The End of a Long Sleep
… Day 352 ...
Twilight Town
Riku had spent a good month mostly on the world of Beast's Castle, occasionally leaving to check in on the other worlds. Even had time to pop in on Radiant Garden sometime in-between then to turn in his homework and take some tests. Thus finally the end of a school year and the beginning of Summer Vacation. Aeris was pleased with his recovery, to his health and his grades. He just needed to get away from the stress of it all. Sora's awakening may take a little longer now, but at least he wasn't running himself ragged trying to speed up the process. And Riku would have to agree with her. There was nothing he could do right now.
The situation was out of his hands and have entered into a somewhat peaceful state. But Riku knew that this would not last forever. A foreboding inside his heart told him that this was just the quiet before the storm. Things were about to change, courses were made, and set actions were in progress. It wasn't a matter of 'if' it would happen, only 'when'.
"Sora..." Naminé called out to him in concern. His memories were no longer halting in their return but draining into another being now. At this rate, Sora will stay asleep forever.
"It appears we've come to a standstill." DiZ stated, observing the pod with Naminé to asses the situation himself.
"Yes." Naminé sadly admitted. They could no longer delay, actions must be taken.
"This has gone on long enough. Riku…" DiZ turned to Riku in an unspoken command. "I think you know what needs to be done."
"..." So much for the subtle moment of peace. He wasn't expecting things to turn so soon. Riku knew what he had to do, but... He really wish that their was another solution. "Right."
… Day 353 ...
Beast's Castle
Riku had acknowledge DiZ request to do what needed to be done.
'Hmph, easier said than done,' Riku thought to himself. How was he even going to get to Xion, let alone Roxas? Break into Organization XIII's castle? Storm through their numbers and drag them out like sacs of potatoes? DiZ was asking for a tall order, he needed a moment to think of his course of action.
Riku had returned to Beast's Castle because it was mostly a quiet place for him to sort his thoughts. The residence didn't mind him and taking care of the Heartless was a great stress relief. Pondering, he concluded his best course of action was to retrieve them was while they were away from their castle on mission. At least then it would be fewer numbers he was up against instead of the whole castle. But that also left him with the problem of finding out when their next mission out was or where they were going? Riku sighed to himself, it would seem that he would have to stake out The Castle That Never Was again.
"Riku!" Xion called to him, running out from a Dark Corridor.
"?!" Well things turned on their own real quick. He wasn't expecting her to come to him. "Did you find the right answer?"
"Yeah. I did." Xion nodded, she gave off a soft smile as she was confident that she had made the right choice before her face turned serious again. "I'm on the verge of losing everything I care about. I can't let that happen. Tell me what I need to do."
"..." Riku gave her a nod in return, pleased with her answer. She was ready to face her truth. "Go to Twilight Town. You'll find a girl there by the name of Naminé."
"Naminé? What's she like?" She never heard of this person before, but she feels like she might have...somewhere.
"You'll find out. I don't think you'll have much trouble tracking her down." If she had no trouble tracking him down, she'd certainly have no problem tracking Naminé.
"All right. Thanks, Riku." Xion thanked him with a smile before turning to walk back into her Corridor. This will probably be the last time she'll ever see him again. Deep down, she was going to miss him. "Good-bye..."
"..." Silently he hoped that things would turn out okay and this wasn't going to be the last time he ever sees Xion. Hopefully, Naminé can safely extract Sora's memories from Xion without harming her so that she'll be able to live her own life. In the end, he'll put his trust in Naminé. Right, now that Xion was taken care of, all that left for him was taking care of Roxas. Guess he'd better start heading out now...
… Day 354 ...
Twilight Town
Watching over Roxas wasn't so hard, at least he was active. Riku didn't have to stay put in one spot for long as Roxas kept on the move. The first day of returning to his watch of the Castle That Never Was, Roxas was out and about on his own doing missions assigned to him. His first stop being Agrabah and the Cave of Wonders. Riku would have grabbed him then, but he was curious about the device Roxas was setting up. Its design screamed Nobody but its function was lost in the dark. Organization XIII has ordered Roxas to put it up, and from what he could hear from Roxas he had no idea what does either. Riku saw that Roxas was struggling with the local Heartless, his Keyblade was sapping his energy at a rate he could not handle.
