Chapter 14: A Wish Your Heart Makes

The next week was spent clearing the remaining Heartless from the forest and gardens. It was a cakewalk for Vanitas and Aqua to take out several nests of swooping Flutterings and a gaggle of feisty Flame Cores; even a rampaging herd of Earth Cores wasn't much of a challenge, anymore. Their ability to work as a team had greatly improved, along with a couple new combat techniques. Even Bleu was allowed to join them on Heartless hunts, though Aqua was worried for the little guy's safety. Vanitas was sure he could create another blue Flood if it really came down to that, but he kept that knowledge to himself for her sake.

Vanitas was proud of how well his Cura practice was coming along, same for his French and piano lessons. Learning the polite forms of French words was still a bit of a struggle —'What if I don't want to be polite?' Vanitas had smirked to a mildly peeved Aqua— but he'd memorized a few more words and phrases, and could read the first couple paragraphs of La Belle et la Bête with relative ease.

All throughout the week, whether during combat or his studies, Vanitas kept a watchful eye on Aqua in case she suffered another collapse. However, warranted as his worry may be, so far she seemed in healthy spirits— blasting apart Heartless with renewed vigor. Still, he couldn't help but be more than a little concerned. Aqua was happy because she still had hope, yet despite combing almost every inch of the Castle and grounds, they still hadn't found a way off this floating island; Vanitas had a sinking suspicion their final search wouldn't turn up any new results…

"We'll take a look around the forest north of the greenhouse," Aqua told him one morning as they descended the white marble stairs leading to the back gardens, Bleu scampering on ahead. "It's the only place we haven't covered, yet."

Vanitas nodded in agreement, careful not to disturb the Archraven perched on his shoulder. Aqua had proposed using the avian creature as a scout, a strategy which had proved rather useful the past several days. As one of the few Unversed which could truly fly, the Archraven could survey the Castle grounds high above the forest, its sharp eyesight detecting Heartless hidden amongst the trees— all without unnecessarily alerting the monsters to Vanitas and Aqua's presence.

Together the group of four made their way past a Hareraiser meandering around a pile of debris— bits of tile rooftop which had fallen from the towers during their battle with the Invisibles. Vanitas also spotted the leafy antennae of a Mandrake poking out of the ground where the creature had buried itself amongst some cabbages and Gysahl Greens in the vegetable garden.

Many of his negative emotions were now scattered throughout the Castle, though seeing as the Unversed had been minding their own business, Vanitas hadn't bothered cleaning them up. Some were even proving themselves to be mildly beneficial as guard dogs; yesterday a purple Flood had gotten into a scrap with a Shadow Heartless which had been attempting to sneak in through the apothecary.

"Alright," Vanitas said as he and Aqua reached the edge of the forest, holding out his arm. The avian Unversed clambered down to perch on his forearm, turning to study him with an unblinking red eye. "You're gonna go scout for us, again," he instructed aloud, more for Aqua's benefit than anything.

The Archraven gave a harsh, warbling caw, but didn't budge. The Unversed —besides Bleu, at least— still weren't able to disobey a direct order from their master, but Archravens in particular preferred material rewards in exchange for completing tasks— stubborn things.

"Now, now. Don't be grumpy," Aqua cooed, reaching out to stroke the Archraven's chest. "We'll give you a treat afterwards; sound good?"

The Unversed ruffled its rubbery black feathers at her touch, turning its beaked head to gently nip at her fingers.

"Careful," Vanitas murmured.

"It's okay," Aqua replied softly, reaching up to scratch its feathered neck as Bleu gave the Archraven an envious glare.

His lips twitched in amusement. Now who's jealous? he mentally signaled to Bleu, who promptly growled at him. Vanitas chuckled in amusement, earning a curious glance from Aqua.

She'd been encouraging Vanitas to let his Unversed out more often, giving them simple domestic tasks to help around the Castle of Dreams. Vanitas was more than a little hesitant to do so; he hadn't forgotten how initially hostile his negative emotions had acted towards Aqua. It hadn't even been a month since he'd struggled to hold back an entire horde from harming her. However, he couldn't deny that the Unversed were much more docile as of late, regarding Aqua with cautious curiosity rather than outright aggression.

In fact, lately it'd been difficult for Vanitas to coax his Unversed out into physical form; the creatures had taken to sleeping snug and tight in his chest, apparently tamed by his more positive emotions. It'd taken some extra focus to summon even this single Archraven.

The Unversed in question gave another hoarse caw before it stretched out its wings and took flight. Vanitas, Aqua, and Bleu watched as it flew off to observe the forest for a good ten minutes before it began circling above a copse of trees like a vulture.

Vanitas sent a mental signal to confirm he'd seen it. The Archraven circled around three more times before swiftly returning, alighting on his outstretched forearm. To his concern, the Unversed was trembling. As Vanitas stroked its rubbery feathers, he could sense a trace of genuine Terror mingled in with its usual Dread. There was only one thing which could induce such a reaction in one of his own emotions.

Aqua frowned at the shaking creature. "More Heartless?"

"Neoshadows," he replied, the word heavy on his tongue.

She sucked in a light gasp, studying him closely. "Think you can handle them?"

Vanitas closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He was no longer the frightened child he'd been in his youth— especially not with his best friend and partner by his side.

This time will be different.

He opened his eyes and exhaled. "…Yeah. I think I can."

"We'll take them on together," Aqua nodded, reaching over to give his shoulder a light squeeze. "I'll be right here, no fainting this time. I promise."

Vanitas smiled slightly before turning back to the Archraven. "Here, go on." He pulled a Jumbo Almond from his pocket and held it out for the Unversed. It took the nutty treat in its beak and flew up to a balcony to eat.

He looked back towards the dark trees, trying to steady his nerves. He'd faced Neoshadows before; this was nothing.

The two Wielders summoned their Keyblades before cautiously making their way through the forest in the direction the Archraven had indicated. They were careful to move silently; the slightest snap of a twig could alert the Heartless to their presence. Even Bleu instinctively knew to stay close and keep quiet.

Eventually they arrived and crouched down in the thick undergrowth, out of sight. A pack of Neoshadows crept around the trees only a few meters away, occasionally stopping to rake their long, curved talons against the hard bark. The blue veins which crisscrossed the Heartless' faces and bodies pulsed eerily as their blazing yellow eyes illuminated the gloom.

Vanitas's heartbeat quickened, his hands shaking slightly before he tightened his grip on Void Gear. He observed as one of the beasts suddenly yanked an unsuspecting Fluttering from a nearby tree branch, the lesser Heartless shrieking helplessly as the Neoshadow began slowly peeling its leathery wings from its body. One of the others gave a deep, growling chuckle from its mouthless face as the Fluttering's shredded, twitching corpse finally dissolved into a puddle of gooey black sludge.

He almost felt sorry for the poor beast— At least Aqua would've made it quick. The slow and sadistic way the Neoshadows had killed the Fluttering was exactly what would've happened to him as a child if Xehanort had wished it…

"Don't use fire magic near the trees," Aqua warned in a whisper, glaring at the Neoshadows in disgust. "We don't want to burn down the whole forest."

"Got it," Vanitas acknowledged, his mouth a little dry. He doubted Aqua wanted him to use his Shotlock, either; Dark Cannon was incredibly powerful, but unwieldy.

