Disclaimer: not mine
A lot from the game but wasn't sure how much my FFXV readers would know of events.
Chapter 5
Eraqus watched the portal close and felt horrified as he realised that two armoured bodies had passed through it. Prompto was not ready to face the Worlds, wouldn't be for years, he didn't have a Keyblade and while he had strong magical potential, his gift had only just begun to be nurtured.
For now, he had to contain Terra, he had failed to stop Xehanort, he could not allow Terra to follow in his footsteps. He unleashed everything he had against his pupil…but it was not enough and he staggered back, clutching his chest, gasping for air. He watched Terra, waiting for the final blow, but instead the boy staggered back as well, eyes wide, fear and
incredulity stretched across his face.
Terra dispelled his Keyblade and moved towards him, reaching out to him as he stumbled. "What have I done... Master... I just...wanted to keep Ven safe."
"No, you were right. I failed you, Terra. Perhaps I've no one to blame but myself for the Darkness inside you. And now I've done worse - raised my Keyblade against you, Ventus, even Prompto."
Terra shook his head, looking so lost…like he had been when he had seen Prompto and the condition he was in when he'd brought the boy home.
"My own heart is darkness!" he had failed them all. He could only hope the children could find their own way, that Ventus would remain free of Xehanort and would keep Prompto safe, that Aqua could help pull Terra back from the edge. He felt a sudden spike of pain, felt his Keyblade fall from his hand, saw Terra reaching from him and then everything vanished.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ventus sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing his hand through wild blond hair, Prompto deeply asleep thanks to the spell.
"You could stay," Merlin told him.
"I can't, I have to keep them all safe, even…even if it means I have to be destroyed," Ven whispered. "You'll look after him?"
"Of course dear boy. He has quite the magical gift, I shall continue his training until you or one of the others comes back for him," the Wizard promised.
"I performed the Inheritance Ritual with him, he'll be able to wield a Keyblade one day. If…if none of us come back…"
"I shall inform Yen Sid should he summon it," Merlin assured him.
"Thank you," Ventus looked at Merlin and then lent over, kissing Prom's forehead. "I'm sorry," he whispered and the stood.
He walked out of the house and away from the centre of town to find a secluded area to summon his Glide. He almost wished he spotted Lea and Isa around, to tell them of Prompto and say goodbye. He didn't want to go, but he had to, he had to keep them safe.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Aqua, the stars bring me grave news. Master Eraqus' star has blinked out. I am afraid that means he has been struck down," Master Yen Sid stated gravely, and she gasped in shock.
"The Master? But…Who is responsible? Prompto? What of him?" if someone killed the Master would they have harmed Prom too? She choked back tears, unable to believe Master Eraqus was gone.
He closed his eyes, sighing and gazing out the window at three stars twinkling in the night. "Master Xehanort...and Terra," he admitted quietly.
She gasped again, shaking her head, and slammed her fists against his desk. "No!"
Donald and Goofy turned in surprise at the almost violence of her reaction, but they didn't know Terra.
"That's absurd! Terra would never!" Their Master wasn't just their Master, he was their Father too.
"I hope with all my heart that you are right about your friend. There are some things even the stars cannot tell me."
"Where is he? Where can I find Terra?" She demanded, she had to find him, to find out the truth.
"Terra's heart is leading him to the ancient Keyblade Graveyard, where wielders of those weapons once waged war."
"All right," she nodded, "I have to go after him...and see if it's true." She turned and headed for the door.
"Be on your guard," he warned, and she nodded.
"Terra, Ven, Prom...please just be safe." She whispered as she rode her Glider through the Lanes Between, her Wayfinder clutched tight in her hand. "I'll find a way to get you out of this."
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ventus gasped, tumbling across a sunny beach, scrambling to his feet. He shook his head, wondering what had knocked him into a World but it didn't matter, he had to find Master Xehanort and that boy and stop them.
"Going somewhere?"
He spun, looking above the bridge he was standing under, seeing the masked boy. "I'm through with you!" He started walking toward the Cove.
"Well, I'm just getting started with you. You're strong enough now to fulfill your purpose," the other answered, summoning his Keyblade. "So what are you waiting for? Join with me right here and now. Become the Chi-blade."
"No, I won't do it. He told me, the only way the Chi-blade can be forged is if you and me fight. Well guess what? I'm not fighting," Ventus yelled back.
"You used to be too broken to talk back," the other sneered, and Ventus staggered back, clutching his head in pain.
