A Second Chance

New Beginnings

... hey, guys.

I PROMISE I'M NOT DEAD.

I got so busy, and horrible writer's block. But I'm soooooo sorry for the almost year long delay. Dying of boredom in quarantine has helped the creative juices flow, and I definitely plan on finishing this series!! This chapter is super short but I didn't want to add anything else... you'll see why by the end :)

[♥]

[LAND OF DEPARTURE]

[Fourteen Years Ago]

"Hey, Venny-boo?"

You chuckle as you watch the blond's shoulders stiffen suddenly at the use of yet another hated nickname. His arm drops to his side, his practiced magic quickly forgotten as he glances back at you with a pained expression.

"It's like each day your nicknames get dumber," Ven comments as his Keyblade disappears and he turns to fully face you.

"Aw, you love it," you state as you saunter towards him, resting your palms on a large rock separating the two of you. "What are you doing?"

"Not practicing magic anymore I guess," he retorts with a sly grin. "Something on your mind?"

He notices the slight worried furrow of your brow, and the somewhat forced smile pulling at your lips. You hated it, but the boy was able to read you all too well.

"I guess I was just thinking about Terra and Aqua. Their Mark of Mastery exam is next month –"

"Don't remind me," Ven interrupts with a groan, sick and tired of hearing Terra whine about how worried he is about not passing.

"What happens when they pass? Will they leave here?" you ask, your fingers grasping onto the rock as you stare down at your hands, pretending not to care but allowing the worry to show. "And what happens when we pass the exam? Will we all leave, scattered throughout the worlds, alone? Isn't that a Keybearer's destiny?"

Ven watches you for a moment, as your gaze avoids his and you frown uncomfortably. He can't help but smile. In moments like these, you're so vulnerable and timid. You're prone to overthinking everything, so it's not surprising that your brain would be thinking about this during something as innocent as an examination.

Something soft suddenly rests over your fingers. Your eyes dart to your hand, watching with wide eyes and a faint grin as Ven gently wraps his fingers around yours.

"We're never alone," he reassures you with a gentle squeeze. "Not really. Maybe we'll all leave this place someday. But I'll always be with you. We all will."

Your gaze flits up, meeting his bright blue eyes and immediately falling into its depths, drowning in cerulean and his gentle grin.

"Are you really standing here saying if you finally get to explore the worlds, you'd still be worried about little old me?" you finally ask with a roll of your eyes, breaking your stare with the boy.

"Yes, you idiot, I would be," he laughs as he releases your hand and gently smacks your skin, summoning his Keyblade as he takes a step back. "Now you gonna help me practice, or keep panicking over something that's never gonna happen? Master will never let us leave."

"Okay. Fine, fine," you concede with a smile of your own as you summon your Keyblade, following after him as he marches towards the circular, wooden training materials hanging from tall trees around you.

You watch as the boy raises his Keyblade and takes a step back, narrowing his eyes for focus as a whoosh of flames suddenly leaves his blade. The spell hits the wooden circle, sending it flying around the tree as Ven starts to grin, glancing down at you for a sign of approval.