Ch.3 Training.
After Drexel got done with his shower and got dressed he left. His Chirithy was on his shoulder instead of gone like most do. He asked his Chirithy to do this so he isn't left out. It was happy Drex cared even though Chirithies never seem to miss anything going on with their partners.
He thought about his dream from last night. The voice, the items, the door, the Invisible, the platforms with different people on them, and...those images that asked him those strange questions. What was all that? It couldn't be just a dream because he had scars from the encounter. 'Just who, or what was that voice?' Drex thought.
His Chirithy was humming a tune on his shoulder. Chirithy said it was called 'Simple and Clean'. He liked it. The song was nice. He listened was he walked to his first destination. The local moogle store. He forgot the name of said moogle, but he still shops here. He has to restock on potions and check to see if the items he ordered arrived yet. These items will help with his training. He ordered them a month ago so they should arrive soon.
He saw other Keybearers mingling about. Talking of random things or preparing to go on quest. Quest usually deals with Heartless extermination, but have been other things. Some Heartless are powerful enough that you need groups to deal with them. Those heartless are known as Raid Heartless. There are stronger forms of them as well as of other kinds of heartless. Those are Omega Heartless. They can be about five times stronger than the original variety. An Omega Raid Heartless either has many Keybearers from different Unions or the Foretellers themselves dealing with them. Drexel hasn't seen an Omega yet. Which he was kinda glad for. At his current level an Omega would destroy him.
He saw the shop coming up. It was in front of the fountain he was at yesterday. So it wasn't hard to remember since he loved visiting the fountain. He walked inside and saw other Union members inside. Including some from his own union. The shop also served as a restaurant for the union members. The Moogles way of earning more Munny. He saw the moogle taking orders at some tables near the back so he went up to the shop counter and waited for the moogle to be free.
A few minister later the moogle was finished with his current orders and was at the counter. "Drexel Quake. Nice to see you again. Your order came in today by the way." He said.
"Thanks. I was wondering when they would show up. I came here to restock on potions if you don't mind?" Drex said.
"Coming right up." He went to the back to get both his package and potions. While he was waiting for the moogle he looked around. His Chirithy was talking to other Chirithies while their partners were talking to each other while eating. Drex then realized...he forgot breakfast. 'Dang it! Oh well. I'll eat when M gets back.'
The Moogle then appeared carrying two boxes. One of potions and the other Drexel's package. "Here we are. One box of potions and your package. That will be 2500 Munny please." He said.
Drex handed the munny over. Good thing he saved up. After that he ordered some breakfast from the moogle. It was 40 munny. He handed the potions to his Chirithy who then put them each one at a time into its pouch. He put his package next to him at a table by himself. He waited a few minutes before the Moogle brought over his breakfast. After eating and putting the plate away he called over his Chirithy and left.
After leaving he went towards the park. The one near the lookout view that has a large open area in the middle. He saw a few Keybearers either hanging out or training with each other. He went towards a tree and laid his package down and began to open it.
"What did you order anyway? You didn't tell me." Chirith asked.
"It was a surprise. It's training gear. To help me get stronger." He then proceeded to pull out weighted arm bands and leg weights. He also pulled out what looked like two starlight Keyblades. Except these were just metal.
"These weighted straps will be attached to my arms and legs, and these fake Keyblades are weighted as well since our Keyblades don't normally have weight." He explained.
"Why did you order two though?"
"Well I normally only need one. I would switch between hands while training because you never know when you might have to use your other arm. I got the second one to practice using both arms at once. I know dual wielding Keyblades is a myth but this is just practice. Besides I've seen high ranking Union members form beams of light in one hand while fighting." Drex said. He then strapped on the weights. Each weight was about twenty pounds. He can feel the strain from them already.
"Ok. First before Keyblade forms I'll do some standard workout routines. Push-ups, sit-ups, those kind of things. To help me both get use to these weights and build some muscle." With that Drex proceeded to do twenty push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and squats. Afterward he ran around the park for about ten laps. He was exhausted already from all of that. "Dang. Am I out of shape or something?"
"Not really. You just started so of course you're exhausted. Aren't you going to train your light or magic?" Chirith asked.
"Of course. Just training my body as well." Drex replied. He then walked over to the tree and sat down in a meditation form. He tries calling out his light only to pull a bit starts letting it cover him as he tries to increase it. He felt it was getting stronger, but felt like there was a block of some kind. Something keep it sealed or something. He then remembered his dream. That door...could that be his light? So it's open. Just not all the way. He needs to somehow open it up all the way, but how?
