Time to see what our bad guys (and some of our good guys) are up to! Reminder about everyone's ages before we move in, Sora (and Vanitas) are 16, Ven is 20, Roxas is 13, and Xion is 11. So let's get started!
Chapter 5: In the Dark of the Night
In the dark of the night, evil will find her
In the dark of the night, just before dawn
Revenge will be sweet, when the curse is complete
In the dark of the night, she'll be gone!
Not many knew what went on in the Organization's sinister stronghold. Its floating towers were all but inaccessible to outsiders, and only those connected to the king and his magic could open up dark gateways to get inside. The common folk often speculated about how the elite lived; they imagined nightly parties, wicked affairs where Xehanort and his followers would watch prisoners be tortured and killed for their own sadistic pleasure. They imagined bountiful food and drink and riches, the kind anyone outside of the castle's walls hadn't seen since before the fall. They imagined a group that used their authority over the people below to live in lawless luxury, safe and secure in their ivory towers above.
The truth, however, wasn't quite what they imagined.
While it was true that the Organization members had plenty to eat and all of the power over the people Xehanort could promise them, they stuck to surprisingly rigid routines. Most of their days were spent on patrol throughout the islands, enforcing their king's laws and ensuring anyone who didn't follow them were punished accordingly. Whenever they were all gathered at the castle, it was usually for their weekly council meetings. Much like the one they were congregating for today.
The round room was exactly that–a large, circular chamber designed specifically for the Organization to discuss matters of state. Twelve chairs sat at the edges of the room–the largest and most opulent throne was reserved for Xehanort alone. A thirteenth chair would be added eventually, once their youngest "member" was of age to truly join them. For now, that member moved about the room, a serving tray in her hands as she waited on the others, silently and dutifully. Just as she'd done from as far back as she could remember.
"I arrested another smuggler this morning," Vexen recounted to the others with a proud smirk. The meeting hadn't officially started yet–it wouldn't until Xehanort arrived to preside over it. But that didn't mean the members weren't more than ready to brag about their latest accomplishments in the meantime. "Poor fool thought he could get away with trying to cart fresh fruit off to one of those small, backwater satellite islands without any of us noticing. Will these pitiful people ever learn their proper place?"
"They cling onto a past that will never be restored," Xaldin shook his head. "They think that just because their former rulers looked the other way to their misdeeds, we will do the same. Even eight years later, most of them still refuse to see things our way."
"Ugh, tell me about it," Larxene scowled, leaning back in her chair. "Just this morning, Marluxia, Zexion, Luxord, and I caught wind of this dumb kid who was asking about a way to leave the islands. Can you believe how stupid that is?"
"Yeah, why would anyone wanna leave?" Xigbar said with a wry, sardonic smirk. "After all, the Destiny Islands are a 'paradise' through and through."
"That boy didn't seem to agree," Luxord countered. "Fortunately, we apprehended him, and Axel arrived shortly after to take him away to the Heartless."
"Isn't that right," Marluxia spoke up, shooting a pointed look at the member next to him. "Axel?"
"Yup," Axel nodded easily. He didn't dare look across the room, lest he catch Saïx's piercing, knowing glare. "Tossed him right into the Heartless pit. That's what he gets for causing trouble on our watch."
"You know," Zexion finally looked up from his book. "There was something odd about that boy. Something… familiar, almost."
"Well, whatever it was, it shouldn't matter now that he's nothing more than a mindless, faceless Heartless," Lexaeus coldly concluded. He held out his empty glass as their youngest member quietly passed by. "More wine, number thirteen."
She complied without a word, keeping her head down as she filled his cup. She nearly dropped the bottle entirely though, jolting in fear when the chamber's large doors creaked open. The other members all rose to their feet, bowing low as Xehanort entered. Despite his age, the new king stood tall and proud, commanding respect among his followers without needing to say a single word. Two guards followed behind him, staying by the door as he continued on to his seat. Only one of those guards fixed their king with a hateful glare beneath the dark glass of his helmet.
