When Mira stepped foot outside the castle intent on leaving Radiant Garden behind, even if only for a little while, she hadn't expected to come face to face with Aqua, a mouse, and a little girl. For a moment, Mira was struck dumb. After a couple months without the comfort of a familiar face, Aqua was a sight for sore eyes.

The bluenette gestured at the child. "Yes, I'm quite certain she's someone we're supposed to protect-"

"Aqua?" Mira dropped her bag.

She whipped around. "Mira!" The two women embraced. "What are you doing here?"

"Who's this, Aqua?" asked the mouse, smiling at her.

"Oh, sorry Mickey. This is Mira, she's training to be a keyblade master too."

"Nice to meet'ya!" Mickey shook Mira's hand; he was so bubbly, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of him.

"Likewise." She turned to Aqua. "I'm so glad to see you – did Master Eraqus send you here to check on me?"

Aqua tapped her chin. "No, he didn't but... he knows you're here?" She let out a relieved sigh when Mira nodded. "Well, that's good." She glanced at the bag, raising a brow in question. "Going somewhere?"

"Ehehe," she scratched the back of her head, "you could say that." A sparkle caught her eye. The blue wayfinder hung proudly from Aqua's hip, bringing a faint smile to Mira's face. "By the way, congratulations… Master Aqua."

"How did you know about-?"

A bright light emanating from Mickey cut her off. "Oh no! Not now!" To her shock, the mouse bounced away on what appeared to be a shooting star. Now that was traveling in style. "I'll be okay – see ya real soon!"

The little girl giggled, drawing their attention, and offered a handful of flowers to Aqua. "I'm Kairi, it's nice to meet you! Thank you for saving me, Miss Aqua."

Another little girl attacked by monsters; this time, right on the doorstep of the castle. Ansem needed to do more than send out patrols. She had to do something whether he approved of it or not – people could get hurt. Aqua's presence was a boon; with her friend watching her back, they could bring the threat under control.

"Kairi!" An old woman called out.

"Oh! Grandma!"

"Wait – Kairi, just a minute?" Aqua touched her necklace and it glowed. "I just cast a magic spell on you – one day, when you're in trouble, the light within you will lead you to the light of another. Someone to keep you safe." Kairi thanked her and ran toward her grandmother, waving goodbye to them. They waved back.

"Hey Grandma? Could you tell me that story?"

"Again, dear?"

"Please?"

Her grandmother laughed. "Long ago, everyone lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light, but then people began fighting over it..." Mira furrowed her brow. Her master told her this story long ago, though his telling was a little different. A little darker. Then again, Kairi was a little girl; she didn't need to know about all the death and suffering that occurred. Yet, something the old woman said caught her attention. "Someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open, and the true light will return."

The true light and a door to darkness. While it seemed well and good that light would come back, what would opening this dark door would unleash? Anything? Or was it only a pit of dark? When her master told the story, he said that the world began in darkness, that darkness begot light, and from the light came people. But if light sprung from dark, was the darkness as terrible as it was made out to be? What other good things lay beyond the shadows, sleeping?

"Kairi…" Aqua muttered. "Something tells me I didn't run into her by accident."

Leave it to Aqua to look for meaning in a coincidence. "So if you're not here for me, why did you come?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but a dark object flying through the air interrupted her. "Unversed! It never ends!"

"What the?" Unversed? Is that what they were called? It was unlike any she'd seen before, not at all like the little shadows and their yellow eyes.

"C'mon Mira! We've got to stop it!"

They sprinted after the unversed, following it through the town square and aqueducts. Her lungs burned with the added weight of her possessions, but she pushed on. This was nothing compared to the rigorous training Master Xehanort put her through. They arrived in an enclosed area with huge electric machinery – a reactor of some sort. But they weren't alone.

"Ven?! Terra?"

The two males turned, but before they could say more, the unversed they'd followed combined with two others, forming a larger, much more formidable monster. The others jumped into the fray, attacking head-on, providing a perfect distraction. Mira ran around the back and slashed one of the arms. With three other opponents, it had very little opportunity to counter all their attacks.

As they beat on it more and more, the unversed spun, unleashing a laser attack. Mira leapt out of the way, but not fast enough. One of its arms struck her side, sending her skidding across the stones.

Aqua cast an offensive spell at the creature and ran toward her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." Mira pulled herself up, wincing at the scrapes on her arms and the throbbing in her ribs.

