Chapter 7: The Beginning

Author's Note: The registry mentioned in this chapter isn't cannon in any way. But it does make some sense to have a way to track the princesses without randomly flying around and hoping for the best. As a reminder, I don't treat KHX or KHUX as cannon.

The week passes in a tired blur of initial starts. Aqua mainly focuses Namine on starting to build her endurance, and basic educational lessons to make sure Namine has caught up. On occasion, Eraqus will dip in to watch at a distance, a faint smile as he watches his apprentice teach his grand apprentice. Sometimes he offers advice, most of which always seem to make being a Keybearer more imposing than Namine can imagine and she hasn't even started learning about the precepts yet. Ven helps to wind down post-lessons with goofing off whether its exploring, playing games, or showing off his skills with a Keyblade. Which really, his goofing off is impressive, she has such a long way to go...

Then at the end of the week, Namine walks into the dining hall to see Terra has returned, the others already up and sitting around him. Their plates are long since empty, though one is in a magic bubble seeming to have kept in warm and preserved for Namine. She wonders how early they all got up today.

"...and you are sure of this?" posed Eraqus.

"Yeah, I could have returned a few days ago, but I did a quick pass of a few other worlds to be safe, its like all of the Unversed just vanished, its bizarre," said Terra, "I mean, I'm glad they're gone and not terrorizing the worlds anymore, but... I don't know why they are gone."

Eraqus rubbed his chin in thought. "Peculiar. I'll have to contact Yen Sid at some point to see if perhaps they've moved onto worlds further out, or perhaps if they are in hiding. But regardless..."

He considers Terra for a moment. "You did well in this mission."

"But I... I mean... Maleficent..."

Eraqus huffed. "Terra, that dark fairy is a cunning and deceptive foe. You do have darkness in your heart, more than I'd like and we will work on that, but not enough for something so foul as this. You literally do not have the capability without far more darkness, nor have I yet taught you the knowledge of how to extract a heart for the purpose of mending or imprisonment, as this is a skill for experienced masters. It is likely she merely put you to sleep, took the heart herself, then put you into the proper position to make it seem as if you did."

Terra slumps back in his chair, well and truly relieved. "That's... that's good."

"Take heart, my apprentice, the forces of darkness will always strive to make you doubt and weaken yourself, if not try to corrupt you with their efforts, you must be ever vigilant" advised Eraqus sagely, "But to be clear for the record, Terra, even if what you thought had happened had indeed happened, being mind controlled or possessed does not count as if you have done so yourself. It does however reveal that you need training on resisting such attempts to subvert control of your body."

He frowns. "My only criticism of your time there is that you should have stayed in that world to assist until the heart had been recovered."

Terra winced. "Yes Master, you... you are right. I just... felt ashamed."

"Our duty before our feelings, Terra, always," instructed Eraqus firmly.

"Yes Master," echoes Terra, a little subdued.

Eraqus tilts his head back in thought before he notices Namine out of the corner of his eye and turns toward her. "Good morning Namine."

"Good morning Grandmaster," she says, standing hesitatingly at the door, "Should... I come back later?"

Probably shouldn't have been listening in now that she thinks on it...

He chuckles and waves her in. "No, its perfectly fine. If there are restricted conversations to be had, they will be held in private, not in the dining hall. Aqua was kind to put your meal in stasis since we were up early for Terra's return."

She gives Aqua a bright smile, earning one back along with a cluster of good mornings. Namine sits down next to the bubbled plate, and said bubble vanishes. "Welcome back mister Terra."

He huffs, smiling. "Just Terra is fine. So, how are you settling in?"

She gives a brief run-down of how she's being trained so far, and he nods when she's done. "A fair start."

Namine starts eating, eyes briefly flickering to watch Ven take everyone else's plate's to the kitchen, returning to nab her's when she's done, and then plopping down after. "Ugh, chores."

"You're fortunate that we're introducing Namine to the rotation as a basis as well so she knows of them," advised Eraqus, "Once she's familiarized enough, you will be reclaiming all of them for your punishment."

Ventus pouts. "Ah man..."

Aqua chuckles before turning to Namine. "So, we'll be starting as usual with exercise, but for lessons today, I would like to start splitting time between the basics, and introducing you to the beginning aspects of being a Keybearer, and our purpose."

Namine nods. "I... think you mentioned that our line is supposed to protect 'The Princesses'?"

"Indeed," says Eraqus, "The Princesses of Heart. Seven hearts of pure light, not a spec of darkness in them."

Namine considers it for a moment. "Why don't they have any?"

"The original Princesses of Heart were made manifest after a great darkness washed over the worlds and ripped them apart from one another. Whatever method they were purified in serves as beacons. It is their light that keeps the great darkness at bay, that keeps the Realm of Light strong and intact."

Namine's eyes go wide. "Oh... that's... important."

"To say the least," agrees Aqua, "We periodically check on the princesses. The frequency of course depends on the status of the worlds. If it is a time of peace, then it might be a few years between visits, or shorter if we feel the need to. If the Unversed threat had grown more dire as an example, we'd need to be seeking out the worlds they resided on to appraise of their status. If their worlds were relatively secure, we could leave them to their lives in peace, trusting those who live upon those worlds to keep them safe."

"If they weren't secure?" asked Namine.

"Then we make them secure," said Eraqus firmly, "We drive back the dark forces until the situation becomes manageable for the world's natural defenders, or if it is truly dire, we escort the princesses back to the Land of Departure. The purity of their hearts protects them from the Lanes Between, so they may board our gliders and transverse safely."

Namine nods. "So... how do you know where they live and who they are?"

