(no subject)

[keybearer]

Chapter 30: The Ties that Bind

Where could she really go? Logic dictated that she needed to hurry up and start following the Heartless’ trail, instead she’d trudged through the shadows of the forest and out onto the rust-colored streets. She’d wandered in circles around the scattered shops, her surroundings a blur and all sounds reduced to a haze of laughter, shouts, and murmurs. At some point, her legs had carried her back through the broken stone wall, back beneath the trees, and back through the iron fence. She slid down against one of the broken stone pillars, sinking into the soft, moist grass.

Her head told her that she needed to move, but her heart weighed her down like… a building? Buildings were heavy, weren’t there? Xion sighed, pulling her knees near her chest and resting her head above her arms. She never was good at those ‘figures of speech’ she kept hearing about. In truth, she wasn’t sure what she was good at. Fighting? Maybe a little, but whenever she faced the Heartless, she wound up short of breath. And she obviously wasn’t that great at finding Naminé, or she would’ve succeeded by now.

So what else was there? She leaned back against the pillar, letting her eyes drift up to the pastel colored sky. A moist breeze tickled her cheek. All around her, she heard the sounds of soft chirping. Just how late was it now, anyway? For a moment, she thought about getting up. If she didn’t leave now, she could miss her chance at finding Naminé again… but that was nothing new by now.

Blowing out a heaping sigh, Xion dug her fingers into her hair. “I just don’t know what to do… DiZ makes it sound so easy, but…”

“Gawrsh, sounds like I made it just in time!”

Xion lurched forward, arms dropping to her side. Her head snapped towards the mansion, where she spotted Goofy striding her way, wearing an enormous smile. Looking at him, Xion felt her lips twitch a little. How did he always manage to stay positive like that? Always smiling, always chuckling… For a split second, she almost smiled back, but the haze of uncertainties drowned out whatever excitement she had, and she once again slumped against the stone.

“…What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be with Kairi and the others?”

He continued on until he reached Xion’s side, plopping down next to her with that smile still in place. “Not when one of my buddies is feelin’ so blue.”

“One of your buddies?” She straightened, placing a hand over her lips. “But I’m just a puppet. And besides, it’s thanks to me that Riku isn’t getting any better.”

Goofy’s whole face wrinkled up at her words. “Now wait just a minute, Xion! Ya shouldn’t start blamin’ yourself for every little thing that goes wrong. Sure, ya haven’t found Naminé yet, but neither have we, and we’ve been goin’ to all kinds of different worlds.”

“But I should have found her by now. That’s the whole reason I exist…”

“No, that’s the reason DiZ says ya exist. But that doesn’t have to be the only reason.”

“…It doesn’t? But that doesn’t make any sense.” She looked down, rubbing at both of her temples. “DiZ said that all the worlds are counting on me. And those worlds matter way more than someone like me, so…”

“Xion.” He said her name with surprising firmness, and she couldn’t help but gasp. “Listen, I know you’re just tryin’ to help, but ya shouldn’t believe everything that DiZ tells ya. He’s makin’ it sound like you’re carryin’ the weight of all the worlds on your shoulders, but nobody should have to carry that weight alone. Why, even Riku had me ‘n Donald to help him out from the start, and then Kairi jumped in. And even with the four of us, we still haven’t been able to save every world.”

His smile wavered, and he dropped his hands in his lap. “I’ve seen stars blinkin’ out almost every night for the past year. We do what we can, but it just ain’t possible to reach all the worlds at once, even when you’re tryin’ yer best. But here you are, workin’ all by yer lonesome. To tell ya the truth, Xion, I’m impressed you’ve made it as far as ya have!”

“…You are?”

“Sure I am!” He patted her on the back, chuckling. “You’ve been goin’ strong for four whole months, travelin’ and searchin’ and never stoppin’ for more than a couple minutes at a time. You’re been pourin’ your whole heart into your mission, and if DiZ can’t see that, then that’s his problem! Not yours.”

“I…” She hadn’t expected this kind of response, especially from someone like him! All this time, he and the others had shared a home with DiZ. And if they lived together, didn’t that make them allies? Xion scratched her head, trying to make sense of it all, but when her efforts failed, her eyes fell back on Goofy.

