Merry Christmas all of you! And yeah I didn't completely forget about this website! That's why I decided to do this tiny Christmas present to all of you which I promise I will finish in time.

 

As the title says Vanitas is going to be the one whose heart is going to be changed. I'm not using classic AU, but I'm going to mess up with actual Birth by Sleep story a bit. Time is not actually set - it is Ven and Vanitas training under Master Xehanort ( you get the idea ).

 

So Merry Christmas again and enjoy my tiny fanfic. (Story will be in five main parts and epilogue )

 

 

First Part: Beginning

 

Old man with bald head was walking though wasteland with many rocks. Those were almost the only thing here if you didn’t include some rare springs and plants. Even though wasteland was mostly deserting, air was getting cold by each day.

Wind howled around cliffs, making only sound here.

Well almost only one. As man was getting closer to one cliff, hitting sound was heard. From time to time, spells and destroying sounds were also heard. Old man smiled evilly as he saw black haired boy, swinging his key shaped sword around.

That was Vanitas, his young apprentice. Spikey hair, black as the deadliest night were already drenched in sweat of his all day training. His muscular arms were proof of hard discipline he got during all those years. Boy had just destroyed one of smaller rocks when his Master, Xehanort came.

 

“Yes my boy, keep using power of Darkness. You’re channeling it better and better.” Master Xehanort said with hoarse voice.

 

Vanitas noticed him, but didn’t stop the training. He jumped on one of the bigger rocks and in matter of seconds it was turned into thousands pieces. That was his almighty power of Darkness and it kept growing every day long. Dark mist covered his Keyblade in a shape of bat wing as he casted fire spell into the wall, making huge hole in the process.

 

“Where’s Ventus?” Xehanort asked, looking for someone.

“That loser? None of my concern.” Vanitas said unworried.

“It should be! I ordered both of you to train until evening. My orders mustn’t be unfulfilled.” old man got closer to his apprentice, almost breathing into his face “Find him so I can punish him!”

 

It wasn’t very smart to get on Master’s nerves. Even though he stooped and talked more hoarsely than eighty year old man he was still ten times stronger than both of his apprentices altogether.

Like Vanitas, Ventus was also apprentice of Master Xehanort. But he was much different from the black haired one. Instead of spiky black hair and golden eyes he had blonde ruffled hair with bright blue eyes. More than just looks, he was also different inside. Boy was much more cheerful, always thinking positive. Black haired always wondered why of all people Xehanort choose a weakling like the mentioned blonde. Ventus wasn’t as powerful as he was. Instead of thinking how he should become stronger he rather spent time daydreaming and thinking of where else would he go. He even wanted to be called Ven instead of Ventus.

 

“Ventus!” Vanitas shouted. No reply was heard. Black haired kept walking angrily. He was supposed to train, not looking for stupid boy. That made him angry even more. Why did he always need to find that idiot apprentice? Sometimes he was even blamed for nonsenses Ventus made! With hands clenched in fists he angrily entered cave which Ven used for so called room. There he usually slept or just spent free time which neither of them didn’t have a lot.  

Surprisingly, Ventus was in his room, trying to climb on ceiling. When Vanitas entered Ventus fell off due to surprise.

 

“Don’t you know we have to train? Master will kick your ass big time if you don’t show up on the training ground!” Vanitas shouted as blonde heavily stood up.

“I know, I know, but I so wanted to decorate my room. What do you think?” Ventus smiled.

 

Vanitas no later than now noticed weird ornaments around the cave. Branches of bushes were stuck between wall’s cracks while red and white tapes were hanging from them. There were also countless pieces of broken glass, making light shine like diamonds. Star made from stone was the reason why Ven was climbing all the way up. To hang up the star.

Even if decorations were weird, they still made room shine magically. Those bare sunrays that got through cloudy sky shone on glass and in just few seconds room was filled with rainbow from different colored glass. Ven was happy at his work, but Vanitas wasn’t. Without second thought he grabbed blonde’s collar[3], pushing him against wall. He was angrier even more than before. Other boy quietly whimpered from the pain as he stared in wide eyes of deadly golden.

It was kind of funny thing for Ven still staying optimistic while being stuck with such evil looking guys. No matter how many times they told him negative stuff and were acting awkward towards him, he remained happy as little sunshine.  

 

“You unfulfilled Master’s orders just to do childish thing? Grow up!” he threw him on floor. Ven sadly looked at black haired with eyes filled with rage “Why did you even do all those stupid decorations?”

“It’s… it’s going to be Christmas day after tomorrow.” he uttered through tight grip around his neck.

“Just what kind of proof do you have it will?”

 

Ven showed on wall next to his bed with several cuts on. He actually counted days till Christmas with making a cut every single day.

 

“ I just wanted...” blonde quietly started.

“Just wanted what? Fill your room with junk like this?”

“No… those aren’t junk. Can’t you see those bush’s branches look like ones from Christmas tree? And those tapes look just like the ribbons.”

“Big deal if they do. Christmas is no worth celebrating.”

“How can you say such a thing? Don’t you remember…?”

“Christmas is just usual day in year when dreamers and weak ones like you believe miracles will happen. And guess what? Fifteen years of my life Christmas felt even worse than usual days in year. So take off this junk and come to the training ground if you’re smart enough to do it.”

“But Vani, don’t you wanna feel Christmas spirit? At times like this we should show how much we care about each other, having nice time…”

“Don’t call me like that!” Vanitas shouted “Come to training ground immediately or I’ll say something to Master to punish you more.”

“But Christmas will be soon…”

“Mention Christmas again and I’ll punish you myself. Not with my fists, but Keyblade!” Vanitas shouted while leaving the cave.

 

He went straight back to training ground where Master Xehanort was still waiting impatiently. When Vanitas came to him, he immediately wanted information about Ven.

 

“Where is that brat?”

“In his cave, having nice time with junk and doing childish things.”

“Continue with your training while I have a word with Ventus. He needs bit of discipline for not following my orders.”

 

With those words Xehanort left fiercely. His black coat was even darker at this rate. Vanitas didn’t mind him or Ven who’s going to receive punishment soon. He just summoned his Keyblade to continue his training. Spells soon filled whole area with deadly combination of fight. Even if he was shot by spell of two, he could still continue dodging and destroying them.

As he was training, sun was slowly moving through cloudy sky. Sun nearly reached part of mountains where it sinks to begin night, when he thought about Ven again.

“Christmas… just stupid excuse to have day off.” he muttered.

 

It seemed almost like forever when couple of hours passed. Wasteland was still the same with only bit darker sky that will soon turn into darkness. 

Vanitas done some more battle spells when Xehanort came again, this time with evil smile across his face. Black haired knew this smile. It appeared only after his Master did a successful job. From the size of it, Vanitas guessed that talk with apprentice was more than just usual punishment.

 

“You can go back to your cave now Vanitas. Be here tomorrow at the sun rise.” Xehanort ordered and left.

“Yes Master.” boy mumbled his usual reply.

 

He got back to the caves where he noticed some of Ven’s ribbons on ground. There were also some other decorations there, lying broken. Some were still in one piece when most of them were broken to pieces. Star made from stone that was hanging from the ceiling just a few hours ago was now lying on ground, broken on several unnoticeable pieces. Raven haired didn’t know why, but his feet suddenly got him in Ven’s cave. It was a way too dark to recognize anything in cave. Only recognizable thing in it was figure leaning against wall, with arms hugging its knees.

 

“See? Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You literally wanted Master angry.” Vanitas said harsly. However, Ven was silent, not moving even a single muscle “Quiet, aren’t you? You need to learn a lesson, either in an easy way or hard way.”

“Just leave me alone!” Ven shouted with little voice he still had in his lungs “I get it, okay.” boy said quietly while coughing a bit.

 

Vanitas was bit surprised at Ven’s reaction. Blond haired has never raised his voice, not even when he was angry. After unexpected reaction Ven just got deeper in darkness of the cave. He didn’t want to talk or even be seen.

 

“Suit yourself. Be on training tomorrow’s morning.” black haired murmured while walking towards his cave. There he got on his usual spot and soon fell asleep. His sleep was deep without dreams. Just like his Master always said, sleep is just for resting, not for running in imaginary world of ridicules dreams.

