Pyros sat on the middle throne, to the left of Master Eraqus's and right of Master Xehanort's. He rested his chin on his right fist, and his elbow on the arm of the throne. He draped his left leg over the chair's other arm, watching and waiting for the exam to begin. He nodded to Ven,acknowledging the young boy. Ven returned the nod. Master Eraqus stood and stepped forward.
"Today, you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one, but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates, however this is neither a competition, nor a test of supremacy. It is not a test of wills, but a test of heart." He explained. "Both of you may prevail, or neither. However, I don't think Master Xehanort traveled all this way to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the Mark." He gestured to the bald, elderly Master next to Pyros.
"I trust you are both ready?" The words barely registered with Pyros as he watched on the edge of his seat with high anticipation. The two young candidates nodded and replied "Yes" in perfect harmony. Eraqus held out his Keyblade and summoned spheres light. Out of the corner of his eye, Pyros noticed a flash of movement. He ignored it, assuming it just being Xehanort adjusting. The spheres, however, didn't react kindly to having been summoned. The acquired a dark aura, and began moving erratically, one moving towards Ven, who shouldn't have been targeted at all. Pyros bolted upright, clutching the arm of the chair tightly. All he could do was watch as the balls of darkened light moved around the room attacking his friends. Eraqus wasn't putting a stop to it, and they were his students, not Pyros's. He could do nothing without Eraqus's consent.
After a while, the spheres were eliminated and the fledglings were safe, including Ven. The two being tested stepped back to the front of Master Eraqus, awaiting his words.
"That was unexpected. But one must keep a level heart, even in the most trying of circumstances." He stated. "It was an excellent test, one I chose to let unfold." He continued, justifying his reasons for not stepping in.
"Which brings us to our next trial." He looked at Terra and Aqua. With a nod to each, he said "Now, Terra, Aqua. You will face each other in combat." He explained. "There are no winners; only truths. For when equal powers clash, their true nature is revealed."
The two nodded, and stepped away. Aqua walked across the room and summoned Rainfell, her Keyblade. Terra stayed almost where he was and summoned his respective Keyblade, Earthshaker. Aqua rushed Terra. Pyros was so lost in the action he barely payed attention to the details of what happened. He did notice the flash of darkness from Terra's hand about halfway through, though it was quickly extinguished. All he knew afterwards was that they both did extremely well.
The duel ended, and the potentials stood back to attention once again. The other two Masters stood from their thrones, Pyros following suit. They stepped out of the room to decide who would become Master among them.
"I think they both did well enough to become Masters. They both not only took care of an unexpected turn of events calmly and collectedly in the first trial, but they both showed they were capable of battle if the need should arise in both trials." Pyros kicked off the conversation.
"They did, however I believe Terra needs to learn better control of the darkness in his heart. He nearly lost control in the duel." Eraqus stated.
"What? But he got rid of it immediately. He showed he had control and it just slipped out into physical manifest. He couldn't have done much with it. Plus, I use darkness and I'm a Master." Pyros protested.
"I agree with the young one, Eraqus. They both show great prowess in their fields, especially Terra. In fact, I may go as far as to say that Terra has far surpassed Aqua should he be allowed to use his true power, even to the point where he may be the only worthy of the Mark." Xehanort agreed.
"Yes, Pyros, you do. However, you were trained by a different Master than Terra. Should you have been trained by me, that would never have been allowed to grow to the point it has." Eraqus responded. "And on top of that, Terra could have severely injured Aqua. She in by no means weak or fragile, however to be hit with darkness can cause damage to even the most stalwart of people." He said, pointing to the scars on his face.
"What do you mean by that? I've perfectly balanced the light and darkness in my heart. That's what allows me to do this." Pyros focused, summoning Wildfire in his right hand, and in his left appeared his former Master's Keyblade, Blazecrest. "Plus, darkness is not inherently evil. The people who often use it give it that connotation because they are the evil ones."
