A/N: Pretty dramatic that last chapter wasn't it? But it also had a sweet ending. Serah is one of my favorites in Final Fantasy XIII. A pretty girl with a kind heart. Makes me feel sad she spends all her time in crystal. Don't even get me started with her fate in the end of FFXIII-2 and during Lightning Returns.

Worlds: Radiant Garden/Mirage Arena

[Three Months Later]

It's a lovely spring day. Everyone at Merlin's is preparing everything for a special event. The TV is set on the combat channel, which shows live footage of anything that happens in the current Mirage Arena tournaments. Everyone is setting up the snacks and drinks.

"I just place an order for the pizza." Riku says.

"I still can't believe Patrick made it all the way to the Keyblade War Tournament." Leon says.

"No one has ever beaten that tournament. Not once." Noel says.

"It's no lie. I never made it past round sixteen back then." Terra says.

"Well, if anyone cam beat that tournament, Patrick well." Aerith says.

"Oh, I don't know. He maybe a LeiShen and all that, but I think he'll crash on round 27." Yuffie says.

Everyone falls silent a little. Don't know either to laugh at Yuffie's joke or feel offended for me. Just then, the door bursts open. Everyone looks to see it's Serah. She's lending against the wall, panting, completely out of breath. They all seem concern.

"Serah? What happened?" Leon asks.

Serah couldn't speak. She just pants heavily to catch her breath. "Terra...Ventus!" She looks at them with a surprised expression. "Aqua...hospital...Come quick!"

Hearing that worries them, then they rush out the door.

There's nothing but darkness in the hospital. That's all she's seeing, but then she starts opening her eyes. Everything is all blurry and white, can't even make out what's going on. Is she alive, or is she dead? It takes a while, but her vision comes clear. She moans tiresome as she rises her hand, trying to reach for the sky.

The sight of her arm surprises her. There are no blood steins, no scratches, bruises or even dirt. But there is a small tube that's taped to her arm.

Aqua looks to the side. She appears to be in some kind of room. "Wh...wha?" Her voice is hoarse. She drops her arm on the hospital bed. She can barely feel any strength in her body, and once the feeling slowly returns, she feels something soft she's touching, then in her muscles is soreness.

She starts pushing herself up, trying to sit up. But her strength is pretty weak, it takes a whole minute. By the time she's sitting, her head leans down and she groans as she puts a hand on her head. "Oh...my head." Right now, Aqua is just in a light blue hospital gown.

Aqua looks to see she's in some kind of room. The last thing she remembers is being trapped in the Realm of Darkness. Never she would believe she could be anywhere else but that miserable world.

Just then, Terra and Ventus bursts into the room. "Aqua?" They both say together.

Aqua looks at them, surprised, but confused. "...Ter...ra...Ven?"

They are both bursting in excitement. "AQUA!" They both rush towards Aqua and embraced her together. Aqua isn't really pleased, in fact, she's hurting.

"Ow...guys! Stop!" Aqua says, they both didn't listen.

Serah comes in to find Terra and Ven hurting Aqua. "Guys, stop. You're hurting her."

Terra and Ventus realizes they are, then they release her. "Sorry about that." Terra says. Aqua takes the moment to recover. "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty sore..." Aqua looks at Terra then Ven, dazed. "Am I...still dreaming?"

"No. You're not dreaming. You're finally awake!" Ventus says.

Aqua was pretty confused. Ventus and Terra explains everything to her about what happened. How each of them have been gone for fifteen years. Aqua knew she was gone for a long time, but that was quite a stretch.

"Three months? I've been asleep for that long?" She asks, surprised.

"You had us really worried. We thought you would never awake." Ventus asks.

"Yeah, Patrick was pretty devastated as well." Terra says.

Aqua's eyes light up. "Patrick? ...He's alive?"

"He is. In fact, he's the one who saved us." Ventus says.

"Oh my...I have to see him. I-" Aqua was about to get up, but realizes something, and it horrifies her. Terra and Ventus notices her expression. Aqua looks at her legs, which are under the cover. "My legs...I can't move them." Terra removes the cover. Her legs are wrapped in bandages. The only parts that are exposed are her thighs, heels and toes. Aqua puts a hand on her right leg, feeling it. "I...can't feel anything."

This is shocking to Terra and Ven. "Doctor, what's wrong with her?" Serah asks.

