giving her any treats from the kitchen when she joined him on the tower's roof for the sunset.

Honestly he felt bad upon seeing the how hurt the dragon's reaction was, but held firm on not giving Slyphid anything for the rest of the day. He did give Slyphid some bread yesterday morning though.

He was thankful that the dragon never did anything like that again.

That and Siesta never really questioned him on anything like that. She just seemed to be happy being back at the Academy and being able to interact with her friend again. Something Roxas liked as well.

Besides the constant question life had returned to more of the normal pace he found himself enjoy on Halkegenia.

Though now he did have to watch himself around Kirche when he attended some of Louise's classes now.

After what happened that night with Count Mott, Kirche had more or less been at what the Nobody could describe as clingy. Purposely sitting next to him during classes, sometimes resting her head against his shoulder, and once even trailing her hand against his leg. The latter he was uncomfortable with, the first two Roxas supposed he didn't mind all that much.

Louise did and it would often lead to the two of them bickering once again with Roxas either having to slip away or the teachers to stop them before things hot heated.

Either than those things things were about the same. Doing the occasional chores for Louise, helping around the castle staff and Siesta, talking with his friend, training, and watching the sunset with Tabitha and Sylphid.

All in all Roxas supposed that he was enjoying his time on this world.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts as he opened the doors to the kitchens.

"Our key!" A chorus of voices rang out, catching Roxas off guard.

Even five days later he still had trouble getting used to that.

After finding out more of the details that Siesta was comfortably with revealing at the time about the situation with Count Mott. The Academy's staff had started to truly regard him as a hero of the commoners and were amazed that he was as they saw a commoner mage.

Roxas also had to thank Kingdom Hearts that they didn't badger him with questions like Louise did. He did not know how he could handle it when the entire Academy's staff would do the same thing as her.

That and he was thankful that his ribs didn't snap when Marteau got him in a bear hug for making sure Siesta was safe. Followed by one to the maid herself, with her trying her best to console the head chef as he broke in tears. Relieved that she was alright.

Anyway whenever they got the chance in the kitchens to try and get Roxas to tell the story of what happened that night.

He would rarely say anything about it, but Siesta seemed more than happy to provide the extra details. Although she seemed to embellish part of the story, it didn't really matter to the Nobody at all.

Just the fact that Siesta was safe was more than enough for Roxas.

"Roxas you might want to try this!" Siesta called out to him.

Looking over to the other side of the kitchens to see Siesta and Marteau next to three bowls of what the Nobody guessed what was the latest attempt to making sea salt ice cream.

And judging by Siesta's reaction, it sounds like Marteau might have recreated the recipe finally.

"So I guess that you managed to finish the sea salt ice cream Marteau?" Roxas asked as he walked over to them.

"I believe so, but I suggest you hurry our key. It is quickly starting to melt." Marteau said as Roxas nodded and took a bowl and spoon.

Using a trick he picked up from Axel, he channeled a weak Blizzard through his spoon in order to preserve to ice cream's temperature. While he was more used to an ice cream stick, a spoon worked just as well.

Taking a spoonful, the Nobody quickly downed the ice cream.

Both Marteau and Siesta looked on in anticipation as Roxas smiled.

"Could use a pinch of salt, but this is pretty much exactly what I remember from where I come from." Roxas said, betting them to smile.

"I would think so, it tasted exactly as you described. Salty yet sweet." Siesta said happily.

"While I am gald that you two are enjoying this, I have to admit I haven't had a challenge like this in quite some time. Still it was enjoyable and I know that Osmond will be glad to hear it. I will be adding sea salt ice cream to desert in at least a week, but for now you two enjoy your treat." Marteau said as he picked up his bowl and began to walk way. "Now I have to begin preparations for dinner, Siesta take a break until you are done with your treat."

"Alright." She said, before laughing a little at how Roxas was savoring the sea salt ice cream. "I know that you told me that you enjoyed this, but I didn't think this much."

"Well I haven't had any sea salt ice cream like this in weeks." Roxas said honestly.

Last he had any sea salt ice cream was that day before Riku captured him. He wasn't counting the time he spent in that virtual prison as that was false ice cream.

"Besides wouldn't you do the same with peach walnut bread of you went weeks without it." Roxas said with a small smile, getting the maid's face to flush in embarrassment.

"I suppose your right." Siesta said, smiling as Roxas went back to enjoying his ice cream.

Siesta doing the same while enjoying her friend's company.

While she was still had many questions about him, especially after seeing what he can do that night. But she decided against it for two reasons.

The first was she had seen first hand how annoyed he can be once catching him being questioned by Louise and Kirche. Before he snuck away once they broke into an argument, with her following not long afterwards to not be caught up in the crossfire.

The second that Siesta trusted that he would eventually reveal it to her.

Roxas was mainly quiet about his past, but over there friendship had revealed more and more details. So Siesta would wait for him to open up.

But besides all that she was more than happy to just enjoy her time with her friend. The same one who has saved her twice already. The same one who she knew that would have her back no matter what.


Roxas had enjoyed his time with Siesta. Possible one of the true highlights of his day besides the sea salt ice cream.

Still that enjoyment did fade away after dinner with where he found himself now.

"You want me to what?" Roxas inquired, trying to make sure he heard Louise right.

Currently it was after dinner and he was currently in the pinkette's room. Usually she would try to order him for chores for the next day or lately try to bombard with questions to no success. Instead it was something different this time.

"I need you to preform something for the Familiar Exhibit." Louise said as she brushed her hair at her night desk.

