Chapter 30 – Time

"Terra, are you sure you're ready for this?"

Eraqus felt the steady beat of his student's heart. "Yes, Master," he replied.

Eraqus glanced out of Terra's body one last time. They were in the data version of Twilight Town, in the basement of the mansion. The floors and walls were a brilliant, blinding white, and they were all gathered next to the stasis pod where Sora had slept.

Xion and Mickey sat on either side of Terra. They couldn't substitute for Kairi, but as the most gifted white magic users besides her, they could at least ease the pain for Terra. And of course Riku was here as well, since he was the one who would perform the heart dive. There was no further reason for delay, other than Eraqus's own concerns for Terra's safety.

"Then I am, too," Eraqus said at last.

Riku took Terra's hands, and the process began. It didn't take long before Riku found Eraqus in a memoryscape of the Land of Departure. Eraqus wondered if Riku recognized the place, as different as it was in Eraqus's memories to how it was now.

"Master Eraqus," Riku said, offering his hand.

"Master Riku," Eraqus began, and Riku started.

The boy is still not used to being addressed in such a manner, Eraqus noted with some amusement.

"It is an honor to meet you again," he finished, taking Riku's hand.

"The honor is mine," Riku said, and for a moment Eraqus didn't see Riku; he saw Xehanort, saw him before all this happened, back when Eraqus thought he had his respect and friendship.

When had it all gone wrong?

At least Riku hadn't made Xehanort's mistake. Or if he had, he had turned back and fixed it before it was too late. He and Sora hadn't repeated the previous generation's errors, and now they had the chance to make things right.

If only… If only Xehanort had a heart as caring as yours. A heart that protects instead of destroys.

Looking at Riku, at someone who reminded him so much of his former friend, brought back painful memories of happier times. It was to those more innocent times he would have to return to do what had to be done.

His heart floated out of Terra's body, and it was a strange sensation indeed. Terra's body had never been his, but it had been his refuge for so long that without it his heart felt cold, exposed. For a moment he had the urge to re-enter it, but then he felt a sharp tugging that pulled him to the ground.

Terra groaned and clutched his chest, but Mickey and Xion were quick to heal him and ease his pain. Once Riku's eyes fluttered open, Xion was by his side in an instant.

"Are you okay?" she asked, helping him sit up.

"Yeah. Smoothest dive yet. Either I'm getting better at this, or Sora loves making things difficult for me."

That got a smile from her. "Maybe so. His heart really is like a labyrinth, isn't it?"

"You would know," he said with a grin.

Eraqus examined his arms and legs. They were becoming more solid, more corporal, more real with each passing moment till at long last he had a body again.

"Terra," he said, testing the vocal cords of his newly formed body. It was his voice, no longer disembodied in someone's head, but coming out of his throat and mouth like it should be. His eyes could see the passage of time in Terra's face, and he smiled sadly at his student.

"Thank you," was all he said, trusting Terra to understand the full meaning behind his words.

Once greetings and introductions and re-introductions were taken care of, his thoughts turned to his mission.

Xehanort, it's time. I will put an end to what you began, no, to what we began, so long ago.

"You know, I think that was the first time I ever beat you." Eraqus quickened his pace to match the easy, deliberate stride of his friend. Their footsteps echoed across the stone floor, and they passed through the bookshelves of the Master's study and made their way to the main hall.

"And it's going to be the last," Xehanort said, smiling wryly. "You just got lucky."

"You call that luck? That was all skill. I told you not to underestimate me." He grinned and pushed open the great doors.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

Ever since Xehanort had arrived, there hadn't been a dull moment at the castle. Eraqus couldn't even remember what life had been like before Xehanort had come here, nor did he want to. Because at long last, he'd found someone who was his equal in mind if not yet in skill.

And to be fair, Eraqus had been training for years. Even though Xehanort had gotten a late start in comparison, he was making progress so quickly even the Master was impressed. She'd had to come up with a whole new curriculum for him, because nothing she used for her other pupils was enough of a challenge for him.

