Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 4
"Okay... Change of plans," Phil announced, and the three teens looked at him. "The Games are comin' up. So, I'm gonna watch both of your matches...then I'll decide which of you rookies I wanna train."
"Sweet! Thank you, thank you! I'm gonna go sign up right now," the dark haired boy ran off towards the Coliseum.
"The Games, huh? Sounds fun!" Ventus grinned, going to follow.
"Sorry kid, Captain Eager there just took the last spot."
"I don't understand! Phil, I thought you were my trainer!" the natively dressed teen stared at the satyr in confusion.
"You wanna be a true hero, Herc? Then you're gonna hafta go out there and show me that everything I've taught you so far is gonna pay off," Phil began walking back to the Coliseum as well.
"But Phil..."
"Oh...and no more trainin' sessions for a while. Wouldn't be fair if I helped you and not him."
Herc bowed his head in disappointment.
"Hey, cheer up! So you gotta fight a couple of matches, no big deal. I'm Ventus. Want me to help you train?" he offered, not liking to see him so down.
"You'd really do that for me?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, Ventus. I'm Hercules. Herc for short." He held out his hand and Ventus took it to shake.
"Just call me Ven. You're gonna do fine."
"Thanks. I'm gonna head over to the Coliseum and warm up. Meet me in the vestibule, okay?" he took off and Ven grinned, happy he'd cheered him up.
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Prompto sat on the stairs, staring up at the stars again, the Wayfinder Aqua had made clutched in one hand. They'd been gone for weeks now, maybe…maybe they weren't coming back? Didn't they like him anymore? No, that was silly, childish. Missions took time, he should remember that from training. Still, it was hard to not wonder.
His eyes scanned the night sky, unable to keep from looking. Despite never wanting to go back…he couldn't help but wonder which of those lights was Eos. He wondered what the scientists had thought when they'd found his empty tank too sometimes.
He relaxed as his Master sat beside him, leaning into his warmth as an arm wrapped around his shoulders.
"It is late Prompto," he murmured.
"Couldn't sleep," he admitted.
"Then perhaps you would like to hear the story of how Terra came to be here," Master Eraqus offered, and Prompto listened, eyelids gradually drooping until they closed. He was unaware of being carried back to his bed and carefully stripped of his pauldron, jacket, and boots before being put under his blankets.
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"If I'd desired your assistance, I'd have demanded it. We had the situation under control. Isn't that right, Smee?" the fancily dressed man declared as the last Unversed faded away.
"Oh yes, Cap'n. Completely. We woulda cleaved those fiends to the brisket, we would," the one called Smee answered, striking a fighting stance, holding an imaginary sword. He looked rather ridiculous really. "Why, I'd have given 'em a little of THIS-and THIS—"
"And don't think your efforts mean you'll get a share of me treasure. Understand?" The Captain waved his hook at him.
Terra shook his head. "I'm not after your precious box, Captain. I'm looking for a person. A boy, wearing a mask. Ring any bells?"
"No, not a one," the man turned away.
"Figures," Terra sighed.
"Smee! Ye blithering barnacle! We're off. We shall leave this place before the light draws 'em back again."
"Hey, hold on. What did you just say about the light?" he asked, that could be important, was that why the Unversed had been there?
The captain placed his hook on his chin, grinning with an eyebrow raised. His eyes narrowed
slyly, formulating a plan, not that Terra noticed. "Ah yes, it's heartbreaking really... This chest, you see, contains light gathered from all around. And I've got an acquaintance- a boy-who's sure to try and seize it."
"A boy who's after the light... If it's not Vanitas...then who? Hey, why don't I help you keep the light safe? Maybe you could tell me more about this boy who's troubling you. What's his name?" Terra offered, it was the best clue he had at the moment after all.
"Peter Pan!" he pointed to the chest. "This chest must be brought to Skull Rock safely. Don't let that Peter Pan anywhere near it!"
"Right. I've got you covered," Terra nodded.
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"So, have a good time hanging out with the kiddies?"
Aqua turned around and saw the masked boy walking toward her, carrying Ven's wooden Keyblade. "How'd you get that?" She demanded.
"I think that kid's outgrown such a childish toy if you ask my opinion." He snapped the Keyblade in two, wood splintering into pieces, and Aqua gasped in shock. He tossed the blade away and she reached for it, seeing it fall flush to the ground. She glared at the boy. "Just like I've outgrown my need for you." He summoned his Keyblade.