"What is the Familiar Exhibit?" Roxas questioned, getting Louise to sigh.

"The Familiar Exhibit is a showcase for familiars. It allows nobles to demonstrate the skills of their familiars." Louise said, getting Roxas to nod.

So basically like a struggle tournament or matches like at Olympus Colosseum then. Except he doubt there was actually any fighting to occur. It was basically just a glorified spectating event.

"I see, I take it that you want to me to display some of my skills at this exhibit." Roxas asked.

Honestly he wasn't sure what could even display besides his swordsmanship with his Keyblades and his magic. He still needed to work on the control over his light and he doubted that this world had the equivalent of skateboards on it.

More than once the Nobody had to wonder why DiZ had installed that knowledge into him. Especially since Roxas doubted there would be much use for such a skill on different worlds. Before deciding that perhaps like the knowledge of a high schooler installed into his head in that accursed virtual prison, DiZ was just perhaps a perfectionist.

Louise thought about his words for bit before letting out an irritated sigh as she placed her hair brush down.

"Well yes and no. It would be the greatest shame of my life if anyone knew that my familiar was a better mage than myself." She said irritably, getting Roxas to sigh.

"And why does that matter?" The Nobody sighed out.

"It just does!" Louise growled out before trying to recompose herself. "Princess Henrietta is going to be here, and I will not be making a fool of myself in front of her."

Upon hearing that Roxas looked at her curiously.

A princess was coming here?

Well he did know they had that kind of hierarchy in this world from Siesta and that Colbert mentioning the last king of Tristain was dead. So she was the future ruler of this kingdom then.

He had never interacted with a princess before and the only ones he knew of were the Princesses of Heart and he supposed Ariel through Sora's memories. And of the former group he knew that half of them were technically royalty. Alice, Kairi, Belle, and Siesta were the outliers of the group. Besides he suspected to qualify one just needed a heart of pure light and even then the exact conditions were dubious as Belle's heart lacked the pure light from what he sensed in his brief time within Sora.

"So I take it that she is the future ruler of Tristain then." Roxas stated, getting Louise to nod.

"That is right familiar and you better not forget it." Louise said, getting a little irritated when Roxas just shrugged.

"I won't, but do you have any idea on what I should do then?" Roxas inquired.

Louise looked like she was about to say something, but paused halfway through and let out an irritated sigh.

"I don't know, what can you do?" She asked, only getting a little irritated as the Nobody shrugged his shoulders once again.

"Honestly I do not know." Roxas said, getting the pinkette mage to face palm and let out an aggravated sigh.

"Whatever." Louise groaned out. "I permit you from take a respite from your usual duties tomorrow, except for the morning when the princess will arrive. Besides then spend the rest of the day coming up with something for the familiar exhibit."

Roxas just nodded as Louise was too tired to care at the moment.

She wanted to have one night this week where she didn't wake up in the middle of the night to a nightmare. Better to get some sleep now and if Louise was lucky get some rest and wake up early enough to prepare for the princesses arrival.

With the Nobody he exited the room and walked through the Corridor of Darkness and on too rooftop of the tower and started to update his journal.

His thoughts during this were mainly linked to what could he showcase at the familiar exhibit. He truly didn't know what he would do to preform for the familiar exhibit, nor did he care all that much.

All he pretty much knew that could apply to this world was pretty much geared towards combat created for fighting swarms of Heartless on a near daily basis in his short life before leaving the Organization.

Still Roxas wasn't truly sure what he would do for this familiar exhibit.

Perhaps he could figure out what to do in the morning.


"So you do not know what you are going to do then?" Siesta asked the Nobody.

"Not at all, in fact why does it seem so important to impress her?" Roxas asked.

"Because it is an honor to impress her." Siesta said.

"I know, but why?" Roxas said.

Siesta looked like she was about to answer him, before she began to wonder why herself.

The next morning Roxas still hadn't found his answer, not that he really had an interest too in the first place.

So he just settled for doing his own laundry that morning while trying to come up with an idea. If not, well didn't care all that much anyway. Might or not be worth the effort.

Siesta looked like she was still struggling, but sighed out as she folded the last of her clothes.

"Honestly I do not know Roxas, it might be something of a tradition I suppose." Siesta said.

"If you say so." The Nobody said as he folded the last of his spare clothes and placed them into his bags as Siesta put the pile of cloths she was working on into a basket.

"I have have plenty of things to prepare for the familiar exhibit." Siesta said as she dusted off her appron before picking up the basket. "Please do your best Roxas, I am pretty sure that you will think of something."

"Perhaps, but I doubt it." Roxas said with a small smile.

Siesta let out a little laugh at his words as she walked away, a smile gracing her face.

As she walked away the Nobody decided to take a walk around the campus as for knowing Louise for about two weeks now it will be a while until she woke up. And there was still a while before the princess should arrive anyway.

Though his decision to walk through both the hall and courtyards of the Academy revealed that students where all over the place. Out with their familiar, training them for one purpose Roxas supposed he knew all too well.

All to impress this Princess Henrietta tomorrow.

She was the future ruler of Tristain and would have an entire country to run sometime in the near future, an enormous responsibility that he could barely imagine.

While he did know that he himself held an enormous responsibility due to being a Keyblade wielder, it was still something he only understood through Sora's memories and actions. That was enough for him. He could barely imagine what it must be like to manage a life having to rule a kingdom filled with prideful nobles in order to make sure they stay in line.

He shuddered lightly at that.

There was no way he could imagine doing such a thing. He could only hope that she knew what she was doing and had those she could rely on to help her. Otherwise he dreaded the thought of what could happen to the kingdom otherwise.


