Chapter 39 A Light That Never Goes Out

"Did you find them?" Aqua asks anxiously from the top of the steps outside. Riku stands beside her holding her hand as Master Eraqus and Terra return from a search of the grounds.

Master Eraqus shakes his head in worry. "No, there was no sign of them except this." He holds up Sora's wooden toy sword.

"It was just lying in the grass, like it had been forgotten there," Terra says quietly.

Riku's grip on her hand tightens slightly and Aqua looks down. His turquoise eyes are confused and worried. "Master Eraqus," Aqua says slowly, looking back at her teacher. "What's going on?"

Master Eraqus thinks for a moment and sighs. "Xehanort. It has to be." The venom in his voice shocks Aqua. She has never heard that name before.

"Who is Xehanort?" Aqua asks fearing the answer without really knowing why.

"He is Ventus' true master," Master Eraqus forces out like it hurts him to admit it. "And pure darkness."

…

Ven can feel himself floating, but he sees nothing, nothing but darkness. He is alone and it is quiet. Tired, he closes his eyes, the darkness behind his eyelids somehow less intimidating than the darkness he is engulfed in. He should be scared, he should be fighting, but he's tired and it is peaceful to float in the darkness.

"Hey, where am I?"

The voice cuts through the silence and Ven's eyes jerk back open. "Who's there?" He calls back and a bright light appears in front of him. It grows brighter and closer. The warmth it gives off is familiar it reminds him of... "Sora?"

"Ven!" Sora's energetic shout comes from within the light as it reaches Ven and engulfs him, driving away the darkness.

The light fades, but the darkness around Ven as he falls isn't threatening. He continues to fall like he is sinking in water. Soon his body rights itself and he lands feet first on a glowing white platform. He looks to his left to see a jagged edge where part of the platform had been broken off. "This is...my heart..." Ven says slowly looking at the broken part, saddened by the loss. "Sora?" He calls out hesitantly not sure if had imagined the voice from before.

"I'm here Ven."

Sora's voice comes from somewhere high above, and even though Ven can't see him he can feel the light of his presence. "Why are you in my heart?" Ven asks.

"The light brought me. I followed it here," Sora's voice replies.

"Yeah. That was my light," Ven says sadly looking once again at the broken edge of his heart. "But my heart is fractured. And now the little I have left is slipping away."

"Then you should join your heart with mine."

Ven looks up confused. "Huh?"

A shimmering white light catches his attention and he turns to see the lost area being filled in by this new light. Soon his heart is whole once more.

"Now our hearts have touched. Nothing else will slip away. And one day you'll be strong enough to win back the part that already did."

"Right," Ven says laying a hand on his chest. "Thanks Sora."

"It's time to wake up now, Ven. All we need to do is..."

"Open the door," Ven says finishing Sora's sentence. He's not sure what it means, but he knows it's what needs to be done. At his words, the shining white floor beneath him breaks apart to reveal it is only masking what is beneath. The soft white pieces float away and Ven looks down to see a larger than life image of him sleeping on the platform. Everything about the platform is the same it had been the time he had come here after fighting the sea monster in Atlantica with one key difference. The masked boy who had been resting across from him and whose keyblade had been crossed with Ven's is gone. In his place are blue circles that contained the likenesses of his friends.

With a small smile of both happiness and loss, Ven closes his eyes and feels himself float up and away from the platform, back to the real world.

…

Sora wakes when Ven's body shifts under his head. Sitting up, Sora rubs his eyes, puffy from crying, and blinks as he see Ven sit up. The expression on Ven's face is hard to read. He seems confused and lost.

"Ven?" Sora asks quietly and Ven turns to him.

Pain. That is the expression on Ven's face. His eyes are haunting and his mouth is twisted in a hard frown.

"Can we go home Ven?" Sora asks.

Ven nods silently and rises to his feet. Sora gets to his feet and takes Ven's hand. It's cold and that scares Sora. Ven raises his other hand and a moment later a light corridor appears in front of them. Without a word, Ven leads Sora into it.

They emerge back on the plateau on the mountain overlooking MEKA where Xehanort had approached Ven. Seeing that they are home, Sora immediately tries to run down the path back to the castle, but he is stopped by the hand he is still holding onto Ven with. "Ven? We're home," Sora says tugging on his hand. "C'mon Ven."

