A/N: Here we go again! *quickly look at outline* This chapter doesn't have a tissue warning. So yeah!

ONWARD!

Chapter Seven: Friendship

This time, Corva entered herself in the Games, under Phil's, the satyr's, sponsorship (after she explained she didn't reap that contender's soul, she doesn't have the power to do that). And after the last two athletes Phil sponsored in the games defaulted before the final round… well, he didn't have much of a choice.

So, she was to go through the East bracket.

Again.

"Why do you want to reenter the games, anyway?" Zack asked after Phil finished explaining the rules.

"I just… feel like Hades is going to try something else, using the power of darkness. And I want to be here to stop it," she explained. That's what Ven, Aqua, and Terra would do, after all… she thought with a small smile.

"Plus, you probably want revenge against him, huh?" Zack asked, chuckling.

"Well, yeah, that, too," she chuckled, before looking around. "Oh, hey, where's Hercules?" she asked.

"He should be just about finishing up those 1,000 laps. I better go check on the kid," Phil said, walking out. Corva spluttered slightly.

"A thousand laps!?" she gasped, before looking over at Zack. "You should be glad he's not training you…" she said, having heard all about the competition between him and Hercules that Ven had helped out with.

"Nah, that's nothing," Zack said with a nervous laugh.

Corva laughed. "You sound so sure," she teased, before turning to look at the bracket. She grinned.

"You're competing again?" she asked, glancing over at him. Zack grinned.

"Yep! I can't wait to meet you out there. But the one I'm most curious about is him,' he said, pointing to another name. Corva looked at it, and gasped. "Apparently he's the dark horse this go around. No one knows where he came from. A little like you, actually," Zack added thoughtfully, turning to look at the girl next to him, who was staring at the name.

'Terra'

There's a chance I can meet him out there? I wonder if he even knows I'm here… she thought to herself, before shaking her head and looking up at Zack.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," the boy joked with a grin. "Do you know this Terra guy?"

"Yeah, actually. He's my friend. And Ven's," she said. Zack's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yeah. This'll be interesting, to say the least," Corva said with a chuckle, before looking up at the sound of her name. "Oh! I'd better go!" she called out, darting out into the arena.

Almost instantly, the muttering began. Corva heard the words 'angel of death' over and over again, but took a deep breath, remembering Ven's parting words to her.

"For what it's worth, I know you're not an Angel of Death. And… you're a great Guardian Angel."

It was worth more than you can imagine, Ven, Corva thought with a smile, before getting ready.

The first few matches were a cake walk. Corva was able to easily fight her way through them without breaking a sweat. When she wasn't fighting, she staying in the stands to watch the other fights, and was ecstatic to see Zack, nor Terra had any issues as well. In fact, all three of them flew through the matches pretty quickly.

Finally, Corva found herself standing across the arena from Terra. He smiled slightly at her.

"Didn't expect to see you here. What happened to staying with Ven?" Terra asked, his tone not accusing, but curious.

"I have something of… personal matter to take care of here," Corva said with a smile. "Besides, Ven's just as strong as you and Aqua. He can handle himself for a bit."

Terra looked surprised, but smiled all the same. He then looked around, listening to the crowd mutter about her, which she had begun to block out. "Apparently, the people here don't like you," he said.

"They have their own myths about black wings." Corva shrugged, before getting ready.

"Heh, no matter who wins, no hard feelings, right?" Terra asked with a grin, getting into his own stance.

"Right," Corva said, grinning back. Just then, the match begun. Terra launched himself forward, and Corva pumped her wings, shooting into the sky. The Keyblade Wielder skided to a stop and frowned up at her, while Corva stuck her tongue out at him. She then tucked her wings against her back and dove, slashing at him. Terra rolled out of the way, and Corva threw her wings open to keep from hitting the ground.

Terra dove forward now that she was in his reach and swung his Keyblade at her. Corva rose Holy Sword to block the strike, but the power from Terra's strike forced her to the ground. Terra locked blades with her and pressed his advantage.

"No… fair…" Corva grumbled, causing Terra to chuckle.

"You sound like a kid," he teased. Corva pouted at him, before flapping her wings. Rather than down, however, she pumped them forward, kicking up gusts of wind that buffeted Terra, forcing him backwards.

"Whoa!" he gasped in surprised, finally falling back. Corva jumped back and took to the air once more, rolling her shoulders.

"Talk about unfair!" he called up to her, and Corva grinned.

"Now who sounds like the kid?" she asked, before diving once more. Their blades clashed a few times, but neither was able to get the upper hand on the other. Corva shot back into the air once more, trying to come up with a strategy.

Terra smirked at her, pointing his Keyblade at her. It seemed he already had one, just waiting to be put in use.

"I might not be as good as Aqua at magic, but-! Aero!" he called. A whirlwind of air suddenly wrapped around her, and despite her best efforts, she was bought to the ground, dazed.

Terra shot forward and performed a quick, powerful combo on her, until finally, the finisher threw her back. She hit the ground with a groan, staying down.

"And the winner is Terra!" the announced called.

"Are you okay?" Terra asked, walking over to Corva. She pouted up at him, and he laughed. "I'll take that as a yes. Here," he said, offering his hand. Corva smiled back at him and took his hand, letting him pull her up.

"That was a good match. You're a lot stronger then I realized," Corva said. Terra smiled at her.

"I was about to say the same to you," he said, clasping her shoulder. Corva grinned at him, and he smiled back, seeming to feel…

…relief.

That's right. Last time we saw each other, he thought I feared him for what happened, and his darkness. Corva realized. She thought about telling him now, now that Xehanort was seemingly nowhere near, but there was still coldness wrapped around her heart, and if he was near…

Well, if he manipulated the darkness into making it seemed she feared Terra again, that would ruin everything. So, instead, she gave him a hug.

