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Chapter 5
     “Man… This Sonic… dude… isn’t easy to… find…” The same spiked hair red head breathed hard as he stopped for a rest. His hands were on his dark clothed knees, bending over out of breath. “Where would… a stupid… hedgehog… like him… be?” Truth be told, he half expected the answer to fall down on his lap.
     No such luck.
     “Man… I need… a breather…” He fell onto the back of his dark cloak, spiked hair pushing against the ground. The charred path behind him evident as his hands moved against the ground, not a sign of life present. Truth be told, it didn’t bother him, it couldn’t. There was no reason for him to do any of this. There was no amazing revelation he had or epiphany he realized that showed him why he should do this. There was only one reason why he was doing this. The only reason why he betrayed the Organization, why he let all of his ties go, why he risked never gaining back his heart.
     It’s name was Roxas.
     A good friend, no, a great friend that had shown him how important it was to follow what was right. The only person who was ever able to show him the truth of what it meant to be a friend.
     Ever since he had lost his heart, from the very beginning, the red head fire Nobody had always thought that the only thing a friend was, was a person that held a neutral agreement with you. An ally that was just worth trusting as long as they gave you what you wanted.
     The dirt spiked hair kid had shown him just how wrong he was. How true a friend was just by being there, helping each other with nothing to gain. It took him a long time to learn that, and it had almost cost him his life as a cost of it. Helping out the original. He almost died helping the REAL Roxas, helping his friend’s heart.
     The Flurry of Dancing Flames had helped the Key Master himself.
     Sora.
     That ignorant punk. He was just like Roxas. Had to be, that was the only reason Axel could really think of for helping him. Helping a part of his old friend, with nothing to gain, but everything to lose, and he almost had.
     But now here he was, helping those he could fight of the Nobodies he was knew, and still is. Bitter Ironic. He chuckled at his jumbled thoughts, realizing just how hopeless it all seemed.
     “Looking for a Blue Hedgehog that can pass the speed of sound, not one to be easily caught, and has been missing for an entire year. Just how the hell am I supposed to find this dude anyway?” His dark gloved hands came up from the ground and rubbed his tired face. It shouldn’t have been this hard. Well, okay it shouldn’t have been easy either, but they were all supposed to be dead.
     He killed Vexen, saw Marluxia get ripped apart, laughed as Sora destroyed Xaldin, witnessed Riku destroying Zexion, and encouraged Sora to kill the rest. But here they were, all but 5 missing. One who had found his heart, himself, and three who had actually been killed, thankfully. It was obvious that Demyx was gone, he had cried at his own death. The only real sign so far of pain that a Nobody can feel.
     The memory was dark, but at the same time, hopeful. All the other nobodies who had faked their death had simply vanished into the darkness, like they already did. Only Demyx had cried out in pain at the feeling. And until he felt that kind of pain, he had no intention of letting go.
     Lexaeus had a good chance to live, no doubt, but the fool had tried to corrupt Riku with the last of his powers, a move that might of worked, had he not realized that the King was on his side.
     “Just one more reason why I’m alive and he not, I guess.” His breath was coming back, he could feel it. “Better start moving again.” With a good lunge, he threw himself back onto his feet, bending as comically and random as fire could. With a snap of his fingers, the famous red chakram that he loved materialized back in his hands, spinning with the fire that they possessed.
     “Ha ha,” He snickered to himself as he looked down at his blessed weapons. There was no way he could have gotten as far as he had with out them. The still fragment of his memory that he had kept through his torture in turning into a nobody. That small piece of memory that kept him who he was.
      If his attempt at destroying Organization XIII at Castle Oblivion was any indication of it, memory was important. Without it, he could end up fighting all those he had sworn to protect upon the friendship with Roxas. Sora had lost his, and he had almost forgotten about Kairi in the process. He wouldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t forget Roxas, he wouldn’t forget who he was, he would forget her…
     Larxene.
     “Wow, I can’t believe she’s still that important to me.” He spoke to himself with his sly grin plastered on his face. “Doesn’t matter now though.” It was a defeating blow to know that the one person he had cared that deep for was in too deep herself to leave, but that was that. Too deep to leave, and no room to breath. Facts were facts, that was what he always went on. Sora was Roxas, Roxas was his friend, his friend needed help, so he helped. And now, these creatures were in trouble, trouble that Organization XIII had caused, a cause ha had a hand in. He had to stop it, anyway he could.
     “Gotta keep looking.” He muttered. He was ready to sprint again, let the fire rule the ground beneath him and push him at that speed again, but just as he was about to, he was stopped, by a thing he never thought would have.
     A waist high purple cat.
     “And just where might you be going?”
     A waist high talking purple cat.
     He audibly laughed. Hard. At the sight.
     “What do you find so amusing?” It kept talking, so he kept laughing. Seeing one of these things from way the other way, watching them move around was one thing. They looked like ants in march from far away. But as soon as he got close to one, like now, watching it talk to him. It was too much. To the red head Fire Nobody, it was like watching a beanie baby come to life, pure comedy.
     “What do I find amusing? You talking kitty!” He spoke quickly in between his laughs. The movement of his body was far exaggerated now. Bending low quickly, one hand on his hips, and the other pointing at the waist high animal.
     “I’ve seen your kind before, but I’ve never actually talked to one. Hee Hee. I must say,” He grunted briefly before continuing, “Now I really have HEARD everything.” He laughed more, both hands covering his hips and he finally fell to the ground, rolling around like a young child in his youth. Even being watched by the, so far, unaffected cat did little to affect his sense of embarrassment.
     “Ha Ha Ha,” The cat replied dryly to the spiked red head, “Not tell me, seriously, what are you doing.” Her arms, assuming it was a her by the chest and voice, stared down at the dark cloaked hysterical man as he looked back at her. He smiled back up to her scowl. A fake smile, it had to be, be a warm smile non the less.