“Is it really okay to say that about DiZ? He’ll probably get really mad if he finds out…”

“Aw, that’s nothin’ I can’t handle.” He gave another hearty laugh, pointing at his chest with his thumb. “Me ‘n Kairi deal with Donald every day, and DiZ is like a cute little kitty compared to his temper! I know he looks scary, but ya gotta—”

“Stand up for myself?” She giggled and shook her head. “It’s funny, Iago said the same thing, and so did Aladdin and the Genie… They all make it sound so easy.”

“But it ain’t easy, at least not at first. I don’t think anybody’s expecting ya to change overnight. Ya just gotta remember that DiZ’s only real weapons are his words.”

“Maybe, but those words still hurt. Didn’t you hear what he said about me malfunctioning? He talked about me like I was just some kind of machine… like what I say doesn’t even matter.”

“I know, and it just ain’t right. But, Xion, ya shouldn’t believe every little thing he says!”

“But he’s so much smarter than me…”

“So? Smarts don’t mean a whole lot if ya can’t see what’s right in front of ya.”

“…Like the fact that I’ve been lost this whole time. Or the fact that I’m trying so hard...” Her hands balled into trembling fists, while her breathing grew heavy. “All DiZ has done so far is bark orders at me, and that’s if he’s not insulting me first. You’re right, Goofy. He’s been making me carry this huge weight all by myself, and I feel so alone…”

Several yards away, she heard a creak and a slam. “Well, you’re not alone. Not if we have anything to say about it.”

Xion’s hand flew over her mouth, and she sprung to her feet. “Kairi?” She turned around, and when she saw both Kairi and Donald dashing her way, the once cool air started to warm. Against her will, her lips curled into a smile, and she toddled closer, rubbing her neck as she walked. “How much did you hear?”

“Just a little,” said Kairi. “But, hey, you don’t have to feel embarrassed, Xion. The whole reason we came out here was to check up on you, and I think it’s a good thing we did.”

A soft smile spread across her lips, and she brushed past Xion and over to the stone pillar. She sank down in the grass, patting the ground next to her. Tugging at one of her sleeves, Xion followed, plopping down against the stone again with Donald waddling close behind.

“You guys didn’t have to follow me… It’s not that I don’t want your help, just…” She covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know… I guess I’m just not used to all this attention.”

Snickering, Donald slipped out in front of her and threw waved his finger back and forth. “Then that’s the first thing that’s gotta change!”

“But don’t you have other things you need to do?”

“Hey, you said you were feeling lonely. Don’t you wanna fix that?”

“I...” She hesitated, gazing down into her lap. After a few seconds in silence, she nodded. “If it’s not too much to ask.”

Kairi covered her mouth, muffling a soft, fluttering laugh. “Xion, that’s what friends are for.”

Friends… Xion bowed her head, bringing both her hands over her chest. “You really think of me as a friend?”

She probably should’ve expected this. After all, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy were the only constants in her life aside from DiZ. Three of the only people willing to stand up for her instead of beating her down day after day. It seemed like such a no-brainer, and yet Kairi’s words sent her heart speeding off like… like Aladdin’s magic carpet. She pinched herself, just to be safe. Who knew if they were really serious about this? And if they were, what did that mean? Sure, she liked to think she’d made friends in her travels, but those were only short encounters.

It only dawned on her then… Just what did it mean to be someone’s friend?

“Silly…” Kairi scooted closer, leaning out in front of her and looking into her eyes. Xion had to look the other way. Was she gonna get scolded again? “We’ve lived together for almost half a year. Don’t you think that speaks for itself?”

“I… maybe? But I’ve known DiZ just as long, and I’m pretty sure we’re not friends.”

“Ha!” Donald leaned over her shoulder and winked. “He wouldn’t know friendship if it hit him in the face.”

Her head hit the back of the pillar. She felt her heart jump up, hit her ribcage, and then bounce back down, and she shook her head furiously. “How can you say something like that?” If DiZ knew, he’d probably throw a fit. He… he’d—

“Hey, it’s true.” Donald rubbed his hands together, a wide grin curling up his beak. “And he’s allergic to smiles! That’s why he’s always got that stiff look on his face.”

