A/N: Man, you guys are so awesome! I think this story is the first one to receive so many reviews in such a short amount of time! Thank you all! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for Hope and anything related to her, along with this story.
"Where are we going, Axel?" Hope asked as she followed Axel down the halls of the castle, the only sound coming from their voices and footsteps.
"The Gray Room. We're going to find out who is going to be in charge of showing you the ropes around here."
"But, I never agreed to actually join. I said that I would think about it!" Hope stated as they walked into a room with several couches that had several others sitting on them. Everyone looked up when the two entered the room.
"Well, to Xemnas, that's as good as yes." Axel said. "Don't worry, you'll be fine as long as you've got me around." She looked up to see his trademark grin, causing her to giggle.
"Hey, Axel, you have yet to introduce us to our newest addition." Said man looked over to see the pink haired 'pretty boy' making his way over to him and Hope. "So, you're Hope, huh? I'm Marluxia, number 11." He gently grabbed one of Hope's hands, and pressed his lips to the top of it, smirking all the while.
Hopes face flushed with embarrassment. "Nice to meet you too." She smiled back at him, and if she had been listening for it, she would've heard Axel growl in anger at the sight of Marluxia kissing her hand.
"Have you met the others personally yet?" Marluxia inquired, gesturing over to the couches where most of everyone else sat.
Hope shook her head. "Well, I knew the first six back before they became Nobodies."
He smiled. "Ah, well then: Allow me to introduce you to them." He held out and arm for her. She looked back at Axel, silently asking for his approval. He nodded his head yes, and she latched her arm onto Marluxia's and let him lead her over to the couches, Axel slacking behind them.
"Heya, newbie!" The blonde guy from the day before that Hope had awoken to find in her face waved at her, a childish grin on his face. "I'm Demyx!"
Hope smiled at Demyx. "Hi, Demyx. Nice to meet you."
"This is Luxord." Marluxia said, pointing to another man with platinum blonde hair and a goatee, who was currently playing cards with Xigbar.
"Welcome to the organization." Luxord greeted, his eyes remaining on the cards in his hands.
"And this right here, is-"
Hope stopped Marluxia from talking, "Oh, I already know him. I'd rather not introduce myself to him…again." Hope glared at Xigbar while he only smirked at her.
"Hey, princess! Long time no see, huh?" Xigbar got up to give her a hug, but she moved away and hid behind Marluxia a bit, glaring at Xigbar from behind his shoulder.
"I thought I told you not to call me that?"
"Aw, princess, I thought that you'd at least be happy to see lil ol' me?"
"You're the last person I'd want to see right now!" Hope retorted.
"Still as feisty as ever…" Xigbar mumbled.
"You-!"
"Xigbar, will you please stop antagonizing her." Hope turned around to see Lexaeus walking over.
Hope smiled happily, letting go of Marluxia's arm, and running over to the large man that had just entered. "Aeleus!" She threw herself at him, hugging him tightly. Hope had always had a fondness for the large and silent man who used to guard the castle. Lexaeus did not hug her, only patted her on the head.
"Yes, hello, Hope. Could you perhaps let me go now?"
She pulled away, smiling cheerfully. "Heh, sorry!" She apologized before running back over to the couches. "Um, Marluxia, I pretty much know everyone else already. I'll just introduce myself if I see someone I haven't met yet. Thanks!" She moved back over to Axel, smiling happily, "Well then…What now?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Wait until Saix shows up and gives orders," Just then, I dark portal opened, and said person walked out. "Speak of the devil."
Saix walked over to them, stopping right in front of them and smirking at Hope. "Axel, you're in charge of her today. Go to Twilight town and take out some heartless. Once you're both done, test her."
Hope looked at him in confusion and shock, "Tested? Tested on what?"
Saix ignored her question, and when she tried to stomp after him, Axel grabbed her, opening a dark portal. "Let's go."
