I suppose there's no excuse for this chapter being so late. But what can I say? I'm a college student now, so this has become more of a free time project. But I promise to work hard to upload more often. I've gotten some complaints that my chapters are too short, so I worked EXTRA hard to make this long. I hope you all enjoy!
I own NOTHING!
Chapter 9
Breakfast the next morning was much the same as dinner, but everyone ate with the same appetite. Then they all headed back to the room where the shamans had originally met Master Xehanort, and as the shamans (and Manta) stepped off to one side of the room, Aqua and Terra stood in front of the thrones, while Ventus stood on the other side of the room.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lyserg noticed Master Xehanort and Ventus seemingly staring at each other. Ventus looked away first, looking uncomfortable. Lyserg mentally filed the scene away in his memory, intending to ask about it after the test.
Master Eraqus stepped off of the platform holding the thrones, and Ventus snapped to attention, as did the other two apprentices. The shamans also straightened up, eager to see what this "test" was.
"Today," began Eraqus. ""You will be examined for the mark of mastery." The silence that met his words was filled with anticipation. "Not one, but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates." Though neither of them reacted physically, the air around the two apprentices seemed to swell with pride. "But this is neither a competition, nor a battle for supremacy - not a test of wills, but a test of heart. Both of you may prevail, or neither. But I am sure our guests, Master Xehanort and our young friends here, did not travel all this way to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the mark." The entire time he spoke, neither Terra nor Aqua moved, and from what Manta could see, they hardly breathed, either.
"I trust you are ready." Master Eraqus continued.
"Yes!" Both of them answered at once, their excitement evident in their voices.
Master Eraqus summoned his Keyblade, and, holding it in the ready stance said "Then let the examination begin."
Making a movement with his hand, Eraqus cast a spell, or so Manta thought, and strange bubbles of light appeared. Aqua and Terra summoned their Keyblades, and were just about to attack them, when suddenly what looked like black static electricity began pulsing through the light bubbles. Both the apprentices and Master Eraqus seemed surprised, and Manta realized that this probably wasn't part of the test.
The bubbles began floating all around the room, and as Terra and Aqua began attacking, one strayed toward Ventus.
"Ven!"
Quickly summoning his own Keyblade, Ventus sliced through the bubble easily, and with a flash of light, it dispersed.
"Don't worry about me!" Ventus shouted to his friends. "You two focus on the exam!"
Terra and Aqua were now standing back to back, surrounded by the bubbles. "But Ven," Aqua protested. "You're in danger here! Go wait in your room!" Manta felt himself grin slightly at the maternal authority in Aqua's voice; she was obviously quite protective.
"No way!" Ventus flat out refused. "I've been looking forward to this - seeing you two become Masters, I'm not gonna miss it now!" Terra only briefly glanced at Ventus and, obviously addressing Aqua, said "He can take care of himself. He's been out there training just as hard as us."
"Yeah!"
Though Aqua's back was to the shamans, Manta had a feeling that she was rolling her eyes. "Stay sharp, Ven!" she finally consented. Looking back at his group, Manta saw that they had all over-souled and were watching the bubbles.
But as all three of the apprentices attacked, they realized that it was unlikely they would have to defend themselves; within just a few minutes, all the bubbles of light were gone, and Ventus, Aqua and Terra all returned to their places in front of the thrones. "That was unexpected." Master Eraqus said, stepping down from the platform. "But one must keep a still heart even in the most trying of circumstances. It was an excellent test, one I chose to let unfold." Manta had figured as much; even if the test had gone wrong, the fact that the two Masters hadn't interfered meant that there wasn't any real danger.
"Which brings us to your next trial." Manta frowned at first, but then he realized that, though it had gone wrong, the trial was too easy, and didn't really test Terra or Aqua at all.
"Now, Terra and Aqua, the two of you will face each other in combat." The two apprentices immediately took opposite sides of the room, then approached each other slowly. "Remember, there are no winners - " Manta frowned; if there were no winners, how did they know if they passed the test? " - only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed. Begin!" The two apprentices took ready stances, and they began their duel.
