The Sapphire Sorceress

Disclaimer: The rights to Kingdom Hearts belong to Disney and Square Enix.

Act 79: Fate of the Unknown

"If he were to―If those powers were to prove too much for him to handle, I want you to bring him back to me at once. It's for his own good. I could not bear to lose any of you to the darkness."

The World That Never Was: Bedrooms ( Aqua's POV )

I should know why I'm here in this dreadful place. Wearing this uniform that covered most of my body like this, a black cloak shrouding myself that kept me warm in this cold environment, but looking at my skin underneath this outfit there were no longer any of those blue lines I could remember flowing through my body. That must be related to this beating organ in my chest, but I still had trouble understanding why this fact was so important.

"Perhaps there is some information lying around that could explain this..." So, when I thought about entering whatever room that belonged to me came to mind there was a portal that suddenly came in front of my eyes. Did I just project this portal with my powers, but that doesn't make sense...should it? Taking a chance to enter this pathway I noticed the hallway that I entered was long and vast seemingly connecting to many different places and worlds in this kind of odd dimension.

'Have I really been here before, then why can't I remember traveling through such a strange road like this...'

'Do you seek answers? Do you wish to find your identity?'

Of course, the images in my head have to mean I'm someone or why I am here in the first place! Running through this pathway while waiting for this disembodied voice to chat with me again, the surroundings changed to a small room that had a bed with some draws and a desk for someone to write things down if they desired. What kind of people would live in this world that seemingly had no kind of sun hanging in the sky or moon for that matter?

'Discover the truth by retracing your steps from here...'

My steps? Was this voice suggesting that I'd been here before, and if so why was I here in this room out of all other places in this dorm-like area? Looking at a certain book laying on the desk I gasped when I saw the title of this certain journal.

"Auxaq's diary."

T-This can't belong to me?! Was this my name, but it didn't sound right at all! Taking a chance my fingers flipped over the cover to read the first page of this book in order to find out if this was a trick or not.

"Day 01: This will be the first day I'm writing my first passage in this book as I try and figure out who I am now, but also who I was before I lost my heart to the darkness according to the "Superior" in charge. He welcomed me into his group of others who also share my plight apparently, but he also told me that by working here we could find a way to restore ourselves to normal." Was this my handwriting in this book? My mind didn't want to even believe this was the cause, but I had to continue looking through this to find the answer.

"Day 12: Things haven't changed all that much since my introduction into Organization XIII's ranks. Going on these missions with the other members has certainly been a mixed bag, to say the least. While some of the Nobobides as am I apparently called due to this condition don't exactly like me others like that red-haired one seem to be easy to communicate with on a daily basis. I can only hope one day I can work hard enough to help everyone regain what was lost to the darkness as I continue my stay here in this castle..."

I actually lived in this place that looks so hollow and empty. My mind couldn't register that idea, but then flashes came into my head showed myself wondering around these halls, observing other people in black cloaks, and speaking to smaller creatures without actually using my mouth. There was no way I could be dreaming this was not my memories or the writing left by my own hands.

'Yes, such a noble concept of bringing together those who are in a similar circumstance that has afflicted them in a hindering way.' Shaking my head to clear my thoughts or perhaps the thoughts of someone else my eyes scanned through more of these pages until I found some new information.

"Day 45: Roxas and Xion have come into the fold, a Keyblade user, and someone who hasn't learned about her own potential and talent quite yet. Still, they each look up to me and Axel as their own personal mentors in the same fashion Marluxia despite how methods and Axel giving me the vital details on how to survive in this new "life" I must endure for the following months. The goal is to help Roxas in his efforts to destroy the heartless roaming around the other worlds."

Heartless? Beings that lacked hearts actually exist? While I couldn't find any long details, the main summary I got was these creatures were likely the ones who stole my heart in the first place despite it beating in my chest again; a soul inside of an empty shell sounded like a dream if my writing was any indication but here I was back in one whole piece...

