Chapter 4(Part 2):
Day 18:
Roxas was teamed up with Lexeaus and Axel to do some heart collecting in Twilight Town. Axel felt a little nervous around Lexeaus due to his large size.
Axel: "So big fella ready to thrash some heartless?"
Lexeaus: "No."
Axel: "What? But that's the mission, you have to do it."
Lexeaus: "No that's Roxas' mission. He is the only one who can collect hearts. We are only here to assist him, we are not supposed to actually destroy heartless."
Axel: "Well yeah, I was just...whatever."
Lexeaus: "If you truly want to help Roxas then focus, you will falter in battle if you don't give your full attention to it."
Axel: "S...sorry. I didn't mean to get you mad."
Lexeaus: "I'm not mad."
Lexeaus took the lead and began to walk to the station heights. Axel sighed and put his hand on Roxas' shoulder, he made a smirk and whisper.
Axel: "Lexeaus is such a stick in the mud, huh?"
Roxas: "Maybe but he is right Axel. I mean I want to be able to perform my missions as best I can.....so i'm willing to take Lexeaus' advice."
Lexeaus: "Are you two coming?"
Axel turned around to see the large man right behind him. He looked a little freaked out.
Axel: "Geez man, do ya have to sneak up on me like that?"
Lexeaus: "Your constant gwuacky is started to annoy me, Axel."
Axel: "Okay...i'll keep quiet."
The three defeated all sorts of heartless, from Dire Plants to Scarlet Tangos to watchers. There seemed to be alot more heartless out today and though Roxas was getting tired he wanted to impress Lexeaus. In a way Roxas admired Lexeaus' strength and courage. Roxas could talk to Axel easier but Axel didn't really take his missions all that seriously it seemed. Roxas took a breather while Lexeaus wasn't looking.
Axel: "Hey Roxas, don't tire yourself out just to impress Lexeaus."
Roxas: "No it's fine Axel. I'm just fine, I just need a moment."
Axel walked over to Lexeaus and looked at the man with annoyance.
Axel: "Hey listen, let's take a break. Roxas is tired."
Lexeaus: "Then perhaps he should dissapear."
Axel: "What?"
Lexeaus: "He has no reason to be tired. He has us helping him on this mission so why is he tired. It's really pathetic for a keyblade wielder to be tired."
Axel: "Hey man, that's not cool."
Suddenly a large group of heartless appeared consisting of Yellow Operas, Dire plants, and ice cubes. Axel summoned his weapons but Lexeaus stopped Axel from engaging the heartless.
Axel: "What are you doing?"
Lexeaus: "Let Roxas handle this himself."
Axel: "You're crazy! He's tired, he could get hurt out there. We're supposed to be a team I wont abandon a team member."
Lexeaus: "If you try to help Roxas I will have to break you Axel."
Axel: "Ah.....fine."
Lexeaus: "Roxas take out all of those heartless now!"
Roxas sighed and began attacking the heartless, a dire plant hit him with it's seed attack knocking him down allowing an ice cube to jump on him. Roxas used quick thinking and shot a fire spell at the ice cube destroying it before it could jump on him again. He used his keyblade to tear the a dire plant from the ground and threw it at a scarlet tango just as it released a fire spell causing the fire to hit the dire plant. Roxas caught the scarlet tango off gaurd and destroyed it. He used his quick thinking and his desire to rest to let out more of his strength destroying every last heartless in sight. Roxas breathe in and out.
Axel: "Roxas are you okay?"
Roxas: "Y...Yeah I am. Surprisingly I feel great."
Lexeaus: "That's good Roxas."
Axel: "What's your deal, that wasn't good teamwork letting him fight alone."
Lexeaus: "Actually it was very good teamwork. I wanted him to fight those heartless alone to prepare him for solo missions. What kind of team member would I be if I didn't try to prepare him for tougher solo missions? You see Axel, team work doesn't always come from aid in battle, sometimes it comes from preparing each other for greater battles."
Axel: "So this was a type of training?"
Lexeaus: "Exactly."
Axel: "Wow, I never thought of it that way. Sorry Lexeaus."
Lexeaus: "You are forgiven now let us RTC."
