[Disclaimer: ...we obviously don't own Kingdom Hearts...if only we were that good... ;) ]
CHAPTER TWELVE
Scary Stories
With the rest of the group, everyone sat around, trying to figure out what had happened.
"I'm sorry about that guys…I think I broke my off switch," Marluxia apologized.
"Don't let it happen again!" Saix said angrily.
Demyx threw a petal ball at Axel.
"I don't think the petals work the same way as snow…" Axel said as he watched the petals fall apart and float to the ground, not even close to hitting him.
"Fine…let's continue with our picnic," Demyx said, sitting down and pouting.
Zexion brushed the petals off his book. "This is just too much…"
"My hair…" Vexen said, picking petals out of his hair. "These things stick to my hair gel like it's glue…"
Axel rolled his eyes. "I'm sure there's not much more danger that could be done to your hair, Vexen."
However, Vexen was too busy trying to get the petals out of his hair to hear him.
Sitting next to Demyx, Chelly looked around. "We're in the same place, right?"
"Where's Leximy?" Saix asked.
"She was just here a moment ago!" Marluxia exclaimed, looking around in a panic.
Chelly stood up and glared at the two. "What did you do with Leximy?"
Leximy sat down on the picnic blanket and picked up a half eaten watermelon. "I feel so left out…why didn't they kidnap me, too? …what am I supposed to do now?"
Demyx finished his half of the watermelon with a happy sigh. "What's for dessert?"
"…ice cream!" Axel said. "What better place to eat sea salt ice cream than the ocean."
"Yeah! Go friendship!" Roxas said, high fiving Axel.
"…right…" Zexion said, giving the two an odd look.
"How can you talk about ice cream at a time like this? We need to find Leximy!" Marluxia shouted. "She must have been raising her hand!"
"Hmm…something isn't right here…" Chelly said, looking around. "Is Leximy the one that was moved somewhere else…or are we?"
There was a slight pause.
"Ugh…" Demyx said, holding his head. "Too much thinking…"
"Too much work for you, Demy?" Axel asked.
"Yes…"
"We need to search the premises immediately. Everyone split up into teams," Saix ordered.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, who put you in charge?" Marluxia asked.
Saix pointed at Xemnas who sat on a conveniently placed lawn chair and tanned.
Without looking up, Xemnas said, "Do what he says." He waved his hand and adjusted his sun glasses.
Marluxia crossed his arms at Saix's smirk.
"Maybe they went back to the ship? …without me. That seems odd…I'll check anyway," Leximy said, standing up and brushing off her dress.
"Why are you talking to yourself?" a random passerby asked.
"So Chelly knows what I'm thinking, of course," Leximy responded.
"Who's Chelly…? Do you need some help? You seem a little…lost in the head."
"I'm not lost! And I'm not in my head!"
Chelly looked up suddenly. "I have the strangest feeling Leximy needs me…"
"Hey, I'm the one who has the Leximy sense!" Marluxia exclaimed, pointing to himself proudly.
"No, you're the one with the Leximy tracker," Saix pointed out.
Marluxia looked away. "Same thing."
"Hm…even so," Chelly said, opening a portal. "There's only one way to find out!"
She took a step forward, but was stopped short by Axel.
"You're just going to get lost again…" Axel said.
"Nu-uh," Chelly said, holding out a map.
"You don't know how to read a map."
"Maybe I shouldn't tell you any more secrets…"
Axel smirked. "Where are you going?"
"I was going to try the ship…"
"Wait, Marluxia, can I see your tracker?" Saix asked.
"…no! It's mine! It's the only advantage over you I have left!"
"Xemnas, Marluxia won't share his Leximy tracker!"
"Don't make me come over there, you two!" Xemnas shouted in a commanding voice. "Marluxia, share with Saix!"
"But…but…"
"No buts!"
"Okay…" Marluxia said, handing over his tracker to Saix.
Saix smirked and turned the tracker on. The tracker started beeping, and Saix started following it. "It says…she's right here," Saix said, looking up as if she should be standing right in front of him.