Xion’s eyes drifted towards the mansion’s front doors. She clasped her hand over her mouth, trembling slightly. “Donald, maybe you should stop… If DiZ hears you, he’ll probably—”

“Do what? Talk my ear off?” He scoffed, flapping his hands. “That’s nothing I can’t handle! He’d probably just spout the same nonsense about how ‘insolent’ I am for sticking up for a puppet. He’s a broken record and you know it!”

“I…” She bit her lip. A strange, rippling feeling took hold of her chest, and her cheeks puffed up as she tried to contain whatever pressure was building inside. “Well, I guess he kind of is, but I still don’t think we should be making fun of him...”

“And why not?” Donald nudged her with his elbow. “Face it, he could use a sense of humor! And a new wardrobe. I betcha he never takes those bandages off his face.”

Come to think of it, she never had seen him remove the bindings. Just what did he have to hide? With her guard down, a soft giggle worked its way out of her. “Maybe he got hurt? There could be some kind of scars under there.”

“From what? Somebody who got tired of all the stupid stuff he says?”

“Donald!” Kairi grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him away. “I think that’s enough out of you.”

Xion heaved a heavy sigh when the joking finally stopped, though try as she might, her lips refused to budge from the smile that’d fixed itself to her face. Pulling her eyes off her friends, she scooped up a stray leaf and shifted it between her fingers. “…You know, it wouldn’t surprise me if somebody had gotten fed up with him.” At last, her smile faded, and she started tapping her fingers against her knees. “Honestly, sometimes the things he says to me make me want to scream! But I never do. I guess I’m just too scared…”

“Well, go ahead and scream!” said Donald, bouncing up and down. He flailed his arms, a wild grin shooting across his beak. “If you’re feeling mad, you gotta let it out, otherwise it’ll just keep building ‘til you explode!”

Kairi placed her hand over his hat, gently pushing him down. “Look who’s talking.”

“But I’m serious!” He nudged her hand away, raising one of his fists. “It’s not healthy keeping that stuff bottled up. Imagine what’d happen if I did that…”

“Careful. The last thing we want is to give her nightmares…”

“Kairiiii!”

Xion tapped her chin. “Is Donald’s temper really that scary?”

“Yup!” Goofy chuckled. “Why, when Donald gets really mad, his face turns red like a big ol’ tomato, and smoke starts flyin’ outta his ears! And then he starts ranting, and soon ya can’t understand a thing he’s sayin, and then—”

“Why, I oughta…!” Donald lunged at Goofy, whacking him on the head with his staff. True to Goofy’s word, his feathery face shifted from pale white to a pinkish tone, while his feathers got all ruffled. Pink shifted to red, and he started squawking and flailing—Xion wasn’t even sure what he was going on about, and so she just watched, once again clamping her mouth shut, while she gripped at her sides.

But, just like before, laughter soon exploded out of her. “Y-you’re right, Goofy! I didn’t even think it was possible to get that angry…”

Donald huffed and puffed. He pulled up his sleeves, dropped his staff in the grass, and then, with one huge, deep breath, fell back onto his rump. “Yeah, well, now you know what’ll happen if you keep holding back.”

“Yep.” Kairi steepled her fingers. “So you better be careful, otherwise you might turn into a mini Donald.”

“But I’m taller than him…”

“Oh, sure. Go ahead and gloat.” He crossed his arms and turned to the side. “Thanks a lot, Xion…”

Xion gulped, tugging at one of her sleeves. “Did I say something wrong?”

Donald’s initial response was a fit of snickers before, finally, he shook his head and smiled. “Aw, I was just teasing you!”

“Teasing…?” She squinted and scratched her head. “Do friends usually do that?”

“We do it all the time.” Lifting her chin, Kairi placed her hands on Donald and Goofy’s backs. “Sometimes it’s fun to give each other a hard time. It helps keeps us on our toes, and when everything’s said and done, we can laugh at how dorky we are.”