The other members waited for Xehanort to take his seat before they did the same. The only one who stayed standing was their youngest member, who hurried over to the king to serve him his usual drink. As she poured it, Xehanort gave her a thin smile that made her stomach churn with dread. Fortunately, all that followed it this time was a simple command she was more than happy to follow. "That will be all, number thirteen."
She practically ran out of the round room, not wanting to be around any of them any longer than she had to be. It was only after he was sure that she was gone that Xehanort finally allowed the meeting to begin.
"My loyal Organization," he held his smile, his hands folded neatly on his desk in front of him. "As I do at the start of every one of our gatherings, I would like to thank you all for your dedication toward our cause. For eight years now we have maintained our successful reign over the Destiny Islands and it is my intention to ensure that reign will continue for centuries to come. But as I've said many times before: I do not wish to stop with this small world alone."
A handful of the members settled further back into their seats, already anticipating the spiel their leader was about to go on. It was one they'd heard plenty of times before, a reminder of the mission that had been hanging over each of their heads ever since they rose to power. They couldn't forget about it if they tried, especially not with their leader bringing it up at every last one of their meetings.
"Try as we might, we lack the power to extend our rule to other worlds without Keyblade," Xehanort stood, holding out his hand. Within his outstretched palm, a massive golden key appeared, shining dully in the low light of the room. "Though we hold the Key of Darkness, the Key of Light remains out of our reach thanks to the wretched former queen. Thus, I implore each of you to remain vigilant in your search for that elusive Key. For the very day that we find it, the fabled power of the Heart–and every last world adrift in the stars–shall belong to us!"
"Yeah, uh, easier said than done, boss," Xigbar piped up. As one of the Organization's founding members, he was much more confident in speaking so casually to the king than most of the others. "We've been looking and we haven't found a single clue about where that broad hid the Key."
"It would've been simple enough to force her or the king to tell us where it is," Vexen sneered. "If the Heartless hadn't taken both of their lives before we could catch them."
"And as for the royal children…" Xaldin continued. "They've proved to be every bit as useless as their parents. So, my king, what measures do you suggest we resort to now?"
Xehanort dismissed his Key, taking his seat and closing his eyes as he took a moment to think. He'd just about reached his conclusion, had all but opened his mouth to relay his latest ideas to his followers, when–
"K-King Xehanort!" The round room's doors burst open. Every member turned to find the only one who'd been missing among them, doubled over as he tried to catch his breath. "C-castle–P-prince–T-they're… they're gonna… Woo… Man, I'm not this out of shape, am I?"
"Ah, Demyx," Xehanort scowled. A soft chorus of groans rose up from a few of the other members who shared his disdain. "Late once more, I see. What might your excuse be this time? Did you get caught up in practicing that racket you call music again?"
"N-no, this time it was something really important!" Demyx bolted to stand upright. "I mean, not that practicing my awesome music isn't important too but-"
"Ugh, are you gonna tell us what you're so worked up about or not?" Larxene asked, clearly annoyed.
"Ok, ok," Demyx took in a deep breath, trying to steady himself as best he could. "So here's what happened. I tailed this kid who snuck over to the old castle, right? Just to see what he was up to. Well, it turns out, there are a bunch of guys who have just been living there even after we boarded everything up. And if that wasn't slimy enough, these wackos have a ship that they've been working on fixing up right under our noses!"
"That's hardly worth causing such a fuss over," Saïx dismissed. "It would take less than an afternoon for just a handful of us to go there and shut an operation like that down."
"You didn't let me finish!" Demyx huffed. Leave it to his fellow members to not take him seriously, even when it came to something this momentous. "See, the craziest part of this whole thing is that they plan on using that ship of theirs to fly that kid all the way off to Radiant Garden so they can pass him off as Prince Sora!"
