Disclaimer: Don't own HP or KH's.
This idea came from a chat with a reviewer, Seth A. Mincberg, on ffnet.
Chapter 1
"Xehanort wants me and Vanitas to fight, and make some kind of 'χ-blade', but the Master said we can't let that happen...and he tried to destroy me for it," Ventus bowed his head as he explained to his friends, Terra had defended him then, but he hadn't been there long enough to hear everything. He was scared and he felt sick, but he couldn't let himself be used like that.
"χ-blade?" Aqua asked him, sounding confused.
"I still don't know exactly what it is. But...it scares me to death. Even just the thought of it," he admitted softly. Something about it felt very wrong, dangerous, but he didn't know how he knew that.
"Relax Ven," Terra rested a hand on his shoulder, "We're here and we're gonna take care of you," he swore, but that wasn't why Ven was telling them.
"I may have to fight Vanitas after all. If I do, guys...I want you to…" he choked on the words, knowing it would hurt them to have him ask that of them, but there was no other choice. He should have let the Master kill him immediately, before Terra could have intervened.
"The three of us can never be torn apart, all right? I'll always find a way," Terra swore, tightening his grip even as Aqua bent down, gently touching his cheek.
Ventus pulled away, shaking his head. "I'm asking you, as a friend..." he took a shaky breath, he didn't want to ask them but he couldn't let himself be used for that. "Just...put an end to me."
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"You've done it, Ventus," Vanitas praised as his helmet melted away revealing spikey black hair, chilling yellow eyes, and pale skin.
Ventus stood ready, despite his exhaustion, but Vanitas dispelled his Keyblade.
"Now that my body is about to perish...you and I will have to join together!" he laughed.
Ven gasped, eyes wide in horror. Aqua was still unconscious (he prayed she was only unconscious), and Terra was somewhere up above on the cliffs, there was no one to help him…to stop him.
"The χ-blade will be forged!" He opened his arms and the dark energy formed along the ground, emanating from Vanitas's body.
Ventus tried to move away but it surrounded him in a semicircle, even as three shapes jumped from the dark and surrounded Ven. The three blue Unversed held Ventus in place as he struggled to move.
"The Unversed...come from you?" Ventus stared at him in shock. If Vanitas came from him, then did they as well?
Vanitas laughed to himself and more Unversed emerged from the dark energy. "It happened when you and I were split into two. The negativity took shape as these monsters. They are what I feel…a horde of fledgling emotions under my control. I released them in all the worlds I could, hoping to lure you away from home and isolate you from your Master," he explained as he walked closer to the horrified Ventus.
He'd fallen right into the trap, they all had. He had to find some way to stop Vanitas, he couldn't let the blade be forged from them.
"We needed to make you stronger. The Unversed were the perfect opponents. And better yet, no matter how many times you defeat them...their negativity flows right back to me." The dark energy floated from the Unversed into Vanitas and the Unversed disappeared. "You never stood a chance against us, Ventus," he smirked in triumph.
"No… I won't let you win," Ventus whispered, struggling to get away, only to gasp as Vanitas walked right into him.
A large ball of wind appeared around them, pressing outward on all sides. Aqua's body slid over a hill and the energy surged, getting brighter and stronger, making cracks in the ground. Ventus struggled to contain it, Aqua was too close! He didn't want…but it unleashed a beam upward, a large orange pillar reaching into the sky. Then there was blackness.
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"Gosh, I'm glad you're okay," Mickey was relieved to find she was breathing and even as he spoke her eyes slowly opened. As she sat up, rubbing her head, he stood to give her space.
"Ven!" she cried out looking around, and Mickey looked too.
Something felt very wrong but he wasn't sure what. He just had a really bad feeling even as he spotted the boy.
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"Oh, thank goodness. Ven!" She called, running towards the boy standing on the raised area of ground. "You're safe!"
Ventus stood before her in his armour, holding the χ-blade. His head was tipped down, eyes closed, and that worried her.
"Ven?" She called gently, reaching out to him.
Ventus smiled, and for a second she thought everything was alright, until dark yellow eyes opened and locked on her. He drew the strange Keyblade back in a fighting stance and
grinned evilly.
Aqua gasped and took a step back, no, not Ven! Ventus moved to attack, and she couldn't bring herself to fight him, but Mickey knocked the blade away with his own and stood defiantly between them.
"That's not Ven!" The King called to her confidently.
