The Redemption
A/N: Here it is! Book 2 of my Kingdom Hearts Saga! Thanks, so much to everyone who saw my first book, and I apologize again for how short it was. Rest assured, that will not be the case for this book, or any future books in the series.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. If I did, I'd have made Union Cross a lot more fun to play.
Chapter 1: Awakening in a New Era
A few days pass in the Land of Departure, and James sits in his room, which was given to him by Eraqus. He still couldn't understand what brought him here.
Flashback
Master Eraqus gaped, "What!? You were fighting the Keyblade War?" He asks.
James nods, "That's the last thing I remember before blacking out."
Eraqus hummed to himself for a moment, "As curious as I am, no doubt you have many questions of your own."
James nodded, "For starters, what is this place?"
Eraqus leans back in his chair slightly, "This is a monastery where I train the new generation of Keyblade Wielders."
James raised an eyebrow, "So how many students do you have?" He asks.
"I have two wielders under my tutelage. Both Aqua and Terra have shown great promise. As you would." The master states.
James' eyes widened, "Excuse me?" He asks in shock.
"I can sense you have conflict in you regarding your Keyblade. I can provide you with the training necessary to overcome your past, which will allow you to embrace your future, and whatever it may hold." He says as he stands up, "However, it is your decision to make. Regardless, you are welcome to stay here as long as you deem necessary." He offered James a slight bow before exiting the room.
Flashback End
James had not yet given Eraqus an answer. He wasn't sure what he wanted anymore.
At one time, he was proud to have the Keyblade and used it to protect people. But ever since Ava warned him of the Keyblade War, he had questioned if he was doing the right thing.
He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a knock on the door, followed by it opening to reveal a young woman, in her mid-teens, with ocean blue hair, with deep blue eyes. He recognized her as Aqua, when he was introduced to the two students.
Aqua smiled warmly, "Hey, breakfast was served a while ago, but Terra and I never saw you."
James turned himself to have his back to her, "I should think the reason is obvious." He says coldly.
Aqua frowned at this. For whatever reason, James had been determined to avoid herself and Terra in any way possible. She sat in a nearby chair, "If Terra, or myself did something to upset you-."
"It's not you." He says, cutting her off, "I'm just not interested in doing the friend thing anymore."
Aqua dared to move to the bed and sit beside him, causing him to shift away from her, "Why? What happened? Whatever it is, you can trust me. And Terra."
James glanced at her from the corner of his eye, "She just won't drop this subject."
He decides to be blunt, "Imagine you were friends with hundreds of Keyblade Wielders. Each of you working towards the same goal: to push back the darkness. Tell me, how does that sound to you?"
Aqua was taken aback by this sudden question, but answered nonetheless, "U-uh, I guess I'd be happy to have so many friends to help me." She tells him.
He nods, "Good. Now close your eyes and picture this; you and many of your friends working together to defeat Heartless and rescue innocent people from the darkness."
Aqua did as instructed and couldn't help the smile on her face, "And then suddenly, one whisper of false preaching's, and suddenly you're attacking each other with intent to kill!"
This statement shocks Aqua's eyes open.
"Imagine being the only one standing at the end! Imagine your home desecrated by a war you helped to start without ever knowing it! Imagine the blood of your friends staining your Keyblade!" Tears were running down his face in streams, while Aqua had tears forming as well. "That's why I don't do friends! Because I was forced to kill them! That's why-!"
His train of thought was completely derailed when Aqua lunged forward and embraced him warmly. "I'm so sorry." She whispers to him, "I had no idea you'd gone through something so terrible. I can't imagine what that must have been like. How hard it was for you."
She pulled back to look him in the eyes, "I understand why you don't want any friends. But if you ever change your mind," she paused to collect herself a bit, "I promise, Terra and I won't let you down. We'd never put you in that kind of situation ever again." She stood up, "I hope you'll at least head over to the training area some time. Terra's been wanting to spar with you since you showed up."
Just before she walked out the door, James called out, "Aqua." She turned to him, "Thanks. It's been a long time since I saw a true, pure hearted Keyblade Wielder. I promise I'll give some thought to this whole…... friend thing." Aqua smiled and nodded her head before leaving.
Suddenly, James had a lot more to think about than just his unfortunate past.
He had met countless Wielders in his time, but none of them had as much genuine care for others that Aqua clearly had. He looked out his window, "I really wish I still had Chirithy. He always helped to keep me focused on what was right." He placed his hand over his heart, "May my Heart be my guiding Key." He then took a deep breath, and walked out the door.
He arrived at the training yard and saw Terra striking a wooden dummy with his Keyblade while Aqua ran an obstacle course. Terra glanced behind him and smiled, "Hey James! Any chance I can get ya to spar with me?" He asks.
James smirks and summons Starlight. "Sure, but one quick thing." He says as he enters his battle stance, "Call me Jim."
Aqua halted her progress on the course to observe the sparring match, and Eraqus had just walked out to do the same.
James leads the battle off with a high jump to land a downward swing, but Terra sees it coming and blocks the attack in a deep and stable stance.
The two stare each other down, and James smirks, "You didn't even budge. Impressive." He tells him.
Terra scoffs, "You haven't seen anything yet!" Terra parries James' Keyblade and makes four strikes towards his opponent, who blocks each one. He then attempts a more power-based diagonal slash, but James ducks his body out of the way, before blocking another strike and beginning to push back. They pushed away from each other and leapt back towards one another, each of them going for a thrust attack, however they collide with each other, sending both Keyblades flying.
Taking advantage of this, Terra goes in with a swift kick to James' midsection, causing the young man to stagger slightly. Terra smirked, "That all you got?" He asked.
James didn't respond verbally, instead he responded by thrusting his open hand towards Terra, "Fira!" He exclaims as a sizeable fireball is shot towards Terra. He raises his arms to block it, but is pushed back by its force. He then charged towards Terra, jumped up, and struck a fierce punch across his face as he landed, knocking Terra to the ground, "I'm just getting started." He says as he summons Starlight back into his hands.
Terra shakes off the attack and calls his own Keyblade as well. "Good. This should be interesting!"
The next thirty minutes went by with James and Terra trading blows ferociously, before exhaustion overcame them both and caused them to collapse on the ground.
James gets to one knee slowly, his breath panting, "Don't tell me… you're… giving up… already…"
Terra lets out a breath that sounded like a laugh and pushes himself up slowly, "You… kidding? I've… just… gotten… warmed up…"
Before the two could pitifully attempt to continue their match, Aqua offered each of them a large bottle of cold water, "I think you too have sparred for long enough." She says, unable to hide her amusement at the two.
Eraqus nodded, "Indeed. You both will want to save your strength. Terra, you have your lessons in the morning." He tells him, causing the teen to groan.
James looks at Eraqus, "Does that class have room for one more… Master?"
Eraqus smiles, "Of course. I welcome you to your new home."
James smiled. He was still worried, but he had faith, thanks to Terra and Aqua. And, for the moment, that was enough.
(A/N: That's it for this chapter! We've still got one more to go before we start to really tackle the events of Birth by Sleep's gameplay. I have already chosen how I want to do it, but tell me in the reviews, when the time comes, Jim is going to follow either Terra, Aqua, or Ventus. Let me know which one you want him to go with. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, as well as the previous book, and hopefully you'll enjoy the rest of the story as well. Read and Review!)