Chapter Nineteen: Dive

Secret Report: Larxene II

I've heard stories about Sora, how he went around fighting the heartless. Helping to save the weak and mewling masses. All the insignificant little bugs that go about their lives, and that boy thinks they're worth keeping safe and happy.

Roxas and Naminé aren't that much better. The kid doesn't even understand what power he has, he just does his missions day in and day out. Naminé's the worst. She has the power to bend people to command, but she cringes at it because 'Ooohh it isn't riiight.'.

Disgusting.

That's why we need to do this. Me and Marluxia are the only people who understand what that power should really be used for.

We're the only people who really think.

Reaching the glass below, Roxas saw the stained glass image clearly now. While he dominated the majority of the picture resting on one side, the Twilight Town clocktower was in the center of the picture. Even as there were still holes in the circle, those images were distinct enough, but there was something more above them.

In small round circles were the faces of the people he knew.

Axel, his first friend.

Zexion, his new companion.

Xemnas, the one who first found him.

And Naminé, someone who…

Honestly, it was hard for Roxas to put it all into words what Naminé really meant to him after these few days.

As his feet touched the platform, his fall had slowed enough for him to find his footing with ease. Looking around this place, Roxas could only understand one thing. It was a place that was important to who he was. Even though it wasn't really a place at all. Honestly, Roxas wasn't sure what exactly it was.

Was any of it real, or not?

From the moment she saw it Naminé had an idea of what this was. From the faintest recollections of Sora's dreams, she had seen this place. A place that connected to others, yet was as much a reflection of the self. And this was hers, with her reclining form along the edge, with Castle Oblivion in the center.

She looked above her picture to where familiar faces rested.

Marluxia's cold stare away from her.

Larxene's haughty upturned face right beside him.

Axel, a capricious, carefree smirk on his face.

And Roxas, someone who…

Naminé sighed as the all too familiar idea came to her about Roxas. Something that went beyond a simple friendship. It was something that was beyond a nobody's understanding. By Marluxia and Larxene's account, it was something that she could not hope to have. And yet this platform was here, despite that. Was it's incomplete nature because of Naminé's own existence rendering it impossible?

Or was it something real like Roxas said?

Their thoughts were interrupted in a flash of light as a white door appeared. Its very existence called out to them to continue on towards the unknown. Putting a hand to the handle, Roxas and Naminé opened their door.

Roxas heard the familiar sound of his footsteps on metal after passing through the door. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw the grey area once again. It was strange how a few days could make this place almost unfamiliar.

However, two of the Nobodies in the room were very familiar to him. Lounging on one of the couches was Axel, resting on one of the armrests with his hands behind his head. Zexion sat in one of the smaller chairs, a book in his hand. As for the third figure in a black coat, Roxas wasn't exactly sure with the hood up, but Xion was the girl in the Organization that was his size.

Slowly, Roxas walked over to Axel to ask what was going on. Maybe get some answers on why they were back in The Castle That Never Was. However, right when he was close enough to Axel, his voice cut him off before he could get a word out. "How would you like to spend time with your friends?"

Roxas took a step back at the question, it was a bit of an odd way to ask that question, especially for Axel. Still, there wasn't much harm in answering with something simple. "To watch the sunset together and eat ice cream."

"Is that all there is to life?"

Axel said the answer calmly, not bothering to even look at Roxas in return. Roxas took a step back, his mouth snapping shut. Not just because of the subdued response, but also because it was Axel saying it. One of the few things he seemed to enjoy was spending time in the clock tower. It didn't take long for it to be one of the few things that Roxas enjoyed.

But six days ago, that had changed. Ever since learning about Naminé imprisonment and understanding how it hurt, he had begun to understand how small all of that was. That there was so much more in the world that he not only wanted to see, but also show his friends. Especially Naminé.

But if Axel was thinking over any of this he didn't show it. The way Axel was staring at the same spot in the ceiling made Roxas wonder if something was wrong with him. He walked over to Zexion to try and ask if he knew what was going on. But once again, as Roxas approached the seat, Zexion beat him to the punch with a question of his own. "What do you look for in a friend?"

Another question, though this one was a little harder to put an answer into words. There were more than a few people in the Organization, some less sociable than others. But when it came to the ones he could call his friends, they were people that he could talk with openly. People that he could be honest with and talk about some of his fears and worries. As that thought came to him, Roxas answered, "That they're someone I can trust."

"And are you someone your friends can trust?"

Again, it was an answer that brought Roxas' mind to a screeching halt. It wasn't something he focused on himself, and as far as he knew he hadn't gone behind anyone's back or betrayed them. But even so, the fact that he never really considered that side until now made him worry.

"Zexion, Axel, what are you trying to say?" He spoke aloud, but neither of them seemed to answer. Xion just continued to stare out the window with her hood up. Even here, Roxas had no real idea what she looked like. Tentatively, he made his way over to her, and braced for the inevitable question.

Not bothering to look away from the night sky outside, Xion asked in a gentle voice, "What would you do to keep your friends happy?"

