As a Keyblade Master, Xehanora had a gift like few others, but such great minds are often plagued by a single great question: What is the essence of the human heart that weakens us, or empowers us?

The answer, she believed, would be found in the Keyblade War. What if the challenges of the past, present, and future were, in fact, a map to the light and darkness that battles within us all?

Xehanora had to know, so she renounced her duties as master and chose the seeker's life. Since then, in many a guise, she has clashed with protectors of the light, Keyblade wielders to be precise...

A serene slice of paradise, Destiny Islands rests on its own little corner of the cosmos. The waves lap back and forth on the islands' gleaming white sand, the clear blue water rests like precious sapphires, all dyed a blazing orange by the sun's descending glow.

"This world is just too small," A young Xehanora said as she stood just a feet away from the water, and looked out at the horizon with her unrelenting eyes. She stood at the water's edge, staring at the sun's golden reflection on the water.

Xehanora's Report 1

Much time has passed since I left the home of my youth behind, and in the myriad worlds I have visited, I have gained much knowledge. On these pages, I intend to record a portion of that knowledge, and put the course of my life to paper.

Upon reflection, my life underwent the most considerable sea-change when I arrived at that place. Yes, it began when I found a Master, and another I would later call my sister-when I found a new home.

Then there was the Keyblade. For what purpose was it begotten, and by whom? During my training as one of its wielders, the precepts offered a clear answer: the Keyblade existed so that we who watched over the light could protect the world from the shadows.

But was that the TRUE answer? Could there not be more to it than that? My heart sought knowledge, and so I sometimes visited other worlds-though such travel was forbidden unless duty required-and found what my heart sought.

Xehanora's Report 7

I have uncovered the Keyblade's ultimate mystery. You see, besides the three families of Keyblades, there is another "Key Blade." While it may sound the same when spoken, it is notated uniquely: "χ-blade." And make no mistake, while it resembles a normal Keyblade, it is something altogether different. Keyblades are said to be man-made counterparts to Kingdom Hearts. The χ-blade, however, coexists with Kingdom Hearts.

It is only forged when two hearts of equal power intersect-one heart of pure darkness, one heart of pure light. At the time of its forging, Kingdom Hearts appears. It must be noted, though, that this Kingdom Hearts is special. Unlike the Kingdoms brought about forcibly and artificially through the collection of hearts, THIS Kingdom Hearts is a perfect and complete union of ALL the worlds' hearts. Surely it was over this that the ancient Keyblade War was fought.

If so, the walls that divide the worlds today are of little consequence. With the χ-blade, all their hearts could be instantly reunited-and the Keyblade War, refought.

Many years later, in the Land of Departure, where wielders of the Keyblade trained, ancient in origin and terrible in power, a conflict between the two grown masters in the Throne Room of the castle had happened...

"Wait, Xehanora," Master Eraqua halted Xehanora. "There is a reason the precepts bar us from such knowledge. Why do you even seek the χ-blade? Would you even blanket all the worlds in darkness, reduce them to nothing?!"

"But the darkness did cover the world once, in legend," Xehanora replied, "We know so little about the Keyblade War, only that it was just the beginning. Amidst that crisis, a precious light was found. It is a curious tale, and one worth exploring. They say ruin brings about creation. So, what would yet another Keyblade War bring? When the darkness falls, will we be found worthy of the precious light the legend speaks of? I must have these answers. The χ-blade needs to be forged, and with it, the door to the Keyblade War will be unlocked!"

Master Eraqua was shocked, "You fool... You would risk an apocalypse out of sheer curiosity. I will not allow it, Xehanora. Not while I live!"

"But once again you have it all wrong, Eraqua," Master Xehanora said in chuckle, "Darkness is only just the beginning, not the end. At birth, every one of us emerged from darkness into a world of light, don't we?"

"Poetic excuses!" Eraqua exclaimed, but Xehanora just turned and walked away.

"If words won't dissuade you," Eraqua said as she summons her Keyblade and runs toward Master Xehanora, "only one thing will."

Xehanora turned as well, smiling, summoning her Keyblade with darkness as lightning swirls around her. She points her blade with a yell, and two bolts of dark energy shoot out and strike Master Eraqua in the face.

Eraqua faltered and collapsed on the floor as Xehanora walks closer to her and the darkness around her vanished.

"That power!" Eraqua said as darkness emanated from the scars on her face, "Has the darkness taken you, Xehanora?"

But Xehanora just answered, "It's none of your concern."

Xehanora leaves as Eraqua groaned in pain.

Xehanora's Report 8

My sister pupil Eraqua thinks only in absolutes. She has persuaded herself that light is the only way, but forgets that light cannot exist without shadow. I believe a balance of light and darkness is what sustains our World, but too much of the darkness has been stamped out, disrupting that balance. Someone must tear down this tyranny of light and reorganize the World around the darkness which then creeps back in.

Eraqua and I did not see eye to eye. I left, and wandered the World. This was perhaps the first time I felt truly free since that day I departed my girlhood home. But free to do what? I had already shown the Mark and become a Keyblade Master-but having been passed over as a Successor, all that remained to me was the road of teacher.

Ordinarily, Keyblade Masters take pupils under their wings, malleable minds in which to impress the precepts of the Keyblade wielder and keep our profession alive for generations to come. Was my time drawing to an end, then, after all I had accomplished since casting away the place of my birth? Surely waiting for a quiet death would not do, not when there was still so much I needed to see for myself. Powers help me, I thought, my body is so old...

Years before, Master Xehanora had tried to draw the darkness out of a young girl named Vinnietus (Vinnie for short), intending to pit the girl against one of Master Eraqua's students of light and create the χ-blade.

But though countless monsters had closed in on Vinnietus, she had refused to fight, let alone rely on darkness.

Vinnietus, frightened, looked up to Master Xehanora, who was on a cliff, and pleaded, "Please don't do this, Master. I'm not strong enough."

Master Xehanora refused, "No. It is because you are trying to hold it in. Let the dark impulses waken in the pit of your heart. Release them, here and now! Sharpen your fear into rage. If you do not let the storm within you run its course, it will wipe you from the face of the world, make no mistake!"

The monsters creep closer to Vinnietus as Xehanora continued, "Do it. Embrace the darkness. Produce for your Master the χ-blade!"

Later, Xehanora's patience had finally run out as her eyes cast down on Vinnietus, who faces down on the ground, "Really? You would rather die than use the power? Feckless neophyte. If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself."

So, Xehanora extracted the darkness from Vinnietus by force, thereby creating Vanita.

"An Empty creature from Vinnietus riven...," Xehanora said, "To you, the name Vanita shall be given."

Vanita soon spoke, "Yes, Master."

Xehanora's Report 9

We Keyblade Masters have a special gift. We can extract a heart, be it our own or that of another. By continuing this cycle, it is possible to remain in the world of the living forever.

As a girl, I dreamed of seeing the farthest reaches of the World. If I only went far enough, there had to be a world out there in which no one had ever before set foot. And now I know of just such a world. If I become the first to open Kingdom Hearts' door, I can create the Next World in which light and darkness exist in perfect equilibrium.

So there I stood, with vast knowledge in one gnarled, dying hand, and newfound purpose in the other. The next step was clear: I needed a new vessel.

And that was when I met Vinnietus and made her my pupil. We were destined to meet, and I could sense the potential within her, but the girl was too benign for her own good. I came to the conclusion she was too frail to serve as a vessel, and decided to use her for a second purpose I had in mind.

I would remove the darkness from her heart and split her in two. Then I would have my heart of pure light, and my heart of pure darkness.

Master Xehanora had decided to abandon her pupil, Vinnietus, on the Destiny Islands.

"There, you see? An empty world, like a prison," Xehanora said to Vinnietus under the sheet as she sets her down onto a paopu tree that's bent sideways like a bench, "I imagine you'll be right at home."

The girl's heart was fractured-useless. But her heart was saved when a "new heart" found Vinnietus and helped her fill the void.

Hey, where am I?

"Who's there?" Vinnietus asked in her blank eyes as light shines in the darkness and pushes it away. Vinnietus turns feet down and lands on a white platform. She stands up and surveys the platform.

I'm a brand new heart.

"But why?" Vinnietus asked.

The light brought me. I saw it shining in the distance...and followed it here.

"Yeah. That was my light," Vinnietus said, "But my heart is fractured. And now...the little I have left is slipping away."

Then you should join your heart with mine.

The platform fills in with light and becomes whole.

Now our hearts have touched. Nothing else will slip away. And one day...you'll be strong enough to win back the part that already did.

"Right. Thanks," Vinnietus said.

It's time to wake up now. All we need to do is...

"Open the door," Vinnietus finished as their voices joined as one.

Back on the island, Xehanora in a black coat walked away from Vinnietus. The girl lifted her arm up out of the sheet, and Xehanora stopped and turned around, giving a sound of contentment. A Keyblade flashes into Vinnie's hand, glowing.

"A Keyblade!" Xehanora was surprised as the Keyblade shoots a pillar of light into the sky.

Xehanora smiled and Vinnietus slowly opened her eyes, the small points of light reflecting in them.

Xehanora's Report 10

As was to be expected, Vinnietus lacked the constitution for such an ordeal. I was able to remove the darkness inside her and create Vanita, a heart of pure darkness, but Vinnietus drifted into the clutches of sleep.

Vinnietus's heart of pure light and Vanita's heart of pure darkness...If both could be made strong enough to one day clash, I know the X-blade would be forged. But Vanita took too much of Vinnietus's heart, and from that fracture, I could see the last of Vinnietus's light was slipping away. The girl deserved a place to spend her final moments peacefully. And what should come to mind but my own girlhood home.

