A Second Chance

Land of Departure

Ven is by far the most complex to write for in this series for me. I hope I'm doing him justice. One of my least favorite aspects of KH3 is how all of these characters went through so much trauma and just... bounced back to normal. No exploration of how they feel, their struggles, nothing. I feel like Aqua and Ven would have a form of PTSD, like the Reader does. Especially my bby Aqua.

My reasoning for Ven aging is that when the Organization took over Castle Oblivion, it "unsealed" Ven and he started aging. That puts him and Reader at pretty similar levels of growing up. I didn't know how to include that in the actual story lol but in my head I see this being set about.. 3 years after KH2. Reader spent a long time in Thebes.

The Ven/Vanitas dynamic is also just totally brushed over in KH3, so all of that in this series is going to obviously be non-canon.

... Actually, from this point forward, very few aspects of the series will be canon.

:3

[[♥]]

[GUMMI SHIP]

As you careened through space, seated next to Sora with two of your three long-lost friends rescued and seated behind you, you couldn't think of the last time you felt so alive. You kept calling out their names and looking back at them to make sure they were still there, terrified of losing them once more. Aqua found it endearing, Ven found it annoying, but it would be a lie if either of them tried to say they weren't filled with the same feelings.

It was a lifetime ago that the four of you – including Terra, of course – were in the Land of Departure, watching the stars and dreaming of adventures. "Be careful what you wish for" is solid advice, because those dreams turned out to be nightmares. You'd never be able to grasp what either Ven or Aqua went through during your years apart, just as they'd never be able to understand what you experienced. You hadn't been able to talk to Ven, or really even Aqua, about what had happened in the years since you've been split apart. And truthfully you were kind of dreading that conversation, because you're positive it will create nothing but chaos admitting the truth to everyone.

But at least the guilt at not being able to save your friends was finally lessening to a low rumble, replaced by unbridled happiness. Was this what it felt like to be Sora, you wonder with a silent chuckle to yourself, as you glance over at the brunet as he steers the ship. He has a faint smile on his face as he hums an unrecognizable song under his breath, his thumbs tapping on the wheel.

"Hey," you quietly call out, earning his attention as you place a hand over one of his. Sora glances over at you, giving you a full grin when he realizes that you look truly at peace for the first time since he's met you. "Thanks. For saving them."

"Don't mention it," Sora tells you, and you give his hand a squeeze before dropping it back in your lap. "It's all in a day's work for a hero, right."

"A hero, huh?" you muse, snuggling down in the seat as you curl your legs up into your chest, wrapping your arms around your shins as you rest your chin on your knees and glance out the front window, admiring the swirling blue and green lights in the sky. "Is that what we are?"

"Of course!!" Sora exclaims in disbelief at how you could doubt him, causing Aqua and Ven to jump slightly since they're not used to his outbursts. "We're bona fide heroes, [Name]. Never forget it."

"I guess," you agree with a laugh, allowing a comfortable silence to fall over the ship yet again.

Aqua smiles as she watches the exchange between you and Sora, filled with joy at the knowledge that you found him, and Riku, and were able to pull all of this off. During her time in the Realm, she never thought she'd ever make it back to the Light. She had resigned herself to her fate, hoping for the best but expecting that the worlds would fall, one by one, until Xehanort had destroyed everyone and everything. The one positive was that she wouldn't be around to experience it.