Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Disney, etc.
A/N: Chapter 2 is done! Again, there's really not much of a plot to this portion of the story, but I sort of wanted to touch on some of the things that, due mainly to lack of time and space, the Kingdom Hearts crew just weren't able to focus on much within the games themselves. Just to let you know what's coming up, after this chapter comes chapter 3, which will be called Whispers from the Heart. Chapter 4 is going to be called Elusive Memories, chapter 5 doesn't have a title yet, chapter 6 is going to be called Oathkeeper, and chapter 7 will be the final chapter, which also does not have a title yet. Hope you all enjoy this next one! I will be updating FTFOD next week, but then it will be back to this story. Oh, and I tried your advice, Shire. Didn't work. *sigh* As per usual, I will recheck the chapter tomorrow for any mistakes I might have missed. Enjoy!
The Eyes of Twilight
Chapter 2: Servants of the Key
Roxas
Tram Common, Market Street/ The Forest
"Good question," Donald muttered, glancing suspiciously at the residents of Twilight Town who were shopping along Market Street without any idea they were being watched.
There was a long moment of tense silence, and frowning thoughtfully to himself, Roxas hesitantly closed his eyes, his mind focusing on the Samurai Nobodies who had been so eager to bring him back into the Organization. They had even gone so far as to actually allow Axel to order the Dusks around, doing nothing to stop the Dusks from searching for him, just so they could report to their leader again.
They never tried to stop what was happening. Then again, Axel was the only member of the Organization my Samurai Nobodies tolerated, other than the Superior, probably because they knew how I felt about him. Now that I think about it, even the Superior had a hard time getting them to follow orders. I wonder where they are now. Did any of them manage to survive after Sora and Riku defeated the Superior? They were always loyal to me, even after I left the Organization. Surprisingly loyal, now that I think about it. None of the other members of the Organization seemed to have the same kind of relationship with their Nobodies that I had, except perhaps Demyx. Maybe it was because I made a point of treating them like they were human, the same way I wanted to be treated, which wasn't normally the case with most of the others. Axel used to say it was because they could sense my heart. Whether he meant within me, within Sora, or maybe within both of us I guess I'll never know. I used to think he was just joking when he would say things like that, but maybe for once he was actually being serious...
"Their numbers may be smaller, but I don't think they're gone completely," Sora said slowly, once again taking a seat on the ground and leaning his back against the rusty-coloured building towering above his head. Summoning Oblivion and placing it on the pavement next to his right hand, the Keyblade Master rested his arms on his knees, his eyebrows narrowing into a slight frown. "I'm pretty sure the Nobodies must be a small group, since Roxas is the only surviving member of the Organization, but as for the Heartless..."
"As long as the hearts of all the people who live united under Kingdom Hearts, no matter what realm they live in, remain strong and free from the darkness, the worlds will remain safe," Riku said nonchalantly, his emerald green gaze scanning the horizon.
"When you put it that way it sounds pretty easy," Hayner snorted, "but from everything I've heard so far, the chances of that happening are-"
"Not very good," Olette moaned, shaking her dark head in despair. "There are always going to be people who are attracted by the lure of darkness, and once they inevitably give in to the temptation of evil the Heartless will invade."
"And along their path of destruction they'll steal the hearts of the innocent," Namine said quietly.
"Which leads us to another problem," Kairi sighed. "More Heartless means more Nobodies, so if the Heartless were to invade again it would put us right back to square one."
Sora nodded in agreement, and making a face he picked Oblivion up from where it lay next to him on the ground. Twirling the Keyblade lightly in his hands he said, "What about Maleficent? I don't know about you guys, but I believe she's still alive, and thanks to her, Pete probably survived, too. Do you really think she would have let a bunch of Nobodies take her down? She wanted the Organization's castle and I can't see her giving it up that easily. For all we know, by this time she could have gained complete control over The World that Never Was, and if she decides to use the Heartless again and maybe even the surviving Nobodies..."
"In other words, we need to be prepared for anything," Riku said firmly, summoning his own Keyblade and pointing it at each of them in turn. "To believe the Heartless and the Nobodies are extinct would be stupid and incredibly dangerous. Chances are they're out there somewhere, and if they suddenly decide to threaten our worlds again, we need to be ready for them."
"Gawrsh, you really think they'll attack again?" Goofy asked hesitantly, gazing anxiously at Riku.
