"Where are we going?"

Axel couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. She was far too innocent, at least compared to him. He held her hand gently as they emerged from a dark portal, arriving at the quaint little castle town of Radiant Garden.

"Naminé, I want you to look for Merlin. If you can't find him, ask around. He'll take you to the Restoration Committee. The people there will keep you safe."

"Why? What's going on?"

"Xigbar gave me one last job, but I'm done doing their dirty work… They'll come looking for me, so you should just go. I can handle myself."

Naminé didn't know what to say. She tugged at his hand, begging to stay by his side, but he just turned away from her.

"Just go! I'll be fine…"

Neither of them were convinced. Axel let go of her hand and walked away.

Naminé frantically ran through the streets with tears in her eyes. She lost Riku. She lost Roxas. And now, she lost Axel. What did she do wrong?

"Ha! If you expect me to work with those imbeciles, then my dear friend, you are sorely mistaken!"

Naminé recognized that grouchy old voice. She let out a sigh and followed it up the looming staircase past the marketplace. Was she really that desperate, she wondered, but before she could change her mind, a husky voice broke the silence.

"He wasn't asking you, DiZ." Riku's voice took on a more threatening tone. "We did things your way and look where that got us."

"We don't have a choice. And they aren't part of the Organization anymore. They can help us." Mickey pleaded.

Upon hearing the others, Naminé sprinted past the ruins overlooking the massive castle in the center and squeezed Riku as tightly as her small body would allow. He lifted her in his burly arms, spinning her around before gently lowering her.

"Great, another one of my failures has returned…"

"DiZ! That's enough!" The bitter old man was left speechless at this sudden burst of anger.

"Riku, it's Axel! The Organization is after him. We have to go find him!"

"It could be a trap."

"No. He let me go. He needs our help!"

Riku thought back to the replica. Axel didn't even try to stop him once he heard it was for Roxas. Riku could use this to his advantage if Naminé's plan went south. But one question still lingered on his mind.

"We don't know if Sora and Roxas are safe."

"They woke up. I made sure of it. With the five of them together, they should be okay."

It was true. Both Sora and Roxas were incredible opponents. From toy swords to keyblades, if anyone could fight the Organization, it was them.

"Alright, you and I will go search for Axel. Mickey, take DiZ to the study and look for Even, Ienzo, and Aeleus. Make sure he plays nice." Naminé led Riku in the general direction Axel fled, leaving DiZ to stew in his anger.

"You mean my study." DiZ scowled, seething at the thought of working with his former apprentices. They bastardized his research. No wonder those arrogant miscreants got wiped out. Nobodies were a mistake, he thought.

Axel quietly ate the sea-salt ice cream he purchased from the aristocratic Scrooge McDuck and stared at the ravine surrounding the castle. He knew the Organization would find him eventually, so he might as well enjoy this moment. His mind went back to what Xigbar told him:

"That little imposter you ran into wasn't actually Xehanort's Heartless. Riku played you for a sucker. The only thing he cares about is saving Sora. Did you really think he would sacrifice his best friend to save a Nobody like us?"

Axel held his head in his hand. He almost wished the Organization would hurry and get it over with, but the pitter patter of flip flops broke him out of his melancholic thoughts.

"Axel! You're still here! Thank goodness." Naminé squealed, shadowed by a large figure in a black coat. Axel recognized him from their run-in back at headquarters.

"Are you here to put me out of my misery, or do I get to finish my ice cream first, Riku?" These words left Riku stunned. "Don't worry, Xigbar told me everything."

"Did he tell you that Roxas is back and safe with Sora?" Riku finally replied. Axel choked on his ice cream. He had to be lying, he thought. It was too good to be true.

"He's telling the truth. Demyx grabbed me just as they were waking up." Naminé stared at the floor with eyes full of regret. "They're probably safe for now, but we should still look for them."

"Can you help us find our friends?" Riku bowed slightly, swallowing his pride.

Axel never thought he'd hear a Somebody like Riku say that. Maybe Xigbar was wrong after all.