One minute Velle was standing in Neverland beside Ventus and Peter Pan, the next her vision turned white and her stomach churned dangerously. Suddenly she was in pain as her body was slammed onto the hard ground. Ventus fell on her, hitting his chin on the top of her head.
"Ow!" Velle yelped. "Ven, I can't breathe!" She struggled. Velle opened her eyes to see a large mysterious looking tower.
"-Nope, doesn't look like him." A voice commented. Ventus pushed himself off of the fragile violet haired warrior. "Aw...Look! That feller's got the Star Shard the King borrowed?"
"Sorry Velle… Wait did you say King?" Ventus asked quickly, sitting up, in front of them stood two very familiar looking characters but he couldn't place them.
Velle sat up as well and rubbed the top of her sore head, "They must be talking about Mickey." She said with a wince.
"We saw him-" Suddenly the dog in armor and the duck in magician clothes grabbed them and dragged them roughly into the tower. "Huh? Hey! Take it easy!" Ventus struggled.
"Get off of me!" Velle growled.
"Don't hurt her!" Ventus snapped.
"Are we glad to see you!" The duck quacked.
"Don't worry, we won't hurt chya!" The dog said with a reassuring smile to Velle.
"Hey...do I know you two?" Velle asked suspiciously.
"Huh?" Goofy looked at her and shrugged, "I don't think so, do ya?"
Velle frowned, "Hm...I guess not."
The two led them to a room with an old regal looking wizard sitting behind a desk. They saluted him and stood stiffly beside Ventus and Velle. "Yen Sid, sir! We just got a clue as to where the King might be."
The man raised his eyes slowly to them, "Ah...Ventus, Vellum…"
"Huh?" Ventus gasped, how did he know who they were?
"Eraqus has told me much about you both. If I am not mistaken, you were ordered to return home...and you...were told not to leave."
Ventus looked down, ashamed, "Well, sir, we…"
"No matter…" Yen sid said after a moment in his deep voice.
"Huh?" Velle and Ventus's heads shot up at the same time.
"Mickey has difficulty following directions, too." Yen sid finished. His face was stoic but his humor did not fall on deaf ears as Ventus chuckled. "Where is this clue to Mickey's whereabouts?"
"I've got it!" The duck replied, walking up and placing the Star Shard in front of Yen Sid.
"Thank you, Donald. Now, Goofy as you were saying?" Yen Sid stated.
"This Feller, Venquist-Venilate- Veggie-and Velma-" Goofy fumbled, Ventus raised an eyebrow at the names.
"Just call them Ven and Velle!" Donald screeched.
"Sure," Ventus shrugged.
"That's what we usually go by," Velle chirped.
"They had it when they got here," Donald finished.
"Please, explain…" Yen Sid drawled.
"We ran into Mickey, but we got sent flying into the light...I don't know where he went…" Ventus replied.
"Aw…" Donald and Goofy sighed in unison.
"Sorry to get your hopes up guys...we didn't even see him when we found that," Velle explained, pointing at the Star Shard. "We didn't see him anywhere, did we, Ven."
Ventus shook his head, Yen Sid nodded slowly, "As I thought...Mickey's been hurling himself from one world to the next. That explains why I could not discern his location." He finished while stroking his long gray beard.
"You can now, can't you?" Donald asked.
"Yes, I can." Yen Sid replied, he pushed back his sleeve and began to wave his hands in front of the Star Shard. A poof of smoke appeared just enough to show Mickey's body unconscious on the dry ground but quickly it dissipated…"Hm...something dark is interfering with my magic, this may take some time to get a clear image."
"Oh no! Do you think Mickey's alright?" Velle gasped, putting her hand over her mouth.
"We'll go and save him, Yen Sid! You can count on us!" Goofy saluted the elderly wizard.
"You two may not be enough," He replied sadly.
"We can go!" Ventus volunteered.
Velle nodded with a smile, "Absolutely! Once you can get the location we'll head there right away and bring him back."
"Hm…" Yen Sid thought for a moment. "Thank you, would you two like to rest a bit while I work on the location spell?"
"Uh…" Ventus looked at Velle and then back at Yen Sid. "Okay! Thanks!"
"Donald, Goofy, will you escort Ventus and Vellum to a room where they can rest." Yen Sid didn't wait for a response, he'd already begun working on the shard again.
