AN: Well, I know I've said it before but this time I do mean it when I say that this will be my last chapter for a good while. I say because by the time all of you, my reader's, are reading this chapter, I will either be moving into my brother's place (or have already moved in if past Sunday), thus making future updates impossible till I either get moved back into my own place or I can manage a trip to a wifi hot spot from my brother (the later being unlikely though to be honest).
Having said that, I have good news and bad news to tell you all as well. The good news is relating to the job I finally managed to get which was originally going to begin the first week of September, but this has been changed to next week, the last week of August. Well, my orientation day has been pushed forward a week though I'm assuming it will also count as my first day on the job though even if it isn't, I'll still be starting work sooner than expected.
Now for the bad news. Either my land lord or the apartment rental group he's with have decided to serve me with papers, calling for me to appear before a court judge in a few weeks, though I don't understand why seeing as I still have a week left in getting moved from my current apartment and I had told my land lord that I would get the two months worth of rent I owe paid to him once I was able. But it would seem that isn't good enough. This little turn of events has upset me in several ways.
First, I'm gonna have to ask for a day off from my job, or at least take a half day, which can't be good considering I'm just starting this job and to ask for a day off or a half day so soon after starting could result in me having my employment terminated. Second, this whole thing will not only cut into the paycheck I would be working on during that time, but my plans to be moved back into my own place, which had been originally planned to happen before the end of October will now have to be put off till November, possibly even December depending on how things go during this court thing.
Then there's the biggest concern for me. Given how my luck has been lately (taking me four months just to get a job and now this court appearance order), I can't help but think I'll walk out of this court thing with an even bigger bill that will need to be paid to my former land lord than expected (heaven forbid they make me pay double or more). If this happens, I won't be back to living in my own place till sometime next year. And there's even the possibility I may have to move away to another town or city depending on how all of this goes as I think the group my land lord's connected to owns all the apartments where I live (and if they are behind the court thing, then renting out anywhere else here where I live may be impossible, or I'll suffer a higher rent than others would pay).
I'm currently trying to land a second job, either part time or full time so as to help accelerate my financial recovery, especially if I do get screwed over in this court deal. But given my luck at landing one job alone, getting a second seems nigh impossible. If you don't hear from me (meaning find any new chapters of this or my other stories being uploaded) then assume the worst case scenario occurred and I'm either trying to pay off more than I should have to or I lost my new job because of this crap.
Well, I thought I'd let you all know what was going on. Sorry for the long author's note. Till the day I can continue telling you my stories...
RH
The girl in white opened her sleepy eyes, having to close them again for a moment in order to block out the rays of morning sunlight that were filtering in through the small openings within the drapes of her room. She sits up, yawns, then gets out of bed before making her way into the built in bathroom to freshen up for the day.
Once she was done, she walks out with only a towel wrapped around her petite body while another towel was being used to help finish drying her hair. She then sits down at a vanity table and spends the next few minutes brushing her light blonde hair, then tying the end into a pony tail which comes to hang along her right shoulder. She then opens the closet and pulls out a white dress to wear.
Once she was dressed, she looks around the room which had been painted all white. It dawns on her that everything in this room was white, the walls, ceiling, and floor. The table, vanity, and bed. The sheets, drapes, towels, shoes, and even her clothes; all white. Even her skin tone had a pale, almost white coloring to it. This was a little overboard, she thought.
Still, she couldn't complain as this wasn't even her place nor was it owned by anyone connected to the group she currently found herself with. They had converted an old, abandoned mansion into the private base of operations. And she was a prisoner here as well; never allowed to leave this room under any circumstance. It was lonely for her, though that 'boy' would often find a way to visit her without that man knowing about it.
Those visits were one of only three things she found any joy in. The other two being when she looked past the drapes outside and wished she could live out there. And the last were the pictures she drew in her little sketch book; many of which had sense gone to hang on the wall to break the unending sea of white. She takes a moment to look at the pictures.
There were various pictures of three individuals, each holding a crude rendition of a Keyblade in hand. One in particular showed two of them protecting a girl with red hair. There were also images of a boy that resembled Roxas battling Heartless and the Twilight Thorn as well as his time with them, the O12 as her friend liked to call them. She then goes to sit at the table and opens the sketch book to a blank page, opens up her box of crayons, and begins to draw.
You see, she had special powers; dreams of the past, present, and even the future on occasions. She also had a power to see the memories of those she was around and, as such, could manipulate and change them if she so chose. This was the reason why she was a prisoner as that man wanted to use her power for his own personal goals. Her drawings depicted the visions she had seen, either in dreams or awake suddenly; those resulting in her collapsing onto the ground, unconscious for a moment.
And today was no exception as her hands guided the the soft outline of a pencil that would act as the basis for the drawing. And this drawing would show a near future event; that of the black haired girl facing the 'boy' in the black coat in battle...
Realm Hearts
chpt.12: When Pictures tell the Tale
Outside that very mansion, beyond the massive iron fence that protected it, stood Olette though her attention wasn't on the mansion itself. Instead, she had come her to recall that day more easily in her mind. The day Roxas had first called forth the Keyblade and saved her from the Heartless.
"That feels like a lifetime ago" she says with a melancholy voice.
