A/N: Okay people...I'm back...from the dead...again. Okay, I was away on vacation and then stuff happened. Remember the raining mangoes? Yeah, that. Anyway, without further ado, much thanks to DaniPotterLovesGod and AFredToThePast9 and Ryu Karma for reviewing/alerting the story. It motivated me to post this chapter. Please read, review and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Didn't the last chapter hint at anything? No, I own nothing save for this story.
Chapter 44: The gears keep turning
"I think your training is done" Riku informed him somberly.
Vanitas glowered at him.
"It's been only a few months…how in Hyrule do you think I'm done with training? Do I look like a prodigy to you?"
"You consider yourself one" his mentor quipped, "anyway, I've reserved today to test your skills."
Fair enough…Vanitas is a genius.
"Alright, make it quick, I want to go to sleep afterwards." The noble uttered.
"First things first…You are required to formally apologize to both Impa and Sheikha, or else guilt will eat you alive. I'm sure Sora will want you to do so, he believes you are mature enough to do so without him telling you."
"I know…I was planning on doing so anyway" Vanitas mumbled "so…the test?"
"I'm not the one who's going to take it" Riku said as Sora entered the training hall with his hands folded behind his back, he looked lighthearted with a goofy smile on his face, in contrast, Vanitas' heart plunged in his stomach.
It felt like his heart was being eaten alive by stomach acid.
Gross.
"Big brother is going to take my test?" he babbled "right…I've been looking forward to it."
Not.
For some reason he was terrified.
In a leisurely manner Sora summoned Kingdom key and took a basic stance. Vanitas did the same, to psych himself, he summoned his battle armor and helmet…in case.
In case.
The mock battle started, the first knight flashed to Vanitas and gripped his helmet. Images of Xehanort doing the same welled up in the adolescent's mind and he screeched unwillingly.
"Sorry, sorry" he gasped "I'm okay"
His brother and Riku traded glances. Ignoring them, he materialized his chained key-blade and lunged with a rapid fire of quick attacks, unsurprisingly Sora expertly deflected them all. Jumping a few feet back, and cloaked his blade in darkness, thereafter he charged with all his might. There was no malice in his actions; however he was determined to make an impression on his brother. Even though he felt some strain in his bones, he did not relent. Satisfied with how his assault played out, he stopped and smiled. In the next instant, the grin melted off.
Sora was bleeding from the dozen or so gashes decorating his body.
"Whoops, seems like you are starting regain your former strength." Sora chuckled. "Carry on, these wounds are nothing…had worse during my journeys and Donald refused to heal me…"
Slightly apprehensive, Vanitas complied with his older brother's wishes and kept on attacking without remorse, slowly his speed began to go faster and Riku, the silent observer, stood by and watched a red and black blur whizzing around the room. His student had even managed to enter a command style and now he had a maniacal grin as he teleported around. His smirk widened as Sora's eyes couldn't keep up with him.
"Where did you learn this?" the first knight inquired, "it feels like a warped version of time splicer, based on speed, am I correct"
Vanitas did not reply, it was hard work.
Impressing his brother.
He needed to end the battle as soon as possible because his stamina was steadily running out, at this rate he'll be unable to breath properly again. Targeting his brother, he decided to attempt one of his strongest moves, not simply to make Sora proud, but to take stock of his own limits. Stopping in the middle of the hall, the prince located him and rushed to him, raising Kingdom key in the process. At that moment Vanitas droned:
"Zantetsuken"
A blinding flash illuminated the room and Sora gaped as his key-blade cracked and dissolved into fragments of light. A few other cracking sounds were heard and they sounded as if they were coming from Vanitas. The eldest son whipped his head around and saw his younger brother collapse akin to a puppet whose strings were cut.
A groan escaped his lips.
"Vanitas!" he admonished "I'm quite happy with your growth, you didn't have to break a leg in order to impress me!" Sora admonished.
The black haired youth didn't speak.
"Vans?" the first knight called again, concern lacing his voice. To his surprise, his inert brother shakily got up and took a few experimental steps. Thereafter a disturbing grin shone on his face.
"He he heh…Ha ha ahaaa!" the noble guffawed "I'm not a cripple anymore!" he announced with arms stretched to the sky.
"I see Xehanort did a number on Vanitas" Riku commented and Sora agreed numbly.
