For niteo_nix
PLAYER
Name/Handle: Jodie
Contact: JodieTakira [AIM]
Personal LJ: gray_lights
CHARACTER
Name: Xion
Series: Kingdom Hearts
Canon: AU
Age: Fourteen in appearance; 349 days in reality + 127 Days in re_fated making her 476 days old or a year old one hundred and eleven days old.
History:
It all ended where it all began, really. With Organization XIII.
Not XIV.
Although that was the number that she was designated. Xion was born to be nothing more than a tool at the disposal of the Organization. While on the outside she performed the duties of a typical member, her true purpose would come to be by the end of Roxas' time in the Organization. She's arguably the one who ended up being the final nail in the coffin to Roxas leaving.
Xion was created through Vexen's experimentation, the first replica of his program albeit incomplete. It's still arguable whether she has a heart or not (Typical Nomura). On the outside, she believed to be a nobody-- although what she looks like depends on who's looking at her. This is due to the base of her existence: Sora's memories. Despite this, the memories of the Kairi that Sora knew end up fleshing out Xion with a face of her own to many people-- or they just see her as the hooded girl. Axel did until he decided to befriend her. As time goes on and she absorbs more memories though, she begins to take on the image of Sora himself (and Ven to those who know him).
Regardless, Xion started out as a blank slate just about. She developed over time though due to her close approximation with Roxas. The two befriended each other when they started going on missions together while Axel was at Castle Oblivion. For a while, everything seemed fine between them. Full of surprises such as Xion finally seeming to come out of her shell and then her sudden whim that summoned the keyblade to her, but it was nothing but good ones to them. Every day was shared doing missions either for recon or heart collection and eating ice cream at the clock tower. Yet, shortly after Roxas was in a coma for twenty days, Xion left for a mission and didn't return. A little over three weeks later, she ended up found by Axel and Roxas in Twilight Town where she was still trying to take out the heartless she had been sent to defeat. She couldn't summon the keyblade anymore. Concerned she would be destroyed, Axel suggested that they pair up on missions until she could remember how to use it. This was also the first day that Xion became friends with Axel through Roxas... and the first day he saw her face. After that day, for another three weeks, she and Roxas were sent on missions with Roxas working double shift to keep her from being erased. They were sent on missions to both Agrabah and Beast's Castle where they learned about what it was to be inseparable and how friends worry about one another.
Along the road, Xemnas called a gathering to introduce them to the giant heart that hung in the sky at last: the visual beginnings of Kingdom Hearts. It was the whole purpose of Roxas and Xion. With their keyblades, they were the only ones capable of releasing hearts from the Heartless. Those hearts would wind up gathering with the other hearts to create Kingdom Hearts. And with the power of Kingdom Hearts? There was the belief that nobodies could become somebodies again: that they could regain their hearts that they once lost long ago and become whole, capable once more of emotions and more.
The following day ended up with Roxas and Xion's last paired mission. Roxas suggested that Xion use his keyblade during that mission to see if she could remember how to call out her own. The method proved to be a success and they spent their evening with lighthearted conversation about wanting those days to last forever and Axel mushily noting that as long as they remembered, they wouldn't ever be apart. For a while, everything seemed pretty much fine. Although Xion began to wonder about the memories that she was having. They were familiar yet alien. But she tried not to worry about them too much. More weeks went by without much in terms of events.
At least until an imposter wearing their coat was discovered and Xion was sent to dispose of him. That imposter turned out to be Sora's friend, Riku. Xion was easily defeated by him, and after one look at her face (which they never specify what he saw), he told her that she was better off finding another crowd and that her keyblade was a sham. Xion, outraged, was left shamed. Back at the castle, she demanded a second chance, but Saix, their second in command, wouldn't allow it, going as far as to claim she was a mistake that should have never been made. Later that day, Roxas confronted her in her bitterness, but Xion did her best to brush it off. It was then that Xion questioned why they were even part of the Organization and why they needed hearts, echoing Roxas' questions from long ago. Roxas argued that they were both special-- Xigbar had called them exceptional. But that only served to further eat away at Xion and she left him there alone. frustrated in how she was beginning to compare each other but also by his words. Xion really was at a loss of how to deal with things.
And then, the following day, Xion fell into a deep sleep that lasted just as long as Roxas'. Generating a spiral of recollections that weren't hers. When she finally awoke, she felt quietly just as lost as Roxas was, unsure about the dreams she had. But all the same, she tried brushing it off and hopped on the mission that Roxas and Axel were about to undertake. Because she wanted to be useful, to prove she wasn't a mistake or broken as Saix had insisted. But Xion was unstable yet- fainted during the mission. Fainting and falling back into more strange dreams. Of Sora plunging his keyblade into his chest to revive Kairi and later Kairi giving him her charm, telling him that it was her "Lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back". And of Kairi going straight through him voicing quietly Sora's name. But they were dreams she wouldn't share with Roxas or Axel because she wasn't sure telling them would be a wise choice. Wanting to figure things out for herself rather than land the burden on them. Were they dreams of her human life or something else? Everything was so confusing. Regardless of it though, she was at the very least reassured by Axel and Roxas that they were best friends- inseparable as Axel put with a sappiness. And that best friends would deal with complications. And that reassured her at least in that moment that she had them.
So, the days melted once again into their usual flow of missions and ice cream. With the most exciting venture to note being the flying that Roxas experienced. Xion was a little on the jealous side but otherwise seemed lost in thought. Because no matter what, the memories were bothering her, stirring her to try and figure out just what they were about. But despite the soft prods of her friends, Xion just didn't know how to reach out to them- wouldn't reach out to them. Instead brewing... Brewing that turned into an idea. A curious thought that became a curious question a while later on the clock tower. Axel had been distant lately, a hint that Xion had a feeling he knew things they didn't and thus posed an inquiry about Castle Oblivion. Because wasn't it odd that they had never been sent there before? Neither her or Roxas. It was fishy. Axel brushed it off that it was because they weren't needed there. But Xion wouldn't have that. She claimed she had to go then only for her to have a dizzy spell and nearly fall off the clock tower. Feeling guilty and wanting to ease the tension, Axel decided abruptly then that for their next vacation, they would all go to the beach. Although Xion was uncertain, she was at least grateful that despite things being so uneasy, Axel was still willing to reach out.
But that didn't change her mind. She was too intensely set on figuring herself out. And thus, not long after, she sneaked into the main computer of The Castle That Never Was to figure out the location of Castle Oblivion and from there? Passed up her mission to go explore it instead. While Xemnas and Saix noticed, Xemnas spared them from following her, noting that she was just playing right into their hands. In the meantime, Xion found her way to the other castle, having a brief flashback and recalling a time when she was leaving it with Saix who had told her that was the last they would see of its walls. It was while she was trying to shake off her disheveled state from that memory that Axel made his appearance to clean up the rest of it to find her. While he demanded for her to leave or she would be destroyed, Xion was stubborn, wanting nothing but to know who she really was and realizing from his reactions that he knew and really was keeping that from her. In the end, she ran from him and into the depths of it where she found the crystal ball... and from it, discovered the truth.
"Then the person I was before wasn't me." -- Xion, 358/2 Days
Xion was torn, broken up. And knowing that the Organization wouldn't give her anymore answers, she sought to try and figure out what all this meant and what she should do. And with Axel being the way he was and not wanting to pull Roxas into the thick of things, she ran. Unfortunately though, the damage from before seemed to creep up on her. And on a trip to Destiny Islands, she found herself spiraling out of control in a swarm of memories. Memories and dreams. A dream where she wistfully watched the sunset with her best friends and questioned what it would take to be like them. But just as much as she was lost to that answer so to were their dream versions, of course. When Xion finally awoke, she found herself in the arms of the imposter from before. Riku had somehow breached through to her and awoken her from her comatose state (though the game never states how, but "You saved me, but I don't know why" seems to imply otherwise).
Knowing that Riku had a part in the memories she held, she confronted him about them. The talk was hostile yet comforting. Uneasy yet curious. So many mixed signals as Xion questioned the girl that "look[ed] so much like [her]" and why she had the memories she had, ones that weren't hers. Riku was the one that finally told her the flat out truth. Sora's memories had been tinkered with. And when they tried to piece them back together, Xion had instead taken them into herself as she was programmed to do. And due to that, Sora would never wake up. Xion rebelled bitterly, asking halfheartedly if Riku hated her for taking his friend away, but Riku only admitted solemnly of his grief. Despite her guilt though, Xion voiced that she couldn't go with him. Because her friends needed her and she needed them, too. Riku seemed to understand that at least but still asked her to think about it and make the choice that would be best and right for everyone.
