Chapter 17: The Final Straw
Xion walked into the library, a large room filled to the brim with books and computers. Truth be told, she had to look at a map to find it, she had never been here before. Sitting at a table reading a book in the center of the room, as it's sole inhabitant, was Mesaxn the Wise. She took a second to reappraise the man, looking over his blond hair worn long and slicked back, a short mustache and goatee, and bright orange eyes. Despite the emptiness that filled those eyes, they seemed just and kind.
She walked over and sat down across from him. "Mesaxn."
The man glanced up from his book. "Ah, young Xion, what brings you here?"
"I have a question for you," she said.
The man closed his book and leaned back in his chase. "I am always willing to answer the questions of the young and eager to learn."
She stared at him, hoping and praying that for once, she'd get an honest answer. "Do you know who is Kairi?
Mesaxn tilted his head and studied her. "The Keybearing Princess of Heart?"
Xion's eyes lit up. "Yeah! You know about her?"
Mesaxn stares at her for a time. "Yes, I do. She used to be an inhabitant of my world before it fell to darkness."
"Your world?" asked Xion.
"I used to rule the world of Radiant Garden, back when I was whole," he answered, "My name and tittle used to be Ansem the Wise."
She giggled a little. "Well, aside from the X and a scrambled name, it hasn't changed much."
The man chuckled softly. "No, I suppose it hasn't."
"What can you tell me about Kairi?" she asked.
The man thought for a moment. "I saw her once, as a child, picking flowers for her Grandmother. She had a purity and innocence about her unlike anything I had ever seen. To be honest, from what I've seen, only you could rival it."
Xion blushed a little.
He pulled at his beard, thinking. "I saw her once again, when I was on recon in Traverse Town a few years ago. If I were capable of it, I would have been saddened to see the child had hardened over the years, struggling to adapt and survive in the cruel world we lived in during the Heartless Apocalypse. I hadn't seen her since, though, I did hear she became an Keybearer, and had something to do with the end of the Heartless Apocalypse. Afterwords, she disappeared."
Mesaxn studied Xion. "You look a lot like her."
Xion nodded. "And I'm confused by that. People have been telling me that for awhile now, some have suggested that I'm Kairi's Nobody, but... I'm not sure."
Mesaxn's eyebrows furrowed. "That's impossible. You cannot be her Nobody."
Xion heart skipped a beat. Did he just give her an flat out honest answer?
"Why not?" she asked eagerly.
"Kairi is a Princess of Heart, someone with no darkness in their heart. As such, they cannot create a heartless when their heart is stolen, thus, cannot create Nobody's. Beyond that, their bodies will not leave the Realm of Light when their heart leaves their body, and as such, cannot be reborn as a Nobody," explained Mesaxn.
Xion was dumbstruck by the finality of his answer. "So... it's impossible for me to be Kairi's Nobody?"
Mesaxn appeared to ponder her question. "Not unless, if it's even possible, an exceptional set of circumstances happened, and even then, I'm not sure a Nobody would be created, or if it would even technically be her own Nobody in this case. I've theorized that if the heart of a Princess of Heart were in someone else when they lost their heart, became a heartless, and created a Nobody, that they might create a Nobody as well, but I'm not entirely certain on that."
That... almost happened with Sora...
"What do you mean?" asked Xion.
Silence.
"Dammit, why can't you give me an honest answer for once?!" demanded Xion.
I'm sorry Xion...
Xion licked her lips. Fine then, there was only one last thing to ask then...
"Mesaxn, if I can't be Kairi's Nobody... then why am I gaining her memories?" she asked.
Mesaxn's eyes went wide. "What?"
"Ever since I've been born, I've been experiencing her memories, I even have Keyblade," said Xion, "I'm certain, dead certain, at this point with what you said that I am not her Nobody."
Mesaxn grew wary. "I do not know, but I can say this: If you are not her Nobody, and were not fully born with those memories, then something unnatural is happening to cause you to gain them. I suspect the Superior may have an idea, if anyone in the Organization is to have one."
Figured...
"Xion...," said Mesaxn, "I want you to be careful. I have a 'feeling', based on what you said, that something is amiss."
Xion merely smiled at him. "I'll be fine, I know what I have to do."
Mesaxn frowned. "Is that so?"
"I'm going to get an answer from him, and if I don't, I'm done," she said, getting up and making for the door.
"Done? What do you mean?" Mesaxn called after her.
She didn't answer, and left the room.
Xion... he's right... you need to be careful.
"Miss Voice, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but unless your going to stop withholding the truth from me, then, SHUT, UP!" she hissed.
The voice went completely silent.
Xion walked silently through the halls, her hand running along the walls as she walked. She... had a feeling this might be one of the last times she saw this place. She slowly made her way to the Round Room and walked inside, ready to finally put the truth to rest, or be fed another lie and walk away.
