Ven and Axel were walking through the afternoon streets of Twilight Town, headed for the marketplace.
"Did you see where Terra got off to this morning? I wake up from a nap and he's gone!" Ven said as Axel smirked.
"The Master called him to the tower. Decided to send him on a few errands. All a part of his training, supposedly." Axel replied.
"Oh. What about Riku? Where'd he go?" Ven asked as they entered the tunnel leading to the marketplace.
"Him I don't know about. He might've gone with Terra." Axel replied.
"Actually I've been right here."
"Riku! Geez don't sneak up on us like that!" Ven yelped, turning around to see Riku standing behind them. Riku shrugged helplessly.
"Sorry. Wasn't trying to scare you. I saw Terra sneak off and decided to follow him. I followed him to Yen Sid's Tower but the Master told me to leave. Terra wanted to talk to him about something." Riku said as they continued on towards the marketplace.
"Wonder what it's about." Axel commented.
"Are you feeling alright, Riku? You look pretty beat." Ven said, noticing the bags under Riku's eyes.
"I haven't been sleeping well. I had this weird dream last night about someone. A girl more specifically." Riku said as Axel glanced away.
"I don't think we want to hear about your fantasies Riku." Axel mumbled, causing Riku to roll his eyes.
"Not that kind of dream, Axel. What's weird is, I feel like I've seen this girl before, I'm just not sure where or how." Riku replied.
"It was just a dream, Riku." Ven said but Axel scoffed.
"I dunno. We've all had some weird dreams lately." Axel said, earning nods of agreement from Riku and Ven.
"True." Riku replied as they entered the marketplace where they saw Hayner and Pence buying ice cream.
"Yo Hayner! Pence!" Axel called, catching the boys' attention.
"Hey guys. We heard you were in town." Hayner said as the three approached.
"Oh yeah?" Ven asked.
"Yeah. Kairi told us when we saw her earlier. She and Olette are off shopping together. They're such girls." Hayner said.
"Newsflash, they are girls." Axel replied.
"Well duh!" Hayner stated.
"So what brings you guys here? Just visiting or something else?" Pence asked.
"Mixture of both actually. It's Keyblade stuff, we can't talk about it. You understand right?" Riku replied, the two boys nodding in agreement.
"Does it have anything to do with why Kairi seems kinda sad lately?" Pence asked.
"Well to put it simply, a friend of hers has gone missing and Sora and Aqua are off searching for her. We would go help join the search but we can't go where they're searching so we're staying here with Axel for the time being." Riku explained.
"And Kairi's staying with Olette." Ven added.
"I know. Olette was over the moon at the notion of a slumber party. I vote we ambush them tonight." Hayner suggested, rubbing his hands together mischievously.
"No way. I've already gotten on Kairi's bad side once before. I'm not doing it again." Axel replied, referring to the time he kidnapped her.
"And Kairi's kinda going through a rough spot. She's really worried about our friends right now so pranking her is not the best of ideas." Riku said as the two boys shrugged.
"Fair enough…but Olette is free game!" Hayner said but Pence shook his head.
"Just leave them alone, Hayner." Pence said as Hayner looked at his friend with a smirk.
"You're no fun, Pence. You've just got goo-goo eyes for Olette." Hayner said as Pence blushed.
"What's this? Is there a little romance blooming here in Twilight Town?" Riku asked with a smirk.
"Watch out boys, this guy's the one responsible for setting up Sora and Kairi, along with Aqua and Ven here. He might pull the same thing on you and Olette." Axel said as Riku raised his hands defensively.
"Now hold on, I'm not getting involved again. If they need a push in the right direction, I'll help with the push, but if not I won't get involved. Besides we don't know if Olette feels the same way." Riku argued.
"Guys, can we stop talking about this, please?" Pence squeaked, embarrassed by the conversation.
"Yeah come on, ease up you guys." Ven said, coming to Pence's defense.
"I'll say no more, then." Riku said as Hayner looked around.
"In that case, let's talk about where that other friend of yours is. Terra, right?" Hayner asked as the three nodded.
"He's talking with Master Yen Sid about something. Didn't say when he'd get back." Axel said.
"Well now you know." They heard a voice say from nearby. They turned and saw Terra approaching from the train station.