"Come on guys! Follow us! Hyuk!" Goofy instructed. Donald led the way followed by Goofy, Velle, and then Ventus. Ventus looked around the tower in wonder.
"Woah...this place is huge!" he exclaimed.
"Yup! The King comes here to apprentice under Mr. Yen Sid!" Goofy told them.
"Alright, Velle! Your rooms right here." Donald opened a door to a bedroom. "Ven's will be just down the hall. We'll come get you when there's some progress!"
Velle grinned, "Thank you Donald, thank you Goofy." Velle gave Ventus a small wave before shutting the door to the room. She sighed and jumped on to the lavish bed that was laid out for her. "Oh my god, how I've missed sleeping in a bed." she purred, stretching and rolling around on the bedding. "Oh! I should take a shower while I have the chance!" Velle sat up and ran quickly into the bathroom. Just as she finished getting dressed there was a knock on the door, Velle combed her wet hair to the side as she opened it.
"Ven! Did Yen Sid have any luck with the spell?" Velle asked curiously.
"Not that I've heard of yet. I can't sleep...do you wanna go for a walk with me or something?" Ventus asked, his cheeks looked a bit rosey but Velle didn't pay any mind.
"Um…" Velle looked longingly at the bed she so desperately wanted to sleep in, then back at the Blonde who she hadn't got to slow down and relax with. Velle sighed, "I'm actually really tired-"
Ventus jumped and waved his hands with a smile, "No worries, I'll just go for a walk by myself."
"Oh, okay...I was gonna ask if maybe you wanted to come talk with me while I fall asleep. Who knows, maybe you'll fall asleep too." Velle said quickly.
Ventus thought for a moment, "Um...okay." Velle grinned and stepped aside to let him in.
"Welcome to my temporary humble abode!" Velle giggled.
Ventus looked around and pouted, "Aw, you don't have anywhere to sit."
Velle looked at him confused, "Sure I do! The bed, silly."
"You want me to sit on the bed while you try to sleep?" Ventus asked, now even more confused than Velle.
Velle furrowed her eyebrows, "I mean...sure you can sit. I thought you'd just lay down with me and try to take a nap."
"You want me to lay with you?" Ventus asked with a blush. He swallowed hard before adding, "Under the covers?" His teenage mind started reeling with the possible outcomes, what if this was a trick. What if she was trying to see if he was a pervert?
"...Only if you want, of course." Velle suddenly felt odd, she didn't understand why Ventus was being so reluctant.
His face only seemed to grow a darker red, "Um...Okay, if you're sure…"
He walked over to the bed and carefully peeled back the covers before kicking off his shoes and getting under. Velle slipped in on the other side, she turned to him and grinned once she'd gotten comfy.
Ventus swallowed again with an audible gulp, he was being awkward and he knew it. "So…" he mumbled after a moment. "What do you want to talk about?"
Velle's eyes widened quickly before she snickered, closing them briefly. "I didn't really think about it, I guess we're always with each other so it's not like you could tell me about your day." she replied.
Ventus frowned, "Well, we are always together...but not like this…"
Velle chewed her lip in thought, he was right, they'd never been alone in the same bed before. She looked down and started to play with her hands nervously "...Um...we can ask each other questions?" Velle suggested after a moment.
Ventus watched her, her nervous little mannerisms were adorable to him. His own nervousness began to melt away slowly. "Okay, you go first." He shifted slightly and rested his hand under his head.
"But I suggested it!" Velle complained, wrinkling up her nose.
Ventus chuckled, "Too bad, now ask your question. I already have one."
"Then you go first-"
"Nope." Ventus replied, popping the 'p'.
Velle groaned, "Okay, fine...um…" She thought for a moment. "D-do ya still wanna be a keyblade master?"
Ventus was taken aback, "I didn't expect that." He looked at her and grinned, " Yeah, Of course I do! Now more than ever, I think. What about you?"
Velle rolled her eyes, "I thought you said you had your own question!"
"I do, I'll ask it next!" Ventus snickered.
"I still want to be a keyblade master, for sure!" Velle declared with a grin.
"Good, 'cause I don't wanna be alone." Ventus mumbled. "Okay your turn," he added a little louder.
"I wouldn't leave ya, Ven, I promised we'd become masters together!" She winked at him. "What do you want to do after you become a master?"
