The Year Between [Alpha Draft] - pt 54;

[keybearer]

Chapter 54: Darkness on the Rise

When DiZ had called them down to the basement, Kairi’s heart fluttered with the hope that he’d finally found a solution. With Donald, Goofy, and Sora surrounding her, she crept down the steps into the dark, dank basement, their footsteps sounding off like the beats of a timpani. They reverberated off the walls, deep and ominous. At least, that’s what it felt like, but maybe it was all in her head.

She swallowed several times, wiping her sweaty palms against the legs of her pants, while Goofy chewed his gloved fingertips and Donald squeezed his staff with both hands. Crawling low to the ground, Sora stopped for a moment and sniffed the air, back arching like a startled cat.

It was enough to stop Kairi in her tracks.

Kneeling next to him, she pressed her hand against his shoulder blade. “What’s the matter, Sora?”

He pointed to his nose, then stuck out his tongue, cheeks puffed up and face wrinkled. Curious, Kairi sniffed the air herself, but other than the murkiness brought on by layers of dust lining the corners, nothing seemed particularly out of place. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance to ask for more details, as up ahead, she heard DiZ clearing his throat. In the time it took her to check on Sora, he’d made it clear across the room and was now hovering in the doorway that led to the computer room. Well, no sense to keep him waiting, she supposed.

Just as soon as she made it through the hall, however, something immediately grabbed her eye.

In past visits, the dim blue sheen of the monitors had served as the central point of illumination, but as she moved further into the room, she saw herself staring into a sea of red. The screens themselves were polished; she could see her reflection drawing closer on the glass. Lines of zeroes and ones zipped by, and clumps of blocky pixels continued to crowd the corners. The color change alone sent goose bumps crawling across her skin, and the low groans and buzzes of the machinery made her shiver and cringe.

Yet, somehow, DiZ pressed on without flinching, a heavy bag under his one visible eye. He waved at the others to follow before stopping about a foot from the keyboard. Then, exhaling softly, he whipped back around.

Teeth chattering, Goofy was the first to speak up. “G-gawrsh, what’s goin’ on with the computer? That red light sure don’t look good…”

“You are correct.” His words were flat, but they cut across Kairi’s heart like a dagger. She could feel her fingernails digging into her palms, her hands refusing to unclench.

“So… what does that mean for Riku?” she whispered.

DiZ’s lips pressed together. His fingers brushed over the keys, and he swiveled towards the central monitor, concealed flickering static. “I fear that we must prepare for the worst…”

“What?!” Donald slammed his staff on the floor, chest huffing and puffing and his feathers all fluffed up. “What’s gonna happen to Riku?! How come you haven’t stopped it?!”

“If you would let me finish…” His voice was more like a growl. “I have located ‘Ansem’s’ whereabouts, and it would seem that the core of his data resides within Riku himself. In other words, I cannot expel him from the system without potentially damaging Riku in the process…”

Kairi gritted her teeth and gulped, steadying her breathing before panic could start strangling her heart. This wasn’t the time to freak out. They couldn’t lose hope just yet. And besides…

“Riku’s strong. Even if you can’t stop Ansem, I’m sure he’ll find a way, just like he always has!”

Sora nodded, bumping a fist against his chest, but DiZ regarded them both with a scowl.

“Perhaps, but the problems do not end there. While Ansem alone is a threat, the system itself continues to spiral into chaos and disarray. It has become nearly impossible to track Riku’s movements, and it would seem that Ansem has seized this opportunity…”

With the press of a key, a black dialog box popped up, prompting DiZ to input keywords.

KEYWORD: ANSEM_

PROCESSING…

Only a few seconds passed before the sound of screeching blasted all around them. Kairi bent forward, shielding her ears with both hands, while big, bold letters popped up onscreen.

ACCESS DENIED

When the racket died down, Goofy squinted and poked at the glass. “Now, wait a minute. What’s this lil’ message got to do with Ansem?”

