"I'm still not certain there's even a place for us in this new World."

In the Land of Departure's castle, Luxu lounged on the couch in the sitting room - west wing, top floor.

Ira sank into a plush armchair, doubt and uncertainty on his face. Blue eyes, weary and tired. His long blue hair hung down one shoulder. "I attempted to appeal to the Master, before the war began," he continued quietly. "I told him it was our duty to stop the war from taking place. That we had to at least try. But, in the end...even I..."

"Yeah, been there," Luxu said quietly. "Done that."

"What happened the day that bell rung...what we helped do - the things we were a part of..." Ira's hands curled, his eyes closing. His fists turned white as they began to shake.

"I know," Luxu said softly. "I was there, too, you know. At the Graveyard."

"What? You- why...? Not that it matters now...none of it matters..." Ira sighed, putting a hand over his face.

"It matters," Luxu refuted. "It matters because it has to matter - or we'll never learn from it. Never aspire to do any better, this time around."

"Why, Luxu?"

"That was part of my role," Luxu answered at last. "To watch. To stand back, and just...watch. Hearts falling to darkness, Chirithies going haywire, the war, children's lives being thrown away for nothing, the end of the World...and I was meant to just stand there and watch it aaaaall happen. And I get why, now. The Master made that my role, drilled that into me so damn deep, because I was the one guy who could have actually changed everything...if I hadn't just watched."

"All the same, it isn't as if we can do anything about it now," Ira murmured.

"No," Luxu agreed. "Can't change the past. But we can change the future - and the present."

"What are we to do, then?" Ira asked, sitting upright and spreading his hands at Luxu. "Where do we fit into this new World? What place have you found for yourself?"

"Hey, I'm still figuring that one out, myself," Luxu said, shrugging. "Haven't quite worked out all the kinks. All I'm sure of is that I can't let myself go back to being the person I've been for...way too long now. Took me too long to break out of it, shake it off, find myself again. Took Namine...to help me find myself again. So, you know, I'm going to be here to help you guys with that, too."

"I'd say you already have," Ira replied, quiet. "Thank you, by the way. For...breaking us out of it, as you put it. I hadn't even realized how far I'd..."

"Yeah. I know that one, too. And you're welcome."

The pair sat in silence for several minutes. Each lost in his own thoughts.

"You've said that Keyblade wielders are a rarity in these...scattered worlds of today?" Ira spoke again, suddenly.

"Yeah. They used to be more abundant, but...shit happens," Luxu shrugged.

Ira met his gaze, leaning forward in his chair. "Would anyone ever trust us...with these undeserved titles of 'Master' again?"

Luxu sat up straighter in surprise. He locked eyes with Ira. "Could you trust yourself? Can you hold the memories of the past in your Heart, and keep to the vow never to allow what happened before...to happen again? To them, and to yourself?"

"No..." Ira deflated, falling back into his chair. "I...I'm not certain. If it was all done for the sake of the Master's plans, regardless, were we even ready for such a responsibility? To lead so many people - to care for them? To teach them?" he went on. "We weren't much older than the oldest of our own Union members, all in all."

"You see, that's good stuff, right there," Luxu said. "Self-awareness, self-reflection. Checking yourself. If you could do that all the time..."

"When did you become so wise?" Ira questioned, with a soft laugh.

"Not wise - I've just been doing a lot of the same thing lately, myself," Luxu stated. "I think the wisest of people are the ones who aren't so confident in themselves that they end up being blinded." He sighed, setting his hands on his knees and hunching forward. He shook his head. "I slipped into that, myself, a little bit - with Xehanort. I went into that Graveyard thinking I held all the cards - all the power. That I was going to just...wipe the floor with the guy and end all our troubles, I guess. I overestimated myself, and I underestimated him. More than I should have. But I'm not going to make that mistake again, either. Next time we all have to face him, it'll be together."

Ira moved from his chair. He got up. He moved across the room - and he sat down next to Luxu. He looked at Luxu, then raised a hand to place it on his shoulder. A small smile came to his face. "This is still so strange. I remember you as being...a lot smaller."

"Heh...Yeah...I was the real runt of the litter, wasn't I?" Luxu laughed, flushing with discomfort. Other than Namine, he hadn't had this physical contact stuff with anybody in...a very long time. But he'd forgotten how it made him feel, in his Heart, beneath the discomfort. It was like belonging, it was like being needed - liked - it was like...well, what he'd missed and longed for, for all these years: the feeling of having friends again.

Ira removed his hand, setting it in his lap. "And yet now you seem to have risen above us all."

"No. I'm just a guy doing the best he can with what he's got. That's all."

"Hmm. So we all are, then."

Luxu suddenly heard footsteps, and he turned as the door to the sitting room opened up.

Master Aqua stepped into the room. Behind her came Ventus...along with Lauriam, Strelitzia and Skuld.

"Sorry to interrupt - Masters-" Ven started.

Aqua rolled her eyes, setting her hand on her hip. "Ven, they're fine. What isn't fine is that apparently they 'lost' Elrena while traveling between worlds..."

Luxu startled, staring at Lauriam. "I see..." he said quietly. "Sorry to hear that. But you know she'll be back. Back and better than ever, in fact."

"When?" Lauriam demanded.

"It varies," Luxu said neutrally. "But, given the state of the worlds, she should return sooner rather than later. And she should recomplete at the place where it happened - since all the worlds are restored now, themselves. She wouldn't go to Traverse Town, like the other, former Organization members did."

"Where did she lose her Heart, then?" Lauriam asked, striding forward. "Where did you find her? You claimed to be the one who found her, didn't you?"

Luxu stood, nodding. "I did; I know where she'd be. Will be, if she hasn't come back just yet. Either way, we can go and check for her. It's a world called Enchanted Dominion."

He turned away, summoning No Name. He raised it, focusing his Heart and mind.

A swirling blue portal crackling with lightning appeared in the room.

Luxu wasted no time in stepping on through it - with Lauriam hot on his heels.

Ven and Strelitzia both tried to follow - but Aqua grabbed Ven's arm, and Lauriam turned back long enough to tell Strelitzia to stay behind.

Neither kid looked pleased about it.