"I'm afraid her condition is worse then we realize." The doctor explains. "Your friend's health is stable, but her immune system is left out very weak. Her wondering and fighting in the darkness over the years nonstop caused her a major disablement in her system."

"Meaning?" Ventus asks.

"She is completely paralyzed below waist." The doctor says.

They are shocked to hear that. "Isn't there anything we can do?" Serah asks.

"Afraid not. We've done all we can. It's possible the paralysis will wear off, but the chances are very slim. It could take months, or years...but it's most like she'll remain this way for the rest of her life." The doctor says.

Everyone is sadden to hear that, especially Aqua. "No." Aqua looks down in sorrow.

Ventus grabs a hold of Aquas hand. "Aqua...I'm so sorry."

Aqua shook her head and manages a small smile for Ven. "No, it's okay Ven. You don't have to apologize." She looks at Terra. "I'm just glad we're together again. I missed you guys."

Terra smiles, then the three of them pulls each other into a group hug. "We missed you too, Aqua." Terra says.

Serah feels touched seeing this. They disband the hug. "Where is Patrick? Is he here?" Aqua asks.

"No. He's actually at the Mirage Arena." Terra says.

"Ever since you fell into a coma, he's really been depressed. He tried to distract himself from his sorrows, so he sign up for the arena." Ventus says.

"He's actually gotten pretty good. He made it all the way to the Keyblade War tournament." Terra says.

Aqua is surprise to hear that. "Really? That's amazing!"

Serah looks at her phone, and is worried at what she's seeing. "Guys! It's happening in five minutes!"

Terra and Ven are shocked to hear that. "WHAT!? ...Oh crap." Terra looks at the doctor. "Doctor, is there anyway Aqua can have a temporary leave?"

"Uh...well, she is in fine condition. So I suppose-" The doctor is shortly interrupted.

"Yeah. That's great!" Terra carries Aqua, arms on her back and under her legs. "Come on. We have to hurry." Then they all run for their lives to Merlins.

Meanwhile, I am looking over the victors list of the Keyblade War Tournament. Of course I shouldn't call it victors since there are no winners. Just a list of people who tried out. The furtherest anyone has ever gotten was my father, up to round 30. I see Aqua, Ventus and Terra had tried out as well. Terra on 16, Ventus on 14 and Aqua on 22.

I wonder if I'll prevail.

After looking at the list, I check my phone, look at each of the texts. All of my friends, who knows about the outside worlds, have heard of the tournament and are wishing me best of luck. I scroll through the list of messages, until I reach a new one from Serah. Her reads: 'Good luck. I'm rooting for you, big brother.'

After that, I put my phone away, then look at the screen on up of the register board. Only less then two minutes before my match begins. "I just wish she was here to watch." I grab hold of my Wayfinder, thinking about Aqua. After a while, I shake it out of my head. "No time to be in mourning. I need to focus."

I put on my black fedora hat. When the countdown ends, I'm teleported.

The news lady makes an announcement. "All right everyone who enjoys hardcore combat sports! Are you ready? Cause it is now time for the Keyblade War Tournament!"

Leon and the others are watching the news as the lady goes on saying how hard the match is and how long it's been since anyone was willing to take on. Just then, Serah, Terra and Ven bursts through the door, panting like crazy.

"There you guys are, what took you so long?" Leon asks.

"Yeah. The match is just about to begin." Yuffie says.

Leon notices Aqua in Terras arms. "Your friend is awake?"

"Who are these guys." Aqua asks Terra.

"There will be time for introductions later. The match is starting." Terra says.

"All right! It's time for the countdown!" The countdown shows on the TV screen. Terra sets Aqua on the couch, and everyone else joins in with them. "Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Keyblade War start!"

The screen shows the arena of the Keyblade War Tournament, which happens to be the very pillar of the Keyblade Graveyard, where Terra and I faced Xehanort in two different battles. I make an appearance at the one end of the zone. Aqua is speechless at the sight of me.

"Is that him?" Aqua asks.

"Of course." Serah says.

"Wow...he looks so...grown up." Aqua says.

"I know, we were shocked as well." Terra says.

"Wait until you see him in combat." Serah says. "Watch."