“Xehanort was one of m—one of the brightest pupils in all of… Hollow Bastion. As a scientist, he knew how to operate computers exceptionally well.” DiZ’s head dipped down, and he tucked his hands behind his back. “It stands to reason that his Heartless would possess those very same skills and apply them to suit his own needs…”

“Ya mean he’s messin’ around with the code?”

“Precisely.”

With a wild squawk, Donald once again struck the floor. “Then we gotta get him outta there!”

“I would, but, again, Ansem has taken control. All attempts to pry Riku from his grasp result in this.” He pointed at the message.

“Then let me go in there.” Kairi strode towards the grate in the floor, sword drawn. “If Riku and I work together—no, if me, him, and Sora team up, then we’ll stand a fighting chance.”

“No.” Just hearing that one word sent Kairi stumbling back, and she, Sora, Donald, and Goofy all gawked at him, each one of them speechless. Somehow, DiZ didn’t even bat an eye. “This time, I shall venture into the simulation.”

“Are you nuts?!” said Donald. “If you go, who’s gonna take care of the computer?”

His lips curled up, and he chuckled dryly. “You greatly underestimate my skills. What’s more…” And here his smile faded. “This is my burden to bear, and I owe it to Riku and my creations to inform them of what’s to come…”

A small frown tugged at Kairi’s lips, and she scraped her shoe across the grate. “But are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes, though your concern is appreciated.” With a soft sigh, he stepped away from the keyboard altogether. Darkness erupted before him, stretching and swirling into a portal, but before leaving, he gazed from Sora to Kairi.

His mouth opened slightly, then shut, and he shook his head again. Then, with a swish of his scarf, he plunged into the darkness, leaving Kairi and the others alone with the machines.

x.x.x

The simulation had only gotten worse.

Before, the sky flickered. Now a constant, swirling sea of black and red stretched overhead. Morning, noon, and night, darkness shrouded the town. The only sources of light came from glimmering lampposts, their bulbs buzzing, scattered neon signs, and the red circuits now slithering up from the foundations of every building. Now more than ever, a thick, suffocating stench drifted over the streets. Before, there were crowds of people passing to and fro. Now, as Riku wandered down from the station, the only sounds he heard were the slow thuds of his footsteps. The only sights he saw were empty tables at the edge of the nearby coffee shop and vacant buildings with their windows shut tight.

He saw something shifting at the corner of his vision, making his hair stand on end, and with a sharp swing of his Keyblade, he sliced a Neoshadow down the middle, severing its torso from its legs.

Its upper body tumbled onto the pavement and exploded into pixels, and he continued his march, eyes drifting left and right. Once he reached the bottom of the hill, his surroundings flashed, and he found himself at the top of a stairway overlooking Traverse Town’s plaza.

There were no Moogles fluttering around the three lampposts down below. The yellow lights above the Accessory Shop’s front doors now glowed cherry red, while the once flickering candles topping the restaurant’s tables now stood lifeless and dull. Eyes narrow, Riku brushed past one of the tube-like mail boxes. Before, its pointed hat, gaping maw, and dangling tongue might’ve been comical, but now he only saw an expression of horror. An object frozen, petrified in the middle of a scream. Little red veins crawled along its sides, just like the nearby buildings.

He made it to the doors of the Item Shop, but a quick tug on the handle revealed that the doors had been locked tight. Sure, he could have used his Keyblade to bust inside, but with the rest of the area reduced to a ghost town, he doubted he’d find anything new.

Turning away from the door, he snapped his fingers, letting the darkness swirl around him. In a matter of seconds, he found himself staring into the big, gaping hole outside the former forest.

The air was white hot, making his skin tingle and sting. The rein circuits now crawled up the wall and along the pavement, reaching about ten feet forward. Riku didn’t even dare to stick his head inside. Would it even matter? Until DiZ found a way to break through, it’d only lead to another assault of images. Flashes of memories way too fast to discern.

