I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters.
Return
Ventus smiled as he flew his Keyblade Glider between worlds. For the first time since he had set out on his journey to try and help Terra, he had some good news. Terra was back at their home, as was Aqua. Terra was claiming to just be resting before going after an enemy that he would need to be at full strength to fight but in reality, Aqua said that she suspected he may simply be resting in the light before going back to the edge of darkness. Ventus was returning to their home as well, since there was no point in him being out in other worlds when the person he was searching for was home. He knew it was only temporary but he hoped they'd at least be able to have a little while where it could feel like the old days.
Finally, he reached the Land of Departure and leapt off of his glider, landing at the foot of the steps leading into the castle, catching his keyblade and letting it disappear. He sprinted into the castle, slowing to a stop as he saw the others in the room where Aqua and Terra had held their Mark of Mastery exam. Master Eraqus was sitting in his throne and Terra and Aqua were standing before him.
"Ah, welcome back Ventus," Eraqus greeted, making the other two turn and smile to him.
Ventus smiled as well, beginning to walk forward.
"If you don't mind, I need to speak with these two for a moment longer, then you and I shall discuss your leaving," Eraqus stated.
Ventus froze, his smile fading before nodding and walking out of the room. He waited in the hallway outside the room and after a few minutes, Aqua opened the door and walked over, hugging him.
"Welcome home Ven," Aqua smiled, pulling Back as Terra walked out, ruffling his hair.
"Good to see you Ventus," Terra smiled. "And don't worry about Master Eraqus. He just wants to scold you for running off."
Ventus nodded and walked into the throne room, walking over to Eraqus and stopping. He knelt, planning to apologize, but Eraqus spoke before he could.
"Do you have any idea of the seriousness of your actions?" Eraqus asked, voice even, yet intimidating. "You ran off without permission or anyone to look after you just because I sent Terra on a mission without you. That was incredibly irresponsible and immature."
"But I don't need anyone to look after me Master," Ventus stated. "I'm not a child anymore. I've helped just as many people as Terra and Aqua have."
"No!" Eraqus snapped. "You are still young and you do not think about your actions."
"But I-" Ventus began but Eraqus cut him off.
"That's enough!" Eraqus snapped. "Your arguing changes nothing. I'm not going to punish you for leaving because Aqua and Terra have already explained that you were only trying to help a friend. However, I forbid you from leaving this castle again."
"Yes...Master," Ventus sighed. "I understand."
He stood, leaving the room and sighing. Eraqus was going to be very angry, but he was not staying when Terra left again. But, for the time being, he had things he wanted to do. He found Terra and Aqua in the library, Aqua reading a book and Terra looking through the shelves.
"I almost forgot there was nothing here to read," Terra said. "Oh, hey Ven."
"What's up?" Ventus smiled.
"You're looking at it," Terra smirked. "Aqua said I should try something new so I'm going to try reading one of these lousy books she loves so much."
"I don't think they're lousy," Ventus said.
"See?" Aqua grinned at him before beaming at Ventus. "Finally someone with a brain."
"Of course," if you want to try something new, you could try losing to me," Ventus grinned tossing Terra his wooden keyblade and raising the wooden sword that was on the Library table where he left it.
"I stand corrected," Aqua snorted, putting the book down. "You're both muscle bound idiot."
"And yet you're watching," Terra grinned.
"Just making sure things don't go too far," Aqua said. "The last thing we need is Ven getting hurt."
"What makes you think I'd be the one getting hurt?" Ventus asked.
"Well...It's just," Aqua trailed off and Terra whistled.
"You gonna fight me or stand there and prove her right?" Terra asked, charging.
Ventus ducked under Terra's wood keyblade then slammed the sword into his back as he passed, sending him stumbling away, reaching to try to rub the spot on his back that stung from the hard impact.
"What was that?" Terra asked. "What's up with you?"
"What's wrong?" Ventus asked, grinning to hide the fact that he felt bad for lashing out at Terra. "Somebody hurt?"
"Oh that's it," Terra chuckled sprinting forward.
He swung at Ventus and Ventus leapt backward, flipping before landing on his feet and darting forward, swiping at Terra. Terra blocked it and shoved the sword away then swung downward at Ventus. Ventus blocked the keyblade, shoving it upward then stabbed at Terra. Terra sidestepped it and brought the keyblade down, hard. Ventus spun, raising his sword to block it but the sword got caught between the part of the teeth that stuck out from the front edge and was thrown away, breaking against a book shelf. Ventus flew backward, bouncing and rolling along the ground before sliding to a stop just shy of hitting a bookshelf. He groaned, pushing himself up and Aqua ran over.