The very second the prince's name was spoken, the room fell silent. The members exchanged tense glances, and even one of the guards keeping watch leaned forward ever so slightly in sudden interest. No one really knew what to say or how to react to this news; which was why they all turned to their leader to gauge his response. To their surprise, Xehanort simply smiled.
"Is that all?" he asked calmly. "The rumors never end. This 'prince' of theirs is surely nothing more than another imposter. He should be easy enough for any of you to apprehend and deal with accordingly."
"I dunno, your majesty," Demyx frowned, scratching the back of his neck. "This kid looked a lot like the prince. Or at least a lot like his portrait. Are you sure he couldn't be-"
"He is not," Xehanort slammed his hand down on his desk. Demyx flinched at just how quickly the king's temper could change. "Sora met the same fate his parents did that night at the hands of the Heartless. Anyone who goes around pretending to be him, who even dares to speak his name out on the streets, is in direct violation of our laws. And I expect each and every one of you to make sure that such lawbreakers are met with the full repercussions for their crimes. Is that clear?"
"Yes, your majesty," the Organization replied in almost perfect unison. They all knew better than to argue with their king, especially when it came to anything related to the old royal family.
"Good," Xehanort eased up, if only the slightest bit. "Now, I want this boy, whoever he might be, brought to me, dead or alive. You are all to use any method needed to capture him. Make sure you do not disappoint me."
"Yes, your majesty," the members said again. More than a few of them wore wicked smiles, already plotting to take this supposed 'prince' and his companions down in the most violent ways possible.
"I believe that brings this meeting to an end," Xehanort stood. The other members once again followed his lead. "Be on your way and bring honor to Organization XIII."
The members bowed to their king, silently filing out of the room to carry their orders out. Only one of them decided to discreetly stick around, using a bit of magic to slip into the shadows and sneak back into the round room when no one was looking. Axel remained hidden, following Xehanort at a safe distance as he left the room himself, heading into his private chambers. He knew he'd be in for a world of trouble if he was caught doing this, but he couldn't resist. Not after everything he'd just heard.
As soon as Xehanort shut the door to his office, his serene facade shattered. In a matter of mere seconds, he was seething as he stormed over to his desk, slamming a heavy fist down upon it. He summoned his Key again, aiming its golden tip at the wall in front of him. "Show me the boy," he commanded tersely, angrily. The Key did as he commanded, a swell of darkness forming around it as it projected a clear image onto the wall, straight from within the depths of the old palace.
Xehanort froze, his golden eyes wide in disbelief at the sight of the boy before him. He'd spied on other imposters before, but none of them had ever looked this much like the lost prince. The eyes, the hair, the very air about him all rung so close to Prince Sora's; dangerously close as far as Xehanort was concerned.
Axel nearly gave his cover away, stifling a gasp at what he saw. No way… he thought, watching the boy as he conversed with his apparent new companions. The very same boy he'd just saved in town that morning, the same boy he'd saved from starving on the streets years ago. Skye…? Could he really be…?
"Incredible," Xehanort let out a bitter laugh. "After all these years of searching in vain for that impudent brat, he finally shows his face again. And he plans on traveling to Radiant Garden to reunite with his beloved princess. How sweet."
He sneered in disgust, swinging his weapon to tear the illusion it was casting apart. "Unfortunately for that foolish boy, I'd much rather see him reunited with his poor siblings instead…" he glared down at the silver crown hanging around his neck. He'd kept it all these years as both a symbol of what he stole from the old royals… and an infuriating reminder of the only one of them who managed to get away. The only one who could possibly stand to challenge everything he'd spent the past eight years building, along with everything else he still hoped to claim.
"A simple child will not be my undoing," he reminded himself. He stood a bit straighter, letting out a deep breath as he held his hand out to one of the chamber's other walls. "Come to me, my most loyal servant. Your master has a mission of upmost importance for you."
