A/N: Jesus this chapter was not easy to write. I've made complex characters in the past, but these guys are probably the most complex yet, especially Ren with the general idea that I have for him. It took awhile, but I finally wrote a version of this chapter just how I like it, so hopefully now that it's done and posted it's easier to write... oh, who am I kidding, this won't be an easy write at all. But that's half the fun, is it not?

I still plan on other stories for the future. I got a rough outline of what I want to do for Pokemon, DragonBall, and maybe a DC Universe story. Thinking Teen Titans since that seems to be a go-to; the only reason this one is up to Chapter 8 before I have even gotten to the others is because the ideas for this one just kept coming to me as I re-played Kingdom Hearts 2. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Ren yawned loudly as he sat up in the bed that he was sleeping in on the gummi ship, the purple sheets falling off his bare chest as he stretched. Never before had he slept as good as he did just now. The beds at the orphanage were always so old and worn that he didn't get good sleep, and the tree house mat Kairi had given him was no better, not to mention sleeping on the floor probably made it worse. Feeling refreshed for the first time in his life, he jumped out of bed, his long pajama pants which were grey in color flapping a little as he rushed toward the door and opened it.

Only to find Alina opening the bedroom door across from him as well, and both teens instantly stopped in their tracks. Time seemed to stand still, giving Ren a good look at what Alina was wearing. Never before had he seen this much of Alina, the red nightgown she was wearing didn't cover her arms at all with the spaghetti straps that held it up, and seemed to hug the curves of her body, before ending at her mid thigh. Meanwhile, Alina couldn't help but noice that Ren's bare chest was showing, and that his muscles had increased since their adventure started, giving his arms and chest more definition.

Both teens instantly turned red, attempting to look anywhere but the other person, and failing miserably. "Oh, uh…", both of them muttered at the same time, too embarrassed to say much more but knowing that something had to be said to end this awkward situation.

"I-I was just g-going to go shower", Alina managed to get out, her voice stuttering and higher pitched then normal.

"Oh, g-go ahead", Ren said, backing away as his eyes darted down Alina's body before he caught himself checking her out again and looking up at the ceiling.

"A-are you sure?", Alina asked, her eyes darting right at Ren's abs before she, too, caught herself and found the floor suddenly a lot more interesting then normal.

"Y-yeah, I need to, uh… do my stretches. I forgot to!" Ren closed the door quickly, and listened as Alina's footsteps hurried down the hall and into the bathroom, the door shutting behind her a little too quickly. Ren gave a sigh as he slumped against the wall of the bedroom, his heart racing as he felt his temperature go up. What in the world just happened there?

"Ren, are you ok?", Gamma's voice suddenly asked from behind his door, causing him to jump How did he not hear the robot coming to check on him?

"Yeah, Gamma, I'm fine", Ren replied, trying to study his voice but failing to. "I'm just, er, a little tired from yesterday that's all." This seemed to be enough for Gamma, who's metallic footsteps began walking down the hall to check on Alina as well. Coming to the realization that interacting with her was going to be a lot more awkward until they got over seeing more of each other then they meant to, Ren signed as he figured that he might as well commit to his word and stretch his body out.

"Ren", Alina called into his bedroom though the closed door after some time, almost making the boy jump as he was not focused at all. "You can use the shower now."

"Ok", Ren called back as she shut the door to her own bedroom. He sighed, grabbing a towel and walking swiftly towards the bathroom, reminding himself to listen the next time he was going to leave his room. After his shower, Ren clothed himself and went up to the command deck, where Gamma was sitting behind the wheel and Alina, now back in her white robes, was sitting in one of the co-captain chairs. She turned away as she heard Ren approaching, and Ren couldn't blame her as he too looked in a different direction. Gamma seemed to catch this, looking over confused at the two teens.

"Everything alright between you two?"

"We're fine", both of them muttered at the same time, trying to hide their faces as they began to turn a slight shade of red again.

"…alright", the robot replied before turning back to the monitor. "We're going to make a stop at Crystal Kingdom."

"Wait, why are we going back home?", Alina asked, turning back towards the monitor. "Did a fiend appear back there?"

"Negative", Gamma answered. "While you two were asleep, which I need to remind you I don't need since I am a robot, I encountered an astroid field that I couldn't navigate. Upon contacting The Creator, he recommended I come back to the Crystal Kingdom anyway since he has some upgrades for the ship, one of which might be able to help us through the astroid field and navigate to the other worlds outside of the current system we are in."

"So we're going back", Ren sighed as he crossed his arms. "Alright then… I might use today for some training."

"You don't want to see everyone?" Alina asked, finally looking at Ren once again.

"I might do that as well", Ren replied to her as he made eye contact. "But I need to be focused. I want to practice a bit of using my light and darkness so what happens at Olympus doesn't happen again. I need my darkness, and it will always be a part of me, but I can't let it rule over my emotions like it did back there."

