Number XV: The Sapphire Sorceress

Disclaimer: The idea for this one came from a few things. First reading some interesting Aqua and Terra fanfiction mainly Falling for a Nobody. The second was I felt sad about not continuing my Bleach fanfiction story. I hope to do this one to completion this time around for no one to read. Anyways I don't own Kingdom Hearts the rights belong to Square Enix and Nomura you crazy belt zipper designer. I will keep it mainly a Aqua x Terra/Xemnas story, but I want to expand on some characters along with some turns from the original plotline for this AU story.

Prologue: Black Cloak

"This world is just too small."

A world of balance requires two forces to exist making such a balance of power. Right or wrong, good or evil, and in the case of the realms of this story light and darkness created such a balance. In order to serve and protect this structure protectors of light were chosen to defend the realms. These warriors would come to be known as keyblade wielders. Despite the role of a keyblade user to defend the light some choose to sink into the darkness. Soon this created a schism which lead to the start of the keyblade war. Countless lives were taken leaving only a graveyard for their blades. Eventually the conflict ended with Kingdom Hearts being lost in darkness. The X-Blade was now the only way to bring back the real Kingdom Hearts the source of all the hearts of worlds.

A man began to dive into research trying to find and created this legendary weapon. His only "friend" Eraqus would tell him to embrace the positive nature of the light. Xehanort could not believe in such hope only knowing the power darkness could grant. Eventually they become masters of the keyblade taking in three students. A brown-haired boy named Terra, a troubled teenager called Ventus, and a bluenette called Aqua. Despite their intentions of all becoming masters Xehanort was only interested in created a new vessel and forging the fabled X-Blade. His manipulation would lead to Terra losing himself into darkness, Ventus becoming a hollow key, and Aqua losing everything she knew. Their paths as friends split them apart as three kids on Destiny Island would soon suffer the same fate. Still destiny is a funny thing...

Aqua's POV:

"Aqua...put an end to me..." Those words and the image of Terra still haunt my mind. How long have I been stuck in this world of darkness. Time does not seem to move, but that could just be my imagination. My keyblade and magic serve as my only source of protection. The forces of darkness continue to attack even when I seek rest. They are nothing like the Unversed, and I fear I can't hold them back for much longer. Still I can't give up, and I won't Terra and Ven they are out there waiting for me. These beasts can't hold me back from my friends I just have to keep fighting...

My only hope was finding a door leading back to the normal world. This was my thread of faith as it seemed this land was endless with monsters of the deep. Not many people were around here, and I could only defend myself for so long before my strength would give out. The odds were against me, but if I can just hold out for a while longer...no it can't be! "...What are these things?"

I had to ask what could be driving them to hunt me down like this. They seemed so primal in nature and I did not know what they wanted with me, but if they were anything like the Unversed I could not let them defeat me.

I see more of them with their yellow eyes looking at me. With a hiss from my tired body I swing my blade to fend them off. The smaller beings are easy to deal with, but as they are currently in numbers they are very dangerous. I have to use some of my magic to keep them at bay. Suddenly bigger ones with wings and blades came in trying to hit me. They looked much more dangerous and before I knew it they had surrounded me. Even a keyblade master can't defeat this many numbers by herself. I knew at this very moment this would be my final battle. My friends would never know about my fate another wielder lost to the darkness of this realm. Even so I can't give up not until my last breath was taken from me. With a defiant look I gave the enemy a final push worthy of a keyblade master.

"My light will shine bright even in such darkness!" Terra...I'm sorry! Then everything drowned into nothing my body sank into the ground like it was quicksand. The black liquid absorbed more of my body until it reached my upper breastbone. Suddenly felt like a vacuum was sucking there trying to rip something out. Did it want my lungs or body no it was trying to get my heart. No I can't die I have to fight these things can't take me away from my friends...
My heart stopped I-

My eyes suddenly opened as I looked around seeing nothing around me. For some reason I was still alive, but for some reason I did not feel like it. How what happened to me and how long was I out. As I moved to get back up there was a figure in the darkness. It stood out with a strange black cloak hiding well in the area surrounding me. I could not get a good look into his face as suddenly he asked me something.