Thumping his fist against the wall, Riku turned the other way, once again slipping into a whirling sphere of darkness. The corridor dropped him just outside the Usual Spot’s black, metal gate, slightly ajar. His eyes wandered to the mouth of the tram tunnel, shining with a constant lining of jagged red lines. Scoffing, he swung the gate open and marched inside.

As luck would have it, there was still life left in town.

Hayner was pacing around the room, his knuckles white has he squeezed the hilt of his sword. Pence sat at the edge of the couch, a clipboard sitting in his lap, while Olette sat on a nearby wooden crate, giving her bat a quick swing. When Riku slipped through the cloth curtain, all three of them froze, gazes snapping towards him. Stuffing his sword into his sheath, Hayner dashed right over.

“Yo, Riku! You find anything new?”

“No, it’s just as empty as ever.” He moved across the floor, throwing himself onto the couch. “I checked the island, the Coliseum, Sunset Hill, everywhere.” But it was all the same, as if someone had rounded up all the townspeople and hauled them away. That, or they were all claimed by the Heartless. The mere idea made Riku shudder, and he shook his head, trying to stuff those thoughts to the very bottom of his mind.

At first, Hayner drooped over, eyes fixed on the floor. His fingers twitched. His back arched. His arms grew rigid, and he stomped his foot. His shoulders shot up, and his face contorted into a glare. Reaching for the hilt of his sword, he ripped the weapon out of its case and spun towards the entrance. No doubt he was about to barge outside, but both Pence and Olette rocketed towards him, grabbed his wrists, and yanked him back.

But this was Hayner. Of course he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Grumbling, he started to squirm, jabbing his friends with his elbows. “Guys, let go! I don’t care what you say. Somebody’s gotta put a stop to this before—”

“And what’ll you do to stop it?” said Olette, staring straight into his eyes. “This isn’t a game, Hayner. We can’t just let you do whatever boneheaded thing crosses your mind.”

“But—”

“Listen to her.” Riku crossed his arms, his face stiff as stone. “We’re the only ones left, and I don’t want you guys to disappear like—”

“…Like Seifer and everyone else.” Hayner’s eyes shut tight, and he deflated. “Even our parents. It’s just—”

“It’s wrong.” Pence sighed, peering down at his clipboard. “People don’t just disappear. And why now? There’s something we’re overlooking.”

“It has to be Ansem.” Riku struck the arm of the couch. “He’s gotta be doing something. I just don’t know what…”

Letting go of Hayner’s arm, Olette wandered over to Riku and seated herself by his side. “Well, has he done anything like this before?”

“…I don’t know.” He rubbed his brow. “I still don’t remember anything about him. There’s just this gut feeling I’m getting, like he wants us to worry. Guys like him will do anything to get under your skin… and under mine.”

Because isolation led to fear and fear led to weakness. And Ansem probably wanted Riku to break, that way he could scoop up all the pieces and put them together into his perfect vessel. Which meant—

“You guys might be next.” His arms wrapped around his shoulders. “I don’t want to think about it, but if Ansem wants me to feel alone, then—”

“Riku? Do me a favor and shut up.” Hayner cracked a weak grin, plopping down next to Olette. “Look, I get it. This Ansem punk’s trying to get to your head, but don’t you think he wants you to worry about us?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Give us some credit, man. We’ve come this far!”

“Okay, point, but—”

Hayner held up his hand. “Hey, I’m not finished yet. See, the thing is, we all started out as a bunch of dorky kids swinging around foam bats and stressing over homework. But now… Now we know there’s a whole lot more to worry about. I mean, you can’t get much bigger than impending doom, am I right?”

“Real encouraging,” said Pence, though he chuckled and soon joined Hayner on the couch. “But I can’t really disagree, either. I mean, just think about everything we’ve had to deal with over the past year. Bugs, glitches, finding out our whole world’s inside a computer… We’ve had our whole lives flipped around, and we still don’t have all the answers.”

