Kingdom Hearts: From No One to Someone

by Hakuorofan7

Roxas after giving all his memories to Sora was ready to fade away. But an unexpected encounter in the Realm of Nothingness helps rekindle his one wish. To be able to live his own life. Now he will carve his own path through history in order to make sure that he never loses it again. Time travel and Roxas x Harem. Rated T for now.

2. A New Beginning

Static over takes your vision as the author and the white room suddenly appear.

*Hello everyone Hakuorofan7 here and welcome back to another chapter of Kingdom Hearts: From No one to Someone.*

*Anyway I must thank you all for the wonderful feedback from the prologue. It's truly gratifying to see that so many like the story.*

*Now to clarify a few things. This chapter takes place starting the night before the meteor shower and it will end right before the Mark of Mastery exam. Roxas will get to know the Keyblade wielders over the course of the day and without knowing start the ball rolling that ultimately ruins Xehanort's plan. He already derailed it once unknowingly, it if he can a second time…well we will have to see.*

*Also before we get started I noticed that a lot of the reviewers have requested Aqua for the harem. Well surprise, she was actually the third member I had decided, but had not said the mane for. I will go over it later, but don't expect the any romance for a while though. For it'll take sometime for it to develop mainly.*

An alarm beeps out from the author's watch.

*I really need to silence this thing*

The author disables the watch. He then kicks up his feet and rests them on the desk.

*It looks like it is time to start.*

*As for the disclaimers. I don't own Kingdom Hearts.*

*So just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I will see you later.*

With a snap of his fingers the screen fades to black.

---

A New Beginning

---

It was close to the middle of night when Ventus was woken up by something falling on him.

It had been an ordinary day for him and his best friends. Still he it seemed like time was going at a snails pace as the Mark of Mastery exam was fast approaching. He couldn't wait to see it, but no matter what he was routing for both Terra and Aqua.

When he was dreaming he felt something heavy had landed on his legs. He woke up when he felt whatever crashed on him shift off his legs and onto the mattress. For a minute he was half awake, before he moved to sit up and assess whoever landed on him.

"What hit me?"

In probably one of the bluntest ways possible.

He then noticed a person on his bed and who had turned to face him.

He wasn't expecting the person to have his face.

'I don't know how, but I think Terra was involved somehow.' Ven thought.

Technically he was right, just not in the way most would think.

---

Roxas could now tell that Ava had transported him in front of a mirror. For his lookalike was too lifelike to be a reflection. He had the same golden blonde spiked hair, the same blue eyes, the same facial features, the same build, and even the same voice.

The only difference was their attire.

Roxas was wearing his usual Organization uniform. While this lookalike was wearing a high-necked black shirt and pants similar to his Twilight Town outfit. He also strangely had a dull green and grey piece of metal on his left shoulder.

Neither didn't know what to say.

Until the lookalike started to poke Roxas.

"Hey! Cut it out!" The Nobody said indignantly. He batted away the other blondes hands. Roxas didn't like the feeling of being prodded.

"Sorry, just had to see if I wasn't dreaming." The lookalike said. Roxas nodded at his logic. It was utterly silent for a few minutes. Both didn't know what to say. You don't meet someone who can be considered your twin everyday now. The time traveler was wondering why he looked like him. While the other blonde at first thought this was a prank by Terra.

But considering that he was not really that well suited with magic it couldn't be Terra. It would be giving him too much credit. Also Aqua wasn't into pranks so she was out. So it just seemed that a double of him had woken him up.

So he also didn't know what to do.

"Um…hi." So he decided to break the silence. "Who are you?"

Roxas was thinking what of what to do. He had just come from basically the future and now was meeting a lookalike. So he decided to use what he had learned from his lessons with Axel and Luxord.

That when lying, include as much of the truth as you can so it could be believable.

They weren't the best of mentors on the topics of honesty, but considering that they were Nobodies, one was a gambler, and the other the Organization's fixer it made sense. Plus it also has helped him so many times in the past.

'Here goes nothing.'

"Roxas, now who are you?" He asked. The other blonde looked like he was studying him for a minute before answering.

"Ventus. Now how did you get in my room?" He asked. The Nobody thought about it for a moment. He decided to give him the simple truth.

"I was walking through a tunnel but in my hometown until the next thing I know I fall on top of someone who looks like me. So I don't really know what is going on anyway." Roxas replied back. It was after all the truth minus time traveling, Ava, Twilight Town, the Realm of Nothingness, and fighting an assailant who could reverse time.

Ventus studied his lookalike. He was telling the truth from what he could tell. Yet he felt something was missing. So he decided to get some more info from him.

"Okay then, but why did you look like me. The resemblance is seriously frightening. I mean at first I just thought that you were just a copy of-" He was silenced when he found Oathkeeper pointed at his face. To say he was shocked was an understatement.

'He can use a Keyblade!' Ventus thought. Truly he didn't know about any other Keyblade wielders besides his friends, Master Eraqus, and Master Xehanort. So to see someone who looked exactly like him hold one up to his face unnerved him. Plus the glare Roxas was giving him didn't help at all.

"Just to make things clear I'm not A COPY!" Roxas said with a tone laced with what was clearly anger and annoyance. "I'm my own person and nobody else. So please in the future don't say anything about it alright."

Ventus could only nod at that. Roxas apparently didn't like to be called a copy. Whatever must have caused this probably wasn't a pleasant memory for him.

The Nobody dispelled his Keyblade and looked a bit sheepish at that.

'Seriously we could be identical twins at this point!' Thought Ventus.

"It is alright. It is just the similarities are on the spot between us. I mean we not only lookalike, but we also sound a like and we both can use Keyblades. It's just a lot to take in." He said. Roxas could only nod before his eyes widened with shock.

'Crap!'

He had pointed a Keyblade at Ventus's face. The Nobody realized that if he is going to star a new life than summoning a Keyblade whenever someone had accidentally ticked him off was one thing that he needed to work on. Then what Ventus said finally sunk into Roxas.

"Wait? Did you say that you could use a Keyblade?!"

"Yes I can. Why do you sound so shocked? Didn't your master teach you anything?" Ventus said. He was wondering why Roxas was so shocked? Shouldn't he have learned anything from his Keyblade Master?

He was about to ask him more questions when he noticed that Roxas wasn't in the best of conditions. He was deathly pale, sweating like crazy, and he was shaking like a leaf.

"Roxas!" Ventus said. He went over to check him. While he wasn't as proficient at healing like Aqua, he has learned a lot from her. He could tell that something was wrong with Roxas. He couldn't really tell that it was physically wrong with him except that he had the injuries from a recent fight that were mostly healed. Strangely he couldn't feel Roxas's pulse, but he checked it off as his inexperience as the He was alright except that whatever was going on could be a mixture of something wrong mentally and exhaustion.

'I knew that there were a few chosen to wield a Keyblade, but Xemnas always made it sound like me and Sora were the only ones.' Thought the Nobody. What he truly experiencing was the fatigue of time travel, the fight with that man in the Corridor of Ages, and finding from Ventus that he can also wield a Keyblade along with the knowledge Ava can also wield one.

He truly didn't know what kind of feeling he would be having if he had a heart right now, but he would have to shake it off for the moment.

For now he would probably get some answers from Ventus.

"Cure!" Said the blonde in question. The rest of the injuries Roxas had were now healed and he was honestly feeling a bit better right now.

"Thanks Ventus. I needed that." He said. Honestly after everything that has happened, that spell had taken a little of his exhaustion off. Still he could tell that soon he would need to rest.

"No problem. Though why were acting like that Roxas? You had me worried for a second." Ventus said in concern. After what he saw happened, he was sure Roxas would have been knocked out by now. Still though he looked like he would probably need to rest soon.

"It's just that until recently I was the only Keyblade wielder that I knew. Plus I guess whatever transported me to your room took a lot out of me." The Nobody said honestly.

Ventus just widened his eyes.

"What? How is that possible?" He said. "Didn't you get learn from your Keyblade Master, Roxas?" He come he didn't know about other Keyblade wielders? Although they were quite rare, he should have learned about it. Unless…

"What is a Keyblade Master?" The Nobody asked.

"You don't know!"

---

On the other side of Ventus's door the two were unaware of someone eavesdropping on them.

Master Eraqus had sensed that someone had infuriated the castle and into his youngest apprentice's room. He had there with Keyblade in hand. He had cracked open the door to see a boy who looked exactly like Ventus except in a black coat holding a Keyblade to his apprentice's face.

He was about to rush in until the stranger dispelled his weapon and both proceeded to talk like it hadn't really happened. He was stunned at what had transpired, but had chosen to stay alert Incase the stranger had anything planned for Ventus.

Eraqus learned that the strangers name was Roxas and he couldn't help but be a little proud of his student when he helped assess the what the intruders sudden ailment. He had improved on his healing skills greatly.

Still afterwards what he heard shocked him.

The intruder had never encountered another wielder until recently and had come here by complete accident it seems. He didn't believe the second one, but he could tell that Roxas truly didn't mean to come to the Land of Departure.

But what truly shocked him was that he didn't know what a Keyblade Master was.

He could tell from the brief moment that the intruder had the Keyblade out he was trained. So that means either he had a different kind of master or that he was self taught. If the latter then he had a massive amount of potential. If the former, then by how long he has trained then either he had a skilled teacher or again a lot of potential. But if his master had any darker intentions and passed them onto his student.

He will have to put the boy down.

Eraqus had decided into enter the room to assess the boy for himself.

He pushed open the door and let his presence be known to the occupants.

---

"I truly don't know Ventus." The Nobody said. Ventus could only sigh at that.

"Okay then how did you get your Keyblade then?" Ventus asked.

"I don't know anything about that either. I've always been able to summon a Keyblade for as long as I can remember." It was the truth. Though he inherited the ability to use the Keyblade from Sora, he truly didn't understand how his Other was able to wield one when it was originally Riku's until he proved himself to be worthy. So it was a mystery to Roxas.

Ventus could only sigh.

'It looks like he is probably a natural Keyblade wielder.' He thought. He had learned that natural wielders were extremely rare from Master Eraqus.

"Alright then." He started to say. "A Keyblade Master is-"

"The title given to exceptional Keyblade wielders who have passed the Mark of Mastery exam. Those who have passed are capable of feats a normal wielder would not be able to do. Including the Bequeathing, a trial conducted by a Master to see if a person they chose is worthy to wield a Keyblade. I can not sense that it was preformed on you, so you must be a natural wielder. Something that has always been extremely rare throughout history." Said a new voice that had entered the room. Ventus knew who it was immediately.

"Master Eraqus!" Roxas turned to look at the other blonde's master. The Nobody after taking one look at him and knew that if he started anything, that he would probably lose to this man.

Master Eraqus was a tale man with graying black hair tied in a top knot and a bang framing the right side of his face. Along with a mustache and a patch of facial hair underneath his lips. His silver-blue eyes were analyzing Roxas carefully. He was wearing a red-lined haori over a navy blue shirt with a white x over it and a hakama. He wore blue-green armor over his abdomen and black-gold armor boots. As well as two jagged scars, over his right eye and on his left cheek which was telling of his experience. Still there were 3 things about him that unnerved Roxas.