In the meantime, they would travel together although what they did during that time was never canonically disclosed. It might be assumed that Riku was quietly playing silent guardian with Xion in tow for approximately twenty-two days before Roxas and Axel were ordered to track down the imposter and Xion who they had then claimed as a traitor to the Organization. While Xion managed to escape with Riku in Twilight Town the first time they had tried to catch her, the second time, she ended up finally being cornered in the back alley of the market plaza by Roxas. Concerned and unwilling to lose his friend, Roxas reached out to her. But despite her apologetic feelings, she minded that she couldn't go back- not telling him why. Feeling at that point that he just wouldn't understand the situation and she needed more time to figure things out. She ended up raising her keyblade at one of her best friends... and then shortly after engaging in a full-fledged fight with her other one as Axel made his appearance and motives known that he was there to take her back, whether she wanted it or not. The fight ended up with Xion rendered unconscious via a pressure point hit to the back of the neck after being distracted by Roxas' plea for them to stop. And from there, she was taken by Axel back to the castle, leaving Roxas without an explanation.
Xion's existence then continued as it had before within the Organization although at a rockier level. Things were tense and with days where sometimes one or the other or whoever wouldn't turn up at the clock tower to have ice cream. Roxas was mad at Axel for doing what he had to Xion, but Xion confronted her friend about it, appalled that he would call Axel a jerk when she knew that he had good intentions- knew he hadn't wanted her to be destroyed by them. But even after getting past that and even after the trio seemed to settle again, nothing could have stopped the next matter at hand. Xion had been built to take upon Sora's memories and powers and that included what Roxas had to give. He was Sora's nobody, after all. A piece of the other boy. And it was beginning to visibly show with far more power than last time. The two of them virtually played a game of push and pull between each other- which was why Xion had at one point lost the ability to call her keyblade. But now it was in reverse and going rapidly out of control weighing in on her scale. And so while Xion began to burn through missions with energy and power she never felt before, Roxas was starting to wear down.
Their latest missions were plant devices in worlds: Wonderland, Halloween Town, and Agrabah. All the while being left in the dark about the nature of them. Of course, they wondered what they were for, but they didn't press and did as they were told. For Agrabah in particular, they came across the Cave of Wonders' keyhole and Xion collapsed in front of it as another swarm of memories reawakened, recalling that Sora had once sealed off the world- as it was his duty as the keybearer to travel worlds and seal them away from one another to prevent the Heartless from getting to the heart of that world and destroying it. Not that she knew of that context exactly, but all the same, she saw that memory and felt she had been there before. In her almost trance-like state even, as Roxas held her face to face, she made the off-comment that "[he looked] so much like him". This was shortly interrupted by a ravaging Heartless which Roxas struggled to stop all before Xion stepped in and cleaned its clock in one swift sweep. Roxas nearly collapsed afterward, Xion expressing heavy concern for his well being. He had been feeling not so hot ever since the beginning of that day and this only made her worry more. But Roxas simply shrugged it off and said it was nothing. He was just tired.
But that didn't fool Xion. The first thing that Xion did was confront Axel regarding Roxas' weakening. Axel pressed back coldly if only because of his frustrations that she would know- Didn't they build her with common sense? She was the reason why Roxas had been weakening. Whether she was in control or it or not, that didn't matter. The facts were on the table and it was up to her to make a choice.
"Oh, come on, don't look shocked. You already know you're a Replica. A puppet whose original purpose was to duplicate Roxas's powers. If he's getting weaker and you're getting stronger... Well, that just means you're borrowing a little more than you oughta be." -- Axel, 358/2 Days
A choice that was pushed into action the very next day. She was sent on a mission to Halloween Town to take down a particularly difficult Heartless. Yet, just as she was about to take it out, Axel came out of no where and stopped her and "it". That Heartless turned out to be none other than Roxas. Somehow, they had been tricked into seeing each other as the Heartless they were going to exterminate and had nearly destroyed one another. It had all been a setup from the start.
"The Organization is determined to erase either me or Roxas. They'll never allow us to coexist. I love Roxas and Axel. I'm sure Saïx would scoff at that. Call it a trick of my artificial memories. But the time I spent on that clock tower was real. I wish the three of us could stay together, just like this, forever. But I have to end this. I'll never forget today's sunset. Even if Roxas and Axel do, I won't forget." -- Xion's Diary, 358/2 Days
That evening was the last day Xion spent on the clock tower watching the sunset with her friends. Because the next day, Xion found herself caught with a terrifying discovery on top of her original intentions. So, when she was sent out on a mission with Axel and Xigbar, instead of taking on the mission, she fought and took down the latter and then pleaded for Axel to let her go. When Axel refused, Xion lowered her hood of which she had been wearing all day. And Axel, seeing what she looked like at that moment, was thrown completely for a loop. Xion pleaded for him to take care of Roxas and then vanished in a corridor.
From there, she met Riku at Beast's Castle once again, informing Riku with desperation that she was about to lose everything that mattered to her and she was ready to return. The memories didn't belong to her, after all. Riku directed her to Twilight Town where she would meet the memory witch, Naminé, the one responsible for piecing all of Sora's memories back together and Xion made her way there.
In the White Room of the haunted mansion, Xion finally met with Naminé who informed her in full detail of her fate. By returning to Sora as Xion intended, because of how Xion was created, Naminé wouldn't be able to preserve any of the memories of Xion herself. Everyone would forget her. But despite knowing that, Xion put on a brave face and pressed that it was where she belonged and eventually Roxas would know, too, in time. But Xion didn't want such a tragic and painful fate for one of her best friends, so she would accept this one. All she asked was for Naminé to look after Roxas when she was gone- perhaps a pitiable request since even Naminé, too, would end up forgetting her, but she made it, regardless. Caring that much for him.
But just as Xion was to be taken to Sora finally, DiZ (one of the overseers of Sora's awakening due to knowing his ties to potentially debunking the Organization in the end) broke in to call Xion out for leading the Organization right to them on purpose. Taking the fault and not wanting them to be involved, Xion went out to confront whoever had decided to follow her. It was in front of the mansion then that she confronted none other than Axel. He argued with her that she had to go back, but Xion resisted, saying that she had to return to where she belonged. Axel wouldn't hear of it though, his frustration and exasperation finally hitting its limit. Not wanting to lose either of his best friends, feeling like both of them were being selfish and not realizing what they were truly dealing with and how dangerous the Organization could be, Axel pressed Xion one last time to give in and go back. But Xion drew her keyblade on him once more, pleading for him not to hold back.
"You two think you can do whatever you want. Well, I'm just sick of it. Go on, you just keep running! But I'll always be there to bring you back!" -- Axel, 358/2 Days
The two of them ended up colliding in another fight. It was one that Axel barely won. He lost consciousness shortly after returning to the castle. And with Axel in that state and Roxas having abandoned the Organization shortly before, Xion was left unprotected to the whims of Saix and the superior who were believed to reprogram Xion and send her off to absorb Roxas and complete herself.
From therein, it would always be unclear exactly as to why matters unfolded as they did. Some believe Xion feigned insanity. Others feel she really was reprogrammed. Being unanswered though and up to the digression of the audience, in this instance, it was believed to be a bit of both and perhaps something more. Xion wanted to return to Sora for the purpose of Roxas not having the fate of her absorbing him. But instead of believing that returning again to Naminé to resume their intentions, perhaps she felt by some distorted logic was that the quickest way would have been to have herself destroyed by one of her best friend's hands. Another theory might suggest that perhaps she felt that due to Axel finding them, she might have felt that DiZ or Naminé had taken it that she hadn't intended on returning in the first place so she had lost their trust. And then there was always the potential that Xion had, in the midst of that one last return to the Organization, found out the truth about Kingdom Hearts and wanted to pass that along- although a fight to the death with a friend to carry on the word after being forgotten anyway would make little sense, too.
In short, going along with the concept that the reprogramming caused a sense of distorted logic although her good intentions still lay underneath the surface- that she was going in after him for the sake of her own destruction so that she wouldn't absorb Roxas instead. But regardless of the reasons, the following day was the very last time she would meet with Roxas atop the clock tower and share ice cream with him. Because after a short reprieve of nostalgia, Xion finally admitted that she was out of time, that she had absorbed so much from him, she was almost ready. Standing, she removed her hood and Roxas finally saw the truth she had been hiding the whole time. Saw her with the face of Sora.
"Look at me, Roxas. Who do you see? If you see somebody else's face, a boy's face, then that means I'm almost ready. This puppet will have to play her part. Roxas, this is him. It's Sora. You're next, Roxas. I have to make you a part of me, too." -- Xion, 358/2 Days
This ensued a dramatic and rather traumatic battle between two best friends as Roxas was forced to engage in a fight that would mean the destruction of himself or her. They battled throughout several worlds, Roxas learning quickly that the reasons for the placements of the devices was so that Xion would use them to power up in some manner (possibly helping to further pool memories, and thus power, into her and having her powers amplified). With each world, Xion took on a different form, each time the prior vision of her becoming more and more unlike herself, more like the doll she really was. Eventually, they found themselves back at Station Tower in Twilight Town where Xion became the size of the tower itself and sustained an invisible platform with the powers she had gained. It was finally there that after a grueling final fight, Roxas dealt the finishing blow and, with it, Xion's memories began fading fast from him.
