Aoi Hyoudou: I'm not dead! Well…not now, that is… Also, this is just a revision that I forgot to post months back until now!

V

A Bond Between Master And Student

"Well…this looks…awfully familiar," Ash murmured as he suddenly found himself standing atop his Station of Awakening. He surveyed his surroundings, but found no one else. "Aqua, are you here? Helloooo?"

Suddenly, he sensed danger coming and he instinctively leapt to the right just as a dark gray Keyblade struck the ground where he'd been standing just moments prior. "What the heck?!"

"Not bad," Aqua's voice immediately drew Ash's attention as he turned his head in her direction. "Not bad at all," She had a satisfied grin on her face, very impressed with her student's agility.

"What are you doing, Aqua?!" he demanded. "Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Training," She simply stated as her face became serious and she brandished her Keyblade once more. "Draw your Keyblade, Ash."

"Now?" he whined. "But I wanted to…" Her glare intensified. "…Warm up first."

"The Heartless won't wait for you to do that," Aqua said with an annoyed huff. She tightened her grip on her Keyblade. "I'm not going to say this again, Ash. Draw. Your. Keyblade!"

Ash yelped as he noticed Aqua sprinting towards him.

'Why must all girls I know have to be so bossy?!' His final thought before he engaged Aqua in an intense training session.

Moments later

"You did pretty well," Aqua praised with a bright smile. "Your instincts and technical skills are well honed. You just need to work on your magic, strength, and endurance. And who knows? In a few years, I might have to call you 'Master'." she joked.

Ash, meanwhile, was flat on his back, covered in battle scars and drenched in cold sweat while murmuring hysterically about his master being a 'demon' in disguise.

"Oh, quit being a big baby," Aqua giggled. "It wasn't that bad."

"Yes, it was…" Her student had to beg to differ.

"If it makes you feel any better, when you wake up, your body will be as good as new."

"Then why train?" he groaned.

"It's my job to make sure that you don't slack off," she said proudly.

"You demon!"

"What was that?!" Aqua shot the teen a glare and he immediately gulped.

"Nothing!"

"Just for that, it's time for round two. I hope you're ready, Ash." She flashed an evil smirk.

"NNNOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Once Aqua was satisfied thrashing the poor teen into submission, she spared a few moments of her time talking to her student. "Say, Ash?"

"Yes, Aqua?"

"You don't have to push yourself," she said quietly.

"Huh?" Ash stared at the bluenette with a baffled expression.

Aqua sighed. "Do you remember when we first met?" He nodded. "And when you promised me that you would save me from the Realm of Darkness?" He nodded again. "I think it's best you should-"

"Not a chance!" Ash abruptly interrupted the Keyblade Master before she could even finish her sentence.

"!" Aqua looked surprised.

"I know what you're going to say and you can stop right there."

"Ash…"

"A promise is a promise. I'm going to save you and your friends no matter what."

"My…friends?" Aqua repeated in surprise. "You're going…to save them, too?"

"That's right!" Ash grinned.

"How?"

"If there's a will, there's a way."

"W-What?"

"Just trust me, Aqua. When this is all over, you and your friends will be set free from the darkness. I promise." Ash flashed his Keyblade Master a smile.

"Ash…" Aqua stared at her student in wonder.

"Isn't that what friends are for?"

"Friends…huh?" Aqua chuckled before shaking her head and smiling at the teen. "Ash, thank you…" She paused. "…And I'm sorry for ever doubting you."

"No need to worry,"

"Well, if you're really that determined to save me and my friends then I have no choice but to up your training. Starting right now!" she said cheerfully.

Ash's only response was to let out a high-pitched whining sound.

Radiant Garden

During a cool, breezy night in Radiant Garden, a silhouette in a black coat was gazing downward at Merlin's house. The figure was simply minding 'its' own business until 'it' detected 'its' uninvited guest who was glaring daggers at 'its' back from behind with his signature Keyblade, Eternal Flames in hand. "…And here I thought no one would notice." The figure slightly cranked 'its' head and glanced at the former Nobody.

The voice sounded young, indicating that it belonged to a young teen around Ash's age.

"Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" Lea narrowed his eyes at the suspicious individual and pointed his Keyblade. "Who are you and are you part of that old coot's Organization?" he demanded.

"Funny…" The figure turned and faced the former Organization XIII member, chuckling in amusement. "Weren't you part of the original group before he took over?"

"That's not the point!"

"Then what is?" the figure asked calmly.

"You were snooping around in the middle of the night!" Lea growled.

"I was merely keeping tabs on someone important that doesn't involve you."

"Well, it does now if you're targeting the kid." Lea declared with a grin.

The figure shook his head in disbelief, but that's what he expected coming from someone like Lea. "Former Nobody or not, you're still the same person I always respected."

"Wait, what?!" Lea was completely baffled.

"It's been a nice reunion, but…" The figure held up a hand straight out as a black Keyblade with a bat-like wing hilt and a black keychain attached to it materialized within his grip, surprising the former Nobody.

'That…Keyblade…'

Slowly, the figure pointed his Keyblade at the distraught Keyblade wielder as the tip lit up for an attack. "…I cannot allow you to interfere with my plans. After all, you were never good at keeping secrets with that big fat mouth of yours." A fireball launched directly at Lea as his eyes widened.

***BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM***

A/N: It's Spring Break, folks! Although…I haven't done much in the past few days due to my YouTube channel, playing video games and waiting on Ni No Kuni 2 to come out this Friday for the PS4! Regardless, of all that, I will try to work on Aura Guardian of Beacon: Resurgence's next chapter. But, don't get your hopes up, it might not be posted for a while. Enjoy your Spring Break if you have one, of course!

P.S. – Give the proofreading and editing credit to my beta-reader, Vandenbz.

Aoi Hyoudou (formerly known as Johan07)