This chapter has a brief reference to the 2017 version of the Ducktales kids. This reflects updates to this fic and The Year Between, which have changed things from the 1987 version of the characters in previous appearances. More on that at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 75: Fallout

Aqua woke with a jolt. Sweat trickled down her cheeks. She gasped for air, eyes darting around. She remembered Marluxia and Terra's double-betrayal, Larxene intercepting Terra's blade, an explosion of lightning as Aqua threw up a desperate barrier, and… darkness. Lots of darkness.

But now… ah. It was still dark, save for the incoming starlight, yet even in her dim surroundings, she made out the shape of picture frames. Squinting, she leaned forward, and… hm. Extending her palm, she formed a small orb of light, which illuminated the wall and revealed colored pencil sketches of chalk drawings in a park, a castle surrounded by jagged stone spikes, and a clock tower bathed in starlight.

So this was Naminé's room, and… Aqua glanced to her right, where Ven lay nestled in blankets. On the wall parallel to him, several more sketches hung, including one of Xiruk with an arm looped around Naminé, Xiruk and Naminé joined by what looked like a smaller Pete and Goofy surrounded by arcade machines, and four young ducklings. One in a green hoodie, another with a blue T-shirt, and a third with a red baseball cap, holding a hardback book. A fourth wore a small pink bow in her feathers and grinned wildly as she aimed a handheld grappling hook overhead.

Perhaps on another day, Aqua might have admired the artistry, but for now, she slid from the edge of the bed, and… thankfully, no aches or strain. Whoever healed her did a good job, but despite her physical wellness, she moved sluggishly, as if someone had strapped a boulder to her back. She recalled the look of hope in Ven's eyes as Terra made his peace offering and hoped, allegedly, to discard his Xemnas identity once and for all… only to become Xemnas again and risk all their lives in the process.

Or was it that simple? If he hadn't retaliated, Marluxia would have finished them, anyway. Even she'd noticed the flash of petals, but that wasn't enough to shake the frustration bubbling up inside her. How was she supposed to reconcile Terra's compassion with such shrewd cruelty?

And besides that, as she reached Ven's side, she fell to the floor, catching herself on the edge of the bed and resting her chin in her arms. Just seeing Ven, here, as himself, after twelve long years… It should've brought happy tears to her face, but instead the tears came with a hollow, gnawing sensation. Sora was gone. At the very least, unstable, and while Aqua reached for Ven's hair with a trembling hand, it… wasn't Sora's. Not in shape, color, or texture. And they had so little time to decide what to do with him. Would he be okay? Would Ven be okay without him?

She couldn't stand. Too many thoughts and feelings raced through her head, but a quick glance to her side revealed that someone had placed a stool there for her. Good. She dragged herself onto it, keeping one hand on Ven while the other held her head.

And finally, the tears burst from her eyes like water through a busted dam. How much did the others know? What had happened after she deflected Larxene's spell? It was all so hazy. Terra… he was alive. And he'd… Aqua shivered. What would the others think, when they finally found out? If they hadn't already.

The door creaked open, and Aqua reflexively straightened. Thankfully, it was just Naminé, carrying a tray of tea and elixirs. She brought her free hand to her mouth for a moment, then relaxed with a sight.

She said in a whisper, "Oh… I'm sorry. You really haven't been out long." Before Aqua could inquire further, she added, "Only a half-hour." Then, moving past Aqua, Naminé set the tray on the nightstand between the two beds and reached for the kettle. "How—"

"How are you feeling?" Aqua asked her instead, earning a small gasp.

"...You mean, about all this?"

Aqua nodded. "I wasn't completely out. I know how we got back."

Naminé gulped. "...None of us are taking it well, if that's what you mean. Our worst enemy marched into our home with our strongest ally in his arms. …I haven't felt this powerless since…" She sniffled, spilling some of the tea onto the tray.

Aqua sighed empathetically. "Maybe you should take some of that for yourself."

Shaking her head, Naminé said, "I'm too awake. Yen Sid already gave me something to help calm down. We all did. …Even him." She passed Aqua a cup on a cleaner saucer.

Naturally, Aqua accepted it. "I'm guessing he'll want answers soon." She took a small sip. Tasted… almost sweet? Maybe it was the Elixir mixed with the herbs. Not bad, though.

While Aqua took another sip, Naminé climbed onto the edge of her bed. "Xiruk's already explained. About… Terra…and Sora. And everything."

Aqua gazed at her own reflection. This was all so complicated. While it was a relief that she didn't have to explain it all herself, it also meant she wasn't able to defend her own choices, from her own perspective. Xiruk's own biases surely…

"Don't worry," Naminé said, as if reading her mind again. "Xiruk let me read his memories, and Yen Sid helped turn my drawings into projections." She unveiled her sketchbook and flipped through the pages. Everything from their arrival in the dark city, to their time in Terra's room, to the Chamber of Repose, and each memory they traversed appeared in succession until the moment Terra carried her through the corridor, and…

Oh. Master's Defender… he'd returned it?

Aqua took another drink, then set the cup down. "Is anyone on my side?"

Naminé winced. "...It sounds like you really had to be there."

Oh. That stung more than she'd anticipated.

To think even Naminé didn't understand. But… despite everything, here she was, having granted Aqua and Ven access to her room, even bringing them tea. At the very least, whatever came next surely wouldn't sever their bonds.

After finishing the tea, however, Aqua left the room behind. She followed Naminé down the hall and into Yen Sid's study, where the old sorcerer and Mickey whispered to one another, only to stop the moment Aqua entered the room.

Mickey swiveled around, cracking a tired smile. "Aw, heya, Aqua. Are ya… feeling better?"

Aqua nodded. "Thanks for waiting, Mickey." To Yen Sid, she said, "And thank you, Master, for understanding."

Yen Sid stroked his beard, brows furrowed and a deep frown on his face. "We understand, of course. But the balance of power has shifted drastically in our enemy's favor, and I am at a loss for how we might recover. …But I am grateful to see you well. …And, despite the circumstances…there is a relief to seeing Ventus back in his own body."

Aqua could just barely hear the sounds of yelling from outside the window. She wandered over and looked down to find Roxas and Xiruk crossing blades on the lawn.

Yen Sid said, "Young Roxas has taken the news the least well of us all. He has grown quite close to his Heartless, and he has been searching for Xion for months on end. Now, she has vanished once again, and there is no knowing when she will trust us enough to return."

Aqua's hand curled into a fist against the curved window sill.

Yen Sid continued, "It will not be easy to face him, I imagine. But if we are to plan our next move to escape from under Xemnas' thumb, we must all be on the same page. Are you ready to summon him?"

