Author's Note: This is likely the last truly light hearted chapter of the story. The calm before the storm if you will. Please enjoy, and be ready for the roller coaster ride to the end.

The team found themselves walking through what felt close to an abyss of darkness. Landing down here, the first thing they realized was that before them was a castle with what felt to be impossible architecture. The ground beneath them was a strange white material. That just felt like the dead remnants of whatever original material had been there.

"Sora, how did you find this place?" Aqua asked. Her voice was tinted with a happiness that she had not shown too often with the group.

Sora scratched the back of his head and said, "I traced my connection to Ventus to get here. Though if you believe some people, apparently I have been here before. Sometime after my first adventure. I don't really remember it though. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in the basement of the mansion in Twilight Town."

Dante's hand found Aqua's as they walked. She was excited but apprehensive. This would be the first time she was going to see her friend in over ten years. However, he did know that despite the message brought back by Rise, Aqua did still blame herself.

"Said I'd be right back, I'm not even close," Aqua commented aloud. "I'm in for an earful."

Rise hummed and said, "I don't know about that. He seemed to be really excited to see you soon when I found him. Just be yourself and he will be happy regardless of if you found him today or another ten years from now."

"And if he does have a problem with it, I'll knock him back out," Yang said with a cheeky grin. "Then we will keep trying it until he gets it right."

Yuna gasped. "That seems like a bit much," she said.

Ruby just groaned and said, "She isn't being serious, Yuna."

"Oh, right," Yuna said. It seemed that this type of hyperbole was not common on Spira. But maybe when your world was in danger every ten years, that wasn't much of an actual surprise.

The team slowed to a stop in front of the castle. Aqua stepped forward and placed her hand on her chest. She breathed deeply as she steeled herself. Her thoughts landed on the people behind her, supporting her through this. Yuna who was kind and gentle with all of them. Ruby and Yang, who brought a lot of amazing energy to the group. Rise who was the one who found her in the darkness and out of the goodness of her heart, went searching for her. Dante who was anchoring her to the realm of light. Sora who brought them all together and led them in the only way that he could. Finally, her thoughts fell on Ven and Terra.

She lowered her hand and summoned her Keyblade. Holding it firmly in both hands she pointed it at the castle and a massive keyhole appeared before the door. A massive burst of wind and energy flew from the symbol. Feeling herself being lightly pushed back, Aqua leaned forward and thrust the blade forward further.

An image of a building slid up the front of Castle Oblivion. As the color returned to the world, the castle transformed back into the world it had been once before. The Land of Departure, a beautiful white building chained to nearby spires of earth. It contrasted against the now blue sky. The seven travelers found themselves in a floating courtyard.

"Wow! It's like the floating islands of Lake Matsu!" Ruby exclaimed. "Are there Gravity Dust crystals under this castle? How are we up here? You have to tell me? Also where are we?"

Aqua watched as Ruby seemed to teleport about looking at everything she could see. It reminded her of Ven when he got super excited about something. After Ruby calmed down enough to actually get answers to her questions, Aqua explained, "This is the Land of Departure. This is where I lived with Terra and Ven. We learned under Master Eraqus. He was basically a father to us. We never really got to learn about how this land came to be."

The team headed into the building and found themselves walking down a long corridor. "Aqua," Rise asked. "What was your life like before you started training? You have talked a lot about your training but I feel like we don't really know about much from before your apprenticeship."

Aqua slowed her stride and thought for a moment. "To be honest, I haven't thought about life from before my apprenticeship in a long time," she commented idly. "Before I was found by Eraqus, I lived alone on another world. I never really knew my actual parents. For as long as I can remember I was alone. Went to school like a normal girl, but one day a dark storm appeared in the skies. I couldn't find anyone and I watched as the buildings were torn up from underneath the storm. Eraqus appeared seemingly from nowhere. Clad in armor he scooped me up and soon after, this was my home. That was when I met Terra, a similar story it seemed. Neither of us actually know where we had come from, but we grew up together and began training as Keybearers. The only thing from my homeworld I have really kept is my clothing style."

As she finished her story, the team found themselves at the top of the stairs and across the room was the sleeping form of Ventus. "Is that…?" Dante asked, trailing off.

"Ven!" Aqua called as she ran forward. "Ven. I'm here. It's time to wake up." As the team approached they slowed. This was not their moment. "I'm sorry it took so long." Aqua hugged Ven's unconscious form. "Please wake up. Open your eyes." Ven remained motionless. "Did your heart never find its way home?"

