Kingdom Hearts: The Next Generation
Hello again. The current story summary… I know, right? It's horrible. Don't look at it. I'm so ashamed.
Even though the true shame comes from saying "I suck at summaries", which might as well stick a big red "don't read" sticker on the whole story… well, I do. I do suck at summaries. I've written how many stories now? Look at those summaries. Not a good one among them.
Incidentally, I also suck at beginnings. Not of stories, of chapters. Every damn one. That's why I update so slowly. The bulk of the chapter runs through my head, no problems. But there's no typing a word until I've come up with an opener, which sometimes takes months. Literally, months.
For more ranting, tune in to the notes of future chapters! Yaaaaay…
Illustrious Master
Skye's hand quivered as he pushed open the door into the central sphere. He stood on a walkway that ringed the entire dome-shaped room, and beyond the walkway's railings was a stone-floored pit.
On the opposite site of the room stood Master Sora himself. A young man, but one radiating power and serenity. His pale brown hair hung limply around his face, but when he noticed Skye's entrance it quickly flared up into those familiar spikes. Flanking him like bodyguards on either side were the knight Goofy and the mage Donald.
"Ah, there you are," the Master said. "Skye, isn't it?"
"Um, yeah," Skye mumbled.
"Hmm?"
"Yes, I'm Skye," he said louder, then quickly mumbled, "Master Sora."
"Well, you know why you're here," Sora said. "You're the cream of the crop. Raced through the ranks, graduated after barely more than a year. Your achievements caught my attention—I'd like to take you on as my student, if you're willing."
"Uh… yes, sir," Skye said. "I'm very excited about this."
"Good, good," Sora muttered. "Hm, let's see, how's the protocol go… oh, right. Present your Keyblade to me."
Skye did so. The Keyblade's guard and grip were golden, while its long and wide length was a deep maroon, its head double-bladed. Skye had to grip it in both hands, as the weapon was absolutely huge, even when not compared to Skye's rather diminutive stature.
"Fantastic," Sora said. "Does it have a name?"
"Yes, sir. It's called Wide Open Space."
Sora nodded. "Well, let's see what you're made of. Into the pit, please… Donald, Goofy, if you would."
Donald chuckled in an odd, raspy voice as he leapt over the railing into the pit. Goofy followed, saying, "Right! Uh… what are we doing?"
Donald rolled his eyes. "We're sparring with the kid, you big palooka."
"Oh… of course. Ahyuk."
Skye stepped into the pit and drew his Keyblade, while his two opponents summoned a crooked wizard's staff and a round shield.
Max gave Skye a thumbs-up from the sidelines. "You can do this, man," he said.
"All right, gentlemen," Sora said. "Whenever you're ready."
Donald made the first move, blasting a magic spell in Skye's direction. Skye deflected it with a wordless spell of his own. Goofy had already moved in to bash Skye with his shield, throwing him off balance in Donald's direction.
Skye recovered before Donald could take advantage, cutting the mage's legs out from underneath him and, with a cry of "Wind!", blasting him to the very edges of the pit.
The apprentice now had the opportunity to give his full attention to Goofy, who was standing his ground. Skye did a few experimental thrusts to find an opening in Goofy's defenses, but there was none.
Skye jumped high in the air, but Goofy had the exact same idea. Before they could collide in midair, Skye managed a flip over the top of Goofy's head, and the opportunity to kick at Goofy's exposed back.
Goofy crashed to the ground, and Skye landed neatly on his feet, only to discover that Donald had made a full recovery and was even then giving an angry shout of "Gravity!" Skye found himself floating helplessly, kicking his legs against the air to no avail.
He tossed his Keyblade at Donald, who jumped away. The blade returned to Skye's hand, and he tried the same tactic again. Donald cast a barrier spell, and Skye's own Keyblade turned against him, knocking him out of the air.
Skye sprang to his feet and batted Goofy away before he was even truly conscious that the knight captain was there.
"Okay, cut!" Sora called.
The three combatants rapidly stood at attention as Sora stepped into the ring.
"I've seen what I had to," Sora said to Skye. "You're a good thinker, quick on your toes. That's pretty obvious. But we've got to push you harder—your next opponent will be me. You know, me. Me, Master Sora."
"We know who you are," Donald grumbled playfully as he and Goofy retreated to the sidelines.
Skye gripped his giant blade in shaky hands at the sight of Sora producing the Kingdom Key. So simple in its design, golden handle and silver blade, the plainest Keyblade imaginable… but in the hands of the greatest Master… Skye shivered with excitement.