     “I’m looking for someone actually. I don’t suppose you have seen him by chance?” Axel quirked an eyebrow to the cat. She didn’t make a move. But she did respond.
     “I doubt it. I’m… a bit new here you could say. I’m looking for someone my self. Maybe YOU have seen them.” One of her white gloved hands pointed back to the ground where the man was still laying, making no attempt to sit or stand up.
      “I’ll go first, then you?” It was a question, not a demand. Best keep allies now, he thought, the more now, the more later. The female purple cat gave out a sigh, rubbing a strange red jewel upon her head before she continued.
     “Fine, have you seen a blue hedgehog, as tall as me, with VERY upbeat personality?” Her eyes relaxed as she asked the question. Axel, on the other hand, stiffened immediately as he took a face of seriousness.
     “You have got to be kidding me. That’s who I’m looking for!” He shot up from the ground, landing on his feet, and turning back to the cat without missing a beat. She had the same shocked expression a mouse would give seeing a dog chasing a cat.
     “Goes by the name of…. Sonic?”
     “Yes! You know where he is?” The red head sighed, leaning one of his dark gloved hands on his head, which was resting on his other hand, which was resting across his chest, which was… yeah.
     “No one knows where he is apparently, and I need to find him for –”
     “For what? What’s going on now? Is it Eggman attacking?” This cat definitely was new here.
     “No… actually, he could be called one of the good guys right now, but I need Son -”
     “A good guy! You can’t be serious?” Right about now, the Fire controlling Nobody wasn’t feeling it, but his mind certainly knew it. He was growing a little more than annoyed with this cat.
     “Look, I don’t know what he did to you, but the fact is there are much worse things happening now,” He quickly put his palm up as the cat opened its mouth to speak, but she grew silent as he continued. “I need Sonic so he can help me find everyone else that is capable of stopping this threat. Now, if you know where his is, or how I can find him, please tell me.” His green eyes were stern as he asked the question, the cat replied with equal valor.
     “I don’t know where he is, that’s why I’m looking for him, but maybe we can look together. I just need him for…. Well… um, him?” Odd as it seemed, even to the emotionless red head, a cat blushing while talking was usually a rarity, especially when it was talking about trying to find something. But for now, he let the teases slide. This was life or death, possibly his life.
     “Fine, you can help me look for him, but I hope you can keep up.” Without another word, he started running again. It didn’t matter where he ran, there was no destination to finding someone, he just ran. What started to surprise him, was the female cat that was running with him. No fire to boost her step like he did, or lighting ride on like Larxene, just… plain… running…
     “I can keep up just fine,” the cat mocked back to the clearly shocked red head. “But stop running now.” Her voice went from joking to serious in a switch that would make Larxene jealous, damn, why were all of his thoughts continually going back to her? Regardless, he did stop his spray of fire, ending his speed till he stood still.
     “What did you want kitty cat?” He asked her as he crossed his arms, bending down one more to get eye to eye with her. It only took two seconds for Axel to realize something.
     Bad Move.
     The cat had grabbed the back of his cloak and pulled him forward quickly enough to drag him off his feet. In effect, he was looking into the eyes of a pissed off cat, on his knees with one more little detail catching his eyes.
     One of her hands was alive with fire, just like him.
     “Why are you cursed like me? How do you command the same kind of flames that I was born with?”
     Definitely a bad move.
---------------
     “Not worthless, huh?” The white bat grinned broadly at the blushing echidna. Oh, she had him right where she wanted him. Admitting a feeling she herself doubted he had, and blushing ear to ear because of it.
     “Well… not entirely, but… you can’t except everyone to hate you.” Was that really the best he had?
     “Aw, that’s sweet Knuxie.” Oh, how easy this guy was manipulated, it made her laugh at his gullibility. A few tears and batting of the eyes, she could make him kiss her feet. Might want to try that sometime. But for now, there were more important matters to think of.
     “So where is that Master Emerald of yours Knuxie?” Rouge questioned innocently as she bent one of her shoulders low, giving the echidna a seductive look as her eyes batted. The cracking morality of Knuckles was almost audible at this point.
     “Stop looking at me like that,” he muttered as he turned his blushing face away from the bat, this was just getting to weird at this point.
     “Aw, what’s the matter Knuxie?” She asked the same way as before. She was having fun with this. Maybe too much fun, but what was the harm of dangling her sexuality in front of him like meat to a lion. Oh yea, lion’s eat the meat.
     “Stop calling me that too,” His eyes were ready to pull back in his head if it meant getting a glimpse of her. His mind fought furiously to put such thoughts away, but his heart was winning out.
     *SNAP*
     Knuckles snapped into position.
     “What was that?” The bat asked the male in front of her, all seductively was gone from her voice. Now, she was attempting her best adjust herself up, keeping her weight off of her still injured legs. The sharp sense of her bat senses had picked up the very same twig breaking as Knuckles, but unlike the guardian, she could not defend herself now, not with two injured legs.
     “Rouge,” Knuckles spoke quietly. Wait, HE SAID HER NAME! This couldn’t be good, he had almost never before called her anything before except batgirl or thief, but very rarely her real name. This wouldn’t turn out well.
     “What is it Knuckles.” She felt more than inclined to return the favor of names to the protecting guardian.
     “Fly.”
     The guardian jumped into the brush ahead of him, screaming a battle cry.
---------------
     Xemnas looked out onto his army of Heartless. Their eager twitching for destruction and orders, awaiting what the darkness would tell them to do next. Patient wasn’t the word to describe them. Take an eye off of them and they would attack anything in sight. Someone always had to watch, monitor, impend upon them.
