Chapter 30: Keyblade Duel

I can't believe what I have to do to earn the trust of Lord Xemnas again, to fight my best friend…to fight Roxas. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it tomorrow, but I have t! My life depends of it. I've been training the last days to get in shape again, and I have manage to improve one of my newest techniques, but I'm not sure if it's ready to use it in battle… Anyway, I should rest 'coz tomorrow it's going to be a decisive day for me…

Xion walked through the halls of the Castle in direction to her room, she had a lot on her mind, she didn't wanted to fight Roxas, of course she didn't, but now she didn't had any choice. Beside it wasn't a fight to death or something like that, just to prove Xemnas and Saix what she was made off. She had enough confidence in herself, but she couldn't help but to be scared at what was going to happen the next day.

She was so distracted she didn't even realize when she got in front of the door to her room, with a sigh she opened the door and entered. She took a quick shower and then her pajamas in order to get some sleep and being ready for tomorrow. She gave a look at her clock: 8:42 P.M.

-I can always read a book… -she sighed knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep so early

She started searching for some of the books she picked up from the Organization's library, she really had some free time while not doing any mission the last days. She was deciding what book to read when another idea came to her mind, she turned around slowly and stared at the television…

-Or, I can always try to finish "Ocarina of Time"… -she said happily turning on her Nintendo 64

Meanwhile, Roxas and Axel were on the couches from the Grey Area, almost everyone had returned from their respective missions and the Grey Area was the usual spot for resting and relaxing.

-Hey kiddo, I hope you and Poppet give a real show tomorrow! –Xigbar said approaching the two guys, being followed by Luxord and Demyx.

-Right. You have to play your cards wisely Roxas, you don't want Xion to give you a surprise. –Luxord added, Roxas sighed

-Shut up guys, don't remind me what I have to do tomorrow…

-But come on Roxas, thanks to you two we have a day off tomorrow! We're all going to see the fight and I already betted 10,000 munny. I'm going to win, I'm sure! –Demyx said happily, Axel stare at him raising an eyebrow

-You betted? With Luxord I guess… -Axel said suspiciously, Luxord laughed silently but didn't said anything

-Of course. I betted against Xion! -Demyx added

-Wasn't Poppet supposed to be your friend you fool? –Xigbar asked

-Yeah, but let's be honest. Boys are stronger than girls. Xion won't stand a chance against Roxas. –Demyx said proudly like if he said the smartest thing or something

-Well, as I said, you may get a surprise tomorrow Demyx… -Luxord warned, Axel sighed

-I wish I could bet also, but I can't bet against my friends. That's not what a FRIEND do… -Axel commented saying the last phrase referring to Demyx being a bad friend, but he didn't catch the indirect.

-Whatever, the truth is he's going to win easily, right Roxas? –Demyx asked, Roxas stare at him madly and sighed

-Whatever…

That night went pretty fast for Roxas, somehow he managed to sleep a little resigned to accept the fate he'll have to fight his best friend. He woke up the next morning and as soon as he opened his eyes he remembered what he'll have to fight Xion that day and sighed…

A few hours later, everyone was gathered at the Hall of Empty Melodies waiting for Roxas to appear. Saix was on the center of the room while the other members where on the high enough to get a good spectacle. Axel and Xion were also on a corner. Axel was advising Xion as he had advised Roxas the other day. Xion listened carefully to all of his advises.

-That's all girl. Now please, be careful and relax. Remember it's not necessary to win, just to shut them up. Got it memorized?

-Yeah. I'm going to teach everyone I'm not the useless puppet they think I am. –she said determined, Axel smiled

-And by everyone you mean Saix? –he laughed making the girl smile, but her smile disappeared when she spotted Roxas walking into the room. Saix approached him

-You're late… -he said, coldly as ever. Roxas glared at him

-Whatever! Let's finish this quick. –Roxas said unexcitedly, Saix sighed and called Xion

-Here we go… -Xion sighed nervously to Axel before walking. Axel sighed also and opened a dark corridor to the top of the room.

-You know the rules, right? Try to impress Lord Xemnas, and the one who wins the battle is going to receive an award. –Saix said, Roxas and Xion looked at him curiously

-Award? No one said anything about an award… -Xion pointed out, but Saix ignored her

-You may start…NOW! –Saix yelled disappearing in a corridor of darkness. Roxas and Xion quickly summoned their Keyblades but didn't attack. They just stare at each other, Xion smiled

-Good luck, Roxas. –she grinned, Roxas smiled also

-You two, Xion.