Ventus grinned and rolled over onto his back while tucking his arms behind his head. "Hm...I wanna travel the worlds and meet new friends. Oh! And visit old friends too of course!" He stared up at the ceiling, imagining all the adventures he and Velle could have together. The ceiling was an eggshell white with a beautiful chandelier. Suddenly Velle's large green eyes popped up over him, her purple hair dangled around him, and he jumped slightly from surprise. "Huh?" Ventus asked, realizing she'd asked him a question.
"I said, with me? Can I travel the worlds with you too when we become masters?" Velle repeated.
Ventus gazed into her bright green eyes, whenever he looked into them he felt full of hope and strength, like he could do anything. And if he was being honest with himself, there was only one thing he wanted to do at that moment. His hand reached up and caressed her cheek softly, she looked surprised by the sudden tender touch but she closed her eyes and smiled. Velle stared down into Ventus's cerulean blue eyes, they had such depths behind them. Deeper than the Dean's Blue Hole, and sometimes if she looked for too long she felt like she would fall into them and drown. She felt his hand tug her down slightly and she lowered her head, their lips brushed against each other's lightly.
"Of course, I thought that was obvious." Ventus chuckled.
Velle grinned and pressed her lips to his, she shifted her leg over him. The blonde's heart started racing again as his hands found her waist. He almost couldn't believe they actually had his moment to themselves. His tongue teased her bottom lip almost begging for entry. She parted her lips, allowing him access, their tongues entangled passionately. Ventus felt his excitement grow even more when Velle moaned. His hands trailed up slightly and Velle flinched with a giggle.
"What?" Ventus asked with a smirk.
"I'm ticklish!" Velle giggled again when he repeated the motion. "Ah! Ven! Stop!" She exclaimed, trying desperately to crawl away from him.
"Not so fast!" Ventus snickered, he grabbed her and pinned her down to the bed.
"No!" She shouted. "Please, Ven!" She whined.
Something about the way she whined made his pants tighten uncomfortably, he bowed his head and pressed his lips to hers again. Suddenly a knock came to the door and the two quickly rocketed away from each other.
"Um… who is it?" Velle asked as she fixed her hair in the mirror.
"It's Goofy!" A voice came from the other side.
"Oh! Be right there, Goofy!" She called, she shot a look over her shoulder to see Ven laying nonchalantly on the bed. She couldn't help but snort as she ran to the door and opened it. "Goofy!"
"Oh Ven, there ya are! I was looking for you too, ahyuck!" Goofy grinned. "Master Yen Sid said he's almost ready, you guys can head down in a little bit."
Ventus stood and walked over to the door to, "Okay! We'll come down!"
"See ya in a few!" Goofy waved and bumbled down the large winding staircase.
Velle shut the door and suddenly felt her back hit the wall with force. Ventus's lips were on hers again and his forcefulness made her heart tap dance. "Ven…" she mumbled in a daze.
"Why do we always get interrupted?" Ventus growled playfully.
Velle giggled, "I didn't think I needed to remind you this...but...we don't have the best luck all the time."
"Sure we do! No matter how many times we've gotten separated we always find our way back to each other." Ventus countered.
Velle chewed her lip in thought and wrapped her arms around the blonde keyblade wielder's neck. "You're right...and that's never gonna change." Velle decided.
Ventus pecked her lips one last time before backing away. "Good." he replied.
Velle opened the door and gasped, standing in front of her was the man with the eyepatch wearing a smirk. "You!" Velle sneered.
"Huh?" Ventus turned to see the man and remembered Velle telling him he held her at gunpoint. "What do you want!?" Ventus summoned his keyblade immediately taking a defensive position.
"Nothing with you, blondy. No...it's this one here." Braig pointed to Velle with his weapon.
Velle summoned her own keyblade and held it in front of her, "Leave."
"No can do, little lady-"
"Stop calling me that!"
Braig rolled his eyes, "Blah, blah, blah...All you keyblade wielders ever do is flash your weapon around like you're whippin' out your di-Y'know how bad I got chewed out for letting ya go?"
"I don't think she cares," Ventus spat.
"Stay out of this, blondy," Braig warned, pointing his gun at Ventus. "Anyway...gotta take you back now, sorry kid."
Just as Braig reached out for her, Ventus jumped in and slammed his keyblade down onto his hand. "I'm not letting you take her anywhere!"
Braig jumped back and rubbed his wrist, " Well, that just ain't an option now is it blondy?"
