Echo in the Void
"The voice calls me,
Yet I cannot hear it.
The shadows reach out for me,
Yet I denounce them.
I am between. Again."
Three
Part Three
The roar of Prototype A1-90's engines were deafening, so it was a welcome contrast to hear the roar cut to the dull hum of auto-pilot. Of course, this came at a cost as auto-pilot was much slower than manual flight.
I need a break, anyway. Thought Aurora, justifying her actions as her glance moved through the windshield and rested on the black hull of the ship that was currently busy reflecting the distant stars in the sky. She then, however, caught the image of her own reflection in the windshield and absently began to concentrate on that.
She was still a young woman, her age only just reaching her mid-twenties. But still, Aurora sometimes felt as though she was well into her thirties. With her own family long gone and her adoptive father an old, retired doctor she had no other choice but to help out the last remaining family she had in any way. Her natural skills as a pilot and as a fighter made it easy for her to collect munny as a bounty hunter of sorts which helped pay for her step-father's home on Radiant Garden along with this new ship which she dubbed Talon, a new type of ship class made from steel that was decidedly stronger than that of a standard gummi ship.
Sighing, Aurora took off her helmet and fixed her short brown hair, wondering just what kind of 'rescue mission' her adoptive father had her doing now. Something about a bunch of kids on an Island somewhere. She had refused at first, unable to see the importance of a bunch of kids but this had been a favor of her step-father so she couldn't say no.
She adjusted her flak jacket and noticed on her left was the massive-glowing body of the sun that made it just annoying enough that she needed to turn her head in the other direction.
"I'd much rather be home," She grumbled, now eyeing the flashing red light on her dashboard that told her someone was trying to establish a connection. Reluctantly she flipped a switch near the light that opened up the comm. link.
The windshield flashed a blue color once this was done. The resulting image that played across the screen was that of a man who appeared to be in his late sixties. She recognized it immediately as Dr. Cornelius… her step-father.
"Aurora," The speakers buzzed with the sound of his gruff voice, his usually kind eyes taking the form of exasperation. "you do realize that abruptly switching to auto-pilot in mid flight is not only dangerous, but will hamper your speed reaching your destination?"
And unfortunately, it also allows you to communicate with me. She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Aurora, please." It seemed he may of realized his folly of constantly nagging her and changed his tone drastically. "They'll need you."
"All right," She gave up. "all right. I'll switch back to manual. But I'm new at these rescue missions…"
Cornelius smiled. "I know you'll do fine."
She shrugged and flipped the comm. link off. The image on the screen flickered and faded away, revealing the endless stretch of space and stars before her. Once that was done her gloved hands moved to another switch further up on the dashboard that would take the ship out of auto-pilot and return it to manual flight.
"I'd better get something out of this," Aurora grumbled, grabbing the controls of the ship as it lurched forward towards it's destination. "I'm not one for charity work."
---
If the memory of Traverse Town had been slightly cooler than the void, then this beach in comparison was downright frigid.
After stepping out from the gateway the first thing that greeted Roxas was a breeze that had been colder than anything he could remember. Grasping at his bare arms, Roxas stepped further down the beach where he was greeted with an odd sight.
It was clearly nightfall, the sky was dark and the sand shone gray in the soft light of the moon on the far horizon. Odd, jagged, stone-like structures jutted out of the water feet from the shore and curved at strange angles until returning to the ocean on the other side. They resembled demonic stone archways or the elongated tail of some sea creature that had dove out and then back into the water when it saw Roxas coming.
Despite there being wind, the water did not move. The resulting thought that ran through Roxas' mind had been that he had taken a portal straight into a photograph.
"Do you remember this place?" Xehanort asked in a hushed tone, gliding to his side as they moved down towards the shore.
Roxas only shook his head. "I'm sure if I did I would have recognized it right away, this place is too odd to forget."
"Ah," Xehanort crossed his non-existent arms. "but it is clear that you do, otherwise you would not be seeing this image before you."
