Rebel Without a Flame

[Staulmaster]

Hey everyone, I'd like to post my KH fanfic based on Axel and his extreme coolness. This story takes place before and during the events of CoM and KH2 (although I haven't gotten to KH2 yet), as seen from Axel's point of view, and, to a lesser extent, the other members. I'll post the first chapter and if anyone wants, I'll post the other chapters. I've gone up until six and am currently working on seven.

Feel free to criticise, I personally feel that my story is a bit lame, but I'm pretty proud of it, nonetheless.

So, without further ado...Chapter one

Chapter 1

Flames that bond

As he sat there on his chair, keeping himself busy by juggling his two chakrams, (which he was an adept at), -------- contemplated his life, but not just his own. What happens to a nobody once it dies? The heart can not leave again once it already has, but what of the body and soul? A nobody consists of both so can one live without the other? Then again, nobodies don't even exist, so the separation between the two won't make much of a difference. --------'s pondering was soon over for at the moment, Roxas came in his room.

“Hey Roxas, don't you ever knock?” He said, as he stopped juggling his chakram.

“Sorry about that, Didn't think you'd mind.” Said Roxas.

“That's okay...” -------- said, with a sad look on his face.

“ Is anything wrong Axel?”

No, I was just thinking.” Axel responded.

“What about?”

“Nothing important.”

“You know Axel, you shouldn't think too much about your own existence, I heard it's bad for your mental and emotional well being.”

“Don't tell me that androgynous clod Zexion told you that.”

“Zexion shouldn't be trusted?”

“Well I mean he IS Zexion, you never know what he's up to, and what does he know about ‘emotions’ he doesn't even have a heart, none of us do.”

“Yeah but do you ever get the feeling like you do have one, like you can actually feel emotions?”

“That's the first sensible thing you've said all day.” He said, as he got up from his chair. “And you’ll figure that all out soon enough, but for now, let's go train in your room.”

“ What about your room? It's as good as any, and we're already in it.” Roxas said, pointing to the floor.

“Yes but you see your room is already a mess so it wouldn't make a difference.”

“You're such an idiot.” Roxas said, as he grinned.

Roxas took a look around Axel's room. It was pretty clean compared to his own, besides the default white room that every room has, several photos of Axel where put up. A small window showed the beautifully eerie heart-shaped moon that looked upon the World. Under the window was a white desk and lamp and on there was an open book placed on the desk. And finally, Axel's tow distinctive signature chakrams caught Roxas' eye. Both of them were hung up near the next to the door, one on the right side, and one on the left side. His face lit up.

“Okay, since you like my room so much and I like your weapon, let's make the fight interesting.” Roxas said, with a smile on his face.

“I never said I liked your room---”

“If you win, we switch rooms, but if I win, we switch weapons...”

Axel was surprised at Roxas’ sudden change of attitude; he made this clear to him by stating the following.

“ Switch weapons? Since when did you decide to become a rule-breaker?”

“Since when do you pass up great chances like this one?” Roxas replied.

“Good point...“ Axel contemplated, as he stroked his chin.

“Very well!” He finally decided. “We'll have it your way, but since I, Axel the great handsome fighter, intend to win, I won't have to worry about losing my precious chakrams. Besides, I'm getting tired of my room; yours will be much better.”

“Since when do you like my room?”

“I never said I didn't.” Said Axel, truthfully.

“Touché...” Roxas added.

And with that Axel gave Roxas a light punch on the arm and ran out of the room. As he did he said:

“Come on, I'll race you to your room.” The redhead said, as he went out the door.

“Wait up!” Roxas shouted, as he headed out the door after him, but before he could reach it, he stopped... He felt an eerie presence was near, not quite out of the ordinary but eerie nonetheless. He turned around and saw nothing but the curtain flapping on Axel's window. He turned back towards the door, thinking it was nothing, and found himself face to face with Xemnas, leader of organization XIII.

Roxas let out a faint yelp.

“Roxas.....” He said, eerily.

“Y-Ye-Yes...” Roxas responded faintly.

Xemnas had this habit of moving his arms around when he talked, particularly when he was giving a speech of some sort. Everyone in the organisation noticed this at one point or another, but this was the first time Roxas had. In fact, this was the first time Roxas had ever talked to Xemnas personally.

“May I have a word with you?” He said, holding out his hand.

Roxas was looking at his hand strangely, before lifting his own to point to the door. He spoke:

“We-Well Axel is sorta waiting for-”

Xemnas lifted his hand and the door blew shut with a loud BANG!

“I knew you'd understand” He said, as he grinned. “After all, it's not every day the leader of Organization XIII takes his precious time to converse with the lowliest member of the group, that member being you. Nonetheless I have a proposition for you.......a proposition that could benefit you in several more ways than one. What say you? Interested?”

“I'm lowly?”

“You know, if I were you I would befriend better people than that redheaded scoundrel.” Xemnas said, blatantly changing the subject.

“Thanks, but I think I'm old enough to make my own ‘lowly’ friends.”

“...Moving on.” He said, as he looked up towards the ceiling as if he were contemplating something. “Roxas... Have you ever doubted your existence?” He said, as he lifted his arm and put it against his chest, on the place where his heart used to be.

“Uh....define ‘existence’.”

“Well my prop--”

The door flew open and hit Xemnas in the back, knocking him to the ground. Roxas could only watch as he fell. He moved back at first, somewhat shocked about his fall, but quickly bent down and went to help him up.

Outside the door was none other than Axel.

“Roxas are you com--” He managed to say, as he opened the door. It was after he felt something hitting the door that he stopped to see what it was.

“Oooh, sorry Xem--- Xemnas!! Oh gee, I'm so sorr--” He said, without actually doing anything.

As he got up, Xemnas lifted his hand to silence Axel; Roxas couldn't help but chuckle.

“Putrid fool!” He said, as he got up while holding his head. “You should know better than to barge into a room whilst other people are conversing!”

“But this is my room.” Axel retorted. “I mean, shouldn't I have the right to enter my own room without having to be afraid of people engaging in conversation, in my own room?”

Axel emphasised the last four words to point out the illogic in Xemnas’ statement.

“And furthermore,” Axel continued. “How was I supposed to know you were engaging in conversation anyway, I just barge into my room whenever I want, you should get your facts straight Xemnas.”

Xemnas rolled his eyes as turned around to face Roxas.

“Roxas, we'll talk some other time, in the meanwhile think about what I said and listen to your heart, or at least what's left of it...”

“But you didn't tell me anything.” Roxas replied.

“Didn't I Roxas? Didn't I?” Xemnas said, before realizing that: “Oh wait, I didn't.”

Axel rolled his eyes this time. Xemnas saw him and turned around.

“And you! Don't think this is over!”

Axel rolled his eyes yet again

“It's never over...”

Xemnas scowled upon seeing this.

“I'll expect to see you in the detention room a week from now.” He said to the redhead.

“Um...Ok, although I hardly see that as punishment.” The redhead answered back, while crossing his arms. “I’ve been there so many times, I’m more familiar with it than my own room.

Xemnas chuckled as he lifted his arms in all directions and said: “I’d advise you to watch your tongue, Axel. Because the detention room is far from being the only system of punishment we have.”

“Really?” Axel said, crossing his arms. “Now that would be definitely something I would like to see.”

Xemnas grinned before responding in is deep, imposing voice: “I doubt you would.” He then left in a puff of black smoke that faded between the two.

An awkward silence filled the room for a while, before Axel started talking.

