Chapter 10: Pieces
{Disney Castle: May 10th 2013, 8:56am}
Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka were settled at a table, waiting for the time that Donald and Goofy would take them home. Sora, Riku, Kairi, Himitsu, Akira, Tadashi, King Mickey, and Queen Minnie were present for breakfast with them that morning, and enjoy the time they had left with their friends. Selphie was quiet as she ate, and Tidus remained the same, while Wakka engaged in conversation with the King. Sora looked to the two people and sighed as he sat down his fork and decided that the silence had persisted long enough.
"Alright, what's with the sudden vow of silence?" he asked.
"What? We're just...thinking about how weird it's going to be not seeing you guys every day." Sora gave the two a look that stated he didn't buy their statement one bit.
"Don't give us that look! We're going to miss you guys," stated Selphie.
"Uhuh, well, if you don't want to tell us anything about it, then I guess we can't give you what Master Yen Sid is here to deliver..." the two perked up as Wakka turned his attention towards the others.
"What's going on? Who's Master Yen Sid?" the red-haired teenager asked.
"Master Yen Sid is the overseer for all Keyblade Wielders in the worlds. And he was King Mickey's Master as well." there was a faint sound of footsteps, and all eyes looked to the entry way that lead into the sun room.
"Hey? Sora? Master Yen Sid is here," stated Yui as he took his seat and Jack soon landed behind him.
"Okay, I'll go and bring him here." With that, Sora took off from the room and the others looked after him.
"Is Sora feeling better?" asked Tidus.
"Yea, he's still a little sleepy, but his energy is starting to get back up to his normal level."
"Is there anything we should know about Master Yen Sid?" questioned Tadashi.
"He will be fairly formal, but please address him as Master Yen Sid. He is the Grand Master of Keyblades and Magic." the others seemed momentarily surprised.
"Well then, we'll have respect for him and make sure that we're on our best behavior," said Himitsu as she looked to the King.
"Of course, Sora will be back with Master Yen Sid any moment now." The others remained in conversation, while within the castle, Sora had just reached the hall where Master Yen Sid was waiting.
{Main Atrium: 9:02am}
The aged Wizard looked to the direction of the sound of footsteps as he saw Sora coming down the hallway. The boy was dressed rather casually, wearing some of the clothing that the Three Good Fairies had made for him, but he lacked his gloves and his jacket. Master Yen Sid smiled as Sora came to a stop directly in front of him with a bright, but faintly tired smile upon his face as he looked to him, while the former Keyblade Master looked at the teenager with some relief evident in his eyes – at least he was recovering.
"Master Yen Sid, it's good to see you." the boy took in a deep breath and turned his sky-blue eyes on the man.
"As it is you, Master Sora," he replied. The boy flushed.
"Um...you don't have to call me that, Master Yen Sid." the wizard shook his head.
"It's respectful. However, seeing as you have still not told your mother of your status change...I will just call you Sora in her and the others presences," he said. The boy sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Master Yen Sid. I honestly don't think we're ready to tell them everything yet..." the wizard placed a hand upon Sora's shoulder.
"You cannot hide it forever, Sora. At some point you will have to divulge the truth to them. Nonetheless, I understand why you and Riku have chosen to not speak about it...there are still many wounds that apparently need healing," Master Yen Sid stated as he looked to the boy.
"I know...but still..." the wizard smiled.
"Sora, I hope you don't mind me saying, but...you often remind me of someone I once knew..." Sora looked back to him as he began to head down the hallway, and he fell into step beside him.
"Who?" the wizard smiled.
"Oh, a student of mine. He was quite an interesting person...full of spirit, quite intelligent, talented with a Keyblade, much like yourself, and if I do say so, he was quite the troublemaker," he told him while continued to walk.
"I'm not exactly a troublemaker..." Master Yen Sid smiled.
"And yet, I have heard stories of your quite colorful banters with Master Riku," he said. Sora winced.