The Superior was alone this time, appearing lost in thought over something. Xion took a Corridor to her throne and sat down, staring up at him.
She dropped all pretenses and politeness. "Xehanort."
The Superior froze before glancing down at her. "I'm curious how you know that name, Xion."
"Xehanort, who is Kairi?" she demanded.
The Superior scowled. "Xion, we've been over this before, I told you to drop the subject."
"I don't care," she snarled out, "I'm sick and tired out being lied to!"
The Superior pursed his lips. "What makes you think you are being lied to?"
She gave him a hard stare and decided to... make a gamble. She'd try to steer him towards an answer, and if he took the obvious bait, she'd know she'd never get an answer from her.
She cleared her throat. "I might be naive at times, but I'm not stupid. Things aren't adding up, I'm seeing memories that aren't my own, and I even have her Keyblade, WHO IS SHE?"
The Superior was surprised for a moment before a soft, victorious smile played across his face. "Seeing her memories?"
"Answer the question, or so help me I'll leave this damn Organization and go find the truth out for myself!" she threatened.
The Superior narrowed his eyes, intense displeasure coating his face. "Is knowing who Kairi is truly that important to you?"
"Yes," she answered."
"Fine then, Kairi is your former self, your somebody, you are her Nobody, you are Kairi," said the Superior.
Xion closed her eyes and tightened her fists. He had taken the bait... he had just straight up lied to her face again, going straight against what Mesaxn had just told her. She was so sick of this crap...
She opened her eyes and stared coldly at him. "I see."
The Superior stared down at her, a cold, calculating look in his eyes. "Is that all Xion?"
"I suppose it is," said Xion, taking a corridor back down to the floor.
With that, she turned and left the room.
She was so sick of the lies and the treachery. She felt... like she was running out of time to find out the answer of who Kairi truly is, and what her relationship to her was. What she had threatened the Superior, threatened Xehanort with was the only answer... she would never find the truth here. She wasn't going to get anything but lies and deception. It was time to go, time to leave the Organization. She'd say goodbye to Axel and Larxene, go give a goodbye to Nothing's Watch, and maybe Xokie too, and then she was gone. Oh, and Luxord to. Afterwords, she figured she'd go to Aqua and start there.
She walked to the infirmary, sighting Xigbar, Larxene, and Axel talking quietly to one another.
She walked up to them and stared at them silently.
"So kiddo, what did you find out?" asked Xigbar.
Her eyes flickered to him. "That it is impossible for me to be Kairi's Nobody."
Xigbar grinned. "And...?"
She walked passed him, not answering. Instead, she walked over to Axel and gave him a hug.
"Uh... Xion?" said Axel.
She did the same to Larxene. "What's with the random hugs you dope?"
Xion separated and took a few steps back, a soft sad smile on her face. "You guys have been good friends to me. I'm going to miss you."
Axel frowned. "Miss us? What the heck are you talking about Xion?"
Larxene crossed her arms. "Xion... are you thinking what I think your thinking..."
Xigbar laughed. "I think she is. Good for you kiddo, good for you."
Xion turned and walked off, offering a quiet and pained, "Goodbye..."
"Xion! Wait a second!" said Axel, moving to get off the infirmary bed.
Xigbar raised his guns again. "Ah ah ah, we've been over this before. You two aren't messing this up."
Xion didn't even turn, she walked out and strode to the Gray Area, ah, there was that lovable gambling man. There were three people in the room, Luxord, Xaldin, and Lexaeus.
She walked over to see Luxord playing a solo card game. "Luxord."
The man glanced up. "Ah, if it isn't my favorite player. Up for a game?"
She shook her head, walked over, and gave him a hug.
"Umm... Xion?" said Luxord, a bit confused.
"Just wanted to say bye before I left," she said, "Playing games with you during downtime was fun while it lasted."
A cautious look entered Luxord's eyes. "Xion... perhaps I misheard, but... did you say you were planning on leaving... as in leaving the Organization?"
There was a heavy silence. She became aware of the other two members in the area staring at her, hard.
Uh... Xion... that was a really bad move...
Xion brushed it off. "Yes. I'm done with the lies."
Luxord looked baffled. "Lies...? Xion what are you going on about?"
Xion turned and walked away, only to be cut off by Xaldin.
The man narrowed his eyes, a dangerous tone in his voice. "Child, I suggest you rethink your decision. All Nobodies belong to the Organization. Anyone who leaves the Organization is considered a traitor."
He leaned down. "I despise traitors."
Thud thud thud
She glanced behind her, sighting Lexaeus come up and stand a bit behind her, a frown on his face. "Xion, this course of action is unwise. If you attempt to abandon the Organization, you will be forced to return, or be destroyed."
"Forced to be in the Organization or destroyed huh?" she said defiantly, "Well, the more I know and learn, the more I begin to despise this group."
