Saix: oh my god…she's back…
Xemnas: and she took us with her…..
Demyx: yay!
Axel: woopy!
Melody: woot!
Nicole: I…lost…my book…~pouts~
~all look at her in surprise~
Saix: well lets get on with this long awaited chapter. The authoress does not own us or any other kingdom hearts…thingies….
Part Eleven: A Friend in Need
"Hello, Princess." Melody turned around at hearing the familiar voice behind her. "How nice to see you again."
"You!" Melody whispered, taking a step back from the dark figure. "How did you-"
"Find you? I knew you were here all along," he said with a smirk. Melody backed up into her counter; she was trapped. And on top of that, powerless.
"W-what do you want?" she stammered, her fear of this man not concealed so easily.
"You already know, my dear Princess," he said in a sickly sweet voice, a lance appearing at his side, "you out of the way." Melody's eyes widened in fear as the lance disappeared then reappeared above her head. She closed her eyes, waiting for the strike, when two arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her backwards into darkness. She shrieked as she lost balance and fell on top of the stranger behind her.
"You're a prone for disaster, aren't you?"
"Axel!" Melody shouted with joy from recognizing the voice. "Are you okay?" she asked as she rolled off him and knelt next to him.
"I think I'll live," he grunted, sitting up next to her. "Guess I got here just in time," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"How did he find me?"
"I have no idea…" Axel trailed off in thought. Melody looked at her surroundings, finding herself in the Hall of Empty Melodies once again.
"So why were you coming to see me in the first place?" Melody questioned.
"I was coming to give you this," he said, picking up the garment that he had dropped when fallen on. "It's a gift," he said enthusiastically, handing the black fabric to a confused Melody. She took hold of the clothing and carefully began unfolding the item to reveal an Organization cloak. Melody squealed in delight, throwing her arms around Axel's neck and squeezing him tightly.
"You're welcome," Axel said, laughing at the girls' childish reaction to his gift. "I'm glad you like it."
"I love it!" Melody exclaimed, admiring the dark fabric. Axel shook his head and wondered how Demyx ever put up with her child-like ways. Speaking of Demyx, Axel realized that he shouldn't have been the one protecting Melody from Xaldin a few minutes ago.
"Hey Melody, where's Demyx?" Axel asked a moment later. Melody blinked at him, unsure of what to say.
"Well…" Melody started but didn't know how to go on.
"Melody?" Axel wondered in concern.
"He's gone," she whispered quietly.
"Gone?" Axel asked in surprise. "Gone where?"
"I don't know. He overheard Sora," Melody began, trying her best not to let her sadness show. "He heard me agree that the Organization must be destroyed." Axel looked taken aback by this statement. "I didn't mean it," she rushed to reassure him of her loyalty. "But he thought I meant it. He said the next time he saw me, he'd destroy me…"
"Destroy you?" Axel asked in confusion. "He would never do that. Melody, he-"
"Number Eight," a stern voice called from somewhere above them, "Superior would like to have a word with you." Melody looked up and saw Saix looking down upon them from a balcony.
"Of course he would," Axel mumbled, standing up and opening a portal. "Catch ya later, kid," Axel winked, before heading into the darkness. Melody watched as Axel went into the darkness and Saix came out. He stared down at her coldly.
"What have you done to Demyx?" he asked icily. Melody stared up at him from her spot on the floor with a confused expression.
"Nothing," she responded. Saix pulled a face at her answer.
"Nothing?" he repeated. He bent down and grasped Melody's shoulder, dragging her to her feet. "If it was nothing," he said, letting go of her arm rather roughly, "then why does he plan on killing you?" Melody's heart sank. He truly did plan on destroying her the next time they met.
"He's going to kill me," she whispered, more of a statement than a question. Saix's hard expression became soft as he realized that he may have accused her too harshly.
"Melody," Saix sighed, taking hold of her hand. "Please forgive me. Will you tell me what happened?"
"Demyx overheard a conversation Sora and I had," she spoke quietly, staring off at nothing. "Sora wants the Organization destroyed, and he wants me to help him. He gave me no way out of agreeing to him. I had believed Demyx to be asleep as this conversation took place, but I guess he had woken up and only heard the agreement. He made his presence known after Sora had left, and told me that he would destroy me the next time we met. Then he just left," she whispered, an escaped tear rolling down her cheek. Saix reached up and brushed the tear away with a gloved finger. He then cupped her face in his hands, making her meet his gaze.
"We'll fix this," he promised. 'This chaos will all end soon." Melody nodded, finding comfort in his promise. "But for now, we must prepare," he said, opening a portal of darkness.
"Prepare? Prepare for what?" Melody asked in confusion, following Saix towards the darkness.
