Chapter Sixteen: Examination

"Looks like your ship is back in one piece." Leon pointed out to the horizon as Cid's ship came into view.

Cid glanced out the window, spotting his gummi ship. "Yeah, well at least they made it back here with it." Placing his wrench away, he picked up his toolkit and began to head to the stairs. "Now to see what the damage is."

By the time the two made it to their impromptu launch bay, Aerith had beaten them there. Though their recent guest was nowhere in sight. "How'd it go?" Aerith asked with a smile, though the cheer dimmed as she saw Ventus and Naminé walk out of the ship, still concerned. "I'm guessing not that good."

Ventus shook his head and sighed, "We kicked her out of the fort, but in the end she got away."

Yuffie shrugged as she exited the ship. "Wasn't a total bust, we got a summoning stone out of the deal."

"A summoning stone you say?" An elderly voice was heard though the hanger, "Well let's see if I haven't picked up anything while Cinderella's Godmother was around."

Ventus blinked as a familiar old man came into view, "Merlin?"

The bearded wizard in blue blinked as he recognized the boy, "Ventus! What a surprise to see you!" After a moment Merlin raised an eyebrow in surprise, "And in such good shape too."

"Well," Ventus scratched the back of his head as he searched for the words, "Long story short, I was hurt pretty bad, and Aqua used a spell on me so time stopped for me till I got better."

Leon crossed his arms, looking Ventus over after hearing of his dire injury, "As long as you're fine now. So Maleficent's still looking for that X-Blade?"

Naminé was confused for a moment as Ventus was at the unfamiliar word, before she connected the dots, "Wait, don't you mean χ-Blade?"

Aerith chuckled and explained, "We're using X-Blade for now so it's easier to tell tell it apart from a normal keyblade if we're talking about it. Otherwise we'll go nuts trying to keep it straight."

Realizing the topic, Ventus glanced down to the ground ashamed, "Actually, she didn't really know it even existed until I mentioned it."

Leon shook his head, disappointed, "So, could have gone better then."

Naminé stepped forward, "We also ran into the Organization."

That got everyone's attention, Cid spoke up as he set down his tools, "I heard from Yuffie yammering on. Some kinda cult that decided to imprison you for fun?"

"Not exactly. There's something you need to know about them." Naminé fidgeted as she tried to gather her courage. "And me." She looked to Ventus, who had managed to regain some of his composure. He nodded ready to give her as much of his support as he could. So with a shaky breath, she explained.

Ventus stood besides Naminé watching the room as she gave her explanation. Part of him still dreaded having to tell everyone else at Hollow Bastion the truth. But he also knew that they couldn't go on hiding secrets. Not after his forgotten past destroyed everything he loved.

But while Yuffie seemed satisfied enough with Naminé's story, watching the room's reaction to the explanation was disconcerting.

Cid's rapid examination of the ship ground to a halt as he listened, "You're a Nobody?"

Leon's eyes became a bit colder looking at Naminé. "And she has power over Sora's memories?"

While Aerith's and Merlins' reactions were not so obviously hostile, they still looked at her with uncertainty. Aerith crossed her arms, "It's still hard to believe."

Merlin fiddled with his moustache in contemplation before nodding, "Before we go on any further, I think it might be best if I take a look."

Ventus looked at Merlin pull out a wand from his briefcase warily, "What do you mean a look?"

"I've done a few furtive attempts at looking into some of the heart's mysteries. Nothing serious mind you but enough to get a clearer idea and learn a few tricks." He tapped the wand on the ship's wing. Prompting a shout from Cid, one that was soon drowned out by his incantation.

"Animos Luminos, Salama See!"

And in a flash of light from the wand, the faint shape of a heart of light appeared from within everyone's chest.

Except for Naminé, who had only a faint glow of light appear from her.

Merlin nodded, "Well...there's certainly something there. Not sure if it can be called a heart.

Naminé began to fidget "It's probably just my will? I'm sorry, I don't know much about hearts. It's just what I've been told." She sighed looking down at the ground, "In truth, I'm less than other Nobodies. I'm just some animated will that was created when the original body managed to recover from losing their heart.

"Really?" Merlin raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head, "Well, your body seems stable enough. The protection woven into your clothes should help keep it stable in the unlikely event you fall into something dangerous, like pure darkness."

