Kingdom Hearts: ReChain of Days
Chapter 25: Broken
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts in anyway form or fashion.
Note: Chapter 26, will be the last chapter of this story, it will be long as hell, so I have no idea when it will be up but hey we will be closer to Kingdom Hearts 2 Rebirth, YAY!
It was midnight, nothing but street lights were keeping the town looking alive at this hour; "Finally, we've made it to the real Twilight Town" Riku said to his master as they walked around the town; in their cloaks but with their hoods down.
"Lucky for us, it's late in the night; No one's awake, so we won't be suspicious characters to the people here." Aqua said to her pupil as they kept walking.
"What about day time activities, we can't let the organization find us because we didn't want to raise suspicion" spoke the silver haired, blind folded boy
"Would you relax, Riku, I got it covered." Aqua said to Riku in a firm voice. Just as they were about to go on; something had caught the attention of the keyblade master, "Stop" Aqua said as she laid her eyes on the hole that was in the concrete wall.
"What is it?" asked Riku
At first the bluenette was puzzled by this but then recalling from the twilight town in Castle Oblivion, Aqua had a pretty good idea where this hole would lead too.
"I may have an idea on where Naminé is hiding out" answered Aqua, as she headed towards the hole in the wall. Riku followed by her listening to the sounds of her walking.
Walking through the woods hadn't taken long as master and pupil had reached the mansion of Twilight Town. "I was right, it does lead to the mansion" said Aqua as the duo walked over to the gates. Aqua could see a figure standing in front of the gate
"Well it's about time. You two have joined us" spoke a man's voice.
Day 152, Roxas was sent on another heart collection mission in Halloween Town; he arrives in the Guillotine Gate area. He walks to the entrance of Halloween Town Square
"That's weird" He turns around and looks "Where did all the Heartless go? I should've seen some by now. And what's that thing?" He walks over to a ribboned balloon with a wild smile on it "That wasn't here last time."
He enters the Town Square and sees Jack Skellington with Dr. Finkelstein. A balloon floats in front of them
"Well, Doctor? What do you think! I've put a few new "ideas" in place for this coming Halloween." spoke Jack Skellington
Dr. Finkelstein merely looked at the pumpkin King with tiny interest "Oh?" he replied.
Jack: These balloons contain a terrifying trick! Anyone who touches them is in for quite a shock!
Dr. Finkelstein letting his interest getting the best of him "I see Jack, it's Interesting. Be sure to tell me about any more "ideas" you have, Jack" Said the mad doctor.
"I will, Doctor!" responded Jack.
The doctor wheels himself back to his lab
"Hmm... It's not enough, though. My perfectly petrifying Halloween is still missing something"
Jack walks off and Roxas enters "Terrifying trick? Is there something inside?" Roxas asked himself. Roxas examines it and the balloon magically disappears. He walks to the Graveyard and sees Jack with his ghostly dog Zero
"What could it be? What's missing?" pondered the pumpkin king. Zero tries to get Jack's attention "What is it, Zero? I'm busy brainstorming..." Zero flies over to the balloon and sniffs it "Is there something special about that balloon?"
The balloon vanishes and a Hover Ghost appears in its place. It floats away into the air
"Well, that was unexpected! A Heartless popped out. How strange. I certainly didn't put anything like that inside. Aha! Someone else must have decided to add a new level of terror by hiding a Heartless inside! I'd better keep brainstorming, or they'll think of all the good ideas first... Wait! I've got it!"
Zero looks excited "You were trying to give me a hint, weren't you, Zero? What a good boy! You deserve a treat."
Jack takes out a bone and tosses it to Zero "I'm going to run over to Dr. Finkelstein's lab right now! This new idea is really going to wow him!"
Jack leaves and Roxas enters "So that floating doggy thing can sniff out Heartless? Maybe if I give it a bone, it'll help me track them down."
Roxas gives Zero bones and he helps track down Heartless in the Graveyard
"Found ya!" cried out a young voice.
"Huh?" He turns around to see the three pranksters
"Catch!" spoke the same young voice. Lock throws an exploding pumpkin at Roxas "Waugh!" cried Roxas as he attempted to dodge the pumpkin but unfortunately could not.
They laugh "Got you again!" said the small witch in her high pitched voice.
"Run away!" "Where to?""Our secret hiding spot!" spoke the trio of children.
"What in the world..." Roxas getting up from the ground as the blast from the pumpkin had knocked him over. "Those are the same kids that messed with me before. What's their problem?" spoke an upset Roxas.
Roxas finds and defeats the last of the Heartless with Zero's help.
Afterwards, he has ice cream in Twilight Town. Axel walks in "Hey! No Xion?" asked Axel; Roxas shrugging his shoulders "Don't hold your breath."
Axel sits next to him "Did something happen yesterday?" the taller nobody asked his small young friend.
Roxas shaking his head side to side "Nah, it's nothing" Roxas replied as he looked down to the ground watching a group of people walking in and out of the train station.
"Girls sure are complicated, huh?" commented Axel
Roxas then shifting his gaze over to Axel "How did you know that's what I was thinking?" Roxas innocently asked the red head.
"Because you're not so complicated but don't take it personal. Most Nobodies aren't." said the red-head "Yeah unless you're the big boss man" Axel's mind added as he had a quick thought of the Organization's superior.
"You mean real people are more complex than us?" Roxas asked to be sure of what Axel was saying.
"Well sure, especially if they're real and female. That's like a double dose of complicated." Axel answering the boy's question.
"So what about a nobody girl like Xion?" Roxas then enquired.
"Single dose" replied the red-head Roxas moving his head side to side as he let out a frustrated sigh. "I am so lost." He confessed to Axel.
"Well, the important thing to remember when dealing with girls is not to push the wrong buttons. Got it memorized?" as Axel's mind gave him a mental image of Larxene's somebody, excluding Roxas and Xion, majority of the organization members whether dead or alive had at one point all known each other when they were somebodies back at their original world before it was overrun with darkness.
"Hmm...Yeah...Wish you'd told me that before." Complained Roxas, while Axel couldn't help himself but letting out a few chuckles of laughter "Gee, thanks Axel. Glad to know you find this humorous" added Roxas.
"Well, just give her some time." Axel then said to the spiky blonde haired boy.
"Why?" Roxas then questioned the flurry of dancing flames.
"Because if you rush in there and try to fix things; you'll just press more of Xion's buttons."
"Fine whatever" Roxas giving up by this point mostly due to Axel's advice on dealing with the opposite gender whereas Axel having another laugh at Roxas's expense "You're all right kid" As he the younger boy on the back.
"Don't call me "kid"!" snapped Roxas. Axel laughs some more. "Stop laughing!" Roxas then cried out.
Axel finally ceased his laughter before nodding his head to the boy "You'll patch things up with her. Trust me." He then said to Roxas.
Roxas looking back to the ground "I hope so." muttered Number thirteen.
Diary Entry: Day 152
I think Xion might be mad at me, but I don't know why. Axel says girls are complicated. You can't press the wrong buttons. Like I'm supposed to know what the right ones are.
-Roxas
Secret Report:
Roxas and Xion must have had it out over something. Knowing them, it's something dumb, but still. Watching them, it's like they're human. It's messing with my head. I kind of wonder if Roxas understood all that about the wrong buttons; I get the sense a lot of it went right over his head.
-Axel
The next day, Roxas wasn't given much of a break as he was sent to Olympus Coliseum on a heart collection mission, with Demyx as his partner, which meant Roxas was indirectly on a solo-mission, and so the young Nobody had thought his day would get better after his mission, the seconded he got to the clock tower for Ice-cream and to see Axel and hopefully Xion but Roxas had been wrong once again; Xion hadn't shown and this time Axel hadn't appeared either.
It was at times like this, Roxas wished that the voice in head would be talking, so the boy wouldn't feel completely alone. For a while now, Roxas hasn't heard anything from that voice that would sometimes guide on a mission especially if it came to learning to new spells or moves but lately everything in Roxas's head has been feeling calm well save for the images of that boy in his head.
