She left the master's study in silence, unable to process what transpired. With violet eyes searching for anything that could make sense of what happened, Fait looked down at her set of keys and let out a breath and short laugh that she didn't realize she was holding onto for so long. Her nerves were rattled but she took careful steps down the stairs of the Mysterious Tower to go to her newly appointed quarters. She was going to be the first apprentice to live near the Mysterious Tower for training! All kinds of questions floated through Fait's head. Was she supposed to thank King Mickey? Was she supposed to thank Sora? Did her first test prove some kind of conspiracy that Master Yen Sid had of her? What was her first test even supposed to show? She was young when she received the keyblade, and, if her memories were correct, a world was falling to darkness when it happened. She may not have remembered the name of the world, but she remembered the enemy that she lost against and the feeling of misery at having failed to protect the world from destruction. Was that what made Master Yen Sid reconsider Fait's training? Did he pity her?
That thought alone made Fait replace her feeling of gratitude to one of anger. She wanted no man's pity but with that thought came a sense of doubt. What if she really wasn't ready for her formal exam? Maleficent may have been harsh to her on some lessons and missions, but if Master Yen Sid was normally harder on his pupils when he held no sense of empathy for them then was he the harsher one? She shook her head to clear all of the questions she had and instead pushed forward and marched to her new living quarters. She hurried down the stairs this time and opened the door to go to her left. When a pink light danced across her face, she sharply turned to follow it and watched Master Yen Sid's magic work with awe. The old mage's tower was only floating on a small piece of land, so, when Fait saw stones out in the spatial void forming a bridge towards the tower, the most she could do was behold the spectacle. A powerful glyph, which looked to be Master Yen Sid's crest, had formed near the tower and summoned forth the elements of nature and the power of light to merge and dance together. Earth and stone emerged and fireworks blasted off to create a large observatory in the distance. There was even a telescope protruding out of the side of the dome roof! Surprisingly, one of Fait's keys from the set given to her by Master Yen Sid had lit up and flashed in a bright pink light before darting to the edge of the world and forming a pillar of magic that seemed connected to the observatory.
The explorer in Fait made her eager to go to the light, but the skeptic in her also made her hesitate. Was she supposed to go there now? Maleficent said she would be gone for a little while, so Fait was alone again on this new journey. Nothing unusual this time. Taking a deep breath and remembering Maleficent's comforting voice, she walked towards the pink pillar of light and reached a hand out to touch it. She could feel the power of light mixed with strong magic prickling across her skin and a sudden brightness irritated her vision. She took a calming breath and walked through the pink pillar with half-opened eyes. When the lights simmered down and the winds began to calm, Fait hummed in confusion at the condition of the place she would be calling home. There were holes in the walls and the wooden stairs were rotting. It was like the observatory quite literally came from underground where it was beaten from the natural weathering. Fait looked at her new quarters unimpressed now but a lingering sense of amusement sort of tickled her.
"Figures," Fait commented, digging in her ear. "I'm not a guardian of light like the others... but..."
She was really going to be tested for the Mark of Mastery exam by Master Yen Sid! Maleficent was able to prove that Fait was worthy; of course, King Mickey and Sora were the main ones who pitched in and felt she could be trusted, but the blonde girl could hardly believe it. While she was going to be under constant supervision throughout her new training under Master Yen Sid for the first part of her exam, she found she could care less about that. Realization then hit her. She was going to be away from home longer than anticipated. Almost immediately, she grew more concerned. Melvin and Shinnosuke would be gone from home, too. What about the kids? Sure, she normally entrusted the townsfolk to watch over them, but Aiden had been acting strangely as of late and Ollie was getting closer to becoming human again. She can't leave them on their own just yet. Sighing at her own motherly instincts taking over, Fait walked into the new observatory that Master Yen Sid had created for her and was almost surprised when she was greeted by darkness and a beat-up first floor.
"Ah," Fait said to herself with a light though bitter chuckle. "Well, I'm getting that five-star treatment earlier than I thought."
