Xavier's Flyers
Sora wandered out into the Training Garden. It was a large grassy arena in the center of the Castle gardens where warriors (mostly the Warrior's Guild and the Bastion Knights) trained for battle. The clashes of swords, axes, and spears rang out through the air. Sora was meeting Donald and Goofy there. They had spent a good three days at Radiant Garden, training everyday so that when they went on their way, they would be more powerful than ever. Donald and Sora had already learned several new spells, such as Flare, Holy, and Bio. Sora had tested them out on several people when fighting. They were quick and effective. He was also relearning his Drive powers granted to him by Yen Sid's outfit. It was busy days practice fighting, reading up on genetically engineered life forms, and more practice fighting.
Sora looked up from his thoughts to see Nexumair practicing with wooden targets. Sora had seen Nexumair fight, and he was impressed by the other boy's skills. Though Nexumair barely came up to Sora's chest, he wielded his swords like a pro. He was faster than anyone Sora had seen. Sora walked up to the boy. The Captain of the Bastion Knights had been whirling around with two sabers in hand. The swords were elegant, aristocratic, with gold wire wrapped handles and silver blades. Sora noticed that Nexumair had some kind of silver necklace on a chain. The thing was tucked securely under his shirt, but he could see a bit of the sign.
"Hey, Captain" Sora said. "Wow, you really beat the snot out of those." The wooden targets had all been thoroughly defeated; all bore horrific wounds.
"Oh, that" Nexumair said, surprised from his concentration. "Yes, I train every day to keep my skills up. After all, if I never trained, I would get rusty and then I could easily be defeated by any common criminal that came along."
"I guess that's why I train too" said Sora. "Hey, Captain---"
"Oh, you can call me Nexumair, Lord Keyblade Master" said Nexumair. He began to sheath his swords. "Everyone does actually."
"Sure" said Sora. "If you'll call me Sora."
"But that would be…disrespectful to someone of your…well…stature" said Nexumair hesitantly.
"Then I guess it'll be captain from now on" said Sora. Then he and Nexumair both burst out laughing. Then Sora had a question. "Nexumair, who are Xavier's Flyers? What kind of criminals do you protect people from?"
Nexumair sighed, and his green eyes grew dark and angry. "Xavier's Flyers live in the lands around the crumbling ruin of Villains Vale, beyond the Great Maw. They are ruthless mercenaries who have been here long before I came. They are lead by someone named Xavier, though who he is I don't know. I've never seen him personally. I've heard all sorts of rumors about him, including one that says he seeks the Keyblade for himself. But I'm not sure how much of that is true, and how much of it is just rumor." He swung out with one saber abruptly cutting off a target's head. Sora blinked. He hadn't even seen the captain move. "Xavier's group commits all sorts of crimes, from plain robbery to actual murder and kidnappings. They also, as I have said, act as soldiers-for-hire for people if the price is right. Its usually off-world jobs; no one on Radiant Garden would bargain with them."
"Wow" said Sora. He looked at the necklace that Nexumair wore hidden in his shirt, and decided to change the subject. "Where did you get that? It looks like a cool pattern."
"It was given to me...it signifies something very close to my heart" the boy said. He shook his head, and his silver hair flopped around in its ponytail. "Sora, I have to warn you. Beware of Xavier's Flyers. They are a nasty group, almost but not quite on the level of Organization XIII. They will kill and maim to get what they want."
"Well, not much chance of us meeting them, is it?" Sora asked. "After all, we're leaving today for Port Royal. We're not going to meet them there."
Nexumair sighed. "You may regret saying that" he said. "But be careful just the same." Then he walked away.
"Wow" Sora said. "Xavier's Flyers, huh. Better tell Donald and Goofy." He ran off to tell them.
