5 years later. . . . . . .

Roxas set down his broom and sighed, wiping a bit of sweat away from his brow casually as he did so. The sun was just barely beginning to peak over the horizon, and a warm, glowing light drifted in from the windows, settling over the kitchen and casting shadows on the floor. Another boy with dark spiky hair sat dozing in the corner, and the prince smiled softly, retrieving a blanket from the closet and draping it over his shoulders. The servant boy didn't stir, and Roxas didn't have the heart to wake him now. The two of them had been working all through the early morning to have the room properly prepared, and his friend never had enough sleep as it was.

The little blond gathered his supplies and went to the door, smiling once more over his shoulder at the other boy as he left.

"Good morning, Pence," he whispered.

The rest of the castle seemed was quiet and still, though Roxas knew that that was an illusion. The servants had likely been up for hours, like himself, keeping the castle in order for its master and readying it for the day ahead. Roxas never knew what the day would bring, but every day was a step closer to when he would finally be able to rise to power, and bring justice to his people once again. So, unless it was just an all-around bad day, he tried to look on the coming hours hopefully.

And besides, any day was a great day when he wasn't forced down into Vexen's lab as his unwilling assistant. The prince often groaned at that thought; being down in the dark with the cobwebs and dust and the odd-smelling potions the old man was so very fond of. And with that came being exposed to the sights and sounds of the dungeons.

Roxas cringed slightly and continued on his way. His birthday was still months away, but to him, that day couldn't come soon enough.

After passing through a few more rooms and halls, he reached the familiar wooden door and turned the handle slowly, pulling it back to allow the glorious red light to seep through before he finally stepped outside. Early spring flowers had begun to bloom throughout the gardens, making Roxas smile. His friend Olette, another servant at the castle, loved these flowers dearly and tended to them even when she had other chores to do. It was nice to see someone still doing something because she wanted to, and not just because it was her job.

Today there was no one wandering the garden, although the prince didn't really mind. It was tranquil and quiet, and a nice place to go when he needed to think or be on his own.

There were several different breeds growing out here, but Roxas wandered straight towards his favorites; a single bush blooming with pristine, white roses. For some reason he could never really guess, roses had always been his favorite flower, and these ones that were white like snow glowed so beautifully despite their simplicity. And in the morning they would glow a delicate shade of pink and glisten with morning dew; untainted and untouched by anything but the very nature that grew them.

Roxas loved to stop and watch them occasionally, wishing that others weren't too busy to take a moment to see such beauty in a time when a little happiness was so valued. But it wasn't really their fault, he supposed. Not everyone had the leisure time, and really, he had a number of chores he should have been doing at the moment. But the prince just felt too distracted at the moment to care, listening to the sounds of birds and bees humming about in the air.

Roxas bent a little low to cup a small blossom in his palm, careful not to pull it from its stem and admiring it for a minute. He smiled a small, simple smile at it, before turning his gaze absently to the middle of the courtyard.

The Keyblade stood in the center as it always had, still very much unmoved by Vexen's efforts to the boy's relief. Like the roses, it too seemed to bask in the glow of the sunrise, its ancient metal freshly polished and sparkling despite the rust-like color it absorbed. For a moment, the boy stood there and looked at it, and then he rose and walked over, gently reaching out his left hand to rest upon its hilt.

Roxas smiled when he was sure he felt the power and magic flowing through it, spreading to his hand and up his arm in a delightful tingling sensation. He already felt a connection to the powerful relic, and was sure it would choose him when the time came. That was good. The little blond shut his eyes and hummed softly as he simply let the power fill him. Somehow, just being close to the keyblade and even touching it was enough to make him feel strong and ready. He wondered if it was really all that heavy once it was pulled free...

Maybe today, things will go alright...

Suddenly, the prince felt something poking him in the back of the head. He immediately yelped and spun around, only to find a familiar boy with dark blond hair smiling down at him playfully.

"Demyx! For heaven sakes, how many times have I asked you not to do that?"

The older boy completely disregarded him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "Lord's orders, Roxy. The old fossil wants a word with you, and you know how he gets if you take too long."

Despite his mood and the thought of going to see Vexen, Roxas sniggered evilly. The two of them always talked this way about the man, but never to his face of course. That would mean harsh punishment for the both of them, and Roxas didn't want his friend to get in any more trouble than he was usually.