“Way to go, Roxas....” He muttered.

“Oh, this is my fault?” Roxas replied.

“Well you should have figured out sooner or later that I would have come. Once again, your inept sense of timing has left us both in hot water.”

“Look, let’s just spar for now, I’m not in the mood for pointless conversations.”

“Spar?” Axel said, sarcastically. “Where did you learn a big word like that, Roxy?

“I’m sorry?”

“I said where did you-”

“No, I mean...what did you call me?”

“What, ‘Roxy’? You don’t like that name?”

“Yeah....no.” Roxas quickly replied.

“Hey, if you don’t like it than you’re just going to have to deal with it, capische?

Roxas sighed as he muttered: “Just don’t make a habit of it.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get on with the ‘sparring’, shall we?”


“About that....” He said, as he put his hand on the back of his head. “Couldn’t we play in the Hall of Empty Melodies? There’d be more than enough room.

“Hey, you’re the one who started this whole ‘room’ business, so you’ll have to stick the deal. Besides, Xigbar’s already in the Hall. He's been training there for ages, that place is probably gonna be his grave. Now seriously, come on.”

“ Fine...”

And with that the two ran off into the Proof of Existence chamber.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once in the chamber the two headed for Roxas' room. His room was a complete mess, several black coats that were the Organization's trademark lay scattered on the floor, and several drawings were scattered on his desk. There was also a window, which, like Axel's, was over his desk.
Roxas was the last member to join The Thirteenth Order, yet his room was the messiest.

“This place is a sty, don't you ever clean up?” Axel said, as he rummaged through the pile of papers on Roxas’s desk.

“If I did I wouldn't know where everything is, you see I'm happy in my messy madness.” Roxas replied.

“Right...”

Suddenly, something struck Axel’s eye. As he was looking through the pile of papers on Roxas’ desk, he came across a very interesting one. It was Roxas, dressed in his organisation attire, holding hands with Sora, who was dressed in his regular Mickey Mouse clothing. Axel immediately brought the drawing closer to his face to examine it, while several other papers fell on the floor. Axel was simply astonished to see this, he turned his head, only to see Roxas fiddling through his coats. Quickly, he folded the drawing and stuffed it in a pocket inside his coat.

As Roxas was still rummaging through his coats, Axel came over to him casually, to give the impression as if everything was fine and he hadn’t just found a picture that might be a key part into making Sora complete.

“What are you doing?” Axel asked, casually.

“Looking for my Keyblades” Roxas answered.

“I thought you knew where everything was.”

“Yes but my Keyblades always seem to lose themselves.”

Axel snorted. “Why not just materialize them?”

“I need the power of light to do that and as you can see, I don't have it.”

“I’m sure you don’t.” He said, as he crossed his arms.

Roxas lifted coat after coat and eventually found the Oblivion Keyblade.

“Great!” Roxas exclaimed. “Now, I just need to find the Oathkeeper...”

“Ok Roxas, one is enough let's just get it on.” Axel said, as uncrossed his arms.

“Just a minute, I can’t seem to find the Oathkeeper Keyblade...” Roxas said, his voice was muffled from being under all those coats.

“You know, instead of wasting time finding the Oathkeeper, why don’t you actually keep your oath and fight me already.”

“I don’t remember ever making an oath.” He said, as he got back up from under the coats.

“That’s not the point...”

Axel sighed as he surveyed Roxas hopelessly looking through his various coats.

“That’s it....Roxas...” He said, as he spread out his arms, his hands flashed and immediately his two chakrams appeared in both of them. “Let's get started!”

“In a minute...” Roxas replied, without even turning his head as he head for the closet.

Axel had had enough. While he was still in back of Roxas, he ran up to him and struck him from behind with a horizontal slash.
But Roxas had blocked from behind by lifting the Oblivion over his shoulder and both weapons clashed, emanating a white flash.

The two stood still in the same position for a while, Roxas with his back face to Axel.
Suddenly, Roxas jumped over Axel and landed face to Axel's back, he swung his Keyblade horizontally but Axel turned around just in time to deflect the attack.
The deflection left Roxas open to further attack. Axel struck him in the chest and he fell to the ground.
Axel continued the attack by bending down on Roxas, who was laying on the ground, but Roxas had guarded it while still on the floor, Axel lost his balance and fell on Roxas, who then placed his feet on Axel's chest and threw him backwards with a backwards somersault. Axel landed on his feet on the other side of the room.

“Not bad...” He said, as he got up. “But I, being the older and more experienced one, shall no doubt emerge victorious.”

“Just wait until I find the Oathkeeper.” Roxas said, as he scowled.

“That should be interesting,” He said, as he stroked his chin. “But I’m really not the patient type”

And with that Roxas fled to the other end of the room, frantically looking for the Keyblade. He lifted coat after coat but couldn't find anything.

“Running will get you nowhere!” Axel exclaimed.

Axel sprinted after him. Roxas continued searching under the coats but still nothing. His heart raced by the minute as Axel continued sprinting.

“There's no escape!”

Axel jumped, and struck Roxas in the air........
The sound of clashing metal was heard throughout the castle. Roxas had blocked one of Axel's chakrams with both Keyblades.

“It was under the bed covers.” Roxas said, with a grin on his face.

He applied pressure to his Keyblades and pushed Axel away, who landed with his feet on the wall. He propelled himself back towards Roxas while twirling in the air; he lifted an arm to strike at Roxas.
As he hit him Roxas ducked. Axel stayed in the air for a few seconds; Roxas took that time to jam the Oblivion Keyblade into the chakram Axel attacked with.
Once Axel landed back on the ground, the two struggled to get their weapons back, but they were stuck betwixt each other.

“Nice going....” Axel said.

Roxas, frustrated, pulled his Keyblade as hard as he could, eventually, he pulled so hard that he accidentally flung it to the other side of the room, and Axel along with it, who fell in a pile of coats.
Once he got back up, Axel noticed the Keyblade still jammed in his chakram, he quickly yanked it out and threw it across the room.

“Fetch!” He said, as he threw it.

He then headed for Roxas who was also running towards him. As soon as he got within close proximity, Roxas ducked and stepped on Axel's foot as he struck. Axel subsequently tripped and fell over Roxas and landed yet again into another pile of coats.

“These coats are always there to break my fall!” He proclaimed.

“They'll do that...” Roxas replied.

Roxas got back up and his back was facing Axel, then it came.
He heard a loud FWOOM!
He turned around slowly and saw Axel floating in the air; the chakrams he held and Axel himself were on fire.

“I told you I'd emerge victorious!” He shouted, while looking down at the terrified Roxas. “There's no cowering now!”

Axel frowned once he saw Roxas frantically searching for his Keyblade.

“You know just killed the excitement right there.” He said to him, from above.

“Shut up!” Roxas said, as he searched frantically yet again, this time for the Oblivion Keyblade.

“You should learn to organize yourself!”

Roxas kept looking under the coats, Axel couldn't have thrown it that far. It had to be somewhere near.

“Of course, it's too late for that now!” Axel said, while stretching his arms out to prepare for his attack.

Roxas searched under the bed covers as Axel threw one of his fiery chakrams towards him. He was still searching frantically under the bed when...

“Found it!” He cried out, with joy.

Roxas turned around and whacked the flaming chakram back at Axel; the ashes caused from the clash and the smoke from the fire both flew in Roxas' face. Also, the force of the chakram caused Roxas to move back.
Axel caught the deflected chakram and threw the one in his other hand, which left a trail of fire and smoke in the air. Roxas deflected that one with ease and sent it back to Axel while more ashes flew in his face and he moved another step backwards.
They continued until Roxas was at the very end of the room.

