His Will alone, left in the shell of his Armor had not been enough to regain his body.
Yet, he stood firm, steadfast in the Hope that one day he would triumph.
Xehanort taunted him endlessly, sneering and preening on how his body was no longer his, that his Darkness would allow the old man to control him forever.
But he already knew.
He had been unable to tell in the newness of grief, the terror and struggle in trying to save his friends.
Xehanort would find out soon enough why his Heart, his Light could still shine brightly in this Long Defeat.
The old man realized it immediately, 'Eraqus, you sly Fox…'
He was not alone to face this torment within the depths of his Heart.
Songs sung low and soft, of times long past.
Words of encouragement when this endless prison, when Xehanort's gloating simply became too much.
Songs his mother had sung, nearly forgotten in the foggy recess of his Memories.
Eraqus sang to him. He uplifted him.
One day, he would make things Right.
And in the distance of Dark, there was a wandering Light.
Moving without ceasing.
Reaching out in brittle agony as Memory Haunted.
As years swiftly passed.
Where was this Light coming from, so deep within the embrace of Shadow?
Aqua.
She was Lost.
With none to save her.
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Mickey had rescued them from the Lanes Between, bringing them to Yen Sid to receive care.
She had awoken bewildered, immediately looking for Ventus, propped up against the wall slumped upon himself as if he were a lifeless puppet.
The news that Terra could not be found, grief weighing upon her Heart.
She had tried to wake Ventus, desperate to hear his voice, his laughter, and his strange wisdom.
To not be alone in the Castle that was now hers (could she even carry the weight of responsibility?), as she was only a Master for a mere day's time.
His Heart had left him, leaving him in Stasis until it returned to its shell.
She would stand Guard over him until he awoke.
Yet, the old Wizard surprised her.
To Believe in him, with the full depth of her Love for him, so that he could one day Return.
So she took him, his own hand guiding her to their destroyed Home, their World now in shambles.
Master's Defender cried out to her, weeping its laments as she took hold of it.
She placed Ventus in the Master's seat, and with the key that she now inherited…
Aqua locked The Land of Departure
Into The Land of Oblivion
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He Slept, nestled deep within the child's Heart.
The boy grew
And Sacrificed himself
A small Fragment of his Heart fell away
His Memories became tangled
A few links Slipping Away through that small fragment
The Boy
The Girl
Their lives entangled in their confusion
Unable to Protect
Barely able to Guide
Small Consolations
As Darkness crept
Wayward Wind, for whom shall he Awaken
Heart of Light, Wander'n in Shade
Calling, Crying out as Weakness invades
Pulling downwards, Agony in endless Walking
The Heart's true Form, Separated to Save
Master Keeper, One Day Shall They Wake
Unsealing the Impenetrable Boundary of Oblivion
Hearts reaching out to the Lost
Their Heart's form Destroying that which Destroys Worlds
Unable to See, Unable to Awaken
Reaching, for the Wayfinder in the Dark
V-v-V-v-V-v-V-v-V-v-V-v-V-v-V
Something was wrong in the Realm of Light.
She could feel it with each step as she walked through the shambles of Cinderella's World.
She repaired the Castle Clock and entered the grand staircase as she stared at its brilliance, remembering the short time that she had been there. The lament of what time had been lost, the stars, her friends…
She could not falter now.
Aqua
She gasped, turning to see Terra walk down the stairs. She ran to him, panicking as she couldn't help but ramble for a moment before she realized.
He was only a Memory.
What was the purpose of this torment?
Such Memories had no purpose than to torment her, unlike the kind Phantoms of the Castle.
His image faded into golden dust.
She took solace in the belief that at least, no one else was trapped in this Hell.
Aqua continued onwards, the scenery changing around her as she found herself in Snow White's Glade.
She paused, glancing around the area as she took note of the gold gilded casket.
She gasped as she ran to it, drawn by some inexplicable force. She peered into it, only for her to see Ventus asleep within. "Ven?!" She pressed her hands to the glass as the delirious thought ran through her mind, 'Would he awaken like Snow White at True Love's Kiss?' Aqua shook her head with clenched eyes. 'No, do not add to your agony, keep it together!'
