Based on Birth by Sleep and A Fragmentary Passage. Chapters 1-7 Written Pre-Kingdom Hearts III and Pre-BBS Novel. Disregards KHUX and Re:Mind.

If you enjoy this fanfiction or just VanQua (Vanitas/Aqua) in general, please check out "Cast a Shadow" and "Stroke of Midnight" by Taliax, "The Path to Heaven" by fairyfires, "The Birdcage" and "Secret Place" by Tory (Ejes), and the fanworks of Alacquiene, AmyHayaNora, bluenightarts, and annria2002. This story wouldn't exist without you guys. Thanks for reading! (This work is also available on Ao3).

Content Warnings: This story contains graphic violence, blood/gore, discussions of past physical/emotional abuse and neglect, brief and supernatural self-harm, various mental health issues, mild sexually suggestive content, and strong language.

Please visit voidgear-and-stormfall on tumblr for more Vanitas/Aqua content!
And don't forget to check out vengeverse on tumblr for my art, including lots of Vanqua stuff!

Chapter I

The blue-haired Keyblade Master trudged along the twisted road through the dark forest, dragging her heels through the dirt. Her way was illuminated only by patches of bioluminescent wildflowers and the occasional lantern hanging from the intricate fencing on either side of the path. The air was still; neither clouds nor stars adorned the permanent night sky. Despite the forest, there were no sounds of nature, neither bugs nor birds nor beasts. How plant life was able to survive in a World without sunlight, she would never know.

The Realm of Darkness was no place for beings of Light.

Aqua was exhausted. She took another gulp of water from the Potion bottle she was using as a canteen. She had filled it from a stream in what resembled some twisted mockery of the Dwarf Woodlands. In this Dark World, she was beyond hungry. Her stomach had stopped rumbling ages ago, replaced by a cold, empty pit.

The last thing Aqua had eaten were some foul-tasting apples she had foraged from the Woodlands. She had managed to choke down several before realizing they were poisoned. Thankfully an Esuna spell had stifled the toxins. At least the fruit had filled her stomach for a little while, though it was impossible to truly tell how long ago that had been. It felt like it had been ages, and yet also like no time had passed at all.

There's no 'time' in the Realm of Darkness. I walk on and on without end. In the Realm of Light, do days or years pass with each step?

Days… weeks… months… years… None of that mattered anymore. All she could do was move forward. Aqua struggled to keep her footing as the path took a steep incline. Something peaked over the top of the hill, shining in the gloom.

"Could it be?!" she gasped. Aqua ran further up the path, reaching the summit and beholding the breathtaking sight before her. A brilliant castle of white turrets illuminated the surrounding darkness. Resting at its feet was a village full of light. Somehow in this Dark World, the Castle of Dreams stood proudly.

"Why is Cinderella's World… here in the Darkness?" Aqua asked out loud. She'd been talking to herself a lot, lately. She rushed down the path and came to a clearing. As soon as she reached the center, Aqua could tell something was wrong.

The shadows of the surrounding trees stretched and grew, pressing in from all sides and surrounding her. From these shadows leapt a swarm of small creatures with pitch-black bodies, twitching antennae, and beady yellow eyes aglow with an inner fire. Dwellers of Darkness. All manner of foul beasts such as these had attacked her since she had first entered the Dark World.

Aqua summoned her Keyblade— not Stormfall, the Keyblade she had manifested as the true reflection of her heart, but Master Keeper, the Keyblade passed down through generations of Keyblade Masters. Master Eraqus's Keyblade, before his untimely death at the hands of—

She couldn't think about that right now.

One of the monsters charged Aqua, and she sliced through it with a single stroke; its two halves fell twitching and dissolved into a puddle of black goo. Another leaped at her, cutting her cheek with its claws. She pushed it off, stabbing it through the gut and it gave a warbling squeal. Whirling around, she delivered a kick to one that was sneaking up behind her, the pointed metal tip of her boot easily penetrating the beast's skull. These creatures seemed more Darkness than flesh.

Aqua attempted to call back Master Keeper with a mental command, but the Keyblade remained imbedded in the dying monster. Instead, she put her magic skills to work, destroying several more with an icy blast of Blizzara. She retrieved her Keyblade from the slowly melting corpse of the creature. For whatever reason, Master Keeper was often times reluctant to heed her call. She couldn't stand the thought that her Master's Keyblade was rejecting her.

She finished off the rest of the Dark creatures and dismissed Master Keeper. Their bodies liquified and evaporated into black smoke, leaving no trace of their existence behind. If not for the cut on her cheek, it would be as if they were never there. Aqua gingerly inspected the scratch. It was shallow, but she cast Cure anyway to prevent possible scarring or infection. She was breathing surprisingly heavily after the encounter. Normally such monsters would be an easy fight, but she was exhausted.

Aqua trudged on towards the Castle of Dreams, past towering rock formations of crystallized stone shaped like grasping claws, mineralized talons reaching towards the empty dark sky. The blue crystal pulsed with some unholy internal light. She came to a fork in the road. One path led directly to Castle Town, the other turned deeper into the forest. If she remembered correctly, that was the direction of the Tremaines' Château. In fact, she could now see the house's single tall tower poking out above the trees.

Was Cinderella here in the Dark World? Aqua hoped the Princess of Heart hadn't been swallowed by the Darkness, too. Even if she could meet her friend, Aqua didn't want their reunion to be here, in this Dark place. Still, she had to make sure Cinderella wasn't around. If the Princess was here, she would likely be at the Castle. However, the Tremaines' Château was closer to Aqua's current location. It would be best to look there first, just in case.

Aqua turned down the path towards the Château. It was harder to see down this road with the Castle's shining light hidden by the thick forest. Chiropteran creatures flitted through the trees, occasionally swooping down at her, but she drove them off with her Keyblade and simple fire magic.

Aqua quickly arrived at her destination. She hadn't given the Château more than a cursory glance on her last visit, so intent was she on stopping the Tremaines from harming Cinderella. The house stood in the empty clearing, covered in vines and white paint peeling to reveal grey stonework underneath. Heavy curtains were drawn across the windows. A conspicuous stone tower stuck out high over the red roof, where Cinderella had been kept as a prisoner in her own home.

I haven't felt my heart stir in a long time. Something about this place…

It was here Aqua had met Cinderella, the girl with such a pure heart of Light. She had also met the Tremaines, people who had let their hearts be corrupted by Darkness. And of course Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, who had warned against fighting Darkness with Light. Aqua still wondered why the old fairy had given her such a message.

Despite being home to a Princess of Heart, the Château had felt heavy and oppressive with Darkness. Now, in the Dark World, the house was Darker than ever. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as Aqua suddenly felt like she was being watched. Was the movement she saw in one of the windows real or imagined? She tightened her grip on her Keyblade.

"It looks like worse things are stirring…"

Aqua entered the house cautiously, the door creaking softly on its hinges. "Hello?" she whispered into the gloom. There was no response. Aqua glanced around the foyer. The walls were papered in blue with gold trim. Elegant white columns bolstered the ceiling and a fat red couch sat on polished tile next to the varnished staircase. Silver vases, candles, and mirrors were all obvious signs of wealth. It was a perfect, well-kept house. Of course, Aqua knew it was only so spotless because Cinderella had been worked to the bone.

A sharp pang of hunger suddenly gripped her. She looked wistfully towards the kitchen. It would be wrong to steal, but she was so hungry… She wouldn't take much. Aqua peered into the kitchen. It was less fancy than the rest of the house, all hard stone and brick. Near the door was a wooden board upon which hung three little golden bells. Aqua eagerly opened the cupboards and cabinets, but to her vast disappointment nary a crumb was left. Had some Dark creature already raided the kitchen? Did monsters need to eat?

She felt uneasy. Maybe there really was another person in the house. Reentering the foyer, Aqua spotted a table upon which sat a rose in a glass case. She recalled vague memories of a fairytale from her childhood, about a valiant young woman, a cursed prince, and an enchanted castle. Hadn't a rose been important to the story?

