Chapter 18
As Jayson began to stir his eyes shot open, and he noticed a shock of blue hair like his own slumped over to the right of him, the ceiling was white, and the curtains were drawn around the cot he had been lying on. As he began to sit up the woman stirred awake herself, and once she rubbed the sleep from her eyes Jayson recognized her as Aqua, the master that Yen Sid had been talking to before his venture into Milo's world. "Milo, Kida, I hope that they made it out somehow…" Jayson could hardly believe that was the case, and his face morphed into one of sorrow. Aqua placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled softly at him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I guess… What happened to me? The last thing I remember was fighting the Foretellers in the world I was in, and I lost. They succeeded in forcing the word to succumb to darkness. I don't know how I survived." Tears began forming in his eyes as he looked up to Aqua with a pleading look.
"Why did I survive? Why did it have to happen this way?!" He placed his head in his hands and began to sob. Aqua took him in her arms and held him close, rubbing circles on his back.
"I don't know, maybe your will is just that strong. But you're here now, I know this is sudden, but I called a meeting with the other guardians so we can all collect ourselves and better face this. I want you there." Jayson stiffened at this, and pushed away from Aqua slowly, he gazed into her eyes when he spoke.
"Master Aqua, I really don't think I should be fighting right now. I know it's essential for one of us to be out there, but I don't think it should be me."
"That's why I called the meeting. You won't have to speak up unless you want to, I promise." Jayson thought it over for a moment before slowly nodding. She allowed him to get changed and waited for him outside the room.
As they walked the halls towards the meeting room, Jayson became more and more nervous about meeting the other guardians. "Sure, I met Lea and talked with him for a bit, but I don't think the others will think as highly of me, especially after what happened…" Aqua cut his thoughts off by announcing that they had made it to the room and stepped in. It was a simple room, with a long table in the center and roughly ten seats surrounding the sides and back of the table, with a mirror like Yen Sid's hanging on the opposite side of the room. Sitting in the chairs were Lea, Roxas and Xion to one side, with three chairs next to theirs being unoccupied. On the other side of the table sat a tall, burly man with brown hair and tight, form fitting clothing. Next to him sat a smaller kid, around Jayson's age, who looked exactly like Roxas. Hair sticking up in a strange layering. The only difference was that Roxas had darker hair than this other boy, and his clothes were baggy and comfortable looking. Then there was an anthropomorphic mouse sitting next to him, and after everything that Jayson had seen, he wasn't fazed. Aqua took her seat at the back of the table, and the mirror began to glow to life as Yen Sid's face appeared on the other side. Everyone stood and bowed before sitting down, Jayson taking a spot next to Xion, closer to the mirror. Yen Sid cleared his throat before beginning.
"As I am sure you are all aware, we have a crisis on our hands. Young Jayson has been out within the worlds trying to seal their Keyholes, Riku and Kairi are in the Realm of Darkness, and the Foretellers are destroying worlds left and right. Does anyone have any information as to their real motivations?" Everyone stayed quiet, Jayson slowly spoke.
"They're trying to revive their master, the one who taught them all, they call him the 'Master of Masters'. If he's more powerful than they are, we can't let them get what they want." Lea interjected after Jayson spoke.
"Which is why we sent you out to seal the Keyholes, the Realm of Darkness is a place that only a master can tread, and even then, it's dangerous. We all went on separate expeditions, and we all barely made it out alive. Aqua and Mickey have the most experience and even they were having some trouble."
"Then why not go all together? Or send me with you? I think I could help; I know Riku and Kairi, they wouldn't get lost in a place like that if they had each other." The boy next to Lea, Roxas, cut Jayson off.
"We can't let you go with us because it's dangerous for you! We get that you want to help, but your best bet at helping is to seal the Keyholes while we search for the ones who are lost. Besides, if we all go together something worse than the Demon Tide would maul us." Everyone quieted at that. The burly man, Terra, cleared his throat and spoke with a deep, yet quiet voice.