It was as he fell to the ground that Xion reemerged to her most identifibly her form, collapsing shortly after only for Roxas to catch her mid-fall. There, he questioned if he was the one that had done her in to which she half-lied and explained that it was her choice, that she was going back to Sora. And while Roxas watched on, completely oblivious to how just seconds ago Xion had been one of his best friends, Xion pleaded for him to free Kingdom Hearts- because that was one of her biggest mistakes that she couldn't undo now that she was fading. And then after a wistful wish for him to never forget that both he and Axel were her best friends, Xion finally fell limp, her body completely crystallizing and then shattering into thousands of phantasmal pieces to rise into the sky where they would eventually find their way to Sora.
A consciousness of her kept with Roxas though, perhaps triggered by the fact that right when she was about to completely shatter, shattered remnants of his memories of her were retriggered, most likely due to the matter that part of her sought him considering his gaining of a second keyblade. And so when Roxas stormed The World That Never Was, the world were the Organization's stronghold resided, her consciousness followed him, watched him. And grew restless as his bold decision was made clear. That he was intent on going right to the source. It was Riku who barred his path in the end at memory skyscraper. With the sudden emergence of the Heartless though, whether she was the one that encouraged him to allow Riku to borrow his second keyblade or not, Roxas tossed him the one as the two worked together temporarily to thwart the rush of Neo Shadows. This gave Riku a rush of memories of Xion, a weak link to her consciousness as she then pleaded for Riku to stop him.
After the Heartless were taken care of then did they turn on each other. The fight was difficult with Roxas ending up with the upper hand. Riku had underestimated him, but between the matter of losing Sora and Xion's insistence, he gave into the darkness and used its powers to finally stop Roxas in his tracks. As Roxas faded into unconsciousness, Xion, too, finally vanished. But before the last of her trickled away, she reassured him softly that although he would forget her, the memories would remain.
"You'll forget me, but the memories themselves will never go away. Memories of you and me will always be together... forever, inside him." --Xion, 358/2 Days
Re_Fated History
Just when Xion had accepted her fate, when she had faded off back to Sora, she was sprung awoke by the shouting of a panicked man. This man later turned out to be Zack- the caretaker of "Anne". Anne... who Xion later found to be who she was supposed to be. Or rather, whose life she had overtaken. Whether she intended it or not didn't matter. The message she found later on the phone she uncovered from her pocket was enough reason for her to believe that this wasn't just some strange dream but reality. Xion had been summoned to collect jewel shards that would presumably help whoever had brought her there. And with that task done, well... She honestly had no idea where things would progress from there. Would she go back to where she belonged or was there some sort of ulterior motive she wasn't aware of? What were the shards, even? It felt like she was just being used again like a tool... but with no other leads, what other choice did she have?
She wrote what was intended to be a private journal entry regarding her thoughts only to find out that it was a network for others that were "off worlders" like her to keep in contact... The hard way, of course. While weary, she used it to her advantage still, finding out information both on some of the people that were already there as well as what exactly a hospital was... considering she had never set foot in one before. In a way, fortunate smiled on her for whatever the incident that had taken place which she had awoken to. Apparently, Anne had been to the beach with Zack and some kid on a skateboard had knocked her over, making her crack her head off the cement. While Xion herself was in-tact, it had given her host a concussion which she later found out gave someone issues with memories. And while she felt bad to fool Zack, she used the situation to her advantage.
Still, that didn't make things any easier for her to adjust to her new life. While having someone looking after her wasn't completely new considering the bonds she had had with Axel and Roxas, she could tell there was a vast difference in the relationship. It was also bizarre to her how people saw he. They were just so warm and fond- a complete one-eighty to the Organization. People cared. People wanted to help people out. Part of it felt quietly guilty but another part of her was happy. She was learning so much about having a "normal" life. Going to school, hanging around friends, and spending time with someone who was there to look out for her, a guardian.
But this new life didn't come without complications. One very big one was the appearance of a boy that looked exactly like Roxas. At first, Xion was in denial that it could be him. Because Anne looked exactly like her, too. But a meeting in the park one night solidified that it was indeed Roxas himself. Although he couldn't remember a thing about her... and Xion decided that perhaps it was better off that way. Especially after what she had put him through and knowing that she would return to Sora anyway, what was the sense of putting him through another parting once more? Still, she decided all the same to keep tabs on him. Because he was one of her best friends and she cared for him deeply. Xion also briefly met with several other shard hunters. Sagura, who she at the time didn't realize was one of them, coaxed her to go home although she declined his offer. There was also Felix who actually had one of the jewel shards out in the open. They conversed for a little regarding them... And then there was a drunken Fuu, who like Sagura, also pressed for Xion to go home. In the end, it was Roxas that took her home though.
Not long after that day, Xion decided to reach out to people. Particularly because apparently Anne was pretty good when it came to school... but least to say, Xion herself was clueless. Sagura was the one that contacted her, offering to tutor. Kaito also offered but Sagura had spoken to her by then. Still making idle conversation though about school being a new experience and also finding out he was a magician. She also spoke to Aoko, making note that her, Kaito, and Sagura all came from the same world. Xion also had to make an apology to Roxas who she had attempted to sit with at lunch but due to the reaction of her friends, she wasn't able to. Apparently, something had transpired between Anne and "Lucen", Roxas' host, the summer before and Lucen had landed on her friends' black list. But that didn't stop them from making plans to go shard hunting together again.
That was something they did the following night. They ended up finding shadowy tree-like creatures known as treants. People had mentioned them existing there; in fact, they were also lurking around in search of the shards, but this was the first time Xion had ever seen them before. The duo battled it out with them in a two versus two fight. Xion was surprised there to learn that Roxas could wield two keyblades instead... Quickly connecting the dots that one of them was hers though when she finally got a hold of it and followed through to finish off their enemies. Unfortunately, that left her wide open to questions she wasn't ready to answer and instead of being honest with Roxas, she ran away.
Since then, Xion avoided him like the plague. Instead, she sought to learn more about the shards themselves and their origins. But what she found out... all but made her wish she hadn't asked in a lot of ways. Because the very shards they were there to find had a dangerous side effect, a will of granting wishes, to bring the finder's deepest desire to light. But it was at the cost of taking control of the person and making them do things they didn't want to do. Xion didn't have to think far either to consider that implication. She was further rattled when she found out the legends behind the shard and how its very existence had been the downfall of so many people. Following her brashness, Xion decided to stop shard hunting for a time.
But the guilt wouldn't leave her, that by deciding that, she was back to square one. She would be stealing away Anne's life. But if she acted, she could destroy the girl, too. Things just weren't fair. There was no right path she felt she could choose. She caught herself in a spiral of woe, one that deepened upon the celebration of Anne's birthday. That evening she found herself in the park again, trying to piece herself back together. And that was when Roxas finally caught and cornered her.
Xion at first wanted to run off on him again. But the truth was, she had never felt so alone and she hadn't realized just how much that feeling was jarring her until some new revelations sought her. Roxas was remembering her. He was dreaming of their times in the Organization. And while part of it terrified her of what that could possibly lead to later on, another part of her felt less detached to everything. Anchored, even, to familiarity. And she honestly had really missed him, really wanted to be close to him again. So, in the end, she gave him her word that she would work with him, tell him about the dreams he had when he had them. Because otherwise she felt it would be too much in one go and... partly, she was secretly hoping that he would never remember that day.
But getting that chance to talk with him without feeling. Really, really distant from him. It gave her the courage to open herself up instead of drowning in her worries. And eventually that led her to contacting the off worlders and seeing what they would think of using teams to shard hunt. That way, if anyone lost themselves to a shard, someone would be there to immediately take action and help them. From her post, she received a generous amount of feedback. Apparently, it had been done before and had been successful. It just hadn't been pursued since then. Good chances it had been because of the reaction of the shadowy creatures. Still, Angelicus seemed interested enough that she gave Xion the benefit of the doubt and said she would propose it herself since she knew most of the off worlders for a longer period of time which Xion agreed that it probably would be more productive.
Unfortunately though, it would seem that things just wouldn't work out the way they intended. Because not long after it was discussed did Xion fall asleep one day in the city only to end up trapped in a nightmare, one that she thought was real. She dreamed of her encounter with Axel at the Haunted Mansion. It was a memory that soon became distorted as Roxas made an appearance and then the view was shifting to an open dusty plain where Roxas decided to turn her and everything else to nothing. Fortunately for Xion, Aoko found her and made her realize that what she was witnessing wasn't real. And after a brief reaffirmation that things would be okay, they two decided it would be best to part ways to find and help the others that might have been caught up in the nightmares, too.
