Chapter 14: Betrayals
Xion gave a groan and opened her eyes. "W-where...?"
Good to see you awake Xion, I'd say good morning, but uh, it's only been a few hours since we got back, I think it's noon or something.
Xion blinked a few times, surprised both by the warm greeting, and the energy behind the Voice's words, though, she noted their was a pained edge to them for some reason. "Oh, um, thanks."
Her eyes furrowed. "What... happened? The last thing I remember..."
She shivered, fear at the memory of those creatures bit at her. "T-those things..."
I uh... got us away from them.
Xion blinked a few times. "Y-you did? You... came and saved me?"
Yep! Figured I owed you for letting me rest. No big deal.
Xion smiled warmly, her face turning a little red. "Aww... thanks, I... really owe you one."
Nah, it's fine I... tsss oww...
Xion's eyebrows furrowed. "Miss Voice? You okay?"
Y-yeah, just starting to hurt a little more than I thought it would...
"Huh? What hurts?" she asked.
N-nothing...
Xion crossed her arms. "Miss Voice... what's wrong?"
I said it's nothing!
She flinched a little at the tone. "O-okay..."
Xion... I'm sorry for yelling, but... uh... don't you have a mission report to go give?
Xion was more than aware the Voice was circumventing the issue, but decided to let it drop for now. She spotted Axel and Larxene talking to one another on a couch and walked over to them.
"Hey guys," she said.
"Hey Xion, whats... up?" said Axel before giving her a confused look, "What the heck?
Larxene stood up and approached her, reaching up and grabbing a bit of Xion's hair. "You get into a thing of hair dye or something?"
"Huh?" said Xion, confused.
Larxene pulled a pocket mirror out and handed it to her.
"Pff, of course she has a mirror, woman," said Axel under his breath.
Larxene turned and kicked his shin. "Shut up."
Xion flipped open the mirror and gave a startled gasp, bringing a hand up to her hair. "What in the world..."
The middle center of her hair had gone red, and there were red streaks starting to grow through the rest of her hair. She lowered her hand to her face, examining it. She seemed... a little more hardened and rough, less soft and cheery. What was going on?
"And... what the heck?" said Larxene, a confused look coming over her face, "You... feel different, stronger even..."
Axel stood up and walked over. "You feeling okay Xion?"
"Umm... yeah, I feel great actually, all things considered after that mission," she said.
Axel's eyebrows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Number thirteen," came Saix's voice, "Did you complete your mission?"
Xion turned to see Saix standing in the doorway. "Yes, um... I think... I need to talk to the Superior."
Saix frowned. "Why? What did you see?"
"Those things... they looked like some kind of horrible mix between Heartless and Nobodies," said Xion.
Saix frowned intently. "What?"
"You serious?" said Axel's voice.
"Uh... what?" said Larxene, "The hell do you mean? Wouldn't that make them a full person if the heart and the body were ya know, put back together?"
Xion shook her head. "No... there wasn't anything 'whole' about it. Just being near them hurt, made me feel awful. Getting hit by them, or even hitting them with my keyblade, hurt."
Saix mulled over her words for a moment before motioning to the door. "Very well, report directly to the Superior, this is a matter that requires his direct attention."
Xion nodded and left, making for the round room.
Xion, don't tell him about me, or your second Keyblade, okay?
"Umm, okay, how am I supposed to explain me surviving then?" she asked.
Don't mention you got hit, just say that you got a hit off on Maleficent that stopped her from disrupting Dark Corridors and then fled.
"Alright," she answered.
Xion walked into the Gray Room, noting the Superior and Vexen being the only ones there. To be honest, she was starting to wonder if those two lived in those chairs, she had rarely seen them out of them.
The two of them paused speaking to stare down at her, or more specifically if she saw right, her hair. The grins that spread across their faces set her ill at ease. Did they know why her hair was changing colors?
"What brings you to us today young Xion?" asked the Superior.
"A mission report sir," she answered.
The Superior waved his hand. "Saix handles those, be off to him."
"Sir, he sent me to you, it's important," said Xion.
