Uuuh… There were things I thought about doing further in Twilight, but then chose not to. Also, I reviewed VtD Ch 39. That chapter still mostly works, but it's really rough in hindsight after developing the canon cast (esp. the Wayfinders) more in these stories. OTL I again had a rough time with the chapter so I apologize if it's weird, I did remove small pieces. Unraveling Ventus's past by inches and drama ahoy.
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It was late afternoon when Ventus and Isa joined with the others once more, deciding it was time to eat. Isa was more than a little impressed with Ventus's ability to retain information through skimming the way he did, while Ventus was disappointed in some of the information he'd gathered. He'd managed to confirm that Twilight Town used to be called Twilight Hills, and that was enough for now. He wasn't just imagining it.
After eating at La Grand Bistro, Ventus tried Sea Salt ice cream and instantly hated it, but pushed through it with as close to a neutral face he could manage while Riku hid his knowing look behind a mango ice cream bar. Hayner and Olette did a few rounds of struggle to show him the ropes, and then Roxas and Xion goaded him into performing a ball juggle. Xion showed off first, and then Ventus tried it out.
The fact he was able to go on so long with a reverse grip using a struggle bat brought in some spectators, but eventually he had to flip it into standard grip.
Lea rubbed his shoulder when Ventus finally finished at a 207 streak, "Isn't the bat too light?"
Ventus blinked, as he did a quick glance at the bat still in his hand in an awkward standard grip, "Uuuuh, Wayward Wind is about the same weight…"
The others balked at this, the Twilight Trio becoming interested in this as Hayner asked, "Really?! Keyblades always seemed really heavy or awkward."
Ventus shrugged, "Everyone has their own weight preferences. Aqua would probably find these a little too light and too short, and Terra…" He made a face, "He'd be bored and probably just volley the ball bare handed."
Hayner crossed his arms, "But using the bat is more impressive.."
Ventus shrugged, "I'm sure he'd just use his Keyblade instead."
Roxas hummed, "The bats are kinda light… Even Kingdom Key weighs more, and that's pretty light compared to the other Keychains…"
Xion nodded in agreement as Ventus contemplated that. "My Lost Memory Keychain might be lighter than Wayward Wind, but… it's a lot pointier, so it definitely wouldn't work for this game."
Lea huffed, "You kids and your multiple Keychains..."
Ventus tilted his head confused, "I mean, they kind of just happen if you've had your Keyblade long enough… though I guess they kind of just... formed from bonds made along the way on our journeys?" He ruffled his hair, "Some Keychains appear more often than others."
Lea sighed as he shook his head, "Roxas had a ton of them…"
Roxas smiled, "I've still got them all…"
Ventus brightened as he went over to his twin, "Really? How many?"
Roxas hummed, "...Like.. at least 15?"
Ventus was taken slightly aback, "Wh-huh?!"
Roxas laughed, "I mean, Sora's had a number of Keychains throughout his journey, so I'm not the only one to have so many…"
"Oh… right."
Riku stretched, "Well, if you're all done, I think we should grab the few things Aqua and Terra asked for and get going."
The group nodded as Lea slumped, "When am I gonna get the chance to train…"
Isa rolled his eyes as the others chuckled at his expense.
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A few more weekends passed as usual. Aqua finally gave her blessing to allow Lea the chance to visit the Land of Departure for a single day's lesson after Roxas and Xion pleaded his case (in truth, Roxas's resemblance to Ventus, and subsequently sad shiny eyes forced her hand).
Aqua was only able to handle Lea's personality and subsequent commentary about Castle Oblivion for a few hours before she was forced to excuse herself for the rest of the day. Ventus decided to go along with her and leave things to Terra as the second eldest and more responsible of the group.
It unfortunately took Ventus some time to locate Aqua before he found her in his usual nook in the Library, basking in the sun from the window. He raised an eyebrow, "Lea's just too much for you, huh?"
Aqua sighed heavily, "He keeps bringing up how things were before… and I understand it's a really big change, but it just makes me think… maybe asking if Naminé would like to visit might have been more than insensitive."
