AN: Fate/Stay Home and beat Covid-19, ok?
I had to take some liberties with borrowing terminology from the Fate series for part of Ava's condition. This chapter is a rollercoaster, but I hope you enjoy it! Thank you for the review on AO3, The_Hero_Lost_from_History. Please R&R!

Fathomless Your endless mercy weight I could not lift
Where do I fit in this puzzle? What good are these gifts?
Not a martyr or a saint
Scarcely can I struggle through
All that I have ever wanted was to give my best to You
-Five Iron Frenzy, Dandelions
xxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ava remembered the faces and voices of the Blue Fairy, Aeros, Ruki, and Vale as they encouraged her, Chirithy also speaking to her in the back of her mind as she gave birth to Sora.

And then the ice cold grip of Darkness grasped her chest and everything went Dark, all sensation leaving her as she floated tiredly in a black abyss. Time held no meaning here, drifting as she occasionally felt her Dream Eater noiselessly call out to her in the distance.

Was she dying?

It didn't feel like it, yet the way time seemed to drag on in this endless space should have concerned her… but she felt peace. She closed her eyes, simply existing within the expanse of nothingness.

A Light slowly surrounded her after what felt like forever as she blearily opened her eyes and stared into an endless blue sky, clouds lazily drifting in a non existent breeze. Abruptly, she realized her back was wet and she gingerly moved herself into a sitting position before wearily standing up and looking around.

Sky reflected in a clear mirror-like ocean as far as the eye could see.

She felt neither warm or cold as she looked down at herself, absently taking in her appearance as it had been months prior. Her stomach flat as she was clothed in her hooded long sleeved rose-colored tunic, legs covered in familiar black leggings and black sandals.

Her reflection revealing her tired ice blue eyes staring back at her.

Where was this place..?

She looked up as her ink black hair began to fall into her line of vision, glancing around the endless space of sky.

"Oh, I didn't think I'd run into anyone else here."

Ava gasped as she spun, only to be met with a teenage boy in an incomplete state of being.

He grinned toothily as he rubbed the back of his head with a hand on his hip, half of his body clear as if it had faded away. His bright blue eyes looked her over from a fringe of messy brown hair, dressed in a black sporty jacket with red plaid details and black undershirt that faded away into a strange distressing clear. His grey black gloves with straps and metal disk also fading away into the same manner of being incomplete.

She looked at herself again, still whole. Ava looked at him, "Where is.. Here?"

The boy hummed as he swayed back and forth in contemplation that reminded her of her Chirithy as he rested both hands behind his head in a relaxed manner, "The end of the line, I guess. The Final World… or something like that." His demeanor was a little too nonchalant for being in possible Limbo.

He looked her over as she felt her Heart fill with terror. Had she died?

He dropped his hands as he crossed his arms over his chest, "Well, I'm not gonna say I get it myself. I'm just trying to put myself back together so I can help my friends."

Her gaze lowered as she suddenly realized he was wearing a familiar pendant around his neck.

Over the past several weeks she had been synthesizing various items. Paired items that would be gifted to Aeros, Vale, and Ruki…

And a crown necklace for her son, enchanted with protections for when she would inevitably leave his side.

A lump formed in her throat as she felt a cold chill seep into her body as she felt lightheaded. Ava swallowed as she timidly met his gaze once more, "...Sora?"

He blinked and dropped his arms in confusion, "You know me?"

Tears built in her eyes.

He didn't recognize her.

She had to go back, "Not yet."

"But I will."

He reached out to her in concern as she felt the World slip away as she fell back, his transparent fingertips brushing against hers as the Light slipped away into Black once more, her Heart floating downwards into the Void.

Bubbles occasionally slipped past her as she fell deeper and deeper, the faraway Light of her Heart Station slowly coming into view. Still adorned in her Foreteller robes, the familiar symbols of the other Unions haloing her head in the stained glass representation of her Heart, she gasped.

A gaping crack had appeared in the shape of a blotched and bleeding fractal of an 'X' just over her heart.

The fetid Darkness wafted up, as though it were a fresh wound as her descent slowed and her body righted itself to land on her feet on her Heart Station.