A spear appeared in Xaldin's hand.
"I have nothing against most of you," said Xion, feeling a surge of confidence, "Just the Superior, and maybe Vexen. So I suggest you move out of my way unless you want to get hurt."
Xaldin was briefly taken aback before he frowned. "You are playing a dangerous game Xion. The Organization is not to be trifled with."
She turned her head at the sound of something warping. She saw a heavy sword appear in Lexaeus's hand.
Xion... ever heard of the... Salvation technique?
"I've seen it in a memory," answered Xion.
Use it.
Xion spun. "LIGHT!"
BOOM!
Light ripped out of her body and blasted the two man back and into a wall, hard. They slumped to the ground dazed. Luxord made no move to stop her, merely staring at her almost sadly. She gave him a curt nod and then bolted. Time to go.
She got about half way down the castle before an alarm blared. "Attention all Core Organization members and castle staff. Number Thirteen Xion is to be apprehended and taken to the Soundless Prison. Use force if necessary."
You really... should have... just left without... telling anyone...
"Noted," she muttered.
WARP
Her eyes went wide to see lesser Nobodies appearing and rushing at her. "Crap!"
She summoned Oathkeeper and sliced through them.
Just take... a damn Corridor!
Oh right.
Xion aimed a hand forward... but nothing happened. "What?"
They're being... disrupted... get out of the castle!
Xion ground her teeth and sped up, cutting down lesser Nobodies as she went. She really didn't want to kill them, but she didn't have a choice at this point. She reached Twilight's view and blitzed down the steps, making for the Hall of Empty Melodies and...
WHAM
Xion gave a scream as something hit her and knocked her off the top balcony. She landed with a heavy thud down below and cringed.
"I believe this is where this escapade ends," came Zexion's voice.
Xion rose to her feet and glanced up to see the man levitate down, holding up a book. "Zexion... don't make me fight you."
"I believe I was about to say the same thing little one," said Zexion, "I am your superior in the Organization by far, you won't stand a chance."
Why don't... you show him otherwise? Give him... a nice Shock.
Xion's keyblade glew with light and she aimed it at him. "Shock!"
Light exploded at him, but to her surprise, it swirled around and was absorbed into his book.
What?!
Zexion aimed the book at her. "Shock."
Xion was thrown back when light exploded around her, she staggered on landing, her eyes going wide.
"My Lexicon can replicate most abilities and magic," explained Zexion, "Now, stand down."
Xion! We can't... fool around here! There will... be more coming! Use your... true power!
Xion ground her teeth and held out her free hand, concentrating her energy. In a flash of light, Two-Became One appeared in her hand.
Zexion's eyes went wide. "Two?!"
Xion froze when the Voice cried out in pain. Suddenly, Two-Became One became less broken, and Oathkeeper started taking on a damaged, rusty appearance. She stared at the two Keyblades, baffled. She didn't understand what was going on, but she didn't have time to try and figure it out.
She blitzed at Zexion, moving at a speed she hadn't thought she was capable of. She sliced his Lexicon in half with Oathkeeper, than sliced Two-Became One across the young man's chest, sending him staggering back and to the ground.
"S-such strength!" he gasped out, clutching his chest, "How? When?"
"I don't honestly know," she admitted, "That's one of the thing's I'm hoping to figure out. Now get out of here. I don't want to kill you."
Zexion staggered to his feet and backed away. "So be it."
She watched, satisfied, as he disappeared in a puff of black energy. She turned and...
WHAM
She cried out when a blast of black energy hit her and sent her staggering. "So bet it Xion, I suppose I will have to fight seriously."
She turned to see not one, but three Zexions floating in front of her, each holding a book. "What the?! Dammit Zexion!"
Xion... don't hold back... he had his chance... show him the power... of the Keyblade...
Xion ground her teeth and readied her Keyblades. "You asked for it!"
She flourished her Keyblades before pulling them under her armpits and thrusting them out. "Take that!"
Light exploded out of her in a nova, destroying two of the Zexions and sending the third staggering back. Xion blitzed forward, glowing brightly with light, the glow following her like a trail. She tore into him, swinging her Keyblade in wide arcs, unleashing bursts of searing light with each hit. The man cried out in pain before vanishing and reappearing a ways away, taking deep ragged breaths, his book glowing a heavy dark blue,
Xion hefted Oathkeeper and threw it like a spear, determined to knock the book out of his hands...
Only to gasp in shock when it went tore right through the book and embedded deeply into Zexion's chest.
The man staggered back and fell to a knee. "X-xion... how... how could you... betray us like this?"
She felt numb. "I... I didn't mean... didn't mean to..."
She watched as the man collapsed and disintegrated. She... she hadn't meant to kill him... just... knock the book away... and then maybe knock him unconscious... this... she didn't understand, where was all of this power coming from? She hadn't even meant to put that much into it!
