So I'm sure some readers aren't sure about Sora's character at this point. I'm trying to find a good balance of making Canon!Sora into Canon!TMoM, and with how muddled I am on the timeline related to TMoM in KHU/X, and whatnot… it's uhm.. It's a rough time. I was rewatching the cutscenes, especially the back cover ones with TMoM, just… laughing since I'm watching it with the idea of this story and it's like. Dang Sora.
When TMoM got a voice, I totally first thought he was wacky enough to be Demyx's somebody. For this story I wanted to keep my initial impression of TMoM and still make it plausible… with him as a red herring. I thought Myde was Norse related… but I'm not? Really finding it? Whereas Edym is another form of Adam.. and.. that… sorta works so~. -shrug-
The will to write was hard to find and this chapter is a little short. I also had to create a full character sheet for the Foretellers, lol. Please R&R.
Now-xXx-I-xXx-Will-xXx-Step-xXx-Forward
Sora knew the next moment in time he'd ended up wasn't too far forward since parting ways with Ventus… but he was confused as to why he'd moved forward at all. His Heart pulled him along of course, bringing him to a festival by the docks only to notice a musical performance being held.
Sora bit his cheek as he tried to hold himself back from reacting outwardly as Vanitas groaned and slapped his forehead, 'Sweet Void's Abyss… HIM?! Why is HE here!?'
Sora was trying to hold back his reaction, possibly from laughing in hysterics, but he managed to only snort quietly before covering his mouth and turning away. 'Did you even know what his Somebody name was?'
The Remnant seemed to ponder that, '...No? Why the fuck would I bother with someone as useless as him? I was kind of busy putting myself back together with the screams and terror of children before we crossed paths in-' He stopped, 'Wait.. did that happen..? Fuck time travel loop paradox bullshit… augh.'
Sora chuckled under his breath as he watched the teen who would one day be called Demyx sing and strum his Sitar, clearly younger than the self he was used to, though clearly beyond most of the embarrassments of puberty since his voice was steady.
'His voice is… kinda nice.'
'If you like your ears bleeding, sure.'
Sora frowned, 'He's better than me…'
'Excuse you? We have a great singing voice.'
Sora smiled slightly, 'If you say so…' He decided to mingle in the crowd, keeping himself hidden under his cloak and adjusting his voice to sound a little less conclusive as he visited various stalls and purchased food. Sometimes he'd be approached and spoken to, other times offered a drink from someone a little too handsy and declining.
He was getting a tad too good at threatening to rip people's fingers off if they grabbed his arm offering him a good time, and if it happened one more time-
Eventually the night got late enough, and the search for Demyx's Somebody began. Sora had allowed a little time to pass before trying to locate him, but it didn't take him too long to find the lanky blond.
He smiled as the teen was talking to some others, pleased with his performance and slowly flagging in energy from the buzz of the day.
Sora simply observed for a time before the teen was finally left alone. Abruptly the blond turned with a sharp look in his gaze, "Who's there?!" He wasn't able to keep the fear out of his voice despite his sharp senses.
Sora lifted his hands as he seemed to melt out of the darkness of the night, "A friend."
Demyx squeaked as he jumped back, "H-hey man, I don't have any friends, and certainly not any that just melt outta the darkness!"
Vanitas snorted in the back of his mind as Sora blushed, rubbing his head as he tilted awkwardly, "Uh… my bad." He waved a hand, "I wasn't trying to frighten you!"
Demyx gave him a suspicious look with a deep frown on his face, "I don't know what you want, but if it's money, I don't have any."
Sora would beg to differ with the pouch hanging off his hip, but that wasn't why he was here, "Oh no, I'm not interested in money-"
Demyx gasped as he clutched his chest, "Th-then, are you after my body!? I know I'm amazing and all, but I'm not-!"
'I will kill him, please Sora. Let me just-'
"NO!"
Vanitas pulled back into silence and Demyx literally jumped in terror with a squeal.
Sora sighed heavily as he slumped dramatically forward, "NONE of that is why I'm here!"
Demyx finally calmed down before crossing his arms in confusion, "Then why are you talking to me?"
Sora smiled ruefully as he spoke in a monotonous tone, "I'd like to take you on as an apprentice." He grimaced as his stomach turned at the idea.
Vanitas would have grabbed him by the collar if he could as he growled, 'Please tell me you're joking.'
Demyx blinked, "An apprentice in what?" He brightened, "You mean in music? Are you a musician?!"
Sora smiled awkwardly as he straightened up, "Uhm…" He scratched his cheek, "Not exactly?"
Demyx blinked before slumping, "Aaawe~!" He then straightened with a dismissing wave, "Well, if it's not music related, I'm not interested. G'bye."
