A/N-Okay, so longer chapter but remember what I said about the bucket? Yeah, applies here. Blood and gore warning if you're squeamish. Oh, and for those who were looking for a more bad-ass Demyx, you're welcome. (I know he's always written as annoying but I think he could be bad-ass if he wanted to be.) Read and enjoy! Drop those reviews if you want to see me drop the smiley faces :) :D ;D Or those pesky spelling errors. Grrr. Oh, and other mature warnings. (You have been WARNED!) :S
"So what are we doing exactly?" Roxas pressed as he followed Demyx down the hallway.
"Shh! I'll tell you later," Demyx hissed. Roxas rolled his eyes but remained silent. The Knight led him deeper through the lower grounds of the castle. They passed through a series of lifts until they reached the water ways. Roxas felt his brain burn as old memories flashed in his head.
Demyx eventually led him into a series of dark and empty corridors where the only light came from the entrance and a series of dimly flashing, colored lights on the walls. Roxas wondered where the heck Demyx was leading him when the Knight pulled him aside into a small room. There was nothing inside but a small computer system and a wooden chair.
"Alright, we made it," Demyx muttered.
"Made it where, exactly?" Roxas asked.
"We're headed for a room under the castle where they keep the hard drive data."
"…o-kay…" Demyx crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"It'll make sense when we get there. The main computer for the castle is located on the highest floors of the lower grounds. This is where the Knights typically are."
"So we're avoiding them to go straight to the source."
"Correct," Demyx said with a nod. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Once we reach the computer data storage, we'll have a brief window to find out where they're keeping Ienzo."
"You don't know?"
"No one does save the King, Queen, and Saïx. The kid could be anywhere but I have a feeling they're keeping him in Castle Oblivion since it's the most secure."
"Say we do get the data and we happen to find out where the kid is at, how am I supposed to walk into the most secure part of Hollow Bastion without raising suspicion? I don't exactly blend in here and they know what I look like so I can't pass as a commoner." Demyx grinned.
"Don't worry about it. I have you covered." Roxas frowned but didn't press for details. If the Knight was confident enough in his plan, Roxas felt confident enough to follow it. "Oh, and Roxas? Thanks. Doing this by myself probably would have ended up in getting myself killed. I really appreciate this and Zexion does too. I know you have no reason to trust us, but we're really thankful, honestly. It's finally time to start turning this war around and to do that we need to make some impossible decisions. Choosing where I stand is just the first step."
"This war won't be over until we take out Xemnas, Isa and Saïx. Probably more if there's resistance. That won't be an easy task," Roxas stated, putting his hands on his hips.
"No, but Zexion is respected amongst the community. They know what they…er…yeah, they did to his brother and they're not standing for it. They're just too scared to take action. Maybe once we set Ienzo free, Zexion can break free of the shackles binding him and the people can see they too can rise up."
"I see. So what exactly did they do to Zexion's brother?" Demyx fell silent. He chewed on the inside of his cheek. Roxas narrowed his eyes. "Demyx…"
"Torture mostly. They cut his arms, poured salt and lemon water in the wounds…they forced the kid not to scream but it was horrendous. Sometimes the King brings Ienzo to the throne room and watches him get tortured for his own sick pleasure. He…he made me watch one day. I nearly threw up. But I guess what did it for me was…" Demyx swallowed hard. Then he lowered his voice to barely a whisper. "When Saïx brought Ienzo to his sister and she…she…"
"Raped him," Roxas stated coldly. Demyx nodded.
"It was so fucking twisted! Even the loyal Knights were irked. Larxene completely flipped out when she heard and started bitching out the Queen but Isa just laughed. She laughed! Scoffed at us saying we were stupid, bumbling pawns whose only purpose is to serve her. I think the only one who sided with the Queen was Xigbar. He mentioned the "kid had it coming" and he got off with a black eye for a month."
"Some hook."
"Well, Lexaeus knew Zexion before they were sent to work at the castle so he knew Ienzo personally. Plus the guy is built like a rock! Which is ironic since he's an earth elemental fighter…but anyway, that's how this all came to be. I proposed this plan to Zexion and he obviously rebelled saying it wasn't worth dying over, but I have to try. I know Axel and Lexaeus won't stand in our way. They're sort of turning a blind eye to the whole thing. So, I guess we're a bit lucky in that sense. Less Knights to deal with."
