If We Had Hearts
Chapter 16: Xion's Sacrifice
~Day 356: Twilight Town Mansion~
Namine smiled as the figure in front of her. Though it was her first time seeing this person, she knew exactly who they were.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Xion."
Xion removed her hood and lifted her head with solemn eyes.
"Namine… can you see my face?"
"Yes…" Namine motioned for her to sit.
"Then…" Xion sat and folded her hands in her lap. "What do you think I should do?" She needed guidance, needed someone to tell her what road to take, what actions to make. It was the first time Xion truly felt like a puppet. She felt as if she'd her strings and didn't know how to move or function.
"What do you want to do?"
Want? Xion looked down at her hands then up at the wall that held Namine's pictures. There was a depiction of her Roxas and Axel hanging, and it made Xion sigh heavily.
"At first I just wanted to be with Axel and Roxas forever…" She touched her temple. "Then I started to realize that these memories aren't even really mine."
"You're not Sora, and you're not Roxas." Namine said definitively. "You're the memory of Riku and Kairi, Two people whom Sora holds closest to her heart. Because of this, your identity has always been in fluctuation with Roxas who holds a special connection with her."
"I understand now… it's becoming clearer and clearer to me that I need to go back where I came from." Xion nodded her head decisively. "I belong with Sora… but I'm not sure what I should do in order to go back to her."
"Alright, but Xion… you know if you give your memories back to Sora you will disappear. Instead of having memories of your own you will be connected through others memories. No one will remember you, because there will be no you to remember. With all the powers I possess I can't keep even one piece of the memory called "you."
The first stab of fear hit Xion in the gut and she had to let out a shaky breath to calm herself. With eyes full of determination she lifted her chin and gave a nod.
"I know I wouldn't be here if I wasn't sure. I belong with Sora… and I know Roxas does as well… but I don't think she'd understand just yet."
"Mmmm Roxas will need to reach that conclusion on her own, as of right now she can't feel Sora just yet." Namine nodded her head fully understanding.
"Can you look after her for me? You won't be alone, I've asked someone else to as well." She closed her eyes picturing Riku who she knew was just outside guarding the area.
"Mmm of course… well if you're ready. Let's go see Sora."
Xion nodded and started to stand. She let out a little gasp as Diz suddenly appeared his shrouded face grim.
"Namine, the organization has found us and they're almost here." DIz sneered at Xion now. "This blasted puppet has led them right to our doorstep. See what you get for trusting it?"
"Leave this to me!" Xion said and hurried out the door. "I'll make them leave!"
"Wait, Xion!" Namine stood about to go after her but Diz held up a hand.
"It's too late, we can't afford for them to find you again. Go back down to Sora and seal yourself in." Ansem looked up at Riku who phased in. "It's almost time, you know what to do."
"Right…" Riku nodded and looked to Namine.
"Riku… if Xion gets captured she and Roxas will be forced to clash. They might destroy each other." Namine said with worry.
"We can't play it safe anymore, Namine. That battle was always inevitable, and we were fools thinking we could stop it." Ansem told her assuring her out the door and towards the lab. The three of them stepped into the white room watching Sora float. Namine let out a whimpering sound holding her chest.
"Don't worry, Namine." Riku assured her and stepped towards the capsule. "There will be a winner, and whichever one survives will take on Sora's memories." He lay his hand on the glass, his heart reaching out for Sora's wishing he could feel just a hint of her light. "If Roxas is anything like Sora then she'll be the one to come out on top."
He stroked over the glass, over Sora's sleeping face. He would do anything to see her open those eyes, to watch the life come back to her face and light his way through the darkness.
"...and I'll be there waiting for her."
~Outside~
Xion looked around for signs of the organization and gasped when Axel was the one that stepped through the darkness. Of all the organization members, it was this encounter she feared most.
"Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?" Already in a foul mood for losing Roxas, Axel closed the portal and stare at the other half of his circle of friends. "You've really made a mess of things, Xion."