Abruptly, Fait's right eye glowed yellow and the shadowy flames of darkness emanated from her right temple. She blinked rapidly to retaliate and prepared to fight. So, she had to clean up her own residence, huh? Fair enough. She definitely didn't expect Neoshadows to appear here. These particular Pureblood Heartless were erratic in battle and even worse in tight spaces, but if that's what she had to face first just to setup a bed in this abandoned junk heap then so be it. The Neoshadows didn't take long to ambush Fait and she found she didn't have to fight them. Right as she was about to retaliate, Master Yen Sid used his light magic to paralyze the Neoshadows and send them back to the Realm of Darkness where they belonged through a mysterious corridor. He soon closed it and walked passed Fait. King Mickey was right beside her, making Fait do a double take at the pronounced round ears twitching silently. Donald and Goofy were behind the king, running to his side to protect him.
"Uh..." Fait started, turning back to Master Yen Sid.
"No, the Heartless were not my idea," Master Yen Sid interjected. "It looks like you did not call them here either."
With a flick of his wrist, Master Yen Sid lit a few wall-mounted sconces to illuminate the place. It didn't help very much since the sconces were low on candle wax and oil. The cobblestone floors were buckling badly and a few bugs had made homes beneath them. Fait already saw the holes in the walls from the outside, so, of course, there would be a fully realized hole on the inside. Old tapestries appeared to be attached to the walls of the first floor, and, rather surprisingly, the first floor of the observatory was fairly long. The entrance was rounded like a proper dome, but the back part of it seemed to be more rectangular in shape. Towards the back was a spiral staircase that seemed to be broken up as well. It was even darker in the back than the front so it was harder for Fait to tell. The longer hallway had rooms locked up, so Fait had restricted access to parts of the observatory it seemed. While the observatory was messy, Fait caught on that his training would be difficult and his trust had to be earned. No dark magic would be allowed to redecorate the rooms and she would have no immediate access to the other floors. King Mickey was confused about Fait's new quarters, though. He blinked at the new surroundings and then looked at Master Yen Sid for a second.
Slowly, the mouse entered the building and asked, "Master Yen Sid? I'm not sure I understand this part of the training. If Fait's not fighting the Heartless in here, what is she doing?"
"Fait will be fighting Heartless per my instructions," Master Yen Sid corrected, lighting a scared spider on fire. "But only on the training grounds provided when she is ready. This is where she will be staying for the time being."
"Uh, isn't this place a little..." Mickey started, trying to find the right words. "Dusty?"
"I imagine this is nothing compared to Maleficent's quarters," Master Yen Sid with a slight smirk. "Her henchmen were said to be 'thorough' when searching for something of importance to the witch. Is this not correct, Fait?"
"So, you want me to search for something then?" Fait asked in response, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Master Yen replied, snapping his fingers and making two pieces of paper appear. One was a yellow page that had a golden aura around it and the other was a more white page surrounded by a pale blue aura. The white page was detached from a strange book that was missing many pages. "This is an observatory, after all. I heard from Riku that you have exceptional skills at scavenging, young Fait. Perhaps finding these artifacts will be proof enough of your capabilities. Some are located on these grounds, others are not. You will have to get creative in finding them all. The yellowing page is simply a list of these artifacts. Any supplemental details of the artifacts are yours to render. You owe the existence of the other page to your own master. If you truly have been to other worlds as her apprentice, you should be able to provide a map of the ones you have traveled to. There is a tapestry here that is meant to be hung in the center here. It will show your knowledge of the worlds and stars. Decorate it cleanly."
"I think I'm supposed to be asking you like... what? Ten questions per page since you just magically gave them to me? But I have something more important to ask," Fait said, ignoring the information Master Yen Sid gave her and making the powerful mage turn to look at her with curiosity. "Unlike the rest of your champions of justice, I have a family to take care of and none of you masters are giving me the information I need to find a babysitter. So, sorry for being a little on the rude side, but what does any of this have to do with training?"