This landed with Xion running into Kaito. While at first she thought she was back in Haven, the strangeness of the dream, specifically how when she went after the guy that was targeting Kaito just vanished and that her spells weren't working. She knew that something was off. But as she frantically struggled to help him, it was actually Kaito himself that figured things out and ended the nightmare. This time, Xion and Kaito ended up temporarily separated. But after a while of wandering the dreamscape, she ended up finding him again. Aoko joined them shortly afterward and then Roxas. And after a relieving reunion, the four of them decided to make their trek to the far off tower to dispel the source and end things. While the details to this were never concluded, for the sake of not having Xion coming in worried, we'll say that it was stopped in the end and everyone returned to the city before she arrived to Niteo.
Threads
First Entry
Xion accidentally makes a public journal to the offworlder's network.
First Meeting with Roxas
Attending a half-assembly, half-lunch kind of montage, Xion makes no big deal of it... until she realizes who's on the stage.
A Reunion in the Night
Xion ends up running into Roxas again during some shard hunting. She also happens upon Sagura who she believes to be one of the residents, Felix who is trying to get over the loss of his brother, and Fuu who's just... drunk and tells her to go home.
A Moment's Reprieve
Xion figures out why Roxas wanted to get a hold of her in the first place and decides to keep an eye on him despite her worries.
Second Entry- Xion Realizes She Fails at School
...and promptly indirectly seeks out help. Sagura offers some. Kaito, too, to which Aoko teases him about. Xion also apologizes to Roxas for not hanging around him at lunch because Anne's friends discouraged it and more.
Another Shard Hunt
She and Roxas go at it to find them shards. They end up fighting some treants and Xion recalls the keyblade, helping to make waste of them... only to open up a can of worms.
Of Shards and Misgivings
Xion learns about the true power of the shards... and uh, finally learns how to use the audio feature. She further confirms things with Amelia and decides then that she really can't do that. She can't risk Anne's life for it.
An Unceremonious Birthday
Xion spends the day moping with her friends before getting into a fight with Zack. In the end, she goes out to escape and figure herself out only to run into Roxas and more shocking revelations.
Xion Finds a Compromise
...Asking the offworlders if teams would work with shard hunting. She learns from there that it's been done before but it's not a bad idea all the same. Angelicus embraces the idea and offers to voice things further. Xion also reveals to Roxas that she's been grounded for being caught up late the other day and probably won't see much of him... to which he attempts to remedy.
Food for Thought
Xion learns about GF's from Nida... and about war. Least to say, she isn't a fan of the latter. Nor is Nida.
Supernatural
Xion learns a little about what it is... and is confused that people can be so skeptical.
Sagura Vanishes
Making note of the detective's disappearance, Xion finds out of his unhappiness and generally decides he was better off going back... although she's sad she'll probably never meet him again.
Nightmare Event
Xion ends up caught in a nightmare where both her friends display uncharacteristic menace. She is broken from it only when Aoko makes her realize that there's no way that it could be Roxas. Xion later helps Kaito out of his own nightmare.
Nightmare Event Part II
Four of the seven involved in the nightmares meet up to put an end to whatever caused it in the first place.
And further reference can be found on her Re_Fated application if need be.
Personality:
Pensive, reflective, yet pressing to be steadfast in what she thinks is right.
Xion first may come off as coy and socially awkward to those she just gets to know. Considering her rare interactions with those outside of the Organization though, it's hardly surprising. It's not to say she can't hold a conversation. She manages well enough with one-on-one interactions as demonstrated with Riku and later with Genie and Naminé. But holding a conversation outside of the Organization's goals often leads to a game of twenty questions and lots of awkward. Which turns into even more awkward when questions are thrown back at her. Xion's very secretive about her origins... Frankly, because she's fearful of anyone knowing about it. There's enough self-loathing for what she is but for others to know as well- It's not information she's willing to give at the drop of a hat and her discomfort shows; she'll do her best to quickly dodge and change the subject. If there's anything she has learned while talking with Axel and Roxas, it's how to hide things- for better or worse. Although, considering her origins, it doesn't take much to realize she has an incredibly bad poker face.
Her general demeanor around new people is calm yet cautious. Curious yet withdrawn. Xion's a thinker, a reflector. Someone who steps lightly and chooses words carefully under quiet circumstances. Often uncertain and second-guessing internally while she may put on a front of vague knowing. Like Roxas, she's very curious and wants answers but she's less inclined to trust people or perhaps has a better grasp of who to trust. Quite possibly a trait from her association with the memories of Kairi rather than Sora himself. She's overall soft spoken and unsure of a lot of things, which makes her appear weak and easily manipulated.
But despite this initial attitude, Xion is surprisingly fiercely independent. This perhaps is complimented by those whose memories she shares. Both Sora and Kairi have their stubborn tendencies, after all. And a strong willingness to handle things on their own... which she's really more than capable of, even in tight situations for long periods of time as demonstrated when she went missing for three weeks because she had lost the ability to use the keyblade. Roxas no doubt influences her as well. It's not that she doesn't trust her friends. She just doesn't wish to burden them, especially with all the insecurities that she has.
Throughout most of her lifespan with The Organization, Xion was constantly putting the pieces together as to the reason why she existed in the first place. What was she, even? These were answers that The Organization itself never gave her, so she had to seek them out through her own means. This mainly stemmed from her meeting with Riku, but with Xion's personality, it was only really a matter of time otherwise. Or so it may be speculated at least. This was information she highly valued-- reasons and knowledge are important to her. So much that she'll leave her friends behind to seek them out herself.
That may lead people to believe that she doesn't trust her friends at all, but that's not the case. Xion puts a lot of faith in them. She just... puts a lot more in herself to be able to handle things. In a way, it makes her brash and perhaps unconsciously cynical-- 'No one can help me by myself', so to say. While relying on others isn't wrong, it makes her feel weak, useless. Disposable. And she hates that feeling. That doesn't mean she won't seek them out at all. She's been known to confront Axel on several occasions. It is perhaps simply due to what she was finding out about herself that she simply wasn't confronting her friends regarding the information-- especially since the further in she got, the meeker things seemed to be.
Even past this though, it's not like she never gives things good thought. As noted before, Xion's always thinking. Always. It's like she couldn't stop even if she wanted to. She's naturally very reflective. Exhaustively so, even. A lot of it stems from her origins, perhaps. Despite her travels, she's not very worldly when it comes to dealing with what might seem as common sense to them. It's like half hers was "lost" when in truth she just doesn't carry even half the memories that she was supposed to purposefully collect. So, she might know what a database is yet she couldn't describe what a library is to you.
This, of course, leads into her melancholic nature. Despite the resolve she does her best to hold onto, Xion's quick to brood over things, even if they are out of her control. She comes off as someone with a lot of empathy-- ironic for what she is. Even if she might think she is trying to do her best and make the right choices, for as resolved as her front was, it doesn't take much for guilt to overwhelm her in confrontation with her friends. The people she cherishes always come before anything else in her mind. So, when she hurts them, it eats away at her indefinitely until she's certain that she's made it up to them. But, even then, it doesn't take much for her to shoulder the blame again if she's reminded. It's just how she is.
Past all her melancholy, Xion does carry a warm side to her. When she opens up to her friends, she more than welcomes, jokes, jeering, and gentle banter. She'll laugh and tease and smile with her friends. This is something that perhaps has been muffled some due to her guilt, but it is a side of her that comes about when she's comfortable and happy. There's nothing that make her feel more at home than spending time eating ice cream up on the clock tower and watching the sunset with her friends. Because those times were when her friends were the happiest... and so was she.
Her friend's happiness- Rather, her friends in general, come before her always. And she will tend to them as best as she can in all the ways she can- even if it means giving up her own existence. Xion once called herself the real affront- finding herself 'nothing more than a puppet'. The answers she found made her lose what little self-worth she had in the first place and it will be a difficult process for her to regain any of that worth.
But that doesn't mean she won't react towards others if provoked. Like Sora, Xion does have a rash side to her, one that makes her dive into a situation without thinking first. It's a rare side of the coin lately. And Xion doesn't typically display this towards her friends, especially now because of how things turned out. But it's still a very real part of her despite how contradicting it can come off to her lacking self-worth. Her first encounter with Riku can attest to it. While not likely to showcase it at least in front of Roxas and Axel, more prone to brooding in frustration, anything that involves having her friends hurt in some way whether physically or otherwise would definitely trigger this side of her. This can also tend to be her knee-jerk reaction when people hide things from her knowingly and purposefully-- Ironic, really.
Past all this though, Xion really is a warm, complex being. She may be replica, or "puppet" as some would call it, but she certainly doesn't seem like one. She smiles, laughs, broods, acts out, and everything in between. To just refer to her as one word would generalize her just as much as anyone else.