Just after this, both of them got serious. Since Xion didn't seem she would do the first move, Roxas was the first to attack. He started running toward the girl who just observed patiently every move from his opponent, just as soon as he was about to hit the girl with his Keyblade, she dodged it and counterattacked hitting Roxas several times. The blonde guy managed to react fast and deflected Xion attacks before she could damage him more.

Roxas stare at the girl again knowing it wasn't a good idea to attack her first because she was a lot faster than him, however Xion was waiting for Roxas to make the first move also, since she knew she wouldn't be able to defeat him with strength. Everyone stare confusedly at the two teens who didn't do anything but to stare at each other…

-Why aren't they moving or anything? –Demyx said desperately, everyone sighed but Xigbar was the one to answer

-Because unlike you, they are smart. They're waiting for the best chance for attacking, but it seems this is going to take some time…

Xion understanding Roxas wouldn't attack her this time, decided to make the next move. She charged her Keyblade with her light power and started attacking with air light slashes. This surprised Roxas who barely dodged the attacks. Xion continued with her attacks while getting closer to Roxas who couldn't help but to dodge the attacks. As soon as Xion was close enough to Roxas, she stopped her light attacks and tried to hit him with her Keyblade, but Roxas reacted on time and deflected all of her attacks and then counterattacked her. Xion quickly used her magic to make a fire shield to protect her from Roxas and then she was the one who was counterattacking. After many attacks, she decided to stop and rest, but always watching her distance.

Roxas stared in disbelief at Xion, he didn't expect such a hard fight, she was going on really serious, but what worried him the most is he was going serious also, and was being defeated so easily.

Xion noticed Roxas was trying to keep his distance from her also, so she decided to keep attacking from distance. This time she started attacking with her thunder magic, Roxas again surprised by this move started running and jumping in order to dodge the multiple attacks. Xion latter changed her thunder attacks to fire attacks, but obtaining the same result as before. This time it was Roxas who was approaching the girl with his dodges and as soon as he was close to her he hit her directly on the stomach with her Keyblade sending her to the floor.

Roxas used this chance and continued her attacks on Xion, but she got on her feet quickly and managed to deflect some attacks. Xion tried to keep her distance from Roxas again, but this time the blonde guy didn't let her and followed her closely. Xion started running but still keeping an eye on Roxas who was following her, but her speed made her gain some distance with him, she quickly turned around and started using her light slashes in order to keep away Roxas.

Roxas growled at this and started dodging the attacks, but this were more constant than her magic attacks which made it impossible for him to approach the girl so he decided to back off on a safe distance and dodge them easier. After Roxas was far enough, Xion stopped and fell on her knees panting heavily, she quickly realized she was still fighting and got on her feet and used her Cure spell which surprised Roxas.

-You too, huh? –he said silently, while he used the same spell on him

Roxas and Xion stared at each other again, but this time they both started running to each other decided to finish the fight faster. Both Keyblades hit each other as both tried to reach the other, attacking and dodging.

Everyone was surprised by the speed of the two young Nobodies, even Xemnas, but they were even more surprised by how Xion decided to fight Roxas. Everyone knew Xion wouldn't stand a chance against Roxas if she tried to defeat him in hand to hand combat, due to her lack of strength, but she was fighting intelligently using her speed and magic attacks to keep Roxas away from her, and when he was close, she could manage to dodge and deflect almost all of his attacks perfectly.

Luxord who was next to Axel and Demyx started laughing, knowing his bet on Xion was a really smart decision, Demyx understanding Luxord's laughing quickly glared at the older Nobody, but tried to ignore him.

-Come on, Roxas. You can beat her! –he yelled trying to cheer Roxas, but this only made Luxord laugh even harder

-Demyx, we clearly have a winner here. It's just a matter of time. I knew I made an intelligent move when I played my cards for her. –Luxord laughed, Demyx glared again

-Shut up, you'll see how Roxas will beat her, right Axel? –he asked hoping a positive answer from the pyro, but he just smirked

-I'm not so sure Demyx… I don't know why, but Xion clearly has more energy and tricks than Roxas. And I can clearly see they're both fighting seriously. I'm sure Xion is going to win… -he said with a smile, Demyx lowered his sight back to the fight ignoring Axel words

Roxas and Axel were still fighting closely, but much slower due to fatigue. Even though, none of them wanted to give up and keep fighting trying to hit the other with their respective Keyblades. Roxas was the one who had received more damage, because Xion deflected perfectly and when she knew she couldn't deflect, she dodged the attack. However, she had received a lot of damage also, but didn't gave up on her attacks. They got to a point where Roxas couldn't stand anymore and used his magic to made a fire attack just like Xion did minutes ago. This made Xion keep her distance from the guy and used the opportunity to recover her breath also.

