Realm Hearts
chpt.6: The Boy in Never Was
Roxas wasn't quite sure how long he remained there at the clock tower following the sealing of the Keyhole and Axel's departure. He simply sat there, thinking long and hard over the offer he had been given as his gaze always stayed upon the expanse that was Twilight Town.
Perhaps he had even dose off? He wasn't sure.
Before he knew it, the sun had set and night had fallen across Twilight Town. Feeling hungry, he left the sanctuary that was the clock tower and began to make his way home. Along the way, he ran into several of the citizen's who, upon seeing him, gave him the same fearful look that screamed please leave us in their eyes. This only made the memory of what had happened on the beach earlier come racing back within his mind. And that made him feel even more isolated and alone now.
And then when he finally arrived at his place, he saw them; a piece of paper hanging from his door and the small box laying on the ground before it. Going for the paper first, he pulled it off the door and found that it was an eviction notice from the apartment building owner. Roxas sighs as he crumbles the paper up in his hand, tossing it into a near by trash can. He should have expected this to happen.
He turns his attention then to the box on the floor, kneeling down and popping the lid off. What he found inside made him tear up. It was the three crystals from the Struggle Trophy; the gems he had given to Hayner, Pence, and Olette. There was no messages or anything else included. There wasn't need of anything like that. The message was crystal clear to him.
Roxas picks the box up, then digs into his pocket and pulls out his key and unlocks the door, going into his apartment. Before, he had been hungry. But now, he didn't have much of an appetite on him. Placing the box on the table, Roxas simply walks over to his bed and allows himself to fall upon it and he buries his head within a pillow.
How long passed after that? None could say as Roxas lost track of the time. Had he fallen asleep? He wasn't sure as time seemed to come standing still for him. He soon turned over and stared at the ceiling as the moonlight bathed his face from the window. By the time the first rays of the morning sun had begun to appear on the horizon, he had made his decision.
Going around his apartment, he packs as much as he could into his back pack, filling it to the brim. His eyes wander over to the box with the three crystal's inside and, on a whim, takes the three out and tosses them into the pack as well. They would be his reminder of his time in this world; both the good and the bad times. Once he was ready, he heads towards the door, only stopping long enough to look back one last time, then stepping out into the empty world he now found himself in.
It didn't take him long till he was coming up on the clock tower and even less than that to reach its top, where Axel awaited him. "Have you decided?" asked Axel, though seeing Roxas had brought a backpack with him already gave him his answer.
"Yeah..." says Roxas, allowing a moment's pause to look over the city one last time, then back to Axel again. "I'm ready to go with you."
In another part of the town, Olette stirred from her restless sleep and opened her eyes just a bit, wondering where she was. It only takes her a moment to recall that she was back home, in her bed. Strange, wasn't she at the beach with Roxas and the others? And why was her head hurting too?
Picking herself up, the light of the morning sun kissed her face, making her raise a hand up to block out the glare. She then realizes something was missing, the blue crystal from the trophy cup that Roxas had given her. She wasn't holding it in her hand. You see, over the last two days since being given it, she had woken up to find she had grabbed hold of it in her sleep. Strange that she hadn't tonight. Olette turns her attention her night stand, seeing it was missing from the cloth she had set it on.
Going into a panic of a sort, she immediately moves to the edge of her bed and looks down onto the floor, then peaks under her bed, not seeing it anywhere. Is there a chance she might have placed it inside her night gown pockets? She digs in, but doesn't find it.
"Where is it?" she wonders as she gets up, a glint then catching her eye.
It wasn't the crystal though. It was the center of the star shaped necklace she had found with Roxas one year ago laying on the night stand. "Why do I still have this?" she wonders aloud as she reach's out and picks it up. "I thought I had given this to..."
And then she remembered; she remembered she was about to confess to Roxas, then Axel had arrived. She remembered the appearance of that giant Darkside and that Roxas had taken off to fight it. She remembered the mist, music, and flower petals and feeling something washing over her mind.
And then, she remembered how she and everyone else had treated Roxas when he had came back after saving them from the Heartless.
"No...no, we didn't...I didn't" she says as tears begin to fall from her eyes. She wasn't sure what had come over her and the other to make them act the way they did and say what they did, but the fact remained that they had. "Roxas...she cries before breaking into a run, knowing she needed to see him.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Axel. "You know that once we leave Twilight Town, it will be a long time before a path can be made to return here. It may never even happen."