Ven remains as still as a statue, staring sadly down at the ground at his feet. Sora slowly lets go of his hand and Ven's arm falls back to his side, limp. Sora's eyes widen in fear again, and with tears forming in his eyes, he turns from Ven. He sprints down the mountain path in search of the others.

…

Terra, Aqua, Master Eraqus, and Riku are all standing in the sitting room. The older apprentices and Master Eraqus are arguing while Riku stands in the corner hugging his arms around himself confused and scared by what is going on.

"We have to go search for them!" Terra shouts gesturing wildly with his hands.

"And where would you suggest we look?" Master Eraqus replies in a strained voice. "They could be on any world."

"So how are we going to find them?" Aqua asks worriedly.

"We have to start looking," Terra says. "Standing here isn't doing anything."

"Running off on a wild goose chase isn't going to help Ventus and Sora," Master Eraqus says. "We need a plan."

"Do you hear that?" Aqua says frowning.

"You just said they could be anywhere," Terra says to Master Eraqus as they both ignore Aqua. "Then we have to just check each world!"

"Xehanort wouldn't have taken them just anywhere," Master Eraqus replies as he starts to pace. "He would need somewhere secluded. It would be somewhere he knows well. We should check-"

"Shh!" Aqua says hushing the others and halting Master Eraqus' pacing. "Listen."

With no one talking, they can hear a soft pounding sound and an indistinct voice. It is coming from the front door and Aqua hurries in that direction with the others following behind. As they get closer they can tell it is Sora yelling through the door. "Master Eraqus! Terra! Aqua! Riku! Help! Please help!"

Aqua reaches the door first and wrenches it open only to be knocked several steps back by Sora hugging her. "Sora! What? Are you hurt?" She says shocked.

Instead of replying, he grabs her hand and tries to drag her out of the castle. He's crying and speaking too quickly to be understood. "Slow down Sora. What's happened?" Master Eraqus says crouching down to be at his level.

"There's something wrong with Ven!" Sora shouts sobbing. "You have to help him."

Having said that, Sora lets go of Aqua's hand and sprints back down the steps. The others are frozen in place for half a second before they take off after him. He leads them down the path, past the gold training rings and up the mountain. As they turn the final corner, the others halt as Sora rushes to Ven's side.

Ven takes no notice of any of them. He doesn't even react when Sora grabs his hand and tugs. "Look Ven," Sora says desperately. "It's Terra, Aqua, Master Eraqus and Riku."

Ven continues to stare at the ground as the others approach slowly. "Ventus?" Master Eraqus says hesitantly. Ven's only response is to blink slowly. He keeps his eyes on the ground. Terra and Aqua move to stand on either side of Ven as Sora backs away tears falling down his face. He feels a hand on his shoulder and turns to see Riku looking at him with wide eyes. More tears fall from Sora's eyes as he hugs Riku tightly. Riku carefully guides Sora to sit down and lets Sora cry into his shoulder while he watches the others clustered around Ven

"Are you hurt Ven?" Aqua asks examining Ven. He has scratches all over his bare arms and his jacket is all ripped up in the back. "Curaga," Aqua says and Ven's injuries heal, but he remains as motionless as ever.

"What happened Ven?" Terra asks. Ven blinks again and grimaces. "Ven?" Terra asks and Ven suddenly grabs his head. He screams out a single piercing cry of pain and collapses unconscious to the ground. Terra just manages to catch him before his head hit the ground.

"Oh my god," Aqua says as she and Master Eraqus kneel beside Ven as Terra gently lies him on the grass. "What?...Why?..."

Master Eraqus puts a finger to Ven's neck, feeling for a pulse. He sighs in relief feeling it beating strongly under his finger. "He fainted," Master Eraqus says to calm Terra and Aqua. "I don't know why, but he's just unconscious."

"Ah, so the boy survived. How intriguing."

The rasping voice makes them all turn their heads and Master Eraqus jumps to his feet. "Xehanort!" He yells threateningly as the bald man walks calmly towards them from a dark corridor that disappears behind him. "What have you done?"

"I merely tried to show my apprentice his true power," Xehanort says with a shrug. "Unfortunately, your teachings have tainted him and caused him to resist his destiny. Still, he can be of use to me. For now, my quest for the legendary power will be postponed, but it is not over. See that the boy gets better, I will need him when the time comes."

Terra and Aqua frown angrily and move to step towards Xehanort, but Master Eraqus holds out an arm to stop them. "This ends here Xehanort," Master Eraqus growls. "I will once more banish you to the realm of darkness."

