Chapter Five:
When It Rains

Ventus

It was going to rain.

Brushing his hair away from his eyes, Ven stared up at the sky, which didn't have a cloud in sight. Still, he had never been wrong about this before. He didn't know when, but rain would be pouring down from the heavens, shedding its tears.

Why did this happen? He wondered this often, the same question he had been asking himself for the last two weeks with no answer in sight. When he asked mom, all she did was sigh, and give him that tired smile he came to recognize and hate.

"Because they are Gerudo," was all that she said, as if that explained everything. For the adults, it seemed it was enough of an explanation, but for Ventus it wasn't. He knew that they were the ones who cut off his father's arm and killed his uncle, aunt, and little cousin. He knew it was the Gerudo who brutally slaughtered the Sheikah. He knew they were thieves, whores, and bastards.

Still, it didn't give him the answers he was looking for.

The Hylian king trusted the Gerudo king to keep his word despite his father and the other members of the council's outrage at allowing the Gerudo, who killed the previous captain of the royal guard in cold blood, to go free without punishment.

Anger swelled in his soul.

It was the king's fault this happened! If he only listened to Dad then none of this would have happened. Now they and all of Hyrule were paying for it. He bent down and grabbed a log which had to be the same height as him and attempted to pick it up.

His arms could barely wrap around the trunk, and pieces of wood dug under his fingernails, drawing blood. Still, the boy tried, grunting with effort despite being too weak to pick it up, would not be deterred.

"Oi, Ventus, don't hurt yourself there."

Surprised at the sudden voice of Killian, Ventus' grip slipped and the log once again reunited with the ground and Ventus' foot.

"Shit!" the boy swore, pulling his injured appendage from out under the log, plopping to the ground as he put pressure on it, wincing. He knew if mom was here right now, she would chide him for swearing in front of Uncle Killian, but she was helping some other ladies bake food for the village.

Killian just belly laughed and said, "What did I just say, eh?"

"You startled me!" Ventus complained, slipping off his boot and running his fingers along his foot and squeezing his toes. While they were sore, nothing seemed broken—not that he was a healer or had magic of any kind. Looking up at his father's best friend, who now towered over him, he scowled. "I totally had it, too!"

Both knew that was a lie.

"You need to know how to choose your battles, kid," said Killian, smirking down at him, his hands on his hips. "I'm all for pushing one's limits to the max, but that's better saved for when the pain's worth it."

"Sakriven doesn't exactly have protection from the Gerudo like Castle Town and Kakariko Village does … or did," Ventus pointed out, slipping his boot back on, his lips pulling back into a frown as he remembered the carnage of his home.

Even now, when he closed his eyes, he could hear the screams of the dying on the wind and the moat's water where they hid under the bridge for hours, waiting for a moment to escape. Sometimes, he could still feel that cold water clinging to him, slowly turning dark with blood of the victims of the attack.

How did they even get in? After the stunt earlier in the day with Ganondorf it wasn't like they were going to let any Gerudo approach. Even if they didn't have that fight with the Gerudo War, any people of a king who killed three knights and terrorized the nation's princess on horseback wouldn't be allowed to waltz in. He had heard rumors that they were just teleported in, but there was no way that anyone could do that on a grand scale, especially not a Gerudo.

"I'm going to do my part to keep the Gerudo at bay," he continued after a moment, looking up at his uncle, even if Killian wasn't one by blood. "Even if it is just building a wall. I even gave my sword up to it."

His sword, of course, being the stick from the tree near the Temple of Time.

"Speaking of which, when do you think I can have a real one?" Ventus asked, excitement seeping into his voice. "Like you and Dad have? I can't wait until I'm fifteen when there is a war going on now."

Killian scratched his beard pensively. "Hm. How about when you show me that you can use one. I'll teach you, and then you get one."

"Really?" Ventus' eyes light up. While his father taught him some things, mostly how not to stab his own eye out—or anyone else's for that matter—by accident, most of what the young Hylian boy knew was from watching the knights and the guards and mimicking their behavior.

