Chapter Thirty One: Grudge
Secret Report: Marluxia IV
From the beginning Larxene has taken particular umbrage at Naminé. Hardly a problem, as this has served well when discipline was necessary.
Yet even though Naminé has become obedient, Larxene has continued to apply pressure. Again this is not too problematic. A constant reminder of who is in charge is helpful to ensure obedience. Indeed, so long as things proceeded smoothly, this relationship between them would have been beneficial to maintain.
But the change in plans has agitated Larxene, driving her to ensure we are in control though any means necessary. If she takes too drastic an action, our plans might be imperiled.
And yet, it may prove to be an opportunity. If it can show where certain loyalties lie…
Axel wasn't sure where they'd be going with the report, or what Marluxia might bring up. The past week had been enough to show how strict his standards could get. Roxas and Naminé were definitely tense as they made their way through the hall. No conversation, just a quick pace to get there so they could get the visit over with. Axel couldn't blame them. As soon as they checked in and dealt with whatever came next they could relax for the day.
As they entered the room Marluxia used for observation, Axel called out, "So how are things in the box seat?"
Marluxia however showed no signs he heard the question, watching the fight playing out on the crystal ball. Zexion stepped forward to get a better look and asked, "Is there a problem?"
Seeing Kairi parry a series of attacks from copies of Larxene, Marluxia muttered, "The princess of heart is managing quite well." Through the glass, the group watched as the duplicates circled Kairi before dashing into her with knives in their fists.
A roll in a gap of the assault gave Kairi the chance to catch a Larxene in the side with her keyblade before blasting her with ice. As the duplicate faded, Kairi shot balls of blizzard at the other copies. Leaving the real Larxene scowling, electricity cracking around her.
Roxas stood wide eyed as he saw the fight. Axel wasn't sure if he'd seen her in action before besides training. Granted, being put on the back foot by a few days old keyblade wielder probably wasn't the best look. Though judging from Naminé's faint smile, she seemed to enjoy a smidge of schadenfreude. For all of Larxene's bluster, she wasn't invincible.
Of course, a glance at Marluxia's furrowing brow put a stop to that slight cheer. For all the power she had, Marluxia did a thorough job of getting her to cooperate with Larxene. And it sank in further for Axel how long things had been rotten here.
Unheeding or uncaring of any internal dilemma, Marluxia watched the battle stoically. Through the crystal ball, they saw Larxene gathering a ball of thunder in her hands, only for Kairi to shoot a ball of light at her.
There was a flash, and everyone watching the fight besides Marluxia flinched. If not from the light then certainly from Larxene's cry of pain heard through the magic crystal. When the glare faded, Larxene was kneeling on the ground with Kairi approaching her. Marluxia gestured to create a dark portal, one that also appeared next to Larxene.
Moved back to the exit Larxene spat, "Fine. You have some idea of what you're doing." Reaching into her robes, she flung some world cards at Kairi. "But you're still a long way from saving anyone."
"Wait! You…"
Kairi's voice faded from the crystal with her image, and Larxene stumbled through the portal. Gasping for breath, she looked over the group that was watching. Gripping her cloak, she hissed, "Zexion, heal me."
Opening his book, Zexion winced as he conjured a green glow to his hands. "Looks like the princess gave you a—"
"Shut. Up." Larxene's glare silenced any comment as her wounds were mended. Seething as she looked over the group, her eyes stopped on Naminé. "You." Even as she stepped away from Larxene, it wasn't enough to keep her from grabbing Naminé's hand and pulling her forward. "It's time for an evaluation."
Roxas tried to hold on to Naminé, as Axel put a hand to Larxene's shoulder and protested, "Hold on. We just—!"
Yet Axel's words only caused her to shake him off and sneer, "The princess did well enough, right?!" She tightened her grip on Naminé's arm. "So if the witch isn't as good as that, then we're cutting our losses."
Dammit, this really wasn't good. Axel's suggestion to try and get Larxene to blow off steam had backfired, and now she was going to take it out on Naminé. Axel might have to pull out his chakrams to stop her. Even Roxas seemed about ready to summon his keyblade to get her to back off as he growled, "Larxene, let her—!"