"Axel…" She clenched a fist over her chest. Just seeing his face again brought her all kinds of ache. Were these her feelings… or the feelings she'd absorbed from Roxas whom she knew loved Axel more than anyone? She shut her eyes tightly. She couldn't go on guessing anymore. She needed all of this to end, whether her way, or theirs.
"Xion, what are you planning to do?"
"I've decided to go back where I belong."
"Well to be honest I always felt that was for the best…" Axel crossed his arms scowling at her. The girl in front of him had caused nothing but problems for him and the organization… but he'd befriended her, had come to care for her because of the connection she had with Roxas. "...still it really bugs me. Something about this just stinks!"
"It's for the good of everyone." Xion told him, her voice thick with tears and had Axel's belly clutching.
"How the hell do you know that? Tch, everyone thinks they're right." The superior thought he was right collecting hearts to make Kingdom Hearts… Saix thought he was right for obeying the superior's orders without question… Roxas felt she was right when she told him that she loved him and shoe bitter anger when he'd had conflictions and doubts of whether what he was feeling was true or not. How did anyone know what was right and what was wrong?
"This IS right."
"THEY'RE GOING TO DESTROY YOU!" Axel snapped and gasped when he saw Xion raise her blade in defense. In that moment Xion's face faded away and all he saw was Roxas.
"Xion copied my and the keyblade's powers, and the organization didn't need me anymore… I guess you felt the same way."
"Special? You still can't say it can you? You still think I made it up, or am confusing my memories or something? I love you, Axel!"
"I can't trust you anymore! I can't trust anyone! If you won't give me answers, then I'll find them out on my own!"
"No one would miss me…"
Axel couldn't take it anymore. The pain and rage built up and he glared into the piercing blue eyes that were a copy of his girlfriend's.
"What's your problem!? You two think you can just do whatever you want? Well I'm sick of it."
Axel didn't want to lose the last piece of Roxas he had. He didn't want to let Xion go now that Roxas had taken herself out of the picture. He needed something, anything to hold onto that feeling… even if it was just a puppet.
"Go on you keep running, but I'll always be there to bring you back!" Axel let his fire rage and his chakrams appear.
As he and Xion fought the illusion of Roxas faded, but the determination remained. He'd bring her back… He'd find Roxas and bring her back! No way was he going to lose the only person who made him truly believe he had a heart.
~Day 357~
For nearly a full day Roxas wandered around in her street clothes just watching the town come to life around her. She said she'd find answers but didn't even know where to begin looking. She debated on approaching Hayner, Pence and Olette… but always seemed to shy away at the last minute. The three of them were having so much fun together… she didn't want to be a downer.
"I guess not all friendships fall apart." she held her chest sighing and looked up at the clock tower. She felt the pull of it beckon her, as if asking her to come. Tugging her cloak back on she wandered back up the street to the tower… and took her place at the top looking out at the sunset.
"A full day away from the organization… and I'm right back here again." She laughed bitterly and pulled her legs up her her chest burying her face in her knees. "Tch, where did I think I could go? Man what a joke!"
Xion watched Roxas for a moment, her face hidden behind the cloak. Axel had beaten her, had dragged her unconscious body back to the castle… and by the time Xion awoke nearly all of Sora's memories lay inside her. All that was left was for her to absorb Roxas, and her transformation would be complete.
Knowing what she had to do Xion stepped up and took a seat next to Roxas. It took the young girl a moment to realize she was no longer alone and she sat up gasping.
"Xion!" Surprised, nad strangely happy Roxas smiled at her friend. "I thought you-" she drifted off when Xion handed her an ice cream. Her lips spread into a soft smile and she laughed cutely. "Thank You…"
The town was quiet underneath them. For once she didn't hear the sounds of laughter, but merely the rapid breeze that brushed her long hair.
"Roxas… I'm out of time." Xion spoke, tears apparent in her voice. Roxas lifted her head up from eating her ice cream. Her eyes widen as Xion stood and lifted the hood.
"What?"