He signed. "Ok. I'm not going to be able to get more than that. Might as well practice my other stuff." He got up and grabbed one of the metal starlights.
Each Union has their own form of techniques and stances. Each representing their strengths.
The Ursas union focuses on power, but with a stance of tread defense. Not only powering through their enemies with overwhelming strength with everything of their key, but being as sturdy as a mountain when it comes to taking an attack head on.
When facing an enemy, the Anguis union takes a stance of study. Purposefully leaving a clear opening to invite them to attack so they can study and predict their movements. Once they have the weak spot insight, they deliver a swift final strike. Stealthy and silent, just like the snake.
Speeding through every battle are the members of the Leopardis union. Their training as well as their natural speed makes every encounter end in a flash. They go head first into a fight delivering a barrage of speedy attacks before their opponent can realize. And by the chance of their opponent getting a swing it, they retract their attack just as fast as they deliver.
The Vulpus union, being the more advanced in magic, are usually long ranged fighters. Firing off spell after spell to overwhelm and eventually defeat their opponent. Some can even infuse magic into their keyblades for a more close combat fight. Though their support spells are what really stand out as they can turn a battle around with a swift heal spell.
Finally, the Unicornis union. Unlike the other unions that focuses more on one aspect of the keyblade and excel at them, Unicornis focuses on having a balance in every aspect. The growth rate of any particular aspect is slower than one would receive in the other unions, but they make up for it in their well balanced style. Power, magic, speed, stealth, they may not be powerful when used individually, but with balance and working with all of them together they are a force to be reckoned with.
Drex used the weighted Keyblade to practice his attacks slowly. Slow so when he has to use them they will be both powerful and precise. He does about fifty swings each for both hands. While he was training his Chirithy noticed someone walking towards him. "Hey Drex heads up."
Drex looked to where he Chirithy pointing and saw a girl walking over. He recognized her as Marinette of the Ursas union. She was Master Aced's star pupil. She had long, blonde hair with green eyes. She wore a plain white t-shirt that was tied in a knot at the bottom, and blue jeans. Wonder what she wants?
"Yo. Your Marinette right?" Drexel asked.
"Correct, it is nice to meet you. You are...?" She
"Drex, Drexel Quake. I'm apart of Master Ira's Union Unicornus. You from Ursas right?" He asked.
"Correct, Master Aced even gave me the honor of calling me his star pupil." She puffed her chest out with pride. "I was passing by and saw you training, and I was intrigued. I haven't seen any other Union practice strength training like us in the Ursas union."
"Just because my Union is balance doesn't mean I can't train my strength. I want to get stronger so I can be ready for stronger Heartless." He said putting the weighted Keyblade down. "You know what here." He tosses her one of them. "Does your union use something like this when training?" He asked.
She did a few practice swings for example. "Yes, quite a bit, they vary in size and weight though. We train with these to work on our physical strength."
Drex nodded a bit. "Figured as much. That's why I'm currently wearing weighted arm and leg bands. Each is about twenty pounds each. I already ran around the park about ten times as well as some physical workout." He said.
Marinette nodded then she saw a scar on his hand. She was about to ignore it thinking it's just a small injury when she noted the shape. It looked familiar. She then realized the scar came from a certain Heartless's sword. She suddenly grasped his arm and held up the hand where the scare was. "What is this?"
He got a little worried. "Uh. What is what?" He said sweating a little. He didn't want to tell her because he didn't think she would believe him.
"Don't get smart with me. This injury is from a heartless, I can tell. Were you injured in a quest? If so then why aren't you taking care of it?" she asked harsher.
He sighed. "I didn't get it from a quest. Last quest I was on involved a neoheartless but it didn't hurt me like this. I didn't want to say because you most likely won't believe me." He told her.
But she wouldn't let him go. "Even though we are in different Unions we are all still keybearers, so we must stand together. You do not have a reason to lie to me, so what you have to say I will listen to in all seriousness."
"Ok." Drex signed. " I...I got it from a dream."
She raised her brow slightly. "This is a physical injury. How is it that you got it from a dream?"
He looked her in the eye. "This wasn't a regular dream." He took of his shirt to show her the scar across his chest. "I was surprised when I woke up today to find this."
She walked closer and traced over the scars with her hands. "Have you told Master Ira of this yet?"
Drexel shook his head. "No. I haven't run into him yet. Didn't think anyone would believe me I got this from a dream fighting an Invisible." He told her trying not to blush or shiver from her hand tracing the scars.
She pulled her hand away. "From what I know, this has not happened before. You may want to consult Master Ira, if not any of the other masters, incase this happens again."
