Chapter Text
They've been drifting probably for years now, only coming close to consciousness when their new host was besieged by memories of the war, of their past life, their friends. They could never quite wake - there wasn't much of them left, only an imprint, an idea.
Until. Suddenly there was a new heart here with them.
The lost soul stirs for the first time, feels the new presence: he is sad, they realize dimly, and very very lost. He's also curious and concerned about this other being he'd found.
"Who are you?" the boy asks. His voice seems older than his heart.
The lost soul considers. They haven't been a 'who' in so long. They cast around for some fragment of memory, a name or anything. "I'm... I think I'm Xehanort."
The boy shakes his head. "No. Trust me, I know Xehanort. You seem different. Are you trapped here too?"
Trapped? Trapped... "No. No, I chose this. I think. I don't remember."
The boy nods. "That's okay. You've been here a long time, I guess. Are you okay?"
There's something about it, about being asked after, about kindness, that finally sparks a memory. A face - a boy. Not them. A boy with soft white hair and a cute little smile, a boy who loved them.
The heart that's barely there begins to ache. They remember him. "Ephemer."
"Ephemer? Is that you?"
They frown. "No. My... boyfriend? I saved him. That's what happened to me."
The boy goes very still. His sadness seems to fill the endless void of Xehanort's heart. "Me too. I was trying to protect my friends."
"I'm Terra," he says. It sounds like an effort for him to remember, too.
The lost soul smiles. "I'll introduce myself when I remember. If I'm still here."
Despite his sorrow, Terra returns their smile with warmth. "I'll help you. If we're gonna be stuck together now, it'll be nice to have a friend."
They couldn't agree more.