How long had it been since he had left them? At least a month, she figured if not more than that. She missed him terribly but knew that didn't mean much in the long run. After all, the way she and the others in town had treated him following his saving them from that Darkside, she couldn't blame him for leaving. And even after all this time, she still didn't know why they had said what they did or acted that way towards him.
Sighing, she turns around and heads back towards the forest. If she didn't hurry, she'd be late for school though these days, attending didn't seem all that important to her. But she didn't want the others to worry about her so she would make the effort all the same. And then after school...
She would return to the place where it all began and do what she believed in her heart she needed to do.
(Never Was)
"Are you sure you're feeling OK, Roxas?" asked Xion as the two of them exited the thirteenth tower and began their short walk to the large lounge that also acted as the Organization's meeting room.
"Yeah, I told you I was fine" says Roxas, looking at her and giving her an encouraging smile. "Geez, Xion, you realize you've become such a mother hen since I had my little episode."
"Well, I'm sorry if my being worried about you and concerned for your well being is putting you off any. Fine then, see if I ever worry about you again" says Xion, puffing her cheeks out in a huff while looking away with a slight annoyed and angry expression.
"I'm only kidding, Xion" says Roxas, apologetically. "Will you forgive me?"
She looks back at him then sticks her tongue out before looking away again, much to his surprise. "Oh, that is so cute. Seeing you two have a little lover's quarrel is just so precious" comes the voice of Larxene from behind them, making them jump in surprise before turning back to look at her.
"We're not having a quarrel. I just wish Roxas wouldn't be so nonchalant about what happened to him and teasing me about being worried over his well being" complains Xion.
"Lovers?" asked Roxas, his cheeks becoming a little pink from the thoughts those words had triggered.
"That's how boys are, Xion. And as a girl myself, I can only tell you to just accept it as they'll never change" says Larxene before laughing a little.
"Fine" says Xion.
Larxene gives her a smile, then looks at Roxas and says "You've really changed her, you know that right?" This gets both Xion and Roxas to look at each other then back at her again.
"Do you really think so?" asked Roxas.
"Is that true?" adds Xion.
"Of course it is. Anyone can see the change in her. When Xion first came to us, she was nothing more than a blank slate due to the life she had been living. But now, thanks mostly to her interactions with you, Roxas, she's opened up and has become much more expressive. She smiles, talks, can feel both happy, sad, and even anger every now and then. And it's all because of you" says Larxene.
"Yeah, I guess you're right" says Roxas. He then looks at Xion and says "She's learned what it means to live her life since coming here."
"That's right, kiddo. One could say that she was unversed before but now has become quite versed and its all because of you" says Larxene.
Xion looks at Roxas and says "Yeah, you have helped me out, Roxas. Thank you..."
"Sure, anytime" he says back.
"Now you two, we better hurry or Saix will chew us out for being extra late in our arrival" says Larxene before walking past them and taking the lead towards the lounge.
'Unversed? That's an interesting word...and somehow familiar too? Just where have I heard that word before...?'
After another few minutes worth of walking, the three members of the Organization enter to see Saix waiting for them, rather impatiently from the look he gave them. "You three are seven minutes late."
"Sorry about that" says Larxene, though she didn't sound sincere. "My fault entirely. Now, will you give me my assignment already?" She says the last part as an order, showing that she hadn't suddenly gone soft due to her previous apology.
"Here" says Saix, not wanting to debate anything with her as he knew it would bring on a headache.
Larxene grabs the paper from him, gives it a quick read, then forms a portal in front of her. She then looks at Roxas and Xion, saying "Well you two, try not to quarrel out there on the job...though I'm sure you'd both enjoy the making up after part." She then gives them a wink before entering her portal.
"What does that mean?" asked Xion, looking at Roxas.
Roxas shrugs, saying "Looks like she's the one teasing us now."
"Enough, you two" says Saix, getting their attention back onto him. He then hands them each their assignment papers. "Roxas, you'll be taking it easy for your first mission back in the field..."
"Don't tell me you're gonna pull the mother hen routine with me too?" groans Roxas, causing Xion to glare a little at him.
"Not my choice. This order comes from lord Xemnas who doesn't want you to overexert yourself so soon after what happened" says Saix. "If it were up to me, you'd be back hunting Heartless and collecting hearts for us already."
Roxas sighs, either he was being babied or being thrown back into the lions den with these people. Why couldn't there be a nice middle ground with them? He then reads over his assignment, asking "So, I'm off to Wonderland again?"
"Just to scout out more of the area for us. Nothing major" says Saix, who then turns his attention to Xion who was also reading up on her assignment. "Xion, you'll also be going to a world we've visited before. Your mission to to scout out the wooded areas between the small village and the large castle."
"Am I to check out the castle itself?" she asked.
Saix shakes his head, saying "Not this trip. Xaldin, wearing clothing suited for this particular world, entered the village and learned from the locals that the castle has been cursed by some sort of enchantress. It is the home to a beast or so it is said. Though I have my doubts, it's better to play it safe for now as you'll be on your own."
Xion nods and says "Understood."
"Now then, if there isn't anything else, you two better getting going then" says Saix, opening portals for the both of them. Roxas and Xion look at each other, nod, then head off onto their respective missions.
