Chapter 1: Land of Departure - Trial of a New Master.

Tali,

I'm so excited, tomorrow is the day we finally take the Mark of Mastery exam. After all these years of training with Aqua, Terra, and our new friend Ventus. Eraqus has finally decided that the three of us are ready for the exam. Ventus would join us but Eraqus seems to think that Ventus is too young. I know that Ventus feels somewhat sadly about that but I know that he'll be taking that exam soon. Oh, I heard that Xehanort will be there at the test, I told him about you before, he was the one who brought Ventus to be a fellow Keyblade Apprentice. I only met the old guy once, but to be honest something about him rubs me the wrong way, he reminds me to much of Him. Well I'll let you know how the examination goes tomorrow till then.

Vitreus.

I let out a small yawn as I set down my quill after I had finished writing out a letter. I leaned back in the chair and called out my Keyblade named Memento Mori, it was a medium length blade made of teal crystal with the hand guard shaped like two crescent moons colored crimson, the key chain was made of a foot long ribbon with a small broach with a crystal embedded in it on the end.

I let out a smile, "Tomorrow will be a big day for us." I say to my blade before I dismiss it standing up yawning, I looked at the clock on the wall, "Wow it's pretty late I should get to bed." I mutter to myself before something catches my eye outside the window.

"What was that?" I mutter going to the window and looking up at the sky, as something shoots across the sky, then another, then another. "Ooh a meteor shower." I say with a smile, I notice Ventus running across the courtyard. "Looks like someone else wanted to see the shower too." I comment with a twitch of a smile on my lips as I walked out of my room grabbing the jacket on the rack by the door and went toward the entrance of the castle, the cold stone tickling my bare feet.

As I ran through the courtyard and up the hill I noticed that the training gear had been worked with slightly, "Heh Heh Ven always did get distracted easily." I say with a smile as I walked up the hill towards the summit, when I reached the summit I saw Ventus fast asleep.

I shook my head in amusement, "Silly" I say with a smile as I take off my jacket and drape it over Ven and sat down next to him as I fondly run my hand through his hair.

Ven smiles as he nestles into my touch.

I heard some footsteps approaching and I turned to see Aqua, I stood up and dusted off some dirt that had gotten on my legs, "Hey Aqua." I say in greeting.

"Hey Vitreus." Aqua says with a kind smile, she looks over at Ventus. "I see the lazy bum fell asleep again.

I let out a small chuckle, "That's Ventus." I say in a blunt tone.

Aqua lets out a soft giggle at my quip before looking at me with a critiquing gaze.

"What?" I question feeling a bit uneasy at her gaze

"You know, you've changed a lot since I first met you." She comments.

I look over at her, "Is that a good thing or a bad?" I ask her.

"Defiantly a good thing." Aqua says as Ven sits up and lets out a yawn Aqua walks over and leans over Ven.

"Whoa!" Ventus yells as he jumps in shock.

Aqua lets out a laugh at Ven's reaction.

"Gimme a break, Aqua." Ventus tells Aqua.

"Ven, you hopeless sleepyhead." Aqua scolds Vent in a motherly tone, "You should have at least brought a blanket with you, you're lucky Vitreus lent you his jacket." She tells him.

"Vitreus?" Ventus questions before looking around and noticing me, "Hey Vitreus." Ventus says with a face splitting grin.

I give Ventus a small nod in return.

A small look of distraction flutters over Ven's face, "But, Did I dream that place up, It really felt like I'd been there before, looking up at the stars…" he mutters to himself.

I raised my eyebrow as I felt my curiosity peak slightly as Ventus' ramblings.

Aqua ruffles Ventus' Hair, "Except you've always lived here with us." She tells him.

'Excluding before Xehanort brought you to us.' I added in my mind.

"Yeah, I know" Ven says with a smile.

Ven and Aqua walk over and sit on the ledge, so I walk over and sit down on Aqua's right side.

"Hey Aqua, Vitreus." Ven says asking for our attention.

"Hm?" Aqua hums as I look over at Him.

"Y'ever wonder what stars are, where light comes from?" Ventus questions.

"Wow that's some deep thinking don't hurt yourself." I tease him with a smile.

Ventus gives me a look of annoyance.

Aqua giggles at our antics, "Hmm, well they say…"she begins in response to Ventus.

"That every star up there is another world." A new voice finishes, we turn to see the fourth member of our Quartet Terra.

"Terra." Aqua says with a smile at the sight of our friend.

"Yep, hard to believe there are so many worlds out there besides our own." Terra comments about the stars, "The light is their hearts, and it's shining down on us like a million lanterns." He explains to Ven as he walks over to us.

