A/N: Yup, so last chappie went well, cept you guys never really gave me an opinion on the new themes that I gave links to. GO CHECK THEM OUT! Okay, so there are some spoilers to Aqua's ending in this chapter, so unless you really haven't played BBS, I wouldn't suggest reading that part of the chapter, unless you want me to ruin it for you. Oh, also I'm probably going to not have Hope go with Sora and Co. to Port Royal and possibly Agrabah for the first visits, because I honestly hate watching walkthroughs, and the cutscenes sort of get boring after awhile. Please enjoy this chapter!

As soon as she stepped off the last step, the doors shut behind her, and the stairway disappeared. She glanced over to the side and down below, frowning slightly when she saw that the pathway spiraled. With a soft sigh, she began to descend farther down, reaching the bottom in 5 minutes, stopping as she reached a door. It slid open, surprising Hope somewhat. "And to think…all this was down here…" She mumbled as she walked into the lit hallways slowly, the only sound coming from the heels on her shoes. She frowned as she stared around, noticing the cells that were down here.

'This…this must be where they continued the research that they were ordered not to continue with…This was their secret lab. And these cells…these must've been where they kept the people they kidnapped to experiment on…to think what those poor people had to go through…it's awful…' She broke away from her thoughts as she stopped in front of another set of doors that had chains on them, those doors sliding open like the ones from earlier, revealing a room with a single throne like chair in the center. Hope entered, the doors sliding shut behind her. She glanced around the room, taking note of all the details the room had to it. For one thing, the walls were covered in the Organizations Insignia, chains coming from the bottom of them and leading the chair in the center.

Hope stepped forward, touching the chair. She studied it for a moment before sitting down in it, nearly shouting in surprise as the insignias and chains on the wall and floor lit up, her attention going to the front, her eyes widening slightly when she saw the items in front of her. She shot up from the chair and ran over to the armor and Keyblade, stopping and kneeling down next to it. It was the same armor that she had seen before back when Xehanort had been found, nearly six years earlier. When her gaze fell onto the Keyblade, she frowned slightly as she realized that it was extremely familiar looking. Out of instinct and curiosity, she touched the Keyblade, pictures and voices running through her head as soon as she did.

"Aqua, the stars bring me grave news. Master Eraqus's star has blinked out. I am afraid that means he has been struck down."

"The Master? But-Who is responsible?"

"Master Xehanort…and Terra."

"No! That's absurd!"

"I was told…the Master was struck down."

"Yes…that's right. I was stupid and helped Xehanort do it. The Master-he tried to hurt Ven. I only fought because I wanted to protect him. But I was tricked. Xehanort set the whole thing up-all so he could awaken the darkness inside me. You were right, Aqua-and so was the master. I did need to be watched. I went astray-but no more."

"What else is darkness but hate and rage? Xehanort is feeding the dark fires within you-making you fight. You'll go astray again. Tell me-how does that honor our Master's memory, Terra?"

"Xehanort wants me and Vanitas to fight, and make some kind of "x-Blade." But the Master said we can't let that happen…and he tried to destroy me for it."

"x-Blade?"

"I still don't know exactly what it is. But…it scares me to death. Even just the thought of it."

"Relax, Ven. We're here and we're gonna take care of you."

"I may have to fight Vanitas after all. If I do, guys…I want you to-"

"The three of us can never be torn apart, all right? I'll always find a way."

"I'm asking you, as a friend…Just…put an end to me."

"Behold…These lifeless keys used to be full of power-united with the hearts of their masters. On this barren soil, Keyblades of Light and darkness were locked in combat as a great Keyblade War raged."

"Ven!"

"Aqua!"

"Ugh…Terra!"

"Ven! Ven, are you okay?"

"How 'bout you leave the popsicle with me, so you can go have your little fight with Terra. You can't be too happy about him deep-sixing your Master."

"Who are you?"

"You two think that you have got some grand role to play. As if. You're only here so that when I finish you off…Terra will succumb to the darkness. So…who wants to go first?"

"Shut-up!"

"Oh, so this kiddo thinks that he's a full-fledged Keyblade wielder? He's got the angry look down."

"Go ahead if you want to waste your time. Keep trying to drive us apart with your mind games. It'll never work! Terra will prove to you he's stronger!"

"Aqua!"

"I keep forgetting-don't mess with Keyblade wielders. But you know what? That just means I made the right choice! Well, he wanted to buy time, and I'd say he got it."

"What? Oh, Ven!"

"Aqua!"

"AH!"

"I'm asking you, as a friend…Just…put an end to me."

"Gosh, I'm glad you're okay."

"Ven! Oh, thank goodness. Ven! You're safe! Ven?"

"Heh."

"Oh!"

"That's not Ven!"

"Correct. I am not Ventus. His heart has become a part of mine now. This Keyblade will open a door-one that leads to all worlds! Then, the Keyblade-bearing warriors will flock here from each and every one of them, to battle for the light within Kingdom Hearts! And just like the legend says, the Keyblade War will begin!"