"Are you okay?" Aqua asked, kneeling beside him.
"Fine," Ventus said, pushing himself up and reaching into a hidden opening behind the books, pulling out a second wooden sword.
"When did you hide that there?" Terra blinked.
"A long time ago," Ventus said. "I have a few hidden around."
Then, he sprinted forward, swiping at Terra. Terra blocked it and Ventus spun past him, swiping at his other side. Terra blocked it and spun, swinging at Ventus who ducked under it, slashing upward at Terra. Terra leaped backward, doing a backward handspring and landing on the table. Ventus lunged, slashing at his feet and Terra leapt over it before Ventus's sword swung the other way, hitting his feet and flipping Terra sideways so he crashed back down on his side. Terra groaned then rolled off the table grinning.
"Not bad," Terra smirked. "You've definitely improved."
He sprinted forward and Ventus met his charge. Ventus ducked under Terra's keyblade, swiping at him only for Terra to catch his arm. Before Ventus could react, Terra had his wooden keyblade against the side of Ventus's neck.
"Unfortunately, it seems you still haven't improved enough," Terra sighed. "You lose Ventus."
"Man, I thought I had gotten better than that," Ventus grumbled looking down at the wooden sword, now sporting a few dents and nicks from clashing with Terra's much more sturdy wooden keyblade.
"You definitely could have given me a hard time before our trip," Terra assured him. "But you're not the only one who's been getting better since then."
Ventus nodded and sighed.
"So, what're we doing tonight?" Terra asked. "Stargazing again?"
"Actually, I think I'm going to be going to bed early," Aqua said. "You guys should probably rest too. I'd wager it's been a while, right?"
Ventus nodded and Terra rolled his eyes.
"Ever the sensible one," Terra sighed. "Fine. If it'll make you happy, I'll go to bed early, Mom."
Aqua stuck her tongue out at him and they all laughed. After a little while of talking about what Ventus had been doing in each world, they went to the dining hall for dinner before all heading to bed. After three hours of not being able to sleep, however, Ventus left his room, sneaking out of the castle and to the same spot where he, Terra, and Aqua had sparred the night before their Mark of Mastery exam. He walked to the edge and looked up at the stars. Just as he did, a shooting star flashed across the sky. He watched it go then closed his eyes and wished for the one thing he had wanted for years. For the others to not see him as a child. To be seen as an adult for once in his life.
"Wishing on a shooting star?" a familiar voice asked from behind him, making him turn around, summoning his keyblade. "How childish."
"Vanitas," Ventus snarled. "What are you doing here?"
"Relax," Vanitas snorted. "If I had come to fight you I'd have attacked you while you had your eyes closed. I'm just here to fill you in. Those friends you love so much, they're not going to stay here."
"I know that!" Ventus snapped. "I'm not a fool."
"And once they leave it'll be right back to the same old shit," Vanitas continued. "The Terra you know will still become a different person, you'll still die, my Master will still win, I'll still kill that pretty friend of yours-"
He leapt into the air over a slash from Ventus, flipping over and slowly floating back to the ground.
"Oh, I think I struck a nerve," Vanitas grinned. "Alright tough guy. You wanna play? Let's go."
He summoned his own keyblade seconds before a blast of water crashed into his side, launching him.
"Are you okay Ven?" Aqua asked, slowing to a stop beside him.
"Fine," Ventus growled. "Hadn't started yet. More or less."
Vanitas stood, watching the two of them a moment before a portal appeared behind him and he stepped backward into it, the portal vanishing with him.
"What'd he want?" Aqua asked.
"He wanted to try and bait me into fighting him," Ventus stated. "And to tell me that I can't change anything."
"About what?" Aqua asked.
"I don't know," Ventus sighed. "He wasn't very specific about most of it."
Ventus let his keyblade disappear and Aqua did the same before looking over at him.
"Ven, you know you can tell me anything, right?" Aqua asked.
"I know," Ventus sighed, looking at the ground. "He was just saying things he knew would get me going. Like how I'd die, Terra would become someone else, that sort of thing."
Aqua nodded and looked up at the sky.
"There sure are a lot of stars tonight," Aqua stated.
"Yeah," Ventus nodded looking up then sitting down and leaning back on his arms.
Aqua sat beside him, also leaning back and looked over at him, seeing from his expression that something was wrong.
"Sorry I said you would be the one to get hurt," Aqua apologized. "I didn't mean anything by it."
