Long ago, long before Terra and Aqua took their Mark of Mastery exams, there was one time of the year when it was very chilly, compared to the rest of the year. During this time, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua, along with their Master, Eraqus, would learn one of the most beloved lessons of all.

 

Terra and Ventus were standing outside the building all of them live in, on a cold day. "Terraaaaa..." Ventus moaned at Terra to get his attention. "Why is it so cold?" He moaned louder.

 

Terra was practicing his combat skills with his wooden keyblade. He couldn't focus with Ven's moaning, so he replied, "Ah, Ven... I don't know. Maybe you should ask Aqua or the Master. They know more than I do about the weather." Terra went back to swinging his keyblade at the practice pendulums set up in the Courtyard.

 

"Okay..." Ven mumbled as he walked back to the building. He opened the front doors of the building, and walked inside. As he walked up the main stairs, he noticed that Master Eraqus was talking to someone on the mysterious crystal that is behind his seat.

 

"Ah, okay. I see. I will make sure they arrive with extreme care." Eraqus was speaking, then got a response back. "Don't worry, I will make sure they don't open them until the time comes."

 

"Hey master? Who were you talking to?" Ventus was curious to know who that was. "And what do you mean 'they arrive with extreme care'?"

 

Eraqus was startled by Ven's sudden appearance. "Gah! Oh, it's only you, Ven. Ahem! That was Master Yen Sid. As you know, he is Master no more. But, you see, he has decided to bring something nice for you, as well as for Terra and Aqua." Eraqus replied. "But keep it a secret between you and I, alright?" Eraqus smiled.

Meanwhile, Aqua was in her room. She was planning to do something special for her two best friends and Master. A special holiday gift for them. She was gathering things together for her big plan that she would present to Master Eraqus when she was ready. 'I hope Ventus will like my idea,' she thought to herself. 'He's bound to. Ven always loves my ideas.' She gathered a few things, put on her coat and scarf, and went downstairs to go find Ventus.

 

when she got downstairs she came across Master Eraqus, who at the time was doing what he usually does. "Master Eraqus," she began,"Have you seen Ventus around?"

Eraqus and Ven, who swore not to mention the presents to Terra, nor Aqua, looked over to Aqua. Eraqus jumped in another startle. "Gah! Oh, uh, yes, Aqua? Why, Ventus is right here. What was it you wanted to talk to him about?" Eraqus replied.

 

Ven was too excited, so he accidentally began to blurt out, "Hey, Aqua! Did ya hear what the Ma-mrphr-arrur-eff-bwng-trr bivv ufs?" Eraqus ran over to cover Ven's mouth.

 

Eraqus whispered to Ven quickly. "Ven, you mustn't tell them!" Eraqus panicked and hoped Aqua would pretend that Ven didn't say anything.

 

Ven remembered, and played along. "Oh yeah. Right. What did you want to ask me about, Aqua?" he replied.

Aqua was confused at first. She looked at Ventus, then the Master. She decided that it wasn't too important. "Well I wanted to know if Ven and Terra wanted to go with me to gather some things. I've been working on a project, and I'm running low on supplies." She turned to look at Ventus. "Would you like to come?"

"Uh, sure! Terra's just outside training, so we can stop by him and see if he wants to help too." Ventus nodded, and they walked down the stairs and opened the door.

 

Eraqus sighed in relief that the secret wasn't ruined. "Huff... Whew, that was way too close." Eraqus told himself out loud.

 

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Ven and Aqua walked outside, and Ventus brought Aqua to the Courtyard, where Terra was at. "Hrmph! Hrahh! Hwuut!" Terra yelled out tons of battle grunts. He heard Ven and Aqua approach him. "Oh, hey Aqua! What's up?" Terra asked.

 

"We were going to find some supplies for Aqua. Want to come along and help us find some stuff?" Ven answered.

 

"Hmm...Alright. But after this, I'll need to go back to my training. Deal?"

 

"Deal."

"Alright then," Aqua said. "Let's get going."

 

As the three walked along, Aqua became curious about the conversation that Ventus and the Master were having. She looked at Ven while they walked.

"So Ven," she began. "What were you and the Master talking about earlier?"

Ventus felt a sudden burst of fear. He felt like he should tell her, but he thought that Eraqus might ground him if he did that. "Uh... We were talking about... Lessons! Yeah, lessons! He told me that Terra would teach me how to fly a keyblade. Heh."

 

Terra heard what Ven just said, and was confused now. "When did I say that I would teach you?" Terra blew Ven's cover.

 

'Drat. Busted.' Ven thought to himself. "Uhh-uhh... So Aqua, what are we looking for again?" Ven was trying to avoid the question.

 

"Hmm, now I wonder what you two were talking about as well. You can trust us Ven. What were you and the Master talking about?" Terra crossed his arms.

