Edge of Darkness [Minnie, Zexion]

[Fate]

Something Doesn't Seem Right
[July 20, 2010]
Strange Whispers by Yoko Shimomura

Three days ago, Zexion, Humor and King Mickey were all supposed to meet in Traverse Town. That was what they had originally scheduled. However, that meeting never happened. Zexion had never gone to Traverse Town that day and, from what he judged, neither had the others. He had no idea where Humor could have gone and he was not about to track him through the galaxy. Mickey, at the very least, was somewhat predictable and was usually found at his castle. Provided Zexion could get into it again, he could find Mickey there and discuss the incredibly important finding in the Keyblade Graveyard.

He found it oddly easy to get into the Castle this time, which instantly made him suspicious. The Cornerstone of Light should have blocked him from coming in at all. Did that mean that something had happened to it? Or perhaps Mickey had purposely turned it off so he and Humor could enter? That was a possibility, though the Schemer could never be too sure. His Corridor opened in the library of the Castle, a place where Mickey would often be. Though, he saw no king in the room, nor did he sense him. Did he come at the wrong time and Mickey was traveling again? Had he perhaps heard the news already?

"Very peculiar," he mused aloud, looking at the large shelves of books. It was a decently sized library, though the Schemer was biased of course and put Radiant Garden's above anything else's. Still, Mickey had quite the collection here, as fit for a king. Zexion wondered if he should stick around this castle or actually bother looking for the king throughout the galaxy. He was a Keyblade Master after all and was in danger because of this Champion. It would be very important that they met.

Though, he would have no idea where to start...

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[Aerith]

Unexpected Company
--------

The library had always been one of her favorite places in the entire castle. It was relaxing and quiet, a good area in which to clear your head. The death of her husband was still fresh in her mind, and she was trying to do everything she could to stay stable. Access to the Hall of the Cornerstone had been limited at her orders. Donald and Goofy were a constant presence right outside the door, still devoted to their king, even though he was no longer living.

Minnie pushed open the door to the library and was immediately greeted by the sight of an unfamiliar Organization member admiring the books. She was surprised until she remembered the corrupted state of the Cornerstone. Now, anyone of any affiliation had access to this world. The reminder sent a slight chill down her spine.

However, she resolutely approached this cloak-wearer. "Who are you?" Her voice was only half-confident, and it was threatening to break at any moment. Upon closer inspection, his appearance rang a bell inside her head. Mickey had mentioned meeting with an Organization member a little while ago. "...Are you Zexion?"

She lost her composure then and started wringing her hands and shaking her head. "Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, dear..."

[Fate]

Bad Timing?

Zexion abruptly turned around at the sound of a voice, having to remember to look down. This was not King Mickey but his wife, Queen Minnie. Evidently, she was not expecting anyone to suddenly show up in the library of her castle. Though, she did know of him at the very least, even knowing his name. Mickey had spoken to her about the meeting then, which would mean that she would know that he wasn't here to cause harm. Or, at least that was what he thought. She became worried shortly after realizing who he was, wringing her hands and repeating the same phrase over and over again.

"Yes, I am Zexion," he told her, his voice empty and not attempting to be comforting at all, "I apologize for intruding like this. I do not mean any harm in this, if that is why you're concerned." That had to the be the reason. Anyone who saw the Organization cloak would instantly know who they were and either fear them or fight them. "Did I come at a bad time? I was looking to speak with your husband again. I have very important news to deliver to him."

He kept his words as short as possible. This meeting needed to happen right away. Mickey needed to know that he and the other Keyblade Masters were in grave danger. The Champion couldn't come here because of the Cornerstone of Light, though with it not running at the moment, the King put himself directly into harm's way. He needed to be warned so he could put the Cornerstone of Light back into use and protect himself. He was Zexion's most important ally right now and not one he really wanted to lose.

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[Aerith]

The One You Are Seeking is Dead
--------

At the mention of Mickey, the queen suddenly turned her back on Zexion and tried to compose herself. She had to be strong. This was no way for a leader to act. Pretending that she had only needed to smooth her dress, she took a few moments before turning around again.

"I'm afraid..." She hesitated. "I'm afraid Mickey is..."

She shook her head again and waved Zexion toward her as she left the library. Words were failing her right now. She couldn't speak the truth she knew she had to face. So, it was better that Zexion saw for himself rather than that he try to piece together half-coherent statements.

She led him to the Hall of the Cornerstone. Without saying anything, she gestured to Donald and Goofy to stand down. Both of Mickey's most trusted subjects gave her incredulous looks as she brushed past them into the Hall with an Organization member in tow.

There had been no change in the Cornerstone. The sit, wait, and hope for a change method was not working, it seemed. But her eyes were instead drawn to the coffin still sitting in the middle of the room. She had not wanted to move it anywhere else. Approaching it with a heavy heart, she brushed a hand over the glass once before turning to look at Zexion. There was no disguising the anguish in her eyes.

