Chapter 1

~Dream~

I was falling through the darkness as I looked on a glass floor of a castle. I landed as I looked around"Where am I?". I heard a voice"You are in your heart". I blinked"Who are you? Where are you?". The voice seemed childish"That is a secret you will have to find out". I twitched, this voice was already ticking me off"Beware of who you trust. You will need to watch out". I blinked as I said"What do you mean?". I felt white birds fly around me and in the sky.

~Dream ends~

I slowly opened my eyes seeing the stars in the sky"That dream what did he mean?". I sat up seeing the star shower as I leaned back seeing a blonde haired guy "Gah!". He chuckled as I said"ven you scared me!". He sat beside me"Sorry I came to look at a shooting star and you were here". I said"I saw one earlier". Ventus layed back but jumped as we turned seeing a blue haired girl"Give me a break aqua!". Aqua said"You sleepyhead, you and allie should have brought a blanket". I smiled as she sat by me. Ven said" Hey, Aqua, Y'ever wonder what what stars are? Where light comes from?".

Aqua looked up and said" Hmm... Well, they say-". A voice interrupted" That every star up there is another world". Aqua and I turned seeing a brown haired guy"terra!". Terra said" Yep, hard to believe there are so many worlds out there besides our own. the light is their hearts, and it's shining down on us like a million lanterns". Ven tilted his head" What? I don't get it". Terra said"You will understand when your older". Ven whined"I want to know now!". I couldn't help but giggle"Even though I am the youngest one, you act like a child ven".

He puffed his cheeks"Hey". He started tackling me to the ground and tickling me"Ha Ha! Wait!...Ha Ha!..I can't...I give up, I surrender!". He stopped as I took a breath. Aqua chuckled and said" Oh yeah. Terra, Alyssa, and I have our Mark of Mastery exams tomorrow". Aqua reaches into a pocket to get star charms" I made us good luck charms". She gave terra a orange one, aqua had a blue one, ven had a green one and I had a purple one. We held them out, close to the other charms in a circle.

Aqua said" Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star-shaped fruit... and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So as long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart. You'll always find your way back to each other. Technically, I think you're supposed to make them with seashells, but I did the best I could with what I had". Terra said" Oy, sometimes you are such a girl". Aqua turned"Hey, what do you mean sometimes?". Ven looked sad" So this isn't a real good luck charm?". Aqua said" Well, that's yet to be seen. But I did work a little magic on it".

Ven perked up" Really? What?". Aqua smiled" An unbreakable connection". I held it up as I said"Thats true no matter if were close or far from each other we will always be together". I smirked and pointed at terra and aqua" Especially the love birds here". They blushed red"Alyssa!". I giggled with ven laughing. Terra said"We better head inside". Ven and I said"Okay". I took terra hand as aqua said"Together...always". We all thought" That would be the last night we ever spent beneath the same stars".

~Next day~

I stood behind terra and aqua as I was facing two of our masters, Master eraqus and Xehanort. Eraqus said" Today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one but three of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates... but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy- not a test of wills, but a test of heart. Both of you may prevail, or neither. But I am sure our guest, Master Xehanort... did not travel all this way to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the Mark. I trust you are ready". We nodded"Yes". I noticed xehanort glaring at ven as I thought"What is with master xehanort?".

Eraqus said" Then let the examination begin!". Master Eraqus lifts his Keyblade and summons 5 orbs of light. Terra, Aqua, and I summoned our keyblades. My keyblade had a blade that was silver with a star at the end, a black and purple handle in a shape of a heart and a golden star key chain coming down on the handle. Eraqus summoned balls of light and suddenly they are moving around too much. I blinked as some headed for me. I flipped over and attacked them as terra and aqua attacked them as well. Master Xehanort smiles at us as I noticed most came after ven.

Ven destroyed the ones with his keyblade as ven smiled" Don't worry about me, you guys focus on the exam!". Aqua said" But Ven, you're in danger here! Go wait in your room!". Ven said" No way! I've been looking forward to this, seeing you three become Masters". I said"Ven is fine, he is strong". Terra said"Alyssa is right". After finishing the orbs, eraqus: That was unexpected... but one must keep a still heart even in the most trying of circumstances. It was an excellent test, one I chose to let unfold. Which brings us to your next trial".

We faced each other as eraqus said" Now, Terra, Alyssa, and Aqua, the three of you will face each other in combat. Remember, there are no winners, only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed. Begin!". Terra, Aqua and I begin to spar. Terra goes after Aqua with heavy hits, but she dodges every one. Aqua attacks and nearly hits me, but it misses. I attack aqua and as terra planned on hitting me I jumped over and attacked him but he blocked it pushing me away.

My blade glowed as I shot an ice beam at aqua but she dodged. Terra holds his hand out at his side, and it begins to be covered in darkness, I thought"is that darkness?". Terra notices and quickly suppresses it. Aqua attacks and Terra blocks it. I jumped for aqua and hit her in the side, terra hits me but I blocked it. Master Xehanort, sitting on his throne, smiling. After the exam Master Xehanort stands next to Master Eraqus in front of Terra, Aqua and I.

Eraqus said" We have deliberated and reached a decision. Terra, Aqua and Alyssa. you both performed commendably. However, only Aqua and Alyssa has shown the Mark of Master". Aqua and I gasped as eraqus said" Terra, you failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check. But, there is always next time. That is all. Aqua and alyssa, as our newest Keyblade Masters, you are entitled to certain knowledge. Please wait here for further instruction". Master Xehanort and Master Eraqus walk away.

We walked to terra as aqua said"Hey". Ven said"terra I am sorry". Terra said" The darkness... Where did it come from?". I noticed xehanort walking away as I ran after him"Master xehanort". He turned"What is it child?". I said"Terra...is there any way for him to have another chance?". Xehanort walked to me with a smile" He will. Do not fear, terra has remarkable power. You and him both". Xehanort walked away as I just bowed. I noticed terra walked away sad, I felt bad for him but something inside me felt something wrong.