"Good luck. I'll be watching your next match," she said, before walking over to the stands. Terra smiled at her, heading to the vestibule to get ready.

"Well, that didn't go the way you planned," Phil said, walking over to her. Corva sighed.

"No, it didn't. And I know I can't hang around for too much longer. If Hades is going to show his hand, I hope it's soon," she sighed. Phil nodded.

"I just wonder what he's after…" the satyr mused.

"Well… he wanted to use me to destroy either Zack or Hercules… though once they both threw the match, and you three and Ven were talking in town, it was all four of you. But Herc isn't competing in the games this round, so I guess he's after Zack…" she reasoned.

"Nah," Phil said, shaking his head.

"Hm?" she looked down at him.

"Zack… he's a good kid, but he's such a small target compared to Hercules."

"What do you mean?" she asked. Phil looked up at her in shock.

"Gods, kid, you mean you don't know?" he asked. Corva shook her head. "Herc there was once a god. He's the son of Zeus, the king of gods. And Hades wants nothing more than to bring down the gods," Phil explained.

"So… he really wanted me to do in Hercules…" Corva muttered.

"Right. Though what his game is now…"

Both fell quiet as Terra and Zack stepped into the arena, Zack wearing his helmet once more.

Something felt… off about Zack though, as the boy silently pulled his sword from his back, getting ready.

"Something's wrong," Corva muttered as Terra got ready, too.

"Yeah, the kid never shuts up. What's going on here?" Phil demanded. Corva's feathers bristled slightly as she started getting an idea.

But then the match started, and it was too late to stop.

Zack and Terra's blades clashed a few times, before the former jumped back. "You can't escape!" he yelled darkly, jumping into the air and diving down, slamming into the ground sword point first where Terra had stood seconds before. Terra threw himself back even further as a small shockwave erupted from the sword, and Corva gasped.

"Zack! He's using… darkness?" she muttered.

Terra flung himself towards the boy again, blocking his attacks and countering whenever there was an opening, until finally, Zack hit the ground, his helmet rolling off. Terra watched him for a moment longer, before turning away, walking back to the Vestibule.

Corva's eyes were riveted on Zack, however, dread swirling in her stomach.

Darkness surrounded the boy, and he grasped his sword, pushing himself up.

"Terra!" Corva yelled, just as Zack shot forward.

"Huh?" Terra muttered, turning back. He raised his Keyblade just in time to block Zack's frenzied attacks.

"Stop it! The match is over!" Terra yelled.

"It's not him!" Corva yelled, throwing herself in between the boys and bringing up a light barrier to block Zack's overhead strike. She staggered slightly at the power behind it.

"Corva!?" Terra asked, surprised.

"She's… right…" Zach managed to ground out. Both Corva's and Terra's eyes widened.

"What?" Terra muttered. Darkness surged around Zack, and pain took over his features.

This is different from how Hades controlled me. He's actually filled Zack with darkness! Corva realized.

"I'm not… doing this…" Zack gasped.

"He's being controlled!" Terra realized. Corva gritted her teeth as Zack pushed against her barrier, and she slid back an inch or so. Terra placed a hand on her back, right between her wings, to steady her.

"Huh? So, what do ya think? You like my new super-warrior?" Hades appeared in a puff of smoke behind Terra. "See—right here, this—it's the power of darkness. Coulda been yours. Still could, if you open up to it."

"Hades, you monster!" Corva snarled, glancing over her shoulder at the god.

"Huh? Black bird? You're still here?" Hades scoffed.

"You were just playing me!" Terra growled, turning to the god.

"He's good at that," Corva scowled.

"Yeah, well, the darkness…" Terra wrapped an arm around Corva and suddenly yanked her away from Zack, switching positions with her to roughly shove the boy away. "…will never have me!"

Zack groaned, before standing up straight, pointing his sword at the two. More darkness rippled around him.

"We have to help him, Terra," Corva said. Terra glanced over at her, taking in the worry on her face.

"I take it he's a friend?" Terra asked. Corva nodded. "Then you don't even have to ask," Terra said, turning back to the controlled boy.

"You've gotta… set my heart free…" Zack managed to ground out.

"We will, Zack. Don't worry," Corva promised.

Zack suddenly dove forward, attacking the two of them. Terra dodged to the left, while Corva took to the air, avoiding the blast of darkness from his attack.

Corva cloaked Holy Sword in light and dove at the boy, their sword bouncing off of each other. Terra, meanwhile, snuck up behind the boy and attacked. Zack cried out from shock and tried to turn towards the new threat, but couldn't without leaving his back exposed to Corva.

That's when Zack suddenly warped out from between the two.

"What!?" Corva gasped. Zack shot towards the two of them at inhuman speed, attacking them quickly. Terra managed to block most of the attacks, while Corva dodged, until finally, Zack stumbled back, a strangled groan escaping him.

"Now!" Corva yelled, and the two of them dove forward, coordinating their attacks.

"Corva, use your light!" Terra called, jumping back.

"Right!" she called, flying backwards as well. She banished Holy Sword and created a ball of light between her hands. Once it was powerful enough, she threw it forwards, and it struck home on Zack's chest.

Zack gasped, before falling to the ground. The darkness that surrounded him mingled with Corva's light, before fading away.

Cheers erupted from the stands, shocking the two of them.

"I forgot we had an audience," Corva muttered, lighting down next to Terra, who chuckled slightly.

"So did I," he admitted.

"Wait… Hades!" Corva gasped, spinning around. But… the god was gone.