Plus his own natural talent, of course. He was sure that once Killian saw his awesome moves, he would have a sword within a month—no, a week. Even if his father was never around to teach him, he was the son of the captain of the royal guard. This sort of thing ran in the family. He just knew it.

"Yeah, I don't want you to be defenseless, but I also want you to know what you're doing," said Killian, flopping down on the ground next to him. "Speaking of which, how are you supposed to hold a sword with your hands all messed up? That's what I was talking about with choosing your battles. Don't get yourself hurt unnecessarily."

"My hands are fine," Ven assured him, opening and closing them, as if to prove a point. "See?"

"Oi, no back talk to your mentor!" Killian swatted him up the back of his head and then slipped an arm around his head, capturing him, shaking him about, and mercilessly rubbing his knuckles into the top of his head.

Ven laughed in delight, the anger from earlier dissipating into the wind, forgotten.

Mentor.

Ven never had one of those before, at least not officially. Whenever he asked one of the guards and knights to show him some things, they always said in the end to ask his father. Ventus could never bring himself to point out his dad was never home or had time for him, since it would sound like he was complaining. After all, Dad was providing a great service to Hyrule and a lot of people depended on him; Ventus knew better than anyone how important his dad was.

However, his gut did twist uncomfortably at the thought.

His uncle, Aravin, had been important to the people too, and Ganondorf still took him away.

"When can we start?" he asked, his laughter subsiding and shrugging off the disturbing thought. He hoped Killian would say 'now'—especially before the rain came because he doubted Mom would allow them to swing swords indoors or for Ven to practice out in the inclement weather.

"Soon … Come, your mother has a surprise for you," said Killian as he released Ventus and stood up.

"For me?" he asked, scrambling to his feet as well. Ventus searched his brain, trying to figure out what it could possibly be or what for, but drew a blank.

"Yup." Killian smirked. "Come on, let's not keep her waiting."

"Okay!" Ven agreed, reaching out and taking the taller man's hand, his smaller fingers wrapping around the larger ones.

The two walked hand in hand toward the small house near the center of town where they had been staying with Uncle Killian. There were other families who lived in the house, one of which had a girl around Rini's age who his sister had become fast friends with. The two would talk under their breaths into the late hours of the night, and even though Ven didn't try to eavesdrop, he could hear their conversation as clear as if they were sleeping right next to him. Even now, weeks later, he couldn't understand how the adults couldn't hear their loud chattering.

It would keep him up, although he did learn some interesting things—specifically about Rini. He counted his name being mentioned by his younger sister no less than ten times in the conversation during the hour and while sometimes she was telling embarrassing stories about him, most of the time she was bragging about him not unlike how he bragged about their father.

As she should; he was impressive after all. Still, he wouldn't lie; it felt good to know his sister looked up to him like that.

"You found Ventus, thank you!"

Mom—who was chatting with a portly woman by the name of Elise—stopped in mid conversation when the two entered the door.

"It was my pleasure, milady." Killian gave an exaggerated sweeping bow. His mom snorted in barely contained amusement at Uncle Killian's antics, a small smile playing on her face.

It was another reason why Ventus loved the man; Mom smiled more naturally since he helped them find a place to stay. Of course, not as much when Dad was around, but Ventus heard her thank the sword for hire for helping them out.

"Uncle Killian said you had a surprise for me?" Ventus asked, turning his head as he heard the floor creak just in time to see Rini lunging toward him, arms outstretched. However, even with her sneak attack ruined, the small girl knocked Ventus to the ground for the second time that day.

"Happy Birthday, Ventus!" she crooned, wrapping her arms around him tightly and it took him a moment to realize what she just said.

Today was his birthday?

He had completely forgotten with everything happening ever since the summer solstice two weeks ago. There didn't seem much to look forward to with the uncertainty which surrounded them and dad not back yet, but now that Rini had mentioned it, the excitement which filled his heart before he saw Lady Impa flee Castle Town with Princess Zelda came rushing back.