Once he had passed through the portal, Roxas found himself upon familiar ground; the hallway that led to the small/large room, depending on your size at the time, with the talking door knob. He looks around, seeing no sign of the White Rabbit anywhere, then begins to walk forward.
"Here I am again in Wonderland...hm, why do I have a feeling there's a song in there somewhere?" wonders Roxas aloud while digging into his pocket and pulls out his com-device so he could access the auto map it had made of this place during his last trip here. If he was going to be scouting around this place some more, he should at least add more to the digital map while he was at it.
(with Xion)
As soon as he had exited the portal, Xion is forced to hide quickly as she had arrived at the center of the small town Saix had told her existed here. And her concealing herself was just in time too as a tall and well built man came walking into the area; a man who kind of reminded her of Brom Bones in a way, except he had a looked that said he had a much higher opinion of himself.
"Hey Gaston" comes a smaller and weaker looking nerdy man who runs up to join the taller man. "Going hunting again?"
"In more ways than one" says Gaston confidently. "Today is the day sweet Belle will finally be mine."
"Uh huh, sure" says the nerdy man which gets Gaston to turn and smack him a good one.
"Are you implying that she will turn all of this down" asked Gaston, making a pose while flexing his muscles.
The nerdy man rubs his sore nose, then says "She hasn't been into all of that before so why would she change her mind today?"
Gaston gives a hearty chuckle, then says "I shall tell you why today will be different my meek and ratty little friend." Gaston then goes into a long winded explanation on how his plan couldn't possibly fail.
'Boy, that guy takes himself to seriously. I can see why that Belle girl...whoever she is, wouldn't be interested' thinks Xion before turning away and sneaking off without being seen. While it might be fun to watch this guy fail, she had a job to do and watching him wasn't it.
Once she had exited the village, Xion pulls out her com-device and looks up the map for this area that the others had made. She then makes her way into the woods so she could begin her search proper.
Elsewhere, deeper within the forest, the quiet tranquility is sudden broken as a portal of dark energy opens followed by a figured draped in the same coat worn by the Organization members stepping out of the portal. The hood turns left then right at the newly arrived person takes a moment to look around.
"Could my target be here?" wondered the hooded figure. Seeing a castle in the distance through the see of trees, the figure sets out to take a look as that may the the location they have been looking forward.
(later that day)
Xion sighs as she takes a break by sitting on a stump and looking to the sky. She could tell that the sun had started to set and was wondering if she should call it a day and head back to Never Was. She then looks around and sees the castle she had been warned about earlier and found herself having a moment of mild curiosity about it.
"Well, I haven't seen any Heartless in the area nor any sign of the Keyhole either. Maybe I could...?"
She pulls out her com-device and brings of the map. According to it, she could reach the main gate of the castle in about thirty minutes or so and there was at least that much time left before the sun would set. Making her decision, Xion gets up and starts heading towards the castle. She wouldn't go inside it, but she could at least check the front gate and the court yard of the castle to see if there would be a reaction from her Keyblade. Now all she hoped was that her curiosity wouldn't do to her what it did to the cat.
(Roxas)
Roxas opened his eyes, realizing he had fallen asleep on a giant mushroom. Sitting up and looking around, he sees no sign of that pipe smoking talking caterpillar with the attitude problem. "Well, today certainly was a forgettable one" he says as he slides down from the mushroom onto the ground.
Apart from the caterpillar, he had met two twins called Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb and had endured some nonsensical story about a Carpenter and a Walrus and how they led a bunch of baby clams to their deaths. Or at least that's what he could recall of the story anyways as he had become drowsy from having to listen to it. Meeting the caterpillar and having to put up with it had been the clincher for him.
He pulls out his com-device and starts to look through the various options in it. "I wonder if Xion and Axel have gotten back from their missions yet...hey, what's this?"
Roxas had found something he didn't know existed within the com-device before; a listing of all the other members in the Organization, including Xion's name. Curious about this, Roxas highlights her name and clicks it, finding several options coming up. There was one for sending a message to her and there was even an option to open a portal to the world she was currently in.
Choosing to contact her first, Roxas finds nothing but static coming out of the speaker. "I guess it only works if you're both in the same world" he figures. He then selects the portal option, making a Twilight Gate appear before him. "Doubt I'll find anything today, so I'll go see how she's doing."
He then steps into the portal, finding himself arriving in the same town Xion had arrived in that morning. And, like Xion had before, he's forced to hide as Gaston comes wobbling into view with his nerdy follower close behind.
"I can't believe it...she turned me down...AGAIN" says Gaston, sounding distraught.
"Told ya she would" says the nerdy guy, getting a swift punch to the gut from Gaston who then grabs him by his collar.
"Make no mistake of it, my ratty friend. One day, Belle will be mine. This I swear" says Gaston before storming off to the local pub, feeling a need for a drink and the companion of them bar wenches now.
The nerdy man coughs for a bit, then sighs. "I'll take the Vegas odds on that one" he says before following after Gaston.
"Yeesh, and I thought Brom Bones was a blowhard" says Roxas to himself before turning to his com-device, returning to Xion's page and selecting the map locator, which takes a moment to load as it auto updates with the information Xion's exploration had made to the world's map.
