Puella Magi Contract Registry

Name: Cerise (of Twincreek)

Weapon: Trident

Power: Minor pyromancy, geomancy

Home world: Earth ρ

Wished for her family to be nobility. Born into an otherwise ordinary family of everyday farmers, her fantasies of splendor and fortune became real with the Incubator's contract. Thus, the first noble house of the small village of Twincreek was founded almost overnight.

Additional notes: "I am not one to believe in divine right; quite the opposite. As the former monarch of Radiant Garden once shown through education, perseverance, and high moral standing, I believe anyone, no matter their birth, can rise above their station, but only when the effort is put forth. Which this girl has clearly not. There is far more to the upper echelon than indulging in baseless pleasantries. There are responsibilities to attend to, duties to fulfill, and populations beneath that require overseeing. If I had a heart, I'd pity the parents; simple peasants thrust into a political world not their own, all because of their selfish daughter's petty desires."

"She sticks to that Rapunzel like an annoying parasite. I know she's a fake, but if you're at least going to pretend to be a princess, then stand on your own two feet! Don't cling to someone else! What, are you hoping that if you're around a real princess 24/7, some of her princess-ness will rub off on you? Pathetic!"

Chapter 12

When Roxas awoke the next morning, he arrived at the Grey Area to find some unsettling news. "Eliminated? But that means…"

"Yep!" Xigbar replied. "Dead. Gone. Flown the coop. An ex-non-existence. I've only heard of the one confirmed K.O. at C.O, but really, who can say just how many of them got axed?"

Off to the side, Roxas overheard Demyx speaking with Xaldin. "Really, though, talk about a bad scene. I'm just glad I wasn't sent there. Ah, looks like laziness wins again," he said, which earned him a scolding from the Whirlwind Lancer.

"Roxas," Saix called out as he approached the young Nobody. "Today you will be doing reconnaissance with Xigbar in Agrabah."

"Is it true? About Castle Oblivion?" Roxas asked.

"We are looking into the matter."

"And Axel?"

"We don't know."

Roxas's gaze fell. He didn't want to even entertain the thought, but…"You don't think he got eliminated, do you?"

"It's certainly a possibility, but one you needn't concern yourself with." Saix turned to Xigbar, handing him the mission file. "Once you're ready, be on your way." He left to attend to a pair of Puella Magi coming in.

"Well, you heard the man." Xigbar pushed Roxas through a dark portal before the young Nobody could even react. When they emerged, Roxas found himself in a dim room, filled with…well, a bit of everything, really. Trinkets and baubles. Intricate clothing and silks. Crates filled to the brim with numerous assortments of foods that, upon closer investigation, appeared to be preserved with a faint glimmer of magic. Some sealed caskets were stacked in one corner, separated from everything else, and a pungent aroma wafted from them.

Xigbar walked up to the sole door in the room. He knocked, then leaned against the wall just beside it, waiting. "Better soak it in, Kiddo. You won't find any safer spot in all of Agrabah."

"In…here?" Roxas scanned the storeroom again with a dubious gaze.

Xigbar chuckled. "Just wait until you meet the owner. Maybe then it'll make more sense."

The two Nobodies stood in silence after that, which unfortunately left Roxas alone with his own thoughts.

Gone. Saix's words plagued his mind. He didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it, but no matter how hard he tried, the thought would not leave his head. "It just can't be true, can it?"

"Huh? Oh, you still on about that?" Xigbar chided him.

"One of our comrades might have…disappeared. Maybe more. Doesn't that bother you?"

Before Xigbar could respond, the door opened and a young girl came in. Her black hair was pulled up in the back, though a few loose strands fell to the sides of her face. Her top was incredibly small; little more than a strip of cloth to wrap around her chest. A hood sprouting out from it and rested around her shoulders, patterned with purples and whites, with a red ball dangling at the end. She wore a pair of white pants, flowy and airy, that tucked in and cuffed below the knees, giving way to purple stockings and a pair of slippers that tapered into curved points at the ends. The girl closed the door behind her, and as her gaze fell on the Freeshooter, her eyes widened. "Oh, Xigbar. I wasn't expecting one of the Organization."

"Two, actually." Xigbar pulled the girl's attention to Roxas.

"Huh. You…are new." The girl took a moment to study him. "So, thirteen, are you? Or is this the rumored fourteenth member of Organization XIII?"

"Zahandra, meet Roxas. Roxas, say hello to our eyes and ears of this world." Xigbar waved his arms at the two as he introduced each other. "So, now that we're all buddy-buddy, let's get to business."

"Yes, let's." Zahandra turned her gaze back to Xigbar. "What do we have today?"

"Reconnaissance. Simple as that. What can you tell us?"