He shot a few arrows at Ventus to distract him and summoned a dark corridor behind Velle. Quickly he charged at her and threw her back into the portal, following behind her.
"Velle!" Ventus jumped into the dark corridor without thinking, as soon as he reached the other side his body was a lit with a burning pain. "Ah!" He winced as his skin seared, his eyes felt like someone was pouring acid into them but it didn't stop him. He wasn't going to let the man in the eyepatch take Velle. Through the white hot searing pain he could see Velle's bracelet laying limply on her arm on the ground. He reached out, grabbed her arm, and ran back through the portal. He stopped only to shoot a stop spell blindly through the portal hoping to hit Braig. "Velle! Are you okay?" Ventus gasped when they came out the other side and the pain disappeared.
"Ven," Velle croaked.
"Velle!" He embraced her tightly in his arms. "I don't get it, what do they want with you..."
"Honestly...I don't know…" Velle mumbled into his chest. "Come on, Mickey's still in danger."
Ventus nodded and helped her to her feet, "Let's go."
Together, they descended the stairs of the Mysterious Tower until they finally reached the bottom of the vast staircase. At the door stood Donald and Goofy guarding the entrance. "There was an intruder in the tower but we got rid of him" Velle informed them.
"A what!?" Donald squawked.
"Donald, you stay here. I'll go clear the tower, if Master Yen Sid is in danger you need to protect him." Goofy stated to Donald who saluted the captain of the king's guard and he ran back up the stairs from where the keyblade wielders just came.
"Is he ready?" Velle asked quietly, referring to Yen Sid.
Donald shook his head, "No, something tried to interfere again. He's almost done, just a few more minutes."
Ventus looked to Velle and shrugged, "Do you want to go for that walk?"
Velle grinned and nodded, "Sure!"
Ventus turned to Donald, " We'll be back in a little bit, if Yen Sid is finished early just come grab us!"
"Will do," Donald replied.
The cool night breeze hit her face as soon as Velle walked through the tower doors. She took a deep breath in and exhaled, the tower seemed to be built on just a patch of earth floating through a magnificent part of space with magical twinkling stars. Ventus's hand found hers as they stood on the front steps of the tower watching the stars.
"Woah...this place is...just...woah…" Velle mumbled, she felt Ventus give her hand a little squeeze.
"Let's go," he suggested with a grin.
"Sorry!" Velle apologized realizing he'd been walking and she hadn't moved. Ventus chuckled and they walked down to the edge of the land.
Ventus peered over the edge and gasped, "You wouldn't come back from a fall like that…" he whistled.
Velle crossed her arms over her chest, "Well...then...can you get back a little?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.
Ventus smirked and pretended to wobble on the edge, "Wooaahh!" He quivered sarcastically.
"Ven!" Velle chided, grabbing his wrist and pulling him away from the edge. She looked at him annoyed as he laughed at her expense. "Not funny." She pouted.
Ventus snickered, "It was to me!" He turned to her and snorted, trying to control himself. She looked beautiful under the starlight, her purple hair hung loose in cascading waves to her lower back. Her cheeks were flush and her eyes seemed to glow in the light. The outfit he'd created for her clung to her body revealing just how small and fragile she was compared to him. And to think, even he was small compared to Aqua and Terra. However, despite her small stature, the violet haired girl packed a massive punch and her skill with the keyblade was impressive.
Ventus smiled and tucked a loose piece of purple hair behind Velle's ear. "You know I don't think I got to say it with all the craziness going on but I'm glad you're okay, Velle. I don't think I would have forgiven myself if something happened to you" Ventus grinned.
"Well, it's all thanks to you, Ven." Velle said grabbing his hand and swinging it as they walked through the lush green grass before them.
"Aw...it was nothing, really!" Ventus rubbed the back of his neck bashfully.
"No, Ven. It wasn't, you were amazing. Thank you!" She propped herself up on her tippy-toes and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
Ventus blushed a deep red, "Aw, you know I'll always have your back Velle. I won't let anything bad happen to you ever again."
"I've got your back too, Ven."
"You really don't care that I stepped in?" Ventus asked sheepishly.
Velle snorted and smiled at him, "No, I don't think I do...this time." She added with a playful glare.
