Continuing on with the KH ficcing
So I'm gunning through BBS quite nicely. Finished Terra on Monday and I'm about 70% done with Ventus.
And seriously, seriously, I love Terra/Ventus/Aqua; but the most awesome team in this game is def. Ventus/Hercules/Zack, I need to find fic of them fighting heartless or unversed or whatever together, eee!
The only thing is that I have no idea how the secret ending/final chapter will work. They say you have to either beat the game on proud or complete the journal.
I'm doing Ventus on proud (and he's like super easy, maybe its because I finally get how to play? Or he's just that easy) but I did Terra on normal and I DON'T want to do his journal. UGH the journal is so much harder to complete this time around!
*sigh* Oh well
Also, did LJ completely screw with anyone else's layout? Because they DELETED MY ENTIRE CODE yesterday. Fortunately I had it backed up, but STILL. Rrrrrrr
And srsly, I hate being reminded on Facebook at every turn. I'm on Livejournal to get away from that crap. For real.
Anyway fic. Continuing with my odd little KH!Max Goof series, whee!
Title: 'Lessons'
Author: bishojo_kitsune
Summary: PJ remembers some things
Warning(s): N/A
Prompt: Lessons
Notes: Bonus appearance from a certain other Disney movie character
PJ sat in the Disney Castle Archives pulling off what seemed to be a combination of concentrated study and forsaken sleep.
---
"You're gonna learn how to be a man someday PJ."
"A man?"
"You know what I mean." Pete shrugged casually, looking away. He reached out his hand trying to awkwardly pull him in for what seemed like a hug, but stopped at the last minute to give me a rough noogie instead. "Someone who can take care of himself. You ain't need to lean on nobody in this world."
"Dad…?"
Pete turned his back to him. "A man's gotta learn how to face this world alone."
---
He sat up suddenly only see Max standing behind him. "Max! Where did you come from? You nearly scared me!"
Max shrugged, "I been here for awhile Peej."
"Oh… So how've you been man? I was started to get worried after… you know." PJ said sheepishly.
---
Max wiped his brow as he looked down at the string of targets he recently struck down. He swung his sword across his shoulder as he walked back to his peers.
"You were great Max!" PJ clapped, "A plus for sure!"
Max just rubbed his nose in an 'aw shucks' gesture as he walked to his seat grinning to himself.
"Not like he has to try." A sarcastic remark made within earshot of the two boys.
Max's grin quickly disappeared as he tightened his fists.
"It'd sure be nice if I could just swing my sword around like an overexcited rookie on exam day." A different whisper surfaced, "But then I'd have to rely on my dad's name too."
PJ set a steady hand on Max's shoulder. "Just ignore them Max."
"Of course, he was acting just as goofy so maybe it's fitting…"
Suddenly Max jumped up, spun around and pointed his sword at the small crowd behind him. "If you guys have something to say to me then say it! Knights aren't cowards that hide behind words!"
There was silence for a brief moment until someone spoke up, "Says the son of the Captain who fights with a shield. Is your dad so scared of getting hurt that the only way he can go into battle is by going one step ahead of surrender?"
"That's his style-"
"More like his excuse." One of the burlier guys stood up to face Max, "But it makes sense that you'd be the expert on cowards. 'Sir Goof'." He got down on his knees in a mock bow in front of Max.
Max's grip on the sword tightened as he swung it back.
"MAX!" PJ yelled out in shock.
Just as the bully looked up, flinching in fear, a figure swiftly brought his sword on Max's at full force, parrying the swing and over-powering the weapon from Max's hand. He then simply walked past Max in a motion that indicated he was to be followed. Max recovered his sword and slowly walked behind him with PJ in tow.
"Max." He finally said when they were far enough away from the class.
"Sir Basil." Max replied, looking down.
Basil motioned for Max to sheath his sword, to which the boy complied. "Knights may not be cowards Max, but they also keep a fair check on their tempers. What do I always say? A warrior who charges in without strategy or, at the very least, thought…"
"…Makes the battle have an impossible outcome in their favor."
"Improbable," He walked towards him, "Nothing is truly impossible to be honest."
Max sighed.
"You're letting these things cloud your judgment. You know better than that."
