"How do you feel?"

He looks at himself in the mirror as he smoothed down the front of his dark maroon shirt. He isn't sure how to answer the question. The person in the mirror doesn't feel like him, but he also doesn't know who 'he' is just yet. His head was still swimming with all the information he had learned.

He had been attacked by something called a heartless, his heart had been shattered and then repaired by the man currently standing behind him. This was another world - there were multiple worlds! It was all a little overwhelming. Seeming to sense his uneasiness, the man behind him placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Do you want to try something else?"

"No, I think- I think I like this." He looked over himself in the mirror again, pulling at the long black gloves he had been given to wear. "It's just.. something's missing?"

"Hmmm..." The man circled him for a moment before a realization struck him. "How about a coat?" Before he could reply, the older smith was digging through a closet and pulled out a cream and maroon coat with some darker accents. He handed it over, and the nervous teen grabbed it and slipped it on. Looking back in the mirror, he gave a small smile. "Yes, that does seem to fit you rather well."

"You think so?"

The smith smiled. "I do, and nothing is stopping you from changing how you dress tomorrow if this doesn't turn out to be a good fit for you."

He did have a point... "Thank you, Mr.Penn"

Wynter Penn, the man who had saved his life, gave him a smile. "You know, more important than what you wear, there is something we need to decide before we head out."

"And what would that be?" He idly pulls at the ribbon tied around his neck. It wasn't uncomfortable or anything, but the action felt almost comforting, like he had done it a million times before.

Wynter watched him carefully before speaking up. "I'm going to need to call you by a name. Others will likely ask you for a name aswell when they meet you."

He pulled almost too hard at the ribbon at the revolution. After wincing and dropping his hand, the teen shakes his head. "I don't- I mean, I can't remember-"

"And that's fine." Wynter said, placing a hand on his shoulder again. "It's okay if you don't remember. But I do need to be able to call you something." Watching the teen nervously mess with the gloves again, he gives a soft smile. "Do you want me to pick something for you? At least until you have time to think of something yourself?"

"....Yes please." His voice was small and soft, as if he suddenly lost inches off of his height and was reduced to a scared child.

"Very well." Wynter patted the top of his head next. "How about....Atlas?"

"Atlas?" The teen questioned.

"Yes. An atlas is like a book or a collection of maps." The older man explains. "You're on a journey right now, aren't you? To settle into this new world, to figure out who you were or who you want to be. I think Atlas is rather fitting. Even if you don't find your destination on one map, there's always the next one or the next one."

He mumbles the name a few times to himself. Atlas....it wasn't terrible. He wasn't sure if it felt right, but it would be surprising if it did. He had no memories, nothing felt right or familiar at all. He couldn't even read the language here - he was surprised that they could speak the same language, even. (But this had been explained before, something about a magic spell - Atlas doesn't remember most of the conversation if he's honest). After a moment more of thought, 'Atlas' nods. "Yeah, I think I can work with Atlas."

"I'm glad." Taking his hand off of Atlas' head, Wynter moves to leave the room. "Feel free to ask me any questions while we're out, and don't be afraid to ask to come back here either. I don't want you to get overwhelmed on your first day in town."

"Right...." It's been almost two weeks since he woke up, since he's been working on his motor skills and trying to remember anything. Wynter had told him it was unlikely for him to remember, but not trying almost felt like doing himself a disservice.

It had also almost been two weeks of him hiding away in the corners of the smithy - watching wynter help customers and doing actual smithing. He wasn't allowed into the room where him and the keyblade wielders go into but he always looked in amazement as when they came out, their keyblades were shining brilliantly, and so were the people - beaming with a light they didn't have when they first entered the room.

Wynter had explained it that repairing a keyblade required more than just the average smithing skillset, and was a deeply personal process. He couldn't imagine how, he was still trying to wrap his mind around the concept of a keyblade itself, but he wouldn't dare question the man who saved his life.