"OK, there she is" says Roxas, preparing to contact her, but stops as he decides to surprise her instead. He then sneaks out of the village, heading in the direction the tracker would pointing him in.
(Xion)
The darkness of night had come to cover the sky by the time Xion had arrived at the castle's front gate. Despite the thought that she would arrive before the sun would have fully set, she found that it had been a bit after the fact before her arrival due to the map not alerting her to the steep hills and rocks she would have to get around in order to make it here.
Of course, she had also chosen to avoid taken the main road to this place in order to prevent meeting anyone traveling upon it; an idea that she soon realized was foolish seeing as the taboo about the castle would insure running into someone on the way there wouldn't have been an issue.
Well, she was here now and though she knew she needed to be getting back as she was already late to begin with, she couldn't just turn around and leave now that she was here at the castle. She at least needed to peek through the main gate and see the court yard beyond it.
Moving up to the gate, she peers through the bars and finds it rather bleak and uninteresting inside. But this view also kept her from seeing to much of the large court yard as well. If only she could...
Without even thinking, Xion's hands reach up and grip the gate, giving it a pull and was surprised to find it moved slightly. Curious, she pulls harder and the gate slowly creaks open enough for her tiny frame to pass through. Had the gate always been unlocked or had the locked rusted and broken?
"I really shouldn't..." she says, taking a step back away from the gate.
She had been told not to go near the castle, to say nothing of going inside, alone. Plus, she was late in reporting back and she knew Roxas, Axel, and maybe the others would start to worry about her. Still, she had come this far and it would be a shame to leave without seeing a little more.
What harm could it do anyways?
Her curiosity winning out over better judgment, Xion passes into the castle's court yard and begins to look around. Along the walls, she could see several small flower beds that, to her surprise, had flowers growing in them. And based on their appearance, they seemed to be doing rather well too. Did that mean someone actually lived here and took care of them?
A sudden, distant roar is suddenly heard, coming from much higher up in the castle's towers. "That doesn't sound so inviting" says Xion, stepped back towards the gate. Maybe coming in here had been a mistake. She then turns and runs back to the gate, passing it, and runs across the bridge to make some distance with this place. And as a safety precaution, she calls her Keyblade out just in case.
But as she reach's the other side of the bridge, she feels a resonance come from her Keyblade which brings her to a stop; her attention now on the Keyblade itself. Was the Keyhole for this world nearby? No, the feeling was different that what she had felt back in Sleepy Hollow. No, this feeling was...
It felt the same as when ever she would call her Keyblade out when Roxas was with her. Did that mean...? A creaking sounding gets her to look back towards the castle, seeing the gate had been fully closed again and the one who had done it was now walking towards her. Did she know him? He was dressed in the same black coat as all Organization members wore.
"Roxas? Is that you?" asked Xion to the hooded figure who approached her slowly.
As the figure drew closer, Xion realizes it wasn't Roxas as this person was a little taller than him. Also, it couldn't be anyone else in the group as this person was shorter that the rest and the manner in which the person walked was different too. She had considered Larxene for a moment but she didn't walk like that. Was this another member she hadn't met yet; that no one had told her about yet?
As the unknown figure reach's Xion, she ask him "Hey, are you one us of? A member of the Organ...?"
The hooded person stops right beside her, the hood having turned slightly towards her as his left hand rises up to rest on her shoulder. "You're with the Organization?"
"Yeah, that's right" replied Xion, feeling confused. "Aren't you one of us too?"
The person's grip on her shoulder tightens suddenly, then a blade that looked like a demon's wing appears in his right hand. "Sorry about this..." says the person regretfully before swinging his weapon; Soul Eater, at Xion.
Xion reaction was fast; pushing his hand off her while jumping away and summoning forth her Keyblade to block and push his attack back. This surprises the hooded figure as he hadn't expected to see a Keyblade appear in the girls hand.
"Hey, who are you? And why did you attack me like that?" asked Xion, readying herself for another attack from this guy.
"A Keyblade? How is it that a Nobody can wield the Keyblade? Your kind have no hearts from what I have been told" asked the hooded boy.
"I'm not a Nobody" yells Xion. "But I am helping them. Now why did you attack me before?"
"Orders" says the hooded boy. "If I encounter anyone from the Organization, I have to eliminate them without fail. That includes those who would ally with them as well."
The hooded figure then charges forward, wanting to check something as he hadn't been aware of the Organization having a Keybearer with them. Had his boss not known about this? He doubted that as DiZ went to great lengths to know what was going on within their ranks by unknown ways and means.
As Keyblade and Soul Eater clashed with one another, something wasn't feeling right for either of them. For the hooded boy, the feeling he was getting from each strike was different than what he was expecting and he couldn't figure out why this was. And for Xion, her Keyblade was telling her that she was engaged in battle against another Keybearer but his weapon clearly wasn't a Keyblade.
Xion goes for a low swing, hoping to connect with a knee to knock him off his feet. But the hooded boy simply jumps up, over her attack, then sends Soul Eater slashing down hard which Xion blocks with her Keyblade. They exchange several more blows before jumping back away from each other.
"I see now..." says the hooded boy, running at her. "Now I know what's going on."