“Oh.” Xion reached for her forehead, rubbing at her brow. “Then should I start teasing you guys, too? I’m not sure where I’d start…”

“You don’t have to force it! Just let it come naturally. If you keep spending time with us, I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”

“Then is there anything else I should know? If we really are friends now, I want to make sure I don’t blow it.”

“Hmm…” Kairi loosely folded her arms, looking up at the sky. “Well, first of all, friends look out for each other.”

Goofy nodded. “And we’re ‘sposed to listen whenever you’re feelin’ blue. Why, just havin’ somebody you can vent to can make a big ol’ difference.”

And it already had. Though her eyes wandered back to the mansion, and while she half-expected DiZ to come striding out the door, this whole conversation had already popped balloon of pressure that’d started to take hold of her. A tidal wave of words rushed to the tip of her tongue. There were so many things she could say right now! About how DiZ had called her undeserving of family, the way he forced her to sleep in a cold, dark basement all by herself, the fact that he was always looming over her shoulder, breathing down her neck…

She took a deep breath, and for a minute, she thought about letting it all out at once. Instead, she pushed those thoughts aside. After all, they’d already talked that issue to death. Why crawl back to square one when she had something brighter to look forward to?

Rising to her feet, Xion brushed her hand against the pillar and once again eyed the mansion. “You guys make it all sound so easy… I guess I’ve been so caught up in my mission that I never stopped to think about it for long.”

“And that’s okay,” said Kairi. “Now you’ve got a chance to change that, and we’ll do whatever we can to help.”

“…As long as it’s not too much trouble.”

“Quit being so hard on yourself,” said Donald. He tugged on her sleeve, dragging her down to ear level. “Believe me, Riku was a million times worse when I first met him. He kept on ditching us left and right whenever we went to new worlds.”

Xion stepped back. “Wait, he really did that? But I thought Riku was supposed to be a hero.”

“Sure, but even us heroes gotta start somewhere!”

“Ya mean Junior Heroes, Donald!”

“Bah, I say we’ve saved more than enough worlds to be real heroes!”

Sliding between the two, Kairi groaned and nudged them apart. “Anyway, instead of telling you what friendship’s about, why don’t we show you?” She looked to the gates, then started moving forward. “I think I know just the place to start…”

Everything flew by in a blur. One moment, she stood in the mansion’s front yard. The next, Donald and Goofy were nudging her out the gate and scurrying beneath the shelter of the trees. With Kairi at the lead, they moved through the dark, moist forest, surrounded by silence, save for Goofy’s whistling, the snapping of twigs under Xion’s boots, and the twittering of birds up in the treetops. They crawled through a hole in a cement wall, but the journey didn’t end there. Squeezing between crowds of passing kids, the trio led Xion uphill and stopping just once at the window of a nearby shop. Xion tried to get in for a closer look, but Donald hopped in her way and shook his head.

She tried to step around him, but he kept sliding into her path, and eventually he threw up both his hands and said, “Don’t worry; you’ll get to see what’s going on in a second. Kairi just doesn’t wanna spoil the surprise.”

With that, they continued, wandering towards the foot of a steep a hill that stretched high into the sky. A bulletin board to her left grabbed her attention, thanks to the colorful poster that showed crisscrossing foam bats and funny colored balls, red and blue. She stopped for a moment to examine it, but a tap on the shoulder pulled her eyes back to the path ahead. Kairi and Goofy motioned further up the hill, and, laughing sheepishly, Xion hurried right behind them. Along the way, she glanced at the buildings forming walls along each side of the street. They pressed up against each other, towering overhead, with rows of windows reaching all the way up to the top. How many people lived in those buildings? Did people even live in them at all? Compared to them, the mansion was like a mouse hole, and Xion an ant.

Short, rectangular light posts glimmered between the buildings, and when they reached a corner, Xion once again stopped, craning her neck up at the sign that read ‘Garage’. A huge, metal door loomed in front of her, segmented in a way that probably allowed it to fold in on itself. A tire pattern in the center suggested that some kind of vehicle hid inside. Maybe one of those carts she’d seen zipping down the street?