     The leader of the Nobodies himself, was patient. As such, often put himself in charge of monitoring the army. Any other would be easily distracted, letting even the most carefully laid of plans going to waste. And such, while the others did the grunt work, he watched and waited with the Heartless, never letting them out of control or out of his sight.
     “You’re late.” He appeared to speak to no one. Upon his perch above the Heartless, he was the only figure present. Not even the wind was there to talk to him, yet there, talking to nothing.
     That is, until something appeared.
     “You’re ability to sense me continues to astound me.” A portal of darkness ripped through the air behind the white haired leader. It swirled with a mass of envy, hate, and lust. The most powerful emotions that darkness could bring forth. Ironic, that the darkness they used refused to give them the emotions it so often loved to give out.
     With a powerful stomp, a large boot emerged from the portal, landing on the ground behind the Leader Nobody. With the foot planted, two powerful green hands emerged from the same portal, forcibly grabbing the sides, ripping it even larger in diameter. The sound of space tearing did manage to do one other thing then give entrance to the mysterious figure. It silenced all the millions of Heartless beneath them in the plain below. The powerful form that emerged was draped in the same black cloak as the leader and sadistic blonde before him. His hood, however, was down, revealing one of the oddest sights one could behold.
     A green skinned, red haired, red-eyed man, standing just less than 8 ft. tall. The red spun hair was twirled back in a fashion to keep it tight against the scalp of his. To hold it down, of course, golden spun jewels were wrapped around the braids, holding them tight in place. But the most disturbing sight of all, was the red jewel embedded in his head. Not a piece of jewelery, nor a symbol of decoration, but a jewel of power literally embedded into his forehead. Even with all that had just occurred, the Heartless leader never even glanced behind him through the entire ordeal.
     “I still would like to know how you were ever capable of sensing me through the void. That is a talent that I’m sure could have been put to good use before.” The man spoke to the white haired man before him. Theirs eyes did not meet, but their minds still worked as one.
     “Nothing I have I let waste. The power of Nothingness that I hold, I use to its fullest extent whenever I can.” Xemnas explained in his same monotone voice, never even blinking away from the still silent Heartless. It wasn’t their time to be unleashed, not yet, not until a few more of this world’s heroes were under his control. Just like Wicked Kindness. This nobody was still stationed just by the leader’s side, staring at the new entrant of the world. Her yellow eyes twitching within their empty sockets.
     “As much as I love the talk of power, I still have need to know where it is you want me to go. The faster we get this done, the faster I can return to my land of birth, and kill that wretched hero.”
     “That is precisely why I have called you here Xagnon.” The green skinned man remained mute as the white haired leader began to deliver him the next phase of the plan to open Kingdom Hearts, although a look of confusion did grow upon his face. They’re haven, their hope, and their home.
     “I am well aware that back on the world that you came from, there was another blade of holiness that was said to be a key. I’m sure you are familiar with it.” He spoke deliberately, slowly, and demandingly. This plan was just as important to him as much as any other member of the team, there would be no exception for failure, and no excuse for denial.
     “Bah,” Xagnon scoffed, twisting his arms in front of his chest in an annoyed manner, his shoulders hunched down to show how disliked the topic was. “That cursed weapon was blessed by the gods. Not even I can touch it. What would you want with that anyway? Aren’t you still ringing those Keyblade holders under you hand?”
     “Indeed I am, but they are growing wise, and we need more hearts, more quickly.” With all the concentration he could muster, the tan skinned man turned to face the giant before him, standing at least a foot taller, and the green skin made him no less menacing. But for once, fortunately, the lack of emotion gave him a lack of fear.
     “So you want me to get the blade here? But I can’t touch it, it’ll kill me. I’m damn sure my mind’s impure, and that is the one thing it judges, the one thing we keep.” He was not attempting to destroy the plains, but merely, make sure they would work. When it came down to the facts, a failed plan had the same consequence as a poorly planned one.
      “I understand the situation, as I’m sure you have not forgotten that I cannot touch the keyblades as well.” The red head scoffed once more, but remained silent for the rest of the explanation, he wanted to hear this.
     “You don’t have to take the blade, just it’s weilder,” returning his staring to the millions of Heartless beneath them with his own set of piercing gold eyes, he waved his hand in a circular fashion to the side of his head, directed towards Xagnon.
     “Make them your puppet. Certainly, do not show them who you are, but give them a new enemy to hate. If you wish, take some of the Heartless from below, I can sense the darkness within them begging for an order, a response to their calling.”
     “I will do as you ask Xemnas.” The man turned walking away at a slow and deliberate pace, the very earth beneath him pounding with every foot step that was taken underneath his massive body. But as he walked, his fist began to glow. Not the golden glow of hope, nor the white glow of light, but the dark purplish hue of darkness, pure evil and malice, surrounding his fist. Just as suddenly as his entrance, the red eyed man punched the air in front of him. Normally, a fun act to witness, but now a terrifying site.
     He had ripped another whole in the void.
     The air began to be sucked into the portal as a massive rate, whipping his own cloak into the portal, but he held firm, staring into it’s depths in patience, a virtue he had longed learned to use. Even now, he could feel a select amount of Heartless from below being pulled up from the darkness, letting the power guide them as a dog on a leash.
     “You must tell me when you return exactly how you are what you are. I let you join this Organization on the lack of power we held, but that does not mean you are immediately trusted.” For a second, Xemnas looked back to Xagnon, letting their eyes met in a deadly stare down. Gold vs. Red. Determination vs. Greed. Two powers that had long fought against and with each other.
     “You forget we both have something to gain, and nothing to lose Xemnas. When I return, I will… consider to tell you my tale, but do not think of it as a promise.” Without another word, he disappeared into the portal. The air grew still, the army continued to twitch.
     It was as if nothing had ever happened.
     “What was his real name?” The Nobody pondered through his side-tracked mind. One of his dark gloved hands began to rub the dark fur of Wicked Kindness beside him. It gave off a wicked hiss in pleasure of felling the warmth.
