Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Kingdom Hearts or Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid. I own nothing!

Chapter 7

Waiting was torture. Aqua was starting to think that it could even be worse than finally receiving the news she was anticipating. Not to mention how difficult it was pretending like nothing was wrong, pretending like everything was fine, that she didn't know what the King was planning. A part of her just wanted them to get it over so the torture would end.

The King was going to ask Terra to marry the Princess from Twilight Town to keep his daughters out of an arranged marriage and to keep peace within their kingdom.

She didn't know when or how he was going to ask this of him or what Terra would even say but she did know that she couldn't take any moment for granted. She would hold onto Terra as long as she could because her time with him was fleeting. She would go through her daily routine as if she weren't about to lose him, as if this situation couldn't potentially take him away from her, as if she wasn't about to lose him...

Deep down, Aqua knew Terra would accept. She knew because she knew Terra and he would do it so that the twins wouldn't have to and if the roles were reversed, she couldn't say that she would act any differently.

Everyone aside from her, the King, and Xehanort was completely oblivious of what was brewing. To them, it was just another day. Aqua watched as Kairi and Naminé went about their normal routines without a second thought and she envied their obliviousness. She would give almost anything to un-hear what she had heard but she couldn't let on like she knew. She had to act as though it was any other day and that her life didn't depend on what Terra chose to do or what the King blatantly told him to do…

The twins were off to their music lessons, leaving Aqua and the other ladies of waiting inside the palace with their daily chores.

Aqua began making the girls' beds and picking up their clothes and accessories that had been scattered across the room in their haste to prepare for their day. She went through the tasks as quickly as possible so she could get to Terra before the King or Xehanort did. She did so every day so she could extract as much time as she could with him. It was her way of prolonging the inevitable and trying in vain to keep him away from the potential betrothal. It was her way of combating this. It was the only way she knew how to fight it.

As Aqua finished up her chores in Naminé's room and moved on to begin the duties waiting for her in Kairi's room, she heard the massive door to their joined chamber opening. The door squeaked closed and the sound of footsteps approaching reverberated loudly across the girls' quarters. She wasn't sure whom it would be considering the twins weren't present and she was performing duties usually left for other servants. Aside from her, no one had any business within the princesses' room.

The mermaid continued her current task and placed some of the empty, discarded cups and plates that had been used for lunch onto their designated trays before preparing to address the visitor.

Wiping the crumbs off her hands, Aqua entered Naminé's side of the room and saw one of the last people she was hoping to see.

Xehanort stood stoically in the small room, his arms folded behind his back and his eyes boring into her, waiting patiently for her like a spider.

"Aqua," he greeted half-heartedly.

Reluctantly and with cold eyes, Aqua curtsied to the royal advisor.

"I know that the twins are not here but I am not here to speak with them. I am here to speak with you." Xehanort denied her eye contact. He acted as though she wasn't worthy of it and inspected the room for dust instead.

Aqua eyed the man but didn't make an effort to communicate with him. She knew he would say what he wanted and ignore her communication methods regardless.

"I am sure you are aware of the situation with Twilight Town?"

Aqua gave a short nod.

"You also know that an arranged marriage would be a peaceful way to help calm the disturbance and subdue the conflict." Xehanort grazed his finger across the nearby fireplace mantle before cynically inspecting it for dust.

Because this was more of a statement than a question, Aqua didn't give him response.

"And everyone here, except me, seems dead set against the princesses marrying anyone they do not love," Xehanort snorted and wiped the dust remnants off his ghostly gloves.

Aqua knew where this was going. She knew the moment it started so she only listened and tried to let on as though she knew nothing of this, as if she hadn't overheard his conversation with Ansem.

"So I offered the King another solution, one that involves Terra marrying the Princess from Twilight Town instead." The advisor's dark eyes cut to her from.

Aqua grimaced although she knew all of this already but it didn't make hearing it again any less painful, it didn't make hearing it said directly to her any less painful. Each time she heard it, it still felt like a sharp prick to her heart.

