Covid has entered my household, so there's that...
Ven/Aqua/Terra-14/15, 16/17, 18/19
Wrote Little Fox at like, 3 in the morning after waking up with the general idea a few days ago with that scene in my head. Also, teenagers being teenagers in the coming few chapters. The song lyrics are leading up to our ending/the future that we all know of.
E-t-A-v-E-T-a-V-e-T-x-A-v-E-t-A-V-e-T-a-V
Before the red priest took his last breath
He told me, "Child, now don't forget
The sun will turn dark very soon
Your days are numbered when there's blood on the moon"
-Anberlin, Miserabile Visu {Ex Malo Bonum}
E-t-A-v-E-T-a-V-e-T-x-A-v-E-t-A-V-e-T-a-V
The phantom of a pink haired teen with frayed black vest, white button up shirt, magenta pants, and black boots was watching him (them?) from down the hall.
Terra's hand clenched as he tried to ignore the stranger, but found himself entirely unsettled at how noticeable he was.
He was like the dark skinned youth in his peripheral.
He didn't know when this Memory was being pulled from, but he did not like it. The youth's aqua-blue stare was piercing, calculated, and weary.
The faintest thought passed through his mind that he knew/would know this man as his own hair seemed to grey at the edges.
Understood, Superior.
He shook his head sharply with his eyes clenched shut. What did this man want?
"Terra?"
The brunette gave Ventus his full attention while faking a smile, "Sup?"
Ventus tilted his head a bit, studying him a moment as he glanced down the hallway before looking at him again, "Why'd you go stiff? Did you forget something for training?"
Terra forced himself to relax with a heavy sigh, "Sorry Ven. I've just… I've noticed a few weird things with the Castle and I'm concerned about what that means."
Ventus nodded thoughtfully, "Well, hopefully it's just a passing remnant from a previous Master."
Terra furrowed his brows, "Wait, you know about the phantoms?"
The blond rubbed his head, "Uh, yeah I've met a few of them. I guess once the Castle incorporates a Memory into itself, it never forgets it?"
That made a chill run up Terra's spine. No, no, no, no, that was not at all good.
"When'd you find that out?"
Ventus crossed his arms over his chest, "Mmmh, some time after the big Library clean up?"
Ah. The Ero Novel incident.
He smiled at the memory until he abruptly realized he'd ignored the pink haired ghost that was suddenly much too close and shoved Ventus, "We better meet up with Aqua outside before she comes for us." He felt sweat bead up on his skin as he internally screamed at how quickly the phantom was zeroing in on them.
Ventus smiled brightly, "Sure! Race ya!" He took off for the main door, Terra thankful the other had suggested a race for him. He immediately took off top speed with terror driving him, knowing he wasn't fast but needing to get away.
Ventus made it outside first as Terra spun and slammed the door shut, Earthshaker in his hand as the pink haired man went from appearing put together to dirtied clothes and injured skin. A snarl was on his face as he struck out with the phantom of a rose-petaled Keyblade, Terra blocked with a grunt, "What do you want with Ven!?"
He shoved the man off as the other stumbled a little from his apparent injuries, one leg worse off then the other. The main door opened behind him as Aqua poked her head in, "Terra?"
Terra tensed as the phantom disappeared immediately, leaving him in the middle of the hall with Keyblade in hand, threatened with no one as the aggressor. He could feel Darkness creeping up his fingers.
Silence was a weary friend for a long moment before Aqua's cool fingertips rested lightly on his shoulder as she quietly asked, "What happened? Ven was confused that you weren't behind him." The feeling of Darkness bled away at her presence as he slowly relaxed.
"It was a phantom of a pink haired man… and he was watching Ven with a dangerous look in his eyes. He… he summoned a Keyblade and struck at me. It was like it was replaying a memory more than being a phantom." He wasn't about to explain the strange deja vu with the man either.
Aqua frowned, "You want me to tell the Master? Otherwise Ven'll come to get us."
Terra nodded as he turned to her, releasing Earthshaker and smiling shakily, "Thanks… sorry for the trouble."
