Kingdom Hearts (c) to Disney and Square Enix!
My OCs (c) to me!
Chapter 13: Tour
Ven's feet carried him through a dark building.
He didn't recognize it, but all the boxes made it seem like a warehouse, but the layout resembled a regular house. So maybe just an abandoned old house then.
He walked along a balcony on a second floor, looking around.
Crash!
A portion of the roof fell in.
This was absolutely an old house.
From the hole in the roof, a beam of light filtered through.
His eyes followed it to the first floor. From where he stood, he could see someone lying in the beam of light.
"Hey! Are you ok?"
No answer.
Hurrying back toward the stairs, he ran down.
In the beam of light, he saw someone lying on the ground.
A girl.
Her white dress stained with blood as orange hair lay around her, two red ribbons tangled in the orange halo.
"Oh gosh!" Running over, he knelt down. "Are you alrig-"
Her hand shot up, grasping at his collar.
Hhhhhhhhuuuughhhhh…
The face turned up-
To reveal a featureless void of darkness.
From which a voice came.
"Ven…tus…
Why…?
WHY…?
WWWWHHHHYYYYYYY!?"
"AHH!" Ven shot up in bed, covering his mouth fast enough so that Terra and Aqua didn't come running.
Chirithy softly grabbed his arm as the boy flopped back in bed. "I'm so sorry, I tried to get rid of that dream, but I couldn't."
"You couldn't?"
"No…" The dream eater shook his head. "And this isn't the first time I haven't been able to remove a dream. Since you've been going to the dark realm, it's been happening more."
Ven picked up his friend, sighing. "I guess I should be more careful then. I'll keep my helmet on all the time." He looked out the window, seeing the sun beginning to peak up over the horizon.
"Maybe that will help."
"I hope so."
Purring slightly as Ven began scratching him behind the ears. "A little to the left… Oh, remember that today- right there, that's the spot- the other delegates are coming here."
"Oh yeah, that's today." The boy swung his legs over the side of his bed and got up. "Better get ready then."
But still…
Who was that girl?
"Welcome." Aqua bowed her head as the delegates exited the gummi ship they took there. "I am Master Aqua."
Sarafa looked around. "This is so beautiful!"
"I'll say." Akiko gasped. "Riku wasn't exaggerating when he described this place."
"And it's just the three of you here?"
"Yep."
Terra smiled, heading up the stairs. "Come on inside. Aqua made refreshments, and there is a lot to see."
The group followed him up the stairs and into the castle foyer. The three residents held back their giggles as the guests audibly gasped in awe as they entered.
And the awe continued as they came into the throne room.
"This is absolutely stunning." Jenna smiled.
Aqua gestured to the hallway. "The dining hall is this way. I've prepared some cakes and cookies for you."
"You didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to. Baking is something I love to do."
The rest of the trip, the trio showed them around the castle.
"So," Reeve asked, "if anyone shows potential to be a Keyblade wielder and becomes your apprentices they would live here?"
"Yep."
"Nice place to live."
"No kidding."
Aqua nodded.
Though-
Were they ready to have apprentices yet?
"Well," Ven hopped ahead of the group, "who wants to see the grounds outside?"
"We'd love to."
The tour of the grounds went just as well and inspired the same amount of awe in the guests.
"So, if we did find someone with the potential to wield the Keyblade, what do we do?"
Terra crossed his arms. "Well, they have a choice to come learn with us or not. So, that would come first. And I'm actually already debating taking in my half-sister as an apprentice. We'll see what happens though."
"And while I'm not entirely sure I'm ready yet to have a student, it won't be long. And Ven will be a master before long."
"Why aren't you sure?"
Aqua sighed. "We just went through a lot, not long ago. I myself was… trapped alone for over twelve years. I'm still not sure I'm fully prepared just yet."
Hope gave a slow nod. "Makes sense. And we will respect your decisions. You all understand this Keyblade stuff much better than us."
"Thank you."
One day she'd be ready.
And maybe that day was sooner, or maybe it was a long way off.
