How to Train your Keyblade

Alright, this chapter is a little odd. And it's a bit rushed because I've gotten a new idea for another KH fic, and I really want to get going on it.

Lesson 9: Break and Run.

"Alright Roxas… your dragon seems to know what he's doing, but the only thing I can see that's not right is right, there… with that single move- can you get him to stop." I nod my head to Winner and he stops moving the piece he's decided to move as his next option. "See? Now he's left Hiccup and Toothless open for attack, now, there is a way to counter that, but we'd have to take people away from this fight right here, with Xaldin."

"That's easy… we take out Xaldin first. If we just hold his eight Terrors in a cage or something, then he wont be too hard to deal with and only three Vikings would be needed to take him down and the other seven could help out in more needed battles." I see what he's saying as if it's happening on the chess board.

"So, we could take the seven and distribute them between Vexen, Saïx, Larxine, Marluxia and Xigbar… it'll even give us one more to help against Xemnas- though I think that fight should have fewer then more Vikings." I allow my hand to come up to my chin and think harshly about how everything could play out.

"We have to remember to keep Xigbar in range of everyone else, he'll be trying to use long ranged attacks."

"Really? I've never fought him myself… I've never even worked with him." I raise an eyebrow at Zexion and turn to the other Organization members.

"What about you guys? Have any of you fought with anyone we're going up against?" I looked with wide eyes and stared at Demyx, Lexaeus, and Luxord as they shook their heads.

"We never fought against other members of the Organization Roxas. None of us had to practice our abilities because we just went out and killed Heartless, we learned on the job. You trained with us because you are the one who is A: the youngest. B: the most vital. And C: the Keyblade master, you have to be able to do it all according to Xemnas." I looked at Luxord as he spoke before turning back to Zexion.

"So… he's planned this: that I know what everyone can do? B-but he knew I was a loose cannon, how can he trust me with vital information on the Organization?" I'm starting to get nervous now, if Xemnas knows that I know all of this, then what am I supposed to think of what he thinks of me. Because if he knows I know all this, he could be strategizing for this.

"Roxas?"

"What are the most valuable techniques the four of you know? I have to know if they've changed since I last fought you."

"No… they haven't changed, why? You look… concerned all of a sudden." I shake my head in reply to Zexion and start to panic.

"Roxas, common, you, Zexion, Luxord and your dragons are coming with me, we're going to do some reconnaissance… and if it looks bad, we'll get the Vikings together and bombard your 'Organization' into submission."

"But… will that put Axel in danger?"

"No, he seems perfectly capable of resisting fire." I scowl a bit even though I know he's right: Axel can deflect fire and control it to fit his own wants, but I doubt they wont have him bound and immobile.

I turn my head to the side and take notice that Winner is the deep purplish black color that I've come to understand in the Oblivion coming through rather then the Keyblade, I wonder slightly if he can change into any of the Keyblades I've had, but the thoughts leaves quickly as I walk over and hoist myself up for the reconnaissance mission. My bow and quiver of arrows are on my back and I'm perfectly fine if I shoot one of them before the fight- though I know that if I do shoot the fight will break out with only four of us there.

Winner is the first to take off and I know it's partly because I'm so nervous and anxious, it's at the point where I'm sure that if either Hiccup or Zexion actually knew they'd tie me to a tree so I'd sty out of the fight and they wouldn't have to worry about me doing something 'out of turn' to keep it within chess analogy.

I know that the fight is going to be nothing like a chess game, that was the old time, now there is horrid things much worse then chess games for fighting wars, and I'll willing to fight anyway to get Axel back. Thinking about the upcoming fight like a chess game just helps me with knowing where I have to be and when I have to get there.

"Roxas! Slow down a bit! We don't even know where they're staying. We need Zexion and Luxord for that!" Hiccup's come up to my side and I notice that Luxord and Zexion are both back in their Organization coats from the Viking garb I'd bought them.

