The New Age

Chapter 1

Looking out at the ocean. He curls one hand over his necklace with the other holding his legs close to his chest. A lonely white rock, that is really a crab close by him. Many would ask him about the white rock but he simply ignored their inquiries. It would be too hard to explain the particulars of how this actually worked. Seeing as many of the inhabitants would frown upon him talking with his hands. It didn't really matter though. He continues to scan the waters that span far beyond his eyes. It felt as if the sea didn't end, that it kept going on endlessly. Too amazing to be stuck on dry land but...here he is, stuck. Honestly he didn't mind waiting and could do so for days for his Godfather to return. He only got dropped off so he could get a few days of shore leave. Now, he would soon be back on the ocean with the next adventure lined up, the sea's winds blowing always in his favor and the blessing of the sea goddess himself on his side. He looks at the white rock and picks it up. Revealing it to be a crab to only himself yet it didn't scuttle away from his hand. Simply stays put in his hand comfortably.

This crab is actually a gift from the goddess herself. His dad joined her in the sea and he had been someone whose company she had enjoyed for years, even before he reached his current age of 12. He enjoyed her company too. Even if she had been weird from the start. How could he turn her down though? She promised her dad the sea's power and when he passed on with her, promised it to him. He had his dad's old weapon called the Wheel of Fate, his old coat, shirt, boots and bandana as well as his necklace. He let the rest be taken into the ocean. His thoughts roam back to his Godfather then. Like his father's friend, he is weird too. Not close to the goddess but she wasn't drunk every second. At least he didn't think his Godfather was but...he is never quite certain with how either act. Sighing, he stood and brushes himself off then heads through the dock towards the town of Port Royal. Crab in hand as he passed merchants unloading cargo and dodging many walking back and forth to load or unload goods. It's always so busy. Turning, Morgan jumps down into the sand and walks along the beach going left towards the fortress. A long path heading out of sight as it flows to the right with a shallow beach to the left leading to deep waters. He just wants to sail so what is taking his Godfather so long?

His hand felt the scar on his neck and had him stop. Turning towards the water, he heads towards it and crouches to stare at his reflection. A green eye and blue eye stare right back at his face of curly brown hair and unnatural fair skin covered in dirt. A few minor scared scratches on his right cheek and on his neck, a long scar from one end to the other straight across. The necklace from his father barely covering it and mostly drawing attention to it. He wore his father's signature blue bandana to keep his curls down and his father's black coat and boots. The pants didn't fit him so he had to find his own black ones but the red and yellow shirt and the white long sleeved one did. His Godfather always remarked how he looks so much like his father but managed to get his mother's eye traits. All he did after a moment of staring at that scar is look away. He couldn't be his dad, even if he tried. In the distance and just out of sight from the town though, sat the Pearl! She had been here all along just out sight!

"Sora?" A voice spoke the name but had him blink once before slowly turning to see...people he didn't know.

Some guy with silver hair or is that gray hair with sea green eyes? He mentally shook his head and sees a blond with blue eyes to the right and a redheaded woman to the left of him. All wearing fancy, clean clothes that made the trio stick out among the residents here. They were just...too clean to be from here. He did hear stories from his Godfather that his dad wasn't born here but born in a different world so...did this mean the stories of his world being one of many have a ring of truth to it? All stories had to originate somewhere right?

"What...happened to you Sora." The redheaded woman asks, stepping towards him to which he took a step back into the water. "It's me. It's Kairi."

Quickly shooting a glance towards the hidden Black Pearl then beyond the three, he realized he needed a closer escape route to the ship. He didn't know these guys. They knew his dad but...he didn't. Patience, he could run to the fort then jump off and swim to the Pearl. Yes it would cause his Godfather and the crew to scold him for running when he shouldn't but what choice did he have? They were strangers and two look ready for a fight, something he isn't trained well enough for either. When she got close enough, he dodged her and runs. Dodging the silver hair's grab by sliding under his legs then running right by the silent blond just watching. Didn't matter, because now he had to run to the fort and take a jump off it. It has to be fast because they were fast. A glance revealed they were faster than he is but they didn't have a broken body to deal with.

Said body also began to protest after a good 30 minutes of him running. Making his throat burn as it tried to pump air in and out as naturally as possibly with one side stuck in place. This would be risky but there isn't anywhere or anytime to hide with them so close. He kept running down the trail leading to the back entrance to the Fort, still hearing them call out to stop and talk to them or asking what is wrong with him. All ignored as he reached the open door and in seconds skids and turns right up a flight of stairs. Feeling his lungs burn worse the longer he ran and this was just part of what would happen. He would be swimming soon. His hoarse gasps the loudest sound he made as he reached the edge of the fort, nearly losing his balance with the crab held tight in his hands still. The stops then stop behind him and have him turn.