Aqua took the staircase to the second floor. The upstairs were just as vacant and silent as the foyer. She opened the first door on her left. There was no one in there, either, just bookshelves and a wardrobe, with white boxes full of fancy clothing littering the floor. The second and third rooms were much the same, just empty bedrooms. Aqua reached the fourth door. Behind it was an ominous bedroom with a green carpet and lilac furniture complete with the biggest bed she had ever seen. There was no occupant. The whole house was uninhabited.

A thud broke the silence. Aqua startled. It had come from higher up, in the tower. Aqua ran up the spiral staircase, the blue wallpaper giving way to bare stone. She burst through the wooden door at the top into a small round room. A quick glance around told her it was empty, but the window was open. Aqua peered out onto the lawn below. Something scampered across the garden, a dark animal form which sunk into the ground and vanished into the trees. Aqua felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. So it was just another monster after all…

Her unease gone, she took a closer look around the room. This was Cinderella's bedroom, she realized, with the closet the Tremaines had locked her in next to the window. A tiny pink bed was squeezed into the corner next to the bedside table. A wooden chair sat next to a small vanity upon which rested a broken mirror. Aqua hadn't seen her own reflection in a long time. She was thin, her skin pale from a lack of sunlight, her blue hair scraggly and matted. There were dark bags under her eyes, her once brilliant blue irises dulled to grey. She barely slept anymore.

Taking her eyes off her own reflection, she noticed a small hole at the bottom of the wall, through which she had helped that little mouse bring the key to unlock Cinderella's prison. What was his name? Jaq? He had claimed to have met Ven. Aqua felt a little warmer at that. Ventus had made friends too, in the Worlds. Had the Fairy Godmother shrunk him down to mouse size, too? It was an amusing thought.

Aqua was so glad she had helped Cinderella in time. She could see the Castle of Dreams from the window, across the deep forest and overlooking Castle Town. Cinderella had achieved her dream, going to the ball, marrying the Prince… And now her World was gone. Ventus was comatose. And Terra… Somehow, Aqua had thought thinking of her friends would cheer her up, but instead she suddenly felt more miserable than ever.

"I took it for granted. I thought I had nothing in life to lose."

She sighed and left the house. There was only one other place to go, the Castle of Dreams. Traveling from the Château through a wooded park, past a fountain and a stone bench, Aqua finally arrived in Castle Town. She walked down the cobblestone road through the lamplit streets. Not a soul stirred other than the monsters quietly lurking in the shadows. Aqua stopped in the town square. A fountain stood in the middle; even it was nearly silent. The houses around her were dark and empty.

Everyone in this World thought they were safe. Not just the people, but the dog waiting for his owner… the cat curled up in her nook… So much life. There's no deeper sadness than discovering all that you knew is gone. The grief in this place is too much to fathom. Where did the people who lived here go, once their World was taken away?

She sighed and walked forwards. "That's enough. I can't keep wishing for the past. At least they're not here, so they haven't fallen to Darkness. I'll take what solace I can from that." The long and slightly winding path from the town square lead her through a small forest towards the Castle of Dreams. The entire Castle was situated on a chunk of floating rock suspended over an empty void.

Even in the Dark World, the Castle was stunning and magnificent in its beauty, all white columns and high towers which faded into the dark sky. The clock on the tower was permanently stuck at midnight, the same time Aqua had first arrived to this World. Cinderella had run right past her, and then Terra had been there. Aqua had thought he'd been alright, but that hadn't been true. By that point, he had already begun slipping into Darkness…

"What I wouldn't give to turn back time, to spend one more night beneath the stars with my best friends…" Aqua gasped and shook her head. "I'm doing it again." It was so difficult to not think of the past.

She pushed past the finely crafted gates into a rectangular courtyard of meticulously trimmed hedges. A square stone pool sat at the center, surrounded by four columns, each hosting a steadily burning flame. Aqua peered into the motionless dark water. The last time she was here, there had been Prize Pods under the water's surface. Although she had startled them out of their hiding place, the strange floating Unversed hadn't attacked her. They had been filled with various sweet treats— cakes, muffins, candies…

When she had showed the treats to Huey, Dewey, and Louie in Disney Town, the three little ducklings had fashioned ice cream from the ingredients. Aqua had been wary to try it at first, —eating something created from the Unversed sounded disgusting— but the first bite had told her otherwise.

As she ascended the white stone steps leading to the Castle entrance, Aqua remembered the ice cream Queen Minnie had given her for the Million Dreams Award in Disney Town. Royalberry Ice Cream, a unique flavor made specially for her. An award she, Terra, and Ven were supposed to all win together.

Aqua found herself missing them; all of them, not just Terra and Ven and Master Eraqus, but King Mickey, Cinderella, Prince Phillip, Zack, the citizens of Disney Town, Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, even Experiment 626. All of the friends she had met along her journey. The Dark World would be bearable if only she could see just one familiar face…

The inside of the Castle was dark. Walking through the entrance hall, Aqua realized she hadn't seen a single monster since entering the Castle gates. Could it be that the Castle's natural Light had driven them away? Somehow, though she wanted to hope, she doubted it.

Aqua surveyed the dark foyer. She already knew the extravagant red staircase lead up to the ballroom. Leading off to the left was a grand set of doors, which were slightly ajar. Aqua wasn't quite sure what she was searching for. Cinderella? Terra? Some sign of life? Of anyone? She could only move forward. Aqua took only a couple steps towards the doors when a bright light suddenly shone from the ballroom. She threw a hand across her face, blinking as the light dimmed. And standing there at the top of the staircase, outlined by glittering golden light was—

"Terra!" She couldn't believe it. Her best friend was smiling down at her. Her elation at seeing him was quickly replaced by dread. "It can't be. What are you doing here? You should be in the Realm of Light— Oh no… Did you not make it out? Don't tell me, has the Realm of Light—" She stopped babbling to let him answer her questions, but Terra didn't move, didn't speak a word. He just stood there, staring and smiling. "Why won't you say anything to me…?"

He turned away from her then, disappearing back into the ballroom. Had that really been Terra? Or was she was finally losing her mind? If there was even a slim chance that was the real Terra… She called after him as the light faded, racing up the stairs two at a time.

The ballroom was empty. Aqua stood there in the dark, feeling more alone than she ever had before. "So what were you, a memory among these shadows? Were you here to… try and tell me not to lose heart?" She clutched her hands over the silver pendant on her chest.

Aqua's empty stomach churned at the sudden stench of decaying roses. A creak caught her attention, drawing her eyes to the chandelier which hung from the high ceiling. The air above the chandelier shimmered and two yellow eyes like twin embers leered out of the gloom. The near-invisible creature leaped towards her. Aqua realized just in time and cartwheeled out of the way. It hit the ground where she had just been standing, the blue tile cracking on impact. Its body shimmered as its cloaking spell deactivated.

The creature was a giant horned beast, with curved red claws and a crimson mane that flowed like fire. It bore a heart-shaped hole in the center of its chest, which was wreathed by thorns. It roared to reveal a row of metallic fangs, its hot breath sending another wave of nausea over her.

To her surprise, rather than attacking her head-on, it lobbed a barrage of Dark flames in her direction. She blocked them just in time with a Barrier spell. Aqua grit her teeth and summoned Master Keeper to her hand. She would not be defeated by a dweller of Darkness. She sent a bolt of Thundaga coursing through the beast, the lightning leaving burning white streaks in its hide. However, it appeared to have only done surface-level damage and the beast was quick to recover. Did monsters even feel pain?

Lunging forwards, it swiped at her with its claws, but she dodged again. In her fatigue she botched the cartwheel, painfully twisting her left wrist. The creature's momentum carried it crashing into the far wall, leaving an impact crater on the stone. Aqua couldn't allow herself to take a hit from that thing.

She cast another spell, an icy spike of Blizzaga crippling its hind leg. The beast dragged the limb on the floor but was still standing and faster than her. Aqua charged her Focus and let loose a Prism Rain Shotlock that left her breathless. The creature roared as the salvo of bright, rainbow-colored magical orbs hit it square in the face. It swiped blindly at her with its talons.

Gasping, she barely raised Master Keeper in time. The Keyblade blocked the sharp claws, but didn't lessen the impact of the blow. Aqua was knocked into a stone pillar and fell to the floor. Rattled, she shakily stood back up, preparing to evade yet another attack. Her Mana was too low for another Barrier and she was slowing down from exhaustion. The monster had turned invisible once more.

