Duality of the Heart.

Chapter 9

Axel was thrown back by Isa and dropped to a knee. "Axel," Isa started, but Axel held up a hand. "I'm okay."
Isa stepped back. "I really think you should see Merlin about the lingering affects of that mask."
"Well, you wore one longer then me and your still fine," Axel said, raising Eternal Flame. "Even Naminé is normal."
Isa looked at his Keybalde, named Moonshine. "I still think you should see someone."
"I have. You." Axel said. "Come on. One more round."
Isa sighed, taking up a fighting stance. "Your probably going to kill yourself," Isa said. "But if it's your death wish..." He charged at Axel, who moved left and swung at Isa, who caught the Keyblade in his right hand. A memory struck Axel; Xemnes, grabbing the Keyblade exactly that way. ".....xel. Axel! Isa called out, snapping Axel out of his memories.
"Isa....." He said, before falling onto his knees, weaker.
Isa dismissed Moonshine, dropping next to Axel. "Axel."
Axel griped the ground, afraid that if he let go, he'd pass out. Isa's voice became background noise and Axel panted. The mask was calling for him, to accept its power, to join with Luxu.
Isa watched in horror as Axel's face was constantly flickering between clear and the Fire Fox mask.
"Merlin!" Isa yelled.
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Xion and Naminé were with Ava, who was still asleep.
"How are you feeling?" Xion asked. Naminé shrugged. "Tired. Merlin said he'd talk to Yen Sid about seeing me."
Xion nodded and placed a hand on Ava's healing pod. "Please wake up." She whispered.
Naminé gasped, dropping Blooming Hope. She put both hands against her head and whimpered. "Xion.....Augh!" She screamed.
Ava's mask cracked up the middle and Naminé collapsed.
"Naminé!" Xion cried.
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Luxu stood by the viewing ball and watched Axel struggle and Naminé collapse. When the door behind him opened, Luxu put the viewing ball away. Aced and Gula walked in. "You called?" Gula said, his red eyes flashing.
"Ava has rejected the mask. Axel and Naminé will be joining our ranks. Find them and bring them here."
The two bowed and dark corridors appeared.
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Isa tried to pull the Fire Fox mask off as it became solid but the mask was stuck on Axel's face. "Don't do this to me," Isa said. "I still need my buddy to show me the Keyblade."
Axel's body jumped, like an electric charge had ran though it, and a dark corridor appeared, swallowing Axel up. Isa reached forward, trying to grab his friend, as Axel vanished from the training glade.
Panting, Isa ran towards the house, where Ava was. Xion was sobbing on the floor. "It's Naminé." She said, seeing Isa. He looked around and spotted the remains of a dark corridor vanish. Clenching his jaw, Isa summoned Moonshine and unlocked Ava's healing pod. Ripping off the mask, Isa crushed it.
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Axel screamed as Luxu drove his Keyblade into his stomach, blood hitting the floor.
Naminé winced and turned away, but Gula held her tight and forced her eyes back to the horrible fate her friend was facing. "Let him go!" She screamed.
Gula looked at Luxu, who frowned. "No." He said simply, before diving the Keybalde in again.
"Lea is a chosen of the Mask. He can't reject it anymore."
Gula found Naminé bitting his arm. "Ouch!" He cried, letting her go. Naminé ran in front of Axel and grabbed Luxu's Keyblade. "Stop! Let him go!" Her eyes glittered behind the Snow Leopard Mask.
Luxu put the Keyblade away. "I suppose you'd take his place?" He asked.
Naminé froze. If she took Axel's place, would he be free from the mask and all of Luxu's plans?
"If I took his place," she started. "Would you let Axel go free, erasing all his memories of this, and return him to the training glade?"
Luxu shifted. "That's....quite the tall order, Snow Leopard. But I suppose if it's your desire." He snapped his fingers and Axel fell forward, the mask gone from his face. "Naminé," He gasped out. "Why?...."
Leaning down, Naminé whispered "Because I can't let him kill you." Then she waved her hand and Axel fell asleep.
A dark corridor opened and sent Axel back to the training glade. Naminé broke down into slobs and sank to her knees. Luxu and Aced left but Gula remained by Naminé's side.
"Come with me," he said, gently. "I'll show you to your room."
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Axel woke up in the dark corridor and screamed in anguish. The pain of Luxu's stabs were blazing and Naminé's powers had just hidden the memories for the short time Luxu had scanned them.
Axel opened his eyes again and saw the training glade. "No," he gasped out, standing. "No. No. No!" Running out of the forest area, Axel saw Xion training alone.
"Xion." He whispered. "Xion!"
Xion spun around and ran over. "Axel! Where's Naminé?"
Axel tried to answer but his limbs suddenly failed to respond and he fell forward.
Xion paled as Axel fell forward and pulled a small wooden whistle out. Blowing into the whistle, Xion knelt next to Axel and waited for Merlin to arrive.