Chapter 21: Special Heartless
It was a new "day" at The World That Never Was, everyone (except for Xion who wasn't there) was getting their respective missions, Roxas and Axel were on the couches chatting when Saix came to them, he looked curiously at them when he noticed Xion wasn't there…
-Isn't the puppet here yet?
-Oh yeah, she's over here Saix, can't you see her? She looks so cute today, don't you think? –he said sarcastically signing to the empty spot of the chair, Saix rolled his eyes and choose to ignore Axel sarcasm
-Roxas, your mission today is at Hollow Bastion, defeat hearts as usual. Understood?
-I guess so… -the blonde sighed, he was about to open a dark corridor in order for leaving to his mission when Xion appeared at the Grey Area, Roxas smiled when he saw her, but Xion tried to avoid her sight with his
-Morning… -she said approaching at them
-Hello, Xion! –Roxas greeted grinning
-Hey, Roxas… -she replied just waving her hand, somehow she seemed depressed, something that Axel noticed but he chose to ignore that, at least for now…
-Puppet, you're late… -Saix informed, Xion glared at him
-And? Like if I asked! Just give me my mission already… -she said somehow angrily, everybody was surprised at the girl's attitude
-…Umm…sure. You're mission is with Axel, defeat a special Heartless at Twilight Town. –Saix explained, Axel gave a curious look at Saix
-Could you specify "Special Heartless"?
-We know it has an incredible speed, not to different from a Neo Shadow. It's most dangerous characteristic is it seems to use some kind of poison smoke to defend itself. –Saix explained, Xion and Axel looked each other and then looked at Saix
-That sounds like a difficult mission Saix. Why are you sending me? I think Xigbar would be a much helpful partner for Xion… -Axel suggested, but Saix inmediattely shook his head
-Xigbar is already on a mission, so its up to you too. Now get going.
-You really like to see me working, huh? –Axel sighed, Saix ignored his comment
-Roxas, why are you still here? I think I already gave your mission… Or am I wrong?
-All right, all right… I'm leaving. See you later guys! –Roxas said stepping in a dark corridor and disappearing in it, Axel waved at him before leaving, but Xion didn't and again avoided looking at him.
-Well young lady, it's mission time. Let's go. –Axel informed, opening a dark corridor.
-Alright.
-After you. –he said politely, Xion giggled since she already knew he was joking with her, but she followed her game
-Oh, how polite. Thank you. –she joked stepping into the corridor, Axel following her closely.
They reappeared at the streets of Traverse Town. To their surprise, the streets were practically empty, Xion walked a little and was the first to notice the strange environment.
-Where is everybody? –she asked, Axel shrugged
-Who knows? It doesn't matter. This is going to make things easier. –he replied
They started searching for they're "special" target through the streets of the town for some time. Axel was getting curious about her "problem" with Roxas, and it was just a matter of time before the curiosity took the better of him.
-Hey Xion, can I ask you something?
-Sure. What is it?
-I…noticed you were acting strangely this morning…is there something wrong? –he asked, he immediately noticed how Xion got shocked because of his question and started to hesitate
-…Of…course not… Everything is ok… -she managed to answer, Axel sighed
-Hey girl, I thought we were friends. If I'm asking you this is because I want to help you. Not only this morning, you've been acting strangely the last past days. –he explained, the girl sighed in defeat
-Al right… A few days ago… I…I…I failed an important mission. Xemnas himself ordered me to fight and capture the Organization Impostor, but… I lost to him.
-Wait, you fight the Impostor, alone? Xemnas is a fool. What the hell was he thinking?
-What? You don't think I'm capable of beating him? –she asked him angrily
-I certainly don't know that, but… I think if they didn't knew what this "impostor" was capable of doing, it was too risky sending a single man…or a woman in your case… -Axel explained
-I thought I was a girl… -Xion said confused
-Forget about that. Why didn't you tell me?
-Because… I didn't wanted to disappoint you…and Roxas. –she replied sadly, Axel stare at her, she didn't wanted to establish eye contact so he assumed she was really ashamed
-Don't worry, we all have failed a mission once. And actually, your failure is more Xemnas fault, not yours. So don't worry, understood?
-Yeah… -she replied softly
-Good, now tell me, Does Roxas know about this? –he asked again, she softly shook her head
-No, he doesn't.
-That takes us to this morning again…why aren't you talking to him?
-Hey, what's wrong with you? You want me to tell you my entire life or what? How many more questions are you going to ask me? –she asked angrily again
-Hey relax. I just want to know since you two are my friends. I don't want you to fight each other, so tell me.
-To be honest…I don't know. –she replied honestly, Axel sighed again
-Teenagers, I will never understand you.
