Teenage shenanigans and drama... that may have caused for an extra chapter. I'm honestly not sure yet. Also, lyrics are just preluding the future, nothing to see here.
Ven 15/16, Aqua 17/18, Terra 19/20
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"The earth will shake and the sky will fall
The eyes will open of those involved
Don't take this son, but you'll be killed
By the man from seven hills"
-Anberlin, Miserabile Visu {Ex Malo Bonum}
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Aqua lay awake, staring at her ceiling as the vision of Ventus's stomach peaking out from under his vest kept replaying in the back of her mind from that morning. She rolled her eyes and took one of her side pillows and smashed it onto her face as she groaned loudly into it. 'Why am I stuck on this?!'
She knew Terra was handsome despite not being her type, she'd stared for one reason or another considering how defined he was on occasion. Yet, why was she getting stuck on Ventus's stomach showing while he was just stretching?!
She pulled the pillow off her face and held it against her chest with a flushed frown. His clothes hadn't fit that way not too long ago, so was it just that he was growing into himself?
Aqua's brows furrowed, 'Why is his shirt so short?'
She turned onto her side in a small fit and curled up slightly, staring holes at her wall. She felt so dumb. This shouldn't even be a thought on her mind, and yet…
Aqua moved her right hand in front of her face, palm away from her at first before turning it. She flexed her fingers a little as she stared at her callouses, feeling warm at the memory of when he'd intertwined his hands with hers that one day in the Library.
She smacked her face, 'He was thirteen then, no thinking about that fondly, Aqua.'
But his actions at the time had struck her, his frustrations at what the patriarchal leaders of the past had done which had resulted in a reduction of Wielders overall.
She sighed lightly and closed her eyes as she tried to release her tension.
Ventus was her friend, an amnesiac, childish, and a total mystery.
She rubbed her face in annoyance, 'It's the mystery bit that adds to his boyish charm, isn't it?'
She paused at that thought and pouted, 'I'm going to go to sleep and pretend those thoughts never happened.'
It was really just wishful thinking.
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Aqua came out from cleaning up lunch to find Ventus hassling Terra, the older with his arms crossed and an oddly amused look on his face. The brunette looked at her and smirked, causing her hackles to rise, "What's up, guys?"
Ventus turned with slight surprise before getting a mischievous look on his face, "I was saying we should see if you'd be willing to let us princess carry you for some rescue training!"
Aqua's expression went totally blank as she stared at the boy before turning to Terra, "...What?"
Terra chuckled, ruffling Ventus's hair roughly as the blond shoved him off and stumbled at the force of his push, "See, I thought it was kind of a dumb idea. I mean, neither of you can really carry me, so it just leaves us with me carrying either of you while the two of you carry the other in turns."
She shifted, contemplating that idea. It wasn't that she'd never princess carried Ventus, it'd just been 3 and a half years since it'd been necessary. She placed a hand under her chin as she glanced at the flustered blond as he glared at Terra while fixing his hair, "So… is it rescue or endurance training?"
The boys looked at one another before they shrugged and responded in unison, "Both."
She hummed as she thought it over. It wouldn't be too bad getting carried around by the boys for once, "I suppose I can agree with it if Ventus and I are both involved. It's just unfortunate you weigh so much Terra."
Ventus huffed as he grumbled under his breath just barely in earshot, "Yeah, just an absolute unit…"
Terra glared at the younger as Aqua snickered, "Now Ven, I'm sure I could carry Terra if I wanted to."
Terra looked at her in horror as Ventus brightened, "Really?! I wanna see that!"
She laughed as she began languidly stretching while glancing at Terra with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Terra on the other hand took a nervous step back with furrowed brows, "Aqua, you can't be serious…"
Aqua took a long moment to stretch backwards, going so far as to land her hands on the grass behind her before expertly pulling herself back into a standing position with an innocent look on her face as they watched impressed, "Just because you enjoy cutting wood all day doesn't mean the rest of us are lightweights, Terra."
The brunette blushed in muted alarm, seeming to pick up a second innuendo out of it as Ventus raised an eyebrow, "That's dirty Aqua."