Riku couldn't understand this, from earlier observation he had seen how Roxas was slowly losing his strength while Xion was getting stronger. At first he had thought that it was only due to individual growth as Xion was possibly keeping up with her training while Roxas was not. Now he was thinking that there was more to this. Could it be that Roxas's power over the Keyblade was transferring over to Xion along with Sora's memories? It is a possibility. But then, by that logic, having the two of them together would more than likely destroy the other. Maybe it was for the best that the two of them stay apart. At least until Sora's memories return to their rightful owner.
He had watched Roxas all day as he continued to put up the strange device. What he saw on Agrabah really took him by surprise. Riku had listened in as Roxas went through a crisis after putting up the device. He kept questioning why he even listened to the Organization? Who was he really? What was he? Was there truly any place he belonged? He even shed a tear...which was a feat that Riku thought that a Nobody without a heart could ever possibly reach. It made Riku a little uncomfortable that he would have to return Roxas's existence to Sora in order to wake him up. These beings, these...Nobodies, were capable of creating their own identity and existence in a realm that doesn't acknowledge their existence. It was amazingly baffling, but also...very sad. It was starting to fill Riku with doubt that he was doing the right thing. But deep down he knew he had to do it. He would have to face this no matter how he felt, Sora needed him to. But he knew he wasn't strong enough to face this on his own. There was no question about that. Whatever was to come would possibly destroy him as he was now.
He would need help from another party.
Riku had Sensed king Mickey's heart returning to the woods of Twilight Town, more than likely checking in on Sora and the other's condition. Riku had beat him there. At first, king Mickey couldn't recognize him with the hood up so he pulled it down. But soon went on guard as the face he saw was none other than Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. Riku had forgotten the side-effects of dabbling with the darkness too much, others would not be able to recognize him. Putting back on his blindfold, his body converted back to him.
"Riku?" King Mickey was alarmed by the transformation, but put away his Keybalde instantly and approached his friend.
"Your Majesty." Riku greeted him in return.
"Gosh, have I been worried about you! Where've you been all this time?"
"Searching, for a way to conquer the darkness within me-while we wait for Sora to awaken."
"For a second there, you looked just like...well, you know..." King Mickey awkwardly finished his sentence, afraid that it was a sensitive topic for Riku while at the same time concerned with his pal's wellbeing. It looked like the darkness was having an effect on him.
"You don't have to worry. I'm getting the hang of keeping the darkness under control." Riku assured to him.
"That's great to hear. But, you said that Sora hasn't woken up yet... Did something go wrong?" Don't get him wrong, king Mickey was elated that Riku was taking control over his darkness and was growing more comfortable with himself. But he was greatly concerned that Donald, Goofy, and Sora still haven't woken up yet. It's been nearly a year, shouldn't their memories have returned by now?
"There's a reason the Organization has been quiet since our battle at Castle Oblivion- and it's not because we weakened their numbers." Riku tried to explain to king Mickey the situation without taking the whole day. "What they did to Sora back there- the point wasn't just to take his memory apart. They went out of their way to make it hard to put back together."
"Gosh, I guess that explains things. It's almost like they're trying to buy some time..."
"Exactly. They want Sora's memories..." Riku nodded, pleased that king Mickey was catching on quick. "...which means Naminé isn't the only one picking up the pieces."
"!"
"And as long as they've got their hands on Sora's most precious memories- the ones of Kairi- I don't think Sora will recover."
"Well, then you have to let me help! Maybe I could get the memories back!"
"I've got that covered, Your Maj- I mean, Mickey." Riku corrected himself, shaking his head at king Mickey's offer. "Maybe you could do me a favor, though."
"Sure. Just tell me what you need."