"I know" says Roxas sadly, knowing that despite all that had happened, he would still miss this place and everyone in it. Though they wouldn't miss him, he thought, he would still miss them all the same. "But this is more important than just me and what I want. You said it yourself, there are other worlds out there that are in danger and that I may be the only person who can save those worlds."
"Well, if you're sure" says Axel as he turns around and raises a hand which makes a portal of twilight energy form from the nothingness.
Olette, meanwhile, was running as fast as she could in her night gown, not bothering to take the time to change or even caring to. She had stopped at the Usual Spot first as it was closer to where she lived, though she had known Roxas wouldn't be there now. She then made a mad dash to Roxas place, knocking hard against his door.
"Roxas? Roxas? It's me, Olette. Please open up. I need to talk to you, see you" she says, getting no response. She then tries the door nob, finding the door unlocked. She looks inside the apartment, finding it empty save for two things; the trophy and the green crystal which Roxas had forgot to grab.
She walks forward and takes it into her hand, holding it tightly as she brings her hand to her chest. "Roxas...where are you?" she wonders till a flash catches her eye, Moving to the window, she is just able to make out something odd going on upon the clock tower.
Knowing he would be there now, Olette spins around and runs out of the room.
"Have you said goodbye to your friends?" asked Axel.
Roxas doesn't respond, instead choosing to look away. "I see..." says Axel, knowing it would be better not to press the matter. "Let's go, Roxas" he says before entering the portal.
"Yeah..." says Roxas as he steps forward, right to the edge. He then stops and allows himself one final look across Twilight Town. He then says one final thing before walking into the portal.
"Goodbye..."
Olette arrived just a split second later, just in time to see the portal close up. Tears fall freely as she collapses to her knees as she turns her gaze to the ground. "...come back...please come back...ROXAS."
(the twilight portal)
"Stay close to me, Roxas. And don't think of wandering off either. Passage through this portal can be dangerous for the unprotected" instructs Axel as they moved though the cascading path of light and dark.
"Sure thing" says Roxas, making sure he was just a few steps behind.
Soon enough, they came upon the other end of the portal and didn't waste a moment passing through. Roxas then found himself within a darkened alley way with Axel, hearing a rumbling in the sky, which he found to be cloudy and dark as he looked up at it.
"This way" says Axel, walking out of the alley and making to turn to his left.
"So, where are we any...ways?" says Roxas, his words falling away as his eyes saw the world beyond the alley way. It was a city, a massive sized city unlike anything he had ever seen. "Unreal..."
"Yeah, that's what I thought to when I first saw it too" says Axel before stepping forward. He then turns back to Roxas and spreads his arms wide, saying "This may be a bit over dramatic for me to do, but let me officially welcome you to our world, and your new home."
"Roxas, I welcome you to Never Was. Got the name memorized?"
"Never Was" repeats Roxas as he steps forward, looking from one side to the other and back again. "Just how big is this place? And how many people live here too?"
"Yeah, that's...going to be an interesting explanation" says Axel. "How about we head to the castle and you'll get your first question answered once there."
"Castle?" asked Roxas, which makes Axel turn and point to the large white structure that wasn't to far in the distance. "Oh, OK" he says before the two of them proceed.
As they walk, Axel says "As far as how many of us, live here?" Well...I could say thousands. But to be honest, there are only twelve of us that actually really live here. Well, thirteen now including you."
"I don't understand?" says Roxas.
"Well, it's like this" says Axel. "You recall what I told you the other day about the Heartless, right?"
"Yeah, you said that if a world falls into darkness, then all the people who lived in that world will become Heartless" says Roxas.
"That's only part of it" says Axel. "Another way for a Heartless to be born is is an existing Heartless attacks a person and succeeds in causing their heart to be split off from the body. The heart then falls into the darkness and is reshaped into a Heartless. But what happens to the body that is left behind?"
Roxas shrugs when Axel looks back at him. "The answer is that while the heart becomes a Heartless, the body left behind will also undergo a transformation and become what we call a Nobody. As Heartless seek to add more hearts to the collect, so to do the Nobodies seek hearts as well; their hearts to me more exact so they can return to being a complete being."
"So these Nobodies can remember their old life before the change then?" asked Roxas.
Axel shakes his head, then says "No, not exactly. All a Nobody knows is that if they find their heart, they can return to their old self, that's all. There aren't many Nobodies in existence in terms of types when compared to the Heartless, but they..."
Axel's words are stopped suddenly as a black pool of darkness forms before them and Shadow's begin to rise up from the ground. "Gah, not again" groans Axel.