No doubt he'll catch up to me soon. Then we can spar together and I won't have to hold back anymore.

They strode past portraits and busts of former Keyblade masters and turned into the hallway that lead to the dining room. "Xehanort, tell me more about your world."

It was one of Eraqus's favorite topics of conversation, talking about other worlds. But Xehanort just sighed.

"What else is there to tell? It's small and boring. The whole place is just a group of islands. I was dying to get off of that dump as soon as I could."

Eraqus didn't understand how Xehanort could think that way about his home. Especially from the way he'd described it. It sounded beautiful, and yet Xehanort had called it a prison.

"But it's surrounded by the sea, right?" Eraqus said. "I've never seen the ocean before. This world has a bunch of ponds and lakes, but no sea."

"It's not all that different from a lake, trust me. About the only difference is that the water has salt in it."

Eraqus tried to imagine such a body of water. All the lakes here were freshwater.

"I can't wait till I'm a Keyblade master," he said. "Then I can go to any world I want to."

Xehanort raised his eyebrow. "I thought we were supposed to protect the world order."

"That's easy. I just won't tell them where I'm really from."

Xehanort chuckled. "The Master figured out I wasn't from this world pretty quickly."

"Yeah, but she's different. Normal people won't figure that out because they don't even know there are other worlds."

"I suppose," Xehanort replied as they settled into their chairs and dug into the meal before them, roast chicken and green beans and toasted bread. The Master made sure all of her students got a well-rounded education, and that included knowing how to run a household (in this case, a castle). It showed, too. Meals were always delicious.

"Xehanort, Eraqus, thank you for finally joining us," she said, a teasing smile on her face. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun today, a few strands of gray peppering it. But her eyes twinkled like she was still in her prime, and her blue and gray robes allowed for ease of movement as she trained her students.

The others gave them a hard time for being late, but Eraqus took it all in stride. It was during moments like this that he wondered how Xehanort had even found out about the existence of other worlds. Had someone told him, or had he figured it out on his own?

Well, either way, there was one thing Eraqus knew for sure.

Xehanort was anything but ordinary.

Eraqus wandered around the marketplace later that day, the Master's supply list clutched in his hand.

"Let's see, we still need milk, eggs, bread, fruit, and cheese." He glanced at the stall nearby. A young farm girl named Priscilla was running it. She held a basket of eggs, and a coop of chickens cawked and cackled behind her.

Perfect. Several minutes later, and Eraqus was several hundred munny poorer but a dozen eggs richer.

That was when he first felt the strange sensation prickling the back of his neck. He turned around, but everyone else still milled around him, going about their shopping and business.

Huh. Maybe he'd just imagined it.

He continued on, deciding to save the milk for last, since it would be the heaviest. A quick stop by the baker's stall earned him a couple of loaves, a half dozen rolls, and a steaming hot bun. The last item came free of charge thanks to the baker, which was why Eraqus always enjoyed his shopping excursions. So much free food.

As he was snacking on the bun, he felt that strange prickling on the back of his neck again. He whirled around, and this time he caught a glimpse of an old brown cloak.

Who was that?

Frowning, he put the rest of the uneaten bun back in the bag and continued on. The fruit and cheese were obtained easily enough, and he was about to buy a jug of milk when he saw the cloaked figure again, lurking in a nearby alleyway.

Sure enough, the figure was watching him. Or at least Eraqus thought so. It was difficult to say, with its face covered by a hood. As he watched, the figure lifted a hand and beckoned to him.

He… or she… wants me to come over? Why?

A part of him knew it was dangerous, but his curiosity had been piqued, too. He paid for the milk and made his way to the alleyway. Whoever this was, he was going to find out.

He strolled over, trying to juggle all the items in his arms, and had a moment of regret as he realized he wouldn't be able to summon his Keyblade easily.

