Shadows in the Sun [AXEL]

The Land of Corona was a bright and prosperous one, that much Maleficent could see from the moment she arrived. Her dark presence didn't seem to bother anyone in the kingdom as of yet, despite her being the only one who dressed in black at all, or at least the only one she's seen so far. This world, she notes, is also surprisingly free of Heartless.... well for now. She's already plotting on how she can make this world fall and how she can take that wonderful, whole castle for her own.

The sun motifs will have to go though, she would hate for anyone to think that this was a world of Light once she had taken over. She walked further into the town, noting the gaurds on horseback and the weapons they carried. It would take a lot of power to take this castle, and a lot of Heartless too. The Dark Faerie would have to take this plan very carefully if she wanted it to succeed. 

It was then she noticed a familiar black coat in the crowd, and a crop of wild red hair that was unfamiliar to her. Diablo cawed loudly from the top of her staff when he too saw the man, taking flight to land on his shoulder. Of course the only people that Diablo dare approach were those that helped him or his mistress, which must mean that that was one of the fools who released the raven and allowed her to return from the realm of Darkness to begin with. 

She wouldn't attack this man then, instead she decided to approach him as well. 

"It is rare for my pet to taking a liking to anyone, who are you?" Maleficent could tell right off that he was a being of Darkness, a Nobody, but she didn't seem to mind that at all. Of course she too was a being almost entirely drenched in Darkness too. 

This place was ... sunny. It wasn't just the nice weather either. While Axel wasn't opposed to a nice day out, warm with the sun shining down on a world, this was a bit much. Did the Kingdom of Corona worship the sun or something? It was literally everywhere, printed, carved, embroidered. He took a deep breath, trying not to just hurry off to another world that might prove more fruitful in his endeavors.

He wandered into the crowd, feeling sorely out of place among the brightly garbed locals. Yet, for some reason, they didn't really seem to bat an eye at him and how much he stuck out. Perhaps his vibrant hair made them feel at ease. There was at least that to add to the bright colors of the bustling town around him. The Flurry had to take what he could here since he didn't often make himself this known.

Hey, why not though? It wasn't like he was on a mission for the Organization anymore. They weren't sending him in to survey the world and its usefulness to them. He was just looking for answers as to why he had been brought back as a Nobody, or really at all. He also wanted to keep that promise to Roxas to find any others lurking around, odd of a place for them as it might be.

He was dragged out of his thoughts at the sound of a crow. The redhead twisted a little just in time to see a large black bird coming toward him and land on his shoulder. That was certainly different. He frowned at the winged creature for a moment before being addressed. He turned a little more, coming face to face with a very dark faerie. Okay, that was only a little terrifying. While he may not have had any connect with this mystical woman before, he would be an absolute idiot to not know Maleficent.

Name's Axel. Always glad to know I made a good impression, He said with a smirk. He had to curb the urge to give his usual question when introducing himself. Somehow, it seemed like a bad idea to say that to this particular person. I hadn't realized you'd returned, Maleficent. What brings you to this overly bright world? The fire starter asked, acting as if they were almost friends. It would be horribly unlike him to let such a power standing before him throw him that far off his game. He was a pain in the ass and always would be. He just had to watch where the line was and step too far across it.

A smile curled the dark fae's lips as the Nobody spoke, she seemed satisfied with his reply. Though Diablo seemed ill content with being ignored by the walking fire hazard, fluttering back to Maleficent's staff with an offended caw. His mistress reached to stroke the feathers sticking out haphazardly on his chest, giving him the much wanted attention. 

"Hadn't realized? Did you not know what releasing my pet would bring about?" Though suddenly Maleficent wondered if the Flurry even knew what he had done when he released the black bird in the first place," Or were you not informed when you were sent to set him free?"

Maleficent gave an annoyed glance at the busy streets around them, the sun theme was starting to annoy her, this wouldn't be a suitable world for her to take until she had the power to back it up, this world was too full of light for her to do enough damage to constitute a proper take over. 

"To answer you though, I am still on the search for a new castle, and as you seem to be inhabiting the one I had my eye one once again," She gestured around," Here I am. Now, why are you here? Your Organization has interest in such a," her lips curled into a sneer," Bright world?" 

The Flurry raised a brow at the crow as it returned to its mistress. It seemed he had offended the feathered creature. Hey, how was he to know that birds liked to be pet? It wasn't exactly like he had one of his own. Plus, it was a little too sentient and slightly offputting. He would never voice that allowed for fear that Maleficent wouldn't take kindly to it. He was powerful, but he wasn't going to brass off this particular woman and try to fight her.

He sure as hell wasn't going to let her think less of him either. He hadn't actually put two and two together when he and Roxas freed her bird. He hadn't thought it important at the time so those tumblers were just falling into place. I just didn't know how long it would take for you to return to power. I'm sure the mouse and his master would have tried to take precautions. Caging your bird was a pretty flimsy one, He sneered, rolling his eyes. It definitely would have been a lot smarter to put more wards on the cage and anything that could be seen as even a representation of the dark faerie.