"Day 68: It seems that my stay here in The World That Never Was will soon be coming to an end. Xemnas himself wanted me to leave for this Castle Oblivion. I still have issues dealing with Marluxia and to a lesser extent, Larxene not to mention I would be away from Roxas and Xion for quite some time. At the very least Axel was coming along to help keep things more interesting during our stay there, after all. I have my own personal reason for going besides getting out of this place for a while."

This was around the point I escaped this place to head to into another castle...wait I can recall that name from my memories. That castle...oblivion where I tried to find someone in those walls. He was...very important to me, and I desired to find him no matter how long it took me.

'Our dear...Ven! He's still asleep most likely in that empty castle. Without you, he will likely rest there for many more years to come...'

"Who are...why are you telling me this about this Ven person?!

'Forgive me I hadn't expected your memories to get scrambled up again like this. As for WHO I just consider me as a voice that you can speak with to ease your mind.'

My head couldn't stop ringing after that voice went quiet allowing me to continue my read through this journal until I got to a certain page that nearly made my heart stop beating. Ventus...the name of that person who I wanted to find more than anyone else...

"ARGH!" My head is throbbing in pain causing me to fall over into this chair near me. Ven, the name that I wrote down in this journal but why can't I understand his importance to me?!

'Your most important friend beside Terra who were lost because of terrible circumstances, hanging onto your own soul in such a deep amount of despair was certainly a huge amount of effort on your part. No, OUR part actually-'

"Who are...you supposed to be?!" There was no one a simple "voice" could know things I'd forgotten like this.

"Consider myself like your own conscious residing within yourself, but you must continue reading about the failures in Castle Oblivion...' Following the advice of my "inner self," I learned about the executions that took place within a couple of days after this last entry.

"Day 75: Marluxia's plan to overthrow the leadership of Organization XIII, Larxene wanting me to help out in this plot, Namine's involvement, and the imminent arrival of Sora into this place. So many factors that were now playing into my concerns, but to add to the list was the fact I now know who I really am! Master Aqua, the girl who passed the Mark of Mastery Exam. Of course, this means I've lost both of my best friends, my own home, and Master Eraqus all because of that bastard Xehanort!"

Xehanort. Xehanort, the name is ringing a bell, yet why is it I can't feel as angry about this person as my text sounded to be when it was written on this particular day unlike many others in this diary.

'The man whom you despise so much even now when you can't fully remember that reason fueling that anger, the anger you couldn't have a Nobody until now that is...' Nobody, a lack of real emotions within myself was the possible reason behind my current line of thought?

Looking at the next pages I began to gasp in horror at these words and thoughts from my own past self during this time period realizing what had happened to those other Nobodies in Castle Oblivion. Betrayal, deception, lies, manipulation, and deceit couldn't even begin to describe the events that have transpired in that place. The failed coup d'etat against Xemnas for control of Organization XIII. Axel's true purpose there being to eliminate all of the traitors there...including myself?!

"Day 82: I am the only surviving member of Organization XIII left in this castle after all the truth is that Axel was sent here to eliminate everyone here but I still live...actually no living would mean having a heart. Still, I couldn't say that I would miss Marluxia, Vexen, and Zexion. Lexaeus just seemed like a man who was trying to do his job nothing more, but with Larxene the demise with herself was a complicated matter. We started out with a rocky relationship to say the very least, but I slowly began to understand more about herself along with more about why she feels hostile towards everyone else. Except for Marluxia, she only allowed me into who Arlene might have been before she was lost to the darkness."

I couldn't believe she actually protected me from Riku at the cost of her own existence. I wondered if anyone could have reached out to her, a chance to fully understand what happened in her previous life that made her "never want a heart to feel anything again" could have been figured out. Even Marluxia for as much as he deserved to fade because of his treatment with Namine wasn't just out to assume leadership over Xemnas for the mere sake of power if how he felt about "Xehanort" meant anything.

'Even in the end he truly had no clue about the kind of man who taught you as much as Eraqus. Only the three students and those close to the old guard have any idea about that genius...'

"Genius! He must have, no he HAS done things many people despise and hate him for doing if this book was any indication!"

'Yet, his intellect cannot be denied no matter how much you and everyone else hates him, right? Without his teachings you, Terra, and dear Ven might not have ever become proper Keybearers...much like Ansem the Wise.'