Diary Entry: Day 153
It's hard spending time with Xion, and Axel seems busy, too. I've been having ice cream alone, but it's just not the same. All I taste is the salt, and my hands get all sticky. It's like I'm going through the motions of eating it just so I can throw the stick out and get on with life. I must've had about a hundred of these things, and I still haven't found another WINNER.
I never did find a way to ask Xion about the pictures that go through my head. I don't really know what to do about anything right now.
- Roxas
Day 154
He travels to the new world of Wonderland on heart collection again and gets a flash of Sora once he enters the Rabbit Hole. He sees a White Rabbit with an oversized pocket watch and suit speeding through the checkered hallway, muttering to himself)
"Oh, my fur and whiskers! I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!" cried out the White Rabbit. He skids to a stop and checks his watch "Dear me! I mustn't make Her Highness wait; I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!" He runs further down the hallway "No time to say goodbye; Hello! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!" The white rabbit continued to say as he ran passed Roxas.
"What's his big rush? Maybe I should have a look up ahead." Roxas continues having flashes of Sora as he walks down the hallway. He enters a Bizarre Room
"Oh, I'm so late... I'm so very, very late!" Roxas still hearing the rabbit's cries.
Roxas looks down and sees the White Rabbit scurry along the floor and enter a very small door with a very large doorknob on it
Roxas being stunned by this "Did he shrink?" the boy could only question himself.
"He drank from the bottle, you see." Spoke an unfamiliar voice.
"Huh! Who" Roxas looking around the strange room for another person
"Down here." The voice spoke again. Roxas realizes the voice is coming from the Doorknob and he kneels to get a closer look "A...talking doorknob?" Roxas said as he was still in a small phase of shock.
"Of course and a rather sleepy doorknob at that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going back to my nap."
"Wait, you said he drank from a bottle. What bottle?"
"The one on the table. Why don't you try?" Roxas looks toward the table and sees two bottles, one blue and one orange.
"You mean those?"
"Presumably; Now I really would like to be getting back to my nap"
Roxas walks over to the bottles
"The one with the blue label has a picture of a big tree shrinking, here goes nothing." He picks up the bottle and drinks from it. He shrinks in size until he's nearly the height of the small door "Whoa, it actually worked!"
He walks toward the Doorknob "Hey, that rabbit when through here a minute ago, right?"
"Snrrrk... Phewww..."
"What's behind this door?"
"Hrrrnk... Phewww..."
"Hmm, guess I won't be finding out anytime soon." Roxas thought to himself. Just as Roxas was looking for a way out, groups of heartless began to appear.
Roxas defeats several groups of Heartless. He looks toward one of the walls and notices that there are three armchairs instead of two just moments before. He gets closer and sees that the chair is also moving. He strikes it and it turns back into the Lurk Lizard.
He defeats it and drinks from the orange bottle, returning to his original size. Before entering the dark corridor, he turns back
"I wonder where that white rabbit went. He was sure in a hurry" Thought the young Nobody as he opened a dark corridor.
He leaves Wonderland and has ice cream on the clock tower
"All by yourself again?" stated Axel as he headed towards his usual spot.
"Yeah" Roxas mumbled as he was getting used to being alone at the clock tower, whether he liked it or not.
Axel sits down beside him, ice cream in hand, "Ah, don't take it too personally Roxas. They've been keeping me busy lately; especially Xion ever since the Imposter incident. They have not let her had it easy." Axel explained to the boy.
Roxas agreeing with Axel as he took a bit out of his ice cream, "Yeah, no kidding, poor Xion" he muttered as Roxas was crest fallen. It was hard to enjoy these moments with one of your best friends was either working too much or knowingly avoiding you.
Axel then noting the sad expression on Roxas's face "C'mon, what's with the face?" Axel giving his friend a tone of voice that spoke, 'Cheer up or knock you off the clock tower'
"What face..." mumbled Roxas as he took another bite. Axel says nothing as he had one leg close to his chest while his arm was sitting on his knee holding his ice cream
"You know back when I found myself stuck between Roxas and Xion, I could have sworn that I felt like I was getting weaker as they were pulling me back and forth like some form of rag doll but now that I have had some stability here with Xion, I can't describe it but I feel much stronger then I have in a long time." Ventus thought as he continued to watch Xion eliminate heartless through her eyes. "But luckily I haven't felt that dark presence in Xion, back in Agrabah when she was taunting Pete" added Ven.
"But this group Organization XIII has had me concerned about their actions for a long time; there isn't something right about some of these guys, I can't help but get bad vibes from them." Continued Ventus "First, there was the ones that died at ...what did they call it again? Oh it was Castle Oblivion; there was that unpleasant blonde woman, Larxene and that peculiar pink haired guy, Marluxia." Roxas recalling them from Roxas's training days "I didn't like how Marluxia was looking at Roxas's keyblade, though I can't be sure about it now, I have feeling he was up to something. That wouldn't match up with whatever the organization's plans were." Ven could only guess but he was pretty certain that the guy was no good.
"And who else was there?" Ven really getting into his thinking processes which was hard for the 'still' fourteen year old boy considering his present condition but never the less it didn't matter whether he was in Sora, Roxas or Xion there was always a limit of what he could do but these days Ventus felt like he could do more than he ever could before and somehow Xion was the key to it.
"Ah, and then there was Vexen, Lexaeus and Zexion" as he finally recalled their names while a mental image of them popped into his mind.It was strange to Ventus but somehow he could picture, Zexion being not only smaller but younger as he wore a what looked like a white lab coat whereas for Vexen, he looked the same but only healthier and he too wore a white lab coat but then there was the mental image of Lexaeus though he did look the same as he last saw him, he was in some form of blue-grey uniform.
"To be honest, I never got a bad vide from those three. Well Vexen did creep me out a bit. That I don't deny, but have I seen them before? Plus it wasn't just those three I get those feelings from, I'd get it from Xaldin, Saïx, Axel and especially Xigbar" The boy seeing more mental images but this time it was Xaldin and he had a shorter hair but he wore that same uniform and further more Ventus as also saw a blue haired and red headed boy about fifteen years old but as he mind got to Xigbar, the mental image blurred but either way Ventus would feel those bad vibes from Xaldin, Saïx and Xigbar however for Axel he would feel a mixed feeling that Ven couldn't tell was good or bad.
"Why can't I remember them, if they are so significant to my mind?" The Wayward Wind wielder asked himself but as the blonde haired boy let out a sigh of frustration; Ven did have his moments of regret in defeating Vanitas but Ventus had assumed his memories would become more intact but the young apprentice was wrong; sometimes it made him feel like he made himself more broken.
"Well as for Demyx, I just feel more annoyed by him then I do feel threatened. Luxord is more of just doing his job guy, I haven't really seen much of him to judge him." said Ventus as he made his conclusions about Number's Nine and Ten. "But like Axel, Xion does give off a mixed vibes and that's not including the Agrabah indecent. Though whatever feeling I get from Xion do lean towards good, it's just something doesn't seem too natural about it but she's a nobody like them, how is she so different then?" questioned the keyblade apprentice.
"And now that leaves Roxas; I'm not even sure how to begin with Roxas, after all the time we've been here, neither one of us has an idea of what a Nobody really is" commented Ventus. "Yeah, I understand it's a heartless being, only with a soul and memories to make it go on living but it doesn't explain, who they were? Because I know that Roxas may look like me but he isn't me." Ventus then declared. "Sure, there are strange similarities but that's it. Nothing else feels like me and not to mention but Aqua has my body locked up" the wayward wind wielder added as he crossed his arms over his non-solid body; out of all Ven's intact memories, the one he remembers clearly was Aqua making sure he was in a safe place but that was moments before he figured out how to contact someone within the body and a young Sora, unknowingly showed him how.
"And last but certainly not least, Xemnas" who had once been his best friend and fellow keyblade apprentice, Terra. Ventus didn't want to admit but the young wielder could hardly feel anything from Xemnas. It wasn't mixed feelings with Axel and Xion or anything like Roxas. "Xemnas, no doubt about it is their superior and he's feared as he his is respected but how can a leader separate from his own group which makes it so much harder to tell, what he's thinking or what side he's really on?And this plan of theirs, how is it that they managed to create their own Kingdom Hearts? How can Terra...No, How can Xemnas be sure that, whatever he's planning is going to work with that fabricated Kingdom Hearts?" Questioned Ventus, which lead the boy to probably the biggest question of them all.
