So, as you might be able to guess, Jason has to defeat Organization XIII itself before getting his family back. The real question is…how does he get Larxene back?
First floor: Axel vanished from his monitor, only to reappear next to Larxene a few seconds later. "Xenmas, I have a few favors to ask of you, and I thought to do it face to face, as it were." Larxene arched an eyebrow. Was she still interested in Axel? No. But if anyone could provide amusement, it was him. Larxene's face grew sour. Of course, Axel's unpredictablity was also a bad thing, when his betrayal lead to her death at the hands of Sora. (Technically, this was also Larxene's own fault, but she would never admit it.) "Go ahead," Xenmas said from his monitor. "First off, I'd like to teach him a lesson for what he did to my friend," Axel began, referring to Xion's recent defeat at the hands of Jason, "Next, since he has reached Vexen's floor, I'd like permission to seal his mouth if he talks too much. Finally, I'd like to be able to use Naminé. Got it memorized?" Indeed, Vexen's monitor was empty, as the scientist had left after Xion was defeated. Xion's inactive monitor happened to be next to Vexen's, giving the chill of an omen. "Hmm," Xenmas mused from his monitor. "If Jason arrives on your floor, do whatever you wish with him then. I will not part company with Naminé, period. As for your second request…yes, you may." Axel turned around, grinning, "You hear that, Larxene? Larxene?"
Eleventh basement floor: Jason was still shaken up from his battle with Xion. So he was more than a little surpised when Larxene showed up out of nowhere. "You have really let yourself go, brat." She commented with a savage grin. "Please don't do that, Larx," Jason panted from the floor. Her grin vanished. "Don't call me Larx." Jason noted this as a sign of just how deep in the doghouse he was at the moment. "So, now what, Larxene?" He asked. She dug around in her coat for while and removed four World cards before tossing them to Jason. He caught them a studied the Worlds imprinted on them. "Now, I'm going to explain this as simply as possible so you can understand it, 'kay?" Jason nodded blithely even as Larxene's words cut into him. Quite honestly, he should have expected this, and deserved it. "Castle Oblivion has been split into three sections, just for your demise," Larxene gestured dramatically with her arms, her voice covered in poisoned honey, "Four Preliminary matches which you now hold in your hands, four Semi-finalists, and three finalists, after which you have to face me. Oh, and you still have only three days to complete it." Jason absorbed all this. "Understood. I will beat this in a day." Larxene snorted. "If you can beat the Preliminary matches in five hours, I will kiss you, full on the lips." Jason grabbed Larxene's hand and pumped it. "Deal!" He said with a wicked grin. Larxene's face lit up in surprise, then grew delighted. She planted a light kiss on Jason's cheek. "Good luck," she said as she vanished into the Dark Corridor. Jason picked the least pleasant looking World and opened the door.
First floor: Zexion had a quiet chuckle. "It seems as if Jason picked that floor first. Now if only his daughter had that much insight." Moments like this were nice when he was bound up in rope. "Hey, Zexion. Where's Jason?" He told her. Serenna shuddered. "I hated that World."
Monstro: As he thought, the whale World Card led to the inside of Monstro, a giant whale that Saïx had thrown Jason into when he was living in the Castle that Never Was. It smelled pretty raw in here, but Jason merely pushed forward. "So, the experiment subject has arrived." Jason stiffened. "Vexen!" he called, "What's going on?" The Chilly Academic answered in his voice of cold logic: "Elementary, my dear simpleton. I requisitioned this Whale for my various experiments, and you are the subject." Vexen's aloof, superior tone got on Jason's nerve's, but he knew how to get under the scientist's skin. "You know, Vexen. You must not be very well thought of in Organization XIII. After all, you are just a preliminary match. Right after Xion, to boot." Vexen's cool didn't last two seconds. "How dare you!" he sputtered, "I'll have you know I am Number IV in the Organization." Jason smirked and dashed off.
