Chapter 12 Ventus

"Here you go kid," Terra says catching Ven's attention. He hands him the extra helmet he keeps in the hidden compartment under the seat of his glider. Ven takes it with a small nod of thanks and returns to staring off into the bright blue sky lost in thought. Terra regards him for a second then, "Earth to Ven!"

Ven jumps slightly at the loud call in his ear and turns to glare at Terra. Terra smirks at him and asks, "What's got you spacing out so much this morning? I would have thought you'd be excited to go see another world."

"I'm excited," Ven says but he lacks any real enthusiasm in his voice. Terra just stares at him with his eyebrows raised. "What?" Ven snaps at him. Terra doesn't respond. "Fine," Ven says playing with the helmet in his hands. "But you won't believe me." Terra gestures for him to continue. With a sigh Ven says, "I'm distracted because last night I couldn't sleep. I felt like I was being watched and I couldn't shake the feeling. Once I even thought I saw yellow eyes in the corner of my room, but when I turned my head there was nothing there."

"I'm sure it was just your mind playing tricks on you," Terra says. "It happens to all of us when we are afraid. Suddenly it seems like there are monsters in every corner."

Ven hangs his head feeling ashamed for being scared so easily by something that was just a figment of his imagination. Terra walks over reaching down to place a hand on Ven's shoulder. "Hey, it's okay," he says comfortingly. "There is nothing to worry about. No heartless can get to this world. It's protected by old magic."

"Are you guys ready to go?" Aqua calls as she hurries down the steps from the castle to them. Master Eraqus trails behind her walking at a more dignified pace.

"Yeah I can't wait!" Ven shouts back with a huge smile on his face.

Terra straightens up raising his hand to run it through his hair as he wonders at how fast Ven can switch moods.

"If all of you are ready, we can depart now," Master Eraqus says summoning his keyblade. His apprentices follow suit and they each toss the keyblades is similar arcs (Ven's doesn't go quite as high as the others) and four keyblade gliders come back hovering next to their respective owners. Ven watches as Terra and Aqua simultaneously slap their own small sleeve of armor and their armor appears in a flash of light. Master Eraqus does the same with a golden sleeve of armor that he doesn't always wear.

Feeling a little left out, Ven dons his borrowed helmet saying, "Why don't I get any flashy armor?"

Master Eraqus' masked head turns towards him. "I have already spoken to Master Yen Sid and he has made arrangements for you to receive your armor today."

Perking up right away, Ven happily jumps aboard his skateboard like glider as the others mount their own gliders. Master Eraqus takes the lead, taking off first. Aqua points to Ven to indicate he should go next and she and Terra follow after.

…

Master Eraqus lands lightly dismissing his armor and glider simultaneously. Terra and Aqua touch down beside him doing the same. Ven however is enthralled by the crooked tower rising up from the tiny patch of earth that is all this world is. He circles the spires of the tower trying to peer through the windows as they flash past him.

"Ventus! Get back here!" Master Eraqus shouts up to him and after a final circle of the tower Ven complies letting his glider disappear while he was still off the ground. He drops the final four feet and lands lightly. With a grin he removes his helmet and hands it to Terra who makes it disappear like his glider.

"This place is awesome," Ven says spinning back to look up at the tall tower.

Laughing, Aqua walks past him with Master Eraqus as they head for the front doors. "C'mon," Terra says giving Ven a light smack to the back of his head to bring his attention back to them. Rubbing the back of his head with pout, Ven runs after the others catching up just as they reach the doors. With his curiosity fit to bursting, Ven walks through the doors wondering what incredible magic lurks within the tower.

…

"I...hate...these...fucking stairs," Ven says breathlessly as they reach yet another empty landing.

"Language Ventus," Master Eraqus says without even glancing back. "Only one more flight to the top."

As Master Eraqus continues to the door on the other side of the empty room Ven drifts farther behind the others muttering darkly to himself.

"What did you expect Ven? You saw how tall the tower was," Terra calls over his shoulder.

"Yeah, but I thought there would be some cool magic stuff in here," Ven whines. "It's just empty and quiet." He goes through the door and groans looking up at the stairs that seem to rise endlessly up. He trudges up slowly letting the others pull farther and farther ahead of him until he is alone. "Could've just flown through a window at the top," he mutters to himself. "What son of bitch thought to even build a tower if all it has in it are stairs? Couldn't it've just been a single story?"

Ven, lost in his own thoughts, didn't see that he had reached the top. He stumbles in surprise at the lack of another step and his mistake must have made him look like an idiot because he hears Terra snort in amusement. Looking around for Terra to give him a death stare, Ven's eyes instead fall on the two strangers in the room who are both looking at him with interest.

"Ventus," Master Eraqus says in a tight voice obviously not happy with Ven's less than stellar entrance. "This is Master Yen Sid and his apprentice Mickey."

