AN: IMPORTANT, this fic is made up of different DRAFTS. All of them start the same and hit certain story beats, but they're different in execution. That means, some of them are longer than each other. Please keep note of the draft number!
Everything he was working towards would finally come to fruition. Ventus was kneeling before him and he could feel himself slipping away bit by bit.
Perfect, Vanitas thought.
"Join with your greater half, Ventus." Vanitas commanded, smile dominating his face. Wouldn't be long now.
"I accept, Vanitas." Ventus said, returning his grin with a fierce glare. Vanitas could not understand the foolish point of Ventus' sudden bravery.
"It doesn't matter whether or not you accept your fate, idiot." Vanitas laughed, body starting to crumble in dust as he approached Ventus.
"I will defeat you. Just you wait." Ventus growled. Vanitas found it amusing.
"Of course you will." Vanitas stated, rolling his eyes. Immediately, he shot out at Ventus, a predator leaping on the prey of Ventus' heart.
There was no struggle, no barriers that Vanitas predicted would be, just Ventus as he was, arms wide open. Vanitas pounced on that light, ready to take it for himself.
He did not expect to melt into the white abyss, darkness mixing and combining with the light. The grey sludge started to form something of the two beings, crafting a new existence from the ones of old.
The being was weak at first, face flat on the ground. It tried to sit up, but only managed to flip itself onto its back.
What just happened?
Where's the x-blade?
A mesh of two different voices bounced around his head, his thoughts, different, and yet his all of the same. His heart beat wildly in his chest. Huh, that was kind of weird. Vanitas wasn't used to the sound, though Ventus assured him that it was a good sign. A sign of life.
After he managed to get up, it took a few minutes not to be dizzy, managing to stumble around before regaining balance.
"Wow, that really did a number on us." He mumbled. Still a bit lightheaded, he noticed Aqua running towards him with Mickey at her side. She approached him slowly, before she met his eyes and became bewildered.
"Ventus? No… Vanitas!" Aqua exclaimed, jumping back and summoning her keyblade.
She's not a threat to us. He thought to himself.
I mean, she does look like she will attack us, though. Ventus commented.
Don't worry. She's managed to kick me down, but that was a different circumstance. We can beat her no problem. Vanitas boasted back, darkness flourishing under the skin.
But Mickey has defeated you, right? Ventus pointed out.
You think that you two were a challenge? Merely an annoyance. It wasn't worth it. Vanitas scoffed.
We need to keep her from fighting us, I hate to admit it but...
Ventus, we are strong. We do not need this fear that you keep pushing onto us. Vanitas reassured. This fretting was annoying for him, which meant that Ventus found the sensation unpleasant as well. Vanitas saw Ventus' underlying calmness of being reunited with Aqua and tried to drag it to the forefront of their heart.
Vanitas, Aqua is my friend. Ventus thought back, accepting the tranquil feeling Vanitas was pushing towards him.
We know how important she is, I didn't chose her as my second vessel for nothing. Vanitas sighed, growing annoyed.
We need to at least summon our keyblade, because this may get rough.
Both of them agreed on that aspect, summoning Void Gear to his palm.
"Aqua, it's not what you think." He started out.
"You've taken my friend from me, there's not much to understand." Aqua said, narrowing her eyes.
"Give Ventus his body back." Mickey added on.
"This is our body, it belongs to both Vanitas and Ventus. We're sharing it for the time being." He explained, loosening his battle stance.
"What… that's impossible! Ventus would never let the darkness win!" Aqua exclaimed.
"Ventus didn't, it's not so simple as that. We share each other's assets as it becomes convenient." He further went into detail.
How thick headed are all of you?! Vanitas groaned.
Hey! We shouldn't expect her to understand right away, okay? We can do this. Ventus thought. Vanitas agreed, his usual pride and arrogance bonding with the confidence Ventus could muster.
"You've summoned Vanitas' blade, don't try to fool us." Mickey pointed out, unmoved.
"We had to choose one or the other. If not, Ventus' would be used. Vanitas needs this right now, though." He answered, smiling with a small tightening of his palm around the handle. Aqua and Mickey were just becoming more confused however. "We don't know what happened either, it wasn't supposed to turn out like this."
Really, this may have been what was supposed to happen all along. Xehanort had never actually completed this experiment before, so this unpredicted result might've been completely correct.
"Wait a second, Xehanort! Do you know where he is?" He exclaimed, attempting to run toward the two, for them to back away.
"We're not going anywhere until we get Ventus back, Vanitas." Aqua commanded.
"There's no time for that, Terra's in serious trouble." He said desperately, his blade fading into stardust.
Why are they so slow?! He thought.
"I've had enough of your silly act!" Aqua exclaimed.
"And we've had enough of your constant demeaning! Oh Ventus can't do this, Ventus is too weak, he'll just get hurt, yadda yadda. We're sick and tired of you treating us like a kid!" He barked back, going back into a fighting stance. His eyes were narrowed at her, golden spheres boiling with annoyance.