"Let them try!" Donald said confidently, thrusting his staff into the air for emphasis. "I'd like to see them get past my magic. Besides, if I stay away from Disney Castle for much longer, Daisy will kill me."
Seeing as how the court wizard didn't look too eager at the thought of returning to Disney Castle, nor did he appear to be in a hurry to get home, more than likely he was telling the truth about Daisy, which certainly explained a few things. If Sora's memories could be believed, Daisy had the potential to be even scarier than the Heartless and the Nobodies combined, especially when she was in a bad mood.
They're still alive. I can feel them, even from far away. I wonder if...
Roxas slowly opened his eyes and taking a deep breath he turned his attention to the small group huddled around him. Smiling hesitantly he said slowly, "I might not be able to speak for the Heartless, but I do know there are still some Nobodies hanging around."
"How do you know that?" Pence asked curiously.
"I...I can feel them. My Samurai Nobodies. A lot of them survived in The World that Never Was. They...they might come, if I call them."
"Really?" Hayner asked eagerly, his dark eyes lighting up with interest.
"I'm not sure, but I think so."
"Uh...do you really think that would be a very good idea?" Pence mumbled, looking a little bit unsure of himself.
"What he means to say is, are you crazy?" Donald quacked indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head in disbelief.
Frowning in annoyance, Hayner pushed Donald aside with his hand and glaring at Pence he said, "What do you know, dummy? Forget them, Roxas. If you can still summon your Nobodies, then they'll answer at least one of our questions. Besides, I want to see this. Twilight Town has been really boring lately. It's about time something interesting happened."
"Hey, be careful what you wish for," Olette scolded. "The last time something interesting happened we ended up with two Twilight Towns!"
Uncertain of whether or not he should attempt something that could potentially put the whole town in danger, Roxas nervously scratched his head and twisting his hands together he glanced hesitantly at his other half. "What do you think, Sora?"
What if they don't answer me? What if...what if I no longer have control over them? After I merged with Sora, they only had the Superior left to guide them. They did answer my call just before I fought against Sora at the Station of Serenity, but...that doesn't mean they'll listen to me now. Maybe they only did it because the Superior wanted to stop Sora from reaching the castle. I know they prevented Donald and Goofy from interfering for me, but...were they really listening to me?
"Well, Hayner's right about one thing. It would let us know if there are still any Nobodies hanging around, and if we're lucky your Samurai Nobodies might even be able to tell us what happened to Maleficent," Sora said thoughtfully, nodding to himself and resting his chin in his hands. "They were in the castle when Maleficent announced she was going to make it her own."
"But...what if they're no longer loyal to me, since I'm not a member of the Organization anymore. I don't want to put anyone in danger, and besides...what if they no longer recognize me now that you and I have merged together? Will they even be able to see me?"
"There's only one way to find out," Kairi said simply, before Sora could answer.
Smiling softly at him, Namine wrapped her arms around his neck and she gave him a quick hug. Despite the fact that they were both transparent he could still feel her golden hair brushing against his cheek, and the warmth of her body, which was nestled against his chest, made his skin tingle in response to her touch. It felt the way Sora would always feel when Kairi would take the Keyblade Master in her arms, and even though everyone was watching him, including Kairi and Sora, who unbeknown to each other were looking far too pleased with themselves, Roxas couldn't help himself from turning a deep shade of red. "Namine..."
"Don't worry, Roxas. I'm sure your Nobodies will still recognize you. Everybody else can see us so there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to sense your presence. How could they not still be loyal to you? You were the only member of the Organization who didn't have your heart stolen by the Heartless and Axel told me you were the only one who truly treated your Nobodies like they had real feelings, except maybe Demyx. That's one of the reasons why I wanted to meet you so badly. Everything will be fine. I used to find it hard to believe in myself, but not anymore; not now that I'm with Kairi. Hasn't Sora made you feel the same way?"
"Well yeah, but..."
"Don't give up on yourself before you've even tried, Roxas."
"But-"
Without warning, Riku summoned Way to the Dawn, and Roxas jumped in surprise when the Keyblade suddenly came to a stop just inches away from poking him in the chest. Sora, who already had Oblivion in his hand, followed the older boy's example, and before Roxas could even make sense of what was going on, he found himself gazing at the shiny tips of two Keyblades instead of just one.