The two looked at the youngest as she responded with her hands on her hips, "Only if you take it that way, Ven."
The blond sniffed haughtily, "It only means something to Mr. Axe man, here."
Terra sputtered, "Why are you two ganging up on me?! Was there something in the water today or what!?"
The two giggled as Aqua sauntered up to and around the brunette, giving him a thorough once-over with a blatant sashay to her steps as he shifted awkwardly, "Uhm… You- you aren't seriously going to-!" Aqua pivoted, and with expert balance and precision she grabbed Terra and lifted him princess style. Instinctively he wrapped his left arm around her shoulders as he vaguely flailed with his right, "Seriously Aqua!?"
Ventus was in awe as Aqua felt absolutely smug, almost feeling Urd's approval as a cat-like grin crossed her face, "Seriously Terra."
She then shifted him a little bit for a better hold before carefully strutting down towards the cliffs, "C'mon Ven, let's get to the edge before switching places."
The blond kicked into gear as he watched in wonder while keeping pace. Sure she was straining a little, but Terra was so gobsmacked that Ventus couldn't help but laugh most of the way every time he looked between the two.
By the time they reached their destination, Aqua was more than happy to be rid of Terra's weight. Her arms were burning something fierce and her back hurt, but she'd made her point, so she proudly lifted her head with her hands on her hips as she preened, "See? Girls can carry any weight, since we've already got the world on our shoulders anyways."
Terra was still embarrassed and a little shook from the carry. His voice cracked a little, "Aqua, no one was saying you were weak 'cause you're a girl." He cussed softly under his breath as he put the shambles of his pride back together.
Ventus pouted a little, "There's no way I'd be able to lift Terra like that." He lifted an arm and scrutinized his biceps, "Maybe I should start lifting heavier weights…"
Aqua jolted, "No!" Both boys jumped at her exuberance as she flushed lightly, "Uh-" She coughed into her wrist, "What I mean to say, is that your fighting style relies on Speed. If you start putting on too much muscle mass you'll start to slow down like Terra. If you're concerned about getting a little more defined, swimming a lot is pretty good for that…"
The two were now staring at her as she felt her face go red, "W-what!? I'm just saying swimmers have a lot of definition! I mean…" She slumped a little, "I swim a lot…"
Ventus laughed lightly, "Well, it is your element, that's for sure."
She pouted as she crossed her arms. So water communned with her the way the earth did for Terra, so what?
Aqua blinked as a thought struck her, "Hey Ven?"
He raised an eyebrow at her, "Yeah?"
"Does the wind speak to you?"
Ventus paused, his demeanor shifting from lighthearted to suspicious, "...Why do you ask?"
Terra crossed his arms as he looked between the two, "Well, the earth speaks to me sometimes… and I know Aqua can hear the songs and words of water. So I guess it can't be helped if we're a little curious if your main element speaks to you also."
Ventus's eyes widened at this, "Wait, you guys can make sense of it?"
The older two glanced at each other before returning their focus to the blond as they nodded.
Ventus shuffled, "I… I read some books on meditation and stuff for that sort of thing… I do hear the wind speak, but it's not... " He made a face, "Sometimes the words and melodies are so old, I can't always make sense of it."
So all of their main elements could speak and sing to them?
Aqua hummed as she contemplated this information. She closed her eyes for a moment, and in that split second of distraction Ventus skipped over to her and swept her into a princess hold. "Oh!" She gasped in shock, flailing for a second as she wrapped an arm around Ventus's neck while resting the other on the pendant on her chest. She pouted, "Really Ven?"
He laughed boyishly as he looked to Terra, "Race ya!"
The brunette looked at the younger dully, "I'd ask if you're serious, but. You are."
Ventus nodded enthusiastically as he began to jog smoothly back to where they'd started, Terra running alongside to keep a steady pace, barely staying ahead of the younger as Aqua couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous it all was.
When it was Terra's turn, he decided to show them both up and carry them simultaneously, one in each arm.
An absolute unit, indeed.
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Terra stood from his desk, having completed his assignments for that day's lessons when the boy vanished from his peripheral. He twitched, glancing at his bed where the boy had been observing him with his hand on his chair as he slowly pushed it into place.
