Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
WARNING! This chapter contains spoilers. In fact, this whole chapter is a spoiler. You've been warned. Though, I made up some of it too. Hee hee.
Chapter 10 – Ventus
Three years later…
The time had certainly gone by fast. It had already been three years since Aqua came to the Land of Departure and met Terra and Master Eraqus. Both the apprentices had become stronger, both physically and emotionally.
Terra, now eighteen, had grown into a tall, strong, and handsome young man. Aqua sometimes couldn't stop looking at him, and when he caught her staring, Aqua would turn away and blush, allowing Terra a second to smirk. The warrior still wore his old armored outfit, consisting of a tight, black, high-necked shirt; tan hakama pants; and red suspenders to hold them up. His gold heart symbol worked as his belt buckle. In terms of armor, he wore bronze-colored armored boots and a long armored gauntlet stretching from his shoulder down to his hand.
Aqua, now sixteen, had become a talented mage. She was now very graceful, agile, and also very beautiful. As much as Terra would try, he couldn't stop staring at her sometimes. The way her short blue hair waved around when she moved, the faint blush always present on her cheeks, and her sweet smile all captivated his attention.
The girl wore a black and blue halter shirt and pink straps over her chest with her silver heart symbol where the straps intersected. Long white sleeves hung from her upper arms, suspended by silver and blue armor, and ended at her wrists. Black shorts were under the blue skirts and white ribbons she had on her waist. Her legs were covered by long black socks from mid-thigh to foot. She also wore black and silver armored boots.
Although Terra had been Eraqus's student for two years longer than Aqua, Eraqus hadn't wasted time to get them on the same level. Aqua had determination that Eraqus never knew could exist. They were both equally skilled, but with different talents. Where Terra was powerful physically, Aqua was fast and always pulling out magic moves.
Master Eraqus was pleased with both his students and was looking forward to seeing the day he could call them both Keyblade Masters.
But one day, everything changed for the Keyblade Master and his two apprentices.
"Terra, Aqua, I have to meet with a guest today," Eraqus told them. "Train together, but don't blow anything up." He rubbed his temples and thought of the first time Terra had tried to use Fire magic. The result wasn't pretty.
On that note, Terra and Aqua set to work. They first did a practice duel to test physical strength. Then, they did a magic practice session. Aqua outdid Terra in magic and he outdid her physically. Though, it still did take Terra a bit of effort to touch Aqua since she was so quick.
As they started just doing some solo exercises in the throne room, they heard the front doors open and glanced over the balcony to see what was happening.
A bald old man with dark skin and all dressed in black walked in. He was accompanied by a young boy with blonde hair who was dressed in white and black. Eraqus walked down to greet them. But Terra and Aqua couldn't hear a word they said. Eraqus and the old man walked into the hall again and left the boy alone.
"Why is that boy just standing there?" Aqua asked.
"Don't know," Terra said with a shrug. "I'll go ask."
He went to the entrance and saw the boy hadn't moved a muscle. Terra walked up and gave him a friendly wave, which the boy didn't acknowledge.
"I'm Terra," he said. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated, but he quietly answered, "Ventus."
"Great to meet you," Terra responded. He turned up to see Aqua still watching. "Aqua, come meet him." She smiled and ran into the hall to join them a second later.
"My name is Aqua," she said.
"Terra…" Ventus said while looking at him. "Aqua…" He looked at her too. They saw that Ventus had blue eyes like they did, but they had this blankness in them.
"Where are you from, Ventus?" Terra asked. No answer. "Who brought you here?" Ventus hesitated, but at least he moved. "Can you use the Keyblade?"
Ventus's reaction was completely unexpected. He started inhaling and exhaling rapidly. Then, he grabbed his head and screamed before dropping to the floor.
"What is it?" Terra asked.
"What's wrong?" Aqua yelped.
"What are you doing?" Master Eraqus asked. He'd returned with the old man. Terra and Aqua were both startled by the man's yellow eyes. It seemed unnatural. But they didn't say anything about it. They simply turned to their master as the old man cradled Ventus in his lap. The poor boy seemed to have passed out.
"I… I don't…" Terra struggled to find the words to explain Ventus's strange reaction.
"Ventus will be staying with us, but I don't want either of you two to bother him," Eraqus ordered. "He went through something terrible and has lost his memory."
Terra's eyes widened and Aqua gasped in horror. Offering help to make up for scaring Ventus, Terra took him from the old man and brought him to a room Eraqus said the boy could use. The old man thanked them and left without another word.
"Who was that man, Master?" Aqua asked once he'd left.
"An old classmate of mine, Master Xehanort," Eraqus explained. "He and I were taught by the same master years ago. I haven't seen him for a while. But he found Ventus like this and gave him to me to become a Keyblade apprentice. When he wakes up, he will become my student alongside the both of you."
"Another apprentice," Terra mused.
"Yes," Eraqus said. "But we will let the poor boy sleep for now. Xehanort didn't tell me the details of how Ventus lost his memory. All he knows is that the boy is capable of wielding a Keyblade. Other than that, we know nothing…"
"He must've been thought something horrible," Aqua said. "Master Xehanort doesn't know what?"
"No, he found Ventus like that. But he knew he could sense the power of the Keyblade in Ventus," Eraqus said. "I sense it too. The boy has much potential. And we'll see how good he is once he wakes up… Whenever that will be…" He left the room.
"Wow…" Terra said. "I guess he panicked like he did because he doesn't remember anything that had to do with the questions I asked."
"You didn't know, Terra," Aqua said. "With any luck, he'll be okay once he wakes up." She looked uneasy though.
"Well, I just know not to ask him any questions again," Terra said. He and Aqua left together. But their thoughts remained in Ventus's room about the poor sleeping boy lying in bed.
"I wonder how he lost his memory," Terra said. He'd walked outside to think just as the sun was setting.
"Master Eraqus doesn't know," a voice said from behind. Terra jumped and turned to see Aqua standing behind him. "So, I highly doubt we'll figure it out."
Terra barely heard her. He was too busy staring at the way Aqua's hair caught the sunlight. He'd always noticed that about her. And every time he saw it, she always looked more beautiful.
"Terra?" she asked. He snapped out of it. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Sorry," Terra said. "I was just surprised to see you there. I thought I was alone."
"Oh," Aqua said. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Terra said. "I was just wondering about Ventus. How he lost his memory."
"Amnesia is brought on by either traumatic events, or a big clunk on the head," Aqua said. "He's not hurt, so it must've been something else that happened to him. The question is… What?"
"I don't know," Terra said. "Maybe we'll get an answer when he finally wakes up."
They hoped in the morning Ventus would be awake. However, he remained in a deep sleep. It was the same for several more days. The poor boy would just not wake up.
(1)- It's her normal outfit in Birth by Sleep. I just don't feel like describing it.
Okay, Ventus has made his arrival. This chapter wasn't meant to be long. It was just meant for Ven to come into the story.
By the way, I actually think this part of the true Kingdom Hearts storyline actually happens four years prior to the game. If you've seen the very start of the game, you'll know why. Let's just say… it has to do with Sora. I'd just say Ven, Terra, and Aqua were younger than they are in this story. But in this, Ven is 14 just to let you know. The rest of the story now happens one year before Birth by Sleep.
Anyway, leave a review if you wish. And also, I'd like to read the things you like about the chapters. I like to know what the readers like.