"..." Riku looked down, nervous to face the answer he might receive more than the question. "I have to face one of the Organization's members soon. I might not survive the fight. And if I do, it might only be because I gave in to the darkness. That means you're the only one who will be there for Sora, Donald, and Goofy- the only one who can guide them when they awaken."
"Don't say that, Riku."
"Promise me, Mickey." Riku insisted, silently pleaded. "You have to be there for our friends."
"..." King Mickey took a moment of thought over Riku's words before looking up at him again. "Of course, Riku. I promise."
Riku knew Mickey wouldn't let him down. And Mickey knew he wouldn't let Riku down, if he had to, he'll pull Riku out of the darkness again if it ever comes to that. No matter what happens in the near future, he would always have his pal's back.
… Day 357 ...
Twilight Town
The day after his conversation with Mikey, Riku had returned to keeping watch of Roxas at the Castle That Never Was. Apparently things had gone downhill from what he could tell by the frantic Dusk inside the castle. Whatever had happened must have been caused by Roxas's storming off. From the looks of things Roxas had no plans of ever returning to the castle. If what he was reading from walking out of the front door instead of taking a Dark Corridor directly from inside was true. He didn't even stop for Axel. This was clearly an escape.
Unfortunately, Riku had lost track of him and couldn't find him on the other worlds. This was bad on Riku's part. Roxas didn't really have a heart for him to track the light from, and his darkness was covered up by his black coat. He was as good as gone by Riku's Senses. He would have to tell Naminé and DiZ the bad news. Maybe on the bright side of things, Naminé was able to help Xion with the memories. He had returned to the mansion to find Naminé in her usual room, sitting at the table with her head down. This wasn't usually a good sign.
"So, how did it go?"
"?!" Her head shot up in startle at his appearance, looking over towards him at the door. The look on her face was answer enough.
"I take it that things didn't go well, right?"
"..." Naminé shook her head, placing her hands over where her heart should be. "She's gone, Riku. Axel took her."
"!" This wasn't good at all. "What? How did this happen?"
"Things just...
Xion had come to Naminé, just as she predicted she would. Naminé sat at the table, waiting for her as she arrived. Xion was a little apprehensive at first, but Naminé just smiled patiently, waiting for Xion to come around to her in her own time.
"Nice to meet you..." Naminé greet Xion as she slowly took off her hood, "Xion."
"Naminé, you can see my face?" Xion asked as she took a seat on the opposite side of the table.
"Yes." Naminé nodded with a smile.
"..." Xion looked down. It was a relief that she didn't see something else. But... Riku made it sound like Naminé would have the answers. The thing was, would she like those answers. "What do you think I should do?"
"What do you want to do?" Naminé continued to keep her soft smile on Xion as she tilted her head a little.
"..." Xion raised her head again, looking over at the drawing of her, Roxas, and Axel together hanging on the wall. It was the only color in a room of white. "I thought I knew at first. I wanted me and Roxas and Axel to be together forever. But then I started to realize these memories don't belong to me."
"That's because you're Kairi. At least, the Kairi Sora remembers." Naminé replied after Xion had turned to look at her again and finished speaking. It took a moment for Xion to process what she was saying. But the more she thought about it, the more it was starting to make sense.
"The more I remember, the more I feel like I'm in the wrong place..like… Like I need to go back."
"Back to Sora?" Xion nodded to her in confirmation. The task would be easy, but Naminé believe that Xion had the right to know the truth. "If you return your memories to him, you'll disappear. And since everything about you was built on those memories..."
"?"
"...no one will remember you when you're gone. There won't be any "you" to remember. I can't save you, Xion-even a memory of you." Naminé sadly admitted.
"..." Xion wouldn't lie and say she wasn't scared, however...she still wanted this. "I know. I'm ready. Otherwise I wouldn't be here. Roxas belongs with Sora, too. But...I don't think he would understand. Not yet."
"He can't feel Sora. But he will."
"Naminé, will you watch over Roxas once I'm gone?" Xion sadly asked as her last request. "You won't be alone. I asked somebody else to look after him, too. It's just...there isn't anything else I can do for him."
