A/N:This one was a rough one to write, but I'm glad it's finished. I'm excited for what's coming, but I also apologize for the shoddy characterization. I'm not confident with this one at all and I seriously need more practice with different characters, but I also felt the pressure of finishing it since I just... have so much work left to write. .

Even though she's slowly improving, Aqua can't help but feel that the hours are unkinder than usual.

She avoids being alone with Lea - not because of him, but because of anything else he knows. Minutes tick by before she realizes she's obsessing about the things he has said last night, only to obsess more.

Sometimes, she forgets where she is until she runs into something or gets smacked - quite literally this time, with a strong aroma and a flaky texture, like pollen.

"Look," Sora commands, his eyes hidden behind a pot of bright red daisies as he shoves them into Aqua's face. "Look how nice they are!"

He says that about every new delivery of red daisies, as though each time he's just as surprised and grateful.

The dining room in this great bright morning is absolutely filled with flowers. Sora can't even catch smell his gifts, his symptoms completely stuffing his nose to oblivion (his words, not Aqua's).

Tables near Riku are adorned with bushes of lilacs, and a pile of Thank You cards keep growing. Aqua has taken to reading them for him because the poison still gives him headaches.

Aqua receives gifts as well: blue star-shaped bellflowers that blanket the tabletops behind her like a textured ocean.

Only one table is free from floral invasion - the one the three of them are using, each with thick blankets wrapped around their shoulders, and personal mugs full of steaming tea.

Word is a parade is being organized for later that night, to celebrate the end of Kefka's reign. It's rushed, planned with marching bands and dancers and confetti but not much else. Rumor has it Noctis and Garnet are expected to walk the parade, but Aqua can't imagine that either of them would want that kind of attention.

Organizers have asked the Keyblade wielders to walk, but Donald apparently has denied the request on their behalf - they're still too sick.

A hotel employee, dressed very casually because no one is in the mood to take life seriously for the time being, brings yet another pot of flowers.

These are orange lilies, their shade growing darker at the tips. Sora takes the card dug into the pot and reads: " For Terra. From Noctis, Garnet, and Rydia ."

He smiles, and drags the pot towards Aqua. "This will go with your stack." If there's a particular reason why Sora assumes they should go to Aqua, she pretends not to notice.

It's a beautiful gesture. Really, it is. A little piece of Terra, his intentions and his service earthed neatly into a pot that she can keep in memory. It makes her wonder for a slight second if he has a shirt around here that she can wear to sleep, but there's no one she would ever dare ask for it.

"Do you like them?" Sora asks, an impish grin on his face. He's teasing her. It's something Ven would do.

"Why are you asking?"

He sniggers. "They'd look much better with the blue flowers anyway. What's it called," Sora mutters, his chin in his hand. "Complementary colors?"

"Don't mind him," Riku says.

Sora backhands Riku's shoulder. "Yes, do mind me."

"He means well though."

"I mean well." Sora nods too quickly, and it makes him grab his head in pain.

"They're beautiful," Aqua says, bringing the pot closer instead of placing them by the rest of her flowers. It's not the same as hugging Terra, but it will have to do.

If Terra was here, he'd know what to say about Xemnas. He'd tell her that some people simply just don't get along no matter what, that it doesn't mean that either of them are bad.

Maybe Lea is really that choosy with who he hangs out with.

But something still doesn't sit right with her.

It's silent, and she forgets that she's losing herself to thoughts in the presence of other people. She figures she can't help it considering how long she's been alone. What do people say for small talk?

"It's weird." Riku breaks the silence, fingers in his hair like he's massaging the headache away. "Sitting here without anticipating Kefka's arrival."

"That's the way it should be," Sora says.

"Yeah…" Riku eyes Aqua nervously, and there's no way to tell what's on his mind. "You were... incredible. It's amazing what you can do with a Keyblade with proper focus."

That's right. They are self-trained.

"You both do so well on your own," Aqua says. And she means it, what with Riku's sharp tactics and Sora's gift of bringing his friends together to gather his power.

"Right…" Riku looks down at the table, and this time Sora's noticing. "It's interesting."

It almost sounds accusatory. "What is?" Aqua asks.

"The way you used Kefka's swords. Darkness to defeat darkness-"

"I don't use darkness," Aqua says shortly.

Her insistence, a sharp tongue meant to put a stop to anyone who questions her, keeps Riku tight-lipped. It even makes Sora do a double-take toward his best friend… and she wonders if he's suspicious too.