"Eraqus my old friend," Master Xehanort replies with a smile. "I cannot be defeated. Even my death would not put a halt in my plans. It is fate that the X-blade will be created once more and even you cannot stop fate."

"I do not intend to stop fate," Master Eraqus says summoning his keyblade. "I only intend to stop you."

Xehanort cackles and summons his keyblade as well. "You fear what you do not understand. Darkness is more powerful than light. You will never win."

"Light will always banish darkness to the coldest corners," Master Eraqus replies. "I fear nothing from shadows and the lost ones that lurk within them. Even if my light fails, there will always be another to push back the darkness."

"A noble sentiment Eraqus, but you are still woefully ignorant of the power of darkness." Saying this, Xehanort points up to the sky and the bright sunlight it cut off by dark purple clouds descending over the world.

"Master Eraqus-" Aqua tries to say, but he roughly pushes her and Terra behind him.

"Stay back." Master Eraqus closes his eyes for a moment and concentrates hard. When he opens them again a second later, a shimmering barrier has appeared, separating the two masters from the apprentices.

Terra and Aqua's protests are muffled by the barrier and Master Eraqus ignores them as he slowly walks to Xehanort. He stops within ten feet and the two of them stare each other down with their keyblades at their sides.

Master Eraqus is the first to move as he slowly falls into his battle stance. "You are not welcome on this world; it is no longer your home. Get out."

Gripping his keyblade tight in both hands, Master Eraqus runs at Xehanort, reaching him in less than a second. His overhead attack is easily blocked by Xehanort's large keyblade, but Master Eraqus had been expecting that and quickly recovers. With perfect balance, he side steps Xehanort's thrust and swings diagonally at Xehanort's hip. His keyblade only cuts through air however as Xehanort spins out of the way.

Using the momentum he had generated, Xehanort swings his keyblade horizontally at Master Eraqus. Master Eraqus blocks the keyblade just in time and the two of them become locked together in a test of strength. For a minute, there is nothing to hear except grunts of exertion from the two as beads of sweat trail down their faces and fall to the ground below. And then Xehanort starts to push Master Eraqus' keyblade back. It's less than an inch at first, barely noticeable, but soon Master Eraqus is forced back half a step.

"It has been ten years since we last clashed. Has old age weakened you Eraqus?" Xehanort says cackling. Instead of replying, Master Eraqus gives one final push against Xehanort's keyblade before jumping to the side. Xehanort turns with him and slashes at him quickly, but Master Eraqus easily jumps out of the way.

"Firaga!" Master Eraqus calls and an inferno blasts out of his keyblade enveloping a still smirking Xehanort. Master Eraqus holds the magic for several moments before letting the fire fade away. As the fire clears, Xehanort lunges out at Master Eraqus seemingly unaffected by the flames that had engulfed him. Master Eraqus is quick to block, but not quick enough as he is only able to deflect Xehanort's keyblade.

Master Eraqus let's out a small cry of pain as the deflected keyblade leaves a deep gash in his left shoulder. The sight of blood on his keyblade makes Xehanort grin even wider. "Cura," Master Eraqus whispers quickly as he jumps away to a safe distance. He feels the magic begin to work, but Xehanort reaches him before he is fully healed.

Ducking the keyblade swung at his head, Master Eraqus slices at Xehanort's legs opening a deep cut in his opponent's right thigh. Xehanort jumps back with a growl of anger, and Master Eraqus lunges at him in an overhead attack. In the blink of an eye, Xehanort raises his left hand and grabs hold of the hilt of Master Eraqus keyblade as it swings down at him stopping it at the height of it's arc. Master Eraqus, shocked by the speed and strength of Xehanort's grip, is unprepared to stop Xehanort as he slashes five times in less than a second at Master Eraqus' stomach leaving a bleeding gash each time.

Master Eraqus gasps at the sudden pain, and Xehanort releases his hold on Master Eraqus' keyblade. However, before Master Eraqus can perform a counterattack, Xehanort blasts him with a gust of wind so strong it knocks him clear of his feet and he slams into the ground back where he started. Master Eraqus tries and fails to rise to his feet, looking down at his stomach which is bleeding through his clothes. Too weak to keep it up any longer, the barrier he had created to keep his apprentices safe fades.