Axel was the first to enter the dark corridor but before Roxas entered he looked up at the tall man.
Roxas: "I wanted to say.....well thank you Lexeaus. Thank you for trying to help me prepare."
Lexeaus: "Just remember Roxas, you can't always depend on others, sometimes comes down between you and your enemy and no one else."
Roxas nodded and entered the dark corridor with Lexeaus following.
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Day 19:
As Roxas entered the grey room that day he saw Larxene arguing with Saix.
Larxene: "You can't do this to me!"
Saix: "It's already been decided."
Larxene: "I refuse to go with the brat and the nerd! I mean why do I have to go with BOTH of them! One of them is hard enough to deal with!"
Saix: "Then you three can grow closer to each other on this mission because this is a team work training mission."
Larxene: "Saix I swear to you one day I...."
Marluxia stood up from the couch and put his hand on Larxene's mouth to keep her from saying anything that may jerpordize their plan.
Marluxia: "Larxene now you shouldn't talk back to Saix like that. It may get you in trouble."
Marluxia tightened his grip on Larxene's mouth causing her to make a slight moan of pain. Then he removed his hand and walked back to the couch and sat down closing his eyes for a little more sleep before his own mission. Zexion walked over to Roxas and sighed.
Zexion: "Could this day get any better? (Sarcasm)"
Roxas: "What do you mean?"
Zexion: "We have to go on a mission with Larxene. I'd rather be in the organization's lab then with that neophyte."
Roxas: "Wow, no one really likes her huh?"
Zexion: "It's her own fault for being the witch she is."
Larxene walked over to the two and pulled Roxas ear.
Larxene: "Are you two talking about me?"
Zexion: "Of course not your highness! (Sarcasm)"
Larxene: "Rrr...let's just get this over with."
Saix: "Today you three will be doing team training. You three will have to work together and use the clues to find the treasure we have prepared for you."
Roxas: "Treasure?"
Saix: "Yes we have a treasure hidden in Twilight Town. Work together to find the clues that will lead you to the treasure."
Saix opened a dark corridor and number VI, XII, and XIII entered it arriving at the Station Plaza.
Larxene: "Okay here are the rules. I'm not working with you weirdos. You two looks for the treasure together and I will look for the treasure alone. Now have fun boys."
Larxene walked off toward the sandlot.
Roxas: "Ah who needs her."
Zexion: "I think we need her. The clues wont be easy to find. We will have to use our elements to find the clues and without Larxene I don't we can."
Roxas: "So what do we do?"
Zexion: "We find what clues we can on our own and then we try to get Larxene to help us. Maybe by then she will have calmed down."
Roxas: "Right..."
The two began searching in the underground passage for clues. Roxas noticed some words scratched into the wall but it was written in some sort of code. Zexion looked at the words and realised he could figure this clue out. He summoned his lexicon.
Zexion: "I can solve this one myself Roxas. Now watch closely."
Zexion placed his book on code and then opened his lexicon.
Zexion: "You see? My lexicon and translate any code into whatever language I want. According to my lexicon the code says the next clue can be found where nature blossoms."
Roxas: "I wonder what that means?"
Zexion: "Come on Roxas think. Use those skills Vexen taught you during your recon mission."
Roxas: "Oh! Nature....the forest outside of the town!"
Zexion: "Excellent Roxas. You're getting better at this recon and intel gathering."
The two walked to the forest destroying any heartless they found on their way there. Once there however Roxas couldn't figure what the clue meant by "Blossom".
Roxas: "I don't see any flowers around here so the clue couldn't possibly refer to flowers."
Zexion: "True."
The clouds moved away causing the sun to shine through the trees in the forest. Suddenly a few flowers started to bloom. Roxas picked one of the flowers up and tried to figure out what this meant.
Roxas: "These flowers didn't start to bloom until the sun began to shine."
Zexion: "But how is that a clue?"
Roxas: "Oh! The clock tower! It's the best place to watch the sunset!"
Zexion: "You think the next clue is at the top of the clock tower?"
Roxas: "Yeah, me and Axel go there all the time for ice cream."
Zexion: "Really? That sounds kinda nice...."
