Chapter Text
Zilteastrix was tired of this facade. She was tired of pretending that she was nice and pretending that she was thoughtful . The only reason she acted like that in the first place was because she wanted some more people in on her plans. After all, you catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar, no? So, the first chance she got to drop the act she did.
“Oh little Namine . What are you doing so close to the exit? Don’t you know it’s dangerous out there?” Zilteastrix asked the younger nobody, who was cowering in fear in the corner of the room, the two of them were in. The nobody, Namine, had tried escaping the large, spiraling castle that Zilteastrix had been placed in charge of.
“No it- it’s not.” Namine muttered, shaking under the gaze of the redheaded nobody.
“What was that honey? Surely you didn’t say what I think you-”
“I said no it’s not!” Namine yelled, surprising Zilteastrix. “You’ve been lying to me! You never wanted to protect me! You only needed my powers!”
Zilteastrix was shocked, where had the witch gotten this idea? “What do you mean sweetheart? I’m sure this is just a misunderstand-”
“Sora was right about you!” the blonde girl shouted. “You made me do so much to him! Made me mess with his memories so much that I began to think that they were true as well!”
The redhead frowned, a look unnatural on her usually happy face. “You trust that brat?” she asked, her facade slipping. “He’s the one lying to you! That’s why you must erase his memories. To make him less of a nuisance! If he keeps on saying this stuff, lying through the skin of his teeth, he’ll destroy everything!”
“You’re lying! Cut the act! I know the truth-”
“That’s enough from you.” Zilteastrix swiftly slapped Namine hard enough to send the girl tumbling to the floor. “You will listen to me whether you like it or not. You haven’t a choice in the matter.” The redhead approached the blonde, who was now scooting as far as she could get from her, and grabbed the girl’s arm. Quickly, Zilteastrix yanked her up so that they were eye-to-eye. “You will erase Sora’s memories. Am I clear?” Namine said nothing. “I said, AM I CLE-!?”
“Hey! Hope I’m not interrupting anything!” a voice said from behind the two girls. Zilteastrix whipped around, dropping Namine on her back as she did so.
“Oh! Axel! What are you doing here?” Zilteastrix asked the fiery nobody who had just teleported into the room.
“Well, I was just wondering what we were going to do now? Y’know, cause of what happened to Larxene…”
Zilteastrix clenched her fist. “Ah, well. I s-suppose we’ll have to-”
“You can drop the act, y’know.” Axel interrupted the girl. “I’ve known about this little “Facade” of yours for a long time. So don’t bother.”
She scowled and summoned her weapon, a whip, and brandished it. “You pathetic excuse for a nobody…” the girl growled. “What gave it away?”
Axel laughed and summoned his chakrams. “You did.” he smirked. “Y’know, for someone who's supposedly one of the strongest members of this Organization, you really are easy to trick.”
Zilteastrix screamed and dashed towards the man. “Organization Lapdog!” she shouted as she began to attack the other nobody. Axel did as well.
The two attacked each other without hesitation. “You said you’d go along with our plan!” Zilteastrix yelled between hits.
Axel laughed loudly. “Yeah, but I never said I’d join you.” he said.
“I’ll just have to get rid of you!”
“Way off!”
“I’m right here!:
“Over here nit-wit!”
As the two nobodies fought Namine, who had been completely forgotten about until that moment, tried to sneak past the chaos. She was making her way to the door when one of Axel chakrams lodged itself into the wall directly next to Namine’s head. Namine’s legs gave out and she sunk to the floor. The blonde buried her head into her legs.
“You just went after Namine you hypocrite!” she heard Zilteastrix yell. “You say you’re protecting Namine, but you’re just putting her in even more danger!” The sounds of weapons hitting weapons rang through the room until they were suddenly stopped. Namine didn’t look up until a gentle hand was placed on her shoulder.
“Namine? What happened?” It was Sora. Namine looked up and locked eyes with the brunette. “I thought I told I told you to stay back there!”
“This piece of shit tried to take her away.” Axel answered from his spot on the other side of the room.
Sora whipped around to face the duo of nobodies that had been fighting a mere moment ago. His eyes locked onto Zilteastrix, who’s hair had become extremely disheveled and the rose in her hair had begun to fall out, and gritted his teeth. “You guys….” the brunette growled. “Why can’t you just leave Namine alone?!”
Zilteastrix chuckled breathlessly. “Ah, if it isn’t the famous key bearer himself.” she said in the sickly sweet voice she had been using up until that point. “Welcome to Castle Oblivion!” she smiled. “It’s an honor to finally meet you!:
“You!” Sora yelled. The brunette brandished his Keyblade and got into the position to attack. Before he could, however, Axel shouted.
“Hey! We’re not finished yet!” he dashed towards Zilteastrix. The other nobody teleported away just in time to dodge the attack. Suddenly, Namine felt something, long and thick, wrap around her neck. In almost an instant, the blonde could no longer breathe. She could also feel something behind her. Zilteastrix Namine thought. The thing around her neck was the redhead’s whip.
“Don’t move!” Namine heard Zilteastix say from behind her.
“Namine!” Sora yelled.
Axel scoffed. “Coward.” he remarked. “Hiding behind Namine? You think that’ll stop me?” The man readied hid chakrams for attack. “Think again!” With that Axel charged the two with vicious intent. “Your little “mascot” can keep you company in the void!” Once again, Zilteastrix teleported away from the man in the nick of time.
“Oh…..” Zilteastix began, her grip on her whip tightening. “Did you see that Sora?” she asked the brunette, who was currently frozen in place. Slowly, the boy turned to face her. “You want to keep Namine safe don’t you?” the nobody pulled the whip causing Namine to let out a strangled gasp. “So, which one of us is more dangerous?”
Sora looked between the two nobodies, as if trying to find an answer to that question. “If you want to protect Namine…..” Zilteastrix said, drawing Sora’s attention back to her. “Then you should deal with Axel first.” And with that, the two girls were gone.
“Aw man, would you look at that? You let her get away.” Axel casually stated. Sora growled as he whipped around, Keyblade at the ready. “Listen Sora, Zilteastrix only wants us to fight so she can bide herself some time. Understand?” Sora didn’t back down. Axel sighed. “Hey, I just wanted to get rid of Flower girl. If you want to do it then be my guest.”
“Why should I trust you?!” Sora shouted.
Axel rolled his eyes. “Kid you don’t have to trust me. Do you really want to fight me that badly? Trust me, you really don’t want to see me get serious. I might legitimately destroy you.”
“Sh-Shut up!”
“That’s the spirit!” Axel clapped. “Don’t let her beat you. I need you alive.” he said. “Good luck.” within an instant, he was gone, leaving only Sora, Donald, and Goofy standing in the room.
“What’s wrong with that guy?” Sora asked no one in particular.
“Sowa look!” yelled Donald, who was pointing to a door with vines crawling out of it.
“Gwarsh.” Goofy said. “I betcha that’s where Namine is!”
Sora nodded. “Right.” he said. The boy lined his Keyblade up with the door.
The boy concentrated all his power to his keyblade and yelled.
“Open up!