For once the answer was easy for Roxas as he answered firmly, "I'd do anything for them." Even without a heart, his friends were important to him. It was only fair that he did what they needed, right? Especially since he needed to be someone they could trust.

"Even making other people and their friends unhappy?"

Roxas felt his stomach sink as Xion spoke and turned to the window. He could see now that there was no city below, only the darkness. Placing a hand on the glass he hung his head as the implications of her answer slowly became clear. Would he be like Marluxia and Larxene? Willing to harm people if it meant he could be happy?

He remembered how Naminé cowered at their command. How desperate Alice seemed for any kind of help at her execution. The fear in Tarzan and Jane's eyes as Clayton and the heartless attacked. Roxas closed his eyes and murmured,"No. I guess I couldn't do that."

No sooner had he said that than the glass vanished from under his hands. He desperately tried to right himself, but by the time he realized what was happening, he had already fallen over the edge. And so Roxas tumbled into the dark.

As Naminé's eyes adjusted to the light, she saw again the familiar horizon of Destiny Islands, though the view was a bit higher than usual. She looked at her feet, but gasped as instead of the expected treehouse, she found she stood on a marble block with the familiar aesthetic of Castle Oblivion breaking through the center tree.

On one side of the block, Sora was sitting with his feet dangling over the edge. On another, Riku stood, his arms crossed in front of him. And finally, looking out to sea was someone in the Organization's black cloak that was Naminé's size. They didn't quite look like Roxas, but Naminé couldn't tell for sure with the hood up.

If this was anything like Sora's memory, then she wouldn't be able to say anything to them that they would respond to. Not unless it was an answer to their question. So she started by walking over to Sora, the one who Marluxia and Larxene were so fixated on before Roxas arrived. As she got close he asked without looking away from the sea, "What's the right thing to do?"

That was the question wasn't it? She knew that the right thing to do was to never use her powers to hurt Sora or lie to him in the first place. But Marluxia denied her that and made it clear that the reaper's blade awaited her should she refuse their plan. And as horrible as it was, she didn't want to die, didn't want to be alone. All she could hope for was that this plan would hurt as few people as possible. "To make as many people happy as you can."

"Does doing that make you happy?"

Sora gave his response calmly, and yet it was worse than if he had gotten angry. Days upon days it was drilled into her that happiness did not exist in any form for a being like her. That the best she could hope for was momentary acceptance.

But six days ago, that had changed. Ever since Roxas decided to visit her on his own, Naminé had begun to dream of something more. Of someone accepting her without any lies or manipulation. And no one needed to be hurt to make it happen. She was so certain that throwing away her happiness was necessary for everyone else, but now she wasn't so sure that was the answer.

But if this Sora cared about what she was thinking, he didn't show it, he simply stared out towards the sea past the trees. Slowly, she made her way over to Riku, not wanting to bother whoever was in the black cloak just yet. As she approached, he asked, "If you could have anything, what would it be?"

Again, it was a question she had wrestled with many times under her confinement. The one thing she wished for that had been denied from her by Marluxia and Larxene. Friends, a place to belong, a warm home. But deep down, she knew it meant nothing without one important caveat. So she answered as she looked out to the horizon, "I wish I was free."

"And what would you do once you had it?"

Once again the response only eroded her certainty in her answer. Freedom was not a simple object that could be held, or a goal to be achieved. It was a privilege and a responsibility that she could hardly begin to wrestle with. But why did she yearn for it so much, even when she had never known it?

Looking over to the last figure that stood with her, Naminé could see now that the last figure with them was a girl. Though the hood obscured most of her face, her mouth was visible enough as she gazed out to the sea. Slowly, Naminé walked over to the girl in the black cloak, and the stranger asked in a gentle voice. "What is a keyblade?"

Naminé leaned on the railing in front of the stranger at her question. She was fairly certain that the answer wasn't as simple as 'A weapon that can defeat heartless'. Not when it seemed to have a power in itself that was tied so deeply to the wielder. And certainly not when she had seen how it could turn the tide in fights for worlds, or had felt it for herself. Eventually, Naminé settled on a description that truly seemed complete, "A weapon that can change the fate of worlds."

"Is that kind of power something that can really be used for good?

Naminé gripped the railing as she cringed at the stranger's reply. Even so, she understood the dilemma. Sora might have been able to use that power to save the worlds from darkness. But if she eventually mastered it, she wouldn't be able to follow that path. For as long as she was in the Organization's hands, no good could come of it. Not if Marluxia and Larxene were anything to go by.

But even so, some part of her couldn't just surrender. Couldn't just give up and let Marluxia and Larxene have their way. Despite all that was against her, she could remember the friends she had made and the meagre happiness she had found. And at the very least, Naminé knew that was worth protecting. And so she had the courage to say, "I still want to try."

No sooner had she said that than the railing vanished from under her hands. By the time she realized it was gone, she had already fallen over the edge. And instead of the sand of Destiny Islands below her, the landscape vanished into a black abyss. And so Naminé tumbled into the dark.

