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saudade_apps) wrote2014-04-27 02:11 am
saudade_apps) wrote2014-04-27 02:11 am
Entry tags:
[Beginner] Kingdom Hearts - Ventus
PLAYER
NAME: Jess
CHARACTER
NAME(S): Ventus
AGE: Undetermined. Likely around 15 at the time he 'fell asleep'
CANON: Kingdom Hearts
BACKGROUND HISTORY:
Fan wikia
Ventus' existence before coming to the Land of Departure is almost completely unknown. The earliest moment we see of him is at the Keyblade Graveyard, surrounded by Neo Shadows, wielding his keyblade, and refusing to fight at Master Xehanort's command. He pleads with his Master, panic evident, claiming he isn't strong enough to defeat the monsters. He's ignored, Xehanort stating that if he let the Darkness in him out he could fight them easily. Ventus refuses, nearly killed by the Heartless and Xehanort stating that the boy would rather die than let the Darkness free. Frustrated, the Master uses his keyblade to tear the darkness from his heart, forming it into a completely separate being: Vanitas. The separation was devastating for Ventus- his heart shattered and slowly falling apart, his will fading away.
Xehanort, maybe feeling a little ironic, decides to take Ventus' lifeless body to the Destiny Islands to live out the rest of his days. And those days would surely be short. But once he's there a small warm voice calls out to him. Though he doesn't know it this is a newborn Sora. His naturally kid heart reaching out to help someone in pain. The young heart shores up his shattered edges, stopping the loss and giving Ven a chance to heal. Stirred by this action Ventus' still mostly lifeless body raises its hand, summoning his Keyblade and firing a beam of light into the sky. Seeing this, Xehanort suspects there might be some use to him after all, and instead takes him to the Land of Departure.
It’s there that Xehanort drops Ventus off to be cared for by Eraqus and his apprentices Terra and Aqua. Assumingly with the idea that he would be trained and prepped for the day he would sic Vanitas on him- their conflict forming the x-Blade. Terra, like the eager teenager he was, starts questioning Ven. This causes him to cry out in pain and pass out. Apparently the trauma of tearing the Darkness out of him had ruined his memory- he recalled nothing at all, and even trying to hurt him deeply. He was out for a good while, looked over by Aqua until he recovered. From that point on he was taken in by Eraqus, trained alongside the others, and adopted into a makeshift family.
If things had stayed that way he could have been happy forever. But it wasn’t to be.
Years passed, and the time came for Terra and Aqua to take their Mark of Mastery exams. The night before, after having trouble sleeping, Ven saw a shooting star from out his window. He runs out to go see it, eventually dozing off while watching the sky- having a little déjà vu of that night on Destiny Isles. He’s eventually woken up by an amused Aqua. They are eventually joined by Terra, and the three talk into the night, eventually sparing in preparation for the upcoming test. In celebration of the test, Aqua gives him and Terra charms shaped like stars- said to be based on a good luck charm based on a fruit. The charm is infused with magic… an unbreakable connection. Eventually they all head in for the night, in preparation for the long day ahead.
It would be the last night they all spent under the same stars.
The next day Ventus went to Terra and Aqua’s exam, seeing Xehanort there, though due to his memory loss he has no idea who he is. During the exam Xehanort uses darkness to influence the orbs of light the two were supposed to fight, making them act erratically, even attacking Ventus on the sidelines. He fights them off, refusing to leave and miss out on seeing them become Masters. Between the three of them they are able to take them all out, but during the spar between him and Aqua, Terra lets the Darkness in him out just a tiny bit. The small slip up if enough for him to fail the exam, only Aqua gaining her Mark. Both move to comfort Terra, but it’s obvious the loss affected him deeply.
Later on, while lying in his room and pondering what happened, the alarm bells go off, shocking him into action. But before he can go see what’s happening he realizes there’s a stranger in his room. A boy in a masked helmet. The boy taunts him, stating that he was going to be left behind and that Terra was going to change. Refusing to believe this, Ventus charges out after Terra… only to find his friend getting ready to leave. Terra dismisses his attempts to warn him, leaving on his Glider. Ven, determined to find out what’s going on with his friend, chases after on his own glider, but loses track of him in the Lanes.
The first place he ends up in the Dwarf Woodlands, and its here he first sees the 7 dwarves making their way to their mines. Fascinated, Ven follows them. When questioned on who he is, he eagerly introduces himself- only to have the dwarves scatter in fear that he’s a thief. He is forced to hunt them all down one by one before they will talk to him, but even then they don’t trust him. They say they haven’t seen Terra, but do point him towards the castle. With his new lead, Ven heads out. On his way he hears a scream, and running to investigate he find Snow White, terrified and alone in the woods. He comforts her, and offers to lead her to the dwarves house for the night. Along the way he fights off Unversed and killer trees to keep her safe, eventually making it through the woods with her mostly intact. He goes to check and make sure the surrounding area is safe, only to come back to the dwarves being home and pretty po’d at him. But Snow defends him, and tells how she was scared into the woods by a stranger- Terra. He rushes to go find him... but he’s already long gone. Instead he finds an old woman, and returns a dropped apple to her. She claims to have seen a sword like his before, and that Terra had menaced her. Ventus is shocked to hear this, and wonders what Terra could have gotten himself into before leaving to search for him on another world.
Its then he comes to the Castle of Dreams… only to wake up shrunk to the size of a mouse and stuck in a trap. Cinderella finds and releases him, introducing him to Jaq the mouse. Jaq gives him a crash course in Cinderella’s unfortunate situation, and asks for his help in fixing up her dress for the ball. The last item they need, a pearl, is unfortunately right next to Lucifer: the houses’ cat. The cat spots him and just as it’s about to attack, Jaq comes to his rescue. But his heroism put the mouse in danger too, and Ven rushes back to save him, taking the cat on. The two rush back, getting the dress done just in time. The two friends look out over the castle, and talk about dreams before Ven continues his search for Terra.
In the Enchanted Dominion, Ven wanders about, looking for Terra, only to stumble on a sleeping Aurora. He’s fascinated by her beauty. He is confronted by the three fairies, who assume he is out to do her harm. But after introductions they come to trust him, and explain that Aurora’s heart has been stolen. Without missing a beat he offers to go get it back, and his eagerness gives the fairies their hope back. The four of them storm Maleficent’s lair, going through traps and mazes to reach the heart. Using his Keyblade Ven is able to release it, ending Aurora’s unnatural sleep. But as they flee they are confronted by Maleficent, who tells him about how Terra stole Aurora’s heart. Ven denies this, and a battle against the dark fairy ensues. She continues to taunt him with Terra’s action, and he starts to doubt- only for Aqua to show up just in time and assure him it’s not true. She tries to convince Ventus to return home with her. But he isn’t ready to stop his hunt for Terra. He has to find him before he leaves him behind forever.