"What, I don't get it." Ventus says in confusion.

In other words, they're just like me and you, Ven." Terra tells Ven.

"What does THAT mean?" Ventus questions.

"Simple, you're both full of hot air and not very bright." I tell Ven with a straight face.

Terra nods, "Exactly, we're both full of hot air and not very bri….HEY!" Terra yells out when his brain catches up with what I said.

Aqua bursts out laughing at Terra's misfortune.

Terra lets out a grumble of annoyance before returning his attention to Ven, "You'll find out someday, I'm sure." He tells Ven.

"I wanna know now." Ven whines in complaint.

"You're too young to know now." Terra retorts.

I lean over to Aqua, "I bet even Terra doesn't know the answer." I mutter to her.

Aqua nods in agreement

"Quit treating me like a kid." Ven snaps in annoyance.

Aqua giggles slightly at Ven and Terra's argument.

"Hey, what are you laughing at?" Terra questions in annoyance.

"I can't help it, you two would make the weirdest brothers." Aqua tells them.

I roll my eyes in good fun as the three descend into mindless laughter.

The four of us sat down and watched the sight of the beautiful starlit sky.

"Oh yeah." Aqua says standing up, "Terra, Vitreus the three of us have our Mark of Mastery exams tomorrow." She comments, standing up and reaching into her pockets, "I made us good luck charms." She says pulling out four star shaped charms from her pocket, one Orange, one Green, one Blue, and one Crystal, she tosses us each one, Terra getting Orange, Ven getting Green, Herself getting the Blue one and the Crystal one going to me.

"I get one too?" Ventus questions in shock.

"Of course, one for each of us." Aqua says as the four of us hold our charms in a little circle, "Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star-shaped fruit, and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection, so as long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart, you'll always find your way back to each other." She says telling us a story before turning to face us, "Technically, I think you're supposed to make them with seashells, but I did the best with what I had." She says in a sheepish tone.

"Oy, sometimes you are such a girl." Terra complains in a joking gesture.

"Hey, what do you mean, "Sometimes"?" Aqua says glaring at terra with her hands on her hips.

Terra looks at me for help.

"Sorry, but you're on your own." I tell him.

"So this isn't a real good luck charm?" Ventus questions.

I walk over to Ven and Put my hand on his shoulder, "If you just believe in its power as a good luck charm, then it will shine through brightly." I tell him with a kind smile.

"Well, that's yet to be seen, but I did work a little magic on it." Aqua tells Ven.

"Really, What?" Ven questions like the hyperactive child he is.

Aqua holds up her charm and smiles, "An unbreakable connection." She tells us.

I gripped my charm tightly in my hand, I felt sad knowing that one day Aqua would learn just as I had exactly how fragile the word "Unbreakable" really was.

The four of us had some practice sessions for the next half hour.

"Hey, we're gonna head back." Terra calls out to Ven.

"Yeah, me too!" Ven says as he runs over to us, as he and Terra walk down the Hill, I notice Aqua staring at the Stars, I walk over to her.

"You okay?" I ask her.

"Together…always." Aqua says under her breath.

I put my hand on her shoulder, making her jump slightly, "Oh sorry, Vitreus I didn't realize you were there." She says with a blush.

"You okay?" I ask her again.

Aqua nods, "Yeah I'm just worried, I've got a bad feeling." She tells me.

I put a comforting pressure on her shoulder, "Don't let it bother you, it might be something or it might be nothing, just focus on the exam tomorrow." I tell her.

"Right." Aqua says with a nod as we go and join Terra and Ven heading towards the Castle to turn in for the night.

Tali, I didn't realize it then but a great darkness was hovering over our shoulders and our fates were about to change drastically, that night was the last night the four of us ever spent under those same stars.

-KH-

The next morning I woke up a bit groggily as the sun crept through my window, I sat up in the bed and gave a cat like stretch before fully opening the curtains and looking out at the scenery I touched the small crystal broach on my neck, "Todays the day." I mutter to myself before getting up out of bed and grabbing my usual cloths and heading into the bathroom to take a morning shower.

I stood in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around my waist my hair dripping wet from the recent shower, I looked at my reflection my green eyes with a crimson ring around the irises and brown hair as I absent mindedly traced the scar running over my right eye down to my cheek, around my neck the small crystal that was attached to a ribbon that was tied around my neck seemed to almost glow, some memories begin to rise to the surface as I stare at the reflection and I punch the mirror in anger shattering it.

I take a few deep breaths, "Don't let it get to you." I tell myself with a shake of my head as a bit of water sprays from my hair, I finished drying myself off and got dressed up in my usual daily wear outfit. ( not really sure how to accurately describe what it looks like so just look up Echoes of Time Clavat Male and Selkie Male and visualize a hybrid of both images for image of outfit.)

