As Akari strolled the island, she found herself regretting not asking Terra about Ven. She had forgotten about him while she was talking to Terra and that made her worry grow.

"I know Riku and Sora are still here…" She glanced at the boats floating gently in the water, tied to the docks, and then at the setting sun. Brushes of color were being painted into the sky as it set and Akari closed her eyes, enjoying the last of the rays.

"They'll go home soon...then I'll talk to them."

"Akari!" Someone called her name and the young girl spun around. Aqua was running up to her with a smile. She stopped in front of the girl and knelt down.

"How are you!" She said warmly. Akari couldn't stop the smile that beamed on her face.

"I'm good. A wizard named Merlin took me back here. But...why are you here!" Aqua smiled.

"I was drawn to the warm light here. I think it came from the two boys I met." Akari's eyes widened.

"You met Sora and Riku too!" Aqua tilted her head curiously before laughing.

"I guess I was right. Terra did come here before me, didn't he?" Akari nodded and Aqua smoothed down the younger girl's hair.

"You're okay, right? Nothing's happened?" Akari nodded and Aqua rose but the child suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Wait! Where's Ven?" She exclaimed worriedly. Aqua turned around and sighed, giving Akari a sad expression.

"I don't really know. I haven't seen him or Terra in awhile. But I'm sure he's okay! The worlds seem to be doing fine, which means that they're still fighting." Her face was holding strength and pride, but her blue eyes held currents of worry in them, worry Akari couldn't possibly perceive yet. The young girl happily accepted Aqua's answer and grinned. Aqua rose and walked over to the small island chained by the bridge. She smiled as she looked at the setting sun and Akari followed her, slightly confused.

"Aqua, are you okay?" Aqua turned and nodded.

"Yeah. It's just that, those fruit remind me of a story I once heard." Akari's eyes widened.

"What's the story!" Aqua laughed at her overzealousness.

"Well, there's this star-shaped fruit, and it has the power to connect people's hearts. She fished something out of her pocket, a glass, star shaped, blue charm and lifted it to the sun.

"An unbreakable connection." Akari noticed how the light filtered through the edges of the charm and she reached out a hand subconsciously. Aqua noticed, smiled, and handed the charm to her. She pressed it into the younger girl's hands and Akari closed her eyes.

"An unbreakable connection…" She echoed Aqua's words. Suddenly, her eyes widened. "I felt Ven! And Terra!" Aqua laughed and ruffled the girl's hair.

"There's a bit of magic in this, and Terra and Ven have matching ones so that we're always connected." Her face fell a little but she covered it up quickly. Akari looked at the charm again with new eyes.

"It's a wayfinder to your friends…" Aqua smiled, unable to stop by how keen this girl was. Maybe she deserved something of her own. Not a keyblade, no. Aqua would not wish to bestow her and her friends' lives on anyone. But her own wayfinder would be fine." Aqua folded her hands over Akari's own, the one that held the wayfinder.

"Close your eyes and imagine your friends." Aqua murmured. Akari did as she was told and closed them. Aqua focused her small magic on the charm she had gifted Akari, the one that was twin to Kairi's own necklace. Inside Akari's own mind, thoughts of Aqua, Ven, and Terra, whirled about. She didn't really understand it, but they had filled her mind the minute Aqua had mentioned friends. Riku, Sora, and Kairi were also there, and Akari could even see some sparks of people she had met, like Lea, Isa, and Queen Minnie. She hadn't realized she had so many friends!

"Open your eyes, Akari." Aqua said gently, her face beaming. Akari did, slowly, and what she saw warmed her heart.

There, in her hand, was a wayfinder, similar to Aqua's own. Instead of blue, it was silver, made of the same glass that allowed the sun to seep through it. A brown band was attached to a side, the only one not tipped in a star, and hanging off the band was a small paopu fruit charm. It seemed to glitter in the sunlight.

Akari covered her mouth, overwhelmed and shocked.

"It...it's...beautiful!" She breathed in amazement. Her face turned to Aqua's but the young woman shook her head.

"You made it with your own strength. She smiled and touched the necklace around the younger girl's throat. "It was the light from your heart and the love for your friends that created it." She pressed a hand to the girl's chest, right over her heart and smiled, still shocked by this young child. "Akari, when your friends are in trouble, what will you do?"

What Akari did next surprised her. She grabbed Aqua's hand and pressed the wayfinder into it.

"I'll fight for them!" Her eyes were alight with a certain sparkle and she leapt back, putting her arms behind her back and grinning. "Yeah!

I'll fight the Unversed and protect everyone! So that they'll be safe forever." Her smile was bright, and so similar to the cheerful Sora, who Aqua had previously met. Aqua laughed to herself and looked out at the sun. She rose up and handed the girl the silver wayfinder.

"Akari, if you're ever uncertain about the darkness, I'm sure there are many people who would proudly be your wayfinder. So don't worry."

Aqua left shortly after, and Akari was left, looking at the sea.

"My wayfinder…" She echoed.