"We keep a enchanted registry of such things," explained Eraqus, "It is always up-to-date save for when one of the Princess has passed on their power, but we are still alerted of that occurrence regardless. The registry was magically crafted long ago and attuned towards the power of the Princesses, it allows us to detect the generally direction of the new Princesses presence after the power has been passed on. Its often a task of young masters or senior apprentices to seek out and identify the new princesses, we are fortunate when the power is merely passed down to a child in the same world which makes it a simple matter of checking the world then updating our registry."

Namine nods in understanding. "Alright."

She thinks about it for a moment, then considers a safe question, and is kind of curious about it anyway. "So... who went to check on Kairi?"

It would be surprising, looking back, the absolute spiraling disaster that simple question would cause.

Aqua blinks, opens her mouth, and then closes it, looking startled, realization and mortification spreading. Eraqus frowns. "...Kairi? There is no current Princess of Heart named Kairi."

What? "But... she feels like nothing but light," said Namine, turning towards Aqua, "You were there, didn't she feel like light?"

Aqua's face takes a complicated turn of emotions before it settles on wary. "The situation in Radiant Garden was... messy, along with a large part of my focus being on you. I wasn't aware you had any developed senses yet, but... now that you mention in... the girl did feel like what a Princess should feel like. Master are you sure about the registry entry?"

Eraqus's face matches Aqua's wary one. "Firmly. I did a check shortly before the Mark of Mastery Exam. While other Princesses of Heart may have their passed on power skip between worlds, the Radiant Garden Princess of Heart has been a bloodline held role since their progenitor. The last time the power was passed on was when fair lady Ame passed on her power during her daughter's teenage years."

Kairi's grandma had been a Princess of Heart?! "But... but Ame said she thought her daughter had been murdered. At least a year or so ago."

Eraqus makes a choking sound before standing up, slamming his hands on the table, and exploding. "WHAT!?"

Namine shrinks on herself at his fury, eyes flickering about. Ven looked horrified, Terra shocked, and Aqua a mixture of mortified and bewildered.

"L-lady A-ame s-said that t-the i-i-," stuttered Namine.

"Breath Namine," said Eraqus, wrestling down his fury, "I apologize for losing my temper, please, take a breath and give a concise clear report."

Namine swallowed thickly and took a few breaths. "Lady Ame said the investigation had said it was an accident, but her heart told her someone did it intentionally. I didn't ask anything more because I thought it would upset her."

Eraqus's lips are tightly pursed. His gaze is cold, ruthless, like he wants to kill something. Its honestly terrifying. "Terra, on the very slim offchance that my memory is failing me both on the alert and someone going to appraise the situation, check the registry for Radiant Garden's Princess of Heart. Aqua, retrieve a standard-armor piece for young Namine. I will enact temporary barriers around our home. We will be departing for Radiant Garden, and we will be getting to the bottom of this, immediately."

Aqua nods sharply. "Wait here Namine."

Namine watches as Aqua and Terra sprint out of the room while Eraqus marches out. She turns her wide eyes to Ventus. "Umm..."

"The registry hasn't sounded an alert once while I was here," said Ventus nervously, "I've never heard of the registry failing before. This sort of thing doesn't just happen. Which..."

He fidgets, licking his lips. "It would mean it was blocked. But... that would mean someone would have to know the registry even exists, and its not something we speak about to other people. If you're not a keybearer you're not supposed to know about it. I mean maybe it got disrupted somehow, but its not likely..."

Namine isn't really sure how she feels about the registry. It feels kind of... invasive, but she does recognize the princess are very important...

"I wonder if the boy in the mask had anything to do with it," murmurs Ventus.

Namine blinks. Boy in the mask? As in the one who looked like Sora, Vanitas? She's wondering if she should have said something about it...

"When did you meet this boy?" she asks.

"He was all the sudden in my room," said Ven, "Said some scary stuff about something happening to Terra. Its why I ran off..."

Then he starts looking a mixture between worried and sheepish. "Oh man I really wasn't thinking. That guy shouldn't have just been able to get into our home. That's... there are supposed to be protections to keep uninvited outsiders out, not to mention he walked through a dark portal thingy that shouldn't have worked in here."

"Ven... I really think you need to tell Eraqus," she said quietly.

Ventus flushes a bit. "I mean... I should, but... its embarrassing that I got goaded into running off... but... yeah, you're right. This is important."

When the others return, Terra shakes his head and speaks first, "Kairi isn't listed as the current Princess for Radiant Garden."

"I thought not," said Eraqus.

Ventus speaks up. "Um... Master, there's something important I need to tell you, it... it might related."

Eraqus narrowed his eyes. "Speak."

Ventus fidgets nervously, but tells of the Boy in the Mask who appeared in his room. "...he said that Terra would be a different person by the time I caught up. Said I'd never find the truth unless I went out and found it for myself. Then he disappeared through a dark portal."

Eraqus holds his silence for an uncomfortable minute. "Ventus."

"Y-yes?"

"An intruder broke into our home through our defenses without an alert, alluded to something dire happening to a fellow apprentice, used the darkness to leave, lured you off and away from the protection of our world, and you did not think to mention it until now?" he says in a forcibly calm tone.

Ventus swallows. "I... I'm sorry..."

"It would seem, my apprentice, you need a thorough remedial course on proper protocol, and an extension of chores back up to a full year," said Eraqus.

Ventus bows his head, shoulders slumping. "Yes Master..."

Namine notices Terra fidgeting out of the corner of his eye, looking like he wanted to say something before closing his mouth, thinking, then speaking, "To be fair Ventus did run after me, but I didn't give him a chance to speak before I activated my armor and left."

Namine has the sense that wasn't what Terra had wanted to say originally.

