AN: This chapter is a bit rough in its pacing, but necessary to line up everything else coming up. We have now hit Birth by Sleep territory, so sorry for the (almost verbatim) game inserts. I tried to keep these as minimal as possible in the story, but it is also necessary for the timeline. Thank you for the kudos on AO3. Please R&R!

I am weak
But believe me when I softly speak
If there is strength inside of me
It's you who put it there
-Brave Saint Saturn, Always Just Beneath the Dawn
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A man in a long black trench coat stood hunched with his hands behind his back. A white cloth that seemed to hold a body in its folds was placed over the twisted trunk of the Play Island's lone Paopu tree.

The figure seemed to be staring at the sky, a strange sense of bored nostalgia resting on his aged shoulders as he simply waited.

The comforts of his first tiny World the only solace he could give the young boy whose Heart he'd shattered.

Hey, where am I?

The darkness ate away at a young boy's Heart as he responded, "Who's there?"

A bright light burst through the abyss.

The clothed form fell into the depths of his Heart, his young features becoming clearer as he sank as though in water as the white cloth faded away.

A boy between childhood and his teen years fell into a bright light, eyes closed as if in sleep as he was left bare chested, his grey layered pants and armored boots being all that was left to clothe him.

His empty blue eyes blearily opened as he landed tiredly on his Heart Station, its face erased as if he had no sense of self or past to call his own.

The young boy mechanically looked around as the Voice called out to him.

I'm a brand new Heart.

The young boy instinctively responded, "But this is-"

"Why are you in my Heart?"

The Light brought me. I saw it shining in the distance… and followed it here.

The young blond boy weakly placed his hand against his chest, "Yeah, that was my Light. But my Heart is fractured. And now, the little I have left is slipping away." He stared at the broken off section of his Heart Station.

Then you should join your Heart with Mine.

Confusion, "Huh?"

The broken away piece of his Heart Station began to glow as a foreign Light began to fill and seal the cracks.

Now our Hearts have Touched. Nothing else will slip Away. And one day… You'll be Strong enough to Win back the part that already did.

Gratitude filled the young boy's heart as he bowed his head and closed his eyes, "Right. Thanks." His fist clenched.

It's time to Wake up now. All we need to do Is…

Three Hearts Sang, "Open the Door."

The platform beneath the young boy began to reveal its face, Light lifting and dissipating like the petals of a Dandelion to reveal his restored Heart Station.

The old man turned and paced away as he figured the young boy's life had come to its conclusive end, too weak to resist the strain of his shattered Heart.

The soft rustling of cloth slowed and paused his footsteps as he turned, the young boy's hand raising to the sky as if reaching for something as a flash of Light revealed his Keyblade.

The old man was shocked as Light encased the ancient looking weapon, a beam shooting out from it towards the sky in an arch. The old man smirked as the blond boy opened his vacant eyes, glittered Light fragments sparkling down from the cloud covered sky above.

Ventus lived.

It was the darkest part of morning when the Blue Fairy called Master Yen Sid. The old Wizard's image simply appearing within the Crystal Ball, "Are things well with Master Ava?"

The Wishing Fairy sighed softly, nervously twirling her wand in her hand, "The birth went well… but as soon as the babe started crying Master Ava's Heart… I fear it has fallen into Slumber."

Yen Sid took in a deep breath as he frowned, closing his eyes, "That is grave news. I take it you are unable to sufficiently procure a means of ensuring her well being there on Destiny Islands?"

The Blue Fairy shook her head, "No. Her life will quickly slip away if she stays here. I have no way of telling where her Heart may have gone, or how to Awaken it."

Master Yen Sid nodded as he looked to her, "I shall prepare a vessel. Prepare her for travel, and inform Young Aeros, Ruki, and Vale to prepare for a short journey."

The Fairy frowned, "What of Riku and Sora?"

Master Yen Sid ran his hand through his beard, "I wouldn't dare separate a mother from her babe. They shall come along too."

The Fairy sighed in slight relief as she nodded, "I understand. The arrangements shall be made. When will they need to be ready?"

"I will send the train to pick them up at twelve o' clock sharp this afternoon."

She frowned once again, "There are no tracks on these Islands."

Yen Sid waved his hand, "It is merely the vessel. How it arrives and leaves is of no great concern. It shall give them safe passage and do what is needed."

The Blue Fairy nodded, "Alright. Goodbye Yen Sid."

The old Wizard nodded as the Crystal Ball became dark once more.

She turned, only to be shocked by Aeros's grief stricken expression as he gripped the end of the rail to the staircase. His ability to mask his presence astonished her as she hadn't even heard the slightest ruffle of movement. "..Aeros."

The new father's eyes glossed over as he horsley whispered, "Will Ava be alright?"

The Fairy would not get his hopes up, but she would not cause him unnecessary fear. She stepped over to him, a warm look on her face as she pulled him into a motherly embrace as she brushed her hands through his unruly hair, "We will do all that is within our Power to Awaken her and bring her back."

