Authors Note: Hey guys! So, as promised in the last chapter, we're skipping over the Pride Lands to have a little history lesson. Ever wonder why Keyblade Master's have protectors? You're about to find out! Before we get started, thanks to: angellove123, SpringBorn, Dracula X, and psychicshipping for their reviews. Thanks also to xXYuseiXAkikoXx for adding me to their favorite authors list! This chapter is going to include some stuff from Birth By Sleep, so if you are afraid of spoilers, then you can skip it. Nothing too important is going to happen, and if you think you missed something you can always message me. One more quick thing before we start, obviously this story has the potential of going two ways. Yes, I am speaking of Demyx and his coming destruction. Whether he fades like in the game, or whether he miraculously survives I'm leaving up to YOU, my wonderful readers and reviewers. I have no problem writing either scenario, so I decided to consult the people who have stuck with me through this wild ride that is my trilogy. Majority wins! So leave a review or PM me with how you'd like it to go. Anyways, onto the chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable. Just my OCs Katy, Cassie, and Ryan

The Great Library. One of Disney Castles most overlooked features. The information that King Mickey had collected from his time as Master Yen Sid's apprentice all the way through his rule up to nearly present day was located here. Not many people knew about it, because the library was enchanted with a special bit of magic—it would only show the information the seeker needed, and that was only if the library thought the reason you needed the information was a good one.

What? You didn't expect the King to just leave the world's secrets just lying around for anyone to see, did you?

Demyx liked the Castle's library. The Organization more or less left Disney Castle alone—there were no Heartless there thanks to the Cornerstone of Light—so it was a place he could go when he just needed to get away from everyone. He'd only ever tried to obtain information from the library one time…when he needed to give Katy a logical explanation of how she got to Castle Oblivion before sending her there so Axel wouldn't decide he needed to "eliminate the traitor."

Another part of the library's enchantment was that none of the records could ever be destroyed. When Axel burned the page back in Castle Oblivion, it returned to the library unscathed. Demyx was reading it over for the umpteenth time now. He was quite fond of the bit of data that saved his life.

When Eraqus was defeated at Terra's hand, Aqua took the advice he gave her when she became a Keyblade Master. She sealed the world's keyhole from darkness and recreated it so only she knew the true layout. Anyone else who tried to navigate it would become lost in oblivion.

Underneath the writing was a map of Gummi Space, showing where the Land of Departure—now Castle Oblivion—used to be. Which was how he'd been able to avoid getting eliminated for treason. Demyx had no clue who "Eraqus" Terra" and "Aqua" were, but they seemed important. In fact, he was forever grateful that Axel had kept his big mouth shut about the page from the library. If the Superior found out…well, let's just say that Disney castle wouldn't remain untouched for much longer.

Sighing, Demyx rubbed his temples, watching as the sheet of paper disappeared from the table and back to it's respective book. He was confused and more than a little freaked out, that's why he was here. He needed answers, and the library had helped him before…

He just didn't know if he wanted the answers.

It was stupid, really. So his name had been on Santa's nice list. Big deal.

Recon of Halloween Town proved that the names of Nobodies didn't appear on either of the lists. He knew, he'd been on that mission with Zexion.

If he was on that list, that meant he existed…in some form.

He remembered Zexion going on and on to about how Santa's list was very low-grade magic. And even the slightest bit of human existence would register. That way it insured that no one would be left out of Christmas. So, really, his name being there could mean nothing at all.

So why did he feel so damn hopeful? He shouldn't be able to feel anything at all!

Dropping his head to the table with a dull, "thunk" he groaned.

He just wanted to know…

No sooner did the thought cross his mind then a book materialized under his forehead. Picking himself off the table, he watched as the book opened to a page labeled Nobodies.

Ugh. Like he didn't know that story.

Nobodies are born when a heart is overcome by darkness and becomes a Heartless. The empty shell left behind when the heart is gone—the body and the soul—gives the Nobody life. The stronger the will, the more human the Nobodies form, the stronger the Nobody. All Nobodies vanish from the Realm of Light when created and are born in worlds in between light and darkness. However, because they do no have hearts, they are shunned from both light and darkness.

Well that was unhelpful. He knew that already! It did give him a smidge of comfort though, his Somebody must have had a strong will in order for him to be there today. Even though he was not commended for his strength in the Organization, (he wasn't commended for anything really) he still existed in the same way the rest of them did, which counted for something…they hadn't kicked him out yet, right?