Larxene couldn't help but giggle. It was about time someone put the stuffy old fool in his place.
Unknown Basement floor: Marluxia finished yet another story. "What about you, Selene? What is it like to be raised by Larxene?" he asked his guest. Selene stroked her sorrel hair, taking care to touch the red streaks in her blond curls. "You must remember, Jason is my father, he was raising me too. But why not? I'll tell you."
Monstro, Chamber four: The whale's meaty odor made Jason's head spin, but he held firm. He found the next door and was about to step in it when a strange goo smothered the opening. "Ahh, human," Vexen's voice drawled from somewhere above him, "The first experiment will test your resourcefulness. You must undo the substance barring your way before your time runs out. That begins…now!" A strange gas started to fill the room. One whiff of it told him that more than a few minutes of this would be fatal to him. «What to do, what to do?» Jason thought with panic. He saw various planks of wood and other debris scattered around the chamber. But then Jason noted that the odd gas didn't reach the blocked door. He walked into the safe zone and his head cleared. He unsheathed his knives and hacked away at the goo. It gave away with ease and in no time the door was open again. "Nice try, Vexen," Jason called, "Trying to get me to waste my time." Vexen scoffed. "Not bad…for one of lesser intellect." Jason moved on, determined to wipe the smug grin from his face.
Unknown Basement floor: Six year-old Selene was a bundle of energy. It didn't matter that it was close to ten at night. But, in Twilight Town, it was always sunset. "Do you mind? If you don't sit still, I will have you power the house. At least then you'd be useful." Larxene's semi-serious threat caused her daughter to stop. Larxene picked up the little girl and set her down on the bed. "Mom, tell me a bedtime story." Selene pleaded. "Aren't you a little old?" But Selene insisted until Larxene relented. She brushed the hair out of the little girl's face. "Well, a long time ago I used to be Queen of a Castle. Serving me was a dimwitted but well meaning servent who loved grow to flowers. But one day, the King, your father, was thrown into the basement by a wicked man with eleven wicked servants, one of which was my servant, who turned out to be a double agent…"
"Dimwitted? Really?" Selene nodded, wiping away a tear of mirth from her eye. Marluxia felt exasperated that his old friend would tell such a twisted version of what was happening right now as a bedtime story. But Larxene was happily capable of anything.
Chamber six: Jason breezed through more chambers without so much of a challenge. But this only made him more uncomfortable. What would Vexen do next? Nothing seemed to happen, but after a few minutes a group of Living Pod Heartless. «This will be tough fight, but not impossible,» he thought to himself. But then Vexen's voice sounded again: "Well done, human. For the next experiment, you will fight these Heartless…blind. This will test your true strength." A smog filled the room, robbing Jason of his sight. "Begin!" Vexen's voice cackled. «I spoke too soon,» Jason corrected himself. He observed his inky black surroundings, realizing that if the Heartless grabbed him it would be over. He felt a whoosh of air and Jason dodged just barely. He immediately slashed the source of the wind and was satisfied when it struck Heartless. Like this, Jason rid the chamber of Heartless, though very slowly. When the last one fell, Jason's vision returned to him. Without waiting for a second, he was off again.
First floor: Larxene couldn't help but be impressed by Jason's progress. But until he truly showed remorse for his lies, it meant nothing to her. Axel appeared next to her. "May I ask a favor of you?" Larxene gestured him to go on. "May I borrow a clone?" She felt that he was being suspiciously polite, but she used her stolen illusion powers to create an illusion Axel. The real Axel whispered into the illusion's ear, and it disappeared into a Dark Corridor.