"Hey you alright there sweetcheeks?" His remark had a hint of teasing. I gave him a glare as this did not look like a good place for small talk. Still he was something to speak with and not some monster trying to hurt me.

"I have a name you know and it's..." Despite my lips moving to say this name I could not tell him my name, but how did I somehow lose my memories when I blacked out. He removed his hood to reveal his green eyes and red hair. His suddenly grew a smirk as he decided to taunt me yet again. I would yell at him, but I did not have the strength to argue with him right now.

"Well it seems like you're having trouble with your memory! Lucky I know mine it's Axel got it memorized?" What kind of a question is that? Of course I can remember such an arrogant jerk like this. Besides he did not seem that concerned about my well being here in this realm. Wait how did he show up like this could he possibly have come here from the outside. That might be because he was from the realm of light. This is perfect I might have finally gotten a way out of this madness. With a sigh I put a hand to my heart...and yet I could not feel a beat. Hold on how come my heart was not beating that is not normal!

"What's going on why don't I have a heartbeat?!" Suddenly my comment changed Axel's mood as he walked over putting his hand on my chest. I quickly slapped him is this guy a freak or what? Surprisingly he caught it the second time I wanted to hit him as he continued to study my chest area. I began to blush hoping he was just leave me alone when he said something very shocking.

"You don't have a heart dollface!" What? Now he was just talking crazy of course I have a heart all living beings contain one. Perhaps it was just a simple explanation for all of this. Still he looked more serious as he continued to explain.

"I know what you're thinking that's silly I do have a heart right well I don't feel it. Still there has to be a reason mind explaining what happened dollface."

Curse him and those names yet I realized there might be a bit of logic to his reasoning. I could get an image of something I was trying to defend against. They looked like the Unve...argh I can't even remember their names either, but they had yellow eyes and they were all around me. I was fighting them when I just blacked out before I saw this Axel. As I told him this he put a gloved hand over his chin thinking about something.

"I see so the heartless must have attacked you...did they go near your heart by any chance?" With a nod to his question he must have realized what happened to me when I was passed out. The bombshell left me completely speechless to say the least.

"They took your heart that's what they do to people. The weak simply vanish while others can be turned into heartless themselves. As for your case and mine they left behind something special. It's a shell of ourselves called a Nobody, and that's what you are now sweetcheeks."

Impossible they could not have stolen my heart. I know I was fighting these heartless off so why did he tell me about this kind of stuff. I was fuming now what kind of nut was this guy how could I be this 'Nobody' I have a name and heart it's...

"Well speak of the devil these guys just wont stop trying to feel ya up dollface!" Not more of these horrible things. The new beasts looked different than the other one I remember. They had stronger arms and they're tendrils looked longer as well. I moved my keyblade out to fight when Axel just snapped his fingers. A few of them bursts into flames. With a smirk he pulled out some kind of circle-shaped weapon taking down a few more of these demons. His blade did not look like a keyblade so he must not be a master or wielder like myself.

"You better run this lady does not take kindly to pricks like you guys!" Axel's cocky attitude seems to have returned how wonderful. Still he did fend them off for me perhaps he is not all that bad...spoke too soon. Now he was looking at my keyblade like a kid seeing some new kind of candy. I just glared at him wanting some personal space for once today.

"It's a pretty nifty blade you got there even if it looks pretty bland. I know a blonde that would get along well with ya back home. Still those colors don't match your style blueberry." I growled at him very tired of the names he picked for me. There was also the fact this blade was not even mine it belonged to someone else my master Er...no why can't I remember anything! How could my memories be taken from me. Was this also an effect of 'losing my heart' why is this happening to me!

"It's not mine! I don't know who it belongs to, I can't remember his name or mine! Why do you think I'm some nobody I have a heart and name but..." I screamed out in frustration. As I felt my eyes begin to water up I felt a hand on my shoulder Axel was he trying to sooth my pain. I don't even know a lot about him, and yet he is trying to calm me down.