She felt the weight of her familiar robes as she looked down at herself once more, now finding herself clothed as a Foreteller again, her Fox max obscuring her face.

Ava looked at her hands in confusion. What sort of twisted Dream was this?

The sound of leathered boots echoed across her Station as the familiar presence of her Master, his black leather coat and boots entering the edge of her vision.

She gasped as she looked to him, his face obscured by an impenetrable Darkness as he held his hands behind his back in a familiar relaxed pose. She lept back as Vulpes came at her Heart's call, "Master! How are you here?!"

The Master of Master's voice echoed slightly as he chuckled, not the slightest bit of malevolence in his tone or posture, "Why Ava, is that how you greet me, after all this time?"

She glanced around a moment, panic causing a cold sweat to prickle her skin, "This is my Heart. What are you doing Here."

He sighed dramatically as he threw his arms in mock surrender, pacing as he decided how to answer her, "One can't travel through Time without a piece of themselves to greet them on the other side! Why, if it weren't for me, all of you would have perished on that dusty soil ages ago."

Fear gripped her Heart, just what was her Master implying..?

He waved dramatically as he continued walking around her, "I had seen the Future! Wrote down all that I saw into that lovely little Book that I gave you Five. Even gave you copies to pass down to the selected successors, and you defied me!" He shook his head with a laugh, "Of all people, to think it was you who would try and change the Future so deviously behind mine and everyone's back with that little.. Virus of yours."

He sighed as his shoulders slumped and head bowed, "Honestly."

The Master of Masters abruptly turned to face her and spread out his arms, "I'm so proud!"

Ava couldn't help but gape at her Master, somewhere between absolute fear and wondering if Aeros might have been on to something in his discernment of the enigmatic man in front of her as strange laughter began to bubble at the back of her throat. She shut her mouth with a click as she swallowed the need to laugh as a feeling of hysteria trickled at the back of her mind.

The Master of Masters walked up to her, his hands once again behind his back, "Well done."

She almost dropped Vulpes before tightening her grip on it, a deep frown on her face, "You're… proud of me?! Countless people died!" Her screaming voice rang out against the expanse of the nothingness around them with a resounding ring. Ava grit her teeth as she sucked in a breath, her voice raw from the abrupt pouring of emotion, "How could you See something so cruel, and leave us Nothing?! How could you leave us without any Hope!?"

Her Master stared at her for a moment before cautiously raising his hands and placing them gently on her shoulders, his voice soft, "What father wouldn't be proud of their child gaining an opinion of their own? Making their own decisions and choosing their own path?" He sighed, "Not even God would take away Man's Will, so who would I be to try and do so?" He pulled back, his arms once again resting at the small of his back, "I can't write beyond what I've Seen, Ava. The Future beyond that page is Unknown even to me."

Ava stared at her Master, belatedly realizing tears were falling down her face as her mouth hung open, as if unsure of what to even begin to say. She swallowed and licked her lips, looking down at the Darkness bleeding through her Station. Her voice was shaky as she asked flatly, "What did you do to my Heart?"

He turned, seeming to look at the crack curiously, "When you all summoned your Keyblades, I placed a fragment of my Heart into each of you." He absently waved his hand towards Vulpes, "The proof of it being those Gazing Eyes that are a part of each of your Keyblades."

Ava jolted as she lifted her Keyblade, Holding it with both hands as she truly looked at it and realized that he was correct. A terrible serpentine aqua colored eye gazed at her from the end of its keychain.

The blood drained from her face as she realized.

There had been no escaping her Master's watchful Eye, even after he had disappeared.

She dropped Vulpes, falling to her hands and knees as hopelessness filled her chest as it disintegrated in a flash of Light. She might have had her own Free Will, but her Destiny hadn't changed at all.

She was still under her Master's ever present finger.

Tears fell down her face at the futility of her defiance. The Hope for the Future changing dashed as it left her limbs weak.

The Master of Masters sighed heavily, walking away from her as he seemed to examine the overflowing Darkness in her Heart curiously. "Tell you what. I'll patch up this little mess, re-establish the connection to your Chirithy who's been crying out to you for the past seven days, and do you the favor of a redo with a little bit of help. An Extra Life, if you will."

