The Year Between [Alpha Draft] - Pt 56;

[keybearer]

Chapter 56: Force Your Way

How could this have happened? How could they have been so blind? When Xemnas appeared in Twilight Town, they should have known an attack was soon to follow. Yet they did nothing to prepare themselves. They failed to issue warnings to the swarms of civilians now scampering through the streets. Trapped in the Sandlot, Aqua couldn’t shake the images of Zip Slashers and Soldiers ripping their blades and claws into their prey, tearing out hearts, and creating more spawn of the darkness. She could imagine the screams. Even from here, she heard a constant stream of explosions, saw smoke slithering into the sky.

And as the destruction continued, the Nobody stood perfectly still, grinning as the shadows eclipsed the whole town.

Keyblade trembling in her grip, Aqua thrust her weapon toward the sky, sending a dense bolt of electricity plummeting over his head. Instead of striking that foolish man, the bolt pierced a Windstorm’s skull, sending sparks racing down its spine to the tip of its hooked tail. The Heartless squealed, burst into purple smoke, and a heart shimmered and twirled skyward. The mere sight made Aqua grind her teeth. Something deep within her snapped, and she whirled around, slamming her weapon against a Zip Slasher’s claws.

The man was gone, but his laughter rang over the Sandlot.

She barely had time to react before a Dragoon lunged at her, striking its spear into the ground. A white, circular shockwave spread around it, and Aqua leaped up, thrusting the tip of her Keyblade towards the pavement and sending it flying back with a shockwave of her own. Unfortunately, two more Dragoons leaped down to aid their kin. Unfortunately for them, their spears struck a strip of glowing dots, and an explosive flash consumed them, leaving nothing but ash in their place.

Red claws swept at her from the right, and Aqua swiveled around, parrying with her Keyblade. She flicked her weapon, and a black circle flashed around her, ripping fifteen enclosing Soldiers off their feet. Their bodies became encased in glassy, translucent spheres, and though they clawed and squirmed, the barriers refused to snap. As they helplessly orbited around her, streaks of purple lightning shot down, piercing the spheres one by one. A quick glance to the right revealed Sora, flashing her a thumbs up. She would have thanked him for the assistance, had another Dragoon not dived down at her, forcing her to cartwheel to the left, leap up, and dive down at the Nobody once more.

Her eyes darted past the now flaming benches and bushes and towards the archway leading into the Station Heights. She bent her knees and prepared to sprint when she caught something whirling in from the corner of her eye. Grimacing, Aqua leaped out of the whirlwind’s path, threw up her Keyblade to deflect an Armored Knight’s broadsword, and sent a circle of bright yellow pillars crashing down around her.

The lightning impaled one Windstorm’s skull, pierced another’s left wing, skewered a third’s back, and sent seven Armored Knights toppling forward. Their metallic bodies twitched and flailed before they burst into smoke and shards of metal blew through the air. Covering her mouth, Aqua cloaked herself in a barrier, while Sora sank into the ground and Kairi whipped up a barrier of her own. But while Kairi stood still, Aqua charged forward, still shielded, and sent the hexagonal plates whirling into a line of four Zip Slashers, knocking them off their feet.

A white-pink glow flashed down her body, and her Keyblade began hovering outside her grasp. With Spellweaver active, Aqua proceeded to dash diagonally to the left, blasting bits of ice at the burning benches, bushes, and board. A black and brown figure descended on her, its clubbed tail thrashing, and Sora dived down from the rooftops, striking its neck like a cannonball. Despite his small size, the force of his tackle slammed the Dustflier into the wall of a nearby building, and he began slashing at its neck to hold it in place.

Clanking footsteps behind Aqua told her that reinforcements were on her way, but she couldn’t just abandon Sora and Ven! So, with a scowl, she sent her glowing Keyblade whirling into the Dustflier’s left wing and slammed straight into a swooping Windstorm, whirls of electricity spiraling around her.

Her blow sent the Heartless crashing into two Armored Knights and three Zip Slashers, and Kairi zipped into the fray, piercing their backs with a volley of glowing white orbs. The Shotlock sent the Armored Knights wobbling to their knees. Their armor flew apart, and hearts rose into the air. A final, purple bolt pierced the Windstorm’s chest, its body exploding. At least one heart had escaped the Organization’s grasp.

