This chapter was hard for a multitude of reasons.
Please, a review for the author, a smidgeon of likes, perhaps… a heart?

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They tell me There is no place for you here
Don't waste your time

I saw the crack run through, Every word you thought you knew
You swore to meet us there, Swore to lead in what we share
-Demon Hunter, No Place for You Here
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It was time.

The day had arrived for his actual tests. Paper and physical both to see if he could be allowed to enter the Academy.

Data-him had been nice enough to only pop-up for small periods of time to check in with him, whereas Vanitas…

He had either been aware and alright, or half delirious and sick. However, without any way to help him and it simply being a matter of time before their Hearts… merged? There was nothing he could do to alleviate his symptoms.

Initially when he'd woken up that morning he was abuzz with energy, restless as he got ready for the day. His adventuring clothes put back on as he felt a little more whole. He glanced at his Gummi phone, frowning as he went over to it, "Data?"

The screen turned on as his Data self greeted him, "Morning, Sora!"

He smiled regretfully at the image of his younger self, "I can't take you with me for my tests."

Data wilted at this before slowly accepting it and smiling, "Well, you'll have to tell me all about it when you're done, then!"

Sora nodded, "It might take all day, so don't freak out… alright?"

Data nodded enthusiastically, "Got it! Good luck!"

"Thanks." He took a deep breath as the screen turned dark and he turned. He lightly brushed against Auron's Heartbinder as he left the room to meet up with his mother.

He was a little startled at her appearance, as well as Skuld's.

Skuld was wearing what might have been her adventuring outfit- black jacket, button up white top, pleated black skirt with various belts and boots. Ava was in her Foreteller robes as he was shocked by the fox mask. Suddenly he understood how so many could follow her lead.

Ava looked him over before she nodded, "You ready?"

He nodded determined as he looked to Skuld, "Yup. Are you coming with us?"

Skuld nodded, "Yes. I am also a Keyblade Wielder, but I haven't been able to summon it for a long time. They still want me present though, and to give me a short physical."

Sora nodded slowly as he glanced to the side, "What about Rota..?"

Ava smiled awkwardly, "We have a babysitter who'll be here in a few minutes. Once she arrives and I explain where everything should be that she'd need or should know we'll be on our way."

Sora nodded absently as he took that in.

Soon enough, they were ready to go and the three got into Ludorr's car.

The anxiety began to build, 'Vanitas?'

The other rasped, his voice seeming to be almost gone, 'What?'

Sora furrowed his brows, unsure if he should say anything but also knowing he'd be mad if he left him hanging, 'You've been getting worse.'

'Yeah.'

Sora sighed lightly as he watched buildings pass by.

His Heart ached as his nerves made him grip his knees, 'I'm nervous.'

'Understandable.'

The brunette closed his eyes, '...Are you… running out of time?'

'...Good luck.'

Vanitas's presence seemed to fall back away from him in a way that made his nerves worse. He'd hoped Vanitas would be feeling up to teasing him so he could distract himself, but now he had one more worry on his plate.

"Sora."

The brunette blinked as he turned his attention to Ludorr, "Yeah?"

The driver pursed his lips for a moment, "You previously failed your Mark of Mastery, correct?"

Sora tilted his head in confusion, "Yeah, why?"

The Gambler paused for a long moment, "Consider this a second chance to gain it."

Sora gasped as he sat forward, "What?! Why?!"

Ludorr glanced back at him for a second as he kept his eyes on the road, "Ava is a Master, as well as Skuld and I being Union Leaders. You are more than worthy of the Mark, but until a 'test' is given, you cannot gain the advantages of it. Unfortunately, your Heart must be tested to gain it." Ava seemed to have a large number of concerns as she kept her head bowed and white knuckled hands gripped on her knees.

Sora frowned as he sat back and looked at the car roof, "...Alright."

It was just one more thing that he'd have to deal with on such a nerve-wracking day.

No pressure.

Vanitas whispered wetly in annoyance, 'Fuck.'

The brunette closed his eyes, 'Yeah… same.'

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The written portion of his tests had been as difficult as he'd figured.

He felt… somewhat confident he'd gotten a sixty percent on them. In response to that Vanitas brushed the feeling of assurance against him as he agreed with the thought.

