Wielding the Key

Author's Note: I do not own anything from the Kingdom Hearts franchise or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.

Notice: For the sake of my wanting to and to clear some things I was confused about up, here are the ages of Terra, Aqua and Ventus throughout the course of the story (Except the prologue)

Terra: 18

Aqua: 17

Ventus: 15

Ch.1 Prologue

(Aqua's Point of View, One year before the game)

I walked where Terra, Ventus and I sat and seated myself there. It was nighttime; the lanterns were giving off a soft glow, the stars were twinkling and crickets were chirping around the edge of the sparring field. Sighing, I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, enjoying the moment. It had been a long day of training with Ventus, Terra and Master Eraqus, and I wanted to just enjoy the peacefulness of the silence here.

Then I heard footsteps to my right. I opened my eyes and turned my head to see that Ventus was walking towards me. I smiled. "Ven, it's good to see you." He nodded, his expression blank and looked at the spot next to me. "Can I… sit… with you?" he slowly asked. I nodded and scooted over, and he sat down next to me. "Thank… you," he said.

I smiled. Ventus had lived with us for a few months, and while he still hadn't talked like a normal person, he was at least speaking in complete sentences. "Hey, don't forget about me!" another voice called. Both Ventus and I looked to see that it was Terra. He smiled and said "I felt like seeing the stars." I nodded in agreement and he sat down next to Ventus.

We sat there in silence for a while, until a light streaked across the sky. "Look! A shooting star!" I said, pointing. Terra smiled. "Make a wish, Ven. It might just come true." Ventus was silent for a moment before saying "I wish… that I could stay… here." I blinked in surprise. "Is that really what you wish for Ven?" He nodded. Both Terra and I smiled widely at this, and Terra said "Well, I don't see us leaving anytime soon. We still have a lot of training to do."

All of us, even Ventus, laughed at that. I don't know how long we stayed there, but we all enjoyed it. We talked about random subjects, made a few jokes, and Terra and I even ended up in a staring contest. We both broke away at the same time, something that Ventus apparently found funny. Eventually I noticed that even the crickets had stopped chirping, and I decided that we should head back.

I stood up and got off ledge where we sat, and Terra. "What's up?" he asked. I smiled. "Everything but us has gone to bed. I think it's about time we did too." Terra blinked and looked around before sighing. "Yeah, you're probably right. We've got a long day ahead of us." Ventus nodded, and they both stood up. We began to walk back, planning to go to sleep. "I wonder what kind of training we'll have tomorrow," I said. "What do you think Terra?'

When there was no response I looked back, and stopped when I saw that he was just standing there. He was staring up at the sky, focused on something and looking confused. "Hey Ven," he said. Ven stopped to look at him. "Yes?" "You know the stars up in the sky?" Terra asked, and he nodded. Terra pointed at the sky. "Is it me… or is one of them getting bigger?"

I frowned and looked up. Indeed, one of the stars in the sky was glowing brighter than the others, and it was getting bigger. At first it was just a pinprick, then it was the size of my nail, then my finger. Too late, I realized what was happening and yelled "Everyone, get back!" We ran to get away from the clearing, but before we had managed to take a dozen steps the meteorite crashed. The impact was like a mine exploding, and we were sent flying. I hit my head on a stone wall, and fell unconscious.

xxx

When I awoke I did so slowly, someone shaking me and saying "Aqua! Aqua!" I groaned and opened my eyes, the face of Master Eraqus filling my vision. Instantly my head throbbed, and I gasped and held it in my hands, my eyes wrenching back shut. "Aqua, let me help you," the Master said. He placed a hand on the back and my head, and I felt a cooling sensation spreading through my head. Healing magic. After a few seconds the pain in my head had faded, at least to the point where I could open my eyes again.

Master Eraqus was kneeling next to me, while to my right were Ventus and Terra. Terra had his arm in a sling, while a bandage was wrapped around Ventus's head. I tried to stand up and succeeded, but my legs were weak and my head still throbbed. "Are you guys okay?" I asked. Terra nodded and said "We all got hurt in some way. I broke my arm when I landed, and Ven hit his head and rock with a jagged point. If it hadn't been the Master, we'd have been in serious trouble.:

"I was in the library, looking up a book when I saw the meteorite crash, and I knew you had all gone out. I guessed that you might be in danger, and immediately gathered medical supplies before coming out here. It looks like I was correct as well," Master Eraqus said. I nodded, and said "So what was that meteor anyway?" Terra blinked, then said "Actually, we haven't taken a look at it. We were more focused on patching each other up before he investigated."

"Well, now that we're all okay let's take a look," I said. The three of them nodded, and we all walked to the edge of the crater. It was about ten feet in diameter and six feet deep, and in the center was a statue. It looked as if it was made out of solid gold, and it depicted a young man. He was one on knee and looking in another direction, while his hands were held protectively in front of his face. His eyes were wide, terrified, and I wondered what whoever had made the statue was imagining the man looking at.

Then the statue glowed and shone with a bright light. We covered our hand to block the light, and when it faded the young man was no longer a statue, but flesh and bone. He was still in that same kneeling position, unmoving. That was, until a breeze blew across the field, and it was enough to send him falling to his side. Before he could make to the ground though Master Eraqus rushed forward and caught him, lifting his head off the ground. Terra, Ventus and I followed.

"Young man, are you alright?" the Master asked. He groaned, and slowly his eyes opened. "Where... am I?" he asked. "You are in the Land of Departure. I am Eraqus, a Keyblade Master, and these are my pupils: Terra, Aqua, and Ventus," Eraqus replied. The young man's eyes widened. "Keyblade... Master? I know that title... somewhere..." Then his yes rolled into his head and he slumped in the Master's arms, unconscious. He hurriedly stood, carrying the young man and said "Quickly, we have to get him back to the castle."

We nodded and the four of us ran off, Master Eraqus carrying the stranger. Along the way I saw the young man's hand twitched, and suddenly a Keyblade appeared in it. It disappeared after a second, but that was enough to tell me one.

That young man wielded a Keyblade.

xxx

Well, there's the prologue to Wielding the Key, and I hope you enjoyed it.

Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)