Zexion thought about sun sets back when he lived in Radiant Gardens. Things were really good back then for him, he was respected in the town as a boy genius. His parents were so proud, but then he remembered their terrified faces as he watched them become heartless. Roxas noticed how sad Zexion looked.
Roxas: "Zexion?"
Zexion: "What? Oh sorry Roxas. Let's get to the clock tower."
Roxas: "Okay."
The two used a dark corridor to get to the top of the clock tower. Zexion was completely stumped now, what were they supposed to do now.
Roxas: "Now what?"
Zexion: "Not sure.
Zexion looked closely at the hands of the clock and then it came to him.
Zexion: "I see now. The hands of the clock they've stopped. We probably need to get them moving a again. We could use Larxene's lightning to jump start the clock but we have you. Why don't you go ahead and use a thunder spell to get the hands moving."
Roxas: "I would but....well I don't know thunder magic yet. All I know is fire and recently blizzard magic."
Zexion: "I see. Well Saix sure did set things up to where it would require all of us to find this treasure all right."
Roxas: "What do you mean? I haven't been able to help."
Zexion: "Of course you have. If you hadn't been so familar with the clock tower I would have never found the connection between the sun flowers and the clock tower."
Roxas: "Wow...I guess I did."
Zexion: "Now let's go find Larxene shall we."
Larxene: "No need."
Larxene came from behind the corner and looked at the two boys with a devious smile.
Larxene: "I knew you boys would need me. Now get on your knees and beg and give this clock a good shock."
Zexion: "Pardon my language Larxene, but you can kiss my butt. I'd rather fail a mission than bow to you."
Larxene: "Fine then I guess it's mission failed."
Roxas sighed and got on his knees.
Roxas: "Please help us Larxene."
Zexion was shocked Roxas was doing this.
Zexion: "Roxas..."
Larxene: "All right fine"
She cast a thunder spell on the clock tower causing the hands to move to the 12:30 position. Then the hands stopped working again.
Roxas: "Oh no, it stopped."
Zexion: "No, I think the hands were supposed to stop like this. One hand is pointing straight up."
Zexion opened a dark corridor and transported to the area above the clock then he returned next to Roxas holding a treasure chest. Zexion opened it and pulled out a shining shard.
Zexion: "Here Roxas you can use this item later on once Saix let's you use the shop."
Roxas nodded and watched as Larxene RTC through a dark corridor.
Roxas: "She didn't even say goodbye."
Zexion: "Roxas, you have a quality I lack."
Roxas: "I do?"
Zexion: "Your alot more humble than I am. You were willing to bow to Larxene for the sake of this mission where I was not. You showed me such loyalty to the organization today by sacrificing your pride for this mission. You have earned my respect. Now let us RTC."
Roxas: "Sure."
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Day 20:
Marluxia and Vexen stood next to Saix as Roxas entered the room.
Saix: "Your mission today Roxas will be with Marluxia and Vexen. I'll be sending you to a new world today."
Roxas: "You mean there are more worlds than just this castle and Twilight Town?"
Saix: "Of course, many more worlds in fact."
Roxas: "Wow, the universe sure is big."
Vexen: "Don't be intemidated Roxas. You will learn to get used to it as you travel to many other worlds."
Saix: "Now go you three."
Number IV, XI, and XII entered the dark corridor arriving in dark place with a river of souls.
Marluxia: "I've heard of this place but i've never been here. This is the underworld, the land of the dead."
Vexen: "Don't strain your simplistic mind today Marluxia because we are doing recon."
Marluxia: "I'd be worried more about straining your mouth more than anything, Vexen"
Vexen: "How dare you! I am number IV and you are number XI, you have no right to speak to me in such a manner."
Marluxia: "Vexen, an elderly dullard such as yourself should know when to be silent. Espicialy since you are speaking to your superior."
Vexen: "What do you mean, Marluxia?"
Marluxia: "I suppose someone such as yourself would not be as well informed about this matter so I wouldn't expect you to know. Xemnas has ordained me Lord of Castle Oblivion."
Vexen: "WHAT!!!!!!! How could he? Why would he make you lord of the castle?"
Marluxia: "Simple Vexen, i'm just more qualified than you."
