"Kairi, I'm not-!"

"Xion! You'll always be my sister."

"But- I'm not. I'm not even a person-!"

"Yes you are! You think, and feel, and you walk and talk - so you're a person! It doesn't matter...who made you. Or how. You're my sister, forever and always!"

"But-"

Kairi sighed, releasing the girl and stepping away from her. "Okay, Xion, have we talked about adoption before?"

Xion stopped, looking confused. "No?"

"Okay, well," Kairi went on, calm and firm. "adoption is...adoptive families are families that are made up of people who aren't blood or DNA related. Like, for example, if Sora's mom wanted to become my new mom, and take care of me and stuff, then she could adopt me. And that would make Sora and I- brother and sister," Kairi giggled. "Thank god that never happened! Anyways, um, so...yes! My dad back on the islands, he actually did adopt me, you know. After Radiant Garden fell, after I washed up on those islands. He found me, he took me in, and he made me a part of his family. He made me his daughter. So, Xion...I'm adopting you."

"What...?"

"I'm adopting you as my sister - I so declare, fully and officially, right here and now! You're now my adoptive sister! Not that most people even make the distinction!" Kairi said firmly.

Xion blinked at her, looking suddenly hopeful. "You can really...do that for me...? I can still...we can still be...sisters? Even now? After knowing...?"

"Replicas aren't excluded from the adoption process - there's no law in there about it! So: yes, we can still be sisters! Face it, sis, you're stuck with me forever!" Kairi winked.

Xion beamed, and then she threw her arms around Kairi's neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm adopted! I'm an adopted sister!"

"That's right, you are," Kairi beamed as well, patting her back.

Xion pulled away, looking to Sora now with fear. "But, even if I can still be a sister-"

"Of course we're still friends!" Sora said instantly, beaming at her. "Come on, you really think this could change that? Your Heart is yours, Xion! And everyone's allowed to have friends!"

Xion smiled back, relief on her face. Then she hopped down from the bed, and her gaze roamed the room, going to all the other...forms in tubes.

Kairi looked at them all too, frowning.

"There's nothing you can do for them," Aeleus spoke, quiet. "The depths of your compassion are remarkable - admirable - but...you can do nothing for them."

"We could- move them, wake them up somewhere and-"

"That isn't how they work," Aeleus shook his head. "In their current state, from all I understand, they aren't even alive. They have no minds, much less Hearts. They have no...awareness of the world. Or even of their own selves. They're empty vessels. They aren't yet even close to meeting the minimum definition of a person."

Kairi bit her lip. "Oh. So...they're like- really early term fetuses then?"

"They're what?" Xion asked, confused, while Sora flushed and coughed hard.

Aeleus considered her. He nodded. "Something like that, yes."

"But-" Kairi began.

"Nor would they become anything on their own," Aeleus interrupted. "If left alone, they would simply...remain this way. They need a- spark, to begin living. A catalyst. Data - memories, even. Samples from a...an actual living person."

"But..." Kairi's lip trembled. "If we just leave them here...Vexen could come back and- he'd use them, he'd keep- he'd..."

"It's likely he would continue his research and experiments on them, yes," Aeleus agreed.

"So, what, Kairi, are you saying we should...d-destroy them or something?" Sora said hesitantly, with wide eyes.

"NO!" Kairi shouted. "No, no, I'm not- NEVER! I'm just...well..."

"If you believe that to be the wisest course of action, I can do it for you," Aeleus said gently.

"No!" Kairi shook her head firmly. "No, we- we'll- leave them. And...and if they ever become people...become more than this...we'll be there to let them know that they have a whole World of possibilities to live in. That their lives can be more than just serve or die. Just like we've taught you, sis," she finished softly, looking to Xion with a smile.

Xion's hands rose to her chest, an anxious smile coming to her face. A brave one. But then she bowed her head and turned away.

"If that's your decision," Aeleus nodded. "Come. The other- Replica will be on the hunt for us. I'd rather not stay in one of the first places it might think to look."

"They," Kairi said, glaring at him. "Whoever they are."

"They," he agreed simply. "My apologies, Kairi."

"I forgive you."

"Hmm..." He turned from her, looking suddenly troubled.

"You knew what Xion was," Kairi said suddenly, a thought coming to her.