"Even if I'm not ready… I have to make this choice." Xion held her chest. "You've poured so many memories into me, given me so much… that I feel I'm about to overflow." She turned towards her, and for the first time Roxas looked into the face of her somebody.
"Look at me Roxas, who do you see?"
"I see… me…" Roxas said breathlessly and stood to face her. "Only… you're not me are you?"
"No… This is what I was always meant to become. I'm almost ready now, Roxas. This puppet will have to play her part." Xion turned back towards the setting sun, her brown hair braided neatly over her shoulder, and attached on the bottom tying it together were two dangling yellow stars. Roxas held out a hand taking the stars and eying them frightfully. This shape… how did she know this shape.
"Don't you see, Roxas?" Xion said with a little tear. "This is her… this is Sora."
"Sora?" So Xion wasn't HER replacement… she was Sora's. Who was this Sora? Why was she so important to the organization? How was she connected to this girl?
Xion smiled softly then much to Roxas' surprise stepped out onto open air as if it were a stone path. She slowly turned to Roxas, and lifted her hood to hide the sad expression on her face. It was time, she thought, it was time to walk her destined path no matter where it took her. Whether she would survive and go on to play the puppet… or be destroyed and return to Sora… her destiny now lay out in front of her.
"You're next Roxas… I need to make you a part of me too." She stretched her hand out, dark power filling her making Sora's blue eyes go sadistic and blood thirsty. "Don't you see? This is why I was created!"
"No… I don't see…" Roxas' eyes hardened. "I don't see why you're going along with their plans for you. You're not me, you're not Sora… you're your own person Xion!"
"That may be… but the Xion you know and are friends with was never meant to exist! She and all your memories of her will be destroyed after today. Now fight me, Roxas… or succumb to me!" Xion screamed and the dark power took over her.
Sora's form became encased in shadow and over it was a shelled armor that made Roxas think of the dusks. So this was Xion's true form?
"I don't know what they've done to you Xion… but if it's a fight you want, then fine. I'll show you who you really are!" Roxas released her keyblade… and let Xion's dark power teleport them through the worlds.
Their battle raged on through the worlds… each path awakening a new form inside Xion, and a new power. Roxas was always the better fighter, the better strategist… but her power had become waned and only one thing was fueling her, and keeping her going.
Through the cracks and parrys and blows Roxas could hear Xion's voice cry out, as if asking to be saved.
"You're in pain, Xion… you don't know who you are and it's hurting you. Why can't you see what I see? Why can't you see the person who I've always been able to talk to, to laugh with… to have ice cream with? Where's my best friend!?" Roxas screamed in agony, and lost her balance as Xion's dark power ricocheted them through space once again. She felt familiar surroundings of Twilight Town and lifted her head up to see Xion's final ultimate form… a towering no body with snake like limbs and hardened shell. Xion's breath panted through the mask… she was nearing her limit just as Roxas was.
"Wake up, Xion…" Roxas pleaded and lifted her blade racing at her. "Wake up and see who you truly are!" With one final blow Roxas struck Xion through the chest. The armor cracking and Xion's warped voice crying out as the last dregs of her power faded away into the darkness.
Roxas felt something snap free in her mind. She saw memories flashing through her mind in a high speed movie and then suddenly vanished as if having never been there. She stumbled and held her head.
"What happened? What am I…" she looked to the darkness and saw Xion stumble through and collapse forward to her knees. "Who… who are you?"
"You'll be… better off now, Roxas." Xion said weakly, her power gone and all that was left was the fluttering sensation of fading away. She collapsed and Roxas instinctively reached out to catch her.
"Did… Did I do this to you?" Roxas, still feeling a gray fog over her memories stare at this girl who lay limp in her arms.
"No… this was my choice." Xion told her and stared up at her best friend with a smile. "I chose to go away, now." She lifted a hand to touch Roxas' on her shoulder. Crystalized memories sprang forth, releasing from her body and going to their rightful place. "Better that.. Then let Xemnas have his way."