Vanitas was way smarter than him so that boosted his confidence.

His psyche evaluation had gone decently as well despite feeling as though Vanitas were simply slipping away from him like a Full Moon tide.

Clearly psyche tests weren't fool-proof.

Or was he fooling himself?

Sora sighed as he stretched, wondering if he'd ever been through so many tests in one day- barring his medical evaluations.

Ludorr approached him, "It is now time for your Field test. Unfortunately… it seems the odds are stacked against you."

Sora frowned as the Gambler motioned for him to follow as they walked through the metal halls, "What do you mean?"

"It seems some of our highest ranked officials are in attendance for this test of yours."

He slumped, "No pressure."

Ludorr sighed, "Some Cadets may see this as favoritism, when it is in fact the opposite."

Sora nodded slowly, "So what are you saying?"

"I'm afraid I have no hand in this test, and thus, cannot prepare you accordingly."

The brunette hummed, "That's kind of how it's always been, though."

Ludorr frowned deeply, "They can make use of past Memories as a challenge to your Strength of Will on the Field."

'NO.'

Sora twitched at Vanitas's raspy exclamation, "Uh, is it like... a simulation?"

Ludorr smiled bitterly, "Yes and No. I believe you were thrown into a Game of some sort in Toy Box?"

The brunette gasped as he understood, "So an arena with multiple enemies?" That was… bad. These people had no idea what demons lurked in his past.

"Perhaps. I'm unsure… but your Memories hold Secrets. Depending on how close you and Vanitas are, it could pull from him as well."

Sora wanted to know how Luxord knew about Vanitas, but there was no time to ask.

They arrived in a slightly larger hallway with a wide viewing window of thick glass. Skuld was standing there tiredly as a group of important looking men stood at attendance.

A man who looked like a King among them.

Sora froze as he met eye-to-eye with Yozora, his mouth agape as he recalled their fight within his Heart (?) amongst their present cityscape.

Luxord grabbed his forearm gently, "No time to dawdle, Rogue."

Sora immediately looked up to Luxord as the man seemed to be giving him a particular Look that let him know he was still looking out for him.

But the Gambler's hands were tied.

Sora slowly nodded as he followed him to a door that opened automatically, "Master Ava awaits in the arena. She is merely a ground level observer."

So that was how they were testing her.

Could she abandon her son to life threatening trauma and still keep control of her emotions?

'Vile.'

Sora felt his nerves hit new heights.

He hated this.

It was a different sort of torment than when they were preparing for the Second Keyblade War- at least he'd had his friends by his side.

Now all he had was his broken Heart, an ailing Vanitas, and the possibility of their merge happening anytime for any given reason.

Sora clenched his fists and grit his teeth as he finally made it to the wide and empty arena. He took note of the distance on all sides to understand that no matter where this simulation would take them, there was an area limit.

It wouldn't be real.

He stood 20 feet across from his mother who nodded to him, bringing her hands in front of her as she called her Keyblade into her hands, teeth towards the ground in a submissive hold.

Sora began to breathe while counting as he inhaled and exhaled to keep himself centered. He glanced up towards the crowd in attendance, perhaps twenty individuals in all including Skuld and Luxord.

Luxord seemed terribly helpless in that moment, encouragement and regret all in one.

He turned his gaze back to his mother for a time before closing his eyes and bowing his head.

A blaring alarm that beeped for a nerve jumping moment as his only warning to the drastic change the arena took.

A cross shaped path with hundreds of dead Keyblades came into being around them, arid sand and dry heat leaving him breathless as Vanitas screamed from within, his mother across from him similarly affected as she began to back up with terror clear in her body language at the scene.

"So we meet again, boy."

He spun, the man who refused to stop interfering with his and his friends' Destiny's alike standing with hands behind his back, a smug smirk on his face.

"Xehanort!'

The image of the Old Goat had the audacity to deepen his all-knowing gaze, "Ah, Vanitas, a miserable failure if there ever was one, even after you've been sacrificed for my goals twice over."

Sora clutched his chest at the rush of emotions going through him, the thick black horrid rage and terror that pumped through his blood as he tried to emotionally separate himself, 'Vanitas, keep it together!'