The first was by the way he walked and was ready to deal with him, that Eraqus was not a man to trifle with or to face him directly in combat without a massive possibility to lose. The Nobody figured that if he was a Keyblade Master, then he had to be a very experienced combatant.

The second was his Keyblade. It was a simple design, but Roxas could tell from his own experience and Sora's memories that it was one of the strongest he has encountered. It's guard was made of a few silver boxes and copper rods to form a square. It's grip was unlike any other Keyblade he's seen, for it was squared. The shaft was a long piece of cylindrical gray steel that was tampered on both ends. It's teeth were in the shape of a capital E. Final the chain was a few simple links with at the end he saw the same sigil within the teeth of Ava's Keyblade.

Finally was the light Roxas could tell within him. He had never sensed so much life, even from the distance that Kingdom Hearts was away from The World That Never Was. He couldn't even sense any darkness from him or Ventus for a matter of fact. But the light from Eraqus was blinding. Considering that the Nobody could use light he knew how powerful it could be when used properly and this man was most likely far more skill at using it.

If he was fully rested he could probably take on the man.

But right now he didn't stand a chance.

'I better tread lightly.' Thought the Nobody. It was his best chance of survival if Eraqus decided to attack him.

"I came to check what was the disturbance that was in the castle. I tracked it to to your room Ventus only to find you talking to a lookalike who can as well use the Keyblade. So tell me Roxas, what do you use your Keyblade for? To help others or to cause harm? Do you have a light heart or a dark heart?" Master Eraqus said as he pointed his Keyblade at the intruder's face.

This question would help answer his fate. Eraqus secretly hoped for the former, as he didn't want to kill in front of his student if possible. But he will if it came down to it.

Ventus couldn't help but be worried for Roxas. His master was the strongest person he knew and remembered.

Meanwhile Roxas was thinking of how to answer his questions.

'How am I supposed to answer that? I don't even have a heart!' He thought as saw the blade being lowered to his throat. The more he thought about it he didn't really know what he used his Keyblade for except for collecting hearts and to defend himself. As well as to help out Axel and X-

'What was that?' Roxas thought with a grimace. He felt like he forgot something important, but he couldn't really recall it. He would have to think about it later. As he had an answer for the Keyblade Master.

"Neither."

"What?" Eraqus asked confused. He had never heard anyone answer that question before.

"I belong neither to the light or the dark. Nor have I really used my Keyblade to help others much and only used it to harm others in self defense. So I'm in the in between, I belong to the twilight." Roxas answered. It was the simple truth.

He was a Nobody, he didn't belong to the light or the dark. So like his birthplace, he was settled in between the both of them.

Both master and apprentice were shocked at this. Roxas saw himself as someone in between or as he put it the twilight.

"How is that possible?" Asked Eraqus. He was confused. No one had ever answered that question with in between light and dark before.

"It is unlikely, but it is possible. Isn't their a neutral zone for everything? My home world lies within the direct center of the Realms Between. So my heart lies in the twilight." Roxas said

'If I ever had a heart.' He added mentally.

"Master is it not possible for someone to be perfectly in between, isn't it?" Ventus asked. He was curious as right in front of them who was someone who might be what was considered an impossibility.

Eraqus studied him closely. He could tell that there was no deception from what the young intruder was saying no matter how impossible it seemed. As alarming as that he could also sense a little light, but nothing else.

As if he was like a neutral zone for both. The Keybalde Master could only sigh.

"As much as it should be impossible, Roxas is proof to be as close to being in between." Eraqus said. He didn't really trust the boy, but he was telling the truth so far. Ventus's eyes widened at that.

"Really!" This was shocking as his lookalike was something that was considered impossible. "Roxas how long have you been like this?" He asked in curiosity. The Nobody in question noticed that both master and apprentice were giving him curious looks.

"I have been this way for as long as I can remember." Roxas said. Not long after that he began to sway for a bit before being caught by Eraqus. The exhaustion from all the other events from earlier starting to catch up to him.

"Thank you" He said weakly. Eraqus could only nod. He turned to face his youngest student.

"Ventus Im going to have him rest in one of the spare rooms. If you have any questions for him, save them for the mourning and after I get Terra and Aqua up to speed. Is that clear?" He finished sternly.

"Yes Master." Ventus said. He would have to wait until mourning to get to know Roxas but he could wait. As Eraqus proceeded to drag the half-conscious Keyblade wielder out of his room he couldn't help but wave at him.

"I'll see you later Roxas."

"I'll see you then Ventus." He said tiredly. He was getting close to falling asleep at this point and could only wave tiredly as he was carried out of the room.

As the door slammed shut Ventus could only lay down in his bed thinking about what to ask Roxas tomorrow. Well that and introducing him to Terra and Aqua. While he was laying down in bed trying to fall asleep, he remembered something important.

"I forgot to ask him to call me Ven."

---

As Eraqus was walking with Roxas he could tell that he was close to falling asleep. He decided that Now was the perfect time for some answers.

"Roxas, do you know were you are?" The Nobody nodded groggily.

"No, last I knew I was walking in my home world and next thing I knew was that I fall into Ventus's room." He said.

Eraqus knew that some of what he said was a lie, bit it was minuscule as the rest was the truth.

"So what is your home world. You mentioned that you're World was in the direct center of the Realm Between." He had never left the Land of Departure in years, so he might be unfamiliar with some of the worlds that he visited in his youth.

"It is Twilight Town. I was born there and it has been my home for as long as I could remember." Roxas said honestly. He was born there and had considered it a secondary home from his room in the Castle That Never Was and before DiZ had him kidnaped.

The old Keyblade Master could sense the honesty in his words. So he decided to ask another question.

"I see. Well I am afraid to say I have never heard of this world. But how did you learn to wield the Keyblade are you self taught or did you have a teacher." He knew that the boy hasn't encountered any other Keyblade wielders until recently, but he had to know what the boy did.

Roxas thought for a moment before he decided to answer.

"To tell the truth I learned how to wield a Keyblade from a man named Xemnas, someone I've known for as long as I can remember. He couldn't wield one, but he had some knowledge on them. He also had the ability to travel between worlds and he found me a little over a year ago. A week later he began to train me." It was mostly an abridged version of the truth, but who would believe him if he said that he traveled back in time from the future.

Eraqus digested the information. So someone with knowledge of the Keyblade and could travel between the worlds was running lose. That was not good, but before he could ask one thing struck his mind.

"You said that you have known him for as long as you could remember, but for only a little over a year. But that would mean-" He was saying before Roxas cut him off.

"Yes I lost my memory over a year ago. I just woke up in the middle of the forest outside of town with no memories of who I was. Luckily I had a friend who helped me out shortly after I meet Xemnas." The Nobody said. They had arrived at a spare room.

'They really are similar.' Thought Eraqus. Ventus had lost his memory 4 years ago due to an accident while training under Master Xehanort before he was placed under his care. He opened the door and placed Roxas on the bed. He still had some questions.

"I see. But how could he travel between the worlds." He needed to understand this as it would help him gain some understanding of Roxas's and his teacher's skill level and which side his teacher was on.

"He could open Corridor's of Darkness. That is one of the main reasons I'm wearing this coat. It protects those who wear it from the darkness inside of them." The Nobody answered.

Eraqus frowned at that. His teacher had used a very risky and dark way to travel between the worlds. Before he could even ask about Xemnas, Roxas put his hand up lazily. It was hard for him to concentrate as the bed was the most comfortable one he has ever had the pleasure of knowing, but he managed.

"Before you ask about Xemnas I'll tell you it would be pointless. His main method of training me was having me fight or learn tactics in one of several worlds each day including Twilight Town with only one day off from training. His methods were brutal sometimes and during one of his sessions I was sent into a month long coma from unrelated issues. The very next day after I awoke it was back to training. The only solace I would get was with my friend who I would meet up with after training and enjoy our time together. He taught me all he knew of the Keyblade. Including that it could affect the boundaries of the worlds and how to modifying it using keychains. I only have 3 by the way. He also taught me magic and how to use the power of light. The rest of what I know was self taught through his training. But it wasn't until a few weeks ago I found he had something planned for me, so I left him and he tried to come after me several times afterwords only to fail each time. He even killed my friend to try to get to me, but before I could get to him he was killed by a wandering Keyblade wielder. So whatever plans Xemnas had died with him. With him dead I had nothing left until the Keyblade wielder Ava convinced me to start my life anew somewhere else. Before I could do anything I had faced an unknown attacker and we managed to fend him off. But he vanished and I think Ava finished him off as I never saw what happens to him. She took off afterwords to parts unknown a little later. So while I was walking, thinking about were to start a new life I suddenly found myself here." Roxas said. Again it was mainly an abridged truth with some lies thrown in, but it was based off what he could remember from his time with the Organization.

He hoped that Eraqus would buy it or his second chance at life would end shortly.

Still why did he feel that he forgot something important?

'This boy has had a hard life.' Thought the Keyblade Master. He could tell there was some lies within the story, but thy were minuscule at best. The gist of it was that Roxas had almost been through a year of hellish training by a man who wanted to use him and his Keyblade for his own gain.

Still the boy broke free eventually, but at great cost as he could tell that even if he still tried to hide it. Roxas had still somewhat not gotten over his friend's death. Yet he was moving forward which was a good sign for him.

Eraqus was glad that this Xemnas was dead. For not only was he a threat, but by Roxas's tone he was not a very good teacher and most likely a sociopath. The way the man sounded like was that he treated the boy apathetically at best and was uncaring of his health unless it was serious. To have your student get right back into training the next day after a month long coma, the thought of any teacher doing that was despicable! To not only go back after his student after he rightfully left him, to kill his only friend, and after death possibly had something to do with the unknown assailant that came after Roxas earlier this day that the boy described showed that whatever plan Xemnas had was, Roxas was the key to it.

He was glad that such a threat was gone, but he was curious about this Keyblade wielder named Ava.

'That was the name of one of the ancient Foretellers. Either she has knowledge of the age of fairy tales and using the name as an alias or that it is her actual name.' The later was the more likely of the 2 as most of the knowledge from before the Keyblade War was located in the Land of Departure. His students haven't really learned about it yet, as he wished to keep it hidden until they were at Master level.

He did not want to make a choice incase they turned to the madness that had nearly taken Xehanort.

'The way he spoke of her was a tone of respect.' Obviously he would develop that from her killing Xemnas. But also he could tell from he described about when the both of them had faced the unknown attacker that she was stronger then him by a margin if he had anything to go by. There were hardly any Keyblade wielders out there now a days. They are nearly extinct and far between each other. Still he hoped his students might be the answer in the future. But Roxas had no idea for where she went and had no clue about locating her.

That came to were he was in terms of skill. Even though Eraqus had learned that Roxas has at least learned the basics and was impressed to gather that many keychains with hardly any knowledge. The boy had no knowledge of a variety of the techniques that his apprentices had including how they travel between the worlds and armor. But in terms of skill he didn't know. He guessed of what little he has seen and what the boy had described that he was close to or rivaling his students. Considering how little he knew, it spoke volumes about the boys potential. So he knew what to do.

"Tomorrow I will introduce you too my students and see were you stand. Just know I will be keeping my eye on you until the Mark of Mastery exam ends."said Eraqus.

