Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 13
"Axel," Xion called as she joined him on the ledge, passing him an ice cream which he took and began to eat.
"Thanks kid," he smirked and reached out to ruffle her hair. It was strange…he knew what she was and yet it had become easy to treat her like a real person. "How was the mission today?"
That got a wide smile from her and then she put her hand out and he stared at the very familiar weapon in her had. It looked exactly like the Keyblade Sora had used for the majority of his time in the Castle when he'd been fooling them into thinking he'd lost his powers and skills. It seemed that the extra data from the boy had finally worked the way they had hoped.
With a Keyblade of their own, they wouldn't need to try and get to Sora to do what they wanted now, they could just send Xion out to kill Emblem Heartless. Then again, almost all of them had spotted the boy at some point during a mission, fighting Heartless and any Nobodies that strayed nearby. It was odd, they had all reported that he was alone, so where were the King's men who had been with him?
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Kairi pulled out the drawing Sora had given her months before, staring at the image. She hadn't seen Sora since and wished he'd come back. She hadn't seen any sign of being watched, but would she? With the kind of powers Sora had said they had… she just wanted them back, wanted to spend the day on the beach watching them spar…she swallowed, a tear falling as she saw it all in her head, the vague image of a silver haired boy in really baggy pants, taller than both of them.
Whatever Naminé was doing, it was working! She just wanted more, wanted it all back now.
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Sora lay in the bed of the room in the mansion beside the one Naminé used…after Sora had made her choose one for herself. Before that, Diz'd had her sleeping on the floor of the pod room. He seemed to be treating her better after the words they'd exchanged thankfully since he wasn't sure what he could do to make him treat her better if words had failed. Maybe Mickey could have done something more but so far it seemed unnecessary.
Mickey wanted him to get some sleep and he wished he could. He was tired, worn down from the never ending fights. Maybe the King was right and he at least needed to rest more often even if he couldn't actually sleep.
He closed his eyes, trying to reach the resting state, but his mind wouldn't calm. He rolled onto his side, staring out of the window at the woods. The sun never truly set in Twilight Town, although the light level did change some from 'day' to 'night'. After a few hours he gave up and slipped from the mansion and into the town to wander around.
It was only chance that had him glancing up, vampire vision spotting two figures in familiar black up on the clock tower. Had they been found? The Organisation shouldn't be able to remember Riku anymore than everyone else, but they would want Naminé back and obviously had an interest in him too. He made his way quickly to the train station, easily scaling the walls, silently. He recognised the crazy red hair, Axel. He had seemed the most...non-evil of the bunch and fighting beside him had been easy, but that didn't mean Axel wouldn't fight him now, they had faced a traitor to his group after all which was why he had fought on Sora's side. But he had no reason to side with Sora now.
Thankfully, vampires were made to be the top predator, utter masters of stealth, so he was able to perch above them and listen as the two talked, learning the girl was Xion…she looked the same age as Kairi! Actually…she looked scarily like Kairi, as much as Naminé did, but how was that possible? One person couldn't have two Nobodies, could they?
They seemed to be celebrating success on a mission and he did wonder why Nobodies would be focusing on taking out Heartless, a question for Mickey…and DiZ. That was one human he could sink fangs into and not kill himself from guilt over. There was just something completely off about the man.
He was thankful for his perfect memory as he listened to them talk about some of the other members, shocked to hear that they believed their goal to be to use Kingdom Hearts to gain hearts of their own. Was that possible? Even if it was, it felt off to him, if they wanted that then what was that mess in the Castle? Honestly, motivation like that would have gained his sympathy and maybe it was what motivated some of them, but he doubted it did their 'Superior'. Eventually they left and he slipped away.
He was going to have to admit to Mickey that he hadn't been able to sleep which would really worry the King. It was nice and kind of odd having someone who didn't really know him care so much. It had taken time for Donald and Goofy to warm up to him, especially Donald. The instant acceptance from the King had been a shock but it was…nice. He tried not to wonder if it would last if…when Mickey learnt the truth about him.
Still, intel was intel and needed to be shared.
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Mickey sighed as the Corridor closed behind Sora. He was really worried about the kid! Instead of sleeping the other night, he'd ended up wandering the town. Sure, he'd been able to eavesdrop on some Organisation members but he needed rest! The way he was going, Mickey really would end up giving bad news to the others when they woke!
