CH 19

It was soon Roxas' turn to face the cruel reality caused partly by his own actions. He was glad of Riku's willingness to play escort a second time, but like Kairi before him, the Nobody's nerves weren't soothed by the guardian of dawn's presence a whole lot.

Before entering the dining hall, Riku turned to him and said wisely "Go in there with a guilty conscience, and Maleficent will play you like a harp. Relax! Sora doesn't blame you, so stop blaming yourself."

"Sora's too lighthearted to place blame. You know that better than anyone." Roxas argued "Of course he doesn't blame me. It'd be like blaming himself, which he's doing anyway, so really, it wouldn't be too hard to imagine. After all, I did summon him here."

"On her power. Don't forget that." Riku said, "Maleficent manipulated you, forced you to lure him here, then sprang her trap. This is her doing not yours. That's the way she works. Trust me, I've more than enough experience with her methods."

Roxas sighed "Ok then. Here goes. Open the door. I'm ready."

"No you aren't."

A corridor opened, and out walked a welcome third visiter to the castle.

Roxas grinned greatfully "Axel! You came after all!"

Riku smiled as the two brothers walked through the doors together. He followed close behind, for though he knew the Flurry of Dancing Flames would protect the weakened Key of Destiny, he was going to make sure that the taller Nobody didn't end up making a scene and endanger their chances of a future rescue.

Maleficent raised an eyebrow when the silver haired teen came in the doors for a third time, escorting the final two invited guests into the room. She smiled wickedly at the shorter Nobody, but he seemed to be focused on locating his Other and didn't notice. However, the redheaded nothing being returned her grin with a smirk of warning, creating a spurt of flame in one hand before sitting down. She sneered, unintimidated but amused by his defiant display. Amusing still was Riku's own reaction of disapproval, as the boy snarled a whispered warning at the cloaked pyrokinetic. This was, the witch knew, a direct response on behalf of Sora's wellbeing more than her own, but the fact remained that it was her, not Sora, Riku was defending.

The Keyblade Master himself was actually not in the room at the moment. In fact, the witch had barely seen him all day. When Riku shot her a curious glance, she was ablidged to shrug, as his questioning eyes continued to search the room unsuccessfully.

Roxas was a bit more successful with his search, using the corridors to comb the vicinity until he found where Sora had gone exploring. He found his Other scrounging around the dungeon, looking for something that seemed to be buried in the dirt in one of the cells. Curious, Roxas inched closer, wondering what had grabbed his opther half's interest. His nose wrinkled slightly as he brushed against the green and black fabric that made up what Riku called his clothes' 'Dark Drive' mode; a transformation conjured by Maleficent herself, and one Roxas knew had no revert without her consent.

He gasped then, as some of Sora's mind linked briefly with his due to the contact he'd made. Through Sora's eyes, he saw the dirt...and buried there was a yellow and gold keychain shaped like a starfruit. Only, it wasn't present day, for the sun still cast a shadow with pointy hair.

"You buried something here...before all this." The Nobody said softly, though he knew Sora had known he was there the minute he entered the castle and had probably known he'd been behind him this whole time. Sora gurgled at him without turning his head, his gloved hands still digging softly, so as not to accidently toss away the trinket he sought.

"But why bother? Even if you do find it, you can't equip it. The Keyblade-"

There was a Shing, and Sora smiled and simply presented the weapon to the awestruck and dumbfounded Nobody. "But how? I thought she seald it away so you couldn't use it."

Sora paused in his search and cocked his head, then unsummoned the weapon and stood up. Reaching his hand and his heart out, the hero touched his Nobody on the shoulder. Then he opened his mouth and spoke in a voice that was clearly pained and hurt to use, but with his heart's help and because Roxas was his other half, he managed to say a few words before the pain made him silent again.

"It's...a...reminder."

Those few words sent Roxas into a mini tantrum. As he opened a portal, rage burning in his blue eyes, he shoved his reluctant Other through first, despite Sora's growls and snarls of protest, as his search wasn't done yet.

They came out in the dining hall, and Roxas dragged a hissing Sora to the table where Maleficent sat. Riku looked on curiously, and Axel gestured to his friend to have a seat, wich of course Roxas declined, his blazing eyes boring into the witch as he snarled venomously,

"Where is the line, witch?! You've tortured him, clothed him in Darkness, taken boith his home and his voice...and then you taunt him to top it all off!?"

Maleficent cocked an eyebrow "I haven't the faintest idea what you're referring to, you meddlesome being of nothing."

"Yeah, me neither. Roxas what is it?" Riku asked, also curious.

Roxas shoved his somebody forward "Show them!"

Sora looked panicked, glancing nervously at his mistress. Roxas smacked him upside the head "You don't need permission you idiot! Have some pride. Show them!"

Sora shook his head vigorously, wimpering and gesturing franticly. Roxas sighed and made contact, then smacked him again "Yes you can. Stop that and do it, Sora! Show them what she's kept from them this whole time. Show them!"

Sora again looked at his mistress, and she sighed and said "To ease your friend's curiosity, whatever he asks, you may do it this once without reprocussion."

