Chapter 17
Ash to Ash
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
The two warriors stared up at the massive tower in front of them before entering the building. The climb up the stairs was relatively quick before they reached a door. Before Natsu could knock on the door, it opened on its own to show the master of the castle. In the blink of an eye, the three found themselves inside the room.
Natsu looked at his empty hands and found that Mickey was now resting on the floor, surrounded by a duck in a wizard clothes and a strange dog creature dressed as a guard. "King Mickey!" The duck shouted at the downed mouse.
"Aqua, Natsu, the stars bring me grave news." The bearded master said. "Master Eraqus' star has gone out. I am afraid that means he has been struck down."
Both gasped in pure shock before the girl spoke up. "The Master! But- Who is behind this?"
The wizard sighed before looking out of the star shaped freezer. "Master Xehanort... and Terra."
"That's a lie!" Natsu shouted, slamming the desk as flames rolled off him. Donald and Goofy jumped up in shock as the bearded man remained unfazed. "Terra would never do anything like that!"
The retired master raised his head and looked the boy in the eye. "I hope with all my heart that you are right about your friend. There are somethings even the stars cannot tell me."
"Where is he!?" Aqua demanded. "Where can we find Terra!?"
"Terra's heart is leading him to the ancient Keyblade Graveyard where wielders of the weapon once waged war." Yen Sid answered.
"Then that's where we're going and we'll see if it's true." Aqua said before the two walked towards the door.
"Be on your guard." The master warned them. They nodded in response before leaving the tower.
They flew through the Lanes between in silence as Aqua stared at her Wayfinder in her hand. Natsu reached out and gripped her hand, his own charm linking over hers. The world of the graves came into view and they flew towards it.
Keyblade Graveyard
The pair landed on a cliff and deactivated their armor before staring out over the thousands of broken blades and destroyed land marks as Aqua summoned her blade. Natsu did the same as the two crossed blades.
"The four of us will always be together." She said looking up at the sky before walking towards the mass of swords. For the first time since the journey began, they walked in silence. No Unversed popping up, no zany characters. Just two friends who pushed through a narrow path and reached an opening.
Terra stood before them as the two walked up to him and they stared in silence. With a heavy sigh, Aqua raised her head and spoke. "We were told... the master was struck down."
Terra gasped in shock, only to turn away. "Yes... that's right." He said. "I was stupid and helped Xehanort do it." The two gasped in shock that their friend would confess to this. "The master- he tried to hurt Ven. I only fought because I wanted to protect him. But I was tricked. Xehanort set the whole thing up." He clenched his fist in anger at his own compliance. "This was all so he could awaken the darkness within me. You were right, Aqua- and so was the master. I needed to be watched. I went astray, but no more."
Natsu walked over to the taller male and grabbed his friend's shoulders. "That's right, because you don't have to do this alone." The pinkette said. "We'll be there to help keep you in line. We're stronger together than any one man. Right, Aqua?"
Aqua stayed silent as she stared at the ground. "What else is darkness but rage and hatred?" She asked, finally speaking up. "Xehanort is feeding the darkness within you, making you fight. You'll go astray again." She looked up at the two males. "Tell me- how does that honor our master's memory, Terra?"
Before either could say anything back, a scent caught Natsu's attention and he started sniffing the air. He turned to the side and the other two followed his head to see Ventus walking over to them. The four friends had reunited for the first time since their fight.
"Xehanort wants me and Vanitas to fight." The youngest Keyblade user said. "And make some kind of X-blade. But the master said we can't let that happen... and he tried to destroy me for it."
"'X-Blade?" Aqua repeated in confusion.
"I still don't exactly know what it is, but it scares me to death." Ven said, holding his hand over his heart. "Even just the thought of it."
Terra was the first to walk forward and place his hand on the boys shoulder. "Don't worry, Ven. We're all here and we're gonna take care of you." Aqua and Natsu walked up to him and nodded in agreement.
"I may have to fight Vanitas after all." Ven said. "If I do, guys... I want you to-"
"Nothing will ever tear us apart again, understand?" Natsu said, kneeling down to look Ventus in the eye. "We're done being pawns for some old man. No matter what happens, I'll find a way."
