The deep breath she exhales comes as a surprise. Sam didn't realize she had been holding it in. She watches as Luma jumps to her feet and bows, bending slightly at the waist. She slips straight out of cheerleader mode and back to pupil-in-training. "Welcome back, Master Terra."
Sam slowly turns around, taking a step back towards Luma in the process. She can't help but run her eyes over him. It's only been a day and yet it feels like a century since she's seen him. After all, it's the first time she has seen him. Her original body already had. And yet she's trapped under the piercing, sapphire stare. She didn't notice him eying her just as she had been doing to him. But even so, he's able to hold a conversation while doing so.
"Luma, please. I told you not to be so... formal, when Aqua isn't around."
Turning his full attention to her, he gives a small smile. Sam isn't sure how to interpret it either. It's something so ambiguous that it has her running in mental circles. She doesn't even get a chance to gather those scattered thoughts before Terra is standing before both of them.
"Who's the new recruit?"
Sam answers before Luma can even fumble with her words, "My name is Sam. Nice to meet you."
"Terra." he extends a hand and Sam takes it a second later. As he draws his hand back, he glances down at Sam's Keyblade. "How long have you had it?"
The question sends Sam into an inner panic state. She watches each and every twitch and breath he takes, judging whether or not she should respond with 'oh just got it this morning' or something else. But those blue eyes of his, they make it hard to even think of telling a white lie. Then again, the whole situation is one big lie. If she wasn't standing in front of them, she'd groan out loud. Fortunately she knows one thing – the less said can be better in some situations and this looks like one of them.
"Recently. I'm new."
"What's your home world?"
"Twilight Town."
Sam wants to slap herself, but she resists that urge. To blurt out such information could make or break this. Trying to be a whole new person while still being herself – it's the hardest challenge yet. Especially when Luma raises an eyebrow at her.
"Now that you mention it... I never saw you before? What area did you live in?"
"Terra! You're supposed to report in first before you idly chat with the pupils."
Sam can't be happier to turn around and see Aqua hurrying back down the steps. Despite looking a little peeved, Sam's at least happy the attention is off of her. Aqua strides straight past both of them and up to Terra. She only comes up to his shoulders, but Sam can guess that she'd still pack a punch regardless.
"You're late."
Terra merely grins, "I told you, I don't leave until the mission is complete. No exceptions."
The blue-haired Master can only laugh softly, shoving playfully at Terra before turning away. "So if I needed you, you wouldn't have come?"
"I didn't say that."
"You did actually."
Sam watches with a strangled sort of feeling as they interact. Part of her wants to join in, to be able to be so friendly and simple. More so with the man that saved her life than anything. Honestly, she wants nothing more than to thank him for everything he's done. Although Sam finds she needs to reminder herself to be careful what she wishes for.
"Does Sam have a Master yet? Or did you take care of that already?"
"Weren't you the one that said you didn't want another?"
Aqua's words are sharp and whispered, but still slightly jovial. Although Sam's sure they weren't intended for Luma or her to hear, they do regardless. Yet Aqua doesn't answer Terra in the slightest. Instead, with a small grin, she turns back to Sam and gestures toward he stairs.
"Actually, I've just gotten word back and have you some new clothes and a room ready."
Sam nods, "Thank you." and dutifully begins to follow after her. It's not until she's halfway up the stairs that Terra calls out toward them.
"Don't keep her all to yourself!"
Stilling as the words press against her back, Sam can do nothing. She wants to ask him if this is a game between the two of them and she's the prize. Or does he truly want her as his pupil. If only she could get past the sturdy smile that stays on his lips. But she doesn't turn around either. Instead she keeps her gaze on Aqua, who merely gives a wave of her hand.
Sam stays one pace behind Aqua as the latter leads her through the corridors. The walk is quiet and the atmosphere is comfortable to say the least. Aqua finally stops before a door and as Sam takes a look around she notices this hall is filled with doors.
Aqua smiles and points to the closed door, "This is will be your room while you're here. Depending on your Master, you'll be staying here mostly. The good fairies are waiting inside to make some clothes for you. They're special and will help to hone your skills."
"Right. Magic clothes."
The retort has Aqua's features softening. "I know this must be new. It's not... often... that someone simply has a Keyblade. And this has to be a lot to take in at once. If you get overwhelmed, just let me know, okay?"
For some reason, Sam can't say okay. She just can't do it. The old Sam would have had no problem looking at the lovely woman and nodding politely. But the new Sam is different in so many ways. Ways that even she doesn't know yet. And she can't do it, she doesn't want to depend on this woman. So instead she turns to the door and grabs the handle, opening it and crossing the threshold. Sam only spares a moment of hesitation before walking inside and shutting the door, "I can handle it."
The second she's leaning back against the door, Sam sighs – letting out all of the frustration. The frustration that she doesn't know why she has. She is – was – a man, she has no need to feel... any sort of emotion about how Terra and Aqua banter back and forth. And yet, something deep in the back of her mind dares to say otherwise. Sam brings a hand up to cradle her face. If anything, she gets a moment of peace to be alone.
"Oh dear, is something wrong?"
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Can we get you something?"
Sam's hand drops back to her side as she stares at the three women, or rather fairies, before her. She can't believe she had forgotten about them. At least they had been politely silent while she went through her inner problems. She reaches a hand up to push her glasses back up onto her nose properly. "Ah.. No, I'm fine. I'm Sam."
The three smile and nod at her then each other. They're mostly identical. They're petite with gray hair and wear conical hats atop their heads – each with a strap to keep it on their heads. Each wears a long-sleeved dress and cape although they do differ ever so slightly between each other.
"My name is Flora." The one dressed solely in red says. She dons a gold skirt beneath her dress with matching cuffs and broach for her cape. The small wings on her back have a pink hue to them to go along with the theme.
