Chapter Eight: Mission

Erxart sighed. "I had guessed that the mission was going to be easy...but this?"

Axel shrugged. "Like I said. Roxas was the biggest risk. This is just making sure he can follow instructions."

And they were simple instructions. Look around, explore, get treasure, and barricades kept you from getting lost. Roxas could remember that on top of everyone's names. All he could really do is mumble out, "Yeah."

"I'm sorry, speak up?" Axel spoke, "Couldn't quite make it out."

"Axel, if he doesn't feel like speaking up, he doesn't have to."

Feel like speaking? Did he feel like speaking now?

"If that's the case he's never going to talk."

"Oh come on. I'm pretty sure even he could tell this was easy."

Yes.. it was easy...in fact if he could put it into words…

Yes, he could put it into words...

"I said." Axel and Erxart stopped talking to look at him. "I could have done that with a blindfold on."

Axel chuckled. "All right, smart aleck, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Don't want a blind zombie running around. Still, the mission was a success, so I'd say we've earned a little icing on the cake."

Erxart raised his eyebrow, "Aren't we expected back at the castle?"

The redhead waived him off, "Eh, as long as we aren't gone a whole day they won't notice too much. Unless there's an actual time limit, but that's not too often." He turned to Roxas. "So, remember the spot I showed you?" He did, so he nodded. "Mind showing it to Erxart while I get something?"

"Sure, I can find it no problem." It wasn't that hard to get to. Get above ground, find the clocktower, and use the door on the side to climb to the top. Even he could remember that.

Erxart followed Roxas up the tower, the boy mostly being silent as he was during the walk over. He couldn't really tell if Roxas was shy, nervous, annoyed, anything. On the other hand, maybe he just needed encouragement. He seemed to respond to Axel's prodding. "How long have you been with the Organization?"

Roxas stopped, thought for a bit then spoke,"A week or two."

"Really? Guess you know a bit more than I do about the Organization."

The boy shook his head. "No, all I know is that I'm number thirteen."

Just a rank? "Nothing about the kind of missions we'll be going on? What we're supposed to be doing?" He shook his head. "Nobody's really told me much either."

Roxas gave him an odd look. "But you've been here less than I have. I don't think you'd know more than me."

He shrugged "I suppose that's fair. I was just curious-"

"If you want to talk, I'd suggest moving on to the top, there's better scenery up there." it seems that Axel had managed to catch up to them while they were talking. He was carrying something, though it was a bit dark to make out what. At Axel's prompting, Roxas made his way to the top of the stairs and opened the door. As Erxart suspected they were at the top of the tower, on the ledge over the clock face. Well, the door opened to the side right of the clock. A short walk took them towards that side, and a view of the entire town with the sun setting.

Erxart was speechless, "It's an incredible view."
"It certainly isn't bad." Axel nodded, and brought the items he was carrying into view. "And a good spot to enjoy the icing on the cake." Well, ice cream to be exact. Axel passed the three blue popsicles to his companions as they sat and watched the sun. Erxart took a bite of the cold treat.

"Mmmgh." And regretted it. "It's salty? Why?"

Axel chuckled. "Well, probably because it's sea salt ice cream."

Roxas had already taken a bite. "Well, it's also kind of sweet." and proceeded to take another.

The brown haired man sighed. "At least you like the flavor."

The boy seemed puzzled by the statement. "Flavor?"

"Well, there's different flavors of ice cream out there. And they all taste different." Axel answered "I just chose the one I knew was good."

"Or at least the one you liked." Erxart answered with a smile.

Roxas mulled for a moment, then suggested, "Maybe you can choose a flavor you like next time Erxart."

"Alright then. I'll keep that in mind." And with that he resumed admiring the sunset. Enjoying the moment where things began for Roxas and him as members of the Organization.

"I can't believe they did this…" Though the helmet hid his face, the Ventus' shock at the state of the Radiant Gardens was clearly audible. The entire city had flooded, and the castle had been lifted from the ground and warped by iron and magic. A large symbol of the heartless emblazoned on its face, as if to mock the idea it was ever a beacon of light in the worlds. No, all that was left was a Hollow Bastion of darkness. Belching out smoke and smog from the various chimneys.

"With all the smoke, we can't really fly too close. Especially with all the flying heartless." Wyverns and Various Sorcerers eyed them from afar, as if daring them to come closer. "Guess we'll need to start at the bottom."

Naminé nodded. "Yes...Maybe we could ask them " She pointed down towards the entrance of the building, where four individuals had gathered. As they approached. The smallest of them, a girl, spotted the two flying down, and started to get the attention of the other three.

"Hey guys? I think we've got company, but I don't think they're heartless."

