Chapter 4: Mark of Mastery Exam Gone Awry

(A/N: Late again! I know and I'm sorry! But this one took a lot longer to make than I expected. Especially figuring out what to do with the Exam itself. Anyways, I will not be updating this weekend, I have family matters to attend to. But rest assured, that next weekend, you should have your update-theoretically. Have I mentioned that you guys are awesome? Cause you are! The poll is closed and the votes are in! It is a unanimous vote for Aqua! But this makes me curious…. What about? Read until the end and find out. I've kept you waiting long enough as it is!)

The day has come. Aqua and Terra stand in the grand hallway, with Ventus and James standing to the side as observers. Eraqus sat in the farthest left chair, while Xehanort-who came to assist in grading the two's performances- on the farthest right chair, leaving the middle chair empty. Ventus glanced over at Xehanort, who in turn, was looking at Ventus as well. A suspicious smile graced his lips, and Ventus was made visibly uncomfortable. James nudged him to get his attention, and offered him a friendly grin. Ventus returned it, instantly relaxing, as Eraqus proceeded to start.

He stepped forward and looked at Terra and Aqua, "Today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates…" He pauses, "but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy-not a test of wills, but a test of heart. Both of you may prevail, or neither." Another brief pause, "But I am sure our guest, Master Xehanort…" he glances to the other Master, "did not travel all this way to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the Mark." Xehanort offers a slight bow of his head in response. Eraqus faces the two once again, "I trust you are ready."

The two answer in sync, "Yes!"

Eraqus summoned his Keyblade, "Then let the examination begin." He used his magic to summon five orbs made of light. Aqua and Terra drew their Keyblades and prepared to fight, while Ventus was excited to see his two friends take the test.

James watched carefully. He never had the opportunity to aim for the rank of Keyblade Master before, and was curious-more academically than anything else- as to what kind of trials await someone who seeks the Mark of Mastery.

Suddenly, however, a strange dark aura began to shroud the orbs of light, and they started moving around frantically and multiplying. Terra and Aqua wasted no time and immediately moved to attack the orbs.

One of the orbs went straight for Ventus and James, "Ven!" Aqua called out.

"Jim!" Terra shouted.

Fortunately, Ventus and James were quick to respond as they both drew their Keyblades and cross-slashed the orb. "Don't worry about us!" Ventus says, "You two focus on the exam!"

James nodded, "He's right. We can protect ourselves, we'll be just fine."

Aqua eyes the two, "But guys, you're in danger here! Go wait in your rooms!"

James considered heeding Aqua's instruction, but Ventus was having none of it. "No way!" He responds, gripping his Keyblade tighter, "I've been looking forward to this-seeing you two become Masters. I'm not gonna miss it now!" He declares.

James smirks and raises his Keyblade, "That goes double for me!" He says.

Aqua looks at him, "But Jim!"

"Aqua!" He cuts her off, "You said that you and the others would have my back, now and forever. Well that's a two-way street! I've got your back as much as you've got mine!"

Terra glanced over his shoulder at the two, "They can take care of themselves. They've been out there training just as hard as us."

Ventus nodded, "Yeah!"

Aqua's eyes narrow, "Stay sharp guys!" And with that warning, the battle was on.

The battle starts with the four of them striking at every orb that comes their way, despite the overwhelming rate at which they spawn, no one appears to be struggling as of yet.

James thrusts Starlight through one of the orbs, and just as he's about to get surrounded, he jabs Starlight into the floor and leaps up, "Thundara!" A powerful bolt of lightning strikes Starlight, and causes the blast to become a spread shot that destroys several orbs at once.

Xehanort witnessed this and smirks, "A most interesting maneuver. I dare say I haven't heard of one quite like it." He comments.

Eraqus eyes Xehanort with caution, "Yes… he has been known to think very creatively. Using combinations of physical arts and spells in unusual ways."

Xehanort nods, "Perhaps… there is something more to it…" He says, more to himself as he glances at the nearby wall.

Ventus quickly strikes an orb that was coming at him from behind, and narrowly dodged another one that came from in front of him, before swinging his Keyblade upward to defeat it. "Wind!" He created a large air tunnel that slammed several orbs against the ceiling, causing them to vanish.

Terra parries one of the orbs, before jumping into a forward roll, but not before tossing his Keyblade into a Raid Strike. The spinning Keyblade struck all around him as he rolled. When he stood back up, he caught his Keyblade and every single orb in his vicinity was destroyed.

Aqua was fighting the orbs with a refined grace, as though she were dancing. Quickly striking down one orb, then twisting herself around to eliminate another one. Once that one was defeated, she instantly turned and thrust her Keyblade through another orb that was flying her. She then backflipped over an orb and slashed mid-air. Finally, she finished them all with her Shot lock technique, "Bubble Blaster!" A flurry of bubbles quickly eliminated what little remained of the orbs.