Oh well. The Master had warned them to never use the Keyblade unless absolutely necessary, and he had no reason to think this stranger wanted to hurt him. Not yet, anyway.

"Who are you, and what do you want from me?" he asked when he was close enough to speak quietly and still be heard.

When the figure replied, his voice was low and gruff. "Meet me tonight at the mountain caves after sunset." And that was all. He turned around and strode away.

How… how does he know about those caves? They were Eraqus's favorite hideout. He hadn't even told Xehanort about them.

A small voice deep inside him warned him of the danger, but after dinner he excused himself and snuck off all the same. Across the drawbridge and up the winding mountain path he went, till at last he reached the small opening to the caves in question, half hidden by a boulder and clump of tall grass. Crouching low, he crawled through the opening, then straightened to his full height and went to the main cavern.

The figure was waiting for him there, still wearing the brown cloak.

Eraqus swallowed and took a step closer. "Who are you?"

"That, I cannot answer," the figure replied. "You will know who I am in due time. What matters is not who I am but the message I will give you."

"And what message would that be?"

"Before I give you my message, let me give you a warning. You must not tell anyone else of this until the time is right. Not your family, not your friends, not your master, and above all else, you must never breathe a word of it to Xehanort. Do you swear?"

Eraqus was taken aback. This man knew who Xehanort was? How?

"Why not? Why can't I—"

The figure reached out and grabbed his collar. The skin on his hand was scarred and sun-weathered, and his grip was surprisingly strong. "Do you swear?"

"I-I swear."

The figure relaxed. "Good. I apologize for my harsh manner, but the safety of all the worlds depends on this matter."

"It does?"

"Yes. You will understand someday, but for now I must ask you to trust me."

Eraqus raised his eyebrow. "Trust you? I don't even know you. How can I trust you?"

"Because I know you," the figure replied, his voice soft. Before Eraqus could ask him to clarify, he continued. "But as a I said, secrecy is of the utmost importance, which is why I have brought you here."

"I understand." The figure seemed to be speaking the truth, that much Eraqus could gather. "So, what is your message?"

The figure cleared his throat. "There is a prophecy that is the key to everything. When the time is right, return to this cave. In that alcove over there is a chest." He pointed to it. "Inside the chest is the prophecy. Take the prophecy, and you will know what to do with it from there. Do not attempt to remove it before then. The magic will not respond if you do, and it will remain locked."

Eraqus nodded. This was all vague and confusing, but not impossible to understand.

The figure turned to go, but then paused to say one more thing before he did. "No matter what happens, Eraqus, protect the light."

"Protect the light… Protect the light… What could that possibly mean?" Eraqus tapped the page of the book he was reading. It was opened to a picture and description of dozens of Keyblade wielders fighting each other over the light. Several more books with similar contents were spread out on the table around him.

"Studying the Great Keyblade War again?" came Xehanort's voice as he pulled out the chair next to him and sat down.

"Yes. I—"

Then he remembered the cloaked man's instructions and shut his mouth.

Why, of all people, did he want me to keep some prophecy a secret from Xehanort? I don't even know what it is yet.

Eraqus didn't like this. He didn't like this one bit. Sneaking around, keeping things from his closest friend. It didn't feel right.

"You've been thinking about it a lot lately, haven't you?" Xehanort said. Eraqus met his eyes, and Xehanort's were steady, unwavering, analyzing.

"Yes. I've been… wondering what the worlds were like before the Keyblade War." That much was true, at least. "Xehanort, what do you know of it?" he asked. "Are there any stories about it from your world?"

Xehanort didn't answer immediately. Instead, he selected a new book from the shelves, a dusty volume with a cover that had probably once been bright red and gold. Now it was dingy and torn, a testament to its age. A book of fairytales.

Flipping it open, he showed Eraqus the relevant story. A group of children, huddled together with lights shining in their hearts, was on the first page. The next page showed them pulling that light out and sharing it with each other. The last one was a double spread, full of rich colors and broad strokes as the children's light burst through the darkness and restored reality.

