Chapter Seventeen: Ache

"Who are you?"

Exart had seen the blue haired woman many times in his dreams. But this felt more vivid than before. It was the first time he could focus enough to ask a question.

But his question had done little to allay the shock on her face. When she next spoke, there was a slightly horrified cadence in her voice, "You...you don't…Terra it's me. It's Aqua."

"I'm not Te…" He clutched his head as he tried to recall his real name. "No…it's…" he grunted as he tried to rack his mind for the true answer. Deep down he knew that Erxart wasn't his name. It's the one given to him by Xemnas. But eventually he sighed in defeat, "Sorry, I don't know what my real name is."

"You don't?" Aqua stepped forward hesitantly, before venturing, "Why are you here?"

Why? Erxart held a hand to his chest as the question seemed to resonate with something deep inside him. Eventually he slowly answered, "I know I haven't seen you before. But when I'm here, dreaming in the dark, I can always see a light." He looked up to Aqua's gaze. "And when I get close it's you."

Aqua murmured, "Even without your memories?" She took another step towards him, pressing further, "Do you remember Ven, Eraqus?"

Ven? The closest name he could recall was that of Roxas' supposed doppelganger. But the other got his attention as he recalled, "Eraqus was my old master." There were good memories of many years under his tutelage. But Erxart grimiced as he began to recall the later ones. Ones where he chastised him for the darkness in his heart. Another where the two came to blows, "I was trying to stop him from hurting someone important to me. But something happened." He clutched his head as he felt something eating away in his head. Like an empty hole.

"Terra!" Aqua's voice seemed to clear the pain. As he focused on her again Erxart saw she was closer. Hand raised towards him and wincing, as though she shared his suffering. With a sigh, she lowered her arm and spoke, "I'm sorry. I wanted to try and bring you back. I didn't mean to hurt you."

The ache in her voice. It was something Erxart could hardly bear to hear in Aqua's voice. Deep inside he yearned to ease that pain. He reached out to her hand. But to his disappointment, Erxart phased right through her. He sighed and shook his head, "I guess I can't do much for you now besides words. It just hurts to see you sad."

Aqua looked back at him with an expression between gratitude and pain. "Terra…" She murmured the name so dearly, as if it was the name of a close friend.

Or...Something more than that...

But what was he to her?

Remember...He had to remember...

You must remember...

And with a ringing voice in his head, Erxart woke up. Sitting as he rubbed his temples to nurse the headache, he pondered the fragments of his dream.

Aqua...Terra...Ventus…

Those names were ones that haunted him. Like ephemeral phantoms he could barely hold on to. He recalled the warnings that Xemnas had given him.

"Do not let the phantoms of your mind distract you. Ignore the calls of phantom memories, for they will only lead you astray."

Even so, it felt so close to him. Something that a part of him ached at not having their memory in full. But above all that, there was something else.

Eraqus.

He remembered his master. Though he was stern, he had tried to guide him. Though it was sometimes difficult when the darkness within himself yearned to be set free. Still, there was some deeper reason why they fought. Why Erxart raised his keyblade against him.

Please. You must remember!

Erxart snapped his head to where he swore he could hear the voice. For a fleeting glimpse...he saw a gold and silver armored hand reaching out to him.

But then he blinked, and Erxart was in his empty gray room once more. Looking out to the window, he saw the light which had been gathering above the City take shape into a heart. However, he was a bit too worn from having to pick up Demyx's slack. Sighing, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep again.

It was like before. One minute Terra was in front of her, and in the blink of an eye he vanished. All she had were the words of comfort he had spoken. The lingering sentiment he seemed to hold onto. The memory of Master Eraqus which still seemed to burn in him

It was the only reassurance that whatever happened to remove his memories of her and Ven hadn't taken him away completely.

She sighed, holding her hand to her chest. She had no idea if Mickey had managed to survive the attack at the door to the realm of light. If he fell, would anyone find her? Would she see the realm of light ever again?

As if to mock her, there was another glimmer in the corner of her eye. She walked over to yet another phantom. Another moment of reprieve, even if it was ultimately illusory. Coming closer, the figure was clear. "Ven…" she sighed. Was he still asleep? Would he only serve as another reminder of her failure? A once dear friend full of life completely silen—

"Aqua?"

She blinked. A voice. That was his voice! He turned to her with wide eyes. Then he reached out to her. "Aqua? Is that you?! Where are you?!"

"You're...awake? I'm in the realm of darkness but..." She spoke in a shaky voice. Hardly believing that she actually had a chance to speak to her friend again. A million more questions running through her mind, she began to ask, "Ven, where are you now? Do you know where Mickey is? Are you safe?"