His image disappeared as she fell to her knees, staring into the empty glass.
'Ven... What did you come here to tell me? I know I promised to wake you up…' The image of him slumped in that sterile room came to her mind, 'I'm sorry… I first have to find my way back home.'
She stared at her reflection as tears threatened to build in her eyes, 'You must know that it's my thoughts of you that keep my Heart strong. Keeps the Dark away.' She caressed the cold glass before startling as something appeared nearby.
Something that didn't belong.
Aqua walked towards the strange object, its presence drawing her near, "A mirror…" She placed a hand upon it, and it was in that small moment of weakness that the Darkness took hold of her hand and dragged her deeper, a copy of her image to whittle down her will…
And weaken her Light's Resolve.
She would prove to her Phantom that her Heart was strong.
That it was not hollow like a demon's.
You'll never see the Realm of Light again.
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She was losing this mental fight.
She was being whittled down by the Darkness.
Each fight against herself chipping away at her resolve.
Strengthening her doubts.
Weakening her small Courage.
She continued onward.
Aqua walked into the thorned glade of a new fallen World.
Terra and Ventus stood there to greet her before walking away in silence.
She stood, stunned as the weight of emptiness dragged her down.
These phantoms… I don't care if they're not real! I want my friends!
They disappeared as she continued running, hoping that if she just continued onwards she would see them again, no matter what form.
She didn't care if the Darkness would devour her, she was so tired of being alone!
Over and over, the phantom images of her friends pulled her forward.
Dragging her deeper.
She fought, Darkside after Darkside as the heat of their attacks hurt her endlessly.
She defeated them, collapsed at the weight of their end.
Aqua pulled herself up exhausted. She ran once more towards the backs of her friends.
"Terra, Ven!"
Unlike before when she kept calling to those walking phantoms, Terra suddenly turned to her as she reached them.
"Aqua, you're-"
She gasped in shock as she came closer to him.
"Terra, you spoke?"
This immediately caused the brunette concern, yet he couldn't help but ask, "Can you see me?"
Aqua was elated, "Of course! I see Ven too!"
Terra looked around blind, alarm in his voice, "Ven? He's here?" In this terrible Darkness?
Aqua held her arms close as she became confused, "Terra, what's wrong? Don't you see him?"
Terra sounded tired, "Where are we?" He kept looking around with unseeing eyes, a frown marring his face.
"A World the Darkness has consumed, Enchanted Dominion."
Terra paused as he looked downcast, "Consumed? The Worlds fell?"
Doubt crept into Aqua's Heart, "What's gotten into you? How do I know that you're Terra? ...And not the weakness in my Heart playing tricks on me again?" She turned and stumbled to the image of Ventus's still form, "Ven! Please say something!" Was she finally going mad?
She observed the blond as he stood sleeping with eyes barely open.
Terra couldn't see, "Aqua, listen… I promise this me- but I'm not myself."
She startled, "What do you mean?" That didn't make sense-
He was facing her, following the Light in her Heart, "You're using the name "Terra." That means you're seeing me in the way that you remember. But your Heart is just painting the picture that it so wants to see." He grasped his chest, "The real me is Lost in Shadow."
Aqua came close to his side once more, "Then you're here, trapped in the Realm of Darkness."
He turned, "No." He took a few steps away from her, "My Heart has ties to the Dark. That must be why we can talk. But… I can't see anything, Aqua. If you say Ven is there, then he's like me- an illusion created by your Heart."
She could take some solace in that, "I understand, then, you and Ven are safe in the outside World?"
"I think."
She smiled, "That's good. But, how did you find me?"
Terra brought his hand to his chest, "I looked here, and heard you in the darkness."
Aqua frowned, "Right, but… why does your Heart have ties to the Darkness now? What did you mean by "lost in Shadow"?"
Terra resolved, "Forget about me." He started, remembering a disturbing truth, "Aqua, Xehanort is trying to locate Ven."
She smiled, "He'll never find him. I hid Ven well. I think the reason he's not talking to me here, is because he's still there Sleeping."
No, stop, don't! Terra clawed at himself, trying to keep his jailer at bay.