-Let's just finish this mission. –she said walking again, Axel smirked and followed her
They kept searching for hours, but they couldn't find their target. After a rest for lunch, they kept searching again, after a while of walking, Xion found something that caught her attention.
-Hey, look at this. –she said walking to a wall with some papers pasted on it
-What are you doing? We don't have time for shopping!
-No, look. Here it says that a mystic fog have been appearing at the forest. It also says that the fog seems to be toxic. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? –she asked
-Certainly. Seems like our toxic target seems to be playing on the forest, let's go to pay him a visit.
Axel and Xion walked to the forest hoping to find their target. When they got there, they started examining everything carefully, but they couldn't find the Heartless. They kept searching on the forest until they reached the abandoned Old Mansion.
-I guess we have to keep searching on the forest… -Xion told Axel, he sighed
-I thought this was going to be easier, I mean, there isn't any fog on this forest, maybe that's not what we're looking for… -Axel answered, Xion nodded as she started walking back to the forest when she noticed something was watching them from the top of a tree
-Hey Axel, look! –she told him pointing to the figure
-It seems like a Neo Shadow to me! –Axel said summoning his chakrams and throwing them to the mysterious Heartless, just when they were about to hit it, the Heartless quickly jumped dodging it and landed in front of Axel and Xion
-Ewww, that thing is disgusting! –she said making a disgust face as stared at the Heartless who had a face similar to the one of a wolf, the only difference it had with Neo Shadows
-Well, remember what Saix said: Don't breath the poison gas it releases, understood? –Axel warned
-Understood. –she answered summoning her Keyblade
Axel threw his chakrams again and the Heartless dodge it easily again, but this time it had to defend itself with its arms from Xion's attacks. The Heartless took a little damage in order for hitting Xion with a punch on her stomach and then it launched its famous purple poison gas from its mouth directly to Xion…
-Xion, don't breath it! –Axel warned, Xion quickly used her Aero spell in order to clear the poisonous smog from where she was.
-Nice try… -the girl said hitting the Heartless directly to the face and sending it flying toward a tree. The Heartless got on its feet and jumped to the tree behind it, and from it hands it started launching several dark energy balls directly to Axel and Xion who had to run in order for avoiding them.
-Xion, this is going to take more time than expected. –he told her as both dodged the attacks
-Too bad… I wanted to apologize to Roxas. –she answered deflecting attacks with her Keyblade
-Oh really? Now am motivated, let's finish this fast!
Axel opened a dark corridor and quickly stepped in it, Xion stare at him in confusion but then she understood his intentions when she saw him appearing behind the Heartless and hitting it with a fire punch sending it flying towards Xion who gave another blow to it.
The Heartless again used his poison gas to cover all the area they were on. Xion used a dark corridor for escaping from the gas and reappeared on a high tree close to Axel.
-We'll have to fight it from distance. –Xion told Axel who nodded, suddenly they were both attacked by energy balls again and had to jump from tree to tree in order for dodging them
Axel used this in his advantaged and threw both chakrams to the direction the attacks were coming from, but Axel didn't noticed the Heartless reappeared behind him.
-AXEL, BEHIND YOU! –the girl shouted jumping to Axel's direction
Axel quickly turned around but he was paralyzed because a he was hit on his stomach. The Heartless prepared to launch its smoke directly to Axel who was coughing but Xion tackled Axel just in time and received the poison gas directly.
Axel needed some time to reincorporate and hold himself from a large stick from a tree before falling into the floor who was still covered by the posing gas.
-XION! –he shouted alarmed when he noticed Xion was falling at great speed while coughing which made him think she breathed the smog
He was about to jump and hold her on his arms but he was hit by the Heartless' energy balls dealing him big damage. He finally managed to hide behind a tree and then got his attention back on Xion who had already fallen into the floor.
-Damn it. Xion… -he opened a dark corridor and reappeared on the ground. As soon as he arrived, he used his sleeve trying no to breath the toxic gas, he quickly followed Xion's coughs and found her easily.
She couldn't got on her feet because of the damage she received on her back because of the great fall she suffered from such a high place, Axel quickly hold her on his arms and opened a dark corridor. When she noticed what he was trying to do, she tried to lose the hold he had on her.
-What are you doing? –she managed to said between coughs
-What do you think I'm doing? The gas you breathed is toxic! –he said more worried than angry
-But… I don't want to…fail another mission… -she said sadly, but this made Axel's anger grow
-What are you talking about? Your life is more important than a stupid mission. We're leaving and that's it. –he finally said stepping with Xion in the dark corridor
Well, that's the new chapter. Thanks for the people who Reviewed the story, and for those who hadn't, please do...
See you on the next chapter