"It's nice to meet you, sir," Ven says with a polite inclination of his head. He might as well try to salvage what he can from the first impression he is making. The seated old man with the long gray beard and a pointy hat that is, in Ven's opinion, extremely ridiculous inclines his head in response not saying a word but his eyes stare piercingly into Ven's. Slightly uncomfortable, Ven looks away and his eyes fall on the short apprentice standing beside his master. He can only see Mickey's head behind the large desk and stares with his mouth agape. Without thinking Ven blurts out, "Holy crap! You're a mouse!"

Terra hides a laugh by turning it into a cough. He glances over at Aqua and Master Eraqus who share identical expressions of horror at Ven's lack of manners. Master Eraqus sputters, unable to string together the words to chastise Ven for his rudeness. And Ven, to give him some credit, at once realizes his mistake and immediately tries to backtrack.

"Oh, I didn't mean it like...it's just...I've never seen...I'm sorry," he says looking down his shoes.

"Aw it's alright," Mickey says and Ven looks up sheepishly to see the mouse smiling kindly at him. "It's nice to meet cha Ventus. I'm Mickey, Mickey Mouse."

"It's nice to meet you too Mickey," Ven says still staring in wonder at the mouse. "I'm sorry about before, but I've never seen anyone who..." He trails off worried about offending Mickey any further.

But Mickey just laughs. "You'll have to come to my world someday, there's lots of talking animals for you to meet!"

"Thats incredible," Ven says. "What world are you from?"

"Why Disney Castle," Mickey says a little wistfully. "It's beautiful. Gosh I haven't been there in a long time. I wonder how Donald and Goofy are doing, and Minnie!" Mickey pauses with a small smile. "Oh and what about you? What world are you from?"

Ven opens his mouth to reply, but before he can Terra takes a step forward saying, "Master Yen Sid, I know Ven is very excited to get his armor. Do you have it?"

"Yes," Master Yen Sid says in a slow monotone voice, "Indeed I do. The fairies left it in the adjoining room." He gestures to the door leading off of the study. "You will find that it fits you perfectly."

"C'mon Ven," Aqua says leading him over to the door. "I'll help you find it." She opens it letting Ven walk through first and follows closing it behind her. Before she closes it completely she shoots Terra a look that says she expects him to take care of the situation.

As soon as the door closes Terra beats Master Eraqus by saying to Mickey and Master Yen Sid, "Ven is from Carinol. Don't ask him about his past it just makes him upset."

"Gosh," Mickey says his forehead creasing in a frown. "I didn't mean to upset him."

"I don't think you did your majesty," Master Eraqus says. "But we are trying to be very careful around him."

"Wait," Terra says confused. "Your majesty?"

"Yes Terra," Master Eraqus says. "This is King Mickey of Disney Castle."

"Oh I'm sorry your majesty. I didn't know," Terra says bowing slightly.

"Oh shucks, you don't need to do that," Mickey says. "We are both keyblade wielders. I want us to be equals, and friends!"

"Alright Mickey," Terra says smiling down at the humble king.

The door to the adjoining room opens and the four guys look up to see Aqua come back through followed by Ven who is wearing the biggest smile. His shoulder bears a small sleeve of armor not quite as bulky as Terra's. Just below his shirt, a piece of armor is just visible. "Thank you Master Yen Sid," he says respectfully. "I really like the armor."

"I will be sure to pass on your appreciation to the fairies who created it," Master Yen Sid replied. "Come here Ventus."

Nervous, Ven walks over to stand in front of the large desk. Master Yen Sid stares frowning slightly at him while Ven does his best not to fidget under his gaze. After a minute, Master Yen Sid closes his eyes. "Hmmm," he murmurs. He opens his eyes to stare at Ven once more. "A balanced heart like none seen before. An internal battle for an external power. A power that should be extinct."

"Um..." Ven says glancing around for clues from the others as to what the old man is talking about, but the other apprentices look as confused as he feels. Master Eraqus however, took a step forward with a frown of unease.

"Are you sure?" Master Eraqus asks his tone a little worried.

Master Yen Sid nods slightly then turns back to Ven who is growing frustrated at being kept in the dark. "What are you talking about?"

"Your coming has been foretold in the stars Ventus," Master Yen Sid explains cryptically. "You will bring a change to the worlds, but whether that change is good or evil is still a mystery even to me."

A silence settles over the room as others take in the full impact of Master Yen Sid's words. Master Eraqus is the first to break it saying firmly, "Terra, Aqua, return to MEKA with Ventus and continue training until I return."

"But what about-" Ven tries to protest, but Master Eraqus stops him.

"Now Ventus."

Seeing that Ven is about to argue Aqua hastily steps in. "May we go to the Coliseum instead and train there?"

Master Eraqus considers her suggestion and nods in agreement. "You may," he says, "Be home in a couple of hours."

"But I don't get-"

"C'mon Ven," Terra says quietly in his ear. "Do what the master says." Terra then turns to bow slightly to Master Yen Sid. "Master Yen Sid, King Mickey it was very nice to see you." Aqua bows as well.

Ven's eyes shoot wide open. "What! KingMickey? You're royalty?"