"...No," Aqua said. "I think we could all use some fresh air."

x.x.x

This sucked. This sucked! This sucked!

Roxas whirled his swords into Xiruk's gut, blunt sides out, and knocked him to the ground.

Bad enough that Xion had to go with them. She'd kept it secret for months!

And Xiruk, Aqua… they'd just let her go.

Just like they let Sora go!

Sure, Xiruk said it was Sora's choice, but the Organization still captured him. Choices made under pressure didn't count! It wasn't supposed to be this way, and…

Oh. Xiruk was still on the ground, wincing and sitting back up. Well, fine. Roxas extended a hand and helped Xiruk back to his feet.

"Heh. Guess that's one to… sheesh, how many was it again?"

That…caught Roxas off guard, and he blinked slowly. "Our old count?"

"Back on the islands, when we were still…" Xiruk paused, pulling a potion from his pocket. "Well, guess it wasn't us."

Roxas slumped, scuffing his shoe in the grass. "Everything was simpler then. No Heartless, no Nobodies, no…" He looked down at his twin Soul Eaters. They quivered in his grasp.

Xiruk watched warily. "Still got some steam to blow off?"

Roxas' hold on his swords tightened. "She brought him to our doorstep!"

"He already knew the way."

That didn't matter. "She—she went behind all of our backs… sold Sora's heart for her dead friend, chased Xion away when I've been looking for her… And you're protecting her."

Xiruk crossed his arms. "Roxas, you saw my memories. You know it's not that simple."

"I don't care! It wasn't supposed to be like this. She even gave a Keyblade to him! How could she just…"

"Roxas…" Sighing, Xiruk rubbed his forehead. "You don't wanna fight a Keyblade Master."

Roxas huffed. "Maybe I do."

Xiruk leaned forward, spreading his arms. "And what about me? You wanna fight me for real, too?"

"You had no choice! How could you stand up to a rogue Master? How could anyone?"

Xiruk's eyes wandered to the castle entryway. Roxas slowly followed, gulping.

Xiruk said, "Well… now's your chance."

Mickey, Aqua, Naminé, and Yen Sid all descended the tower's front steps. Roxas bristled at the sight, turning the other way.

Xiruk moved to greet the others. "Ven still resting?"

Aqua said, "Yeah. He may be out for a while."

This wasn't fair. Roxas thought Yen Sid would at least summon them back inside, so he'd have the walk to mentally prepare himself to deal with Aqua again. But instead, she just… ambushed him.

Yen Sid spoke next. "We are all aware of what has transpired. All but Riku's group, and they will be notified in time. But for now, the six of us must decide a new course of action. Xemnas…Terra is a dangerous ally, if he can be counted as such. He knows our home. He holds Sora prisoner. And, if he is a Nobody of his word, Riku remains under his surveillance and Aqua in his employ for the near future. What, then, are we to do?"

Roxas wanted to say something snarky, but…it really was chilling. Yen Sid was asking for advice, and he was supposed to have all the answers!

"Honestly?" said Xiruk, "I'm more worried about Marluxia. The guy's got a real vendetta against us now. If he could track me and Naminé before, I'll bet he could do it again. Like Xemnas said, he's got eyes on the inside."

Mickey heaved a great big sigh. "We're at Terra's mercy, Terra's at Marluxia's mercy, and Xion's the only one keepin' us safe from Marluxia. It's a real mess we've gotten ourselves in."

Roxas snapped toward the others. "We didn't do anything." He glared intently at Aqua, making his message crystal clear.

But Aqua played it cool. "You're up to speed. You're entitled to feel this way."

"Been keeping count, too. This is the second… no, third time you've saved Xemnas' life." Two times in one day, plus a fourth before he became Xemnas, if those memories were to be believed. Roxas even held up his fingers for emphasis. "All you had to do was hold still. Just let Larxene burn him up. Let Kairi stab his guts out. This coulda all been over if you didn't keep betraying us!"

Xiruk narrowed his eyes. "Roxas, I was there too. I pulled Xemnas back—"

"He got to you! You were just a kid being bossed around by two grownups!"

Narrowing his eyes, Xiruk opened his mouth to speak, but Aqua beat him to the punch. "Terra's situation is more complicated than that. He's the only one who can free Riku—"

"From himself?!"

"From Xehanort, and all the eyes he left behind. Terra's not the one pulling the strings. Everything he does, he does to keep us safe from the likes of Xigbar and Saïx. If I were to let Terra die, Riku would be at their mercy, and they would not be willing to negotiate."

Roxas was shaking now. His cheeks burned red hot, and his fingertips dug into his palms. "The forest. Outside DiZ's mansion. There was no sigil back then. No promise of your friend waking up. You will always place Xemnas over us."

Everyone fell silent.

Roxas could feel his eyes starting to sting. His breathing grew lighter. Faster. And yet… heh, nobody jumped to Aqua's defense. They all looked away from Roxas, but also avoided eye contact with her.

And still, Aqua kept her composure, breathing in slowly, then letting it all out. "What would you do, if it was Xion in Ven's place?"

Roxas stomped forward. "And what about you if Xemnas stuck fake bombs in you?! Or was that to protect us too?!"

He could see the pain and horror in her wide, open eyes. Good.

But Xiruk, stubborn as ever, tried cutting in again. "Roxas, I get it! I'm the one he told about those 'bombs,' but Vexen's the one who—"

"Doesn't matter!" Roxas didn't care about the specifics. "Terra is dead! Xemnas claims it's all an act, but you weren't there from the beginning. You don't know what it's like to live in fear that your life could end at any moment by the whim of some madman with a remote!"

Mickey toddled closer to him, raising his index finger. "Now, Roxas, that was all in the past—"

"Not to me!" The trauma never left. Not really. Some nights, he'd wake up in a panic, patting himself to make sure there was nothing strange inside of him… and judging by Naminé's reaction, she knew.

Xiruk rubbed his brow but kept his trap shut. Even he must've known.

So Roxas went on, "And the real kicker? Xemnas doesn't care. He showed you his life's story, and that didn't even factor in. What else did he hide? How much of what you saw was even real?"

Naminé spoke up. "…I didn't make any fake cards for Xemnas." The others gave her puzzled looks. Even Roxas' glare wavered. "The memories that Xiruk saw were written by me—"

"At Xemnas' orders," Roxas added.

"…Yes. But those were the only cards I ever made. Whatever Xemnas showed them was real."

Roxas fell silent. The shaking only intensified, along with his breathing. His cheeks grew moist.

