Our story didn't start in the age of fairy tales.
It started when a young girl was found unconscious in front of Eraqus and Xehanort's houses, when they were a lot younger.
That girl was named Ilya, and she quickly befriended them, becoming their best friend and quite their little sister. Days were fine, bright and pure...nothing could disturb them.
One day...as Ilya and Xehanort were stargazing, the girl on the teen's legs, Eraqus approached them, smirking with a little malice.
"What's in your mind, Eraqus ? Asked the silver-haired man, rising an eyebrow.
-I found it, look !"
The brunette boy proudly showed them an orange box, a chessboard box.
Ilya's eyes became bright when she noticed it, the girl was way younger than the two young adults, and hence why she was so pure and innocent.
"A chessboard for us three ! We can play together now !
-Yeah ! Yelled Ilya of joy."
The girl always loved to watch her adoptive brothers play chess. They were both skilled in it, even if Xehanort was more good than Eraqus. Actually, Xehanort was really skilled for only a 18 years old boy !
"Come on, let's play ! Jumped Eraqus.
-Shouldn't we sleep first ? Smirked Xehanort, but when he noticed his two friends' starry eyes, he gave up. Okay, fine, let's go...I swear, you two are going to kill me one day..haha !"
The little trio returned to their house, a huge one. Each of them had their own little rooms with bathroom, a cozy bed and even food inside it.
Ilya stopped walking when she passed in front of an huge door.
"Ilya ? Asked Eraqus. Why are you standing in front of the master's room ?
-Huh...do you think I'll be a Keyblade Wielder one day...?
-We already talked about this, Ilya. Answered Xehanort, patting gently the girl's shoulder. You're too young. You have to wait some years more.
-...
-Come on, it's alright, Ilya ! Smiled Eraqus. Let's play, okay ?"
Ilya nodded but deep inside, something was broken. Since the day she met both guys, she watched them training to be Keyblade Wielder, she watched them clash with fake Keyblade, use magic, and ending exhausted at the end...and she was always there to push them up, to encourage them.
But when the Master once told them that the two boys would soon go exploring the world when they will be Wielders..that made her very, very sad.
She loved them a lot, Ilya had no parents. They disappeared a few years ago and then she tried to find them but she ended up collapsing of exhaust before Eraqus and Xehanort's home. Since this day, she lived with them in happiness and friendship.
But those days were slowly ending.
Eraqus opened the door to his own room, and replaced the old chessboard by the new one.
The boy sat on the large window's corner, like usual. Xehanort sat down in front of him, Ilya climbed on his legs like they always did when they played for her to have a better view on the board.
The game started, each with their own tokens. Like usually, Xehanort was having advance on his opponents but they had so much fun that they didn't care.
"Hey, Brother Xehanort... Suddenly murmured Ilya.
-Yes ? Smiled the teen, he always felt warm inside when she called him like this.
-Can you tell us about the Keyblade War again ? Pleeeease ?"
Ilya absolutely loved that story, that he often told her at bedtime. She was only 8 after all...
"Well, listen closely, both of you...because this story...not all people knows about it. ...Have you heard of the ancient Keyblade War ?"
A gentle breeze of calm wind entered the piece.
"Huh ? Faked Eraqus, always amused to play the discovery game. Of course, I have.
-Long ago, Keyblade Wielders waged a war over the ownership of light. Started Xehanort, playing the chess game in the same time, warping his adoptive sister with an arm.
-Yeah, that yours and the Master's favorite story. Added Eraqus."
The silence broke the happy atmosphere, Xehanort wasn't talking anymore. He stared to the board a few seconds…
"I wonder what they planned on doing with Kingdom Hearts after...making it appear. He just said."
Ilya was confused and Eraqus looked a bit worried.
"Who knows ? I don't get why anyone would initiate a war. Simply answered Eraqus.
-So...you know the "Lost Masters" ? Asked Xehanort with a little smile, playing his token."
Ilya was more and more confused. She pushed herself onto Xehanort's coat, a bit sleepy.
The man hugged her strongly, his arm was shaking a bit, perhaps from excitation or fear.
Ilya hugged it, trying to understand his state. But this was a discussion between grown-ups, she couldn't do anything...
"Who ?
-They're the ones who started the Keyblade War.
-Never heard of them... Where did you hear about that ? Asked Eraqus.
-A long time ago..."
Eraqus stopped. The air inside the place was colder. He looked to Ilya, she was calm but also was shivering a bit.