 

But he had no idea this night will bring him dreams and show him the story that will definitely change his view.    

 

It was the middle of the night when odd sound was heard all over the wasteland. Sound wasn’t caused by any natural factors like animals or wind. This one was magical, sounding almost like melody of a lullaby. Through the starless sky, it flew faster than any bird. Only one goal was in sound that was accompanied by light. Gentle sparkling had purpose of changing fates. This time it got in caves, right into the one in which Vanitas was sleeping.

Light gently landed right next to the bed, sparkling with happy melody. Black haired didn’t mind it at first, but when melody was becoming lauder he angrily covered his ears. Moments of even lauder music soon made him get up. His golden eyes became fierce as his hand summoned his Keyblade.

 

“Get out of here!” he shouted while jumping from his bed. Keyblade soon got into his hands, pointing into… whirling rainbow? Bunch of shining colors were spinning in light. All of them looked so beautiful and magically amazing. That was what Ventus would think. Vanitas had total opposite in mind, swinging his weapon to make it go away. But rainbow light just kept spinning until it got in air and started forming itself.

Moments later there was just ring of star shaped objects and figure in the middle. After Vanitas’s eyes got used to blinding light he could see figure clearly. It was obviously mouse with big round ears, except this one was at least ten times bigger. Mouse even wore a silver – dark blue outfit and pain of huge grey shoes. While moving closer, mouse opened its eyes and smiled at boy’s face.

 

 “Well, hello there Vanitas. Hope I didn’t wake you up from you nice dreams.” mouse said gently.

 

Black haired surprisingly drew a breath when mouse greet him. But this still didn’t calm him down. He swung his Keyblade at it, hoping to make it go away. But weapon just got through as floating mouse wasn’t really there.

“Now that’s not really nice. You could have hurt me if whole me was there.” mouse mumbled.

“Who are you and what do you want?” Vanitas said while making angry face.

“Whoa, take it easy with that attitude.” mouse floated away from weapon “But since you asked, I’m Mickey, the Star Traveler.”

“A what traveler?” Vanitas asked while still holding his weapon.

“Star Traveler. You see those items around me? Those are called Star Shards and with them I can travel around worlds.” Mickey grinned.

“And you came here because…?”

“I wanted to wish you Merry Christmas! Isn’t that the most magical day in whole year?”

“No it is not!” Vanitas got his anger out, trying to slash Mickey with all his power. But this again was pointless, not making Mickey go away at all. It just made Vanitas tired at this rate. After long minutes of ineffectual tries, he just got on ground out of breath. 

Mickey carefully put his hand on Vanitas’s shoulder, whispering something.

 

“That’s the other reason why I came to you Vanitas.” Mickey whispered to his ear.

“How… the hell… do you know… my name?” boy mumbled breathlessly.

“I know many names, of a people who need my help.”

“I don’t need any help… do I look like a weakling or something?”

“Of course you don’t, but if you won’t receive my help, you’ll never ever get it. Even if you’ll beg with all your heart, magic won’t hear you.”

“What makes you think I would need any help? I can do everything by myself!” black haired raised his voice. “And just what kind of miracles are you babbling about? Can’t you face reality or something?”

 “The fact is… I see reality way more than you do.”

“Just what you mean by that? I see everything clearly.”

“No you don’t. Believe it or not, your eyes don’t see the way they used to. They changed because of certain events that happened and if you won’t act soon this will only get worse.” Mickey said as Star Shards began to spin around his little body. “Tonight will be the only chance to fix everything. You better take it in your own hands or really terrible things will happen.”

“Why do you think I’ll listen to you? You’re just oversized mouse that can fly.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be the one who will tell this to you.” Mickey grinned “There will be three spirits who will try to change your eyes on the way they once were. You will need to take part or terrible fate will sooner or later catch you in unbreakable cage.”

 

Star Shards suddenly started spinning even faster which slowly started moving Mickey out of the cave.

“I know it will be hard, but you must try at least. There are still broken pieces of good in you. You just need to put them together.” Mickey’s voice echoed through wasteland as he was disappearing.

 

Vanitas looked at disappearing light with an interest, but soon got back in cave. Talking mouse really gave him something to laugh about.

“What a joke, not just that loser, but also that mouse believes in those ridicules miracles of Christmas day.” he grinned evilly as he fell asleep.

 

While Mickey flew through Lanes Between, three stars pass through. The one in the lead was blinking blue as tow others behind it were blinking brown and silver. Mickey smiled at them, wishing them good luck.

 

“Hope you’ll be able to change his eyes and heart. If you won’t, not just him but another boy will be hurt in terrible way.”

 

Stars only brightened a bit more for reply. Those three stars were changing fates all over the worlds from the pure beginning of life. Sometimes they managed to succeed, but sometimes they also failed. Spirits just hope they won’t fail this time. They knew much more than Mickey who was only announcing their arrival.

 

If this boy’s view won’t be changed, not just he and another boy, but all words will shiver under the inescapable fate.

 

Fate of all worlds was depending on single change in one person’s heart.

 

Edited December 23, 201311 yr by Hunter Hawk

Second Part: Past

 

Blue star travelled through abandoned desert with many cliffs and rocks on the way. It wasn’t thinking anything, but the boy it will help. Even though star had saved many people before this still didn’t change the fact that it will too now. From the face Mickey made when it saw him, it concluded this case will be very difficult.

With gentle landing in cave, it started taking its form. Star and its other two companions didn’t have actual form. They could only turn into people that person knew, knows or will know. Slowly star grew, turning into a blue haired girl dressed into simple black outfit with many tapes around her waist and shoulders. She carefully touched boy’s shoulder to wake him up.

Reaction was much faster than she expected. Boy’s Keyblade was pointed directly into her head, prepared to smash her.

 

“Can’t you freaks take a break? I’m sick of you waking me up!” he growled almost as angrily as wolf. Girl only took some steps back, murmuring something to herself “What? Aren’t you gonna lecturing me about that ridicules magic just like that oversized mouse did?”

 

Girl just put finger to his lips, signalizing him to be quiet. Vanitas was a bit confused, but still didn’t lower his Keyblade.

“If you won’t listen to me… then just let me show you.” blue haired said as she summoned dark blue Keyblade, much to the boy’s surprise.

 

Suddenly whole place started spinning in shaking. Whole cave, outside land in ground became just confusion of colors which made Vanitas’s head spin. It seemed like the only person who was still standing no other than blue haired girl. Her crystal clear eyes were pointed into mysterious Keyblade which was pointed into thin air.

“What… are you doing?” Vanitas yelled as he tried to stop spinning place.

“I’m the Spirit of Christmas Past and now we’re going back in past.” she said calmly.

 

Vanitas closed his golden eyes to stop the spin in his head. Spinning didn’t want to stop and the next time he opened them, he wasn’t in cave anymore. In fact, place where he and mysterious girl appeared was much different. They were standing in the middle of the town, big enough to be called so. Snow was everywhere, making it all even bigger with all those piles over the houses and buildings.

 

“Where are we?” Vanitas asked, trying to cover his amazement over the town.

“Don’t you recognize it? This is Radiant Garden.”

 

Black haired didn’t visit many words. In fact he spent his entire time either in cave or training ground. This town was so full and big compared to the world where he lived.

 

“Why should I recognize it?” he asked while thinking about question he just asked.

“Like I told you, I’m Spirit of Christmas Past. I took you in your own past, right on the Christmas day.”

 

More boy looked on the town, more confused he was. No way had he been here before, he’d surely remember every detail of it. That was the way Master Xehanort taught him, always remembering every place or any person to know its weak points in future.

 

“I don’t believe you.” he kicked some snow which surprisingly didn’t move.

“Come with me then, I’ll prove you, you’ve been here before.” she smiled as she took his hand, pulling him towards certain place.

“Hey, let me go!” he protested as they passed many buildings with incredible speed, almost as they were flying through. They stopped in front of old looking building, decorated by Christmas lights. Some blurry pictures appeared in Vanitas’s head which Spirit noticed.

“Does it ring any bells? You should have remembered this.”