Xehanort chuckled raspily as he waved a hand, "Fitting that the one who harbors Hearts would gain such a terrible parasite. It was quite the oversight on my part to have not noticed him during our final clash, considering how he had cloaked you so thoroughly in his essence as I stole every last drop of your Light."

Sora clutched his head as he tried to keep steady from the weight and agony of it all, "Stop it!"

Something shattered within.

Xehanort snatched him around the throat as Sora attempted to gasp in air a second too late from the horrible pain radiating within his Heart, doubling his agony as he instinctively clawed at the hand that grabbed him, raising him off of his feet as he kicked in futility. He looked blearily down at Xehanort's ecstatic face as he tried to summon Kingdom Key.

It could not come.

His hands burned at his Call, the Key(s?) trying to respond.

His Station was falling apart.

Vanitas was screaming.

Xehanort Cast Thundaga through his vice grip just as Sora was about to black out, making him choke in agony further as the Master dropped him, leaving him to seize on the ground in (familiar?) agony as everything was falling apart around him.

Red robes flashed as a sword glinted with energy above him at the Old Goat.

Sora blacked out.

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He was floating in that black abyss, his crystalized Heart floating above him as his Health was depleted in that single strike.

Since when had he lost so much of his available vitality?

"Sora."

The brunette opened his eyes in the dark, Vanitas's weak and rasping voice calling to him.

"Sora-! I'm sorry."

The brunette collected his Heart back into himself weakly as he slowly turned towards the crumbling Station below.

Vanitas stood in the center of it, having activated the Keyhole hidden from those who Slumbered. Was he… using the Power of Waking?

"...Vanitas?"

The raven haired teen laughed wetly as grey-tinted tears fell down his face, his Keyblade placed directly into the Lock as he seemed to be holding himself up by its hilt, "Time's up."

Sora floated closer, "Now?"

"Your Heart's given out, or do you not notice it crumbling?"

The whole outer edges were gone, eating into the fourth ring rather quickly, "I-"

"Auron's Summoned himself by Will alone- it won't last. This is your Final Test, y'know? I'm just a single piece of the countless number of Darkness that exist. Now perhaps we can finally understand each other."

Vanitas was vaguely rambling, but he had so much to say and yet no way to speak it all.

He turned his Key, the Station blinding them both as it became a sort of pitch black that seemed to exist outside of reality.

Just as the brightest Light could hurt, so could the pitchest Dark.

Vanitas was glowing with a very small and soft light. Sora was unable to move any closer to him, as if kept out by a barrier.

Vanitas closed his red eyes with a smirk on his face, "Sorry Sora. I really hate that fucker, and I hope we can give him hell." Darkness began to fall off of him in a way that reminded Sora of when each of the Members had fallen in the graveyard.

Like when Axel had faded.

Yet, as Vanitas's image distorted, something shifted, and his old bodysuit and helmet returned.

However, he was in the same Monochrome as his Keyblade.

Slowly Vanitas stood back from his Keyblade as it finally released itself from the Lock, floating in wait for its new Master's hand.

The Remnant looked up at Sora as the Hero reached out, creating the foundations of their bond with the Memories they shared.

The Remnant dissipated into a flurry of violet hued petals of Light that coalesced into his hands as it created a black and white Heartbinder, the Unversed symbol on its white face surrounded by purple-black metal.

He held it close as his Heart Station slowly revealed its new face, the terrible Darkness slipping away like rivulets of water.

Maroon and blue interchanged with one another in a strange sort of balance (the thought of yin and yang passing through his mind) as maroons and reds faded into his blues and purples.

His image reflected the current him asleep, Kingdom Key in hand as Vanitas lay flipped opposite, his own monochrome Keyblade in hand as he had come to be. The sea and clouds that had been there now in sunset as the halo between them had been shifted. A Crown symbol directly between them as the other circles were filled with the Gears of Vanitas's chain, Lost Memory (so Vanitas's knowledge supplied), Oathkeeper's, as well as Oblivion's could be distinguished behind them both.

He landed lightly on his newly repaired Station clutching his chest, the final piece of Vanitas held close as he cried out in agony and sorrow in equal measure.

So much made sense.

So much no longer made sense.

Who would he become, now that two drastically different existences had been made into one whole?

