Chapter Fourteen: Day 314: Choice.

"Come on Ven! I thought you were stronger then that!"

Said spiky haired blonde growled under his breath, quickly pulling himself up after getting knocked down by the elder dark haired teen not too far away.

Terra grinned down on his friend, holding his wooden practice keyblade out while Ven stumbled back up, gripping his wooden sword with both hands.

"You can do it Ven!" the blonde blinked, looking to the sides and seeing the blue haired Aqua smiling at him, sitting on a ledge. Ven blinked then smiled then cried in shock as Terra took his chance to swing his practice keyblade at Ven, the younger boy narrowly dodging.

Ven glared at Terra, the older teen just smirking back. Terra, "Don't get distracted!"

Ven, "Cheap shot!" Terra just shrugged while Aqua held her hand over her mouth, stifling her laughter at the two boys banter. Ven growled but smiled back at Terra. The two boys held their practice weapons before charging at each other once more-

Static crackled, interrupting the order of images. Just as quickly as they were interrupted, they settled on a-

Ven sat beside Aqua on the courtyard's ledge while Terra leaned against the wall of the ledge itself, all three apprentices watching the sun begin to set, the blue sky bleeding red. Ven was looking over his battered wooden sword, the poor chunk of carved wood on the verge breaking.

Terra glanced up at his younger friend, eying his battered sword as well.

Terra, "It's taken a beating."

Ven nodded with a sad sigh.

Aqua looked at him, smiling assuredly. Aqua, "It's from all the hard training you've been doing."

Terra looked over his old wooden practice keyblade. Terra, "Using these toys isn't the same as using the keyblade." He swung it out, looking towards the setting sun. "And when we truly control the keyblades power, we'll be real Masters."

Terra stood up, thrusting his practice blade out in a salute.

Terra, "With our blades we will fight! We've been given a power…a great power, to do good in this universe as the keyblade's chosen ones!"

Both Ven and Aqua found themselves stifling laughs. Aqua smiled teasingly down on Terra. Aqua, "What's that about? Are you planning to become a Master before us?"

Terra grinned cockily back up at her. Terra, "It's my dream. I will become a Keyblade Master."

Ven and Aqua exchanged bemused, yet annoyed, glances.

Aqua, "Our dream, you mean?" She reminded him sweetly.

Terra blinked before chuckling nervously and rubbing the back of his neck. Terra, "Yeah, that's what I meant. Our dream."

The dark haired teen looked over his wooden practice blade for a moment. Then, he reversed his hold on it, holding the hilt of the toy to Ven. Ven blinked, eyes widening in awe.

Terra smiled up at Ven. Terra, "Here, you take that."

Ven eagerly grabbed, looking over it awe like he had just received the most valuable thing in all the worlds. And for Ven, to receive a gift from Terra, it was. Ven looked up Terra, asking with a tone mixed with excitement and worry, "You mean it?"

Terra smiled reassuringly and nodded.

Ven looked over his new practice weapon and let out a cry of joy, jumping off the ledge in excitement. Terra and Aqua just smiled at their friend as he-

The images broke off, crackling into static before-

Ven stared up in fear at the man in white robes and armor looming over him, keyblade drawn and raised.

Ven, "Master please!"

Master Eraqus glared down on Ven through tear filled eyes.

Eraqus, "You shouldn't exist!"

His keyblade swung down, the 'E' shaped teeth tearing for Ven's neck-

"NO!" Screamed a familiar voice.

A huge ancient looking keyblade blocked Eraqus's as a figure decked in-(Static) landed between Ven and Eraqus.

Ven gasped. "Terra!"

The older teen rose up, his keyblade still locked with his master's. Terra, "I won't let you do this!"

Eraqus looked at Terra, eyes pleading as the tears fell. Eraqus, "I don't want too…but I must! Don't you see? It's his plan! If Ven's heart falls into his hands, it will begin again!"

Ven watched his Master and his best friend shove each other back and-

The chain of images broke off suddenly, mosaic covering them all as the images rapidly flickered, moving through more memories before finally settling on-

He was really getting tired of all this dust.

Ven once more stood in this lifeless canyon, and was once more surrounded by dust, head turning, blue eyes scanning the area for any signs of something beside the dust.

It had only been mere hours ago when he learned the terrible truth behind the masked youth, Vanitas as he revealed his name to be, and he had done as the youth had said.

He was here once more, where the abomination had been born. And Ven was determined to make this place that monsters grave.

Ven was disgusted by that desire. It made him feel every bit as dark and wrong as Vanitas. Maybe, this feeling in his heart had been what gave birth to the masked youth.

Ven turned slowly, still trying to see pass the swirling wind of dust and failing. Behind him, a shadowed figure approached, hand reaching out for the younger teen-

Ven whirled and jumped back on pure instinct and reflex, hand swiping out to call his keyblade-

And stopping wit ha gasp when he saw the blue haired maiden before him, looking concerned and every bit as confused as Ven felt. Ven, "Aqua?" He cried in confusion.

Aqua cried back, "Ven!" just as confused but Ven saw relief in her eyes. She stepped closer, Ven moving towards her as well. Ven, "What are you doing here?"