It was never good when the boy disappeared.
A foreign sound came from behind him as he turned to see a Dark Corridor open across from him, a young man in a black coat stepping through it. The dark skinned youth's face was obscured by shadow, but his long silver hair was familiar enough to him.
This youth and the boy in his peripheral were the same person.
Terra frowned at this black-clad stranger as the other observed him for a long moment. "How unfortunate."
Terra furrowed his brows, displeased by this Stranger's presence as the Dark Corridor disappeared from behind the Youth. The brunette straightened, "Who are you, and what do you want?"
He could tell the portal had been made of Darkness. He knew the difference as he'd seen Eraqus use Light Corridors throughout his life. The Youth waved a hand, "What does it matter? I have come to test your strength for The Gathering."
Terra frowned and went to speak, however the other summoned his Unknown Keyblade and cut him off, "Where does your Darkness stem from? I have come to find out if you are worthy, or merely a pathetic charade in your use of such dangerous power."
The brunette took a step back as he grit his teeth. He wasn't supposed to be relying on the power of Darkness-!
The Youth was suddenly in front of him as his hand harshly clamped onto Terra's face, "Let us go into the depths of your Heart and see how deep your roots run!" Suddenly the room around him was swallowed in the Darkness of an abyss. He felt himself fall back as the familiar caress of what could only be described as water lowered them gently down into his Heart's depth, to his Station.
The Youth released him as they landed, Earthshaker responding to his Heart's call as they stood on his image.
The Youth scoffed, "Let us begin." Time stopped as crystals and temporal runes appeared upon the arena of their battle. The Youth moved within the frozen space, hitting him again and again as he was left helpless. Whoever the Youth was, he was just as powerful as Eraqus, if not more so with such awesome power.
He grunted as time moved again, stumbling forward from the multitude of hits he'd taken, "Are your muscles only for show? Do you not have the strength to see beyond yourself and lift your friends to new heights? Is your Righteousness and Darkness both still so shallow?"
Terra growled as he went to attack, only to feel time freeze again as tentacles of Darkness came from below and lashed him severely, burning him at his core and tossing him to the edge of his Station.
"Hmph. What paltry hopes and desires. You envy the person who rejected your feelings for her talents. You desire to protect the boy, yet you can't help but feel inferior due to the eclipse of his Light. Your understanding of Darkness and how it bleeds into the Heart is nonexistent. Your weakness will cost you and those you love everything."
Darkness bled onto his Station, devouring its Light as he stared up at the Youth in horror as he sunk into the pitch, "Be devoured by the strength of my Heart!"
Terra screamed as he awoke facedown on the floor.
What happened?!
He pulled himself up, sweat covering him as he glanced at the end of twilight peaking through his window. Last he'd known it was early evening.
He wiped his face, the residue of tears itching his cheeks as he made the immediate decision to scrub himself down and recollect himself. He could tell he was shaking from.. Whatever he had just experienced. Had it truly happened, or was it a waking Nightmare?
He was brutal, using his nails to scrape away the oily feelings of inferiority as he tried to push away his weaknesses that allowed the Darkness to creep in.
Yet, he couldn't help but understand the futility of it all, for the more he shoved down the Darkness, the more it sprang up like a weed whose roots were left behind after being plucked from the surface.
He breathed shakily as he dried and dressed himself, deciding he needed to get out of the Castle and figure out what had just happened.
To escape the too-close walls of Nightmare.
He took a long walk to refresh himself, the last of the sun's light moving to the moon's soft glow. The night in The Land of Departure was never as dark as pitch like it could be on his original World, when the moon disappeared once a month.
The brunette wasn't sure how long the walk took, only that his legs had only just begun to burn and his throat was terribly dry by the time he made it back up the summit where the training rings were. It was a well lit area, and he stared at the small waterfall and pond nearby before turning to the bench that lay in view. He paused, seeing Ventus standing on the far side of the area staring up at the stars, a strange melancholy set upon his countenance.
He studied the blond for a long moment before walking over to him and speaking softly, "What're you doing out here so late, Ven?"