"What does that mean?" asked Xion, going for him as well.
As they approach one another, the hooded boy fakes a vertical slash at her shoulders, making her bring her Keyblade up to block the hit. But at the last second, he changes his attack, instead going low then up to hit the Keyblade from below with enough force to knock it from her hands. Before Xion could react to this, the hooded boy uses his free hand to hard push against her stomach, sending her flying back across the bridge, hitting hard against the castle's gate.
Xion groans as she tries to pick herself up, then looks to see the hooded boy leaning down and picking up her Keyblade, then examines it carefully. "Hands off...that's mine..." says Xion, forcing past the pain she was feeling to get back on her feet.
"Here...take it" says the hooded boy, surprising her by tossing the Keyblade back over to her. "There's no value in keeping this thing anyways. Its just a sham, a fake Keyblade. It has no real power behind it."
'A sham? A fake? It has no real power...?' thinks Xion, glaring at him in confusion. "What's that suppose to mean, anyways?"
"It doesn't matter" says the boy, preparing to launch another attack. "I guess the Organization found a way to make fakes for their own use. That means you must be a Nobody then. Just a sham like the rest."
"I am not a sham...nor is my Keyblade" says Xion, angrily. "You have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Maybe...but there's only one way to know for sure" says the hooded boy before charging at her. Xion tries to move to counter him, but finds her body not wanting to respond due to the previous injury.
"Stay away from her" yells Roxas as he darts across the bridge with his Keyblade at the ready.
The hooded boy turns just in time to see him and blocks the attack, then says "Another one? How many of you are there in...wait..."
This time, he was getting a different feeling from his opponent. Unlike the girl, this guy was the real deal it seemed. He actually had a real Keyblade in hand. Seeing his opponent become distracted, Roxas swing hard, knocking the hooded boy off balance, then swings again and knocks him off his feet. He tries for a third attack, but the hooded boy rolls out of the feet and is quick on getting back up, then leaps over Roxas which allows Roxas to be in between him and Xion.
"You OK, Xion?" asked Roxas.
Xion nods, saying "Yeah, more or less. But that guy..."
"Don't worry, I'll deal with him" says Roxas before charging at his opponent.
"Wait, Roxas" yells Xion, making him stop.
He looks back at her and ask "Why? What's wrong?"
"Tell me something..." comes the hooded boy, getting both their attentions back onto him. "You wear the coat of the Organization, yet you can wield the Keyblade. That means that, unlike them, you have a heart, thus you can't be a Nobody. So why would you willing work with them?"
"First tell me who you are and why you attacked Xion?" demands Roxas.
"Very well" comes the hooded boy as he reaches up with his free hand, pulling the hood back to reveal his face. He had blue/white colored hair and appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen.
"My name is Riku. I attacked your friend because of her wearing the coat of an Organization member and I have been tasked with eliminating them...amongst other things."
"But you are also wearing the coat as well" points out Xion
"Not by choice" says Riku. "Though it does have its advantages..."
"OK, then why are you targeting Organization members then? And why did you stop with me then?" asked Roxas.
"I...can't tell you why apart from the fact that though I have nothing against them personally myself, one that I work with does have some issues and in order to receive his help, I have to help him in turn by taking them out. As for why I'm not attacking you now? It's because you are a Keybearer and my orders don't include attacking your kind unless provoked."
"And Xion? Why did you attack her?" asked Roxas.
"I thought she was a Nobody" says Riku.
"And what made you figure that?" asked Roxas.
Riku nearly speaks his reason but stops before the words can leave his lips. Thinking about it, he realizes he did feel the same thing from Xion as he felt from Roxas, but it was muffled; buried deep inside. That Keyblade of her's may have been a fake in his opinion, but maybe it didn't mean she was as well. Perhaps it was simply a training tool she was using to help her call forth her true Keyblade?
"I...it was my mistake. My apologies" says Riku, bowing slightly. As Xion, having gotten back onto her feet at last and moved to stand by Roxas, Riku says "Your name is Roxas, correct? I believe that's the name she called you by."
"That's right" says Roxas.
Riku's weapon disappears from his hand, then followed by him pulling a device that looked similar to the com-devices used by the Organization out from his pocket and opens a portal, though this one was different to the ones used by the Organization; being more dark and ominous in appearance.
"If I were either of you two, I'd leave the Organization as soon as possible" says Riku before turning away and stepping into the portal. "From what I've been told about them, they are far from trust worthy." He stops, looks back at them, and says one final thing.
"If you do stay with them, then we'll have to fight again someday and I rather not fight with my fellow bearer's..." And then, he was gone.
"Wait" yells Roxas, chasing after Riku, wanting to ask him what it was he meant. But the portal closes before he could reach it. "What did he mean...by all of that, and by calling us fellow bearer's?"
"Roxas, I think he may be a Keybearer as well" says Xion, walking up to join him.
Roxas looks back at her, clearly shocked by her words. "He's a...but his weapon wasn't a..."
"I know, I saw his weapon up close too. But when we crossed blades, I could feel it. The same power that comes from you; power I've felt when we have our practice match's. Didn't you feel the same thing when you battled him?"
