11th Rainfall - [Video locked to Keybearers]

[asapphireheart]

This is probably really forward of me, but I want to pull us all together. I want to see just how many there are of us, and just how skilled everyone is. From what I can gather, Ven and I are the only ones that have had a Master. There's a lot of skills that you can only learn from a Master like the Gliders and Armor.

[She shifts her watch and picks

Comments

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

[All of this is enough to be nothing short of entirely mind-blowing to the blond Nobody. For starters, it sounded completely amazing -like something out of a comic book that he read. And then to realize that being chosen to carry a Keyblade just wasn't some cosmic joke played on the bearer; that there was purpose to it and more over that there were more of them.

He didn't quite know why, but especially thinking about that last note; he didn't feel quite so alone anymore. Of course, if Roxas gave much thought about it at all, there were plenty of reasons for him to have at least given this notion a passing thought. He actually knew quite a few other Chosen and while he just chalked it up to a certain monster's plans rather forcefully acquainting all of them, the idea that being this way was actually something good... well, it kind of turned his perspective on things on it's side.]

That... that's really amazing. And you're a master?

[Thoughts were brewing in his head; lots of them. He never really cared much about his weapon prior, but this... well, simply put, this was entirely exciting.]

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

Yeah, I am. [Part of how she says it seems empty though. She and Terra were supposed to pass together, until Xehanort messed everything up.]

Masters are few and far apart now so a lot of knowledge may be lost. I want to make sure that it's not.

[You are so special Roxas, and Aqua will show you.]

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

[The tone of voice she uses isn't lost on him and while he wants to ask what happened, he gets the distinct impression that it's a very touchy subject at the moment. And one that he might be best off avoiding for the time being.]

I see.

[He pauses a little bit, mulling things over. His Keyblade had only brought him frustration and misery -of course, his origin and nature may well have played a hand in those issues as well. And until his later days in his old home, he'd been so content to just never draw it again.

But then everything happened and he took the weapon up again because he found himself as the last line between something he somehow knew was terrible and the people he'd grown to care about. It was difficult to drag himself out of moping, but only a couple weeks into his stay and he'd found people that at least cared about him. And if something like that ever happened again...]

Could you train me then? I think if I hadn't tried to ignore having one and doing the sort of things he always did, maybe things back home could've gone differently.

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

If you'll have me as your Master, then I would be happy to train you.

[Ignoring the whole thing about him being a teen and usually getting Bearers when they're kids, Aqua's glad that Roxas wants her to teach him. After a moment, Aqua calls her Keyblade.]

Let's do this the right way.

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

[Part of him wanted to offer the joke that right now, as far as masters went, he really didn't have a choice because if he wanted to learn -she was the only one around. Yet there was a fairly serious air to the moment, so his better judgment stayed his sometimes off-sense of humor.

However, he seems a little confused when she called her Keyblade. He's fairly sure she's not going to attack him to test his skills, for one thing, comic books and paper back novels had taught him that masters only do that sort of thing in a bar or relatively open space. But what he wasn't sure of was if he should kneel or something; wondering if perhaps this was like being knighted.

Still, he at least knew how to respond to her sentiments.]

Yeah. After running from things for so long, I'm ready to start getting things right.

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

So am I.

[Aqua turned the handle towards him, then closed her eyes to remember the words. She'd messed up plenty since she passed the Exam, and this was one thing Aqua was determined not to mess up. Again.]

"In your hand, take this key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend-no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

[He listens quietly to the oath she recites, uncertain if he should repeat after her at first. Thankfully, that confusion doesn't last for more than a split second as he realizes that this must be what the old masters did when they found someone fairly young -probably even younger than he was that must have shown some kind of potential or whatever sign there was that a person was chosen.

It kind of reminded him of the ninja clan in his comic books.