"Sora, what…" gasps the silver haired man. "Is wrong with you?"

The woman steps towards him again but he took a step back. He just needs a moment to catch his breath so he could dive down and go for a swim.

"Wait…" The blond got the two's attention off him. "I don't think this is Sora."

"It has to be. This is just...a change the world put to keep him safe. Why else would he look like this? I'll prove it." This Riku took a step forward but he turns and jumps.

He hears his name and then felt a painful hit to the surface of the water. It stunned him for a moment but he recovers as fast as his body would allow. Each second though felt as if his lungs were truly on fire at this point. Staying below the surface helped lower the fight he'd have against the water. Yet the fight his body could put up front didn't exactly last long so it left him at a risk even higher than above it. The Pearl felt so far away yet he knew it isn't. It's his body reaching its limit. So he kept swimming until his hand touches the hull of the ship and he broke to the surface with a single painful gasp of air.

"Morgan," the familiar voice spoke, tone full of disappointment.

Slowly, Morgan pulled himself up. Gasping still, even with the help pulling him onto the deck of the ship.

"Mr. Gibs"

"Right sir," the man ran toward the captain's quarters.

"Now lad, what have we spoke about swimming after what appears to be a long run?"

He assumed his gasps would be his answers now.

"Correct, not to and yet…" Jack stood up and sighs. "Here we are. I am not raising a delinquent young man. So...no more of this frolic about the woods eh?"

Morgan just nods.

"Now to the real reason. What got your legs running so fast?"

Moving to the side, he manages to push himself back up onto his knees then onto his feet. Hand on his chest and spotting the crab on the deck of this ship now. Scuttling about while he points behind Jack towards the beach where three figures stood staring towards the Pearl. Their bright clothes still sticking out like a white flag.

"Very well, time to head ashore." Jack walks to a long boat then looks at him. "Well, come along then. It's time we sorted this out. I got a real treat of an adventure for us to partake."

Morgan grins and follows. Climbing into the boat and after the skiff hits the water, lets Jack take the oars.

"Now, whilst we are on the adventure, we'll continue your fencing lad. I know its hard but your dad left you that odd blade so be shame if it went to waste." Jack says. "And don't worry about the time either. You always battle illness in that throat of yours so we go at your pace. Savvy?" Morgan smiles and nods then felt a scuttling and sees the crab from the deck of the ship crawling up his leg. "Never far from her are ya mate?"

He picks the crab up and held it close. Even after reaching shore and getting out to confront the trio about making him run. Honestly, Morgan doubted he could take them on. They look strong, stronger than anyone they had faced in awhile. How could his Godfather keep up? Even with the fountain of youth blessing a long youthful life, it didn't grant eternal strength.

"So you three made my morgan here run then swim to the Pearl. You realize that move could have killed him?" Jack says eyeing each one. "You three need to learn the rules when it comes to pirates."

"We don't want any trouble," The blond spoke first, quieting the two next to him. "He looks like Sora, so they thought he is. We are looking for him. Is he here?"

"Aye mate, but he isn't no more. You three came a bit late for the funeral. Passed away 2 years ago, doctors couldn't help him." Jack pulls Morgan close. "Lived the life of a pirate and died as one and left his boy in my care. Not that the pirate should be the life he lives.." The Riku and Kairi summon their weapons and make Jack and by proxy, Morgan back up. "Easy now."

"Sora would never entrust his son to a pirate." Riku held his blade straight at him. "Hand him over."

Jack pulls his sword out, "I won't be handing anything over mate. Nor will he go so easily."

True to his word, Morgan walks to his side and summons Wheel of Fate. The keyblade his father used to save the universe from 13 darknesses. It had been powered up before then to the max power and with no real training for fencing, he hardly used it. Hopefully it maintained the power it once held.

"I guess we have to take him the hard way," Kairi sighs. "It's a shame Sora had another outside me but I understand." She used her other hand to point at Morgan. "He doesn't belong here. Sora didn't either so he is coming with us back to where he belongs."

"Really?" The blond sighs. "And when you have caged him up, what will you two do then?"

"We'll actually take care of him." Riku says. "What's your issue?"

"So you will force Sora's son from the only home he has known into a world he won't know so you can take care of him. Like a pet?"

"No, like a kid."

"Then...why does it…" He sighs and looks towards Jack and read his expressions.

Despite all the dirt and grim, he saw worry, concern, fear and the way one hand stays so close to Morgan's shoulder showed genuine care for the child their friend has left behind. They honestly have no real right to tear them apart. Not that his opinion mattered to the two when it came to Sora. The two have him along for moral support in case they couldn't find him. Well, they did...in a sense but were 2 years too late. What is left is a legacy the brunet left behind in the hands of someone he clearly trusted, pirate or not. The longer the two threaten Jack, the closer that hand got until it actually touched Morgan's shoulder. Only the sound of blades hitting a thin metal sword broke his thoughts to see Jack blocking both Kairi and Riku.

