Chapter Twenty Seven: Recall

When she first woke up, breakfast was the farthest thing from Naminé's mind. All she could think about was trying to keep what she remembered fresh in her head. At least long enough for her to confirm what had happened was not just a coincidence. If she was right, it was a lead that Ven desperately needed. But as Yuffie reminded her of her headaches, she almost thought she would barely have any appetite until she had a chance to unpack what had happened to her. Strangely enough, the meal helped to bring things into focus and allowed her to regain energy sleep had sapped from her.

So when Merlin came over to sit beside them as they finished their meal in the great hall, Naminé was much less worried than before. "Now, before you went to bed, you said you were seeing things you didn't know about."

"Right. Things Sora hasn't ever seen." She closed her eyes and tried to recall some of the images. Bring them into focus and remember. And as she did, they all seemed to be in some of the same places. Places she knew. "I see...the Enchanted Dominion and Dwarf Woodlands."

"What about people?"

At Yuffie's question, Naminé reached for the notepad she kept at her side. "Right. Let me try to sketch." She didn't want to hold everyone up, so something quick would have to do for now. The vision became more vivid and distinct, and as it did she reached for her pen and began the outline of one of the more clear figures that she could pick out.

While she was focusing, she couldn't quite see everyone's reaction. But when Ven spoke, she could pick up on the hope in his voice, "Hey, I think that's—."

"Let her finish." Although Yuffie cut him off, Naminé could understand where Ven was coming from. Even without any color she knew exactly who it was that she had been seeing in her visions and dreams.

"That's Aqua. It has to be Aqua!" And so did Ven as she looked up to see him alight with recognition. "That's right! I know she came to Enchanted Dominion too!"

"Seeing her might be related to the two of you making contact with her dreams." Merlin nodded as he looked over the sketch.

"That's not all." Naminé continued as she searched a bit farther. And once again, the figure was familiar. "Their clothes are totally different. But…I think I recognize them." Rather than the dark cloak she had known, she sketched a more intricate outfit. Straps across the chest, and a pauldron on his shoulder. But the face was easy to recognize. "I think it's Erxart. Or..."

"Terra." She looked to see Ven nod in grim recognition beside her. "That's what he wore, and I remember hearing he was in the Dwarf Woodlands."

Yuffie got up and began to pace. "So maybe you're seeing some of Ven's past now?"

Naminé sighed and set her notepad and crayons aside. "I don't know. It's all so jumbled and I make anything clearer." More than that though, why? What was causing her to see things and people related to Ven and places he had been? During her imprisonment she wondered why she was given power over memories. Now she was beginning to ask what her power even was in the first place.

Merlin began to stroke his beard as he contemplated everything. He looked out the open window and asked, "Tell me, can you still see Sora's memories?"

Naminé closed her eyes once again as she tried to follow that familiar chain. But strangely enough, as she followed it, some of those links seemed to be slipping away. "It's a bit difficult. I can see some of the more important memories, like his journey with Donald and Goofy. But the farther I go back, the harder it is for me to see those memories."

Yuffie stopped before turning to Naminé with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe because Sora doesn't remember those memories himself." She shrugged and shook her head "Let's face it, I don't think we remember every little thing we did as kids."

"True. There is that factor to consider." Merlin nodded in agreement. "Well, how are you feeling now?"

Ventus gently rested a hand on her shoulder. "Good enough to come with us? Or did you want to stay here?"

Naminé put her own hand on his and smiled as she got to her feet. "I think I'll be fine. Thanks, Ven." Ever since they met he'd been helping her every step of the way. Not only finding a path for freedom, but also helping her to realize a strength she could use to help others. To help him. And heart or not, seeing Ven smile helped lift Naminé's spirits too.

Though...were his cheeks usually so pink?

Merlin chuckled as he got to his feet and re-adjusted his hat. "Well, if you're feeling fine enough to travel, feel free. If anything changes let me know." He began to walk towards the hall exit leading to where they had set down the Gummi ship."For now there is the matter of the Heartless around the Castle of Dreams. Specifically a very powerful one on the edge of town."

Yuffie stretched as she walked alongside him with Naminé. "So we've got to play exterminator so Maleficent doesn't get her hands on it." She paused and narrowed her eyes. "Or maybe it was the other guy. Big cat in a red and purple suit. Not that smart."

"Pete." Naminé recalled him from their visit before. And then realized something else that happened when she first saw Maleficent's henchmen. "Ven, you said you...knew him?"