Axel was sick of giving Roxas all these chances, so he decided to end it once and for all.

“This is it!” He said, over the roaring blaze of his own fire. “Prepare yourself!”

His chakrams disappeared from his hand, but he was still on fire.

Axel got ready.

He put his two hands in front of him, one next to the other; his two chakrams then appeared in front of his hands one in front of the other. They quickly caught fire and started spinning. The top one was spinning right and the bottom one was spinning left. Axel was charging up power, and as he was, the fire around his body grew thicker.
He put his arms back and prepared to strike with full force while Roxas watched in awe and fear.

Wind...

Axel felt the wind on his back and heard it whistling. He saw his own ashes and smoke being carried away by it.
It grew stronger and stronger, as did the trails of ashes dust and smoke.
It extinguished Axel's chakrams and they fell to the ground while Axel was still floating in the air.

“Wind?” Axel asked himself.

Then it struck him.

“Oh no, not... Please not--”

“AXEL!” A loud voice exclaimed.

Axel flinched as the voice yelled out his name, he turned around while still floating in the air with his head hunched, Roxas had immediately seen who it was, and quickly tried to hide his Keyblades underneath his pile of coats..

“H-H-Hi Xaldin...” Axel said nervously, as he tried his best not to look directly in the Whirlwind Lancer‘s blue-ish eyes.

“You numbskull!” Xaldin proclaimed, while several strands of his hair flew in his face. “What did I tell you about fighting here! Of course it doesn't surprise me that you of all people would stoop so low!”

“Now Xald--” Axel tried to say.

‘Quiet you!” Xaldin interrupted. “And get on the ground!”

Axel slowly floated to the ground until both feet were on it.

Silence...

“And you, Roxas!” Xaldin said, to the blond-haired boy, breaking the silence that filled the room seconds earlier. “I know you're new here, but you can make better friends than this redheaded scoundrel!”

“You know technically my hair's not entirely red,” Axel dared to say. “if you look close enough you can see the roots are--”

Xaldin stared at him as Axel kept taking. After a while, Axel noticed him and felt a little uncomfortable. He hunched his head.

“I'll stop talking now...” He said, with a smile on his face.

Xaldin walked all the way to the other end of the room to speak to Roxas. Axel crossed his arms as he leaned on the wall.

“Now Roxas,” Xaldin said calmly, as if he thought Roxas was scared. “since you're new and are apparently easily influenced by Axel...I'll let it go for now.”

“Um.....ok.” Roxas replied.

“As for you, Axel!” Xaldin said as he turned around towards Axel.

“That's me.” Axel replied.

Xaldin scowled.

“I'll expect to see you in the detention room a week from now.”

“Gee, sorry Xaldin,” He said, as he looked at his nails to give off the impression that he was unimpressed. “but I have a date with Xemnas next week, can I squeeze you in Tuesday?”

Xaldin walked over to Axel until the two were face to face. Axel rolled his eyes as he did.

“I suggest you try adopting a more humble attitude...” Xaldin said, sneering.

“I suggest you try some mouthwash.” Axel said, smirking.

Roxas, who was still in the back, let out a small burst of laughter and did his best to keep it in.

Xaldin looked at him, then back at Axel.

“Infantile brat!” Xaldin whispered, while sneering again.

He stormed out the door and the wind blew it shut.

“Finally....” He said, rolling his eyes. “Now, let’s-”

Suddenly, Axel and Roxas felt the wind again, but this time, it was going in a circle around the room, they both saw a trail of dust moving in a circular motion.
All the coats on the floor started moving, they were moving in the direction of the wind. Soon, they were all lifted in the air and flying around in a circle until they all gathered up in the middle of the room and were dropped on the floor in a big pile.

“I'll expect to see those coats hung up by tomorrow Roxas!” He said, through the other side of the door.

Silence...

“It really, truly never ends with him, does it?” Axel said.

“I don't see what the problem was, aren't we encouraged to train in our rooms?” Roxas asked.

“Yeah...no.” He said, while juggling one of his chakrams.

“But...” Roxas stuttered. “Didn’t you say that-”

“I say a lot of things.” Axel interrupted. “You should know by now that nothing I say is true.”

“So...we’re not allowed to fight anywhere in the castle?”

“Only if it’s under threat, and with the way Xemnas is running things around here, it shouldn’t be too long before somebody else takes control of this castle.”

“So, where are we supposed to train?”

“The Hall of Empty Melodies, but that place is Xigbar’s territory now. We should try fighting at Memory’s Skyscraper.”

“You think?”

“Sure, it has wide open space, perfect for fighting.”

“Hmm...sounds like my kind of place.” Roxas said, holding his chin.



“Yeah, I picture myself fighting there too.”

“So, how are we gonna settle this whole ‘room business? We never got to finish the battle.”

“Well, I guess this match is a draw, we’ll just have to wait until our next ‘spar’, which shouldn’t be too far from now.”

“Yeah...” Roxas said, with a melancholic look on his face.

“Anything wrong, Roxas?” Axel asked.

“Well...it’s just...”

“Yes...”

“Did you ever...dream?”

“Dream as in...aspiring to be something?”

“No, I mean...did you ever dream while sleeping?”

“Oh...of course not. Nobodies don’t dream, you know that. Why did you happen to...”

Roxas looked at him with a strange look on his face, as if he were unsure of himself.

“I...I dreamt about the Skyscraper...” Roxas said, while looking up.

Axel was speechless. He tried to mutter a few words, but though about the picture of Roxas and Sora.

“Wh-What did you see, exactly...in this dream.” Axel managed to mutter.

“I can’t seem to remember,” Roxas said as he sighed. “Do you think this has anything to do with my heartless?”

“I can’t imagine why, are you even sure you dreamt?”

“I don’t even know anymore.” Roxas said, while hunching his head.

Axel noticed that something else was bothering Roxas.

“Is there something else, Roxas?” He asked.

Roxas sighed and said: “There’s a lot of things”

“Oh, wait...is this because you don’t have a...”

Roxas nodded.

“Don't worry,” Axel said to comfort him, “I'm sure you'll discover it soon enough, I mean, we didn't all get ours the second we became nobodies.”

“Really?” Roxas asked.

“Yeah.... Well sort of, ok not really, but give it time I'm sure it'll come.”

“Thanks Axel.”

And with that, the two ran out of the room and back into the proof of existence chamber.

[iloveyou502]

Awwww. I looked at that and thought it was super long, but then when it ended I was dissapointed. Anyways I liked that alot it made me laugh. It's actually the first story on here that had any comedic characteristics at all. but yeah Ill be looking for the next chapter.

[Lectori Salutem]

it was very funny!
I'd like to read the next chapter!

[devil-may-roy]

i love axel's accent and his hair and his chakrams, i iwsh he was my wife

[Staulmaster]

^ Um.....accent? What do you mean by accent?

Anywho, thanks for the positive response guys, I hope you enjoy the rest of it. Just a quick warning though...it would be best to get used to the long chapters because most are equally as long, if not longer. (Wait until you see chapter 4 ) But don't worry, they go by fast.

So, without further ado, here's chapter two. (Hey, that rhymes)



Chapter 2

Youthful Hearts afire

Axel and Roxas were in the Hall of Empty Melodies on the top floor. It was supper time and they were heading for the dining room. They conversed as they did so.

