'Keeping the Light' AU
Sometimes I wonder what Ventus would have turned out like if Xehanort decided to keep him around. ...btw, that's not blood leaking from his eyes and ears, it's darkness... totally... yep.
Ventus may be the light half but I can hardly see Xehanort facilitating a positive personality. If anything, I think Vanitas would be the loud (and obnoxious) one and Ventus would seem empty and calculating, never really seeming to grow from the state of getting his heart torn apart. (I’m thinking, his heart may be healed, but it is being smothered by darkness / Xehanort's will.)
And I love the idea that, as he crosses paths with Terra and Aqua, he begins to grow more positive traits. Of course, this is only after he ends up fighting them like a stone-cold human weapon. He might be a being of light but he would be absolutely ruthless.
I like to think Sora’s heart/light would be sheltering him from a lot of the cruelty Xehanort inflicts on him and Vanitas. And when he gets to actually interact with those who show genuine kindness, it starts to bring out his humanity.
And you know, if Ventus can be saved from Xehanort's control, then Vanitas has a shot at healing/redemption as well. He's probably not nearly as receptive to Aqua and Terra who... well, he's just as awful to them as in canon. Or not - there are literally too many ideas for this concept! Vanitas getting on decent terms with Aqua and Terra before Ventus, as well as growing to care for his 'brother' over time, is a pretty interesting subversion of expectation.
There is also the potential of them both not having full hearts, (which means Vani is running around without a face until Sora or someone else shows up to heal him.)
Regardless of the story, I like the vibe of this drawing. Let Ven go off and tear things up with his light power! >:D
(Don't know if I'll keep the name for this AU, but I wanted to title it something.)
Artwork © Megan Kerstetter / Crowns & Keys 2022
Ventus © Nomura Tetsuya / Square Enix