"What?" Ventus asked, taking a moment to remember when she had said that. "Oh, that. It's alright. I shouldn't have gotten mad. I knew you didn't mean anything. I just...get tired of being treated like a child. No matter what I do it seems like it's never good enough."
"Good enough for what?" Aqua asked.
"Anyone," Ventus sighed. "You, Terra, Master Eraqus. You all treat me like I can't take care of myself. But I can. I've been fighting Unversed on my own just as long as you guys have. I guess, part of the reason I ran off was to prove I could take care of myself. I'm sorry. I never meant to worry you."
"It's alright," Aqua said, hugging him. "And I'm sorry. I never considered that you might feel like we were being unfair. We just look out for you because we care. And, to be fair, you are still young. I'm not saying you're a child, or helpless. You're an amazingly skilled Keyblade Wielder, but you are young."
"I'm sixteen," Ventus stated. "I'm not that young. I'm only two years younger than Terra. He was doing more by my age than I'm supposed to be."
"I suppose," Aqua sighed then grinned. "But look at how he turned out. You don't want to be a dummy like him do you?"
They both laughed for a moment before Ventus sighed and lay down, staring up at the sky, the same expression as earlier returning.
"Master won't be very pleased when I leave again," Ventus stated. "But I'm not letting Terra go alone this time."
"Ven-"
"Don't bother Aqua," Ventus sighed. "I'm going with him no matter what you say. He's my friend and I'm going to help him fight the Unversed."
"I know," Aqua sighed lying down next to him and slipping an arm under him, wrapping the other around him as well, making him blush. "Just promise me you'll be safe, okay?"
"Yeah," Ventus nodded. "I promise."
Aqua smiled and hugged him tighter before standing and holding out her hand.
"Come on," Aqua smiled. "As I recall, you're confined to the castle."
Ventus smiled and nodded, accepting her hand and standing then following her back to the castle.
He's gone to bed Master," Aqua reported, stepping into the library.
"Good," Eraqus sighed. "Now, I understand that the two of you are taking a rest, however, I heard a rumor from a passer by that you may be interested in. A tournament against both skilled fighters from other worlds and against Unversed."
"Alright," Terra grinned. "Sounds like fun. Where is it?"
"The Mirage Arena," Eraqus stated.
Terra and Aqua fell silent. Both had been warned about the arena. It was acceptable, even encouraged, to kill in its tournaments. And people often did.
"Sounds like it should be interesting," Terra said after a bit. "Ventus will be really excited about it."
"Are you insane!?" Aqua snapped. "Terra, people die in that arena! That's the last place someone his age should be going!"
"I agree," Eraqus nodded. "Ventus is far too young for that sort of thing."
"Too young?" Ventus spoke up, stepping into the library. "My age?"
"Ven," Aqua breathed covering her mouth. "Ven it's not-"
"I'm not a child!" Ventus snapped. "What do I have to do in order to prove that to you? Why can't you just understand I'm old enough to look after myself!?"
"Ventus, calm down," Terra said. "You'll understand when..."
He trailed off and Ventus glared at him.
"When what!?" Ventus seethed. "When I'm older?"
"Yes," Terra growled. "You'll understand when you're older. Whether you want to admit it or not, you're still a child. You want us to treat you like an adult but you're not. Not yet. And if you go anywhere near that arena you'll never live to see adulthood."
"Is that right!?" Ventus spat. "Alright fine! I'll prove I'm not a child! I'll go win that tournament!"
"Ven no!" Aqua gasped standing as he sprinted out of the room.
The three of them sprinted after Ventus but just as they got outside, he disappeared into a rift on his Keyblade Glider. Aqua shouted in frustration and anger, falling to her knees as Terra growled in annoyance and kicked a fairly large rock, hurting his foot.
"That idiot!" Terra growled looking up and seeing something reflect the moonlight as it fell. "What is that?"
Aqua looked up in time to catch a star made out of green crystal and stared at it in shock and disbelief.
"His wayfinder," Aqua breathed. "Why...why would he..."
"So that we couldn't summon him back with ours," Terra stated. "Smart kid. Come on Aqua. We should bring this back to our friend."
Aqua looked up at him then nodded and stood. Both activated their armor and hurled their keyblades, forming their Keyblade Gliders while Eraqus opened them a portal.
"I'll join you tomorrow when the portals open," Eraqus stated.
Aqua nodded and she and Terra flew away, following Ventus.
"Foolish child," Eraqus sighed. "Will you never stop and think about your actions?"
He turned, walking back inside and heading to bed to rest for the following day's events.
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