kingdoms_of_auradon | And I Wish That It Would Never End

I wish, my wish

The snow had finally been cleared from the room, the window fixed. And the snow outside was slowly following suit. It was still almost painfully cold outside, but the snow was no longer actively falling, and the more adventurous could find ways outside through upper floor windows. There was no way to get to the shore or anything, but there were odd glittering things in the perfect fairytale snow. The first time someone would touch one, it would grow brighter and brighter until the light exploded outward. The shards of light flew into the school mostly, but some went elsewhere, over and past the tangles of stuff.

When the light resolved, it and the other glittering things - both in the snow and now in the school - would prove to be small magic lamps. Each would have the name of one of the Missrecalled currently in Auradon, and a colour scheme that suits that person. It might be the one who picked it up, or someone else. When the person for whom the tiny jewelry sized lamp was for holds the lamp and makes a wish, that wish might come true. For a short time.

The wishes would only last the weekend, but What a glorious and bittersweet weekend that would be.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

kings_knight_rocks

"Four feet from where you start? What kind of rule is that?" Noct ruffled his feathers in obvious dissatisfaction.

Ignis gave a small smile to Ven. "Well, I wouldn't wish to deprive you of an opportunity for growth. If I have a question of which the answer you are uncertain, we can loop Aqua in then. How does that sound?" He turned back to Aqua. "As for this four foot rule. I too am a bit curious about it. It seems... oddly specific."

From:

aquawayfinder

"Not so much a rule anyone set as a truth we've observed. None of us can get higher than that."

Ven huffed. "Of course I'll know the answers," he muttered.

From:

kings_knight_rocks

"Maybe you just didn't try hard enough?" Was Noct's blunt reply, to which he received an elbow from Prompto.

Ignis frowned at Noct with a heavy sigh, but ultimately chose to ignore the less than tactful words. He instead turned back to Ven. "Then I see no issue with the arrangement, my young tutor."

From:

aquawayfinder

"So long as you do not harm yourself or anyone else, you are welcome to try," Aqua said. "I will stay below with healing spells at the ready."

Ven huffed a moment then sighed. He seemed to think about how to explain it, how their Master explained it, as they hit the last flight of stairs.

"A Keyblade is more than a weapon or a tool. Something in our Hearts calls to something in the Keyblade, and the Keyblade chooses us based on that. If you have one it is a lot of responsibility because it is a lot of power. It makes your magic stronger, which means mistakes can hurt people lots more, so you have to be more careful. But Keyblade Masters, those who have trained for years... they have the responsibility of protecting all the worlds, protecting the Light, and keeping everyone safe. Even if no one knows they're there. It's like being sneaky for the sake of saving people."

From:

kings_knight_rocks

"I see..." By which Ignis meant he did not see, but he did see an opportunity to learn. Which to him was almost better. He pulled a small notebook and pen from his inside jacket pocket and his friends settled in for the singlemindedness of his focus for the next while.

"So would you say a Keyblade is a sentient force? Is the metric for the choosing known? A merit based system? Or is it possibly more related to potential? You mentioned magic. Do all Keyblade Masters wield magic?"

"Maybe one question at a time Iggy?" Gladio said with a light chuckle.

Despite Noct's previous attitude, he now had a small, secret smile playing his lips. This was a version of Ignis that the advisor did not permit himself to indulge in often. His friend's would happily put aside their stakes in the conversation for the time being.

From:

aquawayfinder

Ven shot a panicked look at Aqua who chuckled. "Alright," she said, ruffling his hair. She then took over answering. "Keyblades have perhaps a different sort of ability to chose than what you would call sentience." Of course there were the nanotech Keyblades, but that was a whole other rule set and would be too confusing to get into at the moment.

