A/N: I'm starting this chapter even though I don't have single review for the last one yet. :'( That's ok, though! I enjoy writing this. Ok, just to let you know, expect five chapters, a prologue and an epilogue. I might continue with it afterwards, like a part one/part two deal, because I'm having so much fun.
The Savage Nymph:
Chapter Four:
I blinked back tears, leaning against the godforbidden walls of this awful castle. That was it. That was the last memory of my past. Now, there was nothing left to remember, and maybe, just maybe, my memories wouldn't torment me anymore, now that I had remembered Larissa's death. I began to wonder, though, about what happened after me and Avery became Heartless. What happened to Catássa? She had to have been killed; there was no way to escape. So where was Avery's sister now?
Out of sheer habit, I began to play with my hair, like I often did when in deep thought or reading in the library. There was something comforting in the library, the smell of old books, or just the silence and tranquility, which was often scarce in a castle full of the thirteen of the strongest Nobodies. For a short moment, I considered teleporting there, just to quell my fear, but then, footsteps interrupted my thoughts.
The trio walked forward, then stopped as they spotted me. The duck, walking beside Sora, the Keyblade in his hand, said accusingly, "You're with Axel, aren't you!"
"Ooh, aren't you clever." I said sarcastically, "The name's Larxene. Are you enjoying your stay in Castle Oblivion? I bet it's nice to peel all the worthless memories away...and awaken the true memories that lie deep in your heart." I said coolly, reminding myself of Axel explaining things to me. Why not abuse the poor Keyblade wielder for a little while, before I threw the battle for plans' sake?
"True memories?" He sounded confused, as though no one else had explained it to him before. Well, no one told me to pull the boy out of his ignorance. So I wasn't going to.
"But you're still forgetting something, aren't you, Sora?" I said, with a slight laugh to my voice. I would let myself get cocky for the time being. Couldn't hurt to scare him, right? "The most important thing. When that poor girl hears you've forgotten her name, she'll be heartbroken." I continued, with fake sympathy.
"You know her! Is she… here?" Sora's voice was so sudden, so loud, so determined, it startled me. But, of course, I didn't let it show.
"U-huuuuh. The bad guys are holding her deep within the castle. And you, the hero, have to go save her. Sadly, there's a catch..." And, as Marluxia planned, I ran through him, after summoning the power, and placed Naminé's charm within his heart. So far, so good. "I'M a bad guy, so you have to go through me!" My voice raised to a shout, I was getting threatening now. I figured it was only fair, seeing Sora had, since the moment he set foot in our castle, threatened our lives, our home, and our Organization itself. I could pretty much justify it.
"Uh…" He replied. My god. This is supposed to be the intelligent, going-to-open-the-door-to-the-light Keyblade wielder, and the most he has to say in return to my threat is 'uh'. I dangled the charm from my gloved hand, swinging it back and forth slightly.
"Sora!" cried the other creature who had come with him, resembling something remotely related to a dog. Obviously, something was wrong with Sora. It could have been the residual effects of his memory being constantly altered, or he could have just been really, really slow.
"What's…that? Is that mine?" I sighed slightly. This could get really, really frustrating. No wonder Marluxia wanted me to go down and do the dirty work first. I had no idea how stupid people were with fake memories planted in their hearts. I sighed again.
"Tsk, tsk." I tutted, "You've been wearing it all this time, and you forgot?" I couldn't help but giggle. "No, you couldn't have. The memory is engraved in your heart. Now think, Sora. What oh what could it be? Who gave it to you?" It almost seemed as if I was challenging him, a good touch to help him remember.
"Na...Na...mi...?"
"That's right! Free the memory from your heart!" I dropped the malicious act for a moment, to encourage him. Him remembering Naminé was vital to our plan to take on the Organization.
"Nami...Naminé." He said contentedly, with a triumphant tone to his voice.
"Well, it's about time. That's right...Naminé." I replied. I took that moment to wonder why the Keyblade had chosen him, such a measly little warrior. If you could call him a warrior. "She's the one that gave you the cheesy good luck charm. Not that you remembered." I laughed. For effect, I disappeared and reappeared on Sora's other side.
"No surprise, seeing as you forgot her NAME. Talk about heartless! It'd serve you right if I smashed this piece of junk!" And I got ready to smash Naminé's good luck charm, and waited for Sora's inevitable outburst.
"Don't you touch it! Naminé gave me this. It's precious to me!"