As he makes his way back through the Lane he spots the Masked Boy, and decides to follow him. This leads him to the Keyblade Graveyard, though he doesn’t recognize the place. The Masked Boy is there, waiting for him. Ventus demands to know the meaning behind his cryptic warning/threat about Terra, and the Boy manifests a Keyblade. The two fight… and Ven is completely wreaked. The Boy states it’d be going against his Master’s orders, but moves to finish Ventus off regardless- only for him to be save by Mickey. The King comes to his aid and the two of them manage to fight the Boy off. For now. Ven and Mickey make introductions, and find common ground in their tendencies for running away like dummies. Mickey shows his Star Shard to Ven- which goes off, tossing them both to who knows where
Where, it turns out, is in the orbit of Radiant Garden. Ven lands, and spots Mickey. Trying to follow him he is blocked by guards, and as he turns to try elsewhere he sees a giant Unversed Of course he goes chasing after it, and finds it menacing a duck (god that sounds weird outta context). He chases it off, but before he can continue the hunt, the duck- Scrooge McDuck in fact, pulls him aside to attempt to reward him. Ven tries desperately to get away WITHOUT being rude and eventually Scrooge gives him three passes to Disney Town and says he should takehis parents two adults. By the time Ven continues his search the Unversed is gone. He manages to hunt it back down and in the process runs into ANONOTHER old fellow: a wizard named Merlin. The wizard assumes he’s there to gain power from his book. Ven is rightly confused, but looks at it anyways (and gets a command board oh boy) then goes BACK to chasing it and runs into both Terra AND Aqua. The Unversed he spent the world chasing merges with parts the other two had been after, and the three fight it together. The three greet each other and Ven gives the other two the tickets, a little embarrassed that he got them for ‘two grown ups’. Once again Aqua tells him he needs to go home, but full of confidence from the fight and seeing them again Ven brags that the Boy in the Mask is gone. Terra is surprised, and lets slip his name: Vanitas. And as a shock to Ven agrees that he should go home. He wants to go with them, and Terra and Aqua argue over Terra’s actions since he left home. Ven rushes to his defense, but Terra gets upset over the idea that Aqua has been spying on him. And even though Terra snaps at Ven, Ven blames Aqua for his state. And for the Master ‘ordering’ her to retrieve him. He accuses her of letting her new status as a Master going to her head, and restates his intent to find Terra.
Instead of Terra though he finds a young boy under attack from Unversed, and upon returning him to his guardian, gets a clue to where Terra went. He finds the older boy again, pleading to go with him. Terra refuses, but assures Ventus that when he needs him, he knows Ven will be there. He runs back to tell Aqua after Terra leaves, asking if he can go with HER. She demands he go home instead. The denial breaks his heart, and he goes off to think, playing with the toy sword Terra gave him and remembering how things were before they left home. It’s while he’s stewing that he is approached by two other teenagers: Lea and Isa. Lea taunts him a little, challenging him to a fight with the toy sword. Ven… pretty much wreaks him. But the fight and the two lively teenagers reignite his drive. He watches them interact, and questions his own friendship with Terra and Aqua- and gives himself a new goal. Instead of just chasing after the older two he would travel for himself and meet new people.
This ends up leading him to Disney Town, where right away he runs into Pe- erm… Captain Justice, who badgers him right out the gate and offers his ‘assistance’ while babbling about ‘voting’. He’s told about the Dream Festival, a celebration of togetherness and helping each other. At the end of the day the people vote for the one who best represents that ideal, and they win a prize. While talking to Captain Justice, he over hears some folks nearby having some troubles: Huey Dewey, Louie and Minnie are having issues running their ice cream machine. Ven offers to help… after CJ almost ruins the poor thing. Turns out reading the manual actually solves most of your problems, and he manages to make some pretty awesome ice cream towers before spending the rest of the day trying out all the attractions. At the end of the day the award is given out- and the winners are himself, Terra, and Aqua for various good deeds each had done. Pete has a fit and is escorted away (and ends up meeting the plot of KH1 I mean-) and Ven gets his prize- a special ice cream flavor! Sadly his two friends aren’t there to get their rewards at that point.
From there he heads to the Olympus Coliseum, where he meets Phil, Hercules and the ever eager Zack. Zack is trying to convince Phil to train him to become a hero, but Phil insists he only trains one person at a time. So to decide he says he will watch both in the upcoming Games, and decide from there. Herc is disheartened by this, but Ven offers to help him train for the event. This goes well, and during the match Ven can’t help seeing Aqua and Terra in the two eager heroes. But before the match can finish Unversed attack the town. Ven rushes to help- but the numbers are overwhelming. To his surprise Herc shows up, throwing the match to assist. They fight them off, and Zach catches up. They both dropped the fight to help, though Herc was faster. Phil tells Herc that winning wasn’t the point, and that he was still going to train him. Ven guesses that he was never going to drop him as a pupil in the first place: the kid just needed a fire under his butt. Along with this, Ven’s doubt of his friends starts to fade, as he sees how other friends interact- he has faith they will patch things up eventually.
Back in the Lanes, he’s nearly accosted by a giant Unversed. He chases after it, fighting it with his Glider, before spotting it boarding a space ship. He boards the ship with the intent to fight it- only to be stopped by security. But once the alarms go off from the Unversed he is left alone, only to run into Stitch, Experiment 626. Stitch recognizes him due to Terra and Aqua, much to Ven’s surprise. Stitch shows him his own Wayfinder. Ven runs off to fight the Unversed, joined by Stitch. The two destroy it, saving the engine and escaping out into space. But a malfunction with Stitch’s ship sends the little alien into hyperspace, and Ven flying off in a random direction.
He wakes up from the crash… about to be kicked in the face. Surrounding him are Tinkerbell and two Lost Boys. They don’t talk for long, as the three are after a shooting star, something Ven is eager to go see too. On the way they run into Peter Pan, who is rather dismissive as usual, and more interested in going to get a treasure chest from Hook. Tink is not too pleased by this and going back after the star, with Ven following. At the Indian Camp they discover that the shooting star was infact Mickey’s Star Shard, only for it and Tink to both end up in Hook’s hands. Ven finds Peter to tell him what happened, and the two go after Hook’s ship, with Peter going after the canons and Ven after the pirate himself. Ven wins the day, and Peter and the Lost Boys bring back the chest- empty. So instead of gold they put in their personal treasure. Ven ends up placing Terra's old toy keyblade. He also gets back ahold of Micky’s Star Shard- which of course sends him careening to another world. Again.
The poor ever lost Ventus ends up at the Mysterious Tower, where Donald and Goofy are moping over the missing Mickey. Once they see Ven has the King’s borrowed Star Shard they manhandle him inside to meet Yen Sid. The wizard is told by Ven all about how he met Mickey and got ahold of the Star Shard. Now that Mickey is staying in one place Yen Sid can find him… and the King is back in the Keyblade Graveyard, and in some kind of trouble. Recognizing the location, Ventus goes out to save him. He finds his friends in a bad state. But that’s not all he finds: Xehanort is also there. Seeing the Master in this place causes the memories he had repressed to start to surface, making him hit his knees in pain. Xehanort revels his plan: to use the clash between Ven and Vanitas to forge the x-blade. He also reveals that Eraqus knew, and feared him. The risk his existence posed, and that this was the reason he was never allowed to leave, and why he was so desperate for him to return. Xehanort sends him back to the Land of Departure to ask Eraqus himself the truth.
Once there he does confront his Master, and Eraqus confirms this with a heavy heart- he knew, and now that Ventus knows and the risk of the blade being forged is so high he has no choice- the boy must be destroyed for the better good. Ven is too shocked to retaliate, but is saved by Terra arriving just in time. Eraqus demands he step aside, but Terra refuses, instead sending Ventus to the Destiny Islands, even while Ventus pleads with his friend to let him be destroyed.
On the island, Vanitas is waiting for him, and demands he join with him to make the fabled x-blade. Ventus refuses, even as he fully remembers how Vanitas came to be. He will not take part in this scheme, destiny or not. But his dark half taunts him, and threatens to kill his friends if he doesn’t fight him in the Keyblade Graveyard, vanishing and leaving Ven behind to decide. Unable to abandon his friends, Ven chases after.
There he finds Terra and Aqua, and tells them about the x-blade… and makes a brokenhearted request. That if things so badly, they destroy him before the x-blade can be set loose on the world. The two offer comfort that they can take care of him, but he insists, to their surprise. It’s at this point Xehanort arrives and the battle starts. And it… doesn’t go well. Ven is grabbed by Xehanort and frozen solid, tossed aside to watch his friends lose around him. Kingdom Hearts starts to appear, and Aqua is attacked by Briag, one of the Master’s minions. She wins, but the distraction is enough for Vanitas to sneak attack her. He poises to strike her heart- which is enough for Ventus to fight his way free. The two fight, Ventus finally winning on his own… which is sadly just what Vanitas wants. With his body destroyed he can now rejoin with Ventus, and once he does so he possesses his other half, the x-blade forming in a burst of light.
