Disclaimer: I own nothing written about in this story.
Pursuit
AN: For anyone that wondered, Yuki's name was highly influence by my love of Yukimura in the Sengoku Basara anime. Though in the end, the main reasons I chose the name was because I wanted her to have an element like her parents, her white hair also played a big factor.
It is my hope that any questions you have will be answered here.(or leave you even more confused hehe) I also hope you all like the extensive family interactions and that all the new character descriptions doesn't bother anyone too much. I really like to recycle names and characters. (in case you couldn't tell.)
And finally, my thanks to everyone that reviewed! Especially my regulars: troyboltonsgirl, veronicatoon7, creatorX33, KaoriHikaru and tsukasayuki. You guys are awesome and you kept me motivated!
Enjoy the ending!
Epilogue – of a Future
"I'm serious!" Eraq exclaimed fervently, hands held out in his desperate attempt to be understood. "They just disappeared in this huge flash of light!"
Aqua watched her teenager closely as he interacted with his friends. He was sixteen now and was demonstrating a new desire to be superior among them. She was pretty sure that tendency came from his father, though Terra often denied the claim with zeal. He certainly looked like his father though, with long dark bangs framing a handsome face that was more prone to grin than frown, and bright blue eyes that were always focused on the one thing he wanted most at any given moment. And at that moment, what he desired most of all was a Keyblade of his own.
A pleasant breeze tugged at Aqua's sapphire hair and she looked up to see fluffy white clouds floating against a gentle blue sky. It was a good day for the test. Distracted, she gave her surroundings a sweep, her azure eyes caught on a gilded boulder and she found herself suddenly caught up in a wave of nostalgia.
The Land of Departure. Her first home. The one she remembered anyway. The home of her parents had been wiped away from memory for one reason or another. Whether it was trauma induced amnesia or wrought by a spell, she never discovered, though she wouldn't have put it past the master to erase memories that would have only caused pain.
This beloved world of hers, restored and brimming with the beauty it once had, was now the proving ground for young apprentices. She stood at the foot of the golden staircase that led up to the grand castle, though her gaze was aimed across the training courtyard where her son and his two friends awaited their test for Keyblade compatibility.
Returning her full attention to the trio, she could just barely make out their conversation, though they weren't exactly quiet about it. All three were very excited to be getting their weapons today, be it Keyblade or otherwise. Denzel, who had bright brown hair, sea-green eyes and a withdrawn, submissive demeanor, was thirteen. While Marlene on the other hand, with a darker shade of brown hair and equally brown eyes, was fourteen and exuberant, often giving her companions a sass that they could not compete with.
Aqua's gaze narrowed at the girl's proximity to her son. Recently she wasn't sure how she felt about their familiarity, although they had grown up together, much like her and Terra, so their camaraderie was only natural. The way the two interacted though, was firing off warning lights in her mind, only to calm when Denzel stepped into the equation, making Aqua feel a little better about their close dynamic.
"Yeah right," Marlene scoffed and waved a hand dismissively. "Next you'll be saying a Keyblade magically appeared in your hand."
"Well, yeah, actually one did."
"And I say you were dreaming."
"Maybe I was," Eraq jeered, (and Aqua wasn't sure she liked his tone of choice.) "We'll find out today, now won't we?"
Marlene simply gave off a distinctive "humph" of derision and looked away from him.
"Come on guys, don't fight," Denzel interceded with a nervous smile. "This is an exciting day, don't make it depressing."
In all honesty, the trio were being very patient considering the delay. They had already been waiting a few hours for their test to begin and almost everyone was assembled for the event, everyone except Sora.
Kairi had just delivered twins a few days ago, a boy and a girl, named Roxas and Xion for whatever reason. Aqua hadn't a clue where in the world the odd names had come from, in fact, Sora himself said he wasn't entirely sure but that the names just "came to him" upon seeing the twins for the first time.
As a second-time father, the newborns were keeping Sora extremely busy, especially since Kairi had been unusually exhausted after the birth, thus distracting the Grand Master from his normal duties. No one really minded the delay though; the visit to this sacred land was rare, used only for the Mark of the Keyblade tests and the Mark of Mastery exams. Both of which required the presence of all three Grand Masters to oversee the events.