“You know Axel, I’ve been thinking.” Said Roxas.

“Haven’t we all been?” Axel replied, with his hands on the back of his head and with said head tilted upwards, he seemed very carefree while doing so.

“All of the other members here seem to remember their past and former selves, but I can’t remember a thing about my past.”

“You know we all act like we want to know are ‘forgotten past’, but really, maybe it’s just best that we leave it alone.”

“That‘s easy for you to say, you remember your past. I‘m the only one here organisation that doesn’t.”

“You know Roxas, it isn’t very good for your emotional well-being to think too much about things like that.” Axel said, smirking.

“Are you mocking me?” Roxas said, with a smile on his face.

“No, I’m mocking Zexion.”

Roxas chuckled and said: “You’re a good friend Axel.”

“I know” Axel said, smiling.

Suddenly, the two heard a voice from afar, a high pitch voice that rung in their ears and stopped them dead in their tracks.

“Yoo-hoo! Axel!” The voice cried out from behind them.

Axel looked at Roxas and rolled his eyes.

“Oh great.” He said as he turned around. “What do you want now Larxene?”

Larxene ran all the way up to him and stopped to catch her breath. As she bent down and put her hands on her knees, her two strands of blond hair swung in her face, and her coat flailed around as she got back up and posed girlishly.

“Well, let me just start off by saying that you look nice today.” She said, smiling.

“I know.” The redhead replied.

Larxene giggled.

“You’re so funny, Axel.” She said, as she touched the tip of his nose with her finger.

“Please don’t do that.” Axel said mutually.

“I just wanted to ask you something” She said, while lifting one foot in the air to appear innocent.

“Would you mind hurrying up, Larxene? I’m hungry.”

“Do you know what day it is today?”

“Saturday.” Roxas answered.

“I wasn’t asking you.” The blond girl said to him, scowling.

Roxas looked at her strangely, and rolled his eyes after she set hers upon Axel, again.

“That’s right Axy, it’s Saturday, and do you know what day that is?”

“Did you just call me Axy?”

“I said, do you know what day that is?” She said, this time with a more imposing voice.

“Really Larxene, this conversation is absolutely fascinating and I’d love to stay and chat about Saturday, but I have a date with the dinner table, so if you don’t mind...”

He then turned around and proceeded to go out the door. Larxene ran all the way around him and stopped him in his tracks again.

“Larxene!” Axel shouted.

“I’m so sorry Axy, but you didn’t let me finish-”

“Nor will I let you.” He said, while turning around her again to get to the door.

Larxene, this time, grabbed Axel by the arm. He felt a tight squeeze as she did, a very tight squeeze. He turned his head to look at her, and saw her eyes filled with anger. She spoke in a very daunting voice, while gritting her teeth.

“I said, you didn’t let me finish!”

Axel wasn’t the least bit scared, however he knew that this shenanigan would never end if he would just talk to Larxene.

“What do you want?” He asked impolitely, while shaking his arm to get hers off.

“Silly, I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to take a walk later to Memory’s Skyscraper,” She said, immediately changing her fierce attitude to her earlier, perky attitude. “since today is the day the Organization was founded and coincidentally is also the day I joined.”

Larxene started giggling loudly.

“Oh Larxene...” She said to herself.

Axel and Roxas looked at each other, Roxas shrugged his shoulders.

“That sounds okay I guess.” Axel said, wanting only to end the conversation so he could satisfy his stomach. “I could use the exercise.” Was the only excuse he could come up with.

He then turned around and continued walking to the dinner chamber while talking to Roxas.

Larxene stood still for a moment. She was pale and was shaking uncontrollably. Marluxia happened to pass by her and noticed her wavering. He analysed her from head to toe and she didn’t move a muscle aside from the ones that were already moving naturally. However, Marluxia noticed that these muscles were definitely not moving as a result of the biological stimuli known as love.

“Larxene?” He asked. “Larxene are you feeling all right? You seem to be moving your muscles on purpose. Do you assume to be in love and are moving your muscles purposely to reassure yourself that you indeed have a heart?”

“...He loves me....” She whispered.

“What was that?”

“HE LOVES ME!” She screamed in Marluxia’s face.

And with that she ran off into the proof of existence chamber. Marluxia looked at her run the entire time, and then said to himself:
“Case in point.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After dinner the two heroes headed to Larxene’s room through the Hall of Empty Melodies yet again.

“That Larxene is kinda rude.” Roxas said. “And by ’rude’, I mean downright nasty. Has she always been like that?

“She’s rude to everybody except me.” Axel replied. “I seem to have been granted some kind of immunity against her.”

Roxas rolled his eyes.

“You’re so oblivious.” Roxas said, and he smirked. “Have you always been like that?”

“Oblivious to what?”

Roxas chuckled.

“The obvious” He responded.

“Har har, very funny. Seriously though, what am I oblivious to?”

“Come on, race me to her room and I’ll tell you.” He said, as he gave Axel a light punch on the arm.

“Roxas!” Axel cried out. “Oblivious to what?”

As soon as Roxas started running, Axel followed closely behind after him. They were about to enter the Proof of Existence Chamber from the Hall of Empty Melodies when, at that moment, Axel felt a WOOM!
He turned around, not being sure what it was, but saw nothing.

He pondered.

“Hmm.... What do you think that was Roxas?” He said as he turned around.

Once he saw Roxas, his eyes grew wide.

“Roxas....?”

Roxas had been frozen in place in his running position, with one foot on the ground and one foot in the air. His spiky blond hair appeared to be swaying in the wind, but was stuck in a certain wind-swaying position. He wasn’t moving a muscle.
Axel studied him carefully.

He pondered yet again. Who, or what would have the ability to manipulate time? Specifically, the ability to manipulate time around individual objects or people.

“Luxord!” He cried out, scowling.

“Axel my lad....” A voice from behind said. The person speaking had an English accent. “How are you this evening?”

Axel quickly turned around, his back facing Roxas, but no one was there.

“Over here...” The voice said, from behind him.

Axel turned back to face Roxas and saw Luxord standing in front of him. Immediately he took out both of his chakrams and got in his fighting stance.

“Get out.” He said, as he glared at the bleached blond Englishman.

“Now, now,” He said, with a large grin on his face. “that’s no way to treat an Englishman Axel, not to mention your fellow comrade, or chum, or friend, or whatever horribly juvenile euphemism you’d want to use to associate with me.”

“How about: ‘Jack ass’ or ‘Dirt bag’, or whatever horribly juvenile insult I can possibly think of to associate with you.” Axel replied.

Luxord scoffed.

“I would suggest you adopt a meeker outlook. You wouldn‘t want anything to come about poor Roxas here, would you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I suppose you can call it that. However, it was somewhat in vain, since I’m obliged to take Roxas with me anyway.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Look Luxord, I don’t have time for games, just leave will you?”

“Very well, but I’m taking him with me” He said, as he pointed to Roxas.

“I just told you I don’t want to play your game!”

“This has nothing to do with your or my amusement!” Luxord said, before he stopped to ponder. “Well...maybe it is amusing for me.”

“Luxord, I am warning you, get out of here before I get you out.”

Luxord let out a laugh before saying: “That would be a feat I would certainly like to see accomplished on your behalf.”

“You shouldn’t judge anyone by appearances” Axel said, as he scoffed.

“Neither should you.”