Third-Person Sample:
Exhibit A
First-Person Sample Journal Post:
Exhibit B
Name/Handle: Jodie
Contact: JodieTakira [AIM]
Personal LJ: gray_lights
CHARACTER
Name: Xion
Series: Kingdom Hearts
Canon: AU
Age: Fourteen in appearance; 349 days in reality + 127 Days in re_fated making her 476 days old or a year old one hundred and eleven days old.
History:
It all ended where it all began, really. With Organization XIII.
Not XIV.
Although that was the number that she was designated. Xion was born to be nothing more than a tool at the disposal of the Organization. While on the outside she performed the duties of a typical member, her true purpose would come to be by the end of Roxas' time in the Organization. She's arguably the one who ended up being the final nail in the coffin to Roxas leaving.
Xion was created through Vexen's experimentation, the first replica of his program albeit incomplete. It's still arguable whether she has a heart or not (Typical Nomura). On the outside, she believed to be a nobody-- although what she looks like depends on who's looking at her. This is due to the base of her existence: Sora's memories. Despite this, the memories of the Kairi that Sora knew end up fleshing out Xion with a face of her own to many people-- or they just see her as the hooded girl. Axel did until he decided to befriend her. As time goes on and she absorbs more memories though, she begins to take on the image of Sora himself (and Ven to those who know him).
Regardless, Xion started out as a blank slate just about. She developed over time though due to her close approximation with Roxas. The two befriended each other when they started going on missions together while Axel was at Castle Oblivion. For a while, everything seemed fine between them. Full of surprises such as Xion finally seeming to come out of her shell and then her sudden whim that summoned the keyblade to her, but it was nothing but good ones to them. Every day was shared doing missions either for recon or heart collection and eating ice cream at the clock tower. Yet, shortly after Roxas was in a coma for twenty days, Xion left for a mission and didn't return. A little over three weeks later, she ended up found by Axel and Roxas in Twilight Town where she was still trying to take out the heartless she had been sent to defeat. She couldn't summon the keyblade anymore. Concerned she would be destroyed, Axel suggested that they pair up on missions until she could remember how to use it. This was also the first day that Xion became friends with Axel through Roxas... and the first day he saw her face. After that day, for another three weeks, she and Roxas were sent on missions with Roxas working double shift to keep her from being erased. They were sent on missions to both Agrabah and Beast's Castle where they learned about what it was to be inseparable and how friends worry about one another.
Along the road, Xemnas called a gathering to introduce them to the giant heart that hung in the sky at last: the visual beginnings of Kingdom Hearts. It was the whole purpose of Roxas and Xion. With their keyblades, they were the only ones capable of releasing hearts from the Heartless. Those hearts would wind up gathering with the other hearts to create Kingdom Hearts. And with the power of Kingdom Hearts? There was the belief that nobodies could become somebodies again: that they could regain their hearts that they once lost long ago and become whole, capable once more of emotions and more.
The following day ended up with Roxas and Xion's last paired mission. Roxas suggested that Xion use his keyblade during that mission to see if she could remember how to call out her own. The method proved to be a success and they spent their evening with lighthearted conversation about wanting those days to last forever and Axel mushily noting that as long as they remembered, they wouldn't ever be apart. For a while, everything seemed pretty much fine. Although Xion began to wonder about the memories that she was having. They were familiar yet alien. But she tried not to worry about them too much. More weeks went by without much in terms of events.
At least until an imposter wearing their coat was discovered and Xion was sent to dispose of him. That imposter turned out to be Sora's friend, Riku. Xion was easily defeated by him, and after one look at her face (which they never specify what he saw), he told her that she was better off finding another crowd and that her keyblade was a sham. Xion, outraged, was left shamed. Back at the castle, she demanded a second chance, but Saix, their second in command, wouldn't allow it, going as far as to claim she was a mistake that should have never been made. Later that day, Roxas confronted her in her bitterness, but Xion did her best to brush it off. It was then that Xion questioned why they were even part of the Organization and why they needed hearts, echoing Roxas' questions from long ago. Roxas argued that they were both special-- Xigbar had called them exceptional. But that only served to further eat away at Xion and she left him there alone. frustrated in how she was beginning to compare each other but also by his words. Xion really was at a loss of how to deal with things.
And then, the following day, Xion fell into a deep sleep that lasted just as long as Roxas'. Generating a spiral of recollections that weren't hers. When she finally awoke, she felt quietly just as lost as Roxas was, unsure about the dreams she had. But all the same, she tried brushing it off and hopped on the mission that Roxas and Axel were about to undertake. Because she wanted to be useful, to prove she wasn't a mistake or broken as Saix had insisted. But Xion was unstable yet- fainted during the mission. Fainting and falling back into more strange dreams. Of Sora plunging his keyblade into his chest to revive Kairi and later Kairi giving him her charm, telling him that it was her "Lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back". And of Kairi going straight through him voicing quietly Sora's name. But they were dreams she wouldn't share with Roxas or Axel because she wasn't sure telling them would be a wise choice. Wanting to figure things out for herself rather than land the burden on them. Were they dreams of her human life or something else? Everything was so confusing. Regardless of it though, she was at the very least reassured by Axel and Roxas that they were best friends- inseparable as Axel put with a sappiness. And that best friends would deal with complications. And that reassured her at least in that moment that she had them.
So, the days melted once again into their usual flow of missions and ice cream. With the most exciting venture to note being the flying that Roxas experienced. Xion was a little on the jealous side but otherwise seemed lost in thought. Because no matter what, the memories were bothering her, stirring her to try and figure out just what they were about. But despite the soft prods of her friends, Xion just didn't know how to reach out to them- wouldn't reach out to them. Instead brewing... Brewing that turned into an idea. A curious thought that became a curious question a while later on the clock tower. Axel had been distant lately, a hint that Xion had a feeling he knew things they didn't and thus posed an inquiry about Castle Oblivion. Because wasn't it odd that they had never been sent there before? Neither her or Roxas. It was fishy. Axel brushed it off that it was because they weren't needed there. But Xion wouldn't have that. She claimed she had to go then only for her to have a dizzy spell and nearly fall off the clock tower. Feeling guilty and wanting to ease the tension, Axel decided abruptly then that for their next vacation, they would all go to the beach. Although Xion was uncertain, she was at least grateful that despite things being so uneasy, Axel was still willing to reach out.
But that didn't change her mind. She was too intensely set on figuring herself out. And thus, not long after, she sneaked into the main computer of The Castle That Never Was to figure out the location of Castle Oblivion and from there? Passed up her mission to go explore it instead. While Xemnas and Saix noticed, Xemnas spared them from following her, noting that she was just playing right into their hands. In the meantime, Xion found her way to the other castle, having a brief flashback and recalling a time when she was leaving it with Saix who had told her that was the last they would see of its walls. It was while she was trying to shake off her disheveled state from that memory that Axel made his appearance to clean up the rest of it to find her. While he demanded for her to leave or she would be destroyed, Xion was stubborn, wanting nothing but to know who she really was and realizing from his reactions that he knew and really was keeping that from her. In the end, she ran from him and into the depths of it where she found the crystal ball... and from it, discovered the truth.
"Then the person I was before wasn't me." -- Xion, 358/2 Days
Xion was torn, broken up. And knowing that the Organization wouldn't give her anymore answers, she sought to try and figure out what all this meant and what she should do. And with Axel being the way he was and not wanting to pull Roxas into the thick of things, she ran. Unfortunately though, the damage from before seemed to creep up on her. And on a trip to Destiny Islands, she found herself spiraling out of control in a swarm of memories. Memories and dreams. A dream where she wistfully watched the sunset with her best friends and questioned what it would take to be like them. But just as much as she was lost to that answer so to were their dream versions, of course. When Xion finally awoke, she found herself in the arms of the imposter from before. Riku had somehow breached through to her and awoken her from her comatose state (though the game never states how, but "You saved me, but I don't know why" seems to imply otherwise).
Knowing that Riku had a part in the memories she held, she confronted him about them. The talk was hostile yet comforting. Uneasy yet curious. So many mixed signals as Xion questioned the girl that "look[ed] so much like [her]" and why she had the memories she had, ones that weren't hers. Riku was the one that finally told her the flat out truth. Sora's memories had been tinkered with. And when they tried to piece them back together, Xion had instead taken them into herself as she was programmed to do. And due to that, Sora would never wake up. Xion rebelled bitterly, asking halfheartedly if Riku hated her for taking his friend away, but Riku only admitted solemnly of his grief. Despite her guilt though, Xion voiced that she couldn't go with him. Because her friends needed her and she needed them, too. Riku seemed to understand that at least but still asked her to think about it and make the choice that would be best and right for everyone.