"You gonna make it?" Terra asked. Corva turned to see he had walked over to Zack, who was starting to come to.

"Y-yeah. I'm finally free," Zack said, before shaking his head. "Now I know how Corva felt…"

"Huh?" Terra asked.

"Later," Corva quickly said, walking over.

"Where is—" Zack started to ask.

"Gone," Corva said with a scowl. Anger flashed across Zack's face, and he slammed his fist into the ground.

"Man, how could I let him control me? Especially after…" he glanced at Corva, then shook his head. "I'll never live this down!"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Zack," Corva said, as Terra reached a hand down to help him up.

"Hm?" he looked up at the two of them, then smiled at Terra's hand, accepting the help.

"Thanks, uh… Terra, right?" he asked. Terra nodded, and Zack grinned. "I'm Zack, though I'm sure Corva told you. It's nice to meet you," the boy said. He then leaned forward, studying the man, before nodding to himself. "Yup. Definitely. Terra, you're exactly what I pictured a hero would be."

"You're so weird," Corva muttered to herself with a grin, while Terra looked surprised. Zack ignored her.

"Not the way you look… there's something else about you," the boy continued.

Terra suddenly turned his back, surprising the boy.

"Well, I'm no hero, trust me," Terra said, turning his head slightly so that Corva, who stood next to him, couldn't see his face either.

"You kidding? Listen to those cheers, man," Zack said, motioning to around the stands.

"I can promise they're not for me," Corva added with a sad smile. Zack glanced at her, before looking back at him.

"You don't get to decide if you're a hero or not. They do," the boy said. "And they've already made up their mind." Terra looked around the stands, at all the spectators cheering, chanting his name.

"Whether you like it or not, Terra, you're their hero," Corva said with a grin. Zack chuckled, playfully punching Terra's chest and gaining his attention again.

"And mine, too," he said with a grin.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Corva demanded playfully, catching the boy in a headlock.

"Hey, hey!" Zack protested, squirming to get free. Corva laughed and let go of him, and the boy looked between the two of them.

"You know? It's too bad. I really wanted to fight you both fair and square," he sighed sadly.

Terra reached over, suddenly and playfully punching the boy's shoulder in return, gaining his attention.

"Maybe someday, Zack," Terra said with a smile, and Zack grinned back.

"So, now what are you going to do?" Terra asked as the two of them left the Coliseum. Corva sighed, stretching her wings.

"We didn't stop Hades, but… I can't stay here any longer," Corva said. Between the stares I keep getting, and, well, not helping these three if I stay here…

"I see," Terra said thoughtfully. Corva looked up at him.

"So… I thought… I'd come with you for a bit, then go find Ven again."

"…I haven't taken Vanitas out yet," Terra said softly. "And… I'm still working on facing the darkness."

"Terra… this doesn't have to be something you do on your own," Corva said. Terra turned to her, surprised. "In fact… it shouldn't be something you do alone. I understand why you don't want to put Ven in danger, and why you're reluctant to call on Aqua, but… let me come with you. After all, I promised Ven I'd watch out for you."

"Well…" Terra hesitated, before sighing. "Alright. But… you have a bit explaining to do. You never told me what Master Xehanort meant when he said you'd have to live with the failure of my loss… or what Zack meant when he said he knew how you felt, being controlled."

"Oh, right…" Corva muttered, having forgotten about that. "Well, let's get on the road, and I'll tell you all about it."

"Okay," Terra nodded, and a few minutes later, the two were leaving Olympus Coliseum behind.

As they flew through the Lanes, Corva explained that she was a Guardian Angel, and that by promising Ven she'd protect him, she formed a Guardian-Charge bond between the two of them. Terra nodded thoughtfully, not seeming as irritated by that as she imagined he would be, especially when she explained she had one with Ven, too.

He was, however, pretty angry when he found out how Hades had played her, then controlled her.

"But… you have no interest in darkness. So why…?" he suddenly asked, looking at her. Corva looked down.

"Angels, in my world, with black wings are said to be destined to become 'Angels of Death'. I… I grew up being tormented about it, and it only grew worse… the first time I failed as a Guardian Angel."

There was a soft gasp from Terra, but he otherwise stayed silent, urging her to continue.

"So, when the people of that world started treating me as an Angel of Death… well, I guess that made me vulnerable."

"Ah… I'm sorry to hear that," Terra muttered. Corva shook her head with a smile.

"It's alright. Ven is the one who saved me," Corva said with a smile. Terra chuckled at that.

"He's full of surprises," he said warmly. Corva nodded in agreement, before looking forward.

"Huh? What's that?" she asked. Terra looked up as well, confused, until the two of them drew close enough to see it.

"Unversed!" they both gasped. There were thousands of them, all converging on the two of them.

"All the way out here?" Terra asked, glancing over at Corva, who shrugged.

"Looks like we don't have a choice," she said, adjusting her googles over her eyes. Terra nodded, just as they were surrounded.

Corva quickly lost sight of Terra as the Jellyfish like Unversed separated them, but she could hear the sounds of his fighting from close by. Corva, for her part, summoned Holy Sword and renewed the light surrounded her.

Between the two of them, they made quick work of the Unversed, but it left them exhausted.

"You okay?" Terra called as he pulled up alongside Corva, who reached out and grabbed the side of his glider gratefully.

"Yeah, you?" she panted.

"Ye-huh?" both felt something pull them upwards. Looking up, they found a humongous ship above them, dragging them in.

Neither had the energy left to fight against its pull.

Corva didn't even remember passing out.

When Corva woke up, she was disoriented and confused. She slowly sat up, looking around, to find herself in a cell.

"Wha-? What happened?" she muttered, rubbing her head.

