AN: One more chapter to go! Please R&R!

I was sinking like a stone inside my own mind
As we watched the world fall scared that we could lose it all
When you're living out a dream, it's the devil you will meet
When you're face to face with all your fears
Will you still believe?
-Emery, Some of Us
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Aqua had already prepared for bed when the knock came to her door. She got up and carefully opened it, surprised to see Ventus waiting there. She opened the door further with a questioning look as he was still dressed for the day.

Ven awkwardly rubbed his head, "Hey, Aqua…"

She smiled at him and stepped aside, motioning for him to come in. He did so after a moment, and she closed the door behind him. Aqua then went and sat on her bed as she looked at her friend, "What's up Ven?"

Ventus seemed to fight with himself for a moment before nodding, "Would it be alright with you… if I observed Roxas and Xion with you at first?"

Aqua was a little shocked, "What do you mean?"

He waffled a little bit before continuing, "It's just… I know I'm not exactly Master material just yet… But if they're going to train with me, I'd like to have some input on just what it is we should cover, or if there's anything I can teach them as well." He sighed as he nervously rubbed his right shoulder, "I can't help but feel that it's important for me to begin learning how to take a more leader like approach to everything… To help myself grow as a person, you know? You and Terra always took the time to teach me along with the Master, and I can't help but feel I should do the same. Even if we only have a little to offer them… I'd still like to participate and learn alongside you how to be a proper Master."

Aqua couldn't help but stare at Ventus in wonder. For as much as he was still the young boy that had been placed into her care at fourteen, she couldn't help but be astounded at how much he had changed in the time she had been gone.

Despite his Slumber.

Ventus was still changing, and growing into his own person as an adult.

She smiled with a nod, "Of course. I haven't really had the chance to be much of a Master myself, so maybe we can learn together."

Ventus sighed softly with a smile, "Thanks, Aqua."

She giggled, "Did you think I'd refuse such an earnest request?"

Ventus looked away, his demeanor dropping. "...I'm not exactly… the best at taking direction. And I can't help but think… that I'm a way bigger coward than I like to realize."

Aqua frowned at that, "Why do you think that?"

Ventus looked to her a moment before he allowed himself to join her on the edge of her bed and slouched slightly as he stared at the floor. "Other than not wanting to listen to you when you told me to go home?" He shook his head, "Ever since we spoke about Sora's mother… I've been having really… weird Dreams. Honestly, I'm already having a hard enough time allowing myself to sleep, but then there've been several times I've woken up with Chirithy on top of me, and being gripped in an inescapable, paralyzing fear. Eventually Chirithy is able to pull me out of it… but sometimes I can remember impressions of people, and places."

He rubbed his hand through his hair, "Some of them feel kinda familiar, like the Dwarf Woodlands… like somehow the first time I was there when I was first chasing after Terra… wasn't really my first time in that World."

Aqua gently took his hand and squeezed it, "Does Chirithy have anything to say about your Dreams?"

Ventus looked at their hands, turning his so he could squeeze hers back. His grip was a little more firm, as if he were anchoring himself, "It's afraid to deny or admit to anything about my past, really. I wake up with really bad headaches most of the time, and Chirithy is more concerned about my wellbeing... which I understand. It really, really hurts when I have those Dreams, so it just… sort of annoys me that my memory is so fuzzy and that it won't say anything." He sighed, "I just want to understand what happened to me, before Master Xehanort found me."

Aqua nodded. If there was anything the three friends could agree on, it was wondering about and getting answers pertaining to Ventus's past before he'd arrived at the Land of Departure.

She gently untangled their hands and carefully pulled him into a side hug, "We'll figure things out eventually. I know it's hard, but let's take our time for now, alright?"

Ven leaned his head against her tilted one and nodded, "Thanks Aqua."

She smiled before running her hand through his hair and petting his head in a comforting manner for a while before she slowly pulled away, "We've got an early start tomorrow."

Ven hummed, "Yeah." He got up and turned to her a second with a tired smile, "Thanks, again."

She nodded as he went to her door and opened it, "You're welcome. See you in the morning."

Ven nodded as he slowly closed the door, "Night."

Ventus's World had become just that little bit larger.

The next day and the following handful of weeks were filled with an interesting mix of Terra focusing on Riku, and sometimes the two joining Aqua, Ven, Roxas, and Xion in their exercises and learning.

It was beneficial for everyone, but there was always something nagging them at the back of their minds.

What more could they be doing to search for Sora?

Sure, they occasionally took the time to explore previous Worlds where Sora had been to. Donald and Goofy in particular took this task to Heart along with Jiminy. However, it was really starting to get to the point that everyone agreed more should be done.

Kairi was already locked in Sleep, searching through Dreams to try and reconnect to Sora.

Naminé was also doing her best, searching through the threads and chains to find even a single link that could clue them in on Sora's whereabouts.

It was in the late afternoon, as the group of five were resting from their day of practice that Aqua suddenly blurted out, "I think I should go to the Dark Realm to look for him."

The group balked at her as Ventus shot up to his knees, "No way! There's no way I'm gonna let you even entertain that thought without Terra or I by your side!"

Aqua gasped, shocked at Ven's assertion as Terra nodded in agreement, "You already still have a lot of scarring from being down there too long… If you're going, we're going too."

Xion smiled sadly at Aqua, "I feel the same. I wouldn't want you wandering the Darkness alone again."

Aqua bowed her head, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to come off as if I would simply leave you all behind…"

Riku smiled, "It's alright Aqua. I understand how you feel… I felt the same while looking for you, and Sora was constantly saying he'd go even though he wasn't ready yet."