Alina nodded, and for a moment both teens kept eye contact, before both began to turn slightly pink and looked away once again, the awkwardness clearly not done having a hold on them yet. Upon arriving at the world, Ren saw the other two off the ship before heading towards the large double doors that lead into the training room, pushing them open and being shocked that the walls of the room seemed to be metallic steel, though mostly it was a large circular room with a computer mounted on the wall right next to the door. An observation deck seemed to be above him at the far end facing the doors, though currently since both of his companions were off the ship, they were not there.

"Alright", Ren signed as he turned to the computer and began to scroll through the enemies that Gamma had data on. "Let's start small and get into the heavy stuff later. I think… about 30 Shadow Heartless will cut it for now as I warm up."

Pressing the touch screen, Ren activated the simulation, the room's walls pulsing with a light blue circuit pattern for a second as suddenly 30 heartless appeared. While unsure about fighting what was essentially holographic images, Ren summoned Twilight's Balance and raced forward, before slashing at one. To his surprise, the image heartless felt real as his blade contacted it, before the heartless vanished in a sea of data. Almost laughing at how real this all felt, Ren slayed the other 29 heartless and realized just how good this training was going to be for him.

"Ok, so if it can replicate normal heartless, what about other foes we've faced?" Ren went back over to the computer and tapped the screen, and sure enough data on Garland appeared. Knowing that it was the Garland they fought in Crystal Kingdom, Ren felt that facing him would be a good test to see how far he had come since they fought last. Touching more inputs on the screen, the room once again pulsed with blue circuits, before Garland's image appeared.

Ren charged forward, clashing blades with Garland once again, only this time the dark knight stumbled back a bit as he was unable to block the full might of Ren's attack. Smirking to himself at the sign of his own strength, Ren twirled his blade and stabbed Garland just like he did the last time, the dark being stumbling back. Ren let his light shine, the light aura appearing around him as he held out his left hand towards Garland. "Luxra!", shouted the keyblade wielder, and with a blast of light Garland was vaporized in a sea of data.

"Now, let's try my darkness", Ren muttered, turning back to the computer before suddenly pausing. There, in the list of enemies he could fight, was Sora's name, Gamma having perfectly captured enough data on his friend that he could fight him once again. Recalling his statement that if had used darkness, he would've won on Olympus, Ren couldn't help but press on the name of his island mate, who appeared in a sea of data, keyblade and all, ready to fight. Ren turned, glaring at his friend and rival. "Alright, let's see if I was right."

Sora charged first, but Ren was ready, intercepting his blow with a block from his keyblade. Ren was on the defensive for the most part, though this was part of his plan, as Sora seemed a bit too careless in his fight the last time they fought, and sure enough Ren spotted and opening and took it, hitting Sora and sending him flying back. The data-Sora rebounded quickly, rushing forward as the two collided once again, only this time Ren was pushing back on Sora, his rest giving his body the energy he needed to be stronger against the younger boy. Sora leaped back and held his keyblade high.

"Thunder!"

"That's new, guess the real Sora was hiding that from me." Ren smirked before diving out of the way of the lighting strike, but he saw Sora was open. Now was his chance, as he continued dodging until he had a chance to attack, and he turned and held his hand out before shouting, "Drain!" The dark wave shot from his hand, and slammed into Sora, and while Ren couldn't feel him leaching Sora's health like the spell normally would do, he knew the simulation would replicate the intended results. Sora stumbled, weakened from his attack, before Ren twirled his keyblade and shouted, "Noxra!". The dark attack launched forward and slammed into the other keyblader, who was sent flying before vanishing into a sea of data, indicating his defeat.

"I knew it", Ren muttered as he dismissed his keyblade, clenching his fists and staring at the spot that the replicate data of Sora once stood. Whenever he was not using his darkness, he was held back. His full power came from his darkness, and that is what he needed to do from now on in order to win. "Keep that light close", Hercules' words echoed in his mind, and that caused Ren to shake his head before he sighed. No, it wasn't just the darkness alone that gave him his strength, it was his light as well. He needed to use both together to be his best, and that was what his heart, and his keyblade, were all about, the balance between the two that needed to be maintained.

Cussing silently to himself, Ren closed his eyes and sat on the ground. Breathing deeply, he tried to center himself, focusing on his light and darkness and their balance. He could feel his mind ease as his heart shifted, but alas the worries were still there, just buried a little. Dammit, he thought to himself. As much as I hated the islands, it was much easier to focus there. The very air around him seemed to warm up, as a familiar breeze struck his face, causing the teenage to smile. In fact, he could even feel the sand beneath him, which caused him to open his eyes before gasping.