"All right." Naminé nodded in acceptance of her request.
"Thank you..."
"If you're ready, let's go see Sora."
But they were abruptly interrupted by the appearance of DiZ through a Dark Corridor.
"Naminé, they've found us! They are on their way!" DiZ announce before turning his head accusingly towards Xion. "That puppet led them right to our doorstep! See what you get for trusting it?"
DiZ was never on board with letting Xion come to them in her own time. He wanted them to forcibly bring her back to Sora and be done with it. This little sidetrack has delayed them long enough as it were.
"I'll get rid of them!" Xion volunteered, paying no mind to DiZ previous harsh words. If they were here for her, maybe she could draw them away before they noticed the others here. Immediately she got up and rushed to the front gate to engage the intruder or intruders.
"No! Xion…" Naminé called out to her, but it was already too late...
"She did her best, but...it wasn't enough." Naminé said, finishing up her recap of what happened the other day. "Axel took her back, bruises on both of them and all."
"(Gasp)!" Riku was shock by what Naminé had told him. He wished he had returned much sooner. He should have been there, none of this would have happened. However, Naminé's story had brought another thing to light. "So...you wouldn't have been able to save her."
"(Gasp)! No... I'm sorry, Riku. But she was born from a memory. She would have to return to her original state of being. A part of Sora that exist in him, but not remembered as she once was..."
"Tch, I should have known things would come to this. I just... really hoped that things could be different. This just... stinks."
"I know..."
"..."
Suddenly the two of them felt the presence of two dual forces of light and darkness battling it out on Twilight Town.
"!" "(Gasp)!"
Apparently they weren't the only ones that felt it. DiZ had made his appearance in the room through a Dark Corridor.
"Riku, Roxas and the puppet are clashing in Twilight Town! This is a great opportunity."
"?!" What did he mean by 'great,' this whole thing sounds terrible. "How could this possibly be "great?" It feels like they're fighting with no holding back. One of them could serious get hurt."
"Hmph, a useless sentiment on a Nobody and a puppet."
"Tst!" Riku gritted his teeth to hold back his anger at DiZ's words, clinching his fists at his sides as well.
"It matters not who is the victor or not. One of them will reaped the rewards of gaining all of Sora's memories, along with the power of the Keyblade." DiZ explained as he walked over to the window, looking out to the direction of the source of power. "Let us just hope that the power returns to Roxas. He will be far more easier to control."
"Why is that?"
"He is Sora's Nobody. He was bound to return Sora naturally. Not to mention he will be far more easier to hide from Organization XIII than the puppet ever would be."
"..." Riku was really getting tired of how DiZ was referring to the two of them. This detachment to the situation was not helping them, nor DiZ for that matter.
"Riku, you must be the one to retrieve the victor." DiZ stated in silent command. "Sora cannot afford for you to fail."
"Tst, right..." Riku had reluctantly opened up a Dark Corridor to observe the fight at a closer range. He knew that no matter the outcome he wouldn't like it.
The two of them had already warped off of Twilight Town, taking the fight to another world. It wasn't hard to track them, the light and darkness leaking from the both of them was easy to track down. Meaning that others could Sense the fight too.
First, they had taken the fight to Wonderland. Then moving the fight to Halloween Town when Roxas seemed to have Xion on the ropes. Whatever was there on those worlds was giving Xion a power boost. If things kept up this way Roxas would find it a hard time pulling out of this as the winner. Roxas had still bested her on Halloween Town but with more of a struggle. Moving the fight to another world, Xion had gotten another power boost on Agrabah.
That's when it hit Riku. The device that Roxas was setting up...it must have been meant to help Xion absorb more of Sora's memories from Roxas and the power of the Keyblade. They had set Roxas up for his own downfall and made him be the one to put it up. Organization XIII was more crueler than he thought.
But Roxas still turned out on top, no matter the disadvantage on his part. As a last ditch effort, Xion had taken the fight back to Twilight Town.