He looked around for a strategic advantage, spotting an empty grassy clearing behind the Heartless. It was just a little ways from the forest and stretched all the way to the edge of the floating island.

"If we lure them out into the open, I can get a clear shot," Vanitas murmured. "Bleu can distract them for a moment before we strike."

"Sounds like a plan," Aqua whispered back.

He nodded to the Flood. "You're up. Do your thing."

Bleu bobbed his head once before creeping through the undergrowth, circling around the group of Neoshadows. As soon as he reached the forest's edge, Bleu dashed out into the clearing in full view of the Heartless. He made an angry yowl, pressing his antennae tightly against his triangular head and arching his spine like a cat.

The Neoshadows quickly turned in unison and regarded Bleu with their heads tilted to one side, their own long, crooked antennae quivering as if assessing him as a threat. After a moment they began stalking towards him, each stepping one clawed foot after the other out into the clearing. The creatures seemed cautious, having never encountered an Unversed before.

Hold your position, Vanitas commanded.

Bleu crouched low so his belly brushed against the short grass, hissing loudly and flaring his antennae.

One of the Heartless —larger than the others, the light in its veins pulsing orange rather than blue— gave a low chuckle at the Flood's display. At this, the other Neoshadows appeared to gain some confidence, quickening their pace as they approached Bleu, their outstretched claws reaching for the small Unversed.

Hold, hold… Vanitas ordered, waiting for the last Neoshadow to move a little further from the trees. And… NOW!

Just as the final Neoshadow stepped out into the open, Bleu shot off like a bullet, diving into the undergrowth and out of sight.

Before the Heartless could properly react, Vanitas sent a black bolt of Dark Thundara towards two Neoshadows who were grouped close together, the lightning magic striking both creatures and sending them convulsing to the ground.

Aqua followed suit, unleashing a whirling gust of Aerora at another Heartless and blasting it off the cliff's edge.

The nearest Neoshadow gave a haunting shriek with its mouthless face, its beady yellow eyes blazing in rage as it charged through the foliage and slashed at Vanitas with its razor-sharp claws.

Vanitas pivoted on his heel, dodging the attack and backing up against a thick tree trunk. He swung his Keyblade in a counter-attack as the Neoshadow rounded on him, only for Void Gear's metal teeth to catch on a nearby branch.

He grit his own teeth in frustration, wrenching Void Gear free in a shower of leaves and twigs. There wasn't nearly enough space to maneuver in the forest; swinging his Keyblade wasn't possible between the thick trees. Fighting out in the open was more dangerous, certainly, but he'd have a better chance out there than here in the forest.

Vanitas flash-stepped away from the Neoshadow just as it took another swipe at him, its long claws raking deeply into the tree bark.

The flash-step carried Vanitas halfway across the clearing. Utilizing his momentum, he plunged his Keyblade through the nearest Neoshadow's chest, cracking its sternum and piercing right through where its heart would've been before it'd even registered what was happening.

"Van!" Aqua sprinted towards him as he wrenched Void Gear free of the creature's decaying body, freezing an attacking Neoshadow with an icy blast of Blizzara as she ran to his side. "Are you alright?" she asked, casting her signature Barrier spell around them.

"I'm fine," he replied as the blueish-pink light of her magic formed its protective bubble. "Sorry I ran off, but I couldn't fight with those damn trees in my way."

"Don't worry about it. We'll have an easier time out here, anyway."

Vanitas nodded in agreement, surveying the clearing.

The remaining Neoshadows had recovered from any initial confusion and were now cautiously prowling towards the Barrier. The one which had charged Vanitas in the forest crept out of the trees to join them. Waves of chilly cold seeped from the Heartless' oppressive Darkness as they slowly approached.

Vanitas's heart hammered in his chest, where a handful of Floods and Yellow Mustards had awoken at his instinctual Alarm. He swallowed them down and glanced back at Aqua, who had taken a combat pose with Master Keeper, her face an expression of determined calm.

Comforted by her presence, he tightened his grip on Void Gear's warm hilt, the Keyblade thrumming in response. Vanitas took a deep, calming breath even as he stared into the near-featureless faces of the Neoshadows, meeting their burning yellow gaze with his own. He was no longer the frightened child he'd been back then in the Badlands. He wouldn't freeze in front of these monsters ever again.

The largest Heartless —the one with orange veins instead of blue— gave a low hiss and the others stopped in their tracks, moving no closer. Vanitas was pretty sure their leader was a Novashadow, though far larger than was normal for the subspecies.

The creatures stayed a couple meters distance from the Barrier, flexing their curved claws in anticipation as they eyed his and Aqua's Keyblades with their hungry, intelligent gaze. Neoshadows were smarter than most Heartless, and as cruel as they were cunning. Unlike the Earth Cores in the vegetable garden, they wouldn't even attempt to breach the Barrier; they knew it would fall eventually.

Vanitas wasn't sure where Bleu had gone, but he knew another distraction wouldn't work on these creatures a second time. He needed a plan, and quickly.

"Focus on the big guy," he told Aqua, gesturing towards the Novashadow. "I'll handle the rest."

"Are you sure?" she asked, worry in her tone. "There's so many…"

"Don't worry about me; I've got this."

"…Alright," Aqua conceded. "I'm letting down the Barrier."

As soon as the light of the Barrier began to fade, the Neoshadows slunk down with their talons splayed wide, some even sinking into pools of Darkness. Vanitas knew that pose; the creatures were ready to pounce and tear apart their prey the moment the Barrier completely dissolved.

They'd never get the chance.

Within a split second Vanitas unleashed a whirlwind of Aeroga, catching the pouncing Neoshadows in midair and blasting them back off their feet. The Novashadow stumbled backwards, its abnormally large size allowing it to keep its footing as the others landed heavily halfway across the battlefield.

Aqua launched herself towards the disorientated Novashadow, slashing Master Keeper's teeth across the monster's abdomen. The Heartless roared in indignation as black blood spurted from its belly. It took a retaliatory swipe at Aqua, its long curved claws missing her by mere inches and raking at thin air as she gracefully dodged the attack.

Vanitas wrenched his attention back to his half of the battlefield; he was confident Aqua could handle hers on her own.

Before the other Heartless could rise to their clawed feet, Vanitas was already concentrating on another third-level spell, pouring his Mana into three blazing black-and-red fireballs which rotated around Void Gear's metallic tip.

"You're nothing!" he snarled and fired the spell like a cannon, the flames blasting off in different directions before homing in on their targets. Each fireball directly hit its mark, instantly incinerating three Neoshadows where they stood and even igniting small patches of dry grass nearby.

The other Neoshadows leapt back as the roaring inferno consumed their companions, screeching in pain and anger as hungry flames licked at their extremities.

Vanitas had been practicing this technique ever since the encounter with the Invisibles. Triple Dark Firaga wasn't quite Grand Magic, but it was satisfying as hell to watch his childhood nightmares burn to ashes.

With most of his Mana drained, Vanitas switched over to a melee stance as more Heartless cautiously approached with their claws outstretched, their beady yellow eyes glittering with a mix of fear and rage now that they were well aware he was a true threat.

He stole a quick glance at Aqua, who was still battling the Novashadow. She'd backed the monster up against the cliff's edge, gracefully darting and dodging its lashing talons and swiping claws between delivering counterattacks of her own. Despite the good amount of damage it'd sustained, the beast certainly wasn't going down without a fight.

