Ven arrived in the beautiful world of Radiant Gardens and would be able tell it was the fabled city of light even without Master Xehanort telling him. He smiled, taking in the fresh air and waving hello to an elderly duck on a stroll before starting his search.
He only got a few steps in when he suddenly heard the slapping of shoes on the stone, someone was running for their life.
A red-headed girl who looked to be around the same age as Ven was on the run from the Unversed, trying desperately not to stumble and fall.
"Over here!" Ven called, summoning his keyblade.
The girl gasped in surprise before nodding and getting behind him.
He eliminated the Unversed in only a few moments, he was getting better and better at this.
"Thank you! You're my hero!" The girl gushed, hugging him from behind and startling him slightly at such open affection. He and his friends rarely ever allow themselves to hug, at least, not in the master's presence. They might be seen as weak to the darkness in that way.
Ven blushed and shook his head. "Hero? Nah, I was just doing my job, that's all."
"Well, what should I call you then?"
"The name's Ventus!"
"Ventus! What a fitting name!" She smiled, her emerald eyes sparkling with anticipation. She gave a tiny curtsey. "My name's Dagrun!"
Just then, Ventus sensed a familiar presence and turned slightly. To his shock, there was Master Xehanort, his back slowly receding.
"Master Xehanort…?"
"Hm?" Dagrun turned to where he was looking and crossed her arms, watching the man go. "Is that guy your grandfather or something?"
"Heh, no. He's just a mentor of mine." Ven grinned back. Perhaps Xehanort had found some new clue or had followed him in concern? He had to figure it out. "Well, I'd better get going and catch up to him."
"Wait!" The girl cried, pulling his arm before he could leave. "Can't I come too?"
"But it might be dangerous where I'm going." Ven muttered in worry.
"It can't be more dangerous than what I've seen! Those scary creatures have been chasing me around all day! If I stick with you, maybe they'll leave me alone!"
Ven was surprised but then nodded. Even though he couldn't sense it, Dagrun must be a powerful light if the Unversed chased her as much as they did the princes. Just like Aqua, she was a light Ven wanted to protect. "In that case ."
"Thank you, Ven. I can tell we're going to be great friends!"
"Even if you aren't staying a while… I'm sure glad I met you." Dagrun smiled at the boy, her arm locked in his. "It's hard making new friends after a big move!"
"Especially from across worlds, I bet." Ven chuckled lightly. It seemed she couldn't wait to tell him she was from another world. "What world did you come from anyway, maybe I've been there!"
It took the girl a while to stop laughing after that before she wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. "You're funny, Ventus! My world fell to those creepy creatures from earlier!"
"You can call me Ven, act-" Ven stopped dead in his tracks before turning to her. "Wait, your world… was destroyed by the Unversed…?"
"Is that what they're called?" The girl gasped. She then nodded. "It was awful, but don't look so sad, it's not like there was anything you could do!"
There was. If I'd defeated Adar when I had the chance, maybe Dagrun's world would still be up in the stars…. Ven felt an overwhelming amount of guilt flood into him before taking the girl's hand. "I'm… I'm so sorry, Dagrun."
She tilted her head in confusion.
Just as she was about to speak, a giant Unversed burst onto the platform in front of them.
"Dagrun, run!" Ven yelled.
"But-!"
"Just go! I'll catch up to you later!"
Dagrun nodded before running away.
Ven suddenly felt a familiar presence and turned to see his friend. "Aqua!"
"Aqua! Ven!" Terra shouted, joining in from the other side. "I finally found you guys again!"
What great timing Master Xehanort had sent Ven to Radiant Gardens, just when his friends were there too!
There was little time for a reunion though as the monster in front of them suddenly roared. The trio summoned their keyblades in perfect sync.
"Let's get the limbs first! Aqua, you're with me! Ven, keep that thing distracted!"
Terra took charge so quickly, usually that was Aqua. Did being a master make him more confident to lead them or something? Ven had little time to think as an arm came swinging down.
The boy sprinted before forming blades of wind and light, firing them at the beast to somewhat pin it before dodging its attacks, all while getting in a few good hits.