For my first round, I face Large Belly's, Defenders, Magicians and Shadow Screechers. I summon my Keyblade, take a deep breath then charge with a raging yell. The enemies charges towards me, except the Magicians, they just stay back throwing their cards. I deflect the cards with my Keyblade midway. I strike down the Shadow Screechers. The Large Bellies, I cast Ruinja at them, sure did damage them.

When I reach the Magicians, I strike them down. They did a few illusion spells, one doing duplicates of itself and the other turning into me. The battle on this round is rough. At some point, I am completely surrounded. They all attack me at once. Everyone at Merlin's gasps in worry, then I unleash Quakeja. It sends them flying, then I blow them away with Aeroja.

That destroys the enemies for the first round. "Wow...amazing." Aqua says.

"He is, isn't he?" Serah says.

My battles go on in the tournament. It goes on up until I face Eraqus on round 5. Aqua, Terra and Ventus seem a bit sadden to see this around. They miss their master. But they are surprise to see me going in battle against him. Eraqus is a hard fight, just like he was back in Castle Oblivion. Our strength is equal.

Everyone at Merlins watches closely, some of them holding their glasses so hard, any tighter they could break. I charge at Eraqus with a yell, swing my Keyblade at him. It hits him and he stumbles back. Eraqus takes the moment to recover, then he vanishes with the power of light.

Eraqus appears right behind me, a blind spot. Serah stands. "Big brother! Look out!"

I felt his presence. Just when Eraqus strikes, I vanish into the ground with the power of darkness. That certainly surprises Aqua. If she could feel her legs, she would stand. "What?"

The dark mists on the ground moves around until it's behind Eraqus. That's when I pop out, coated in darkness, and strike. Finishing Eraqus.

"What...he...he wields the power of darkness?" Aqua asks, shocked.

"Calm down, Aqua. It's nothing bad." Serah says, earning Aqua's attention. "He's a wielder of twilight."

That confuses Aqua. "Tw...twilight?"

"It means his light and darkness is equal." Leon explains. "He keeps them balance and that makes him strong."

"Yeah...look." Aqua returns her attention to the screen.

I'm facing an army of Darkballs and Berserkers. I first gather them with Magnega, then cast Duskja. That's when I swithc my powers to light and unleash Explosion. The next wave of enemies appears, and I'm surrounded. That's when I cast an orb of light and an orb of darkness in my hands. I clash them together, unleashing Chaotic Fusion.

Aqua gazes into the mixture of light and dark powers, as it destroys all the enemies. "Wow...that's uh...pretty good, I guess."

The tournament goes on for the next two hours. Every battle in each round gets harder and harder. I have encountered a ton of boss fights.

Terranort on round 10, seeing that fight makes Terra and Aqua a little uncomfortable. Vanitas on round 15. The 20th round is just the 1000 heartless army from Radiant Garden last year. Lingering Will on round 25. That round was pretty hardcore. Terra and Aqua are surprise to see this. Ven, not so much. He's already aware of the hollow armor.

My Command Styles and D-linking charms have gotten me this far. I'm already on the 30th round, currently in my Lightning D-link. On my offhand, I'm wielding the Black Angel instead of a duplicate of my main Keyblade. I'm facing against Skull Reaper. A massive Heartless that's a skeleton serpent with scythes for arms. This is a sudden death battle, the creature is fast and powerful. I can barely keep up with it.

Skull Reaper roars as it charges towards me and strikes at me with both of its scythes. I block the attack, the second I do, it creeps around me at high speed and strikes from behind. I heal myself with Curaga, then yell as I charge at it.

The strike the Heartless in the head, causing it to stagger back. I do quick strikes, then do Thunder Blade. Skull Reaper shouts in agony then charges towards me. It strikes, I dodge, doing Razor Gale during that dodge. I'm still running sideways around the Heartless, casting Thundaja spells. When I reach my full power, I unleash Zantetsuken.

Skull Reaper is destroyed.

Everyone, except Aqua, is on their feet, surprised. "No way! He made it through the 30th round?" Cid asks.

"No one's ever gone that far in thirty years." Terra says.

"He really is that powerful, isn't he?" Aqua asks. She still can't believe how much I've changed over the years.

My battles are pretty severe beyond the 30th round. On round 33, I start facing an endless horde of Shadow's and Neoshadow's. Round 35 is against Terranort and his massive guardian. I am right now facing Unversed and Nobodies in round 39.

"I can't believe how far he's gone." Rinoa says.