The Superior frowned and slowly brought his hands down to rest on the arms of his throne. "Speak then."
Xion took a deep breath and slowly let it before telling them of the creatures she encountered. Of the awful sensations that emanated from them, the horrifying symbol, their unnatural fused bodies. She told them of the great horned woman, Maleficent, and then lied as the Voice had instructed about her escape. The two men stared at her, severe expressions on their faces.
Vexen rubbed his chin, unease and alarm on his face. "Superior, if these are what I think they are, they may be a severe threat."
The Superior nodded and pointed to the thirteenth throne. "Sit Xion. Vexen, go fetch the rest of the Core Organization, now."
Vexen vanished in a warp of black energy. Xion walked over to her throne and jumped up, taking her seat. It was only the second time she had actually sat in this thing and...
She gave a small yelp when the throne rose a bit off the floor, coming to just under Xigbar's twelfth throne.
"I believe such due diligence is to be rewarded Xion," came the Superior's voice, "Continue to serve the Organization well, and you will continue to gain in status and influence."
Xion said nothing at that. She didn't honestly care about such things.
WARP
One by one, the entire Core Organization started warping onto their thrones until they were all there.
The Superior leveled his gaze upon Xion. "Repeat what you told me to our comrades. They will be silent, and save questions, until you have finished."
Xion did so. After she did, a heavy an uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"Maleficent huh?" murmured Xigbar, "I remember that old bat."
The Superior nodded. "As do I, and as the leader of these so called 'Ascended', I assume they are her creation. Yet, how? She was cunning, and somewhat intelligent, to be sure. Yet to create these 'things'? Where did she even begin to find the knowledge to perform such an unnatural fusion?"
"I suppose it answers a question I had," said Zexion, "I had wondered, and created several hypothesizes, as to what may happen if the heart from a Heartless were re-introduced to it's body. Though, this result was not what I imagined."
Vexen scoffed. "Because you refuse to acknowledge any potential conclusion that doesn't fit your narrow minded view-set."
Zexion glared at him. "Watch it you batty old coot."
"Enough," ordered the Superior, "As of this moment, all missions not-related to the topic at hand are suspended indefinitly. This is a primary concern from this point until otherwise stated. I want half of us split. Xaldin, Lexaeus, Zexion, Saix, and Xigbar, you are to start scouting out any and all worlds. You are to search for these 'Ascended', but do not engage, do not even let them know you are there. Observe where they are, and report back to us. Instruct the lesser Nobodies of the castle to go out and scout in-mass as well. Go."
WARP
The five of them vanished in warps of darkness.
The Superior turned his attention to the remaining. "Xion, Axel, Marluxia, Larxene, and Mesaxn, you are to go into the City That Never Was, to the other branches, and inquire if they have seen any of these creatures, and to warn them to be on the lookout. Mesaxn, you specifically will go to the Watcher's of the Princesses and warn them to be on high alert. They are to stay out indefinitely watching the Princess of Heart until further notice. If the Princesses are endangered by these creatures, they are to be taken, either to here, or as grudging as I am to say it, to the Keybearers in the Land of Departure."
"Very well," said Mesaxn, disappearing in a warp of black energy.
"The rest of you have your orders, dismissed," said the Superior.
The four of them left the room and started to disperse...
At least until Marluxia suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her side. "Tell me Xion, do you notice anything... special... about the circumstances we find ourselves in now?"
She stared at him, baffled. "Huh?"
"Yo, what are you two waiting for?" said Larxene, walking up to them, "Let's go."
Marluxia grinned at them. "Neither of you see it, do you?"
Larxene crossed her arms. "See what?"
"The opportunity," said Marluxia, "The entirety of the Core Organization, and even most of the lesser Nobodies, are away, and most likely will be for hours. Mesaxn and Axel are both heading out to the city. The castle is all but empty. There will be no one here but the three of us, the Superior, and Vexen. Now is the perfect time to strike and eliminate the Superior."
"Is... now really the right time?" said Xion, "This is serious, we need to work together to deal with these creatures..."
Larxene frowned. "I don't think taking on the Superior is a good idea anyway..."
