Square Enix owns everything but Sam and the future appearance of Luma.
Warning, This fic contains; Gender-bend/transformation , OCxCanon

The large city of Twilight Town is rather quiet despite it's vast size. Most of the time all that can be heard is the blaring of trains or the shouts of kids as they practice Struggle. All in all, it's a peaceful city with little going on aside from normal, everyday life.

And the pace of life recedes to an even slower, comfortable speed. It's a small area at the end of Market Street and nestled between the residential areas and the schools is a vast library. Despite being so closed to a school, the threat of summer leaves its doors closed tightly and its inside vacant.

That is, except for one young man at the ripe age of twenty-two. He works part time to take care of this library and doesn't find it such a heavy burden. After all he's a scholar and enjoys being surrounded by the very things that make him who he is. His life is quiet and gentle but at the same time leaves him rather lonely. Even still he deeply cherishes the friends that do stay with him through this calm life.

Sam drums his fingers against the desk while leaning his head on his other hand. The glasses on his nose inch downward but he pays them no mind. His eyes are glued to the clock on the desk – staring intently at the numbers. No one has come in today, much like yesterday and the day before that. And he told himself if no one came in by the time the hour is up, he goes home early.

Slouching against the desk he's almost tempted to fall asleep right there. A yawn parts his lips and he stops tapping his fingers to rub at his chin and the light beard growing there. Just as his eyes readjust and gaze over the clock, he snaps up out of his chair. It grates against the floor as he stands up and finishes locking up the drawers.

The key ring jingles from his fingers as he moves straight for the door. A second later has him standing outside and locking the large double doors. A rough breeze skirts around him, making his shaggy black hair ruffle about his face. Something about it makes him slowly turn around. He looks wistfully up to the setting sun – just like every other day. Yet somehow it all feels different.

A feeling of foreboding curls up in the pit of his stomach and he can do nothing to shake it. Sam can only grasp at the keys and then slip his hands into the pockets of his navy pants. His white, button up shirt is neatly tucked into them, billowing slightly around the belt that slips through the loops of his pants. The top few buttons are left undone and the collar is pressed down. Over that he wears a light jacket, something so dark blue its almost black.

The hood bounces slightly as he begins downhill. The walk home is something he rather enjoys. To the point where he zones out to a safe degree and lets his mind wander with all he's learned that day and from what books. Except today he can't. There's something that nips at him, keeping him on edge no matter how hard he tries to ignore.

"Tch, maybe I do need to sleep." he mumbles to himself, trying to comfort the fear that threatens to grasp at him.

Sam continues onward to the main road that winds through Market Street. Teens and shop owners gravitate here and he doesn't pay them much mind. And in return they only spare him a glance. He tends to be a bit blunt and he's sure he's offended someone in some way – if not more than one person. Regardless, he quickly makes his way to the Central Station.

Although as he stands up on the hill, he looks over his shoulder towards Tram Common and hesitates. The shadows the buildings cast seem to move and it has him taking a shaky step toward the train station. He stares at the blackness and watches as no one else seems to take notice of how they quiver. Instinctively he dubs it bad news and whether he's really seeing it or not – he's not staying around to find out.

The heels of his dark shoes scoff over the stone as he strides into Station Plaza. Sam draws up his right hand and rubs at his eyes. Just as he does, the deep striking echo of the clock above makes his whole body vibrate. The noise is loud yet soothing as it chimes the hour.

"Just on time," he comments as he looks up. He'll be able to get right on the train and be home before his stomach can even crave dinner.

Sam strides towards the steps leading to the doors. And instantly stops at the sit of an inky black puddle on them. Taken by surprise, he stumbles back with a small cry and nearly topples backward as the puddle seems to take shape.

Rising from it is a humanoid shape – although even that is pushing it. The large spherical head sports two glowing yellow eyes and long, twisted antennae. The tiny hands have three claws on each while its feet are large and are only one shape.