Axel winced as the wall opened up and a single figure emerged from the hidden corridor. The other members had only seen the king's personal assassin a handful of times before, usually from a distance. No one really knew where they came from or who they were; their dark mask hid their entire face from sight and they seemingly never spoke a single word. They reported solely to Xehanort, entrusted with tasks he deemed far too important to be left to the Organization alone. From what they'd heard, the assassin was every bit as effective as they were ruthless, to the point that some of the members wondered if they were even human at all. Axel couldn't help but doubt they were as they bowed almost robotically before Xehanort, their helmeted head low as they listened to the instructions he had to give.
"Find this boy," Xehanort used his Key to reveal the same image as before. The assassin glanced over at it, tensing just slightly, but otherwise, they didn't react at all. At least, not on the surface. "And deliver him to me. If anyone tries to get in your way, I trust you know what to do."
The assassin only nodded, already well equipped to carry their master's orders thanks to the sharp sword strapped to their belt. Xehanort didn't need to relay any further commands as he opened up a dark gateway for his servant, sending them off to accomplish the bloody task at hand.
As soon as he was gone, Axel decided he didn't need to hear any more. With nearly silent footsteps, he slipped away, still concealed by the shadows as he set out with a mission of his own in mind. Little did he know he wasn't the only one.
Just a few floors below the king's chambers, one of his guards had listened in through a hidden vent. For the past eight years, he'd used that vent, among other methods, to gather as much information as he could. And each day, he'd carry that information, along with a small plate of rations down to the castle's deepest, darkest dungeons.
The other guards would let him pass without question; keeping an eye on this particular prisoner was one of his specific assignments after all. He'd been lucky to get it too; Xehanort could have just as easily passed the task off to one of the cruel, callous men who had willingly sided with him after the fall. Terra couldn't help but be grateful that it had fallen to him instead, both for himself… and for the 'prisoner' he was on his way to go see.
The dungeons were mostly empty; almost all of the islands' criminals were now turned over to the Heartless or put to death at Xehanort's hands outright. The one prisoner who did occupy the dingy, lonely cells lived in squalor. Rats scurried through cracks in the dirty walls, the stone floor was hard and cold, and only a sliver of light would slip through the high, tiny window each day. Anyone would be miserable in a place like this; but Terra knew that the prisoner locked away here had plenty more to mourn over than just the sorry state he'd been stuck in for the past eight years.
"Hi," Terra greeted him with a ghost of a smile. He knelt down, slipping the plate of lukewarm rations through the bars of the cell. "I know you haven't been feeling well lately, so I tried to bring you more than usual. I hope this helps, your majesty."
The young man looked up, only barely regarding the food beside him. Though he was only twenty, his emaciated body made him look much younger, while his tired eyes made him look so much older. "Thanks, Terra," he said softly, unable to muster a smile himself.
Terra sighed as he took off his helmet. He sat down in front of the cell, offering the younger boy a sympathetic look. "Ven," he began. His tone alone was serious enough to catch the crown prince's attention. "I overheard something today. Something I think you'll want to hear about."
Ventus scowled as he looked away. "If it's another one of those stupid rumors about Sora, I already told you, I don't-"
"What if I told you this one could be true?"
Ventus stopped, his severe expression unchanged as he stared at the guard. "It's not. They never are."
"Xehanort seems to think this one is," Terra argued. "He has the entire Organization working on the case. He even sent his assassin out to capture this boy."
"They're just hunting down another fake," Ventus shook his head. He pulled his knees a bit tighter to his chest, running a hand through his matted blonde hair. "I know you're just trying to cheer me up, Terra, but I'm not stupid. I know what happened to Sora. I know that he's… he's gone." He bit back tears as he let out an unsteady breath. "And it's all because I couldn't protect him. I couldn't protect any of them…"
"...Ven." It was all Terra could manage to say. He didn't know how to comfort the despondent prince; he never knew how in any way that really mattered. Because really, how could he hope to brighten the spirits of a boy who had lost everything, his kingdom, his parents, his siblings, when he was still so very young? How could he help a boy who'd spent most of his teen years rotting away in a prison cell? How could he save a boy who was only still alive to be taunted and tortured by the very people who turned his life into a nightmare he could never wake up from?