Ava blankly looked up towards her Master, "A...what?" Wait, seven Days…?!

He waved his hand at the Darkness wafting from her Heart Station. Immediately the swirling Darkness dissipated, leaving a dark black sealed gauge in her Heart's foundation. "Comes with a little bit of a cost of course. This scar won't ever be repaired, but I think you'll be able to Live with it." He looked at her, "When you wake up, you'll be good as new! As if the time spent on Destiny Islands had never happened, in fact. Don't worry though, I wouldn't deprive you of your Memories." He looked up with his hands at the small of his back, "I'm not that evil."

Light began to shine from the depths of her Heart, "Now then. Time to wake up, and remember.

Let your Heart be your Guiding Key."

She closed her eyes as the Light below her became blinding, only to open them in an unfamiliar room with Aeros's pale and fear stricken face to welcome her back.

The first day at the Mysterious Tower had been something of a surreal experience for the three friends as they followed the Blue Fairy up the never ending staircase. By the time they came to Master Yen Sid's door they were about ready to pass out from the climb. The only one unaffected by the trek was of course, The Blue Fairy who, once she had dropped them off, quickly bowed and made haste with Ava's Sleeping form to the designated room prepared for her.

Master Yen Sid had looked them over carefully, smiling gently to the young toddler in Ruki's arms before frowning as he stared at the infant in Aeros's arms. "I know not what has become of Ava's Heart, but I will pour all of my resources into bringing her back. That, I promise you. For now, rest."

They nodded tiredly as the old Wizard had waved a hand, and a line of walking mops marching into the room, each taking their bags before others grabbed them by the hand and led them each to their rooms.

The climb alone had fatigued them all, and after the excitement of the day they found themselves fast asleep.

Two days passed, the old Wizard going between his usual room or Ava's, consulting with various Fairies that they sometimes barely caught a glimpse of.

The trail of pixie dust, and the chattering of women occasionally drifted down the hall, Yen Sid's booming voice occasionally ringing out for Silence.

The mops were the trio's quick companions, as the Blue Fairy assisted in ensuring Sora was fed as Ruki and Vale taught Aeros how to care for his newborn.

Still, the fear and concern for Ava crushed Aeros as he forced himself to go through the Keyblade forms she had taught him to keep his grief stricken mind occupied.

Anything than to stare at her still body as she Slept as though dead to the world.

Chirithy had also been unreachable, and that alone made all of them nervous, the little Dream Eater having been an important companion throughout all of the time they'd known Ava.

If it was tied to Ava's life and could not be Called, did that mean…?

They had to Hope the Sleeping Foreteller would pull through.

On the fourth day, Master Yen Sid called for the Mystic Trio. The three friends entered his office, it's familiar wooden table and high backed chair greeting them as he sat waiting.

Riku and Sora had been left behind in the Fairy Godmother's hands, having come to assist the Wishing Fairy and Yen Sid in their endeavors.

The old Wizard had a deep set frown on his face as he ran his hand over his beard, "It would seem Master Ava's Magic Circuits, as it were, have been completely fried. Despite the tools and imbued protections we sent to her, it's as if the veins that make up her Magic pathways burned and rotted away. I believe this is the primary cause of her Slumber, as the rush of Magic returned to her full force at Sora's birth and sent her into shock."

Aeros grit his teeth as Ruki stepped forward, slamming her hands flat on the Wizard's desk, "And none of you noticed until now!?"

Master Yen Sid sat unfazed by Ruki's anger, feeling similarly disappointed in himself for being so lax in his care. "I gave you my Word, and I will not lie. I have failed you in not noticing the depths of her condition. However, as far as I am aware, after you first contacted me and I sent her those items, she did not ever complain of Magic fatigue again. At least, not to me."

Ruki flashed her teeth at him as Vale stepped over to his wife and placed his hand on her shoulder as he gently spoke, "I don't recall her ever saying anything." He looked back to Aeros, "Did she ever say anything to you? That something was wrong?"

Aeros placed his hands into his pockets, trying to keep them occupied as a low burning anger ate at his chest in frustration, "Not at all."