"We've all been searching, but we haven't heard of what Jayson's been doing. I want to know why you appeared here like this; it was so sudden. Any information you have could be useful, if it's not too much trouble." Jayson bristled. He didn't want to let the entirety of the guardianship know about his failure at Atlantis, and he wasn't sure what to make of the memories he had been given when he met with the Keyhole of the world. But he knew he had to push through and tell them everything he knew. Jayson had spoken of his time with Milo and the crew, the Atlanteans and their connection to Ava and the Foretellers. Then when he got to the Keyhole he paused. Unsure of how to properly tell them what he had learned.
"Then, when I went into the Keyhole, they showed me memories I never remembered having, but I know they were mine. There were so many Keyblade wielders and so much light to go around. But it came crashing down. The Unions all started fighting one another, everyone died… except for me…"
"Wait, so you're like… me?" Ventus sounded shocked, everyone stared at Jayson in wonder, like he was a new person to them. He turned to Ven.
"What do you mean, 'like you'? Does that mean you're from before the first Keyblade War too?" At this question a puff of smoke appeared in front of Ventus, and as it faded away a small cat like creature appeared before them with a pouch hanging from his neck and a light yellow cape, he was gray and black striped, and the pouch had a white star emblazoned across the front of it. He looked like a living plushie. when it spoke, his little mouth twitched, and his voice was like a child's.
"Of course, he was! And I remember you, Jayson. You helped us out a lot in the data worlds, don't you remember?" Jayson - understandably - freaked out at the sight of the cat creature. He pointed to the thing with fright.
"What are you? I don't… I swear… ugh…" He grasped his head and Xion placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him to the seat again to sit and calm himself down. She gave a pointed glare to the little creature before it huffed and explained itself.
"I'm called Chirithy. Back during the age of fairy tales every wielder had one, we were meant to guide them as best we could; Like a guardian angel of sorts. But if our wielder dies, we'll fade, too. It's what happened to me after Ventus went forward in time, But Jayson you're… and even more special case." Jayson grunted before looking up, rubbing his temples, Xion asked the question everyone was thinking.
"How so? He lived a full life on Destiny Islands, he was born. How can he come from the past if he was born in this time, too?" The Chirithy just shrugged but spoke once again.
"Somehow before the first Keyblade War, Jayson's Chirithy was replaced while his real one was infused with Darkness, it's what caused the Keyblade War to begin with. from what his new Chirithy told me, he had defeated it just before the Keyblade War happened, but its last words were something like…" Its voice changed as the little guy focused on the memory, when he spoke again, it was the same dark voice that haunted Jayson's nightmares,
"I'll see you in another dream." Everyone's blood ran cold, Jayson began to visibly shake as Lea stood up and summoned his Keyblade.
"That's the same voice as the thing in Jayson's heart, explain to me how you know it and I might not sear you like a roast duck." Ventus stood and put a protective hand over Chirithy.
"No, you won't Lea, he's my friend. Can you explain what that means?"
"I can." Jayson's voice wobbled with uncertainty as he spoke. "I was given a bangle to increase the strength of my Keyblade. It was supposed to convert Darkness into Lux, what we called light back then, but it turned out I was just taking the Darkness and using it without realizing it. That's why my Chirithy became the way he did. But I still never found out who was behind it, or why they wanted me to be the catalyst for the war. But I killed all my friends without meaning too, I-" Jayson stopped speaking, and just knelt his head down. Ventus moved to his side and patted him on the back.
"I understand how you feel, I had to abandon all my friends to become a Dandelion; It still haunts me to this day…" The atmosphere in the room shifted into something more solemn, and everyone was quiet for some time. Lea broke the silence.
"Jayson, do you remember what happened in your heart after you crash landed in the training grounds?" Jayson shook his head no and said he could explain if he wanted to. Lea regaled the story to them all, and once he finished, he asked, "So, any Idea who the white-haired kid is? You both seemed to know one another."
"Yeah, he was a friend I made before the war; his name was Ephemera. Him and Skuld were the only two real friends I had before then, I wanted to save as many others as I could though and declined the offer to be in the Dandelions. The last thing I remember before my life on the Destiny Islands is being bathed in a bright light, and Ephemera and Skuld standing over me, telling me it would all be okay."
"That can't be right, you were with us when everything started going down the drain with the Dandelions. Maybe you forgot about that?" Jayson conceded that it must have been the case, even if he still couldn't remember it properly. Yen Sid cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"I believe we have discussed Jayson's past enough, as enlightening as it has been. We must have a plan of action. Are there any suggestions?"