Marluxia scoffed. "Really Larxene? You of all people are backing off an easy kill? It will be three against one, he won't win."
"What about Vexen?" said Larxene.
Marluxia chuckled. "What about him? He is a scientist, not a fighter, he'll be easy to manage, and hopefully take alive. His expertise could prove useful to us."
Larxene hesitated. "I'm... not so sure about this anymore Marluxia, they might be onto us..."
"Then why leave us this opening? He's distracted by this 'Ascended' threat, now is the perfect opening," said Marluxia.
He's right... this opening is perfect, almost to perfect... I don't think this is a good idea Xion. I've always been told Xehanort is a cunning and devious bastard, this is way to convenient that he just happened to leave you four open.
Xion felt conflicted and uncertain. "But... didn't you want me to 'stop' Xehanort?"
Well, yes, but, this rubs me wrong...
"And what about you Xion? Or do you no longer want me to tell you about Kairi?" inquired Marluxia.
She hesitated. "Umm... I..."
She licked her lips, thinking back to the way the Superior and Vexen had looked at her, and lied to her. "O-okay... let's do it."
Oh boy...
Larxene flexed her hands. "Well, screw it. If your in kid, guess I'll stay too."
Marluxia grinned. "Excellent. When we begin, one of you incapacitate Vexen immediately. Then, the three of us will overwhelm the Superior. This will be quick, easy, and painless. He won't stand a chance, and then, the Organization is ours."
The three of them turned around and returned to the round room, walking back inside. Marluxia drew his scythe, Larxene drew her knives, and Xion summoned her Keyblade when they reached the center of the room.
The Superior glanced down at them, an amused glint in his empty eyes. "I'll admit, you completed your tasks far quicker than I would have imagined. Or, did you not even leave yet? Are you perhaps... here for another matter?"
Marluxia chuckled and flicked his hair back before aiming his scythe at the Superior. "We're here to... relieve you... of your command. We 'feel' that the Organization would be far better under our leadership, than yours."
He grinned up at the Superior. "I hope you don't take it personally."
The Superior chuckled. "Is that so? You believe that the three of you would be enough to usurp me?"
Marluxia frowned. "Keep up the bravado old man. Perhaps if it were just Larxene and I, you might stand a chance, but we have the power of the Keyblade behind us, and she's grown quite strong from what I can feel."
The Superior's eyes flickered to her. "I suppose she has."
Xion felt uneasy. The man wasn't surprised, or even worried...
"There's just one problem with your plan, and why I allowed you this chance," said Superior, "What makes you so certain she's on your side?"
Marluxia's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
Clap clap clap clap
Xion turned her head and saw Axel walk in behind them. "Excellent work Xion, agreeing to help me with revealing the traitors."
Xion stared at him, baffled, lost, and confused. What was he going on about...?
She tensed, noting the hard but pleading look in Axel's eyes.
I knew this was a bad idea. Xion, odds aren't with you anymore with Axel there. He's giving you a way out, go along with what he says or you die with the others.
"X-xion...," whispered Larxene, shocked.
Xion turned her head, sighting the horrified and betrayed look in the woman's eyes. Xion's stomach plummeted at that sight. She couldn't... she couldn't just abandon her...
Xion! You'll die!
Not if she played this right...
She glanced up at the Superior and tried to put out a confidence voice, "I-I couldn't have done gotten Marluxia to make his move w-without Larxene's help, I got her in on it too."
Axel winced and coughed, looking at her like she was crazy.
What are you doing?! I don't think he's going to buy that!
"I'm NOT leaving my friend to die," Xion hissed back at the Voice, "Would you?"
The Voice went silent for a moment before answering, "No... I suppose not."
Marluxia looked back and forth between Xion and Larxene, confused, baffled, and tense.
Xion gave Larxene the same pleading look Axel had given her. Thankfully, Larxene acted instantly. She teleported in a burst of lightning behind Marluxia, dropped, and stabbed a knife into the back of both of Marluxia's knees.
The man gave a cry of surprise as she kicked him in the Superior's direction. "A-all yours boss!"