"Ah, Sora mentioned you had a son," Master Yen Sid said with a concerned voice. "Maleficent is the one who contacted me about your training. She wanted you to be formally tested for the title of master. I knew nothing of your family prior to this."
"Well, we can pitch in to watch them if you like," Goofy offered, smiling gently and reassuringly.
"What?" Donald questioned. "Why should we? She didn't even let us near that palace! That's where her kids like to go."
"Oh, I forgot," Goofy said, laughing. "But we don't have to go near the castle. We just have to make sure they're safe at home or in the parts of town where we're allowed. Our townsfolk are there, too. Since we have to make sure they're okay, it's only fair we check on the kids, too."
"A palace?" Master Yen Sid questioned, raising an eyebrow and then looking at Fait.
Fait sighed, smacking herself on the forehead, and said, "Keeping a secret is not their forte, obviously. Donald and Goofy have been to my home world. That's how Sora knew about the kids. The people of Disney Castle are also there. They came to us after their world was taken by darkness."
"I was under the impression that you had something to do with Mickey's world being plunged into darkness. Maleficent mentioned that she had plans that she had to complete before you came to me for your exam. How did Mickey's subjects find your world?" Master Yen Sid then asked.
"Shinnosuke told them about it," Mickey replied, smiling. "That's why I felt he could be trusted. He helped them. Since Fait let them stay on her home world, I felt there was some good in her, too. Yeah, both she and Shinnosuke let a world fall to darkness. I can't fix that and I see why anyone'd be askin' if you could trust them, but they're not truly evil at all. Shinnosuke followed his orders and Fait lost a friend who was betrayed by the people of the whole world. That's downright unusual! If darkness didn't play such a big role in their lives, I don't think they would've been on Maleficent's side. Besides, the keyblade doesn't just choose anyone to wield it. Fait has to have a strong heart... and she does!"
"And your mage has a strong sweet tooth," Fait remarked, giggling.
"Uh," Donald started, blushing a little. He laughed with some embarrassment before asking Fait, "If we visit your world again, can we get more ice cream?"
"Of course, you can, Magus Donald," Fait answered gently, smiling with a mature softness. Thinking of something, Fait placed a finger on her freckled cheek and then another under her chin. She hummed, quirked her lips in a mischievous smile, and said, "Since your townsfolk are there, you would be treated as a returning refugee. If you so happen to see my kids in town or if you stop by the house to check on them, you can go for ice cream then. If you ever get hungry, you might be able to trick one of the munchkins into bringing you to the firehouse for sandwiches. If they get bored and ask for you to go treasure hunting with them, they have some snacks I hide in blue and purple treasure chests. When it's nap time, the easiest way to persuade them into resting is giving them a few gummies. Those snacks are under the floor boards in the back of the hallway."
"Clever girl," Master Yen Sid said with a chuckle. "I suppose I can allow you some time to check on your family. Perhaps within that time, King Mickey will be able to check on his subjects as needed."
"Of course, sir," Fait said with a nod, taking the floating pages from the air to place them on her person. She looked around the room and sighed before saying, "Well, if you're giving me off-days, then I should be able to narrow down my choice of sitters. Melvin usually stays on top of snacks and Shinnosuke's a stickler for good progress reports. Food and homework aren't going to be a problem. It's just keeping them busy. In the meantime, this place is a mess and I don't do certain underworld spawn. I'm going to need some cleaning supplies."
"Y'know, it's a shame the castle cleaners aren't here," Goofy offered. "They could've helped ya spruce up the place."
"Oh, you mean the magic brooms," Donald corrected. "They're very special helpers."
Fait chuckled at this and said, "Thanks for the offer but I got this. Years of cleaning up after those messy munchkins makes you appreciate a pile of dust. You wouldn't believe some of the places you could stuff yogurt and baby carrots in! Speaking of places, how do you want me to find these different artifacts if they're not on this world? Are you giving me a Gummi ship to use or something?"