Xemnas… Roxas knew this name. What way? What did Xemnas do? What did he…
"I don't understand…"
"That's okay, Roxas." Xion smiled warmly. "I belong with Sora. I'm going back to be with her… but before I go, can I ask you for a favor?" She closed her eyes sighing softly. "All those hearts we collected… Kingdom Hearts… set them free."
"Kingdom Hearts? Free Them?" More and more Roxas was confused. Everything this girl was saying sounded familiar and yet she couldn't place from where. Roxas' thoughts drifted off and she gasped seeing Xion's body beginning to crystalize and crumble.
"What? You're…"
"It's too late for me to undo my mistakes… but you can't let Xemnas have Kingdom Hearts… you can't." Xion lifted a hand and stroked her face. "Goodbye, Roxas. I'm glad I got to meet you… and of course Axel too. Please tell him, I'm sorry, and never forget that you're both my very best friends. That's the truth."
"Axel…" Tears suddenly slipped down Roxas' face. "Xion, you're Xion. No!" She gasped as Xion's hand fell from her face. "Xion!" The name was so clear now she wondered why she'd let it fade so easily. Friends… Xion was her friend! They laughed together, watched sunsets together, and ate ice cream together."No!" Roxas begged shaking her head with disbelief. She lost Axel already, she couldn't lose another best friend! "No please don't go, Xion! Who will I have ice cream with?"
Xion let out a little laugh despite herself. She lifted her eyes to the sky sighing as the sunset turned the sky vivid with orange, blues, and purples. She could no longer hear Roxas' voice, could no longer feel the warmth of her hug… but instead let herself drift into the light and her consciousness fade away.
Roxas shook her head in disbelief as the form crumbled from her hands in a beautiful and hearbreaking display of light. She looked at her hands, and the single seashell clutched there.
"Xion…" Roxas grit her teeth and the tears just fell.
~In the Light~
Xion awoke to the warm light… her eyes slowly opening and she saw the circular platform below. She saw the familiar faces of Sora, Kairi and Riku there… and her lips curved as she knew now exactly where she was. She let herself touch down on it.
"Sora… so this is your heart."
"A part of it, anyway." A voice called from above and Xion's brow rose as she looked up. The glowing circular orb pulsed with light and then landed as a full bodied person. Xion's eyes went wide when she saw a familiar face.
"Roxas?"
Venus shook her head smiling.
"No… but I, just like you, am a part of her.." She walked around arms behind her back. "I'm a heart that had seeked refuge from the dark until I can find my way back. Sora, so kind and giving, has given me shelter here."
"I see… Sora's heart… it really is warm and bright." She held her chest smiling. "I'm glad I decided to be a part of it. It feels very much like home." Xion smiled.
"Sora's heart is filled with light… but unlike those of pure of heart, she too can succumb to darkness. It's because her heart is so open, and bright, that it attracts the shadows that always seem to linger around her." Venus' eyes went hard a moment and she turned to Xion. "You've seen there are those who want to take advantage of that, and use her talents for the dark."
"Xemnas… and the organization." Xion said frowning and she clenched her fists at her side. "We can't let that happen."
"You're right…" Venus smiled and lifted her head up proudly. "We can't. One day Roxas will join us here… it may take some time for her to accept it… but when she does the three of us must do what we can to protect Sora's heart… because without her, those that I've lost and those that have made sacrifices will remain lost forever. Sora's heart is the key to getting back everything we hold dear. We have to protect it no matter the cost." Venus held out her hand her smile wide and welcoming. "Are you with me, Xion?"
Xion stared at the hand unsure at first, but Venus' smile and warmth had her nodding in agreement. She held out her hand taking it in hers and giving it a shake.
"I'm with you."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Okay so I took some liberties… but hey this is fanfiction and I think this would have been an awesome addition to the storyline. Anyway next chapter is the final one, so thanks to all my readers for your support and look forward to the next Installment
"If This is The End"
Coming soon…
Next Chapter: My Summer Vacation.