The Superior gave her, and then Xion, a dry look. "Amusing."
He totally doesn't buy it...
Xion gulped, and stared up at the Superior, tense. The man slowly shook his head, chuckling to himself.
"I suppose, such good work is to be rewarded," said the Superior, "Xion, I'll allow you to do the honors."
He points down at Marluxia. "Kill the traitor with your own two hands."
Xion's stomach twisted. Was he... serious? She didn't like Marluxia, but, this turned her stomach. Betraying him like this to save her and Larxene's neck was one awful thing... but to betray AND murder him?
She gulped, and shakily raised Oathkeeper...
The Superior rebuked her. "I said, with your own two hands. Snap his neck, I want you to look into his eyes as you kill him."
Xion stared up at him, mortified. "W-what?"
The Superior merely looked down at her with a wicked grin. "Are you unwilling? Am I to believe then, that you were lying, and that both you and Larxene are actually traitors to the Organization that need to be dealt with? Prove your loyalty, or suffer the same fate."
That bastard...
Xion felt numb, staring at Marluxia hollowly.
The man snarled and began to swing his scythe, flower petals rising around him...
Only for Axel and Larxene to both rush and grab his arms, pinning him down and forcing him to his knees.
"Do it number thirteen," ordered the Superior.
Xion shakily approached the pinned man.
Marluxia sneered at her. "What a treacherous little flower you are. I'd say you'd take after your other side, but even she never went so far as to stab an ally in the back."
Xion stared at him, confused. Slowly, she raised her hands... but... they froze next to his face... she... she couldn't... she couldn't just murder someone like this...
Shh, Xion, shh, let me help.
Let her what?
Xion watched, shocked, as her hands moved against her will, grabbed the top of Marluxia's head and his chin, and wrenched, snapping his neck. She stared, horrified, at the unnatural angle his head lolled at. Her stomach lurched, feeling like it wanted to heave everything in it. Axel and Larxene let go of Marluxia as he began to disintegrate and fade into nothingness...
The Superior gave a mocking laugh. "Excellent. Now that that little trifle is out of the way, resume your duties. I believe I gave you all orders. Begone."
Xion didn't move, staring down at where Marluxia had been. She... she had... murdered him...
Axel and Larxene tugged her and pulled her out of the Round Room.
Axel knelt down in front of her. "Xion? You okay?"
Xion stared at him blankly. "..."
"Ah jeez... dammit kid why'd you get yourself involved in this? I warned you to keep your head down and you go and do this," said Axel, shaking his head, "I warned both of you."
Larxene glared at him.
"Larxene, you can take that glare of yours and shove it, I DID warn you when I didn't have to," said Axel.
"And I would have listened, but I..." she began before hesitating, glancing at Xion, "I didn't want to risk her going after the Superior with just Marluxia..."
Xion chocked a bit. She... she had murdered Marluxia, and almost gotten Larxene killed...
She couldn't help it, she started crying, clutching Axel and crying into his chest.
"Ah shesh...," muttered Axel.
"Wait... what? Is she... actually crying?" whispered Larxene, shocked.
"Larxene, go do the mission, I'll take her to her room and then head out, we'll discuss this LATER, alright?" said Axel.
Larxene hesitated before nodded, pausing briefly to whisper, "Thanks... for covering for me Xion, I'd be dead if you hadn't..."
Xion couldn't bring herself to acknowledge it, all she could see in her mind was Marluxia's snapped neck...
Shh Xion, shh...
Axel led her back to her room and sat her down on her bed. "Xion, listen to me, okay? You did what you had to do."
Xion couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you anymore of a heads up, Superior was on my case about this for awhile," said Axel sheepishly.
She said nothing, just continuing to sniffle and cry quietly.
Axel sighed and then sat down next to her, hesitating for a moment before giving her a hug. "I'm sorry Xion..."
"I'm... I'm a monster...," she whispered.
"Hey, no your not," he said sternly, "Marluxia was the monster, trying to get a kid involved in this. He has no one to blame but himself, got it memorized?
Silence was her only response.