Where did it go?

Aqua spun around, searching for its tell-tale shimmer.

There—!

She saw it but wasn't fast enough to dodge completely. It raked its long talons across her shoulder, causing her to cry out. The scratch wasn't deep, but it burned painfully. Aqua had run out of Mana for a Curaga spell; Cure would have to do. Or at least it would have, if another scratch across her back —deeper this time— hadn't interrupted her spell-casting.

She was out of Mana, Potions, and options. The creature was blocking the ballroom entrance so she couldn't escape. Aqua wobbled on tired legs and an empty stomach, bleeding out onto the center of the floor. She was too weak to run. Even as she raised her Keyblade into a defensive position, she knew it was hopeless.

Aqua would never see her family, Terra and Ven, again. She would never be able to thank King Mickey for his help or Queen Minnie for her kindness, or go on a date with Zack. Master Eraqus was dead. Ventus was comatose. And Terra… Terra was amnesic at best, at worst lost forever to Darkness…

Dark fire swirled around the monster. It lunged forwards, its open maw ready to devour her.

This was the end.

Maybe it was better this way. Better to die now, go down fighting with what dignity she had left, than wander the Dark World forever or fade away into Darkness. But even as this thought passed her mind, Aqua knew it wasn't true. More than anything, she wanted to live. She wanted to escape this horrible place, see the sun and blue skies, see Terra and Ven smile again.

There was a sudden motion on the upper balcony, a dark blur almost too fast to see. It leaped onto the creature from above, driving its blade deep through the beast's skull. The dying creature collapsed heavily just inches from her, dark blood and bits of brain matter splattering against the red carpet. Aqua sank to her knees as the beast's carcass dissolved into black smoke, her vision blurred from exhaustion and tears. Relief washed over her even as her senses started to give out.

Terra came back, she thought deliriously. He… he saved me…

Relief quickly turned to horror at the sound of a horribly familiar voice.

"What's wrong? Giving up already?"

Darkness swirled across her vision and everything went black.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

The boy in the mask stared down at the blue-haired Keyblade Master slowly dying at his feet. Aqua's face was gaunt, her usually rosy skin pale and ashy. The dark bruises under her eyes were an obvious sign of lack of sleep. Loose strands of hair stuck to her sweaty forehead and her breathing was shallow, uneven. She looked weak. Pathetic. Nothing like the proud Keyblade Master he had fought.

Vanitas's broken heart beat rapidly in his chest. He hadn't seen anyone since… Well, since Ventus had rejected him and destroyed the X-Blade. Somehow, he had been expelled from the other half of his heart again and banished to this hellish Dark World.

How Aqua of all people had ended up down here was anyone's guess. She'd had a hand in destroying the X-Blade, too. He should kill her, execute his vengeance upon the girl who had murdered him; who had ruined his one chance at salvation. Her shallow breath hitched as he wrapped his fingers around her throat and squeezed tight. He would choke the life out of her while she was too broken to fight back. Simple and clean. She wouldn't feel a thing.

Vanitas paused. His fingers twitched.

Would this really be a satisfying victory? A painless death, when she wasn't even aware of who killed her? Shouldn't she suffer for what she did to him?

He uncurled his hand from her neck and brushed her hair out of her face. Aqua took a shuddering breath and cringed at his touch. Even unconscious, she shied away from his Darkness instinctively. It wasn't hard to see why. Her heart was nearly pure Light, even after spending who knows how long in the Dark World. Any being with that much Light would find Darkness disgusting.

Aqua's Light carried a scent that made him dizzy, burned his nose, seared his lungs in a way that drove him mad. It was also bright and clean and sweeter than anything he'd ever tasted, sweeter than the pain. She was the only Light in the Realm of Darkness. He'd forgotten how much he craved it.

Vanitas felt a stirring in the deepest pit of his Dark heart, a base desire he didn't understand. It was something he'd only ever felt for one person, and she was dying right before his eyes; an all-consuming urge to fill her up with his Darkness, devour her sweet Light, and feast upon her heart.

With a grunt of self-disgust and a great effort, he shoved the mysterious emotion down as deep as it would go. Dark as he may be, he was no common Heartless. He instead turned his attention to a different emotion, this one all too familiar, for it had haunted him his entire life; the great empty ache of loneliness and longing. Without his Master, without the X-Blade, Vanitas was aimless. Purposeless. Lost.

Vanitas wasn't sure how long it had been since his defeat at Ventus and Aqua's hands, but the loneliness he felt now was far worse than it had ever been back in the Badlands. At least then he'd occasionally had someone to talk to, even if his Master was a creepy old man with a X-Blade fetish.

In the Dark World, there was no one. He'd walked for what seemed like ages, killing whatever Heartless attacked him, living off Prize Pod food, and sleeping wherever and whenever he could. It seemed the Heartless would attempt to devour any heart, even one as Dark as his. Even through all that, he was pretty sure no time had actually passed. Vanitas had thought he was going insane —well, more insane than usual— when he'd started talking to his own Unversed. But now…

Somehow, for some reason, Aqua was here at his mercy and he didn't know what to do. Vanitas hated her and Ventus for ruining his chance at salvation. But if he killed her, whatever enjoyment he'd get out of it would be brief, and then he would be alone again.

Vanitas mulled it over. If Xehanort had succeeded in securing Terra's body for himself, and Aqua was lost to the Dark World, then Ventus would finally understand the loneliness that had plagued Vanitas's entire life. He wanted to see the look on that loser's face when he realized both his friends were gone. Aqua's death would ensure that loss was permanent.

It would serve Ventus right for rejecting him.

However, he hadn't gotten any feedback from Ventus in a long time. The idiot wasn't dead, Vanitas would know if he was, but Ventus didn't seem to be aware of anything, either. It was as if he were in a deep sleep. If Ventus wasn't awake to experience misery, then what would be the pleasure in killing his friend?

Ventus, that hopeless sleepyhead. While his friends were lost to Darkness, he was taking a nap.

That raised an interesting question, though. Just where was Ventus sleeping? And more importantly, how could Vanitas get him back? Usually, the connection between their half-hearts would allow Vanitas to vaguely sense Ventus's general location. For some reason, however, the ability wasn't working. It wasn't as if the connection was broken; rather, there was some kind of interference blocking his second sight.

Aqua must have hidden him somehow. If Vanitas wanted to find Ventus, if he wanted to take his body back and become more than just an empty shell with half a heart, he would need Aqua to tell him where Ventus was.

It was decided. Killing Aqua would achieve nothing. As much as he enjoyed seeing her in pain, as much as she deserved it for killing him, Vanitas had to admit he needed her for now.

Vanitas lifted the Keyblade Master in his arms and held her against his chest. Aqua was heavy, but he was strong. She shivered, unconsciously disturbed to have such a Dark heart pressing against her body. With her close proximity he couldn't help but inhale another deep lungful of her sweet, addictive scent. Even as it burned his throat on the way down, Vanitas wanted to drink in as much as he could. After he found a place for her to rest, he'd need to go clear his head. He wouldn't be able to think, otherwise.

The upper antechamber was as good a place as any; it would serve his purposes. He dumped her body unceremoniously onto a purple couch. Laying there, half-dead, Aqua looked rather vulnerable. Vanitas didn't want some roving Heartless to eat her heart before she woke up, nor did he want to be around when she did.

Reaching into his heart, Vanitas grabbed ahold of his Loneliness and yanked it out with a tendril of Darkness. The resulting Scrapper crouched on the red rug, hugging its clawed arms around itself and shivering. The Unversed weren't particularly bright, but they would obey simple commands.

"Keep watch; alert me when she wakes up," he told it. The Scrapper tilted its head towards its master's voice. Speaking to the Unversed was unnecessary, as Vanitas could just mentally command them to do what he wanted, but he'd become lonely enough that talking out loud just felt better. He'd have to break the habit.

Vanitas turned his attention back to Aqua and inspected her wounds. The Dark Thorn's claws had just grazed her shoulder, but dug deeply into her back. He had long since run out of Potions; a Vile Phial would have to do. Using his earlier feeling of Self-Disgust, Vanitas summoned the Phial to his hand. He popped the crystalline cap off the bottle-shaped Unversed and forced Aqua's mouth open so she wouldn't choke on the green healing sludge as it slid down her throat.