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Sora stepped out into a World he'd never been to before, looking around at the woods. It seemed nice enough? He hesitated but then removed the black coat and stored it away, not wanting to be mistaken for one of them and also not wanting the Organisation to know he had a way to access the Corridors. He was pretty sure he could almost open the way himself now, what did that say about the state of his heart these days?
He wandered around until he came upon a cottage, watching seven very short men move about, gathering…mining supplies? They were even signing! Very odd but they weren't Heartless or Nobodies so not his problem. He kept going, spotting a castle in the distance.
It was nearly evening when he reached it, looking around, curiously.
"Hello," a voice called and he turned to see a man, older than him, but with a friendly, open face.
"Hello," he smiled at the man. "My name's Sora, it's nice to meet you."
"Sora?" a familiar voice called, and then Snow White was walking down the stairs, Sora bowing slightly to her.
"It's good to see you again," he told her as she took the man's arm.
"You know Sora?" the man, who had to be her Prince, asked.
Snow White nodded. "He helped save me from Maleficent."
It was obvious to Sora that she was still wary of him, even after all he'd done, and that hurt but he did his best not to show it.
"Well then, please come inside. You can spend at least the night, the woods are treacherous in the dark."
"Oh…I wouldn't want to impose…" Sora looked between them, and Snow White hesitated but then nodded.
"He's right Sora, you should stay."
That shocked him but slowly he nodded, following them inside. He was shown to a very nice room where he had a lot of fun in the massive bathtub for a while before reluctantly joining them for the evening meal. He really didn't want to force himself to eat just to throw up later but it would be rude not to go.
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"I hope we always have each other," Xion whispered as they sat eating their ice cream.
"What's gotten into you?" Axel asked, glancing at her.
"I just...want these days to last forever. The time together, the ice cream, the sunsets..." she smiled at him.
"Nothing lasts forever, least of all for a bunch of Nobodies. But you know, we'll still have each other...even if things change and we can't do this anymore," he told her awkwardly, but he meant it.
"Yeah?"
"As long as we remember each other, we'll never be apart. Got it memorized?" he demanded, and she laughed happily.
"Wow, Axel, that sounded so sweet," she teased, smiling happily.
"What? I thought it was pretty deep," he grumbled, and she patted his shoulder.
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Snow White walked towards the boy sitting on the window ledge, the setting sun almost making him glow with light…and yet she sensed the Darkness within him. It had made them all hesitant around him, even after being told by a very indignant Donald just what he had done to himself to free them and the last of their number who they hadn't met yet. He had risked becoming a Heartless, of ceasing to exist at all, to free her heart from where it had taken refuge in his own. Perhaps…they had judged him far too quickly.
He looked up at her and she saw the wary hurt in his eyes before it was masked. "Princess," he bowed his head. "I'll be gone first thing in the morning," he promised, and she nearly winced.
No more, she would judge him by his words and deeds, not what she sensed. "That is not necessary Sora," she told him, walking closer to him. "I am sorry," her words caused him to straighten, eyes widening slightly. "We should not have acted as we did towards you when everything you did was to save the Worlds from Maleficent and Ansem's plans."
"It's alright, you're the Princesses of Heart and I'm…I'm just a Dark Creature now."
"What do you mean?" she asked in alarm.
"Ever heard of vampires?" he asked, and she thought about it before she shook her head. "Undead blood drinking monsters."
She gasped, hand pressed to her mouth. He was…he'd said now, that suggested he had not always been so. "What happened?"
"We went to a World called Halloween Town and…I was attacked. The others and a local friend saved me, but not in time to keep me human," he shrugged slightly, looking back out the window. "It's not all bad, if I wasn't a vampire then stabbing myself with the Keyblade would have killed me, instead I was hurt and unconscious for a while."
"I am sorry," she whispered, and he looked at her again, offering a weak grin.
"Not your fault I let my guard down. The Keyblade didn't abandon me so I'll keep fighting the Heartless until it does or I die."