Organization XIII saved Demyx from himself. It's terrifying waking up and barely remember anything. Being 19 years old and having nearly no past to look back on. It's enough to make anyone want to end their existence. The Organization, despite how screwed up some of the members are, is like a family. A sick, twisted family whose members only got along once in a while, but a family none the less. They were all in the same predicament, so they stuck together. And really, all they wanted was to become whole…to be real again. Why was that so horrible? If you had something taken from you, wouldn't you want it back? Unless they had hearts, they would never be accepted, but how could you tell that they didn't have hearts?

Everyone in the Organization had his or her own rant about being a Nobody; this was his.

Take him out of the black cloak and gloves and put him in regular street attire. Say he swore he'd never use his abilities ever again. Then put him next to a regular guy. Hell, put him next to the freaking Keyblade Master if you want. What made them different? What was it about him that would make people shy away…that would clue them in that he wasn't just like them? He needed to breathe to continue existing. If you cut him, he still bled. He got tired and needed sleep at the end of the day. He didn't need to consume flesh or drink blood to survive, so what? What was it besides his lack of heart that made him existing so wrong?

And another thing…

How could being a Nobody be such a bad thing? If his Somebody's will to live had been so great that Demyx was standing here now, what made that an abomination instead of a second chance at life? He could go to worlds in the Realm of Light. He wasn't a vampire; he wouldn't burst into flames. If he never joined Organization XIII, if he just accepted what happened to him and moved on, lived life like a normal person what would make him inferior to anyone around him? Nothing. That's why he didn't understand. So he didn't have a heart. He still felt things. He got angry; he got depressed, he was pretty sure he was falling for the Keyblade Master's girlfriend for Gods sake so what was the big deal? Why couldn't people like Sora, and King Mickey just leave him be?

He angrily swiped the book off the table. It was complete and utter bullshit.

When the book fell, the page turned and Demyx noticed a hastily scrawled note on the back of the page.

Nobodies do not exist; but can they be believed in?

Heart pounding, Demyx gripped the book so hard his knuckles were white.

"Tell me more." He said in a harsh whisper.

The book quivered in his hand and he released it. It flipped to the last page and on the back cover, another note in the same handwriting had been written.

Santa Claus does not exist. But children believe in him; and so he is.

Therefore if Nobodies do not exist; but someone believes in them, wouldn't they be?

A prince does not exist. A Beast must love, and be loved in return in order to become a prince. The prince will then exist.

Therefore if a Somebody does not exist, Yet a Nobody loves and is loved in return, wouldn't the Somebody then exist?

Everyone has the ability of flight, however, one must believe they can fly.

And have a spark to get them started; like pixie dust.

Therefore, if every Nobody has the potential to be real, and they believe that they can,

Maybe all they need is the right spark?

The book flew out of his hands and back to the shelf, another book, a old and battered notebook, flew off the top of the tallest shelf in a cloud of dust and made it's way over to Demyx. It opened to the first page, and Demyx began to read.

My name is of no importance. But this information is. It needs to be seen, even though some might not want it to.

Nobodies are essentially myths. If something does not exist, then it is a myth, a story. Nobodies are special because they embody myths. If you believe in a myth then it is real.

Simple.

I believed. A mother's love for her son does not die out just because he is gone.

He was attacked by the Heartless. He was lost. That's what they told me.

Imagine my surprise when I saw him again, my son, wandering our world.

The resemblance wasn't perfect, but it was uncanny. He had the same face, the same mannerisms, the same voice.

He was my son. I knew. How could I not? I'm his mother after all.

I talked to him. Every day, I talked to him. He knew what he was. He managed to piece it together through what was left of his memory.

I told him he was my son. He said it didn't matter because he didn't exist.

But I told him he did. He did exist and he would always exist in my heart. I remembered him. I believed in him, and I wasn't letting go.

Then his heart began to beat.

I don't have much time. We have to get away, go where no one knows us, but I can't leave without telling what I know.

It doesn't work with just anyone. I've come across other Nobodies in my time and I've tried to bring them back, but it doesn't work. There needs to be a connection. Not necessarily from before they lost their hearts, but a connection none the less.

I think it's because of who I am, as well.

They say my heart is strong because of what I do. They say that's why I was chosen in the first place. I don't know If I believe that. Could my heart be strong enough to give life back to another? I can't know for sure, no one else has ever tried to do this before.

I need to leave. My husband is waiting and it's not safe here anymore. I'm sending this notebook to The Great Library. It will be safe there. Only those in need of this solution will be able to find it. Whether you are someone who wants to help a Nobody, or you're a Nobody yourself. I wish you luck.

-The Key's Keeper

If Demyx had a heart, it would have froze at the signature. The Key's Keeper.

Her heart was strong because of what she does…

She was chosen….

