It came as no surprise to X when he found his sister just wondering the halls. If he had actually had to search for her he would have thought this place had actually changed her. But as it was turning out, nothing seemed different. She was exactly the same.

Y turned to see X before he could approach her. She blinked at him in surprise, almost the same surprise she had when he had destroyed that ball of light. Like she couldn't believe what she was seeing. The surprise faded rather quickly and was replaced with a smile.

"X." Y said. X gave a half smile, the one he knew Y would remember and saluted her in a mocking way. Y's smile grew and her shoulders relaxed. It was odd as X hadn't even noticed they were tense. "What are you doing here?" She asked, closing the gap between the two.

"Just got dragged along," X replied with a shrug. "The old coot mentioned something about wanting me to learn the powers the keyblade hold, or something like that." He continued. Y laughed a little and rolled her eyes.

"As much as I enjoy hearing the reason you were dragged here, I meant why you were still here." She said. She was watching X suspiciously like she still wasn't too sure about him. She noticed something was wrong.

"Master Eraqus wanted to catch up with baldy," X said with a shrug. "I didn't feel like listening to old men talk so I went to look around."

"Right." Y said with a nod. "You know, for him being your master you don't seem to give him much respect." She remarked. X laughed a little. The laugh was filled with sarcasm, like his laughs usually were.

"We have that sort of relationship, you know. I call him old coot and a few other choice nicknames while he calls me a brat or something." X explained. He played it off as nothing huge, and to him, it wasn't. It was even true, for once. The relationship just wasn't as friendly as he was making it seem.

"Right." Y agreed with a smile. A very forced smile. She was still doubting him.

"Are you ok?" X asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Fine." Y replied with another fake smile. X frowned and gave her a look that he knew she would understand. Sure enough, Y looked away from him and to the floor. "It's just, what happened to your eyes? They used to be brown and now they're not." She asked. X blinked in surprise. That was it?

"Oh, that," X said with a soft voice. He put a hand on the side of his face, a finger touching the corner of his eye. "It's a long story."

"We have time." Y said softly. She was looking at X expectantly now. Waiting for him to tell her. X shook his head.

"Not here. It's not a good place." X insisted. Y frowned at him and crossed her arms.

"And why not?" She asked sounding almost offended. Of course, she had come to care for this place. X saying it wasn't good had probably made her confused.

"It's a story of darkness. And I wouldn't want to taint this land of light." X explained. Y frowned yet again but nodded. Before their conversation could go any farther a bell tolled somewhere in the castle. Y looked up and around in confusion. She grabbed onto X's arm and suddenly pulled, almost throwing him off balance.

"Come on, we have to gather in the throne hall." Y explained. X nodded, allowing her to lead the way. It looked like things were finally ready to get started.

In the hall Y and X were the third to appear. Master Eraqus was by the thrones speaking to some crystal. Terra and Aqua already stood together, speaking with concerned looks. Y dragged X over to them, only releasing his arm when they reached the other two. Terra raised an eyebrow at X. He shrugged in reply.

"What's going on?" Y asked.

"We don't know yet," Aqua replied. She glanced up at Eraqus before looking back to Y. "Did you see Ven on your way here?" She asked. Y shook her head.

"I wasn't far from the library with X, didn't pass his room." She replied. X looked at his sister in confusion. Did it really matter where Ventus was? Why had they all gathered here anyway?

"Why was I dragged here again?" X asked. Y turned to him with a look that read 'really'. X shrugged in confusion. "I don't live in a location remotely like this, I don't know what's going on." He said in his defense.

"When we hear the bell we're supposed to gather here. It means something important happened." Terra explained. X nodded in understanding.

"Efficient." He said simply.

Up by the thrones, Master Eraqus turned away from a crystal he had been talking to. He frowned the moment his eyes landed on X. X tipped his head to the side confused. What had he done to make this guy dislike him?

"That was my dear old friend Yen Sid. As you know he is master no more." Master Eraqus began. His pupils all looked to him with amazing focus. Even Y was actually listening. "But he still keeps a close eye on the tides of light and darkness. His counsel serves as signposts on the road we wielders of the keyblade must walk. All the more reason, then, for concern."

The moment he said that a worried look appeared on his three apprentices face. X however only looked curious. He wanted to know why there was reason for concern. Or at least, that's what he was pretending. He very well knew what the problem was. It had been a problem for weeks at this point.

"For he tells me the princesses of heart are in danger. Not only from the forces of darkness, as you may assume. But also from a new threat - one that feeds on negativity. Fledgling emotions that have taken monster form - Yen Sid calls them the Unversed. As wielders of the keyblade, you are tasked with striking down any who would upset the balance of light and darkness. The Unversed are no exception. I tried to pass this news onto Master Xehanort, but my repeated attempts to reach him have failed. I doubt there is any connection, and yet this all troubles me." Master Eraqus continued. X frowned stepping forward.

"Wait, Master Xehanort is gone?" He asked. Eraqus looked at him in shock and nodded.

"Yes, I thought you would have known." Eraqus replied. X frowned looking down at the ground. He ran his hands through his hair nervously.

"No, I didn't. I thought he was just talking to you." X said offhandedly. He looked up at the other Master. "You said Unversed right?" He asked. Eraqus nodded at him slowly, unsure of his purpose for asking. "I wonder if those are the same monsters we fought before coming here?" X muttered. There were surprised gasps from all those around him. X had to hold his urge to smirk. These guys were turning out far too gullible for their own good.

"You've seen the Unversed?" Terra asked in shock. X nodded slowly, almost reluctantly.