"Once again, I am inclined to agree with Pyros, Eraqus. Those that wield the darkness are often evil prior to learning the arts of the magic. In addition, darkness is merely a counterpart to light. Suppressing it would be comparable to one suppressing the light within them." Xehanort agreed again.
"No matter. It is my choice, and I say he does not receive the Mark until he meets my standards. For now, Aqua alone will receive the Mark." Eraqus composed. They stepped back into the throne room.
"We have deliberated and reached a decision." Eraqus began. Behind him, Xehanort held his usual creepy grin while Pyros scowled. "Terra, Aqua, you both performed commendably. However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery." He continued. Terra's face immediately fell, then he looked at Pyros scornfully. It was clear he thought Pyros had something to do with this failure.
"Terra," Eraqus said. Terra snapped back to attention. "You failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check. But, there is always next time." He said, seeming disappointed. "Aqua," He turned to the new Master. "As a Master, you are entitled to certain knowledge. Wait here for further instructions." He ordered. He turned and left, Pyros and Xehanort close behind.
"I still don't agree with you." Pyros told Eraqus once they had left. "Terra is so capable of becoming Master, if you'd just lighten up about darkness." He said before walking away. He didn't have anything important to tell Aqua that he couldn't have told her before she was Master, so instead he went to find Terra and Ven.
Ven was in his room, not wanting to be bothered, so instead he found Terra, outside on the steps.
"Hey, Terra," Pyros greeted as he walked down the stairs. "Sorry you didn't get to be Master. I thought you had it in the bag, especially after last night."
"Yeah, I bet you are sorry, Pyros. I bet you feel real bad about me not getting through." Terra said sarcastically.
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" Pyros demanded..
"I know you didn't let me get through. I know you don't like me, but really?" He glared at Pyros.
"What are you talking about? I vouched for you to pass, you failing the exam was all Eraqus!" Pyros protested.
"What?" His gaze softened. "Oh. Sorry, then." He turned back.
"Hey… I want you to know, no matter what happens, and no matter how much we butt heads, I've always got your back. And so do Aqua and Ven. We all have each other's, forever. Remember the Wayfinders? They're symbolic of our unbreakable connection to each other." Pyros said consolingly to Terra, sitting down next to the brown haired boy.
Terra nodded. "There's darkness within me... So what does that matter? I know I'm strong enough to hold it back." He spoke quietly.
"Yes, you are. I watched you hold it back very well considering the intensity and pace of the battle." Pyros commended.
"Yes. You are indeed strong." A voice spoke suddenly, from behind them. They both shot up into standing positions and turned around in the process. They lowered their guard when they saw it was Xehanort. "The darkness is nothing to fear, as Pyros continues to insist."
"Master Xehanort…" Terra greeted.
"And yet… how frustrating that Eraqus refutes it's power. Why, you could train with him forever, and in his eyes, never be a Master." Xehanort claimed, making his way down to them.
"But why? Help me understand, Master Xehanort." Terra requested. "What is it that I have failed to learn?"
"You are fine as you are." Xehanort told him, continuing down the stairs and walking past them. "Darkness cannot be destroyed, it can only be channeled, as Pyros and I have learned to do."
"Yes. Thank you, Master." Terra said, at attention once more. Just then, the emergency bell began ringing, signaling that something bad was happening. Terra looked around, then rushed up the stairs, Pyros close at his heels.
"What happened?" Terra asked upon arrival.
"I don't know. Why isn't Ven here?" Aqua responded.
"Maybe it's something too dangerous for him?" Pyros offered. Master Eraqus finished speaking with the light on the wall that was the intercommunications panel between worlds.
"That was my dear old friend Yen Sid. As you know, he is Master no more. But he still keeps a close eye on the tides of light and darkness." Eraqus exposited, Terra and Aqua standing at attention while Pyros merely stood naturally, though clearly listening. "His counsel serves as signposts on the road we wielders of the Keyblade must walk.
