CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

"So, boys, where do you say we go next?" I said to the two Lost Boys as we strolled down the path.

"Who said you got to call the shots?" Slightly said.

"Yeah, you're not Peter Pan!" Cubby said.

"True, but I'm older and wiser than you, so I'm in charge while Peter Pan is away." I said, ignoring their tongues sticking out at me.

We walked over to the Indian Camp.

"Hey, what's that?" Slightly said.

A rolled-up scroll laid next to a tee-pee.

"A treasure map!" Cubby said.

"I get to be the leader!" Slightly cried as the two Lost Boys ran for the scroll. They stopped when a hand, belonging to Aqua, reached out and picked up the scroll. Aw, no fair! We were so close!"

"Too bad, men. Tough break." Peter Pan swooped in and landed on the ground.

"But Pan-!" the boys cried.

"No buts. You know the rules. The first one to find and claim the treasure map gets to be the leader." Peter Pan walked over to Aqua. "And that's you."

"Leader?" Aqua said, cocking her head to the side.

"Of the expatition!" Slightly said.

"Uhh, we're goin' on a treasure hunt. And that's our map you got!" Cubby said.

"Just go along with it." I said, standing next to her.

Tinker Bell flew over and threw a tantrum to Peter Pan.

"Whaddaya mean? I never said girls can't be part of the gang." Peter Pan said. "C'mon, Tink, the more the merrier."

"Sounds like someone's jealous." I mumbled, and Aqua snickered.

"I'd love to be part of this treasure hunt, but I have something else I need to take care of." Aqua said, which Tinker Bell agreed with wholeheartedly. She offered the map to Peter Pan. "Here, you keep it."

"Too bad... but rules are rules." Peter Pan said. "I guess we'll just have to call off the treasure hunt."

"Nooo!" the Lost Boys groaned.

Aqua sighed. "All right, you win. I'll join you for one "expatition". But only one."

The Lost Boys cheered while Tinker Bell crossed her arms and pouted. Aqua opened the map, and the Lost Boys and I huddled around her to look at the pictures.

Aqua pointed to a spot on the map. "As far as I can tell, we're here." She moved her finger over the red X. "And this mark here is where we'll find the treasure."

"Enough pointin'. C'mon, let's go!" Slightly cried.

"Enough pouting." I said to the Lost Boys. "She's the leader, and she is in charge, so you got to respect that, or else you'll get a time out."

The Lost Boys crossed their arms and remained silent.

"Wait a second. We still don't even know our leader's name." Peter Pan said. "I'm Peter Pan. The jealous one over here is Tinker Bell. And you are?"

"Aqua." Aqua said.

"Oh, so you're Aqua!" I remembered Ventus mentioning her and Terra at Mermaid Lagoon, before Mickey's Star Shard swept him away. Peter Pan kicked his feet up in the air and ignored Aqua's questioning looks. "Now, first stop- Mermaid Lagoon!"

"Oh, okay..."

We watched Peter Pan and Tinker Bell take off into the sky.

"Does he ever stop to consider sharing some of his flying power with us?" I said, crossing my arms. "I'd get things done much faster."


As we walked down the pathway, I rolled my eyes at the sight of Hook standing on a rock platform across from us.

"I have you now, Peter Pan!" he cried. "Today's the day I shall be rid of you forever!"

"I'm busy right now, Hook. We're on an expatition." Peter Pan said. "Can't I show you up some other day?"

I like this kid. I smirked to myself.

"You'll show me up now! Give back me treasure!" Hook cried.

"Who's that?" Aqua said.

"Aw, that's just Captain Hook. He's a two-bit pirate codfish." Peter Pan said.

"If you ignore him, he's bound to go away." I said. "Let's keep going."

"I'll cleave you into two bits, boy!" Hook cried. "Smeeee!"

We saw Hook's ship positioned in the ocean, and a whistling sound came towards us.

"Cannon!" I cried as the ground behind us exploded.

"We're sitting ducks out here. Run!" Aqua said.

We turned and ran down the path, avoiding Unversed that appeared and Hook's cannon fire. We rested when we found a safe place. The two Lost Boys looked up into the sky.

"The mark on the map points way up there." Cubby said, indicating the tall cliff edge in front of us with two waterfalls streaming next to each other.