They remained standing in the room, waiting. There was a long stretch of time where they didn't say anything. Roxas crossed his arms impatiently and Demyx tapped his fingers to some unheard rhythm. Then the computer pinged. Demyx went over to the monitor and nodded.
"Okay, we're good to go. We have five minutes. Let's go!" Demyx ordered. He led the way out of the room and they hurried down the passages. Every second they wasted moving was time they lost for finding where Ienzo was being held.
Demyx brought them to a pair of double doors and punched in a code. They slid open and they leapt inside. Demyx was immediately on a computer typing furiously. Roxas looked around the room at all of the hard drives.
"Is there something I should look for?" he called.
"Keep an eye out. Make sure no one passes by this way," Demyx shouted back, his fingers flying over the keys. Roxas was counting in his head to make sure they didn't run out of time. They had two minutes left.
"Find anything?" he asked.
"Sh!" Roxas continued counting. His heart was slowly beating faster and faster as the seconds ticked by.
One minute to go.
"Hurry up!" Roxas hissed. Demyx bit down on his tongue as he poured over the data. His eyes flicked around the screen like lightning. Finally, a window popped up and he hissed under his breath. Demyx quickly shut all the windows and ran over to Roxas. "Forty five seconds." Demyx nodded and they sprinted down the hall. The Knight ripped open the room to the small closet of a computer room and they shoved themselves inside.
Demyx slammed the door shut and leaned against it. The pair's breathing was ragged and their pulses raced. Roxas turned to Demyx and the Knight nodded. Roxas nodded in understanding.
"Alright, that wasn't so bad," Demyx gasped. "Time for the fun part."
"The fun part?" Roxas arched an eyebrow. Demyx nodded. He peeked outside the door and motioned for Roxas to follow. The younger blonde headed the other man's beckons. They traveled back outside into the sunlight and Demyx unstrapped his sitar from his back.
"In order for this to work, you're going to have to move really slowly and not make a sound," Demyx explained.
"What are you doing exactly?"
"You'll see." Demyx lowered his gaze to the ground and gently started playing his sitar. Roxas had heard him play before in his spare time, but this melody was different. There was something enchanting, almost mesmerizing, about it. Roxas watched as tiny drops of water appeared around him and sparkled in the sun. Demyx was soon distorted in his view.
The Knight stopped playing and replaced his sitar on his back. "It's not an illusion but it should work. The water refracts the light, making it appear you're not actually there. But you have to move slowly or the light will refract too quickly and you'll look like a moving blur," Demyx explained.
"I take it you've done this before?" Roxas pressed.
"Of course. Had to hide from soldiers some way. Now try to stay close. I'll move as slowly as I can without drawing attention but the rest will be up to you. We're going to be heading into the heart of Castle Oblivion. They have Ienzo in a stasis chamber."
"What's the plan for escape?"
"Not get caught?" Demyx said with a shrug. "We'll have to think it up on the fly. If we can, we'll try to make our way to Zexion and he'll set us up a portal. If not, we could try commandeering a G. Ship."
"Not exactly easy to do when people are hunting you."
"True. If push comes to shove, we'll make our way outside and I'll transport us out of here."
"Can you carry three people on your transport?" Demyx frowned.
"I've never tried, okay? Now stop making me doubt myself and let's get going. We'll figure out the escape when we get there."
"Alright. Lead the way." Demyx nodded and headed back towards the lower grounds with Roxas treading close behind.
They made their way back through the water ways and into the lower grounds. As they were about to step off a lift to a main floor, Xaldin was waiting for a ride down. Roxas froze where he was. Demyx gave a sheepish grin before stepping off the lift to let the elder Knight step on. Roxas had to endure a very long minute of riding the lift back down with Xaldin standing merely eight inches from him. Roxas hardly breathed in case the slight breeze tipped off the wind fighter.
Finally, the lift hit the bottom floor and Xaldin stepped off. Roxas let out of held breath and nearly crumpled to the floor as the lift started moving upwards again. At the top, Demyx was waiting for him. Then they continued on their way towards Castle Oblivion.
They had to pass through the research labs and the Knight's offices to reach the stairs leading up to the door to the upper castle. Roxas's hands wouldn't stop shaking as he inched his way along the long, white hall. There was a moment when Axel stepped out and nearly collided with Demyx. He turned towards Roxas and gave a wink.