Soon her surroundings shifted entirely. The once narrow path stretched and swelled, shifting from a slant to a flat, level surface. The buildings that once flanked the path shrank away, replaced with a short brick wall that arced around the plaza. Shimmers of light beat against the rusty brick path. Zipping to the railing, Xion leaned over the edge and peered down at the space below. Red and orange specks spanned out as far as the eye could see, interrupted only by smooth, green hills, and white-grey tracks that reached high over the rooftops. A red train blazed past her, whistling in her ear, and Xion’s eyes followed its trail. She moved along the wall, but within seconds, the train zigzagged out of sight.

Her head drooped, and she slowly turned around. She heard a whistle, which grabbed her focus and yanked her attention to a short flight of yellow steps, leading up to a wall of smooth, glass doors. She saw her friends sitting at the top step, but they faded out of focus the moment she looked up.

She stumbled back, pulling her hands over her chest and tipping her head all the way back. Her eyes drifted up the monster of a building before her. Above the doors, an arch-shaped sign bore the word ‘STATION’ in bold, brown letters. An image of a bell rested in the center with two, feathery wings. The sign barely held her focus for a second before she continued looking higher and higher, glossing over the building’s cream colored tower, the huge, round circle rimmed in gold, with blue and purple gears spinning around a glistening clock face, marked with an image of a moon. A deep, low ringing pulled her gaze even higher, to giant, bronze bells swaying back and forth. They hung from the top of the tower’s red roof, held out by S-shaped metal structures, red as the bricks below her feet.

“What is this place?” she finally said, and while she wandered towards the steps, her eyes stayed glued to the bells until she felt herself bump up against something. Squeaking, she hopped back, only to find Kairi standing with her hands on her hips.

“You know, we can get a closer look. All we have to do is step through these doors.”

“Really? But it’s so high up!”

“And that’s all the more reason to get up there.” She nudged one of the doors open. “Just wait ‘til you see the view!”

Xion didn’t even get a chance to speak before Kairi grabbed her wrist and tugged her inside.. The next thing she knew, she was wandering up a narrow flight of steps, latching onto the handrail and occasionally looking down. The darkness of the stairwell shattered with the screech of a door, as bright orange light shone straight into Xion’s eyes. She had to stop for a second, shielding her face with her arm.

When she finally opened her eyes, she scrambled backwards, pressing her back against a wall. She wrapped her arms around her chest and gulped. The sound of another whistle tugged her to the very edge of the path, and when she looked down she gasped as another red train blew past her, a million times larger than before. Below the tracks, an ocean of rooftops greeted her, reds, greens, and blues blended with the color of sand, rust, and the golden sky. Brushing her bangs out of her eyes, Xion stood up straight and rounded the corner. Maybe this wasn’t so bad…

Already, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy had seated themselves, dangling their legs over the ledge. When Xion finally approached them, Kairi looked over her shoulder and patted an empty space next to her. With deep breaths, Xion crept closer, sinking down next to her friend. For a split second, she looked down, instantly regretting that decision. The wide open plaza rapidly shrank, reduced to nothing more than a red-orange dot. The tower itself shot down, stretching for miles on end. One wrong step, and she could tumble over the edge, splattering on the bricks below…

Shaking those thoughts from her mind, she ripped her eyes away from the ground, gluing them on the landscape up ahead. Soft, green slopes blended with pale orange. Clouds coasted over her head, gold fusing with violet red. Silver tracks swerved out into the distance. The chimes of the bells washed over her, and she breathed a soft sigh. It was like staring at a living painting. A masterpiece brought to life…

At last, she turned to the others. “You were right, Kairi. This view’s incredible! And to think it was here this whole time, right under my nose…”

“Well, you were busy, Xion. DiZ has been running you so ragged it’s no wonder you never came up here.” She reached behind her back. “But that’s all going to change starting today.” After digging into her pocket, Kairi plucked out a strange, blue bar on a stick. It carried a sweet scent, dripping ever so slightly onto the concrete.

“Come on, Xion. If you don’t eat this soon, it’ll melt.”

“…This is for me?” She slowly took the bar from Kairi’s hand.

“’Course it is!” said Goofy, whipping out a bar of his own. “Since you’re our pal, it only seemed right to give ya great big celebration for all your hard work. And nothin’ says celebratin’ like a tasty treat!”

