Chapter 2 – The Three Friends

The night sky seem cloudless and perfectly clear. Countless of stars scattered in a random pattern, some form a shape of household objects and creatures if you know how to connect the dots. Lying on his back, Ventus smiled as he counted the stars one by one, sighing whenever he thought he overlooked a star or two and decided to restart his count. A slight wind blew a fleck of wasteland sand into his eyes and he cursed as he shut his eyes.

"Not asleep yet?" a voice said from behind him. He sat up, turned his head around, and grinned as he saw a friend of his was approaching him.

"I can't sleep, Meer," he addressed his friend, who sat next to him and leaned against a rock, bending one knee. "What about you?"

"I was worried about a friend of mine who seem to be missing from the campsite," his friend remarked as his stroke his short blonde hair, "I fear he might be captured by the enemy too soon".

Ventus laughed out loud. Obviously, Meer was referring to him. He often ventured about without telling anyone. It was a habit of his that never cease to make his friends worry.

"We have to go to war tomorrow", Meer continued, "You need enough rest".

"Let him be, Meer," came another voice, the two boys glanced to the right, "This might be the last night for him to enjoy watching the stars".

"Suna!" Ventus greeted his friend, and patted the spot beside him inviting Suna to sit down. Suna sat down cross-legged.

"Can't you sleep too?" Meer asked.

"To tell you the truth, I'm quite nervous for tomorrow," Suna answered grimly. His mouth twitched. He hesitated, his friends waited for him to speak while letting the howl of wind break the silence. Then finally he said, "Do we... really have to go to war?"

"What? Are you scared?" Meer replied with a smirk. Suna scowled, then turned away, staring at the village miles away. His face hidden by his dark brown hair disabled his friends to read his expression. But Meer could guess what he was thinking, "Are you worried about Leyan?"

Suna flinched. His cheeks turned slightly pink. Ventus sniggered at that reaction, then punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"Don't worry about her," he said, "She'll be safe at home".

"Imagine how proud she would be; her lover fighting in a war, returning home victorious," Meer cited pretending to be all dreamy. Suna shook his head.

"Leyan disapproved me from going to war. She'd rather not see me injured, or worse...die," he mumbled.

"Then we have to make sure you are safe!" exclaimed Ventus, "You have to try your best not to be hurt by our enemies then".

"Like, running away?"

"That is cowardly!" Meer exclaimed, standing up with his hands on his hips. "We've been practicing how to protect ourselves, haven't we? Still not confident with your skills? Then stand up! Let us have a last minute practice!"

Ventus hopped onto his feet, and pulled Suna's arm to force him up. Suna made a gesture to escape from them, but Ventus pushed him towards Meer. Meer mocked a few punches, which Suna unwillingly practiced his blocking moves. Ventus laughed at his two friends' spontaneous practice session, and then returned his gaze to the sky.

Like any other young men from the small village of Midgar, Jun, the leader of the small troops recruited them to be involved in a war against the Cetra. The Cetra race were very much like humans, but their more spiritual than humans who prioritize materialism. It is not that the Cetra are cruel towards humans, but Jun does not believe by just being able to 'listen to the planet' can change the world. Jun wants a better and developed future, especially for his own race. Midgar villagers have been mining their land and found various minerals that can be used to build better homes and equipments. The Cetra were doing nothing but praying, praying and praying. Jun was an ambitious person, he dreams on expanding his influence and conquest in order to seek other materials useful for future development. He believed that there were more materials waiting to be discovered out there.

Although he had a strong ideology, however, he placed his trust on Meer to lead the troops. Jun may be the chief, but Meer is more of a warrior type than he was. Meer was his most loyal supporter and had his own dreams to achieve.

A fist travelled towards Ventus' face, but he managed to dodge it. Ventus woke from his daydream and realized he was almost beaten up by Meer. He chuckled, and behind him was a worn out Suna - on all fours.

"If the war happens at night, let's hope you don't get distracted by the stars," said Meer sarcastically.

"Sorry," Ventus yawned. Finally, he was getting sleepy, "But I would not want to miss any shooting stars across the sky".

"You and your childhood fantasies. Don't tell me you're still sticking to that fairy tale? How long are you going to keep dreaming of your 'goddess'?"

Ventus shrugged. Meer was right, he was being childish. His parents used to tell him tales of mystical creatures that roam about the earth. But no one had ever come across them, perhaps they do not live on land like he did, perhaps they were just flying somewhere up there and visit the land from time to time. He had seen a few shooting stars throughout his years of living, and assumed it was the divine beings.

"Don't worry," said Meer, after a long pause, "Once we conquer other lands, we'll find the answer to that."

"The Cetra would probably know more than we do," Suna interrupted. "If we could ask them nicely, I'm sure that they would cooperate".

"I'm not sure that they'd be too friendly to their opponents"

Suna sighed. "I wish there are better ways than to attack them..."

"Jun had tried to spread his ideas peacefully. The Cetra rejected it. They say excessive mining will hurt the Planet. I find it funny though".

"I wish I have their special powers. I want to know what it is like to be able to 'hear' the Planet talking or something," Ventus spoke, then frowned, "But it must be very frustrating to listen to so many voices at the same time. Now who would want that?"

From stories passed down by their ancestors, humans were like backward evolutions of the Cetra. His grandmother had told him that humans were Cetra - used to be able to listen to the planet, but soon got tired of hearing voices of dead people. The more they hear them, the less they can move on. Their ancestors tried hard to suppress that special ability by pretending to be 'deaf' in order to move forward. Slowly a huge number of Cetra lost that special powers and transformed into a new species called "humans". They were no longer confined by the rules of the planet, they felt do things that they liked without fretting over restrictions. They were able to invent new technology, though in small numbers. And Jun was one of the new generation's geniuses.

"That's creepy," Suna agreed.

"I have to admit that they are mentally strong. I wonder how they survive long hearing voices" Meer pondered out loud.

"Hey let's go back to camp," Ventus yawned again, ignoring his friend's ramble. He trod down the hill heading for the campsite, "Jun would be angry if we wake up late tomorrow. Especially you Meer, he needs you".

"It was your fault to begin with, Ventus," he replied, following his dark haired friend. Suna tailed him, his gaze went back to the far-off distance. He could see the tiny candle lights of Midgar disappear little by little, wondering if Leyan is staying up all night thinking of him. He sighed, he wished he could be with her now. Not somewhere else, waiting to participate in a pointless fight. Sometimes he found himself cursing his human ancestors for letting go of the Cetran ability, sometimes he swore to himself that he was not born as a Cetra. Maybe in his heart he belonged to the other race, where none of these materialistic thoughts become a reason to live.

The three of them crawled back into their respective tents. Suna took one last look at Midgar, while Ventus did the same towards the stars. Meer on the other hand, gazed at the far away mountains, where a group of Cetra had made home around that area. He could see himself achieving his dreams up ahead. He could see himself, along with his friends cheering triumphantly, holding on to something that they have been searching for.

He could see this coming true.

It was an oath between three friends.

A/N: For some reason I sorta ripped off some ideas from Genesis' beloved LOVELESS, in case you guys noticed. Once again, thanks for the read.