Definitely not Terra

            “Guys……please….” Alex weezed out only causing the creature on the other side to instantly go into a panic. They were instantly joined by a second Moogle were the unruly noise continued  making comunication complicated.

            “What happened?Kupo!” “what did you do ? Kupo! ” “Who is he!Kupo! ” “ Wait do we know him? Kupo! ” “ Alex you’re suppose to be studying not playing! Kupo! ” “We’ll open a channel , mind your head! Kupo! “ That last part seemed to be directed at the Apprentice himself before the line cut out.

                “Sorry……” The starlight spoke softly after a few minutes of silence the two of them just letting all the chaos drift into the world and dissipate. That’a all it took before there came a large snap and a pop a portal opening up of a light blue and red hue. “that’s our ride……..and really ….mind your head. You’re rather tall for this ride……” Alex tried to joke but it was clear the portal was about her height but would cause little trouble for the male once in.   💌  

The cacophony of worried voices was as sudden as it was jarring, and it took the Apprentice a moment to blink away the confusion, his gaze growing stormy as he kept being questioned. It did soften soon enough as word of a channel was given, and he nodded his gratefulness despite not having been able to explain much. Well, that may be for the better, and the confusion was quickly turning into amusement, even despite the situation. 

“Today is not the day I am defeated by a corridor made for shorter people.” He mused, eyeing the portal carefully before crouching somewhat to carry Alex through it. 

There went part of his dignity. 

             Looking at the large stair case sapphire hues looked about large building wondering just how many rooms could be inside it to even check. What could a place like this even hide within it’s walls?

            “ I guess we’ll have to find out. Make a map …that and know what floors we’ve covered just in case its ….a bit puzzling?” She’d been in a castle that was like that before, nothing was the same and all the corridors looked the same. It was this bleach white that triggered the thought.

            “ Of coarse I've got your back. No problem, I’ll do my best.” Alex could talk game but there was still fear in what was behind the doors before them. It made her feel better at least they had one another for this. Two was far better then one when it came to surprises.  💌  

She had his back and the Apprentice nodded, the gesture small but no less resolute as he pushed the doors leading towards the depths of the Castle that Never Was. Oh, how fate must be laughing right then, as he took the first steps inside. 

“A map would do. It will help us keep things organized in case the castle decides to attempt to make fools of us.” He went on, although there was a certain levity to his tone. 

Then he was watching the pale corridors, his brown gaze surprised at the lack of dust. There should have been much more, and the decay of the outskirts didn’t seem to have touched the floors as much. 

          Even if something was forgotten or asleep.

         Alex’ eyes were finally drawn back to him watching her hand be graced with the kiss. It was an instant reaction of embarrassment, face flushing pink and unable to look him in the eye. She had been doing so well when it came to proper eye contact with him and now this. Though the Starlight had to admit she didn’t hate it.

          ‘Y-yes. Lets.” It didn’t matter about the creatures anymore all Alex could do was look at the hand holding hers as he took the lead at first. Those first steps seemed the saddest to her till she could stand next to him once more.  💌

“Yes.” He replied, golden-brown eyes hiding no pleasure in its affirmation. Without life to sustain it, this world would fall to the Realm of Darkness at some point or another. 

Then he had the chance to behold her reaction to his gesture and the shadow of a smile graced his features as they began approaching the large stairs that connected the great floating castle. 

“I am not entirely certain of the layout, so we will have to find the courtyard before we can begin training.” He told her. “And prior to that, I would wish to make sure we are alone. We may have to check the castle for signs of recent use. Will you help me?”

           “Fall? I feel like I’m still falling……ah. Don’t….Don’t move so much.” The Moogles daughter tried to strike at him but her fists might as well be strike from an infant. All she could do was close her eye to gain what balance she could while he carried her.

            “Healer………I’ll be fine. No worries……gahh……NO! No-Not the Garden……can’t go to the Tower either……not……not safe.” There was a long pause as she cracked an eye to look at the male once more. Alex’ mind might have felt like cotton candy at the moment but she understood he couldn’t go to those places.

            “We’ll…….we’ll go home. My home…….the Moogles.” She spoke fumbling around for her bag and pausing every time her felt sick. Finding her phone the Starlight could only hold it up.

              “Just ….tell them we have a damaged parcel…..they’ll get it.” She went on to explain typing in a few numbers reluctantly before it took to it’s ringing. In only a few minutes a large red nose appeared on the screen.

             “Alex! ALEX! Why are you calling? AH! You’re not Alex! Kupo!”   💌

For better or worse, the Apprentice had found himself with the strength and resistance Darkness tended to bestow upon its users ever since the first days of his existence. He could be punched and damaged, yes, but Alex was not in the state to particularly harm him. 

“My apologies.” He mused, rather amused at the situation, although any smile that could have been found in his voice vanished as Alex refused both the Garden and the Tower. 

It was a shame, he had been willing to attempt to gain entrance to the sanctum of the Lights, but his curiosity would have to wait for an eventual other chance, if he ever wished to pursued that trail of thought further. Contacting the Moogles, however, was an interesting idea, and soon enough the Apprentice found himself looking at a large red sphere... no, nose, as someone very clearly recognized he was certainly not Alex. 

