I didn't realize I was heading towards the end here, but uuuuuh. Here we are, lol. Please R&R!
A-New-xXx-Journey-xXx-May-Not-Be-So-xXx-Hard
To each Apprentice he gave a Role, and in doing so, created a point of recreation.
A Reset point, perhaps, that would activate the moment the Keyblade War was at hand. The tolling of the Bells would awaken the possibility within each, to bring them to the future beyond That Final Page to gather at that place.
He may have lost a lot of himself over these many years, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing his Apprentices, despite the atrocities that would come to pass.
The countless lost children.
Aced the Second in Command.
Ira the Leader.
Invi the Observer and Mediator.
Gula the Bearer of the Lost Page.
Ava the one to make a path for those who would come after the War, to form the Dandelions.
Luxu the Bearer of No Name, the one who would watch the events unfold with The Gazing Eye, and make his own path, protecting The Black Box.
Each began to walk their given paths and Roles as they had countless times before as he observed from afar.
It was in the evening as he settled into Edym's abode, smirking to himself as the lanky teen entered and went about his business as usual before he squealed, "M-Master!" His hands were raised in his shock, "W-w-why are you here?! It's creepy to be sitting in the dark like that!"
Sora chuckled, his legs crossed in a relaxed pose at the teen's dining table, "I came to make sure you made it alright on this side."
Edym glared at him with a pout, "These Missions are so annoying! I hate busy work!"
Sora snickered as he waved a hand, "And your Chirithy? Is it helpful?"
The feline popped up in a frantic poof, "Of course! Edym's a wonderful Wielder!"
Sora frowned, "Oh, well I know that's a lie."
Edym bared his teeth, "Hey! You said to at least do enough to catch attention for my great work ethic!"
Sora smiled, "You're right. Keep up the good work, Edym." He stood and slapped the teen on his shoulders, infusing a small amount of his Will into the teen, to be capable of pulling him forward into the future similar to his Apprentices.
Edym frowned as he rubbed at his shoulder while whining, "Did you have to hit me that hard?"
Sora squeezed his other shoulder, "Sorry... Thank you for everything you taught me. I enjoyed our time living together."
Edym gave him an odd look as he seemed to relent. "What's wrong with you, Master?"
Sora stepped away from him, "I'll be disappearing soon. Don't know if I'll ever come back, so do your best. I believe in you."
Edym's eyes widened as he went to grasp The Master's hand, only for the man to disappear in front of his eyes.
A-New-xXx-Journey-xXx-May-Not-Be-So-xXx-Hard
It had been as simple as taking a step back to end up in a familiar back alley as he glanced around the twilight. A ten year old boy stumbled through a Time Gate with tears in his eyes as he looked up to him, "M-master Vara!?"
Sora smiled kindly from his shadowed appearance, "Hey Ven. Been a while."
He sniffed as he glanced back at the now empty street before returning his gaze to the man in front of him, "You were gonna explain things..?"
Sora nodded as he coaxed him into their shared home. It was only a little dusty from the time it'd spent without anyone to live in it, as he simply began to dust and air the place out, "The clothes I gave you have Magical properties sewn into them. They'll repair, self clean, and grow with you. It even has a wristband to cover that scar on your left wrist."
Ventus's eyes widened as he tore the package open at the dinner table, exclaiming in wonder, "It's so cool! Can I put it on now?!"
Sora glanced back at him and nodded with a chuckle, "Sure."
Ventus laughed as he made quick work of changing, excitedly tapping his armor-enforced shoes and turning this way and that as he looked over the details. He tilted his head with a frown, "Why is it split like this, though?"
Sora hummed as he turned, "Split like what?"
"With light and dark colors."
Sora slightly tilted his head as he felt himself fall into neutrality, "Because it suits you."
Ventus contemplated that before shrugging. He plodded over to The Master, only for a feline to pop up on his bed, "Hi there, Ventus!"
The blond jumped at its appearance before immediately falling in love with it, "What're you?!"
"Your traveling companion and Guide, Chirithy!"
Ventus gasped, "Really!?"
Chirithy nodded, "Yup! Now, lemme have a piece of your hair…" Ventus bent down and with a pluck it seemed to absorb the strand, "And tadaa! We're now bonded forever! Nothing will separate us!"
Ventus smiled as he pulled the now stressed creature into his arms, nuzzling his face into its fur with a pleased giggle as it complained.