 

Ventus, began to sweat, unexpected considering they were standing outside in the cold. He thought of something to get out of spoiling the secret himself. "I know! When we get done with finding the supplies for Aqua, may the master will tell you two." Ven sighed, and continued. "So now then, Aqua, what do we need to get?"

Aqua looked at Ven, but just left it alone. 'I can ask the Master later,' she thought to herself.

"Alright then," she said. "So anyway, we need to gather a few things. First off, we need to get a tree. Don't ask why. I just need a tree. There! That tree will do." She pointed ahead.

 

The tree was a small pine tree, it would have to do for now.

 

"Terra," she said, "you're strong enough. You can carry a tree right?"

"I will try my best, I guess!" Terra insisted on getting the tree, he tried pulling the tree out of the ground, but no luck. "Argh! We'll need to cut the tree first before we can pick it up." Terra said. He then summons his keyblade, and whacks near the bottom of the tree, making a dent in the side. He continues to repeat the process.

 

"Smart thinking, Terra! Okay, while he's doing that, what's next on our list of things to get?" Ventus cheered with determination.

"Okay," she said. "Next we can get the next thing on the list." She went through the list. "Here! Ven, while Terra does that, we can go buy some paint." Aqua turned around. "Terra, we're gonna go get some paint!" She yelled. "We'll be back!" She turned back around. "Let's go Ven."

"Alright! Catch you guys later." Terra said as he continued to chop the tree down.

 

"So where do we find this shop that sells paint? Does the Moogle shop sell paint?" Ventus was thinking about it, and he could only recall Moogle Shops selling Potions, ethers, and Balloon Letters. Maybe they stock paint around this time of year? Ven followed Aqua back to the front of the building in the meantime.

"We could get some paint from a specific moogle shop I know about," Aqua explained. "Don't worry, Ven. It's not to far from here. I ordered some paint from a moogle, and we just gotta go pick it up."

 

The shop really wasn't to far. Aqua had met a moogle when she went on tasks to get some supplies for Master Eraqus. He got things from time to keep the stock full. Getting things became a normal thing for her, and eventually she and the moogle would chat with each other. She managed to get the moogle to get things that she requested. That's how she ordered the paint.

 

"So Ven," she began, "Are you excited that Christmas is coming?"

Ventus stopped and thought to himself, 'Christmas? This is news to me. I wonder if that's what the Master was talking with Master Yen Sid about.' He then looked at Aqua with a smile, "Christmas? Is that what this weather is called?" Ventus, not being able to remember much from before the time he first arrived at the Land of Departure, didn't experience something like Christmas before. "Aqua? Could you... Tell me what Christmas is all about?" Ven asked.

Aqua stopped as well, and was confused. Then she remembered that Ventus didn't remember anything before he arrived in the Land of Departure. He only trained with them, and she realized that no one had told Ven about Christmas. "Well, this weather is winter weather so it's going to be cold out," she explained. "Now as for Christmas, that happens around this time of year. It's a holiday. A special time when people give each other gifts and presents out of the warmth of their hearts in this cold weather."

Ventus felt a sense of cheerfulness after hearing what Christmas was. "Out of the warmth of our hearts?" Ven now felt bad for not getting Aqua nor Terra anything for this occasion. "What should I get you guys? I want to know so we can all enjoy Christmas together!"

 

Terra appeared behind Ven and Aqua, carrying the tree he was told to cut down. "That...*hrmph*...Takes care of that." Terra pulled the tree with all of his might.

Aqua turned around to see Terra and the tree. "Oh, hey Terra," she said. "Good. You got the tree. Ven and I were just talking about Christmas." Aqua then smiled at Ventus. "Don't worry Ven. Christmas is just a few days away. You'll think of something by then." Aqua then turned back to Terra. "So we're gonna go get the paint now. You can leave the tree there for now. You coming with us?" She asked.

"Sure thing." Terra answered, dropping the tree on the ground. "But I think this will be my last errand I will help with, and then I'll have to get back to training." Terra then pulled out his pocket-sized bag of munny. "I'll pay for the paint." He said.

 

"Like an early Christmas present?" Ventus asked.

 

"Haha! I guess, in a way, you could say that." Terra laughed and smiled."So Ven, did Aqua tell you why it's so cold?"

 

Ven rubbed the back of his head, and said,"She said this weather is winter weather..." Ven turned forward, where they were heading to the Moogle Shop. 'Maybe, I'll find an idea for a gift for you two when we get to the moogle shop.' Ven thought to himself.

When they arrived at the moogle shop, they were met by the moogle.

 

"How can I help you today, kupo?" Asked the moogle.

 

"Hey," greeted Aqua. "We're here to pick up that paint that I ordered."

 

"Hold up, kupo." The moogle went to go get it from his stock. He pulled out some paints from his stock and returned. "Here you go, kupo. That'll be 100 munny, kupo," he said.