"!" The sight of what the power boost had done to her was overwhelming to Riku, taking him off guard. She resembled Sora but more of a colossus Dusk. He would get a front row seat of the fight at his spot near the Train Station. Shocked that no one else in town was seeing this or town alarms weren't going off. Only to realize that a Barrier was put up, covering their trace, but also limiting their area of combat.
This would be it. The final battle. Xion was slower due to her large size but her attacks way more powerful. Roxas would continually have to dodge in order not to be taken down so easily. But it still felt like Roxas was holding back, as if he still didn't want to do this. And Riku knew it too, deep down Roxas didn't want to hurt her. But Xion knew that the time for friendship has past, one of them must absorb the other, and if he kept holding back it would be him. She had to constantly remind him during the fight to stop holding back. Eventually the message got across as Xion had Roxas on his last legs. In a desperate attempt of self-preservation he gave her all he's got.
It was enough.
Xion gripped her skull as the memories rushed from her head and back to Roxas, falling down to her knees when it was all over. The power leaving Xion, converting her back to normal. The barrier shattering in the process.
Riku watched as Roxas immerged from the Barrier, along with-
Wait- Roxas was fighting someone? Inside fighting with one of the other Organization members? Riku doesn't remember seeing this one before. But somehow...he feels like he's forgetting something important. Who ever she is, she's badly hurt. The damage done to her is too great, she can't hold on much longer. What on earth happened here?!
"Who are you...again?" Roxas asked the girl kneeling on the floor, his head really hurt and things were kind of jumbled at the moment. She looked hurt. He approached to make sure she was okay. "It's weird. I feel like I'm forgetting something really important."
"You'll be...better off now...Roxas." She struggled to get out with the last of her strength, falling over.
"(Gasp)!" Roxas was quick to catch her before she hit the ground. But that doesn't matter now, she was fading. The damage done to her was too great. She was broken. "Am I...the one who did this to you?"
"No..." She assured to him in comfort, he shouldn't feel upset about her. Things were better this way. "It was my choice...to go away now. Better that, than to do nothing...and let Xemnas have his way. I belong with Sora. And now, I am going back...to be with him."
"!" Her words threw Riku off guard. She knew Sora? What did she mean by going back to him? Who...was she?
"Roxas…" She called out to Roxas, weakly placing a hand on his hand that was holding her up by her shoulder. "I need you...to do me a favor."
"..." A favor? Roxas didn't even know her. But somehow...something compelled him to do whatever she asked of him, beyond the fact these were her parting wish.
"All those hearts that I've captured... Kingdom Hearts... Set them free."
"Kingdom Hearts... Free them?" He didn't understand. He was going to ask her more, but she was crystalizing into light. "!"
He reach down to help her, Magic welling up inside his hand for a Curaga.
"(Gasp). It's too late..." Her words stopped him before he could even start. There was no point now, "for me to undo my mistakes. But you can't let Xemnas...have Kingdom Hearts. You can't."
"..."
"Good-bye, Roxas. See you again." She looked up at him with her last moments, glad that she wouldn't fade away without someone she cared about by her side to miss her. She smiled at Roxas with all the heart she could muster with the last of her energy. "I'm glad...I got to meet you. Oh...and of course, Axel, too. You're both my best friends."
"..." She had reached up to touch his face, resting her hand on his cheek. Her hand felt so comforting, but it shouldn't feel this way for someone he's just met. What was this...feeling?
"That's the truth."
"!" And just for a moment, the memories clicked on the chain. Not linked on the chain of memories in his head, but still there and loose enough to ring out on the chain when they make contact. He remembered her, just as she was about to fade away. Her hand lost strength, falling away from his face to take its place on the ground. He caught it. "No! Xion...Who else will I have ice cream with?"
But she was already gone.
Faded into Light and out of Roxas's hands, returning to the place she belongs. All that remained was one tiny seashell. The whole sight was eerily beautiful...and sad.