“Go on, try it.” Donald waved his own bar back and forth. “I wanna know what you think!”

The ice cream continued dripping into her lap, and Xion heard a soft growl. A soft laugh escaped her, and she pulled the bar up to her lips. That sweet smell overloaded her senses, and she shut her eyes, taking a small, tentative bite.

Her eyes flew wide open the next second, as a tangy tidal wave hit the tip of her tongue. Her cheeks inflated, and she gulped her bite down. “It’s salty!” A second flavor washed over her, bringing a smile to her face. “…But kinda sweet, too.”

“Yep! They call it sea salt ice cream.” Donald crammed his ice cream into his beak, snapping off a huge bite and swallowing it whole. “I don’t think there’s anything else like it.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Xion adjusted the bar in her grip. “The only treat I ever had was a cookie, and only because Genie gave it to me.”

“Well, we’ll just have to fix that, won’t we?” Kairi slapped a hand down on her hip. “There’s a lot we can share with you, as long as you don’t mind taking a few breaks from your mission.”

“I guess a little rest would be nice…” She paused, taking another bite. “But not too much. It wouldn’t be right for me to give up now.”

“Sure, but ya gotta branch out a little,” said Goofy. “Instead of worryin’ about what DiZ wants ya to do, why not do what you wanna do every now and then? It seems pretty clear to me that you haven’t been very happy lately, and that just ain’t right.”

“What I want to do…?” But what did she want to do? Over these past few months, Xion had never stopped to think about it. Her only driving force had been the mission to find Naminé. A few detours notwithstanding, she’d barely deviated from that path at all. And now, here she was, given a chance to try something new…

She slouched, and after a few more bites of ice cream, shook her head. “But I don’t know where to start. Is there something I’m supposed to want?”

Kairi bit her lip and snorted, patting Xion on the back. “This isn’t about following orders, Xion. It’s about having fun.”

“Fun? Um, well, I think this is pretty fun. It’s nice having people to talk to who won’t scold me for everything I say, and I’m glad we don’t have to worry about the Heartless up here.”

Donald folded his arms, setting the now bare stick on the ledge. “But that can’t be everything! You’ve been traveling for months now… Didn’t you see or do anything you liked out there?”

“Maybe…” She paused when another drop of melted ice cream splattered on her sleeve. “Do unbirthday parties count?”

“Unbirthday?” Donald huffed. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, when I visited Wonderland, I bumped into these two guys in the woods. One of them was this big, brown rabbit, and the other had this crazy white hair and a huge green hat!” She placed one hand over her head, raising it up to indicate the size. “They were having this huge tea party, and I sort of got roped into it. All I wanted to know was if they’d seen Naminé, but the next thing I knew, they broke out singing… It was kinda loud, but they seemed pretty nice. Plus, I got to try tea for the first time!”

“That’s Wonderland for you.” Kairi rubbed her chin. “I’ll see what I can do about picking up tea sometime, but is there anything else you want to try?”

After one more bite, Xion finished her ice cream, tucking the stick away in her pocket. “I don’t know where to start…”

“Then how ‘bout this?” said Goofy. “Why don’t we all meet up whenever we get back from our missions? We can swap stories, hop up here to watch the sunset, and squeeze in a little time to try a couple new things, too. It’ll be a little somethin’ special for all four of us.”

Xion froze, her entire body growing slack. Something special… and they really wanted to include her in it? Her, a puppet, who up until this point had failed left and right. Failed to find Naminé. Failed to meet DiZ’s expectations. Failed to grasp the workings of the world around her…

And, through some miracle, they still invited her in.

What was she supposed to think? Shadows stretched overhead, twisting and waving and coiling all around her. In her silence, she heard DiZ’s voice slip through the cracks in her mind. You are merely deluding yourself. A tool such as you could never dream of grasping friendship and all its complexities. As soon as Riku returns, they will cast you aside. Do not lose sight of what truly matters…

With each word, her heart thrummed faster. Her fingers twitched, gripping at her coat, and heat flooded her cheeks. DiZ would never understand. How could he, when he isolated himself? Pushed others away? Put up walls around himself, never opening his heart or his mind. Never accepting that maybe, just maybe, he was wrong.