The youngest attendees were practically buzzing with the excitement of traveling to another world besides the home they were so used to. With her thoughts drifting to said youngsters, Aqua took a quick scan of the area for them, noting with wide eyes where her ten year old daughter was currently located. Not far off, and attempting to scale one of the bigger floating boulders, Yuki was nearly half way up and appeared determined to make it to the top.
"Yuki, get down," Aqua called out gently, though after she was either not heard or outright ignored she honed in with a firmer tone. "Get down!"
The girl paused for a fraction of a second but continued to climb, as though she had dismissed the better judgment in her head to obey.
"Yukimura!" Aqua called again, only sounding out the child's full name when she meant business. And boy did she mean business! Storming over and halting by the flouting boulder, she briefly glared down at the two boys that often accompanied her daughter. Angeal, who was eight years old and Auron, who was nine. (Was there some odd coincidence that dictated a clique be made of three? And two boys and a girl at that?) Both boys instantly dropped their gazes timidly, as if they certainly had nothing to do with her daughter's current activity. She knew better. She had lived this scenario and it had not ended well at all.
Shooting her gaze back up the expanse of the giant rock to her disobedient child, and fully prepared to climb it herself in order to retrieve her, Aqua gave one last, clear command. "Get down."
"Yes mother," the girl enunciated flippantly with an annoyed roll of her eyes and a sigh. Apparently she thought that two could play that game, her version of the title being "mother" instead of just "mom".
The girl began climbing down slowly, no doubt in order to prolong the time before her punishment. Aqua blew out a frustrated breath, fuming. She just couldn't understand where the white haired girl got her attitude. Why couldn't she be more like her master, Lightning? Claire, she remembered, was always obedient, and respected her elders at that age.
Crossing her arms impatiently, Aqua turned back to the boys nearby as they tried desperately not to look nervous. "And just what do you two have to say about this?"
"His idea," Auron supplied after a moment's hesitation and aimed a pointed finger at the other boy. His dark amber eyes still wouldn't meet hers and he scratched at his spiky, dark gray hair nervously.
"Oh thanks!" Angeal whined at his mutinous cohort. His sky-blue eyes met Aqua's briefly before hanging his head in shame, his long black bangs shifting to cloak his face. "Sorry Master Aqua."
"Not as sorry as her," Aqua stated pointedly as she turned her stern gaze to a dejected Yuki after she had finally dropped to the ground in front of her.
Aqua felt her expression soften slightly at the sight of her daughter. In almost every way it was like a staring into a mirror, or perhaps a better illustration: like staring into a fountain of youth. The only differences between Yuki and herself at that age was the white hair, with a slight tint of blue if one looked hard enough, and those cobalt blue eyes that seemed to have an eternal fire blazing inside them, just like her father's.
The girl was chancing a hopeful look when Aqua reformed her resolve and hardened her expression once more. "Yuki, when I tell you something-" she berated, only to be interrupted when the girl's face lit up and she suddenly lunged to embrace a tall, dark figure.
"Daddy!" she cooed at Terra, all innocence and sweet smiles. "Did you see me? I almost made it to the top!"
"Erm, well?" Terra could only stutter under his wife's annoyed scrutiny, scratching at his head and nearly as nervous looking as the young boys nearby. "I-I think your mother still has something to say..."
Oh? Aqua wondered silently. Was the death glare actually working this time? She was about to finish her earlier rebuke when Terra leaned down to whisper in Yuki's ear, though Aqua could clearly hear him anyway. "Run!"
The girl didn't waste a single blink, running breakneck for her brother and his friends across the courtyard. The two boys on the other hand took a little longer to respond, but after a pathetically conspicuous signal from Terra, they too took off in fear of Aqua's fury.
The blue haired Keybearer growled in aggravation. Aqua had come to the unfortunate realization years ago that Yuki was 'daddy's little girl' and there was quite literally nothing she could do about it. If she pursued, Terra would always distract her in various... ways; it had happened too many times to recount and she saw no point in fighting the system anymore.
"Terra," she groaned dismally. "You can't keep doing that."
"Doing what?" he wondered, sounding almost as innocent as his daughter. He drew behind her, wrapped both arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. "Just watch."