Throat: Finally, Jason reached the throat of Monstro, looking bedraggled and wet. Vexen awaited him, looking impeccable in his Organization cloak. Jason was seized with a sudden desire to strangle the scientist until his eyes popped out. "Well, human. It seems there is some value in you after all," Vexen said, "But you will only truly true worth something after one last experiment." Vexen thrust his arm in the air, and snowflakes swirled around it until it formed his trustworthy Shield. "Now, let's see if a being of lesser intellect such as yourself stands a chance against me!" Cackling, he struck. Jason dodged and unsheathed his knives. Jason quickly found that no matter how hard he struck, the Shield would not budge. "You need to cool your head, boy!" Vexen interjected. Jason lost his meaning until Vexen waved his arm, and a block of ice encased him. Vexen used his Shield to smash the block of ice, freeing the boy but damaging him worse. Jason felt the pain of the blow, but that didn't stop him from taking advantage of the opening. He slashed at Vexen until he managed to block him again. Vexen continued to try to beat Jason black and blue with his Shield and Jason tried to take advantage of any openings that he found. Including the freezing trick, Vexen used ice in a variety of ways, which Jason avoided with varying degrees of success. Finally, Jason managed a lucky uppercut and Vexen fell to the floor and didn't get back up. He observed his wounds and was glad the fight was over: Afew more minutes against Vexen and he would not have lasted. Jason began to leave.
"Just kidding!" Jason turned around as the a white glow covered the sandy-haired scientist. Vexen got back up, looking cooler than a glacier. "Shall we continue?" he asked Jason as he summoned his Shield again. «I know I defeated him! Ahh, must be his special reviving powers,» Jason mused, «Gah, I am in trouble. I'm covered in bruises and he's got a lot of his health back.» Vexen chuckled. "It appears you have enough intellect to figure out you are in trouble. It's time for me to finish you!" Vexen thrust his shield in the air, and a sword made of ice manifested in his other hand. Meanwhile, a pair of ice wings unfolded behind his back, giving off a majestic aura. «Oh, no…» Jason backed away slowly. The scientist flew towards Jason, laughing maniacally. He ducked and felt the ice sword scraping his back. Jason realized he was in trouble, and grouped most of his magic powers. He healed most of his wounds as Vexen swooped back in for another strike. Jason managed to block the attack and slash him up a little. This continued for some time, with Jason at a disadvantage for his earlier wounds. «I have to finish this, now!» Jason realized as he watched Vexen float with the help of his ice wings. He backed away again, and tripped on his feet and fell flat on his back. "Bad mistake, human!" Vexen exclaimed as he went in for the kill. When Vexen was right above Jason, the boy was grinning. "Just kidding!" he said as he blasted the sandy-haired scientist with a full powered Firga spell.
Jason watched Vexen smolder for a while, until he got back up on his feet, but weakly. "Well done, human," Vexen said shakily, "Shame this is a battle you can't possibly win." Jason asked the scientist to elaborate, getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. Vexen chuckled. "Simple, really. Xenmas—" A flaming chakra came out of nowhere and hit him square on the chest. Jason turned around to find Axel standing there, shaking his head. "Really, Vexen. Did you learn nothing from last time? You should really keep your mouth shut." Vexen backed away. "Please, not again! Please don't! I don't wanna die again!" Axel was about to finish it when Jason tackled him to the ground. He placed his knives on Axel's throat. "If you try to finish him, I will finish you!" Jason growled. Axel snapped his fingers, but the explosion missed because he couldn't see Vexen. Jason slit the illusion Axel's throat, and it vanished. He looked up at the ceiling and called, "Axel, if you are listening to this, I still have a score to settle with you!" He was about to leave, but healed Vexen enough so he wouldn't pass away. "Thanks, human." The Chilly Academic replied, take this. It will help you in the battles ahead." Jason looked at the gold card that Vexen handed him. It had the scientist's face on it. Vexen took this opportunity to pass out, and Jason made his way to the next floor.
First floor: Vexen's monitor erupted into a storm of static and turned off. Larxene raised an eyebrow of surprise at Axel. "What did you do to make Jason so angry?" She asked him sweetly. Axel said nothing, but vanished and reappeared at his respective monitor. Speaking of which, Larxene observed that Marluxia hadn't been back for a while. «What is he up to?» she wondered.