“Yeah, but we have each other.” Hayner clamped his hands down on Pence and Olette’s shoulders. “And if that Ansem punk thinks he can tear us away from you, then he’s got another thing coming!”

Riku winced, gazing off at the wall. “But Ansem’s not like the Heartless. Even if I can’t remember everything, I get the impression that he’s—”

“Up, up, up, not another word!” Olette waved her index finger, wearing a lopsided smile. “We can’t let you handle this alone, silly. If you did, then wouldn’t you be giving Ansem what he wants?”

“Yeah, and if he really does have power over this place, then you’re gonna need backup.” Hayner placed a hand on his hip and raised a clenched fist. “And it’s like I told you before: we’re a team.”

Riku slapped his palm over his forehead and chuckled. “Yeah, yeah… I got the memo. Guess it’s just my pride talking.”

“Well, look who you’re talking to.” Hayner snorted. “If I had a magic Key, I’d probably be saying the same thing. But I don’t. Guess that gives me the wisdom to—”

“I wouldn’t push it,” said Olette. “You were just about to go out there alone.”

“But that’s not the point!”

“No, but I think I see what you’re getting at.” Riku smirked, throwing up his hands. “So… yeah, guess you guys win this round. I just wish there was something we could do.”

“There may still be a chance.”

The sudden sound of DiZ’s voice made Riku leap off the couch. His eyes zipped around the room, settling on a familiar bandaged figure. But how was—and why? Riku rubbed his eyes, trying to verbalize a response, but the sheer shock rendered him speechless.

There was… something different about him. His one visible eye was baggy. His posture was slightly slumped, and the frown that unraveled along his lips was small and weak, just barely visible, but clear enough to give an air of weariness. With a deep breath, he strode across the room, eyes fixed on the couch.

Hayner, Pence, and Olette all stared, though Hayner’s face soon twisted into a scowl.

“Oh, so you finally decided to show up, huh? Well, gee. Thanks for taking so long.”

DiZ glanced to the side. “I have not come here to bicker. There isn’t much time, and my patience has long since thinned.”

“So why are you here?” said Pence. “Didja find anything out about the bugs?”

“Yes, among other things…” He glanced through the bars of the ceiling, no doubt looking at the twisted sky. “But first, I would like to issue my sincerest apologies.”

Olette’s eyes widened, and she leaned back. “But what are you sorry for?”

“Many things, chief among them being the state of your home. You see, it was my own short-sightedness that created the glitches. In my frustration, I created a copy of Riku’s memories from which I created a replica and, had I deleted said data after her construction, there is a chance that this town would have suffered minimal damage.”

“Oh yeah?” Hayner scoffed. “So why didn’t you?”

“Because, at the time, I had… thought to keep a backup file, lest anything become of her. And now I cannot simply delete the data—it has become entangled with the core of the program and is steadily driving it on a path to its own destruction…”

All three of them gasped. Hayner’s face reddened and wrinkled, and his hands balled into fists. Olette flinched and gulped, while Pence hugged his clipboard to his chest. Riku, however, was completely still, save for a slight grimace. After all, DiZ’s words explained everything. It was practically a no-brainer.

Apparently that wasn’t good enough for Hayner.

Throwing himself down on the floor, he stomped towards DiZ, stood up on his tip toes, and spoke with a hot, sharp tone, as if he’d blow up at any moment. “Then do something about it! You’re the guy who created this place. Can’t you run some kinda virus scan? Untangle all the code? There’s gotta be something you can do!”

DiZ took his words without recoil, standing straight and tall. “There is, but it is not something I can solve instantaneously. Ansem has made this matter far more complicated than it has any right to be.”

“Then how do we beat that creep? If we do that—”

“it will solve a great deal of the problem. However, he has thrown himself into the very core of the corruption and has taken command of the data itself…”

Pence looked down at his clipboard, then made his way over to DiZ. “So where is that core?”

