(A/N: Okay, okay, I know: Another short chapter. But believe me, the next one is SUPER long! So just wait a bit, alright?

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Disney yet. I am in the process of turning KH characters to my side... :D Enjoy!)

The Hunchback Nobody of Twilight Town

Chapter 12: Sanctuary

The next morning, a huge crowd gathered to watch the burning of Xion, who was on a pyre, Xemnas standing next to her. The gypsies watched in fear from cages. As Mickey came out from the Clock Tower to see what was happening, guards blocked him off.

"Hey!" he cried.

"The prisoner Xion has been found guilty of the crime of witchcraft. The sentence: death!" announced Xemnas from the platform. Cheers went up from the crowd as the gypsies booed. Xemnas leaned close to Xion. "The time has come, gypsy. You stand upon the brink of the abyss. Yet even now, it is not too late. I can save you from the flames of this world, and the next. Choose me, or the fire."

With no hesitation, Xion spat in his face, glaring at him.

Turning back to the crowd after he glared at her, Xemnas said, "The gypsy Xion has refused to recant. This evil witch has put the souls of every citizen of Twilight Town in mortal danger..."

Meanwhile, on top of the Clock Tower, a chained Roxas was watching Xion's doom sadly. The goyles were desperately pulling on the chains, trying to free him.

"Come on, Roxas! Snap out of it!" said Hayner, gnawing on one of the chains with his teeth.

"Your friends are down there!" Pence said.

"It's all my fault..." mumbled Roxas, tears still falling down his face.

"You gotta break these chains!" cried Olette.

"I can't. I tried. What difference would it make?"

"But you can't let Xemnas win!" Pence argued.

"He already has."

"So, you're giving up? That's it?" Hayner asked, pausing in his chewing.

"These chains aren't what's holding you back, Roxas," Olette said.

"Leave me alone."

They were about to object, but finally gave up, and moved away.

"Okay. Okay, Roxas, we'll leave you alone," sighed Hayner.

"After all, we're only made of stone," said Pence. Both he and Hayner returned to their stone state.

"We just thought maybe you were made of something stronger..." Olette muttered, turning to stone as well.

Roxas looked down and saw Xion below, about to be burned at the stake. He began to pull weakly at the chains.

"...for justice, for Twilight Town, and for her own salvation!" Xemnas was continuing. "It is my shameful duty to send this poor girl back where she belongs!" He touched the torch to the pyre, starting the fire.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Roxas yelled. He began to pull harder and harder. Strength poured through him. The bells started to quietly ring as he shook the very building, ripping out pillars of stone. Finally, he was freed. He raced off and grabbed a rope. Leaping off the edge of the Clock Tower, he lassoed a gargoyle and rappelled down the side of the building. When he was close enough, he jumped off, flew out over the crowd, and landed on the platform. He quickly broke Xion's ropes and lifted her up. The pony-tailed guard, the muscled guard, and the dreadlock guard came at him, but he grabbed a torch and swung it at them, scaring them off. He took the rope and climbed back to the top of the building.

"Roxas!" Xemnas shouted, anger blazing in his eyes.

The blonde reached the top of the building and stood in front of the giant clock. He held Xion's limp body high above his head, then, as the crowd cheered, yelled:

"Sanctuary! Sanctuary! Sanctuary!"

(A/N: Hope you liked!

Pence: R+R!)