Quistis looked at the young woman. "I was wondering, who trained you?"
"Master Eraqus." Terra sighed. "But he's gone now. So, it's just the three of us."
"I'm sorry about that." Ortensia clasped her hands.
Oswald looked up at them. "I almost took up the Keyblade at one point, but chose not to eventually." He reached back, patting the paintbrush on his back, and this thing is much better for my situation."
"I'm curious," Miyu asked, "and this is probably because my son is a Keyblade wielder as well," he glanced to Akiko, "why aren't there more of you? You just said that a master takes on students, and your master took on three. So, why aren't there more wielders out there, or if there are, where are they?"
Aqua studied the man's face.
He looked curious, but behind his eyes, she saw something else...
Anger.
Desperation.
Terra spoke up, his words gentle. "You want to know why your son had to do so much."
"Yes I do!" He bit his lip as his words came out louder than they should have. "Sorry... I know this isn't the time or place-"
Jenna shook her head. "No. You have a missing child. It's only natural. If you want, we will give you a moment alone."
Aqua gestured back to the castle. "If you'd like we could speak in the library or out at the training grounds."
"Outside probably would work better."
Ven nodded. "I can finish up the tour." Terra and Aqua glanced at each other before walking back towards the training area, followed by the two islanders.
As they neared a pond, Terra sat down. "Look, I know you probably are angry at us-"
"Not at you," Akiko sighed, "we just don't understand why our sons had to do so much. We know that the three of you were missing, so we don't blame you."
Terra's eyes met hers. "Actually, part of the blame is mine. I don't know if Riku told you, but I met him years ago when he was a little boy. I granted him the power of the Keyblade, and I fully intended to come back and see if he wanted to be my student. But, that never happened."
Riku's mother stared at him, her eyes slowly widening.
"What about Sora?"
"I had the opportunity," Aqua admitted, "as I met those two not long after. But I chose not to. I didn't want their lives to end up like ours- but I guess fate had other plans."
"Guess so."
Miyu sat down. "So, what happened to the other wielders out there? Why- why did my son have to carry so much responsibility? Why wasn't there someone else out there to help?"
Terra stared up at the clouds. "Master Eraqus told us that something happened when he was a boy. There used to be a world full of Keyblade wielders called Scala ad Caelum, but someone of darkness attacked and killed most of the people there. Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort were some of the few survivors. My grandparents survived as well. Not many others. If there are any more, they're scattered far and distant. As far as we know, we are the only organized group of Keyblade wielders left." He reached over, putting a hand on the man's shoulder. "I'm sorry we couldn't help. It's not fair that your son," he looked to Akiko, "and yours, had to deal with so much."
"I just-" Miyu wiped his eyes. "Riku finally explained everything. Those kids had downplayed so much to us to keep us from worrying. And now we know the extent of what happened, it's just hard... I wish I'd known that the last time I saw my son could be the last time. He just smiled and said he'd be back soon."
Akiko knelt beside her friend, wiping away her own tears as she put a hand on his shoulder. "Miyu..."
The dam holding back the man's emotions broke. Sora's father cried out as tears fell down his face. "I just want my son back!"
Terra and Aqua said nothing.
They just sat there, a comforting presence for the grieving father.
Eventually, Miyu wiped his eyes, turning them up towards the clouds. "I'm sorry to cause grief right now. I know this is supposed to be a fun occasion."
"No, you have every right to grieve." Aqua smiled. "Sora was your son, and I can't imagine how hard it is for you."
The father nodded before finally standing up. "I-I think I'm alright now. Thank you for letting me vent and ask questions."
"It's no trouble, and if you have any other questions, please call us. We'd be happy to talk to you."
"Thanks."
The four of them went back, and the delegates set off for their homes soon after.
"I feel like I should contact my mother." Terra sighed. "Just to say hello."
Aqua stared at the stars before nodding. "And... I think it's time I went home..."
Oh snap! Guess in two weeks you guys will get to meet Aqua's family!