Across the Great Maw, Villain's Vale was indeed a crumbling ruin. But it was far from abandoned. The men and women of Xavier's Flyers inhabited it and the ruined buildings around it like it was their home. And it was. The people were all castaways. Some of them were refugees from ruined worlds, some were citizens of Radiant Garden who had fallen down on their luck, and others…others just joined because they wanted to. Some of the bandits even had families. Women and children were sheltered in a special part of the castle. Xavier was a ruthless leader, but he was not a monster as people thought. The leader lounged in a rusted iron chair that doubled as his throne. He was an individual of about nineteen of twenty. Xavier's shaggy blue hair had feather tied in it, and his eyes were a strange red color. He wore mismatched mixes of armor, and steel shod boots. His hands were glad in armored gloves that let the fingers poke through. In the room, large white creatures with long arms and huge, square faces lumbered around. They were his Brawler Nobodies and his personal guard. Xavier himself was a Nobody. Long ago, he had lived in Radiant Garden, an assistant of Ansem the Wise. But that idiot Xeonhort had ruined everything! Well, it wasn't all bad. Xavier had joined the Organization after much pressure and prodding. After two months, he realized that it was a ship of fools bound for death. So he had "retired." In his mind, "retiring" meant running off after badly injuring Saix in a long and difficult battle. No one was sorry to see him go. Xavier had come back home and started his little band. Now, he was content. The people of his gang…they made him feel like he had a heart.
"Walter, Zane" he said as a large man wearing armor carrying a large sword, and a seven year old boy armed with a dagger came forward. The boy was carrying a note.
"We got this from a raven that stopped by. It came from a Dark Corridor, like the kind you make, boss" said the large man, whose name was Walter.
Zane passed Xavier the note. "What is this?" Xavier asked. He muttered to himself "If Maleficent thinks that she can get a free job by making up this excuse…" then his eyes widened. "No…" he said. "They can't be back!" Xavier said in horror. "Dear Xavier" he recited. "I am sorry to have contacted you in this manner, but an urgent threat has come to my attention. Organization XIII, thought to be dead and gone has returned to life by means of which I know not. They have imprisoned me within the Castle that they have taken back in a most brutal manner. I have sent Diablo with this note. It contains my wishes for this matter. Xavier, you are to send your men to find Pete. He will most likely be in Twilight Town. If he is bring him to Villain's Vale. Once he is there, he is to give you all the munny that I gave him. That is ninety nine thousand. It should be more than enough to satisfy you. You are to send your best men to capture Roman Numeral Thirteen. There is a massive power struggle going on. And Thirteen is at the core of it. My Alliance against Organization XIII. By the way Xavier---after you have read the note, burn it. I know that you have no love for the Organization, but in case your old ways come to the light again, I would rather not have any evidence that I contacted you. Signed, Maleficent." Xavier stared at the note in his hands for a long time. "I don't believe this" he said.
"What is it, Xavier?" asked Zane. The small boy walked up to the Nobody. Zane was an orphan that Xavier had found on the world of Ivalice on a mission there. He had stayed at the Castle That Never Was for the few months before Xavier left the Organization. Though young, he alone knew what Xavier had experienced at their hands.
"Something that was better off dead. Organization XIII. The bad people" Xavier responded. He looked at Walter. Walter was Xavier's second in command. He was one of the members of the Flyers that had actual families. His wife Alexis and their two children Karen and Starlight were some of the most loyal to Xavier that there were. Walter's skills with the sword made him one of the most powerful warriors in Radiant Garden.
"Get Fate and Ernie to Twilight Town. I'll have the Corridor waiting" Xavier said. He sighed. "So those idiots in black are back again, eh? Well, we'll weather this storm, just like we've weathered others in the past." He got up and began to pace around the room. Walter nodded and he and Zane went to get Fate and Ernie.
Soon the two Xavier was looking for were standing in front of him. Fate was a young woman with long pink hair and a gold and blue staff which marked her as a mage. Ernie was a man with a weasel like face and a large broadsword. The two of them were the best when it came to escorting/kidnapping clients or marks.
"Go to Twilight Town" Xavier ordered them. "Once you see Pete, get him. Then I'll decide what to do once he gets here." Xavier waved his hands and a portal opened. He sighed. For a creature that was supposedly without real emotions, he certainly felt stressed and trapped.
Okay folks, this is probably going to be a very long fanfic. I just keep thinking of new ideas! Will update soon.