"He isn't...leaving.." Jack pushed them off. "Unless he chooses to do leave, you will keep your hands off my boy."

"Then this will be fast." Riku attacks again and Jack blocked each hit as best he could.

His metal sword looked old with age and after a few more hits, snaps most of the blade off the hilt. Leaving Riku to attack one more time and hit the wheel of fate. Stunning the older man back with Kairi being blocked and shoved back as well. Jack sighs throws the broken hilt to the sand.

"Good timing lad," The pirate got a smile from the kid but he shot Riku a glare.

The keyblade masters then look at one another and nod. Roxas didn't have much time so he had to make this fast. They were planning a pincer move. Summoning his own keyblades, he jumps towards them and in time, blocks both from attacking.

"Stop this! Just think…" He pushes them away. "With your heads. Sora isn't here anymore, what right do you have over his kid!"

"The laws of the worlds, that's the right. Sora didn't belong here so by proxy, Morgan doesn't either." Kairi explains, standing back up. "Why are you stopping us?"

"Because you aren't taking into account that Morgan was born here! Meaning the laws say he belongs here. Are you not...right, I forgot. You wanted Sora back so now his kid is gonna take his place, right?"

"No, we want him in a safer environment." Riku tells him. "If that means killing this pirate then we will."

Morgan let the three weirdos argue and gently pushed Jack away from the blond towards the skiff. Confusing the pirate but a single look told his Godfather what would happen next. They'd...kill his only family left. If leaving meant sparing his life, what choice did he have? He'd be away from the sea...but it was either stay and be forced to leave after losing Jack...or leaving him behind to let him live. His Godfather just bent to one knee then and fished around his pocket. Pulling a skull ring out.

"Finally found one mate." He let him take the silver ring. "I know how much you wanted to show off your pirate legacy and now, ya can." He puts a hand on Morgan's shoulder. "If you are sure about giving yourself up, I won't stop you. Just come back the minute you can."

He giggles and Jack silenced him.

"Shh, try to sneak back home soon."

He nods and Jack took a step back from. He slowly did the same. The three people watching Jack get into the skiff and see Morgan push it into the water.

"Good choice kid. You'll be safer with us." Riku spoke. "You need a shower and clean clothes."

Morgan's hand got grabbed and tugged which had him silently follow with the blond taking up the rear. He could feel the eyes on him but ignored it. No way would the two in front of him take their eyes off him now. He wouldn't be home until they were done with him. Even as they got him onto a ship and told him to buckle up. All Morgan did is silently do as he is told and curl up. Being told it would be okay, that he'd be taken care off and they had the best doctors and herbs but it didn't make him feel any better. He did shoot a glance towards the only one on his side to see the blond didn't look happy either.

"Just shut up already. You two took him from his home. He isn't listening so shut up." Roxas looks at him then and gave him a sad smile.

This ship as it got called finally stopped moving and they had him follow their steps outside to a bright world with very little water and lots of nice stone and land. A grand castle with gold chains attached to natural rock pillars in front of them. A few kids were outside it now training with weapons of their own or using magic. He simply got pulled forward by Riku with Kairi heading over to one of the girls and hugging her and greeting a tall red haired man. The blond on his side went to a woman with black hair and just leans on her with a loud groan that had her look to him with concern. It was all he managed to see since Riku pulled him inside and closed the door. Dragging him down a long hallway, turning right then right again and pulling him up some stairs to the higher level where more kids and two more adults watching them spar.

"Riku," a blue haired woman smiles then looks at him. Her smile faded. "Is…"

"No, I'll explain it later Master Aqua but this is his son." Riku pushed him forward. "His name is Morgan and he wields a keyblade."

"How old?" The man with brown hair asks.

"12 from the looks of it. He hasn't said a word this entire time. Has been living a pirates life."

A hand touched his neck scar and he backed up out of habit and summons his keyblade to protect himself. Even if she had her hands up, now he didn't trust at all. Did she plan to slice it open now that she has seen it, like countless others before her?

"Whoa...easy, I was checking your scar. Looks like…" She saw the rest on his face. "You have had a rough life. Well don't worry." She stood back up. "It's safe here. How does a bath and clean clothes sound?"

"If you got him, I'll be on my way to train the others."

"We got this." Terra walked closer but stops at the weapon raised. "It's scary here huh?"

Morgan glares at Riku as he left. Scary? Yes because now he wasn't home and couldn't return home. He got berated for being dirty and living a free life as a pirate and now, they all wanted to tell him it's safe? That this world is better than the one he knows inside and out? Bull, he would see if it's safe or not by his own eyes.

"Terra, maybe he doesn't know better cause of the pirate's lifestyle."