'He knows I'm here…shit! Does that mean the others know? Wait, maybe Axel can tell because he can read my heart. Then I should be okay so long as I don't run into Saïx or Isa. They would be able to tell just as easily as Axel.' Axel excused himself and Demyx started walking again. Roxas followed.
They passed through a large empty chapel with dim lighting and eerie stained glass windows. Candles lined the walls with green flames, casting a ghastly glow on the floor. Demyx cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Never did like this place," he muttered aloud. "Ever since Xemnas took over for Queen Maleficent, this place hasn't been used. It's almost as if her ghost is haunting these empty pews. What I wouldn't give for a handful of talisman."
'Queen Maleficient. That was before my time. Mom and dad mentioned her a couple of times. Apparently she was a really cold Queen with a strong sense of curiosity. She was the once who started the research team here in Hollow Bastion. Xemnas took the throne because she mysteriously died. I wouldn't be surprised if the bastard killed her just to get the crown.' Roxas pondered to himself.
Demyx pushed open the set of double doors on the far side of the chapel and they took another long stair case upwards. They ended up in a room that appeared to have been stripped. Glass display cases lined the short hallway before another set of stairs, but their contents were empty. The carpet was faded and the stone was starting to wear. The pair climbed the short set of stairs and ended up in a big circular area.
"The old throne room. Now the doorway to Castle Oblivion," Demyx stated.
'So this is where the old Queen ruled. It's almost as if there's nothing left of her. In a way, that's kind of sad. Now all that she has left are the memories she made during her rule. Once those are forgotten, so will she. That's almost a fate worse than death itself.' Roxas mused.
The floor was torn up at the back of the circle and behind it was a large doorway with a mass of swirling colors around it. Green, purple, black, and grey serpentine streaks slid around the door frame. The doors themselves were pure white. Demyx gulped and pulled on the handles. Then they stepped inside Castle Oblivion.
The first thing Roxas noticed was how bright it was. Then he noticed how empty it was. The entire castle was colored white: wall, floor, ceiling, pillars, décor, flowers, everything. As they walked down the hall, their footsteps echoed in a way that it sent chills down Roxas's spine.
"Stay close," Demyx whispered.
They walked across the hall and up a set of stairs. Roxas felt confused when they entered a hall that looked exactly like the first. He was sure he was imagining it but after climbing another set of stairs, he found the third floor looked the same as the first two. A cold sweat broke on his spine.
'Shit. I'd better start counting floors or I'll never get out of here.' Roxas thought. Demyx started humming for a bit but stopped shortly after since the echoes were creeping him out. After they reached the seventh floor, Roxas noticed Demyx starting to tense. They climbed one more floor and then stopped. Demyx led Roxas off to the side and they entered a pure white door. Much to Roxas's surprise, the hallway on the other side was a blue-grey chrome. The hall was lite with bright fluorescents.
They walked down the hall and entered a computer room. Demyx turned to the computer and started typing while Roxas took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Luck had been with them so far, but they were only halfway through their mission. They still had to find Ienzo and escape.
Alive.
"Alright, I'm rebooting the camera system so it should take two minutes to come back online. Let's get going," Demyx muttered. He waved his hand in front of Roxas and the water dissipated. Roxas was now exposed. They pressed on down a hall and Demyx entered a code on a security door at the end. It opened with a hiss and they stepped inside.
There they found the stasis chambers. There were six in operation. Roxas thought they kind of looked like an artichoke surrounding an egg. Demyx seemed to know which pod to open because he veered off to the right. Roxas followed. The floor echoed their footsteps hollowly. Demyx walked up to a pod and punched in a code. There was a pause before cracks appeared on the sides. Then steam hissed out and the pod started to open. The walls opened forward, creating a ramp to the inside.
And there was Ienzo.
The boy was fast asleep on a bench in the back of the pod. Roxas followed Demyx inside the pod to grab him. He was a bit shocked by how much Ienzo looked like his elder brother. It reminded him of Ventus and himself. The ten year old looked much older than he should have. There was a streak of white in his hair and bags under his eyes. Scars littered his arms with a grim reminder of where he stood on the proverbial ladder. Roxas scowled at them.