He nodded. "I did."

"Why didn't you just come out with it first thing? Why take us to Vexen? Why-"

"Speaking honestly, I...didn't think it all the way through. I only thought I was being...kind, in keeping it from you both. I'd thought that if you could continue to believe...but you've shown me the error in that way of thinking, of course. And I apologize. And, in the spirit of not keeping things from you...take these." He reached into his cloak to retrieve...cards.

Kairi stared at the three blue cards. "More world cards. But we're done with this whole game now..." She trailed off as she realized what the images on two of those cards represented. Radiant Garden...and Destiny Islands! She swallowed hard, raising her eyes to Aeleus. "I...shouldn't we be just- getting out of here as soon as possible? Or something? I mean...we have to find Xikira and her friends, but after that we should probably just leave..."

"The Replica would have a difficult time searching for you inside an active floor," Aeleus replied. "The enemies within that attack you would also attack...them. The Organization members, as well. They'd have to search for you in those rooms, the same."

"Okay..." Kairi nodded. "I'll- Radiant Garden first. And you guys - hide somewhere while I'm in there? Wait for me on the other side. Just- lay low, maybe...let the heat die down or whatever?"

"Wait, hide? Wait for you? Kairi, you don't want us to come with-" Sora started.

"This world? These memories? No!" Kairi said sharply. She sighed. "I'm sorry. But you see why, don't you?"

Sora nodded. Then he hugged her quickly, surprising her. "I get it. You think this is something you have to do on your own. And maybe it is. So...go get it, Kairi!"

"Thanks, Sora." She hugged him back, then hugged Xion. "See you guys soon."

Fighting her way through this memory world was...harder than the others.

Not just because of the familiar streets, architecture, and scents of the flowers scattered about in the rooms - but because of what she knew had to lie at the end of it all.

What she knew...she would find.

But she pressed on, pressed ahead with it.

Battled through room after room, collecting more cards, arranging her deck, doing it all - until she found the right door within the maze of rooms.

She used up her cards to open it, and used the key card with the Heartless emblem.

Light flashed, and the door opened.

Kairi took a breath, and walked through it.

She stepped out into the middle of Radiant Garden's city square.

Exactly...as her hazy memories depicted it. And her more clear ones...

The colors, the buildings surrounding her, the water, the flowers...the lush green pine trees...the archway and the gate and the little bridge leading up to the steps, to the path that led to the looming castle of magnificence...

The peaceful pink sky...

Kairi breathed, letting herself smile, taking it all in. She placed her hands behind her back, and began to walk around the square. She picked a few flowers - she ran her hand through the waters. She touched the smooth stone...

A high scream split the peaceful, quiet air!

Light, racing footsteps.

Kairi whirled - and stared.

A redheaded little girl in a dress was racing across the outside of the square.

Her...self?

A memory version of herself?

She hadn't even given a thought to the possibility that- that she herself might be here...

Kairi was frozen as her younger self ran past the castle gate - and then Heartless emerged in front of the girl. Her younger self turned back, now going for the gate! The castle! The girl crossed the bridge and grasped the bars, pulling desperately, but she just wasn't strong enough to even-

A man emerged from a dark portal, striding purposefully toward the girl!

A man with long silver hair and tan skin, wearing a white lab coat.

The girl turned back swiftly, staring up at the man with pure terror on her face-

"ANSEM!" Kairi screamed, summoning her Keyblade and hurling it out! She flew forward across the square, reappearing directly behind the man and slashing for him!

Ansem whirled around, gasping - and then an intricate, black Keyblade appeared with crackling purple lightning and rays of light. It had a big blue eye on the end of it. The handle depicted a goat's head with long horns.

He blocked her, staggering backwards.

Kairi reached out and seized his arm, twisting with magical might and hurling him out into the square! He flew across the square and landed hard on his side, crying out with pain and shock.

Kairi raised her weapon to him, giving a glance back to her younger self. The little redhead was staring at her with wide eyes - with relieved eyes.

Kairi swiftly turned and sent a massive Firaga blast for the gates, blowing them apart. "RUN, NOW! Get to the castle! Find Aeleus, Dilan!" she ordered her younger self.

The younger her stared, quavering. Then she nodded, turning and running across the bridge, on up the long path of steps to the castle entrance!

