Chapter 18: Fleeting Freedom
The sight that met Xion when she exited the castle made her start sweating buckets. There was a collection of Nobodies gathered with their weapons ready, including...
"Xion!" came Xifta's voice, running up over to her, "What's going on? We've received an alert of an alarm in the castle!"
Oh, so they didn't know. Uhh...
Improvise!
"There's a powerful intruder in the castle, he... um... killed Zexion," she said quietly.
Xifta's eyes went wide as a startled gasp went through the ground. "One of the Core Organization Members has fallen?"
Xion nodded and pointed back to the castle. "I was sent to get help, go, I'm heading to Nothing's Watch."
Without a word, Xifta and the rest of them barged into the castle. She watched them go, a little sad to have to lie to her. So much for saying goodbye...
"So... you're mind's made up?" came a familiar voice.
Xion turned her head, sighting Axel, dressed in a new and none-damaged cloak, leaning against a building, eyes on the ground. She wondered how he had gotten away from Xigbar. Larxene maybe? For a brief second, she questioned if he was here to stop her, no, Axel would never raise a weapon towards her.
"Who is Kairi. Why do I have her Keyblade? Why am I seeing her memories? I have to know," she said.
Axel slowly pushed off the building, his voice having an edge to it as he spoke, "Xion! Leaving quietly is one thing, but killing Zexion and making a mess? You can't turn on the Organization like this! You get on their bad side, and they'll destroy you!"
Xion gave him a sad smile and started walking passed him. "I'm not sure how many of them would actually miss me..."
Axel grabbed her arm, a pained look on his face. "Don't you dare say that, you know it's not true... because I... I would miss you Xion..."
He closed his eyes. "I couldn't bear to lose you Xion. You... I swear you make me feel like I have a heart."
That's because... he probably does... you both do... you both are growing fledgling hearts... to replace what was lost... or what was never there...
"What?" she whispered in disbelief, "We have... hearts?"
Axel's eyebrows furrowed and let go of her arm. "Xion?"
She hesitated before turning to him and coming clean, "Axel... ever since I first woke up, I've... had a companion, a voice in my head talking to me. She told me were growing new hearts."
Axel's contemplated it for a moment, looking lost, but still, his eyes narrowed. "And is she telling you to do this, to turn on us and leave?"
Xion was a bit surprised he didn't think she was insane.
I think... he might have an... idea of whats going on...
Xion stared at Axel, silently.
Xion... just... forget all of this... forget the Organization and... Xehanort. Run away with Axel... grow out your hearts... and live the rest of your lives... happy and free...
"What does she want huh? For you to go to the Keybearers?" said Axel bitingly, "She'll get you killed Xion!"
She didn't know what the Keybearers had to do with this, but...
She extended a hand towards him, offering him a smile. "She just told me to run away with you Axel, to live happy and free. To regrow our hearts together."
Axel looked shocked, speechless. "I..."
He hesitated, looking down at her hand. "Xion, where would we go?"
"To Aqua," said Xion, "You got her to agree to taking me in, I'm sure she'll take you in too."
"I don't know if she could keep us safe from the entirety of the Organization if the Superior sent the others after us," admitted Axel, "She's strong, but she's still only one person."
"Please Axel," she begged, "Come with me. If Aqua doesn't work out, then we will find somewhere else. There's so many worlds out there to hide in if we have to."
Axel hesitated for a moment longer before slowly, his hand extended and her grasped hers. She smiled a warm smile at him before turning and making a Dark Corridor that they went through together. They came out before the Twilight Town Mansion and walked up to the door, knocking softly.
There was a pattering of feet before Olette opened the door. "Xion!"
The girl paused briefly, growing confused. "What's with your hair? It's all kind of... reddish?"
Xion blinked a few times. "All?"
She looked at her face. "You almost look like..."
She took notice of Axel. "Oh, and Axel too, hi, what brings..."
She paused, noting their held hands, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "What brings you two here huh?"
Axel coughed and pulled his hand away from Xion's. "Uh... trouble."
Olette frowned. "Trouble...?"
"Let them inside Olette," came Aqua's voice.
Olette moved aside, and they walked in, sighting Aqua walking down the steps towards them.
"Aqua," said Xion, "You said you'd take me in, right? If I had to leave the Organization?"
Aqua nodded. "I did."
"Would you take Axel in as well?" Xion pleaded.
Aqua frowned, her eyes shifting back and forth between them. "I suppose, if I must."
Xion smiled a wide smile, and for a moment, she felt a little dizzy with happiness, her voice sounding odd. "Thank you Master Aqua!"
The woman froze before looking at her sharply. "Why did you call me that?"
Xion blinked a few times, raising a hand to her lips. "I... don't know..."
"If were gonna stay here Xion, we can't keep things from her, she needs to know what happened," said Axel.