My legs took me there unbidden, and as I stood there on the same beach where I had made my choice so many years ago, I thought: not a single thing has changed. Here, in this quiet world, time marches in place. Content that Vinnietus would find peace here, I started to walk away-but just then, the girl held up her Keyblade. The light within her had not died.

Four years ago in the Land of Departure,...

Eraqua's two current apprentices, Terrina and Aquarius, were practicing in the Throne Room, when they hear the front door of the castle opened.

The two walked to the balcony and looked toward the door, where Master Xehanora stood with a dull-eyed Vinnietus at her side. They walked inside and were greeted by Master Eraqua.

"That girl...," Aquarius said, worrying about Vinnietus, then he turned to Terrina, "Is she okay?"

"I'll go see," Terrina said as she walks down the stairs and over to Vinnietus.

"Uh, hi," Terrina soon greeted Vinnietus, "I'm Terrina. What's your name?"

Vinnietus slowly answered, "Vinnietus."

"Whew, you can talk!" Terrina was relieved, then she turns around, "Aquarius, c'mere."

Aquarius smiles and runs downstairs to talk to Vinnietus, "Hi, I'm Aquarius."

Vinnietus looks to each of them in turn as she said their names, "Terrina... Aquarius..."

Terrina and Aquarius were excited by the prospect of gaining a companion, but when they begin questioning Vinnie about her past, she fell into a coma.

"Vinnietus cannot tell you anything," Eraqua explained, "...because she cannot remember anything."

Terrina and Aquarius sadly gasped.

Xehanora's Report 11

Vinnietus and Vanita were not matched in power; I could not train them, or Vanita's darkness would gnaw away what little Vinnietus had left.

Of course, since I needed a place where the girl's light might flourish, the answer was obvious: Eraqua, and her absolutes.

Considering how we had parted ways, I expected friction-but if anything, Eraqua seemed delighted to see me again. She readily agreed to take care of Vinnietus. Now I need only wait for the girl's heart to get stronger.

I had not visited this second home of mine for some time, and discovered Eraqua had already two pupils of her own. Within one of them, Terrina, I sensed something. The girl, though well-intentioned, seeks power single-mindedly. And that kind of hunger is a seedbed for darkness.

I had found my vessel.

Days later, Vinnietus woke up in perfect health, though a guilt-ridden Terrina still feels that it was her fault Vinnie fell comatose in the first place.

To make it up to her, Terrina befriends Vinnietus and later introduced her to Aquarius.

That day was the inception of a powerful friendship, one that would only grow over coming years, and surely hold strong through any obstacle that met the three.

Xehanora's Report 12

The time has come. I have received word from Eraqua that her pupils are to become true Keyblade Masters. Terrina and Aquarius...They will be easy now to lure into the outside world. But Vinnietus! I will get nowhere without her.

Vanita can feel some of what Vinnietus feels, and she says Terrina is the key. Vinnietus has loved Terrina like a real sister ever since she let her keep her old wooden Keyblade. It seems we have found a loose thread at which we can tug to unravel Vinnietus's heart.

The first step is to get Terrina alone; then we need to plant the seeds of doubt in Vinnietus. Let her carry her faint light as she chases her sister into the darkness.

Let the darkness make her light stronger, then let the light deepen the darkness. And where the two finally meet is where the stuff of legends will become real.

Xehanora's Letter

Please accept my deepest gratitude for the invitation to witness your pupils' accession to the office of true Keyblade Master. It was a heavy mantle our Master placed upon your shoulders naming you Successor, but you have nonetheless persevered and raised two Masters yourself. I know it cannot be easy.

I did you terrible harm in the past over a petty difference in opinion, and just a few years ago selfishly thrust my own burdens upon you. I think of you like a younger sister, and yet, fool that I am, I have never availed myself of countless opportunities to apologize or thank you for opening your home to the girl. Yet not once have you blamed me; on the contrary, here you are inviting me to such an important ceremony. I intend to be there to offer you all my blessings.

Our Master chose her heir wisely. Ours is a bizarrely ironic task-to watch over the light from the shadows-but in the face of that, the warmth in your heart and unfailing dedication to the light impress me to no end.

I have taken to wandering the World, and seen much darkness hiding in the light. Lately, I fear it has taken a turn for the worse. Perhaps Yen Sid has already told you about the Unversed? These fledgling emotions derive from negativity, and I can now sense their presence in nearly every world.

And on the topic of darkness: we must speak of another matter that concerns me, one related to the upcoming ceremony. When I visited several years ago, your pupil Terrina drew my attention. Her power is immense, to be sure, but within her heart I could see darkness just waiting to be awakened. I know this is none of my business, but I have reservations about welcoming Terrina as a true Keyblade Master without taking certain precautions. The traditional examination, perhaps, to see if she has the Mark of Mastery? The choice is yours, and I will humbly respect your decision.

Take care. I eagerly await our long overdue reunion.

One night, Vinnietus, now known as Vinnie as they called her, was up on the summit watching a meteor shower when Aquarius arrived.

"You know, you should've at least brought a blanket," Aquarius said to Vinnie.

"But... Did I dream that place up?" Vinnie asked, "It really felt like I'd been there before...looking up at the stars..."

Aquarius pets Vinnie's head as he replied, "Except you've always lived here with us."

"Yeah... I know," Vinnie said as they walk to the edge of the hill and sit. "Aquarius...Did you ever wonder what stars are? Where light comes from?"

"Hmm...," Aquarius pondered, "Well, let's just say that..."

"That every star up there is another world," Terrina spoke up as Vinnie and Aquarius turn around and see that she joined them, "It's hard to believe there are so many worlds out there besides our own. The light is their hearts, and it's shining down on us like a million lanterns."

"What? I don't get it," Vinnie was confused.

"In other words," Terrina replied to Vinnie, "they're just like you."

"What does THAT supposed to mean?" Aquarius asked.

"Vinnie will find out someday, I'm sure," Terrina answered.

"But you can tell that she wants to know now," Aquarius replied.

"But she's too young to know now," Terrina protested.

Vinnie smiled as Aquarius replied back, "Quit treating her like a kid!"

Vinnie laughed when Terrina asked her, "Hey, what are you laughing?"

"I can't help it," Vinnie replied, "You two would make the weirdest couple, while you and I would make the weirdest sisters!"

"Huh?" Terrina and Aquarius looked at each other and blushed. Then, they started laughing along with Vinnie.

A while later,...

"Hey, Terrina," Aquarius said to her, "You and I have our Mark of Mastery exams tomorrow."

Aquarius then reaches into his pocket. Terrina and Vinnie stand up as well when Aquarius pulls out three star-shaped charms hang from thread, "TA-DA! I made us good luck charms."

Aquarius tossed the red one to Terrina, who catches it with one hand and said to Aquarius with love, "Awwww, you made one just for me!"

Vinnie catched a green one, "Wait, I get one too?"

"Of course," Aquarius said as he holds out a blue one, "One for each of us."

They hold them out together and compare as Aquarius continued, "Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star-shaped fruit...and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So as long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart. You'll always find your way back to each other. Technically, I think you're supposed to make them with seashells, but I did the best with what I had."

"Sometimes you are such a boy," Terrina said with a romantic sigh.

"Hey, what do you mean 'sometimes'?" Aquarius asked, looking a little embarrassed.

"So, it's not a real good luck charm?" Vinnie asked, scratching her head.

"Well, that's yet to be seen," Aquarius replied, "But I did work a little magic on it."

"Really? What's that?"

"An unbreakable connection," Aquarius said. "Together...always."

Vinnie joined up with Terrina and Aquarius as they walked back to the castle.

That would be the last night we ever spent beneath the same stars, Terrina, Aquarius, and Vinnie thought in unison.

As the three young Keyblade Wielders train and grow closer, unexpected events began to unfold.

Another wielder, Queen Minnie Mouse, who filled in Mickey's duty as Keyblade wielder while he stayed at their world, was undergoing her own training under former Master Yen Sid.

"Minnie...," Yen Sid said to her, "I cannot shake the feeling something terrible is about to transpire."

That got Minnie's attention.

Xehanort's Report 6

There are three families of Keyblades: the Keyblades of light we wield, Keyblades of darkness, and Keyblades of heart.

The first and second families differ only in origin; Keyblades of darkness are found in the realm of darkness, and are counterparts to the Keyblades we use in the realm of light.

The third type of key, the Keyblade of heart, came into existence when the World was reorganized after the Keyblade War. Without this key, Kingdom Hearts is forever beyond a person's reach. Only by gathering seven hearts of pure light-hearts completely devoid of darkness-may one forge a Keyblade of heart and open the door to Kingdom Hearts.

And, as stated before, opening this door arguably gives that person control over all worlds and all people.

The next day at the Land of Departure, it was the day of the Mark of Mastery exam for Terrina and Aquarius – a trial to determine their worthiness to become Keyblade Masters.

Master Eraqua stepped forward as she began to spoke, "Today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates, but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy, not a test of will, but a test of heart. Both of you may prevail, or neither. But I am sure our guest, Master Xehanora, did not travel all this way to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the Mark. I trust you are ready."

"Yes," Terrina and Aquarius answered in unison.

"Then let the examination begin," Eraqua said as she holds her Keyblade vertically and holds his hand to the hilt, creating a small aura. Five white balls of light appear in midair and Terrina and Aquarius ready their Keyblades.

But Master Xehanora adjusts her hand and the balls of light were mixed with darkness. Surprising Terrina, Aquarius, and Master Eraqua, she smiled.

Terrina and Aquarius begin eliminating the orbs when one of them was flying over to Vinnie.