Ven's outfit vanished in dark smoke and became Vanitas's black and red suit. It was a relief, to know that Ventus hadn't fallen to Darkness…but how was she meant to separate them?
"Correct. I am not Ventus," it was Ventus' body that spoke but his voice was overlaid with another and even the pattern of speech was wrong. "His heart has become a part of mine now."
Aqua gasped in horror…no, she would not lose hope, they would find a way to get Ven back.
"This χ-blade will open a door…one that leads to all worlds! Then, Keyblade bearing warriors will flock here from each and every one of them, to battle for the light within Kingdom Hearts!" he laughed, looking up at the blue moon hanging overhead. "And just like the legend says, the Keyblade War will begin!"
"Shut up!" She shouted, calling her Keyblade to hand and taking her stance. "I'm sick of your nonsense! Give Ven his heart back!"
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Ventus was floating, weightless, peaceful…no…something was wrong. He slowly opened his eyes, seeing a platform of stained glass beneath him, his body sinking down until he landed on his feet. He looked over and saw Vanitas carrying a large strangely shaped Keyblade.
Our union was not finished," Vanitas told him, annoyed.
Ven focused on the image beneath them, seeing it was split in half, an image of each of them sleeping on either side, the Keyblade Graveyard behind them. It all felt wrong, if Vanitas had been formed from his heart, then why couldn't they merge without all of this happening? Had they been parted too long, become too individual and different?
"The χ-blade shouldn't stay broken like this." He moved the blade in his hand, the filigree rusted and incomplete. "Join me now, and we can complete the χ-blade!" Vanitas urged, and for a second, Ven was tempted. To be complete…No!
Ventus shook his head and summoned his Keyblade. "I've got a better idea. How 'bout I destroy you both?" He got ready to fight.
Vanitas laughed, his eyes wide and insane. "The χ-blade is made of your heart, too, idiot. If you destroy it, your heart will vanish forever."
Ven tightened his grip on his blade. He didn't want to die, didn't want his heart to vanish…but what other choice was there? "Whatever it takes. Anything to save Terra and Aqua," he told Vanitas.
"Hmph, it's always about your friends, isn't it?" He sneered.
"At least I have some!" he snapped back, seeing a moment of surprise on Vanitas' face. "I've become a part of their hearts, just as they've become a part of mine. My friends are my power, and I'm theirs!" He lunged forward, attacking, taking Vanitas by surprise.
They fought hard, Ventus using everything he had learned from his Master, from Terra, and Aqua.
"Playtime's over," Vanitas suddenly snarled, slamming the χ-blade into the platform, dispersing a great light. The platform cracked and split into countless shards as the two fell endlessly through space, circling one another. "Join now with your better half!" he demanded.
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Aqua and Mickey fought hard, trying to bring Vanitas down without killing Ven's body. Vanitas and the χ-blade glowed with power. Aqua and Mickey ran towards him, as he swung the χ-blade back and smiled. He swung it forward, releasing a gust of wind that blew Aqua and Mickey away. Aqua slammed into a rock and slid to the ground in pain. She breathed heavily as Vanitas walked toward her, smirking. The expression looked so wrong on Ventus' usually open face.
"What's wrong? Giving up already?" he taunted.
She took out her Wayfinder, staring at it, clutching it tight. "Terra, Ven, lend me strength," she whispered.
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Suddenly, Ventus' blade slammed into Vanitas, shooting him into shards of the platform. "Light!" he called, gathering power from the light and flew toward Vanitas like a comet, his blade striking him one, two, three, four, five times. He spun around to face his evil half and threw his Keyblade forward, flying after it to land one final blow on the hollow, dark youth.
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"Why..." Vanitas gasped, staring at him, unable to comprehend how Ventus could have beaten him, how he could sacrifice himself.
Vanitas fell back, losing his grip on the incomplete χ-blade. He struggled to reclaim it, but failed, the two fused blades floated just out of his reach, as if taunting him. He gave up the struggle as his energy left him and he fell. The χ-blade glowed and burst into numerous gold and silver shards, Ventus' Keyblade following suit. Vanitas was engulfed in a bright light and split into dust, before falling into blackness.
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Ventus watched it happen, feeling…sad. It shouldn't have to have ended this way. Why had he been so loyal to Master Xehanort?
A white light emanated from that point on the platform and the blackness peeled away into white feathers and a warm glowing light. Ventus, floating above, landed, and with a content look on his face, faded into the light. Below, the platform showed only Ventus sleeping peaceful.