"Something tells me that isn't the case. Morgan right? Did you agree to come here by Will or Force?"

Morgan let his weapon fade at that. Is...this guy like that blond he met? Did try to trust this one a little too?

"Hold up 1 finger for Will and 2 for Force." Terra smiles. He held up 2 fingers. "I see. Aqua, I leave them to you."

"Alright." She nods taking the trainees with her.

Once alone, Morgan looks at Terra and sees him hold out a hand.

"What they did was wrong and you know that but...for now, let's get you at least cleaned up, fed and see…" He touched near his neck but not on it. "What's going on here, shall we?"

He let a sigh out and instead of being dragged around, just gently pulled into a direction. Terra actually let him walk slow enough to take in the area around him and see a new room, empty that he got told would be his while staying here. Then Terra got him into a bathroom and told to take a bath while he got new, clean clothes to wear while here. Morgan did so but once Terra left, hid them in a neat pile under the bed, bandana included and hid the boots out of sight elsewhere. Then he got into the bath. Terra seems nice, like that...the blond he met but it didn't mean he trusted his stuff to be safe in the open. What if they burnt it or it got ripped apart? Morgan refused to risk that. Eventually he did drain the water and get out when clean, feeling...off about that for once. He drys off in time for new clothes to be dropped onto his bed.

A red short sleeved shirt with dark blue pants and what he figured were socks but not as long as the ones back home with strange boots that didn't...look like boots at all. They looked like a lazy design of those fancy shoes the nobles wore but with lace pulled through holes poked through the material. Did he tie those? Like one of those things women wear, a corset right? Next to lay a sleeveless coat though, black just like how his coat looked and another bandana. This...looked like his pirate outfit but different so he would match this place. He changed into them, the breeches first as always then looks himself in the mirror. He didn't look the same yet he did. He did end up tying the strange boot lace just to avoid tripping.

"You do-..." Terra opening the door had him look his way. "Oh good, I hoped it would be like your other outfit. At least...close as I could get to it."

Morgan shot him a smile as gratitude. Seems he did understand he didn't come here by will so at least he could trust him, maybe that blond even.

"Now that you have bathed and are dressed. What do you say we join the others for lunch?" He held his hand out again.

Morgan could trust him. He hadn't hurt him or forced him anywhere, hasn't dragged him like a doll with no free will and asked what he wanted. Hopefully, if he went home...maybe he'd keep them from following and endangering his Godfather. Before he took Terra's hand though, he slips the skull ring on and then took it.

"Ah the symbol of piracy right? It's cool. Don't ever be ashamed to show that off then." Terra led him out and back down the way they came to another room full of voices.

It echoed off the walls among the clinking of plates and cups against the wooden surface they sat around. Many talking about what sounds like training moments or random topics. The only table he could sit at not full had two kids whispering. Terra pats him on the back and with a single point to the table left him on his own to join the adults. Looking between the adult table, the rest then the one with the two, he walks up and sees a third plate untouched with two stares at him.

"Hey, you are the new kid." the girl says. "Morgan right? I'm Lara. This is Ryan. We originally had...another planned but Mia had other plans. Not that I am upset that she...picked the popular kids just...you know."

"Who cares, he can have her food we prepared for her." Ryan mutters stabbing his food.

Morgan looks at both then claimed her seat and the food.

"Hey, what's being a pirate like?" Ryan grins, pointing at the ring. "Do all pirates have that ring? What is sailing like?"

"Ryan, let him answer the first one." Lara "slaps" his hand.

"I will." He whines.

They look at him and he pokes the food before pointing at his throat and shaking his head. He could answer but with how hoarse his voice sounded and how low he'd have to speak...they'd never hear him. Not in this place.

"Hmm...I know. Grab your food." Lara grins, picking her plate up.

Ryan grins and does the same. Morgan following their example and walking out of the room and down a hall. He looks around while they kept on going until they hit the dead end then turn and enter a room with a view to the courtyard below. It is more quiet here. He could hear himself think.

"Now then," They smile at him. "We can talk."

"Well...wait…" Lara grabs some writing tools and gives them to him. "Use this."

Taking the tools and thankful his dad taught him how to read and write, he began to write down the first he should get out of the way. The reason he couldn't actually speak. Writing all his throat had undergone and after making sure he hadn't missed any issues, let them read it at their pace. Giving him a chance to eat. Then hearing the two finally speak towards him, half a noodle hanging from his mouth for a second then slurped into his mouth.

"Well, guess we'll have to form our own code." Ryan shrugs. "OH! We can do this...off ASL Pirate code Morgan. One that you can teach us and only we'd know."

"Yeah, our own little code!" Lara agrees. "We'll need to figure it out slowly but what do you say? Deal?"

They held out their hands in one pile. Morgan smiles and put his hand atop theirs.