Don't know why, but I suddenly imagined some of my favorite KH characters as the protagonists from Tales of Xillia. Knowledge of ToX won't be required, as this will be my retelling of it with various characters from the KH series, with changes here and there. To bring two great J-RPGs together ^_^ (And yes, I'm aware that Tales of Hearts is an actual Bandai Namco game as well, but the title works here too). I will provide a full summary and cast list of who will be playing the role of who from the original ToX game, for reference should anyone like it.
Cast List: Ventus (as Jude), Roxas (as Milla), Axel (as Alvin), Naminé (as Elize), Riku (as Rowen), Terra (as Gaius), Aqua (as Muzét), Demyx (as Ivar), Marluxia (as Nachtigal), Kairi (as Driselle), Zack (as Cline), Lexaeus (as Jiao), Saïx (as Wingul), Zexion (as Presa), Larxene (as Agria), Luxord (as Gilland), Vanitas (as Celsius), Aerith (as Nurse Prinn), Tifa (as Professor Haus), and Cloud (as Mr. Eldin).
Summary: The world of Rieze Maxia is full of life and potential. Within this world live many people, all with their own stories and experiences. Ventus is a medical student training under the renowned Professor Tifa Lockhart, but he finds himself involved in much more than he ever imagined, when a simple trip to fetch the professor turns into a chance meeting. Right place, right time. He meets a boy who looks almost identical to him, and, despite appearing the same age, possesses wisdom and power beyond his years. Ventus would soon learn that this one encounter would change the course of his life.
Prologue
The World of Spirits
"When man and spirit coexist, dreams and wishes are fulfilled. Such is the life of all who live in Rieze Maxia, where hope springs eternal."
The air was still in the humble shrine, the lights from the ritualistic flames flickering softly, casting shadows across the floor while simultaneously illuminating the large ceremonial seating cushion resting on an elevated platform. In the center of the cushion sat a boy, no more than 16-years-old, legs crossed and arms resting on his knees in a meditative stance. He stared blankly at the ensorcelled circle on the ground before him, glazed over eyes seeing but not registering the four small elemental glyphs along the edges, each in its proper cardinal position. The boy seemed completely oblivious as a serpent stealthily slithered along the ground behind him, slipping in and out of the shadows.
Suddenly, he let out a small gasp, eyes regaining a sense of presence and filling with a mix between shock and concern. Slowly, he brought one hand to his jaw, holding it in a thoughtful gesture.
"The spirits…" he slowly mused, "are dying."
He closed his eyes, slowly accepting those words as truth. He rose to his feet and stood solidly. The serpent snuck up the wooden carving at his back, now at the level of the boy's head, and began to bare its fangs. As it went to lunge in, it burst suddenly into flames, turning to ash within seconds. The boy looked over his shoulder at the large, glowing ruby entity that was responsible: a massive, soldierly-looking creature made from an inferno. He gave it a knowing look before turning his attention forward once more.
"I fear…the power of spyrix is behind this."
He took a few slow, steady strides forward, his footsteps resounding dimly in the enclosed wooden space.
"So how long has it been? 6 years?" he asked, seemingly to no one in particular. "Time sure flies."
He stopped in the center of the circle, resting on hand on a hip in a relaxed manner. He took a beat, then nodded certainly. Taking the last few steps toward the door, he placed his hands on each side.
"Come! Fennmont awaits!"
As he declared this, three other beings joined the ruby one: one emerald and impish, one sapphire and motherly, and one topaz and childish. They fell into a loose rank behind the boy, as he pushed open the double doors, bright sunlight streaming inside.
"Within this world, there exist both humans and spirits. They possess a form of symbiotic co-existence. Humans have a section of the brain known as a 'mana lobe', within which mana is produced. They offer this mana to the spirits, which acts as the spirits' sustenance, and in exchange they perform 'sprit artes' for the humans, allowing both beings to live in perfect harmony. It is this balance that allows nature to grow so vastly and allows life to flourish. It is thanks to the spirits that humans can live so peacefully. It can therefore be said that Maxwell, the Lord of the Spirits, is the guardian of life."
The professor beamed, clearly pleased. She was absolutely thrilled to have this new honors student under her wing. This was only his first assignment, but she could tell the kid was going places.
"Excellent work, Mr. Mathis. But certainly you have more to add?"
"Of course, ma'am. While this relationship is crucial to life as we know it, it is a fragile balance. It is only made possible through the offering of mana to the spirits, which is of course the only way to cast spirit artes. No known evil exists that could disrupt this balance. But, if one did, it might lie in the hearts of men…"
Professor Lockhart nodded in proud affirmation. "Excellent work."
The student released a breath of nervous air he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. Oral presentations were truly nerve-wracking, and practice didn't seem to help. But he'd gotten through it! And the professor seemed impressed, no less! He sat back down and watched with lackluster interest as his colleagues presented, already focusing on his practical doctor's duties that awaited him after class.
He got a lot of crap for it from the other students for being a teacher's pet, but the professor was quite taken with his natural abilities, and took him on as an apprentice almost immediately after his enrollment. It was to the point where some days he would take over for her entirely, like today, even though this slightly concerned him as it was technically not allowed. But Professor Lockhart was a busy woman, and he respected that too much to refuse, and honestly didn't want to disappoint the accomplished woman who had put so much faith in him.
Soon the bell rang, and Mr. Mathis transformed into Dr. Mathis, rushing as always to the clinic to assist Nurse Gainsborough. He burst through the door and slipped his doctor's coat over his medical uniform, trying to subtly catch his breath.
"Rushing again, Ventus?"
Ventus looked up at the young nurse, offering her a tired smile.
"Yeah, kinda. It's still hard to balance studies and apprenticeship."
"I'd imagine! Especially your first year here." Nurse Gainsborough sifted through the various documents on her clipboard, examining the information listed there. "Looks like today we'll be seeing Mr. Strife and Mr. Leonhart for regular checkups. General mana lobe exams and such. Nothing too taxing."
"Right," Ventus affirmed with a quick nod. "Thanks Nurse Gainsborough."
She smiled at him. "How many times must I tell you? Call me Aerith."
"Right, sorry. Force of habit."
As the two prepared the office for the incoming patients, Ventus couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. It was far and few between that he had these feelings, but…he was hardly wrong, and learned to trust his gut instinct. It was a surge of concern, for spirits of all things. Deciding he was overthinking and needing to focus on work, he pushed the thoughts from his mind, ignoring what he could almost swear was the crying of the spirits.
Blue bangs fell across closed eyes, tangling gently into full eyelashes. The owner breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of musky wood that adorned the surrounding trail. It was…invigorating, almost. Other various scents mingled in: the fertile soil, the fragrance of monsters, and the mineral scent of rocky cliffs.
"How pleasant," she murmured, the quiet breeze rustling through her azure locks.
Eyelids opened to reveal brilliant cerulean irises, scanning the world around them and locking onto one figure in particular: a blond boy walking out of a solitary wooden structure made from combined wind and earth artes, a common fixture of the nearby village. She felt a smile creep onto her face, kind yet unsettling as she stared at the quickly retreating figure.
"Nice to meet you, dear brother…"