Author's Note: Hey hope you enjoy this chapter, it's a 2 parter, the second half will come soon. Feel free to give any feedback or private message if you want.

Chapter 12: New Information PART 1

The disturbed blonde clenched his fist with uncertainty.

"What do you mean?!" Roxas leered at the mysterious figure, "Start talking before I make you start talking!"

"Ooo, someone's getting impatient. I like that." She giggled, clearing her throat quickly. "I mean, like getting straight to the point."

"What?" he furrowed his eyebrows in frustration, "Look, just tell me what you meant by Xion taking my powers."

"Hmmm." she placed a glove on her chin. "Let's start from the beginning to help you see the bigger picture. You see— your somebody, Sora, had sacrificed himself for a friend he cherished dearly. It's how you and I were created."

"So-ra? Created you and me? So that means you're also a Nobody." Roxas processed this information. "Okay… what does that have to do with anything? I don't have any memories of my past life, and how does Xion fit into all this?"

"She's getting to that!" The second figure called from behind the gargoyle statue.

"You actually do have bits of Sora's life and memories inside of you, you just don't have all the pieces together—as does Xion. Xion doesn't have a somebody as we do, she's a special kind of nobody. She was artificially created by your Organization to create Kingdom Hearts. She's been slowly absorbing both Sora's memories and powers, like a parasite." her hand changed into a closed fist.

"Xion's not a parasite!" his voice rose, "She's my friend!"

"Some friends can be toxic." she warned him, "Why do you think you can't summon the Keyblade anymore?"

Roxas furled. Even though the girl wore the Organization outfit, and her expression was clouded with darkness, Roxas could feel her frowning and perhaps even her rage behind those words. Why does she sound so mad? If she's a Nobody like me, why does she sound so… genuinely concerned about the Keyblade problem Xion and I have? How does she know about that? The only one who knows is Axel, Maka, Soul, Crona, and Ragnarok.

Despite that, it was as if he could see the logic behind her questions, yet as clouded as his mind was, he failed to have the information connect itself properly. Only bits and pieces were able to connect.

"!" Maybe she might be onto something…

She offered a hand, "Join me, Roxas. You can meet your other self—Sora. You can reunite with him and things will be all better."

Maybe not.

"What are you talking about?! There's nothing wrong in to begin with!" His frown deepened. "The Keyblade problem will get fixed. Once Axel gets back, we'll figure things out."

"And if Axel never returns?"

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"So, you weren't told by the others, or the news just hasn't reached them yet…"

*Meanwhile with Xion*

"W-where am I?" She opened her eyes and surveyed the surrounding.

The dark night with stars sprinkled about was the same as moments before, her hand in glove surfaced against the smooth stone. Her heel clicked against the floor beneath her. I'm on the balcony! Why here of all places?

She scanned below and saw Roxas in the courtyard being confronted by that person from before. Who is that? The only girl in the Organization besides me is Larxene but she's back at the —

"Xion."

Xion turned to the new voice. Her eyes widened as she recognized the speaker. The person sported the same outfit as she did, his silver hair flowed against the cool winds and a black sash covered his eyes.

"Riku? Is that really you? Where have you been?!"

"Around." he gave a small smile, letting himself return to frowning a moment later, "I hate to be the one to tell you, but you need to know."

"Know what?" she took a step back, her expression was easily worried by his next words.

"Roxas is going away with that girl. She's taking him away, permanently, I'm afraid."

"Y-you don't sound afraid. What do you want with Roxas?"

"Don't make this any harder. Just watch her take him away and accept it. It's for the best. You'll understand eventually once it's all over."

"Speak clearly!"

Silence entered the conversation. The barely audible noises made by Roxas and the girl could be heard. From her peripheral she saw the girl offer her hand.

I need to hurry! I don't believe Riku! I won't!

She transformed her hand into the end of the Keyblade. Now it was Riku's turn to take a step back. His mouth was open, but failed to speak.