And to Sam, it's darker than the dark. Something he's only grazed over in old textbooks and stories of old. Never has he actually seen this creature – a Shadow. All he can remember are the older folks about Twilight Town speaking of these creatures that lack hearts and have thus been dubbed Heartless.

But that's not what worries – scares – him. It's that those same people mentioned that they can only be defeated by a special person and the weapon they bring along. To which he never was able to pry the name from their memories. And right now he wishes he could send an emergency call straight to one of them.

Sam takes a step back only to have his skin crawl. His shoe slides through the inky black and he quickly steps forward, only for it to slip away. It stops closer to the Shadow on the stairs and forms a second one. At this point, Sam knows he has no choice. He's certainly no one that can defeat them and even if he could, he's not sure how strong they even are. Especially to his average self – in every way.

He gets a half-spin and goes to run back the way he came. Only to stop dead.

The two Heartless before him are very different than the rather harmless looking Shadows on the steps. These are quite a bit larger than the Shadows and have the appearance of a knight even. Even from a distance their lean bodies clad in a blue-black suit show the muscles it contains. A large emblem of red and black – almost like heart – resides over their torsos. Silver trims their black shoes and wristbands. As well as the helm that sports two eye-like spirals and a curled plume.

Sam looks closer and his heart nearly stops. Inside the helmet are the same yellow eyes and what appears to be a toothy maw. It has him stumbling back in fear, "H-Help!"

But he doesn't get anywhere fast. He trips over his own two feet and lands hard on his rear. Wincing in pain, he notices that quartet of Heartless begin to close in on him with an unmistakable curiosity. Sam's shoulders tremble slightly as his eyes widen. He backs up, not even bothering to stand, even though he knows the wall that surrounds the area is his death sentence.

His tongue is lead in his mouth and he can't bring it to form words – the ones that want to desperately rip from his throat. He watches the Soldier's claws open and close and that head bob slightly as it walks. The Shadows to his right slip closer, as if they're skating across the surface. And he doesn't know what to do. He can only stare – unable to even close his eyes – as his doom becomes within four steps of him.

Focused on the Heartless closing in on him and his heart beating loud in his ears, he doesn't notice the doors to the train station swinging open. From the corner of his eye he catches the glitter of light as a man yells out toward him, "Get back!"

The man barrels through the Shadows with a single swing of his mighty blade. It's larger and appears much heavier than anything Sam has ever seen before. The blade itself is long and ends in square teeth protruding from both sides. The guard, which covers his hand, and fans out to look like pointed wings.

Slashing in a wide arc, the teeth of the blade slam into the side of one Soldier. As he continues to the swing, the second Soldier gets caught in the attack and they're both sent hurling towards the edge of the plaza. Sam can only watch in amazement as the Heartless vanish in puffs of black smoke.

The second they're gone, Sam feels as though he can finally breath. Yet at the same time his words are still stolen from him. The slight wind the man's attack created as the tan, billows pants ruffling about his legs. Holding them up with a gray belt with a gold emblem attached to the front. His black, high-collared shirt clings to his muscles and past his shoulders. While the red straps crossing over his loop low near his pants.

But what really catches Sam's eyes is the armor he dons on forearm. Over the black fingerless glove on his left hand is the metal gauntlet of segmented armor. Actually, they match the armored boots he wears as well. Regardless, the grin of accomplishment adorning the tall man's face is enough to share the joy with Sam even from the distance. As the man turns around, he extends Sam his hand.

It's the one moment where those sparkling sapphire eyes meet Sam's. Not knowing what else he can do, Sam takes the offered hand and allows his savior to pull him to his feet. Once he's righted he brushes his hands over himself while sneaking glances at the large key-like sword.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. About to get mauled by big-headed rats is nothing compared to what I do tomorrow."

The man shakes his head, suppressing a chuckle. He certainly hadn't expected that reaction. Everyone else is either too curious or beyond afraid to speak. Sam straightens up and stuffs his hands into his pockets. "Who are you anyway?"

"Terra, I'm... I just happened to be passing by."

