The two boys entered the empty classroom, silently going to sit together in the extravagant windowsill.

"How was it?" The dark-haired boy asked, smiling as the silver-haired boy began setting up the board - putting the dark pieces into place...

"It made me think...about a lot of things," came the quiet, measured response. "The events of the past..." The silver-haired boy closed his eyes. "...What's to come." He opened his eyes again, adding on casually, "What about you? Wasn't it always your dream to travel abroad on your own?"

A long silence fell between them, as the dark-haired boy's eyes turned downcast. "Yeah," he replied, still trying for a strained smile. "Especially with all that's happened..." he went on slowly.

"It made me realize that one lifetime is too short," the silver-haired boy interrupted him, sitting back, bracing himself on his hands.

"You only get one," said the dark-haired boy, raising a fist and flashing a grin now in full. "That's why you have to live it to the fullest."

"It's not enough," the silver-haired boy said flatly, causing the other to frown.

"Isn't that why you find people to carry on your legacy?" the dark-haired boy replied, placing his hand over his Heart.

"Yes, but..." The silver-haired boy closed his eyes again, tilting his head back. "I'd rather do it myself."

"Someone's ambitious," the dark-haired boy tried to joke. "Okay, then how many lifetimes would you want?"

"Hm...Twelve. No: thirteen."

"Th-th-thirteen?!" the dark-haired boy exclaimed, flabbergasted. "You've gotta be kidding. Why so many?"

The silver-haired boy leaned forward now, arm resting casually on a knee. Gazing across the board with silver eyes of steel... "That's what it'll take to rebuild the world."

The dark-haired boy blinked at him, then closed his eyes and leaned back, laughing somewhat. "You must have one amazing plan in that head of yours."

A beat. Then-

"Scratch that," said the silver-haired boy. "One more to explore the new world."

"Fourteen?!"

The silver-haired boy gave a wide smile, his eyes lighting up at last. "We all have our dreams."

"Dreams, huh?"

"Yeah. What's yours? To become a Keyblade Master?"

"I want...to stay true to light."

Xehanort gazed at him like a fish out of water. "Hm? What brought that on?"

Eraqus looked back at his best friend as he spoke on. "In case anyone finds themselves lost in the darkness, I want to be a beacon that guides them back."

Another beat. Another moment. And then Xehanort smiled again. "I see."

"Hey! Are you laughing at me?" Eraqus accused, pointing.

Xehanort simply sat there, smiling still. "No. It's the perfect dream for you."

Eraqus laughed, holding up his hands. "I mean, think about it," he started, teasing. "Knowing you, if you wound up wandering into the darkness, you'd try to escape on your own and just end up heading deeper in." He paused, then gestured. "But not if I were around to rescue you. You're welcome, buddy."

Xehanort sat back, giving a full, teeth-showing grin now. "It's true running away isn't my forte - unlike someone I know." He paused, looking skyward. "Thanks for always being there," he added, in a softer tone.

"I'm the best, right?" Eraqus said, half-serious.

As they continued their game, Xehanort gazed back at him with warmth, with humor, with-

Terra opened his eyes, sitting up with a jolt.

But he wasn't in his room - wasn't in the Land of Departure.

He was in another familiar place, though: his own Heart's depths.

His Station of Awakening.

He gazed across the stained glass platform, to the old man sitting there, slumped over in exhaustion - defeat - and pain.

A depth of anguish and conflict that Terra had just had a taste of...and had a better understanding of, as well now.

He sighed, making his way over to his old Master and sitting before him. "Master," he spoke quietly.

Master Eraqus remained silent, unmoving, for perhaps an eternity. Then, he finally raised his head to meet Terra's gaze. "I apologize for disturbing your dreams like this."

Terra shook his head, then leaned back to relax himself - resting an arm across his knee. "There was nothing disturbing about it, Master. The man he is today - yes - but the boy I just saw...? You know, the way you described it to me before, I'd thought even as a kid he would have been - troubled - but..."