This. Wasn't. Fair.

Expression gentle, Mickey placed a hand over his leg. "Roxas, I understand that this has gotta be real scary. We're all scared. But Xemnas is telling the truth. It's just that…the truth itself is scary. And, right now—"

"So he showed you the truth." Roxas slammed his eyes shut to hold back his tears. "But did he tell you the truth?" When Roxas opened his eyes again, more puzzled stares greeted him. "You saw his actions, but not his thoughts. You don't know what his motives are. All you had to go on was what he told you to think."

Tentative, Aqua said, "We saw him explain to Ienzo in the memory—"

Roxas wasn't gonna have it. "Your boyfriend is great at lying to kids. It's his job."

Xiruk tried again to butt in. "But we also found his diary—"

"That he led you to. Don't you get it? Everything you saw, he planned for you to see. His room, his diary, his narrated memories—all of it an act!"

"Not all of it," said Aqua. "Don't forget, I took control of the castle, too. The vulnerability that Terra showed—"

"He's been practicing for, what, twelve years. Don't you get it? Xemnas has been lying all his life. He blackmailed me and Xiruk. He played nice with you and Zexion. …And he'll show no mercy to Xigbar and Sora."

Now Aqua glared. "He sent Sora away for his own safety."

Roxas scoffed, cocking his head to the side. "Does anyone else see the problem here?"

More silence. More obvious confusion… except from Yen Sid, who folded his arms. "You have argued that we must not take Xemnas' word for anything he does, and his word is all we have that Sora will be safe. But know, also, that to jeopardize Sora's safety would be to destroy our trust." Yen Sid paused, seemingly anticipating his next point. "But Xemnas doesn't need our trust in the long-term; only until Xigbar and the others are deposed. Is that your point?"

"Yours too. Don't pretend you're on her side."

Yen Sid's scowl deepened. "My side is that there is much that both of you have overlooked. Aqua is blinded by her heart, and—"

Roxas cut him off. He knew where this was going. "Don't have one. You don't have to remind me!"

Mickey grimaced and shared a glance with Yen Sid. The latter's face was unreadable.

Then Yen Sid sighed, but continued with a commanding force to every word he spoke. "For the present, our immediate concern is our safety. We are corralled on every side by Xemnas, Marluxia, and the agents of Xehanort. Riku and his friends remain ignorant of the full picture, Riku himself is a conduit for the Organization to overhear us, and Xion resides with the enemy. I will not stand for infighting among the few allies we have."

"...Not a few," said Naminé. "We have Leon and the others in Hollow Bastion, and Ringabel on Grandship. If we need to leave the tower behind, we have options."

Mickey and Yen Sid opened their mouths, but Roxas spoke over them. "So we got real allies to spare." He tightened his grip on his swords, back arched and eyes locked on Aqua.

The others watched in silence, tension washing over them.

Yen Sid and Mickey both tried to interject, "Roxas…"

It only made him tighten up further. He respected them both, but…

Xiruk stepped forward. "Roxas… think about this."

"He has," Aqua said, earning wide-eyed and slack-jawed looks from everyone, Roxas included. She didn't draw either Keyblade to meet his challenge, but pressed on with a razor-edge to her words. "And he's not entirely wrong. I would do anything to keep my family safe, just as he would for his." She approached him, still unarmed yet strangely intimidating. So tall. So… unwavering. A fire burned in her eyes. "There was a time when you were a direct threat to our friends, under Xemnas' thumb. They were only safe away from you. Now the tides have turned, and I'm in your old place, and you're in mine."

This was a lot to take in. Not that he disagreed, but… the tall stature, squared shoulders, resolution in how she spoke despite the blades now quivering in Roxas' grip.

She didn't need a Keyblade to put him on the spot.

But something moved past the others. Seeking to escape her piercing stare, Roxas followed the motion, and… found himself staring down his own mirror image. Sure, he had an armored pauldron, metal boots, and a strange sheet of armor over his crotch. And, sure, that wide-eyed, kicked-puppy look was a far cry even from Roxas' own gawking, but…

This was still so wrong. Even knowing of their similarities in advance, even having seen his unconscious body, couldn't have prepared Roxas for this.

And Ven inched away from the tower door. "Aqua…?"

But Aqua didn't budge. She remained before Roxas, unarmed and towering over him. In that moment, Roxas felt so, so small. He didn't mean to, but he backed away.

Then Aqua turned the other way in a single, swift motion, and stormed over to Ven's side. She looped an arm around him, pulling him close. "Our friends need unity. Trust. They need me gone." With her other hand, she pulled out the Star Shard. "…Let's see where I'm needed."

And in a sudden flash, the Star Shard's glow consumed her and Ven, catapulting them into the sky and far, far from the Mysterious Tower.

Not a word followed in the aftermath. Everyone watched in utter silence, leaving Roxas… cold.

How ironic. All his complaints, all his aggression, and she left, just like that. Until now, he was worried sick about Xion's whereabouts. Now, he had to stomach the nauseating uncertainty after scaring off a Keyblade Master.

And now, more than ever, he just wanted…

x.x.x

…to run. To scream. To just. Do something other than stand here, in this house that wasn't hers, stuck with people she thought were her friends, but now…

For now, Xion clamped her jaw shut. Breathed in. Suppressed any sounds she could've made. Just breathing in, then out… She had to ground herself, even though she stood now in some second hand house in the middle of Traverse Town, with just the bare essentials. Bed. Floral-patterned lamp on the nightstand. A closet across the room. A full-body mirror that Xion distinctly avoided looking at. Instead, she sat in a chair, in the corner, facing away from the bed where Larxene lay and the chair Marluxia sat in beside it.

Larxene's breathing was slow, but… she kept breathing. Maruxia heaved a heavy sigh, but refused to meet Xion's eyes. ""I don't know how long she'll be like this. We've had near-fatal experiences before, but…nothing quite like this. Nothing like…" One of his hands hovered by his own torso, gripping the fabric of his coat where Xemnas' blade would have impaled him. "Xion…there's a restaurant in the First District. It's Larxene's favorite, and we must all be hungry by now. Would you please order some dinner for us?"

That…

Oh. Only then did the aching in her belly register. But the request still came outta nowhere, and… Hm. Xion crossed her arms. "Can you come with me?" Why did it come out so soft? So squeaky? She wasn't supposed to be pleading. She was supposed to be angry!

But Marluxia perked up, finally peering over his shoulder. "Whatever for?"

"Because we need to talk. And the sooner we do, the less likely I am to leave for good." And… she stuffed a hand down her pocket. "…Also, I don't have any munny and have never bought anything in my life."