"Is it really going to restore their hearts like they had been hoping too? Or is that plan only the ruse for something else." As then Ventus began to recall the last time he had been involved with Kingdom Hearts. Which gave Ven the unpleasant memories of Vanitas and Master Xehanort.
Day 171,
As Roxas enters The Grey Area with an intent on speaking with Xion; seeing how she has clearly been avoiding him ever since their small agreement at the clock tower and though Axel as tried to explain that Xion may only need space to calm down and that all females were like that all Nobody/Somebody alike; aside from the fact that she's been on missions non-stop to make up for letting the imposter get away,
But as the boy asked Axel on her where abouts "Xion? She left man. What, you missed her again?" replied Axel as he had a small chuckle at Roxas's expense and then ruffled Number thirteen's hair as an older brother would do to their young sibling.
Roxas not knowing how to express the small anger he was feeling on the inside of himself. All he could do was let out a sigh as he headed over to Saïx for his latest mission. "Oh what fun?" Roxas sarcastically thought as he began to pick up on some of Axel's talking habits.
Roxas speaks with Saïx and departs for Beast's Castle to defeat an unidentified giant Heartless. He appears in the Ballroom and hears the Beast roar "Whoa! That was the beast." Roxas identifying the sound "Did something happen?" he then asked aloud; the young nobody deciding to head over there.
Roxas walks into the Courtyard and hears him roar again "That sounded close, was that by the bridge?" enquired Roxas. He walks towards the doorway to the Bridge "Huh?"
Beast's body flies over the archway and onto the ground in front of him. He lies motionless, but still breathing. All Roxas could do was stare at the beast with surprise "What could do this to him?"
He looks toward the archway to the Bridge, "What...what's out there?" Roxas runs to the Bridge to see an enormous Infernal Engine Heartless bearing down on him.
After a grueling battle, the Heartless collapses and released a giant heart. Roxas breathing heavily as he watched the giant heart "Mission accomplished. Time to head back." He said as trying to catch his own breathe.
He walks back to the Courtyard and hears a female voice "No! Oh, no!"
"Someone's coming" Roxas thought quicklyas he went to keep himself hidden from whoever was there.
Belle running out of the castle toward the Beast, "What happened? Are you all right?" her voice overwhelmed with worry.
The Beast was trying to speak whereas Belle was trying to get the once human prince to his hind legs"...Belle... Get back inside... It's too dangerous..."
"I'm taking you with me." She interrupted him as you could hear her determination. "No... I have to stop...those things..." Beast once again trying to speak but like Roxas he was worn out and tired from the giant heartless. Belle shaking her head 'No' at the Beast telling her to go inside without him "But they're gone. You don't have to fight any more." The brunette woman tells him.
"Good... That's good. I managed to keep them from...getting in" he managed to say, Belle by this point was begging the beast, "Please, you must stop doing this. It's too much. If something were to happen to you...I don't know what I'd..." Belle trying not to get upset at the thought of nearly losing the beast.
"Belle... I couldn't bear to see you...or the other's hurt. A master protects his castle... I don't want to lose you." The Beast tried to explain to her
"I'm right here..." She tells him as they began to head back inside the castle, Belle trying to support the Beast's heavy weight as much as she could.
"So he wasn't fighting to protect the rose. He was protecting the people in the castle. Protecting her. She's what matters most to him. But...Xaldin said it was the rose." Roxas concluded in his thoughts. The boy was deeply into his thought as he didn't see the figure behind him.
"Feh. Cloying nonsense." Spoke a recognizable accent, though it still made Roxas jump in surprise as he let out a tiny "Ah"
Roxas looks back to see Xaldin standing behind him "Xaldin? When did you get here?" Roxas asked.
"That's none of your concern" answered Number Three "Hmph. Love, from a beast? How utterly ridiculous." Xaldin then commented.
Roxas picking up on a word he's never heard before "Love? What's that?" he asked the elder member.
"It's an emotion. The one deluding those two as we speak." responded the whirlwind lancer.
"Oh..." replied Roxas in his confusion as Xaldin's answer was not much helpful
Xaldin now speaking with a mocking tone of voice, "They think the power of love will save them? That's the stuff of poetry, not practicality."
Roxas with a hand behind his head "Love is a power?"
"None you or I will ever grasp. Nor will they, for long. The love between them will wither and die. Love never lasts."
"But you don't have a heart. How would you know?" retorted Roxas, though Roxas may have not known it but there was in attitude in his voice that screamed, 'ah, you don't know anything 'as he looked up at Number Three.
Xaldin glared at Roxas as he picked up on the tone of voice "I have eyes, and a brain. And I use them regularly as opposed to some in the organization" said the older man as he turned his back to Roxas, so he couldn't the boy rolling his blue eyes at him.
"We have no further business here. Try not to dawdle" ordered Number Three.
"Ah, don't get your lances in a twist" thought Roxas, "Wow, I really have been hanging out with Axel for too long" his mind added as Xaldin was leaving.
"That still doesn't explain what love is..." Roxas then spoke aloud. "Is love fighting to protect what's most important to you? Where does its power come from?" the boy then questioned.
Later, Axel sits on the clock tower eating his sea-salt ice cream. Roxas walks in
"Hey, here comes the hard worker." Commented Axel
Roxas sits next to him "Xion around?"
Axel then making some gesture of his shoulders "Haven't seen her" he told the boy. "Oh..." Roxas was beginning to wonder, why even bother asking at this rate.
"Somebody's gotta talk to that girl." Axel said as he shook his head at the non-sense that was occurring with Xion and Roxas.
Roxas narrowed his eyes at Axel, "Hey weren't you the one who said she was complicated, so It's her choice if she wants to come with us or not" Argued the boy. Axel then shrugged "I guess that's fair" Remarked the red-head.
Roxas for wanting to change the subject but then his mind drifted over to today's mission. "Axel, I need to ask you something."
"What's up? Did something happen?" said Axel before he having a bite of ice cream. Roxas shaking his head "Nah, it's just...This is gonna sound stupid. Do you know what love is?" Roxas dropping the question on Axel
Axel now nearly chocking on that piece he'd just bitten off "scuse me?" was all Axel could say. Thought the red-head assassin looked like Roxas asked 'where do babies come from'
"I found out about love on today's mission; that it's something powerful." He tells Axel.
The red-head then nodding his head but slowly "That's true. It is. But I'll never get to experience it." responded to Axel, while in Axel's mind he has a quick flash of a mental image of a fifteen year old red-headed boy with his arm around the shoulders a short haired blonde girl with two pieces of her hair on the sides of her face, the two teens were smiling happily at each other; Axel then shaking his head to rid himself of the past...his past.
Axel would never admit to a living being (or nobody) but it did hurt to think about Arlene well better known as Larxene especially knowing that he betrayed her at Castle Oblivion not once but three times for the plans of another and letting her fall a victim to the female keyblade Master. Axel thought he could let it go like some of the others but he couldn't.
Ever since his time there he's been in more touch with the memories of his own emotions, that it was hard to think straight at times but it was even harder when there was history behind it. Axel couldn't help but wonder how Saïx could easily let go the passing of one of their old friends while he hypocritically tossed the memoires of their friendship in his face despite the fact that it was just a ruse to get him to do the dirty work.
"Nobodies can't love?" asked Roxas as he brought Axel out of his train of thoughts.
"You need a heart, man." replied Axel, "Right..." Roxas said thinking that was the end of the conversation
Axel sighing before he talked some more "Love is what happens if there's something really special between two people."
"You mean, like, if they're best friends?" pondered the young boy. Axel trying to think of a good answer "Well, you can care about your friends, I guess, but that's not what I'm talking about."
"So then love is like a step above friends?"
Axel now starching his head "Well yes and no. but there aren't "steps" Either" he tried to explain.
"I don't get it." retorted Roxas, "You never do, so why am I bothering" Axel then thought as his patience was wearing thin. "What does it matter? We'll never know the difference." Axel then snapped at the boy as he didn't want to discuss this at all, it was just becoming too much for the assassin of the organization.