A memory surged in his mind and he fell to a knee.
He stood in The Badlands, surrounded by Neoshadow Heartless. With Keyblade in hand, he gasped in fear. "Please don't do this, Master. I'm not strong enough." He looked up and saw Master Xehanort upon a cliff.
"No. It is because you are trying to hold it in. Let the Dark impulses waken in the pit of your heart. Release them, here and now! Sharpen your fear into rage."
Dark pools appeared in the circle, releasing more Heartless.
"You must! If you do not let the storm within you run its course, it will wipe you from the face of the world, make no mistake!" His Master warned as the Heartless crept closer to Ventus. "Do it. Embrace the darkness. Produce for your Master the Chi-blade!"
He lifted his arms into the air and the Heartless leapt towards Ventus, who screamed, covering his face with his arm.
Ventus lay face down on the ground, Xehanort's eyes cast down on his body.
"Really? You would rather die than use the power? Feckless neophyte." Xehanort turned Ventus' body over with his boot. "If I must...I will extract the darkness from within you myself." He summoned his Keyblade, raising it blade down, pointing at Ventus, as an orange glow appeared at the end of it. A beam of black and orange light shot down into Ventus' chest.
His eyes and mouth opened in shock and pain, staring blankly as his chest glowed with the brightest light. His heart rose slowly out of his body, and a dark orb formed nearby. The orb opened and Vanitas uncurled himself from inside, glowing with a purple aura. Ventus groaned as the light on his chest made his body rise off the ground. It dissipated,
making him fall, as his eyes grew dull and lifeless.
Vanitas floated to the ground.
"Empty creature from Ventus riven...to you, the name Vanitas shall be given."
"Yes, Master."
Ven staggered to his feet, still clutching his head.
"Fine. Then I'll give you a reason to fight," Vanitas snapped, and Ventus slowly looked up at him.
"What?"
"Come and find me...at the one and only place to spawn the Chi-blade - the Keyblade Graveyard. There you're gonna see me choke the life out of Terra and Aqua. Then we'll see how long you play the pacifist," Vanitas turned, entering a black portal.
"Wait!" He ran toward the bridge, but Vanitas disappeared. Ventus stopped and took out his Wayfinder. "Terra, Aqua... I swear I'll put an end to this. I'll bring them home Prompto."
He summoned his Keyblade, surprised to find it had changed, but ignored it to open a portal into the Lanes, activating his armour to leave the Island.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Merlin checked on the boy he had once helped save, glad he was still sleeping peacefully. It would not be a happy awakening, he had sensed Master Eraqus' passing, though he did not know how it had happened. Form how frantic young Ventus had been, he worried that the boys had witnessed his death or at least a fight that had led to it. He did not know when they would come for the child, but until then he would care for him, there were many children around Radiant Garden, hopefully they could help Prompto with any emotional trauma.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"What I do, I do for friendship," Terra whispered as he began to walk through the desolate World, seeing the hundreds, thousands, of abandoned Keyblades scattered around. He prayed that Ventus and Prompto were safe, wherever they had ended up, thankful Prompto had been given his armour during their absence as it would protect him. He hoped Ventus stayed with him and well away from what was happening.
Terra came to a barren crossroads between and saw Aqua walking toward him, her eyes piercing. He stopped walking, waiting for her.
"I was told...the Master was struck down," were her first words and they hurt, but he deserved that pain.
Terra looked away, not wanting to see the anger she likely felt towards him. "Yes...that's right. I was stupid and helped Xehanort do it," he admitted.
Aqua gasped, wide-eyed.
"The Master…he tried to hurt Ven and Prom was caught in the middle. I only fought because I wanted to protect them," he explained, hearing her sigh. "But I was tricked. Xehanort set the whole thing up…all so he could awaken the Darkness inside me. You were right, Aqua, and so was the Master. I did need to be watched. I went astray, but no more." He clenched his hand into a fist.
"What else is Darkness but hate and rage? Xehanort is feeding the dark fires within you…making you fight. You'll go astray again. Tell me, how does that honour our Master's memory, Terra?" She asked and then fell silent.
He looked up, spotting another approaching and his heart sank as he recognised Ven, and he was alone.
"Xehanort wants me and Vanitas to fight, and make some kind of "Chi-blade." But the Master said we can't let that happen...and he tried to destroy me for it," Ventus said once he reached them.
"Chi-blade?"
"I still don't know exactly what it is. But...it scares me to death. Even just the thought of it," he admitted, staring at the ground.