But while the Zip Slashers staggered from the blows and teetered from foot to foot, they soon steadied their balance and charged at the two Keyblade wielders. As they wound into a spin, Aqua sent her magic-cloaked Keyblade whirling into their chests, while Kairi sliced across them from behind. At long last, they tumbled face-first into the ground, hearts bursting through the gaps of their armor. However, the moment was bittersweet. The hearts were free, only to drift past the clouds, no doubt toward Kingdom Hearts.

Panting, Kairi cloaked herself in green light. “What are we gonna do? If we keep this up—”

“I know.” She shook her head, then gasped as the air lit up with a storm of fireballs. Without another word, Aqua shoved Kairi out of the way and thrust her arm out to the side. A barrier flashed around Kairi, but before Aqua could shield herself, one of the flames struck her chest, then another singed her cheek. Hissing, she finally began pulling sheets of clear hexagons around herself, but they came crawling around her, slow as a snail, while the fireballs dropped ten times as fast.

Slow status… Of course.

Before more flames hit their mark, the air around her shifted, and a violent whirlwind began blowing all around her, sending the flames flying back at the Dustflier’s face, wings, and chest. It gave her enough time to focus her magic, and a ring of orange spheres whirled around her, freeing her from her sluggish status. With momentum restored, Aqua squinted and turned in a full circle. A mob of about twenty Soldiers came sprinting her way, claws wiggling. Above them fluttered ten more Windstorms, while six Dragoons dropped down from the rooftops. Wobbling from left to right, the Dustflier sluggishly joined the enclosing crowd.

A light bulb flashed to life inside her head, and she shot a brief glance at her friends.

“Kairi, Sora! Get moving. I’ll be right behind you.”

Nodding, Kairi waved her hand, banishing her Keyblade in a flash, and tore past the crowd, all eyes fixed on Aqua. Gulping, Sora glanced from Kairi to Aqua before scampering on over to Aqua’s side. At first, Aqua opened her mouth to protest, but Sora shook his head, pointed at her Keyblade and then to his chest. That simple gesture was enough to make her relent, and she took a step back. All the while, Sora dived into the crowd, flinging fistfuls of green flames, ripping his claws through the Soldiers’ chests, and assaulting the Windstorms with an onslaught of electricity.

While Sora mauled through the crowd, Aqua’s eyes scanned the swarm. A ball of light swelled at her Keyblade’s tip and, with a deep breath, she lunged forward, spinning like a top. As she twirled, the orbs rocketed out of her Keyblade’s tip, blasting Dragoons in the snout, shoving Windstorms back against the building walls, and burning holes in the Soldiers’ chests. Green streams of fire trailed down the Windstorms’ wings. One, two, three, four light spheres struck the Dustflier, flipped it over, and sent it crashing on top of ten of the remaining Soldiers. A fifth blast crashed into its Heartless emblem, releasing the heart inside, while Sora kicked up off the ground and dived onto the helmets of Soldiers and Armored Knights.

Within moments, the crowd had dwindled, and Aqua bolted towards the Station Heights with Sora by her side, but as they charged, more Minute Bombs leaped down from the decks of Battle Ships, gathering along the flat roofs of apartments and bursting into smoke and flames.

The ground rumbled. Bricks and concrete rained over the hill, only to stop abruptly and fly backwards, swirling around an immense, glowing sphere. A quick look up the hill revealed Kairi, Keyblade once again in her grasp. With her eyes wide, she waved at the duo, stopping only when more bombs and cannonballs rained down from on high.

This destruction was sickening, and it’d gone on long enough, so before those Heartless could even make their mark, Aqua spun in a full circle, surrounded by three flickering, purple spheres. The surrounding street flashed. Waves of blue energy crawled over the bricks and up the walls of the remaining buildings. Before the bombs hit their targets, they were pulled towards Aqua, orbiting wildly around her. The Battleship captains spun the wheels of their boats, but soon they were dragged into the orbit as well. And, with everyone in place, Sora snapped his claws, encasing each Minute Bomb in a thick block of ice. The anti-gravity field hurled each of the Heartless out in a broad circle, launching them at the edges of buildings, but just as the Minute Bombs hit the walls, Kairi whistled, and the sound of ticking filled the air.

Clapping his hands, Sora opened a corridor, and Aqua smacked her Keyblades against each bomb, sending them sliding down the hill and into the portal, like hockey pucks flying towards the goal. Each Battleship lay on its side, temporarily grounded, and so, after exchanging glances, the trio continued their sprint up the hill, ducking under plummeting debris, leaping over blockades until, at last, they reached the Station Heights itself.

