The Boy Who Fell Through The World IV
"Come on!" Ven shouted, Fire Surge being cast once again and that hit the figure.
The Mysterious Figure leapt away as it was burned again.
'Command Style: Firestorm!' Ven's form was surrounded by a fiery aura with literal flames burning around him.
Now dashing at the figure, Ven summoned fire and lightning all around him, forcing the figure back as it tired to fend him off.
However, Ven was fed up with this fight and he didn't stop until he gave one final hit that knocked the figure back.
Then it was gone.
Ven paused, looking around for any sign of his opponent but they were gone. He dismissed his Keyblade, looking around one more time before he turned to resume his walk. He only took a few steps before gasping.
There it was again!
The Mysterious Figure appeared again, standing before him.
Ventus summoned his Keyblade again but noticed a strange blurriness from the figure. However the figure didn't try to attack again.
Strangely it didn't do anything.
It only stared at him for a few seconds before turning around, taking a few steps and then vanishing once again.
Ventus only watched with a confused look on his face, wondering what that was all about.
Were they with the Organization DiZ had told him about?
Ven waited several minutes for something to happen before deciding to continue his journey up to the castle at the top of the mountain.
The three fairies watched as the battle continued until the boy seemingly won his fight as the man in the dark coat vanished from sight.
"The coast is clear." Yuna whispered once the Mysterious Figure was gone. "Let's say hello to our new friend."
Present
The EverAfter
"So, after you watched Ven defeat this…Mysterious Figure what happened next?" Terra questioned.
"Well, since he had a Keyblade Wielder we knew we had to be tactful in our approach." Yuna answered with a smile. "After all, the point of our plan was to get him on our side, so we had to be cautious, mindful and non-threatening."
Flashback
Outside Castle Oblivion
"Hi, I'm Yuna!"
"GAH!" Ven jumped back as a fairy literally landed on Ven's head and introduced herself rather loudly.
"You call this tactful?" Paine asked as she flew up after Yuna.
"I like it." Rikku flew up to Ven next. "My name is Rikku."
"Paine." Paine simply said.
"And we are…" The three fairies took their signature pose. "The Gullwings!"
Ven just looked at the three for a moment before introducing himself. "I'm…Ven."
"Well Ven, fancy meeting you here." Yuna dropped her pose, hovering in front of the boy. "What brings you here?"
"Um…Well, this used to be my home." Ven answered, rubbing the back of his head.
"You're home?" The three fairies questioned simultaneously, leaning forward in Ven's face.
"Ye…ah." Ven backed away slowly.
"One second." Yuna said, holding up one finger and turned to huddle with her fellow fairies. "Okay, we hit the pay dirt this time. A Keyblade Wielder's home has to be overflowing with treasure."
"And it's a castle so that must be like double overflowing." Rikku agreed.
"Won't trying to steal from his home defeat the plan of getting him on our side?" Paine asked.
Yuna and Rikku paused as Paine had a very good point.
"Okay…" Yuna took a few seconds to answer. "New plan…we get to know him and ask what might be up there in the castle."
"Uh…hello?" Ven waved a hand at the three fairies. "Is there…something you need?"
"Ven!" Yuna spun around and flew back at him. "So…that castle is your home right?"
"Yeah." Ven nodded slowly.
"Well, we are three…treasure hunters." Yuna said and then winced, suddenly wondering if she was choosing the right words here.
"Treasure hunters?" Ven repeated. "As in you go to places and look for treasures? Like buried treasure?"
"Exactly!" Yuna answered with a thumbs-up.
"Sounds right." Paine nodded.
Ven had a sudden recollection of the last time he had met a treasure hunter or someone like one.
Captain Hook.
A pirate that terrorized an island and had captured a friend Ven had made there named Tinker Bell. Ven confronted him but Hook escaped with Tinker Bell and Ven went after him, reuniting with Terra inside Skull Rock. Hook had planned to use Tinker Bell to trap Peter Pan but luckily Terra freed Tinker Bell, having learned the truth about Hook during a brief fight with Peter Pan. Just as Hook prepared to engage Terra, a giant Crocodile appeared, and Hook made a run for it.
Shortly afterwards, Ventus found him waiting at the Cove, wondering if Peter Pan had been defeated yet. Ven defeated Hook in battle, ending by knocking him into the water, where he was chased off by the Crocodile.
Though he knew the three were treasure hunters, he didn't sense anything bad about them, so it was unlikely they were like Captain Hook.
"Is that why you are here? Looking for treasure?" Ven asked.
"Pretty much." Paine shrugged.
"But we're not looking to steal from you or anything in your home." Yuna quickly said. "But if you know of any treasure that is up for grabs around here we would be…"
"Grateful?" Rikku offered.
