The next morning Arthur walked over to Merlin's house. It would be his first day at Radiant Garden and his first day of education. He wasn't sure entirely what to expect but knowing Merlin and his entire magical prowess he was sure it would get results. He walked up to the door and turned the knob (there was no electrical prank to be pulled today, for now at least). Opening the door he saw everyone walking around the room but dead ahead of him were Merlin and Cid looking down at their watches.
"Now" Merlin pointed at Arthur just as he walked in. He and Cid then looked up and Merlin let out a chuckle "hehehe there you see, right on time as I expected"
"Alright, alright" Cid waved his hands and chewed his toothpick.
"Although you are still quite early boy, I haven't set up the classroom yet" Merlin admitted
"Were you all waiting on me?" Arthur asked
"Surprise!" Yuffie pooped up next to him and yelled
"Yuffie not yet" Aerith said
"Oh sorry" she apologized
"What's going on?" Arthur asked confused by what was going on. Aerith looked over to Merlin who nodded.
"This is for you" she said holding out a small purple card. Taking it and reading it Arthur realized it read 'Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee Hnooray Member: Arthur' "It's a surprise present to welcome to here. Welcome to the team"
"Surprise!" Yuffie yelled again
"Oh thank you all" Arthur smiled happily. Leon then walked up
"Since you're part of the group now you'll have to take on some of the jobs we do" he told as he held a few pieces of paper "We have printouts of some of the jobs that need to be done" he flipped through them "Cid" he called out
"Eh?" he answered
"There is a special request by the name of Scrooge McDuck for you to come and fix his plane"
"Aw come on!" Cid stomped his foot down "I already fixed it twice this week! If he wants it to stay in good condition maybe he should get a better pilot!"
"The note says that he will be withholding tips if your performance continues to show minimal effort"
"Minimal effort!?"
"That's what is says. It also says he wants to see you as soon as your available today"
Cid sighed and bent over "I can't deal with another session of those nephews of his" he sighed as Yuffie patted him on the back
"Also" Leon got their attention "Some maintenance needs to be done on some houses" he flipped to another sheet "and we've gotten noise complains throughout the town" he flipped again "about a group of singing alley cats that-"
"OOHH I want that one" Yuffie cried out and raised her hands while jumping up and down "that is one catchy beat"
"We'll discuss who gets what when I'm done-" Leon said But Yuffie cut him off as she started to sing
"Everybody wants to be a cat, because a cat's the only cat who knows where it's at"
"Anyway-" Leon continued but was again cut off
"Tell me everybody's pickin' up on that feline beat,'cause everything else is obsolete" she sang as she slid across the floor on her heels. Arthur and Merlin smiled and Aerith let out a giggle.
"Yuffie" Leon sighed "we don't' have time for-"she then waltz over as if she was playing a trumpet
"A square with a horn makes you wish you weren't born, ever'time he plays;" she then leaned against Leon and started kicking her feet out "but with a square in the act, you can set music back, to the caveman days"
"Alright Yuffie" Leon said holding the paper out "This one's all you"
"Whoo hoo!" she let as she snatched it and ran out the door still singing the song.
Leon let out a sigh and looked at Arthur "Well that's not how work's usually given out but you'll learn that in time" he then crossed his arms "But for now I think Merlin has some things he wants to go over with you" he said as the old wizard stepped up.
"Yes you see, I have a lesson plan for today for a total of 8 hours. We shall have 2 hours of studying 5 for learning. Today's lesson will be math and science. And that last hour will be devoted to swordsmanship and learning the duties of a Committee member"
"He can start his committee duties now" Cid said walking up to Arthur with a list "Here's a list kid, take it out to the marketplace and get the things there"
"Yes sir" Arthur nodded
"Now hold on Cid! Why can't you do it?!" Cid then turned back to Merlin
"Are you crazy? You heard that note Leon read. Mcducks out for blood, my blood. I can't show my face in that marketplace for at least a day, not with those little watchdogs of nephews of his lookin' for me" he said with a paranoid glance over his shoulder.
"Well if only you had the parts you needed here" Merlin chuckled "Or perhaps I can fix the plane myself, it can't be all that hard"
"Think you're so funny? Why dontcha use your magic to wipe their minds and make em forget"
"Oh Cid my magic can only be used for the greater good"
"Please you don't even have your classroom yet so there's no point in arguing over this"
"Well you have a point there" Merlin sighed and stroked his beard "Go get things boy but be back soon" Merlin said over to Arthur. Nodding Arthur walked out the door and made his way to the marketplace.
Arthur walked to the marketplace looking at the list. He needed multiple new parts and program software for a computer. He didn't know what any of this was but he was sure one of the shops would. He looked up to see one that read "Auto parts" and he went there.
"Excuse me" he to the store owner who's back was to him. Turning around he came face to face with a young duck in red.
"Hello what can I do you for?" he asked
"Oh um I just need these parts" he handed the list over as the duck inspected it "Hey are you Louie or Duey?"
"Neither I'm Huey. You must be new here if you don't know that"
"Well I just came in yesterday with Merlin but I became an official Committee member just now"
"Is that so? Did Merlin put you up to this?"
"No I was asked to by Cid"
"Cid?! Well then you take this back and tell him he needs to come get this himself. We don't accept errand boys" Huey told shoving the paper back into Arthur's hand
"But I thought"
"Lad!" a harsh Scottish voice rang out they both turned to see another duck with a top hat and cane walking towards them
"Uncle Scrooge!"
"Aye and what do I keep tellin' ya no harassing the customers especially if they're new. It's bad fer business"
"Even if it's Cid?"
"Well maybe not Cid"
"What about Yuffie, Leon, or Tifa?"