"Yea...we've always done that...even when I was a lot more...um..." Sora scratched the back of his head.
"Introverted?" he inquired.
"Yes...I was really quiet growing up except around those I trusted...that hasn't exactly changed..." Master Yen Sid looked him over and then smiled.
"He was the same way...but it is good to see you are healing nicely," the wizard mentioned.
"I'm recovering, but...I still have these really horrible nightmares...and I don't know what they're about..." Master Yen Sid looked to the boy and frowned as Sora kept his eyes forward.
"He looks exactly like he did at this age...my word...he could be his twin..."
Master Yen Sid could never quite get over how much Sora favored this person he knew. From his facial features and body structure to his hair, eyes, smile, gestures, and even his personality and voice were similar to the person he was thinking of. However, he should have expected nothing less because he knew who the boy's father was, and if the way he had grown to favor him was anything to go by, then he didn't need to question what was causing him to remember his friend. Taking in a deep breath, he looked to Sora with a calm smile and caught the boy's attention.
"Sora, are you going to be alright?" the boy looked down.
"Master Yen Sid, I don't remember what I did to all of you in the Dream Drop...but I know I did something...really bad..." Sora shifted his eyes to the side and the wizard frowned faintly.
"What do you remember?" he questioned.
"Hardly a thing. But I do recall a bit...just brief flashes, and what I see..." the boy covered his face with his hands to the point that his eyes were completely blocked from view.
"Sora?" the boy took in a shaky breath.
"It scares me...what I did..." the wizard placed a gentle hand upon the boy's hands and slowly removed them from his grasp, while looking into the boy's tired face and weary eyes.
"Sora, you have nothing to fear. What was done to you was at the hands of an evil person and an organization of cruel people...you have allies who have forgiven you for what's been done...I'm sorry that these things have happened to you and the others...but rest assured, whatever comes after this...it's for the best, and I know you and the others can and will defeat the obstacles...no matter how great," he stated.
Master Yen Sid pulled the boy into a gentle embrace as Sora felt his eyes grow momentarily wide at the thought of what he was experiencing. Interestingly enough, the wizard never exactly scared him so much as he did garner his respect. Master Yen Sid may have been frightening to others, but nothing scared Sora about the man – he felt as if he was an old friend that he hadn't seen in many years. Stepping back, he looked at the wizard and gave him a calm smile before waving for him to follow with a soft spoken thank you that the Wizard merely smiled about.
"Sora has his kind heart as well...he's definitely his father's son."
{Sun Room: 9:20am}
The group was having a rather calm conversation with one another when Sora arrived back with Master Yen Sid. Most in the room almost stood, but were waved down by the aged wizard as he looked at the people settled at the table. Sora remained standing where he was while the wizard looked at the six new faces that were present, and also spotted two familiar ones. King Mickey got up from his seat and stood before his former Master with a welcome, as the wizard nodded and went to take his own seat before the King returned to his chair and Sora followed him.
"This is Master Yen Sid, he's the Grand Master for Keyblade Wielders and Magicians in the worlds," King Mickey explained. The others momentarily froze, and the wizard smiled.
"It is a pleasure to meet the six of you. I suppose that this is quite a surprise?" they nodded slowly as he took his seat and Sora settled back in his own.
"Yes, it is a bit surprising..." stated Akira as she looked him over.
"No need to be tense. I understand that you aren't used to being around all of these things, and I do not expect you to know everything to a finite detail." they relaxed a bit.
"So...you were the King's teacher?" questioned Tadashi.
"Yes, I was, many years ago. However, in the current times, I have begun acting as overseer to other Keyblade Wielders, while Mickey has taken to keeping an eye on those three." Master Yen Sid looked to Sora, Riku, and Kairi, who gave him a quick smile.
"Do they cause you trouble?" asked Himitsu.
"Well, I don't know about trouble so much as they tend to attract it." the group looked at the three teenagers.