Kairi turned back to face the square as the Shadows leapt for her - she sliced through all of them in one swing, destroying them almost without looking. Without much effort.

And then, Kairi returned her focus purely to Ansem, who had now climbed to his feet again.

"What is this?" Ansem spoke furiously, narrowing his eyes at her. "Who ARE you?!"

Kairi gave him no reply but a smirk, with one half of her lips.

Then she narrowed her own eyes right back at him, focusing all her power in her chest, and she triggered her death orbs attack (she really should have come up with a name for this one in the three weeks after Hollow Bastion, but she'd been distracted with actually relaxing). She flew up into the air, conjuring several hundred of them, filling the sky! And then she hurled them all down for Ansem with a yell!

The man stared in pure shock. Then he clenched his jaw and raised his Keyblade, conjuring a dark, glistening black barrier to shield himself.

The orbs exploded all around him, they pounded into his shield and blew up on impact, raining on him like hell's wrath itself - but when it was all over, the man was still standing!

He let his shield go, gazing up at her with...a grin now. His eyes were wide. He spread his arms up at her.

Kairi set her jaw and flew straight down for him, aiming her Keyblade forth and casting several Blizzaras! Her spells struck around him - and exploded, coating his legs and feet with thick ice, binding him to the ground! She swung her weapon as she closed in on him! He blocked her, their power clashing - then the ice shattered as the man exploded with dark energy!

Kairi flipped and twisted back through the air, landing on her feet. She ran at him immediately, twirling her blade to cast out a Firaga!

Ansem ran to meet her, swinging his blade through her spell, and then rushing through the blast toward her still!

Kairi pulled up short, cast Blizzard on the ground in front of herself, creating an icy slide; she dropped to her knees, and slid forward along it swiftly! She slashed her blade for Ansem's legs as she went right under his swing and miss! Hers didn't miss! She cut him across his knees - and then she threw herself back, flat, legs and arms together, and went right between his legs as he staggered!

She jumped up and whirled back around, and slashed him furiously! A direct, solid strike across his back!

"AAGGGHHHHH!" he cried out, his body seizing!

Kairi was pleased with the hit - but she wasn't done with him yet! She swirled her weapon before her, tossing the man high up into the air on a powerful updraft of wind magic, and then she flew up after him! Right as she was level with him, she twisted around in the air and went into Seven Wishes, dashing back and forth across him in mid-air! She came out of it and flipped up over his head, holding her weapon in both hands, the blade glowing with golden light...

And then she let out a yell and slashed down at him, sending him crashing back down to slam into the middle of the square.

Kairi drifted down to the ground, standing before the defeated Ansem. She heaved a breath of exertion, lowering her weapon.

He was flat on his back, taking pained, heavy breaths. He stirred feebly, his expression twisted with agony as he struggled just to raise his head to look at her. "Who...are you?" he choked out.

"The real Kairi. Not that it matters to you; you're not the true Ansem." Kairi paused, then flashed the man a grin. "But even still...you have no idea how good that felt!"

"What in the world are you...talking about...?" The man had sat up fully now. He heaved a breath, hand going to his chest. Then he fell forward, a hand shooting out to catch himself, long silver hair falling forth. His weapon fell from his grasp, clattering on the stone and disappearing.

"You're just a memory," Kairi taunted. "A memory in a castle with weird rooms and weird magic powers. I made you - and I beat you. And I saved me."

Ansem raised his head, staring at her in total confusion. "Ridiculous..."

"Hey, I don't make the rules," Kairi responded, shrugging. "I just got here."

Smiling to herself, she stepped in closer to the man, and she raised her Keyblade high.

Ansem's eyes followed her movement, wide. "You intend to end me, then, girl?"

"Why not? You're just a memory of Ansem. Just an enemy I had to fight to get through this floor. It's not like I'm even killing a real person or anything."

Ansem's lips curved into a smirk. "That isn't...at all...what you said on the first floor, is it?"

Kairi froze. "What...?"

"So...which is it?" Ansem continued softly. "Are the conjured beings of this castle 'no less real' than the ones outside its walls, or are we simply figments of your Heart? Are we 'thinking and feeling' or are we illusions to be toyed with, and destroyed with no mercy and a cruel satisfaction on your face? Are we your playthings, Kairi?"