"Apparently."
Xehanort smiled. "I must confess, Roxas. This is not only a memory, but a large, elaborate gateway."
Roxas suddenly felt himself lost once more. "I don't follow."
"This is the beauty of the void. A poetic irony. All things, like Chasers, are bound by memories. Therefore, what better way to make the exit, this 'Corridor of Darkness', a memory?"
"This is the exit out of the void?"
Xehanort did not answer, but continued with his explanation. "Since it is a memory, only those who remember it can see it. And therefore, the only ones with a chance of escaping from here are those who can recall the memory of this place."
"So… if you've never seen this beach before then you have no chance of leaving the void."
He nodded. "You are close. This is not the only exit to the void. There are others, I surmise. However, since my rebirth this is the only one I can recall."
A thought came to Roxas' mind. "Is this a real location?"
"Perhaps," Xehanort took it upon himself to sit at a large black rock at the base of the shore. "you see, the void is connected to all worlds. Every world has an entry point in the void. That entry point is known as a Corridor of Darkness. Each Corridor is based on the memory of a real location from that world. Though, doubtless I have seen the real location."
"So how do you and I remember it?"
"I do not know." Roxas could tell Xehanort was telling the truth this time. "I can only remember the memory. Not the real place. You can see it now because I invited you here a long time ago. And that is the only way one without the memory can see it."
"By invitation?"
Xehanort nodded.
"Do you know anything about the real place?" He approached Xehanort, who was busy looking towards the moon in the far distance.
Xehanort looked on quietly before speaking. "Roxas, you are not the only one who's memories are a mystery. There are things not even I can remember about my past. This place is one of them…"
"Was I born in Traverse Town?" The question was completely unrelated, he knew, but was curious to know the answer. "I know I came from the void, but did I end up in Traverse Town?"
Xehanort laughed slightly at the random question. "No. You found your way to Traverse Town through a Corridor like this, but you were born somewhere else."
"And where was that?"
"Twilight Town."
The words reverberated through his bones like a deep echo of the past. Immediately he knew the importance of this Twilight Town, his birthplace. His home.
"But according to you, you found me in Traverse Town. So how did I have a memory of Traverse Town if I've never been there?"
"Traverse Town was an odd little world. A world gathered from the fragments of worlds lost to the darkness. Most people who had lost their worlds ended up there. You yourself had no recollection of the town. But because of your other's memories you had little trouble finding your way."
"My other…" He had heard about this 'other' entirely too much. Who was it?
"Ah, Roxas… I am sorry." Xehanort pushed off of the rock he had been leaning against. "I forgot all about explaining your other to you."
He turned to face Xehanort now, glad that he was finally about to hear about the one who had been occupying his thoughts since he first heard about him.
"Your other is your greatest enemy."
Roxas blinked. That was certainly what he wasn't expect himself to hear.
"You were born from another, whole being. Your own name is based on his. If you take the 'x' out of Roxas and rearrange the remaining letters you get the name of your other: Sora."
Astonished, he did this in his head and it was true. But why was he his enemy?
"When you were born you became half of Sora. Meaning Sora grew weaker as a result. Sora is the current Keyblade Master, explaining your ability to use the keyblades as well. After your existence was known by certain others they devised a plot to kidnap you and use you to complete Sora once more."
Kidnap! These people and Sora were definitely not sounding too good right now…
"I knew this would happen from the start. I located you in Traverse Town and told you to return to Twilight Town. There you met the Organization, whom I knew would be there waiting for you. You joined their ranks and were safe from those who wished to kidnap you. However, I had underestimated them and called you back to warn you."
"Where did we meet again?"
Xehanort turned to Roxas. "Here, of course."
It was beginning to make sense now. But he still did not understand everything. "But why would anyone do that? Why would they kidnap me and use me to restore Sora?"
Xehanort turned back to the moon and sighed. "I don't know. I guess because you lacked a heart they considered you a tool, nothing more."
