Cinderella, Aqua and Ven watched in horror how a huge Shadow emerged from the deep trench, it had human form, two small wings on its back, long arms and short legs, its head was covered in dozens of twisted black tentacles, and there was a big hole on its stomach with the form of a heart. That was no Unversed, that was for sure.

Ven quickly placed Aqua back on her feet, and both summoned their Keyblades, ready to fight. "What is that?" Aqua asked in shock and surprise, never seeing a creature of the sorts.

"Whatever it is, we can't let it hurt anyone!" Ven exclaimed, then he noticed smaller shadows come from the trench as well; they were like ants but with big antennas and had big yellow eyes. Those monsters... they seemed familiar... the more Ven kept staring at the creatures, the more he knew he had seen them before.

"Ahh!" Ven fell to his knees and held his head with both hands as a pain stung him mercilessly; his Keyblade fell to his side and vanished in thin air.

"Ven!" Aqua cried worried, then kneeled next to him and held his shoulders in support. "Are you alright?"

Ven only kept his eyes shut, his body was trembling in a worry-some way and his hand kept clutched to his head. He felt the throbbing inside his head, it stung him greatly, and he only wanted it to stop.

"Ven!" Aqua kept calling, as she saw how the strange shadows came towards them. 'I have to protect Ven!' She thought determined, then stood in front of the boy with Keyblade in hand. She sliced all the shadows, like she did with the Unversed, but what worried her was that Ven was still in that pain she could not heal, and that the huge strange shadow was searching for something to target.

'M-My head! It-It hurts! Gahh!' Plea- d-d-don't…. aster! 'Why... it hurts s-so much...?' Embrace...darkness-...—th-the X-bl...!' "STOP!"

"Ven!"

Ven's eyes snapped open as he heard Aqua's voice cry out for him, he looked up and gasped in horror at seeing Aqua defending herself from the shadows, but as she did more and more came and moved closer to her.

"Fire! Freeze! Thunder! Wind!" Aqua kept casting desperately destroying all the shadows she could, but as she destroyed them, the triple of then appeared ready to attack her. 'I won't be able to hold them back!'

But Aqua was tired, she had had a long day; she battled Unversed in the castle, ran all around the castle to escape, held back the Tremaines with all her might, and fought more Unversed before going inside for the Prince. She was just worn out.

Finally her body couldn't hold it any longer, and she fell to her knees, as she panted and tried to recover her breath. Aqua was vulnerable, and she had to do something or...

She looked up and gasped at seeing all the shadows that had surrounded her and leapt in the air ready to strike. Aqua tried to stand up but her body didn't respond; she widened her eyes in fear and could only wait for the worse.

"Aqua!"

A shining light came out of nowhere, and the shadows vanished instantly. Aqua had to cover her eyes at its great brightness, and when the light dimmed out, she looked up and gasped in surprise at seeing the shadows gone and Ven standing in front of her, holding in one hand his green wayfinder, standing in an offensive position as he panted harshly.

"Ven." Aqua murmured happily, she was about to stand up again, but groaned as her body denied movement at feeling so weak.

Ven went to her side and kept his charm back to his pocket. "Are you okay?" The blond asked worriedly, holding her shoulders in support.

Aqua smiled at him. "I am thanks to you." She whispered with a grateful look.

Ven smiled in relief, then pointed Wayward Wind up in the air. "Heal." He was not as experienced in magic as Aqua was, but he still knew how to cast a few spells.

The green aura surrounded Aqua, and she sighed relieved at feeling energy flow back to her. She stood up and was about to say something but then widened her eyes as she pushed Ven away. "Look out!" Right where they were standing, the giant fist of the huge shadow hit the floor, causing a brief trembling to occur.

They forgot the shadow was still there, and there was no way they'd let it just stay there, causing harm.

"Ready?" Ven asked as he took his fighting stance, glaring at the huge shadow.

Aqua nodded determined. "Yes." She summoned her Keyblade as well and took her offence position.

By the other side of the room, Cinderella was busy herself trying to wake up the Prince; she was worried since he could have gotten hurt badly. "Please open your eyes." She pleaded as she shook his body gently.

Jaq, that was still inside her pocket, because of all the commotion peeked outside to see what was going on and was surprised at seeing on the other side of the room Ven and Aqua fighting a huge monster. "Oh no!" He exclaimed scared, then slipped in back to the pocket, knowing that there was nothing he could do to help.

Cinderella rested the Prince's head on her lap, as she held with one hand his hair, and with the other his cheek. "Please..." Cinderella whispered, then began to softly caress his dark hair.