Vanitas needed to end his half of the battle quickly if he was to help her out.

He parried the Neoshadows' incoming attacks with his Keyblade, their hard talons glancing off Void Gear's teeth in a shower of metallic sparks. Vanitas returned with counterattacks of his own, fending off two of the creatures at once before dispatching both in swift succession. One Heartless dived into a pool of Darkness only to reemerge behind him in a sneak attack, but he spun around and decapitated it with a single strike.

"You're done!" Aqua yelled across the battlefield.

Vanitas turned just in time to witness the multicolored barrage of Aqua's Prism Rain Shotlock strike the Novashadow square in the chest, the volley of rainbow-colored orbs knocking it off the cliff's edge and down into the gorge below.

Before he could give Aqua a shout of praise, Vanitas spotted a dark form rising from her shadow. He shot an icy spear of Dark Blizzard right past Aqua, impaling the Neoshadow just as it emerged behind her.

Aqua whirled around at the sound of the impact, her Keyblade raised. She halted her strike, blinking as she realized the Heartless was already dead before her gaze focused on Vanitas.

"Thanks," she breathed in relief.

"Don't mention it."

With their leader felled, the few remaining Neoshadows hissed as their confidence faltered, some slowly backing away and another making a quick break for the trees in an attempt to retreat.

Vanitas and Aqua weren't about to let them escape.

Soon the clearing was empty. There was nothing left of the Heartless save for sticky black puddles of goo and ichor, which were quickly wisping away into the night air.

Vanitas looked around, surveying the damage. The blazing inferno ignited by his Triple Dark Firaga had already died down to nothing but ash and cinders. Besides a few scorch marks and patches of trampled grass, the forest clearing was otherwise unharmed. He breathed a sigh of relief and dismissed his Keyblade in a flash of gear-shaped sparks.

"Nice work," Aqua beamed.

"Thanks," he said, blushing a bit at her praise as he turned towards her. "I'm just glad I was able to beat those bastards without freezing up again— Wait, what's wrong?"

Vanitas was shocked to find that Aqua was limping towards him, blood dripping down her leg as she leaned on Master Keeper like a crutch.

"Aqua, you're hurt!" he exclaimed, rushing over and to help her sit on the sparse grass.

There were three red claw marks on her bare inner thigh, between her white skirt and black stockings. They didn't look too deep, but were bleeding badly.

"It's just a scratch," Aqua insisted, hissing a little as she stretched out her injured leg. "I was doing pretty well against that big one, but it took one last swipe at me and I wasn't fast enough. I used up all my Mana, too…"

"Here, let me help with that," Vanitas insisted, kneeling down and gently placing a hand against the injury on her thigh.

Aqua startled a little, sucking in a small intake of breath between her teeth. "W-wait, I can just use a Hi-Potion…!" she objected, a slight flush rising in her cheeks.

"No need to waste that." Vanitas concentrated on the wound, focusing most of his remaining Mana into a Cura spell. A green sparkling glow emitted from his palm and spread out over her thigh, the healing magic sealing the cuts instantly. "That better?" he asked, drawing his hand away from her now smooth, unblemished skin.

"Yes…"

They held each other's gaze for a long moment before Aqua blushed deeply and looked away.

She cleared her throat. "Thank you."

"No problem," Vanitas grinned, rising to his feet and holding out a hand to her. "Nice job kicking that Novashadow's ass."

Aqua nodded with a slight smile, taking his hand and standing up.

Just then, Bleu poked his head out from under a nearby bush. He raced over to where they were standing, squeaking in concern at Aqua.

"I'm alright, Bleu," she said, bending down to pat the Unversed on the head. "Thank you for helping us with the distraction."

The Flood stood up on his hind legs, his small chest puffed out in pride.

Vanitas couldn't help but chuckle even as he shook his head at the display.

Now that the danger had passed, Vanitas and Aqua were free to investigate the northern end of the Castle grounds. As with the rest of the terrain surrounding the outer perimeter of the forest, the grassy clearing grew more rocky and sparse as the pair approached the cliff's edge to peer into the darkness. The yawning abyss before them appeared to go down forever into the void.

It seemed there really was no way to escape the Castle of Dreams; they were trapped on this floating island, stranded above a presumably bottomless pit. Sure, it'd been a slim chance of finding an escape route out here to begin with, but that knowledge did nothing to dispel the cold feeling of apprehension that'd settled in the pit of Vanitas's stomach as he glanced at Aqua. She would be so devastated…

"Think we could just… climb down?" Aqua asked tentatively.

Vanitas shook his head. "I tossed a Blue Sea Salt down there a while ago; never felt it die. There's probably no bottom to climb down to. Watch."

He summoned a ball of Dark Fire to his hand and cast it into the chasm below, the spell illuminating nothing as it became smaller and smaller the further down it went. For a split second Vanitas thought he saw something moving in the gloom, but decided it must've been a trick of the light as the reddish-black flame disappeared into the darkness without a trace.

Aqua clenched her fists at her sides, swaying a little as she stared down into the empty pit as though not really seeing it.

For one horrible, heart-stopping second, Vanitas feared Aqua would hurl herself off the cliff's edge.

"Let's have a picnic," she said suddenly, turning to him. Her eyes were wet, but shining brightly. "Come on, it'll be a date."

"A 'date'?" Vanitas repeated the unfamiliar word, startled by her sudden change in attitude.

Aqua clapped a hand over her mouth, blushing as her blue eyes widened— apparently in shock at her own words. "I-I mean! We'll be hanging out. You know, as friends."

"…Yes?" Vanitas answered carefully, staring at her in confusion. "Aqua, are you alright?" he asked, Bleu echoing his sentiment with a worried chirp. "I mean, obviously you're not, but—"

"Of course I am, Van," she interrupted, turning to head back into the trees. "Listen, I just… really want a picnic. Besides, that should be the last of the Heartless; they won't be bothering us anymore."

Vanitas followed her, frowning. It was obvious Aqua was trying to bury her despair, but should he press her into admitting how she really felt? Or would that just make things worse…?

They headed back to the Castle of Dreams, not bothering to mask the sound of their footsteps now that the Heartless were gone. This deep into the thick forest, all Vanitas could see of the Castle was the tallest tower standing slightly above the trees, its clock still stuck at midnight.

After only a few minutes Aqua came to a sudden halt, Vanitas almost tripping over his own feet in order to not run into her.

"What's that…?" Aqua pointed to a shiny round object sitting in a patch of soft moss at the base of a tall tree. She gingerly picked it up, holding it out for Vanitas to see.

Bleu chittered curiously, standing up on his hind legs in an attempt to get a better look.

The object was smooth and of a dark green color; if it wasn't for its glossy sheen, it would've blended right in with the moss. At first Vanitas thought it was a rock, but upon closer inspection he realized it was an egg.

"Hey, that's lucky! We can scramble it up for brunch," Vanitas grinned, making an excited snatch at the egg.

"Now hold on! We are not eating this," Aqua scolded lightly, holding it out of his reach. "It's a nightingale egg."

"Seriously?"

Aqua nodded and looked around, scanning the trees above them. "It must've fallen out of the nest…" she mused, pursing her lips into a small frown.

"Up there," Vanitas pointed. Wedged in the crook of a tree branch was a bird's nest. "Here." He held out his hand. "I can put it back, if you'd like."