"Ansem seemed more willing to sacrifice Terra's feelings instead of those of his daughters and we will be speaking with Terra on the matter as soon as he returns this evening."

Xehanort was suddenly very close to her. Much closer than she was comfortable with and she instinctively took a few steps back but she didn't move quickly enough. He snatched her arm and yanked her towards him so he could glare down at her, so he could intimidate her.

"And if Terra agrees, you will stay away from him," he hissed, his face only a few inches from hers, his eyes burning into hers so fiercely she felt the urge to shield her eyes. "No more running off to the summit together, no more moonlight walks on the beach, no more late night conversations on the marble steps by the ocean, and no more reading! I do not want to see you anywhere near him."

Aqua glared at him. Her regal pride swelling at the audacity this man had to speak to her like this, to treat her like this. If she had her tongue, if she were still a princess, she would have given him a piece of her mind but she didn't have a tongue and she wasn't a princess in this world.

"I refuse to have this arrangement spoiled by something as insignificant as you and whatever it is that is budding between you and Terra. Whatever it is, if he agrees, it stops…immediately," Xehanort growled and his nostrils flared. Fear prickled in Aqua's chest. She was starting to think that perhaps Xehanort would take his frustrations out on her right then and there as if she had already done what he was feverishly telling her not to do.

"Do you understand?" his grip on her arm tightened and twisted, causing Aqua to grimace at the pain. "Understand?!" he howled and shook her by the arm he held.

Slowly, Aqua nodded.

"Good. Now dust this room. It is filthy," he scoffed before throwing her arm back at her so hard it caused her to stumble. The movement was so quick and unforgiving against her fragile feet it sent shots of pain through her soles, causing her legs to buckle. She crumbled to the ground and he didn't lift a finger to help her nor did he give her a second glance.

As Xehanort strolled out of the room, she could hear him cursing her under his breath, mumbling things about her frail, pathetic state.

Once he was gone, the pain only intensified but this pain wasn't in her feet, it was in her chest. It was her heart and she was struggling to breathe. She placed a hand on her chest and fought for her breath, for the fleeting life that coursed through her and weighed so heavily on the actions of another.

Terra hadn't even accepted the proposal yet and her curse was already reacting to the implications of it just as it reacted to the realization that he didn't love her yet but this pain was worse. It took even more of her breath and left her even more lightheaded. If the pain was this bad now, how bad would it be when Terra actually agreed to marry this girl? How bad would it be if he actually married her?

Just as Xehanort said, Terra was told that he must marry if the twins were to avoid an arranged marriage, that the beautiful daughter of the neighboring King from Twilight Town would be his wife; the princess would be his wife. The marriage would act as a treaty to prevent war and it would keep the twins out of a loveless marriage. It was supposed to be a good thing. It probably was a good thing but that didn't stop it from feeling like the worst thing ever.

"He can't do it!" Kairi cried.

"Either he does it or you have to," Tifa stated matter-of-factly. "That or we have a war on our hands."

"But he doesn't love her!" Kairi argued yet again.

"No, but unfortunately, that is usually the way these things work…" Aeirth said gently, her hands folded in her pink lap.

Aqua did her best to remain indifferent throughout all of this. Not being able to speak made that easier and she stared out the window at the ocean to keep her eyes from betraying her. She didn't want to make anyone feel any worse and she didn't want to be pitied.

The mermaid didn't react to the conversation at hand. A numbness had taken over with the acceptance of the inevitability that Terra would marry the other princess. She was at war with herself trying to find peace and dignity within this situation. Her resolve was thick and she would see this through. She began this journey knowing that this was a possibility and she accepted the risks fearlessly and she would see this through to the end in the same manner. She would accept this with grace, bravery, and poise. She wouldn't sully her last days by acting irrationally or impulsively. She wouldn't want them to remember her that way. She would want her memory, her legacy to be as lovely as her undersea garden.