In the meantime, they would travel together although what they did during that time was never canonically disclosed. It might be assumed that Riku was quietly playing silent guardian with Xion in tow for approximately twenty-two days before Roxas and Axel were ordered to track down the imposter and Xion who they had then claimed as a traitor to the Organization. While Xion managed to escape with Riku in Twilight Town the first time they had tried to catch her, the second time, she ended up finally being cornered in the back alley of the market plaza by Roxas. Concerned and unwilling to lose his friend, Roxas reached out to her. But despite her apologetic feelings, she minded that she couldn't go back- not telling him why. Feeling at that point that he just wouldn't understand the situation and she needed more time to figure things out. She ended up raising her keyblade at one of her best friends... and then shortly after engaging in a full-fledged fight with her other one as Axel made his appearance and motives known that he was there to take her back, whether she wanted it or not. The fight ended up with Xion rendered unconscious via a pressure point hit to the back of the neck after being distracted by Roxas' plea for them to stop. And from there, she was taken by Axel back to the castle, leaving Roxas without an explanation.
Xion's existence then continued as it had before within the Organization although at a rockier level. Things were tense and with days where sometimes one or the other or whoever wouldn't turn up at the clock tower to have ice cream. Roxas was mad at Axel for doing what he had to Xion, but Xion confronted her friend about it, appalled that he would call Axel a jerk when she knew that he had good intentions- knew he hadn't wanted her to be destroyed by them. But even after getting past that and even after the trio seemed to settle again, nothing could have stopped the next matter at hand. Xion had been built to take upon Sora's memories and powers and that included what Roxas had to give. He was Sora's nobody, after all. A piece of the other boy. And it was beginning to visibly show with far more power than last time. The two of them virtually played a game of push and pull between each other- which was why Xion had at one point lost the ability to call her keyblade. But now it was in reverse and going rapidly out of control weighing in on her scale. And so while Xion began to burn through missions with energy and power she never felt before, Roxas was starting to wear down.
Their latest missions were plant devices in worlds: Wonderland, Halloween Town, and Agrabah. All the while being left in the dark about the nature of them. Of course, they wondered what they were for, but they didn't press and did as they were told. For Agrabah in particular, they came across the Cave of Wonders' keyhole and Xion collapsed in front of it as another swarm of memories reawakened, recalling that Sora had once sealed off the world- as it was his duty as the keybearer to travel worlds and seal them away from one another to prevent the Heartless from getting to the heart of that world and destroying it. Not that she knew of that context exactly, but all the same, she saw that memory and felt she had been there before. In her almost trance-like state even, as Roxas held her face to face, she made the off-comment that "[he looked] so much like him". This was shortly interrupted by a ravaging Heartless which Roxas struggled to stop all before Xion stepped in and cleaned its clock in one swift sweep. Roxas nearly collapsed afterward, Xion expressing heavy concern for his well being. He had been feeling not so hot ever since the beginning of that day and this only made her worry more. But Roxas simply shrugged it off and said it was nothing. He was just tired.
But that didn't fool Xion. The first thing that Xion did was confront Axel regarding Roxas' weakening. Axel pressed back coldly if only because of his frustrations that she would know- Didn't they build her with common sense? She was the reason why Roxas had been weakening. Whether she was in control or it or not, that didn't matter. The facts were on the table and it was up to her to make a choice.
"Oh, come on, don't look shocked. You already know you're a Replica. A puppet whose original purpose was to duplicate Roxas's powers. If he's getting weaker and you're getting stronger... Well, that just means you're borrowing a little more than you oughta be." -- Axel, 358/2 Days
A choice that was pushed into action the very next day. She was sent on a mission to Halloween Town to take down a particularly difficult Heartless. Yet, just as she was about to take it out, Axel came out of no where and stopped her and "it". That Heartless turned out to be none other than Roxas. Somehow, they had been tricked into seeing each other as the Heartless they were going to exterminate and had nearly destroyed one another. It had all been a setup from the start.
"The Organization is determined to erase either me or Roxas. They'll never allow us to coexist. I love Roxas and Axel. I'm sure Saïx would scoff at that. Call it a trick of my artificial memories. But the time I spent on that clock tower was real. I wish the three of us could stay together, just like this, forever. But I have to end this. I'll never forget today's sunset. Even if Roxas and Axel do, I won't forget." -- Xion's Diary, 358/2 Days
That evening was the last day Xion spent on the clock tower watching the sunset with her friends. Because the next day, Xion found herself caught with a terrifying discovery on top of her original intentions. So, when she was sent out on a mission with Axel and Xigbar, instead of taking on the mission, she fought and took down the latter and then pleaded for Axel to let her go. When Axel refused, Xion lowered her hood of which she had been wearing all day. And Axel, seeing what she looked like at that moment, was thrown completely for a loop. Xion pleaded for him to take care of Roxas and then vanished in a corridor.
From there, she met Riku at Beast's Castle once again, informing Riku with desperation that she was about to lose everything that mattered to her and she was ready to return. The memories didn't belong to her, after all. Riku directed her to Twilight Town where she would meet the memory witch, Naminé, the one responsible for piecing all of Sora's memories back together and Xion made her way there.
In the White Room of the haunted mansion, Xion finally met with Naminé who informed her in full detail of her fate. By returning to Sora as Xion intended, because of how Xion was created, Naminé wouldn't be able to preserve any of the memories of Xion herself. Everyone would forget her. But despite knowing that, Xion put on a brave face and pressed that it was where she belonged and eventually Roxas would know, too, in time. But Xion didn't want such a tragic and painful fate for one of her best friends, so she would accept this one. All she asked was for Naminé to look after Roxas when she was gone- perhaps a pitiable request since even Naminé, too, would end up forgetting her, but she made it, regardless. Caring that much for him.
But just as Xion was to be taken to Sora finally, DiZ (one of the overseers of Sora's awakening due to knowing his ties to potentially debunking the Organization in the end) broke in to call Xion out for leading the Organization right to them on purpose. Taking the fault and not wanting them to be involved, Xion went out to confront whoever had decided to follow her. It was in front of the mansion then that she confronted none other than Axel. He argued with her that she had to go back, but Xion resisted, saying that she had to return to where she belonged. Axel wouldn't hear of it though, his frustration and exasperation finally hitting its limit. Not wanting to lose either of his best friends, feeling like both of them were being selfish and not realizing what they were truly dealing with and how dangerous the Organization could be, Axel pressed Xion one last time to give in and go back. But Xion drew her keyblade on him once more, pleading for him not to hold back.
"You two think you can do whatever you want. Well, I'm just sick of it. Go on, you just keep running! But I'll always be there to bring you back!" -- Axel, 358/2 Days
The two of them ended up colliding in another fight. It was one that Axel barely won. He lost consciousness shortly after returning to the castle. And with Axel in that state and Roxas having abandoned the Organization shortly before, Xion was left unprotected to the whims of Saix and the superior who were believed to reprogram Xion and send her off to absorb Roxas and complete herself.
From therein, it would always be unclear exactly as to why matters unfolded as they did. Some believe Xion feigned insanity. Others feel she really was reprogrammed. Being unanswered though and up to the digression of the audience, in this instance, it was believed to be a bit of both and perhaps something more. Xion wanted to return to Sora for the purpose of Roxas not having the fate of her absorbing him. But instead of believing that returning again to Naminé to resume their intentions, perhaps she felt by some distorted logic was that the quickest way would have been to have herself destroyed by one of her best friend's hands. Another theory might suggest that perhaps she felt that due to Axel finding them, she might have felt that DiZ or Naminé had taken it that she hadn't intended on returning in the first place so she had lost their trust. And then there was always the potential that Xion had, in the midst of that one last return to the Organization, found out the truth about Kingdom Hearts and wanted to pass that along- although a fight to the death with a friend to carry on the word after being forgotten anyway would make little sense, too.
In short, going along with the concept that the reprogramming caused a sense of distorted logic although her good intentions still lay underneath the surface- that she was going in after him for the sake of her own destruction so that she wouldn't absorb Roxas instead. But regardless of the reasons, the following day was the very last time she would meet with Roxas atop the clock tower and share ice cream with him. Because after a short reprieve of nostalgia, Xion finally admitted that she was out of time, that she had absorbed so much from him, she was almost ready. Standing, she removed her hood and Roxas finally saw the truth she had been hiding the whole time. Saw her with the face of Sora.
"Look at me, Roxas. Who do you see? If you see somebody else's face, a boy's face, then that means I'm almost ready. This puppet will have to play her part. Roxas, this is him. It's Sora. You're next, Roxas. I have to make you a part of me, too." -- Xion, 358/2 Days
This ensued a dramatic and rather traumatic battle between two best friends as Roxas was forced to engage in a fight that would mean the destruction of himself or her. They battled throughout several worlds, Roxas learning quickly that the reasons for the placements of the devices was so that Xion would use them to power up in some manner (possibly helping to further pool memories, and thus power, into her and having her powers amplified). With each world, Xion took on a different form, each time the prior vision of her becoming more and more unlike herself, more like the doll she really was. Eventually, they found themselves back at Station Tower in Twilight Town where Xion became the size of the tower itself and sustained an invisible platform with the powers she had gained. It was finally there that after a grueling final fight, Roxas dealt the finishing blow and, with it, Xion's memories began fading fast from him.