A Shadow cloyed at his spine in old familiarity.
Such pure Light.
Sora nodded minutely as he responded to it with his thoughts, He's the one I've chosen for you.
The Shadow seemed interested, Truly?
No one will notice you, nestled deep within him with his vast Light. He won't even notice you. You'll get to understand humans more this way, I think.
This seemed to excite the Shadow as Sora gently spoke at length with Ventus, covering various things and what would be expected of him now.
Ventus fell asleep that night with thoughts of presenting himself to the leader of Leopardus.
The Shadow entered Ventus's Heart, nestling deep within to observe the World through him as the Light of his Heart eclipsed their presence.
Ventus's Chirithy was concerned as it felt something happen, but Sora simply soothed its thoughts and melted away into the night.
A-New-xXx-Journey-xXx-May-Not-Be-So-xXx-Hard
Gula approached him in his study as he flipped through his original copy of The Book, contemplating its passages. "Master."
Sora turned to him, "Hmm?"
"Is it really alright for me to take on such a young Wielder?"
The Master tilted his head before jolting with a gasp, "Oh, you mean Ventus?" Gula nodded as Sora waved a hand dismissively, "He's pretty good for his age, right?"
Gula frowned, "Yes, but you weren't keen on Ava and I Wielding so young…"
The Master stood languidly as he held his hands behind his back, pacing a bit, "I think he'll be alright."
"But Master, no one wants to pair up with him for missions…"
"Then let him go alone."
Gula stiffened, "But Master!"
The Master came close, leaning down into Gula's face as he gently spoke with an unusual tenseness, "Unlike you, Ventus knows Cure. He'll be fine, he's strong."
Gula shuddered at the pressing of his Master's aura as he spoke small and low, "Why are you so intent on him, Master?"
Sora pulled back as he paced away from him, gripping his hands tightly, "It would be a waste of his potential! He's been well trained, he'll be alright Gula."
The fourteen year old clenched and unclenched his hands in indecision before finally relenting, "If you say so, Master. I apologize." Gula went to turn as The Master turned to him.
"I understand your hesitance, Gula."
Gula paused, absorbing that before nodding and letting himself out.
Sora sighed as he released the tension in his non-existent body. He placed a hand on his chest as his half-Heart ached.
Sorry, Ven.
He left the study to look over the Town, as he felt each day as if it were his last.
And then he dimmed, faded, and disappeared.
There-xXx-Are-Many-xXx-Worlds
Sora hadn't expected to just… wake up in the Keyblade Graveyard.
Well. A desert wasteland for now, since such things hadn't happened yet.
It was strange to see that place unmarred by countless untold stories. Of dead Keyblades forming a strange x-shaped path.
Sora settled into a crag that felt strangely familiar and comfortable. It must have been where Vanitas had a tendency to settle when not being tortured by Xehanort's training.
He tucked his legs into his chest, wrapping his arms around them as he laid his head against his knees in thought.
"All alone, huh?" He chuckled morosely, falling into an odd trance as days and nights passed. The World moved on without him as Time passed him by. Living as only a half of a Heart and Will combined into one was a bit more difficult than he'd realized, but Kingdom Hearts had asked this of him.
He felt the -blade that had long been nestled in his Heart since Xehanort had handed it to him comfort him along with Kingdom Key.
Sora smiled to himself, or as best of one as he could in his present state.
Didn't have a real body anymore, after all.
Slowly, he felt something in the World shift, something like a reverberating bell tolling in the distance.
Sora opened his eye blearily as the weather changed, rain pouring on him as he groaned and stretched out.
How long had he been asleep?
He pushed himself up from the spot he'd been tucked into. He carefully glanced around, seeing Wielders in the distance as he cloaked himself out of sight.
Well, that was one question answered.
Sora placed a hand on his chest, pleased that he could still at least hide from others, curious if he was capable of transformation to any extent.
He shook his head, that's not important right now.
He waited, his Gazing Eye connecting to him suddenly as he saw the battle from Luxu's vantage point away in the distance on some sort of cliff.
Sora bowed slightly at the weight of it, This is what Xehanort wanted to see recreated.
He waited, slowly scaling down from where he'd tucked himself onto the earth. The rain was a nuisance, but slowly it cleared as Hearts colluded together into the great Heart above in the sky.
Light was shining down in a cold blue, children disappearing in Light or being taken away as a Dandelion as they refused to fight but had tried to spare their friends who had refused to listen to their pleas.