"Aww, relax. A little pixie dust, and we'll be there in a jiffy." Peter Pan said.

"But... we've never had to flied that high before!"

"What if we fall?" Slightly shuddered.

"Hey, when did you two turn into cowards?" Peter Pan said.

"Don't you think you're asking a bit much of them?" Aqua said.

"This is between me and them, Aqua." Peter Pan crossed his arms. "Men, only the bravest of the brave can claim that treasure."

"Yeah, we know..." Cubby said.

"Tink, if you would."

But the fairy crossed her arms and shook her head.

"We haven't got all day!"

Tinker Bell sighed and flew up into the air, releasing a layer of pixie dust into the air. The small particles shimmered on my skin before being absorbed.

"Here we go!" Slightly cried as the two Lost Boys flew into the air after the fairy.

I bounced on my toes as the dust fell over me. "You ready?"

"I know you are." Aqua said.

I kicked up my feet and giggled excitedly when I stayed in the air. I took off into the sky. I turned around and watched the view grow bigger and bigger. I was flying! My heart soared as high as the pixie dust carried me. I paused in the sky and took a deep breath, extending my arms out and letting the warm sun soak into my skin. As I opened my eyes and looked out into the ocean, a sad weight came down on my heart.

I wish Sora were here to share this with me... I held my arms and looked down at the ground below me, feeling my stomach drop to my feet from how high I floated in the air. I shook my head vigorously to get myself refocused on what I was doing and followed the Lost Boys. As we entered the next area, something about it seemed familiar.

"Hey, aren't we right back where we started?" Aqua said, confirming my suspicions.

"Ya mean we went all the way around Never Land for nothin'?" Slightly said.

"Well, ya conquered all sorts of obstacles to get here." Peter Pan said. "And to me, that's certainly not nothin'."

"You know, I had you all wrong. You were just looking out for them back there. Being a good leader." Aqua said.

"Yeah, of course I was."

"You're too late, Peter Pan!" We followed the voice to Hook, who stood over the treasure chest. Squinting for a closer look, I realized it was our treasure chest. "I'll be taking what's mine now. Smee, secure me treasure."

"Aye-aye, Cap'n!" He opened the chest and screamed. I giggled at his reaction.

"What is it now?!" Hook said.

"C-Cap'n, it's the treasure. It's b-been..."

"Spit it out, you idiot!" Hook looked inside the chest and gasped. "Odd's fish! It's all junk!"

"Whaddaya mean, junk? Those are our treasures, Hook!" Peter Pan said.

"But what did you do with MY treasure?!"

"Well, it might be at the bottom of the ocean by now." I said casually.

"You what?! You scurvy brats have crossed me for the last time!"

Ticking filled the air, and Hook flinched to the sound.

"Hmm? What's that? That sound..." Hook whimpered. He looked around and saw the crocodile grinning from the water. "Not you again! No, get away from me! Smee! Do something! Smeeeeee!"

"Wait, Cap'n!" Smee cried, running after him.

"That crocodile has impeccable timing." I said.

We laughed until they disappeared, then retrieved the treasure chest. Aqua spotted the wooden Keyblade in the treasure chest and picked it up.

"Is this..." she said.

I nodded. "Ventus put that in there."

"Ven... He was here..." Aqua said, gazing at the wooden Keyblade. Her face hardened and she looked down the path. "And someone else."

"Who?" Peter Pan said.

"It's nothing. I've got to go take care of something." Aqua said, and she walked down the path.

"What is it, Aqua?" I said, jogging to catch up to her.

"Vanitas. He's here." the bluenette said coldly.

I gasped quietly and a frightened chill ran down my spine. What will happen when he sees me again?


Aqua and I ran into the Indian Camp and looked around, but we saw no one. We reached the edge of the cul-de-sac shaped cliff and scanned the area.

"So, have a good time hanging out with the kiddies?" a bitter voice said, and the alarms in my head went off. We turned around to see Vanitas walking towards us. Terra's wooden Keyblade was in his hand.

"How'd you get that?!" Aqua said.

"I think that kid's outgrown such a childish toy... if you ask my opinion." Vanitas said, examining the wooden Keyblade. He grabbed both ends and snapped it in half. Aqua and I gasped as Vanitas tossed the broken Keyblade pieces aside like garbage. We watched it hit the ground, then turned our anger towards the masked boy in front of us. He summoned Void Gear. "Just like I've outgrown my need for you."