Aqua shuddered and groaned in her sleep as the Dark healing magic did its work. As soon as she awakened, Vanitas would 'persuade' her into giving up the location of Ventus. And if she refused or didn't know, well…

It never hurts to have a backup.

Vanitas's lips twisted into a demonic grin, the closest expression to a smile he had worn in a long time. One way or another, he would finally be whole.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aqua bolted upright only to hiss at the pain in her arm and back. With a groan she leaned back onto some cushions. Where was she? A quick glance around her surroundings told her she was still in the Castle somewhere, in a small square room furnished with a purple couch upon which she lay with paintings and mirrors adorning the walls. A dark green blur flitted at the corner of her vision but was gone when she tried to take a closer look.

Aqua checked the wound on her shoulder. It was healed over, obviously magically, but whoever had done it certainly hadn't used a Cure spell, as it still hurt. Her mouth tasted awful. She wiped her mouth with the back of her glove, surprised to see it stained with some greenish substance that had dried on her lips. Some kind of healing Potion? Luckily for her, she had regained enough Mana from sleeping to cast Curaga on her wounds. Aqua hoped they wouldn't scar.

…Maybe she had imagined it, in a hunger-induced delirium. There was no way that he of all people could be here, much less save her life. Aqua pushed herself upright and off the couch, walking to the balcony. The room below was the ballroom, where the giant monster had attacked her. This was some sort of antechamber, then.

Suddenly a dark figure swung up onto the railing right in front of her. Aqua couldn't help but scream as she stumbled back. The figure hopped down to the floor, chuckling darkly. The fabric hanging off its belt swished around its legs as it stood to its full —albeit short— height.

It— no, he was clad in a black bodysuit made of thick, veinlike fibers. Emblazoned across his chest were twisted red veins that highlighted his muscular build. A shiny dark helmet of jagged grey metal and opaque black glass obscured his face. And for some unfathomable reason, he was wearing a navy-blue skirt of all things.

Aqua shook herself. Now wasn't the time to criticize her enemy's fashion sense.

The boy in the mask… Terra had mentioned his name, once.

Vanitas.

"Morning, sleeping beauty," he purred. "Have a nice nap?"

Aqua involuntarily shivered but stood her ground. "What are you doing here?" she asked, eyes narrowed.

"I'll be asking the questions," Vanitas snapped. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back on the banister. "So, the great Master Aqua has finally graced the Realm of Darkness with her presence," he drawled. "Shouldn't you be chasing after your loser friends? Where could those two idiots possibly be?"

"I'd rather die than tell you," she spat.

"That can be arranged," he goaded lightly.

Aqua tensed, her eyes widening a fraction. "You won't kill me, you need me. Otherwise you wouldn't have saved me," she countered. At least, she hoped that were true. Why else would he have killed that monster?

Vanitas cackled, a high-pitched sound that sent chills down her spine. "Oh, please. You think I saved you 'cause I need you? You're mistaken, Aqua. I did it 'cause I was bored."

So much for that, then. Vanitas's posture remained relaxed. If she struck now, he wouldn't be expecting it. Aqua's hand curled in anticipation to summon her Keyblade.

As if reading her mind, Vanitas stood up a little straighter. "I'll get right to the point. Where'd you hide Ventus?" His voice lost its faux affable quality, becoming deeper, more dangerous.

"I won't let you hurt my friends."

"It's always about your friends, isn't it," he sneered. "You and Ventus."

"At least I have some!" Aqua countered.

"Oh yeah? Take a good look around; see where that's gotten you," he said with a wide, dramatic gesture. "Is this what you call friendship? Face it. They've abandoned you down here."

"Shut up!" Master Keeper was in her hand with a flash of light.

Vanitas didn't even flinch. "Now, what do you think you're gonna do with that?" His tone was mocking. "That's Eraqus's Keyblade, isn't it? Master's Defender?"

"Master Keeper," she corrected hotly.

"Yeah, whatever." He made a motion as if rolling his eyes; it was hard to tell with the mask. "Tell me, how is the old Light-blind idiot? You loot that off his corpse?"

She was on him in an instant, but Vanitas had summoned his black-and-red Keyblade in the blink of an eye, blocking her strike with a lazy single-handed guard position. He'd barely even moved or changed his stance. Aqua could feel the weakness in her own arms and was overcome by a sudden dizziness from hunger. Vanitas suddenly pushed forwards, shoving her hard against the wall. Master Keeper tumbled out of her loosened grip. She tried calling it back but it just sat where it had clattered against the floor.

Vanitas's oversized Keyblade pressed heavily against her chest. It thrummed with heat and energy, so much unlike Master Keeper's cold dead weight. Aqua held it at bay with the palms of her gloved hands against the flat of the blade. However, it was likely that the only reason the sharp edge wasn't sinking into her flesh was because Vanitas wasn't putting any real weight behind it.

"You haven't completely bonded with it, have you?" he said, quite calmly for the situation. "I know you can't turn it into one of those fancy Keyblade Gliders, otherwise you wouldn't still be here."

This close, the stench of his Darkness was horribly oppressive. What's worse, she heard him inhale deeply, as though smelling her. Thoroughly unnerved, Aqua suddenly realized she had no idea what he was capable of.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed; sparks of a Thundaga spell crackled and arced across her fingertips. To her surprise, he complied, drawing back just far enough to trace the sharp tip of his Keyblade across her chest, digging directly into the silver pendant that lay protectively over her heart.

"That Keyblade isn't yours to bear. You don't deserve the title of Master," Vanitas said, indicating to where Master Keeper lay lifelessly on the floor.

"I passed my Mark of Mastery!"

"Oh, I saw that pathetic little excuse for a test," he sneered. "Fighting magic orbs is all it takes to be a Keyblade Master nowadays? What a sham."

Aqua almost began to argue the importance of the Mark of Mastery, its history and what it represented, the clashing of powers and revealing of natures, but she suddenly realized that Vanitas had just given her an important piece of information.

"You were spying on us!"

"Xehanort let me tag along," he shrugged. "I was just there for Ventus. Looked like the stupid brat was having fun. Pampered. Spoiled. Weak," Vanitas spat the last word, and the pressure of his Keyblade increased, its metal teeth scraping against her pendant. "It was fun to see Terra fail, though. He couldn't even go one fight without relying on the Darkness. No wonder Eraqus didn't make him a Master." He tilted his head. "…Terra killed your Master, didn't he?"

Aqua could hear the smirk in his voice. "That was Xehanort's fault! He tricked Terra into it! He set the whole thing up to awaken Terra's Darkness."

"So he did give in to Darkness!" Vanitas jeered gleefully. "Terra had no control over the Darkness in his heart, but Xehanort made good use of him. How'd the old man enjoy his new meatsuit?"

"Excuse me?!"

"His vessel, idiot. If his plan worked out, Xehanort's running around in a shiny new body named Terra."

Aqua stared in horror. "No…"

"Oh, yes. Where's the fun in a Keyblade War if you die of old age?"

Aqua thought back to when she had fought the Darkness-possessed Terra in Radiant Garden. His voice, his hair, his mannerisms… They hadn't been like Terra at all. If it really had been Xehanort she had saved, and not Terra…

Oh Light, what have I done?

"I… I just thought it was his Darkness… He didn't know who he was…"

"Really now? That's interesting." Vanitas finally dismissed his Keyblade, turning his back on her and making his way to the antechamber entrance. "I wonder what went wrong…?" he mused to himself, pacing across the floor.

He was ignoring her, so Aqua took a moment to inspect her pendant. She had received it as a symbol of her apprenticeship to Master Eraqus, a symbol shared between her and her friends. It had sustained a hairline scratch where Vanitas's terrible Keyblade had bitten into it.

Rage bubbled up inside her heart, and not just at Xehanort. Vanitas had tried to possess Ventus too, she hadn't forgotten that. These two monsters had conspired to take her friends away, rob them of their bodies, their Master, their home, everything. Aqua was sick of monsters, whether they attacked with weapons or words. She wasn't going to let Vanitas stand there and laugh and insult her friends and Master. Her anger came tumbling out as words, more vicious than she'd ever said to anyone.