"I accept."
Two words from Naminé were enough to bring Axel's thoughts to a halt, Roxas looking back at her in wide eyed shock. Even as she trembled with her hands balled into fists, Naminé answered firmly, "I'll fight you, Larxene."
Larxene let go of Naminé and crossed her arms with a scoff, "You sound confident. Let's see how long that lasts in a real fight." Walking to the door, she glanced at Roxas and added, "One on one, of course. No help from your friends this time."
As the door shut, Marluxia turned towards the three of them. "Now then, how did Roxas' training go?"
Roxas' mouth hung open, while Axel and Zexion looked at each other at Marluxia's all too quick change in topic. Zexion stepped forward and cleared his throat. "He is matching Sora's pace well enough."
Marluxia raised an eyebrow, silently asking for more detail. Sighing, Axel held up his hands and elaborated, "We beat an empowered Ursula, so I'm fairly sure we're keeping pace."
With a shrug, Marluxia turned his attention back to the crystal ball. "Your work is done for the day Roxas, you may go."
Watching as Marluxia brought up the image of the room where Larxene had brought Naminé, Roxas shook his head. "I want to stay and see Naminé's fight."
Glancing over from the screen where Naminé summoned her keyblade, Marluxia asked, "Do you care about her, Roxas?"
Axel folded his arms, something inside uneasy at the way Marluxia's eyes were so focused on Roxas. Though Roxas hardly noticed as he loudly answered, "Of course I do!"
Marluxia rarely smiled. Setting aside the whole Nobodies mean no feeling, the only times Axel had ever seen him satisfied was when a plan had come together. Now that Axel wasn't sure what he was up to, that smile he had at Roxas' answer was a lot more concerning. Zexion was certainly unnerved and took a step back. Even Roxas' indignation now seemed to ebb as he saw Marluxia's pleased reaction.
For now, the four of them focused on the crystal ball, where Larxene had taken off in a flash of lightning.
Naminé knew how Larxene favored electricity. She knew it too well from the various shocks she had given until Naminé had agreed to their plan. Though now it was clear how intrinsic that power was for the woman, as she bolted toward her in a flash.
Even as she was able to block the punch, Naminé was pushed back. The knives in Larxene's fists charged with electricity that sparked with each attack.
"Where are you looking!?"
The sneer from the side was disorienting, but was enough to get Naminé to move. Hopping back as she saw another Larxene come in from the side with a blow that just missed her stomach. She pulled her arm back to try and take a swing, but in a flash, another duplicate appeared in the air in front of her and knocked her back with a kick.
As Naminé tumbled across the floor the trio of Larxenes burst into laughter, "Is this the best you can do?!" "Come on!" "At least try!" The mockery was hardly new. Ever since they met, Larxene heaped it on her no matter what. "Even with a keyblade you're worthless!"
A week ago, Naminé would have believed that. But now there were people who believed in her. Some more than others. And one person who believed in her with everything he was, heart or not.
Getting up, Naminé cast a bolt of ice towards the trio. Though it grazed one, the set of Larxene's split up to rush her down again. Naminé backed up, keeping a distance as they chased. Each time they got close, there was a chance for Naminé to pelt one of the copies with blizzard. Soon enough the evasive barrage led to the smirk on Larxene's face being replaced with a scowl. "Slippery little brat! Get back—!"
The copy shouting was silenced as a cold blast knocked it down, the steady damage finally being enough to unmake it. The clones came to a stop and glaring at Naminé, who gripped her keyblade tight and answered, "I think keeping away is working well, actually."
Electricity began to arc between the two Larxene's as they growled, "You want to play that game?" "Fine, start Running!" In a blink, one of the copies vanished as the other began to fling her knives toward Naminé.
Feeling the hair on her neck stand up, Naminé ran from the floating daggers before they burst into thunderbolts. But as she turned to try and get a shot in, the other copy of Larxene reappeared next to her, a ball of electricity in her hands. A roll aside kept Naminé from being shocked as the ball exploded in a ray.