Aqua grumbled with annoyance, not falling for his distraction, but continued to watch their daughter's retreat anyway. Only then did she notice the pink haired Lightning perched atop a much smaller floating boulder, right in line with Yuki's route and poised like a crouching hunter. Aqua couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction when the young girl, completely oblivious to her waiting master's presence, was suddenly caught by the back of her collar like a misbehaving kitten caught by the scruff by its mother.
"Told you," Terra commented, absently glancing to see the outcome he had predicted. "Light will set her straight."
Feeling her irritation begin to ebb, Aqua leaned into him but remained silent as she watched the rosy-haired Guardian lay into her apprentice after she had set her back on the ground. Yuki hung her head, but nodded dejectedly a few times to the rebuke as Lightning quickly turned her attention to the two boys that had been trailing the girl. After saying a few stern words to them as well, along with a decisive, sweeping gesture, they both took off toward their own parents, leaving Yuki to fend for herself.
Each boy went straight for his respective parents, all of whom had congregated with Riku, Ven, Cloud and Lea at the center of the training grounds; they hadn't seemed to be aware of the boys' antics.
Zack seemed to be in deep conversation with Riku when Angeal slunk stealthily by his mother, who eyed him with a suspicious though amused smile. The boy then lunged a sneak attack at his black haired father, only to be expertly sidestepped and caught in midair, arms flailing wildly as Zack roughed him up with an exuberant grin. As soon as the boy had been freed he scrambled to hide behind his mother, though Aerith only offered him a laugh and a pat on the head. Aqua could imagine her saying something like "Nice try, you'll get him next time sweetie."
Auron was a completely different case, running instead to his mother and embracing her timidly. Rinoa merely looked at him with a gentle smile and stroked his spiky black-gray hair fondly. Leon stood some feet away from them, but was as detached as always, seeming to gaze at the sky or horizon as though expecting some new enemy to appear at any moment. Some habits never died, even during a time of peace. He didn't seem to recognize his own withdrawn state, but his son certainly did.
When the boy looked back up to his mother to say something, Rinoa merely tipped her head and replied with what Aqua guessed was some form of encouragement, possibly something like: "Go on, he won't bite." The boy did not look convinced. Leon hadn't taken to fatherhood very gracefully, and even after nine years, was still struggling with the idea that he had a son that wanted nothing more but his acknowledgment. It was a rather sad case in Aqua's eyes but she had her own problems.
Looking back to Yuki's position, the girl was now sitting cross-legged on the ground at Lightning's feet and appeared to be getting the lecture of the century. Yuki stared hard at her lap, nodding her head every now and then as her master berated her. Lightning was twenty-two now, with a tenacious confidence that tolerated guff from no one. She was proving to be a very competent, strict mentor to the girl, to which Aqua was eternally grateful. She needed to get it from someone, for she sure wasn't getting it from her parents. Not from a lack of effort though!
"There is darkness in her, Terra," she finally said with dismay, and although they had had this conversation many times in the past, the matter was becoming more and more prominent in her mind. If Yuki was this unruly at ten, then what was she going to be like at thirteen? Aqua shuddered at the thought and tried to give her husband a look, who was still clinging to her from behind, but he appeared to have been attempting to hide in her shoulder-length blue hair from the sharp glare of sunlight. How he could think he would be able to nap while standing up was beyond her.
"Hm?" he sounded out lazily and raised his head to give their daughter a thoughtful look before he turned back and gave Aqua's head a gentle nudge with his own. "What is a drop of darkness, in a sea of purity?"
"For the inexperienced? A risk and a nightmare I don't care to revisit." Although she had come to terms with darkness and its place in the world a long time ago, seeing too much of it and at such a young age was disconcerting to say the least. Especially since it was her own child.
"She has a good master."
"You and I both know," Aqua told him solemnly with a poignant pause, "that even the best master, can make mistakes."
Terra's eyes drifted to their teenage son across the courtyard. "Yeah," he murmured distantly.
There was a long silence between them after that and Aqua could only assume that he was at a loss to respond. Frowning briefly, she turned and kissed his cheek before pulling out of his hold. Her husband was in one of his brooding moods and she would leave him to it. "I'll talk to Lightning, see what she thinks."
Terra nodded, suddenly sullen. Whatever was on his mind, it seemed important and heavy, but she could tell he wasn't ready to talk about it.