“No, it doesn’t. Can we go now?” he turned away while getting more pictures in his head.

“Not until you remember.” she pulled him towards building, entering through wall. Black haired prepared to be hit by the wall, but surprisingly he went through just like the Spirit.

“Why didn’t we…” Vanitas asked surprisingly confused.

“… crash against the wall? Because we’re in the past, we’re watching events that already happened and can’t be changed.” girl giggled as she lead him into one bigger room “I’m sure you’ll remember this when you see.” she pointed her hand towards room that looked a lot like living room. Vanitas got closer, looking at Christmas tree in the corner and some kids who were decorating it. Neither of them seemed older than four or five years old, in fact they looked even younger. Red haired kid was setting Christmas lights around tree when blue haired boy helped him. There was also one silver haired kid with dummy in his mouth who was watching how other two plugged socket, making Christmas lights blinking. Silver haired clapped with his tiny hands when blinking lights got his eyes. Red haired smiled, taking little silver haired kid into his lap while blue haired started looking around.

 

“Where are the ornaments, Lea?” he asked red haired one.

“I thought you said you would bring them, Isa.” red haired replied while putting kid back on ground.

 “No, you were the one who said that.” blue haired name Isa said with sharp look.

“Just who said what?” red haired Lea giggled.

“Guys, guys, I got them!” childish voice shouted from somewhere.

 

Little kid with bright blond hair passed Vanitas with huge box in his hands. Black haired got little shocked when he recognized the kid.

 

“Well it was ‘bout time Ventus. We’ve been waiting for you.” Isa said bit harshly.

“Sorry, but I can’t help that this orphanage has the biggest attic in the whole town.” Ventus smiled.

 

As kids started decorating Christmas tree, Vanitas suddenly remembered what this place was. Orphanage, where he and Ventus spend their time as little kids, was the place from his own past. So that was that special place that Spirit wanted to show him. He kept watching how kids, along with little Ventus finished decorating Christmas tree.

 

“Where’s Vanitas?” Lea asked Ventus.

“You mean Vani? Oh, he’s in up in his room.” Ven replied.

“Why so? Is it because of that fight?”

“I’m not sure, but maybe it is.” Ven said sadly while rubbing his eye, with big bruise on.

 

Black haired now remembered that day. Some older kid had beat up Ventus just because Ven had accidently spilled glass of water on him. While kid was beating up poor blonde, Vanitas got there beating up that kid back. After older kid ran away crying, he ran directly into one of the adults, telling that Vanitas had beat him up. Black haired had needed to apologize to the kid, but instead of that, he went to his room and slammed the door.

It’s been so long since he was protective over Ven. This got him into thinking that all this years he changed a lot. Instead of protecting him, he became the one who was beating him up.

 

“Do you remember this place now?” girl’s voice behind him asked.

 

Boy only nodded for reply, still staring on the kids. Lea held star ornament for the top of the tree, thinking how to put it on. Ventus got idea by bringing the chair from dining room. He got on, trying to put star on top.

 

“Don’t do this Ven… I know you too well that you will fall. You’ve always been so clumsy.” Vanitas murmured to himself while remembering about accidental fall when he was decorating his cave.

 

Tiny Ven was still trying to put star on, stepping on his tip toes. He almost reached the top when he suddenly didn’t hold his balance anymore. Blonde landed on floor with loud slam and bump on his head. Lea and Isa quickly rushed to him, checking if he was okay. Ven was quiet and then out of the sudden he started crying.

 

“It’s not that bad Ven. Come on we’ll put star on somehow.” Lea tried to cheer him up.

“Man, he’s worse than one year old Ienzo.” Isa complained as silver haired looked on crying blonde.

“You’re not helping at all Isa!” Lea got angry while embracing Ven.

“What’s all the fuss about? I can hear it all the way to my room.” new childish voice was heard.

 

Vanitas was surprised at his young self. On that day he was wearing red hoody shirt and black pants. His hair was even spikier than they were now and his eyes seemed much warmer. Young Vanitas got to the tree, asking why Ventus was crying.

“He wanted to put star on, but fell.” Lea tried to explain with crying Ven in his embrace. 

“Is that so? Don’t be such a cry baby Ven. You didn’t cry at even worse things than that clumsy fall.”

“But the star….” Ven sobbed.

“If you just sit and cry, you won’t do anything. You need to act.” Vanitas said which cheered him a bit.

“I’m too short to put it on…” Ven said when he suddenly felt arms around his waist which lifted him up. Even though both of them were same age, Vanitas was still taller and stronger.  

“Go on! Put star on already.”

 

Ven smiled and moment later, sparkling star was on top of the Christmas tree. All kids excitedly watched how sparkles from star filled room with amazing light. Even older Vanitas was impressed by his own act. How could he forget about something like that? He kept watching his young self with other kids when he suddenly heard conversation not very far from him. On the end of the corridor were two men. One had long light brown hair and he recognized him as one of the orphanage’s caretakers. The other’s black coat was recognized immediately by Vanitas. Master Xehanort was there in orphanage, checking some papers with evil grin. Black haired stepped bit closer to hear their conversation.

“Are those all of them, Even?” Xehanort asked.

“I’m saving the best for last.” caretaker Even smiled “Check these two. They both have highest speed and reflex results. Also if you want we can make some more tests on them.”

“Do those tests. I want to see if they’re fit enough to be my apprentices.” bald man said while leaving through door.

 

Vanitas almost moved out of the way when he remembered about not effecting things. Xehanort just went through him as Vanitas was just a ghost there. Boy took another look at Even who was setting some kind of medical equipment along with several injects. That must have been a reason why he and Ventus got needles in their arms day after that. Even was doing some kind of tests for Xehanort to see if boys are capable of being Keyblade wielders. Not because he wanted to adopt them, but because Xehanort took those two boys the very next week.

Black haired remembered how happy he was, to be finally out of the orphanage with freedom in his hands. Ven otherwise had different thoughts in his tiny head. Blonde didn’t want to go because he was too much attached to his friends in orphanage. His hands didn’t let go of his bed no matter how hard Vanitas pulled him away from it. Lastly Xehanort appeared, gripping his back of neck while pulling him out of the bed. Man’s powerful grip hurt him so much that tears soon started running from his eyes. Ven tried to get out of painful grip, but got man’s punch in his head. Hit caused him to pass out, making satisfied smile on Master’s face. All this time Vanitas was just watching as nothing special happened. He knew Ven was hurt, but he didn’t want to risk chance of not being adopted. If Ventus wasn’t coming voluntarily, he needed to be taken forcefully. Black haired was so blinded by wish of getting out that he didn’t mind seeing hurt Ven at all.

 

Past memories made his head dizzy to the point of hardly standing. Blue haired Spirit noticed his confusion and swung her Keyblade up. Space again started spinning until usual cave surrounded two of them. Black haired needed some time to cool of his head by leaning against the wall. He breathed heavily as he had run a mile. While cooling his head off, girl waited patiently for him to start conversation.

 

“Why did you show me all this mumbo jumbo?” boy asked breathlessly.

“To show you what kind of person you had been before Xehanort took you and your friend.”

“I don’t get it what do you want with this.”

“Vanitas… can’t you see how have you changed? Where’s the nice black haired boy who dried his best friend’s tears?”

“He grew up if you’re wondering.” Vanitas started walking around while sighing “I was a kid and all kids are like that, innocent and childish. Now I grew up, becoming independent. Only problem is that Ven didn’t grow up at all and if he isn’t learning basic ways the easy way he needs to learn them the hard way.”

“But do you really think that everything that Master tells you is right?”

“Of course he is! He’s…” black haired maintained when suddenly the rest of his sentence got lost. None ever asked him about Xehanort at all. Master was authority, power to make him strong. Follow him and you receive that power and struggle against it to get punished by it. That was his look at Master, as a savior from that place. But why did he think different now?

 

“I see… you’re still struggling between.” Spirit of Past sighed, looking in the sky “My time is almost over. Next Spirit will take care of the rest.” she murmured while turning back into fleshing light. Tiny ball disappeared mysteriously as black haired only stared. But soon he went back to sleep. No way he’ll let others wake him, just to show him flashbacks of things he forget long time ago.  

