CH.10: Master
Master Yen Sid sat behind his desk as he looks over several files dedicated to his life work. He had taken to writing them of late as no time like the present. Somehow each passing of new generation of keyblade bearers marked another passage of his life. He had spent a good deal of time looking after each generation making sure that they found their way. Master Eraqus, Master Xehanort…the Masters of old had finally passed on leaving him the only one left.
He had seen some of the brightest and ablest of minds and spirit pass to become Masters in their own right and of course the Keyblade War happened that took so many bright lights and disposed of them. Master Yen Sid quietly contemplates his life and contribution when he detects the shadow of darkness creeping upon him and his tower.
Outside a battlement of magical spells protect the tower but even that is not enough as this darkness is quite old in itself. He steels his fingers together anticipating what is to come…for it has long been foretold. He secures his writings into a binding and casts a spell on it that consists of some of his strongest magic yet.
"I do not fear what is to come…only that I am not here to say farewell old friend." Master Yen Sid says solemnly as the door bursts open and standing there with his one eye was Luxu himself.
"Sorry for dropping in unannounced Master, but, it is hard scheduling when you have important business to settle." Yen Sid could already make out the box for which he held…a box that was accursed in every right.
"Luxu, you seem to be making your rounds of late. I have been keeping a close eye on you…and I may have had my suspicions about your true identity for some time." Yen Sid studies him and the guy just stands there not really surprised.
"Nothing gets by you, right Master? Heh…oh and look I got something back." He holds out the keyblade and Yen Sid leans back in his chair.
"I see you have the weapon of old, a keyblade that is born of treachery and deceit. What do I owe this visit?" Yen Sid can see that Luxu/Xigbar/Braig…whatever name he went by appeared to be debating this.
"You know…that is a good question. I was thinking on my way here…what nuisance is continuing to hold Mark of Mastery Exams to pool out meddlesome Masters…and then it occurred to me…in this very tower, it is you. In fact if not for you that keyblade war thing Master Xehanort had going down might have actually succeeded and the light would be snuffed out of those youths."
Yen Sid nods his head. Truth was it was the first time he had truly gotten involved in a long time. He was glad he did, but, at the same time he was not young anymore to be doing such things. If not for Donald and Goofy at his side he might not have managed…or would have but would be too drained to do anything else.
"I see…so you have come to defeat me…destroy all hope, is that correct?" Yen Sid rises from his chair and Luxu appears to be nervous, or appearing to be in the least.
"I am just looking to set them back some. I actually paid a visit to an old friend; turns out he is looking to spring forth something nefarious of his own. I have to say the guy has style. Now of course who am I to stand in his way…so…here I am making moves of my own. The chaos will do the kiddos some good."
"If you think this will help you, so be it, but I will not make this easy on you." Yen Sid was already in motion as Luxu charged at him. Redirecting his attack with a bit of gravitational magic he follows up with aeroaga which sends the dark cloaked figure spinning into a shelf of books that cascade about him.
"Oh you are good…but I am better. I have not just spent my time idle." Luxu was already working on a spell of his own and combined with the power of the keyblade Yen Sid was struck in the chest by blizzaga and stumbles back.
"You should brush up on your magic…you appear to be lacking concentration." Yen Sid brushes off the blizzaga and as Luxu comes at him again he slams his palm down summoning a flare spell that engulfs the room and the top of the tower explodes in flames.
"Whoo…now that is hot, heh, good thing I came prepared." Luxu in that last minute manages to protect himself with a watery shield as it cascades about him.
"Even relying on darkness…it will not help you in the long run. You are out of practice Luxu." Yen Sid moves in on him and the two clashes in an exchange of fire and light and dark…everything in their arsenal. Flames devour the tower and Yen Sid can feel heavy breaths escaping him as he was not used to close quarter combat.
"You are wearing out old man…and to think you were once a revered Master of the arts. I have to say truly disappointing. You know when someone meets their idol only to be disappointed, heh, kind of like that right now with me." Luxu of course was wounded but in his younger days such an injury would be far more severe.
"Luxu, even if you strike me down you will not win…the spark of hope it lies in all under my tutelage and there are those still who carry on my teachings. I will combat you in the way of old." Yen Sid calls upon his powers and his keyblade materializes in his hand.
"Huh…never thought you wielded one of those, then again…how would each generation learn keyblade basics when Eraqus passed on right?" Luxu prepares his keyblade and Yen Sid prepares for his final fight.
"You misunderstand…my intention is not to fight you. I am beyond my mortal limits and my coils to this living and breathing world is but at an end. I have built many bonds and shared in many laughter and joy and have overlooked some of the brightest to ever take up a keyblade. Since I was young magic has been a part of my training and my discipline and it is by magic I should go."
"You talk a lot…anyone ever tell you that? Alright, I'll end you, someone has to right? I mean you are a relic from a period dead…few survive to tell tales from that time so…been nice knowing ya."
Yen Sid summons all his magic and can feel life already leaving his body. Luxu was rushing at him and he intended not to defend himself or even to eliminate Luxu. If he were stronger, far more capable than he was now…such a fight would be deemed in the realm of achievable.
Yen Sid, former Master to all his pupils…sets forth a green flare of magic that he has used to protect the book he has written in…but also managed to keep some of the magic from his tower intact. The keyblade attacks his body and he leans forward as Luxu is close to him.
"You were once something special…you know that? Here you are, at your prime, and you go and save some lousy tower from burning down to the ground, why?" He withdraws his keyblade from him and Yen Sid just wears a smile as he falls to his knees.