The brunette boy sighed like a relief.
Xehanort played a token and continued.
"Or...they're the ones for whom the war started.
-I'm not following you. Calmly said Eraqus.
-You can drop the facade...
-Facade ?
-On that land shall darkness prevail and light expires..."
Ilya was almost falling asleep now, Xehanort's voice was very soft when he told stories, a deep, calm voice who could put anyone to a peaceful state.
"A prospective Keyblade Master should know this. Continued Xehanort, feeling Ilya was falling to sleep slowly.
-If you say so. Smiled Eraqus slightly."
Xehanort looked up to see a replica of his Master's Keyblade.
"The Gazing Eye sees the fate of the World. The future...It's already been written."
Xehanort said that in a murmur, like he was talking to himself. Like he said his own feelings out.
Eraqus knew. He knew why but he fainted to not talking about it.
"Really ? I'm not so sure about that."
Xehanort looked back to Eraqus. Both looked to Ilya, her eyes were closed, she was sleeping.
"Besides...who's to say I can't change it ? Maybe Light will prevail. Over darkness. Am I right ?"
Xehanort made a little laugh but it wasn't very natural. Like a forced one.
He slowly stood up, took Ilya in his arms, interrupting the game. It was pretty late anyways.
"Pretty confident. He calmly stated, starting to walk away, back turned to Eraqus. But things aren't in your favor."
He looked to Ilya and a little at Eraqus.
Eraqus smiled to him, a wide, hopeful smile.
"Perhaps. But unlike darkness...there is more to light than meets the eye."
Xehanort felt a little uneasy suddenly, those words had an impact on him, somehow.
"Don't be deceived by looks, huh ? He thought to himself."
The young man then smiled widely.
"You might be surprised. Added Eraqus.
-Oh..I hope so. Answered the other boy, staring to Eraqus."
Awkward silence filled the room for a few seconds.
"Whoa ! It's that late already ? We should sleep or else, the Master is going to yell at us... Suddenly announced Eraqus, obviously trying to change the subject."
Xehanort nodded without protesting and both went to their rooms.
Passing by Ilya's one, Xehanort entered it, turned on the light and carefully warped the small child into the warm blanket. Eraqus was in front of the opened door.
"Maybe it would be time to tell her the truth...Murmured the brunette boy."
Xehanort didn't answer, he only finished to cover Ilya's body and both left the room.
"I can't and you know that, Eraqus.
-She isn't a kid anymore, she matured a lot since she met you and me and...
-Enough."
Eraqus stopped and both walked away, it was a bit tense.
"I'm sorry... I'm maybe too much worried about her and you and the exam...
-You need to rest, Eraqus. Just leave the rest to me.
-No ! We are partners, we will go together !"
Xehanort smiled and sighed.
"You will never change, right ?"
Eraqus and Xehanort arrived in front of their respective doors, their rooms were next to each other.
"I continue to think that someday, you should tell her.
-...Maybe. Or not.
-She is our best friend, you can trust her.. Murmured Eraqus, patting Xehanort's back.
-She is just a kid, she has other stuff to learn apart of that. She does not need to know. He answered and opened his door. Goodnight, little Brother."
He closed it quickly letting Eraqus behind alone.
"...I was a kid too, you know..."
Eraqus entered his own room, and fell to sleep quickly, the whole house was now totally silent…
The next morning, Xehanort was the first to wake up as always, even before the Master.
He silently left his room, yawned a bit and quickly glanced into Eraqus and Ilya's rooms to make sure they were alright.
After doing so, he entered another room, the library. Picking up some food, he took some books about various stuffs : the outside worlds, the different kinds of people and species, of foods, the study of light and darkness, of Heartless…
He noticed the book about the Keyblade War was here as always, the one he knew by heart even if he never had to open it.
In a few days, it will be almost ten years since he met Eraqus. He was so young, so small at this time. Now, Ilya was here, a new light to defend.
Xehanort loved them a lot, he didn't really care about the light and darkness stuff but when he reminded himself what he really was...well, he cared.
However, his friends' safety was his priority.
The door opened, the Master showed up. The silver-haired man saluted him with respect.
"Good Morning, Master. Hope you've slept well.
-I did, Xehanort. Thank you."
The Master was a very mysterious person. He always was wearing a long black coat and his face was constantly hidden behind the hood. His name was unknown.
The coated man sat down in front of Xehanort.
"In a few days, you and Eraqus will finally take on the test to be wielders. I can't wait to see your training's results.