"I know, I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again-"
"I know you won't," He turned his back to him. "Because I'm giving you a reprieve."
"You're kicking me out?"
"I'm letting you gather the facts; the best lessons are the ones you stumble upon yourself. And when you do then I'll let you come back."
---
"I'm sure the teacher was just saying things so you could cool your head. It's not like you're banned from the class or anything."
Max just grinned, but PJ noticed something off about it. "I'm not so sure I want to go back." He replied cooly.
PJ stood up to put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Max… What they say are just words, I should know."
---
A young Max and PJ sat on the park bench counting the coins they piled up in the center of it.
"A dollar 22… 23… 28… 53! We have enough for two ice cream cones! One for each of us!" Max exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes!" PJ pumped his fist in the air. "Let's hurry and get some before the fireworks show starts."
The two jumped off the bench ready to walk to the ice cream booth across from them when Max stopped for a moment. "Wait! One of us needs to stay at the bench to make sure no one takes it. It's the best seat in the whole park!"
"Oh. Which one of us?"
"Well… It was *my* idea." Max shrugged as he sat back down on his seat.
PJ sighed, "Of course." Then started on his way.
"Make sure you get double sprinkles on mine! And extra gummy worms!"
PJ made his way to the ice cream stand and after spending a moment to order the ice cream cones according to his detailed specifications, he handed the shop owners the money and started to head back to his seat. Unfortunately, before he could make it there, three older kids stood in his way."
"Oh, uh… Excuse me." He replied quickly trying to go around them, but to no avail.
"Ain't you Pete's kid? Pete the traitor?"
PJ looked down, "I-I really need to get back to my seat."
One of them pushed PJ back as he tried to walk through. "Answer the question."
PJ ignored them as he kept trying to avoid them, but in retaliation they tripped him, making him drop both ice creams. Before he could get up one of them grabbed him by the collar, "What makes you think you can continue to just prance around town like this? Ain't you got no shame?" He let go letting PJ fall back down on the ground.
"HEY! Leave him alone!" Max shouted; coming between them and PJ before they had the chance to hassle him more.
"What do you care? Or are you siding with the traitor family?"
"Shows how much you know jerks! Uncle Pete wasn't a traitor!"
"Max… It's ok, really." PJ said quietly as he started to collect himself.
Max ignored him as he kept glaring at the bullies. "If you guys know what's good for you you'll leave PJ alone."
"Or what Pipsqueak?"
"Or else I'll-!"
"Hi boys!" Goofy walked up to them, putting a hand on Max and PJ's shoulders. "Show's about to start. It's only once a year so you wouldn't want to miss it for anything. A-hyuk!"
The bullies just gave up and left, sparing PJ a dark glare. Max retaliated with one of his own.
"So boys," Goofy said leading them back to their bench, "How about some ice cream? A night like this calls for some, wouldn't you say?" He grinned as his tussled Max's hair and went to buy some ice cream.
"…Sorry I made you get the ice cream Peej." Max admitted.
"It wasn't your fault Max."
"And I'm sorry they said those mean things."
"It's ok, really."
Max looked aside with a slight pout, "If Dad hadn't have come I could have taken those guys. I've been practicing my knight skills."
"It's just words Max, I can get over it."
"But PJ! The things they say aren't even true! You can't let them get away with that!"
"The truth doesn't change, no matter what anyone else thinks."
"But still…"
Suddenly the fireworks started exploding in the sky just as Goofy was rushing back to watch the show. The boys just kept looking up and, just then, Max nodded his head in confidence. "Don't worry PJ, when I become a knight you don't have to worry about anyone bullying you ever."
"I'm not so sure if I'm the one that needs to be worried over…" PJ thought to himself.
---
"It's not that dude." Max gazed out the window, then turned to PJ. "I was just thinking; nothing's stopping us from leaving."
"Leaving? The…castle?" PJ asked, knowing that's not what his best friend meant.
"This world Peej! If I'm going to 'learn' anything this is the best way. True heroes learn from experience after all."
"Um… That makes sense. …In theory." PJ agreed hesitantly, sure that the yellow glint he saw in Max's eyes was a trick of the light.