After taking one last look in the mirror, and attempting to push his bangs into some kind of orderly fashion, he moves to follow Wynter to the front of the shop.

"We're just running some errands." Wynter reassures him. "So we won't be out for too long." Atlas nods, nervously messing with his gloves but not making a move to back down from the arrangement. Wynter looks him up and down before smiling and reaching for the door. Pulling it open, the older man seems to freeze at the figure that suddenly appeared on the other side.

"Hiya Wynny-"

SLAM.

Atlas barely caught a glimpse of a black coat before Wynter slammed the door in the face of whoever had been on the other side. He looked up at Wynter with a confused expression, seeing the most exasperated expression he had ever seen to date on his caretaker's face.

"Uh, Mr.Penn?"

"We're going out the back door."

Atlas simply nodded and followed Wynter through the smithy and out the backdoor, where they were free from whoever had been waiting at the front door.

"May I ask-" Atlas dared, but he got no verbal response, only a sigh. "Nevermind."

"Later, perhaps. For now I would much rather get started on these errands." The subject was left there as they headed out into the main street.

Once they passed the shadow of the smithy, Atlas squinted as his eyes adjusted to the light. He hadn't been outside since his awakening, and while the sun never seemed to fully rise, it was abit brighter than the dull light of the smithy. When the sting subsided, he took a moment to look around. The street was full of different storefronts, and beyond them in the distance was a large set of buildings. Or was it one giant one?

"What is that building over there?" Atlas asked Wynter, pointing to the object of confusion.

"That's the clocktower, it's where the foretellers live and operate from." His caretaker explained. "Don't enter it without permission, alright?"

Well he hadn't thought to until Wynter said something. But again, he wouldn't dare go against anything his caretaker put as a rule to follow. "Okay."

"Good, now lets head this way." Wynter motioned for Atlas to follow him, and they headed further down the street.

Atlas watched as keyblade wielders ran past them or stopped them on the street to say hi to his caretaker. Wynter wasn't kidding about Atlas needing a name before leaving the house, as all who stopped him instantly asked who atlas was. Wynter took care of the introductions for him, so mostly all Atlas had to do was nod his head and mumble out a polite greeting. Most seemed to either get the hint not to ask too much, or were distracted by Wynter or whatever quest they were running to next.

But they all seemed pleasant, for lack of a better word. A bit overwhelming, but no one he would avoid. The shopkeepers were much the same, as Wynter handed him items to hold he introduced Atlas in a much more calm manner than the whirlwind of introductions to passing adventurers, but still took care of most of the talking for him. Thankfully. Atlas wasn't exactly overwhelmed but he didn't know what to say either.

He was realizing not having memories, and very little memories to work off of since waking up, left it so he didn't have a lot to talk about. Perhaps Wynter understood this, or maybe he was just taking pity on the poor teenager. Either way, Atlas was grateful.

"Why don't we take a break at the fountain?" Wynter suggested, looking back at Atlas to see the poor teenager's arms full of items. "Oh, I didn't realize I had bought so much- here, let me take care of some of that."

Atlas laughed softly. "I can handle it don't worry. You probably aren't used to having someone help you with all of this, huh?" He's not sure what possessed him to make such a statement, but Wynter could only give a small nod.

"I admit, when I don't have to worry about carrying everything myself I did get a bit carried away." Still, he does take a few of the items out of Atlas' arms. "Let's head back, actually. We can put these away and have some lunch."

"Alright- huh?"

"What is it Atlas-" Wynter turns back around only to see the back of a black hooded figure. "You-!"

"Heyyy you clean up nicely, you know!" Atlas could only stand still as the hooded figure circled him, occasionally poking or pulling at his clothes or are. "You outdid yourself Wynny!" Atlas can only look extremely confused as his eyes fall on his caretaker again. Who once again looks as if all the wind had been knocked out of him.

"Leave him alone, will you?"

"Oh come on!" The hooded figured whined before throwing an arm around Wynter's shoulders. "I helped you out with fixing him didn't I? I deserve some time with him too!"