"I could… I could marry Ven…" Naminé said softly, her hands gripping her sketchpad until her knuckles blanched. "I could probably learn to love him…"

That brought Aqua out of her stupor. Immediately, she rose to her feet and approached Naminé. She knelt down in front of her and shook her head rapidly.

As much as it pained her, and as much as she hated this, she still didn't wish a loveless marriage on the twins when they were still so young. She couldn't live with herself if that happened and she was sure Terra couldn't either.

Naminé's eyes began tearing. "But what about you? What about you and Terra?"

Aqua gave Naminé a sad smile and took one of her hands in hers. Again, she shook her head in an attempt to assure her that in comparison, it didn't matter.

"But it does matter!" Kairi wailed. "You love him…"

Bobbing her head in acknowledgement, Aqua concurred but still gave Kairi a stern look that voiced her resolve, her resolve to stay by Terra's side and support him no matter what. After all, wasn't that what real love was? Sometimes, acts of love weren't always black and white. Sometimes, acts of love had to be something different, something painful. Gran always said that real love wasn't impulsive or selfish and Aqua finally understood what she meant because she loved Terra enough that she would do anything for him. She loved him more than she loved herself and because of that, she could accept any pain that her love spawned.

"The King won't let you and Naminé marry now even if you did want to marry Ven or Vanitas. You are too young. He won't have it and by the time you are old enough…war could be on our doorstep…" said Tifa calmly.

Kairi sighed dejectedly and collapsed face first onto her bed. "It's not fair."

Tifa sat on the bed next to the princess and patted her shoulders before running her hands through her ruby tresses. "I know but that's how life is sometimes…and as a princess, you will have to learn that lesson quickly."

Aqua was reminded of her grandmother again. Tifa's words rang true and reminded her of a lot of the speeches Gran would give her about her future as a Queen and how there would be many things in life that she would just have to accept for the greater good. Perhaps those lessons were part of the reason she was able to take all of this as well as she was.

The room stilled. Naminé began drawing again and Kairi began sifting through her seashell collection. Once the twins were temporarily sated, Aqua returned to her perch in front of the window and began gazing out at the ocean again.

"Aqua," Aeirth called as she approached her.

Aqua tore her eyes from the ocean to look at the young healer, her brow rising skeptically at her tone.

"Are you all right? You look pale…" Aerith reached out and placed the back of her hand on her forehead then placed her fingers on the pulse point in her neck.

Aqua desperately hoped Aerith wouldn't catch on to her worsening condition. She hoped that they would just think that her sadness was the source of her ailment and in a way, it was but her ailment wasn't anything natural. It was a curse, magic taking the shape of an actual human disease to hide its true origin.

She couldn't fool Aeirth. She was too good at her craft and she realized that Aqua's state wasn't solely emotional. Aerith knew something else was wrong with her but seeing it wouldn't change the fact that it couldn't be cured. Aqua appreciated the concern nonetheless even if it was for naught.

The seawitch's words swam around in her head like eels, slithering through the wrinkles in her brain and delving into the tender tissue while Aeirth talked about potential causes and remedies, things to help with the 'episodes' where she grew weak, short of breath, and struggled to walk…

'I will help you and let you have your way because it will bring you even more unbearable sorrow, my pretty princess. It will amuse me to watch you suffer.'

The witch was right. Her actions had brought her even more sorrow but this sorrow was different than the sorrow she experienced in the underworld. This pain was completely new but it hurt just as much if not more.

The news of betrothal and an arranged marriage began swarming around the kingdom like wildfire, which made the announcement all the more real. Aqua could already feel her heart breaking; it was what made her weaker, and frailer by the day. With each rumor, with each passing moment that pulled her farther and farther away from Terra, she felt more and more like she was about to breathe her last.