The prince's expression mellowed out as he saw the sheer mirth on his brother's face. After seeing him depressed for so long, he was glad his brother was back to his former self.
"Well, it was nice training you Vanitas. Although I'm done with you, do not neglect daily training you hear me?" the silver haired man warmly educated his student, to his surprise, the black haired youth bowed to him and muttered his gratitude.
He was beginning to learn humility.
Waving, Riku watched both his student and best friend leave for Hyrule via a dark corridor. Vanitas kept a modest distance behind his brother. He wanted to relay to Sora that he wanted to apologize to Sheikha and Impa. However he was feeling ashamed for asking…firstly what was he going to say to his brother? How is he going to ask for their forgiveness? Summon them? Frustration made him murmur to himself and Sora turned around and enquired what was wrong with him.
"I want to apologize to Sheikha and Impa for wrecking their village." He blurted out in one breath, his face was burning.
"…I'll summon them to my study…make sure your words are sincere okay Vans? Also I'm happy you are back to your old self" An earnest smile was sent his way and the younger male hung his head.
They stepped out and entered through the doors of the mansion, once again Sora stared in shock.
"One of these days…I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! I didn't say anything about the painting, don't think I didn't notice!" Vanitas took a wary step backwards and peeked around his brother, what he saw made him grin.
Link was pressing the tip of his Master sword into Zack's throat; the brunette was holding his Buster sword over the back of Link's neck like the blade of a guillotine. Unable to disguise their actions, they both detangled themselves from each other and groveled to the floor.
"We didn't dirty the mansion Sir" Zack quickly pointed out.
"QUIET YOU MORON… Don't ruin my good mood or both of you will be sorry…where is Impa and Sheikha? Tell them to meet me in my study" Vanitas sent Link a thumbs up and followed his brother's heavy footsteps upstairs.
"Sheesh" Zack scratched his hair spikes "did princess Zelda refuse to hug him or something? I can't think of an occasion where I saw him this terrifying. He actually sounded like Vanitas."
"He must be tired, I mean we aren't usually allowed in here and Master Sora is being gracious to us…demolishing his home isn't a good way to show gratitude…don't you think? More importantly Master Vanitas is back on his feet again…do you think he'll be back with us…?" Link hesitantly asked.
"Ugh…don't remind me. I'm gonna miss Cloud if he leaves" the fifth knight's voice dropped to a whisper "I think he enjoys his time here with all of us…idiot likes to keep to himself."
"I noticed he respects you greatly" the Hylian pointed out.
In response the soldier sniffed and rubbed the back of his head. Recalling Sora's orders, the two friends sped off in search of their fellow female knights.
Upstairs, the prince slumped into his seat and beheld the twins throwing themselves over Vanitas. The brunette smiled at each of them and asked about their life, the three siblings held a cordial conversation, although he gently pushed Ventus off when the youngster attempted to climb on his lap.
"I'm not big brother Sora" he intoned.
"I know, he's much nicer than you" the baby of the family spat back.
Apply cold water to burned area.
A knock on the door alerted the first knight to his visitors; he dismissed his twin brothers and called the second and sixth knight into his personal study.
The door swung open in front Impa, with her kin in a tow, they entered the modest study. The room was painted an eye pleasing shade of cream. As usual, paintings lined the walls and the tall windows behind Sora where draped with blue curtains. A huge desk was littered with papers and sitting before it in and scanning a document was their leader. Red irises picked out his younger brother slouching against the window sill and she sensed Sheikha tense behind her.
"Were you two busy…if so, sorry to call you at an inconvenient time" the first knight spoke.
"No, we were simply patrolling Castle Town with the castle guards" Impa replied, she wondered why she was summoned.
"Ah…that's great…Vans…"
The black haired noble pushed himself off his awkward seat and stood rigidly before them. He noticed Sheikha glower at him icily.
He swallowed and after shoving his dignity and pride down the drain, he performed a ninety degree angled bow.
His back was so straight; it could be used as a table.
Dazed out of their minds and the fact that the most prideful member of the house of Kingdom was actually bowing down to them made the duo take a collective step backwards and gaped, they heard the adolescent speak.
"I apologize with all sincerity for what I had done. I know mere words won't justify my actions and I won't expect you to forgive me…I'm extremely sorry. Please…please at least don't hate me for what I've done."