"Uh-huh, I'm sure you are." He eyes this 'Terra'. And although he doesn't let it show, the excitement is almost uncontainable. "How did you kill those things?" he asks while pointing toward Terra's weapon.

Terra looks a little unsure and the way he seems to hold back tells Sam he has to be what he's heard about. "It's my personal weapon. Only I can use it."

Sam's eyes trail along it and it only takes a minute – he's not a fool, but at the same time he's not sure if the simply phrase is correct. The word tumbles from his lips before he realizes he said it out loud.

"Keyblade..."

Terra's eyes widen and Sam knows he hit the nail on the head, although he hadn't meant to. And Terra sees that he's not just a citizen, that he's far smarter than what meets the eye. Refusing to say another word, while at the same time telling Sam he's right, Terra turns away. "I have to go. Be careful from now on."

The sound of a train makes Sam turn away. He can't be late or he'll have to wait for the next one. Moving straight for the stairs he watches as Terra moves toward Market Street. The glass doors to the station shield Sam from the outside and as he waits for the man at the counter to process his tickets, he glances back through the glass.

It's then that he sees that Terra hadn't actually walked very far away. That he's not going anywhere that's accessible here. Sam's eyes stay glued to Terra's frame as he raises his Keyblade and his the top of the armor with his other hand.

The wind ruffles around Terra as his sword transforms from blade to some sort of metal glider. Short, brunet hair beats against his face and the messy, spikes sway. Sam's eyes widen as he finally notices that Terra himself isn't dressed the same. Instead he's clad in bronze, crimson and deep golden armor with a matching helmet.

"Sam, your ticket."

He turns back to the man behind the counter and hurriedly grabs for the piece of paper. Glancing over his shoulder, he's almost disappointed he missed it. Terra is no where to be seen and Sam can only sigh blissfully. His ordinary life had just been touched by something more than amazing. And he can barely wrap his mind around it. Sam quickly makes his way to the train and slips inside, settling on a seat near the back.

There's few other people on board. A few older ladies, a businessman and a couple teenagers. It makes it easy for Sam, sitting far from any of them, to zone out for the short ride home to the quaint area of Twilight Town - Sunset Terrace. Time slips by within the blink of an eye, but for Sam it's a century. Even as he finds himself ambling off the platform and down the steps, he's lost in thought. His feet take him home on autopilot while his mind runs in circles.

Part of him wants that life. The ability to soar through the cosmos and charge through monsters with a fierce determination. The desire to be a Keyblade wielder wraps around his heart and nestles in for the long haul. The excitement of that kind of life has his heart aching. And he knows after today, tomorrow will be boring in comparison.

Coming out of his thoughts, Sam stands inside his little one bedroom apartment. The living area melds with the kitchen, but the small feeling is usually bearable. However, as Sam moves straight for the his room he sees just how tiny and suffocating it is. That out of this large town – he's smothering under ordinary everything.

He kicks his shoes off once in his room and moves straight for the window on the opposite side. The sheer white curtain is pinned to the side, where he had left it this morning. As he goes over to shut the curtain so he can get changed, something catches his eyes.

The glittering of a shooting star has his eyes locked on the dark sky stretching out above him. Sam holds his breath and he can't stop his thoughts from becoming a gentle whisper. A whisper that has him wishing for that life – the adventurous and heroic life of a Keyblade Wielder.

As the star disappears across the sky, he settles back on the bed. His gaze drifts over the bedside table and he notices the old tome he had borrowed from the very library he works at. The one of legends and myths – including ones about Heartless and the mighty warriors that hunt after them. Before he can even think it, he's reaching for the heavy, leather-bound book.

Sam settles against the pillow, intending to only read for a moment, and opens it up to where he left off. The words drag him in and before he knows it, he's dozing off and slumping against the wall and pillows. The book remains in his grasp even as his eyes close.

Little does Sam know, his wish is already beginning to take life. And his whole life is changing, warping into something he won't recognize. For as the moon tucks away behind the thin veil of clouds, he flops down onto the bed – book still in his lap. He pants softly as his body grows hot but even still, he doesn't wake up.