Things had been going so well… She often mused how close she had been, how happy she had been, how happy they had been together… She had been so close to getting everything she dreamed of but it didn't matter now. Their relationship didn't matter now. Terra accepted and once he accepted, Xehanort publically demanded they separate. They could no longer be together. Moral obligation came first and Aqua understood that. She could not stand in the way of Terra's obligation or what he felt he had to do, what he wanted to do. She could not selfishly stand in the way of peace, peace that was desperately needed between these kingdoms. She would stand down. She would relent even if it meant her life. She would stand back and watch. She would watch him selflessly and nobly take this woman as his wife for his King, for his kingdom, for those he cared for, for everyone but himself, and she would support him.

Aqua didn't feel like the only mute in the castle anymore. It seemed that Terra had also lost his ability to speak. He hadn't spoken a word since the news of his betrothal and she was afraid to talk to him, afraid she might break some unspoken rule, upset him further, or unknowingly make all of this worse. They exchanged glances when they crossed paths but he would not communicate with her. It hurt too much. Aqua couldn't speak, even if she could, she probably wouldn't. What was there to say? What could they say? They would only utter things that would hurt them.

However, because they lived in the same castle, interaction was unavoidable. On her way to see the library, she stumbled upon him, standing over the railing of the castle, blankly staring down at the waters flowing below them.

Aqua timidly approached him and opened her mouth to speak, momentarily forgetting that she couldn't. Her mouth closed and she held her tongue, eyes falling to the ground as anguish began to choke her.

Sensing her presence, Terra glanced over his shoulder at her. His eyes met hers momentarily before they gazed back over the railing.

"I guess you've heard by now…" Terra sighed and stared up at the orange afternoon sky. "I wanted to tell you but I couldn't find the right time or the right words… I just avoided it and hoped that somehow it would present itself or come to me but it never did…"

He held his head down, shaking it and looking completely at a loss. It must have been contagious because she was suddenly at a loss for what to do as well.

"I understand if you hate me. You probably aren't the only one who does. I know the twins aren't happy with me..."

It was true. The twins weren't happy. Although this was for their benefit as well as the benefit of their kingdom, they were still not happy with the sacrifice that had to be made, the sacrifice Terra was making but there wasn't much choice. They had to accept it just like everyone else did.

If Aqua could speak, she would have told him that she didn't hate him and that the twins just needed time and would appreciate what he was doing for them, eventually...

"Do you hate me?" he asked, turning slightly to look at her.

Politely, Aqua shook her head.

"No?" he inquired and chuckled bitterly. "I kind of wish you did. It wouldn't make me feel as bad."

Silence.

"I have to marry her." Terra placed his hands on his hips and began pacing. "But I'm not doing it because I want to. If I married anyone, I would marry…" his voice trailed off and she looked away when she felt his eyes on her.

She knew what he was going to say but since he was practically engaged, he could not say it aloud anymore. They couldn't have that kind of relationship anymore. It was not appropriate. Their interactions had to be brief, friendly, and strictly platonic.

Terra approached her and gripped her chin, gently angling her head up and towards his, forcing her look at him. "If I had the choice…I would choose you."

Before she could object and look at him sternly for saying such things, he kissed her. She started to push him away because as good as his kiss felt, it also stung. It stung because she could no longer be his, not truly, nor could he be hers.

Her hands met his biceps so she could push him away but she couldn't do it. Her hands flattened against the muscles beneath the armor, her fingers curling on the metal so she could pull him closer. Finally, she closed her eyes and relented in spite of the lovely sting the kiss caused. Terra's hands found her hair and his thumbs stroked her neck, giving her chills.

When the kiss ended, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to him. The embrace felt a lot like a goodbye or a denouement and it probably was.

He rested his cheek on her head and she pressed her ear to his heart. Aqua closed her eyes and squeezed his waist, feeling his heart pounding against her ear. Her heart pounded weakly in response as she pretended she could experience true human happiness and still obtain immortal heart like the one she heard thundering in Terra's chest.

