So, a new story, and the first series I've written while working on another series. Anyways, for those who haven't read one of my stories before, a word that's bolded at the start of a paragraph signifies a change in time and/or character perspective.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Disney, but for the record, I called the time travel thing.
Chapter One: Apprentice
"The Keyblade was a legendary weapon; it was supposed to give great power to those who wielded it."
"Was it magic?"
"Well, yes, I guess that's one way of looking at it. It could open any lock, even the ones to your heart. It was said that, long ago, there were legendary warriors who could use it. But some of those people weren't very friendly, and used that power for evil."
The four-year-old boy looked up at his mother, fear crossing his face. "Will they come after us with it, Mommy?"
The woman smiled gently down at him, stroking his locks of blond hair. "Don't worry, Ven; it's just a story."
Ven looked slightly relieved, but then asked in a timid voice, "Did the good guys beat them?"
"Of course, dear. After all, light will always defeat darkness."
Xehanort needed a vessel.
It was almost disappointing that he had to resort to this. Considering how accomplished he was as a Keyblade Master, he'd believed that he may have the ability to slow his own aging enough to see his plans come to light. Unfortunately, there were limits, even to the power of the Keyblade. After years of research, the only piece of information he'd been able to find was that the Keyblade had the ability to transfer the heart of one person into another's body.
The old man sighed, trying to ignore the feeling of age creeping up on him. The best way to find his vessel would be to take an apprentice. Of course, considering that he had cut ties with his former master and fellow student, he was unsure of how this would be taken.
But he couldn't afford to wait, and thus began his search. "Hmm. Yes, I believe this world will be a good place to start."
"Ventus, get back here this instant!"
The eleven-year-old laughed. "No way; you aren't my mom."
The brown-haired woman stopped chasing him, panting and tapping her foot in frustration. He skidded to a halt in alarm, hurrying back. "Hey, you alright?"
She lifted her head and flashed him an evil grin, and he gulped as he realized he'd been tricked. "Oh, no, you don't!" she cried as he tried to sprint away, lashing a hand out and grabbing onto his arm.
"Come on, let go!" Ven tried to break free to no avail, and was instead tugged unwillingly back to the house. He groaned as he was shoved into the bathroom. "I don't want a bath!"
"Too bad; you're getting one."
He sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat. "Why don't you try acting like my sister for once instead of my mom?"
He could feel her stiffen behind him. "I am a mother," she replied slowly, "and you already know why."
Ven flinched. "Right." Unsure of how else to defuse the suddenly tense situation, he stripped and grudgingly lowered himself into the tub of cold water.
"Make sure you're clean by the time I get back!"
"Where are you going?"
"To town."
Ven sighed, sinking down in the tub and blowing bubbles in the water. He heard the door slam, and waited several moments to make sure his sister wasn't coming back. Then he promptly got out of the tub, dried off, redressed, and proceeded to check the rest of the house to make sure his brother-in-law and nephew weren't at home, either. He grinned when he couldn't find any sign of them. "Come on, sis; it's like you don't know me." He looked out the window, eyes wandering across the grass that waved in the slight breeze. I wonder if I could manage to sneak to town? He knew his sister was there, but there was still the temptation that there would be something interesting to do. Well, it beats sitting around here until she comes back. He hurried out the door without another thought.
Ven's footsteps carried him along the lonely dirty road. His blue eyes followed a rabbit as it bounced past, stopping to twitch its nose at him before dashing off into the bushes. A broad grin broke his face as he saw the first sign of houses up ahead. Then he hesitated. If I keep walking on the road, she'll see me for sure. He diverted off the path, trekking through the grass in a long loop around the outskirts of the town, circling back in behind some of the buildings. He slipped between two into a narrow alleyway, stopping just before the streets to check and make sure his sister was nowhere in sight. With that confirmed, he headed out into the streets.
And almost pushed down someone in the process. "Sorry!" he exclaimed, looking wide-eyed up at the bald man.
"It's fine, my boy."
Ven lifted his head to meet the man's eyes and felt like something cold had slithered down his spine. He'd never seen amber eyes before; they spoke of something strange, but he couldn't put his finger on it. It was unnerving, but he found himself unable to move, held by both curiosity and an odd sense of fear.
"Perhaps you can help me."
The old man's words snapped him back to reality, and he shook his head, silently reminding himself that this was just a harmless old man. Besides, he couldn't just refuse to help him. "Sure. What do you need?"
"I'm looking for someone."
"Okay. What do they look like?"
"Well, I'm not sure." That only succeeded in puzzling Ven, which the man seemed to pick up on. "I'm searching for someone who can become my apprentice."
"Apprentice?" Looking over the man, he added, "For what?"
"For something very special." He narrowed his eyes, hands folding behind his back. "Tell me, boy, have you ever dreamed of adventure?" Ven perked up at that statement. "Have you dreamed of becoming a hero the likes of which hasn't been seen since ages past?"
"Wait, are you saying you can teach that to me?"
"Boy, I have seen and learned far more about the worlds than even some of the greatest heroes. But I am old, and would like to pass on my knowledge before I die." He paused before continuing, "Have you ever heard of a weapon called the Keyblade?"
Ven's eyes stretched wide. "It's a myth," he blurted.
"What if I told you it wasn't, and that you could wield one?"
"Ven!"
The angry shout stopped any reply Ven could have managed to think up. His head whipped around to see his sister storming towards him, an angry look on her face. "Uh-oh."
She came to a stop, glaring down at him. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be home, taking a bath."