"You freak!" She yelled as she summoned her own. Ven had treasured that wooden Keyblade because it had been a gift from Terra, a link between them. She ducked his attack, sending a spell at him. They fought back and forth through the Indian camp, fairly evenly matched because of his power with Darkness. He was good, very good, especially since he had to be about Ven's age.
He finally fell to the ground, his Keyblade flying through the air, landing several feet away from him.
Aqua knelt, exhausted, that was the hardest fight she'd had so far. "I've done it... He's...finally...finished..." She looked over at the shattered wooden Keyblade. She tried to stand, but fell, unable to reach it. Despite that, she smiled softly. "Ven, Terra...you can rest easy." They were safe from the masked boy now. Prompto was safely at home, away from all the trouble. They could go home soon.
She looked out at the water, the calming sun reflecting on its surface. She put her head down and closed her eyes, dreaming of the quartet's last night together.
"Aqua! Aqua! Aqua!"
She opened her eyes slowly and saw Peter Pan kneeling over her.
"Are you all right? What happened?" he asked in concern.
Aqua slowly stood. "I'm fine," she assured him.
Peter saw the shattered Keyblade. "Oh no! Look at Ven's treasure!"
"It's okay, Peter. Whatever it is that binds us together isn't going to break so easily...and that's our real treasure." She picked up the hilt. "I think Ventus knew that. That's why he left this behind."
"You must really be close. And that's somethin' pretty special. You and Ventus...and Terra, was it? One day you should all come back!"
"I'd like that. And we can bring Prompto too, he's too little to leave home yet." But soon he'd be old enough for a safe trip.
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Terra glided through the Lanes Between, thoughts wondering, when light shone in front of him. "This light...it's so warm." He sailed onward until he reached a beach in sunset, the waves lapping against the shore.
Terra looked down and saw a Paopu fruit pulled in by a wave. He bent down to pick it up and took out his charm, remembering Aqua's words. He compared the two of them and looked around. He saw the tree on a sandbar across the island so he entered the Seaside Shack and walked up the stairs, clutching the Wayfinder in his hand.
'Aqua... Ven...Prom… I wonder if we'll ever be a team again. Looks like all the things that once held us together just push us further away. And now the light has led me here. What am I supposed to do?' he wondered as he walked.
"Hey, slow down!" a childish voice called.
Terra turned and saw two young boys running down the bridge in the same direction.
"Would you just wait for me?" the brown haired boy asked, panting.
"Giving up already? Come on, Sora," the other boy grinned.
"That's enough, I can't run anymore!" They reached the sandbar and sat on the Paopu tree's horizontal trunk, staring over the water.
Terra smirked and turned to leave, before looking back at the other boy, the one with silver hair. "Light... Was I guided here in order to meet that boy?" he considered things for a while before turning away.
The younger looking boy, Sora, suddenly stood and waved at someone at the docks. "Oh! Ahoy! We're over here!" he patted the other boy's shoulder. "Riku, race ya. First one to the boat gets to be captain!" he laughed and started running.
"C'mon! You call that running?" the other boy, Riku called back.
Terra walked to the beach and looked out over the waves. Riku walked along the bridge, way behind Sora. Sora ran along the beach but slowed to a walk as he caught a glance at Terra. Once he had enough looking, he started running again to the dock. Riku walked behind, but stopped as he noticed Terra looking at him.
"Hey. Did you come from the outside world?" the boy asked, surprising Terra.
"Huh? Why would you say that?"
"Because nobody lives out here, and I know you're not from the main island."
Sora reached the docks and bent over, catching his breath. He looked over, seeing them talking.
"Smart kid. So how about you? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, my friend's dad took us out on the boat." He pointed at the dock where Sora was standing with his hands behind his head, surprising Terra with how much that stance made him look like Ven. "This is where we like to play, but they won't let us row out here by ourselves, not till we get older." He kicked at the sand nonchalantly.
"Must be hard, huh, stuck in one place," he offered.
Riku walked over to the water. "I heard once there was a kid who left for good."
For a moment, Terra ceased to see Riku, but instead a tall boy staring out at the water. The boy turned, and Terra saw an older Riku, his hair longer, cyan eyes sad.
"So how did you get here, anyway?" the young boy asked, he was even younger than Prompto.
Terra snapped out of his trance. "Is there some reason you're interested in the outside world?"
"Yeah. I wanna be strong one day. Like that kid who left. He went to the outside world – I bet he's really strong now. I know it's out there somewhere - the strength that I need."
"Strength for what?" Terra pushed.
"To protect the things that matter. You know, like my friends," Riku told him, and Terra nodded, that was the only reason to want strength.