-I…I can't… believe this. –Roxas panted using his cure spell

-Ready…to finish…this? –Xion said panting heavily also and using her cure spell too

-Give me…your best shot.

-Alright. You asked for it. –Xion said with a smile. She then closed her eyes concentrating on her, Roxas stared cautiously at the girl, as well as the other members.

Suddenly, her body started emitting a glow, some kind of white light, like an aura. Roxas gasped when he realized she was using the same technique he learned some days ago. The girl opened her eyes and her Keyblade transformed into a white light beam blade.

-How you like this? –Xion said showing him her new Keyblade, Roxas smiled

-Surprised, but not the first time I see that. –he said with a smile. A white glow started to flash from Roxas' body just like it did with Xion a few seconds ago, Xion gasped in surprise at how his Keyblade turned into a white light beam just like hers.

All of the Organization members stared in disbelief at the two younger Nobodies, both of them (specially Xion) had used amazing techniques in this fight, which clearly wasn't the fight they expected, but something even better. An evil smile appeared on Xemnas lips as he stare at both of his Keyblade wielders.

-I don't have much energy left Xion, so why don't we finish this once and for all? –Roxas asked visible tired, Xion smiled

-As always, I totally agree with you.

Roxas and Xion started running to each other ready to give the other the final blow. As soon as they were close enough to the other, they changed the direction of their blows trying to hit the other horizontally, but their Keyblades clashed making them release a little of their special light powers. They started attacking randomly expecting to hit the other but their Keyblade kept clashing, until Xion got an idea, she used her wind magic to move away from Roxas and caught him off guard and started hitting him with her special Keyblade. She managed to hit him four times, but she couldn't control the light energy from her Keyblade and it was all released sending both of them to the flour, Roxas however fell coz' he was severely injured.

-I think we got a winner… -Xigbar smiled transporting to the arena, he walked towards Roxas first who was trying to sit but couldn't move anymore, Xigbar chuckled at this. He then walked to Xion who managed to sit, but was panting heavily.

-Did…I win? –Xion managed to said, Xigbar laughed

-We got a winner everyone. –Xigbar yelled

Xion quickly stare at Xigbar who helped her get on her feet as everyone (except Demyx and Saix) started clapping and cheering Xion's name. The girl looked in disbelief at every of his comrades. He stare at Xemnas who was also clapping, not as enthusiastic as the others, but still that meant she did an splendid job.

-Congratulation Poppet, you've earned it. –Xigbar said placing a hand on Xion's shoulder and walking away

-I couldn't have said that better. –Axel grinned, Xion smiled and hugged his friend

-I did it Axel, I proof I'm not useless as they think I am.

-You did Xion. You did great. Now drink this while I go and check you didn't killed Roxas. –Axel said handing over an elixir to the girl which immediately made a disgusted face.

She opened the bottle and smelled it as she made another disgust face. Finally she sighed and drank all the elixir not without making a third disgusted face. Once she drank all the liquid, she walked toward Axel and Roxas who was also finishing his elixir.

-Hello Roxas! –she greeted happily as if anything had happened

-How can you said that so happy? For a moment I thought you were going to kill me there! –Roxas said alarmed, Axel and Xion chuckled

-I'm sorry, but I had to do it. I needed to impress everyone, remember? –Xion reminded

-Yeah, but… look at yourself! It doesn't seem like you're hurt or anything! Unlike you, my body hurts horribly!

-Oh come on Roxas. Relax. –Xion tried to comfort Roxas, but it didn't worked

-I can't beat you at Mario Kart! I can't beat you at Mario Party, and finally when I thought I could beat you at least on a real fight, it results you're better than me in that also! I'm a looser. –Roxas said depressed, Xion chuckled

-You're not a looser Roxas, it just results Xion is better than you in everything! –Axel teased

-Oh thanks!