Lol, it took so long to get here and I legit wanna be done with this part of VtD so I can get back to characters I have a clue on how to write, augh. OTL This may be a bit rough, as I'll also be skipping through time to bring us closer to the events of KHU/KHUX/Backcover.

To-xXx-Realize-xXx-This-xXx-Wish

It was a week after Ivina began her training that Sora woke up completely confused as his dream bled away from his memory. He frowned before sitting up abruptly, staring out towards the dark skyline.

'Why are you awake.' Vanitas sounded unusually tired, as if he'd Dreamed along with him.

'What the heck was I just dreaming about?'

'Nothing I wanted to be dragged into.'

Sora rubbed his face, 'Which means..?'

'I barely understand carnal desire, Sora. I don't normally get dragged into your Dreams, but you managed it this time.'

The mixed brunette made a number of facial expressions before going into horror, 'Oh no, not that one. Lust?'

Vanitas huffed, 'Seems to be.'

Sora flopped back into his pillows before turning over onto his stomach, 'I don't wanna deal with this one… I still haven't dealt with my envy!'

Sora could practically feel Vanitas smile as if that were reassuring. 'Deal with it.'

Sora groaned quietly into his pillow, muffling it before he gave it a solid punch.

'Oh, don't have a tantrum over it now.'

But he wanted to. He was tired of carving out pieces of his Heart, of dragging these kids into his problems as their Hearts were the polar opposite of each Sin he bore. The Guilt built up in his gut as he was allowed relief from the flood of emotion he would suddenly lose control of.

He whined, 'Why not Pride?'

Vanitas laughed harshly, 'Because that's my Sin that I've been surviving off of.''

Sora frowned, '...Oh.' He hummed as he pushed himself up and got out of bed, 'Guess I'll have to travel now to get rid of Lust.'

Vanitas seemed to observe him getting ready, 'You're not going to tell your apprentices?'

'Nah. I wanna get this over with as quickly as possible.'

Vanitas sighed lightly, 'Good luck.'

Sora hummed softly as he dressed quickly. He then opened a Light Corridor and stepped through into a back alley on the other side, glancing around tiredly.

A lone light shone in the Town, drawing him as he made himself invisible and hopped up to the windowsill of its owner. A ten year old boy with flaxen blond hair and violet eyes was reading, enraptured by his book. Sora was surprised he was still awake.

Carefully, he Cast Sleep at the boy, his Heart pulling him as he fell under his spell.

Just as he had four times before, he switched out a piece of his Heart for the boy's, only to be baffled at the recompleted Heart Station.

Superbia reacted as the goat's head took shape over purple and grey hues on the stained glass platform.

Sora clutched the Keyblade in hand as he stood over the boy, confused and distressed as a Memory came and dissolved in his mind.

"Oh, but I am worthy."

Sora shook his head harshly as he departed the room, nursing a headache as he returned to the Tower and dealt with his Envy, trading pieces of his and Ivina's Hearts. The image of a Snake with blue hues and swirls appeared on her Station.

By noon he had a full on fever that left him confused as he tried to alleviate his headache unsuccessfully.

He needed to invite the boy he'd yet to even trade names with.

He passed out into his lunch plate, much to the surprise and concern of his Apprentices.

To-xXx-Realize-xXx-This-xXx-Wish

Sora was laying on his Heart Station, his Heart reflecting his appearance during the second Keyblade War. It was rare for him to fall under like this, let alone to be at full rest on the stained glass.

Vanitas was watching over him, his arms crossed as color was slowly bleeding back into his monochrome Darksuit. He frowned at this unwelcome change. Had he pushed Sora too far? But he couldn't handle the overflow of Darkness in his companion's-their Heart.

What was happening?

Vanitas sighed as he closed his eyes, their color bleeding from grey to red as he contemplated the shift in Sora's balance.

Light was finally balanced once more within the brunette's Heart.

Was it from carrying around so much Darkness for so long, that he had fallen under?

Vanitas placed a hand on his chest as he contemplated his place in the Worlds with a deep set frown.

I'm no longer tired of trying to live.