That second half made him balk. His usually stoic demeanor gave way to a prolonged stare. At least he was a bit disarmed now, but… she wanted to make a stronger impression than that. This was serious! But to him, even with her power, she was probably still just a kid…

But maybe Xion could work with that still. Maybe he'd be more willing to talk to a kid than the superweapon he'd made of her.

He got up, nudging the chair aside. "Very well. I think you've earned a few explanations." Glancing to the side, he said, "Dusks, you're in charge."

As he spoke, a very tall, wobbly figure in a trenchcoat stumbled out of the closet. The fedora on its head slid to the floor, revealing the zippered face of Zippy. Or maybe it was Booper. It was tough to tell at a glance, though the added height made the other's whereabouts clear enough.

The baggy sleeves of the trenchcoat crossed, while another arm poked out from under the coat and pulled the fedora inside. It was all very weird, and just comical enough to squeeze a weak little laugh from Xion.

It only lasted a moment.

Marluxia, however, remained calm. "Your show doesn't start for another half hour. You can wait ten minutes."

The baggy sleeves gestured exasperatedly, then placed the fedora back on its rightful place. Marluxia turned the other way, striding to the door and motioning for Xion to follow.

She followed automatically, stopping only once it hit her just how automatic the movement was. Like muscle-memory. Had they really conditioned her that well? And… if that was the case, could she really stand her ground? Gulping, she forced herself forward. Standing in a daze wouldn't get her any closer to the truth.

She emerged on a raised, lantern-lit walkway. Down below, by that golden fountain with the smiling dogs, a pink frog boy and a tadpole with a big bow rode the back of a big-eared, flying elephant. Strange, and a welcome distraction, but the sound of Marluxia clearing his throat dragged Xion back to reality.

"So, what's your first question?"

Xion turned away from the mayhem below, following him down the stairs. Talk about abrupt. She had so many options. But of them… well. She rounded the corner and said, "Why were you going to attack him?"

"Because he had every intention of doing the same."

Xion stopped near the First District doors, huffing. "You didn't know that."

Marluxia scoffed. "But I did. He said so himself; I am only a Discount Xehanort. As is he. A union of minds like that could never work. We would all desire to be the dominant power, all over-watchful of each others' subtleties, and so stab each other in the back until only one 'Xehanort' stood above the rest. It was why I betrayed him in the first place."

Xion's eyes narrowed. That confession was practically a boast! Maybe that was just normal for Nobodies, but still… "And what if he was genuine? Aqua trusts him enough to save his life. We could have ended this, and if he hurt you, I would've…"

Marluxia paused, then sighed. "No sense in debating it now. What's done is done." He pushed the First District doors open, holding them for Xion.

Reluctantly, she passed through, but as she moved, she kept her eyes glued to him. Just in case he tried to do to her what he attempted with Xemnas. He didn't, and once he passed through, the door shut with a thud.

The difference in their surroundings hit Xion square in the face. Moogles fluttered around the lampposts, dropping letters in the goofy, droopy-tongued mailboxes. A fox in a green shirt and a tie passed a juice pop over to… Pinocchio? Normally, Xion would've whistled and waved, but… no. She had to stay focused!

So, while she followed Marluxia to the open air cafe across the square, she pressed on with, "Okay. Next question. Why did you try to kill Ven?"

Marluxia stopped. "He killed my sister."

Xion stomped her foot, shaking the ground a little in the process. Thankfully, just a small jitter, so while the fox fumbled the juice bar, he didn't bat an eye at her.

So Xion kept talking. "We don't know that."

"You saw the memories."

"And you heard Strelitzia's warning. Behind that door was an end we weren't ready for. Maybe because we didn't have all the answers yet. Or, even if we did, we don't know why he did it, or—or…"

"You don't sound sure of yourself."

"...Neither did you." Her words stopped Marluxia mid-step, earning a look. Xion explained, "The Strelitzia you spoke with was just your subconscious, right? She said so. If she warned us we weren't ready, that means you knew we weren't ready. You must have known that we didn't know enough to judge Ven fairly. But you cast Doom over him anyway. I don't think you wanted to solve this mystery. I think you wanted the hurting to stop."

Marluxia looked away, folding his arms. He went quiet for a moment. "Hm. Don't forget, you wanted to go inside, too."

"I'm not the adult."

"Of course. You can't even order dinner." As if to emphasize his point, he gestured to the 'CAFE & BAR' sign, now just a few yards away. Maybe it was a joke. He wore the slightest hint of a smirk.

But the joke didn't land. "And you can't give anyone a fair chance."

"I gave you a chance."

"No." Xion snarled it out. Finally, some bite to her words. "I gave you a chance. Or do you really want to go into how real us being a team really is?

Marluxia stopped just beneath the overhang. It only dawned on her then that they'd finally reached the restaurant. Avoiding eye contact, Marluxia said, "After we order, at least."

So, fine. Okay then. Xion followed him inside, instantly overwhelmed by all the smells. Some sweet, some sour, some with a hint of spice. Her mouth watered at the sudden sensory overload, and her eyes scanned the tables topped with spaghetti and meatballs, sushi and rice, hard and soft shell tacos, and…

Xion's face wrinkled up at the sight of a burger loaded with macaroni and cheese. Why? In her stupor, she bumped into someone and nearly stumbled, squeaking when she looked down and saw…

A dreadlocked man in a suit crawling on all fours. A little chicken kid gave her a funny look. At the same time, a wrinkly, orange frog man grumbled at a meerkat riding a big, reddish-brown pig.

"Whaddaya mean those ants aren't on the menu?"

"Look, I don't like it either, but if it walks and talks, it's another one of us! Same with that cricket workin' the register." The meerkat pointed his thumb over his shoulder, and Xion followed it to… the register, where a tiny cricket less humanoid than Jiminy tapped at the cash register, while a skinny, little lizard guy cleared his throat and slapped his hands on his hips.

Ah. He must've been waiting on her.

Xion tapped her fingers together, and Marluxia looked down at her. "Do you know how this works? Going to a restaurant?"

"Um…" She did not. This was all so much to take in. But… wait. Back in Agrabah, they had all sorts of little vendors. "First, you grab some food, and—" She reached for a plate on a nearby table, when—

"HEY!" A bearded, growling little man leaped up from his chair. "GIT YER HANDS OFF MY PIE!"

Xion squeaked, shuffling back and bumping into Marluxia. He chuckled and shook his head. "Not quite. You have to go to the front counter first."

Xion set her sights back to the counter, where that red lizard guy slid a tray to that fox guy from earlier. Xion started forward, but Marluxia grabbed her shoulder.