Aqua skeptically raised an eyebrow.

"Come on, you trust me."

At this she cracked a smile and gently placed the egg in his waiting palm. "Just don't drop it."

Vanitas snorted softly before setting his feet on either side of the tree trunk, hauling himself up with one arm while keeping a gentle yet firm grip on the egg. Reaching the tree branch, he peered over the edge of the nest. Inside were three eggs nestled together, their shells all of the same dark green. Vanitas carefully set the fourth with the trio before jumping down and landing on the moss.

"Alright, I put it back. Happy?"

"Very," Aqua said before glancing wistfully back up at the nest. "I feel so sorry for the mother bird, though. She must've disappeared with everyone else when the Castle of Dreams fell to Darkness…"

"Hey, it's alright," Vanitas murmured, taking Aqua's hand. "We did our best for the birds, yeah? And," he squeezed her fingers reassuringly, "I promise we'll get out of here; there's still some things we haven't tried."

"I know…" she sighed, squeezing his fingers in return. "Come on. Picnic first."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Vanitas set the heavily laden picnic basket down on a grassy hill, not too far from the ornate white bridge which ran across the magically icebound river.

"Still frozen, huh?" he mused, sauntering down to the riverbank to tap a foot against the solid ice. Two pairs of motionless yellow eyes peered up at him from the icy depths. "Maybe that Dark Blizzaga was a little overkill."

"I think it's fine to leave it for now," Aqua said, spreading out a large blanket on a soft patch of grass while Bleu eagerly sniffed at the picnic basket. "Oh!" She glanced up. "How could I have forgotten…? Those Water Cores are still stuck in there, right?"

"Yep," Vanitas replied, turning to climb back up the hill. "Frozen solid, right where we left them." It seemed on top of not needing to eat nor sleep, the Heartless didn't require oxygen, either.

"Mhm, I think I'm done dealing with Heartless for today. Or a lifetime, to be honest," Aqua shook her head, opening the basket. "Here, help me set things up."

Together they laid out a plate of Nutty Nut-butter sandwiches —each stuffed with a choice of Golden Jam or Cream Fluff— as well as a fresh fruit trifle comprised of halved Cherryberries and Melodious Grapes, cubed slices of Balloon Melon and Peach Fantasy, all topped with generous dollops of Whipped Dream. Aqua had even found a recipe for curdling Merry Dairy milk into a soft white cheese with the help of a little Dancin' Lemon juice and a dash of Mermaid Salt— the perfect spread for a box of buttery crackers they'd found in the pantry.

"This all looks amazing, Aqua," Vanitas grinned, delighted. "It's really clever, mixing Prize Pod food together like this." Back in the Badlands, Vanitas hadn't really considered it; he'd usually eaten the individual ingredients plain.

"Thank you, Van," she smiled as she handed him a chilly glass bottle of Rocket Soda. "I haven't had a picnic in so long, so I got a little creative. This would all be better with some sunshine of course, but I suppose not having to deal with ants is definitely a plus."

"Heh, well… Sun or no sun, I'm glad this is the first picnic where I'm officially invited," he chuckled, popping open the cap on his fizzy drink before taking a refreshing sip.

Aqua hummed in amusement as she began filling her plate with crackers and fruit trifle, while Bleu busied himself by attempting to stuff an entire Nutty Nut-butter and Cream Fluff sandwich into his small mouth.

Vanitas and Aqua dug in to their tasty lunch, making light and easy small talk as they ate.

"How's your reading been going?" Aqua asked, spreading some soft Merry Dairy cheese over a cracker with a butterknife. "Did you finish The Snow Queen?"

Vanitas nodded, swallowing a mouthful of trifle. "Yeah. I liked it way better than The Little Mermaid."

"I knew you would," she beamed encouragingly. "I still think you should keep trying out different hobbies, see if there's anything else you'd like to do— And not just things I like."

"Hey, I've got plenty of my own hobbies! Chess, drawing, Keychain collecting—"

"I meant besides graverobbing," Aqua teased, before popping the cheese-and-cracker into her mouth.

"I'm getting to that!" Vanitas said, waving a hand. "Keychains aren't the only things I've collected."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. See, Xehanort wouldn't let me keep anything from the Worlds we visited; said I didn't need 'distractions', you know." Vanitas rolled his eyes. "Of course, being me, I tried anyway," he smirked wryly. "Every time he caught me trying to smuggle in anything from off-World, he'd— Well… you know." He trailed off, subconsciously rubbing a pale scar on his wrist.

Aqua grimaced, but before she could object to his —former— Master's particular brand of punishment, Vanitas quickly continued on.

"Anyway, that was back before Xehanort taught me how to use Dark Corridors, so I had to make do with what was already in the Badlands, and pretty much the only things to collect there are old Keychains and rocks."

"Rocks?"

"Yeah. Not the boring, lame kind that you're probably thinking," Vanitas said brightly. "No, I'd find cool-looking ones, shiny ones… Stashed them in caves all over the Badlands. I kept collecting them even after I could travel to different Worlds on my own; eventually it'd just become a hobby," he shrugged. "Actually, let me show you!"

Vanitas jumped up and trotted over to the riverbank and began nudging his boot through the piles of stones, searching for just the right one. It took a few moments before he spotted the perfect rock, round and grey but with a visibly rough texture.

There's one!

He plucked the stone from the pile and returned to the picnic blanket, holding it up for Aqua. "See this?"

"It looks like an ordinary rock to me," Aqua frowned; Bleu, his mouth still full of Cream Fluff, warbled in agreement.

"It does, doesn't it," Vanitas smirked. "But watch."

He closed his eyes and concentrated hard, focusing past his positive emotions and searching his heart for a rare breed of Unversed— Just one would do. With a bit of effort, he grabbed ahold of the creature and brought it up to the surface in a puff of Dark smoke.

The freshly manifested Unversed balanced in place on a single wheel instead of feet. Its arms ended in twin red pickaxes, and a glowing yellow lantern swung from its head.

"Oh!" Aqua exclaimed as Bleu swallowed down his last bite of sandwich and hopped over to the other Unversed, chittering excitedly. "I've never seen one like this, before."

"It's a Monotrucker," Vanitas explained, watching the two Unversed converse. "I don't make them very often. They're made of Greed, and are pretty damn decent at digging up treasure."

"He's certainly got the tools for it," Aqua mused, observing the creature's pickaxe-shaped limbs.

The Monotrucker turned from Bleu and tilted its head in her direction, shining the beam of its lantern's light on the silver butterknife in Aqua's hand before focusing on her metal boots.

Knock it off; those ain't yours, Vanitas thought sharply. Even more so than the magpie-esque Archravens, Monotruckers were attracted to anything shiny.

The Unversed hissed softly at the mental command and focused on Vanitas, eyeing the grey stone in his hand.

Want this? He tossed the rock into the air then caught it, before kneeling down and setting it on a thin patch of grass. Go ahead.

The Unversed's pointed ears perked up in excitement. Needing no further instruction, it immediately began chiseling away at the stone with its pickaxe hands. Bleu leapt backwards to avoid the flinging bits of rock.

"So, sometimes it's a bit tricky to find cool rocks; you can't always judge them by their outside," Vanitas told Aqua, watching the Monotrucker work. "See, geodes seem rough and ugly on the surface, but if you know what to look for—" He paused as the Unversed split the rock in two with a sharp crack. "…There's always something good inside."

