A reminder to those who keep asking about the next chapter, I update every other week. If I have to miss a long period of time, I will let you guys know. (I am writing ahead, so I should keep on schedule)

Hope you enjoy!

Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!

Chapter 3: Spirit

Their first full day back home was little more than a lazy day.

Terra slept all day. Apparently, being possessed for thirteen years made one very tired. And for the first time in those thirteen years, his dreams were good ones.

Aqua spent her day in the kitchen, baking. The smells of cinnamon, sugar, baking fruits filled the entire castle, bringing a familiar warmth to them all.

Ven spent his time outside the castle. Everything seemed the same.

Down below the castle, there was a small pond the three of them used to go to go swimming. The boy went down and sat by the pond, just soaking in the nature around him.

He wondered, as wild animals came and went around him, if they'd been magically asleep this whole time like him.

He watched as the ellek foxes scampered around the glen, their yellow coats shimmering as their seven pink tails fluttered behind them.

One of the wildcats called a fell cat slept on a tree nearby. He didn't fear them as they were only as big as a medium sized dog, and he could take them. All he had to do was keep an eye on it and not fall asleep. It watched him too, its yellow eyes watching from the face of black fur and golden spots as it's five tails swished under it.

The small bears, about the size of a large cat, scampered in and out of the clearing, especially as Ven pulled out his sandwich for lunch. These komo bears were adorable with their navy fur dotted with white spots, and unlike the big bears he'd seen in books, these had long tails.

The green flightless birds, the peredi, scampered in for a drink to the pond as he sat there. They looked at him, tilting their heads to the side, blinking slowly.

He even saw an alfreer deer walk to the pond for a drink. Aqua always called them fairy deer because of their shining silver horns and soft blue fur that seemed to glimmer like magic.

To any other place, these would be creatures of myth and legend. But here, they were just animals.

Ven stood up to go home as the sun got lower in the sky, but he stopped at the base of the mountain, smiling as he saw the strange glimmer of pink amongst the rocks.

Moving closer until he could see the pink crystals poking out, he picked up a stick.

He giggled a little before striking the crystal.

A humming sound filled the air as the crystal lit up. The humming began to echo as more crystals around him, some on the mountain and some in the dirt below his feet, began to glow and hum.

The magic that ran through this world still worked.

The magic of the melodi crystals.

With a smile and the music of the world still ringing in the air, he made his way back home.

The next day went much differently.

Things took on a sense of normalcy.

Each of them took turns in the kitchen, doing chores, and even training.

Until the evening.

As the sun set, the three walked out beyond the training area to an overlook. You could see the castle in front of the sun.

All could see an image in their minds.

An image of Master Eraqus sitting here, reading a book. His favorite spot to come and watch the sunrise and sunset.

Some mornings, they would join him.

The perfect spot.

Summoning Master Defender, Aqua looked down at it. "I know it's tradition for a master to carry this weapon, but for us, this was yours. It will never be mine."

"Master! Master! Look what I made!"

A young Aqua, her face, clothes, and hair all covered in flour and cocoa powder came running down to the library, trailing white powder in her wake.

Eraqus looked up with a smile, shaking his head.

She'd have to clean all this up later.

"What is it?"

"It's a chocolate cupcake!" She handed it to him sheepishly. "I tried to make a big cake, but I messed it up, so I made a little one instead. I'll get better at making desserts." The man took it and bit into it.

It tasted slightly burnt.

But, as he looked down at the little girl who stared at him with anticipation, he smiled warmly, patting her head. "It's delicious, Aqua."

"Really?"

"Really." He finished it off before laughing. "Hold still." With his sleeve, he wiped some of the flour off her face. "Now, I hope you're planning to clean up whatever mess you made while baking."

The girl looked back at the white trail behind her. "Yes…"

"Don't worry, I'll help you."

Terra took the blade from her and held it to his chest. "I know we had ups and downs, but you were always there for me. For us, in the end. We will miss you." He stepped toward the ledge and drove the blade into the ground.

"Ugh! Why can't I do the stupid spell!?" A young Terra threw his Keyblade on the ground, dropping down to sulk.

Eraqus walked over, shaking his head with a smile. "You're pushing yourself too hard."

"But Aqua can do it!"

"You're not Aqua." Eraqus sat beside him. "She's really good with magic, but you can break more blocks with one swing than she can. Your strength lies with your physical strength."

The boy sighed. He'd heard this before. "But I want to be good at everything."