"I want to go with Jayson." Everyone's head snapped towards Ventus; shock plastered on their faces.
"But the students here need you."
"They have you guys here, one of us being gone isn't so bad, we managed without one of us every time we traveled to the Realm of Darkness, didn't we? And besides, two heads are better than one with the Foretellers running about." Jayson gave Ven an appreciative smile but stayed quiet. Lea spoke next.
"I didn't like letting him go alone anyways, he may be stronger now, but that doesn't mean that he can't be ambushed and taken out, having someone to watch his back would help him out, right?" No one seemed to question his logic, Xion spoke.
"I think it'd be fine, all in favor of Ventus going with Jayson?" Lea, Roxas, Xion, Ventus, and Jayson raised their hands in favor of this passing through, Mickey spoke next, and it was his high-pitched voice that startled Jayson.
"Well gosh, I guess we're outnumbered, huh guys?" The other three guardians, Terra, Aqua and Yen Sid sighed, but let the motion pass. Ventus had an ear-splitting grin on his face as he patted Jayson on the back, he was also smiling, though smaller than his new companion. Mickey spoke again. "I think we should have teams of three search the Realm of Darkness for Riku and Kairi, since there's six active wielders left, oho!" Everyone nodded in acceptance of this new rule, and it was decided that Aqua, Lea and Xion would be on a team while Mickey, Terra and Roxas would be on the other. It allows for one experienced person to handle the situation if things go south. And with a final command from Yen Sid, the meeting was adjourned, and everyone stood to leave, Jayson and Ventus stayed behind though. Mickey walked towards them, his tail swishing to and fro.
"Golly guys, I hope you guys are successful on your mission, and Jayson, here's a Keychain for you, Yen Sid told me about your ability. Try it out, oho!" He handed Jayson a Keychain with a crescent moon at the end of it. As Jayson attached it to his Keyblade, it morphed into a chain with a crescent moon on the teeth, with a star in the center of it, the blade curved around the moon and the hilt was like wings. Jayson felt power surge through him as he held the blade. He thanked Mickey as he was leaving and turned to Ventus.
"So, what do we do now?" Ventus chuckled, patting Jayson on the back as he led him out of the room and into the halls of the castle once more.
"We're gonna get you kitted out; it'll be fun!" Jayson nodded as Ventus led him along. Certain he would have an interesting time with someone else to watch his back.
GummiPhone entries:
Mickey: One of the oldest Keyblade Masters in the group. He was Yen Sid's apprentice when he was younger, and became a master shortly before Terra, Aqua, and Ventus went on their first adventure. He gifted Jayson with his first Keyblade: Star Seeker.
Terra: He is the strongest of his friends, yet one of the last of his trio to become a Master. He is headstrong and wants to use the power he must protect what matters to him most, he taught Riku this sentiment when they met for the first-time years ago. He has since learned to control his Darkness and use it for good.
Ventus: Upbeat and easy going, he was the second of his friends to become a Master, and he is well balanced with Power and Magic, though he is speedy to compensate for it. He enjoys spending time with his friends and would do anything to stop them from becoming separated, even going so far as to destroy his own Heart.
Chirithy: Ventus' Dream Eater. He was given to all Keyblade Wielders during the Age of Fairy Tales. He guided Ventus then and hopes to guide him now.
Ephemera*: A friend to Jayson and Ventus before and after the Keyblade War. His location is unknown, and he is presumed dead.
Skuld: Another friend to Jayson and Ventus, her location is unknown as well and she is presumed dead.
Age of Fairy Tales: The name of the time before the first Keyblade War.
Lux: The name given to light during the Age of Fairy Tales.
Nightmare Chirithy: The name of the manifestation of Darkness within Jayson, this was his first Chirithy.
Star Seeker: A strength focused Keyblade, capable of dishing out high damage air attacks, Mickey gifted this Keychain to Jayson to aid him on his journey.
A/N: Wow… I think this is the longest chapter to date, and I did not expect it to go this way. Ventus is going to be an interesting add to the dynamic of the worlds now, and I hope you all like what's going to happen in the chapters to come. I hope to see you all soon! Ciao!