"Is it some other dimension?" Demyx asked, looking around bewildered.
"Hmm…this doesn't make any sense…" Chelly said, sitting down. "I don't understand…" She pulled out a stack of books from Axel's pockets and began to read.
"What the…" Axel said, looking over at Zexion who smiled at him over his book.
"I bet this thing is broken…" Saix said, hitting it against Marluxia's head.
"Hey!" Marluxia exclaimed, grabbing it from him. "What are you doing?"
"Another dimension…huh," Vexen said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I've heard about this sort of thing, like a worm hole in the space time continuum. Maybe she travelled back in time?"
"But then why would this piece of junk say she was standing right here?" Saix asked.
"Hmm..." Vexen picked up one of Chelly's books and started to read.
"Study party!" Demyx shouted happily. His smile quickly disappeared. "Wait…I don't want to study!"
"Chelly, what do you think? …Chelly?" Axel waved his hand in front of her face and sighed. "This is why I don't like it when she reads…" He glared at Zexion. "And why she should stay away from you."
Zexion his book down from his face and smiled. "You don't want her to be smart? Because you know she'll ditch you if she reads more often?"
"That has nothing to do with it."
"Chelly! Please put the books away!" Demyx cried, sobbing on her shoulder.
Chelly was too into her book to notice.
Saix turned to Marluxia. "There's no way your stupid little flower petals could send Leximy to another dimension."
Marluxia smiled and flipped his hair. "Flower power."
Leximy walked over to the ship and attempted to climb up the ramp. "Ugh, what is this?" she said, hitting an invisible force field that wouldn't allow her to take more than two steps. "What the heck is going on here?"
Vexen glanced at Chelly. Chelly glanced back. The two nodded their heads and each picked up another book and continued reading.
Demyx gasped. "They're speaking some kind of secret language!" he exclaimed, walking over and staring intently at Chelly. "Aw, I didn't receive your message, Chelly, try it again!" He paused, and then sighed. "Fine! Don't say anything!"
"I'm sure those two can come up with some kind of explanation," Axel said with confidence.
"Does someone want to go get some more tanning lotion?" Xemnas asked, holding up his empty tanning lotion bottle.
"Now is not the time, Superior," Saix said, waving his hand dismissively and looking at Chelly's book over her shoulder.
Xemnas gasped.
"What is the world coming to…?" Axel asked.
"What if…" Vexen started.
"Yes?" Saix pressed.
"What if this island was somewhere near…the Bermuda triangle? That could surely spark something of this caliber."
Zexion shook his head. "That's all that you can come up with?"
Vexen stared at him. "And who asked you? I don't believe you're the scientist here," he said, pointing to himself and Chelly.
Zexion exhaled and his bangs floated up with it. "Let's say we believe your ridiculous example. How would Marluxia's flower petals suddenly create it to react?"
"Because my flower petals, contrary to popular belief, are the most powerful weapon in the Organization!" Marluxia said, throwing his head back and laughing.
Zexion turned to Vexen. "You almost had me, and then he ruined it…"
"There is some truth to his words…" Vexen said.
"Wait, really? …I mean, of course!" Marluxia said, standing proudly. "Bow before me!"
Xemnas reached over and poked him. He squealed and went back to his normal standing position.
"Marluxia's flowers may have triggered a reaction to the triangles' power…creating some sort of whirlwind that transported Leximy into a secular world."
"English please?" Demyx said, scratching his head.
"Leximy go bye-bye," Axel said. "Got it memorized?"
Chelly laughed and hit Axel on the head lightly with her book. "Don't be rude to Demy just because he doesn't know big words!"
"Yeah!" Demyx agreed, sticking his tongue out.
"Oh thank goodness," Axel said, giving Chelly a hug. "I thought I lost you for good…"
"But…I was right there…" Chelly said, pointing to the spot next to the books.
"It's only a matter of time…" Zexion whispered.
Axel turned and glared at him.
"I believe Vexen has most of it correct," Chelly said.
"Most?" Vexen said with a smirk. "Please, tell me what I could have possibly missed.