"Vinnie!" Terrina and Aquarius shouted, but Vinnie takes out her Keyblade and strikes it down.

"Don't you worry about me," Vinnie tells the two, "You two just focus on the exam!"

"But what about you? You're in danger here!" Aquarius said. "Save yourself!"

"No way! I've been looking forward to this, seeing you two become Masters. I'm not gonna miss it now!"

"Vinnie can take care of herself," Terrina tells Aquarius, "She's been out there training just as hard as us."

"Yeah!" Vinnie nodded.

"Stay sharp, then," Aquarius said to Vinnie, and together, the three eliminate the orbs.

"That was unexpected...," Master Eraqua said, "but one must keep a still heart even in the most trying of circumstances. It was an excellent test, one I chose to let unfold. Which brings us to your next trial."

Terrina and Aquarius face each other as Master Eraqua said, "Now, Terrina and Aquarius, you two will be facing each other in combat. Remember, there are no winners-only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed. Begin!"

But during the trail, when she and Aquarius fought and he gained the upper hand, part of the darkness within Terrina emerged unbidden.

After the match, they stand before the Masters once again as Master Eraqua began to said, "We have deliberated and reached a decision. Terrina, Aquarius, you both performed commendably. However, only Aquarius has shown the Mark of Mastery."

Terrina looked dejected as Master Eraqua continued, "Terrina, you failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check. But, there is always next time. That is all."

While Master Xehanora walked out into the hallway, Eraqua turned to Aquarius, "Aquarius, as our newest Keyblade Master, you are entitled to certain knowledge. Please wait here for further instruction."

While Eraqua tried to follow Xehanora, Aquarius turned to Terrina, "Hey..."

Vinnie went up to the two of them, "Well, that didn't go well. Sorry..."

"The darkness... Where did it come from?" Terrina looked down, sadly.

Meanwhile, without Eraqua noticing her, Master Xehanora secretly and quietly tip-toed downstairs to Vanita and asked, "So,... What do you make of Vinnietus?"

"She ain't gonna cut it," Vanita answered in her red and black clothing as she leaned against the wall holding a black curved helmet against her right hip, "Somebody's gotta break her in."

"Not here, you won't," Xehanora warned her, "I have to keep up appearances."

"I know, I know," Vanita replied as she put her helmet on to her face, and the two of them walked downstairs, "Let's just say she just needs a little incentive to leave home."

"Sorry...but I need some time alone," Terrina said, walking away as Vinnie and Aquarius watch her leave.

A few moments later,...

"Aquarius," Master Eraqua went up to him. "Now that you are a Keyblade Master, there is one secret in particular you must know. If anything were to happen to me, and that you find the legion of darkness at our doorstep...I ask that you take my Keyblade and use it to lock this land away."

"What? Why?" Aquarius asked in shocked.

Master Eraqua began to explained, "Generations of Keyblade Masters have been charged with keeping this land safe. Light and darkness exist in balance here, and there are those who would abuse such neutral ground. This is why our predecessors devised a certain...trick. Just use the key, and this land will be transformed. From that day forward, all who visit this land will be lost to oblivion, none ever able to solve the mystery. None, Aquarius, except you."

In her bedroom, Vinnie was already fraught with concern for her friend when suddenly, Vanita appeared out of nowhere.

"Better hurry, Vinnietus...," Vanita said to her, leaning against a bookshelf, "Or you'll never see Terrina again."

"What? Get real," Vinnie replied, "I can see Terrina anytime I want."

"You mean like right now? She's leaving you behind. And by the time you catch up...she'll be a different person."

Outside, as Terrina agonized over the weakness of her that had been exposed, Master Xehanora comforted her.

"The darkness is nothing to fear," Master Xehanora said to her, "And yet...how frustrating that Eraqua refutes its power. Why, you could train with her forever and still...you'd never be a Master in her eyes."

"But why?" Terrina asked, "Help me understand, Master Xehanora. What is it that I've failed to learn?"

"You are fine as you are," Master Xehanora replied, then explained, "Darkness cannot be destroyed. It can only be channeled."

"Yes. Thank you, Master," Terrina thanked her. All she needed to do was supplant it with a greater power.

Just then, at the same time, a bell rings and Terrina looks around before running up the stairs to the castle. Master Xehanora, however, smiled as she entered a corridor of darkness...

Terrina soon caught up with Aquarius, who stood with Master Eraqua in the Throne Room.

"What happened?" Terrina asked Aquarius

"I don't know," Aquarius replied, "Why isn't Vinnie here?"

Because Vinnie was busy dealing with Vanita as she said to her, "Look-whoever you are-you don't know the first thing about Terrina. Me and her will always be a team. You got a problem with that?"

"Oh, please. You call that friendship?" Vanita replied, "You'll never know the truth unless you go out and look for it yourself. I mean, what could you possibly know when you're stuck here, looking at nothing but what's in your tiny world?"

Soon after, Eraqua received word from the great sorcerer, Yen Sid, as she said, "Very well then, I will send my pupils to investigate. I understand. Farewell."

Master Eraqua rejoins Terrina and Aquarius as she told them, "That was my dear old friend Yen Sid. As you know, he is Master no more, but he still keeps a close eye on the tides of light and darkness. His counsel serves as signposts on the road we wielders of the Keyblade must walk. All the more reason, then, for concern-for he tells me the princes of heart are in trouble. Not only from the forces of darkness, as you may assume, but also from a new threat-one that feeds on negativity. Fledgling emotions that have taken monster form-Yen Sid calls them the 'Unversed.' As wielders of the Keyblade, you are tasked with striking down any who would upset the balance of light and darkness. The Unversed are no exception. I tried to pass this news on to Master Xehanora, but my repeated attempts to reach her have failed. I doubt there is any connection, and yet... This all troubles me."

"Master Xehanora is gone?" Terrina asked.

Eraqua nodded as she continued, "So here we are. I need you two to get this situation under control. Eliminate the Unversed, and find Master Xehanora. I have unlocked the Lanes Between. You may use these forbidden pathways to travel between this world and countless others. The darkness looms closer than usual within these spaces, but your armor will protect you. Lastly, remember that the order must be kept. You cannot tell anyone there are other worlds. Now go, and fulfill your duty."

"Yes, Master," Terrina and Aquarius answered in unison.

Terrina turned to leave when Eraqua halted her, "Wait! Consider this an opportunity. A second chance for you to change my mind."

"What?" Terrina was surprised.

"You must know, I care for you like my own daughter," Master Eraqua replied, "If I could have my way, I would name you Master in a second. But, how can I, when you are so obsessed with power? Terrina, you mustn't be afraid of losing. Fear leads to obsession with power, and obsession beckons the darkness. You must never forget."

"Thank you, Master," Terrina said, bowing, "I swear...I will not fail you again."

Aquarius watches her leave as he said, "Master, I'd best be on my way."

Aquarius started to leave, seeing Vinnie run before him, when Eraqua told him, "Wait, Aquarius. Before you depart, I have one other... Well, call it a request, of the utmost priority.

"Yes?" Aquarius answered.

"When I told Terrina this could be a second chance to show the Mark of Mastery...I really meant it. However, that flicker of darkness she displayed during the examination, I can sense it runs very deep. If those powers were to prove too much for her to handle, I want you to bring her back to me at once. It's for her own good. I could not bear to lose any of you to the darkness."

"All right," Aquarius answered, "I would never let that happen. I promise you I will bring Terrina back. Only this time, you'll see she has what it takes to be Master."

Aquarius gazed toward the stained-glass window, light pouring in from outside as he continued, "She's not as weak as you think."

And so, Terrina left to solve both mysteries, and Vinnietus ran away to be with her friend.

And as for Aquarius, Eraqua tasked him with keeping Terrina under surveillance and bringing Vinnietus home as soon as possible.

Thus their journeys began.

Xehanora's Report 2

Our Master instructed us to don armor while traveling between worlds, so that we might shield ourselves from the darkness. But there, in the Lanes Between, I could feel the force of it-the power-and from then on, I forwent my armor's "protection." I had been told the darkness would devour me, but what terrors could it possibly hold, so long as I found the strength to control it?

The World is vast-and the worlds within the greater World, uncountable. Like little islands, they dot a great Ocean Between which keeps them ignorant of each other, uncorrupted.

Each world had its own order. Unlike us, they could not know of the World in its entirety, and we were never to enlighten them.

Xehanora's Report 5

At present, the lanes and corridors that run between the worlds may only be traversed by us Keyblade wielders, and those who have given themselves over to darkness.

As the former, our duty is to cross the chasms between the worlds and guard against the latter, whose darkness corrupts and contaminates, so that no world need ever be lost again.

Few Keyblade wielders remain now; I have heard of but a handful of others outside my circle. But the world is vast, and more of our kind may be out there.

Now, in addition to the realm of light in which we reside, there is also a realm of darkness, and the realm between which connects the two. The realm of darkness is most forbidden; I am told none who set foot there have ever returned.

During Terrina's travels, Master Xehanora whittled away at the young woman's ethics as Terrina had reached the Badlands and flies over the desolate, rocky terrain, seeing Master Xehanora standing near the edge of a canyon.

"Master Xehanora...," Terrina called as she landed nearby and releases the glider and armor, "I have been to other worlds. I know all about the things you've done. I just don't understand why."

"Someone had to safeguard the light...from the demon I unleashed," Xehanora said, looking downward, "You must know about the girl by now, the one in the mask. Her name is Vanita. A creature of pure darkness. One of my making."

"Vanita...," Terrina asked, "Are you telling me she came from you?"

"She came from Vinnietus," Xehanora answered, "Vanita is the darkness that was inside your friend."