Sora looked relieved, and stretched out a hand. Riku's eyes went wide "No...no way...he can't seriously...She wouldn't allow..."

The Kingdom Key materioulised in its master's hand, and Riku fell out of his chair in astonishment. "You witch...you let him keep his keyblade, unable to actually use it against you. His reaction made sense now. You forbid him to summon it in your presence lest something happen to us."

Roxas growled "That's one taunt. But there's a reason she let him keep his blade. Isn't there, you witch."

Maleficent waved a hand as if to dismiss the Nobody's rage "It's strategy Roxas, nothing more. He knows he can't use his pathetic weapon against me, it states as much in his contract. I need not forbid something he already knows is fruitless. As for what he no doubt told you about my alterior motives for allowing him to summon that blade, well it seems that is his own choice of interpretation. A reminder, should his heart rebel against his will and common sense, is what I initially told him when I unlocked the weapon from its barrier. If he chooses to use it as a reminder of his failure to save his home, well that can hardly be my doing."

Riku looked at Sora in pity, and gestured to the weapon that he clutched in his hand "Is that what it is, Sora? Are you torturing yourself like that? Blaming yourself for the state of our home and beating yourself up over your choice to seal this deal?"

Sora gurgled urgently, shaking his head and waving his arms negatively. Roxas touched his arm and said, his rage calming itself as his Other explained his meaning. "It's not a reminder of his failure, it's a reminder of his vow. He sealed his fate, but he sealed ours too. It's not a tormentous reminder, it's a calming resolution."

"You see? It's a small comfort I allow him to have. Nothing dark in that is there, Roxas." Maleficent said, gesturing to the Keyblade, wich Sora immediately unsummoned, lest her patience run low. The tension was broken as Sora pulled free of his Nobody and dashed towards the kitchen, his apetite whet by his endless searching.

Roxas reluctantly sat down, ordering a water. Maleficent leaned towards him and said silkily "So, he is still able to communicate to you, Nobody. You realize I can't have that in abundance, correct?"

Roxas sneered at her "Oh please, you have nothing to fear from him. The only reason I can know what he's saying is because I'm his other half. It's not easy for him to speak even through our bond. It still hurts him, and actually, he prefers if I don't force him to talk. He's under contract via Keyblade, witch. I'm his Nobody. I know the fine print just as well as he does. Abundant or not, my translating his gurglings won't spark rebellion. You have nothing to fear from my translating."

"You poor simple fool. The reason I stripped him of his voice wasn't just to keep him from backtalking!"

"Then it was part of making him a being of instinct. Robbing him of his humanity! So what! The point is, no one else can understand him, not even Kairi. I think I'm harmless."

Maleficent thought a minute "Very well. In the future try to keep your knowledge to yourself, only translate if necessary."

"Fine. Witch."

Maleficent turned her attention once again to Sora's best friend, who was actually having a chocolate croissant and wine. She was curious at this, because the past three days, the boy had refused anything but water. And why should he order anything more? The destruction of his home and the defeat and humiliation of his friend were not high on Riku's list of reasons to celebrate.

"Feeling festive, my boy?" she asked, hand resting on her staff conversationally.

Riku snorted "Actually yes. These past four days have been relatively...encouraging. I think also that the atmosphere may be growing on me."

"Hmmm. Interesting. Perhaps something in this castle tickles the Darkness you hold close to your heart."

"No, that's not it." Riku gazed towards the kitchen "I think just being where he is...seeing him...I think it's brought me closure somehow. Maybe that's why I keep coming back." He turned to her and said with a smirk "Guess that isn't something you planned on, let alone approve of, right? But think of this as a strategic endeavor. If I'm compliant, what need would I have to cause an uprising?"

"I like you my boy, but I do not take your acquired skills lightly. Your mind is a well of strategies, dear Riku. Do not mistake this truce for peace between us. I know your heart burns for Sora's freedom. I will not underestimate your abilities to reach that goal."

"And I don't underestimate your cunning in preventing us from getting him back." Riku countered coolly, sipping his wine casually "However, wether I like to admit it or not, as of now you have the upper hand. I'm actually impressed. You thought this through brilliantly, down to having him sign a contract with the only thing that would truly, ironicly, shackle him into a deal with you.. As of this moment, we are at an impasse. You can't attack us because if you do, your word is broken and Sora's contract becomes void, freeing him to make you pay for destroying the islands. At the same time, we can't attack you because doing so puts Sora at risk, and we won't be responsible for his death."

Maleficent nodded "Yes, I've had many years to plan this revenge, dear boy. I hoped to play all the angles, make sure there were no loopholes. When I was sure, I put my plan into action." She looked as Sora came rushing out with two turkey legs clenched in his fists. He dashed behind the witch's chair, and she once again waved off Louie.

Roxas scowled at his Somebopdy, and Axel had to prevent the Nobody from beating his other over the head in sheer frustration.

The witch chuckled and turned back to Riku, who was contemplating something as he sipped more of his wine. Maleficent waited, stroking her pet, much to his Nobody's apparent indignation, and then said curiously,

"The wheels are turning, Riku. What are you contemplating now, you strategic fool?"

"A fool I may be, but I just had an idea..."