"Wait, why are they-"

"We're going to draw the attention away from you. We've just been exploring Berk… Hiccup's told us enough about the dragon island and we're going to say that we've been there, trying to find stronger or faster dragons to try and control. We're also going to bring back meaningless information about the village." I don't want to believe Zexion, but it's the best I can do since I cant actually go there and just kill them all: I've had hard times just getting rid of some Heartless I've had to face.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I open my eyes and it's an odd room that I'm in, I don't really feel like myself, but I go with it anyways. The room is completely white and I'm in some sort of… pod? I look around and see nothing but the pod I'm in and the room beyond the glass that seems to make up the front of it.

I take a deep breath and let it out in a sigh, this must be another one of those weird 'other person' dreams… I really should ask Zexion who this 'Sora' person is, because I'm getting tired of being in the persons body who's trying to kill me.

The pod opens with that annoying sucking sound of something that's air tight being let go as I- or Sora -exhales the large breath that was taken in. the pod opens like some sort of flower, each layer of the pod that lowers makes the glass-like doorway clearer and clearer, allowing me to see two figures who are slowly coming into view: one of them that dog-person and the other is the white duck from before.

"Sora!"

"Sora!" they both yell in unison and I cant help but want to flinch, but Sora just stretched our arms over our head and lets out a yawn. I don't know if 'our' is the right way to put it, but since 'I' don't want to be moving my arms let alone yawning, there is no reason for me to not say 'us' and 'our' so I'll think of it as plural.

"Donald? Goofy? W-where are we?" we is right… why the hell cant I make this stupid body move?

"I don't know… but we should get going… don't we still have to find-" the image I've been seeing has suddenly gone back and I'm shocked for a moment before Sora's eyes open again.

I see nothing but buttons and lights, it's some kind of… I have no idea what the hell this is. "Hey Sora… where are we going first?"

"I donno Goofy… I guess we'll just go to the first world. Yen Sid said nothing about which worlds we had to go to… and he told us that - and - are back on the island… so we've just got to get there." there is a sound of distain from the side and Sora turns to the side to look at Donald. "What? It's not my fault I don't actually know how to get there! And it's not like it's on the map either!"

"Well, it's just that you'd think you'd know Sora… you left the island didn't you?"

"I blacked out when that happened… and then I went through the door from The End of All Worlds… I haven't come or gone from Destiny Islands the normal way- ever!" I can tell Sora is a little annoyed, but I can also tell that he's retraining the emotion because he doesn't want to come off as frantic or upset.

"Well Sora… is there anythin' you remember that could help us out with figurin' it out?" Goofy… why does the name sound so familiar… and why can I hear that name, and Donald… when I cant hear the other names that Sora says so often.

The image goes black again and I'm jogged out of it. I feel like I'm falling through water now though, falling and not going anywhere. I can open my eyes a few times and see nothing but water and a few bubbles. It all fades back again, and this is the familiar part of the dream where I know I'm going to wake from.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I open my eyes and am fairly shocked to find that I'm still flying on Winner, he's looking over his shoulder at me, but I know that it's just because I've obviously spaced out and am not telling him which way to fly.

I quickly steer him back towards Luxord and we continue until he motions for me to stay with Hiccup while he and Zexion descend. Hiccup looks worried, but as we fly higher into the sky I shiver, just wondering what Luxord and Zexion are going to say to get out of trouble.

Luxord, he's the first to speak and it looks like Saïx is about to rip him a new one, though Xemnas quickly intervenes and starts to ask the two questions of their travels. I hope they've both realized that neither Vexen or Larxine are there, most likely doing reconnaissance on their own- so if they get the sectors wrong, then we're dead, and if either of them are checking out the Village we could be dead- especially since Larxine is the kind of girl who can hide in the hardest places.

"Roxas… do you see anyone mission?" Hiccup's voice is low and I nod my head before holding up two fingers in his direction, still trying to figure out where their keeping Axel.

Ryo and Fyr, are chained to a tree, mouths roped shut, though I can see the space where they can still breathe through- indicating they can light the rope of fire and escape… so Axel either isn't able to give them the command, or he isn't giving them the command that'd allow them to escape. But Xemnas doesn't seem to notice since he's paying no attention to them at all.

The tent beside them catches my eye and I just know that Axel is there, I can almost imagine the heat radiating from that spot because of how everything around it seems singed. I want so badly to go there, and before I realize it I'm directing Winner in that direction.