"That was your plan, was it? Possess Terra and Ventus and start a Keyblade War? Well guess what, there will be no War. You failed! You and your Master!"

Vanitas stopped pacing and turned to look at her. "Shut up," he growled. "I just told you he got to Terra."

She shook her head. "Even if Xehanort took Terra's body, he can't remember a thing. Terra's still fighting from the inside. He'll defeat Xehanort eventually." Even as she said this, Aqua realized something. "Xehanort concocted this whole scheme, didn't he? He was the real mastermind, not you. Without him, you're nothing; just Xehanort's pet monster!"

"I said shut up!" Vanitas was fully facing her now. His fists were shaking and Darkness visibly curled around his body.

Maybe it was childish. Maybe it was petty. But Aqua was tired of walking long roads in the dark, and half of the reason why she was here was the Dark creature standing before her. Unkind words were nothing compared to what Vanitas and Xehanort had done to her family. Even if he attacked her, she had defeated him thrice before. She was alone, but so was he.

"I'm sick of your nonsense. You want Ven? Good luck finding him! I've made sure you'll never hurt him again, you Dark, disgusting, faceless freak!"

"SHUT UP!"

Vanitas lunged at her, but she was ready and sidestepped out of the way, quickly whirling around him despite her wooziness just in time to see his fist connect with the wall, the impact leaving a deep crack in the stone. Aqua shrank back, suddenly aware of how strong he was.

The last time I'd called him that, he'd just snapped Ven's wooden Keyblade in half like it was nothing…

Vanitas's shadow suddenly seemed to grow. Except it wasn't his shadow, but a thick black ooze which foamed up from his back and coalesced into a fat creature with dark maroon coloring, a black symbol like a twisted heart emblazoned upon its large gut. It was an Unversed. Aqua stared in horror as it materialized. She had thought she'd seen the last of these foul monsters!

Aqua was so shocked by the Bruiser's sudden appearance that she'd hardly moved before it grabbed her in its crushing claws. She struggled in its grasp. Aqua thought she heard Vanitas swear, but his voice was drowned out by her own scream of pain as the monster squeezed tightly around her ribcage. Suddenly Vanitas's Keyblade tore through the Bruiser's torso from the back, missing Aqua's face by mere inches and spraying dark viscera across her chest.

Aqua fell on her rear as the creature dissipated into black smoke, gagging at the Dark stench. "The Unversed… come from you?!" she wheezed. Aqua nursed her injured sides, which were likely already blossoming into a bruise. She applied a Cure spell to her aching ribs.

Looking up, she could feel the heat of Vanitas's glare through his mask. His shaking fists were clenched at his sides. "They are what I feel. Anger. Rage. Hatred." His approaching steps punctuated every word.

Of course. Eraqus had informed her and Terra that the Unversed were fledgling emotions, taken monster form, but Aqua had never imagined they could all come from one person. Although, even calling Vanitas a 'person' was a stretch, wasn't it. The being before her was a creature of Darkness; a demon. One who walked and talked like a human, perhaps, but still a monster.

He was standing over her now. "Unless you wanna get killed, just shut up, stop asking questions, and try not to piss me off."

Aqua glared. "Is that a threat?"

"Just a warning," he growled.

Aqua rubbed the dark Unversed ichor off her pendant and stood shakily. "I'll fight you if I have to."

He scoffed. "You really think you can kill me? You were knocking on Kingdom Hearts's door a few hours ago. Even if you manage to win —which you won't— the Shadows'll come finish you off." Vanitas leaned in closer, and she backed away from the smell. He was absolutely nauseating. "So, you've got a choice. Either fight me now and get yourself killed, or call it a truce and stay the hell out of my way."

She glared at him in stoney silence. The black blood of the Unversed was slowly dissipating into a curl of black smoke, but the foul stench of Darkness lingered on her clothing.

Vanitas tilted his head, regarding her. "There is a third option, of course… We survive together."

What?

Was he offering… an alliance? Of all the things he could have said, that was what she had least expected.

"I don't need you," Aqua spat.

"Obviously you do, 'cause otherwise you wouldn't be standing here right now," he countered. "I'll tell you what. I've already died once; can't recommend the experience. So how about you don't attack me, and I don't kill you. Between the two of us, nothing'll stand in our way. Deal?"

Aqua stared at him in confusion. Vanitas had tried to kill her three times in the past; it didn't make sense for him to help her now. Xehanort must have ordered him to do this… But how? And when? Before the Graveyard? It just didn't make sense. He said she had a choice, but that wasn't true, was it?

"I'm your prisoner," she said flatly.

He snorted and drew back. "What, you think I wanna babysit you? I was gonna show you the kitchen, but if you wanna go ahead and starve, be my guest. Just don't ask me to drag your sorry ass around the next time you collapse." Vanitas turned on his heel and walked back to the antechamber entrance.

He was actually going to feed her? It would be foolish to let her regain her strength. He must have some ulterior motive, but with the pit in her stomach and weakness in her body, what else was Aqua supposed to do?

"Are you coming or not?" Vanitas snapped impatiently.

"I'll come with you, but we are not allies," she said vehemently. "If you dare touch me again…"

"Oh, grow up," he sneered. "No one else is gonna help you. No Fairy Godmother is gonna magic you out of here; no Prince Charming is gonna swoop in and save you. So stop treating this like some kinda kiddie fairytale. This ain't a Castle of Dreams; it's a fucking nightmare."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aqua followed the boy in the mask with quiet revulsion. Vanitas's Darkness had a distinct, horrible scent. She had thought her time spent in the Dark World would allow her nose to adjust to the smell of Darkness, but his stench was overpowering even compared to the native monsters. He led her out of the antechamber and down a flight of stairs into a long dark hall. More Dark creatures lurked in the shadows. Those brave enough to attack were swiftly cut down by Vanitas's sinister Keyblade.

"How do you know where you're going?" Aqua asked, equal parts curious and worried.

"I did a little exploring while you were out," he said disinterestedly. Vanitas wasn't screaming or growling anymore; that was a relief. Aqua felt brave enough to ask another question.

"What are these monsters, these dwellers of Darkness? They're similar to the Unversed, but—"

Apparently that had been one question too many because his temper flared again, tainting the air with fetid Darkness. It was enough to make her nauseous.

"They're called Heartless, idiot," he snarled, rounding on her. "Didn't your pathetic Master teach you anything?"

How dare he—!

"Master Eraqus was far wiser and stronger than you'll ever be!" she retorted.

"Really now? Then how come he's dead, and I'm not?"

Even though she couldn't see his face, Aqua was sure he was smirking. It was bad enough she was trapped in the Dark World, but to also have to deal with him? Vanitas really couldn't be cordial for more than a few seconds, could he. Aqua shook her head. She couldn't allow him to get a rise out of her again.

Aqua decided instead to focus on his question, rhetorical though it may be. How was it that he had survived? The last time she'd seen Vanitas, he had possessed Ventus like a demon and summoned a strange-looking Keyblade. After that Keyblade broke, whatever hold he'd had over Ventus ended. Aqua was sure Vanitas hadn't been within Ventus when Mickey had taken them back to the Mysterious Tower; Master Yen Sid would've sensed it.

"How is it that you're still alive? And in the Realm of Darkness?" she asked.

"I… I thought I told you to stop asking questions," he snapped after some hesitation. From the sound of it, he probably didn't know either.

Aqua chafed at the thought of letting Vanitas bully her around, but she decided to not push the issue. It didn't matter how he had gotten here, anyway. What mattered was how she was going to get out.

They walked across the foyer and towards a set of small doors she hadn't noticed earlier. Aqua eyed the Castle entrance. Should she run? In her current starving state, she probably wouldn't be able to escape fast enough. Vanitas was quick on his feet, quicker than Ven even, and he could presumably reign a horde of monsters down on her head at any moment. She would keep following him for now.

Vanitas led her through the small doors and into the kitchen. It was decently sized, if a bit primitive compared to what she'd had in the Land of Departure. At least there was an icebox. Checking inside, she found the food was surprisingly well preserved, not moldy at all. Maybe the lack of time passing had stopped the food from rotting.

