Re: The ORG
Ooh. This one is actually a little longer, and dramatic. :3
Chapter 12 – Weight On Your Shoulders
“You should know that whatever circumstances lead to you holding a Keyblade are extraordinary, at the least.”
Jynx started to walk back from whence he came, through a large arch in the dome. The dome itself was not even really complete; just a series of arches making a large half-sphere.
He did not look back, preferring to leave and not tempt himself.
“You being a Nobody.”
The yellow-eyed Nobody faltered, ever so slightly, and Kaxsra capitalized on it.
“Not having a heart, what could this mean…?”
“What could it mean?” Jynx asked stopping, but not facing him.
“Frankly, I don’t know.” Kaxsra said, shaking his head. “But really, I would love to find out. It would only require a small amount of cooperation on your end.”
Still no eye contact, but Jynx could not help but think. He could find answers, but at what cost?
“I’d rather stay true to my allegiance. I’m sure your people wouldn’t want you running around with my kind anyway.”
Kaxsra let out a short laugh, and leaned back on the console.
“I hold no personal obligation to my side.”
So he was the traitorous kind? Or perhaps just one who prioritized on getting to the Keyblade. If it really was that special…
“No, I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“Do you really mean that…? Even with all the weight soon to be on your shoulders? Why, I don’t think I even caught your name.”
“Jynx.” He said, turning. “And the next time you see me, you better hope you have something to defend yourself with.” Neither moved for a couple minutes.
“Jynx.” Kaxsra said, taking a step forward. “The next time we see each other we could be on the same side! Just accept the offer, anytime, and the power I can give you will be beyond your imagination. You have so much to learn. You have a legacy to uphold! I’m only asking for you to come with me; everything else will convince you what you should be doing-”
“No! Jynx!” Shouted a voice from someone hidden nearby.
Each Nobody was as surprised as the other, and both searched for the source of the voice. They did not have much of a chance before someone jumped down from the arch above them, in a blur of pink and blue. Noraxeen stood with her sword pointed, impressively with one hand, at Kaxsra, the other alight in azure flame. The first thing Kaxsra saw was the fire, and his eyes widened right away.
“You again; you keep messing things up!” Visibly frightened of something, he slowly backed up to the computer, hands fumbling behind him on the large, glowing keyboard.
“You’re the one always up to something.” Noraxeen said, waving the sword around. Or maybe it was just kind of heavy.
“I’m serving my purpose.” Kaxsra said, the corner of his mouth jutting up when he felt the right button. “You, on the other hand, are interfering, and we can’t strive off from what was meant to be.”
He pressed down on the button, hard, and the holograms drifting behind him blinked away. They were almost instantly replaced by pulsating tendrils of electricity. Kaxsra lowered his head and dived out of the way before the energy completed charging up and fired on the pair of Nobodies.
Noraxeen, already overwhelmed by her attempt at saving Jynx, could only watch in shock.
Pardon the pun.
So Jynx took the initiative to protect them both, and came forward, casting a strong Reflect spell; surrounding them in an orb of glassy light. The lightning though was persistent, and the ground shook when it hit the shield. Machinations around them acted violently when electricity struck them, and the two could see nothing but white for a few troubling moments.
~~~~~
A large gate towered about Cinollex, only visible in its entirety by the azure torches that went up to the ceiling. It looked like it was made of dark, gray stone, with some unknown symbol etched into the surface, taking up most of the daunting height. She stood quietly in this suddenly tall and wide clearing in the catacombs, inspecting the door. There was a small indent that was only as high as her shoulders.
She went up to it, not in any rush, and knew what to do upon noticing the indent was a small circle. She tugged her sleeve back and brought her hand to the hole. The silver bracelet was glowing more than it ever had, as if reacting to the door, or something nearby. Was there something special on the other side of the door?
Well, Cinollex knew, obviously. She came to the Underworld with a goal, after all.
Knowingly, Cinollex inserted her hand, and wrist, into the opening. The hole took on the same glow as the bracelet. The stunning silver light flowed from the small circle, into the etchings on the door. Within a matter of seconds, the door was a brilliant mix of silver and gray, doing a better job of lighting up the caverns than the azure torches ever could. One felt sure that it could fill every cave there.
Cinollex removed her hand, letting the gate swing open on its own. Slowly, it went inward, grating on the old rocky ground. A number of stalagmites could be seen falling from above; the doors had not moved in years.