Terrina gasped, but Master Xehanora continued quickly, "It was an accident. While training with me, Vinnietus succumbed to darkness, and there was but one way to save her-strip that part of her away. And thus, Vanita was made. In the process, I damaged the girl's heart in the most horrific way. So I did what I felt was right, and left her with Eraqua. I knew the girl could not stay with me, the woman who did her such harm."

"Master Xehanora...," Terrina reassured her, "Vinnietus has gotten a lot better since then. You shouldn't blame yourself for trying to save her."

"Well...," Xehanora said, softly. "Thank you, lad. You know how to put an old woman's heart at ease."

Master Xehanora also went on to explain she had tried to contain Vanita, but the monster had escaped, and now she was unleashing her darkness, the Unversed, upon world after world.

Xehanora implored Terrina to set things right, sending her to the city of light, Radiant Garden, to which Vanita would undoubtedly be drawn next.

Elsewhere in the Badlands, after Terrina left, Vinnie once again found herself face-to-face with Vanita.

"All right!" Vinnie began to ask, "What did you mean about Terrina being a different person?"

"Exactly what I said before, Vinnietus. The Terrina you know will be gone forever," the girl explained. And much to Vinnie's surprise, she summoned a Keyblade.

Not only was the masked girl a Keyblade wielder, but a vastly superior one. With disdain, she prepared to finish Vinnie off, but Minnie arrived just in the nick of time.

Minnie made sure that Vinnietus is okay and turned to face Vanita with an angry look on her face.

"Where did you get that?!" Minnie ordered Vanita as she thrusts out her Keyblade, "Keyblades are not something you use just to bully somebody around! Here, I'll show ya!"

Vinnietus then spoke up as she was getting up, "We both will!"

Minnie and Vinnie nod and they fight Vanita, knocking her to the ground. The masked girl leaped to her feet and they ready for another attack.

"Hmph, you win," Vanita said as she opens a dark portal and walked backward. As it vanished, she added, "Consider yourself on probation."

"Probation for what?" Vinnietus asked, then she turned to Minnie, "Thanks for before, I owe ya. The name's Vinnietus. Yours?"

"I'm Minnie," Minnie introduced herself, "I've been trainin' under Mickey's teacher, Yen Sid. He found out the worlds are in trouble, and I sorta took off without tellin' him."

Vinnietus rubs her head sheepishly, "Well, that makes both of us. I ran off, too."

But when Minnie tried to show Vinnie the Star Shard she had been using to travel from world to world, it erupted in an unexpected blaze of light that engulfed the both of them and whisked them off to destinations unknown.

And so, Terrina, Aquarius, and Vinnietus separately find themselves in Radiant Garden, the city of light.

In a peculiar turn of events, Vinnie finds herself in Radiant Garden, transported by Minnie's Star Shard. Completely lost, she spots Minnie heading towards the castle gates, and sets off behind her.

Terrina arrived there in the hopes of locating Vanita. She manages to catch a fleeting glimpse of Master Xehanora and begins pursuit.

Vinnie followed Minnie as far as the castle doors, but the guards, Selena and Ladia, prevented her from pursuing her new friend any further. Instead, she wound up chasing an enormous Unversed through the city.

"Radiant Garden shall not fall under the likes of you," Ladia said to the Unversed.

Vinnietus rushes in front of them, "Leave this to me!"

"Stop! You're just a child!" Ladia and Selena shouted in unison.

They nodded to each other and start to follow Vinnie, when a voice appeared, "Now who do you think will defend the castle if you two go skipping off?"

"But, that girl...," Selena tried to speak, but a blond woman wearing a white lab coat, whose name was Eve, halted her.

"Never you worry about her," Eve said as she smirked, "She's a special case. By the way, her Ladyship was asking for you."

The guards walked back into the castle as Eve pondered, "A heart devoid of darkness? Stripped clean of it, at that... Very questionable."

Meanwhile, Aquarius arrived in Radiant Garden after chasing Terrina through the Lanes Between. But it seemed that Terrina had already vanished from the view.

He learned from Scrooge that he had seen someone heading towards the castle, and believing it to be Terrina leave for it immediately. Instead of finding his friend, he is greeted by an unwelcome sight; a little boy named Kai being attacked by Unversed.

Joined by Minnie, they manage to protect him and defeat the creatures.

Aquarius suggested that the Unversed were after the boy for his pure light, and forges a pact with Minnie to keep evil at bay, though she was quickly whisked away by the Star Shard afterwards. He leaves a parting gift for Kai, enchanting his necklace with magic to keep him safe.

Kai's grandpa had come to get him, and as they went home together, the old man told him a story about a war that was fought long ago over the light: The Keyblade War.

Soon, the three friends were reunited in Radiant Garden, but too much had changed.

Their happy reunion was spoiled as Aquarius began, "Listen, Vinnie... We need to get you home."

"It's okay," Vinnie replied, "Trust me, that girl in the mask is history. She'll never bad-mouth Terrina again."

Terrina gasped as she asked Vinnie strongly, "You saw the girl in the mask?"

Vinnie surprisingly answered, "Y-yes?"

"Vanita...," Terrina muttered, then turned to Vinnie, "Vinnie. You let Aquarius take you home."

"No way. I wanna go with you guys."

"You can't. We have a dangerous task ahead of us. I don't want you to get hurt."

"And what exactly is this dangerous task?" Aquarius asked as he angrily looked at the two girls, "It didn't sound like anything what the Master told you to do."

"It might be a different route," Terrina replied to Aquarius, "but I'm fighting the darkness."

"I wouldn't be saying that," Aquarius said, "I've been to the same worlds as you and I saw what you've did. How can I lay eyes on one of my two favorite gals that I care about who shouldn't put herself so close to darkness?"

"Listen to yourself, Aquarius. Terrina would never-"

Terrina gasped, narrowing her eyes, "You were spying on me? Is that what she said to do? The Master's orders?"

"She was only...," Aquarius tried to explain, but he looked away.

"Too much," Vinnie said.

Terrina, with tears in her eyes, turned away as she said, "I get it."

"Terrina!" Vinnietus tried to follow her, but...

"Just stay put!" Terrina yelled as tears rolled in her eyes and Vinnie stopped, "I'm on my own now! Don't even bother!"

"Terrina, please! Listen!" Aquarius tried to explain as Terrina ran off in tears, crying, "The Master has no reason to distrust you, really! She was just worried."

"You're bad at this, aren't you?" Vinnietus asked Aquarius, with a glare look in her eyes.

"So, now you know the truth," Aquarius said, "But the Master loves Terrina, and you know that."

"Were you also 'ordered' to take me home?" Vinnie asked by quoting with her fingers, but Aquarius said nothing, "You know what... Ever since you're now a Keyblade Master, you've let it go to your head."

Vinnie scoffed as she leaves Aquarius, who stood alone, "Terrina... Vinnie... I'm sorry."

Terrina continued to walk back to the Aqueduct, wiping away the tears, as she said, "Master Xehanora is the only one I can still count on."

Just then, a voice appeared, "You must be Terrina."

Terrina stopped and sees a tall woman in guard's clothes wearing a red scarf that's tattered at the edges, her brown eyes glinting, approaching her. Her name was Gigy.

"It's that old coot. She won't stop asking for you," Gigy said to Terrina about Xehanora, "I came all the way out here to get you just so she'd clam up."

"I don't follow," Terrina said.

"Ha! Do I have to spell it out for you?" Gigy asked, "Xehanora, whatever she's called. You know, my prisoner."

"You're apparently not a very good liar," Terrina said, "Master Xehanora would never let herself be caught by a thug like you."

"As if! I've got the old coot at my mercy, see for yourself. I'm holding her underneath the Outer Gardens," Gigy said, "You better show up before I lose my patience. Ciao."

Gigy turned and leaved as Terrina thought, There's no way it's true-but no harm in looking.

When she arrived in the Outer Gardens, Terrina descends to the Purification Facility and looks out over the fountains.

She suddenly turned to see Master Xehanora tied up in chains to a large pipe as she shouted, "Master Xehanora!"

"The old coot certainly knows how to take punishment," Gigy said as she walked in from the entranceway, "Just like I know how to deal it out."

"You monster! What are you after?" Terrina asked as she summons her Keyblade while Gigy walks onto the large balcony.

"That thing right there. It's called a Keyblade, isn't it?" Gigy asked, pointing at the Keyblade with her arrowgun in her left hand, "Yep, it seems like these days everybody's got one of those...even grandma up there. When I nabbed her, she told me all about it-what a weapon like that can do. How could I not want one?"

"Well, you'll find they're picky about their owners," Terrina replied.

"Ha, if I heard the old lady right, you're what they call Keyblade Master material," Gigy said as she brandishes her arrowgun.

Then, Gigy tosses her gun and catches it, aiming it at Terrina as she continued, "So if I defeat you, that makes me the real keyslinger, if you catch my drift. Not the most polite way to go about it...But what can you do?

Terrina runs toward Gigy, but she halted her, "Ah-ah, one more step and the coot goes boom. You think I'm gonna fight fair? As if! That key's too powerful for us to go womano a womano."

While searching for her friend, Vinnie rescued a little girl, an orphan named Ienza, from the Unversed. The girl's guardian, Eve, thanked Vinnie for her heroism.

"I see we owe you our thanks," Eve said to Vinnie, "We have done our best to raise the girl...since her poor parents are not here to do it."

Ienza stared at Vinnie with her blue eyes, remaining in silent thought, as Vinnie said to her, "Oh. You're on your own."

Then, Vinnie turned to Eve, "...Ma'am, I'm looking for a friend of mine. She's a tall guy dressed kinda like me-have you seen her?"