The Vanitas possessed Ven attacks Aqua, but she is not so easily defeated, damaging the blade. Meanwhile Ventus struggles against Vanitas’ will inside their heart, challenging him once again. He wins, destroying him and the blade- but since the blade is made up of his heart as well, the act is suicide. But it’s something he is willing to do if it means saving the others and stopping the Keyblade War from reoccurring. As Vanitas fades away, so too does Ventus… his body in the ‘real’ world going limp as death.
He should be dead, or at least broken for good. But back on the Islands, the little boy who first saved him, Sora, can feel his pain and sadness. Calling out to him, Ventus finds his way to the boy’s heart and asks for refuge. The kindhearted Sora agrees, and Ventus’ heart settles to rest inside him, waiting to heal from the horrific damage done to it while his body peacefully sleeps.
PERSONALITY:
Ventus is someone caught in the painful place between an eager innocent child, and a self-sacrificing, responsible young adult. Due to fact that he has forgotten much of his life and what he does recall was very sheltered, Ven could be considered naive. He certainly doesn't understand a lot of how the world(s) work when he first leaves home. But as he meets others, struggles, and grows, his innate personality begins to form.
Even from the start though, Ven is cheerful and eager to please. His life with Eraqus and the others, while contained, is happy and secure. One can see just from his room alone that he is a curious person, the room full of books and trinkets from other worlds, and when a shooting star is seen in the skies above the Land of Departure he is excited to go see it. He asks questions, and is childishly eager to see and explore things around him. He mentions that he has asked Eraqus to take him to other worlds- though he is denied. He is energetic and bouncy, easily shown in his fighting style and mannerisms. Even when deep in thought he is always moving. Spinning something, tapping his foot, moving around. He wants to keep up with his fellow apprentices like a little brother, and his heart is obvious on his sleeve. If he’s upset he cries openly, if he’s happy he lights up a room. It’s just not in him to be subversive or too reserved.
But he is not completely content with his life. Being younger and less experienced then his fellows occasionally leaves him frustrated, and being treated like a child gets his ire up. Ironically, while he dislikes being thought of as young, he tends to, at first, react rather childishly to it. Pouting, whining and sulking until comforted by the others. Still, he can’t seem to keep a downward attitude for long, usually bouncing right back with a grin. Still, when his simple existance is threatened he reacts as a young person would. Simple vague taunts from Vanitas are enough for him to go rushing off after Terra with no care for the consequences, after all.
But time and his travels break apart this simple view of the world quickly. The first thing to suffer is his idealized view of Terra. As he travels he ends up seeing a lot of the aftermath of Terra’s misadventures, and stubbornly refuses to accept them. His stubbornness boarders on denial when it comes to his friend. Though even this doesn’t stop him from at once working to fix these mistakes. Ven is at heart an honest *good* person. In every world he volunteers himself over and over to save and help people he just met. He comforts a terrified Snow White, helps make Cinderella’s dress at the risk of his own safety, and rushes to save Mickey even if means going back to the ever dangerous Keyblade Graveyard. Seeing anyone in distress drives him to help no matter what. But still, doubt chews at him, occasionally making him snap at those around him. Especially Aqua. Even to the point of calling her awful when it’s discovered that she was keeping tabs on him and Terra both. The idea that his dear friends might be flawed is foreign to him at this point, and it affects him deeply. To the point that he spends a good hunk of his adventure no longer chasing either, and instead traveling for himself to make friends- and through this learns more about the concept and himself. His feelings for them are only strengthened through these trials and doubts, and by the time he battles Vanitas for the last time his dedication is boundless. He would literally die for those around him. His will is a true force, allowing him to break through Xehanort’s ice spell and defeat Vanitas even when he knows it could destroy him.
It’s not only his ideas on friendship that grow on his adventure though. Without his makeshift family there to protect and coddle him Ventus begins to shed his innocent nature. He gets angry, bitter, depressed and sarcastic in turns, but always reverts back to his friendly loving self. He banters with Lea, and sasses Zack. He tries to keep Stitch from getting hurt just the same way Terra and Aqua once did for him. He gets cocky at Vanitas first apparent ‘defeat’ and occasionally even taunts his foes. He’s not the clueless sunshine child his would-be family kept him as for so long. And while he doesn’t discard all his childishness he matures quite a bit. It all comes to a head when he quietly rejects Terra and Aqua’s comfort and assurances that they would take care of him at the Keyblade Graveyard. He believes in their strength, but he no longer can use them as a crutch. His choices and consequences are his own, and instead of assuming they would fix everything, he accepts that he might have to lose everything to do what’s right. On his own. Now HE will protect THEM.
CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS:
Terra and Aqua: The most important people in Ventus’ life, considering he has no memory of any other family. They are his friends, siblings and parents all rolled into one. He idolizes them both (especially Terra) and works hard to be like them, even to the point of them all sharing the same dream: to become Keyblade Masters. His devotion wavered a bit when Terra caused many problems among the worlds and Aqua was charged with bringing him back, but in the end his love for them came out only stronger.
Eraqus: The man that took him in when he had nothing else, Ventus looks to Eraqus like he’s a father. When he realizes that the man kept him a prisoner In the Land of Departure he lashes out, but even then he is shocked and horrified when his father-figure moves to destroy him. The fact that he accepted that he had to be destroyed for the better good shows how much he trusted in his judgment, even if it was against him.
Mickey: One the first and closest friends Ven made off world, King Mickey came to his rescue against Vanitas and they bonded over being they types to not listen well to their elders. When he discovered Mickey was in danger in the same place where the mouse had saved him, Ventus didn’t hesitate for a moment to go after him. Mickey gave him a powerful lesson in being a hero.
Vanitas: Vanitas in custom built to dig at every one of Ven’s nerves. From the first time he appeared to the last every interaction was antagonistic. Vanitas’ taunting attitude gets Ven angrier faster than anyone else. Still, Vanitas is in a way, part of him. They are deeply connected no matter how much Ven hates it.
Xehanort: Ven doesn’t remember much of his interactions with his former Master before his memory loss, but what little he does is terrifying. Any emotional connection he might have had is gone, leaving only fear and hate for the person that hurt him and Aqua, and stole Terra.
The Princesses of Light: Most of the princesses he only met in passing, but each one was a valuable lesson. Snow White in trust and faith, Cinderella in the power of dreams, Aurora in doing what’s right… each one changed him in a small but important way.
Lea and Isa: Ven didn’t knew the two teens for very long, but they were the first real example for Ven how normal teenage friendships could be. Fighting Lea knocked Ven out of some of his depression, and he will always be grateful for that.
Zack and Herc: Like Isa and Lea, these two befriended Ven easily. But not only that, they also showed him the importance of heroism… and sacrificing what you want to help others.
Experiment 626: He didn’t have much time to get to know Stitch, but right away he moves to keep the little creature safe. In a way him protecting Stitch is similar to how Terra and Aqua protected him. The belief that Stitch is more then what he was created to be is also a grim echo of Ven’s own story.
STRENGTH OF HEART MOMENT SUMMARY:
Ventus' battle against Vanitas in his heart, and choosing to destroy the x-blade, and in theory himself.
Ven has plenty of moments in the game that could work as his Strength of Heart moment, but his final action is the end result of everything he's gone through.
As Aqua fights Ventus/Vanitas in the real world the x-blade is damaged- while within their heart Vanitas demands a fuller joining to power up and mend the x-blade. Instead of submit Ventus not only refuses, but states he will destroy Vanitas and the blade both: something that his darker half tells him will destroy them both. Ventus ignores his taunts, claiming that as long as it saves Aqua and Terra he is willing to destroy himself in their place. He wins out, and fades away into the darkness- to later find his way to a young Sora.