Sora panicked and warped in front of him, making Demyx scream again as Sora grabbed his hands in a pleading grip, "I- I mean, I can teach you in music, but I can tell you have an amazing affinity with water, which is totally related to your wonderful musical talent! C'mon, gimme a chance! I can make you into a great musician AND a fighter!"
Demyx pouted while he whined, "But, I hate fighting! I'm weak! And lazy!"
Sora patted him on the shoulder with a bright grin, "You also get free room and board, along with three meals a day!"
Demyx paused before grabbing both hands and shaking them enthusiastically, "You've got yourself a deal!"
Sora laughed lightly as Vanitas screamed from within, "I'm- The Master. What's your name?"
Demyx blinked as he froze, "Wait… The Master? The Master?! The guy they say lives in the Tower that's immortal!?"
Sora blanked, "...Uh… that's not… really true but.. I guess, yeah."
Demyx released him and jumped back dramatically with his hands in the air, "Wh-what's a powerful guy like you doing being interested in a weak guy like me!?"
Sora slumped as he weakly responded, "You have talent…"
Demyx searched him dramatically before putting his hands on his hips with a nod, "I must be pretty awesome to be noticed by a guy like you!" 'HE'S WRONG, PLEASE TELL ME HE'S WRONG-' "Name's Edym! Nice to meetcha, Master!" He struck his hand out for a handshake that Sora tiredly returned.
"Nice to meet you, Edym…"
Sora's head hurt already.
Now-xXx-I-xXx-Will-xXx-Step-xXx-Forward
He only opened a specific area of the Tower for Edym's free perusal, which of course included a music room. Various instruments were scattered around, as Sora had taken up the bored hobby of learning each instrument as it appeared over the centuries.
Who knew, maybe one day he'd have to fight with instruments or rhythm, a little like what'd happened during his original failed Mastery exam or his time in Atlantica.
He had also taken the time to figure out how to form change his Kingdom Key into those various instruments. If he were honest, his favorite so far, purely because of Vanitas's reaction to it, was the Kingdom Kazoo.
The mixed brunette was dressed in blacks and greys as he began to play various instruments and pieces from memory, going over each until it sounded correct. Edym eventually wandered towards the noise he was making after waking up late in the afternoon. The blond mullet-head rubbed his head half awake, "Master, you play with no soul."
Sora went into a horrible screech on the flute he was testing as they both winced. The mixed brunette coughed, "Well, I am reacquainting myself with each instrument…"
Edym waved a hand, both dismissive and explanatory, "No, no, no, what I mean is, is while I can tell that much, have you ever played for the fun of it? Let the music move you instead of you trying to move it?"
Sora blinked as he set the flute in his lap. A small grin came to him as Vanitas groaned, "Well, I do enjoy playing the kazoo…"
Edym stared at him before squinting, "I know you're missing an eye, Master, but maybe you lost some of your marbles with it." He shook his head as Vanitas laughed in the back of Sora's mind while the brunette winced.
"I just think it's funny, that's all."
Edym shrugged as he smirked, "I guess it's something." He flopped down into a chair and waved, "Play something with the kazoo then."
Sora gave him an odd look, "Aren't I supposed to be teaching you?"
Edym smirked, "I think you're more interested in making me learn to fight, so I'll teach you how to play instruments with a little life, and you can teach me a little combat everyday, how's that?
Sora huffed with a shrug as he got the kazoo, "Sure."
Sora decided to play on the kazoo what he could remember of the music that emanated from the Heart of Disney Castle, forcing Edym to eventually ban him from ever playing that melody ever again.
Vanitas decided he liked the blond.
Now-xXx-I-xXx-Will-xXx-Step-xXx-Forward
Sora was… surprised at how well Edym took to learning how to fight.
Threatening him with more kazoo playing may have played a part.
Still, after a month Sora felt the blond could survive decently leveled missions. The primary issue, though, was that Edym had no fighting spirit whatsoever. At first he was questioning why he was really bothering, while also knowing Demyx was a competent fighter in the future.
He was just truly and honestly lazy.
Yet, Sora found himself pleased. He was learning how to better play instruments and sing, while Edym begrudgingly had to keep up his end of the bargain and learn how to fight. Eventually Sora awoke his ability to use Magic, and that was where Edym seemed to flourish.
The blond quickly acclimated to Water Magic as he'd expected, and swiftly started experimenting while playing music with his Sitar how to make it into a weapon so it could fight in his place. It took a few months of refining, but Edym finally managed to create a handful of Water Clones to fight enemies with. It was effective enough for the Pureblood Heartless, and Sora started having him go on small missions to prepare for the future that he could see with his missing eye.