Eve pondered, "Hmm... Perhaps I did see her in the Outer Gardens. Just follow this road."

"Thank you."

"No, thank you, for keeping Ienza out of harm's way. And... Well, let's just say I have a funny feeling we are destined to cross paths again."

Eve smirked, much to the confusion of Vinnie, and walked away. Ienza stared at her and follows. Vinnie rushes to the Outer Gardens.

Back at the Outer Gardens, Gigy shooted too many lasers at Terrina, who blocks with her Keyblade. More stream out and she falls over.

Gigy laughed, "For a Keyblade Master, you're not very-what's the word-good?"

Terrina gets up slowly when she heard Master Xehanora's voice, "What are you doing, Terrina? Fight!"

"But Master, you'll-," Terrina cried.

"Never mind me!" Xehanora shouted, "You must fight! You can't let this ruffian win. Think of your Master, Eraqua, the shame she and your fellow pupils would be forced to bear! Use the Keyblade!"

Terrina stands up and feels a rush of anger as Gigy scoffed, "So much for the bluff."

Though Terrina managed to beat Gigy and freed the Master, there was a price: She had to call upon the powers of darkness to win.

"This power...," Terrina said in realization.

"Well done, Terrina," Xehanora congratulated her as she walked towards her, "You have taken yet another step forward."

Terrina still hardly believe what just happened as she said, "But I was consumed by anger...hatred. That was the power of darkness."

"Darkness that you channeled," Xehanora cried, proudly.

Terrina felt ashamed and afraid that she would now be cast out of her home, but Master Xehanora offered her another choice: become her pupil.

"Master Eraqua, you see, is so afraid of darkness, that she too, has succumbed-not to darkness, but to light," Xehanora explained, "It shines so bright, she forgets that light begets darkness. And Aquarius and Vinnietus, their lights shine too bright. It's only natural that they cast shadows on your heart. Eraqua... She is such a fool! Light and darkness, they are a balance-one that must always be maintained. Terrina...you were the one who shows the true Mark of Mastery, but she refuses to see it."

Terrina remained silent as Master Xehanora continued, "And I think I know why. It is because she fears you. Join me. You and I can do the worlds much greater good, by wielding light and darkness in equal shares."

"Master Xehanora...," Terrina felt redeemed as Xehanora nodded.

"See more worlds," Xehanora told Terrina, "Seek out the darkness that upsets the balance. Find Vanita. And bring an end to her... Master Terrina."

Just before leaving, Terrina ran into Vinnie. She struggled for the right farewell, uncertain when or if the two of them would meet again.

Elsewhere, Aquarius continued his search, but was confronted by Vanita.

"A mask! You're the girl that Vinnietus mentioned."

"Ah yes, Vinnietus," Vanita said, "Tell me, has she learned to put up a decent fight yet?"

"Now why on Earth would she do that for you?"

"I'll be asking questions," Vanita replied, "And why shouldn't I? After all, between the two of us...I'm the only one who will walk away from here alive."

"Guess again!" Aquarius said as he summons his Keyblade and he glared at her.

A fight ensued, and he had only barely managed to drive the masked girl off when Vinnie came running up.

"Were you able to find Terrina?" Aquarius asked Vinnie

"Yeah, but... She's gone," Vinnietus answered.

"Right. Then, I can't stay here."

Realizing now that they faced greater dangers than ever, Aquarius insisted Vinnietus go home to the Land of Departure for her own safety.

Then, he vanished into the Lanes Between. Now Aquarius was left to deal with a mixture of guilt, concern, and love.

With both her friends gone, Vinnie was alone again, pitifully reminiscing of happier times. Vinnie took out a battered wooden sword Terrina had given her back in the better days.

Terrina had even performed a mock ceremony, pretending to pass the power of the wooden "Keyblade" on to Vinnie. It was a happy memory.

She remembered the talk the three of them had that night.

"Being a Keyblade Master is all I've dreamed about," Terrina said.

"Well, you're not the only one," replied Aquarius as they were all of one mind, working toward a single goal.

Vinnie was still reliving these memories when a girl named Leela showed up and, out of nowhere, demanded the two of them fight. Baffled, Vinnie agreed, but Leela only ended up wearing herself out before their "battle" had begun.

As Leela and her friend, Aisia, started taking digs at each other, Vinnie watched in envy, missing the days when friendship was so simple to define.

Back in the Purification Facility, Master Xehanora looked over the railing at the fountains when a voice boomed, "Hey, you old coot!"

It was Gigy, who shooted a laser at the back of Xehanora's head, but it did nothing. Then, she walked closer and shoot more, but they simply bounce off. Even her face is heavily bandaged.

"You said I wouldn't get hurt! I didn't sign up to be collateral damage!" Gigy yelled at Xehanora as she pointed an arrowgun directly at Xehanora's head, "No way, as if!"

Xehanora summoned her Keyblade and points it under Gigy's neck, choking her.

Gigy backed away as she said, "Okay! Okay, fine. Fine! Just...just put that down! You still need me! You still need me to do something, right? And all I'm asking is that you hold up your end of the bargain."

Xehanora dispels her Keyblade and Gigy bends over in relief.

"Heh, I mean, what's a little scratch on my face, huh? All things considered," Gigy said, "That would've ruined my week for sure."

"Unlikely. A powerful light still lives inside of Terrina," Xehanora replied, "You see, people like her...they don't have the power to steal hearts."

"So, wait a minute, you mean...she's not the one who...?"

Master Xehanora give out a small laugh.

Guided by fate, perhaps, Terrina arrived at the Destiny Islands and met Rika. She decided to bequeath the power of the Keyblade to this little girl, who reminded her so much of herself.

"So long as you have the makings," Terrina tells Rika, "Then through this simple act of taking...its wielder you shall one day be."

Terrina's uncertainty had left her. It was not too late to go back to her friends, to keep them safe. She could still be the person she had set out to be.

Some time after, Aquarius visited these same islands and discovered what Terrina had been doing. He, too, found a kindred spirit in Rika's friend, Sorette.

Aquarius looked at Rika as he thought, This girl looks so sincere, just like Terrina. He then looked at Sorette, And this one, she's like Vinnie.

Aquarius laughed and the two look at each other as he said to the two girls, "One of you might be special enough. Mind telling me your names?"

"I'm Sorette!" Sorette said happily, raising her hand.

"Rika," Rika nodded.

Aquarius began to think, Someone has already passed this girl the power. Was that Terrina?

"Hey, uh, Sorette, do you like Rika?" Aquarius asked.

Sorette grinned widely, "Of course I like her, she's my best friend!"

"Great," Aquarius replied, "You see, if something happens, and Rika's about to get lost-or let's just say, she starts wandering down a dark path alone-you make sure to stay with her and keep her safe. That's your job, Sorette, and I'm counting on you to do so."

Sorette and Rika laughed as Aquarius pets both Sorette's and Rika's heads.

As the two little girls leave Aquarius and walked along the beach to the docks, he returns to the sandbar and sits on the paopu tree.

"One Keyblade is enough for any friendship," Aquarius would never wish the things he and Terrina had been through onto these children.

Vinnie had made a discovery of her own. While rescuing Minnie, she was confronted by Master Xehanora, triggering a sudden, traumatic recall of her lost memories.

"Ah yes, so you finally starting to realize...," Xehanora said, smiling and thrusting out her hand, moving her fingers in a manner of power, "What you lost-oh, but not for good. You had to lose in order to find. Now it can all be yours again, if you only reach out and take it."

Xehanora even then clenches her fist as she continued, "Reclaim the part that left you. Clash with her! Pure light against pure darkness, to forge the ultimate key. The all-powerful χ-blade!"

Vinnie screamed in pain and collapses, "Key...blade?"

"Not the Keyblades you and I carry," Xehanora reminded Vinnie as her hand had appeared a floating golden "X", spinning slowly in the air, "'χ'... A most ancient letter. Some say 'kye', but the meaning is the same. Death... A letter that spells endings."

Then, Xehanora even lifts her arms, creating a dark portal in the sky, churning with power and lightning. The wind picks up, blowing dust into the air

"And you said I have the power to make it?" Vinnie asked.

"Correct," Xehanora answered as she nodded, "Eraqua knows it, too. She knows exactly what you are."

"The Master?"

"Haven't you ever wondered? Why she never granted you permission to leave her side, to grow stronger?" Xehanora began to ask, then answered, "Eraqua was frightened of you. I mean, if you were going to learn the truth, and realize what you are... She never trusted you. Why else would she keep you within her sight at all times?"

Vinnie's eyes turned wide in both realization and shock as she managed to get up, "Yeah. She never let me see other worlds, no matter how much I asked."

Master Xehanora smiled as she points her hand out towards Vinnie as a great wind blows in Vinnie's direction from behind.

Vinnie was bracing the wind as Xehanora commanded right before casting Vinnie and Mickey alike into the Lanes Between, "Go. You can ask the woman yourself. Learn the truth, and remember you have a greater purpose!"

Then, Master Xehanora summoned Terrina to the badlands to warn her.

"Master Xehanora, you wished to see me?" Terrina asked.

"There is no time to lose!" Xehanora warned, "I've terrible news. Vinnietus has stumbled upon the secrets of her origins."

"Vinnie?" Terrina was confused, "But I just saw her, she passed right in front of me. What happened?"

"Vinnietus is on her way home. If you could have seen the fury in her eyes...," Xehanora started to act so distress, "I'm certain she's capable of anything. I fear the girl may attempt to force the truth out of Eraqua. Master Terrina, you must hurry back and see to your friend's safety."