"But you know what?" Ventus choked out a small laugh. He could no longer keep his tears from sliding down his face, cutting through the dirt caked onto it. "I know this is horrible, but I'm almost kind of… glad he's dead. At least he hasn't had to suffer the same way the rest of us have. He's with Mom and Dad now. He's free…"
They were both quiet for quite a while after that. The prince had already given up hope a long time ago, that much was clear. Terra knew his own hope should have dried out by now too. And it almost had, when he'd watched Xehanort murder his adopted father with his own eyes, when he'd been forced to serve under the twisted tyrant under the threat of death. But some small and stubborn part of him still clung onto hope all the same. Onto the hope that the islands, that the world they all once knew could still somehow be restored after all.
"I think he is free," Terra stood, resolved. "Just not in the way you say he is."
Ventus didn't want to hear any more. He looked away, hugging himself even tighter as he closed himself off from the conversation. Terra was used to it by now, but it never stopped him from trying before.
"I'll let you know if I find anything else out," he turned to leave, donning his helmet once more. "And if this boy really is Sora… then I'll do anything I can to keep him safe from Xehanort. I promise, Ven."
The prince didn't even look up as his friend walked away, leaving him alone in the dark once more. He simply stayed where he was, crying in solemn silence. After eight years of nearly endless sorrow, Ventus was surprised he still had any tears left in him, but he did. And he shed them almost every day, for himself, for his kingdom, for his people-
And for his family–one wonderfully whole, now forever fractured–most of all.
The tallest tower of the Organization's castle held a secret, one that even Xehanort himself didn't seem to know about. In fact, the only person that did, as far as he knew, was Axel. He'd sneak up there whenever he could manage, when his fellow members weren't around and he was sure the king wasn't watching. Because if any of them found out, Axel knew, he wouldn't be the only one who would suffer for it. The boy who'd been stuck up in that tower for the past eight years straight would certainly suffer too.
Axel hurried his pace, securing his hold on the sack of food he'd gathered to bring to the boy. The Organization believed he was dead, ever since Xehanort had locked him up in that tower and condemned him to slowly starve. It was only thanks to Axel that he was still alive at all; the only one out of the entire Organization who refused to stand by as an innocent five year old wasted away to nothing.
Axel unlocked the door with the key he'd narrowly saved from being thrown into the ocean years ago. He couldn't say he was exactly surprised to see what the youngest prince was doing when he arrived. "Roxas…" he shook his head disapprovingly. Roxas only barely looked his way as he continued trying to wedge the bricks of his wall loose with a worn metal spoon.
"Oh, hey, Axel," he muttered, completely focused on his latest escape attempt. At least until Axel stepped over to slip the spoon out of his hand. "Hey!"
"How many times do I have to tell you?" he perched his hands on his hips. "If you slip out of here and anyone in this castle aside from me sees you, you're as good as dead."
"Ugh, I know that,," the young prince scowled. Even at thirteen, he was small for his age. The fact that he still wore the tattered remains of the clothes he'd been tossed in here with when he was five didn't help. "But I have to get out. I feel like I'm gonna go crazy if I have to spend another day locked up in here!"
"Hey, I get it. Anyone would," Axel agreed. The boy had spent more than half his life in this tiny room after all. A room that didn't even have a proper bed for him to sleep in, much less anything else. "But…" He bit his lip, hesitating. He knew he owed it to Roxas to tell him what was happening, but the last thing he wanted was to raise his hopes just for them to come crashing down later. "Uh… let's just say you might not have to stay in here much longer."
"Huh?" Roxas frowned before he quickly perked up. "Wait… are you finally gonna break me out?"
"I didn't say that," Axel retorted defensively. "It's just… you know those rumors I've been telling you about? The ones about Sora?"
The boy's eyes grew wide with excitement at the mere mention of his brother's name. "Yeah?"