Ventus turned slightly, watching him as he came over with a concerned look on his face, "Are you alright, Terra?" His soul looked so ancient behind his eyes on his young face and it unsettled him.
The brunette frowned, "I had a crummy dream while taking a nap, that's all."
The blond studied him with concern for a long moment that made Terra's paranoia creep up. Could he see how steeped in Darkness he-?
"What's bothering you, Terra? You don't usually take naps like I do."
Well, at least Ventus could be honest about that.
Terra sighed heavily before looking up towards the stars. He watched them for a long moment before replying, "Ven… What's it like to have a Heart that's only Light?"
The blond frowned at him, turning his gaze back towards the stars as he thought it over. "I'm not sure."
Terra frowned, "You don't know?"
Ventus hummed, "I'm missing the first twelve years of my life, Terra. Did I always only have Light in my Heart, or is this the result of the machinations of man?" Terra looked at his friend as the blond continued, "Is my Light Natural, or Artificial? Does my only having Light make me any better or stronger than anyone else, or does it make me weaker?" He sighed as he looked Terra in the eyes, "I know that there are Princesses of Heart that need to be protected to preserve the balance of the Worlds but…"
The blond shook his head as he shifted the subject and turned his gaze to the ground, "Fairy Tales have two primary tropes for women- The Pure Virgin, and The Wicked Prostitute. As for men, there is either The Triumphant Hero, or The Noble Prince." Terra was about to interrupt before Ventus waved a hand, "These are merely heavily simplified tropes within a majority of tales. Is my Light anymore important to the balance of the Worlds then those seven Princesses? Can I alone tip the scales so drastically in comparison? I'm still Weak compared to you and Aqua, Terra." He looked the brunette in the eyes, "Your Light is yours and no one elses. You're strong, and I believe in you, just as much as I believe in Aqua. Neither of you are better or worse than the other."
Terra stared at the blond for a long moment before he slowly smiled, suddenly feeling foolish, "Sorry… and thanks."
Ventus watched him for a long moment, "Why did you ask in the first place, Terra?"
Terra crossed his arms as he looked towards the stars in the distance, "My Dream… it felt so real. I couldn't do anything to protect myself, and I was swallowed by Darkness. It was a completely one-sided fight. I've never been so decimated."
Ventus frowned, "I mean… I know sooner or later you guys'll take the Mark of Mastery and finally get the chance to leave this World. Outside of each other, we've never fought anything more than a few scattered Shadows that the Master barely allowed us to see purely for recognition."
Terra nodded slowly, "I guess you're right about that… The real test will be when we finally step Off-World, huh?"
The blond nodded with a sad smile, "You and Aqua will definitely pass when the Master finally decides it's time."
Terra looked at Ventus as the blond continued, "I mean, you've both been training for so long! I on the other hand…" He slumped a little, "I'll probably be older then you by the time the Master even thinks about letting me take the test and step off this World."
Ventus turned away from his to gaze into the starry horizon as a thought abruptly struck Terra.
The Master always spoke of him and Aqua taking the Mark of Mastery…
But never once had he included Ventus in his proclamations.
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"I believe it is time for the two of you to take your Mark. In two weeks you shall take your Mark of Mastery exam, Terra, Aqua."
The two older apprentices had been ecstatic at the news while Ventus congratulated them. Since then they'd spent a great deal of time sparring with one another, taking turns with one on ones or two on one's.
Aqua was glad she'd started working on her charms, the glass dyed and ready to be cut. Soon the metal pieces would all be finished to fit to each petal just in time.
Still, she felt somewhat restless.
Outside of their spars and meals, Ventus had become scarce and it was beginning to upset her. It wasn't as if he were avoiding them, but it almost seemed as if Eraqus was purposely taking him off to the side as he focused on the completion of their training.
She wasn't sure why he was doing so, but it made her concerned for her friend. Would Ventus be alright, left behind while she and Terra roamed the Worlds on various missions?
Aqua frowned as she realized he'd be left alone with the Master.
It would completely change the status-quo in how he trained and learned. It had always been the three of them growing and pushing each other past their conceived boundaries.
Now it would just be Ventus and the Master, who would either judge him more harshly…
Or abandon him to mediocrity.