"You- did?" Atlas asked, gray eyes going between the two men. "I'm sorry, I don't remember."

"We don't expect you to, Atlas." Wynter elbowed the hooded man who made a dramatic show of being pushed off the other. "He hasn't been around since you woke up."

"I've been busy!!" The man whined again. "I have 6 kids to take care of while you only have one."

"You barely take care of them as it is, sir." Wynter gave a glare towards the man. "And I'm trying not to overwhlem Atlas on his first day out-"

"So you did decide on Atlas, huh?" Wynter seemed to bristle at the question. "So you do actually like my suggestions!"

"I came up with it first!"

Looking between the two, Atlas blurts out, "You two are good friends, aren't you?"

"Yes!" "Absolutely not!"

Atlas smiled as the two looked at each other.

"Just- introduce yourself and get this over with." Wynter sighed and motioned the man forward.

"Don't mind if I do!" He laughed and stepped forward, holding out a hand to Atlas. "I'm the Master of Masters, nice to meet ya kid."

"Nice to meet you too, sir." Atlas shifted the items in his arms so he could reach out and meet the other for a handshake. He nearly falls over from the force of the handshake since the master of masters all but completely jumps up and down while doing so.

"Aw! You got Wynny's manners!" The man laughed before letting go of Atlas, allowing the teen to recover. "Say, can I take him for abit?"

"You can ask him, you know." Wynter sighed. "And only after we drop all this off at home."

"Yeah yeah," The master waved a hand before looking back at Atlas. "Want to go up to the clocktower, kid?"

"The- that clocktower?" Atlas pointed over to the looming building nearby.

"That's the one!"

"You can say no, Atlas." Wynter reminds him.

But he doesn't want to say no, surprisingly. Despite how....completely one-sided this conversation has been, Atlas would be lying if he said he wasn't interested in the clocktower, or the view that he could probably see from way up there.

"I don't mind, but I do want to help Mr.Penn get these dropped off at the smithy first."

"Great!" The Mater beamed, ruffling Atlas' hair. "Meet me by the fountain in an hour, alright?"

"I can do that, sir."

"See you later Wynny~ Don't shut the door in my face next time." The master waved before disappearing down the street. Atlas looked at his caretaker who was hanging his head and sighing.

"Is he that bad of a man?" Atlas couldn't help but ask as he stepped next to Wynter.

"What?" Wynter questioned, straightening up finally.

"You seemed to be avoiding him, and you look rather exhausted already just from one conversation."

Wynter sighs again, shaking his head. "I don't mean to give you an ill impression. He can just be a lot, even for myself. So I hoped to spare you from his presence on your first day out." Wynter motioned for them to start walking again, and Atlas falls in step just beside the smith. "Do you remember me explaining how Daybreak town functions?"

"That this is a world full of keyblade wielders in different unions, and that those unions are run by the foretellers?" Atlas repeats. "Wait," He suddenly stops and so does Wynter. "If the clocktower is where the foretellers reside - why does he have access to it?"

"He isn't called the Master of Masters for no reason, Atlas." Wynter explained. "He is the one who trained all the foretellers and gave them their roles." Now it was Atlas who had the wind kicked out of him. Wynter shakes his head and urges Atlas to keep walking, "Let us get back home before I explain more." Atlas follows along attempting to process the information he had been given.

When they arrive back at the smithy's storefront, Wynter unlocks the door and lets them both inside before locking it behind them. "Let us put all the supplies on the counter and I'll explain." Atlas nodded before starting to do just that as Wynter spoke.

"The Master of Masters is a mysterious man. He comes and goes as he pleases but he doesn't always appear in the town. Frankly, aside from the time he came to give me guidance on how to help you, I hadn't seen him in a long time."

"Have you two known eachother long?"