She shook her head, "It's no trouble at all. Better to be safe then sorry, right? It just means we'll need to be more alert."
The brunette nodded as he made his way out into the sun.
The Castle may have just held Memories before.
But maybe it really was haunted.
E-t-A-v-E-T-a-V-e-T-x-A-v-E-t-A-V-e-T-a-V
It was the darkest part of morning when the sound of someone whistling as they strolled down the hall was heard. Terra woke up to the oddity immediately, while Aqua slowly woke to its haunting echo. It took a long moment of heart stopped listening, but both recognized the familiar tune with some off key or longer notes.
It was a unique song taught to all young Wielders as it was a story of the first who Wielded after a great tragedy. The Master had told them, despite his clear dislike of the song, that there were other older versions that had been lost to time. It was the folk song of their occupation.
Eraqus had held a unique disdain for the ancient vinyl record as if it were cursed despite its importance when he'd played it for them.
Aqua was closest to Ventus's room and heard him shift. The whistling grew closer and passed her door as she heard Ventus's open in the stillness.
The whistling stopped, Aqua sitting up cautiously as she made her way out of her bed as Terra was likely doing the same.
It was as if silent communion was occurring until the whistling began again.
That was when Ventus joined in with the melody, a haunting voice that captured their focus in its dulcet tune matched in beat and note.
A song that the Master had not played for him, that none of them hummed throughout their days, the words vastly different from what the Master had once played.
Little fox
With basket bereft
Each weed thus was picked
For each chl'ds death
No stone marks their place
Just fallen sword
And blood fill'd crack
From desert drought
Dandelions grow
With strength yet unmatched
Little fox
Hands bled red and through
Surrounded by gold pink and white
Yet still found unviewed
A dandelion chosen
Sewing windswept seed
Like stars in the sky
A vast garden grew
Little fox
With garden anew
Each little flower
Beloved by you
A new sea of weed
Golden and Green
Through drought flood and trial
They spring ever free'd
The song's spell ended as a new haunting silence filled the halls.
Aqua opened her door slightly with shaking hands, looking down the hall as she saw the whistling phantom dressed in black with a feathered hat, patting Ventus on the head with a gentle smile.
Eyes matching that of Master Eraqus's gleaming kindly as he glanced at her from shadow as the spectre faded in the morning's first light.
She turned, hearing a shuffle from behind as she caught Terra's expression, skin pale as snow as he stared at the spot the phantom had been. He caught her eyes, and she couldn't help but nod.
She'd seen the phantom as well.
It was rare for more than one of them to see any given Memory at a time.
"Huh?"
She turned her gaze back to Ventus who was blinking and looking around a little confused as he noticed them, "Uh… did something happen?"
...What?
Aqua nodded, "There was whistling in the hallway.. And… you were singing."
Terra had recovered at this point while Ventus flushed, "S-singing?!" He brought a hand close to his face in embarrassed shock with his palm facing outwards, "I- uh, was it terrible?!"
The two older teens blinked as Terra took a few steps forward to match up to Aqua's door, "No Ven, it was actually… really nice. I had no idea you could sing at all."
Ventus turned his head away, still embarrassed, "S-sorry for disturbing you guys…"
Aqua took a step into the hallway, "Ven, where'd you learn the song you were singing?"
He tensed a moment as he slowly lowered his arm and looked between them both, slowly becoming lost, until concern bled in. "I don't...really remember…" He rubbed his head awkwardly with a shuffle, "What I was singing..? Maybe I was still asleep." The blond looked at them lost and just a little scared.
Aqua went to him and pulled him into a hug as she patted his head, speaking softly "You have a habit of that, Ven…"
He rested his head against her shoulder as he released the growing tension in his body, "A habit of what?"
"Saying strange things you shouldn't know and then forgetting."
Terra rubbed the blond's back as he stood nearby, "The other times weren't so bad, but you sang a really old folk song with totally different lyrics… And that phantom-" He frowned, "I've… met him before."