"You had been given a mission and knew not to dawdle, it was his responsibility to come to me," said Eraqus firmly, "I should have been made aware of this immediately, and had the chance to investigate how our home was breached and how to defend against future breaches. Instead we have been left vulnerable the entire time, with a brand new apprentice here who is incapable of defending herself if a lethal threat suddenly appears in her room with none of us around."

Namine wants to say something in Ventus's defense as the boy wilts under the rebuke, honestly looking like hes about to cry, but... her grandmaster isn't wrong...

"We will shelve the matter for now, for we have a duty to preform, but it is not forgotten," said Eraqus, "Come."

Namine has to struggle with herself as they walk. She really, really thinks she should mention her encounter with Vanitas. But... for one, she's afraid of getting berated like Ven did for not speaking earlier. For two, how could she explain surviving the encounter where she should have been dead without question without revealing her memory powers which could threaten revealing that she's from the future? For three... something is wrong with Vanitas; he was puking darkness, his chain of memories were corroded. The boy is hurt, and she doesn't think Eraqus will be offering Vanitas aid if they should meet.

So even if it makes her a shameful hypocrite, she keeps her silence.

Besides...

"I don't want this!"

She recalls his scream, and she doesn't think he's going to be much of a problem anymore. Though its very peculiar that the monsters disappear after Vanitas did...

When they reach the courtyard, Aqua fastens a strip of armor with a button to her shoulder and taps it. There is a brief flash of light, then Namine is garbed in a rather bland set of armor that doesn't look anywhere near as fancy as the others. She wonders how they customize it, or if maybe hers is just a temporary or starter armor, Eraqus had asked Aqua to get a 'standard' one after all. She pushes thoughts of her own eventual armor out of her mind as Aqua lifts her onto her glider and they take off, Eraqus taking point riding atop a metallic steed.

Namine quietly thinks to herself he has the coolest Keyblade glider, wondering what she'll have.

There is no goofing off while flying as there had been on Namine's first trip into the Lanes Between. They fly in an orderly line towards Radiant Garden. They land quickly and quietly in an alleyway, their armor flashing off with a quick slap of a button. Eraqus turns to Namine. "Please take us to Lady Ame."

Namine nods and walks out of the alleyway, the others walking behind her. The group draws some curious looks, and also a few friendly greetings towards Namine that she returns. It doesn't take long to run into one of the guardsmen. Aeleus looks rather surprised to see her. "Namine, its good to see you."

She gives him a faint smile. "Its good to see you too."

His eyes flicker to the group. "I was under the impression you would be in training for some time, what brings you back so soon?"

"Um... do you have any files or anything about what happened to Kairi's parents?"

Aeleus frowns. "That was a sorrowful, if but quick and closed case a few years back."

Eraqus cleared his throat. "It may not be such a clear matter anymore, and it is important that we look into it. We will be speaking with Lady Ame about what she knows, and would greatly appreciate any aid on the matter afterwards."

Aeleus nods slowly. "I will have to run it by Lord Ansem before giving outside access to our files, but I doubt he will hesitate to offer aid to Keybearers, I will meet you at Lady Ame's house in a bit."

Aeleus leaves at a quick pace heading for the castle. Namine returns to leading them through the city of light towards the family cottage. She smiles to find Kairi playing in the dirt, her grandmother in her rocker watching with a bemused look on her face. "You're getting a bath young one."

"Nu uh," sing-songed Kairi, getting up with a grin on her face, tensed to run, "You'll have to catch me first gamma!"

"Why would I have to catch you when I can ask our guard to do so for me, hmm?" teased Ame, "Squall dear?"

Namine notices a second later that Squall is leaning in the shadows of the porch, out of the way and aloof. "I would, but we have guests."

Kairi looks around, notices the Keybearers, notices Namine, and squeals with delight. "Nami!"

Namine has arms full with a dirty-little girl seconds later. "I missed you so much Nami!"

Namine smiles a little. "I missed you too, but, we need to talk to grandma. Its important."

Kairi does this adorable mixture between a scowl and a pout. "Fiiiineee."

Considering that Kairi really shouldn't be involved in the conversation. "How about you go take a quick bath and then you can come back and tell me all about your week."

"Kay!" says Kairi, eyes so bright, before skipping off into the house.

"She shouldn't be here for this," Namine mutters to Eraqus, who nods in agreement, "Indeed."

"Squall, please try not to let her flood the bathroom again," asked Ame.

Squall makes a face. "I really don't think I should be washing her anyway, I'm not family."

"You're around and help enough to be," mused Ame teasingly.

That resigned face he makes in response is adorable enough to get a giggle out of Namine before he sighs in defeat and heads inside.

The grandmother's amused look fades as she looks over the group. "While I would be more than happy if this was a simple visit where I'm being introduced to Namine's fellow Keybearers, I have a feeling in my heart its nothing so benign."

"Unfortunately no," says Eraqus, his voice toned with a great deal of respect, "My name is Master Eraqus, Keyblade Master and current Steward of the Land of Departure. These are my apprentices, Terra and Ventus, you've already met Master Aqua."

Ame tilts her head in greeting, but says nothing.

"To my knowledge, the Radiant Garden's line of Princesses of Heart are aware of their role, are they not?" posed Eraqus.

"I haven't begun Kairi's training and don't plan to for some time yet, but yes," agreed Ame.

"Your daughter was your successor, correct?"

Ame's face closed off, Namine shifts in discomfort at the sight of it. "She was until she died."

"You have my condolences," offers Eraqus, "It is unfortunate to dredge up such memories, but her death is why we are here. Namine has recently brought to our attention a great breach in our awareness and possibly our security, as we were not aware of your child's death nor the passing on of her powers when we have measures in place to make sure we were. This implies someone knew how to block our awareness of it.