Roxas runs forward, the Kingdom Key appearing in his hand as he does this, and says "I'll take care of them." As he goes to pass Axel, the red head reach's out and stops him. "Hey, what's up?"
"Just wait and watch" says Axel before snapping his fingers with his free hand which causes gray colored portals to appear and white/gray colored creatures come wiggling out of them. "Deal with those Heartless, boys" commands Axel and the whited ones begin attacking the Shadows.
After a few moments, the Heartless had been dispatched by the whited ones. "What? Are these the Nobodies you were talking about before, Axel?" asked Roxas.
"Yeah, these are the Dusk; the most common form to the Nobodies. This world, Never Was, is a world located within the twilight realm that exist between light and dark. Because of this, it's easier for Heartless to appear here than it is in the realm of light and when they do, the Nobodies will push them back for us. Now, let's hurry on to the castle. The others are waiting" says Axel, moving forward again.
After some more walking and passing an impressive looking tower called Memory Skyscraper, according to Axel, the arrived at an edge overlooking an abyss. "Watch that first step, Roxas. Fall into the void and who knows where you'll end up" warns Axel, getting a nod from Roxas.
Axel then makes a motion with his hand, causing a path of light to appear, connecting the city to the castle, then he steps onto the path, looks, back, and beckons Roxas to step upon it as well. Roxas hesitates at first, then makes a careful first step just to make sure that it would be solid for him to walk on. Axel laughs, saying "Reminds me of my first time stepping on the pathway."
After the ascent and stepping onto the castle grounds, Axel turns back and says "Now, look back at the city and tell me what you can see."
"OK?" says Roxas, turning back as well and finding he did have a much better view from here. He could see the full size of the city, more or less, but beyond it, there was nothing but the endless void that was the twilight. "This place...?"
"Yeah, a true world of nothingness. All there is here is the city and this castle. Nothing else exist here" says Axel. "Now, let's go introduce you to the others."
For the next twenty minutes, Axel and Roxas walk through the labyrinth like structure that was Never Was Castle and along the way, Axel took the time to tell Roxas about each of the Nobody types that existed and what their individual abilities and functions were. He also explained that the thirteen towers Roxas had seen served as the Organization's various members private chambers, meaning Roxas would have the thirteenth tower all to himself, unless other Keybearer's were found, of course.
And then, they passed through a massive and ornate double door, entering a circular room bathed from top to bottom in white; the Nobody crest resting on the floor at its center, and thirteen chairs situated in a ring pattern around the crest with eleven hooded figures sitting within the chairs.
"Welcome, friend; the one chosen by the Keyblade. I welcome you to our home and I thank you for deciding to join us here" comes the hooded figure sitting in the highest stationed chair.
Axel then raises his hood up to cover his head, then places a hand on Roxas shoulder, saying "Now for the introduction phase." He then leaves Roxas side and moves to sit upon his seat which then rises up to its proper level.
"Let's begin" says the leader, waving with his right hand to the one seated to his farthest right. Roxas turns to look at the person directly.
The first figure pulls back his hood, revealing short, platinum blonde hair and a neatly trimmed bearded and a coy, devil may care grin. "My names Luxord. I'm a gambler by trade and I've always been lucky on the draw. With my deck of cards and my mastery over time, I always come out a winner."
The next person down the line then removes his hood, revealing a beautiful faced man with long, spiky pink colored hair. "You may call me Marluxia and I'm charmed to meet you, Keybearer. In battle, I wield my trusted scythe while spreading my beautiful, fragrant flowers to confuse and calm my opponents."
Next to him was a black haired man who's hair was tied back though strands hung down along the front. "I'm Xaldin, master of the wind and of the lance. In battle, I move I strike with the force of a hurricane, and none she be left standing in my wake."
Next in the row, a man with long dark blond hair and a creepy face speaks up. "I'm Vexen, an academic by nature. Using the power of ice and as many have said, a personality to match, I detest fighting, preferring to wield a shield to guard myself as my talents are better served as a scientist."
Next to him was a man with short, orange colored hair that was all frazzled looking, "Lexaeus."
Roxas waits for a moment, but the intimidating figure says nothing more, making him think 'The strong, silent type, huh? I guess ever group needs to have at least one. Wonder if he and Fu could be related in some way?'
