Chapter 40 Fate
As soon as Aqua enters the castle with Sora and Riku, Sora wiggles out of her hold and drops to the ground. Before she can protest, he runs up the stairs with Riku chasing after him. "Sora wait!" She calls after him, but he doesn't slow down.
"Leave me alone!" He cries as he reaches the top of the stairs and disappears down the hallway in the direction of his and Riku's bedroom. Riku continues to follow Sora, but Aqua lets him go as she turns back to the front doors seeing Terra coming up the steps slowly with Ven in his arms.
Aqua rushes over to hold the door open and Terra nods in thanks as he comes inside followed by Master Eraqus. "Take him to his room Terra," Master Eraqus says quietly and Terra begins to make his way slowly up the stairs. "Aqua, go with him. I'll be up in a minute."
"Master Eraqus..." Aqua says her voice quivering slightly.
Master Eraqus turns to face her and tries to smile seeing the worry in her eyes. "We'll figure this out, Aqua. Don't worry. Ventus will wake up."
Slightly reassured, Aqua nods and follows Terra up the stairs. Master Eraqus weak smile fades to a frown as he sighs and also moves up the stairs. At the top, he turns in the opposite direction of the apprentices bedrooms and heads for his office. Once inside, he shuts the door and leans against it. His hands curl into fists and he squeezes his eyes tight. After several deep breaths, he opens his eyes and slowly relaxes his fingers.
With his mouth pressed in a hard line, Master Eraqus moves to his desk and quickly pulls out a blank piece of paper and a pen. In messy handwriting, he scribbles out a hasty letter.
Yen Sid,
Xehanort was here. He took Ventus but failed to create the X-blade. That is all I know. Ventus is unconscious and Xehanort is gone. Please come as quickly as you can.
Eraqus
Rising, Master Eraqus goes to the cage in the corner of his office where he keeps carrier pigeons. As soon as he opens the door, one of the birds flies out and lands on his desk. It stands still as Master Eraqus ties the letter to its leg and hops onto his outstretched finger. Taking it to the open window, Master Eraqus says, "To Master Yen Sid." The bird blinks in understanding and hops off his finger, stretching its wings in the breeze as it flies away. Master Eraqus watches it until it is out of sight before turning from the window and hurrying out of his office.
A minute later he comes to a halt in the doorway of Ven's room, looking in to see Ven laid out on his bed with a sheet pulled up to his chest. Terra and Aqua sit on the edge of the bed watching him with concern etched in each worry line on their faces. Terra is gently rubbing one of Aqua's hand while she is doing the same to Ven's limp hand.
As Master Eraqus comes in, both Terra and Aqua jump to their feet. "Has there been any change?" Master Eraqus asks as he reaches the bed and looks down at Ven's blank face.
"No," Terra says quietly.
Master Eraqus nods sadly. He isn't surprised. He sits on the bed where Aqua had been and places a hand on Ven's forehead. Again, Master Eraqus isn't surprised to find no fever. Running his hand gently through Ven's bangs, Master Eraqus says to Terra and Aqua, "Go find Sora. We need to know what happened."
Terra and Aqua make no move to leave and Master Eraqus turns to them, raising an eyebrow. Both are staring at him with determined expressions and Master Eraqus sighs inwardly knowing what they are going to ask. "What is going on?" Aqua asks. "Who is Xehanort? What did he do to Ven?"
"I don't know everything-" Master Eraqus tries to say, but Terra interrupts.
"But you're not surprised. You knew this would happen. This is what you've been trying to protect Ven from." Terra knows he is right when Master Eraqus stands and pinches his nose deep in thought.
"Ventus...his heart is special as Yen Sid pointed out," Master Eraqus says and both Terra and Aqua listen intently. "You all knew that his heart was perfectly half light and half dark, but what I didn't tell you was that the balance could be upset by the darker half and the result would be the creation of ancient and terrible weapon known as the X-blade. X is a letter from the ancient language." Master Eraqus answers the confused expressions on his apprentices faces before they can ask their question. "It is what the keyblades we carry are based on. It is both the protector of and the key to Kingdom Hearts. Kingdom Hearts is a hidden realm and the source of all light. The control of its power has been sought since the beginning of time. The closest men have ever come to reaching it was over a hundred years ago in the Great Keyblade War.
At the time of the Keyblade War, the chosen wielder of the X-blade was a young man by the name of Vairos. Seeing the greed and jealousy of the men fighting over a power they were not worthy of, Vairos smashed the X-blade into 20 pieces, 7 of light and 13 of darkness, killing himself in the process. The destruction of the X-blade locked away Kingdom Hearts from the worlds. Its light still reaches the worlds, but in the ancient times it would always be shining brightly in the sky."
