Epilogue: Recompletion

Aqua watched silently, a smile on her face, as the young apprentices Sora, Riku, and Kairi took turns batting the hanging wheels in the training area of the Land of Departure with wooden swords. At her side, Terra and Ven chuckled at the young trio's eagerness. In a sense, it reminded them all of their own training. Aqua and Terra had both waited two years after Xehanort was defeated at the Keyblade Graveyard before going for their apprentices and bringing them here to begin their training.

Six years old felt a bit young to Aqua for Sora and Kairi, but, the earlier the better she supposed. Poor them though, Riku loved to teasingly lord it over them that he was a year ahead and that he'd probably get his Keyblade first. That boy... just like Terra. Kairi reminded Aqua a bit of herself, it had taken her a little bit to get over her shyness, but the girl had taken to Sora and Riku quickly, and the trio had become cherished friends. Sora was so much like a young Ven, Aqua had taken a slight risk.

Sora was her apprentice, her chosen, but, she let Ven try his hand at being the kid's Master. It would be a good learning experience for the both of them.

"Alright kids, I think that's enough for tonight," called over Terra, "Go get washed up and ready for bed."

"Aww, already?" called over Sora.

Terra crossed his arms. "I'll get 'uncle' Eraqus after you if you don't."

Ven snickered as the trio yelped and took off. Aqua couldn't help but smile at that, nothing was more terrifying then an angry 'uncle' Eraqus. She had cooled a bit towards the man since her 'talk' with him over what he had tried to do to her and Ven. She wasn't against him helping the three of them train their apprentices. Still...

Aqua glanced at Terra and raised an eyebrow. "This early?"

Terra turned to look at her, an oddly sad glint in his eye. "Yeah, there's something the three of us need to discuss."

Aqua frowned briefly, but said nothing. Had something come up that she wasn't aware about? She glanced back and forth between Terra and Ven, at the sad looks in their eyes.

"Come on Aqua, let's hit the usual spot," said Ven, turning to walk up the mountain.

She followed wordlessly behind them, feeling a little apprehensive. Were the worlds in danger again or something?

No, they wouldn't have waited until the end of the day to alert her to that.

So what was it?

They... had already had 'the talk' about what had happened during the Xehanort conflict, she didn't think they'd bring that up again.

Terra and Ven walked to the center of the summit of the Land of Departure and turned to face her, sad smiles on their faces. Slowly, they pulled out their Wayfinders, both glowing with light.

"Terra? Ven?" she questioned.

"It's time to wake up Aqua," said Terra softly.

She stared at him, confused. "I... don't understand."

"You've been struggling against sleep, or dreaming, for so long now," said Ven, "It's time to wake up."

"Is... this some kind of game? Some kind of joke?" she asked, baffled and confused.

"I wish it was Aqua," said Terra.

"You need to wake up," said Ven, "Xehanort's going to be waking up soon, and you need to be there to help us stop him."

Aqua narrowed her eyes. "The hell are you talking about Ven? I destroyed him! I crushed his heart at the graveyard and scattered him to the winds."

Terra slowly shook his head, pain in his eyes. "I wish that were true Aqua, I wish that we true."

"We miss you Aqua," said Ven, "And your apprentice needs you right now, she's hurting so much."

Slowly, the two of them extending their other hands for her to take, both of them echoing, "It's time to wake up."

The world around her began to distort and warp. "T-terra! Ven!"

Their images began to warp and flicker, she took a hesitant step back from them. "What's going on?!"

As she stepped back, the world seemed to solidify instead of warping.

They reached out for her, desperately. "Don't fight it! Don't go back to sleep, wake up!"

Aqua shook with fear and uncertainty, staring down at their outstretched hands.

"Please, trust us," they begged her.

Aqua hesitated for a moment, before slowly, she walked forward and grabbed their hands. She would always trust her friends. Terra and Ven smiled warmly at her before a blaze of light washed over the area and she saw no more...

In a pale white marble like land hanging over a black abyss, before a heavy and reinforced door leading into the Realm of Darkness, the ground began to tremble. Heavy darkness began to pool out of the air and condense at one spot. Yet, even in this darkness, deep down, a speck of bright light shined out. Slowly, the energy took a form, took a shape, a human figure appearing. Slowly, skin and clothes began to form, until at last, a young, blue haired woman laid on the ground, unconscious...

Final Report

Status of the Worlds as a whole: The Organization has been completely wiped out, the only surviving Nobodies being those offworld in addition to Axel. Maleficent's hybrids took a huge loss after the World That Never Was was purged. The dust settles for a time as everyone rushes to take a breather. Those who were lost begin to reform, and the worlds brace themselves for the next stage of the story.

Factions

The Ascended: Led by Maleficent, they go world by world and forcefully convert those they come across into more of their kind. Maleficent's end goal is the Heart of All Worlds, and to turn the entire Realm of Light into an 'Ascended paradise' for her to rule over.

The Keybearers: Led by Master Terra, the Keybearers struggle to find their place in the new world, and to deal with the repurcussions of the past. With no visible threat to deal with at the moment, due to their lack of knowledge about Maleficent, they find themselves winding down to take care of their own and decide the new roles and responsibilities the must take in the changing Realm of Light.

The Recompleated: Those who were lost to darkness and nothingness find themselves waking up where they fell. Two in particular will change the course of the Realm of Light when they awaken. Yet... all is not as it seems. With so many Nobodies being destroyed, more people should have returned. If a Nobody is destroyed, we know that they should reform if their heart was also freed of a Heartless... but what happens if an Ascended destroys a Nobody...? Will they still reform as they were meant to? Or does something darker... and more fouler happen...?

Nobodies: Very few remain outside of those that watch over the Princesses of Heart. One in fiery Nobody in particular however still stands on the playing field.

Heartless: Their presence weakens day by day, destroyed by the Keybearers, the defenders of each world, and... to the Ascended that hunt them down...

Answers, journeys, and the fate the world's awaits us in the sequel...

Join us next time in...

Aqua: Heart of Pain