"What about your home? The Worlds were restored, we all returned home…"
"Tropical Islands and vampires aren't the best mix, even if I do have magical protection from the sun," he shrugged. "Guess since we were at the Door to Darkness we weren't sent home? We ended up at a place called Castle Oblivion and…my best friend had his memories taken from him. He's the one Ansem possessed. He's sleeping now and will until all of his memories are back. I'm playing bait for a group called Organisation XIII to keep him and those helping him safe. If you see people in black coats with hoods that totally hide them, be very careful. It might be me or King Mickey, or it could be the Organisation."
She nodded slowly, her heart going out to him, they really had judged too quickly and needlessly hurt a boy who was just trying to save everyone. She reached out and gently touched his shoulder, smiling at him. "You are always welcome here Sora," she told him and then kissed his cheek before leaving.
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Sora stared after her with wide eyes, hand covering his cheek. What had…she'd…he swallowed, fighting tears. It felt…good, to have one of them other than Kairi accept him (not that Kairi knew everything but surely she had sensed something if the others had?).
He'd take a good look around for Heartless and Nobodies in the morning and…maybe spend another night?
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Mnemosyne had not needed the visit from young Hercules to know someone was playing in her domain. Not when the effect had been powerful enough to reach Worlds after the barriers between them were repaired. Olympus may be her World, but she was a Titaness. She would go and give her aid to the boy as thanks for his selfless act in helping to close the Door and in thanks to the no longer mortal boy who had sealed the Keyholes and stopped the Worlds from being destroyed.
She smirked, Hades was in for a shock should he meddle when the young Keyblade bearer next visited. He may technically be one of her nephew's creatures now, but he was still a hero.
Mnemosyne moved deeper into her temple, unsealing a hidden room and entering. She went to the large bowl at the back and lifted the goblet, filling it carefully from the bowl and then she emptied the goblet into a sealed jar. Once done, she resealed the room and left.
She stared at the strange contraption and the boy who slept within. He was very different to his friend but also touched by non-human power…not godly…interesting, dark faerie. He had not begun to change himself but that kind of influence would remain with him for his life. Still, that did not mean anything, just that he would be sensitive to their kind, perhaps able to use their kind of magic with training.
Mnemosyne stepped through the flower like object, lifting his head up, and pressed the jar to his lips, ensuring the sleeping boy drank the contents. Still…there was something wrong. She pressed her hand to his head and closed her eyes, searching. Her eyes snapped open in shock. "You poor child," she whispered.
Some of his missing memories were impossible for her to return, because they had gone into another. She could not interfere with that, however, she could leave those helping him a hint.
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Axel sat alone in his room, thinking. What was he doing? Getting so close to Xion was crazy, then again some of what he had done in Castle Oblivion hadn't been all that smart either. He didn't flinch as Saïx entered but glanced over at him. "Ever hear of knocking?"
"Tell me what Xion has been doing," it wasn't a question, it was a demand.
It seemed like Saïx changed more and more every year, less and less the friend he had been when they were real people. Yes, having no heart and therefore no emotion changed them both, but his changes were definitely more extreme and Axel was beginning to wonder if he could trust him anymore.
"How should I know? I'm not spying on her," he offered.
"...But the two of you are close."
"So what, now I've gotta rat on my friends to you? Get out of my room, man," he growled, looking away.
"You and Xion will be executing your next mission together."
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," he drawled sarcastically. "You paid me a personal visit just to tell me that?"
"We also need you to go back to Castle Oblivion."
Axel fought the urge to show any kind of reaction to that. "We, or you?" he asked, but there was no answer, and he looked back at Saïx.
"The castle hasn't given up all its secrets. And there's one in particular Lord Xemnas is especially interested in."
"You mean the chamber," he rolled his eyes. "We turned that place inside out. If it's there, we're not gonna find it by just looking."
"Hmm... Then let me give you another incentive. Naminé isn't the only one who can trace her beginnings to Castle Oblivion. Xion comes from there, too."
"Huh?" that got his attention.
"Two of your favourite people. Still think another visit is a waste of time?" Saïx was practically smirking.
"Hmph... Whatever. You're the one who wants me to go. Don't try and dress it up as a favour."
"Hmph."
"Let me guess... That chamber will tell you everything you don't know about Xemnas' true agenda. Is that the idea?"