Aqua got the arms with her wonderful magic, Terra got the legs with his extreme force.
Finally, it was just a torso and a head, time to take it out.
The three nodded to each other before leaping into the air.
"See ya'!"
"Farewell!"
"Begone!"
The three each gave their goodbyes to the enemy before slamming into it in unison.
It vanished and Ven found himself falling through the air, he was still off the ground. "Waaa!"
"Gotcha!" Aqua caught him while Terra slammed to the ground to catch them both.
"Everyone okay?" Terra panted.
"Yeah! That was awesome!" Ven cheered. "We got that guy good!"
Aqua and Terra laughed slightly as the boy celebrated himself and his friends for a few moments before Aqua suddenly cleared her throat. "The fun doesn't end there, look!"
She pulled out three tickets with an emblem of a mouse head. "Lifetime passes to Disney Town! A kind gentleman gave them to me after saving him!"
Ven eager took his but the smile fell before he pouted up. "Aw, it says kids' pass, I'm not a little kid anymore!"
"Sorry, Ven, rules are rules!" Terra laughed, ruffling his hair. His smile then fell, remembering his mission. "But, uh… we gotta go some other time, alright? The master wants you back home."
"He's right, Ven. It's dangerous in other worlds. I may have gotten rid of that veiled lady but that doesn't-"
Ven pulled away from Aqua's caring caress of his cheek in shock. "You saw the veiled lady?!"
Aqua's face melted into concern. "You did too…?!"
"We all did." Terra confirmed, getting their attention back on him. "And I think we all know now that she's a dangerous individual. I'll take care of her, don't worry. But before that, I have to get you both home."
"I understand Ven but…" Aqua trailed off, placing a hand to her chest. "Why won't the master let me help you?"
"Because you listened to a threat from the darkness, directed at Ven, again, disregarding your own safety and duty as a keyblade wielder." Terra said firmly, making Ven grimace in surprise. He'd never heard Terra speak so coldly! "And you, Ven, I've been to the other worlds you have and you've been putting yourself way too close to the darkness! It's best we get you home before-!"
"Before I mess up something else up?" Ven snapped, surprising the man when he began projecting his own self-hatred onto his friend. "I know that's what the master thinks of me… What you think of me!"
"Ven, you know that's not-!" Aqua whispered worriedly but he glared at her angrily.
"No, it is! Terra's trying to be so much like Master Eraqus now he's practically turning into him! Thoughts and all!"
Terra grimaced before glancing down in embarrassment.
"I'm not letting you tell me to feel guilty about who I really am..." Ven announced to Terra. The darkness was a part of him no matter what, he had accepted it so why wouldn't Terra? "And I'm not coming home til I figure that out!"
"Ven…" Terra had no other words, too startled to think of anything else.
The boy turned and began to run but Aqua grabbed him. "Ven, please, don't go!"
Aqua wouldn't understand, she had no darkness to accept. He gently slapped her hand away. "Just leave me alone for now, okay…?"
Ven sat curled up on the reactor steps, fully letting his dark emotions fester like they never had before. The master would learn of his mistakes and give up on him, surely, forever disappointed in his screwup of a son. And worse of all, he may even turn Terra and Aqua against him too, if Terra wasn't already. Aqua seemed to obey Master Eraqus in everything to make him proud so…. Would the three of them even still be friends when their separate journeys were done? He placed his head on his knees before hearing someone approaching him. He glanced up, slightly hoping it was Aqua or Terra there to comfort him but he was met with disappointment. "Oh, it's just you…"
"Just me? Rude!" Dagrun smirked, sitting down beside him and punching him gently in the arm. "Here"
"Thanks… and sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Ven whispered before glancing away after taking a drink of her water flask, not noticing it was the only item in her basket. "I just got into a big fight with my friends… I don't think they trust me much anymore…"
"Aww, I'm so sorry… How could anyone not trust a hero like you?" Instead of offering him reassurance that they'd make up, the girl merely hugged his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder, placing the water back in her basket. "Forget all about them, I'll be your friend."