"That was a neat trick," said a dark voice. It reminded Rise of Sora's voice in a strange way. As the team turned around they found a figure standing there in a bodysuit with a shiny black helmet. "No wonder no one could find him,"

"Vanitas!" Sora called out, naming this enemy. He summoned his keyblade.

"Sorry to interrupt your touching reunion," Vanitas said as he walked forward. "But surely you won't begrudge me a moment with my brother."

Sora charged forward and Vanitas vanished and reappeared behind him. Dante however, followed suit as he appeared in front of Vanitas. "Neat trick, short stuff. Won't work on me," Dante said threateningly.

Vanitas's tilted head back to look up at the man in front of him. Disappearing again, he reappeared on top of the chair that contained Ventus. Aqua turned around and leapt forward with her Keyblade. Vanitas lifted his hand and his keyblade manifested, blocking her swing.

"You better settle down there, Master!" Vanitas taunted. He swung his blade and launched Aqua backwards.

Sora turned around and said, "Aqua, I'll handle him."

"No," Aqua said firmly. "I'm ending this."

"But," Ruby called out.

"Sorry, but you've seen me too weak, too often. Now it's my turn to shine," Aqua said, her barrier activated and it encased both her and Vanitas from the others.

Dante simply nodded and said, "Let's go get Ventus. We'll work on waking him up in the meantime."

Rise nodded and immediately made her way around the barrier. As she made her way around the outside, two combatants inside charged each other. She could only close her eyes and hope.

Aqua and Vanitas clashed. Keyblades clashed and soon Vanitas began to teleport around to mix things up. Bursts of flame began to explode from his keyblade. Aqua dodged out of the way and cast a giant water spell. It seemed that neither fighter could take the upperhand. Magic and martial arts consumed the inside of the barrier and at times, it was hard for anyone outside to see in.

"What can we do to wake him?" Yuna asked as she gently shook him. "He is completely out of it."

Rise summoned Himiko while Yang joked, "Maybe I should punch him?"

"He's still connected to you, Sora," Rise said from behind the vizor that Himiko laid across her eyes. "Reach out to him, Sora. I think you'll need to do it in order to wake him up. He won't respond to any of us."

Sora nodded, "I'll try." He closed his eyes and felt something in his core begin to stir.

He found himself at the station of his heart. Looking down upon it, the familiar design was like looking at a mirror that only showed your identity. His younger form sleeping on a mosaic of the people who have helped shape him. Despite the fact that it was completely changed from the last time he had seen it, it was still a comfortable reflection. One side of him, were the usual people. Riku, Axel, Goofy, Donald, Mickey, and the nearly completely shattered form of Kairi. On the right of him now resided Dante, Rise, Aqua, Ruby, Yang, and Yuna. He closed his eyes and let the image really sink in before he pushed forward.

"I have to wake up…"

"Yes. Tell me what to do, Ven."

"The power of waking."

"I can't I still don't have it yet."

"You never lost it… It sleeps… until someone needs it… Call to it."

"I am calling... with all my heart."

Sora felt himself solidified with his call to the Power of Waking. He looked down at the station beneath him as he summoned his keyblade to hand.

"I know you have been. You've been calling to it for a long time. I am actually really impressed. The traveling you have done using it accidentally is really cool."

Sora now lifted off the platform as he saw a keyhole form on the platform beneath him. Holding the keyblade in front of him, the platform began to glow. The glow suddenly diminished as the form of the platform scattered about in the form of doves and beneath his platform, was the platform that represented Ventus. In the circles behind his visage, were the wayfinders. Sora pointed the end of his weapon at the keyhole below him. The beam sprouted forth from the keyblade.

"Thank you for always keeping me safe, Sora... "

Ventus's eyes fluttered open and he looked up seeing Aqua fighting his dark half. The fight was intense and he felt his body immediately respond to it as he began to stand up. "Aqua!" he called out. He summoned his keyblade, gripping the blade in an underhanded grip.

"Whoa, slow down little guy, she's got this," Dante said, grabbing Ventus's arm and holding him back. Ventus looked over at him and realized that he was surrounded by people he did not recognize. Then his gaze fell on Rise.

"Rise!" he exclaimed happily. Ventus jumped forward and hugged her.