"This is all part of your test, young Fait," Master Yen Sid said calmly. "If you are aware of Gummi ships, then I imagine you have used this method of travel before. Riku and Mickey have seen you use a Corridor of Darkness when you submerged a world in the very depths of darkness. Being a pupil of Maleficent, I imagine you have used this method of travel in the past as well. If there are other methods of travel that you know of, I propose using them all to find what you need. Your Mark of Mastery exam will be different compared to the other keepers of light. You have a set of skills not easily obtainable. Though I placed you in an illusion to understand how and when you received your keyblade, I could see you exhibited a lack of control over your powers at the time and the enemy you faced then was frightening, especially at so young an age. Now, it seems you have been disciplined well in combat over the years. Rather than put you through physical training, I will instead test the might of your light. These artifacts have an immense amount of cosmic power. They must not only be found but be contained in there designated places here. Both challenges require everything you know just to complete them with some success. The biggest challenge you will have is relying on your power of light. The more times you access your powers of darkness, the less likely you will pass."
Hesitant with this rule, Fait asked, "I can't use half my power at all?"
Mickey chose then to step in and said, "You can do this, Fait! You don't need to use the powers of darkness for everything. The keyblade chose you in the darkest hour to defend others. Your light had to be strong on its own. Think back to that time when you were needed the most and use that power to move forward."
Fait looked at Mickey with a hopeful smile before it diminished to a saddened expression. Taking her necklace into her hands, she looked at her Torch of Hope keychain with some wonder and a twinge of doubt. Master Yen Sid noticed this grim look on the young girl's face and hummed in question. It looked like she didn't want to use her powers of light, and the wise mage could only come to a single thought in that moment: she was afraid and traumatized. That monster that Fait had to fight as a child had a worse effect on her than he thought. Maleficent probably used that against Fait and manipulated her into turning away from the light and the keyblade to instead find comfort in darkness and her own strength. He knew Fait was a capable fighter but avoiding the light so drastically in exchange for physical power and prowess was a bigger concern.
"Young Fait," Master Yen Sid called, earning the girl's attention. "Do not let one failure define your worth within the light. Your strength has grown immensely over the years and it is continuing in its growth. Fear is the strongest weapon against any master. Doubt is the fuel fear needs to completely dominate you and control the very thought of your actions. Overcome your fear and you will have earned your title. Cast away your doubt and you will never lose sight of who you are as a protector."
"Yes, master," Fait said quietly with a nod.
"HHEEYYY!" a voice called out from the distance, surprising everyone.
"Hm?" Goofy hummed in question. "Hey, that sounds like Sora. I forgot he was still at the tower with Riku."
Sora was shouting and waving his arms frantically from the other side. He and Riku were waiting near the pillar of light and magic but they didn't enter through it. Well, Sora tried to walk through it but the pillar shot him back and diminished as if to lock him out. Riku only sighed at his enthusiastic friend and waited. He kept a closer eye on him these days, especially with the events that had happened in the past with Master Xehanort. Now, he wasn't sure what Maleficent would cook up. Riku felt in his heart that trusting Fait would have dire consequences. He and King Mickey saw firsthand that her ability to decimate a planet was immense. While Master Xehanort sent many worlds to darkness, Riku had never seen anyone destroy an entire world from the core to the surface. That sort of intensity was monstrous and only someone like Maleficent would manipulate that sort of power to be released under her control. At that moment, Riku felt sympathy for Fait. She was being used like he and many others were in the past, but Fait was traumatized from different events in her past. That trauma was the one form of control Maleficent had on the blonde. Maybe Master Yen Sid planned to help her overcome it?
Seeing the pillar of light change from pink to a baby blue color, Riku and Sora looked at the magical power source with a questioning gaze. Suddenly, Goofy shot out of the pillar and tumbled into Sora, effectively knocking him down to the ground, while Donald also rocketed out of the pillar of light and sandwiched poor Goofy between him and Sora. Riku looked at his friends out of concern for a moment before returning his sight to King Mickey, who elegantly hopped out of the pillar, and Master Yen Sid, who simply walked out of the pillar as though it were a cobblestone sidewalk. He waited for Fait to appear but the girl didn't show.