'That is a smart move.' Roxas thought drowsily. He could tell that even after speaking with the man, he has hardly let his guard down at all and didn't fully trust him. It made sense since he was a intruder who looked like one of his students and was an impossibility to something he was used to. But one thing stood out though.

"What do you mean to see were I stand?"

"It is simple Roxas. I wish to test how skilled you are. Judging by your story you haven't learned everything about how to use the Keyblade, bit by what little I've seen you might be close to my students level in strength. So I will organize a spar between you and one of them tomorrow." The Keyblade Master said. He saw that Roxas was close to collapsing on the bed. "Get your rest, you will need it for tomorrow." He began to leave the room.

Roxas tried to ask something, but it died in his throat as sleep toke over him.

Eraqus silently left the room, closing the door behind him.

---

"Were am I?" Asked Roxas.

He could tell that he was asleep, but it felt like that it was awake. He was in what appeared to be a town square he had never seen before. There was a multitude of old fashion looking house surrounding it, all of them had purple painted on their roofs. In the center was a simple circle with a star-shaped pattern with in the middle of each of its sides was a small yellow circle. Within the center of the shape was a simple fountain. He noticed that there was two sets of stairs on both sides of the square, one going down and the other one leading upwards. The Nobody finally noticed something in the background.

"That is a huge castle." He said that he and Sora had been to quite a large number of worlds with large castles, it was saying something. It was probably the fourth or fifth largest one he has seen.

The castle seemed to be arched shape with nothing on the legs until the middle. The opening was like a giant clock with a large pendulum include with it. Both sides had a large amounts of towers on it. Roxas couldn't really see that much more of it, but it was quite a spectacle to behold. He had never seen a castle like that before. But it was shattered when he saw a familiar annoyance.

"Great, Heartless." Roxas said with annoyance. He summoned his Keyblades as he saw what had become a regular pain during his time with Organization XIII.

It was a trio of small black humanoids with a round, spherical head. They didn't have any digits on their feet and each had 3 clawed fingers on their hands. On each of their head they had 2 twisted antenna and a pair of glowing yellow eyes. Each time one of them moved, they twitched all over their body. They were Shadows, the most common species of Heartless.

With a sigh Roxas summoned Oblivion and tried to hit the nearest one. But he was surprised that it passed through it and the Shadow didn't even react to it. Roxas was surprised at that, before he realized one simple fact,

"This is just a dream. So of course they wouldn't attack." He said to no on e in particular. He was so used to always fighting them for over a year, that it became almost instinctual to him. He was prepared to leave the courtyard when he saw one of the Heartless was defeated.

"Another Keyblade wielder, this is the fourth time today!" He exclaimed. It was starting to get annoying.

The new Keyblade wielder looked to be a girl around his physical age and height with blue eyes and short lavender hair with 2 bands that framed her face on either side. She had black boots, black capari pants with a belt, a black U-neck shirt, white gloves with red ribbons on the wrists, and to complete the look a red sleeveless jacket with a white trim. He saw her take out the second Shadow and got a better look at her Keyblade.

'Her Keyblade…it almost looks like the Kingdom Key.' The Nobody thought.

In fact it was very similar. The grip was the same as the Kingdom Key. So was the guard, except it was blue. The rainguard was gold and the shaft was light blue and ended with an orb by the teeth. The teeth were actually double edged with one end a simple spike and the other a five-point star. The keychain was similar to the Kingdom Key except that it ended with a golden star. With it the girl sliced the last one and watched as it dispelled.

"That should be the last of them." The girl said. As she unknowingly turned her back to Roxas a voice came out from behind them.

"Not quite."

Roxas turned around to see Ava, but her hood was pink and her shirt was light purple. A far cry of her faded colors that she wore in the Realm of Nothingness. He tried to get her attention, but was unable to.

With that Roxas was able to piece together what was going on.

'Okay I'm not only dreaming, but I'm also seeing something from Ava's memory.' Roxas thought. It was the only explanation for this as he doesn't recognize his surroundings and she also looked a little younger from when he first meet her. But he had to wonder, how long ago in the past was this? She had mentioned briefly that it was a long time from were he ended up.

He could figure it out later, but for now he would watch to see what happens.

"Foreteller Ava!" The girl said, backing up in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The Nobody made a note to ask Ava about whatever he didn't know when he next saw her.

Ava just chuckled at the girls reaction.

"I just figured that I would see the newest member of my Union. I've heard some promising things about you Hikari. From what I've seen you have lived up to them with how easily you dispatched those Shadows." Ava said smiling. The now named Hikari proceeded to relax a bit at that. She kind of looked sheepish at getting praise from Ava before her she looked confused.

"What do you mean not quite?" Hikari said. Ava's face turned serious and pointed to the right of her. On the other side of the square was a gigantic pillar of darkness slowly forming into an opening.

"You can do exceptionally well against the weaker Heartless." She said calmly. The opening grew wider and a pair of yellow eyes shone from the darkness. Hikari got into a stance, ready to face whatever came out of it.

"But what about against a giant Heartless."

A gigantic humanoid walked outside the the opening which faded after it exited. It was a threat that Roxas was very familiar with.

"A Darkside. Of course it is a Darkside." He said bitterly.

The Darkside species were a massive pain in both his and Sora's memories. Sora had faced 3 of them on his first adventure including during his final battle with Ansem. Roxas had faced with one early with his time in the Organization and a stronger variant, the Dark Follower with Xaldin. The main part of them that was dangerous was their homing attacks and massive strength. If this Hikari was a beginner, then she was in for a tough fight.

The giant Heartless lunged at her and she barley dodged the fist. She managed to get a few hits on the fist before it summoned a trio of Shadows. Hikari proceeded to deal with them in a matter of seconds. But by then the Darkside had proceeded a volley of homing projectiles from the hollow in it's chest. Hikari blocked most of them and sent the barrage back at the Heartless. However one of the projectiles headed towards Ava. She silently cast Reflect and with a simple wave of her hand sent it back at the Darkside. Hikari calmly lept back into the fray against the Heartless.

Both onlookers were impressed by her work against the Darkside. If Roxas was correct and that she was beginner then she was a damn good one. By the looks of it she was faster, stronger, and more resilient then when he and Sora first faced a Darkside. But he also noticed that she was starting to tire out and that her movements were starting to get sloppy. Evidently that while she was physically better then when he or his other when they started, but her stamina could use a lot of work.

Ava also noticed his and gathered a little magic into her hand and launched a small orb of light into the air.

"You have done well by yourself Hikari, but know that you are not alone." Ava said. After she said that seven people entered the square. Each of them wielding a different Keyblade in hand.

"I give up." Roxas said seeing all of these Keyblade wielders in one spot. Did everyone in the past wield a Keyblade?

"Know that you will always be joined by those who share the same path you chose and the same will that shines through the bleakest of darkness. To be able to connect your heart with theirs and draw out the power that each of you need to overcome any trial you face together." Ava said. After that all of the Keyblade wielders went to assist in attacking the massive Heartless.

They showed impressive coordination with each other and Hikari. She quickly matched their movements as they proceeded to gather around and overwhelmed the Darkside. It tried to overpower them, but it could not. They all were quickly whittling its stamina down to nothing. It summoned another trio of Shadows to defend itself. It only took a few seconds for the warriors to dispatch them, but the Darkside created a large orb of darkness and threw it at them. It sent a few of them flying. But three of them including Hikari stood strong. With one final charge all three of them climbed up the Heartless and delivered a final blow to its head.

The Giant Heartless slumped down and began to disperse into a giant wisp of darkness. Once the haze went away all traces to the Darkside were gone.

Ava smiled at the Keyblade wielders and proceeded to cast a silent Cure on everyone.

"Well done all of you." She said at them. All of them looked proud at themselves and were congratulating each other on a job well done. Hikari meanwhile was fidgeting as she looked like she wasn't used to a large group of people like this. But she did also join in the others after a bit.

"As you know there are a few other groups who are after the light in order to drive back the darkness, like we are." Ava said getting their attention.

"What does she mean by that?" Roxas wondered.

"However it doesn't necessarily mean they share our will. In other words they are collecting the light for their own interests instead of preserving the peace of the world. It is up to yourself to figure who is a Seeker of Darkness masquerading as a Guardian of the Light." She said. The assorted Keyblade wielders only nodded and left the square leaving only her and Hikari. While Roxas was pondering what she was saying.

"What do you mean by that Foreteller Ava?" Hikari asked. The woman in question could only sigh.

"I fear that if things don't change something terrible will befall the world. So I'm hoping that people like you will be able to discern who walks the path of darkness and hopefully prevent it from happening." Ava said the last part silently.

Before Hikari could speak a chiming breaks out from the castle in the distance.

"I'm afraid that is all for now Hikari." Ava said. She then opened a corridor of what appeared to be a corridor of made of light before stepping into it.

"Just remember that may your heart be your guiding key. It will lead you down the right path if you follow your heart and you stay true to it always."

With that Ava vanished into the corridor and the entire scenery faded to black

---

In an unknown location a man was writing in a book. He had never shown anyone else it's contents as it was something that wouldn't matter anytime soon.

As he was jotting down some more, he suddenly found himself forgetting what he was writing. Quickly he finished up what he had and got out a second book. It was blank. In the first he flipped back a great many pages and when he found what he was looking for placed a marker so he wouldn't lose his place. He began to write in the second book as he filled up the first few pages at a rapid pace.

"Interesting." Was all that he said as he temporarily put his quill down.

"Looks like I'm going to have company soon."

He would prepare for his guest's arrival before he got back to writing.

---

Roxas woke up with a start

He had seen more Keyblade wielders in that memory then he had seen during his life. As well what he saw that long ago that like in the present he came from that Heartless were common place. Well he was interested in how concepts he had never known before fit in with what he saw including Ava herself and Hikari, one thing the past image of his friend said.

'Ava said about preserving the piece of one world single, not many worlds like Sora was back in the previous timeline.' Roxas thought. 'So either she was pertaining to one single world or…' His eyes widened at the possibility of she might've been saying.

'That she was from when all the worlds were still together as one!'

The one time he had ever heard of it was from the memory of when Kairi told Sora the story that her grandmother told her all the time before she wound up at Destiny Islands.

Back before the worlds were separated, people began to fight over the light and the darkness soon consumed the world and many people's hearts. It was only that's to the small lights inside the hearts of children was that they were able to rebuild the many scattered worlds as they were today.

This had occurred back during the age of fairy tales. So that probably meant that Ava and Hikari possibly were from that era. As much as it was an impossibility for most people, it wasn't for him as he had just came back 12 or 13 years into the past.

'Note to self ask Ventus what is the date when I see him next.' The Nobody thought. Still if it meant that Ava was from that far into the past, then she might either know of the story or that she was a part of it.

'I'll ask her about it when I'm able to talk to her again. Whenever it will be.' Roxas thought. He would have to put those thoughts away for now as he heard a knock on his door.

---

"Come in." He said.