Aqua continued to dominate in her fight with Vanitas. He finally disengaged from her long enough to get a breather.

"Perhaps fighting with the Seven Guardians before I was fully reformed was a bad idea. I'll be back for my brother," Vanitas said. He summoned a portal behind himself and disappeared into it.

Aqua let the barrier fall and as soon as she had let her keyblade disappear she was jumped from behind by an excited Ventus and a trapped Rise. "Aqua! You found me!"

Turning around and somehow managing to pry the excited boy off long enough to look at him and the Rise he found trapped in his grip. "Good morning, Ven."

With a big smile he replied, "Good morning, Aqua." He then looked back at everyone else and realized that Rise was basically a ragdoll in his grip. "Oh sorry, Rise. Who are the rest of Sora's friends?"

Rise finally got herself standing up straight and she fixed her now tousled hair. Looking at the young Ventus she gave him a welcoming smile. "Well how's that for an introduction," she joked. "Right there with the white hair is Dante, next to him with the red cape is Ruby, the one in blue is Yuna, and the blonde is Ruby's sister Yang. Guys, come meet Ven!"

As the group approached, Ventus looked over at Aqua and with a big grin introduced himself, "My name is Ventus. But you can all call me Ven."

"Oh my god, he's so cuu-UUU-uute!" Yang nearly yelled as she ran over and picked him up with a big swinging bear hug. "Ruby, can we keep him? He's just like a puppy!"

Ruby ran over and started trying to get a hold of Ventus to hopefully pull him away from Yang. "Yang, no! Bad, Drop him! Yang you're gonna kill him! Yang stop it!" Ruby yelled at her sister while trying to zoom around her sister.

Yuna laughed fully at the display, while Dante simply shrugged with a shake of his head. Sora ran over to Aqua and said, "Aqua you were amazing. I wish I was as good at Magic as you are!"

The roar of an engine caught the collective attention of everyone in the room. They all ran to the front entrance to find the Highwind gummi ship outside the castle. Popping out of the top was a familiar pair of round ears. "Well gosh, looks like Master Yen Sid was right, this location has been reactivated. Howdy, Sora!"

"You're Majesty!" Sora called back. Almost immediately after, a dog and duck leapt from the ship and tackled Sora to the ground.

"Sora, it's good t'see you again!" Goofy declared as he hugged the now floored Sora. "Glad to see you are still good at making friends, hyuck."

Donald nodded and added, "Glad to know he's still good for something."

"Hey!"

The team was ushered onto the ship and it took off for the stars. Ruby, Yang, and Yuna were all glued to their windows as they watched the space around them with eyes wide with wonder. Sora started to fill in Mickey, Goofy, and Donald on what had happened since the time they got picked up on Destiny Islands. The introductions and catch-up game had finished and coming up from the distance was a bizarre little world with a strangely shaped tower atop it.

"What's that?" Yang asked.

Rise turned back to her and said, "That is the Master Yen Sid's Tower. He was Mickey's teacher as a keyblade master. Dante and I met him just before we ended up on Remnant. He's intense to say the least."

"He means well," Aqua added. "He was my master's friend back when Eraqus was still around. He was the one who warned us about Vanitas."

"Well, he warned us about the Unversed, I don't think anyone could have predicted my dark half as the cause of them," Ventus corrected. "Which is why when we get to the Keyblade Graveyard, I am gonna make sure Vanitas stays down for good."

Dante looked back at the others and said, "Actually, I have a question about all of that. When we were on Rise's world, we met someone who had been able to access Ansem the Wise's computer. She came across information that he had on the event known as the Keyblade War. She also called me a Guardian of Light. But if this is a keyblade war, how am I supposed to be one?"

"Now that you mention it," Mickey said. "We were wondering the same thing. Sora's keyblade and Power of Awakening has been collecting people, which is something Yen Sid has never encountered before. To be honest, it shouldn't be happening at all but here you all are. The Power of Awakening was not meant to chase hearts around."

Ruby looked at the front of the cockpit and watched Sora piloting the ship, with Goofy and Donald helping him navigate. She was so used to seeing him fight, that seeing him in such a controlled environment and thriving was different. Rise tapped her shoulder.

"Hey, you're staring at him again Ruby," Rise lightly teased. The resulting blush made Rise giggle. "I'm not judging, nothing to be embarrassed about. Have you told him yet?"

