Chapter Ten: Earth, Water and Wind

Terra's Point of View:

I stare at the newcomer in my hearts core. Not that he's exactly new, after all, he's a part of me. And yet, his amber eyes, darker skin and grayish hair demonstrate all the differences between us. He's part Xehanort and thus not to be trusted. He greets me by name as if he's an old friend and takes a few steps forward before coming to a halt, perhaps noticing how I tense at his approach.

"As I'm here, and in a weakened state, why do you not reclaim your heart and body?" he asks me.

My hands ball into fists as I close my eyes for a moment. "I'm not strong enough. The darkness has such a tight hold on my heart...it's all I can do to prevent it from entirely consuming me and wiping the Terra everyone knew from existence. So, I'm afraid that you did this for nothing."

The man, Xemnas I believe he's called, scowls at the ground, when at last he looks back at me he looks sad but determined. He walks all the way up to me and I fight against every instinct that tells me to attack him, to destroy this intruder.

"Then we must join back together as one entity. That should make you strong enough, correct?" Xemnas asks me.

I frown, looking at him curiously. "Why should I trust you?"

"Because we're the same. I have your very body. Your heart lies within me, as does Xehanort's. But I am not him. I keep regaining your memories. Some days I feel as though I am you," he tells me. "It's infuriating. If I join my heart with yours, then you will become strong enough?"

I shake my head no with a sigh. "I may be strong enough then, but your heart is more darkness than light. I wouldn't be able to contain it. I already have too much darkness in me. And I won't hurt my friends...not again," I say.

Xemnas's eyes are far away, as though he can see straight through me. "'Your friends' you say. Yes they are your friends, you are lucky to have them and certainly do not deserve them. Aqua speaks so highly of you and Ventus, he almost seems to worship the very ground you walk on. They both believe in you, and are counting on you coming back. They will help you I am sure. Only time will tell which path you decide to lead. As for Xehanort...I can handle him. I'll keep him at bay, while you work at snuffing him out."

I still don't trust him. He turns away and I step forward, watching him cautiously. "But why? Why help me? What do you get out of this?"

He shoots a glare at me over his shoulder, summoning his weapons. "I am not doing this for you. I'm doing it for your friends."

I whirl to my right as Xehanort materializes at the other end of the platform. He frowns at me and then Xemnas, who charges at him with his weapons. They engage in a fight as I watch. After a short struggle and clashes of weapons, Xemnas flings Xehanort back to the edge of the platform. Just before he can fall the old man catches himself, moving quickly away from the edge. He and Xemnas stare at each other silently.

"Just you must agree to one thing. Don't ever hurt Aqua, in any way shape or form," Xemnas says.

"I...You have my word," I say, my gaze hard as I notice my hands start to take a transparent appearance.

"Good. Know that if you ever do, I will wipe you from existence," Xemnas says.

I nod, smiling slightly. "That's a deal." I hold up my hands, I've almost entirely faded now. Another moment and I'll be gone. I will be with my friends again. My eyes widen as Master Eraqus materializes behind Xehanort. Master Eraqus who I've for so long felt in my heart but never seen there. He shakes his head at me as I start forward.

"Go now, Terra!" He grabs Xehanort and struggles against him.

"One more thing," Xemnas says, wrenching my attention from Master Eraqus. "Tell Aqua and Ventus, that I say goodbye and wish them the very best."

I nod, feeling a pang of sympathy as Xemnas's emotions hit me like a brick wall. They flood through my entire being as images of his memories flash in front of my eyes. I squint at the struggle that unfolds before me.

"You're more different from me than I think you realize," I mutter.

I glance over towards Eraqus regretfully, reaching out to him. Darkness engulfs me and I close my eyes against it. I feel weightless for a moment and then as if I'm moving up through water as I re-enter the realm of waking. Despite everything else, I'm unable to stop a small smile from spreading across my face. I'm going to see my friends.

Aqua's Point of View:

"Xemnas!" I yell, darting forward.

