Chapter 1

The Red-Headed Infant

Axel rocked the little bundle back and forth in his arms. He looked at the little girl's face. When she was awake, he could see her beautiful, narrowed, bright green eyes. He reached toward her head, and ran his hand through her red hair, which was just as red as his. The infant opened her eyes, which were shaped like his, except wider. She extended her tiny arm from under the white blanket she was in, and grabbed his hand. "Hey," he said softly, and touched the tip of her nose with a free finger. She blinked, startled at first, then giggled. He, too, laughed. "I should take you inside soon," he said, "It's getting late, and mommy's gonna get mad at me if I let you stay up too late!" The little girl just continued to stare up at him.

Axel had run away from the Organization a few years ago, four years, to be exact, with Xemnas still in hot pursuit. The leader had sent nearly every Organization member after him, without success. Most recent was Saix, and before him was Xaldin, who had tried to cage him in his spears. Shortly after Axel evaded Xemnas, he reached the serene Twilight Town. There, he met a young woman by the name of Leah. She may not have been a nobody, but, over time, they grew closer and were eventually married. Later on, about two years later, Leah gave birth to their daughter, Roxie Roei(pronounced like Roy) Fireheart. They all had red hair, even Leah, though her eyes were blue instead of green.

And now, Axel stood outside their house near the clock tower in the Station Plaza. Their home was on Market Street: Station Heights. Here he stood, holding Roxie, rocking her to sleep, when a black mist appeared. Xemnas stepped out of it. "You have evaded the Organization long enough," he said. Axel grit his teeth and arched his back over Roxie, to protect her, like a mother lion(or, father lion, in this case). "I won't let you hurt Roxie, or Leah!" he shouted. "I simply came to bring you back," the gray-haired man said. "No..." Axel moaned. "You're coming back with me..." Xemnas said, then disappeared, then reappeared behind them. "NOW!" he commanded, and grabbed onto Axel's arms, dragging him and his daughter into the black portal. Axel cried out before they vanished.

Leah opened the door, alarmed. "Axel?! Are you alright?" she called and looked around. "Axel?"