Ame grips the arms of her rocker tightly. "So I'm right then, someone murdered my daughter and son in law."

"You are most likely correct," agreed Eraqus, "We need to know everything about the circumstances."

Ame exhales. "She and her husband died in a house fire."

Eraqus scoffs. "A house fire? A Princess of Heart with at least some training died in a house fire?"

"You see why I hold doubts on it being an accident then," said Ame dryly, "My daughter's training wasn't complete, no, but she could at least shield herself in light. I taught her that."

Terra hesitates. "Wouldn't smoke inhalation possibly have kept her asleep and unaware? Or been the cause of death rather than the fire itself?"

Namine wonders whats so dangerous about breathing in smoke. She'll ask later, but shes kind of baffled how it can kill someone.

"Not a Princess of Heart, no, and especially not one with any training," said Eraqus.

Eraqus closes his eyes, face grim. "I had hoped, as much as I knew it unlikely, that this was somehow a fluke in our system, and an accident here. But no, it is so very likely not."

Eraqus moves to sit down next to Ame, Ventus sits on the porch steps, Terra leans against the porch itself from the ground, Aqua stands a bit from the steps with Namine at her side, asking her in a soft tone, "Master Aqua, how could smoke kill someone?"

"I don't have all the technical terms," murmured Aqua, "But, fire consumes air, and produces smoke and gasses, fumes. This can quickly replace all the air in an enclosed area. So basically, the person breaths in these fumes and dies because of them."

"They wouldn't wake up to that?" asks Namine, baffled.

"No, one of the fumes that fire produces can push the body into unconsciousness, they might die unaware of anything being wrong in the first place. I imagine it would be a terrible thing, to stop a fire, only to find the person you wished to save dead in their bed untouched by the flames," said Aqua softly, "But... while it can be a bigger problem in worlds with less technological advancement, a world at this stage should have detectors or alarms for such things."

"Do we have them at the Land of Departure?"

Aqua nods. "Magical means rather than technological, but yes."

"That's... that's good."

Aqua crosses her arms. "Even if the Princess of Heart was originally asleep, they are not normal beings, they should have become aware of the danger very quickly. I fear the master is very right, this..."

Her jaw clenches. "Its murder, of one of our charges, and we were completely unaware of it."

"I don't... why would someone want to kill a Princess of Heart?" asked Namine, "The dangers of it..."

"Servants of Darkness would not care about the darkening of our worlds," said Aqua, "The power of a Princess can never fade, it will always pass on in the event of their death, but the time of a Princess passing on their power can weaken the light of the worlds until the new Princess comes into their own and manifests their power. But... most would not know nor understand what exactly the Princesses of Heart even are, what their purpose is, to know to target them."

Namine has a bad, bad feeling about this.

She remembers the darkness that washes over the worlds from the rise of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness.

Is it a coincidence that Kairi was forced to inherit her power so soon? What about Alice? She was rather young too. Even more... Namine doesn't have exact ages, but she's pretty sure almost none of the other Princess of Heart were adults except for Cinderella, especially right now almost a decade in the past. Does that just mean they inherit in their powers around that age... or is this something sinister? What happened to the Princesses they inherited their powers from? Are the Princesses she knows about the correct ones in this time period? If so... they'd all be so young... but then again, time doesn't always flow the same between different worlds. So there is no guarantee, but still...

She thinks of how easily the Heartless swarmed, how many worlds were consumed by the darkness; Namine's bad feeling intensifies. "Do you think this happened to the other Princesses of Heart?"

"Light, I hope not," muttered Aqua grimly, "It would be a terrible failing of our order, a potential dire time in need of action, and not a good time to be training a new apprentice, as my services would be needed out in the worlds, and I would not wish to bring you into such danger."

Namine shrugged and looked down. "If I had to stay back and just read the library, that would be okay..."

Aqua smiles sadly. "I'm proud that you are willing to put the greater good ahead of yourself, but you shouldn't have to have even considered it. This... this whole mess shouldn't have to have gotten to the point where a brand new apprentice ends up pointing out something we should have been aware of to begin with. We grew lax and careless. With our charges..."

Then she hesitates. "...and with ourselves. The Master hasn't said it yet, but, its been weighing on my mind. Simply because almost no-one would know it exists, it stands to reason that the only one who could tamper with or block the registry is another Keybearer, and its also possible that a Keybearer could have allowed the Masked Boy into our home."

She steels herself. "The list of Keybearers alive and active in our region is very, very small. My Master, myself, Terra, Ven, you, the retired Yen Sid, his apprentice Mickey, and Master Xehanort."

Xehanort.

What?

Namine swallows thickly. The feeling of unease is churning now. "Xehanort?"

"He's a old Keyblade Master, he was a fellow apprentice of Eraqus and Yen Sid back in their day," explained Aqua.

What did it mean, that the amnesiac Apprentice Xehanort had gone around calling himself the name of a old Keyblade Master? "You think he's involved?"

Aqua hesitates. "I... I cannot make assumptions. Accusing a Keyblade Master without hard proof is not something done lightly. For all we know, it could be a rogue Keybearer from another line of Keybearers having made their way here. If a Keybearer is truly involved at all. Perhaps there is something else going on that would explain everything as well that we just don't know about."

Namine nods, but doesn't say or ask anything else.

Xehanort.

Vanitas had said something about a Master...

Namine's terrible feeling is roaring in her gut, and yet she cannot give it voice. Not without risking revealing her travel back in time...

She wonders about that... would it truly be so terrible to reveal it? Maybe a test... "If you could go back in time and fix this before it started, would you?"

Aqua huffs, a small smile on her face. "Read plenty of fiction while you were here did you?"

"A little," Namine lies.

