Once Upon A Time: Key To the Heart

Rumplestiltskin grunted as he limped down the road, panting slightly as he felt so weak without his powers. Fortunately he prepared for the possibility of being expelled from Storybrooke only there was a tiny little problem.

He couldn't get back in alone.

He needed help and in the entire world of non-magic there were possibly only two people who could help him.

Only if they didn't kill him after he told them everything.

As he continued walking someone watched as he limped down the road.

"How the mighty have fallen."

He vanished into a cloud of darkness.

Once Upon A Time

Gold sighed as he sat at the end of the bus that would take him to New York where one of the people who might help him resided. He had it all and then he lost it all.

"You've truly fallen far haven't you, Rumplestiltskin."

Gold looked to the person sitting next to him and was surprised. "...Xehanort."

The man smirked. "I am so glad to see you remember my name."

"How are you here?" Gold asked. "I thought you were dead."

"I enjoyed it for a time. It really gave perspective." The man glanced at Gold through the corner of his vision. "And I see you've suffered a fate perhaps much worse."

"So you know." Gold muttered. "What do you want?"

"A way out of the Darkness and I believe there is a way to return." Xehanort answered, looking at the window.

"So you're not really here. A mere illusion conjured to speak with me. In that case you have nothing to offer me." Gold stated.

"I have more to offer than you could ever imagine. For starters, I have already an agent in Storybrooke. What I need is someone powerful in magic to open a portal to the Realm of Darkness." Xehanort answered. "There are a few candidates. The former Evil Queen has the power but it seems she's no longer interested. That leads me to seek you out."

"In case you do not know by now unless I am in Storybrooke I cannot use magic." Gold softly retorted.

"Not you. Your friend under the library."

Gold glanced at Xehanort. "You know about her?"

"And I know the powerful magic that is keeping her alive but I do not know of any spells that can restore her. Which is why I have sought you out. Tell me how to restore her and I will aid you in your plan." Xehanort explained. "I already know you're already seeking out two associates to help you. They can help you get through the barrier and in the meantime our other friend will help my escape from the Realm of Darkness. Do we have a deal?"

Gold wanted to say no, but thought of the possibilities and nodded. "Very well."

Xehanort grinned. "Excellent."

With that said he disappeared, leaving Gold alone to continue his journey.

Many Years Ago
Keyblader Castle

He tried to sleep but his mind was too distracted for sleep at the moment. He leaned up from his bed and turned to the window, looking at the night sky. He wore a green high collared black shirt with a grey vest with green and blue armor over his chest. He had pants that were a mix of grey, black, and white with black and silver shoes on his feet.

On his left shoulder was a green and blue piece of arm covering his shoulder and upper left arm and he wore a wrist band that was yellow, red, green and blue on his left wrist. He sighed again but his eyes caught movement in the sky. As he looked more intently he spotted moving lights through the night sky.

"A meteor shower!" The boy exclaimed in excitement.

He jumped off his bed and ran out the door, rushing out of the dorms and out of the castle, onto a platform outside the entrance.

He stopped when he saw the archway would block his view of the sky. "I can't see much from here."

He took off running again, running down the path leading to the training ground where large gold medallions hung from several golden ornaments or wooden poles.

'Looks like Terra forgot to clean up around here.' The boy took a look around the training grounds. "I have time to spare."

He summoned Keyblade and started practicing with it, remembering his lessons with his friends. He slashed through the air for several minutes, hitting the golden medallions with a few combo moves he had picked up. He turned and stopped when he saw a few small boulders that led up to the path he was planning to take.

"Wait, what am I messing around for?" He smacked himself on the head. "I'm going to miss the meteor shower!"

He hopped up the boulders and landed on top of the hill and ran through a pond leading to a cliff that overlooked the place he had called home for a year with a bench meant for him to sit down on. He walked over to the edge and looked up at the sky.

"Wow." He marveled at the shooting lights in the sky.