Edited December 24, 201311 yr by Hunter Hawk

WARNING: With this chapter things turn a bit ugly ( contains hard violence, torture and blood ) But I promise that like every Disney movie it has balanced ending

 

 

 Third Part: Present

 

Spirit of Past was flying back to Lanes Between. She really had though that past memories of joy during Christmas would change black haired a bit. But it didn’t, in fact it seemed to get even worse. Vanitas firstly watched flashbacks with great interest. Spirit could swear that she saw bits of kindness in those dark yellow eyes. The way boy once was protecting things that mattered like his friend Ventus seemed so peaceful. But he wanted more power, hating to be a weak one. Unfortunately he didn’t find the right solution. In his eyes it had been, seeing only freedom and chance to become stronger. Ven otherwise, had seen things different. He felt dark shadows behind bald man’s back, his evil grin and golden eyes that saw nothing but the use in them. That was the reason why was he so protesting for not getting adopted by Xehanort to the point of being hurt like he never was in his short life.   

 Blue star cleared her head of past events when she noticed brown star. Spirit of Present was on his way to do the second part of his job. She only blinked to wish him good luck, flying away out of the Wasteland. Brown star understood her worries about the boy. Usually, effect mostly touched people when they saw their past, rare happy moments of their lives. It seemed that this boy was different. He wasn’t evil or cruel in his heart, only blinded by darkness. His eyes didn’t see in the same way they once did. Xehanort made sure that eyes saw only power and achieving unavailable goals.

Spirits needed to get rid of those eyes, bringing old ones instead. They just hoped that by making Vanitas use those eyes for seeing certain events would bring his old kind eyes back.

 

Spirit of Present landed in cave where black haired slept soundly as nothing unusual happened. Like the blue star before him, brown one also took his form. This time he changed into brown haired boy, not into the young one in the middle of puberty, but into a teenager. His face looked really grown up, as he was already a man not fully aged teenager. He ruffled his spiky brown hair, only thing that made him at least a bit younger, before waking up the kid.

Unlike the previous Spirit, he was much rougher duo to his muscular body and bigger hands. He grabbed Vanitas by his shoulder, shaking his body until angry boy jumped out of his bed. Boy’s face was furious, frowning at the one who literally made him jump from his bed.

 

“Aren’t you done? I told you to leave me alone! I’m sick of your mind games.” Vanitas nearly shouted when he got his Keyblade in hand. He expected at least a blink of fear in teen’s eye if not twitching lips. Instead of that, brown haired only lazily leaned against the wall with arms crossed.

“Pretty dangerous sword you have…” teen grinned at the weapon “But do you know how to use it? And for what?”

“Of course I do! It’s for fighting only. Do you think I’m so stupid to be thinking about it as a toy?”

“Problem is that you aren’t realizing for what purpose you train and fight. You got all mixed up by your so called Master.”

“Leave me alone already! You don’t know the first thing about him.”

“I do all too well, Vanitas. That’s the reason why I came here in the first place.”

“Will you show me flashing pictures again or something? I’m not enjoying seeing myself as a kid.”

“That’s not what I’m about to show you…” brown haired lifted his hand with heavy Keyblade the very next moment “What am I going to show you, is what you have in front of your nose the whole time. You’re just too stubborn or blinded to see it.”

 

As teen spoke those words, black haired quickly covered his eyes from spinning picture he expected. But instead of that, only sky turned lighter as it was in the middle of the day. Vanitas confusedly got out, checking what happened. He got towards Ven’s cave to hear his cheerful laughter. Carefully going closer he saw Ven watching at some sort of book. Both of them didn’t have many books, only few of them about magic and fighting guides. Blonde turned another page which instead of cheerful laugh gave him sad face. He touched it gently as it was the most precious thing in the world. Black haired now really wanted to know what kind of book he was reading. Stepping right behind his back he stared into… drawings? No, those were photos of him, Ven and all past kids and people they used to know. People from orphanage, from Radiant Garden, even from Wasteland, mostly with bare signs of life like rare lizards, birds or trees. Vanitas had no idea from where blonde got that photo album. It was simply handmade, probably with the help of older caretakers in orphanage. Photos were either black and white or colorful ones taken by different cameras. Blonde sure had hard time arranging them in free spaces and even writing tiny memory text under them.

 

Vani’s and mine fourth birthday… Flower’s day at Radiant Garden… My first award in Struggle Tournament… Me and Vani eating ice cream, Sea Salt one! … Watching fountain show… Decorating Christmas tree with Lea, Isa, Ienzo and Vani….

 

Last photo got him back into thinking about past flashback, how he lifted his blonde haired friend so he could put the Christmas star on tree. Wait a minute, a friend? Christmas? Why were those words in his thoughts? Did stupid mind games actually worked? Vanitas turned around to see annoying brunette playing with his fingers.

 

“What do you want?” black said harshly. He wasn’t actually sure of this question. It just popped in his head as first thought.

“Hmm… you’re not just seeing it the wrong way. Even your mind doesn’t ask right questions.”

“I asked you exactly what I wanted to know.”

“Use your head for goodness sakes. Try to think what scenes mean to you.”

 

Spirit really broke boy’s nerves. He was about to give him Keyblade slice when suddenly loud cough was heard. Black haired turned back to blonde, seeing him with hand blocking his coughs. Those weren’t just simple coughs like the ones you get during cold or flu. Coughs sounded painful as they were from the bottom of lungs. Ven kept coughing until something sticky sprayed on his fingers. He quickly wiped it in his shirt, but not quickly enough for Vanitas to see it. Fluid was blood, sticky and bright red almost as Ven’s red face was. Even though black haired couldn’t touch him, he knew Ven was burning up.

 

“What’s wrong with Ven?” Vanitas asked looking concerned.

“Now that is how you use your other eyes, isn’t it?” brunette said with less cheerful voice “The scenes that you’re seeing now are from this day. You couldn’t see Ven’s condition, huh? You were just too busy training without reason why to.”

 

This time Vanitas didn’t get the slightest wish to just smack Spirit’s face. He couldn’t get eyes from weak blonde who was hardly walking around. “Just tell me why is he like that? I’m not exactly friend to him, but it gives me the creeps why is he like that.”

“Your friend has chronic illness. I’m not familiar with the name of it, but I do know it didn’t happen over the night. He must’ve been hiding it very well all this time.”

“No, Ven can’t be ill. Doctors checked us not so long ago and said we’re both fine.”

“Maybe they were telling white lies. Master Xehnort wasn’t concerned over your average health. He just wants you two to be able to walk and fight.”

 

Last sentence made black haired speechless. No way Master could do such a thing, he was their savior. And why did he want both of them to be able to walk and fight? He suddenly remembered conversation with Xehanort and Even in orphanage in his past. They were talking about him and Ven as they were merchandises, tools for fighting. Tests were made to check if so called knives were sharpened enough. If they broke, they only get put together not caring if they somehow broke completely.

 

“I see you’re finally seeing yourself as you should. Yes, the two of you are treated like knives, nothing more.”

“How can you…”

“I know everything that is happening in present, remember that.” brunette said before black haired could “You better look deeply at the next scene and this time don’t ask so many questions. Answers are right in front of your nose, you only need to use your other eyes to find them.”

 

Vanitas wanted to know more, but Spirit finished sentence before he could ask. Ven who was still in corner of the cave close photo album, whimpering quietly.

 

“Vani… why did we come here in the first place?” blonde shivered as tears were pouring down his cheeks “I don’t like Master… he just doesn’t accepts me as kid. Neither does you… he just blinds you that you can’t see it.” Ven’s hands held photo album close to his chest where his quiet heart was beating “I wanna go back… back to Radiant Garden where we truly felt like family.”

 

Family? Another word that rushed into Vanitas mind. He never thought it had actual meaning in real life. Just like word friend and Christmas, family had important meaning.

Suddenly it seemed like scene was winding forwards. Boy could saw how blonde cried for some more time, but then got some sort of idea and left the cave. Covered by stuff he had found, he returned back in cave, starting decorating it. Then just after hanging star on ceiling, angry steps were heard. Vanitas knew without doubt that was himself, coming to learn Ven a lesson. He turned away not wanting to see all of this again.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll wind that forward. The part I really want you to see happens after that.” brunette said while making circles with Keyblade.