The unversed launched pieces of itself at its assailants - a jagged section heading straight toward Aqua. Mira pushed her friend out of the way, yelling, "Reflega!" A glass-like sphere formed around her, repelling the largest fragment back toward the main body and shattering the smaller ones. The force of the returning blow dispatched the monster, and it dissipated into dark smoke.

Winded, Mira's knees trembled, but she remained standing by sheer force of will. Aqua clasped her shoulder. "Thank you, Mira–"

Terra placed his hand on her other shoulder. "That thing hit you pretty hard. You okay?"

There was a sharp pain when Mira took a deep breath. "Cura," she muttered. Warmth blossomed through her hurts. "There, good as new. More importantly, it's great to see you all, but what are you doing here? Are you on a mission or something?"

"Sort of-"

"Oh yeah! I got you these tickets!" Ventus pulled three tickets from his pocket, handing one to Aqua and Terra.

"For what?" Terra turned it over in his hands.

"Lifetime passes to Disney Town! He said to-" Ven's face grew sullen, "he said to take two grown-ups."

Aqua and Terra laughed. "You mean us?"

Ven turned to Mira but stopped short, expression crumpling with a guilt. "He uh… only gave me three…" Ven looked down. "I'm sorry Mira…"

Mira tried to ignore the small twinge in her heart; it wasn't his fault. Whoever gave him the tickets probably thought he'd give them to his parents or something. But her exclusion stung, nonetheless. It was one thing for the apprentices in Radiant Garden to haze and isolate her – she barely knew them. But her friends were a different matter entirely. "Don't worry about it – I hope you guys have fun." She forced a grin. "I doubt my master would allow me to go anyway..."

"If you're sure..." Ven mumbled, unable to hold eye contact.

"Listen Ven," Aqua interjected, "we need to get you home."

"It's okay Aqua! Trust me, that guy in the mask is history! He'll never badmouth Terra again!"

Boy in a mask? Who were they talking about? It wasn't someone from this world, was it? Mira couldn't recall anyone wearing a mask... She scowled. If only she could be adventuring with them, instead of being cooped up in a castle, waiting for the day her master decided she was worth training.

Terra grasped Ven's shoulders, staring at him intently. "You saw the boy in the mask?"

"Uh… y-yes?"

"Vanitas..." Terra muttered darkly. "Ven, go home with Aqua."

Mira didn't recognize the name, but something about it was... familiar? But how-?

"No way!" Ven jerked out of Terra's grasp. "I wanna go with you guys!"

"You can't. We have a dangerous task ahead of us and I don't want you to get hurt."

"And what is this dangerous task, Terra?" Aqua crossed her arms. "It doesn't sound like what the Master told you to do."

"Can someone fill me in?" Mira asked, if only to dispel some of the tension between the trio. Why were they fighting?

"These creatures – the unversed. They've been showing up in other worlds-"

"You say 'unversed,' but what are they?"

"Master Eraqus said that they're 'fledgling emotions.' I'm still not sure what he meant but…" Terra shrugged. "That's what he told us."

Intriguing. Emotions powerful enough to take form? Her master had never mentioned creatures like that. Mira's heart soared at the prospect of contributing new knowledge.

"And," Terra eyed Aqua, "it might be a different route, but I'm fighting the darkness."

Aqua squared her shoulders. "I'm not so sure. I've been to the same worlds as you… and I've seen what you've done. You shouldn't put yourself so close to the darkness."

Ven tensed and glared at the bluenette. "Listen to yourself Aqua! Terra would never-"

"You mean you've been spying on me?" Terra growled. Mira's brows rose. What was going on? They were never this out of sync... Could it be because he wasn't named a master? Master Xehanort never elaborated as to why he failed... But Terra wasn't finished. "Is that what he said to do? The Master's orders?"

Aqua looked away. "He was only-"

"I get it." Terra turned on his heel and Ventus made to follow him.

"Terra!"

"Just stay put!" he snapped. "I'm on my own now, alright?"

"Terra, please! Listen!" Aqua pleaded. "The Master has no reason to distrust you, really! He was just worried!" But her words fell on deaf ears, and he left Mira, Ven, and Aqua alone.

For a moment, no one said anything, until Ven uttered, "...You're awful Aqua…"

Aqua crumpled. "So now you know the truth. But the Master loves Terra, and you know that too."

