Authors Note: Hi all! This fanfic is a companion to my other Kingdom Hearts fic Heartfelt, however you don't need to read one to understand the other or anything. I hope you enjoy! Please review, thanks!

Chapter One: An Old Friend

Lifting my wrists I try to get a good look at the chains tying them back to the white wall behind me. To think that this is the place I have been trying to get back to repeatedly, and yet with Xehanort here it's the very last place I now want to be. I'm sure he knows Ventus is here. I'm also quite certain that he's already figured out that I'm the only one that should be able to find him...

A sigh escapes my lips as I look down. I'm sure it's been a long time since I've been back here. I wonder if Ven has woken up, if he's just trapped in that chamber now... And where Terra is.

The door is pulled open. I watch refusing to show any sign of worry as Xehanort steps into the room. He's followed by one of his hooded men. Xehanort pulls up a chair from the corner, setting it down before me he sits upon it. While the hooded man just stands in the corner. His eyes though I can't see them feel as though they're going to bore a hole in my face.

"Now, where to begin," Xehanort says, smirking at me.

"Where's Terra?" I ask through clinched teeth.

He chuckles. "No we won't begin there. I must compliment you on how well you hid young Ventus. These poor fellows have been searching for him for years."

My face hardens. "Yes, I feel bad for them."

"He's been asleep for far too long. You should wake him up," Xehanort says.

"I can't do that," I say. "Not until he'll be safe, from you."

Xehanort's eyes lose all pretense of friendliness. However, he can glare all he wants, it won't change my mind. Ven will just have to wait a little longer before I wake him up.

Anger fills his eyes. "You will return this land to the way it was."

I look away, smiling slightly despite myself. "I'm afraid sir, that you really have no way to make me."

He must know that I'm right, his eyes are brimming with frustration. I wonder, did he really think I would just do what he asks? Why would I risk putting my friend in that much danger? Who knows what Xehanort has planned for him now.

Just when Xehanort appears ready to burst from frustration the man in the corner walks over. I catch a glint of amber eyes as he watches me.

"Wouldn't you like to see that he's still all right?" he asks.

I frown, though I expect this question is meant as a trick he only sounds curious. "Yes, of course. But I want to be sure that he'll be safe before I go see him."

"You can be assured that I have no plans to kill young Ventus," Xehanort tells me.

"Do you mind telling me how long I've been gone?" I ask, entirely changing topics.

"Over ten years," the man in the coat says. "Now, I am going to have to insist that you change this castle back to the way it was."

I shake my head. "I can't do that."

As he steps back his hood slips partway, showing his face in its entirety. His eyes widen when I stare at him in shock. A smile plays across my lips.

"Terra!" I say. I attempt to stand up only for the chains to pull me backwards again.

He turns away swiftly not responding. My excitement fades slightly. Xehanort's heart must still be influencing him. But somehow, even if only slightly I know that he is still in there.

"It's been a long time, Terra," I say, my voice cracking slightly, even though I fight to keep it in check. "How are you?"

Xehanort mutters something under his breath but I pay him no heed. However Terra shows no sign of looking my way again, or even of answering.

"Terra please, speak to me. I've been worrying about you for ten years. Do you even remember me?" I say. "...Have you been looking for Ven this whole time?"

He finally looks back at me, pulling his hood down in one sharp movement. His eyes betray no emotion as he looks at me curiously. Our gaze remains locked until Xehanort forcefully pulls my chin away. His eyes are furious, causing me to almost flinch away from them, almost.

"I will make you unlock the secrets of this place," Xehanort says. "Even if I must make you beg to do so."

He flings me back against the wall full force, causing me to bite back a gasp. Magic fills his hand as he gets to his feet, still glaring at me. However before he can fling it at me, Terra, or the man who was once Terra, steps in between us.

"No, you will not harm her," he says.

Xehanort's face hardens. "I see I was wrong in allowing you to join this conversation. I will do whatever I see fit to do in order to get her to cooperate."

"Except hurt her, yes," he counters.

"It's the only way I'm ever going to get anything from her," Xehanort says.

"If you lay so much as a hand on her," he says. "I will make you regret it."

The magic fades from Xehanort's hand as he briefly looks genuinely concerned. He smirks. "I see. How exactly do you intend to do that?"

The man glances back over at me, his eyes harden as his eyebrows furrow into a frown. All I can do is watch them sort this out. I smile, he must really be in there somewhere.

"I would keep in mind Xehanort, that half of this organization is currently more loyal to me," he says. "Tell me, are you willing to enter into that fight?"