But Axel's little snap hadn't stopped Roxas from asking "If I had a heart, you think I could love somebody?"
Axel letting out a sigh as he put a hand on his forehead and then letting it drag down; Axel having the temptation of hitting himself the face repeatedly or push Roxas off the clock tower and end his humiliation of Roxas curious questions but the red-head settled for "Once Kingdom Hearts is complete, you'll be able to do all kinds of things." He lied to the boy, Axel wasn't even sure if Xemnas's plan was a hundred percent foolproof.
"That's good." But it was an answer that actually satisfied the boy. They stare off into the twilit sky, in silence much to Axel's delight.
Elsewhere, Xion is fighting a massive opponent just as she was about to claim her victory against the oversized heartless, Xion is hit with a massive flash of images in her mind that not only distract the young key wielder but causes the young girl to scream in pain but also causing the dismissing of her keyblade
While the heartless, she was fighting decides to take a chance and attack at a defenseless Xion causing the girl to cry out from the pain as she could do nothing. "Xion..Xion...Xion!" Ventus desperately cried out to her as he tried to do something but with his limitations and the heartless not stopping its relentless attack on the girl.
Xion falling to the ground on her stomach as she tried to protect herself from the creature. The pain was more than Xion could take as she had begun to blackout but her eyelids remained opened which meant Ventus could see everything; had Xion stayed conscious a few moments more she would have seen a dark corridor open behind the creature as a figure stepped out. The corridor swiftly closed as the figure made sure, he wasn't followed.
"Wait whose...but that couldn't be?" and see a tall man with a well muscled build come out of the said corridor. Ventus watched as the hooded man summoned to red ethereal blades, He knew this just wasn't anyone...it was Xemnas.
And without as much as a sweat, Xemnas destroyed the heartless as the creature vanished, he dismissed his blades.
Xemnas took down his hood and stared at Xion's unconscious form as he bent down to his knees; turning her up and over into his arms, Xion looking like a fresh eye-opened corpse, just Xemnas brought a hand to Xion's face to close her eyes, which left Ventus clueless as to what was going to happen.
Xion began taking on another appearance in Xemnas's golden-amber eyes, at first she looked like...him... and then it was Ventus but then much to Xemnas's own curiosity; Xion had changed her form once again.
"Well that one is certainly new but very intriguing" remarked the superior as the hand he used to close her eyes was now running through Xion's unexpectedly long bluenette hair; bringing his face to hers, looking like he would kiss her however the nobody was only closely examining the new face "But you are nothing compared to the real thing" he told the unconscious Xion as he put the distance between them and soon enough Xemnas summoned something else into his hand.
Whatever he was holding was forecasting a long shadow over Xion's new face. "Heal" was all he said and with that the spell was cast and the object was dismissed, He scooped Xion into his arms; to what would be known as bridal style while she was still holding on to that appearance of the bluenette keyblade master.
The dark corridor opened as he took Xion back to The Castle That Never was.
Diary Entry: Day 171
On my mission at Beast's Castle, Xaldin told me about "love" and the special power it has over people. I tried to ask Axel about it, but his explanation didn't make any sense to me. Every time I ask him about this kind of thing, he tells me I need a heart to understand. It's like he's dodging the questions.
-Roxas
Day 172,
Roxas walks into The Grey Area and is greeted by Luxord "Roxas. How has the game been treating you?" Roxas looked blank for a moment "Uhh...fine, I guess." He said to the gambler fate.
Luxord then nods his head to the boy "Saïx shuffled us together for today's mission. I wager we'll make a good enough team." Spoke Number Ten. Whereas Roxas tells him "I don't see why not."
Luxord almost turning around but then looking back to Roxas "Oh, by the way, did you hear what happened to Xion?" Roxas's widen with shock "No, what happened!"
"She bungled her last mission and has been in a deep sleep ever since. Can't win them all, I suppose" explained Luxord.
"Xion!" Roxas mutters to himself. He turns to run out of the room, but Saïx stops him "And where do you think you are going, Roxas?"
"To see Xion" answered the boy as he tried to get to the hallway "And you have a mission to complete" demanded Number Seven
"Which I'll do, so just relax!" argued Roxas as he raised his voice which had caught the attentions of the members still in the grey area which consisted of Luxord, Xigbar and Demyx; Axel and Xaldin had already left.
"You cannot help your comrade. Xion will not wake up." Saïx tells him.
Roxas looks down and shakes his head "That's not the point! I should still be with her." He tries to run again
"What do you care? The creature is broken. Defective" Saïx then said which had brought on more attention as all eyes were upon them.
Roxas stops and turns around as he felt a whole new emotion at once and it was one that Roxas was not familiar with "Don't call her that!" the boy screamed at Number Seven.
Saïx now glaring at the boy "I'll call that thing whatever I want. How we deal with Xion is no concern of yours."
Roxas giving Saïx a glare of his own "I didn't ask you if it was!" Xigbar whom was watching from across the room "Heh! Different kid, same face" he mused to himself.
"Look at you, Roxas. Up in arms over a nobody" sneered Saïx, "We're all Nobodies!" He then screamed at Saïx.
"Settle down. Xion's failings won't affect your standing with us. You've nothing to worry about." Saïx once again saying the wrong thing to Roxas "Won't affect my...What is WRONG with you?" Roxas then shouted "Look, I'll do my mission, just later." As Roxas takes off to Xion's bedroom.
"Roxas! Get back here that's an order" shouted Saïx,
"Shut Up! Saïx that is an order" Xigbar then yelled as he looked at Number Seven with his only good eye. "You know, Saïx, I'm beginning to think your forgetting, who are the ones with real authority around here." Xigbar then said in a mock tone. It was no secret, everyone knew that despite all the castle work Saïx would do, Xigbar has and always will be the official second in command and everyone knew how much that pissed Saïx off.
"The freaking kid is still doing his mission, so you can pull the pole out of your ass now" said Xigbar, Saïx could only stay silent as the lunar diviner wanted nothing more than to beat Xigbar to death with his claymore.
"Oh, Xion..." muttered Roxas as he stands over her bed, watching the black haired girl sleep. He leaves a seashell by her pillow, as she did for him." Roxas felt his own body shudder as he had a close distance to Xion.
"Whoa!" he said in his mind as the boy put a hand to his head as he tried to shake that feeling off.
Later, he returns to The Grey Area
"What, are you still worried about Poppet? She'll wake up when she wakes up." Was the first thing Roxas heard as he walked by Xigbar.
"Ready to begin? We can leave whenever you're ready." Luxord then tells him.
Roxas then travels with Luxord to Wonderland to take out the Pink Concerto Heartless. They arrive in the Rabbit Hole
"So, we're here hunting specific game today, hmm?" Luxord being the first one to speak
Roxas whom was having hard time with how Luxord was talking "What? Oh, right." Roxas just deciding to go with the flow as the boy was recalling his first mission and how he was stuck in that bizarre room.
"What's wrong? First time here?" enquired Luxord as he looked to the young member. "No, I was here on a mission a little while ago. And I ran into this white rabbit in a huge hurry to get somewhere" Answered Roxas.
Luxord raising a brow "A rabbit? Really?"
"I lost sight of him before I had a chance to see what the deal was, though." Further explained Roxas "Luck's like that a window of opportunity can open and close in the blink of an eye. It's whether or not you can jump on the chance when it arises that determines a man's fate. Let's hope we stand up to the odds this time around." Luxord said to the boy.
"Err, right."
"Let's get started, then"
They enter the Bizarre Room and drink the shrinking potion. They make their way to the Lotus Forest
"Lose something?" entered a mischievous voice "Huh? Who's there!" Roxas looking around for whoever was speaking.
The striped cat appears on a high lily pad, "Who, indeed?"
"Uhh...a cat?" was all Roxas could muster to say, and Roxas had to admit, just when he felt like he's seen everything; something has to prove him wrong.
The purple and pink cat looking offended "A Cheshire cat, if you please. Or if you don't" Roxas gets a flash of Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy speaking to the cat
"Did you have a point?"
"Yes, of course. But then, I also had none at all. Which would you prefer?"
" I...I'll be asking the questions here!" Roxas said to the Cheshire Cat.
