Disclaimer: not mine

Glad you're all enjoying this!

Also, I've been trying to work out the timeline for events in Radiant Garden. Leon says Maleficent came a year after BBS, okay. But what about events with the apprentices? Surely Xehanort was with Ansem for more than a year? So I may play around with the timeline there.

Chapter 2

Prompto ran as fast he could, ears straining to hear Aqua but she was very, very good at moving quietly. They called it a game and it was fun, but he knew it was also training in evasion and speed. He knew it was, the information in his head told him that, even though he tried to ignore it. He didn't like it and it was wrong, his family said he was human, a person, that the stuff in his body didn't change that. Living in the Land of Departure was so different to the Magitek Facility. This was all real, not simulations fed right into his brain, imprinting the knowledge deep enough to influence what would be left of him to power armour. There was no punishment if she caught him, no pain…just protection, laughter, enough food that he was never hungry, warmth…all things he had never dared to dream of in his tube.

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Eraqus watched his students as they trained, all three of them. He had decided that Prompto would be trained as they were. Of course, his training was only just beginning and so he was watching closely, not wishing for the boy to push himself too hard too fast. Looking at him, it was hard to imagine he was the same boy that he had found almost two years earlier. He was still skinny but he was at a healthy weight for his age now. Bright blond hair had grown out in a wild mess, hiding the metal at the base of his skull. His eyes were still more violet than blue but they suited him. He'd grown strong and tan in the peace of their home and Eraqus was pleased.

His presence and needs had helped the older two as well, ensuring they learned compassion for those in horrible circumstances and honed their patience. Terra had even begun corresponding with King Mickey, which was good, he knew they were too isolated.

Perhaps he isolated them too much? He didn't want them exposed to Darkness until positive they were too well entrenched in the Light to give in, not like…well, Terra had always struggled a bit, he had Darkness in him that Eraqus had done his best to help him destroy. Prompto…despite the horrors of his life was like a little ball of Sunshine, somehow untouched by the Darkness he had been growing up in. he could be a good candidate for a Keyblade when he was older but it was too soon to tell yet. He wouldn't decide until he was at least in double digits.

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Terra held a wooden practice sword, standing opposite a nervous Prompto. He had a good grip on his blade, not too tight or too lose. They'd discovered when they started training that mentally, he knew how to fight to a degree, even if his body didn't. The problem was that training was mostly with a kind of projectile weapon, very little of it with a blade of any kind. Yes, a Keyblade was different to a sword but it was close enough that it would have made a good basis.

Master Eraqus had told them he was considering Prompto for Keyblade training once he was older, he was only six after all. He'd only admitted that when they had asked him about it and had made them promise not to tell the kid. He didn't want him to get his hopes up only for it to not happen if he wasn't suitable. Terra didn't see that happening, as far as he could tell Prom had everything a Keyblade wielder should. Although they hadn't started trying to teach him magic yet…if he had no ability there at all then maybe that would be a reason for him not to receive one?

The sound of the front door opening had him holding his hand up, glancing at Aqua who shook her head. Their Master was already inside, so who? They all moved to look down from the upper level to see who it was, Prompto safely between them. A man around their Master's age was standing there with a boy, older than Prompto but there was a startling resemblance. As they watched, Master Eraqus approached, greeting the man with familiarity, so they knew each other.

"Do you think that could be Master Xehanort?" he whispered, glancing at Aqua who frowned but then nodded. They had never met the other Master, theirs rarely spoke of him, except that they'd had a falling out years ago.

"Is he okay?" Prompto asked, hands wrapped around the railings, staring at the older boy in concern.

Terra ruffled his hair and gave him a smile. "I'll go see." He walked downstairs and over to the silent boy, seeing a strange dullness to his eyes. "Hey there, I'm Terra. What's your name?" he asked gently.

"Ventus," was the slow repsonse, the boy staring almost through him. That was not normal. Was he sick? Hurt? No, Master Eraqus wouldn't have left him standing there if he needed help.

"Whew, you can talk!" he smiled and then turned, looking up at the others.

"Aqua, Prompto, c'mere."

"Hi, I'm Aqua," she greeted cheerfully, Prompto half behind her, unsure of the stranger. "And the shy one is Prompto," she ruffled Prom's hair, the boy pouting at her for it.

Ventus looked to each of them in turn. "Terra... Aqua...Prompto…."