Aqua moved in to brush some hair out of Ven's face, only for him push it way and brush Terra's hand off. "I'm asking you all, as my friends... Just put an end to me."
All three backed away in shock of his request before a cold wind pushed against them. They turned to the side and saw Master Xehanort walking through the storm. In a flash of darkness, Vanitas appeared behind him and joined his stride before they came to a stop. "Behold... these lifeless keys were once filled with power, united with the hearts of their masters."
Xehonart motioned to the sheer volume of keys around the six. "On this barren soil, warriors of light and darkness were locked in combat, as a great Keyblade War raged. Countless Keyblade wielders gave up their lives, all in the pursuit of one ultimate key. And it will soon belong to me..." He raised his arm and pointed at Ventus. "The X-Blade."
The students of Eraqus glared at him before slamming on their armor pieces, forming the full suits. Ventus started to move forward, only for Terra and Natsu to push past him and charge the two. Xehanort merely raised his hand and his magic power raised the ground under them to the sky, tripping them up. A second pillar rose up with the two black clad humans on it.
The armored duo raced forward intent on climbing the structure, only for a storm of Keybades to push them down. Vanitas swan dived off the rock before landing on swarm and began riding it. At the base of the structure, the blades began attacking Aqua and Ventus as well, embedding the former into a small crater and destroying her helmet.
Pushing herself up, Aqua pointed her sword at the peak before firing a blast of magic. "Natsu!" The spell enveloped the two before a barrier stopped the keys. They crashed onto the peak before standing, just in time to see Xehanort grab a charging Ventus by the back of his helmet.
"Let him go!" Natsu charged forward without his sword and started swinging his blazing fists. Xehanort dodged with ease before grabbing Natsu the same way. Terra roared in anger before sprinting forward with both fire and earth Keyblades, only for the ancient ones to push him off the mountain.
Aqua looked up as the two boys flailed in the Keyblade masters arms before a powerful Ice spell froze them solid. Like old rag dolls, Xehanort then tossed them over the edge of the mountain. Aqua watched in horror as she started running at the two. A fire erupted around Natsu before she could see him moving, flames shooting off his feet. He grabbed onto Ventus and started spinning before the two crashed to the ground.
The bluenette jumped into the crater and pulled the frozen Ventus off of Natsu, who's head slumped to the side. Both of their helmets were destroyed by the impact, letting Aqua see the panic in Ven's face. "Ven! Are you okay!?" A light in the youngest student's eyes caught her attention as a heart-shaped moon ripped through the clouds.
"Why don't you leave the broken toys with me, so you can have that little fight with Terra?" Aqua turned to see a man with a brown eye and a black eyepatch with dark slicked back hair in what looked like a guard's uniform with a dark slate grey jacket, silver highlights, and two rows of gold buttons on the front. He wears a black belt and white gloves adorned with a silver, curled heart symbol and same pointed shoulders. He also wears black, knee-high boots and a tattered, red scarf.
"You can't be too happy about him deep-sixing your master." The man said with a dark chuckle.
"Who are you?" Aqua asked, instinctively clutching Ventus.
The man merely stared at the two and Natsu behind them. "You three really think there's some grand role for you to play?" He asked. "Please. You're only here so that when I kill you, Terra will succumb to the darkness. So tell me... who wants to die first?"
"Sssshut up!" Ventus shouted in his frozen state.
"Oh, so the runt of the litter thinks he's a full fledged Keyblade wielder?" The one eyed man teased. "He definitely has the angry look."
"Keep wasting your time if you want." Aqua retorted. "Your mind games can't drive us apart anymore." She set Ventus down before standing up. "Terra will prove that he's stronger than you think!" She summoned her Keyblade and charged the man. The man merely smirked and jumped back before vanishing from sight.
Her sword hit only air and Aqua looked around before a force hit her in the back. She turned around and blocked another pair of shots before rolling to the side. She fired off a series of Ice spells before throwing her sword at him. All missed as he vanished in an eye, the ice freezing a rock behind him.
The master regained her Keyblade before a kick hit her face and sent her back. The gunman chuckled before vanishing from sight again and reappearing before firing more shots, forcing Aqua to dodge the volley. She ran into a fist before another punch hit her in the back of the head.