"I believe the words Marluxia used when it happened was 'I think I broke my off switch'. Now, this wouldn't normally mean anything besides Marluxia being…well, Marluxia."
Marluxia smiled, unaware of what she was implying.
"But when he let off all of his petals, they were only under control for a brief moment before a chain of events occurred shortly after."
"And those chain of events are…?" Vexen persisted.
"Because of his Nobody status, there was an opposite effect with his power that a Somebody would not be able to do. This powerful reaction, in which every one of us had the ability to do, but not the knowledge of how to activate, coupled with the power he knew he was using, resulted in a slightly rip in time and space, which Luxord and Xigbar should have seen coming, if they were not parts in it already."
Xigbar and Luxord stood outside of the group, whistling as though they did nothing.
"And Leximy, the only one with a heart, was sent through. She is now in an alternate reality, which cannot be sustained for long periods of time…" Chelly finished.
"What do you mean?" Vexen asked.
"Well…Heartless will soon override it…"
Saix grabbed Vexen's robe collar. "How do we get her back? She can't fight all those Heartless by herself!"
"Have some faith Saix! Leximy is very capable…" Marluxia said.
Saix grabbed Marluxia's collar with his free hand. "What is she gonna do, put dresses on all of them? We have to save her! Make more flowers!" he exclaimed, then turned to Vexen. "Could that work, if Marluxia makes more flowers could we send someone else there to save her?"
Vexen coughed. "I'm…not sure. I mean, we could try…but, since none of us have hearts, I doubt we'll be taken into that world."
Saix sighed dramatically. "Now I really wish I had a heart…"
"Well, there's really only one way to try, right?" Marluxia said, smiling and putting out his hands.
"No! Not the flowers again!" Demyx exclaimed, falling to the ground and covering his head with his hands.
Marluxia called forth his flower wrath, as Saix braced himself. One single petal floated down to the ground.
"…that was it…seriously?" Saix asked.
"Uh…" Marluxia said, closing his eyes, then opening them again. "Yeah, I think so…"
"I suppose this isn't going to work…" Vexen noticed.
"Wait, where's Xaldin?" Xigbar asked.
The group looked around.
Leximy sat down on the picnic blanket once again. "This is super awesome…" she said sarcastically.
She picked up a sugar cube and shrugged. Xaldin smacked her hand away.
"Don't tell me…" Saix said.
"No way! He got to go with Leximy? Didn't he?" Marluxia exclaimed.
"Hm…this is another matter entirely…" Chelly said, sitting down and starting another book.
"You mean…we had to go through your long explanation…for nothing? Why?" Demyx sobbed.
Axel shrugged, then noticed Chelly had picked up another book. "Oh no," he said, hitting his forehead with his palm.
Zexion smiled from behind his book.
Vexen turned to Marluxia. "Make more petals!"
"How come Xaldin went…? What about him being heartless? Does that not matter?" Saix asked.
Axel pointed to the horse running alone down the beach. "It must have been his love for the horse…he was filled with so much passion with the thrill of the ride."
"It's like a Lifetime movie," Xigbar said, wiping a tear away.
Chelly looked up. "Good try, but that's not what happened. See, when the portal opened—"
Demyx ran over and covered her mouth, then looking at everyone. "She says she agrees," he said with a nod.
"Well, if you know what's going on, you won't need these anymore…" Axel said, putting the books in a hole he had made and burying them.
Chelly tried to say something, but was muffled by Demyx's hand.
"How did you get back? Where is everyone else?" Leximy asked.
Xaldin scowled. "I didn't come back, I got sent here to you. You're in some weird reality…I don't know, but this sucks…"
"What? A 'weird reality'? How do we get out?"
"Don't ask me…all I know is, we're about to be joined by a bunch of Heartless…" he grumbled.
"H-heartless? But…Saix isn't here to protect me…"
"Don't look at me, I'm looking out for myself. You're on your own."
Saix glared at Chelly. "We don't need a long explanation of what's going on. We just need to know how to fix it."
Chelly gave a muffled sigh.