"He has a point there...we tend to end up attracting all sorts of crazy things..." Riku looked to Sora.
"And you're a magnet for ending up in the wrong worlds or attracting the worst kind of trouble," he said. Sora rolled his eyes.
"Correct me if I'm wrong...Riku...but you were in the same predicament that I was in, not too long ago..." the silver-haired teen nodded slowly.
"Unfortunately, you got me there..." Master Yen Sid looked at the two boys.
"And yet, you are both still here all because of your comrades," he stated. Sora smiled a bit.
"Yea, and who would have thought we'd end up with Jack Frost on our side, too..." the Winter King looked him over with a smirk.
"It's good to see that there are people here that have so much faith in others. And, it's good to see that no one wanted to throw things at me just because I surprised them," he said. Kairi raised an eyebrow.
"Well, we were in the middle of a fight...so..." Jack looked at the others.
"I know, but I remember, about eleven years ago, there was this kid I met, and he hit me in the head with a fruit because I landed near him and didn't realize it," he said. Sora frowned a bit.
"He hit you in the head with a fruit?" Jack nodded as he looked to Yui, who was listening to the conversation with curiosity.
"Yea, and then he got really defensive about where I was and started asking me all these questions...and when I started towards him, he panicked and hid behind a bunch of rocks." Sora shifted and then looked to the winter spirit.
"Um...just out of curiosity...what kind of fruit was this?" he questioned.
"It was this weird star-shaped fruit that was yellow and had these two green leaves at the top." The chestnut-haired teenager frowned as Himitsu laughed a bit.
"Oh, I just remembered something about Sora when he was younger, Jack," Himitsu stated. The group looked to her.
"What was that?" Sora rolled his eyes.
"He read a lot about you when he was younger, because you were his favorite myth. When he was six, he even swore up and down that he met you one day, and that you came back one evening to see him as well," he said. Jack thought for a moment.
"Hey, Sora? Was your hair always the color it is now?" Riku laughed a bit.
"No, he used to have a chocolate color to his hair," he stated. Then the Winter King thought back at that moment in time.
"What the...who threw that?" azure met a paler shade of blue.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Hey, whoa...I'm not really doing anything. I just got lost!"
"But...you fell out of the sky..."
"Okay kid, who are you?" the little boy ran behind a set of rocks. And Jack smiled.
"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers..." the boy peaked out behind the rock.
"Alright, I'm Jack Frost...what's your name?"
Jack suddenly sat bolt upright and looked to the chestnut-haired sixteen-year-old as he felt realization dawn upon him. The others looked slightly confused at the startled look upon the Winter King's face as he kept his eyes upon Sora, who gave him an equally confused look that reminded Kairi once more of a puppy. Yui rolled his eyes as he tapped Jack on the shoulder, which sent Alice-blue eyes looking to emerald green as the black-haired youth looked towards the others.
"Did you have some sort of epiphany you wish to share?" Yui asked.
"It was you!" Jack pointed to Sora, who raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" the teenager watched Jack smile brightly.
"You were the little brat who threw that star-shaped fruit at me! You even told me what it was! A paopu fruit!" said Jack as Sora looked at him in questioning.
"I don't really...wait...did you used to wear a navy-colored tunic?" the Winter King nodded.
"Yea! That's right!" Jack stated.
"Wait...so...you've met Sora before?" the Winter King nodded.
"I met him when he was six on the Islands! I remember now! You were really shy as a little kid, and I remember coming back the second time...because..." Jack paused and the others looked to him.
"What's wrong?" asked Akira.
"Because someone you were really close to was sick, and he wanted to meet me, too..." the others looked greatly confused by the statement.
"I don't remember that at all, " Sora said.
"No, I remember him. He had dark hair and blue eyes." Himitsu shook her head.
"Jack, Sora only had a few friends when he was that young. Riku, Kairi, Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka were the only ones he was friends with, besides Mina, and she passed away," she stated. Jack frowned.
