Chapter 99: Wayfinder
Twelve years ago
Land of Departure 1997
Underneath the view of thousands shining stars staring down at the mystical world, remained three friends, enjoying the view of the meteor shower. All three of them sat at the edge of the cliff, leading back slightly to look up at the stars, looking out for any more signs of a passing meteor. There was a comfortable breeze within this world, while their castle like home was only a five minute walk away, despite the distance, the world of departure couldn't be anymore brighter on this cool night. Ventus breathed in the fresh air with a smile at he quickly looked at two friends beside him, seeing that they were taking this chance to relax. Even thought his two friends were a fair bit older than him, we wouldn't have them any other way.
The guy sitting on his left was his brother like friend, Terra. He has brown hair that reaches to the base of his neck in the back and is styled into rather messy, vertical spikes and bangs that frame his face allowing to show his blue eyes and slightly tanned skin. He has two intersecting red straps over his chest , dropping much lower down and almost resembling criss-crossed suspenders. Unlike Ventus, Terra does not wear his badge on these straps but wears it on his belt. He bears a skintight, black, high-collared shirt, showing that he is rather muscular and his pants bear a distinct feudal Japanese style; his belt is tied like an obi-sash and he wears hakama, which were dark grey near the top, with several loops for his belt and two buttons, both of which are undone. The rest of the pants are tan with a small, lighter stripe of tan on the bottom hem. Terra wears a plain black wristband on his right arm, while his left arm is significantly more armoured. He wears armour on one arm, with his bearing similarities to both of his companions. He's armour shares the large, golden ornate crest with Ven and the long, segmented section with their female friend, though Terra's is much longer, reaching all the way to the bottom of his hand. He also wears a black, fingerless glove on his hand and what appears to be a black gauntlet on his forearm, over the segmented armour and his armoured boots.
The female friend to Ventus' right, Aqua. Her blue hair falling to her chin, the back of her hair spiking out. She wore a black and blue, high-collared halter top, two pink, intersecting belts over her chest, and black shorts. She wears an odd silver badge similar to badges also worn by Ven and Terra, though Terra's is gold. On her arms were white bell-sleeves and tan, fingerless gloves as well as wearing a small, segmented piece of armour on each of her upper arms. She has black socks on her legs which reach to about halfway up her thighs, leaving a small area of bare skin on her upper thighs as well as two strips of blue cloth that drape over either side of her hips, along with a smaller, white strip of cloth tied around her waist, draped in the same manner. Finally, she wears pointed, armoured, silver boots with a sharp "hook" on the outer side of each.
The three friends enjoyed the relaxation, as well as each other's company, when Ventus noticed Aqua push herself as her face brightened with remembrance, "Oh yeah!" She said as she began to walk around the two, "Terra, you and I have our Mark of Mastery exams tomorrow." She remained her friend. Ven looked over to Terra, seeing him nod his head, showing that he has remembered before the two boys rose up from the ground and looked back at Aqua, only to see multi-coloured star shaped objects in her hands, "I made us good luck charms." She smiled as she threw one to Terra.
As Terra examined the object, Ventus looked at the star shaped charm with amazement, seeing that the silver metal border allows the bright brown stain glass stand out as well as seeing the same golden symbol that Terra wore in the centre of the charm. "Woah." He wished he was old enough ot take the Mark of Mastery exam, he wanted to share this moment with his friends.
"Here."
Ven turned to the sound of Aqua's voice, only to managed to catch the object that was thrown at him. He looked down into his hands to see what was throw, only to see another stained glass, star shaped charm. This charm was exactly like Terra's expect that his was green and that the symbol in the middle was silver, not golden. He smiled as he held it by the rope connected to the charm, looking back at Aqua. "I get one too?" Ven smiled.
"Of course." She smiled as she placed her blue star shaped charm in between the two, "One for each of us." Ven smiled as he placed his charm in the middle as well, soon followed by Terra, as the three showed their charms. Aqua was the first to pull away as she walked slightly away from the two boys, looking up at the stars. "Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star shape fruit and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So as long as your friends carry good luck charms shape like it, nothing can ever drive you apart. You will always find your way back to each other." Her sight had laid on her charm before turning back towards her friends. "Technically, I think you're supposed to make them with seashells but I did the best with what I had." she shrugged as she walked towards them.
"Oy, sometimes you're such a girl." Terra joked.
"Hey!" She glared at him, "What do you mean sometimes?"
"So, this isn't a real good luck charm?" Ventus looked at Aqua sadly. If the charm wasn't made out of seashells does that mean that the luck or the unbreakable connection wasn't in them.
"Well, that's yet to be seen." She told him, "But I did work a little magic on it."