"You know what I mean boy, so I won't answer stupid questions" Scrooge shook his cane at Huey before turning to Arthur "Sorry about all that lad. He's a bit of a fire cracker, this one, loves to give everyone who comes by a hard time, especially the Restoration Committee."
"It's alright. I just need those parts"
"And I see that you'll get them and at a bargain price too"
"Thank you sir"
"Think of it as a welcoming gift. And as for apologize take a free sample of sea salt ice cream, I insist"
"Well thank you very much sir. I really do appreciate it"
Scrooge then looked him over "Say you said you arrived yesterday with Merlin didn't ya?" Arthur nodded "Well you seem like a good lad, bright too. I'm sure you'll do well here"
Huey then passed on the parts and an ice cream bar to Arthur "Again thank you sir"
"Don't mention it lad, now run along. I'm sure you've got much bigger things to do" Scrooge waved him off out of the marketplace.
Arthur returned to Merlin's house and gave Cid the parts he needed. Thanking him Cid walked out of the room to go deal with whatever had to be dealt with. In the time he was gone Merlin had prepared everything for the class and Archimedes flew down from a bird house with was hung from the ceiling next to an identical one. With the Gullwings unwilling to give up the first Merlin duplicated it so Archimedes would have a place to stay. So they studied Math and Science for the first half of the lesson. Arthur would stop and ask questions to which Merlin or Archimedes would answer.
"Now my boy we shall talk of darkness" Merlin told him
"Darkness?"
"Yes we must. It's something that is a major threat to all worlds. One day when you're a king you may have to fight it off yourself" Merlin said as he wrote of the chalkboard. He drew a heart, a world and on the opposing sides of the board he wrote "Light" and "Darkness". "Now you see-"his alarm clock suddenly started to ring "Oh well what does that mean?"
"Training" a voice called out to them. They both turned to see Leon with his gunblade out.
"Ah of course now I remember" Merlin then turned to Arthur "You'll be learning to swordfight with Leon now. Just remember to review the notes we took today. We'll be having a test on it later on the week. And as for the light and darkness lesson" Merlin paused "We'll deal with that tomorrow"
"Come on wart" Leon said turning and walking to the door "Let's go". After retrieving the sword he pulled from the stone from Merlin's bag Arthur went outside following Leon.
They sparred outside of Merlins house. Merlin watched on from the sidelines while Archimedes perched himself on the roof and the Gullwings were behind him.
"Hey! Down in front!" Rikku shouted
"What?!" Archimedes shouted as he turned around and saw them all grilling him down "Well I never" he said as he stood his ground.
"Alright, come at me with everything you've got" Leon said. Gripping the sword with both hands Arthur charged him but Leon just effortlessly knocked him back by hitting their blades together. Arthur fell back onto the concrete as Leon pointed his gunblade down at him "That was way too clumsy. You're gonna have to work on that. Now come on" he slashed it through the air "Come at me again" With a newfound determination Arthur picked up his sword and charged Leon. The two went on like that for a while with Leon pointing out flaws in Arthurs fighting while Arthur gave it his all each time. But eventually the lesson came to an end. "Alright…."Leon paused as he looked at Arthur who was on his knees panting "Good effort… for your first day" There was applause from Merlin, Archimedes and the Gullwings. Arthur stumbled to his feet "Follow me" Leon said as he walked by "I'll show you how to do a patrol" Arthur agreed and picked up his sword "You won't be needing that" Leon quipped with his back to him as he continued to walk off.
"Don't worry about that boy, I'll take care of it" Merlin said as he levitated the sword in the air with magic. Arthur then ran off to follow Leon.
He showed him everywhere that had to be covered on a patrol, from the marketplace to the streets, and he took him up to a balcony to look out at the Great Maw.
"Even all the way out there?" Arthur asked as he starred out into the distance
"No we'll save that for a wide patrol. I'll show you that another day. For now just get used to the city"
"Alright, I'll try" Arthur said as he continued to stare out
Leon then turned to leave "Jut keep in mind, you also have a test to study for" he reminded him as he walked off but Arthur stayed to look out into the distance.
After getting enough of the view Arthur skipped back to Merlin's house where he saw everyone bustling around, including the old wizard who was picking up a few books while also keeping up a conversation with Cid. He then turned over to see Arthur.
"Ah welcome back. Enjoy the view? Leon said you were quite captivated with everything" he said stroking his beard.
"Yes it's just that…" Arthur paused "Everything's so big. What's out there?"
"Why the rest of the world of course. Don't worry you'll see it all in time" Merlin said cheerfully "But for now I thought you should get these" Merlin said showing him the book he held "They're studying books for you education" Arthur took the books and started looking them over. Merlin content with the boys decision to do so walk away to stand next to Cid. Archimedes then landed on a stand next to him.
Then the door opened and everyone turned to see Yuffie walk in.
"Yuffie. How'd your mission go?" Arthur asked
"Great!" Yuffie said with her arms in the air
"Take care of those noise complaints"
"Nope" she said with a cheerful smile "Did you take care of the maintenance work Scrooge asked for?"
Cid just rolled his shoulders "Nah" he said as he wiped the walls "Thinking about getting' this place cleaned up" he said as he rubbed his soot covered fingers together
"Merlin it is rather dirty in here" Archimedes said "Can't you use your magic to clean it up?"
"It's all the soot from the chimney" Merlin concluded "Well I suppose I could-" Merlin started but was cut off
"Oh wait!" Yuffie shouted out "Let's get a chimney sweeper to do it. I know one it town, in fact" she paused as Marlin and Cid looked at her; Cid with a raised brow "He's got a pretty catchy song too" She then opened her mouth wide "Oh Chim chime-"
"STOP SINGING!" Cid shouted so loudly everyone in the room jumped, Archimedes fell on his stand, and Arthur dropped his book.
Thanks for reading!
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