It was absolutely clear for all to see, that things weren't the same as Isa and Lea stood at the castle ones more, at the entrance, met by a tall man with short red hair.

The man narrowed his arms as he crossed his arms.

"We've come to apply for apprenticeship." Isa informed. "So we can study here. This is a place for studying, is it not?" he asked.

Lea looked up at the tall man… They had met many times before, they had been kicked out by this very man so many times.

And yet… It was weird, it was so hard to put his finger on, but Lea could have sworn, the man seemed different.

It made it run cold down Leas back, but he stood still… It was… The mans eyes, all humans always seemed to have at least some warmth coming from their eyes.

Also this man, even if he had been annoyed with them, he had always seemed human. Now though, the eyes… They seemed weirdly without emotion. Stone cold and harsh.

The man raised his hand, and then picked up his weapon, it made Leas eyes widen in shock… This man had never pulled a weapon at them before!

Isa though stood firm as he looked up at the man.

"Leave." The man spoke in a voice that also sounded so different, cold and without emotions. "Or you will have forced my hand."

"What happened to not harming children?" Isa asked.

"That… Was a thing of the past." The tall man stated as he raised his weapon.

Leas eyes widened, there was no doubt! He was about the strike! He was actually going to do it!

"Please, stand aside."

It was a deep velvet voice whom spoke, a voice that Lea and Isa knew very well, and it made it run cold down their shoulders as the red haired man lowered his weapon and stood aside as he bowed for the newcomer. "Master Ansem." he spoke as a familiar man, with long silver hair and golden eyes stepped forward.

"Master Ansem?" Lea asked then he gaped as he looked up. "YOU'RE ANSEM?!" he shouted pointing at the silver haired man.

Isa how-ever frowned. "No, he's not." he stated. "Or at least, he's not the original Ansem."

The silver haired man smirked amused and Lea shivered as he realized.

This man… He had already felt wrong the previous two times they had met, now how-ever… There was something new that was wrong, something that was… Different than before. It definitely wasn't right.

"If you do not wish to call me Ansem." The silver haired man spoke. "Then call me Xemnas." he asked as he put a hand over his chest and bowed for them before he stood up. "So, you have returned to me. I am delighted." he stated in a smile, that would have looked kind if it didn't feel so wrong.

Isa stepped forward. "You said you could help us." he stated. "You could help Lea with his power, and help me as well." he stated. "Well, we are here to take you up on your offer." he informed.

"You have no idea, how happy this makes me." Xemnas smiled his weird smile. "You do indeed have potential, an untapped well of pure potential." he stated. "How-ever, if you wish to work for me, you must proof that you are worth my while."

"More tests?" Isa asked, then he smirked as he shook his head and looked up. "Very well then. We'll go through any test you can come up with, and we will pass with top grades."

"Very well." Xemnas smiled. "From now on, you are the apprentices of Ansem. Fail me, and I will no longer have any need of you. I will dispose of any dead weight. How-ever, if you proof yourself of worth. The world will be yours for the taking."

The two boys looked challenging up at Xemnas whom grinned back at him, his yellow eyes seeming to light on their own.

From that day, every single day was a new grueling test where both Isa and Lea were being pushed to their limits.

They were asked to go out and defeat heartless, be inside and complete various training sessions, both mental ones and physically ones.

All of this was fine though, Lea was fine with it if that is what it meant to get Janan back… What bothered him was that he and Isa were rarely doing any of it together, Xemnas always gave them separate tasks.

And on the same time, Lea could always feel how he was being observed, his every step… his every word. He could always feel that pair of golden eyes observing him with a weird glee.

And then, sometimes… Xemnas would come and talk to him, his words were always kind, and his voice so soft as he would give Lea instructions. Yet… It made Lea shiver.

He bit together though and stayed strong, he could no longer afford crying and acting like a kid.

Then one day Xemnas came and he smiled as he reached out a hand and suddenly, two chakras appeared.

Not plastic or wood, but metal, and they seemed to be glowing to.

"A gift." Xemnas informed handing them to Lea.

Lea swallowed, then reached out and folded his hands around the weapons, blinking as he felt a warmth coming from them.

"These weapons or not just an ordinary weapon." Xemnas informed. "I made them especially for you, these weapons can channel the energy that comes from within you. The fire you possess."

Lea took in a deep breath.