"Eraqus, my old friend, can you see that you cannot beat me," Xehanort says sneering as he walks towards him. "I have the power of darkness on my side. You are weak without it."

"Then it's a good thing he isn't alone," Terra says coldly as he and Aqua step forward to stand beside their master. As they point their keyblades at Xehanort he begins to laugh.

"Loyal aren't they Eraqus," Xehanort says as Aqua stoops and quickly cures Master Eraqus' wounds. When he rises to his feet once more, Xehanort says, "Very well, I will take my leave." He summons a dark corridor to his right. "When Ventus is stronger tell him I'll be waiting for him to see reason. He'll come around. It is his destiny to create for me the X-blade and I will see that it is fulfilled."

He goes to walk through the dark corridor, but pauses and almost as if it is a second thought he turns and points at Sora still huddled next to Riku. "And I'll take little Sora as well. His heart is most remarkable. He could be very useful."

Saying this, Xehanort points his keyblade at Sora who shrinks back with a whimper. Riku immediately jumps to his feet and places himself firmly in front of Sora. He summons his keyblade and points it at Xehanort, fixing him with a glare as well. Xehanort merely laughs at the young boy and goes to walk through the corridor, but is stopped by Sora's angry voice.

"Ven isn't bad. He won't help you. You-you basturd!"

Xehanort turns to see Sora had also gotten to his feet and had run in front of Riku. The little boy's bright blue eyes burn with anger as he glares at Xehanort with his small hands curled into fists at his sides. The purple clouds of darkness in the sky disappear as Xehanort takes the final step back to enter the dark corridor, but as it closes he smiles and lifts his keyblade up, firing a ball of darkness at Sora.

"Sora!" The others shout, but there isn't time for them to do anything. Sora screams in fear and covers his face with his arms. A flash of light appears in his hands just as the ball of darkness is about to reach him and when the light fades the darkness is gone, leaving Sora unharmed.

Slowly he lowers his arms and blinks, looking down. In his right hand is a keyblade. The others, who had been running to him, freeze, and stare wide eyed in surprise at him. For a moment Sora's eyes are glued to the silver keyblade with the gold handle before he screams again in shock and drops it. Upon hitting the ground it disappears in a flash and he sits, curling into ball.

The other keyblade wielders look at each other in shock, as they slowly make their way to him.

Riku is the first to reach him and asks confused, "Sora, you have a keyblade?"

"I don't know!" Came Sora's shrill response.

"What did he do to you and Ven?" Terra asks anxiously.

"I don't know!"

Eraqus asks, "Sora, did Ventus give you the keyblade?"

"I don't know! I don't know! I don't know!" Sora shouts starting to cry.

Aqua moves to him shooing away others. Gently, she picks him up and he latches onto her as he cries into her shoulder. Rocking him slightly and murmuring soothing words, Aqua looks over him at Master Eraqus with frightened eyes.

"Let's all return to the castle and sort out what is happening," Master Eraqus says quietly. Aqua nods to him as she walks back to the castle with Sora in her arms and Riku following her, glancing back occasionally at the others.

Terra and Master Eraqus return to Ven's side. He is as still as before with his eyes closed. "Do you think you can carry him Terra?" Master Eraqus asks and Terra nods sadly. Treating Ven like he is made of glass, Terra carefully lifts him into his arms, grunting at his dead weight. After adjusting Ven to sit more comfortably in his arms, Terra and Master Eraqus slowly walk down the mountain path neither saying a word, each too absorbed in their own thoughts and fears.

MLSoT: Well there are going to be a couple more boyxboy pairings in the sequel, but I don't think any of them will be that random.

Mexi: Yay! Ven lives!

Zephyr26: Yeah after I wrote the last chapter I read it back over and realized I had used some of the same lines from Mufasa's death, but it worked so I kept it the way it was.

SnowKawasagi: And Sora's keyblade is a smaller version of the Kingdom Key.

So Xehanort's first plan to create the X-blade failed, but like he said he isn't about to give up. The second half of this story is going to lead up to his plan B. BUT before we get there I promised I would put Ven's life back together after destroying it so I'll work on that in the next couple chapters.

I've been working on outlining the sequel to this story and I gotta question for all you readers.

What is your opinion of original characters?

In the sequel Tay and Keric will still be minor characters in the story, but what do you think of me creating some others? Do you like OCs? Hate 'em? Main character OCs or keep their roles minor? Any opinion you have is wanted desperately!