Vanitas was shocked by that internal revelation.

Did he actually want to live his own life?

He smirked, "Heh." He clenched and unclenched his fists while raising his face towards the endless abyss, "It's a bit too late for that now…"

Sora groaned as he came back to himself. The Darkling observed his Other as the brunette blinked open blue eyes. He looked at Vanitas, his voice off as if he was suffering from congestion, "What happened?"

Vanitas titled his head, curious that whatever was ailing Sora in reality was following him here, "You got rid of Envy and Lust and knocked out, I guess."

Sora blinked in a daze as he sat up, holding his head as he looked into his lap, "It's been a long time since I've actually been sick."

Vanitas hummed in agreement as he moved over and sat across from him, relaxed, "I suppose it could have just been about time for you to get sick, but…" He hesitated.

Sora gave him a vague smile, "It's probably from dividing my Heart and taking in so many foreign pieces. People normally can't easily transplant body parts without the risk of rejection…"

Vanitas frowned, "That doesn't bode well when it comes to the Heart, though."

Sora sighed, "I think, now that I feel more like myself and balanced… I wonder if it's you who's rejecting me."

Vanitas gripped his arms as he looked to Sora in shock, "What?"

Sora smiled, "You'd have to come into your own balance, but you've spent a millennium supporting me instead. Something in you must have changed too in all of this."

Vanitas glanced away, recalling his earlier thoughts, "...I think I want to live."

Sora closed his eyes, "I thought so."

Vanitas gave him his full attention again, "Why?"

Sora hummed as he nursed his head, "You didn't really get the chance… and it's still something I want for you, even after all of this time. Maybe it's my own Wish getting in the way…"

Vanitas flopped back, placing his hands behind his head as he made himself comfortable, "...I might have been a part of a collective, but I guess I still was able to live freely as an individual…"

"And you've been a prisoner of my Heart."

Vanitas's fingers twitched, "I chose this."

Sora smiled depreciatively, "Did you, though? To be forced into a physical form by Xehanort? To honestly merge your existence with mine? You're Will and Soul clearly never did fully mix with mine." He waved a hand in his direction, as if to point out that Vanitas was still there, his image blatant on the stained glass across from Sora's own.

Vanitas paused at that, "...You're right." He sighed, "Existing in the realm of Flesh was painful though. I despised it."

Sora glanced away as he spoke softly, "If you had the chance to live in a body that no longer Hurt… would you take that chance?"

"Yes." Vanitas didn't even have time to be shocked at how he didn't have to think about that anymore.

The brunette smiled, "It'll take time… but I think I know how to gain our own separate Hearts."

Vanitas took in a sharp breath, holding it in shock, "What?'

Sora turned back to him, "Just wait and see. I need your help on the outside, anyway. It's a job only one of Darkness can do."

Vanitas observed him for a long moment before rolling his eyes and closing them, "If you say so."

Sora's silhouette was full of loneliness.

To-xXx-Realize-xXx-This-xXx-Wish

Ivina was surprised that it was Ava, a small nine year old girl, who ended up taking on the majority of the burden to care for The Master after he fell ill. However, she was quick to realize that the three boys simply didn't have the prowess in medical knowledge. She noted that the boys were pouring over medicinal recipes and the like, but it had been Ava who had taken to the craft of Healing much more easily than them.

She did what she could to alleviate the burden on the child, though Aced was also quick to assist and give instruction on what to do and what not to do. (It was hard to remember to keep to The Master's left, as he was blind on the right.)

It almost seemed like Aced was nervous, if she were to be honest. Like there was another side of The Master that he was trying to shield the rest of them from.

She wouldn't really know, as she had barely begun to live there.

Four days passed with this strange unease with Ava reading materials by The Master's bedside when she wasn't helping him take some sort of medicinal concoction, or Aced helping with keeping The Master at least somewhat clean or changing the bedsheets with Ira's help.

On the fifth day of The Master being under, a ten year old boy showed up at the Tower entranceway, violet eyes clear and sure as he presented himself to them, bringing forth a standard Starlight Keyblade.

