I forgot to thank Reku14 for writing basically all of that last chapter. Ah, I feel like this one was really bad. I apologize if it makes no sense or doesn't flow, etc.
Chapter 6: L. I. G. H. T (II)
He already knew exactly where Yen Sid would be.
He had heard of the Mysterious Tower before and done much research on the retired Keyblade wielder. He could easy go there, since heartless still sometimes appeared in the land.
Zexion didn't want to bother Axel. He pretty much invaded much of his privacy. He'd just think of a clever way to "find out" about Axel's deeds on his way to find the old wielder. Then he would have a firm talking to.
The Mysterious Tower was located in a place that seemed to be void of all things but the tower itself. It was a small piece of land with grass and a few bushes. Zexion looked up at the tower before sighing and heading inside. All he could hope for was to not be attacked due to all the darkness he embodied.
Walking through the doors, he immediately saw a man in a wizard type outfit. He glanced up at the boy with no hint of alarm on his face.
"What brings you to these parts?"
Zexion was a bit taken aback that he wasn't acknowledged more hatefully. He was more so a man of the light it seemed-
"You are not completely filled to the brim with dark. I can sense it. You need help with something, correct?" Yen Sid asked, setting his full attention on Zexion.
The schemer blinked twice before stepping forward a little more.
"Well, yes, actually. I am looking for someone," he began in an even tone, "Two people actually. They… disappeared a long time ago and checking a certain place has only just now crossed my mind, which is why I have come to you."
"Is that so?" Yen Sid responded, closing the book on his desk, "How may I be of help?"
There was a pause. The worst he could do was say no.
But that saying only makes you feel better when "no" wouldn't completely destroy you.
"I need permission to enter the Pure Worlds, sir."
Ariel didn't remember much of anything when she woke up. Only that she was in the hospital with her mother and step-father looking extremely distressed and hovering around her.
A few days had gone by before she could stay focused on what was going on and actually remember a day that went by.
She sat silently in the car as her mother ranted about how the doctors had no idea what had happened to her on their way home.
"That's what they're there for! They train to be doctors. I'm not understanding why they can't tell me what happened to my daughter."
Said daughter was hardly paying attention. The only thing constantly crossing her mind was "Axel."
She had no idea who he was. Someone with hair that red would be impossible to forget. And it seemed to be more than just a dream to her. It was all too real.
"Rex, I've been looking everywhere for you."
The voice was filled with so much pain yet, so much relief. The voice was so familiar.
It bothered Ariel so much. The red flashes in her dreams, The whispers of "Axe", now this. A red haired guy named Axel.
Tyler had been in a complete panic from not being able to contact Ariel, even with updates from her sister.
'What Was Wrong With You? What Happened? Are You Okay Now? :'( !'
Ariel almost laughed at the frantic text but best friend was most likely genuinely a wreck at the moment. She couldn't get to the hospital because last she remembered, her mother's car had broken down. Even if she went to the hospital from school, Ariel would have been too out of it to calm her nerves.
'i.m fine i guess the doctors don.t know what happened to me.'
Well that wasn't going to help either.
'…They Don't Know? Isn't That What They're THERE For? -_-"'
Ariel chuckled.
'my mom.s exact words'
After awhile, Ariel considered telling Tyler about her dream right before she first came to, weighing out if she wanted to tell her in person or not. It was decided when her mother came in to demand that she rest and put her phone away.
Ariel laid awake that night trying to convince herself that Axel wasn't important.
'He's not even real. Don't worry about it.' she told herself over and over.
To bad that deep down, she couldn't help but feel like that was the biggest lie she would ever tell.
Sora felt like his heart had been filled with rocks and then dropped down into his stomach.
Minutes ago he had discovered the force field dropped just as an eerie silence settled over the castle. Sora still didn't pay it much attention. He needed to get help from Riku. If all those bastards were dead, so be it.
Now that he had gotten back, he found that Riku was gone. He was too hurt to move on his own. It was basically impossible.
"Riku?"
There was still that silence that made Sora break out into a cold sweat.
He took off, running down corridors, looking left and right for any sign of Riku.
He never did find him in the castle or back at home.
He traveled to several different worlds and when he finally got back to Destiny Island, all he found was a guy with brown hair, a girl with bluish hair, and another guy that looked just like Roxas.