"Did Master Sora ask you to apologize?" Sheikha hissed and drew her hands into fists "if that is the case then we don't need your apol-"
"No" Vanitas cut in; with his head still bowed "I'm doing this out of my own accord."
He felt a jolt of surprise when his brother joined him in groveling. Impa felt disturbed to have the prince bowing his head down as well, she glanced at Sheikha who sported a similar, conflicted expression.
"Please forgive him" the elder sibling spoke "what my brother did wasn't right but I think he suffered enough for his actions."
"We understand" Impa spoke softly "raise your head, you are making me uncomfortable"
"I want Sheikha's consent as well" Sora stated.
"…I forgive you…" saying this, the female knight spun on her heel and bolted out of the study without permission. The second knight noticed a few tears on her face.
The members of the Kingdom family raised their heads and Vanitas slinked away. Only Sora and his second in command were in the room.
"She…hates Vanitas doesn't she?" He quizzed "I don't blame her"
"No she does not…she is simply put off by his sincere apologies and how he showed remorse for his actions. Give her time, she'll be return to her old self."
A few hours later, Sora stamped an official document after reading it. He took another one and grabbed his hair in helplessness and was about to tear his hair off when a knock on his door saved him from becoming bald. Shad entered after adjusting his glasses and the exhausted knight noticed his arms were loaded with scrolls and the Sky book. In a distinctly un-noble like manner, Sora shoved all the documents off his desk and beckoned the ex-knight to come nearer and take a seat.
"Any news on the city in the sky?"
"Yes sire" Shad replied enthusiastically "we found a way to get to the city in the sky…although I need Link's help, this book keeps on referring to the hero."
"I understand" replied the leader "is it a dangerous mission? Should I deploy more knights? Or rather should I come with?" he was looking for a way to escape his work.
"No Sire, I simply need to go to Kakariko village, apparently the pathway is hidden somewhere there. I simply need to open a way."
Sora nodded.
"Then leave immediately, tell Link I decreed him to go." The bespectacled man nodded and exited the study, after asking around he located the bearer of courage in the kitchen, he was sitting with the twin nobles and having an ice-cream eating contest. Aqua was also there, giggling at their antics whilst Cloud was trying to cook something on the stove, he and Zack were making a mess as they argued over what ingredients to put in the simmering pot.
"Master Link" Shad called and the knight looked up on hearing his name. Sitting next to him, the scholar explained their mission and gratefully the third knight nodded and suggested they set out at once.
Link dismounted his horse in front of a modest looking house Shad termed a sanctuary. He politely greeted the owner of the house, a man named Renado and went inside. The abode consisted of a circular chamber with a statue of the Light Spirit Eldin in the center. Shad and Renado conversed deeply and after a while, the host lighted a few torches situated around the house and the statue moved, in its place was an entrance to an underground basement. Link followed Shad wordlessly as they climbed down the hole, they alighted before an owl statue and the knighted Hylian resisted the urge to moan. Whipping out his Dominion rod, he moved the statue and gave an inaudible gasp.
Behind the statue a small cavern had opened up and Link beheld the contraption in awe. A large stone colored cannon lay dilapidated and rusting. Intricate carvings lined the cannon and the Hylians examined it from all angles.
"Marvelous" Shad breathed "we simply need to fix it at Fyer's place…Link old boy, teleport the cannon to Fyer's place situated in the middle of Lake Hylia.
What?
"I can't perform magic Shad…we need Impa or Sheikha to do this…since they are the only ones able to warp…not sure if they can warp things though"
The excited Shad didn't pay attention to his words, he hurriedly went back to get one of the aforementioned knights. Link contented himself to gaze at the cannon and study it.
Several minutes later Shad dragged a reluctant Sheikha and asked her to warp the cannon, without further ado, the female knight stood next to the device, put a hand on it and within moments both she and the cannon broke down into streams of shadows and vanished. The scholar, with boundless energy, commanded Link to go all the way to the middle of Lake Hylia. Thereafter a string of events occurred so fast, the weary knight was unable to keep up. He briefly recalled paying out all his savings…around three hundred rupees. The cannon repair-man, Fyer talked about the technicalities of the Sky cannon and it all went over Link's head. It was around midnight that he was allowed to go home. The knight was so tired, instead of going home; he curled up next to Epona and slept in the open with hammering sounds ringing in his sensitive ears.