Zahandra crossed her arms in thought, but quickly replied. "Well, I'm sure you'll quickly see all the damage around here. We've been getting hit by sandstorms. Frequently, and much earlier than the usual seasons. To say we were unprepared is an understatement. The city's half-buried in sand now, and repairs are barely getting anywhere. Everybody working out there's on edge and ready to bolt at a moment's notice. Should make it easy for you to get around, though."

"So a little sand's being blown in people's faces. As if that's a big deal. Anything else?"

"You mean other than the town in complete disarray and the ever-looming, potentially cataclysmic threat of the Heartless? No, nothing that's had to drag me out of the store." Zahandra's words oozed with heavy sarcasm.

"Guess we have no choice but to take a look then."

"Yes, sir. The front's clear, so you're good to go." Zahandra held the door open and the two Nobodies went through, navigating around the counter and past the densely-packed shelves to the entrance. "And Xigbar?" Zahandra called out just before they exited. "Tell Saix to get me an update on the next shipment, would you? Stiltzkin's wind charms are selling even quicker than I thought. I need more ASAP."

"Yeah, yeah," Xigbar waved noncommittally, pushing past the thick curtains in the entryway and stepping outside.

The hot desert air immediately made itself known, especially in such sharp contrast to the rather moderate temperature inside Zahandra's shop. But that didn't hinder the Nobodies as they set out into the city. Xigbar let Roxas take the lead, letting him explore and get a lay of the land while the Freeshooter pointed out important landmarks. Just as Zahandra said, Agrabah was in rough shape. The wide streets were unsettlingly barren. All activity was high up on the numerous makeshift, almost ramshackle scaffoldings, as people busied themselves to patch up the multitude of damages to the high-reaching walls. So busy were they that none would notice the presence of two mysterious figures.

All their efforts must be going up there, Roxas figured, as down on ground level, things seemed even worse. Sand as far as the eye could see was piled up in every corner, big or small, from light dustings to huge dunes. Roxas examined one of the nearby stalls. Much of the wares here were knocked over, laying half-buried in sand. The few that still stood sported a heavy layer of sand. It'd take considerable effort to restore them to how they were before. "Are they trying to sell pottery, or sand?"

"Oh-hoh! So Kiddo's got jokes now?" Xigbar smirked. "Yeah, not everyone's lucky enough to work indoors. Looks like all these street vendors have been forced to take an unexpected vacation. Other than that though, doesn't seem like there's much going on. I say we check out one last place before heading back. I'm sure you're eager to finish up."

Roxas looked at him. "Huh?"

"Come on. It's obvious, isn't it? It's been clear on your face this whole time. You want to find out about Castle Oblivion, right?"

"Well…" Of course he did, but at the same time, there was a part of Roxas that didn't want to, either. He wasn't sure what he'd do if the worst had actually happened.

Xigbar was quick to snap him out of his thoughts and led him deeper into the city, toward the huge building standing taller than any other. The palace, or so Roxas was told. As they neared, Xigbar grabbed him and pulled him into a shaded alcove. Two figures stood in front of the gates. One was a young man in little more than rags. He had no shoes, and only a purple vest to cover his chest. The other was the exact opposite: a young woman in green, clothes pristine and surprisingly untarnished given the state of the city. If the man was the rags, she was definitely the riches. An odd combination, but Roxas didn't have time to think on it as he listened in.

"You should get some rest, Aladdin," said the woman.

"I'll be okay." The man—Aladdin—replied. "Besides, the sandstorm's finally let up. Now's our chance to patch up the city."

"That's true, but still. You'll run yourself ragged at this rate."

"Jasmine, you don't need to worry. I'm fine. And since we don't know when the next storm will hit, we need to get everything running again before it does."

The woman, apparently named Jasmine, looked away briefly and sighed. "If only Genie were around…"

"I miss him, too, but this isn't a job for magic. Agrabah's our city. We need to be the ones to fix it up."

Jasmine looked back up and nodded. "Of course, you're right…"

Aladdin turned toward the rest of the city. "Everyone's out there giving it their all. I should get back to work."

"Wait. I'll help, too."

"But what about the palace?"

"All the arrangements have been made. We'll be able to shelter the people now if things get any worse. All we need now are the extra supplies."

"Don't worry about that. She said she'll get it soon."

Jasmine entwined her fingers in Aladdin's. "We're lucky to have someone so kind and generous in our time of need. So this merchant, is she a friend of yours?"

"I've seen her a few times before, but we've never really talked or anything. I mean, back then I, uh…wasn't exactly popular with merchants." Aladdin chuckled nervously.

"Once this is over, I'll have to invite her for a visit and thank her."

"That's probably what she's after. I haven't met a merchant that hasn't tried to profit off of everything." The two started walking. "But still, I can't deny all the effort Zahandra's putting in for us."