Master Yen Sid nodded as he closed his eyes, "I was afraid of that." He sighed, "It's one thing for non-Magic users to carry a proficient user's child… But when a well versed Mystic like Ava carries a child, particularly if both parents are particularly Gifted… Well." He sighed and looked them over, "I believe, the birth in and of itself is what deteriorated her Magic Circuits. No amount of preparation beforehand can really prepare any of us for the level of damage that can occur to a Mage in childbirth."

The three friends couldn't help but feel despair at his words. He sighed as he faintly thought he heard something of a commotion in the hall. He paused, staring pointedly at the door behind them and frowned in annoyance, "I do believe I have some ill-timed… Guests arriving."

Aeros, Ruki and Vale looked around before glancing at the door and scrambling to the side just as it swung open, slamming against the wall as an anthropomorphic Mouse, Duck, and Dog tumbled into the room in a pile. The Mouse quickly got up as the Mystic duck squawked angrily as he was launched back into the Knight dog's face, knocking them both over once again.

The Mouse quickly scampered up to the old Wizard's desk, wearing cartoonish yellow shoes, white gloves, and red shorts. "Master Yen Sid!" His voice squeaked out, "I've come again to ask to be your Apprentice! Please Master, just give me a chance!"

Master Yen Sid groaned loudly in tired frustration as the Mystic and Knight that had arrived with him stood at attention behind their leader, "King Mickey. You have the most… impeccable timing."

The Mouse King shrunk as Aeros, Ruki, and Vale watched the exchange in dumb fascination, their previous grief forgotten in the ridiculousness of it all.

Mickey rubbed the back of his head as he laughed nervously, "I, I'm sorry! It's just, I can't help but feel somethin' big's coming, and I want to be able to help! I've read over all the material you told me to!"

It was then that the dog Knight noticed the audience and pulled a face before glancing between his King, the old Wizard, and his Mystic friend. His hand went towards his mouth, "Uh, your Majesty…"

The duck beside him glared up at him angrily as he grit his beak, "Why don't you mind your business, you big palo-" He noticed the three humans and swallowed his anger as he seemed to pale. He looked up at the Knight before taking a step towards his King, "Uh, Maybe you're right, Goofy."

Mickey's ears went to attention as Goofy cleared his throat as he eyed the trio over again and meekly continued, "If you wouldn't mind your Majesty, I think the Master's busy with other business…"

Mickey turned to look at his friends as his eyes landed on the Trio who had moved aside at their explosive entrance. He jumped, startled at the realization he was interrupting something as he dropped to the floor, "Oh, gosh! I didn't realize!" His large round ears dropped slightly in remorse, "I apologize!" He started to back out, his Mystic and Knight following his lead in letting themselves out, "I'll just wait in the entrance until you're done here." He giggled nervously as he reached for the door handle, "Sorry about the intrusion!" and slammed the door shut as another commotion broke out in the hall as they went back the way they came.

Master Yen Sid stared at the door a moment before sighing with a notable groan, "I apologize. He may be King, but Mickey is still rather impetuous. However, he is sincere in his desire to be of help to the Worlds." He stared at his desk as a frown set in, "Perhaps it would be best to take him on. Despite his thirst for adventure, he can feel the tides of Light and Dark, and as surely as I have, he has probably felt the shift of something coming upon the horizon."

The old Wizard looked at Aeros, Ruki, and Vale, "Donald is also a talented Magician. Perhaps he may be of help for our current problem. If you wouldn't mind me asking for his help, I believe that for now you may be on your way to continue doing as you please here. I shall call for you if I have any more news to offer you of our progress of Waking Ava."

The three nodded, bowing slightly before letting themselves out, "Thank you Master Yen Sid."

It would be a long night.

The Mystic Donald Duck's reaction after seeing the state of Master Ava's Magic Circuits had been less than stellar, screaming at those around him, "How could you have let it get this bad!? How #$%#^# stupid are you!?"

The Knight Goofy, who had simply let himself into the kitchen to get something to eat along with the three humans, shook his head with a sigh as he sat down with a sandwich. Embarrassed by and used to his friend's behavior he ate as Donald's barely intelligible voice swore loudly down the hall, causing even Ruki to blush and raise an eyebrow in concern for the random words she could understand.