"I'll think about it, but it wasn't just the Invisible. There was this..voice from nowhere. It talked about a great power in me, as well ask these weird questions. Not only that there were these strange platforms that had not only the Foretellers, but this kid. I think he is apart of Master Ava's union, but I never met nor spoke with him before." He said quickly putting his shirt back on. Hoping he isn't blushing.
Marinette gained a thoughtful look. "Great power within? Dreams? Well for us Union Members, the power of dreams is of great importance to us, as they are to our Masters. It is why we all have our Chirithy's. Perhaps it does hold meaning after all."
"I hope I figure it out." He said. He walked over to the second weighted Keyblade and started swing both. One at a time about twenty each. "This Dream was weird. I just wish I knew what it means."
"Dreams are mysterious indeed. Now, I must take my leave. It was nice meeting you Drexel Quake."
He smiled in her direction. "Likewise Marinette."
As she was walking away she thought to herself, 'How should I report this to the Master?'
The Foretellers were just finished with another meeting and Master Aced was on the way back to his Union. He wanted to see if anything happened while he was gone. Even though it was only a few hours. On the way he saw his pupil Marinette. She looked troubled about something so he decided to see what's wrong.
"Marinette." He called out to her. She turned around to see her Master walking towards her.
"Master Aced , good evening." She slightly bowed in respect.
"A find evening indeed, although you seem to be thinking of something troubling. Would you like to talk about it?" He asked.
She pondered a bit before nodding. "It's just, I met a strange boy today, who was from another Union."
"Was he from Gula's Union? Did they get perverted with you?" His voice rose slightly at the thought of someone harassing his star pupil.
She blushed a bit. "N-no Master. His name was Drexel Quake He is from the Unicornis Union."
He nodded understandingly. "Drexel Quake, I see." He said, 'He must be the student Ira told us about.' He thought. "Well, Marinette, I may be a master when it comes to the art of the Keyblade, but I'm not exactly the perfect person to talk to about relationships. I mean, it is not forbidden between other Unions but…"
"M-Master!" She squealed, a light blush dusted her cheeks. "It's not like that!"
Aced slightly stepped back in surprise, "Oh, sorry my student. So you say the boy is strange. In what way?"
She calmed down and returned back to her usual demeanor. "Well, I was observing him while he was training and decided to approach him. During our talk I noticed he had a scar on his hand. When I asked him about it, he said he got them from a dream, as well as showed me the rest that were on his chest. The felt like fresh scars, and he said he hadn't been on a mission recently. He described the dream as him standing in a world surrounded by darkness, but stood on a strange platform of stained glass. The image on them was of you and the other Foretellers, and another boy he has never met. You and the other Masters have a better grasp of the power of Dreams, do you know anything about it?"
She couldn't see it, but Aced's eyes widened slightly behind his mask. 'The boy has been to the Station of Awakening? How is this possible? It looks like Ira was right about this student, he certainly is abnormal. I have to report this to the others.' he thought
"I do have a theory, but i must consult the other Masters about it. But for you're peace of mind, it is nothing to serious."
She bowed her head. "Thank you Master."
"Now, what is this about touching his chest?" He asked, surprising his student.
Marinette's face suddenly flared with a blush. "Master!?"
"I did say that relationships aren't forbidden between Union members, but those kind of sexual relations should only be reserved for marriage! And another thing young lady-!"
Aced dragged on the "talk" while Marinette just stood there with a blush that could light up a room.
Later that night at his home. Drex was thinking about that dream again. As well as the girl. 'What does it mean. Well at least I made a new friend. I think? She was kinda cute.'
His Chirithy was looking at him from the window sill. "Thinking about your girlfriend?" He was so caught off guard he fell from his bead.
"She's not my girlfriend! I was thinking about that dream." He said blushing.
"If she wasn't your girlfriend why was her hands all over you?" Somehow his Chirithy was giving a smug look from their usual poker face.
"She was checking my scar to see how bad it was nothing more!"
His Chirithy laughed. "Whatever lets you sleep easier. Good night." With that it disappeared. Drexel signed. Wondering when his Chirithy became a teaser like that. He got back in bed and went to sleep.
A few roofs away looking at him was the figure from a few nights ago. "So he was at the Station? Hm. Most interesting. Drexel Quake. Let's see how much your light will burn. Before it's smothered by my darkness." With that it vanished.
AN: Deathwatch here. Sorry it took so long to update. Was having trouble with the chapter. A Mysterious figure is watching Drex. Just who is it? What does his dream mean? Who know. Thanks for reading. Leave a comment about what you thought of it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, any of its original characters, or any Disney characters.