Roxas could feel anger flare within him, but kept it at bay. "Then what happened?"
"I told you about your other and the dangers presented to you. Unfortunately you were too curious about your other and went against my wishes and the wishes of the Organization. You sought out Sora and as a result his best friend, Riku, eventually defeated you and kidnapped you."
"What did they do to me?" Roxas started to feel sick, he wasn't some tool to be used and kidnapped like that. He may have lacked a heart but he still had a soul for God sakes!
"Forced Assimilation and Selective Amnesia."
"…through certain circumstances you lost touch with the abilities you were able to freely use in the past. Through selective amnesia and … well, forced assimilation, you grew weak and feeble. Undeserving of the existence you sought."
Roxas bit his lip as things slowly began to make sense once more. He was finally getting the full story, he could feel it. This was the truth.
Xehanort smiled in spite of himself. "Once you were kidnapped my own enemy, Ansem the Wise, transferred you into data and placed you into a fake Twilight Town inside Sora's memories. There he picked apart what you knew and made you forget all you had learned since meeting me in Traverse Town. He fitted you with an artificial personality and memories until you slowly became one with Sora again. Sora became whole again, however, at a blatant disregard for your own well being. Eventually you forgot who you were and returned here, where I met you. Throughout Sora's journey the Organization and I tried to release you from Sora, but he fought and defeated us all. I was the last. I lead Sora and Riku back to the void but even I was no match for them."
Xehanort lifted his sleeves and dropped the hood, revealing the portion of his face that was still visible. "They did this to me. And that is why I need your help, Roxas. I cannot leave in this current state, but you can. Together we can leave and together we can rebuild the Organization! Together, you and I will have our revenge!"
Roxas exhaled, absorbing all that was said like a sponge, growing angry at the truth that he learned. It was their fault he was here. He did not ask for any of this. He did not deserve any of this. Sure, maybe his birth was unnatural but that did not give anyone the right to consider him less! Suddenly, his decision was made.
"I want out. Now."
A wide smile then spread across Xehanort's angular features. He held out his non-existing hand. "Take my hand, Roxas."
At first Roxas thought it a bit weird to be grabbing a hand that was not there. But he obliged. He reached out as Xehanort leaned forward. Their hands were an inch away.
"Roxas, wait!"
Roxas froze and spun, dropping his hand at once. A gateway opened up and out came none other than Axel. He had a look of fierce determination in his eyes as he ran up to the two, brandishing two red and black spiked chakrams.
"You!" A look of anger and disgust came upon Xehanort, causing Axel to smirk in response.
"In the flesh, baby." He quickly turned to Roxas. "Roxas, don't listen to him! He's trying to trick you!"
"Trick you?" Xehanort said to Roxas, "Through what, the truth? How did you get here anyway?"
"I was invited."
Roxas stepped away from Xehanort and Axel, grimacing. He knew he had to choose one of them, but he did not know anymore. At first he was determined to pick Axel. But now… After what he had heard…
"Roxas, listen to me. Xehanort is not the type of person too--"
Xehanort moved with grace to block Axel. "Roxas do not listen to this traitor! He sold you out to Sora and the others! He even went so far as to help Sora!"
"Lies!" Axel growled, swinging a chakram at Xehanort's back.
There was a loud tearing noise as the weapon cut into Xehanort. He grunted, falling forward. Xehanort desperately tried to stand but was pressed back into the sand with Axel's foot. He lifted the chakram, readying a death-blow.
"No!" Roxas withdrew the Oblivion keyblade and leapt at Axel, the chakram rammed into the keyblade instead of Xehanort and with all of his might Roxas knocked Axel off of Xehanort and as far back as possible.
---
"Oof!" Axel hit a mound of sand with a resounding thud, seeing stars as the wind was forced from his lungs.
Recollecting his thoughts, Axel pressed off of the sand and saw, to his horror, Roxas reaching for Xehanort's hand on the ground.
