"Master Eraqus, do you know what it's like to fall in love with someone?"

"Yes, Terra... It was a long time ago. I had to fulfill my duties as master, though, so I had to give up."

"I see..."

"Terra, you must never grow attached to someone. If you lose them, then it will be that much harder to move on. You will lose yourself to sadness. That is why I find it better not to love than to love but have it taken away. Now, why exactly did you ask me this?"

"I've found a couple books about it while looking around in the library."

"Oh, really? Are you sure? Because I seem to recall you gawking at Aqua over the past few weeks..."

"O-Of course not, Master!"

Eraqus chuckled. "I'm just teasing, Terra. Don't worry about it."

"Okay..."

Terra remembered that conversation with his master, when he had been around fourteen. He had been gawking at Aqua around then, though. Of course, that was when most boys start to notice girls.

Every now and then, Terra would think about Aqua. She was very beautiful and kind.

Over time, their bond had strengthened, and they became closer. However, neither of them ever revealed their true feelings.

Eventually, fate revealed the truth.

Terra held a dying Aqua in his arms. They were in the keyblade graveyard, fighting the seekers of darkness.

"Aqua... please, hang on..."

"Terra... i-it's okay..."

"Please... please, no..."

"Terra... I want you... to fight... with a clear heart... because that's where I'll always be."

"Aqua... I... I love you.

"I love you... too"

Terra watched in disbelief as his friend faded away in his arms.

"No..."

Tears dripped from Terra's cheeks. Aqua... Aqua was gone.

Terra stood and summoned two keyblades- his and Aqua's.

"I'm going to make sure Xehanort knows what he's done."

Soon...

Terra stood over the defeated, fading form of Xehanort.

"I can't believe... that you defeated me... Terra."

"I wasn't alone." Terra put a hand over his heart. "I have someone... in here."

Terra raised Aqua's keyblade and used it to finish Xehanort. The seekers of darkness faded away before his and his friends' eyes.

"I can't believe it!"

"We won!"

Riku found Terra staring up at Kingdom Hearts, which loomed in the sky.

"Where's Aqua?" asked Riku.

"Up there."

"Hm?" Riku realized what he meant. "Oh... I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Terra put a hand over his heart.

"Let's go home, Terra."

"Not yet. I have to do something first."

Terra reached with his heart toward Kingdom Hearts.

Soon...

Aqua's limp form rested in Terra's arms.

"How did you..." Riku started to ask. "Oh. I see."

"Aqua, wake up," said Terra. "Please."

Aqua stirred. "T-Terra?"

"Aqua..."

Terra cried. He had saved Aqua.

"I don't understand," said Riku. "You shouldn't have been able to do that, even if your hearts were connected."

Terra looked up, holding on to Aqua. "Maybe... maybe our connection is stronger than most. Maybe ours is special."

"That seems to be the case." Riku smiled. "Let's go."

Terra realized that now, that the connection between them was what had allowed him to save her.

Eventually, that connection grew, and so did their love, which led to marriage. The two had found a world to settle down in.

Terra looked out over the sunset, reminiscing on those days.

"Terra?"

Terra turned to see his beautiful wife, Aqua, her hand resting on her pregnant belly.

"Yes?" Terra smiled.

"Nothing. I'm just checking to see if you're okay." She walked over and kissed him.

The two looked out over the sunset together.

Master Eraqus had been wrong. Their feelings for each other were what kept them going, what motivated them.

And in the end, their love won out.

Because love conquers all things.