"Of course," Terrina answered as she knew it was unlike Vinnie to force anything out of anybody. Concerned, she raced after her friend.

Xehanora chuckled darkly as Terrina traveled back to the Land of Departure...

Vinnie returned to the Land of Departure and was greeted by Master Eraqua, but she looked away.

"Vinnietus, you're alone? I thought Aquarius would...," Eraqua said as she walked over to a hesitant Vinnie and placed her arms on the girl's shoulders, "Well, what matters is that you're home. You don't belong outside this world yet. You need to stay here where you can learn-"

"In your prison?"

Master Eraqua was shocked to hear that, "What?"

"That's your excuse...for keeping me imprisoned here, isn't it?" Vinnie angrily yelled at Eraqua.

"What did you hear?" Eraqua asked.

"That I'm supposed to be some weapon...," Vinnie answered, "Some kind of...'χ-blade'!"

The very mention of the name confirmed Eraqua's worst fears, that Xehanora had not truly abandoned her old ambitions, "I knew it. Xehanora-she could never let it go."

Eraqua remembered a time past, a memorable conflict between herself and Xehanora.

"They say ruin brings about creation. So, what would yet another Keyblade War bring?" Xehanora said, "When the darkness falls, will we be found worthy of the precious light the legend speaks of? I must have these answers. The χ-blade needs to be forged, and with it, the door to the Keyblade War will be unlocked!"

"If words won't dissuade you," Eraqua said as she summons her Keyblade and runs toward Master Xehanora, "only one thing will."

Xehanora turned as well, smiling, summoning her Keyblade with darkness as lightning swirls around her. She points her blade with a yell, and two bolts of dark energy shoot out and strike Master Eraqua in the face.

Eraqua faltered and she collapsed to the floor as Xehanora walks closer to her and the darkness around her vanished.

"That power!" Eraqua said as darkness emanated from the scars on her face, "Has the darkness taken you, Xehanora?"

But Xehanora just answered, "It's none of your concern."

But the truth was a disaster waiting to happen. Master Eraqua rubs one of her scars with a knuckle as she said, "I failed. I had the chance to stop her and couldn't do it. But I will not fail again."

Unwilling to repeat this failure, Eraqua prepared to imprison Vinnie as she summons her Keyblade and prevent Xehanora's ambitions from being achieved.

Vinnie gasped as she backed away, "Master! What are you..."

Master Eraqua had no choice but to lock her pupil's heart away to keep that disaster contained as she said, "The χ-blade has no place in this or any world. Xehanora has made her purpose clear...and I am left with no choice. Forgive me...but you must exist no more!"

But before she could, Terrina arrived just in the nick of time and rushed to Vinnie's defense.

"Master, have you gone mad?"

"Terrina!" Eraqua was shocked, then ordered, "I command you-step aside!"

Terrina's armor vanishes as she shouted, "No!"

Master Eraqua angrily asked, "You will not heed your Master?"

"I won't!"

Master Eraqua felt conflicted as she said, "Why do all my attempts to reach you fail? If you don't have it in your heart to obey...then you will have to share Vinnietus's fate."

Pushed to the limit, Terrina released the powers of darkness inside her, enraging Eraqua as she said to her master, "You may be my Master. But I will not...let you hurt my friend!"

"Has the darkness taken you, too, Terrina?"

At the first chance she got, Terrina opened a portal to the Lanes Between and tossed Vinnie inside. Then, she and Eraqua clashed, fighting until they both hardly had the strength to stand.

Only then, battered and wounded, did Terrina calm down and realize what she had done.

Fear and incredulity stretched across her face as Terrina said, "What have I done..."

Terrina stepped closer to her Master to beg forgiveness, "Master... I just...wanted to keep Vinnie safe."

"No, you were right. I failed you, Terrina," Eraqua said, weakened, "Perhaps I have no one to blame but myself for the darkness inside you. And now I've done worse-raised my Keyblade against you and Vinnietus."

Terrina shakes her head as Eraqua continued, "Even my own heart is darkness!"

But as it turns out, this was exactly what Master Xehanora had hoped for; Terrina watched in horror as her new "mentor" struck the weakened Eraqua down. She had been fooled.

Terrina breathes heavily, planting her hands on the ground, sobbing, "Master Eraqua!"

Then, Master Xehanora appeared, laughing, "What a sight. Why do you trouble yourself with remorse, Master Terrina? The woman was bent on doing harm to your friend, her own pupil!"

Terrina looked up, "Master Xehanora! Why?"

"You know, at times I find your progress quite striking. But you still fall short," Xehanora replied, "Let all that anger out, my girl. Give your heart over to darkness!"

Terrina stands up and summoned her Keyblade as she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Still so blind...," Xehanora chuckled as she summons her Keyblade, "Then I will make you see."

The old woman dared Terrina to come to the Keyblade Graveyard, where all Keyblade wielders leave their mark on fate. There, she said, Terrina would watch Vinnietus and Aquarius meet their ends, and the last light within her would die.

Her true intentions finally unmasked as Xehanora proceeded to tear the Land of Departure asunder.

As the world she had grown up in collapsed around him, Terrina rushed into the Lanes Between, swearing to protect her friends.

After departing Destiny Islands, Aquarius finds Minnie drifting unconscious in the Lanes Between worlds and immediately moves to pick her up.

Minnie was hurt, and he could tell from the murmurs that she needed to get back to Yen Sid.

But when Aquarius took her to the sorcerer's tower while Daisy and Clarabelle see to their Queen, Yen Sid informed him with shocking news: Master Eraqua had met her demise at the hands of Master Xehanora...and Terrina.

Unwilling to believe it, Aquarius set off for the Keyblade Graveyard to confront his friend and find out the truth.

A portal to the Lanes Between opened and Vinnie came tumbling out onto a beach. Destiny Islands.

Even now, she could hardly believe it. The woman who had been like a mother to her and her fellow apprentices tried to hurt her because of the mysterious threat of the χ-blade

Vinnie didn't understand it at all, but she couldn't bear to see her Master, and the woman she loves like a sister fight one another because of her.

It wasn't right, it wasn't fair.

Although determined to return to the Land of Departure and resolve the situation, Vinnie was intercepted and confronted by Vanita.

Ignoring her, Vinnie trudged off to find her way back. When Vanita insisted they join and create the χ-blade, Vinnie flatly refused, knowing she could prevent the blade from being forged if she did not fight.

But now that Vinnietus's two halves faced each other again on the beach. Vanita beckoned Vinnie to the Keyblade Graveyard, where she could either fight, or watch as Terrina's and Aquarius's lives were snuffed out.

Led by destiny, Terrina, Vinnietus, and Aquarius assembled in the Keyblade Graveyard.

In a barren clearing, amidst countless Keyblades reduced to rust and ruin, stood Terrina. Aquarius appeared and questioned her about Master Eraqua's demise.

"I was told...the Master was struck down," Aquarius said.

"Yes...that's right," Terrina admitted, looking away with tears as her face went dark, "I was stupid and helped Xehanora do it."

Aquarius gasped as Terrina continued, "The Master...she tried to hurt Vinnie. I don't know why, but...I only fought because I wanted to protect her. But I was tricked. Xehanora set the whole thing up, all of this so she could awaken the darkness inside me."

Terrina went up to Aquarius and hugged him as she said, sobbing, "You were right, Aquarius, and so was the Master. I did need to be watched. I went astray, but no more."

Aquarius put his hand on Terrina's cheek to wipe away the tears as he told her, "What else is darkness but hate and rage? Xehanora's feeding the dark fires within you, making you fight. You'll do the same thing again. So, tell me...How does that even honor our Master's memory, anyway?"

Vinnietus walked up to them as she explained, "Xehanora wants me and Vanita to fight, and make some kind of 'χ-blade'. But the Master said we can't let that happen...and she tried to destroy me for it."

"χ-blade?"

"I still don't know exactly what it is," Vinnie replied, "But...it just scares me to death. Even just the thought of it."

"Relax, Vinnie," Terrina said to her as she and Aquarius move closer to her, "We're here and we're gonna take care of you."

But Vinnie looked down as she said, "I may have to fight Vanita after all. If I do, guys...I want you to-"

"Don't said another word. It's not over. It's just not...," Terrina interrupted as she place her hand on Vinnie's shoulder.

Vinnie shook her head and removes Terrina's hand as she said sadly, "I'm asking you, as a friend... Just...put an end to me."

Just then, a big gust of wind appeared and in the distance, Master Xehanora approaches with Vanita at her side.

"Behold...," Master Xehanora spoke up, "These lifeless keys used to be full of power, united with the hearts of their masters. On this barren soil, these Keyblades of light and darkness were locked in combat...as a great Keyblade War raged. Countless Keyblade wielders gave up their lives, all in search of one, ultimate key. And it will soon belong to me...The ultimate, all-powerful χ-blade!"

Master Xehanora's intentions were all made clear. Her desire was to create the ultimate χ-blade. Only with it, she can call upon Kingdom Hearts and recreate the epic Keyblade War.

A violent clash ensued as Terrina, Aquarius, and Vinnietus engage their armors.

Almost instantly, Terrina had donned her armor and was charging toward Xehanora, but with a single twitch, their foe bent the very earth; with a flick of the wrist the Keyblades embedded in the ground freed themselves and formed a violent vortex of metal that spiraled skyward.

Try as she might, Terrina could not break past the walls of stone and steel to reach Xehanora.

Vinnie had crept up on Xehanora from behind, but when she moved to strike, she found herself caught; a moment later she had been turned to ice.

Xehanora flashed a crooked smile as she changed her Keyblade into an orb of light, which raced into the sky, parting the thick clouds above and revealing Kingdom Hearts.