Axel was at first puzzled at hearing this, but then soon realized what Luxord meant when he saw him put his arm up in front of Roxas. As soon as he did, a large row of cards came out of nowhere and encircled Roxas. Axel could only watch as he saw his best friend disappear after the cards slid into the ground. Roxas was gone.

Axel approached Luxord and held a chakram to his neck.

“What do you want?” He said.

“It’s not me really me that wants him yank...”Luxord said, putting his hands up to seem innocent.

“Oh, I see. You’re just a simple pawn in someone’s twisted game of chess.”

Luxord scoffed again, then said while grinning: “I may be a pawn, but you’re not even on the board.”

“Why, am I not surprised to hear that?”

“Well, that being said, my business here is concluded. Toodles” He said, as he waved his hand.

“Luxord!” Axel shouted, as he lunged at him and sliced him with a chakram.

He was gone. Axel felt a tap on his shoulder soon after, and as tense as he was, quickly turned around while swiping. Luxord jumped away to avoid it and landed a few feet away from Axel.

Axel, in a furry of rage, lit his chakrams on fire and threw each one at Luxord. However, Luxord stretched his hand out and a large card materialized in front of him and acted as a shield. The two chakrams hit it one at a time, and the second one destroyed the card. The chakrams then re-materialized in Axel’s hands.

“Manipulating time certainly has its perks,” Luxord exclaimed, grinning. “but then again, so does manipulating people.”

He immediately snapped his fingers, and six cards appeared around him; three on his left side, and three on his right side. They were all turned around so as to be hidden from Axel, and they had yet to be turned face-up.

“Now,” Luxord said. “Which one of these cards is Roxas?”

Axel wasn’t so much confused to what was going on, as much as he was insulted.

“What?” He said, in an infuriating, yet calm tone.

“I knew you’d ask me. It’s quite simple: you see, one of these cards has Roxas on the other side of it, and what I’m asking you to do, although it may seem complicated, is to choose which--”

Luxord yelped before he ducked and dodged Axel’s chakram. It soon re-materialized again in Axel’s hand. Once Luxord got back up, he spoke:

“You know, I--”

Luxord yelped again as he saw Axel lunge toward him. He moved to the side as Axel swiped him vertically. The redhead then turned around and threw a chakram at three of the cards that were on the left to Luxord. It hit the three of them as it flew to the far side of the hallway, then destroyed them all once it came back in Axel’s hand.
Axel turned around again and threw his other chakram towards the cards that were on the right to Luxord. Incidentally, Luxord was in their path, so before the chakram reached him, he flipped sideways and dodged it while the three cards suffered the same fate as the previous three. The chakram eventually returned in Axel’s hand.

“What did you do that for?” Luxord asked, looking at Axel as if he were crazy. “You could’ve killed your friend.

“Can it!” Axel yelled. “You’d never give me a chance to save Roxas. Now tell me, where is he!”

“That, my friend, is for me to know, and you to ponder until your mind explodes.” Luxord said, pointing to himself and Axel respectively.

Axel approached Luxord and put his chakram on his neck.

“Tell me...now.” He said, in a very low and serious voice.

“Let me ask you something” Luxord said, as he pushed Axel’s chakram away from his neck. “If I indeed took Roxas away, don’t you think that enough time has passed for him to be thousands of miles away from here? Wouldn’t you say that it’s practically impossible to catch up with him by now?”

Luxord seemed to be hinting something, and Axel wasn’t sure if he should believe him or not. As he stared in Luxord’s blue eyes, set upon his pale, grinning face, Axel chose the latter.

“You’re an idiot, you know that?” Axel proclaimed.

“Say what you will, I’m not the one who just lost a friend.”

“How is that relevant to the conversation, exactly?”

“You really are clueless, you know that?”

“Stop weaselling your way around my questions and give me a straight answer!”

“Why don’t you think about what I said and give yourself a straight answer?”

Axel was intrigued at what Luxord had just said. He pondered for a short while, as the white-haired gambler stared strangely into his green eyes. However, Axel quit pondering when he soon realized something.

“You’re just stalling for time...” Axel said, as he pointed at Luxord in an accusing manner.

“Like I said,” Luxord began responding, with a grin on his face. “Manipulating time certainly has its perks”

Axel didn’t know what to do upon hearing this. Before long, Luxord raised up one of his hands, and a bright light flashed from his hand. Axel wasn’t sure what he should do, but eventually, he took his chances and lunged at Luxord with all of his might. As he jumped, he prepared himself to swipe Luxord horizontally with both of his chakrams. However, the bright light on Luxord’s hand grew larger, and only one word came out of Luxord’s mouth as Axel lunged at him:

“Stop!”

_______________

A beach.......

Or at least what’s left of it.

The water was pitch black, the sky was almost as black, and there were several strange rock formations scattered on the beach. On one of these rocks there was a hooded man sitting and staring at the water.

Suddenly, a dark portal appeared at the other end of the beach: Another hooded man came out of it.

“I brought him master.” The hooded man said.

“Very good,” The man on the rock said. “leave him here and I’ll see that you get your reward.”

“Oh I don’t want any reward, the air on that redhead’s mug was satisfying enough.”

“I trust that Axel is far from here?”

“Worry not, dear master. The time it would take for my Stop spell to end would still leave us with enough time. He’s still in the hallway right now.”

“How large is the radius of your stop Spell?”

“Again, I implore you not to fret, master. I have everything under control, everyone in the castle has been frozen for the same amount of time as that redheaded scoundrel, they won’t realize anything once the spell runs out of time.”

“Well, then bring the Key of Destiny here before it does.”

“Very good, master” The hooded man said, as he snapped his fingers.

A row of giant cards came out of nowhere; they formed a circle next to the hooded man on the rock and then disappeared into the ground.

Roxas appeared.

“You may leave, Luxord.” The hooded man on the rock said.

“Very good, sir.” Luxord replied, before materializing materializing a dork portal and entering it.

“Roxas....” The hooded man said to him, as he lay perched on the rock.

“.......” Roxas was speechless.

“Don’t you recognize me?” The hooded man said.

Roxas stared at him....

“Come, have a seat.” He said, as he pointed to a rock next to him.

Roxas hesitated, but eventually he sat down next to the hooded man.

The hooded man turned his head towards the water and stared at it.

“......Xemnas?” Roxas guessed.

The man turned his head towards Roxas and stared at him, Roxas felt very uncomfortable.
Eventually, the man took off his hood.

“Let’s talk about that proposition shall we?” Xemnas said, with a grin on his face.

_______________

The light from Luxord’s spell had blinded Axel, who tumbled on his knees onto the ground. He looked up, his eyes still being somewhat blinded from the burst of light. He couldn’t really make out anything. Once his eyes adjusted to the regular light, all he could see was white. Luxord was gone, and there was no trace of him whatsoever.

Axel, infuriated, started running across the hall all the way to the end. Once he did, he entered a large room with a few desks in it and a door at the other end. As he ran, he hopped over the desks, and eventually made his way to the door. Upon opening the door, he realized that something or someone was on the other side, and that thing or person had just received a door in the face.

Axel took a peek behind the door and saw Xaldin, on the ground holding his face. Axel took his chances and just kept running down the hall that the doorway had led into. Once Xaldin got back up, he caught a glimpse of a certain redheaded scoundrel just as he was turning the corner.

“AXEL!” He cried out.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Demyx was waiting and waiting for the bathroom to be free (He really had to go). He was doing his best to keep it in, and event tried knocking on the door to hurry up Larxene’s freshening up.

“Gosh Larxene,” He said, after knocking. “there are other people in this castle besides you, you know.”