"I had a Dream to come here to train as an Apprentice."

Aced was baffled, Ira was sceptical, Ivina was neutral, Gula was curious, and Ava was frowning.

Ava was the first to approach the flaxen blond, observing him before taking his Keyblade hand and closing her ice blue eyes while placing a hand over her Heart. A long moment passed before she nodded, "It seems you really were chosen by The Master."

Ira frowned as he took a few steps forward, "How can you tell?"

Ava turned, her long braided black hair swaying behind her as she released the newcomer's hand, "We all share something from The Master after he accepts us as Apprentices."

Aced frowned as the little girl turned back to the newcomer, "The Master has been sick for some time, but I'll present you to him."

The blond nodded as Aced finally stepped forward, "But Ava, The Master isn't in any state to see anyone!"

Ava smiled in a way that made the mahogany haired twenty year old step back, "It'll be alright, Aced. If he was called in a Dream to come, then that means it was something The Master meant to do when he was well. He must be needed here now, more than later."

The four others had nothing to say in response to that, so they all followed the two children to The Master's bedroom. Ava turned to the newcomer, "Sorry you had to come under these circumstances."

The flaxen blond shrugged as she went ahead of him, the 5 following after her as she checked The Master over. She changed the cold towel on his forehead and spoke softly, "Vara, there's a boy here to meet you. He says you called him in a Dream to be your Apprentice."

The boy looked the sleeping man over in silence, "He doesn't seem like much, despite his reputation."

Aced frowned in offence as Ira laid a hand on the man's forearm before speaking, "He saved Gula's life, and took us off the streets. Not everyone has to look like a King to be gracious or spectacular."

Gula brightened, "And he's super strong!"

The boy huffed, "Looks emaciated and weak to me. No one special at all."

Ivina had nothing to say, as she hadn't had the chance to have a strong opinion on the matter.

Sora awoke to these words, as a clear image of Xigbar taunting him came to mind. He smiled slightly as he rasped, "I'm well aware I'm no one special."

The six had varied levels of shock as they turned to him, the newcomer now feeling foolish as he flushed. "Uh-"

Sora sighed lightly as he pushed himself weakly into a seated position, Aced helping him as he shifted pillows so that Sora could at least sit up to look at his new guest. The Master looked all of them over, "What a sight I must be, if you're all this worried about me." He felt so tired.

Aced cleared his throat, "Master, you've been asleep for five days."

Sora's eye widened at the revelation before slowly nodding, "Ah, no wonder." He turned his gaze to the newcomer, "What's your name?"

The ten year old startled, violet eyes wide as he stammered out, "Uh-it's Urxul, Master."

Sora blinked, silent for a long moment before he burst out laughing despite how weakness, "E-Erkel? That's your name, and you're saying I'm the lame one?"

The boy blushed as he became slightly heated, "I didn't choose my name!"

Sora wiped a tear from his eye as he tried to get himself under control, finding the whole thing weirdly funny, "Oh, oh no. Please. Let me give you a new name. I must do the same for Ivina as well."

Ivina startled at that, "Huh? I rather like my name…"

Ira had an odd smile on his face, "He grants us new names along with unique Keyblades pulled from our Hearts."

Ivina blinked at that while Urxul frowned, "But I have this Starlight…"

Sora raised a hand as he pointed at the boy, "Correct! I can't grant you your own special Keyblade just yet! So that one'll have to do. All plain jane and normal."

Urxul pouted as the others were still a little baffled. Ava gently placed a hand on Sora's wrist, catching his attention as she looked him over in concern, "I think you should wait until tomorrow, Master. At least until you've eaten a few proper meals and regain the strength to stand on your own."

Sora watched her for a moment before relenting, relaxing into his pillows, "Uwah~." He huffed lightly to himself, "I guess." He closed his eye, "I am pretty hungry, now that you mention it… Thirsty too." He felt gross as well. "Tomorrow then."

The group nodded as Aced spoke lowly, "Should I prepare a room for Urxul?"

Sora opened his indigo eye to look at him, "Sure, go ahead. He'll be learning along with the rest of you from now on."