He didn't know when he did it but soon enough he was on the ground with his hands behind his head, looking up at the sky with a content look on his face.

"Why does this seem so familiar?" The boy wondered to himself.

He remembered looking up at the sky once, looking exactly like this and he could see images of people and voices that felt familiar. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling content as all turned black. He then sat up, wondering if he should go back to his room as he felt like he was going to fall asleep right here. But when he looked at the sky he simply yawned and lied back down.

That was when a face came into view, hovering over him with a curious look.

"Whoa!" The boy exclaimed as he sat up.

The person giggled as the boy turned and faced them. "Gimme a break, Aqua."

Aqua's wardrobe consisted of a black and dark blue high collared halter top and a black corset with white laces while her back was exposed, black bicycle shorts as she soon realized wearing a short skirt was not a good idea when training to be a warrior but wore a blue cloth draped over her hips along with two white cloths tied over her waist and draped in the same manner, black boots with steel toed armor and leggings that went up to her thighs and showed a bit of skin. On her arms were black fingerless gloves and dark blue bell shaped sleeves over them that went up to her forearms covered by pieces of armor. Her hair reached down to her neck that mostly parted to her left.

She had two pink straps intersecting over her chest with a silver badge that showed her status as a Keyblade Apprentice.

"Ven, you hopeless sleepyhead." Aqua commented as she shook her head. "You could have at least brought a blanket."

Aqua was always somewhere nearby, looking out for him and acting like an overprotective older sister which Ventus didn't mind at times.

"But…Did I really dream that place up?" Ventus wondered as he looked down at the ground. "It really felt like I had been there before, looking up at the stars…"

Aqua sighed and rubbed a hand through his head. "Those dreams again? Still having trouble remembering our home and friends?"

"Yeah…" Ventus said, feeling a little guilty.

Aqua saw the look on his face and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. It'll come back, I'm sure of it."

"I know." Ventus smiled back as he walked over the edge.

Aqua followed him over and they both sat down on the edge, looking up at the stars.

"Hey, Aqua?" Ventus asked.

"Hm?" Aqua looked over at Ventus.

"You ever wonder what stars are? Where light comes from?" Ventus asked.

"Well…" Aqua started, unsure how to answer. "Where we came from we learned stars were balls of fire, one that allowed us to live on our world. Flaming lights made of gas that lit up the universe but ever since coming here there are others who say…"

"That every star up there is another world." A voice behind them finished.

Ventus and Aqua looked to see the person who spoke.

"Terra." Ventus said as Aqua smiled.

"Yep, hard to believe there are so many worlds out there besides our own." Terra commented as he walked over. "The light is their hearts and it's shining down on us a million lanterns."

"What? I don't get it." Ventus said, confused by what Terra said.

"In other words they're just like you, Ven." Terra smiled.

"What does that mean?" Ventus asked as he got up and walked to Terra.

"You'll find out someday, I'm sure." Terra replied, not giving away anything.

"Come on. I wanna know now." Ventus said impatiently.

"You're too young to know now." Terra said calmly at Ventus's stubbornness.

"Quit treating me like a kid."

Aqua could only smile and giggle at the argument.

"What are you laughing at?" Terra looked at Aqua.

"I can't help it. You two would make the weirdest brothers." Aqua answered, laughing at their confused looks.

"Huh?"

Aqua however kept on laughing which soon made both boys laugh with her. The laughter faded a moment later as they calmed down and simply gazed at the stars.

"Oh right." Aqua suddenly realized something and stood up. "Terra, you and I have our Mark of Mastery Exam tomorrow." She reached into her sleeves and pulled three necklaces with a star attached to them. "I made us some good luck charms."

One star was orange, the other green, and the one Aqua kept was blue like the color of her hair. She tossed the bronze one at Terra and the green one at Ventus.

"I get one too?" Ventus asked as he looked at his charm.

"Of course. One for each of us." Aqua produced two more, one colored red and the other yellow. "Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star shaped fruit and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So as long you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart. You'll always find your way back to each other. Technically I think you're supposed to make them with seashells but I worked best with what I had."

