This series of short stories can be read as a collection of oneshots, or as a continuous story. The chronological order is: Embrace, Sleep, Loss, Flowers, Ocean, Anniversary, and Fairytale. Please enjoy!

Day 1: Flowers

Aqua and Ventus touched down in the center of Radiant Garden's central square, hopping off their Keyblade Gliders before returning their weapons to their natural forms. Brushing the windswept hair from her eyes, Aqua took a moment to look around.

The Radiant Garden reconstruction project was almost complete. Aqua had been initially aghast at hearing of the destruction that'd befallen this beautiful city while she'd been trapped in the Realm of Darkness, but she was glad they'd been able to rebuild.

Despite a few remaining construction cranes and bits of broken stone wall, the city was as lovely as ever. Gorgeous fountains shot water in jets fifty feet tall, and the air was heavily perfumed with the fragrant scent of thousands of flowers— patches of yellow, red, and pink petals covering each corner of the courtyard.

It was no wonder this was her favorite world.

"Come on, Aqua!" Ven beckoned, barely masking his excitement as he headed for the small bridge leading towards a slightly winding staircase.

She followed him through the intricate white gate and up a long flight of steps to the towering castle in the city's center.

Ansem the Wise and his researchers believed they finally had a definite clue as to Sora's whereabouts, and Aqua and Ven wished to hear the details in-person. According to Ansem's hypothesis, Sora was trapped in another world, one beyond the Realms of Darkness and Light; Sora's friends had gone to investigate. In the meantime, there was nothing she nor Ventus could do for now but await Riku and Kairi's return.

"Why don't we visit the gardens?" Aqua offered as they reemerged from the castle twenty minutes later and made their way back down the terracotta steps. As long as they were in Radiant Garden, they might as well have a look around the beautiful city.

Making their way along a curving side path, they passed through a couple more white gates and emerged onto the upper level of the gardens for which the city had been named. On either side of the wide, herringbone brick road were stretches of vibrant green grass and rows of flowers, twittering birds flitting between small conifers and blooming bushes, and thick patches of vines growing down the surrounding stone walls.

If Radiant Garden was Aqua's favorite world, then this was her favorite place in it.

As they strolled together through the magnificent garden, Ventus suddenly came to a stop, frowning at a large metal door. Aqua paused; she knew the door led to Radiant Garden's main reactor, the energy source of the city. It was also the place she, Ventus, and Terra had fought Vanitas's most powerful Unversed.

"What's wrong, Ven?" Aqua asked gently. He seemed oddly glum, despite the promising news they'd just received.

"Nothing," he answered quickly, looking away to fidget with a loose string on the hem of his jacket.

Aqua tilted her head. "Hey, Riku and Kairi will be back before you know it; then we'll hear what they've found out about Sora."

"It's not that…" Ventus sighed, releasing his jacket only to clench his fist by his side. "It's just— the last time we were here, in the reactor room…" He glanced at the metal door again, and Aqua understood.

They hadn't only fought an Unversed in there; it was also the place she, Ven and Terra had had their first major argument, one so bad it'd caused them to split up. It'd put a terrible strain on their friendship, at the time.

"I still feel horrible for what I said back then," he continued guiltily, his eyes downcast. "I called you awful, Aqua… I shouldn't have."

"Oh Ven, you don't need to apologize; that was years ago!"

Ven shook his head. "I wanna make it up to you," he said earnestly. "Please?"

"Alright," Aqua nodded. She could tell this meant a lot to him.

Ventus knelt in the grass and began gently plucking some flowers from the garden rows. "Don't worry, I just need a few!" he said before Aqua could protest. "They'll grow back."

Once he'd gathered what he needed, Ven sat with his legs crossed next to the small pile of freshly-picked flowers. He took two and, concentrating hard, carefully intertwined their stems. Aqua sat across from him, watching curiously as he added a third flower, and then a fourth.

"Ven, where'd you learn how to do this?" she inquired, as whatever he was making began to take shape.

"I've been practicing," he shrugged in explanation, a faint blush dusting his cheeks as he held up his finished creation. The flowers had been interwoven into a colorful ring. "It's a flower crown, see?"

"Oh, it's lovely," Aqua breathed, reaching out to caress the delicate petals.

"It'd look even better on you," Ven grinned sheepishly.

Aqua bowed her head slightly, feeling quite warm at his words as he rested the vibrant wreath upon her head. She stood and went to a nearby fountain to peer down at her reflection between the lily pads.

"I feel like a princess," Aqua giggled, bringing a hand to her mouth as she twirled back around to see Ven standing there with a bright smile.

"I guess that makes me your prince," he chuckled.

Aqua blinked, her cheeks flushing bright pink as something light and warm fluttered in her chest. Drawing in a calming breath, she placed a hand over her bosom and spoke her next words with all of her heart, "Thank you, Ven."

Thanks for Reading!