Even though there was no spell, Ven still felt compelled to accept her request. It seemed simpler to just focus on his new friend instead of the old right now. "T-Thanks.."
"What a touching little scene! It's enough to make me cry…!" A familiar voice suddenly laughed, echoing around the area.
The two gasped in surprise when the veiled woman sashayed out of a dark corridor.
"Adar!" Ven hissed, getting up and summoning his keyblade while Dagrun cowereded behind him.
"Look at our little Ventus, only a few worlds in and you already found yourself a pretty girlfriend full of light. I'm so proud." She grinned sharply, bending down to look at the boy as the Unversed began to gather. "How about you, dear Master?"
Just then, Ven was shocked to see Xehanort get pulled in by Unversed. "Master Xehanort?!"
"Ventus!" The man gasped, struggling desperately. "I'm sorry, my boy, she caught me off guard!"
"I had to! You two were going to ruin my fun here in the city of light! Imagine if you interrupted a date with my lovely Aqua!"
Ven felt his rage boiling at the mention of her even coming near his friend. "Shut up! I'm gonna protect her and Terra, everybody from you!"
"Your optimism both entertains and disgusts me." Adar chucked.
She suddenly launched herself at the boy and the two clashed at once. Dagrun gave a scream in fear, stumbling away from the battle.
"Ven, be careful!"
The lady weaved and teleported around every attack, much like Aqua would, using every opportunity she got to tug on Ven's hair or shove the boy, making him angrier by the second.
"Blizzard!" He called but she blocked with a shield of fire before sending out a blast at the boy.
"Ghaa!" Ven was flung by the explosion and opened his eyes just in time to see the woman multiply around him. "Grr…!"
"Is this all your journey has amounted to?! At this rate, Terra and Aqua will have to come running to your rescue!" Adar cackled.
The boy was suddenly bound down by the Unversed as their mistress summoned a inferno of fire around the boy.
Ven gasped in pain as the fire began to burn him at every angle. He gritted his teeth, not wanting to show her how much it hurt. He tried to summon his keyblade but found he was too focused on the pain to even do that.
"Go on! Cry like the weakling you are!" Adar laughed, keeping the fire raging as the boy gritted his teeth so as to not let a scream escape.
"Let that feeling fester, Ventus, it will make you strong!" Xehanort called.
Ven felt like he could barely take it anymore, if it was as Xehanort said, he was much stronger than before, the pain made him feel the urge, the power to fight back, he just needed a quick relief from it. As if realizing this as well, Dagrun ran up, shoving Adar easily aside.
"Ven, hang on!" She cried. She doused the boy in the remaining water she had in her flask.
"Thank you…!" Ven panted, the girl catching him before he could fall.
"You're going to regret that!" Adar growled, grabbing the girl by her dress collar and pulling her back
"Dagrun!" Ven yelled in shock, seeing Adar lifted the girl. She struggled wildly, only making the dark lady laugh harder.
"How does it feel having everyone suffer just to protect you, Ventus?!" The villainess called, dropping the girl before firmly grabbing her by the shoulder, having her master's in the other hand. "What is that expression? Anger? Sadness? Guilt? ….No, no you're disappointed in yourself, aren't you? How can you not be after coming so far and doing nothing with that power?!"
"What are you doing, boy?! Fight her with the power she's urging on!" Xehanort growled.
The darkness, he meant. The idea that this woman had already hurt two close to him, that she would go on to harm his most precious ones… It scared him, angered him… If he just used those emotions as pure unfiltered fuel, he could win. But if he did that… " "Master Xehanort, I-I can't-!"
"You must or else Terra will die by her hands, Aqua's heart will be captured by hers! Do you want to lose them?!"
Of course not! No, I won't ever let her hurt my friends! I'll destroy her before she ever gets the chance! The boy's hand glowed with the dark aura from before as the threat echoed in his ears.
With a scream, a dark blast fired out of his keyblade.
A scream was let out but… it wasn't Adar's.
Ven felt his heart drop when Adar grabbed up Dagrun, letting her take the attack straight to the face.
"DAGRUN!"
"ARGHH!" She gave a blood-curdling shriek as veins of darkness burned onto her face. The girl was dropped before she glared up at Adar in pure hatred. "You…!"