-KH-

"Good morning Vitreus." Aqua greets me as I walk into the kitchen her and Eraqus being the only ones awake so far besides me.

I give a greeting nod in return as I go over to the cupboard and pull out a pan and some stuff to make an omelet.

"Smells good." Terra says as he and Ven walk in, I roll my eyes snorting under my breath, figures food would wake those two.

I silently at my omelet and soon after we all had breakfast the four of us stood in the main hall, Ven was standing off to the side of the hall as Aqua, Terra and I stood in the center of the hall facing Eraqus. Terra and Aqua were standing at attention while I was standing in a laid back pose with my hands in my pockets, I noticed and elderly man sitting on one of the thrones who I recognized as the man that was here the day Ven first came to us, I frowned unnoticeably when his gaze lingered on Ven.

Eraqus cleared his throat to gain our attention, "Today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery, Not one, nor two but three of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates, but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy, not a test of wills, but a test of heart, All of you may prevail, perhaps two, or none." Eraqus tells is.

I felt my fingers twitch in a nervous feeling, was my heart worth of the power.

"But I am sure our guest, Master Xehanort did not travel all this way to see our youngest prospects in years fall short of the Mark." Eraqus says gesturing to Xehanort, before looking at us, "I trust you are ready." He asks us.

"Yes." Terra and Aqua say while I just nod my head.

"Then let the examination begin." Eraqus says as he pulls out his keyblade and manifests several orbs of light.

I "unsheathed" Memento Mori and got into my battle stance of holding out my Keyblade to the side. Darkness suddenly surrounded the orb, I wasn't sure but I thought I saw Xehanort's hand move out of the corner of my eye before the darkness appeared.

The three of us charged forward and each of us destroyed one orb before one began to go Ven.

"VEN!" I yell out in worry as I run to take out the stray orb before Ventus summons out his Keyblade and destroys the orb.

"Don't worry about me, you three focus on the exam!" Ven tells us.

"But Ven, you're in danger here!" Aqua protests.

"She's right Ven, go wait in your room." I tell him in worry.

"No Way!" Ven snaps in slight anger, "I've been looking forward to this seeing you three become Masters, I'm not gonna miss it now!"

"He can take care of himself, he's been out there training just as hard as us." Terra tells us.

"Yeah!" Ven says.

"Fine, but be careful." I say making my objections known in my voice

"Stay sharp, Ven." Aqua says.

I destroyed Three Balls, "I got Three Points." I say with a grin.

"Oh I'll beat that in no time." Terra says with a laugh destroying the orbs.

"I got 5 now, you guys gotta keep up." I tell them.

"You boys are so slow I got 8 Aqua says with a giggle.

"What." Terra, Ven and I yell and I say in shock.

"Come on we gotta beat Aqua." Terra says with a challenging glint.

We destroyed the rest of the orbs before we took our spots in front of Eraqus for more instructions.

"That was unexpected, but one must keep a still heart even in the most trying of circumstances, It was an excellent test, one I chose to let unfold." Eraqus tells us. "Which brings us to your next trial, Now Terra, Aqua and Vitreus you three will face each other in combat." He says as the three of us walk of the middle of the floor with our keyblades summoned and get into our battle stances. "Remember, there are no winners' only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed." "Begin!" he says as we charge at each other.

I parried a blow from Aqua and knocked her back before quickly blocking one from Terra, his strength pushing me back slightly, I quickly knocked back his Keyblade before back flipping away.

"Blizzard!" Aqua cries out as she unleashes the icy magic.

I brought my keyblade up to guard the magic, I successfully defended but Terra got in an Attack.

I grunted slightly from the force of the attack.

"Oh so is this two on one." I ask mockingly before rushing at Terra.

Terra gets into a stance to defend my attack.

I summoned for the power In my heart and a pink aura surrounded my body as I "Tackled" Terra the size of his body I began to orbit Terra at a fast pace, I held out my Keyblade and pooled all my energy before launching Terra at Aqua knocking them both down.

"Ughh" they both groan as they untangle themselves.

I went to the middle of the room and waited for them to untangle themselves, "Ready for round two?" I ask with a cheeky grin as Terra and Aqua walk back over in their battle stances.

"Thunder" Aqua calls out as Terra Jumps at me with massive force behind his attack.

I called into my flow motion and rushed forward avoiding the attacks before I ran at the thrones and jumped on it and pushed off gliding through the air before pooling my energy into the tip of my keyblade and slamming it into the ground unleashing a massive energy attack knocking Terra back while Aqua manages a barrier.