"You use darkness too," Sora gently says to Riku, as if to normalize the conversation.

"It's not the same," Riku says and immediately bites his lip. The rest he compensates: "I walk the road to dawn. Take the darkness and turn it into light to guide my way. But…"

It's enough to make Aqua's nostrils flare out. It's not true about her...

"She- You manipulated a part of Kefka and used it against itself. That's different from what I do." Riku switches course, giving her an encouraging smile. "It is inspiring though. I've never seen anything like it."

Aqua doesn't know what he's trying to imply. Or rather, she doesn't care to face it. "I…"

"Have been in the Realm of Darkness for a long time," Sora says with compassionate eyes. " And you're a Master. The way you sliced Kefka's head clean off with your Keyblade-" He finishes with a swoosh from his lips and a finger across his neck.

Riku chuckles. "I've always thought that anyone capable of making even a dent on Kefka should be called a Keyblade Master."

Sora contorts a smile like he's struggling to contain it. "Doesn't make you look good at all, does it, Riku?"

Aqua gasps. He's so young. "You're a Master?"

He nods once - to the side actually, like he's shy about it, when he normally presents himself with such confidence.

"Riku was meant for it," Sora cuts in, waving his hands like he's giving an entrance to the stars. "Destined to be Keyblade Master."

"Congratulations, Master Riku," Aqua says.

He hums, rubbing his forearm. " 'Riku' is fine."

It's no wonder Sora loves teasing him. Riku makes it easy.

"That makes you the youngest Keyblade Master ever ," Aqua says. It's funny watching Riku fight away his blushing. "You even beat me to it."

Sora is loving it, snorting into his hand.

"Age is really nothing." Riku dismisses her with a wave of her hand.

"I beg to differ. I've only studied it my entire life, but if you want to say you know more about this than I do-"

"That's not-" This time, Riku's cheeks really are red. "I didn't mean-"

Aqua clears her throat, and for a moment, Riku's silence is pregnant and anxious. She lets it build up much to his suffering, before saying, "I'm messing with you."

Sora holds a fist to his mouth to sustain his laughter, but it seeps out like the accidents of a trumpet.

Which is also a terrible idea, now that he can't control his coughing to the point where he almost plops onto the table out of exhaustion.

"Master to Master," Aqua says, seriously this time, and it catches Riku's attention. "I would appreciate if you respect the fact that I don't need a guardian."

He eyes her, most likely thinking back to last night when he conveniently left out crucial details just to keep her out of a dangerous fight. He clears his throat. "I thought that maybe Terra would have been worried if you were in that much danger."

"That would have been true." She goes back to the orange lilies, rubbing a petal with her thumb. "But he also would have trusted me to take care of myself."

"Right." He thinks hard, nodding, then nodding some more. "I won't do it again."

She wears an appreciative smile. "So your Keyblades…" she starts. There's so much ground to cover.

Traditionally, a wielder would be bequeathed. Their Keyblade would materialize when they're older, when they're on the brink of deciding who they want to be and what they want to strive for. In the case of Sora and Riku…

"Riku," she calls, her hand outstretched to him at the table. "I remember." Barely . "Terra chose you. I felt it. Your light burst into rays after he bequeathed you."

There's a small smile on Riku's lips and he doesn't have to say anything in order to tell her that he wears that memory with pride.\

"But Sora," she continues. If he hasn't been bequeathed then… Well, if one Keyblade is the extension of the entirety of one's personal ambitions, dreams, bonds, heartaches, and identities, then... "How do you have two of them?"

It's so unfitting to watch his smile falter. To watch him fight with it. He's different than Lea in the sense that Lea acknowledges whatever flashes in his mind. Afterwards he puts on a mask, like he's two different people at once.

But Sora struggles to do the same. Sora buries it.

"I bet the other one belongs to Roxas," he says, hands behind his head. Riku agrees.

"I don't understand."

"My Nobody…" His eyes shiver. "I hate that word. Roxas is his own person, and calling him that-"

Riku places a hand on his shoulder, and it keeps Sora from digging deeper into such thoughts.

Whatever trials Sora went through in order to produce a Nobody must be an amazing story. He would have turned into a Heartless, succumbed to darkness for even a fraction of a second. Which is something Aqua would have never even considered for someone like Sora - he's so jovial, so loving, so willing to put others ahead of himself.

Maybe that's the reason. Everybody stretches themselves too much, and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sora leans forward, a hand to his chest. "I have Roxas' heart with me. That's why I have two Keyblades."