Staring out at the water, she tried to remember what her home looked like. The mermaid stared out at the water until she thought she could distinguish her father's castle, and even her grandmother with her silver crown on her white head. She tried to will her eyes to see that far beneath the water's surface, deep, deep down, much too far for human eyes to see. It was an impossible feat to try to see what rested beneath the surface but that didn't stop her from trying or even finding comfort in the images her mind tricked her into thinking she saw.

Xion gazed at her mournfully but Aqua just smiled at her when their eyes met. She wanted to tell her that she was still happy and how well off she was; but she couldn't. It was impossible and it would also be a lie.

"I…I heard that…a Keyblade bearer will be marrying a princess from a nearby kingdom…" Xion began meekly.

Aqua peered down at Xion blankly before nodding.

"It's Terra, isn't it? He is the one that is going to marry the princess." Aqua could tell by the way Xion spoke that she already knew the answer so she didn't bother to nod.

After that, Xion didn't say anything else. They basked in each others company but no longer tried to communicate. It made her feel a lot better to simply have her old friend there but Aqua knew that Xion was probably trying to figure a way to fix this, to help her. However, Xion's silence suggested she was unable to find a solution or that she had come to one but not one she was willing to share with Aqua.

Eventually, they said their goodbyes as they always did and Aqua wanted to tell her to not do anything rash, to not do something like go to the seawitch but she couldn't. Aqua could only hope that Xion would remember the silent request she made the first night she came to visit her, that she would remember how she didn't want her going anywhere near the seawitch. No good would ever come from seeing her. Even in a situation as dire as hers, one was better off without the kind of help she offered.

Her name was Leyla and it was told that she was to be brought to the castle. She would come so she and Terra could get acquainted with one another before they married.

Aqua dreaded her arrival although Terra had told her that he had no intention of loving Leyla. He said that could not love her and that his relationship with Leyla was only professional in his eyes. He tried to explain that what he felt for her would not change because of this arrangement. Although, he didn't explain what exactly it was that he felt for her. He cherished her, yes. She was dear to him, yes, but he did not love her… Even if he did, it obviously wasn't enough…

Terra said a lot of things in regard to Leyla but Aqua was very unsure if they would hold up once she arrived. He would probably grow to love her even if he had no intention of loving her. Love wasn't something that one could control. Love did not listen to intention. Love wouldn't care if he had no intention of loving her. Leyla would likely be kind and beautiful with features that would be easy to love. Leyla would be able to speak…

In spite of everything, sometimes, Aqua still hoped that she could maybe obtain Terra's love before their wedding and it would somehow be enough to save her and give her a heart… No, she couldn't have Terra as a husband but if she could just get the kind of love from him the witch described before he wedded Leyla…

It was a small chance, a faint glimmer of hope but it kept her from drowning in despair, it kept her going, and it kept her hope alive. However, it would be all but impossible once Leyla arrived. It would be hard getting that kind of love out of a man who had a soon to be fiancée clinging to him. It would be hard getting that kind of love when they rarely saw each other…

"You will help Leyla get situated here and you will also help her with whatever she needs. As long as she is here, you will act as her lady in waiting," Xehanort spat as he showed Aqua the room where Leyla would be residing.

Aqua had come to terms with the fact that Xehanort loved giving her unsavory and unpleasant tasks simply because she didn't have the tongue to talk back or to state that she didn't want to do them.

"Understand?"

Emotionlessly, Aqua nodded although she really wanted to insist that Tifa or Olette take care of Leyla.

"However, foundling, you are in luck. You won't have to take care of Leyla until after the ball Ansem is throwing in her honor. The festivals that are being held for her beforehand will keep her busy and out of the palace for a while but once she sets foot on these grounds, you are not to leave her side unless you are instructed otherwise."

In other words, Leyla was something to keep her busy and to keep her and Terra from spending any time alone together.