The reasons this fits for his Strength of Heart are pretty clear. Pure self-sacrifice is a pretty big deal. And even beyond saving his two best friends (though that is surely the strongest motive to his actions) he knows the x-blade can NOT be allowed out into the worlds. He's met and befriended so many people, seen so many wonders... he can't allow Xehanort to destroy them, even if it means he'll never have them again either.
POWERS
SAMPLE - THE AWAKENING:
He wakes up to darkness.
It’s a deeply familiar feeling, and Ventus takes to the feel of glass forming under his feet like an old friend coming home. The image, thankfully, is once again lacking the reds and blacks of Vanitas on it… but Ven’s relief is tempered by the sounds of cracking and crinkling under his shoes. Lifting one foot up he can see shards of green and yellow glass digging into the soles, and resists the urge to look back. The risk of seeing black foot prints in the stained glass like an inverted stroll in virgin snow was too scary to confirm or deny. Instead he did what he always ended up doing: pressing forward.
It didn’t take long to reach the center, and like so long ago a voice greeted him warmly.
’There isn’t much time. Are you ready?’
“Who’s there?” The voice is familiar, but also isn’t the warm young echo his heart is already used to. It isn’t the heart whose name he doesn’t know- but it’s similar enough that he feels at ease. Confused, but at ease.
Instead of an answer there is a soft rumbling. But even the slight vibration sends the stained glass tinkling and crackling violently. Ventus yells, bracing his feet apart to avoid falling to his knees, wincing as if the mini quake was shaking *him* apart instead of just the platform.
’Your power fades, but it’s not too late’
He slowly re-opens his eyes, seeing three platforms spread out on the glass floor.
’If you give it form, then anything is in your grasp. Choose.’
“Choose...?” He mutters to himself, confused. He’s supposed to take one of these items then? Well, if this is a dream then it can’t hurt. But if it isn’t… Well, what choice did he have? Ven makes his way to the closest podium, eyes wide when he sees what rests there. It’s his pauldron, as shiny and new as the day Master Eraqus clasped in around his shoulder. The memory alone is enough to make him smile sadly. Master Eraqus had been like a father to him- the only one he really knew. And even though the man had attempted to kill him, he understands why. And that in turn makes him think of Terra swooping in to save him against his will.
If Terra hadn’t shown up, so much might have changed. Ven isn’t sure which would have been better.
Touching the warm metal, the voice returns.
’The power to defend those precious to you, the strength of sacrifice. Is this the power you seek?’
Terra had defended him. But Master Eraqus had been defending something too, in his way. And then there was the image of Aqua, unconscious on the ground, Vanitas’ blade poised over her heart.
“Yeah, I think so.”
Investigating the other two first doesn’t even occur to him- this choice is easy for him. If it can save his friends, stop evils like Vanitas and Xehanort, there is nothing he’s not willing to do. He had already proven that.
The armor vanishes, and Ven grins to himself. He can’t help but feel he made the right choice in whatever test this was. Well, assuming this all wasn’t some weird fever dream, anyways.
’You have chosen the path of the Guardian.
But for every victory there is a sacrifice. Choose.’
“Again?” He sighs, rubbing the back of his head. If this was supposed to mean something, he sure doesn’t get it. But with a shrug he makes his way to the next podium, and is even more shocked to see what it holds, running up to it and picking the tiny item up in a near panic.
It was his Wayfinder.
Had he dropped it?! There’s no way he could have, but here it is- and Ventus holds it against his heart in relief.
’Strength of will, the power to create a miracle. Is this what you sacrifice?’
He panics for a moment, shaking his head franticly. This was more than a gift from Aqua, after all. This was his connection to all the friends he’d made in his travels. Their power flowed through him every time he fought and with every one of their spells he cast. They were his strength and his hope. Glancing at the final podium, he tries to approach it- but like a lead training weight the tiny glass charm holds him back.
“H-hey! No, you can’t have it!” He snarls at the dark, tugging and tugging at the invisible force like a dog tied to a tree. But nothing works, his feet only digging deeper gouges in the breaking glass. He panics for a few moments, finally relenting and carefully placing the charm back. After all, it wasn’t like his friendships would vanish without it- just like he had told 626 before.
“Maybe…” He whispers, heart aching. The charm was his proof of the happy life he and the others had led before everything went so wrong. Before he had the poison pomegranate of knowledge- before *doubt*. He ignores the tears welling in his eyes as he turns back to the third podium; constantly glancing back to make sure the second hasn’t vanished.
But the third item erases any worry over his Wayfinder. He draws in shocked, hissing breath at the sight of it: the X-Blade. The accursed weapon is battered, just like it was when he last ‘saw’ it, but still drips with dark power. He doesn’t want to touch the damned thing, but something draws him forward, his fingers brushing the strange hilt.
’Strength of the Warrior. Ambition, drive. A power to shape the world. Is this your choice?’
He pulls his fingers back like they had been burned, glaring at the weapon.
But… still. There was an allure to it. He could feel the echo of power in his fingertips. Terra had power, after all. But so had Xehanort, so had *Vanitas*. He had been the weakest of his three friends, but that was fine. He has no desire to impose his will on anyone.
“Take it.”
’You have chosen the Shield. You have discarded the Sword. Your Path lays before you… now, open the door.’
He opens his mouth to reply- only for the ruined platform to finally give up the ghost in a burst of sparkling green light. Ventus howls in shock, falling deeper into the strange darkness.
SPECIAL ABILITIES:
Ventus chose to become a Paladin, choosing the Shield and discarding the Sword.
Considering he already had the lowest attack and highest Defense of his fellow Apprentices, with decent Magic, his natural abilities are not heavily affected: he has taken a slight drop in attack power though.
Keyblade: Ventus has the ability to summon and use a Keyblade, something he will retain in Saudade due to having Magic as his secondary. As such it can do pretty much everything your basic keyblade can. On top of that, Ventus' keyblade can transform into a glider that can be used to travel long distances (between worlds in fact, if there's a portal) though it's up to the mods if this transformation is still available.
Keyblade Armor: Ven will also be keeping his armor, due to picking the Shield as his Primary. It functions pretty much exactly as the armor given to other shield Drifters
Spells: Ventus will know all base spells except for Advanced. Due to already having experience with most of these he will have very little problem casting them. The exceptions being Astra, Obscuro, Geo and Water, which he will have to get used to and learn just like everyone else (though Astra will probably come easiest, with Obscuro being the hardest)
Ventus will be losing access to his Shotlocks and Command Forms due to not focusing on Magic/discarding Sword.
D-Link: Thanks to the magic Aqua infused his Wayfinder with, when Ventus forms a connection with someone he can access echoes of their powers. Due to the unique nature of this ability I will leave it to mod discretion if they are still useable, if he could form new ones, or if he would be limited to the basic level of the ability.
While not a power exactly, it is worth noting due to the setting: Ventus' heart has NO darkness within it.
Because of this he could in theory re-forge the subpar x-Blade he did before. But since he'd need 1) Vanitas and 2) to be at the Keyblade Graveyard, this is very very unlikely. Not to mention with the damage his heart has already endured if it happened again his heart would almost surely be completely destroyed.
Outside 'special' abilities, Ventus is best known for his *speed*. He makes up for lack in pure offensive power ( something both his comrades had over him, physically or magically) by being hard to hit and GETTING more hits per second then either. Ventus is definitely a death of a thousand cuts while wearing you down with his ability to dodge.
INVENTORY:
-The clothing on his back, including his Keyblade Armor pieces
-His Wayfinder charm
-Various keychains: All the ones automatically gained in the storyline, excluding those won in extra battles such as the Ultima Blade or Crown Unlimit. The only exception being the Sweetstack, 'cuz we know he ate buttloads of ice-cream.