Down below, Terrina picked herself up and took off her helmet as anger was coursing through her. She glows brightly and summons her glider, riding it to the top of the mountain.

Terrina jumped down and dispels her armor and stared at Master Xehanora with her blue eyes.

Meanwhile, Aquarius watched over Vinnie, who lay down in his arms, when a voice appeared, "How 'bout you leave the popsicle with me, so you can go have your little fight with Terrina."

Aquarius was confronted by Master Xehanora's accomplice, Gigy, who continued, "You can't be too happy about her deep-sixing your Master."

"Who are you?" Aquarius asked.

"Let's just say...a friend of Xehanora," Gigy answered as she chuckled darkly and her yellow eyes were glinting.

"Admirably done," Xehanora said to Terrina on top of the mountain, "I knew this was a journey you could make-over the unseen wall that divides darkness and light. And I wasn't wrong, Terrina!"

Terrina angrily scoffed.

"You really think that you two have got some big grand role to play," Gigy said to Aquarius and Vinnie, "As if. You're only here so that when I finish you off...Terrina will succumb to darkness. So...which of you lucky winners would like to go first?"

Vinnietus glared at Gigy as she shouted furiously, "Shut up!"

"Oh, so this kiddo thinks she's a full-fledged Keyblade wielder? She'd got the angry look right there."

"Go ahead if you want to waste time," Aquarius said to Gigy as he sets Vinnietus down, "Keep trying to drive us apart with mind games. It'll never work! Terrina will prove to you she's stronger!"

Aquarius summons his Keyblade and runs toward Gigy, who reveals her arrowguns. Vinnie lay frozen while the two fought.

"My friend, Vinnie...," Terrina said as she summons her Keyblade and Xehanora give out a wide-eyed smile, "Tell me, Xehanora-what did you do to her?"

"Why, I kinda did her a little favor and freed the darkness inside her," Xehanora answered, "What, like poor Vinnietus never had the fortitude for such...strenuous trials?!"

"XEHANORA!" Terrina shouted.

To fuel Terrina's growing rage, Xehanora commanded Vanita to end the lives of Vinnietus and Aquarius. Vanita nodded as Terrina knocks Xehanora back, turning to run after the girl, but Vanita jumped down the mountain.

Before Terrina reaches the edge, Xehanora teleported before her. Terrina, stunned, jumped back.

Down below, Gigy was outmatched, "I keep forgetting-don't mess with Keyblade wielders. But you know what? That just means I made the right choice!"

Aquarius angrily ran toward her as Gigy continued, "Well...she wanted me to buy time, and I'd say she got it."

"What?" Aquarius asked when Gigy exit the scene, then he turned to Vinnie, who's still frozen, "Vinnie!"

"Aquarius," Vinnie shouted, "Look out!"

Frozen and unable to move, Vinnie watched as Vanita struck Aquarius down.

"You see how powerless you are to save them?" Xehanora tells Terrina, "Savor that rage and despair. Let it empower you!"

"You will pay, Xehanora!" Terrina said to Xehanora, furiously as darkness poured out of her, "Was my Master... No, my mother, Eraqua, not enough for you? Leave my friends alone!"

"Yes, girl, that's it! More! Let your whole heart blacken with anger!"

Terrina feels energy coursing through her as the darkness keeps growing deeper. Then, she lets out a great scream and darkness explodes out of her body as Terrina fights Xehanora.

Furiously, Vinnie broke free of the ice that held her, and in an intense clash, defeated Vanita. But that was exactly what Xehanora had planned for her all along.

"You've done it, Vinnietus," Vanita said as she dispels her Keyblade. Vinnietus stared at Vanita as she takes off her helmet, revealing that she has startling yellow eyes and spiky black hair, "Because now that my body's about to perish...you and I will have to join together! The χ-blade will be forged!"

Darkness poured forth from Vanita's body, spawning a swarm of Unversed to pinned Vinnie down. All of the Unversed had begun in the darkness.

"The Unversed...come from you?" Vinnie asked.

Vanita nodded as she laughed to herself, "It all happened when you and I were split into two. The negativity took shippy ship-shape as these monsters. They're what I feel-an army of fledgling emotions under MY control. I've been releasing them in all the worlds I could, hoping to lure you away from home and isolate you from your Master."

Vanita walked closer to Vinnie. While Aquarius lied down unconscious on the ground, Vanita continued, "We needed to make you stronger, so the Unversed were the perfect opponents. And better yet, no matter how many times you and your friends beat them...their negativity flows right back into me. You never stood a chance against us, Vinnietus."

Helplessly, Vinnietus watched as Vanita crept closer. As the two fused, an enormous column of energy burst skyward. Vinnie was engulfed in light, and passed out.

At the top of the mountain, Terrina knocked the old woman to the ground. But it was too late when a vast column of energy had risen.

Xehanora looked up and smiled as she cried, "The χ-blade has been forged!"

"Vinnie!" Terrina shouted.

At that moment, Xehanora had released her heart from her body as she said, "And now, Terrina, it is time for the biggest part of my plan: A little thing I liked to call...THE FINAL UNION!"

"What?" Terrina's eyes were widened.

"At last, our moment has arrived," Xehanora cried as she opens her arms, "Out with the old and brittle vessel, and in with a younger and stronger new one!"

Xehanora's body glowed as Terrina gasped and backed away slightly as the heart floats over Xehanora, who raises her arms toward it.

"I swore that I would survive...and be there to see what awaited beyond the Keyblade War!" Xehanora said with an evil smile, then looked at Terrina, "For now, it is your darkness...THAT SHALL BE THE ARK THAT SUSTAINS ME!"

Xehanora fires her heart at Terrina, who quickly summoned her armor to try and protect herself.

But Terrina was unable to move and Xehanora's body disappears into shimmers of light.

A few seconds later, everything went silent...

...until all of Terrina's armor fell off, and her Keyblade felt to the ground as well, for her hair has turned white, her eyes were yellow when she opened them, and her voice was deeper.

Xehanora had finally possessed Terrina's body! She had succeeded as she shook with glee in her new, sexy body.

"This heart belongs again to darkness," Xehanora said as she smiled, "All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end. The heart is no different. Darkness sprouts within it, it grows, consumes it. Such is its nature. In the end, every heart returns to the darkness whence it came."

Aquarius woke up in Minnie's arms. Vanita had caught him off guard and knocked him out. They saw Vinnietus nearby, but in her hand was the X-blade.

When Vinnietus regained her senses, she found herself inside her own heart. Vanita was there too, and possessed the χ-blade, but it was damaged.

"Our union was not finished," Vanita said, "And the χ-blade shouldn't stay broken like this. Join me now, and we can complete the χ-blade!"

Vinnie shakes her head and summons her Keyblade as she said, "I've got a better idea. How 'bout I destroy you both?"

Vanita laughed, "The χ-blade is made of your heart, too, you know. If you destroy it, your heart will vanish forever."

"Whatever it takes. Anything to save Terrina and Aquarius."

Vanita scoffed, "It's always about your friends, isn't it?"

"At least I have some!" Vinnie cried, "I've become a part of their heart, just as they've become a part of mine. My friends are my power, and I'm theirs!"

The two duel each other in the rifts of Vinnietus's heart.

Aquarius gasped and took a step back as Vinnie, with yellow eyes and an evil smile, moved to attack, but Minnie knocked the blade away with her own and stands defiant between her and Aquarius.

"That's not Vinnie!" Minnie warned.

"Correct. I am not Vinnietus," Vanita said as Aquarius and Minnie heard two voices speaking in unison, and Vinnie's outfit vanishes in dark smoke and becomes Vanita's black and red suit, "Her heart has become a part of mine now."

Aquarius gasped for it was true that Vanita had already seized control of Vinnie's body.

Vanita lifted the χ-blade as she said, "This χ-blade will open a door, the one that leads to ALL worlds! And then, Keyblade bearing warriors will flock here from each and every one of them, to battle for the light within Kingdom Hearts!"

Vanita then looked up at the blue moon overhead as she continued, "And just like the legend says, the Keyblade War will begin!"

"Shut up!" Aquarius shouted in anger, "I'm sick of your stupid words! Give Vinnie her heart back!"

Nearby, the pieces of Terrina's armor gathered together and took form; Terrina was still fighting back.

"What?" Xehanora was stunned as the area was surrounded her by orange chains of energy.

Then, Xehanora turned to see the armor, fully gathered, kneeling with its hands on the Keyblade as it waited silently, "Your body submitted to darkness,...your heart succumb to darkness,...so why does your mind resist?!"

The armor stands slowly. She grabs the Keyblade with her right arm and lifts it carefully out of the ground, engaging in combat with her former body. With the last of her free will, Terrina defeated Master Xehanora.

Meanwhile, Aquarius tried with all his might to free Vinnie's heart, but against the χ-blade, his might was nowhere near enough.

"What's wrong? Giving up already?" Vanita taunted Aquarius.

Aquarius clutched the Wayfinder as he said, "Terrina, Vinnie, lend me strength."

As love for his friends filled his heart, light filled his Keyblade. Aquarius summoned the last of his strength and brought the Keyblade crashing down on Vanita, cracking the χ-blade and releasing a torrent of energy that spilled out into the Keyblade Graveyard, swallowing Aquarius and everything else.

Inside Vinnie's heart, both the χ-blade and Vinnie's Keyblade disintegrated. Vinnie smiled, knowing her friends were finally safe from Vanita, and then slowly faded away.

By the time the lightstorm subsided and Kingdom Hearts had vanished from sight, Terrina's armor lay still as the darkness took it.