     “The Hero of Time against the Key of Destiny. This will be an interesting fight.”
---------------
     “Damn, should of thought ahead for this. But nope! Never unless your life is on the line. Well it is now buddy, so think!” The creature yelled to himself as he moved through the storm around him. It was so sudden, he almost thought Hades was rising. The dark clouds that stretched the sky were more than just ominous in appearance, they were deadly. Lightening was streaking across them, violent and warning. Not a drop of rain fell from them, a very bad sign. The more moisture there was in an object the more difficult it was for it to be set on fire, but when there is none, even a small spark can light it into a raging fire. When clouds above start to rain down not water, but the power of lightening, then a forest fire, in the area of clustered trees that he stood, was more than just possible, it was eminent.
     ‘Kay, lightening strikes fast, faster than I can sense. Won’t even bother to try and out run it, but what does that leave me with? Probably have to find shelter, yeah, that would be perfect! Now, where can I find a cave, or even small hole? Tree would be no good, not exactly the best idea to sit in something that can burn.’ He was joking with himself now, almost sad, but still part of his plan. Sanity was more than just an important tool to have on and off the battle field. It was a medium for all logic to flow across. If he were to grow too serious, or become uncaring as others might, his logic would be useless. And in turn, he would become vulnerable.
     ‘A level head, first rule of survival, and best not leave it as the last. Now concentrate.’ His white furred hands grabbed the ground as he bent low to it. His legs stiffened, grey shoes pushing off of the grass in the forest, feeling it. The furry body hid his yellow iris eyes beneath the skin of his eyelids, letting his longs ears twitch in the air, hearing everything around him.
     In  flash, the forest became clear to him. Every breathing thing, every root in the ground, even the amount of leaves on every tree. They became a part of him as his soul seemingly fused with the forest around him. The white fur within the walls of his ears, tussled in the growing breeze, tickling his senses. His body shivered slightly, causing his white vest to shake slightly against his black furred body.
     ‘It’s growing cold with the wind, but a storm is coming? That can’t be right.’ Anyone who has lived in the outdoors long enough would be able to testify how a storm works. While a temperature drop is imminent when a rain fall is coming, the growing tension of clouds, those about to cause lightening, tend to increase the humidity of the air, which creates a kind of heat blast with the wind. No rain fall was coming, and the storm was certainly ready to spray it’s lightening on the ground, so the wind should not grow cold, it should cause him to sweat.
     ‘This storm can’t be natural.’ The black furred beast concluded as he continued to sense the forest with his ears. There were many places to hide, but all were able to be set aflame, not the best place to stay during a lightening storm. Gently, his black tail began to fall to the ground, its white tip gracing the roots and grass beneath it. Now the ground became obvious to him, even speck of dirt and grass blade seemingly made clearer in a second.
     “Finally,” the animal muttered to itself as he rose off the ground, quickly dusting off his dark grey pants. “That cave, will do nicely.” Indeed, he had found a cave, of sorts. It was not a hole in a rock, but a deep hole in the ground. It was obvious that it was a cave, as he felt nothing there. And where nothing was present, space could be taken. As quickly as he could, the black furred being gracefully moved among the trees, careful to stay away of anything that could be set aflame. The lightening could start to rain down any second, and he be damned if he would die on the first strike.
     ‘Good, finally found it.’ He thought to himself as he began to claw at the ground beneath him. The dirt moved under his sharp nails and strong hands, pushing itself out of the way for a better view of the earth below. With one of his bare arms and hand, the being raised high and struck the ground hard.
     The ground collapsed beneath him.
     “God, I love being a werewolf.” The cave was spacious, moist from its insulation under ground, but certainly far preferable to the lightening storm outside. A smile crossed his fanged lips as the first sound of thunder resonated through the forest above him. “Not a moment too soon.”
     With a great sigh, the black furred creature rested itself against one of the cave walls, closing his tired eyes to wait out the storm. What else was there to do? Certainly not explore a room the size of a small bed. With a quick turn, he could see the entire room.
     “Safe now, thank God!” He replied angrily to himself. How could have been so stupid as to not think ahead of a storm? Of all the times he could have gone for food, he chose the minute before a storm came, severely reducing his chances of finding a good meal AND his own safety.
     ‘But still, that storm wasn’t natural,’ the black furred werewolf thought to himself as he recalled the feeling of the air, the shape of the clouds, the lack of rain, the brewing of thunder. All of that was possible, and very much natural, but to happen together, all at once, that was another thing all together. Perhaps happening one day, and then another, but even if they were to happen at once, they should have canceled out. The cod air would have perpetrated the clouds, causing them to conduct less electricity, definitely not increase their activity. It was just too out of the norm to be possible.
      His ears twitched.
      The wind was picking up. Normally, not a concern for him, but this was different. The problem?
     A tree fell over.
     “What the hell is going on?” His curiosity was peaked now, if not before. This was just too insane. A wind storm, cold, with thunder? Maybe the first two, that’s called a blizzard, but that was just insane with thunder. Then, there was just one more detail he had forgotten till now.
     It was summer.
     “Man, I wanna get out here, but I can’t with that damn mess going on up above,” He motioned above him with one of his sharp claws while he continued to speak to himself, “But if I do, I have no doubt that the trees will smash me, wind destroy me, and lightening fry me. So what the hell am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait out my possible death?” It was annoying to him, that much for sure. But, in what could be called a rare act of a miracle, the black and white furred werewolf heard something else in the trees and wind above that infinitely influenced his decision.
     A voice in the weather above.
     “Why did you do it!”
     ‘What the hell is going on?’ Truthfully, he didn’t need to ask. The werewolf was already back up the hole, looking for the owner of the voice he heard through a lightening/snow storm.