"If they don't listen to you, we'll just take them out like we always do," Sora said cheerfully.
"If they attack us, we'll attack them," Riku smirked.
Smiling slightly, Roxas shook his head at their antics, but he finally relented. "Fine, I'll see what I can do, but not here. We're too close to the street. Someone might see us."
"Gawrsh, you're right, Roxas. If the people of Twilight Town saw the Nobodies again, they might start to panic," Goofy said solemnly.
"Luckily it was really only Seifer's group who saw them last time, but that doesn't mean our luck will hold out. Let's move back further."
"Why don't we go to the forest?" Olette suggested, nodding her head towards a small alcove nestled between several tall buildings. It stood just off the main street, and normally the area was usually completely deserted, probably because it looked like the kind of place no sane person would ever visit all on their own. Dark and shadowy, as far as Roxas knew, it was the only way to reach both the forest and the Old Mansion, and since many of the people who lived in Twilight Town secretly believed the Old Mansion was haunted, whether they would admit it or not, normally none of them usually dared to venture too close, the exception being Seifer and his gang.
And Hayner, who always drags Pence and Olette here with him, although Pence is known to wander here all by himself, too. He's always been interested in the Old Mansion, and from some of the things he said earlier, I think it's pretty safe to say even his real self is fascinated by that place!
"Perfect!" Hayner cheered, grinning at Olette and flinging his arm around her shoulders. "Since Seifer's hanging out somewhere near the station, for once in his life he won't be a problem. Let's hurry up and get this over with before he decides to show his stupid face around here."
"Good point. Come on, guys," Pence ordered, motioning for them to follow him.
"Hey, what about my ice cream?" Donald complained.
Trying to be as discrete as possible, Roxas quickly followed the others into the forest, and glancing anxiously over his shoulder he squinted nervously through the trees, fully expecting to see several Samurai Nobodies weaving in and out of the shadows, their silver bodies gleaming softly in the darkness. His last few trips through the forest in Ansem's simulation of Twilight Town hadn't exactly been very pleasant, and dwelling suddenly on those memories now was starting to make him feel very uneasy.
Sora must have sensed what he was thinking because the Keyblade Master suddenly put a hand on his shoulder and to his surprise Sora gave him an encouraging smile. "Are you ready?"
"I...I guess..."
Unlike the rest of Twilight Town, instead of flourishing in the pale light of the sun, the forest was surprisingly dark and the shadows seemed to be calling out to him. As expected, the place was completely deserted, and Roxas couldn't help himself from gazing anxiously in the direction of the mansion. There was no voice this time, no sign of life, and no heart thriving within the mansion calling out to him. Instead, there was only darkness.
"Roxas?" Namine asked quietly, her bright blue eyes growing dark with concern.
Taking a deep breath, Roxas closed his eyes and he began to concentrate on the faint presence of his Nobodies, their soft whispers calling out to him from the depths of another world. On his left, he felt Sora give his shoulder a quick squeeze, and on his right Hayner gave him an encouraging pat on the back. The others stood around him in a circle, and although he could still feel their closeness as well as he could feel Sora and Hayner, his mind was drifting somewhere between the realms of light and darkness. At first, he got no response, but just as he was about to give up his eyes suddenly snapped open, and almost immediately six Samurai Nobodies rose up out of the ground, appearing so suddenly it was almost as if they had just materialized right out of thin air, and they began to weave excitedly through the trunks of the trees, their sleek bodies making it possible for them to execute breathtaking turns no normal human being could ever perform. They didn't move as fluidly as the Dusks, nor were they quite as graceful, but even so their supple movements were spectacular to watch.
"Look, they're here!" Olette gasped, flinging her arms around Kairi in fear and hiding her face against the other girl's shoulder.
"That is so cool," Hayner commented, nodding his head in approval. "Hey, Roxas, can I practice my moves on them for the next struggle competition?"
"Hayner!" Kairi scolded.
"What? It was just a suggestion."
"Careful," Donald warned, pointing his staff at the Nobodies. "They're coming this way."
Sora and Riku quickly dropped into their battle ready positions, their Keyblades shining faintly in the darkness, but the Samurai Nobodies paid them absolutely no attention whatsoever.
