A/N: Alrighty, here's another chapter. This one will also play the role of a filler (despite there being some slight action at the end). I hope you enjoy though, being as there is some more important stuff in here as well, lol. Be sure to leave a review as well, okay?

Disclaimer: I don't own ANYTHING Kingdom Hearts T-T

Chapter 9: The Root of Vengeance

After breakfast, Sora and the group decided that it was best that they resume Arthur's training, especially since Merlin said that now there wasn't even so much as a mere Shadow present in all of England. As Sora and Arthur were walking their way towards the training grounds of the castle, the young Keyblade Master saw Terra leaning on the entryway to a passage just off to the left.

"Arthur, I want you to go outside and warm up. I'll be out in a second." With out questioning, Arthur rushed outside, leaving Sora and Terra alone.

"I imagine you have some questions…" Terra mumbled as Sora approached him.

"Yeah…" The brunette teen nodded.

"Well, let me hear them." The older man uncrossed his arms and stood straight.

"I've seen your Keyblade before…I fought a guy who used it. He was dressed in armor, and was incredibly strong. Look, I'm just going to be blunt, were you that guy?" Sora raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Yes, that was me. I'm sorry about blindly attacking you and your friends that day. I wasn't…myself." Terra sighed as he looked down in shame.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I have to ask though…why did you attack us like that?" The brunette Keyblade Master inquired.

"I had mistaken you for Xehanort…Sora, the man you see now is not the Terra from ten years ago. I am so driven by vengeance and hate that it's all I ever imagine now. Urg…I'd die from all the hate that's poisoned my veins!" Terra angrily grumbled as he slammed his fist against the wall.

"What did he do…to make you hate him so much?" Sora also looked down as he was beginning to understand why Terra felt like a storm to him earlier.

"He killed Aqua and Ven…they didn't stand a chance…and all I could do was watch!" Terra bellowed as he once again slammed his clenched fist into the wall. "Do you know what that's like…to watch your friends die and not be able to do a thing about it?" The older man's voice had drastically quieted, tears beginning to develop in his eyes, but refusing to fall.

"You're right…I don't know what that's like. I'm not even going to say that I understand how much pain you must be going through…but I will say this: I'm your friend, and I'm sure Kairi, Riku, the King, and even Arthur would say the same." Sora calmly spoke.

"Yeah…but you're not…them…I miss them so much." Terra closes his eyes in a final effort to hold back the tears.

"And I'm not saying we're going to replace them. No one can…they hold a special place in your heart, and it's good that you miss them, it means you have a heart. What I'm trying to saying is: we can be there for you too, if you let us." Sora assured as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "And as a friend, I'm going to tell you that trying to get back at him isn't the right choice. Trust me, I've seen that it can do to people…and because of that, I can't help you there." The younger Keybearer explained as his mind recalled people such as Ursula, Jafar, and Oogie-Boogie, to name a few. "However, I'd be more than happy to help bring Xehanort and his Apprentice to justice, and if it comes to the worst, then so be it, but don't worry, justice has a funny way of working out in the end. Put it this way: let justice replace your quest for revenge, you'll find it much easier to meet your goals that way." Sora flashed his trademark smile.

"Thanks, it may not be easy…but I'll try. Heh, I may be technically thirty-one, but you hold a wisdom that far exceeds my own. You truly are a Master, Sora." Terra bowed his head in respect as he left to join the others already waiting outside.

"Okay, now to make sure King Arthur is ready." The young Keyblader proceeded to the training grounds himself. There was a ring of people, and in the center was the boy-king himself, Excalibur drawn and ready. Sora just smirked as he walked into the center of the ring himself, summoning his Keyblade (which had now taken on the white, feathery form of Oathkeeper). "So, are you ready for another lesson, your highness?" The Keyblade Master smiled as he assumed his fighting stance.

"But of course, Master." Arthur returned the smile as he assumed his familiar stance as well. The young king was the first to move. He ran at his teacher, Excalibur dragging against the ground, then he lifted his sword and performed a sweeping strike at Sora's feet, but the Keybearer just back-flipped out of the way and used his momentum to spring back towards Arthur and brought the shaft of his Keyblade against the young king's sword arm. The boy took the blow, causing a gasp to come from the audience, but Arthur recovered quickly and defended himself by blocking a horizontal slash from Sora, as a result, their weapons were now locked. In terms of strength and skill, Sora was quite apparently Arthur's superior, but by no means did this mean that the boy would give in. With a great deal of grunting and groaning (being as Sora had nearly brought him to his knees), Arthur straightened his body, slid out of the lock, and swung his sword to see if he could catch his Master, but Sora parried by bashing his handle-guard against Excalibur, causing the young king to fall on his back, his dislodged weapon falling a few feet behind his head. Arthur looked up to see the Oathkeeper pointed at his neck, and Sora glaring down at him with a very serious expression in his eyes, as if they were trying to bore into Arthur's very own. A second later, his Master's expression changed from that of a stony glare, to that of a satisfied smile.

"Very good, your highness…you have shown me that you have the courage to fight, even though you are clearly outmatched by your opponent." Sora dismissed his Keyblade and stretched his hand out to help Arthur up.

"I beg your pardon, Master but…what do you mean?" The blond king inquired as he dusted himself off and sheathed Excalibur.

"Courage is something that cannot be taught to you. It has got to come from here…" Sora explained as he pointed to his heart. "You see, your swordsmanship can always improve with practice, but if you don't have the courage to fight, what good is your sword? Now I know you'll be a great king, Arthur. I can't teach you anything else...I am not your Master anymore, your highness." The Keyblade Master smiled as raised Arthur's sword hand in triumph, prompting a chant of "Long live King Arthur" to explode from the crowd around them.

"T-thank you Master…I mean, Sora." Arthur smiled as Merlin approached the duo.

"Well, with that done, I suppose you'll be on your way to try and discover the whereabouts of your mysterious opponent?" The elderly wizard questioned as he cleaned his glasses with his beard.

"Yes, we can't stand by while someone like that is roaming the worlds. We'll leave tomorrow." Sora sternly replied.

A/N: Phew...Sora and Terra have gotten past their previous encounters, but will Terra manage to let go of his hate? Oh, and now that Arthur has been taken care of, where to next for our group of hereos (and heroine, lol)? Find out in the next chapter, oh, and be sure to leave a review :D.