The stench of fire and smog polluted the air. They didn’t make it very far before the sounds of screams caught Aqua’s ear. A rather portly man tugged on the hands of his two daughters, but a Wyvern swooped over him, scooping him up in its talons. A stampede of people thundered down the hill, pushing, shoving, tripping over one another while Large Bodies slammed them against buildings with their giant fists and Soldiers delivered spinning kicks, knocking over entire sections of the crowd like lines of dominos. A rainbow of Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, Yellow Operas, combed through the crowd, striking people down with flickers of lightning, freezing citizens in jagged icicles, and setting their clothes ablaze with a downpour of fireballs.

All of this in less than ten seconds. Aqua didn’t even take the time to think before she thrust herself into the fray, fire blazing in her eyes, lava coursing through her veins. Bright orange flames consumed her Keyblade’s tip, and in the heat of the moment, she launched herself straight at one of the Wyverns.

With a single swing of her Keyblade, the temperatures spiked. An immense sphere of orange light erupted around her. The surrounding Wyvern’s crashed into the pavement, their bodies crumbling to ash. Soldiers, Large Bodies, and Blue Rhapsodies exploded at once, leaving smoke and glittering hearts in their place.

Breath heavy, Aqua glowered at the remaining swarm and pointed her Keyblade toward the arch that led to the Tram Common. The people, all wide-eyed, continued scurrying and scampering down the hill. When a hand touched her shoulder, her whole body tensed.

“Aqua, we need to be careful! If we get too crazy with the Heartless—”

“I know that, Ven, but what choice do we have?” Another loud rumble alerted her to a cream colored apartment midway up the hill, now beginning to topple forward. Fortunately, another magnetic sphere flashed into view, grabbing the chunks of debris and holding them in its rapid, spinning orbit. In the time it took her to respond, Kairi had already zoomed past her and was now ripping Heartless off the ground, one sphere at a time.

Ven said nothing more, though when Sora moved in front of her, he wore a big puppy dog pout. Nonetheless, he began warping over the crowd, pulling people into portals while more Heartless began spinning through the air. At least thirty people tore past Aqua, though further ahead, she saw Soldiers pinning citizens to walls and ripping hearts out of their chests. Wyverns swooped over rooftops, dropping Defenders and Fat Bandits, while Air Pirates and Air Soldiers hoisted people into the sky.

More purple pillars grazed their wings, and the Heartless flailed, dropping their captives. Dashing through the air, Sora scooped up the falling citizens and set them down near the Tram Common’s entrance. Meanwhile, Aqua hurried up the hill, fixing her eyes on a wall of Red Nocturnes swooping down at her, a rampaging Guard Armor hurling its fist at an elderly couple, and each of the Defenders stationed atop the nearby buildings. A ring of rainbow colored orbs twirled around her, then split off, striking the Heartless like bullets and staggering them in the process.

In time, she reached a wide, flat area on the hill, where a pile of debris stood next to giant garage door. Four teens stood face to face with a man dressed in black, tall, muscled, and with wiry brown hair. Another Nobody and another threat.

One of the teens, a silver-haired girl, grabbed the wrist of a boy dressed in a black beanie. A short boy with a tall, pointed hat and a shadowy face shivered behind a burly, tan boy in a red tank top.

The boy in the beanie glared at the man, teeth bared. “This is your last warning, punk! Get out of here and take your monsters with you!”

The man scoffed. “I’ll not yield to a group of children, and besides…” He gazed at Aqua. “If anyone is to blame, it is the Keybearers for their defiance.”

“T-them?” The little Black Mage shivered. “But they’re the ones fighting the monsters…”

“Save your excuses.” The boy in the beanie stomped closer to the man, who refused to flinch. “I know trouble when I see it, and this town was fine until you and your little freak show popped up!”

“Stop!” said the girl.

“No! This is only the beginning!” The boy charged at the man, throwing his fist at his face, but the man caught it with his enormous hand.

Aqua had seen enough.

With the man temporarily preoccupied, Aqua rolled under the Guard Armor’s gauntlet and dashed in from the side. With a flick of her Keyblade, three fireballs swerved at him, striking his ribs and knocking him into the garage door. His grip loosened on the boy’s hand, and the girl latched onto the boy’s wrist and began scurrying up the hill. The tan boy and black mage scrambled behind them, but as soon as Aqua was about to deliver a blow to the man’s chest, the ground quivered, and a spike of earth erupted below her feet.