Sora grinned. "Check this out right here, graduate," he said, and in his other hand produced a second Keyblade, with a crooked blue shaft and a moon and star for its head.
"Two…?" Skye muttered, but it wasn't over. Sora had been wearing a simple black shirt, baggy red pants, and oversized shoes and gloves. In a single instant, the entire outfit flared out and became uniformly gold—Sora flipped into the air and a third Keyblade materialized under his feet, which he rode like a hoverboard. Floating in the air to the Master's side appeared two, three… six Keyblades hovering around his person—nine Keyblades altogether.
"Oh… my… stars…" Skye breathed.
"Oh yeah," Sora said dangerously. "You ready? Go!"
Sora rushed in, blades whirring, putting Skye on the defensive instantly. Metal rang against metal, and Skye tried desperately to fight back, but two of the floating blades crossed down over his. Skye was then nicked by the Keyblade Sora was standing on as the Master floated up to the top of the dome.
Skye pondered what his next move would be… and it became apparent as Sora hurled one Keyblade after another straight at him. Skye danced around the pit, relieved at each near miss when each Keyblade became buried up to the hilt in the stone floor. After the sixth dodge, Skye's muscles had been pushed to their limit, and he already felt as if he'd fall to his knees at any moment…
Then, at the sight of Sora swooping down on him, Skye tensed up and brought his Keyblade to bear. Skye's blade deflected Sora away, but the feeling of triumph didn't last as with a simple gesture, Sora pulled all the Keyblades from the ground and they resumed their holding pattern around his body. Sora jetted toward Skye with the exact same moves he had opened the battle with, gaining a fast advantage.
Wait, Skye realized… that was the exact same move Sora had opened with. Even though Skye's attempts at parrying went differently, Sora gave them the exact same follow-through.
The six floating Keyblades worked their way through Skye's defense, and it all became clear to him: How easy could it be to coordinate nine Keyblades? Sora could guide them only through the most basic of attack maneuvers, and after initiating an attack combination, there would be no changing his mind about the way it ended.
The next time that the six blades whirled around toward him, Skye gripped the hilt of Wide Open Space and brought it down to block, trapping all six of them within his snare. That was the opening he needed.
Skye jumped over the floating blades and went for Sora's suddenly exposed torso. He knocked the Master off of the hovering key, and he skidded along the ground until hitting the pit's edge.
All nine of Sora's Keyblades vanished as he got to his feet. "I yield," he said, holding up his hands. "I so very yield. So! What've you learned here? How did you do that?"
It was only when he tried to speak that Skye realized just how heavily he was breathing. "I figured… that you couldn't really control all of the Keyblades that well. Nine weapons all at once? No one has that kind of harmony of heart, body, and soul… no one."
Sora tapped his nose. "Nailed it. See, that's my darkest secret right there. Am I the most powerful Keyblade Master of all time? Yeah, probably. Am I almighty? Heck no. That's the thing you need to remember about battle: anybody can be defeated by anybody, at any time. First lesson. Got that down?"
"Yes, Master," Skye said exhaustedly.
"All right… well, you're definitely in," Sora rubbed his hands together. "I mean, you were always in, but I had to take a look at you, see what you were capable of. You know how it is." Sora leaned back, his hands behind his head. "Well, then, it seems that you're my apprentice now… so, Crystal Spheres will be your home for a while. We may travel to other worlds as needed, but mostly, we'll be working with what I've built here.
"Why don't you take the rest of the day off? There's a very nice library—you'll have the opportunity to study or just read recreationally, whatever you prefer. If you're not into reading, I rented this one sphere out to some Moogles, so there's a Hot Topic, a pizza place, an arcade, a Starbucks, and… another Starbucks."
"Of course," Skye muttered.
"Yep," Sora said, nodding. "Anyway, you should be qualified for the Mark of Mastery in six years, at most. Like I was saying, take the rest of the day off. You definitely earned it."
"Yes, Master," Skye said again.
Sora cocked his head to the side. "Are you okay, kid?"
"Sure."
"You're my apprentice now. That's what you wanted, right?"
"Yes, Master Sora. More than anything."
"Well, come on, then!" Sora urged. "Why so down on yourself? Let's see a smile, damn it."
Skye made an attempt at a smile. The attempt was made with such haste that, Skye was sure, he came off looking deranged. Master Sora roared with laughter.
"You know, Skye, I think I like you," Sora said. "This is gonna be a riot."