"So it's real enough, right?" Naminé murmured, placing a hand to her chest, "When I was being held by the Organization, they kept saying that we don't really exist. Especially something like me."

Ventus put a hand to his chest as he responded to her words, "You're more than a something. You're definitely someone I'm glad I met."

With a smile, Merlin nodded at the declaration, "It may not be a life as we have known it, but it's life nonetheless."

Naminé processed this for a moment, but then gave a small nod and uneasy smile. "It's still strange hearing things like this, but thank you."

Leon sighed as he placed his hands on his hips, "That's good and all, but there's a bigger problem than her being a Nobody."

Aerith nodded, still not at ease, "Your power over Sora's memories. And ours."

"Oh come on! Sora's not here." Yuffie stepped up next to Naminé, "That means we're fine from any sort of memory shenanigans, right?"

"Now the thing I don't get is why you have Sora'smemories in particular." Cid shook his head, "How are you connected to him?"

Naminé took a breath, gathered her courage as she began to explain, "The truth is that I'm the Nobody of someone very important to him. She's a very dear fri-"

"It's Kairi isn't it?"

Aerith's conclusion caught everyone off guard for a moment. But at Naminé's sheepish nod, the majority of the group descended into repetitions of 'Ah', and 'Of Course'.

Ventus was one exception, looking at everyone speaking with confusion "Who's Kairi?"
"A...close friend of Sora's." Naminé muttered out, before she continued, "This power. I don't know why I have it." Naminé's cards materialized in her hands. "The only way I've been able to put it to any kind of good is with Ven's help in learning combat techniques to help fight."

Leon closed his eyes as he heard the explanation. "So what about the plan the Organization wanted to use to control Sora? Changing memories?"

"I don't want to change them!" Naminé blurted out, shaking her head. "Tearing apart a person's mind like that. Especially someone who's fought to save everyone. It's just wrong!"

A moment of silence followed the outburst before Aerith spoke. "Naminé, I think the fact that you feel so strongly about this says a lot about your character."

"I...feel?" Naminé's eyes widened as she took in the observation. Eventually she shook her head, "It's not a feeling. But whatever this is that's guiding me, I know it's true."

Ventus was initially downcast by Naminé's rejection of feelings. But with her answer, he gave her a determined look with clenched fists held close to his chest, "Then hold onto it. There can't be anything wrong with helping people."

"Still, there's an interesting point I think you've overlooked." Merlin spoke up and got their attention. "You mentioned learning some techniques from Ventus initially to build your cards. Would he happen to know Sora?"

Ven held a hand to his chest. "I do. I owe him a lot." He looked to the setting sun in the sky, "If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be here."

Cid began leaning on the ship. "This wouldn't happen to be a long story would it?" He pointed to his watch. "Just saying that you might want to get some dinner and a good night's rest before we dive into that story."

"Yeah, I think I need some rest first. " Ventus nodded and began to head to their small base in the castle. Thoughts were running through his mind. He had a lot weighing on him ever since Xehanort and Vanitas revealed the truth. And he was still wary of telling everything. But seeing Naminé's courage in telling the truth…

If she could do it, so could he.

But right now he needed food. If he didn't eat he'd be starving the whole night.

"Hey, if you don't eat it's gonna melt."Axel prodded Roxas as he stared at the ice cream in his hand.

Roxas' hold on the sea salt ice cream was limp as he shook his head, muttering. "Not that hungry today."

Erxart finished a bit of his chocolate ice cream next to him, and spoke up, "Something on your mind?"

Roxas' face soon grew sullen, "Today's mission. I saw a boy there with a keyblade. He had my face."

Axel chewed on his popsicle, "Oh right, Ventus. Guess seeing that would throw you for a loop.

"It's just...Why?" Roxas stammered. "Why is there someone else with my face?! I've been here for so long, and now I find out that there's someone already out there who looks like me!?" His voice rising to a peak, Roxas finally took a huge bite of the popsicle

"Hey, you might not want to eat that too fast."