"You didn't need to say that, Cora," Ven muttered, rubbing the back of his head a looking away as he tried to hide his embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, sir, if he was bothering you."
"Not at all. Actually, we were having a very interesting conversation."
"Really?" Cora sounded skeptical.
"Yes. In fact, would you mind if I came with you to your home?"
Cora stiffened. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'd prefer not to let strangers into my house."
The old man seemed unconcerned. "Very well."
Cora eyed him a few moments before latching onto Ven's arm, dragging him away. "Come on, Ven. And when we get back, you're going to take an actual bath."
"Wait! Cora!" Ven twisted his head to look over his shoulder at the old man. He's lying. He can't really use the Keyblade, can he?
The man's lips twisted into a smile as if he'd heard his thoughts. Dark lightning crackled around his hand before materializing into an odd, blade-like weapon. Ven gaped as the weapon disappeared and the man turned around, walking away as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Xehanort knew he'd made a gamble by summoning his Keyblade in a populated area. Yet the boy had seemed malleable, if not necessarily strong. But what I need at the moment is someone I can control. Strength could come later.
There was nothing special about the blond, spikey-haired boy as far as he could tell, but his eyes spoke of a curious and adventurous spirit. And trust. If his reaction was anything to go by, the boy had seen the darkness in his eyes, but had decided to trust him anyways. Foolish on his part, but quite beneficial for the aged master.
As the moon rose high above the town, a faint figure could be seen on the horizon, hurrying forward. Xehanort grinned. It looks like my gamble has paid off.
"Come on, Cora, you don't even know the guy."
"Like you do."
"But he could wield the Keyblade! I saw it!"
"No one can wield the Keyblade. It doesn't exist."
Cora's husband, Draden, sighed, twirling his fork in the air. "Wonderful dinner conversation. How long are you two going to be at this?"
The identical glares they sent his way apparently served to answer.
"I repeat," Cora hissed, slowly turning her burning blue eyes back to her younger brother, "you are grounded. You will stay in your room unless called for."
Ven looked down, fingers slowly curling into fists against the wood of the table. "Mom wouldn't have done that. She would've understood."
"Well Mom's not here." Cora's voice was brittle. "I am. Now get to your room."
Ven stood, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked down the hallway and into his room. He pulled the door shut, then walked over to his window and threw it open, resting his hands against the sill and sticking his head out to stare up at the night sky. A light streaking across the dark expanse caught his eye. "A shooting star." If you saw one, it was supposed to mean a big opportunity was going to come to you, right?
Ven glanced at the door. He didn't hear any noise from outside it, so decided to take the risk. He jumped out the window and into the grass, creeping slowly through it until he'd put a good distance between himself and the house. Then he stood and broke into a run.
He was panting by the time the town came into view. How am I going to find that guy, though?
He realized as he drew closer that it wouldn't be a problem; the old man was standing in the middle of the street, as if he'd expected him to return all along. "Hello again, boy. I don't believe I caught your name earlier."
"Ventus," he panted. Eying his hand, he added, "You could really do that? Teach me to use the Keyblade?"
"If you want." The man narrowed his amber eyes. "But you have to make that choice."
Ven remembered the shooting star and nodded. "I want to wield it." Then he could prove to his sister he wasn't lying.
The man's smile seemed almost sinister, but he decided it was just the nighttime setting getting to him. Crackling broke the air as the dark lightning concentrated around the elder's hand, forming into the strange blade. He lifted it in front of him, turning it so that the flat of the blade faced him and the hilt was near Ven's face. "Then in your hand, take this blade. So long as you have the makings, then by this simple act of taking, it's wielder you shall one day be made."
Ven looked from the Keyblade up to the face of the old man. "Just take it?" he clarified, though his hand was already reaching out for the hilt.
As his fingers closed around it, the man continued, "With time and with careful vigil, then you shall become the key's new vessel."
"Huh?"
A few small sparks of lightning flickered around the blade as the man released it. It was much heavier than Ven expected, and he almost dropped it. He gripped it with both hands, lifting it and laughing slightly with a grin.
The man seemed pleased. "It appears the Keyblade has chosen you, as well. Very good." He retrieved the Keyblade, the weapon disappearing the moment it returned to his hands. "Come along, my apprentice. We have much to do."
"Where are we going?"
"To another world."
"What?" If the statement hadn't been so absurd, it might've stopped him from coming to a complete halt.
The man laughed at his response. "You have much to learn. The first of which is that there is more than one world."
Ven wasn't sure he believed him, but it was simple enough to tell that the elder wished to go far away from the area. "Can't we just train here?"
The strange man sighed. "It is not that simple to wield a weapon of great power such as the Keyblade. There are other places we must go."
Ven chewed his lip, glancing behind him. "But my sister-"
"Will understand, given time." The man paused before adding, "The Keyblade has chosen you, but should you refuse to come with me, you will never be able to wield it. Are you sure you wish to pass up this opportunity?"
He had a point. Ven shifted from foot to foot. "Well, I guess it's okay. Can I let her know where I'm going, though?"
"Will she let you go if you tell her?"
Another good point. Ven tried to ignore his sinking heart.
The man seemed to take his silence as consent. "Then let's go."
Ven followed behind him in silence for a few moments before asking, "So, what's your name?"
"Xehanort," the old man responded. "But for you, I think it'd be best to simply call me 'Master.'"
And there! Done with chapter one. I took a few liberties with the whole 'shooting star thing' to help spur Ven onward. And if anyone's wondering, no, this isn't any specific world. Reviews would be great, please?