The dust of Vanitas and the shards of light that were Ventus drifted away, some intermingling, and then Ventus' heart floated away.
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He watched the body fall to the ground and dismissed it from his thoughts, moving towards the stairs, able to hear the terrified crying of a baby and the frantic voice of the Mother. He had given his word, to spare her if possible, and he would do so if possible for the sake of his most gifted Potions Master. It would have been better if the family had joined him, they were old, wealthy, and respected even with Potter marrying beneath his station. Having all four of the Marauders would have been quite the coup but it was far too late now.
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The charm glowed and resonated with Aqua's Keyblade, which became a shining beam of light. She ran up the hill toward Vanitas, yelling.
"You're just wasting your energy," he yelled at her, striking his blade forward, the two colliding, creating a ripple in the air.
Aqua yelled, struggling to keep her footing as they fought for dominance in the standoff. She moved herself slightly forward and the χ-blade snapped, shards of the blade breaking off.
"What?" he stared at it in shock.
Taking advantage of his distraction, she pushed forward, knocking him to the ground and
sending the broken χ-blade spinning into the air. It glowed and burst with energy, sending beams of light in haphazard directions. They struck the ground, letting loose outlines of keyholes that broke apart in the air. Aqua stood, shielding her eyes as the power emanating from the almighty blade grew in strength.
Mickey looked up from where he lay on the ground. he forced himself up to his feet, eyes wide in horror. "Oh no! It...it's gone all haywire!"
He ran toward the scene as Aqua struggled to withstand the might of the χ-blade 's destruction. Keyholes appeared everywhere in the air and dissipated instantly, more beams of light striking the ground, creating more scattering keyholes. Darkness left Ven's body in black and red shards, his normal armour returning to him.
"Ven!" she called out to him, hoping the change meant what she thought it did, but his eyes were closed, his face blank.
Light struck everywhere around Aqua and Ventus, Mickey running towards her, as the χ-blade shattered into a thousand pieces, vanishing into the air. It was enveloped by the brightest light, streams continuously billowing forth, as it sent a great wind blowing outward. Aqua tried to get to Ven, but they were both blown away by the monstrous gale, Mickey struggling to remain standing.
Aqua jumped in the air, reaching for Ven's hand, managing to touch two fingers before losing her grip. Just as she thought she would lose him, she grasped his hand as the light engulfed the area. She gripped his hand as tightly as she could, she would not lose him!
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He watched the woman fall to the ground, as dead as her husband. It was a pity, she had been a brilliant witch and he could have used her power and skills. The child was crying, clinging to the bars of his cot, green eyes wide. He raised his wand towards the toddler. This was the one prophesied to be his equal? He got no pleasure from killing children, they were the next generation, but he could not risk this child growing to defeat him. Even if he took him in to raise himself, the danger would remain.
"Avada Kedavra," he said the spell, feeling his magic gather.
Killing the child was a kindness, better to die innocent then to be raised as a weapon as Dumbledore would do with no family to interfere. He knew what happened to parentless children, the Magical World would abandon the boy as they had him. The spell left his wand and for a second he had the inane thought that the colour of the spell matched the child's eyes. He heard the boy cry out, saw a flash of bright green light which turned white and then it was shooting back towards him. He never had the chance to try and dodge.
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Harry James Potter lay crying in his cot, blood trickling down his face from the lightning bolt wound on his forehead. He was gasping for air, little chest heaving, fighting to live with a damaged Heart. There was no one there to notice the specks of dust and light that fell over him, his cries slowly quieting, breathing evening out.
By the time Severus Snape rushed in with a cry of horror, the boy was sitting up and reaching for his dead mother.
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Aqua gently settled Ventus' unresponsive body down on the middle chair, quickly supporting his head when it flopped. She carefully shifted him so that he would be comfortable, running her fingers through his hair. He looked like he was merely asleep and yet he wouldn't wake. According to Master Yen Sid, he might never wake up again or he could wake tomorrow, it would all depend on if his heart could find its way back.
She took the Keyblade in hand and walked behind the chairs, facing them. She pointed the blade forward toward the middle chair, creating a Keyhole on the back of it. Wind flowed outward from the Keyhole, blowing the ruffles of her outfit. She thrust the Keyblade toward the Keyhole and light swirled around the tip of the blade. The light grew, consuming the world.