“Gosh Demyx,” Larxene said, mockingly through the door. “there are other bathrooms in this castle besides this one you know.”

“But I want this one!” Demyx replied, in a whining tone.

“Stop being such a baby and leave me alone! I have a date with Axel and I’m freshening up.”

“Axel?” Demyx scoffed. “Good luck with him.”

“Don’t make me come out there.” She said, in a tone that seemed somewhat angry.

“Oh, here he comes right now, hey Axel.”

“Nice try, Demyx, you’ll just have to hold it in.”

Unfortunately for Larxene, Axel had been passing by there at that exact moment, and was telling Demyx to be quiet as he jogged through the hall.

“Will you shut up!” He whispered, as he ran past him.

“Oh, you just missed him, Larxene!”
Larxene figured Demyx was probably joking, but she didn’t want to take any chances, she wanted to make sure Axel would go on that walk with her.

Larxene opened the bathroom door and she hit something as she did, she didn’t bother to see what it was, instead she looked down the end of the hall and saw Axel running.

“Is he trying to get out of the walk?” She asked herself, before running after him and crying out:

“Yoo-hoo! Axel! AXEL!!!”

The second time she cried out his name, her voice had a somewhat enraged tone.

Behind the door was Xaldin and Demyx, who was on the floor holding his face and yelling out:

“Ow! My face! My valuable face!

Xaldin got back up and looked down the hall, only to see nothing. Demyx got back up behind him, so Xaldin turned around and asked him:

“Demyx! Have you seen Axel pass by here?”

“Yes,” He responded casually. “he went down the hall, and Larxene followed him too.”

“Larxene? So she hit me with the door....well, no matter, she’s just another troublemaker I can nab in the process.”

Demyx rolled his eyes as he entered the bathroom.

“I saw that!” Cried out Xaldin, before running down the hall.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Axel finally made it to the castle entrance outside. He turned around, facing the castle, and looked at the tallest tower, expecting to see at least Xemnas or Luxord, but he saw nothing.....
He turned around again.

“Luxord you coward! Show yourself!” He yelled out into the darkness.

Nothing....

He turned back towards the entrance and saw Larxene coming out. He rolled his eyes as he said:

“Oh, great.”

Once Larxene caught up with him, she spoke:

“Have you decided to start without me?” She asked.

“What?” Axel asked, before realizing what she meant. “Oh...yeah, sure, whatever. Listen, did you see Luxord anywhere around here?”

“No, why? Is he accompanying us, or something?”

“Do you have any idea where he could be?”

“Have you checked his room?”

Axel looked at her with a strange look, then turned around and started talking to himself.

“I’m sure he used a Stop spell,” He started saying. “He must have frozen me and gone off somewhere, darn it! Who knows how much time ahead of me he is...where could he have brought Roxas?”

As he was talking to himself, Axel failed to notice that Larxene hadn’t said a word yet, and that this usually meant something's happened to her. So he continued talking to himself, before feeling a light tap on his shoulder.

“Look Larxene,” he started, as he turned around.

However, he turned around only to find Xaldin staring at him in the face. Axel felt rather uncomfortable as he peered into Xaldin’s blue eyes.

“Hi-ya.” Was all that came out of Axel’s mouth.

“Don’t play coy with me, you know what you did...” Xaldin said, sneering.

“I hit you accidentally by opening a door. I hardly think that requires any sort of pursuit on your behalf, Xaldy.” Axel replied, as he crossed his arms.

Xaldin then turned around, and started pacing from side to side.

“That is strike two, Axel.” He said, as he kept pacing and lifted two fingers as if he were doing the ‘peace‘ sign.

“There was a first strike?” Axel asked. “Oh right, the whole mouthwash thing.” He continued, upon realizing what Xaldin meant.

“One more strike and it’s off to the detention room with me, do you hear?”

“I’d say that this second ‘strike’ counts more as a ‘ball’...wouldn’t you say? I mean, it was accidental, so technically--”

“One more strike and it’s the detention room!” Xaldin repeated, as he abruptly interrupted Axel.

Finally, Axel had noticed something that he should have noticed as soon as he had started talking to himself earlier.

“Say...where’s Larxene?” He said, as he peeked over Xaldin’s shoulder.

“Speaking of delinquents...” Xaldin said, with a grin.

Xaldin held his arm up and snapped his fingers. Soon after, Larxene came floating down next to him. She was covered by a sort of aura made up of winds. Large airstreams swirled around her as her hair and cloak flailed wildly. She was a few inches off of the ground, and could barely move a muscle.

Axel looked at Xaldin with utter surprise and perplexity.

“Now Larxene,” Xaldin said, as he turned his head towards her. “That’s only strike one for you, but should you acquire two more strikes, it’s off to the detention room with Axel. Understand?”

“I’d spit in your face but the wind would blow it back into mine” She retaliated.

Xaldin was completely appalled upon hearing this. Axel, however, was mildly amused.

“Wow. She’s got more guts than I do.” Axel muttered to himself.

“Quiet!” Xaldin said, as he raised his arm towards Axel. The same swirls of wind that were trapping Larxene were now trapping Axel, as he was floating a few inches into the air.

Xaldy, baby” Axel said, as the wind blew his hair into his face. “I think you may be talking this guard duty a wee bit too seriously.”

“You’re going back to the castle!” Xaldin said, through the wind’s howls.

“But this is only ball one, isn’t it? I don’t deserve to be punished yet!”

“It is my duty to rule out any suspecting threat in the castle’s parameters!”

“And like I said, you’re taking this way too seriously.”

“I’ve had enough of your insolence! This will prevent you from further provocative behaviour!”

“What behaviour!? I hit you accidentally while opening a door!”

“You fled from the scene! Do not deny it!”

“You’re insane!” Axel yelled out the best he could, through the roaring cry of the winds surrounding him. “You’re not the lea--”

Axel could not finish his sentence. Xaldin lifted his arm up and pointed it towards the castle. As he did, Axel was simultaneously hurled all the way back to the castle to the highest tower. Larxene watched hoplelessly through the swirls of wind that encircled her, as Axel became nothing more than a shooting star.

Xaldin turned around towards the ever-floating Larxene and spoke:

“I trust you know what’s in for you, Larxene?”

Larxene did the unthinkable and spat in Xaldin’s face. However, to her dismay, the stream of saliva flew back into her own face.

“Great,” She said sarcastically. “I knew this would happen.”

Xaldin glared at her with ever-growing disgust. Ultimately, he brought his face inches away from hers and raised his two fingers again.

“Although that was a failed attempt,” He said, as his hair flew around wildly. “That is strike two on your behalf.”

Before he could even see Larxene’s reaction, he raised his hand towards the castle again, this time at another direction. As soon as he did, Larxene was hurled to that spot in the same fashion as Axel. She was headed towards another tower.

Soon after, Xaldin looked up at the castle, and the circular moon sleeping behind it. Feeling content with what he had done, he lifted himself into the hair and cast an Aero spell on himself. Several swirls of wind enveloped him and he dashed as fast as he could into the entrance of the castle.

_______________

“Whatever it is I’m not accepting it.” Roxas said, before even thinking of listening to Xemnas’ proposition.

“Now Roxas.....” Xemnas said, in a low voice. “You misjudge me. No doubt the work of that redheaded--”

“Scoundrel?”

Xemnas stared at Roxas, and then turned his head and stared back into the ocean.