Aqua and Ventus pulled apart to look at him as she inquired, "You have?"
He looked between them for a long moment before softly explaining, "The day Aqua and I awoke our true Keyblades… That man was outside, a living breathing person."
Aqua looked at him in growing comprehension.
That man had been a living Memory?
She frowned, "...He looked a lot like Master Eraqus."
Terra nodded as Ventus looked between them and spoke like it was obvious, "Well yeah, they're related."
The two older looked at him weirdly, Terra especially due to that extending to him as well. "What do you mean by that?"
Ventus raised an eyebrow, looking between them as if he wasn't sure they were pulling his leg before shrugging, "They have the same face and Keyblade."
"Who has the same Keyblade?"
The three students jumped as they pivoted to give the elder their full attention, "Master!"
Eraqus frowned as he looked between the three still in pajamas, "Did something happen?"
Terra glanced at Aqua quickly before stepping towards his father, "I'll tell you about it while making breakfast." He uncharacteristically grabbed Eraqus's arm and dragged him off while Aqua distracted Ventus and sent him off to get ready for the day as she couldn't help but wonder.
A Keyblade made from the depths of one's Heart couldn't be copied…
Could it?
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Terra almost hadn't been sure where to begin when explaining that morning's events to Eraqus, but he'd managed to explain everything before Aqua and Ventus arrived. With the information given to him, Eraqus couldn't help but think of the white capsule that had been handed to him by Master Odin with his family's lineage.
The First of his line, the one who built Scala from Daybreak's ashes and The Land of Departure, who's Heart had been where Master's Defender had originated…
Apparently, a man who had physically been present in their lifetime and had spoken with Terra, the most current of his blood, personally.
It was unsettling to say the least.
Ventus's strangely blunt knowledge and subsequent loss of information, as if he wasn't even aware of what it was he was saying was also of concern. It made him a great deal more weary of just what other secrets the boy had hidden behind the impenetrable cloud of his amnesia.
By the time Aqua and Ventus had joined them dressed for the day, Eraqus had settled his thoughts enough to act like nothing was unusual.
Ventus was making an odd face partway through their breakfast, "Master?"
He looked at the blond, "Yes?"
The youngest shifted a little bit before slumping, "I know it hasn't been that long since you gave me my armor, but… I think I already need it adjusted." He looked somewhere between embarrassed and distraught.
Eraqus paused, realizing that the other two barely needed adjustments because of how they'd planned out their armor's most basic form. Yet, Ventus had a slightly more complicated set-up somewhat similar to his own armor. Ah, he must have had a growth spurt. "Is it your waist armor?"
Ventus nodded, warmth coloring his cheeks, "It's not totally uncomfortable, but I know you said to say something if it was chafing at all…"
Eraqus nodded slowly, "I'll deal with it after we eat. You all have free reign of your studies this morning while I adjust it."
Terra and Aqua nodded as they finished their meal, "Understood."
Ventus quickly finished his food as the other two began to wash their dishes and clean up. Terra took Ventus's dirty dishes and waved him off to go with the Master as the elder also handed his dishes over.
Eraqus and Ventus left them behind as they leisurely made their way to the forge, "So what exactly is off about it?"
Ventus rubbed his right shoulder, "It's just a little tight around my ribcage. It pinched me really badly yesterday when I was working on Strike Raid. I nearly clocked myself with my Keyblade on the return."
Eraqus studied Ventus from his peripheral as they entered the armory storage area. "Have you thought about changing the style of your clothing at all?"
The blond stopped and looked up at him as he made a face, "No? My clothes fit just fine, and they have good Magic woven into the threads." He started to unbutton his vest layer to get to the belts and straps holding his waist armor.
Eraqus slumped slightly, "Yes, I suppose while that is the case, you have been wearing the same style of clothes since you arrived here three years ago…"
Ventus blinked as he pulled off one of the straps without removing his jacket and vest, revealing the bottom of his black undershirt, "So? I really like this style." He finished removing the armor piece, leaving him with his stomach showing due to how short the black shirt was. It was more of a crop top then a proper shirt.