"Rini, let your brother up," Mom sighed, but there was a smile on her face as his sister grudgingly let him stand. Reaching into the folds of her skirt, she pulled out a small bag, handing it over to him.

"While I bet you would have preferred your father's present more, I did manage to grab this before I left," Mom explained, smoothing her skirt down as he pulled the black drawstrings back and dumped the contents into his hand.

It was a necklace, one commonly given out to children his age. On a black string was a small, round emerald with the symbol of Farore engraved into the jewel. He couldn't help but notice it was slightly scuffed, as if it had been handled by someone else before.

"It's to have the Goddesses keep you safe," she said softly, approaching him and taking the necklace out of his hand, unclasping it before reaching around and fastening it around his neck. "Just … just keep it on, okay? Don't take it off."

Ventus reached up and his fingers brushed against the stone before glancing up at his mother. The thoughts of who it could have belonged to before him danced in his mind for a moment before pushing it away. It didn't matter, and the way the emerald glistened he could tell it was a real gem and not a glass bead as was more common.

"Thanks Mom," he said, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around her. "I love it."

"Oi, Ven, I got something for you too."

"Really?" Ven asked, his curiosity perked once more. Untangling himself from his mother's embrace, he looked at Uncle Killian, his heart beating fast in his chest.

It seemed while Ven had been busy getting tackled by his sister and presented with the gift from his mother, Killian had snuck away and now had something long wrapped in a cloth in his hands. He smiled and held it out to Ventus.

Ventus took the offered parcel, his heart threatening to break out of his rib cage. Pulling the brown cloth away, his breath caught in his throat upon seeing a wooden sword.

It was slightly smaller than a real sword but it was the perfect length for a child of Ventus' statue. It even had a hand guard and was carved to look like a real sword.

The tiniest of "squees" escaped his lips, a wide smile blooming across his face before he threw himself at Killian, crushing him in a tight hug.

"Thank you!"

Killian chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Well, if I'm going to train you, you need something to train with, right? Your dad was going to get you one of these, so just think of it as being from the both of us, 'kay?"

Ven nodded his head excitedly, Rini peering curiously at his new wooden sword before looking up at her brother.

"Better be careful. When you hit yourself in the face with this one, it'll hurt a lot more," she said, her lips pulling back into an impish smirk.

Ven felt his ears go red as some of the adults chuckled and a couple laughed. He couldn't believe his own sister just sold him out and made him look like he didn't know what he was doing, after all that bragging he heard her do too.

"That was one time!" he hissed, Rini's grin only growing wider. "I just didn't know my own strength."

Or how bendy his previous sword stick could be.

He looked at his mother, who had a gentle smile on her face, her features more relaxed than they had been since they fled Castle Town. Even though the question didn't escape from his mouth, it was evident in his eyes.

"Go on, if Killian doesn't mind," she sighed, before smiling at the other man. "Thank you."

"No problem, Ceres." Killian returned her smile, and then turned his attention back to Ventus. "Let's go, Ven."

The sky was beginning to get dark and drops of rain were already beginning to drip down from the heavens. Rini had gone inside fifteen minutes earlier, following after him and Uncle Killian to watch the two of them practice even though she made her disinterest toward sword fighting well known plenty of times in the past, and Mom had just yelled for the second time for them to come inside and eat.

"Fwah!" he grunted, making the sound effects of steel clashing against steel, swinging the wooden weapon down the way Killian taught him.

Killian was chuckling at the sounds Ventus was adding to his training.

"Killian," said a deep voice, causing both Ven and him to look up.

It was Germanin, the oldest and most experienced of the royal guard. He looked to be in his late fifties with dark hair and wild beard peppered with gray. He was travel-worn, still covered in blood in some spots on his clothing.

