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Chapter 12:
Vivianna Bay
Aqua opened her eyes noticing a beam of light hanged above and darkness covered her new area. Noticing a chill on different parts of her body, she looked down at herself seeing her normal garments had changed. What the..?
Wearing a short sleeve leather jacket that barely covered her bare back. A navy blue buster that had white lace strung on the sides, black leather sheen shorts that was cut enough to hide her buttocks. Her black stockings now reached to her mid thigh matching her new coal colored combat boots. Everything just felt too…airy. Even her underwear felt different but she definitely did not want to check down there.
She tried wrapping her jacket to cover her exposed busting chest, to her disappointment it couldn't completely hide her breast popping out into view. So she took the jacket off looking for any signs of buttons, zippers, or pockets. There were none.
Aqua looked at the back seeing a large neon blue 'S' stitched on the leather. "Vanitas." She said disgruntled at the magic attire.
"You rang?" A smooth voice from behind breathed warm air on her back bringing goosebumps to surface. Aqua turned clutching her jacket to her chest. A dash of red showed on her cheeks.
Vanitas chuckled at the girl's caught embarrassment. "Like it?" If looks could kill, the grinning boy would be on the floor.
"I'm not a freaking doll!" She shouted putting her jacket back on.
"You're not a guy either." He added.
She groaned unable to make a comeback so she turned away from him raising her arms to the empty void. "So where are we now?"
"You tell me. This is world is from your memory bank."
"My memory?" The girl gazed at her shadowy surrounds, there were buildings and what looked to be a neighborhood, but nowhere she had been in the past had architect design like these, not even in the other worlds she visited. Yet it was all so familiar.
"In fact, it should be beginning right about…" Vanitas began backing away into the darkness. "…Now."
On cue, the Sun from the east shined, spreading its light to the land. Glittering a nearby river on the Northwest where neatly trimmed Augustine grass blanketed its sides and colorful tulips swayed on the gentle breeze. As if the sun was set on fastward, the rays lit the buildings that were colored between the shades of silver and white. People exited out of some of the buildings walking along a grey stoned pavement. All sharing shades of blue in their hair and a tint of lapis in the eyes.
My home world…
The town was called Vivianna Bay, known for the soil being so richly fertile, and for its weather to always stay sunny. She wasn't sure why a river place would have 'bay' in the title even though the ocean was hundreds of miles away. Thus the town was mostly white, because any other paint would immediately fade or chip away.
I wonder if Mom and Dad are here. She thought walking along the path.
"Excuse me!" said a little blue bobbed hair girl with matching turquoise dress skipping around the young light user.
Aqua watched the little girl remembering those exact same clothes she wore, thirteen years ago. It couldn't be… She began following the her childish self enter a little shop, listening from the outside window of a conversation she had so long ago.
"Good morning Aqua!" sang the plump white and red uniformed gentleman, "I see you came for more muffins today."
The little girl shrugged, "They're for Mommy."
"Ah I see." The humble baker rustled behind the counter taking out a few displayed muffins from a glass pastry dish. "So I hear you're leaving to some fancy school, is that right?"
"Yes, I'll be leaving today…" Childish Aqua awkwardly replied, trying her hardest to not make eye contact. Her new teacher-err master-told her not to tell anyone much details although it still bothered her to continue with the white lie, but it was needed.
"Wow so soon? Well I gotta say I'll miss your frequent visits." The baker smiled placing a pink paper box filled with muffins on the counter. Aqua dipped her hand in her pocket for change, "No charge this time."
The petite girl smiled happily grabbing the box, "Thank you!" quickly skipping to the door.
Mature Aqua continued to follow a safe distance from her younger self who skip to the end of the block to another shop with a hanged sign saying:
Ria's Dance Studio
Mom…Dad…
Her mother was an exotic dance teacher and her father was a librarian at the only library in town. They taught her everything she knew and when they found out she was a magic user on her seventh birthday, master Eraqus came. He asked her parents if Aqua would be one of his apprentices and a have a future of saving worlds. At first nobody believed him. Least not until he summoned his keyblade out of thin air and by that both happily insisted that their daughter learn the ways of Light.
It was the last day she would ever see them again.
The keyblade master stopped peeking through the glass window taking in past feelings. Standing there were her parents waiting in the empty studio. She remembered her mom closed the place that day and her father took the day off to see her go. She could see her father spinning the little girl around in circles.
"Pardon me miss." Said a familiar voice passing by the young maiden, entering the shop. It was Master Eraqus with slightly shorter hair but still wearing his kimono.
He bowed at the family as little Aqua rushed to the backroom to collect her suitcase. Her mother began tearing and her father paced back and forth. The seven year old returned as they all slowly walked out of the shop. Eraqus went first giving the family their distance, patiently waiting. He knew how hard it was, especially on the day of departure.
Her parents knelt down hugging and kissing their only daughter. Ria sniffled, "R-Remember to respect your elders and t-to take it easy when you get the chance."
Her father nodded patting Aqua's head, "Indeed, saving the universe each day can be very tiring, especially for a little girl."
"I will.." Aqua began to sob, "Promise you'll write to me?"
Her mom held on to her baby one last time, "Everyday."The apprentice Aqua started walking with Eraqus, wiping her tears attempting to look brave.
"Wait!" yelled her father handing the little girl the same pink box she brought earlier. "They're pomegranate muffins…we ordered them for you. Take them just in case you get hungry training or something."
"Thanks Daddy." She kissed her father on the cheek as she and her master continued walking down the paved stone path.
The Aqua left behind watched her memory disappear from sight as she turned seeing her parents return inside the shop. "They never did write…" she mumbled, "…and I never did take it easy."
When Aqua arrived at the Land of Departure, she met Terra and accidently dropped the pomegranate muffins on the floor while trying to shake his hand. Poor Terra, frantically tried to apologize but the little girl sighed comforting him. Telling him that it was okay, that she could always ask for more from her parents when they write. Yet that never happened.
Why didn't they keep their promise? She thought watching her mother organize papers at the front desk and her father wiping the dance room's mirrors. Still not sure if this was all fake or not, but it's worth finding out…
The young adult set forth entering the shop as she stopped in front of her still flushed mother.
To be continued..
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To the next!