Aqua brushed a lock of her hair from her face before replying, "I was at Master Yen Sid's…and he told me Master Eraqus had been…killed." Ven's blood turned to ice at that. And fear filled him as Aqua went on, "I had to find you or Terra and for some reason, I was drawn here."

Ven blinked, very confused. And suddenly filled with dread. Something was very wrong.

"Why are you here?"

Both Ven and Aqua whirled at the shocked cry.

And saw Terra, running through the dust. Blue eyes filled with fear. Terra reached them still shouting, "You can't be here! This is what he wants! You have too-"

"Behold."

Terra stopped speaking, eyes widening, dark skin paling. Ven stared up at the elder teen, who he had never seen waver in his resolve and faced every challenge head on.

And that same teen now turned; fear filled eyes watching the dust storm begin to settle before them, arms out to shield his friends.

As a figure, cloaked in the distance, slowly approached, arms crossed behind their back.

The images did not fizzle out this time. They merely faded to black.

Two pairs of eyes opened, waking from memories old and thought forgotten.

One pair was sky blue, staring up at the familiar steel white ceiling of his room and wondering how he got there.

The other pair were fiery orange and their owner stood atop the highest perch of his castle, head craning up to look at the massive moon of hearts that only appeared few feet away from his grasp.

For a moment, Roxas was very confused and didn't know where he was. Well, he knew where he was, his room back at the Castle That Never Was. The real question he was asking was, how had he gotten back there?

The young Nobody sat up on his bed, wincing instantly, hand moving over his shoulder towards his back and discovering he was still wearing his cloak which was torn and burnt in several places. Roxas could see blood on the exposed parts of his skin. Roxas looked over himself, struggling to remember.

Roxas, "What…happened?"

And then it clicked and he gasped.

Roxas, "Xion…"

He blinked, gasping and then frantically patting down the pockets of his cloak, turning them inside, desperate to find that little blue shell. And only finding bits of lint and little else. Roxas's hands fell back to his sides, his eyes dropping sadly.

He remembered now.

Waking up and talking to Axel, rushing to find Xigbar after he had sent Xion on a mission, looking for Xion in the alleys of that strange crumbling world and then finding her, that keyblade wielding woman with blue hair, Aqua, the object of the Superior's obsession, standing over her, a wound on Xion's side and blood seeping through Roxas's fingers as he cradled her limp body. She was alive, he knew that, the wound no doubt hurt badly but Aqua hadn't destroyed anybody else and so Xion was safe.

But for Roxas, seeing his friend injured so badly simply to prove to Xigbar that she wasn't the Organization's doll filled Roxas with rage. He was tired of Aqua, tired of searching for her and the memories of those people she knew appearing to him in dreams. And Roxas really didn't care about the 'capture and detain back to Castle' anymore as he took up Xion's blade and his own and fought Aqua, the rage growing as that mouse person, also in his dreams and also wielding a keyblade, blocked him. Roxas had been so close to victory when that mouse interfered and attacked with that light. And then…

What happened? He remembered staggering through the pain of that spell and calling on his own control of light to bring both that mouse and Aqua to their knees. It had been a hollow victory, because Roxas couldn't stand after that and remembered collapsing to his knees.

The blonde swung his legs over the bed, sitting and rubbing his aching shoulder and back as he recalled asking Aqua, out of frustrated desperation, who all these people in his dreams were and why he was seeing them. Aqua's response had not been what he expected:

She gave up. She surrendered, giving herself up to go back with him to the Castle if Roxas would tell her how he knew the names of her friends. Roxas had felt a huge relief.

It was over.

And then…

Pain.

Roxas stood, still rubbing his upper back and shoulder blade, feeling a large hole with crusted burnt edges and walked over to his closet, slipping his ruined cloak off. He turned it over in his hands, looking at the back, fingers tracing the outline of a hole right below his shoulder. Something had attacked him. And this new pain coupled with his exhaustion made the world go black.

Roxas stared at the hole before tossing the ruined cloak aside.

Roxas murmured to himself, "So does that mean…Aqua's not here?"

What had happened after he passed out? Who brought him back here, to the Castle and to his room? Was Xion safe?

Moving quickly, Roxas snatched a new cloak out of his closet and moved towards his door, slipping the cloak on as it opened automatically and Roxas stepped out into the hall, slipping his arms through the cloak and then zipping it up as he headed for the Grey Area.

And some answers.

Roxas moved down the halls, wincing a little every now and then from various lingering pains. He passed several Dusks, none of the husks paying him any mind. Finally, Roxas arrived at the Grey Area and looked around.

Oddly enough, Saix was not standing in front of the huge window of the Area, gazing up at the glowing moon of Kingdom Hearts. The blue haired second-in-command was absent. But Luxord, Demyx and Axel were all in the area, sitting around the couches on the left side of the room. Unsurprisingly, Luxord was shuffling his cards from hand to hand and Demyx was sitting cross legged, strumming his sitar and humming a little. Axel himself was leaning on his arm, face blank and emotionless.

It was Luxord who spotted Roxas approaching, his cobalt eyes looking towards Roxas, the younger blonde walked closer into the Area and towards the three elder Nobodies. Luxord, "It would seem sleep doesn't trouble you as much as it use to, eh, Roxas?"