“Nobodies like us,” He started, as he moved his arms awkwardly. “we, who teeter on the edge of nothing and being neither denizens of light or darkness, we suffer. We suffer knowing that somewhere, out there, our heart is acting on it’s own, mocking our very existence.”

“Uh-huh.” Roxas replied casually.

Xemnas looked straight into Roxas’ eyes.

“Roxas....... What would you say if I told you that I know where your heartless is?” He asked.

Roxas was speechless.

_______________

Axel landed slowly on the Altar of naught. His hair was completely windswept and his cloak was wrinkled. After a taking a short pause to recover from the vertigo, he spoke to himself:

“I am gonna kill Xaldin.”

He stepped up to the edge of the tower and looked down at the murky city below him. It was distorted from his current viewpoint, and it seemed barely capable of standing upon itself. He re-arranged his hair as he continued speaking to himself, trying to make sense of the current situation.

“Where could that rat Luxord have gone with Roxas...” He asked himself. “Hmm...it may have something to do with Xemnas, since that pathetic gambler will do anything to get on his good side.”

Axel stopped re-arranging his hair and put his hands on the edge while looking down.

“Come to think of it, this may have to do with whatever Xemnas was saying to Roxas before. Knowing him, he would’ve probably picked a quiet spot to talk...”

Then, it caught Axel’s eye. The beach. He gazed at the still, shadowy waters and the odd rock formation as he contemplated it to be a perfect spot for Xemnas to give one of his speeches without any interruption.

“The beach!” He cried out. “He’s probably down there with Roxas right know...”

Axel put his hand on his chin to think better.

“If I go now and someone notices, it’ll only cause more of an uproar, but I’d only be gone for a few minutes...then again, it is a long way from here to the beach...even if I went through a corridor...”

After a few minutes of pondering, Axel’s mind was set.

“All right,” he said as he turned around. “I’ll go and--”

Axel could not finish his sentence as he turned around. Actually, it wasn’t so much that he couldn’t finish, it was that he didn’t want to finish it. For as soon as he had turned around, he found himself face to face with Xemnas.
“Hi-ya...” Was all Axel could think of saying, as he waved nervously at him.

_______________

“His name is Sora...” Xemnas said, still perched upon that rock.

“.....” Roxas could not think of anything to say.

“What’s wrong? Doesn’t that ring a bell?”

“Why are you telling me this, if it is indeed true?”

“Roxas,” He said, as he got up from his rock and started to walk towards him. “If anyone in this organisation has a chance to reclaim his former self, I would not dare stand in his, or in Larxene’s case, her way.”

Xemnas was know standing face to face with Roxas and put his hand on his shoulder.

“I only want what’s best for you.” he said, with a smile on his face.

Roxas quickly brushed off his hand and backed away.

“I seriously doubt that.” He said, before materializing a dark portal. He was about to enter it when Xemnas called out to him”

“Roxas!”

Roxas stopped and hesitated. Eventually, he turned around and waited for whatever it was Xemnas had to say:

“Bear in mind what I told you.”

Roxas grinned at the orange-eyed leader.

“This time, you did say something” Roxas said to him. He then turned around and as he entered the dark portal muttered:

“Although it was all for nothing”

The portal closed and Xemnas was left standing at the side of the ocean. For a few minutes, he peered at the spot where Roxas had left. Then, he turned his head towards the ocean and listened to the quiet sounds of the calm ocean waters. The small waves washed up on the shore, as Xemnas gazed at the hollow moon.

“Nothing...” He repeated, as he chuckled.

_______________

Larxene was sent careening over to the castle into one of the windows and landed in a hallway. She had stood there for a second, somewhat flabbergasted at what had just happened. She looked out the window from whence she flew in and muttered to herself:

“I am gonna kill Xaldin.”

“Aren’t we all?” A voice from behind responded.

Larxene turned around and saw Demyx standing and grinning.

“Demyx!” She cried, as she ran towards him. “Have you seen Axel, anywhere?”

“You mean that shooting star that I saw a while ago?” Demyx asked. “I could tell it was Axel because the top of it was red.”

“About where do you think he would have landed?”

“Don’t you find it weird that Axel was flying in the air like a shooting star?”

“Who cares!? Just tell me where he landed!”

“Well, from what I saw, I suppose he would’ve landed on the Altar of Naught.”

Larxene looked at him as if she had no idea what he was talking about.”

“You know,” Demyx said, hoping to jog Larxene’s memory. “Xemnas’ tower.”

Larxene continued staring at him with a clueless expression.

“Our leader...” Demyx continued.

Larxene then figured out what Demyx was talking about.

“Oh right....him.” She said. “It’s just that I never see him and I usually forget who he is...thanks anyway.” She said, before leaving and running towards where she thought the Altar of Naught was.

“Larxene, wait!” Demyx cried out, but Larxene had already turned the corner of the hall.

Demyx looked down the hall, considering what he should do.

“I should probably run after her....but my feet are so tired....ah screw it. She’ll just discover on her own that the Altar of Naught is on the other side of the castle.”

And with that, Demyx continued walking down the hallway.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Axel was staring Xemnas in the face, and Xemnas was staring Axel in the face, with his stoic facial expression.

After a moment of very awkward silence, Xemnas broke said silence.

“Looking for Roxas, I presume?” He said, with the same stoic expression he had on before.

Axel wasn’t sure what he should answer.

“Well...” He started. “Not that it matters.....but if you have seen him....it would be nice to know if....ahem....you know...”

To Axel’s relief, Xemnas finally got out of his face and moved to the side, as if to let him pass.

“I believe he’s in his room.” He said, as he lifted his hand to show the way.

Axel was perplexed upon hearing this, and looked at Xemnas strangely for a moment. But soon enough, he nodded awkwardly and started walking towards the stairs. However, Xemnas wasn’t quite finished.

“Incidentally,” He started.

Axel stopped walking, but didn’t turn around. He was too frustrated at the fact that he was almost home free.

“Why did Xaldin send you here?” Xemnas continued.

Axel turned around and looked at Xemnas oddly. He did his best to look like he didn’t know what Xemnas was talking about.

“Xaldin?” Axel asked. “What are you talking about?”

“If Xaldin sends you here, it’s for a reason.” Xemnas replied.

“How do you know it’s Xaldin that sent me here?”

“Who else could turn people into shooting stars?”

“You saw that?”

“Through one way or another, I find out everything that goes on in this castle.”
Axel stopped bluffing and tried to explain the situation as best he could:

“You know, it’s not even strike two, it’s ball one.”

Xemnas looked at Axel with that same stoic expression, and after an awkward pause:

“I’m not even going to inquire as to what that is supposed to connote.” He said. “Now, I shall ask you once more: why did Xaldin send you here?”

“Look,” Axel started. “this all started because I accidentally hit him with a door. You’d think he’d learn to let this stuff go.”

“I can relate.”

“Really? Phew, I thought I was the only one who knew he was nuts.”

“No, I mean I can relate to Xaldin.”

“Wha?” Axel asked. After a short pause however, he knew what Xemnas meant. “Oh...Oh, right...that thing. Well, I suppose that you could--”

Before Axel could finish what he was saying, Xemnas stretched his arm out and a very strong force pushed Axel down the stairs. Axel tumbled all the way down and landed in a large room with blue and red coloured walls.

“That is strike two!” Xemnas yelled from above.

He stayed down for a moment, ignoring Xemnas’ statement, and after getting back up, he wiped his cloak.

“All right Xemnas,” He said to himself. “You just made the list.”