Ventus came into the room carrying a bundle of spare clothes under his arm. He looked slightly different as he had the same pants and shirt as last night along with the piece of metal on his shoulder, but with some more clothed added in. On his feet he wore armored versions of a type of shoe that he had seen often during his time in Twilight Town. Over his shirt he wore armor covering his mid section which in turn was covered by a grey and white vest with a single button closed. Above that was a jacket that somewhat looked like the one he had in Twilight Town, but he had one side white with a black outline and the other black with a white outline. Around the jackets color it was red and pleated. To complete the look he had an inverted colored wristband of what Roxas once wore and 2 crisscrossing black straps over his chest with the same unknown sigil on both Ava's and Eraqus's Keyblades in the center.

'Okay with the number of similarities between Ventus and I is starting to get horrifying.' Thought Roxas. He couldn't help the shudder that crept up his spine from that thought.

"Mourning Roxas." Ventus said as he put the clothes on the foot of his bed.

"Mourning Ventus." He said. "What is the clothes on the bed for?"

"Ven."

"What did you say?" Roxas asked. Ventus just shook his head with a smile.

"I would like for you to call me Ven. Everyone I know except for Master calls me by it. I was going to ask you that last night, but Master took you here before I had a chance to. So please call me Ven." He said. Roxas looked at him for a second before returning the smile.

"You got it, Ven."

Ventus or now as he preferred to be called Ven beamed in happiness. He finally got Roxas to call him that, but he also remembered the other blondes question.

"I almost forgot. Master thought that since you came here unintentionally that you must've forgotten to bring in extra clothes. So since we look alike I figured that I might as well give you some spare clothes that I had since we should have the same sizes." Ven said gestureing to the clothes on the bed.

"Thanks." Roxas said grateful for this. Sure he knew how to was the Organization uniform as Vexen himself had made them so they are easily washable, but not that easy to destroy. He made them that way after he kept destroying his coat in his lab long before Roxas had joined the group. But it was nice to have another pair of clothes to change into. Plus he didn't travel through time with anything else but his uniform and his Keyblades. He was going to have to find a chest or a Moogle Shop sooner or later for any other supplies.

"No problem." Ven said as he left the room to allow Roxas to get changed.

A few minutes later he heard a knock on the door and went back in to see Roxas.

The only thing that wasn't part of Roxas's original uniform in the bed was the shoes, which he kept wore two color pants like he did in Twilight Town except that legs were not beige or connected by buttons. Instead they were white until around shins were the rest of it was grey except for around the ankles was black. Along with this was a simple black shirt with a white trim around the collar and on the center of the shirt was a grey x sigil exactly like the one he had on his zipper in Twilight Town. It kind of reminded him of the shirt that he last saw Sora wearing and chose it. As for the jacket he chose a white version of what Ven was wearing.

"You know that really looks good on you." Ven said. Then an idea hit him and he started to chuckle."Its just like looking at a mirror."

Roxas looked in confusion until he knew what was going on.

"Well with either one of us in a room I don't think we'll ever need a mirror ever again" With that the both of them laughed at that for a minute until Roxas noticed something.

"Hey Ven I've been meaning to ask what is it on your shoulder? It looks like armor." Roxas asked. The apprentice in question continued to laugh for a few more seconds before he stopped.

"Oh, it is actually armor." Ven said simply.

"Really. Isn't uncomfortable to wear? I saw that you had it on when you were in bed. Don't you ever take it off?" Roxas inquired.

"Yeah a bit, I don't take it off except when I need to change clothes. I haven't used it yet as it is not at a part of my training, but soon it'll be!" The young apprentice said with excitement at the last part. Roxas could only chuckle at that until he realized something.

"Wait is the armor apart of Keyblade training?" He said. Ven broke out of his excitement at that.

"Yes It is actually. Master Eraqus did say that you were manly self taught and what knowledge you had was from a horrid instructor." He said bitterly. He heard the tone his Master used while mentioning his Roxas's teacher and knew that he wasn't a good man.

The Nobody paused at that. He wondered what Eraqus said about him, before Ven decided to speak up again.

"If your wondering about what he said about you don't worry about it. All Master did say was what I know about your teacher, that you are from a world called Twilight Town, that you have some knowledge of the Keyblade, and that you were thinking about starting a new life. Master also said that anything else was up to you to explain as it is your own past." Ven said curious about Roxas.

'Looks like I'm going to have some explaining to do.' Roxas thought. He would have to thank the man later as he had respected that his past was his to share, even if it was a fabrication. He felt a little bad about lying to Ven, but who would believe him if he said that he came from the future or Kingdom Hearts forbide a what a Nobody was.

'Maybe in the future…' He trailed on in his thoughts before he shook them off. Maybe he would if he stuck around with him for a while, but he truly didn't have anywhere to go for the next 10 years if his math was correct as he didn't really know what happened except that the Heartless outbreak occurred about the same time Kairi was found on Destiny Islands.

Plus Ava's Corridor of Ages would only take him to a time were a past version of him existed. Since Sora was a little kid he could understand, but Ava had mentioned that someone else had the exact same connection with him. At first he thought it was an impossibility, but now he knew that the person was probably Ven. The way they were similar was too scary to phantom. Still he had to wonder how he and Sora were connected, but for now he might as well ask Ven about the other's here.

After all he hadn't meet them and was surprised they weren't here with the other blonde.

"So who are the other apprentices Ven, I don't see them with you?" Roxas asked. His eyes widened in realization that he never said anything about his friends.

"Oh right I have never told you about Terra and Aqua! They should be here any minute now as they should be finishing up their current training session right now." Ven said with his eyes lighting up in excitement. The Nobody could only chuckle at the sight. After he calmed down a little the young apprentice countiued.

"They are my best friends and have been apprentices to Eraqus for longer then I have." He said. Roxas could only node as he figured that Ven had less experience as he said about that he hasn't learned to use his armor yet.

"Oh I almost forgot!" The young apprentice said, startling the Nobody out of his musings. "Tomorrow they are taking the Mark of Mastery exam!"

'Isn't that the same exam that Eraqus mentioned last night.' Roxas tried to recall the info last night. It was a bit hazy as he still had the images of Ava's memory playing in the back of his mind. 'Oh right he did.'

"So is one of them going to become a Keyblade Master tomorrow?" He asked.

"Not really. It could be either one of them, both of them, or none of them than succeed in their exam. The process of the exam varies from Master to Master, so I don't really know so we won't know the result till tomorrow after the exam." Ven said. Roxas nodded at that. So the exam was unknown to the students until it was time to be conducted.

Still one thing bothered him though.

"What is that sigil on your chest? I keep seeing it on Keyblade wielders, so what does it mean?"The Nobody asked. Ven looked at his sigil and just shrugged.

"I don't really know either, but it has been a representation for Keyblade wielders from the Land of Departure for generations." He answered.

"That makes sense." Roxas simply said. He saw that Ava had it on her Keyblade and if it were true that she was from far into the past, then maybe she was a part of the tradition or even part of the source.

"He really does look like exactly like Ven." They heard a male voice said.

"If Master hadn't told us about that, we could have mistaken that Ven had a twin." Said a female voice.

"They might as well be." The male voice said back.

Both Roxas and Ven looked to see that they didn't notice the door had opened and that there was two other occupants who Roxas guessed were Terra and Aqua.

Terra was a tall man that looked to be about 19 or 20 if Roxas had to guess. His had spiky brown hair that framed his face in bangs and blue eyes. He had on a black, high-collared shirt that was showing off his muscular frame with the same cross-crossing straps as Ven, but they were red and much lower on his chest. As well as his sigil was gold and located on his obi-sash like belt. His wore a hakama like Eraqus except the they were dark gray at the top and the rest was tan with black and orange armor boots. Unlike Ven his armor only covers with his right arm with a golden ornate crest on his shoulder, altering segments sections of dark grey and dark red armor that reached the bottom of his hand, a black gauntlet with some dark red armor included, and a black fingerless glove.

Roxas didn't know why, but just by looking at him reminded him of Xemnas for some reason. So he turned his attention to the final of Eraqus's apprentices.

Aqua was a young woman close to Terra's age if he had to guess with short blue hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a black high-collar halter top with pink straps criss-crossing over her chest with a silver sigil in the center like Ven's. Along with that she wore a black corset with white laces, black shorts, black stockings, and 2 stripes of blue cloth tied to her waist by a white strip of cloth. She had white bell sleeves with tan fingerless gloves with small segmented pieces of armor on them.

"So you're the Terra and Aqua that I've been hearing about from Ven." Roxas said getting their attention.

"Really now." Terra said as fixed Ventus a look that caused the young boy to sweat. "So what did he say about us?"

"Nothing much, but that you two are his best friends." The Nobody said simply. This caused Ven to breath a sigh of relief.

'That was close.' He thought. He thought that Terra as going to get him for a sec.

"Well that does sound like something Ven would say."Terra said as he now fixed his gaze on the other blonde. "So you're Roxas. I heard that you got the drop on Ven." He said the last part jokingly.

"Well it wasn't that hard, he was asleep." Roxas said causing the older apprentices to chuckle a bit and the boy in question to pout.

"What took you guys so long?" Ven asked in a huff.

"We had just finished training when Master told us to meet Roxas and wait in this room until he comes back." Aqua said

"What do you mean by that?" Roxas asked. He along with Ven were curious about why he would ask them to stay in this room.

"Master Eraqus wants us to stay here with you while he comes up with which one of us will face you." Terra answered. "He also said that it shouldn't belong for him to make a decision. So we only have to wait for awhile."

"Ah, I see." Roxas replied back. It made sense to him.

"What do you mean by that?" But not for Ven.

"Ven did you forget? Master said that one of us will spar with Roxas to determine his what he worked on." Aqua answered for Ventus who looked a little sheepish as he did actually forget. But then she did get a thoughtful expression. "Although there is something Master did not mention?"

"What is it then?" The youngest apprentice asked.

Roxas, however knew what it was.

"He never said anything about what would happen after the spar. I tried to ask last night, but I had collapsed from exhaustion before I could."

This seemed to answer that question, but only caused a new one.

"So what does that mean for you after the spar?" Terra asked. Everyone in the room pondered what was Eraqus planning for after the spar. Ven suddenly turned excited.

"Maybe you could stay here at the Land of Departure!" He exclaimed, getting everyone's attention. "Roxas could stay here to finish his training with Master afterwords."

"You have a point Ven, but you forgot to think of a few things." Terra said immediately after, causing Ven's mood to deflate.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked.

"Eraqus could take me back home." Roxas said "Or send me to some either world entirely. He could not train me at all. It could be any of them, but any of us can't be sure of what he will do. Your Master is wary of me anyway."

The apprentices all shared a look before they turned back to him.

"I guess your right." Said Ven with his voice sounding a bit downcast.

"Of course he is." Terra said crossing his arms and shaking his head. "Master hasn't let his guard down at all today, because he is an outsider and we don't even know that much about him."

"He can't join us unless he has Master's approval Ven." Aqua added in with a frown. "We would not know until after the spar."

"I know…" Ven said sighing. "It's just that it would be a good idea. for someone else to join us or someone to temporarily with and preferably someone my own age. Even if just for a little bit…" His voice trailed off at this before he faced Roxas with his mood somewhat changed. "By the way are you 16?"

Roxas just shook his head and placed a hand on Ven's shoulder.