"Where is she?" Riku asked, nodding at the pillar of light to direct his master's attention.
Master Yen Sid turned slightly and said with a hopeful smirk, "She's beginning her first level of training. I have confidence that she'll complete this part fairly easily. Once she is complete, I will leave one of you with a specific set of instructions relating to her exam."
"What's her exam going to be like?" Riku asked out of curiosity. "Is it really out of the ordinary or something?"
"Yeah!" Sora interrupted, popping his head up from the dog pile he was bottom in. "Will it be harder than ours?"
"The Mark of Mastery exam is meant to test one's skills in battle against the darkness," Yen Sid started, stroking his beard with thought, "and it is typically used to test one's capabilities in learning a very valuable skill that only one of pure heart could utilize. As an example, you and Sora had to learn how to awaken hearts for the battle that was approaching against Master Xehanort. What I learned about Fait in the study showed me that she quite possibly already possesses this power."
"What?" Riku and Sora shouted more than questioned.
"How can you tell she knows how to awaken hearts already?" Sora asked, throwing Donald and Goofy off his stomach.
"I placed Fait in a layered dream of sorts," Master Yen Sid explained, looking at all of his pupils. "In it, she was supposed to revisit three memories. I had to evaluate each memory in order to gain a better understanding of Maleficent's intentions and Fait's needs for this exam. One memory was when she first received the keyblade, the second one was when she learned how to seal keyholes, and the third was when Maleficent began teaching her in the ways of the keyblade. Those memories as you saw in the study have had adverse effects on Fait's heart and mind. In a dire time of need, she was able to release many hearts from the clutches of darkness and eternal demise without formal training and before the fall of a world. This use of power came at a grave cost and was challenged by an enemy far greater in power than she could handle on her own. She woke from the dream too early for me to analyze her powers at that time, but I can only assume that the world had fallen. She has been riddled with guilt from that moment ever since."
"I've never seen anyone in that kind of pain before," Sora said in a saddened voice, holding a closed fist over his heart. "She looked terrified. I couldn't see what you saw. I just saw darkness swallowing her whole. She didn't even know it wasn't real. Are all of her memories that intense?"
"I think only the memories of when she started using the keyblade were the worst ones," Mickey said with a frown on his face. "Maleficent actually surprised me most of all. The fact that she held some tenderness towards Fait and calmed her down the way she did means she really did train Fait from the ground up. Everything she said about finding Fait when she was little might be completely true."
"So which memory was Fait revisiting? Was Maleficent even in it?" Riku asked more for himself than for the others.
"The memory that Fait saw within the dream I placed her in was her first one," Master Yen Sid replied, making Sora and Riku gasp. "Maleficent was not present when Fait discovered the keyblade or when that particular world Fait was trying to protect was consumed by darkness. Seeing a familiar and comforting presence is what stopped Fait from doing damage to herself and her surroundings."
"Did she even revisit the other two memories?" Riku then asked.
"I'm afraid not," Master Yen Sid responded, shaking his head slowly and closing his eyes. "I had no ill intentions towards her. It was not necessary to have her suffer more from a different memory if they all effect her in the same way. However, she has surprised me with her resilience and her ability to redirect her attention to her original task. This means she has grown since then and devotes her energy to doing better. Her exam will be focused on that growth. She is an adept fighter who can hide in plain sight. An exam testing those skills would be too easy. However, her reluctance to use the powers of light are what concern me and that is what I have chosen to test instead. The Mark of Mastery exam in Fait's case - and your involvement in her progress - will require her to choose between the light and darkness. I believe you, Riku, are the best candidate to oversee her training."
"Yes, Master Yen Sid," Riku responded, nodding approvingly.
"What about me?" Sora questioned, pouting at not having a significant task.
"You, Sora, will be responsible for ensuring Fait's success in her exam. It will be evaluated in parts," Master Yen Sid replied, smiling with confidence. "You might be the very thing she needs to believe in herself and her capabilites."