It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world for Terra to have to reenter Radiant Garden's castle - the conflicting emotions in his Heart, both foreign and familiar, plagued him every time he went inside its walls - but for what he was here to do today...he'd grin and bear it.

He did his best to push down and ignore the feeling of deja vu as he navigated the halls, going down into the basement. Even still, despite his best efforts, he found himself navigating these halls without even thinking about it. Before long, he was at his destination.

Terra sighed, composing himself before pushing open the door to Ansem The Wise's study. He walked into the room...and almost audibly groaned as he spotted the man seated at the desk.

Ansem glanced up at his entrance. His aged face flickered with emotion, his eyes widened briefly - and then he masked it all with a kind smile. "Master Terra? This is a surprise...though not an unwelcome one."

"Right," Terra said, slowly making his way around the perimeter of the room - edging his way past the man. "Sorry to not stop and chat - I have some business with- Even. In the lab."

Ansem watched him with concern now. He sighed, rising to his feet and raising a hand. "Terra - I fear this is a dance we have been doing for too long at this point. But I feel it would be best for us to finally get it out into the open. Things left unsaid, left to fester in one's Heart, can often lead to-"

"I don't- feel like there's anything we have to discuss," Terra said, stumbling over the words. But he stopped, all the same, looking toward the man (but he couldn't quite make himself meet his eyes).

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Ansem replied. "Nevertheless, there is something I would like to say to you, if you are willing to listen."

"All right," Terra said quietly. He wouldn't do the man the disrespect of just blowing him off...no matter how awkward things might become. "I'll hear whatever you have to say."

"All I wish to say...is that if the reason you have been avoiding me is because of feelings of guilt over the actions of Xehanort - actions that were not your own-"

"No!" Terra winced at himself. "No, well, I wouldn't lie and say that's not part of it. But it's...all a lot more complicated than that..."

"I would never presume otherwise. I cannot imagine what you have experienced - nor what you must still be going through."

Terra sighed, looking away and running his hand through his long brown hair. "Look, it's...that year that my Heart wasn't my own, it wasn't just...me that wasn't me. Xehanort locked away his own Heart as well, in the attempt," he spoke quietly. "And all that was left was this...empty, but conflicted man desperately searching for his own identity. Willing to go to any lengths to find it, yes, but...but for that year that he was here, that year that he studied under you..."

"Yes?"

"It isn't just echoes of hate, or spite, or envy I feel in here," Terra went on, placing a hand to his chest. "There's affection - there's even happiness, and pride of a sort. And whenever I'm here, or when I'm...around you...I feel like I'm that man. I feel those things for you, and for this entire castle in general. But I don't like feeling like...like I'm someone else. Someone who's lived a completely different life from the one I know. I look at you and I see a teacher, a mentor, someone I..." He sighed again, shaking his head. "Sorry - but it's not something I can handle right now."

"I see. If I might ask, do these echoes of familiarity occur when in the presence of my apprentices as well?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes there are these little moments - flashes - but...it's not nearly as strong as it is with you. With, say, Even, or Isa, it's more of a sliver of a ghost of a feeling of familiarity. It's easily ignorable. You, though...not so much..." Terra concluded, awkward and slightly apologetic.

"Hmm. Then, if it would be more comfortable for you, I can make efforts to avoid crossing paths with you in the future-"

"No, no, that's not necessary," Terra said quickly, glancing up. "Thank you - but - no need! I just...need to deal with it."

"Well, if you are certain."

"I am." Terra started for the lab entrance - then stopped. "You're right, you know: it was helpful to get this out there. Thank you...Lord Ansem."

"You are quite welcome, Master Terra."

Terra moved on down the passageway, exiting onto the walkway of the vast laboratory. He entered he control room, and was relieved to see Even there.

The blonde man turned - shock crossed his features, along with a hint of fear - and then he composed himself. "Ah, Keyblade Master Terra - to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, I can see you're hard at work, so I'll make this as brief as I can," Terra started. "Actually...if I could ask how your progress is going with these...Replicas?"

"My progress...is as fast as it can be while still in the computational stage," Even answered, with an audible sniff. "Although, I've recently enlisted some help with transforming this manufactory's machinery into something capable of creating the physical Replicas instead of...well, you know..."

"Instead of those artificial Heartless?"

"Yes." Even's expression was pained. "I won't bore you with the details."

"Thank you."

"What is it you came to ask me, now?"

Terra shifted, striding over to the front of the control room, peering down to the floor far below. A walkway out from an elevator door, leading to a central platform...

A familiar feeling sweeping through his Heart...

Terra shook his head, turning away quickly. "You're planning to make...six Replicas, isn't that right?"

"Yes..." Even said slowly, looking curious now. "Xion and Kana, Namine and Roxas, yourself, of course, and the girl whose Heart has taken refuge within the Riku boy - Erin, I believe her name is?"

"Right." Terra nodded. "Is there any chance...that I could ask you to account for a seventh one?"

Even's face shone with surprise. "W-well, if I'm already going to be creating a half dozen, one more won't add too much to the overall workload, will it? In theory, anyway. Might I ask why, however? Or, rather, might I ask for whom will this seventh Replica be made for? I wasn't aware there were any other...people in need."

Terra smiled, striding forward and reaching out to grasp the man's arms. Even paled, looking suddenly terrified. "I'd like...to keep that a secret for now. Understand?"

"Perfectly," Even said, in a markedly higher voice than normal.

"Great. Thanks." Terra clapped the man's arm and turned to exit the lab.

"O-of course..." Even murmured after him. "The more things change..."