"Relax, Ven. We're here and we're gonna take care of you," Terra promised, reaching for him.
"I may have to fight Vanitas after all. If I do, guys...I want you to—"
He couldn't let him ask that, cutting him off. "The four of us can never be torn apart, all right? I'll always find a way." He placed a hand on Ven's shoulder even as Aqua bent down and touched his cheek.
Ven removed their hands, shaking his head. "I'm asking you, as a friend... Just...put an end to me."
Aqua gasped, putting her hands on her heart, obviously horrified by the request.
"Ven, is Prompto safe?"
He nodded. "I made sure of it, I put him to sleep so he wouldn't find some way to follow me. He's protected till one of you can go and get him."
Before Ventus could tell them where to go the wind picked up, blowing dirt and debris into the air. They turned and saw Master Xehanort walking down the road toward them. There was a flash and Vanitas appeared beside him the stop stopping a few yards from the trio.
"Behold... These lifeless keys used to be full of power, united with the hearts of their masters. On this barren soil, Keyblades of Light and Darkness were locked in combat...as a great Keyblade War raged. Countless Keyblade wielders gave up their lives, all in search of one, ultimate key. And it will soon belong to me..." he pointed at Ven, and Terra tensed. "Chi-blade!"
They didn't need to speak, all three engaging their armour. Ven went to move but Terra stopped him. If Xehanort wanted Ventus for that blade then he couldn't be let near him. Terra would not let him hurt his family!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Aqua watched as Ventus' frozen body fell from the cliff, hitting several edges of the rockface, knocking off his helmet until she forced her body to move, leaping up to catch him before he hit the ground. She moved out from under him and gazed into his eyes, breathing heavily. "Ven, are you okay?"
Terrified, wide, blue eyes stared up at her, his armour completely frosted over, ice trailing over his skin. He was breathing, that was important, he was alive, and seemed conscious, just unable to respond in any way. As much as she wanted to help him, she knew better than to simply add heat, warming him too quickly could do even more damage.
She looked up as a great wind picked up, shifting to cover Ven's vulnerable form, watching the wind push the clouds aside. A blue light streamed out from between the parting clouds. Aqua stared in disbelief as she watched a large blue heart-shaped moon appear in the heavens. She gasped, looking to where Master Xehanort stood, smirking darkly. She held onto Ven, stroking frozen hair, trying to comfort him and warm him gradually.
"How 'bout you leave the popsicle with me, so you can go have your little fight with Terra," an unfamiliar voice called, and she looked up to see a man in a red scarf. "You can't be too happy about him deep-sixing your Master," he chuckled darkly.
"Who are you?" she demanded, gently lowering Ven to the ground, standing with her Keyblade in hand.
The stranger smiled, yellow eyes glinting. "You think you two have got some grand role to play. As if. You're only here so that when I finish you off...Terra will succumb to the Darkness," he taunted.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ventus wanted to scream, to get up and fight…anything. All he could do was lay staring up at the sky, able to hear as Aqua fought the man. He couldn't help her, couldn't do anything. He hadn't even had the chance to tell them where he'd left Prom, if he died, they could spend years looking for him. And where was Terra? Was he fighting Master Xehanort? Vanitas? Frozen, all he was, was a liability, he had to move!
,,,,,,,,,,,
"Admirably done. I knew this was a journey you could make, over the unseen wall that divides Darkness and Light. And I was not wrong, Terra!" Xehanort gloated and Terra glared, not that it could be seen with his helmet on.
"Tell me, Xehanort, what did you do to him? What did you do to Ven?" he demanded.
"Why, I did him a favour and freed the Darkness inside him. Alas, poor Ventus never had the fortitude for such strenuous trials."
No…poor Ventus…no wonder he'd been barely aware when he'd come to them. "Xehanort!" he snarled angrily, rushing the Master only for him to block the blow.
Xehanort looked over at the masked boy, what had Ven called him…Vanitas? "Go take what Ventus owes you. And take Aqua's life."
No! He knocked Xehanort back, turning to run after the boy who jumped down the mountain. He went to follow but Xehanort appeared before him, stunning him, but he jumped back to avoid running into him.
"You see how powerless you are to save them? Savour that rage and despair. Let it empower you!"
"You will pay, Xehanort! Was my Master - no, my father, Eraqus not enough for you?" he snarled furiously. "Leave my friends alone!"
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Ven!"