Aeros shuddered, "She hasn't even held Sora. I…"

The Fairy pulled back, "Be strong, and believe in your connection to her. Love can overcome even the greatest of Trials." She sighed softly, "Prepare yourself. The journey will be easy, but the length of time that you may be away from your home… I have no way of knowing. Inform Ruki and Vale and make your arrangements. Time is of the essence."

The young man nodded as he did as told.

To say making the necessary preparations were easy was a little too much to hope for. However, as he and the others gathered in his kitchen to await the vessel that would take them from their World, with nervous anticipation running through them at the idea of actually going off-World, Aeros really should have expected his father appearing at his door.

The excuses he and Vale had to give were flimsy at best, but entirely valid in their reality.

So when the knock came to the door and he tiredly opened it to his father's concerned face, he almost shut it before he remembered his promise.

He grit his teeth as he looked his father over, "Why are you here?" The bitterness in his tone was obvious as he couldn't help the knee-jerk reaction.

The old man sighed, "You know how news travels on these Islands. When the Guild Head told me what excuses you 'n Vale had come up with for being unavailable for the foreseeable future. Well. You should have known they'd need something a little more concrete."

Vale stood as Aeros frowned. It was then that he realized his father was staring at the Blue Fairy as she held onto Sora's sleeping form. Aeros choked, "Uh-"

His father looked at him and heavily placed his hand on his shoulder, "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see my grandson before you all… disappear somewhere I can't reach."

Aeros felt his face heat up at his stupidity as Ruki pulled Vale to sit at the table, Riku simply glancing up at his mother curiously.

The old man entered, Aeros closing the door behind him as he walked cautiously over to the ethereal woman. The Blue Fairy turned to him with a kind smile, "You are taking this well, sir."

The old fishermen made a noise deep in his throat as he motioned to her, Sora carefully being placed into his arms as he held his grandson, a strange emotion settling in his chest as his eyes glossed over, "You can't be on the seas as long as I have and not to have come across some rather… strange sights."

The Fairy nodded as she stepped away, leaving the group of Islanders to themselves as she made her final preparations for moving Ava.

The old man sat down carefully at the kitchen table, the chair creaking slightly at his added weight as Sora wriggled in his sleep. He smiled, "He's beautiful."

Aeros stood nearby, his nervous energy keeping him from sitting as he stared at the clock as it read eleven fifty five.

"Thanks." His voice was hoarse, as his emotions kept a stranglehold on his vocal chords.

Vale watched the older man with an intense look on his face and a sharp look in his eye. He didn't trust him, and while he saw the genuine expression of love on the old man's face, he just couldn't bring himself to relax in the older man's presence.

He'd been punched in the face by his mighty drunken hands on more than one occasion growing up.

Ruki also kept an eye on him, but couldn't help but try and keep herself calm. Aeros and Vale wouldn't allow anything to happen to Sora, and she could easily protect Riku.

Beside's, Ava had told her of the two's last meeting. She remembered that Aeros had made a promise to his father, and this would solidify the understanding of just how grave the situation was.

If the old man wanted any bit of his son's trust back, ensuring he and Vale wouldn't be reprimanded on their return was plenty enough of a reason to allow him to have this moment with his newborn grandson.

The clock struck twelve as the Fairy carried the small bundled weight of Ava. It was strange to think a dainty looking Fairy could be that strong, but looks were deceiving and none of them were about to question it.

The old man stood, his bones creaking as he carefully handed Sora over to his father, "Time to go, is it?"

The Blue Fairy nodded as she made her way to the back door, already opened with just a touch of Magic. The old man nodded as they all stood, following the Fairy into the yard as they came up to the foreign brightly colored train car. It stood in the middle of the backyard as if it were the most natural thing in the World, neon yellow glowing tracks beneath it as it awaited the arrival of its passengers.

The old fisherman stared at it passively as the four friends and Fairy turned to him. He nodded, "I'll be seein' you off. No need to worry about the details, the little lady's- ah, Miss Ava's wellbeing is far more important than a retired fisherman's waking daydreams."

The Wishing Fairy nodded, "Thank you for your understanding."

His wizened old eyes met his son's one final time, "Be well, son."

Aeros stared at his father as Ruki and Vale entered the train after the Blue Fairy. "Thanks… dad."

He turned and boarded the train, its door closing behind him as he moved to sit by Ava's laid out form on the opposite seat of Vale and Ruki. The windows lit up with a soft white glow as the vision of their familiar Islands faded away into a wonder of space and flowing lights in the sky as their other Worldly traincare took them to their destination.

A bright light flooded into the great hall as Master Xehanort entered, his hands clasped behind his back as Ventus mechanically walked beside him. The great doors closed behind them as Master Eraqus came forward from the depths of the Castle to greet them, "Master Xehanort."

The old man nodded, "Master Eraqus, my old friend. I have something of great importance to speak with you about."

The younger Master took in the sight of the near comatose boy beside the elder man as he nodded, "I understand. This way." He turned, hearing the calculated footfall of his old friend following him into a nearby room.

Ventus stood staring at the floor, unaware of the World around him as his mind was fogged in White. The presence of something golden brown approached him, shortly followed by the feeling of blue.

They said their names and asked him questions that became too much for his fragile mind, grasping his head as he groaned and collapsed as the World around him bled away.