"You...that's not..." Kairi stammered, her grip slackening on her weapon handle. "I-"

"You are right: I am merely a memory conjured up by your Heart," the man spoke on, those brown eyes glistening up at her. "Even now, the contents of your Heart are flowing into me; information, knowledge, is becoming known to me."

"S-so...so what?!"

"I may cause you to suffer, but I am a product of your Heart," Ansem continued, as if she hadn't spoken. "The man with the appearance you see before you has long since vanished from this World - his essence divided into Heartless and Nobody. You know this. I would pose a question to you then, child: What would you really accomplish by destroying me? And who is it that you think is truly hurting you here?"

Kairi breathed, clenching her fists as her head fell. She let out a breath through gritted teeth, her eyes burning. "M-me...myself, okay?! I get it! Thank you, Kairi's Heart! Thanks pulling up all my traumas and shoving them in my face in a physical fucking form, that really FUCKING HELPS WITH PROCESSING EVERYTHING I'M GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW! REALLY, THIS CASTLE IS FUCKING GREAT! I LOVE IT HERE!"

Kairi stood, the tears falling now, choking back a sob.

The man suddenly rose to his feet - but he simply stood, gazing at her. There was no malice. No hate. No anger. No cruelty. Just...almost a kind of softness.

And to see it on that face...

Kairi held her weapon out at him, her arm trembling. She took a step forward, and the end of her weapon touched his chest. His heart...

She was close now. So close she could reach out and TOUCH HIM. Grab that man and cut him down, up close and personal. Or she could just take another step forward and ram her blade through his-

A tear.

She saw it fall from his eye. One eye.

And then more came, and more...

He was crying in front of her!

"No, come on, Heart, what are you doing right now...?" Kairi choked out, gripping her weapon like death. Her head fell, chin to her chest. "Are you trying to warn me off? Trying to tell me something like, 'revenge isn't right?' I know that! But I also know he's just an illusion, so what's the harm in letting me wail on him a little? I know what I said before, and I don't want to be a hypocrite, but...but after how he-"

"How I've hurt you."

Kairi's head snapped up.

"But consider this: were you to hurt me now...who else would you be hurting?"

Kairi gasped as the man before her changed.

Brown eyes became blue, and silver hair turned brown.

His white lab coat outfit changed into something...so different.

Some kind of fighting tunic, with a shoulder plate of armor and...

Kairi stared in sheer confusion. She took a stumbling step backwards. "Who- are you...?"

The man closed his eyes, giving a small, warm smile. So different from Ansem...so genuine? Slowly, the man got down on one knee. His arm rested across it, as he gazed up at her with those teary blue eyes. "My name's Terra...Kairi."

"What...? Terra? Ven and Aqua's friend?! But why do you look like ANSEM?! What's going ON?!" Kairi shrilled. She shoved her weapon at him for emphasis, right in his face!

He didn't flinch. Didn't move. His eyes moved up and down the length of her keyblade. His smile grew. His expression changed to something like...pride, or maybe admiration. "You know Ven - and Aqua, too?" He sounded so happy, so relieved, so...so amazed.

Kairi trembled. She clenched her jaw. "I met Aqua when I was little, and Ven's been in my friend Sora's Heart and body for a while now," she answered tersely. "At least...until we lost him..."

The man gazed at her with nothing but softness, and compassion. He breathed, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry. I know this must be all so...confusing, and alarming, and frightening. Let me start over, please. My name is Terra, and I'm a Keyblade wielder, like you. Ten years ago, I lost my Heart to an evil man named Xehanort, who preyed on my weaknesses - my struggles with my own darkness. He took my body, and he's been using it ever since."

"Wh...what...?"

Like Ansem and Riku, then...?

How common were body-snatchers in this universe?!

And for this man to have lost his for ten...ten years...?

But then- but- this Terra, and Ansem...they looked the same, but Terra had said a guy named Xehanort? So was a man named Xehanort...Ansem? Or, Ansem was Xehanort? He'd changed his name or something after- taking Terra over? But how could that same man have taken Riku if he still had Terra, from what Terra was saying...? Or, from what Kairi understood. Or, thought she understood...ugh.

Or had he abandoned Terra for Riku, and then Nysa - looking for better prospects...? Better hosts to take over? Newer ones?