"Your cousin; the Superior wants us to destroy him and his friends before he can corrupt our plans."
"You're not really going to harm them, right?" Melody asked hopefully.
"I'll do what I must," Saix responded, entering the darkness. Melody walked after him afraid to be left alone in the castle. The darkness immediately began to devour her, desperate to make her a part of it. She attempted to push it off of her but to no avail; it just came after her more hungrily.
"Saix!" Melody called out into the darkness. "Saix, please, help!"
"Melody?" came a familiar voice. She peered into the darkness, searching for the owner of the voice.
"Demyx?" she called into the darkness.
"Oh, Melody…" she heard someone whisper. She felt two hands press against her back, firmly pushing her into the light. Melody looked around and found herself in a large, porcelain-white stairwell.
"Are you alright?" Saix asked, noticing how flustered Melody looked. Melody blinked at him, a blank expression on her face. "Melody?" he asked again, a little more concerned now.
"Demyx was in there," she stated, not fully sure of herself.
"The darkness likes to play tricks. You only wanted to believe he was there," he said, waving it off as unimportant subject. She pondered what he said for a moment, not entirely believing his explanation, before pushing the event to the back of her mind. She silently followed Saix up the many stairs, losing count after the two hundred thirty second step. Where were they going anyway? Before she could ask, Saix abruptly stopped, causing her to unintentionally run into him.
"Ow," she muttered, rubbing her nose.
"I thought witches weren't supposed to be clumsy," Saix stated, smirking down at her. Melody, feeling childish, just stuck out her tongue at him. Saix shook his head disapprovingly, then turned and opened another portal of darkness.
"Where are we going now?" Melody asked, exasperated.
"'We' are not going anywhere. You are going to stay put while I go take care of a few things."
"What?" Melody asked in disbelief. "You're just going to leave me here?"
"I don't have time to babysit you," he said, walking into the darkness.
"I'm sorry to be such an inconvenience to you," Melody mumbled, slipping on the forgotten cloak and watching the darkness disappear only to reveal a door. Being her curious self and seeing how unproductive standing in a stairwell was, Melody decided to go investigate what lay behind the closed door. She quickly walked the few steps between her and the door and pressed her ear against it, listening for any signs of danger. Hearing nothing, she slowly opened the door and peered inside; she didn't recognize the room. She walked in, admiring the strange patterns inscribed on the walls and the tombstone-like doorways embedded to the grey stoned floor; each doorway having different symbols and names. Melody couldn't begin to guess where these strange portals led, and she wasn't willing to find out. She never had the chance to observe the strangely beautiful castle closely. She had always been too busy falling in and out of random holes of darkness or being attacked by creepy, lance throwing loonies in need of serious anger management. She truly was a prone for disaster. She absentmindedly traced one of the patterns with her finger, oblivious to the Organization member behind her.
"Boo!" Melody squeaked in surprise and turned to face the voice.
"Axel!" she shouted, joyful to see a familiar face.
"Scare ya?" he asked with a smirk in his tone.
"Just a little," she said sarcastically. "Thanks a lot for my cloak. It's absolutely perfect!" she marveled, twirling around in her new clothing.
"You fit in with the cool crowd now," Axel said, laughing at his own joke.
"So where did you go earlier?" Melody asked randomly, fiddling with one of the metal chains hanging on from the neck of the cloak.
"Oh, I just went to take care of a few things before I go. Why? Did ya miss me?" he asked, smirking at her.
"Why would I miss you?" she asked teasingly. Axel pulled a face at her response. "And where, may I ask, are you going?" Melody inquired. Axels' smile faded a bit at her question.
"I'm leaving the Organization," Axel said, turning so that his back was facing her. "I'm siding with your cousin; this Organization is nothing but chaos and trouble and I want no part of it any longer."
"What are you going to do?" she asked curiously.
"I'm heading out to find your cousin and help him into Castle Oblivion. Only he can defeat the Superior, Xemnas."
"Then what are you waiting for?! Go go go! Go help save the worlds!" Melody exclaimed, giving him a little push from behind.
"Wow," Axel said, turning around to face her. "I've never felt so unwanted before. I come to say goodbye and you rush me to my death. What great friends I have," he commented sarcastically.
"Oh, you're such a big baby," she said, pulling Axel into a hug. Axel embraced her in return, gently stroking her head. This time, Melody spoke more softly, "Please be careful, Axel." Axel took her head in his hands and placed a whisper of a kiss on her forehead.
"You be careful as well, Princess," he whispered. "Take care of Demyx for me. He needs someone to love him," he said, stepping into the black haze behind him. Melody stood in confusion for a moment, watching the black portal slowly diminish.
"Goodbye, Axel!" she called out into the fading darkness.