"Grateful!" Yuna nodded. "You help us out and we'll help you."
"With that?" Ven asked.
"Anything."
"I don't understand... Tell me what happened to my sister..."
"I…It's my fault."
"Ven? What are you saying?"
"I'm sorry, Lauriam... I'm responsible for what happened to her "
"Ven, don't!"
"That's not true!"
…
…
…
"Ven. What did you do to Strelitzia? Ven. Answer me."
"Ven!"
"Lauriam, stop."
"Ven. Answer me."
…
…
…
"Stop it! This isn't you!"
"Stay out of this! Answer me!"
"AAAAAAAHHH!"
CLASH-CLASH!
"It... It wasn't me... It wasn't me!"
"Answer me!"
"A monster?!"
"What is that?"
"What's going on?"
"I see. You're Darkness."
"Finally. It's about time."
"I have to say, I didn't expect you to like such a cliché."
"So, you say. But I have no form to speak of. We mostly go unnoticed after all. What you see and hear now is for your benefit."
"What do you want?"
"Want? I want nothing. I simply am."
"Huh?"
"It must be hard for you to understand. We're very different. Unlike you, our actions don't serve a greater purpose or goal."
"Then why did you take my sister? Why Strelitzia?"
"It was his will."
"I don't believe you. Ven didn't even know her! Besides, he would never wish that on anyone."
"You're right. They were strangers. But what he wished for was power. I simply helped him fulfill that wish by making him a Union leader."
"Ven would never want that!"
"Wouldn't he?"
"Even if he did, he wouldn't go so far as to take it from someone or steal their spot as leader."
"Power is power. How it's acquired is of no consequence."
"Then...it could've been any of us? It didn't have to be Strelitzia?"
"Yes."
"You-!"
"Lauriam!"
Marluxia couldn't explain why but seeing that boy's face seemed to have caused a reaction within his mind.
How strange.
'I didn't experience like this meeting Roxas and yet…I feel like I should know this boy.'
Was he someone from before Marluxia became a Nobody?
Did he know someone who has a Keyblade?
"Marluxia."
The lord of Castle Oblivion turned to see Zexion and Lexeaus appear out of a Corridor of Darkness. "Zexion, Lexeaus. Is something the matter?"
"The scent I picked up before is back but now it appears to be coming from outside the castle." Zexion stated. "We had just gone to see Vexen who stated he has already informed you and Larxene."
Marluxia mentally scowled but kept his features stoic. "I see."
"Why have you not informed the Superior?" Lexeaus questioned.
"At the moment, we are observing the boy's movements." Marluxia calmly answered, spinning his own tale to keep his true motives hidden. "We initially thought it was Roxas undergoing some form of training with the Superior."
Lexeaus scowled but said nothing else.
"In that case, what are you going to do now?" Zexion asked, pondering this recent event. "Given the boy's appearance, he would certainly be considered Roxas's original self which is impossible given that Roxas is the Nobody of Sora who has regained his heart and body. His scent appears to be of…pure light…like a Princess of Heart."
"Pure light? Impossible." Lexeaus stated. "The Princesses of Heart were still in Hollow Bastion last we checked, and no boy can inherit a Princess of Heart's light."
Marluxia looked between the two, seeing that unless something was done, they would report this to Xemnas and Marluxia could lose a potential pawn. "Then we best observe how this was possible."
The two glanced at him.
"Obviously we will have to hold the boy for questioning. If he plans to enter the castle, that will make things much easier. For now, we wait and watch his movements and when he enters we question him." Marluxia proposed.
Lexeaus and Zexion looked at each other, considering Marluxia's idea and then nodded to him in acceptance.
"Good. I will monitor his movements, and should he enter the castle we will be ready." Marluxia smiled.
Deciding to let the fairies tag along, Ven continued his trek up the mountain that looked mostly the same as he remembered it.
It was the castle up at the top that made him pause.
It looked nothing like the monastery Ven had come to call home ever since he was brought here by Master Xehanort. The castle had an uneven and twisted design with towers pointing in all directions. Some even stick out from underneath the road. The outside was a dark gold with turquoise roofs, while everything on the inside is generally white.
"So, you lived here?" Yuna questioned, noticing the look on Ven's face as she hovered next to him. "You don't strike me as someone into the gothic architecture."
"I like it." Paine admitted.
"It used to be a lot different." Ven sighed. "I really don't know how it all happened."
The last time he had been here…
"Today, you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates, but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy, not a test of the heart. Both of you may prevail or neither. I am sure our guest, Master Xehanort," The old man smiled and bowed his head in greetings when he was addressed. "Did not travel all this way to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the Mark." Eraqus threw a respectful glance at his fellow master before looking back at the two students. "I trust you are ready?"