Vanitas picked up both halves of the rock and held them out for Aqua to see. Each was filled with a cluster of sparkling purple amethyst, the crystals glittering in the natural Light of the Castle.

"Oh Van, it's beautiful…" Aqua breathed in awe. "How did you know what it was?"

"Call it intuition," Vanitas grinned, handing both halves of the geode to her. "Here, you can have it, if you want."

"Thank you," Aqua said, admiring the glittering gemstones before placing them in the picnic basket. "And thank you, too," she added, turning to the Monotrucker.

The Unversed did an odd little hop on its single wheel, its red eyes twisting into an expression of surprise before glancing at Vanitas.

"You heard her," he murmured.

The Monotrucker did another small hop of delight before it began wheeling around the blanket in tight circles. Bleu excitedly gave chase.

"You know, I saw a lot of gems like that in that mine," Vanitas said, sitting next to Aqua while the two Unversed zoomed around. "It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen."

"What mine?" Aqua asked, curious.

"You didn't see it? The one those Seven Dwarfs dug out in the mountains near their Woodlands?" he asked, a little disappointed. "That cave was sparkling wall to wall with gemstones… I've never seen anything like it."

"I must've missed it…" she sighed wistfully. "I only had time to explore the Dwarfs' Cottage and the Queen's Castle before I had to leave that World and keep looking for Ven. I wish I could've seen the mine, though; it sounds lovely."

Vanitas frowned. The Dwarf Woodlands weren't too far away from the Castle of Dreams, down here in the Realm of Darkness, but he felt reminding Aqua of this fact wouldn't make her feel any better.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just… If I hadn't been leading you guys on a wild chocobo chase, you could've enjoyed the Dwarf Woodlands for as long as you wanted."

Aqua blinked. "Vanitas, if that hadn't happened, I might've never visited that World at all."

"Huh?" he asked, confused. "But— You're a Keyblade Master. You could've gone to any World you wanted, anytime."

"Well yes, but I was going to wait until Terra and Ven earned their Mark of Mastery, first. We all wanted to explore the Worlds together."

Vanitas scoffed lightly. "…Yeah, that sounds like you."

"What sounds like me?"

"That you'd wait for your friends, even if you already had the freedom to leave." He leaned back, looking to the sky. "As for me, I couldn't have left the Badlands soon enough."

"I can imagine," Aqua murmured. "Speaking of Worlds, where else have you been?"

"You mean before the Mark of Mastery Exam? Well…" Vanitas lowered his chin into his hand, thinking back. "One time Xehanort took me to this World called the Pridelands. It was like a… What was the word he used? A 'safari'? If you've never seen a lion and hyena fight over a haunch of zebra, I can tell you it's pretty brutal."

"That sounds… exciting?" Aqua said tentatively.

"You have no idea," he grinned. "Come on, a carnivore's gotta eat, right? It's not like you're a vegetarian."

"I suppose," she blushed.

"Of course, anywhere we went Xehanort would ramble on and on about 'the Darkness inherent in nature'. It got kinda annoying, actually. Still, I'd rather listen to the old man blather while watching some animal violence than sit around bored in the Badlands," Vanitas shrugged.

"The Darkness inherent in nature…" Aqua repeated with a thoughtful frown.

"Yeah. I mean, when you think about it, all living things are constantly fighting to survive."

"Hmm. I guess that's one way of looking at it… But there's more to life than just that."

"I know," he smiled "That's the part you taught me."

Aqua blinked in surprise before returning his smile with a bashful grin. "So, where else?"

"Well…"

Aqua listened, enraptured, as Vanitas told of all the Worlds Xehanort had taken him to. The places he and his Master had explored had been mostly or completely devoid of people, but there'd been plenty of flora and fauna. Each World had been home to a multitude of dangerous animals, ranging from the wild beasts of the Pridelands, to massive reptiles Xehanort had called 'dinosaurs' roaming the Primeval Wilds.

Vanitas recounted how in the dinosaurian Nesting Grounds, he'd stolen and devoured an entire raw iguanodon egg straight out of the nest, much to Aqua's visible disgust.

Even the relatively peaceful Vulpine Woods had hosted its own dangers, as an overly-inquisitive thirteen-year-old Vanitas had almost been bitten by a rabid fox. Xehanort had said he'd been lucky he hadn't needed to waste an Esuna spell to cure him.

Aqua gasped in horror and looked as if she was on the cusp of a furious rant; Vanitas quickly decided to tell her about another World. Out of all the Worlds with their great jungles and vast deserts, one place in particular was especially beautiful, a World called the Forest Princedom— all floral meadows and deep woods as far as the eye could see.

"Wow…" Aqua said when he had finished. Bleu had settled down in the grass next to the Monotrucker, both having seemingly dozed off. "I can't believe he'd take you to all those Worlds…"

"Hey, Xehanort had to let his 'pet monster' out to play sometime, right?" Vanitas smiled wryly.

Aqua winced and looked away. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

"Don't be," he said quickly, mentally kicking himself for reminding her of that. "I told you; it wasn't all bad."

Aqua pursed her lips. "So… what did you do in the Forest Princedom?"

Vanitas opened his mouth to reply, then hesitated.

Wild animals eating each other was one thing, but Aqua expected so much more from him. If she was squeamish about him eating dinosaur eggs, then he wasn't sure she needed to hear all the details of this particular activity.

"…Hunting," he admitted slowly. Don't go into detail.

"Like, as in… rabbits? Deer?"

"Anything I could get my hands on," he shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Meat wasn't exactly a commodity in the Badlands, so I ate what I could find."

"You… did at least cook it, right?"

"I figured that out eventually," Vanitas grinned widely, flashing his canine teeth. "Fire magic and a little Mermaid Salt does wonders for quail. Skunk ain't half bad either, if you can get past the smell."

Aqua shook her head with an exasperated sigh. "At least that's a relief, I wouldn't want you to get sick."

"Oh, I don't get sick."

"Never?"

"Nope. I know Ventus got chocobo pox once, but I guess I'm immune to that sort of thing— Either that or the Badlands doesn't have any germs."

"You're lucky; Terra had a terrible flu, once," Aqua said, resting her chin on her hand. "That was right after the two of us and Master Eraqus went out for our first picnic together."

"And Ventus?"

"That was before he came to live with us."

Vanitas blinked. He'd forgotten— Aqua had spent four years with only Terra and Eraqus before Ventus had arrived at the Land of Departure. Vanitas himself wouldn't have even existed, at that point in time. "Huh… So, anything special happen on this picnic?"

To his surprise, Aqua blushed in embarrassment. "Well, it's a funny story…" She cleared her throat. "You see, I really missed having picnics at the park with my mother, so I asked Master Eraqus if we could all eat outside together. He said yes, so we went up the mountain to the training grounds to have lunch, and after that Terra wanted to go for a swim in the ponds, and then he— Uh…"

"He what?" Vanitas asked, completely at a loss as to where all this was going.

"Well," she giggled. "Then Terra just dropped his pants right in front of us! And Master Eraqus was so shocked, and gave him such a scolding like you wouldn't even believe, for doing that in front of a girl. Apparently Terra's Homeworld didn't have swimsuits, and everyone went swimming naked!" She laughed again.