"Well then, ask away... Of course, the answers may be a bit difficult to find..." The cat vanishes into thin air
"What was that all about?" Roxas asked himself.
They search around the forest but come up empty "Still no Pink Concertos..."
"Looking for something?" The cat appears upon a large rock "You again?" Roxas says to the Cheshire cat. "Whom did you expect? Whatever it is you're looking for? If I were you, I'd ask...me!"
"You know where the Heartless are?" Roxas then asked as he was trying not to lose his temper with a disappearing and reappearing cat who spoke in riddles.
"Naturally but then it would be in my nature to lie. Of course, the question; is should I lie about in flowers, like the what's you're looking for, or just lie about in words?" The cat vanishes
"What a weird cat" remark Roxas
"Still, he gave us a nice reveal." Noted Luxord
"What do you mean?" questioned Roxas.
"Come on. Let's go find those Heartless."
As the finally have found their targets; they defeat four Pink Concertos, when the Cheshire Cat appears again "Bravo! Bravo! It appears you've found what you were looking for. Of course, there's still one more to find. Hmm... I wonder if you wonder where it could be..."
"We'd find it easy enough if you told us where to look, but I'm not holding my breath." Roxas tells the cat.
"Oh, but you must! That would be loads of fun! But then, you'd have to be mad... Mad enough to hide within a birdcage, perhaps? Or mad...like...me..." He disappears, giggling
"That was helpful." The boy then commented.
They find the fifth Pink Concerto in the birdcage in the Queen's Castle. They defeat it swiftly. Luxord says to Roxas "Game, set, and match." The younger Nobody looked at Number Ten
"Another mission down" said Roxas.
The Cheshire Car appears on the Queen's throne, almost dancing upon his hind legs "Quite brilliant indeed! Your sight's been set and found again."
Roxas gets another flash of Sora "How did you know where they'd be? Are you connected to the Heartless somehow?" Roxas interrogated the Cheshire cat.
"Yes, am I? Or aren't I? You'll have to decide." He vanishes
"That cat is a walking question mark." Roxas said as he shook his head in disbelief. "Nobody's going to reveal his hand from the get-go. You have to outwit your opponent in the give and take to figure them out. And frankly, I don't see you outwitting that cat anytime soon." Luxord told the boy.
Roxas crossed his arms "Well, excuse me." Number Ten letting out a chuckle "Heh. Let's head back, Roxas." They return to the corridor entrance.
Later, Roxas sits on the clock tower and Axel joins him
"Axel about Xion" Roxas trying to break the news to Axel. Seeeing how he wasn't in the grey area this morning. "Saïx told me what happened this morning" Axel interrupted.
"Why does he hate her so much?" Roxas just then blurted out. Axel just gives the boy a odd facial expression "Listen to you. How come you do that? Talk like you're a real person." Axel out of the blue questioned Number Thirteen.
Roxas looking confused at what Axel just asked him "Why? What did I say? I don't know how real people talk." Axel shook his head "I mean, sometimes you sound like you really are heartsick or something." observed Axel. "When I saw her lying there, I couldn't stop thinking that she'll never wake up" explained Roxas.
"She will." remarked, "Saïx called her "broken."" Roxas then confessed to Axel.
"He did, did he...?" Axel commented "Well, if it cheers you up, I'm probably a lot more broken than her." he then added.
"Saïx knows something about her. Why me and her are special Nobodies." Roxas told his best friend; Axel now feeling like he was let out of a huge loop "Well... If it's gonna keep you up at night, I could ask him for you."
Roxas standing up from his seat on the ledge "Really!" Roxas getting perked up at the news.
"Yes really! Sheesh," Axel then putting a hand on Roxas's arm; pulling the boy back down so he wouldn't fall. "Sit down." He tells the spiky blonde. "I'll ask, but don't get your hopes up. Straight answers aren't exactly his specialty" added Axel.
"He's more likely to tell you than he is me" pointed out Roxas.
"True" as Axel simply put it.
"I just hope she wakes up soon." Roxas then said.
Later, Axel speaks with Saïx at Nothing's Call
"...Hey, that was uncalled for!" Axel cried out to the Luna Diviner.
"I warned you to keep out of this" Said Saïx. "And I told you I can't. I have to know what Xion's deal is" Axel getting into Saïx's face and not backing away.
"Why can't you be straight with me for once?" he added.
Saïx raising a brow "Just like you're always honest with me?" the blue haired man retorted.
Axel tearing his glare away from Saïx's face "Okay, you've got me there." Axel ashamed of himself for letting his guard drop.
"Xion has no right to be among our number." Saïx then remarked.
"Why not?"
"What is it you two see in that thing? Just look at it."
Xion sleeps. Two seashells lay by her pillow
Diary Entry: Day 172
Xion failed her mission and now she's in a deep sleep. I thought they were lying to me when they told me, but I went to see her, and she really was just asleep. I left a seashell by her pillow, just like she did for me.
Saïx hates her. I don't know why. Maybe he knows more about her than the rest of us do.
Those pictures flashed through my mind again on today's mission (the same boy in red as usual). I guess he's been to Wonderland. I'm still trying to figure out what it is I'm seeing.
-Roxas
Secret Report:
There has to be something to what Saïx said. Why isn't Xion qualified to be one of us? He said to just look at her, but at what? The fact that she looks like Naminé? Xion and Naminé must be connected. Who's nobody is Xion, anyway? What is Saïx hiding?
-Axel
Day 173;
"Hey, Roxas" greeted the red-head
"Find out anything about Xion?"
"I talked to Saïx."
"Really, what did he say?"
"His...his lips were sealed. Sorry, man, I tried."
"That's okay." Roxas responded sadly.
Axel saw the expression on Roxas's face; maybe he as well ought to have told Santa Clause wasn't real. "But he did say he would take back calling her broken, If she proves herself more capable going forward. The best thing you can do for her now is keep up the good work." Axel said to the boy
"I will! Thanks, Axel. That's great news!" Roxas walks away.
Axel letting out a few depressing sighs as he just lied to Roxas. "Ugh, sorry, Roxas..."
Diary Entry: Day 173
I've decided to work harder while Xion is asleep to pick up some of the slack. Axel said he asked Saïx about her, but no dice. He did say that Saïx was having second thoughts about calling her broken, though. I just hope we get all this drama ironed out soon, so she doesn't have to wake up to it.
-Roxas
Secret Report:
I find myself envying the children. Perhaps some fundamental difference exists between those who become Nobodies as adults and otherwise. The longer you have lived, the more you are positioned to lose with such a gamble. But a child can look forward, unafraid even in the face of immeasurable odds. I doubt they even see life as a gamble the way we do.
-Luxord
Day 174,
Roxas is sent to a new island world. There is a pirate ship waiting just offshore "So this is Never Land...What was that Heartless I'm looking for called again? A Wave crest? It's gotta be around here somewhere." He walks to a further part of the island
"Faster, Smee! Put your back into it!" "Aye, aye, Captain Hook!"
Roxas looks over to see a pirate captain with a large plumed hat and a hook for his left hand. In his other hand, he holds a large piece of parchment. A short stoutly man is digging a hole in front of him.
"There's no mistaking it this time! The treasure's most certainly here!"
"That would be a nice change from the last dozen places, eh, Captain? And with the luck you had finding all those treasure maps at once, we'll be rich in no time!"
"Heh-Heh... Some poor fool must be cursing himself now for losing 'em."
"Treasure maps?" thought Roxas.
"Enough blabbering, Mr. Smee! Get that shovel digging!" "Aye, aye, sir!"
Smee continues digging until his shovel hits something, "Captain! Captain, I've struck something!"
"Oh! Ha-ha! Show me what manner of treasure we've found!" Smee puts the shovel down and pulls out a wooden chest, which he opens
"Blast! Another dead end!"
"Now, now, don't you worry, Captain. We still got a whole pile of other maps to follow."
"Confound it if we don't find the right one soon, someone else could walk off with me treasure."
A strange aura surrounds him "That gold is mine! Nobody else can have it! Nobody!"
"C-Captain, sir?" Heartless appear "Gah! More Heartless! Run, Smee!" "Yikes! Aye, aye, sir!" They both run away towards their ship
"Good" stated Roxas as he came out from his hiding spot "Now's my chance to take out those Heartless." He finished with.