I'm jogged out of my thoughts and Winner jerks up as Hiccup and Toothless fly under us, blocking my view from that of the tent. "Roxas… you know you-"

"I'm sorry… I lost my train if thought. It wont happen again."

"Well tell Demyx to come back! I want him in that damn tent with Axel and I want him to drench the fore-spitter!" Xemnas' outburst catches my attention and I watch as everything seems to happen: Marluxia walks over to the tent and enters, complaining right away of the heat before the sound of him 'flirting' catches my attention. Luxord and Zexion both flinch since the shout was directed at them- and in a volume that should be too high for a Nobody to make. Saïx moves over to the tent and pokes his head in, my hearing strains to hear what he says, but all I hear is 'don't pound too hard, we need Roxas just angry enough' and that's not something I don't want to hear.

I watch as Saïx comes out and he looks to the sky, but says or does nothing as he just looks at the moon- a spot both Hiccup and I are steering clear of. I turn to Hiccup and he motions for us to go back to the village. I nod in agreement and we turn around, only to see Larxine flying towards us.

We quickly turn up so we miss Larxine and we vanish into a cloud before she can spot up- hopefully. She doesn't say anything though and I know that she'd take the opportunity to try and rip me a new one.

Hiccup looks fairly hectic and I know he's getting scared with all of them being around and us just flying around with only our bows and arrows so I jerk my head towards the village and he nods in agreement. Both Luxord and Zexion know that we were going to head back before them as it was.

It feels like the calm before the storm, this has happened to me before… a few times at least, the most recent being before Axel left. My muscles are tense and I don't think I'll ever feel normal again simply because my life has never been normal, I've never been normal, nothing about me has ever been normal, and it pisses me off! I'm tired of this stupid feeling of insecurity because I refuse to- stop thinking… just, just stop thinking Roxas… relax, don't over think.

I have to keep reminding myself to calm down and it's getting more and more annoying- especially the closer we get to the village. Stoick has been bugging me about my plans and ideas, so it's not really a good idea for me to talk to him as soon as we land with two less people then who left.

Winner doesn't seem too happy when I slide out from the nook between his shoulders where I fly from and I pat his head, he's just concerned and I know it… it's just hard thinking about another being and having to deal with my emotions. There I go again: I have to have emotions. Kingdom Hearts my mind is going crazy, I'm thinking of too many things at once.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

My heart was racing: two days straight of fighting this one stupid Heartless, I hadn't eaten, or slept, but the lethargic feeling had kicked in after an hour so it had become a steady thing to be tired out of my mind. But the Heartless was ensnaring me and preventing me from leaving for a short reprieve.

Large snapping jaws, thin and strong claws, a tail that makes for a good whip that'd hit me several times already, there were just so many attacks I could and couldn't block.

My legs were growing weak and I was close to passing out, I'd used up almost all of my potions, I needed to use another soon. I was out of magic and I no longer had any limit abilities, or magic to perform a cure spell.

A shriek hit my ears before I could so anything, and the next thing I knew I was on my back, quickly pulling my last potion out of my pocket and knocking it back and feeling the effects right away.

I hopped up and decided to once again try for long distance attacks, if I could throw the Keyblade I'd be fine. I got about ten feet away from the Heartless and it's tail snuck up behind me and it flicked just enough to startle me to let me know it was there. And I jumped forward about five feet, making me in range of it's claws.

Legs propel me forward and I dodge the first two claws, allow the third to catch my left leg once again- no longer being able to feel the leg it's just causing damage I cant feel -and I slash at it's face- the only weak point I've found in the three days.

Something slashes into my side and I grind my teeth, knowing that I'm not getting out of this one, this is one of the worst fights I've ever been in and I know I'm not getting out, I shouldn't have been forced to deal with it on my own.

Just as I'm about to lay down and let the heartless stab me I shiver as I hear a voice, one that I never thought I'd hear on a mission- before I even knew who the name belonged to. 'Common Sora, I thought you were stronger then that." it's the same boy from the island… the one with silver hair, I knew it was his voice back then, and I know it's his now. I still don't have a name, but at least it lit some sort of fire deep down.

