CHAPTER TWENTY

I ran to the sound of warped darkness and Unversed squeaks. I saw a group of Floods surrounding a young kid with gray hair that was short in the back and long in the front, covering the right half of his face. I summoned my Keyblade and stepped in front of the boy. As I glanced back at him, I recognized him as Ienzo, the Somebody of Organization XIII member Zexion. He couldn't be older than ten years. A cold chill rushed through my blood. Did he become a Nobody as a child? Was my grandfather so insane in his schemes that he murdered a little boy?

"Get out of here." I said. "I'll take care of this."

Ienzo turned around and ran. I destroyed the Floods without breaking a sweat. Ienzo returned to my side.

"Are you okay?" I said. Ienzo nodded without a noise.

Even, the Somebody of Vexen, walked towards us and turned to Ienzo. "Ienzo, there you are. Didn't I warn you not to wander off, child?" Even walked over to Ienzo, then turned to me. "I see we owe you our thanks. We have done our best to raise the boy... since his poor parents are not here to do it."

"Oh... I'm sorry."

"I see you are here alone this time. Where is that boy you were with before?"

"Ventus? He, um... he's around here somewhere."

"I see. Thank you for keeping Ienzo out of harm's way." Even said, smiling mysteriously. "And... Well, let's say I have a feeling the four of us are destined to cross paths again."

Right. Except by then, you both will be Vexen and Zexion. Ventus will be a heavy influence in the birth of Roxas, and Callum would join shortly after. I thought as Even and Ienzo walked away.

"Hey, Hallie." Ventus walked towards me with his head bowed.

"How are you doing, Ven?" I said.

"He's gone."

We stood in silence for a few moments before I threw my arms around the blonde and pulled him close. "Everything will be all right. Terra just needs some time to cool down."

A few moments later, I felt the warmth of Ventus's hands around my back.

"He still needs you. Deep down, there's a strong light in him that the darkness can't touch." I pulled away, resting my hands on his shoulders. "I know. Let's use those passes Scrooge gave us and go to Disney Town! It'll be fun."

Ventus's ocean blue eyes met with mine and he smiled. "Yeah. I'd like that."

I smiled and stepped back.

"Ven. Hallie." Aqua said as she approached us. "Did you find Terra?"

"Yeah, but... he's gone..." Ventus said.

"Oh... Then I can't stay here."

"Let me go with you, Aqua."

"No, Ven." Aqua said, turning on her mother voice. "Do as I say and go home."

Ventus bowed his head. "Why won't you let me?" he mumbled.

"I don't want to put you in harm's way." Aqua smiled softly and rested her hand on his shoulder. "You understand? Hallie, make sure he gets home."

She stepped back and changed into her Keyblade Armor. She walked past us and rode off into the sky on her glider.

"So... are you going to take me home, now?" Ventus said bitterly.

I scowled and shook my head. "No." I said. Ventus looked up at me in surprise. "You still have so much more you need to do. We both do."

Ventus's smile returned.


Ventus and I leaned against a wall, Ventus sitting on the ground and me standing next to him with my arms crossed. Ventus stared broodingly at Terra's wooden Keyblade. After a few minutes, he started tossing it in circles with one hand. On his third spin, the wooden weapon flew out of his hands and fell a ways away from him, landing in front of a pair of red sneakers.

"Huh?" A boy picked up the weapon and casually swung it around a few times. He looked over at Ventus. "This yours?"

He had red, spiky hair and bright green eyes. He wore a white tank top, an orange sleeveless vest on top, tan cargo pants, and a yellow and black checkered keffiyeh around his neck. Another boy was with him, with medium-length blue hair and green eyes. He wore a blue short-sleeved vest with a yellow cresent moon on the left side of the zipper, white pants, and black boots.

Standing before us were Lea and Isa, the Somebodies of Axel and Saix from Organization XIII. I knew both Lea and Axel in my time: Axel through his and Callum's friendship while in the Organization, and Lea after he became human again and helped Riku and I save Sora from turning into one of Xehanort's vessels of darkness during the Mark of Mastery exam.

"Lea, we don't have time for this." Isa said.

"Lighten up, Isa. It'll only take a sec." Lea said, walking towards us. He flipped the wooden Keyblade around and offered the handle back to Ventus. "You still play with toy swords? That's cute."

Ventus refused the Keyblade with a scoff, and Lea tossed it to the ground.

"Now this right here-" Lea pulled out two red Frisbees with black edges, each adorned with a Bomb design. "Tada! Whaddaya think?"

"Not a whole lot." Ventus said, looking away.

"You're just jealous! I'm Lea. Got it memorized? What're your names?"

I giggled to myself. Even as a teenager, he still used that infamous catchphrase.

"Ventus." Ventus said plainly.

"I'm Hallie." I said, waving slightly.

"Okay, Ventus. Let's fight!"

"Fight?" Ventus scoffed. "Why would I wanna do that?"

"You scared of losing? C'mon!" Lea jumped back and struck his battle stance, a slightly simpler version to his Nobody form with his chakrams. "Hope you're ready!"

Ventus glared at the fiery-headed kid with an annoyed stare, then he uttered a chuckle and smiled.