"I also want this room to be spotless before she arrives so you should get started on that as soon as possible. Oh, and don't worry about the princesses. Tifa and Olette will manage just fine in your absence until Leyla departs." Xehanort began walking towards the door. "I will be back shortly to make sure the room is in order."

Once Xehanort was out of earshot, Aqua stuck her tongue out at him, causing the servants that had accompanied them into the room to chuckle into their hands or hide their snickers by looking away.

After venting some of her frustration, Aqua sighed and motioned for the servants to start cleaning the room.

As expected, the room was bigger than hers but the dominant color in this room was gold. The white carpet was rich and lush and Aqua had to resist the urge to slip off her shoes and delve her toes into it.

The bedspread was creamy with streaks and spirals of gold running through it and the walls were outlined in intricate golden designs. It was a room fit for a princess. The only rooms that were bigger were those of the King and the princesses.

Oddly enough, this room reminded Aqua of her room back home. It was a bit smaller and didn't have any fish swimming through it but both rooms had more space than was necessary, more space than anyone would know what to do with and windows that were twice the size of normal doors and a bathroom that was three times the size of servant's quarters.

Absentmindedly, Aqua roamed through the room and did a mental inventory of everything it had and everything it lacked. It was full of unnecessary extravagance. It had many mirrors, colorful yet dusty paintings, a small golden music box that played a whimsical tune, and a closet full of dresses but there were no shoes.

Aqua noted that Leyla would need shoes and jewelry placed in the room as well. She also noted that she should put some fresh flowers in the room since the current flowers were old, brown, and wilted.

She took the old flowers out of the tawny vase and threw them into a nearby waste can. While doing so she noticed that there was a bookshelf in this room as well. She glanced at the titles and noticed there weren't any of her favorites inside. She didn't know if Leyla even liked to read, but she would be kind and bring some of her favorite books for her regardless although she had no idea why she would do such a thing for the woman that was taking the man she loved away.

When Leyla arrived, the town held festivals for her and the King was to hold a ball for her in the palace. The first few days with her were nothing but an endless string of entertainments. However, Aqua had not seen her yet. She heard gossip about her but she hadn't seen her up close nor had she been formally introduced to her.

Ventus had begged her to go to the festival with him but she had continually refused. She could tell he wanted to spend time with her and Terra again and that he wanted to mend their relationship by convincing her to go to this festival but she just couldn't go. As much as she wanted things to return to the way they were and as much as she wanted to go and solve the mystery of what the humans called a festival, she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She loved Ven and she seeing things that belonged to the human world, but what the festival represented and whom it was for was just too much. Instead of going with everyone else, she stayed in the palace library with her books.

Aqua knew that after the ball, she would be seeing plenty of Leyla and because of that, she wanted to avoid the interaction as long as possible. However, as much as she hated to admit it, the avoidance was about to end. The ball being held in the palace was that night and she would attend. There was no getting around it.

The room was silent while the twins continued to get ready. Aqua was already dressed in her pale blue dress with a little rouge on her cheeks and sparkling heels on her tender feet. She was prepared but she was anxious, very anxious. Her nerves coiled and she fidgeted while sitting on Kairi's bed.

The mermaid was nervous to see if Leyla was as beautiful as everyone said. The shallow, cruel part of herself wanted Leyla to be ugly and cruel. A part of her didn't want anyone to like her but she had yet to hear anyone speak unkindly of her.

"She is nice," Naminé admitted shyly. "I didn't really want to like her but she is nice."

"She isn't as nice as Aqua," Kairi argued, causing Aqua to smile. "Or as pretty."

"No but at least she isn't a female Vanitas," Naminé countered and Kairi cringed.

"Good point. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Especially since Aqua will have to take care of her while she stays here. That should make your life a little easier," Kairi said with a smile and Aqua smiled back. It was a forced smile but a smile nonetheless.