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To say everything had instantly gone to hell was an understatement.

Ludorr grit his teeth painfully as those in attendance murmured in horror as they realized they'd terribly miscalculated.

They had brushed off Ludorr's counsel with their own plots and devices.

Yozora was rimrod straight as he stared at Sora's still seizing body from the direct Thundaga, disgust rolling in his gut as Master Ava was left to simply spectate this horridly one-sided fight. Just what sort of man had this kid faced?

Skuld was weeping as she pressed against the glass, "Sora!"

Ludorr lifted his vacant Keyblade hand, clenched tight as he knew the Call would never be answered from so far away.

He had given that right over long ago, for even practice blades refused him for his rank.

They were simply unworthy, and could not take to his demands amicably.

A pop nearby, barely distinguishable above the murmuring of his Superiors.

"What a fine mess you've been dragged into, Brain."

Ludorr-no, Brain's heart nearly stopped as he took in a sharp breath and turned his gaze downwards to a familiar alto.

His Chirithy stood, scarred and missing patches of fur, but it was there. Fedora (missing its feather), black cape (terribly torn at the bottom edges), and black scratched Lux purse in all its Dreameater glory. It turned its head up towards him, "Another Dreameater's on its way."

Another…?

Ludorr felt the tears on his face as he gingerly picked up the healing feline as he softly spoke to it, "Do you mean-"

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Ava was not expecting that place.

The place that brought an end to so many Wielders- including so many children within her Vulpes Union.

The place she had been first taken away from towards this strange Future.

Keyblade Graveyard

She almost collapsed at the sight of it, the age of the dead blades showing the truth of this Memory.

It was Sora's (or perhaps, the one who was within his Heart?), the terrible battle that had been Foretold.

That Ephemer had made his connection to help with.

Ava felt herself take a few unsteady steps back as tears burned her eyes and cheeks, 'No no no no no, not this place, not here!'

Sora had turned, the image of man she vaguely recalled from the book mocking him before snatching him by the throat and lifting him.

Her scream stayed deep in her chest as she gasped, left under a multitude of restrictions that her Will alone had to uphold.

How dare they! How dare they force them to suffer this!

Her Heart railed at the treachery of it all as her Mind understood exactly why they had done this.

She gripped Vulpes and prayed, 'I'm so sorry Aeros! Sora!'

The old man choking her son Cast Thundaga straight into him by his throat, laughing at his agony as he dropped him to seize from it. The man looked down at her son dispassionately, as if this were a sight he'd seen a thousand times before.

Perhaps he had.

The Dark Heart hidden behind her son's had been scarred enough to match.

And then Darkness erupted from underneath Sora, coalescing into a pillar of purple-black energy that made her weary.

Something was changing, and it terrified her as her Heart responded to that change.

I'm so Proud!

Her breath shuddered at the Memory of her Master's voice.

The Future beyond that page is Unknown even to me.

The serpentine eye on her Keyblade's charm went grey and blind.

The pillar of Darkness finally calmed as it revealed her son barely on his feet once more.

She swayed at the strange image in front of her as Sora slowly straightened himself to face his opponent down.

Sora's appearance had shifted.

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He was running.

Nothing could get in his way as he allowed his Heart to guide him as a multitude of emotions drove him forward.

He was being Called.

He couldn't answer fast enough- he simply didn't have the skill Sora had.

All the same, he would get there, hell or high water.

A Military building quickly made itself apparent as he frowned, brow furrowed as he Flowmotioned over the scrambling security detail and went straight for the source pulling at his Heart.

He summoned Braveheart to his hand, breaking through hazy windows that showed off a familiar landscape, quickening his steps as he saw the pillar of Darkness recede from his friend.

"Xehanort!"

The man pivoted as he summoned his own Keyblade to block his Strike, forcing him to immediately go into a combo set as the elder Master matched him blow for blow.

He growled as he used his Dark Divide shotlock in quick succession to his regular Strikes.

The old man laughed, "Of course, coming to 'save' your friend and ruin his chances of success once more?"

Riku stopped as he breathed sharply, "You won't trick me with your lies!"