"Sorry, but I'm 15 Ven. Still I'm thankful for you caring about what happens, but we will see what happens after the spar." Roxas said smiling a bit to reassure the other blonde. He could also understand why Ven would want to be around someone close to his age. As everyone but Zexion was physically in their early 20's at the youngest. Well except for X-.

'Okay I really need to figure out what I can't seem to remember.' He thought. It was really starting to bug him as he kept tying to figure out what he had forgotten.

"Thanks." Ven said with his mood brightening a little. Roxas nodded and removed his hand from his shoulder. "It's just that it would be nice to hang around or spar with someone else other then Terra or Aqua after a while."

Roxas could once again only nod in understanding at that, when a large hand clamped down on Ventus's shoulder.

"Is that how you really feel Ven?" A voice said in what the Nobody could guess was mock hurt. The boy in question turned pale and turned his head to face the speaker.

"Well I'm sorry for us being so boring to you." Terra continued with a smirk that chilled Ven's spine. "Then we should just train harder next time."

"No!" The youngest apprentice said as he bolted from Terra's grip. "You and Aqua aren't boring, it's just that it can be kind of dull just doing the same thing after a while!" He continued.

The oldest apprentice just smiled at that.

"Don't worry I can understand." Terra said easing Ven who had calmed down. "I can also agree that training with you can get kind of dull sometimes."

Ven could only splutter as Terra and Aqua laughed at his reaction while Roxas couldn't help but chuckle at the scene in front of him. After a minute of laughing they all calmed down.

"Still even if Master accepts Roxas, he might want to go back to his world." Terra said.

"He's right Ven." Aqua said agreeing with Terra. "You shouldn't keep him from his home or the people who care about him back in his world."

"…Actually I have nothing left for me back home…"

All three apprentices blinked at that and turned to face the Nobody.

"What do you mean by that?" Ven asked with the other two giving him worrying glances. Roxas could only sigh at that.

"I have no one back in my world." He said with his voice turning sour. "I only had my friend Axel. I have only known him for a year, but overtime we became best friends…no that isn't it at all."

"Roxas?" Ven asked worriedly. The apprentices noticed that the blonde in question had a melancholic expression on his face and that he was lightly clutching his fists. All three of them wondered what was going on in his head.

Roxas was trying to piece together of what he thought of Axel. At first it was simply best friends, but as he kept thinking about it he began to think of the interactions of what he has seen of the apprentices so far. They were all best friends with each other, but as he kept thinking about it he could tell that they shared a deeper connection. Something now that he was beginning to see was actually similar to his and Axel's during his last days before he left the Organization.

That not only were they best friends, but also as siblings.

He should have realized it a lot earlier, but now it was too late. The Axel he knew was dead and now he was wiped from existence along with his timeline.

'Maybe I can fix that in this timeline.' He thought gaining a little hope. But he knew it wouldn't be the same.

That wasn't going to stop him though.

Roxas noticed the worried looks of Terra, Aqua, and Ven were staring at him and decided to continue.

"Sorry about that, it still is a little hard to talk about it." He said with a small smile, but his tone was a little wistful. "Not only was he my best friend, but also the closest person I could consider a brother. But he was killed by my master shortly after I had left him. I have accepted that I can never seen him again, but it still hurts a bit to talk about it. He would want me to move on as he knew I would never forget him just like he wanted." He finished with a small chuckle.

It was the truth, but if he was going to move on from erasing the previous timeline this would be the first step. Still he looked over at the apprentices to see their reactions.

Terra was silent and stone faced, but had worry and understanding etched on his face. Ven and Aqua looked sad, but shared also had a similar look to Terra.

'Now I understand what Master was saying. Anyone would want to start a new life after something like that happening to them.' Terra thought. He and Aqua were filled in on the same information as Ventus, but they didn't think anything like this. By the way Roxas was talking about his made with Axel was similar to the bond that he shared with Aqua and Ven. He couldn't think of what would happen if he lost either one of them if they were killed, but whoever did that would pay.

Unaware to any of the occupants in the room a wisp of darkness flickered around his fingers, but it was gone as soon as it appeared.

"I'm sorry Roxas…" Ven said sadly for him.

"It's alright Ven, I already told you that I've mostly come to terms with it. Besides his killer is gone as well. I have no one back in my world, so I'm going to start a new life somewhere else." Roxas said. That raised the spirits of the other apprentices, but there was one thing they noticed.

"Did you say that you had no one else back in your home world?" Aqua asked. Terra and Ven noticed an aura starting to form around her and the two shared a look.

'Oh no.'

Both of them tried to warn Roxas, but it was too late.

"Yes. I had no one else back home. I've been taking care of myself since I was born…" Roxas trailed off. While he had the Organization back then it might as well be true.

"You Just doomed yourself." Terra said blankly.

"You might want to run now Roxas." Ven added in as the two of them tried to get as far away as possible from him.

Before Roxas could process what they said he heard his bones cracking under pressure and a dark aura took over the room as he felt the breath leave his body.

---

Eraqus was about to enter the room when he left a familiar aura.

'Not again!' He thought shivering.

He had been a victim of that once, but it had scarred him for life.

Plus it nearly threw out his back as well.

Eraqus decided to take a small walk and figured it would be better for his students to deal with the issue.

'Poor Roxas. Hopefully Terra and Ventus can calm her down.' He thought again.

Eraqus never wished what was going to happen to Roxas on anyone for fear of Aqua breaking their back.

---

'This is just as bad as the Leech Grave! I think she just cracked a rib!'

Those were the thoughts of a struggling Roxas. He was trying to get out of the death grip that was Aqua. She had tears streaming from her eyes and an aura that threatened pain as well as despair for someone. Terra and Ven were hugging the walls to stay away from her oppressive aura.

"Poor Roxas! You had to take care of yourself for nearly 15 years without any family or friends!? Who would do such a thing!? When I meet them I'm going to…" Aqua wailed out before she began to mutter out threats that although Roxas could barley hear didn't wish on anyone.

Except for Saïx, he deserved at least a third of the threats that she muttered.

Still he could see that Ven was terrified and Terra was trying his best to maintain his calm. The Nobody decided to hopefully to clear things up.

"I exaggerated a bit, I only meant for about a year as I have no memories before I was 14 and I meant my former master that day and Axel later. Besides I was under Axel's care for a good portion of the year if that helps. Right?" Roxas said in a pleading tone between breathes. "So can you please let me go?" He felt Aqua's grip loosen up around him and let out a sigh of relief.

'I do not want to be squeezed to death. Already came close to it with that blasted Heartless.' He thought

'He really is a lot like Ven/myself.' Was the collective thoughts of Eraqus's apprentices. Not only did they looked alike and sound alike, but they were entirely different people except they both had their memory stolen away from them by something out of their control. But at the thought of that Aqua's face developed a sadder expression.

"Roxas…you have just dug your own grave." Ven said simply.

"Why?" He said meekly as he didn't notice what Aqua was about to do.

"You have just messed up. Big time."

Before he could even think Roxas suddenly found himself being smothered to death as Aqua proceeded to hug him so tight he felt his spin beginning to crack. He couldn't breath as she was pressing his head so tight against her chest that he couldn't breath. The sight of the Nobody struggling to break free from her comforting hug of death would have been comical if Aqua didn't look so sad for her victim.

Roxas could not believe that after getting a new life he was going to be smothered to death. It was not the worst way to go though.

For a Nobody it was for them to eventually burn out what remains of their will and fade away from existence alone without anyone ever caring what happened.

It was depressing as hell to think about and as frightening as it sounded. It was a common fate among the elder Dusks and something that all the Organization was afraid of of happening to them even Xemnas.

Still Ven couldn't help but chuckle at the sight before he was hopped on the head by Terra.

'I've had enough of this' He thought.

"Aqua enough you are going to kill him at this rate. You have already broken enough pillows and our ribs a few times by doing this." Terra said firmly.

Aqua proceeded to let Roxas go. He then took in a deep breath of air as his lungs were practically empty empty at this point.

"Sorry." Aqua said a bit sad that she nearly squeezed the life out of him.

"It's okay." Roxas said before he faced Terra, but he couldn't help but wince in pain as he might have a few cracked ribs. "Thank you Terra. You have no idea how painful that was!"

Terra chuckled at his reaction while Aqua proceeded to cast Curaga on him.

"You would actually be surprised by how painful her hugs can be when she gets like that." He said ignoring the annoyed glare the bluenette sent his way. "While she is like a sister to me and Ven, she can be a real mother hen sometimes." He finished with a grin.

"Well someone has to be around here." She said with her glare fading away. All four of them proceeded to laugh at the interaction before Aqua was done mending his ribs.

"Thanks Aqua."

"No problem."

"That is good to hear." A fifth voice said as a new presence entered the room. "I would hope that Roxas would be in the best condition to test his abilities."

"Master!" All three apprentices chorused out as he entered the room.

"Roxas It is time for your spar. You will follow us out to the courtyard of the castle to begin." Eraqus said. Roxas could only nod at that. As they all proceeded to exit the room Ven decided to speak up.

"Master if you don't mind me asking, but who will Roxas be facing?" He asked. Eraqus stopped at the doorway and turned to face his student.

"I was going to reveal who it would be at the courtyard, but if you all insist." The Keyblade Master said seeing his apprentices nodding continued."I have chosen Terra to face Roxas." The young man in question looked surprised for a moment before he regained his composure.

"It would be a honor Master." Terra said. With a nod Eraqus proceeded to lead them all out of the room. As they were going to exit the room Roxas grabbed Ven's shoulder.

"Hey Ven do you mind if I ask you what the date is?" He asked.

"Um sure, but why do you need to know that?" Ven asked confused.

"Simple I know that on some worlds time runs faster or slower there. So I'm just checking incase there is a major difference." Roxas said.

"Okay I can understand that." Ven said. "The date is June 28, 200X. Is it any different from Twilight Town?"

"Not really. Thank you Ven." Roxas said. Ven nodded before he left the room to catch up with his friends, leaving the Nobody alone.

"So I'm about 12 years into the past then." Roxas said looking up at the ceiling.

So that would mean that Sora was 4 years old right now as it was a year before Kairi was transported to Destiny Islands when her world fell to darkness. So once again he found himself in a situation were he didn't know anything that was going on.

'But for now I should catch up to the others.' Roxas thought. He began to run to catch up to the others.

He closed the door leaving the room in empty except for his Organization coat lying on the bed.

---

Out in the courtyard Roxas and Terra were on either side, studying the other and predicting what the other was going to start.

Ven and Aqua were sitting on the castle steps cheering for either one. Eraqus was at the bottom of the stairs, ready to start the spar.

"The rules for this match are simple. The both of you are only allowed to us basic techniques and lower tier spells only. There will also be no Shotlocks or Command Styles. The match will end when either one of you surrender, are knocked out, or when I say it ends. Do the both of you understand?" Eraqus said with his Keyblade raised.

"Yes Master/Eraqus." The both of the replied while getting into their stances. Roxas briefly wondered what Eraqus meant by Shotlocks or Command Styles, but it could wait. Roxas decided to summon Oblivion while Terra summoned his Keyblade.