"Some things you won't be good at. That's why we're a team. Where one of us lacks, the others make up for it." His eyes became distant and kind of sad. "I had a friend once that was so helpful to me. Did you know that I used to be very lazy and not very good at fighting?"

"You!?"

"Yes, but I had a friend… my best friend, who made up the difference and encouraged me to move forward. And I helped him loosen up and have fun sometimes."

"Where is he?"

"We… had a fight. But I hope we can make up again someday."

Terra looked down at his Keyblade. "I don't ever want to have a fight with Aqua. I want to be friends forever."

"I hope you will be." The master stood up, helping the boy to his feet. "Now, why don't we get back to work."

"Yes, Master!"

Ven carried over a wreath of flowers they'd each taken turns making that day. Gently, he laid it on the Keyblade. "Master, I forgive you for what happened. I wish you were here… We won't ever forget you.

Ven's eyes opened.

His body felt heavy.

How long had he laid here?

Where was he?

Last time he woke up, there was the girl with blue hair here.

But now, there was that older man.

He looked down at the boy with a bright smile. "You're awake again, Ventus. I'm glad. You passed out not long after you woke up."

"Wh-who are you?"

"I'm Master Eraqus. I'll be taking care of you." He helped the boy sit up before handing him a cup. "Can you hold this?"

Ven's arms came up slowly, his hands closing around the cup.

"Drink slowly."

Ven took a drink, looking at the man who smiled warmly at him. And something told him that he would be safe here.

Each of them pulled out their wayfinders, holding them close.

These objects that signified their bond.

But…

They were together again.

And no matter how far apart they were, their bond would hold them together. They didn't need wayfinders to know that.

Together, they hung their wayfinders over the Keyblade.

The three stepped back, bowing their heads.

"Thank you, Master."

After a moment, they began their walk back to the castle. Ven sighed. "So, what happens now?"

Terra grinned. "Well, we keep going forward. You have to keep training for your exam."

"What about you?"

"Well," he chuckled, "I think I am a master. Technically, Master Xehanort named me one."

Aqua blinked. "He did?"

"Yeah, he did. So, I guess that counts."

"He was a Keyblade master."

Ven groaned. "So, I'm the only one left!"

"Better get training then."

Aqua smiled. "Then, I guess Terra and I should look into getting apprentices eventually."

"Oh yeah. Well-"

The two continued to talk, but Ven stopped.

His eyes caught something small tumbling out from behind a stone wall.

He paused, looking down at a small creature that resembled a stuffed gray tiger with a little pink pouch and a cape.

The creature gasped, jumping behind the wall.

Ven blinked.

He knew this thing.

He didn't know how, but he knew it.

Holding out his arms, he smiled. "Hey, come here."

He heard it gasp again before it ran toward him, leaping into his arms.

It shuddered, as it nuzzled against him.

This feeling felt so familiar.

"Ven!" He looked back, still holding the creature as Terra called to him.

The boy ran to his friends.

…

The three of them did not see the two teenagers step out from behind a wall, watching happily with smiles.

…

"What is that?" Aqua leaned over to look.

"I don't know." Ven smiled down at it. "But it feels familiar. What's your name?"

The creature seemed to wipe its strange little eyes. "My name is Chirithy."

"Chirithy."

"Where did you come from?"

Chirithy said nothing, but he simply nuzzled into Ven's chest happily. A warmth filled the boy as he pulled the creature closer. "I know you… I don't know from where, but I do. Right?"

The creature looked up at him. "Y-you were my first friend… my best friend. I've-I've missed you so much."

Ven felt tears run down his cheeks.

It felt… like a piece he'd been missing just fell into place. A piece he didn't even know he was missing.

Terra and Aqua glanced at each other before smiling down at Chirithy. "Well, any friend of Ven's is our friend too. You're welcome here with us, Chirithy. My name is Aqua, and this is Terra."

"Nice to meet you." Came a muffled response from the face buried in Ven's shirt.

Ven silently carried Chirithy up to his room, setting the creature on the bed as he got ready to go to sleep and crawled into bed.

Chirithy hopped onto his pillow beside his head and curled up.

Ven swore he could hear purring as he fell asleep.

…

And he dreamed.

Dreamed of a town, surrounded by hills of flowers.

A tall clock tower stood in the middle of the town.

He dreamed of himself standing over the town as dandelion seeds filled the air around him, flying up into the sky.

The sky filled with the gentle colors of Daybreak.

Oh, look at that… Ven backstory…

I'll see myself out.