"Really? What?" Ventus waited like a child watching a magic show. What possible magic could Aqua had put in the charm.
She smiled as she lifted her charm up once more, "An unbreakable connection."
BOWBOWBOW
Present Day
World that Never Was 2009
Ventus remained to himself, knees drawn close to his chest as he held his beloved charm within his hand, reminding him of the memory. Pluto remained by his side, being in this purple coloured cell more than once, trying to comfort the Keybearer beside him. "An unbreakable connection…." Ventus repeated the words his old friend had once said, looking at the rusting charm within his hands sadly, "Maybe the charm doesn't work. I was unable able to save my friends. I don't even deserve this charm." He lifts his arm up, ready to throw the charm across the cell. As he was about to throw the charm, his eyes widened, realising what he was about the throw away, the last possible object to remember his dear friends and he was about to throw it away. He sighed as he pulled his arm back, looking back at the charm. "No. That's not me." he muttered, "My friends…are my power. He never understood that…" He growled as the memories of his battle with Vanitas came into mind.
"No matter how many times you defeat them…negativity flow right back into me."
"You never stood a chance against us, Ventus."
"Hmph, it's always about your friends, isn't it?"
"You should consider yourself unlucky; if you would have let our union finish then you wouldn't be so weak."
Ventus eyes widened at this. He knew that Vanitas will find him sooner or later, he properly will send his 'soldiers' to break him out and sent him under his feet. What he didn't get was what he could achieve out of this. He knew for a fact that the two of them couldn't attempted a union since Vanitas had let the Endless Virus consume him, making him stronger. With the current balance situation, the Unbirth and the Endless could only affect those with Darkness in their hearts, Ventus couldn't get affect no matter how much Vanitas wants it. He knew from Riku that Vanitas and his Order had been going against his friends, he also knew about the Stories of Balance and what the Order were after but the goal that the Order are after, it didn't sound like Vanitas at all. He always has a back-up plan. "Vanitas….what are you after?" He asked out loud, wanting to know the answer.
Before the answer could be found, the cell shook viciously as an explosion was heard from somewhere in the castle. Pluto whined from the vibrations as Ven pocketed his charm and quickly ran over to the bars to see any sign of change. All he saw was a white hallway of nothing leading to nowhere, he shouldn't break out the cell since the cell had no locking device and even if he could get out the cell, he couldn't escape the hallway without the ability to create a portal but his magic was drained from Maleficent's thrones. He sighed, starting to get annoyed of staying in a cell, as another explosion was held through the castle. "What's going on?" The Order couldn't be here already, could they?
The Keybearer turned his sight to his left, seeing a dark portal form before an armoured figure with blue markings over his muscle-like body-suit amour. He watched the figure cautiously before the figure stood in front of him. "Stand back." The soldier spoke before summoned his blizzard-like gun blade. The Keyblader followed the commanded and stood away from the bars, finding the voice familiar, as he watched the mysterious figure slash at the bars, freezing them over. "When I say, hit the centre bar with your key blade." he told him as he stood back.
"Okay." Ven nodded, summoning Wayward Wind in his hand, knelling slightly in his battle stance as he waited for the signal.
More vibrations shook through the castle, as well as some sounds of magic and blasters begin cast from below. Whatever is going on down below, Maleficent and her fellow minions must be pretty occupied by the intruders to not send some Heartless to guard the cell. As the cell continued to shake, the centre of the middle of the bar was beginning to crake. "Now!" With one word, Ventus dashed towards the bars that imprisoned him and struck at them while the mysterious figure struck the other side, cracking the bars before the centre bar shattered, the huge shards of ice striking at the other bars, breaking them in the process as well.
The Keyblader shielded his eyes from the falling shards of ice before looking at the created hole from the bars that used to stand there. Ventus quickly looked back at Pluto, making sure that he was okay before jumping out of the cell, with Pluto following behind. As soon as the two landed safely onto the ground, the spiky blonde turned his sights to the mysterious figure. "Thanks. I own you one." He smiled before seeing Pluto walk towards the mysterious figure. "Hey boy, where are you going?" He asked with curiosity as he watched the king's loyal companion approach the figure.
The figure didn't responded to the dog's action, just spared him a sight before looking back at Ventus. "Here." He dug into his pocket and handed the wielder an Ether before balancing himself as the vibrations continue.
Ventus quickly drank the Ether, feeling his magic returning, before looking around in question. "I wonder why there are vibrations?" he asked before looking back at the figure. "Do you know?"
Again, the figure glanced at the yellow dog sniffing him cautiously around his boot before looking back at the keyblader, "The Dark Master has ordered the capture of you. Major Snake is making his way through the castle as we speak." He answered before another explosion was heard, shaking the cell area once more.