Naminé swung her keyblade at Larxene, though she only got one hit in before the copy blinked away. And soon enough, more tossed knives were flung her way. Furrowing her brow, Naminé weaved between the appearing thunderbolts, shooting ice as she approached. The cold seemed to flow from the keyblade into her as Naminé came up to her opponent. Larxene scowled, pulling her arm back as she was joined by her clone who mirrored the motion.
And at that moment, Naminé could feel the ice magic suffuse itself into her. With a blast of Diamond Dust, she met the two fists with a swing of her keyblade. One of the duplicates was knocked back and dissipated into static. The other skidded back but still tried to push against the keyblade with her fist, muttering through gritted teeth, "I…won't…lose…to…you!" Building a charge as she tried to break through the keyblade, Larxene's electricity began to arc around the ice vapor seeping off Naminé. Yet it couldn't quite reach as she stood her ground, the two trying to break the stalemate between them.
"Stand down, Larxene."
Only for Marluxia's voice to get their attention, and for Larxene to back off wide eyed as he stepped from a dark portal. "Marluxia, wait! I can—!"
"Naminé has demonstrated she is keeping up with Roxas' teachings, even incorporating some of his techniques." Larxene tensed as Marluxia held up a hand before moving towards Naminé. "So long as she knows her place, I believe today's performance is satisfactory."
For a brief moment, Naminé pondered challenging him. Facing off against the one who held her captive to perhaps earn her freedom.
But then she remembered…
Petals that cut.
A scythe at her neck.
That inexorable sense of doom.
No, Naminé still couldn't manage that courage yet.
So like always, Naminé nodded as her keyblade vanished. "Yes, Marluxia."
With a nod, he walked up the passage back, Larxene chasing after him. Though not before shooting a glare back at Naminé and spitting out, "We'll pick up later, witch."
As she saw her opponent leave, Naminé felt the adrenaline wear off and trembled. She wasn't sure how the fight would go if it kept up, but right now? It was the closest she had gotten to any real victory against them. Catching her breath with a growing smile, she began to walk back.
Though before she made it to the doors, Roxas practically flung them open from the other side. Seeing her, he panted as he slowly began to smile. "You did it…"
Axel and Zexion weren't too far behind, the former clapping as he looked to Naminé with a grin. "Gotta say, it's kinda good seeing you give Larxene a run for her money."
"A little rough, but certainly a fine performance." Zexion began to flip through his tome again, and in a green flash, Naminé's scrapes from the fight were mended.
As she caught her breath, Naminé offered a smile to her friends. "Well, I had some good teachers to help me learn."
No.
No.
No!
This wasn't how this was supposed to go! Larxene knew what mattered, got rid of anything that could hold her back. So why did that little Witch get so close to beating her!? When she clung so tightly to morals and feelings!? To such weak pathetic things?!
As Marluxia opened the door to his room, Larxene reached out and held it open. "Listen, I was caught off guard by her figuring out command styles." Marluxia glanced back as she walked in, shutting the door behind her. "If you give me another chance I can beat her!"
Marluxia held up a hand as he looked to her, "Relax Larxene, Naminé's skill is not your failure."
Normally, that kind of comment would just piss Larxene off further. Even with Marluxia, she had limits on her patience.
But then she realized…
"You're smiling." Marluxia didn't smile when things were going this bad.
Not unless he had his hands on an ace in the hole.
Walking towards Larxene, he placed his hand on his chest. "You remember our original plan involving Naminé, yes?"
Furrowing her brow, Larxene crossed her arms and recalled, "We'd change Sora's memories so that the witch is the most important person in the world to him." Where was he going with this?
Holding out his hand, palm up, Marluxia asked, "Who is the most important person to Naminé?"
Rolling her eyes, Larxene shrugged and scoffed, "Why does that matter? The witch doesn't have a heart. Besides, I'm pretty sure It's Rox…"
And then she froze, as the pieces fell together.
When Marluxia made his final point, she began to smile.
"And who is the most important person to Roxas?"