Well, as close as they could manage. In order for life to continue on, they'd had to split the one World into countless smaller worlds.

"I know this story," Eraqus said. "But I thought it was just a fairytale."

"But what if it's true?" Xehanort's eyes gleamed they way they always did when he was excited about learning something new. "What if the worlds really were once as one? Don't they feel small to you now? Don't you wonder what they might be like if they were joined together again?"

Eraqus frowned and studied the book again. "But if the story's true, the whole reason they were split apart was so the Keyblade War wouldn't happen again. People were fighting over the light, and they wouldn't stop until they were separated from each other." He paused, deep in thought. "The children did the right thing. They protected the light and the worlds."

Xehanort made a humming noise indicating neither agreement nor disagreement. "Eraqus, do you think the darkness is evil?"

Eraqus gave him a curious look. "Yes, of course." He pointed to the page in front of them, with the children's light bursting forth out of the darkness. "It almost destroyed everything. How could it not be evil?"

"Destruction, creation – don't they seem like two sides of the same coin to you? You cannot have creation without destruction, after all."

"That's not true," Eraqus said, not sure why this had suddenly turned into a philosophical discussion. "Creation must have come first, when the World came into being. If anything, what follows destruction is simply rebirth and renewal."

"But haven't both light and darkness always existed? Won't they continue on forever? It seems to me that you cannot have one without the other."

Eraqus didn't say anything, simply searched his friend's eyes, unsure of what he might find there. Xehanort stared back with an intensity that took Eraqus off guard.

"Since when did you become such a philosopher?" Eraqus finally asked, hoping to lighten the mood and put an end to this strange tension between them.

Xehanort was silent for a long moment, then let a slow smile spread across his face. "Since I met you, of course." He put his hand over Eraqus's for a moment before standing. "You truly bring out the best in me. I'm glad I met you, Eraqus."

Eraqus stared after him long after he'd left, still not sure what to make of the conflicted feelings swirling within him.

Surely the cloaked man was wrong. Eraqus had no reason to distrust Xehanort.

They were friends, after all.

Eraqus tried his best to put that conversation and the mysterious prophecy out of his head in the years that followed. He poured all his energy into his training, and Xehanort did likewise. They sparred together, studied together, went on missions together.

And never once did Eraqus have any reason to doubt him. Xehanort was the perfect confidant, supporter, and friend, and he pushed Eraqus to new heights he never would have achieved on his own. Eraqus likewise inspired Xehanort to be better, stronger; they truly did bring out the best in each other.

And that was how they had arrived to this moment, the day their master dubbed them both Keyblade masters. They stood before her in the throne room of the castle as she beamed down at them.

"Eraqus, Xehanort, congratulations on achieving your Mark of Mastery," she said, her brown eyes twinkling. "Your hard work has paid off."

The other pupils cheered, and she gave them a brief smile before being overcome by another one of her coughing fits.

Eraqus frowned as she searched her robes for her handkerchief, her hands shaking so badly she nearly dropped it. She wasn't young anymore, it was true, but she had never let anything stop her from training her students. This strange illness that had plagued her for the last few weeks had slowed her down, though, and her symptoms hadn't improved at all – not with rest, not with medicine, not even with magic. Even the town doctor didn't know what to make of her sickness.

"Master Eraqus, Master Xehanort," she said, when she had gotten through the worst of the coughing fit, "there is much knowledge I must share with you. Please come with me. The rest of you are dismissed."

They followed her to the study, and she shared all kinds of information with them that they had only dreamed about learning before – sealing and unsealing worlds, rapid travel from place to place, upgrading Keyblade armor to its most powerful form.

There was even a whole section of the study that she kept under lock and key, and she gave them both access to it to return to whenever they liked. When the session was over, she excused herself and told them they were free to keep studying.

Eraqus frowned as he watched her retreating form. She stumbled around as she made her way to the door, and he rushed to open it for her.