He defeats them and walks toward the chest, which is glowing with a dark aura "Junk and more junk" said Roxas "So why'd those Heartless pop up like that? Was this "treasure" some kind of trap? Or did something else cause them to show up? Something about that guy did some a little off." Analyzed Roxas.
He looks toward the Jolly Roger "Hmm... Is that their ship?"He walks in the direction of the pirate ship. Captain Hook and Smee are talking on deck. A small pixie in green hovers near the ratlines
"Set a course, Mr. Smee!"
"Where to, Captain?"
"To wherever the next map says the treasure is! I'm not giving up till I've struck gold! You'll find me that treasure, Smee, even if it means digging up every inch of this island!"
The pixie acts angrily towards this and flies off toward the island. She looks back toward the ship, and bumps into Roxas "Whoa!" She flies back up and looks to the ship. Roxas has a flash of Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy meeting this pixie. She flies around him.
"Umm...can I help you?" Roxas says to the Pixie; the pixie points toward the ship "You want me to go to that ship?" guessed Roxas, She nods her small head.
"But how? It's too far. I can't just sprout wings and fly there." Roxas point out the flaw in her request for help.
The pixie thinks for a moment, and then flies around Roxas, spreading pixie dust on him "Hey, what is this stuff? It's glowing" She points to the ship again. He looks down at the water below "Y-you want me to jump! Wait... Are you... Are you saying I can fly?" She nods "Well...all right...I believe you."
He closes his eyes and sees himself as the boy in red. He jumps off the cliff while he pictures Sora doing the same. Before hitting the water, he shoots back up into the air and floats there.
"I-I did it! I can fly!" The pixie flies over to him "But...was it just that stuff you sprinkled on me?" The pixie then flies away toward the ship
"Um...good-bye. So, now what? Should I go to the ship?...No, I'm here to take out that Heartless. I feel bad not helping her, but I can't risk being spotted. The mission comes first.
He searches other treasure chests that have been dug up and finds the Wave crest hidden on a rock separate from the island. He defeats the flying Heartless and returns to the corridor
"Hmm... She went to that ship all by herself. I hope she's okay. Maybe I should have gone with her. Saïx wouldn't like it if I got mixed up in anything unrelated to the mission. But then again, without her I never would've found the target. I wonder why she picked me."
He flies up "It's like... It's like she knew I would believe her that I could fly. Funny... I almost feel like I've done it before."
Roxas leaves Never Land
Roxas sitting on the clock tower; Axel walks in
"All done with work?"
"Yup."
Axel sits next to him "Axel, you're not gonna believe this. I flew today." Roxas said with an uncommon liveliness to Roxas.
"Flew?"
"Yeah, like a bird! Well, sort of. It's hard to explain..."
"I can imagine." Axel Giving a dead-panned expression
"There's just no way to describe it. I've been waiting all day to tell you and Xion!" exclaimed Roxas. "Right..." Axel said with hesitation, while Roxas kept going on about flying in Never land. "Flying felt so natural like I'd done it before. Weird, huh?"
Roxas takes a bite of his ice cream, "I wish Xion would wake up so I could tell her all about it."
Diary Entry: Day 174
Xion hasn't woken up, but I'm pulling double duty to make up for it. Axel and I talk about the dumbest stuff now. Afterwards we head back to the castle, and I leave a seashell by Xion's pillow. It would please me to see her smile when she finds them. Those pictures flashed through my head again in Never Land. And when I flew, it felt like I'd done it before. Has the guy in red flown before, is that it?
-Roxas
Day 193,
A light appears and a heart flows out of Sora's chest and into the sleeping Kairi's, giving off a shine.
The Keyhole and Sora glow as Sora's eyes start to close. Sora starts to fall back, splitting into tiny points of light. Kairi awakes and runs to grab him. As she does, the light scatters and fades away while she shouts his name.
The memory over; Xion opens her eyes and sits up, stunning Roxas, who has been standing over her bed
"Whoa! Xion... Good morning."
"Morning..."
"You startled me."
"S-sorry...?" She sees something beside her pillow "Huh?" She smiles "You brought me seashells." She holds one up to her ear
"Do you hear it?" he asks her.
Xion gives a small smile "Yeah, the sound of the waves. How long was I asleep?"
"About twenty days." Answered Roxas "That long!" The dark haired girl cried out
"Yeah, Axel and I were getting very worried." Spoke Roxas.
"I'm sorry. I feel bad. Kind of weird that we can feel anything at all, huh? Without hearts to feel with." Said Xion
"Yeah" spoke a hesitant Roxas, "Hey, don't you have work?" Xion then asked; he tells her "Huh? Oh, I'm about to head out."
"Can I come, too?" pleaded Xion "But...don't you need more rest?" Roxas asked her.
Xion let out a small laugh "After sleeping for three weeks? I'll be fine. C'mon, take me with you." Xion then said; then putting her hands together "Please Roxas" as the black haired girl jokingly began to beg while she made a funny expression.
Roxas laughed at the expression on her face "All right, Sure."
They both walk into The Grey Area. Saïx approaches. Xion stares at the floor and Roxas holds her hand as they go over to Saïx for a mission
"Well, well. It lives." As he started down at Xion with a glare "There's just no keeping you down."
"Prick" a mutual thought among shared by Xion, Roxas and Ventus.
Xion staring at Saïx in his golden eyes, "I want to go with Roxas today on his mission." She requested with her voice speaking with a good level of confidence.
"No" said Saïx shaking his head "You belong in your room." He told her as Xion could hear the Luna diviner hold back his tone of voice.
"Oh hey Xion! About time you crawled out of bed." Interrupted Axel; Xion breaking her stare on Saïx "Morning, Axel" as she now looked to her friend.
"Roxas will team up with Axel today, as scheduled. Xion, I'm afraid I neglected to pencil you in."
Xion looking back to the blue haired man "Don't keep me pent up in here. I need the exercise." Xion argued.
"I'll look after her. I promise not to let her out of my sight." Axel adding in his own two cents; the red-head knowing it would piss off Saïx.
"Fine go!" snapped Number Seven "If that's what suits you." He said mockingly.
Roxas and Xion nod to Axel
"A three-man team? That's a first." Stated Xion.
"Let's go, huh? Before Saïx changes his mind!" Axel then said as the Nobody Trio walked into the open dark corridor.
Roxas, Axel, and Xion travel to Twilight Town to take down a Heat Saber and a Destroyer. They arrive on Side Street
"This should be fun, huh? Tripling up like this" Xion commented.
"Yeah, I think this is my first three-man mission." Roxas replied.
"Just remember it's still a mission. We're not on a field trip, guys." Said Axel
Xion then giving Axel a raised eyebrow "Yeah-Yeah" she said to the tall nobody before adding "It sure is nice to be back on my feet." Axel looking to the girl "Just don't push it, you hear me? We'll pick up the slack." Xion nodding her head "I hear you. Thanks."
They head into the Sandlot and find the Heat Saber. They defeat it and make their way to the Station Plaza.
Xion has a series of memories flashing rapidly all at once in her mind, causing the young girl to collapse on the ground.
"Xion!" Roxas cries out to his friend; whilst in Roxas's own mind. A nostalgic wind blows. Kairi is blown toward Sora's outstretched arms. He glows in resonance with the Keyhole in Hollow Bastion. Kairi gives the Oathkeeper keychain to Sora "It's my lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back to me!" spoke the red-headed girl.
Roxas snaps out of it just in time; Axel holds Xion. The Destroyer appears behind Roxas, who whirls around, then looks to Axel. Axel nods
"I've got Xion. You take out the target!" ordered Axel.
"Okay!"
Roxas defeats the Destroyer, he quickly dismisses the keyblade and heads over to Xion and Axel.
Xion mumbling, "Sora" in an absent state of mind; Axel, who caught her saying that name, "What did you just say?" Axel asked her.
Roxas yelling out Number Fourteen's name "Xion!" running over to her and Axel.
"It's okay. She's not hurt." "But Axel…" "Let's all just return to the castle, all right" Said Axel.