"I guess you could say he was my teacher as well, in a sense." Atlas watched as the man stared off at a faded photo, one that Atlas could only barely make out. A younger wynter seemed to be in the photo, but someone else as well - he could only assume that it was the master they were currently speaking of. "But I taught him a thing or two as well. We were...friends doesn't quite seem like the right word." Wynter shakes his head and turns his attention back to the box of potions he was currently unloading onto the counter.

"Regardless, he helped me gain the power to repair hearts, which Is how I helped you and how I help the keyblade wielders of the unions. He is a good man, just...." Atlas watches as Wynter's face falls again. "Annoying is putting it lightly. Overbearing, maybe? Or just completely cryptic with the most important information he could give. I dislike conversation with him, but I would be lying if I said I didn't appreciate his company from time to time."

"I take it I shouldn't repeat any of this to him when I meet up with him later."

"You are a quick learner." Wynter patted Atlas' head with a sigh. "Apologies for putting such responsibility on you."

"I don't mind." Atlas said as he put the last of the bags he had on the counter as well. "Is there anything else I should know about him?"

"There's not much else to tell, like I said he's a mysterious man." Wynter shook his head. "But he has power and authority here, more so than the foretellers do. And he doesn't reveal himself to just anyone. Just be sure to be respectful when you do meet him and if he says anything obscure, just nod along."

"I can do that." Atlas smiled. They fell into silence while they put all the items away in the shop, and nearly an hour later they were complete. "I guess I'm off to meet with him - Do I call him master too?"

"It's the only name we've ever known him by." The old smith sighed softly. "Sir or Master will likely do the job unless he tells you to call him something else."

"Alright, I'll be off then."

"Stay safe, and do ask him to escort you back afterwards if you don't remember the way." Atlas nodded and gave a small wave towards Wynter before heading out of the smithy's storefront.

This is his first time alone. While a few people littered the streets and were winding down for the day, this is the first time he's ever been left to his own devices. He knows he shouldn't keep the master of masters waiting, but he can't help but stop and smell the roses, figurately speaking. Though this place definitely could be improved by roses-

How did he know what roses were? He decides not to think about it too hard and continue onto the fountain.

"There you are!" He's greeted as soon as he enters the empty fountain plaza. He looks around for a moment, not seeing the hooded man before an arm is wrapped around his shoulders similar to how he had done with Wynter before. "I'm glad Wynter taught you not to keep a guy waiting!"

"Ah, uh, yes." Atlas had no idea how to respond. "Hope you weren't waiting long."

"Nahhh." The man pulled his arm off of Atlas' shoulders and stood infront of him. "So, ready to get going?"

"Yes, lead the way sir." Atlas could almost feel the man grinning before seeing him snap his fingers. Behind him, energy shifts until there is a doorway of some kind. "What-"

"Follow me!" The man turns on his heel and marches straight towards the corridor of light. Atlas could only stare in amazement before the man turned to face him again. "Hey, don't doze off now! Didn't you tell me to lead the way?"

"Ah, yes, sorry sir."

"Kids these days, so easily distracted." The man sighs before turning around and stepping through, and Atlas though hesitant, follows after him. He had to let his eyes adjust once he did step through, and a hand grabs his arm before he could stumble too far forward. "Careful, or you're going to fall."

"Fall?" Atlas' eyes finally adjusted and noticed where exactly they were. They were...atop of the clocktower. Or at least part of it, there was still some structure above them but they were standing one some kind of balcony area. "Oh, fall, right."

The man laughed and eventually let Atlas go, "Come closer kid, just hold onto the railing and you'll be fine."

Atlas felt as if he should have hesitated, but something seized him in that moment. Was it awe? The thrill of maybe falling? Or was it something else he simply couldn't remember the name for? Regardless, he quickly steps up to the man's side, hands on the rails and he looks over the city he had been staying in.

"It's wonderful." Wonder. That was it. That was the word he had forgotten.