"Catch ya later, kid," she heard in response. Melody was left alone in the castle once again. If she kept losing her friends like this, she didn't know what she would do. She scanned the room again, looking for a different way out than the one she had came in. She saw a door at the back of the room that she had failed notice earlier and headed towards it.
"And where do you think you're going, my dear?" came a voice from behind her. Melody stopped in her tracks and turned to face the owner of the voice.
"I thought you didn't have time to babysit me," she commented, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at the Nobody in front of her.
"I don't, but it doesn't mean I don't have the time of day to make sure you're not getting yourself killed," Saix said, walking away from the girl.
"Where are you going now!" Melody whined.
"To face my fate," he said simply. Melody pulled a face at his answer; Saix was officially labeled a complicated person.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"It's my destiny to lose my meek existence to the keyblade wielders hand," he said nonchalantly.
"Sora!" Melody exclaimed, shocked. "No, I won't let it happen!" she spoke determinedly. "You can't die." Melody hung her head, feeling guilty of this Nobody's fate.
"This isn't your fault," he whispered, coming over and lifting up her chin with his finger. "All Nobody's were destined to fall at the keybladers hand."
"But Demyx is still alive!" she exclaimed, hope rising within her.
"For the moment," Saix stated quietly. "Demyx will fall, as will I and the others."
"No!" Melody shouted, pulling away from his grasp while tears began to rim her eyes. "There's just got to be a different way!" Saix took the hysteric girl into his arms and held her to him, feeling her sobs shaking though her body.
"Calm down, Princess," Saix hushed, stroking her hair gently. "Everything will be okay. Maybe there is another way," he spoke, not truly believing his words, but giving any kind of hope for his dear princess to hold on to.
"Is there?" she asked, sniffling and meeting his gaze. Saix wiped away the leftover tears from her eyes and pulled the stray strands of hair away from her face.
"If there is another way, I know you'll find it," he spoke, attempting to reassure her. He held her gaze for a few more moments before quietly speaking. "I have to go now, Princess. Don't give up on Demyx. He'll come around," he said reassuringly.
"I hope so," she murmured. "Be careful, Saix," she said, knowing there was probably no point to her words.
"You too, Princess," Saix responded, backing away into another portal of darkness. Melody watched the dark haze disappear until she was face to face with a wall. All she had left was her cousin and his friends.
"There's just got to be a way to save them," she whispered to herself. "Demyx?" she called out, remembering what Saix had said. "Demyx, please; I need you!"
"Melody!" Melody turned around and saw Sora, Donald, and Goofy staring at her with confused expressions.
"Hey, guys," she smiled, walking towards them. The Keyblade immediately appeared in Sora's hands. "Sora?" she asked, now confused. "What's going on?"
"You betrayed us! How could you, Melody?!" Sora shouted, quite angry now.
"What did I do now?" she threw up her hands, exasperated. "Why does everyone think I betrayed them!"
"You joined the Organization!" Goofy stated matter of factly.
"What?" she asked. Then it clicked; she was still wearing the cloak. "Sora, wait. This was a gift," she said, indicating the cloak. "Axel gave it to me."
"Axel?" Donald questioned, looking at Sora and lowering his wand. Sora looked over at his friends and shook his head.
"Axel is gone, Melody," he said.
"Gone?" she whispered in disbelief. "No," she shook her head. "He can't be…"
"He is, and now you'll be joining him along with the others."
"No!" she cried out, turning and running into the closest tomb-like portal. Donald and Goofy went to chase after her, but Sora held them back.
"Let her go for now. We have other tasks at hand." His friends nodded and quietly followed him into the portal where Saix waited for them.
XxXxXxXxX
Melody fell to her knees when she came out the other side. She couldn't believe he was gone; they were all gone. She was left with no one.
"Melody?" she heard a familiar voice. She looked up and saw a cloaked figure standing a few feet away from her. She felt her held back tears slowly escape down her warm cheeks. It was only another trick of the mind. This Demyx wasn't her Demyx; her Demyx didn't want anything to do with her. "Melody, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" The hallucination knelt beside her, taking a gloved finger and wiping away the tears from her face. Why was this place continuing to torture her like this? Why did this hallucination feel so real? She stared at his face, genuine concern written all over it. She felt the warmth of his hand underneath the leather glove.
"Demyx?" she asked breathless, not sure if he was truly a trick of her mind.
"Oh, Melody," he whispered, embracing her tightly.
XxXxXxXxX
Me: heyyy…..please don't kill me _ I've been working on this chapter for like pretty much two years with major writers block and college studies and ugh so much. But that's no excuse. I'm sorry this took so long I promise I'm going to try to update faster. I hope most of you will still read my story. Hope you enjoyed this chapter =D