"You don't have the right to say that."

He gave a miffed sigh, "I have a job to do, so just cooperate."

Xion's eyes remained locked onto Riku with unwavering determination at her side.

"Don't distract me... are you going to summon your weapon or will this be an easy fight?"

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Riku summoned his weapon, but his focus shifted to the Courtyard before the fight could even begin. It appeared as another portal of darkness appeared. Xion also took notice of the Courtyard.

*Back to Roxas*

"You're. Lying. That wouldn't happen, Axel's strong! I'm not going to Sora. You're just a stranger to me, why should I believe you?"

"Maybe this will help convince you." The hooded figure pulled down her hood, revealing herself. Without the hood, blonde hair went past her shoulders, "I think we might've gotten off the wrong foot. My name is Naminé. I just want to fix the mess I made."

Roxas stared at the girl quizzically. She had a pretty face and blue eyes that reminded him of… the ocean. He felt a scene replay in the back of his mind.

*Roxas saw memories of a youthful boy in red shorts and spiky brown hair*

"Sora you lazy bum." A young red-haired girl beamed. Roxas could practically feel the boy internally blushing. "I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here."

"No! This huge, black THING swallowed me up!" The boy responded back. "I couldn't breathe! I couldn't — Ow!" the girl had thwacked him it seemed. Roxas brushed his own head. What's her problem?

"Are you still dreaming?" she didn't seem to believe him in the slightest.

"It wasn't a dream! Or was it? I don't know. What was that place? So bizarre… "

*The memory stopped playing and Roxas was back in reality*

Everything was normal, except the girl, Naminé, seemed displeased. Fighting could be heard in the distance. A roar not so far from the Courtyard, signalling either the end or the beginning at least. Roxas returned his attention to her.

"Look if that didn't convince you, what will convince you that you need to join Sora?"

"Even if I did join Sora, what'd happened to me? To Xion? What would Sora even do that I can't!?"

Naminé paused. Roxas could see the hesitation. "C'mon spit it out!"

"You'd di—"

*PSHH*

The two nobodies turned their attention to the noise. A ripple of purple and dark flames bursted from the middle of the Courtyard. From the darkness came Saïx followed by Demyx and Crona. With a closer inspection it clearly showed that Demyx had a few bandages on his left and Crona was walking closeby to him with a leash around him. Crona looked out but still conscious at the very least. His body was covered with a dark aura.

"Saïx?! Bad timing!" The second figure from behind the gargoyle statue said out loud in disbelief. "Hon' why here and why now-ribbit?!"

"Saïx?!" Roxas eyeballed the three with concern, "Why are—"

"It seems as if we're not too late." Saïx summoned his Claymore, "Number 9, Witch-Spawn, subdue the one behind the Gargoyle, I'll handle the Witch."

"You got it!" Demyx undid the leash, "Go get him boy!"

"LET'S ROCK N' ROLL!" Ragnarok bursted from the Crona's back and shifted into Demon Sword form.

"RAHHH!" Crona charged blindly at the figure behind the gargoyle.

"This isn't too good-ribbit!" the hooded figure ducked. "Don't you remember, it's me—" she took off the hood. "Eruka!"

As Crona focused on the woman named Eruka while Saïx charged at Naminé. Before he could strike, another hooded figure appeared. The figure held his guard against the blue-haired berserker. The weapon used had an interesting design, a red blade with dark spikes on the side with a white wing at the tip. The handle itself was red and black with a keychain of a red and black heart dangling.

"Riku!" Naminé said

Riku tried to strike Saïx, but he simply jumped out of the way. His boots clicked against the ground.

"So Riku is your name?" Saïx said, "You seem to have the same scent of darkness as Lord Xemnas. Care to explain?"

"I won't bore you with the details." Riku kept his guard. "Naminé, go get Roxas. Escape, now!"

