Chapter III; Mark of Mastery
Y liked to think she was great at arriving just in the nick of time. After all, she had never been late for training once, even if Ven had to shake her awake a few minutes before training started. She had always managed by some miracle to make it to training on time. Barely on time, but still on time. She was hoping her luck would continue to hold out. But of course, on what could be considered the most important day in years, she finally ran out of luck.
Y stopped in front of the doors to the hall the test was being held in. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her breathing. She had run most of the way to the hall from her room. The encounter with the strange masked boy had shaken her. So she took a short time to brush off the encounter before rushing to the hall.
Y brushed her hair back behind her ear and tugged on her dress to straighten it out. The dress was rather simple. It was predominately silver with gold from just under her chest to the bottom, forming something like an apron pattern. The sides of the dress were a little longer than the rest and the entire thing was uneven. Underneath the dress, she wore black shorts. She had black knee-high socks and wore silver boots. An x crossed her body, with a heart in the center just over where her heart would be. It was the same heart everyone from this world wore. On either shoulder, she had pieces of armor that connected to silver sleeves.
Deciding she didn't look as if she had just woken up Y approached the door and opened it just a slight bit to peek inside. She cursed under her breath when she heard Master Eraqus speaking. Without much thought, she slipped in and found her place off to the side beside Ven.
"What happened to just a minute?" Ven asked under his breath. Y shot him a glare, before looking around the room. Her eyes landed on an old man sitting in one of the thrones at the front of the room.
"Lost track of time, trying to finish a report." Y replied, barely above a whisper. "What did I miss?" She asked. It didn't seem to be much, as Master Eraqus just seemed to be starting his speech.
"Not much. It just started when you walked in." Ven replied back. Y nodded turning her attention back to the Master. Across the room, she took note of another boy standing, however, she didn't pay him much mind.
"But I'm sure our guest, Master Xehanort, did not come to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the mark. I trust you are ready." Master Eraqus said. Y glanced back to the old bald man, who she assumed was Master Xehanort. Something about him made Y shiver.
"Yes." Terra and Aqua said in unison.
"Then let the examination begin," Eraqus said. He raised his own keyblade and summoned five balls of light. They seemed stable and well controlled. How these orbs would be of any help in the test Y wasn't sure. But she wasn't inclined to question the Master.
Aqua and Terra summoned their keyblades, preparing themselves for what seemed like what would be simple. Before they could begin, however, there was a bit of darkness around each orb. The orbs then began to move erratically, like they suddenly had minds of their own. Several surprised gasps sounded.
Not wasting a second Aqua and Terra moved to take out the orbs. As they attacked one of the orbs moved, heading directly towards Ven and Y.
"Ven! Y!" Terra and Aqua said in unison. Before the orb reached the two observers they drew their keyblades. Ven's was dark in color and looked like it was meant to be held backward. Which was fortunate as Ven did hold his key backward. Y's key was a light goldish yellow. The guard was rectangular but curved at the top, the rod looked like a sword and had small bits sticking out near the guard. At the tip of the blade, there was a crescent shape that had three blades coming off of it making the teeth look something like a sun. The charm was a star.
Ven hit the orb, destroying it before any damage was done.
"Don't worry about us. You guys focus on the exam." Ven said. Aqua frowned immediately after hearing this.
"You two are in danger here. Go wait in your room." She ordered. Y and Ven exchanged an exasperated glance.
"We can handle ourselves. We've been waiting to see this for ages." Y said, returning her gaze to Aqua.
"There's no way we're going to miss you two becoming Masters," Ven added. Aqua looked ready to argue, but Terra stopped her.
"They've been training just as hard as us. They'll be fine." Terra said calmly. Aqua reluctantly nodded in agreement. She looked over at Ven and Y with a worried frown.
"Stay sharp you two." She ordered before turning her attention back to the light orbs.
Without any more words, the group started on the orbs. Though Master Eraqus had only summoned five, they appeared to have multiplied. There was now around ten. Y and Ven stayed as close to the edge as they could, slashing at the ones that came close to them. But it was hard to fight in a confined location, so they eventually moved away from the wall. Y noticed across the hall the extra boy was fighting as well, but he didn't have a keyblade, which Y thought was strange. She shook her head and returned her thoughts to the fight at hand.
Y had just destroyed what she thought was the last orb. She looked up at Ven with a proud smile. But the look on his face was one of surprise. Y quickly realized something was wrong. She looked over her shoulder to see an orb coming straight at her at an alarming pace. She flinched away from it, though she knew it wasn't smart and braced herself to be hit. It was a surprise when nothing but several gasps of shock came. Y cautiously looked over her shoulder. She froze in shock at what she saw.
Her brother was standing, frowning at her. One hand was on his hip while the other was at his side holding his dagger. But his eyes weren't brown like Y remembered them. They were purple. Maybe it wasn't X.