Ven furrowed his brow. "Were you also… ordered to take me home?" Aqua's sigh was answer enough and she looked at the ground. "Aqua… Now that you're a keyblade master, you've let it go to your head. I'm gonna go find Terra!"

Ven ran after Terra, leaving the two women in an uncomfortable silence. Aqua glanced at Mira with misty eyes. "Aren't you going to say something? Do you think I'm awful as well?"

Patronizing, or perhaps self-righteous, but not awful. "Of course not, Aqua. But I have no idea what's going on. When I last saw you all, things were fine. Tell me on the way back?"

Aqua wiped her eyes discreetly and they headed back to the central square. "Our exam didn't go well. Terra failed..."

"How? You both trained so hard."

"Master Eraqus didn't say too much, but it had to do with him not controlling the darkness in his heart. But he did say Terra might still achieve his mastery if he could help protect the Princesses of Heart." She shook her head. "I believed in him… but what he's done…"

"What's he done?" And why were the Princesses of Heart in danger? "Are you sure it wasn't just the unversed? Didn't you guys mention they were in other worlds too?"

"There are more than just monsters, Mira. He-" Aqua gasped as they turned the corner, entering the square. Mira's gaze fell on a helmeted boy clad in dark clothing. His helmet blocked any view of his true face. "You! You're the boy Ventus mentioned!"

"Ah yes, Ventus," he drawled, voice low and measured. "Tell me something, has he learned to put up a decent fight yet?"

"What do you mean?!" Aqua demanded.

"I'll be asking the questions," the boy snapped. "And why shouldn't I? After all, between the two of us, I'm the only one who'll walk away from here alive."

Two? But there were three of them there… "Ahem. You need to learn to count," she said drily. "It's two against one."

The boy chuckled; the sound was dark and deep. "It doesn't matter how many of you there are. You'll never defeat me."

"Go Mira. I'll handle this." Mira didn't budge. "I'm serious! This is too dangerous for you-"

"What are you trying to say, Aqua? Just because I'm not a master doesn't mean I don't have your back-"

"You're a liability!" she snapped. "With your keyblade the way it is, you'll be more of a hindrance than help! Now leave!"

"Fine. Suit yourself Master Aqua," she snarled. Mira stormed back to the castle, her worry burned up by anger and humiliation. The worst part was that Aqua was right. She was a liability if she couldn't learn to master her keyblade. Why wasn't she good enough?

When her ire cooled at last, Mira found herself brooding in the kitchen over a strong glass of water. She'd since deposited her things in her room again, her thoughts of a mini vacation forgotten. How easily manipulated she was; one calculated phrase and she abandoned Aqua to that adversary. Unless becoming a master granted someone power instantaneously, Aqua was the same warrior she'd been prior to the test. The same person with whom Mira trained with the same weaknesses. What if that masked boy was as strong as he claimed? Would Aqua stand a chance without backup? Though it was Aqua's plan, the fact remained that Mira left her friend in danger...

To make matters just a little bit worse, Even took the opportunity to come into the kitchen, stopping short in front of her. "What do you want? I'm not in the mood."

"Nothing," he remarked, unusually subdued. He hadn't bothered her since Ansem chastised his apprentices, and his new manner was almost tolerable, if not for the chilly disdain in his verdant eyes. "I'm surprised you're down here."

"Why...?"

"You mean you don't know?" He raised a brow. "The castle has been in an uproar – didn't you notice?"

"Obviously not. I was out," she snapped. "Are you gonna tell me what's going on or do I need to find someone who's actually helpful?"

To her surprise, he sent her a pitying look. "Braig's been severely injured. We're…" he paused, "we're not sure he's going to make it through the night."

Her mind blanked. Braig – the confident, cocky guard who always had a quip for every situation – was at death's door? She couldn't fathom it. "What happened?" She'd seen him just that morning – was it that unversed they fought?

Even shrugged. "No one knows. But I suggest you say goodbye in case you..." he averted his gaze, "in case you don't get another chance."

Mira slid from her seat and hurried out of the kitchen as quickly as her body would allow, mind blank save for the need to assess the situation with her own eyes. She took the stairs two at a time toward their shared hallway, bursting through his door without hesitation. Braig laid on his bed, a bandage wrapped around his head, covering his right eye, and another covering a large portion of his left cheek. Bruises mottled the remainder of his visible skin; he would be in great pain when he woke up. If he woke up, she reminded herself, recalling Even's words. She had the power to save him; that much she knew. Even though her magic was dwindling, Mira was confident she could do it. Her keyblade might be a liability at times, but her magic was strong. She wasn't useless. She'd prove it.