"Safe?" He whispered back, then he began to sigh, "I would've been safe if I just listened to you." Ventus began to hold himself, a tremble entering his voice as he continued, "If I just went home, none of this would have happened!" He dropped down to his knees as his voice reached a crescendo, before he sobbed out, "Aqua I...I didn't mean to call you awful…"

She thought that Ven's awakening might have given her spirit some reprieve. Some consolation that her efforts were not in vain. But now more than ever, Aqua's heart ached. She kneeled down and shook her head, sighing, "No...You were right, Ven. I've been a bad friend. I focused so much on the light and the master's teaching. I didn't stop to think about how you or Terra felt." She tried to take Ventus' hand, cringing as once again she could only grip nothing but air. "Now I've lost both of you and the worlds are still in danger." Aqua looked aside ruefully, "Some master I turned out to be. Maybe this darkness is where I really belong. Alone."

"No! That can't be right!" Ven cried out as he looked up at her. He frantically shook his head, pleading, "Maybe you've made mistakes, but that doesn't mean you deserve to be alone!"

She could hardly believe it. After all this time being haunted by her failures. Did her friends still believe in her? A slight smile came to her face, "Ven, I…" But then Aqua's cheer evaporated in an instant, as the darkness began to coalesce around Ventus. Shadowy tendrils pulled him up from the ground and began to yank him away. "NO!"

He cried out as he tried to struggle against whatever had caught him, "Aaaahh! Aquaaaa!"

She chased after him, shouting, "VEN!" But even as she ran, the shadowy thing pulled him away faster and faster.

Ventus could only shout out, "AQUA! I'LL FIND YOU! I'LL MAKE THIS RIGHT! I PROMISE!"

With those last words echoing in the shadows, Ventus vanished in front of her. All Aqua could do was clench a fist, choking back a cry of frustration.

Even so...there was something she clung to.

Terra and Ven wanted to see her again. She only had to hold on for a while longer.

Aqua had to hope her light could last her that long.

Ventus had summoned the keyblade to his hand, but his idle swings were getting him nowhere. He shouted as he tried to hit whatever grabbed him, "LET GO! LET GO OF ME!" Eventually however, the grip loosened and tossed Ventus across the ground. "Alright! Now you're going to—!"

And the words died in his throat. As he saw the small mass of creatures that had attacked him.

Creatures with very familiar red eyes.

He backed away, holding his keyblade between him and the Unversed,"No…No...this is a dream. You're not—"

Hands on his shoulders, "Real? You sure about that?" And a voice that turned Ventus' blood to ice.

Wrenching himself free from the grip, Ventus turned to face the voice's his face was hidden again behind that black helmet, he knew the boy who had hounded him ten years ago. Trembling, Ventus spoke, "Vanitas...I..."

His red and black suit rippling as he moved, Vanitas walked up to Ventus. "Oh...I've waited a long time for a chance to talk to you again Ventus." He leaned right into his face "What's the matter? Can't think of anything to say?

"I…" Ventus took a breath before he blurted out, "I know what Xehanort did to you!"

At his words, Vanitas froze, and Ventus continued, "I remember what it was like under him. Starvation, endless fighting. And the same lectures about the only worth being in our darkness."

A moment of silence passed before Vanitas scoffed, "So what? You think you know me better because of that?"

Ventus sputtered, "But...But what if Xehanort's wrong!? What if darkness isn't your only choice!?"

"Yeah, there was a choice and you got the other option." Vanitas punctuated his point with a poke to Ventus's chest. "How did that work out for you?"

And Ventus winced, as he remembered the sensation of the keyblade stabbing deeper than flesh. Beyond the physical feeling of his heart. Of his soul being carved apart. Chittering behind him got Ventus' attention. The unversed began to move towards him. "Fire!" At his call, a gout of flame shot forth, incinerating an unversed.

But as soon as it vanished, it reformed in Vanitas' hand as he sighed, "You still don't get it do you." He tossed the monster of his creation at Ventus, "You lost to us before you even began." As Ventus swatted away the creature, more unversed lunged at him. "The armies of darkness never rest. Something I've learned to appreciate." Ventus dodged, and after taking aim blasted a salvo of flame at the horde. Vanitas continued to speak unperturbed, gesturing with his hands "No matter how hard you fight. No matter how many friends you find it will never be enough." As he reached out, so too did a swarm of Unversed floods erupt from the shadows and pile on top of Ventus

Struggling against the creatures dragging him to the ground, Ventus tried to shout, "No...someone—!"

"What's that? Crying for help again?" Vanitas began to cackle as he watched Ventus squirm, "Well guess what? There's no-one left to help you! Returning to me is your only chance to survive!"

Despite the taunt, Ventus continued his struggles, managing to choke out one word.

"Never!"

The grip tightened as Vanitas shook his head "If you still won't embrace the dark, then there's only one thing left to do with you."

But then, a flash, as if from nowhere. The Unversed cringed at the mote of light, releasing their grip while Vanitas shielded his eyes. As he wrenched himself free from the horde, Ventus whispered, "Who..?"