Growling a bit Aqua fired off another blast of magic, only for the spell to miss. The man continued to vanish and reappear, swinging his fists and guns. The girl continued to look around for the man to stare down at her from the air. "Kiss yourself goodbye." He pointed his guns and fired a storm of shots.
The shots rang out and she looked up at the swarm, realizing that she wouldn't have time to cast a Protect spell. She braced herself for the impact, only for it to never come. She lowered her arms to see a standing Natsu as embers fell around them. "Natsu!"
"Need some help?" He asked, the last of his helmet to fall off. The male began sniffing the air before he turned and opened his mouth. "Fire Dragon Roar!" Aqua rolled out of the way and more magic shots were turned to ash.
Natsu turned and blocked a swing from the bladed guns before he swung his legs and took out the sniper's legs. The Dragon Slayer punched his opponent in the gut, sending him sliding back. The man chuckled and vanished before appearing behind Natsu and pointed his gun at his head, only for Aqua to jump up from behind and swing her blade.
She struck his back and he groaned in pain before Natsu spun around and kicked him in the bad eye. The man vanished from sight and Aqua growled in anger before Natsu started sniffing the air. "Duck!" Natsu jumped and whipped the air with his Wing Attack, striking the man as he braced the heat. The two took turns swinging their blades before they both performed a thrust and jabbed him in the gut.
Panting in exhaustion, the man jumped back and chuckled. "I keep forgetting- don't mess with Keyblade wielders. But guess what? That just means I made the right choice!" Aqua and Natsu charged forward, missing the smile on his face. "Well, old man. How's this for buying you some time?"
The sharpshooter turned and ran away, leaving the two extremely confused. Aqua gasped before she turned around and called out to Ven. Natsu fell to the ground and before Aqua could react, Vanitas raced forward and knocked her out as well. Natsu pushed himself up as the masked man prepared to impale his crush.
Ventus started cracking the ice before he stood up, the last of the ice falling off. "Not bad, Ventus." The evil boy chuckled before kicking the girl aside. Vanitas started glowing in a dark aura before his mask faded. "Now that my body is about to fail, you and I will have to join together."
The mist grew around him before all kinds of Unversed appeared. His extraordinary hearing still frozen over, Natsu could only catch bits of the conversation. Vanitas walked over and the two started glowing as Natsu was thrown away by the storm into a rock and passed out.
Both their eyes snapped open and stared up at the sky before they quickly stood up. "I'm glad you two are okay." They looked down to their right and saw Mickey before looking around.
"Where's Ven!?" Aqua asked while Natsu sniffed the air.
"He's... over there?" He said confused before the three ran up a hill. There they found Ventus, wearing strange armor and holding bizarre a looking blade that looked like it was about to break.
"Ven! I'm so glad you're okay!" Aqua said. The shorter teen said nothing, making the girl lean in. "Ven?"
Natsu pushed her back as 'Ventus' raised his head, his once blue eyes now a dark amber. He thrusted the double sword forward and Mickey swung his own Keyblade and made the sword miss. "That's not Ven, not any more." Natsu said, summoning his sword.
Darkness covered the boy as his armor rotted away, revealing the red and black bodysuit underneath. "That's right. I am not Ventus." He said. "His heart has become a part of mine now. This X-Blade will open a door, one that leads to all worlds! Then Keyblader-bearing warriors will flock here from every single one, to battle for the light within Kingdom Hearts! And just like the legend says, the Keyblade War will begin again!"
"Shut up!" Aqua shouted summoning her sword. "I'm sick of your nonsense! Give Ven his heart back!" The two other students charged and swung their blades as Mickey fired a spell. The possessed boy chuckled before jumping over his friends and sliced the spell in half. He stabbed down and a shock wave pushed the other two humans back.
Natsu crashed into a rock before rolling out of the way of a stab that split the stone. Aqua pointed her sword and fired an ice spell intent on freezing him in place. Venitas blocked the spell before tilting his head to avoid a thrust from Natsu. He then kneed the pinkette in the stomach before crashing his elbow into Natsu's head.
Mickey jumped and spun before swinging his sword. The possessed boy blocked and punched the mouse in the face before turning to Aqua. She cartwheeled forward and swung her blade, only for it to get countered and her to miss. Natsu stood up and triggered his Water Dragon drive before sending water spears at his friend.