Some Target markers begin appearing on my body, I smirked "Oh this is gonna be fun." I say with a grin as Aqua begins to shoot a barrage of bubble at me.

I gripped my Keyblade firmly and began to hack and slash all the bubbles before quickly leaning back letting some of the bubbles fly over me hitting Terra who was trying to attack me from behind.

I turned around and I shifted my footing a bit and launched at Terra, he leaned back to dodge my attack and he used his Keyblade to block my attack, I smirked as Terra fell into my trap. I gripped my Keyblade and used the teeth of the Key and snapped my wrist to disarm Terra and grabbed his Keyblade out of the air and held it in my Left Hand.

"Terra!" Ven yells in worry for his other brother figure.

I charged at Terra with both Keyblades, Terra's eyes widen slight fear as darkness begins to surround his left arm before he smothers it, I frowned in worry slightly but continued my attack and knocked him down to the ground and held Memento Mori to his Neck before holding out Terra's Keyblade to block Aqua's Attack and knock her down all without looking, my heritage fully pumping my with adrenaline and focus..

"Yield!" I tell Terra.

Terra lets out a growl.

I press my blade down a bit, "Yield." I say more firmly.

"I…I yield." Terra says in defeat.

"There's no shame in defeat." I tell Terra as I toss him his Keyblade.

The three of us stood in front of the thrones as Eraqus and Xehanort talked, after several moments Eraqus approached us.

"We have deliberated and reached a decision." Eraqus tells us, "Terra, Aqua, Vitreus you all performed commendably, However only Aqua and Vitreus have shown the Mark of Mastery, Terra you failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check, but there is always next time, that is all." He tells us.

"Aqua, Vitreus as our newest Keyblade Masters, you are entitled to certain knowledge, please wait here for further instruction." Eraqus says.

"I Refuse" I say bluntly.

"Huh?" Everyone says looking at me.

"I refuse the Title of Keyblade Master." I say more clearly.

"But why?" Aqua says in confusion

"Yeah it was our dream." Terra says

I look at them, "It was our dream for the three of us to become masters, and that's what it will be, I refuse to become a Master until Terra becomes as well." I say firmly.

"Be that as it may, it is my choice to name you Keyblade Master." Eraqus tells me.

"No its not, Yes it's your choice to name me Master but the decision lies with me to accept that title and I refuse to take it." I say firmly before turning away and walking off refusing to talk about it any further.

"What do you make of Ventus?" I heard the voice of Xehanort say.

"He ain't gonna cut it." A smooth male voice replies.

I frowned, who was this guy, I mentally wondered as I leaned against the wall using what I was taught about stealth to silently listen to the conversation, I peeked around the corner to see Xehanort conversing with a boy holding a mask, from this angle I couldn't see his face.

"Somebody's gotta break that loser in." the boy says.

"Not here, you won't I have to keep up appearances." Xehanort tells the boy.

"I know that." The boy says as he puts on his mask, "He just needs a little incentive to leave home." He says to Xehanort.

"What is he planning?" I mutter to myself as the two walk off before a loud bell begins to chime snapping me out of my musings, "What's going on?" I question before running to the throne room.

-KH-

I ran into the Throne room to see Aqua standing there, Terra comes in right behind me, "What happened?" he asks.

I shake my head, "I'm not sure." I tell him

"I don't know." Aqua replies with a slight shrug.

"Where's Ven?" I question looking around for him.

"I haven't seen him." Aqua says with a slight shake of her head..

I frown in worry thinking about what I overheard, I saw Eraqus behind the thrones talking in the communication crystal.

"Very well then, I will send my pupils to investigate… Yes I understand, farewell." Eraqus says finishing his conversation before walking out to us as Aqua and Terra stand at attention.

"That was my dear old friend Yen Sid, as you know he is master no more, but he still keeps a close eye on the tides of light and darkness, his counsel serves as signposts on the road we wielders of the Keyblade must walk." Eraqus tells us, "All the more reason, then, for concern for he tells me the Princess of Heart are in danger.

I felt of spark of loathing ignite in my heart at the mention of royalty but snuffed it out quickly.

"Not only from the forces of darkness, as you may assume, but also from a new threat, one that feeds on negativity, fledgling emotions that have taken monster form, Yen Sid calls them the "Unversed"." Eraqus tells us, "

"Sounds interesting." I comment.

Eraqus looks at the three of us and nods, "As wielders of the Keyblade, you are tasked with striking down any who would upset the balance of light and darkness, the Unversed are no exception, I tried to pass this news on the Master Xehanort, but my repeated attempts to reach him have failed." He tells us.