Then she heard gun shots, which snapped her awake. She jumped from the hard bed she had been on and raced to the only exit of the cell, a wall made of green light.

Looking out, she realized she was high above the ground. Below were two creatures she'd never before seen, surrounded by Unversed.

"Take cover! Leave it to me to handle these fiends," the one creature, a huge, hulking monster, said, shooting at the Unversed. The second creature, a smaller one who was green, backed away, covering it—his—her? face with… their hand.

"Whatever you are, you're under arrest… eventually!" the bigger one said to the monsters as the smaller creature ran. He was right behind as the Unversed surged towards him.

"Unversed!" Corva gasped, before quickly looking around the cell, trying to figure out how to escape.

Suddenly, across the way, almost level with her at the other wall of cells, there was a flash of light, and Terra jumped down from a newly opened cell, landing in front of the Unversed.

"I'll give ya a fight," he snarled.

"Terra!" Corva called, smacking her hands against the door. Terra looked up and over.

"Corva!? Give me a minute!" he called, turning his attention back to the Unversed. He quickly took them out, then turned and pointed his Keyblade at Corva's door. It flashed with light, and the door opened, allowing the Angel to swoop down and land next to the Keyblade Wielder.

"Where are we?" she asked, but he shook his head.

"I don't know. I just woke up, myself," he admitted, rubbing his head.

"Heh, very impressive display," a voice suddenly said from one of the other cells. Both turned to find a squat, short, bald man with four eyes, wearing prisoner garb, watching them, his cell ground level.

Terra and Corva glanced at each other. The two of them might have been mistakenly imprisoned, but that didn't mean everyone here was.

They began to walk away.

"Wait! You help!" the man cried, running to his door. "I have been imprisoned on ridiculous charges!"

Terra stopped, glancing over at the man. "Is that so?" he asked. Corva crossed her arms, looking at the man as well.

"I am innocent scientist who created galaxy's most destructive—uh…" he cut himself off, and Terra and Corva glanced at each other, catching his slip up. "Constructive species of all times. Why, my experiment could annihilate creatures you fought so hard! He is bulletproof, fireproof, and can think faster than supercomputer," the man boasted.

"What's a super computer?" Corva muttered, while Terra began to look thoughtful.

"He can see in the dark and move objects 3,000 times his rather diminutive size. And for reasons preposterous, the Federation Council fears him."

"'Preposterous'," Corva muttered to Terra with air quotes. The boy snorted softly at that, shaking his head.

"They take him away from me and throw me here in small, stuffy, rather badly lit cell," the man finished.

"Because he's so powerful?" Terra suggested.

"Exactly. Everyone always get antsy in pantses when somebody more powerful is in the neighborhood. You understand, perhaps?" Terra looked away, while Corva frowned.

"We must make to rescue him, or he'll be banished to far reaches of space!" the man pressed.

"I'm not buying this, but… if we leave him here, he'll probably raise an alarm," Corva muttered softly to Terra, who nodded.

"Not only that, if this 'experiment' of his is innocent… we probably should rescue him," Terra pointed out. Corva nodded thoughtfully.

"True. Can't blame the creation for the creator," she muttered. Terra nodded and turned back to the cell, pointing his Keyblade at it and unlocking it.

"Okay, then. Take us to him," he said.

"Experiment 626," the man said once he was free of the cell.

"Huh?" Terra asked.

"Is name I give to adorable, fluffy creature you are helping for to rescue," the man said.

"And that's the best name you could come up with?" Corva asked, quirking an eyebrow. The man shrugged.

"I am scientist! Not wamby-pamby poet!" he snapped, waving it away. He shook his head. "I am genius scientist who created him, Dr. Jumba Jookiba."

"I'm Terra. This is Corva," Terra said.

"Pleasure is all ours. 626 is this way. Hurry!" he called, leading the way. Corva leaned closer to Terra.

"We sure this is a good idea?" she muttered.

"No," Terra said with a sigh, but followed Dr. Jumba all the same. Corva sighed and followed as well.

The three quickly left the prison, following after Jumba as he led them through the ship. Whenever Unversed appeared, Terra and Corva would make quick work of them, while Jumba took cover.

Finally, they reached a transporter.

"Hm… no good. Transporter is shut off from other side" Jumba hummed after a moment of fiddling with the controls. He glanced up at an airlock. "If only we had ships. We could go around outside of big ship to other airlock."

"If one of us could do that, could we turn the transporter on from the other side?" Terra asked.

"Yes, but it is impossible to go out without protection!" Jumba said.

"I've got that covered. Corva, mind waiting here?" Terra asked.

"Not at all. Be careful," she said, watching as he walked over to the airlock. With determination, he activated his armor and summoned his Keyblade glider.

"Whoa!" Jumba gasped, watching as Terra took off to the outside of the ship.

A few minutes later, the Transporter came online.

"He did it!" Corva said excitedly, and both she and Jumba stepped onto the pad, only to be surrounded by light.

Moments later, they were stepping off of a different pad into a new room.

"Ugh, I feel like I'm gonna be sick," Corva groaned, stumbling away. Jumba laughed.

"That is what happens when molecules are scrambled like egg!" he chuckled. Terra rolled his eyes, checking on the Guardian Angel, before looking around the room. Once Corva got her stomach settled, they moved forward into what looked like some kind of docking bay.

"Huh, what's this machine do?" Terra wondered, walking over to a terminal.

"It turns off gravity," Jumba said. "We must do that to reach containment pod." He pointed up to an entrance set high in the wall.

"Oh," Terra muttered, reaching forward and flipping the switch.

Almost instantly, anything not nailed down to the floor began to float, Terra, Jumba, and Corva included. Corva gasped in shock, flapping her wings to gain control of her flight, but that only succeeded in sending her higher.