The water hit the boys back before turning around and meeting a slash from Natsu. "Come on, Ven! Fight it!" He begged before pushing back. Venitas stepped back a bit before pushing forward, darkness rolling off his blade. He pushed back and spun to the side, making Natsu stumble forward before the possessed boy slashed his back.
The armor cracked at the impact as Aqua charged forward. She swung her glowing blade, only for it to get blocked. Venitas stabbed the ground and a pulse of darkness sent all three light users crashing backwards off the platform. Mickey landed on his chest as the two humans crashed into a rock. "What's wrong? Giving up already?"
Aqua panted in exhaustion before Natsu gripped her hand. The two armored shared a nod as a glow from both their Wayfinders caught their attention before Aqua's Keyblade started glowing. They raced forward and cried out as Aqua blocked a swing, creating another shockwave.
Aqua pushed back and smirked, confusing Vanitas until he looked around. Natsu raced from the left and pulled his fist back. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art - Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon Fist!" Natsu started punching Vanitas repeatedly before pulling his fist back, coating it in fire and lighting. "Wake up, Ventus!" With one final thrust, he slammed his fist into the sword and it shattered.
The crossed blades started shooting out energy tearing up the ground. The shards whipped a storm as Aqua braced herself from the wind. One stream started moving towards Ventus, who's body glowed in darkness before he returned to normal. "Ven!" Both shouted before the shards completely disintegrated, creating an even bigger storm.
Ventus was whipped into the air and his friends raced after him. The pair jumped and reached out to his hands just as the force of the explosion hit them.
Mysterious Tower
Aqua awoke next to Natsu in a bed before pushing herself up. "Natsu. Wake up."
The pinkette groaned in pain before his eyes opened. "Ven!" Natsu snapped up, not even noticing where he was.
"The two of you lost consciousness." Both looked at the door to see Yen Sid standing there. "Fortunately, Mickey found you three drifting in the Lanes Between and brought you back to me to receive proper care."
The two teens raced past the master and found Ventus laying against the wall. "I'm sorry, but there was no sign of Terra." The wizard said, knowing the next question.
Natsu and Aqua sighed before they walked over to their friend and knelt down. Aqua reached for his face and gasped at his lack of a response. "Ven!" She started shaking him, but still nothing.
"The boy's heart is sleeping." Yen Sid said.
"When is he gonna wake up?" Natsu asked.
The elder man merely bowed his head in shame. "I cannot say. It is almost as is if his heart has left. Should it return, he may very well wake. Should it not, he may very well sleep like for the rest of his life."
"No..." Natsu grumbled as Aqua hung her head. "I'll keep him safe until then." He said, turning to his friend.
"Forever if we have to." Aqua added, gripping his hand.
"What your friend needs right now is not protection." The former master said, turning around. "He needs you both to believe in him. Ventus' heart hangs in the balance. It sleeps in the place between light and darkness. From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend- one who believes in him, to show him the way home."
The wizard sat down in his chair and turned to the two. "As long as you love him, then Ventus will be able to find you when he wakes. He can follow that love back to where he belongs, the realm of light."
Mickey smiled at his master before turning to the two humans. "Don't you worry. I believe in Ven too." He said, turning to the sleeping boy. "I mean, he's been as good a friend to me as anyone. And if the three of us believe in him with all our hearts, then he should be back to us in no time."
Natsu chuckled before Aqua spoke up. "The four of us." She said, confusing the mouse. "Terra, remember?"
"But... Terra's gone, maybe forever..." The king said, hanging his head.
The Keyblade master shook her head and reached into her pocket. She pulled out her Wayfinder before Natsu revealed his own charm. "I think I know how to find him." She clutched her her charm in her hand before standing up. "We'll take care of him." The master nodded before Natsu picked Ven up and started carrying him backpack style.
The two walked out of the tower as Aqua looked out at the sunset. "Ven needs a safe place."
Ven's hand twitched and started raising, scaring Natsu a bit. "Aqua..." He mumbled, catching his crush's attention. She looked over as Ventus summoned his Keyblade. The tip started glowing before a beam of light shot off and created a doorway of light.