“It is as you suspected.” A ghost of a smile replaced his frown, wavering when he spoke again. “It would appear that the deepest corrosion lies where the mansion once stood, hence the peculiar state of the forest.”

Riku finally looked up, brow raised. “And how do we get in there?”

“I believe I have found a solution.” He peered at the entrance. “Unfortunately, it would be far too risky to disclose my methods… For the time being, I advise you all to wait patiently.”

“Yeah, great.” Hayner huffed. “But didn’t you hear? People are starting to disappear.”

“You should be safe here, for the time being. I have fortified the data and created a partition that should keep the corruption at bay.”

“So, what? We’re all just sitting ducks?”

“Would you prefer to fall into Ansem’s clutches?”

Hayner flinched, rubbing his shoulder. “…No.”

“Then it would be wise to remain here until I give the signal.”

Riku sank back onto the couch, gazing down at his palms. With a furrowed brow, he summoned his Keyblade and set it down in his lap. “So, suppose we do get inside. How are we supposed to beat Ansem? If he’s got control of the data…”

“Riku.” DiZ sent him a sharp look, hands tucked behind his back. “You may not remember, but there was a time when you ventured into the deepest darkness and triumphed. You are a capable Keyblade wielder, and ‘Ansem’ is a fool blinded by obsession.”

“...Right.” Riku took a look at his Keyblade, brushing his hand over Kairi’s charm. “Besides, I can’t just call it quits. Turning into Ansem’s puppet would really cramp my style.”

He nodded. “And I believe you have the strength to succeed.”

His jaw dropped for a brief moment, when he saw DiZ smiling again. It was so weird. In Riku’s memories, DiZ always seemed so cruel. So bitter, and now, he was giving his full support. What could have caused such a huge change?

Well, whatever it was, he couldn’t complain, especially at a time like this. Thus, with his Keyblade gripped tightly in his right hand, Riku strode over to DiZ and gave him a great big smirk.

“Well, with that kind of encouragement, there’s no way I can back down.”

“Well said.” DiZ chuckled, slowly turning his back on the group. “Now, I advise you all to stay together. Hayner, Pence, and Olette… keep a close eye on Riku, and Riku… Try not to stray too far.”

x.x.x

Was it ever going to stop? Was she ever going to find her answers? And why? Why was this happening?

She’d gone for weeks, hiding her face, keeping her distance. Maybe Aqua was right, though. Maybe she needed to confront the issue head-on. At least then she could clear her head.

Right now, Xion felt a hot, fizzling sensation at the pit of her stomach. Fire surged through her veins, replacing her initial icy dread. With heavy footsteps, she paced outside the Mysterious Tower, stopping every few seconds to gaze up at the windows above. It’d be easy enough to go inside. All she had to do was ask for Kairi, Naminé, Roxas, anyone to come outside with her, and then… Then she could at least have a chance at calming her now electrified nerves.

Holding her breath, she stopped, spun around, and took two broad steps towards the front doors, but before long, her feet became glued to the ground, and all she could do was stare. Fortunately, those doors cracked open before long, and soon enough, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy came bounding down the steps.

At first, they stared, but before long, three bright smiles spread across their faces. Kairi was the first to move, speeding ahead of the others.

“Xion! Thank goodness you’re back.”

She laughed shakily, giving a small wave. “I’m sorry if I worried you guys. I was just—”

Her words came to a screeching halt when Kairi yanked her into a surprise hug, and while at first Xion froze, it wasn’t long before she threw her arms around Kairi, and even less time before Goofy gave both girls a great big squeeze.

“There we go! Now we’re all together again, just like we’re ‘sposed to be.”

Her eyes stung a little, and she looked away. “Like we’re… supposed to be…? I’m not too sure…”

“Xion…” Donald moaned, strutting over to them with a huff. “What’d we tell you about that self-esteem?”