"I believe what Chelly would have said is correct, though I don't know what the solution would be…"
"But…how do you know what she was going to…?" Demyx started, paused, then glared. "Dumb secret language…"
Chelly pulled Demyx's hand off her mouth, flipped him over, then held him down. "All we need to do is get Luxord and Xigba~ over there to do some of their magic, and Leximy will be as good as home free."
Xigbar glanced at Luxord. "And how do you propose we do that?"
"I'm sure the two of you already know," Vexen said.
"Well, Xigba~, we've gotten ourselves into quite the pickle once again, eh, old mate?" Luxord said, elbowing Xigbar.
Xigbar chuckled. "That we have…"
The two noticed everyone had stepped closer and closer to surround them with intimidation.
Chelly let go of Demyx, stood up, and brushed off her dress. "You both know how to do it…"
"Actually, love, I'm not sure what you want us to do," Luxord corrected.
Chelly sighed and pointed at her feet, where there were some drawings. "Just close your eyes, think of Leximy and Xaldin, and my magic will do the rest."
Xigbar turned to Luxord, then to Chelly. "We don't…have to hold hands or anything, do we?"
"Not unless you want to…"
Luxord took Xigbar's hand as they slowly faded away.
Leximy cringed as a giant Heartless flew up through the air, getting ready to land on Leximy.
Xigbar shot it as the two appeared.
Luxord tapped Leximy on the shoulder. "'Ello Love."
"Oh thank goodness!" Leximy exclaimed, hugging him. "I've been rescued!"
"What happened to Xaldin?" Xigbar asked.
In the distance, Xaldin tried to get passed the force field to the horse just on the other side.
Xigbar suddenly appeared behind Xaldin. "Whatcha doing?"
Xaldin jumped and turned to him. "N-nothing," he said, coughing and forcing a scowl. "When did you guys get here?"
"Just now. You'd better hurry; Chelly can only maintain the magical bridge for a short amount of time."
Moments later, the four go through her magical bridge, and appeared back with everyone else.
Leximy ran over and punched Marluxia. "This is all your fault! What were you thinking?"
Marluxia coughed. "I don't remember…" he said, flinching.
Saix tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around. "What?"
"I'm glad you're okay…" Saix said, hugging her.
Chelly closed the portal and looked at the four. "Welcome back!" she said before looking at Marluxia. "If that ever happens again, I'm sending you to the worst place on any world!"
Marluxia looked around before looking at her. "Home…?"
Chelly shook her head and smiled.
Marluxia paused and waited for her to respond, but she just continued smiling.
"Well…now that that's over," Axel said. "What do we do now?"
"What time is it? I'm tired!" Demyx whined, sitting down and crossing his arms. "I want to go to bed!"
"Me, too." Leximy yawned into Saix's robes.
Saix pat her on the head.
"Shall we camp out on the beach? I can make a bon fire," Axel said, looking hopeful.
Demyx's eyes suddenly widen and he gasped. "Marshmallows!"
Chelly looked over as the sun set. "It looks like we're in Twilight Town…" she said with a smile.
"Romantic, huh?" Axel asked, putting his arm around Chelly.
She yawned and nodded. "Does anyone know what we're doing tomorrow…?" she asked, leaning against Axel.
"I have an idea…" Axel said with a smile.
Xigbar laughed softly.
"What's so funny?" Leximy asked, yawning again.
"Nothing…nothing at all," Xigbar said.
Axel smiled and squeezed Chelly's shoulder.
Chelly looked up at Axel who smiled down at her. "What's your idea?"
Axel opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupting by Demyx running past him, pushing him a little. "I want marshmallows!" he said, before saying in a sing-song voice, "I want liver, meow mix, meow mix, please deliver!"
"What's that childish song?" Xaldin scowled.
"Oh, let the kid have his fun," Xigbar said, handing Demyx a bag of marshmallows.
"Where did you get those?" Xaldin asked.
Xigbar smiled.
"Who wants to gather fire wood?" Leximy asked.
"There's no need," Axel said. He scooped up a pile of Marluxia's flower petals still littering the ground and set them ablaze.