"Corva, relax!" Terra called with a laugh, swimming through the air to her and catching her ankle.

"R-right. Right," Corva said, shaking her head. Terra chuckled some more.

"Here I thought you'd be the most comfortable being in the air," he teased.

"I would be, if I was controlling my flight," she retorted. Terra nodded, still grinning.

"Fair enough," he conceded.

"Hurry! We must be going this way!" Jumba called from the entrance. Terra and Corva nodded, following after him.

Through that entrance, they found another tall room. They were standing on a platform near the top, however, and had to make their way to the lower levels. It would have been easy enough if the Unversed didn't attack them the whole way down.

Thankfully, none of them fell off the platforms they were moving along, and they made it through the next door, into a control like area, without a problem.

Through here was one more door, and they entered the Containment Pod.

Inside a glass like dome, growling and yelling, was a small, blue creature with four arms, wearing an orange space suit.

Despite the large amount of pointy teeth in its mouth, and the claws, Corva had to admit… it was adorable!

"Amazing, is he not?" Jumba asked, walking towards the thing. "Such tremendous power in such itty-bitty package. Truly, he is the one and that's the only—the mightiest creature in all the galaxy," the scientist said, stopping next to the glass dome. The creature calmed slightly, turning to look at his creator. "And his only singular instinct—to destroy everything he touches! See?" He patted the platform the creature was trapped on.

"What!?" Terra gasped. Corva scowled.

"I knew it."

And suddenly, the dome around the creature disappeared, and he made a pleased sound, quickly looking around.

Then he jumped at Terra.

"Hey!" Corva yelled, worried that the thing would try to destroy Terra. Instead, it scrambled all around him, snatching something from his pocket, and jumped up to the ceiling, sticking there.

Hanging from his claw was an orange star-shaped charm.

Terra quickly checked his pocket, then looked back up at the creature.

"When did you—give that back!" he demanded, and Corva's eyes widened at the desperation in his voice.

"Too late. Is already marked for destruction," Jumba casually said.

"No, stop! My friend gave me that!" he pleaded, then gasped in surprise at himself. Corva looked up at the creature again, frowning, and threw open her wings, taking to the air and chasing after the creature.

She didn't have a chance to, before the creature threw it down and scrambled away. Corva dove, catching the star before it hit the ground, and landed in front of Terra, holding it delicately out to him. He took it, an almost sad look on his face.

"Thank you," he said, before studying it. "Funny… after everything that's happened… how much I think we're no longer friends… the moment I let my heart do the talking, I find out how little I really know myself. And how much I miss them," Terra sighed. Corva shook her head slightly, hugging him and surprising him.

"Terra… you guys had one little spat. It's not the end of your friendship. And your heart knows that," she said, tapping his chest. Terra looked at her in surprise, and smiled, looking at the charm once more.

"Yeah, you're right. Maybe next time we run into the other two… Aqua can make you one of these, too. It's called a Wayfinder, and apparently, she used magic on it to connect the three of us together," he explained. Corva smiled.

"Hopefully," she said, loving the idea.

Terra nodded, putting the Wayfinder back in his pocket, before turning to look at Jumba. "That experiment of yours… you sure about him?" he asked. "Maybe in his heart, he wants friends, just like the rest of us."

"Yeah. The moment Terra said his friends gave him that charm… he let it go," Corva pointed out.

"Impossible! Pshah! He has no actual feelings—only destructive instincts I have carefully chosen for him," Jumba argued. He then pulled something from his pocket. "Or perhaps you need another demonstration of my evil geniusness!" From his other pocket, he pulled a beaker of water, and dropped the first thing into it.

From it burst a yellow creature, much like 626, but sparking with electricity. Corva scowled, glancing at Terra.

"We should have left him in the prison," she grumbled.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he sighed, getting ready for an attack.

The yellow creature ghosted around the room, keeping out of their reach and shooting electricity at them. Corva, unable to get close enough to use her sword, instead shot light at him. He dodged most of the attacks, but was distracted enough that Terra was able to land a few attacks without getting electrocuted.

Angered, the creature suddenly shot up to the control panel that controlled the two large blaster guns that had hung on either side of 626, previously offline.

Now, however, they swung around, knocking those two away, then shooting at them. Terra hit the ground hard, and Corva had to shoot over, protecting him from the blaster shots with a barrier of light.

"How do we beat it?" Terra grumbled, pushing himself up.

"I'm not sure," Corva sighed. "First, we need it out of those, though." Once she was sure Terra was okay, she gripped her sword tightly and shot into the air, directly to the control panel. Once there, she stabbed her sword through it.

The panel exploded, and the guns over heated, forcing the creature out of them. Terra shot forward and used a powerful combo on the creature.

At his finisher, the creature cried out and began to glow, before suddenly turning into a small green marble, the thing Jumba had originally pulled from his pocket.

"Oh, you'll be all right, little one," Jumba said, dropping to his knees as the marble rolled to a stop at his feet.

Just then, Corva spotted 626, who stood near the entrance.

"Look!" she gasped. Terra looked up, as did Jumba.

"Huh? What is it? Why have you returned?" Jumba asked.

The blue creature burst into angry sounding noises, none of which Terra or Corva understood.

"Maybe he's wondering what a friend is," Terra said, walking forward. Corva smiled warmly, following after.

"Ridiculous!" Jumba said, but fell quiet as the two kneeled in front of 626.

"My name is Terra. This is Corva," Terra said gently.

"…Ter…ra. Cor…ra…" he said. Corva smiled.

"There you go," she said encouragingly.