"He's right here."

[Fate]

54

Minnie turned away from him after he said these things, though it seemed it was only to flatten her dress. Something was wrong with this picture and it was tugging at him from the back of his mind. He ignored that nagging and waited patiently for Minnie to say something back to him. Once she turned around though, he received a half-sentence or so before she beckoned him to follow. What he was following her to, he didn't know; all he knew was that it could not end well. Minnie seemed bothered by something, which could mean a lot of things. He would have to wait until they reached Mickey before it was discussed though.

They went down the hall into the Audience Chamber, and then past that to the Hall of the Cornerstone. He looked down at Donald and Goofy, eying them for a moment with a firm gaze before walking through. Even though his face was not familiar to them at all, the Organization cloak was immediately a reason to look upon him with disdain. He was not about to tamper with the Cornerstone of Light, however, or with this world at all. He was doing them a favor.

The instant the two entered the room, Zexion could feel the sorrowful ambiance. In the middle of the room was a single coffin. Minnie's words echoed in his mind as he entered slowly, staring straight forward. This was where Mickey is and this was why he could no longer sense him. He had been in his castle all along. The Schemer had just not warned him quick enough about what the Champion was doing. There was no question about who performed the deed; Mickey was not an easy opponent to defeat and the Champion was the only one with a reason to kill him. How he got into the castle was easily explainable; the Cornerstone of Light had not been in use when Zexion came in the castle. It was easy enough to think that he did not put it back into use before he left.

In that single moment, he understood.

Minnie's misery was plain on her face now, though Zexion of course could not respond with comforting words. If he had a heart, he most likely would have. But alas, he could only look at her with the same empty eyes that he always had. "When did this happen?" he asked. If it happened before he knew about the Champion's plan to kill Keyblade Masters every week, then there was no way he could have warned the King in time.

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[Aerith]

Will You Help Me?
--------

No sympathy from a Nobody was expected, and even the slightest bit of shown concern would not have been truly felt. Minnie knew this, and yet she still wished the pronouncement of Mickey's death would have garnered something more than a question of when it had happened.

Being this close to her husband's body was a confusing combination of debilitating and strengthening. She tried as much as she could to draw on the strength that came to her.

"He came home two days ago. After he saw me, he came down here alone. When he didn't come to dinner, we looked for him and found him just like this." She gestured toward the coffin.

She looked back at Zexion and reached into her pocket to pull out the letter Mickey had left for her. "He gave me this before he came here." Short though her arms were, she did her best to extend the letter to Zexion. "You met with Mickey, so I think he trusted you. He told me to find Sora, but I can't leave my people like this."

[Fate]

I Can Help

Two days ago. That meant that five or so days from now, the Champion would bring the King's Keyblade into the graveyard. After that, he would be on the move yet again. It was almost tragic how he could not pause to convey at least some condolences for Minnie. She had lost someone that she loved dearly, something Zexion could never possibly understand. He had once, but that was far too long ago to remember and he was not about to convey false emotions. He simply nodded in acknowledgement to her first statement, staying silent for the moment.

She then pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket, making him raise an eyebrow. He knelt down a bit so she could hand it to him easier. It was apparently a letter from Mickey himself, one that he had written before he died. The Schemer's eyes scanned it once, his eyes widening ever so slightly.

My darling Minnie,

Things are starting to get really confusing. The safety of the worlds is at stake, but I can't figure out what to do. The one person who seems to know all the answers is the Champion, and he isn't exactly offering solutions on silver platters.

If you're reading this, that probably means I'm dead. I know how heart-broken you're probably feeling right now, but you've gotta stay strong like the queen I know you are. Dark days are comin'. I just know it.

Find Sora. He's the hope that we need.

I'll always love you, Minnie. Even death can't stop that.

Mickey

From this, Zexion could gather just how intuitive Mickey was about the worlds and the balance of things. He also knew that he just might die because of it. He, like just about everyone else that was not the Champion, had no answers about the worlds or what to do about the problem. Although, the Champion's method of restoring balance was not something that Zexion agreed with, especially when the Keyblade Masters were necessary to complete the Organization's goal, his goal. Something needed to be done to stop this, but what that something was, the illusionist did not know.

He looked back down at Minnie after he finished reading. She mentioned Mickey's trust for him, which he had of course established deliberately, and the need to find Sora. He agreed completely that it needed to be done and that someone needed to find him quickly. However, Minnie had a kingdom to rule, people to rule over. It wouldn't be safe for her to go traveling around finding Sora either; that would be a duty for Donald and Goofy... or him.

"Understandably so," he said to her, nodding his head, "It would not be safe for you to travel outside of this world while the Champion is still out there. Your people need you more." He paused for a minute as he handed the letter back to her, thinking. "I can find Sora and warn him about this. Action will most likely be taken because of this." Again, his words felt empty and clinical, matter-of-fact. Hopefully, Minnie would excuse that. He was attempting to be helpful at the very least.