After seeing Lightning dismiss her apprentice, Aqua started her way over to the confident Guardian, deep in thought herself.
When Terra finally was ready to talk about it, she only hoped she was ready to hear it.
Terra found himself distressed for probably the millionth time since Yuki had been born. Of course, it hadn't started the very day she was born, but rather, the day Ven had mentioned a certain incident involving Eraq.
The pieces had slowly been falling into place after that, and he didn't like the picture they were forming.
"The test will begin soon." Startled, Terra looked up to see his blond friend staring at him quizzically. He hadn't even been aware of his approach. "Sorry man, you ok?"
The brunette scratched at his head, embarrassed to have been caught off guard. "Yeah, fine. Just, thinking."
"Uh-oh, Terra's thinking again. I can see why Aqua left in such a hurry." The comment earned him a shove and Ven chuckled, a brilliant humor dancing in his eyes. "Anyway, do you think Eraq will be able to summon one?"
"I don't know," Terra replied softly, eyes downcast in contemplation. "Maybe."
"Hey, come on, what's that about?" Ven wondered, giving his friend a thump on the shoulder. "Aren't you excited for him?"
Terra allowed for a long pause in order to gather his thoughts. He hadn't discussed the matter with anyone yet. Not even Aqua, though he had his reasons for that. "Ven, if what you said is true, if Eraq really has inherited a fragment of the master..."
"Huh? Where did that come from?" Ven questioned, giving his fellow a close look and curious tilt of the head. "That was a long time ago, you know."
"But If Eraq has the master, then does that mean Yuki-" Terra swallowed thickly, the sudden pain in his throat almost too unbearable. "Does she have his fragment, somewhere deep inside?"
"Terra, I told you," Ven started, arms crossed confidently. "What I saw, I saw half conscious. And even if Master Eraqus did find some way to live on inside Eraq, he hasn't taken control in any way, as far as I can tell." He offered a comforting smile. "Eraq is Eraq."
"Then tell me, what is Yuki?"
Ven sighed, effectively side-stepping the question. "Have you discussed this with Aqua?"
"Only about the darkness we sense in her," Terra answered honestly, watching as his wife sat down beside Lightning some ways off. "But Aqua worries enough, you know she does. I don't want to burden her with my suspicions." He then looked to see Yuki creeping up on her unsuspecting brother. Normally he would have smirked at the scene and possibly even placed bets with Ven on the outcome. But his eyes shown only a deep seated uneasiness as he watched. "This could kill her."
"So you're letting it kill you instead," Ven commented, studying his friend carefully with discerning blue eyes. Speechless, Terra opened his mouth to deny it but found he could not, which allowed for Ven to continue. "I think that Aqua is hurting too though. She just doesn't know why exactly."
Terra sighed in defeat after a moment, nodding dejectedly as he stared at the ground. "You win Ven. I'll tell her."
Ven nodded with that usual smirk of his when he finally got his way and looked to watch Yuki as she finally managed to pounce on Eraq. The teen appeared to have been deep in conversation with his friends and had not anticipated his sister's assault from behind. He spun around in response but the girl had latched on to his neck with a determined exclamation of some kind. Probably "got you!" or some such nonsense as Eraq tried to dislodge his unwelcome passenger, though he was obviously grinning and barking back a playful retort of some kind.
"What's truly important," Ven began solemnly, stealing Terra's attention away from the tender moment between his children. "Is when we face our darkest night," he paused, smiling gently and gave Terra a meaningful look. "That we recognize our single ray of light."
An endless, dark plane stretched out under a black sky filled with innumerable celestial bodies. What served as the floor looked more like placid water, reflecting perfectly the starry heavens above, so that both blended as one. Two beings stood facing each other, an ethereal glow about them. One originated from the darkness, the other, the light. Now though, both dwelt in a realm between.
"Don't you find it astonishing?" the dark one began. "How we seem to have come full circle, Brother?"
"We may have been brothers, once."
"Ah, and yet, we are siblings once again."
"We are but fragments, lost in an ocean between the elements," the one of light corrected. "Do not try and warp the situation."
"Always the absolutes with you. Can you not even find a sliver of humor in our predicament?"