I sprung up and slashed at the Heartless, managing to tear it's head off the rest of it's body with the single swing. Lungs filled and expelled air and oxygen as quickly as they could, the pain becoming so intense that I felt like I was going to black out and die from blood loss. I could finally feel the pain in my leg and side, knowing that blood was coming out of the wounds in torrents.

Fairly loud clapping caught my attention and I turn in the direction, willing to try once more to kill another Heartless though I don't feel like I can move. My hands were shaking and I was seeing two of everything. "Well, well, well, Roxas! Fight, fight, fight!" I knew it was Axel right away, and I couldn't help but smile and allow my Keyblade to vanish.

A lean black blob with a tuff of red at the top was all I could see as I stumbled forward. I aimed for the center of the two copies I'd seen, hoping I'd hit the real thing, but an arm caught my waist and I slumped over, not having to hold myself up because Axel just gave off that soft feeling that I could let go and be weak. I'm not sure why, but he had that effect on me and I liked it.

"It's alright Roxas… sorry I didn't get here sooner, just sleep now, alright?" I nodded my head and lost consciousness.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I open my eyes and I'm not in Berk- I don't think. I seem to be facing a wall of canvas, and as I look around I can see that it's a small enclosed room, not much taller then if I were to raise my arms above my head. The middle of the room is blacked out in the way that only happens in dreams and I walk around the smudge of black, trying to decipher what's there.

The door to the tent opens and I turn to see Marluxia walking inside, his hood down and that sickening scent of flowers clinging to him as he smirked at the figure in the middle of the room.

I'm starting to think that this isn't a dream, more like a vision if what's happened, or is happening. I look at Marluxia as he walks further into the room and he bends down and caresses the person who's in the middle of the room, and I'm getting a bad feeling on who it is.

Axel. The black smudge that's been covering his form from every angle has vanished and he's glaring vehemently at Marluxia, his acid green eyes making me want to recoil though he's not even scowling at me.

Anger is boiling in the pit of my stomach and I cant help but want to attack Marluxia, but thanks to a brush with the side of the tent I know objects here are not palpable to me.

I'm sidetracked for a moment as I think of how just over a year ago I couldn't remember my own name, and now I know words like palpable, it's odd.

"So, Axel… where's deer sweet little Roxie? I know you're not telling us because you care. After all this time of suppressing all your emotions because of Saïx, are you going to let them hunt down and brutally kill your dear sweet little-"

"They wont kill him. And he wont listen to them. There's only one outcome Marluxia and don't think there isn't. And don't act like your suddenly on Xemnas' side I know more then anyone, remember?" the tone in his voice is playful but I know it's obviously a serious matter.

"Don't try and get in my head Axel… your more mentally unstable then the rest of us! Pretending you have feelings. I should-" Marluxia is cut off, his arm raised to strike as Saïx pokes his head into the tent and surveys everything.

It feels like our eyes meet and then he looks at Marluxia "Don't pound him too hard, we need Roxas just angry enough.' I finally understand it, their making me see this. I don't know how but they want me to see whatever Marluxia is about to do, and their making sure I see.

"Saïx, what the hell happened to you? Before Roxas came along, we had a good thing." Axel sounds apologetic and I put my attention back to him for facial expressions before Saïx catches my attention with a venomous voice.

"Yes well… it seems that red heads much prefer blue eyed blondes to skill. Your fake feelings are doing nothing but leading him on Axel, admit it."

"I taught you how to do this Saïx… do you really think I don't know Roxas is seeing this? He knows I'm perfectly fine and he knows I'm not going to die. He will be the one to get rid of the Organization, not Sora like you all think."

"Oh? You're a fortune teller now?" Marluxia is back to speaking and Saïx leaves the tent again so I'm trapped with the heat, glares, and that hard as stone expression Axel's acquired.

"No… I just know Roxas. And Sora." Who is Sora? And why does Axel know him and not me?

"Oh… well, since you know so much about them both, how about you tell us about Sora. Come now, you know your audience is more then just me. Go ahead and tell Roxas who Sora is and what he wants."