Still, understanding the weight of those words and how serious this moment was, he keeps his expression solemn. And then as Aqua finishes, he reaches out and firmly grips her weapon -as if he would take it from her. And then he waits, looking to see if he should be doing anything else once he had her Keyblade in his grasp.]

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

[The moment he grasps Master Keeper, Aqua let's it go. She smiles a bit, pleased as it approves of him with a faint glow. The ceremony itself is simple, already complete.]

No one can ever take this from you. The Keyblade is yours by right, recognizing the strength in your Heart and accepting it. No matter what path you follow int he future, the Keyblade will always be your companion.

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

[It all seemed to be going well and fine until Aqua said that last part, his expression shifting to one somewhere between confusion and disappointment -more because of something that it reminds him about.]

Uhm, about that... I... [He hesitates. This is important and while he has no intention of backing out, there's a detail implied in her words that he can't help but feel at least some concern over.] I'm a Nobody though. I don't even have a heart, so can I still do this?

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

[Aqua smiles gently.] That's not my decision, it's yours and the Keyblade's. And it accepted you.

[She pauses thinking over her next words.] Let me ask you something: would you do anything to protect your friends? To make them happy, make sure their safe? Would you do the same for anyone that's in danger? Help those who can't help themselves?

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

[Again, a pause as he mulls that over, his attention shifting when his new master speaks up again. The first two parts weren't difficult choices in the least -they mattered to him, so of course he'd do whatever he could. The second part; it was a little more of a gray area.

It wasn't that he didn't necessarily care, it was just that he tended to respond best when he had an actual attachment to whoever he was helping. A complete stranger though...

Thinking about it, it really would be difficult. But maybe it was just one of those things he'd get used to -after all, he used to go out of his way frequently to greet new residents. Maybe fighting to protect people that couldn't do so themselves wouldn't be such a foreign concept after all.]

For my friends? Without a second thought. For other people though... [Roxas trails off a little before offering something of a grin.] Well, it'll be something new to try.

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

It's what we do, why we have the Keyblade. We protect the worlds and their inhabitants, even the ones we don't know, so they don't fall to Darkness.

[Aqua smiles, at least he's willing to try. From what she heard from him up until now, she could understand that his friends would be his primary focus. That, and she'd been learning since she was six that the worlds needed her protection. Burned into the brain.

She looks thoughtful for a moment before plucking the pin from the straps over her shirt, handing it to him.]

We all wear one. We'll find a way to make one specially for you, gold or silver. Whichever you'd like.

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

[He chewed on that first thought for a moment, a particular comment that a friend of his had made quite some time ago suddenly rushed to mind. And then a question came to mind; he wasn't looking to go back on accepting Aqua's training, but it was something he was just curious about.

But before he could even pose that question, he was being given a pin. With a polite bow of his head, he accepted the gift, deciding to just hold into it for now -at least until he could find some better clothes to wear it on.]

Thanks, but I've got another question -it's something I've been thinking about on and off for awhile. I'm wondering if maybe you can help answer it.

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

Go ahead and ask, if I know the answer I'll tell you.

[Aqua leaned back against the table, watching Roxas with a smile. Asking questions was, after all, one of the best ways to learn. So Aqua would be more than happy to answer anything he asked.]

[Action]

[notquiteanobody]

I know you were talking about protecting worlds from darkness. But a friend once told me that by nature -being a Nobody, I was a being of darkness. But I know I'm different because of the choices I make.

So the thing I'm wondering, are there people that are the opposite? By nature, they're of light, but their choices... well, they're not always the best -even if they have good intentions.

[Along those lines, he was also wondering if there had ever been another Keyblade Wielder like him before. But that whole opposites question had been making him wonder for a little while too.]

[Action]

[asapphireheart]

Actually, yes. There are.

[Terra and the Master came to mind in less than a second.]

Terra used Darkness, but he was still helping whoever he found that needed help. Sometimes he made Links with the wrong people, did a few bad things, but it was for good reason or he tried to make up for it.