Falling into darkness, the two nobodies would once again find themselves returning to where they once started, a platform of themselves, incomplete. Once again, they find themselves finding their footing from a freefall with ease. But this time, something floated above the center of the platform. A clouded mirror, about as tall as they were.

Roxas walked up to the reflection, curious about where all of this was going. The smoke writhed beneath the surface of the mirror obscuring his own reflection. He reached out and gave a gentle wipe to the smooth surface, as if it would wipe away like dust. Though the darkness did not dissipate directly from his touch, they eventually faded away from his hand, slowly revealing the reflection of another.

A reflection that Roxas immediately realized wasn't his own for two reasons. One was that the hand in the mirror was covered with the black gloves Roxas was wearing. And second because he had only seen one person wear white fingerless gloves like that. "No, no, no!" He muttered frantically as he saw the fog recede from the mirror, to show Sora's reflection in the mirror.

Roxas slammed his fist into the glass as he screwed his eyes shut. Why!? Why did Sora hang over him no matter where he went or what he did? He never wanted to be like this! He never had a choice in being a half formed nobody! He glanced up to the reflection, Sora was probably smirking seeing a 'fake' break down. But…!

But…

But why?

Why was Sora looking at him with those sad eyes? Roxas recalled seeing them before in the coliseum fight, when Sora asked if all he wanted was to survive. Roxas saw how Sora put his hand to the glass, as if it might give way and he could reach him to offer his hand.

Did Sora not want to fight him?

Did he really want to help a nobody like him?

Naminé looked over to the mirror, something that Sora hadn't seen when he had gone through something like this. After the questions she was asked on the island, what was left now? What missing piece of herself was this journey trying to show? Or was this just something that she was making up in her own mind as she slumbered? Slowly the shade around the mirror vanished.

And slumped down beside the mirror as she saw Kairi standing there. She could only look to the ground, for the image seemed almost cruel to her. As if this vision was reminding her that no matter how many kind words she received, or how far she might rise with a keyblade, she could not escape the truth. She was only a shadow of the princess of heart. She glanced up, curious if the reflection would show her despair as well, or it had a different judgment.

But…

But instead, Kairi was looking at her with those sad eyes. She was on her knees, almost banging against the glass, desperately saying something Naminé couldn't hear. Out of all the possibilities, Naminé had hardly even considered this idea. An idea which only led to another question.

Did Kairi really care for her?

Did she truly want to save a false memory that never was?

An illusion, or a connection?

A dream, or a memory?

At that moment, neither of them could understand it fully.

But even as they woke, the experience still remained.

Roxas mumbled as he vaguely became aware again that he was still in bed. His eyes were still bleary with sleep, as so much of last night still settled in his mind. He dreaded the idea of looking over to the clock and seeing if he should be up or not. But after a minute of lying in bed, some insistent knocking made it clear that he needed to be up.

"Coming." He mumbled as he collected himself and made his way over to the door. But opening it and seeing who exactly was waiting for him, he snapped to attention quickly. "Marluxia? You wanted to talk?"

He walked past Roxas into the room, as the door seemed to close of its own accord. Still looking away from Roxas, Marluxia began, "I mentioned last night that you would be accompanying Naminé in her attempt to contact the princess." Marluxia turned on his heel, hands behind his back as he glared daggers into Roxas."I just want to remind you that she cannot be permitted to escape or come to harm."

Roxas swallowed the sudden lump in his throat as he answered, "I'll…make sure she comes back."

With that answer, Marluxia smiled, though his eyes were still fixed on Roxas. "Good. I would hate for you to face the consequences of such a failure." Walking towards Roxas, he continued to ask firmly, "What do you think of Sora? You did see his memories last night, and I would like to see if you have gleaned something from it."

"He's determined, competitive," Roxas fumbled as he recalled some of what he knew from earlier. Marluxia seemed unimpressed with the answers as he crossed his arms in front of him. But then Roxas recalled an idea that his dream reminded him of. "But…sometimes, I think there's some part of him that holds back. That he'd like to reach out instead of fight someone."

At that answer, Marluxia closed his eyes and smiled widely. "Good. You can see the weakness within his heart that betrays him." Spreading his arms out as he continued to speak. "Just as memories have bound the leaders of our organization, so too does the heart."

Roxas raised an eyebrow at Marluxia's conclusion, connecting the dots in his mind. The way Marluxia was talking about hearts and the Organization, Roxas began to wonder. "You don't agree with Xemnas? You don't think we should get hearts at all?"

"To truly explain that is a lesson I don't think you are ready for quite yet." Marluxia continued to grin as he pointed to Roxas and declared, "You must understand the true nature of Sora's weakness. Only then will you see why we must free ourselves from the pull of hearts and the chains of memory."

"I…see." Roxas managed to mumble back, but he still wasn't sure what to make of it all. Was what Sora doing in reaching out weakness? Was Xemnas wrong with what Nobodies needed to do?

As he was lost in thought, Marluxia passed by him and opened the door to leave. "For now, prepare for your mission."

Of course. At the very least, he knew one thing. He needed to keep Naminé safe.