"Where did you go?" Ven asked.
"It's a private matter between Master Yen Sid and I. Don't worry, it's nothing bad. In fact, if all goes according to plan, it should turn out pretty good." Terra replied.
"I bet I know what it was about. You were probably arranging some kind of date for when you finally get to see Si'Lea again." Ven said with a smirk.
"Ven, knock it off." Terra replied with a glare towards his fellow apprentice.
"Who's Si'Lea?" Pence asked. Terra was about to answer before Ven interrupted.
"Terra's old girlfriend, that's who." Ven said, grinning challengingly up at Terra who scowled down at him.
"I told you to knock it off, Ven!" Terra growled.
"Terra, you had a girlfriend?" Riku asked, surprised.
"Why are you so surprised by that? Yeah Si'Lea and I were close but our relationship kinda came to an abrupt end when she became a Master and was sent to another world. Then there was that whole Xehanort thing so I highly doubt that she'd be interested in me anymore, especially given the fact that she's at least a full ten years older than me now." Terra explained. Riku, Ven, and Axel had looks of understanding on their faces but Hayner and Pence were confused.
"What do you mean she's ten years older now? How does that work?" Pence asked.
"It's a long and complicated story, guys, one I don't like retelling." Terra replied as Riku tapped his chin in thought.
"Hayner, Pence, do you mind excusing us? We have some things to talk about. Stuff we can't freely talk about around you guys. Keyblade stuff." Riku said, the boys nodding understandingly.
"Yeah it's cool. We understand." Hayner said with a nod.
"As Axel explained to us once, some secrets are kept for the purpose of saving lives so it's best not to pry sometimes." Pence added.
"We'll be in the usual place when you're done." Hayner said as he and Pence walked away.
"Why did you dismiss them like that, Riku?" Ven asked.
"Because Terra and I have some talking to do." Riku said, Terra knowing what he was talking about.
"I take it this is the next lesson in helping me to accept my darkness?" Terra asked as Riku nodded.
"Yes. Come on, let's go talk in private. You guys can come too." Riku said as Ven and Axel both nodded.
"Sure." Ven said.
"Can I come?"
They all turned to see Kairi approaching from the Tram Commons, carrying a shopping bag in one hand.
"I thought you and Olette were shopping?" Ven said as Kairi nodded.
"We were but Olette's mom called her home for lunch so I thought I might join you guys for lunch instead. I brought ice cream." Kairi said, holding up the bag.
"That's great, now let's go." Riku said as they started off towards the Tram Commons.
…
They soon were seated in the grass outside the old mansion. Everyone had a stick of sea-salt ice cream in hand.
"So what's the next lesson, Riku?" Terra asked as Riku cleared his throat.
"Well actually it's more of an exercise. I want you to recall your time spent with Si'Lea before she became a Master. I can tell you care for her even now and you seem to cheer up a bit when you think about her. Riku said as Terra smiled fondly at the memories.
"I do. Ven's teasing aside, he was actually right. We were boyfriend and girlfriend once. She was Master Yen Sid's apprentice and had been since she was a baby like Aqua and I were to Master Eraqus. Master Yen Sid felt it was important for her to be around children her own age so he would bring her around to the Land of Departure regularly for playdates with Aqua and I. We played together all the time. When we were little, she and Aqua once even got into a fight over who would marry me." Terra chuckled, earning a snort of laughter from Kairi.
"That's so cute!" She giggled. Axel was even sniggering to himself along with Riku. Ven was not as amused.
"What do you mean she and Aqua fought over you?" Ven asked, annoyed.
"Relax Ven, we were just kids! To be fair I don't even think you were born yet by that point! Besides, Aqua lost interest in me fairly quickly." Terra replied.
"Well she did have to live with you." Ven mumbled with a smirk.
"You two do seem to get along in a sort of brother, sister fashion." Axel commented.
"And that's how we like it. But Si'Lea and I, we began to realize there were more to our feelings than simple friendship. She even gave me my first kiss." Terra said, smiling as he gently put a hand to his left cheek at the memory.
"How romantic." Kairi said, dreamily.
"Steady Kairi." Riku commented with a smirk earning a raspberry from Kairi.