"Time travel, actual time travel, is not something that can be easily done, and has rules," explained Aqua, "I didn't give it much thought outside of the one lesson we had on it, but I do remember that you can only go back as far as you've lived, and you cannot change what is destined to happen. If you traveled back in time, its because you were meant to and already did. So no, I could change nothing."

Namine slow blinked.

What?

What did that mean for Namine then?

Because she most certainly knows she didn't exist this far into the past. There are far to many people she knows now that have said nothing of her existence later. DiZ didn't know her, Mickey didn't know her, Kairi certainly didn't know her the first time they met. All the Organization she ever met never knew her back in Castle Oblivion. She's only met Axel, met Lea, the one time here, but he's certainly aware she exists at the moment. She had a very brief 'introduction' to both him and Isa before Aeleus shooed the 'troublemakers' away. Either somehow every single memory everyone ever had of her before she was born in Castle Oblivion were wiped, or...

The rules didn't apply to the method of Time Travel she was sent back by.

Could something like Kingdom Hearts even be bound by rules?

Aqua's words do confirm something for her though. She really can't tell them. She doesn't think Aqua would keep it a secret from Eraqus if she told her. She wants to trust in her grandmaster, but considering his reactions with Ven's slips, she doesn't think he would react well to the rules of time travel being broken, no matter the reason or method. She's honestly a little frightened of just how badly he would react... and sad too... that she doesn't think she can trust him, and that she has to lie...

Aeleus arrives a few minutes later, pausing and sidestep as a wet Kairi steps out of the house tugging her shirt on. "Nami Nami Nami!"

Aqua gives a small smile. "Why don't you go talk to Kairi by the gate, Namine?"

She's a little put out to not be hearing everything, but does as asked. She keeps a loose eye on the group as Kairi starts rambling about her week. Apparently, where Aeleus was her favorite guard, 'grumpy Sqwaall' had become Kairi's, with her dragging him around everywhere. The nickname got an honest giggle from her. "I hope you don't give him too hard of a time, Kairi."

"Nooooo," said Kairi in false innocence, grinning.

Namine gives her a knowing look, but doesn't say further.

"So... how is being a key person?" asked Kairi.

"Tiring," said Namine, "I have to exercise every day, wears me out, but I gotta get stronger before I can really start learning how to use a Keyblade."

Though honestly, Sora had pretty much dived right in. Then again, his start had been rough, and he had been an active child, so he wasn't nearly as physically weak was Namine currently was. Namine would rather not have to have a start to her role as a Keybearer be like Sora's had been.

Kairi grins. "Big n strong like Mr Aeleus huh. Nami with muscles, rawr."

Namine laughs, but cuts off when she catches raised voices briefly. Eraqus is flipping through the report Aeleus gave, and appears to find it lacking if the scowl Aeleus has is anything to go by.

"Nami? What wrong?"

Namine hesitates. "We're here on a mission."

"Ooooh!" exclaims Kairi, "Waja doin, can I help?"

"Its grown up stuff," said Namine, "I'm not sure how much I'll even be allowed to help since I've only begun my training."

Kairi pouts. "S'not fair."

Eraqus flips to the last page and raises an eyebrow. "The house has been left demolished?"

"The family was cherished," explains Aeleus, "There is a small memorial outside of the lot, but otherwise it has been left alone."

"Good, it is a long shot, but I may yet be able to detect something, take us there," orders Eraqus.

"Squall dear, please look after Kairi for a bit, she shouldn't be involved in this," says Ame, rising off her rocker.

"Of course."

"But Gaaamaaaa!"

"No buts Kairi," chided her grandmother, "Be nice for Squall."

Kairi scowls. "Fiiineee. Will you be back later Nami?"

"It depends how this goes," said Namine, "I will visit another time if I can't."

Kairi pouts, but nods, giving Namine a hug then running off to Squall as the Keybeaerers, Aeleus, and Ame leave. Namine walks next to the elderly woman. "How have things been?"

"Quiet now that those monsters left," she answered, "But the kind of quiet remains to be seen."

Namine tilts her head. "Kind of quiet?"

"Is it a peaceful quiet I wonder? Or the quiet before a storm, where everything is still and waiting, hmm?" poses Ame, before she huffs, "All things considered, I feel its the latter."

Namine hesitates. "Is that just a feeling, or something from... from when you were a Princess?"

The elderly gives her a sly look so foreign and younger than her years. "Oh? Learned that did you?"

"Yes," Namine says, but hesitates to press.

Part of her wonders why she wasn't told. But really... she hadn't honestly been with the family that long to be trusted.

She must be easily read, because Ame sighs and says, "Its not something talked about outside of those who are Princesses or are already in the know. Its nothing against you, young one."

Namine nods. "Alright."

"As for your question, its just a feeling," said Ame, "The purity of light left me years ago, my heart is still brighter than most, but most of my abilities have faded with time. Doesn't mean there ain't still a few lingering traits, but..."

She shrugs. "My time holding the light is over."

"...do you miss it?"

Ame smiles sadly. "Sometimes, but then I remember the delight on my daughter's face when she inherited the power. I see, day by day, the happiness Kairi holds despite having that light far to soon. There's little point in bitterly holding on to something that's left you when you can cherish your children and grandchildren having it instead."

"Wise indeed," said Eraqus, "I do recall the nostalgic pride my own master had when he passed on the responsibility of steward myself. The passing of the torch should always be a cherished time."

"If only," agreed Ame.

There is quiet for a time, as they head up a hill towards the edge of the city limits. Its a beautiful view, looking out over the city on one side, and out past the walls on another. The pavement leads up to a small memorial plague, and beyond that is a large splotch of long-dead ground, oddly not a shred of grass where the house used to be. Nor is there any remnant of the house itself, just two grave markers dead center of the place.