It was as he fell to the ground that Xion reemerged to her most identifibly her form, collapsing shortly after only for Roxas to catch her mid-fall. There, he questioned if he was the one that had done her in to which she half-lied and explained that it was her choice, that she was going back to Sora. And while Roxas watched on, completely oblivious to how just seconds ago Xion had been one of his best friends, Xion pleaded for him to free Kingdom Hearts- because that was one of her biggest mistakes that she couldn't undo now that she was fading. And then after a wistful wish for him to never forget that both he and Axel were her best friends, Xion finally fell limp, her body completely crystallizing and then shattering into thousands of phantasmal pieces to rise into the sky where they would eventually find their way to Sora.
A consciousness of her kept with Roxas though, perhaps triggered by the fact that right when she was about to completely shatter, shattered remnants of his memories of her were retriggered, most likely due to the matter that part of her sought him considering his gaining of a second keyblade. And so when Roxas stormed The World That Never Was, the world were the Organization's stronghold resided, her consciousness followed him, watched him. And grew restless as his bold decision was made clear. That he was intent on going right to the source. It was Riku who barred his path in the end at memory skyscraper. With the sudden emergence of the Heartless though, whether she was the one that encouraged him to allow Riku to borrow his second keyblade or not, Roxas tossed him the one as the two worked together temporarily to thwart the rush of Neo Shadows. This gave Riku a rush of memories of Xion, a weak link to her consciousness as she then pleaded for Riku to stop him.
After the Heartless were taken care of then did they turn on each other. The fight was difficult with Roxas ending up with the upper hand. Riku had underestimated him, but between the matter of losing Sora and Xion's insistence, he gave into the darkness and used its powers to finally stop Roxas in his tracks. As Roxas faded into unconsciousness, Xion, too, finally vanished. But before the last of her trickled away, she reassured him softly that although he would forget her, the memories would remain.
"You'll forget me, but the memories themselves will never go away. Memories of you and me will always be together... forever, inside him." --Xion, 358/2 Days
Re_Fated History
Just when Xion had accepted her fate, when she had faded off back to Sora, she was sprung awoke by the shouting of a panicked man. This man later turned out to be Zack- the caretaker of "Anne". Anne... who Xion later found to be who she was supposed to be. Or rather, whose life she had overtaken. Whether she intended it or not didn't matter. The message she found later on the phone she uncovered from her pocket was enough reason for her to believe that this wasn't just some strange dream but reality. Xion had been summoned to collect jewel shards that would presumably help whoever had brought her there. And with that task done, well... She honestly had no idea where things would progress from there. Would she go back to where she belonged or was there some sort of ulterior motive she wasn't aware of? What were the shards, even? It felt like she was just being used again like a tool... but with no other leads, what other choice did she have?
She wrote what was intended to be a private journal entry regarding her thoughts only to find out that it was a network for others that were "off worlders" like her to keep in contact... The hard way, of course. While weary, she used it to her advantage still, finding out information both on some of the people that were already there as well as what exactly a hospital was... considering she had never set foot in one before. In a way, fortunate smiled on her for whatever the incident that had taken place which she had awoken to. Apparently, Anne had been to the beach with Zack and some kid on a skateboard had knocked her over, making her crack her head off the cement. While Xion herself was in-tact, it had given her host a concussion which she later found out gave someone issues with memories. And while she felt bad to fool Zack, she used the situation to her advantage.
Still, that didn't make things any easier for her to adjust to her new life. While having someone looking after her wasn't completely new considering the bonds she had had with Axel and Roxas, she could tell there was a vast difference in the relationship. It was also bizarre to her how people saw he. They were just so warm and fond- a complete one-eighty to the Organization. People cared. People wanted to help people out. Part of it felt quietly guilty but another part of her was happy. She was learning so much about having a "normal" life. Going to school, hanging around friends, and spending time with someone who was there to look out for her, a guardian.
But this new life didn't come without complications. One very big one was the appearance of a boy that looked exactly like Roxas. At first, Xion was in denial that it could be him. Because Anne looked exactly like her, too. But a meeting in the park one night solidified that it was indeed Roxas himself. Although he couldn't remember a thing about her... and Xion decided that perhaps it was better off that way. Especially after what she had put him through and knowing that she would return to Sora anyway, what was the sense of putting him through another parting once more? Still, she decided all the same to keep tabs on him. Because he was one of her best friends and she cared for him deeply. Xion also briefly met with several other shard hunters. Sagura, who she at the time didn't realize was one of them, coaxed her to go home although she declined his offer. There was also Felix who actually had one of the jewel shards out in the open. They conversed for a little regarding them... And then there was a drunken Fuu, who like Sagura, also pressed for Xion to go home. In the end, it was Roxas that took her home though.
Not long after that day, Xion decided to reach out to people. Particularly because apparently Anne was pretty good when it came to school... but least to say, Xion herself was clueless. Sagura was the one that contacted her, offering to tutor. Kaito also offered but Sagura had spoken to her by then. Still making idle conversation though about school being a new experience and also finding out he was a magician. She also spoke to Aoko, making note that her, Kaito, and Sagura all came from the same world. Xion also had to make an apology to Roxas who she had attempted to sit with at lunch but due to the reaction of her friends, she wasn't able to. Apparently, something had transpired between Anne and "Lucen", Roxas' host, the summer before and Lucen had landed on her friends' black list. But that didn't stop them from making plans to go shard hunting together again.
That was something they did the following night. They ended up finding shadowy tree-like creatures known as treants. People had mentioned them existing there; in fact, they were also lurking around in search of the shards, but this was the first time Xion had ever seen them before. The duo battled it out with them in a two versus two fight. Xion was surprised there to learn that Roxas could wield two keyblades instead... Quickly connecting the dots that one of them was hers though when she finally got a hold of it and followed through to finish off their enemies. Unfortunately, that left her wide open to questions she wasn't ready to answer and instead of being honest with Roxas, she ran away.
Since then, Xion avoided him like the plague. Instead, she sought to learn more about the shards themselves and their origins. But what she found out... all but made her wish she hadn't asked in a lot of ways. Because the very shards they were there to find had a dangerous side effect, a will of granting wishes, to bring the finder's deepest desire to light. But it was at the cost of taking control of the person and making them do things they didn't want to do. Xion didn't have to think far either to consider that implication. She was further rattled when she found out the legends behind the shard and how its very existence had been the downfall of so many people. Following her brashness, Xion decided to stop shard hunting for a time.
But the guilt wouldn't leave her, that by deciding that, she was back to square one. She would be stealing away Anne's life. But if she acted, she could destroy the girl, too. Things just weren't fair. There was no right path she felt she could choose. She caught herself in a spiral of woe, one that deepened upon the celebration of Anne's birthday. That evening she found herself in the park again, trying to piece herself back together. And that was when Roxas finally caught and cornered her.
Xion at first wanted to run off on him again. But the truth was, she had never felt so alone and she hadn't realized just how much that feeling was jarring her until some new revelations sought her. Roxas was remembering her. He was dreaming of their times in the Organization. And while part of it terrified her of what that could possibly lead to later on, another part of her felt less detached to everything. Anchored, even, to familiarity. And she honestly had really missed him, really wanted to be close to him again. So, in the end, she gave him her word that she would work with him, tell him about the dreams he had when he had them. Because otherwise she felt it would be too much in one go and... partly, she was secretly hoping that he would never remember that day.
But getting that chance to talk with him without feeling. Really, really distant from him. It gave her the courage to open herself up instead of drowning in her worries. And eventually that led her to contacting the off worlders and seeing what they would think of using teams to shard hunt. That way, if anyone lost themselves to a shard, someone would be there to immediately take action and help them. From her post, she received a generous amount of feedback. Apparently, it had been done before and had been successful. It just hadn't been pursued since then. Good chances it had been because of the reaction of the shadowy creatures. Still, Angelicus seemed interested enough that she gave Xion the benefit of the doubt and said she would propose it herself since she knew most of the off worlders for a longer period of time which Xion agreed that it probably would be more productive.
Unfortunately though, it would seem that things just wouldn't work out the way they intended. Because not long after it was discussed did Xion fall asleep one day in the city only to end up trapped in a nightmare, one that she thought was real. She dreamed of her encounter with Axel at the Haunted Mansion. It was a memory that soon became distorted as Roxas made an appearance and then the view was shifting to an open dusty plain where Roxas decided to turn her and everything else to nothing. Fortunately for Xion, Aoko found her and made her realize that what she was witnessing wasn't real. And after a brief reaffirmation that things would be okay, they two decided it would be best to part ways to find and help the others that might have been caught up in the nightmares, too.