He heard her call his name, struggling to get up. "Aqua!" he forced her name past frozen lips as he watched Vanitas fly down the cliff, and strike Aqua in the head. She gasped, collapsing, Keyblade falling from her hand.
Vanitas stood and held his blade over her body. Ven summoned all his strength and the ice around him began to evaporate. Vanitas grasped the hilt of his Keyblade with both hands. Ven's body glistened as the ice crystals disappeared. Vanitas raised the blade high as Ventus stood, covered in steam.
"No!" He screamed, glaring at Vanitas with clenched teeth, snarling under his breath. He launched himself at the other boy….the other…part of him? He blocked the blow meant to kill Aqua, shoving Vanitas back, going after him without stopping.
Vanitas dropped to his knees, leaning on his Keyblade, a Dark aura covering him. "You've done it, Ventus," he sounded…proud, and Ven stood ready, that couldn't be good. Vanitas dispelled his Keyblade.
Ventus stared at him as his helmet melted away, revealing startling yellow eyes and spiky
black hair. He looked so…normal.
"Now that my body is about to perish...you and I will have to join together!" he smirked, and Ventus tensed. "The Chi-blade will be forged!" He opened his arms and the Dark energy formed along the ground, emanating from Vanitas's body.
It surrounded Ventus in a semicircle and he tried to move away but three shapes jumped from the Dark and surrounded him. The three blue Unversed held Ventus in place as he struggled to move. "The Unversed...come from you?"
Vanitas laughed to himself and more Unversed emerged from the Dark energy. "It happened when you and I were split into two. The negativity took shape as these monsters. They are what I feel, a horde of fledgling emotions under my control. I released them in all the worlds I could, hoping to lure you away from home and isolate you from your Master," he walked closer to Ven, thankfully ignoring the unconscious Aqua lying nearby. "We needed to make you stronger. The Unversed were the perfect opponents. And better yet, no matter how many times you defeat them...their negativity flows right back to me."
The Dark energy floated from the Unversed into Vanitas and the Unversed disappeared. "You never stood a chance against us, Ventus." He smirked at Ventus who glared, still unable to move.
He gasped as Vanitas literally walked into him, eyes rolling back in his head as everything went black.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Energy surged, getting brighter and stronger, making cracks in the ground before a beam shot upward, a large orange pillar reaching into the sky.
"Only now have I truly won," Xehanort cried out as he saw the pillar before kneeling, plunging his Keyblade into the grey earth for balance. He held on to it, his breath heavy and wheezing.
Terra looked up to see an explosion as the ground shook.
Xehanort looked up and smiled, pointing. "There, you see?"
Terra hesitated, believing it to be a trick, but Xehanort remained constant. He turned around to witness the great pillar of light, eyes widening as he realised it was coming from where Aqua and Ven had been.
Xehanort stood and Terra shifted to keep him in sight. "The Chi-blade has been forged!"
The blade was forged, but that would mean….no…. "Ven!" he yelled, terrified for him. He had to protect him! And if something had happened to Ven, then what about Aqua? She wouldn't stand by and let it happen so was she still alive?
"And now, Terra, it is time for the final union!" He turned his Keyblade and held it by the blade, thrusting it slowly into his chest. A beam of light shot out, and Terra whirled around to fully see what Xehanort was up to.
"What?" he stared, horrified, why would he do that?
"At last, our moment is here." He opened his arms and a circle of light emanated from his pierced chest. His Keyblade faded and an orb, shimmering with light, floated out of his body. "Out with the old and brittle vessel, and in with a younger, stronger new one!"
What? Terra watched, horrified, as Xehanort's body glowed. He managed to back away slightly as the heart floated over Xehanort, who raised his arms toward it.
"I swore I would survive...and be there to see what awaited beyond the Keyblade War! And now it is your Darkness that shall be the ark that sustains me!" He lowered his arms, pointing at Terra, and the heart flew towards him.
Terra touched his pauldrom to engage his armour and there was a flash of light, fading to reveal his armour clad form. He tried to move back but it was too late, the light of his armour fighting to shield him but then he was encased in a veil of Darkness, groaning in pain.
Xehanort closed his eyes and faded into points of light that scattered.
Terra's armour shattered and he dropped his Keyblade. He staggered, hands going to his head even as hair turned to silver, fighting against Xehanort with everything he had, but it wasn't enough. Kingdom Hearts shone blue in the sky above him as he lowered his hands, opening yellow eyes.