Eraqus motions for them to stay back and strides upon the plot, standing a bit before the graves, and summons his Keyblade. He moves, almost in a slow dance, swinging a glowing Keyblade around in careful movements. A pulse of light ripples out of him that spreads out. At first, nothing appears around the plot itself, but further out colors and hues appear that Namine isn't sure what to make of. She looks back at Eraqus, and sees the dark scowl on his face.

"Well, isn't that curious," says Eraqus in a scathingly sarcastic tone.

"Master Aqua, what is that?" whispered Namine.

"Its an ability that illuminates the area with a light that hues itself depending on the type of people, magics, and objects that have been in the area," said Aqua slowly, baffled, "But... if a Princess of Heart lived here for any decent amount of time, shouldn't there be light? There is nothing there."

"Quite right Master Aqua," said Eraqus thinly, "The file said they lived here several years, correct?"

"Yes," agreed Aeleus, "What does it mean then if there is no... aura... around this place?"

"Do you have a guess, Terra?" posed Eraqus.

Terra walks up to stand next to Eraqus, looking around with a frown on his face. "If were thinking this was murder... then did they somehow cover it up? Erase it?"

"Very good," said Eraqus, "Yes, they smothered over the area and wiped out any trace of energy or affinity from it."

"We haven't touched on this kind of thing in training yet," said Terra slowly, "Is this a simple thing to do, or no?"

"No," said Eraqus darkly, "This requires not a great deal of power, but instead skill and knowledge. No ordinary feckless neophyte of darkness could do this so easily. This in itself reveals that our foe is skilled, but nothing else. This is calculated. Whether however this is a strike only at the fallen princess, or a strike at more, remains to be seen."

"Are Kairi and Lady Ame in danger from this?" rumbles Aeleus.

"I do not believe Kairi will be in any danger," said Eraqus, "Lady Ame however... it is entirely possible this is an attempt to break the line of succession for Radiant Garden's Princesses of Heart. If Lady Ame should perish before she passes on her lessons to Kairi, then so much knowledge and ability will be lost. Kairi might end up bringing out instinctual uses of her power, but is unlikely to do much else. The entire line would have to start from the ground up with learning how to use their power. Lady Ame... you may wish to start Kairi's lessons earlier in life."

Kairi's grandmother sets her jaw, scowling. "She should be free to enjoy her childhood, not be forced to start something best left for early adulthood."

"I generally agree, and ultimately it is your choice, I am merely pointing it out," said Eraqus, noncommittal.

Aeleus crossed his arms. "This happened a few years ago when the girl was but a toddler. Nothing further has happened... would Lady Ame not have been targeted before now?"

"Not necessarily," mused Eraqus, turning to look at the elder in question, "If the murderer was too focused on their target, they may not have realized the previous Princess of Heart was even still alive. It may also have not been deemed necessary, forgive me but you are old, and may not live long enough to truly see your grandchild trained."

Ame huffed. "I have quite a few years left in me still."

Eraqus smiled faintly. "...I may also be wrong on the target. If this isn't an attempt to break the line of succession, and isn't just a one-of specific murder, then it could have been done to weaken the worlds overall. The Light of the Princesses takes time to fully and properly manifest. While she is young, Kairi will not fully exhibit her power as a beacon of light. You being alive would not matter for this. If it is this, then this world and its Princess of Heart may not have been the only one hit."

He rubbed his face tiredly. "There is to much unknown with this still to make any proper guesses. I have suspicions, but little hard proof for any of them."

"What are your next steps then?" asked Aeleus.

He mulled it over, rubbing his chin. "Hmm... I need to confer with Master Yen Sid on where to go from here. Especially if my suspicions about who may have done this prove true. I pray I am wrong, but..."

He shakes his head. "We are returning to the Land of Departure. We need to confer and plan out our next steps."

The darkness of the Lanes Between is a lot less awing on the way back. Or maybe Namine is simply more morose. She had been so looking forward to being a Keybearer, about wanting to save these people who were gone. But she had forgotten: there was only roughly a decade between now and when Sora set out on his journey, and there was little to no hint of these people anymore. If they were going to fade, it would be soon. She's terrified she wont be able to make a difference when the time come because she wont have had enough time to get strong enough.

Sora got strong enough to beat Ansem pretty quick, but... he was in constant combat. Sink or swim, do or die, and she's not nor does she want to be.

So... she's worried.

When they arrive back and enter the keep, Eraqus leads them to the throne room and walks behind it, touching a crystal in the wall. He fiddles with and adjusts its slight before waiting until it resonates. "Yen Sid?"

A wise old voice sounds. "Master Eraqus, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I wish I could say it is for pleasure, but we may be entering a dire time," said Eraqus, sighing, before he details what has transpired so far.

Yen Sid is silent for a few minutes, thinking, before he speaks, "I do not want to make assumptions over the past, but do you suspect him?"

"I don't want to," admits Eraqus, "I truly don't want to, but I do."

Yen Sid sighs. "As do I, but we must be mindful either way, in-case he is innocent, and especially in-case he is guilty, he is not to be trifled with lightly."

Eraqus reaches up and touches the scar on his face. "No, he is not. I've considered how best to handle this, and I am going to cautious route an issuing official summons to Master Xehanort on the illusion of seeking out his aid, if you or your apprentice encounter him, inform him that he is to return to the Land of Departure immediately."

Terra stiffens. "Surely not. He's a Keyblade Master. He wouldn't."

Eraqus glances back. "Xehanort unfortunately has a history of struggling with his inner darkness and seeking out that which is forbidden. I do not want to assume he is involved with this, Terra, but I must be certain. He is one of the very few I am aware of who would have the skill and knowledge to tamper with or block the registry, along with scouring an area's energy. If he is not involved, then I will beg forgiveness and ask his aid in this matter. Is that not fair?"