"You're gonna be sorry!" Ventus said, standing up and striking his battle stance with his wooden Keyblade.

Isa closed his eyes and chuckled.

"Go get 'im, Ven!" I said.

Ventus and Lea lunged at each other and blocked their attacks. They pushed each other back, and Ventus charged at him. He swung his Keyblade. It smacked Lea in the stomach and he went tumbling to the ground.

"You... had enough? 'Cause I'm willing to... call it a draw if you are!" Lea panted.

"Huh?" Ventus said. He laughed and stood up straight. "Right..."

"From where I stood, the only thing you drew was a big L on your forehead for "Loser"... "Lame"... "Laughable"..." Isa said as he and I walked towards the group. Isa stepped beside Lea and I stepped beside Ventus.

"Wha-?! Isn't this the part where ya... cheer me up for somethin'?" Lea said. He sat crisscrossed and folded his arms like a two-year-old having a tantrum. ""You're just havin' a bad day," or... "That's what you get for pullin' your punches!" Some friend."

"Oh, you mean I was supposed to lie."

Lea rolled his eyes and laid back on the ground with his hands behind his head. "Ya see what I gotta put up with?" He said. He glanced up at me and Ventus. "Sure hope you don't have friends like him."

Ventus and I looked at Lea, then at each other, and started laughing. The other two joined with us.

"Lea, we have to go." Isa said.

"'Kay." Isa started to walk away, and Lea stood up.

"Already?" Ventus said.

"I'll see ya when I see ya. After all, we're friends now. Get it memorized."

"Okay. See you later." I smiled, knowing we would all meet again, just in different circumstances.

"What is it with you and picking up stray puppies?" Isa said as Lea walked up to him.

"I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people's memories, I can live forever." Lea said.

"I know I won't forget you. Believe me, I try all the time."

"See, I'm immortal!"

"You're obnoxious."

The two friends looked to the castle. "You ready?" Lea said. A big smile formed on his face.

"Well, I can tell you are."

"Yeah."

Isa and Lea disappeared down the path.

They used to be the best of friends when they were young, despite their opposite personalities. I thought. Then they joined the Organization, and they became bitter enemies. What happened?

"Must be nice... knowing who your friends are." Ventus said, looking up at the sky.

I glanced at the blonde as pain stung my heart. I looked back down the pathway the two Somebodies walked down when I caught a glimpse of a boy wearing an organic bodysuit disappear around the corner. I gasped, which was audible to Ventus.

"Is something wrong?" Ventus said.

I glanced between him and the pathway. "Uh... no..." I said. "Hey, you go on to Disney Town. I'll meet you there. I just need to take care of something."

I took off down the path without his answer.

"Uh... okay?" Ventus called as I turned the corner.


I stopped in another large, ornate garden and looked around with heavy breath.

"There you are." a bone-chilling voice said. I whirled around and glared at Vanitas's black helmet. "I've been looking all over for you."

"What do you want, Vanitas?" I hissed.

"Can't the two of us have a heartfelt conversation? You're hurting my feelings." Vanitas said, taking slow, casual steps towards me.

"I'm not in a mood for talking." I said, summoning Ultima Weapon.

"Fine, then, I'll do most of the talking, and you'll answer my questions. Since you already know everything there is to know about me and the Bossman, I'll spare the allusive riddles. What I'm curious about is how you know it. You've been pretty much under the radar, maybe even absent from it. It's clear you don't belong here. Not even Xehanort, who seems to know everyone and everything, has a clue who you are."

"Really? Since he's the one knee-deep in elaborate schemes, I'm rather disappointed. Let's just say he and I are on the same boat in very few things."

"Is that so? Then why don't you tell me who you really are?"

"But then I would ruin the surprise."

"I see how it is." Vanitas summoned Void Gear and struck his battle stance. "I guess the mysteries will have to die with you."

"In your dreams." I said, striking my battle stance.

I charged and swung, but he immediately blocked. Void Gear glowed with darkness and he slashed his Keyblade, but I jumped away. Vanitas dealt consecutive swings, but I dodged them, some barely. In between his break, I lunged and swung at him. After a third miss, I immediately swung my foot up in a high round kick. My foot made contact with his jaw and his head lurched to the right. The impact sent him flying, and he landed flat on his back. I took a few moments to restore my breath before I slowly approached his limp body.

Wow. I can't believe that worked. I thought. Thank you, Terra.

"Are we done here? I have other things I need to take care of." I said, swiping my Keyblade for emphasis.

Vanitas let out a loud laugh, and it set my nerves on overload from how disturbingly bitter it sounded. He jumped to his feet in a kip-up.

"Not bad at all." he said, a laugh still in his throat. I scowled at him. "Maybe I should take a break from watching that blonde wuss and focus more on you. You intrigue me greatly."

I didn't know whether to feel relieved that he was taking a break from tormenting Ventus or creeped out that I was his new victim. A large corridor of darkness appeared behind him.

"See you around." Vanitas said as he backed up into the portal and disappeared.

I dispelled my Keyblade and clenched my fist, bringing my eyes to the ground.