This landed with Xion running into Kaito. While at first she thought she was back in Haven, the strangeness of the dream, specifically how when she went after the guy that was targeting Kaito just vanished and that her spells weren't working. She knew that something was off. But as she frantically struggled to help him, it was actually Kaito himself that figured things out and ended the nightmare. This time, Xion and Kaito ended up temporarily separated. But after a while of wandering the dreamscape, she ended up finding him again. Aoko joined them shortly afterward and then Roxas. And after a relieving reunion, the four of them decided to make their trek to the far off tower to dispel the source and end things. While the details to this were never concluded, for the sake of not having Xion coming in worried, we'll say that it was stopped in the end and everyone returned to the city before she arrived to Niteo.
Threads
First Entry
Xion accidentally makes a public journal to the offworlder's network.
First Meeting with Roxas
Attending a half-assembly, half-lunch kind of montage, Xion makes no big deal of it... until she realizes who's on the stage.
A Reunion in the Night
Xion ends up running into Roxas again during some shard hunting. She also happens upon Sagura who she believes to be one of the residents, Felix who is trying to get over the loss of his brother, and Fuu who's just... drunk and tells her to go home.
A Moment's Reprieve
Xion figures out why Roxas wanted to get a hold of her in the first place and decides to keep an eye on him despite her worries.
Second Entry- Xion Realizes She Fails at School
...and promptly indirectly seeks out help. Sagura offers some. Kaito, too, to which Aoko teases him about. Xion also apologizes to Roxas for not hanging around him at lunch because Anne's friends discouraged it and more.
Another Shard Hunt
She and Roxas go at it to find them shards. They end up fighting some treants and Xion recalls the keyblade, helping to make waste of them... only to open up a can of worms.
Of Shards and Misgivings
Xion learns about the true power of the shards... and uh, finally learns how to use the audio feature. She further confirms things with Amelia and decides then that she really can't do that. She can't risk Anne's life for it.
An Unceremonious Birthday
Xion spends the day moping with her friends before getting into a fight with Zack. In the end, she goes out to escape and figure herself out only to run into Roxas and more shocking revelations.
Xion Finds a Compromise
...Asking the offworlders if teams would work with shard hunting. She learns from there that it's been done before but it's not a bad idea all the same. Angelicus embraces the idea and offers to voice things further. Xion also reveals to Roxas that she's been grounded for being caught up late the other day and probably won't see much of him... to which he attempts to remedy.
Food for Thought
Xion learns about GF's from Nida... and about war. Least to say, she isn't a fan of the latter. Nor is Nida.
Supernatural
Xion learns a little about what it is... and is confused that people can be so skeptical.
Sagura Vanishes
Making note of the detective's disappearance, Xion finds out of his unhappiness and generally decides he was better off going back... although she's sad she'll probably never meet him again.
Nightmare Event
Xion ends up caught in a nightmare where both her friends display uncharacteristic menace. She is broken from it only when Aoko makes her realize that there's no way that it could be Roxas. Xion later helps Kaito out of his own nightmare.
Nightmare Event Part II
Four of the seven involved in the nightmares meet up to put an end to whatever caused it in the first place.
And further reference can be found on her Re_Fated application if need be.
Personality:
Pensive, reflective, yet pressing to be steadfast in what she thinks is right.
Xion first may come off as coy and socially awkward to those she just gets to know. Considering her rare interactions with those outside of the Organization though, it's hardly surprising. It's not to say she can't hold a conversation. She manages well enough with one-on-one interactions as demonstrated with Riku and later with Genie and Naminé. But holding a conversation outside of the Organization's goals often leads to a game of twenty questions and lots of awkward. Which turns into even more awkward when questions are thrown back at her. Xion's very secretive about her origins... Frankly, because she's fearful of anyone knowing about it. There's enough self-loathing for what she is but for others to know as well- It's not information she's willing to give at the drop of a hat and her discomfort shows; she'll do her best to quickly dodge and change the subject. If there's anything she has learned while talking with Axel and Roxas, it's how to hide things- for better or worse. Although, considering her origins, it doesn't take much to realize she has an incredibly bad poker face.
Her general demeanor around new people is calm yet cautious. Curious yet withdrawn. Xion's a thinker, a reflector. Someone who steps lightly and chooses words carefully under quiet circumstances. Often uncertain and second-guessing internally while she may put on a front of vague knowing. Like Roxas, she's very curious and wants answers but she's less inclined to trust people or perhaps has a better grasp of who to trust. Quite possibly a trait from her association with the memories of Kairi rather than Sora himself. She's overall soft spoken and unsure of a lot of things, which makes her appear weak and easily manipulated.
But despite this initial attitude, Xion is surprisingly fiercely independent. This perhaps is complimented by those whose memories she shares. Both Sora and Kairi have their stubborn tendencies, after all. And a strong willingness to handle things on their own... which she's really more than capable of, even in tight situations for long periods of time as demonstrated when she went missing for three weeks because she had lost the ability to use the keyblade. Roxas no doubt influences her as well. It's not that she doesn't trust her friends. She just doesn't wish to burden them, especially with all the insecurities that she has.
Throughout most of her lifespan with The Organization, Xion was constantly putting the pieces together as to the reason why she existed in the first place. What was she, even? These were answers that The Organization itself never gave her, so she had to seek them out through her own means. This mainly stemmed from her meeting with Riku, but with Xion's personality, it was only really a matter of time otherwise. Or so it may be speculated at least. This was information she highly valued-- reasons and knowledge are important to her. So much that she'll leave her friends behind to seek them out herself.
That may lead people to believe that she doesn't trust her friends at all, but that's not the case. Xion puts a lot of faith in them. She just... puts a lot more in herself to be able to handle things. In a way, it makes her brash and perhaps unconsciously cynical-- 'No one can help me by myself', so to say. While relying on others isn't wrong, it makes her feel weak, useless. Disposable. And she hates that feeling. That doesn't mean she won't seek them out at all. She's been known to confront Axel on several occasions. It is perhaps simply due to what she was finding out about herself that she simply wasn't confronting her friends regarding the information-- especially since the further in she got, the meeker things seemed to be.
Even past this though, it's not like she never gives things good thought. As noted before, Xion's always thinking. Always. It's like she couldn't stop even if she wanted to. She's naturally very reflective. Exhaustively so, even. A lot of it stems from her origins, perhaps. Despite her travels, she's not very worldly when it comes to dealing with what might seem as common sense to them. It's like half hers was "lost" when in truth she just doesn't carry even half the memories that she was supposed to purposefully collect. So, she might know what a database is yet she couldn't describe what a library is to you.
This, of course, leads into her melancholic nature. Despite the resolve she does her best to hold onto, Xion's quick to brood over things, even if they are out of her control. She comes off as someone with a lot of empathy-- ironic for what she is. Even if she might think she is trying to do her best and make the right choices, for as resolved as her front was, it doesn't take much for guilt to overwhelm her in confrontation with her friends. The people she cherishes always come before anything else in her mind. So, when she hurts them, it eats away at her indefinitely until she's certain that she's made it up to them. But, even then, it doesn't take much for her to shoulder the blame again if she's reminded. It's just how she is.
Past all her melancholy, Xion does carry a warm side to her. When she opens up to her friends, she more than welcomes, jokes, jeering, and gentle banter. She'll laugh and tease and smile with her friends. This is something that perhaps has been muffled some due to her guilt, but it is a side of her that comes about when she's comfortable and happy. There's nothing that make her feel more at home than spending time eating ice cream up on the clock tower and watching the sunset with her friends. Because those times were when her friends were the happiest... and so was she.
Her friend's happiness- Rather, her friends in general, come before her always. And she will tend to them as best as she can in all the ways she can- even if it means giving up her own existence. Xion once called herself the real affront- finding herself 'nothing more than a puppet'. The answers she found made her lose what little self-worth she had in the first place and it will be a difficult process for her to regain any of that worth.
But that doesn't mean she won't react towards others if provoked. Like Sora, Xion does have a rash side to her, one that makes her dive into a situation without thinking first. It's a rare side of the coin lately. And Xion doesn't typically display this towards her friends, especially now because of how things turned out. But it's still a very real part of her despite how contradicting it can come off to her lacking self-worth. Her first encounter with Riku can attest to it. While not likely to showcase it at least in front of Roxas and Axel, more prone to brooding in frustration, anything that involves having her friends hurt in some way whether physically or otherwise would definitely trigger this side of her. This can also tend to be her knee-jerk reaction when people hide things from her knowingly and purposefully-- Ironic, really.
Past all this though, Xion really is a warm, complex being. She may be replica, or "puppet" as some would call it, but she certainly doesn't seem like one. She smiles, laughs, broods, acts out, and everything in between. To just refer to her as one word would generalize her just as much as anyone else.
Third-Person Sample:
Exhibit A
First-Person Sample Journal Post:
Exhibit B