The conversation became harder to hear as the couple moved, until finally the two Nobodies were left in silence. "Well, that was a pretty juicy tidbit," Xigbar said, slowly stepping out of their hiding spot. He waved an arm at Roxas. "Alright, come on. I'd say that's good enough for one day."

Roxas cast a glance at the palace. "Aren't we going inside?"

"Are you kidding? As if!"

"But didn't you want us to go there?"

"Ah, no," Xigbar scoffed. "I brought us here, because here is as far as we go. Inside is uncharted territory. The place is under such heavy security that we'd never be able to run a proper investigation. At least, for now…"

Roxas tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that our eyes might be trying to get its fingers in the hornet's nest. Now let's get moving. It's time to RTC."

"…Right." Return to the castle, where the answers Roxas both did and didn't want were waiting. His thoughts started wandering again. He followed wordlessly behind Xigbar as they made their way back to Zahandra's store. He vaguely noticed the other Nobody talking with the Magi, but he didn't pay any attention to what they said, nor when they finally warped back and reported to Saix. It wasn't until Xigbar made a not-so-subtle inquiry into Castle Oblivion that Roxas broke out of his stupor, but upon hearing that they'd made no progress, his face fell again. Saix dismissed them, and Roxas wandered about the Grey Area. For whatever reason, the room was crowded, packed with Puella Magi, which seemed especially odd since this would be the time everyone'd be returning and going back to that city of theirs. Weird that they'd all stick around here.

"…If I had to guess, I'd have to say Zexion." Roxas's attention was drawn to Demyx's voice, as the Melodious Nocturne chatted with a group of Puella Magi. "I mean, don't get me wrong, he's a smart guy and all—and slippery too, but he's also kinda…fragile, you know?"

"I don't know," a blonde Puella Magi replied. "I think Vex—er, Lord Vexen would be first to go. Lord Zexion could worm his way out of a fight, but Lord Vexen? Not so much."

"You haven't seen Lord Vexen in a fight, have you?" A green-haired Magi spoke up. "That shield of his is damn-near impregnable. Hard to see anyone getting through that."

"I can think of someone who could. Ice always melts around fire, after all."

Demyx scratched his chin. "Huh, so you think Axel might actually be our killer?"

"If he is, then the victim's gotta be Marluxia." A short-haired redhead piped up. "He's always been super creepy and suspicious; totally has a traitor vibe about him. I wouldn't be surprised if the Superior set the whole thing up just to arrange an 'accident'."

"Lord Marluxia's way more powerful than you give him credit for. Like, way more powerful. I'm pretty sure the Graceful Assassin is more than a match for our actual assassin."

"Yeah, but killing is Axel's thing. Just look at how many of us he's slaughtered! He's probably going on a killing spree right now—"

"Axel would never do that!" The words came out of Roxas before he even realized it, and louder than he could've imagined. The room grew eerily quiet as he felt all eyes turn to him. The girls that had been speaking seemed visibly taken aback.

"Oh, hey! Didn't see ya there, Roxas." Demyx waved. "Take it you already heard about Castle Oblivion, huh? Pretty nasty, that. So, have any guesses as to our unlucky victim?"

"Not Axel," Roxas immediately replied. "And he's definitely not the killer either!" That just wasn't him. Sure, against Heartless he held nothing back, but everybody here did that too. Axel would never turn his weapon on another comrade. Axel was nice. Axel had ice cream with him. Axel was his friend. Couldn't they see that, too? But as Roxas looked around the room, there was nothing to give him any hope. All around, Puella Magi watched him; wide eyes, narrowed eyes, some trying to look at everything but him, and none of them pleasant or agreeable.

They can't all seriously think that, right? Did no one care at all what happened to Axel? Or any of the others, for that matter? But as the room's atmosphere slowly returned to normal and girls began resuming their conversations, an unfortunate realization dawned on Roxas.

No…they don't.

His fists clenched, and Roxas stormed out of the room. If anyone was still watching him, he didn't care. He just wanted to be away from them all right now. With nowhere in mind, Roxas trudged through the empty halls, letting his thoughts stew. He passed by expanses of whites and greys, patches of exposed machinery and piping, and dizzying heights, all with the Nobody's Sigil bearing down on him at every turn. It didn't take long for the castle's monotonous interior to become suffocating. Roxas wanted out, to get away for a while and sort things out. He then remembered Twilight Town. Xion was probably waiting for him there, but what if she thought the same as everyone else? He knew he made a promise, but right now just wasn't a good time. This seemed to be a problem that not even ice cream could help with.