He couldn't see it being wise to leave such things to chance. Maleficent was powerful, persuasive, and ruthless. One did not take that combination lightly. Axel was at least smart enough to already start planning around this woman now that he knew she was a big player again. Even if he and his "friends" were cramping her castle style. Hey, home's home. Even those of us that are in between need somewhere to return to. The Nobody shrugged with a small smirk on his lips. Depending on how many of them returned to the land of the half-living, perhaps he would be able to offer up Castle Oblivion. Now that the Organization wasn't really a thing anymore, what use did they have for it?

That was an offer for another time. Maleficent still thought that they were enough of a threat and he was on a mission for them. Poor dear, only a little behind the times. It worked to his advantage though. He wagged a finger at the black clad woman, tutting a little. Now, we both know secret organizations like to keep their secrets. You're a very pretty lady, but sadly I can't let your good looks sway me that easily. Oh, what an elusive answer. Both statements were true, but had nothing to do with each other. Her fine features would only gain her his personal plans if he were willing to divulge them, which he wasn't.

As luck would have it, this world had very little draw to it other than he was just chasing theories and trying to shake some answers loose. Axel had no plans of being in this world for extended periods of time. But, with so few allies, Maleficent wouldn't be the worst, evil as she was. She was both an asset in a pinch and a bargaining chip should he come across someone threatening his existence that worked on the side of good. I have a feeling this castle is going to take some work. The light of a princess isn't exactly easy to overthrow. You're very good, but a little extra juice might be useful.

"Either way, your rescue was appreciated, by both of us," She continued to stroke Diablo's feathers smiling at Axel in that calm and unsettling way. It was always hard to gauge her mood to begin with and smiling for her could mean that it was time to run and run very fast or it could mean that she was feeling benevolent. Luckily she was in Axel's favor for now, recognizing that he had defected from his little Organization once before. He was likely to do it again then, and she had no problem with someone that knew not to stand in her way. 

"Yen Sid thought no one would know where to find my pet, I'm glad someone thought to come before he starved and I lost any connection I had to the outside. The Realm of Darkness is just so dull.... but you would know, wouldn't you?" 

She gave Axel a level look, smiling faintly at him as he spoke about how even those who didn't technically exist needed a home too. She agreed, of course, but that didn't diminish her frustrations of being unable to take their floating fortress. "Yes, everyone should have a place to lay their head at night, but I must ask... why did you return to them or am I mistaken and you are still the wandering rogue you were before... well. We know what happened to you before." The Fae smiled darkly at Axel, of course she had known his fate, she had closely watched all of the pieces at that time to see where they would fall and where she would be left when the dust settled. 

An eyebrow raised when he spoke up about the Princess in the castle, and the Light that covered this place," Yes, a little extra power wouldn't hurt if I decided to take this place for my own. I don't suppose that is your round about way to offer in causing chaos, is it darling?" She smiled at him more, her lips curling into something much more sinister," I would be grateful for the aid if it were given, and I always reward those who help me." 

That was a lie, but he didn't really have to know that, did he? 

The Flurry gave a small bow of his head as the fae expressed her gratitude. Sort of. While Xemnas might have given he and the kid the order to head there, they had been the ones to decide to open Diablo's cage. He would take the small amount of good grace he had earned with that small act. He would be a fool if he chose to ignore that she owed him something.

Yen Sid and the others were apparently big idiots than they should be. How could they not have put more security around the thing she held most dear? It was her familiar of sorts and therefore a connection to the land of the living. Oh, well, there was a thought. Maleficent had a method to return because of the connection she had created between her and the crow.

Was that how the Organization was returning? Was there something here that was bringing them back because of how much it meant to them? Damn it, now he had to find the others. He had questions that only they could answer. Axel would return to those thoughts later. For now, he had to make sure he kept Maleficent pleasant. That realm is definitely worse than being in between. It was a nice little vacation for the first five seconds, but I was dying to get out, He said with a small chuckle. He was going to have to try and keep dying for a third time from happening. It got a little monotonous after the first two.

I'm sure it gave you plenty of time to come up with some grand plans though. The Realm of Darkness could go suck an egg, but there was a silver lining. No one to interrupt as you worked out the logistics of how everything was supposed to work out in your favor was always nice. The Castle That Never Was is getting noisier sadly. This rogue has found its uses, but there's no Organization to work for or against anymore. The redhead gave a small, playful pout. As if he were really all that upset about the Superior no longer barking orders through his former friend. He certainly wasn't sad that his other loyalists weren't lurking about these days either.

It offered him the option of using all that space with minimal disruption if he were to really set into working for the black clad woman before him. He would help here and there, keep her happy and him alive, but any information he could gather would certainly become good ammunition to better protect himself later on down the road.

You can reward me by not lying, Mal. What say you to us working in trade? I help you and I'll let you know if I need something from you? Minimal hassle, no need to work on our budding relationship. I'm good at simple business. It had led to Axel making it through a lot of pitfalls in the Organization. Some would call it betrayal, but he simply saw it as letting the bad employees go. Even aiding Sora at the end there, getting him passed all those Dusks had a touch of business to it. His sacrifice had been for Roxas, but it allowed the brunet to press on and take out Xemnas. All kinds of win there.