 

"Okay," Aqua said. "Terra has the munny."

Edited December 16, 20159 yr by SoraUltimateKeybladeMaster

"All right, let's see here..." Terra reached inside his small bag of munny and pulled out a little over 100 munny. 150, to be precise. "I'd also like to buy some blue ribbon. Will this be enough?" Terra asked.

 

"What for?" Ventus was curious to know what Terra would do with the ribbon.

 

"You'll find out eventually." Terra smiled back at Ven and Aqua.

 

Ventus was still thinking about what to get Terra and Aqua. He had very little munny in hand, and he'd lose it all if he bought something big. But, maybe, that's exactly what he should do. He will be thinking about it for a while.

The moogle examined the munny that Terra had. Then he grabbed some blue ribbon and gave it to Aqua. "Here you go, kupo."

 

"Thanks," said Aqua. She took the ribbon and the paint from the moogle.

 

"Have a nice day, kupo," he said.

 

"Bye." Aqua turned around and give the ribbon to Terra. "Here you go. Okay, so there's just a few things left to get. Terra, you can go back to training. Ven and I can get the last few things."

Edited December 16, 20159 yr by SoraUltimateKeybladeMaster

Terra took the ribbon as Aqua passed it to him and put it in his pocket."All right, catch you guys later! Good luck!" Terra waved as he walked back to the courtyard, continuing his training.

 

"Alright, see ya Terra!" Ven gave Terra a thumbs up, then turned back to Aqua. "We're on a roll! What's next?"

"Okay." Aqua went through that last of her list. "We only have two things left. So you Ven, need to go find some popcorn. While you do that, I'll go get the last thing on the list. After that, meet me back here. Okay?" She asked. She folded up the small piece of paper that was her list, and she put it in her coat pocket. There was still plenty more to do after the items on the list were collected.

"Popcorn, got it!" Ven agreed to finding some. 'Popcorn... maybe I should ask the Master about it.' Ven thought to himself as he walked to the front doors of the building.

 

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As Ventus entered the doors once more, he was still thinking about the perfect present for Terra and Aqua. He went up the stairs to the main room, where Master Eraqus was just sitting there, on his chair. Ven approached the Master in concern for him. "Uhh, Master?"

 

Eraqus had his eyes closed, but no more. "Yes, Ventus. What is it?"

 

"Uh, do you know what 'popcorn' is?" Ventus asked.

 

Eraqus was humored by Ven's question, and burst into laughter. "AHAHAHahahaha...Ah, Ventus, you really made my day!" Eraqus couldn't refuse to answer his question now. "Ahem. Popcorn is a very difficult food to obtain. Why ask about such a thing?" Eraqus was still chuckling.

 

"Aqua, told me to get some Popcorn. Do you know where I can find some?"

 

"You won't have any chance of finding it through normal means. I have some right here, but~"

 

"Master! Aqua told me she needs some! Can I buy it at the Moogle Shop? Would you be willing to lend me some? I need your help." Ven began to quarrel with the Master.

 

"I, er, t-this is my last batch!" The Master was slightly protective of the Popcorn suddenly.

 

"If you won't give me the popcorn..." Ventus was ticked off. He summoned his keyblade, backhanded.

 

 

"THEN I'LL HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM YOU!"

 

"Ventus! Calm down! This isn't like you!" Eraqus summoned his own keyblade.

 

This was official. A fight between Ventus and Eraqus has begun!

 

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(I added the music to give the RP more intensity )

Meanwhile, Aqua was doing her own thing. She was walking along, planning how her idea would work out.

'Okay,' she thought to herself, 'Master Eraqus, I was thinking. I wanted to do something special for you, Ven, and Terra, and I was wondering if maybe it'd be possible if we could take a break from training for the holiday? My plan requires this. Yeah, that's what I'll ask.'

Aqua walked along to see Terra still training outside.

'Terra trains a lot,' she thought. 'Even in this cold weather he's outside training.' Aqua decided that she would go inside and back to her room to gather the rest of her plan together.

 

When she walked in, she walked up the stairs and past the main room. She looked and to her surprise, she walked in on Ventus and Master Eraqus fighting each other.

 

"Whoa! Hey! What's going on here?!" She questioned right away.

Ventus was taking the offensive against Eraqus, while Eraqus was blocking his every attack. The two keyblades clashed many times, and the amount of effort Ventus put into every strike was only half of his determination. "Master! Give me your popcorn right now!" Ven yelled.

 

Eraqus looked over at Aqua after noticing her presence. "Aqua?!" Eraqus lowered his guard, allowing Ventus to attack.

 

"Hrrah!" Ventus yelled as he swung his key at Eraqus, making Eraqus lose his grip on the popcorn. The popcorn flew towards Aqua, not at her, but in front of her. "No!"