"Xion." The memories where there, but they were moving away from the chain. Fading into the void of his mind. He was going to forget her soon. Roxas shed tears.
'How could this have happened?' Was the only thought running through Riku's head. He remembered Xion, but soon he would forget her too...
… Day 358 ...
The Castle That Never Was
Roxas was going to storm the castle to fulfill the promise he made to Xion, blazing through in all. Not with one Keyblade, but with two. He moved fast while the memories of Xion were still there. She was one of his best friends and the Organization took her away from him. He would make sure Xemnas would not use the hearts they had collected, nor get his hands on Kingdom Hearts, he would make certain of that. For Xion's sake.
He stormed his way through the streets of the town that never was, through the rain. Cutting through the Neo Heartless along his way. He would take Organization XIII down, member by member if he had to.
But he was falling right into their hands. If Organization XIII got ahold of Roxas, Sora would be lost forever. Riku had to stop him.
Roxas looked up to the building Riku was standing on top of, confusing his black coat for one of the members as he climbed up to attack. He threw one of his Keyblades at Riku, which he caught easily as he jumped down to meet Roxas halfway. But as he made contact with the Keyblade memories of Xion began to flicker and fade away, causing him to halt on his attack. The same happened to Roxas. They looked at each other as they crossed paths, switching places. Roxas at the top of the building, Riku at the bottom.
Surrounded by Neo Heartless as the memories in his head caused him pain. The Heartless tried to take advantage of this, not taking into account that Riku's reaction speed was honed and well-trained.
Roxas had jumped down to join Riku. A temporary alliance against the Heartless until all of them were dispatched. The memories continued to fade away until they static fuzz in their heads. Then they were gone. Roxas's purpose here forgotten, Riku's barely hanging on.
"Who are you?" Roxas asked Riku, not remembering him as a member of the coat.
"What does it matter? I'm here for you."
"Why are you trying to stop me?" Why was he even here? To set the hearts free? Stopping Xemnas? This all sounded right, it felt familiar.
"Because I want back the rest of Sora's memories."
"Sora, Sora, Sora! Enough about Sora!"
"Do you have some kind of plan?" From the looks of things he was just having a temper tantrum like a child that didn't know what else to do.
"I'm going to set Kingdom Hearts free! Then everything can go back to the way it was!" He was so determined and yet sad at the same time. "Me, and Axel, and...and her can go on having ice cream together..."
But he couldn't even remember her name...
"Her? You mean Xion? It's a struggle just to remember the name now, isn't it?" Riku's only advantage was his Ancient bloodline, but that could only hold off the memories of her fading away for so long. Regardless of who or what he is, she was born from a memory and she was bound to return to one...return to the memories' holder. It's sad, but that's the way things have to be. "Either way, I can't let you go doing anything crazy."
"..." Crazy? It was too late for that. "I have to find this Sora person, and freeing Kingdom Hearts is the only way! I want Xion back. I want my life back!"
"If you try and make contact with Kingdom Hearts, the last thing you'll get is your life back." Riku tried to warn him. "The Organization will destroy you."
"Shut up!" Roxas has heard enough. He was going to Kingdom Hearts and no one was going to stand in his way, not even this guy.
Using the Keyblade he still had, Riku defended himself as Roxas charged at him. Coating the Keyblade in light he defended and tried to subdue Roxas. But Roxas was fast, sloppy but fast. He would dodge Riku's attacks and break his Barrier spell from behind him. He even rolled out of the way of Riku's Fire spells. Roxas was trying, Riku would give him that, barely pulling out a win as he knocked Riku off his feet.
"Why!? Why do you have the Keyblade?" Riku asked Roxas, hoping that it would jogged one of Sora's memories inside him. But also in actual curiosity that someone without a heart could use a Keyblade.
"..." Roxas couldn't even answer that himself. "Shut up!"
Riku quickly got on his feet again and knocked Roxas back as he charged at him. The blow was enough to knock Roxas out. Riku approached slowly, this was his chance. Strike now and Sora's memories will return to Sora naturally at Roxas's destruction. But...