"So, are you here to train with us?" Terra asked. If that was Master Xehanort then was Ventus his pupil? "Where are you from?" he went to ask something else but Prompto pulled on his arm, shaking his head, so he fell quiet.

Prompto took a hesitant step towards the older boy and then took his hand, smiling shyly at him. "You'll be safe here," the kid said, and Terra glanced at Aqua, worried. What had Prom picked up that they hadn't? "They helped me get better when I was sick," he was so cutely serious as he spoke to Ventus who seemed very disorientated.

He whimpered, free hand going to his head, and then Prompto hugged him. Ventus went stiff, eyes wide, before crumpling. Terra barely caught him before he could take Prompto down.

"Easy I've got you, can you tell me what's the matter?" Terra asked in concern even as Aqua moved in to help.

"Go get Master, Prom," she told him, and he nodded, running off.

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Prompto ran as fast as he could, worried about his new friend. He was hurt, maybe even worse than he had been when Master Eraqus saved him. "Master!" he called and the two men turned. Prompto felt a shiver of something when the stranger looked at him but ignored it to focus on his Master.

"What is it Prompto?"

"There's something wrong with the other boy….Ventus. He's hurting."

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Xehanort eyed the boy who approached them, he hadn't been aware that Eraqus had taken on another apprentice, especially one so young. Perhaps that would be even better for his plans. Although the child was very Light, not as much as Ventus as his Darkness had been fully removed, or a Princess of Heart, but still more so than usual. Then again he was very young. Depending on how close he was with the other two, he could be very useful. He followed them back to where he'd left his failure of an apprentice to see him slumped against the eldest of Eraqus'. Very good.

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"What did you do?" Eraqus asked as they reached the students.

As much as he wished he could feel otherwise, he was very suspicious of Xehanort's return after their last parting. And now for him to return with this boy? How had he lost his memory? That itself was suspicious. Although…he could sense no Darkness within him, even less than in Prompto

"Nothing, I…" Terra stepped back as Xehanort gathered Ventus into his arms. "I just asked him some stuff. Prompto told him that he'll be okay, hugged him…"

"Ventus cannot tell you anything...because he cannot remember anything," he explained to his students. In a way, he was Prompto's opposite, the kid had had information in his brain that had been imprinted into him by the scientists, although he'd known nothing of human interaction or even to look after himself since he lived in that tank and was meant to be turned into some kind of robot. "Take him to the guest room near Prompto's," he told Terra, who nodded and took Ventus from Xehanort, carrying him away. He would agree to keep and train the boy, hopefully he could be spared whatever Xehanort had planned for him. Unless…his old friend had changed his ways? He could not let hope blind him and yet he wanted to believe.

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Prompto sat on the bed, watching Ventus sleep and staying far away from the new Master. There was something about him…like the scientists and it scared him. So he was keeping watch over the new person cause he just knew Master Eraqus would let him stay. He liked Ventus and hoped they could help him like they had helped him. He smiled when Ventus began to shift, slowly opening his eyes until they were staring at each other. He was very happy when a hesitant smile answered his own.

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Aqua laughed as Terra ruffled two blond heads, Prompto pouting at the move while Ventus seemed a little confused. It had been almost a month since he'd woken and he was learning. For only having known his own name, he was learning fast. He'd definitely had training which made sense if he'd been with Master Xehanort. He wasn't a match for either of them but he was better than she'd been at that age, even using a wooden Keyblade and not a real one.

Apparently he'd been using a real one until he lost his memory and now couldn't call it. Neither Master had explained what had happened to Ventus but it must have been horrible to erase everything…and Master Xehanort had brought him to the Land of Departure not just to recover but so he would be safe. Was whoever hurt him still out there somewhere?

She was just happy that the two youngest had bonded so quickly, yes, Ventus was eight years older than Prompto physically, but mentally and emotionally they were a lot closer due to his amnesia. She just hoped they would always be close.

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"Good afternoon Prompto," Eraqus greeted his youngest pupil, motioning to the cushion opposite and waiting as he sat.

"Good afternoon Master," Prompto smiled at him.

"Do you know why I have summoned you?" he asked, and the boy shook his head. "Today, I shall be testing you for magical potential," Eraqus hid a smile as violet eyes went wide. "Understand that even if you fail today, that does not mean you will never be able to use magic. You are at the very edge of testing age and it is possible you won't develop any true magical ability for another year or two," he explained, not wanting Prompto to worry too much if today turned out to be a failure. He noticed the boy shift slightly on the cushion, obviously wanting to ask something but hesitant. "What is it Prompto?" he coaxed, and Prompto looked down at the floor.