Something occurred to her. The food here had been left untouched, yet someone had cleaned out the kitchen at the Tremaines'; she now had a suspicion as to the identity of the culprit. That dark little puddle she'd seen scamper across the garden hadn't been a 'Heartless', but rather an Unversed.

Not wishing to test Vanitas's patience by using the oven, Aqua simply pulled a bread roll and some vegetables from the pantry. Honestly, she was hungry enough she would've eaten anything she could get. Food would replenish her Mana to acceptable levels.

Sitting at the servants' table, Aqua quietly hoped Vanitas would leave so she could enjoy her meal in peace, but he leaned against the kitchen counter and folded his arms. She couldn't see his eyes through his helmet, but she knew he was watching her. Well, if Vanitas was going to stick around, the least he could do was answer some more questions.

"May I ask something, now?"

"You just did," he said blandly. "But since you're not gonna shut up if I say no, fine. Go ahead."

"Why were you at the Tremaines' Château?" Aqua asked.

"…I could sense Ventus had been there. I was drawn to his presence," he answered after a brief pause. So she was right. Vanitas had been watching her from the windows.

"You can sense where he is?" If he knew Ventus's location, then what was stopping him from going after Ven now?

"Not currently. Which is why you're gonna tell me."

So he didn't know. Aqua narrowed her eyes. "And if I don't?"

"You'll find out," Vanitas growled.

What exactly could he do? Kill her? Maybe, but then he wouldn't get his information. Torture her? Likely, but if he thought he could get her to talk, he was dead wrong. Aqua was a Keyblade Master, and she would never betray her friends. No matter what, she would protect Ventus.

"Torture me if you want," she huffed defiantly. "I'll never tell you where Ven is." The wards she had placed around the Chamber of Waking were likely what was keeping Ventus safe. Without her, Vanitas would never reach him.

"Oh, aren't we brave," Vanitas sneered. "You sure you wanna provoke me?" His tone darkened. "Would it really be worth the pain?"

Aqua could feel— no, see the Darkness rolling off him in a thick black cloud. She glared at him; though she couldn't see his eyes, she refused to blink or show fear. It was as if their energies were locked in combat. Her fingers twitched. Master Keeper was at the edge of her mind, ready to heed her beck and call.

A whole minute ticked by.

Vanitas finally relented, looking away and the moment passed. The black cloud dispersed but the stench of Darkness lingered in the air.

"You'd be defiant to the end, wouldn't you; die for your friends," he said quietly. "I'd expect nothing less from a Wielder of Light." He muttered something under his breath. Aqua wasn't entirely sure what he said, but she thought she caught the word 'backup'.

"You don't understand people at all, do you." She shook her head. "It's not just Keyblade Wielders who would die to protect the ones they love. I suspect that's something you could never understand. I've had enough of people like you, like the Tremaines, who just think others are to be used and stepped on."

"The Tremaines, now there's an interesting bunch," he mused, evidently ignoring the rest of what she'd said. "Did you know their negativity was powerful enough to influence the Unversed?"

Aqua was startled by the sudden amusement in his voice. "The Cursed Coach?" Cinderella's step-family had tried to kill her with the pumpkin-shaped Unversed.

"Yeah. It was just a regular Thornbite until the Tremaines showed up spewing their Resentment everywhere. I never knew regular humans could have Darkness that strong." He laughed, an unpleasant sound. "But maybe I shouldn't be too surprised. They named their cat after a demon, after all."

"You say that as if you're praising them!" Aqua shouted, appalled.

"So what if I am?" he taunted.

Aqua shot up out of her chair, its wooden feet scraping against the floor. "Do you have any idea what they did to Cinderella? What they put her through?!"

"How the hell should I know?" Vanitas scoffed, having the audacity to sound offended. "A Princess of Heart with a pure Light like that? Life must've been sunshine and rainbows for her!"

"Vanitas, just because her heart is pure Light, doesn't mean her life was perfect."

"Could've fooled me," he countered. "She looked pretty happy with that idiot Prince."

Aqua shook her head, slumping back down in her chair. "The Tremaines were jealous of Cinderella's Light," she began quietly. "So they forced her to practically be a slave in her own home. They did everything they could to keep her isolated, even locking her up just to keep her from escaping that horrible life. And then, when their jealousy became so great that they were overwhelmed by their own Darkness, they tried to murder her with that Unversed. Her own family wanted to kill her!" If Aqua hadn't defeated the Cursed Coach, Cinderella would be dead.

Vanitas had been eerily silent throughout her retelling. When he finally spoke, it was with no emotion. "Well that's a very interesting story, Aqua. But I'm afraid you left out the part where I'm supposed to care."

Aqua gaped at him before clenching her teeth in anger. Did he lack even a shred of basic empathy? Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to cry in front of this monster. "You're horrible," she said.

Vanitas gave a surprisingly tired sigh. "What, you just figure that out now?"

She stared at him in silence. Not receiving any response, he finally left. Aqua ate her meager meal without tasting it.

So, I'm trapped in the Realm of Darkness with no way home, and the only thing not currently trying to kill me is a violently insane demon. Look on the bright side. I'm not dead, and Ven is safe.

He was also comatose, and the only reason Aqua was alive was because of Vanitas, of all people. Aqua sighed. She had to admit, it wasn't much of a pep talk.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Vanitas wasn't entirely sure he believed Aqua's story.

He'd gone to the Castle of Dreams to spread his Unversed on Xehanort's orders, but Cinderella's pure heart had caught his attention. Vanitas had been drawn in by her overpowering scent, clean like a pleasant breeze and linen sheets all wrapped up in a terrible, beautiful, burning pure Light. It had caused him agony and pleasure in equal measure.

Her scent had been a brief distraction from his mission, and he had watched Cinderella for a little while, hiding in the forest near her Château. She seemed to like doing chores, singing all day with a smile permanently plastered all over her face. He doubted she'd ever been upset one moment in her entire life.

Except… he had found her crying the night of the ball. It had unnerved him. Vanitas had never seen another person cry before, other than himself. He hadn't understood why she'd been crying over a torn dress of all things, for she lived in a wealthy house. Surely her stepmother would just buy her a new one.

'I'll give you something to cry about,' he had thought and summoned a whole swarm of Unversed before hiding in the foliage just as Terra had arrived. And then right after Terra had saved and comforted her, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother had swooped in to magic up a brand new dress for her and then she was off to the ball. Every tiny problem had been solved for her.

Vanitas had figured that would be the end of it, a perfect little happy ending to the fairytale. But then the old fairy's spell had unravelled, Cinderella had returned home, and the Tremaines had tried to kill her. 'Tried' being the operative word.

It wasn't as if they had controlled his Unversed; the fledgling emotions only obeyed one master. Rather, a Thornbite had grown fat off their negativity, their Resentment feeding into the Unversed's power until it had evolved into the Cursed Coach. The Tremaines had been arrogant and foolish to believe they could use an Unversed for their own purposes, and it had destroyed them.

'Her own family wanted to kill her!' Aqua had said. Was that supposed to mean something to him? Vanitas didn't have a family. Nor did he want one, if that was what they were like. What if Aqua was right, and the Tremaines had done horrible things to Cinderella? Kept her locked up, treated her like shit, used her as nothing more than a tool…

Vanitas shook himself. So what? A torn dress and a few chores were nothing compared to what he himself had suffered. He would not feel sorry for some pretty Princess who got everything she ever wanted. Even if her World was lost to Darkness… Well, she'd had more happiness in one night than he'd had in his entire life.

Enough about Princesses. Vanitas had more important matters to deal with.

Like Aqua… Of all the people he could have met down here in the Realm of Darkness, she was the one he had least expected. Of course, out of her and the two idiots she called friends, Aqua would be the most capable of surviving down here. Still, she was foolish to reject his offer. Not killing each other was in both of their best interests.

It could be worse, Vanitas supposed. He could count on one hand the number of people he'd ever met, and had held conversations with even less. Out of the few people he had spoken to in his short, miserable life, she was the one he hated the least. If it had been Terra down here, he would have killed him in an instant, or just let that giant Heartless finish the job.