And with that, he went down the clear ‘stairs’ that formed themselves as soon as he set foot on them. He continued out of the chamber and ran across one of the halls towards the Proof of Existence chamber. As he passed the bathroom door, it swung open and hit him in the face, coming out of the bathroom was Luxord.

“Luxord!” Axel exclaimed, on the ground.

“Axel...” Luxord said, disgusted. “I see you’re on the floor where you belong.”

“Where have you been?” Axel asked, while getting up.

“That’s hardly any of your business.”

“It doesn’t even matter.” Axel said, as he rolled his eyes. “Roxas will give me all the info I need.”

As Axel turned around and started running down the hall, Luxord said something that caught his attention:

“Roxas? Good luck even finding him...”

Axel stopped. He knew that Luxord was probably stalling for time again, but he didn’t want to take any chances.

“What are you insinua--” Axel said, as he turned around. As soon as he did, however, Luxord was gone.

Axel was infuriated and several ashes started to fly around him.

“He just makes me so mad!” He said to himself, as he turned back and ran down the hallway.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Larxene had been running in the hallways for almost fifteen minutes, of course she never could have noticed how long it had been.

She then realized that she was running around in circles, so she stopped in front of the door to the Hall of Empty Melodies.

“That idiot, Demyx!” She said to herself. “He doesn’t know the castle at all! He should be ashamed of himself.”

She then proceeded to enter the door into the Hall, but realized that she had hit something. Fearing that it might be who she thought it was, she hesitated to look. Instead, she noticed that Axel was right in front of her.

“Axel!” She cried out. “What are you doing here?”

“Never mind that,” Axel responded. “Look who you just hit in the face.”

“Oh no,” Larxene said, as she took a peek to see Xaldin on the floor. “I was afraid of this.”

As Xaldin was trying to get back up, not noticing what Axel and Larxene were doing, they took that chance to run across the hall and escape Xaldin.

“You know, I had just promised myself that I would kill him after our little mishap.” Axel said, while running.

“Really?” Larxene said. “I had the same idea, we have so much in common.” She said, giggling.

Suddenly, the two stopped. Not because they wanted to, but because a force was withholding them. Several air streams began to flow around them, and soon enough, they were floating in the air in a giant sphere of wind.
Xaldin was at the door, with his arms pointed in their direction, he then made a motion with them and the two were sent careening over to him.

Xaldin approached the sphere, and lifted three of his fingers.

“That is strike three.” He said, in a low, low voice.”

Axel was getting annoyed by what he claimed to be Xaldin’s idiocy.

“Oh please,” He said. “As if you have any authority over us whatsoever.”

“As a member of a higher rank,” Xaldin responded. “I do.”

“You’re not Xemnas.” Larxene retorted. “You don’t decide our punishment.”

“You brats have no respect for your elders! I’m sure Vexen would agree with me.”

“Who said anything about Vexen?” Axel asked, floating upside-down. “He’s completely irrelevant to the conversation.”

“Seriously Xaldin,” Larxene said. “You should learn to get your facts straight.”

“I don’t know why I’m even bothering to talk to any of you!” Xaldin said.

“Hey, nobody’s putting a gun to your head.” Axel replied.

“Seriously Xaldin,” Larxene started. “You should stop acting like you’re the leader, you can’t decide what goes and what doesn’t in this castle.”

“No, but I can.” A voice from afar said.

Xaldin immediately saw who it was, Larxene and Axel however, had trouble turning around to see. Even then, the winds were so thick, all they saw was a blurry figure on a platform at the top of the Hall of Empty Melodies.
The figure jumped down and landed slowly and safely on the ground.

“Let them go, Xaldin.” The man said.

“But Xemnas...” Xaldin argued.

“That’s enough Xaldin, now let them go.”

“V-Very well.” Xaldin replied, as he put his arms down.

Axel and Larxene both fell to the ground on their stomachs. They lifted their heads to see who was walking towards them and saw Xemnas.

“So,” He started. “It’s a fair punishment you want?”

“Actually,” Axel started. “That’s what Larxene wanted, but I could do without any punishment at all.”

Xemnas gave Axel a very stern look, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

“I believe punishment is in order.” Xemnas continued. “We’ll see how much you’ll amuse yourselves in the detention room.”

“Yes,” Xaldin continued unnecessarily. “and we’ll see just where hitting people with doors will get you!”

“In the detention room?” Axel replied sarcastically.

Xemnas looked down at Axel for a moment, then back at Xaldin.

“I’ll take care of these two Xaldin,” He said. “you may leave now.”

Xaldin argued:

“But I--”

“Leave!”

“A-All right.”

Xaldin sneered at the two heroes on the ground, then started lifting himself up as whirlwinds encircled him. The winds blew on everyone’s cloaks and dishevelled everyone’s hair, even Xemnas’. After a while, Xaldin left by dashing out the door that had hit him moments earlier.

Xemnas looked down at the two, who were in the middle of getting back up.

“You know, Xemny” Axel said, as he got back up. “It seems pretty silly to punish us for accidentally hitting you and Xaldin with doors. Couldn’t you just give us a slap on the wrist and call it a day?”

“Yeah,” Larxene continued. “I mean, is sending us to the detention room gonna help us to be less clumsy?”

Xemnas looked at the two with a grin.

“You have no idea.” He said.

“Luxord was right...” Axel said

[Staulmaster]

I'll post the third chapter soon, if anyone wants me to. Remember, continue to criticise

[Lectori Salutem]

You know you just posted chapter two FOUR times?
I suppose you somehow posted two times the same by pressed too quick or something, but everypost has the chapter two times!

Other than that, it's a really good chappy!

[Staulmaster]

Oh, sorry about that. I managed to shorten down the posts. The only problem now is that there are two posts. How do you delete a post? Sorry again about this whole thing.

[Lectori Salutem]

It's okay, it happens more.
Maybe it's better to put something else in the second post, the thread look's very long this way, and two chapters aren't needed, right?

[Staulmaster]

But wouldn't it still be a double post? (fixed)

Edit: Its all right now, carry on with the reading.

[iloveyou502]

Ah finally! Ive been waiting two whole days! Anyways that was very entertaining just like chapter one its kind of like Organization High and like Xemnas is the principal, Xaldin is hall monitor, Axel's the bad kid....yeah.

[Staulmaster]

Ok gang, here's chapter 3 everyone, for whoever's interested. I personally like this chapter, I guess you could say it's one of my favourites. You can judge for yourself once it's ready.

Also, I need to do a few tweaks on my chapters 4, 5 and 6, so it may take a while before I get them up here....a long while. But do not fret, for I think that the richness of the chapters will make up for it.

Anywho, without further ado, here is chapter 3

Chapter 3

Flaming quarrel

Axel and Larxene were in a big white room, completely white. In the middle of it was a long white table and both of them were sitting on opposite sides.

This was the detention room.

The two had been inside for over an hour and they had to stay for another two hours. Neither had said a word the entire time, until....

“Well, this is a colossal waste of time.” Axel sad. “As soon as this is over I’m going to find Roxas.”

“Shut up Axel.” Larxene replied.

“What was that?”

“You heard me.”

“Don’t blame me for your clumsiness Larxene. “

Larxene scoffed.

“And you’re perfectly well-coordinated?” She asked sarcastically.

“More so than you, that’s for sure.” He replied. “I don’t even know why clumsiness is against the rules. You can’t help it.”

“Shut up Axel.” Larxene repeated.

“You’ve got quite a mouth there, Larxene. Care to tell me what&