A few hours later Roxas found himself standing next to Louise, alongside the rest of students taking both sides of the road. They were all waiting for the princess to arrive in her carriage any moment now. With the Nobody wondering curiously what she would be like.

Would she be like any of the Princesses of Heart, like some of the nobles here at the academy, or anywhere in between.

As a pair of coaches approached surrounded by what he presumed to be guards on horseback, Roxas knew his questions would be answered soon.

The coaches came to a stop and a few of the guards got off their horses. The students around him started to cheer as the coaches began to empty. Before they grew silent as Princess Henrietta herself exited the second coach.

She was a young woman about a little older then most of the students he had seen here with teal blue eyes and short purple hair. She was wearing a splendid white dress along with a purple cloak with a metallic clasp with a blue jewel in the middle. Atop her head rested a silver diadem with another three blue jewels like the one on her clasp.

From what he could sense she had a strong heart, with a strong light irradiating off of it. If it wasn't for the little darkness he could have sensed Roxas was certain he could have mistaken Henrietta as a Princess of Heart.

Which would be a surprise as he already knew that Siesta was one, but he didn't even know if there could be more than one Princess of Heart on a world naturally. Hollow Bastion was an exception as they were basically kidnapped by Maleficint, her allies, and Riku.

Roxas watched as she smiled and waved to the nobles as she walked towards teachers surrounded by her guards and servants.

She was fairly young for someone who is too lead this kingdom soon. Along with being happier then he would expect from someone with her responsibility. But then again she might be enjoying this moment, hiding her worries, or both.

The Nobody glanced through the crowd and saw something that surprised him.

He saw Louise smiling.

That was nothing new, but usually he saw that she had looked like a prideful smirk. But this was a genuine smile and at peace.

It was aimed at the princess, perhaps she really admired her. It wouldn't be too much of an assumption. Yet given what Roxas had seen of the princess and considering the reaction she could get from Louise, than perhaps the future of Tristain under Henrietta's rule would be a good one.


The rest of the day past normally, well at least what Roxas could assume to be his new normal. Though there was more activity everywhere with the princess now staying at the Academy, the staff working harder then usual, and the students where still training their familiars for tomorrow. Besides that and Louise constantly pestering him for progress things were relatively normal.

He still hadn't come up with a idea, but once again he could not care less.

Right now he was just sitting on the tower's roof, enjoying the sunset when he sensed Sylphid and Tabitha landing next to him.

Wordlessly Tabitha slipped of her familiar and sat right nearby him and the two of them shared a nod. Before she slipped into reading her book while Sylphid began to brush her head against Roxas, purring as the Nobody scratched one of the dragon's ridges.

"I take it that you two are done training for the exhibit?" Roxas asked them.

"Yes." Tabitha said simply, getting Roxas to nod as he continued to scratch Sylphid. Getting the dragon to growl out happily.

Normally either one of them would have been content with the silence. Both Roxas and Tabitha enjoying the silence although Tabitha would sometimes try to pry details out of him while barely lifting her gaze from her book, but the Nobody would only answer what he felt like share. And vice versa with Tabitha.

But Roxas had a question that was on his mind. And considering how knowledgeable she was, perhaps she might know.

If not, it wouldn't hurt to ask anyway.

"Hey Tabitha." The Nobody said, getting her attention. Or more specifically for her to lift her gaze slightly from the pages. "Have you ever wondered what it is like be settled with an enormous responsibility. Like with the princess. Everyone here in Tristain is looks up to her as she is the one who will one day run the kingdom. I am not sure what it is like for her, but I can only imagine that it is truly enormous responsibility for someone her age to bear alone. Can you imagine what something like that is?"

Roxas could honestly say that he could and could not understand what it was like.

He was a Keyblade wielder, someone whose duty was to protect the balance between the worlds. Something he more or less did by exterminating the Heartless on multiple worlds. But that was all to reclaim hearts in order for the Organization to become whole with Kingdom Hearts. At least until learning that they had other plans. Well at the very least Xemnas, Saïx, and Xigbar did.

The only way he truly knew about what being a Keyblade wielder entailed was through Sora's memories. And something he was more than willing to let his Somebody handled for now along Riku.

The two of them handled the Heartless and Ansem a year ago and defeated over half of the Organization if Roxas included himself when Riku captured him for that accursed digital prison. So they should be able to at handle things in the worlds. And if the Samurai he had keeping an eye on things should have spread the word to as many of it's kind, he should know if things took a turn for the worst.

So the Nobody couldn't help but be a little curious on how it would be for someone else to bear such a large responsibility on their shoulders. Someone to lead and to decide the path of an entire nation. Something he could hardly imagine himself.

And judging from her silence, something Tabitha-

"It is an enormous responsibility. Especially for someone as young as we are." Tabitha said, breaking Roxas out of his thoughts. "But it is something you are already familiar with."

He was surprised as he didn't expect for her to speak so much on this matter.

Well more so than usual.

"Sort of, but how did you figure it out?" Roxas asked, only for Tabitha to burry het head in her book.

Roxas held back a sigh as he continued to scratch Sylphid's ridges. Once Tabitha got like that it meant that she was pretty much done answering anything. But that was alright with him. Just as she was fine with him answer at his own pace, the same could be said for Tabitha for him.


The rest of the day was once again relatively normal after the sunset and currently he was just enjoying the cool night air as he was updating his journal on Day 379 under the light of Halkegenia's twin moons.