Kairi felt a headache coming on. And it wasn't just from all the emotions she was feeling then. She let her keyblade disappear, and fell straight to the ground, her knees parting as she sat on her own legs. She breathed, let it go. Then she looked up to the man's face again.

"So then how...are we talking like this? This is from my Heart, my head, my memories. How are you here, too?" Kairi asked.

Terra suddenly sat down too, flat on his rear. He pulled a knee in, just...resting casually with her. Like they were chatting in a field. "To tell you the truth, I'm a little hazy on the details. A while back - or maybe it wasn't too long ago; time is strange for me, since losing my body - the Heart of another touched with mine. A girl. She said she found me by 'tracing the connections within memories.' You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Kairi shook her head, totally nonplussed. "Sorry - I...no. No idea."

Terra gave a small laugh. "That's alright. I figured as much. Anyways...as to how you and I are talking now... That's where it gets even more hazy for me. With that girl being the only person to speak to me in so long, I tried reaching back for her in a moment of strength. I tried to find her again in the darkness. I thought I had, to be honest - I saw the back of her, saw that blonde hair - but then...I found myself here, with you. Are you sure she isn't a friend of yours? For your Hearts to be so closely connected..."

"I've never heard of anyone like her in my life," Kairi said, sighing. "I'm sorry," she added pathetically.

"Don't worry about it." Terra dismissed again, raising a hand. "And, well..."

"What?"

The man shifted uncomfortably. "Never mind. I wouldn't want to bring up any-"

"Bad memories? I just relived the worst of them," Kairi cut across, snorting. "I can handle anything you have to say to me. So go ahead."

"Well...as you said: it's obvious what our connection is, the other girl aside. She was just the conduit that I passed through to reach you. My Heart...to yours." Terra...he looked afraid, just then. Afraid of her, almost. He turned his head away, his shoulders falling. They were shaking, Kairi saw. "Kairi, I am so sor-"

"Don't." Kairi said sharply.

Terra looked at her again, his mouth pressed tight. His eyes so...

"If this- Xehanort/Ansem person stole your body, then it wasn't you," Kairi said firmly, looking him in the eye. "I don't want to hear an apology from you - you were his victim too. Victims don't apologize to each other. What I'd love to hear - but I doubt I would in a million years - is an apology from HIM. For me, and for you."

Terra's lips parted. His eyes shimmered all over again, spilling fresh tears. He bowed his head, and raised a hand to cover his face as he began to cry in earnest now.

Kairi sat there silently, torn between her own words and true feelings...and the part of her that was still irrationally terrified of this man's visage. She knew it was unfair, she knew it wasn't right - but it was there in her.

"Do you remember anything?" Kairi spoke, quavering.

Terra worked hard to get himself back under control. Wiping at his face, his eyes, and then finally...looking up at her again. "Most of it is...it's like a dream. A nightmare. One you're trapped in. You can't move, you can't scream, you can't- s-stop yourself when you're...and you can't really remember much from one moment to the next. Sometimes an hour jumps by in a second, and other times a second feels like forever. Sound and sight are...blurry, distant. The details aren't quite right, and it's hard to even hold something concrete in your mind even if you do remember it."

"So...which was it for me? When h-he...sent the heartless after me...and when he took me...and when he put me into that pod- and when he..."

"I remember enough..." Terra choked, shutting his eyes tight. "And I- I'm s-so-"

"What did I tell you!" Kairi said, half angry, half crying too. "I don't want to hear that from you - it wasn't YOU!"

"I'm sorry - not for what Xehanort, err, Ansem did to you, for not not saying sorry," Terra said swiftly, laughing and crying simultaneously. "If that...makes any sense to you?"

Kairi somehow laughed too. "Yeah...it does. I know what you meant..."

"Good..."

"So...if this Xehanort took your body...if he...became Ansem, or- changed his name or whatever-"

"Ansem. That's a name I remember. Yes..." Terra murmured out. "Ansem is where my Heart was, after... But I'm not sure where I am now anymore. How can I be here at all, if you and that other Princess destroyed him?"

"You know I'm a Princess of...?"