Ventus frowned as he thought it over, "Well, Riku did say he'd mention it…"
She smiled bitterly, "Most people don't want to go back to the place that mentally scarred them."
The blond focused on her and studied her lazy posture, the way she looked towards the window in longing.
Something wasn't completely right.
"...But you do?"
Aqua tensed as she whipped her head towards him, her eyes almost appearing lighter in what may have been paranoia. She quickly hid her face from him, "Wh-what makes you say that?"
Ventus took in and exhaled a soft long breath before carefully moving closer to her as he placed his hand lightly on the desk, watching her, "You and I both have a hard time sleeping… but you patrol a lot."
Aqua held her hands close, clenched as she looked away in shame, "I… It's strange. I longed to leave that place, yet, now that I'm back… I can't help but wonder if what we're doing here has any meaning."
Ventus raised an eyebrow as he softly asked, "What do you mean?"
Aqua took a moment to collect her thoughts, "What… what if Sora were trapped in the Dark Realm like I was, unable to leave?"
Ventus tilted his head, "But Aqua… He's been there before. He even got in to save you, right?"
Aqua sighed shakily as her eyes became glossy, "I know it's foolish… but I was down there for what ended up being over ten years. Sometimes I lay awake at night wondering if he's down there all alone like I was… What if his Heart isn't strong enough after all he went through to save Kairi?" All of them, really.
Ventus's chest ached at the thought, understanding Aqua's concerns, "But… Even if he were to be down there. You know Terra and I would never allow you to go by yourself."
She smiled as a few tears escaped her, "I know. It's why I didn't say anything before. I didn't think…" She paused as if to rephrase, "You're a Heart of pure Light, Ven. What if being down there is too much for you?"
He frowned as he spoke with some authority, "Then that's my problem to figure out. I refuse to be separated from either of you in such a way again."
Aqua looked at him in slight shock at his tone. Ventus looked away from her and cleared his throat with a shuffle before speaking softly, "Also, I think us being here does have meaning. Riku, Roxas, Xion… they've learned a lot of things they had no way of knowing before. Isn't the Land of Departure supposed to be a place to nurture and gather Keyblade Wielders? Where else can they so easily train and challenge themselves without having to fight for their lives all the time or hide it?"
Aqua released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding with a small smile, "I guess you're right about that." She wiped her eyes with a light sniff, "Sorry, Ven. I didn't mean…" She sighed, "I've had too much time to think."
He observed her for a long moment before slowly smiling, "I understand." He moved closer to her as she looked at him curiously. He extended his arms slightly, "Do you need a hug?"
Aqua laughed lightly as she nodded, allowing him to hug her as she buried her face into his chest, unable to find it in herself to stand just then. She was just so tired of being strong and tall, so allowing herself to be coddled a little was a novelty. She felt one of his arms wrap around her shoulders as his other hand gently ran through her hair. She held onto the back of his jacket, unable to keep from crying softly as she realized just how little she understood about her position.
Sure, they had read through Master Eraqus's notes, but he hadn't been able to leave behind anything specific related to the subject. He hadn't been able to mentor her in the ways she needed to understand her duties. To be guided and eased into the position.
Aqua was expected to be perfect and capable at whatever was handed to her, and it was simply too much.
She was alone in her title. Sure, Riku was also a Master, but he was given the title by Yen Sid and his duties were entirely different. The Land of Departure was her sole responsibility, and she was simply too young and immature to have to carry the weight of the literal World on her shoulders.
If she were perfectly honest, Terra understood the Land of Departure far more than she, having been there for the majority of his twenty years (Xehanort not-withstanding).
The Earth here welcomed him back with open arms and a humming embrace.
The Water here resisted her and judged her, while singing strange melodies.
Aqua sniffed as she slowly came out of her self loathing, "Does the wind spurn you, Ven?"
Ventus furrowed his brows as he pulled away slightly, placing his hands on her shoulders as he examined her in concern. Gently he wiped away what was left of her tears and handed her a tissue as he contemplated his answer, "Not at all, why?" If he were to dare speak it, he'd almost say it sang love songs to him now.