…And he was. There was no doubt about it now. In the depths of her mind, a chorus of voices shouted out, muffling DiZ with words of encouragement. She wasn’t just a puppet. She needed to stand strong! No more orders. No more doubts. Teeth clenched, Xion jerked herself free from the shadows, rising to her feet.

“Then I guess I better get going.”

“What?” Kairi shot up, eyes wide. “But Xion, you don’t have to—”

She held up her hand and shook her head. “Maybe I don’t have to, but I want to. Now more than ever.”

Goofy scratched his head. “But I don’t get it. I thought you’d wanna take it easy after all that searchin’.”

“But if I take it easy, how am I supposed to find Naminé for you? Here you are, going out of your way to cheer me up, and what have I done in return?” Before the others got the chance to speak, she continued. “Nothing, that’s what. But if I pull through with this mission, I’ll be helping more than just DiZ… I’ll be helping you three get your friend back, and I think that’s more than worth the trouble.”

“…You’re right.” Kairi sighed, leaning towards her. “But don’t think you have to face this alone. If you’re going to keep searching, then so will we! We’ll work together, Xion, all four of us.” She held out her hand, and soon Donald and Goofy joined in, placing their hands over hers. “From now on, we’re a team.”

“Yup! All for one ‘n one for all!”

“…A team.” She looked down at her hands, fingers flexing. Her eyes drifted back to the others, keeping their hands together. Looking straight into her eyes. And yet, she met their gaze without flinching. Without fear.

The ringing of bells droned overhead. A train bellowed, whisked off below the setting sun. The sky brightened, and the clouds parted, soaking the tower in rays of light.

And then, shoving the last of her doubts off the tower’s ledge, Xion reached for the others, not to join hands, but for something else entirely.

Her arms wrapped around them, pulling them close, while a sliver of moisture slid down her cheek.

“…Thank you. All of you… I don’t know what else to say.”

“Then don’t say anything,” said Kairi. “After all, we’re friends, and nothing’s going to change that.”

x.x.x

Nothing? Ah, since when were friendships ever so simple? Their naivety was almost charming.

He waited until they had rounded the corner, slipped through the door, and vanished from sight. Only then did Zexion emerge from the swirling shadows, brushing a gloved hand against the edge of the tower, while his boots thudded against the stiff pavement below. Wandering to the very edge, he knelt down, eyes fixed to the distant steps below. What a truly enlightening detour… And entertaining, no less. This girl, Xion, certainly raised a multitude of questions. Why did she bear such a similar appearance to Kairi? What sort of skills did she possess? Clearly, she must have had some fighting potential if she had wandered the worlds alone.

More importantly, she sought Naminé, who had long since disappeared, slipping by undetected through some strange stroke of luck. And now this puppet had wormed her way into the hearts of the King’s fools and Kairi. Well, perhaps he couldn’t fault them entirely. The girl was amusing, if nothing else. Clueless and extraordinarily awkward, to say the least.

The doors to the station swung open, and he spotted three small specks emerging. They continued on, ignoring the tower from what he could tell. Their scents floated off until the only the sweet remnants of melted ice cream remained.

And with his curiosity sated and a wealth of answers in hand, Zexion turned the other way, pressed his palm against the stone wall, and sank into a veil of blackness, leaving the sunset sky behind.

Blackness gave way to blinding white—not that he hadn’t anticipated this. Pushing his way through the corridor, Zexion sank down in the smooth, white throne beneath him, arriving to the sound of a shrill gasp. One look around the room, and it became clear that Demyx was not alone. Seated atop the highest throne, Xemnas watched Zexion with an ever blank expression. Lexaeus looked to him with a silent nod. In fact, everyone in the room seemed strangely quiet, until…

“You’re late.” The cold, monotone voice pulled Zexion’s attention across the chamber, where Saïx sat at the edge of his seat, back arched and eyes narrowed… not that this was anything new.

“So what if I am? I assure you that I had only the Organization’s best interests at heart.”

“Then explain yourself, Zexion.”