"Curaga."

Mira was falling.

Or maybe she was sinking.

Darkness was all around her.

Her feet touched solid ground and she slid to her knees. Grey eyes opened, unseeing in the blackness. It was warm, like the embrace of blankets after a good night's rest. She laid back. Maybe… just a little longer.

"It's time to wake up now."

Her eyes slid open. Who said that? The voice was familiar, but she couldn't place who it belonged to. Mira sat up, leaning on her hands. Where was she?

"You are at a crossroads. What will you choose? Life? Or Oblivion?"

Why did she have to choose at all? The darkness at her fingertips undulated, as if alive. She gasped, and the inky blackness dissolved, illuminating the ground. She covered her eyes, unused to the brightness.

"Look into the light."

She obeyed, blinking, adjusting. Mira sat upon a circular column of purple and grey stained glass. A sunset was depicted below her; a glass memory of the last day she'd spent with her mother. Rising, she gazed at the sleeping image of herself... Why was she asleep? In a circle beside her, a purple wayfinder.

The remaining circles were empty, save for one. A young man, tanned in skin and silver haired. So familiar. Who was he?

"You are alone."

She wasn't really, though, was she? The voice was with her. And so was the darkness.

"You are lonely."

Mira frowned. No, she wasn't. She was fine being alone, not needing anyone else. The circles were empty and that was fine; it always had been. All except for one; the boy she couldn't remember meeting. Longing washed over her. Maybe she was lonely. She certainly missed her master... Why did he keep leaving her? Maybe he was the source… she only wanted to be with him. To learn, to discover. She pulled out her wayfinder; she and Aqua had made them so they'd all be connected. So why wasn't she? Why wasn't she connected to anyone save for a boy beyond her memory?

"Look around you."

She obeyed. Something caught the light, refracting it every which way. Mira peeked over the edge; it surrounded her. What was it?

"It is a cage."

But why?

"You have forgotten? Yes… perhaps that's for the best."

Water bubbled, rising from the floor and covering her feet in moments, warping the images below. What was going on? It was already up to her neck... her face...

"There are choices to be made… choices that shall dictate your destiny."

Mira awoke with a start, heart and head pounding. She gasped, taking huge gulps of air. What was that place? It was serene and yet, frightening. Visceral. Her pillow was wet… she had cried?

"You've finally woken."

She sat up, regretting it instantly as her head swam. A hand pushed her back down – she was in her bed? When had she gone to sleep? Peeking through heavy lids, the sage-king himself sat at her bedside, to her surprise.

"What..." she rasped. "What happened?"

He shifted in his seat. "I should be asking you the same question. You were unconscious at Braig's bedside with scarcely a pulse."

"Is he okay?" she asked absently, unable to shake off the grogginess from that dream – if it could even be called that.

Ansem gave a tired smile. "His mortal wounds have miraculously scarred over, and he's stable."

"That's good."

"Indeed. But that begs the question…" His gaze was grave. "Why would you risk your life? You could have died from exhausting your magic like that."

"Because I knew I could do it." Mira yawned, eyes drooping. She wouldn't regret her decision, but would her master be proud of her achievement? Or would he chastise her for taking an unnecessary risk?

"Be that as it may, you are in my care. I would ask that you exercise more caution. That said," his expression softened, "you have my gratitude."

He left soon after, claiming that she needed more rest. Mira didn't have the energy to argue, and she slipped into unconsciousness once again. This time, however, it was dreamless and peaceful.

When Mira next woke, the afternoon sun streamed in through her window, warming her cheeks and drawing her from slumber. Sitting up, she stretched and yawned. A few of her joints popped. Aside from being a little stiff, she was no worse for wear than when she'd passed out. Her stomach grumbled audibly. How much time had passed since then? Perhaps she ought to check on Braig and grab some food.

She dressed then exited her room, hurrying down the hall to his door, hesitating at the last second. Mira's pulse quickened. She was just checking on him, so why the nerves? She had no reason to be anxious... she was being foolish. But she risked her life for him. What if he took it the wrong way?

When she entered at last, her eyes homed in on the sole occupant, still lying abed. He wasn't as pale as the he'd been before; his bruises had faded too. Her eyes roved over his exposed shoulders and chest until she caught herself, nearly swearing. What kind of person leered at an invalid? Her cheeks colored with shame.