Xehanort seems shocked at first. However his expression quickly turns to anger as he glares at his own invention that is now causing him to stray further from his goals. But I get the feeling it isn't a chance he's willing to take.

"...Not for long. But very well, I will not harm her this day," Xehanort says. "However, we will speak of this later. And I insist you leave while I finish speaking with her."

The man who is at least half Terra shows no sign of moving from where he stands. He and Xehanort stare at each other for several minutes before either one speaks.

"I insist you leave first, we shall resume this conversation at a later time," the man says coldly.

Xehanort's eyes flick to my face, before he looks back at the man before him. "Watch yourself. Remember, I can always find a replacement."

Giving me one last glare he leaves the room. Terra still doesn't face me, watching until the door closes behind the man.

"Terra?" I say.

He turns abruptly and I'm surprised by the intensity of his glare. He brings forth a weapon pulsing with energy. In one swift motion he's cut through the chains on my wrists.

"I am not Terra," he hisses under his breath. I watch wide-eyed as he walks towards the door. "You will be forced to remain inside these walls until you decide to release Ventus."

"Wait!" I yell after him as he leaves the room, letting the door slam shut behind him.

Letting out a sigh I rub my wrists where the handcuffs had been. For the first time since seeing him I doubt myself. Maybe Xehanort really managed to snuff out Terra's heart. No...I won't let myself think like that. I walk over to the door, pulling it open slowly. The halls are empty of any signs of life.

My throat feels tight as I recall the way this place used to look. And how cheerful it always felt. I wonder if there's a chance it'll ever be like that again. I'd like to believe that it could, but then I also know that things will never be the same again.

I wander through the corridors aimlessly, still somehow able to recall where each one leads. Surprise grips me as I notice just how many doors are unlocked, some open. It's almost a miracle that they haven't found Ven, they've managed to unlock many of the mysteries here. Many more than I had anticipated.

My footsteps falter as I stop in front of door which if I opened it, would lead into a maze with Ventus's chamber being through a door on the other side. I walk past the next doorway before sitting down with my back against the wall. I won't give them any hint as to how to find Ven, in the chance that they're watching me.

I have no idea how long I've been sitting here before I hear the sound of footsteps coming towards me. I look up, frowning. However my expression softens when I see the man who looks nearly identical to Terra in the face. His brow is furrowed as he stops before me. Several minutes pass as we stare at each other.

"It's been a long time...my old friend," he says, at last breaking the silence.

My eyes widen. "So you really are Terra then."

He shakes his head. "No, I am not."

I get to my feet. "Then, why call me a friend?"

"It is a complicated thing to explain. But you have been my only friend these past ten years," he says, watching me unblinking. "And yet, I have the strangest feeling that we were friends before that."

"Then you must be Terra," I say.

He steps towards me the angry glint back in his eye. I step back impulsively, recalling vividly the last time we met. Is Xehanort's heart somehow influencing him, to hate being called Terra? He looks away.

"I'm not Terra," he says.

I sigh. "Fine. Then, what should I call you?"

"Xemnas," he says.

I smile. "Okay, Xemnas it is. Tell me, how have I been your friend?"

"I will show you at a later time," he says, staring back at me cooly. "For now it is late. I'll show you to your room. It's back that way."

I walk the way he points. But stop a couple yards away when I hear the soft rattling of a doorknob. Glancing back I see him removing his hand from the door I was sitting beside. I turn away. No doubt they're gonna be trying everything to get inside there now. I'm only glad I didn't sit in front of the true door. But still, I can't help but feel that my being found inside this hall at all is going to make them investigate it. Will they eventually be able to get inside? I have no way of knowing for sure, but I can only hope that that particular chamber remains as safe from them as its always been.

Xemnas leads me back the way I came, up several staircases before stopping and pulling a door among many open.

"Everyones rooms are along this hall," he informs me. "Xehanort's is the one at the end. I must advise against you disturbing him. You should also know that all exits are guarded."

I nod. "I won't."

I walk into the room, looking around briefly before turning to shut the door. Xemnas stops me just before I do however.

"I would also advise that you return this land to the way it once was, Xehanort will not remain patient for long. And you do not want to know what he has planned for you if you keep refusing, I cannot protect you for long," he says. "...There's water and a meal on that table. Rest now, but you must decide soon."

With that he turns away and enters a room located four doors from mine. I sigh, shutting my door. I sit down on the bed before picking up the plate of food left for me. Now I'm more convinced then ever that Terra's heart still resides inside of Xemnas. I pull out my wayfinder, staring into it's depths. Somehow, I am going to save both of my friends.