I know I talked forever ago about that feeling when you finish a story, because back then I had just finished writing it. But now, I'm finishing posting it, and that's a weird feeling too. That "Secret Place" doc I have on my computer might never be opened again. I won't receive much more reviews about it, as this story will slowly disappear into the countless pages of this site. Secret Place is one of the biggest fanfic I've ever written, and when I started it, my goal was to make a couple of drabbles about Aqua and Vanitas becoming friends and staring at the stars. They have grown so much in these 3 months of posting. Vanitas became kinder, softer. And I don't know if you noticed, but Aqua turned a bit darker too. They both had a huge influence on one another.
Thank you for your support for these three previous months. I never expected this story would go this far, and yet it did. Thanks to all that reviewed, all that read, but I would like to thank personally SaphirActar and Taliax because you really are what gives me motivation to write even more right now. And I could never thank you enough, Taliax, for that cover you drew. Thank you so much.
Epilogue. Master Aqua.
Vanitas was pacing the floor, waiting in the library, trying to breathe as calmly as he could. Which was to say, he was actually just panicking. He had not set foot in the Land of Departure for a while now, and the place always made him a bit nervous. Of course, that wasn't the only reason he had to be nervous.
The door next to him opened in a creaking sound, and Ventus's head showed up.
"Vanitas, it will soon begin. Oh, are you stressed? Don't you worry, it's not like you're getting married or anything!"
Vanitas gave him the coldest look he could muster. "Do you find this funny, Ventus?"
"Quite so, yeah." Vanitas threw a book at his face, but Ven dodged it with a laugh. "Come on. Aqua said there would be some cake afterwards. Oh, and one last thing... Are you sure you wanna go dressed up like that?"
Vanitas glanced at his outfit with a smirk. It was true that since his training had properly started he had stopped wearing his dark suit. "I thought she'd like that."
"Terra won't."
"Terra doesn't like anything I do anyway."
"True that. Come on, you don't want to be late!"
Vanitas followed Ventus through corridors and corridors, until they reached the main hall. There were three chairs at the front of the hall. Aqua was sitting in the middle one, her legs crossed in a relaxed posture. Terra was sitting in the right-hand one, his back so straight Vanitas had to stop all the naughty jokes that came to his mind from escaping his lips. Ventus ran into the left-hand one, crouching on it more than properly sitting.
"Come forward, Vanitas." called Aqua, and he obeyed. He could see Terra's judgemental glare at his outfit and could not hide his grin. Aqua did not react at all.
"This hall was gracefully lent by Master Terra here. Master Ventus also honours us by his presence here. This Mark of Mastery Exam is but a test of the condition of your heart, Vanitas. Your role as a Master is to keep the balance between Light, and Darkness. I do not believe a world of Light can exist without its Darkness. I do not believe either that a heart that has the strength to show proof of controlling both Light and Dark should be deemed as unfit for it has Darkness within it.
Vanitas, you have trained under my care for those five last years. What I want to see here is control. You are free to use light or darkness, but I want to be sure you are the one controlling it, and not the other way around. Prove me your training was worth it."
"Yes Master!"
"Now, let's begin. The test will be a fight. This is not about winning or losing. Please keep that in mind. Ventus, if you will..."
Ventus jumped on his feet, his keyblade in hand. "I've been waiting for this for so long! I won't hold back, Vanitas. Let me show you the strength of an actual Master. I hope you're not too mad I've already been a Master for two years, uh?"
Vanitas sighed and ignored Ventus, looking at Aqua instead.
"Master Aqua, are you sure this is a good idea? Isn't there a risk we'd forge the X-Blade or something? Can't I fight Terra instead?"
"It's Master Terra for you." snarled Terra.
"It's all about control, isn't it? Don't try to kill Ventus and all will be fine. Now, fight!"
Ventus was fast. Faster than Terra, faster than Aqua, and even faster than Vanitas. And Vanitas was losing. He summoned the Darkness within him, and four thornbites appeared, lashing their vines and wrapping them around Ven's arms and legs so that he couldn't move. An Archraven sat on the blonde head. Vanitas crossed his arms, victorious.