First floor: Axel vanished from his monitor, only to reappear next to Larxene a few seconds later. "Xenmas, I have a few favors to ask of you, and I thought to do it face to face, as it were." Larxene arched an eyebrow. Was she still interested in Axel? No. But if anyone could provide amusement, it was him. Larxene's face grew sour. Of course, Axel's unpredictablity was also a bad thing, when his betrayal lead to her death at the hands of Sora. (Technically, this was also Larxene's own fault, but she would never admit it.) "Go ahead," Xenmas said from his monitor. "First off, I'd like to teach him a lesson for what he did to my friend," Axel began, referring to Xion's recent defeat at the hands of Jason, "Next, since he has reached Vexen's floor, I'd like permission to seal his mouth if he talks too much. Finally, I'd like to be able to use Naminé. Got it memorized?" Indeed, Vexen's monitor was empty, as the scientist had left after Xion was defeated. Xion's inactive monitor happened to be next to Vexen's, giving the chill of an omen. "Hmm," Xenmas mused from his monitor. "If Jason arrives on your floor, do whatever you wish with him then. I will not part company with Naminé, period. As for your second request…yes, you may." Axel turned around, grinning, "You hear that, Larxene? Larxene?"
Eleventh basement floor: Jason was still shaken up from his battle with Xion. So he was more than a little surpised when Larxene showed up out of nowhere. "You have really let yourself go, brat." She commented with a savage grin. "Please don't do that, Larx," Jason panted from the floor. Her grin vanished. "Don't call me Larx." Jason noted this as a sign of just how deep in the doghouse he was at the moment. "So, now what, Larxene?" He asked. She dug around in her coat for while and removed four World cards before tossing them to Jason. He caught them a studied the Worlds imprinted on them. "Now, I'm going to explain this as simply as possible so you can understand it, 'kay?" Jason nodded blithely even as Larxene's words cut into him. Quite honestly, he should have expected this, and deserved it. "Castle Oblivion has been split into three sections, just for your demise," Larxene gestured dramatically with her arms, her voice covered in poisoned honey, "Four Preliminary matches which you now hold in your hands, four Semi-finalists, and three finalists, after which you have to face me. Oh, and you still have only three days to complete it." Jason absorbed all this. "Understood. I will beat this in a day." Larxene snorted. "If you can beat the Preliminary matches in five hours, I will kiss you, full on the lips." Jason grabbed Larxene's hand and pumped it. "Deal!" He said with a wicked grin. Larxene's face lit up in surprise, then grew delighted. She planted a light kiss on Jason's cheek. "Good luck," she said as she vanished into the Dark Corridor. Jason picked the least pleasant looking World and opened the door.
First floor: Zexion had a quiet chuckle. "It seems as if Jason picked that floor first. Now if only his daughter had that much insight." Moments like this were nice when he was bound up in rope. "Hey, Zexion. Where's Jason?" He told her. Serenna shuddered. "I hated that World."
Monstro: As he thought, the whale World Card led to the inside of Monstro, a giant whale that Saïx had thrown Jason into when he was living in the Castle that Never Was. It smelled pretty raw in here, but Jason merely pushed forward. "So, the experiment subject has arrived." Jason stiffened. "Vexen!" he called, "What's going on?" The Chilly Academic answered in his voice of cold logic: "Elementary, my dear simpleton. I requisitioned this Whale for my various experiments, and you are the subject." Vexen's aloof, superior tone got on Jason's nerve's, but he knew how to get under the scientist's skin. "You know, Vexen. You must not be very well thought of in Organization XIII. After all, you are just a preliminary match. Right after Xion, to boot." Vexen's cool didn't last two seconds. "How dare you!" he sputtered, "I'll have you know I am Number IV in the Organization." Jason smirked and dashed off.
Larxene couldn't help but giggle. It was about time someone put the stuffy old fool in his place.
