This is something I dreamed up of a like the night before. I've always been curious on where the keyblades came from. This is what the mess I call a mind created. It's set fairly far back in the past. This is set a bit before when Masters Eraqus, Yin Sid, and Xehanort were going for there marks of mastery. It actually stars the keyblade's smith's apprentice, his mishaps and his rise to become master smith. Well that's enough of that. Please enjoy.

Keyblade Forge

The Apprentice

The fires burned fiercely in forge. It roared in anger when the smith opened it. He pulled out red hot bars with great tongs, and slammed it down on his worn anvil. The constant and thundering sound of his hammer filled the great room. Sparks sprayed on his leather apron. A steady stream of sweat rolled off his body. His arms and face covered in scars from his centuries of work. He pounded the metal till it was flat, with one end wider, to become the iconic 'key' of the weapons he made.

At that time a moogle fluttered into the room. Its diminutive stature was emphasized even more compared to the giant smith. "Kupo, we believe that we've found an apprentice for you, kupo."

Not taking his eyes off his work he said, "I shall see if he is worthy of being my apprentice. If not he's can join the other seven in the mines. I shall see him when I'm done here. Show him to dining room."

"Kupo, at once, kupo."

Kaji, the prospective smith, sat on a short wooden bench at an enormous table. He could barely see over the top of it. He had been here for close to an hour now. The strange bat winged pig thing that brought him here floated lazily from one end of the room to the other.

"Um, whatever you are, what am I doing here?"

"Kupo, you are here to see if you are to be chosen to be the apprentice to the smith, kupo."

"But I'm already an apprentice, to my father. What does he think happened to me? Can't I tell him I'm alright?"

"Kupo, he knows you are safe, kupo."

"Why me anyway? I'm sure there are others that are more talented than me."

"Kupo, there are, and he's tested some of them, but it's not skills that determine your acceptance but your heart, kupo."

"And if my hearts not right," he began hesitantly, "what will happen to me?"

"Kupo, you'll be forced to work in the mines for all eternity or until you die, kupo."

"What are you talking about 'or'?" he cried, becoming frantic. "I'll die before eternity ends, for eternity doesn't end."

At this time the large decorated iron doors scrapped open. Kaji covered his ears. A man more than twice his height squeezed through the doorway. He was covered in dirty sweat trails. He was wiping his face and shiny head with a worn rag. He collapsed into a chair a high backed arm chair, with a sigh of relief.

"Where's my new miner?" he asked.

Kaji recomposed himself, stood on top of the stool, and in a small voice answered, "I'm right here."

"Why are you all so small?" he complained. "Well I guess you are a bit taller than the others. But not by much."

"Sir this is a mistake I need to be back at home my father he is old and won't be able to work for much longer. I need to go back and take care of my family."

"If you are my apprentice you're family will have no worries of money," assured the giant. "They will be set for life."

The moogle flew up to the smith's ear and whispered, "Kupo, he shows both concern and dedication to his family. These are signs of a good heart, kupo."

"Yes, I know," he agreed, "but it could be guilt for a past action. Now if you don't mind I'm going to decide for myself, you annoying little gnat," Shooing him away with a lazy wave of his hand.

The moogle bowed his head, and flew sourly out of the room.

The smith slumped even further down in his arm chair. He stared quietly at the boy. Kaji stared back. The smith tilted his head from one side to the other. He repositioned himself in his chair. He continued to study the boy for ten minutes. Finally he rose form his seat.

"Boy, what is your name?"

"Kaji," he replied, "sir."

"Do you call me 'sir' out of fear or respect?" he asked taking a step closer.

"Respect," he replied, his voice cracking. "Respect and fear actually, sir."

The smith nodded blankly at his answer. He stripped off his gloves and tossed them on the table. They were big enough Kaji could fit his head in one of them easily. The giant popped his knuckles, though it sounded more like branches being snapped. His left hand looked as if it was made out of black stone and his right out of white.

"Come here boy," he ordered.

He did as he was told. He looked up at the face of the smith. Form this angle he looked like an ancient stone sculpture, worn and hard.

The smith picked him up with one of his great hands, and set him on the edge of the table. The giant ran a blackened finger through his hair, forced him to open his mouth, poked his chest till he fell, and studied his arms. Then he got face to face with him and stared at his eyes. After several minutes he stood back up and went back to his chair. He propped his legs up on the table.

"Well," Kaji coaxed.

"Well what?"

"Am I your apprentice?"

"No, hope you have fun in the mines," he replied absently.

He shocked by his answer. "What, why not? I was told you pick your apprentice on their heart. What's wrong with my heart?"

"First off you're envious. Your eyes they are green. Green is the color of envy. You might not know it now, but envy lives in your heart," he explained.

"Are you serious?" he asked raising his voice, "Just because my eyes are green doesn't mean that I'm envious. There are people who have blue, brown, and even blind eyes that have envy."

"Others might be jealous, but your eyes doom you to it. Even if I was to over look that there are other reasons. Your hair, black, it shows that your heart welcomes darkness."

"My hair? You believe that because of my appearance that you can judge my character. True, there are times when all of us let darkness into our hearts, but that's just part of being human, but we can choose to face our faults and try to improve. If you're searching for someone without any faults you'll never find your apprentice."

"You feel strongly about this don't you?"

"Yes I do."

"Then you passed your first test."

"What?"

"None of what I said is true, but you understand your limits. And it is important not to think your better than them. You'd be surprised by how many people don't understand that. You also show strength by not letting these things define you. So you don't go to the mines, at least not yet."

Kaji laid back and laughed.

"June, will show you where you can sleep tonight. June," he called.

Kaji perched himself up on an elbow. A young woman entered the room, wearing a strapless green dress that came down to her knees with a rose pink belt. Her blonde hair was done in a messy bun.

"You called?" she asked sweetly.

"Yes, can you show the boy to a room? He'll be staying the night."

"Of course," she said with a bow. "Will you follow me?"

"Yeah." He slid off the table and crossed the floor to her. "Hi. I'm Kaji."

"Nice to meet you, I'm June."

"Enough with the introductions. Take him up to a room."

The two left. They ascended a stone spiral staircase lit by torches.

"So you work for the smith. Are you like a maid, or what?"

"Actually I'm his daughter."

Kaji stopped. "Wait. Why aren't you as tall as he is?"

"I'm not a hundred percent sure. Though he doesn't age like us. He's been around for centuries. It might affect his growth as well."

"Centuries? How old are you?"

She rolled her eyes at him, "I'm only seventeen. Come on, we've still got a few floors to go."

Kaji stood there for a few more seconds before following her.

"What exactly does your dad make?"

"Keyblades."

"What?"

"Don't worry you'll learn about them soon." She opened a door that led to a brightly lit hall. The hall was made of a yellow stone, which added to the intensity. A black and white rug ran the length of the hall. Metal chandeliers floated above them. Elaborate tapestries hung from the walls that depict the tales of past keybearer. "Your room the third door on the right, and if you need anything my room is right across from yours." Oh, don't try to peep in on me that's what got the last one sent to mine."

The two went to their separate ways. In his room with the door closed, he thought of what might happen to him now. This morning he was helping his father repair an over the hill samurai's armor. Now he's in a new world, with the potential to for his family to have a better life. He had to make sure he did all that was possible for the keyblade smith to choose him.

Okay that's it for now. It might be bit of a slow start, but things will pick up quickly. There's going to be visits from your some Kingdom Hearts characters, you'll learn about the origin of the keyblade, see the fall of Xehnort, and new and old enemies. Thanks for reading and please review.