She chuckled a bit before looking at Ven. "All right. If that's where you wanna go." She walked towards the portal with Natsu firmly behind. The portal closed behind them as Yen Sid watched from his tower with a small smile.
Realm of Departure
Aqua stepped out of the portal and gasped at her home before Natsu walked out behind her. "What the..." Natsu mumbled at the broken and darkened world. He blinked his eyes and for a second he saw his home world falling to darkness. Shaking his head, he returned to normal.
Aqua somberly walked forward and picked up Eraques's Keyblade. Natsu placed his hand on her shoulder before the two walked into the castle they called home. "So, how are we going to keep Ventus safe?" He asked as they walked to the main hall.
"When Master told me the secrets of the castle, he told me something as well." She said, hanging her head as they passed through the broken halls. "He said if something happened to him, he wanted me to take his Keyblade and lock this land away."
They reached the main hall and shared a sad smile before Aqua walked towards the seats. Natsu set Ven down in the main chair before following her behind. She pointed the master's sword at the seat, making a Keyhole appear. "Just use the key, and this land will be transformed." She repeated her master's words before thrusting forward.
The Keyhole started glowing so brightly that Natsu was forced to cover his eyes. When he pulled his arm down, the once dark castle had been turned into a white castle with glowing chains. The two walked out from behind as Aqua patted Ventus' head. "I know it's a lonely place, but you'll be safe here."
"The three of us will be back for your wake up party before you know it." Natsu added.
With a determined sigh, the two walked out of the castle and stared at its new form. Aqua turned around and stared at the path to the unknown. "Terra... Tell us where to find you." She said before the two started walking down the path.
Natsu scratched his head before speaking up. "Aqua, that guy we fought back in the graveyard. I've seen his outfit before. It was back in Radiant Garden. Maybe we should try searching there first."
Radiant Garden
The two reached the garden to find the skies pitch black and covered by clouds. Natsu sniffed the air before his eyes snapped. "He's here! This way!" The two raced through the plaza before finding their friend standing in the center, staring at the sky.
"Terra?" Aqua asked as they reached him.
Natsu raised an eyebrow at the boys sudden white hair as Terra reached out and grabbed Aqua by the throat before lifting her up. "Let her go!" Natsu demanded, punching Terra in the stomach.
The older boy was unfazed by the fists as a dark aura surrounded him. "Who... am I?" Terra asked.
"A terrible... darkness..." Aqua gasped out. "Fight it, Terra. Please!"
"Terra... you say?" The boy asked. The aura faded and Aqua was released. Natsu helped her up as Terra grabbed his head in pain. He lowered his hands and smirked at the two. "Terra's heart has been extinguished... smothered by the darkness within him." He summoned a dark Keyblade and swung it, only for Natsu to push Aqua back.
He summoned his own sword and blocked before pushing the possessed boy back. Aqua walked forward next to the pinkette and summoned her own sword. "My name is Master Aqua, we are students of Master Eraques, and you will let our friend go!"
Natsu and Aqua raced forward and swung their blades, only for Terra to swing his own and block. Terra then punched Natsu in the stomach before pushing Aqua away. He slammed his sword into the ground and a pulse of darkness ripped through the ground. Aqua jumped over the wave as Natsu tried to block it.
The pinkette crashed into the stairs as Aqua flipped past a bolt of dark energy before firing an Ice spell off her Keyblade. Terra swung his sword and sent another bolt of dark lightning and the spells clashed, creating a fog. Natsu jumped through the mist and swung his blade, striking his friend five times. Fire coated his hand and he reached forward, only for Terra to blocked with his sword. Undeterred, Natsu unleashed a Grip Strike and blasted Terra.
The older teen slid back and brushed off the embers as Aqua slid forward and tried to stab him in a zigzag pattern. The possessed boy blocked every hit before grabbing Aqua and slamming her to the ground before kicking her into Natsu. Instinctively, he caught her before she nodded and the girl jumped off his blade, launching her forward. She zoomed past Terra and sliced his face.
Angered by the action, Terra growled before he roared and a dark aura enveloped him. "I will guide you both into the depths of darkness!" A black creature rose out of his back and it started swinging its fists. Natsu blocked with his sword before throwing his own punch. The beast caught it and lifted him up before slamming the Dragon Slayer into the ground before tossing him to the side.