"How could they do this to a kid?" Roxas growled. Demyx glanced at him before helping Ienzo onto the younger blonde's back. Ienzo's arms wrapped loosely around Roxas's neck and his face nestled into the soldier's left pauldron. Roxas adjusted his grip and nodded to Demyx. The Knight smiled happily.
Then the lights turned red.
"Shit!" Demyx hissed. He made a dash for the door. Roxas was close behind. He did his best not to jostle the boy as he slept. If it came to a fight, all Roxas had was his light magic. Demyx would have to step up and protect the both of them.
They ran back into the computer room and down the hall to the main castle. Demyx held the door for Roxas to slip through. Then they sprinted for the lower halls. They made it down to the fifth floor before they nearly tripped over their feet trying to slow to a half.
"Well, if it isn't the half-assed Knight. And look! He's brought a friend!" Xigbar called. Roxas crouched into a stance while Demyx scowled.
"Leave me alone, Xigbar," the younger Knight seethed. Xigbar burst out laughing.
"As if! We have orders to kill you! No one likes a mole in the ranks." Demyx reached behind him and unhooked his sitar. Xigbar held out his hands and a pair of specialized sniper pistols appeared.
"I'll make this quick." Xigbar burst out laughing again.
"Hey! That's my line!" Xigbar snapped darts into his guns and they locked with a click. He aimed at the pair and fired a volley. A wall of water shot up from the floor and blocked all of the shots. Xigbar frowned. "So that's how you want to play." He vanished and appeared on the ceiling, firing another volley. Demyx dashed forward. Roxas noticed there was a thin layer of water under the Knights feet, acting likes skates on the floor.
Roxas jumped to the side as a dart almost hit him. His mind flashed back to Hayner and he felt sick. His neck was given a gentle squeeze and he was slightly reassured. Ienzo was waking up. He had to stay strong for the kid. It was his duty, after all, as a soldier.
As a Twilight soldier.
Demyx set a jet of water at Xigbar but the man simply warped away. His guns clicked and he had to reload. Demyx took the chance to strike. He launched a pillar of water and flattened Xigbar into the ceiling. The water died and the man fell to the floor. Xigbar looked less than pleased. He warped continuously and fired each time he appeared, sending darts flying from all directions. Demyx created walls of water to block the shots. Xigbar appeared and launched one giant bolt. Demyx rolled out of the way as it ripped through the water shields. The bolt ricocheted off the wall and bounced around the room. Demyx finally smacked it with his sitar before it vanished.
Xigbar launched two large bolts and started to rain a volley on Demyx. The younger Knight did his best to block and dodge but one dart ripped through his pauldron, ripping it off and tearing the flesh of his left shoulder. Demyx smeared the blood on his right thumb and ran the blood on the ground. Suddenly, five water clones appeared and slid around the room. Xigbar could kill them with one hit but they would simply reform and chase after him again.
The elder Knight grumbled as he figured out the fight between him and the younger Knight wouldn't be as easy as he originally predicted. He reloaded and warped to the center of the room, raining darts onto Demyx. The clones leapt up and took the hits and Demyx slid across the floor and played a chord on his sitar. A stream of water burst from beneath Xigbar and slammed him into the floor again.
"That does it!" Xigbar roared. He reloaded and warped around the room, sending five large bolts flying in all directions. Demyx smashed one away with his sitar and jumped over another, arching into a roll to return to his feet. Three water walls attempted to block a bolt but it ripped through like tissue paper. The bolt slammed into Demyx's face, ripping the skin from his cheek off.
Demyx cried out in pain. Blood dripped to the floor. Roxas could see his jaw muscles grinding in pain. He swallowed roughly. Then he saw another bolt headed for Demyx. He summoned a beam of light and it crashed into the bolt, shattering it. Demyx turned and nodded his thanks. The Knight's chest was heaving from the strain. Roxas knew he wouldn't last much longer.
Demyx spat blood onto the floor. He shakily rose to his feet and faced Xigbar. The elder Knight smirked and reloaded. He warped to the floor and rushed the younger Knight. Demyx changed his grip on his sitar so he was holding it by the neck. Roxas saw him mutter something as Xigbar warped around to confuse the blonde Knight. Demyx's muscles bunched. Then he swung around in a circle, bringing his sitar with him.