Roxas thinks about it, then realizes Xion was right. He had felt something familiar within Riku, but had been to focused on saving Xion to notice it till now. "I wonder why he didn't summon his Keyblade forth then?" wonders Roxas aloud.
"Maybe he's trying to keep the fact he has one hidden" suggest Xion. "To be honest, I'm more curious about what he said to us before he left?"
"You mean about how we shouldn't trust the Organization?" asked Roxas, getting a nod from Xion.
Roxas takes a moment to think about it, considering that he may have said that just to cause unrest within the trust that existed within the group. But deep down, something was telling him that...
"Maybe he's right" says Roxas, surprising Xion. "When I think back on it, the appearance of the Organization in Twilight Town shortly after the Heartless appeared there seems a little too coincidental. And I can't help but feel that there's something they haven't told us about either..."
"So should we leave them then?" asked Xion. "Run away right now and don't look back?"
Roxas laughs, saying "And where would we go? No, we'll head back for now and report on what happened here; see what it is they have to say about all this. But we she be more observant of them from now on at least, just in case that Riku guy is right about them."
"Agreed" says Xion. They then begin heading back towards the woods, where they would open the portal back to Never Was, away from any prying eyes that could be watching them.
"Roxas..." says Xion, getting his attention. "There is something he said that's bugging me though. Something said before you arrived..."
"What's that?" asked Roxas.
Xion hesitates for a moment, then begins to tell him about Riku's words on her Keyblade being a fake.
(Twilight Town)
"So, Olette isn't coming by again today, huh?" says Hayner. He and Pence were at the Usual Spot, sitting around, doing the homework assignment for the day.
"I doubt it" says Pence. "Ever since...that day, she hasn't really been herself. Even her grades, which have always been top notch, have been slipping lately. Not that we can't blame her though."
"Yeah..." says Hayner, looking over at the Struggle Festival winners trophy that was sitting on the table in the back of their little hide out. "I wonder if he'll ever come back?"
"I hope so, if for no other reason than it would make Olette happy again" says Pence.
"It would make us all happy" says Hayner in agreement.
(Twilight Beach)
"Here I am again" says Olette, standing alone on the beach in her school uniform, looking out over the ocean. "This is where you and I first met...sort of."
She had taken the train out here to the beach, coming to the spot she had found Roxas at a year before. She still came here, everyday at this late hour at the same time she had found him before. She knew it was crazy to think this way, but she hoped that maybe one day, she would find him here again.
But that was just a dream, wasn't it? Maybe that's why today was a little different than the others.
Being held in her hands was a large glass bottle and a rolled up piece of paper. Today, she was going to try to send a message to him, hoping beyond hope that it would find its way to him somehow, someday. Kneeling down, she places the bottle on the sand, then pops the lid off.
She then uses her free hand to reach into her pocket, pulling out the center of the pendent she had found with Roxas that day. Before, it had possessed five petal like attachments to it; now it was just the center piece that had connected them all as the five petals had taken flight when she had touched the pendent by some unknown power. She had planned on giving this to Roxas that day at the beach, but...
"All I can do for now is wait...and hope" she says as she drops the pendent core into the bottle, then inserts the rolled up paper into it as well, finally re-corking the bottle to protect the precious contents. She then takes the bottle in hand again, stands, and walks out into the water.
The ocean was cold as summer had ended and it was well into autumn now, but the cold didn't bother her that much. She brings the bottle close to her face, says "Please find your way safely to him", then she kiss's the bottle before placing it gently upon the water.
As the tide carried the bottle away from her, towards the never ending ocean, Olette reach's into her pocket again and pulls out the green crystal that Roxas had left behind; now the only thing she had left of his. "Please, find your way to him..."
Off to the side, concealed behind some rocks, stood a figure who was watching her. "Hm, interesting. There may be a use in her I can exploit..."
(an hour later, at the old mansion)
Riku was leaning against the wall in DiZ's lab, which had once been the basement of the old mansion converted for the masked man's private use, when the secret door that led to the dining room opens and a figure dressed in red and black walks down the stairs into the lab.
"Where did you run off too?" asked Riku as DiZ passed him, taking a seat at his computer consul.
"I had a few...errands to run; nothing you need worry about. Anyways, how did the search go?"
Riku walks over to him, saying "Sorry, still no luck. Though there was a castle in the world I explored, it wasn't the one you were interested in finding. Also, I didn't find any sign of that king guy you're looking for either."
"I figured it would be another dead end. No matter, we still have time to spare" says DiZ, typing something into his computer. "So, there wasn't anything note worthy about this world then?"
"...No, nothing at all. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go rest now" says Riku, getting a nod from DiZ. As he heads up the stairs, Riku reflects on his words. Sure, he had met Roxas and Xion, but DiZ didn't need to know about that. And why was this his thought?
Because just as he had warned them about trusting their allies, so to did he have his own issues with his, especially how he treated her. In time, he hoped the four of them would come together and escape the services of these people who only wanted them to serve their own goals; not for the greater good.
And in her room, the girl had finally finished her latest drawing; liking to take her time in the little things called detail. Getting up, she walks a little and finds a spot on the wall to hang the picture, then steps back and looks at it. She wondered though, what visions would she have next?
And where all of this would lead them...
to be continued...