"Hm… I can't explain friendship," Terra said thoughtfully, though he was still smiling. "When you feel it, you'll know it."

"Not if I have any say in matter!" Jumba suddenly said. Corva and Terra scowled as they turned to the scientist. "You are only meant to think about what it is you will destroy next. Now, I fix what is wrong with you."

626 didn't seem to like the idea, as he started yelling at Jumba.

"Red alert! Red alert!" a voice suddenly yelled over the speakers. Experiment 626 and three prisoners have escaped from the cell bay. Security, locate the fugitives immediately!"

As the announcer repeated his warning, 626 took off running.

"Not so fast!" Jumba yelled, chasing after him.

"Terra, we gotta go!" Corva gasped.

"Yeah, I know. We can't afford to stay here and get caught," he said. He summoned his Keyblade and created a portal into the Lanes Between. Moments later, he was in his armor, on his glider, while Corva was cloaked in light, her goggles over her eyes.

Terra pulled out his Wayfinder. "Ven, Aqua… even you, Corva. I'll find some way to make things right," he declared, before nodding to the angel. The two of them took off, shooting into the portal, which vanished right behind them.

The next world they landed in couldn't have been more different from the last. While the last had been a ship, for one, and full of mechanical stuff with no signs of plant life anywhere, this one was full of green, lush plants, water, and cliffs that sored overhead.

Unfortunately, it wasn't as peaceful as it seemed. Screams erupted from somewhere in front of them, prompting the two to take off in that direction.

"What are they, Cap'n?" a scared voice called, just as Corva and Terra rounded a corner.

Unversed has surrounded two men, both dressed as pirates. The taller one had his sword drawn, but it was useless against the creatures.

"Back! You'll not get me treasure!" the sword wielding man yelled, and it took Corva a second to realize he meant the treasure chest.

"Leave 'em to us!" Terra yelled, rushing forward, Corva right behind him.

The two seemed more than happy to oblige, taking off running.

Corva and Terra made quick work of the creatures, making sure they didn't land a single claw on the treasure chest. Once the coast was clear, the two men came out from where they'd been hiding.

"If I'd desired your assistance, I'd have demanded it. We had the situation under control," the man in red said, sauntering back over to the two of them. He glanced at the shorter man next to him. "Isn't that right, Smee?"

"Oh, yes, Cap'n. Completely," the shorter man said. Corva narrowed her eyes slightly.

He… almost sounded sarcastic… she thought to herself.

"We would've cleaved those fiends to the brisket, we would!" The man stopped, slashing his arm through the air like a sword. "Why, I'd have given 'em a little of THIS—and THIS-!"

Or… maybe not, Corva thought, trying not to laugh as she watched the little man's erratic movements that he probably thought passed for swrod fighting.

"And don't think your efforts mean you'll get a share of me treasure, understand?" the taller man added.

Terra and Corva glanced over at the chest, before looking back at the pirate, who, Corva just realized, had a hook for a hand.

"We're not after you precious box, Captain," Terra said. "We're looking for a person. A boy, wearing a mask. Ring any bells?"

"No, not a one," the captain said, turning his back on the two of them. Corva sighed, stretching her wings. The shorter one's eyes were immediately drawn to her.

"Cap'n… look," he muttered, nodding to the angel. The Captain turned back to them, seeming to notice Corva for the first time, and suddenly looked interested. "Though, perhaps we could help you search with our ship, if you were to help us. You see, the light draws those creatures here."

"Huh? What about the light?" Terra gasped.

"It's heartbreaking, really…" the Captain sighed. "This chest, you see, contains light gathered from all around. And I got an acquaintance—a boy—who's sure to try to seize it. A flying boy, you see."

"A boy who's after the light? If he can fly, it can't be Vanitas… but then, who?" Terra mused.

"Well, if he can fly, they're at a disadvantage," Corva said, bristling her feathers to emphasize the point. Terra nodded, before looking up at the captain.

"Then I guess we'll help," he offered. "Maybe you could tell us more about this boy who's troubling you."

"Like his name?" Corva asked.

"Peter Pan," the captain growled, before shaking his head. "This chest must be brought to Skull Rock safely. Don't let that Peter Pan anywhere near it!"

"Right. We've got you covered," Terra said, while Corva nodded in agreement.

Working together, Terra and Corva managed to lift the chest – It's kinda heavy for having light in it, Corva thought ironically – and followed after the captain. Whenever they were attacked by Unversed, they would drop the chest and take the monsters out, Corva perching on top of the chest, taking out any monster that came near, while Terra moved away, taking out the rest.

"Man, this thing is heavy," Corva grunted one of the times they picked it up.

"Yeah…" Terra agreed, glancing back at it curiously.

"Right this way, lad, lass. It's not much further now!" the captain called back to them.

"You know…" Corva suddenly realized, "we never introduced ourselves. And we don't know his name."

"Oh, right," Terra muttered back. He looked forward. "I'm Terra, by the way. And this is Corva," he called.

"I'm Smee, and that's our cap'n, Cap'n Hook," the smaller man said, while the captain rolled his eyes.

"Ah. That's… to the point," Corva said, glancing at the spot where Hook's hand had once been. I wonder if Hook had always been his name, she thought, smiling slightly. Terra glanced back at her with a smirk, and she could tell the two of them had shared the same thoughts. They fell quiet again.

Finally, they got to the edge of the water that separated them from Skull Rock.

"Oh, please tell me we don't have to swim," Corva muttered, shivering at the thought. Obviously, she didn't mind getting her wings a little wet when it rained, or when she was bathing, but completely submerging them was a very bad idea…

"Of course not," Hook snapped, walking over to a row boat. Corva sighed in relief as she and Terra placed the chest inside… only to notice that there wasn't enough room for all four of them.