-Various potions and Ethers
-A couple hundred munny: basically pocket change
-A lifetime pass for Disney Town
NOTES/ASPIRATIONS
Saudade seems like a great setting for slide Ven right into, and not just because it's based off his canon. The battle between light and dark is very personal to him, after all. Considering the fact that he should be comatose at BEST, him having a chance to help others and continue experiencing various people and worlds will be a nice vacation from his sad canon fate. Not only that, with canonmates already in the game it'll be interesting to see him interacting with people connected to him but also unaware of his very existencetime to keep a 'Is that you, Roxas?' tally.
He will definitely be eager to help out Penrose and try to find his friends who just HAVE to be out there in the Dark somewhere... right?
I would also be interested in seeing how his nature as a person with only Light in his heart (and the battered state of said heart) will affect his interactions with people in Saudade.
NAME: Jess
CHARACTER
NAME(S): Ventus
AGE: Undetermined. Likely around 15 at the time he 'fell asleep'
CANON: Kingdom Hearts
BACKGROUND HISTORY:
Fan wikia
Ventus' existence before coming to the Land of Departure is almost completely unknown. The earliest moment we see of him is at the Keyblade Graveyard, surrounded by Neo Shadows, wielding his keyblade, and refusing to fight at Master Xehanort's command. He pleads with his Master, panic evident, claiming he isn't strong enough to defeat the monsters. He's ignored, Xehanort stating that if he let the Darkness in him out he could fight them easily. Ventus refuses, nearly killed by the Heartless and Xehanort stating that the boy would rather die than let the Darkness free. Frustrated, the Master uses his keyblade to tear the darkness from his heart, forming it into a completely separate being: Vanitas. The separation was devastating for Ventus- his heart shattered and slowly falling apart, his will fading away.
Xehanort, maybe feeling a little ironic, decides to take Ventus' lifeless body to the Destiny Islands to live out the rest of his days. And those days would surely be short. But once he's there a small warm voice calls out to him. Though he doesn't know it this is a newborn Sora. His naturally kid heart reaching out to help someone in pain. The young heart shores up his shattered edges, stopping the loss and giving Ven a chance to heal. Stirred by this action Ventus' still mostly lifeless body raises its hand, summoning his Keyblade and firing a beam of light into the sky. Seeing this, Xehanort suspects there might be some use to him after all, and instead takes him to the Land of Departure.
It’s there that Xehanort drops Ventus off to be cared for by Eraqus and his apprentices Terra and Aqua. Assumingly with the idea that he would be trained and prepped for the day he would sic Vanitas on him- their conflict forming the x-Blade. Terra, like the eager teenager he was, starts questioning Ven. This causes him to cry out in pain and pass out. Apparently the trauma of tearing the Darkness out of him had ruined his memory- he recalled nothing at all, and even trying to hurt him deeply. He was out for a good while, looked over by Aqua until he recovered. From that point on he was taken in by Eraqus, trained alongside the others, and adopted into a makeshift family.
If things had stayed that way he could have been happy forever. But it wasn’t to be.
Years passed, and the time came for Terra and Aqua to take their Mark of Mastery exams. The night before, after having trouble sleeping, Ven saw a shooting star from out his window. He runs out to go see it, eventually dozing off while watching the sky- having a little déjà vu of that night on Destiny Isles. He’s eventually woken up by an amused Aqua. They are eventually joined by Terra, and the three talk into the night, eventually sparing in preparation for the upcoming test. In celebration of the test, Aqua gives him and Terra charms shaped like stars- said to be based on a good luck charm based on a fruit. The charm is infused with magic… an unbreakable connection. Eventually they all head in for the night, in preparation for the long day ahead.
It would be the last night they all spent under the same stars.
The next day Ventus went to Terra and Aqua’s exam, seeing Xehanort there, though due to his memory loss he has no idea who he is. During the exam Xehanort uses darkness to influence the orbs of light the two were supposed to fight, making them act erratically, even attacking Ventus on the sidelines. He fights them off, refusing to leave and miss out on seeing them become Masters. Between the three of them they are able to take them all out, but during the spar between him and Aqua, Terra lets the Darkness in him out just a tiny bit. The small slip up if enough for him to fail the exam, only Aqua gaining her Mark. Both move to comfort Terra, but it’s obvious the loss affected him deeply.
Later on, while lying in his room and pondering what happened, the alarm bells go off, shocking him into action. But before he can go see what’s happening he realizes there’s a stranger in his room. A boy in a masked helmet. The boy taunts him, stating that he was going to be left behind and that Terra was going to change. Refusing to believe this, Ventus charges out after Terra… only to find his friend getting ready to leave. Terra dismisses his attempts to warn him, leaving on his Glider. Ven, determined to find out what’s going on with his friend, chases after on his own glider, but loses track of him in the Lanes.
The first place he ends up in the Dwarf Woodlands, and its here he first sees the 7 dwarves making their way to their mines. Fascinated, Ven follows them. When questioned on who he is, he eagerly introduces himself- only to have the dwarves scatter in fear that he’s a thief. He is forced to hunt them all down one by one before they will talk to him, but even then they don’t trust him. They say they haven’t seen Terra, but do point him towards the castle. With his new lead, Ven heads out. On his way he hears a scream, and running to investigate he find Snow White, terrified and alone in the woods. He comforts her, and offers to lead her to the dwarves house for the night. Along the way he fights off Unversed and killer trees to keep her safe, eventually making it through the woods with her mostly intact. He goes to check and make sure the surrounding area is safe, only to come back to the dwarves being home and pretty po’d at him. But Snow defends him, and tells how she was scared into the woods by a stranger- Terra. He rushes to go find him... but he’s already long gone. Instead he finds an old woman, and returns a dropped apple to her. She claims to have seen a sword like his before, and that Terra had menaced her. Ventus is shocked to hear this, and wonders what Terra could have gotten himself into before leaving to search for him on another world.
Its then he comes to the Castle of Dreams… only to wake up shrunk to the size of a mouse and stuck in a trap. Cinderella finds and releases him, introducing him to Jaq the mouse. Jaq gives him a crash course in Cinderella’s unfortunate situation, and asks for his help in fixing up her dress for the ball. The last item they need, a pearl, is unfortunately right next to Lucifer: the houses’ cat. The cat spots him and just as it’s about to attack, Jaq comes to his rescue. But his heroism put the mouse in danger too, and Ven rushes back to save him, taking the cat on. The two rush back, getting the dress done just in time. The two friends look out over the castle, and talk about dreams before Ven continues his search for Terra.
In the Enchanted Dominion, Ven wanders about, looking for Terra, only to stumble on a sleeping Aurora. He’s fascinated by her beauty. He is confronted by the three fairies, who assume he is out to do her harm. But after introductions they come to trust him, and explain that Aurora’s heart has been stolen. Without missing a beat he offers to go get it back, and his eagerness gives the fairies their hope back. The four of them storm Maleficent’s lair, going through traps and mazes to reach the heart. Using his Keyblade Ven is able to release it, ending Aurora’s unnatural sleep. But as they flee they are confronted by Maleficent, who tells him about how Terra stole Aurora’s heart. Ven denies this, and a battle against the dark fairy ensues. She continues to taunt him with Terra’s action, and he starts to doubt- only for Aqua to show up just in time and assure him it’s not true. She tries to convince Ventus to return home with her. But he isn’t ready to stop his hunt for Terra. He has to find him before he leaves him behind forever.