Terra frowns, but nods. "I suppose... but, are we sure it wasn't this 'Boy in the Mask'?"

"That is the obvious thought, but that would be an alarmingly impressive skill-set and knowledge base for a teenager," said Eraqus skeptically.

Yen Sid speaks up, "Do you believe the potential is enough to warrant an alarm sent out?"

Eraqus scowls. "It is potentially an internal matter..."

"That does not disbar the rules, Eraqus," chides Yen Sid, "Other lines are not to be involved lightly, but if there is a possibility of treachery or line failure, the nearest must be made aware,"

Eraqus's jaw sets. "As much as I dislike the thought, you are correct."

"I will summon Mickey back to me to inform him what has transpired and to coordinate where to go from here, I will initiate contact with you again in... twenty minutes? Enough time to cast the summoning and enough time for you to contact them?"

"Indeed, until then," farewells Eraqus, touching the crystal and glowering at it for a minute before begining to adjust it.

"Other lines? As in other Keybearer Lines?" asked Namine quietly.

Aqua nods.

"Why is he angry about that?"

"Outside of very regulated and scheduled check ins, along with specific scenarios, Keybearer lines are not to interact with one another outside of their assigned world clusters," said Aqua quietly.

"Why?"

Aqua shakes her head. "You'll learn about the precepts and why they were put in place later. For now, consider it a safety precaution as to not risk the mistakes of the past, where Keybearer's were in great numbers and waged a terrible, terrible war."

Namine doesn't really understand, but merely nods.

They all flinch when a high pitched whining noise eminates from the crystal, startling Eraqus, "What in the...?"

He taps and fiddles with it again, earning another noise. And again. And again.

"Master, what is that?" asked Aqua.

Eraqus's face has darkened. "I'm not getting a signal through any of the relays. I tried the nearest lines through the north, south, east, and west relays. Nothing."

Aqua blinks. "Any of them? None of them are picking up?"

"You mistake my meaning," said Eraqus, "Its not that they aren't picking up, its that we are not getting through."

"What does that mean?" asked Namine, "Whats a relay?"

"Its a signal booster to push our communications across the great distance between world clusters," explained Aqua.

"Is... something wrong with them?" asked Ven.

"Its not unheard of for a relay to have issues and need repair," said Eraqus slowly, the dark look on his face still not gone, "But for all of them to break down? Such a coincidence that I fear it is not so."

He turns. "Terra! Aqua!"

Both stiffen and stand up perfectly straight arms to the side, echoing one another, "Yes Master."

"Do you recall when I showed you where they were a few years back?"

"Yes Master."

"Good, both of you are to fly to the edges of our cluster, as swiftly as you can, and inspect the relays. I know neither of you have proper training for their handling yet, but I simply wish for you to check for damage, or to see if they are even on, Terra take north and west, Aqua, south and east, go now."

Both turn and leave, rushing out.

Eraqus runs a hand down his face. "The Princesses of Heart potentially being targeted and our ability to contact outside lines to keep them appraised or ask for aid in the worst case scenario cut off. I have a very, very bad feeling about this. I fear that we have been caught completely flat footed."

Namine swallowed. "How long will it take them to check and return?"

"If they push their top speed and funnel energy into their gliders, no more than half a day, they should be back by dinner, thought it will leave them fatigued from the energy use and pressure of such speeds," said Eraqus tiredly, "Ventus, you have precepts you need to brush up on. Namine, I fear it may be boring for you, but until I can ascertain the saftey of the Land of Departure from outside infiltration, I want you always in my, Aqua, or Terra's presence. Ventus may be skilled enough to protect himself, but to do so and protect you at the same time is not a risk I will take. Please, have a seat."

Namine sits in the middle throne as Ventus leaves the room, idly kicking her legs. Yen Sid calls back not much later, he and Eraqus begin speaking in low tones. She stares down at her hands silently, wishing she could call her Keyblade to her. She holds a hand out, wishing and wishing...

But nothing.

Not a flash of light or any hint of it at all.

Her earlier fear manifests again. She is so worried she wont be able to help. She doesn't even know how to do magic yet. She has to hold back stressed tears and take quiet breaths to try and calm herself. She forces herself to consider what impact she has had already. She might have scared away Vanitas, and because of her, they are aware of something being wrong when they might not have been before. That has to count for something. They wont be as easily caught off-guard at least. Because this plotting they've unconvered certainly meant for them to be.

Eraqus said it would be boring, waiting for their return, but honestly, its stressful more than anything. Stuck sitting there with nothing but fears and worries in her head. Ventus eventually returns with several large books; he sits on the steps leading to the throne and props one open, slowly reading through it. She tries to imagine this is back home, the grandmother sitting in a rocker by the fireplace, Kairi on the floor playing with toys, Namine resting on the couch. The thought is calming, but doesn't quite stick.

The hours tick by with the slow turn of pages, and faint conversations behind the thrones. Eraqus eventually finishes his discussion with Yen Sid and paces the middle of the large throne room. Terra is the first to return, looking worn. He salutes briefly and opens his mouth to speak.

"I sense Aqua's presence returning, wait a moment," instructs Eraqus.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Aqua rushes in.

"Master," exclaims Aqua, "At a distance, the relays looked fine, but when I got close, it revealed itself to be an illusion. They are offline, with several cords cut and pieces torn out."

Terra nodded. "Same with me. I was confused at what was wrong with it since it looked fine, it was startling for it to melt away when I got close.

Eraqus exhaled. "As I feared..."

He shakes his head. "You two have done well, come, we will eat and rest. Tomorrow, we begin trying to solve and deal with this madness."