Aqua held the tissue at her nose, almost as if she wanted to hide behind it as she refused to meet his eyes, "The Water doesn't embrace me like it used to." She took in a breath as she finally looked up at him, "What if I'm just too tainted from the Darkness that almost overtook me?"
Ventus frowned as he thought over what he knew of that situation, "Tell me what happened."
Aqua watched him for a moment before slowly nodding as she sat back into the chair, finally taking the tissue away from her face. She sat with her head bowed, feeling tired and defeated, "I'd tried to protect a friend I'd found in the Dark Realm. It turned out to be Ansem the Wise… I no longer had a Keyblade to protect myself with, and we'd been sitting on those shores for a long time…" She fiddled her fingers, "Then a man came- Ansem Seeker of Darkness, I guess? He was in the Real Organization…" She gripped her hands together, "I tried to fight him off with just martial arts… but then his shadow...thing that was actually Terra? It caught me by the leg and dangled me in the air. Ansem the Wise pleaded for the man to leave me alone, but he decided as a gift to throw me into the watery abyss as he also threw some huge ball of Darkness at me. As I sunk a horrible oily Darkness enveloped me, bringing me to a lower level of the Dark Realm as it eroded my mind and warped my appearance. By the time I got back to the surface, my hair had started to turn white, black had stained my clothes, and a strange scaly-black coating began to form on my arms and legs. I was losing my humanity in my feelings of never ending despair. My fingers had even turned red, and when I think of it… It reminds me of Vanitas."
She bowed her head in shame, covering her face, "Even now… I don't understand what the Darkness is. However, what I do know is that it erodes, corrupts, and is relentless in stomping out hope. It's greedy, and it took over so quickly, after I'd been fighting it for so long. I lost to its allure, Ven. The songs of that Dark Water, that pulled me ever further and deeper… It was almost addicting."
Ventus was quiet for a long time as he let her mourn. He… somehow he understood the pain of this. This loss of innocence, and invasion of his understanding of himself. Tears gathered in his eyes as his chest ached in empathy. He knew this self-loathing, for allowing the Darkness to creep in.
But Aqua had been saved from harming anyone outside of herself.
He… he hadn't had anyone to save him from his own loneliness.
Ventus bit his lip, trying to keep his Memories from interfering with this moment. This was about helping Aqua, not unraveling his own confusing fog of Memories.
But the pigtailed ghost that had looked at him in his hazy White World stuck out.
He took in a sharp breath, "Aqua." He gently took her by the wrists and pulled her hands away from her face, causing her to look up at him in a way that was so terribly lost.
So terribly childish and naive, a terror of the world and herself clear in her eyes as she became strangely small.
"We may never fully understand Darkness. It's not a simple thing. Even Riku can't say he naturally came to control his Darkness. Sure, he accepted it, but a freak accident changed him for the better. He may not be afraid of it, but its mark is clear and permanent. Yet." He held her hands firmly, "You aren't tainted anymore, Aqua. The Darkness fell away that had corrupted you. Sure, you still have your natural darkness, but so does everyone but the Seven Princesses."
Aqua glanced away from him as she bitterly spoke, "Not you Ven."
He grit his teeth as he very slightly tightened his grip on her wrists as he spoke in a way that had no room for argument. "Aqua. I'm not natural."
Aqua flinched as she looked up at him desperately, "But isn't it so much easier to not be tempted by Darkness?!"
Ventus released her as he took a half step back, bitter and frustrated at himself and the situation as he spoke flat and dark, "Who's to say I'm not just that much more susceptible to being manipulated by the Darkness without a natural defense to it?"
Aqua gasped, "That's not possible Ven!"
He took another step back as he half turned away from her, "If that's the case, then where did Vanitas come from? 'Cause he came from me. If what Chirithy's said means anything… that my Heart was always Pure Light, then where did such a pure Darkness originate from if it wasn't from my own Heart?" He turned his face away from her, "It wasn't me, but my hands are stained because of it anyway."