Again, Riku scuffles. "Did you know Terra can do the same?" he asks Aqua.

Terra with his Earthshaker and a nameless silver Keyblade. Considering how she saw Sora with two with her very own eyes, suddenly it's not hard to imagine.

If Terra is going through the same, then he's much stronger than she ever realized, having to carry a parasite inside.

Aqua chooses to think it's admirable, bearing on such a burden. She imagines somewhere where Sora can't touch, this Roxas person has to be incredibly sad not being able to taste life on his own. It makes her think of Ven, who also isn't able to share the flowers with her.

She's sure that Sora must have the same conviction she has to save them both.

"Sora," she starts. His name is starting to sound like sunshine. "I meant to bequeath you myself."

His eyes go wide, his lips small like a mouse's, like he's never considered he was meant for the honor. "... Seriously?"

"Yes." She chuckles. "You remember meeting me?"

"Vaguely."

"I remember it more," Riku says.

"I saw how bright your light was," Aqua says. "You were destined for it, too."

Sora is dumbstruck, eyes scanning the table for nothing to find. She's sure he's just forgotten to thank her since he's normally polite. Something tells her he's probably been told the complete opposite, judging by how much he's sinking into disbelief.

Riku is the one smiling more about that revelation.

"Thank you," Sora finally says, beaming like his self-esteem isn't in junk heaps.

"I really wanted to take you in," she says. "But… I was worried. By the time I met the both of you, I was sure I was going to have to fight Terra, even though I didn't want to. I was forced to put a stop to what was happening to us."

She tears up. It burns less than last night.

"I wanted to spare you both from the same," she whispers, seeing these grown-up boys with stronger jaws and shallower cheeks. "I didn't want the Keyblade to split the two of you like it did to us."

Sora cackles into laughter. It's contagious enough to affect Riku who quietly joins him in whatever inside joke she's not part of. "Too late ."

"The good old days." Riku leans on his elbow and hides his face behind his hand. "You were a piece of work, Sora."

"You're one to talk," Sora scoffs, arms crossing at the surface of the table so he can lie his head down. "You were really obnoxious."

Riku melts into a grin then quickly composes himself, shrugging with one shoulder. "That's fair."

It could have been so different for them. Whatever their story is, it's null and void by now.

That's not honest, whatever happened has made Sora and Riku who they are today: strongly bonded, cracking jokes with a rhythm, powerful wielders who can rely on each other.

It could have been Terra and Aqua. It makes her feel silly, worrying so much because she thought there was a point where he couldn't be helped anymore.

She should have trusted more instead of assuming whatever path he was on was destructive to himself and everyone else.

But if it has worked out for Riku and Sora, who sit in front of her like they only have happy memories, then it may still work out for her and Terra.

She has to believe that.

The sound of squeaky wheels marches up to the table, and Rydia takes a cart with vials of elixir on the top shelf and stacks of colorful board games underneath. It's nice to see her walk around without dragging her feet or leaning on that old wizard's staff. Her slow recovery bodes well for all of them.

"You all look heavenly," she says, giving them each a personal vial which they are expected to drink in full.

"That's such a lie," Sora says, leaning over. "You're the one who looks almost normal."

She grimaces. "Not according to everyone in town… They say that once Kefka has gotten you, it will stay with you forever."

"Then buy him a clown nose," Riku points to Sora, which earns him a jab in the ribs.

"What exactly does that mean?" Aqua asks, more serious that she'd like to admit.

There's an invasive suspicion that refuses to vacate the back of her mind: that darkness has found a way into her heart, and that it may mean it will always linger there. What would the Master think?

Rydia bends over to caress her shoulder. "Nothing to worry about. It's something the townsfolk say to have a reason to stay scared. They want to deny anything and everything that would threaten them further."

Is that why Rydia's smile doesn't reach her eyes? Are they alienating her?

Rydia doesn't answer the questions in Aqua's mind, and instead pulls out the stack games, some in different languages, and lets them choose one.

"You want a rematch?" Riku asks.

"Absolutely not," Rydia says with a wink. "I still want to gloat about my win."

The stack is the typical clash of colors, a desperate way to claw at children's attention. Aqua is lucky. Having a Master that traveled through different universes meant she had the privilege to play with things that would otherwise never arrive at a child's door.

And there is one she does recognize.

"Command Board," she says, pulling it out from underneath the rest.