A sudden snapping of fingers draws him from his thoughts and he sees the source of the snapping coming from a guy with black and gray colored hair, wearing an eye patch with several scars on his face. "Hey, vacant stare, over here. Name's Xigbar, master of spatial control and wielder of the Arrow Guns." His weapon then suddenly appears in his hand and he aims and fires with sudden, shocking speed, the arrow passing Roxas with just an inch space between them. "Get my point?"
The hooded figure then makes a motion with his left hand, leading off the introductions to his other side. The next to show his face was a man with long blue hair and an X-shaped scar on his face, placed perfectly between his eyes.
"I am Saix, second in command here in Never Was. The power I draw upon comes from the light of the moon and my weapon is a Claymore. I'm also charged with handing out missions to all members here."
Next was a boy with silvery hair that came down, covering his right eye. "My name is Zexion..." he suddenly vanishes from sight, appearing beside Roxas, making the Keybearer jump back in surprise. "I use a Lexicon on my missions..." He then vanishes again, reappearing at his seat. "And my specialty is illusions."
Next was the person Roxas was already familiar with; Axel pulls his hood off again, saying "As you know already, I am Axel. My element is fire and my weapon is the chakram. With me around, things are always fiery. Got it memorized."
The next to show there face was a girl, which Roxas found a refreshing change of pace. She had blond hair that was cut short and slicked back. "People call me Larxene. Quick like the lightning I can call upon and..." Without warning, a knife like object appears in her hands and she moves with ninja like speed down to Roxas side, the knife being pressed against his neck with near enough force to draw blood.
"I wield knives like a ninja and have been called a savage nymph and unless you want to know why, I suggest you stay on my good side. OK?" She says that last part as sweetly as she could sound, which still sounded scary as she pulls her knife away, then ruffles his hair before jumping back to her seat.
Roxas gulp, wonder what the last two would be like as he turns his attention to the last person on the left and is shocked to find the figure having summed some sort of musical instrument and was now strumming the strings. Several moments pass with no words coming from the still hooded figure.
"Hey, it's your cue you dumb idiot" shouts Larxene, making the hooded guy jump and nearly drop his instrument onto the ground which likely would have broken it.
"Oh, right, right, right, right, right" comes a rather nervous sounding voice which makes Roxas think he's been on Larxene's bad side many times. He then pulls his hood off, revealing he was a dark blonde haired man with the sides somewhat shaved. "My name is Demyx, master of water. I'm really not much for action as I prefer to just sit back, relax, and play my Sitar all day long. Yeah, that's what I want; a quite life for me."
There was only one unknown left? The figure sitting in the highest positioned chair and Roxas turns to look at him as he pulls his hood off, revealing silver hair that reached down to his shoulders. And, to Roxas surprise, there was something about him that felt familiar. Not just physically, but the aura he was giving off felt familiar to him as well.
"I welcome you, my friend. And you have my thanks for joining us here in Never Was" says the man as he smiles an eerie smile. "I am Xemnas, leader of the Organization. Now, it is time for you to introduce yourself I think."
Roxas nods, then he holds his right hand out, summoning forth his Keyblade. This makes several of the gathered members look on in shock and a few get a glint of ambition within their eyes as well. "My name is Roxas, wielder of the Keyblade. For the last year, I have called Twilight Town my home though I must confess it is not my original home I think as I suffer from memory loss. I hope I can be of help to all of you, what ever help you may need of me."
"Indeed" says Xemnas. "It s a help we shall greatly appreciate from you, my friend. And worry not, f there is anything we can do to help you regain that which you have lost, then know that we'll do everything in our power to help you. It is the least we can do after all."
Roxas allows his Keyblade to disappear, then bows respectfully as he says "Thank you."
"Now, let us show you around your new home" says Xemnas as his chair lowers down and he steps off, walking over to Roxas to personally show him all of the castle.
Several hours later, Roxas was laying back in his bed; having just finished putting his things away not to long before. He was still amazed by just how big this place was and even more so that he had an entire tower all to himself...well, at least until they found other Keybearer's with whom he'd be sharing this tower with in the future. There was even a massive training room he could use to hone his skills.
But the question was; now what should he do? He wouldn't be going out onto missions until tomorrow and Axel and the others had their own personal duties to perform. She he go try the training area out? A knock on his door brings him from his thoughts.
Getting up, he walks over and answers, finding Xemnas outside. "Master Xemnas? Is there something I can do for you?" asked Roxas.
"Now, now, there's no need for a master or a mister being added before my name. Just Xemnas will be fine, Roxas" says Xemnas.
"Ah...yeah, I understand" says Roxas.