"Oy, sometimes you are such a girl." Terra commented with a sigh.

"Hey, what do you mean 'sometimes'?" Aqua narrowed one eye.

"So this isn't a real good luck charm?" Ventus suddenly seemed saddened.

"Well…that's yet to be seen. But I did work a little magic into it." Aqua answered.

"Really? What?" Ventus asked eagerly.

Aqua smiled as she held up her charm. "An unbreakable connection."

Terra shook his head as he walked past Aqua. "Well, tomorrow's the exam. Anyone wanna spar?"

Ventus grinned eagerly as he summoned his Keyblade. "I can take you."

Aqua sighed as she took a seat as the two prepared to fight. Ventus started the spar by charging forward and launching a quick slash. Terra easily lifted his Keyblade up and deflected the attack and then blocked several more attacks as Ventus tried to break through his guard before launching fast strikes of his own, causing Ventus to yelp and step back. It was known by all three that Terra was the physically strongest of the apprentices.

Ventus was started to get tired but there was no way he was going to lose. "Quite going easy on me! You're not gonna win unless you're on the offensive!"

Terra shrugged and did as Ventus said; launching a few quick slashes that left Ventus panting as the two stepped back from each other.

"Well that works fine if you're fighting one on one." Aqua stepped in between the two. "But you need to handle a crowd too."

She summoned her Keyblade as she settled into her stance, standing straight with her Keyblade at her side as Ventus prepared himself by twirling his Keyblade in his hands. Mile charged forward but Aqua held her Keyblade up and pointed it at Ventus, releasing a barrage of shooting stars that hit Ventus and knocked him back but thankfully didn't him. Aqua jumped forward and launched a series of quick strikes at Ventus that sent him staggering back as he frantically tried to block each strike. Despite his own skills Aqua was ahead of him in skills and magic, using mana to increase her speed to make it almost impossible to keep up.

Ventus watched as she shot off her feet, moving like a literal shooting star was that was unstoppable when in a fight.

"Let's wrap this up!" Terra said as he leapt in between the two.

With that said Terra turned to Aqua, deciding it her turn and charged at her. Aqua pointed her Keyblade at Terra, releasing a blast of ice from the tip of her blade. Terra blocked with his Keyblade, sliding back only a few inches and leapt Aqua before she could attack again. Aqua cart wheeled out of the way, avoiding Terra's slash.

She quickly launched several quick slashes at Terra who blocked them all and retaliated with his own combos. Terra had more strength than Aqua which forced her back and made her cart wheel again to avoid another powerful slash. Aqua fired a fire ball from her Keyblade but Terra's Keyblade created a barrier that sent it flying back to her, making duck to avoid getting burned.

"It comes with experience." Terra said confidently.

"Wow." Ventus sighed in relief as his Keyblade vanished. "Trust me, you guys are ready. You're gonna clean up the exam tomorrow."

"I hope it's easy." Terra said as they stood together.

"I'm not the best motivation speaker in the world but I remember what Master Eraqus said. Power is born within the heart. When the time is right, you just have to look inside yourself and you'll find it there." Aqua held a hand over where her heart was.

Ventus took one last look at the stars, once again wondering why it seemed so familiar.

"Hey, we're going back." Terra broke him out of his trance as he and Aqua turned to leave.

"Oh, sorry. I'm coming!" Ventus said as he chased after them.

Aqua stopped and looked up, seeing the last meteor in the sky. She pulled out her good luck charm along with the other two she kept.

"Together...Always." Aqua whispered.

She put them away and rushed after her two friends.

Little did they know was that this night would be the last time they would gaze at the stars together.

Present
New York

"I just put Roland to bed." Robin said as he put his hands around his wife and kissed her on the cheek. "Ready to come to bed?"

"I'll be there in a moment." Marian smiled as her husband smiled back and let go of her.

He left the kitchen, probably to clean himself up for bed.