They return to the castle. As they walk through Twilight's View; Axel is carrying Xion in his arms, they are intercepted by Saïx
"Well, that didn't take long. Did it break again?" commented Saix.
"She's not an "it"!" yelled Roxas.
Axel walks past Saïx "Keep your fucking mouth shut." He says to him. Roxas follows Axel closely.
"You have changed...Lea" He turns around and looks up "Something at Castle Oblivion changed you. Does the past mean nothing to you now?" Saix asking an invisible Axel.
They lay Xion down on her bed in her room, the great moon shining outside the window
"Are you worried about her, Axel?" Roxas simply asked out of the blue.
Axel giving Roxas an odd expression "Of course I am."
Roxas now smirking "Doesn't seem like you."
"What do you mean?" enquired Axel
"You hate complications." Stated Roxas.
"Roxas, I meet up with you two every day for ice cream, right? Why do I do that?"
"Huh?" went Roxas.
"I mean, you think about it, I don't need to go out of my way, right?"
"I guess not."
"You want to know why I do. Because you're my best friends; the three of us...we're inseparable."
"We are?"
"That's right! Get it memorized and you know what? Best friends are willing to deal with complications." Axel said as he gave the young boy a smirk. Roxas then his head nodding "Yeah, you said it."
"Heh-Heh...Thanks, Axel. You're sweet." Xion speaking up as soon as she had reawakened. Axel scratches his head while turning the other way to hide his blushing face.
"Feeling better?" Roxas then asked.
"Yeah, I just got a little dizzy. Sorry to worry you guys."
"Try not to scare us like that anymore, huh?" said Axel
Xion nodding her head "Okay."
"And you take it easy today" Axel ordered of Xion "I will. Thanks"
A girl in white sits in a White Room, drawing a picture of Roxas, Xion, and Axel While she was being looked after by the female keyblade master and her pupil.
Naminé was pleased to the see Aqua and Riku, as they managed to find her here in Twilight Town, just almost some time ago. Naminé giving Aqua any information that she could on nobodies while as they had to make sure Sora was safe from them in any way they could.
Diary Entry: Day 193
Xion's awake now. The three of us were gonna go get some ice cream after our mission, but she passed out again, so we had to take her home.
I talked with Axel in her room until she woke up. He said the three of us were best friends; inseparable.
-Roxas
Secret Report:
I finally wake up, just to pass out again? Why? Because I'm a failure? I dreamt the whole while I was out. It was something nostalgic, but what? Why can't I remember? It could be a key memory from my human life. All I can remember is the sound of waves, gentle, in the distance
-Xion
Day, 194
Axel searches through books in the castle library. He opens one and reads: "The Truth about Naminé - Vexen".
Elsewhere, Xion sits on the clock tower eating ice cream. Roxas arrives
"You're here early" Roxas noticed. "My mission wasn't that hard." Stated Xion as she looked out into the amazing view that was the town. Roxas sits next to her and looks at the sunset, "So, how ya feeling?" he then asks her.
Xion pressed her lips together before she answered. "I think I'll be okay now." She answered honestly
"That's good." Said Roxas as he gave her a small smile
They take a few bites of their ice cream "Hey, where's Axel?" Roxas then asked as he noticed the red-head still hadn't showed up.
"I haven't seen him since this morning, maybe Saix gave him a complicated mission, you know because of yesterday." Suggested Xion
The clock tower bells ring;
"It's getting late, I don't think he's coming today Roxas" Said Xion as she finished her ice cream.
"You wanna wait a little longer?" Roxas then asked. Xion shrugged "Okay. You and him are always there for me." She then spoke.
Roxas shook his head "Aw, I don't do anything special. Axel's the one who sticks up for us." He replied.
"Well, I'm just glad the two of you are in the Organization with me." Xion then said.
"Hope Axel turns up" remarked Roxas while the two young Nobodies were enjoying the sunset.
Day 195,
Axel and Roxas have ice cream, after having a completing a mission in Never Land, while not only Roxas got to fly once more but Axel got to join as well.
"You think that sparkly dust would work in other worlds?" Roxas questioned as he did certainly enjoy flying.
"I don't know about that." Spoke an skeptical Axel.
"Wow, you two sure flew through your mission." Entered Xion's voice as she walks up to the ledge of the clock tower.
"Heh, if you only knew" said Roxas.
"Yo Xion" greeted Axel
"Sorry I'm late. I had my hands full today." She sits next to Roxas.
"So I was about to tell you, today me and Axel actually flew!"
"You flew?" Xion giving Roxas an expression that read run that by me again. "Yeah there's this sparkly dust that makes it possible." Roxas went into details about flying in never land.
"I was wondering why you two looked so happy; Lucky..." mused Xion. Roxas noticing Xion's face going from a happy to a melancholy appearance "What's wrong? Did something happen again?"
"Nah, it's nothing..." she tells Roxas.
Roxas looks from Xion to Axel, then looks away to the sunset but for some reason, Roxas was refusing to believe it was nothing.
Day 224,
DiZ meets Naminé and Aqua in the Pod Room; While Riku was scouting the town for nobodies at the current moment.
"You seem to be struggling." Spoke the man with the hidden face. Aqua could not tolerate this man at all, as she would watch the way he would speak to Naminé. It was horrid and his reason for it, because a nobody doesn't have a right to exist.
Naminé looking from Aqua to DiZ, "A Nobody is interfering, I think" Said the small girl.
"What" "A Nobody?" Aqua and DiZ spoke at same time.
Naminé trying to keep herself from getting upset "I keep trying to piece his memory back together, but what if some of the pieces got lost? There would be no way for me to finish. If that happened and they found their way into someone else; he'd never get them back." Naminé explained to the two.
"Oh, I think he can do without a memory or two." Said the man with the hidden, Aqua looked at the man with disgust written all over her face.
"How are dare you?" Aqua screamed at DiZ, "All memories holds an significance in someone's heart" she then added but the man ignored the wise words of the keyblade master.
Naminé looked from Aqua to DiZ "But what...what if he needs those memories in order to wake up? What if they're the key?" she asked desperately
"Naminé, you are a witch who has power over Sora's memories and those connected to him. Are you seeing something I cannot?" DiZ said to her.
"If his memories become her memories; she will never survive it." The small girl tried to explain.
"She?"
Meanwhile, Xion sits alone in her bedroom, curled up on the bed.
Roxas and Demyx arrive in the Coliseum Gates of Olympus Coliseum
"Heartless duty again today? I keep telling them I'm not cut out for this stuff" complained Demyx
Roxas could only look at the mullet haired boy. "This time we're after a specific target. Saïx said it was strong."
Demyx rubbing the back of his head "Yeesh... Is it too late to go home? It's because I'm partnered up with you I keep getting saddled with these combat missions!" as his complaining further increased.
Inwardly Roxas getting annoyed "Wanna split up the search like last time?" he said to the boy.
Demyx didn't take to well to the suggestion. "Are you crazy! And risk actually finding that thing? I'm not fighting it alone!"
"Then let's move out." Demyx groans.
"I'm gonna stay out here and, uh...guard the exit, yeah! Nobody's exiting on my watch. (Except maybe me...)" said the ever lazy nobody.
Roxas says nothing and enters the Lobby; Phil coming over to the boy as fast as he was able too "I've been waiting' for ya, kid! Today's the big day, huh?" the satyr said to Roxas.
"Big day?" questioned the nobody. "Don't worry. I already got you signed up for the Games. Now you just gotta go in there and put all that training to use!" said Phil.
"But… all right..." Roxas spoke with hesitation "They're holding the Games today? Then the only way I can search the Coliseum is by entering" thought Roxas.
Phil taking Roxas right out of his thoughts "Snap out of it, kid! I need you sharp out there. Just tell me when you're ready."
Roxas readies himself and speaks to Phil "Okay, head into the Coliseum. Just remember my sure-fire way to win two words: Never. Ever. Lose!" instructed Phil
Phil enters the Coliseum. Roxas has a flash of Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy
Demyx approached Roxas "You entering some kind of contest, Roxas?"Roxas turns around to see Demyx
"Sort of. These Games are the only way to get inside the Coliseum right now."
"Ah, I follow you." His way of letting someone knew he'd understand.