Unknown Basement floor: Marluxia finished yet another story. "What about you, Selene? What is it like to be raised by Larxene?" he asked his guest. Selene stroked her sorrel hair, taking care to touch the red streaks in her blond curls. "You must remember, Jason is my father, he was raising me too. But why not? I'll tell you."
Monstro, Chamber four: The whale's meaty odor made Jason's head spin, but he held firm. He found the next door and was about to step in it when a strange goo smothered the opening. "Ahh, human," Vexen's voice drawled from somewhere above him, "The first experiment will test your resourcefulness. You must undo the substance barring your way before your time runs out. That begins…now!" A strange gas started to fill the room. One whiff of it told him that more than a few minutes of this would be fatal to him. «What to do, what to do?» Jason thought with panic. He saw various planks of wood and other debris scattered around the chamber. But then Jason noted that the odd gas didn't reach the blocked door. He walked into the safe zone and his head cleared. He unsheathed his knives and hacked away at the goo. It gave away with ease and in no time the door was open again. "Nice try, Vexen," Jason called, "Trying to get me to waste my time." Vexen scoffed. "Not bad…for one of lesser intellect." Jason moved on, determined to wipe the smug grin from his face.
Unknown Basement floor: Six year-old Selene was a bundle of energy. It didn't matter that it was close to ten at night. But, in Twilight Town, it was always sunset. "Do you mind? If you don't sit still, I will have you power the house. At least then you'd be useful." Larxene's semi-serious threat caused her daughter to stop. Larxene picked up the little girl and set her down on the bed. "Mom, tell me a bedtime story." Selene pleaded. "Aren't you a little old?" But Selene insisted until Larxene relented. She brushed the hair out of the little girl's face. "Well, a long time ago I used to be Queen of a Castle. Serving me was a dimwitted but well meaning servent who loved grow to flowers. But one day, the King, your father, was thrown into the basement by a wicked man with eleven wicked servants, one of which was my servant, who turned out to be a double agent…"
"Dimwitted? Really?" Selene nodded, wiping away a tear of mirth from her eye. Marluxia felt exasperated that his old friend would tell such a twisted version of what was happening right now as a bedtime story. But Larxene was happily capable of anything.
Chamber six: Jason breezed through more chambers without so much of a challenge. But this only made him more uncomfortable. What would Vexen do next? Nothing seemed to happen, but after a few minutes a group of Living Pod Heartless. «This will be tough fight, but not impossible,» he thought to himself. But then Vexen's voice sounded again: "Well done, human. For the next experiment, you will fight these Heartless…blind. This will test your true strength." A smog filled the room, robbing Jason of his sight. "Begin!" Vexen's voice cackled. «I spoke too soon,» Jason corrected himself. He observed his inky black surroundings, realizing that if the Heartless grabbed him it would be over. He felt a whoosh of air and Jason dodged just barely. He immediately slashed the source of the wind and was satisfied when it struck Heartless. Like this, Jason rid the chamber of Heartless, though very slowly. When the last one fell, Jason's vision returned to him. Without waiting for a second, he was off again.
First floor: Larxene couldn't help but be impressed by Jason's progress. But until he truly showed remorse for his lies, it meant nothing to her. Axel appeared next to her. "May I ask a favor of you?" Larxene gestured him to go on. "May I borrow a clone?" She felt that he was being suspiciously polite, but she used her stolen illusion powers to create an illusion Axel. The real Axel whispered into the illusion's ear, and it disappeared into a Dark Corridor.