"Isn't it?" He could feel the man smiling at him, but he's too busy looking out over the city. "Over there is Wynny's shop." The man points across Atlas to get his attention, and gray eyes follow the hand to where it was pointed - sure enough he could see a blur of blue and gray outside the smithy that he could only assume was Wynter himself, perhaps removing the sign saying they were going to be out for the day in preparation for the next day of business. "And there's the fountain plaza we just were." Another pointed direction, and Atlas' eyes followed. This went on for a few minutes at least, The Master of Masters pointing out a new location to him, and Atlas following every point and asking questions. Soon enough, he felt as if he had traveled the whole town without having moved from this spot.

"You know..." Atlas started, "I think...I could learn to like it here."

"You mean you didn't like it before?!" The man almost sounded offended.

"I didn't think I belonged before." Atlas answered without hesitation. "I just thought that Mr.Penn was being nice. That he was just going to keep me around until I could go around on my own."

"....Is that why you didn't leave the smithy until today?"

Was it the reason? "Probably." Atlas mumbled before a hand lands on his head and ruffles his hair. "H-Hey-!"

"You really are learning abit too much from Wynter. Lighten up! Don't over think things so much!" The man removes his hand and Atlas is quick to try to tame the mess left in its wake. "Trust me, if Wynter didn't want you around, you wouldn't be there. After all, he shut the door in my face didn't he?"

"That's true but...-"

"ah ah ah, no buts. He wants you there, and that's that."

"Is it really so simple?"

"Between you and me...." The Master turns around, leaning his back against the railing. "Wynny has been lonely for awhile. I try to check up on him when I can, but there's a lot of stuff to do and not a lot of time." It was strange hearing him speak so...seriously. Even if Atlas had only known this man for an afternoon, it seemed almost out of character. Or perhaps everything before was just an act, and this was the real him. Either way, Atlas turns and leans against the railing, mimicking his motion. The master notices this, and seems to chuckle and pat his head once more, but not ruining his hair again.

"There's going to be some time soon that I'm going to disappear."

"Where are you going?"

"I can't tell you." Atlas pouted, but the man continued. "I want you to watch after Wynny for me, alright?

"....You do care about him, don't you?"

"To me...Wynter is a dear friend. Him and Cristal."

"Who-"

"He'll tell you when he's ready." Another head pat. "Wynter helped me a lot, both with keeping me on track and with a bunch of magic stuff. So the least I can do is make sure he's taken care of when I'm no longer here."

Atlas opens his mouth but closes it a second later. Is that why the Master of Masters helped Wynter repair his heart? Was this what he wanted? After a moment of thought, he simply nodded. Maybe this time, it was better to keep that curiosity in check.

"Master, there you are, I-" The nearby door that Atlas hadn't even noticed until just now swung open to reveal a tall man with a mask on. Atlas couldn't quite place the animal it represented, just that it was definitely an animal. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had company."

"Ira! Come here, come here." The master of master opened his arms and motioned Ira closer. "This here is Wynter's new apprentice."

"Oh! Father Time finally took on an apprentice, then?" Atlas blinked at the words, but didn't have time to process them before the masked man held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Ira, one of the foretellers."

"Oh! It's -It's nice to meet you, sir." He's heard a lot about these foretellers over the last few days, but he didn't think he'd get to meet one! He quickly shakes Ira's hand and gives a bow of his head. "Oh, uh," atlas hesitated as he pulled his hand back , "Mr. Penn gave me the name Atlas."

"It's nice to meet you, Atlas." Did everyone know about his predicament? Or just the people in charge? "I hate to cut your meeting with Master short, but Luxu has returned and wants to speak with you."

"Oh! Right! That." The Master sighs heavily. "Well, duty calls." One more hair ruffle from the master to Atlas, and Atlas just lets it happen this time. He doesn't think he could stop the man even if he tried. "Ira, take him back to the smithy, will you?"

"Of course. "

"Th-Thank you for showing me this view, sir." Atlas was quick to say before the man completely disppeared from sight. The man stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder.