Demyx was technically his personal servant, but Roxas never thought of him that way. They met shortly after Roxas's father died. Demyx had been called there to work at the castle, away from his own home and family, and Roxas had sympathized immediately. He was sure the older blond would hate him for that decree, but he seemed to understand that Vexen was the cause, and the two were fast friends after a few awkward first days.

The older boy now followed him almost constantly when not occupied with other work, and although he could annoy Roxas to no end, the little blond was glad to have the company. The castle was almost entirely devoid of any kids his own age, besides Olette who tended the gardens and Pence who worked in the kitchens, but they had little time to spare on him outside of work. And the castle could be a very lonely place for a boy...

"Well, I suppose I should go then. I wouldn't dream of ruffling his dusty old feathers..."

The older boy smirked and took his hand, leading the way back out of the gardens. Once the initial humor had died, Roxas let out a long sigh. All joking aside, Vexen was very easily riled when things didn't go his way, and like the coward he was, had no objection to beating such insolence out of the people below him. Roxas himself had several bruises to prove that. Although the man wasn't very strong, his beatings still hurt; enough to remind the prince that disobedience and downright rudeness towards the current ruler was not tolerated at all.

That didn't stop Roxas from having a little fun now and then at his expense, though...

Demyx seemed to notice him tensing the closer they got to the throne room, and he gave a gentle, reassuring squeeze to his hand as they walked. Roxas smiled back and tried to relax; tried to forget all the bad feelings surrounding the room and the one who now lurked within it.

Back in his chambers, Vexen paced irritably across the floor; a dark, heavy shadow weighing on his mind. What he was planning was a very delicate process, one that could get him into a lot of trouble if anyone ever caught wind of it. But it was now or never. The revelation he had received earlier that morning had warned him that not only was his time running out, but also that there was only so much his magic could do...

His room had been dark and cold as he rose that morning and approached the far right closet. Thrusting it open, he gazed at the large shield hanging inside for a moment before he turned around to reveal a slightly smaller mirror hidden on its inside.

Laying his hand on the mirror, he spoke, " Spirit of the mirror, by the powers of ice and dark I summon you. Obey my desire and come forth now, or forever lurk in the depths of shadow!"

Slowly, a fog began to settle over the mirror, obscuring even his own reflection as it spread. Then a pale, ghostly face appeared as the mist dispelled; a pale, thin, sickly face with just enough purple-grey hair to cover one eye.

"I have come forth, as you commanded." the face said flatly, sounding all too bored at the development. "What would you know, my lord?"

Vexen glared at the face and spat. " I now have little more than a year before I will be forced out of the kingdom by that royal brat and his friends! I need more time to reveal the secrets of the keyblade! Tell me what I must do to secure my throne!"

The mirror's face sighed heavily, shaking its head. "Master, you cannot hope to break the keyblade's magics so quickly. Time and time again you have asked me for its secrets, and again I tell you, such ancient magic cannot be broken by mere force of will. You must either be worthy of its power, or find a way to circumvent the law..."

The old blond growled harshly. "There must be a way! Every year, the boy grows stronger as I myself grow older and weaker! My heart will never change for that blasted relic's pleasures, and I will not stoop to a lawyer's game!"

"That is all I can say to you, my lord..." the face replied, his voice still flat and uncaring. "Think of what you hope to gain and that which you cannot lose. Do not wait until the boy is man enough to rise against you..."

Those last words he'd said were haunting Vexen now more than ever. He had thought of this before, oh yes, but the people were not stupid. Anything within the castle walls could be linked immediately to him, and while the army could put down peasant uprisings for the most part, there were also those who could oppose him from the inside. Zack, the young, foolish captain of the guard, was loyal to Roxas, and although his men were somewhat scattered in their allegiance, there were not enough men Vexen could readily trust to protect himself.

By law, he could not remove the captain anymore than he could remove the prince, and the old man often worried that the two together could lead a sufficient force against him.

If he could only separate them. If he could only break the people's spirits as well as their bodies, then could he truly stand unopposed and do with the kingdom as he pleased. The mirror was right. The boy was still young and weak; there was time enough to dispose of him yet, but he would have to tread carefully.

Vexen also wanted to make it painful, purposeful; to make the insolent little brat sorry he ever sought to stand in the way of his plans...

"Sephiroth..."