"I could have sworn...I met him, too...I remember him really well..." Yui looked him over.
"Maybe it was a kid that was there briefly? I mean, it's been eleven years..." Jack sighed.
"I don't know...maybe..." Sora laughed a bit.
"Well, either way...I guess I should apologize for throwing a paopu fruit at you...those things hurt when you get hit by them," he stated.
"I've had harder hits than that, but for a six-year-old, you had really good aim." Riku frowned.
"And unfortunately...that hasn't changed at all...I'd even say it's improved," he stated. Sora gave him an annoyed expression.
"You might want to be thankful that my aim is so good! It's saved your ass plenty of times." Riku elbowed him in the side and Himitsu frowned.
"Sora!"
"I know...language..." Master Yen Sid smiled.
"Once you've all finished, I have something to give our six guests," he stated.
"Alright, then." Sora glanced to the six people as he considered what to do.
Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka were leaving soon after breakfast. Their things were packed, they had nothing left to do except receive the items Master Yen Sid had created for them. Sora had been contemplating whether or not to tell them what had exactly happened during their little world-hopping adventure – as they called it, at least – and allow them to understand why they were so damaged from this and why it hurt so much to even think back upon it. Naturally, Sora knew that Riku and Kairi had to make that choice on their own, but if they were willing to explain these details with him, then maybe they could let them know the truth finally.
"It'd be a lot less pressure on us while we're trying to recover..."
{Departure: 10:35am}
Sora, Riku, Kairi, King Mickey, Queen Minnie, Daisy, Pluto, Himitsu, Tadashi, Akira, Jack, Yui, and Master Yen Sid were present with Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka as they prepared to leave the castle. Donald and Goofy were finishing up with getting the Gummi ship ready and were awaiting the all clear to leave; however, they weren't merely talking, they were saying their goodbyes and were about to receive something from Master Yen Sid, who now stood a bit aways away from the group, watching them until at last, Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka stepped back. The wizard took this as an opportunity to give the three teenagers what he had prepared for them, and had stepped forward with three small dark blue satin pouches that bore golden moons and stars upon them. The three teenagers looked to him, and slowly reached out to take the pouches with a sense of hesitancy.
"No need to be skittish, these are for you, and I have one each for you as well, Himitsu, Akira, and Tadashi," Master Yen Sid stated.
"Oh, alright then..." Tidus took the pouch as Selphie opened hers, and looked to the item that fell out.
It was a leather cord of black that held two charms at the end of it. One was an ornate crescent moon in gold bearing intricate patterns that almost looked like weaving runes, and the other was a silver pendant that looked as if it was a castle with a mouse shape cut into the doors on the front. Selphie smiled as she slipped it on over her head, and the two boys followed suit as Master Yen Sid handed the pouches off to the three adults as well. The group looked at the charms as they placed them on, and then looked back to the wizard.
"Sora and Riku may have taught you magic so you could have a base understanding of it, and you seem to have gotten a basic handle upon the spells they taught you; however, these are for the chance that you will not have time to fight the things that may come for you," Master Yen Sid explained.
"Um...what are they exactly?" the wizard took in a steadying breath as he looked them over.
"These are portals, and they are linked directly to two destinations that are possibly one of the safest places for you to be," he stated.
"Alright, but..." Sora looked at them, and then Riku sighed just a bit.
"The two charms represent the Mysterious Tower and Disney Castle. If you need to escape, just think of one of those two locations, and you will be taken there instantly...that's about right, isn't it?" asked Riku as he finished. Master Yen Sid nodded.
"Yes, in essence, if you need to escape, just think of the name of those two places – either one will do – and it will send you there. If you get separated, you will end up in either two places, and I have set this up to where it cannot be tampered with, so you will not end up in another world that is not safe."
"Thank you, Master Yen Sid," stated Selphie.