Dinner is... quiet, morose, and tense. No one speaks, Eraqus's parting words being, "Namine will sleep in your room tonight Aqua, as a safety precaution. Tomorrow, I will set up an adjacent room to my own and enact protections around for when you and Terra depart."

"Of course Master."

Ventus takes the plates to wash up when they are done, and Eraqus leaves, Terra not long after. Aqua stares down at the table in quiet contemplation. Namine takes her leave, wondering what tomorrow will bring. She considers that she is going to be closely kept under thumb from here on in. Its not exactly safe for Namine to be dragged offworld into potentially dangerous situations, so its highly possible she's going to end up in Eraqus's presence here for quite awhile. She sighs, maybe she'll ask for some introductory books or something to read. For now though, she wants a breath of fresh air.

She steps outside the keep, moving to sit on the steps...

She doesn't get a chance to scream in startlement when a hand cover's her mouth and she is dragged backwards through a dark portal, ending up on top of the mountain. She's shoved forward, and falls to her knees, wincing.

"So," comes Vanitas's sarcastic voice, "All settled in then?"

She pushes herself back up and turns to frown at him. "If you wanted to talk, you could have just said something rather than grabbing me."

"Where would be the fun in that be?"

His keyblade flashes into existence in his hand before she can reply. "But you're right, you and I need to have a little talk."

She tenses and takes a step back.

"You used to be part of a whole, were separated, and then went back," said Vanitas, taking a step forward, flexing his grip on his keyblade, "Considering the hell you shoved into my head, I don't doubt that. I don't however think it was the same way I was, no, your heart... I don't sense a split. Your heart wasn't ripped in half."

Namine freezes. "W-what?! Ripped in half?"

How... who would do such a horrible thing?

"So how?" he demands, ignoring her statement.

"I... I was a Nobody."

He cocks his head. "Wow, and I thought I was self-depreciative."

She glares at him. "My original self lost her heart to the heartless, and had a powerful will. When that happens, a Nobody can be left behind out of their body. But a Nobody's existence is ephemeral, you have no emotions, no heart. Its... its a terrible, hollow life."

He considers that for a moment. "Huh. Kind of the opposite of me, I have too much emotion that I have to control, when I don't, well... it bleeds out, literally."

She's not sure what he means by that.

"So what, you found the heartless that had your original heart...?" he asks, "Merged with it and got stuck in the original you?"

"No," admits Namine, "My... my existence wasn't normal for Nobodies. A Nobody doesn't usually exist at the same time as their original self. But due to a... weird set of specific circumstances, mine did."

She's not going to mention that she came from a Princess of Heart. That would lead him into tracking them down, and while she believes he needs help, she doesn't think he can be trusted not to do something bad to try to get or force said help. "The moment we touched... I started to fade out of existence, and eventually returned to her. But... but it was a terrible existence."

"Yeah, I'm aware," he said flatly, "You always shove those memories into people you just met?"

"Do you always threaten to hurt people you just met?" she shot back.

"Actually, pretty much yeah."

She blinks at him, opens her mouth, then closes it. She gets the feeling he has a mocking look under his mask. "That's not a good attitude."

"I don't care," he seethed, taking a menacing step forward, "The worlds doesn't deserve anything good from me. Not after the crap I've gotten in life."

Namine falters, fear on her face, and takes a step back.

He taps his Keyblade on the ground. "So then... you went back to your original self, how'd you get out, and how'd you get your own complete heart? If I can't go back to being the original me, then I'll settle for only being me, but with a full heart."

"I..."

"Namine?" comes Aqua's voice, "Are you up here?"

Vanitas swears as Aqua comes into view and freezes, sizing up Vanitas, eyes flickering down at his Keyblade, then at Namine's fearful face, before she summons her own, a snarl on her face. "Get away from my apprentice!"

He panics as Aqua surges at him. He throws a hand out, and a dark portal appears behind Namine. He dives forward and shoves Namine backwards, but Aqua's keyblade digs into his side and throws him across the summit. The last thing Namine sees before she falls through the closing portal is Aqua's terrified eyes, hand trying and failing to reach out for her...

Review Responses:

Drake G. Reaper: I don't recall if I've mentioned it on this site, as I'm used to having tags over at Ao3, but I don't treat KHX or KHUX as cannon to my stories, and only loosely consider KH3. Honestly, dream drop isn't even that good to me, but I do like that it sets the precedent that time travel exists in this universe, and Young Xehanort is fun.

Unplanner: If Namine were taking the slow, unrushed normal training method, she'd steadily grow stronger over a few years as she grows both her knowledge base and herself. If she, oh I don't know, ended up lost and out on the worlds forced to continually fight and grow like Sora did, much faster. You know, like getting chucked through a Dark Corridor. :D

Namine's previous life was sedentary, yes, but she did get a fresh new body via Kingdom Hearts, and has been keeping up with Tiny-Terror-Kairi for a bit before she was whisked away to Keyblade land.

Grandmaster isn't an official term, not like Yoda as a Grandmaster in Star Wars. Eraqus just an old fuddy duddy that's thrilled he'll still be around to see his apprentice training her own apprentice, as both are the closest things to family he will have as a Keybearer. So like a grandparent ecstatic over a grandchild to spoil.

Patrick the Observer: Eraqus could be considered a good man with extreme failings in certain areas, and is very strict in certain situations. 'Duty over feelings, always' sums him up at this point in time, even to the extreme of trying to kill Ventus to stop the X-Blade from being formed as he did in cannon.

Midnight Rising: You'll enjoy the exploration of memory manipulation that will be soon to begin... mwhaha. Vanitas panicked and dumped her into a random world, and oh a fun one it will be, and not fun in a nice way...