“I know, but lately…” She reached for her hood, then dropped her hand at her side. “Never mind. It’s stupid…”

Goofy pulled back, his expression suddenly firm. “Now, Xion, if it’s botherin’ ya, then there’s no way it’s stupid!”

Kairi nodded, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t you think it’s time you told us what’s wrong?”

She wrapped her arms around her torso, biting her lip. “I want to, but…”

“Then what’s holding you back?” When Kairi reached for her sleeve, Xion nearly jumped. “We want to help you, but we can’t do that if you keep pushing us away.”

She squeezed her eyes shut tight, lungs slowly inflating. Kairi was right. This had gone on long enough. She’d never come close to an answer if she didn’t just… show them.

So, nodding, Xion made her way to the stairs, seating herself on the third step. Kairi, Donald, and Goofy all sat down with her without a word, and after taking a good, hard gulp, Xion finally removed her hood.

Her eyes had gone from blue to turquoise. Her hair, once solid black, now shone with silver streaks and extended down to her shoulders. While her face still mirrored Kairi, and her body and clothes remained unchanged, there was no denying that something was wrong. Something beyond fears, doubts, and worries, and something beyond misplaced memories. Xion couldn’t even bring herself to look at the others’ faces, but their gasps alone gave a pretty clear indication to how they felt.

“Your face…” Kairi’s words came out strained, almost a squeak, and Xion’s heart twinged.

“G-gawrsh,” said Goofy, “what happened to ya?”

“I don’t know.” It was practically a whimper, and she started to reach for her hood. However, before she could even left it, Kairi’s hand flew over hers.

“You don’t have to hide it. It’s gonna be okay.”

“How can you say that? You’re not the one who’s—” She made a vague gesture at her hair and her eyes. “Well, just look at me!”

Donald stared at her for several seconds, made a soft grunt, but shut his beak before saying a word. In the mean time, Goofy patted her on the back.

“Now, Xion, I know this is probably real stressful for ya, but when did this all start? There’s gotta be some reason behind it.”

She breathed in, tugging at a strand of hair. “It was a week after I went into the simulation, and—” Her hand flew over her mouth as her own words sank in. She couldn’t even finish her sentence.

All the same, it was enough to make Kairi recoil and clutch her necklace with both hands. She didn’t say a word and didn’t make another move. All Xion could guess was that she’d connected the dots as well and that, maybe, she knew something more.

She wanted to ask, but seeing the pain etched into Kairi’s face left her hesitant. Her mouth opened slightly, but all she could do was watch in silence.

It was broken by the soft thud of the doors, followed by soft, shuffling footsteps. A quick look up revealed Naminé, her sketchbook hugged over her chest and her eyes fixed to Xion.

Once again, Xion had the urge to pull up her hood, but her hands refused to budge from her lap. Her whole body locked up as Naminé moved closer.

But if anyone would know, if anyone could get to the bottom of this, then… maybe it was her.

Once again, she took a deep breath, trying to shake off her nerves bit by bit. She scooted over a little to make room for Naminé, and after a few seconds, Naminé squeezed her way in between Xion and Goofy. A frown lined her lips.

“You really went into the simulation?”

Xion nodded. There was no point in hiding it, after all. “I had to. DiZ wouldn’t tell me where I came from, so I thought that Riku might…” She shivered, trying to fight off the images of her body transforming, flickering between Riku and Kairi. “I hoped he’d be able to tell me how we’re connected, but things got out of hand.”

Donald winced, voice shaky. “But why didn’t you come to us? We coulda—”

“Wait, you mean you knew?” She glanced frantically from Donald to Goofy and over to Kairi. All three of them avoided eye contact, nodding slowly. The heat sizzling through her intensified, blood coming to a boil, only to fizzle and cool within seconds, fading with a single, soft breath. “Then… why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because ya never asked. Plus, we thought you’d be happier just bein’ yourself without worryin’ about all that puppet stuff…”

“We were just looking out for you.” Kairi finally looked up, hands folded. “I guess we should’ve known better.”