Vexen: "How dare you, How DARE you!"
Roxas was becoming annoyed by their argument.
Roxas: "Guys! Listen we have a mission to complete. You two can argue later but let's complete this mission first."
Marluxia: "My sincerist apology Roxas. I am ashamed to let myself get wrapped up in a senseless feud with my colleauge."
Vexen: "Trust me Marluxia, I will speak with Xemnas about this. It's an absolute outrage."
Marluxia: "Do as you wish, Vexen."
Roxas began the investigation by observing the river of souls, he figured if he started that it would get the two more interested in the mission rather than arguing. Roxas suddenly felt weak he began to stumble before falling into the river of souls. Marluxia heard Roxas fall into the water. He ran to the river's edge and felt his body get weak as well.
Marluxia: "Roxas!"
He reached his hand into the water and pulled Roxas out. Roxas was breathing hard and he looked alot more pale but his normal healthy complexion soon returned. Vexen looked down at Marluxia's hand which had become skinny but soon returned to it's normal size.
Roxas: "Wow that felt horrible."
Vexen: "It seems that the river of souls causes living beings to grow older maybe until they die even."
Marluxia: "It also seems the underworld weakens us as well. This is going to make the battles here difficult."
Roxas: "Thankfully there are three of us then."
Vexen: "True, so let's stick together as we head deeper into the underworld."
As they went deeper into the underworld Roxas noticed little white glowing balls that kept appearing. He exaimined them and saw they were made up of the stuff like the souls in the river were.
Roxas: "These things are souls too. But Why aren't they in the river of souls?"
Marluxia: "Because they probably were noble and true in their life."
Roxas: "Huh?"
Vexen: "In some cultures people believe that depending on how you lived your life will determine what your after life will be like. These white souls were probably decent people in life and thus they were spared the punishment of being in the river of death for eternity."
Roxas: "Wow, this place just keeps getting creepier and creepier."
Marluxia: "We should find more if we continue deeper into the underworld."
Suddenly a group of bad dogs appeared.
Marluxia: "So the welcoming party has arrived, don't give into fatigue Roxas."
Marluxia felt slower as he ran toward a heartless but even still the long range of his scythe allowed him to destroy one of the bad dogs before it got away. Vexen didn't move much, he just used his ice magic to destroy heartless but his ice melted much faster due to the underworld. Roxas had to rely on fire spells mostly, he started to feel sick but he was able to keep himself together long enough to defeat the last of the heartless.
Roxas: "Man that was intense."
Marluxia: "The heartless certainly have the advantage here."
Vexen: "Then we have no time to talk, we need to continue moving before more heartless show up."
Marluxia: "For once we can agree on something, Vexen."
The three went futher into the underworld eventualy finding themselves on the edge of the river styx. Roxas noticed their were torches with blue flames all over the underworld.
Roxas: "I wonder what these torches are for?"
Marluxia: "I believe I may have your answer Roxas."
Marluxia pointed at the ferryman Charon sailing on the river.
Vexen: "That must be the one who carries the souls from the world of the living to here in the underworld. These torches must be lit in order to light his way as he travels across the river."
Marluxia: "We should leave before the ferryman notices we are not deceased."
The three kept walking along the shore until they arrived at what looked like a giant skull. They entered the skull and traveled up the steps until they arrived at the top. They looked through the crack in the door and saw a grey skinned man with blue flamed hair. They listened in as the man spoke to himself.
Hades: "Curse it all! Hercules keeps messing up all my plans. There has to be some way I can destroy him! Hercules the greatest hero in all of greece, hah! More like Jerkules the pain in my side that wont go away."
Roxas looked at Marluxia confused.
Roxas: "Who is that?"
Marluxia: "Obviously he is a being of great power. I believe he is the God of the underworld. That would make this man Hades, the lord of the dead. He rules this whole underworld."
Roxas: "Wow really? Sounds like he has a temper as big as a God too. So what have we learned?"
Marluxia: "The underworld only weakens us, the heartless are more powerfull here, the river styx is deadly if we were to remain in it for too long, and the great lord of the dead has a deep dislike for someone named Hercules."
Vexen: "I suppose we're finished."
Marluxia: "I will be the one to determine that."