"Well whoever they are, I've got to ask where they got that ship, I haven't seen…wait." The oldest, a grizzled blonde man made his way forward towards the pair as they touched down and dismounted. "Yeah, now I remember, you were that girl back in Traverse Town! The one fighting the pyromaniac in black! This the kid you were with?"

"Huh? Oh, the armor." With that, Ventus dismissed his protection, leaving him in his normal attire. "Yeah...Guess you saw all that...Um..?"

"Just call me Cid. That there's Squall, or as he prefers-"
"Leon." The man in the black jacket answered. "Call me Leon."

A brown haired woman in a red and pink dress stepped forward. "I'm Aereth, and this is Yuffie."

The girl who had initially pointed out the guests became annoyed, "The great ninja Yuffie thank you very much! I didn't spend years in training for nothing!"

Leon snorted, "I don't get why you insist on that introduction every time. We call you Yuffie just fine."
She crossed her arms in a huff, "Yeah, well first impressions are important."

Ventus chuckled, "Well, Guess we'd better introduce ourselves then. I'm Ventus, but you can call me Ven."

"And I'm Naminé, A friend of his." She gave a nod to the four and began to explain, "We're trying to find some of Ven's friends that were last seen in this world, and we think that there might be some clues here."

"Their names are Terra and Aqua. Terra's tall, got brown hair, Aqua's got blue hair. They both wear this." He pulled out the clip from his pocket bearing Eraqus' mark.

Cid raised an eyebrow in suspicion, "Would the both be keyblade users like you?"

Ventus began to sputter, "Wha! Buh..? How did you-"

"Like I said, I saw your fight earlier, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a keyblade. Even if you hold it funny, you seem to know what you're doing with it."

Yuffie stepped forward. "Well, if you do have one, we could really use your help. You see, this place used to be our home, and we'd like to try and rebuild it. The only problem is that it's crawling with Heartless."

Aerith continued, "We can fight them off with magic and our abilities, but the only way to truly destroy them for good is with the power of a Keyblade."

"We heard from Cid that there was someone else that had a keyblade. Though with the world being separated again, we figured it was too late for you to come with us." Leon shrugged, "Fortunately, you've managed to show up here on your own."

"So how about it?" Yuffie asked, "You get a chance to beat on some heartless and search for your friends, and we get to work faster on making this place more like home sweet home again. Sounds like a win-win to me."

Ventus nodded, satisfied with the logic. "Yeah, I think we can help. You in Naminé."

She took a moment to consider, then said. "Yes, I might not be quite as good with a sword as you are, but I should be able to make up the difference with my magic."

Aerith smiled. "That's perfectly fine. I mostly use magic myself, but I do sometimes use my staff if it's an emergency."

"Or if someone's slacking off…" Yuffie whispered.

"If you've all decided to help." Leon spoke up, having made his way to the door of the castle, "Shall we get started?"

In a flash, Ventus held his keyblade in the same reversed grip as always, while Naminé had pulled out her sword and a flash of light brought cards to her hand. And so the group entered the halls of Hollow Bastion.

From a distant spire, a figure in black watched those who would try to reclaim their home. "Looks like our hunch was right. There is a connection here." A woman's voice spoke, and with a gesture, she opened a dark portal.

"Well, it's good that you'll be here a long time Naminé. "Maybe while you're here looking for your friends. You can help me find something we've been wanting to know for a long time."

Under the hood, Larxene smirked.

"Who Xemnas really is."

And with that rumination, she departed.

Marluxia stared into the crystal that offered a view to the outside world. He rarely did this, as the outside world was nothing but an endless plain of grass and road.

Until now.

For now, the keyblade wielder had found his way onto this road, along with his companions. Searching for those they had lost, the one fallen to darkness, as well as the wandering king.

The assassin turned toward Zexion. "You are certain you can emulate the behavior well enough?"

The schemer nodded. "I have reviewed the reports extensively. I should be able to produce something to capture his attention for long enough."

"As long as we can make sure he is contained."

"This plan is perilous." The stalwart spoke up from his corner of the room. "Without Naminé to interfere with his memories, we run the risk of him losing interest and departing."

"I understand your concern, but this is our only opportunity to keep him under control until we can complete Kingdom Hearts." Marluxia looked to the image of the trio sleeping under the moonlit night. "We were able to analyze the world cards from the earlier incident where Naminé initially attempted escape. We should be able to generate worlds that he has travelled through before."

"Worlds that are only inhabited by heartless." Vexen interjected. "That is why Zexion's work in maintaining the illusions is paramount."

"It may not be as perfect as Naminé's memories. But I should be able to lead the keybearer to the depths of darkness of his own mind."

"Then I shall call him." And with that Marluxia sent a message to Sora.

That something he needed lay ahead of him.

But in exchange Sora would need to lose something precious.