He felt things come to their end as Luxu turned away, the Gazing Eye finally leaving him alone as he waited in the center, hidden from any lingering eyes.
Light coalesced, creating a blade that was familiar as the phantom of Kingdom Hearts appeared before him.
Tall, feminine and masculine in body. Skin and lips light as long hair and lashes were of pitch. Their rainbow glamour in shimmering gold clothes gazed upon him with sad light blue shimmering eyes.
Tears of dark trailed down their face as their feet graced the dusty earth below, gently touching where his face would be if he had a body. They gasped softly, looking him over in tearful distress, "So this is why you…" They sighed softly as they nuzzled his face with a tired sigh. Their voice rang in melodious highs and lows, "I see. Yet, you still came as I requested. Thank you, Sora."
Sora frowned, feeling tears gather in his eye, "I have to destroy the -blade, right?"
"Yes… and with it, so too will I be shattered. Kingdom Hearts, that bloated Moon in the sky that is my true form… it will lose this aspect of itself as I am made broken. Into twenty Hearts I shall split, both here and in the far future. Light and Darkness in varying measure shall bring me back… but never again will I be made manifest like this."
Sora took a steadying breath before releasing it, his Heart Hurt. Why?
They caressed his face as they kissed him tenderly, "You were brought to be in response to the cry of Hope that was lost during the first Loop. I recall granting that Wish of the countless Lost children. Time did not move past this point, as the Foretellers were not gathered. Yet, children were still collected, the Great Moon was still summoned at the sacrifice of Many Hearts… And after the third Loop, you were finally born and brought to the distant past. It's with you that we and I have been able to Hope, to Love, and to Embrace Connection."
Sora grit his teeth, "But I'm not that special-"
Kingdom Hearts gazed at him lovingly, "Not many are."
Sora sniffled, so many roiling feelings in his chest as he tried to keep a grip on himself, "So then… why..?"
Kingdom Hearts smiled, "You were created through many Connections, all stretching throughout Time. You have connected to the Light, and you embraced the Darkness. You were able to accept both sides and find fault with each. Those close to you are proof of that." They kissed him deeply one final time with a sigh, "One day we'll be together again. Not as complete beings, but as fragments of ourselves, as we have been worn down like rocks at the shore. Still, I will love you between them, and you will love them in turn."
Sora gasped, as something deep, deep and afraid tightened in his chest as he gazed up at them.
He recognized the voices Kingdom Hearts used.
Tears trailed from his eye as Kingdom Hearts gently traced over his lost eye with a silent nod as he stared at them in trepidation. "You…" He swallowed, "Are you why Kairi can Wield a Keyblade and still be a Princess of Heart..?"
Kingdom Hearts smiled unanswering.
Riku and Kairi… they were so much more special than he was.
He closed his eye with a sigh, "I'm ready."
Kingdom Hearts stepped back as Sora watched its form fade and join with the -blade.
Sora summoned Ultima, gripping its hilt tightly as it shimmered in reds and white while he breathed for a moment to collect himself.
His Heart couldn't waver now. Not here.
He lifted it, channeling his whole being and Will into shattering the blade before him in one single strike.
He swung down, the blade floating before him unresponsive for a deafening moment before Keyholes erupted from it, and thus it broke into twenty pieces.
Light, Darkness. It broke to be made equal in balance as was needed.
If Light became too strong, more pieces of Darkness would be needed to complete it.
If Darkness became too strong, more pieces of Light would be needed to forge it.
Sora was engulfed in its destructive energy as the Great Moon pulled away from the sky, clearing the barren land of its presence.
Only the multitude of now dead Keyblades left to tell the tale of the many sacrificed in terrible silence.
There-xXx-Are-Many-xXx-Worlds
Sora seemed to be stuck in the Keyblade Graveyard. Sure, he could open Time Gates still, but for whatever reason he simply wandered around those sandy plains as the Gazing Eye activated off and on throughout the ages.
He saw Luxu live out his life, training his own Apprentices.
The struggle of the Dandelions as the leaders disappeared, Brain taking on new forms to raise up a new land from the ashes of Daybreak Town.
Scala ad Caelum and its many islands as land fell away to create one World after another in quick succession.
The generations come and go, the Dark Keyblade that was No Name eventually being mounted in the classroom of the elite. Watching as each generation was brought up. As the female Wielders were discarded.