Xion! You had... no choice... you have to go, now! They're... coming!
Xion closed her eyes, took a ragged breath, and recalled Oathkeeper to herself, and fled as a hoard of lesser Nobodies entered the room and gave chase. Tapping into her 'true power' as the Voice had said, made her far faster than them though. She didn't understand, she hadn't been this strong even when she had called our the second keyblade against the Ascended. What was going on?
She kept on going, not even stopping to fight lesser Nobodies anymore. She came out to Nothing's Call, she was almost there! Wait... was that Saix?
The man blocked the exit and stared coldly at her. "The Organization doesn't accept resignations."
Xion frowned and twirled her keyblades. "To bad, I'm leaving."
Saix eyed the two keyblades before summoning his claymore. "So be it."
Xion readied herself, and watched curiously as Saix raised his hands into the air, an overhead panel pulling back to reveal Kingdom Hearts high in the sky. "Can you feel it? The Moon's power?"
She blinked. "Huh?"
"Moon shine down!" he roared as he rose into the air.
Uh... do you feel that...?
Saix roared and landed on the ground, glowing with blue fire before he flew at her in a berserker like rage. Xion yelped and brought both of her keyblades up to block as he slammed his claymore against her weapons, blue fire exploding on impact and sending her staggering. Holy crap...
Xion leaped back as Saix roared and leaped into the air, throwing his claymore down and releasing a huge explosion of blue fire. He landed, grabbed it, and rushed at him again. Xion met him head on, swinging both of her keyblades to meet his claymore. Blue fire and light exploded on contact and both of them struggled to overpower the other. The broke off and began smashing their weapons against one another in flurry of sparking steel, light, and blue fire.
Finally, Xion got an opportunity, parrying aside an overreaching blow, making him stumble a bit, and slashing her other Keyblade into his shoulder. That knocked Saix back, making him stagger a bit. When he stopped, he narrowed his eyes at her.
"I misjudged you," said Saix, "To fight me head on in this state, you are far more than just some little girl."
"No more games," he warned.
Xion tensed and readied herself as the area visably began to darken.
"All shall be lost to you!" snarled out Saix.
Xion!
She dove as Saix blitzed forward, swinging his claymore and unleashing a nova of blue fire. He kept on going, moving in a circle to try and hit her, unleashing novas as he went. He leapt up into the air and came down, slamming his claymore inches from her. She gave a cry as a nova washed over her and sent her flying. She barely managed to land on her feet and stagger. Saix surged forward, swinging his claymore in a forward motion and unleashing a wave of blue fire at her. Xion rolled out of the way and scrambled to try and evade him. What WAS this?! This was insane!
She dove, ducked, and weaved as fast as she could, trying to evade his barrage of attacks. Some she did, some nicked her with a bit of fire, and his final attack hit her head on, bashing his claymore into her stomach, unleashing a burst of blue fire, and sending her rocketing back and slamming into a wall. Xion slumped to the ground, clutching her stomach in pain.
"D-damn...," she whispered.
Saix hefted his claymore over his shoulder. "Are we done number thirteen? I would prefer to get back to my normal duties rather than deal with your foolish antics."
Xion tried to stand up, only to collapse against the wall, groaning.
"I suppose I have my answer," said Saix, starting to move towards her.
Xion... funny thing about light... it can be used to heal... did you know that?
Xion's eyes went wide with recognition and placed a hand against her stomach, light emanating at the touch and washing away the damage.
Saix stopped moving. "What?"
Xion rose to her feet, narrowing her eyes at him. "My turn!"
She felt the light within her pulsating, ready and waiting to be unleashed. Unlike Saix though, the air did not darken as she unleashed her power, it went bright.
"Pearlstorm!" she cried out.
Dozens and dozens of homing pearl spells burst out of her body and rushed at the man, bombarding him over and over again. The man was sent crashing and cringing to the ground, light searing his coat and body with each hit. When the final spell hit and burst, he laid there, twitching in pain. Xion walked over and stood in front of him, staring down at him.
"Ngh... how much... longer...," muttered Saix, staring up at Kingdom Hearts in the sky.
Xion sighed and walked passed him, she had no desire to finish him off. Zexion had been an accident, she had no desire to kill any of her former comrades, save Xehanort of course.
"Kingdom... Hearts... will your strength... never be mine...?" muttered Saix.
Kingdom Hearts... isn't a power... people can just claim... it's so much more... an entity of light... the heart of all worlds...
Xion nodded absentmindedly, more focused on the fact that she had actually just beat Saix... and aside from that super attack he did, it... hadn't been that hard of a fight. Just... what was going on? Where was this raw strength coming from?
She sighed and shook her head, making for the exit, and leaving the Castle That Never Was...