It was short in reach with a tempered dark brown shaft with brass edges. For it's teeth one side had two prick like shapes on it and two hammer like protrusions on the other side. It's guard was light blue in color and was circular with a similar color cone shape for the handle. It's Keychain was a few silver chain links to a reddish rock.

"Very well then. Begin!" With that Eraqus sent a sphere of light into the air, starting the match.

Both rushed into the center. Roxas tried to get a good hit on Terra, but he seemed to slide away from him. The eldest apprentice saw an opening, but his strike was blocked by Roxas. But it had pushed him back about 2 feet.

'Okay he is strong.' Were the thoughts of Roxas. Terra had some power behind his swings. Getting hit by one of those would deal some damage.

Terra continued to try land another three strikes on him, but Roxas blocked the first two hits and parried the last one. Roxas tried to land a blow, but Terra blocked it. Before Roxas could get in another strike Terra lept into the air and slammed his Keyblade into the ground to create a shockwave that knocked him back.

Before he could get his bearings Terra unleashed a barrage of powerful strikes and then sent him flying with a spinning attack. He managed to recover mid air as he saw Terra was trying to strick from him above.

'Perfect.'

"Strike Raid!" Roxas threw his Keyblade at Terra. The force of the impact plus gravity sent the young man crashing down onto the ground.

'Ow.' Was all that Terra could think of at the moment. He had to admit, Roxas was a good fighter. His stance was unorthodox from what he has used to training and had some openings that he could exploit, but then again he was mostly self taught before crashing into Ven's room. Speaking of which Roxas was nearly as fast as Ven, but had more power in his strikes.

With some effort he rose back to his feet. He saw Roxas coming back at him to attack. Terra resummoned his Keyblade to parry the strike. He resumed his attack on the reverse swing when Roxas rolled out of the way and resumed his stance.

"Your not so bad Roxas." Terra said as he also got into a stance. "You just need to work on fine turning your style and a few other things and then you could probably be ready for the Mark of Mastery in about a year."

He was speaking honestly. He thought that Roxas was close if not a bit above Ven in terms of skill and that was after a year with constant training by himself. A year of tutelage under Master might have both him and Ven ready for the next exam.

"Thanks Terra. You're not so bad yourself." Roxas said smiling.

He had to admit so far Terra was a tough opponent. So to hear that from him was well earned praise. Of course Roxas was still exhausted from traveling through time and was only fighting with one Keyblade, but even he doubted that if he used both of them it would make that much of a difference as he was right now.

Both of them jumped back into their battle. Terra aimed a blow to his head, but Roxas parried it away. Terra kept coming at him not leaving any openings to counter attack. Roxas was pushed to the wall of the courtyard when he took a chance and kicked the taller man in the chest. Now with some room to work, Roxas went a few jabs at Terra pushing him back.

"Blizzard!" Roxas casted. The ice shard hit home, but Terra blocked it

"Not bad Roxas, bit try this." Terra said as he pointed his Keyblade at him. "Blizzard!"

Terra sent a larger chunk of ice at Roxas. It was too big to dodge easily so he had to change tactics.

Silently Roxas switched to Oathkeeper. Using the magic boost the Keyblade gave him, he silently casted Fire. To silently cast a spell is a tricky thing to do. You must practice it time and time again in order to successfully cast it, and even more time to perfect it to the level were it would be on the same level vocally. It was also quite risky with healing spells unless you had the experience to use it. Roxas had used Fire so many times during his existence that halfway through his time with the Organization that he was able to silently cast it. Now with the boost provided by Oathkeeper it was about the same level as when he would vocally cast it.

The spells cancelled each other cause a cloud of steam filled the courtyard. Taking the chance Roxas silently sent another fireball Terra's way.

"Fire!" Apparently Terra had the same plan and both were knocked onto their backs.

---

Eraqus had set up a silencing barrier as soon as the spar started, not wanting for the fighters to be distracted by Aqua's and Ven's cheering. Both of his other students were rooting for Terra and Roxas as they wanted it to be fair.

Throughout the fight he analyzed Roxas and his fighting style. It was surprisingly balanced with speed nearly that of Ven's and with a good deal of strength behind each strike. He also noticed that when presented a chance to strike, the boy wasn't afraid to take it.

Still he had to smile at Terra's analyze of Roxas and agreed wholeheartedly at his analysis of the boy. If given some training he might be able to take the Mark of Mastery exam within a year or two.

Now not only was he surprised that he switched between keychains that fast, but he also was able to cast Fire silently to that level.

Of his students only Aqua has mastered silent casting to that level and she has only completely mastered Cure, Esuna, Blizzard, Blizzara, and Thunder to that level. But he can tell that the Keyblade he was using was boosting his magic quality somewhat. But to master a spell on his own to be able to silently cast it in a year was impressive.

Eraqus shook his head from his musings to focus back on the match as both Terra and Roxas had gotten back up.

---

Both of them dusted themselves off. Both Roxas and Terra had the wind knocked out of them by a fireball and were waiting for the other to strike.

After a minute of waiting Roxas was the first to strike. He charged at the older teen who was prepared to block. Halfway to Terra he jumped into the air, catching the older apprentice by surprise. Roxas preformed a jumping slash with his Keyblade and in the next moment switched back to Oblivion and unleashed a combo of rapid attacks on Terra. The older apprentice waited for a an opening while blocking Roxas. After half a minute of being bombarded he found his chance.

"Thunder!"

A ring of electricity surrounded Terra. Before Roxas could process what was going on a bolt of lightning blasted him to the other side of the courtyard.

Roxas broke into a roll as he straightened out his landing. The moment he regained his composure he barely dodged a strike. Terra began another spin attack.

"Reflect!" Roxas casted. Terra looked in surprise as the familiar energy shield appeared, but it proved useless as Terra smashed through it and hit Roxas square in the gut.

"What kind of spell was that? It kind of looked like Barrier that Aqua uses, but I've never been able shatter it before." Terra said with his guard still up.

Roxas just groaned in pain as he got back up. It took him a minute to compose himself before he spoke to Terra.

"It is called Reflect, it has higher tiers, but I only know the first one. I think it probably works like Barrier except for that it is weaker from what you said." Roxas said simply. While he was talking to Terra he silently dispelled Oblivion.

"Do you think that after the Mark of Mastery exam you might teach me that?" Terra asked. It wouldn't hurt to have another means to defend himself. Roxas just shrugged his shoulders at that.

"Sure, but let us just get back to the spar for now." He said getting into his stance.

"Agreed."

Terra was about to strike him again when Roxas summoned Oathkeeper and began to pelt him with Fire. The eldest apprentice was forced to dodge the initial onslaught. After that Roxas got his second wind and continued to spam the spell. All Terra could do was block or dodge the fireballs, but a few of them had hit home. Eventually Roxas noticed that he was starting to run low on magic. So he settled on rushing towards Terra.

He managed to block Roxas's attack and used Counter Hammer to push him back again. He need to get some distance away from the blond to recover a bit as the both of them were starting to tire out. So Terra had an idea.

"Blizzard!" "Fire!"

Terra copied Roxas earlier strategy, but instead using Blizzard as well and spreading them to keep him at a distance. Roxas was forced to keep dodging the spells for a minute. After he blocked a fireball he saw an opening and took it.

"Aero!" Roxas casted. The gust of wind sliced through an oncoming Blizzard spell and knocked Terra off his feet. Before Roxas could reach him, Terra was back on his feet and began to cast both spells again.

Roxas switched back to Oblivion again and proceeded to dodge the incoming spells rushing towards Terra. The eldest apprentice stopped the barrage as he was almost out of magic. But the moment he stopped Roxas managed to get a good hit in, sending Terra skidding back a few feet.

He managed to regain composure an blocked another strike from Roxas. Both of them began another clash of Keyblades with Terra at first struggling to counter Roxas's rapid slashes. But as it continued he began to block more and more of his attacks. Eventually Terra was able to get in a lucky blow and sent the Nobody flying back to the other side of the courtyard.

"Cure!" Roxas groaned out. It helped heal his some of his injuries, but he had almost run out of magic now. As soon as he got up he had to block a strike from Terra. He tried again, but Roxas just parried it away.

It was then that Roxas rushed in. He unleashed another series of rapid strikes that gave Terra no room to counter. He was losing stamina fast so he needed to finish it now. He speed up his attacks and after a few seconds he switched to Oathkeeper and unleashed Fire point blank at Terra's chest. While the older Keyblade wielder was disoriented he sent another two fireballs at him. Terra was knocked onto his back while Roxas had run out of magic.

'Is he knocked out?'

"Cure!"

'Well that answers that question.'

Terra groaned as he got back up. He had use the last of his magic to heal himself from Roxas's latest assault. While he was in some pretty bad shape, the younger Keyblade wielder was a bit worst of then he was. Looks like Roxas hadn't finished recovered from being attacked yesterday like Master said.

'It's time to finish this.' Terra thought. When he was back up Roxas rushed at him also ready to end the match. He managed to parry the oncoming strike and got back into another clash. They kept alternating between attacking and blocking withTerra's strength giving him and edge against Roxas who was using his speed to counter his strikes. They continued this stalemate for a few minutes when Terra noticed that Roxas had dispelled his Keyblade. Having seen him switch between his keychains like several times,Terra knew he had to strike.

"I'm sorry about this Roxas." He said.

Before Roxas could figure what he meant or summon Oblivion, he was flung into the air by the impact of Terra's Keyblade into his chest.

As Roxas was coming down Terra swung his Keyblade with all his might and connected with the back of the blonde's head.

With a mixture of exhaustion and the blow to the back of his head, all Roxas could see was black as he was caught midair.

---

"Roxas!"

Eraqus dispelled the silence barrier as soon Roxas was knocked out. Terra had caught the boy midair and his other two apprentices rushed to check on the boy's condition.

"Terra!" Ven said as he and Aqua rushed up to their friend. "Is he alright?"

"I've already checked him Ven. Roxas is alright, but I don't think he would be waking up anytime soon." Terra said, exhausted from all facing the young Keyblade wielder. "Aqua do you think heal him? I ran out of magic during the fight."

"Alright." Was all Aqua said as she started to cast Cura on the downed boy.

While they apprentices were talking over and checking on Roxas, Eraqus was evaluating the boy's skills.

Roxas was a surprisingly balanced fighter. He was nearly if not as fast as Ventus, had a good amount of power behind his strikes, was an excellent spell caster, and if he wasn't already exhausted a good amount of stamina. This was all from being mostly self taught for over a year.

The boy could almost match Terra with the restrictive conditions of the spar and still not fully recovered was impressive. If both were going all out, he was sure Terra wouldn't be so lucky to knock him out.

One thing that concerned Eraqus was his fighting style. Sure it needed a lot of polishing, but it was adequate for someone who didn't have any formal Keyblade training. But there was something off about. Something which he will confront Roxas when he wakes up.

Besides that the boy was skilled in swordsmanship and spell casting from what he has seen so far and if he has learned all this in the course of a year was impressive. If spoke of the potential within the boy.

He wouldn't be surprised if the boy was able to take the Mark of Mastery exam in at least a year and a half.

But for now he would focus on that later. He had to deal with an unconscious Keyblade wielder.

"What is Roxas's condition?" Eraqus asked his apprentices.