"I mean, I know you could handle it on your own...but...I don't know...I just got so mad. I don't know what these people want and I'm tired of them interfering with our lives." Ventus sighed. "I wonder if Terra and Aqua know what they want…"
Velle frowned and looked out to the stars again, wondering which one of those worlds their friends were on. "I have a feeling they might…"
Ventus groaned and rubbed his hands over his face, "You might even know more than you think, I mean that Vanitas guy took you for weeks and you don't remember anything!" Velle stood quietly as Ventus ranted, he needed to get his frustrations out. He'd been bottling it up for too long, he sat on the ground and hugged his knees with his head hanging sadly.
"Ven?" Velle sat beside him. "What is it?"
He seemed resigned, he took a deep breath, " I just feel so...so...weak and forgotten...like you guys are leaving me behind…"
Velle felt like all the blood in her body froze in place, she furrowed her eyebrows and her eyes stung with painful tears. "You're anything but weak, Ventus. I could never forget you ever, and even if you do get left behind I will always come get you."
Ventus looked at her slowly, his blonde hair was slightly overgrown now and hung in his eyes. "What if you didn't have a choice?" he whispered. He didn't know why but lately, despite the fun he was having and friends he was making, he'd felt an impending sense of doom closing in. He didn't know how to explain it but he could definitely feel it.
"There's always a choice…" Velle replied softly. Ventus felt her lift his chin up so his gaze would meet hers. "We'll always find each other, Ventus…"
He closed his eyes as she brushed her lips to his, it was a sweet and simple kiss but gave him all the reassurance he needed. He pressed his lips to her with the tiniest bit of force in an attempt to express his dependence on her. When they parted he panted lightly for air with a soft chuckle. When Velle's wooden keyblade had knocked him on the head on his first day in the Land of Departure he had no idea she would mean so much to him.
"Velle, I-"
"Hey guys! The spell's ready! Hurry! Quick!" Donald's harsh voice shrieked from the tower door. Without hesitating Velle and Ventus sprinted back to the tower, one by one they filed back into the room where Yen Sid was casting his magic.
"Quiet guys," Donald hushed in a loud whisper.
Slowly a cloud of smoke appeared, as it cleared an image of an unconscious Mickey laying in a barren wasteland was visible. Velle's hand shot to her head as a sudden pain hit her, she winced, "Ah!" She hissed.
"What's wrong?" Ventus asked quickly.
"My head started hurting…" She mumbled, she rubbed her eyes and looked back at the image. "I'm okay now."
Ventus looked at the image of Mickey it looked very familiar to him for some reason, he felt his own head starting to ache, ' Maybe it's part of the magic…' he thought to himself. Suddenly the image disappeared in another poof of smoke and they all gasped.
"What happened? Where'd he go? Is he okay!?" Donald fired questions out faster than they could comprehend them.
"There is indeed a dark and powerful force that has been interfering with my magic." Yen Sid replied ominously.
"Just tell us where the King is, Mr. Yen Sid, Sir! And me and Donald will go right there and save him!" Goofy stated, standing at attention.
Yen Sid sighed, "Like I said before, you two may not be adequate enough…"
"But I'm the Captain of the King's Royal Knights!" Goofy declared, summoning a shield.
"And I'm his magician!" Donald joined, spinning and summoning a magic staff.
Velle gasped and pointed at them, "We do know you two!"
"Huh?" Ventus, Donald, and Goofy said in unison.
"From Disney Town!" Velle elaborated.
Ventus's jaw dropped, "Oh right!"
"Nevermind that! King Mickey's in trouble!" Donald squawked.
"Yeah, Mr. Yen Sid, sir, just give us the location and leave it to us." Goofy repeated.
Yen Sid shook his head, " It is too dangerous for the two of you…"
"We'll go!" Velle said suddenly.
"Yeah, we'll go!" Ventus agreed without skipping a beat.
"Plus, I think I recognize that place we saw." Velle informed them.
"Me too! We'll find him!" Ventus grinned, he didn't know why the area looked so familiar but the more he thought about it the more his head hurt. He decided he would defer to Velle on the location's whereabouts.
"If you guys go, we'll go with you!" Donald declared.
"No." Ventus said sharply. "I owe him. Mickey saved us once. And I can't risk putting his friends in danger. Goofy and Donald hung their heads sadly, "Don't worry, I swear we'll bring him back safe." Ventus promised sincerely.
"Very well, we will leave it to you, Ventus and Vellum." Yen Sid decided with a nod. Ventus grinned and the two left to find King Mickey in the barren wasteland where all of their problems began.