Prologue Part III: Misplacement
"God damn it!" An eleven year old Lea yelled throwing a tantrum before sitting up grinning, "Wanna go again?"
"I need to go check on the others." Cloud told him plainly, "I'm in charge remember?"
"Only because you self-proclaimed it." Lea beamed, "We'll come with you."
"We've got other things to do Lea." Ias told him sternly.
"Yeah yeah." Lea sighed picking up he's plastic Frisbees with crudely drawn flames on returning to Ias, "You know just because your two years older than me doesn't mean you can boss me about."
Cloud smiled to himself listening to them bicker before walking off to go find the rest of he's friends.
'Axel! Axel, w-what am I doing here, oh my- Axel.'
'Hey come on little buddy it's gonna be fine. Got it memorised?' Axel's voice faded out with concern clutching the trembling blonde to him, 'It's gonna be fine.'
Axel sat watching the fire burn in front of him before glancing over to the sleeping Roxas with concern. He'd returned to the Twilight Town clock tower just for a brief reminiscence and got so much more than he'd bargained for.
He's seen him form in-front of him. He'd seen it and he'd felt it. That kid had a heart now.
"Hopefully you can give us some answers Sora." Axel sighed. He already knew if he was here, the others were to. He already knew Xemnas would be looking for him. He hoped nothing had happened to Sora for this to happen. At the same time he didn't want Roxas to go again. He lay he's head down. They'd tried Destiny Islands; they'd been to Mickey's Castle. Tomorrow they would try Radiant Garden. For now they needed to rest.
A brand new day dawned on Radiant Garden. Mickey sat there thinking the whole conversation over again,
'No- no. I do not doubt Sora and Riku's potential. But I fear they may yet be to face them again. If the need should ever arise seek out my research in my old lab, and Yen Sid. Sora will need to know th- the poor child. I never meant for this to happen'
Maybe…? Mickey's fingers hovered over the computer keys before he was interrupted.
"King Mickey. Yen Sid wants to talk to us now. He sent a message." Riku informed him.
"Let's go then." Mickey smiled; secretly fearing the worse now Yen Sid had contacted them. It was a long shot anyway.
"It looks empty." Roxas stated as they walked around the castle.
"Somebody's clearly been here." Axel told him sneaking round a corner, "You can see where they've been searching through."
"Axel?"
"Yeah?"
"Why am I here?"
"I don't know… heck I don't know why I'm here. But I'm sure as hell going to find out." Axel told him encouragingly. He wondered if he was even aware of the fact he had a heart now.
Vicky sat looking through some documents; Ansem had kept records on everybody in the town – of course vastly out-dated by now. She assumed he'd studied them as part of he's research on hearts. She flipped to her own. 'Victoria Elizabeth Kisaragi.'
A young girl who seems boisterous and hot-headed.
"WHAT?" Vicky demanded in disbelief, "That is totally not me… …who the hell am I even talking to?"
She shows a strong heart, with great stubbornness and courage during games. Very affectionate towards those who she cares about.
"Better." She mumbled.
Then she flipped to another quickly, 'Kelly-Anne Lockhart.' A small smile came to her lips.
She scanned over till she reached the end 'Relocated.'. She guessed she was never told to keep her from the upset, she was only told she was visiting some distant relatives, and then not long after the... Her head jolted up as she heard something in the background, "WHO'S THERE?"
She put down the papers hastily in nervousness and stood up, "SHOW YOURSELF OR… or… OR I'LL DO SOMETHING PAINFUL."
Clever Vicky… Clever, I'm going to mutilate them with research papers and some left over sandwich crusts.
She calmed herself, maybe Sora and the others had forgot something or returned early. She went to the door and her hand hovered over the handle before pulling it open promptly determined to face whatever was on the other side.
Empty.
She sighed with relief before turning around only to the other door opening. Her face paled as it opened.
"L...Lea? OH MY GOD LEA!" She yelped with outright delight before darting across the room throwing her arms around him kissing him briefly on the lips, "You made it home to! I can't believe it- I -I" Her face turned bright red releasing her grip clearing her throat, "I mean, sorry about that, got a little carried away."