Axel sighed. "I'll be back in a bit, don't want the Superior breathing down my neck. Just stay here and I'll be back to take you to the usual spot, okay?"
"..."
Axel closed his eyes, sighed one more time, and left, leaving Xion alone, sitting on her bed, in utter misery...
Xion sat between Axel and Larxene ontop of the Twilight Town Clocktower some time later, staring down blankly at the wrapped ice-cream in her hands.
"You know, ice cream can still melt in its wrapper," said Axel, "Got it memorized?
"..."
Axel frowned. "Come on Xion, it's not your fault, stop beating yourself up about it."
Xion hiccuped, sniffling, wiping a tear away from her face, but didn't respond.
She turned her head when she felt a touch on her shoulder, sighting Larxene with a hand at it. The woman looked hesitant, and uncertain, as if not certain what she was supposed to do...
"Man, your even worse than she is sometimes," said Axel, scooting over, reaching passed Xion, grabbing Larxene's arm, and pulling her into a three way hug.
"H-hey!" exclaimed Larxene.
Xion smiled and giggled a little. Larxene trying to give anyone a hug was a bizarre and funny thing.
"There we go," said Axel, "That's the Xion I want to see."
Xion sniffled a little and wiped at her eyes again. "S-sorry... I just..."
"It's okay Xion, a kid like you shouldn't have had to do that, but, Superior's a cruel bastard sometimes," said Axel.
There was a silence for a little bit, broken only for Xion's sniffling.
"Hey kid," began Larxene, "How exactly... can you cry?"
Xion hiccuped a little and turned to glare at her. "B-because murdering someone is wrong!"
Larxene made a face. "Well, your pretty much the only one who would cry over Marluxia, but it's not what I meant. How is it possible for you to cry? I thought you needed a heart to cry."
Xion frowned, recalling what Aqua said about needing a heart to use a Keyblade, and brooded queitly, turning it over in her head.
"Honestly, sometimes she makes me wonder if she actually can feel," says Axel.
"I... I think I can," whispered Xion.
"You 'think'?" said Larxene, "There's not really any 'thinking' about it you dope. You ought to know if you feel or not, you can use your past life to judge and compare and..."
"That's just it Larxene," said Xion, "I... don't have memories of my past life to guide me on how feel. So... how can I fake what I feel like Nobodies normally do if I don't remember how? What I do... what I feel... it just comes naturally."
That made Larxene go quiet.
"The Superior told me once that Xion was a special Nobody, what exactly was that supposed to mean?" pondered Axel.
Larxene nodded. "To be honest, I said it before, but, Xion doesn't feel exactly like a Nobody, but nor does she feel like a normal person either, it's baffling."
Xion grew timid. "W...would you still b-be my friends if I wasn't a Nobody?"
Axel snorted. "Of course, is that even a question?"
Larxene nodded, seeming a bit awkward. "Yeah, as much of an annoying squirt you can be at times..."
"Hey!" exclaimed Xion.
"You... make me 'feel' like it wouldn't be so bad to get my heart back," admitted Larxene.
Xion blushed furiously. Wow... that... was a heavy compliment coming from her. She hardly knew what to think at that... except...
"Larxene... why didn't you want your heart back to begin with?" asked Xion quietly.
Larxene frowned, looking somewhat uncomfortable, before shrugging. "It's just... after things were finally starting to look up for me, in one single day, I kid you not, my fiancee broke it off, I lost my job, my apartment got robbed, and when I thought it couldn't get any worse, my world got invaded by the Heartless and I got my heart ripped out and eaten right in front of me by a crazy Heartless woman. Fucking sucked."
Axel whistled and then teased, "Damn. Same here, well, minus everything except my heart getting taken. Wasn't the lady though, I think a neoshadow or something got me. Ah well, we can't all have the honor."
Larxene scowled and socked his shoulder, hard. Xion giggled a little at that.
"Xion!" came an excited shout.
Xion turned her head to see Olette and Aqua rounding the corner of the clocktower, ice cream in hand.
Olette pointed a finger at Larxene. "Scoot over you, I want me some Xion time!"
