Chapter Thirty Nine: Awakening

It's amazing how fast things can change, how a sure advantage can turn into a knife in the back. Axel was certain that Marluxia and Larxene were well aware of it thanks to Erxart turning against them. With six words from Saïx, Axel was given a stark reminder that he wasn't exempt. "Erxart is not leaving here alive."

Immediately, Axel ran next to Erxart as he protested, "Wait, WHAT? But he's not a traitor!" Even if Axel had gotten his hands dirty with a decade of dirty work for the Organization, one virtue he held onto was settling his debts. And right now it meant he couldn't leave Erxart in the lurch when he was so earnest about honestly helping. He held out his hands at both Saïx and Xigbar as they trained their weapons. "Erxart helped us! You both saw!"

"I understand your confusion, but this is a new order from Xemnas." Saïx pointed his claymore to Erxart as he tried to stand again. "Erxart is to be terminated on sight."

Marluxia chuckled from his bindings as he watched, "It seems I am not the only one whose trust—"

A shot inches from his head cut him short as Xigbar drawled, "Zip it, traitor."

Marluxia wasn't the only one cowed, as Axel couldn't stop himself from growing pale at the news that the order came so high. Honestly, that should have been the sign to shut his mouth and look the other way. But right now there was something in him screaming to stop what was happening. To say something, anything that would forestall this sudden execution. He screwed his eyes shut and blurted out, "Okay I get that, but why!? He's been helping us for months and trained Roxas!"

Xigbar smirked and hefted one gun on his shoulder as he still kept the other aimed at Erxart's head. "Oh, there's a boatload of reasons, not many we can get into now." Dismissing the gun on his shoulder, Xigbar pointed to his eyepatch and growled, "But personally, I'm settling the score for his old self doing this to me." Axel flinched at the accusation, but didn't move away from Erxart. From how little he seemed to remember, it didn't seem fair to hold it against him.

But then why was Xigbar the only one to remember?

"You don't need to worry about those reasons," Saïx tried to soothe Axel as he put a hand to his shoulder. "Just let us do our job, Axel."

Yet the comfort just fell flat for Axel as he slapped Saïx's hand on his shoulder away. "You think I'm the kind of friend who'd just let a pal get torn apart?"

And as soon as the words left his mouth, Axel's eyes widened as he seemed to realize that fate had a sick sense of humor. For the first time in a decade, he saw how much he had changed and was uneasy.

"A pal?" Saïx tersely answered as he narrowed his eyes."You've known him for little over a month, Axel."

And that was the crazy part, wasn't it? He was getting worked up over someone who he'd been working with for a comparatively miniscule amount of time in the Organization. Yet being with him and Roxas was something so different from the usual intrigue and shady dealings. Even his relationship with his oldest friend was more them working together to take out Xemnas. It was the closest thing he had to real friends in a decade.

Saïx's grip tightened on his claymore as he stared down Axel, who still wasn't moving from Erxart's side. "Focus on what's important."

What was important?

There was the rattle of a gun as Xigbar took aim and sneered, "And what's important is you get over your moral constipation and let me shoot him!"

"NO!"

A shout.

A gunshot.

It happened so fast that Axel could hardly register the sound. The ring of a bullet striking steel. He panted as he gripped onto his chakram harder than he ever had in his life. His throat burned as the scream which forced its way out his mouth still hung in the air. Because more than anything, Axel's friends were important to him. And that meant he wasn't going to let Erxart die.

But in the aftermath of Axel deflecting Xigbar's shot, he realized there were two significant problems with his split second choice.

The first was that he just put his relationship with Saïx on thin ice. Certainly for throwing their plans out the window. Though as Axel caught a glance to him, the stony visage of the last several years had faltered for a moment. For an instant, Saïx had winced in a faint grimace at Axel's disobedience.

It was the most Axel had seen of Isa in years.

But the second and most pressing was illustrated by Xigbar, who's shock had turned into a toothy grin. The gun began to glow as he aimed at Axel and growled, "Buddy, you just ended your career in the Organization."