Axel couldn't help but smile. Roxas was so hopeful, he always had been; he had believed the rumors wholeheartedly from the very moment he first caught wind of them. Axel supposed someone still had to hold onto that hope in a kingdom where it was in such short supply. "I think–and don't hold me to this if it's wrong–but I think… we may have finally found him."
"Really?!" Roxas asked, a huge smile spreading across his face. "Where is he? Have you seen him? Where's he been? Is he safe? How did he-"
"Slow down for a sec there, your highness," Axel chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. "First of all, yes, he's safe. I just saw him this morning. But… there's a problem. I think he's lost his memories; he said he didn't know what his real name was and that he wanted to go to Radiant Garden to find out more about his past."
"What? Why's he gonna do that?" Roxas scoffed. "If he came to find us, we could tell him everything about who he is!"
"What, do you want him to get himself killed?" Axel rolled his eyes. "The old man's already looking for him as it is. If he gets caught… well, you and the others might not even get a chance to see him at all if Xehanort decides to finish the job."
"W-well… that's why you have to let me out of here!" Roxas practically pleaded. "So I can go help keep him safe!"
"You're thirteen, Roxas," Axel flatly pointed out. "Sora's sixteen. No offense, but I think he'd be the one protecting you, not the other way around."
"But I can't just sit here and do nothing! That's all I've ever done!" Roxas argued. He was nothing if not stubborn, something Axel had learned all too well. He couldn't help but wonder which one of his older brothers he might've picked that lovely trait up from.
"Trust me, Roxas," he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "The best thing you can do for Sora right now is sit tight and stay alive. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye on him and make sure the rest of the Organization doesn't catch him… somehow."
"...You mean it?" Roxas asked. Axel hated that so many years spent in such dreary isolation had robbed the prince of his childhood. And yet, Roxas still remained so bright and innocent all the same. It was inspiring, really. Kids like him and even like Skye–like Sora were just what their downtrodden kingdom needed.
"I do," Axel promised, hand over his heart. "If he can make it to Radiant Garden, that princess friend of his will help him out for sure. And who knows? With enough support from her and a few other worlds out there, well… Xehanort's days on the throne might just be numbered."
"So… this could be it then," Roxas said softly as the realization dawned on him. "It could all finally be over. We'll all be free!"
"Now, don't get too excited yet," Axel realized his mistake. Despite his best attempts to reign the boy in, Roxas was clearly beside himself at the thought of escaping this miserable tower, of finally getting to see his siblings again. His smile alone was enough to get Axel to want to make that happen for him even more. No matter how daunting it all was."I'm not saying that will happen, I'm just saying it could. I'm not making you any more promises… except this one." He knelt down to the boy's level, completely sincere as he rested his hands on both of his shoulders. "I'm gonna find a way for you to see all of your siblings again, no matter what happens or what I have to do. Got it memorized?"
To his surprise, Roxas responded by hugging him tight. When he did speak, his voice was tight with what sounded like tears. "Thanks, Axel. For everything."
"...Don't mention it," Axel allowed himself a smile as he patted the boy's back. He wasn't one to get too sentimental, so he pulled out of the hug before too long, hauling over the sack he'd brought with him. "Now, I went through the trouble of smuggling all this food up here. Are ya gonna eat it or not?"
Roxas laughed, readily running over to see what his latest meal was. The pair continued talking about the rumors as the young prince ate, neither of them knowing someone else was listening in from the other side of the door. Fortunately, it wasn't Xehanort or one of the Organization's more prominent members, but rather, its youngest. And much like her older brother, she couldn't help but bask in the hope slowly starting to fill her heart after everything she'd just heard.
"Sora… is alive?" she whispered to herself. After everything the Organization had ever told her all her life, it sounded far too good to be true. But if it was, if Sora really was out there somewhere after all…
Then Xion couldn't wait to finally meet him.
Ohohohoh looks like there's some interesting stuff going down. Please tell me your thoughts in the REVIEWS! Until next time!