Surly, of all the comebacks in his arsenal, he could have thought of something better than that. This is the guy Marluxia wants to used to take on the Organization? Let's hope he fights well, because his comebacks suck. "Precious? Spare me! Ten seconds ago you didn't even know what it was!"
Well, at least he fights okay. It seemed he fought better than Axel, maybe, or maybe just in a different way than I was used to. I nearly killed him, debating about whether or not I wanted to face Marluxia's wrath later for slipping up on the plan. I decided not, even though I had never quite understood what in the world a 'flower' element was.
"Hey, you're not half bad. Guess you really are a hero. A heartless hero!" Boy, I was being really, really mean. I hoped Marluxia knew what to do with him once he defeated Sora, because he would definitely hate me by the time we got a hold of him.
"Who asked you?" He said, and I couldn't help but imagine him stamping his foot like an angry toddler. I giggled again, obviously getting on his nerves. Good.
"Does it hurt 'cause it's true? Grow up, Sora." I said viciously, but continued in a mock-innocence tone, "If you're going to be a baby, then here — play with these." I tossed Sora the world cards, the ones made from his memories. Hm, there's a thought. I wondered if Axel still had that Twilight Town card we got from Roxas. "They're more cards made from your memories. Say "thank you" like a good boy. Ta-ta!" I vanished on the spot, teleporting to my own bedroom, where I could feel Axel waiting for my return.
Wow. Sora must really hate me by now.
I teleported into my room, where Axel seemed to be pacing again. He saw me out of the corner of his eye, and spun around to face me. "Larxene! Are you okay?"
I nodded, before succumbing to exhaustion. I stumbled and wavered, and he rushed over to support me. With one hand firmly grasping my upper arm, and the other around my waist, we slipped into an awkward silence before we realized what happened. I was on the verge of remembering something else, in that long, silent, bliss, but it slipped away as I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. I backed up, barely supporting myself, and I blinked slowly.
"Whew... Throwing the battle back there really wore me out…."
"Throwing the battle? Looks to me like you plain old lost the battle." There was an undertone of concern, but humor also and a spark in his eye.
"H-How dare you! You just don't appreciate the finer nuances of —" I replied, pretending to be offended, though subtly, for I heard the person approaching my room.
"Axel is right. That was an ungainly performance, Larxene." Vexen's cool voice flooded any stray remnants of passion left in that room, and I was filled with frustration. Of all the people to be interrupted by.
"Vexen!"
"Humbled by someone of such limited significance." He said it as though he was happy that I had been nearly defeated by Sora, he had probably been hoping as much. "You shame yourself and the Organization."
"Grr…"
Stepping forward, slightly, either in my defense, or to keep me from ripping Vexen to shreds, Axel said curiously, "Can we help you, Vexen? It's not very often we see you topside."
"I came to lend a hand." He said, the way he said it making it very clear that he thought we needed it. "I remain unconvinced of any potential in this 'hero' you've been coddling." Excuse me? 'Coddling'? "Perhaps an experiment would put my doubts to rest."
I let out a sigh of exasperation. "I knew this would happen. Everything is an experiment with you." I was reminded briefly of a time when he experimented on my hair, pondering how it managed to stay up. I shook off the unpleasant memory as he continued.
"I'm a scientist." Vexen said with a bit of sarcasm, as though I hadn't noticed, "Experimentation is what I do."
"Whatever, Vexen. Do what you want. But cut the act. Testing Sora is just an excuse to test your little follower." Axel said bitterly, as if he detested the idea. He probably did.
"Follower? I'll have you know he's the product of much research!" Vexen said, sounding offended and irritated at the same time, as though his 'research' was underappreciated in Castle Oblivion.
"What he is," I said slowly, enunciating clearly, like I was speaking to a small child, "is a toy."
"Hmph. I see I'm wasting my time." Vexen replied, obviously disgruntled at our lack of enthusiasm. I cocked my head and flashed him a big smile, saying, Wow, you finally figured it out!
"Have your fun. But take this with you. A wild card to keep the game fresh." I let out a small, nearly inaudible gasp, as Axel tossed Vexen the card to Twilight Town. "Now don't tell me I don't respect my elders." The last statement was more or less a private joke, for that comment had been tossed around the castle for as long as I could remember.
As Vexen's eyes combed the card Axel had given him, his mouth curled into a smile. "I dare say I won't."
A/N: Sorry that this chapter took so long! I'll be faster to update now that I'm out of school, I promise. :D In my own defense, I couldn't upload my document for about a week. :'(