Tch...I wanted to say that this voice was wrong; the words couldn't come out because deep down I knew he or she made a good point that Xehanort was a bright mind who did give myself important teachings that I could finally begin to remember or I guess re-remember...

Then, I began to catch-up on my time spent with Roxas and Xion helping them out with all of the experience I had gotten as a Keyblade Warrior of the Light in order to remind myself of better times. Of course, that was fleeting if they weren't here as more of these painful memories kept pouring into my head. Axel had also grown attached to these two despite us both lacking the ability to even have a genuine friendship. Nobodies were beings who couldn't truly feel anything without a heart in their chests.

"Why...am I feeling like crying about what happened to Roxas and Xion?" Once I pieced together the reason for their absence my gut felt like it was being stabbed over and over with a sharp knife. Xion was never really a member of Organization if this journal was correct, a mere Replica built to duplicate Roxas' power that would eventually absorb him into herself...thanks to my actions.

How could I do that to him? No, it wasn't intentional on my part if these words are right. I just want to keep them both safe, and Axel didn't hate me for what happened after a couple of days of letting off steam. It was likely at this point I must have fully given in to that feeling of nothingness or rather stopped caring about anything or anyone essentially becoming like a true Nobody. Was this really the kind of person I had become?

'You stopped denying your true nature letting your instincts finally take over instead. That is the same for all of the others...'

Why then could we form bonds and hang out as if we were real friends if it was just a lie?! There was no way those kinds of moments could possibly be fake or false if I wanted to-

'What? Pretend that you weren't a hollow lifeform with no way of truly being happy about anything. Face it you were trying to fool yourself into thinking that a happy ending could be possible for beings who don't have the heart to even be shattered in a lost friendship.' You mean that my mind was pretending the situation was better off than it really was to make my empty existence seem better for myself?

"Kairi. Kairi. Kairi. Kairi. Kairi. That girl and her "precious" friends want to wipe out everyone else here?! I will make sure those kids realize they will never grow into adults if they want to take away everything I have left. Never letting go...Never letting go...Never Letting Go...never letting go...neVer lEtting gO..." My hands began to tremble at the sight of this seemingly endless amount of times I had re-written this phrase. This is sheer madness...insanity...and chaos that I had written down through many pages in this book.

'Going down the rabbit hole, are we? Feeling those emotions that couldn't truly exist back in those days coming out in the form of continued phrases. I suppose your feud with Kairi served as the catalyst to vent out your thoughts about personal failure.'

Great. Now my mysterious voice is acting like a therapist for summing up my issues at this moment, but once again the voice wasn't saying anything that couldn't be false when I think about it. She continued to get in the way according to my own account of the events leading up to the absence of Roxas and Xion a year after my arrival into Organization XIII. That would only force the issue further making me want to eliminate her, even if I felt horrified by the kind of being I was by this point, a complete shadow of the Aqua everyone knew in Radiant Garden.

'A fallen heroine who lost her identity, self-worth, and soul to the darkness that she battled all those days now forgotten in the past. That desperation quickly turned into hatred that was empty, such a desire to remain alive despite not really living is what you were fueled by in those last days...'

I...had let others risk losing their hearts just to empower Kingdom Hearts? I did nothing while others might have died because of the Heartless? No, I wouldn't do...I couldn't act like...

'Oh, but you did do all of this! You had fully accepted the ideals of the "Superior" just to feel like a human once again driving you into helping Xemnas without a real Keyblade in your possession.' Looking at the page I wanted to toss across the room in horror I realized that this likely was because of of...being a Nobody.

My old armor and Keyblade were right here in this place, yet I was unable to really use or wear those important items that defined me as who I once had been leaving me a shell of my former self in every sense of the word. I'd become...a heartless monster!

"ARGH!"

My hand tossed the writing of my warped self across the room, such a realization had left me with nothing but despair. Like a horrible girl with blonde pigtails and red nails was clawing at my head, scratching, screaming, and trying to break me down until I was a helpless mess who couldn't do anything besides cry out in suffering. My hands covered my eyes, a subconscious way of trying to hide from the truth that I had started to realize about who I'd become making me feel like I didn't deserve to even have this beating organ in my chest.

