A Second Chance

The Mark

The stars are falling from the night's sky one by one, signaling the slow fall of a distant world to darkness.

Beautiful, enigmatic, captivating darkness.

"Are your preparations complete?"

The boy looks away from the sky, sad to miss the falling stars. His hair is as black as the darkest corner of the worlds, and his eyes are a soft gold, serving as needed illumination to the dark night.

"We'll be up early," Master Xehanort continues, slapping the boy on the shoulder. "Go take a short rest."

Those golden eyes practically shine, depraved excitement taking hold.

"You know I don't give a damn about going without sleep for a day or two," the boy grins, looking like a wolf with its prey directly in its sights.

"Our story begins now, Vanitas," Master Xehanort hums, removing his hand from the boy's shoulder.

"Story...? Piece of cake," Vanitas scoffs, placing the pitch black mask over his face before looking back at the sky.

Four stars fall, one after the other.

He grins.

[♥]

"Are you nervous?"

It's a silly question, met with a look that conveys your thoughts.

"Why would I be nervous?" you ask your anxious blond friend as you stand in the large training room tucked away in the castle.

Light is streaming in through the stained-glass windows above, giving the room a soft glow. Aqua and Terra are standing smack in the middle, stretching in preparation for their Mark of Mastery exam. Three thrones sit at the front of the room, one occupied by Master Eraqus, and the other by Master Xehanort, of all people.

Why he was interested in a simple Mark of Mastery exam is beyond any of you.

"Because! What if they don't pass," Ven mutters, shooting your friends a worried look from your positions standing near the wall.

Master Eraqus didn't want you and Ven to watch, citing safety concerns as well as privacy. But after a few hours of incessant begging from the two of you, he finally relented, and allowed you to watch the exam. You were excited, yes. But not nervous in the slightest.

"Ven, don't be ridiculous. They're both gonna pass," you assure the boy as you gently pat his back.

"I hope so..."

He trails off, glancing up at the Masters just to your left. To his surprise, Master Xehanort is already staring at him, an unreadable glint to his amber eyes as his lips turn up in a pleased smirk. Ven hums, breaking his gaze and staring at the floor with a pinkish tinge of embarrassment to his cheeks. He can't recall ever seeing the man before.

So why is the Master watching him like he knows him?

You, meanwhile, glance between the two with a frown. That exchange wasn't missed by you, and it wasn't exactly what you'd call friendly.

"Ven, what was that –?"

Your sentence is interrupted just as your hand brushes against his wrist, as Master Eraqus clears his throat and steps forward, away from his throne. Ven stands hilariously straight and seriously at attention as your Master surveys the room, and even you find yourself straightening your back as his gaze falls on you momentarily.

"Today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery," he tells Terra and Aqua, who are standing before him, their Keyblades clutched in their hands. "Not one but two 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. Both of you may prevail, or neither. But I am sure our guest, Master Xehanort, did not travel all this way to see our two youngest prospects in years fall short of the Mark."