"Thank you, Eraqus." He held out his arm, and she looped hers through his and leaned against him for balance. He escorted her to one of the guest bedrooms on the first floor. Her own bedroom had been neglected in recent days. It was just too much of an effort for her to go up the long flight of stairs leading to it.

Helping her settle into bed, he asked her if she needed anything before he left.

"I'll be alright, thank you. I just need to rest." She sank back against the pillow and sighed, and he pulled up the soft down comforter around her.

"Master, what do you think this is, really?"

She sighed again, her eyes darting to the stack of old books on the bedside table. "I wish I had an answer for you, but the truth is, I don't know."

It was Eraqus's turn to sigh. Not even after he'd sought out every book about illnesses he could get his hands on (and from several different worlds, no less) had he found anything useful.

"Whatever it is, I don't think it's natural," he said, frowning.

"Yes, I have long since come to that conclusion myself," she said with a wry smile. "I've been researching magical causes, but nothing matches my symptoms."

"We'll have to keep looking, then," he promised, giving her hand a squeeze. He spoke with her about a few more things after that, but her eyelids drooped lower and lower till she fell fast asleep. He tucked the blanket around her and turned out the light before returning to the study.

Xehanort was still there, engrossed in one of the Master's books. Of course.

"Xehanort, she's getting worse," Eraqus said, sitting down next to him, but Xehanort hardly looked up from his book.

"And that is why I must continue my studies," was his reply. "There is still much for me to learn, and I am determined to find a cure for her."

Eraqus grabbed the book and shoved it down to the table with a loud smack. "Xehanort, this is serious. You know you're not going to find anything about it here. We've already looked."

Xehanort removed Eraqus's hand from the book and resumed reading. "Then perhaps the reason behind her illness is not to be found on this world."

Eraqus groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. "That's what I've been saying! I've been searching medical books and healing spells and—"

"Eraqus." Xehanort finally looked up, and his face was grim. "Something tells me you've been looking in all the wrong places. If magic really is the cause of this, it is not healing magic that you should be researching."

Xehanort's words slammed into him like that time he'd accidentally crashed against the castle wall during one of their sparring sessions. But of course! Magic that healed and restored couldn't possibly be responsible for her illness.

"You're right! That's it, it has to be! Xehanort, thank you!" he cried, springing to his feet. But then another thought occurred to him, and he froze.

"But if it's not healing magic… and if it's not light-based magic, then…" He met Xehanort's eyes and found the confirmation he sought.

"It's dark magic, isn't it?" he asked. He knew the saboteur spells that poisoned and stopped and slowed down and shrunk enemies. That was a regular part of any Keyblade wielder's training. And elemental magic was often called black magic and its practitioners black mages, as opposed to the white mages who specialized in healing spells.

But that was a far cry from magic that drew upon the darkness itself. Magic that tortured the souls of its victims and casters alike, growing more and more powerful until it took over the bodies of its hosts and forced them to do its will. No wonder he hadn't thought to look – he had no desire to obtain such terrible knowledge.

"Xehanort, what should we do?" he asked, clutching the edge of the table.

Xehanort finally closed the book and gave him his full attention. "Go on a fact-finding mission, of course. I haven't turned up anything either, and we must seek answers on other worlds. Well, at least one of us should. The other should stay behind and take care of her."

"I'll do it," Eraqus said. "I'll go."

He told her his plan when he went to check in on her later on, and she agreed to it on the one condition that he be gone no longer than a week.

He went into town to buy himself provisions for his journey after that. The baker saw him and stopped him, waving him over to his stall.

"Eraqus! I heard the news. Congratulations to you and Xehanort! Here, this one's on me." He handed him a whole bag of fruit tarts, Eraqus's favorite sweet.

"Thank you," Eraqus said, taking the tarts from him. They were even more delicious than usual, the perfectly ripe kiwis and strawberries with lime glaze on top just the thing he was craving.