Roxas stopped, realizing he was at the end of the line. Without noticing, he seemed to have wandered into the castle's lowest area, which didn't even seem to be inside anymore. The night air blew, and only a few short steps separated Roxas from the deep pit below. Far off in the distance, at the edge of the gargantuan crater, he saw the city that housed the Puella Magi settlement. Or at least, somewhere in that mass was their territory. With buildings surrounding him on all sides, it was hard to tell which areas were theirs and which were overrun by the Heartless. Even so, right now the darkened cityscape seemed a lot more inviting than his current location. Spotting an opening amidst the brighter part of the city, Roxas created a Corridor of Darkness and left the castle.

Once again wandering aimlessly, Roxas tried and failed to let the scenery distract him. Amidst pouring rain, flashing lights adorned some buildings, beckoning for clientele that would never come…

I hope Axel's all right.

…while others lay run down and dilapidated beyond repair. Some even seemed in decay, ready to crumble at any moment…

I just want him to come back already.

…and it wasn't just the buildings. From crashed vehicles to overturned machines to piles of trash scattered throughout; the amount of ruin along the dark streets hinted at some catastrophe for a nonexistent population.

Once he's back, we'll set everyone straight. There's no way he'd ever kill someone.

…Right?

A low rumbling sounded in the sky. The rain came down even harder as Roxas made his way through an illuminated plaza. Even this far out, the castle was still plainly visible. Within his musings, Roxas heard a faint sound of something crawling through a very thick liquid. He brought out his Keyblade; he could use a couple Shadows to beat down. But as he turned around, he was met with a black figure already lunging towards him. He quickly reacted and blocked the attack, only to be blown back by the creature's surprising strength. Roxas regained his footing and managed to get a better look at his attacker. It did resemble a Shadow with its black body and yellow eyes, but it was leaner, more human-like, with antennae as long as its body and faint blue veins pulsing through its head and limbs. The Heartless attacked again, and even though Roxas was prepared this time, he could never have expected just how powerful it was. Each swipe effortlessly batted away the Keyblade, nearly knocking it out of Roxas's hands. It took everything he had just to move the Keyblade and barely fend off the next hit. He quickly realized this wasn't a fight he could win.

The Heartless swiped upwards, heaving Roxas into the air and crashing down on his back. Before he could even catch his breath, the Heartless was on top of him, swinging down a clawed hand. Roxas held up the Keyblade with both hands, managing to hold it back, but only just. The Heartless's strength was overwhelming, pressing down heavily on the Keyblade as it raised its other hand, readying another strike against a now-defenseless Roxas. His eyes widened as he watched. Another peal of thunder rumbled loudly above. One thought suddenly took over in his mind: was this the end?

But the attack never came. A ribbon—no, thicker. Rope—wrapped around the Heartless's wrist, holding it back. Another one appeared, then another, wrapping around its neck and torso, and ever so slowly it was pried off of Roxas.

"Hurry! Over here!"

Without hesitation, Roxas got up and ran toward the voice, skirting around the Heartless. What he found was a Puella Magi, clad in armor of radiant golds and purples, furiously straining to keep the Heartless restrained with…her hair? The girl's blonde locks were longer than he had ever seen on a person, reaching several feet before being pulled into two thick bead-like bands and tailing off. Glancing back, more of those bands floated in mid-air, each pair connected by another length of hair, with the Heartless tangled in the center of it all.

"The others have us covered. Move it!" The Puella Magi thrust her head back towards a door, cracked open just ever so slightly. Roxas did as told, not wanting to stay out here, especially as more Heartless started to appear. He ran, with the Puella Magi quickly following behind, releasing her hold on the first Heartless. Together, they slipped through the entrance. Other Magi hurriedly slammed the door after them, even going so far as to shove barricades up against it. More girls were off to the sides, shooting out through shuttered windows with firearms, bows, and other projectiles exotic or unusual. It was a tense fight as Heartless tried to break through the defenses while the Puella Magi worked to pick them off, until eventually the shooting finally ceased.

"…Are they gone?" the armored blonde whispered.

A pale-blonde Puella Magi slowly leaned back and nodded. "Yes. It seems so." The large gauntlet on her arm disappeared, and the visors across her eyes folded up and reverted into a winged headdress. One by one, the other Puella Magi relaxed their aims as well.

"Okay. Go back to standby. Good job, girls." There were many a sigh of relief as the crowd dispersed at the armored blonde's orders, though a few held their positions, keeping a vigilant eye outside. A white-dressed Puella Magi came up to her side, fussing over her, but the blonde quickly assuaged her fretting, and in a small flash of light, her armor disappeared. She still had the spaulders on her shoulders and a circlet sitting on her head containing what Roxas presumed to be her Soul Gem, but now she wore only a simple purple dress. "Now then. As for you…" The Magi turned her gaze back to him. "With all due respect, sir, what were you thinking going out there!?"