"So what does this have to do with Ven?" Terra asks.
"Kingdom Hearts will not stay locked away forever. The worlds need its light and in the past hundred years without it, darkness has begun to take over. Just before his death, Vairos told the armies of light and dark assembled to fight the Keyblade War that Kingdom Hearts would return when their need for it was grave. But for Kingdom Hearts to return, the X-blade has to be put back together. This is where Ventus comes in. He is the next chosen wielder of the X-blade."
Terra and Aqua both stare at him in shock before bursting into a million questions, but Master Eraqus holds up a hand. "However, as I have explained there is no X-blade left to wield. Bringing it back will be difficult and as far as I know there are only two different ways to recreate it. The first is what I fear Xehanort tried with Ventus today." The three of them turn to look at Ven. "Hidden in Ventus' heart is the ability to reform the X-blade, but he is not in control of it. The X-blade has always been and forever will be controlled by Kingdom Hearts. However, if Ventus were to be in desperate need, and with no other way out, Kingdom Hearts would recreate the X-blade and put it in his hand to defend himself and his light.
Xehanort has always lusted after the power of Kingdom Hearts since he first became a keyblade wielder and heard the stories of life before the Keyblade War. But he wants to use the power of Kingdom Hearts to destroy all the worlds and create a universe where everything is a perfect balance of darkness and light so neither would reign supreme. When he failed to see the insanity of his plans, Yen Sid and I were forced to banish him the Realm of Darkness; the furthest from Kingdom Hearts. Unbeknownst to us however, he had already set his plans into motion by giving Ventus the power of the keyblade and sealing his fate as the X-blade's wielder. Now ten years later, Xehanort has reemerged from the Realm of Darkness. He picked up where he left off and came here after Ventus to attempt to create the X-blade by drawing out the darkness in Ventus and forcing him to use his darker half. You see, if Ventus' darker side became stronger than his light side, he would receive the X-blade in order to protect himself from the darkness."
"And you are sure Xehanort didn't succeed?" Aqua asks.
"The signs would be unmistakable if he had," Master Eraqus replies.
"So why is Ven like this then?" Terra asks.
"That I am not sure of," Master Eraqus admits. "With no outward injuries causing him to remain unconscious, I can only infer that the cause of his wakelessness is an injury to his heart, an injury we cannot see nor heal for him."
"So there is nothing we can do!" Aqua shouts.
Master Eraqus looks away. "I'm afraid so."
Silence descends on the room for several minutes before Terras speaks up. "You said there were two ways to create the X-blade. What's the other?"
"When Vairos broke the X-blade a hundred years ago, it fractured into 7 pieces of light and 13 pieces of darkness," Master Eraqus says. "If keyblade wielders in the same numbers, seven of light and thirteen of darkness, were to come together again and clash, the X-blade would be forced to return. It would still only be able to be used by Ventus, but he would have no part in its creation."
Master Eraqus regards his apprentices with a sad smile. "I hope you see now why I did not tell you before today about this. That was a great deal to take in and understand all at once. Go and find Sora and bring him here. Then take some time to think over all I told you. If you have any questions I will answer them later."
Nodding, Terra and Aqua leave Ven's room in silence their minds reeling from all Master Eraqus had told them. The door to Sora and Riku's room is open and they can hear Riku's voice. "C'mon Sora. Come out from there."
Terra and Aqua enter and see Riku lying on the floor, looking under Sora's bed. Riku sits up when they enter. "Sora's under the bed and won't come out," Riku informs them.
Exchanging a look, Terra and Aqua follow Riku's example by lying on the floor. Looking under the bed, they can see Sora's bright blue eyes staring back at them. He has pressed himself against the wall and is curled up in the tight space. "Sora," Aqua says in a soft voice. "Can you come out here?" Sora shakes his head stubbornly. "Master Eraqus really wants to talk to you." Again Sora shakes his head. "Why not?"
"Where's Ven? I want Ven." Is Sora's reply. Aqua signs and looks to Terra.
"Ven's still sleeping," Terra says.
"Is he going to wake up?" Sora asks his voice quivering.
"He...yes...but maybe not for a long time," Terra says trying not to sound worried. "But while he's asleep, Master Eraqus needs you to tell him what happened to the two of you."
Sora starts shaking his head again. "I know you are scared Sora, but it is very important," Aqua says. "Xehanort can't hurt you or Ven anymore."
"Can you be brave Sora?" Terra asks. "Can you be brave for Ven? He really needs you."
"He needs me?" Sora repeats slowly. "If it'll help Ven...I can be brave."
