A/N: I've always wanted to contribute to Femslash February, and I need to start writing again, so…here we are!

The plan for this fic is for it to have 22 chapters, and for me to write 2 prompts for 11 femslash ships. It'll be all kinds of settings, both canon, canon-adjacent, and AUs, and unless if otherwise stated, none of the prompts will be connected with each other. I'm going to be writing and posing these throughout this month, so we'll just see where this adventure takes me! XD

As for this particular ficlet, I feel that it's…kind of weird, and not my best, but I'm trying not to stress too much about the quality of these ficlets, and just pump them out so that I can get back into a writing groove, so it is what it is. Feedback would most definitely be appreciated, though!

Pairing: Aqua/Cinderella

Theme Song of the Chapter: "Finale / Children Will Listen, Part 2", from Into the Woods. I didn't intend to, but the song and this fic ended up quite a lot alike. I would quote a few lyrics, but like…that would end up being all of them. So, go check out that song!

Warnings: This was inspired by A Fragmentary Passage, from the KH 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. So, there's a couple of spoilers, and while this is AU-ish, the themes of this fic were HEAVILY prevalent in the game. So, if you don't want to be spoiled at all, I suggest you read no further.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, etc, etc. Title taken from the song "Back At One" by Brian McKnight, with the summary taking inspiration from "If I Never Knew You", from Pocahontas. I don't own "Into the Woods", either.

Say Farewell to the Dark of Night

Light in the Dark

When another illusion appeared before her, Aqua found that she couldn't summon up the energy to be surprised, anymore. The Realm of Darkness was already taking its toll on her, weariness settling like a heavy blanket over her shoulders, and she could feel the chilling tendrils creeping into her heart, working to suffocate her inner light.

Still, this illusion was one she hadn't seen before. Most often, she had seen specters of Terra and Ven, though in the fallen Dwarf Woodlands, the illusions had been of herself, the manifestations of her own doubt.

Now, Cinderella stood before her, looking hardly any different than the last time Aqua had seen her, though her dress was finer than anything Aqua had witnessed her wearing before.

Either way, she was still just as beautiful.

Aqua closed her eyes. It felt wrong, somehow, to imagine a Princess of Heart in these dark depths. The ache of her failure to save this woman and her world was still sharp, but to think of the purity of Cinderella's heart being tarnished by this place—

Aqua didn't know if it would count as a prayer, but still, she thought, Please let her be an illusion. I don't know if I could bear it if the darkness has claimed her completely.

It drained Aqua more than it should have, finding the courage to do such a simple act as opening her eyes once more.

Cinderella still stood before her, blue eyes still wide with surprise as she stared back at Aqua. That surprise was fading though, eclipsed by concern and worry.

Her eyes were meeting Aqua's, staring squarely back at her.

Aqua's voice cracked, rasping out of her throat like it had been years since she'd last spoken. Maybe it had been. "Are you real?"

The worry didn't fade from Cinderella's eyes, but her lips quirked up into a small smile, as if she couldn't quite help herself. "As far as I know, I am," she replied quietly.

Aqua's eyes closed again, involuntarily, at the sound of her voice, still as warm and melodic as ever. It felt like she had been dying of thirst, and Cinderella's voice was water. It was like the cool relief of a healing spell, a blessing, a benediction. Salvation. Through her closed lids, Aqua could almost see the aura of Cinderella's light, radiating out from her like a golden nimbus, undimmed despite the darkness that threatened to engulf it.

Warm fingers stroked her cheek, and the shock of a gentle touch, after so long with only pain and death for companions, had Aqua snapping her eyes open again.

Cinderella drew her hand back uncertainly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's—" Alright, Aqua meant to say. But the word that came out instead was, "Please."

What exactly she was asking for, even Aqua didn't know. But Cinderella seemed to understand, anyway, and her hand cupped Aqua's cheek again, her thumb brushing away the tears Aqua hadn't even noticed were falling.

Upon that realization, an unbidden truth tumbled out, following after the unbidden tears.

"I can't do this," Aqua whispered. "I'm not—not strong enough."

Cinderella's other hand came up to cradle her face. "Yes, you can," she said firmly; her voice was still gentle, but it rang clear and true with absolute certainty, as implacable as mountains. "You're the strongest person I've ever known."

"I don't deserve your faith," Aqua said, voice harsh and broken. "I failed you. I couldn't save you, or anyone."

Cinderella's hands held her tighter, as if she was trying to press that faith and light into Aqua's skin. "Even if that were true, everyone fails. Everyone falls. But, Aqua, the most important thing isn't that you never stumble or fail, but that you get back up again."

"I'm so tired." Shame burned in Aqua at the admittance of those words, at showing such weakness.

"Then rest."

Aqua blinked. "Are…are you telling me to give up?"

Cinderella's eyes flashed. "No. Never give up. But I can watch over you, if you wanted to sleep for a little while. I can keep the darkness at bay."

The promise of rest was so very tempting. But…

"I can't ask you to risk yourself for me."

"You're not asking. I'm offering."

"But—"

Cinderella smiled, and, oh, how could Aqua have forgotten what sunrise looked like, until she saw it shine in that smile?

"You protected me. Now, it's my turn to protect you."

And what else could Aqua say to that?

Aqua sagged into the other woman, who lowered them both to the ground, arranging them so that Aqua's head was in her lap.

Even if she faded into oblivion, tricked by an illusion of her own mind or the insidious darkness, Aqua was already halfway asleep.

"Thank you," she murmured into the shimmering folds of the ballgown.

Warm, soft lips pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"You will live," the voice like warm honey whispered into her ear. "Even in the deepest darkness, there is a light that will never go out. And if you cannot find your own light, mine will be yours to call upon. Wherever you may go, no matter the distance, remember: I am always with you."

Aqua sleeps, dreamlessly. And, much to her surprise, she wakes; still in darkness, and alone again, but her inner light seems…steadier. Glimmers of light against the abyss, perhaps, but not vanquished.

Aqua rises to her feet, and keeps walking.