-1. Introduction-

Hi, guys! This is my first fanfic so I hope it won't be too bad haha. I've gotten into Kingdom Hearts recently and I'm srsly so obsessed with it. Durin` BBS I was making all these random analyses (I guess you could call them that) about Terra's relationship with Master Eraqus, Ventus, and especially Aqua. This led to me shipping them orz and I wanted to write about them. Lot of these are Aqua-centric too~

This challenge is just for fun, and I hope you guys enjoy reading it just as I enjoyed writing it. None of these themes are connected, each stand by itself. :)

I'm also sorry if the characters are OOC, especially Terra. In BBS he's really calm, and has the "tough guy" thing going on but I think he would have a childish side to him too, not just the cool exterior he has that was shown in the game. I'd think he would be more relaxed around Aqua and Ventus so in the entirety of these one-shots, Terra will be more relaxed around his friends and I hope you guys don't mind.

In the first chapter, Terra is about 11 and Aqua is about 10. I'm just going to assume that Terra started training with Eraqus around when he was…8-10 years old? If there's anything wrong, message me or review and tell me so I can fix it c: Thanks for actually opening this fic LOL I hope you like it.

"Terra, welcome Aqua to her new home."

The twelve-year-old boy with spiked brown hair turned with a curious glance to the newcomer. In his hand, he carried a wooden hand-made Keyblade, with which he was executing brutal attacks onto practice rings. His dark blue eyes stared with a somewhat childish shine, as he turned to smirk at the cobalt-haired girl. She looked insecure in the magnificent halls of the Land of Departure, hiding slightly behind Master Eraqus's taller figure.

Aqua was slightly shorter than Terra, wearing a blue dress, and everything about her was like the sea. Calm, relaxing, and wafting in waves of tranquility. Like the azure waves that recedes forward gracefully, but quickly retreating back into the sea for safety. She blushed as Terra came up to her and leaned his face in, being mischevious as always. Master Eraqus sighed heavily at his pupil's careless behavior, and watched the small exchange.

"Aw, come on, don't be shy!" Terra laughed, holding out a hand while following her around Master Eraqus in circles. Aqua simply retreated back into Master Eraqus.

He puffed out his chest in pride, "My name is Terra, and I'm going to be the strongest Keyblade Master, just you wait and see, right Master Eraq-"

"Keyblade wielding doesn't simply come to us - it requires dedicated practice and patience," he gave a stern glance to a pouting Terra, and turned to Aqua again, "Terra is one of my more…eager apprentices. He does work studiously - at times - and the same diligence will be expected from you, Aqua. I will be mentoring you, and training you to fight the darkness using the power of light in your heart. This is a difficult journey, though one I believe both of you are more than capable of taking."

Aqua seemed slightly overwhelmed with this spiel, while Terra only laughed it off. It was obvious he had heard it too many times. Did he take anything seriously? Aqua cast inquisitive eyes onto the youngster, who simply crossed his arms behind his head and beamed from ear to ear at her.

"Come on! I'll show you around, we don't have to listen to this guy," he lazily gestured to Eraqus, who gave a hopeless look, and simply let Terra guide Aqua away.

The Keyblade Master had high hopes for these two - due to the fact Keyblade wielders were hard to come by lately - and he hoped they would prove as positive influences to each other. Eraqus's brows furrowed as he approached the idea of darkness manifesting in Terra's heart. It was like parasite eggs planted in the recesses of his heart that would only fester and consume Terra from the inside.

But Aqua…she had a heart made of pure light, proving so much potential as a Keyblade Master. If she could be the one to chase the darkness away from Terra…

Terra was done running around, hastily showing her each and every room of the castle she would be staying in, and introducing her to multiple people in a cheerful manner.

"I'm glad I'm not the only apprentice here anymore! Less chores for me!" Terra laughed gleefully and rather evilly, "And I can have another partner to spar with! Fighting with Master can get boring sometimes, he doesn't use his full strength against me even though I can handle myself."

Terra waited for her reaction. He expected a gasp of surprise, or at least a retort about how he could never win against Eraqus.

She said nothing; she only looked at him with, waiting patiently for him to say more.

"You don't talk too much, do you?"

Aqua smiled wryly, inwardly cringing, hoping that she could keep up this relationship. All relationships seemed to shatter, no matter how carefully she nurtured it, and she had to tread carefully as if she were walking on broken pieces of glass.

The brown-haired boy sighed but remarked, "I think you should smile more too. Keeps making me think of the ocean - pretty and peaceful, you know?"

Aqua flushed at his comment, but he paid no attention as he watched a squirrel fiddling with nuts as another squirrel joined it.

Suddenly, he snatched a dandelion and grinned, "Here, make a wish!"

Aqua stared with complexity at the white, fluffy plant. How could a small, insignificant weed provide the hidden desires in her heart? What absurd traditions did they have in the Land of Departure?

Terra only laughed again in a childish manner, but underneath she could feel the warmth of his soul, as stable and supportive as the land beneath her.

"This is a dandelion, the latin name for it is Taraxacum. Oh, did you know that my name is "earth" in Latin? Cool, right?"

Terra continued to prattle off on his knowledge of language, and Aqua would've been impressed - had she not known it already. Aqua had been an avid reader - even with the limited amount of resources she had in her homeland - and absorbed knowledge rapidly.

Terra faced her again and raised an eyebrow, "…you already know this, don't you?"

Aqua raised an eyebrow and sputtered, "H-how did you know?"

Terra smirked, "Hey! You talked! But anyway, you just looked like you understood everything, and I didn't feel like you really were listening anyway," he shrugged casually, "you must be really smart! I bet you could do all those complicated magic spells I can't do."

There was a pause as they turned to watch the sun go down. The light of the sun bathed the whole pavilion and they leaned back to enjoy the heat.

Terra turned to Aqua again - he could never seem to stop talking! - and pointed to the dandelion, "Come on, wish for something. It's just a joke. Do anything! You could wish for…I don't know…a new dress? Books? Easy training? Master Eraqus's approval? A boyfriend? Isn't that what girls want? Food? Sometimes I wish I could eat my mom's cooking again, I really do miss that," he gave a wistful glance and slightly pursed his lips, but it was replaced again with a casual smile.

Aqua thought of the meager family she had left behind as the stared at the dandelion. She remembered the verbal abuse she had upheld, the stinging remarks leaving scars, and the cruel criticism, declaring that she was only a mistake, an worthless, useless being in the universe - a weed.

But The Master had said she had a duty to bear - to preserve worlds from the lurking darkness. She wasn't an error - she had a newfound dream. She was a guardian, a protector, and a Keyblade wielder. And she wouldn't stop there. In fact, there wouldn't be anyone to stop her. She would become Master, and she would discover the universes hidden away in the stars, she would be the ocean surrounding the earth - harvesting life and providing safety from the shadows.

She looked back at Terra. She looked at his smiling face, and felt the benevolence beating off his heart in steady waves. Just a stranger she was to him, but he gave her a trusting look, giving her purpose in what she thought was a meaningless life.

Besides, this journey couldn't be too bad with Terra by her side.

So she pushed away bad thoughts, and beamed at the prospect of her future - the promise of a new life, and a new friend.

She blew the dandelion, and watched the seed heads disperse, some latching onto Terra's hair, which he gave a veritable amount of complaints, but she laughed - for the first time in a long time, which only made Terra laugh with her.

She never told anyone what she wished for.