"That was a nice trick"
Vanitas taunts as he walks up, having followed Aqua and the others once she returns the Land of Departure to normal. Aqua, Sora, and the others turn their backs to protect Ven. But just before Vanitas can go after Ven, suddenly a new voice says
"Perfect. We knew you'd come looking for him"
A dark corridor opens and Demyx steps through, scooping Ven up in his arms and slinging him over his shoulder.
"You! You're with the organization!"
Sora says, looking between him and Vanitas. But Vanitas is also looking up at Demyx, clearly surprised as well by his arrival.
"What're you doing here? Give him to me"
Vanitas demands. Aqua turns and levels her blade at Demyx
"Put. Him. Down!"
She demands. Demyx grins and says
"Sorry, no can do. We need him."
He then salutes and steps through a dark corridor.
"VEN!"
Aqua yells, running towards the corridor. However, it closes before she can make it. She turns towards Vanitas, furious.
"Where did he take him?!"
She demands. Vanitas shrugs and answers
"I really don't know. But we will find him. We do have use for him after all"
He then vanishes just as Aqua charges at him. She looks around desperately before turning to Sora.
"We have to find him…"
She says firmly. Sora nods in agreement and promises
"We will. I swear… For now, let's head back to Master Yen Sid's tower. You can get some rest and we can see if Riku and Mickey have any ideas."
He suggests. Aqua frowns, clearly upset by the idea. She looks back at the empty seat before sighing heavily and nodding. They all return to the Mysterious Tower and Aqua goes to lie down and rest.
Meanwhile, in Radiant Gardens, Demyx steps out of a dark corridor and lies Ven's body down in Ansem's lab on the table. Ienzo walks over and stands over him, examining him.
"It feels bad, and it's not a true solution, but… We don't have much time left. Ventus is a body without a heart, and Roxas has a heart but no body. And the two do look completely identical, so it should work…"
Demyx nods and says
"You'll have to hurry. Vanitas was there, he saw me take him"
Ienzo frowns and responds
"That's… less than ideal, but they did have the same idea as us, though for their own means… We'll do everything we can… I'm assuming Sora and the rest saw you as well."
Demyx nods and rubs the back of his neck sheepishly
"Yeah… we're gonna have a hard time explaining this to them."
Ienzo nods and walks over to his computer, beginning to work on what they have already constructed for Roxas's heart. Aeleus comes in and removes Ven's x-straps, along with the armor on his shoulder and around his waist, putting it all in a box and setting it in the corner. Everyone works late into the night and by sunrise Ven opens his eyes. But it's not Ven, it's Roxas. He slowly sits up and looks around, confused. Ienzo and Ansem the Wise all smile as he wakes up.
"Welcome back Roxas."
He says. Roxas looks over at him and frowns, looking him over before sitting up
"You?!"
Ienzo steps between them and says
"Easy Roxas, it's alright."
Roxas frowns and looks around at those around him
"Zexion… Lexaeus… Xaldin… Vexen? What's going on here? Where's Sora, or Axel?"
Ansem the Wise leaves and Ienzo and the rest explain to him the best they can, catching him up to speed. Roxas frowns as he looks down at his body, unhappy that he took someone else's right to exist since he knows how that feels, but he nods and gets up
"I'm gonna go join Axel and Sora."
He decides, leaving and making his way to the Mysterious Tower.
Upon arriving outside the home of Yen Sid, he comes across and approaches Sora and Aqua who are outside, sparring with Mickey and Riku. Aqua looks over and perks up
"Ven?!"
She gasps, running up. She then stops and takes a step back
"Wait… No… Y-You're not Ventus… Who are you?!"
Sora looks over and Riku walks up, putting a hand on Aqua's shoulder
"You're Roxas"
He says quietly. Roxas nods and crosses his arms
"Been a while Riku… Hello Sora"