Up to chapter seven now I believe? We delve more into Logan this chapter. We also get to meet some familiar albeit, small faces. Stay tuned!
In Your Hand, Take This Key — Logan
That was weird. I tried shaking the image from my mind. I had to focus on the exam. But— Celina…
I rushed out. I needed to get to the shop, I was short on supplies. Not knowing where we would go, it would be best to restock.
There weren't many people who lived in the Land of Departure but there were enough that I didn't know everyone. The Master was always looking after those in need, including children.
I purchased what I needed and stepped away. Only to have two small children rush by me as they played, I ended up dropping most of my supplies to avoid hurting them.
"S-sorry." The boy spoke up as the girl trailed behind him.
"Oh, it's alright." I smiled, picking up the bag at my feet. "Where are your parents?" I asked. They seemed rather young to be in the market by themselves.
They stepped away, falling silent. "Logan… you should go." I met Celina as she reached to pick up the remaining bottles and potions.
"Sorry about him. He can be a little— dumb sometimes." she laughed.
"Hey!" I pouted.
"Do you two play here often?" Cel asked the children.
"Yes. All the time with Aqua!" The boy smiled, looking to the girl as they stepped closer to Celina.
She knelt down to their heights. "I tell you what, I'm free for a bit. I see you like to fight with your keyblades, how would you two like to spar with me?" She pointed to their small wooden keyblades they gripped to.
They were orphans… just like me and Jackson. I didn't mean to upset them. I remember what it was like and they were even younger than I was.
"You can fight me too!" I laughed, setting the bag down off to the side. I had hoped to make it up to them.
"You're mean! We don't want to fight you." The boy sneered at me, stepping behind Celina.
"Oh come on, he's not so bad." Celina laughed, ruffling the boy's hair.
"Okay, fine." He slowly walked over to me, holding out his keyblade. It was nearly too big for him but the held on to it easily.
I summoned my keyblade, his face lit up with a smile.
"I'm going to be a keyblade master!" He exclaimed, reaching up to touch the hand guard of mine. "Aqua too!" He looked back to her.
Cel had summoned her's as well, the girl admiring it. "Alright, you two go stand over there, me and Logan will stay here." She nodded to me. As small as these children were it did worry me they were alone.
"On your mark, go!" Celina shouted as the kids attacked us, using "magic" and various attacks to defeat us. Aqua had pinned for me first, I pretended to be injured, giving her more chances to beat me.
"Oh n-no I have been defeated." I fell to my knee, rolling to my side with a smile.
"L-logan?" Aqua walked over to make sure I was alright. I opened my eyes, giving her a wink. She erupted with giggles.
"You have bested, me keyblade master—" Celina had "fallen" as well, the boy standing over her triumphantly.
"Terra, Terra we did it!" Aqua ran over to him, pulling him into a hug. He attempted to struggle away but gave in to her affections.
We both sat back up, laughing as well.
"What are you two doing?" We both stopped, turning around to find Jackson had joined us.
"We were just defeated by the strongest keyblade masters ever, you should have seen them!" Celina pointed to the pair now sparring with themselves.
"You mean Terra and Aqua?" He replied.
"You know them?" I questioned, dusting myself off as I got up.
"The Master has been looking after them for some time. It's kind of strange though, you're a dead ringer for Terra, Logan. If I didn't know any better I'd say we were related to him." Jackson laughed.
"It's all in the hair." He snorted, pulling on my ponytail as he brushed by me.
"H-hey—" I started after my brother.
"Logan, have you spoken to the Master yet?" Celina interrupted.
Oh no, I had completely forgotten!
"I gotta go!" I grabbed my bag and dashed back to the Forecourt and to the Throne Room.
The other Masters had gone about their afternoon, leaving Master Eraqus to wait for me. "I-I'm sorry to have kept you waiting—" I profusely begun to apologize, winded from running.
"No need for apologies Logan, it's alright." He interrupted. "I understand that you needed time to prepare for your journey."
"You wanted to speak to me about something?" I asked.
"Yes." He stepped over to the middle throne. "In watching your combat today, I am impressed with your skills. You have improved so much. I do worry for your— brother. While he is strong, I feel he has become distant to us and may even be hiding something. He reminds me so much of a friend…" He trailed off in thought, taking a seat again.
Friend? Could he mean Master Xehanort?
"Master?" I interrupted.
"Keep a watchful eye on both your brother and Celina. You are the strongest together, don't lose that bond you hold, and keep balance among the three of you. Jackson holds much darkness within him and he may not even know." He explained.
"I understand, Master. I will protect the balance." I replied.
"Even a shred of darkness can poison the most powerful warrior of light. If he were to fall— I hope it would not come to this, but I ask that you will be the one to resolve that." He chose his words carefully.
If Jackson is claimed by darkness… no I couldn't do that.
"But Master Eraqus—" I started.