"He won't be waking for a while Master. Other then that he is covered with bruises and should make a full recovery soon." Aqua answered after she was done healing him. She then moved to heal Terra. He might not have been as banged up as Roxas, but he still needed some healing for the burns caused by being bombarded with fireballs.

"I see." The Keyblade Master said. Hopefully the boy would wake up before the exam.

"Terra." Eraqus said getting the young man's attention."You have preformed laudably against Roxas. I will expect that both you and Aqua will give the same effort for the exam tomorrow."

"Of course Master." Terra said with Aqua nodding in agreement.

"Well then. There will be no more training for the rest of the day or for the rest of the week." Eraqus said getting his apprentices to nod at that. "I will take Roxas back to his room." Terra nodded as he handed the unconscious boy to his Master after that they began to head back into the the castle.

"Master, what were you going to do with Roxas after he wakes up?" Ven asked. Everyone stopped in their tracks and turned to face Eraqus. He could only sigh at the question.

"If you are worried about anything happening to him, dismiss those concerns now Ventus." He said before turning to his youngest apprentice. "The only thing that I am going to do is make him an offer."

"What kind of offer?" Ven asked curiously. Eraqus could only smile at his student.

"I was going to explain to everyone after the match, but Roxas is currently asleep. So for now I will explain my offer when we get inside Ventus". Eraqus said. Ven just nodded and everyone proceeded to enter back into the castle.

---

"Interesting."

In the shadows of one of the castle's towers a figure watched the match. He had managed to sneak out of the gaze of that old coot to scout the castle. It was a really dull place and held nothing that interested him until he saw the match.

Someone who looked exactly like that weakling was fighting against the eldest apprentice.

It wasn't anything like that geezer had expected, but he could care less.

Still that lookalike, Roxas felt a lot stronger then the weakling and he could tell that the lookalike was holding a lot back.

Terra only managed to knock him out through a mixture of exhaustion, luck, skill, and a really hard blow to the back of the head. Still that wasn't the only thing he got from Roxas.

Although it was faint, he could tell that he had the same light as the weakling. That just brought a smirk on his face at the possibilities that it could bring. But he would have to wait.

"Better head back before that old coot suspects something." The figure said before he summoned a Corridor of Darkness. While he could have grabbed Roxas here and now it would have caused an incident that he really didn't need right now. So for now he would wait til the right moment.

"Tomorrow." He said as he looked at the setting sun. "That's when it will all begin."

After that he started to chuckle as he entered the corridor. It vanished soon afterwards, leaving only a feeling a negativity and emptiness lingering around that spot.

---

Roxas could only groan out in pain as he woke up. Last thing he could remember was falling in midair and then being slammed in the back of the head by Terra. Well that would explain why he couldn't think straight at the moment. It took a few minutes before he could compose himself and got himself out of bed.

The first thing that he noticed was some food placed on a trey near by his bed along with a Potion and Ether. Roxas pocketed the items and was too hungry to care about the food even if it was poisoned or not.

Besides the human like Nobodies like the Organization and Naminé we're immune to a few types of minor poison and it also helped that they could heal by erasing the damage caused by them. He learned that from Marluxia before he left for Castle Oblivion.

It was some of the best food he could remember besides sea salt ice cream. Considering most of the food at the Organization was bland and, he didn't have that much of a real comparison. Then again Nobodies also didn't need food that much, but he wasn't complaining.

After he was done eating he noticed that it was night out. Roxas was surprised that he was out for that long. But before he could process that he noticed something was going on outside.

"Is that a meteor shower?" Roxas said in awe. He had never seen one before or remembered one from Sora's memories. Although he couldn't get a good look from his room, it was still a spectacle to behold.

"I take it you have never seen a meteor shower before?"

Roxas turned around to face Eraqus who had just entered the room.

"Nope, this is actually my first time." He said honesty. The Keyblade Master just nodded at that before he walked to the window next to Roxas.

"They usually occur every now and then here in the Land of Departure." He said watching the meteor shower with the boy. "But it has been a few years since there was one like this happened. In fact this might be one of the most beautiful I've seen in my many years here."

After that they spent a few minutes just looking out the window watch as the meteors streaked through the night sky. It was a spectacle to behold for the Nobody. But he decided to ask the obvious question.

"I take it that you came to check up on me?" He asked not taking his eyes off the window.

"You are correct. This is actually the third time since dinner that I have come to check up on you. Terra, Aqua, and Ventus were worried about you." Eraqus said as he also kept looking out the window.

"Really, that's nice of them." Roxas said with a small smile. Eraqus just gave him a concerning glance.

"You never had anyone care about you before?" He asked.

"No the only people I remember having any concern about me was my friend Axel." Roxas replied back. Truthfully the only people Roxas could remember actually caring for him were Axel, Naminé, Sora, and now Ava. He was thankful for each and everyone of them, because if it wasn't for any of them he wouldn't be who he is without them helping to get through the disasters that made up the majority of his life

'Hopefully I will see them again one day…' Roxas thought wistfully. He knew it was possible, but he didn't know how long to wait or how to interact with them, but he would figure it out when he got there.

But for now he would focus on what is currently going on along trying to help Ava when she wakes up.

As this was going on through Roxas's head Master Eraqus was mentally thanking this Axel for helping the boy. The Keyblade Master didn't want to think about what would happen if the boy's former master succeeded with his plans. But for now he had something to discuss.

"Roxas." Eraqus said, breaking the boy out of him musings. "There is something I must ask you."

"What is it?" He asked. Roxas suddenly found himself on guard when the man summoned his Keyblade.

"Have you ever killed someone before?" Eraqus's tone was serious and as cold as steel.

"What do you mean by that?" Roxas asked as he started to back up from the window, ready to summon his Keyblade at any moment.

"During your fight with Terra I saw shades of a style designed to kill not protect. A Keyblade wielder's duty is to travel between the worlds and maintain the balance without interfering as much as possible. That includes having to kill someone if they interfere with the order of the worlds. But we try to limit it as much as possible to make sure that the stability of any world is not jeopardized at all. Even then we kill if there is no other means too or if they are too dangerous or dark to keep alive. So let me repeat my question, have you ever killed someone before?" Eraqus said casting a steely glare on Roxas.

This was something he had to know.

Roxas pondered what to say for a moment before he decided to speaking the truth.

"I have never killed anyone in my life." Roxas said getting the Keyblade Master to relax a bit. "But the only things that I've ever killed were Heartless."

He suddenly found the tip of Eraqus's Keyblade to his face with his eyes blazing with what could be described as a cold fury. Roxas was actually worried by the pressure coming from the man. Unlike the presence of darkness he was used to it was a burning light.

After what seemed like hours, Eraqus lowered his Keyblade and let out a sigh.

'He is not lying.' Eraqus thought after studying the boy intensely for the past several minutes. He was looking for any signs of lying, but he couldn't find any. The boy has encountered those abominations before and was taught how to kill them. A skill that he wished to have known when he first learned how to wield a Keyblade.

"My apologies, but I had to make sure you were telling the truth. Talking about the Heartless is a serious matter." He said. Roxas relaxed at that, but he still didn't let his guard down.

"I can understand Eraqus." Roxas replied back.

The Keyblade Master could nod at that.

"It is troubling though." He said, piquing Roxas curiosity. "It has been a few years any Heartless were sighted anywhere in the Realm of In Between or the Realm of Light. If there was enough that you were constantly fighting them over a year then it is possibly a sign that the worlds will be plagued by darkness soon." He said in a grave tone of voice.

"When was the last time something like that happened?" Roxas asked.

"Not since ancient times. There have been a few close calls, but the darkness was destroyed before it could fester." Eraqus said.

'So I guess if it wasn't for Sora, then all the worlds in my time would have eventually been swallowed by the darkness.' He thought. From what he has seen from Sora's memories that a majority of the worlds where thought to have been lost to the Realm of Darkness. But after defeating Ansem and closing the Door to Darkness most of the worlds were restored.

"But enough about the Heartless. I have a proposition for you Roxas." Eraqus said catching him by surprise.

"What do you mean by that?" The Nobody inquired.

"It is something that I have been thinking about since last night. That you wish for a new life." Eraqus said before a small smile appeared on his face.

"I wish for you to stay in the Land of Departure to train as my newest apprentice, or if you wish a new world were you can start anew."

Roxas was honestly taken aback by this. Eraqus was offering him the chance to train with the three apprentices or to start a new life somewhere else.

"Re-Really?" Roxas asked dumbfounded.

"Yes and I mean it Roxas." Eraqus said. He dispelled his Keyblade and put a reinsuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "Just remember it is your choice to make. I will not force you to pick either one of them."

He didn't know what to do. This was probably the perfect chance to start a new life. To train to become a Keyblade Master, or to create his own life in a new world. Either one was the perfect chance to get what he always wanted. But he couldn't decide at the moment either to chose any of the options or not.

"If you are worried about making a decision now, then forget about it." Eraqus said. "A choice like this needs some consideration. I will give you a few days to think about your choice. After that or if you wish to go back to Twilight Town I will take you back there myself".

"Thank you, Eraqus." Was all Roxas could say. He literally could not think of anything else to say.

Before the Keyblade Master could say anything else a stray fireball struck the window and startled them. Eraqus looked out the window and saw that his students were practicing on the mountain's summit. He could only sigh at that.

"It seems that they are getting in some last minute practice." Roxas said as he looked over Eraqus's shoulder. It was kind of hard to do as the man was a good head and shoulders taller then himself.

"Indeed." Was all Eraqus said before he faced Roxas. "How about you go join them out on the summit? It is a much better viewpoint then through this singed window."

"Alright." Roxas said to him. As he was about to exit the room he turned back to Eraqus.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

Eraqus just smiled at him and shook his head.

"I am sorry, but I have something to take care of in the castle along with some last minute preparations for the Mark of Mastery exams tomorrow. So go on then Roxas, just no more sparing till after the exam. I do not think it is healthy to be knocked out 3 times in one day." He finished jokingly with a wily smirk.

Roxas couldn't help but chuckle at that as he left the room.

After a minute Eraqus also left the room and headed in the opposite direction Roxas left.

If he remembered correctly there was something in one of the old rooms down this hall. After a few minutes of searching he found the room he was looking for. As he opened the room he opened it to find a pile of broken items in the middle of the room.

'I should have known this would happen.' He thought with a sigh. Some parts of the castle were starting to fall into disrepair due to lack of use. He dug through the pile until he found what was looking for. He pulled the objects out of the pile and inspected it.

"This is not good." He inspected it real quick to see a large crack on it. After a bit more analysis of the object, he pocketed it away with a sigh. It was repairable, but it would take a few days to fix it.

With that he left the room and closed the door. Never to be opened again.

---

Roxas had just arrived at the spot when it looked like they had stopped sparing awhile ago. Ven was leaning on a wall not far from Terra and Aqua, looking up as the meteor shower started to end.

"Hey, we're gonna heading back." Terra said, getting Ven's attention.

"Yeah. Me too!"

As Ven was running up to his friends, he noticed someone was coming down the path.

"Roxas!" With that Terra and Aqua finally noticed that he wasn't that far behind them. The youngest apprentice proceeded to zip past them and crash into Roxas.