Axel sighed as he called his other chakram to his hand. "Yeah. Probably." Assassination orders weren't defied without repercussions, and Axel had brought them down on his head.

Still bound, Larxene glanced at Axel and muttered, "Don't expect sympathy from me now."

Flame gathered in Axel's hands as he chuckled, "Wouldn't dream of it."

Axel glanced back to Erxart but was stunned as he realized the man was glowing. A light shined from something that Erxart held to his chest as he muttered, "Aqua…"

"Aqua and Terra had to have beaten you!" Ven frantically pleaded as he gripped Naminé's hand ever tighter. Xemnas simply smiled at the stream of desperate refutations. As if trying to throw out some argument that might make what was in front of him disappear. "You can't be back. You can't! They—!"

"They failed." And with two curt words, Ventus was left silent.

Naminé knew of Xehanort from his story of what happened ten years ago. Knew how he had tortured him and called it training. And she was painfully aware that sometimes no matter how far you come, one person could stop you cold with their mere presence. Marluxia managed it once they left the computer realm, swiftly reminding her of the cutting edge of a scythe's blade. Now, what could only be the reborn spirit of Xehanort had left Ven trembling and speechless as he answered, "Are you so surprised? I promised I would see what lied beyond the Keyblade War no matter who or what it took."

Ventus glanced back to the door, eyes widening as he trembled. "You took Terra," he whispered as the horrific answer of what happened became clear. "You took his body and hid here." To some the idea was outlandish, but Naminé was keenly aware of how darkness could be used to take another's body. Seeing Riku's fate through Sora's eyes was not an experience easily forgotten.

Xemnas simply smirked as moved to the throne in the center, shadowy energy barring the exit. "Oh, he resisted. That part that clung to his greatest love and his greatest hate took arms against me." As he took his seat on it Xemnas glanced over to the sealed door. "A shame that it could not follow me beyond the graveyard. What is left of him now cannot even recall you."

They keyblade graveyard, Ventus mentioned that Terra and Aqua were there before. But with the fight in his heart he had no idea what had gone on. Of course, while this was interesting to know there was one issue that had bothered Naminé. Still holding onto Ven's hand, she quietly asked, "How did you even know we were here?" Because Marluxia and Larxene being here was bad luck. For Xemnas and his cohorts to strike at this exact moment was a bit too coincidental.

Xemnas chuckled as he pointed to Ventus, "I am sure you were delayed by my command to the MCP? A contingency in case you awakened and returned here. One that would contact me should this situation arise."

Ventus called his keyblade to his other hand, even as he continued to shake. "What do you want?"

Xemnas closed his eyes and leaned back with a sigh, "Have you truly forgotten? It has been a decade, but my goal has not changed." He opened his eyes to look up at the ceiling, as if he were gazing upon the heavens themselves and declared. "χ-Blade, and with it the Keyblade War. Such a gathering requires many wielders." He looked down at both of them once more, but something was off. "But more importantly, those wielders must be properly managed to ensure the optimal outcome."

Naminé raised an eyebrow at the emphasis. "Managed? What do you…?"

Then she realized Xemnas' eyes were on her as a smile began to grow on his face.

Because what better way to manage someone than to manipulate their mind and memories?

And Naminé was tied to so many memories of those with keyblades.

Xemnas began to stand, "As such, my true business is not—."

"LEAVE NAMINÉ ALONE!" And with a shout, Ventus held his keyblade between him and Xemnas, holding onto her hand tighter than ever. For a moment, the fear that had settled into both of them was eased. She called her cards to her other hand.

Xemnas simply smirked at the defiance, waving his hand to create an array of red lights at his side. "Fascinating. Moments ago, you could only cower before me."

In a flash, they all began to fire at Ventus, who frantically tried to parry the lasers as he shouted, "I won't let you hurt her!" Naminé tried to grab a card and summon some figments to help, but in a flash Xemnas was beside them with an ethereal blade in his hands.