Marluxia grabbed his chest. "I think this is what a heart attack feels like…"
"So it's true! Heartless can get heart attacks!" Saix exclaimed before composing himself once more.
"That's nice dear…" Leximy said, yawning again. "The fire's so warm and pretty…"
Saix smiled.
Demyx reached a long stick over the fire, marshmallows covering from end to end; the group noticed there wasn't any room for him to hold onto it without getting goo on his fingers. But the musician didn't care.
"Demyx, you're going to hurt yourself!" Chelly exclaimed.
"No, I'm going to have lots to eat!" Demyx countered with a smile.
Axel put the burnt flowers down into the fire, then turned to Marluxia. "Want to make some more?" he asked with a smile.
"…you monster," Marluxia hissed.
Leximy looked at Demyx's stick. "I think we need some graham crackers…"
"And…candy!" Xemnas added.
"If by candy, you mean chocolate, then I agree," Leximy said. "We need some sleeping bags, too…or something if we're going to sleep out here. It's starting to get cold."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of that," Saix said, putting his arm around her and looking away casually.
"Psh, like your measly arm could keep her from shivering! I'll take care of you Leximy!" Marluxia exclaimed, grabbing the hem of his robe.
Axel put his hand over Marluxia's. "Now is not the time…"
While Axel wasn't looking, he ripped off his robe and threw it around Chelly's shoulders.
Chelly held the jacket and smiled. "Thanks, I guess I should've worn something warmer than a dress…"
Zexion sat next to Chelly and smirked. "It's okay, I'll take care of you," he said.
Roxas snickered into his palm. Axel took notice of this and turned to follow his gaze. "What the…" he said, storming over to the two.
Marluxia waited for Axel to leave, then ripped off his robe, petals gracefully falling around him, then placed it gently over Leximy's shoulders. "For you, my lady."
Leximy looked over at Chelly from beneath Marluxia's robes, which landed on her head. "We should make a tent out of these…for us, anyway," Leximy said with a smile. "Saix, you can help with the sewing part, right?"
"Anything for you," Saix said, laughing slightly at Marluxia.
Marluxia took a deep breath and remained composed.
"He looks like he's about to cry," Larxene said with a smile. "I can't wait."
Demyx suddenly gasped. "We should tell ghost stories!"
"Didn't we already have enough scary stories at the sleep over?" Roxas asked.
Chelly waved her hand. "Nah, we didn't end up watching Larxene's home movies."
Everyone sighed with relief.
"This one time…at band camp…" Larxene started.
"No, stop! This is too scary!" Leximy interrupted, hiding deeper under Marluxia's robe.
"You went to band camp…?" Chelly asked.
Larxene rolled her eyes. "Doesn't everyone?"
"I can't even play an instrument…" Chelly said sadly.
"Aw, Larxene, don't be so mean!" Demyx exclaimed, patting Chelly's shoulder. "I'll teach you how!"
Chelly gasped. "I get private lessons?"
Demyx nodded and smiled.
"Oh gosh…I'd better go buy some ear plugs," Leximy said.
"Please be sure to get a set for everyone," Xigbar said.
"Don't be mean, Xigba~," Luxord said.
"I'll listen to you Chelly," Axel encouraged. "I would love to hear you and Demyx make beautiful music together."
"Oh dear…" Leximy said.
"What?" Axel said, then he realized. "…oh."
"Thanks Axel! Demyx and I will do our best!"
"No wait, I take that back!" Axel amended.
Demyx leaned to Chelly. "He doesn't want you to learn."
Chelly gasped. "How could you, Axel?"
"No, I do want you to learn, but…" Axel said, scratching his head. "I just don't want you to…uh…" He sighed. "Never mind…"
"Okay! I'll play something fun…like…the triangle!"
"Demyx! Your marshmallows are on fire!" Leximy exclaimed.
"Oh no! Hot! Hot!" Demyx yelled, running and flinging around the hot goo of marshmallows.
"No, not my hair!" Marluxia shouted, running around and protecting his head.