 

End of scene quickly came, with him angrily leaving the cave and Ven sobbing on ground. Black haired almost wanted to go to blonde, helping him and cheering him up. But he couldn’t interfere with the scene. Then with loud, creepy steps Xehanort appeared there. His eyes were burning with rage, exactly the same one when predator finds its prey. Blonde carefully look at him as his shoulders were shaking as road during earthquake. 

 

“So, I heard it from Vanitas that you don’t care about trainings. No, you rather sit in your cave while putting junk in it.” Master mumbled while walking in circles.

“No I…” Ven let out squeak as he tried to explain.

“Don’t you dare to interrupt me, you brat! I thought I had told you exactly how to follow my simple rules.” man then placed hands around boy’s tiny shoulders from behind “You two are here because I adopted you, nicely and legally. But you must not interfere in them or else you’ll spend another night in that special Rat Hole. This time without chances of moving!”

 

Vanitas knew this place pretty much. It was a cave that looked alright during the day, but as the night began to cover it in darkness, it lured certain small animals. Rats aren’t to be scared about of how they look or how smelly they are. If you’re all alone in Rat Hole, preferably tied up and gagged you would wish to just die. When you were all tied up with no chances to move, rats began climbing on you, scratching and biting pieces of your flesh. When either of apprentices came to Rat Hole, they just came to train, checking how many rats they can defeat with spells and similar moves.

To think Master actually locked Ven in it for whole night and not just once… that was simply too much. Blonde was even ill not to mention sensitive.

 

“Don’t ask, that isn’t trick. It really happened.” Spirit confirmed.

 

Xehanort kept lectured the boy when he noticed photo album on his bed. He took it fiercely, despite Ven’s tries of keeping it. Then he started tearing it page by page until only bindings were left. Ven desperately tried to gather them when he felt pain on his pale hand. Xehanort trampled it as it was just a bug that needed to be smacked. Man kept pushing and turning his foot until boy’s fingers were broken. Blonde cried from the terrible pain he got and man Master just smiled, enjoying from seeing pain in boy’s eyes.

 

“Now, now… we don’t have any place for those ridicules things.” he said with sickly sweet voice “Vani this, Vani that… as he’s milksop.” man gabbed Ven by his collar, breathing on his already burning up face “Vanitas is the sharpest knife I need. He learned where his place is when you didn’t. You’re just the silly knife I need to sharpen him more.”

 

Ven yelped when he got thrown against the wall, right where some branches with ribbons were. They broke the second he landed on them. Colorful glass there wasn’t any help either, it only cut his shirt all the way to skin. Boy slowly stood up, clasping photo of Vanitas and himself on Christmas day.

 

“You’re wrong… Vanitas isn’t a knife… he’s a person just like I am…” Ven uttered with shaking voice “You won’t use him for your plan!” boy nearly yelled as his coughing appeared again.

“Brave aren’t we?” Xehanort laughed sickly “Well, I’ve just decided to not punish you with Rat Hole. Nah, beating you up slowly is much more fun.” man said while giving him the first fist in stomach. Blonde spitted out more blood than saliva. More hits joined the very next second. “Leave… him alone… you don’t… know him…” Ven uttered as he got a hit for every word he said. While beating him up, Xehanort tore decorations from walls. Lastly he took barely hanged star from ceiling, smashing it against boy’s chest. Stone star was thrown so powerfully that it broke on many pieces. Same went for Ven’s fragile ribs. At least four of them were broken as strong hit cracked against. Blonde could only motionlessly lie on ground with tears he tried hard to stop. Bald man smiled evilly, grabbing his hair so he could see pain in bright blue eyes clearly.

“Listen now you pipsqueak. Starting tomorrow both of you will have separated trainings. If you tell even the slightest thing about this or anything else, you’ll get much more hits than this. That was nothing compared to the whole punishment.” man’s grip tightened as Ven yelped from the pain “And I’m not going to punish only you. Vanitas will also get portion of agony and after it he’ll blame you which is partly true. He’ll sooner or later become completely loyal to me. You won’t be able to stop him anymore.” Xehanort dropped him, walking away in evil tone.

“My plans will work really soon, so you won’t be burden to me anymore. χ – blade will be forged!”

 

Scene was followed by Vanitas coming to cave to who Ven answered loudly. Now black haired could understand why blonde raised his voice. He was protecting him, if only with just words. Vanitas never had idea how Master was treating Ven. Even at times when he thought Ven needs to learn a lesson was about Ven’s good. Not just for Xehanort’s fun and exploitation.

Backstage turned back to his cave with Spirit sitting on his sleeping spot. Brunette’s expression completely changed, into serious one full of worries. He really seemed to have something to say, but he waited for black haired to begin.

Boy stared into the wall as he was expecting it will suggest him what to say. Scenes from past plus the ones he didn’t see were enough to come up with what is going on. Xehanort didn’t adopt them to offer them freedom or any of things that he truly wanted. He only brought despair neither of them deserved. Moreover, he was only interested in using them in some sort of plan.

But the thing that surprised him the most was Ven. He knew blonde cared for him as he was his older brother when they were little. As they were growing up here in Wasteland, he thought that friendship gradually faded due to how he treated Ven back. No matter how many hard words he said to him, blonde never threw away their brotherhood like friendship.

 

“Can’t believe I didn’t see all of this…” black haired said quietly as he pouched the wall “Was that your plan all along?” he looked straight in brunette’s eyes who only nodded.

“This is how we work…” Spirit started carefully “Sometimes just words aren’t enough to light the sparkles in someone else’s heart. Even though they might have been good people once, is very hard to change their view. Some even go so far that they lose their hearts completely. To help your friend was only one bare chance, to return your real you back.”

“So what should I do? Ven is ill and injured with possible fatal wounds. I don’t even know how to make portals.”

“Be patient, we aren’t finished yet.”

“What do you mean? You showed me your magical pictures and told me to take care of my friend. I will, isn’t that what you wanted in the first place.”

“It’s not just about taking care of your friend.” brunette patted Vanitas’s shoulders “There are still some signs of your old eyes in you. To get this job done, you need to see the last part.” Spirit walked out of the cave, biting his lip nervously “After it you’ll truly be changed.”

 

With those words Spirit became star again, going back to the sky. This time Vanitas’s thinking was different and he really started taking those guys seriously. Perhaps he will be able to find the thing he has been looking for, for so long. The true freedom had different meaning now.

 

Freedom doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Freedom is that you’re loved. It means that you aren’t used and told by person who doesn’t see you as normal kid who seeks warmth. There’s way more to freedom than just opened door and wide world.

 

Thinking of all this new meaning made Vanitas’s eyes slip together. He fell asleep as he was waiting for the next and last Spirit.              

 

 

 

 

PS: I'll post the rest tomorrow please comment and try to guess who the last spirit is                

Edited December 24, 201311 yr by Hunter Hawk

Fourth Part: Deadly Future

 

Only one star was left to finish the job, star of unsure events, those that depend of what will actually happen. Covered by silver glow was thinking what future it will show. Lots of people were shocked to see where their actions took them. Sometimes the last pictures were the ones that made people think. In rare cases they lead to obnoxiousness, depression even to suicide.

This time was even more important. Future of all worlds was depending on single change in Vanitas’s heart. Spirit of Present reported him that its power managed to change him almost completely. Only little bits were still deciding the fate, either they will force him to do as his Master always told him or will he rebel, destroying those bits in process.

Silver Spirit got to the cave where boy was sleeping. As soon as it started to take its original form, Vanitas woke up. He was ready even though his shoulders were shivering.

Spirit of Christmas Future looked like very differently from previous twos. Instead of looking like teen, Spirit looked like man in his late thirties or more like forties. His hair was the same as his, except it was a bit lighter and tied in ponytail. Other clothing wasn’t seeable, because he was completely covered in white cape with his hood on. But boy could still see his dark blue eyes and moustache.

Without further introduction Spirit made the portal, ready to show last events to Vanitas. Black haired slowly got in front of it, clenching his fists from nervousness.