It was showing him more and more visions of Daybreak Town being full of teens of all ages, each in a chosen Union as they went on Missions together with a shadowed feline companion.
The mystery feline made his Heart ache a little in homesickness for reasons beyond him, just out of reach.
A year slowly came to pass as Sora found himself oddly more enriched while learning in tandem with the musician than many others. It was strange, but he hadn't really noticed how he hadn't allowed anyone to actually teach him anything since his childhood and teen years. He'd gone on so long being self-taught and self-sufficient, that he had stopped understanding how bonding and enriching learning from another point of view could be. Learning in equal measure instead of higher and lower authority or rank was a new and refreshing experience.
Sora also came to relearn how to relax more. Edym demanded a particular way of living, and while Sora had at first found it obnoxious, he eventually allowed himself to chill and realized he hadn't stargazed in years.
Hadn't spent time to rest and actually commune with the elements he was using.
Edym was a break he didn't know he'd needed. However, he also knew he was training him rather oddly, in a way that had a purpose he wasn't entirely clear on.
That was, until Vanitas remembered something from more than one Loop, 'Xehanort was convinced Demyx knew something about the Keyblade War.'
Sora blinked as he turned a page in a music theory book he was perusing, 'Seriously?'
He could sense Vanitas nod as he continued, 'It was pretty unbelievable… but you've been training him. Maybe he ends up being one of the chosen? I can't see him fighting to the death on some barren land…'
Sora frowned as he tilted his head, '...One of the chosen what? Vessels?'
'...No. A weed.'
'...A weed? What kind?'
Vanitas went silent as he couldn't remember.
The mixed brunette sighed as he leaned back to stare at the ceiling tiredly, 'Another piece for the future?'
The urge to write began to itch in the back of his mind, so he pulled out an empty notebook and started writing, losing track of time as he found himself journaling through the night and beyond morning.
A familiar presence lurked in the shadows near him, watching.
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"I know it'll break your heart, but I think it's time we go our separate ways."
Edym gasped with a brightness in his look before schooling it into sadness, "You mean I won't have to run a mile in the morning anymore!? How could you do this to me?!"
Sora rolled his eye as he smirked, waving an easy hand as he placed a plate of food on the table, "Oh, I know you'll miss me eventually. A mile run will be something to look back on fondly in comparison."
Edym almost looked sick in his drama, "Whaaa~?! How could I ever think of a mile run positively? It's torture!"
The mixed brunette chuckled as he started to eat, ignoring the other for a moment as he tried to collect his thoughts. "I'm actually kinda sad about the idea of having you leave."
Edym raised an eyebrow, "Wait, really?"
Sora smiled, "It's been a good year. I've been… happy."
Edym made a face, "Oh, gross. Don't get sappy on me now, Master."
Sora gave him an annoyed face, "What are you-?" He clicked his tongue, "You're the gross one to make something more out of it than what it is."
Edym chuckled to himself, "Well, I won't miss your little missions."
Sora smiled and stayed silent as the blond slowly stopped eating, unnerved as he stared at the other. He started to sweat, "Uh, you… You aren't thinking of sending me on some super long life threatening mission, are you Master? 'Cause if so you're even more cruel than I pegged you for!"
Sora sighed lightly as he lazily leaned on an arm on the table, looking at him with a devious look on his face, "What if I said you don't have to do much more than you want to, though?"
Edym gave him a look, "That doesn't make any sense."
Sora shrugged, "Sure it does. I just need you to participate in a Union, go on just enough missions to catch the attention of a particular person, and get recruited to their little club. Once you're in, you can laze about as much as you want until… whatever happens."
Edym was confused, "But why?"
"I need you to make people think you're me."
Edym paused.
Stared at him.
Squinted at him as he leaned forward, "Are you crazy?"
Sora grinned brightly, "Nah, but I need you to do that for me. It's not a conclusion anyone would actually make anytime soon. It's really just to give a fake lead for anyone who looks into the coming Keyblade War too deeply."
Edym jumped back, "Keyblade War!? I know you have one of those things, but I certainly don't!"
Sora stood and made a motion for Edym's hand. The blond reacted instinctively as he went to place his hand over the Master's, only to find the hilt of a Starlight in his hand while Sora exclaimed, "Oops!"
Edym stared at Sora, then his hand, then back to Sora before jumping back, releasing it, only for the basic Keyblade to end up in his hand again. The blond stared at it in horror before pointing with his free hand, "You tricked me!"
Sora laughed as he pulled Edym into a rough side hug, "Now, lemme tell you all about my little scheme…"
Edym sang off key and played obnoxiously through the night to spite him afterwards.
Sora kicked him through a time gate the next morning with little apology as Edym screamed.