She flipped over, landing ten feet away, and prepared to charge again, but the man scowled, hoisting a thick, curved blade over his shoulder. A snap of his fingers sent six more Battleships swooping over the rooftops ahead of them. Minute Bombs leaped off the ship decks, blasts from the Battleships’ cannons immediately detonating them. The air bellowed with the sounds of explosions. Sharp chunks of stone and bricks blew into her path, forcing Aqua to crouch behind a barrier.

The buildings collapsed, forming a twenty-foot barricade between the garage and the path to the station, and the man’s shadow stretched over the pavement, yellow eyes rising from the depths.

“I won’t waste my time fighting you, Keyblade Master. If you truly care about this town’s well-being, then turn your Keyblade on the Heartless at once.”

Crimson claws rose from the shadows. Armored heads popped up soon after. A horde of Soldiers encircled the man, and Aqua grimaced.

“So this is what your Superior considers a collaboration?”

“It was your persistence that pushed us this far.” He waved his hand, and the Soldiers all lunged at her. With a growl, Aqua swished her Keyblade, raising the Heartless with Magnega. She tried to stride closer to the man, but the Guard Armor crashed into her path and thrust one of its fists at her chest.

It only made it halfway before Sora flickered down in front of her and shoved the Gauntlet off to the side. Eying him, the man shook his head.

“Continue to defy us, and we’ll level the entire town.” Sora’s back arched at his words, and he charged directly at the man. With a scowl, he slammed his axe-sword into the earth, rocking the earth beneath their feet. More spikes erupted, shoving them into a pile of bricks and pipes.

Rubbing the back of her head, Aqua pushed away from the debris and tumbled past the Guard Armor’s spinning kick. She then retaliated by skewering its torso with a giant, icy stalagmite. Its gauntlets briefly dropped to the ground, and a quick look at the garage revealed that the man had vanished.

If only the same could be said about the Heartless.

A tidal wave of Soldiers leaped down from the wall of debris. A flock of Wyverns swooped over the duo, spinning at them like torpedoes. Aqua threw a barrier around herself and Sora, grabbed him by the wrist, and dashed down the hill, hexagons whirling against enclosing Soldiers and Wyverns alike. Icicles rained down from the rooftops, followed by flames, forcing the two to split apart and zigzag down the hill, swerving between lightning bolts and ducking beneath snapping talons.

Armored fists flew down at them from behind, forcing Aqua to twirl around and knock its fists back with another barrage of light. Within seconds, she and Sora skidded down to the bottom of the hill, where they found Kairi at the head of a cowering mass of citizens.

As the two made their approach, Kairi continued planting mines to ward off lumbering Large Bodies and sprinting Soldiers. Eying the crowd, Sora ripped open another corridor, and while the masses gaped at the sight of him, Kairi smiled and pointed her Keyblade at the portal, giving her silent approval. Soon the townspeople began diving into the darkness, leaving only the trio and their Heartless adversaries.

An explosion from the direction of the Tram Common soon plucked their eyes off their attackers altogether, and the three barreled through the archway as it came crumbling down.

x.x.x

What Sora saw on the other side made him want to scream. Too bad that wasn’t an option.

Smoke covered the entire square, shrouding everything but the hundreds of yellow eyes glimmering up ahead. Snapping his claws, Sora parted the fog with a breeze, revealing countless piles of pipes, bricks, concrete, and neon lights scattered across the wide, round street like mini mountains. Deep craters and jagged cracks scarred the rust-colored ground, and as soon as they entered the square, all eyes fell on them.

Behemoths bellowed and stomped through a sea of Armored Knights, Soldiers, Zip Slashers, Large Bodies, and Fat Bandits. The sky filled with Battleships, Surveillance Robots, Wyverns, Wizards, firing off lasers, flames, icicles, cannonballs, and lightning bolts all at once.

Crescendos came bouncing down from the distant stairways, joined by rampaging Assault Riders and revving Magnum Loaders. Sora didn’t even give his friends the time to react before he grabbed their wrists and hopped into a whirlwind of black smoke.

At this rate, they couldn’t afford to comb through the crowd. They needed to get to Riku now.

Dropping out of the portal, they landed about ten feet from a concrete wall, just a short jog away from the woods. A loud CRASH from behind pulled Sora’s eyes over his shoulder, where he saw a Behemoth thrusting its head forward and flinging concrete plates into the air. Lasers and cannonballs continued to rain down. Clawed hands and talons swept over the group. A barrier flashed around them, and Aqua pressed her palms forward, knees bent and teeth clenched. Sora was about to pull open another portal when he spotted a lanky, red-haired figure standing next to the hole.