 

“Are you scared?” man asked with deep voice “It’s alright to be scared. Better than lie you aren’t.”

“I admit it, I’m a little. But just a little.” boy stared into twisting portal “Do I really need to go in?”

“That depends on you. I can only show you the way in.”

 

Black haired took a deep breath and began walking through spinning nightmare. After entering he found himself in whirl like corridor with countless pictures and holes around. Most of them were just showing that awful letter all the time – χ! He knew that it had to do something with that blade, but he hasn’t ever heard of it. His eyes were more concentrated on several holes at almost every corner.

 

“Why are so many holes here?” he asked Spirit who suddenly appeared.

“Future is not written by fate. It is written by events and things the person does.” man replied, passing many holes “I see yours is very complicated. After that day Ventus gives you handmade present, but you just throw it away. Ven tries to explain about Xehanort when you shout at him which your Master notices. Because of that both of you get the punishment leading into distrust between you two. After that day, things  only get worse.”

“But what really happens? And why do I need to see it again?”

“To really clear your heart from Xehanort’s control. It’s not only Ventus who depends on your choice, but all other worlds do.”

“Is the power of χ – blade really that powerful? What it is exactly?”

“That is what you will see in your future.”

“Didn’t you say there are several chances of what is going to happen?”

“I did, but from the events that happen during this day I will create the most possible future.”

 

Even Spirit of Future had his own Keyblade, summoning it the second he finished his sentence. He made some triangles with it, transforming both of them to the training ground. Vanitas saw himself, swinging his Keyblade around in perfect moves. But those moves were just too perfect to be real. Black haired nearly freaked out when he saw his future- self’s blank eyes. There was no color, only empty holes in light yellow color. It seemed almost like as Xehanort stole his eyes, replacing them with bare stones. Future Vanitas followed his Master’s commands as he was hypnotized or robotized.

 

On the other part of training ground was Ventus, but not the one Vanitas had knew.

 

This Ventus looked inches smaller, all skinny and broken. He seemed almost underfed with many ribs protruding from his pale chest. His clothes were really ragged, as they were thrown into river and were chewed by fishes. But that wasn’t the most concerned part.

Ven had tied rags around almost his full body. Not because he was shivering from cold or fear. Not because they hid his skinny body. Almost every inch of his body was bloody, as someone cut him far and wide. Cuts looked painful even if you just look at them. No one knew how Ven was hiding his pain inside.

 

“Alright Ventus, come here.” Xehanort called.

 

Blonde didn’t come cheerfully. He more like limped while being supported by his own Keyblade. He walked with his head down, to hide slipping tears. His pain give Xehanort only pleasure.

 

“Now, show me the last spell close combat you learned.”

 

Ven obediently started jumping around while swinging his Keyblade, casting spells. He was getting his best, using last bits of his weak energy. Even real Vanitas was surprised of how well was blonde still holding on. During all those jumps, somersaults, spells and hits Ven quietly coughed, still sick from that chronic illness. It didn’t stop. In fact, it just got a lot worse.

As blonde made the last cough he lost balance by loudly landing on ground. Some of his rags got new blood on, surprisingly showing he still had some inside of his tiny veins. Ven kept coughing blood, until he was pulled by his hair.

 

“Just what was that?” Xehanort asked playfully “Why did you stop?”

“Forgive me… Master… I can’t… I’m not strong… enough…” blonde whimpered.

“Oh you’re strong just enough. You only need to release all the power you have.”

“Please… don’t do this…” Ven tearfully begged for the slightest pity from his Master. Suddenly he started coughing even more blood, turning ground red.

“Is that so? You would rather die than use the power?” man kicked his sobbing body “In this case only one thing can be done. Vanitas!” he called black haired who emotionlessly looked at him.

“Yes, Master?” boy asked with voice that gave creeps even to real Vanitas.

“Time for forging χ – blade has come. You know what to do.”

 

Future Vanitas walked like those soldiers who march on the battlefield. Xehanort grabbed blonde and put him on bigger rock as it was an altar. Ven was shivering like he was swimming in pool full of ice. Man then tied his wrists and ankles so blonde couldn’t have escape. Vanitas then summoned his Keyblade, lowering it towards Ven’s chest.

 

“ χ – blade needs pure darkness and pure light to be created. In other worlds, fine sword is created from two sharpen knives. For sword to be created, one knife must be broken. Broken pieces sharpen first knife, making it as the mightiest weapon at all.” bald man spoke like it was ceremony.

Real Vanitas covered his eyes when Keyblade stabbed in still alive flesh. Ventus couldn’t have let even a small yelp before his life ended. All that was left was just lifeless body covered by shiny light that surrounded black haired. It lifted him in air until his darkness started coming out. More and more shadows covered light when his body faded away just like Ven’s dd. In the end light and shadows formed into weapon that seemed dangerous if you even looked at it. Its blade was deadly, details powerful and handle balanced.

 

“After all those years it’s finally mine! Key of all wars, destruction and pain!” Xehanort laughed sickly while swinging χ – blade around. “All those years I was looking for right orphans with right skills. I trained them until they became deadly as soldiers. In the end only this, thirteenth try was successful!”

 

Black haired nearly got sick from his so called Master’s words. Did he really mean that not just him and Ven, but other twenty four kids were used for that reason. Anger suddenly rushed into his head, summoning Keyblade as he was hitting Xehanort with it. Even though it was hopeless, he didn’t stop until warm hand calmed him down.

 

“I think you saw enough of future. Let’s go back.” Spirit patted his shoulder as they left the world of terrible future.

 

When they were back in cave, Vanitas couldn’t help himself. He burst out crying because of the Xehanort, of future, of innocent lives taken, of killed Ven… Suffering just didn’t ended. He was about to say through his sobbing face when Spirit interrupted him.

 

“Yeah the scene of creating χ – blade happened more than once, only with different kids. We tried hard to change hearts of darker kids, but their covered hearts didn’t change enough. Also χ – blade wasn’t ever created, so Xehanort just visited another world for new tools.”

“Why couldn’t I seem it before? It was in front of my nose this entire time.”

“Now Vanitas, it’s the time when you I decide if you completed your test. But from your face I can clearly see you passed it. Xehanort’s control isn’t in you anymore. It is just you and you only.”

“How are we going to escape?” he asked while looking through black cliff.

“You just go get Ven and we will help you. I give you my word we’ll protect you until you’ll reach safe place.” Spirit started taking his silver star form “Be careful Vanitas, Xehanort doesn’t control you anymore, but he can still play sick mind games with your head.”

 

And so the last star left Wasteland. Their goal was completed, they helped boy by giving him his old eyes back. Now it was up to him to change fate completely, before fatal future can begin.

Fourth Part: Deadly Future

 

Only one star was left to finish the job, star of unsure events, those that depend of what will actually happen. Covered by silver glow was thinking what future it will show. Lots of people were shocked to see where their actions took them. Sometimes the last pictures were the ones that made people think. In rare cases they lead to obnoxiousness, depression even to suicide.

This time was even more important. Future of all worlds was depending on single change in Vanitas’s heart. Spirit of Present reported him that its power managed to change him almost completely. Only little bits were still deciding the fate, either they will force him to do as his Master always told him or will he rebel, destroying those bits in process.

Silver Spirit got to the cave where boy was sleeping. As soon as it started to take its original form, Vanitas woke up. He was ready even though his shoulders were shivering.

Spirit of Christmas Future looked like very differently from previous twos. Instead of looking like teen, Spirit looked like man in his late thirties or more like forties. His hair was the same as his, except it was a bit lighter and tied in ponytail. Other clothing wasn’t seeable, because he was completely covered in white cape with his hood on. But boy could still see his dark blue eyes and moustache.

Without further introduction Spirit made the portal, ready to show last events to Vanitas. Black haired slowly got in front of it, clenching his fists from nervousness.

 

“Are you scared?” man asked with deep voice “It’s alright to be scared. Better than lie you aren’t.”

“I admit it, I’m a little. But just a little.” boy stared into twisting portal “Do I really need to go in?”

“That depends on you. I can only show you the way in.”

