Author's Note: Sorry I took so long for the new chapter. I've been in the process of moving, so that's been getting in the way. i just wanted to put down some info about the story that might be important. Firstly, There will be more than a couple SoKai NSFW chapters, seeing as the journey they're about to go on will allow them to be together this time, maybe not at the beginning though. Secondly, I've found that a lot of fanfics--nothing against them, of course--has the female characters as kind of damsels in distress types. As for this story, you'll see just how strong everyone is, especially Aqua, who has to kind of pick up the pieces of herself. Lastly, the next few updates will be a bit erratic, but I'm hoping i can get a stable update schedule soon. With all that noise out of the way, i hope you all enjoy this installment of Black Voices!
Chapter 3—Aqua
She woke once again to silence and a dark room. The bare room left her lonely, but loneliness is something she had grown accustomed to. No, it wasn't the loneliness that bothered her most nights; it was the silence. Terra's loud snoring, at one point, was nothing short of obnoxious. Now, she would give anything to hear it again.
She yawned with a sad smile on her face. The memory of the one she loved tortured her, but it was the only comfort she had. He had a strong sense of justice and a strong heart. He was stoic, but easy to talk to whenever she needed advice.
Ven was too young to understand the feeling heartbreak… Or maybe he did, given his past, how his heart fragmented, and what was left found a place to heal, a then-young Sora's heart. It's been six years, but he's still learning how to be a whole being, able to sustain himself without anyone's help. Gen was like a little brother to the older two.
Aqua got to her feet and walked into the vast empty hallway of The Land of Departure. It was quiet now that Master Eraqus wasn't there. His death was a long time ago, but she still managed to think about Eraqus sometimes.
She moved into the kitchen without thinking. She noticed Ven sitting at the table, staring into nothing in particular. He turned the moment he felt her presence. "Were you always so quiet?"
"Only when I try to be," she answered. "What are you doing here by yourself?"
"Thinking about everything that happened to us," he answered after a moment. "How I wish we could turn back time to before it all happened."
She stared at Ven without realizing it. She knew him as a kid, a bit immature, but was honest about what was in his heart. She never knew he had times of deep thought like that, but she understood. For most kids, they matured over time, given the right guidence; Ven was a rare exception of maturity through heartache and pain. There were times when her fractured heart would swell with a mixture of pride and sadness when they spoke.
"What would you change if you could?" She asked, genuine curiosity taking over her thoughts.
After a moment, he answered. "That I was fast enough to save Terra," he started somberly. "He was like an older brother to me. I was really happy when you guys got together."
Aqua nodded in agreement. She would've happily died in his place to save him if it came down to it. Then again, it would've been Terra mourning her death instead, and Terra was reckless at the best of times. And she knew from experience that recklessness and sorrow did not mix well.
"How are you feeling, by the way?" Ven asked suddenly.
She couldn't answer immediately. She felt… empty. But she didn't know how to describe it without sounding like a Nobody. When put in those terms, she didn't know how to feel about anything anymore. She tried to ask her heart—
Nothing.
Puzzled, she closed her eyes and tried to reach deep. But there was nothing there to reach, nothing but a infinitely deep well of darkness and nothing.
What the hell, she thought to herself, trying to keep her face as calm as possible. Something was wrong. She always felt the ache of losing Terra, but now she felt nothing.
"Ven, I—"
Ventus was gone, replaced by a tall man with silver hair and a somewhat-regal aura about him. Aqua jumped out of her seat, Keyblade in hand as she backed away.
He merely smiled. "You feel nothing," he started in a deep voice. "Aqua, your plight led me here. You no longer have a heart of your own."
"What are you doing here, Xemnas," she replied, Keyblade pointed at him. "We defeated you!"
Xemnas laughed as if he heard a joke. "Did you, now? I wonder."
Aqua rushed forward, swinging her Keyblade with precision at Xemnas' throat. The moment it made contact, however, it shattered, shards of metal falling to the floor like rain on pavement. Xemnas hadn't moved a muscle, as if he knew that attacking wouldn't work.
"It seems even your Keyblade has betrayed you," Xemnas said. He sounded sorrowful, but Aqua knew better. "How can you use a Keyblade without a heart? In the end, even that magical sword denies your existence."
He stood from the chair he was sitting in and faced Aqua more fully. Aqua backed up until she hit the wall behind her. Nothing was making sense; her heart was there before, fragmented but present. Even when Xehenort made her a vessel, she always felt her heart there, deep in the darkness. Now , no matter how far she reached, she couldn't find it.
"However, I can give you purpose," Xemnas continued. "I can give you answers. And when we finally become whole again and accept the darkness, we shall go together."
She stood, her back against the wall. The darkness inside of her was begging her to take his offer. She felt… lost.
"I—"
"Aqua, no!"
To her left, a set of armor ran at Xemnas and attacked him, his Keyblade knocking him through the wall out of view. Aqua looked more closely at the armor. It looked almost like… No, that was impossible. She saw him fall that day, saw the blood he spilt. Nothing was going to—
"Don't let him win, damn it!" The armor spoke in Terra's voice. "I know you're stronger than that!"
She shook her head, her chest beginning to ache. "I saw you die! You can't be real!"
The armor stood for a moment, as if contemplating his next move. The armor placed a cold hand on her cheek. "… I'm as real as the day I first kissed you."
From the corner of her eye, Aqua could see Xemnas climbing through the hole. "Must you really he such a thorn in my side?" he asked as he stood firmly on his feet.
Terra walked in front of Aqua, taking a protective stance. "Aqua, you have to wake up. Go see Master Yen Sid as soon as you can, okay?"
"What the hell do you mean 'wake up'?"
She jumped to a sitting position on her bed. Her body was drenched in sweat, her sleeping clothes clinging to her. Her heartbeat was pounding in her chest, and she was afraid of what was happening to her. But she jumped out of bed, took a shower, changed clothes and hugged Ventus the moment she saw him, a smile on her face the entire.
Terra was fighting even now, even after death. She still felt the touch of his hand on her cheek, felt his love in her heart. He was alive, maybe now a different way. But she would accept this for now, it was more than enough.
"Must've been a good dream for once," Ventus observed after a moment.
"It really was," she replied. As happy as she was, she had to listen to Terra. "But there is something we have to do now because of it."
Ven didn't ask questions. He simply nodded and watched as she walked away, presumably to prepare for the journey. "Thanks, Terra," he said to himself. "I owe you one. I swear we'll bring you back."