"Good choice," Sora says, even though he's likely never played it before.

"We used to grow up playing this." She chuckles to herself, remembering all the times she accused Terra of cheating. How Ven got a little too proud if he happened to win.

"It's a three-player game," Rydia says with a small nod. She's the odd fourth in the group, and maybe Aqua is a little sensitive to the idea of her not belonging, but Rydia waves like she's not bothered by it. "I hope you make new memories with it. It'll help with the poison."

"Huh?" Sora mutters.

Rydia may know better, but she probably should have been more blunt: to say that Aqua should keep her chin up and stay optimistic in spite of trying times. Aqua doesn't understand why the people around her are so concerned about her state of mind - does coming from the Realm of Darkness creep them out that much?

If what they say about Kefka's poison is just a jest, then Aqua truly doesn't have anything to worry about.

"How do you play?" Sora asks, and Aqua realizes she's been silent too long, once again.

Riku watches her with intent, and she challenges his gaze enough to get him to look somewhere else.

"Ah," she breathes. "The rules are complicated but you'll learn along the way."

She lifts the lid. This board isn't the same one she used to play with, but the rules are similar so she'll take it as a grand new adventure. There's some cards missing, but the dice are definitely all present.

Playing with Sora and Riku is like playing with friendly ghosts.

There's Sora with all his enthusiasm, already going too far in plotting strategies for events he can't predict are going to happen (so far he has a fifty-fifty success rate). He's so much like Ven, who's cunning enough to make all the right assumptions, and threw down more cards than he cared about moving his piece through the board. Ven loved to tag-team and then betray, pitting Terra and Aqua against each other so they wouldn't go after him.

Riku is a little more reserved and careful. He reads his cards like he's studying a textbook, and he catches the both of them by surprise when he considers card combinations she's never tried before. He's like Terra, slow and sneaky. Terra had terrible poker face, usually bringing his cards right against his nose to hide what he's thinking. And that's only if he wasn't throwing glances at Aqua with a smirk on his face. He used to say that it's to predict what she's going to do next. Nowadays, Aqua thinks it's so much more than that.

Yet Riku and Sora are different. They are a nice homage to childish days, a breath of fresh nostalgia. They are innocent in the game, but not yet to the point where they have to consider tricking Aqua, and this gives her an advantage.

It's as colorful in Traverse Town as the spots on the board. It may hide dreary secrets behind the night lights, mixed with its enviously gorgeous architecture, but there's a pleasant space here. A spot to hide away from sins.

It's not really a home, yet. But it's close enough.

The streets are louder than ever when night comes. It's the fourth parade in a row, which Aqua watches from her bedroom window. The horns are thunderous, drums banging to the pace of the march where dancers hand balloons to children and throw candy at everyone else.

It may be the fourth but Noctis is still uncomfortable, hands hiding in his pockets instead of waving to the crowds. He only calms when Garnet joins him on such an embarrassment, all the way through to the end. If she's not smiling at people, she's looking at the cobblestones under her feet.

Aqua is on the highest floor of the hotel but she can still hear Donald's scratchy whining down below whenever Sora bursts out of the hotel doors. They're all doing so much better by now, but he still treats them as delicate.

By now, Sora doesn't have a guttural cough anymore.

By now, the electric bell in the clock tower has been deactivated, under Noctis' orders.

By now, Lea knocks on Aqua's door with a mug already prepared with sleeping weed. For as much as Lea acts like he enjoys hanging out with people, he certainly spends a lot of time alone, avoiding the crowds. Like water, like fire.

"You forgot your tea," he says, and sets the mug on her bedside table. "Three cheers for health, dreams, and vanquishing Heartless. Now drink it."

Other nights, Aqua's usually more willing to drink. Tonight, she walks briskly to pick up Terra's Wayfinder, massaging it in her hand while Lea makes himself comfortable with a chair in between his legs.

She could avoid it, but she's terrible about this sort of thing. Eventually, Lea will read exactly how anxious she is.

"Does it smell funny?" He's already doing it.

There's a growing list of questions ever since Lea made it clear that he and Xemnas don't get along. There shouldn't be, and Aqua wants to be mature enough to cast them aside.

"I don't have friends from the darkness," she says.

Yet it still bothers her.

Lea looks around the room, from one corner to another, from the carpet to the ceiling. "That doesn't answer my question.

That she's made a friend in the darkness.

She holds the Wayfinder close to her heart. "What does Xemnas do?"