He titled his head, confused yet intrigued by how hard Aqua was laughing at this. "Hey, if you wanted I could strip nude, too."

Aqua's face reddened even more, her eyes briefly flicking towards his lap before she voiced a very firm, "You will not."

"I was only offering," Vanitas smirked. It wasn't quite as big a reaction as he'd been hoping for, but perhaps Aqua had come to expect that particular type of joke from him. Although, for one perplexing moment it had almost seemed like she was… interested?

Aqua shook her head as she regained her composure, muttering what sounded like an exasperated 'boys' under her breath.

"So… Terra's from another World too, is he?" Vanitas inquired. He wasn't particularly interested in Terra's backstory, but he'd never even considered the possibility that the older boy wasn't originally from the Land of Departure.

"Of course," Aqua said, her cheeks finally fading back to their normal hue. "Only Keyblade Masters and their apprentices live at the Land of Departure. It's pretty secluded from other Worlds in the Realm of Light— that's what makes it such a safe place to train Keyblade Wielders. I mean, technically it's in the Realm Between, but there's not much of a difference."

"What about Terra's World?"

"Oh, I've never been there myself, but he told me it's called Prydain."

"Never heard of it."

"I didn't think you would. Terra calls it a 'real backwater', though I think he only says that because it's a medieval-level World— You know, the kind without indoor plumbing," Aqua explained with a humorous smile. "Of course, it's not like La Cité des Cloches has much technology, either. You should've seen the look on my face when I first used the microwave!"

Vanitas tilted his head slightly. He didn't know what a microwave was, but he had a feeling she'd show him once they returned to the Land of Departure.

"Anyway, well… Terra's parents passed away when he was really little." She shook her head, her tone turning solemn. "Apparently that World was struck by a terrible plague… I can only imagine how awful it was."

"That's…" Vanitas wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know these people personally, so he didn't feel sad, but he knew he should say something. "That's unfortunate," he finally said.

"Mhm," Aqua agreed. "Terra rarely talks about it. I'm not actually sure he remembers his parents very well, since he was so young."

Vanitas swallowed thickly. He'd always thought of diseases as something mundane; he couldn't even imagine losing Aqua to something like that.

"Terra grew up in an orphanage with other kids who'd lost their families," she continued. "He says it was really overcrowded, and the caretakers couldn't handle all the children."

He frowned. "They weren't like the Tremaines, were they?" Not even Terra deserved that.

"Oh, no. They weren't cruel people, but they didn't have enough Munny to care for everyone. Terra says he had to become pretty independent early on— Took up all sorts of odd jobs around his hometown, mostly manual labor."

So nothing he needed brains for, Vanitas thought privately. "So… What? Eraqus took him in 'cause he was good at chores?"

"Not at all," Aqua frowned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Have you ever noticed Terra acting rather… odd, sometimes? Like his face suddenly goes blank, or he doesn't seem quite like himself?"

His eyebrows furrowed in thought. Vanitas assumed she wasn't speaking about Terra's —lack of— intelligence nor his penchant for leaking Darkness when angered. He couldn't remember ever seeing anything like what she described, neither from the times he'd spied on the trio nor through his connection with Ventus. Vanitas shook his head.

Aqua let out a breath. "Terra's a clairvoyant."

His eyes widened, jaw dropping in shock.

"It means he can see the future—"

"I know what it means," Vanitas interrupted, struggling to make sense of this bizarre new information. "It's just— Terra's a seer? Him? He can barely cast spells!"

"Now that is not true," she stated firmly. "All Keyblade Wielders have some magical talent, and clairvoyance is Terra's special power."

"I guess," he pouted sourly. The power to perceive the future— wasted on an idiot. "So let me guess, Eraqus chose Terra because he was another 'odd child'?"

"Yes, but you're getting ahead of me," Aqua sighed. "So, sometimes Terra has these… visions, and he'll go into this sort of trance. Honestly, it really scared me when we were younger; sometimes it'd get so bad he'd faint or even have seizures."

…Okay, maybe being a seer wasn't all it was cracked up to be. "That… really sucks."

"Mhm. Luckily it doesn't affect him as badly anymore, but I guess for the townsfolk on Prydain, it was just too… strange for them. Someone like Terra, who could predict bad things before they happened? It just seemed like an unlucky omen, so they avoided him— Or at least that's what he tells me."

Vanitas had to admit he was a little unsettled, himself. Just like with Aqua, he'd assumed Terra's life had been all sunshine and rainbows— a dim sort of sunshine, but certainly not orphaned and friendless. Perhaps the people of Prydain hadn't treated Terra like a monster, but the parallel to his own lonely existence was still too close for Vanitas's comfort.

"So… what happened then?" he asked, curious despite himself.

"It's as you guessed; Master Eraqus was looking for young apprentices, and when he recognized Terra's unique 'gift' he took him in," Aqua explained. "Terra always dreamed of being a knight, and I suppose becoming a Keyblade Wielder is pretty close."

"Did he ever go back and visit? To the orphanage, I mean."

She shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Terra liked the caretakers there well enough, but they weren't really parents to him, and he never really bonded with the other kids."

"So… he didn't have any friends growing up, either," Vanitas murmured. "I… guess that's something we can all relate to."

"Surely you and Ven had friends, from before…?" Aqua asked quietly. "Even if neither of you remember?"

Vanitas recalled the first emotions he'd felt after being separated from Ventus. The sadness, the loneliness… "No… I don't think we did."

A theory was slowly forming in his mind. Vanitas had no real way of proving it, but he was beginning to wonder…

When he and Aqua had first arrived here at the Castle of Dreams, he'd told her that Terra and the original Ventus hadn't been good people. He'd based the idea entirely on the abnormally vast amount of Darkness the two harbored within their hearts— the Darkness Terra still held, and Ventus's Darkness from which Vanitas had been born.

But Darkness was fueled by many sources, not just malice or suffering. Anger and sadness were painful, yes. But there was one negative emotion which Vanitas was intimately familiar with, one which seemed somehow even worse…

Loneliness.

It was an experience the four of them all shared— that gnawing, empty ache in one's heart.

Aqua had grown up without a father, friendless and bullied.

Terra had been orphaned at a young age and more or less left to fend for himself, ostracized by his fellow townsfolk.

And Ventus's parents —his parents— were… missing, for lack of a better word. Vanitas didn't know what'd happened to his— their mom and dad, whether they'd died like Terra's, or if he'd been stolen from them by Xehanort. But whatever tragic event had occurred in Ventus's childhood, it had caused an immense Darkness to grow within his heart.

Only Aqua had gotten through her childhood relatively unscathed, likely because she had the love of her mother to nurture her Light and give her strength of heart.

Terra and the original Ventus hadn't been bad people; they'd just been… alone.

"Terra really had no one on Prydain, huh," Vanitas said. He'd never imagined he'd ever feel sorry for Terra, but he was beginning to realize that he shared much more in common with him —and Aqua and Ventus— than he'd previously thought.

"Mhm. I guess you could say… without any real family ties, it was easy for him to leave; there just wasn't a good enough reason for him to stay," Aqua mused. "After that, Terra trained with Master Eraqus for a couple years before I arrived, and then four years later—"

"Ventus showed up," Vanitas completed with a sigh. "It's… it's a good thing you guys had each other. Honestly I'm surprised Terra doesn't hang out with you as much as he does with Ventus, since you've known him for longer."