"Yes." Both answered honestly and eagerly.
"Then let the examination begin." Eraqus lifted his Keyblade and five orbs of light emerged from the end of the blade.
Aqua and Terra summoned their Keyblades and slipped into their fighting positions. Master Xehanort flexed one hand as he grinned. The orbs were suddenly surrounded by darkness that shocked everyone watching. Eraqus stepped back while Terra and Aqua gasped from the sudden change. However they shook their shock off and charged forward anyways. Ven was watching until he noticed one of the orbs flying towards him.
"Ven!" Aqua shouted when she noticed the orb attacking Ven.
Ven quickly summoned his Keyblade and slashed at it, taking it out in one hit. "Don't' worry about me! You two focus on the exam!"
"You're in danger, Ven! Go back and hide in your room!" Aqua called out, being overprotective of him again.
"No way!" Ven shook his head. "I've been looking forward to this. Seeing you two become masters! I'm not going to miss it now!"
"He can take care of himself. He's been out there, training as hard as us." Terra said as he and Aqua stood back-to-back with each other, watching the orbs.
"Yeah!" Ven agreed.
Aqua was still hesitant but nodded. "Stay sharp, Ven."
Confident that Ven could take care of himself, Aqua and Terra started attacking the orbs. Terra attacked head on, slashing away at the orbs while Aqua pumped mana into her legs, allowing her to jump and land on top of the orbs so she could stab them. She jumped off one orb and landed perfectly on her feet before slashing at another while watching as Ven attacked the orbs surrounding him with fast paced combos. Even more orbs kept on appearing, but they kept destroying the orbs until they were all gone.
Aqua and Terra quickly moved back to the center while Ven went back to the as Eraqus stepped forward.
"That was unexpected, but one must keep a still heart even in the most trying of circumstances." Master Eraqus said as he stopped in front of them. "It was an excellent test; one I chose to let unfold. Which brings us to your next trial. Now, Terra and Aqua, the two of you will face each other in combat. Remember, there are no winners, only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed."
Aqua and Terra stepped back faced each other, settling into their stances. Both had trained hard for this, intending to become Masters and make Eraqus proud of them.
"Begin!" Eraqus announced.
With that one word, Aqua and Terra charged and their Keyblades clashed together and then broke apart before attacking each other again. Both demonstrated great speed and agility but it was obvious to the onlookers that Terra's blows were stronger as he pushed Aqua back, but she was faster as she somersaulted backwards to avoid a powerful slash, and then jumped back avoid another, and then ducked as Terra's third slash sailed over her head. Aqua finally went on the offensive as she slashed at Terra which made him step back and jumped forward as she pushed Terra back. Terra stepped back and gasped as Aqua's Keyblade missed his nose by mere inches.
Terra jumped back and gasped for breath while Aqua kept herself in a ready stance. Terra looked up and saw Aqua running towards him. Terra gasped and held out his left hand as it was suddenly engulfed with black flames.
Eraqus raised one eyebrow. 'Is that-'
'Darkness?' Terra looked down at his hand as the Darkness vanished and back up as Aqua jumped and clashed her blade with his.
Xehanort grinned as he watched the spectacle.
'Wow.' Ven thought as he watched in awe.
Terra slashed again, which Aqua avoided by jumping back and reacted by jumping forward and sliding her foot to Terra's to knock him off balance. Terra jumped over her and when he landed on his feet he spun to attack but Aqua was too quick and avoided the attack.
"Enough!" Eraqus stood up.
Instantly the two stopped and they Keyblades vanished as Eraqus stepped forward with Xehanort standing next to him.
"We have deliberated and reached a decision. Terra, Aqua, you both preformed commendably." Eraqus announced. "However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery."
Terra looked shocked and a little hurt while Aqua looked surprised, a little happy, and a little sad as she looked at Terra.
"Terra, you failed to keep the Darkness within you sufficiently in check." Eraqus continued, a hint of regret in his voice. "But there is always next time. That is all. Aqua, as our newest Keyblade Master, you are entitled to certain knowledge. Please wait here for further instruction."
Aqua and Terra watched as Eraqus followed Xehanort out of the room. That was the last thing on Aqua's mind as she turned to Terra, noticing the look on his face. "Hey…"
Ven ran up to them with a sad look on his face. "Terra, I'm so sorry."
"The Darkness…Where did it come from?" Terra whispered as he looked down at the guard, unable to understand and started walking away. "Sorry, but I need some time alone."
Aqua and Ven could only look on sadly as their friend left.
Ven swung his wooden Keyblade back and forth as he lay back on his bed. He stopped swinging and looked up at his wooden sword and sighed sadly.