"The Dark Master?" He questioned, his mind placing Master Xerahont as the person before another figure clicked into his mind, making him glare at the figure. "You work for Vanitas?" He said in anger, summoning his key blade once more. "You hear to capture me?"
"I'm here to help you." He revealed.
Ven looked at the figure in confusion as he lowered his weapon, "Why should I believe you?" he questioned.
"Because I'm your only hope." He told him. "The Master is different to the one you used to know. Being trapped within the darkness, within a heart has destroyed his calmness in some matters. He will continue to attack this world or any other world to get you or Sora."
"Sora?" Ven questioned the mention of the Keyblade Master, "What does he want with Sora?"
"I'll explain later." He said before creating a portal. "Portals in this cell room will only lead lower in the castle so prepare to battle."
Ventus watched the figure disappear within his portal, still feeling that the voice was familiar to him, he just couldn't remember where he had heard it before. Pluto's barks pushed him out of his thoughts, reminding him that he needed to escape from this castle as he quickly created a portal with his Keyblade, hoping to run after the figure.
BOWBOWBOW
Nikolai ran his way through his portal, checking his surroundings with his Gunblade in hand, slightly surprised to find no Heartless in sight. "Hmm, Snake must have grabbed all of Maleficent's attention." He was expecting to see at least a few Heartless around to make sure that Ventus didn't escape but the vibrations and the explosions must have drove them towards where the Unbirth were. "At least we can escape without any trouble." He looked around the area that he had orbed into, trying to figure out what part of former Organisation base they were in. He knew that they were just in the Soundless Prison, it made it easier for him to get in knowing that the room was soundproof. From the look of the large room, it looked as if he was on the second floor of Hall of Empty Melodies, remembering from the other members in the Order telling him that this is where Sora had fought the second member of the Organisation on the first floor. "I guess I have to ask." He muttered as he pulled out a grey communicator with the blue Unbirth symbol engraved in the side of it. He looked at the communicator, making sure that it was set on a different channel before dialling the code and placing the communicator to his ear. "Storm, can you give me a way out?" he requested.
"Where do you think you are, the matrix?" Storm joked from the other line.
"Storm!" Nikolai shouted down the communicator, he has no time to be messing around.
"Okay. Okay." Nikolai could hear some rushing around before some typing, assuming that Storm had rushed himself over to the computer. "Where are you now?"
"Second floor, Hall of Empty Melodies."
"Right…." He heard more typing on the other line, "Okay. Go across the landing to get to some stairs that will take you to the first floor or just jump onto the first floor then take the elevator that will take you to the basement, where you can escape into the town. Be careful though, some of Snake's Unbirths are guarding the basement area."
"Right. Where is Snake?"
"Where Nothing Gather, destroying stuff in search of Ventus." He answered, if the Endless didn't know the Nobody rooms then what Storm had just told him wouldn't had made sense at all.
"Right. This shouldn't take long. Keep me updated." He quickly hanged up and placed the communicator in his pocket before waiting for the Keybearer.
A burst of light shone through the sudden portal, releasing the King's yellow canine and the Keybearer into the Nobody domain. "Woah!" Ventus looked around with amazement. "This place is huge."
"Come on. We're just lucky that there are no-" Spoke to soon.
A number of Neoshadows appeared in front of the two, while Nikolai readied his Broken Promise in his gloved hands, he looked back to see Ventus shaking slightly while holding the Keyblade seeing slight fear in his eyes. "Ventus?"
Ventus has been in many death threatening battle, one that ended up with his losing his heart at one point but he would never forget the fear that struck his heart when his former Master had forced him to face these creatures to use the darkness, their claws ripping against his skin, their deep yellow eyes staring down at him soullessly, their being trying to eat his heart. Just the thought of that memory of losing a part of him from fear still makes him shiver. "I won't fall this time." He said mostly to himself as he dashed towards the Neoshadows and began to stuck at them, trying to clear the path.
Nikolai just nodded to his decision, drawing his Gunblade close as he joined the battle, they needed to get out before Snake realises that he's not alone.
BOWBOWBOW
The scaly Endless growled with irritation as he watched Maleficent and her pathetic minions fight again his stone-like Unbirth. He knew that Hades and Hook were on their own world for the time being, an lucky escape for them. His eyes first laid on Gantu, hearing that he had gone up against the Keyblade Master beforehand and that he used to be the Captain of Little Devon guards. Surely the Devon brothers won't miss him much if he was to get defeated, they would most properly thank the almighty Order for once in their miserable lives. His eyes then laid on Pete, the huge cat has seen it all, from the previous Keybearers to the dealings with the Keyblade Master and yet he still hasn't fallen. For a coward, he knew how to stay alive. Then there was Maleifcent, walking as he remained in her dragon form, fighting back against the Unbirths with all of her strength.