Aqua sat frozen as they both went silent.
Ventus huffed as he released the tension in his body before looking back to her tired, "I'll follow you into the Dark Realm even if it's a death sentence, Aqua. I couldn't stay behind, not after everything Sora did for me, even if he didn't know. So… if you do decide that's what you want to do… just know that together we're stronger. Terra and I will follow you, so don't run off on us." He smiled bitterly, "I'm the best runaway there is, I'll find you and drag you back."
Aqua frowned, "Ven."
Ventus shook his head, "I might've been wrong before, but in the end, I'll still do whatever I have to for my friends."
He turned and left her there, the small comfort he'd provided her having gone long cold as she contemplated his words.
She was far too afraid to ask if he understood what he'd said as she lightly traced where that Memory had scraped her with her scythe.
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Terra, Lea, Riku, Roxas, and Xion stood at the entranceway. The brunette sighed as he could sense the tension in the Castle and ruffled his hair.
Lea raised an eyebrow, "I know Aqua doesn't like me that much, but…"
Terra turned to him, "That's not it." The redhead gave him a look as Terra rolled his eyes, "This is a different tension, trust me."
Lea stared at him for a long moment, "What, you think she had a fight with Ven?"
Terra smiled bitterly, "Not exactly." He really hadn't tried this, though he supposed it was worth a shot. He thought it over as he placed his hands on his hips. Eventually he nodded to himself before dropping his arms and raising his head and blatantly asking the Castle, "Where's Aqua?"
He almost heard a soft giggle as he lowered his gaze in front of him just as a familiar Memory appeared. The others were startled (Lea more dramatically) by her appearance. Silver hair tied up to the side, cat-like smirk, black and grey clothes. Terra was almost struck with grief all over again before he smiled slightly, "Urd."
She nodded, her brown eyes kind-yet-mischievous. It's about time someone tried that trick.
Terra raised an eyebrow as Xion shuffled forward as she glanced between the Memory and Terra, "Who's she?"
Terra crossed his arms, "One of Master Eraqus's Memories… a classmate of his."
Lea grimaced, understanding how she was barely older than the kids. Certainly younger than himself when she must have…
Urd smirked at his understanding before motioning with her arm, I'll take you to Aqua, Terra.
The brunette nodded as he turned to the others, "I'll be back."
They nodded as the Memory and Terra left them there. Lea whistled, "Well. Wish I'd known just how much the Castle was watching while I was here…" A familiar sounding chuckle resounded in a haunting manner as a black coated figure appeared. Lea jumped and nearly called for Flame Liberator when he froze. "Z-Zexion!?"
The silver haired teen's image stood in front of them. A hand positioned in front of his mouth in mirthful thought, 'Surprise you, did I Axel?'
Lea grimaced, "Unfortunately." It made him queasy in retrospect what he'd made happen to their younger member simply to get him out of the way.
Zexion chuckled as he shifted, 'The Castle would greatly appreciate it if you brought this Memory's present self, Ienzo so that it can rewrite the present image presented to you.' the Memory motioned with his arm, 'If the child that had been born within these walls is to ever visit, it would cause her undue harm to see this image. The Castle has been able to update some of the available Data due to the lessons over Gummi phone, but without the actual individual in question, the shape cannot be adjusted.'
Lea slowly took that in as Riku frowned, "You're talking about Naminé, aren't you."
The Memory of the Schemer nodded, 'Quite.'
Lea clicked his teeth, "If you can bring up the Memory of Zexion… then that means you can bring up anyone from those of us who were sent to Castle Oblivion, right?"
The Memory nodded.
Riku caught onto Lea's train of thought as the redhead continued, "Then I hope you know not to ever show the Memories of Marluxia or Larxene."
Zexion's Memory processed that for a moment as he placed a hand under his chin again, 'Ah… Lauriam and Elrena. Of course not. I know not what happened to those two for them to become so cruel, but other than noting their appearances, the Castle had no need to record their Data. It has, however, been witness to their cruelty and will discipline them appropriately.'
