Hey Ephemer

By: TrinityXaos

Summary:

Obvious #KHUXSpoilers. An interpretation of the last scene of Union Cross. Dialogue from GOLDPANNER on Twitter ( _KH_ENGLISH).

_
"May your heart be your guiding key."

With a sharp breath, Brain slowly reclaimed his consciousness.

Luxu...! Brain's thoughts are that of the master's voice – or rather, his voice before everything went white and then black.

Him and that damn phrase. Ephemer had used that phrase before Brain left with the others. Back then, it was a message of hope that they would meet again. Now, it was soured when Luxu used it after stealing his body.

Was Brain just a heart now? No. He felt a tiled surface below him and on what seems like skin and hands. He felt muscles making lips and teeth move in anger from the memories. He felt something is closed. His eyes. He had eyes, eyelids, a face, hands and legs – he had a whole body. How?!

Does it really matter? Right now, Brain needed to see more than black.

So he did.

What Brain saw from easily opening his eyes was a building with statues unknown to him. As he scans downwards, he notes different buildings built close together with many windows. He also caught on that he was on a tiled street with streetlights and signs spaced out evenly. He wasn't in Daybreak Town anymore. So... "Where am I?"

Just then, a person came up and faced themselves in front of Brain. Brain adjusted himself before getting a better look at this person. Much of the the face was conceal by a hood and a hat on top. Yet the color scheme of the clothing was black, purple and orange, aside from the brown boots, of course. And in this person's hands was another, more different hat. Wait...

"You're Brain, right?" The person asked in a masculine voice.

"Yes," Brain answered.

The stranger then knelt down and offered the hat in his hands, "Here."

It had the red feather, it was definitely his hat. Brain accepted his hat back and placed it on his head. Lower than before. The last time Brain had his hat on, it was discarded after Luxu stole his body.

"So, it was true." The stranger said.

After Luxu, Brain felt the need to his guard up by crossing his arms, "Who are you?"

"Oh, excuse me. I'm Sigurd," the stranger replied. "Please wait a moment. I have to report back."

Sigurd then turned around, his back facing Brain as he lifted his right hand to his ear. Then Sigurd started talking quietly to himself...

No, was he using some device to talk to others? Brain pondered to himself. That type of technology wasn't around in Daybreak Town, and he's been before a greedy Moogle and the inside of the Foreteller's Tower.

"Thank you for waiting. I'll take you to HQ." Sigurd suddenly announced, facing Brain again.

"HQ?" Brain was caught off-guard. Just for that second, though. "Mind explaining that a little more first?"

Hooded men aren't meant to be trusted so easily. You can thank Luxu for that.

"It was set in stone that you would escape the destruction of Daybreak Town and arrive here today," Sigurd answered. "And that we'd be here to meet you."

"What does that mean?" Brain could only ask. Set in stone? They'd be here to meet him?! "I'm a bit lost here."

"We'll explain it all at HQ," Sigurd said simply before walking off.

Maybe Brain would have followed or have been prompted when something came back, "Wait."

Ven, Lauriam, Elrena! "Where are the others?" Ephemer, Skuld, and their friend, too!

Sigurd turned back around to listen. So Brain explained it, "I had friends who escaped with me, they should be here too."

"You're the only one who arrived in this era." Sigurd said plainly.

"Oh... I see..." Brain could only tip his hat downwards. He was alone here.

"It's natural to be confused..." Sigurd then pointed ahead. "We should get going."

Brain simply nodded and followed Sigurd after the latter was a few feet ahead.

…

They walked for a while. Going down different streets in this quiet place until they reached what must have been a plaza area. Sigurd stopped before a fountain place. Brain also stopped, not knowing why Sigurd choose this spot to rest. Then, Brain looked up. And saw him.

Shock compelled Brain to walk around the fountain to get a better look. Awe stopped him and made lift his hat up for that better look.

"Is that...?" He couldn't finish his question. The shock holding him back.

Sigurd must had known what Brain wanted and answered, "That's the man who founded this town, Scala ad Caelum. The First Keyblade Master, Master Ephemer."

It was him! Brain's emotions finally started to water out from his eyes. "Yeah... I know him."

In statue form, Ephemer stood tall with his Keyblade raised into the air. The very Keyblade Brain passed onto him, as it was meant for Ephemer all along.

"I'm proud to call him my best friend."

He was always everyone's best friend, after all.

END

A/N

Again, the dialogue came from GOLDPANNER's translations on KHINSIDER's videos. I hope that I wrote this as best as I could in Brain's voice and mindset. I also hope I'd captured the ending's emotional point as good as the source material.

Thanks for reading guys!