They charged at the same time, and the air echoed with the metal clang of their Keyblades clashing.
Ren watched their duel with interest, and at one point, when Terra seemed to put all of his strength into a downward slash, he raised his eyebrows when Aqua back flipped away, easily avoiding it. Already they were revealing the styles of combat they prefer: Terra's basic, using attacks with brute strength, Aqua's dynamic, dancing and somersaulting away from her opponent, hoping to exhaust him, and only taking an occasional swing. Then Aqua surprised Ren by lunging full-on at Terra, and only narrowly missing him. It led him to amend his first thought, that he realized that she was more of an opportunistic fighter, only using her strength when she was sure she'd hit.
Terra jumped back, and Aqua charged. Then, more of that strange dark electricity appeared, surrounding Terra's left arm. He held it up, examining it. Then Aqua swung her Keyblade down, and the dark electricity disappeared as Terra blocked her. They fought like that for a few more minutes, then Eraqus called them back.
As they stood at attention, Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort talked quietly to each other, deliberating. Finally, they stepped off the platform, and standing in front of Terra and Aqua, Eraqus spoke.
"We have deliberated and reached a decision. Terra, Aqua, you both performed commendably. However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery." All the shamans were wide-eyed; they'd expected both the apprentices to pass.
"Terra," There was something in the way Master Eraqus spoke that made it seem both reprimanding and sympathetic. "You failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check." Manta gasped; so that's what the electricity was!
"But there is always next time" Eraqus continued. "That is all."
"Aqua," Master Eraqus said. "As our newest Master, you are entitled to certain knowledge. Please wait here for further instruction. You all as well, my young friends." The shamans, who had been alternating between congratulating Aqua and assuring Terra that he'd definitely pass the test next time, nodded. As Master Eraqus stepped out, the shamans moved to a different part of the room as Ventus, Terra and Aqua talked.
"Well, that was interesting." Lyserg said.
"Surprising though," Manta added. "I thought they were both gonna pass."
"No," Ren said. The others looked at him. "Aqua, true to her name, was more flexible. Nothing in either of the trials really shook her, whereas Terra was easily surprised by Aqua in their duel."
"He also lost control of his own darkness."
Then Terra and Ventus left, and Aqua and the shamans stood at the platform, waiting for Master Eraqus. When he returned, he started with formally congratulating Aqua on becoming a Keyblade Master. Then he told her about the darkness that was threatening the universe, starting with Yuko and her mysterious abilities, and ending with the shamans' arrival. Throughout the entire tale, Aqua listened intently. At times she looked surprised; when Eraqus explained what would happen should they not succeed in stopping the darkness, she gasped in horror, and immediately agreed to do whatever she could to help. Eventually Eraqus dismissed the shamans, wishing to speak with Aqua alone. Once they were out of the room, they stood together and spoke.
"Did you guys notice what I noticed?" Horo Horo said, looking around at all of them. Everyone else nodded.
"Yeah," Yoh said. "Master Eraqus didn't tell Aqua about the X-blade."
As the boys were talking amongst themselves, a loud bell began ringing, its sound vibrating through the boys' bones. They ran back into the trial room, to find Aqua standing at attention before the thrones, while Eraqus was facing a strange glowing light by the wall. The boys stopped in front of the throne-platform, unsure what to do. Terra came up behind them, and stood next to Aqua. "What happened?" He asked her.
"I don't know." Was her answer. She looked around at everyone. "Why isn't Ven here?"
Finally, a certain shaman's patience was at an end. With hushed shouts of "Wait a minute!" Ren strode insolently up the platform, and up to Eraqus, with a reluctant but curious Manta following behind.
Manta was startled to see that the light was actually two images: one of the all-too familiar Cheshire Cat-like smile of Yuko Ichihara, and one of an elderly man with a beard and a pointed hat. As the two boys stepped up to Eraqus, Manta caught some of the conversation:
"The darkness is growing stronger," Master Eraqus was saying. "While I appreciate your concern, Miss Yuko, I really think we should act immediately."