"This heart belongs again to Darkness. All worlds begin in Darkness, and all so end. The heart is no different. Darkness sprouts within it, it grows, consumes it. Such is its nature. In the end, every heart returns to the Darkness whence it came." He smiled and summoned his Keyblade, walking forward in Terra's body, leaving the discarded armour to rest in pieces.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Merlin frowned as Prompto tossed and turned on the bed, still in a spelled sleep and yet something was causing him great distress. A soft glow came from his hand and Merlin looked to find him clutching a Wayfinder. Whatever was happening to the other three… he sat down and wrapped his hands around Prompto's reaching out through the connection with his magic, trying to give any aide that he could.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Ventus floated, watching as Vanitas faded away into dust, able to feel himself beginning to fade too. He had to tell someone about Prom! He had to….
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Aqua watched the blade go flying off, seeing Ven's body waver on its feet and then the yellow faded from his eyes. "Ven?" she called, hoping.
"P…pr'm…..mer…" his eyes closed and he collapsed to the ground, lying unmoving.
"Ven!" that had been Ventus, she knew it had been. He'd been trying to tell her something, but what?
The strange Keyblade began to glow, bursting with energy, sending beams of light in haphazard directions. They struck the ground, letting loose outlines of keyholes that broke apart in the air. Aqua stood, shielding her eyes as the power emanating from the almighty blade grew in strength.
Mickey looked up from where he lay on the ground. "Oh no! It...it's gone all haywire!" he called as he pushed to his feet, running towards where Aqua was struggling to remain on her feet.
She saw the strange black and red outfit break apart, streams of Darkness leaving his body, Ven's armour returning. That had to mean he had beaten Vanitas and was back to himself. Didn't it? He still didn't move, utterly limp, the lightning striking around him.
"Ven!" She struggled against the growing wind, reaching for him as he was lifted off the ground, jumping up to reach him. She felt her fingers brush his hand before they were blown apart. She leapt again, holding tight to his hand as light engulfed the area.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Where am I?"
It was a relief to see her waking as he walked towards her. "Aqua, you lost consciousness," he explained as she looked up at him. "Fortunately, Mickey found you and Ventus drifting in the Lanes Between, and brought you back to me to receive proper care," he explained. He did not wish to tell her of Ventus' condition but there was no choice.
She looked beside her, seeing Ventus' body propped up against the wall and Mickey standing there.
"I am sorry, but there was no sign of Terra." Yen Sid explained. "Or of young Prompto."
She shook her head. "Ven hid Prompto somewhere safe, he just didn't say where before Xehanort arrived." She reached over and gently shook Ventus' shoulder. "Ven!" She tried again. "Ventus!"
"The boy's heart is sleeping," he offered sadly.
"When will he wake?" She looked to him hopefully and he did not wish to dash that hope.
"I could not say. It is almost as though his heart has left. Should it return, he may very well wake. Should it not, then he may sleep like this for all eternity," that was all the hope he could give.
"No..." she whispered, lifting her hand to stroke Ventus' cheek but he didn't react at all. She looked up at him again. "I'll keep him safe…until he wakes. Forever if I have to. And I'll find Prompto too, somehow."
"I will tell you what your friend needs right now. It is not your protection. He needs you to believe. You see, Ventus' heart hangs in the balance. It sleeps in the place between Light and Darkness. From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend, one who believes in him, to show him the way home. Just as long as you love him...then Ventus will be able to find you when he wakes," he sat down. "He can follow that love back to where he belongs-the realm of Light," he smiled at her.
"Don't you worry, Aqua. I believe in Ven, too. Gosh, he's been as good a friend to me as anybody. And if both you and me believe in him with all our hearts, then he'll have two Lights to follow instead of one," Mickey offered.
"Four Lights," she corrected, and Yen Sid hoped she was right.
Mickey frowned.
"Terra and Prompto," she answered his look.
"But...Terra's gone. Maybe for good. And we don't know where Prompto is," Mickey answered sadly.
Aqua shook her head. "I think I know how to find them." She took out her Wayfinder and covered it with her hands.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Merlin watched as Prompto settled again. It seemed it was over, but he had the feeling, not all had gone well for the other children. He fixed the blankets and dimmed the lights. "Sleep well young one," he murmured before leaving the bedroom.
TBC…
Poor Prom slept through the chapter. Not much an 8year old could do though. And Ventus did try to tell Aqua where Prom was with the very last of his strength. Prompto will have more to do next chapter.