"Color me impressed for now…" Adar said through gritted teeth. "But in the end…" In a flash, she appeared in front of him, placing a hand to his cheek much like her light half would: "your power won't save those you love…"
She disappeared then, making the Unversed faded away as well.
Ven placed a hand to his cheek, still feeling the tight and painful grip it had been in. The smell of burnt flesh filled Ven's nose, making him feel nauseous and reminding him of what had happened.
"Dagrun, I'm so sorry!" Ven cried, running up to her. "I didn't mean to hurt you!"
The girl seemed to have fainted from pain, her pretty face now forever scarred thanks to him.
Master Xehanort walked over and took the girl gently in his arms. He attempted to heal her but all it could do was stop the burning, the scars remained.
"I… I did it again…" Ven realized, recognizing the scene as if it had been made to replicate when he'd first met Aqua. He covered his mouth in shock, realization. "But this… This is worse, I actually used the darkness to hurt somebody! T-Terra was right, the master was right! I got too close and now… I messed everything up all over again! I-I'll never be able to go home and face them!"
"Then don't."
Ven looked up, wondering if he'd heard it right.
"Become my pupil instead, I will make you into a wielder worthy of balancing the light and dark." Xehanort prodded on.
"Balancing?"
"Master Eraqus fears the darkness, so much so that he became infatuated with the light, it blinded him to the point he no longer realized that the same light creates the darkness…" Xehanort growled, looking into the troubled boy's teary eyes. "Your friends, Terra and Aqua are both such strong lights, you've been living in their shadows for so long, but that is not a bad thing… It maintains the balance light and darkness should always have. Eraqus denies the need for it with all his might, this is why he rejects your power, thinking light is all the worlds need but he's wrong… Join me. You and I can do much greater good if we maintain the balance of light and darkness."
"Master Xehanort… you don't want me as your apprentice, I can't even control my darkness yet…" Ven sighed, looking to Dagrun. Maybe it was better to just fade away into some other world, never to wield the keyblade again.
Xehanort shook his head in seeming sorrow, looking down at the injured girl. "I believe in you, Ventus. If you keep exploring worlds, I know you will learn to control the darkness properly, if only to make sure something like this doesn't happen a third time…"
Ven thought for a moment more before finally deciding. He sprang up, invigorated to prove himself. "Right. I won't let anything like this ever happen again. I'll master my powers!"
"The only way to do so is to balance the worlds. Defeating Adar and the Unversed should be your top priority in that regard." Xehanort nodded to him. "Now go, my dear apprentice."
Ventus nodded before running off, eager to begin his next mission, not seeing Xehanort smirk.
Ven ran to the outer gardens and formed his glider before he heard a familiar voice call his name. He turned to see Aqua running up to him.
"Ven, please, I don't want to chase you anymore…" Aqua whispered. "Let's just go home, okay? It's what the Master wants and it's-"
"No, I won't be going home anytime soon." Ven said, turning away from her. She had to know he'd still appreciated her concern and love for him, even if they were worlds apart. "Even so, I know I can still always count on you to be there for me, Aqua."
"Ah…" Aqua gasped slightly in confusion but then nodded. "Yes, of course. We are friends, after all."
"Yeah. Thanks, Aqua…" Ven smiled weakly. The boy summoned his armor then and got on his glider, flying into a portal to get to his next world.
After the boy had left, Xehanort stared off slightly in thought before hearing a pathetic sniffling.
"Mister, you said I wouldn't get hurt! You lied to me!" Dagrun cried, pulling on his arm. "Why'd you have her do it, huh?!"
"It was necessary motivation for the boy's resolve." Xehanort explained shortly to the girl before turning to her. "You did just as told, gained Ventus' trust and friendship by both 'confiding' and 'saving' him. If he strays from the path I've created for him, I'll need you to gently urge him back onto it to redirect any suspicion he may gain about me, if the plan takes longer than expected."
"I guess these scars don't matter in the long run as long as I get what I want." Dagrun huffed. "Just let me know if you need me to do an encore, mister."