"I'm a girl, it's my natural instinct." She argued with a smile before she felt Axel put his hands over her ears.
"Did she uh…did she ever give you more than your first kiss?" Axel asked, implying more than just first base, before getting elbowed in both knee caps by Kairi.
"I heard what you said, Axel." She mumbled. (Ambiance Cue: Destiny's Union – BBS)
"No we never went that far, Axel. Get your brain out of the gutter. It got to the point that just being around her was intoxicating. It nearly broke my heart though that last night when she left. She came to my room that night…" Terra said, looking up towards the sky with a sad smile on his face.
Flashback…
Terra was sitting on the edge of his bed, wearing a white tank top and a pair of sweatpants. He was looking at his armor piece as he held it in his hand. He then heard his door creaking open and looked up to see Si'Lea poking her head in.
"I thought you might be asleep by now." Si'Lea said softly. She was still in her normal clothes.
"Can't sleep for some reason." He replied, setting the armor piece on the nightstand as Si'Lea walked in.
"I think we both know the reason." Si'Lea said as she sat down next to him on the bed.
"I don't want you to leave." He said softly.
"And I don't want to leave either. I wish I could stay with you, Terra but…I can't." She replied as Terra took her by the hand, their fingers locking together.
"It's not fair. We only confessed our feelings for one another just a few months ago and now you're leaving." Terra said as Si'Lea lifted his chin and turned his head towards her so she could look him in the eyes.
"Sometimes that's what happens to people in love. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You're so close to becoming a Master yourself and I heard Master Yen Sid speaking with Master Eraqus not that long ago about an upcoming Mark of Mastery Exam here. You might become a Master soon and then, maybe, you can come and join me and we can be together." Si'Lea said as Terra smiled at the thought.
"You're right. So I guess this isn't goodbye after all." Terra said as Si'Lea smiled at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You know how I hate goodbyes. I'll keep a place ready for you…Master Terra." Si'Lea said as she leaned in towards him.
"I'll be looking forward to it…Master Si'Lea." He replied as they leaned in for a kiss.
Back in the present…
Kairi's eyes were watery as she smiled at Terra's story. Ven, Riku, and Axel were smiling towards him. Terra was smiling up at the sky at the memory. Then his smile started to vanish as he let out a frustrated sigh.
"Then Xehanort happened. Now that dream is just a dream, and when she finds out about my past…I can't imagine what she'll think of me." Terra said.
"She'll remember you as the man she fell in love with, not the man you became. I doubt anything will have changed between you." Riku said but Terra shook his head.
"Didn't you hear Aqua's description of her? She's at least thirty years old now while I still look the same as I did eleven years ago! She's likely moved on by now, especially now that she's got her own Apprentice." Terra said as Riku sighed heavily and was about to say something when Kairi interrupted.
"You don't know that. Haven't you ever heard of the phrase: Love is blind?" Kairi said as Terra scratched the back of his head.
"Look things have changed and there's no telling what may happen when we see each other again. But at least I can prepare myself for either possibility." Terra said as Kairi rose to her feet.
"Okay, but I'm going to hope and pray that the two of you get back together, despite the age difference." Kairi said as she started walking away, Ven climbing to his feet.
"She's got a point. Maybe she likes younger men and I've got some experience with that kind of woman." Ven said with a smirk, walking away, as Terra rolled his eyes.
"Oh hardy-har-har. I'll be sure to tell Aqua you think she's old!" Terra yelled after him.
"And I'll take pictures of the result!" Axel added.
"Makes me glad I'm still single." Riku chuckled as the three climbed to their feet and started heading back towards town. As they did, Riku started to wince slightly.
"You okay?" Terra asked.
"Yeah but I can't seem to concentrate. I keep drifting off to that dream I had and it keeps-…-keeps-…" Riku stammered before suddenly passing out.
"RIKU!" Terra exclaimed, catching him before he hit the ground.
"Something's wrong! We need to get him to Master Yen Sid, quick!" Terra yelped as Axel immediately turned and opened a Corridor of Darkness, pulling his hood up over his head.
"Quick, armor up and follow me!" Axel ordered, Terra slapping Riku's shoulder guard then slapping his own, activating their armor and carrying him through the portal.