"No. and Roxas wont believe anything you have to say. He's not that stupid, he can tell if your lying."

"Oh, but I wont be lying Axel. So how about it Roxas… do you want to know who Sora is?" Marluxia looks like he's just talking to the air and I tense, wanting more then ever to know. I'd heard whispers around the Castle about who Sora is… but all of them were just that he was some snot nosed brat.

"Alright then… how about this Axel, if I tell a lie, you just point it out so Roxas knows, alright?" Axel's glare remains in place but I can tell he consents by the nod of his head that's so slight I can tell that Marluxia just managed to see it- though I doubt he would have stopped talking.

"You are Sora and-"

"Wrong." Marluxia lets out a sigh at the sudden statement right off the back.

"Fine… you're his Nobody, because Sora is our equivalent, as a Heartless…" he trails off just to test if Axel is going to interupt, but nothing happens. "Sora is the original Keyblade master, not you. The only reason a weak little kid like you can wield the Keyblade, and fake emotions the way you do is because-"

"Wrong. Roxas doesn't fake emotions, he has them. And he bring out emotions in those who don't think they have any."

"Alright… the only reason your emotions are so strong, is because Sora- the original you, is a snot nosed kid from a plush life with nothing to worry about. He left home early, got into a few scuffles, opened the door to the light, yadda yadda yadda… blah, blah, blah this is all old news. Well… Sora ended up being put into a deep sleep because he was incomplete- without you.

"Unfortunately for you though, he's woken prematurely, and his only goal now, is to hunt you down and… consume you, lets say. In short, he wants to kill you. End of story."

I'm shocked and before I can actually look at either of them, everything goes black and I feel like I'm trapped in this annoying floating world, eternally sinking through the ocean, being able to open my eyes only slightly and never wanting to wake up. It's a horrible place to be honest, but I don't seem to have a choice.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Roxas, you've got to wake up… Stoick wants to talk to you." I was half expecting Axel to be the one to wake me next, I thought I'd had a heart attack and was just nonexistent anymore- then again, I'd have to have a heart to have it attacked, wouldn't I?

Eyes open and I see Astrid standing over me, her hair loose and not yet braided as I look around and see that I'm on the floor of her room- Stoick must have wanted fewer people in his house so they must have dumped me here. It's odd that her mother doesn't mind, but she's in a relationship with Hiccup, so I doubt she'd think we'd do anything- and Astrid can take care of herself if I weren't gay.

I sit up and the world is spinning for a moment until it calms down and I turn to see Astrid is braiding her hair, her clothes are rumpled too, and her bed is made- did she even sleep here? From the looks of her clothes I'd say she didn't, her and Hiccup must have spent the night in the Cove again- did Stoick and her mom know? No- bad Roxas… out of the gutter, I'm sure she's just in a rush and didn't want to tie her hair back and find clean clothes before waking me since it sounds urgent.

I'm fully dressed and since I don't have any spare clothes here I just shrug and move over to the window where Winner's poking his head through. "Do you know where Stoick is?" my eyes are still fairly caked with sleep, but Winner will take me wherever as I try and 'make myself presentable' to the head of the Vikings.

"Yeah, he's in the great hall… he said it's something about your plans." I nod my head and sit on Winners back before he rolls his shoulders and take off into flight towards the great hall.

The flight is short and I instantly realize that the others have their dragons outside and Astrid will be the last to arrive, even the Vikings teens are here. Winner hissed at Snotlouts Monstrous Nightmare but I quickly soothe him and put him between the Skrill and Whispering Death since he seems to get along with those two easiest when toothless isn't around- so Hiccup isn't walking well today.

I enter and the entire hall is in an uproar, apparently many adults are here too- not a good sign. I weave through the crowd as smoothly as I can, being jostled about a few times but generally having people move out of my way as they yell or stop yelling all together.

I know I should wait at the bottom of the stairs, but I just cant, so I stand up on the third step up and Stoick holds up his hands for silence before he glares at me.