The boy who looked too much like her brother wore a grey long-sleeved t-shirt and black pants. He had a belt that hung crooked on his hips with another belt attached to it that hung down one leg. There were two belts wrapped around each of his thighs as well as his upper calves just below his knees. His boots were black and came up to his mid-calves. He wore a long hooded black coat that reached the top of his boots over top the outfit with a belt around the waist that was left undone. The coat was stitched part way up the back and sleeves with what looked like the letter X. The stitching repeated itself on the front on either side of the zipper. On his left hand was a black fingerless glove, and a spiked black choker necklace wrapped around his neck.
"Three years and you still can't get into a fight without needing me to save you." The boy said with playful annoyance. Y blinked in surprise. Nope. Definitely X.
Master Eraqus cleared his throat, telling them to return to their places. X went to go back to the other side of the room. Before he could Y grabbed onto his arm and stopped him, pulling him to the same side her and Ven had been on. X rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Ven gave Y a weird look but decided not to question it, turning his attention to Master Eraqus.
"That was unexpected, 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. Which brings us to your next trial." Master Eraqus said. Aqua and Terra nodded and proceeded to the exact center of the room where they stood looking at each other with their keyblades drawn. "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." Master Eraqus continued. Seeing both Aqua and Terra were ready he spoke once again. "Begin."
Aqua and Terra instantly began their sparring match. Terra was going for heavy hits that Aqua was easily dodging. It was no surprise as they'd been training together for so long they knew how to fight each other maybe a little too well. Y turned her attention away from the fight to her brother. He was watching with surprising interest. Not even noticing Y looking at him.
Everything about him still seemed like X. His hair was the same shade of blonde as hers. It was pretty much the same length it had been too, not too long but still long enough it could be put in a ponytail. His skin was just a bit darker than hers like he had been out in the sun for a long time. He stood with the same relaxed demeanor he always had. His eyes, though a different color, still had the same shape and somehow gave the impression he knew far too much. Y turned her attention back to the sparring match.
Aqua and Terra were still exchanging blows. Aqua nearly hit Terra, her keyblade hardly an inch from his face. Terra's hand outstretched and became coated with darkness. Y gasped and without thinking slipped her hand into X's and squeezed. X returned the squeeze in a reassuring way instantly. Just like he always did. It seemed the only thing wrong with him was the color of his eyes.
The sparring lasted a few minutes more until Master Eraqus ended it. Aqua and Terra again stood in front of the thrones. Both Masters Eraqus and Xehanort stood in front of them.
"We have deliberated and reached a decision. Terra, Aqua, you both performed commendably. However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery." Master Eraqus said. Y gasped looking to Ven. He looked just as surprised as her. "Terra, you failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check. But, there is always next time. That is all. Aqua, as our newest keyblade master you are entitled to certain knowledge. Please wait here for further instructions." He continued before leaving with Master Xehanort. Y released X's hand before darting over to Terra and Aqua. Ven followed her lead. X watched them a moment before rolling his eyes and following the two Masters out of the room.
"Terra, I'm sorry." Ven said cautiously.
"Yeah, I really thought you had it." Y said. Terra didn't look up at them. He kept his gaze on the floor. He looked at his hand in question. It was the hand the darkness had spread over.
"The darkness," he said softly as if the others weren't meant to hear him. "Where did it come from?" Y frowned at him. She opened her mouth to answer but was stopped before she was even able to. "Sorry, but I need some time alone," Terra said before walking off.
Y frowned looking to Aqua and Ven. Ven was looking at the ground sadly, probably feeling bad for Terra. He really seemed just as skilled as Aqua. What was a little darkness? Aqua smiled at them both softly.
"I'm sure he'll be fine. We can try talking to him later." Aqua said. Y and Ven both nodded without a word. "You two go wait in your rooms. We'll sort this out later." She insisted. Ven nodded, not arguing this time. Y nodded, though she didn't intend to go to her room. Maybe she'd be able to catch X and his Master before they left. Get a chance to talk to her brother.
Without another word the two left the hall, leaving Aqua to wait for the Masters return.
X walked a little ways behind Master Xehanort. It has been no surprise Terra hadn't made the Mark. It was going just as the old coot planned it. It was almost scary how much Eraqus trusted him. Especially since Xehanort had put those scars on Eraqus' face.
Nearing the stairs X saw Vanitas leaning against the wall, his helmet off and held at his side. He was watching X and the Master make their way towards him with a bored look. They stopped in front of Vanitas.
"What do you make of Ventus?" Xehanort asked calmly. Vanitas looked away and snickered.
"He ain't gonna cut it. Somebody's gotta break that loser in." Vanitas said. X couldn't decide if that was actually what he thought or if he just wanted to beat Ventus to a pulp. Both were possible.
"Not here you won't. We have to keep up appearances." Xehanort warned. X snickered earning a glare from Xehanort.
"I wouldn't mind dropping the act," X said calmly. Xehanort glared at him yet again before turning his attention back to Vanitas. Vanitas was smirking at X.
"I know. He just needs a little incentive to leave home." Vanitas said. He put on his mask, leaving his place on the wall. Xehanort turned to look at X.
"You know what you must do." He said simply. X nodded.
"Duping five keyblade wielders. Shouldn't be hard." He said before turning to go back into the hall.