"Chasers are like living pieces of the void they were reborn in, vacuums in every sense of the word, consuming the body, heart and soul of all those they touch and possess."
Axel shouted, leaping at once to his feet and sprinting towards them. He reached out desperately for Roxas. "ROXAS, NO!"
But it was too late. Just as he had come close he had been forced to stop by an immense white light that seemed to consume all that was around him. He covered his eyes, turning away from the bright light. And then there was nothing.
Things grew dark once more and everything was surprisingly quiet.
Axel opened his eyes and peered in the direction where the two had been. Now, there stood only one.
"I'd like to thank you Axel." The face was Roxas. The hair was Roxas. The voice was Roxas. But this was not Roxas. Behind Roxas' face Xehanort smiled. "If it had not been for you I would have never found Roxas in the first place. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
The man who was not Roxas turned away from Axel, his black thorned coat billowing in the cool wind. He lifted his arms and before them, just above the water, appeared a bright light that opened up the sky and literally lit the beach up
The door out.
"Damn you!" Axel swung the chakram again but was surprised to see Xehanort turn and hold out a hand.
The chakram missed Xehanort by an inch or so and as his hand came down, Xehanort's came up. The hand clasped around Axel's wrist and with a defying sneer on the face that Xehanort stole, brought Axel closer to him. "Have fun here."
And with strength that surprised Axel, Xehanort used Roxas' muscles to push him back down into the sand. He laid there dazed as 'Roxanort' turned back to the door, walking towards it. Watching this through a fog in his mind Axel weakly reached out after him just as he had approached the door.
"Help Roxas." He whispered, as if speaking to someone invisible.
The door's light faded as Roxanort stepped through it and then disappeared entirely, leaving Axel alone in the dark and sprawled out in the sand. His head dropped down against the ground as unconsciousness welcomed him.
---
She was tired from the dancing and was glad when Sora had opted for a break.
"I'm going to get something to drink," He said with a smile, watching as Kairi sat on the sand in front of the bonfire. "do you want anything?"
She returned the smile and shook her head. "No thanks."
Sora nodded and turned away, walking towards the drink hut. With a small sigh she turned her eyes towards the ocean. A moment later she furrowed her eyebrows when an odd sight caught her vision. It looked as though a star had been falling towards the ocean. A chill ran down her spine as she recalled this sight before…
---
The winds of existence roared passed his ears as he found himself free falling through the sky. He could not open his eyes or breathe yet he did not panic. Soon he was greeted with the wetness of the ocean as he plunged beneath the surface. Holding his breath, Xehanort swam for the surface.
His head burst out of the ocean as he gasped for air, wiping the water out of his eyes. When his eyes opened he was greeted with the sight of an Island he had recognized before and a bonfire that lit the beach with a warm orange glow.
"Sora is here." He said, somehow knowing.
With a smile, he swam for shore…
Introduction:
To Be Concluded.
Author's Notes: Dun dun dun! Sorry guys, but I guess there is going to be four parts after all. I'll start writing that part as soon as possible and have it up by Tuesday night (I hope.)
Anyway, as you can tell, Axel told Roxas to find Cornelius. Cornelius sent his adoptive daughter, Aurora, to rescue Sora, Riku and Kairi. Xehanort has possessed Roxas and has arrived at Destiny Islands. Axel is trapped in the void.
Now, here's some things you should consider: Who exactly is Cornelius, and what relation does he have with Axel? And is Aurora the 'assistance' King Mickey was talking about, or is another party ready to arrive on the Islands around the same time as Aurora?
K.M.M. said three days after Laire. But it hasn't even been that long (it hasn't even been the next day yet) so what happened? Has assistance arrived early or has the King's message been tampered with?
What happened to Roxas? And is Sora weaker now that they are two separate beings again?
Whatever the case, I intend to try and answer these questions before the end of the introduction in the next part. Be sure to keep watch Tuesday night (and, if not Tuesday, then Wednesday) to watch as everything comes together. The only question is, can Destiny Islands survive it?