-I do as well, Master.
-Well...Laughed the man. I have no doubt about it but why is another question.
-I want to explore the outside world, that's all.
-Really ? That's all ?
-Really... Sighed the silver haired man.
-Well.. anyways, I hope you lived happily with us.
-I did...You offered me shelter when I had nothing else. This place...is home. I could never...thank you enough for this."
The Master stood up.
"You already did by taking care of my adoptive son and daughter. I can't thank you enough for this as well."
Xehanort said nothing, he never really knew how to talk to this mysterious man.
A familiar voice resonated.
"Xehanort ? You awake ?
-Oh..Looks like lil' Eraqus is waiting for you."
Xehanort stopped to read and stood up.
"Indeed. Pardon me but I'm going to join him."
The Master grabbed Xehanort's shoulder.
"Never lose sight of your lights, Xehanort. He told him with a serious voice."
Xehanort only nodded and left the library, only to find Eraqus holding Ilya's hand. Both usually woke up at the same time because Eraqus was the one to wake her up.
"Morning !
-Morning, big brother ! Laughed Ilya, with a huge smile.
-Morning, you two. Smiled Xehanort back, petting Ilya's head.
-Are you ready to lose yesterday's game ? Laughed Eraqus.
-Me ? Losing against you ? Come on ! Like it would ever happen ! Laughed Xehanort back with a friendly voice.
-Big Brother, you always win over Brother Eraqus, right ? Blushed Ilya.
-Of course ! Cause I'm the number one chessplayer in the world !
-Yeah !
-Aww..Come on, you two...Smiled awkwardly Eraqus."
The trio laughed a lot and went eating breakfast. After it...
"Hey, Eraqus, I have an idea for today.
-Hmmm ?
-How about some training ? After all, our test is in a few days. Smirked Xehanort."
Eraqus nodded, training was a daily thing, and it was basically them two clashing with fake Keyblade until exhaust.
Ilya jumped.
"Training ! Training !"
The little girl was always enthusiast about them becoming stronger.
The trio descended to a large room underground : the training room.
ilya sat down on a little chair while the boys picked up fake Keyblades, quite harmless.
One was a replica on the Gazing Eye, a Keyblade Xehanort was intrigued with.
Eraqus picked up a fake Starlight Keyblade and both stared to each other in silence.
"You're ready, Eraqus ?
-Yeah. You know the rules right ?
-Of course. We fight until we're too tired to continue. And no harm has to be done."
Xehanort nodded and both ran to each other, starting to clash their weapons with determination and serious. It wasn't a game for them.
Little Ilya was focused and agape. She tried to encourage them both, but something stopped her. The atmosphere was...heavy. Maybe because she knew that in a few days, they will both be wielders and they will go…
But this was different.
As Eraqus was trying to take advantage over his friend, Xehanort suddenly recoiled, a black flame in his hand.
"Fire !"
The silver-haired man threw some black flames to Eraqus, who didn't panic and just dodged them. Ilya tried to stay calm, it wasn't the first time that Xehanort used magic, but Xehanort was looking determined to put Eraqus down this time.
A dark light was shining in his eyes.
When he saw this, the brunette boy panicked a little.
"Let's stop right now, Xehanort, okay ?"
The other boy didn't listen and lashed out a last flame on Eraqus, that hurt his arm quite violently.
The boy in white screamed and fell down on the ground.
"Eraqus !"
Ilya ran to his best friend, crying.
"Eraqus ! Eraqus !"
Xehanort was just standing here, his hand shaking.
He recoiled, swallowed his saliva.
"I warned you...darkness will prevail and light will expire..."
Xehanort ran out of the place, ran out of the building, his mind was empty. His body was cold, shaking.
When he went out, something was..off. The sky was darker than dark, the air was cold, and violent.
He quickly noticed the ground...Heartless. There were Heartless anywhere.
"How did they..?!"
Xehanort was agape for a few seconds. But soon, his surprise turned onto rage and he lashed out black flames on them. He destroyed some of them but the stronger ones managed to resist.
The Master arrived, Keyblade in hands.
"What's going on ? Heartless, here ?!
-The door...had been open. Murmured Xehanort."
The Master didn't answer this, he simply started to fight the other monsters.
Xehanort joined the fight when...he saw HIM.
In the distance, an hooded figure was watching the scene.
It quickly vanished but Xehanort smirked.
"So, it started. What you told me in the past."