Dragon's Soul, a Kingdom Hearts Fanfic

Mark of Mastery

Today was finally the day. After another month of training, [Y/n] was ready to take his Mark of Mastery exam. He knew nothing about what was about to happen, only that it would be different from what anybody had experienced before.

Eraqus sat in his chair in the main hall, while [Y/n] stood in front of him. His three friends stood off the side of the room.

Eraqus: [Y/n], today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. This will be not a test of will, but a test of heart. We have no doubt you will prevail, but it entirely possible for you to fail.' With that, let us begin.

Eraqus waves his Keyblade and creates a portal of blinding light.

Eraqus: Step through the portal to face your challenge.

[Y/n]: Master, what is the goal of my exam?

Eraqus: I cannot tell you that. I am certain all will become clear once you're on the other side.

[Y/n] breathes in before glancing over at his friends one last time. Terra nods, Ventus gives him a thumbs up, and Aqua smiles at him. He smiles back at the three before stepping through as magical screens appear both in front of Eraqus and in front of the three students, displaying an image of [Y/n] stepping into a dark town.

While the three students didn't recognize the place, [Y/n] couldn't remember more clearly the place he now stood in. Twilight Town, his old home.

[Y/n]: Alright, I'm back in Twilight Town, or at least a replica of it... What now?

Behind him, he hears a pop, and turns around to see two people he didn't recognize, a man and a woman possessing similar features to himself.

[Y/n]: Hello. Who might you be?

???: Do you really not remember your own parents?

His eyes widen as he remembers something from a very long time ago.

[Y/n] was only a child at this point, and was not ready for what was about to happen. He saw his parents completely destroyed by dark creatures with yellow eyes. He was on his own now.

[Y/n]: No, the Heartless killed you.

Dad: That's what you thought, son. But we're alive. We looked everywhere for you, but we could never find you.

[Y/n]: But I was in...

[Y/n] thinks for a second before feeling a strange feeling radiating from his parents. It was a feeling of total negativity. He summoned his Keyblade and prepared for a fight as the two figures turned into Heartless.

[Y/n]: I was in Twilight Town the entire time, you would have found me long ago. On top of that, this is my Mark of Mastery exam. I know there will be things that will not be what they seem.

He quickly fires a Fira spell at the Heartless, disposing of them.

Eraqus: Aqua, please, summon your Keyblade.

Aqua: (following his instructions) What for, Master?

Eraqus: (creates another portal of light) Throw it through. He'll need it for what's next.

Beside [Y/n], Rainfell falls from the sky.

Eraqus: (his voice echoing as he speaks to [Y/n]) You did good to face your first challenge, but the next one will be much more difficult. You shall need Aqua's Keyblade along with your own to complete this test.

[Y/n]: (picking up the blade) Alright, thanks for this, Aqua. Now, where to go...

He looks towards the clock tower and sees a dragon statue on top of it.

[Y/n]: Either they've done some remodeling while I've been away or that has something to do with my exam.

He begins walking towards the clock tower, but along the way, there's another pop. Many people [Y/n] recognized as his old friends from Twilight Town appear.

Rex: Hey, man. Been a while since you've seen your friends.

Sharla: Probably because he just up and left us all behind one day.

[Y/n] looks down at Rainfell and Dragon Flame as he remembers something.

[Y/n] was a bit older now. It had been five years since his parents died, but he was managing to survive. He had good friends. Or at least he thought he did.

Rex: Hey, [Y/n], why you so slow? Cause your memories of mommy and daddy are weighing you down?

Sharla: Forget about them, they were too weak to survive. I guess that's where you get it from.

[Y/n]: No... None of you were ever my friends. I have real friends now, ones who protect me and care for me. And one who I think may just love me as something more. Love is something none of you ever gave me.

The eight turn into Heartless, stronger ones than he had faced before. He slashes at one with Rainfell, taking out some of its health. While he's distracted, another Heartless jumps onto his back. He manages to throw it off and slash at it with Dragon Flame. A larger one tries to run at him, but he uses both Keyblades at once to attack it, sending it to the ground. He jumps back and gets all eight in his sights before leaping into the air, twisting around, and slamming both Keyblades on the ground at once, sending forth both a Firaga and a Blizzaga.

[Y/n]: And that's that. Onwards.

He continues forward towards the clock tower and begins climbing up. Once he reaches the dragon statue, he feels something within himself.

[Y/n]: What is this? What's going on?

Eraqus: (echoing) Complete your exam and unlock the Dragon's Soul.

[Y/n]: Unlock the Dragon's Soul?

[Y/n] touches his hand to his chest before summoning both Keyblades to his hands and crossing them, reaching out to touch the dragon with them. The statue begins to crack and glow a brilliant yellow. Once it's destroyed, it is revealed it was simply a shell for a glowing, transparent dragon.

Dragon: I am your spirit. A manifestation of your heart and soul combined. Your heart is almost pure light, with a very small amount of darkness within it. You are worthy of the power of the Dragon's Soul.

The dragon turns into a ball of light that flies into [Y/n]'s chest.

[Y/n]: Something gives me the feeling this isn't actually over.

Where the dragon once stood, Unversed pop up. They were the same as the Unversed he had faced when he first summoned his Keyblade. But they felt different somehow. They were stronger. Before he can do anything, he feels a burning sensation in his chest. Behind him, the same dragon appears. Suddenly, the Keyblade wielder feels stronger than before.

[Y/n] sends a Blizzara at one of the Unversed, catching another along the way. He then slashes at the remaining four with both Keyblades. He then raises Dragon Flame into the air and creates a massive fire ball and throws it down on all six at the same time. They disappear as a portal of light appears in front of him.

On the other side awaited the main hall of the Land of Departure's main building.

Eraqus: [Y/n], today you have faced your past and unlocked a pathway to your future. The Dragon's Soul has found you worthy. At the same time, you completed the exam faster than we expected, and with a strong heart all the way. You have passed the Mark of Mastery exam, Master [Y/n].

[Y/n]: (bows) Thank you, Master Eraqus.

The three students run towards him and begin to congratulate him.

Terra: Good job out there, Ignis. Oh, sorry. Master [Y/n].

[Y/n]: Please, none of you ever call me that. It makes me really uncomfortable to be called master by my three closest friends.

Aqua: Either way, Terra's right.

Ventus: Yeah, you were awesome!

[Y/n]: Thanks, but even though I'm now a master, I still have a lot left to learn. This is only the beginning of my journey.