Goofy glanced at Aeros who sat slumped at the table, a vacant look on his face as he stared at his barely touched plate. The Knight cleared his throat softly, "Awe, don't worry too much about it, sir."

Aeros blinked as he looked at the strange creature who looked at him with a look of understanding, as if he'd been through something similar, "I'm sure Master Yen Sid and the others will get Master Ava the help she needs."

Aeros couldn't help the anger that rushed through him as he clenched his fists and bit out, "It's been four days!"

Goofy set down his sandwich, nodding sadly, "I didn't even get that."

Aeros felt his throat constrict as he almost choked, looking at the strange Knight in horror, "W-what?"

Goofy shook his head with eyes closed before giving him a sad smile, "The Master wouldn't give you false hope. If he says he believes Master Ava will come back, then you've gotta believe in her and him that it'll happen." He looked back at his sandwich forlornly as he realized he'd lost his appetite, "She'll come back. I'll believe with you that she'll wake up any day now." He looked back at the young father and to the husband and wife across from him, "Believe in the Wish deep down in your Heart. Why, with all of us wishin' she'll be back in no time." He smiled at them reassuringly.

The three friends looked to one another before Aeros met the dog's fatherly gaze, "Alright." He nodded, "I'll believe."

The seventh day arrived since Sora's birth and Ava's Slumber. Aeros sighed as he made his way to her room as was allotted to him unaccosted. Ruki and Vale kept him on track to ensure he didn't forget to look after and care for his son since it was almost too easy to leave him in the all-too-eager care of the many Fairies that had flitted through the Mysterious Tower at any given time.

As he reached the open door, a horrible gut wrenching Darkness slid thick like oil through his veins as a foreign sound rang out in Ava's room. He stumbled as he swallowed back a gag at the feeling, foreign boots clicking on the floor from within as the feeling of Darkness bled away as quickly as it'd come.

He carefully peaked around the doorframe to catch sight of an unknown man with slicked shoulder length black hair, red scarf, and grey guard uniform walk towards Ava's resting form. Aeros quickly ducked back, afraid to be caught as his heart went to his throat as the man began to speak.

The man sighed dramatically as he looked over the Slumbering form of his former Apprentice and friend, "Well, well, well. If you aren't a sight for sore eyes, Ava. It's been what, a thousand or two years since we last met?"

The brown eyed young man, perhaps in his late twenties stared at Ava's face impassively as he examined the state of her body, "Man, I don't know what they did to you, but you're a mess. I almost can't believe I'm looking at the same woman!" He threw his arms up in a shrug before leaning over her slightly, "Welp. Can't have you bowing out of the game when it's barely started. Wouldn't be any fun gettin' disqualified before the first round and all that jazz."

The man, Braig, stared down at her with a frown before shaking his head and placing his hand on her sternum, "Guess I'll be resetting your Time to that save point the Master made." Her body glowed as a strange and healing transformation overtook his old friend, "I look forward to your defiance against our Master. It'll be the most fun I've had in ages." A black Portal opened as he walked towards it, his job done, "No matter how much you Fight and Struggle, you've got about six months before you'll be pulled away." He paused and glanced back at her, "Don't disappoint me, Ava." And with that he was gone, the Portal disappearing as if it had never been.

Aeros threw himself through the doorway, heart pounding in his chest as he quickly went to Ava's side, immediately shocked at the changes in her body.

Her stomach once again flat, scrapes and bruises replacing healthy skin. Almost as though she had been through a horrible battle.

Just what had happened?!

Ava grimaced as she shifted, groaning before she blearily opened her eyes, bleeding molten gold as his blue eyes met her confused gaze. Tears built in his eyes as he gasped, gritting his teeth as he fell to his knees and clasped her hand, bowing his head as he wept, "You're awake!"

Aeros didn't have it in him to be thankful towards the man that had helped his wife.

Wife?

He gasped as he cried in relief and despair, realizing that that was how his Heart had come to see her-

But as he felt her rest her free hand on his shoulder, her voice an unintelligible tone to his ears.

It was something she would never be.