"I take comfort in knowing I may live on and watch over those I love. That is all."
"Frivolous sentiments."
"It is all I have left."
"Indeed."
"Perhaps it's time you found something to cherish, old friend."
"...Perhaps."
"She's a good kid deep down," the pink-haired Gunblade wielder admitted to Aqua. The two women were sitting on the ground, gazes aimed at the child they had been discussing. "She just needs a little persistent motivation to keep heading in the right direction."
"Thank you Cl- Lightning," Aqua corrected herself and offered a sheepish smile. Often when she looked at her former apprentice, she could only see the quiet, respectful young girl that had went by Claire for so long. With the intent of growing up quickly and becoming stronger for her younger sister, she had changed her name when she was fifteen shortly after her mother died of an unknown illness. She had indeed grown strong and capable, though Aqua always knew she would, and she didn't believe the name change had had anything to do with it. "Seems like I trained you too well."
Lightning said nothing in response, though Aqua could plainly see a complacent smirk on her striking features. It often astounded her how, although still young, Lightning remained single despite being surrounded by countless prospective suitors. Granted though, she showed no interest at all in pursuing any form of relationship. She had her friends, to be sure, but no one special. And she seemed to have absolutely no desire to follow after the current fad of having kids.
No, Lightning was focused on her goals, much like the element itself, striking precisely and without hesitation. Perhaps that was the real truth behind the name.
A high pitched whirring zoomed overhead and Aqua looked up to see Sora's Gummi ship pulling down into a landing where all the other ships were parked. If he was here, then they could finally start the test. There was some cheers of excitement over where Eraq and the other two candidates were gathered.
"It's time then," Lightning said and stood. Aqua followed suit and everyone began to congregate around the raised platform where the ceremony would be held.
As Sora debarked, it quickly became apparent as to why he had arrived in a ship and not simply in Keyblade armor and glider. Aqua couldn't help but smile at the sight as Sora turned and waited patiently for his four year old daughter to tumble out of the ship behind him. He appeared to say something to her and reached towards her to encompass one of her tiny hands in his before leading her over to the gathering place.
Aqua chuckled lightly as the little girl pulled out of her father's grasp and made a beeline for Aerith, who often played the role of community babysitter. With a wide grin not unlike her father's, the girl nearly crashed into the woman just so she could deliver a fierce hug.
"Hello Naminé," Aerith greeted pleasantly as she knelt down to the girl's level and placed a fond hand to her pale blond head. The pink-clad brunet often complained about how so many children regarded her as their second mother, though she obviously enjoyed the occupation.
Turning away from the adorable child, Aqua looked to Sora and asked the question everyone was wondering. "How's Kairi?"
Sora's carefree expression slipped for an instant but he quickly recovered. "She's still pretty weak, but she'd doing ok now." He grinned. "The twins are great too, nice and quiet."
"Lucky!" Lea grumbled nearby, arms crossed as he shot wary glances to his side every now and then. "Isa and Braig were nasty screamers from day one." Two identical boys with black hair like Yuffie's, one with sea-green eyes and the other with dark brown, were named after the two men that had sacrificed themselves during the final battle with Xehanort. They were only a year older than Naminé and both were fidgeting restlessly beside their father. Aqua knew from experience that the two little hurricanes would not be maintained for much longer.
Sora offered a weary, consoling smile to the spiky red-head. "Tifa and Yuffie volunteered to stay behind with Kairi," he said and turned to Marlene and Denzel with an apologetic frown. "Sorry they couldn't be here, you two."
"That's ok," Marlene replied, hands clasped behind her back respectfully. "I'm happy as long as Dad's here." She moved to hug her father and Cloud returned the embrace with a gentle expression. But he earned himself a growl of annoyance from her when he placed one hand on her head with a wry smirk. "Don't you dare. I've got it just the way I want it." To anyone else, Cloud's fond gesture seemed innocent enough, but Marlene obviously knew better.
A spark seemed to flash in Cloud's eyes and Marlene couldn't get away from him fast enough before he ruffled her brown hair up into a nice, frazzled mess. He got a furious screech and a swat on the chest for his trouble but he merely snickered and stepped back as his daughter raved at him. Unlike Leon, Cloud had eventually eased into parenthood and even seemed to be enjoying the experience.