As they slowly declined themselves to eventual ruin.
He sighed, his hands held behind his back in tight fists as he paced the land. He grew weary of his own thoughts, as countless Wielders passed their Mastery, as many rejected all forms of Darkness.
As anyone bearing Darkness was culled.
He could now understand how Xehanort came to be, as the teen appeared in Scala ad Caelum, shocked and amazed at being brought to a new World.
Suddenly, the monotony shifted as Darkness began to swallow up Wielders.
Sora opened a Dark Corridor near where Xehanort would notice it. A lure in a World too full of Light.
The bait was taken, and the teenager entered the Darkness, fighting against the feelings of ill-will brought about by his own machinations as he would live his life.
Finally the teen stumbled into the desert plains, startling at his waiting form, "Well, hello there, Xehanort."
The teenager with grey eyes watched him with glaring suspicion, "Who're you?"
Sora chuckled deeply as he simply turned, a rock that would be terrific for sitting off in the distance, "A friend of the Light."
He made his way over to sit down, the teenager hesitantly following after despite the dissatisfactory answer, "Were you the one to call me here?"
Sora hummed, "Perhaps. Or maybe this is exactly where you should be."
The young Xehanort looked at him oddly as Sora reached into his inventory and tossed a Black Coat at him, "Here ya go."
Xehanort fumbled it before properly looking it over. He frowned, "What's this?"
"A ward against the Darkness."
Xehanort looked it over more critically as Sora couldn't help but taunt him, "Oh, c'mon! Try it on! Give it a little spin."
The silver haired teen made a face before shucking off his overcoat. He settled it into his inventory before putting on the leather garment, clearly skeptical as he noted gloves in its pockets. He put them on and zipped the coat, adjusting it until it seemed exactly as he knew it should fit. He looked his hands and then himself over before looking at the Stranger, "I don't feel any different."
Sora chuckled as he raised a finger, "Oh, just you wait! There's another surprise!"
Xehanort frowned as he turned, a new portal opening as a familiar brown sack appeared. Xehanort recognized the… thing, glancing back at the Stranger before jolting at the man's disappearance.
Where had he gone?
The sack motioned at him, as if to call out, 'Come, see for yourself the path and future of the tyranny of Light.'
Xehanort frowned, his Heart tugging him onward as he entered the portal that would bring him forward into Time.
Sora relaxed on the slab of rock beneath him, having returned to sight as he waited for the end of the Young Xehanort's journey.
But-They-xXx-All-Share-xXx-The-Same-xXx-Sky
Xehanort placed a hand on his chest as he looked up towards the Dark Keyblade that watched over them.
For a place so obsessed with Light, it sure made a spectacle of such a Dark Keyblade.
He was alone in the classroom, the sky unnaturally dark as it began to drizzle outside.
The higher ups were in a tizzy as more and more students fell on simple missions.
Eraqus had been sent away rather recently, and he didn't trust the elders to have a good explanation as to why, as they would do anything to protect their youngest Blue Blood.
He sighed tiredly, bowing his head before looking at that Keyblade once more and raising a hand towards it, "Are you not tired of being mounted on that wall?"
He felt himself smirk as he almost laughed at himself. The strange coated man, The Lost Master, having given his name.
He couldn't remember it, the Memory silenced and muzzy despite how recent it was.
Was it Fate that protected him from discovery?
Somehow, Xehanort felt that the Stranger in the Keyblade Graveyard was familiar.
He had desired him as a ves-
He shook his head as he dropped his arm, No Name coming to his call as shock ran through him.
Xehanort looked at the eye embedded into the blade, and his Heart settled. A smile came to his face, 'Yes, all is as it should be.'
He closed his eyes, dismissing the blade as he made his way out of the classroom and into a throng of chaos.
Xehanort quickly donned his Keyblade Armor, hacking and slashing at the encroaching Darkness with his regular Keyblade. Whipping it and splicing through the disgusting creatures of the Dark. He snarled as he made his way outside, bodies of fallen Wielders fading away as pieces of armor marked their fall.
"Xehanort!"
He turned towards the strained voice, Bragi limping to him while clutching his freely bleeding side. His dying classmate smirked at him as blood ran over his right eye, forcing him to close it. "Thank goodness you're here."
Xehanort frowned, the denizens of the Dark stayed away from them. "...Bragi, what is this?"