Aqua knew that the twins were trying to make her feel better but it wasn't really working since she couldn't decide what she wanted this girl to be like. She did know that she didn't want to like her but she also knew that she wanted Terra to be happy and she wanted him to have a good wife even if it wasn't her. However, that didn't keep her from wanting Leyla to be unlovable. But in the end, she supposed it didn't really matter. Regardless of what she looked like or acted like, Aqua would still have to accept that Leyla would be Terra's wife.

The ballroom was buzzing and the sounds were deafening. It was massive and full of blinding chandeliers, shiny floors, gushing fountains, and huge marble columns covered in spiraling foliage. Tables covered in silky, sheer tablecloths and insurmountable amounts of food were scattered throughout the enormous space and three thrones where Ansem, Namine, and Kairi would sit were placed at the front of the room atop a flight of marble stairs.

Drinks were flowing and people were talking, eating, dancing and celebrating. It was a lot like being at a ball back home. There were distinct differences between the two worlds but she still found similarities in the way they communicated and danced.

Aqua stayed close to Ventus and when she danced, he was the one she danced with. Dancing, like many other things, was unpleasant but that didn't keep her from doing so and doing so well. It was just as the witch said it would be. She could dance better than most humans. She put human dancers to shame. Her grace and movements were otherworldly, she moved in a way that was unknown to humans but she could only do so for so long. Eventually, the agony in her feet would become too much or she would become short of breath and she would have to sit down but Ven, Tifa, Olette, or Aeirith were always kind enough to sit with her.

The ball wasn't all bad. Aqua was able to find enjoyment with the others she had come to know in the palace. She was able to laugh with them and smile and forget about the weight on her shoulders for a while. She was able to enjoy being human and living in that magical world. That was, until she finally saw her and realized what they said about her was true.

Leyla glided through the room regally, almost angelically and was greeted by hoard after hoard of people and she smiled warmly at each of them. Everyone wanted to meet her and catch a glimpse of the girl who would marry Terra, the princess from Twilight Town, the girl whose beauty was well known.

It was true. She was beautiful, clad in a dress that mimicked the white of fresh snow. Aqua had never seen a more perfect vision of human beauty. Her skin was delicately fair, and beneath her long dark eyelashes her laughing blue eyes shone with truth and purity. Her hair was so blonde it was almost white. It shone like diluted gold and it rolled down her back in waves all the way to her subtle, graceful hips. Instinctively, Aqua's hands went to her own stubby locks that seemed to pale in comparison.

As Aqua looked her over, she slowly began to recognize this girl. She was…familiar somehow but she couldn't place how. She wasn't close enough to her to get a good look at her. Did she know her or did she just favor someone she knew?

Leyla was latched to Terra's side, her arm looped through his as he escorted her through the ballroom and he looked…happy.

Leyla looked up at him with a large, bright smile on her face and whispered something in his ear that caused both of them to chuckle. Terra's eyes brightened as he peered down at her and smiled.

When Aqua saw his smile, she instantly knew who this girl was. It was…her. It was the girl who found him on the shore, the girl he smiled at when he regained consciousness on the beach. She was the girl who Aqua had given Terra to before. Leyla was the girl Terra thought saved his life.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading!

It has been a long time guys but I am back and I would like to welcome you to the angst-filled, bitter portion of this story! And hooray for cliffy chapter endings and plot twists! Congratulations to anyone who hasn't read the story and figured out that the princess aka Leyla is also the girl from the first chapter who helped Terra after Aqua was forced to leave him on the shore! Kudos.

So this is where things get darker but I will not be getting Hans Christian Anderson dark! (I'll save that kind of angst for my M stories :P) So rest easy, my faithful readers!

Also, I had a question from one of my awesome reviewers. They asked about Sora and Riku and if they will be making an appearance in this story. I don't want to spoil anything but I can say that more characters will be showing up as this story progresses! I won't/can't include everyone (the story I'm basing this story on doesn't have that kind of depth) but there will definitely be more appearances.

Thanks again for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!