"Then perhaps you could be of use on this journey." Master Eraqus said. X looked at him and nodded. "Thank you. Aqua, Terra," he said turning to the apprentices in question. "It is up to you to get the situation under control. Eliminate the Unversed and find Master Xehanort. I have unlocked the lanes between. You may use these forbidden pathways to travel between this world and countless others. The darkness looms closer than usual within these spaces, but your armor will protect you. Lastly, remember that order must be kept. You can not tell anyone there are other worlds. Now go and fulfill your duty."

"Master, what can I do?" Y asked stepping forward cautiously. Master Eraqus smiled at her softly.

"I'm afraid you and Ventus are not yet ready to leave. I must ask you to remain here." He said. Y looked at her feet disappointed but nodded.

"Yes, Master." She said. She looked very troubled like there was more she wanted to say. But she didn't speak. X assumed it was because she didn't want to sound crazy by saying a masked boy had shown up and advised her to leave the world. It wasn't an everyday occurrence after all.

Terra turned to leave the room, with Aqua ready to follow. They were stopped by Master Eraqus speaking again.

"Terra, consider this an opportunity. A second chance for you to change my mind." He said. Terra turned and looked at him confused.

"What?" He asked. Master Eraqus approached him stopping in front of him.

"You must know, I care for you like my own son. If I could have my way I would name you Master in a second. But how can I, when you are so obsessed with power? Terra, you mustn't be afraid of losing. Fear leads to obsession with power, and obsession beckons the darkness." Master Eraqus elaborated. He placed a hand on Terra's shoulder in what appeared to be a fatherly way. "You must never forget." He warned. He removed his hand from Terra's shoulder. Terra lightly bowed.

"Thank you, Master. I will not fail you again." Terra said. He smiled at the Master before leaving the room.

"X, please assist Terra." Master Eraqus said. X blinked at him in surprise. That was easier than it should have been. "I sense you understand his struggle well if anyone can guide him, it's you." Eraqus continued. X bowed to Master Eraqus, hiding the smirk he had gained.

"Of course, anything I can do to help." X agreed. He stood and ruffled Y's hair. Y smiled at him and hugged him tightly. X returned the hug on instinct. An instinct he was glad he still had.

"Good luck," Y whispered.

"Thanks. You be careful, I doubt the Unversed will just avoid this place." X whispered in reply. Y nodded as she released X and back away. X saluted to her once more before turning to follow Terra.

X caught up to Terra just outside. Terra was standing on top of the stairs leading into the forecourt. X stopped beside him and looked at him curiously.

"Why are you just standing here?" X asked. Terra looked at him surprised. Another person X had snuck up on.

"Thinking. Why are you here?" Terra replied.

"Your Master asked me to stick with you. Don't know why, but I'm not inclined to argue with a friend of my Masters." X answered with a shrug. He started down the stairs, putting his hands in his pockets. Terra followed him after a moment.

"How do you world travel, if you don't have the armor?" Terra asked. X grinned looking over his shoulder.

"I have my ways." He replied. He looked forward again, before turning back to Terra. "Tell you what, I'll meet you in the next world." He said. Terra looked surprised but nodded.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs X turned off to the side. He walked past the forecourt going to the training ground. He glanced around him cautiously before snapping his fingers and summoning a Shadow Heartless.

"Follow Terra, let me know what world he ends up in." X ordered. The Shadow bowed before going into the ground and running towards Terra. X sighed snapping once again, this time opening a dark corridor. He entered the portal before it closed behind him, leaving no trace behind.

*<3*

Y watched Aqua and Terra leave the room with a frown. Master Eraqus followed after them to watch where they went. Y followed him, at least hoping to see them leave. But she was scared. The masked boy had warned her friends would die. Maybe she should go too. Just to be sure they didn't get hurt.

Y got outside just in time to see Ven activate his armor and take off. Aqua ran down the steps to try and stop him but was too late.

"No! He mustn't!" Master Eraqus said, desperation clear in his voice. There was something more than them just not being ready going on. There has to be for him to sound so desperate. "You have to bring him back." He said turning to Aqua.

"Don't worry Master." Aqua said before activating her armor by hitting the armor piece on her shoulder. She threw up her keyblade and it turned into a glider of sorts. She jumped onto it before leaving the world.

Master Eraqus turned to Y with a sad look. He tried to smile but it didn't seem to work. Y frowned at him.

"Master Eraqus?" Y asked. He shook his head going inside. As he passed Y he gently placed a hand on her head.

"I fear for them. Something has led to this." He said. Y looked at him in shock. She looked down at the ground chewing her lip.

"Master, I saw something weird earlier today. A boy in a mask." Y said. She looked up at Master Eraqus to be met with a concerned look. "He said, that the others are going to die." She continued. The Master's skin paled as he turned away, lifting his hand from her head.

"Things may be graver than I feared." Master Eraqus said as he went into the castle. Y looked after him sadly. She looked to the forecourt where all the others had left, then back to where the Master had been seconds before.

"I'm sorry." Y said before running down the stairs. She hit the piece of armor on her right shoulder. After a sudden bright light, she was covered in silver armor with accents of gold. The helmet had two pieces that stuck up, though they tilted back, almost pointing straight back but not quite. Y threw her keyblade into the air as she had seen Aqua do. It returned to her as a gold board with a silver fin on the back. Y jumped onto the board and took off, going through an opening in the lanes between just as the others had.

~~~~~~~~~~*<3*~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: And finally they are leaving the Land of Departure. What was meant to be one chapter turns into three. But, I'm happy with them so whatever.
This is just something I'm thinking about and I want to hear your opinions on the matter. Would you be interested in seeing X and Y's homeworld? I'm thinking about having everyone stop by at one point or another, I'm just not sure. It would actually include a few other familiar characters too, though younger and less Heartless. Well, tell me what you think.