Axel blinked, whirling around as Roxas made it over. Axel, "Roxas!"

The Flurry of Dancing Flames broke out into a grin, Roxas returning the smile too, wincing slightly. Axel saw this and sat up instantly, moving towards his friend as the young blonde rubbed his still aching shoulder. Axel, "Roxas? You ok?"

Roxas nodded, still grimacing slightly. Roxas, "Yeah, just feels like I took a worse beating then I thought."

Luxord began shuffling his cards normally. Luxord, "Or more likely someone dragged you down those halls before throwing you on your bed without so much as using Cure on you Roxas."

Demyx's fingers twitched over his sitar's strings, filling the Grey Area with sour notes.

The Melodious Nocturne shot the Gambler of Fate a glare.

Demyx, "He was already healed when we found him!"

Luxord shrugged, still shuffling his cards.

Roxas blinked, looking up at Axel who was scowling down on the two other Nobodies.

Roxas, "Dragged me…Axel, what happened yesterday?"

Axel spared Demyx and Luxord one last glare before looking at Roxas and replying, "How much of yesterday do you remember Roxas?"

Roxas bowed his head for a moment, thinking hard.

Roxas, "I remember…waking up. You were there and then…"

Roxas gasped, eyes narrowing in anger. Roxas, "Xigbar," spitting the name out. "He sent Xion on that mission to find Aqua and I begged him to let me do it in her place. He sent me but I had to find Xion myself on that new world."

Axel nodded slowly. Axel, "That's about it. But that world he sent you too wasn't new."

Roxas blinked. Roxas, "It wasn't?"

Axel, "No, it's a special world, like Castle Oblivion. Not everyone is allowed to go there."

Roxas, "Ok…"

Axel went on. Axel, "And the mission Xigbar sent you on was actually his own."

Roxas blinked before scowling, enraged. Roxas, "That low-No, that's beyond low!"

Axel nodded. He looked down on Roxas, whose hands were clenched into fists at his sides. Axel, "Roxas, what happened in Hollow Bastion?" Roxas blinked, momentarily distracted from his anger towards Xigbar.

Roxa, "I looked around…through that village and the shopping center…Then I found Xion outside this castle that looked like it was falling apart." Roxas looked at Axel, meeting his green eyes with his blue. "Aqua was there, with this mouse person who could wield a keyblade too."

Axel almost flinched when Roxas added, "He was wearing our cloak as well, but it wasn't that imposter, Riku."

Roxas bowed his head again. Roxas, "Xion…" He gasped, looking back up at Axel. Roxas, "Xion! Is she alright? Aqua had really hurt her!"

Axel nodded reassuringly to his distressed friend. Axel, "She's alright. When Demyx and Luxord found you guys there wasn't a scratch on either of you. Someone did a good job of healing you two."

That made Roxas pause, confused. Who had healed them? What exactly happened after he passed out from that pain in his shoulder?

Axel stared at Roxas, waiting for him to continue. After a few moments when Roxas still hadn't responded. Axel decided to ask, "Did you fight them?"

Roxas nodded, not looking at his friend as his head was still bowed in thought but did reply, "Yeah, I fought them. But I don't think I won."

Axel chuckled a little. Axel, "Yeah, getting knocked out isn't exactly what I'd call a victory."

Roxas smiled a little at that, but still had a concerned and thoughtful look on his face. He looked back at Axel and asked, "Is Xion alright?"

Axel nodded. Axel, "She's fine, just getting some rest like you were. Your fights with Aqua did real numbers on the both of you."

Roxas nodded numbly, still thinking about that pain around his shoulder.

He moved away from Axel and the others, heading for the halls of the Castle. Axel, "Roxas? Where you going?"

Roxas looked over his shoulder but kept walking towards the hallway as he responded, "I want to check on Xion-"

And slammed into something hard.

Roxas stumbled back momentarily dazed.

"Well, it's nice to see you're up."

Roxas recovered from his daze and saw it was Saix he had bumped into. And the lunar eyed second-in-command wasn't alone. Flanking him on either side was Xigbar and Xaldin. Roxas glared at the Freeshooter, but oddly the sniper seemed subdued, his usual smirk gone.

Axel walked over, followed by Luxord and Demyx, all looking at Saix questioningly.

Saix crossed his arms before saying, "The Superior has called for a meeting immediately. It is important news on Aqua."

At the mention of the water maiden both Xigbar and Xaldin scowled slightly.

Axel looked at Saix, brow raised. Axel, "The Superior's back?"

That made Roxas look at Axel in confusion. Roxas, "He left?"

Axel looked down on Roxas, nodding. Axel, "Yesterday. A little after you, Xion and Xigbar left for Hollow Bastion."

That got a small chuckle from the Freeshooter, his one eye glinting for split second.

Saix looked over his shoulder to glare at him before looking back at Axel and replying, "Yes, he's returned and has called a meeting, as I said. Now," He waved his arm out calling a swirling miasma of shadows to rise up. Saix stepped into the Corridor of Darkness without another word, and after a moment Xaldin followed.

Roxas anxiously looked between the Corridor and the hallway. He looked up at Axel. Roxas, "What about Xion?"