The Prince groaned and his eyes began to slowly open; he was welcomed by the sight of a beautiful girl smiling down at him in relief. He had seen her before...indeed he had...

The image of that same girl smiling as both danced flashed back to his mind, then everything that happened with Aqua. He blinked a couple of times, only to realize he had been wrong this whole time.

"Are you okay?" Cinderella asked. Her voice was the same! It was her! So Aqua was right after all, he had to apologize to her later.

Still sore from the previous hit, the Prince grunted as he slowly sat up rubbing the back of his head. He looked behind him and smiled at Cinderella. "So it's you." At his words, Cinderella's eyes brightened. "Not only did you save me now, but you are the one I met at the ball." He murmured grateful to her for saving him, and grateful of finally finding her.

Cinderella brought her hands to her chest in joy, not helping but to smile in utter happiness as she nodded.

The Prince took hold of her hands and helped her stand up, and the two turned around to see the two keyblade disciples fighting the huge monster. "We need to help them." The Prince said.

Aqua then noticed that the Prince was now conscious and that he and Cinderella were holding hands. You could pretty much guess what happened; she smiled relieved, but then remembered they were still in danger here. "Go to a safe place! We'll take care of it!" Aqua exclaimed to both.

They seemed a little hesitant at first, but at seeing the determined look in Aqua's eyes, both left right where the Duke had left as well.

"Thunder!" Aqua cast but the huge shadow seemed to receive no damage, for it only raised its fist ready to strike again.

Ven groaned desperate and threw his Keyblade to the creature's hand. "Come on!" Wayward Wind only made a small scratch as it returned to Ven's grip. 'This thing won't give up!'

Aqua kept thinking what they could do. If they were defeated by this, they could lose their hearts, this world would be consumed by darkness, they'd never find Terra, and they'd disappoint Master Eraqus; a lot of things were at stake for this battle. 'I couldn't defeat the smaller shadows, but, Ven did...' She looked at Ven and saw how he kept striking the creature's hand. 'He, what did he do?... wait, he used light! The strength from our bond, he was holding his wayfinder.' Aqua took out her own wayfinder and stared down at it. 'Won't lose anything at trying.'

Ven jumped back as the fist of the creature hit the ground again, and guarded his body as an orb of darkness came from the shadow's empty chest and tried to hit him. "Ven!" Aqua called to gain his attention.

Ven turned back, still on his guard. "I think I know what to do!" She called. Ven widened his eyes interested and ran to her side.

"When you defeated those smaller shadows, you used light, didn't you?" She asked just to make sure she was right.

Ven nodded. "Yeah, I was angry that you were attacked, I wanted to protect you, then I remembered Terra as well, and just the fury and strength came out of nowhere." He explained, confused himself of how he did it.

"Then let's try it." She said showing him her blue wayfinder.

Ven caught up on what she was trying to do, and took out his own wayfinder as well. Both brought their wayfinders to their chests and closed their eyes concentrated as the big shadow prepared to send a blast of dark energy that was slowly accumulating in his hand.

'Ven, Terra, give me strength.'

'Aqua, Terra, lend me power.'

The wayfinders glimmered with a small sparkle of light, and both opened their eyes again at feeling the item pulsating, then gasped at seeing their Keyblades shining with a blue light. It was now or never.

Both raised their Keyblades, the tips touching as they united their power. "Light!" Both exclaimed, and a golden blinding light that came from their Keyblades covered the whole room.

...

The light was gone, and so was the shadow; there was no trench, no trace of damage at all in the room. It was as if nothing happened.

Aqua and Ven looked at each other and smiled in relief. "We did it." Ven said with a happy smile.

Aqua nodded in agreement, relieved as well everything turned out fine.

'Ven, forgive me, but now that this is over I have to take you home just like Master ordered.' She thought sadly in regret.

Entering back the room, Cinderella, the Prince and the Duke gasped in awe at seeing that everything was back to normal. As the Duke checked that everything was in order, the Prince and Cinderella approached the two heroes.

"Thank you very much." Cinderella thanked with a sincere look of gratitude. "You helped me when I needed you the most."

"No problem." Ven replied as he brought both hands behind his head and smiled.

Aqua on her side turned at Cinderella and frowned. "I'm sorry I caused you all of this in the first place." She murmured rather ashamed, feeling sorry.

"Don't worry." Cinderella assured. "You came back and helped me after all, so there's no need to apologize."