Terra and Aqua stand up as Sora crawls out from under the bed. "Thank you Sora," Aqua says giving him a smile. She takes his hand and leads him to Ven's room. Master Eraqus looks up and smiles at Sora as he walks in. Sora's eyes however are trained on Ven who is still lying motionless in bed.
"Sora," Master Eraqus says and Sora's eyes jump briefly to him before returning to Ven. "How are you feeling?"
Sora shrugs. "Is Ven alright?"
"He's just sleeping," Master Eraqus says. "Why don't we go to my office and talk." Master Eraqus takes Sora's hand from Aqua and Sora follows him rather reluctantly.
Master Eraqus closes the door behind them as they enter his office. He takes the two chairs in front of his desk and turns them to face each other. "Take a seat Sora."
Sora carefully climbs onto one of the chairs and Master Eraqus sits across from him. Before Master Eraqus can say anything Sora blurts out, "I don't remember anything."
"Sora, do you want to help Ven?" Master Eraqus asks and Sora nods. "Then will you try to answer my questions? If you don't know the answer that's okay."
Sora nods again. "I guess I can try."
"Thank you Sora," Master Eraqus says giving him a smile. "I want to try what is called a cognitive interview*. It is as much about the things you sensed as the things you saw."
"I'm scared," Sora whispers.
"I know," Master Eraqus says sadly. "But I'll be here the whole time." He takes one of Sora's little hands in his and gives it a comforting squeeze. "Now I need you to close your eyes and go back to this afternoon." Sora takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "Good. Now you just left us inside and went out to play. What were you doing?"
"I was pretending to fight monsters," Sora replies.
"Was the sun out?" Master Eraqus asks.
"Yeah, it was warm," Sora says squeezing his eyes even tighter shut. "And there was a breeze."
"So what happened while you were fighting the imaginary monsters?"
…
"Take that! And that!" Sora cries. He blinks. He is back next to the gold rings with his wooden sword.
"So what happened while you were fighting the imaginary monsters?" Master Eraqus asks him.
"Footsteps. Someone's behind me," Sora says without turning.
"Who?"
Sora turns. He is looking at a pair of black boots. He raises his head as his eyes take in the man leering over him. "Mr. Nort!" Sora says.
"...Mr. Nort? Xehanort?"
"Xe-han-ort," Sora says slowly mastering the name.
"Had you met him before?"
"Me and Riku met him in the cave," Sora says. Xehanort smiles at him and then lunges down and grabs Sora's arm. "Master Eraqus!" Sora screams and Xehanort starts to drag him away. "Master Eraqus! I don't want to! Let me go!"
"Sora! I'm right here. It's okay Sora I'm right here."
Xehanort summons a dark corridor and Sora tries to pull out of his grip. "Master Eraqus! I don't want to be here! I don't want to be here!"
…
"I don't want to be here!" Sora shouts squeezing Master Eraqus' hand tighter.
"You're safe Sora," Master Eraqus says soothingly. "I'm right here."
Sora relaxes slightly. "I can hear Ven," he says quietly. "He's arguing with Xehanort."
"What are they arguing about?" Master Eraqus asks, but Sora shakes his head.
"I don't know."
Master Eraqus squeezes his hand gently. "That's alright Sora. Can you see Ven?"
…
Sora blinks and sees Ven fighting off a bunch of heartless. "Yeah," Sora replies and Ven kills the final heartless. "He just killed all the monsters."
Sora stiffens.
"What do you feel Sora?"
"Xehanort. He's gripping my arm too tight," Sora says biting his lip. Ven turns to face Sora and starts yelling at Xehanort again. "They're arguing again."
"What are they saying?"
Ven is in front of Sora, his eyes filled with panic. "It's going to be okay Sora. Don't cry. I swear he won't hurt you. I won't let him."
"Ven says he won't let Xehanort hurt me," Sora says to Master Eraqus.
"What does Xehanort feel?"
Sora looks up at the man holding him. "Happy. He's smiling." Suddenly Sora is in the dark. "Master Eraqus! I don't know where I am! It's dark. I'm so scared!"
"I'm right here Sora. It's okay."
"I don't want to be here," Sora says fearfully.
"Alright, when do you see Ven again?"
The darkness is suddenly gone and Ven is crouched beside him. "I see Ven, but I don't know where we are."
"Describe the place Sora. I want you to look down at your feet. What are you standing on?"
Sora looks down. "Rocks. Red rocks."
"Look around Sora. What do you see?"
"More red rocks. Big piles of them."
"Mountains?"
"Yeah, but not big like home," Sora says.
"Do you smell anything Sora?"
Sora takes a deep breath. "Rotten eggs?" He says confused.
"Sulfur. Is anyone else there?"
Sora is peering around Ven's leg at Xehanort. "He's here too." Ven falls to his knees. "Ven! Ven! Master Eraqus make him stop hurting Ven!"