His thoughts broke as the door to his audience chamber opened and immediately in came the prince and his silly little servant boy. His face was a bit dirty, no doubt from the morning chores Vexen insisted that he do (to show him the value of a hard day's work, of course; though Vexen himself would never lower himself to such peasant work). His eyes were bright, defiant as always, but the pale boy bowed before him, as did his servant, and Vexen smiled somewhat darkly.

Good...that's it...Bow like the rest of your little vermin...

"Good morning, Lord Vexen." The pleasantries were strained as always, but nevertheless, Roxas was perfectly polite and respectful to his face. The old man sat back and folded his hands together, twiddling two fingers idly as he spoke.

"Good morning, Roxas. I have a special mission involving you today, one that I think you'll enjoy very much."

That provoked the slightest eye roll in his direction, but Vexen brushed it off with a small frown. You'll get yours soon enough, you little-

"And what would you have me do, my lord?" Still that guarded tone, and the small, polite smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"At the edge of the northern forest is a spring that is known for producing many mystic stones. I need some for my experiments, and everyone else is far too busy today to go for me. That is why I have chosen you and Demyx to go and retrieve some for me."

Roxas seemed taken aback by this, a suspicious look on his face. True, he hadn't been allowed outside the castle in quite some time, and never was he let out without a number of guards to escort him. Vexen knew this wasn't like himself at all.

"Surely I heard right? You want me to go out and retrieve these for you?"

"Yes," Vexen said calmly, not too sweetly lest he appear more suspicious. "The stones are found deep within the spring, and as I have been told, can sometimes be found in the tiniest crevices. Many of the people I send are much too large to collect the stones. That is why you are perfect for the job. And don't worry, I trust Demyx is more than capable of keeping you safe while you are out."

The older blond beamed happily at the praise, although Roxas looked thoughtful and somewhat angry for a moment. Vexen smiled. The little quip about his height was sure to have offended him, and that was good. As the stand-in ruler, he and the prince could not engage in outright threats or insults publicly. That was beyond rude in court, and besides, Vexen was above such nonsense. But they often engaged in little, smaller insults; too small to pick up for most, but definitely present to annoy one another. So, having added this little quip in, Roxas was sure to let his suspicions slide a little.

It worked. A moment later, the prince's expression stretched into a wide, boyish smile; the picture of how young and vulnerable he still was. Perfect...

"So that means I...I can really go out today?"

Vexen chuckled at the wide blue eyes. Oh so trusting. It was unbecoming for a prince to trust people so easily. That was how 'accidents' happened.

"Yes, really." he replied, a slight indignation there. He enjoyed getting into the act a little bit, but not so much as to say, "Would I lie to you?" He smirked a little and gave a casual wave of his hand.

"The two of you can leave at noon; there will be a escort awaiting you at a check point I've marked on your map. They will await you in the closest village and make sure you return safely. But you must be sure to make your way back to the check point before it gets dark. Do you understand?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically. "I understand!" Upon realizing that he was acting much too eager, Roxas checked himself quickly, and calmly said, "I will return by nightfall without fail. Thank you, Lord Vexen."

With that, Roxas turned around and sped off for his room, a noticeable skip in his step as he went. Vexen smirked as he watched him go. It was too bad he wouldn't be there later, to see that sweet, innocent little face twisting in pain and betrayal.

Demyx had turned to follow the prince, clearly delighted to see him so happy, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Do not leave yet, Demyx." Vexen whispered in his ear, a wicked smile crossing his face. "I have yet another important job for you. It must be done quickly and without fail..."

He handed Demyx a small, scarlet box, to which the boy blinked in confusion, and then continued to whisper in his ear. Demyx's blue eyes widened in alarm as he turned to face the lord. "What?...Why?...No, you can't!...You can't make me do that!"

Vexen looked at him, face without mercy or sympathy, his eyes glaring darkly into Demyx's. "You must, Demyx. You know what will happen if you defy me. And if you breathe a word of this to anyone...That is an order."

With that, the lord swept aside his cape and stood, vanishing from the room quickly and leaving the confused and saddened blond boy behind him. Demyx stood still for a second as the gravity of the situation hit him, and the once smiling, goofy teen then sank to the floor, sobbing with despair.

"I-I can't...I can't refuse him...I-I'm so sorry, Roxas..."