"To end one's life for the sake of the light is a sacrifice that must be made."
"There must be another way! I won't let that situation happen." I interrupted.
"Light is the source of life. If Jackson is claimed by his darkness, you put the light at risk everywhere." His tone had changed, he was stern and I knew not to push the matter.
"Understood." I quietly mumbled. This wasn't a sacrifice I was willing to make. There would be another way. Jackson is strong. We've faced darkness before and we'll do it again; we're in this together.
Silence hung heavy in the air.
"What do you know of your Father, Logan?" He asked, changing the subject.
"My Father?" I echoed. It was an odd question to ask, given I only had the faint memory of my past. "He was a kind man, he loved his family… he and my Mother both sacrificed themselves for Jackson and myself."
Flashes of that night still haunted me to this day. They came and went as nightmares.
The Master was silent for some time.
"I know the past still haunts you, Logan. You lost someone very dear to you that night… I have lost someone as well. Making a sacrifice to save those you care about is the toughest decision to make as a person but it is something that must be done." He was different, a sadness washed over the room with his words.
He was right… we don't know the strength of darkness or what could happen to my brother. Saving Celina and myself if he were to be claimed would be best. There had to be a way to get him back though. I'll still watch out for both of them.
"I think I understand, Master Eraqus." I agreed quietly.
He nodded silently. "Your task is to watch over the others. Keep the light strong, Logan."
"Thank you, Master." I gave a solemn bow.
"Now that everyone has been granted their tasks, I ask that you fetch Celina and Jackson so you can begin the final portion of your Mark of Mastery." He smiled gently, stepping away.
Protect the light…
The last I had seen them was in the market. I went back, not finding them. I spied Terra and Aqua together as they rested for a bit in the shade of a tree. As I approached them, they excitedly got up to meet me.
"Logan! You're training to be a keyblade master?" Terra exclaimed.
"Yeah." I smiled, kneeling down. "I may have to go away for a while. Have you seen my friends?" I asked him, hoping for an answer.
"The scary old man found Jacky and they went to talk." Aqua spoke up.
"Scary man?" I asked her, confused.
"Master Zeesnort?" She questioned, thinking for a moment, these two were incredibly observant for their age but I couldn't help but laugh.
"Do you know where they went?" I turned back to Terra.
He frowned, shaking his head.
I wonder what Master Xehanort wanted to talk to Jackson about?
I looked to them again. These children were so happy, despite having lost their families as well. So full of light—
"Terra, why do you want to be a keyblade master?" I asked him.
"To protect Aqua of course!" He smiled.
"Aqua, I want you to find Celina." I grinned, hoping she would obey — she immediately rushed off.
Terra watched as she was out of sight.
"Terra, I want you to protect Aqua with your light." I summoned my keyblade with a smile.
With us gone, there wouldn't be anyone to protect them. Terra was strong, with the right power he could. It was strange, I did see so much of myself in him.
Keyblade masters chose their successors with this rite of passage.
"In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend—no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love." I held out my keyblade, the hand guard facing him. If the light chose him, my keyblade would remain in his hand.
He seemed hesitant at first, but slowly reached his hand forward, wrapping around the grip. I released it, the weight alone nearly causing him to drop it altogether.
I watched in awe as he struggled with the weight, just barely able to wield my keyblade.
"Look at that! You have the makings of a great master, Terra." I smiled, excited.
I had chosen a new wielder.
He drug the blade back to me. "Although, it will take some time for you to grow into it." I laughed, summoning it back to my hand.
"Logan!" Celina rushed over to me keyblade in hand, Aqua right behind her.
"What's wrong?" She glanced around, as if looking for something, she lowered her keyblade, Aqua hiding by her leg now as she held onto her keyblade.
"Aqua, you told her something was wrong, didn't you?" I gave her a smirk as she practically hid behind Celina now.
Celina laughed, her keyblade disappearing. "Logan, if you wanted to talk me, don't send a child to do it." She bent down to ruffle Aqua's hair. She then stepped over, playfully punching my arm as we both burst into laughter.
"Master Eraqus says that everyone has been spoken to and we're to return so that we could finish the exam." I explained, my laughter subsided for the time being.
"Jackson left with Master Xehanort sometime ago. Hopefully they know to go back to the Throne Room." She added.
"Right… perhaps we should return ourselves?" I suggested.
"Alright, I'll meet you there!" She smiled, dashing off. Once she was out of sight, I turned back to the Terra.
"Remember what I said." My voice stern.
He simply gave an understanding nod.
"This isn't a goodbye, but it may be some time before we return. We need a capable keyblade master to protect our home. So you had better be good for the Master." I smiled before heading away too.
Once back to the Throne Room, we met with the Masters again. Jackson and Celina were both present.
This was the final part of the exam, afterwards we would all be named Masters.
Well now, no one is named master yet, we still have some ways to go for that. ;) I'll get to that once we cover our new worlds.