I felt the worry in my chest for Ven begin to grow slightly.

"I doubt there is any connection and yet… this all troubles me." Eraqus musing in concern.

"Master Xehanort is gone?" Terra questions.

I look over at Terra in slight confusion noticing Aqua did the same.

"So here we are, I need you three to get this situation under control, eliminate the Unversed, and find Master Xehanort." Eraqus tells us giving us our mission, "I have unlocked the Lanes Between, you may use these forbidden pathways to travel between this world and countless others, the darkness looms closer than usual within these spaces, but your armor will protect you." He tells us.

I absentmindedly rubbed the arm guard on my left wrist that activated my Keyblade Armor.

"Lastly, remember that order must be kept, you cannot tell anyone there are other worlds, now go and fulfill your duty." Eraqus tells us.

"Yes Master." Terra and Aqua reply before Terra turns to leave.

"Terra." Eraqus calls out making Terra stop and turn around, "Consider this an opportunity, A second chance for you to change my mind." He tells Terra.

"What?" Terra questions in shock.

"You must know, I care for you like my own son." He tells Terra walking up to him, "If I could have my way, I would name you Master in a second, but how can I when you are so obsessed with power?" he questions Terra rhetorically, "Terra, Vitreus was right you mustn't be afraid of losing, fear leads to obsession with power, and obsession beckons the darkness." He tells Terra putting his hand on his shoulder, "You must never forget." He tells him.

"Thank you Master, I swear I will not fail you again." Terra says with a bow before turning to leave again.

"Shall we go as well?" I ask Aqua

"Yeah." She says with a nod as we both turn to leave, I saw Ven run across the hall after Terra.

"Wait Aqua, Vitreus." Eraqus calls after us, "Before you depart, I have one other well, call it a request, of the utmost priority." He says as Aqua turns to face Eraqus while I put my hands in my pockets and silently listened.

"Yes?" Aqua questioned.

I told Terra this could be a second chance, to show the Mark of Mastery, and I meant it. However, that flicker of darkness he displayed during the examination I can sense it runs very deep. If he were to… If those powers were to prove too much for him to handle, I want you to bring him back to me at once, It's for his own good, I could not bear to lose any of you to the darkness" He tells us.

I gripped my hand in anger.

"Of course, I would never let that happen." Aqua replies

I spun around my eyes burning with fury, "YOU'RE A FUCKING HIPOCRIT!" I snap at Eraqus.

"Vitreus!" Aqua gasps in shock.

"What do you..." Eraqus says in confusion.

I poked him in the chest with my finger, "You told Terra that you gave him a second chance and that gave him hope but just now you practically said that you don't trust him at all."

"That isn't that case I simply was concerned for his…" Eraqus begins

I shook my head, "That doesn't matter if you truly trusted Terra you wouldn't ask Aqua to practically spy on him", I turn on my heel, "I refuse to be a part of this, I won't betray his trust." I say walking out.

"I promise you I will bring Terra back, only this time you'll see he has what it takes to be a Master, he's not as weak as you think." Aqua tells Eraqus before she follows me out.

-KH-

Aqua and I walked out of the castle into the courtyard to see Ventus running down the stairs, I noticed Terra and Ventus have a small conversation before Terra opens a gate in the sky before summoning his armor and glider and taking off into the sky.

"Cooool." I hear Ven mutter in awe before he frowns and summons his armor as well.

"What's he doing?" I mutter under my breath, my eyes widen when he summons out his glider.

"VEN!" I called out in fear as I slapped my wristed and activated my Armor, it was a full body golden armor that resembled a knight's armor from my home world, I dashed down the stairs and felt my leg muscles tense as I jumped into the air before kicking the air giving me an extra boost of height as I reached out and grabbed Ven's glider as he flew by before we both went up and into the gate leaving the World of Departure for the first time since we both had arrived, and entering the lanes between towards our adventure.

Tali,

Our Mark of Mastery Exam had a bit of an unexpected event happen but Eraqus let it go as a way to test our "hearts". I feel that Xehanort who was watching the Exam had a part in the darkness corrupting the test orbs but I cannot be sure. Aqua and I passed the Test but Terra failed due to accidently tapping into his darkness, I know it was a goal of mine but I couldn't let Terra feel like the odd one out so I refused the Mark, do you think he would be proud of me for refusing a title to stand with a friend? After the Mark I overheard Xehanort talking to a young boy in a mast about Ventus, I admit I'm a little concerned about what he might have planned for Ven and his safety. I'm going on a mission through the worlds to protect them from something named Unversed a being that thrives on Negative emotions, I don't know if I can write as often but I will try.

Vitreus.

-KH-