"That's because I just want to protect him! He's one of my best friends, not that you would know!" Aqua justified. Usually she tried to keep calm, but Vanitas was getting on her nerves, she couldn't let him get to her so easily.
He pressed a hand to cup his cheek and started to laugh. It was so cruel and uncanny, so unlike the friend Aqua knew, yet these words came from his lips in his voice.
"Oh, but we do know, Aqua." His smile quickly turned into a scowl, palm falling from his face. "We know that at every chance we try to prove ourselves, you turn us down. Well, now that we're both here, why not see once and for all, who is really worthy of the title of master. Feel the power of Venitas!"
The boy lashed forward at her, Void Gear in hand. Gathering her barings, a shot of rainbow coloured stars burst forth from her blade, Venitas managing to have most of them only graze his side as he slashes wildly at her with his keyblade. As she dashed forward, Venitas teleported behind her, and sent lightning tingling down her spine. Fazed, a crescent moon was sent in her direction, sending her stumbling forward.
She didn't let this get to her, catching his smirking face off guard with two powerful slashes across his torso and a stream of more rainbow coloured stars. The two exchanged blows, Mickey occasionally sending balls of fire and fury in his direction, Venitas somersaulting away. Venitas jumped into the air, extending Void Gear up proudly. Aqua had seen this attack before, so she knew what flurry of pain and darkness followed. So, imagine her surprise when the blade changed to Wayward Wind and Venitas toppled down on top of her in a storm of light and stars, slashing a less stronger wind of light her way when she tried to escape.
"Ventus' keyblade?!" She exclaimed, breathing heavily, Mickey at her side.
"You will acknowledge our power!" Venitas announced, smile growing wider on his face.
Bet she didn't see that coming. Ventus enjoyed this sudden sense of superiority over his long time friend.
We can do better, c'mon. Let's go! Vanitas was somehow smiling at him, full of fighting fervor. He encouraged Ventus to push his limit and brought out all the power within them.
Right! Ventus thought back in affirmation.
His blade changed back to Void Gear as they were caught up in the dance again. Aqua cartwheeled back and sent a few thick spikes upwards where Venitas stood in tandem with the motion of her keyblade. He teleported away, the chills barely bothering him.
Aqua and Mickey teamed up together in order to create a small whirlwind of stars, throwing Venitas ungracefully around like a ragdoll. When he regained composure, Aqua was already on his tail, berating him with slashes from her keyblade.
"Enough of this child's play!" He grinned, unleashing a big wind that knocked back both Aqua and Mickey so hard, that Aqua could've been thrown far if her back hadn't hit that side of jagged rock. Venitas walked over calmly, switching out Void Gear again for Wayward Wind. Aqua had dirt on her face and dust in her lungs, while Venitas didn't have a scratch on him.
"Giving up already? It's just the three of us now, Aqua." Venitas taunted, grabbing a hold of her neck so that when she tried to leave the rock she was just pushed further into it. He threw his free arm down, keyblade turning into a burst of light in the six swords that appeared behind him.
"Never! I will save Ventus!" Aqua choked out, struggling to pry his iron grip off of her. This just made Venitas scowl.
"I don't need your saving!" He growled, sending down 5 blades of light slashing into her. With every slice came more pain and cries, body shaking in his palm. The power, the darkness and rage coursed through him as he aligned the last blade of light with her throat, arm paused in the air and ready to strike.
No, we can't do this. Ventus cried out in their mind.
Where has that spirit gone? We need to defeat her, once and for all; show her that we're superior!
Vanitas, look at her, she is defeated, can't you see? Ventus pleaded.
Venitas observed Aqua, seeing the tired look behind her fierce and courageous glare. He smirked, waving away the last blade into nothingness and dropping her body to the cold, hard ground.
"Well, we can see you've been beaten, no use going any further." Venitas said, stepping back to give her space.
Aqua coughed heavily, wiping away her spit.
"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Aqua called out. Venitas stopped in place, turning to regard her for a moment. He fished into his pockets - armour long gone from his body and replaced with a darker coloured outfit - in order to get out a potion. He extended it to her, Aqua's blue eyes darting back and forth between the peace offering and his dead stare.
She slapped it to the ground angrily, glass breaking.
"Go to hell, Vanitas!" She snarled.
"A-Aqua?" He tentatively said, blue eyes full of surprise.
"Ven!" Aqua's own eyes widened, scrambling to get up. She hugged her best friend tightly, breathing out a sigh of relief.
"Ven, I'm so glad that you're back! I just-" Aqua didn't get to finish her sentence before her body was pinned to the ground with Unversed. Ventus sat on her torso, blue eyes regarding her with a bored expression.
"Aqua, I never left. This is the new me, so you better get used to it. Here," His eyes turned back to golden, and he held another health potion in his hands. He put it to her mouth, but she had it barred shut.
"Oh come on, Aqua, we know you're out and your magic supply is basically non-existent right now, so eat the healing potion like a good friend." Venitas sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Wait, friend-?" The minute Aqua opened her mouth, the potion was being shoved down her throat, forced to swallow the liquid. Immediately, it took effect, wounds healing and health returning. It didn't restore her magic, because the last thing he wanted was a barrel of fire attacks set on him.
