Ch.5
Zack and Aqua continued walking, following the sounds of distant waves. They seemed so close yet ever far away. They walked for some time, and at first they assumed they were only imagining it. But eventually they could see a shoreline up ahead with dark waters stretching out as far as they could see.
"Wow… look at that Aqua…" Zack commented.
Now only were there dark waters… but also a glowing light hanging in the sky as if it were a moon or something else. It lightly illuminated the waters, reflecting on them beautifully.
"I never thought there would be such a site here in this realm," Aqua replied. "It's almost strangely tranquil to see."
"Yeah, you got that right. But hey… look there… is that…?"
Right by the shore was a large rock of sorts, and sitting on top of it was someone in a black cloak. They just sat there though, looking out at the shore.
"Come on, let's see," Aqua said as she started to pick up her pace.
They made it down to the shore and once they looked at him again, though he didn't seem to notice them at first. Unfortunately they could not see what he looked like due to the hood that shadowed his face.
"Who are you?" Aqua asked, speaking first.
The man suddenly looked over at them, sounding slightly surprised by their presence. "Why, hello. It's not often I get visitors."
"Please, call me Aqua. And this is Zack," Aqua said before nodding to Zack. "Why are you sitting here all alone in the Realm of Darkness? How did you end up here?"
"Well… I can tell you this is my second time on these shores. But unfortunately, much like the first, I do not remember who I am or whence I came from. Everything was washed away in whatever currents carried me here."
"Man, that sucks," Zack said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yes… it's really too bad," Aqua sighed softly.
Slowly she let go of Zack's hand so she could sit down on the ground. Shortly after he followed suit and sat down next to her. "I know I have been here a long time, both me and Zack… wandering through endless hours… unable to escape…"
"We were close though," Zack offered, though he wasn't sure how helpful it would really be."
"You both wish to return to your own worlds?" the man asked.
Zack thought for a moment before he gave his answer. "I mean I guess I would yeah… it has been a while after all… I bet all my friends miss me."
Aqua nodded after that. "My friends as well… I'd promise I'd always be there for them."
"Your friends?" the man questioned. "Young lady, somewhere in the scraps of memory I have left, you remind me of a boy I once knew. He is very much like you, true to his friends and kind. This boy travels to many worlds and fights to keep the light safe."
"Keep the light safe?" Aqua asked as she raised her head to look at the man. "I've been away too long. I only heard some from another friend but it wasn't in full detail… are the worlds still in any danger? Can you tell us what else has happened out there?"
"Sad to say, they nearly fell to darkness more than once. But at every turn, that boy arrived with keyblade in hand to save the day."
Aqua's eyes widened. "Huh? Wait a sec… is his name Terra or Ven?"
"Neither of those, I am afraid," the man said, shaking his head.
"Should've known…" Aqua said, her tone sounding defeated.
Zack placed a hand on her back and offered her another smile. "Hey, at least someone out there is protecting the worlds right?"
"You're right… better than nothing."
"How long has it been since I met him?" the man posed to himself. "At least a year now, perhaps more… Back then, my heart was clouded with vengeance. I did terrible things to both him and his friends. I brought unhappiness to more lives than one. I felt something must be done. Was that why? A means of cleaning my conscience? Or perhaps, out of a sort of scholarly instinct. While the boy slept his long sleep, I hid the results of my research inside of him, transplanting the data to where it might best serve a purpose. In fact I would like to believe… Maybe he can set things right. A boy like him who touches so many hearts… he could open the right door, and save those lives I managed to ruin. So many are still waiting for their new beginning, their birth by sleep. Even me… and even you."
"What's this boy's name?" Aqua finally asked.
"His name… is… Sora."
Aqua let out a gasp before chuckling weakly. A tear started to stream down her face and it left Zack very confused still about a few things. "Wait… the same Sora you mentioned before? But didn't we just… well you know when we were back there and your friend said…"
"Time moves differently here Zack, remember? Hours to us is years out there. So from the time we helped close that door… more time has passed."
"Oh… man… I guess we are going to be here a while longer, huh?"
Aqua could hear the worry in his voice. The fear that they may never get to leave this realm… the very thought frightened her too. But this was no time to just discuss the fears and worries that they had. Zack had kindly given her some comfort staying next so she thought to do the same. She reached over and placed a hand on top of his knee. "We will figure a way, Zack. Don't give up."
"As long as I am with you Aqua, I will never give up."
Aqua chuckled, brushing off his flattery with ease, though it did bring a smile to her face. "Thank you."
After that the three of them sat there, listening to the waves. They were gentle and peaceful, which was a vast difference than what Aqua and Zack had been going through before. The calmness that the shore and waves gave them was more than they could have asked for. If it wasn't for the dark sky or waters, they could have called it a beautiful sight.
After a moment the hooded man spoke up. "Tell me, will you stay here?"
Aqua hummed, barely listening to what he asked. Instead she decided to ask something that was on her mind first. "I can't help shake the feeling that these waters touch another shore I've visited."
"The Destiny Islands."
"You've heard of them?"
"Yes. They are quite lovely… a far cry from this wasteland."
"Hey," Zack interjected. "Was that where we were before? The island place?"
Aqua nodded. "Yes."
"Wow, that was pretty nice compared to here, but what do you mean you think they touch that shore?"
"I don't know… just a strange feeling I guess…" she then turned towards the man again. "And I believe Zack and I will stay. Someone will come for us."
Aqua almost instinctively said 'me' but she remembered that Zack was with her. Even though she had a feeling that there wasn't anyone out there looking through the worlds for him, she didn't want to make him feel and less or or left out. If they… no… when they were found, they would go together. That was her plan.
"These waters are the in-between of dark and light, its shores the margins of day and night. They brought the two of you and I together, so why not also one other?