Larxene rolled her eyes and got up, moving to sit next to Axel. "Whatever kid."
Olette sat down and smiled at her. "Finally! Haven't gotten to really see you in a week and..."
She paused, frowned, and raised a finger to brush against Xion's cheek. "Have... you been crying?"
Xion bowed her head, saying nothing.
"A Nobody that can cry, curious," murmured Aqua.
Olette paid her no heed. "What's wrong Xion?"
"Uh... Organization business kid, you don't want to know," said Axel.
Olette shot him a glare. "She's my friend, she can tell me what's wrong if she wants to."
For a moment, she considered going along with what Axel said and not telling her. But... hiding her problems and pains... that was what Miss Voice did, and look what it got her? Struggling alone against whatever her problems were. She didn't want that.
Hey!
"You know it's true," shot back Xion.
"The Superior... made me kill someone," she admitted to Olette.
Olette froze, shock on her face, clearly not expecting that. "W-what?! You're joking, right?!"
When she didn't respond, Olette grew worried. "Please tell me your joking."
"It was either that, or me and Larxene got destroyed as well," she murmured, "It's because I was stupid and made a mistake. I never should have gone along with Marluxia's plan."
Olette grew uncertain. "Xion..."
She hesitated for a moment before giving her a hug. "It's okay Xion."
Xion smiled a little at Olette's care, sniffling a little. "T-thanks..."
"Oh, she get's the thanks? What about us? So ungrateful," teased Larxene.
Xion turned and blew her a raspberry.
Larxene shook her head, amused. "Fricken kids."
Axel just laughed.
Aqua cleared her throat. "Xion."
She turned to her. "Yes?"
"I suppose after hearing that, now would be the opportune time. Axel made a request of me, and having given it some thought, I will accept it. If you wish to leave your organization, I will take you in and protect you if you so wish," said Aqua.
Xion stared at her, stunned. "Aqua..."
Shes... a lot more like her original self than I thought if she offered that...
She blinked, registering the first half of what she said, and turned to Axel. "You... asked her to take me in?"
Axel averted his eyes. "Er... yes? It was just incase something went wrong, ya know? Wasn't... uh... a big deal."
Larxene grinned and slapped his back. "Someones embarrassed. You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a crush on our little Xion."
Axel grew in-dignified. "Oh please, she's just a kid."
"And you got your heart ate when? Eighteen? Twenty? Ain't that far off," said Larxene.
Axel scoffed. "Oh shove it and eat your ice cream."
Xion giggled a little at their banter, though, she wondered what a 'crush' was.
Oh wow... I forget sometimes you don't know a lot of things.
Before she could ask what it was, Aqua cleared her throat. "Well?"
Xion bit her lip and bowed her head, thinking it over. "I... don't know. I don't think I'm in anymore trouble for now, but..."
"If you say yes, you can live it my house!" offered Olette.
"She would have to reside in the mansion," corrected Aqua, "I would have to keep a closer eye on her to be ready if she was pursued by the Organization.
"Aww, that's no fun," said Olette with a pout.
"I'll... keep it in mind," said Xion, "But..."
After what Xehanort had made her do... she held absolutely no doubt he was an awful and evil man. The Voice had asked her to make a promise, to stop him, and she was willing to make it now. She needed to try and keep an eye on him, and if need be, put a stop to whatever he was really trying to do with Kingdom Hearts.
Xion...
"But, I'll stay with the Organization for now," said Xion.
Aqua stared at her, silently.
Xion grew sheepish and tried to divert attention, focusing on Larxene and Axel, "After all, someone has to look after these two silly goofballs."
Larxene scoffed. "Pff, please. WE'RE the silly ones? Get real you dope."
"Gotta agree with her there Xion," said Axel, raising an eyebrow at her.
"The choice is yours I suppose," interrupted Aqua, not detracted in the slightest, "The offer stands if you ever so wish to take it."
Xion gave her a small smile. "Alright, thank you."
The group grew silent, nibbling on ice-cream, staring out into the sunset at the clock behind them ticked away...