"Looks like she needs to be taken by a profession." He smirked, summoning his chain sword and whipping it towards the dark dragon, wrapping around her ankle tightly as he pulled with all his might. He watched with a smirk as Maleficent lost balance, allowing his Unbirths to jump onto her. Now the Heartless problem was dealt with and now the Unbirths are stronger than ever now their was even more Light within the world. "Looks like argument day is at hand." he laughed, withdrawing his weapon.
"Mayor Snake!"
He turned around to face some new privates that the Order had received a couple of weeks ago thanks to Colonel Devil taking over Incas. "What is it?" He asked the one with green markings, knowing full well that the Colonel must have infected him.
"We went to the Soundless Prison and-" He reported, looking at his friend beside him to see him shake with fear.
"And what?" Snake never liked it when people would stop talking when it was something important. It wasn't like he was going to kill them or anything.
"The Keybearer isn't there, sir."
Snake only clenched his teeth with anger, his hat hiding his glare. "Only two other members knew of this mission." He growled, "There plan won't last long." He could search the entire castle for the trance of the Keybearer but knowing the Colonel, Ventus would be long gone by now. He only yelled with anger as he slammed his claw through the white throne, creating a hole into it. He looked up to see that he had the throne has 'XIII' engraved into it, along with 'Key to Destiny' below it. "Let's move out." He commanded, " We have other orders to fill."
BOWBOWBOW
"What does Vanitas want with Sora?" Ventus asked the Endless as they entered the dark city. It was a surprise that there were no Heartless around, it could only mean that the battle must still be going on.
"I'm not exactly sure but it's enough for him to have the Colonel go against him." He informed the Keyblader before looking at him. "You can't fight Vanitas on your own."
"He's my problem." Ventus said sharply to the Endless.
"And now he's Sora and the others problem." He added, "Vanitas is a lot stronger, you know this. He is after you so going alone would just please him and Sora can't go against him until knowing who he is exactly dealing with, which you know." He looked at the Keybearer, seeing him look away. "Why exactly are you hiding from him anyway? Why not confront him?"
"Because if I met him in person then he won't believe in himself anymore." He told him before looking away, "It's best if I just guild them."
"Sooner or later, you will have to show yourself. It might even safe your friends." He said before opening a portal once more.
"Wait!" Ventus called him, making him halt his actions, making the portal disappear. "Are you-are you Nick?" he asked with cautious.
"Nikolai." He corrected.
"Nikolai…" He muttered before stepping forward again, "W-were you friends with a boy named Haru?" He watched the Endless confirm his question by nodding. "I never really thank the two of you for waking me up."
"Haru woke you up, not me." He reminded him.
"You told me where I was and what year it was. I still feel that I should thank you." Ventus insisted, Pluto's barking added to the comment made.
"Then fight with the Keyblade Master." He simply said, creating a portal once more. He turned his head to see Ventus hit the shoulder guard, making hit glow a bright light before appearing in his armour. He watched how he created a portal with his Keyblade before looking back at him. The contrast of light and dark had worked together, now they must separate once more as each stepped into their portals.
A/N: HEY PEOPLE! The new year is approaching and so is another chapter. A nice Ventus chapter for once. Will Ventus meet up with Sora? What's going on with Brian? And what are the other orders with Snake? All will be seen next year on KINGDOM HEARTS: BALANCE OF WORLDS.
Transition End: We will have a wait and see.
Janus-juan: Awww I'm glad that you thought it was good. Though I give you guys an extra chapter since it was Christmas ^^ The virus is not forgotten. Trust me.
Soragirl4ever: I'm surprised that you didn't catch in the chapter that Brian had stolen Sora's cookies. Ah well. O.o NO! NO TWILIGHT COMPARSION! The Order are not sparkly vampires. Also, head. Gutter. Out. Lol The title 'One night' means that only this one time can they be together and not get interrupted, to be together. That's all. Have a happy new year.
Shadow S: It's always a bonus to have a chocobo in a chapter ^^
: If he was their son, why would he be disappearing? Many questions.
FloraFaveXNara-Wire: (Brian: YAY! I'm loved) I'm glad that you liked it
Lizard Valis: And the suspense is still there lol
FutureKeyblader: The kiss just seemed to fit right here. Besides, I've had my fun. Time to bring some trouble in :P
Kisdota-The Freak Gamer: Hope you enjoyed New York. I would like to go there. ^^
Hyakuman no Itami: I choose pie lol I'm glad that you are enjoying the story so far and hope that enjoy more. Sorry bout the grammer, it still needs working.
Right, I see ya next time in the Year of Marly
Kingdommad.