As he makes his way back through the Lane he spots the Masked Boy, and decides to follow him. This leads him to the Keyblade Graveyard, though he doesn’t recognize the place. The Masked Boy is there, waiting for him. Ventus demands to know the meaning behind his cryptic warning/threat about Terra, and the Boy manifests a Keyblade. The two fight… and Ven is completely wreaked. The Boy states it’d be going against his Master’s orders, but moves to finish Ventus off regardless- only for him to be save by Mickey. The King comes to his aid and the two of them manage to fight the Boy off. For now. Ven and Mickey make introductions, and find common ground in their tendencies for running away like dummies. Mickey shows his Star Shard to Ven- which goes off, tossing them both to who knows where
Where, it turns out, is in the orbit of Radiant Garden. Ven lands, and spots Mickey. Trying to follow him he is blocked by guards, and as he turns to try elsewhere he sees a giant Unversed Of course he goes chasing after it, and finds it menacing a duck (god that sounds weird outta context). He chases it off, but before he can continue the hunt, the duck- Scrooge McDuck in fact, pulls him aside to attempt to reward him. Ven tries desperately to get away WITHOUT being rude and eventually Scrooge gives him three passes to Disney Town and says he should take
Instead of Terra though he finds a young boy under attack from Unversed, and upon returning him to his guardian, gets a clue to where Terra went. He finds the older boy again, pleading to go with him. Terra refuses, but assures Ventus that when he needs him, he knows Ven will be there. He runs back to tell Aqua after Terra leaves, asking if he can go with HER. She demands he go home instead. The denial breaks his heart, and he goes off to think, playing with the toy sword Terra gave him and remembering how things were before they left home. It’s while he’s stewing that he is approached by two other teenagers: Lea and Isa. Lea taunts him a little, challenging him to a fight with the toy sword. Ven… pretty much wreaks him. But the fight and the two lively teenagers reignite his drive. He watches them interact, and questions his own friendship with Terra and Aqua- and gives himself a new goal. Instead of just chasing after the older two he would travel for himself and meet new people.
This ends up leading him to Disney Town, where right away he runs into Pe- erm… Captain Justice, who badgers him right out the gate and offers his ‘assistance’ while babbling about ‘voting’. He’s told about the Dream Festival, a celebration of togetherness and helping each other. At the end of the day the people vote for the one who best represents that ideal, and they win a prize. While talking to Captain Justice, he over hears some folks nearby having some troubles: Huey Dewey, Louie and Minnie are having issues running their ice cream machine. Ven offers to help… after CJ almost ruins the poor thing. Turns out reading the manual actually solves most of your problems, and he manages to make some pretty awesome ice cream towers before spending the rest of the day trying out all the attractions. At the end of the day the award is given out- and the winners are himself, Terra, and Aqua for various good deeds each had done. Pete has a fit and is escorted away (and ends up meeting the plot of KH1 I mean-) and Ven gets his prize- a special ice cream flavor! Sadly his two friends aren’t there to get their rewards at that point.
From there he heads to the Olympus Coliseum, where he meets Phil, Hercules and the ever eager Zack. Zack is trying to convince Phil to train him to become a hero, but Phil insists he only trains one person at a time. So to decide he says he will watch both in the upcoming Games, and decide from there. Herc is disheartened by this, but Ven offers to help him train for the event. This goes well, and during the match Ven can’t help seeing Aqua and Terra in the two eager heroes. But before the match can finish Unversed attack the town. Ven rushes to help- but the numbers are overwhelming. To his surprise Herc shows up, throwing the match to assist. They fight them off, and Zach catches up. They both dropped the fight to help, though Herc was faster. Phil tells Herc that winning wasn’t the point, and that he was still going to train him. Ven guesses that he was never going to drop him as a pupil in the first place: the kid just needed a fire under his butt. Along with this, Ven’s doubt of his friends starts to fade, as he sees how other friends interact- he has faith they will patch things up eventually.
Back in the Lanes, he’s nearly accosted by a giant Unversed. He chases after it, fighting it with his Glider, before spotting it boarding a space ship. He boards the ship with the intent to fight it- only to be stopped by security. But once the alarms go off from the Unversed he is left alone, only to run into Stitch, Experiment 626. Stitch recognizes him due to Terra and Aqua, much to Ven’s surprise. Stitch shows him his own Wayfinder. Ven runs off to fight the Unversed, joined by Stitch. The two destroy it, saving the engine and escaping out into space. But a malfunction with Stitch’s ship sends the little alien into hyperspace, and Ven flying off in a random direction.
He wakes up from the crash… about to be kicked in the face. Surrounding him are Tinkerbell and two Lost Boys. They don’t talk for long, as the three are after a shooting star, something Ven is eager to go see too. On the way they run into Peter Pan, who is rather dismissive as usual, and more interested in going to get a treasure chest from Hook. Tink is not too pleased by this and going back after the star, with Ven following. At the Indian Camp they discover that the shooting star was infact Mickey’s Star Shard, only for it and Tink to both end up in Hook’s hands. Ven finds Peter to tell him what happened, and the two go after Hook’s ship, with Peter going after the canons and Ven after the pirate himself. Ven wins the day, and Peter and the Lost Boys bring back the chest- empty. So instead of gold they put in their personal treasure. Ven ends up placing Terra's old toy keyblade. He also gets back ahold of Micky’s Star Shard- which of course sends him careening to another world. Again.
The poor ever lost Ventus ends up at the Mysterious Tower, where Donald and Goofy are moping over the missing Mickey. Once they see Ven has the King’s borrowed Star Shard they manhandle him inside to meet Yen Sid. The wizard is told by Ven all about how he met Mickey and got ahold of the Star Shard. Now that Mickey is staying in one place Yen Sid can find him… and the King is back in the Keyblade Graveyard, and in some kind of trouble. Recognizing the location, Ventus goes out to save him. He finds his friends in a bad state. But that’s not all he finds: Xehanort is also there. Seeing the Master in this place causes the memories he had repressed to start to surface, making him hit his knees in pain. Xehanort revels his plan: to use the clash between Ven and Vanitas to forge the x-blade. He also reveals that Eraqus knew, and feared him. The risk his existence posed, and that this was the reason he was never allowed to leave, and why he was so desperate for him to return. Xehanort sends him back to the Land of Departure to ask Eraqus himself the truth.
Once there he does confront his Master, and Eraqus confirms this with a heavy heart- he knew, and now that Ventus knows and the risk of the blade being forged is so high he has no choice- the boy must be destroyed for the better good. Ven is too shocked to retaliate, but is saved by Terra arriving just in time. Eraqus demands he step aside, but Terra refuses, instead sending Ventus to the Destiny Islands, even while Ventus pleads with his friend to let him be destroyed.
On the island, Vanitas is waiting for him, and demands he join with him to make the fabled x-blade. Ventus refuses, even as he fully remembers how Vanitas came to be. He will not take part in this scheme, destiny or not. But his dark half taunts him, and threatens to kill his friends if he doesn’t fight him in the Keyblade Graveyard, vanishing and leaving Ven behind to decide. Unable to abandon his friends, Ven chases after.
There he finds Terra and Aqua, and tells them about the x-blade… and makes a brokenhearted request. That if things so badly, they destroy him before the x-blade can be set loose on the world. The two offer comfort that they can take care of him, but he insists, to their surprise. It’s at this point Xehanort arrives and the battle starts. And it… doesn’t go well. Ven is grabbed by Xehanort and frozen solid, tossed aside to watch his friends lose around him. Kingdom Hearts starts to appear, and Aqua is attacked by Briag, one of the Master’s minions. She wins, but the distraction is enough for Vanitas to sneak attack her. He poises to strike her heart- which is enough for Ventus to fight his way free. The two fight, Ventus finally winning on his own… which is sadly just what Vanitas wants. With his body destroyed he can now rejoin with Ventus, and once he does so he possesses his other half, the x-blade forming in a burst of light.
The Vanitas possessed Ven attacks Aqua, but she is not so easily defeated, damaging the blade. Meanwhile Ventus struggles against Vanitas’ will inside their heart, challenging him once again. He wins, destroying him and the blade- but since the blade is made up of his heart as well, the act is suicide. But it’s something he is willing to do if it means saving the others and stopping the Keyblade War from reoccurring. As Vanitas fades away, so too does Ventus… his body in the ‘real’ world going limp as death.