"How dare you!" I cried, feeling the same intense rage I felt towards Gantu when he destroyed Experiment 626's Wayfinder.

"You... you freak!" Aqua said.

We summoned our Keyblades. Vanitas shot a ball of dark fire at us. Aqua cast Barrier around us, and the fire bounced back towards Vanitas. He cartwheeled out of the way. Aqua charged at him. She slashed her Keyblade, but Vanitas blocked. He clenched his fist, and it consumed with darkness. He grunted and launched his fist into Aqua's stomach. She let out a choking gasp, and the force of the hit sent her flying back. She tumbled to the ground, and all I could hear from her were quiet, pained groans.

"Aqua!" I cried. I whirled around back to Vanitas, and a hand seized around my throat. I gasped and swung my Keyblade, but Vanitas grabbed my forearm.

He stared at the brown cords wrapped around my forearm. I followed his gaze, and I gulped to see them pulsing with darkness again. Vanitas dug his fingers into my arm, and I hissed in pain, which came out more as a pathetic wince as the darkness grew stronger. The pain radiated from my arm, and I felt it slowly climb into my chest.

Vanitas gripped my throat tighter, slowly closing the hole that allowed me to breathe. I grabbed his wrist to try and pry him off, but I knew I was in no position to.

"Hallie." Vanitas snarled. My name on his lips, spoken with Sora's voice, made my skin crawl. My scowl melted away, revealing the fear trembling inside me.

"Where did you hear that?!" I wheezed.

"I may have overheard it somewhere." Vanitas grunted and threw me aside. I tumbled to the ground and groaned, allowing my lungs the air they demanded. I pushed myself to sit up and clutched my right arm, which still pulsed painfully with darkness. Vanitas walked towards me.

"Although, you are still a mystery. Perhaps the Bossman may know something." My eyes widened, and I couldn't hide my frightened reaction. Vanitas chuckled. He crouched down and seized my chin with his hand, forcing me to stare into my distorted reflection in his helmet. "Ah, so you are connected to him. I can't wait to find out more about the little bug you are."

I scowled and mustered up a burst of strength to connect my fist to his jaw. His head lurched to the side, and I shook the pain away from my hand. Small trickles of blood surfaced from my knuckles.

What is his helmet made of?!

Vanitas craned his neck to the side, and I heard a few sickening cracks. He stood up, boring his hidden yellow eyes into me.

"I have a better idea. How about I just finish you off right now?" Void Gear appeared in his hand, and he slowly brought it back. "I'll send you back to the darkness you came from... where you belong!"

He grunted and shoved his Keyblade at me. I gasped and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Hallie!" a voice cried. I heard Vanitas grunt and something clatter against the ground. I slowly opened my eyes to see Aqua collapse onto her knees next to me, panting heavily. "Are you... okay?"

I nodded as I trembled violently. I looked back, but Vanitas had disappeared. Aqua pulled me into her arms and held me close. My throat ached as I burst into tears. Fear and rage crashed inside me: rage towards my grandfather and Vanitas, rage that I was sucked in the past, rage that I was separated from Sora and my friends...

"It's okay, Hallie." Aqua said soothingly, one hand wrapped around my shoulders and another softly stroking my hair. "He's finally finished... You can rest easy..."

I shook my head as I cried. If only she were telling the truth. If only that cretin was truly gone forever. If only Ventus wouldn't have to fight him in the future and destroy his own heart in the process.

"Aqua? Hallie?" Peter Pan knelt next to us. "Are you all right? What happened?"

"We're... we're fine." Aqua said. She slowly stood up and helped me stand. She cast Cure over us, and my physical wounds healed and closed.

Peter Pan finally noticed the broken wooden Keyblade laying a few feet away from us. "Oh no! Look at Ven's treasure!"

"It's okay, Peter. Whatever it is that binds us together isn't going to break so easily... and that's our real treasure." Aqua picked up the broken Keyblade. "I think Ventus knew that. That's why he left this behind."

"You must really be close. And that's somethin' pretty special. You, Hallie, Ventus, and Terra."

I nodded and dried my soaked face.

"One day you should all come back!"

"I'd like that." Aqua smiled.

"I... wish for that..." I said quietly.