"A plant will move," she continued, "to get closer to the sun, which is a choice. The oceans react to the move. The plates of the world move. How much is choice, how much do the Keyblades choose? It is not an exact comparison but the way they choose is as different from how we choose as the tides and tectonic plates. As for the metric, there are theories, of course. But any time we think that we know for certain, someone is chosen that breaks the theory apart. So we are forever learning. But we know that being handed a Keyblade can be an indicator, how long it remains in your hand before it returns to the one to whom it is bonded can tell us how likely it is that you can have a Keyblade of your own. But there are those who feel we are confusing cause and effect, and that giving a Keyblade gives the potential rather than exposing it. As for magic, all Keyblade users I have met so far," in this reality series anyway "have the ability, even those who did not seem to have the capacity before the Keyblade called them. Those of us who walk the path of Mastery, we learn magic in our training. Not all of us use it, of course. That is a choice of personal preference. I tend to use my magic pretty consistently, Terra and Ven on the other hand tend to be more physical. But it does not seem to follow gender lines if that was what you were thinking, for our Master was fairly balanced between, as is Sora. Lea on the other hand uses quite a bit of magic, but only one element generally."

From:

kings_knight_rocks

Ignis took precise notes as she spoke. Bullet point, in a neat handwriting. When he wasn't writing, he tapped the back end of the pen against the paper. "So let me see that I understand; it is believed that these Keyblades might have a form of auto-sentience akin to plants, but lack a... perhaps will is the word I am looking for."

His brow had a thoughtful lilt. "Hm, if it is not possible to know one hundred percent of the time who may have the potential to wield one, could you accurately posit who would absolutely not? Then, in theory, if you let that person hold a Keyblade, you could then determine if the potential could be passed on, no?"

"I must say, your magic intrigues me. On Eos, there are very few who are able to harness magic. Noctis and his father-" His face soured briefly, and he quickly moved past the mention of the erstwhile king. "The Crystal has only chosen the royal bloodline to bestow it's power, and it is only through them that the Glaive are afforded their gifts. That I know of, little to none other humans have the ability to use the world's magic. Perhaps when we are safely outside, you could show me some of your magic?"

From:

aquawayfinder

They finally got to the roof. "I have no problems showing some of the safer spells. But there are some spells best performed only on solid ground and others that should be used in combat and in combat alone. As for knowing one hundred percent who could never have a Keyblade, if I have ever met such a person I did so unawares."

From:

kings_knight_rocks

"Ah, yes, well, safety is important."

Noct leaned over towards Ven. "You'll show me and Prom the combat spells though right?"

From:

aquawayfinder

"Sure!" Ven said.

Aqua sighed. "When we are safely on the ground," she emphasized. Again.

From:

kings_knight_rocks

Ignis stepped closer to the edge, looking out over the grounds, before turning back to Noctis with a severe look, which he then turned over Prompto and Ven. "I expect you lot to listen to the lady."

Noctis rolled his eyes, but he was flexing his shoulders, ruffling his feathers as he stepped up beside Ignis. "Sure, whatever, flying first anyway."

From:

aquawayfinder

"I always listen to Aqua!" Ven protested. Then he squirmed under Terra's look. "Mostly always."

Aqua stood, shaking her head. "Enjoy your flight. Those of us not flying will wait in the stairwell where it is mildly warmer."

From:

kings_knight_rocks

Gladio stepped closer to the ledge as well, before turning back to face the group, one of his more brotherly grins on his face. "My wings are strong enough for a passenger, if anyone is interested."

"Not me, I'm off. C'mon Prom!" Without a backward glance Noct put a foot right on the edge, leaned forward, almost like a diver would, before launching himself forward. He fell for a moment, arms and wings close, head first, until he was at the four foot limit from the grass below. Then he snapped open his wings, letting the air catch him. His approach for breaking the four foot limit appeared to be speed.

Prompto was once again caught in awe of the simple joy of Noct in flight. He made it look so easy. When he flew his body might as well have become a part of the wind and sky around him. Prompto own wings ruffled, though his feet remained glued tightly to the roof.

From:

aquawayfinder

"Oh! Me!" Ven said. "I love flying!"

"RO...V...>" Aqua pulled herself back, pulling her anxiety into herself to deal with it later when it wouldn't be anyone else's problem. Ven wasn't Roxas. He could actually fly on his own. And he was reckless but not as reckless as Roxas. But for a moment she'd been back on Planet Speed watching Roxas heading down to Prompt and them in the car heading for a cliff edge. And her unable to go help because she had Xion with her...

