Kingdom Hearts: SfE Part 2 - The Final Keyhole and the Mark of Mastery

"We sealed all the keyholes. The militaries on that world will be able to fight off the remaining heartless. We've picked up as many survivors as we could...as few as they seem. We...sort of lost a few along the journey."Riku frowned at that. "But the current survivors are learning combat... This one here has mastered the Thunder spell, and her friend has learned the earth spell."He gestured to Valerie and Jeffrey. "and as with Eden... She and Gexln has seperated from us due to...maturity issues. But I will take full responsibility for my companions if they misbehave or act irresponsible."Riku said. Companions? what is he, the Doctor? Valerie refused to say a word.

"And as for the three nobodies you see, two of them have unknown origins... The third you will recognize. Somehow Roxas was able to come out of Sora's heart...though how is still beyond our comprehension." 'Geez Riku, no need for the expanded vocabulary...'Sora's voice rang in the silverettes head. "We would have been here sooner after saving Earth but we had a few.... distractions along the way. and for that I apologize."Riku said. Roxas and Kurix were quiet, letting the report be given uninterupted. "I-If I may sir... How is his Magesty? Still safe, I hope..."Riku still wasn't aware of the events at Disney Castle....

 

Yen Sid reached for his hat, putting it to his chest. A deadly sign. "The King was overpowered, and his keychain has gone missing." The words hung heavy, with sadness instead of power. For a master to lose his apprentice was like a father losing his son.
Eden glared at Riku, finding that things were more than he explained, but dared not say a word.
Ashir watched Yen Sid, with not much of an expression, the Sorcerer didn't notice.

 

"I...I'm sorry...."Riku was suprised. Valerie, Sora, even Roxas had a look of shock on their faces. Kurix, being a new nobody, didn't quite understand. Kisa suddenly started to fidget and squirm, hunger being her alarm. Sora gave a soft gasp, trying to keep Kisa calm. Not now....

 

Eden held a keychain in her hand, standing up. "Master Yen Sid, though the King is gone, I know where his chain is." SHe held it so his symbol dangled on the gold chain, her skin a bit red in contact with it.
"Child, the hand. Is the King's Key rejecting you?" Yen Sid put back on his hat, watching with some interest.
"I have a slight skin allergy to gold." she bitterly admitted.

Ashir watched the Wielder of the King's Key, eyes sparking of interest.

 

Riku looked at Eden with Kingdom Key, trying to control his anger. She knew, didn't she..... Valerie looked at the golden keychain, frowning slightly at the thought of the King being... deceased. Kurix, while confused, did his best to try and understand the situation. Roxas noticed the look on Ashirs face, a bit curious. Suddenly the silence was interupted by loud wails from Kisa. Sora quickly tried to settle down the little one, knowing why she was crying. "I-I'm terribly sorry. I-I can explain...er...I mean...M-Maybe not..."Sora tried not to embarass himself in front of the great wizard. Valerie wanted to cover her ears at the wailing, but didn't want to seem rude.

 

"Sora the Wielder had a child, magic miracles, done." Eden bluntly explained. This brave move caught Yen Sid by surprise, blinking a moment.
"In the other room, the three fairies await. They will help you." he almost stammered, but the Great Sorcerer had an image to keep up. "Now. Riku, I do suspect there is another reason for you being here. Yes?"

 

Sora nodded, heading to the other room with Kisa. Riku looked at Yen Sid, growing nervous himself. "Well, for the Mark of Mastery exam of course...p-pardon my rudeness. B-But for other reasons-" "As...Riku has said previously, we found these two Nobodies on our way to your tower. The smaller one seems to have some connection with Eden, but he can't seem to remember anything."Roxas explained. "Maybe you could tell... where...pardon...who these nobodies originated from?"He asked politely. Valerie was still quiet, a bit suprising for the others maybe. Riku was quiet, trying to stay calm for the others.

 

Yen Sid motioned Eden to see Ashir, while looking at Kurix. "Come."
The Wielder looked at the mildly interested Ashir, kneeling down to see eye-to-eye. "...Ashir?" his response was a yawn.

 

"Tried that. Doesn't seem to remember a thing."Valerie said, her voice soft due to her nervous emotions. "Mister-um..M-Master Yen Sid. M-My name is Kurix...or rather, that's what they call me. I- I don't know what a Nobody is or if I am one-"Kurix grew nervous very fast. Roxas looked over to Eden and Ashir, curious to see how the event would unfold. Riku let out a silent sigh, knowing that acting calm wasn't working on the nervous bunch.