'Feeling like you shouldn't even be here, right? Letting your regained humanity take away this new lease on life even before it can actually start?'

No, I can't surrender to my own sins or crimes! Not until I can see HIM one last time...

'Gonna fight that old tin can again?'

"This time I'm going to be armed with the genuine article..." That is right Xemnas had both my old armor in his possession along with my Keyblade that wasn't a fake or false creation of mine.

"I might have been lost to the unknown, but as long as I'm here now Ven's fate isn't sealed not while I can get to him!" No matter what happens next I knew what my heart wanted to do right now with this second chance at living. To do one thing that would at least tie up a loose end from my old life born anew...accepcting my actions by taking this journal with me through this Portal into Darkness.

Relying on the power of darkness I first gathered up the pieces of my armor that I now recalled being in the old meeting room where I fought Kairi one last time before she had defeated me. I recalled myself being...happy about losing in that fight despite putting every amount of strength I had left into winning against her.

'You didn't expect your final words to not really be your last words, did you?'

Honestly, my mind couldn't register the idea of any of this happening to me. Part of myself felt like I haven't earned the right to this second opportunity for either redemption for my failures or to make a bunch of new mistakes. At least this resolve of mine wasn't tainted by any kind of doubt inside of my soul, so when I looked at the burnt, charred, and bruised armor in my hands I wonder this might be symbolic in a way about my present and possible future.

"A battle-torn piece of metal that looks worn down from the last few battles it was used in. Much like the armor used by my friends, the former Master of mine, and Xehanort's own suit..." Fighting a suit like this wasn't easy, but that is why I was going to battle with those old fans of mine this time. Not with the genuine article that wasn't from my Master, the one Keyblade that fully belonged to me!

"My Stormfall..." This weapon that got me through the darkest moments of my life was in Xemnas' private area that only I was allowed to visit on special occasion, which didn't look that different from other rooms in this castle beside the view of the outside area of this castle being shown through a hole in the wall resembling the symbol of Organization XIII. Lots of important files, books, and data files on Xemnas own computer lie here, but even now I couldn't access the computer no matter how many times I tried accessing this system.

"He's shut it down permanently keeping me in the dark, even now the answers I want to discover continue to elude me..."

Looking at the black computer screen in front of me, the empty void my eyes were looking into seemingly was taunting me about this fact. No matter I will seek out the truth along with Ventus on my own with the weapon that had helped me while inside of the Realm of Darkness. Looking over at the Keyblade sitting in his personal chair I lanced my fingers onto the gripping position, never certain how these moments could play out.

"Will it feel like a burning sensation or perhaps the weight it too much to even lift up into the air-" Time seemed to move slowly as I waited for whatever would happen next when I put force into lifting up my Stormfall only to widen my eyes in shock.

"I can wield it?"

Moving the Keyblade around with a few strokes I didn't feel any sign of resistance keeping my hand from using the true power of this weapon. My lips curved upwards as I began to feel like the old Aqua, even if this outfit certainly felt rather heavy to carry but it can protect me from the darkness I suppose it isn't all bad.

'Ready to surpass your old Master, are you?'

"Why don't you let me handle things for the both of us?!" I had to focus on the task at hand while opening a portal that would take me near that destination now pictured in my head, a failure would make sending me into a destination that I certainly wouldn't want to be that resided in darkness...

Castle Oblivion: Basement

"Where it all began for me and these memories I had lost to find only to lose again, and now finding the missing pieces here along with my friend." All of this was taking me down a road I've traveled through quite a few times before when I lost my friends and home to darkness along with being an emotionless shell working for Marluxia in securing this castle, such a shame I was once more the only person returning into this fortress constructed from a land forgotten by everyone else...

I knew that confronting Eraqus' final defense would mean relying on a different method of attack not to mention using my old armor in my old outfit to protect myself from that armor and it's power. With the Keyblade as well I knew this time I would overcome this hurdle and get to see Ven again.