With one slash she was knocked aside. and Ven was flung into the wall by the strike. Before he could fall to the floor, Xemnas rushed forward to slam his head into the pale wall. Even as Ventus struggled to break free, Xemnas leaned forward and asked, "Why do you fight for Naminé? Is she your friend?" Whatever answer Ventus tried to give was muffled by Xemnas' grip. "You poor deluded child. She is empty, a husk of will that was never meant to exist." There was a slam as Ventus was flung to the other side of the room. As the boy tumbled across the floor, Xemnas reached into his coat as he began to approach Naminé. "Her only purpose is to be filled."

Naminé took a step back as he pulled something glowing from his robes. A small clear canister with something bright inside. Not like the earlier lasers, from the way it pulsed and beat it was almost alive, yet there was something wrong about it that set her on edge as she asked, "What is that?"

"A heart. It is my gift to you. Reparations for the harm you suffered under Marluxia and Larxene." Xemnas held the end of the canister and began to unscrew one of the ends. "And an invitation to be part of something greater."

At one point, that was everything she ever dreamed. A chance to exist and be something, to have purpose and feeling. For someone to reach out a hand to her lonely existence.

But now? Now there was only one answer she could give.

"No."

Xemnas stopped unscrewing the capsule containing the heart as he narrowed his eyes. "You refuse to fill the gaping void that has eaten away at you? To finally have companionship and belonging?"

"Ven gave me that!" Naminé shouted back with everything she had against the madman who had hurt the one she loved. "Him and everyone in this world!" All the people she had met at Hollow Bastion who had given her a chance, in spite of all their fears. There was no way she was going to sell them out for whatever Xemnas was holding! "Whatever that thing is, it could never be my heart!"

With a flick of the wrist, Xemnas sealed the container shut and put it back in his cloak. "A shame. I wished for your compliance." A crackle of energy gathered in his hands as he took a step towards Naminé. "How fortunate that it is not necessary. You are coming with—"

"Heal," hissed Ventus as he got to his feet, catching Xemnas and Naminé's attention. In a green flash from his keyblade, his injuries were mended.

Xemnas charged towards him with ethereal blade drawn and snarled, "Such insolence!"

Ventus caught the blow with his keyblade, crying out as he pushed back, "I'm not losing any more friends!"

Naminé's mind raced, trying to think of what to do to break the stalemate. Magic could hurt Ven, and summoning figments might not be enough against an array of lasers. If only she had her sword!

Though there was one thing she could use. The old keyblade by the armor, dark and cracked from age. She scrambled toward it and pulled on it with all the strength she could muster.

Xemnas had begun to parry the strikes that Ventus attempted, energy crackling as it hit the keyblade. As he spun around with his ethereal blades, Xemnas saw her and laughed. "That keyblade is dead, it is nothing but metal!"

Naminé momentarily screwed her eyes shut at the refutation. But even so, she was undeterred. Even if it was metal, she could still use it to help! So she charged at Xemnas as he turned back to Ventus. And deep down, she tried to call on whatever power was left in the old keyblade as she pulled back to take a swing.

Why did she seek it?

She wished to have the strength to protect the one she loved.

That she could stand by his side.

She wanted it with all her hear—.

As she swung her keyblade at Xemnas, she saw him move his other hand to catch it. But then there was a flash and a cry of pain. "What!?" As the flash faded, Naminé saw why Xemnas had shouted, clutching the hand he had tried to use to block Naminé's attack. For that instant he was distracted, and Ventus took the chance to lay into him with his own keyblade. Slashing away before knocking Xemnas back to the entryway, causing him to crash though the barrier and the door.

Erxart gripped the remains of the orange charm as he tried to summon what recollection he could of Aqua. This magic within the small star felt like her, even a dream could not diminish his recognition. So he tried to call on it, to call on that power on a chance that it could save him and Axel.

Because right now, they sorely needed it.