Meanwhile in Jungle Book…
"Riku?" Nixe said as Riku arched an eyebrow, his hand still extended towards her.
"Is something wrong with my name?" he asked but she shook her head.
"No-no, it's just…I feel like I've heard your name before somewhere…like in a dream I had once. Oh well, it's probably no big deal." Nixe said as she shook his hand.
"Good now that we're properly introduced, we should probably get out of here before trouble shows up." Riku said as Nixe crossed her arms over her chest.
"Trouble? Please, what kind of trouble could we possibly run-LOOK OUT!" Nixe exclaimed before tackling him to the ground just in time for a large black tendril to overshoot them but only slightly before retracting back towards a large mass of black ooze with two glowing green-yellow eyes. Nixe's eyes widened in horror at the sight of the monster.
"You! You're the thing that killed my mother!" Nixe exclaimed as she and Riku leapt to their feet.
"That's right, he is, and we're here to make sure you don't escape!" another voice said from nearby. They looked and saw a short figure in a white coat nearby. The figure had a hood up over its head but it had big hands with only three fingers and a thumb as well as two large feet.
"Who are you?" Nixe asked as the figure summoned a Keyblade to its hand, a long metal shaft with a four leaf clover for a tooth, a horse shoe for a guard around the handle and the keychain was a pair of pink and blue rabbit's foot charms. Nixe quickly summoned her Keyblade while Riku drew his sword.
"You could say I'm just a lucky servant of the Sisterhood of Seven and I'm here to collect your heart on the behalf of the First Sister who sends her regards!"
End Chapter 21
Who is this mysterious figure? How is Riku in two places at once? Find out in the chapters to come…
Also, I thought I'd make some changes to the (suggested) voice cast roster for the characters featured in this story. I'm only changing First's voice actress while revealing the remaining five. Remember these are my picks only and by no means are you to assume that they're actually voicing these characters (like I have that kind of money). The voice cast for the Sisterhood of Seven (minus Namine) is as follows…
First - Stephanie Young (Olivier Mira Armstrong - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Second - Stephanie Sheh (Orihime Inoue - Bleach, Yui - Sword Art Online, Akira Kogami - Lucky Star)
Third - Laura Post (Hetalia - Narrator, Rosalia - Sword Art Online (only one episode))
Fourth - Kara Eberle (Weiss Schnee - RWBY)
Fifth - Brina Palencia (Juvia Loxar - Fairy Tail, Mad Moxxi - Borderlands)
Sixth - Laura Bailey (Particularly for her portrayal as Lust in FMA & FMA:B)
First: I switched to Stephanie Young because her portrayal as General Armstrong from FMA:B was just the gruff and tough voice needed for a woman who sounds like she's suppressing her anger and just as intimidating when releasing it.
Second: I picked Stephanie Sheh largely for her portrayal of Akira Kogami in the Lucky Star omakes (I've never seen Lucky Star but I've seen the omakes) and the sort-of darker tone Akira uses when we see her true self is perfect for the Lady of Indolence (that's another word for sloth by the way).
Third: With Third being the Lady of Jealousness, I wanted a voice to accompany it that would make her sound almost pouting at some point. I first thought of Wendy Powell (the voice of Envy from both FMA animes) but I decided her gruff voice just didn't work for Third. Instead after seeing Sword Art Online, I heard her portrayal of the character Rosalia (a one-off character in episode 4 that never appears again after that) but it was enough to convince me for that role.
Fourth: Fourth was tough. I needed a voice that could portray a snobbish air and after watching an Episode of RWBY, I realized, Kara Eberle, the voice of Weiss Schnee, was the perfect choice as Weiss does have a sort of snobby tone to her, especially early on in the first volume of RWBY.
Fifth: Again, a tough call. Lust, Greed, and Envy are almost synonymous at times and I needed voices that could portray those particular traits (if that makes any sense) and while Brina Palencia's portrayal of Mad Moxxi from Borderlands is geared towards lust, it isn't such a hard switch from lust to greed. Thus explains the Lady of Avarice.
Finally Sixth: Couldn't stop myself. Decided to go with the woman who literally portrayed a character named Lust: Laura Bailey. 'nough said.
Si'Lea and Nixe's voice actresses are still the same however.