Axel opened his mouth to respond but another voice interrupted.

"Since when has Poppet ever been invited to our meetings kiddo?"

Roxas whirled around, glaring up at Xigbar's sneering face.

Roxas snapped, "Don't call her that!"

The Freeshooter only chuckled as always, meeting Roxas's glare evenly. He smirked, chuckling lowly.

Xigbar, "Some look you got there…"

With that, Xigbar followed after Demyx and Luxord as they moved into the Corridor. Roxas glared at the Corridor until Axel placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Roxas looked up at his red headed friend. Axel smiled easily and said, "We'll check on her together, ok?" Roxas sadly smiled back and nodded. The younger and elder Nobodies stepped into the Corridor. The swirling miasma of shadow melted into the floor, streams of darkness vanishing and leaving the Grey Area empty.

Only eight of the thrones of Where Nothing Gathers were occupied.

Starting from the upper center, the Superior sat on the highest throne. On his right, Xigbar reclined lazily, his throne only coming halfway up to the Superior's. On the left, Xaldin's was slightly higher then Xigbar's and the Whirlwind Lancer sat with his arms crossed, expression blank and focused.

To Xaldin's left, sitting on the second highest throne. Saix reclined casually, his lunar yellow eyes surveying everything. To his left, whose throne only came up about halfway, Demyx sat slouched, looking bored as his eyes wandered.

To Xigbar's right, Axel calmly sat on his throne, which was only slightly higher then Demyx's and Luxord's. The Flurry of Flames kept his expression blank and even. On his right, Luxord was sitting, legs crossed and both hands clutching his thrones arms. He had a cool and collected smile, enjoying the game that was a meeting.

And finally, there was Roxas, whose throne was the shortest and directly across from the Superior's, giving both a perfect view of each other. Roxas peered up at the lord of all Nobodies.

And saw that strange glint in his flaring orange eyes from the last meeting when the Superior had announced the mission to capture Aqua. And like before, Roxas found himself very unnerved and anxious.

The Superior surveyed his servants, smiling slightly. But it was not a friendly smile.

Superior, "Hello my friends. It has been some time, since our last meeting together."

No one responded, just nodded.

The Superior went on. "When last we all met, I tasked each of you with the capture of the Keyblade Mistress, Aqua."

Roxas furrowed his brow. Something about the way the Superior said her name…

The lord of Organization XIII went on. "And all who have gone after her…"

His smile faded, his face blank.

"Failed." He stated flatly.

Axel's arms flinched slightly.

Demyx gulped.

Luxord's smile vanished.

Xaldin's eyes twitched.

Only Xigbar remained calm.

But as Roxas looked at him, he swore he saw a small bead of sweat on the Freeshooter's forehead.

And what happened next, no one saw coming.

The Superior smiled once more.

Superior, "But, that matter's not. For you see, I no longer desire her capture."

Everyone did a double take at that.

Xigbar and Xaldin exclaimed, "What?"

Axel leaned down his throne slightly. Axel, "I'm with them on that."

Demyx blinked, scratching his head. Demyx, "Umm, ok?"

Luxord reclined on his throne, scoffing and saying nothing.

Roxas never once took his eyes off the Superior. The young Nobody swore…there was amusement in his eyes, as if he was enjoying everyone's reactions. Roxas blinked, a confused look on his face.

Saix glared at the out of place angry chatter and barked loudly and firmly, "Silence."

Everybody shut up at that.

Xigbar kept his single eye on the Superior, scowling up at him.

The Superior spoke again, monotone voice echoing in the empty halls of Where Nothing Gathers. Superior, "All regular missions are back on schedule. That is all."

And with that, the Superior's form was engulfed in shadow, vanishing from sight and leaving his throne empty. And then the angry chatter resumed.

Xigbar, "This is a crock! Two weeks, two weeks we've wasted tracking that woman down and now, we finally had her and he just calls it off?" The Freeshooter was livid, his single eye flaring dangerously.

Xaldin snarled from across Xigbar. Xaldin, "So declares the will of the all-knowing Superior." His tone was flat and emotionless.

Saix glared at both of them, snarling, "You will not question his decrees. She was a waste of time and now we can move on."

Axel scoffed. Axel, "Waste of time? Didn't you just hide on your throne while the rest of us were out 'wasting time?'"

Demyx groaned loudly. Demyx, "Come on guys! It's over, let's stop all this infighting."

Luxord chuckled. Luxord, "Over? The game is never over. The cards are merely re-gathered and shuffled again. This game, is far from over."

Roxas stared at the arguing Nobodies.

Why was this such a big deal? It was just another mission and not every mission goes right.

Saix barked again, "Silence!"

His exclamation echoed as all voices fell silent.

Saix, "As the Superior declared, all missions are back on schedule. There is much to do and little time to do it."

With that, Saix was consumed in shadows, is throne empty in seconds.

Xigbar only glared at the spot where Saix had been before vanishing a well, followed by Xaldin, then Demyx and finally Luxord. Only Roxas and Axel were left. Roxas looked towards his friend, asking, "Axel? Can we see Xion now?"

The Flurry of Flames nodded, smiling slyly. Axel, "What else did you think we were going to do Roxas?"