Terra nodded, smiling. "I do. I met another one, once - briefly - during the worst time of her life. Her name was Cinderella. I offered her what words of help I could - but really it was her that helped herself. By believing with all her Heart that anything was possible. She made her dreams come true, by the strength of her own Heart. That was what made her shine - what made me see her radiance...as a Princess of Heart." He gazed at Kairi, soft and so non-threatening. "And I can see that same radiance in you. It's...all around us."

"Well, I mean...this whole place, including your body, was kind of created from my Heart and memories," Kairi said pointedly.

"Right," Terra grinned a little, sheepish. "Of course. Sorry for stating the obvious."

"It's okay. I forgive you."

Terra's grin faded. He sighed, looking down at the ground. "A Princess of Heart and a Keyblade wielder. I don't think that's ever happened even once in the history of the World."

"So - Aqua?" Kairi began shakily. "Um..."

Terra's face broke over with pure elation. Joy. At just her NAME coming up again. "You said you knew her, that's right! Is that how you got that Keyblade? Did she do the Bequeathing Ceremony for you?"

"The what?" Kairi was jarred from her thoughts. Her own revelations.

Terra's joy vanished.

Kairi felt so awful right then. "I- I just remember that she saved me when I was very little. Oh, and we also saw her again just recently!" she said quickly, trying to help cheer him up. To give him some kind of lifeline.

"You did? Where?"

"Um...well...she was behind the Door To Darkness, with another Keyblade wielder, called Mickey. I kind of had help from the other Princesses and we turned it into a Door to Light instead, which freed them both from that Dark Realm! And now she's out, she's great, and she's on a mission!" Kairi rambled, blushing.

Terra's smile grew wider than ever. His hand came up to grasp his chin, stroking at an invisible beard. "The Door to Darkness, huh?"

"You know about it?"

"Surprised?" Terra quipped.

Kairi flushed. "No, just- sorry!"

"It's alright. Admittedly, I don't remember MUCH...it was hardly a page full in my history books." Terra smiled. "The Door To Darkness was, in times past, able to be summoned by evil-doers of great power and numbers, unleashing Heartless onto the worlds in overwhelming amounts. The Princesses of Heart of the era came together to stop the threat to the worlds they upheld, and they broke the Door into seven pieces of essence, which they then fused with their own seven Hearts. This created a lock on the Door, ensuring that no one could ever use its power again...unless they were to gather all seven princesses, and unleash the power within them to reconstruct the Door."

"Yeah...Ansem did that just recently," Kairi muttered out.

Terra looked away again, his hand clenching at his side. "I remember that much..."

They sat in silence for a minute.

"Aqua..." Terra breathed. "She's one of the strongest people I know. In power, and in Heart. To last all that time in the Realm of Darkness, and then to keep fighting for the worlds even after escaping it... She never gives up. Her light...it never dies. And if she hasn't ever given up - then I can't, either. I need to get back, I need to right my wrongs, too. Even if, technically, they were Xehanort's wrongs," he added quickly, at her LOOK.

"That's what I thought," Kairi remarked, flashing a small grin.

Terra grinned back. "Sorry. Slip of the tongue, you know. It's hard not to think of it like..."

"Well, you have to try, or you let Ansem - Xehanort, whatever - win over you. Don't let him drag you down in the mud of all his screwed up shit. He's the one who deserves to drown in it, not you!"

Terra blinked at her. "Wow. You know, for a Princess of Heart, you are really...something."

"I get that a lot," Kairi giggled. "It must be the Keyblade wielder in me. That sharp edge..."

"Must be," Terra agreed. He looked around them, sighing. He pushed himself to his feet. "As much as I'm grateful to have the chance to talk to someone again, and to get to walk around in the world again...I have to go now, Kairi."

"No!" Kairi jumped up too. "Stay, keep talking - just - we could find a way to-"

He shook his head silently. He looked around himself again. "Strange...this place feels so familiar. And it's not because it's Radiant Garden. But..." He sighed again. His hand came up to his chest. "Kairi, I think we both know this body is an illusion. An accurate, tangible one - but it's not real. And I'd wager that the second I stepped through that door-" He nodded past her, and Kairi turned to see there was indeed a door where the broken gate once was. "-I'd vanish into thin air. And I'd rather not add that experience to the long list of things I've gone through in my life so far. So...it's for the best that we cut this short."