"All the more reason, then, for concern- for he tells me the Princesses of Heart are in danger. Not only from the forces of darkness, as you would assume, but also a new threat- one that feeds on negativity. Fledgling emotions, taken monster form. Yen Sid calls them the 'Unversed'. As wielders of the Keyblade, you are responsible for striking down any who would upset the balance of light and darkness. The Unversed are no exception.
"I have tried to pass this news on to Master Xehanort, but my repeated attempts to reach him have failed. I doubt there is any connection, and yet… this all troubles me." Eraqus finished.
"Master Xehanort is gone?" Terra asked.
"It is up to you two to get this situation under control." Eraqus ordered. "Pyros, I'd like you to go with them as well. Eliminate the Unversed and find Master Xehanort. I have unlocked the Lanes Between. You may use these forbidden pathways to travel between this world and countless others. The darkness looms closer than usual in these spaces, but your armor will protect you.
"Lastly, remember that order must be kept. You cannot tell anyone that there are other worlds. Now go, and fulfill your duty." he finished his long-winded speech.
"Yes, Master." The other two immediately said. Terra turned to walk off right away.
"Terra," Eraqus called him. "Consider this an opportunity. A second chance for you to change my mind."
"What?" Terra asked in near disbelief.
"You must know, I care for you like my own son. If I had my way, I would name you Master in a second. But how can I, when you're so obsessed with power?" He explained. "Terra, you mustn't be afraid of losing. Fear leads to obsession with power, and obsession beckons the darkness." He said. "You must never forget."
"Thank you, Master." Terra bowed. It must have been a dream come true. "I swear. I will not fail you again." He promised before leaving.
"Master, I'd best be on my way." Aqua said, turning back after watching Terra run off.
"I'll go with you. Terra seems pretty eager to be off on his own." Pyros suggested. She nodded at him, and they turned to walk off together. Ven ran by, and Eraqus called Aqua back.
"Before you depart, I have one other… Well, call it a request, of the utmost importance. I told Terra this would be a second chance to show the Mark, and I meant it. However, that flicker of darkness during the examination-" He began.
"No. Not this again. I've been telling you, over and over again, darkness is not inherently evil!" Pyros interrupted angrily. "You keep acting as if you know so much about the nature of darkness, but you clearly can't even fathom how it works! You keep saying you don't want the darkness to "take" people, but it doesn't. It never has, and never will. It isn't some spirit that possesses people, not any more than light is. What possesses people is obsession with power. Darkness is a powerful thing, only truly defeated by the very thing that creates it- light. That power draws in people that aren't exactly nice, who use it and give it a bad rap even though it's impossible for darkness itself to do anything wrong because it is no more sentient than any other kind of magic!" Pyros blew up, glaring at Eraqus.
"...Yes. In any case, if he becomes… infatuated by the power of darkness, then I ask that you bring him back at once. It's for his own good." Eraqus requested, talking to Aqua, but eyeing Pyros. "I'd be unable to bear it if any of you become enchanted by its powers, as Pyros speaks of."
"Of course, Master. I would never let that happen." Aqua replied, ignoring Pyros's outburst. "I promise to bring Terra back. But this time, you'll see he has what it takes to be a Master." She paused. "He's not as weak as you think."
"She's right. He'll become a Master this time, there's no doubt in my mind. I know it." Pyros added, conviction burning behind his eyes. He turned to leave, followed by Aqua.
They reached the doors just behind Ven, surprisingly considering how much time the request took. The young boy ran to Terra at the bottom of the stairs. The two Masters watched as they had a short lived conversation, Terra leaving on his Keyblade Glider, Ven following suit. Aqua ran to try to stop him, but was too late. Pyros and Eraqus ran up behind her, watching him glide off into the Lanes Between.
"No! He mustn't!" Eraqus exclaimed. He turned to Aqua and Pyros. "You have to bring him back!" He requested.
"Don't worry, Master." Aqua responded calmly. She ran forward and summoned her armor and Glider.
"Add another thing to the list." Pyros sighed as he ran forward to follow suit. They boarded the gliders and shot off into the Lanes Between, their first adventure.