"Tell me the truth," Denzel put to his father in a dead tone. "Mom just wanted a break from the twin plagues, didn't she?"
One of the twins frowned, probably Isa as he was the more inquisitive of the two, and tugged at Lea's pant leg insistently. "Dad, what's a play-guz?"
Lea sighed with annoyance and made a shooing motion at the twins. "Just go over there and play, find a bug to torment or something." When the two young boys shared a mischievous grin between them and ran off, Lea gave his eldest a dry look. "Really Son, you shouldn't call your brothers a plague." He and Denzel glanced to see the boys howling with delight as they found their first victim amid a patch of grass. "Not when the apocalypse is the more accurate term."
"Can I go play too Dad?" Naminé called up to her father, nearly unintelligibly as her words slurred from such a young mouth, her shining azure eyes hopeful.
Sora looked down to her and then to the twins and back again with a nod and a grin. "Go have fun, but don't wander away from that spot, understand?"
Naminé nodded exuberantly and tottered over to the dark haired twins, integrating with them flawlessly even though they only acknowledged her briefly before returning to hassle their chosen insect.
Aqua suddenly found herself staring at a head full of midnight blue hair as her son came to stand in front of her. He had his head lowered slightly as he peered at her anxiously, possibly for the first time feeling nervous about the test. "This is it."
Aqua smiled softly with a gentle tip of her head. "Only the first step of many." Reaching out to pull him close, she brushed at his long bangs and kissed his forehead. Absently, she noticed how he had to stoop a bit in order for her to complete the gesture. He was already a little taller than her and well on his way to rival his father.
Most boys his age would have resented such blatant coddling, but he submitted to it without complaint, even stepping back with a nod and an appreciative smile. He was not quick enough to dodge out of the way when his father suddenly pounced on him and Aqua had to step back to ensure she didn't get pulled into their brief tussle. "Gah, come on! Dad stop, I'm not five anymore!"
Terra finally relented, but not until his son's hair was as haphazard looking as Marlene's, or maybe worse. Eraq appeared to have a permanently sour look as he attempted in vain to right his chaotic mane, grumbling and trying to get as far away from his father as possible.
Aqua could only shake her head in disbelief at how childish her husband could still be. He returned her look with a wolfish grin. "What? He needed encouragement right?"
"At this rate, only Denzel will look decent for the ceram- Oh, never mind," Aqua's statement died away and she rolled her eyes when she seen Lea hook the teen around the neck and proceeded to electrify his orangy-brown hair as well. Apparently it was a thing. Lets make the kids look ridiculous for their test, yes they'll love that.
The three apprentices all lined up on the platform and stood erect, arms hanging stiffly at their sides as they waited for Ven, Sora and Riku to join them. Each Grand Master took up position in front of each apprentice; Ven to Eraq, Riku to Marlene and Sora to Denzel.
As one, they began reciting the passage, each summoning their Keyblades and holding them out, parallel with the ground. "In your hand, take this blade," the three masters chanted, perfectly in sync. "And so long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you may be made."
Eraq and his peers stepped forth to take, each one the Keyblade held before them. When they did, all three masters stepped back and made a cutting gesture with one hand, dismissing the weapon for whoever was not compatible. Only Ven's Keyblade remained in Eraq's grip, while the other two shimmered and vanished with a metallic hum.
There was a single instance of silence, where Eraq blinked in astonishment and Marlene and Denzel frowned briefly. But they weren't about to let their disappointment overshadow the happiness they felt for their friend. "Congratulations!" Before anyone could stop them, the two brunets lunged at their unsuspecting friend and created a ragged heap on the dais. Ven's Keyblade disappeared at that point, due to Eraq's concentration being broken.
Riku cleared his throat objectively while Sora, Ven and many observers below chuckled at the scene. By the time the teenagers had composed themselves, Ven had stepped forward to face his apprentice once again. "So you have the potential. Now, call forth your own."
Eraq nodded silently and held out his hand in concentration. A moment later there was a bright flash followed by that notable, sharp ping sound as his Keyblade finally materialized in his hand. The teen stared at it for a long time, almost as if he still couldn't believe he had been successful.