He leaned into the wall with his arms crossed and cracked a wide, toothy grin. “Trying to cut corners? Way to miss out on the fun…”

“You call this fun?” said Kairi. “Because of you, innocent people are losing their hearts!”

“Big whoop.” Axel flapped his hand, shifting sideways. “In case you forgot, we’re Nobodies. This whole world could burn to the ground, and we’d keep on smiling anyway.”

Aqua’s chest heaved, and she squeezed her eyes shut. “So your memories mean nothing to you? Wasn’t there a time when you were human yourself?”

“Sure, but that’s all in the past, and the only way we’re gonna get our hearts back is if you kids do your job.” His tone was a bit uneven, and for a split-second, Sora could’ve sworn he saw him wince.

And that wasn’t all. Pressing his face close to the barrier’s edge, he stared at Axel and sniffed the air.

Are you sure about that? It was faint, but when Sora shut his eyes, he could see a tiny light flickering before him. He felt a soft, weak pulse, like a tiny seed had planted itself inside him but hadn’t started to take root.

Lasers ricocheted off the barrier. Lightning bolts crashed at the edges, leaving black smears on the ground. Kicking its forelegs, an Assault Rider charged at the shield, jabbing it with its spear to no avail, while Aqua’s legs began trembling.

Axel’s eyes widened a little, and he raised an eyebrow. “Of course I’m sure. I’d know what I’m feeling better than anybody, and right now, I’m not feeling a thing.”

With a soft moan, Aqua dropped the barrier and dashed behind the Assault Rider’s back. Its tiny, armored head peered over its burly shoulders, and it planted one hoof on the ground, turning in a swift pivot. It squeezed its spear in both hands and took off in a blazing gallop. Three more Assault Riders charged from behind, and Aqua ducked low to the ground, then sprung up high, blasting them with beams of light. Twirling her Keyblade like a pinwheel, Kairi deflected incoming fireballs and icicles and leaped onto a Surveillance robot’s back, blasting lasers straight at the Behemoth’s glowing horns.

Sora’s claws scraped the pavement, and he flew forward like a missile. Twenty Magnum Loaders zoomed his way and Sora grinned, flicking his wrists and encasing their wheels with ice. A band of Crescendos started to honk, and Sora catapulted himself at their trumpet-shaped snouts and ripped through their bulbous bodies. And the whole time, Axel just stood there with a smirk, like this was all some big show. If he weren’t preoccupied with the Heartless, Sora would’ve rushed right over to him and slugged him in the face.

Instead, Ven shouted out to him. “Lea, I thought you were better than this!”

You know he can’t hear you, Ven. Sora sighed, delivering a spinning kick to a Wyvern’s snout. And even if he could, I don’t think it’d matter.

“Ven?” Axel’s eyes widened yet again, and he scratched his head for a moment. “Why does that name sound so familiar? I got it memorized, but…”

Clubbing the back of an Armored Knight’s helmet, Kairi zipped between Sora and Aqua. “It looks like he’s lowered his guard. This might be our chance to get away.”

“Hold on, Kairi.” Aqua cast a glance at Axel, brow furrowed. “Are you saying that you knew Ventus?”

“Ventus, Ventus…” He squeezed his eyes shut and shuddered. “Wait a sec, you’re one of those Master types, right? Which means you were around before the Heartless were even a problem…”

Right on cue, a Behemoth came crashing down in front of them, kicking off a wide, round shock wave. Latching onto Sora and Kairi’s wrists, Kairi, kicked off the ground and hurled her Keyblade at the Behemoth’s horn. When she landed, she lunged past its hulking body, and Sora snapped, filling the air with the sound of ticking.

She slid to a stop about twenty feet from the wall. “That’s right, and Ven was and is still one of my closest friends.”

And he looks just like my Nobody! Doesn’t that ring any bells?

“Now that you mention it—” He stopped abruptly when Kairi began tip toeing towards the forest. Snickering, Lea flicked his wrist, and a whole wall of Red Nocturnes dropped down in front of the hole. “Nice try, princess, but you aren’t getting off the hook that easily.”

A wave of fireballs blew at her like cannon fire, and Kairi tumbled to the left. Two Wyverns swooped down at her, only to crash into a sparking ball of electricity, which burst out into a ring of sparks. Then, just as a gang of Magnum Loaders charged at the group, Aqua twirled around, and the temperature dropped so low that Sora began shivering. White mist whipped all around them, and one by one, the Magnum Loaders, Assault Riders, Crescendos, and Soldiers all stiffened, trapped within blocks of ice. A bright aura flashed around her body, her Keyblade started floating outside her grip, and while Kairi sucked up more of the Heartless in a magnetic sphere, Aqua launched at Axel himself.