And behind the doors, a room, pitch black, seeing light for the first time in quite a while. It was a very spacious room, for no reason other than to look ominous. It did give Cinollex some sinking feeling, to look inside; like some great weight was being pushed down on her back. But once she stepped foot past those doors, there was something that made it all even creepier. A small blinking light, gradually becoming more vibrant and stable, was in the middle of the vault. The color was similar to that of the bracelet she wore, only a bit darker; more on the gray side.
As well it should. It was not supposed to be an exact copy of her current one, anyway.
Minutes later, the dim, foggy glow revealed that the sister bracelet was sitting at the tip of a spire of some gothic design. A narrow pathway wound around it, and Cinollex gave a brief sigh of exasperation, not expecting to walk so much today.
She did not have to go very far before having some form of excitement thrust upon her, though. Behind her, back through the impossibly tall doors, was the sudden sound of fighting; two people were locked in combat and had somehow made it all the way down here. This was, as any sensible person would observe, pretty puzzling. Her walking would have to change direction for now.
A man with long brown hair, and one with messy blonde hair, both wearing black coats, were throwing punches and
“What’s…happening?” He asked out loud. Though the volume made it seem like it was to himself; his voice was reduced to a whimper, and he was feeling cold. The liquid nitrogen guy feeling cold? Really?
“That’s how it works down here.” Dryxaim explained, arms starting to coat themselves in misty armor. “Heroes won’t get any of their powers. Though I can’t believe you’d be considered one.”
Smirking, in a very evil, non-hero way, he brought his fight back, going in for a finishing beat down. Just before he could apply his fist, however, a bolt of silver proceeded to come out of nowhere and hit him in the side, sending Dryxaim flying into the cave wall.
Cinollex’s powers obviously transcended some silly Underworld rule. One of the things Hades loved about her.
Dryxaim coughed, rubbing the dust out of his eyes, and saw Cinollex coming at him at only a slightly increased pace. Her right hand was a dazzling display of mystical energy; it trailed behind her, fading into the air in a ghostly way. She prepared another blast, and Dryxaim retaliated by struggling to his feet, more tired than he thought from his fighting with Charxai, and attacked Cinollex with a barrage of nitrogen shards. The second shot vaporized any that came near her, and Dryxaim was again sent into the rocks behind him.
Desperate, he focused on the band around her wrist, harnessing some electromagnetism. The material the bracelet was made of was impossible to decipher, and it was hardly magnetic. His accumulated powers were useless. He needed…whatever she had.
When Cinollex came close enough, she was not paying attention to Dryxaim’s eyes turning gray and cloudy. When they did, his mind went into euphoria, and he had to try and contain the rush of sensations flowing through him in that moment. The power from Cinollex was photocopying itself into his body. For an instant he could feel every bit of godly potential; the secrets of that thing on her arm; and the pain and pressure of what the power he was absorbing meant.
But any ability he had to empathize quickly turned into pure, malicious intent.
He opened a Corridor to his side and sluggishly crawled through it.
~~~~~
As this series of events played out, a Corridor opened up in the very same world Brixan was in. Two Nobodies emerged, and calmly made their way to the nearby palace.
~~~~~
The dust has settled, and once the electricity has dispersed, leaving only sparking circuitry around them, Jynx lowered his defenses. Keyblade held threateningly, he looked for Kaxsra, expecting another attack. To his surprise, it never came.
“Hey!” He called out, pacing about the circular room. To surprise him further, or just get on his nerves, the inquisitor that invited him there had left.
“I think he’s gone.” Noraxeen said, following meekly.
“Augh. Why? No, he knows he’s going to see me again. He’s going to try and…I don’t know. Try something?”
“Maybe?” Noraxeen tried to agree. She brought her arms up, hugging her shoulders, feeling downtrodden. A fist went to her chin as she thought, and a second later her eyes lit up. “But, we can track him down!”
Jynx just shook his head. He went to the console for some kind of help.
“No, no. I switched off the tracker, it just…Why did I do that again? Why did I even come here?” He punched a floating projection that had appeared. It flickered while his hand was through it.
“I don’t mean that.” She said, grinning, going up and pulling him around. Noraxeen turned him, and opened a Corridor at the dome’s entrance. “Trust me, let’s go!”
Jynx was prepared to trust anyone’s judgment more than his own at the time. He would go with her, and maybe find some redemption for letting that guy get to him.
~~~~~
Xoje wiped his forehead of sweat, and unzipped his cloak to provide some cool relief. He preferred being cold. Oh well. He jumped up to a high window, then to a roof, in a kind of unexpected display of parkour. What was he supposed to do, even if Brixan was still around? If he had finished his mission then Xoje had no business here. In that case he would need to move on quick. Hopefully not too many people to fight, he needed to find the others soon.
He just hoped Noraxeen would keep her promise.