Riku and Saïx were about to clash once more, only for the Master of the Castle to interrupt. He was in midair and in seconds into the ground. He let out a cry of agony as landed in the center of the Courtyard. He groaned as the rubble laid there beside him. He muttered something before succumbing to the pain and fainting. Saïx gasped in realization who the culprit would most likely be. He blocked an Aura blast from Riku focusing almost all his attention on the hooded figure.

"Demyx, Roxas go investigate." The blue lunatic commanded. "That impostor deems to be trouble. Eliminate whatever took down that hairy brute. Demon-Spawn and I will deal with the Impostor and Eruka."

"W-well since you asked nicely, I'll skedaddle right along then!" Demyx escaped any possibility of combat, "Be safe X-face. You too Cromboy.~"

Demyx was about to grab Roxas but he was nowhere to be found. The found gate could be heard opening and closing. Demyx looked at that area nervously. "D-did Roxas just get kidnapped?! By another kid! Great, now they'll probably get turned into mincemeat by whatever took down the furball!"

Demyx heard the gasping of air beside him. He turned and saw a short stock of a member— Xion right there. The hooded girl appeared to have her attention solely on where Roxas and the girl went— the Bridge with all the commotion.

"W-why are you here too?! You guys didn't take care of the Heartless?!" Demyx tried to make heads and tails of things. "Look, go after Roxas, I'll go… investigate the Castle!"

The Sitar player smiled with that idea.

"Yeah! I'll go to the Castle!" Demyx declared, "Good luck with Roxas!"

She darted towards the Bridge full steam. Xion sprinted towards the gate to the Bridge, avoiding any confrontation with the current fighters. She noticed Crona's unusual fighting aura and his erratic movements towards the girl with white hair behind the Gargoyle. She fended off the attacks rather well using an arrangement of tadpoles. I just hope they can deal with them. Riku's strong. But so is Saïx … I just need to focus on defeating whatever beat the Beast!

Saïx and Crona vs Riku and Eruka

Eruka crash-landing into Riku. Crona regrouped with Saïx. The real match was about to begin. Riku noticed the darkness around him, with Saïx looking focused. The Berserker had noticed Eruka it seemed.

"Hey Crona snap out of it. I'm on your side-ribbit."

"Eruka, Crona's being controlled by darkness don't bother!" Riku said.

"You mean like what happened to Kid?"

"Just the same, but with Crona it looks more severe. Just focus on taking him down."

"Easy for you to say-ribbit." she summoned more explosive tadpoles. "Let's just take them down already."

"Easier said them done."

Riku charged at Saix with his weapon ready. Crona had blocked Riku's blade with Ragnarok. Sparks collided. Saïx had already gone for Eruka. Crona gave a fury of slashes in all directions, Riku dodging each one. The moment he tried to counter, Crona would use his blood from the floor as the setup for Needles. Riku dodged another hit and fired an Dark blast at the Swordsman's legs. He buckled but didn't fall.

Riku switched target. Saïx would was slicing through any tadpole launched in his direction.

"What happened to the Alliance?!"

"Sorry, but this witch has her own agendas!" she playfully stuck her tongue out.

Saïx was getting closer to the Frog-Witch no matter how far she was getting with Jackson under her. Where's Free? He should be here by now! The spell shouldn't take that long-ribbit!

The Berserker had caught up to Eruka and took an explosion to the face.

"Eat that!"

He didn't let go. His grip tightened. He slammed Eruka into one of the gargoyles, breaking it in two. Following his attack, he seized the moment and grabbed her by the back of the head. Eruka was coughing and trying to break free from his grasp. Her left hand was slowly in a position to snap.

Riku had a surprise attack. A dark blast from behind broke Saïx's grip, which was followed by tadpole blast to the chest. Saïx crashed into one of the walls. Saix gave a fearsome snarl, showing he still had much fight left in him. The dark aura surrounding Crona hadn't let up either. The fighting machines still weren't defeated. Riku and Eruka still had a mission to fulfill, and the fight continued.