"W-what!?", Ren asked, looking around. It was nighttime, and the main island houses were all dark, the only thing on was a streetlight flickering on and off occasionally. "H-how am I back on Destiny Islands?" Suddenly, two nuns, who Ren recognized as being caretakers of the orphanage, seemed to pass right through him, and Ren could barely make out what one of them was saying to the other as they approached the old orphanage Ren used to inhabit. "A baby boy was dropped off this morning. Very strange how he was delivered to us too… no mother, or father, or any other relative was there at his arrival… he was just left at the front door in a basket full of blankets, with two letters…"

"Two letters?", the second woman asked, as Ren began to walk after them in order to keep on listening to his former caretakers, entering his former home with a bit of a scowl. "What did they say, exactly?"

"The first letter was explaining to us that the boy was homeless, his father was… well, let's just say I don't believe the contents of the letter, but it claims the boy doesn't have a biological father to speak of. He just… happened."

This must be an illusion, Ren thought to himself as he watched the events. This is about me, and I somehow have triggered a memory from the past to resurface using my powers… but how is this even possible? And how did I 'just happen'?

"Happened?", the second caretaker laughed, as if thinking the same thing Ren was thinking just now. "That's code for 'I would rather not reveal it', or 'I am unsure due to poor life choices'". This caused Ren to tighten his fists, but he did nothing more as she continued to speak. "Well, regardless, what did the second letter say?"

"I cannot tell you, for I do not know", the blonde replied, causing Ren to perk up. "The letter was instructed to be opened by the boy when he was old enough. Around 16 or so, the first letter asked."

"Figures", the brunette sighed. "Abandon your child, but try to make amends by writing a letter."

"I don't think the mother abandoned the child on purpose", the blonde spoke in a bit of a defensive tone, which caused Ren to actually feel a sense of gratitude towards his primary caretaker for the first time ever. "The first letter was written as if the mother knew she was not going to survive child birth, and was writing a letter just in case the worst happened. She likely also knew that the boys father, wherever or whoever he may be, wasn't going to claim the child."

"So, she is likely dead…", muttered the brown eyed woman, sighing. "How we are going to explain this to the child, we'll figure out in time. It's all going to depend on how he is as he grows up."

They had finally come to baby Ren sleeping in the crib, and Ren felt a strange sensation watching what he knew was himself lying there, dead asleep. "Did the letter give a name that the mother would want the boy to have?", the brunette caretaker finally asked, causing Ren to focus back on them.

"Yes", the blonde replied. "His name is Ren. I'll monitor him for the night, you go get some sleep." The brunette nodded, before turning around and taking her leave. For a few moments, neither the memory of the blonde or the now teenage Ren moved. Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, the blonde woman turned to the teenage Ren and smiled at him. "I did my best, you know? Of course, with several other kids to take care of, I guess my best wasn't enough…"

Ren looked at her flabbergasted, before finally speaking. "You can't be here. You can't be talking to me right now. You're nothing but a memory."

"Or perhaps I am a lost heart attempting to make amends right now, while I still exist", the blonde spoke back, turning and looking at his crib. "When Destiny Islands fell to darkness, I prayed for a second chance to correct the mistakes I made. Now, I guess I have it."

"The mistakes", Ren repeated, before huffing. "Well, kind of too late for that, isn't it? You didn't do the best job raising me, and now I'm off the world and never plan on coming back. So, whatever mistakes you think you can correct, forget it."

"There is something I can still do", she replied to him, turning and pulling open a drawer that was by his crib. When she turned to him, she held up an open envelope with a paper inside of it. "I know what the second letter contains."

"You… know?" Ren snarled at that. "You invaded my privacy, you bitch! I just heard that memory of you say the letter was only to be opened by me when I turned 16 or so!"

"I won't argue with you", the caretaker sadly smiled, looking down at the envelope. "I do admit what I did was wrong, and how I raised you wasn't the best. But, this is all I can do for right now. Ren, I want you to have the letter. It's a bit early, but if you really are never going to come back to the island, it's best I give it to you now, while I still have the chance to."

"And how do I know what is contained in that letter is the truth?", Ren questioned, glaring at her. "This is a memory, an illusion created by darkness to show me the past. I cannot trust what I am seeing, let alone believe that my heart can just replicate the real letter."

"You would be shocked at the power of a heart", the blonde told him with a smile. "Like it or not, our hearts are connected due to you being raised and brought up by me. When my body and heart were torn apart, I found refuge where I could, and that was within you. But the vestige of my light is only that, and I will soon vanish to where hearts go after death."

"Wait…" Ren was stunned, looking at her for a few moments before finally realizing something. "When I got the keyblade, I heard a voice... was that you?"

At that, the blonde frowned. "No. I am only a lost soul, who was given the chance to make amends for what I have done wrong." For a moment Ren hesitated, but eventually he reached out to grab the letter, but just as he grasped it with his fingers, the memory around him burst and dissolved into darkness.