“…It’s not your fault.” She shook her head, giving herself a small squeeze. “But, please, if there’s anything you can tell me, I’d like to know. Maybe it’ll explain why this is happening…”

“It’s because of your memories,” said Naminé. “I… think I finally have the answers you’re looking for.”

“Then could you tell me?”

“Yes.” She pulled open her sketchbook, stopping on a page that showed a small little island and three figures seated on the trunk of a curved tree. Orange and red lines created a sunset over the ocean. Sora, Riku, and Kairi… She knew this memory. “You see, Xion, the whole reason you were seeing Riku’s memories was because you’re made from those memories. At least, a copy of them.”

“But how could I be made out of memories? That doesn’t even make sense! And why would I look like…?”

“Because… I was Riku’s strongest memory.” A weak, almost sad smile lined Kairi’s lips, and she still avoided eye contact. “Xion, you’re a replica just like Xiruk. DiZ… well, when he placed Riku into the simulation, he took a copy of Riku’s data and created you. And I guess because his memories were all separated, the computer chose the most stable form it could.”

“DiZ created me…?” She looked down at her hands, voice cracking. If DiZ made her, than that meant he was… But he’d said before that she never deserved a family. He’d called her a puppet, reprimanded her left and right. And he made her!

It didn’t matter that she was a replica. Didn’t even matter that she was created. Under normal circumstances, she probably would’ve accepted both with open arms thanks to the support of her friends. This knowledge should’ve brought her peace of mind. It was the answer to everything, from her dreams to her appearance, to her powers and her origins.

Instead, she found herself shaking. An inferno burst to life in her chest. She clenched her hands in a vice grip, furrowed her brow and clamped her jaw tightly shut. Part of her wanted to scream. Part of her wanted to shout. Instead, she did neither. After all, DiZ wasn’t the real problem. Even if he’d mistreated her and even if he’d kept secrets, she doubted he was the direct reason for the changes that’d overtaken her. And so the inferno died down. Her heart became a pincushion pricked by several hundred needles, and despite her coat, she shivered, pulling her knees up to her chest.

“So, how come I look different?” Her voice was monotone.

Naminé’s head hung, and she squeezed the rings of her sketchbook. “I’m… not entirely sure. All the memories that make up your body are still there. I can’t think of any reason why you’d change.”

Donald hunched forward, arms crossed. “But wait a second. Isn’t Xion’s data cooped up inside DiZ’s computer?”

“But what does that have to do with anything?” It was just a file, wasn’t it? Unless…

Kairi’s eyes popped wide open, and her hands flew up to her cheeks. “Wait, but that data’s become part of the simulation. And you went in there. DiZ kept saying that something could happen if you came in contact with it, but—”

“So this is my fault?” She laughed, shaking her head. “Nobody told me. DiZ always said it was none of my business.”

“Nobody’s blamin’ ya, Xion.” Goofy squeezed her shoulder. “I probably woulda done the same thing if people were keepin’ secrets from me.”

Naminé looked up and leaned towards her, one hand pressed below her lips. “But I don’t see why your appearance would change unless something altered the construction of your memories. And even that’s a bit of a stretch…”

“…Maybe not.” Xion lifted her right hand, wiggling her fingers. “I just… I just want to know what’s going to happen to me. Am I going to keep changing? What if it gets to a point where I’m not even me anymore?”

“Don’t say that!” Kairi scooted closer, placing her hand over Xion’s. “No matter what happens, you’ll always be you.”

“But how can you be sure? If I’m made of memories, then… maybe those memories are starting to take over. Maybe my data’s trying to fix itself… I don’t know, but—”

“Then we’ll just have to find a way to un-fix it,” said Donald.

“Yeah! And can’t you do somethin’ about it, Naminé? Those memory powers seem like just the thing she needs.”