Xion bit her lip nervously, hoping Aqua wouldn't go back on what she said. "I... I've been seeing Kairi's memories. I use her Keyblade. I went to see Mesaxn about it, and he told me when I asked that it was impossible for me to be Kairi's Nobody, since she's a Princess of Heart, since she has no darkness in her heart and can't make a Heartless."
Aqua crossed her arms in thought. "A Princess of Heart... hmm... the notion is vaguely familiar to me."
"I went to confront the Superior, I didn't tell him what I had learned. When I finally got an answer it out him, it was a lie. He told me that I was Kairi's Nobody," said Xion, "So I left. But... um... they tried to stop me. I killed a lot of lesser Nobodies, I... killed Zexion, and beat Saix."
"Wait what? Saix?" said Axel, "I uh... only heard about Zexion before I took off."
Xion gave him a sheephish look. "He really hurts ya know."
"So what you're saying," said Aqua thinly, interrupting them, "Is that I can expect hostility from the Organization if I allow you to stay."
"Don't even think about it Aqua," said Olette sternly, "They're staying!"
Aqua frowned at her. "Do you realize what that means for you Olette? If I house them, you will become a target to get at me."
Olette crossed her arms. "Hmph. You taught me how to use magic, I'll be fine."
Aqua deadpanned. "Olette, you'd be lucky to be able to handle a Dusk at your stage of magic and training."
Olette's face flushed red with embarrassment and she looked down, kicking the floor. "Stupid Aqua..."
Aqua didn't look phased. "If I did this, you'd have to leave everything behind and live here to be safe. Would you really be willing to give up your family, school, and your other friends for..."
"Yes," answered Olette.
Aqua said nothing, simply staring at her.
Olette turned to Xion. "I'm scared for you Xion. When you told me they made you kill someone. All the lying they do to you, and this... trying to keep you a prisoner in their Organization. You're my friend, so if I have to give up a little freedom to keep you safe, I'm willing to do so."
Xion stared at her, speechless.
I can see... why Aqua's Nobody... cares for her so much...
"Somebodies sure are something, aren't they Xion?" said Axel sheepishly, "Jeez..."
A chuckle sounded from the doorway behind him. "Ya know, I expected you to come here to get her help to fight Xehnort, not to run away."
Xion and Axel whirled to see Xigbar standing there.
"Olette, back," ordered Aqua, stepping forward.
"Wait," said Xion, holding out a hand to stop Aqua, "He's not here to attack us."
Aqua paused briefly and focused on Xigbar. "You... I know you from somewhere..."
Xigbar grinned at her. "Been awhile 'Master Aqua', good ten years or so since that showdown with Xehanort in the Keyblade Graveyard."
Aqua said nothing, staring at him silently.
"I remember where my loyalties lie," said Xigbar, "We cut a deal, you and I, back when you were a full person to stop Xehanort. I think, had it been your choice, you woulda came through on your end of the bargain, but, I saw his eyes glowing in yours, you didn't have a chance. I've been out Xion and Kairi as a show of good faith to you. So, after all this is over, and were back to who we were before, I expect you to fulfill your end of the bargain."
Xion's eyebrows furrowed. And Kairi...?
What... is he up to?
Aqua stared at him, slightly confused. "I do not remember any deal, and what makes you think I can become whole again?"
Xigbar just laughed. "What indeed."
Aqua glared at him.
"Ah! There it is," said Xigbar with mock glee, "That Keybearer glare, man, it's been awhile since I've seen that. Wonder how mine will look if I ever get one of those."
"Xigbar, why are you here?" said Axel.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the door before glancing at Xion, ignoring Axel. "So, you'd really be willing to just hang out here and not stop Xehanort? Even with what he has planned?"
Axel placed a hand on Xion's shoulder. "We're through with that crap Xigbar, get lost."
Xion stared at Xigbar silently before she willingly took his bait. "What plan?"
"You know what he says about Kingdom Hearts, right? That it can give us back our hearts?" said Xigbar.
Xion nodded.
"Well, he does want to give out hearts, thirteen to be exact, thirteen copies of his own," said Xigbar.
Xion stared at him blankly. "Huh?"
"He could have done it by now, but he got greedy with all the potential vessels," said Xigbar, "What he wants to do is hook up thirteen people to Kingdom Hearts, implant copies of his heart in them, and turn them into Vessels, copies of himself, in order to turn them into the thirteen Seekers of Darkness."
"What?!" she said, shocked.
"Son of a bitch, I always wondered if the big floating heart in the sky was to good to be true," muttered Axel.
"Why?" demanded Xion.
"Thirteen darknesses, to clash against seven lights, and make the ultimate key...," began Xigbar.
"The kye-blade," murmured Aqua, "Or, X-Blade I suppose, same difference."
"Ah! You remember it?" asked Xigbar.
"Faintly," said Aqua, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration, "I don't remember much else about it."
Xigbar nodded. "Figured as much. That means though, that you don't remember what someone can do with the X-Blade, do you?"