With that, both were consumed in shadows and vanished from sight.

Where Nothing Gathers was empty once more.

Axel and Roxas moved down the halls of the Castle, steadily getting closer to Xion's room. Along the way Axel explained to Roxas how he had checked up on both of them earlier and how he thought neither of them showed signs of waking up anytime soon. While he was shocked and relieved to see Roxas awake, he warned the younger Nobody Xion may not have woken up like he had.

The two stood outside her door, Axel looking down at Roxas to say, "If she is asleep, try to keep quiet, alright?" Roxas nodded, anxious to step inside and see Xion.

Axel stepped forward and the door opened automatically.

Xion's room was like Roxas's, the only real differences was her bed lined against her wall while Roxas's jutted out in the center of his. And unlike Roxas's desk, which only had his washboard calendar, Xion's was cluttered with dozens of seashells. Much to Roxas's dismay, Xion lay asleep on her bed and did not move. The young Nobody walked over to her bedside, staring down with gloomy blue eyes. Axel stared at his friend sadly, but said nothing.

Roxas peered down on Xion's sleeping face. She looked very calm, almost happy, her right hand clutched at her chest. Right where her heart should have been.

Roxas looked at his right hand, fingers opened. He remembered the blue shell that had rested firmly in his palm. The same shell Xion had found on their day to the beach. The same shell he lost.

Roxas, "I'm sorry Xion…"

The dark haired girl shifted suddenly, murmuring.

Roxas gasped as Xion's eyes opened. Xion, "Roxas…? Why are you sorry?"

Roxas gasped, face brightening up in a relieved smile. Behind him, Axel smiled as well. Axel, "Well I'll be…"

Roxas backed up as Xion sat up, rubbing her eyes and the last vestiges of sleep from them. Xion looked at Roxas and was about to say something when she spotted Axel walking over as well. Xion blinked. Xion, "Axel? What're you guys doing here?"

Roxas and Axel smiled in relief. Axel, "To check up on you of course."

Xion frowned, still confused. Xion, "Check up…Oh!" She remembered, the beach, Xigbar, the mission, Aqua. It all came back in an instant and she panicked, confused as to why she was here. Xion, "What happened? Where's Aqua? Did she get away? Oh no, how badly did I mess up?" Before Roxas or Axel could say anything, Xion buried her face in her hands in grief. Xion moaned, "Oh why can't I do anything right…"

Roxas gently touched Xion's shoulder and the young girl looked up at him with teary eyes. Roxas smiled and said, "Easy, it's alright. You didn't mess up." Xion blinked. Xion, "I didn't? But then why am I back at the castle?"

Roxas was about to say something but Axel beat him to it. Axel, "Mission's over Xion. The Superior called off the hunt for Aqua."

Xion stared at Axel, even more confused. Xion, "He did? But why?"

Axel shrugged. Axel, "Who knows and who cares? What's done is done."

Xion looked at Roxas, unsure. Roxas smiled, nodding. Roxas, "He's right. It's over. Just regular missions again." Xion blinked. Xion, "It's over?" Roxas nodded, smiling happily. Roxas, "Yeah, it's really over."

Axel frowned and turned away from his friends.

He didn't want them to see his own unsure eyes.

Something about what Luxord had said made the Flurry of Flames feel uneasy.

Was it over?

He stood atop his perch, the glowing light of Kingdom Hearts bathing him in its radiance.

The Superior stood there, but his eyes were not on the majestic heart of hearts.

They were instead focused on the object held in his right hand, raised almost to eye-level.

It was the orange star charm that, until yesterday, had been dangling around Aqua's neck wherever she went.

And now it was his.

He smiled slightly, orange eyes flaring.

He remembered…

She had cried. She cried in his arms, against his chest, clinging to him weakly with little strength. All of her impressive power and magic had brought his servants to their knees. But upon seeing his face, she crumbled instantly.

And so he caught her in her fall, held her easily.

And did only that.

It was hours later, when what little light this world received began to fade away.

She was still in his arms, crying no more, but still clinging to him, her head resting against his chest. Right over where his heart should have been. Strangely, he had been…content, for the first time in years. Simply by holding her, stroking her hair. Touching her.

His water maiden, who haunted his dreams for ten long years.

Slipping from him and plunging into darkness.

No more.

His eyes were closed, listening intently to her soft breathing, arms still wrapped around her as he sat against the wall.

She would have questions. And he knew each one she would ask. And he knew what he would answer.

She spoke for the first time in hours and he knew exactly what she would say before she did.

"You don't have a heartbeat."

His eyes opened, and the shadows of the chamber hide their color from her as he peered down on her pale face, cheeks caked with dried tears. He said nothing, merely looked at her.

Then, she asked, in a tone barely above a whisper, "What's it like?"

He did not reply instantly, only played with a lock of her hair, looking away for a moment. She waited, laying in his arms without another word.

And finally, he replied simply, "Emptiness."

She looked back up at him, sapphire eyes confused.

He went on. "You're half alive. Your body lives, your soul does not. You don't feel… Anything. Nothing makes you happy. You fear nothing. You can't get angry. You're simply…empty. Of anything."

He stroked her face, watching the sadness rise behind her eyes. For him.