"I'll meet you there," Corva said, opening her wings and flying ahead. Meanwhile, Terra and Smee took the oars, rowing after her.

Once the row boat reached Skull Rock, Corva helped Terra move the chest, and all four of them moved inside.

"Well done," Hook told the two of them as they lowered the chest to the ground. The two nodded, before walking a bit away, checking to make sure the coast was really clear. Meanwhile, Hook and Smee bickered about something for a few moments, before Hook walked over, clearing his throat.

"Ahem… we've a bit of business to attend to and must, I fear, step away," Hook announced. "I trust you can see to things till I return?"

"Sure. When Peter Pan gets here, we'll be waiting," Terra said. Corva smiled slightly, stretching her wings.

"He's in for a bit of a surprise," she added.

The two men nodded, before heading off.

After a while, Terra moved closer to the chest, while Corva perched in the rocks higher up. Both were a little bored, though Corva was beginning to suspect they'd been played. Again.

Corva suddenly saw movement, and looked up. A boy in green flew through the cavern, but the most surprising part? He didn't have wings!

"Terra!" Corva yelled. His head snapped up, and he summoned Earthshaker.

"I see him," he called to her, before looking at the boy. "Are you Peter Pan?" he demanded.

"That's me!" the boy called brightly.

Corva jumped off her rock and shot after the boy. "You won't be getting this light!" she snapped.

"Oh no!" Peter gasped, adding speed to his flight. He pulled his dagger from his belt and glanced back at the angel with a smirk. "Those are some fancy wings, but they won't help you now!" he called, suddenly diving among teeth-like rock formations. They were narrow, forcing Corva to turn sharply, her wings going from horizontal to vertical. There was a few times she had to wrap her wings tightly around herself, too, to make it through, until suddenly, she crashed into one with a groan.

"Haha, told you!" Peter called as he shot out of the formation.

"Now you have me to deal with. HA!" Terra yelled as he suddenly attacked the boy.

"Whoa!" the boy yelped, dodging. Corva carefully shook her head before climbing out of the trap Peter had led her into.

"What do you want with the light!?" Terra demanded.

"Light? What light?" Peter asked, sincerely confused, and a ball of lead dropped into Corva's stomach.

"Look, Pan! We got the chest!" a young voice suddenly called from close to the entrance. Corva quickly looked over to see two boys, one in a fox costume, the other in a bear costume, carrying the chest.

"No!" Corva yelled, snapping her wings open once more and diving down at them.

"AGH!" they yelled, running faster.

"No, not yet you blockheads!" Peter yelled after them. He then frowned as the angel bared down on them.

"Give that back!" Corva yelled.

"Peter, help!" the kids cried.

Just then, the boy in the bear costume tripped, and the box toppled over. Corva flared her wings, coming to a halt and landing just as Peter and Terra reached her.

The contents of the chest spilled, Corva and Terra realized they had been played again.

There was no light in the chest. It was gold.

"That hurt!" the fox boy muttered, rubbing his head.

"Ohh… sorry," bear boy replied, doing the same.

"Now, what is this?" Terra practically snarled, stepping forward, towards the pile of gold.

"Pirate treasure, o' course. Jewels, doubloons—ya know, the usual stuff," Peter said, walking over to stand next to him.

"We've been guarding a pile of loot?" Terra growled.

"Looks like we were fooled," Corva sighed, tucking her wings neatly against her back.

"Sounds like it!" Peter added.

Both Terra and Corva turned to the boy. "We owe you an apology," Corva said.

"Yeah. Seems we picked a fight over nothing," Terra added.

"Aw, it was all in good fun," Peter said, crossing his arms with a grin. He looked over at Corva. "I'd never met someone who flew as good as me! I honestly didn't expect you to make it as far into those rocks as you did!"

"That? That was nothing," Corva said with a grin. "Though I am curious as to how you fly without wings…"

"Oh, that? That's easy," Peter said, his grin growing wider. "Maybe I'll tell you some time."

"I'd like that," Corva said.

Peter nodded, glancing back at Terra. "And it's not every day I get to fight such a good swordsman. In fact, I'd say today was my lucky day!"

"Heh. I'm glad," Terra chuckled.

"Say, what're your names, anyway?" Peter asked.

"Terra," the man said with a smile.

"And I'm Corva," Corva added.

"Right then, Terra, Corva. Which way did Hook go?" Peter asked.

"They had some 'business' to attend to," Corva muttered thoughtfully.

"It was something about a shooting star," Terra added.

"Shooting star!?" Peter gasped in worry, before quickly turning towards the entrance. "Tinker Bell must be in danger! Men, guard that treasure with you lives!" he called as he flew off.

"Aye-aye, sir!" bear-boy called.

"You go an' get 'em, Pan!" fox-boy cheered.

"We should be on our way," Terra sighed, glancing over at Corva, who hesitated.

"I… what if Hook comes back and finds the kids here?" she asked softly. Terra hesitated, realizing the truth in her words.

"But… we need to find Vanitas," he said. Corva nodded thoughtfully for a moment, before making up her mind.

"Alright. Go on ahead, and I'll catch up, okay?" she offered. Terra looked surprised.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. I can handle a one-handed man, no problem," Corva said with a grin. Terra chuckled, but nodded, heading out.

Not too long after Terra left, however, thousands of the jellyfish Unversed appeared, causing both boys to cry out in fear.

"Guys, get out of here! I'll take care of this!" Corva called, summoning Holy Sword. She slashed at a few, causing them to vanish, but was then tackled from behind, sending her tumbling to the ground, winded.

"Corva!"

Corva looked up to see Terra running towards her, Keyblade at the ready.