"Will you…will you send me back if I can't?" he asked softly, and Eraqus grimaced before reaching out to gently grip thin shoulders.

"No Prompto, this is your home, magic or no magic. I will never send you back there," he swore. Not that he could even if he wanted to since he had not been able to find the World again. Still, no matter what, he would never try to send Prompto back there, not after what they had done to him and who knew how many others. "If something happened to make this place unsafe for you, then I would send you to Master Yen Sid or Merlin until it was once again safe for you to return, but I will not send you away permanently."

He didn't want to think about it but he was a practical man, the Land of Departures' security relied heavily on its secrecy and if that were to fail…he may have to temporarily send Prompto and even Ventus away. Terra and Aqua were reaching the age where they would refuse to go and they were highly skilled, only lacking experience out among the Worlds. He did still worry for Terra but the presence of both younger boys was settling him further.

"Now then, without a Keyblade another focus is needed. For now, let us try with this," he held out a small wand and Prompto slowly took it, studying it closely. "Let us begin."

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Terra paced the hall, able to feel Aqua's amusement, not that she was any less worried. They knew Master Eraqus was testing Prompto and all they could do was hope for the best. What would they do if he had no magical potential at all? He'd never come across a Keyblade wielder in their studies who had been unable to use magic so did that mean Prompto would be unable to use one? No…think positive, Master had seen at least one person on Prompto's World use magic, there was no reason to think Prom wouldn't be able to as well.

Prompto was barely seven years old, magical potential could develop any time from then till about ten, so even if he failed this test, it didn't mean anything. He could be tested again every year if needed, although they all knew Prom would be upset to fail. That was something that lingered from their training, a fear of failure and then punishment.

Ventus walked down the hall, looking confused. "What's going on?" he must have finished his studies for the day, Terra'd hoped that Prom would be done before he was.

"Master Eraqus is testing Prompto for magical potential," Aqua answered, ruffling his hair.

"Oh…is it dangerous?" after a year with them, he'd recovered a lot. He still remembered nothing of his past but other than that he was a normal teenager.

"No, and even if he fails now he could pass in a year or two. But there's no record of a Keyblade wielder without magic."

"Oh," Ven's eyes widened as he understood what they were saying.

They waited quietly until finally the door opened and Prompto staggered out on shaky legs…but he was smiling and clutched in one hand was a small wand. "I did it!" he pitched forward and Terra grabbed the back of his jacket, scooping him up.

Master Eraqus chuckled as he moved from the room, a fond smile on his face as he observed them all. "Take him to his room terra, he's more than earned a rest."

"He passed Master?" Aqua asked, and he nodded.

"He did indeed. Prompto has a magical gift that can be nurtured."

And therefore the ability to become one of them someday.

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Ventus laughed as he locked wooden blades with Prompto, the other blond grinning in happiness. It was a little awkward, he'd hit a growth spurt and shot up a few inches, something Prompto took advantage of. He was still getting used to the change, sometimes a little off balance, and the kid was great at seeing those moments and using them. He'd landed on his rear a lot. It didn't help that Prompto was stronger than he looked, Master Eraqus had explained what had happened to Prom when he was little and while it made him sick to think of, it'd left a permanent mark on him, beyond the scars and metal hidden by clothing.

"Come on Ven!" Prompto called, and he refocused on the fight.

"Knock him over again!" Terra called teasingly from the sidelines.

"Terra," Aqua chided.

In the end, he won due to experience and longer reach, but Prompto never stopped grinning. It wasn't about winning to the younger boy but learning.

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Prompto sat on his bed and stared up at the night sky, counting the stars. Somewhere out there was Eos. Sometimes, he couldn't help thinking about his birth World, absently rubbing at his barcode. Was the war still going? Had the Empire won? He hoped not, only if Lucis won would the experiments stop. And if a group of Lucian soldiers, including the Immortal, had been trying to get to him then they definitely weren't what he'd been taught.

He could remember what King Regis looked like from pictures they'd put in his head. He looked stern yes but not bad. And he had a son too…Prince Noctis…who should be about his age. He did wonder what it'd be like to meet Royalty.

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Aqua was surprised by the announcement, but also very nervous if happy. They were going to be examined for the Mark of Mastery in one week. That wasn't a lot of warning but maybe it was meant to be that way, to see how they coped with the pressure. She thought that Ven and Prom were actually more excited than they were, and those two weren't the ones doing the exam!