'Strange, the idea of meeting that friend of ours seems pointless if he cannot awaken, yet your heart is dead set on seeking him out again.'

"Don't you know the reason for that? Aren't you supposed to be my own conscious?!" I became suspicious when the voice promptly stopped speaking to me leaving a pregnant silence that unsettled me, but my current objective quickly brought me back into focus as I walked through these vacant halls devoid of life. This maze of pathways, stairs, and hidden walls was designed by myself to ward off intruders who sought out the secret room hidden in this fortress. Unlike as a Nobody, I could actually feel the excitement rush through my body as I began down the path I finally remembered.

There was fear in my heart about overcome that last roadblock getting in the way of this reunion I desired so badly, but the butterflies fluttering in my stomach were a good enough distraction from that small amount of doubt lurking in my head. Running through the halls now clad in my old armor I realized how heavy this iron could be to wear while dashing around the castle.

"All those moments together despite us being used by Xehanort did matter to me, Ven." Those happy days brightened up my mood, your smile, laughter, and pain we shared with each other gave me the strength to continue fighting. The only way I could repay such kindness would be visiting you, even if you were still taking a long nap, my friend.

'I haven't realized how important this boy truly was to you, now that I can see more of what you are...'

"Enough!" I stopped moving refusing to let this disembodied thing keep sticking around until they start giving me a full explanation. "Who are YOU?!"

'...Your only salvation of leaving this place and reviving your "friend" out of his situation.' Salvation? I wanted to ask more, however, I realized I can't get off track otherwise I might end up lost in these halls that I helped build from the old world where I lost everyone and everything I knew. My body began to slow down once I reached the area where I was unable to progress further, and soon I staring at the reason why. Master's old Keyblade armor that while not as big as Xehanort's personal suit was none the less a force not to be reckoned with by anyone.

While the armor was certainly tight and difficult to move on it did provide a good amount of protecting for myself, and before I could even move near it the suit began to charge up some attack while using some energy spikes that spun around itself for extra protection before it fired off a series of beams that moved up and down while circling around the room. Using a series of cartwheels I made my way over to this inanimate suit of armor, striking at it with my Keyblade until it caught it with its hands pushing me back.

'It is fighting as valiantly as that foolish Master did when he was still alive...' Ignoring those whispers I saw the suit begin to fire off several projectiles at me, so I countered with several swings from Stormfall until it charged at me with full force behind its push into my chest before it wrapped brightly glowing chains around my body immobilising me.

"It's ripping a piece out of the wall?!" Watching the chains get pulled out by the suit as my eyes looked at the piece of this wall that was coming right in my direction. Struggling to break free I barely had enough time to roll out of the way before that part of the wall smash into my body, however, this leaves me an opening to begin landing some hits in while the armor was motionless. While it lacked a Keyblade I couldn't hold anything back knowing how easily it defeated me last time as the suit blocked a few of my blows rather easily.

"I can hear Eraqus lecturing me now about my lack of practice!" Charging at this lifeless suit I managed to remove one arm with a heavy slash from my Keyblade, the next move it made was to create several pillars of fire that began to follow me around the room.

"...Huh? Why can't I use my magic?" When I held out my hand for a basic ice spell nothing came out of my hand when I tried countering this intense attack being used against me. Seeing the suit charge at me without its left arm I had to go back on the defensive to block this move. Getting angry at my lack of strength, the next option would have to be using a new kind of power to overcome this metal opponent.

'Sounds like you need MY help...'

"I doubt you will help me against this kind of foe..."

Looking at the metal-clad figure send out those chains again, but now they had arrow-shaped thorns on them as they tried grasping my body until I knocked them back with my Keyblade avoiding their reach. Despite this, I began to feel things that didn't hamper me when I lacked a heart, the feelings of exhaustion, sweat that was really pouring down my skin added by the heat that was radiating in this suit of armor, but most of all this sensation of fear building up within.

"Huh? Where did it go?!" The suit quickly moved out of my sight only for my back to feel a painful sensation as I looked at this suit began to punch me over and over while it was glowing rather brightly.