Holy…

Putting the tattered book aside, Demyx spoke to the Library,

"I need to know about Protectors. Please." His voice sounded desperate to his own ears.

Another very thin book flew towards him and opened to a page with the heading ORIGINS.

Not much is known about the topic of Keyblade Master's protectors. What is known is that every person who is chosen to wield a Keyblade has one. They are usually young women, perhaps because of the female gender's inborn trait to protect and shelter. Protectors are chosen immediately when the Keyblade wielder first gets possession of a Keyblade. They are given their own form of the Keyblade, one that mimics the appearance of the Master's. They are also given the power to sense surrounding danger and the darkness in others.

It is the Protector's responsibility to keep the Keyblade Master from harm. Failure to do so results in harsh punishment. The body of the Protector becomes overwhelmed with discomfort until they go to the Master's aid.

If the Keyblade Master is killed in battle, or if they cease to exist, The Protector will die as well, unless the Master had last wishes they wanted their Protector to fulfill, in which they would stay alive until those wishes are carried out.

If the Protector dies in battle, a new one is not chosen.

The names of most past protectors were lost in The Keyblade War. The most well known Protectors are the ones of Master Eraqus's three students, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus.

Leigh, Protector of Terra, sacrificed her heart and fell to darkness when he did. She perished when she refused to aid him in the battle between him and Eraqus. Although Terra emerged victorious, Leigh's refusal caused her body to turn against her. She died before the battle was over. It is noted, here that whichever side the Keyblade Master chooses, light or darkness, determines the fate of the Protector as well.

Violet, Protector of Aqua was Aqua's younger sister. The two were separated at birth and reunited when the younger was named her Protector. Violet was killed in the battle between Aqua and Braig.

Tameron, Protector of Ventus, is said to have perished when he lost his heart, however there have been unconfirmed sightings of her in several different worlds. Her true fate is unknown.

An issue brought to question about protectors is the strength that they posses. For them to be able to fall to darkness simply if the Keyblade Master chooses to do so and survive is no easy feat. The strength of the Protector's heart may be a deciding factor that chooses them in the first place. Because they are able to go on and perform deeds for the Keyblade Master they protect after they have perished (which would mean the Protector should have perished as well) it can be argued that the Protector's heart has the strength of their own and the Keyblade Master's together.

The last line in the book would be forever burned in Demyx's mind.

The Protector's heart has the strength of their own and the Keyblade Master's together.

It all added up. If Protector's had the equivalent of two hearts inside them, it would make sense that they could give the power of one heart to a Nobody, thus making them real. Like the woman had done with her son.

Head spinning, Demyx watched as the notebook and the origins book went back to their original places.

If he was starting to exist, than it was because Katy was believing in him. In her head, he was regarded as a normal human being. A Somebody.

He remembered what she said to him back at the Coliseum. Just before he left.

"I know it doesn't…change things, but in a different scenario, I mean if I wasn't…who I was. I could definitely see myself with you. And I'm not just saying that. You're a great guy."

"Even if I was still a Nobody?"

"Even if you were still a Nobody."

That must have been when it started. That was why he couldn't stay away. In that moment, he felt whole. And now he knew why.

But…

Could he do this to her? Now that he knew what was going on, every time he would go to her, he'd be using her. Using her heart for his own gain. It sounded evil in his head, imagine when she found out and spoke it out loud.

And yet…

He couldn't just forget about this. He had an honest-to-God way of getting a heart; one that didn't require hurting anyone. He wasn't about to tell the Organization…Katy was the only Protector they knew about, they'd kidnap her. And if she was away from Sora, she'd end up like the other three. Dead.

Speaking of the Organization…

He had to get back. He'd been here too long already. Making a dark corridor, he went back to his room at The Castle That Never Was. Flopping down on his bed, he closed his eyes, head swimming with hearts and Keyblades and death. He thought of his own, well his Sombody's mother. He didn't remember her, but he couldn't imagine how she must've felt when her son just didn't come home one day. Did she know what happened? Was she even alive, or did she turn into a Heartless too?

If he did somehow get his heart back, would he remember her? His old life? Would he become who he used to be, or stay who he was?

His mind turned to the three former protectors.

Did Terra care that he caused Leigh's death?

Did Violet resent her sister for her own death?

Was Tameron really still alive?

He drifted off to sleep and he dreamed. Nightmares of a redhead writhing in pain, screaming for help that came too late, of violet eyes that slowly lost their life forever, and of a blonde girl turning to face him in the darkness

"Ven?"

A/N: So? I've been brainstorming these past few chapter-less days, and this is what I came up with. Let me know what you think!