Aqua wasn't at all sure of why she thought so negatively of Eraqus's teaching. He was a wonderful teacher.
Yet, she couldn't help but realize how much she and Terra helped Ventus improve on their own time, rather than during their usual learning period. If they hadn't taken the extra time out of their days to help him, he'd be so far behind that he would perhaps never gain the chance for Mastery.
...Was that the Master's plan all along?
She shook her head to clear it, deciding to find Ventus to check up on him. He'd been happy for them of course, but he had looked like an abandoned puppy the moment he thought they weren't looking.
Aqua walked down the familiar path to the Library, knowing she'd find Ventus deep within its stacks. She wasn't sure why she hadn't thought of it earlier, but he definitely spent a lot of his free time there.
She carefully looked down each aisle until she came to a corner nook where she finally found Ventus comfortable at one of his frequented desks. She watched him for a long moment, a myriad of feelings and thoughts racing through her mind before she approached him, "Ven?"
He looked up to her with a surprised blink, "Oh, hey Aqua."
She tilted her head a little bit as she observed him, a tiny frown on her face, "Have you ever wanted to kiss me?"
He looked at her shocked as her brain finally caught up with her mouth. She took a half step back as she felt shame and embarrassment burn in her chest. Why had she said that?!
Ventus was staring at her a little red before he set his book down and cleared his throat, glancing away from her, "I think you're a little stressed out, Aqua."
Her stomach dropped as rejection set in and her eyes burned. She had just wanted to ask if he was alright, why did her mouth get the best of her!?
"I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that- I'm just gonna-"
Ventus gasped lightly and jumped out of his seat, grasping her right wrist firmly before she could run off on him, "Aqua."
She turned her face away from him, biting her lip as she tried to stop her tears. What was wrong with her?
She stayed in place, slowly curling into herself the more time that passed. He squeezed her wrist a little bit before tugging her arm gently as he spoke in a soothing tone, "I know that's not what you meant to say, Aqua. I'm just a little surprised you said that to me and not Terra…" He'd caught her looking at both of them just as much as they had her.
She sniffed, "Terra's like a brother to me."
He raised an eyebrow before shaking his head, looking at her wrist, "I'm not rejecting you, Aqua… but I still think you're stressed out."
She felt a tear run down her face, "That doesn't help, Ven."
He sighed heavily as he looked up to her, tugging her arm lightly again, "Terra, you, and I have only had each other for years. Now you're finally getting the chance to leave, to be free and meet so many different people." She frowned a little bit as she shifted just enough to see him from her peripheral, "We're all comfortable with each other. We haven't interacted with anyone else our age in years. I don't know if you're scared you'll find someone you like who you won't be able to be with, or if it's because you're afraid of the dangers of traveling alone and not being able to choose-" He looked to the floor as he bowed his head, not wanting to say too much.
Aqua finally faced him, wiping her tears from her face with her left hand as she tried to inconspicuously wipe her nose as she sniffed. How obvious had she been?
Ventus looked up at her again with a determined look on his face. He wouldn't take advantage of her confusion and poor timing, but he could do something special. He was keenly aware of how fragile her feelings of femininity were and how she was sometimes wistful over the fact that she had no (living) female colleagues. They treated her equally, but there were just some things that were simply different for each of them in their perceptions.
Ventus carefully got down on one knee, changing his focus from her eyes to her right hand that was held gently in his grasp. He tugged her glove off, aware as she tensed clearly confused by his behavior. He placed her glove on his bent knee, and gently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles before gently turning her hand so that he could look at her palm. She gasped silently as he traced each callous before carefully lifting her palm to his lips and with eyes closed lightly kissed each callous from the years of holding her Keyblade. Callouses weren't considered feminine or beautiful, but represented the hours of work she put in to get where she was on her journey to become a Master. A peer of worth to everyone around her and to beat the odds.
He pulled away, placing her glove into her hand and squeezed it as he stood and looked her in the eyes, "No matter what happens, no matter how far away you travel from this Land… I'll always believe in you. Never doubt that."
He released her hand, breaking the spell Aqua had become wrapped in.
She ran.