"Terra!" she gasped, gratefully accepting his hand as he pulled her up.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, thanks," Corva replied, moving so that they stood back-to-back.

"Then let's finish this!" Terra yelled, going back on to the offensive. Together, he and Corva managed to defeat all of the Unversed.

"Boy, you sure cut those monsters down to size!" fox-boy said as he and bear-boy re-entered the cavern, walking over to the two.

Terra's eyes widened, and he looked towards the entrance. Corva looked up, too, hearing a moment later what caught his attention.

Voices.

"Sh!" Terra muttered.

"Ahoy! How fare ye, lad and lass?" Hook called.

"Hook!" the boys gasped softly.

"Go hide," Corva muttered to them. They nodded, doing as she said.

"Fine. All's well," Terra called in reply to Hook, just as the man rounded the corner, into the cavern. In his hand was an odd lantern. "What's that?" Terra asked as Hook reached them.

"Tinker Bell. One of Peter Pan's dearest friends," Hook said, holding the lantern up. Inside was a pixie, her wings going a mile a minute as she banged against the glass. Corva's eyes widened, and she wrapped her wings around herself, pain shooting through her heart.

She could never imagine being locked up like that.

"Can I take a look?" Terra asked, holding his hand out. Hook glanced up at him, before smiling, passing it over. He then turned smartly on his heel.

Terra, meanwhile, moved the lantern closer to his face, studying it.

"What are you—" Corva began to hiss, before cutting off as Terra found what he was looking for… and undid the latch, opening it. Tinker Bell fluttered gratefully around him.

"So long as I have his precious pixie, Pan's demise is all but assured," Hook was saying, not paying attention to the two behind him. He closed his eyes, laughing to himself. Tinker Bell huffed silently, and shot over, fluttering in the air in front of Hook's face, waiting to be noticed.

As soon as the pirate captain looked up, the pixie kicked him in the nose, sending him backwards, onto his butt. Terra, meanwhile, dropped the lantern in disgust.

"What's the meaning of this!?" Hook demanded, quickly pushing himself to his feet and turning towards the two.

"You know, I didn't give it that much thought," Terra admitted. "Just doing what my heart tells me."

"That's mutiny! And you'll walk the plank for it!" Hook snarled.

Both Corva and Terra summoned their weapons.

"We're not part of your crew!" Corva reminded him.

"Why, I—" Hook suddenly cut off with a gasp, twitching in time with a ticking that suddenly filled the air, sounding almost like an old clock.

"That sound!" Hook muttered, turning towards the water.

Floating there, his tail twitching in time with the ticking… was a crocodile, his eyes locked onto Hook.

Hook suddenly screamed, running as fast as he could from the area.

"Hooray! We sure showed Hook this time!" fox-boy said as he and the other boy ran out from their hiding spot.

Corva smiled, banishing her sword, and Terra did the same, standing up straight.

Golden light suddenly showered down around the two of them, prompting them to look up. Tinker Bell, grateful for Terra freeing her, flew overhead, and it was her light shining down on them.

Terra closed his eyes, seeming to loose himself in memories of happier times.

He wasn't the only one.

Corva and Olor sat on top of the Academy building, looking up at the millions of lights that depicted the stars.

"Dad says that each one of those is a different would," Olor said. Corva leaned against him with a smile, and his wing wrapped around her.

"Really?"

"Really. Apparently, the light comes from each world's heart. I think, if I wasn't so set on becoming a Guardian Angel, I'd want to travel from star to star, just to see how different from us they are," Olor said. Corva smiled, looking up as well.

"Yeah. That sounds like fun. Heh, maybe we'll get lucky, and our charges will travel the worlds, making us go with them."

"Nah. The humans don't know of the other words," Olor said, his wing tightening around Corva, pulling her closer. She smiled, snuggling into him.

"Shame…" she muttered.

"Corva? Are you crying?"

Terra's voice bought Corva back to the present, and she blinked, looking down at him. Her cheeks were wet, and her vision was blurred a little. She rubbed her hand against her eyes.

"I'm fine," she said, smiling at him.

"Aw, so much for the pirate treasures," bear-boy suddenly said, causing both to turn towards him. The two were standing in front of the chest, which was empty. Terra grinned at Corva and walked over to them.

"Did you guys really want the jewels and gold that badly?" he asked. Corva followed after him curiously.

"Nah, we don't care about that stuff," fox-boy said.

"Uh, but, uh, Pan was countin' on us," bear-boy said.

"I'll tell ya what—put the stuff that's really special to you in there," Terra suggested, kneeling to their height. "That can be your treasure."

"Yeah!" the boys replied enthusiastically. "Real swell idea. Thanks!" fox-boy said, and the two turned back to the box. Terra smiled warmly, watching them as they carried it off.

"Kind of makes me wonder… what I'd put in there," Terra hummed. He glanced over at Corva. "What about you?"

"Heh, yeah," she sighed. The two of them slowly made their way out of Skull Rock, and Terra looked up at the sky.

"Time to go, I guess," he sighed. Corva nodded, before looking up as well.

"I think… I'm going to see if Ven is here," she decided.

"Huh?" Terra asked, looking over at her, surprised. She put a hand to her heart.

"I just feel like he might be. And you asked me to travel with him to protect him from Vanitas, so…" Corva trailed off, and Terra nodded.

"I get it," he said with a warm smile. "Be careful, alright?"

"You, too," Corva said with a smile, stepping back and watching as he summoned his armor and glider. He nodded to her, then took off into the Lanes Between. With a small smile, Corva opened her wings and took off, flying back to the main Island.

A/N: And here is where I shall end it. So far, this is the longest chapter, heh.