Throat: Finally, Jason reached the throat of Monstro, looking bedraggled and wet. Vexen awaited him, looking impeccable in his Organization cloak. Jason was seized with a sudden desire to strangle the scientist until his eyes popped out. "Well, human. It seems there is some value in you after all," Vexen said, "But you will only truly true worth something after one last experiment." Vexen thrust his arm in the air, and snowflakes swirled around it until it formed his trustworthy Shield. "Now, let's see if a being of lesser intellect such as yourself stands a chance against me!" Cackling, he struck. Jason dodged and unsheathed his knives. Jason quickly found that no matter how hard he struck, the Shield would not budge. "You need to cool your head, boy!" Vexen interjected. Jason lost his meaning until Vexen waved his arm, and a block of ice encased him. Vexen used his Shield to smash the block of ice, freeing the boy but damaging him worse. Jason felt the pain of the blow, but that didn't stop him from taking advantage of the opening. He slashed at Vexen until he managed to block him again. Vexen continued to try to beat Jason black and blue with his Shield and Jason tried to take advantage of any openings that he found. Including the freezing trick, Vexen used ice in a variety of ways, which Jason avoided with varying degrees of success. Finally, Jason managed a lucky uppercut and Vexen fell to the floor and didn't get back up. He observed his wounds and was glad the fight was over: Afew more minutes against Vexen and he would not have lasted. Jason began to leave.
"Just kidding!" Jason turned around as the a white glow covered the sandy-haired scientist. Vexen got back up, looking cooler than a glacier. "Shall we continue?" he asked Jason as he summoned his Shield again. «I know I defeated him! Ahh, must be his special reviving powers,» Jason mused, «Gah, I am in trouble. I'm covered in bruises and he's got a lot of his health back.» Vexen chuckled. "It appears you have enough intellect to figure out you are in trouble. It's time for me to finish you!" Vexen thrust his shield in the air, and a sword made of ice manifested in his other hand. Meanwhile, a pair of ice wings unfolded behind his back, giving off a majestic aura. «Oh, no…» Jason backed away slowly. The scientist flew towards Jason, laughing maniacally. He ducked and felt the ice sword scraping his back. Jason realized he was in trouble, and grouped most of his magic powers. He healed most of his wounds as Vexen swooped back in for another strike. Jason managed to block the attack and slash him up a little. This continued for some time, with Jason at a disadvantage for his earlier wounds. «I have to finish this, now!» Jason realized as he watched Vexen float with the help of his ice wings. He backed away again, and tripped on his feet and fell flat on his back. "Bad mistake, human!" Vexen exclaimed as he went in for the kill. When Vexen was right above Jason, the boy was grinning. "Just kidding!" he said as he blasted the sandy-haired scientist with a full powered Firga spell.
Jason watched Vexen smolder for a while, until he got back up on his feet, but weakly. "Well done, human," Vexen said shakily, "Shame this is a battle you can't possibly win." Jason asked the scientist to elaborate, getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. Vexen chuckled. "Simple, really. Xenmas—" A flaming chakra came out of nowhere and hit him square on the chest. Jason turned around to find Axel standing there, shaking his head. "Really, Vexen. Did you learn nothing from last time? You should really keep your mouth shut." Vexen backed away. "Please, not again! Please don't! I don't wanna die again!" Axel was about to finish it when Jason tackled him to the ground. He placed his knives on Axel's throat. "If you try to finish him, I will finish you!" Jason growled. Axel snapped his fingers, but the explosion missed because he couldn't see Vexen. Jason slit the illusion Axel's throat, and it vanished. He looked up at the ceiling and called, "Axel, if you are listening to this, I still have a score to settle with you!" He was about to leave, but healed Vexen enough so he wouldn't pass away. "Thanks, human." The Chilly Academic replied, take this. It will help you in the battles ahead." Jason looked at the gold card that Vexen handed him. It had the scientist's face on it. Vexen took this opportunity to pass out, and Jason made his way to the next floor.
First floor: Vexen's monitor erupted into a storm of static and turned off. Larxene raised an eyebrow of surprise at Axel. "What did you do to make Jason so angry?" She asked him sweetly. Axel said nothing, but vanished and reappeared at his respective monitor. Speaking of which, Larxene observed that Marluxia hadn't been back for a while. «What is he up to?» she wondered.