"Still on that, huh." Lea scoffs. She's expected him to maybe grunt in shock, or give her a grim response. "You really want to know?"

No.

"I don't know." She blinks several times, like she's just been awakened. "He… he was supposed to find me. He promised he'd get me out."

"Out of the Realm of Darkness?" Lea whistles, crossing his arms over the backrest and resting his chin on his fist. "There's nothing much to tell about Xemnas. It's not a good story, so just drink your tea, it'll make you feel better."

How can it be, she wonders. She remembers the very first time she's ever heard his voice.

Somewhere deep where mirrors talked back and had a mind of their own.

And she had asked:

"Is this… the last apparition before it takes me over?"

And he had said:

"No."

"...No?"

"You wanted an answer to your question. It is no."

Since then, whenever she struggled with painful loneliness, he gave her peaceful solitude.

Lea's voice reminds her that she's nowhere deep anymore. "If you want to know what happened to him, you should ask Riku and Sora." Then he laughs, shaking his head with disgust like he's embarrassed he's told a terrible joke. "Nevermind. Don't tell Sora, he'd be pretty upset if he heard."

"Why would-" She takes a sharp inhale. "Why-"

Something about it clicks. If those boys were involved, then Lea is right: it's a truth she'd never want to hear.

But Aqua is sometimes too brave for her own good, even in the face of regret.

Lea looks at her hard. "You should really count your blessings."

He takes too much time to find the right words, and she wants to slap him to get on with it since what is so difficult about this information?

After deliberation, he says, "He's Xehanort's Nobody."

It isn't what she expected. It isn't even her worst nightmare, yet Aqua cripples down to the floor, nearly hurling over the carpet, shutting her mouth with her hands. The parade outside sings and dances by itself, a different life altogether than what's living in her own room.

"Hey," Lea objects, his hands up in surrender. "It's not that shameful to be a Nobody."

"He isn't."

"Oh, he is." He stands up, coming over her shoulder to make sure she's not losing herself. "Devilishly handsome, stone-faced, cold-hearted, greedy, obnoxious - all the makings of a cockroach."

"How could I have fallen for it?" she snaps, even though she doesn't mean to take it out on Lea.

When she sobers after giving him a cold stare, she understands. It's not just her. Terra fell for it too, right after the most important failure of his life that left him utterly broken-hearted.

Aqua was broken-hearted, as well.

Lea's emerald green eyes spark. He smirks, bending down on his knees to join her. "I see that you're smart enough to know the answer to that question, so I don't have to waste my breath." He takes the mug and cups it. "This is the third damn time I'm telling you to drink your tea . Or else I'll hire you a mother."

She is absent-minded when she takes the mug, only aware enough that it doesn't tip over and spill. "Does that make me a terrible Master? That I let him in?"

"Nah." Lea waves his hand over like he's swatting a fly. "If I was alone that much, I wouldn't care either. And that's saying something."

"I really felt like I needed him." She sighs. She's supposed to be smarter than this, to notice when people take advantage of her. And it makes her angry. "When I see him again-"

"Stop right there." He clicks his tongue and waves a finger at her. "There's no need to look for him. You won't get any answers, and it won't make you happy."

Lea then pats her on the shoulder hard enough to knock her off her stupor.

She once told Xemnas how grateful she was for his companionship. Aqua doesn't know whether to grieve over something that never existed, or start a war. "What else is left?" she asks.

"With Xemnas?" He scratches his head, already on his way towards the door. "Nothing. He's Nobody. A blip in a tiny part of your past and not much more."

When he opens her door, Duchess and her kittens are already clawing to come in. "Well, excuse me ." He lifts one leg let them in, then turns an about-face to bid her good night. "Aqua, for crying out loud, drink it." He shuts it.

Aqua sits on the carpet, Duchess climbing onto her lap. She purrs. It's enough to remind Aqua that she has some cat food stashed away, so she neglects her tea to prepare it for them.

"Terra," she says to his Wayfinder, the last of the cat bowl filled, "I swear I'm going to bring us all back together and keep us protected."

Vulnerable - that's the word she feels strongest, being exposed to Xehanort like that when she thought she was immune to him.

Terra once told her he was stupid many years ago, and now the joke's on her.

The melody from his music box melts away the embarrassment for now.

"I'm so sorry," she says, "for judging you the way I did."

The tea is now lukewarm, but along with the leftover elixir that waits on her bedside table, she expects - she demands of her body - to heal completely by tomorrow.