"Walk with me, will you, Roxas? There's a few things I wish to speak with you about" says Xemnas before turning and walking down the hall. Though a little confused, Roxas follows him nevertheless.
As they walk down the halls, Xemnas ask "So, did Axel tell you about us?"
"More or less, though I have a feeling he left a few things out. I told me about the Heartless and how they come into existence and about the Nobody origins. That's about it" says Roxas.
"I see" says Xemnas. "Would it surprise you if I said that all twelve of us Organization members were also Nobodies too?"
"What?" says Roxas, coming to a stop.
"Hard to believe, I know. But it is all true. You, Roxas, are the only non-Nobody here as far as we know" says Xemnas.
"But, how can all of you be Nobodies when you don't look anything like those Dusk creatures out there?" asked Roxas.
"It's a simpler explanation than you might think. A Nobody, as you know, is born when the castaway body, void of its heart, falls into the shadows. But in very rare occurrences, a body that housed a strong heart will retain its former appearance, not being changed like others would be as well as its memories from its past life. That is what we are" says Xemnas.
"I see" says Roxas. "So, you guys are basically your old selves just minus your hearts then?"
"Not exactly" says Xemnas. "There are differences. My old self didn't have shoulder length hair as I do now and Axel's old self didn't have the marks under his eyes he now has. For some of us, we undergo a slight physical change from our old self while others like Xaldin and Demyx, the change is not physical but mental instead. Xaldin is a little more wild than he old self and Demyx, from what he said, use to be extremely serious and always on the move; a contrast to his current laid back self."
"Does the fact you all have a X in your names have any meaning as well?" asked Roxas.
Xemnas chuckles at that. "So you noticed that, huh? Nice attention to detail there. Yes, we all changed our names and added an X into the changed name; our reason for this is...well...let's just say its complicated. In time and if they feel in worth speaking of, they will share their true name with you. Until then, it would be better not to ask about it."
"Understood" says Roxas.
After a while of walking, which sent them out of Roxas tower and into Xemnas's personal tower. And before to long, they entered what appeared to be a lab of some sort. "Roxas, I have a request of you if I may?"
"Sure, what is it?" asked Roxas.
"I would like to examine you. Not just you but your Keyblade as well" says Xemnas.
"I don't mind. But can I ask why though?"
"By examining your Keyblade, I hope I may discover a way that will allow me to duplicate its power to return a Heartless to its true form so I can then give it to the others, thus making our mission easier. As for examining you? It may help in that matter. Plus, I want to see if I can determine to source of your memory loss and, if possible, I may be able to reverse it."
Roxas takes a moment to think about it, then nods and says "OK, count me in."
Xemnas nods before leading him over to a device which he turns on. "Summon your Keyblade and place it down here if you will."
Once Roxas had done this, Xemnas directs him to a larger, similar table and has Roxas lay down upon it. Xemnas then moves over to a computer counsel and begins typing in various commands which causes a scanner to appear above both Roxas and his Keyblade.
"Now close your eyes and we'll begin" instructs Xemnas and Roxas does so. Xemnas then makes a final set of key strokes which causes a light to shoot from the scanners as the examination of Roxas and the Kingdom Key begins.
The next things Roxas knew, he was feeling like he was in motion; free falling, another deep dive one would say. But he didn't find himself back in that place where he had faced the Twilight Thorn previously. Instead he simply kept falling further and further.
And then he saw a castle, odd in its shape and white in color, sitting upon the edge of an abyss. He finds himself being pulled into this place, racing through rooms and hallways with the speed of a blinking eye till he found himself seeing a wall of unusual design; a wall which he then passed through.
Where he found himself next was a large circular room with a large throne situated at its center and upon that throne was two sleeping figures. It was then the image starts to become static, making it difficult for him to see clearly their faces. But from what he could make out, it was a boy and a girl, similar in size with the girl resting her head on the boy's shoulder. And then, he dived towards them.
Where was he now, he wondered? A world of endless, cascading colors like a rainbow. He then sees it at the corner of his vision; a bubble floating within the void...or was it a sphere of light instead? He wasn't sure, but he noticed the two figures who's faces he couldn't make out appeared to be here as well, inside the bubble/sphere thing.
As he draws closer, he can tell the boy appeared to still be asleep, his head resting on the girls lap. But the girl here seemed to be awake; her right hand gently stroking his hair as her head was tilted down, looking at him. Though much was still static, he was beginning to make details out. All he needed was to get a little bit closer and...
And then it was like he had been thrown into reverse as he returned in the direction he had come.