"I hope these robes are fireproof…" Leximy said, hiding deeper below Marluxia's robe.
Axel snickered.
"Demyx! Your water!" Xigbar said. "Just put it out!"
Demyx paused and smiled. "Oh yeah! …dance water, dance!" His water clones rose up from the ocean and doused the marshmallows. "All better!"
"But…they're soggy…" Chelly said sadly.
Demyx shrugged. "I spent a long time putting them over that evil fire…the least I can do is put them out of their misery!" He popped one of them in his mouth.
"What do you mean by 'evil' fire?" Axel asked, raising an eyebrow.
Demyx simply smiled.
Leximy came out from hiding. "Chelly, tell us a story!" she said with a yawn.
"Yeah, Chelly, tell us a story," Saix agreed.
Zexion put his book down and looked at Chelly. Axel smiled sweetly at her.
"Story time! Story time!" Demyx sang.
Chelly looked around and blushed. "Okay…well, I do have a story, but it's kind of scary…I told this to another group of boys and one girl," she said, glancing at Leximy. "And they were pretty scared…"
Larxene looked at Leximy, then glared at Chelly. "I'd better be the other girl…"
Chelly ignored her. "Anyway, it was a cold night when a group…just like this one, actually, decided it'd be fun to take a trip…"
"Go on! Go on!" Leximy encouraged.
Demyx shivered. "Y-yeah, Chelly, keep going!" he encouraged.
Chelly coughed and continued, "Well, now that I notice it, they all had the same name as this group, too…huh…must be a coincidence. Anyway, they were walking around a beach when they decided to take a rest from a long day. It was getting dark, so they decided to camp out right on the beach. Everything was fine, and everyone was having fun until Demyx turned and noticed the…person Larxene wasn't part of their group anymore. 'Hey, where did Larxene go?' he asked. Everyone looked over and realized she had vanished without a trace. 'Maybe she had to powder her nose?' Marluxia suggested. Everyone agreed at first, but when she didn't come back for a while, they were beginning to think something bad was amiss…"
Leximy grabbed Saix's hand without noticing. "Then what happened?"
Demyx started shaking. "Y-yeah…then what?"
"This is quite the horror tale. Jolly good fun, eh?" Luxord said with a chuckle.
"Well, they agreed to start searching for…Larxene, not knowing where they could've been! When they met back in the middle, they realized Xigbar, Xaldin, and Luxord had gone missing as well…mostly because they only make special appearances," she said with a knowing nod.
"Did anyone else notice Larxene was missing?" Leximy asked.
An ominous wind blew through the camp site, disturbing the fire, lightning flashed, and a clap of thunder sounded throughout the sky.
Xigbar nodded his head. Demyx whimpered. Saix held Leximy's hand.
"Maybe you should keep going Chelly," Axel suggested. "What happens next?" He scanned their surroundings worriedly.
Chelly continued on, very into her story. "So after they realized they were missing four members of their group, they decided to stay together so no one else would go missing. One brave person stood up, though, and was going to put an end to the foolishness."
"No way…" Roxas said.
Marluxia glanced at Saix, who silently prayed it wasn't him.
"That person was…" Chelly continued.
"Who?" Demyx exclaimed.
"I'm not a brave person!" Leximy said, hiding behind Saix's arm. "Hey, where did everyone go…?"
The group looked around.
"Xigbar, Xaldin, and Luxord are missing…" Roxas whispered.
"It was actually Vexen who stood up," Chelly pointed at him.
The group turned to see Vexen indeed standing up.
"Uh…I was just going to see if I could go find something…" he said, starting to inch away.
Chelly turned back to the group. "He decided to be the brave one and save the Organization…mostly to gloat because he wanted to feel superior."
Xemnas threw back his head and laughed.
"Then, someone who was worried about Vexen—"
"Stop there," Axel interrupted. "Now we know this is scary. Someone was worried about Vexen?"
Chelly pointed at Zexion who was trying to sneakily follow Vexen.
Axel coughed. "Please, continue."
"Anyway, with that large group gone, the rest were starting to wonder what was going on, and why people were disappearing."
