Chapter 18- Resolve
Another day, another mission. In the Castle That Never Was, making his way to the grey area for his mission of the day, Axel then found his path blocked by a certain blue-haired comrade of his, who bore an empty expression yet Axel could still make out the hidden outrage in his eyes. "You've meddled again" Saïx spoke in a monotone voice as he eyed Axel in exasperation. Not in the mood for a conversation, Axel simply retorted "Sorry, did you say something?" Unfazed by Axel's comeback, Saïx continued "We don't need them both. Just one. And pretending won't change it" Hearing this, Axel could only turn his head away, unable to speak back. With that, Saïx proceeded to walk past Axel, but stopped to turn back at Axel with a simple "Think about that" before he continued on his way, leaving a disgruntled Axel standing alone, as he loses himself in thought.
Shortly after, Roxas appeared in the grey area ready for his own mission, until he noticed Axel standing with Xion, who also had a surprising addition: Xigbar, the Organization's number II. From what he could tell, Roxas assumed that those three were assigned a mission together. "Now here's an unlikely trio. Me, Xigbar, and Xion?" Axel spoke in a somewhat disappointed voice. Xigbar, however, took it in stride and playfully responded "Worried I'll slow you down?" " Course not. Touchy, touchy..." Axel responded in a perkier tone of voice. "It's just not everyday we get to go for a stroll with Number II himself. Ain't that right, Xion?" "Yeah" she responded. They then noticed Roxas approaching them.
"Hey, you three are teamed up for the day?" Roxas asked curiously. "You have your own mission, Roxas" Saïx flatly stated. "I can't trade with Xigbar or something?" Roxas asked hopefully, to which Saïx scoffed. "What an extraordinarily childish notion. Do you need Axel to walk you everywhere now?" he stated in an amused voice. Hearing this, Roxas lowered his head in disappointment as he attempted to explain "No... I didn't- Never mind" he said. On that note, the three in question took their leave. After their departure, Saïx addressed Roxas "They can handle their mission. You hurry up and see to your own" Sensing the finality of that statement, Roxas checked his equipment, and when he was satisfied, he approached Saïx and received the details for the mission, after which he departed.
Meanwhile in Wonderland, a battle had broken out between Xigbar and Xion, with Axel looking on in horror. Despite the turn of events, Xigbar found it all highly amusing. "Ha ha! Talk about a blast from the past" he spoke in an entertained voice. "Cut it out, Xion!" Axel desperately exclaimed, but his plea fell on deaf ears as Xigbar drew his own weapons. "Of all the faces... Why do I look at her and see yours?" Xigbar continued in his amused voice. With his gaze fully upon Xion, he did not see a girl dressed in a black cloak as he usually did. Where Xion stood, in his eye, however, was a boy with spiky blonde hair shooting out in all sorts of directions, and had piercing cobalt blue eyes, somewhat identical in appearance to Roxas, who bore an angry glare.
The boy was dressed in a high-collared black shirt under a grey vest adorned with a white angular pattern which was worn under a jacket that was black on the left side with a white hem, and white on the right side with a black hem and a red pleated collar. Across his chest were two criss-crossing black straps that featured a straight-edged heart atop a cross coloured silver and on his upper-left arm was a guard of dull green and grey armour and a black and white chequered wristband edged with white on the wrist of the same arm. There was also a segment of the same dull-green and grey armour across his midsection seemingly hidden under his vest, with three-quarter length trousers that stopped midway across his shins, coloured in shades of grey and wore a seemingly armoured pair of shoes in the recurring shades of dull green and grey.
"Do you always have to stare at me like I just drowned your goldfish?" Xigbar stated in his amused voice, whilst Axel looked on at Xion in desperation. "Shut up!" Xion countered. After a brief yet tense silence, Xion instantly disappeared and reappeared right next to Xigbar and swiftly struck him with the Keyblade, knocking him to the ground unconscious instantaneously. After she successfully accomplished this, Xion dispelled her Keyblade and created a dark corridor, looking at Axel with a sorrowful expression hidden beneath her hood. "Axel, I'm sorry" she said sadly. "Have you flipped your lid?" Axel asked despairingly. "Please... let me go. I have to do this. Or else- look" As she spoke, she lowered her hood, and what Axel saw shocked him "What the..." he stated in utter bewilderment.