Aqua still doesn't feel so well, but she's fine enough. Minor headaches to and fro, some nausea left in the morning, and heaping of grumpiness. She asks Riku and Sora if they're well enough to join her, and they're bored enough to jump the bandwagon as quickly as possible. Good.

After four nights in a row partying, Traverse Town is ready to hunker down and begin rebuilding. The hotel is once again filled with the bustle of workers, and Noctis is always followed by a crowd of people waiting for their assignments, just an ordinary day for him.

Cid of course is always nagging him.

"We got the hospital to clean out in the west," Cid would bark.

"I know, I have it on my list," Noctis would snark back.

"What about the third district?"

"I'm getting on that."

"Sewers are a mess, the Heartless-"

"I know."

"The clock tower needs-"

"I know ."

"Kid, I don't know what to do with ya!"

Goodbyes are quick. Rydia makes absolutely certain that Aqua promises she'll take care of herself. Originally, Rydia objected to their leave, but compensates by giving them extra elixirs just in case. She inspects their faces to make sure they have proper color, before demanding hugs.

Noctis thanks Sora and Riku specifically for their work in vanquishing Heartless and Nobodies. Maybe one day, he'll be reunited with his friends. That once they're back, he'll take them to see what else is out there, as soon as his work is finished.

Aqua doesn't know what to say to him. Tradition says that reckless travel in between worlds is forbidden. Upsets the balance of the multiverse, brings oblivion and destruction, etc etc.

And yet, Traverse Town is the exact opposite of everything she knows. Aqua wonders if the Master was ever aware of its existence.

Lea pulls her aside for his temporary farewell - he has business to take care of, and his own personal gummi ship sits only one, so there's no use tagging along. But he's still mulish about his belief that Aqua is in need of a loving, doting mother to take care of areas that she's neglecting, and somehow he must deem himself perfect for the role.

His advice: Mind your vegetables .

Second, Drink water .

He has trouble thinking of a third one, and he settles for Don't get a concussion . Aqua doesn't consider this to be something most mothers would say to their children.

Finally, he tells her, Don't get pregnant . And that's enough wisdom for the day.

Just like that, he's gone. He moves like he has someplace to go, just like everyone else around here, leaving messes and tripping over them, splitting up until lunch break, telling their wives and children that they'll be back later in the day.

There's just one person who is still.

The rabbit-woman from the other night, sitting on a lounge chair by the wall opposite, fine curtains and exquisite vases notwithstanding.

She watches Aqua diligently like a hunter, with an expression that's hard to describe. Aqua interprets it as condescension. Suspicion, distrust, and there's a sense that this rabbit-woman sees through Aqua, as if reading her insides, her mind, her heart.

The rabbit-woman is scantily dressed, showing more dark skin that anything else, with hair as white as clouds, and it makes Aqua blush.

"Our heroine of fine quality," she hears a voice say behind her. The well-dressed man strides with confidence, rebuttoning his cuffs. He smells like he has just bathed in soap and cologne. This close, the embroidery on his vest looks like it was sewn with gold thread. "That was quite a show you've given us that night."

Aqua is still flustered by the rabbit-woman, and she stammers. This isn't like her. "I- Excuse me, um, who is asking exactly?"

"Balthier," he says like she's supposed to know. "I see Fran has made her acquaintance as well."

Aqua clears her throat.

"Balthier," Garnet calls out, floating over on her dainty feet, with excitement in her voice and a grand smile on her face. It suits her better than despair. "I believe you are intimidating our guest."

"I trust it isn't my disposition." The way he's speaking - he's flirting with her.

Garnet takes a moment to study him. "I imagine pirates have their way."

"Well, I am no ruffian."

"Pirates?" Aqua asks. "You don't strike me as one."

"I'm a sky pirate," Balthier says as though he's offended. "I suppose I should have greeted you with an 'Ahoy, matey' and doubtless you'd be convinced."

"Sky pirates," Aqua whispers. It makes sense. Now she knows where she's seen Fran before - or rather people like Fran. Viera, that's the word to describe their race of people. All the way in the corner of the empty space that splits the worlds apart is a cluster of stars that form their very own galaxy. The Master has theorized it is because the threads that should have cut after the great Keyblade War are still strung together.

Montressor - that's the name of one of the stars there. They have been there before… maybe seventeen years ago by this point? The Master had supervised them on a mission there.

Aqua doesn't say anything about it - it's no good to trust pirates.

"Then where did you learn water magic?" she asks Balthier. "It's rare."

