CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

I opened my eyes, and my heart fluttered at the sound of ocean waves. I blinked several times to adjust to the sunlight that seeped into my eyes. I took a deep breath and inhaled the salty air.

What?

I sat upright, and I gasped at the sight of the vast ocean before me. I whirled around, and my chest swelled with happiness.

Destiny Islands.

Did I make it back?

I was on the miniature island. I walked over and hugged the paopu tree.

No... Something doesn't feel right.

I collapsed on the ground and leaned my head against the trunk of the tree. As the memories of the previous events washed over me again, new tears filled my eyes.

Master Eraqus... how could you?

Terra... how could you?

"Are you okay, miss?" a young voice said.

I looked over and gasped. Two young boys stood before me. The taller one had short, silver hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a yellow vest with blue lining the collar and shoulders, blue wristbands with a thin yellow line in the center, black shorts, and white sneakers with a blue line on the side. The other boy had messy brown hair and ocean blue eyes, and he wore a white t-shirt with blue lining, red shorts, and brown sandals with orange and white straps.

Oh, my gosh. I couldn't bring myself to breathe. Even at a young age, I recognized them the second I laid my eyes on them.

It was Sora and Riku.

"Um... yes." I said finally.

"Are you sure? You don't look like it." Sora said. "You look like you've been crying."

I chuckled sadly and dried my face. "I'm just... sad. Something really bad is going to happen."

"Like what?" Riku said, tilting his head to the side curiously.

I looked off into the ocean and clutched my Wayfinder in my hands. "You see... I don't belong here. At least, not right now. But where I came from, some people welcomed me in. They made me a part of their little family. And now... someone is tearing my family apart... and I can't do anything to stop it."

My bottom lip started to tremble, and I tried to keep my tears locked away.

"It's okay. You're in a safe place." Sora said, flashing me a warm smile. "Even angels have to cry sometimes."

I looked up at the two boys, who smiled at me confidently. I imagined the grown-up boys they would become, the ones who waited for me twelve years from now. My heart swelled, and I smiled, allowing a tear to escape down my cheek.

"Thank you." I said. "My name is Hallie."

"Nice to meet you, Hallie!" Sora said. "I'm Sora, and this is my best friend, Riku!"

"Hiya." Riku waved.

"Your best friend, huh?" I said, shifting to my knees. "Do you think I could be your friend, too?"

"Sure!" Sora said, bouncing on his toes excitedly while Riku crossed his arms and rolled his eyes apologetically for his friend's childishness.

They never change. I smiled to myself.

"Can you guys promise me something?" I said, and the two boys stared at me curiously. "Promise me that no matter what happens to you two, you will always be friends. Promise me you'll always be there for each other. If either of you ever ends up in a dark place, please, promise me that the other will do whatever it takes to bring them back to the light."

"Okay!" Sora said, throwing his arm around Riku's shoulders. "Nothing could tear us apart, Riku!"

Riku chuckled and slung his arm around Sora's shoulders. The two boys giggled, and the sight made my heart swell with hope.

"Keep each other safe, okay?" I said.

"Okay." the boys said. As they walked away, Sora stopped and turned back to me.

"I like that necklace of yours." Sora said.

I reached up and touched the crown pendant hanging around my neck. I smiled and unclipped it.

"Here. It's yours." I said, clipping the necklace around his neck. Sora examined the crown in wonder.

"Really?" Sora gazed up at me with his ocean blue eyes.

I smiled and nodded. "We're friends now, right? Even if we get separated... no matter where I go, I'll always be with you."

Sora grinned ear to ear. "Thanks!"

"C'mon, Sora!" Riku called from the bridge.

"Coming, Riku!" Sora ran over to his side, and the two boys looked back at me and waved. "See you later, Hallie!"

I laughed in relief and waved back. "Yes! We will!"

I watched the two boys run off and disappear inside the island. My hand dropped to my side and I sighed with a smile.

"Everything's going to be... okay." I said quietly to myself.

"Isn't that sweet?" a dark voice said.

A hand roughly grabbed my arm. I gasped and whirled around, instinctively swinging my other arm, but it was seized as well. I stared into the black helmet hiding Vanitas's face, and fear and rage clashed inside me.

"You never give up, do you?" he growled.

"Not until you and Xehanort are reduced to a decaying pile of bones." I hissed. "What do you want from me?"