"The Chamber of Repose, and it's antipode, the Chamber of Waking... Xemnas isn't telling us something. And the missing chamber, the Chamber of Waking, it holds all the answers. We need those answers to gain the upper hand…for our own reasons."
"Hmm... Look, I knew Vexen and Zexion would be obstacles. That's why they're not here anymore. When have I ever complained about the dirty work?" he drawled. "I cleared the way to the top for you. Just do me a favour and don't trip on the way up," he grumbled as Saïx turned to leave.
"A solo mission in Castle Oblivion... Expect the orders soon."
Axel watched him go and for a second he would have sworn he felt…sad. "Naminé...and Xion?" Looked like he was going back although he doubted very much he would find what Saïx wanted.
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DiZ stared at the monitor and then at Naminé. "You seem to be struggling," he told her, working to moderate his tone in case young Sora returned early.
"A Nobody is interfering, I think," she answered, hands clasped in front of her as she stared at Riku.
"A Nobody?" he demanded, and she nodded.
"I keep trying to piece his memory back together, but what if some of the pieces got lost? There would be no way for me to finish. If that happened…and they found their way into someone else…he'd never get them back."
"Oh, I think he can do without a memory or two," DiZ smirked, from all he had managed to learn from Naminé and Sora, the boy had fallen to the Darkness, to possession by his treacherous apprentice. Such weakness would be good to erase.
"But what...what if he needs those memories in order to wake up? What if they're the key?" She asked, and that made him pause.
"Naminé... You are a witch who has power over the memories of those connected to Sora. Are you seeing something I cannot?"
"If his memories become her memories...she will never survive it," she admitted softly.
"She?" he demanded.
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Naminé stared in shock as a Dark Corridor opened, backing away as a hooded figure emerged, but then the hood was pushed down to reveal a very familiar young man. "Sora," she breathed, and he offered her a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He undid the coat and took it off, stretching.
She smiled at him and moved in to accept the offered hug. Hugs were not something she was used to and yet when Sora hugged her she felt safe. Something from Kairi? Or was it just the effect Sora had on people? He seemed happier which was good, but she knew her news would ruin that and she hated to do it, but she had to.
"I told you, you could learn to do it," she told him, and he nodded.
"You did, thanks. Merlin taught me a method of teleporting but I can only manage it on a World so far, not between them, so the Corridors are going to be handy." He offered a grin and she sobered, she had to tell him now.
"I'm sorry... I'm not sure I've kept my promise very well," she admitted, and he pulled back to look at her.
"What happened?"
"Some of Riku's memories are missing."
"How is that possible?" he asked in confusion, looking towards where the other teen slept.
"They scattered because of how close his heat was to being destroyed, some of them have made their way into a person…and now they're starting to become a part of her."
"You can't get the memories back out," he whispered, moving towards the pod.
"If they're still separate...then yes, I think so," she gave him that hope, glancing at where her sketchbook lay open to a picture of Axel and Xion. "But if they join with her memories, things get a lot more complicated. I would need to untangle her memory before I could finish Riku's... What was supposed to take months might take years. DiZ would be furious.
"Like I care what he thinks," Sora muttered before looking at her. "So what's the solution?"
"If I try to just jump in and rearrange her memory...then I risk Riku waking up to find out that nobody remembers him anymore despite his own memory being back, I can't do that to him. It's too late either way. His awakening will have to be delayed. Unfortunately, the only real solution...is for her to go away," she explained, and his expression showed his horror.
She moved over to the computer, DiZ's domain, looking at the readouts there. It was stalled on 93 percent restoration and would move no further because she couldn't access the memories to return them. "She isn't even a Nobody, Sora. She was created at Castle Oblivion, much like the Riku Replica. Did you know her face was blank at first? Only now can you see someone. She was originally made using data gathered from you but once Riku arrived at the Castle, they began adding what they gathered from him. She has some of his actual memories as well as copies of ones from both of you, I can't sort it out anymore. All I can do is pick up the pieces once what has to be done, is done."
"You mean…she has to die," Sora whispered, and she nodded.
"She's unstable, sooner or later, it will happen even without our interference," she tried to offer that comfort and Sora nodded, gaze going back to Riku.
"Where do I find her?"
TBC…