"H-huh?" Roxas stammered, taken aback.

"The storm? The lockdown? Saix is informing everyone of that, right?"

Roxas looked down. He probably had, but Roxas had been so distracted that any warning would've gone over his head.

"Rapunzel!" A familiar voice called out. Roxas whipped his head up to see Mami rushing towards them. "I'm sorry I took so long. How's everything looking?"

"It's calmed down for now, but…" The girl—Rapunzel—snuck a peek outside and grimaced. "They're back already, and swarming out there. Who knows how long this'll take now."

"I see." Mami glanced aside. Her eyes widened as she noticed the young Nobody. "Oh, Roxas, sir! I didn't expect to see you here."

"I didn't expect to be here. I didn't think the Heartless outside the castle were so…strong."

"They usually aren't, but right now it's—"

"Mami." Rapunzel placed a hand on Mami's shoulder. "I'm glad to see you've got a handle on this, but perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere else." Roxas caught her eyes gesturing to the other Puella Magi. He looked around, seeing many of the girls focused intensely on their tasks. Some snuck a peek his way, only to quickly jerk their heads back when his eyes met theirs. The looks on their faces; it was just like the Grey Area all over again.

"Point taken," Mami replied. She turned back to Roxas. "Why don't we make ourselves more comfortable? With this storm, we are going to be here a while."

"Yeah. Okay…" Roxas vacantly nodded. At least Mami seemed different from the others, giving him that same smile she wore at the clock tower. Surely, she didn't share the same sentiments as the others, right? He followed behind the two, with the white Magi from before stepping in line at Rapunzel's side. As they moved, Roxas took in the interior, surprised that something associated with the Organization could be so loud and colorful, especially in this world. The energy here felt more like Twilight Town, so much so that he had to suppress the urge to hide when a group of voices were heard nearing, and found it just as jarring when said group moved to give them the wide berth.

They passed by an especially boisterous room. The double doors were open enough to see the many tables within all pushed together, and there was quite a gathering of girls clustered around them. They seemed…what was the word, happy? But what they were saying gave Roxas pause. They seemed to be…cheering over something's demise, or was it someone's? Was that supposed to be normal?

"Uh, sir?" He heard Mami say. They must have noticed him lagging behind. "Is something wrong?" For some reason, she seemed really on edge all of a sudden.

"Er, no. But…" Try as he might, Roxas couldn't pull his attention away from the loud gathering. "What's a 'Thunder Bi'—"

"Wha-ah-w-witch! Thunder Witch!" Rapunzel quickly cried out. "One of our girls took out a, uh…particularly nasty Witch that's been giving us trouble. I apologize on their behalf if their behavior offends."

"Come on, we'll go someplace quieter," Mami added.

"Y-yeah…okay." Roxas tore his attention away and slowly followed behind again. It was strange: he distinctly remembered Demyx using the same name, except he had made it very clear he was talking about Larxene then. Very strange, indeed.

The pot was at a deep simmer now. The tea was almost done. Mami could practically count the time down to the second now. She had practiced this blend to perfection.

"You sure he's not going to do anything bad?" said Nagisa, peeking out the doorway as if afraid of a sudden attack.

"Of course not." Mami gave her young companion a gentle smile. "Is he really that scary?"

"Well…" Nagisa snuck another peek. "No. Not really, but they say you can't judge a book by its cover, right? He is with the Thirteen, and they are scary."

Mami crouched down and patted Nagisa's head. "Don't worry. Whatever his reason, I'm sure he's not here on Organization orders." She had a few guesses, but they'll find out soon enough anyway. "If he makes you that uncomfortable, though, you don't have to stay here."

Nagisa pushed into Mami, giving her a hug. "No. I'm gonna stay with you."

Mami beamed at the young girl's small display of courage. She let her go and turned back to the stove to finish her preparations. She set five cups down on a tray. One for her, obviously, and one for Nagisa. One for Roxas; she would have presented him a cup anyway as a courtesy, but up until yesterday, she'd been convinced that Nobodies didn't eat. In all her years, never had she found anything resembling a kitchen up in that castle. One cup for Cerise, which surprised Mami a little. The girl was rather timid around the Organization—and really, who wasn't to some extent?—but it seems, much like Nagisa and herself, nothing would keep Cerise from Rapunzel's side. Mami may have her gripes with her, but there was no denying Cerise was a steadfast friend. Lastly, one cup for Rapunzel. Mami could only imagine what she thought of the situation. They were used to dealing with the Organization, but as it turned out, Roxas wasn't like the others, at least not yet. He definitely had the mannerisms of a Nobody, sharing in that same disregard of other people's feelings, which often makes him come off as distant, or sometimes even cold, but it wasn't out of arrogance or some sense of superiority like the others. To her, it felt different: naive, almost childish in his innocence. Like he simply doesn't know better.