This doesn't feel right!
"Ggh!" Riku thrust the Keyblade into the ground, right next to Roxas's face, not taking the finishing blow. Not like this...he didn't want to return Sora's memories like this. Sora wouldn't want this either. But maybe he made the wrong choice. Roxas got back on his feet again a lot faster than Riku thought. "!"
He jumped back as Roxas grabbed the Keyblade by his head and swung it at him. Riku couldn't even summon Soul Eater all the way as Roxas Rushed at him, forcing Riku back.
"Why don't you quit!?"
"..." This wasn't working, perhaps he should try something else. "Come on, Sora. I thought you were stronger than that."
"Huh? Get real. Look which one of us is winning." He even sounded like Sora. It caught Roxas off guard and alarmed him. "(Gasp)!?"
"So it's true. You really are his Nobody." It felt so strange to have this confirmed with his own eyes. "Guess DiZ was right after all."
"What are you talking about? I am me. Nobody else!" Roxas insisted, pulling out his second Keyblade. Attacking at Riku with all he'd got. Riku's Barrier barely holding up against the force. Roxas was too strong as he was, there was no way Riku could beat him.
'Riku, please!' Naminé reached out to him through his heart. 'You have to stop him!'
"How many times do I have to beat you?" Roxas said in frustration. He was getting tired of this. And if he was being honest, so was Riku.
"All right. You've left me with no other choice." Riku didn't want to do what he had to do, but he would do it if that's what it takes.
"What?"
"I have to release the power in my heart- the dark power that I've been holding back." Riku reached up to his face and pulled off his blindfold. His eyes remaining close until the last moment. "Even...if it changes me forever. Argahhh!"
"!" Roxas had to jump back as the darkness flowed out of Riku.
The power was overwhelming. Riku was pretty sure that his whole family could feel him now. This power was frightening, but he had to keep control. He must! He won't let the darkness consume him again!
His form had transformed into Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. But it was enough to subdue Roxas. Just a little squeeze from his Guardian Heartless and Roxas was down for the count. The job was done. But he knew...he couldn't change back.
"I have accepted it." His voice even sounded like Ansem's.
DiZ had arrived not so long after. Turning away so DiZ wouldn't see his new appearance and be alarmed, Roxas quickly put back on his hood.
"..." DiZ approached, looking over the situation.
"DiZ...he could feel Sora." These Nobodies were a lot more than they originally thought.
"Oh, he told you how he "felt," did he?" DiZ looked down at Roxas in doubt. "Ridiculous. A Nobody cannot feel anything."
"If he had met Sora, things might have been different."
"Nonetheless, let's take him back to the mansion. I have the equipment to hide his presence while Naminé extracts Sora's memories.
Riku grabbed Roxas, carrying him over his shoulder, taking him through DiZ's Dark Corridor back to the mansion's laboratory under the library. He had placed Roxas down onto the machine DiZ had pointed out with a nod of his head.
"Will it work?" Riku asked.
"If we can maintain the simulated town until Naminé finishes chaining together Sora's memories."
"What will happen to Roxas?"
"He holds half of Sora's power within him. In the end, he'll have to give it back." DiZ explained before walking over to the monitor to start the simulation. "Until then, he'll need another personality to throw off his pursuers."
"..." So he will lose everything he fought so hard to keep. His identity, his memories... "Poor thing."
"It's the fate of a Nobody." DiZ made it clear to Riku that it was a waste of time pitying the creature, it was just a waste of energy. The Nobody was simply returning to his intended body, nothing more. He started up the simulated, phasing Roxas into the dream...