Erxart was still winded from Saïx's crushing blow to the back. Axel desperately tried to parry the swerving shots from Xigbar trying to strike Exart. There was a roar from Saïx and Axel was brought to his knees as he tried to hold back the claymore with his chakrams. And then for one second, he saw down the barrel of Xigbar's gun as the man grinned widely with his finger on the trigger.

The next second, there was a flash of light from beyond the door. Shouting, and then Xemnas was thrown out of the chamber he had ushered Ventus and Naminé into. As he flew through the air Xemnas easily regained his footing, but that did nothing for the shock on his face. Everyone stared as they saw Ventus trying to catch his breath as he clutched onto his keyblade. Naminé ran to his side, asking, "Ven, are you okay?"

Ventus nodded as he caught his breath, but then his eyes drifted down as he whispered, "Naminé, the keyblade..."

Following his gaze, Naminé's eyes widened as she saw the glowing keyblade seem to mend the cracks of time and change color. The pommel had become a shining gold, flanked with red handguards. Instead of the dark blue hues, the blade had turned shining silver, with the key's teeth held by a gold arch.

However, now wasn't the time for contemplation, as Xemnas got to his feet and snapped, "How!? Not even I could succeed in restoring it!" Re-igniting his ethereal blades, he glared at Ventus and Naminé as they raised their keyblades against him. Marluxia and Larxene were both gobsmacked at seeing Naminé armed with a keyblade, though even Lexaeus seemed stunned. Saïx and Xigbar flanked Xemnas and kept their weapons trained on the four of them.

Axel took the chance to finally help Erxart to his feet as he grinned at Xemnas. "Guess you don't know as much about keyblades as you let on."

Xigbar scoffed back as he took aim at the four of them, "As if! You just added a greenhorn on your side!" He pointed his gun at Erxart, still leaning on Axel. "The only keyblade wielder worth anything is nursing a cracked back!"

But Erxart didn't care about the taunt, he was focused on the charm and its magic. He could feel it reach out to a long forgotten bond. To someone so dear that they persisted beyond memory. That even now, he desperately wished to see once again. He tried with everything he was to call on Aqua's magic.

And for an instant, the charm linked him beyond the dimensions to her.

Surprise. Relief. Fear. Hope. Despair.

And something more…

Erxart could feel the power in the charm wash over him, mending his body and filling him with an incredible magic. He saw Xigbar's eyes widen before he began to shoot wildly, but Erxart was healed enough that he could parry the bullets with ease. With a few swings of his keyblade, Erxart shot fire, ice, and thunder at the three members of the Organization threatening them. As Xigbar dodged magic to land on the wall, he began to grumble, "Okay, so things are getting out of hand."

Saïx parried the onslaught of spells, though he was pushed back with each blow. "We need to get control of this situation, or leave it."

Xemnas narrowed his eyes as he glanced from Erxart and Axel to Ventus and Naminé watching from the open door. "Indeed, as our enemies evolve, so should we." With a gesture, he lifted the still-bound traitors and pulled Marluxia over his shoulder. "Let us regroup and take the traitors with us."

Saïx hefted Lexaeus over his shoulder with Larxene taken by Xigbar as they quickly made their way back to the spiral passage. But as Erxart took a step forward, he felt Axel grab his shoulder and ask, " Excuse me, but why are you going after people who'd probably want us dead?"

Exart wrested himself free and began to chase after Xemnas."Because letting Xemnas take them would be worse!"

Axel sighed and ran up alongside him. "Fine, guess we are going to try and save them." The two ran out to the larger chamber leaving Ventus and Naminé behind. As they arrived at the entrance back to the pit, there was a loud crash, and scaffolding began to fall down. Looking up, they saw Saïx pulling his claymore from the collapsing path. Axel nimbly hopped from what little ramp he could along the wall and shouted, "Guess we'll need to be quick about this! If they make it to the surface they'll escape into dark corridors!"