"It must be fun, knowing you have him in the palm of your hands."

Marian spun around, seeing a man in a dark coat standing at the table. "Who are you?"

"An acquaintance of your mother and your sister, Zelena." The man answered.

The woman's eyes widened before narrowing them and placing a hand on her necklace, instantly changing to her true form, the Wicked Witch. "So, somebody's been peeking."

"The opposite actually. I was aware of your little scheme before you even returned to the small town. You've impressed me, Zelena. You are one of the few who has managed to outwit Rumplestiltskin." The man stated.

"Aw, it's nice to be appreciated. And you are?" Zelena asked with a smile.

"My name is Xehanort and I've come to speak with you, regarding a role your mother squandered." The man answered.

"And that would be?" Zelena asked, slightly intrigued.

"An Alliance of Darkness, dedicated to the total defeat of the Light. Your mother was a member years ago but she failed along with your sister." Xehanort answered.

"No surprise there." Zelena drawled.

"Be that as it may with your mother dead and Regina's seeming redemption I need someone to fill in their role. Someone to help me and in return I help you." Xehanort continued.

"Sorry, darling. I don't make deals with ghosts." Zelena shook her head. "I do have a family to look after now."

"You believe you've managed to gain the upper hand in your feud with Regina but it will not last long even if they find out. What I offer is for you to gain the power your mother could have had but lost. The great power which would make you greater than your sister, even more powerful than the Dark One." Xehanort stated.

Zelena raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. So what do you have in mind?"

"Unleashing Hell on Storybrooke, ensuring that no one gains the happy ending they think they have." Xehanort answered, noting the eager look on Zelena's face.

Storybrooke

The town of Storybrooke had become quite peaceful in the aftermath of the Snow Queen's defeat and the banishment of Rumplestiltskin, the Dark One. Now there was the little matter of releasing the fairies and the Apprentice from the hat the Dark One had imprisoned them in but they were making progress. What they did not know was on the far edge of the forest something appeared. There was pillar of black smoke and out of it appeared what appeared to be a suit of armor.

It resembled a knight of some sort with its armor a mix of gold and bronze.

The armor looked down upon the town of Storbrooke and set about the task set by the one controlling it. It moved as silent as a shadow through the darkness of the town until it found the house it was looking for. From its body emerged a shadow that crept into the house and traveled through the walls, coming into the bedroom of the couple it was looking for.

It slowly crept upon the bed and raised a claw…

The couple in the bed shot up, gasping for breath as they looked around the room, fleeing like something was in the room but they saw nothing.

"David, did you see…" The woman whispered.

"No. There's nothing here…" The man sighed as he wrapped an arm around his wife. "I think…We both had a bad dream."

The woman leaned into his embrace as they laid back down. Outside the house the knight held up a small sphere and inside were drops of blood. The knight moved again, vanishing into the shadows.

Many Years Ago
Keyblader Castle

"Today, you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates, but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy, not a test of the heart. Both of you may prevail or neither. I trust you are ready?" Keyblade Master Eraqus stated to his students.

"Yes." Both answered honestly and eagerly.

"Then let the examination begin." Eraqus lifted his Keyblade and five orbs of light emerged from the end of the blade.

Aqua and Terra summoned their Keyblades and slipped into their fighting positions. The orbs were suddenly surrounded by darkness that shocked everyone watching. Eraqus stepped back while Terra and Aqua gasped from the sudden change. However they shook their shock off and charged forward anyways. Ventus was watching until he noticed one of the orbs flying towards him.

"Ven!" Aqua shouted when she noticed the orb attacking Ventus.

Ventus quickly summoned his Keyblade and slashed at it, taking it out in one hit. "Don't' worry about me! You two focus on the exam!"

"You're in danger, Ven! Go back and hide in your room!" Aqua called out, being overprotective of him again.

"No way!" Ventus shook his head. "I've been looking forward to this. Seeing you two become masters! I'm not going to miss it now!"

