CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
As I traveled to the Lanes Between, I noticed another person cruising alone the voids of space, riding a waveboard just like me.
"Ventus!" I called.
Ventus turned and slowed down so I could catch up and ride alongside him.
"Hey, Hallie. Where are you headed next?" Ventus said.
I shrugged. "Wherever, I guess. I'll follow you around."
Ventus nodded and we cruised through the Lanes Between. A creature zoomed past us, covered in red and black pulsing darkness. I gasped.
"Him again!" Ventus growled as Vanitas flew ahead. "Let's go!"
"Okay..." I said.
Vanitas led us to a world filled with dry canyons and dusty winds. I remembered this place all too well from the last time I came here.
"Where'd he go?" Ventus said, looking around.
I turned around and scowled. "There!"
Ventus turned and stared at Vanitas's black helmet. "All right! What did you mean about Terra being a different person?"
Vanitas walked towards us. "Exactly what I said, idiot. The Terra you know will be gone forever."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!"
"Stupid, or true." Vanitas extended his hand towards us and Void Gear appeared.
"A Keyblade?" Ventus said. He stared at it, mesmerized, before it morphed into a scowl and he summoned Wayward Wind.
"Good. Let's see what you're made of." Vanitas said, striking a battle stance that reminded me of Riku.
"Ventus. Be careful." I said.
"I got this." Ventus said.
Vanitas performed a slide dash towards us, but we jumped out of the way. As Ventus took a swing, Vanitas cartwheeled around and slashed at him, but Ventus turned around and blocked it. He swung again, but he didn't catch the glowing from Vanitas's Keyblade. Their Keyblades met, but the impact sent Ventus flying. He tumbled to the ground.
"Ventus!" I called.
"That really all you got?" Vanitas said, walking towards Ventus. "Man, you are worthless. I'd be going against the Master's orders, but so what? As far as I'm concerned, your job here is done."
"Get away from him!" I cried.
I charged at Vanitas with Ultima Weapon and lunged. Vanitas turned and blocked at the last second, connecting our weapons. With a quick, sharp swirl to the right, my Keyblade was yanked from my hand and went flying. I gasped and reached out to call it back, but Vanitas seized my wrist and held Void Gear to my throat. I panted to keep my panic at bay while I stared at the black helmet in pure disgust.
"You seem to know a lot about our plans." Vanitas said, referring to him and Xehanort. "Yet the Bossman never mentioned you. Who are you?"
I stared at the masked boy until something clicked.
Ahllixe doesn't exist yet. My second Nobody, the love of this cretin's life, has yet to be born. But she would soon. Still... has my grandfather still not figured out who I am?
"I'm a force to be reckoned with." I growled.
Quickly, I drove my knee into Vanitas's stomach, grabbed the hand seizing my wrist, and flipped him over. He went flying, but just before he would've hit the ground, he shifted his body and planted his feet on the dry ground, skidding back a few feet. I heard him chuckle as he stood up.
"Impressive. I'll admit, you've got some serious skills." Vanitas said. "But do you really think it'll be enough to save your wimp of a boyfriend?"
I summoned Ultima Weapon back to my side.
"Heal!" a high-pitched voice cried.
I turned and gasped when I saw King Mickey standing over Ventus. Green light showered the blonde, and he regained consciousness. Mickey turned around and pointed his Keyblade, Star Seeker, at Vanitas.
"Tell me where you got that! Keyblades are not something you use just to bully somebody around!" Mickey said. "Here, I'll show ya!"
"We both will!" Ventus said, climbing to his feet and standing next to King Mickey.
"Don't forget me!" I said, gripping Ultima Weapon.
Vanitas jumped in the air, and black lightning shot from Void Gear towards us. I jumped in the air and slammed my Keyblade down, but the masked boy jumped out of the way. Mickey spiraled towards Vanitas, getting in a few hits, and Ventus shot balls of Fire at him.
"Let's finish this together!" Mickey said.
Light surrounded the three of us, and beams of light broke away and slammed into Vanitas from different directions.
"Light!" The three of us cried. We jumped into the air and spun around in a circle with our backs to each other and our Keyblade pointed forward, showering the area with light.
Vanitas laid on the ground, but a few moments later, he jumped to his feet in a spiraling kip-up.
"Hmph, you win. Consider yourself on probation." He said. A large corridor of darkness appeared behind him. His dark helmet turned towards me. "I've got my eye on you."
I growled, but a series of chills rushed down my spine. Vanitas stepped back into the darkness and disappeared.
"Probation for what?" Ventus said. We turned to Mickey. "Thanks for before. I owe ya. I'm Ventus."
"I'm Hallie." I said, remembering this mouse king didn't know me yet, not even as a child.
"I'm Mickey!" Mickey said.
"I see you've got a Keyblade." Ventus said.
"Yep. I've been trainin' under the great Yen Sid." Mickey dispelled Star Seeker. "He found out the worlds are in trouble, an' I sorta took off without tellin' him."
"Well, that makes both of us. I ran off, too."
"And I'm around to make sure you and the others don't get yourself in trouble." I said, nudging the blonde.
Mickey pulled out a blue star with a white orb inside and a yellow lightning bolt weaving through it. "All I hafta do is think it, and the Star Shard will take me anywhere I wanna go. At least I thought it would. I haven't quite got the fine points down, like... when, or where... It just kinda kicks in whenever it wants to. But I wouldn't have met you two if it hadn't brought me here."
"Yeah, and we'd sure be Keyblade kabobs if you didn't step in to help us." I said.
"Ya know, it might not be an accident. Maybe it starts workin' 'cause it's reactin' to somethin'."
We all looked at the Star Shard, when suddenly, a bright and intense light emitted from it. We shielded our eyes from the light.
I opened my eyes and looked around. I was back in the Lanes Between. Ventus floated next to me.
"Ventus, wake up!" I said, nudging the armored boy.
"Huh?" Ventus shook his head and looked over my shoulder. "What's that world?"
I turned to see what he was looking at, and my heart dropped. The only thing missing were the incomplete pipes and construction covering the giant castle when I was there during my first journey, but I still remembered it perfectly as memories flowed in one by one.
Radiant Garden.