"It seems I owe you one… Princess," he rasped.

Mira tensed. "Y-you're awake?"

"Thanks to you."

"Don't mention it."

"I thought you were leaving?"

She slid into the unoccupied chair at his bedside. "Something came up. How do you feel?"

Braig lifted a brow. "Oh? Are you gonna be my doctor now?" He dared to smirk at her and looked her up and down. "Definitely an improvement from Even."

Mira scowled, though her cheeks warmed. "Idiot. What the hell happened to you, anyway?"

"Oh you know, this and that," he replied evasively. "Fighting against the darkness tends to leave a couple scars. More importantly," his amusement fell away, revealing an inscrutable expression, "You could've died saving me. Why'd you do it?"

"So I've heard. But that's what people do, friend. Backing up, when you say 'fighting the darkness,' do you mean-"

"As if," he cut her off. "That's bullshit and you know it."

Was he being evasive on purpose? By the 'darkness,' was he referring to the unversed or something else? Mira furrowed her brow. "Did you want me to let you die?"

A warm, calloused hand grasped hers. "No. But I don't understand you; why would you risk your life for someone you barely know?"

Mira tried pulling her hand away, but he held fast, staring at her with that unreadable gaze. Why did he have to be so difficult? "Is a thank you too much for you to handle? I knew I could do it, so I did. That's all."

He squeezed her hand, and his voice was quiet when he said, "I don't believe you."

Her lip trembled. Was she to suffer further humiliation by crying in front of him too? "I... I needed to prove to myself that I'm not useless," she murmured. "My friend rejected my help in a fight. She said I'm a liability because my keyblade is unpredictable. But... I'm confident in my magic." She steeled herself. "Even if she doesn't believe in me, I knew I could save a life."

Braig snorted. "You did it 'cause you have a chip on your shoulder?" With shaky arms, he sat up, the sheet pooling around his waist to reveal more of his muscled chest. She hoped to whatever powers existed that he was wearing pants or would, at least, make no further attempts to get out of bed. "Well, I'd say the results speak for themselves. You saved my life, and I'm grateful and all, but you do realize that's a stupid reason, right? Your friend could've been less of a jerk, sure, but you even acknowledged that you can't rely on your weapon. Did you really expect to swoop in and save the day?"

"I could've done something-"

He shook his head. "No. There's nothing heroic about leaping into danger if someone else will end up having to save you as well. The same thing happened when you saved Aerith. I'm starting to think you have a hero complex, Princess."

"Don't be dumb. Besides, what happened to not fighting battles you can't win?" Mira shot back. "Those were your words, weren't they? Look at you now."

"That's exactly why you shouldn't be upset about retreating from that fight. You could be the one rocking an eyepatch too," he teased.

Mira deflated. "You... your eye couldn't be saved?" Had the spell not been strong enough?

"Nah, it was basically gone." He shrugged it off. "You can't fix everything."

"Oh. I'm sorry-"

"Don't be." Braig chuckled. "It's better than being dead!"

Fair enough, but still... Mira pushed the guilt down. She'd ponder her failure later when she was alone... "Did Even say when you could take the bandages off?"

"Yeah, probably tomorrow, if not today."

"That's good."

Braig smirked. "Dying to see my pretty face?"

"More like anxious to see those gnarly scars."

"Anything you say, Princess."

Braig was loath to let her leave – something about if his injuries didn't do him in, then boredom would. It only took a few promises to visit later and to bring something delicious to eat, as Even only provided him the healthiest, blandest food that could be found, until he finally let her go. After that, she was free and on her way out of the castle.

The inn was quiet when she arrived, with only a few patrons occupying the tables. Gast stood behind the counter, polishing a few glasses. He glanced up from his work. "All hail the great Mira."

Her eye twitched. "I beg your pardon?"

He shrugged. "You've been a busy bee, being a hero and all."

Again, with the hero stuff? She didn't have a hero complex! "If you say so…"

"What brings a hero such as you to my humble establishment?" He didn't even bother disguising his amusement, his crooked grin flashing in mirth.

Mira glanced around the room then took a seat. "I was hoping to get some information, actually."

He raised a bushy eyebrow. "Information, huh? What do you want to know?"

"Do you know how Braig got injured?"

A gleam entered his eyes that she didn't like. "Hm, I see. You want to know more about the man you saved. Forgive me," he made to wipe an imaginary tear from his eye, "I can already hear the wedding bells toll."

