He was back. When Balle awoke, he found himself atop yet another pillar. The pillar was similar to the last, only this time, he was in the place of the brown haired boy. Said boy was now in one of the the circle images.
"What's going on?" Balle asked frustrated. Was he dreaming again? Had the whole thing been a dream? What about those creatures? It all seemed so real.
"That's because it is real." A familiar voice said. Balle spun around, before him stood a pretty blue haired girl who's a little younger than him. Balle looked at her suspiciously.
"Who are you?" Balle demanded. "And what's happening to me?" She smiled at him.
"My name, is Aqua." she told him. "And you're currently asleep right now."
Balle blinked. "So... I'm dreaming?" he asked. "None of this is real?"
She shook her head. "Just because you're dreaming doesn't make this any less real." she told him. "This place," she gestured around them. "is your heart."
"My heart...?" Balle asked confused. "Wait... you're that voice from my dream!" he realized.
Aqua nodded and smiled. "Yes, I'm the one that helped you during your Awakening."
"My Awakening?" Balle asked.
"It's the trial that all Keyblade wielders must go through."
"Keyblade..." Balle breathed. He looked down and summoned the weapons. Aqua's eyes widened.
"Three...?" she shook her head. "Amazing... you really are the Messenger of Light."
"How do you know that?" Balle asked her, dismissing his Keyblades. She shook her head.
"A man in a red cloak told me." she said. "He was the one that helped me first contact you."
"What was his name?" Balle asked, unnerved slightly. Again she shook her head.
"He didn't tell me." she smiled at him again. Balle realized something. He was wearing different clothing! His current clothes still has his coat. There was a strange silver badge over his hearts. He still wore his crimson hakama along with black and red cowboy boots with sun symbols. On his left arm of his coat he saw what appeared to be a gold, ruby red and silver armor that extended from the shoulder to the elbow.
"You know, I'm not even going to ask why I'm wearing different clothes..." he muttered. Aqua still heard him, however, and giggled.
"You see that armor?" she said, pointing at his shoulder. Balle nodded. "Touch it." Balle complied, and he was enveloped by a silver light. When Ash opened his eyes again he found he was looking through a visor.
"Whoa!" Balle cried. He looked at himself and found he was wearing full body armor. It was gold, ruby red with sliver trims. Its torso and chest is covered with gold armor that sports the small badge symbol in its center. The rest of the armor on its arms, legs, and chest are predominantly ruby red and silver. Its pointed, armored boots are black and gold and its upper arms and thighs have wide, supplementary armor with gold edges covering them. The armor's helmet is gold with a silver chin with jagged "teeth" and the same symbol has gold color adorning its forehead. The helmet is also decorated by three long, thin, silver pikes on its top and sides. Its hands and neck are covered by a black material. "What is this?"
"It's a special type of armor given to apprentices from their masters." Aqua informed him. "That armor will protect you from darkness as you travel between worlds and allows you to breathe in space."
"Whoa, whoa whoa!" Balle yelled. "Worlds? Space? What are you talking about?" Aqua grimaced.
"Those creatures you fought in you world are called the Heartless." she said. "Heartless are peoples' hearts that have been corrupted by darkness, lacking a body or soul.."
"So... they came out of the residences' hearts?"
She shook her head. "No, they were after you."
"Me?" Balle yelped. "Why?"
"The Heartless fear the Keyblade." she said. "They were after your heart."
"The Keyblade...?" she nodded. "What is the purpose the the Keyblade? Why was I given mine?"
"The Keyblade chooses it's wielder by the strength of their heart." Aqua said. "The wielder's duty is the protect the worlds."
"So I was chosen to be the worlds' guardian?" she nodded again. "Just how many worlds are there?"
Aqua shrugged. "Many, I don't think anyone knows for sure?"
"And I have to protect them all?" Balle cried. She raised her hands, signaling him to calm down.
"Calm down, there are others who wield the Keyblade." she assured him.
"Really?" she nodded and raised her right hand. In a flash of light a gray Keyblade with a simple square guard and teeth in the shape of an 'E' appeared. "Y- you?" she grinned at him. "Wait, you said that this armor is given by a master so...?"
"Yep, Master Aqua, at your service!" she winked at him with a mock salute. "There are some wielders who have special abilities. Like you."
"Really?" Balle asked surprised. "How am I special?"
She shook her head again. "I don't know. Only you can figure that out."
Balle sighed. He blinked. "Hey, er, Master Aqua, how do I revert to my other clothes?"
"Just touch the same spot as before." Balle did so and was relieved to be out of the armor. It was lightweight and he could move around just fine, but it was certainly uncomfortable. "And just call me Aqua. I hate going by my title." Balle nodded at her.
"Aqua, if we're in my mind/heart right now, where's my body?" Balle asked her, sitting down.
"It's being taken to a different world." she answered sitting next to him. "I don't know by who, but they don't seem hostile."
"Where are you?" Balle asked. She smiled sadly.
"I'm trapped in the Realm of Darkness."
Balle started. "The Realm of Darkness?" he asked. He wasn't exactly sure what that was, but it certainly didn't sound good. "How did you get there?"
"I took my friend's place." she said simply. "He was falling into darkness, and I saved him. Now I'm here."
"Can't you get out?" She shook her head.
"I can't, and refuse to wield the power of darkness, but the darkness might consume me and might turn into Xehanort's puppet." she said.
"Xehanort?" Balle asked in a confused way.
"A Keyblade Master who once taught my friend Ventus, Xehanort believes that darkness and light should exist in perfect balance, and for this reason, he seeks to conquer Kingdom Hearts and recreate the worlds according to his wishes."
Balle nodded slowly. "So, how are you here?"
She grinned and pulled something out. Balle gasped. It was the exact same charm he had, only blue. "We're connected."
Balle pulled his out. "So, this let's you talk to me?"
She nodded. "But only in your dreams."
"Aqua...?" she looked at him curiously. "I'll get you out. And if you are consumed by the darkness and became Xehanort's puppet, I'll shine the light of hope to burn and shatter the darkness inside you. I promise." She smiled sadly.
"Balle..." She shook her head, laughing. "Thank you." She laid back and stared out into the darkness. "I don't know how long I've been here. It feels like I've been here forever."
He looked up, determined. "I'll get you out of the Realm of Darkness." he said. "I swear."
She looked at him. "I'll be waiting." She suddenly sat by up. "Looks like it's time for you to wake up."
"What?" Balle asked startled. He was starting to get used to Aqua. He found her pressence to be... comforting. Suddenly everything started fading away. "Aqua!"
"Don't worry." her voice said, faintly. "We'll see each other again soon."
"Aqua!" Balle repeated.
"We are connected..."
A/N: Again any mistakes will be corrected once pointed out.
Should Balle have a Nobody? Should it be a part of Organization 13, making it Organization 14? Or an unofficial member and traitor?