"And I'm Fauna." She's the smallest between them and her outfit varies in shades of green. Her cape is deep while the dress and skirt beneath it go from light to lighter. Her broach is a similar green to her cape and her wings glow with the faintest lime green.
"Merryweather," the last simply states. She's quite the heaviest out of them and has her arms crossed before her, wand tapping the thin air impatiently. She dons a dark blue cape, blue dress and an even lighter skirt beneath it. Her broach is a blue circular pendant and her wings a pale blue hue.
"Ah...Hello I-"
Flora waves her wand, "Yes dearie, we know. This will only take a second." She nods to the others, "Ready?"
All three smile and give gentle nods to one another. They twirl their wands in a circle and then flick them towards Sam. The sparkling lights surge forward and wrap around Sam with nothing but warmth. She closes her eyes out of instinct and when she opens them a second later, she's plenty surprised.
Her old clothes are gone and replaced by completely new ones. She wears a pair of black, fingerless gloves that match her ankle-high boots. Over a sleeveless, light purple shirt is a dark gray vest with a pleated bottom, to which it's outlined with ebony. It's only zipped up halfway and just covers her shoulders. The hem scarcely covers the pale violet sash wrapped about to her waist. A broach keeps the sash tied at her hips and it mostly silver armor with a violet gem in the middle. Additionally she wears a pair of black shorts under a short skirt that flares about her thighs.
It's far different than anything else she has worn and it leaves her feeling strange. Dressed in her old clothes, Sam didn't notice the change as prominently. But now she's left with only the stark reality of her situation. That she's far from home and her old life. She reaches up and adjusts her glasses and brushes her long locks out of the way. All the while, the three fairies are squabbling amongst themselves.
A subtle knock to the door behind Sam has them all quieting down. Flora turns to her and smiles, "We'll be leaving. Do be careful dear." and in a shower of sparkling lights they're gone.
Sam blinks several times – still trying to absorb exactly what just happened. Not that magic is a shock, but she hadn't expected fairies that can give her a new wardrobe either. She shakes her head and spins around, opening the door to see Luma's smiling face. Her eyes run up and down Sam before she gives her a thumbs up.
"Very nice!" Luma exclaims as she takes a step back, allowing Sam to step out and shut the door. "Ready to go meet the Masters?"
Fidgeting at the thought, Sam barely nods before Luma is walking away. Sam hurries to follow. The whole way Luma chatters about everything from directions to her own training. Honestly, Sam finds it hard to concentrate with her thoughts running madly in circles. She knows she's just needs to calm down but everything just seems so quick.
Easy acceptance.
Thrust into an adventure is what she wanted though and as she comes to two large, white doors she realizes it's what she has before her. All she has to do is say yes to one of the people in the next room. She glances over to Luma and finds the girl gazing at her with a worried expression.
"You'll be okay. I know it's a little much right now." Luma hesitates for a second before finally reaching out and squeezing Sam's left hand in her own. "I'll be right here waiting for you when you're done. Give it your best!"
Sam takes a deep breath and steels herself. She walks into the room while Luma closes the doors behind her. Head held high, she moves straight for the middle of the room before a raised platform that supports two thrones. In the one on her left is Aqua and the right is Terra.
A strange feeling pangs through her being as she thinks of how strangely perfect it all looks. As if she's in a castle and they're the King and Queen. She has to mentally shake the image away and concentrate. This is important and she can't afford to falter now – not after she's been granted this chance. Whatever this chance entails.
Facing the Masters, she sweeps her gaze along each and every one of them. On Aqua's side at the furthest end is a young man with spiky blond hair that sweeps up and to the right. He does several layers of clothing; high-collared black shirt, dull green armor, gray vest, and a red pleated and checkered jacket. Although his baggy pants and armored shoes look rather casual compared to Aqua and Terra.
Beside him is a male with brown hair that spikes every which way, including down into the bright blue eyes that match the one he stands beside. His appearance is similar to the blond with his black, hooded jacket with a silver pauldron on each shoulder. Beneath that is a navy shirt with red accents. His pants seem to balloon about his legs; black on the outside and dark blue on the inside. Yellow straps criss-cross around them that have red pockets hanging from them. His shoes match is pants in every way from color to the addition of buckles and zippers. Like the others he wears fingerless gloves, though his are black.
On the other side is Terra with a tall young man standing next to him. Sam catches a glance between them and watches the friendly gaze of sapphire and teal collide. The man turns away, sending his short silver hair swaying about his face. He wears a sleeveless black shirt beneath a white vest, both lined with zippers in the middle. The white vest has yellow trimming with a blue stripe separating the colors. Over his left wrist he dons a loose band that covers from his knuckles to his elbow. His blue baggy pants are held up by a black belt and sport large pockets. The bottoms of his pants fall over the tops of his white shoes; accented similarly to his vest.
Next to him is a petite young lady with the sweetest smile and shimmering cerulean eyes. The pink, strapless dress reaches halfway down her thighs and has three adorning zippers. However, the one on each side of her body are purely decorative. A black hood stems off the back of the dress and a white top peaks out from the top of the dress. Additionally she has three bracelets around her left wrist, a black belt, with a loop stemming off each side, about her waist. Hanging off the left side of the belt is a square shaped bag with a ribbon holding it closed. Her shoes rather plain compared to the elaborate attire and are simple lilac sneakers with black strings.
Aqua sweeps an arm to gesture to her right, staring with the blond. "Master Ventus and Master Sora." Then she proceeds to wave toward the remaining two, "Master Riku and Master Kairi."
Sam nods slightly, showing she understands, and Aqua continues.
"Your abilities will be tested, are you ready?"
She swallows hard and takes a deep breath, "Yes."