Instead, the servants who answered to the Key of Destiny moved fluidly towards their master and they came to a stop just inches away from the one known as Number XIII. Still unsure of their loyalty, Roxas quickly held up his hand and taking the hint Sora and the others immediately backed away from him, giving both the golden-haired wielder of the Keyblade and his Nobodies some space.
At first, the Nobodies merely studied Roxas in silence, almost as if they were unsure of whether or not he had really called them, and from the odd noises they were making, it sounded almost as if they were debating whether or not he was actually their real master or if he was merely an apparition, a figment of their imaginations. After all, the Dusks had been fooled once before by a bunch of photographs, much to Axel's frustrations, so it wasn't really surprising that they seemed hesitant to approach him.
I guess I'm just going to have to convince them.
Standing up straight, Roxas summoned Oathkeeper, and without even turning to look at Sora he caught Oblivion smoothly in his other hand, having already sensed the Keyblade whizzing through the air towards him almost before the Keyblade Master had even thrown it in his direction. Holding both Keyblades tightly in his hands, he lifted his chin and he gazed calmly at his Nobodies, waiting for their reactions.
Apparently they must have come to some sort of a decision because the Samurai Nobody who stood just slightly in front of the others suddenly leaned towards him and it bowed its head. "You called, my liege?"
Roxas heard the voice in his head and it startled him so badly he nearly dropped Oathkeeper on his foot. It had been a long time since he had last had an opportunity to converse with his Nobodies and since Sora's voice was the only voice he had been able to hear recently in his mind, the sound of what had become a foreign entity in his head came as quite a bit of a shock. And yet, despite almost injuring his foot, he had sense enough to speak out loud for the sake of his friends. "Yes, I did. Where have you been all this time?"
"The World that Never Was. We've been waiting for your return, my liege."
"My return?"
"Yes."
Letting out a deep sigh, Roxas turned his face away and he stabbed Oblivion into the earth. "I won't be returning. I'm never going back there. Ever. The Organization is dead."
"You misunderstand me, my liege. We do not wait for your return to the Organization. We wait for your return to us."
"Huh?"
Roxas felt his mouth drop open, and jerking his head around in surprise, he stared at the Samurai Nobody he normally placed in charge of all the others. "You were waiting for me, not the Organization?"
The Samurai Nobody once again bowed its head in acknowledgement and it quickly weaved around him in a circle before returning to its place in front of the other Nobodies. "You are the one we answer to."
"Then...you are still loyal to me?"
In perfect unison all six Nobodies whispered in his head, "We are at your command, master."
"Well? What are they saying?" Donald asked curiously, frowning suspiciously at the Nobodies.
Roxas was about to answer, but before he could open his mouth his most competent Nobody, the one whom he had chosen to lead all the others during those moments when he could not be present and who often spoke for the other Samurai Nobodies, suddenly pressed close to him again and it tilted its head to the side, studying him curiously. "You seem...different, my liege."
Huh?
Roxas stared at the leader of his Samurai Nobodies in surprise, and shaking his head in confusion, he pulled Oblivion free from the earth. "What do you mean? Is it because I'm transparent?"
"No, my liege. It's your heart."
"What? My...heart?"
"You are no longer half of who you used to be. You are whole."
"How...how did you..."
"We can sense it. The other side of your heart has been returned to you. You no longer carry only half of your heart. Though you are still one of us, it seems you have passed beyond the realm of the Nobodies."
"Wait, I don't understand. Are...are you saying I had a heart even when I was with the Organization?"
"You are not like us, my liege. Your heart has never forsaken you."
"Huh? What kind of an answer is that?"
"It has a strong pull. One that cannot be ignored."
"What?"
Without warning, all six of his Samurai Nobodies suddenly glided past him, and weaving excitedly through the air in dizzy circles, creating breathtaking patterns of intricate design in the darkness that resembled the patterns within a kaleidoscope, they came to a stop in front of Sora, their sleek silver bodies standing just inches away from the Keyblade Master.
"Watch out, Sora!" Donald shouted, lifting his staff and pointing it at the Samurai Nobodies.
Letting out a gasp of surprise, Roxas quickly grabbed Donald's arm before the court wizard could launch a fire spell at all six of his Samurai Nobodies, and turning sharply, he thrust Oblivion right into Goofy's path, trying desperately to stop the captain of the king's royal knights from attempting to reach Sora. "No, wait! Don't attack them!"