 

Black haired took a deep breath and began walking through spinning nightmare. After entering he found himself in whirl like corridor with countless pictures and holes around. Most of them were just showing that awful letter all the time – χ! He knew that it had to do something with that blade, but he hasn’t ever heard of it. His eyes were more concentrated on several holes at almost every corner.

 

“Why are so many holes here?” he asked Spirit who suddenly appeared.

“Future is not written by fate. It is written by events and things the person does.” man replied, passing many holes “I see yours is very complicated. After that day Ventus gives you handmade present, but you just throw it away. Ven tries to explain about Xehanort when you shout at him which your Master notices. Because of that both of you get the punishment leading into distrust between you two. After that day, things  only get worse.”

“But what really happens? And why do I need to see it again?”

“To really clear your heart from Xehanort’s control. It’s not only Ventus who depends on your choice, but all other worlds do.”

“Is the power of χ – blade really that powerful? What it is exactly?”

“That is what you will see in your future.”

“Didn’t you say there are several chances of what is going to happen?”

“I did, but from the events that happen during this day I will create the most possible future.”

 

Even Spirit of Future had his own Keyblade, summoning it the second he finished his sentence. He made some triangles with it, transforming both of them to the training ground. Vanitas saw himself, swinging his Keyblade around in perfect moves. But those moves were just too perfect to be real. Black haired nearly freaked out when he saw his future- self’s blank eyes. There was no color, only empty holes in light yellow color. It seemed almost like as Xehanort stole his eyes, replacing them with bare stones. Future Vanitas followed his Master’s commands as he was hypnotized or robotized.

 

On the other part of training ground was Ventus, but not the one Vanitas had knew.

 

This Ventus looked inches smaller, all skinny and broken. He seemed almost underfed with many ribs protruding from his pale chest. His clothes were really ragged, as they were thrown into river and were chewed by fishes. But that wasn’t the most concerned part.

Ven had tied rags around almost his full body. Not because he was shivering from cold or fear. Not because they hid his skinny body. Almost every inch of his body was bloody, as someone cut him far and wide. Cuts looked painful even if you just look at them. No one knew how Ven was hiding his pain inside.

 

“Alright Ventus, come here.” Xehanort called.

 

Blonde didn’t come cheerfully. He more like limped while being supported by his own Keyblade. He walked with his head down, to hide slipping tears. His pain give Xehanort only pleasure.

 

“Now, show me the last spell close combat you learned.”

 

Ven obediently started jumping around while swinging his Keyblade, casting spells. He was getting his best, using last bits of his weak energy. Even real Vanitas was surprised of how well was blonde still holding on. During all those jumps, somersaults, spells and hits Ven quietly coughed, still sick from that chronic illness. It didn’t stop. In fact, it just got a lot worse.

As blonde made the last cough he lost balance by loudly landing on ground. Some of his rags got new blood on, surprisingly showing he still had some inside of his tiny veins. Ven kept coughing blood, until he was pulled by his hair.

 

“Just what was that?” Xehanort asked playfully “Why did you stop?”

“Forgive me… Master… I can’t… I’m not strong… enough…” blonde whimpered.

“Oh you’re strong just enough. You only need to release all the power you have.”

“Please… don’t do this…” Ven tearfully begged for the slightest pity from his Master. Suddenly he started coughing even more blood, turning ground red.

“Is that so? You would rather die than use the power?” man kicked his sobbing body “In this case only one thing can be done. Vanitas!” he called black haired who emotionlessly looked at him.

“Yes, Master?” boy asked with voice that gave creeps even to real Vanitas.

“Time for forging χ – blade has come. You know what to do.”

 

Future Vanitas walked like those soldiers who march on the battlefield. Xehanort grabbed blonde and put him on bigger rock as it was an altar. Ven was shivering like he was swimming in pool full of ice. Man then tied his wrists and ankles so blonde couldn’t have escape. Vanitas then summoned his Keyblade, lowering it towards Ven’s chest.

 

“ χ – blade needs pure darkness and pure light to be created. In other worlds, fine sword is created from two sharpen knives. For sword to be created, one knife must be broken. Broken pieces sharpen first knife, making it as the mightiest weapon at all.” bald man spoke like it was ceremony.

Real Vanitas covered his eyes when Keyblade stabbed in still alive flesh. Ventus couldn’t have let even a small yelp before his life ended. All that was left was just lifeless body covered by shiny light that surrounded black haired. It lifted him in air until his darkness started coming out. More and more shadows covered light when his body faded away just like Ven’s dd. In the end light and shadows formed into weapon that seemed dangerous if you even looked at it. Its blade was deadly, details powerful and handle balanced.

 

“After all those years it’s finally mine! Key of all wars, destruction and pain!” Xehanort laughed sickly while swinging χ – blade around. “All those years I was looking for right orphans with right skills. I trained them until they became deadly as soldiers. In the end only this, thirteenth try was successful!”

 

Black haired nearly got sick from his so called Master’s words. Did he really mean that not just him and Ven, but other twenty four kids were used for that reason. Anger suddenly rushed into his head, summoning Keyblade as he was hitting Xehanort with it. Even though it was hopeless, he didn’t stop until warm hand calmed him down.

 

“I think you saw enough of future. Let’s go back.” Spirit patted his shoulder as they left the world of terrible future.

 

When they were back in cave, Vanitas couldn’t help himself. He burst out crying because of the Xehanort, of future, of innocent lives taken, of killed Ven… Suffering just didn’t ended. He was about to say through his sobbing face when Spirit interrupted him.

 

“Yeah the scene of creating χ – blade happened more than once, only with different kids. We tried hard to change hearts of darker kids, but their covered hearts didn’t change enough. Also χ – blade wasn’t ever created, so Xehanort just visited another world for new tools.”

“Why couldn’t I seem it before? It was in front of my nose this entire time.”

“Now Vanitas, it’s the time when you I decide if you completed your test. But from your face I can clearly see you passed it. Xehanort’s control isn’t in you anymore. It is just you and you only.”

“How are we going to escape?” he asked while looking through black cliff.

“You just go get Ven and we will help you. I give you my word we’ll protect you until you’ll reach safe place.” Spirit started taking his silver star form “Be careful Vanitas, Xehanort doesn’t control you anymore, but he can still play sick mind games with your head.”

 

And so the last star left Wasteland. Their goal was completed, they helped boy by giving him his old eyes back. Now it was up to him to change fate completely, before fatal future can begin.

Fifth Part: To Change the Future

 

Vanitas didn’t lose a second of the new future. He grabbed his old backpack he still got from orphanage filling it with extra clothes, some books and first aid. Then he took black coat, covering himself from deserts cold. Quiet as mouse, he got in Ven’s cave. Blonde was curled into ball, sleeping deeply. Black haired gently woke him up, trying to not touch his chest duo to broken ribs. Ven slowly opened his eyes, only to see Vanitas’s big yellow eyes.

“No! You must go away… Master will punish mmph!” Ven panicked loudly when black haired covered his mouth.

“Shhh… you must be quiet.” he whispered “I know it’s been long, but I know what Master… no Xehanort has been doing to you… and me. But we’ll talk later. Get dressed and ready quick.” black haired threw him shirt and pants.

“But Vani… how?” blonde got confused.

“Long story, I’ll tell you after we get the hell out of here. Now get moving already!” Vanitas complain as he put shirt on Ven who was only staring at him “Are you deaf? Put those pants on, before old coot decides to wake up.”

“Vani…”

“What? We don’t have exactly whole night you know.”

“I’m just glad you’re old self again.” Ven smiled as he finally got from his bed. Black haired blushed secretly as he heard those words. Did just three tiny stars and oversized mouse done that? His thinking was broken by blonde bringing his backpack saying he was ready. Before they left Vanitas took first aid out of his backpack in order to treat all those wounds that blonde got from Xehanort. Whole time black haired treated the injuries, Ven watched him astonished. Black haired knew for every single bruise, fracture or cut thanks to Christmas Spirit of Present. For some reason old Vani who would always protect him was back and was there for him.

 

They both left the cave on tip toes, making sure they didn’t wake Master up. But thinking of this really made them think, where does Xehanort sleep? Does he even sleep?