"I don't know what you brought here Roxas… but I want them gone! I want it all gone! This is our Island, we took it from the dragons and we'll take it back from you if we have to!" I guess the fact that I'm standing quite proudly with my arms crossed over my chest isn't helping me, but what am I supposed to do? I have to be convincing.

"Stoick… we've already established that since I came back Heartless have been rarely sighted here, and when they are I deal with it quickly. You know I didn't bring them with me. And as for the Organization my preparations are almost completely in order." his glare turns from a glare for the public to one of serious anger and I take a breath to ready myself for what's coming.

"I don't care what you want! I want them gone by the day after tomorrow! Do you understand? You might not have noticed this because no one could find you, but they just raided us… the leader said 'give us Roxas' and I swear to Oden I'm about to!" I clench my jaw and look into his eyes, trying to find what the right response is compared to what I want to say, but I cant find the answer so I just say what I want to instead, knowing he'll have to just deal with it.

"It's not like I'm working with a lot of options here Stoick. I've got seven people going up against seven nobodies and at least sixteen dragons. It's a hard fight to think about and strategize for." my eyes are hard and I can tell that he wants to yell, but there is really nothing to say for a fight being in a tight spot, I've heard of several of his fights not going to right way because he wasn't prepared for it.

"Fine… is anyone willing to help Roxas and Hiccup get rid of this enemy? To wipe them off the face of Berk forever?" I turned my head to the side to see the group out of the corner of my eye and I gave a smirk.

"You get to kill a few Nobodies if you do." my voice is light and I've let the smirk turn into a smile and before I know it hands are raising and at least there are another five adults and the rest of the teens have joined in- so in other words I might have a shot at getting this to work out.

I turn more to see the new group of people that are on 'my side' and I give a smile to Hiccup and he waves. Since the crowd is dispersing I hop down from my spot and I walk into the group getting a hug from Demyx right away before Zexion pulls him off and discretely holds his hand as Demyx is still blabbering about me being brave and didn't stutter once, I just give him a smile and say I'm going to head back to Hiccups to think a little more about the strategy.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Not much has happened since I left the great hall. I spent a bit of time working on a strategy with all the people who've signed up but now I'm just sitting on Hiccup's roof, the stars are shimmering and a tent is set up in his backyard for the Organization members who are on our side. The stars are shimmering so brightly now that the rainstorm has stopped, it was relentless for a little while, but it at least has given me the opportunity to think about all that was said in my dreams. Could this Sora person really want to kill me? So, I'll become him again? Axel didn't say it was a lie when Marluxia said I was originally Sora, so what does it mean? all I knight right now is that I'm scared and I want Axel back so he can tell me it's going to be alright.

The world has seemed to have forgotten that I'm just a kid, I shouldn't have to deal with all of this shit! My emotions are still small and weak, my will is still small and weak. Sure I act like a hard ass and a tough guy, but I'm nothing of the sort!

I'm about to through a loose shingle that's been bothering me for a few hours off the roof when a stream of light in the sky catches my eye. It looks just a falling star, something snaps in me and I feel like I have to catch it- or find it once it hits. I hope up and jump off the roof, the land is a little rough but as my feet carry me into the forest I'm not really thinking of the sting in my left ankle, but what riches I'll get for finding a fallen star: maybe a wish that'll make all my troubles go away.

AN:

Me: Alright… I think the fic is going to end in the next chapter, I really don't know what else I can do, I'm getting kinda bored with writing it since I've got it all written out in my plot book: I've discovered I shouldn't write out plots in books and I should just keep them in my head.

Roxas: You, Elizabeth, are a horrible person.

Me: Sticks and stones love. Anyhow… lets just get right to it: here's Gaara!

Gaara: despite her lack of interest in the plot of this fic we all still encourage reviews because when our screen writer is happy, we're happy too. And it' shard for me to be happy being a ginger and all… so help a poor soulless boys happy dreams come true- holly shit… are these really my lines?

Axel: ha! I wrote that in! hee hee! XD

Me: dumbass.

Gaara: Me?

Me: no! Axel! I loves you Gaara! don't be mad at me DX

Gaara: please review… because apparently I have to talk with Elizabeth about her manners. Or lack there of. *glares evil-e as I run away from the keyboard*