'Even his suit craves to bathe in the light!' I tried getting out of its range, but then those chains wrapped themselves around my body as he flung me into the unbroken wall in this room. I couldn't even fight back when it began firing off more of those beams of light that managed to melt through my armor like it was butter removing my only source of defense against its onslaught. It was holding me back again no matter how had I tried to break my final challenge to find my friend again.

'His light will continue to hold you back, Aqua. As a Nobody you easily accepting the darkness as your ally in the face of your opposition, so what has changed now?'

"I...can't let the darkness consume my heart again, even if being without a heart made some things easier." Holding out my Keyblade as my only source of attack; the most I've capable of doing is deflecting back more of these energy balls coming at me only to get knocked into the wall once again while losing more parts of my armor exposing more of my vulnerable body.

'There are only certain people who can regain their lost hearts, and one of those special people is you.' Damn it! Even with my old outfit, Keyblade, and heart I couldn't get through the past still haunting me. There must be some way to overcome this...

'Only can darkness cover the blinding light...' Darkness but that kind of power was used for evil, such things would slowly be eroded by that forces lurking in the darkness.

'What about Terra and Riku who both used the darkness? Eraqus would have destroyed them for even considering relying on such power, and didn't he hurt both Terra and Ven?' Looking at the suit grab hold of my neck I tried stabbing it with my Keyblade only to feel the intense light begin to burn my skin. I couldn't use my magic, and with Stormfall on the ground, I had no way of stopping this suit.

"Today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates... but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy―not a test of wills, but a test of heart. Both of you may prevail, or neither." Eraqus...

'ARE YOU GOING TO LET YOUR FOOLISH MASTER KEEP YOU AWAY FROM YOUR FRIEND AGAIN?!'

"No..."

'THEN FIGHT BACK WITH THE POWER HE DESPISES!'

"Remember, there are no winners―only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed."

"That power..." Was there strength that I didn't even realize I had until this moment when my body felt like it was fading away once again. I have to - need to see Ven one last time no matter the cost!

"I will surpass you!" Letting whatever dark power residing inside of myself I heard the soft purr of that now feminine voice ring out through my skull.

'That is what I'm talking about...' Twisting around the metal hand that tried choking me out I fired off a huge burst of darkness that forced that pitiful suit backward. Grasping my Keyblade I allowed the darkness to guide me to victory in order to smother out this light from my departed former Master. Disappearing into a portal of darkness to fool that lifeless tin can my next attack went behind it removing its right leg, and then I followed up with another blast of darkness that removed the other arm that tried landing a punch on my face.

"How sad you left such an easy obstacle for me to overcome, Eraqus." Feeling a confident grin form on my face I dashed out of the way as this dis-armed suit attempted to blast me with a powerful ray of light, but I was bathed in the shelter of a bubble of darkness that kept me safe...secure...and alive.

'Finish it!'

"With please!" Embedding my blade with the power of this darkness I jumped into the air before diving down at Eraqus' old Keyblade armor to pierce it with my own beam attack removing all of the pieces from its form sending it onto the floor before I slammed my foot on the broken helmet in triumph.

"I told you that you were always underestimating the power of darkness, Eraqus."

Kicking the old relic across the room I looked at the door that was sealed up by a Keyhole as the last "defense" against intruders. Plunging my Keyblade forward into the hole, the gears began to turn as I felt the seal to the Chamber of Waking start to unlock thus granting me access to the person that was residing in this castle. Running forward into the bright room I could see that blonde boy resting on that chair that I saw from the Chamber of Repose.

"Ven..." I'm here at last! It is time for you to wake up, sleepyhead.

[ Aqua finally reunites with her friend once again but is this really the Aqua that Ventus knew? Things reach a climax next time when Aqua discovers the cost of this newly discovered "power" she wields along with meeting several other faces and people she has gotten to know from not just the past... Sorry, this came rather late, but I can certainly say the journey is almost complete with just about two more chapters to go before we are done with this story. Again you have all been a wonderful audience to write for, and I can't thank you enough as I'm 25 years of age now. ]