"Why not?" Donald cried indignantly, trying unsuccessfully to pull his arm free and glaring at the Nobodies.
"You don't want to scare them off, do you? Besides, Sora's fine. They won't hurt him."
"Gawrsh, Roxas, are you sure?" Goofy asked hesitantly.
Nodding his head firmly in response, Roxas turned to gaze curiously at his other half, and he blinked in surprise when all six of his Samurai Nobodies suddenly started to prance ecstatically around the Keyblade Master in a circle, their strange dance making it look almost as if they were performing some sort of sacred ritual. One of the Nobodies actually went so far as to extend its arm towards Sora, and almost shyly it touched the Keyblade Master's shoulder before weaving its way back into the circle again.
What in the name of Kingdom Hearts are they doing?
Feeling rather embarrassed, Roxas glared at his Nobodies, but none of them bothered to pay any attention to him. They were obviously excited about something, but what exactly had triggered their silent dance, he did not know, though he suspected their behaviour had something to do with Sora's presence. Surprisingly enough, Sora himself did not look the least bit nervous or uneasy, nor had he summoned a weapon to defend himself with, which he could have done quite easily under the circumstances and no one would have blamed him for it. Even with Oblivion in use he still had plenty of other Keyblades to choose from, but instead of attacking the Nobodies, the Keyblade Master merely studied them with interest, his bright blue eyes following their progress as they continued to march around him in a tight circle.
Could it be?
"They look so creepy in the darkness," Olette whispered, hugging herself and moving closer to Riku for comfort.
Dismissing his Keyblade, Riku crossed his arms and he frowned at the Nobodies, his expression unreadable. "I guess this answers our question about whether or not there are still any Nobodies around."
"What are they doing?" Sora asked curiously, turning in the opposite direction of the Nobodies and poking the one that had just passed his left shoulder, the tip of his finger connecting with its stomach. Shivering in response to the Keyblade Master's touch, the Nobody quickly squirmed away, an odd noise escaping from its throat. Almost immediately the other Nobodies responded with strange sounds of their own, and as far as Roxas could tell their reactions appeared to have satisfied the Nobody whom Sora had poked because it once again rejoined the circle.
"Maybe they're planning to use you as a sacrifice," Hayner joked. "If they offer you up to Kingdom Hearts perhaps they'll have their own hearts returned to them."
"Somehow I doubt it," Kairi laughed.
Sora's heart...
It was true the Samurai Nobodies seemed unusually interested in Sora, and studying their enthusiastic response to the Keyblade Master's presence, all of a sudden Roxas understood why they were so excited. "Uh, Sora..."
"What is it?" Sora asked cheerfully, turning to look at him.
"My Samurai Nobodies. They...they're attracted to your heart."
"Our heart," Sora corrected, giving him a warm smile. "So...that's why they've been acting so strange. I guess they're excited to feel the presence of so many strong hearts gathered together in one area, but...Nobodies are always looking for their own hearts, right?"
"But some of them are so desperate they'll settle for any heart. At least, that's what you guys told us earlier," Pence said slowly, frowning anxiously at the Nobodies before turning to look at Sora. "Does that mean, like you just said, they're attracted to all our hearts?"
"Even if they are that doesn't explain why they seem especially interested in Sora," Kairi said thoughtfully.
Taking a step closer to the lesser Nobodies, Namine took the hand of the one who happened to pass by her just at that moment, and jerking to a stop, it turned to gaze silently at her, its silver body quivering in response to her touch. "Yes, they're attracted to all the hearts that live in all the worlds, though the connection isn't as strong, nor does it feel the same as if they were to sense their own hearts. How they feel towards hearts that aren't their own is a lot like the Heartless, only it's much more personal. Like Sora said, they're especially attracted to people who have strong hearts, which would include everyone in this forest, so it's only natural that they would be excited to come here. Since their own hearts were taken by the Heartless, to make up for their loss, they like to bask in the warm glow of all the other hearts that are still free from the darkness, but...I don't think that's the only reason they're attracted to Sora's heart. I think, in his case, what they feel is a little bit more...special."
"What do you mean?" Olette asked nervously, gazing uncertainly at the Nobodies.
Shaking his head in amusement, Roxas dismissed both Keyblades he held and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Weren't you listening to Namine? They're not going to try and steal your heart, if that's what you're worried about. They don't work the same way as the Heartless. As for Sora, they're acting like that because...well...because of me."