“I don’t know…” She breathed in, swallowed, and pulled her sketchbook closer to her chest. “I mean, I could try, but there’s a chance it’d make things worse.”

“Please, Naminé…” She locked eyes with her, voice trembling. “If you can’t fix this, I don’t know who else can.”

Naminé pulled her eyes off of Xion, peering off towards the cliffs. “I’ll… try, but you’ll have to be patient. Until I know exactly what’s wrong with you, there’s not a lot I can do.”

“Then… let’s just hope it isn’t serious.”

Her voice was low, and she wore a faint scowl. It wasn’t that she blamed Naminé or any of her other friends, but just sitting here talking wasn’t going to fix what was happening to her. Neither would waiting. Right now, she needed to do something. Anything to keep her mind off of all this.

So, even though she’d only just returned, Xion waved her hand, and her surroundings dipped into pitch blackness.

x.x.x

This was the moment they’d been waiting for all month. As he overlooked the entire Round Room, Zexion’s chest swelled with pride… as much pride as an empty shell such as him could experience, at any rate. His head was held high, his shoulders back, and a broad grin lined his lips, A quick glance to the side revealed Saïx, seated with his legs crossed, his arms resting in his lap, and his yellow eyes flitting about the room as if he was scanning each and every member. Then there was Xigbar, leaning back in his seat with his usual cocky expression. He said not a word, opting to watch and hopefully listen.

Well, with eight seats filled, it was time to begin the proceedings. So, clearing his throat, Zexion slid to the very edge of his throne and began to address the crowd.

“My fellow Nobodies, the time has finally come. Our Superior has given us a crucial task, one which will require courage, diligence, and above all else, strength.” He raised his right hand, curling it into a fist. “We’ve spent nearly two months preparing this scheme. Now, some of you may be wondering just what we aim to do… well, Saïx, I think I’ll let you explain this next part.”

Saïx bowed his head, his gaze even sharper than before. “Listen carefully. Especially you, Demyx.”

“Who, me?” Demyx gulped, waving his hands. “Hey, hey! I thought I was supposed to be off scouting for more—”

“I told you to listen.” His words were nearly a growl. “But yes, your task lies outside this world. You, along with Xigbar and Luxord are to continue seeking new alliances. And this time, I expect results.”

“Uh, r-right… I’ll just, uh… Yeah.” He gulped again, shrinking down in his seat.

“Now then,” said Zexion, “the rest of you have an equally important task ahead. For well over a year, Twilight Town has served as a safe haven for a number of our adversaries. The world as a whole is peaceful, placed gently between the light and the dark. Over the months I’ve spent observing the town, I’ve yet to spot a single Heartless aside from Sora…”

“How about you skip all that exposition and get to the point?” Axel rolled his eyes. He had a rather dry look on his face and was leaning sideways in his throne. Pitiful.

But no matter. Why let his ignorance creep under his skin?

“Simply put, we are about to initiate a little plan I like to dub Operation Eclipse. We have gathered an army, but this is not a task I can accomplish on my own.” He gestured to Lexaeus, then Axel, and finally Xaldin. “I need your cooperation. Together, with the combined might of Heartless and Nobodies, we shall blacken the skies and prove once and for all that the Organization is not to be trifled with…”

“And what makes you think it’ll work? I heard Xigbar already tried that at Disney Castle, and look at how well that turned out…”

“Heh, you think we don’t know that?” Xigbar’s grin stretched even wider. “Why do you think we’re sending four of you this time?”

“And besides, a very dear friend of theirs remains locked inside a computer… If that isn’t incentive to comply, then I don’t know what is.”

“Then we shall sever the rope?” Xaldin chuckled, and Zexion gave a nod of approval.

“We’ll raze the whole town if that’s what it takes. And as the world around them crumbles, they’ll finally understand that this make-believe game of heroics was destined to end in tragedy…”

TO BE CONTINUED