Vanitas however, screamed in disbelief, "How?! How could light find you here?!" He could barely react as Vanitas burned away part of the horde with flame. Building to a firestorm, Ventus slashed a red hot keyblade against the Unversed. The creatures burst into ash at the attack. The light beginning to shine brighter, Vanitas backed away. "Looks like you walk away from this one, but I'll find you again." A portal of darkness appearing behind him, as he left some parting words, "We're linked after all."

Ventus sighed, drained after the ordeal. He fell to his feet, relaxing as somehow the darkness around him seemed to be fading away. Or perhaps the light was guiding him away from that darkness? In either case, he only had one thing to say, "Thank you…" Though he could barely focus now on the light itself, he could feel the slightest warmth from his hand as something gently held it. And so he returned to his more peaceful slumber.

Ventus stirred from his sleeping bag, blinking the sleep from his eyes. Dreams from last night that were almost vivid became hazy. He knew during his time with Eraqus he had some unsettling dreams. But until now they were impressions and vague ideas. Now his thoughts of times gone by brought forth memories of friends and foes. And the regrets he had for both of them. He clenched towards his heart, wondering if those bonds still held fast.

But after a while, there was something else in his dream. Something comforting that gave him a chance to rest. But wh—

"Good morning."

Ventus snapped to attention at the voice, but relaxed as soon as he saw the blonde haired speaker. "Naminé…'morning."

She walked over to his corner of the room, asking "Are you okay? Everyone's been up for a while, so I wanted to check on you."

Looking around in surprise Ventus realized that Cid and Leon had long since left their sleeping bags. He scratched his head sheepishly, "Kinda had a nightmare last night. But it got better."

Naminé looked at him for a moment before nodding, "I'm...guessing it eased off enough for you to get some rest?" She looked out the door. "We've made a bit of breakfast already. If you wanted to have some before talking about…" Naminé looked back at Ventus

Ventus nodded, "Yeah,I think I can talk a bit about what happened ten years ago. About my friends," he then closed his eyes and sighed, "And about Xehanort."

Zexion walked with Xemnas near the top of the Castle That Never Was. A personal invitation to this upper floor was rare. Only Xigbar had shown up with any regularity, though Saïx had made his way up to this sanctum once or twice. But the privilege of being here was the farthest thing from his mind as he gave his account,"The situation in Castle Oblivion is fast becoming untenable. With the Princess of Heart possessing a keyblade capable of undoing anything barring her path, utilizing her as a Hostage has become unviable. And while Riku is a possibility, there is the simple fact that we do not have the manpower available to contain them." Xemnas gave no reaction as the two reached the top of the ramp they had been climbing, so Zexion continued,"My Superior, we must look into deploying...additional...operatives?"

Only to stop.

For the light he now beheld was something that made him quake.

"Magnificent. Is it not?" Xemnas asked him as he looked at the heart shaped light that had begun to dominate the night's sky.

Having been with the Organization since the beginning, Zexion realized the true nature of what he was seeing quickly, "Is this...our Kingdom Hearts?"

Xemnas stepped towards it, "Indeed. Our own embodiment of the heart of all worlds." He reached his hands to the amalgamation of souls they had been gathering, "Originally, this might have taken many months. But with so many keyblades at work freeing hearts already, it has grown exponentially."

Zexion cupped his chin in thought, "Of course. Not only are Sora and Roxas active...but Kairi, Ventus, Erxart...and potentially Naminé—"

"Bingo. Buddy!" A pair of hands on his shoulders interrupted Zexion's thoughts. Looking up confirmed that Braig had indeed arrived behind him to interject, "We're moving things ahead of schedule, and guess what? You're going to be our lucky winner!"
"What are you doing here?" Zexion looked back at The Superior, "Wasn't this supposed to be a private..."

But watching Xemnas caused Zexion's question to die in his throat. Xemnas had brought his hands together, and had begun to gather the light of Kingdom Hearts to them, "The heart is the embodiment of will, though this collection will provide the raw emotion, it requires...focus." A flash coalesced the writhing mass of souls into a more stable form.

One which Zexion recognized from research long ago, "A heart?" Xemnas walked towards him while holding it to him. Was it a gift? Power to take control of Castle Oblivion?

But...looking at it closer...the shade that seemed to dance within…"It looks...strange?"

"But you need it do you not?" Xemnas spoke as he offered it to Zexion, "To feel the gaping void that has eaten away at you be filled at long last? To provide the power and knowledge you seek?"

…

To feel that numbness finally end? And to acquire all that had been kept from him by the foolish king's rules?

Zexion's hands trembled, "Yes."

Xigbar clapped his hand on his shoulder, "Then what are you waiting for?"

Zexion's hand snatched out to grab it. A new heart! All for himself! It vanished in his grasp. But he could feel it.

Surging with in him.

Filling him.

Eating him.

"What…" He could barely gasp out...His body...All he was! It was…! It was!

"Yeah. it hurt for me too." Xigbar's grip was like iron as he writhed.

"But I promise, things will be simpler now." Despite the ringing in his ears, Xemnas' voice was as clear as a bell.

"Just let me in."