'Poor Terra. The dude has what it takes. I know it, Aqua knows, and even Master Eraqus knows it so why-'
RING!
Ven sat up as he heard bells ringing that meant something was wrong inside the temple. He got up and ran to the door but before he left something stopped him.
"Better hurry, Ven."
"Huh?!" Ven spun around to see someone in his room, leaning against his desk. "Who are you?"
The person wore a strange red and black suit with a smooth black glass helmet that covered his face.
"Or you'll never see Terra again." The stranger continued.
"What? Get real. I can see Terra anytime I want." Ven retorted.
"Like right now?" The man said, sounding like he didn't believe Ven. "Terra's leaving you behind. And by the time you catch up to him he'll be a different person."
Ven held out his wooden Keyblade. "Look whoever you are you don't know the first thing about Terra. Me and him will always be a team. You trying to pick a fight or what?!"
"Oh, grow up." The man snorted as he stood up and walked to the other end of the room. "Is that what you call friendship? You'll never know the truth unless you look at it yourself. Come on, what could you possibly know when you're stuck in here, looking at nothing but what's in your tiny world?"
In front of the man appeared a portal of Darkness that he vanished into, leaving Ven to ponder his words. He thought of the friendship he had made with Terra and Aqua ever since he had come here.
Terra helping him train with his Keyblade
Scolding him for doing something stupid, and then apologising when he saw how sad Ven looked,
Him and Terra laughing over some joke
"Terra!" Ven said as he ran out of the room.
"Terra!"
Terra turned around and saw Ven running out into the courtyard, almost tripping himself in the process. "Huh?"
Ven ran up to him and stopped as he bent over and gasped for breath. "I-I-I…"
A hand came down his head and ruffled his hair. He looked up to see Terra smiling down at him.
"It's okay." Terra assured him.
Aqua opened the doors and stepped out. She closed them quietly as she watched Terra and Ven with a solemn look on her face. Terra walked away from Ven and then slammed his fist on the armor on his shoulder. In a flash of light Terra was now wearing armor that covered him from head to toe that was colored black and bronze with lines of orange decorating the armor, outlining his defined built muscles. Upturned sharp red hooks hung from his ankles, and a dark visor helmet with two tall red prongs sprouting from the top of the helmet covered his face.
Terra raised his Keyblade high in the air, and a ray of light blasted towards the sky, creating a hole in the atmosphere.
Black and purple spirals danced around a center of light-a gateway to the Lanes Between. Terra had never seen anything quite like it before, and he had to admit, it looked beautiful. Guided by instinct, Terra hurled his Keyblade like a boomerang far beyond the castle yard. A light twinkled, like a gleaming star in the night sky.
On the Keyblade's return, it did not come back like a regular Keyblade, but had transformed into what looked like a hovering motorcycle. With the seat and engine bronze like the blade and a soft teal like the handle, the vehicle swerved from the sky and stopped beside Terra on its own accord. Terra leaped in the air, landing perfectly in the driver's seat. The hovering vehicle veered sharply around the round grassy courtyard, finding a large enough area to properly depart.
Kicking hard on the accelerator, the strange vehicle shot straight up towards the sky, like a rocket after liftoff. Without looking back, Terra embraced the mystical dancing sphere of light, immediately entering the world of space.
Ven stared in awe as Terra departed but then remembered what the stranger said to him before he decided what he was going to do.
He was already too late. Ven touched a piece of armor on his shoulder and in a flash of light he wore his own Keyblade Armor. His armor sported shades of green and gold. The armor on his knees were gold and with a sharp, upward-pointing hook on the outer side of each one. Ven's helmet looked more squashed and flat at the top compared to Terra's.
His helmet also has two prongs on either side of his head which point backwards and angle diagonally upward. Finally, Ven's boots are colored completely gold in this outfit, as opposed to the multi-colored ones he normally wears. Ven took a chance to marvel at the new armor he was wearing before he copied Terra's actions, creating a portal to the Lanes Between and then tossed his Keyblade up, watching as it came back and changed into what looked like a winged surfboard.
Ven jumped onto the board and shot off into the sky.
Aqua rushed down the stairs and on to the main platform when she saw what he was doing. "Wait, Ven! What are you doing?"
Master Eraqus rushed after her. "No! He mustn't!"
Both watched as Ven vanished into the portal, following Terra.
Eraqus quickly turned to Aqua with a look of urgency on his face. "You must bring him back!"
"Don't worry, Master!" Aqua nodded.
…. was the day he had left.
It only felt like yesterday to him, but an entire decade had gone by. Had the darkness now surrounding this world caused the temple to become like this?
Shaking his head, he approached the doors and slowly pushed them open.