Castle Oblivion. It was where Xion had learned the cold truth of her existence Axel had tried to shelter her from. Now it was her prison, memories Sora could never recall, no matter how much she screamed.
Xion wasn't sure how long she'd been trapped watching Sora's memories of Castle Oblivion. As they replayed she grew to think him a fool and her distaste for Namine grew steadily. It would have been better never to exist then feel what she did now. She could not judge Kairi, who she knew Sora cared about deeply and that was why she agreed to surrender her existence. But did anyone deserve to be happy for all the suffering it cost?
"Were you forgotten as well?"
The voice made Xion jump for no one had, before that, addressed her. It couldn't have been an aspect of the memory, in which Namine was apologizing-like it would do any good, Xion thought. The boy in front of her wearing an outfit that resembled Riku's Replica's Dark Mode uniform, the only difference was his face covered by a helmet. She drew her KeyBlade, an easy task in Sora's mind.
"Who are you?" She shouted, tears no longer in her. All that remained anymore was rage. The boy held up his hands.
"I was sealed, trapped here, just like you."
"You didn't answer my question."
He regarded her before holding out his hand.
"My name is Vanitas. Its good to see another living being."
"I see."
They stood a short distance from each other as the memory played out before Vanitas spoke again.
"I do not know if Sora ever knew of my existence. Very few meet the sides of their KeyBlade."
"I wouldn't know." Xion whispered.
"Are you not like me?"
It was an odd question, but Xion looked up slowly and asked it.
"What do you see when you look at me? Some see a boy who looks like Ventus, some see a puppet and some see..." How did she describe the face she imagined as hers? To her surprise Vanitas laughed.
"You are not Ventus. I see the Lady of this Castle, in a purple gown. She has but begun to access the power that could be hers, trapped here."
Given the flattery it was hard to keep her guard of.
"Sounds like you need help with escape." Xion stated. Vanitas chuckled for a moment.
"I suppose I do seek it. I would follow you though, if you were the cause of my escape."
"And how would one propose I do that? I am trapped in here, possibly worse then you and a 'Lady of This Castle' needs more forces then I have!"
"There is one who can escape."
"What?"
This caught Xion's attention. For a moment her thoughts flooded to Roxas, helping him escape and become a person again. Vanitas exhaled and shook his head.
"The boy. Sora. He has his own Dark Side. It escapes in the heat of battle on occasion. I believe...I believe he knows a way out."
"What can we do with that?" Xion folded her arms. "If he can escape and we can't..."
"He can send messages to the other Heartless."
"Why would they be indebted to me? Your plan makes less sense..."
"Aros-that's what I call the boy-can find an ally. He can set us all free, if given the chance."
"So why hasn't he?" Xion snapped, suspect of the entire plan. "And why do you need me?"
"Because," Vanitas replied, "He doesn't have enough power."
"Why haven't you helped him?" She demanded.
"Because unlike you, Lady," He chuckled and her spine shivered. "He nor I can summon a Keyblade. You are the key to our Freedom, and he can lead you to the Door you must unlock."