"I wish you would." Retorted Roxas
"Hey!"
Roxas battles through round after round, getting flashes of Sora in his victory pose, until..."You're doing' great, kid! Win the next match, and the title's yours!" cheered on Phil
Roxas nodded his head in a high confidence "Right".
"I don't know much about the guy you're up against in the finals, but from the look of him, I'd say he's been through a few fights. Stay sharp!" Phil informed Roxas.
"I will" stated Roxas.
"You've come this far! Don't let anybody else walk outta here with your title! Remember, I'm expecting' stuff from you, kid! Stated Phil; Roxas taking not of how Phil said that "Expecting? You mean you order me to win?" he asked the satyr.
"Order you? What are you talking' about? It means I have faith you can win." Phil answered and explained to Roxas.
"Faith...?" "Right, now get out there and knock some heads!"
They look toward the arena. Roxas walks in with his head down. The first thing he spots is a pair of black boots beneath an equally black
"Hey there, kiddo" Roxas picking his head up to see Xigbar "Huh…Xigbar?" the boy spoke out of surprise.
"Looks like you're doing pretty well here." Commented the one eyed man. "Xigbar! What are you…Don't try and tell me you're a trainee, too?"
Xigbar giving Roxas bored expression "As if! I just dropped in to see how our little wannabe hero is doing. I care about your future, Roxas." Xigbar then speaking with a mocking tone of voice.
"Just dropped in? You could have told me you were entering!" Roxas cried out.
"Try to make it look real, Roxas!" He summons his arrow guns. He fights a bit with Xigbar, who mostly dodges backwards and shoots arrows at him. He adjusts his neck and faces Roxas.
A gigantic suit of armor drops from the sky, and Roxas has a flash of nostalgia as the parts assume shape around the large torso. The arms click in place, followed by the legs, and the armor crashes to the ground. The spiked head falls out of the sky onto the top of the torso, and the Guard Armor faces Roxas and Xigbar
"Hey... Is that the…"
"Well, well... Looks like our target's here."
"Uh-oh... Looks like the finals just got postponed! Hey! Forget about the match! Just find someplace safe while I go get Herc!" Phil yelled over to the duo of Nobodies. Phil runs out of the arena
Xigbar then smirks to the young boy. "Well, Roxas? Ready to show me all you've learned?"Xigbar takes a place in the stands.
Roxas is unable the shake the feeling of familiarity this Heartless gives him. He pictures the boy in red fighting it, exactly as he is.
After a long battle, he defeats it and Xigbar walks up
"Mission complete" Roxas said as he watched the released heart go up into the sky.
"Not bad!" Xigbar commented "Our little Roxas is growing up so fast." He added mockingly.
Roxas looked at the "Are you making fun of me?
"As if! That was a compliment."
He opens a corridor of darkness "I'll see you back home." He walks into it
"Nice work out there, man!" Said Demyx as the number nine finally came out of hiding.
"Demyx! You were here? Why didn't you come and help?" Roxas then said to his comrade.
Demyx panicked "I was, uh...cheering you on! Couldn't you hear me? Gimme an "R"! Gimme an…"
Roxas then snapped "Are you blind! That wasn't part of the Games!"
"Right!" Demyx then said. "And what a shocker to find out Xigbar was the other finalist!"
Roxas dead-panned "Yeah..." Demyx then saying "What's up with that...? I can't imagine he was here on a mission. You never can tell what that guy is thinking..."
Roxas shrugged his shoulders "Maybe he just wanted an excuse to fight me...To test me."
"No way, man! I wouldn't read into it too deep. Besides, the mission's over, right? All's well that ends well, man!" Demyx then said to Roxas/
"I...guess so, but..." Roxas trying to speak
"Anyway, I'm beat! Let's call it a day." He opens a corridor and they walk into it."
Phil runs back in "Hurry, Herc! Ya gotta take out the Heartless that crashed the…Huh?
Hercules walks in "Uh...what Heartless, Phil?"
"Where'd it go? And where's Roxas?"
"Roxas? Who's that? "The new trainee you scouted! I been talking' about him for days now. Good learner, shows a lot of promise? Ring any bells?"
"Yeah, I remember what you said, but the guy I scouted wasn't named Roxas."
"Huh?""And he said it would take him a while to get here. He's probably still on his way." Phil totally stunned "What? But...then... Who was... Who have I been training!"
Later, Xion has ice cream on the clock tower
"Hey, Xion. Get here early?" Roxas walks in "Yeah. I breezed right through my mission." She answered his question; He sits next to her "So, how'd your day go?" she then asked him.
"Ugh, you'll never believe what Xigbar did..." Roxas tried to tell Xion but Axel had walked in "Hey-hey. Oh, Xion, what are you doing here?" The red-head said to her
Xion then snapped "What, do you want me to leave? Sheesh." She said to him "C'mon, that's not what I meant." He sits next to Roxas
"Hey, Axel?" Xion getting his attention "You've been to Castle Oblivion, right?" she asked him
"Yup."
"What's it like?" Xion then asked
"The Organization uses it as a research facility." Axel answered
"Seems like people are getting sent there all the time. Especially you." Roxas joining the conversation
"But they never send me or Roxas" remarked Xion
"Well...they probably just don't need you there, that's all." Said Axel
Roxas takes a bite of his ice cream
"Maybe..." then muttered, she stands up "I gotta go." Xion has a flash and suddenly feels dizzy. She falls forward off the clock tower, but Roxas and Axel catches her in time and pulls her back up and getting her to sit back down.
"Are you feeling all right? Maybe you need to rest." Roxas said to his friend
Xion shaking her head side to side "No, it's nothing like that." She told Roxas
"Xion, you nearly fell off the clock tower, that's not nothing" Axel then butted in.
No one knows what to say at this point. They're silent for a few moments.
"I've got it!" Axel then randomly cries out
"Huh? Got what?"
"Let's go to the beach next time we get a day off."
"The beach? Where did that come from?" asked Xion "What, don't you want to go somewhere different for a change?" Axel asked the dark haired girl
"So...it would just be the three of us?" Roxas enquired.
"Yeah, exactly." Answered the red-head.
"...I'll join you...if I can." Xion sounding rather unsure about it.
"Of course you can, Xion."
"You'll have a blast, trust me."
"Well...all right, sure. Let's do it."
Diary Entry: Day 224
I think something's wrong with Xion. Is she not feeling well again? Axel said we should all go to the beach next time we get a vacation. I think he senses something is wrong, too. That's why he suggested the beach; to make her feel better.
-Roxas
Day 225,
Roxas meets Xion on the clock tower. He sits down, but she hesitates
"Aren't you gonna have some ice cream?" She says nothing "Xion?"
"Oh, sorry. I guess I'm just tired." The black haired girl finally breaking her own silence.
"You want to sit down?" Roxas asked her
Xion shook her head lightly "No, I'm gonna go. See you later." She leaves
"Okay..."He takes a bite of his ice cream.
Axel walks in "What, all by your lonesome?" asked Axel
"Hey, Axel." Axel sits next to him and pulls out his own ice cream bar, taking a bite
"Where's Xion?"
"She left."
"I see that" replied Axel
"She's been acting kind of weird lately, don't ya think?" Roxas then said to his tall friend.
Axel says nothing "Maybe she's not feeling well." Roxas then says
"She'll be okay. Don't stress it." Responded Axel.
"If you say so. Hope we get some more vacation soon. We could all use that trip to the beach."
"Right..."
In the meantime, Xion is in a computer room typing at a keyboard. Data is progressing on the screens in front of her)
"No, no..." Xion mutters to herself over and over
She continues typing, "Where is it?" she then asks herself. She pulls up a large data screen with the symbol of the Nobodies on it "Got it!"
Diary Entry: Day 225
Okay, now I'm really worried about Xion. I told Axel, but all he said was that she'll get through it. He knows something is wrong. I bet he's just telling me that to put my mind at ease. Well, it's not working.
-Roxas
Secret Report:
My body feels heavy, and my head aches. I'm too busy dreaming to get any rest from sleep. Axel knows something. He's hiding some secret. It must be in Castle Oblivion. That's where I was born.
-Xion
End Chapter.