Description
Chapter 5
     “Man… This Sonic… dude… isn’t easy to… find…” The same spiked hair red head breathed hard as he stopped for a rest. His hands were on his dark clothed knees, bending over out of breath. “Where would… a stupid… hedgehog… like him… be?” Truth be told, he half expected the answer to fall down on his lap.
     No such luck.
     “Man… I need… a breather…” He fell onto the back of his dark cloak, spiked hair pushing against the ground. The charred path behind him evident as his hands moved against the ground, not a sign of life present. Truth be told, it didn’t bother him, it couldn’t. There was no reason for him to do any of this. There was no amazing revelation he had or epiphany he realized that showed him why he should do this. There was only one reason why he was doing this. The only reason why he betrayed the Organization, why he let all of his ties go, why he risked never gaining back his heart.
     It’s name was Roxas.
     A good friend, no, a great friend that had shown him how important it was to follow what was right. The only person who was ever able to show him the truth of what it meant to be a friend.
     Ever since he had lost his heart, from the very beginning, the red head fire Nobody had always thought that the only thing a friend was, was a person that held a neutral agreement with you. An ally that was just worth trusting as long as they gave you what you wanted.
     The dirt spiked hair kid had shown him just how wrong he was. How true a friend was just by being there, helping each other with nothing to gain. It took him a long time to learn that, and it had almost cost him his life as a cost of it. Helping out the original. He almost died helping the REAL Roxas, helping his friend’s heart.
     The Flurry of Dancing Flames had helped the Key Master himself.
     Sora.
     That ignorant punk. He was just like Roxas. Had to be, that was the only reason Axel could really think of for helping him. Helping a part of his old friend, with nothing to gain, but everything to lose, and he almost had.
     But now here he was, helping those he could fight of the Nobodies he was knew, and still is. Bitter Ironic. He chuckled at his jumbled thoughts, realizing just how hopeless it all seemed.
     “Looking for a Blue Hedgehog that can pass the speed of sound, not one to be easily caught, and has been missing for an entire year. Just how the hell am I supposed to find this dude anyway?” His dark gloved hands came up from the ground and rubbed his tired face. It shouldn’t have been this hard. Well, okay it shouldn’t have been easy either, but they were all supposed to be dead.
     He killed Vexen, saw Marluxia get ripped apart, laughed as Sora destroyed Xaldin, witnessed Riku destroying Zexion, and encouraged Sora to kill the rest. But here they were, all but 5 missing. One who had found his heart, himself, and three who had actually been killed, thankfully. It was obvious that Demyx was gone, he had cried at his own death. The only real sign so far of pain that a Nobody can feel.
     The memory was dark, but at the same time, hopeful. All the other nobodies who had faked their death had simply vanished into the darkness, like they already did. Only Demyx had cried out in pain at the feeling. And until he felt that kind of pain, he had no intention of letting go.
     Lexaeus had a good chance to live, no doubt, but the fool had tried to corrupt Riku with the last of his powers, a move that might of worked, had he not realized that the King was on his side.
     “Just one more reason why I’m alive and he not, I guess.” His breath was coming back, he could feel it. “Better start moving again.” With a good lunge, he threw himself back onto his feet, bending as comically and random as fire could. With a snap of his fingers, the famous red chakram that he loved materialized back in his hands, spinning with the fire that they possessed.
     “Ha ha,” He snickered to himself as he looked down at his blessed weapons. There was no way he could have gotten as far as he had with out them. The still fragment of his memory that he had kept through his torture in turning into a nobody. That small piece of memory that kept him who he was.
      If his attempt at destroying Organization XIII at Castle Oblivion was any indication of it, memory was important. Without it, he could end up fighting all those he had sworn to protect upon the friendship with Roxas. Sora had lost his, and he had almost forgotten about Kairi in the process. He wouldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t forget Roxas, he wouldn’t forget who he was, he would forget her…
     Larxene.
     “Wow, I can’t believe she’s still that important to me.” He spoke to himself with his sly grin plastered on his face. “Doesn’t matter now though.” It was a defeating blow to know that the one person he had cared that deep for was in too deep herself to leave, but that was that. Too deep to leave, and no room to breath. Facts were facts, that was what he always went on. Sora was Roxas, Roxas was his friend, his friend needed help, so he helped. And now, these creatures were in trouble, trouble that Organization XIII had caused, a cause ha had a hand in. He had to stop it, anyway he could.
     “Gotta keep looking.” He muttered. He was ready to sprint again, let the fire rule the ground beneath him and push him at that speed again, but just as he was about to, he was stopped, by a thing he never thought would have.
     A waist high purple cat.
     “And just where might you be going?”
     A waist high talking purple cat.
     He audibly laughed. Hard. At the sight.
     “What do you find so amusing?” It kept talking, so he kept laughing. Seeing one of these things from way the other way, watching them move around was one thing. They looked like ants in march from far away. But as soon as he got close to one, like now, watching it talk to him. It was too much. To the red head Fire Nobody, it was like watching a beanie baby come to life, pure comedy.
     “What do I find amusing? You talking kitty!” He spoke quickly in between his laughs. The movement of his body was far exaggerated now. Bending low quickly, one hand on his hips, and the other pointing at the waist high animal.
     “I’ve seen your kind before, but I’ve never actually talked to one. Hee Hee. I must say,” He grunted briefly before continuing, “Now I really have HEARD everything.” He laughed more, both hands covering his hips and he finally fell to the ground, rolling around like a young child in his youth. Even being watched by the, so far, unaffected cat did little to affect his sense of embarrassment.
     “Ha Ha Ha,” The cat replied dryly to the spiked red head, “Not tell me, seriously, what are you doing.” Her arms, assuming it was a her by the chest and voice, stared down at the dark cloaked hysterical man as he looked back at her. He smiled back up to her scowl. A fake smile, it had to be, be a warm smile non the less.