"All I can say is, you've more than earned it. We're proud to have such talented Keyblade wielders as yourself around. Tell me, are the rumors about who will inherit the castle and title true?"

Eraqus waved his hand. "No, don't listen to gossip. I'm sure that—"

"But the lady of the castle is ill, is she not? We're all concerned for Master Junia's health, and—"

Eraqus sighed. So even the townspeople knew. "Yes. But you didn't hear it from me."

Eraqus hadn't even been gone three days when Xehanort sent him word to return home at once. The Master was completely bedridden. Her face looked even paler than before, her veins unusually dark beneath her skin and her hair completely white. As soon as she saw him, she clutched his hand. Hers was icy cold and trembling, and a strange, unfocused look entered her eyes.

"Don't leave me again," she whispered. "They're after me. They only stay away when you're here."

He sat on the bed. "Who? Who's after you?"

She tugged on his hand, and he leaned in closer. "The monsters," she whispered, and even her breath felt cold against his cheek.

"The monsters?" came Xehanort's voice. "Master, are you feeling quite well?" He raced to her side and knelt next to the bed.

She convulsed violently, her breath coming out in loud, panting gasps. She thrashed against Eraqus, and he and Xehanort both had to pin her down to keep her from smacking her head against the headboard and hurting herself.

"Master!" Eraqus cried. And as suddenly as the episode had begun, it ended. She opened her eyes, and he thought he saw just the tiniest flecks of gold in them before she blinked and it was gone.

"That's it, I'm getting the doctor," Eraqus said, springing to his feet.

"No—" she said, her grip weak but her voice strong. "Stay with me, please. Xehanort, I want you to call everyone here."

"But Master—" Eraqus protested.

"Do what I say," she commanded, and they knew not to argue.

It didn't take long for Xehanort to round everyone up and bring them to her room. Eraqus helped her sit up, propping pillows behind her till she was comfortable.

"My pupils," she began. Her face was deathly pale and her eyes had dark circles under them. "As you can see, my health has taken a turn for the worse. I do not know how much longer I will be with you. My return to Kingdom Hearts draws near. As such, it is time for me to announce who will be my successor."

Xehanort stood up straighter, and several of the students looked like they wanted to cry. She lifted her hand from underneath the covers, and it shook greatly.

"Eraqus," she said, smiling. For a moment she looked healthy, radiant, young again. "I give you my land and my title. Carry on my legacy and train the next generation of Keyblade wielders."

Eraqus stared at her in shock. She had chosen him? And only him? He stole a glance at Xehanort, but his friend's expression was unreadable.

"And Xehanort," she continued, her eyes likewise traveling to him and an icy tone entering her voice, "you are hereby banished from this land. You are not to set foot in it as long as I live. Eraqus, once I am gone, I trust you will keep him away from my students and my people."

With that, she smiled at Eraqus one last time. The room was in an uproar, and he was the only one who saw her eyes close for the last time, the only one who heard her take her last breath and noticed the moment her heart and soul left her body. Everyone else was too busy turning on Xehanort and figuring out what her words might mean.

The next few hours were a blur. Voices, so many voices around him, all saying terrible things that couldn't possibly be true.

"Xehanort was the one who made Master Junia sick! Xehanort killed her! Her health deteriorated too quickly! It wasn't natural! Why else would she have banished him? He's guilty, guilty I tell you!"

Without investigation, without lawyer, without trial, without justice, Xehanort was driven off the world. Eraqus watched as he donned his Keyblade armor, just like they were about to go off on another mission. All around them the crowds jeered and shouted, the very people who had once welcomed him with open arms.

But Xehanort paid them no mind. "Goodbye, my friend," he simply said to Eraqus, his eyes filled with sorrow and resignation, and with that he was gone.

Eraqus seethed at the injustice of it all. He attended to his duties in the Master's stead, but his heart was elsewhere. He carried on her legacy and followed her instructions, but every spare moment he searched for a clue, any sort of clue, as to her strange sickness and sudden demise. It was the only way he could clear Xehanort's name and bring him home.