The pot came to a hissing boil, right on time. Mami placed it on the tray and carried it out to the others. They'd managed to find a nice little area to sit down in one of the quieter lounges. There were still a handful of other girls here as well, but most of them were more of the quiet-type that preferred to keep to themselves, most not even fazed by the presence of one of the Organization's members. The only other group in the room was off in the corner playing some card game. Triple…something, if Mami had to guess, though the full name eluded her, and she wasn't really all that interested to amend that.

Fortunately for her, the little corner her group had claimed was quite close to the kitchen door, making for a very short walk. On one of the two sofas they took, Roxas sat alone, seemingly lost in thought, completely oblivious to the looks on the couch across from him. Meanwhile, Rapunzel's face was unreadable. She was in full-on business mode now, patiently waiting for the Nobody to make the first move. Mami didn't blame her trepidation. They were dealing with the Organization, but this was probably going to be very different from their usual stone-faced negotiations.

Mami sat down next to Roxas and poured out the tea. After filling them all, she passed him a cup. "Here. Have some of this." She watched curiously as Roxas inspected the drink, turning the cup in his hands. Slowly, he raised the brim and took a sip.

"…It's sweet…" Roxas said, licking his lips.

"Expecting something else?" Mami giggled, taking a sip of her own. "So, why don't you tell us, sir: what brought you down here? And in the middle of lockdown, no less?"

"You mentioned that before, and a storm, but I really don't know what's going on. What's so special about some storm?"

"You really don't know?" Rapunzel asked, to which Roxas shook his head. Rapunzel sighed. "Seriously, what are they even doing? Okay, so you know how this world between light and dark, right? Well, we sort of…drift between the two. Think of it like a tide, or the phases of the moon. When we're closer towards the Realm of Light, things are all quiet and peaceful. The skies are clear, the stars shine brighter; not much happens, to be honest. But when we drift too close to the Realm of Darkness…well, you've seen it for yourself. Those Heartless outside come straight from the dark world, at their full strength thanks to this world not having any light of its own. The storm is basically an extension of the darkness's influence; it is the Heartless, and the Heartless are the storm."

"Okay, following you so far…I think. So this lockdown, it's meant to keep everyone inside, right?"

"Exactly. While it brings the Organization's operations to a halt, it's just too dangerous to step outside, even for a moment."

As Mami listened, she felt a slight tugging on her arm. She looked down at Nagisa beside her. The young girl was vying for her attention, but trying to do so discreetly. "Mami, what is that?" She whispered. Mami looked to where she was pointing, and found herself just as puzzled. There, stemming out of the coat around Roxas's neck, was a small trickle of dark smoke, ever so faint. It wasn't surprising she hadn't noticed it before, but know that she know, it was impossible to ignore.

"Um, Roxas, sir? You have a bit of a…" Mami gestured toward the area. Roxas raised a hand to investigate, but as he did, more smoke started spilling out of his sleeve, still thin and wispy, but now dark enough for everyone to plainly see.

"What the—?" Roxas exclaimed. Cerise looked repulsed, both her and Nagisa inching away like it was some kind of plague. Rapunzel leaned forward with narrowed eyes.

"Let me take a look at that." Rapunzel held out a hand, and though hesitant at first, Roxas obliged. She gently grabbed his arm and pushed up the sleeve, exposing a small gash just above the wrist, right where his glove ended. "Whoa…"

She took the words right out of Mami's mouth. She never saw a Nobody injured before, much less bleed, or…whatever this was.

"Oh," Roxas said plainly. "Guess that Heartless did more than we thought. Well, I still have plenty of potions. Let's see…"

Rapunzel blinked, brought out of her brief stupor. "Wait. No need for that. Just…here." She took her hair and wrapped it around his wrist. Roxas stared at her confused, but before he could say anything, she began to sing. "Flower gleam and glow. Let your power shine. Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine." Rapunzel's hair shined as she sang, magic coursing through it like a golden river before fading away with the final notes of her song. She unwrapped Roxas's arm, revealing perfectly smooth skin where the cut once was.

"Woah." Roxas rubbed his wrist, as if to confirm it had actually healed. "That's…"

Mami smiled at seeing him so awestruck. Rapunzel's latent power truly was amazing. Incredible.

"…Useful."

Mami blinked. Well…I mean, he isn't wrong.

"Right?" Cerise nodded proudly. "Rapunzel is quite a force to be reckoned with, offensively and defensively. Her healing is really powerful, and it doesn't even strain her Soul Gem, no matter how many times she uses it!"

"Really? How does that work?"

"My hair has been magic for as long as I can remember," Rapunzel explained. "Since I was born, even. I've been using that song and healing my…mother way before becoming a Puella Magi."