"I'm not surprised. He is quite the strategist type. Not one of those lunk heads who face enemies head on without thinking." Noel says.

"Oh, you mean people like you?" Yuffie asks.

Everyone but Noel laughs. I just defeated round 39, and I'm now entering round 40. Tifa whistles. "Look at this."

Everyone looks. My opponent on this round is the Armor of Eraqus. "It's the master again." Aqua says.

"You think he's even more powerful?" Ventus asks.

"Guess we'll find out." Riku answers.

The match starts, Armor of Eraqus makes the first strike, but instead, something assaults him. Armor of Eraqus drops his Keyblade, then collapses. I look surprised, as do everyone else.

"Wow. Defeated him in just one swipe?" Aqua asks.

"Uh...I don't think Big Brother did this." Serah says, feeling unsure.

Everyone looks at the screen, they realize Serah is right when they see my confused expression. Up ahead, there was some shimmering, which ends shortly. "Did you see that?" Aerith asks.

They did. Suddenly, Ventus is having the chills. He starts shivering and Aqua notices. "Ven. You okay?"

"I don't know...I just feel cold all of a sudden." Ventus answers.

Serah gets up. "I'll get you a blanket."

While Serah is gone, everyone still pays attention to the screen. The shimmering returns, only it gets bigger. I'm on alert, arming myself, ready to strike. The shimmer starts forming, into something gray. When the shimmering ends, it reveals a man in a gray rugged mantle cape and a metal skeletal mask with yellow glowing eyes.

Living Nightmare

Everyone gasps at the sight of it, and so does Serah are returning with the blanket. I stare speechlessly at the unknown character. "Wha...? What are you doing here? Are you with the Shadowmoon?" The unknown figure says nothing, it's as silent as a grave. It gazes at me, taking a deep breath, which sounds mechanical, then it exhales by releasing steam through the closed teeth.

Living Nightmare takes out its arm right out of the cape, holding out as it calls a Keyblade. Oblivion, wielding it backhanded. I'm surprised by the sight of this. "A Keyblade?" Leon and the others are shocked as well. Living Nightmare summons another Keyblade, Oathkeeper, on it's left hand, wielding it backhanded as well. Now it positioned itself to fight.

Living Nightmare's outfit is revealed from underneath the cape. It's the same uniform Vanitas and Riku wears, only it's black and gray, and the arms are really wrapped in bandages like a mummy. On it's chest is it sigil, which catches Rikus attention.

"Sora...look at that sigil." Riku says.

Sora and Riku looks directly at it. It's a Nobody logo, but the heart part on the bottom doesn't match the Nobody sigil. It's a Nightmare Dream Eater heart sigil.

"A Nobody...and a Dream Eater?" Sora asks.

"Is this part of the match?" Kairi asks.

"I don't think it is. Something is up." Leon says.

Living Nightmare makes the first strike, charging at me and delivering powerful strikes. Living Nightmare's attack patterns are the same as I do in Fever Pitch. I was able to block with my Holy Shield, then do Counter Aura just when it does it's finishing blow. I attack Living Nightmare, doing a few strikes, then Aerial Slam.

Living Nightmare does Dark Dance, its weapons coated in darkness then performs a Ars Arcanum. I get caught in the strikes, but I still live. I heal myself with Curaga. "Heal!" Then attack with Strike Raid, that's when I enter Critical Impact. I do my brutal attacks on Living Nightmare. While it's stagger, it counter attacks with Counter Raid, hurling both its Keyblades, attached to each other by the hilts, at me in a Strike Raid.

I cast Duskja, then do Shadow Dash. "Too slow!" Living Nightmare suffers majorly. My power surges deeper and I enter Black Maelstrom. Living Nightmare does Dark Tornado Strike, unleashing a tornado of dark mists, then constantly doing powerful sweeps. When it's done with that ability, it resumes attacking me. I mostly block with Holy Shield. When Living Nightmare finishes attacking, it focuses on me, locking its targets, then unleashes its Shotlock: Chaotic Charge.

Living Nightmare Rush repeatedly at me and attack with the power of darkness. I block most of them with my Holy Shield, but it breaks through. In the end, Living Nightmare does three dive explosions, the last one unleashing shockwaves in all directions with the power of darkness.

I heal myself with Curaga, only to shortly be attacked with Nightmarish Slumber. Living Nightmare channels intense powerful darkness on me. It seals me into a dome and I get very sleepy until I'm out like a light.