Mickey nods bashfully and Ven stammers once more. "Your Majesty! Oh damn! I'm so sorry! I didn't know."

"That's alright Ven," Mickey says waving away Ven's apology. "Just call me Mickey."

"Ok, Mickey. Got it," Ven says and follows Aqua and Terra back down the stairs without complaint.

Master Eraqus meets Master Yen Sid's eye and slowly walks over to the door that his apprentices had just gone through. As he shuts it, Master Eraqus can just hear Terra saying, "Stop it Ven! I'm not carrying you down the freaking stairs."

With a sigh and a shake of his head, Master Eraqus closes the door and turns back to face the room. Master Yen Sid has risen from his chair and approaches the windows. Mickey looks with curiously between his master and Master Eraqus.

"Yen Sid," Master Eraqus says and after a pause Master Yen Sid turns towards him. "Should we talk in private?"

Master Yen Sid shakes his head and gestures to his apprentice. "Mickey may stay. He is already aware of much which we must discuss." Master Yen Sid turns back to the windows and clasps his hands behind his back. "To understand the present we must delve into the past. It has been centuries since the great keyblade war. The darkest moment in our history that has made keyblade wielders the enemy in the minds of many. Most of us have tried to erase it from the past, but there is one who has taken great interest in it. I take it you know who I am speaking of."

Master Eraqus nods slowly running a single finger down a scar on the side of his face. "Xehanort," he says with venom in his voice. "Yen Sid are you telling me that the one I once called my brother has returned from the dark realm we banished him to?"

"His star is once more in the sky," Master Yen Sid says raising his eyes to the sky above. "We may have banished him nearly ten years ago, but he has found his way back. It is his plans that worry me greatly. He was always obsessed with finding power and he knew more about the keyblade war than any of us. Do you remember, before we banished him, Xehanort was making plans?"

"The X-blade," Master Eraqus says remembering. "He was looking for a way to recreate it. Do you think he has returned because he has found a way?"

Master Yen Sid doesn't reply instead he lowers his head slightly to look down at the ground far below. Master Eraqus and Mickey both walk to his side and look down as well. From their height, they can see Aqua, Terra, and Ven walking out the front doors. Ven runs onto the grass and turns motioning for the other two to hurry up. He then smacks his armor guard and his brand new armor appears. He runs back over to Terra and Aqua to show them and after a moment he steps back letting them summon their armor as well. The trio then turn their keyblades into gliders and fly off into the sky together.

"Ventus," Master Eraqus breathes out realization hitting him hard.

"Yes," Master Yen Sid says sadly. "If neither you nor I passed the power to Ven that only leaves Xehanort."

"But, how?" Master Eraqus says trying to deny it. "He has been in the realm of darkness for years and Ventus doesn't even remember the inheritance ceremony."

"Eraqus, Xehanort must have passed on the power to Ventus before we were able to banish him. It is why he never claimed Ventus as his apprentice."

Master Eraqus walks away from them for a moment to take this all in before turning back his face set in a hard frown. "I must protect him from Xehanort. What exactly is it that Xehanort wants with him? He is just a boy."

"His heart, half light and half dark," Master Yen Sid says. "A rarity I'm not sure I have ever seen before. He must be the one who can recreate the X-blade."

"Half light and half dark?" Master Eraqus says. "But the X-blade is 7 parts light and 13 parts darkness."

"Indeed," Master Yen Sid says. "If Xehanort is able to tip Ventus' heart slightly in favor of the darkness, all will be lost, the X-blade will be formed. Eraqus you know as well as I do that we cannot let that happen. Ventus must be protected from Xehanort and all darkness."

Master Eraqus nods in agreement. "I do not think I will be able to keep him at MEKA; his spirit is too strong. I will make sure either I or Terra or Aqua is with him on all missions. He must be watched closely. But what are we going to do about Xehanort?"

Master Yen Sid closes his eyes. "I have yet to locate him. His magic is strong and crafty. Mickey and I will focus on locating him." Mickey looks up at his master and then back at Master Eraqus. He gives him a big optimistic smile.

Master Eraqus nods again and rubs his hand over his face with a sigh. Ventus may have too much attitude and not enough manners, he may push Master Eraqus' patience to the limit, but Master Eraqus loves him as much as he loves Terra and Aqua. They are all like his own children to him and no one, especially someone like Xehanort, is going to hurt any of them.

Hope that all makes sense! If it doesn't let me know.

Any tips for writing how Mickey talks? I kinda struggled with his lines in this chapter.

Mexi: I love how you guessed like every male character! Sorry to say it isn't any of those. I know you really wanted it to be Vanitas (and I LOVE the VenVan pairing) but he's not the one. (But he will make a few passes at Ven!)

I hope nobody hates me when I reveal who Ven is going to be paired with. It's kinda OOC but he is a minor character in the series so I'm taking creative license to tweak his personality a little and make him more of a main character in this story. I seriously searched this site for this pairing and found exactly 1 story that has it. (I'm not kidding.) So yeah really unconventional, but hey being different is awesome!