"Germanin!" A smile brightened on Killian's face. He stepped forward quickly to clasp an arm with him. "Ha! I knew you were too stubborn to die, old man."

Germanin just grunted and didn't smile back. "Guess so …" His beady brown eyes settled on Ventus. "So you're taking care of Kubera's kids, eh?"

"Yeah, me and Ceres, just until he gets back. Then I'm off to Lake Hylia. I need to check on Tori and Amaya, if they haven't already moved on, that is."

Ventus looked up at the old man, his hand tightening on his sword as the rain began to come down harder. He knew his mom was going to be coming out any minute again to yell at him for a third time to eat something, but Germanin might know something about his dad. He learned if he stayed quiet around adults, they typically forgot he was there. It was how he learned things he shouldn't have in the past; mostly from his dad. Mom always was well aware of her surroundings and watched what she said, and busted him on more than one occasion.

Germanin was quiet for a moment, looking away from Ventus. "Killian, come with me for a second. There's something I need to tell you."

Killian arched his brow but nodded. He glanced at Ven and smirked, flicking him in the ear. "Hey, you heard your mother, get inside."

Ventus frowned, rubbing his ear, but knew they wouldn't start talking unless he was a suitable amount of distance away. Luckily for him it was dark and raining, so he didn't need to go inside and that would have made it harder to eavesdrop on them.

"Fine," he grumbled, shouldering the wooden sword and beginning to drag his feet back toward the house.

Germanin and Killian turned away, walking further from the house but still within sight of it. Eventually, they stopped.

"So have you heard any news of Kubera?" asked Killian. "I heard Castle Town has … fallen—completely ... So he should be here as soon as he figures out they're not in Kakariko, unless he stopped to help some poor souls on his way. It wouldn't surprise me. Heh, he needs to think of his family more often. Quit playin' the hero so much."

Germanin sighed heavily. "That's what I need to speak to you about. You're close to his family. I thought it would be best if they heard it from you."

It was dark, but a stillness seemed to settle over Killian as Ventus watched.

"No … no, don't say things like that. It's not funny." Killian was shaking his head almost angrily, turning away from the older knight.

"No, it's not," growled Germanin. "But not saying it doesn't mean it's not real. He was the captain. He was a knight, Killian. You know what risks that comes with. You're a warrior too, even if you turned down the offer to be a knight, you risk your life in the same way as a mercenary. You've seen war before. You know that not everyone makes it out alive."

Killian was putting a hand to his face.

"I'm sorry. I know he was your best friend."

Killian was just quiet for a moment. Then he sucked in a sharp breathing, but his voice still came out with a waver in it. "How did he die?"

"Like you'd expect him to. Saving people, giving them a chance to live. He was a devoted knight to the end."

Ven collapsed to the ground, even the rain unable to hide his tears.

His father. Dead.

He choked, gasping for air, his fingers digging into his scalp. It felt like someone's hand was squeezing his chest tightly, and he struggled to breathe.

But Daddy … Daddy was the strongest. Nobody could beat him. Nobody. This couldn't be real. It was a lie. All a lie, all a filthy goddamn lie.

But Germanin wouldn't lie about this, a nasty little voice in his head whispered, drowning out the mantra which had taken hold of his brain.

His vision swam as he swayed in the wind. He wanted to throw up, but with nothing in his stomach, only the feeling of nausea washed over him like a wave. He tried to drown out the traitorous murmur in the back of his head. There was no way—no way he would die. He wouldn't leave him—leave them.

"Daddy," he sobbed, his voice taken by the wind. "Daddy, Daddy …"

"Ah—shit—Ventus!" came Killian's voice over the wind and rain. Hurried wet, footsteps slapped over to him, until another pair of knees hit into the mud as well, Killian's arms wrapped around him tightly. "Damn it, I told you to go inside!"

Ventus didn't answer, just began to cry louder, burying his face into Killian's clothes as sobs of despair shook through his entire body. He clung to the older man, as if he let go, he would disappear on him as well.