Vanitas fastened his step to avoid feeling of being followed. Along with blonde, they crossed the training ground, then some cliffs until they reached clear desert. There black haired noticed Ven’s heavy breathing.

He stopped and helped Ven sit down for a second. Illness sure was getting worse, attacking much more than just his throat and head. It was going down to his lungs, forcing him to cough.

There was no way to quiet down his coughing. It was heard all over the Wasteland and Vanitas prayed Xehanort didn’t hear them. He grabbed Ven’s wrist, pulling him forward as fast as he could. Suddenly black monsters started to appear, squeezing them in thigh ring.

 

“Can you fight?” black haired asked while summoning his Keyblade.

“I think I can.” blonde nodded, holding his.

“Defeat just those who block way out then. There’s no time to defeat them all.”

“Right!” Ven nodded, destroying the nearest one.

 

Fighting was successful enough for them to get further. More creatures appeared, but they didn’t mind them. They just hoped to get on safe.

Hopeful thoughts were ruined when certain man appeared in front of them. His dark coat was covering every inch of his body, fusing him with dark background.

 

“Now, now my children. Aren’t you suppose to be in bed?” he playfully made fool of them “Or are you for extra night training?”

“Neither of it, you old coot. We’re leaving!” Vanitas protested much to Ven’s surprise.

“Is that how you treat your Master?” Xehanort got angry.

“You’re no longer our Master!” even Ven joined.

“But how will you survive without Master? It’s pretty dangerous out there.”

“We’ll just find the new one, the rightful one who won’t use us!”

 

Man seemed to get surprised at Vanitas’s words. So they found out about his plan of χ – blade forging. There wasn’t anything to worry about. He actually killed more than twenty four kids. Some found out about his evil plans and tried to escape. None of runaways survived to tell how cruelly Xehanort can torture them.

Suddenly more creatures appeared fighting with both boys. They tried hard to block attacks when bigger ones started to appear. Black haired didn’t have much trouble until one bigger one got him by his leg. He tried to struggle, but got hold even tighter. Bald man got close to him, seemingly enjoying his pain. He lifted evil looking Keyblade in front of his forehead.

 

“Kinda sad I have to eliminate you. You sure were a nice apprentice to teach. I really hope I’ll find another one who will be as loyal as you were.” man smiled as weapon started darkening with deadly spell.

 

Vanitas was struggling, using every bit of his power to escape. He just couldn’t get from that grip. As spell was getting closer, he could only close eyes and prepared for deadly spell. Only seconds away was his doom.

 

Next moment, he didn’t felt anything. He was certain spell had killed him until he noticed something golden ruffled in front of him. Ventus! Little blonde pushed him away from the blast, saving him from fatal moment. His smile was in front of his again cheerful face, glad he done the right thing.

 

“What would I do without you?” Vanitas returned the smile.

“You’re… welcome…” Ven uttered when his smile suddenly disappeared. Blonde closed his eyes, giving nothing but the yelp of pain. Boy had time to save black haired, but not enough to save his own skin. Deadly spell hit him in legs spreading the pain all over his body. Ven collapsed as Vanitas’s level of anger went above all limits.

Rage made him go towards man, slicing Keyblade against Xehanort’s shield. Bald man only laughed while making one single slice through his shoulder. Blood immediately covered one sleeve on his shirt, making his head dizzy.

 

“Face it! Your fate is to die, either by me or the χ – blade. Now you can finally see it, don’t you?” Xehanort grinned at dying Ventus and injured Vanitas who was losing more and more blood.

 

Was that really the end? End where they tried so hard to avoid? Ex – Master was coming closer, ready to give Vanitas another slice, this time deadly one. Vanitas wished he could see what happened when he lost consciousness…

 

… if he’s going to wake up that is.

 

 

Shiny blade, prepared to be covered by blood. Black haired unconsciously laid on ground with no hope of ever waking up. 

Man was about to give fatal hit… which never reached him.

Keyblade was blocked with another Keyblade that looked somehow familiar.

 

“Eraques! How dare you interfere with my plans?” Xehanort hissed like snake.

“I’ll never forgive you for killing four of my apprentices! I will not let you kill those two as well.”

“Such yourself, you’re powerless against me.”

“Maybe I’m but I have less worries than you.” man smiled when Xehanort noticed missing bodies.

“You! Where did you take them?”

“Me? You got it all wrong.”

“Tell me where they are!”

“Why don’t we settle this? Background is nice and moon makes everything even better.”

“You gonna be sorry for ever saying words against me.”

 

Two Masters clashed in battle for both revenge and power.

 

 

 

Blurry vision got in boy’s eyes when he woke up. His hair was a mess, but he was at least in one piece. Wound on his shoulder was bandaged, his cuts treated. He was about to look for Ven when he saw him right next to him. Blonde had badges around his chest and wet cloth on his forehead, but it seemed like fever was getting down.

 

“Are you thirsty?” two voices behind him asked. Black haired was about to say yes when he recognized persons behind him. As he guessed, those were the persons he was going to meet. Blue haired girl and brunette boy in which Spirits turned. Boy took glass of water to wet his throat a bit.

 

“Where am I?” he asked, looking at room where his and Ven’s bed were standing.

“You and your friend are safe now. You can freely relax here.” girl replied.

“How is Ventus? Can you cure his illness?” he got worried.

“He’s going to be alright. We managed to remove spell from him and for the illness we will need bit more time.”

Vanitas laid back in bed staring into two faces.

“Say, I never asked about your names.”

“I’m Aqua and he’s Terra.” girl smiled.

“And you two are Vanitas and Ventus right?” brunette asked.

“Yeah…” boy sighed.

 

Suddenly door opened with Master going in. Fortunately it was Eraques not Xehanort.

“I did it… Xehanort is finally defeated!” he announced as Aqua and Terra got amazed. Vanitas only closed his eyes, drifting into sleep for the first time calmly. Christmas Spirits and Star Traveler completely changed his life, but he clearly knew it wasn’t possible without his actions. Now whole new life was in front of him, waiting to be entered in. But that is the whole new story which will be told some other time…. perhaps in changed future.  

Epilogue: Changed Future

 

“Where are the red ornaments?” Ven wearing fluffy jumper asked.

In a week he completely healed up from the illness that was attacking him for years. Now the fight was done, illness lost and blonde won. He needed some time to adjust the new environment as well as Vanitas did.

As soon as his shoulder got better black haired occasionally left outside. There he’d stay for hours just staring at the snow covered world. Aqua would bring him warm clothes and hot chocolate. While he drank sweet liquid blue haired told him about herself, Terra, Master Eraques and even about him and Ventus. It turned out they knew about them for months, they just couldn’t find exact location.

Most of the conversation black haired was listening, not really knowing what to say. Those feelings of guilt were making him clench his fists, ready to beat down himself. Luckily Aqua realized his intention in time and rather let him continue with conversation.

For the first time in whole life Vanitas truly opened himself and didn’t feel awkward about it. That kept him still as he entered the room where Ven was decorating huge Christmas tree with Terra. Moment black haired entered, blonde smiled.

“Look Vani! Those ornaments are in red color, your favorite!” he said cheerfully while stepping towards him.

“It actually looks amazing. Much more than your improvised cave.” Vanitas said sarcastically.

“True we’re a bit late with decorating, but better later than never.” Terra grinned while bringing the box. “We still need an ornament for top though.”

“What do you say boys? Star or angel?” Aqua asked as she showed two different ornaments.

“You chose!” Ven said cheerfully to Vanitas.

“Angel if I really had to choose.” blacked haired forced tiny smile on his face “But you’re the one who’s putting it on top.”

“Huh? But I can’t reach it, it’s too high.” blonde looked at height of the tree with slight doubt.

“Who says so?” Vanitas lifted Ven just like all those years ago.

 

When angel with sparkling wings was on top, everyone could just say:

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

 

Sometimes making someone realize what is truly happening can make a big difference in his heart. Believe in forgiveness and act like a true hero when you try helping someone.

Even if you’re born from pure darkness, like Vanitas it doesn’t mean you should become pure darkness. It’s fate we chose that counts.

Edited December 24, 201311 yr by Hunter Hawk