"No need in thanking me, I only wish to help protect what the Keyblade bearers hold dear to them." Tidus looked at the two charms, and then looked to the wizard.
"What's that?" he questioned. Sora groaned a bit and stepped forward before he knocked Tidus atop the head with his closed fist.
"You aren't the sharpest arrow in the quiver, are you?" the blonde rubbed the sore spot on his head.
"Ouch! You didn't have to hit me!" Riku laughed a bit.
"Tidus, the thing we hold dearest is our friends and family," Riku stated as Kairi nodded.
"Oh..." Selphie smiled to them and gave them all a hug once more.
"I'll keep it on me constantly, just in case," she said as she stepped back.
"That'd be a good idea. Keep it close to you guys at all times, just in case." the three teenagers nodded.
"We will," Wakka assured them as Donald and Goofy walked forward.
"Y'all ready to get goin'?" asked Goofy.
"Yep, we're ready." Donald nodded.
"Good, come on then. We'll see you all later," Donald stated as he started towards the Gummi ship.
"Hey, guys?" the three of them looked back to the Keyblade Wielders.
"Yea?" Sora gave them a bright smile.
"Thanks," he said. Tidus nodded.
"No problem; we'll see you guys around!" With that, the three teenagers boarded the Gummi Ship and began to leave.
"So...I guess we should get going, too..." the group looked to Yui and Jack.
"What? You guys are going to leave?" asked Kairi.
"Yea, we only came to check up on you guys for a few days. Noa needs me back because we're about to get under way with dealing with some of the vampires back in my world," Yui explained. The others nodded to the statement and then looked to the Winter King.
"Okay, but what about you, Jack?" the Guardian of Levity glanced to the side.
"Well, it's almost winter in Burgess...and I kinda promised Yuki that I'd take her out with me this year...and I have issues I have to deal with pertaining to a few annoying Red Caps," he stated as his eyes turned timber-wolf-silver.
"Alright then...I guess we'll see you two later on, then?" Yui nodded as Jack smiled.
"Of course, we're in this with you guys, and so is the Anteiku Unit," Yui stated.
"Thanks...that's going to come in handy, I'm sure..." the black-haired teen nodded.
"Definitely, and I'm sure Jack has some allies on the fence as well," he said. Jack grinned in a cheeky manner that caused Riku to roll his eyes.
"I'm surrounded by trolls..."
"Yep! The Guardians and my Lieutenants are on the wayside, just in case you need assistance. Naturally, myself and Yuki are as well," Jack informed them as they looked to him.
"That's good to know. Alright then, we'll see you soon, I'm sure." the two nodded as Yui pulled out a charm on a black leather cord that was a black angel wing before a portal made of black and green fire appeared, and he left through it with a final wave.
"And that's my cue as well. See you three later," Jack said as pulled out a white leather cord that bore a medium-sized silver snowflake with a globe behind it before vanishing through a white and blue portal. The group soon found themselves left alone with the former Keyblade Master, King Mickey, Queen Minnie, and Daisy.
"Now, show me how you've improved upon your skill set since I last saw you," Master Yen Sid stated with a smile. The three Keyblade Wielders returned it with a bright look in their eyes.
"Okay, follow us!"
The three adults followed the children as Queen Minnie and Daisy excused themselves. while King Mickey and Master Yen Sid also trailed behind them, while the three adults had to wonder what would happen now that some of their group had left; little did they realize how much of their children's lives they would get to see before they left.
{….}
If I break the glass, then I'll have to fly; there's no one to catch me if I take a dive...
{…...}
Author's Note: So, Selphie, Tidus, Wakka, Jack, and Yui are gone back to the Destiny Islands, Burgess, and Owari, and there are more things to come. In the next chapter, Himitsu is going to be finding out something very interesting about her son, and we get some alone time with the kids and their parents!
Preview:
"Sora, what happened to you?"
"Um...can I ask you a question? Your Majesty?"
Chapter 11: Ilys