Xehanort chuckled, "It might have been my fault that he failed his first Mark, but now your interference shall fail his second!" He raised his hands as Keyblades erupted from the ground in a whirlwind, leaving Riku no time to Counter as he was swept up in the barrage of metal and rust as the elder laughed. He yelled in frustration as he finally activated his Barrier and used Aerial Recovery to escape and land awkwardly on the ground.

Riku shook himself as he turned to Sora's unmoving form, only to realize that something had changed his friend.

Sora's clothes were the same as he'd last remembered, but instead of simple shades of brown on his head, he had gained obvious black roots that faded into the brown. Instead of slim-but-fit features, his muscles had become vaguely more defined than what was considered normal- not overly so, but still enough to be noted.

His arms were a strange black that faded back into flesh just past his elbow, red tinting his fingers as faded black also peaked from the bottom of his pants.

It was like Aqua all over again.

Slowly Sora straightened, instead of a lazy posture it was more stiff and arrogant as he slowly turned.

His left eye was a strange blue that seemed almost purple, while Sora's right eye had become strangely vibrant aqua-green, similar to the coloring of his own eyes.

Riku's Heart trembled as he recognized its coloring to be similar to that of the eye that had been present on Way to Dawn and Soul Eater.

"S-Sora?"

The brunette slowly turned his gaze to him, expression dull and blank as he answered flatly, "Riku."

A woman yelled in emotional agony.

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Ava was clutching her head as she took several steps back, 'No! That couldn't be possible!"

But her Heart knew.

It accepted it before her Mind ever would.

Sora was somehow him.

"How pitiful."

She gasped as she barely had the time to recognize her Master's blade that had been handed down to Luxu before barely lifting Vulpes to take the brunt of the old man's swing.

He was strong for an old bastard.

She yelled as she heard distant voices call in alarm as she tried to reorientate herself.

If the fight came to her, she could defend.

So she did.

She screamed all of her anger, fear, and frustration into a Counter Strike that unbalanced the old man, shocking him with the magnitude of her Power. He smirked, "Not bad."

She breathed heavily as she charged, immediately using Foxtrot three times over before settling near Riku's startled side.

Ava's hands ached from how hard she was gripping Vulpes.

She turned to Riku, "Together?"

Riku nodded without hesitation as they both charged the elder Master, both going strong with varied attacks as Xehanort seemed to become slightly overwhelmed by their efforts.

He summoned another Keyblade Tornado to give himself a breather as he returned his sights onto Sora.

But the boy had moved from his last position.

He startled as Sora appeared above him, rage clear in his features as he brought down the monochrome Void Gear with familiar precision. Xehanort went to block as usual, after so many years training the thing in human shape.

Yet, he was left shocked as the blade broke through the guard, disarming him as it hit him square in the chest, "Freeze!"

Xehanort gasped as the thick and heavy Keyblade caused insurmountable damage in combination with the Magic he'd Cast. He stumbled backwards, gripping his chest as the scenery around them changed.

He was breathing heavily as they stood on that balcony in Scala ad Caelum.

"So you believe you have bested me once more?"

Sora was breathing heavily as some level of awareness returned, his voice deep and rough, "I've hated you for everything you did to me."

Xehanort chuckled as he bowed his head, leaning on No Name, "A creature such as you… something less than Nothing given shape by stealing from the essence of Others." He laughed tiredly as he looked him (them?) in the eyes, "My job is finally complete. I have already granted you your Mark, yet you simply refused to believe it."

Sora's brows and lips furrowed, "My Mark…?" His voice slowly lightened to his usual cadence as the black and red slowly receded from his skin, "You mean…"

Xehanort straightened, dismissing No Name as he placed his hands behind his back, "Very Well Done."

Sora sharply gasped silently as tears came to his eyes, "That's…" He clenched his eyes and teeth with head slightly bowed as he tried to keep his voice under control, "That's really shitty, y'know?"

Xehanort's image flickered and changed to that of his Younger self that had taunted him throughout the Worlds, "And yet, this is the path you helped to carve for me, so long ago."

Sora slowly opened his eyes as he looked at Young Xehanort, "What does that mean..?"

The simulation slowly fizzled to its end as the other man smiled, his eyes shifting from yellow to grey, "That's for you to find out."

Sora fell to his knees as the merge began to take its toll, blacking out as voices shouted muzzily in the distance.