He was going to finish up writing when he sensed a powerful heart moving quickly across the Academy's courtyard. Roxas put away his journal before opening another Corridor of Darkness and reappeared on one of the walls closer to the heart.

From what he could sense it was Princess Henrietta, this time wearing a dark cloak with a hood hiding her face.

Roxas watched curiously as she snuck alongside the walls toward the student dorms before the princess disappeared down a stair case in the wall. The Nobody opening another corridor and appeared in the stairway not that far behind her. But by then he saw the princess had looked around the corner of a hallway before rushing off.

He was wondering what she could be looking for and at this late at night, especially with a cloak obstructing her features.

Roxas decided he might as well check it out as he opened a Corridor of Darkness and disappeared into it.


As she traversed dow the Academy's halls, Henrietta couldn't help but be excited.

She had snuck out of her quarters and was easily making her way through the Academy in order to see her friend for the first time in a few years. Of course she knew Agnes and the rest of her guards would be upset with her if they found out, but Henrietta could care less at the moment.

The princess missed her friend Louise dearly, it had been quite a while since the two of them had seen each other. Henrietta had missed all the time they spent together as children and was glad that their friendship could continue after all this time.

Louise alongside Whales were pretty much the people she could count on since her father had passed away.

While her mother and Cardinal Mazarain had been running Tristain so far, it would soon be time for her to run the kingdom by herself. Even than with her currents responsibilities in regards to ruling Tristain they hardly helped with her at all. Making things even more difficult for her.

Henrietta shook her head to clear those thoughts as she was more focused on finding Louises's room when she took a step back and let out a yelp as what appeared to be a pillar of black flames erupted before her.

She brought out her scepter wand as Roxas emerged from and closed the Corridor of Darkness behind him. Henrietta raised it in warning incase he decided to attack her.

How was he able to appear infront of her like that? Was the teen planning on attacking her?

"What are you doing here?" Roxas asked the princess of Tristain.

"I could be asking the same about yourself?" Henrietta said while trying to compose herself.

This was not how things were supposed to go at all. All she wanted to do was see her friend, now she is being confronted by a mage with unknown magic judging by how he appeared before her without any of her bodyguards. If he decided to attack then things could go badly.

"I live here, more or less." Roxas said honestly. "I just seen you sneaking around the Academy. So what are you doing here?"

At this Henrietta had to admit that perhaps her attire and method of moving around might invoke suspicion.

But at least the mage infront of her seemed reasonable enough, but she couldn't be quite sure just yet. So it was best to keep her scepter trained on him at the moment.

"Then you have nothing to worry about. All I want to do is look for someone." Henrietta said honestly.

Roxas was about to question why she would be wearing a hooded cloak, before remembering he had been doing the same during his time with the Organization.

"Whoever they must be, I take it that they must be someone who you consider a friend. Why else would you disguise yourself." He said, getting Henrietta to nod.

"Of course, it's hard to travel without one otherwise. And you are correct, it had been years since I had last seen her." Henrietta sighed out, getting the Nobody to sigh out in turn.

He could understand all to well. If the princess was willing to go this length just to see her friend, it was probably their best friends. Considering what Axel did to try and bring him back into the Organization from that accursed digital prison and what he had done to Mott for Siesta, the Nobody at least knew the lengths someone could be willing to go for their friends.

"Who is your friend, I might know where their room might be?" Roxas offered.

So he at least could help the princess out with that much.

"I see, then do you know where Louise is?" Henrietta asked, getting Roxas to stare at her for a few moments.

Well that would explain Louise's reaction earlier today.

"I do know where she is, but you are going the wrong way. Just follow me and I will take her to Louise's room. It will be quicker this way." Roxas said as he walked past Henrietta.

Looking back at her, Roxas saw though part of her hood a smile adorn the princess's face as she nodded and began to follow him.

As Henrietta began to follow the Nobody she began to wonder how was he connected to Louise if was familiar enough to guide her to Louise's room.

Was he a friend of her's? Considering that he admitted to living here and his entrance perhaps he was a mage. Perhaps a commoner mage, if so he would be the first one Henrietta had encountered. It would explain the way he carried himself.

His movements reminded her of Agnès, that of a trained warrior. Even when he didn't seem to be on guard, he could spring into action at the slightest sign of danger. Just who was he?

"If you wanted to see Louise, I doubt you could have seen her without having to sneak around." Roxas said, breaking the princess from her thoughts.

"Unfortunately due to my status it is difficult for me to move about alone." Henrietta said, getting Roxas to nod.

"I see." He said.

"What about you? Why were you up at this time and coming to investigate me?" Henrietta inquired, getting the Nobody to shrug.

"I was just writing in my journal before I saw you sneaking around. So I figured that I would check what you were doing." Roxas said, getting Henritta to nod.

That was a pretty good reason.

"So you keep a journal of your day to day activities?" Henrietta inquired, to which the Nobody nodded in agreement. "I don't know many nobles who keep a journal, it is much more efficient than some of the methods I have heard of."

"I think I can imagine, but I am not a noble. I am Louise's familiar." Roxas admitted, figuring if he didn't tell her now then Louise would tell her soon enough. Not that it mattered much to him anyway.

Henrietta widened her eyes in surprise at his admission.

He was the familiar mentioned in the report by Professor Colbert with one of the witnesses being her friend. The very same one who raided, beat, and exposed the crimes of the former Count Mott alongside his guard. She couldn't help but sweat a little as she imagined what could have happened if he came at her in a less than stellar mood.

Henrietta knew from the report that he didn't have any reason to do so, but it was still a terrifying thought.

One that she pushed back from her mind immediately afterwards.