"I'm counting on you, kid. Take care of the old man for me." With a wave, the Master disappears through the doorway.

There's an awkward silence between them, before Atlas sighs heavily and covers his face with his hands. Ira chuckles softly. "First time dealing with him alone, I take it?"

"I did think Mr. Penn was exaggerating with he said that the master was....overwhelming."

"Father Time has the best patience of anyone I know, so if he says something is overwhelming, i's best to take his word for it." Ira walked to Atlas' side, looking over the city below them. "I had nearly forgotten we had this balcony..."

"Um..." Atlas started. "By Father Time - do you mean Mr. Penn?"

"Hm? Oh, my apologies, I thought you knew considering you were his apprentice."

"I think...The Master made some assumptions." Atlas messed with the hem of his gloves again. "Mr. Penn did offer to teach me his trade to keep me busy, but I haven't...formally accepted."

"I see...I apologize for jumping to conclusions."

"No, Not it's okay, I'm not the best - this talking thing - I only just left the smithy for the first time today and-" Ira holds up his hand, a polite smile on his face. Atlas gets the message and lets his shoulders relax and a sigh escape his lips.

"You would do tell to take him up on his offer, he doesn't offer his tutelage to just anyone. He even rejected me when I asked once before."

"He-He said no to you?" Atlas had a hard time believing that. Both because of Ira's current status and how much Wynter seemed to like Ira from the way he spoke of the foretellers.

"Yes, though I have often wondered if it was my Master who told him to tell me no...Regardless - " Ira shakes his head. "He is an excellent keyblade master, as well as a smith and a mage."

"Mr. Penn...has a keyblade? He's never-"

"How do you think he repaired your heart?"

"He...Hasn't told me the specifics." Atlas admitted.

"Well, accepting his offer could be how you learn." Ira motioned for Atlas to follow him. The 'apprentice' did so and Ira continued to speak. "I do not wish to speak for him, but I will explain myself since I have said much to confuse you. The reason we call Wynter Penn, Father Time, is simple-"

He stops on his descent of the stairwell, and Atlas stops just a few steps behind him. Ira looks back at him before he speaks.

The help I want includes things such as:

sensitivity readers

spelling/ grammar

just to give me an opinion on how it is to read/ how well it flows

any advice on structure

if the length is too much or too little

or you just have some general tips on the story itself!

And it's okay if you aren't comfortable with helping with spelling or grammar, even just general advice and your opinion on the story is welcome!

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What kind of story is it?

It is OC (original character) centric, but it does include many characters from the main series and expands on them some more. It is set pre the first game and sets up its events, so the main lore will be uncovered through the lens of someone as new to it as someone just starting the series. I want it to be for anyone of any age so I want to avoid overly mature content, but there will be some deeper and darker themes explored in a very all-ages sort of way.

As for genre, it is mostly:

Adventure

Mystery

Fantasy

Drama

With hints of:

Minor Levels of Horror

Sci Fi

Political Commentary

Romance

I'd probably define it as mostly Adventure/ Mystery.

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Summary (Spoiler Free):

'While we all know the story of Sora and his friends as the worlds are saved thrice over; little is known of the heroes and villains of those who struggled far away, in distant times and places. Sora encounters a travelling storyteller, whose tales of adventure, friendship, loss and love draw in the young hero. Maybe these fairy tales are merely for entertainment, or perhaps they hold a greater meaning. Sora must listen to the end to understand the truth of the tale; are these simply far off dreams, or a scattered truth to be awakened in time?'

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Synopsis (Not As Spoiler Free):

'Yoru, Zorya and Taiyo embark on a quest to find their respective missing loved ones, only to find each of their own motives overlap between a string of mysteries; missing students of a grand city of historical importance, a missing king whose disappearance seems to tie into the appearance of strange creatures that threaten the realm and the sudden threat from a new organisation that call themselves the 'Sin Seekers'. All the while, during this, the general populace speak of strange dreams and, inexplicably, the stars seem to be disappearing.'

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