She blanched. "Wait - what? I think you misunderstand-"

"Alright - alright, don't get all in a twist. You're not the first girl," he paused, "or boy to come asking about him. But I tell you what," he leaned in, "since you saved my little girl, I'll tell you anything you want to know – as long as you answer a question of mine."

It was better than paying for information but depending on what he wanted to know... "Deal."

Gast clapped her on the back. "Great! Are you and Braig an item?

"Huh? No! Why would you think that?"

"No?" His shoulders sagged. "There were eyewitness accounts of you two cozied up in the fountain court – it's been the talk of the town!"

Her cheeks warmed against her will. "You all have nothing better to do?" she deadpanned. Was Braig that popular of a guy that people gossiped about his relationship status?

Gast ignored her. "And then you go and save his life – it's hard to believe there isn't something between you."

"I only did the right thing." He was an obnoxious flirt. It was his fault that people made assumptions.

His disappointment was palpable. "You're sure there's nothing? Not even a teensy little inkling-?"

"No," she grumbled. "Now about what I wanted to know..."

Gast crossed his arms with a grimace. "It wasn't pretty. He was bleeding everywhere, and there was this black stuff oozing out too..." The innkeeper shuddered. "I don't know how he was still standing, but he didn't let any of us help him. He staggered back to the castle all on his own – used that magic of his."

"But you didn't see how it happened?"

Gast shook his head. "Nope."

Mira rubbed her eyes and leaned her head on her hand. "Great." Of course, no one knew; why would anything about that guard be easy?

"Y'know, if you're dying to know, why don't you ask him directly?"

"I did." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "And the sneaky bastard wouldn't tell me."

He nodded emphatically. "Braig's a little too smart for his own good – clever, but always up to something. Maybe there's a reason he doesn't want you to know?"

Clever indeed. She could never get a straight answer out of him; what was he hiding? The thing that bothered her the most about his injury was that, by his own admission, he wasn't the type to get into situations he couldn't handle. Was he a poor judge of his own abilities, or had he gotten in over his head? If it was the unversed, wouldn't he have said so? Unless... Mira frowned. Gast said there was black oozing from his wounds... and Braig mentioned fighting darkness. The only thing that came to mind besides the unversed was the masked boy...

"Something bothering you, Mira?" Gast's gravelly voice pulled her from her thoughts. "You've been staring into space for a while now.

"Oh, uh," she shook her head to clear her thoughts, "did you see a blue-haired woman coming through here the other day? She's a friend."

Gast rubbed his chin. "Now that you mention it, I did. There was a fight in the square between a blue-haired girl and some nutjob in a helmet."

Mira let out a breath. "Yeah, that's her. Did you see what happened? Was she okay?"

Gast nodded. "It was touch and go for a while, but she eventually won. The punk ran off after that."

So Aqua didn't need her help after all. At least she was alright. "Did you see where the helmet kid went?"

"No, he... I don't know how he did it, but it was like he vanished into thin air. If I hadn't seen it happen earlier that day, I'd have thought I was seeing things."

"Earlier? What do you mean?"

Gast pulled out a couple glasses and poured red juice in them, pushing one towards her. Mira thanked him and took a sip. Tart, like cranberry. He cleared his throat. "I saw an older gentleman around the square – bald, hunched, tan. I only noticed him at first because his clothes looked a little out of place."

Her heart raced. "What was he doing?"

"I couldn't tell you. From where I was standing, it seemed like he was looking for something? Though I couldn't say what for sure."

Terra, Aqua, Ven, and her master all in Radiant Garden on the same day? And a malicious masked boy to boot? It couldn't be a coincidence. Master Xehanort had come and said nothing to her. What other business did he have, and how did her friends factor in? Something wasn't right, and she was going to find out what.

He'd underestimated Terra and paid the price, but at least his act was solidified. That old coot just thought he was some fool desirous of power, stupid enough to get hurt for it. Still, he wouldn't take the casual disregard for his health lying down. He'd almost died. That kid's power was raw and potent, and he'd barely made it back without blacking out. It still hadn't set in that he might not have made it – that he almost failed. Perhaps he was a touch arrogant because the existence of the book was testament to his success?

But Mira had saved him, risking her life to do so. She had no idea of the magnitude of what she'd done; regardless of her reasoning for doing so, he owed her. Being beholden to someone was never a good position, but he didn't mind if it was her. Something about her drew him in; she was different, and he wanted to know more.