He went on. "At first, you can remember what it was like. And that is enough. But then, as the years go by…you lose even that. And you are finally, truly…" He wiped away the single tear that went down her face. "Empty."

She looked at him, pain filling her eyes, threatening to let more tears fall. She rested her head on his chest again and he stroked the back of her neck, soothingly. No more words were spoken for a while.

And then, she inevitably asked, "What happened to you Terra? Why don't you have a heart anymore?"

His eyes closed again.

He fought back a smile.

And he spoke once more.

"I awoke here, on this once beautiful world, with nothing but your charm in my hand and a name on my lips. I was barely alive, covered in wounds that should have killed me," She flinched slightly. He smiled to himself and went on, " But did not. I was found by this world's ruler. He saved my life and wanted nothing in return. So I devoted myself to him as his student."

He paused, stroking her face with the back of his hand. And then continued. "I was not concerned with who I had been, and focused on who I wanted to become. I wanted a new life instead of seeking out my old. But I could not…" He stroked the blue charm, still around his neck and only inches away from her. "Part with this. Or the dreams." He cupped her cheek, thumb stroking the skin under her eye.

"Of you. Falling into darkness. Smiling sadly. And the dream always ended the same. I reached for you. But could never touch you." He smiled down on her, hand stroking her cheek, then the bottom of her jaw, the tips of his fingers skimming her neck. He was pleased to feel her shudder.

"These dreams haunted me. Who was she, I wondered. What connections does she have with my forgotten past? The dreams were the only thing that truly interested me in finding out who I was." He paused. She looked up at him, eyes urging him to continue.

And so he did. "But it was not to be. My teacher, the man who saved my life, learned of the existence of other worlds by me appearing. And he became obsessed with the forces of light and darkness. This obsession gave way to madness. And the darkness was made flesh. The Heartless were born here. And this was the first world they consumed."

Their eyes met again and he saw understanding in them.

"And with this world, all who inhabited it."

Her eyes watered again, her hand inching up his chest, moving past the parted folds of his cloak, touching the scar on his chest. He nodded, meeting her eyes again.

"The shadows made flesh tore my heart from my body. And then, I knew nothing. But darkness."

He paused, letting his words sink deep in her mind. And heart.

And spoke once again, telling her what she so desperately longed to hear.

"But, it would seem my fate in this realm was not to be cut so short. I awoke as I am now, confused and purposeless, even more so then I already had been. But, something unexpected and unthinkable occurred, when my heart was torn from me."

He met her eyes once again, stroking her face.

"I remembered. What had been lost to me with my heart, was restored when it was taken from me. There were gaps, but I remembered what I needed to remember." He cupped her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. Her eyes closed and she moved closer, her hands gripping his, weakly.

"I remembered you," He whispered.

His hands fell away and he slumped against the wall.

"But it wasn't enough. What good was remembering," He lamented, looking at his hands. "If I had no emotions, no feelings, to enjoy those memories with?"

He doesn't look at her, but can envision the pain and sorrow in her watery eyes.

"Terra…" Her hand touches his face.

He resists a smile.

He meets her eyes again and she asks, "How can I help you? Please, tell me there's a way to fix all this."

Once again, he resists a smile. It is too easy. But at the same time, it is so much fun.

He stroked her face once again, finding no matter how many times he felt her satin skin, he would never be satisfied with one touch.

"Don't you remember? The heart of all hearts…"

He watches the realization dawn in her eyes as she mouths the answer.

"Kingdom Hearts."

He nods. Then frowns. Something flickers in her eyes.

He doesn't like this.

He strokes her face again, from the top of her temple to the bottom of her jaw. He is displeased when she turns away from his touch, suddenly untangling herself from his grasp. She turns away, walking towards her keyblade.

The keyblade he had returned to her.

He stood up, slowly following after her.

She bent over, fingers grasping the hilt of her keyblade. The weapon instantly vanished in a burst of pink petals. She remained crouched, staring at the spot where her blade had been impaled.

What she asks next, he again predicted.

"Why are you trying to summon Kingdom Hearts?"

He watches her for a moment, waiting for her to face him. She does not. His eyes narrow. "It is the key, Aqua. It is the only power great enough to undo the damage my teacher and I unwillingly wrought. With its power, I can restore all the worlds devoured by the Heartless and the hearts stolen from myself and all other nothings."

She doesn't reply, only remains crouched. Then, she rises, turning and looking at him. He sees that look in her eyes once more.

"Terra... do you mean, the other members of Organization XIII?"

He nods, meeting her eyes easily, while she is having a hard time keeping eye contact, looking away several times.

She rubs her arm, looking away from him once more. He frowns, stepping closer, extending his hand out.

"Aqua…I need your help. I can't do this alone. To call Kingdom Heats, I need to free the hearts captured by the Heartless. Only when enough have been freed, will Kingdom Hearts appear to me, and grant me its power. And only the keyblade can free those hearts."

She rubs her arm still, biting her lower lip.

She finally looks at him again.

"Terra…why are you working with Braig?"

He does not reply immediately, arm lowering.

