Kaleidoscope

AU: My take on what would happen if Terra didn't fall into the Realm of Darkness.

Keyblade strikes keyblade as I dart into range to make a quick hit but quickly dart back. Terra's best quality was strength, and when possessed by Xehanort, it still is. One or two full on hits and I will lose. And I can't lose.

"Stop jumping around!" Xehanort possessed Terra shouts as I cast another cure upon myself. The dark…well…"thing" on Terra's back grins at me and tosses a giant ball of dark energy.

I can feel the ominous darkness emanating from this thing, not the darkness of the unversed which merely consist of the bitter taste of anger and jealousy, but the darkness of emptiness, of indifference, of heartlessness. Vanitas had no part in the creation of this "thing."

Blasting my own blizzaga, I jump out of the way of Terra's black magic and run swiftly up to Terra again, my key blade readied. It hurts me to strike him, but I swing the keyblade up and neither Xehanort, nor the black shadow monster, block the attack. My keyblade connects with his head and I withdraw before my full force is expended. Blood gushes out of the forehead cut I inflicted and I cartwheel backward, out of the way of Xehanort/Terra's retaliating wild swings.

Oh, Terra, if only I watched you closer, if only I hadn't fallen behind. I should have prevented your turning to darkness. I should have known about Xehanort. It was as plain as day and night.

Suddenly, a pain rips through my shoulder as a thunder strike hits its mark. I stumble and Xehanort possessed Terra swiftly runs into reach and hits me hard on the left shoulder twisting his keyblade leaving a bloody gash on my neck. I flinch instead of dodging and he grabs the front of my clothing and yanks me up to eye level. He knocks my keyblade from my grasp and it slides across the floor, making the ominous tinkling noise of metal against brick.

All I can see is the giant grinning face of the "thing" behind him.

"Aqua, it is futile. Submit to the darkness!" Xehanort possessed Terra breathing heavily into my face. Blood flows down his left cheek like tear trails. I can feel my own blood dripping down my neck and plipping onto the ground as it dyes my blue shirt purple. Black energy gathers into his palm as I struggle to escape his grip, kicking and swinging my arms, but it is too late.

I gasp as the dark energy rams into my chest, squeezing my heart like a lemon in a juicer, tighter and tighter. My emotions slip away. I couldn't care. I feel my heart stop beating… "Aqua"

I look into the liquid pools of gold that are now Terra's eyes and see them brimming with anger and far back in the irises, where the real Terra still lies, defeat. "No" I choke out. I take in a deeper breath, "No." My heart takes a few more beats and I take advantage of Xehanorts moment of weakness after the attack. I wiggle out of his grasp and use my remaining strength to cartwheel away and snatch up my keyblade.

Xehanort grins and snorts, not even concerned about my escape, "yes, my blue bell, yes, this is the beginning to a new kingdom, a new universe. Become one. Discover the beauty of heartlessness." So cocky, just like Terra.

I try to wipe away the blood from my neck wound but I just end up smearing it around. A concerned look flickers across Terra's face, "It does not have to be this way Aqua. Join me. Help forge this new world of peace and darkness. Not all keyblade masters were formed in light. We need to end this fight."

My reply is a thundaga directed at his face as I heave with cold anger. "You started this fight Xehanort! We had light. But you had to create Venitas! You then had to trick Terra. You are the reason for my anguish!" I practically scream. I have been pushed past my breaking point and the dam of rage has broken. The thundaga leaves Xehanort/Terra smoking.

I cartwheel to the left to avoid his keyblade as it wizzes by and then again as it flies back. I cast another billizaga but miss the timing and get hit on the left arm with Terra's flying keyblade. It doesn't make a wound but leaves my arm feeling numb.

Xehanort/Terra hisses back, "Really, my fault Aqua." He rushes toward me swinging the keyblade but I block the attack with my magic shield. "That seems very unjust as you are the master; you were the one who was supposed to protect Terra." He swings his keyblade again and again and I cannot block all of them. My arm is too numb to cartwheel away. "And you failed didn't you." My chest explodes with pain as his striking keyblade meets its mark and I hear my clothing rip. Hurt permeates my soar muscles and exhausted spirit as blood blossoms from the chest wound. "I did not force Terra onto his dark path, I only," he smirks, "tempted him. You are the one who pushed him there, Master" he says mockingly.

I meekly attempt to cast a cure in the small amount of time I have between attacks but everything seems so futile now. The dam was broken and now there is no rushing, flooding water left. Xehanort is right. I failed at protecting Terra.

Everything seems so fuzzy and my ears started ringing. I start falling to my knees and clutch at my stinging neck wound and ripped clothes but Terra/Xehanort catches me. "Aqua," he hugs me close, his keyblade digging into my back, "I do not want to destroy you."

I moan pathetically in response and close my eyes briefly from the now bright day light. Through my pulsing headache, I think Terra is still there. Terra's heart is still there! Otherwise he would have killed me already. Right?" And then something warm and moist touches my lips, moving longingly across mine and nipping a bit at my lower lip. A kiss, he is kissing me. It tastes of salt and blood and a dark after tone of licorice like he had eaten the bitter confection hours ago. What a time to receive my first kiss. I release my neck wound, push back against his chest violently, ignore the protests of my beaten body, and kick hard. "Stop it, Xehanort!"

Xehanort/Terra swiftly holds me by the collar of my clothes out at arm's length again. He smiles, "Oh little blue belle, how long he wanted to do that, and that is probably the most innocent of his wantings."

"Terra did not know what he wanted," I shout, "I failed at helping him find his way! But I learn from my mistakes!"

Xehanort gives me another smirk and proceeds to charge up another light sucking dark energy ball. "Well, then I guess you will never get to correct your mistakes."

Furiously, I swing my keyblade forward and use the last of my strength to plunge it into his heart. I cut through the emptiness that is Xehanort, I bury in the keyblade. "I am key blade master Aqua!" I shout, "and you shall not steal Terra from me!"

Xehanort/Terra immediately drops me and the black shadow monster screams in agony. I slump on the ground, too tired to stand. The shadow makes wails like nails scraping against blackboard. Xehanort/Terra clutches at the keyblade trying to dislodge it from his chest, but it is too late; black tendrils eke out of the sides of the wound and the black shadow monster dissipates, silencing Radiant Garden's town square. I take an easy breath as the ominous overhang of heartlessness draws back like fog on a sunny day.

Xehanort/Terra falls to the ground breathing hard, "A desperate move by a desperate child. This is not defeat, Aqua, and it will make my victory that much sweeter. I will always be here, every time you look into his eyes you will wonder…" He slumps down, my keyblade sticking straight up from his chest "…when he will fall prey to me again."

The fight done, we both fall slowly into the black depths of wounded sleep and blood loss.