"That wuss of a Keyblade wielder refuses to fight me." Vanitas said. "But you... you're the reason he keeps on fighting. You hold his heart in your hands. You're the perfect push he needs."

I gasped. "No-!" I cried, but Vanitas slapped his hand over my mouth as Ventus flew out of the portal Terra forced him in.

"Wait, Terra!" Ventus cried. The portal closed before he could hurry back inside.

But the damage had already been done.

Ventus grunted in frustration and brought his hand to the orb on his shoulder.

"Going somewhere?" Vanitas said.

Ventus turned around, his eyes widening when they landed on me.

"Hallie!" he cried, summoning his Keyblade.

My eyes widened in fear. "No, Ven!" I cried, but it came out muffled underneath the hand that kept my lips from moving. I shook my head vigorously.

Thankfully, Ventus understood my message, and he scowled at Vanitas.

"I'm through with you!" he grumbled, dispelling his Keyblade and walking away.

"Well, I'm just getting started with you. You're strong enough now to fulfill your purpose." Vanitas said. "So, what are you waiting for? Join with me right here and now. Become the χ-blade."

"No. I won't do it. Xehanort told me the only way the χ-blade can be forged is if you and I fight. Well guess what? I'm not fighting."

"You used to be too broken to talk back."

Suddenly, Ventus gripped the sides of his head and cried out in pain.

"Ventus!" I cried. I could picture what was happening inside that head of his: the memory of when Xehanort stripped away his darkness, almost killing him. The birth of Vanitas. My heart cried at the image of Xehanort holding his Keyblade over Ventus, performing the extraction ceremony.

"You're starting to remember." Vanitas said. "I guess I'll have to force you to fight."

Vanitas dug his fingers into my arm. Darkness glowered from his hand and rushed into my body. He removed his hand from my mouth, allowing me to scream openly so it reached Ventus's ears.

"Hallie!" he cried.

My heart felt like it was on the brink of bursting. The brown cords on my arm pulsed with darkness. Vanitas released his grip and shoved me off the bridge. Ventus gasped and ran over to catch me. I landed in his arms, and he collapsed to his knees.

"Come and find me at the one and only place to spawn the χ-blade- the Keyblade Graveyard." Vanitas said, summoning Void Gear. "That was a little taste of what's to come. There you're going to see me choke the life out of Terra, Aqua, and your precious girlfriend. Then we'll see how long you play the pacifist."

"Hey, wait!" Ventus cried as Vanitas disappeared into a corridor of darkness. He lowered his eyes to me. "Hallie, are you okay?"

I nodded slowly. I brought my arm up to my face and watched the darkness coil around the brown cords. A tear slid down my cheek.

"What's... happening to me...?" I whispered, my lip trembling.

Ventus looked at my arm, then looked down at me. I saw sympathy, but something else, something much stronger, swam in those ocean blue irises. He reached over and wiped the tear from my cheek. He smiled gently at me.

"It's okay." he cooed. His hand remained cupped around my cheek. "We'll make it through this. I promise."

I gulped hard, and my breathing came out in heaving sobs. Ventus pulled me close to his chest, and I wept against his shoulder. Ventus remained silent, only hugging me tighter.

"I care about you, too." Ventus said.

I paused to look up at him curiously.

"Remember back at Disney Town? You told me that I wasn't alone. That there were so many people across the worlds who cared about me... including you." Ventus smiled down at me. "You mean so much to me. More than you could ever know."

My eyes shook as I gazed up at him. "Ventus... Promise me... that no matter what happens, you won't be angry." I said. "Because... terrible things are going to happen very soon, and I'm afraid to lose you all."

His smiled faded a little bit. He leaned over and pressed his forehead against mine.

"Even if we never meet again, you'll always be with me." he said quietly. "Whatever brought you here, I don't think it was an accident. I think you were meant to be here... to become a part of the hearts you've touched throughout this journey: Terra... Aqua... and me."

Ventus kissed my forehead. He pulled away and smiled. I gulped nervously, imagining those ocean blue eyes belonging to someone else. I nodded, and we both stood up. Ventus reached into his pocket, and pulled out his Wayfinder.

"I swear... I'll put an end to this." he said, slowly closing his hand over the glass star.

Ventus summoned Wayward Wind and pointed it forward. Light collected at the tip and shot forward, creating a portal to the Lanes Between. We activated our armor and gliders and entered the portal.