"See? Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Venitas smiled, affectionately patting her hair. She shook her head to get it off of her, unable to move anything else while being so effectively pinned down.
"I have a question…" Aqua started, saying her words slowly.
"We're all ears." Venitas said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Why do you keep referring to yourself under the royal 'we'? It's weird." Aqua asked. Might as well get some information if she was going to be stuck here.
"Um, since we're both Ventus and Vanitas. We're just in the same body." Venitas answered, tilting his head to the side.
"Then why did you say 'I' a second ago and earlier?" Aqua questioned further, wanting to prove her suspicion, that final hope in her heart.
"Oh, that was Ventus. His feelings became stronger than Vanitas' for a moment. The same would happen if Vanitas became stronger than Ventus, but he doesn't like to do that, neither of us do." Venitas explained. He eyed his Unversed, which were becoming restless and more hesitant to hold Aqua down. A sharp glare pushed them into submission.
"Why?" Aqua asked.
"What is this, twenty questions? If you must know, we find its unfair. This way, we both get what we want." Venitas grinned.
"And what do you want?" Aqua pressed on.
"Isn't it obvious?" Venitas replied, smirking. He crossed his hands behind his head, showing off how relaxed he was.
"Entertain me." Aqua chuckled half-heartedly.
"Well, the power for the one thing. Happiness, for once in my life." Venitas spoke, one of them shining through at the end. Aqua wasn't able to discern whom, however.
"Happi-" Aqua didn't get to finish, Venitas cutting her off.
"Do you want to get up, or not? Can we trust you not to attack us?" Venitas asked, an eyebrow raised but altogether regarding her with more trust than skepticism.
"Can I trust you? You're the one who attacked me." Aqua answered. Venitas looked almost crestfallen, avoiding her eyes. He reached down into his pocket and brought out his wayfinder.
"We don't regret that. You need to stop looking at us like a younger brother, Aqua." Venitas spoke sternly, holding the precious object close to his chest. "Plus, we needed a bit of payback after those times Vanitas lost, even if in those cases he was holding back."
Aqua rolled her eyes, trying to ignore that last statement. Yeah, right.
"Only if you answer one last question." Aqua said.
"Have we been hesitant to answer before?" Venitas sighed.
"Do you regret breaking Ventus' wooden keyblade?" Aqua asked, voice steady and mind clear. Venitas froze.
You broke it?! Ventus exclaimed.
Out of all of the things I've done to you and your friends, that's what you're hung up on? Vanitas told him, unable to take Ventus seriously.
"We don't regret it. It was a foolish sentiment, after all. We have a real weapon in our grasp, as well as you and Terra. As much as this might offend you, we don't care what happens to our wayfinder, either. It's merely a symbol of our friendship, Aqua. Something so silly can't be interchangeable with that feeling of a deeper connection within our chest." Venitas answered, smiling softly as he gripped the wayfinder tightly. He put it away carefully, still holding a great appreciation for the object, even if in the end it was just semantics.
"Well then, Venitas. You can trust me." Aqua replied. Venitas nodded, a bright smile on his face. He got up off of her and allowed the Unversed to release her. When Aqua got up, she wiped the dust off her armour and regarded how friendly the Unversed acted with Venitas.
"Why do they listen to you?" Aqua asked, finding the image of her friend petting the things that had attacked her on numerous occasions a bit unsettling, to say the least.
"They're usually not this friendly. It must be because they're confused, since they can't tell whether or not we're Vanitas. They're not allowed to attack Vanitas, but Vanitas also ordered them to attack Ventus. When Vanitas first summoned them, they were super hostile, so we're surprised we can still control them." Venitas had absorbed most of them back into himself, except for one, which he held in his arms like a cat. For some odd reason, it didn't hurt like it usually did: each Unversed causing him pain with their returned unwanted negativity.
I think it's because of you we don't feel any pain. Your light, specifically.
I'm sorry, I didn't know that you felt hurt everytime we defeated an Unversed. However, I'm not apologizing for doing so. You were terrorizing all of these different worlds after all.
Speaking of, we need to get rid of them all...
"Are you the source of all the Unversed?!" Aqua exclaimed, shocked beyond belief. It made sense, how he controlled them.
"Vanitas yes. Ventus, not so much. You might want to stand back." Venitas warned, absorbing the Unversed in his arms. "We're going to summon back all of the Unversed left across the worlds."
"Okay…" Aqua spoke skeptically, heeding his advice by baking away.
"You say that as if you want to keep them around." Venitas chuckled.
"No, just, do it quickly." Aqua shook her head, sighing. This day had more twists and turns than she was expecting. First, she learns that her best friends got taken over by the enemy; secondly, she finds out that they are actually working together; and lastly, this boy once an antagonist, is the source of all Unversed. Wait until she told the others.
Venitas stood there and closed his eyes, calming his senses. He reached out to all the worlds with his darkness, looking for each and every Unversed. It was slowly tugging on the rubber band that was easy; what hurt was when that rubber band snapped back and everything went dark.