Quickly, she pulled her hood over her head again. "Please, Axel. You have to take care of Roxas" Xion pleaded. "But how are you... gonna..." Axel trailed off, shock and disbelief holding him from finishing his sentence. "Please!" Xion exclaimed desperately. For a few moments, Axel stood there, confused as to what was the right thing to do. Eventually, he gestured with his head towards the dark corridor. Realizing his decision, Xion then added with relief and happiness "Thank you" With those final words, Xion ran into the dark corridor which disappeared after she had run into its depths. After the corridor faded away, Axel could only exhale in frustration over Xigbar's unconscious form all the while unaware that a certain dragon had seen everything and disappeared in a flash of light unseen to either member of the Organization.
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Later on in the day, Roxas had almost completed his mission, heading in the direction of his last target at the station plaza in Twilight Town. His target then appeared: a Stalwart Blade Heartless, a large Heartless adorned in crimson armour with orange blades for hands. Roxas was well aware that this Heartless was one tough contender, but was ready for this all the same. So he called out his Keyblade and charged into battle, whilst all the while unaware that he was being watched: overhead, out of relative eyesight, stood a lone figure dressed in a black cloak, his face hidden by the shadows. The figure in question was carefully observing the Keyblade wielder down below. "It seems he is not as powerful as he was before. From what they told me, Roxas's strength was declining piece by piece, just as Xion has become more powerful. This is getting troublesome" the figure said to himself until he noticed a flash of light to his left, where a small dragon appeared. "I have examined the puppet as per our colleagues' instructions. The developments that we foresaw took place, resulting in the puppet fleeing. It seems that she is on the run once more" Lunar Bahamut reported to the hooded Sairu's satisfaction.
"Excellent. Riku will likely intercept and guide her to Twilight Town as per our plan. And with what I have witnessed of Roxas, it is as we feared: Roxas's strength wanes day by day. If Xion comes for Roxas, then everything will end and we will never be able to awaken Sora. For now, let's return to the mansion for our report, then we'll return to Traverse Town. Our part is now over; the rest is up to them now; Riku, Roxas and Xion" Sairu explained, and with Lunar Bahamut's nod of confirmation, the two disappeared into a dark corridor, out of sight and mind.
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"Explain yourself, Axel" Saïx demanded, as he interrogated Xigbar and Axel over the disappearance of Xion. "I didn't let her go. The old man needs to get his eyes checked. Anyway, she wasn't taking no for an answer" Axel countered to cover the real sequence of events. "I'll give him that" Xigbar spoke up. "Can't toss the blame around when I couldn't stop her either". Just as he finished speaking, Roxas walked up to them, curious as to what was going on. "And now we're left with the one we can't use..." Saïx coldly commented, before taking his leave. Wondering what got under his skin, Roxas asked the other two "What was that all about?". Then, he noticed that Xion wasn't with them. "Where's Xion?" Roxas asked curiously. "She flew the coop" Xigbar spoke with a grin on his face. "Flamesilocks here couldn't trouble himself to clip her wings" Hearing this, Axel couldn't bring himself to speak up and avoided eye contact with Roxas. Hearing this, Roxas was suddenly alarmed "Axel, he's kidding, right?" he asked, angry and hopeful. Once more, Axel couldn't bear to answer the question.
"As if" Xigbar spoke up again. "Your friend sat there sucking his thumb while Xion walked right off. ...I'm going back to my room" And Xigbar too took his leave returning to his quarters. After he was gone, Roxas furiously asked "What happened out there?" "Look, nothing" Axel briefly answered. "Xion's gone! How is that nothing?" Roxas exclaimed, enraged. "It's just like Xigbar said. I couldn't stop her from going" Axel explained despondently. "Don't give me that! Why not?" Roxas asked demandingly. "Roxas... Xion is like a mirror that reflects you" Axel attempted to answer, as he folded his arms in thought. "What?" Roxas asked. "The Organization made her to duplicate your powers. She's a puppet" Axel confessed. "Have you gone nuts? Xion's a person, not a puppet" Roxas retorted in disbelief. "She's smoke and mirrors, Roxas" Axel countered flatly. "And when I looked in the mirror... I wasn't you I saw" he continued, cryptically hinting to what Xion showed him before she fled.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but Xion is Xion. You can't expect her to be me" Roxas argued, still refusing to accept the truth. "That's not what I mean, Roxas" Axel replied sternly. "It was only a matter of time before somebody had to break the mirror". "You mean destroy her" Roxas translated angrily. Unable to confess the truth, Axel simply turned his head away, leading Roxas to demand his answer "Answer me!" he exclaimed. "Roxas, if somebody doesn't, you'll..." Axel said trailing off, refusing to tell him, but then relenting and finally admitted "You won't be you anymore" Hearing this, Roxas still refused to accept the truth and defiantly retorted "I'll always be me! Your best friend- just like Xion!" But Axel merely shook his head and explained "Roxas, you're... you're not seeing the bigger picture. Any of it" Realising that he wasn't going to get any answers, Roxas said in frustration "Ugh, forget this" and ran off, angry and confused. "Roxas!" Axel called, but the one so named ignored his call and ran off anyway. "Why can't you understand..." Axel said depressingly to himself.
