Destiny's Marked: Chosen (Book 1)

The Sky: Thieves

        I'm not going to make excuses; I'm changing the update schedule to every 12th of the month. This way I can still write and edit before the chapters come out. Enjoy!
      Aria gazed sadly at the dazed Terra and smirking Maleficent behind him as a pink heart floated upwards, disappearing into green flames. Terra shook his head groggily, finally noticing his keyblade summoned and in his hand. Shock took over his face and his head snapped back towards the sleeping Aurora who now was just a shell of the princess. Terra's face became one of agony as he denied, "No...What did I do? What did you do?!" Aria turned away at Maleficent's cackle that turned into an innocent tone. Aria ignored the speech as she knew that the information that she gave the witch might have been different but Maleficent would still try to convince Terra to awaken the darkness within him and join her in the domination of all the worlds through Kingdom Hearts. No, she had more important things to do.

       She summoned her vehicle, as she still had her armor activated, and flew through a portal the Lanes Between. Keeping a steady hand on the rudder against the bouncing waves of the Lane Between, she moved swiftly about, trying to stay away from the center of the path in case one of the trio came along. Aria racked her brain for what was next, and when she saw a streak of light weaving its way around the Paths In-between, it clicked. Biting her lip, she saw Ventus look left and right, searching for a sign of Terra or where he might have gone. Aria hoped that she wasn't too far away from the entrance to the Dwarf Woodlands when she stopped in place, the stars streaking around her slowing to dots.

      The female closed her eyes, fisted her hand over her heart, and searched deep inside herself. Her fist tightened as if physically digging into her soul before throwing it up in the air, palm up and releasing a bright ball of light

       From a distance, Ventus looked about in frustration. He was just seconds behind Aria and yet she was nowhere in sight. Not even the tail of her rider. A sparkle caught his eye though as he was turning left to search another pathway. Jerking his head in that direction, he saw a glowing light that pulsed in contrast to the other lights around him. He turned his rider towards that direction without a moment's hesitation. A determined glint made its way into his bright blue eyes as he passed through the doorway to a world.

      Aria panted, sitting with her back and head against a tree, and tried to steady her breathing to remain invisible. She found out her plan didn't work when she saw a shadow over her and it yell her name.

      Ven rushed around from behind the tree and kneeled in front of her, "Are you alright?!" Calling upon acting skills she didn't know she had, she winced as she tried to sit up but gave him a small grin, "Yeah... Just... found a... large... unversed." The male frowned at his friend, "This is why you shouldn't go alone. You know that you have only been training for three years." He stood back and cast a healing spell. She sighed slowly with eyes closed as the bells twinkled in her ears and green lights danced delicately around her, feeling her fatigue fade. When she opened her eyes, Ven was standing in front of her with a hand extended to her.

       "I know..." She took the blonde's hand, "But I wasn't going to let Terra run away like that." Ven pulled her up easily and she dusted off the dirt on her pants, looking down with a concerned look. "I have a bad feeling about all that has happened... Terra wasn't looking well to me. It was almost as if the sliver of darkness we saw during the Master's Exam is only the beginning."

       Ven's eyes widened at this, yelling incredulously, "You think Terra is a part of the darkness?"

       It was silent after his accusation.

       Aria turned her head to him with her lips set in a firm line, "Ven. Everyone has a bit of darkness within them."

       The boy looked away at her even, almost scolding tone. He remembered being there for that lesson.