Vanitas had to admit it was… invigorating, talking to another person again; even if their conversations consisted of nothing but arguments, insults, and threats, but that was how all his conversations went. Aqua had called him a monster; a freak.

…So what if the truth hurt sometimes.

Whatever she had done to keep Ventus away from him, it had worked; it looked like he wouldn't get any information out of her. Aqua would never tell him the location of Ventus, not even on pain of death. Her friend was too precious for her to do that.

Her earlier suggestion had left him more nauseous than he'd like to admit. Threats, manipulation, combat… Those were all fun and games. But coldblooded torture…? That was something Xehanort would do. Besides, he needed her to be strong, seeing as he would have to use the contingency plan after all.

Even as the thought passed his mind, Vanitas realized there was a snag in his plan. There was only one place where the X-Blade could be forged, and that was the Keyblade Graveyard. But… he didn't need the X-Blade to merge their hearts, did he? Just a strong Light to clash against a strong Darkness.

Not yet, he told himself. Aqua was too weak to merge with him right now. He would wait a few days to let her regain her strength, and he'd finally have everything he'd ever dreamed of. If it went better than last time, that is.

Vanitas suddenly felt exhausted from the day's events. He closed his eyes and sighed. Maybe Ventus had the right idea. He needed a nap.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

While she couldn't exactly say she was well rested, food in her stomach made Aqua feel better than she had in a long time. Her Mana had recharged and her legs were no longer shaking. The next important thing would be to figure out her current situation.

Leaving the kitchen, she glanced nervously around the foyer. It was empty. Same for the long corridor leading to the Castle entrance. Aqua thought Vanitas would've placed some kind of Unversed sentry, but apparently he hadn't lied about not keeping her prisoner. Walking down the white stone steps into the rectangular courtyard, she noticed a large red door off to the right.

Now where does that lead?

The gardens were mostly quiet. Winding through them was one long path which curved around the back of the Castle, fringed by scattered patches of trees. The yellow eyes of the Heartless peered from the shadows of the thicker copses, but a well-placed Thundara sent them scattering. Aqua walked past a gurgling fountain and over a bridge suspended over a shallow river that cascaded over the side of the cliff in an endlessly flowing waterfall. The Realm of Darkness had no respect for the laws of physics.

She arrived back at the gated entrance, having simply walked in one big circle. As far as she could tell, the entire Castle of Dreams —forest, gardens, and all— rested on a sizable chunk of rock suspended over a deep, possibly bottomless chasm. The only exit from the Castle grounds was the wooded path back to Castle Town.

Aqua could leave now if she wanted to, go back the way she came into Castle Town. But she would just be retracing her steps, with no knowledge of how to return to the Realm of Light.

You won't get back staying here, either.

That was true, but if she stayed in the Castle for a little longer she could regain the rest of her strength. Here Aqua had food and shelter, even if she did have to share it with Vanitas. Speaking of him, perhaps he knew the way to the Realm of Light, assuming he would even tell her. Although, he didn't seem particularly concerned about her leaving, so maybe he would. It was a stretch, but it was better than nothing.

Finding Vanitas wasn't hard. All she had to do was follow her nose. He was in a bedroom on the second floor, laying on his side with his legs curled up to his chest. It was an oddly vulnerable position. Aqua couldn't tell if he was asleep or awake, as he was still wearing his mask. He wasn't even going to take it off to sleep? Could he take it off? …Did he even need to sleep?

Vanitas shifted, straightening his legs. "What the hell do you want?"

So he was awake. She ignored his rudeness. "Do you know how to get back to the Realm of Light?"

"If I did, do you think I'd still be here?" he snapped.

Aqua frowned. "I just thought you liked being in the Dark." Was he not from the Dark World?

Vanitas sat up, laying his arms across his lap. "Oh yeah, I love wandering around with nothing to do but stare at rocks and keep the Heartless off my back," he sneered.

So that was a no, then. She would have to find a way back on her own.

He seemed to consider her before explaining further. "Honestly, I don't have any way of getting back," he said with a surprisingly mild tone. "I already tried using the Dark Corridors; they won't open down here."

"Why not?"

"Probably 'cause they're pathways through the Realm of Darkness between two different points in the Realm of Light, like a tunnel. You can't go through the Dark World if you're already in the Dark World."

Aqua blinked. "I didn't know that."

Vanitas snorted. "Your Master must've been shittier than I thought. You really don't know anything, do you."

Aqua narrowed her eyes as her anger began to mount. Barely a minute of conversation and he was already infuriating.

Deep breaths, don't let him upset you.

"Why would Master Eraqus teach us about that kind of stuff?" she asked. "We used Portals of Light, not Darkness. To do so would go against the teachings of all Keyblade Wielders."

"Well, there's your problem. You never learned anything about the Darkness, so how could any of you ever hope to fight against it? Not all Wielders are from the Light. Your Master was too Light-blind to see that." He flopped back onto the pillows. It seemed he was done talking to her.

Well, she'd gotten the information she'd wanted, or rather lack there of. Aqua turned to leave.

Vanitas chuckled darkly, presumably to himself. "Xehanort obsessed with the Dark, Eraqus obsessed with the Light. What's the difference…?"

Aqua faced him again. "The difference is that Darkness hurts people," she answered defiantly.

"So does the Light," he breathed.

"Only those who allow themselves to fall to Darkness."

Vanitas tilted his head inquisitively. "I wonder… does that include Terra?"

Aqua stiffened.

"Tell me, how many times did Eraqus try to beat the Darkness out of him?"

"What in the Worlds are you talking about?" Aqua asked, taken aback. "Master Eraqus would never hurt any of us."

She startled at Vanitas's piercing bark of laughter. He sat up again and took on a contemplative posture, chin resting in his hand.

"So… Eraqus coddled him, too," he mused. "Figures. No wonder the three of you are so weak. Let me guess. Your stupid Master made Terra push down all his Darkness until it grew closer and closer to his heart; then it finally consumed him."

Aqua's eyes widened. Was it true? By pushing down the Darkness, had Terra actually allowed it to take root deeper? That was impossible… Master Eraqus was wise; he had known what he was doing.

"The Master was helping Terra control his Darkness! The only way to fight Darkness is to push it down and give it no quarter in your heart," Aqua easily recited her Master's teachings.

"That's a lie," Vanitas spat. "Darkness ain't something you can just ignore. You have to use it if you wanna control it. Ventus should've learned that before—" He paused. "Well, before he got sent to have a cushy life with all you idiots. Meanwhile I had to stay behind with Master Xehanort."

Aqua blinked in surprise. "Wait, you knew Ven? Before his amnesia?"

Why hadn't she realized it sooner? Ventus had been Xehanort's apprentice before being brought to the Land of Departure. It was entirely possible that Ventus and Vanitas had known each other, even trained together. Had Vanitas injured Ventus in some way, causing his amnesia and forcing Master Xehanort to separate them?

Aqua felt anger rise in her chest and the accusation was out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "Are you the reason Ven lost his memories?!"

Vanitas snorted. "I suppose you could say that. But that's more Xehanort's fault than mine. He's the reason we both have amnesia, actually."

Vanitas had amnesia, too? Because of something Master Xehanort had done? Aqua's anger drained into confusion. "What did he do to you two?"

"…Something you would never understand." His dark mask and flat voice betrayed no emotion. "It's in the past. It doesn't matter anymore."

"You're just going to forgive Xehanort for what he did?"

"Not forgive, just forget. I don't have to worry about him down here. Probably the greatest perk of being in the Realm of Darkness. Honestly this place ain't all bad, thanks to this Castle. As long as I'm here, I can eat as much as I want, sleep in an actual bed…" Vanitas patted the covers. "Hell, I might as well be Prince Charming himself."

Aqua blinked. "You've never slept in a bed?"

"The Keyblade Graveyard wasn't exactly the lap of luxury," he deadpanned. "Unlike you, I didn't have a Master who spoiled me like a pampered princess."

Aqua wasn't sure how to respond to that. Part of her had assumed a Dark being like Vanitas didn't need to sleep, or perhaps didn't care where he did. It bothered her more than she liked to admit that he thought of simple commodities such as food and beds as royal luxuries. If Xehanort cared so little for his apprentices that he would tamper with their memories and wouldn't even give them a proper place to sleep…

"Do you think, if Xehanort had brought you with Ven to live with us, to be taught by Master Eraqus, you could've been different?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Aqua knew it was a stupid suggestion. A creature as Dark as Vanitas would have never been permitted in their home.