After they had been dealt with, Ventus and James returned to the side wall while Aqua and Terra stood before the Masters. Eraqus walked forward, "That was unexpected." He says, "But one must keep a still heart even in the most trying of circumstances. It was an excellent test; one I chose to let unfold." He then slightly raises his head, "Which brings us to your next trial." Aqua and Terra turned to face one another, "Now, Terra and Aqua, the two of you will face each other in combat. Remember, there are no winners-only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed. The two of them took their stances, "Begin!"

As they were fighting, Aqua had made an impressive move, by taking advantage of Terra's opening. After narrowly dodging, his eyes narrowed as he held out his other hand. His hand became covered in darkness.

James noticed this instantly, "I didn't want to be right, but I thought I had sensed a darkness growing in Terra. Fortunately, it's still too weak to influence him. He's not in danger…. yet." Terra notices it and is shocked, but has no time to act on it, and vanishes the darkness as he continues his fight with Aqua.

When the match ended, there was a brief recess while the Masters discussed the test results. The recess held nothing but a tense silence. Everyone too curious about what the results were to talk about anything. Soon, Eraqus and Xehanort returned.

Eraqus stepped forward, "We have deliberated and reached a decision."

A short pause, "Terra, Aqua, you both performed commendably. However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery." Disappointment and shock were clear on Terra's face. James couldn't help but feel bad for his friend. And one look to his side showed that Ventus felt the same way.

"Terra," Eraqus speaks, "you failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check. But there is always next time. That is all." He then looked to the new Master, "Aqua, as our newest Keyblade Master, you are entitled to certain knowledge." As Eraqus says this, Xehanort walks out of the room. "Please wait here for further instruction." After that, Eraqus followed Xehanort out.

The moment Eraqus left the room, James and Ventus rushed over to Terra as Aqua turned to face him as well. "Hey…" She says calmly.

Ventus looks to him, "Terra, I'm sorry." The boy says.

James nodded, "It's like the Master said. There's always next time." He offers. Ventus and Aqua both nod.

Terra continues staring at the ground, "The darkness… Where did it come from?" He asked.

"From you." James answers bluntly.

Terra whips around to face him, "What!?" He asks.

Aqua is about to interject, but James cuts her off, "And in me." He says, causing everyone to pause, "And Aqua, and Master Xehanort, and Master Eraqus, and everyone else in the frickin multiverse!" He exclaims, "Fact is, everyone has darkness in them. As Keyblade Wielders, we're just more susceptible to it than others." His expression turns grim, "Just trust me on this… Darkness is a poison. But only if you give it control." Silence again.

Terra breaks it though, "Sorry… but I need some time alone." He says before walking off. Aqua and Ventus both start to follow after him, but James stops them. When they look at his concerned expression, they realize there's nothing they can do for him right now.

James was doing drills in the courtyard, attempting to clear his head from memories that the Mark of Mastery Exam managed to stir back up, when he heard a loud bell-sounding noise.

Growing worried, he rushed back to the grand hallway and found Aqua and Eraqus. "What's going on?" He asks. Eraqus looks behind him to something the others cannot see and moves towards it.

Suddenly, Terra rushes in with the same inquiry as James.

Aqua looks to the both of them, "I don't know." She says before looking back towards Eraqus, who appears to be having a conversation with someone. "Why isn't Ven here?" She asks.

James shrugs, "Probably all the way back in his room. It's a long run from there to here."

Eraqus walks back over to the three of them and they all go to attention. "That was my dear old friend Yen Sid." He explains, "As you know, he is Master no more… but he still keeps a close eye on the tides of light and darkness." He offers a brief pause, "His counsel serves as signposts on the road we wielders of the Keyblade must walk. All the more reason, then, for concern."

James frowns, "Forgive me, Master, but why do I have a bad feeling that he didn't share good news with you?"

Eraqus lowers his head, "Your instincts are sharp as ever James. For he tells me the Princesses of Heart are in danger."

James' eyes widen at this news, "No! If they fall to darkness, the balance will be irreparably shifted!" He thinks.

Eraqus continues, "Not only from the forces of darkness, as you may assume…but also from a new threat- one that feeds on negativity. Fledgling emotions that have taken monster form-Yen Sid calls them the 'Unversed.'"

He stops and looks at the three of them, "As wielders of the Keyblade, you are tasked with striking down any who would upset the balance of light and darkness. The Unversed are no exception. I tried to pass this news on to Master Xehanort, but my repeated attempts to reach him have failed."