Secret Memory 1: The Boy who's Name means Wind
"Where are you going, big brother?" asked the small, blonde haired kid of seven, looking at his older, twelve year old brother who had black hair instead of blonde.
The older brother grabs his jacket and begins to put in on, saying "Out for a bit. I need to go meet with that guy who came by here the other day and give him my answer. Don't worry though, I won't be gone to long."
"Why can't I come with you" asked the smaller boy. "The mansion gets lonely and scary when I'm here alone. Since mom and dad died, you and I are the only ones left. Even the people father hired to come help around here don't come by anymore."
"You'll be fine. Your a big kid now and as such, you need to gain courage. How else will you get the girls to like you" teased the older brother, looking back at the younger and ruffling his hair. He then kneels down, reach's into his pocket, and pulls out a small gold and silver colored key.
"Here, this is the key to the safe in the hidden room down in the basement. You remember where that is, right?" asked the older brother, getting a nod from the younger. He then places the key into his younger brothers hand and says "Inside is all our munny so take what you need out to go by some lunch in town later."
"OK" says the little brother. "You'll really be back soon though, right?"
The older brother stands and gives him a thumbs up. "Before you know it" he says before walking out the front door to attend to his business.
He never came back...
(two years later)
The younger brother made his way through the markets, having picked up a new weeks worth of groceries and was now heading back to the mansion; that lonely place filled with nothing bad sad memories and reminders of better days that would never come again.
His brother hadn't returned like he had promised. He had gone out and searched everywhere and even the towns folk had helped, but no trace was ever found. It was as if he had disappeared off the face of the earth. After passing through the forest, the boy arrived at his home which was starting to look something shabby due to the little attention that was being given towards her upkeep.
Maybe he should just leave it, move into a smaller apartment in Twilight Town? It would certaintly make going from home to the markets and back again with groceries much easier on him. Plus, the munny was running out and it wouldn't be long before he'd need to find himself a job in town.
He then notices it; the front gate was open just a little. Could it be...? He runs forward, slipping past the gate and running up to the house and finds the door also hanging open. Running inside, he lays the groceries on the ground, then begins to run from room to room, searching for the one who had come here. "Brother? Brother?" he yells every few moments as he search's the mansion.
But there was no one there. Sighing, he sits on the steps that connect the first and second floors together, feeling depressed. He had gotten his hopes up for nothing it seemed. Though what would he have done had it actually been his brother? Hug him? Yell at him? Maybe even punch him? He didn't know for sure. Maybe all three. Seeing the groceries laying there, waiting for him, he gets up and walks over to them, preparing to pick up the bags and take them to the kitchen.
"Lonely here, isn't it?" comes a voice from behind, making the boy spin around. There, standing on the very step he had just been sitting on, was a figure dressed in a white coat with a hood hiding his face. This person had to be a he from the sound of his voice and he must be rather young as well.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" asked the boy.
"I came here to see you. As for my name? Are names really so important for someone to have or know? What of you, can you tell me your name?" asked the hooded youth.
"I could...but something tells me you already know it seeing as you came here to see me, or so you've claimed" says the boy, hoping this guy wasn't planning on attacking him.
The hooded youth chuckles, saying "True. As for me, I guess you could say I'm something of a...a lingering sentiment if you will. But that isn't so important to talk about right now. I came here for a purpose and that purpose was to give you a gift."
"What kind of gift?" asked the boy.
The hooded youth's response is to hold his right hand out, causing a large key like object to appear. The boy found it beyond interesting to look at. The hilt had a heart shaped hand guard around it with a smaller heart like design at its opposite end with three small musical notes sticking out just before it. The silver colored blade had a glow going along it that made it shine radiantly.
"What is that?" asked the boy.
"A Keyblade" was the youths reply. "Radiant Heart if you want an actual name given for it." He then steps off the stairs and stabs the Keyblade into the ground, releases his hold on it, then steps back a few steps. "Take hold of it and we'll see if it will accept you."
"I don't understand?" says the boy.
"We're doing the inheritance ceremony of course. This is how new Keybearer's are chosen. Someone like me finds a worthy candidate and the Keyblade determines if that person is worthy. Just do as I ask and I'll explain more after the fact."
Though he was confused, the boy nods and steps forward. "OK, here I go" says the boy as he reach's out, then gulps a little before taking hold of the Keyblade. For just a second, nothing happens...and then the Keyblade gives off a light glow. The youth steps forward, kneels down, and places his hands over the boys hand.
"With this ceremony of inheritance, we freely give the gift of the Key. And through this act of giving, if chosen, its master you shall one day be. Then there will be no borders that can hold you, no chains that can weigh you down. And your heart now is truly free" says the youth before letting go of the boys hand and standing again. "Now, try to summon it...your Keyblade."
"I...OK?" says the boy as he steps back and holds his hand out like he had seen the youth do before.
"Reach inside yourself and find it there, deep within your heart. Take hold...and release it."
The boy does, closing his eyes and looking deep inside himself. He feels a warmth coming from his heart that he never felt before. Focusing on that, he imagines taking hold of that light and...whoosh, the Keyblade appears in his hands.
He opens his eyes and finds it different looking than that of the youths Keyblade. A brown colored hand guard with dark gray color metal. Furthermore, he was holding it in reverse than what was normal as well. "It's different..." says the boy.