Aqua scrutinized the weapon carefully herself. Simply put, it looked a lot like Terra's Earthshaker, with its wide blade and three pronged teeth. The hilt and guard were much more boxy looking though, and as a whole it was pitch black, with a slim river of dark blue running down the center of its length.
"Well done Eraq," Ven praised with a proud smile and a pat on the shoulder. "However, this is only the beginning. Your training only intensifies from here on out. The Keyblade is a powerful partner, but it requires the most devoted discipline. I hope you're ready."
Eraq gave his mentor the most serious regard and a few seconds of silence to acknowledge his words before nodding his affirmation. "I'm ready Master."
"Congratulations Eraq," Riku said, stepping forward and turning to the other two apprentices. "Now its time for our future Guardians to receive their weapons."
Marlene squeaked with excitement, barely able to hold it in as she and Denzel followed the masters off the platform, Eraq trailing behind with a dazed expression.
"Alright kiddies!" Cid bellowed and beckoned the teens over to his custom built Gummi ship-mobile armory. Once the trio gathered around him, he gave both brunets an appraising look. "Don't worry kids," the blond technician said with a wink and a wry grin. "Keyblades are boring. They either pick you or they don't. But Guardians get to pick their weapons. Much more fun in my opinion." After hitting a switch on his ship, one of its walls slip upward and revealed a sprawl of weaponry so vast that it would probably take awhile for the apprentices to pick what they wanted.
Eraq hung back slightly as his two friends deliberated; he seemed curious as to what they would choose but also wanted to respect their time to shine. He turned and gave his parents a huge grin, to which Terra returned smugly and Aqua smiled back proudly. The teen just barely caught the movement in his peripheral as his sister once again lunged at him from behind, hugging him fiercely and peering up at him from under one arm. "You'd better train hard Eraq," she told him playfully. "I'll be catching up in no time!"
"Is that so?" he challenged and ruffled her short white hair vigorously, though it didn't seem to phase the girl at all, rather she leaned into her brother's torso with an affectionate smile. She could be genuinely sweet when she wanted to be, and her brother was one she either adored or tormented depending on her mood. She gave a startled yelp when he picked her up and tipped her downward so that her head nearly touched the ground. "But how will you summon a Keyblade when you're upside down?" he mocked obnoxiously, holding fast as she squirmed in his hold.
"You may have the strength, but I have the numbers!" Yuki announced and looked to the side. "Warriors! To me!"
Before Eraq knew what was happening he was suddenly overtaken by Angeal and Auron hanging off him as they tried to free their "comrade".
The struggle continued for awhile and the commotion made Marlene and Denzel shoot annoyed glances over their shoulders as they had still been deliberating on which weapons to choose. Their expressions quickly shifted to amusement upon seeing the comical display.
Aqua watched the tender exchange, feeling a bubbling happiness swell in her heart. She once again found herself pondering over the odd coincidence of three. She briefly looked from Eraq, Marlene and Denzel, to Yuki, Angeal and Auron, and finally to Isa, Braig and Naminé.
Always three. No more, no less. It was almost as if there were some divine influence involved.
She wondered who would complete the newly born Roxas and Xion but her thoughts were torn away as Terra drew right beside her and took her hand in his, giving it a light squeeze to get her attention. "Aqua," he began in an undertone, his eyes downcast as though he were ashamed of something. "There's something I've been needing to tell you."
"About Yuki?" she guessed, studying him carefully as he met her eyes with a surprised nod. "It can wait," she told him and turned back to watch the apprentices in their melee.
Her concern over the matter had lessened considerably after talking it over with Lightning and after watching Yuki interact with her brother and her friends. Aqua could see now how unfounded her fears had been and she turned to Terra and squeezed his hand back reassuringly. "You can tell me what's on your mind later, but for now, regardless of the darkness she has inside, I know she's strong enough to conquer it." She gave him a wry smirk and a meaningful tip of the head. "Her father did."
Terra opened his mouth to reply but promptly closed it again and smiled back with an agreeable nod. He turned to watch the kids as well, the comforting silence between them stretched and the only sounds that could be heard was the intoxicating laughter of their children.
The future of this new generation was indeed uncertain, but for once in her life, Aqua wasn't worried.
Because whether it be herself and Terra or Eraq and Yuki, here in this sacred land, light and dark existed equally.
Fin