Her Keyblade whirled at his chest, but he spun to the side and threw up one of his Chakrams to block. “Nice move, but don’t you think you oughta be worrying about—”

Sora lunged into his side before he could finish, pinning him to the ground. If you don’t send the Heartless away, you’re the one who’d better start worrying!

Axel wheezed out a laugh. “Oh, I don’t know…” Pushing his palms against the pavement, he flung himself forward, knocking Sora off balance, and before he could counter attack, three flaming pillars hurled him against the wall.

Sora dropped to the ground and rolled to douse the fire, then came barreling right back at him, ice creeping up his claws. Fire swirled around Axel’s hands, transforming into two Chakrams, which he lobbed at Sora one after the other, only for Sora to flicker out of their path, warp right behind him, and drag his icy claws right down the middle of Axel’s back.

He yelped, bent forward, and snapped back around. His chakrams spiraled back into his grip, and he slammed his foot on the ground, coating the ground with crackling back rocks and rivers of bright orange lava.

As soon as Sora’s shoes touched the rocks, he leaped up from the sudden heat. Axel hopped back and threw his arms forward, sending a torrent of fire flying at Sora’s chest. Teeth clenched, Sora jerked to the side and retaliated by blasting an icy mist from his palms. The Blizzaga spell got within inches of Axel before he dashed to the right and flung his flaming discs right at Sora’s arms. But while the Chakrams sliced his skin, Sora refused to flinch. Grinning, he warped right above Axel’s head and gave him a big, spinning kick. The blow sent him staggering forward just in time for Aqua to come dashing his way, her body surrounded in a cool, white glow.

She slammed into him, kicking up snowflakes, then bounced back before slamming into him a second, then a third time, and performing an uppercut that knocked him into the air. At the same time, Kairi leaped down from a Behemoth’s back, knocked away two charging Wyverns with a swing of her Keyblade, and stopped next to the hole in the wall. Axel’s eye twitched, and he flipped forward, but before he could fling his weapons, Aqua smacked him down with her Keyblade and struck the lava floor, sending giant icicles spiking into the air.

His face smashed into the lava below, and he grumbled. “Sheesh, and I thought Larxene was nuts.” He started to push himself up, but Sora lunged at him again, shoving him against the wall before he could even grab his spiky Frisbees.

Now, I’m only gonna tell you one more time. You let us get to Riku, or we’ll pull out the big guns. And trust me, you really don’t wanna get on Aqua’s bad side.

Axel shook his head. “Even if I do, it won’t change a thing. The Heartless won’t stop until you kids either give up, take a hike, or let this whole world fall apart.”

“We won’t give up,” said Aqua, striding over to the hole. “We’ll do whatever we can to ensure this world’s safety, even if it means fending off a thousand Heartless.”

“Then go.” He pushed Sora back and straightened his spine. “Just don’t blame me if it all goes south.”

Sora caught himself on his palms, jaw dropping. Wait, you’re really gonna let us pass?

He shrugged, waving both his hands. “Hey, I don’t wanna end up a living popsicle. Besides, your little princess friend’s gonna need backup.”

A quick look around revealed that the Heartless had once again stopped, all eyes fixed on Aqua. Blinking, she shot a glance at the swarm, then back at Axel. “But I thought you didn’t care what happened.”

“Yeah, well, it’d kinda screw things up if anything really happened to Riku. Might as well give you a head start before these guys flatten the whole forest.”

One of the Behemoths sprung into the air, diving down over the Keybearers. Left with no other choice, Sora and Aqua split off in opposite directions, while Kairi dashed through the hole. As the Behemoth’s shockwave combed across the ground, Sora flattened himself to dodge the blow and the barrage of lasers that followed. By the time he popped back up, Axel was nowhere in sight, and the Heartless continued their approach, sprinting, galloping, rolling, flying, and lumbering towards the wall.

Aqua’s body glowed pale blue, and she thrust her Keyblade out to the side. With green flames cloaking Sora’s hands, he crouched down on all fours, and the two charged into the woods.

x.x.x

With her Keyblade in hand, Xion stomped into the computer room, eyes fixed into a glare, posture straight and stiff, heart throbbing, and blood burning as hot as the sun. Roxas stalked silently behind her, unarmed, eyes scanning the room, not that there was much to see. Beyond metallic pipes running along the walls, the grate to the far right corner, various metallic boxes against the walls, and a few stray projections up by the ceiling, flickering with numbers, the only real attraction was the cluster of computer screens at the end of the room, each monitor shining blood red.