Aqua smiled slightly and gave another nod. "Yes."
"So we just gotta keep waiting?" Zack asked.
"That's really all we can do at this point" After that Aqua turned to look out at the endless ocean before then, just taking in every moment of peace that they had. If she knew anything from her time here, it couldn't last long, no matter how much she wished for it.
It was unclear how much time had passed, but it still did not feel terribly long. Aqua finally was finding herself to be relaxed, but then she sensed something from behind. A dark presence.
She whipped her head around. "Who's there?"
Behind them stood a man wearing a black cloak like the man they were with. Though this guy didn't have his hood up, revealing his darker skin and long silvery hair. He walked closer, staring down the entire group with a cold and serious stare.
Right away the hooded man stood up and faced the other. Aqua and Zack also stood up and he noticed that she stepped into a positive as if she would need to fight at any given moment.
"You…" the hooded man said.
"Master… I must have a word with you."
"'Master'? So now you mock me." the man said as he took off his hood, revealing his own appearance which was an older man with light blond hair along with a small beard.
"Huh… he kind of looks familiar…" Zack thought to himself. "But I can't seem to place it…"
"Do you recall those experiments of the heart you bade me cease?" the man asked as he started walking closer to the group again. "Among the test subjects was a girl. She had lost her memory, just as I had. But… you can reconstruct memories. You did with Sora. I believe you have seen the girl's memories."
Zack leaned over to Aqua, he made sure to speak softly as to not draw any attention to them. "Uh… you got any idea-"
"Shh," she hushed him quickly, her eyes focused on the other two.
"What is your question?" the older man asked, growing annoying by the second.
"Where did you put the girl?"
"What girl?"
The young man narrowed his eyes, a small smirk crossing his lips. "Very well… If you won't tell me here…"
He started to reach forward towards the man but Aqua moved first and smacked his hand away. Stepped in front of the older man, Aqua was glaring deeply at the other. "I think you should go."
The man sneered at her. "A lost guardian of light?" He chuckled. "You wait here… for the King and his fool."
Darkness spread on the ground around the man and a large menacing looking Heartless came up from behind him. He only stood there though, crossing his arms, looking fairly confident. Before Aqua could even react, the beast smacked her back.
Quickly Aqua landed on her feet and Zack ran over to her. "Hey you all right?"
"Hm," Aqua nodded as she stood back up.
"Where is your keyblade?" the man with the Heartless asked her.
"Don't need it!" Aqua said before she started running at the man and the Heartless.
"Wait Aqua!" Zack shouted to her, but she was already jumping up to try an attack. Much to Zack's surprise she actually landed a kick onto the Heartless. Though it wasn't much as once she jumped off it, it grabbed her by the leg.
"Hey!" Zack shouted. He summoned his keyblade and ran closer. "Let her go!"
The man stared at Zack, raising an eyebrow. "A keyblade? Just who do you think you are?"
"I'm here to stop you! So let Aqua go!"
The man looked at Zack, still not budging from where he stood. "You? With that? You think you really have what it takes to wield a keyblade? How amusing. Best to leave before you hurt yourself."
"No a chance!" Zack shouted as he jumped up swinging the keyblade
The Heartless, who still held Aqua in one hand, swung quickly with its other hand, colliding right into Zack. The boy cried out as he tumbled to the ground, letting go of his keyblade in the process. He groaned as he tried to push himself up to his knees.
"Zack!" Aqua called out to him while she dangled there.
The man scoffed. "Insolent fool."
"No more!" the blond haired man shouted, interrupting them before Zack could try and do anything else. "I'll go."
"You are wise."
In this time, Aqua managed to break free from the Heartless's grasp. In the process of jumping away she tried to land a hit on the man, but he held up his arm and she jumped off onto the sand. She was ready to run over to Zack to make sure he was okay, but the man spoke up first.
"Poor thing. I mustn't leave you with nothing."
Darkness formed from the hollow heart shaped hole that the Heartless had. Aqua knew she had to prepare for whatever could happen, but she kept glancing at Zack. But when she looked back the Heartless was ready to fire the orb of darkness. She didn't know what exactly it was but she was ready to take it on. Though she did want to move over to Zack, she did not want to leave any risk of getting him hurt any further.
Though what happened next was almost too quick to even comprehend. The darkness struck right into her chest and launched her back out into the water… and Zack could only watch with wide eyes as he heard Aqua scream.
"Aqua!" Zack shouted a second later, breaking into a run. He knew he couldn't waste a single second. His heart was already pounding so hard he thought it would break his chest at this point.
Right away he felt the cold, dark waters soak up his clothes. But he didn't care. He kept on moving closer to where he saw Aqua hit the water. Though what he didn't expect was for something equally dark and cold to strike his back. Maybe it was whatever the Heartless hit Aqua with… Zack wasn't too sure of it, he could hardly even get a chance to think about it before he staggered forward and fell face first into the water. There was a sudden drop off and it just seemed to go deep down with no ground in sight.
But now underwater he tried to remain focused on his task… though he couldn't help but noticed this strange feeling seeping through him.
"Gotta… get… to Aqua."
Aqua was fading equally fast. She didn't understand the strange cold feeling seeping through her body, but she could barely bring herself to focus on it. Everything was fading from her mind… though just as he was closing her eyes… she noticed something moving towards her.
It was hard to see through the dark waters, but as soon as the figure was closer enough she could just barely make out enough of who it was. "Zack…"
She closed her eyes as she smiled, happy that she was not alone. She felt his hands wrap around her and pull her close and slowly she put her arms around him to hold him just the same. The darkness was now all around them and the cold feeling had nearly spread throughout their entire body. No longer could they keep their minds away and slowly… everything just seemed to fade away.
It is a shorter chapter, but you can see why I left it where it was :)
See you next time!