"What's he doing Sora?"
"Let me go!" Sora shouts as Xehanort drags him away. "I don't know! Ven's holding his head."
Sora gasps as Ven suddenly charges Xehanort with his keyblade.
"What happened Sora?"
"Ven tried to fight Xehanort, Xehanort won," Sora says.
"What is Ven feeling?"
"He's angry, but he won't fight," Sora says. "It's what Xehanort wants."
Now Sora is overlooking a cliff and down below Ven is fighting an army of heartless. "Ven! he can't fight off all those heartless alone! There are too many! He's not strong enough! No!"
"What's happening Sora!"
Sora stares with horror at the scene below him. Ven is hidden underneath all the heartless. "They're all on top of him! They're going to kill him! Master Eraqus I'm so scared. I don't want to be here."
…
"Alright Sora. It's okay. I'm here," Master Eraqus says trying not to wince as Sora tightens his grip on his hand. "Does Xehanort leave?"
"Yeah he leaves with the other boy," Sora replies.
"The other boy?" Master Eraqus asks surprised. "Who is the other boy?"
"I don't know," Sora says. "He doesn't have a face."
"It's just you and Ven?" Master Eraqus asks.
"He won't wake up," Sora says his voice quivering. "I'm so scared and he won't wake up. I'm calling for him. I'm trying to reach him before...Ven!"
Sora smiles and relaxes. His hand slips out of Master Eraqus' as he opens his eyes. "What was that last thing you saw Sora?" Master Eraqus asks confused.
"I touched his heart," Sora replies happily. "He won't lose anything else now."
"You...touched his heart?" Master Eraqus repeats. "Sora did Ven give you the keyblade?"
"I think so," Sora says tilting his head. "I gave him some of my light and I think he gave me a little of his."
Master Eraqus leans back in his chair deep in thought. Sora's recollection has raised even more questions about what had happened between Ven and Xehanort. Who was the other boy?A boy without a face. Could it be... Was that even possible?
"Did I help?" Sora asks, interrupting Master Eraqus' train of thought.
"Yes, thank you Sora," Master Eraqus smiling at him. "You were very brave."
Sora smiles at the compliment. "Is Ven going to wake up now?"
Master Eraqus sighs. "I think he's going to sleep awhile longer. Why don't you run along and play. Just stay inside okay?"
"Okay!" Sora says and runs off probably to find Riku.
Master Eraqus doesn't move to rise from his chair. How could everything fall apart in only three days? He had tried so hard to keep Ven safe from all darkness, but in the end he had failed miserably in his duty. Keric had beaten him, Zack had broken his heart, and Xehanort... whatever he had done had hurt Ven deep inside. Master Eraqus feels his eyes water slightly just thinking of the empty look in Ven had had in his eyes when he had returned. Would he ever recover completely?
*Cognitive Interview- According to Wikipedia, 'the cognitive interview (CI) is a method of interviewing in which eyewitnesses and victims report what they remember from a crime scene.' It's basically a way of interviewing someone so that they picture what is happening and can remember small details like license plate numbers they would otherwise not be able to recall.
I based the way I wrote Sora's CI on how they are portrayed in the AWESOME tv show Criminal Minds. If you've never seen it, I would recommend looking up 'cognitive interview criminal minds' on google and it'll come up with a five minute clip of Rossi doing a CI on a witness (btw it's a little violent). I really based Sora's CI more on Prentiss' interview of the young girl (because she was also a kid) on the episode "Bloodline" but I can't find a clip of that one. Anyways I think it's interesting so if you're curious check it out.
Since most of the reviews overlapped I'm just going to answer a couple questions for everyone.
Sequel: The sequel is will follow the canon timeline and make a 10 year jump. It will be told from mostly Sora's POV but there will be several side stories to follow with different POVs.
OCs: Well I'm happy you are all okay with OCs because I have decided I definitely need at least two in the sequel. They will NOT be Mary Sues. They will be important to the story, but not main characters.
*Also on OCs I kind of casually threw in another one in this chapter. Vairos was the X-blade wielder during the Keyblade War. He's dead now so he won't be in the story really.*
TWEWY: YES! I am planning on doing a The World Ends With You world in this story. I'm not giving any hints on it though :)
Happy early AkuRoku day!
I wrote a oneshot to celebrate and decided to throw in a hint of Zactus XD I'll be posting it tomorrow. It's called When You're Gone if you're interested.
So this was a very important chapter. Master Eraqus finally revealed the big secret he knows about Ven! Master Eraqus still has to tell Ventus that he is the X-blade wielder and explain everything again so if something didn't make sense let me know and I'll try and explain it better in the next chapter.