Everyone is worried to see this, then the screen turns into my nightmare. The scenery is the Valley of Darkness from the Realm of Darkness. I can tell it's a dream cause of the shimmering. In the center is Aqua, sealed in the darkness, on her hands and knees. On top is Rasputin and the Living Nightmare.

"You have a choice, girl! Surrender or die!" The dream Rasputin says.

The darkness that surruonds Aqua starts to multiply, and that part of the darkness takes form. "No...Please stop...it...hurts!" The dream Aqua says.

The darkness takes the form into a Nightmare Aqua, which is Aqua in the Heartless uniform Riku wears, and her eyes are purple. Everyone at Merlins are shocked to see this.

"What's happening?" Kairi asks.

"It looks like he's having a nightmare." Sora says.

"It seems that way. He is afraid of losing Aqua." Serah adds.

Aqua is sad to see and hear this.

I start attacking the Nightmare Aqua. I show no signs of fear or sorrow. Nightmare Aqua quickly recovers then casts Triple Dark Blizzaga. "Freeze!" Her voice is distorted. I dodge the flying purple shards of ice, then I do Falling Stars. That ability causes my power to surge deeper and I enter Twilight's Dawn.

I start attacking the Nightmare Aqua. My ultra-swift attacks staggers her a lot. When my finishing moves knocks her back, she counters with Barrier Surge. I do Soulstoke Spin, and that defeats the Nightmare Aqua. The creature's defeat frees the dream Aqua, only she lays unconscious.

I rush to her side and start channeling holy healing spell to revive her. Once she's restored, the nightmare ends and I return to the awaken realm.

Living Nightmare comes at me, I attack him viciously. It recovers and does it's counter raid. I do Lunar Sun on it, my weapons coated in Light (Mainhand) and dark (Offhand) and shooting them at the Living Nightmare in a Strike Raid fashion. That attack doesn't stagger the Living Nightmare, instead, it's still attacking me. When the ability ends, I heal myself with Curaga, then I unleash Twilight's Dawn.

Living Nightmare constantly staggers and counter attacks. It's counter attacks don't matter since I'm moving as fast as the speed of light.

In the end, I defeat Living Nightmare.

We now stand facing each other, waiting for the next attack from each other. Nothing happens, but Living Nightmare lets its guard down. That surprises me. "Just who are you?" I ask.

Living Nightmare doesn't answer, but it's yellow eyes let out a flash, then dashes towards me. I'm surprised. One second, I'm facing it, the next, it's right behind me, have me gripped with its Oblivion Keyblade at my throat.

Living Nightmare looks at me over my shoulder. It does nothing else, but it lends to my ear and whispers. I slightly gasp hearing it speak. It's giving me its name. After that, it lets me go. I turn to look at the mysterious man. Shimmering appears right behind it, then Living Nightmare turns and disappears into the shimmering.

Everyone at Merlins just looks at the screen speechlessly, even though it's only showing me staring at the Living Nightmare who's no longer there.

"What was that about?" Tifa asks.

"I don't know. Who was that guy?" Leon asks.

"Is he a Nobody or a Dream Eater?" Sora asks.

Everyone is asking questions about that fight, all to be silenced when the sound of broken glass and splashing liquid acquires. They all look to see Ventus mindlessly dropping his drink, hit attention glued to the screen.

Ventus gets on his feet, with the blanket over his shoulders, and approaches to the screen. "V...Ven...Ventus!" Aqua tries calling him but he doesn't respond.

Reading Aqua's mind, Terra gets up and shakes the kid. "Ven!"

Ven snaps out of his trance, and turns to face his friends. "Ven, are you okay?" Serah asks.

"Ye...yeah. It's just..." Ven looks back at the screen. "That man...he seems familiar."

Everyone is surprise to hear that. "Is it someone you know?" Aerith asks.

"No. It can't be. I don't know him or even his name." Ventus looks back at the group. "But it's...just this feeling. Maybe we meet once...but I don't really remember."

No one spoke. But Sora seems suspicious. That's when it hits him: He too met that mysterious man, during his Mark of Mastery exam. It was in Traverse Town, after sealing the first keyhole. Just before he departed, a figure in a metal skeletal mask and gray cape approached him. It took a long, deep look on Sora and asked him the question:

'Are you...Ventus?'