It was in an ancient, dusty book from a great library on another world that he finally found his answer.

Dark Plague. All the symptoms fit – the hair color change, the pale skin, the flecks of gold in her eyes, the rapidly fading health, the muscle tremors, the paranoia. It was a rare disease caused by the darkness, and no known cases had been recorded in more than a hundred years.

"Of course," Eraqus said, slamming the book shut. "Of course it was caused by the darkness." He hated it even more, hated the thing that had stolen his best friend and his master away from him. The cloaked figure's warning from so long ago rang even truer than before.

"I will protect the light," he said, tucking the book into his cloak and donning his armor. "I will stop the darkness and put an end to the evil it represents." His helmet clicked into place and he opened a portal to the Lanes Between. "And Xehanort, I will clear your name once and for all."

He did, but his own name suffered as a result. The townspeople still didn't trust Xehanort and were furious about Eraqus going against Master Junia's final wishes. They moved far away and started an entirely new settlement, leaving the castle town a mere ghost of its former self.

Xehanort didn't stay for long, but the damage had already been done. Eraqus's pupils left him, and no new ones replaced them till the day a young orphan with brown hair and blue eyes showed up on his doorstep.

Eraqus remembered clearly the day he introduced Terra to Xehanort. He should have known. He should have known what would happen, the way Xehanort looked at Terra with such interest.

Master Junia was right about Xehanort. She was right about everything. If only he'd trusted her. Oh how he rued the day he didn't follow her instructions, all because of his blind refusal to see the truth staring him in the face.

It wasn't the fault of the darkness, no. That was just a tool, a means to an end. Xehanort was the one who was evil. He had been evil all along, and his friendship was worthless; meaningless. He'd used Eraqus from the day they first met. Which was why it was up to Eraqus to make things right.

Xehanort was his oldest and dearest friend, after all.

Eraqus emerged from the Lanes Between only to be greeted by a blast of cold air. His brown cloak billowed around him, and he had to pull it tight to keep it from getting in the way.

Home at last, and the place was a ghost town. He looked down at the castle far beneath him and the town below that. It had been deserted for quite some time even before Aqua had sealed it, but even the castle of his youth looked derelict and forlorn now.

Eraqus sighed and continued his climb up the mountain to the cave. The boulder was still there, partially obscuring the entrance just as it had years and years ago. He crawled through the entrance and made his way over to the alcove. The little chest waited for him, and the magic sealing it responded to his presence. It opened, and there was the page from the prophecy, still in one piece after all these years. He couldn't remember hiding it there, but he knew he must have.

He sighed again, but this time out of relief, because Xehanort hadn't found it. He rolled the prophecy up into a scroll and tucked it inside his cloak. Reading it here was too risky, so it would have to wait till he was somewhere safer.

His plan had paid off, but at what cost? Had his own words to his younger self been the very catalyst that had blinded him to the truth of what Xehanort was?

Maybe, if I hadn't become so obsessed with the light… If I hadn't blamed the darkness for everything...

But no, that only accounted for part of it. Xehanort's fascination with the darkness had begun before Eraqus had even met him. His obsession was as much to blame for all of this as Eraqus's blind fixation on the light.

What would've happened if I'd listened to my heart? If I'd tried to reach him where he was, and not where I wanted him to be?

But such thoughts were foolish, because the past could not be changed. It was time to meet the others and read the words of the true prophecy.

A/N: To last week's guest, I'm glad you enjoyed the part with Max!

And as always, thank you to everyone who read and a big thank you to my reviewers! I always wondered what Eraqus and Xehanort's friendship was like before everything went south, so I really enjoyed writing about it this chapter. We're actually getting into the final arc of the story here in a couple more chapters - the total chapter count will be about 37 chapters plus roughly 2-3 chapters worth of epilogue material (I'm still writing the epilogue, so we'll see how things go).

It's been a wonderful journey and I appreciate all your support! See you next week!