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Elsewhere, a dark corridor appeared out of nowhere uncer the night sky in the shadow of a great castle. Xion emerged running from the portal and noticed the person she had been seeking out: Riku. "Riku!" she exclaimed as she approached, the dark corridor still open behind her. "Did you find the right answer?" Riku asked curiously. "Yeah. I did" Xion confirmed positively. "I'm on the verge of losing everything I ever cared about. I can't let that happen" she added in a solemn tone. "Tell me what I need to do" Xion asked. Riku nodded and replied "Go to Twilight Town. You'll find a girl there by the name of Naminé". "Naminé? What's she like?" Xion asked in wonder. "You'll find out. I don't think you'll have much trouble tracking her down" Riku elaborated. "All right. Thanks, Riku" Xion cheerily stated, turning to the dark corridor that was still open. Before she was about to leave, she then added sadly "Goodbye..." before disappearing into the dark corridor. Shortly after she departed, Riku himself disappeared into a dark corridor, to re-emerge in the pod room of the mansion, where Naminé, DiZ and Sairu stood waiting for him.
"Well?" DiZ asked bluntly. Unfazed by his straightforward question, Riku responded "I have informed Xion of what she needs to do, and I know she'll find us in this mansion soon enough. It's only a matter of a few days now, it would seem" he explained, to which a satisfied DiZ nodded his head. "Indeed. We must be patient. In the meantime, Sairu, what do you have to report?" DiZ then asked, turning his attention to Sairu now. In return, Sairu reported "During his mission, I tailed Roxas and observed his actions throughout. From what I noticed, he is steadily growing weaker just as we feared. If Xion were to take too long to arrive, we may be forced to take matters in our own hands" he explained. "Understood. On another matter, I have to discuss something with you as I came to understand you will be safe to return here now" DiZ acknowledged while Sairu nodded his confirmation.
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The next day, the surviving members of Organization XIII were convened in the Round Room, or Where Nothing Gathers, a solemn atmosphere evident with each member present, with the exception of perhaps Demyx, number IX, who simply bore an expression of sheer boredom. Overhead, sitting atop the highest throne was the Superior, Xemnas, who was seemingly locked in a meditative state before he opened his amber eyes and addressed his colleagues. "Xion has vanished again" he spoke in a monotone to all present. "Do we know where she is?" the Organization's Number III, Xaldin who sat on the throne on Xemnas's left, asked . "'It', not 'she'" Xemnas then spoke to all present. "Xion is just a Replica... a puppet" he spoke with a smile on his face. Hearing this certainly caught the attention of Number X, who sat on the throne on Axel's right. "Puppet? Someone made her?" he enquired.
"Puppets generally don't make themselves" Saïx bluntly commented, sitting on Demyx's left. "The Replica Program was one of our little pet projects" Xigbar explained. "Replica whatza?" Demyx asked, completely befuddled. "Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us about this 'pet project'" Xaldin addressed Xemnas, who nodded in agreement and proceeded to explain. "The goal was to duplicate the Keyblade wielder's memories, and through them, his powers- thus making them our own. Vexen oversaw the project at Castle Oblivion. However, our efforts were severely derailed by his unexpected demise. And this particular Replica- the one we called Xion- came to form an identity of her own" Saïx then proceeded to pick up from Xemnas. "That caught us off guard. If anything like that happened before, no one at C.O. ever reported it. Did they, Axel?" Hearing his name being mentioned, Axel simply glanced in Saïx's direction, seemingly ashamed to answer.
Xemnas simply shook his head and spoke "Fortunately, the puppet has no means of dashing our plans now, even if she has learned to pull her own strings. Still, she knows our secrets. We need to shorten her leash... And perhaps tighten it" Hearing this evoked a sense of horror in Roxas, as he concluded what it meant. "You don't mean-" "Axel" Xemnas then called out to the redhead in question, who turned to face his leader. "Seeing as how she escaped on your watch, the onus is on you to capture her and return her here. I am willing to overlook any nicks or scratches. Just ensure she still functions on arrival" Then, instinctively, Xaldin exclaimed angrily "Why would you allow a deserter back under our roof... She should be eradicated!" Having heard his outburst, Saïx addressed Xaldin. "'Deserter' is hardly the term for a broken specimen who wandered out from under the microscope" "Axel, you have your orders" Xemnas said, addressing him, who simply dipped his head.