Natsu rolled along the ground before forcing himself up, a green glow coving him as Aqua walked over. Both pulled their swords back as fire, lightning, ice and water surrounded the male and female respectively. With a pair of roars, Aqua and Natsu swung their blades, sending their respective elements flying at the possessed boy. Terra's shadow creature rose its arms high and summoned a orb of shadow before throwing it at the wave.
The five elements hit and created a massive explosion before the three blades struck again and the trio jumped back. Terra began glowing in a golden aura, confusing the three. "Stop... fighting back!" He ordered his body, only to have it spread its arms open.
"Fight him, Terra! You're stronger than he knows!" Natsu shouted.
The possessed boy looked down at his Keyblade before moving it over his chest. "This'll teach you. Get out of my heart!" He stabbed it into himself and the blade dropped as the shadowy creature started falling apart. A pool of darkness bubbled up underneath him as he fell back into it.
Both Aqua and Natsu raced over before they jumped in after their friend and activated their armors and gliders. Both flew after their friend in the black abyss before finding him floating down. "I can't lose anyone else to the darkness!" Natsu shouted before his glider started shooting flames out the back.
He pushed his way through it and finally grabbed Terra before the two turned around. The portal was fading fast and Natsu was slowing down from the extra weight. 'If I don't do something, they'll both be lost to the darkness.' Aqua said to herself. Flying behind the two, she deactivated her armor before channeling its magic into Natsu's back.
"I'll always be with you two." She said, handing Terra her Keyblade. "Go!" Aqua pushed the armor forward with magic and it boosted the Dragon Slayer forward.
"Ven, I'm sorry... I might not make it back as soon as I thought. But I promise, one day I will be there to wake you up." She fell backwards into the darkness, content with her fate, when a hand grabbed onto hers. She opened her eyes and came face to face with Natsu's smirking face.
"You really think I wouldn't try to save you?" He asked. The hole to the Realm of Light closed behind them as they fell into the darkness, their hands together.
Time ceased to serve any meaning to the two as they traveled through the dark abyss. Natsu and Aqua walked over a stone path as the girl wiped her head. "How long have we been down here? It feels like we've been walking for ages." She said.
Natsu came to a stop as an all too familiar creature rose up from the side of the path. Both summoned their blades, Aqua now wielding Eraques', to fight when three more appeared around them. "I really hate these things." Natsu said as one pulled its fist back. Two glimmers of light then sliced through the mob, shown to be Terra and Ven's Keyblades.
Aqua smiled at the sight before pulling out her Wayfinder. Natsu unhooked his from his neck and the two shared a deep smile before overlapping the two. "There's always a way." Aqua said before the two walked on.
Journal Update
Briag- A man from Radiant Garden whom Xehanort seems to have recruited. His guns were unlike anything the two had encountered before, and he could some how teleport despite being an ordinary human. Before the two could question him about anything he fled, mentioning something about 'buying time'.
Venitas- When Natsu and Aqua awoke from their knockouts, they found Ventus and Vanitas had somehow fused together, creating both this being and the X-Blade. Vanitas seemed to be dominate and controlling the body, making him fight his friends. It was only by the light of friendship that Natsu and Aqua defeated him.
Terranort- Natsu and Aqua's search for Terra ended in shock when they found their friend possessed by Xehanort himself. He also created a shadowy creature under his complete control, allowing him to fight the two in differing ways. But Terra's will was stronger than anticipated, allowing Natsu and Aqua to save him from the realm of darkness.
Darkside- This giant Heartless will devour all around it if left unchecked. Natsu knows this all too well, as these creatures helped to destroy his world all those years ago. Their massive fists and dark magic dealt unimaginable damage to both him and his home, but this time he had help.
A hundred reviews. Thank you all so much for that love.
I have a poll on my profile for another crossover. If you want to, please go vote on it.
Very large chapter that covered a hell of a lot. Had to skip a month to get it all down, but I think it was well worth it. This is also the grand finale of the Birth By Sleep portion of the story so next chapter is another game all together with original content. Hope you guys can wait for that.
Beta read by The 3rd Dragneel.