Yes, there it is! The first "Aqua was a psychotic kid" chapter!
"Aqua, it's not fair! The Master said we had to share that book. You can't keep it forever!"
"But I'm not done reading it yet!"
"You've read it three times already!"
"Two and a half. I told you, I'm not done."
"Just give it to me."
"When I'm done with it, Terra, not before."
Master Eraqus had brought them from another world a beautiful pop-up book, full of wonderful landscapes, dragons and fairies. The book was enchanted, and you could hear the sound of the birds, smell the fragrance of the grass, at every page. Of course, both of the children had wanted to read it, and Terra gracefully let Aqua take it first. But since then, the little girl, captivated by it, refused to hand it to him.
"I want it now."
He crossed his arms, and Aqua sighed.
"Fine. I'll give it to you under one condition."
"Which one?"
"You will have to bring me a fruit from the forest."
"A fruit?"
"Yes. Remember the purple ones we saw with the Master two weeks ago? Bring me one and I will give you the book. Think of it as a quest!"
The boy shrugged, giving up and accepting to play her game. "Fine. I'll get you that stupid fruit and then I'll be keeping the book for a month."
"Three days."
"A week."
"Deal."
And off he was, running to the forest to find her a purple fruit. Aqua smirked. She would be alone for at least an hour. The trees were those fruits grew were pretty deep in the forest and it would take a while for Terra to find them. She jumped back into her comfy armchair, watching with amazement the dragon fly away from the book and spit fire - it smelled like roasted marshmallows.
The soft sound of the river flowing lulling her, she soon closed her eyes, taking a well deserved nap.
When she opened her eyes again, the sun had started to set. She yawned, stretched, and the book fell from her knees. She looked at it and remembered Terra. Surely, he was back by now, wasn't he? She jumped from her seat and ran towards their rooms. He wasn't in his. Perhaps in hers? She put her hand on the door, her heart drumming in her chest. Slowly, she pushed the door. The room was empty. She started to worry.
Was he with the Master then? But if he wasn't, what should she tell him?
Her hands started shaking, and she took a deep breathe. The truth. That was what she should be telling him.
"Master?" She knocked on the door, trying to hide her panic.
"Aqua. Do you need anything? I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with you today, but those reports Master Yen Sid sent me are…"
"Have you seen Terra?" She interrupted, her gaze locked on him.
"Terra? Weren't you playing together?" He furrowed his brows. "Did you fight again?"
Aqua felt tears pricking her eyes, but she fought them. Terra had taught her there were times to cry, and times to be brave. She would cry later.
"I think I've done something wrong."
"Please, tell me."
"I asked him to get me one of the purple fruits we saw last time. But he still hasn't come back."
"You what?" Eraqus jumped from his chair. "Why did you… No, it doesn't matter for now. When was that?"
"Early in the afternoon. A bit after we had lunch. I thought he would be gone for an hour, no more!"
Eraqus left the room in a hurry, followed by Aqua. He wasn't running, but his pace was so fast she was jogging next to him.
"Aqua, those fruits only last three days. After that, they wilt. There shouldn't be any of those fruits left. But this is really deep in the forest, and it's dangerous. I told you, I told both of you not to go there without me!"
"Is Terra in danger?" Her chest was about to explode. Tears were burning her eyes again. She wasn't as strong as Terra.
"I don't know. Perhaps he's just lost. Let's find him. Stay by my side. No wandering off."
She took his hand, and they rushed into the depth of the forest. It was so dense here it was almost night, and Aqua shivered, uneasy at the oppressing feeling it gave.
"Terra? Terra, can you hear me?" The Master's voice was calm, but she knew from the way he was clutching her hand he was worried, and that scared her. What if something happened to Terra because of her? Because of her selfishness?
"Terra! Terra, it's me! Please, answer!" Her high-pitched voice joined her Master's. They were walking slowly, looking everywhere for a sign of him. A sound. Anything.
But the forest was silent. No birds. No wind. Pure silence whispering terrible thoughts to her ear.
She saw him first. She saw him, and she froze, because she refused to accept what was in front of her.
Terra was lying on the ground, in a position far too unnatural for him to be taking a nap. His eyes were closed, his skin incredibly pale. The only colour on his face came from the crimson gash on his forehead, bleeding, and bleeding again.
"Mas...Ter…" She hiccupped more than she said, her shaking finger pointing to the boy's direction. Eraqus let go of her hand and ran to Terra's body. She did not move. She was paralyzed. Terrified. She told him once that she couldn't have friends, because she would only bring bad luck to them. He had laughed it off. He had promised he would be fine.
He wasn't fine.
She couldn't see what the Master was doing. His back hid everything, including Terra. Aqua couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. Her head was spinning, and her legs gave way beneath her.
"...qua!"
She finally realised the Master was talking to her. He was in front of her, actually. When did he move? Where was Terra?
"Aqua, can you stand?"
She looked at him, a crazed look in her eyes. Could she stand? She wasn't sure. How was Terra?
"Okay, up you go then."
Eraqus picked her up, carrying her with one arm. She finally noticed he was carrying Terra on his other side. The gash was gone.
"Master… Is he…"
"He'll be fine. I cast a Cura on him. He's just knocked out. I think he fell from the tree. You hear me, Aqua? He will be fine. You have nothing to worry about."
The man softly kissed her forehead, and life came back to her. Her heart started beating a regular beat again. Her brain started thinking again. Terra was fine. She did not kill him.
"Now, tell me. Why did you want that fruit?"
Shameful, she did not answer. She kept silent until the Master carried them back to Terra's room, lying down the boy on his bed.
"He needs some rest. I'm sure he'll be up by tomorrow morning, so don't worry too much, okay?"
"Can I… Can I sleep here tonight? Please."
Eraqus tenderly smiled, ruffling her hair. "Of course. I'll bring your mattress here after dinner. Give him some room in his own bed for tonight."
"Thank you."
Eraqus put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm going to cook dinner. Keep an eye on him, will you?"
"I will. I promise." The man chuckled at her solemnity. As soon as he left the room, Aqua ran into her bedroom, then was back in Terra's.
First of all, she placed the popup book next to him.
Then, she sat on his chair, opened her notebook and read out loud as she was writing.
"November 15th. I'm sorry I risked Terra's life, simply because I did not want to give him a book and tried to send him away. While I would have come back ages ago, he was brave enough to stay until he would find a fruit. I admire him so much, and I pray he will wake up soon."
She took his hand, and felt something in it. In his palm, tiny, wilted, was a purple fruit.
Aqua finally let the tears run freely.
In canon, I really dislike Eraqus, but I feel he doesn't have quite a bad role in this fic!