Kairi stepped forward, her body trembling, her eyes on that face. Her lips shaking, her breathing shallow. Every step closer, her mind grew more distant. The world spun, and her vision darkened on its edges.

"Kairi...? Kairi, are you...?"

Kairi walked right into the man, forehead colliding with his chest, and she put her arms around him as a long, shaking breath was released. And at the end, a sob emerged. Of terror, and relief alike. She stood shaking, against his form, crying, waiting...

She felt his arms around her. Slow, careful - gentle. So, so gentle. And...warm...and...

Kairi closed her eyes, and she flat out WAILED.

Terra held her more securely, patting and stroking her back. Saying things to her, too, maybe - but she couldn't have told anyone what.

That...just that...was her whole world then.

After an eternity in that place, after falling into silence, Kairi rocked back on her feet as Terra let her go.

Kairi stared up at him as he put even more distance between them, stepping back himself. "S-s-sorry..." she stuttered out, ducking her head. "I j-just- I just- I..."

"It's alright..." came his soft, simple tones. "That was incredibly, amazingly brave of you, Kairi. And...would it be all right with you if I told you something else?"

Kairi nodded silently, trying for a shaky smile as she raised her head again. Tried to look into that face again.

"First of all...I could never, in a million years, thank you enough for what you've given me here today," Terra said quietly. "And secondly: I don't know where you are or what you're doing right now, but...just try to be safe. Try to be strong. See yourself through it. And if you come across any more faces that look like mine - don't hesitate to wail on it. You've got my sincere, whole-hearted permission to go crazy. Just take your Keyblade and...wham. Break it in. Okay? It's not me, after all, right?"

So he'd heard her words, then...even then? Kairi choked a laugh, nodding again.

Terra retreated even further from her, far back now. He turned away from her partially, raising his head to the pink sky, a strange look crossing his face. Then his eyes closed...and he vanished in a flash of white light.

The door sitting in the archway creaked open, light spilling out.

Kairi wiped her eyes and left through that door, leaving the room and the memory behind.

"Kairi? Did you win?" Sora asked, as she emerged into the white hall. Xion lingered behind him, her hands joined at her waist, a look of pure anxiety on her face (of course; she had just as distressing memories of Radiant Garden too, even if...they weren't hers). Aeleus was standing with arms crossed, alert and on guard.

"Yeah! I think I did. Also, I have something really freaking important to tell you guys! You probably won't even believe it!"

"Try us, Kairi!" Sora responded, grinning.

Kairi matched his grin as she strode over to him. "I just spoke to Terra! You know, Ven and Aqua's Terra!"

Sora's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!"

Xemnas sat within the Chamber of Repose, rigid in his throne. His hands grasped the chair arms tightly.

Aqua's return was not entirely unexpected - with as resilient and powerful as she was, Xehanort had expected her to reemerge from the Dark Realm eventually. To find some method or other, as destiny would allow.

Even Ventus's awakening was not...entirely unforeseen. For when one slept, there was always the chance they would wake again. In fact, Xehanort had desperately wished for the boy's sleeping husk, in order to turn it into a vessel...

However...

For some part of Terra to still be active, resisting, among these worlds...

It raised the very troubling question of whether or not the core, the Heart of the man, might also one day rise up again against Xehanort's control. Perhaps even break free of his chains...

Xemnas's musings were interrupted as a dark portal appeared, and Vanitas emerged from it.

The boy leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms casually. "Looking pretty tense there, master," he remarked, with a trace of mocking. "Something wrong?"

Xemnas raised his eyes to the boy's helmet, seeing his own reflection. "Remove that ridiculous thing - now."

Vanitas froze. Then the helmet melted away, revealing his stony face.

"Why are you here?" Xemnas spoke again. "You are meant to be gathering strength via the Unversed's-"

"Ventus!" Vanitas spat. "I want to know why in the hell you just let him skip off like that after he woke up! You could have intercepted him - or, hell, you could have imprisoned him a lot better than in a practical three star hotel room!"

Xemnas narrowed his eyes at the boy.

"It is of no concern," he said quietly.

"No? I think it is!" Vanitas hissed, shoving off from the wall and stalking forward. "You know what I think? I think maybe you've got more Terra left in that body of his than you want to admit! I think your head is being screwed with, your judgement is all screwy, and I think you-"

Xemnas rose from his throne, a burning red blade bursting from his palm, and he swung it viciously across the boy's face.