Vanitas huffed. "It doesn't matter what 'could have been'. Xehanort needed me as his apprentice; what would be the point in bringing me to you? Besides, your Light-blind Master would've killed me the second I set one foot in his castle."

"The Master wouldn't just kill someone for simply existing," she protested. But he was right; Master Eraqus had no tolerance for Darkness. What had she been thinking?

Vanitas laughed again, as if he knew something she didn't. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. He certainly didn't take to well to Ventus being the other half of the X-Blade. Things would've gotten pretty ugly if Terra hadn't stepped in and offed him."

The other half of a Keyblade…?

Hadn't Ventus said something about creating a Keyblade if he and Vanitas fought? And the Master had tried to… destroy him to prevent it? There must've been some misunderstanding.

"You saw what happened between Terra and Master Eraqus? Why was Ven there?" Aqua asked.

"I didn't see it myself," Vanitas waved a hand dismissively. "I was busy giving Ventus my 'invitation' to the Keyblade Graveyard. Xehanort told me afterwards. He'd sent Ventus to go confront Eraqus about his origins. Eraqus attacked Ventus; Terra killed him for it. End of story."

"Ventus's… origins? What do you mean?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." He leaned forward menacingly. "I'll let you in on a little secret. Ventus wasn't always such a good person. None of Xehanort's accomplices are. Not me, not Braig, and definitely not Terra. Funny, someone so high-and-mighty as yourself still defending a murderer."

"You're one to talk!" Aqua shouted.

"Oh, please. I haven't killed anyone."

"Your Unversed hurt people. The Keyblade War would've destroyed the Worlds!"

"It wouldn't be anything less than they deserve." He laid back down with his arms folded behind his head, boots propped up on the footboard. "Look, whether or not Xehanort lied is irrelevant. The deed is done; your Master is dead. It doesn't matter who killed him or why."

"It matters to me," Aqua muttered.

"What makes you think I give a shit? Why don't you just leave me alone, already? If you haven't noticed, I was trying to get some shut-eye."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

After that rather irritating conversation, Aqua decided she needed a distraction. Exploring the Castle and its amenities was as good an idea as any. She walked the length of the Castle's second floor to another bedroom as far away from Vanitas's as possible.

After clearing out some small Heartless using Thunder and Blizzard as to not set fire to the furniture or drapery, she took a look around. The room was decently sized, likely a guest bedroom of some sort, with a small bathroom connected to it. She entered the bathroom, locking the door behind herself with a soft click. Vanitas might be asleep for now, but she still didn't want to make herself too vulnerable. Though he could just unlock the door with his Keyblade, it would give her a few more seconds to prepare herself.

Aqua genuinely smiled at the sight of a bathtub. Finally she could scrub the grime from her body and wash her hair for the first time in forever, since before the Keyblade Graveyard. It was rather surprising that the Castle of Dreams had indoor plumbing, considering the World's otherwise low technological level. The perks of being royalty, she supposed.

She stood before the marble counter and sink to study her reflection in the mirror. Aqua looked a little less pale than she had at the Tremaines' and her eyes had regained most of their original color. Her blue hair was still a mess, however. It was matted and caked with dirt and dried blood; her own, for Heartless blood dissipated after a few minutes. She was lucky that it did, since otherwise she would be even more of a mess.

Aqua peeled off her clothes. They were fairly dirty, too; she would need to wash them after her bath. To her delight, the bathwater was actually warm. For a moment she wondered where the water came from, seeing as the Castle was suspended over a deep chasm. Yet another mystery of the Dark World, she supposed.

Sinking into the bath, she scrubbed the dirt and mess out of her hair with shampoo and soap. It was such a relief to run her fingers through her hair again. She washed out her clothes, too. They were mostly intact, just a few tatters here and there, but blood had stained the white fabric of her sleeves. Her silver pendant glistened in the dim light. Cleaning it had made the hairline fracture all the more noticeable. She would need to repair it once she returned home.

Aqua couldn't help that her thoughts turned to Vanitas. She was surprised by his relative non-hostility compared to the way he had acted in the Realm of Light. Despite his gloating and goading, he actually seemed glad Xehanort wasn't around. Not that she could blame him if his claims of memory tampering were true. But if he really wasn't following the old Master's orders, then why was he doing this?

It seemed he was searching for Ventus's location, yet hadn't pressed any further after the third time Aqua had refused to tell him. If he could lose interest that quickly, then what did he actually want from her? Was he really just bored, as he claimed? Vanitas was stuck down here, same as her. How many long hours had he trudged in the dark?

Maybe he's lonely, too.

How absurd. Vanitas was a being of Darkness, same as the Heartless. He belonged to the Dark World, even if he claimed otherwise. In fact, he seemed rather relaxed for someone who supposedly didn't like it here. A dark thought passed her mind. If he was just doing this because he was bored, then what would happen when he grew tired of her? Should she stick around to find out?

Aqua cast Aero to dry out her clothes so she could fold them. Though they were now clean, she would rather have something more comfortable to sleep in. She rummaged through the bedroom's wardrobe. Part of her felt uncomfortable wearing another person's clothes, especially since she couldn't ask permission, but Aqua figured it was okay if she was just borrowing them for the night. She slipped on a silver nightgown and laid down on the bed.

Despite her exhaustion, sleep didn't come easy. Aqua didn't feel comfortable sleeping in the Castle with Vanitas and the Heartless around, but she had slept in worse places before, where the Heartless could attack her at any moment. She briefly entertained the idea of asking Vanitas to have an Unversed keep watch while she slept, but quickly dismissed the thought. What if he used it to attack her during the night? No, Aqua had survived the Dark World by herself for this long; she could handle herself for another night.

As Aqua lay awake, one thought swirled in her mind. She was so worried for Terra, now more than ever before. If Vanitas was right about Xehanort possessing him, then she had to return to the Realm of Light as soon as possible. Aqua glanced at her Wayfinder where it lay twinkling atop her folded pile of clothing. The blue star-shaped charm shared the same symbol as her pendant. Terra's mark.

Vanitas was wrong about one thing. The circumstances around Master Eraqus's death did matter. Terra had claimed it was his fault, but Aqua was sure Master Xehanort was the true culprit. Why had Master Eraqus attacked Ventus, and what did it have to do with Ven's past? How was he 'half a Keyblade'? Vanitas knew the answer. Aqua would get the information out of him tomorrow, no matter how evasive or cryptic he attempted to be. Vanitas may be stubborn, but then, so was she.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aqua shivered under the covers. Why was it suddenly so cold? She was suddenly aware of a presence in the room and sat up. A shadowy figure stood in the doorway.

"Vanitas?"

The figure silently stalked towards her. Aqua summoned her Keyblade, and in the flash of light that accompanied it, she didn't see the masked boy, but rather—

"Ventus?!" she breathed. The blond boy smiled at her. "Ven, you're alright! How did you get here?!" Or… was he just another illusion like Terra?

Ventus didn't say anything. Something was wrong. He stretched his fingers towards her heart—

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aqua awoke with a start. Her eyes searched frantically around the room, but Ven wasn't there. It had just been a dream. She leaned back and blew out a breath of air. It was the first real dream she'd had in a while, actually.

Her time spent sleeping in the Dark World was quick and fractured, barely lasting more than an hour at a time, not long enough for dreams. Even when she did get enough sleep, they were usually simple dreams of darkness and craggy rocks, occasionally of yellow eyes in the gloom, and always half-forgotten by the time she woke up.

But this dream had been so vivid…

Aqua changed into her regular clothes and splashed water on her face from the sink. Mentally preparing herself to face the day, she decided she wouldn't allow Vanitas's venomous words to get to her anymore. He was just trying to get under her skin, but she wouldn't provoke him nor provide him a reason to attack her. And if he did so anyway, she was prepared.

Aqua still had her pride; she would be strong. Despite everything, she felt better than she had in a long time. "Light is always stronger than Darkness," she told her reflection. For the first time since coming to the Dark World, she truly believed it.

Thanks for reading!