"Shut-up! I'm sick of your nonsense! Give Ven his heart back!"

"What's wrong? Giving up already?"

"Terra, Ven, lend me strength."

"They boys heart is sleeping."

"When will he wake?"

"I cannot say. It is almost as though his heart has left. Should it return, he may very well wake. Should it not, then he may sleep like this for all eternity."

"No…I'll…I'll keep him safe-until he wakes. Forever if I have to."

"I will tell you what your friend need right now. It is not your protection. He needs you to believe. You see, Ventus's heat hangs in the balance. It sleeps in the place between light and darkness. From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend-one who believes in him, to show him the way home. Just as long as you love him…then Ventus will be able to find you when he wakes. He can follow that love back to where he belongs-the realm of light"

"Aw. Don't you worry, Aqua. I believe in Ven, too. Gosh, he's been as good a friend to me as anybody. And if you and me believe in him with all our hearts…then he'll have two lights to follow instead of one."

"Three lights. Terra."

"But…Terra's gone. Maybe for good."

"No. I think…I know how to find him."

Hope gasped as soon as the memories ended, her grip on the Keyblade tightening slightly as she used it to keep herself from falling face forward. She glanced over at the armor that lied beside her. This armor had belonged to Aqua, and so had this Keyblade. When Zack had asked her if she had ever met Aqua, Ventus, and Terra, she had no clue who this Terra person was…until now. He had been Ventus's other friend. Hope's eyes widened slightly when she remembered the face of Terra, recalling a time where she had seen him before.

Flashback- 6 years earlier-

"Bye, Merlin! I'll see you next week!"

"Yes, goodbye, dear! And keep practicing that Lighting spell I taught you!"

Hope laughed. "Don't worry, I will!" She walked away from the old wizards house, heading towards the ice-cream shop. As she was walking she wasn't really paying attention to where she was going, thus resulting in her bumping into someone and falling onto her rear. "Oof!"

"Are you okay?" Someone asked.

Hope was about to yell, but when she looked up, she changed her mind and decided to smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine!"

He smiled back. "Here." He held out a hand for her and she took it, allowing him to help her up.

Hope dusted herself off. "Thanks. Sorry about running into you. I wasn't really watching where I was going." Hope apologized, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. She took a good look at the man that she had run into, noticing his somewhat strange attire, and his blue eyes and brown hair. He was quite handsome, Hope would give him that, but he also looked a little lost.

"It's fine."

"Are you looking for something?"

He nodded his head, holding out a book to show Hope. "Actually, I am. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find an old man wearing a blue robe, would you? He dropped this book, but before I could return it to him, he was already gone."

Hope stared at the book, before a grin appeared on her face. "Oh, a book! It must be Merlin's! It's a good thing you found it before someone else did. The man that you described lives up ahead in that little cottage. You can't really miss it!" Hope said, pointing off in the direction she had come from.

He gave her a smile. "Thank you. My name is-"

"HEY, HOPE!"

Upon hearing her name, she turned to look to her left, smiling slightly when she saw her two friends standing around and waiting for her. She waved back. "Hi!"

"C'MON! We gotta hurry to the ice-cream shop if we want there to be any left!" Lea exclaimed, causing Hope to giggle.

"Right!" She turned back to the man. "It was nice meeting you, but I have to go! Goodbye!" Hope said, taking off over to her friends, the man watching her as she went. "LEA! ISA!" Hope exclaimed, tackling the two into a hug.

"Get off, will ya?" Lea asked, prying her off of him so they could begin the walk to the ice-cream shop. "Y'know, just because you're the princess, doesn't mean that you can take all the time you want."

She stuck her tongue out. "Yeah, well for your information, I was helping someone out with directions."

"Yeah, yeah…" As soon as their voices could no longer be heard, the man turned around and headed into the direction Hope had pointed him out to him.

Present Day~

Hope shut her eyes, a saddened look appearing onto her face, placing a hand over her chest. "So…that's why Xemnas always seemed familiar, somewhat…Because…He's Terra…and That means that Xehanort was Terra as well…Aqua's in the darkness, and as for poor Ven…His heart is somewhere out there, trying to find it's way back home-to the realm of light."

'From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend-one who believes in him, to show him the way home. Just as long as you love him…then Ventus will be able to find you when he wakes. He can follow that love back to where he belongs-the realm of light.'

"Ventus…Even though we don't know each other that well…I believe in you. And I love you, as a friend. You don't have three people believing in you now." Hope said, a smile appearing onto her face as she stood up. "And I'll do whatever I have to do to save you." She turned and began to walk out of the room. "You have four lights to lead you home now."

A/N: I liked this chapter a lot :D! It just…was a lot of fun to write! Reviews are greatly appreciated. Hope you guys enjoyed it! LATER TATERS!