A/N: Meh

Published: 01/09/2018

Warnings: DDD Spoilers

Chapter 1

Determination

Roxas.

He deserved to live. He deserved to live and laugh and be happy. He deserved to exist and smile and be. Roxas deserved to just be, deserved to have a chance at life, and Sora was determined to make that happen.

"It has to be you. This is why it has to be you, Sora."

That's what Roxas had said. Sora remembered it well. The words, ringing in his head even after that whole debacle with the Organization and Xehanort's master plan to turn Sora into Soranort.

But, he was wrong. Roxas was wrong, because Roxas deserved to exist just as much as Sora did, and Sora was determined to make that happen. He was determined to give Roxas the chance he deserved, the chance to exist.

Sora had realized something was wrong as he had fought against more and more of the Organization. Maybe it was the look in their eyes, that shining emotion, but Sora couldn't bring himself to believe that they had no hearts. Not from the beginning, no matter what Master Yensid had said.

Master Yensid had been wrong. So, so wrong.

Demyx, his eyes flattening with anguish as someone he trusted and believed in and considered a friend cut him down.

Xaldin, and the way he manipulated beast in such a way that one lacking a heart, one lacking feeling, could never do, because how can one do such a thing when not understanding how the heart works to begin with?

Axel, desperate. Desperate to get his best friend back, desperate to get what was taken from him. Desperate to feel again, because that's what Roxas was to him.

Xigbar, who took an unholy flee in messing Sora just for giggles.

Saix, wild and crazed and full of so much rage.

Xemnas, drowned in his own darkness, because the only thing he could really remember and feel was pain.

Sora never once truly believed that Nobodies couldn't feel. And, he had been right! They could feel. They could smile and cry, be happy and sad. You don't do that unless you have a heart. It just doesn't happen.

And, Roxas was still here. In the back of Sora's head, in his soul, wandering about. Roxas was here. Roxas was with him. Roxas, and the other girl. Sora didn't know who the dark haired girl was, but he knew she was important to, whoever she was.

Maybe Sora shouldn't be doing this. Maybe this was a bad idea. Scratch that, this was a terrible idea. It was a horrendous one. The last time Sora had tried something even remotely similar, he had almost walked out of it with elf like ears, glowing yellow eyes, silver hair, and a deranged obsession with X-Blades.

Still, he had to try.

He had to try, for Roxas.

They could both exist. Sora realized that. They had before, hadn't they? Sure, Sora had to literally die and come back to life last time to make it happen, but they had both existed simultaneously. Sora wasn't about to try and recreate those events either. Even he wasn't that crazy. What Kairi had done was nothing short of a miracle, but a repeated incident might outright delete Sora's existence.

No. Sora had another car more logical plan. Well, logical as far as he was concerned.

Merlin, much like many other men with long, scratchy beards, was currently stroking his fingers through it to his heart's content.

"Yes, yes. It could work. Definitely. Memory magic did erase the pair of them. In theory, it can also restore them!" Merlin exclaimed, all the while continuing to stroke his beard as his eyes glistened with the interest of a man who had gone through all of his puzzles and had suddenly found a new one.

"Yes!" Sora fist pumped. Then, he blinked several times as the words finished registering, fist still raised high in the air. "Wait. Both?"

"Yes, yes. Roxas, and that charming girl. Xion, I think she said her name was." Merlin stayed with a thoughtful tilt of his head, not noticing the way Sora was gaping at him like a fish out of water. "I must admit, I did have trouble remembering her at first, but that is why I keep this thing around!"

With that statement, Merlin stood and stepped forth. Opening a cabinet, he pulled a stone basin from out of it. Turning around and setting it in front of Sora, the old man smirked victoriously. Why was beyond Sora. The bowl looked like it contained soggy cereal that had been alone for so long the actual cereal had disintegrated in the milk.

"Hm. I suppose I should look for the smaller more portable one I had lying around. You could use it for your quest, my boy. At my age, a tool like this is near invaluable." Merlin said.

"What is it?" Sora asked, staring straight into the milky substance of the basin. White and silver, swirling around endlessly. And, now that he was focusing on it, Sora could see different bits and pieces of images rolling around in there as well.

"This, my boy, is a Pensive. A device made for viewing and storing memories." Merlin revealed.

Sora gazed in, suddenly mesmerized.

"Wow. Cool. Wait… So, you remember that girl Xion because of this thing?" Sora questioned.

Merlin nodded.

"It's also how I remembered you as well when everyone else began to forget. That year was an odd one, I can admit." Merlin again gazed off into the sky, reminiscence in his tone.

Sora's excitement grew.

"So, this can help me restore Roxas!"

"Ah, no. Alas, it is not that powerful."

Sora slumped in his seat, a miniature rain cloud forming above his head as the aforementioned excitement drained right out of him.

"That's not to say that it won't help!" Merlin added in, causing the brunette to perk slightly. "However, alone, it won't be enough." Merlin said.

Sora slumped again.

"Then, what will?"

Merlin said nothing for several moments. Then, without a word, a lightbulb seemed to go off in the wizards head as he turned, plucking a vial from his cabinet.

"I confess, Sora, that memory magic is not my forte. However, I do know of a group that specialize in it. A group that can aid you in your quest!"

Sora's excitement made a rapid comeback.

Merlin dipped the contents of the vial into the pensive. The colors and images swirled around until a strange tiny creature that looked like it was made together from glued together rocks appeared. And not normal rocks either. More like a kindergarteners art project if Sora was being honest.

Sora blinked.

"What is that?"

"That, young man," Merlin said, "is a Rock Troll. If anyone can assist you on your endeavor, it's them."