Axel stood there startled not really sure how to respond, while Vicky stood there pretending to clean imaginary dust off herself blushing.
"Great undercover work secret agent Casanova." Roxas smirked unable to contain it behind he's hand.
"What's that girl yelling about now; we already had to take a portal around after her once after alerting her." Vexen mumbled seating himself at the main-console computer.
"Shhh." Xigbar told him leaning against the door to the lab, "I could swear I just heard the word Lea."
"So…?" Vexen told him unimpressed loading up previously stored information on the nobodies.
"Oh you are the genius aren't you?" Xigbar huffed rolling he's eyes returning to he's listening.
'Well aren't you going to introduce us?'
'Y-yeah I guess.'
'Vicky this is Roxas, Roxas Vicky.'
Xigbar's face broke into a menacing grin.
'H-Hi.'
'Hey.'
'Vicky, we're trying to find a guy named Sora –do you know anything about him?'
'Yeah we were eating breakfast together not too long ago. He's gone to see a guy called Yen Sid. You can wait here till he gets back if you want. Are you trying re-unite long lost twins?'
'Seriously?'
'Calm down buddy, but we can't really wait around; nobody can know we're here.'
'What? No! Why? Everyone will be ecstatic-'
'Nobody can know apart from Sora.'
'But-'
'Nobody Vicky- Promise'
'But-'
'Promise.'
'O-okay I guess.'
'Thank you.'
"Mission aborted." Xigbar told Vexen.
"What are you talking about?" Vexen grumbled scanning through the information as fast as he could.
"We have some much more valuable information for the time being." Xigbar told him delightfully.
"You'll be coming back right?" Vicky asked sadly taking interest in her black converse.
"Yeah, one day, don't worry about it chump."
"It's cham- I mean I'm not a kid anymore Axel!" Vicky demanded at the old childhood joke looking up to see him making he's way off.
"Sure thing - I noticed you turned into a flamehead to." Axel grinned pointing out her red hair before disappearing around the door frame.
Vicky smilied to herself, "Oh- Axel!" She ran after him but he was nowhere to be seen, as if he vanished into thin air. She smilied to herself allowing herelf to enjoy the old memories.
Vicky stood there holding a plastic shield and mallet, cardboard armor with a kitty drawn on the chestplate. Kelly sat next to her with a saucepan on her head and her fluffy purple bedrobes hanging off her holding a small wooden dagger, her knees were tucked under her chin. The game of the day had been heroes..
'I already beat you once today, it's time to be getting home.' Axel told her exhausted himself.
'Bring it flamehead!' Vicky demanded holding the best angry-serious face she could.
'Go on Vicky! Show him what'cha got!' Yuffie cheered sat on top of a cardboard box.
Axel sighed, 'Don't say I didn't give you a chance chump.'
'IT'S CHAMP!' Vicky yelled darting towards him plastic mallet raised.
Axel side-steped the attack with ease tripping her over in the process. Her stood over the tripped over Vicky holding out he's hand to help her up a massive grin on he's face, 'It's chump, got it memorised?'
'It's champ.' Vicky muttered pushing he's hand out of the way before he picked her up onto her feet.
"Sorry about this babe, you're a hazard now." Xigbar smirked grabbing the reminsing Vicky and dragging her backwards into the portal, "Can't be letting anyone know about us here."
"So how much did you find out?" Yen Sid asked.
"Plenty - just nothing relevant." Sora told him, "Did you know that- OW!"
"Sora show some respect." Donald demanded.
Yen Sid held up he's hand as a sign of silence, "We will have much to talk about. For now, you may have already grasped your reasoning of your calling here."
"They've returned havn't they." Riku demanded sourly.
"I'm afraid so." Yen Sid nodded, "There has been a long kept secret, between Ansem and myself. Today is not the day to disclose all it's details, but today is the day to pass on vaguely what happened but most importantly what we learnt from it. Please take a seat." Yen Sid waved over some chairs, "This may take awhile."