"He can take care of himself. He's been out there, training as hard as us." Terra said as he and Aqua stood back to back with each other, watching the orbs.

"Yeah!" Ventus agreed.

Aqua was still hesitant but nodded. "Stay sharp, Ven."

Confident that Ventus could take care of himself Aqua and Terra started attacking the orbs. Terra attacked head on, slashing away at the orbs while Aqua pumped mana into her legs, allowing her to jump and land on top of the orbs so she could stab them. She jumped off one orb and landed perfectly on her feet before slashing at another while watching as Ventus attacked the orbs surrounding him with fast paced combos even more orbs kept on appearing.

'What's going on? Master Eraqus isn't doing this.' Aqua glanced at Xehanort who watched them calmly. 'Did he do something?'

Aqua shook it off and continued destroying the orbs until they were all gone. Aqua and Terra quickly moved back to the center while Ventus went back to the as Eraqus stepped forward.

"That was unexpected but one must keep a still heart even in the most trying of circumstances." Master Eraqus said as he stopped in front of them. "It was an excellent test, one I chose to let unfold. Which brings us to your next trial. Now, Terra and Aqua, the two of you will face each other in combat. Remember, there are no winners, only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed."

Aqua and Terra stepped back faced each other, settling into their stances. Aqua was ready for this, she'd be training ever since she promised Ventus when he came here that she would become a Keyblade Master and find their friends. Terra had trained hard for this as well and he planned to become a Master and make Eraqus proud of him.

"Begin!" Eraqus announced.

With that one word, Aqua and Terra charged and their Keyblades clashed together and then broke apart before attacking each other again. Both demonstrated great speed and agility but it was obvious to the onlookers that Terra's blows were stronger as he pushed Aqua back but she was faster as she somersaulted backwards to avoid a powerful slash, and then jumped back avoid another, and then ducked as Terra's third slash sailed over her head. Aqua finally went on the offensive as she slashed at Terra which made him step back and jumped forward as she pushed Terra back. Terra stepped back and gasped as Aqua's Keyblade missed his nose by mere inches.

Terra jumped back and gasped for breath while Aqua kept herself in a ready stance. Terra looked up and saw Aqua running towards him. Terra gasped and held out his left hand as it was suddenly engulfed with black flames.

Eraqus raised one eyebrow. 'Is that-'

'Darkness?' Terra looked down at his hand as the Darkness vanished and back up as Aqua jumped and clashed her blade with his.

'Wow.' Ventus thought as he watched in awe.

Terra slashed again which Aqua avoided by jumping back and retaliated by jumping forward and sliding her foot to Terra's to knock him off balance. Terra jumped over her and when he landed on his feet he spun to attack but Aqua was too quick and avoided the attack.

"Enough!" Eraqus stood up.

Instantly the two stopped and they Keyblades vanished as Eraqus stepped forward.

"I have deliberated and reached a decision. Terra, Aqua, you both preformed commendably." Eraqus announced. "However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery."

Terra looked shocked and a little hurt while Aqua looked surprised, a little happy, and a little sad as she looked at Terra.

"Terra, you failed to keep the Darkness within you sufficiently in check." Eraqus continued, a hint of regret in his voice. "But there is always next time. That is all. Aqua, as our newest Keyblade Master, you are entitled to certain knowledge. Please wait here for further instruction."

Aqua and Terra watched as Eraqus walked out of the room. That was the last thing on Aqua's mind as she turned to Terra, noticing the look on his face. "Hey…"

Ventus ran up to them with a sad look on his face. "Terra, I'm so sorry."

"The Darkness…Where did it come from?" Terra whispered as he looked down at the guard, unable to understand and started walking away. "Sorry, but I need some time alone."

Aqua and Ventus could only look on sadly as their friend left.

Storybrooke
Beach

The armored knight stood on the beach, looking at the lake before him. "So much to do and yet so much Light to destroy." The knight chuckled. "Savior, you have no idea what is coming."