[Until I Find You]

[Aqua X Terra]

I hold my luck charm to my chest, the cool metal and glass pressing against my skin. I close my eyes and make a silent pact to my lost friend.

I will go to the ends of all the worlds and beyond if it means I can bring you back from the Darkness, Terra.

I open my eyes again and soak in the lingering light of the moon. I get the feeling that this is the last I will ever see of it. I am prepared to do anything I have to in order to keep Ven safe and rescue Terra. But I am no fool; I am well aware of the fact that I might not survive in the end.

But if I'm able to save my friends' lives, then I am a willing sacrifice. They mean more to me than my life.

So as I make my way out of Castle Oblivion, I barely bat an eyelash when I am lead to Terra. I know he is not himself; I can see it in his face, as readable as Merlin's little book. I hardly fight him when he grabs and lifts me up by the neck; I don't want to hurt him. And I know that deep in there somewhere, Terra is still trying to call out to me, and even through whatever fog surrounds him, he is capable of preventing his body from harming me.

I don't think twice about following him into the Darkness. The portal is small, and won't last very long. I don't have much time. Still, I race onward; I reach for him. Terra, my precious Terra… I won't let you fade into Darkness. This can't be your fate! I don't care if it's mine, but I won't let it be yours.

I finally reach him, but I have to act fast; the small twinkle of light above us is shrinking.

Then, suddenly, I know what I must do.

With a sad smile, I give Terra my Keyblade and armor. I send him flying off into the Dark, climbing higher and higher towards the remaining Light. He'll make it, I know he will.

"I'm with you," I tell him. And I love you, I add to myself with an unshed tear pooling in my eye. I wipe it away, and begin my decent down into Darkness.

So this is what it's like, drifting away…

It's empty, and dismal. It reminds me of rain and childhood fears and depression. It reminds me of the bitter taste of hopelessness.

I know better. I know that this isn't the end. It can't be; I have Ven to get back to! So I simply close my eyes, and wait for what's coming to me.

"I'm sorry, Ven; it looks like I'll be gone for longer than I thought. But I promise Terra and I will be there to wake you up soon…"

Until I find Terra again. Until I find Ventus again. Until then, I will gladly be the Darkness so long as they find the Light. I will be the flip side of their coins, forever dormant, waiting, loving through and through.

I'm no martyr. In fact, I detest the term. But sometimes, I do wonder if I care too much for others for my own good. Still, I don't mind this. This isn't so bad. It's quiet, and peaceful in its own way.

I can rest now, if only for a while.