Aced nodded and went to prepare a space for the boy as the ten year old waffled at his bedside. He mumbled, "S-sorry, Master."

Sora blinked as Ira, Ivina, and Gul filtered out, "What for?"

"Insulting you."

Sora tilted his head, "Nothing that hasn't been said to me before, but thanks for the apology."

The boy looked at him oddly, "I'm aware you have great power to back up your infamy, but… you're nothing like I thought you'd be."

Sora shrugged, "I've lived a long time. I'm both more than the rumors say and less. In the end, you'll just have to find out for yourself, right? Believe what you see with your eyes and all that."

Ava frowned, "But Master, you always say to Let Your Heart be Your Guiding Key!"

Urxul tilted his head at that as Sora smiled in a way that didn't have a drop of positive emotion in it, "Yes, but our Hearts can also lead us down Dark paths, deep into Nightmare Laden Sleep. It can be manipulated against us just as easily as any other part of ourselves. We must use all of our senses to find the correct path… it's just, the Keyblade helps to Guide us just as much as our Hearts."

Ava slowly nodded as Urxul took that first lesson to Heart.

A-New-xXx-Journey-xXx-May-Not-Be-So-xXx-Hard

A few days later Ivina and Urxul were given a proper Keyblade Ceremony.

Ivina gaining the name Invi, as her Keyblade, Anguis was made manifest.

Urxul being given the name Luxu, left with a simple Starlight as his Keyblade until that unknown time came to gain his true Keyblade.

Sora felt weird with the ten year old, as visions of Xigbar constantly came to mind around him, as if echoing phrases from that distant future-past.

Vanitas was similarly affected by Sora's unease.

Superbia's name bled away from his Memory that evening becoming No Name in a sharp headache induced moment for the two of them, as pain radiated like a phantom in Sora's right eye socket. He'd grit his teeth and swallowed his agony at the suppression of his Memory, as it revived so many others.

He Dreamt of several Keyblade Wars over the course of the next month, watching all of the many ways they had failed against Xehanort.

How they had all died innumerable times.

How he had fallen, whether it be long before the War, or because of it.

The times they'd failed to save Aqua.

Ventus's existence dissolving into nothing.

Vanitas sometimes gaining his own self, only to perish bitterly.

Kairi dying over, and over, and over again.

His failure to retrieve her shattered Heart.

Axel falling to Xion's Keyblade, or Isa's Claymore.

Sora wept, 'Why am I seeing all of this, one night after another?!'

Vanitas was silent.

Auron was in a deep Sleep, unable to be of any help at all.

Finally, Sora dreamt of glittering stars, flakes of Light that made up the Worlds, Lux.

He was laying in a field of them, unknown white glowing flowers surrounding him as these snowflakes of Light rained down slowly.

He thought he heard Meow wow in the distance.

A blue scottish fold cat appeared by his side, piercing blue eyes looking him over in curiosity as it rubbed its face against his cheeks, purring loudly as if to comfort his tear stricken grief.

He leaned into its affections, the pain from those Dreams of Memory slowly dimming to muzzy background noise in his mind.

Days of swordplay on their Island, Riku smiling at him, glittering water as Kairi splashed him.

Days of innocence and joy covering the pain of scabbed over Memory.

He wouldn't wish the Memories of any Keyblade War upon countless surviving children.

An idea was planted in his mind as the Dream melted into daylight.

A-New-xXx-Journey-xXx-May-Not-Be-So-xXx-Hard

A year passed as Sora began to design specific clothing for his six apprentices.

Well, five. For whatever reason Luxu was strictly the black coat. He couldn't imagine the eleven year old in anything else.

Ava and Gula were also finally coordinated enough to use their Keyblades Vulpes and Leopardus for daily practice and exercises.

Sora hummed as he thought over the future, as he occasionally looked over his first physical printed draft of That Book. He also needed to write Rules for the ones who would come after his five Apprentices after the fated Keyblade War.

Names filtered into his mind, Ephemer, Skuld, Strelitzia, Lauriam, Brain.