"Nice to see you too, but can you please be more careful next time. I still have some bruses." Roxas said with a wince. Ven just looked sheepish and backed off.

"Sorry about that."

"It's alright Ven."

"Nice to see you up Roxas, I thought for awhile that you wouldn't wake up till after the exam." Terra said.

"Well you certainly have it your best shot." Roxas said jokingly. Terra couldn't help but let out a little chuckle at that.

"That I did."The eldest apprentice said. "So you came here to see the meteor shower? Sorry to say it, but it looks like it has just finished." The sky was mainly clear now of meteors except for a few streaks.

"Mainly, but I was looking outside my window when a stray fireball hit it. So I Eraqus suggested that I come here to finish watching the meteor shower." Roxas explained.

After that Ven started to pale as he was being glared at by Aqua. It was the kind of look a mother would give a misbehaving child.

"M-My bad." He said nervously. It was an accident. He didn't think that his spell would actually hit the castle, it should have burned itself out by then.

"It is alright, I think. Eraqus seemed a little disappointed about it though." Roxas said. Ven just turned nodded, resigning himself for the lecture he would be getting from Master and Aqua later. Terra could only sigh as he put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Aqua dropped her glare before she turned to face Roxas.

"Have you made made a choice yet Roxas?" She inquired. He just shook his head.

"I haven't made a choice so far. I honestly don't know what to pick." Roxas said with a sigh. He would have to figure it out sooner or later. Aqua just gave him a small smile.

"Don't worry I'm sure you'll make the right choice whatever you choose." Aqua said. Roxas could only nod when they heard a yawn. They turned to see a drowsy looking Ven.

"I think now should be a good time to head back. We all should get some rest for the exams tomorrow." Terra said the other apprentices and Roxas to nod. But before they left, Aqua went to the summit's edge. She looked up at the night sky for any remaining meteors while clutching an object between her hands. A moment later a meteor flashes through the night and with it Aqua makes a wish as it passes by.

"Together…always."

With that she ran to catch up to them. But as she passes Roxas, he sensed something lurking around. He turned behind him only to feel the presence was gone.

'What was that, it felt like someone was right behind us.' Roxas thought as he checked his surroundings for any trace of someone spying on him. He found none except for lingering sense of negativity in the general area.

"Roxas! Are you coming!?" He heard Ven shout at him from down the path.

"Yeah, just give me a second!" He hollered back. After he looked around for another minute he found nothing.

'Whatever was spying on us is gone now.' Roxas thought.

With that he ran back down the path to join the apprentices on the walk back to the castle. Unaware of the events that would transpire tomorrow.

---

That was the last night that the three apprentices would ever share under the same night sky.

As well as the night that Roxas's life truly begun.

---

It had been a few hours since the apprentices and Roxas had returned to the castle and they were all asleep at the time.

But in Ventus's room all of the sudden a Corridor of Darkness opened and a figure stepped out. He walked up to a sleeping Ventus and summoned a Keyblade! He then pointed it at his heart.

"It would be all too easy, just stab him right now and it all be over." The figure said before sighing. "Sadly that old coot would notice and even then I wouldn't be strong enough to survive. Hell I probably wouldn't survive if the Keyblade Master and Roxas ganged up if we combined. So for now you get to live."

With that he dispelled the Keyblade and began to search around the room.

"Why couldn't it have been Roxas and not you." The figure said as he began to rummage through Ven's stuff. "Not only is he way stronger then you, but he is more worthy of being my other half then you ever were."

He could only sigh at that and continued in a bitter tone.

"Sadly if I tried anything I would most likely perish. He was able to sense me when I spied on the weakling tonight." He shook his head as he was done speaking. After another minute he found what he was looking for.

Ven's Wayfinder

He channeled some darkness into it and set it back were he found it.

"Get stronger weakling, sadly I need you in order to be whole and then free." The figure said as he entered back into the corridor, closing it a moment afterwords. Leaving nothing behind to show that he was there.

---

Static over takes your vision as the author reappears before your eyes.

*Welcome back and I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Now let us get down to business.*

*Throughout the BBS Arc, Roxas will occasionally encounter these dreams about what had happen before the Keyblade war involving both Ava and Hikari, who is the name of my character in X. He will keep having these dreams until he sees how the Keyblade War was started and what happened to Ava.*

*Also Roxas probably would have won his spar with Terra, but he was still exhausted from traveling through time and being attacked by Young Xehanort. He will still be exhausted for a bit, but it will fade away soon.*

*Roxas is now acquainted with the Keyblade apprentices and Eraqus as well. We will see a bit more of that before things kick off next chapter. As for what Eraqus was retrieving from that room? You will just have to wait and see.*

*As for a certain helmeted fiend, well let's just say I have big plans for him.

*Now onto the harem.*

With a clap of his hands the whiteboard and starts writing on it.

*Alright you know the drill, same rules, but I am pushing up the maximum to 11 due do good feed back. As for additional members I'm adding is the kunoichi of Radient Garden Yuffie. That one will begin in the first Kingdom Hearts game and will continue on from there. I'm including another surprise member and give a hint about her in a small omake coming up after this.*

The author switches the whiteboard for the remote and waves to the audience.

*That is all for now folks. Remember the PM me or leave a review if you have any suggestions or questions. I'm all ears and I will try to reply back while I can. Flamers will be shoved into a Corridor of Darkness to who knows were.*

*Goodbye and see you next time. Until then I hope you enjoy the omake.*

With a click of the remote static over takes your vision.

---

Vexen's Regret

---

With the sound of a click the author reappears.

*Almost forgot. All omakes are canon. That is all goodbye.*

With that your vision suddenly turns blurry with a static hum filling the background.

---

Erased timeline

Day before the members head to Castle Oblivion.

Vexen was busy writing down notes in his lab when a test tube suddenly burst into flames.

"Blast it! This is the third time today!" He yelled as he put the fire out with his cryokinesis. After that was done he quickly messaged his temple.

"Okay, what am I doing wrong. I have run this experiment 17 times today and the exact same thing has happened three times in a row." He groaned out. He was too busy figuring out what went wrong that he didn't notice someone entering his lab.

"Even." A voice said.

Vexen froze on the spot at the sound of the voice.

'Impossible…she's dead. I saw here die before my eyes!' He thought to himself. Unless…

"Even, Even!" The voice continued.

"Claire?" Was all he could say still in a stupor.

"Who's Claire?" Was all the voice said as it started to change. Vexen turned toward the speaker and widened his eyes at seeing a familiar sight before it started to change into the visage of his greatest creation.

"Xion, what are you doing here? I told you not to come in the lab when I'm conducting my experiments." He said in a much more cordial tone then around the rest of the Organization. After all she was the first successful Replica that he be created.

"I'm sorry, but Lord Xemnas has requested me to bring you out of the lab. He wishes to speak to you about Castle Oblivion." She said getting Vexen to nod.

"I see. Well tell him I'll be out in a few minutes. I just need to put away a few things first." Vexen said. It wasn't the complete truth as he only needed to put his notes away.

Xion nodded before she left the lab. Halfway through the door she turned back to face him.

"Who's Claire?" She asked again stunning the elder Nobody. " You called me that when I was in trying to get your attention." Vexen could only sigh at that.

"She was someone very close to me when I still had a heart. Sadly I lost her a year before I became a Nobody." He said solemnly. After that it was silent for about a full minute. He slumped into the nearest chair and went back into a stupor.

"Vexen…" Xion trailed of worriedly. He did treat her better then rest of the Organization besides Roxas and sometimes Larxene.

"I'm fine Xion, just go report back Lord Xemnas okay. I'll be fine." Vexen said as he tried to shoe her outside the lab. Xion complied with his request and took off out the door. Once it was shut, he snapped his fingers.

A Dusk appeared right next to him.

"You know what to do."

With that it bowed to it's liege and took off.

He had trained this Dusk to do this once a day for the past few years. It would retrieve a single item from the castle in Hollow Bastion and bring it back to him. After that he would summon it back to return the item back to it's rightful place. Everyday like clockwork. If he ever died then he had an artificial heart for the Dusk and orders to head to a peaceful world before to use it. Vexen didn't truly note that it would work, but after using it like this for years hoped it did or finally put the Dusk at peace.

It had been doing something that is very important to him for years after all.

It suddenly appeared with a steel picture frame in his hands.

Thank you, I will call upon you back in a few minutes." Vexen said. The Dusk nodded and vanished immediately after. He put the frame on his desk and looked at it.

It was a photo of him when he became an apprentice to Ansem at the age of 15 celebrating it with a girl about 4 years younger then her and his former master. All eating sea salt ice cream. He could only chuckle at her face when she tried it for the first time. Out of all of his apprentices they all quickly learned to eat the stuff with him and Xehanort truly liking it the first time they tried it. Though he did complain that it wasn't salted enough. Only Braig truly hated the ice cream.

He could only chuckle as she later join as an apprentice a few years later about eating the ice cream again, but she got used to it. She served as a guard around the castle and the two talked often.

To this day he still couldn't understand why she would change her name, but she only allowed those close to her to call her Claire.

Sadly she died right before his eyes ten years ago while saving Ienzo from that THING! He used her weapon to kill the bloody beast and then broke down into a sobbing mess cradling her.

After words he as found by Ansem and the other apprentices. When questioning why had the others not come to save her, his heart sank. He had ordered Dilan and Aeleus to guard the castle no matter what. Only Aeleus had disobeyed him and was too late when he arrived at the scene. Braig meanwhile had faced a similar threat on the other side of town and had lost an eye killing the beast.

At that all Even could do was breakdown as he knew it was partly his fault, because if he hadn't ordered them to stay put she probably would still be alive right now.

After that day he would become distant from everyone but Ienzo and later on Aeleus. He became absorbed into his research that he gladly continued to study the heart after Ansem had forbidden it.

When he became a Nobody that he would be free of the pain and suffering, but the memories continued to haunt him. So he studied any source of knowledge he could to restore his heart in his spar time. After he came up with the theory of Replicas he saw this as an opportunity.

A chance to bring her back.

So along with many other experiments over the years he tried to recreate her. Eventually he had almost stopped trying and began to focus more on other experiments. He also had nearly died a few times. With the latest being the compression devices he built out of an idea for an old book and spent 2 years gathering the necessary for the procedure. With Luxord' she'll he activated the devices and was nearly killed when they exploded on him. Vexen was lucky to get out of the blast radius, but not the Heartless and Nobodies he was testing them on.

He still thought he saw something come out of the smoke, but it faded from existence the next second.

Still he had some hope when he created Xion. After that it was easier to create Replicas, but not to the way he wanted. It wasn't until a few minutes ago that he now knew that he was closer then ever to bringing her back.

"Soon Claire, we will be reunited again, soon." Vexen said as tears started to pour from his eyes as he silently started to sob into his sleeves. He would soon compose himself to see Xemnas, but for now he would just allow the memories of happier days to pass and let his eyes run dry. For now he knew that he was close.

There was only one thing that he wanted to have more then a heart.

That was to undo his greatest regret.

To see his little sister again.

---

End

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Harem(WIP): Naminé, Xion, Aqua, Yuffie, a surprise.