"You'll need this." He plopped a small bag of munny in her hand.

Though she took it, the implication hit her like a truck within seconds. "Wait, am I—"

"Yes. You are going to order food for yourself and learn how this works."

Xion gulped. This was all so sudden! But… she had to try, right? She just had to, um. Follow the funky, zigzaggy line divider all the way up to the counter. At least there wasn't a line. As she moved, though, she shot a look back at Marluxia. "I'm still mad at you!"

"I know. But we're hungry, too. Read the menu." He pointed overhead, and Xion perused the options.

At the same time, that lizard guy said, "Welcome to the First District Cafe, home of the cakes, parfaits, and all your favorite entrees, can I take your order?"

"No."

The lizard reeled back, blinking. "'Scuse me?"

"I—I mean!" Gulping again, Xion turned to Marluxia. "What am I supposed to say?"

Marluxia slapped his palm over his face. The lizard guy yelped, then sputtered.

"ACK, Marluxia?! …Wait, where's the crazy chick?"

"Home sick," Marluxia said, his voice flat. "This is Xion. A close friend of ours."

…Pretty manipulative of him to say that, but Xion had bigger fish to fry right now. …Metaphorically. "Do I give him the munny yet?"

"You have to order first."

The lizard guy kept his sights on Marluxia. "I'm guessin' you and Larxene want the usual."

"Naturally."

The lizard looked to Xion. "And what about you, kid? Anything look good to you?"

The problem was, there was just so much to choose from, without any cohesion. Burgers, fries, chicken strips, pies, enchiladas, pad thai, and something called soba… It made sense, with this world being a melting pot, but it sure made her head spin. Still, despite the eclectic combos, her eyes drifted toward the seafood section.

"I'll have a salmon burger, plea…" She froze. She'd never even had salmon burger before, yet a part of her just knew. …The part of her made of Riku's memories. She tugged on a lock of silver hair.

But the lizard continued, "So that's a salmon burger, pasta puttanesca, and pickled coconut worms with a side of garlic fries and barley tea all around, is that it?"

"Pickled WHAT?!"

Marluxia said, "Yes, that'll be all." No explanation for… worms. Coconut worms.

"Thirty-five ninety-nine, please," the lizard said, while the cricket hopped up, and the register opened with a ding. Xion just stared… until the lizard grumbled and said, "That means it's munny time, kid."

"Oh! Um…" Xion opened the pouch, but froze. There was… a lot of munny in there. And did he mean 3599 munny, or was he talking about some kinda decimals? Was Xion gonna have to do math, too?! She looked to Marluxia. "Hey, Marlu—"

But in her hesitation, she fumbled the pouch, sending the shining munny orbs bouncing all over the place. One smacked into a vase, denting it. Another bonked the grumpy man on the head. Another bounced right into the meerkat's eye!

Yells and yelps broke out as the munny scattered… until the orbs finally stopped bouncing.

Marluxia covered his face again. "This should cover any damages and liabilities, at least."

x.x.x

Despite the ruckus, they left the restaurant a few minutes later, carrying bags of to-go boxes and a cardboard tray for the drinks. Xion's cheeks burned from the embarrassment, and she ducked her head.

At the same time, Marluxia munched on a garlic fry. "Now, I believe you were angry with me?"

Xion stopped, shaking her bag. "Yes!"

Marluxia just chuckled. "At least some of that munny landed in the tip jar. Larxene's a lousy tipper."

Xion tilted her head. "Why do they need tips again?"

"The food service industry is infamously stingy with its employees' salaries."

"But why—" Wait a sec, no, that wasn't important. "Wait! I'm still mad, you know!"

"...Of course you are. And you've been very patient tonight. We'll have to try this again some other time."

Xion huffed. The prospect of going through that again was hardly encouraging… but it was a necessary life skill. Even she could see that. Her time fighting the Organization wouldn't last forever, and sooner or later, she'd have to live a normal life. Assuming they won, but she didn't want to entertain the alternative.

…Besides, that was the future. This was now.

Sniffling, Xion tried steadying herself. Best to cut to the chase. "…Why did you wait so long to take me to Castle Oblivion?"

"You weren't strong enough," Marluxia said without hesitation.

That wasn't good enough. Xion stomped closer, prodding his arm. "For what? To live through your memories? You're the one who lost control."

Marluxia bit his lip. "We didn't know what memories we'd see inside, or who stood guard."

"No one."

"We couldn't have known—"

"Yes, you did." This earned Xion another look. She didn't care. "…What else were Zippy and Booper doing all this time? You needed them to scout out all our targets. This was our biggest one. You knew Xemnas never let anyone inside. So…why did I have to wait when we could've just…walked right in?"

Marluxia fell silent. The subtle movement of his eyes was proof enough that his mind was racing, searching for another lie or excuse. They reached the middle of the First District. Too much of a fuss would certainly draw attention.

Finally, Marluxia said, "Do you remember what Strelitzia said? Castle Oblivion isn't meant to be rushed. And do you remember that even Xemnas said that the Replica had to wait a few months before he was ready to—"

"Don't lie to me."

"It's not a lie—"

"It's not why you held me back, either. What was your reason?"

More silence.

Xion lifted the bag. "I'm gonna drop your stupid spaghetti, or coconut-worms, or whichever one of these is yours."

Averting his eyes, Marluxia said, "I held you back…because I could."

They stopped right in front of the Third District doors. That was…blunt.

Marluxia continued, "I have enemies, Xion. They needed to be removed. You did in two months what no other has done in two years. Xaldin and Lexaeus are gone. Before them, Vexen was the Organization's only casualty. It's a dangerous time to be on their Naughty List, and Larxene and I had been driven underground for far too long. We needed an ally. Someone who had the will and the means to eradicate a Greater Nobody, and who would do so with unprecedented efficiency if she believed she was in the same sinking ship as us."

It…made sense. It was… perfectly logical…

"If you ran back to your friends before you were committed to our little rebellion, the mission would end before it began. Larxene and I would be alone again. We let you see your friends when you wished, of course, but we couldn't risk you revealing who we really were. They wouldn't trust us, and the Organization has always had eyes on the heroes in the spotlight."

And Riku… he was a walking spy camera. Anything he heard… went straight to the top.

The truth was so… dizzying. Xion pressed her hand against the wall. All this, while Marluxia continued in a soft, almost comforting voice.

"It was better this way. Leave your friends as bait, lead you as the hunting dog, and the invincible Organization finally bleeds. But what if we found your answers in Castle Oblivion? What if you were restored a year ago? You would have so little cause to remain with us, and you would have joined your friends in the limelight instead."