"Maybe we should stop disappearing," Leximy suggested.
"If it was that easy, wouldn't you think everyone would have decided not to disappear…?" Axel pointed out.
"No."
"I agree with Leximy, let's stay together through the rest of this story."
"Hey! Where did Roxas go?" Marluxia asked.
"Perhaps I should find the nonsense behind this," Xemnas said.
"Don't try anything Superior," Saix said, turning to him, then realizing he's gone. "Superior? Not you, too!"
Chelly looked around sadly. "Huh…I didn't notice people were leaving…" she said turning to Axel and cringing. "Is my story really that bad…?"
Axel shook his head. "Just continue…and fast."
"Okay, well, after the group that isn't here now disappeared…that's weird, it's like they're trying to reenact it or something…but that wouldn't work because of the ending…"
"What's the ending?"
"Don't rush such a good story!" Chelly said. "Anyway, there were only a few people left, and the beach was almost pitch black. Saix was worried about Xemnas so he cautiously went into the forest, soon lost behind the thick fog. The ones that already left had no purpose, so they had to go first. And…well..that's when one of the group left decided he'd stay and protect the people left. That was Marluxia."
Marluxia posed proudly.
"But..." Chelly continued. "There was a rumbling in the forest, so when everyone turned there and back, Marluxia was gone without a trace."
"Noo, Marluxia!" Leximy squealed.
"What? I'm still here…" Marluxia said.
"Oh, okay."
"Darn it…" Saix said.
"Wait, what was that?" Leximy asked, looking toward the ocean.
Everyone followed her gaze. Marluxia suddenly screamed. And he was gone.
Chelly laughed and waved her hand. "You guys are pretty good at this. Anyway, the only people left at this point were me, Axel, Leximy, Demyx, and Lexaeus. But, sadly, Demyx lost his cool, and ran off screaming into the distance. Chelly tried to calm him down, telling him everything would be okay, but he got loose in Chelly's grip and ran off into the fog that had recently rolled in. I chased after him, knowing he'd get hurt if he was by himself for too long, and I was soon lost as well. Axel called out her name, ran after her, knowing it was his job to protect her…"
"I can't take it anymore!" Demyx yelled, running into the nearby woods where a fog had appeared.
"Wait, Demy! You didn't hear the rest of my story!" she exclaimed, running after him.
"Chelly!" Axel shouted, running after her.
There was a long, silent pause.
Lexaeus cleared his throat and turned to Leximy.
"She didn't finish her story…" Leximy said sadly.
"I can finish it," Lexaeus said, pulling out a flashlight, and shining it on his face with a laugh. "I'm the killer!"
"What did you do with Lexaeus?" she asked, shaking him.
Lexaeus laughed evilly, then coughed. "Prepare to die!"
Suddenly Saix reappeared. "Keep away from her!" he said, a giant tidal wave coming from the ocean and crashing down on Lexaeus.
"That would be a lot cooler if I didn't get all wet…"
In the foggy wooded area, Chelly touched a tree, thinking it was Demyx. "Nope, that's not you, either…Demy! Where are you?"
Walking out of the fog, Axel rejoined Leximy and Saix. "Oh, I guess I made it back…where did everyone else go?"
They heard Marluxia scream.
"Well, at least we know he's alive…" Axel said.
Saix snapped in disappointment.
"What do we do now?" Leximy asked. "I feel lost without the end of that story…"
"We need to find Chelly!" Axel agreed.
Demyx ran out of the woods crying, accidently running into Axel.
"What the…" Axel said, looking down at him. "Demyx?"
Demyx looked up with tears in his eyes, then smiled. "I found the way out! I'm saved!"
"Where's Chelly?"
"I… I don't know!" He started sobbing again.
"That's not going to help…" Axel said with a sigh.
Larxene walked out of the fog holding an ice cream cone, looking at everyone's shocked faces. "What's up?"
"Where did you get that?" Leximy exclaimed.
"I think that's the last question we should be asking right now…" Saix said.
"Silence! Larxene?"
"I got it…at the hotel, over there," she said, pointing. "What's it to you?" She narrowed her eyes.