When she opened her eyes again, she stood in a white room, a single door behind her. The walls were lined with symbols connected by chains, leading to a now single white chair in the centre of the room, the chair where Ven was seated in slumber.
"I know it's a lonely place, but you'll be safe," she ran her fingers through his hair again, hoping he could hear her or was at least somehow aware of her, then again maybe it would be better if he was totally unaware since he was going to be alone and who knew how long it would take for his Heart to return to him. "Terra and I will be back to wake you up before you know it," she promised softly, before forcing herself to leave. She still had a job to do.
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"Hagrid, I'm his Godfather! Give Harry to me," Sirius begged the half giant. He couldn't fight him for Harry, couldn't use magic on him either because he was resistant due to his heritage.
"Dumbledore's orders are to take Harry to him."
"He has no legal right," Sirius argued. The wills gave him or Alice custody as Godparents, Dumbledore had no say in it. he could tell Hagrid would never disobey though and sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, but take my bike," he told him.
He would hunt down the rat, the Longbottom's could deal with Albus for the moment. Once he had the traitor, then he would fight with them for custody if Dumbledore tried to keep him.
Sirius looked down at the sleeping toddler, he raised his wand and carefully did what he could to heal the cut on his face, cleaning the blood and tears away. Harry whined and reached for him and he used a charm Lily had taught him to put Harry to sleep. Hagrid was happy to allow it since he couldn't help Harry with magic.
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Ventus' body sank through water, his eyes closed as if asleep. 'This place...' he opened his eyes. 'I've been here. So warm... I remember now. This is your heart.'
The brightest light enveloped him.
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Sora and Riku lay gazing up at the night sky, the waves were quiet and peaceful. Riku sat up after a while and turned to Sora. "Hey, I'm gonna head back."
Sora sat up as well. "Yeah. Me too." He stood and stretched, Riku getting up as well. They weren't old enough to stay out much longer without worrying their parents, well…Sora's parents. Riku's wouldn't really notice if he stayed out all night.
They walked back toward the town in silence for a while.
Riku looked over at Sora. "Sora, what's wrong?" he asked in concern.
"Huh?"
Riku pointed. "You're..."
A tear fell from Sora's cheek and he put a hand to his face, catching it, surprised. "That's weird. It's like something's squeezing me inside."
"Somebody up there must be sad," Riku offered.
"Up where?" Sora frowned in confusion.
"They say every world is connected by one great big sky. So maybe there's somebody up there in all those worlds who's really hurting, and their waiting for you to help them," Riku explained.
"Well gee, do you think there's something I could do?" Sora stared at him with wide eyes.
"Hmm..." Riku shrugged slightly." Maybe they just need you to open your heart and listen."
"Mmm... I dunno Riku, you say some weird stuff sometimes, but I'll try it."
"Okay."
Sora looked up, determined, and closed his eyes. Riku looked up as well.
"Hey... Can you hear me?" Sora called out, opening his eyes to find himself surrounded by blackness. He looked down to see a platform of coloured glass beneath his feet but then looked up to see something bright approaching.
'I heard your voice. It cut through the darkness around me.'
A bright ball of light floated towards Sora who gazed at it, smiling, and reached to catch it. Looking closer it seemed damaged, not quite whole.
'All alone, I followed the sound into a sea of light… and found myself here, with you.'
Sora nodded, the light floating above his hands.
'You gave me something back when I needed it most. A second chance.'
"I did?" he asked in awe.
'But...now I have to go back to sleep again.'
"Are you sad?"
'Would you mind if I stayed here, with you?'
Sora smiled happily. "Sure, if it'll make you feel better," he promised.
'Thank you.'
The light floated into Sora's chest and he closed his eyes.
Sora took a deep breath and opened his eyes onto the real world again.
"Well?" Riku asked.
He looked over at Riku, standing beside him on the sand. "You know... I think it worked." He put his hands behind his head, gazing up at the stars, grinning widely. Three stars twinkled in the night sky.
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Albus set the sleeping child down on the doorstep, tucking the letter into the basket he was lying in. As soon as Petunia opened the letter, the wards would be set. For the next ten years, this muggle home would be his home. It would be a hard decade but it was necessary, the boy had to be raised away from the Magical World, kept ignorant until the time was right.
His wound was intriguing, Dark magic lingered within it, and he knew most would say to take the child to the Unspeakables or Goblins for it to be examined. However, he knew Tom was not gone for good and such a mark could prove useful in the future even if it may pain the child.
Everything he did was for the Greater Good.
TBC…