 

Eden picked up Ashir's hand, shivering. "I've never... felt him before." She pinched his skin, finding that he didn't react, and knocking it barely shifted the skin. "Whoever did this is cruel."
"Then you have only yourself to blame. These two here are nobodies." Yen Sid accused, able to feel the emptiness they kept.
The Wielder gazed into Ashir's eyes, finding them barren. "This isn't my Ashir... So I say leave him."

 

"But he reacted to you when we said your name! He has to have some connection to you! Like Ne-"Valerie paused, not wanting to bring bad memories. Roxas looked over to Kurix, figuring as much that he was a Nobody that didn't know his way. Kurix, however, was watching the scenario between Valerie and Eden. Riku saw Sora come back in with a now calm Kisa, tugging the brunette by him side. "Sorry..."Sora whispered. "Theres nothing to apologize for...."Riku whispered back. Sora just stayed by Rikus side, not going to ask about the commotion.

 

Eden almost raised her hand at Valerie for almost mentioning Nexas, but put it down in an effort to stay calm. "He's not the child I created, he's a nobody." she spat.
"I am who?" Ashir piped up, causing a small flinch from the Wielder's angry gaze.
"You are nothing to me."

 

Gexln yawned. "While i'd love to sit here and have a discussion about Nobodies and who is what and so forth, i'd very much like to pass this test already. Yen Sid, what must i do to pass the test?" he questioned.

 

"Well for one, being a bit more polite would be nice."Valerie said bluntly. "I-I mean...if you wouldn't mind...."Her voice became soft again, not wainting to be rude. Roxas gave Eden a small glare, not liking how she was treating a nobody when she seemed to be aliied with one. Sora was appaled that Eden would treat a Nobody based on her own creation like that. "Calm down, everyone..."Riku saw the group starting to get worked up. "So...um....wh-what exactly is this...Mark of Mastery exam again?"Kurix wasn't sure what it was exactly, but he knew from the commotion that it was important.

 

Eden walked away from Ashir, glaring at it.
"First, before you may take this test, you should be given food, water, rest, and clothes. The fairies shall help you, and I will give you your rooms. You will not argue with your rooms and who you will share the rooms with." Yen Sid raised himself, and with a small wave of the hand, opened the door.
Ashir stared at Eden, not really reacting to how she perceived him.

 

"Thank you, Master Yen Sid."Riku, Sora, and Valerie said at once. Roxas had already gone through the door. Kurix noticed Roxas and gasped, following into the room of the three fairies. Riku and Sora went inside, staying side by side yet not showing anything romantic. Valerie looked over to Eden and Gexln, nervously going into the room.

 

Eden went into the room, Ashir swiftly following and stayed by Roxas. She eyes each fairy, trying to remember the names. "Well then, I suppose you're our caretakers." she almost sneered.

 

"Oh, why of course! Go on and make yourselves comfortable!"Fauna, the fairy in green clothing, had made everything nice and comfy for the large group. Flora and Merryweather were right ahead and making a meal for everyone. "Foooooood...."Valeries stomach growled at the smell of a decent meal cooking. "If any of you feel tired, you can go ahead to your rooms!"Merryweather said. "Rooms...we're sharing rooms, right? so who's sharing a room with who...?"Kurix asked. Roxas was staying by Ashir, as if it would comfort the nobody. Riku let everyone else get comfy, deciding to stand.

 

Eden and Equius took a seat in the corner, keeping herself isolated from the others. She accepted her light meal of fruit, thin bread, and cheese. "What gives?" she sneered. Flora was set back, but kept a cheery attitude.
"We must make a ladder of meals for your stomachs, dear." she sweetly smiled. "If we gave you anything too rich, you'd be sick!"
The Wielder nodded to this, sharing her bread and fruit with Equius.

 

Sora wasn't complaining about the light meal, considering food was food after a long period of not eating. Kisa was calm, remaining wide awake however. Valerie couldn't wait for the big meal, but settled for the light food for now. Riku didn't eat the fruit-he had been given a pear, the 'most evil of fruits' by how Valerie joked about it. Roxas was sharing his food with Ashir, a slight smile on his face. Kurix saw the smile, confused after the explanation that nobodies didn't have emotions.