Balthier has a smug look on his face. "I have acquired some runes."

Or stolen them. Either way, it's definitely a lie. He turns over his shoulder to meet with his partner.

"What say you, Fran?" He takes a seat on one of the shorter dressers right by her side. "Where shall the stars take us next?"

Fran takes one more stare at Aqua before replying, "The sun will set." Her accent rolls and purrs, though it's subtle. "And we will meet it."

Balthier has no option but to take what he gets. "Lovely. Carry onward, then."

They move too, in opposite directions as everyone else.

There must be something on Aqua's face, because Garnet reads it and says, "Fran is a special member of our community." It's a wonder how she can trust pirates so easily.

"What does she do?"

"She senses the darkness in others, even in our worlds. That is exactly how they have saved me." Garnet holds a crystal hanging from her neck. "And she has been an asset to us every since."

It's unsettling for Aqua, but she's fine the way she is. Kefka's poison will not turn her into a Heartless.

Without warning, Garnet takes both her hands and holds them in between. "Have no fear. You are quite capable, and stronger than anyone I have ever met."

Aqua hasn't been feeling that way the last couple of days. "Thank you," she says with a smile.

Garnet returns it, a sparkle in her eyes. "He is a treasure, Aqua."

"Uh, who?"

"Terra, of course." Why does everyone have to put her on the spot? "He brought you to us."

There's so much heat in Aqua's cheeks, she's sure she's red in the face. "Ah, thank you." It sounds more like a question that anything else, a slip in the cracks of her otherwise serious demeanor.

"Before I forget." Garnet lets go of her, and searches a knapsack hanging from her shoulder. "Terra purchased this for Ventus."

A fancy silver whistle, adorned with red gemstones. "It is enchanted," Garnet says, "its calls meant only for the one who is needed. Be sure to give it to him?"

"Of course." That is so much like Terra, leaving them random things he feels they need.

At least that's his usual self. It's hard to imagine what he was thinking when he went off on his own and never came back to the Land of Departure. Aqua had suspected he stopped caring about them.

But he never did, and that's the point.

"And be sure to give Leon and Lightning our love," Garnet says. "We owe them our lives for all the help they've granted us."

Not like Aqua knows who they are.

Riku takes the helm of Sora's gummi ship since his own has been sliced in two by a lunatic clown. He says it's because it's safer if he drives, but Aqua suspects he trusts Sora wholeheartedly, more than he lets on.

He just won't admit he likes to be in control.

The gummi ship is comfortable and large, lights blinking in a language Aqua does not understand. She never imagined that engineers could create technology that allows people to travel between worlds without the guidance of a Keyblade. The Master would surely disapprove of this.

She takes the empty seat behind Sora, and finishes making herself comfortable when Donald walks in. Apparently she has taken his chair, counting on the way he's mumbling and gurgling to himself. With the scratchiness of his voice, it's impossible to tell what he's saying to her.

Sora understands him, giving Aqua a shake of his head as if saying not to worry. Maybe Donald is usually this grumpy. "He said no, again?" he asks Donald.

"He said no again." Donald takes the seat next to Aqua, Goofy trailing closely behind with a pep to his step.

"What's going on?" Riku is busy turning on the engine, but he listens closely.

"Balthier won't take our munny to find a Door to Darkness," Sora says. "Dangerous business, he says, if there's nothing to gain from it or no one to save from a world that's about to fall."

Riku scoffs. "I guess that makes sense? It's funny to see him that concerned."

"Why? He's pretty cool."

"You say that about every pirate."

"He's a pirate that flies . That's better than anything."

"How is he able to travel to other worlds?" Aqua asks. "He shouldn't be able to do that in the first place."

Riku grimaces, trapping a laugh. "Sora, you don't know this story."

Sora hops in his seat. "Tell me."

"Mickey and I," Riku starts, and it already catches Donald and Goofy's attention. "Traveled to Montressor… I don't remember why we were there, but Balthier caught us red-handed landing in that world. He chased us using his sky ship, all over the stars of that world. It's humongous."

"Are you serious?" Sora is near laughing, and Donald grunts.

"And he caught us."

"Ha."

"Tied us up, and demanded to know how we even got there.

"Well, obviously you're fine. He's cool, like I said."

"We gave him spare gummi parts, then he let us go. Simple as that."

Sora slaps his knee. "That's awesome."