Eight years, if his math wasn't off. She'd lived with Terra for eight whole years, had four years with Ventus, and only around two months with himself. If Vanitas hadn't already known he was her best friend, he'd feel much more jealous.

"Not to say you two aren't close," he added hastily.

"It's alright, Van. I know what you meant," Aqua said with a small, sad smile. "It's kind of silly, isn't it? Even though I've known Terra the longest, it's him and Ven who have the most in common. I suppose friendships are just like that, sometimes. Still, no matter what, they'll always be my brothers."

Vanitas tilted his head. "Usually you call Ventus and Terra your friends, but sometimes you say they're your 'brothers'. What does that mean, exactly?" He'd been wanting to ask that for a while.

"Oh! Hmm… Well, usually brothers and sisters share the same parents," she explained. "But sometimes people who are raised together consider each other siblings even when they aren't blood-related. That's how I view Terra and Ven."

"So… being siblings is kinda like being friends, but… growing up together?" he asked, trying his best to understand. "Like the brother and sister in The Snow Queen?"

"That's a good example," Aqua agreed. "Now, sometimes siblings aren't raised together, and they don't always get along, but usually it's like being closer than friends— But not in a romantic sort of way," she quickly amended.

Despite all the fairytale books he'd been reading recently, Vanitas still wasn't quite sure he understood romance, let alone all this sibling stuff… only that both had to do with love. "Do you love them?" he asked. "Ventus and Terra?"

She blinked in surprise. "Of course! But they're my family, nothing like being boyfriend and girlfriend."

"So, that's what we are? Boyfriend and girlfriend?"

At this, her eyes widened in shock and she blushed deeply. "N-no! I don't— I-I mean—? If you want…? I haven't—!"

Vanitas stared as she continued to splutter. Had he offended her in some way? "Well," he started, trying to ease the situation, "I'm a boy, and you're a girl, and we're friends. Right?"

"Well—! Yes, but being b-boyfriend and girlfriend means something else, like more than just a friend."

"More than a best friend?" He'd had no idea such a thing existed.

Aqua cleared her throat. "More than a best friend, yes."

Vanitas pondered this. How could one possibly be more than a best friend? And if there was such a higher level of friendship, then…

"I'd like to be more than best friends with you," he said easily.

"Vanitas…" Aqua spoke gently, apparently calmed down from her strange fit. "I don't think you really know what that means."

Vanitas frowned, but… he supposed she was right. "I guess not… What about 'parents'?" he asked, changing the subject. "You said Eraqus was like your dad."

"Mhm," she nodded, the blush fading a bit from her cheeks. "My real father left before I was born, so Master Eraqus took on that role. He did that for all three of us."

Vanitas considered this for a moment.

That really was the main difference between their lives and his, wasn't it. It all came down to Master Eraqus. He'd filled the loss in their hearts, taken them in and given them a home, and loved them like they were his own children. Eraqus might not've been the trio's real father, but that didn't seem to matter to them. He had taught them, raised them, provided them with a sense of purpose…

And that meant…

"If Eraqus was like a father to you guys… then I… I guess that would make Xehanort my dad, wouldn't it," he said reluctantly, his stomach clenching. The entire idea caused him deep discomfort. "He created me, raised me…"

Aqua's eyes softened, a hint of sorrow growing in those blue depths. "He should've been like a father to you," she lamented. "But you don't have to think of him that way."

Vanitas let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Good," he muttered bitterly. "I don't want to."

For all his many faults, Master Eraqus had treated his apprentices with kindness and guided them as best he could. While Master Xehanort's 'training' had been little more than… than…

"…He tortured me," Vanitas admitted in a barely audible whisper. He'd known that; he'd always known that. It only happened to be here, on this little grassy hill next to the frozen riverbank, that he was finally able to admit it, finally able to voice out loud what had taken him four years —his entire lifetime— to say.

Vanitas took a deep, shuddering breath, clenching his fists as he continued. "If he'd really wanted me as a son, he wouldn't have… hurt me so much, and I… I… wouldn't be so… messed up." He swallowed thickly around the lump in his throat, unable to say any more.

"Oh, Van…" Aqua's voice cracked with grief as she embraced him.

He returned her hug, trying to hold back tears.

He'd known all this time —how could he have not?— that Xehanort's one true goal had been to cause him as much misery as possible in order to deepen his Darkness, to wear down his sanity and forge him into a weapon, a tool, all to obtain the X-Blade and the sacred power of Kingdom Hearts.

A voice of protest came bubbling up from the back of his mind.

Everything the Master did was to shape you into what you needed to be! it insisted.

Only for his own gain.

So what? You're stronger for it!

It was cruel.

You needed discipline—!

I needed a friend! Vanitas snapped. At this, he was met with silence. Xehanort should've been someone who cared about me, treated me like… like a son. Like how Eraqus treated Aqua and Ventus and Terra.

…If Master Xehanort had been anything like Eraqus, he wouldn't have created you in the first place, the voice muttered. He wouldn't have torn Ventus in two.

Vanitas closed his eyes. There'd been times he'd thought being alive wasn't worth all the pain and suffering he'd felt after being separated from his other half— suffering Xehanort had caused. There was one goal that'd always held him back from ending it all, had kept him going even through the worst of times, no matter how bad it got…

All I ever wanted was to be happy. Maybe part of me hoped that if I gained Xehanort's approval, that if I forged the X-Blade for him, if I merged with Ventus and became human again, then perhaps he'd finally treat me like I mattered to him, like I was more than just a tool… And so I endured everything he threw at me.

The Master was just… trying to make you stronger, the voice said, its tone desperate. Besides, you were happy with him, sometimes…

It wasn't enough. If I'd truly been happy, I wouldn't have wanted to run away. I wouldn't have wanted him dead.

It was true that Xehanort had taught Vanitas many things— Of magic and nature, Light and Darkness. How to fight, how to kill. But the old Master had taught him nothing of love.

Had he truly been happy, on the days Xehanort had been in a good enough mood to allow him to explore other Worlds? Or had it merely been a relief to have a reprieve from weeks of soul-crushing boredom and isolation, or from being beaten so badly that his bones would break?

Could such a reward really compare, when Xehanort's form of punishment involved admonishing Vanitas with a white-hot shock of Dark Thunder, or the cruel bite of a Keyblade's teeth? Telling him that it was 'for his own good', that he deserved it, that if only he was more competent, more obedient, then none of this would have to happen?

What lessons had Vanitas really learned, other than to expect and accept pain, both physical and emotional? How could any of that have truly made him strong, when Xehanort's 'teachings' had been no better than an ever-tightening collar around his neck?

His mind was silent for a long, long moment. And when the voice spoke again, it sounded so lost— Lost like he'd been before he'd found Aqua, before he'd found happiness.

…You're right.

It was a tiny whisper of defeat.

Vanitas let out a long, tired sigh, suddenly aware that his eyes were wet. He dried them on his sleeve and glanced at Aqua, who still had her arms around him in a tight hug, her face buried in his shoulder.

"Hey, Aqua…?" he murmured.

She pulled back slightly at the sound of his voice and met his gaze. Her eyes were also filled with shining tears, tiny teardrops flecked on her beautiful blue eyelashes. "Van…? I'm so sorry all that happened to you," she sniffled. "This is just so unfair…"

"Hey, it's alright," he reassured, gently rubbing her back. "Don't worry about me. Seriously, I'm okay."