Xion took a step forward. "What do you mean?"
"If Xehanort gets the X-Blade, he can open the door to the real Kingdom Hearts, and remake the worlds as he sees fit," said Xigbar.
Xion's eyes went wide with shock. "W-what?!"
He's... serious... Xion... shit... I wanted you... to be free... but... we have to... stop Xehanort... we have to set... Kingdom Hearts free...
Axel crossed his arms and murmured. "There wont be a safe place for us if he can just remake the worlds like that."
Xigbar grinned at Xion. "So then kiddo, what will you do?"
Xion stared at him silently for a minute. She had been so close... she had tasted it for a second, to be here, free of the Organization and Xehanort, only for this to happen...
I'm so sorry... Xion...
"I'll stop him," said Xion firmly, "I suppose I already made a promise to do so anyway."
Xigbar nodded and walked passed her to stand beside Axel, facing Aqua. "So then bluebird, what say you?"
Aqua stared at him silently.
Xigbar breifly eyed Axel. "And you flamsilocks? You gonna let your girl go it alone?"
Axel glared at him, a little flustered. "O-of course not!"
Xion's heart skipped a beat. Axel... he was going to try and come with her? No... that would put him in danger!
"Miss Voice, do you know how to knock someone out real quick?" asked Xion.
A hit... on the back of the neck... can do it if... you hit the right spot... why?
Xion summoned her keyblades, reversed her grips, and surged forward and leaped, smashing the handles into the backs of Xigbar and Axel's necks. The two men crumpled to the ground unconscious.
"X-xion!" squeaked out Olette, "What are you doing?!"
Xion stared at Aqua's questioning eyes. "Look after Axel for me, please. I don't want him, don't want any of you to get involved and get hurt."
Xion... we could really... use their help...
"I'm NOT letting them get hurt!" hissed Xion.
Aqua stared at her silently for a moment. "As you wish."
Xion gave Aqua and Olette a warm, but sad smile before turning and walking out of the mansion. She'd do this alone. She wasn't going to endanger her friends. Those she cared for. She took a deep breath and got ready to make a Dark Corridor back to the castle...
Xion... before we go back... can I make a request?
Xion lowered her hand. "Umm, sure?"
We... never found my... Grandma when we... were in Radiant Garden... can we please... go look for her? I... want to see her... at least one last time...
Xion's eyebrows furrowed. "Last time?"
Uh... just incase we... don't make it...
"We?" questioned Xion.
Silence.
Xion sighed and shook her head. "Fine, I'll go see if we can't find your grandma."
Xion opened a corridor and took it to Radiant Garden, back to the reactor she had briefly 'fought' Riku at. She resumed her search for the elderly woman. It was much more easier this time, she had a faint image of who she was looking for in her head now.
No, she had more than just an image...
Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people's hearts. It covered everything, and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived, in the hearts of children. With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It's the world we live in now. But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness. That's why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other. But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open, and the true light will return. So, listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away.
Xion closed her eyes, a wistful smile on her face as the story, as Grandma's words, echoed through her mind. "Grandma..."
She remembered, all the sudden, walking down a path, along the city streets, to a house where the elderly woman resided. She smiled softly and left the reactor area, going into the city. She followed the memory, and came to a tiny little cottage at the edge of the town, overlooking a great maw like area.
It was a quite placed, a small fence surrounding it. It looked like someone, perhaps the little girl in her memories, had painted flowers all over it. There was a tiny little vegtable garden to the right of the cottage. But there... on the porch, sitting in a rocker, was an elderly woman...
Puffy gray hair, an old, sagging, but nice face. She wore a purple dress, with a white apron over it. The woman... seemed sad, sitting in the rocker, lost in a memory...
G-grandma... oh Grandma... please don't be sad over me...
Xion wanted to go to the woman, to hug all her sadness away...
You... you have to go... Xion... if we win... you can come back... and make her happy... for the both of us...
Xion nodded absent mindedly and turned away from the house walking away.
Alright... lets do it...
"Not yet, there's something I want to do here too," said Xion.
What?
"That photo of that little girl... I want to see if Riku put it back at the plaque," said Xion.
Xion... there's no time... for that...
"Says the one who made me go track down her grandma," scolded Xion.
...
"I got you there," said Xion cheekily.
As Xion made for the central square, just before she reached it, something clicked for her.
"Wait a second... that's your grandma," said Xion, "But, if she's your grandma... and I have Kairi's memories of her... are you..."
She didn't get to finish her question as she entered the square. She trailed off, taking the place in. The flowers and mass of pictures had been taken down, leaving only the plaque embedded in the ground. However, it wasn't the plaque that caught her eye.
It was who was standing over it, staring down at it sadly.
It was the boy from the memories...
The one with spiky hair... blue eyes... and a kind face.
It was...
"Sora..."
Author's Notes:
[SPOILER AHEAD]
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I can't resist, the name of the next chapter is: "The Other Promise."