"Your gift is marvelous." Xemnas continued as he walked past Lea with his hands on his back. "Fire, such a destructive element. Able to transform entire buildings to ash, not only destroying but obliterate."

By those words Lea shivered, memories flashing in his mind, from that night where he had sat the room in the castle on fire, without even meaning to.

"There is no need to fear." Xemnas assured. "The fire that comes from you, cannot hurt you." he stated. "Let it loose! And burn who-ever is in your path."

Lea closed his eyes, he felt his body shiver then he took a deep breath as he steadied his body before finally looking up, meeting the golden eyes. "Careful." he then said in a slight smirk. "Who knows, I keep getting more powerful and suddenly you'll be the one getting burned." he pointed out.

Xemnas smirked. "Indeed." he stated. "Keep burning bright." he encouraged. "I have no uses for a dying flame." he stated as he walked away.

Isa's eyes were festooned upon the sky as he stood at the place he had been told to be at.

It was the middle of the night, and tonight, the sky was blazing with all the stars as well as a glowing full moon which Isa's eyes were attracted to.

"Beautiful isn't it?" A dark voice sounded.

Isa didn't even have to turn around to know who it was… It was after all him whom had asked Isa to be here.

"Only few are aware, that the moon itself is a great source of power." Xemnas continued as he stepped beside Isa. "Power that can be absorbed, stored… And then released." he put his hands on Isa's shoulders. "How-ever, to master such a feet would require great discipline, a sharp mind… and above else. Determination."

"And you think those are qualities I posses?" Isa asked as he glanced at Xemnas.

"I know so." Xemnas stated. "You've gone so far already, all for her."

Isa remained calm.

"Do not think you have me fooled." Xemnas continued. "I know all of this, it is not for me, it is for her." he stated. "How-ever, given time, I hope I will have your loyalty."

"Any why, should my loyalty be to you?" Isa asked turning towards Xemnas.

"Because, unlike other relationships, ours will be an honest one." Xemnas stated. "I know you intend to use me, you know I intend to use you. That though, is honesty." he stated. "You are still young, you have yet to discover what a fickle thing friendship is." he stated. "What you call friendship, it is truly fragile. The girl you cared so much for, she left you behind, and soon, others will as well. At that time, you will realize you've been left alone. And the only one you can depend on, is yourself."

Isa smirked. "So you're saying you will be there for me at that time?" he asked.

"I am saying, that as long as you are of use to me. I shall grand you any power you so desire." Xemnas stated. "As I told you, honesty." he remarked reaching a hand towards Isa.

Isa though did not move to touch his hand. "If that is what you think, you do not know Lea." he stated. "How-ever, I do appreciate the honesty." he stated in a light smirk. "Very well then, I am your tool." he stated as he spread out his arms. "What do you require from me?" he asked.

Xemnas smiled, his eyes glowing in a dangerous light, then placed himself behind Isa, putting his hands on his shoulders. "Observe the moon." he asked. "Cold and distant, yet filled with raw power." he stated. "All of this power, it is yours for the taking." he spoke in such a soft voice. "Take it… The power."

And Isa reached out a hand towards the moon.

"I know your true feelings." Xemnas whispered, his voice like dripping sweet honey. "From the outside, you seem composed. It is though hiding a secret, deep inside… There is a passion, greater than most humans. Anger… Hate… Jalousie… These feelings though, they are not your enemy." he stated. "They are your true friends, they can grand you such power."

"Hm." Isa smiled amused. "All right, i'll follow your lead, Master Xemnas, for as long as it suits me."

"That's all I ask." Xemnas replied.

"You done well, you both have more than exceeded my expectations."

Both Lea and Isa were parked, standing in front of Xemnas whom faced them smiling. Standing beside Xemnas was five other people.

There were the two guards that had kicked Isa and Lea out so many times in the past, there was a thin middle aged man with long blond hair and cold green eyes, there was a man with hair slicked back in a ponytail, more prominently though he was wearing an eye patch and had a scar across his cheek, and there even was a boy, a boy even younger than Lea and Isa, with long grayish blue bangs covering his left eye.

"Rejoice!" Xemnas asked as he spread out his arms. "I have decided that you are worthy, the join our ranks!"

Both boys stood still as they stood in front of the group.