"No," Ruby admitted as she looked over at Rise. "He's still hurting. Just doesn't feel right to make him have to deal with that."

Rise tilted her head. She admired that Ruby was taking Sora's feelings into consideration so seriously. But, she may have been taking it too seriously. "Pro-tip, from me to you? Some things never stop hurting, regardless of how much time has passed. If even half of what Dante said about the way they interacted was true, then chances are Sora will never not hurt because of the loss of Kairi. But watching my boyfriend interact with others taught me something. Even if it hurts, you have to be willing to share that pain with others. But, Sora is never going to share that pain with you, if you don't let him know that you're willing to carry it. It will be scary, sometimes you'll see a certain darkness deep within that you may wish you never had to see. But if you care about someone enough, that won't matter at the end of the day. You get it?"

Ruby nodded. "When should I do it?"

Rise shrugged and said, "Every circumstance is different on that front Ruby. You'll have to find the perfect time on your own."

The ship came down near the wizard tower as the whole crew got off and walked into the entrance of the tower. Through a sequence of what seemed to be completely disconnected stairs. Finally they all arrived back in the room with the very intense looking Yen Sid, an extremely fired up Axel, and a visually melancholic Riku.

"Sora you have returned, and with mastery over the Power of Awakening I see. Congratulations on reviving one of the lost Keybearers," Yen Sid said to Sora as the group came into the room.

Axel walked over to the group and asked, "Weren't there just four of you the last time you left?"

Sora stepped forward and said, "Yeah we picked up a few more people since we left. Axel, meet Ruby, Yang, and Yuna. You guys, meet Axel. He used to be a member of the old Organization and was best friends with my Nobody."

Axel looked at each of the newcomers and said, "A-X-E-L, got it memorized?"

Yang looked unimpressed as she turned to Ruby and said, "Can I punch him?"

"Go ahead," Ruby said deadpanned.

Axel backed off. "Well, glad to see you keep such dynamic company," Yen Sid said. "However, we must discuss what is ahead. The Keyblade War. First I would like to say that Ventus and Aqua, we are fortunate to have you back. Dante and Rise, I would like to thank you both for being so willing and interested in assisting Sora when times seemed most dire."

"My pleasure," Rise said with an appreciative bow.

"We only wish we could have returned to help sooner," Aqua replied.

Mickey sighed and said, "I only wish we could have found Terra, too."

Ven shook his head and said, "He trained with us under Master Eraqus. We'll get him back ourselves."

Riku walked over and said, "Aqua, Mickey told me about how you saved me in the Realm of Darkness. I should have gone and helped you right away. I know I let you down."

Aqua shook her head and said, "Actually it is quite the opposite. I hear that you have also become a Keyblade Master."

Yang suddenly asked, "Wait, a Keyblade Master? Like you?" Aqua nodded and Yang looked at Riku and anyone could see the faintest hint of hunger in her eyes. She then bumped Ruby with her elbow and under her breath said, "Dibs." Riku took a slight step away from the group.

"Ahem, this is all very touching, but where do I fit in? Roxas looks just like Ven, or vice versa," Axel saw Ven's expression change. "Great now I'm gonna have to explain all of that to him, which is a crazy long story- And everyone here is either completely new or already knows each other. This is too much to get memorized."

Ven held back a laugh and said, "Sorry, Lea."

Axel gasped. "You remember me?" he asked.

"Of course," Ven replied, "we're friends, right? And you even became a Keyblade Wielder just like me." Sora looked between the two with confusion.

"What are you complaining about?" Dante asked, slightly irritated.

Yuna nodded and said, "We're the ones completely confused."

A cricket leapt up onto Yen Sid's desk and said, "Well lucky for all of you, I've been working with Chip and Dale on a new device called a Gummiphone. We've been able to upload all of my journals on them so you can get yourselves all caught up. Then if anyone has any questions you can also call each other."

"Though not all of you have Keyblades, we have managed to gather our 7 Guardians of Light. Twelve in total with the inclusion of Donald, Goofy, and some of our other guests brought in by Sora. Spend today in rest, and recuperate. On the morrow, you journey to the fated place."

"Right," Sora said with a nod.

The team all looked to each other and seemed undecided on how to proceed. However, Ven seemed to get Aqua's attention. They walked out the door.

"So what do we do?" Ruby asked.