He should be dead, or at least broken for good. But back on the Islands, the little boy who first saved him, Sora, can feel his pain and sadness. Calling out to him, Ventus finds his way to the boy’s heart and asks for refuge. The kindhearted Sora agrees, and Ventus’ heart settles to rest inside him, waiting to heal from the horrific damage done to it while his body peacefully sleeps.
PERSONALITY:
Ventus is someone caught in the painful place between an eager innocent child, and a self-sacrificing, responsible young adult. Due to fact that he has forgotten much of his life and what he does recall was very sheltered, Ven could be considered naive. He certainly doesn't understand a lot of how the world(s) work when he first leaves home. But as he meets others, struggles, and grows, his innate personality begins to form.
Even from the start though, Ven is cheerful and eager to please. His life with Eraqus and the others, while contained, is happy and secure. One can see just from his room alone that he is a curious person, the room full of books and trinkets from other worlds, and when a shooting star is seen in the skies above the Land of Departure he is excited to go see it. He asks questions, and is childishly eager to see and explore things around him. He mentions that he has asked Eraqus to take him to other worlds- though he is denied. He is energetic and bouncy, easily shown in his fighting style and mannerisms. Even when deep in thought he is always moving. Spinning something, tapping his foot, moving around. He wants to keep up with his fellow apprentices like a little brother, and his heart is obvious on his sleeve. If he’s upset he cries openly, if he’s happy he lights up a room. It’s just not in him to be subversive or too reserved.
But he is not completely content with his life. Being younger and less experienced then his fellows occasionally leaves him frustrated, and being treated like a child gets his ire up. Ironically, while he dislikes being thought of as young, he tends to, at first, react rather childishly to it. Pouting, whining and sulking until comforted by the others. Still, he can’t seem to keep a downward attitude for long, usually bouncing right back with a grin. Still, when his simple existance is threatened he reacts as a young person would. Simple vague taunts from Vanitas are enough for him to go rushing off after Terra with no care for the consequences, after all.
But time and his travels break apart this simple view of the world quickly. The first thing to suffer is his idealized view of Terra. As he travels he ends up seeing a lot of the aftermath of Terra’s misadventures, and stubbornly refuses to accept them. His stubbornness boarders on denial when it comes to his friend. Though even this doesn’t stop him from at once working to fix these mistakes. Ven is at heart an honest *good* person. In every world he volunteers himself over and over to save and help people he just met. He comforts a terrified Snow White, helps make Cinderella’s dress at the risk of his own safety, and rushes to save Mickey even if means going back to the ever dangerous Keyblade Graveyard. Seeing anyone in distress drives him to help no matter what. But still, doubt chews at him, occasionally making him snap at those around him. Especially Aqua. Even to the point of calling her awful when it’s discovered that she was keeping tabs on him and Terra both. The idea that his dear friends might be flawed is foreign to him at this point, and it affects him deeply. To the point that he spends a good hunk of his adventure no longer chasing either, and instead traveling for himself to make friends- and through this learns more about the concept and himself. His feelings for them are only strengthened through these trials and doubts, and by the time he battles Vanitas for the last time his dedication is boundless. He would literally die for those around him. His will is a true force, allowing him to break through Xehanort’s ice spell and defeat Vanitas even when he knows it could destroy him.
It’s not only his ideas on friendship that grow on his adventure though. Without his makeshift family there to protect and coddle him Ventus begins to shed his innocent nature. He gets angry, bitter, depressed and sarcastic in turns, but always reverts back to his friendly loving self. He banters with Lea, and sasses Zack. He tries to keep Stitch from getting hurt just the same way Terra and Aqua once did for him. He gets cocky at Vanitas first apparent ‘defeat’ and occasionally even taunts his foes. He’s not the clueless sunshine child his would-be family kept him as for so long. And while he doesn’t discard all his childishness he matures quite a bit. It all comes to a head when he quietly rejects Terra and Aqua’s comfort and assurances that they would take care of him at the Keyblade Graveyard. He believes in their strength, but he no longer can use them as a crutch. His choices and consequences are his own, and instead of assuming they would fix everything, he accepts that he might have to lose everything to do what’s right. On his own. Now HE will protect THEM.
CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS:
Terra and Aqua: The most important people in Ventus’ life, considering he has no memory of any other family. They are his friends, siblings and parents all rolled into one. He idolizes them both (especially Terra) and works hard to be like them, even to the point of them all sharing the same dream: to become Keyblade Masters. His devotion wavered a bit when Terra caused many problems among the worlds and Aqua was charged with bringing him back, but in the end his love for them came out only stronger.
Eraqus: The man that took him in when he had nothing else, Ventus looks to Eraqus like he’s a father. When he realizes that the man kept him a prisoner In the Land of Departure he lashes out, but even then he is shocked and horrified when his father-figure moves to destroy him. The fact that he accepted that he had to be destroyed for the better good shows how much he trusted in his judgment, even if it was against him.
Mickey: One the first and closest friends Ven made off world, King Mickey came to his rescue against Vanitas and they bonded over being they types to not listen well to their elders. When he discovered Mickey was in danger in the same place where the mouse had saved him, Ventus didn’t hesitate for a moment to go after him. Mickey gave him a powerful lesson in being a hero.
Vanitas: Vanitas in custom built to dig at every one of Ven’s nerves. From the first time he appeared to the last every interaction was antagonistic. Vanitas’ taunting attitude gets Ven angrier faster than anyone else. Still, Vanitas is in a way, part of him. They are deeply connected no matter how much Ven hates it.
Xehanort: Ven doesn’t remember much of his interactions with his former Master before his memory loss, but what little he does is terrifying. Any emotional connection he might have had is gone, leaving only fear and hate for the person that hurt him and Aqua, and stole Terra.
The Princesses of Light: Most of the princesses he only met in passing, but each one was a valuable lesson. Snow White in trust and faith, Cinderella in the power of dreams, Aurora in doing what’s right… each one changed him in a small but important way.
Lea and Isa: Ven didn’t knew the two teens for very long, but they were the first real example for Ven how normal teenage friendships could be. Fighting Lea knocked Ven out of some of his depression, and he will always be grateful for that.
Zack and Herc: Like Isa and Lea, these two befriended Ven easily. But not only that, they also showed him the importance of heroism… and sacrificing what you want to help others.
Experiment 626: He didn’t have much time to get to know Stitch, but right away he moves to keep the little creature safe. In a way him protecting Stitch is similar to how Terra and Aqua protected him. The belief that Stitch is more then what he was created to be is also a grim echo of Ven’s own story.
STRENGTH OF HEART MOMENT SUMMARY:
Ventus' battle against Vanitas in his heart, and choosing to destroy the x-blade, and in theory himself.
Ven has plenty of moments in the game that could work as his Strength of Heart moment, but his final action is the end result of everything he's gone through.
As Aqua fights Ventus/Vanitas in the real world the x-blade is damaged- while within their heart Vanitas demands a fuller joining to power up and mend the x-blade. Instead of submit Ventus not only refuses, but states he will destroy Vanitas and the blade both: something that his darker half tells him will destroy them both. Ventus ignores his taunts, claiming that as long as it saves Aqua and Terra he is willing to destroy himself in their place. He wins out, and fades away into the darkness- to later find his way to a young Sora.
The reasons this fits for his Strength of Heart are pretty clear. Pure self-sacrifice is a pretty big deal. And even beyond saving his two best friends (though that is surely the strongest motive to his actions) he knows the x-blade can NOT be allowed out into the worlds. He's met and befriended so many people, seen so many wonders... he can't allow Xehanort to destroy them, even if it means he'll never have them again either.
POWERS
SAMPLE - THE AWAKENING:
He wakes up to darkness.