"Outside this tiny world is a much bigger one." He walked over to Riku and summoned his Keyblade. He knelt and handed the Keyblade to Riku, hilt forward. "In your hand, take this key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking...its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend-no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love," he recited the ritual and cyan eyes went wide but Riku hesitantly grabbed the handle of the blade.
"Riku!" Sora's yell had them both looking up. "C'mon, hurry it up!"
Terra dispelled the Keyblade as Riku waved at his friend. "You've gotta keep this a secret, okay? Otherwise, all the magic will wear off," he warned, even though it wasn't true. Better to keep the knowledge of Keyblades and other Worlds contained. Riku nodded and Terra ruffled his hair, laughing.
Riku ran toward Sora, who ran to meet him.
"Hey, what was that all about?" Sora asked, looking around to see the stranger.
"Aw, you know." Riku put his hands behind his head and looked away.
"Know what? Why won't you tell me?" Sora demanded, stamping the sand with his foot. "Who was that guy - somebody you know?"
They began to walk to the dock together and Riku grinned. "Maybe," he teased.
"Aw, there you go again! Just tell me."
"I really can't. I've gotta keep it a secret," Riku shrugged.
"Not with me you don't! I'm like the best secret-keeper in the world!"
"Nice try," Riku laughed.
"Aww. Riku!" Sora pouted at him.
"Protect the things that matter..." Terra whispered as their voices faded from hearing. He stood up and looked up at the sky. "Right. My friends matter to me, too. So, I still have things that I have to protect." He watched the small boat sail away from the island before turning to continue his journey.
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Prompto laughed as he ran ahead, Eraqus smiled as he followed him. It was good to see him happy with no word from the others. He had hoped Aqua would have found Ventus and brought him back, that she hadn't worried him, but he would not let Prompto see it. The boy was excited to be learning how to activate his armour today. If they did not return soon, he may need to perform the bequeathment even earlier than he had thought, he would keep Prompto safe.
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Aqua travelled through the Lanes Between on her glider. She saw a warming light up ahead much to her surprise. "What's that light?" She arrived on an island beach, and walked along a bridge toward a sandbar, unaware that Terra had walked the same path only a day earlier. She looked over and saw a Paopu tree, smiling as she took out her Wayfinder.
"Terra... Ven...Prom… I hope we're ready for the storm that's coming," she whispered before hearing something and looking to her right.
"Hey, wait up!" A child called.
"Too slow, Sora! See ya at the finish line!" Another called.
She moved slightly and saw two young boys racing along the beach. The silver-haired one raised an arm as he reached the imaginary finish line. The brown-haired one caught up and bent over, catching his breath.
"One more time! You just got lucky."
The other boy looked up, watching as she crossed the bridge. "Hm?"
"Huh?" Sora looked up at the noise he made, and Aqua gazed back at them.
She smiled and jumped down into a kneel, startling Sora. He scratched his spiky head and chuckled in embarrassment. Aqua laughed with him and looked over at his friend, who returned her stare.
'This boy looks so sincere-just like Terra,' she couldn't help comparing them in her thoughts. She then looked to Sora. 'And this one - he's the spitting image of Ven.' She laughed and the two boys looked at each other, obviously not sure why she had laughed. "One of you might be special enough. Hey, you two mind telling me your names?" She asked them.
Sora raised his hand. "I'm Sora!"
"And you?"
"Riku," the silver-haired boy answered.
'Someone has already passed this boy the power. Was it Terra?' It had to be, Ven knew the words but did he know how to perform the ritual beyond that? "Sora, do you like Riku?" She asked out loud.
"Of course I like him, he's my best friend!" He grinned wickedly.
"Good. So then, if something happens, and Riku is about to get lost, or say, he starts wandering down a dark path alone, you make sure to stay with him and keep him safe," She told him.
The two boys looked at each other open-mouthed, shocked by her words.
"That's your job, Sora, and I'm counting on you to do it, okay?" She asked, Riku reminded her enough of Terra that she knew he would need the help. She laughed and petted their heads.
Riku smiled and Sora laughed before they left her to walk along the beach to the docks.
Aqua returned to the sandbar and sat on the Paopu tree. "One Keyblade is enough...for any friendship. I learned it the hard way. I wouldn't wish our lives on those children," she murmured to herself, looking down at her Wayfinder. "Terra, please tell me - what's to become of us?"
She wasn't worried for Ventus and Prompto, those boys were so Light, even with everything that had been done to Prom before their Master saved him.
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"Mickey!" Ven yelled, running to kneel beside the King, turning him over to elevate his head. Mickey made a sound but his eyes remained shut.
"We meet again, boy," an old voice called.