"So you are a familiar then, I take it that you are going to be at the exhibit tomorrow?" The princess asked him.

"Yeah, Louise wants me to perform something at the exhibit for you tomorrow. But I don't really have any idea on what to do besides fighting." Roxas said getting Henrietta to frown.

Did Louise truly want him to do something extravagant for her tomorrow. While she was flattered at the thought, the princess hoped that her friend would not have become someone who felt the need to impress her. Did Louise still saw her as a friend or did she just her as someone who felt the need to impress for the sake of honor…wait.

Did the familiar know who she was?

"You knew who I was?" Henrietta questioned, getting Roxas to nod. "How?"

"I saw your face underneath your hood and recognized it from earlier." Roxas said, which was technically half true. "And speaking honestly I do not want to be in your shoes."

"How so?" Henrietta asked, curious on his response.

That was something she never heard someone saying to her before.

"You have to run this country by yourself one day. I have seen several other princesses and the burden they carry. I know that it would be something that myself couldn't handle. But I do know that if you do have those you can count on it should make things easier for you." Roxas said, once again surprising Henrietta.

He was right.

The pressures of ruling Tristain was a heavy burden to bear, especially with her mother planning on stepping down from her position of queen soon enough. It was highly stressful just preparing for the responsibility she will inherit. Most people would give anything to be in her position, but are not prepared for the responsibility that came with it.

So it was refreshing to finally meet someone who understood that.

And Louise's familliar was right about those she can count on. Having someone like Agnès at least made the transition of power easier for her. And Henrietta knew she could count on Louise and Whales when the time came.

"I know, but right now all I want to do is meet my friend." Henrietta said,

"Figured as much, I believe that Louise would want to do so as well judging by her reaction earlier. Though I believe she might try to deny it." Roxas said, getting Henrietta to laugh a little.

"That does sound like her." Henrietta said, getting Roxas to smile a little at hearing this.

The two of them continued their track though the Academy's hallways. With Henrietta finding it a bit of a refreshing change of pace to talk to someone who at least had some understanding at the burden of ruling a kingdom and treated not like a princess for the first time in a while.


It took Roxas and Henrietta a few more minutes of walking through the hallways before they arrived at Louise's room. The Nobody pushed the door open to see Louise stretching herself in her sleepwear before the pinkette turned towards them.

"Familiar who is this?" Louise yawned out tiredly as she saw the cloaked figure next to Roxas.

"Louise!" Henrietta cried out as she removed her hood and rushed forward to embrace her friend. Louise just stood in confusion as the princess of Tristain brought her into a hug. "It is good to see you!"

It was then when Louise realized who this stranger was.

"Y-Your Highness! What are you doing here! You shouldn't come to places that are below you." Louise said as she gently pushed Henrietta away and kneeled down.

Henrietta just sighed and felt a little hurt, but covered it up with a smile.

"Louise please you are my childhood friend, you do not need to do that. Now let me get a good look at you, it has been far too long." Henrietta said.

Louise looked up from her position before standing and straightening up her nightwear.

"It's good to see you too Your Highness." Louise said happily, getting Henrietta to sigh a little before her smile returned.

"Louise please call me Henrietta." The princess said. Seeing that her friend was going to speaking and having a good idea what she was going to say, Henrietta cut her off. "Please Louise I insist. Don't call me Your Highness, Princess, or any other title. You are the only person that I could talk freely to since my father passed away."

The pinkette mage looked a little embarrassed at being called out like that before smiling at her friend.

"I was really surprised to receive your letter Henrietta, I would have thought that you have forgotten me." Louise said, getting Henrietta to shake her head.

"Of course not, you are my best friend Louise I could never." Henrietta said, getting Louise to smile.

Roxas did as well, seeing how close the two of them where reminded the Nobody of himself and Axel are. Before leaving the Organization and everything that happened afterwards.

"I was planning on coming to see you at the familiar exhibit, but what happened with Count Mott has peaked my curiosity." Henrietta said, causing Louise to pale.

"You heard about it?" Louise said, her tone filled with dread. Especially even now days after what she saw the nightmares still haunted her.

Roxas stepped closer to the two as he was curious to know of the details of what happened to the former Count. Part of him hoping that the man suffered for what he done.

"Professor Colbert wrote us the letter telling us of the crimes of the former Count Jules de Mott. He is being punished to the fullest extent of his crimes, but he will not be able to pay for them entirely." Henrietta said, surprising Roxas and Louise.

"What do you mean by that?" Louise inquired.

The Nobody frowned a little at that news, if Mott was getting away with what happened then he was going to fulfill what he swore to do and end that man.

"Due to the injuries caused during his fight with your familiar, hasty and improper treatment of said injuries, and his treatment by the guards when he attempted to resist his punishment by the guards Mott is living on borrowed time. The way his ribs where broken and parched up was improper, repeating tearing his lungs little by little with each breathe and slowly filling them with blood. The healers estimate he only has a few weeks at maximum before he dies and no one is willing to heal him. Jules de Mott will spend his last days locked in a cold dark cell with no one to help or come to his rescue. The same fate he subjugated those women too in his basement." Henrietta said, her tone going a little dark towards the end.

A fitting end to such a monster of a former noble.

"Good, he got what he deserved. I wouldn't want to wish it on anyone but him, but that fate is far worse then anything I would have done to him." Roxas said as Louise paled and Henrietta nodded in agreement.

While he personally wanted to make sure the payed for what he done, especially to Siesta it seemed like in a way he did. His fate was more than deserving for what Mott's crimes. Still while he wouldn't wish what happened to Mott upon anyone else, Roxas was certain that if given the chance he will have Xemnas and DiZ suffer for what they had done.