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[Aerith]

I Appreciate This
--------

Taking the letter back from him, Minnie nodded and replaced it inside her pocket. She was usually the trusting sort, but since Mickey's death, it was becoming increasingly harder to give that away so easily to people. Especially to someone who was a member of the Organization--known past enemies.

"Please don't hurt Sora. He's so very important to all of us." Her eyes shifted for a moment to the doorway, where Donald and Goofy were poking their heads into the room. Clearly, they were both uncomfortable with their queen being so close to an Organization member. But they remained quiet for now. She would have sent the two of them after Sora, but they refused to leave her like this.

"I would like to see him myself, so could you send him here, too?" It was odd, giving half-requests, half-orders to Zexion.

[Fate]

Everyone's Errand Boy

"I have no reason to bring any harm upon him," Zexion assured. It was the truth for the very moment at the very least. The Schemer remembered his promise to Axel about giving him Roxas and he intended to get it done. However, disposing of Xemnas first was more important than getting Roxas back. After the Organization was put into order, he then had to focus on the Champion and obtaining Roxas. Sora was at the biggest risk right now being a Keyblade Master and one who fought for the light. He might just be hunted down next.

Though, an interesting thought crossed his mind for a brief moment. Zexion could propose that becoming Roxas would be a much safer option than being hunted down by the Champion, who had no reason to bother with the Nobodies. Sure, Roxas was a Keyblade Master, but he was ranked much lower in importance with Keyblade Masters of light. That would save him some time, though it was not only a risky proposal but Sora would be less than likely to go for it. Zexion might need to be more assertive if he wanted to get Roxas.

But that was for later, not now. He was being asked to do something. Right now, he had no reason to disobey that. Besides, he may have had Mickey's trust, but he did not completely have Minnie's.

"Yes, I can send him here. He will most likely want to come here after I tell him." Sora was probably going to be surprised with seeing him so soon after their last visit, but he would understand the importance. If he had a heart, Zexion might not have liked having to be the bearer of bad news to everyone, but he couldn't care less at the moment. He was going to have to get this news around to more than Sora, though he would have to figure out how and when. Everything was happening at once, absolutely everything.

"Is there anything else I can do for you? I will be spreading awareness about this and the Champion. You should know that this is not the first Keyblade Master he has disposed of. He has disposed of fifty-three before this." There was that clinical tone again. He would have never said that with a straight face had he the heart, but he was speaking nonchalantly and almost casually. "I do apologize for this." It had almost no meaning behind it, but he was trying.

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[Aerith]

Lack of Knowledge
--------

Minnie shook her head once. There was nothing else she could think to ask of Zexion. "No, there isn't anything else. I just really need to find Sora." She couldn't stress how important that was to her right now. It had been her husband's last request, and she was determined to honor that.

"And yes, please make sure everyone knows about this Champion. I don't want anyone else to die because of him." She glanced at Mickey's coffin. One death was enough, even if it hurt terribly. Although, according to Zexion, many other Keyblade masters had already been killed before the Champion had come for Mickey. What did this all mean?

His failed attempts at conveying condolences were admirable at least. She did appreciate the thought, imagined sentiment or not. "I'm sorry I can't offer you any other news. But I really don't know anything else."

[Fate]

Knowledge Came and Devastated

All Minnie truly wanted of him was to find Sora and warn him, and to warn the others about the Champion and his plan. Originally, this plan was to stay in between Vexen and him, but he couldn't keep it that way anymore. When the Champion was killing ones that he knew, it needed to be stopped and word needed to get out. If the Superior found out, then so be it. He wouldn't be able to do anything about it anyhow. Zexion had no idea what to do at the moment either. Confronting the Champion was not something he wanted to do, but he would have to put it down as a last resort.

"I will find Sora as quickly as possible," he said, which translated to that either today or tomorrow, Sora would know what's going on. The Schemer, when given the choice, did things as soon as possible. The Superior of course ruined his planning by making himself inaccessible, but now Zexion could work with him and get the coup done. He would have to contact Axel again too. He needed to know what the Flame wanted to do in regards to Sora now that the threat was very real and very imminent.

"It is quite all right," he assured her again. She didn't need to give him news; her husband's death was enough and it had surely put her into so much agony already. "You should concentrate on keeping your people safe and ruling as best as you can. I will take care of the rest involving the Champion." There was not much Minnie could do in regards to the almost omnipotent Champion. She was not one who put herself in the action like her husband. Donald and Goofy were, but that would not be enough. She just needed to stay here and concentrate on keeping this kingdom in order.

With a bow of his head to Minnie and an upwards flick of his hood to cover his face, he created a Corridor of Darkness. "I need to take my leave and find Sora. I apologize once again." He backed into the Corridor of Darkness and disappeared, leaving the world completely. Now he needed to attempt to find Sora and quickly.

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