Ventus looked up and saw a pair of black boots striding toward him, draped over by a grey cloak. Ven set Mickey down as Master Xehanort approached. "Master Xehanort," he greeted.
Ven gasped as a memory suddenly returned to him. He lay on the ground in the very same world. Master Xehanort turned Ventus' body over with his boot. An island, a boy draped in a white sheet. A castle, meeting Master Eraqus.
Ventus fell to his knees, clutching his head and Master Xehanort smiled.
"Ah yes, so you are starting to realize...what you lost, oh, but not for good. You had to lose in order to find," he thrust his hand out, moving his fingers in a manner of power. "Now it can all be yours again, if you only reach out and take it," he clenched his fist. "Reclaim the part that left you. Clash with him! Pure Light against pure Darkness, to forge the ultimate key. The all-powerful Chi-blade!"
Ven screamed in pain and collapsed. He shook his head, clutching his hair. "Key...blade?" he forced his eyes open and looked up at the Master.
"Not the Keyblades you and I carry." In his hand appeared a floating golden "X", spinning slowly in the air. "'Chi'... A most ancient letter. Some say "kye," but the meaning is the same." He closed his hand and the "X" disappeared. "Death... A letter that spells endings." He raised his arms, creating a dark portal in the sky.
"And…I have the power to make it?" he couldn't help asking.
"Correct."
The portal churned with power and lightning. The wind picked up, blowing dust into the air, and Ventus flinched, shading his eyes with his hand.
"Eraqus knows it, too. He knows exactly what you are."
"The Master?"
"Haven't you ever wondered? Why he never granted you permission to leave his side, to grow stronger? Eraqus was frightened of you. If you were to learn the truth, realize what you are... He never trusted you. Why else would he keep you within his sight at all times?"
The dark cloud bent, a thunder bolt striking the ground before Ven's face. His eyes widening in both realisation and shock.
"Yeah. He never let me see other worlds, no matter how much I asked," he admitted as he staggered to his feet. But…he never let Prom leave either…he let Ventus be alone with the younger boy all the time though, surely that showed he trusted him?
Master Xehanort smiled, pointing his hand out towards Ven. "Go."
A great wind blew in Ventus' direction from behind the Master, Ven bracing against its power.
"You can ask the man yourself. Learn the truth, and remember you have a greater purpose!" He yelled as Ventus flew back, unable to stand any longer.
The wind pulled him and Mickey in a twister up towards the portal. Ven screamed as he was ripped from the world.
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"Ven!" Prompto yelled, running down the stairs to throw himself at the older boy who caught him. He hugged him tight, ignoring the hard armour, just relieved he was finally home. "You've been gone so long, where have you been? How many Worlds have you seen? Where are Terra and Aqua?"
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Ventus hugged Prompto, the only one he was truly sure of anymore. He'd missed him so much. "Are you okay?" he asked, pulling back to look at him, and Prompto nodded.
"Look," he turned his shoulder, revealing the pauldron that looked quite a bit like his own. "Master's been teaching me to summon my own armour! I think he's been trying to keep me busy so I don't worry about you guys all the time."
They both looked around at the sound of someone on the stairs.
"Ventus, you're alone? I thought Aqua would…" Eraqus walked over to a hesitant Ventus and placed his arms on the boy's shoulders without squishing Prom between them. "Well, what matters is that you're home. You don't belong outside this world yet. You need to stay here where you can learn,"
"In your prison?" he asked.
"What?" The Master seemed genuinely shocked.
"That's your excuse...for keeping me imprisoned here, isn't it?" he demanded, getting angry, not feeling Prompto tighten his grip through the armour.
"What did you hear?"
"That I'm supposed to be some weapon... Some kind of..."Chi-blade"!" he yelled, only to hear Prompto whimper in distress. He looked down at the younger blond. "Prom, go inside, okay?"
Prompto shook his head, clinging to him.
"I knew it. Xehanort, he could never let it go," their Master said before Ventus could convince Prompto to leave. "I failed. I had the chance to stop him and couldn't do it. But I will not fail again." He summoned his Keyblade, aimed at Ventus.
He gasped, backing away, shoving Prompto's smaller form behind him to protect him. Surely he wouldn't risk hurting Prompto! "Master! What are you..."
"The Chi-blade has no place in this or any world. Xehanort has made his purpose clear...and I am left with no choice. Forgive me...but you must exist no more."
He thrust out his Keyblade and chains of light streamed out. Ven stood his ground, unable to dodge with Prompto behind him, his eyes clamping shut.