Xion straightened her posture, pushing away from the wall. From his perspective, it made sense. All of it made sense… for him. His plans. His needs. But there was something troubling about all of this. A glaring omission she couldn't ignore.

"Did you count on me turning out like this? Like…Riku?"

"No."

Then… Xion shut her eyes, lungs inflating so much, they threatened to pop. "...Did you…really plan to fix me?"

Marluxia paused, clearly considering something. He opened his mouth—

No, she wasn't doing this.

Xion kicked open the Third District door. Hard. It slammed against the wall, breaking off its hinges, and the sound prompted startled elephant trumpeting and gawking from the frog and tadpole kid.

Xion walked ahead, toward the stairs. She said without looking at Marluxia. "I know what that means."

The silence. A search for another lie.

Behind her, Marluxia called, "But now we know there is a way. If Kingdom Hearts can bring back Strelitzia, it can save you, t—"

Xion stopped, stomped, and screamed, "And you BLEW IT!" The shriek exploded in the air with a burst of wind that smacked the elephant, the frog, and the tadpole against the wall and made the surrounding lights and lanterns flicker. She was lucky the windows of the houses didn't shatter, but right now, none of it mattered. She glared at Marluxia. "You said it yourself. You're both the same! You lied to me, he lied to you, you're all just—! LIARS!"

The glass bulbs and neon lights shattered all around them. The elephant shielded the two kids with his ears. Even that dog fountain cracked and spilled water all over the ground.

With a yelp, that wrinkly, orange frog bolted through the door and over to the elephant. Screams and gasps broke out from the windows of nearby homes.

And still, Xion hardly cared.

She kept her eyes locked on Marluxia. "And—and what Xemnas said! I'm already losing myself, but you made me take in Xaldin and Lexaeus too?!" The stairs cracked under her feet as she stormed back down.

The residents bolted away from their windows. The frogs, tadpole, and elephant tore past the now-busted door and out into the First District.

Xion reached the ground below. "My looks aren't mine, my powers aren't mine, my appetite—" She threw the food bag on the ground, getting up in his face. Or as close as she could.

Her cheeks burned. Her eyes stung. Her heart throbbed.

"Even my own THOUGHTS! Do you have any idea how SCARED I was when I saw Riku and Kairi again? I…I wanted them BOTH!"

She… wilted. Gasped for breath. All that yelling… All the screams. It was so hard to let it all out. Especially here. In public. Where anyone could walk in on them. Where anyone could see what a mess she was!

Marluxia just… watched, eyes slightly wider than usual.

But soon Xion sniffled. And those sniffles gave way to sobs. She grabbed at the front of her coat. "My body isn't mine! My heart isn't mine! I can't control the way I think and feel because I'm not me anymore! I'm…" She clawed at her silver and black-streaked hair. "WHAT AM I?!"

Her shriek reverberated off all the walls.

"You're a real headache, that's what," A voice called from above, and Xion immediately spun toward the walkway and…

Larxene stood in the doorway, leaning into the frame. Despite everything, she cracked a crooked smirk. "And you're hangry as all hell, too. …C'mon." She stepped aside, waving for Xion to return to that house.

But did she even want to?

Xion remained frozen, and Larxene grumbled.

The blonde Nobody made her way over to the railway and snorted at the shattered lightbulbs. "Nice job, flower boy." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "...You gonna pick up her bag, or what?"

Marluxia grunted, but… he picked up the bag anyway. "We can discuss this further in private." Despite her glass-shattering screams, Marluxia nudged Xion toward the steps before turning to the remaining civilians. "...And I will pay for the damages."

It took a lot of willpower not to… hit Marluxia. Maybe do something to his arm, but… where else could she go? She'd already made a scene. Probably scared so many people.

Her fists balled up tight. She suppressed another scream, but…this was fine. She stomped her way up the stairs, barged through the door, and flopped on a conveniently-placed ottoman, refusing to meet the others' eyes.

Marluxia, tempting fate, set the bag of food beside her.

A tense silence followed.

This was Riku's favored food, not hers, and yet… her stomach rumbled, and in a matter of seconds, she found herself tearing into the bag, prying the box open, and taking a huge chomp of the disheveled salmon burger.

It was… mouth-wateringly good. She gulped down one bite, then took another. But was it good because she genuinely liked it, or because he would?

She continued chomping through her meal as tears streamed down her face.

x.x.x

Marluxia slumped over as he sat on the edge of the bed. Despite his best efforts, he could not pry his eyes from Xion. But why? Why did it…hurt, seeing her like this? It hardly mattered before. She was a means to an end. It was hardly in his nature to get attached, yet here he was, watching.

At least until Larxene jabbed him with her elbow. "Hey, idiot. Your food's getting cold."

Ah. Right. He looked down at his food box, prodding at the meal. "I didn't expect you to be on your feet so soon."

Larxene shrugged. "Thank the little lady killer. It's not every day you come back from that."

"...I can't tell if you're being sarcastic."

Larxene sighed. "Neither can I."

Marluxia looked up. Xion continued gulping down that burger, as the tears continued flowing. She refused to look at him, and it… stung. It shouldn't have, and yet…

"So," Larxene said with her mouth half-full. She swallowed. "What now?"

"...I don't know." It was… strange, discomforting, even, to admit it out loud. Uncertainty was unbecoming of him. It betrayed his lack of confidence and control.

Larxene clearly noticed, as she prodded him again. "...You're not acting like yourself."

Marluxia took a small bite before replying, "At this point, how would you even define 'ourselves'? We were Keybearers, Larxene. We were…" He shuts his eyes and brought a hand to his forehead. "Good people," he whispered feebly.

"...Ha. Now there's a thought. Me, good." Larxene shifted onto her side, still prodding at her meal. "Pretty sure good people don't slap little girls and leave them out in the cold."

Xion coughed. Seemed the comment caught her off guard mid-bite. Or perhaps it was just the crying. Marluxia looked to her, but she continued avoiding his gaze. How was he supposed to focus on his meal at this rate?

Setting his food aside, Marluxia rose from the bed. "Xion."

Xion didn't respond.

"Listen…" What was he even doing? This was absurd. "I…understand." Did he, though? "Lest we forget, I just experienced memories of a life long forgotten. That boy… was not me." Well, he technically was, and yet… "I haven't even had the luxury to process everything."

"So you're making it about you." Xion scoffed, turning sideways and taking another nibble.

"I am trying to empathize…"

Larxene snickered. "That's a first."