Roxas groaned as he regained consciousness; bring a hand up to his aching head as he tries to sit up, but is stopped by another hand resting on his shoulder. "Easy, my friend. Give yourself a moment to recover from the moment" comes Xemnas's voice.
"What happened?" asked Roxas as he opened his eyes.
"You tell me?" was Xemnas's reply. "You fell asleep during my scans then started mumbling something. I was concerned my test was doing something harmful to you."
"No, it wasn't. I..." says Roxas, not sure what to say.
"What did you see?" asked Xemnas.
"I...I can't remember. I know I saw something, but..." says Roxas, wondering what it was. He then shakes the thoughts off and looks at Xemnas, asking "Anyways, did you learn anything?"
"Possibly. I'll need to take some time to go over the results and see if anything useful can be obtained, though I might need you to undergo several more scans to verify any findings I may obtain."
"If it helps, then count me in" says Roxas.
"I appreciate that. Now, you should return to your room and rest for now. Tomorrow, you'll begin your first of many missions" says Xemnas.
"Right..." says Roxas as he gets up and retrieves his Keyblade, then makes his way to the door.
"Roxas..." comes Xemnas, making him stop and look back. "If you do remember what it was you saw before, come and tell me. It may hold a vital clue about your past and why you lost your memories. And, it may be the clue we need to help you regain them again."
"I will" says Roxas before taking his leave. As he walks down the hallway, heading back to his room, he finds himself wondering why he hadn't told Xemnas about what he had seen before. Sure, it wasn't much, but still...
Something inside him was telling him to keep it a secret...from Xemnas.
To be continued...
Secret Report 5:
Xemnas watched as the machine work when his door opened up, signaling that it could only be...
"Yo, boss? Did Roxas's examination reveal anything special about him?" asked Xigbar, the only member of the Organization who would barge in without knocking first.
Well, Larxene would be the same way if she ever bothered to visit anyone, which she never did.
"Perhaps" says Xemnas, more interested in watching IT being created.
"So, is our boy a Nobody like us or what?" asked Xigbar as he joins Xemnas at the work station.
"I was thinking it a possibility for a time. But after that examination..."
"Wait, so he isn't a Nobody then? Surely he can't be...How would he have not aged in the last ten years then?" asked Xigbar.
"As I said before, I can't be sure of anything yet. But I have my doubts about him being a Nobody simply because of the fact he can use a Keyblade. If a Nobody could wield a Keyblade, then..."
"Aw, I get what your saying" says Xigbar. The fact Xemnas, being a Keybearer himself before becoming a Nobody couldn't still use it, then how could Roxas if he was a Nobody? What made them so different if that was the case?
"To know what Roxas truly is will require a few more test and data to be sure. But I believe the answer may be something that will be...imaginative" says Xemnas.
"Speaking of new? What's up with the bracelet your making with your machines? Making a gift for Larxene are we?" joked Xigbar.
"Hardly" says Xemnas as he picks it up, then slips it onto his left wrist. He then holds his left arm up before him. A second later, the Kingdom Key appears in his open left hand.
"No way. You can summon the Keyblade again" says Xigbar, obviously shocked.
"Not exactly" says Xemnas. "This is just a sham, a copy. A fake Keyblade, nothing more. Though its a fake that can function like the real thing. Anyone who where's this bracelet can summon it forth."
"Still, that's pretty impressive you could create something like that" says Xigbar, touching it. "So, what are you going to do with it?"
Xemnas recalls the weapon, then pulls off the bracelet. He then walks over to a side wall as a hidden passage appears which he enters with Xigbar following close behind him. "I created it to be used with my old experiment."
"Old experiment?" says Xigbar as they enter a large, circular room which, at its center, a tank filled with glowing water and a figure floating within. "Oh, that one. But I thought you considered this a failure?"
"It was a failure for what it had been originally created for. But despite the failure, I made an interesting discovery. Using this false Keyblade, it may be possible to turn this failure into something useful. And if its successful, then we may have another role Roxas can play" says Xemnas before reaching out; his hand passing through the container, and sliding the bracelet onto the figures left wrist.
"So, when do we, or should I say, she, begins?" asked Xigbar.
"In one week" was Xemnas's reply. "Just enough time to finally wake her up..."
AN: In case anyone was wondering, the scenes at the beginning of this chapter, with Roxas and Olette, were difficult to write do to the emtions within them. And don't worry, Olette will still appear in this fic, though it'll be bit roles here and there for a good while before a larger returning role.