"Wait, I haven't read it yet!" Ren shouted, attempting to fight his way back.

"Take care, Ren. And I am really sorry."

And just like that, Ren was back in the training room on the ship, but to his shock he was still holding onto the letter, which seemed much more faded then when he saw it in the memory. Somehow, someway, he had used the power of darkness to pull the real letter to him, the fading print and the old, yellowing parchment showing the age of the real letter, unlike the fresh one that he had attempted to grab in his flashback. With a sigh, Ren pulled the paper out of the envelope and began to read.

My dearest Ren,

For too long have I waited for a chance to speak to you, though I can only do so with this letter. There is so much I want to ask, and want to know about the man you have become. But hearts are connected, and I know that I will know the type of man you are somehow. Did you finally get off the Destiny Islands? I hope so, and I am sorry that I had to leave you on such a small world with little to no connection to the other worlds. However, I did it to protect you, Ren, and I guess it is finally time you know why. I was a keyblade master, a type of warrior that can wield a blade shaped like a key with mystical powers. When you are born, I intended to attempt performing the ceremony on you to give you the same powers, but alas it might not work, with you being just born and all. Still, I can sense the strong heart that you process, despite you not even being born yet. It's exciting, yet frightening, that I can already sense the heart you have, Ren. I think you will make a very powerful keyblade master, if a keyblade chooses you.

During my time as a keyblade wielder, I worked with an organization for some time on tracking a mysterious figure that was emersed within darkness that seemed to vanish and reappear. During one of our investigations, he did something to me… it's impossible to explain what happened, but during our investigation he seemed to attempt to use another heart to take control of me, yet it seemed to be his own heart, as if he had two at once. For sometime, I fought off his heart to the best of my abilities, but alas it was a losing battle. I was slowly falling under his influence, and I could see his powers of darkness growing stronger, and his voice beginning to reach out to sway my light. I went to someone I knew well within my organization, and I revealed that he had obtained a sample of that man's blood from the time of our fight. Ren, I don't know if this makes sense to you, but your father wasn't conventionally in the picture, hence why I might have to tell people in the future that you don't have one. Regardless, I feel pregnant with you, and the heart that attempted to process me was absorbed into your pure light heart. I can sense you darkness, Ren, and it was his, but I know that it will not control you like it almost did me.

Your light and darkness are your own, my son, and I just know you can wield both effectively. I am sorry that I cannot be there for you, but fighting off his darkness for as long as I did, and now my body growing and nurturing yours, has weakened me considerably. Right now, I am no longer within the organization, and they despite the darkness and would attempt to end your life and mine. The doctor that assisted me with giving you life is also helping me stay alive just long enough to give birth and spend some time with you before I finally go to The Final World. Take care, my son. I love you.

Mom

Tears were falling from Ren's eyes as he read and reread the letter several times, letting every single word sink in as they were engrained into his memory. Finally, after sometime, he wiped his eyes and folded the letter gently, tucking it into his vest before glaring and looking up.

So, his mother was a keyblade wielder who did battle against someone who attempted to possess her with a dark heart, which also seemed to be his own heart at the same time, almost like he split it in half. The blood of that individual was then used to create himself, and his pure light heart would go on to assimilate or absorb the dark heart that attempted to possess his mother, creating his now Twilight Heart. The only question that remained was, who was the man who attempted all this, and was it his heart or another he used that just seemed similar to his own? No matter what, that man was his father, and while Ren was only half-heartedly wondering who his father was this entire time, it now seemed more important that he figure out who this man was.

"Ren!" Alina shouted from inside the ship, causing the twilight keyblade wielder to jump. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, be out in a second", Ren replied to her, sighing. Alright, so regardless of what he would find out, the remaining three fiends were important, but now that he knew that at least Garland seemed to know who his darkness resembled, he was going to be sure to at least attempt getting some answers out of those creatures.

With that, he folded and tucked the letter from his mother into his vest before opening the door to the training room.

A/N: I think I need to explain.

So, Ren was not conceived through normal methods, obviously. The thought behind his creation was artificial insemination, due to the mother wanting to be rid of the dark heart that was attempting to possess her, no matter what. She grew attached to the child when he was still developing, hence the letter, so she abandoned her initial plans to just... well, let's just say be a bad mother. Originally, she thought that his heart would just because the spawns new heart, however something entirely different happened instead.

This will be a major plot point later, of course, hence why this chapter had to be written, though I couldn't reveal too much. More of Ren's birth will be explained later, so for now just file this in the back of your minds, as it will be important down the road. Hope you guys enjoyed!

Edit: Oh, and before anyone is like "Oh Ren is taking this better then he really should be"... Hahahaha, just wait.