He also found himself looking the same as he always had. Like he never matured. Almost as if time had stopped somewhere down the line.
The three of them were friendly enough and extremely sympathetic to the fact that Sora had no idea where his friends were. They had all been separated at one point in a way that held no hope.
Sora felt like Ventus and Terra seemed familiar, more than the fact that Ven looked like Roxas. There was more that he just couldn't place. He'd once asked had they met before. All they did was look at each other with exasperated expressions and change the subject to the weather. Obviously something was being hidden.
All the same, they were nice enough people. Sora was just getting fed up with all the things that had been going on in the past few years. Being a chosen hero took its toll over time.
"I was thinking of heading to Hallow Bastion today." Sora said, looking over at Aqua. "Just to catch up with them."
Aqua raised an eyebrow.
"And ask about your friends again?" she asked. Sora remained silent for awhile.
"I have to keep looking for them, Aqua. You understand that, right?"
"Yes," Aqua answered, "and I also understand how much you're stressing yourself. Please, take a break. Let yourself unwind and relax."
This struck Sora the wrong way. No one was going to stop him from finding his friends. He stood up, fully prepared to leave when Ven came running down the beach towards them.
"Guys! We have something important to do!" he shouted. Terra followed behind him, laughing at his excitement.
"Yen Sid called us for a meeting. He wouldn't say what it was for, only that it was urgent and mandatory." the brunette informed. Sora frowned and looked at the excited blonde who was pretty much fist-pumping at this point.
"What if it's something bad? Suppose we all get separated again?" he asked. Ven paused in his dancing.
"Jeez. People said you were fun and chipper." he said, moving away from Sora.
"He's letting the darkness in his heart come out. That's not good if we're going to see Yen Sid." Terra commented, placing a comforting hand on Sora's shoulder.
Sora sighed.
"When are we going?"
"I see no problem with letting you go to the Pure Worlds, but as a means to keep peace, I need to call for a meeting."
Zexion nodded in understanding.
"It will be something of a trial. You're going to need to prove your reasoning on going there. I can read you, and your intentions are pure enough. The others do not have this gift however, they need to be convinced."
"Yes, sir. I appreciate this." Zexion said sincerely.
He bowed down to the man. Just before leaving the building.
Yen Sid stared where Zexion once was for a few seconds after he left. He decided to contact the Light heroes right then and there. It'd be best not to mention just what he need to talk to them about.
He could tell they wouldn't be very happy with the arrangement. But they'd have to be accepting to keep there own hearts pure.
He would just make this another test of sorts
"Wait, so, there's a freakishly red haired guy named Axel that is looking for you?" Tyler asked.
"Well, it was a dream for one. And he technically was looking for "Rex", but it was me? I don't know, it was weird."
"It is weird. But now I'm curious." Tyler said, staring into space. "What if someone really is looking for you? Kinda creepy."
Ariel nodded in agreement, laughing.
"Maybe he'll take me off of Earth." she said jokingly.
"No way! He can't have you. You're the only thing keeping me from letting my temper kill the world." Tyler laughed. "But, if he has a friend, I'll just go too."
They laughed. Ariel knew that Tyler would never judge her for her weird thoughts. After all, talking about "escaping Earth" was a daily occurrence. Maybe deep down, they thought they really could get away one day. Despite the fact that it was impossible in "realistic" terms.
"Ah, I gotta get to orchestra! " Tyler exclaimed, grabbing her violin from her locker. The two girls both headed to the music room since Ariel didn't have a class at the moment.
Tyler felt so relaxed with her violin. It made her feel almost like a different person. She had a passion for the violin.
When she played, her mind went off to other places. She could almost see herself somewhere else just playing to herself. It was usually a dark rainy place. She would play her violin under a rooftop that jutted out to protect her and her instrument from the rain. Her soft notes would compliment the thunder.
She didn't know why that was what she always saw, but she liked it, even though it made her feel oddly nostalgic.
This time, in her daydream, she finished her song and opened her eyes, a guy stood there watching her. He wore a black cloak, just as she did. His slate colored hair was wet and stuck to his face. She caught a ghost of a smile before he turned around.
"Who are you?" she asked.
But he was already gone.