"Such power, truly befitting that of a princess," Cerise added, head held high.

"A…princess?"

"No, please. Don't listen to her." Rapunzel gave a sidelong glance at Cerise. "I am not a princess."

"Of course you are. You're the Lost Princess," Cerise insisted.

"And lost she will stay. I don't know anything about politics, or government, or anything that goes into ruling a kingdom. We've been over this, Cerise. I wish you would let it drop. Besides, you're more of a princess than me."

"I am merely a Marquis' daughter. I might be high on the social ladder, but there is a big difference between nobility and the divine right of royalty."

"Which you know more about than me, clearly."

Mami set down her cup. It was time to intervene. "I think we're getting a little off track here." She turned to the Nobody had been watching impassively during the whole exchange. "So Roxas, sir. I understand you didn't know about the storm, but what brought you down here to begin with?"

"Mami!" Cerise stiffened. "You can't just speak to one of the Organization like—"

"I wanted some time to myself. Alone, to think. The castle…just wasn't doing it."

"Is it about Castle Oblivion?" Mami asked. Roxas looked at her, shocked, but slowly nodded. Just as she thought. "We were all caught off-guard by the news. I can't imagine what—or who—could have been strong enough to take on the Organization's members."

"Do you know anything about what happened?"

Mami shook her head. "No. I'm sorry."

"If anything, you'd know more than any of us," said Rapunzel. "Supposedly, Castle Oblivion is a secondary base for the Organization's more 'classified' research. Any more details, like where and what, are heavily restricted."

"So…who do you think it was?" Roxas asked. "The one that got…eliminated?"

"As I said, we don't know. Could've been anyone, really."

"And the one who did it? Do you have any idea who it was?"

There was a pause as Rapunzel ran her hands down her face. Though muted, Mami heard a very audible, exasperated breathe escape her. "I told you: I don't know. We can't know. What exactly are you trying to get at here?"

"Uh…I, er…" Roxas stuttered, seemingly taken aback.

Well, Mami figured. If I was right before, I think I know where this is heading. "Are you worried about Axel?"

"Axel!?" Cerise blurted out. "W-wait a minute…you're right! He was sent there, too! He's got to be the kill—"

"Axel wouldn't do that!" Roxas shouted, causing everyone to jump back. Nagisa practically leapt into Mami's arms out of fright. To hear the soft-spoken, almost timid Nobody suddenly turn so vehement was a shock to everyone.

Everyone, except Rapunzel. "And what makes you say that?"

"Because he...he's my friend. I know him. He wouldn't do something like that."

And there it was. Mami took a quick glance at the others to gauge their reactions. Cerise's face had drained of color, and Nagisa fared no better. At least Rapunzel was holding her composure. "What makes you so sure of that?"

"What makes you so sure he did? Why does everyone seem so quick to accuse him? What reason is there?"

Mami and Rapunzel shared a look, their brows now furrowed. Did he seriously not know? "Er, Roxas, sir?" Mami asked cautiously. "Do you know what Axel's role is?"

"Of course. He…" Roxas stopped short, obviously thinking hard now. "Uh…h-he, um…"

"I'm guessing whenever you worked together, it was him helping with your assignments, not the other way around, right?" Roxas slowly nodded at her. "Well, you see, Axel…" What was Mami supposed to say? Axel was a killer, a murderer whose slain scores of Puella Magi. He was easily one of the most feared members of the Organization—right up there with the Superior himself—and yet despite all that, Roxas seemed to hold some affection for him, fake imitation though it may be. He even went so far as to call him friend; who was she to go and destroy that image for him? And yet, the harsh reality was already staring him in the face, its revelation all but inevitable at this point. Oh, how easy things would be if she could only tell him otherwise, to say everything's alright and let him carry on in the bliss of ignorance. If only, but…

Again. It's happening again. Mami lamented, eyes cast down toward Nagisa. Why? Why does the truth always have to be so painful?

"Axel is the Organization's designated assassin," Rapunzel said, stepping in where Mami faltered. "Whenever the Organization comes across a potential threat, Axel's the one they send out to deal with it. Enemy, traitor, doesn't matter. Axel always takes them out without a second thought."

"But…that…that can't…" The words fell out of Roxas's mouth pitifully, little more than incoherent muttering. Mami could only watch with pained sympathy as his head dipped down. His fists clenched tightly together, and he went deathly silent. Something like this would be hard enough for someone with a heart. She couldn't imagine how much more complicated this must be for one who couldn't feel.

Mami shot Cerise a look, wordlessly berating her to fix this mess. After all, she was the one that steered the conversation down this unpleasant road. Cerise shrugged, her face scrunched as if to say "What am I supposed to do"? But when Rapunzel joined in, agreeing with Mami, her shoulders slumped with resignation.