Roxas and Xion were left completely lost while Riku and Lea tried to understand just what it was the Castle was saying. Despite not being sure, Roxas spoke, "You know Marluxia and Larxene's Somebodies?"
The Memory nodded, 'Yes, their Data was recorded along with a few others, including that of Ventus at the Castle's founding.'
The four were floored by this. Riku took a step forward, "What exactly does that mean?"
The Memory sighed as he looked away from them, 'Truthfully that is not of present importance, I was simply brought up to guide someone to Ventus. The Castle is always aware of those within it, but none more than Ventus at this time. I apologize for going off track.' Zexion's Memory almost seemed embarrassed.
Roxas and Xion looked to one another before nodding. Xion stepped forward, "We'll go."
The Memory nodded, he gave a final glance to Riku and Lea, 'Please bring Ienzo soon. Perhaps if Naminé is willing to come here once more, they could come together if it's agreeable?'
Riku agreed, "I'll bring it up."
The Castle found that amicable and motioned with his arm towards the staircase. Roxas and Xion were quick to follow him.
Unfortunately, other than the Library, Ventus's primary hiding place was at the topmost tower. Despite how fit the two were, Xion and Roxas were winded by the time they reached the area. They nearly collapsed for a moment as the Memory softly apologized to them and disappeared.
When they were finally able to move again, the two pulled themselves up and looked around. They were quick to find him and became concerned.
Ventus was on the floor near the window, tightly curled around Chirithy as he buried his face into its head as it silently tried to console him. Roxas and Xion went over to him and carefully kneeled on either side of him as Xion gently placed her hand on his forearm on his right, "Ven…"
Ventus sniffed, "S-sorry." His voice was muffled as he refused to look at them, "I got frustrated with Aqua."
Roxas frowned as he settled himself into a more comfortable position on the floor, "That… seems unusual for you, Ven."
Ventus nodded, "I didn't mean to get frustrated with her…"
Xion smiled sadly, "But it's ok if friends get mad sometimes."
Ventus smiled to himself as he felt Chirithy pat his chest lightly, "Yeah. It just feels worse after everything we've been through, y'know?"
Roxas smirked, "Well, sure."
Xion shifted into a more comfortable position as she tilted her head, "Wanna talk about it?"
"No." Ventus sighed before he sniffed, "But I guess I will." He pulled back and wiped his face as Chirithy nuzzled his chest a bit, "Aqua brought up the fact that I don't have to deal with darkness in my Heart 'cause I'm a Heart of pure Light… and I got mad."
Xion frowned as Roxas slowly nodded, "Why?"
Ventus pursed his lips as he stared down at Chirithy and began to pet its head, he spoke softly, "Because I don't think it makes me stronger… and she thinks less of herself because she succumbed to the Darkness." He tried to gather his thoughts again, "I'm not strong. Having only Light isn't better, and honestly, I hate it that she thinks so negatively of herself when she fought for ten whole years before she was… forced to succumb like that." Ventus grit his teeth, "It wasn't even her fault!" Tears of frustration gathered in his eyes as he bowed his head, "She's so much like me when…" His breath shuddered, "She shouldn't blame herself for that."
He smiled bitterly, "Aqua's already suffered enough."
Roxas furrowed his brows as he thought that over, "And you haven't?"
Chirithy tapped Ventus's cheek lightly in annoyance, "That's not fair, Ven."
Ventus smiled, "But it doesn't change the fact that I'm not natural… and because of that, the Darkness was able to use me to do something that can't be undone."
Chirithy bowed its head, unable to refute that. Ventus sighed as he leaned back. He closed his eyes, "Roxas…"
"Huh?"
"Where was it you showed up when you first came to be, again?"
Roxas frowned, "Twilight Town… why?"
Ventus smiled as he opened his eyes, "Does it feel like home to you?"
Slowly the blond nodded, "Well… yeah. It's where Axel, Xion, and I would eat ice cream… it's where I met Hayner, Pence, and Olette… I wouldn't be who I am without all of them and the things we went through."