"Roxas is their leader, and since Roxas and Sora are one and the same, it's only natural that they would feel a deep connection to Sora," Riku explained.
Weaving gracefully around Namine and the Nobody who still remained in her grip, the leader of the Samurai Nobodies bent its head close to Sora and it whispered, "We are loyal to our master, the Key of Destiny, which means we are loyal to the one who shares his heart."
"What?" Sora suddenly gasped, glancing around for the source of what appeared to Roxas to be a voice within the Keyblade Master's head before his bright blue eyes finally settled on the Nobody swaying in front of him.
Roxas felt his mouth drop open in surprise, and hurrying over to the small group of Nobodies he quickly pushed between the two standing closest to Namine, anxious to reach his other half. Grabbing onto Sora's right arm, he stared at the Keyblade Master in astonishment and he gasped, "Sora, you...you can hear them?"
"No. Wait, you mean...it really spoke to me?"
"It's official, our Keyblade Master has finally gone crazy," Donald muttered to himself.
Ignoring the court wizard, Roxas nodded at his other half and Sora stared at him in astonishment. "But...I've never been able to hear them before. Why, after all this time, would they suddenly decide to talk to me now? Even when they were just talking to you less than a minute ago I couldn't hear them. I don't get it."
Good question.
Roxas turned to the leader of his Samurai Nobodies and he gave it a stern look. "You're loyal to me and to Sora? If that's true then why did you never speak to him after the two of us merged together?"
"You would not answer to either him or us. We could still feel you, but except for that time when you contacted us in The World that Never Was, the day you fought the other side of your heart, you refused to lead us. You are our link to the Keyblade Master. If you refuse to communicate with him then we cannot communicate with him either. Since you're a Nobody like us, the bond we share with you is still stronger than the bond we share with the Keybade Master. Even now that is still the case, though you are no longer truly one of us."
"Are you saying I'm not a Nobody anymore?"
"You are whole again, which means you are no longer one of us, but...it is of no importance. You are still our master. Because our bond with you is strong, you can hear us all the time, but the Keyblade Master can only hear us if we speak directly to him."
"Oh, I get it. So, the only reason you can communicate with Sora is because of me?"
"Yes, my liege."
"What are they saying?" Sora interrupted. "And why can't I hear them anymore?"
Roxas quickly explained the situation to Sora and the others, and scratching the back of his head in confusion, Pence gave the Samurai Nobodies a thoughtful look. "So...Sora's kind of a fluke, right? The Samurai Nobodies can communicate with Roxas because he's one of them and they're willing to follow him because he's one of the most powerful Nobodies, if not the most powerful Nobody, that has ever existed."
"And because of his heart," Namine said quietly. "But with Sora it's only because he was lucky enough to escape the Heartless, and because of that he changed the rules, which caused the normal fate between Nobodies and their original selves to shift out of balance. Technically, for Roxas to even be here with us, Sora shouldn't exist. He should actually be a Heartless."
"That's right," Kairi murmured, nodding her head in agreement. "Sora's heart should have been taken by the Heartless in Maleficent's castle, but because that didn't happen, Sora and Roxas have been able to co-exist in a way that no other Nobodies and their original selves have been able to do before."
"Just like us," Namine said shyly.
Kairi put her arm around Namine and she beamed at the golden-haired Nobody. "Just like us."
"That's the first time someone has told me I'm the one who shouldn't exist!" Sora laughed, shaking his head. "Though...it does explain why the Samurai Nobodies can communicate with me. It's because Roxas and I are the same person. If they can communicate with Roxas, then it only makes sense they would be able to communicate with me, too. The only reason the other Nobodies have never been able to do the same thing is because unlike Roxas, all the other members of the Organization lost their hearts to the darkness. They never had a chance to meet their original selves."
"And as a result their lesser Nobodies never had a chance to meet their originals," Pence finished. "Sora may not be a Nobody himself, but to the Samurai Nobodies he's still Roxas, or at least a part of Roxas, and because of his bond with Roxas, he has inadvertently bonded himself to the Samurai Nobodies as well."
"But...if that's true then why did they still attack me all the time?" Sora asked hesitantly, gazing uncertainly at the Samurai Nobodies.