For a moment, the heat within Xion dwindled to tiny embers. Her expression softened when she saw DiZ slumped over in his chair, breath heavy and audible. His fingers slowly tapped at the keys. His whole posture was loose, like a sack of flour that’d been tipped over. It was strange, and the sight pricked her heart like a bunch of tiny needles. Before, DiZ stood tall, firm, commanding the entire room to give him their undivided attention. He towered over her like a mountain, his presence making her feel like a tiny, harmless mouse.

But that feeling was gone, and if the circumstances were different, Xion might have rushed over to his aid.

It was too late for that.

Looking down at her Keyblade, Xion took a deep breath and continued across the floor. As she drew close, DiZ’s shoulders rose, and his hands curled into fists.

“You dare to return now of all times?” He swiveled his chair around, but his gaze lacked its previous sharpness. In fact, as soon as he saw Xion, his eye bulged for a moment, and he leaned back in his seat, only to stop, shake his head, and force his face into a stiff scowl.

“I have to know the truth,” she said, taking another step closer. “I want to know why this is happening to me! Why’d the simulation—”

DiZ’s head snapped back and forth, and he gestured at the screens. “There is a reason I forbade you from entering the datascape. You are a puppet comprised from corrupt data, and that very data has since merged with the system, devouring it like a parasite.”

“So what?” said Roxas. “That doesn’t explain why Xion’s changing. And if you’d have told her about this sooner, maybe she wouldn’t have had to go in there!”

DiZ bristled and cringed. “Be that as it may, I cannot change what has already transpired. The simulation has hit a downward spiral into chaos, and if I cannot stop it, then the damage could very well reach this world…”

“Well, if you hadn’t treated me like a puppet, none of this would have happened!” She swept her Keyblade in an arc, glare sharpening. “I know exactly what I am, but you made me, DiZ. How could you create someone just to treat them like a tool?”

He averted his gaze. “Because I believed that I needed one…”

“That’s not good enough!” Roxas lurched forward, arms bent. His fingers flexed, but for now, he remained unarmed. “Don’t you get it? Xion’s hurt. She’s scared, and you’ve never done anything to help her.”

“And what would you know of fear, Nobody? You are an empty shell. A being incapable of emotion…”

Xion’s grip on her Keyblade tightened. It took a lot of will power not to shout. “If anyone is heartless, it’s you, DiZ. At least Roxas acts like he cares.”

DiZ’s chair swerved toward the monitors once again, and he began striking the keys without a word. Gritting her teeth, Xion took another step towards him.

“Please, you’re the only one who can help me!”

“She’s got a right to know!” said Roxas, and DiZ burst into dry, bitter laughter.

“This is hardly the time. At this very moment, Riku is venturing into the very core of the corruption, and if I cannot concentrate—”

“Well, we’re not leaving until you tell us,” she said.

His eye twitched, and he growled. “Ever the defiant one. First, you abandon your mission, then you forsake your own master, and now you have the gall to demand answers from me?”

“Just tell her!” Purple flames swirled around Roxas’ hands, and he wrapped his fingers around the hilts of his swords.

But even with Roxas’ weapons drawn, DiZ scoffed and said, “I will not take orders from a Nobody.”

Roxas stepped back, knees bent and teeth bared. Xion was about to reach for his shoulder, but before she could budge, he bolted across the floor, swords raised, green fire shooting from the tips all the way to the hilts. At the same time, DiZ’s eye popped wide open. He threw up his hands, sending a pool of shadows crawling across the floor and straight into Roxas’ path. The mere sight made Xion’s heart twinge, and she lunged at Roxas, shoving him out of the way.

Her feet started to sink. Her body wobbled forward, and a quick look down revealed a swirling black pool below feet. Gasping, she tried to pull herself out, but in less than a second, she started plummeting. Eyes wide, Roxas leaped at the corridor and extended his hand, and while Xion tried to reach it, her fingers swept past his.

Soon the darkness enclosed around her, and her surroundings turned pitch black.

x.x.x

Roxas fell to his knees. His swords flew out of his grip, clattering against the floor. For several seconds he stared at the cold, blue bricks where the corridor—where Xion once stood. The only sounds he heard where the buzzes and screeches of the nearby machines. DiZ didn’t say a word. Didn’t make a move, and when Roxas looked up, he found that he, too, was gaping at the ground. Was he seriously surprised that this happened?