"I forgot to mention you don't have emotions. That anger you felt was just you remembering that feeling. Nobodies lose their feelings as their hearts get taken along with something else. The fact you can't remember names must only mean one thing."

"My memories are gone with my emotions." The realization made my eyes go dull from this fact. Everything made perfect sense now. I did not forget this stuff I lost my memories because of these damned heartless. They took my precious thoughts and feelings for what purpose? I wanted to feel more upset, but suddenly I thought it would just be a projection of anger can I even truly feel that way anymore. Perhaps I was actually a Nobody liked the spiky haired jerk said I was now.

"Look we can talk this over another time we have to get you outta this grim-dark world." Like a 'gentlemen' he took hold of my arm pulling me off to some place. I opened my mouth to yell however I knew my anger would simply be a fabrication a falsehood. I could act like this was annoying me yet in the end it would all be an act. I must now be quite the actor to behave like my old self. Before I knew it there was a black void next to the both of us. Inside appeared to be a vase area leading to some kind of location. With a smirk Axel let me in on our destination.

"Buckle up sweetcheeks we are heading home back to The World That Never Was!"

No One's POV:

Deep underground the ruins of a once great garden there was a secret passage leading to a special area only a certain few know about. This place was used by individuals who were studying the research about the worlds and hearts of men. The footsteps of a black cloaked man could be heart as he moved to enter a very useful room. The doorways closed as the mysterious figure sat down in the chair lighting up the room. Across from his seat was the armor and keyblade of a warrior he knew long ago. Thanks to this room his memories were coming back to him now. The "friends" he was looking for had been split and put into different areas, but now the search for one of them was over. His deep voice spoke to no one as he took pleasure in knowing everything was proceeding as expected with the discover of one of his "friends" just accomplished. The man knew Xigbar was not too thrilled about what this would all mean of course. His past with the person they were searching for was not a friendly one. Even so the goal now required her presence since she was found. Looking at the armor he knew everything would be going well now.

"Soon old friend we will be reunited and you will lead me to our final comrade. The trio united and then all will be mine." With a smile he knew it was time to leave this place with a gift for his once lost friend.

A Few Years Ago...

In a vast ocean stood an island full of vibrant trees and wildlife. The locals there knew nothing about the world beyond their own. The boundaries between worlds had not be shattered for some time now. Three children now looked out towards the ocean. They knew soon they would be much older, but they all wanted to remain friends. The brown haired kid had a smile on his face as the silver haired child seemed annoyed, but gave a happy look of his own. The third child had red hair with blue eyes. She was not so willing to jump to adventure like the other two yet there was still a curious nature inside of her heart. A memory of a brave woman who protected her long ago. She did not remember her completely, but that image stuck in her mind. A hope that grew inside of her soul ever since that had never gone away. With gaze at the sunset she knew what she wanted now more than anything.

'I won't be helpless anymore...' As she lost in thought Sora waved out in front of Kairi's face trying to wake her from her current daydream. It seemed he was trying to get her attention for something. As she moved her head up she bumped into Sora's chest by accident.

"Oh I'm sorry Sora!" Her friend just rose back up with that smile once again on his face like nothing even happened.

"It's fine Riku just wanted to battle me again I figured you wanted to watch this time!" Usually she would not want to observe these battles because of her pacifist nature. She did not want to see the rivalry between them or see one of her friends getting hurt. Today was different she realized perhaps it would be a good idea to watch this time. After all she wanted to see how Sora and Riku battled in hopes to learn how to defend against someone else. After all it would be helpless to not rely on someone else to rescue her all the time. She knew a situation would never occur where this would be needed, but it was still a nice change from her usual days. With a nod she ran off with Sora to meet Riku. Destiny seemed to be changed for her and the person she knew long ago.

Thoughts: Welp the first chapter is complete and I hope you don't mind the style of this story. I would like feedback if you want this to be more adult in nature or keep this story as clean as possible. Also there will be some changes to how events go in the story as expected in AU fiction. I hope you all remain for the ride that will be taken to completion hopefully! I wanted to use some special art for this fic, but there does not seem to be any kind of Aqua in black cloak art around the net sadly.