Challenge [247]: Conviction, "Verdict"

[kiaxet]

Title: Verdict
Challenge: [247] Conviction
Word Count: 288
Notes: SPOILERS FOR BBS. Also, conviction has more than one definition. I quite enjoyed playing with that.





"What do you make of them?"

It was a simple question with an answer that would mean everything. He valued the opinion of his old friend, especially given his lack of experience with the matter at hand.

"You've trained them well," Xehanort responded. "There's no question of that."

There was more to it than that - there always was, with Xehanort - and so he remained silent, expecting his fellow Master to continue.

Xehanort did not keep him waiting long. "Aqua is a fine Keybearer. Her poise and control are to be commended. She is more than ready to become a Master. But Terra..." He paused, letting the silence hang, suffocating, in the air. "I have my doubts as to whether he is adequately prepared."

It was one thing to know the uncertainties he held in his heart. It was quite another to hear them given voice.

"You believe his darkness will be...problematic," he summarized, fruitlessly searching for a word that didn't sound quite so damning.

"You know the boy better than I do, Eraqus," Was Xehanort's matter-of-fact reply. "You also know very well the trials that await a Keyblade Master. If you think he can face up to those trials with such an unguarded weakness, by all means, award him the Mark."

He paused, remembering the ease with which the darkness had sprung to his apprentice's hand.

His conviction wavered.

Minutes later, his verdict was the most difficult news he had ever delivered to his two hopeful students.

"However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery. Terra, you failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check, but there is always next time."

Terra hid his dismay well.

"That is all."

Eraqus hid his better.

Comments

[darklight90.livejournal.com]

There's this undercurrent of sorrow or hurt that resonates so well I feel for everyone involved. Eraqus and Terra, I felt for both of them. The last three lines clinched that.

[kiaxet]

The last three lines were the first ones I wrote, actually. It was making the rest of the drabble match up to them that gave me trouble.

Glad you liked it!

[minntaka.livejournal.com]

I found the last three lines to be great, too. It sums up Terra and Eraqus and their relationship nicely. So sad T_T Thanks for sharing!