"End of the fight! Well done, both of you. Vanitas, would you mind...?"
"I don't know. I think my Unversed like him. They just want to hug him, that's all!"
"Vanitas, please."
With a sigh, he absorbed the Unversed back. He winced, as he always did whenever he had to summon his minions back.
"Please go back to the library, while we discuss about your results. We will call you once we made up our minds."
"And please change your clothes! This is something official, Vanitas!" Vanitas gave a bright smile at Terra as he left the room.
While waiting, he took off his dark suit (really, he just kind of summoned it back, his casual clothes being under it), and turned back to a red-and-black shirt, black trousers and red belts. He was pretty confident, but when Ven's head popped up again to call him back, with a sorry look on his face, the stress was back.
Was it something he did wrong? Shouldn't he have used Unversed? Had wearing the suit actually been that bad? Was it just Terra who strongly argued against it?
"Vanitas. Master Terra, Master Ventus and myself have discussed of your future. It has been unprecedented to have a student who would use darkness as an actual way of fighting. Some might also fear your sometimes immature attitude is not that of a Master. But you also have shown strength, mercy, and control. With all these elements in mind, we came to the conclusion..."
Aqua stopped and his heart did too. Her face did not let any expression through. Ventus was looking a bit sad, and Terra was trying to hide his smile. Vanitas shoulders collapsed.
"You are fit to become a Master. This was unanimous. Raise your head, Master Vanitas. Stand proud. You now have a great role to play in the peace of the worlds."
He looked at them, stunned. Ventus's sad look turned into a grin. Terra's half smile turned into a full, happy smile.
"I what?"
But above all of that, Aqua's proud eyes made his heart jump. She was doing her best to stay formal and not run into his arms, he could see that.
"I still don't like you very much, Vanitas. But I don't think your poor attitude makes you someone bad. You have proven that Darkness can be used for good. But don't you think I won't keep an eye on you, though."
"Well done, Vanitas! I'm still two years ahead of you, though. Please keep on calling me Master, I love that."
"You've grown so much." finally said Aqua as her fingers brushed his cheek. "I am proud I have been your Master for all this time."
"Thank you, Master Ventus, Master Terra, Master Aqua. I shall show myself worthy of such a title. However, Master Aqua, there is something else I would like to ask you, if that's fine with you?"
Surprised, she nodded as Ventus and Terra exchanged a grin. Vanitas only told Ven, but it was no surprise he'd tell Terra.
Vanitas kneeled and whistled. Memo came, hopping her way to his side.
"I am honoured to have been your student for those five years. I will always hold dearly those memories of you as my Master, even though we shall now stand equals. However..."
Memo unfolded one of her ears, and revealed a tiny box, that she opened with her second ear.
"Now that you are not my Master and I am not your student anymore, would you be my wife instead?"
Aqua's face went all blank, then flushed.
"I... Yes. Yes, I do. Oh my, of course I do!"
Vanitas took the ring from the box and slid it onto Aqua's finger, before cupping her head in his hands and kissing her. She wrapped her arms around him, not letting him go.
Today marked the sixth year since they became friends, and so much had changed since then.
"Uh, guys, I'm really glad for you and everything, but wasn't there some cake?"
"VENTUS!" They all screamed in unison before bursting into laughter.
Some things sure had changed in those six years. But some other things would never change.
I couldn't end this fic without the lovely fluffball being himself. When I started this fic, and long after I started writing it, I didn't know whether that would be some TerrAqua or some VanQua (Terra fought well in my heart believe me), but I wanted this chapter to happen, I wanted Vanitas to become a Master. Of course, in the SP timeline, there was no way he'd turn into one, unless a few years went by.
Once again, thanks for your support! I've wrote other VanQua & TerrAqua fics, some you will find in the prompts or the songfics (24 Hearts & Melodies of my heart) and some that will be coming later (I've set up a posting calendar and you are so not done with me...). I'll try to keep my profile updated with the dates of the coming fics, to check that out from time to time!
Thank you guys, I really love you all a lot (especially you who read the author notes even when they are boring) and see you for the next fic!