There was a sickening sound of metal sliding against metal followed by a loud crunch of broken ribs. Xigbar screamed in pain and dropped his guns. Roxas's eyes went wide. Around the base of the sitar was a series of two blades, one on each side of the base. It was no longer just a sitar; it was an executioner's blade.
Xigbar was impaled from right shoulder to left hip. Demyx placed a foot on the elder Knight's exposed hip and ripped the blade free. Xigbar collapsed in a pool of blood on the floor. Demyx muttered something again and the blades retracted back into the sitar. He turned to Roxas. His face was a mask of terror, his eyes no longer holding their usual spark. Roxas gulped. Axel had been right. Demyx was scary when fighting.
"Let's move," Demyx growled, blood dripping from his sitar and running down his neck. His arm was stained red from his shoulder injury. The Knight didn't seem to take notice to any of this as Roxas shakily started moving again. They left the older Knight to bleed out on the floor.
"Damn," Xigbar hissed as they left. "Fucking kid packs a punch."
They made it through the third floor before they ran into more resistance on the second. This time, a tall pink haired man was there to greet them. Roxas had never seen this guy before but Demyx didn't seem fazed.
"Marluxia," he greeted coldly.
"What a disappointment, Demyx," Marluxia replied in a smooth voice. Roxas didn't know anything about the pink haired man but he already didn't like him. He glanced behind him as Ienzo began to squirm a bit.
Demyx wielded his sitar while Marluxia sighed. He pulled a rose pedal from his pocket and lifted it into the air. Then he let go and let it fall. It floated gently downwards. Around the height of his face, it burst into a thousand pedals and spun around wildly. A large scythe appeared and Marluxia caught it at about chest height. He spun it around and pointed the broad blade at Demyx.
"So you too shall fall."
"Don't fuck with me, Marluxia or I'll kill you too."
"Kill? My dear, Demyx, what are you talking about? Could you possibly mean Xigbar?" Demyx didn't answer. He glared Marluxia down. "Oh dear, now that is a problem. I'm afraid we can't have that go unpunished." Marluxia's gaze shifted to Roxas. "But first we have matters to tidy up."
"Leave him alone!" Demyx barked. Marluxia tsked idly.
"My orders are clear. Kill the traitor and the intruder. Bring the boy back…more or less intact."
"Marluxia!" Demyx charged the pink haired man. Marluxia lazily blocked Demyx's attack. He even had the gall to yawn. Then he vanished in a flurry of pedals. Demyx was left stumbling. Roxas searched wildly. He heard the sound of whooshing air behind him and he ducked. The scythe went over his head, skimming off the top hairs of his locks. Roxas turned and bounded backwards. Marluxia stalked towards him.
"Stay still," the pink haired Knight ordered. Demyx sent jets of water flying at Marluxia but he merely leapt out of the way. Marluxia slashed at Roxas again and Roxas blinded the Knight with a blast of light. Marluxia stepped back and rubbed his eyes. "That was a dirty trick." He vanished in a swirl of pedals. Roxas whirled around, searching for where the man would appear. His eyes grew wide as a shadow grew over his head. Roxas flinched as he heard metal crash into something that sounded like…glass?
"Move," Ienzo commanded. Roxas saw the protect spell around him with Marluxia's scythe embedded deep within it.
"Thanks kid," Roxas breathed before leaping out of the way. The spell broke and the scythe crashed into the floor. Demyx took the chance to strike. He smashed his sitar into Marluxia's spine. Roxas heard something snap and Marluxia crumpled to the ground, wincing in pain. Demyx smashed his sitar into Marluxia's face. Roxas watched as two bloody teeth bounced across the floor. The younger Knight stepped on Marluxia's neck and forced the man's broken face into the floor. A pillar of water shot up around them.
Roxas watched the water die and Demyx stand panting over Marluxia's crumpled body. The bloody Knight turned to Roxas. The soldier felt Ienzo's grip tighten on his neck.
"Xemnas is coming," the boy muttered.
"Ienzo," Demyx barked. The boy flinched and tried to hide further behind Roxas's back.
"Lighten up, Dem. The kid's scared. Let's just get moving," Roxas protested. Demyx sneered and led the way. Roxas followed but Demyx's pace was quick. They made it to the first floor and passed through the doors into the old throne room.
They had a welcome party.
"So this is the thanks I get for taking you into my home," Xemnas said in his flat voice. Roxas frowned. Demyx's sneer turned into a snarl.