"This place, is it the Chamber of Waking?"
"Yes-" Aqua gasped as she realized the change in Terra's appearance. Terra's Heart appeared behind his false image, explaining that Xehanort was trying to find Ventus.
She wanted to help him, but then dark chains appeared in a swirl of Shadow as two black arms reached out, grasping Ventus's phantom as well as her as she watched on in horror- the struggle of Terra's Will. "Ven!" The hands holding them were strong, and it almost hurt to be held in them.
Terra screamed, "THAT IS ENOUGH!" Golden chains sprouted from him, slowly pulling her into slumber as she softly cried, "Terra…"
Her fight was not hers alone.
T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T-t-T
She was sinking into the Abyss. Her Wayfinder glowing softly as her Heart grew ever more tired.
Enough.
This... is enough.
Now I can be… one with the Darkness…
Her Wayfinder slipped from her hand as a familiar voice spoke, catching her charm as they continued to float.
"Aqua, are you ok?"
No.
She opened her eyes as her Wayfinder was placed back into her hand. She breathed in, surprised at the Mouse King that had appeared before her. He made sure the item was secure before pulling her along swiftly, the warmth of his Light reinvigorating her Will.
"Mickey. How did-" He voice was hoarse, yet she immediately remembered what had (just?) happened, "Ven! Terra!"
Mickey became alarmed, "No time to talk"
The demons- no, the Heartless had returned to devour them.
She and the King spoke at length.
The Mouse, far too confident in her Heart's strength as she couldn't help but feel tired that he thought she'd be ok.
She was falling apart, why would he just gloss over that?!
He enquired why she was in this realm, yet the burning question she truly had to have answered shifted the conversation's course, "First, tell me… How long's it been in the Realm of Light?" How long hand she been without the sun, the warm grass and wind, physical touch-
Her right hand burned as she clenched it to silence that memory.
"About… ten years."
She could have collapsed into a weeping heap right there… yet she felt almost Nothing.
She explained what had happened after their last parting detached, the knowledge of her time there leaving her cold and bereft.
She lifted her Wayfinder, the small light of the Dark World illuminating it gently, slowly refilling her with warmth as she looked at the Mouse King once more. She moved close to him and knelt to be at his level, "What about you? Is something happening in the Realm of Light?"
He explained the fall of the Worlds, what happened when their Hearts were devoured (It explained so much… Cinderella, Snow White…), and what needed to be done to end the threat looming over all.
The King explained how difficult it was to enter the Realm of Darkness (Yet she'd fallen into it so easily), how he'd snuck through the cracks so that he could find the Realm's Keyblade.
"But hey, when I came here I found a warm and familiar Light, and it led me to you."
Aqua looked at her charm affectionately, So Ven and Terra… they helped to bring us back together…
For there was no way her tempered Heart could have Guided him. She no longer had that Hope.
She asked about Terra, knowing the Worlds were in danger, and was determined he was still fighting as Mickey was downcast from being unable to locate him.
She stood, slightly invigorated at the thought of helping the Worlds, despite being trapped in the Dark World.
"May our Hearts be our Guiding Key."
M-m-M-m-M-m-M-m-M-m-M-m-M
Her time with the King was too short.
Yet, basking in the light of the fallen Destiny Islands…
It Healed something over inside of her, it filled her with Warmth.
She recalled wanting to pass down the Keyblade to one of the children, yet deciding against it as Terra had already chosen one of the boys.
The King reacted, "Aqua, what were their names?!"
"They were… Sora and Riku."
"I see… we're getting warm."
Aqua questioned this.
"Welp, it's Sora and Riku who are helpin' me get that door shut for good."
She gasped, unsteady as she absorbed this knowledge, "The same boys?!"
Mickey nodded, "If this is where they got the first Keyblade, then this is where we'll find its counterpart!"
That did not make sense!
A Keyblade with two sides?
"The Keyblade of Darkness has to be on this side of their World!"
Well, if the King was that excited about it… she'd roll with it.
The ground shuddered as Mickey urged her onward.
They entered a small cove with stone-scratched drawings. They approached the door that was entirely misplaced in that little nook.