Louise after getting over the shock and joy of seeing her friend and the reveal of the former Count's fate she finally remembered her familiar was in the room.

She gave a dirty look before grabbing the front of his shirt and trying to pull him to the floor. However he didn't budge and her actions only seemed to annoy the Nobody. Her efforts increased once she remembered Henrietta was watch, trying to force Roxas to his knees with an embarrassed blush.

Only for her to give up when she realized that Roxas wouldn't budge.

"I must apologize for my familiar's behavior. He is very stubborn." Louise said while turning to the princess, giving Roxas an annoyed glare.

"Oh it is alright Louise. It was actually pretty nice to talk with someone who wasn't kneeing down to me." Hentietta said happily, laughing into her hand at her friends interactions with her familiar.

Louise face flushed at the princesses reactions, before she nearly facepalmed at forgetting something else.

"Why were you with the princess before coming to my room?" Louise said while give Roxas a glare.

However her tone and flush faced showed that she was more embarrassed then any anger she could muster at the moment.

"I was curious on why she entered into the tower disguised and on her own." Roxas said with a shrug.

Louise looked like she was going to say something, but was cut off by her friend.

"He helped lead me to your room once I told him that I wanted to see my friend. Your familiar even told me how happy you were to have seen me again. It is nice to know you still care about me after all these years, along with someone like your familiar looking after you." Henrietta said with a radiant smile while Louise's face erupted into a full on blush. Then the princess turned towards the Nobody. "Speaking of which I never did get your name, nor was it mentioned in Colbert's letter. I must apologize for not asking earlier"

"It's Roxas and it's fine." He said simply, taking some amusement and intrigue at Louise's expression. She looked like a mixture of embarrassment and mortification. He had never seen this kind of reaction on from the prideful mage and he doubted he will again.

Louise for her part was wondering why this was happening in the first place.

This wasn't how she pictured meet Henrietta again at all…

"Roxas, it is good to finally know the name of the one who defeated Mott. It is not everyday that a triangle class mage was defeated by a commoner. Even if you are a commoner mage." Henrietta said.

"So?" Roxas asked, curious on how this will go.

"The letter Professor Colbert sent didn't go into detail of your magic and capabilities, so I am curious on what they are. And I take it that pillar of black flames you appeared in front of me was one of them?" Henrietta inquired as Louise started to regain her composure.

"Yes." Was all Roxas said.

Both Henrietta and Louise waited a few moments for any further response, before the latter sighed out in frustration.

"I am sorry Henrietta, he is very secretive about his abilities. No matter what I do I haven't been able to get anything out of him." Louise said, still frustrated that even a week later she could''t get anything out of him.

"I see." Henrietta said before turning to Roxas. "Why don't you tell us of your abilities?"

"What would be the point of it exactly?" Roxas said, surprising Henrietta and Louise.

"What do you mean by that?" The princess inquired, curious on his answer.

"Why exactly do I need to do so anyway. I am using them anyway is to protect my friends. So why does it matter on what I can do." Roxas said honestly.

Once again the two mages stared at him for a few moments, unsure of how to respond until Henrietta smiled.

"If that is the case then I have no reason to worry about it. I am glad you are using your abilities and magic to protect others." The princess said with a smile before sighing. "I just wish there was more people like you, otherwise there would be less people like those women you saved to suffer such cruelty."

Roxas just nodded in agreement at remembering the conditions they were found in, alongside what little interactions he had with them. With how fearful they were of him and Colbert due to whatever Count Mott had put them through.

Now was as good as anytime to ask about how they were now.

"Are they doing alright?" Roxas asked Henrietta, getting the princess to nod with a smile.

"Eventually, they are still scared of men. But they are all slowly recovering from their ordeal." She admitted, with the Nobody letting out a sigh of relief.

"That is good to hear. Thank you for helping them. I take it that you would have done so if they were commoners or not?" Roxas inquired.

Henrietta gave him a confused nod as Louise started to pale.

"Of course, I would help them either way. But what do you mean by that?" Henrietta asked.

Louise's complexion started to turn really pale at how this conversation might go. Roxas noticed her reaction and narrowed his eyes at that.

"Since my summoning here in Tristain I have noticed that a number of nobles have at least some form of displeasure or contempt towards nobles. Some finding such treatment acceptable as well as severe punishment for doing nothing wrong. Only limiting these actions long as the nobles do not go to far." Roxas said, making sure to keep an eye out for Louise's reaction.

"Really, they do?" Henrietta asked with widened eyes while Louise was starting to sweat.

Sure she knew that such opinions were held by a number of nobles, but was it more common then what she had thought?

Louise could quickly see where this conversation was going and didn't like it were it could end up. She knew her friend treated both nobles and commoners equally and how she felt against the mistreatment of commoners.

So if Henrietta learned the truth about her opinions and her opinions of when she supported Guiche's attempt to punish Siesta…she didn't even want to think about what she would do.

"At least we all worked together to make sure the women in Count Mott's manor. I am glade they are doing better now." Louise said while hoping to divert the conversation away from shere it was going.

It seemed to work as Henrietta smiled and beamed at her.

But those hopes where dashed when she saw that Roxas was giving her a disapproving look with narrowed eyes. Louise was starting to feel uncomfortable right now and if Henrietta noticed she didn't say anything.

The princess instead approached Louise and clasped her hands with her own.