"Aquarius, Vinnie...," Terrina said, "One day, I will set this right."

In the aftermath, when Aquarius suddenly woke up, he was inside Yen Sid's tower.

"What happened?" Aquarius rubbed his head.

"You have lost consciousness," Yen Sid answered as Aquarius looked up at him, "Fortunately, Minnie found you and Vinnietus drifting in the Lanes Between, and brought you back to me to receive proper care. I am sorry, but there was no sign of Terrina."

"Right," Aquarius sighed as he puts his hand on Vinnie's shoulder, waking her up, "Vinnie! Vinnietus!"

But Vinnie remained still as Yen Sid explained, "The girl's heart is sleeping."

"When will she wake?" Aquarius asked, worried.

"I could not say. It is almost as though her heart has left," Yen Sid answered, "If it returns, she may very well wake. If not, she may sleep like this for all eternity."

Aquarius then looked at Vinnie as he said, "I'll keep her safe, until she wakes. Forever if I have to."

"I will tell you what your friend needs right now. It is not your protection."

"Then, what is it?" Aquarius looked confused.

"She needs you to believe," Yen Sid began to explained as he sits in his tall chair, "You see, Vinnietus's heart hangs in the balance. It sleeps in the place between light and darkness. From all I can perceive, that means she will be looking for a friend. Someone who believes in her, to show her the way home. Just as long as you love her...then Vinnietus will be able to find you when she wakes. She can follow that love back to where she belongs-the realm of light."

Yen Sid smiled as Minnie reassured to Aquarius, "Don't worry, Aquarius. I believe in Vinnie, too. She's been as good a friend to me as anybody. And if both you and me believe in her with all our hearts, then she'll have two lights to follow instead of one."

"More like three lights," Aquarius said, then lowered his head, "But... Terrina..."

"I know...," Minnie replied, "Terrina's gone. Maybe for good."

But then, Aquarius began to raise his head as he realized something. He looked at his Wayfinder and said to Minnie, "I think...I know how to find her."

And so, it was that Aquarius lifted his friend into his arms and set off on a new journey to find Terrina, who had been missing since the lightstorm.

Guided by Vinnie, Aquarius found himself returning to the beloved home the three of them had shared. But all that remained were ghastly ruins: a mass of twisted earth and buildings.

Aquarius did as the late Master Eraqua had instructed him, activating a certain "trick" devised to protect their land from being used for evil purposes.

As he did, a blaze of dazzling light transformed everything-the hall, the earth, and even the sky-into a new world that would draw all who visited into the depths of oblivion. Aquarius had locked the Land of Departure.

Aquarius left Vinnie in one of the rooms, running his fingers through her hair, hoping that she can hear his voice, then departed as he said to Vinnietus, "I know it's a lonely place, but you'll be fine. Terrina and I will be back to wake you up before you know it."

Aquarius left the room, and eventually the castle, walking out onto a long stretch of dusty road winding into a dark abyss. He then turned around to see that it has turned into a dark golden castle and its many twisting structures, which would eventually come to be known as Castle Oblivion.

Aquarius then heard a voice echoing to her, "Aquarius... Put an end to me."

Aquarius gazed into the abyss as he said, "Terrina, tell me where to find you."

The faint sound of Terrina's voice led him to Radiant Garden, where he found a woman who looked just like her.

The woman was struggling to dig through the morass of her own memory and remember who she was.

As Aquarius had gotten close, seeing her white air and yellow eyes, he stopped. Her gaze was on the heavens, inseparable.

"Wait a minute,... Terrina...is that you?" Aquarius asked her as he tried to see her new look as if they were familiar.

The woman then looked at Aquarius and reaches her hand out toward him as Aquarius backed away due to this odd gesture.

Aquarius smiled as she rubs his face and cheek, seductively...and then his smile faded when she clutches his throat and lifts him off the ground.

A look of confusion and loss was written on his face, Aquarius struggles as he's being choked, and Terrina's body was surrounded by a dark aura.

"Who...am I?"

"Such a tempting...darkness...," Aquarius choked, "Fight it, Terrina, please!"

"Terrina...you say?"

The darkness emanating from this stranger could belong to only one person: Master Xehanora.

She dropped him as Aquarius was catching his breath as Xehanora clutches her head in an internal struggle.

Then, she began to laugh as Xehanora said to Aquarius, "Terrina's heart has been extinguished, smothered by the darkness within her."

Aquarius gasped as Xehanora summons her Keyblade and slammed it forward. Aquarius jumped away.

"The name is Master Aquarius," Aquarius said as he summoned his keyblade and challenged Xehanora, determined to win back Terrina's heart. "Give me back my friend or you're going down!"

Xehanora lost the fight and began to writhe; Terrina's heart was fighting back from the inside.

"Stop fighting back!" Xehanora said as she struggles to release from the grip, but is forced into a stiff position, her arms away from her sides.

"Terrina, I know you're in there!" Aquarius shouted.

In a desperate move to rid herself of Terrina once and for all, Xehanora turned her own Keyblade on herself as she shouted, "This'll teach you. Get out of my heart!"

"NO!" Aquarius shouted as Terrina began to sink into the pool of darkness that spilled forth.

Aquarius dove into the darkness to pull his friend out, but soon realized only one of them would be able to return. He chose to sacrifice himself and sent Terrina back to the realm of light.

Down, down, down... Aquarius's last thoughts before vanishing from sight were of Vinnie, and who would care for her once he was gone, "Vinnie, I'm sorry... I might not make it back soon. But I promise I'll be there, one day, to wake you up."

Aquarius shined as he was the only light in this dark place...

Night had fallen on the Destiny Islands. Sorette and Rika were gazing up at the stars when Rika sits up after a while and turned to Sorette, "Hey, I'm gonna head back."

"Me too," Sorette agreed as she got up as well.

As they walked back toward town, however, Rika looked over to Sorette, noticing something, "Sorette, what's the matter?"

"Huh?"

"You're...," Rika pointed a tear falling from Sorette's cheek.

Sorette puts her hand to her face, catching the tear. She was surprised that grief somehow overcame her. But why, when she had no reason to be sad?

"That's weird," Sorette said, "It's like something's squeezing me inside."

"Somebody up there must be sad," Rika suggested, "They say every world is connected by one great big sky. So maybe there's somebody up there in all those worlds who's really hurting, and they're waiting for you to help them."

"Well, gee, do you think there's something I could do?"

"Hmm... Maybe they just need you to open your heart and listen."

"I dunno, Rika. You say some weird stuff sometimes, but I'll try it."

So Sora closed his eyes and tried. Riku looks up as well.

In the white chamber in Castle Oblivion, the comatose Vinnietus rest peacefully when she heard little Sorette's voice, "Hey... Can you hear me?"

Meanwhile, in Radiant Garden, Gigy led Wonas the Wise to a woman who had collapsed in the square as she said, "Right this way."

When they got there, Aquarius's armor and Keyblade were also on the ground nearby as well.

Wonas stepped over to the woman and gathered her in her arms as she asked, "Young lady, what ails you?"

The woman wakes up slowly as Wonas the Wise asked again, "Can you speak? Tell me your name."

Delirious, the woman replied, "Xeha...nora."

"Xehanora?" Wonas the Wise was confused by that name, but when the woman passed out again, she then turned to Gigy, "Quickly, get her to the castle!"

Gigy smirked as she picked up Xehanora, "You can count on me."

Then, Gigy turned to Ladia and told her to get Aquarius's armor and Keyblade, "Ladia, get those for me."

Elsewhere, Aquarius was trudging through endless darkness.

"I've been walking for ages," Aquarius said, "How long have I been down here?"

Just then, sinister monsters surrounded him, and he could no longer fight the urge to bring his struggle to a close.

But as he lowered his Keyblade in resignation, light came pouring into the darkness. It shifted and changed, becoming two Keyblades: Terrina's, and Vinnie's.

In a flash, they had destroyed the monsters around him. Aquarius realized his friends had found a way to reach him-and in the deepest darkness, he had found light.

"I guess it's been so long, I almost forgot how to smile," Aquarius said as he looked at his Wayfinder and remembered the smiling faces of all the friends he had made.

He smiled and looked up, "There's always a way."

Vinnie was drifting through her own darkness when she heard a familiar voice.

"I've been here. So warm...," Vinnie said as the brightest light enveloped her, "I remember now. This is your heart."

Exhausted from the long journey, Vinnie's heart decided she belonged with the voice's heart. She was going home.

Deep within her heart, Sorette encountered Vinnie's heart, having followed their connection back to her heart, as she called out, "Hey... Can you hear me?"

"I heard your voice," Vinnie's voice had heard from the floating heart, "It cut through the darkness around me."

Sorette gazed at it, smiling and reach out to catch it as Vinnie continued, "All alone, I followed the sound into a sea of light, and found myself here, with you. You gave me something back when I needed it most. A second chance."

"I did?" Sorette asked.

Sorette was the newborn heart Vinnie had encountered years ago, the same heart that helped Vinnie obtain another chance at life.

"Yeah..., but now I have to go back to sleep again," Vinnie said.

"Are you sad?" Sorette asked Vinnie, sadly.

"Would you mind if I stayed here, with you?"

Sorette smiled as she answered, "Sure, if it'll make you feel better."

"Thank you," Vinnie said as the heart floats into Sorette's chest and she closed her eyes.

Sorette took a deep breath and was back on Destiny Islands when she opened her eyes.

"Well?" Rika asked.

Sorette looks over at Rika, who stood beside her on their way home as three stars twinkle in the night sky, and answered, "You know... I think it worked."

In time, the worlds would be saved by these two heroines who stood beneath the same blaze of stars.