“Of course.” He leaned back, looking to the others. “But first, I must regrettably inform you that David Xanatos failed to succumb to the darkness. On the positive side, Demona remains a stable ally, with every intent to continue sowing seeds of darkness throughout Manhattan.”

“Sheesh,” said Demyx, rubbing the back of his head. “First that Waternoose guy, and now Xanatos? Are we really running out of Heartless bait?”

“Monstropolis is not yet a lost cause,” said Saïx. His gaze then returned to Zexion. “Have you anything else to report regarding Manhattan?”

“Well, I bore witness to Master Aqua, and it’s just as you said: she’s quite the competent warrior… in fact, so is Kairi.” He chuckled. “As luck would have it, both arrived simultaneously, along with our favorite meddling Heartless.”

“And you failed to capture him?”

Zexion grimaced, clenching and unclenching his hands. “What do you honestly expect? His tenacity rivals that of the Keybearers themselves. What’s more, he had two highly skilled Keyblade wielders at his beck and call… hardly the ideal odds for capture, let alone control.”

“I believe we have more important issues to worry about.” At Lexaeus’ words, Zexion exhaled all his lungs’ contents. “Zexion, I believe you owe us an explanation.”

“That I do.” A smirk slithered across his lips, and he leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. “You see, I’ve recently uncovered Riku’s whereabouts… along with his friends, DiZ… why, to coin a phrase from Luxord, I suppose you could say I’ve hit the jackpot.”

The others froze immediately, save for Demyx, whose head hit the back of his seat at the news. He gulped, wrapped his arms around his chest, and shrank back in his seat.

But it was Xemnas who pierced this silence with his booming voice. “Impressive… But just where are they hiding? And what has become of Riku?”

“Well, I can say for certain that he has lost his memories. At the moment, DiZ seems to have him contained in some sort of virtual world, not unlike the one within our old Master’s computer. As for their location, it’s none other than Twilight Town, within an old, decrepit mansion nestled in the woods.”

Demyx perked up. “So, wait. If Riku’s lost his memories, does that mean we can bring him on our side? ‘cause if that means I won’t have to fight him later—”

“It’s unlikely at this stage. Don’t forget that DiZ is the one containing him, and given that four months have passed, I suspect he’s no longer a blank slate… if he ever was to begin with.”

Lexaeus’ eyes narrowed. “Perhaps we should remove him from the simulation. As long as he remains, it will be impossible for him to collect hearts.”

“The thought had crossed my mind,” said Xemnas. “Indeed, Riku’s removal would further accelerate the process… but would he be able to withstand the Heartless’ onslaught? I believe it is in our best interest to observe before acting rashly.”

Demyx slid backwards, pulling his arms near his chest. “Hey, if that means I’ve gotta do recon inside some creepy computer, count me out! I already called dibs on New Orleans a week ago.”

“We all remember,” said Saïx. “And I have no doubt it’s an excuse to shirk your duties in favor of senseless distractions.”

“Indeed, but I will not risk sending one of our members when we are already short staffed.” Xemnas leaned over the edge of his seat, gripping at the arms of the throne. “No, let us send our more expendable allies. A few Dusks should suffice...”

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Lord Xemnas…”

Now seemed like an opportune moment to bring up the elephant in the room, and so, clicking his tongue, Zexion scooted forward, and his gaze shifted toward Xemnas.

“By the way, have you any news on Marluxia? The Replica? …Perhaps Naminé?”

“Nothing has changed. We can only assume from Axel’s absence that Marluxia remains at large. And, given the steady stream of hearts, we must conclude that the Replica remains in working condition, which is ultimately all that matters for now. Naminé likely remains at his side, and Castle Oblivion remains vacant, save for Xigbar and Luxord…”

“And Xaldin?”

“Investigating the Kingdom of Arendelle as we speak,” said Saïx.

“Of course. Given that we’ve lost a few of our targets, I suppose it only makes sense to scope out new realms…” Though, as tempting as it was to ask about this Arendelle, it would have to wait for now. Clasping his hands together, Zexion scooted to the edge of his throne.

“In any case, I think it’s only fair for you to know: DiZ is after Naminé now. He’s even created his own puppet to capture her…”

TO BE CONTINUED