James' eyes narrow at this, "What? That doesn't make sense… He's a Keyblade Master. This should concern him far more than it concerns us. So why would he not be able to be called upon." Eraqus must sense James' doubt, because he then says, "I doubt there is any connection, and yet… this all troubles me." He tells them.

Terra looks downward, "Master Xehanort is gone?" He says quietly, however Aqua and James manage to hear it, and they glance his way briefly.

Eraqus looks at the three of them again, "So here we are. I need you three to get this situation under control. Eliminate the Unversed, and find Master Xehanort. I have unlocked the Lanes Between. You may use these forbidden pathways to travel between this world and countless others. The darkness looms closer than usual within these spaces, but your armor will protect you. Lastly, remember that order must be kept. You cannot tell anyone there are other worlds." He states, stressing the part regarding the order.

James couldn't help the brief flashback to when Chirithy taught him about the Order. Eraqus' form straightened, "Now go, and fulfill your duty."

The three of them answer together, "Yes Master."

Terra is the first to turn away and proceed to walk to the exit, however Eraqus calls to him, "Terra." The young man stops, "Consider this an opportunity." He tells him in a friendly tone, "A second chance for you to change my mind."

Terra looks curious, "What?" He asks.

Eraqus made his way to Terra, "You must know, I care for you like my own son." He tells him, "If I could have my way, I would name you Master in a second." He pauses, "But, how can I, when you are so obsessed with power?" He asks. "Terra, you mustn't be afraid of losing." Eraqus tells him, "Fear leads to obsession with power, and obsession beckons the darkness." He places a hand on Terra's shoulder, "You must never forget."

He then steps back and Terra bows, "Thank you, Master." He says honestly, "I swear… I will not fail you again." He then walks out of the room, with Aqua being very worried-more so than she usually would be, by James' eyes.

"Come to think of it… of the four of us, those two have been here the longest and have probably been here since childhood…. I wonder…" He muses to himself.

James is interrupted in his thoughts, however, when Eraqus approaches him, "James. It is quite possible that you will venture to worlds that you have visited before. Do not allow your old memories to drag you back to the darkness of which you fell victim to." He warns.

James nods, "I know, Master. I let the darkness defeat me once before, but it won't ever happen again."

Aqua offers him a friendly smile before facing Eraqus, "Master, we'd best be on our way."

Just as Aqua and James were leaving, they saw Ventus run past, heading towards the door to the courtyard. "Wait Aqua." She halts, as does James, before they can go further. "Before you depart, I have one other… well, call it a request, of the utmost priority."

Aqua looks at the Master, "Yes?" She asks.

Eraqus shuts his eyes for a brief moment, "I told Terra this could be a second chance to show the Mark of Mastery… and I meant it." He says before adding, "However, that flicker of darkness he displayed during the examination- I can sense it runs very deep. If he were to-." He cuts himself off, "If those powers were to prove too much for him to handle, I want you to bring him back to me at once."

James' eyes narrowed, "You want her to spy on Terra? And drag him back by his heels?" He asks offendedly.

Eraqus remained calm, "It's for his own good." Eraqus tells them, "I could not bear to lose any of you to the darkness." James was nearly enraged at the accusations of Terra falling to darkness.

Aqua spoke before he could say something he may regret, "Of course. I would never let that happen." She says. "I promise you I will bring Terra back."

James is about to direct his anger towards Aqua until he sees a proud smile on her face, "Only this time, you'll see he has what it takes to be a Master." Rendered Speechless, James simply follows Aqua out. On their way, Aqua glanced back at Eraqus, "He's not as weak as you think."

Then, in a huge rush of events, Aqua and James are flying through the Space Between Worlds on their Keygliders on the hunt for the Unversed, Terra-if necessary, and Ventus, who ran off from the Land of Departure, in search of Terra. James looks to Aqua, "We've got a real mess on our hands this time, don't we?" He asks her. Aqua looks his way, "I'd say so, yes." She answers honestly, "But it doesn't matter! We're not going to lose Ven, or Terra! I promise!" James nods, "Right. Then I guess there's only one thing left to say." The two look at each other and speak together, "May your heart be your guiding key!"

(A/N: That's it for this chapter! Thanks to all who took part in the poll for who James goes with. But as I said at the start, I'm curious…. How different would it be if he followed Terra? Or Ventus? Would you guys like to see EX Side stories that starts here and ends where the story will end? Only difference being he leaves with Terra in one of them, and Ventus in another. Lemme know if you'd like to see these. If so, I'll work on them while doing book 3 when it comes to that. In any case, Hope ya liked this chapter! Leave me a review with your thoughts and I'll see ya next time!)