     “I’m looking for someone actually. I don’t suppose you have seen him by chance?” Axel quirked an eyebrow to the cat. She didn’t make a move. But she did respond.
     “I doubt it. I’m… a bit new here you could say. I’m looking for someone my self. Maybe YOU have seen them.” One of her white gloved hands pointed back to the ground where the man was still laying, making no attempt to sit or stand up.
      “I’ll go first, then you?” It was a question, not a demand. Best keep allies now, he thought, the more now, the more later. The female purple cat gave out a sigh, rubbing a strange red jewel upon her head before she continued.
     “Fine, have you seen a blue hedgehog, as tall as me, with VERY upbeat personality?” Her eyes relaxed as she asked the question. Axel, on the other hand, stiffened immediately as he took a face of seriousness.
     “You have got to be kidding me. That’s who I’m looking for!” He shot up from the ground, landing on his feet, and turning back to the cat without missing a beat. She had the same shocked expression a mouse would give seeing a dog chasing a cat.
     “Goes by the name of…. Sonic?”
     “Yes! You know where he is?” The red head sighed, leaning one of his dark gloved hands on his head, which was resting on his other hand, which was resting across his chest, which was… yeah.
     “No one knows where he is apparently, and I need to find him for –”
     “For what? What’s going on now? Is it Eggman attacking?” This cat definitely was new here.
     “No… actually, he could be called one of the good guys right now, but I need Son -”
     “A good guy! You can’t be serious?” Right about now, the Fire controlling Nobody wasn’t feeling it, but his mind certainly knew it. He was growing a little more than annoyed with this cat.
     “Look, I don’t know what he did to you, but the fact is there are much worse things happening now,” He quickly put his palm up as the cat opened its mouth to speak, but she grew silent as he continued. “I need Sonic so he can help me find everyone else that is capable of stopping this threat. Now, if you know where his is, or how I can find him, please tell me.” His green eyes were stern as he asked the question, the cat replied with equal valor.
     “I don’t know where he is, that’s why I’m looking for him, but maybe we can look together. I just need him for…. Well… um, him?” Odd as it seemed, even to the emotionless red head, a cat blushing while talking was usually a rarity, especially when it was talking about trying to find something. But for now, he let the teases slide. This was life or death, possibly his life.
     “Fine, you can help me look for him, but I hope you can keep up.” Without another word, he started running again. It didn’t matter where he ran, there was no destination to finding someone, he just ran. What started to surprise him, was the female cat that was running with him. No fire to boost her step like he did, or lighting ride on like Larxene, just… plain… running…
     “I can keep up just fine,” the cat mocked back to the clearly shocked red head. “But stop running now.” Her voice went from joking to serious in a switch that would make Larxene jealous, damn, why were all of his thoughts continually going back to her? Regardless, he did stop his spray of fire, ending his speed till he stood still.
     “What did you want kitty cat?” He asked her as he crossed his arms, bending down one more to get eye to eye with her. It only took two seconds for Axel to realize something.
     Bad Move.
     The cat had grabbed the back of his cloak and pulled him forward quickly enough to drag him off his feet. In effect, he was looking into the eyes of a pissed off cat, on his knees with one more little detail catching his eyes.
     One of her hands was alive with fire, just like him.
     “Why are you cursed like me? How do you command the same kind of flames that I was born with?”
     Definitely a bad move.
---------------
     “Not worthless, huh?” The white bat grinned broadly at the blushing echidna. Oh, she had him right where she wanted him. Admitting a feeling she herself doubted he had, and blushing ear to ear because of it.
     “Well… not entirely, but… you can’t except everyone to hate you.” Was that really the best he had?
     “Aw, that’s sweet Knuxie.” Oh, how easy this guy was manipulated, it made her laugh at his gullibility. A few tears and batting of the eyes, she could make him kiss her feet. Might want to try that sometime. But for now, there were more important matters to think of.
     “So where is that Master Emerald of yours Knuxie?” Rouge questioned innocently as she bent one of her shoulders low, giving the echidna a seductive look as her eyes batted. The cracking morality of Knuckles was almost audible at this point.
     “Stop looking at me like that,” he muttered as he turned his blushing face away from the bat, this was just getting to weird at this point.
     “Aw, what’s the matter Knuxie?” She asked the same way as before. She was having fun with this. Maybe too much fun, but what was the harm of dangling her sexuality in front of him like meat to a lion. Oh yea, lion’s eat the meat.
     “Stop calling me that too,” His eyes were ready to pull back in his head if it meant getting a glimpse of her. His mind fought furiously to put such thoughts away, but his heart was winning out.
     *SNAP*
     Knuckles snapped into position.
     “What was that?” The bat asked the male in front of her, all seductively was gone from her voice. Now, she was attempting her best adjust herself up, keeping her weight off of her still injured legs. The sharp sense of her bat senses had picked up the very same twig breaking as Knuckles, but unlike the guardian, she could not defend herself now, not with two injured legs.
     “Rouge,” Knuckles spoke quietly. Wait, HE SAID HER NAME! This couldn’t be good, he had almost never before called her anything before except batgirl or thief, but very rarely her real name. This wouldn’t turn out well.
     “What is it Knuckles.” She felt more than inclined to return the favor of names to the protecting guardian.
     “Fly.”
     The guardian jumped into the brush ahead of him, screaming a battle cry.
---------------
     Xemnas looked out onto his army of Heartless. Their eager twitching for destruction and orders, awaiting what the darkness would tell them to do next. Patient wasn’t the word to describe them. Take an eye off of them and they would attack anything in sight. Someone always had to watch, monitor, impend upon them.