Edym fell into a bed on the other side of time, with a feline waiting for him and his room full of his things, as if they'd always been there and had simply waited for his return. The cat-like creature spoke in annoyance, "Well, it's about Time you showed up, Edym."
The blond huffed, "It's Edym Time, thanks." The feline plucked a hair out of his mullet, making him squeal.
Now-xXx-I-xXx-Will-xXx-Step-xXx-Forward
Sora stretched as he stayed in the Tower for a decade before going out and traveling the World and collecting teens and either coaxing them through Time Gates, or simply taking a smaller few along back to Daybreak Town and housing them.
Soon Daybreak would begin to fill with teens, selected due to their affinity with Light, yet... he couldn't help but realize that he was missing something imperative. Two more years passed with this strange unease as he worked on the strange dimensional pods that had sat deep in the basement of the Tower.
Eventually, Sora's Heart Guided him far away from Daybreak to a Town that specialized in wood crafting and lumber. He observed the Town, wondering why he'd been led there, watching while hidden in his usual traveling cloak and unremarkable garments underneath.
A teenager with great drive and strength slowly came into focus, making all others unremarkable in comparison. There wasn't a lazy bone in the teen's body as he watched him work for several hours without complaint. Short mahogany red hair and brown eyes somehow made the fuzzy image of Terra awaken in the back of his mind as he smiled.
The Strength of a Bear, a protective Nature.
Sora nodded to himself. He was one he should take under his wing and train.
A few days passed as he made himself a little more known, asking questions and buying a few wooden trinkets due to their impeccable craftsmanship.
Eventually he approached the teen, a friendly smile on his face as he hailed him, "Can I speak with you?"
The teen stopped, dressed in simple browns and tans for his work. The brown eyed teen watched with a frown on his face, "What can I do for you, Stranger?"
Sora chuckled lightly as he rubbed the back of his head, feeling short in comparison, which hadn't happened in some time. "I was inspired by your work ethic and Just Heart, and I couldn't help but wonder if you might be open to becoming my first Apprentice?"
The teen looked him over, studying him with deep suspicion, "An apprenticeship in what? A man hiding himself under a cloak can only be suspicious."
Sora coughed as he laughed awkwardly with a wave, "S-sorry! I'm just a little shy, is all!" He pulled down the hood of his cloak as he smiled brightly and rubbed the back of his head, "I might not look like much, but I'm pretty strong!"
The teen gave him a disbelieving look as he looked him over, "You look like a man who could be bowled over by a light breeze."
Sora slumped, "Well, that's just plain mean of you to say." He brightened, "How about I prove it to you?"
The teen raised an eyebrow as he set down the logs he was carrying and crossed his arms with a smirk, "Fine, go ahead and show me your so called Strength."
Sora shucked off his cloak with a short laugh before summoning Superbia and double jumping before spinning mid-air and diving to the ground, causing a shockwave and a cloud of dust.
Of course, this little show caused a bit of a stir and a crowd as the teenager was left speechless. For while he'd withstood the impact, he had stumbled from the force of the shockwave.
Sora picking up his cloak before hefting Superbia onto his shoulders with a grin, "Well? Interested? Education, Room and Board, Food, and learning how to Wield one of these things."
The teen was still unconvinced, "That's all fine and well, but for what reason?"
Sora blinked, "I mean, who doesn't wanna learn how to Cast Magic and- OH! The biggest incentive of all is that you would be protecting the Light of the World!"
The teen paused, a more disbelieving look on his face, "...Magic doesn't exist, you speak of fairy tales."
Sora gave him an odd look, "What do you mean?" He summoned a ball of Water at the tip of his Keyblade and immediately Cast Blizzard on it, making it an ice ball. He tossed it from the tip of his Keyblade to the teen's fumbling hands, "You totally have an affinity with the Earth! I bet it even talks to you, and you've just been told to ignore it. A total waste of talent, if I do say so myself!"
The teen seemed to slowly lower his guard at that, "But... "
Sora gave him a kind look as he dismissed Superbia and placed his hands on his hips in a relaxed pose, "Those who hear the Earth are Strong Hearted and kind people. I could really use someone like that to pass on my knowledge to!"
The teen finally slumped, "...Can I think about it?"
Sora nodded as he put his cloak back on, "Sure!" He struck out his hand for a shake, "I'm The Master! What's your name?"
The teen balked, suddenly understanding just who was in front of him before stumbling over his words as he became nervous, "Uh- I'm. My name's Cedar, Master, Sir."
Sora chuckled as they shook hands, "Nice to meet you, Cedar!" He took a few steps back as he waved, "I'll return in the morning for your answer!" He ran off without allowing another word edgewise.
Cedar accepted his offer, and together they returned to Daybreak Town to begin his training.
One down, five to go.