"I bet it's in here." They pushed the door open, as a glowing gold Keyblade hung awaiting its Master.
The shape- it was… it looked just like the ꭙ-blade.
"Is that what you're after?"
Mickey approached it, grasping it reverently, "Yup, it's just the Key I was looking for. A Keyblade from the Dark Realm."
A Keyblade...of Darkness?
The King extrapolated on his plan.
He seemed to be between speaking with her, and someone else with his Heart.
Suddenly, the ground shook as the Door to Darkness opened, the Realm's energy spilling forth.
Yet, as if responding to a unique Heart's call, a brilliant Light was cast, evaporating the encroaching Darkness.
They walked and in the distance were large white doors.
"Is that the one?"
"Yup, the Door to Kingdom Hearts." The mouse turned to her, "Well, it's not the Kingdom Hearts you know. Not exactly. Even though it's smaller, it's still the Heart of many Worlds. And… even though it's not a complete Kingdom Hearts, we can't leave it open like this."
Mickey lifted Kingdom Key D, "It's time, with this key and Sora's in the Realm of Light, we're gonna close that door."
...Sora's Keyblade?!
"Now, all we need is Riku."
Aqua digested this, "Sora, Riku…"
Mickey started forward.
They players were all assembled, Riku running past them as the time that had passed became real.
And then the Demon Tide separated them.
R-m-A-s-A-m-R-x-A-s-A-m-R-m-A
She would be the Wayfinder in the Dark.
The Guidepost.
Yet, as the World of Destiny Islands became restored around her.
So too, was Master Keeper taken into the Light.
Master Aqua was left Behind.
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The Castle was without its children.
It too grieved as it sheltered its Sleeping Ward, whose Heart was not there to fill it.
A girl, made of Nothing, and yet filled with Light came to be within its Walls.
Her Heart linked with a Princess, a boy, and somehow...
This daughter born of the tides within Memory was like its wayward Son.
Chained by an unspeakable Connection.
Strange beings of Nothing entered its doors.
Seeking something of unknown origin.
It would not allow them near its final Child.
So the floors were shifted, changed, their weaponry forced to comply with its internal law.
Cards would be their strength.
A Lord was chosen for the Castle.
Lauriam? Elrena? Why are you now made of Nothing?
A boy and his companions entered.
A Keyblade had returned to the Castle.
Ventus?
The Wayward Wind's Heart was within this boy.
It would Hope for his Triumph.
The Basement hosted a different Child, one who had ties to another of its Lost ones.
Terra..?
The Darkness within the boy was dominated with the help of the King.
Walking into the Dawn
The boy defeated the Lost Child of Union, the strange connection to that Lost Memory falling alongside.
...Strelitzia..?
Links of Memory had to be picked up and pieced together.
I would take time.
C-n-S-r-V-c-N-s-A-v-C-n-S-r-V-c-N-s-R-v
The puppet born within its walls returned as its Daughter.
It pushed at her, tried to keep her away.
Yet Ventus's links that had bled into her allowed her to overcome the Agony.
It could not allow another.
So when the boy appeared, being of the exact image of its protected Child.
It weighed its entire authority upon the poor shell born of Sora's Body and Ventus's Soul.
Roxas would not be allowed to so easily lead them to Ventus.
That fragment would be the seal's undoing.
It would Protect what Master Aqua had left in its Care.
No matter the Cost.
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Look children to the eastern sky
When you hear the voice say your last goodbyes
Look there to the eastern skies
When the ghosts take hold of the men who died
Look children to the eastern sky
When your fathers weep and your mothers cry
Look children to the eastern sky
-Anberlin, Miserabile Visu {Ex Malo Bonum}
T-a-V-t-A-v-T-a-V-t-A-v-T-a-V-t-A-v-T-a-V-t-A-v-T-a-V-t-A
A/N: This may be the end of this particular piece for Vulpes to Dandelions, but it is not the end for the three. After I get through more of DtS and DtV and possibly [Kairi] to Sky, I will be continuing things as they pick up the pieces in Wayfinders to [Days]. The titles aren't set into stone, but I hope you'll continue on with me on this crazy journey. Please let me know how you enjoyed it.
Stay safe and be well.