"Each heart has its own unique Keyblade and that one is yours" says the youth, walking forward and studying it. "And from the writing on the guard, its name is Wayward Wind." He then turns back and grabs his Keyblade as well.
"Wayward Wind" repeats the boy. "So, what do I do now?"
"Remain here in this town for now. Soon enough, he who will be your master will come and take you away for training. It will be hard but you will become strong and maybe...you'll find your brother out there as well. Now, for one final thing..."
"Wait, you can't train me yourself?" asked the boy.
"I would if I had the time, but my time here is very limited sadly. Just enough for me to have come and done this; give you the power of the Keyblade which you'll need. Now, I'll give you this too" says the youth before taking a hold of the key chain dangling from the boy's Keyblade and touching it against the key chain connected to his own, making them both glow.
"What was that about?" asked the boy.
The youth releases his hold on Wayward Wind's key chain and stands. "You'll come to learn it in time, little wind. In time..." Then, to the boys surprise, the youths body begins to disappear. "As you await the coming of your master, I suggest you learn how to fight with your Keyblade. The knowing will come in handy, trust me..."
"Wait, I still have questions" yells the boy.
The youth smiles behind the hood and says "And in time, you'll have your answers. Just be patient and know that we shall meet again...someday. So, until then, good luck, my friend...Ventus."
(two months later)
A woman screams as the Shadow ravaged the markets, making a mess of everything. It then sees a small girl, to scared to move and heads towards her in attack. The girls mother screams as she tries to save her daughter, but there wasn't enough time.
And then the boy named Ventus appears, running as fast as the wind with Keyblade in hand, leaping over various obstacles and attacking the surprised Heartless, taking it out with one clean stroke. Several more arise from the ground as Ven hands the girl off to her mother, then turns his attention to taking out these monsters from the darkness. A few moments later, it was over.
Ventus takes a moment to catch his breath as he still wasn't in use to such movement. But he was getting better, getting faster. Was it the power of the Keyblade? He looks at it and wonders.
"Mr. Ven, behind you" yells the girl he had just saved, making him spin around to see one final Heartless remained; one that was launching a sneak attack on him now. And it was faster than the others, faster than what he could react to in time.
But the Heartless doesn't reach him as another Keyblade comes spinning in as a Strike Raid, hitting the Heartless and taking it out with ease. Looking, Ventus sees the source of this new Keyblade being a man who was slightly bent forward and old; a small patch of gray hair on his head and chin.
"Be mindful my boy for the Heartless are sneaky pest" warns the old man before approaching Ventus. "Still though, that was rather impressive for a youth such as yourself. I was unaware of there being a Keybearer here in this world. Tell me, are you a new apprentice to Eraqus?"
"Eraqus?" said Ventus, then shakes his head. "I'm sorry sir, but I don't know the name of the one who gave me the power of the Keyblade. All I know is that he was young from the sound of his voice and he hid his face behind a hood. And I was told by him my master would come for me soon."
"I see" says the older man, scratching his chin. "I suppose it can't be Eraqus as he would have taken you with him or I would at least sense his presence here in this world. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Ventus, sir. And yours?" asked Ven.
"I'm Xehanort, just an old, simple man who's seeks a suitable heir to succeed him as a Keyblade Master. " says the old man, who then smiles. "You said you are awaiting a master to train you and I am looking for a student to take on. Perhaps this meeting was fated to happen, to bring us together."
"So you're offering to train me then?" asked the boy.
"Only if you think you can stand spending the next few years traveling with a senile old coot such as myself" said Xehanort, grinning just a little.
Ven cracks a smile, saying "I think I can manage. Can I go get my stuff?"
"Sure, my boy. I'll wait here for you. But be sure to pack lightly, alright. Where we'll be going, there won't be much need for excessive things" says Xehanort.
Ventus nods as he turns around and heads to the small town house he was now renting to gather the few items he would want to bring while asking his land lord if he could take the rest back to the mansion.
For the next two years, Ventus stayed with Xehanort; training hard and seeing many world's he had never thought existed. And he grew stronger and more skilled and his master began to speak of his goal, of his need for an heir who could harness both light and dark to forge the TRUE Keyblade.
And it was on one destined day that Xehanort took his apprentice, Ventus, to the Keyblade Graveyard where he would give one final test; pitting him against a horde of Neo Shadows, all for the sake of forging that ultimate power.
"Now lad, it's time to lash out. Release the darkness you hold deep in your heart. Gain the power we both know you have sleeping within you. Create for me the key to our destiny" commanded Xehanort, his arms resting in a crossed pattern behind his back.
"But master, I can't. There's just to many of them" says Ventus as even more Neo Shadow's appeared around him.
"Nonsense, you're just letting your fears control you" retorts Xehanort, feeling little worry for Ventus's safety. "Don't shrink back from what we both know must be. Now, release the darkness and find a new power in the release."
"But..." argues Ventus, but his argument ends quickly as the Neo Shadow's, tired of waiting, all launch their attacks against him.
Ven's cries are caught upon the wind though none would hear it that cared...
This was the full memory given to Roxas via the first petal piece of Ventus's Wayfinder...