Ventus nodded slowly as he spoke softly, "I was born in Twilight Hills a long… long time ago."
Xion frowned as Roxas questioned, "And?"
Ventus looked at him sadly, "Twilight Hills and Twilight Town are the same World… just at completely different points in time."
Roxas frowned, "...So?"
Ventus rubbed his hair, "Because I somehow influenced you a lot? I don't know." He buried his face into Chirithy's head, "I've had a headache for the past few hours because of this. It sucks."
Roxas thought for a long moment as an odd thought struck him, "...Hey Ven?"
"Hm?"
"Is there a reason you have a wristband on your left?"
Ventus smirked to himself, "Yeah."
Xion was surprised, "Really? Why?"
Ventus sat up slowly before rubbing his face and groaning to himself, "'Cause it's why I'm not ambidextrous anymore." He rested against the wall as he pulled the band back, showing off the top of his left wrist. A gnarled white scar went diagonally across the top, "When my first home burned down… my parents saved me by breaking the window and throwing me out of it as the house collapsed. My wrist got caught when I flailed and I got stabbed… really badly."
Roxas seemed a little green from the scar while Xion gently took his hand and ran her fingers gently over the line. Ventus made an uncomfortable face at her action but didn't move. "It took a long time to heal. I also landed in some glass, so I have a similarly bad scar at my hip."
Roxas couldn't help but move the band on his own left hand, but found his skin clear just as he always remembered. He only had a thin scar at the bottom of his sternum. He nodded as he put it back into place.
They hadn't shared scars, though if he allowed himself to think about it, the thin line was probably from when Sora had stabbed himself and created him.
Xion sat back as Ventus quickly covered the scar, not used to people touching his skin there and feeling weirded out. She shifted, "I don't have any scars, so it's strange to see…"
Ventus huffed, "All of my scars are kind of brutal looking."
Roxas blurted, "You have more?"
Ventus looked at him oddly as Roxas flushed, not meaning to have said that as his twin rolled his eyes. Ventus placed a hand over his sternum, "I have a big ugly one here at my chest… from when Xehanort split me in half. It wasn't obvious at first… but as I got older it started to show more."
Xion frowned, "Oh…"
Chirithy huffed and interrupted, "We should return to the others."
Ventus startled as he realized it was beginning to dim outside, "Oh!" Chirithy dismissed itself with a pop, and the three of them met up once more with the others at the main entrance.
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Ten years of pining, and you immediately ruin it for yourself.
Aqua grit her teeth as she curled up in the chair she had spaced out in after Ventus had left her. She covered her ears and buried her face into her knees, 'Stop it!'
Aqua knew she messed up, she didn't need her negativity bringing it up to her.
She tried to breathe and meditate, to regain her equilibrium as she released her sadness.
A gentle hand laid upon her head, 'I'm sorry, Aqua.'
She gasped softly, immediately lifting her head as she looked at the younger version of Master Eraqus. "Wh-what?"
The boy in white smiled at her sadly, 'Urd constantly reprimanded me for it… and in the end, she was right. I constantly overlooked you for Terra's sake. I didn't prepare you the same way I had him…' He looked away chastised, 'I had been so confident Terra would pass his Mastery. So much so, that when Xehanort had sent me a letter speaking of his Darkness, I was truly shocked by it. Xehanort made use of the Darkness, so the fact he was pointing it out as a danger… it was him simply setting up a trap- but it made me think having his opinion would make me less biased. I may have had too much love for my friend-brother, but he was right. I was blind in more than one way.'
The youth looked to her, 'I overburdened you. None of us had any idea that everything would fall apart in less than a day's time… but it is still not an excuse for not telling you of the fullness of the Castle's burden… for not mentoring you correctly. And now… now I am unable to do so.'
Aqua sniffed as she wiped at her eyes, "Master… why did you leave so much unsaid?"