Vanitas let out a pained yell as he stumbled aside and fell to hands and knees, electricity coursing through his body. A burning hiss of smoke rising from his cheek.

Xemnas stepped forward, standing over the boy. He raised his free hand, casting out with thorny tendrils of nothingness, surrounding the boy and raising him up to his knees - to gaze up at Xemnas with fear and panic. Xemnas raised his blade again, and he held it just under the boy's chin.

"Do you wish to know what I think...Vanitas?" Xemnas said lowly.

The boy stared at him with quivering eyes, shaking his head as best he could manage in the thrall of thorns.

"I think...that this visage you see before you has caused you to forget just who it is you are serving," Xemnas continued. "You will watch your tongue with me, for I am your Master. Or you will suffer the consequences. Am...I...understood?"

Vanitas nodded, trembling bodily.

Xemnas gave a smile. "Excellent. Now-"

He froze as familiar voices came to him through the Chamber's door.

"...I'm not telling him - you want to take the heat for it, be my guest!" Axel.

"As cowardly as always, I see!" came Vexen's grating voice. "Fine, I will be the one to tell him!"

"Go right ahead. I'll just be...waiting upstairs."

"Yes, go on, go you fool!" Vexen snapped. "Now...ah...ahem...LORD XEMNAS - A THOUSAND APOLOGIES FOR THE INTERRUPTIONS - BUT CASTLE OBLIVION - THE PRINCESS - THE REPLICA - LEXAEUS - HE SIDED WITH HER! THEY BROKE INTO MY LAB AND THREATENED MY VERY LIFE AND WORK! BUT MOSTLY MY WORK!"

"I can't believe you think those guys are better apprentices than me," Vanitas said flatly.

Xemnas closed his eyes, his mouth twitching, as the barest trace of something warmed his chest by a single degree. "Go," he ordered quietly, letting his blade vanish.

Vanitas was released from the tendrils, and he immediately vacated the Chamber via dark portal.

"-LORD XEMNAS, ARE YOU IN THERE?! THIS IS AN EXTREME EMERGENCY SITUATION WE HAVE ON OUR HANDS! WE MUST-"

Xemnas sighed as he strode around his chair and approached the door, which slid open to reveal Vexen with a hand half raised to actually bang on his door.

Vexen froze at sight of him, hand flashing down instantly. "Ah- there- you are- My Lord, yes, you may have been otherwise occupied in there, but I have been trying to alert you to the fact that-"

Xemnas strode forward - and on past Vexen.

"Lord- Lord Xemnas, did you-" Vexen began, starting after him.

"You may consider me alerted," Xemnas replied, not looking back, as he strode the length of the hallway lined with prison cells. "Unless there is anything else you wish to tell me?"

"Ah...w-well, you see, Lord Xemnas...we also believe it to be a distinct possibility that...Marluxia and Larxene are also plotting against us. They- may even be in league with the Princess, secretly. Their actions have been quite...telling. They were the ones to send Lexaeus to her, after all, and- my Lord? My- ah, good, yes, excellent! Very well then! My- work is done here. That was all I had to report. But...Lord Xemnas...might I inquire as to- how exactly we will be...RESPONDING to these incredibly distressing turns of events? This- crisis? I only mean that...if Lexaeus, Marluxia and Larxene have all turned traitor together, along with the Princess-"

Xemnas's face hardened, to himself alone, his hands becoming fists at his sides. He stopped in the hallway, and allowed his hands to relax. His face to ease. He turned to look at Vexen over a shoulder.

"You will remain here, as you are far too valuable to lose; I will deal with this situation myself."

AN: Yeah, Kairi and Terra really do have an amazingly angst-filled PTSD-ridden history, with him literally being the face of her worst nightmares as a little girl! Terra/Kairi bonding/therapy will be a thing! xD Because it's gonna be amazing and I really enjoyed just writing this one scene of them as a sneak peek of interactions to come lol. :) I really just can't wait to get EVERYBODY gathered together lol! Like smashing all my fav action figures together. Or the Avengers movie after phase 1. xD But we gotta wait a tiny bit more for that...sadly!