"You fucking bastard," he growled. Xemnas finally showed some sort of an emotion as he frowned ever so slightly. Xemnas was flanked with the rest of his Knights, Axel among them. Roxas wasn't sure which one Lexaeus was but he assumed it was the well-built man whose body was like a pile of boulders.
"Demyx, you are sentenced to death," Saïx stated. He turned to Roxas and was taken aback. Demyx took the chance to mutter heavily under his breath. Roxas wasn't sure what he was doing. Demyx swung his sitar gently around his feet as he muttered. Whatever he was doing spooked the Knights because they all fell into battle stances in front of their King.
"Can you feel it?" Ienzo asked softly. "The spirits of the past?" His grip tightened so much it nearly choked Roxas. "Roxas…" he breathed. The blonde shivered at the mention of his name.
There was an explosion from the chapel and the doors from there exploded. As did the wall. A large black dragon walked into the room, its skin smoldering with green flames. Roxas's eyes widened. The dragon roared and stepped onto the upper floor. It snapped at the Knights and took Larxene in its jaws. The woman screamed as razor sharp teeth tore through her flesh. Blood dripped down the creature's jaws. One of Larxene's hands fell from the dragon's jaws and landed on the floor with a plop, spraying blood.
The rest of the Knights sprang into action while Demyx turned to Roxas. He let go of his sitar and it floated in the air, glowing brightly. It morphed into a transport. The sitar flattened and the strings rose up, tying into a rope. Demyx stepped on and wrapped the rope around his wrist, gripping it tightly in his hand. He offered a hand to Roxas. Roxas accepted it and was pulled aboard.
"Ienzo, hang onto him," Demyx instructed.
"What about me?" Roxas asked.
"Hang on tight." Roxas gripped Demyx around the waist as Ienzo's arms and legs gripped his back. Demyx's tugged on the rope and they flew forward. The Knight blasted a hole in the ceiling with pressurized water and they were free into the sky.
Roxas glanced down at the castle. He heard the dying roar of the dragon and knew the Knights would be close behind them. Ienzo caught his attention and the boy smiled lightly. He nuzzled Roxas's neck with his cheek.
"How do you know who I am?" Roxas asked.
"I'm gifted. I can see spirits, past and present," Ienzo explained.
"Spirits?"
"The compilation of the light and darkness within us. Each person's is unique and after a person passes on, they leave behind traces of themselves, traces of that light and darkness. It's rather beautiful." Roxas caught the boy's eyes and noticed that they were pale, as if over time the color was slowly draining from them. "Zexion says I'm special since no one has been able to see spirits before me…well, here at least. There have been people in other worlds with abilities like mine."
"Roxas, Ienzo may be able to see "spirits", but that's all he can see," Demyx explained. He glanced over his shoulder. "Ienzo's blind." Roxas glanced at the kid tightly clutched to his back.
"It's okay. Zexion brought me pictures of other worlds. Pictures capture traces of the light and darkness so I can see the worlds through that." They passed into the space between worlds and Roxas felt the darkness crushing in around them. He pressed back with his light magic to keep the three of them safe. Zexion snuggled closer to Roxas's back. "Roxas, you're different than other people I've met. There's darkness in you, yet the light always outshines it. It's comforting."
"You wouldn't be the first to say that," Roxas muttered. Demyx glanced back at the pair before focusing on flying. "Where are we headed?" Roxas asked, speaking up.
"Far away. The outer reaches if we can make it," Demyx replied.
"Will we make it in time?"
"I can't say." Roxas chewed on his bottom lip.
"What was that back there, Dem?"
"Now's not the time." Roxas nodded. He noticed blood was starting to drip off of Demyx's left hand. His face frowned.
"Dem, you're losing a lot of blood."
"I know."
"You can't push yourself like this." Demyx didn't reply. He kept his eyes focused forward. Roxas felt his shoulders sag heavily.
"Go on, Zexion," Ienzo murmured. "Be free. I finally get to see the outside world. Try to come back home." Roxas could feel Ienzo's body tremble as he started to cry. He heard the boy sniffle and soft plinks of tears falling on steel armor. "Please come home, Zexion…"
They flew off farther into the darkness. Xemnas's army wasn't far behind.
XxXxX
"Well, now I heard your brother was kidnapped," Vexen stated idly as Zexion was working. The dark haired man looked up from his work.