Vexen: "You smug little brat!"
Roxas sighed, he just wanted Marluxia and Vexen to shut up and stop arguing. With his mission finished he opened a dark corridor and RTC just so he could get away from Marluxia and Vexen.
As Roxas walked to his room he was met by Axel.
Axel: "Hey buddy ready to grab some ice cream?"
Roxas: "Not today Axel I have a massive headache."
Roxas entered his room and laid down for some sleep. Axel remembered that Marluxia and Vexen were teamed up with Roxas today he figured the two must have been arguing.
Axel: "Oh well, good thing we wont have to deal with Marluxia and Vexen much longer."
meanwhile:
Vexen entered the organization's lab where Zexion and Lexeaus were finishing packing their things for Castle Oblivion.
Vexen: "I can't believe Xemnas made Marluxia Lord of Castle Oblivion."
Lexeaus: "Let it go Vexen. We have more important things to worry about at Castle Oblivion. Marluxia is just a fool."
Zexion: "Yes, the chamber of waking. I heard that there may be a friend in there."
Zexion thought back to the conversation he had with Xigbar about the chamber of rest back when Marluxia first joined the organization. He remembered that Xigbar had said he heard someone speaking to Xemnas in the chamber of rest.
Vexen: "Are you saying Xemnas is trying to find the chamber of waking because he believes someone is in there?"
Zexion: "Exactly, I believe that he is looking for a friend."
Lexeaus: "Does it have something to do with those three?"
Zexion: "You mean Terra, Aqua, and Ven? Yes I believe so. But until the time is right we should keep this under wraps."
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"Marluxia and Vexen really got on my nerves yesterday. Today I had a mission with Axel where we had to take out some scarlet tangos but nothing interesting really happened today. Speaking of Marluxia and Vexen I haven't seen them or Larxene, Lexeaus, and Zexion all day. I wonder where they are."
-Roxas
Day 21:
Marluxia was walking to the Hall of Melodies where the other Castle Oblivion members were waiting. He met Larxene in the hall way.
Larxene: "Marluxia, I just wanted to give you something for luck."
She put her arm around his neck and gave him a deep passionate kiss. Then she pushed her nails into Marluxia's neck drawing blood. Marluxia made a moan of pain and pushed Larxene off of him.
Larxene: "That was for shutting me up the other day and hurting my mouth when I was arguing to Saix. No man hurts me like that and gets off scott free. Not even you Marluxia baby."
She walked off to the Hall of Melodies. Marluxia grabbed a bandage in the near by bathroom to cover up his scratch and then he entered the Hall of Melodies. Marluxia stood with the other Castle Oblivion members as Xemnas came in to speak holding Namine's hand. Saix looked at the blonde girl with disgust.
Xemnas: "This is the girl Namine. Use her power over Sora's memories to perform the memory experiments. I trust you all not to fail this mission."
Larxene: "Where's Axel boss?"
Xemnas: "He will be joining you soon. Now Marluxia rule Castle Oblivion well. Good luck to all of you."
Marluxia took Namine by the hand but she tried to escape.
Namine: "Let me go! Let me GO! Please!!! God help me!"
Xemnas looked at Namine and slapped her across the face then he forcefully turned her head forcing her to look at him.
Xemnas: "There is no God. There is no hope. In this castle, in this organization, over all nobodies...I am God. I am your God. Right, Namine?"
Namine was scared to death, she began crying. Xemnas was actually surprised she could cry, it must be her memories of emotions making her cry he assumed.
Namine: "Yes Xemnas...you are my God."
At that moment Namine had lost all hope of escaping this terrible group. She willingly went with Marluxia into the dark corridor with the other castle oblivion members following. The dark corridor closed in front of Xemnas. Saix just witnessed the cruel nature Xemnas was capable of.
Saix: "I have to go give Luxord and Demyx their missions today."
Xemnas: "Very well, you are dismissed Saix."
Saix went to the bathroom first and turned a sink on, he splashed his face with cold water, shaking in fear.
Saix: "Why am I feeling this fear? Just watching that sent shivers up my spine. I have to ignore this fear, everything will soon start to fall into place. As long as Axel doesn't fail."
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