His brow grew so tight that it pinched his skin. Snapping up his Soul Eaters, Roxas threw his legs forward and stood up straight. Squeezing his swords, he stomped right up to DiZ, pointing one of the blades at his neck.

“Where is she?!”

He slowly looked away. “I don’t know. My goal was to send you away from the mansion—I had no destination in mind.”

His sword trembled, but he refused to pull back. “Then guess. You’re the one who… who—”

“…I know.” He heaved a loud sigh, nudging the sword away. “To willingly hurl herself into the darkness like that… Self-sacrifice is a behavior I would have never attributed to a mere puppet.”

Roxas snarled, lowering his sword. “When will you get it through your head? She’s not a puppet! She’s…”

“And… I never would have attributed such rage to a mere Nobody.” Another sigh, and he sank back into his chair. “I cannot fight, if that is what you seek. My only weapon is my mind, and it has already left countless scars.”

Roxas lifted his blade, only for his arm to drop limply at his side. His shoulders hunched, and he glared at the floor, but that was it. What was the point? Even if he beat this guy up, it wouldn’t solve his or Xion’s problems.

“I’m gonna go find her.” He took two steps forward, then stopped, peering over his shoulder. “But can you at least tell me what’s happening to her? It’s my fault that she’s…”

“Self-pity will not change anything, but if you must know…” He hesitated, gazing up at the screens. “I suspect it is a result of her coming into contact with her original data. Perhaps she has suffered further corruption… I cannot say for certain.”

Roxas made a sound like a gasp crossed with a moan, hanging his head. So it really was his fault. If Xion hadn’t gone into the computer, then she would’ve been okay. If she hadn’t stepped inside, all those could’ve been avoided. Sure, it’d be easy to pin the blame on DiZ, to lash out at him just to dull the pain.

But why did it hurt to begin with? Where did that rage come from?

He squeezed his eyes shut, flicked his wrists, and let his weapons vanish into smoke. Then, without a word, he waved his arm and pulled up a dark corridor of his own. He didn’t bother to say goodbye or even give DiZ a second glance, and before long, the chilling darkness wrapped around his skin, dropping him at the entrance to Yen Sid’s chamber.

There, he found Xiruk and Mickey gathered around the desk. All three were crouched over a wide piece of parchment.

“So, the way I see it, if we can make it into the dark city, we should be able to slip under the radar. There’s blind spots between all the buildings, so if we time it just right—”

Yen Sid stroked his beard, eyes darting across the page. “The question is, how do we intend to breach the world, let alone the castle?”

It looked like they were in the middle of something important. Roxas even turned to the doors and thought about slipping away, but as soon as he reached for the handle, a hand came down on his shoulder, making him jump.

“About time you got back.”

He gulped. “Xiruk, I—”

“C’mon, you’re just in time! Maybe you can add your two cents to—”

“I can’t!” He backed away, bumping into the doors.

Mickey pushed away from the desk, frowning. “Gosh, Roxas, is something wrong?”

He nodded, his whole face crinkling up. “It’s about Xion. She’s—”

Mickey’s hands flew over his mouth. “Is she hurt?”

“…I don’t know. We went to see DiZ, and—”

“You what?!” Xiruk stepped back, hands slamming onto his hips. “Roxas, why didn’t you tell us before—”

“I know I messed up!” He struck one of the doors. “I know… But the point is, she’s missing. I got this stupid idea to try and attack DiZ, so he opened a corridor, and… Xion fell through it instead.”

“Ah, so she could be anywhere.” Yen Sid took the words right out of his mouth, eying the group with a calm gaze. “But Xion is capable of utilizing corridors herself. It is entirely possible that she will return before long.”

“Yeah, but… What if she doesn’t want to? Or what if she wound up somewhere dangerous?”

Xiruk breathed in, tightening his hold on Roxas’ shoulder. “Then we’ll find her.” He looked to Yen Sid. “That’s okay with you, right?”

His lips curled into a smile. “Xion is a valued member of our team and a friend besides. If you feel that she is in need of your aid, then go.”

With Yen Sid’s approval, Roxas muttered a quick thanks. Nodding at both him and the King, Xiruk snapped his fingers, pulling a corridor up and around them.

They didn’t know where to start or if they’d even succeed, but now more than ever, Xion needed their support. There was no way they’d abandon her now.

TO BE CONTINUED