Saix and Axel looked at Leximy.
"…what? I want some ice cream…"
Saix hit his forehead with his palm.
"To the hotel!"
Axel looked torn between Leximy and the fog. "But…I really should go get Chelly…"
Suddenly Roxas walked out of the fog. "My ice cream senses are tingling…" he said, glancing at Larxene. "Yep, they were spot on."
"Roxas! You need to go get the ice cream for me! I have to go save Chelly!"
"I don't know, Axel…it's not the same if you don't come get it with me…"
"With you or without you, I'm leaving now," Leximy said. "And I can't promise to save you any…but I can promise to eat all of them! Muahaha!"
Axel pulled at his face. "Fine, I'll go!"
"Great!" Leximy said, taking Saix's hand and running toward the hotel.
Roxas smiled. "I knew you wouldn't ditch me."
Axel forced a smile.
"Don't leave me here alone!" Demyx exclaimed, running after the small group.
"I'm going back to the ship," Larxene said, licking her ice cream and walking toward the ship.
Already at the ice cream shop, Luxord, Xigbar and Xaldin sat at a table, enjoying their ice cream.
"I knew it! I knew you guys would be here!" Leximy exclaimed.
"So you didn't want ice cream?" Axel asked.
"Nope! I don't even have any money…Chelly has all mine!"
"Nooo!" Axel screamed.
Marluxia joined in the screaming. "What are we screaming about?" he asked when they stopped.
"This is more horrifying than that story…" Roxas said.
"Ugh…" Axel said, covering his face with his hands. "Chelly is going to kill me…"
"It may even be worse than the other story Chelly told us…"
Demyx glanced nervously at Roxas. "You don't mean…"
Roxas nodded his head slowly.
"What story?" Saix asked, glancing at the two warily.
"It's not anything to bring up…so who has munny?" Roxas asked, looking at the group hopefully.
Xigbar emptied his pockets. "Not I."
"Nor I, unless you can buy ice cream with a pack of cards and these poker chips…" Luxord said.
"Hey, maybe I have something…" Axel said, reaching into his pocket.
"No! Don't even start!" Leximy exclaimed.
"But…I want ice cream…" Axel said.
"Me, too," Roxas said, pouting and looking at Axel.
Axel waited until Leximy looked away and nonchalantly continued feeling in his pockets.
"I…spent all my munny on…important things…" Xaldin said, giving the group a shifty glance.
Xigbar leaned to Luxord. "He bought a saddle for one of the horses."
The two snickered as Xaldin glared at them.
Chelly glanced up from her cards and looked warily at Cloud Strife and Squall Leonheart. "I see your one hundred…and raise you two hundred," she said, placing the correct number of chips in the middle.
"I'll raise you two hundred fifty," Cloud muttered, putting the chips on top of Chelly's.
"Psh…" Chelly said, waving her hand. "What a small bet."
"I'll raise three hundred," Leon said, chucking his chips on top.
"San…hyakuu*?" Chelly and Cloud exclaimed in synch.
"Luxord, what is it?" Leximy asked.
"My gambling senses are tingling…fold! Fold! Not the five! They have a flush! Nooo three of a kind!" Luxord exclaimed, continuing yelling random card terms.
"Well, looks like he's finally snapped…" Axel said, scratching the back of his head.
Roxas looked at him. "I'm pretty sure he's snapped many times before this…"
Demyx laughed. "He's funny when he's thinking about cards…"
"What's with everyone's senses tinglin—" Saix paused and looked out the window. "It's a full moon tonight…"
Marluxia walked in with his arms full of flowers. "Sorry, my flower senses were tingling and I found all of these lovely things…" he said, handing them to Leximy. "…for a lovely lady."
"My—" Axel started.
"No! not you, too!" Leximy shouted.
"Run, run away!" Demyx exclaimed.
"Good plan."
Demyx smiled proudly. "I like to think all my plans are good."
"Right, keep thinking that Dem. Now…" he said continuing looking through his pockets, hoping for a little munny for some ice cream.