The teen chuckled raspily as he took his bloody hand, the other still clutching his Keyblade as he grasped Xehanort's shoulder in a bloody grip, "I need a favor." Xehanort frowned as the other continued, "I've lived too long to die here, like this… and I can tell you've got that Keyblade now. Freed it from its pathetic display, did you?"
Xehanort tensed as his eyes widened, "Bragi-"
Bragi coughed, "I don't have time. Take me with you- or well, my Heart anyways. Let me rest for a while, and when the time's right, with a proper vessel, you can put my Heart into someone else's body." He smirked, "Fair and square, right?"
Xehanort felt his chest tighten, "That's… atrocious."
Bragi snorted, "I take over people who's Hearts have left, but their bodies don't perish. Nothin' like Nobody's, nah. They're all people who've been in normal accidents. I give 'em new life, makes their families happy despite the supposed amnesia." He shrugged as his body grew weaker, "I have my Role to still complete. Countless Centuries have passed, but it's still clear as day." He gave Xehanort a searching look, "I've witnessed the Keyblade War, y'know?"
That clinched it.
Xehanort took a sharp breath, "What do I need to do?"
Bragi chuckled, "I can do the dirty work this time, to teach you how it's done. Now summon that Keyblade you just got."
Xehanort took a careful half step back as Bragi was capable of still holding himself up. He brought out No Name, and Bragi dismissed his Keyblade. He motioned Xehanort forward, and carefully his classmate pressed the tip to his chest, Light coalescing at its tip as Bragi stumbled back, the body succumbing to injury as the Heart that had been released floated towards Xehanort. The Wielder accepted the ancient Heart into his chest, placing a hand over it as the Heart settled deep within.
'Heh, thanks. I'll Sleep for a bit here, so don't worry about me. Do what you think you gotta do, Xehanort.'
The silver haired teen breathed out as he looked out towards the sky.
Eraqus.
But-They-xXx-All-Share-xXx-The-Same-xXx-Sky
Sora sighed at his failure to explain himself in Quadratum to Ava. They had finally managed to get past The Final Page, and now all he could do was flounder.
He chuckled, "It only took, like, a thousand Loops and however many Millennium to get here."
He slumped into himself, depressed at how he simply didn't know how to move from this point onwards. Everything was finally as they had all Hoped and Wished… Well. Mostly.
There was still work to be done, afterall.
He sighed as he walked up to the Gate Riku and the others had left behind, summoning Kingdom Key to his hand. Easy as pie he raised the blade to it, and followed behind hours after their departure.
His hand still tingled oddly from ripping his past self's right eye out.
He shook his head as he glanced around The Final World.
"Oh, it's you."
The Master paused and turned, looking at the muzzily familiar Star, "Oh, that's right. You're… Sora, right?"
The Star seemed to study him, "Your voice is deeper now, though I suppose it's been a while."
If only she knew, Kingdom Hearts and Light above.
Sora settled next to Hoshizora, just as he had after meeting her the first time around, "I've been to Quadratum, witnessed what happened to you and your boyfriend, there."
The Star seemed to immediately become flustered, "Oh, I- That's a bit much to say." She paused, "How in the World did you witness it?"
Sora smiled depreciatively to himself, "Well, I'm kind of the oldest Sora there is. Lived through a couple Millenium and all that to get here, though, don't tell anyone."
The Star seemed to ponder that, "How strange."
Sora chuckled, "Yeah, honestly it's super weird for me too." He slumped, "Haven't had a body in ages. Eh." He waved a hand, "I'll learn to live properly again someday. Probably." He turned to the Star, "Just like you will, too."
The Star gasped softly, "I can't-"
Sora raised a pointed finger towards her, "You're important to your World, and honestly? Yozora needs you. He's not what he used to be either." He sighed lightly as he rested against his palms, "You'll return someday, I promise."
The Star seemed to ruminate on that for a while. If she could have smiled, she would have, "Thank you. I'm glad we met, Sora. You've given me Hope."
He chuckled softly with a deep seeded sadness lacing it, "Glad I can help."
One-xX-Sky-xXx-One-xXx-Destiny
You played it safe so the ones you loved could have everything
You gave yourself when there was nothing left
Even when the sky was falling down you covered me instead
You gave yourself when there was nothing left
You could always see yourself in me
-Emery, Safe
One-xX-Sky-xXx-One-xXx-Destiny
A/N: Now off to the next installment of Vulpes to Dandelions- Foretellers to Union to Misfits...or something like that.