...

As the four continued the life or death match, Demyx skedaddled out the courtyard as he said he would. Fleeing from danger to inside the castle he collided into a large man with a prison gee. The large man had stopped mumbling some words and took notice of the Melodious Nocturne.

"Finally some action!" the large man grinned ear to ear, letting his calloused hands crack themselves, "The name's FREE and what's yours?"

"Finally, an excuse to bail!" Demyx quivered in his Organization boots, "It's Demyx. Wait, aren't you from the Witch Order? Is the alliance still going on?" Demyx eyed the surrounding, trying to figure out the culprit behind the gashes and tears all over the walls and doors. He slowly backed away, wondering if there's a way to escape this criminal. "If it isn't, there's still no need to go after us!"

"Wait I wanna fight you!"

"Go fight someone else, I'm outta here." Demyx turned around, trying to decide where to flee next.

"Chicken."

"Better chicken than gone I'd say."

"Is that really the best the Organization has? I saw what's happening outside. Two pipsqueaks, a brainwashed Medusa Jr., Saïx and whatever breed of chicken you are." Demyx turned back around to see Free sitting on the stairwell.

"And what does that exactly make you then? You're with the Witch Order. You're like their pet dog. That's superbad, we just wanna regain our hearts." The Nobody waved his finger in a sideway motion.

"What's wrong with the Witch Order?" the prisoner shrugged, "We just wanna keep livin'. I'm only in it to get what suits me; a long life. And maybe a little more."

"I also wanna live a long life too! This Organization is my best bet to become human again!"

"Same, just a smidge different from what I just said."

"..."

"..."

The Wolf Man and the Melodious Nocturne locked eyes. Demyx sighed and sat next to FREE, now smiling.

"We're not so different. Ya' know FREE, right? I'm beginning to think you're standup guy! Best-man material even! I bet we have a lot in common once we get to know each other!"

Now FREE was smiling as well.

"You're not so bad yourself!"

"Wanna get some food and maybe chat some more?"

"I don't know Demy. I mean, you seem like a guy who can talk a storm, I like that, but…"

"C'mon you can tell me, we're FRIENDS."

"I dunno if I should tell you."

"If it's bad news I can take it! I'm not strong physically but I'm buff mentally!"

He raised his noodle arms with FREE laughing.

"Alright. I-it's kinda my job right now to follow orders. There was this woman named Medusa who… assisted me with leaving prison earlier than expected. I owe her a lot, and I really enjoy not being imprisoned. No fun there."

"Pfft. Job, smob.C'mon, it'll be fun. You're name is FREE for cryin out loud. When does a guy name FREE take orders— constrained to some Witch Order for that matter? He shouldn't, I'm telling ya. How about this, the first round of food will be on me. Wherever you wanna go, on the house. It's what friends do— hangout, share some stories, make memories."

"Hmm. You're right! I should be FREE. It's my name so I need to stick to it. Thanks Demyx, I'll take you up on that offer!"

With a snap, a flurry of purple and dark flames came forth, and Demyx bowed.

"Gentlemen first."

"Wow! You really ARE a swell guy. Hol' on, I need to enchant myself a bit."

"Enchantments? Like the magic stuff? What for?"

"Yessir, anti-darkness spell. If I don't I'd be in real danger while traveling through worlds like you guys would without your Organization hoodies. Really glad the alliance is still up or none of us wizards or witches would know how to survive in the darkness."

"Spells? Could you teach me some? I bet you know a lot with all that knowledge stored in your noggin'."

"HAHAHA you're probably right. I'll teach you a thing or two about black blood if your curious."

"The stuff Cromboy is filled with? That'd be wicked awesome! I'll teach you some of my water spells. OH! I can even teach you to play an instrument— WE CAN FORM A BAND!"

The two continued talking about while entering the Corridor of Darkness.

*In the heart of all this chaos in the Beast's Castle, a friendship was formed*