"You will never understand Luxu…go and leave this place…you are no longer welcome here…" Yen Sid cast his eyes up and Luxu shakes his head.
"Yeah…I see no point in sticking around and watching an old relic like you pass. I mean I should stick around and see the hope go from their eyes when they come here, and trust me they are…but I do have other business to attend and I should wipe my keyblade clean of you and your magic."
Luxu goes to leave and Yen Sid bows his head as his hat falls to the ground. He could feel it, they were coming…Mickey…and-.
"King Mickey what is it?" Kairi had got a call on her gummiphone and noticed it was from the King. Donald and Goofy were crowding around her.
"I have just felt something…something bad. I am on my way to see Master Yen Sid; I take it you three will also be there?" Kairi couldn't shake the dread coming from the King.
"King Mickey…do you think something bad has happened?" Kairi didn't think it would be possible, besides, Master Yen Sid was the strongest of them…no one could get the drop on him.
"I don't Kairi, I am hoping it is nothing…but in my training with Master Yen Sid we formed a bond. The bond between teacher and student…it never goes away. Master Yen Sid has been overlooking the training of those trained in the keyblade for a long time. In fact one could say Master Yen Sid has made it his business to overlook the training of those in magic and the keyblade itself is steeped in light magic…and dark."
Kairi seemed to recall this from her studies with Merlin. She had been feeling something too…about Sora. However it was just a feeling of unease and she was hoping that Master Yen Sid could explain it or even help pinpoint where Sora could have gone.
"Don't ya worry King Mickey…Master Yen sid is strong. There is no way anything bad would happen to him." Goofy says from beside her.
"Right, he is powerful in magic," Donald chimes in, "no way any bad guy could get close to him." Donald seemed confidant.
"I hope you guys are right. I might be overthinking things here. I will meet you there, oh, and Kairi…better have your keyblade ready." King Mickey signed off leaving the gummi ship filled with an uneasy dread. Kairi had been getting a handle on the controls so she decided to add a bit of boost power to get them their faster.
King Mickey lands his ship as he sets down a bit away from the tower. His keyblade was out and ready and he finds his dark eyes fixated on the burning blaze that has engulfed most of the land.
"Master Yen Sid…no…no…" He felt tears fall down his cheek and he hears the sound of a roaring gummi ship as it sets down near where he landed.
"King Mickey is…what happened?' Kairi stood beside him, her short hair blowing in the acrid like wind and beside her Donald and Goofy were confused.
"I don't get it…how did this happen?" Donald was about to move forward but King Mickey halted them.
"The flames…this is no ordinary fire. It is the strongest known magic of flame, you know Donald…only a high level sorcerer could conduct such magic. These flames…they do not just go down after a simple casting of water…even watera."
"Do you think Master Yen Sid-?" Kairi found her question left unasked as several lumbering heartless appear.
"This is not the time to ask questions…we take care of the heartless and press forward. Everyone be on your guard." King Mickey rushed forward and a battle was fought. He felt his adrenaline rushing and his keyblade handled the rush of heartless as they swarmed about the small group. Kairi was proficient in her keyblade use and Donald and Goofy had years of experience working alongside Sora.
Something did not sit well with him…in fact the heartless were only here because…oh no. He huffed it out ahead of the others and as he came upon the tower he notices a figure crouched there, the grass stained with…red.
"Mickey…you have come, and I see so as Kairi, Donald, and Goofy. I do wish it was under better circumstances…but alas, my time is short." King Mickey raised his keyblade but Master Yen Sid waves it off.
"Do not concern yourself with that, though appreciated it is…such magic will not heal the wound I have suffered." He coughed a bit, his beard covered in red as well.
"Master Yen Sid…why? Who did this to you?" King Mickey feared the loss, dreaded mourning someone for he hasn't done so since Oswald a long time ago.
"His name is Luxu…and his history is quite long and morbid. I cannot tell you more than that I am afraid. King Mickey…as my student and a Master in itself…you must carry on where I left off. I do apologize again for not being able to stick around…but…my body just cannot handle it any longer…"
"Please don't go Master…there is still so much I have yet to learn…" King Mickey says, feeling his grip on his Master tighten.
"I have already taught you all I know King Mickey, the rest, as they say…is up to you. Kairi, in time you will be tasked with the Mark of Mastery, but, for now train under Mickey…learn from him, prepare for…"
"Master Yen Sid?" Goofy calls out. However in that moment Yen Sid…does not respond. King Mickey howls in his grief clutching upon his friend and in a dazzle of magic he disappears, his body taken away and the four of them left with mourning a legend in his own right. King Mickey looks over as a green light appears before him and as he reaches out he clutches onto a bound book.
"Is he really gone?" Donald says as he removes his hat much like Goofy. King Mickey looks back at them, fresh drops of sadness dotting his cheek.
"We have a lot to do fellas…and something tells me inside this book…we'll find the answers we seek. Perhaps even find a way to save Sora…so…let us go."
"But what about the tower?" Donald pipes up. Mickey looks to the tower and remembering how the tower worked he summoned magic from his keyblade and with a flash the tower was whole once again, the flames gone.
"I believe it is time Kairi to continue your training…and possibly continue Master Yen Sid's teaching." He heads for the tower…a new purpose in his stride.
Authors note: Master Yen Sid has passed but now it is unto Mickey that the information of the way of the keyblade wielder is continued. In the next chapter Sora is born anew with a new purpose.