"NO!" Prompto screamed in terror, pressing tight against him and Ven felt Prompto's magic rise, a shaky shield forming around them, it wouldn't be enough. He opened his eyes, saw Master Eraqus' widened as he realised where Prompto actually was.
"Ven!" Terra appeared in his armour outside of Prompto's shield, blocking the blow and the light dissipated.
"What?"
"Master, have you gone mad?" Terra demanded, glancing back at them in concern.
"Terra! I command you, step aside!"
Terra's armour vanished but he held his ground. "No!"
"You will not heed your Master?" Their Master demanded angrily.
Ventus was terrified, he'd never seen Master Eraqus so angry, or Terra. Prompto was a terrified leach, and Ventus knelt down to hug him tight, ready to dodge with him if another attack was made.
"I won't!"
"Why do all my attempts to reach you fail? If you don't have it in your heart to obey...then you will have to share Ventus' fate." He shed a tear and ran at them.
Terra blocked blow after blow but only just.
Ventus swallowed and looked into terrified violet eyes. "Please Prom, go inside," he begged, not wanting him to see, but the boy shook his head. He looked up at Terra and then stood up. "Enough, Terra! He's right..."
"Quiet!" Terra actually snapped at him, just making him more worried.
"Terra..." Ventus whispered before tightening his hold on Prompto. "Put your amour on," he whispered, it would offer at least some protection.
Prompto nodded and shakily hit his pauldron, a flash of light covering him. When it was gone, Prom was covered in silver, blue, and green armour that looked like a blend of his own and Aqua's.
Eraqus jumped back and the end of his blade glowed brightly. He swung it in a circle and knocked the three of them back. Terra picked them both up and gasped. Eraqus shone with Light as his cape and outfit fluttered as if pulled by a strong wind. He moved his Keyblade forward with his left arm raised, pointing, as if charging up an attack. To Ventus' horror, Terra was surrounded by a dark aura in response.
"You may be my Master. But I will not...let you hurt my friends!" Terra pulsed with Darkness and electrical energy.
"Has the darkness taken you, Terra?" Master Eraqus demanded.
Terra swung his Keyblade back and opened a portal, tossing them towards it. Ven got up, kneeling, holding tight to Prompto to ensure they weren't separated as the portal tried to suck them in.
"Wait, Terra!" he yelled as the portal began to close, hearing Prompto's terrified cries beneath his helmet.
The portal closed and they fell, Ventus scrambling to activate his glider, to keep Prompto safe. It finally activated and he stood, holding Prompto close to him. "Just hang on!" he yelled, flying for anywhere safe he could leave Prom.
He landed and looked around, recognising Radiant Garden. Surely Prompto would be safe there. The wizard, he would leave him with Merlin and then tell Aqua where he was.
"Ven?" Prompto asked tearfully, and Ventus carefully took his helmet off so he could look him in the eye.
"I need you to be very brave now Prompto."
"He…he tried to…."
"Shh," he kissed his forehead. He would miss them all he thought, if the dead were capable of missing anything. "You'll be okay, Aqua will come and get you when it's safe. You're my best friend Prom."
"No, you're not saying goodbye!" he shook his head in denial.
"Master Eraqus is right Prom, I have to die, otherwise everyone will be in danger. I can't let Master Xehanort hurt any of you," he ruffled wild blond hair. He straightened up and summoned his Keyblade, he knew the theory and if things went even more wrong then he'd need it. He turned it so that the handle was facing Prompto, nodding at him encouraging him to grasp it.
Prompto stared at him in confusion before slowly realising, shaking his head. "No…you have to come back."
"And you need to be safe Prom, please."
Prompto stared at him with eyes too old for his face. All the horrors he'd faced and now they'd traumatised him again. He felt sick knowing he'd played a role in that, now he had to protect him, no matter what. A small hand slowly wrapped around the handle.
Ventus nodded and took a deep breath, reaching out with his heart for his Keyblade and Prompto. "In your hand, take this key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking...its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend - no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love," he recited the ritual without faltering, feeling the magic surge between them, he'd done it! "I love you Prompto, always remember that. We all love you," he promised, dispelling his Keyblade.
"Ven please don't go," he pleaded.
"Shh," he whispered, casting a sleep spell, catching Prompto's limp body. He lifted him up and walked to the Wizard's home, knocking on the door.
TBC..
Two chapters in one night for this, plus an update on Healer's Son earlier today. Got a lot of writing done as well as 1000 words on my essay.
Hope you like how Prompto left the Land of Departure. Eraqus was too focused on ending the threat to truly take in that Prompto could be in the line of fire.