            Contact with the Apprentice always had its repercussions. Making contact with him made her awake mind feel the entanglement as if one had but gave themselves a static shock. In this ‘state’ the Starlight herself felt like she was falling, it reminded her of the rabbit-hole in Wonderland.

             Alex wouldn’t be the only to experience something strange for as she nestled against him, a soft light and warmth radiated from her. She was always far warmer then most but it was as if her skin was luminescent. It was a short lived event as her breath hitched as she stirred awake after a short while.

             Eye’s opening slowly everything was still fuzzy for a moment before his face came back into focus. Panic should have ensued but she could but lay there, so much hurt all over.

             “I…..my head hurts……..what happened….” Reaching out she placed a hand against his face making sure she was indeed back in reality. “ The worlds spinning….. make it stop……please….” 💌

To most, light was warmth and comfort, a beacon of safety and trust amidst that which would harm humanity. The Apprentice was not most, being born of Darkness and pain and he was. Most Light, if pure enough, was at the very least uncomfortable to his senses. And for a moment, as he observed the light coming from Alex’ body, his instincts were to move away. He didn’t, of course, and it was brief enough that he couldn’t truly decipher whether the Light had felt or not wrong against his skin. 

Then Alex woke up, thank the worlds, and the Apprentice found himself arching an eyebrow in brief surprise as her reaction was to touch his face. 

“You fell. I caught you.” He told Alex. “And I am going to carry you to a healer.”

Enough of a warning not to startle her as he moved to pick her up in a bridal carry, being as careful as he could manage to. He had carried enough injured people that memory and muscle memory could do much, unsettling as the thought came close to being. 

           “ Remains? Are you saying that they’ve taken to destroying it? It …..it’s not the most stable looking building but I did not take them for the types to just destroy something without cause…….or reason……” Alex spoke wondering before realizing she was speaking about beings of seeping and inevitable spreading darkness. They knew nothing else but destruction.

           Turing sapphire hues up to the other she blinked long lashes,” ….i’m ….disturbed but I did not take your offer to back down now. I have faith that I’m safe and in proper hands…..” Hands, now she realized that she was squeezing his with all her thought. No wonder he took to teasing her.

              Alex could only quietly pout. She wanted to be stronger but she was still quite soft now wasn’t she.  💌

There was a moment of silence, a beat of doubt, and then the Apprentice replied. 

“To the Darkness, on occasion, destroying that which the Light created is reason enough.” He told her, his voice even yet guarded. “This world has also seen battles, and with no-one willing to care for it it is slowly being eroded. Although that will take years, I imagine.” He went on, rather more softly. 

It was when Alex spoke again that the Apprentice found himself facing the admission that he was considered safe, and even trusted. He had suspected it and then accepted it, but it was no less pleasant a thought for it. So he took Alex’s hands and then moved to press a kiss to her knuckles. 

“Your faith truly is appreciated. Shall we go?”

           “Dusks? Nobodies……they won’t get in our way, will they? Or is that the point?” There was a sharp intake of breath as the starlight seemed to calm herself on the thought. She had to be calm and on guard, it didn’t matter what worlds she faced they were hers to protect after all. Right?

             “So…I take it we’re headed… there?” Her free hand pointed to the large castle in the distance. If she could call it that, it seemed to be part of the surrounding buildings as well.  💌

“I expect they won’t approach us.” The Apprentice repeated, attempting to calm Alex. “Not unless we go looking for a fight, or unless we decide to traverse an infested area.” He went on. “Moreover, I am here as well.” And he could hold his own in a fight. 

When Alex pointed to the Castle, the Apprentice nodded. 

   💌  Was that why the world seemed to spin? What had just happened? Even with his words ringing in her ears she still tried to move her sandbag of a body. Only to feel herself go down on one knee, her stomach was having a fit as well and Alex made sure she wasn’t going to be sick.

       “What…..what happened….” The starlight found it hard to focus on the other as she looked at him,” I….I need to lay down…yes…..” Hands felt the solid ground below before she just fell over.  💌

The Apprentice was fast, but not fast enough to prevent Alex from rushing to the ground. He was able to prevent her from hitting her head for a second time, however, and that would have to do. Moreover, he’d always best dealt with worry by occupying himself, and so he was thankful he had some knowledge of how human bodies worked. 

He’d already crouched next to Alex before she fell, golden eyes fixed on her expression as he decided whether he should offer a hand on her shoulder for comfort or perhaps that would be too much, but now his worries were others. He carefully turned her so that she wasn’t laying face-down, then began checking her pulse and breathing.

“I would appreciate it if you woke up soon.” He mused meanwhile, and some worry did find shelter in his voice. “Otherwise I may need to take you to Radiant Garden, and some people might panic.” 

The Apprentice had heard, of course, about the holiday known as Valentine’s Day. He could remember, if he focused on those times, such a day taking place a few times during his first stay in Radiant Garden. He’d never particularly cared about the date, alwas far more worried about science than about festivities, and so it took until Alex mentioned the day to understand.

And then he smiled back and offered a small bow, accepting the gift. Truth be told, the Apprentice was ambivalent towards chocolates, but the gesture was both noted and appreciated.