"Was he not?"

"Maybe," Terra admitted. "But I saw a real, powerful bond - of friendship. I saw how much you two cared about each other. And I saw...how you were able to bring him out of it. You brought life back to his eyes, Master - and a smile to his face."

Eraqus let his head fall, raising a hand to cover it. "Yet, long gone are the days when I could ever have reached him..."

"Maybe not the man of today - no. But the boy I just saw?" Terra said, pondering. "The boy we both know, now, is here again...maybe that boy still has a chance."

Eraqus's hand fell away, and his head came up sharply. He stared at Terra with surprise - and maybe even a little amazement. "He is your greatest enemy, has committed unspeakable acts - and yet you'd-"

"No," Terra refuted. "Not the old man. But the boy...he's not my enemy yet, is he? And maybe he doesn't have to be. With the benefit of...decades of experience, wisdom, and hindsight...regrets and laments...are you going to tell me you've never wondered 'what-if'? 'What if I could have reached him?' 'What if I could have said the right things, before it was too late?'"

"I've lived with those regrets, this pain, for the entirety of my life-"

"Then get it right this time," Terra said firmly, gazing into the man's eyes intently. "Not just by making amends with us - doing for us what you should have done ten years ago, and fighting with us against the old man he's become - but by trying to get through to the boy he used to be! You have the once in a lifetime chance to do both, Master. You've been given a miracle, and you have to take it. Or do you want to continue living with all those regrets and that anguish until the day you finally do, truly pass on from this World?"

Eraqus stared at him in silence, uncomprehending. Then, he laughed. An old, withered laugh. "You truly have become a far better Master than I ever was, Terra. What Xehanort said about me in the memory you just saw, you see, was the truth. A truth that has stayed with me my entire life: I am a coward. I run from the truth, from my own Heart...and I ran from h-him..."

"You can change that, now. Stand your ground, for once. Fight. Fight against him, and fight for him. With all your Heart, fight to fulfill the promise you made to him in that memory, Master: rescue him, and then be there for him. Maybe, in a way that you never were before - because you didn't see what he was, what was happening in his Heart. But you know it now, and you can act on it now. Find that bond again, and never let it go again. Don't ever...give up again. Troubled doesn't have to mean gone forever: if it did, I would have given up on Riku - or Aqua and Ven would have given up on me. But none of us did, and look where we are now!"

"You do me proud, truly...but I fear I'm not nearly as strong as you - as any of you young wielders."

"Then that's why we're here," Terra said, with a small grin now. "To always be there for you - to save you from yourself - just like you're going to save him from himself. If strength is what you need, then take ours, Master. What are bonds for, if not to be leaned on in times of need? You know, I couldn't have managed to last those ten years in Xehanort's Heart without you...so now let me return the favor."

"I...I cannot. It is too late. Terra, you must-"

"Save your breath on that order, Master: you know I've never been good at listening to them."

Eraqus looked torn between glowering and laughing, in that moment. He simply shook his head, sighing deeply. "You are going to push this, aren't you?"

"Someone has to."

Eraqus glanced at him again, almost fearfully this time. Then he looked away. "Give me...time to consider things."

"Well, one way or another, you're coming out of here soon," Terra told him lightly, placing a hand to his chest. "You'll have to make a choice, then. Don't get me wrong, Master, you're better company than Xehanort was, but...I'd still prefer to have my Heart to myself, sooner rather than later."

"Of course...I- thank you, Terra...I know this has been a burden for you."

"I've carried worse, for far longer. I can manage it for a little bit longer."

"Still..."

Terra closed his eyes, sitting back. "Goodnight, Master."

"Good night, Terra..."

Terra felt himself floating through a warm void...

And he woke again for real, this time.

Back in his bed.

He sat up, touching hand to his chest.

"I'll be seeing you again soon enough, Master. Count on that."