Their leader, who was hovering next to Sora's right shoulder, suddenly lifted its head and it pointed towards the Old Mansion. "We had no choice. Our master had left us, and even when he became whole again, he would not guide us. Without him, we had no choice but to follow the Superior's orders."
"Which is why you didn't attempt to stop Axel from using the Dusks to find Roxas in Ansem's simulation of Twilight Town," Sora said quietly. "Xemnas is the reason why you attacked me even though Roxas and I had merged together."
"The Superior is gone now and our master has returned. We will do our duty and fulfill his commands."
"I guess, in that case, we don't have anything to worry about?"
"What do you mean we don't have anything to worry about?" Olette asked, frowning in confusion. "What exactly are the Nobodies saying?"
Sora turned to the female resident of Twilight Town and he gave her a brilliant smile. "I don't think we're going to have to worry about the Nobodies too much, at least not the Samurai Nobodies. They're definitely still loyal to Roxas."
"Are you sure?" Pence asked hesitantly.
"They say they're loyal to Roxas and I believe them. You believe them, too, don't you, Roxas?" Hayner asked confidently.
Roxas glanced at the Nobodies surrounding both himself and Sora, studying them closely, and turning back to Hayner he gave the blond struggler a quick smile and a firm nod. "They won't betray me. In fact, I get the feeling I might not be the only person they listen to anymore."
"You mean Sora?" Kairi asked curiously, gazing thoughtfully at the Nobodies.
"Yeah, they do seem pretty interested in him, if that counts for anything."
"Only because of you," Sora countered.
"Roxas, your Samurai Nobodies have been in The Word that Never Was all this time, right?" Namine asked quietly, her bright blue eyes studying his face. "Why don't you ask them about Maleficent? They might know what happened to her."
Blinking in surprise, Roxas scratched the back of his blond head and he gave the golden-haired Nobody a sheepish grin. "I hadn't even thought of that. I guess I could give it a try."
"Well, go for it then. What are you waiting for?" Hayner said impatiently, jerking his thumb at the Nobody standing closest to him.
Rolling his eyes, Roxas crossed his arms over his chest and he frowned thoughtfully at the leader of his six Samurai Nobodies. "Have you seen Maleficent in The World that Never Was? Did she somehow manage to take over the castle or..."
"We have not been back to the castle since the Superior was defeated. Even the other lesser Nobodies won't go near the castle, though they are few in number since their masters were defeated. That includes the Dusks. They also won't go near the castle. All is quiet in The World that Never Was. If the witch lives, we have not seen her. The castle remains dark and silent."
"Well, what did they say?" Donald demanded.
Unable to hide his disappointment, Roxas made a face and he shrugged his shoulders. "If Maleficent is in The World that Never Was they haven't seen her."
"Gawrsh, you mean she hasn't taken over the castle?" Goofy asked hesitantly.
"They don't know. They haven't been back to the castle since Sora and Riku took out the Superior. Even the other lesser Nobodies haven't been back there. Apparently the Nobodies belonging to the other members of the Organization still exist, as do the Dusks, though they are few in number. With no one left to guide them, I assume they've been wandering aimlessly in The World that Never Was. My Samurai Nobodies say the castle is quiet, but...that could mean anything."
"Or nothing at all," Kairi groaned, shaking her head. "Which means we really are back to square one."
"She could be gone, but she could also just be waiting to plan her next move," Namine said quietly.
"Either way we're not going to get any answers right now, but if she is still around we'll know soon enough," Riku said shortly, his emerald green eyes narrowing into a deep frown. "She might have helped Sora out once before, but that doesn't mean the same thing will happen again."
"Whatever happens, we'll be ready for it," Hayner boasted, clenching his right hand into a fist.
"Hey, Roxas, what about the Nobodies belonging to the other members of the Organization? They won't be a problem, will they?" Sora asked hesitantly.
Roxas glanced at his Nobodies, and frowning at them he said, "What do you guys think?"
"They are quiet," the leader of his Nobodies whispered softly in his head. "We do not think they will leave The World that Never Was again unless provoked. Like us, they are still waiting for their masters to return to them. Until that happens, they will not move one way or the other."
"But...their masters are gone. Axel and the others will never come back..."
"We shall see."
"Huh?"
"What's wrong, Roxas?" Sora asked curiously, looking a little bit concerned.