A hand clamps down on my arm, effectively stopping me. I look over my shoulder to see Ventus watching me. He shakes his head no, moving his hand to give mine a squeeze. We watch anxiously as Xemnas takes Terra's Keyblade from the armor. My eyes widen with horror as he flips the Keyblade around and slams it towards his chest. His eyes close as he starts falling towards the ground. I slide my hand from Ventus's. I run forward, sliding onto the ground in time to catch his upper body in my lap. His eyes are closed peacefully. If I didn't know better I would guess he was sleeping normally. Ventus crouches down beside me, peering into Xemnas's face anxiously. As I watch, darkness begins engulfing his body. I clutch him tighter, worry gripping my heart.

The darkness slowly begins dissipating, taking his silver hair with it and replacing it with brown hair of the same length. His skin lightens and his face becomes several years younger. I gasp.

"Terra!" Ven yells, grinning from ear to ear as he shakes our friend gently.

I watch with anticipation as Terra opens his eyes, blinking rapidly. I grin, tears welling up, partially obscuring my vision as his eyes meet mine. He appears confused before grimacing as he pushes himself up into a sitting position and touches his head as if in pain. I place my hand on his shoulder gently, peering carefully at his face.

"Terra?" I say.

He looks over at me and then at Ventus. A sob breaks through his usual tougher resolve and as he pulls Ventus and I into a hug he's shaking. He seems to clutch to Ven and I as a lifeline. A tear finally escapes from my eye. We sit like this for several minutes until Terra finally moves back, releasing us from his grip. Ventus sniffles, rubbing at his eyes with the palms of his hands.

"The three of us are finally together again." Ventus grins.

I nod, unable to stop a smile from spreading across my face. "Yeah."

Terra smiles at Ventus and then me, still shaking. "Aqua...Ven. It's been, a really long time...hasn't it? I've missed you guys." He grips his head with both hands, letting out a groan.

Ienzo suddenly appears beside me, his forehead creased in concern. "Let's get him back to the castle. The ordeal of switching back must have put a great strain on his body as well as his mind."

I nod, getting to my feet quickly. I hold out my hand to Terra and after a couple of moments he grasps it, pushing himself up to his feet. The apprentices walk up with Terra's now lifeless armor in their arms. Terra taps the switch on the shoulder and the armor materializes on him. He stumbles into Aeleus who slings Terra's arm around his shoulder to prop him up. I put on my own armor and open up a portal. Aeleus walks through first with Terra. I follow, falling into step beside Ventus. He places his hands behind his head as he walks.

"Don't worry Aqua, Terra will be just fine now," Ventus says cheerfully. "We just need to take down Xehanort and then we can go back to The Land of Departure. I know things won't be the same, not without Master Eraqus..." his voice loses it's cheerful edge at this. "But still, things will be okay."

Somehow, I doubt defeating Xehanort will be that simple. But he is right, things won't ever be the same again. Not like they were the night of that meteor shower so many years ago now...

"Thanks Ven," I say quietly, as we near the entrance back into Radiant Garden.

I let everyone else pass in front of me before stepping through the portal. My feet hit the stone path as we step out practically directly in front of the door to the castle. Ven runs forward and opens it and the others enter. I follow, my eyes adjusting to the darkness that is the castle after the bright lights outside. The sun is setting outside by now.

Ienzo leads us deeper into the castle, he bypasses the main stairway and opens a door into a place like a living room of sorts. It contains three sofas, several wooden chairs at a large desk and a few armchairs. Gold curtains are pulled over a wall that seems to be almost one entire large window. Even immediately takes a seat in one of the armchairs as Aeleus moves Terra over to one of the sofas before retreating to stand over by the door. Terra's armor fades as Ventus and I remove ours as well. Terra is staring stonily at the floor, his eyes glassy, he's still shaking slightly though not as much as before. I cross the room and sit down beside him, Ventus quickly sits on my other side, peering anxiously at our friend.

Ienzo opens his mouth to speak but Even beats him to it, addressing Terra. "So I am curious, now that you are, well, to be frank, you again, do you remember anything of Xehanort's plans that might be able to help us?"

Terra looks up slowly, he blinks a couple of times before rapidly shaking his head no. "I...no, it hurts to try and think that far."

Even appears incredulous. "Come, you must remember something?"

I shoot Even a glare which he returns with a confused stare as Ienzo sits down in a chair near our couch.