     The leader of the Nobodies himself, was patient. As such, often put himself in charge of monitoring the army. Any other would be easily distracted, letting even the most carefully laid of plans going to waste. And such, while the others did the grunt work, he watched and waited with the Heartless, never letting them out of control or out of his sight.
     “You’re late.” He appeared to speak to no one. Upon his perch above the Heartless, he was the only figure present. Not even the wind was there to talk to him, yet there, talking to nothing.
     That is, until something appeared.
     “You’re ability to sense me continues to astound me.” A portal of darkness ripped through the air behind the white haired leader. It swirled with a mass of envy, hate, and lust. The most powerful emotions that darkness could bring forth. Ironic, that the darkness they used refused to give them the emotions it so often loved to give out.
     With a powerful stomp, a large boot emerged from the portal, landing on the ground behind the Leader Nobody. With the foot planted, two powerful green hands emerged from the same portal, forcibly grabbing the sides, ripping it even larger in diameter. The sound of space tearing did manage to do one other thing then give entrance to the mysterious figure. It silenced all the millions of Heartless beneath them in the plain below. The powerful form that emerged was draped in the same black cloak as the leader and sadistic blonde before him. His hood, however, was down, revealing one of the oddest sights one could behold.
     A green skinned, red haired, red-eyed man, standing just less than 8 ft. tall. The red spun hair was twirled back in a fashion to keep it tight against the scalp of his. To hold it down, of course, golden spun jewels were wrapped around the braids, holding them tight in place. But the most disturbing sight of all, was the red jewel embedded in his head. Not a piece of jewelery, nor a symbol of decoration, but a jewel of power literally embedded into his forehead. Even with all that had just occurred, the Heartless leader never even glanced behind him through the entire ordeal.
     “I still would like to know how you were ever capable of sensing me through the void. That is a talent that I’m sure could have been put to good use before.” The man spoke to the white haired man before him. Theirs eyes did not meet, but their minds still worked as one.
     “Nothing I have I let waste. The power of Nothingness that I hold, I use to its fullest extent whenever I can.” Xemnas explained in his same monotone voice, never even blinking away from the still silent Heartless. It wasn’t their time to be unleashed, not yet, not until a few more of this world’s heroes were under his control. Just like Wicked Kindness. This nobody was still stationed just by the leader’s side, staring at the new entrant of the world. Her yellow eyes twitching within their empty sockets.
     “As much as I love the talk of power, I still have need to know where it is you want me to go. The faster we get this done, the faster I can return to my land of birth, and kill that wretched hero.”
     “That is precisely why I have called you here Xagnon.” The green skinned man remained mute as the white haired leader began to deliver him the next phase of the plan to open Kingdom Hearts, although a look of confusion did grow upon his face. They’re haven, their hope, and their home.
     “I am well aware that back on the world that you came from, there was another blade of holiness that was said to be a key. I’m sure you are familiar with it.” He spoke deliberately, slowly, and demandingly. This plan was just as important to him as much as any other member of the team, there would be no exception for failure, and no excuse for denial.
     “Bah,” Xagnon scoffed, twisting his arms in front of his chest in an annoyed manner, his shoulders hunched down to show how disliked the topic was. “That cursed weapon was blessed by the gods. Not even I can touch it. What would you want with that anyway? Aren’t you still ringing those Keyblade holders under you hand?”
     “Indeed I am, but they are growing wise, and we need more hearts, more quickly.” With all the concentration he could muster, the tan skinned man turned to face the giant before him, standing at least a foot taller, and the green skin made him no less menacing. But for once, fortunately, the lack of emotion gave him a lack of fear.
     “So you want me to get the blade here? But I can’t touch it, it’ll kill me. I’m damn sure my mind’s impure, and that is the one thing it judges, the one thing we keep.” He was not attempting to destroy the plains, but merely, make sure they would work. When it came down to the facts, a failed plan had the same consequence as a poorly planned one.
      “I understand the situation, as I’m sure you have not forgotten that I cannot touch the keyblades as well.” The red head scoffed once more, but remained silent for the rest of the explanation, he wanted to hear this.
     “You don’t have to take the blade, just it’s weilder,” returning his staring to the millions of Heartless beneath them with his own set of piercing gold eyes, he waved his hand in a circular fashion to the side of his head, directed towards Xagnon.
     “Make them your puppet. Certainly, do not show them who you are, but give them a new enemy to hate. If you wish, take some of the Heartless from below, I can sense the darkness within them begging for an order, a response to their calling.”
     “I will do as you ask Xemnas.” The man turned walking away at a slow and deliberate pace, the very earth beneath him pounding with every foot step that was taken underneath his massive body. But as he walked, his fist began to glow. Not the golden glow of hope, nor the white glow of light, but the dark purplish hue of darkness, pure evil and malice, surrounding his fist. Just as suddenly as his entrance, the red eyed man punched the air in front of him. Normally, a fun act to witness, but now a terrifying site.
     He had ripped another whole in the void.
     The air began to be sucked into the portal as a massive rate, whipping his own cloak into the portal, but he held firm, staring into it’s depths in patience, a virtue he had longed learned to use. Even now, he could feel a select amount of Heartless from below being pulled up from the darkness, letting the power guide them as a dog on a leash.
     “You must tell me when you return exactly how you are what you are. I let you join this Organization on the lack of power we held, but that does not mean you are immediately trusted.” For a second, Xemnas looked back to Xagnon, letting their eyes met in a deadly stare down. Gold vs. Red. Determination vs. Greed. Two powers that had long fought against and with each other.
     “You forget we both have something to gain, and nothing to lose Xemnas. When I return, I will… consider to tell you my tale, but do not think of it as a promise.” Without another word, he disappeared into the portal. The air grew still, the army continued to twitch.
     It was as if nothing had ever happened.
     “What was his real name?” The Nobody pondered through his side-tracked mind. One of his dark gloved hands began to rub the dark fur of Wicked Kindness beside him. It gave off a wicked hiss in pleasure of felling the warmth.