He stares at her and then replies simply, "As I said, I cannot do this alone. I needed the help of others like myself to get where I am now. I don't like it, but I have no choice. One such as even himself does not deserve this fate Aqua."

She says nothing, looking away from him.

His eyes narrow, aggravated.

He steps forward, hand held out.

"Please. Don't you want things the way they were before? With Kingdom Hearts, I can make everything right." He cups her chin in his hand, gently guiding her face to meet his eyes. "Think of it. No more Heartless, no more darkness. Just everything as it should be. Light eternal."

Her eyes quiver, hesitation in them. He fights down a pleased smile.

His pleasure turns to annoyance as she pulls away, arms wrapping around herself.

"Terra…" She whispers.

"I need time."

His eyes widen ever so slightly, barely noticeable.

Between his fingers, arcs of blue and black sparks discharge. Her back is still to him as he raises his hand, the sparks dancing-

And then his fingers snap shut, the power fading.

His arm lowers and he bows his head, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"I understand."

She gasps, facing him.

Now it is his back that is to her as he sweeps his arm out, calling a swirling miasma of shadows up from the floors. He looks back at her, pleased with the sudden anxiety in her eyes.

"I will leave this open for you."

He moves towards the portal, as if to leave.

He can't hide his smile as she suddenly rushes forward, grabbing his arm.

"Wait, Terra!"

He faces her, face blank.

Her eyes are teary once more, and her grip on his arm is desperate.

"I…I want to go with you," she whispers. She looks up, meeting his eyes again. "But, I can't work with those people you've allied with. Even if they don't have hearts…The Heartless were drawn to them for a reason. Don't you see?"

He strokes her face, fingers grazing her lips. Again, he feels her shudder.

"I do," he assures her. "But I still need their help. To make things right, I will restore them when the time comes." He cups her face, looking down on her.

"But Aqua, if you come with me, if you help me, I will leave them to their own devices." He caresses her face again. "With you by my side…I won't need Organization XIII."

She grips his hands, pulling him closer slightly.

He waits.

She looks up at him again, the tears threatening to fall.

"I need time…to make this choice."

He nods. He turns, moving towards the portal but stops when she tugs on his sleeve once again. He looks back. And sees her holding the orange charm to him.

She smiles a little.

"It belongs with you."

He stares at it.

Then, slowly reaches for it, and grasps it, taking it from her hand. He stares at it.

Then, with his free hand, removes the blue charm from his neck, and holds it to her.

"As does this with you."

She takes it back, holding it to her chest with both hands.

Without another word, he turns away and moves into the Corridor of Darkness, letting the shadows envelop him once more.

His eyes opened, the haze of memories recent fading away from his mind.

He looks back down on the charm.

And smiles.

It is not a kind or happy smile, but that same smile of triumph from the day before.

"How predictable, the heart. It holds sway over even the strongest of beings…And makes them weak."

She did everything he predicted. She was so caught up in reuniting with her 'friend', she played right into his hands. And while she struggled and resisted right now, eventually her heart, her love, for her friend would win out.

And she would return to him.

But of course, what he said had been true. With her by his side, he would not need Organization XIII anymore. Her rage, her beautiful rage, like the ocean tempest, would carve and cut down each Heartless in her way, channeled through the keyblade he had returned to her. All in the hopes that by helping him finish his Kingdom Hearts, he would regain his own lost heart.

He chuckled, a deep baritone sound.

Such power, such beauty.

Such…naivety.

His fist tightens and the charm cracks like glass, orange splinters flying from his hand.

Without a thought, he lets the broken charm slip from his palm and tumble over the side of his perch.

He smiles, watching it fade into the shadows.

Just like its true owner.

She was right to assume he was not Xehanort in Terra's body, but wrong to assume it was only Terra's memories he had regained.

He needed nothing of that weaklings past.

Nor did he need Xehanort's.

Terra was weak. Xehanort a failure.

They were who he had been. But not what he had become.

The Superior of the In-Between, Xemnas, raised his eyes to gaze at his Kingdom Hearts, watching it grow and grow before his eyes with each heart that was fed into it.

He only needed this…And her. He would have her as well.

And maybe even…his last friend as well.

For what slept…should awaken.

Soon.

Xemnas smiled again, that same smile that promised ruin and domination and nothing else.

She rode through the darkness once again.

Ten years before, whenever she called her rider, an arrow like machine, she had felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She could sail through the darkness between worlds and make her own way. Freedom.

Now…

Now the darkness only added to the weight on her shoulders.

Aqua's sapphire eyes were narrowed behind the visor of her armor's helm.

She kept replaying the memories of her reunion with Terra over and over again.

And something was wrong.

The words of the man in red bandages called back to her.

You see, it is not the fact they have such power that makes them dangerous, it is the fact they remember what it was like to be true beings and as such, they can fool others and strike them down when a true being lets its guard down.

Nobodies.

They acted like regular people…But weren't.

They only remembered.

Aqua closed her eyes briefly.

But it was Terra! He was Terra again, even if his heart was gone, it was still him!

More words of that researcher echoed in her mind.