A shadow lingered at the corner of his vision as he sighed lightly, sketching out a headpiece bearing the image of a Bear, "Are you going to settle close to me, or be weird over there in the corner?"

The Shadow flickered and wavered like a candle flame before pressing against his side like his younger Apprentices. Eager and interested in his drawing as he was left unbothered by its proximity.

Animal?

Sora hummed, "Aced is protective like a Bear. Sometimes overbearing, but strong. It suits him, along with colors of the Earth."

The shadow seemed to hum at that.

Others?

Sora pursed his lips as he pulled back a few pages in his notebook, showing off the basic idea of their Magic laden clothing. Hooded capelets, resin gems that dangled, a diamond shaped brooch. Elaborate leather interwoven into their clothes. Small capes to drape behind. It was all rather elaborate if he did say so himself, but he needed his Apprentices to stand out as Leaders, no matter their age.

He trusted the five of them to follow their Hearts, each with their own Role that was forming more and more clearly in his mind each day.

Each would be given their clothing as he made them in order of their coming under his wing.

He would have to make sure Ava and Gula's could grow with them, as they were still at that stage of their lives.

The Coat would change with Luxu, just as it had for him on its own.

He began to create the molds for each resin piece, the shadow cloying at his side an odd comfort through the night.

A-New-xXx-Journey-xXx-May-Not-Be-So-xXx-Hard

Data had declared the digital Daybreak Town a stable success as he was made to go through each World Sora had uploaded.

"Where's Destiny Islands?"

Sora paused, "What do you mean?"

Data tilted his head in concentration, "There's a theme with these Worlds. They're Worlds that have Princesses of Heart… so why not Destiny Islands?"

Sora rubbed his shoulder, "To prevent anyone who might try to interfere with the past from collecting all seven. I can't have a Digital version of the -blade you know. It would be just as disastrously powerful as one made in this realm."

Data hummed as he understood the sentiment, "I see. Makes sense. I do have to wonder though, what antiviral measures you're going to take to keep things safe, here."

Sora frowned. There weren't enough Worlds with advanced technology to be a threat when it came to hacking, but still, "I have something in mind, but it's not permanent."

Data frowned, "But if it's only a temporary measure, what about afterwards if it fails?"

Sora didn't have an answer as he fumbled, "Then everything will Break, as it should. Daybreak Town isn't supposed to last forever…" The murky vision of the Tower, upside down underwater, damaged came to the back of his mind.

"A World from which all others spring… Sca-" He coughed roughly, the name disappearing from Memory as Data looked at him in concern.

Sora placed a hand on his chest and closed his eye, head bowed in thought.

A-New-xXx-Journey-xXx-May-Not-Be-So-xXx-Hard

Sora decided it was high time to teach all of them, or at least, to ensure all of them had proper education about sex and what happened during puberty once his youngest had turned twelve. (He realized it may have been a bit late, but it had been the age the Islands had chosen for public schooling to teach them about such things as he muzzily recalled the barely noted lessons.)

Aced may have been a bit too old for some of it, but he felt Ava and Gula had finally gotten to an appropriate age to clue them in. He didn't want Ava to freak out when things started happening to her, since she had started a growth spurt of sorts much to Gula's chagrin as she became taller than him.

He had planned it over three days, the first to get the basics of puberty down along with varied sexuality, and the other two to have specific amounts of time spent on the male and female body respectively.

Ava became sick the night of the first lesson. Invi offered to take notes and catch her up once she was better, so he agreed and went through with his lessons.

Yet, as days and weeks passed, Sora realized no matter how much he prodded or asked Invi to pass on her notes and knowledge onto her fellow Apprentice, for whatever reason there was always an excuse for why the task hadn't been dealt with.

Sora himself seemed to hit roadblocks each time he decided to take matters into his own hands. The fountain in the square exploded, weird technical issues would occur in the Tower, locking floors and forcing him to spend hours repairing the gears.

For whatever reason, outside of the basics of puberty, it was as if Fate itself was preventing Sora from ensuring Ava a full and proper education on the female body and everything that went along with it.

Finally he gave up after one of his computers blew up on him, nearly deleting Data with it.