"Whaefur Ashel!" Roxas said through a mouthful of ice cream. After a few chews of the frozen treat, he resumed his thoughts. "I've been trying to understand who I am here, and why I'm in the Organization. But if I'm just a...a Nobody knock off Ventus then-!" In an effort to avoid completing the thought, Roxas tried to eat another bite of ice cream. But finally the brain freeze caught up with him, and with a yelp his ranting was cooled down. Leaving Roxas back in his morose muttering, "Do I mean anything?"

Axel began, "Well, honestly-"

"You mean something to me," Before being interrupted by Erxart, "I don't know anyone else who's worked harder to be a part of the organization. Not to mention, you're a friend I like to spend time with."

"Is that so?" Axel said skeptically, "Now are you sure it isn't just because we get ice cream together?"

"Well I certainly don't want to spend time with Xemnas, even though he's the first person I met in the Organization."

"I'm pretty sure he shouldn't know that right?" Roxas said with a somewhat amused smile. Then nodded, "Thanks Erxart, I think I needed to hear that."

Erxart chuckled before taking another bite, "Just don't tell him and I think we'll call it even."

"Hey, as long as it helps you back on your feet," Axel shrugged. "Now, what did you think about the others with him?"

Roxas nodded at the reminder, "That's right. There were two girls with him. I didn't know one of them, but the blonde one with the cards. I could've sworn I had seen her before."

"Like in a dream?" Erxart supplied, trying to follow the logic.

Axel sighed at the suggestion,"You know Nobodies don't have dreams. We just have memories that can get jumbled together."

"Maybe. I just..." Erxart sighed and took a bite of his chocolate ice cream, "Nevermind."

Axel smiled and gave the man a light shove, "Oh come on. We hear Roxas' problems out but not yours?"

Erxart looked out to the horizon, "Sometimes when I sleep, I see a woman about my age. And I know she's important to me somehow. I just can't remember why."

"Your girlfriend in your past life?" Axel chuckled ruefully, "Well, it's all behind you now. Now that we're Nobodies, we can't go back to that."

Roxas at Axel in confusion, "But, we're trying to get back our hearts, right?" He rested his chin in his free hand, "Wouldn't we want to hold on to things that remind us of what it's like to feel?"

"Xemnas says things like that are illusions, distractions our memories try to make so we don't go nuts. Personally, I think it's not a problem as long as the job gets done." Axel took the final bite from his popsicle, "Like this for instance. No harm in having ice cream after a mission. Just don't go chasing off after your dream girlfriend and you'll be fine."

Erxart nodded, taking a bite from his popsicle, "It's alright. I'll know her if I see her."

Perhaps tonight would be one such night.

Dinner was a simple stew, but it was a vast improvement over the gruel given to Naminé in Castle Oblivion. The food might not have been as well made is the ones in Traverse town, but they were to her satisfying nonetheless.

But through the meal and after it, her mind swam with thoughts of the words she had heard. Words that she still heard as she looked up to the stars on the castle balcony.

Of the words of Marluxia and Larxene long ago.

"Those phantoms you pursue are illusions of your mind. Your dreams are a falsehood you cling to"

"We Nobodies are nothing. You? You're less than nothing. Just a freak."

"It matters not how you 'feel' about this plan or your powers. As long as Sora is brought under our control, you will serve our purposes."

"Here, a little doll for our doll! Just so you always remember what you are, little witch."

And the words of her friends right now.

"You're more than a something. You're definitely someone I'm glad I met."

"It may not be a life as we have known it, but it's life nonetheless."

"Naminé, I think the fact that you feel so strongly about this says a lot about your character."

"Then hold onto it. There can't be anything wrong with helping people."

Those two views struggling within her. A Nobody with a transitory existence, or a beloved friend. Was it even possible? For her simply to be? Even if there was some suspicion from a few of them, she might be able to bear it.

But still, the suspicion lingered for good reason. If she could warp their memories, what else could she change? And even if Merlin's magic had found some existence within herself, it couldn't be a heart.

"Naminé?" A familiar voice from the balcony door.

She looked behind her, "Ven? Aren't you going to bed?"

He shook his head "I've just got a few things on my mind."

"About Maleficent and X-Blade?" She knew the aftermath of Larxene's revelation had shook him.

He sighed and looked to the stars, "Well, that's part of it. There's a lot of things in my past I've been thinking about lately." Ventus glanced at Naminé, "What about you?"