"Furthermore…" More hesitation. It was a surreal, unsettling sort of feeling, as if he'd been pulled forward on invisible puppet strings. For over a decade, he'd acted the part of a cold manipulator, yet here he was, grappling with fractured memories of a kind, heroic youth. He couldn't lose Xion, but… it was purely for her utility, wasn't it? "If you were as lost as you say, you wouldn't be so self-aware. That you acknowledge yourself as separate from Riku speaks volumes. Even Xiruk did not have that luxury at first."

It seemed this gave Xion pause. She blinked a few times, then shifted awkwardly. "...You're just saying that because you don't want to lose me."

Marluxia shrugged. "At this point, nothing is keeping you here. We are weary from battle. If you wanted to, you could end us now."

A pregnant pause filled the room.

"...That won't fix any of this." Xion sniffled again, then coughed into her sleeve. "I… I really thought we were friends. But maybe Jim was right. Friends don't abandon each other. They don't…" She rubbed her cheek. "They don't hurt each other. Not on purpose."

Across the room, Larxene flopped dramatically. "...It's too bad. We did do a number on the Organization together. DiZ sure didn't get you a list of confidential info logs. You were useful to us, but I'd like to think we had our uses, too."

"Hmph." Xion set her box down, crossing her arms. "That's all you can see, isn't it? Using people. But that's not good enough for me! I've been used since the day I was created, and I thought…"

"...It was all I could see," Marluxia finally said. He looked at his own reflection in the mirror, his coat mildly torn from the battle before. "And look at where we are. Licking our wounds, having squandered the proverbial olive branch."

"But you said—"

"I was thinking like Marluxia. Lauriam… might have accepted the offer." The phrasing felt so… clunky, when he put it that way, yet based on what he saw within those memories, how could he deny it? "Your friend, Aqua… She strikes me as an intelligent woman. She trusted that Xemnas was an old friend, and she was willing to risk her own life for that belief." He shook his head. "If I think like Marluxia, then she was a fool with a bleeding heart. If I think like Lauriam… then she saw the good buried deep within the hollow husk of her friend and wished to see him find his way again."

When framing it that way… Haha… Was that jealousy, perhaps?

"I don't want people being loyal to only their own Unions." Ephemer's voice echoed in his mind, and… ah.

Ephemer. Brain. Skuld. …Ven.

Marluxia gulped. Friends he hadn't known existed 'til this day, yet now that he knew… loneliness sank its fangs into his flesh and cast a shadow over him. How… pathetic…?

"There are only five of us, and we need to stick together."

"Doubt and distrust were the catalysts of the Keyblade War." Marluxia cringed. A war… And him, a leader at such a young age, standing in the shadows of giants. Vague, hazy memories of strange figures in hoods and animal masks flashed before his eyes. Of them, a young woman, dressed as a fox, passed a green, hardback book to him with a smile. "And I was supposed to be a leader… yet I sought a quick and sloppy resolution that nearly cost us everything."

Larxene nibbled at her meal and poked it with her fork. "...So, what? You go up to Xemnas and beg for forgiveness?"

"We need to be practical, Larxene. This can't be about power anymore. We already flew too close to the sun." It was… humbling, in a way, to endure those memories. To nearly lose all he'd strived for in one single, careless encounter. "An alliance built on manipulation is doomed to fall apart. Alliances forged from trust endure… and I think it pertinent that we salvage any good will we have left."

Larxene raised an eyebrow. "...And?"

Marluxia moved beside the ottoman where Xion sat. "Tell me, Xion. How often have you made your own choices?"

"I…" She trailed off.

"You deferred to DiZ. When you didn't, you deferred to Roxas, Xiruk, your other friends, and later, to us. That's what allowed us to take advantage of you in the first place." He looked away, arms folded. "But let's spin the chessboard around. You're in an advantageous position now. If you had the desire, you could force us to follow your whims, and we'd have no choice but to follow."

"Ha." Larxene cracked a bitter, broken smile. "Little karma, huh?"

"You still don't get it," said Xion. "I don't want to use people."

"Then allow me to put it another way," said Marluxia. "Do you still want our help?"

Finally, Xion looked up at him, although she kept quiet. It was… sad? Marluxia tried maintaining a poker face, but it wasn't easy. Especially when…

"I needed you to remember me. That's all we are in this castle. Memories. But yours are still corrupted. So…I am, too."

For a fleeting moment, Xion vanished, replaced with Srelitzia. Haha… is that what this was? Projection? Deflection. How… frustrating that someone he had forgotten would haunt him so swiftly and relentlessly.

Nonetheless, "It would be too careless to pursue other Organization members at this stage. Now that Xemnas is aware of us, we must plan our next moves carefully… And it would not bode well to push ahead when your very being is so unstable."

Xion stood up, placing her hands on her hips. "And why should I trust you to help? Castle Oblivion—"

"Did provide one small reminder. You are not like Xiruk. You were created from data, encoded by DiZ. So perhaps…" He swept his arm out. His scythe materialized in a flash of petals and… cut a nearby lamp in half. He'd pretend it was intentional and flash a smirk. "A little persuasion is in order."

Xion's eyes slowly widened. She must have caught on.

But with another flick of the wrist, the scythe vanished. "But only if you're so inclined. After all, you hold the power here."

Xion looked down, her posture rigid and tight. "...Ven."

…Ah. "What about him?"

"You still don't have all the answers. You need to find them, so you can understand. And apologize if you were wrong."

That was… hm. "And how do you propose I do that?"

"Naminé's powers could probably help you recover your memories. But you owe her an apology, too." She squared her shoulders and finally made eye contact. "If you want my trust back, you can start there." She sent Larxene a strikingly intense glare. "And that goes double for you."

Larxene made a noise, like she was about to protest, but before she could speak, Marluxia said, "...Very well. If we're to work together, then she deserves closure." Ah… more bitter laughter. "How ironic."

Xion frowned, her bewilderment all too apparent. "What?"

Well, no sense in keeping her in the dark. Marluxia simply said, "I'm starting to wonder if I'm turning into a discount Terra."

"You're definitely going soft," Larxene said with a snort. "But whatever. At least it'll be interesting this way. And it sure beats being dead."

"Then…" Xion still hesitated. "I'll stick around. But if you even think about stepping out of line…" She breathed in. The air whirled around her briefly, a clear warning sign and a reminder of the weapon he'd made of her. "Well, I don't think you want to make me mad again."

It was only after the whirlwind died down that Marluxia realized he'd been holding his breath, and he let it all out in a quiet sigh. "Fair enough."

"And… I want a hat."

