set apart this dream-
disclaimer: I don't own the characters, or (in my personal opinion) the title. The characters belong to Square Enix, the title is a song by Flyleaf.
She twirled on the lawn, blue fabric floating out around. Her hair was just barely darker than the dress, whipping around her and tumbling out of the ties that were theoretically keeping it neat.
The darkness was less oppressive here, letting her breathe easier. Sometimes, a man in a black cloak came to visit her. She liked that. He reminded her of her old friends. It was almost easy to believe that he was them, but there were little differences, jokes he didn't get, stories he couldn't recall.
Sunshine poured down around her, shining off her smile. She stopped spinning, and started running, stumbling a bit from dizziness at first, but then gaining speed.
The waves were nice, too. Aqua. That was her name, right? She had always liked that. Somehow, the water always comforted her, even when it was tainted with the darkness like this was. She could sit here and dream of days when life was just a little bit easier.
She ran down a hill, laughing crazily. At the bottom was a steam, and she splashed into it, disregarding the fact that she would get scolded later for getting her dress muddy.
Everything was just a little bit better when she could pretend that she was somewhere but this twisted world. She wanted to be somewhere where she wouldn't cry because she was alone. She would cry from joy, from hope, from laughter. Not like the tears that fell into the ocean here.
She raced the stream, feeling pebbles and moss tickle her feet, and seeing the little fish swim away from her clumsy feet. The bottom of her dress was soaked and splattered with mud, but she didn't care.
Burying her head in her arms, Aqua tried to remember the sunshine world where she could just laugh. The days before everything had started turning to the road that would lead her here. Before she left her home, before she knew about Keyblades and magic. The innocent days of a child.
Sunshine, laughter, happiness-
What a beautiful dream from darkness.