"Dismissed" Xemnas then declared, before disappearing into a dark corridor. "Bring her back? It's sheer madness..." Xaldin spoke with quiet fury before disappearing into a dark corridor. "All this time, I've been talking to a puppet... Intense" Demyx spoke, shaking his head in disbelief as he took his leave as well. "So now we just sweep it all up? Heh... As if" Xigbar stated, not amused as he took off. "If only the whispers at the top of the ladder carried to the bottom rung..." Luxord sagely spoke before taking his leave. "Axel" Saïx addressed him. "Those orders were absolute" he declared sternly, and Axel held his gaze as he took his leave as well via a dark corridor. Saïx then noticed that Roxas was still sitting upon his throne, with a faraway look in his eyes. "Still here, Roxas? Proceed with your mission" he addressed Roxas. He proceeded to shake his head in disbelief "Xion is one of us" he spoke absentmindedly. "A puppet, one of us? Don't be absurd. Count the seats" Saïx coldly remarked. "When have we ever been more than thirteen?" he rhetorically asked before he disappeared.
Shortly after, in the grey area, Axel prepared to depart, albeit reluctantly. But just as he conjured a dark corridor, he heard Roxas calling for him. "Axel!" Roxas exclaimed, Axel halting to hear him out. "I don't think Xion's safe here anymore" he said sadly. "You're not really gonna do what Xemnas says?" he also asked desperately. "I have to, or else I'm not safe here either" Axel replied drearily. "Well... could you at least try not to hurt her this time?" Roxas then asked, hoping for a compromise. "That's up to her" Axel answered as he turned to face Roxas. "Roxas... Xion is dangerous" he then added, which took Roxas by surprise. "Dangerous how?" Roxas enquired. "Have you got all your strength back?" Axel returned. "Not yet..." Roxas answered in the negative. "How long have you known about her?" Roxas then decided to ask, which did not sit well with Axel, as he turned towards the dark corridor, avoiding eye contact with Roxas. This confirmed something Roxas was not hoping for. "You knew all this time, and kept it from me?" Roxas reproached angrily, and Axel still remained silent, guilt welling up inside him as he took his leave via the dark corridor. After it vanished, Roxas approached Saïx to receive his interesting mission details and then took his own departure.
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"Are your certain of this?" Sairu asked surprised. He and DiZ were sitting together in the abandoned dining room of the mansion, where the table was smashed beyond all recognition, its wooden remnants scattered across to the far corners of the room. In the chair opposite, DiZ sat with an exceptionally stern look across his face. "This is only in the event of a worst case scenario that has been predicted. You have been given your orders in the event of-" "Are you insane?!" Sairu exclaimed, rising from his seat as if he had been sitting on hot coals. "What is the point of doing so?! The chances of the scenario happening are fairly high, theoretically, but what then? Even if I fulfil my duties, nothing will change after he is trapped in sleep forever" he explained, seething.
"Sairu, why must you insist on making a mountain out of a molehill? You do realise that if this succeeds, the Organization's plans will cease with their completed puppet's destruction. Without a Keyblade wielder, their plan to complete Kingdom Hearts will completely derail. Furthermore, these orders are to be conducted only when this particular scenario comes to pass, so you must also acknowledge the likelihood of our desired scenario" DiZ counteracted. Hearing the logic in DiZ's statement, Sairu calmed down, and nodded his leave, taking his leave, emerging in the foyer where to his surprise, Riku and Naminé were stood, waiting at the foot of the staircase nearest the dining room. "So, what did DiZ discuss with you?" Riku asked curiously, getting straight to the point. "He entrusted me with a plan that I am to enact if she absorbs him. I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you what he has in mind if that occurs" Sairu replied, which Riku nodded to in return. "What? I don't think I understand" Naminé spoke up, confused over the ordeal at hand.
Hearing this, Sairu instinctively sighed out of frustration and explained to her, "We came to the conclusion that because Xion has been absorbing more of Roxas day by day, he grows weaker consequently. Therefore, it increases the likelihood of Xion defeating and absorbing Roxas, to make him a part of her, turning her into a complete Replica of Sora, thus leaving the real Sora comatose forever. If this were to happen... then I must use my power to destroy Xion once and for all" much to Naminé's shock and horror.