*** Author's Notes ***
Timeline for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 and this story... continued: There is a time-jump from Day 327 to 352 where we come to our final days of Kingdom Hearts 358/2. On Day 352 Xion has to make a choice on what is best for her and her friends. She ends up avoiding Roxas and Saïx gives Roxas an emergency mission to Halloween Town to take care of a Heartless. Axel tries to stop him since his powers are weakening, but Saïx intervenes. He goes to Halloween Town and finds no signs of any Heartless. Until one pops up without his notice at the graveyard (Orcus, like a stronger Invisible). The Heartless is wearing him down. Roxas was about to give it his all when Axel intervenes and reveals that Roxas has actually been fighting Xion this whole time. Both had no idea; the mission was a setup. (Even so, they shared a wonderful sunset together with ice cream). The next day, Day 353, Saïx states his displeasure about Axel's interference. Axel, Xion, and Xigbar are sent on a mission together in Wonderland while Roxas is sent to Twilight Town alone to take care of a Powered Armor and Orcus Heartless. While in the other team, Xion attacks Xigbar- reminding him of Vectus. ('Do you always have to stare at me like I just drowned your goldfish?' is one of mine favorite lines from him). She knocks him out and makes a run for it through a Corridor. She's changing and Axel lets her escape. Meanwhile, Roxas fights his way through Twilight Town, facing powerful Heartless called Dustflier. Once done after a hard day, Roxas comes back to realize Xion has run off again as Axel and Xigbar report to Saïx. Roxas gets upset with Axel for just letting her go like that. Axel just gives him a cryptic line, saying 'Xion is smoke and mirrors. And when I looked into that mirror it wasn't you that I saw.' Elsewhere, Xion has escaped to Beast's Castle, to Riku.
Day 354 Xemnas explains the Replica Project, 'Pet Project'. Axel goes to get Xion back and Roxas goes to Agrabah to place some device in the Cave of Wonders as his mission. It lures in a Land Armor Heartless. After defeating the Heartless, Roxas starts to question why he does all the things he does, why he follows orders, and why he keeps going back. On Day 355 Roxas confronts Axel about the secrets Axel's kept to himself. He wants to know who he is and who is Sora. The most Axel tells him is that he's not a puppet. When he gets no answers he decides to leave and go find them somewhere else. So he escapes the castle. On his way out, he bumps into Saïx and has to fight him to get through. Day 356 Xion meets Naminé. She explains to Xion that she is Kairi- at least the Kairi Sora remembers. The more Xion remembers, the more she wants to go back to Sora. Naminé explains that if Xion returns to Sora she will disappear, no one will remember her. Xion accepts that. But Axel comes to bring her back. They fight but Axel succeeds, barely, bringing her back. (He was gentle carrying her back even while exhausted, while Xemnas just grabs her like a sac when Axel goes unconscious).
Day 357 Roxas goes back to Twilight Town because it's the only safe place he knows. He even goes to the Train Station Tower like always. That's where Xion finds him. She gives him ice cream and they eat on the Station Tower like old times sake. But she tells him that she's out of time, revealing that when she pulls down her hood she has Sora's face. Roxas had given her too many (Sora's) memories- This puppet will have to play her part. She was created to make Roxas apart of her too. She changes into a Sora-like Heartless and fights Roxas, taking him to different places of his memories (and Sora's?). From Wonderland to Halloween Town, all the way to Agrabah. All three places Roxas had put up the devices. He beats Xion, running through the Darkness after her only to end up back in Twilight Town where he fights her one last time. He wins and she changes back. Her defeat causes Roxas to start to forget her, but he knows she's something really important, he holds her as she disappears into Sora again. She tells him to set the Hearts she captured free, Xemnas should not have Kingdom Hearts; and that she was glad to have met him and Axel. All she leaves behind is a seashell, Roxas cries for her. Now that Xion is gone, Xemnas wants Saïx (the Organization) to fetch Roxas back for him.
Day 358 Roxas reveals that he can now pull out two Keyblades. He runs into Riku again- on his way back to face the Organization. They both have flashes of Xion, defying the disappearance of her from their memories. Until it fades completely and Riku is now just there for Roxas to retrieve Sora's memories. Thus starts Day 359 and Kingdom Hearts II with Roxas. And that is where this chapter ends. Now the story continues into Kingdom Hearts II.
(7 Days until Roxas's Summer Vacation is over)