"Excuse me?!" Zexion shouted.
"You heard me. The Knights are all in an uproar right now." Zexion's pulse raced.
"He's free…" he whispered.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Zexion shook his head. He took off his lab coat and started to leave. "And where are you going?"
"I have to do something. Please stay here Vexen. I can't guarantee you're safety if you leave."
"Why warn me at all?" Zexion paused at the door.
"Because you took care of him."
"Him?"
"…my brother." Zexion lowered his head and left the room. Vexen sighed and pushed his glasses onto his forehead.
"My, my, Zexion, how have these years changed us. Next thing I know I'll be supporting the rebels. Hm! What an interesting notion."
Zexion stalked down the hall, his face dark. He knew where he was headed. He knew the consequences. He knew what awaited him. But he had to avenge his brother. "I'm a dead man, either way. Ienzo, I'll try to make it home safely this time."
Zexion crated a dark portal and stepped through. He quickly passed through another and entered the throne room. There sat Queen Isa. She looked rather perturbed and the arrival of one of her research team members only added to her foul mood.
"What is the meaning of this?" she barked. "Zexion, are you aware your brother was stolen from us by one of our Knights…OUR KNIGHTS!...turned traitor! Did you know about this?"
"Yes." The answer took the Queen by surprise.
"You what?!" She stood from her seat, her face livid. Isa wore a long silver dress and her hair was tied back. "How dare you come before me when you did nothing to stop your brother's kidnapping. Now he could be anywhere! Do you realize what we have lost with losing him?"
"Yes."
"Then we need to get him back."
"I'm afraid I won't let you do that." The Queen recoiled. "You see, I don't want you to have him. I never want you to touch him again, you vile, vulgar, harpy!" The air buzzed with magic as Zexion's temper rose. "How DARE you touch him! I will destroy you for what you did!" The Queen laughed maniacally.
"Show me what you've got!" Zexion clapped his hands together and a large book appeared behind him. It opened and riffled through the pages until it landed in the middle. Spells jumped off the page without Zexion saying a word.
Isa laughed hysterically and summoned her lunar powers. Her teeth grew jagged and her eyes went white. She pulled a large silver sword from the air and swung it, cutting the air. Zexion blocked it with protect. Isa leapt at him, leaving a trail of silver light in her wake. Zexion used reflect and Isa's sword bounced off the wall. Her hands smashed into her nose, breaking it and sending blood down her face.
Zexion sent a barrage of thunder raining down on her. Isa took it and came out laughing. She bounded forward and slashed Zexion across the temple. Blood poured down his face. Then she stabbed the book and ripped it apart. She was overpowering in her berserker form. Zexion wasn't a very skilled fighter and he knew it would be a tough match against her normally. With her in a lunar rage, the battle was heavily skewed out of his favor.
Zexion used protect to block her incoming strikes but she broke through the magic. Her sword tore through his shoulder and Zexion screamed. His right arm fell to the ground and blood gushed freely. His left hand tried to clot the wound but the blood oozed between his fingers. Isa backhanded him and he was sent sprawling. Zexion rolled, leaving a smear in his wake. Isa walked over to him and stomped her foot onto his face over and over again.
"You think you can all just do whatever you want," she seethed. "But it's about time you all learned your place!" She kicked Zexion's head and slammed her sword down into his side, pinning the man to the floor.
Zexion felt his mind starting to fade. Isa leaned down and licked her lips. "He was such a good boy too. He didn't even scream and I fucked him dry!" Zexion spat at her, spraying blood all over her face. She screamed and ran off, crying for someone.
Finally, Lexaeus and Xaldin appeared from the main doors. Xaldin went to comfort the Queen while Lexaeus went to Zexion. The man's injuries were grave. Lexaeus caught Zexion's eye. They passed a silent message of understanding between them. Zexion's head rested against the floor. Tears started to roll out of his eyes.
With his last breath before his mind faded into oblivion, he muttered his parting words, blood running down his chin from the sides of his lips. "I'm sorry, Ienzo. It looks like I won't be making it home after all…"
A/N-Musical Muse: Um, is it cliché that I listened to the Metal Gear Solid OST? No? Good! (Specifically the song Enclosure near the end of Roxas's part). Don't own music or game! Tis on the YouTube. (Which I also don't own :P)