She stopped, trying to see where an absent Ventus had gone off to. Fortunately, he wasn't that far, just where they had sat down in the hall to talk. But she saw him going over her notepad, crayon in hand. She must have left it there in the moment. He looked up and jogged over with Naminé's drawings. "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking, Larxene said Terra and Xemnas were almost alike except for the hair and eyes." He flipped the notepad over to show the three of them.I'm just trying to draw it to see what he looks like."

"Or at least get an idea." Yuffie leaned in as he inspected the now gray hair and yellow eyes before eventually groaning. "Doesn't ring a bell for me though. Do you know them Naminé?"

Naminé looked down at the picture.

"Naminé?"

Then blinked as she saw someone else.

"Regarding the experiment..."

"Opportunistic fool."

"Won't be needing this anymore..."

"Hello again, friend."

"Lead me into everlasting darkness!"

Once again, there was that pain. And images she could hardly put together. All but the last. The thread tying them together. The person that Ven's drawing resembled uncannily.

"Naminé? Are you sure you're okay?" Ven was already at her side, concern clear in his eyes.

She looked back down to the altered picture. "When you color him in like that he looks like Ansem."

This bit of news caused Yuffie to drop her chipper demeanor and take a step back. "Wait. The old king around here that went nuts and turned himself into a heartless? But how would you knoooohhhh right. Sora' memories."

Naminé nodded as Ven handed the sketchbook back to her hands. "It's not something I can forget seeing. He was the leader of the heartless until Sora beat him."

Ven frowned as he crossed his arms in silence. "Someone strong like that would have a Nobody, right?"

And at that the four of them were quiet. The answer was clear enough that words were unneeded. Xemnas could only be the Nobody of Ansem.

Still, Ven hardly seemed satisfied by what he learned. "But how do they know me? I never met Ansem when I came here. It's like the closer we get to finding answers, the more we just run into bigger questions."

Merlin nodded grimly. "But the more questions we know, the better we know where to look. I'll let the rest know so they can look over some of his journals. There must be something here that can explain your connection." He began to hurry back towards the main castle "For you three, time is of the essence. Letting the heartless roam free will just add to our problems."

Ven sighed and began to walk towards the door. "Right, don't want another invasion from Maleficent while we're busy."

Yuffie jogged up and tried to smile with some confidence. "Hey, we've got this covered. I bet once we're done, they'll have that annex opened up and we can take a look around."

"And maybe while we're there, we can talk to the Fairy Godmother and find out what's going on with our dreams." Naminé walked up beside Ven as he looked at her. "Find a way to help Aqua."

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right." Turning back to them, Ven gave a more confident grin. "Let's go!" And with that they resumed heading back to the gummi ship. If they didn't take care of this now, then that just left more time for Maleficent and Xemnas to continue their plans.

In the room where nothing gathered, three were seated. The three knew each other, as in a sense they were one and the same. Saïx folded his hands together as he began the discussion. "Roxas' progress under proper tutelage is astounding. Already he has surpassed reports of Sora's power."

Xigbar waved him off with a narrowed eye. "Though keep in mind, those last reports were a month ago. And since resetting Sora got taken off the table, I wouldn't be surprised if that kid learned a few new tricks too." He couldn't help a scowl as he asked, "The real question is how long we're going to keep his teacher."

Xemnas nodded as he calmly listened to Xigbar's complaint. "Indeed. Though he is loyal to the Organization for now, Exart's power might become a liability if he becomes convinced to turn against us." A smile crept across his face. "Perhaps we should put that loyalty to the test."

Saïx smiled as he heard the request. "I believe I can think of a method to ascertain his ultimate loyalty."

"Good to hear you're so on top of things." Xigbar crossed his arms as faked cheer gave way to annoyance. "Not like how we're taking our time with Sora."

Xemnas' grip tightened ever so slightly as he sat on the highest throne. "He is a unique case. He must be...educated."

Xigbar scoffed and waved hand from his seat. "Are you sure you want to keep this up? Why not wipe them out once our Kingdom Hearts is ready to make the rest of our seekers and just take the princesses? We make the χ-Blade with them, get the real deal, problem solved." Crossing his arms as he stated the simple solution, Xigbar scowled, "Are you really that desperate to prove—?"

"There is nothing they can do to stop us." Xemnas interrupted Xigbar while Saïx listened on. "Whatever method we pursue to achieve victory matters little. The Kingdom Hearts above us grows ever faster day by day, and its power shall be the answer to claiming the true χ-Blade." The three looked up, where outside their castle the heart shaped moon had already regrown. "When we are ready, they will all know true power."