Marluxia did a small double take before glancing over at Larxene to see if he heard correctly. The odd look she was favoring Xion with confirmed his ears had not deceived him. "...Come again?"

"A nice, expensive, cool hat."

Larxene squinted and crossed her arms. "What do hats have to do with any of this?"

"I liked Brain's style. You got a problem with that?" There was an edge to her voice that was certainly more Riku-adjacent, but Marluxia wouldn't have dreamed of voicing it aloud.

Larxene smothered her face with her hand. "...So, sappy apologies, memory therapy, strong-arming DiZ… and a hat. Is there anything else?"

"Hmmm…" Xion gave a prolonged pause, as if this was a matter requiring the most intense contemplation. "Get me a sea salt ice cream. Then we're good."

Larxene grumbled, but Marluxia grabbed her shoulder and said, "And since you're the one who smacked her, you can do the honors."

The laughter that squeaked out of Xion proved that, if nothing else, they'd salvaged their partnership… for now.

Time would tell if they could sustain it. Who knew what they'd be when this was over?

x.x.x

Aqua could have stayed. She could have pleaded. She could have let Ven speak his mind, but in the heat of the moment, she couldn't take it. The fear. The distrust. It was too much. So when her feet struck solid wood and the glow from the Star Shard faded, she welcomed the quiet that had fallen over Grandship's upper deck.

Good. She didn't want to deal with crowds. She didn't want to make a scene. She just wanted…

Ringabel. That goofy smile. His flamboyant charisma. The surprising wit and maturity that hid behind his playful mask. And with him… she could discard her mask. She could finally just… Feel.

But not yet. Not with the wounds so fresh and Ven by her side. Breathing deeply, she released her hold on him. It… it was going to be…

Ven shattered her focus, asking, "Aqua! Why'd you run away? This isn't like you."

"Ven…" She squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't crack now. Ven already endured so much between Sora, Marluxia's murderous ire, and watching Terra nearly end Larxene. "It isn't safe for us at the tower." It… wasn't entirely a lie.

Ven walked in front of her, pouting and crossing his arms. "But they're still our friends."

"I don't think Roxas would agree with that," she said with bitter resignation. "He's furious, and he won't accept any excuses we offer. Right now, it's too much for him. It's… better this way."

"But…"

Aqua ruffled his hair, just like old times. "We'll be okay, Ven. No matter what happens, we'll find a way." She turned toward the stairway leading into Grandship's bridge. "But right now, we could all use some space."

Ven followed along, albeit slowly. A cautious glance over the shoulder, and she found him almost… dragging his feet. Then again, his body was in that throne for a long time, and he'd been thrust back into it after spending close to two years in Sora's lighter, Heartless body. And to think that on top of that, she'd dragged him along with the Star Shard…

For some reason, Ven stopped, gazing off at the distant stars and… ah. Their constellations. Aqua's, Sora's, Riku's, Kairi's… "It just feels so wrong. We're at our best when we work together. Running off like this… It's like Radiant Garden all over again." His voice trembled by the time he stopped speaking.

Aqua froze.

"Just stay put! I'm on my own now, all right?"

"You're awful, Aqua."

Of course. Of course it would hurt him. Their confrontation tore their bonds apart. Their separation ruined their lives, and still…

Aqua shut her eyes again. No. No tears. She tried steadying her breathing again. Tried retaining a firm tone of voice. "...I won't let it come to that."

Ven reached for the handrail, looking up. "Aqua…" Suddenly, and without warning, he rushed up to her, squeezing tight. The sudden embrace nearly knocked Aqua off her feet. "Don't act like this is just your responsibility! It's my fault that Sora's… That he's…"

After all these years, Ven hugging her felt so unreal. He was here. Really here, for the first time since… since they…

Yellow eyes. Ribbed, black and red armor. The χ-blade, and then… sleep. Separation. Aqua barely managed a steady, "We'll help him, Ven. Until then, we just have to trust that Terra will keep him safe." It wasn't easy, but.. What else could they do?

Ven buried his face against her, clinging even tighter than before. "Terra…"

N-no. The tears again, blurring her vision. Aqua shut her eyes once more, breathing in through her teeth before she finally returned the embrace.

She brushed her hand over his head, holding him close for several moments, until the sound of shattering ceramic broke the two apart. Aqua's gaze snapped toward the source of the sound, right in the doorway to the bridge.

Ringabel's eyes threatened to pop from their sockets, and he yelped out an, "Aqua?!"

That… certainly was a broken coffee cup at his feet, and a splash of coffee on one of his boots. He didn't seem to care, though, as he sprinted toward her. "You're all right!" He paused. "...You are all right, aren't you? Riku already informed me of what happened, but—" His eyes wandered to Ven. "...I didn't expect to see Roxas here."

Ven winced. "...I'm Ven."

Ringabel raised a finger, then dropped it. He averted his eyes. "...My apologies, but I hope you can understand that this is all a bit…unexpected." When Ven shrank back, he quickly added, "But! I'm not upset with you. I'm… certain there's a great deal of context missing."

On both ends, really. He just casually mentioned Riku, and that Riku knew about her situation. That raised some serious questions, to say the least.

So Aqua approached him. "Do you think we could—"

"Relocate to somewhere more comfortable? You read my mind." His voice lacked the usual confidence, replaced with a pale imitation, and… ah.

He was… staring again. Smiling crookedly. Tittering, even. Soon, Aqua found herself doing the same.

Then, after clearing his throat, he extended his hand. "And I'd be honored to escort you, of course." He winked, and… Oh.

Aqua's heart did a little flip at that. How silly, really. This was nothing new for them, and yet, after everything she'd just endured… The crushing truth, the onslaught of memories, the heavy handed manipulation and explosive falling out with the others…

Having him be so refreshingly Ringabel was just… She needed this. So she took the offered hand…

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Annnd we're back! A lot of things held this up. RL issues, one of my prereaders being really busy, Inverted Fate. The good news is chapter 76 is ready and will be posted very soon (and by soon I mean today, as it's Bravely Default's 10th anniversary). I gotta get back to writing and outlining soon, but a lot's been going on of late. Special thanks to chickenscrews for outlining help with this chapter. This is one of the last chapters he had a hand in outlining before stepping away from the project.

In other news, some previous chapters have had their revisions posted! All chapters with the Ducktales characters have been updated. So that's Chapters 3, 13 – 17, and 40 of The Year Between and 15 of this story. When I get around to posting the first fic's revision there will also be some updates to Traverse Town that feature the 2017 ducklings, but that's a more longterm project.

Thanks to everyone for your patience, btw!