Eraqus took the piece and glanced back, seeing that the teen's skin had been rubbed somewhat raw from the piece. He frowned, glancing back at the straps and buckles holding it together, "I believe I'll replace all of the leather pieces and ensure that they are a bit softer this time around if you insist to wear such a short shirt underneath everything."
Ventus paused as he looked at himself, frowning at the red lines just under his top, "Wearing anything longer just bunches up really uncomfortably, Master."
Eraqus nodded tiredly, knowing this wasn't a fight that was worth their time, "I'll have it ready by afternoon classes. You may be dismissed."
Ventus gave him a salute, "Thank you, Master!" He smiled at him and left the room, buttoning his vest as he went and adjusting his jacket back into its proper place. He wandered the halls for a little while before going into the main Library to his current section of reading, smiling wryly over one of the books he'd hidden from his original massive research project that he was presently re-reading. Just because most of the books he'd found had either been complete and utter trash that had clearly not been written with any respect for women, he had found a few well written novels that he'd hidden away in his room out of sight.
He was rather pleased with how no one had noticed his stash either, even when he'd accidentally left them out and open.
He found the section he was currently browsing, an odd collection of star constellation legends and myths written from the point of view of various worlds. Ventus clambered up the 5 step ladder and sat on top step with easy familiarity as he opened the book he was currently working through.
Olympus really needed to get Zeus under control, if the constellations and other stories were anything to go by.
A few hours went by as he studied each story and constellation, trying to put them to memory as some names seemed oddly familiar to him. His back started to ache from his precarious balancing act, so he stretched languidly, the book held tightly in his left hand as he lifted his arms over his head. He yawned as he brought the book back down, almost missing the soft gasp.
He stiffened, nearly throwing off his balance as he held the book in front of his waist while using the other to grab the shelf closest to him as he saw the trail ends of white ribbon and blue frills move in a flash.
He blinked a few times, trying to decide if he'd actually heard or saw what he had, and cautiously got down from his ladder perch.
He sat his book down on the third step as he walked down the aisle he was currently camped out in. Peeking around the corner he could see Aqua standing still several aisles down, possibly holding a book but otherwise oddly stiff. He frowned as he silently went up to her, "Aqua?"
She squeaked and jumped in surprise as she simultaneously turned and landed half facing him, "Ven! You startled me!"
Ventus studied her dubiously, noting that her cheeks were oddly flushed, "Uh… Sorry about that. Are you alright?"
She blinked at him a few times while seeming to get herself together. She looked to be trying to keep her gaze specifically on his face though and it was awkward, "Oh, uh, yes. I'm fine, Ven. I was just looking for a few books on glass cutting."
He glanced at the book she was holding to her chest before nodding with a small smile, "That one's pretty good."
Aqua pulled it away from herself and looked at the cover, "You think so?"
Ventus nodded, "Mmmhmm, it even has some tips on how to go about dying it if you want it colored."
Her eyes lit up at the prospect as she looked at him again, "Really?" She nodded to herself as she thought over the charms she was currently trying to plan out, "That's good, I was hoping to be able to find material on that…"
Ventus smiled, "So what startled you?"
She choked and fumbled the book before bringing it over part of her face, "W-what are you talking about, Ven?"
He raised an eyebrow, "You made a sound and ran off. Was there a cockroach or something?"
Aqua grimaced before lowering the book a little bit, her blush just barely evident on her face, "N-no, it was really nothing Ven."
He studied her for a long moment before huffing lightly, "Alright. If you need any help with whatever you're working on, just let me know, ok?"
She nodded as she shifted her gaze to the side, "I'll keep you in mind."
Ventus nodded before turning and returning to his book, a weird smile on his face that he couldn't decide the reason for, 'What was that about?'
The odd interaction left him with an interesting impression, and he thought back to when he'd held Aqua's hand and her reaction then.
He smirked and returned to his reading, feeling oddly pleased with himself.