"Gotta get some R&R," Yang said. "Maybe we can go to Destiny Islands, and get some beach time, huh?"

"I would like to go back there again," Rise commented idly.

Soon after, the whole group found themselves out on a small island in Destiny Islands, dropped off by the Highwind. Dante and Aqua sat down just outside the entrance to a small cave, next to a small waterfall.

"It has been a while since I have felt like I could just sit and not do something," Dante commented. "Feel like I am wasting it."

"Make yourself comfortable?" Aqua suggested.

"Y'know? I should. I think I have earned it," Dante took off his boots and socks, then dipped his feet into the pool at the base of the waterfall. He gave a relieved sigh and leaned back to stretch his back. As he started to sit back up, he felt Aqua's hand rest on his chest and lightly pull him back down. He found his head on her lap. "Aqua?" Dante asked with a small smirk and a raised eyebrow.

She blushed a little as she looked away from him and said, "You seem tired. And well I have been using you a pillow for months. Even before we… talked about us, you had let me. So I just wanted to repay the favor. Is that ok?"

Dante nodded and closed his eyes, his smirk transforming into a subtle smile. "It's not just ok. Triple S-Rank experience. I could get used to this," Dante said to her.

Aqua just smiled and looked down at him. She examined his face like she was trying to memorize every detail. She proceeded to run her hand through his silver hair and she could swear she heard a contented sigh escape him. At some point, his breathing even out and became deeper but slower. He had fallen asleep there. Aqua looked up at the people on the beach and smiled at what she found there.

Rise fought with Yang to keep her from choking out Ven with adoration, while Yuna watched on amused. Yang had taken to the short lad like some kind of younger brother. It was because he reminded her of Ruby. They could have practically been classmates if there were not an invisible 10 to 12 years in the age difference. It was different from the situation with Aqua. Aqua had lived through her time in the Realm of Darkness, even if she had not physically changed. Ven had been both mentally and physically lost in time.

"Yang, you won't have a little brother much longer if you strangle him to death!" Rise called at her pulling on Yang's arm. Ven's face was still smiling as it seemed he was having fun, though it was beginning to go a little red. Yang rolled her eyes and finally let go.

"Killjoy," Yang said defiantly.

Yuna walked over to her and said, "Today is supposed to be a day of rest. I don't know how restful, getting strangled will be for him."

"But being active is something that helps me relax," Yang complained half-heartedly.

Yuna thought for a moment and then she suggested, "What if we have a small spar, will that help you calm down?"

Yang punched her fists together and said, "Now you're speaking my language."

"Oh, I am so getting in on this," Ven chimed in.

Rise shook her head and said, "I'll be a judge then."

Sora sat on the curved tree on a nearby islet while Ruby stood nearby, they both watched the sunset. Ruby looked down at the commotion on the beach and smiled. She then looked over at Sora whose eyes had closed and he seemed to be at peace. Ruby walked over to him and hopped up onto the tree and sat next to him.

"Sora?" Ruby asked hesitantly. He opened his eyes and looked over at her. "I wanted to tell you something."

"What's up Ruby?" Sora asked, turning towards her.

She turned a little pink in the face as she tried to find the words she was looking for. "I just wanted to tell you that I-" she paused and turned further pink. "Uh, what I mean is, I wanted to let you know that I-" her second attempt sputtered out.

"Yeah?" Sora asked, somewhat concerned, but he felt like he knew where she was trying to go.

Ruby sighed and tried again, "I like you. A lot. Like more than just a friend."

"O-oh," Sora said. He had suspected that this was what she was going to say based on how she was acting, it did not make it less surprising to hear out loud.

Ruby looked away and said, "I knew I would mess it up, please forget I said anyth-'' Sora put his hand on hers and just held it.

"May your heart be your guiding key, Ruby. Just say what you need to say, listen to your heart," he told her with a smile.

"I admire you, y'know?" Ruby continued. She needed to keep going. "You've sacrificed and lost so much. The friendships you have made and left behind, years with your family. But here you are still fighting. You even sacrificed yourself for me back on Remnant. You are everything I want to be as a huntress. I've thought so since the day we all ambushed your team with questions."

Sora smiled wide at her. He looked like he was going to say something back to her but the two of them were suddenly brought back to reality by the cheering and teasing whistles of Rise and Yang. The two of them blushed heavily, but they did not let go of each other's hands.