She looked back up the stars. "I'm just…" the silence hung for a moment before she found the word. "Torn. All my life in Castle Oblivion, I've been told that I was nothing. Hollow."

"You're not!" Ventus stepped forward as he rebutted, "You've been willing to put your life on the line to help me, and everyone at Hollow Bastion!"

"And that's just it." She murmured. "Meeting you and everyone else here. That was the first time someone was willing to give me a chance." Naminé's eyes then became downcast. "But belief isn't going to change what I am. A Nobody."

Silence filled the air, and immediately the gnawing feeling inside her returned. Ventus was trying his best to help, but was she even worth it? How could someone have any kind of friendship with a nobody like her? Ventus was wide eyed at her words. A dreadful moment hung in the air as she still wondered. Was she wrong? Was he still willing to stand beside her after knowing the truth in excruciating detail?

But after a moment, he began to slowly reach for her hand, "Well, you're somebody to me. And I think you're pretty great." His fingers brushed against hers for a moment.

"Pretty great?"

...

And the moment after, her hand clung to his, and Naminé let out a shuddering breath. "Thanks." She may not be somebody physically. But someone thought she had worth. Worth that wasn't based on false memories or lies. Worth that had been found by being together. And that was more than she had dreamed of when she was imprisoned. "Thank you for not giving up on me."

Ventus nodded, giving a firmer grasp on her hand, "Of course. I wouldn't want to give up on a friend. Nobody should have to live being told they're worthless for not being a certain way." But with those words, a far off look came over his face. "It's...awful…"

It was strange, that face. One of the few things Naminé had in Castle Oblivion was a crystal ball. And more than a few times, when the loneliness and pain threatened to overtake her, she made a certain face.

One that Ventus bore an uncanny resemblance to. "Are you okay?"

Naminé's words interrupted his rumination, "I just…" Ventus swallowed a lump in his throat. "A long time ago, I went through something similar. Being held prisoner and told...I was only useful a certain way."

So Ventus, he had felt that pain? That loneliness? "Do you want to talk about it?"

He sighed. "Maybe not tonight. But still, thanks. And if you ever want to talk more, I'll listen. I know this stuff can really hurt and...change people."

Naminé raised an eyebrow at the hesitation. "Change?"

Ventus nodded, "It was...someone else I knew. He was trapped by the same person. He became...twisted." Regret began to creep across his face. "It was so long ago, but now I wonder if things might have been different. If he had help."

A tightening on his hand got Ventus' attention, and he looked at Naminé "Whenever you want to talk about it. Tomorrow, in a week, whenever. I'll listen."

Slowly, he began to smile again. "Thanks."

How many seconds were in eternity? How much time had truly passed?

At the moment, seeing Mickey again overshadowed the horror. But now that she had a reprieve from the danger. Aqua finally felt the weight of the time that had passed crushing her spirit.

Ten years in a few days. It had to have been days, right? Or was it hours? Or did her perception of time even matter?

Aqua took a moment to sit on the amorphous rock. Trying to catch her breath. Trying to sort out everything that had happened. Terra was still in Xehanort's grasp, still under his control. And Ven? Did the spell she cast still work? Did he manage to wake up?

Did they still blame her for letting them down?

The only solace she had was that Terra still saw her, knew her. That somehow, she was still his light in the darkness.

Was that still true? After so much time in this world that sought her weaknesses, however carefully hidden?

Of course, that wasn't all. People were still out there, still fighting. Their sacrifices hadn't been for nothing.

But if everything was fine after ten years, did the worlds even need another keyblade master? Especially one as lacking as her?

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it again. A glimmer of light. A familiar face. Wandering into a cave of darkness.

"Terra?" She got up, and then she ran. If he was still here, still wandering, especially if Xehanort had him in his grasp. Then she couldn't leave him! Turning the corner, she finally caught up to him. "Terra? Is that…"

She skidded to a halt as she saw the figure that had begun to turn around. As she saw his face, Aqua relaxed as it no longer held the white hair and yellow eyes of Xehanort. Nor did it hold that endless contempt. But the expression was lost, uncertain as Terra looked at her, and more to the point, he was wearing a black robe with a hood that covered his whole body.

And then his next words chilled the battered remains of her heart.

"Who are you?"