It’s a deeply familiar feeling, and Ventus takes to the feel of glass forming under his feet like an old friend coming home. The image, thankfully, is once again lacking the reds and blacks of Vanitas on it… but Ven’s relief is tempered by the sounds of cracking and crinkling under his shoes. Lifting one foot up he can see shards of green and yellow glass digging into the soles, and resists the urge to look back. The risk of seeing black foot prints in the stained glass like an inverted stroll in virgin snow was too scary to confirm or deny. Instead he did what he always ended up doing: pressing forward.
It didn’t take long to reach the center, and like so long ago a voice greeted him warmly.
’There isn’t much time. Are you ready?’
“Who’s there?” The voice is familiar, but also isn’t the warm young echo his heart is already used to. It isn’t the heart whose name he doesn’t know- but it’s similar enough that he feels at ease. Confused, but at ease.
Instead of an answer there is a soft rumbling. But even the slight vibration sends the stained glass tinkling and crackling violently. Ventus yells, bracing his feet apart to avoid falling to his knees, wincing as if the mini quake was shaking *him* apart instead of just the platform.
’Your power fades, but it’s not too late’
He slowly re-opens his eyes, seeing three platforms spread out on the glass floor.
’If you give it form, then anything is in your grasp. Choose.’
“Choose...?” He mutters to himself, confused. He’s supposed to take one of these items then? Well, if this is a dream then it can’t hurt. But if it isn’t… Well, what choice did he have? Ven makes his way to the closest podium, eyes wide when he sees what rests there. It’s his pauldron, as shiny and new as the day Master Eraqus clasped in around his shoulder. The memory alone is enough to make him smile sadly. Master Eraqus had been like a father to him- the only one he really knew. And even though the man had attempted to kill him, he understands why. And that in turn makes him think of Terra swooping in to save him against his will.
If Terra hadn’t shown up, so much might have changed. Ven isn’t sure which would have been better.
Touching the warm metal, the voice returns.
’The power to defend those precious to you, the strength of sacrifice. Is this the power you seek?’
Terra had defended him. But Master Eraqus had been defending something too, in his way. And then there was the image of Aqua, unconscious on the ground, Vanitas’ blade poised over her heart.
“Yeah, I think so.”
Investigating the other two first doesn’t even occur to him- this choice is easy for him. If it can save his friends, stop evils like Vanitas and Xehanort, there is nothing he’s not willing to do. He had already proven that.
The armor vanishes, and Ven grins to himself. He can’t help but feel he made the right choice in whatever test this was. Well, assuming this all wasn’t some weird fever dream, anyways.
’You have chosen the path of the Guardian.
But for every victory there is a sacrifice. Choose.’
“Again?” He sighs, rubbing the back of his head. If this was supposed to mean something, he sure doesn’t get it. But with a shrug he makes his way to the next podium, and is even more shocked to see what it holds, running up to it and picking the tiny item up in a near panic.
It was his Wayfinder.
Had he dropped it?! There’s no way he could have, but here it is- and Ventus holds it against his heart in relief.
’Strength of will, the power to create a miracle. Is this what you sacrifice?’
He panics for a moment, shaking his head franticly. This was more than a gift from Aqua, after all. This was his connection to all the friends he’d made in his travels. Their power flowed through him every time he fought and with every one of their spells he cast. They were his strength and his hope. Glancing at the final podium, he tries to approach it- but like a lead training weight the tiny glass charm holds him back.
“H-hey! No, you can’t have it!” He snarls at the dark, tugging and tugging at the invisible force like a dog tied to a tree. But nothing works, his feet only digging deeper gouges in the breaking glass. He panics for a few moments, finally relenting and carefully placing the charm back. After all, it wasn’t like his friendships would vanish without it- just like he had told 626 before.
“Maybe…” He whispers, heart aching. The charm was his proof of the happy life he and the others had led before everything went so wrong. Before he had the poison pomegranate of knowledge- before *doubt*. He ignores the tears welling in his eyes as he turns back to the third podium; constantly glancing back to make sure the second hasn’t vanished.
But the third item erases any worry over his Wayfinder. He draws in shocked, hissing breath at the sight of it: the X-Blade. The accursed weapon is battered, just like it was when he last ‘saw’ it, but still drips with dark power. He doesn’t want to touch the damned thing, but something draws him forward, his fingers brushing the strange hilt.
’Strength of the Warrior. Ambition, drive. A power to shape the world. Is this your choice?’
He pulls his fingers back like they had been burned, glaring at the weapon.
But… still. There was an allure to it. He could feel the echo of power in his fingertips. Terra had power, after all. But so had Xehanort, so had *Vanitas*. He had been the weakest of his three friends, but that was fine. He has no desire to impose his will on anyone.
“Take it.”
’You have chosen the Shield. You have discarded the Sword. Your Path lays before you… now, open the door.’
He opens his mouth to reply- only for the ruined platform to finally give up the ghost in a burst of sparkling green light. Ventus howls in shock, falling deeper into the strange darkness.
SPECIAL ABILITIES:
Ventus chose to become a Paladin, choosing the Shield and discarding the Sword.
Considering he already had the lowest attack and highest Defense of his fellow Apprentices, with decent Magic, his natural abilities are not heavily affected: he has taken a slight drop in attack power though.
Keyblade: Ventus has the ability to summon and use a Keyblade, something he will retain in Saudade due to having Magic as his secondary. As such it can do pretty much everything your basic keyblade can. On top of that, Ventus' keyblade can transform into a glider that can be used to travel long distances (between worlds in fact, if there's a portal) though it's up to the mods if this transformation is still available.
Keyblade Armor: Ven will also be keeping his armor, due to picking the Shield as his Primary. It functions pretty much exactly as the armor given to other shield Drifters
Spells: Ventus will know all base spells except for Advanced. Due to already having experience with most of these he will have very little problem casting them. The exceptions being Astra, Obscuro, Geo and Water, which he will have to get used to and learn just like everyone else (though Astra will probably come easiest, with Obscuro being the hardest)
Ventus will be losing access to his Shotlocks and Command Forms due to not focusing on Magic/discarding Sword.
D-Link: Thanks to the magic Aqua infused his Wayfinder with, when Ventus forms a connection with someone he can access echoes of their powers. Due to the unique nature of this ability I will leave it to mod discretion if they are still useable, if he could form new ones, or if he would be limited to the basic level of the ability.
While not a power exactly, it is worth noting due to the setting: Ventus' heart has NO darkness within it.
Because of this he could in theory re-forge the subpar x-Blade he did before. But since he'd need 1) Vanitas and 2) to be at the Keyblade Graveyard, this is very very unlikely. Not to mention with the damage his heart has already endured if it happened again his heart would almost surely be completely destroyed.
Outside 'special' abilities, Ventus is best known for his *speed*. He makes up for lack in pure offensive power ( something both his comrades had over him, physically or magically) by being hard to hit and GETTING more hits per second then either. Ventus is definitely a death of a thousand cuts while wearing you down with his ability to dodge.
INVENTORY:
-The clothing on his back, including his Keyblade Armor pieces
-His Wayfinder charm
-Various keychains: All the ones automatically gained in the storyline, excluding those won in extra battles such as the Ultima Blade or Crown Unlimit. The only exception being the Sweetstack, 'cuz we know he ate buttloads of ice-cream.
-Various potions and Ethers
-A couple hundred munny: basically pocket change
-A lifetime pass for Disney Town
NOTES/ASPIRATIONS
Saudade seems like a great setting for slide Ven right into, and not just because it's based off his canon. The battle between light and dark is very personal to him, after all. Considering the fact that he should be comatose at BEST, him having a chance to help others and continue experiencing various people and worlds will be a nice vacation from his sad canon fate. Not only that, with canonmates already in the game it'll be interesting to see him interacting with people connected to him but also unaware of his very existence
He will definitely be eager to help out Penrose and try to find his friends who just HAVE to be out there in the Dark somewhere... right?
I would also be interested in seeing how his nature as a person with only Light in his heart (and the battered state of said heart) will affect his interactions with people in Saudade.