I do not own anything from Kingdom Hearts.

And Yen Sid's world is called The Mysterious Tower.

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Did it really have to be this way?

Aqua quietly thought floating in deep space. The world of the keyblade Graveyard was no more. Its light was blown out similar to that of a candle and it was caused by the destruction of the infamous X Blade. Aqua remembered defeating the possessed Ventus with the help of King Mickey. Then everything went kinda blurry…she could recall an enormous explosion tossing both her and Ventus up to the sky...-wait was Ventus still with her? She gently squeezed her right hand through her steel gloves. It was still gripping the gripping the young boy's limp armored palm.

Oh thank goodness. She sighed attempting to smile but only had enough strength to smirk. It was alright. Nobody would be able to see behind the coal colored helmet. I hope Terra made it out okay...

From the events and situations that led up to this point in space, the blue haired maiden felt that what happened to her teacher and friends were mostly her fault. She shouldn't have left neither of them alone…After constantly telling Ventus to go back home to only find out that their master was going to hurt him, and Terra…having to defend against his own teacher-no his own father. Even to battle Ven just after he recently said, "put an end to me." Her heart ached in a mix of sadness and guilt. If only the three of us stayed together…

"Ventus! Aqua!"

Huh? Looking from the corner of her eye Aqua saw a blurry black fuzz ball gliding towards the drifting pair rather quickly. That voice sounds so familiar…

"Don't worry guys, you're going to be okay!"

Aqua felt a slight touch on her left arm as a ball of light engulfed her surroundings. Her void armor soon denigrated as she found herself laying belly flat on a cold surprisingly clean cement floor. Ventus learned on the wall beside her in his usual clothes still in deep slumber.

"Heal!"

Bright yellow pollen sprinkled over her body freeing her from all ailments and busting her with energy. She gasped raising herself up. "Where am I?" She fluttered her eyes seeing Mickey a few feet in front of her and what looked like they were in Master Yen Sid's study chamber.

"Aqua, you lost consciousness." The keyblade master turned to see Master Yen Sid himself. His deep serious voice caught her by surprise. "Fortunately, Mickey found you and Ventus drifting in the Lanes of In-between and brought you back to me to receive proper care."

Aqua glanced at Venus who was still fast asleep against the pale yellow wall then back to the wise old wizard. 'What about Terra?'

As if reading her exact thought, Master Yen Sid closed his eyes lowering his tone of voice. "I'm sorry but there was no sign of Terra."

A small invisible needle prickled her heart. "I see…" Aqua glanced down at the grey cemented floor. She sighed looking back at her other dear friend. 'How am I going to tell Ven?'

She reached out placing her hand on Ventus's right shoulder nudging him enough to feel. "Ven! Ventus!" She raised her voice, shaking him a bit harder. No use…she slowly withdrew her hand…he's not waking up…

"The boy's heart is sleeping." Said the grey bearded wizard.

"When will he wake?"

Yen Sid exhaled once again closing his eyes refusing to meet hers. "I could not say." The old Master did not like speaking such sad news to the youth. It always brought such a pitiful look on their potential faces but it had to be done. "It is almost as though his heart has left." Aqua stared off in the distance. 'Ventus…' He continued, "Should it return. He may very well wake. Should it not, then he may sleep like this for all eternity."

The invisible need in her heart pricked its way deeper. "No…"she muttered' Ven…Terra...' her hands started forming into fists as she faced Yen Sid. "I'll keep him safe." She turned away to the blond hair boy. "Until he wakes." She pledged. "Forever if I have to." I'll always be there to take care of you Ven…

"I will tell you what your friend needs right now." Yen Sid's eyes widened as he started to face away from the young keyblade wielders. "It is not your protection." He stopped still showing the back of his dark sapphire robe. "He needs you to believe." The wizard raised his arms as if he was trying to show the right path with his words. "You see, Ventus's heart hangs in the balance. From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend." He continued to stroll toward his wooden lime green patted chair as he spoke. "One who believes in him to show him the way home."

Master Yen Sid stood beside his chair for a moment. "Just as long as you love him…then Ventus will be able to find you when he wakes." The chair creaked as the wizard attempted to sit upon it. "He can follow that love back to where he belongs-"He turned his head back to see Aqua, Ventus and Mickey. "The realm of light." A gentle wrinkle smile spreader across his face.

Aqua couldn't help but smile a little herself. There was still hope…

"Ah!" said the delighted mouse spinning to her direction. "Don't worry, Aqua. I believe in Ven too." Mickey raised his glove to the sleeping boy. "Gosh he's been as good as a friend to me as anybody. And if both you and me believe in him with all our hearts…then he'll have two lights to follow instead of one." He grinned.

Aqua chuckled, "Three lights." The king's grin turned into curiosity. "Terra."

Mickey frowned causing his black round ears to lower as well. "But…Terra's gone. Maybe for good."

The young lapis eyed keyblade master shook her head in disagreement as she reached out the star shaped charm from her pocket. "I think I know how to find him." She then showed it to Mickey as she griped it tightly in both her hands.

Please guide me like you did before…

Sorry to inform you that most of this chapter is straight from the dialogue of the game KH:Birth by sleep with my own thoughts and feelings of what I believed Aqua felt. I really wanted to get this out of the way so please dont expect the following chapters to be this long. they probably wont. ^^

Hope it flowed well :D.

Don't worry though, Vanitas will make his appearance again in the next chapter!

Prologue and this chapter updated !