"Act on what, Master Eraqus?" She demanded with an imperial air. "You can no more determine the location of the source of this darkness than I or Master Yen-Sid. Destroying the darkness that is materializing in the other worlds will be as little help as cutting the heads off the Hydra."
"Enough." The old man, Master Yen-Sid, said. "The more time we waste debating, the more time the source of the darkness has to interfere with the balance of the worlds. And with all due respect, Miss Yuko, you bringing these shamans-" -and here he gestured at Ren and Manta- "hasn't exactly maintained it."
Manta could practically see the ice flying out of the glare Yuko shot Yen-Sid, but she remained silent, and Ren chose this time to speak up. "Whether or not you agree to our presence, Masters-" -Manta was pretty sure it was physically impossible for anyone to put any more sarcasm into the word- "- I can assure you that we have no intention of leaving, no matter who tells us to."
The two Masters looked surprised at Ren's disrespect, while Yuko didn't bother to hide a victorious smile. Yen-Sid was the first to recover.
"Very well, but how do you propose you travel between the worlds? The apprentices, and we Masters, can use our Keyblades-"
"Actually," Yuko interrupted. "I have the solution." And with a quick wave of her hand, a strange object appeared in her hand. Defying logic, she reached through the wall and held it out to Manta. He took it, and realized it was a medallion: strange swirling letters in a language Manta couldn't read were illuminated with a silver sheen. Manta took hold of the chord it was tied to and put it over his head and around his neck.
"Remember to speak very clearly when you wish it to take you somewhere." Yuko said. "And make sure you all don't get separated. Should you, then try to either find or contact one of the Keyblade wielders. They will be able to bring you back to where you are now, and hopefully contact the rest of you." And with that, she ended whatever spell she had been using to communicate. After saying their farewells, the two Masters ended their connection as well. Ren and Manta returned to the group before the platform, where Manta hastily explained what Yuko had said. While they spoke, Eraqus explained the situation to the two Keyblade wielders, mentioning beings called the "princesses of heart," and "Unversed." Lyserg, who had been keeping one ear on each conversation, made another mental note. The shamans stopped speaking when they heard Master Eraqus explain his inability to contact Master Xehanort. Like Master Eraqus, the boys worried that the two problems were connected; but Lyserg, remembering his first mental note, wondered if the connection was different than what the Keyblade wielders clearly feared, that the darkness had somehow taken 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 within these spaces, but your armor will protect you. As for you boys, I trust Miss Yuko has provided ample protection within her artifact. Lastly, remember that you must not tell anyone about the other worlds. Now go, and fulfill your duty."
The boys headed out immediately, not bothering to stop and listen while Eraqus addressed Terra. They went to their rooms to gather their weapons, and then were on their way to the courtyard when Ventus shot past them.
"Terra!"
Terra was standing in the courtyard as Ventus caught up, breathless. As Ventus started to say something, Terra patted his head and cut him off, saying "It's okay."
Then, stepping away from Ventus, Terra pressed his right fist against his left shoulder. A light surrounded him, and when it vanished, Terra was covered in red and gold armor. Making a movement with his Keyblade, lightening shot into the sky, and a portal opened. This portal, Manta noticed, was different from the one Yuko brought them in; dark blue and black, with a light blue at its center, it looked more like a star than a portal. Terra's Keyblade zoomed around the courtyard, and became a strange sort of vehicle. If they had still been in their world, Manta would have thought it was some sort of hovering motorcycle. Hopping onto it, Terra flew into the portal.
But before the portal could close, Ventus copied Terra, and summoned his own armor. Unlike Terra's, Ventus' armor was blue and green. Tossing his own Keyblade into the air, his own vehicle was summoned: a sort of hover board.
"Wait, Ven!" Running past the shamans, Aqua completely jumped over the stairs, and ran to catch Ventus. Master Eraqus ran into the courtyard as well, but too late. As everyone shouted for him to come back, Ventus zoomed off into the portal, and it closed behind him.