"Okay…" she mumbled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her fingerless gloves. "I just wish things had been different for you. You deserve a better father."

Vanitas sighed again. "Wishing Xehanort was less of a bastard ain't gonna change anything," he shrugged. "Besides, I already have parents… kinda."

"Huh?" Aqua blinked perplexedly, searching his eyes for a moment before her face slowly lit up in realization. "Wait… Do you mean Ven's parents?!"

"Yeah," he nodded with a sheepish grin. "I dunno where they are or if they're even still alive, but… Since I'm half of Ventus, that means we both came from the same place, so…" Vanitas took a deep breath, mentally steeling himself for what he was about to say, "I guess that kinda makes me and him brothers?"

It was embarrassing as hell to admit it, but he could've never expected Aqua's reaction. She stared at him for several seconds, mouth agape, before suddenly bursting into fresh tears.

"Aqua?!" he startled.

"Oh, Van!" She was beaming through her tears, throwing her arms around him once more and hugging him even tighter. "That's wonderful! I'm so, so happy you think that way!"

Vanitas returned her embrace, very much relieved to see that her tears were of happiness this time, not sorrow. "Hey, I promised before, didn't I?" he said, giving her a lopsided grin. "Might as well get used to the idea, since we're all gonna be together."

"Even Terra?"

He rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Yes, even Terra."

"I'm glad," Aqua sniffled as she drew back, drying her eyes on her gloves again. "Oh, I just can't wait for Ven to hear what you said! You'll tell him, right? I can't believe I never thought about it before! I mean you two look almost exactly the same—" She gasped excitedly. "What if you dressed up like twins? That would be so cute!"

Vanitas stuck out his tongue. "Hey, don't get any weird ideas. Just 'cause Ventus might sort of be my brother or whatever, doesn't mean we have to get along. Besides, who said he'd even agree?"

At this, Aqua laughed. "Oh, I think he would. And Terra would love having another little brother."

Vanitas snorted and shook his head. 'Little' brother. Seriously? Calling Terra his 'brother' would be pushing it. It's not like they shared much in common… besides Keyblade Wielding. And stargazing. And being friends with Aqua and loving her cooking. Not to mention that through Ventus, Terra had vicariously —though unknowingly— taught him how to swear. Plus the whole 'Darkness caused by loneliness' theory.

…Okay, maybe they might be able to relate a little bit.

"What's on your mind?" she questioned at his silence.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking earlier, that I never realized how similar we all are," he said, pulling at some loose fuzz in the blanket. "Me, you, Ventus, Terra? We were just so lonely growing up, when all we really wanted was friendship."

"Mhm… When you put it that way, it sounds like we all had the same dream," Aqua mused. "Like how Terra, Ven, and I always wanted to become Keyblade Masters." She blinked slowly, hesitating a little before she spoke her next words, "I know you don't think much of the title, but it's important to us."

"Actually…" Vanitas admitted tentatively, "The thing is, I did want to be a Keyblade Master."

Aqua's lips parted in surprise. "You did?! But— I thought you said Mastery was all a sham?"

"Yeah," he sighed, setting his hands in his lap. "There's a reason for that. Even back before he met you guys, Ventus —both of us— wanted to be a Keyblade Master more than anything… Or at least that's what Xehanort had promised us. It's one of the few memories I have from before the split. Of course, it didn't take long to realize the old man never actually intended on making me or Ventus Masters in the first place. After that, I just kinda gave it up."

"Oh…" She bit her lip. "That explains a lot. Well, what are your plans for the future, then? After all this is done? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"Hmm…" Vanitas rubbed the back of his neck. "Now that forging the X-Blade is outta the question? I dunno… I didn't exactly think about what came afterwards."

"You could still apply for your Mark of Mastery," Aqua suggested. "Or if you're tired of Keyblade Wielding, there's plenty of other jobs in the Worlds. Personally, I always thought I'd end up running my mother's bookshop, so you could become a professional chef, or do gardening."

Oh, please. There was no way he'd ever get tired of being a Keyblade Wielder. It was what he was best at, and as much as he enjoyed other hobbies, the thought of some boring mundane life wasn't exactly appealing, either.

Although, that did beg the question. If Xehanort had never taken him as his apprentice, what would he be doing, now? Going to… 'school', he thought it was called, or whatever else normal boys his age did? Perhaps doing odd jobs like Terra?

It was true that obtaining Mastery was the typical path of a Keyblade Wielder. Masters traveled the Worlds, studied magic, kept the World Order, and eventually trained apprentices. Even Aqua, being a Master, would one day take on students of her own.

How long exactly would it be before she started teaching the next Keyblade Wielding generation? Would she follow in her Master's footsteps and go out searching for 'special' children, as soon as her friends were rescued?

Sure, Vanitas was willing to make an attempt in befriending Ventus and Terra, but having to stand on the sidelines and watch while Aqua babysat a bunch of annoying, snot-nosed little brats sounded like an absolute nightmare.

His steadily rising panic must've shown clearly on his face, because Aqua quickly responded.

"You don't have to decide right now," she assured. "You've got your whole life ahead of you."

"It's not that," Vanitas replied, fidgeting with his shirt sleeve. "I was just thinking… You're a Keyblade Master; that means you're gonna train apprentices soon, right?"

"Eventually yes," Aqua answered with a bemused smile. "But that's a long way off."

Well, that was somewhat of a relief. "Good. I'd rather have you to myself for a little longer before you start having kids."

At this, Aqua made a strange, half-strangled wheezing noise. "Students, you mean."

"What else would I mean?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow in confusion.

"N-nothing," she said quickly. "Anyway, Master Eraqus didn't start taking on apprentices until he was in his sixties, so we've got plenty of time before we need to do that— If you still want to be a Master, of course."

"W-wait a minute, you think I could be a teacher?!" Vanitas balked. "No way! I don't have anything to offer anyone…" He glanced away, his cheeks heating in embarrassment.

"Vanitas, you have plenty to offer," Aqua pointed out gently. "You're smarter than I am. Just look at everything you've taught me."

"Huh?" he blinked, looking back at her. "But you're always the one teaching me. Like how to play piano and read French, and cooking and doing laundry—"

"Yes, but half of those are chores," she laughed. "You've taught me something much more important than that." She leaned in closer, locking eyes with him as a strand of blue hair fell over her shoulder. "How to really look and see the goodness in someone's heart."

Vanitas swallowed, feeling flustered under her intense gaze. "Th-that's a little sappy, don't you think?" he teased in an attempt to relieve tension.

"Probably," Aqua smiled warmly, leaning back. "But it's still true."

His eyes widened at her sincerity. "Well," he cleared his throat, unable to help the bashful grin spreading across his face, "I guess I'd rather teach you, than some stupid kids."

"Van, please," she snorted, trying to hold back a laugh. "Actually, there is something I've wanted to learn from you. That flash-step of yours could really come in handy."

"Oh?" Now that he thought about it, she had mentioned that before. "I dunno… It's a Dark ability. You sure you wanna use it?"

Aqua pursed her lips in contemplation, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. "…I think so."

Hmm… Maybe it was time for a little role-reversal.

"Alright," Vanitas nodded, standing up and offering her a hand. "Come on."

This would certainly be interesting…

Thanks for reading!