"How-ever! If you are to join us." Xemnas continued. "You must proof your loyalty to me." he stated.

Isa glanced up. "What do you need?" he asked.

Xemnas smirked. "Your hearts."

Lea blinked, then he looked up. "Our… hearts?" he asked reaching up a hand, touching his chest.

Xemnas reached out a hand. "Give me your hearts." he asked. "And become our newest members. It will grand you new powers, powers you will need to leave this dying world that is currently falling to darkness. I am offering you this chance, to leave with all of us."

"Leave… Leave radiant garden behind?" Lea asked. "Our friends."

"Cannot be saved." Xemnas shook his head. "This world, will fall shortly. We must leave. Question is, will you come?" he asked offering them his hand. "The choice will be yours."

The boys hesitated as they looked at his hand then Lea took a breath and he stepped forward.

"Lea?" Isa asked and Lea turned his head.

"We made it this far." Lea smiled. "We can't stop now, so. You want my heart?" he asked Xemnas. "Take it!" he offered.

Isa as well smirked. "I can't say I have any idea what you want with our hearts." he stated. "How-ever, as I promised you, I am your tool." he bowed his head. "Take my heart."

And Xemnas grinned, his teethes were showing looking nearly sharp as he reached out his hands and suddenly, it was like darkness itself grabbed Lea and Isa.

Both boys wide-eyed looked down as darkness seemed to consume them, it was in that single moment Lea suddenly realized.

This… This was not right. This was a mistake! Wide-eyed he looked up. "Isa." he gasped then tried to reach for his friend. "ISA!" he shouted but the darkness came, crawling across his legs and then he felt himself being thrust, unto some sort of machine with Isa landing beside him.

The man with the long blond hair walked to a panel and then started to press buttons as Lea wide-eyed looked up, then… Suddenly an electrical charge errupted and Lea gasped for air, wide-eyed he looked up as he felt something… Something inside of him, in his chest. It was being grabbed, pulled out.

"No… NO!" Lea shouted as he fell to his knee grabbing his head, it was unbearable, it was like someone was tearing his insides into pieces. Something inside of him was being grabbed and forcefully pulled. "Sto.. STOP!" he hissed, and then he screamed as the pain exploded… After that, all turned dark.

"Where… Where am I?" Lea asked… This place… It was weird, the sky looked perfect blue, and the ground like water perfectly reflecting the sky.

"What have you done?" The voice sounded horrified and Lea looked down to see a peculiar creature, with a gray stripped body, and pointy ears.

"A cat?" Lea asked.

"There are only so few left!" The cat like creature cried, sounding truly horrified. "You had potential! To be a guardian of light, but it's to late now."

Lea looked oddly at the creature. "What do you mean?" he asked then he gasped as he realized. "My.. MY BODY?!" he shouted. "Where's my body?!" as true enough, all he was, was a speck of light at this place.

"You left it behind!" The cat like creature exclaimed. "And now, without the protection of a body."

Suddenly, darkness erupted, it was all around Lea. "What… What's happening?" he asked as the darkness itself started to swallow him up. "Help! HELP ME!" he begged desperately trying to reach a hand he didn't even have after the cat like creature.

"I'm sorry." The cat like creature spoke in a truly sad voice. "It's to late."

And suddenly Lea saw, the arm he was reaching out… It was black! And claw like, his form was small and bend.. Black, with yellow round eyes and beneath him, the darkness opened up as he was cast away from this serene place, cast to somewhere else… Somewhere very dark.

"Let us rejoice." Xemnas spoke. "Two new beings has been born, no longer Lea and Isa. Your former selves has been left behind. Axel… Saix." he spoke.

Axel huh? Axel just looked at Xemnas with dulled eyes. He failed to see what significance the name change made.

It was kind of weird, he didn't feel much of anything really. It was like… He was standing outside the room merely observing himself rather than participating.

He glanced at his friend next to him… Isa… No Saix. An equally dead look were to be found in his eyes.

"We did it." Axel pointed out… It was supposed to be a triumphant statement. But it sounded weirdly hollow, the feeling of achievement he should have felt was lacking.

"We are one step closer." Saix agreed, his voice to though was devoid of emotion.

"Cool." Axel replied and that… Was it. They didn't laugh nor congratulate themselves, they didn't cheer or send each other glanced indicating they were ready to fight.

Right now… They just were.