"I am the one that has to apologize." The Prince finally spoke out, regretful of what he made Aqua go through the last day. "I was wrong, and I give you my must sincere apologies." He spoke sincerely.

Aqua smiled and chuckled softly. "Don't worry about it, it was good I came here anyway, I couldn't let the Unversed stay here at the castle." She reassured trying to not make the Prince feel guilty.

The Prince smiled then turned at Cinderella. "And now I hope you are willing to marry me after all that's happened."

Immediately Cinderella nodded, having no doubts at all. "Of course I will!"

The two reunited lovers shared a hug, and that was the cue for Ven and Aqua that they no longer needed to be there.

Both walked away outside the room and made their way through the empty halls, having no destination in mind whatsoever. When they reached the gardens, it was already dark and the moon and stars were up in the sky shining.

"Ven." Aqua spoke stopping in their tracks, causing Ven to do so as well. She sat down in the same bench she did a few hours ago, having the small lake in front of her. Ven sat down next to her and waited for her to say something.

"We have fulfilled our roles in this world, now Cinderella is with the Prince and there are no more Unversed." She said, always looking down at her hands resting on her lap.

Ven nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it actually, makes me think about, well..." A small blush adorned his cheeks. "Us."

Aqua glanced at Ven and was surprised at seeing Ven's sincere, love-filled, and warm gaze; his eyes were almost sparkling with all the mixture of feelings. This caused Aqua to almost not want to say what she was planning to, for she felt a warm tug in her heart.

It was true she thought about it too, and the thought made her happy; she had loved Ven for quite some time, and nothing else could bring her more joy than finally being with him, but... her mission... "I've thought about it too." She finally spoke up. "And I think that it would be best if we-" Aqua was taken off guard and gasped when Ven placed his hand above hers, intertwining their fingers.

He had such a warm smile, and his blue eyes were shining... It was now that Aqua realized the setting they were in. The garden covered with the light of the moon, the moon reflected in the lake in front of them, the soft sound of the wind and the fountain that was not so far away. It was so... appropriate.

"Ventus." Aqua whispered taken back by the moment, as Ven half-closed his eyes and leaned up towards her. She couldn't help it; she tightened the grip of their hands, and she too leaned down towards the boy's face.

The moment their lips touched, an electric shock ran down Aqua's spine, it was like she was floating, soaring in the sky and nothing else mattered. Ven felt his heart's beating quicken and pound against his chest, and it increased when Aqua's free hand cupped his cheek.

It was almost magical.

They hesitated, but their lungs forced them to break apart. Ven seemed a little dazed, and Aqua clearly showed she wanted to kiss him again. They stared at each other deep in the eyes, searching for the other's soul, and when Ven caught a glimpse of Aqua's he leaned forward again for another kiss. "Ven." Aqua stopped him when he was inches apart, his breath tickling her nose. "There is nothing else I want in the world but to spend what is left of my life with you, and I really mean it," She sighed sadly at what she was about to say. "But I have to take you home."

Ven widened his eyes in disappointment; so even after sharing that moment... "Aqua..." he murmured sadly.

"I'm sorry." She added. "But I don't want you to get hurt. I cannot even bear the thought." She placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll look for Terra, I'll find him, and bring him back home as well. Leave it to me."

Ven only shook his head. "You don't understand Aqua is just that..." He looked up at her with a look of determination. "I have to find him myself and make sure he is okay."

"But what if you get hurt?" Aqua questioned, hoping to make him realize what she meant.

"I won't, I promise you I'll be alright." Ven reassured, knowing well that he had helped Aqua and Terra train so he had gained some experience too.

Aqua stood up and sighed. "I'm sorry Ven, but if you won't listen to me," She was about to reach out to grab Ven's arm, but he stepped back, not allowing her to. Aqua gasped in surprise, and was more shocked at seeing the expression of refusal marked all over Ven's face. "Ven...?"

The blond shook his head. "I won't go." He looked at Aqua with sorrow. "Forgive me Aqua, I love you, but I can't allow you to take me home."

"I love you too! That's why I want you to be safe!" Aqua replied, now feeling somewhat desperate.

Remorse covered Ven's face as he patted his armor on his arm and his full armor covered him. Even wearing his helmet that covered his face it could be seen he was feeling guilty. "Ven, please don't..." Aqua began.

The instant he summoned his rider, Aqua ran towards him trying to stop him, but he took off and flew away, opening a pathway to another world.

Aqua watched from below how Ven left the world; she brought a hand to her heart and closed her eyes sadly. "Ven..."