The fear of it had her heart pounding as she stepped back, reminding herself over and over that this was not the same, and that Ven probably wasn't even really here anyway...

From:

kings_knight_rocks

Gladio was distracted, busy explaining the best way for Ven to hold onto him and how Gladio would carry the boy when he took off. But both Ignis and Prompto took note of Aqua's nerves.

Prompto took a step towards her. "Aqua? Are you okay..?"

Ignis held himself back, but he didn't take for the air just yet. The caregiver in him needing to make sure everything would be alright here before he stretched out his wings.

From:

aquawayfinder

"I'll be okay," she said softly, as Terra moved closer to her as well. "I'm a Master. Mastering this stuff comes with the title," she said, giving them a small smile. She was upset at herself for upsetting all of them, but she wasn't about to let that show.

From:

kings_knight_rocks

"Mastering what stuff?" Prompto asked.

Ignis nodded slightly, seeing that Prompto and Terra seemed to have the situation in hand. He stepped to the edge, and pulled Gladio around by the elbow as he went. Ignis' take off was much more reasonable than Noct's. He simply stepped off the roof like he was propelling himself up a step of stares, and spread his wings to catch his weight. He circled over the roof once before following the wall down towards the field.

Gladio made sure he had Ven securely in his arms, then jumped with a hoot from the roof. A few sturdy flaps of his wings closer to the ground and he was off, wheeling lazily above the grass.

From:

aquawayfinder

Ven, oblivious, was cheering happily.

Aqua shook her head slightly. "When I was younger I had a fear of heights. I am able to Master it most of the time and it is fine. But one time I was with a different version of Roxas and Xion.. and a different version of all of you. And Roxas jumped off my Keyblade glider into a car the other versions of you were in... headed right off a cliff," she said softly. I have never been so afraid for myself as I was for all of you at that moment."

From:

kings_knight_rocks

Right... She'd told him about this, hadn't she? He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Well, this time we have wings, so not quite so bad, huh?"

From:

aquawayfinder

"And Ven isn't Roxas, he's been to Neverland and can fly on his own. And he has both his armor and his Glider. Like I said, it was an unimportant reaction."

Terra frowned.

From:

kings_knight_rocks

"Okay..." Promtpo wasn't sure if that was true, but he knew if it was him he wouldn't want her to pry.

"Prom, what's the hold up?" Noctis appeared over the edge of the roof. One foot stepping onto the ledge, the moment between flying and standing impatiently near non-existent.

"Oh, um, well- I just, don't really feel like flying. Right now..." He trailed off lamely.

"Seriously? You're gonna hold out on me now?" Noct scowled.

"Sorry..."

Noct waved a dismissive hand in the air. He couldn't quite cover the disappointment in his expression. "Whatever, suit yourself. Next time though, you owe me one."

A wave of relief washed through Prompto, even if it was hand in hand with a swell of guilt. "'Course."

"Alright. Well. What were you talking about? I'm done." He tucked his wings as he made his way over to the trio who had stayed in the roof.

From:

aquawayfinder

"You can fly if you want." Aqua said quietly. And gently. "I'll be fine. I'm a Master, after all." She offered him a small smile.

From:

kings_knight_rocks

Noct had moved over to bump shoulders with Prompto. He wore the most disinterested expression. He had his arms crossed. "Rather stay here."

Prompto's ears were a suspicious shade of light pink. "You don't have to."

"Shut up, Prom." He turned to Terra. "Can I see those key thingies?"

From:

aquawayfinder

Terra nodded, and he and Aqua both summoned their Keyblades in their primary forms and held them out sideways for inspection.

From:

kings_knight_rocks

"Oh cool, do you guys have an Armiger too?" Noct rose an eyebrow, leaning in to inspect the intricacies of the weapons.

"They're so cool. Really weird, but really cool." Prompto grinned. Like some kind of magic video game weapon.