"Now is not the time Even, he's been through a lot, and I'm sure he could use some time to rest and adjust," Ienzo says.

Terra nods at this, his bangs falling forward as he looks at his hands, obscuring his eyes from everyone's view. When Even opens his mouth to speak again, Terra gets to his feet. Holding out his hand as if to say stop.

"I need some time to recoup," Terra says, his voice strangely steady. "Perhaps we can talk tomorrow."

I watch as he hurriedly leaves the room, letting the door almost slam behind him in his hurry. Aeleus scowls at Even, at last moving to sit.

"Couldn't wait could you? Had to scare the boy," Aeleus says in what is probably the longest sentence I've ever heard him speak.

I get to my feet and Ven looks up at me curiously. "Where are you going?"

"To make sure Terra's okay," I say, heading for the door. When he gets up to follow me I shake my head no. "Why don't you wait here Ven."

He frowns but sits back down, turning to Ienzo as he starts talking to him. I leave, shutting the door more quietly than Terra did and walk down the hall. Where would Terra go in this castle? Or would he leave? After a moment I decide to head up the stairs towards the rooms. He didn't look up for a walk outside.

After walking up and down a couple of halls, poking my head into rooms, I find myself outside of Xemnas's room. I start to walk past it but pause when I hear the sound of crying from within. Why would he come here? I reach out tentatively and touch the doorknob before slowly turning it.

I look around the door and see Terra standing in the middle of the room, his arms folded over his chest and tears streaming down his face. He turns at the sound of the door, meeting my eye. I feel tears spring up to my own eyes again. Tears from worrying about him for so long, tears because of the lost time, tears for Master Eraqus, and tears for the inner pain Terra must be going through now. All of that along with happy tears. Because now, he's back.

He crosses the room in a few strides, pulling me to his chest, he rests his face against my shoulder, sobbing in a way I've never seen him do before. Terra...it takes a lot to make him cry. I wrap my arms around him, stroking his hair soothingly. We stand like that for what feels like an eternity until his sobs quiet and he steps back.

"I'm sorry Aqua, for everything," Terra says. "You gave up so much for me, falling into the land of darkness, being stuck there for so long. But thank you, for always believing in, and fighting for me. I don't deserve it after everything I did."

I sigh, looking at the ground briefly before meeting his eyes again. "Terra, that was a long time ago. What happened with the master, that wasn't really your fault. You couldn't let him hurt Ven... And now, we'll all move on. Everything's going to be all right. You've been through a lot, lost a lot of time. But you will be okay. You'll see."

He takes a deep breath before blowing out slowly. He nods. "But still, I'm sorry that I'm so weak. I'm no match for the darkness... But Master Eraqus, he isn't gone."

I stare at him, taken aback. "What do you mean?"

He brings his hand up to his chest, moving it to rest over his heart. "He...or at least some part of him, is here. In my heart. I don't know how. But he's been helping me, all this time."

I grin. "Then maybe we can get him back."

Terra nods, finally smiling a little. "It won't be easy...but it might be possible."

He sits down on the bed, looking drained while I think over what he just said. Master Eraqus isn't gone. All this time I assumed that he must be. Terra yawns and I take a step back towards the door.

"I'll leave so you can get some sleep," I say quietly.

He moves back so that he's laying against the pillows. "Thanks again Aqua."

I nod, opening the door and stepping out into the hall. A thought occurring to me suddenly I turn back around, frowning. "Terra, what made you come here? To this room I mean?"

Terra frowns, looking around confusedly for a moment. "I'm...I don't know. Why? Who's room is it?"

I shake my head, he doesn't need to worry about this right now. "Oh, it's not important. Goodnight Terra."

I shut his door softly before he can reply, walking back down the hall towards the others. He must have gone there because of Xemnas...but he doesn't seem to have his memories. Xemnas...it seems strange that he's just gone now. As if he was never there to begin with. But then, he was apart of Terra all along. It makes sense I suppose. And Terra's back now, that's what matters.

Terra seems so empty, broken. I never thought I would ever witness him like this. I want to help him, but I don't really know how. He'll have to work past this mostly on his own, he's the only one with power over his heart. But Ventus and I will be there every step of the way. Because there's no way I'll ever let anything happen to either of them again.