"Uh…" Cerise scrambled to say something. "W-well, you know…that's only one possibility, right? It's also possible that Axel wasn't involved. Isn't that right, my lord?"

Roxas's head tilted up ever so slightly. "What?"

"I mean, I'll admit, we were a little quick to judge there, my lord. Perhaps you are right and Axel is innocent. He might even have managed to escape from that mess. He's probably on his way back as we speak!"

"…Stop it."

Cerise blinked. "I beg your pardon, my lord?"

"That!" Roxas snapped at her. "Stop calling me that!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Cerise's eyes darted around frantically. "Um…Master Roxas?"

"No! No no no! I am sick of everyone always calling me these weird, fake names! I'm not 'Lord'! I'm not 'Master'! And I'm definitely not 'Sir'!" He stared indignantly at Mami as he said the last part. "I am me! What is so hard to get about that? I am Roxas! That is all you need to call me! Just. Roxas."

A staggering silence filled the air, as no one knew what to say. After a while, Rapunzel dared to break the tension. "Si—no. Roxas…"

Roxas sighed. "I'm sorry. I just…I didn't mean to…"

"It's alright, Roxas," Mami assured him. "I know how it feels to lose someone close. It's never easy."

"There was still so much I wanted to ask him. So much we were going to do. It's still so hard to believe that he could just not be there anymore."

"Is that supposed to be remorse?" Everyone's heads turned to see Homura emerging from the kitchen, meal in hand. "Your kind's not supposed to feel anything. What do you know about the pain of loss? Or the sadness—the fear—of being left behind, left alone? You have no idea what it means to suffer." Her eyes narrowed, glaring dangerously at Roxas. "Those emotions are nothing but lies. Your words are as empty as you are. It's pathetic." Homura walked away before anyone could respond. Mami glanced over at Roxas and was surprised to see him visibly distressed, wide-eyed and shrinking back in his seat. Never before had she seen a Puella Magi actually intimidate a Nobody like that.

Except, now that she thought about it, when did Homura get in here? Mami didn't recall seeing her enter, let alone pass them to get to the kitchen. In fact, wasn't she out on mission when the lockdown began?

"That girl…" Cerise shook her head, bringing Mami out of her trail of thought. "I knew she was a bit standoffish, but that was completely disrespectful."

"So that's her, huh?" Rapunzel held her gaze on the dark-haired girl's exit. "Homura Akemi, the mystery girl…"

Cerise huffed. "The only mystery is how she can be so darned grim all the time. I haven't seen her smile even once; I don't think anyone has."

While Cerise had a point, Mami couldn't quite agree with her. Her mind flashed back to that morning in front of Homura's room and that small glimpse she caught of the girl beneath the mask. "It's not as simple as you think. She's been torn away from her friends, and—"

"And? We've all had to leave behind loved ones. It hurts, I know, but that doesn't give her the right to be like…like that. That was completely out of line!"

"But…she's right," Roxas spoke softly. "I can't feel anything, so I shouldn't be pretending. I know that, I do, but then, why do I have this tightness in my chest? I ache, even though I know I'm not injured."

"…Are you sad?" Nagisa spoke out for the first time, much to the other girl's shock. Even as Roxas stared her in the eye, there was some unease, but she didn't flinch away. Not this time.

"Is that what this is? Sad?" Roxas clutched his chest.

"Maybe it's memories from before?" Rapunzel offered.

"Except I don't remember anything before the Organization." Roxas sighed. "Even if this isn't real, I don't like sad. How do you do it? How do normal people stop being sad?"

Mami looked away, speechless. Even Rapunzel and Cerise were unable to meet the Nobody's eyes. After all, how were they supposed to respond to that? There was no good answer that could adequately explain such matters of the hearts, especially to someone who didn't have one.

Once again, Nagisa stepped in. "When I'm sad, I try to think of something happy. That's what I do, and if I think about the sad thing later, sometimes it feels not as bad. Maybe a little time is all you need."

"Happy?" Roxas pondered. Suddenly, he flinched, eyes clenched shut, hands clutching his head.

"Roxas!?"Mami quickly moved to his side. Rapunzel and Cerise rose from their seats as well.

Roxas moaned. "What's…happening…?" He lurched forward before finally collapsing on the floor.

A/N: About time I finished this. KH3 has already come and gone. As much as I hope I can get the next out quicker, I feel like the dlc will be out before then. Will all that new information have any bearing here? We'll see.

Looking back, I don't think Roxas ever found out about Axel's role, nor did Axel ever tell him. Didn't expect to go down that hole at first, but here we are.

It's been long enough, I'm sorry, and hope you enjoy.