"That is wonderful to hear Louise. I am just glade that you do not see commoners like some of the nobles in our kingdom sadly. They forget that our duty as mages is to protect commoners, that is the reason why we were blessed by the Founder with magic. After all commoners are the very foundation of our society, without them we are nothing." Henrietta said happily.

Unknowingly making Louise feel even worse. So much so the pinkette felt like she couldn't look at the princess without feeling worse for it.

Something that went unknown to Henrietta as she let go of her friend and turned to face Roxas, who was staring at Louise with a neutral expression.

"Roxas you seem like someone who would do anything for their friends. So can I please count on you to protect Louise for me." Henrietta asked the Nobody.

He gave Louise a quick glance, only for her to turn her gaze away and getting him to sigh.

"I will protect her Henrietta, I promise" Roxas said honestly and through somewhat grated teeth, getting Henrietta to smile.

He wasn't in the best of moods with dealing with Louise after seeing just what she done to Henrietta, but he did still owe her for everything. Roxas would wait tot the princess to leave before airing out his grievances with Louise.

"That is good to hear, Louise is a precious friend of mine so please look after her." Henrietta said, getting Roxas to nod as she flipped her hood up. "I better leave before Agnès suspects anything. I will see you tomorrow Louise, you too Roxas."

With that Henrietta walked out of the door and closed it behind here, leaving an awkward silence between Roxas and Louise.

The letter refused to look and the former's gaze as she tried to come up with something to say.

"Roxas-" "You lied to her." When she tried to speak, Roxas cut her off rather bluntly. Disappointment clearly laced in his tone.

"It is a noble's duty to protect commoners, that is what Henrietta said. But you could care less about what happens to Siesta. You didn't care all that much about her when she was being buried alive by Guiche or how she was doing after what happened with Mott." Roxas said bitterly, getting Louise to flinch as that was true.

"I-I-" Louise tried to say, but was cut off once again by the Nobody.

"You could not have known about what Mott was like and I doubt anyone would have done so, but you could have at least checked up on Siesta once. Kirche and Tabitha I know have at least checked up on her, but you just treat her with the same contempt as before." Roxas said, with Louise starting to look guilty. "Tell me, what would Henrietta think if she knew what you truly thought of commoners."

"It's different now!" Louise protested, her body trembling.

Thinking of what Henrietta would do her if she knew of her mentality towards commoners…she didn't dare think of it as it could have been to painful to bare.

"How so, how is it different now?" Roxas inquired with narrowed eyes.

"Ever since I saw what lied down in Count Mott's basement. I have been having nightmares ever since then…" Louise said as she looked down as her trembling increased. "Those women, I couldn't get rid of the images of them from my mind even if I wanted to. I had been kept up at nights with the reality on why Mott was able to get away with what he did for so long. It was because they were commoners. They endured his cruelty for so long because they were commoners. Treated like nothing by him for being born without magic…"

Louise's eyes started to water as Roxas just let out a loud sigh.

"You are right, they didn't deserve something like that just because they are commoners. They were supposed to be protected by nobles like Henrietta said. Something that you seem to at least be starting to learn." Roxas admitted with a sigh, calming Louise down somewhat.

But her conditioned only worsened and turned into fear once the Nobody gave her an icy glare and the light began to flicker in her room. The same glare that she had seen him directed towards Guiche and Count Mott.

"But that doesn't mean you had to lie to Henrietta about it. It is obvious her friendship means the world to her. You lied to your best friend in order to not lose that friendship, you are so afraid to lose it that you don't know the consequences. It hurts more to know that you lied about it then just admitting the truth in the first place. And I should know as the same happened to me, except I was in Henrietta's place." Roxas said coldly, getting Louise to flinch.

The lights continued to flicker before Roxas took a deep breath to calm himself before opening a Corridor of Darkness.

"Louise I could at most tolerate your disdain for commoners. You like most nobles here don't seem to understand your duty towards them. But lying to the princess about it in order to not disappoint her…" Roxas sighed out while shaking his head. "You know what, I am not going to tell her because it is just not worth it. That way at least you will not have two people upset with you."

With that Roxas walked through the corridor and closed it behind him as tears started to form in Louises eyes.

She knew her familiar probably didn't have the best opinion of her, but he at least seemed to tolerate her. He at least tried to treat her as a partner, never really caused her any real trouble besides nearly doing so with the former Count, and couldn't care less that she couldn't use magic.

Yet his words still hurt her none the less and they were deeply cutting.

Louise could have handled it if her familiar was disappointed with her for lacking the ability to use magic like a proper noble. She could handle it if he was disappointed in how she has treated him. She could have even handled it is he was entirely disappointed in how she thought of those beneath her in status.

Instead he was somewhat disappointed in that, but was mainly disappointed in that Louise had lied to her best friend in fear of losing her.

Leading to the one scenario she had feared just after the possibility of losing her best friend.

That her familiar was ashamed of her. With the possibility of leaving her more than ever becoming a reality if he wished.

With that realization Louise sunk to her knees as tears streamed down her cheeks.


Roxas reappeared on the tower's roof, taking deep breaths to cool his nerves alongside the cool night air.

So it was the noble's responsibility to protect commoners, well it seemed like most of them had seemingly failed or uncaring like with Guiche and Louise. Honestly he shouldn't have expected anything less after spending two weeks on this world. But it seemed like a bigger issue than he thought as Mott was able to get away with his crimes unnoticed for so long without anyone being the wiser. Along with possibly that there was more nobles like him out there.

At least Henrietta seemed to understand her duty and with her taking the throne of Tristain soon things could improve. Even during their brief time together Roxas felt a bit at ease. The Nobody supposed that she would make a great ruler someday.