The Organization members claim they wish to be complete…but this is not the case with all of them. Specifically, the groups Superior…He wishes to use the power of Kingdom Hearts to remake every world there ever has been and ever will be. Of this, I am certain. I doubt many of his underlings are aware of his true intentions. They blindly follow him in hopes of becoming complete again…

She had found Terra…hadn't she? Why, why couldn't she fight this doubt in her heart, this fear that something was all wrong and only going to get worse?

Aqua's rider blazed onward, a single blue streak of hope, surrounded by unending darkness.

I am so sorry you all had to wait this long for the new chapter. I haven't been having the best week and this chapter just did not agree with me. I don't think it's very good but all that matters is what you all think.

Well, I guess it's time for anotehr Review Response:

CrimsonDarkness 0013: 1: (Looks at dummy then at you.) Oh. Please, don't respect me. I'm still learning. Lengthy chapters work for me because I like them. short style doesn't tell everything I need to write. I will try.

Xorncon-Number 0: 1: How so? 2: I do pride my fight scenes. Don't count Saix out yet. He'll get on the fun REAL soon. We shall see Aqua's fate soon.

Aqua StormXIV: 1: He's the master of space itself. (Reaches for my coke-Only for Xiggy's hand to pop out and steal it.)...And a jerk thief! Well, I imagine everyone saw a lot of that ending coming. But I still have a trick or two up my sleeve. Anymore questions, just message me. I'm happy to answer any questions and clear anything up. 2: I don't know if I should count this as a tally for the lemon or not. What are his intentions? And teh Sentiment doesn't hate me anymore. We worked out a... compromise.

Karma's Slave: 1: Well that's not good, I'm anti-drug. And we have another tally for the lemon. Four more and...well you know.

Ninjasheik: 1: Yeah, that's probably not going to be happening anymore.

ObsidianPhantom: 1: What's next? Read and find out. I'm glad I exceeded them. It means I'm getting better.

Vampire Countess: 1: Twice, hee, that's what he gets for stealing my soda! And yes he does...

FallenXMidnight: 1: You saved my hide! But well...(Flashback noise) Me: OH GOD HE'S BEATING ME TO DEATH WITH MY OWN HANDS! (Lingering Sentiment, pummeling me with my ripped off arms. Sees Aqua plushie fly by.) LS: AQUA! (Chases) Me: Oh sweet merciful Athena. Well, that should- OH NO! ZACK! Drop the plushie! (Miles away, Zack, holding the Aqua plushie.) Zack: Huh? Where'd this come from? (Lingering Sentiment looms over him, glowing red.) Me: Oh Zack...He just can't get a break. (Flashback ends) Now I've got the Sentiment AND Zack mad at me. Oh well. Can't get worse. (Turns around...And sees the angry faces of the five dead Org. members.) All of them: WHY WEREN'T WE IN THIS? Me: Well...F**K.

Grim D. Slayer: 1: give it time. All this positive feedback will eventually lead to a huge negative feedback that will crush my spirit. And the correct answer: PLOT HOLES. You win...A COOKIE! I'll take a look.

iceandfire66: 1: There's a reason for that. It calls back to the original BBS video, where Terra draws the Kingdom Key and Ven gets the Way to Dawn. Aqua got Mickey's Keyblade and I wanted to reference that. And Xemnas's games don't end well for anyone with good intentions.

kirabook: 1: Hey! (Rips sock out and seperates you two) No in fighting!

BloodyAphrodite: 1: Don't shed tears...The real tragedy has yet to play out.

Month4: 1: I do love the hidden references inside the obvious ones..

Yue Twili: 1: Indeed. His intentions are clear...And Aqua is nothing but his slave.

Riku Uzumaki: 1: I have a lot, but a little, left and don't worry. All will be made clear in time. Riku's not out of this game yet.

Shining Sunny: 1: They count but I still don't think I'm that good. And I don't really consider this Terqua. But not whatever the fan name for the Aqua Xemnas pairign either. Hmm..Xemqua?

DarkNekoGirl92: 1: Suprisingly, people say I can keep them in character.

xTransparentliketheskyx: 1: Long reviews, I like. I was disapointed to see you didn't care for the prologue, which is one of the things I work on the hardest. But you like the rest of it and that's all that matters. I chose those flashbacks for in that order for certain reasons. Battles are my specialty. See them in the game? Probably because I borrow a lot from the game itself. I thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this little story. Never hesitate too. (Sorry about losing your password.)

sailorjupiterhater: 1: No, they're learning someone else's.

DragonclawX: 1: Haven't heard from you in a while. I found most of them and fixed them. Keep reading, and you will learn soon enough.

Flightfoot: 1: Thank yew. Yes Mickey did. Oh, someone could.

organizationkhII: 1: Really bad? You have no idea...

Zaikia: 1: Thank you, I will.

UltraWonderBoy: 1: Hey, been a while since 'Lingering'. Many people do. 2: Not yet she hasn't. (Uses a phoenix down on you.)

Gamer-X70: 1: Ha, that reminds of my friend. He reads f.f.'s on his psp. My view on the Roxas and Ven thing? I have none. Roxas isn't Ven and Ven isn't Roxas, simple as that.

Berander: 1: Both. Neither. All three of them. Thank yew, I pride my fight scenes.

Retro Nami: 1: And tally number 3.

Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter everyone. See you next update. Remember, any questions just message me.