Ventus deflated a little as he settled himself in the grass again, "That was… probably me, actually." He rubbed his head, "Honestly, you all gave Sora a really hard time of it, when he was just reacting to the urgings of my Heart." He shook his head at the wonder slowly spreading on everyone's faces, "I mean. You all were telling him he should follow his Heart. Once I was Awake enough to realize the situation Aqua was in… I really wanted to help her."

Riku and Aqua felt a little guilty, having either been part of the primary source of teasing, or simply going along with it.

It was true. Sora had simply been following his Heart, just as he'd been taught.

Roxas rubbed his head, "Are you really sure you wanna go down there again, Aqua?"

Aqua folded her hands in her lap as she stared at them for a long moment before taking a deep breath and nodding, "I've thought long and hard... About how I could be of help for Sora, and the search for him. I've traversed the Dark Realm long enough to understand it. If there's even the slightest chance my knowledge and experiences there could help retrieve him? I'll take it. After everything he's done for us… I can't stand the thought of not actively doing anything for much longer."

She solemnly looked to Roxas and Xion, "You two were already pretty far along, despite your lack of teaching… but I think anything more that Terra, Ventus, or I could teach you… I think Aeros has the tools and knowledge to pass down to you." She gripped her hands tightly, "It would also help him keep his mind off of just how long it's been since Sora's gone missing."

Riku glanced at Terra as Roxas and Xion lowered their heads in understanding, "Are you almost done with my training?"

Terra smiled, "Pretty much. Just a little bit more, and it'll be done tomorrow."

Riku's eyes widened, "I didn't realize… Is that really everything?"

The older Wielder sighed as he rubbed his head, "You had a lot of experience under your belt, that honestly, I think I might've learned more from you than you did me."

Riku frowned, "I know I'm a Master and all, but…"

Terra shook his head, "It's not that. It's just… Aqua's mentioned this to Ven and I before… Except, it's taken us a little more time to convince her to have us along for the journey. The biggest problem we're stuck on is just what should be done with The Land of Departure."

Roxas and Xion tilted their heads as Riku also became interested in that, "What do you mean?"

Aqua shifted as she replied, "The Land of Departure is a Land of Balance. The biggest concern about this World, is the possibility of someone coming to disrupt the balance. It's a World that sits perfectly between Light and Darkness, and is considered Holy."

Roxas and Xion's mouths dropped as they took in the place with new wonder, while Riku also was surprised by this. He looked around a little, "...Huh. No wonder the Organization was so interested in utilizing it."

Terra sighed, "Well, they were also really interested in finding Ven's body… probably, since it was missing his Heart, they thought they could use it as one of Xehanort's vessels."

Ventus gasped before cringing, hugging himself tightly, "No." He pulled his legs to his chest and curled into a tight ball, burying his head into his knees, "Never again."

Aqua and Terra shared a Look at Ventus's reaction as Riku frowned, "Well, now he's gone, you're all back together, and we're safe."

Roxas watched his twin in concern as Xion pursed her lips, "Ven… are you alright?"

Ventus stayed like that, silent for a long moment before he slowly eased himself out of the tight ball he'd made of himself. He shook his head, still bowed, as he tried to block everything out, "I won't allow myself to be overtaken again."

Terra frowned, he understood that the idea of possession was his own trauma, but he was lost as to why Ven would have such a deep reaction to it. Aqua on the other hand thought she might have an answer, "Is this because of Vanitas?"

Ventus stilled before lifting his head and sitting up as he glanced at her, "Huh?"

"The first time we were at the Keyblade Graveyard… Vanitas possessed you and tried to form the 𝒳-blade." Aqua tilted her head, "It was completed, but your eyes were gold and you had his bodysuit."

Ventus stared at her blankly, recalling their fight within his Heart. "...Aqua. Vanitas was… is me. We were once the same person- Ventus. Before Xehanort ripped us into two individual people, I refused to use the Darkness, and that's why Xehanort tore us apart."

Aqua stared at him astonished, while Terra looked away, nodding, "Master Xehanort… He wasn't entirely truthful about things, but he was the one who told me Vanitas and Ventus were once the same person, and that Vanitas was the one producing the Unversed."

Aqua closed her eyes and sighed, "I see. Then it must have something to do with your lost past."

Ventus nodded solemnly.

He never wanted to be an unwitting pawn in some other entity's scheme ever again.

That night Riku, Roxas, and Xion said their farewells to the Wayfinder Trio.

It was their final goodbye, before the three journeyed into the Realm of Darkness.

Part of Riku's final test, was to arrive at The Land of Departure by his own merits and capability without the use of a Gummi Ship.

After that, the three would depart into the Realm of Darkness.

Roxas and Xion expressed their doubts and concerns, but inevitably, it was up to Aqua and the others if they would go through with it.

Riku knew that there was no stopping them once they set their minds on something.

Kairi, Sora, and Riku himself were so much like them, that he wasn't surprised by the final outcome.

And so the next day he journeyed out, and arrived just as requested.

Riku was surprised that that had been all that there was left to teach him- how to traverse the Lanes between the Worlds without using a Dark Corridor, or Gummi Ship.

The three older Wielders solidified their resolve, and in unity, left for the Dark Realm in search of any sign of Sora.

After that, Riku looked after The Land of Departure, as well as going between the Worlds to do as was needed to assist the others, or look into any clues.

His Dreams began to wander into strange new places.

Cityscapes he had never been to.

The eyes of a Stranger upon him as he wondered the city within his Dreams.

In search of his lost friend.

And then, before he knew it, a year had passed while Sora had been missing.

Aqua, Terra, and Ventus still in the Realm of Darkness, and Kairi still in Slumber.