But right now he was mostly upset at what Louise just did to Henrietta. It reminded him too much of like how Roxas lied to him, something the Nobody was still mad at.

He knew of his connection to Sora since Castle Oblivion and even after their time together never once told him. With at the time him wanting to know more about his origins, Axel should have told about his connection to Sora once he revealed that he couldn't remember anything about his first day.

Would have saved him so much trouble in the first place.

Along with the truth about Xi-

The Nobody clutched his head as he felt a familiar headache appear before vanishing and letting out a strained breath.

"I really need find out more about these memories." Roxas said, before snapping his fingers and summoning a Samurai that bowed before him. "You really don't need to bow before me."

However the Samurai continued to bow, getting him to sigh.

"I see, I take it that you know of my order." Roxas said, getting the samurai to nod. "Good, considering that the other Samurai nothing major has happened yet."

Nothing my liege, only Axelis a traitor to the Organization now.

"I see, honestly I am glad to hear that." Roxas said while letting out a sigh of relief. "So he is alive and away from the Organization, that is good to hear. Any news on where he is?"

No.

"Alright then, spread the word to the Samurai and any other Nobody you guys can trust. If any one finds Axel tell him I am alive on Halkegenia." Roxas said, getting the Samurai to nod before it vanished.

Honestly Roxas was happy to hear that Axel was alive and free from the Organization, the Nobody found that his anger towards his best friend increased.

For now that he knew that he was possibly also lying about whatever the Organization had tried to make him forget. If Xemnas didn't do the same thing to him as well.

Which is always a possibility, along with just another reason to kill his former Superior.

Still Roxas needed answers and Axel was possibly his best bet at finding out what he wanted to know. That is if the Nobodies could find him. Considering that man was the Organization's fixer, than it will probably a long while before anyone found him unless his best friend showed himself first.

Roxas took a few breaths and pulled out his journal to update it of the recent events while calming himself down before going to bed.

With how Louise had done and learning what Axel might have done, he was more than a little upset right now. Along with that tomorrow was the familiar exhibit and unsure of how Louise might react, Roxas believed it might be a long day tomorrow…


The screen flickered for a bit as the chapter ended and the author reappears.

*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and I hoped that you all enjoyed this chapter, as it took forever to get it just right.*

*Honestly I would have had it longer, but I wish to have this chapter out before August starts. Still I am quite proud on how it turned out.*

*As you can see everyone is moving on from the aftermath of the last arc with Siesta, Roxas, and Louise experiencing various levels of what they saw or experienced. With Louise suffering the more obvious due to her upbringing and being too prideful to admit it. The effects on Siesta are still there but are mainly mitigated being around Roxas, Marteau, and the rest of the Academy staff to help out. For Roxas, well mainly he is more used to some horrendous stuff due to his experiences and Sora's memories. But let's just say that any corrupt noble of Halkeginia crosses such a line in his presence or tests his patience might as well consider their life forfeit. And as for Colbert, Tabitha, and Kirche they are more used to something like this but are still horrified. Mainly to do with their own actions, trauma, and the barbaric conditions of their homeland respectfully.*

*Also as promised I hope you all are satisfied with Mott's fate. A slow painful death in a cell due to Roxas's actions, only being kept alive so he could live out the remainder of his sentence. A fitting end to such a horrid man. And I intend to bleed that parasite a little more before squashing it for good.*

*How so you may ask? All in due time, all in due time.*

*We finally also have Roxas meeting Henrietta. With the two of them getting along greatly, which considering their personalities is something I can easily see. Minus what she pulled later in the series. So writing the two of them interacting with one another will be interesting to see where it goes.*

*Along with you all seeing the fall out between Roxas and Louise. While he is upset about how held a minor disdain for commoners such as Siesta, he genuinely glad she is getting rid of it. But what truly set him off was her lying to Henrietta, reminding him all too much of what happened between himself and Axel. This incident was the last straw more or less for him. He will still hold some contempt for Louise next chapter, but he is smart enough to know when to act upon it. But it also did have the benefit of jarring loose a little more of his repressed memories and a possible lead on answers.*

*For Louise the last two chapters are low points for her, but will bring her to the better.*

*Now let me make things clear, I can understand why so many people dislike her as a character along with her treatment of Saito for most of the series. Who admittedly invites trouble to himself by running his mouth at times or by his accursed runes. But she actually is a better person in the novels, sure she still has her temper and abrasiveness it is a lot less then what the anime has for it's first three seasons where it is even worse. Hell her worse traits were even enhanced for reasons lost for me. So let's just say her development will be more reflective on the novels with my own twist and I leave that be for now.*

*And incase someone starts anything, Siesta is the main here. She will be getting some more development to her in this arc as well, which I hope that you all will enjoy.*

*Finally to point some of you might have some questions on, this Staff of Storms. Taking a page from DrWriter21 on this one with my own twist. Staff of Destruction will be the same, but this new staff is going to open some interesting possibilities. What they might be…well you will just have to wait and see…*

*Anyway I think that I have held you all up long enough, let's wrap things up shall we.*

*Next chapter will cover the Familiar Exhibit along with Roxas's confrontation with the thief Fouquet, which will probably not go as what some of you may expect. Along with some reflection on Roxas and Louise's end with help on both sides and a few things begin their move onto Halkegenia. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter when it comes out and it will not take so long this time.*

*Anyway if you have any questions leave a review or PM me and I will get back to you when I can, so until next time ciao!*

The author waves goodbye as the screen fades to black.