'Because for Terra this Castle is an inheritance, whereas for you it is a duty. Not that Terra wouldn't have been bound to the Castle as I was… but it could have been a shared responsibility, instead you are left with the full burden, and Terra with more knowledge than he has rights to have. I'm sorry, Aqua. I wronged you and Ventus both terribly with my foolishness.'
Aqua searched the Memory of her Master for a long moment as she stated, "You tried to strike Ventus down."
Eraqus sighed, 'I had learned of some crucial information related to this Castle a few hours before my end. When Ventus returned alone… I had thought that perhaps I could change fate and tried to hastily enact a plan… that was my undoing.'
Aqua buried her face into her knees, "What am I supposed to do now? I don't understand…"
The Memory watched her for a long moment, 'When I was first placed as the successor of this Castle, it took no time at all for me to abandon it and follow Xehanort back to Scala as it came to its end. I abandoned my duty for sixteen years before finally taking up the mantle after my mentor had passed. My example is a poor one.'
She furrowed her brows as she looked up to him, "Did you ever regret abandoning the Castle?"
Eraqus smiled incriminatingly, 'No. I helped many Worlds while following my Heart's guide. I slew Heartless, and the final year of my journey landed me with the woman I came to love. Without that year, I never would have gained Terra.'
Aqua searched him for a moment before gasping, speaking with a soft voice, "...Terra's your son?"
Eraqus looked away in shame as he nodded, 'Yes. It is why my behavior is even more deplorable towards you.'
She bowed her head, thinking it over as she realized that she had always known to some extent that it was possible. She'd unconsciously known it. "Master…" She took in a sharp breath, "You're only human. How could I hold that against you?"
The boy in white placed a hand over hers as she gripped her knees, 'Because I was wrong, and irreparably harmed you all with my favoritism. I struggled with it, and still I failed you.' He pulled his hand away as he looked towards the entry of the Library. He sighed as he looked her over, 'Aqua. The Castle can take on a temporary Guardian if they are a Master and deemed worthy. Follow your Heart and do what it is you think you need to do. The Castle nor I will hold it against you.' He disappeared just as she heard a familiar rustling.
She turned just as Terra came around the aisle. He paused as he looked her over in concern, "Are you alright?"
She knew he was asking a default question, but she couldn't help but scowl at him anyway, "No."
Terra grimaced as he looked away, "I… Sorry."
Aqua sighed as she put her feet back on the ground and turned her chair towards him, hands limp in her lap, "It's not your fault." She frowned, "What's up?"
Terra thought it over for a moment to give her space, "Well, the others were going to leave, but they wanted to say goodbye like usual since…"
Since Aqua had been odd.
The Magic Wielder slumped in her chair, "I guess I just let Lea get under my skin too easily…"
Terra smirked, "I think it's more that he's too laid back."
He wasn't… wrong.
But that also meant that she felt foolish since he was right.
Terra sighed, "It's not like we can get along with everyone Aqua."
She slowly sat up and looked at him, "I know… but he's important to Roxas and Xion… and he's friends with Ven. I should at least try to learn how to tolerate him."
Terra agreed with her, but chose to keep quiet. He watched her, "So what happened?"
Aqua frowned at him, "What do you mean?"
"Ven's not here, and this is his spot… so I'm guessing you had another incident."
Aqua felt a prickle shoot up her spine. She grit her teeth as she stood up and glared at him, "The Water doesn't speak or sing to me the same way it used to! It made me jealous of Ven, for not having to deal with the whispers of Darkness, and I upset him because I don't know how to deal with my own negative feelings! Not only that, but I actually want to go back to the Dark Realm!"
Terra stood there frozen, shocked at her admission as she turned her face away from him, "I'm horrible, Terra.."
The brunette slowly relaxed as he sighed lightly, "How about you take a minute to gather yourself, say goodbye to the others, and then we can all talk?"
Aqua glared at him again, "I don't want to."
Terra put a hand on his hip, "But the others are worried about you."
Aqua's glare slowly softened as she finally relented, "Fine."
Terra watched her for another moment, "Five minutes or I'm bringing everyone with me."
Aqua sighed loudly as she noted the setting sun, "I'll be there."