     “The Hero of Time against the Key of Destiny. This will be an interesting fight.”
---------------
     “Damn, should of thought ahead for this. But nope! Never unless your life is on the line. Well it is now buddy, so think!” The creature yelled to himself as he moved through the storm around him. It was so sudden, he almost thought Hades was rising. The dark clouds that stretched the sky were more than just ominous in appearance, they were deadly. Lightening was streaking across them, violent and warning. Not a drop of rain fell from them, a very bad sign. The more moisture there was in an object the more difficult it was for it to be set on fire, but when there is none, even a small spark can light it into a raging fire. When clouds above start to rain down not water, but the power of lightening, then a forest fire, in the area of clustered trees that he stood, was more than just possible, it was eminent.
     ‘Kay, lightening strikes fast, faster than I can sense. Won’t even bother to try and out run it, but what does that leave me with? Probably have to find shelter, yeah, that would be perfect! Now, where can I find a cave, or even small hole? Tree would be no good, not exactly the best idea to sit in something that can burn.’ He was joking with himself now, almost sad, but still part of his plan. Sanity was more than just an important tool to have on and off the battle field. It was a medium for all logic to flow across. If he were to grow too serious, or become uncaring as others might, his logic would be useless. And in turn, he would become vulnerable.
     ‘A level head, first rule of survival, and best not leave it as the last. Now concentrate.’ His white furred hands grabbed the ground as he bent low to it. His legs stiffened, grey shoes pushing off of the grass in the forest, feeling it. The furry body hid his yellow iris eyes beneath the skin of his eyelids, letting his longs ears twitch in the air, hearing everything around him.
     In  flash, the forest became clear to him. Every breathing thing, every root in the ground, even the amount of leaves on every tree. They became a part of him as his soul seemingly fused with the forest around him. The white fur within the walls of his ears, tussled in the growing breeze, tickling his senses. His body shivered slightly, causing his white vest to shake slightly against his black furred body.
     ‘It’s growing cold with the wind, but a storm is coming? That can’t be right.’ Anyone who has lived in the outdoors long enough would be able to testify how a storm works. While a temperature drop is imminent when a rain fall is coming, the growing tension of clouds, those about to cause lightening, tend to increase the humidity of the air, which creates a kind of heat blast with the wind. No rain fall was coming, and the storm was certainly ready to spray it’s lightening on the ground, so the wind should not grow cold, it should cause him to sweat.
     ‘This storm can’t be natural.’ The black furred beast concluded as he continued to sense the forest with his ears. There were many places to hide, but all were able to be set aflame, not the best place to stay during a lightening storm. Gently, his black tail began to fall to the ground, its white tip gracing the roots and grass beneath it. Now the ground became obvious to him, even speck of dirt and grass blade seemingly made clearer in a second.
     “Finally,” the animal muttered to itself as he rose off the ground, quickly dusting off his dark grey pants. “That cave, will do nicely.” Indeed, he had found a cave, of sorts. It was not a hole in a rock, but a deep hole in the ground. It was obvious that it was a cave, as he felt nothing there. And where nothing was present, space could be taken. As quickly as he could, the black furred being gracefully moved among the trees, careful to stay away of anything that could be set aflame. The lightening could start to rain down any second, and he be damned if he would die on the first strike.
     ‘Good, finally found it.’ He thought to himself as he began to claw at the ground beneath him. The dirt moved under his sharp nails and strong hands, pushing itself out of the way for a better view of the earth below. With one of his bare arms and hand, the being raised high and struck the ground hard.
     The ground collapsed beneath him.
     “God, I love being a werewolf.” The cave was spacious, moist from its insulation under ground, but certainly far preferable to the lightening storm outside. A smile crossed his fanged lips as the first sound of thunder resonated through the forest above him. “Not a moment too soon.”
     With a great sigh, the black furred creature rested itself against one of the cave walls, closing his tired eyes to wait out the storm. What else was there to do? Certainly not explore a room the size of a small bed. With a quick turn, he could see the entire room.
     “Safe now, thank God!” He replied angrily to himself. How could have been so stupid as to not think ahead of a storm? Of all the times he could have gone for food, he chose the minute before a storm came, severely reducing his chances of finding a good meal AND his own safety.
     ‘But still, that storm wasn’t natural,’ the black furred werewolf thought to himself as he recalled the feeling of the air, the shape of the clouds, the lack of rain, the brewing of thunder. All of that was possible, and very much natural, but to happen together, all at once, that was another thing all together. Perhaps happening one day, and then another, but even if they were to happen at once, they should have canceled out. The cod air would have perpetrated the clouds, causing them to conduct less electricity, definitely not increase their activity. It was just too out of the norm to be possible.
      His ears twitched.
      The wind was picking up. Normally, not a concern for him, but this was different. The problem?
     A tree fell over.
     “What the hell is going on?” His curiosity was peaked now, if not before. This was just too insane. A wind storm, cold, with thunder? Maybe the first two, that’s called a blizzard, but that was just insane with thunder. Then, there was just one more detail he had forgotten till now.
     It was summer.
     “Man, I wanna get out here, but I can’t with that damn mess going on up above,” He motioned above him with one of his sharp claws while he continued to speak to himself, “But if I do, I have no doubt that the trees will smash me, wind destroy me, and lightening fry me. So what the hell am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait out my possible death?” It was annoying to him, that much for sure. But, in what could be called a rare act of a miracle, the black and white furred werewolf heard something else in the trees and wind above that infinitely influenced his decision.
     A voice in the weather above.
     “Why did you do it!”
     ‘What the hell is going on?’ Truthfully, he didn’t need to ask. The werewolf was already back up the hole, looking for the owner of the voice he heard through a lightening/snow storm.