As Axel was trying to pursue, Exart tried to spot where the other two went. Xemnas was easy enough to find, as he just floated straight up, Marluxia on his shoulder. But Xigbar wasn't so easy, the skunk-stripe hair wasn't so easy to pick out in the dimly lit pit.

There. A flash of a lens, right up on the wall. Exart saw him using his power over space to stand on the wall of the shaft and line up a shot at Axel. Erxart focused, keeping his target in sight as he let the darkness build. Even at a distance, he saw Xigbar spot him and change targets.

He was too slow.

It happened in a flash, a shot across the expanse. A shout of pain.

"Not again!" Xigbar screamed as Erxart collided into him, wreathed in shadow. Even as he tried to move along the wall and evade there was no escape. The dark charge smashed into him again and again until Xigbar fell to the ramp, with Erxart coming to a stop before him. He saw Larxene still bound on the path. Xigbar likely dropped her to get a better shot, and now he was stuck between trying to pick her back up, dealing with Erxart, or just running.

"Leave them, this one should be sufficient."

Xemnas' voice solved the dilemma, and Xigbar dodged back from a keyblade swing to jump to the bottom of the ramp overhead. From below, he saw Saïx chuck the bound Lexaeus towards Axel, knocking him to the ground. Though it was odd, Erxart was almost certain he heard Saïx say something like, "It didn't have to be like this."

There wasn't time to ponder the meaning, as the now unencumbered Saïx leapt from his position to reach the top of the stairwell with Xigbar close behind. All that was left was Xemnas. Erxart tried to run as fast as he could, to catch up to the ascending Xemnas and rescue Marluxia. As he approached, he saw the light from the surface grow brighter.

"Not this time!"

And in his focus on Xemnas, he forgot about how Xigbar was still ahead. The shot from his gun nicking him in the arm. Not quite fatal, but it slowed him enough to realize that Saïx had wound back to throw his claymore straight at him. Erxart dived ahead to try and avoid the attack, but as soon as the massive sword hit the floor it exploded. In his shock, Erxart scrambled to keep his grip as the ramp fell away.

And in that distraction, he saw Xemnas reach the top and pass into shadow with a smile. "Not exactly even but still good," Xigbar called from up high as walked over the platform edge and flipped over right side up. Though Saïx was quick to escape into darkness as he reached the top, Xigbar kept his eye on Erxart and scowled, "Next time we settle things."

Groaning as he pulled himself up, Exart could only make his way up to the surface and ruminate on what had happened. Not simply that Naminé had awakened the old keyblade, but the revelation that Xemnas wanted him dead. Was this the reason that Erxart had always distrusted him? The subconscious realization that his days were numbered? And what of his other plans? For as much as Erxart distrusted Marluxia, he dreaded wondering what fate was in store for him at Xemnas' hands.

As he reached the top and caught his breath, Erxart heard footsteps behind him. Glancing back, he saw Larxene desperately looking around before her eyes settled on Erxart as she muttered, "Marluxia's gone."

Erxart could only give a nod, silent as Lexaeus and Axel caught up. He took a step forward and reached out, "Larxene. Are you—"

Only for her to slap his hand away and scream, "WHAT ARE YOU, STUPID!? If it weren't for your stunt, we wouldn't have gotten in this mess! Xemnas wouldn't have caught any of us, and Marluxia would…He…!" She clenched her fists and screwed her eyes shut as the loss of her friend eroded her unflappable exterior. Stewing in her rage, she turned around and opened a corridor of darkness out, "Lexaeus, let's go."

As she reached the edge, Lexaeus sighed and asked. "Where can we go?"

Not bothering to look back as she walked through, she screamed, "Anywhere that's not here!"

Lexeaus paused for a moment before looking back, "Axel, Erxart." His face was grim as he gave a small nod and said, "Good luck."

As the shadows dissipated, Axel groaned and ambled up to Erxart's side, "We're really in it deep now, aren't we?"

Erxart simply closed his eyes, and clutched the remnants of the charm in his pocket, "I think we were always in this deep, we just didn't know it until now."