Master Eraqus had told her that he wouldn't consider an inheritance ceremony for him until he was older, at least thirteen. Poor kid still had five years left then before any of them could consider making him their successor. She just hoped that didn't change things, she knew once they were Masters that they would be expected to travel the Worlds. She didn't want Prompto to be lonely once Ventus joined them.

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Yen Sid looked at the message from Eraqus, pleased and surprised that his eldest two students were facing the exam already. There were days he regrated no longer wielding a Keyblade. It was good to know young Prompto was doing well too, and that there had been no relapse of that strange disease. Perhaps he should visit for himself soon? Although the stars showed worrying signs that had him concerned. Was Mickey ready if danger approached?

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"Whoa!" Ven yelped, hearing Prom laugh, as Aqua appeared leaning over him. He sat up and got to his knees as she giggled. "Gimme a break, Aqua."

"Ven, you hopeless sleepyhead. You know, you should've at least brought a blanket," she chided gently. "And someone is up way passed his bedtime," she looked at Prompto who ducked his head, pressing a hand to his mouth to try and muffle his laughter.

"But-Did I dream that place up? It really felt like I'd been there before...looking up at the stars..." Ventus looked back up at the stars, confused, before he felt her hand in his hair.

"'Cept you've always lived here with us."

"Yeah... I know." Except two years wasn't always, maybe…it was something from before he lost his memory? He got up and Prompto scrambled up as well, the three of them walking to the edge of the hill before sitting together. "Aqua..."

"Hm?"

"Y'ever wonder what stars are? Where light comes from?" he asked, wrapping an arm around Prompto as the smaller boy leant against him, obviously tired but fighting it.

"Hmm... Well they say,"

"That every star up there is another world," Terra finished for her.

"Terra," Aqua smiled at him as he joined them.

"Yep, hard to believe there are so many worlds out there besides our own. The light is their hearts, and it's shining down on us like a million lanterns."

"What? I don't get it," Ventus frowned in confusion.

"In other words, they're just like you and Prompto, Ven," Terra grinned, ruffling Prompto's hair.

"What does THAT mean?" Ventus demanded.

"You'll find out someday, I'm sure."

"I wanna know now," he wasn't pouting, he wasn't. Prompto pouted but he was only eight, Ven was too old to pout.

"You're too young to know now," Terra teased, Aqua smiling, so he crossed his arms and looked away.

"Quit treating me like a kid!"

Aqua laughed and Prompto made a sleepy noise of Prompto. It really was way too late for him to be up but he'd been so excited by the meteor shower.

"Hey, what are you laughing at?" Terra asked.

"I can't help it. You two would make the weirdest brothers," she grinned. "Well, three of you actually."

"Huh?" Brothers? Prompto had 'brothers', lots of them. So what did Aqua mean? He knew there were still things he didn't get that he should and it frustrated him.

"Huh?" Even Terra seemed confused though.

Aqua laughed and he gave up, putting his hands behind his head and starting to laugh along with Terra and Aqua. Terra plucked Prompto up and settled him in his lap, the kid practically asleep.

"Oh, yeah! Terra, you and I have our Mark of Mastery exams tomorrow," Aqua looked at the sky, obviously worried about not getting enough sleep now. then she reached into her pocket. "I made us good luck charms." She pulled out four star-shaped charms that hung from thread. Terra and Ven stood up as well, Prompto held to Terra's chest, and she tossed the red one to Terra who caught it in the hand not supporting Prom. "Here!"

He caught a green one and grinned. "I get one too?"

She held out a blue one. "Of course. One for each of us." They held them out together to compare, Aqua holding a second one up before tucking the string of the silver charm around Prompto's wrist. Silver for their Quicksilver.

"Yeah!" he laughed, trying not to be too loud and wake Prompto.

"Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star-shaped fruit...and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So as long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart. You'll always find your way back to each other. Technically, I think you're supposed to make them with seashells, but I did the best with what I had," she explained.

"Oy, sometimes you are such a girl," Terra smirked at her as he put his in his pocket.

"Hey, what do you mean "sometimes"?" She demanded.

"So this isn't a real good luck charm?" Ven asked to keep them from arguing even playfully.

"Well, that's yet to be seen. But I did work a little magic on it," she shrugged.

"Really? What?" she was the best at magic out of all of them.

She held her charm high in the air. "An unbreakable connection," she whispered.

TBC…