"What test? This is only my first mission, and I'm already going to be tested?"
"Relax, you'll be fine. Besides, it's pretty much a practice session to see where your best skills are. And," He looked at her with his trademark grin, "I'm your teacher!"
She smiled at him as they walked out of the portal and into the alleyway. Hope gasped, and stared in awe at the sky. "Light…there's sunlight."
Axel looked at her in confusion. "You act like you haven't seen it in forever."
She continued to stare up at the sky. "Four years to be exact. In Traverse Town, the only that you ever see is street lights and business one. The sky is always dark, except for stars. You never see any sun."
Axel, grabbed her hand, pulling her gaze off of the sky. "You can look at it later, I promise, but now, we have to find those Heartless."
They walked into the sandlot, and right then, heartless popped up. "Found 'em." Hope stated, summoning Hopes Sky and getting into a battle stance, while Axel summoned his Chakrams.
"Shall we?"
She grinned. "We shall!" Both lunged at the Heartless, slashing through.
After several minutes of slashing, the Heartless were gone, and the mission had been completed. Axel summoned back his Chakrams, while Hope did the same with her sword. "Now, we practice."
She looked at Axel, a dejected look on her face. "Do we have to?" She whined, pouting.
He rolled his eyes at her whining. "It wont take long. First, we'll work on your combat skills," He summoned a few heartless. "Take out all of those."
Hope sighed, summoning her sword and lunging at the Heartless, slashing them all easily, and looking back at Axel. "That the best you could do?"
He chuckled at her words. "Good. Now, I wont you to practice close combat skills, meaning I want you to use your fists this time instead of the sword," He got into a battle stance, fists ready. "Now then…give the best you've got." He looked to where she was, and she was already gone. He had forgotten that she was fast.
She came up from behind, flipping into the air, and kicking him in the gut, knocking him back a few feet. She landed on both feet, a smirk appearing on her face. "Never turn your back on the enemy, Axel."
"Yeah, I'll remember that next time we spar like that," He stood up, brushing his coat off. "Ok, now, let's try magic."
Hope grinned happily. "Ooh, my specialty! What do you wanna see first?"
"Hmm…try fire." Of course he would be the only one to ask for that.
"Only the pyro…" Hope muttered, shaking her head with a smile before raising her hand into the air, and shooting a fireball in it.
They did all the magic that there was, and she did it all perfectly. "Well, looks like your done…and…you passed."
"Awesome." Hope grinned, stretching her arms above her head. "Now what do we do?"
He grinned at her. "We celebrate of course!"
I sat on top of the clock tower, waiting for Axel to get back from wherever he went to.
"Ok, I'm back!" I turned my head to see him walking over towards me and the edge, with two sticks of sea-salt ice-cream in his hands. He plopped down next to me, letting his legs dangle off the edge of the tower. "Here," he handed me one of the sticks. "Your reward for a job well done."
I smiled at the ice-cream for a moment, before sticking it in my mouth and taking a small bite. I 'mmed' when the sweetness and salty taste hit my taste-buds. How I had missed my ice-cream.
"When was the last time you had sea-salt ice-cream?" Axel asked me as he took a bite of his own.
"Four years ago. I've missed having it everyday." I stated, taking another bite and looking out at the sunset. It reminded me of when we were younger, how we would eat ice-cream and watch the sunset on the clock tower everyday. In a way, the sunset was just like the ones back home, and it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Because, after four years of sadness and depression, I felt happy again.
A/N: Ok, so how was it? I've been getting questions about when Roxas and Xion are gonna show up, and whether they are or not. Well, they will, but they wont show up until a few more chapters. See, I kind of speeded up the timeline in the games, because the Destruction of Radiant Garden happened 9 years earlier in the game, and seeing as I made it four years in the story, Hope sort of left Traverse Town about a day before Sora got there. So, just be patient for now, and eventually, Roxas and Xion will pop up! LATER TATERS!