"Hmph!" Donald nearly slaps his own waist in fury, like scolding them with his hands on his hips won't catch up to how angry he is. "That was dangerous for the King!"

Goofy laughs - it's a hearty one, like there's reason to be happy. "They got out just fine."

Suddenly Donald hangs his head. "We left the King in the Realm of Darkness."

Ooh, sadness on Goofy is enough to make Aqua tear up - he's so animated, so contorted with grief, and he takes his hat off like he's honoring a funeral. "If only his Majesty let us go with him."

Riku is quiet, and Sora sighs.

"It was Mickey's choice," Riku says calmly, "like I've said before. He wields powerful magic, and he has Terra with him."

Goofy keeps quiet.

Donald, however, fires up. "If anything happens to the King, Terra knows what I am capable of."

"Now, now," Goofy says, putting his hat back on and counting on his fingers. "Terra is kind, and generous, and helpful-"

"He's trouble." Donald crosses his arms.

Sora snorts. "Don't worry about them Aqua, they're always like that. Terra is awesome." He spins over his seat to give her a reassuring smile. "Where to first?"

Riku turns over his shoulder, too. "I hope to Master Yen Sid's?" He takes one look at Aqua and gets his answer. "You're going to be as difficult as Terra, aren't you? Fine."

Ven is far more important than anything. There's really nothing she has to say to Yen Sid, and for some reason… she doesn't want anything he has to offer. She's the only one that knows about Ven, so there isn't anything new he could tell her.

"I need to go to the Land of Departure."

Sora and Riku exchange looks. It's clear they've heard of it before. "Terra asked for the same."

Aqua hesitates. "And?"

Riku turns on a device which whirrs and spits and beeps like it's scanning. He gives another look over to Sora, this time more grim.

"The pathway is blocked," he says simply.

"I'm sorry, what are you saying?" Aqua leans over, holding Sora's chair to keep herself steady.

"We can only travel through highways in between worlds. Nothing like what you're able to with your armor and glider," Riku explains with melancholy to his voice. But he wouldn't know either - he'd never be able to comprehend how sick she's getting right now. "Why it's blocked can mean ten different things, but usually we find it in our scanner."

The Land of Departure has changed dramatically, that much is true. Darkness has ruled its skies for years, the castle has been disfigured, so maybe something is off. What if it got worse? What if it was attacked?

… What if it fell?

"Ven is there," she blurts out, shivering. She doesn't mean to say it. He's only safe if she's the only one who knows, but… "I have to get there. I can't leave him behind-"

Sora grabs her wrist. His smile is… angelic almost, like she doesn't have to explain herself.

"Ventus is fine," Sora says, even though he has no way of knowing. "I don't believe that you'd ever be reckless with him, so I know he's okay."

She stirs. There's a warmth in her chest that caresses her stomach. Sora is right. If she listens, her heart knows that Ven is fine. She doesn't know how Sora could feel the same way since they don't know each other, but he has a gift. She's always sensed it.

Riku takes turns glancing at each of them. "What's with you all of a sudden?" he asks Sora.

Sora lets her go and situates back in his seat. "What do you mean?"

Goofy chuckles that warm swelling of his. "Somethin's different about ya."

"What?"

"You're just different around Terra and Aqua," Riku says too quickly. "You're very needy for their attention."

Sora interlaces his fingers behind his head, leaning into his chair. "And you're just jealous."

"Yen Sid's, then?" Riku tries again. He throws another glance at Aqua to test the waters and she sighs.

If she had her own Keyblade, her own armor, she could find the Land of Departure by herself and do what she has to do.

Yet the Master would have respected her for visiting his old friend, and accept the wisdom given. After all, she's a Master too, and she has responsibilities.

Making Ven wait isn't worth any of them, though.

Does she have a choice? In order to get to Ven, she absolutely needs her armor, and can make do with the Master's Defender. Maybe Yen Sid could be useful in giving her direction.

… Aqua still isn't sure she wants to listen to someone who lazily sat with his outdated books while she waited for someone to save her. It's not very noble of him at all.

"Okay then," she says unenthusiastically.

"Finally!" Sora shoots a fist in the air while Riku revs the engine. "I'm ready to go. You know, once we get Terra back, he needs to teach us how to make armor like that. It's the coolest thing."

"Sounds like a great idea," Riku says.

"It is," Aqua says softly. She's wasting time traveling the opposite direction.

Leaving what she really wants behind for yet another day. Traverse Town shrinks as they fly up, and she hopes the next time she comes here, it's prettier.