"Be careful, my liege. If another like the Superior reveals himself, even without their masters they could still be a threat," the leader of his Samurai Nobodies warned, his words deaf to Sora's ears. "As for the Dusks, we don't think they will be a problem, at least for the moment. In fact, we believe many of them will be inclined to take orders from you since you are the only member of the Organization left whom they can take orders from. But...that could change. All it takes is someone like the Superior to once again seize power and control over The World that Never Was..."
Blinking in surprise, Roxas glanced at his other half and blushing slightly he mumbled, "It's nothing. My Samurai Nobodies say they don't think the other lesser Nobodies will be a problem."
"Well, either way, like Riku said, we'll find out soon enough," Hayner snorted, "but first I think it's time to eat!"
"Now you're talking!" Donald cheered, beaming at the blond struggler.
"Are you ready to go, Roxas?" Sora asked cheerfully, nudging him in the side to get his attention.
Roxas nodded, but just as he was ready to leave, the leader of his Nobodies suddenly weaved in front of him, blocking his path. "What would you have us do, my liege?"
Even now they still wait for my orders...
Smiling, Roxas summoned Oathkeeper and he pointed it at the Nobody. "Wait for me in The World that Never Was and watch for anything unusual. I will call you when I need you."
"Yes, my liege."
The Nobodies quickly backed away from Sora, weaving once more around the Keyblade Master as they passed, but before they could disappear, Roxas held out his Keyblade to block their path. Gazing at each of his six Nobodies in turn he said quietly in his head, "All I ask is that you protect my friends. These people standing with me are my heart, and I will disappear before I ever let them get hurt. Tell all the other Samurai Nobodies who are waiting for me in The World that Never Was, as well. And tell the Dusks if you can. Those are my only orders."
As one, all six Samurai Nobodies bowed their heads, and the leader of the group suddenly leaned towards him, coming so close that their foreheads were almost touching. "We will do what you ask, my liege."
"Watch out for Sora especially. He has a knack for getting into trouble. A lot of trouble. I already lost him once. I don't want to go through that again."
"As you wish, my liege."
With one final collective bow, the six Nobodies disappeared, and Roxas turned to find Namine and the others watching him curiously.
"What did you say to them?" Sora asked nonchalantly, yet despite his neutral tone his sapphire eyes had lighted up with interest.
Feeling a little embarrassed, Roxas merely shrugged his shoulders, and grabbing onto Sora's arm he quickly pulled the Keyblade Master towards the entrance to the Tram Common. "Nothing special."
"But-"
"Less talking, more eating!" Donald scolded, glaring at the Keyblade Master. "I've waited long enough for my ice cream!"
Walking next to Namine and dragging Sora along behind him, Roxas quickly made his way towards the edge of the forest, hungry for some ice cream of his own. He knew Sora would figure out what he had planned for his Samurai Nobodies eventually, but for the moment it was something he wanted to keep to himself.
Sora might not think he needs the help, but I know him better than that. His bad habit of putting himself in danger is the reason I exist to begin with!
Shaking his head and smiling softly to himself, Roxas turned to look over his shoulder, his gaze coming to rest on the entrance to the Old Mansion. The path looked dark and lonely, and for some unexplained reason, Roxas suddenly felt a shiver race down his spine. Frowning slightly, he studied the forest surrounding the mansion, but seeing nothing out of the ordinary he let his mind wander back to the tangy taste of sea-salt ice cream. Another smile slipped across his face, but just as he was about to turn his head again, he thought he saw a shadow pass between the trees on the left side of the entrance to the mansion.
What was that?
Jerking around in surprise, Roxas stared hard at the spot where he had seen the shadow, but there was nothing there.
"Roxas, hey, are you okay?" Sora suddenly murmured in his ear, picking up instantly on his sudden uneasiness.
"Is there something wrong?" Namine asked quietly, concern in her voice.
I must be imagining things. It's just old fears coming back from those days before I merged with Sora, and why not? This place brings back some pretty painful memories. It's no wonder my mind is playing tricks on me.
"Roxas?" Sora whispered in his ear, tugging anxiously on his arm. "Roxas!"
"It's nothing. Come on, let's go."
Without waiting for an answer, Roxas quickly turned his back on the forest and he headed towards the entrance to Market Street, leaving Sora and the others hurrying to catch up with him.