Oh boy, is it Thursday already? That chapter should have been out like two days ago. Sorry about that! I hope you guys are reading my prompt calendar as well, at least I'm never late for this one x'D

Aqua had spent so much time studying in the library (mostly about the History of various worlds, being a Master meant she had a lot of things to know) that she closed her book long after midnight. She turned the lights out and walked to the kitchen to clean her teacup before going to sleep. On her way, she noticed a ray of light under the door of the lounge (a room filled with comfy sofas where they liked to play cards). She went closer to the door to check if someone was in there of if they just forgot to switch the lights off, but froze when she heard her name.

She could hear Terra and Ventus in there. She usually strongly disapproved eavesdropping, but she also heard Vanitas's name, and she couldn't just ignore them, or join them. So she sat next to the door, guilt and curiosity mixed in her mind.

"But you, Terra, how do you feel about her and Vanitas being... friends?"

"I don't know. That's pretty much like her, you know. She's just always so kind with everyone, and she sees the good in every soul. I can't even say I'm surprised, honestly!"

Ven laughed. "I guess you're right. But sill, do you believe it, that there is some good in him? I can get she does not hate him, but to befriend him?"

"I've never seen her coming back hurt, quite frankly. To be fair, I think we are hurting her more than he does. I don't like him, but perhaps her magic with people just works with him as well. And who knows? If we trust him, he might turn into an ally one day."

"Do you really believe that, Terra?" Ven sounded dubious. Aqua couldn't help but smile.

"I wish I could. But for now, I still cannot trust him. Also, the Master's order are pretty clear when it comes to Vanitas..."

"But Aqua, she's... We can pretend we don't know, but we do. She's still seeing him. She can try to hide it, but there are times when she leaves for a world for half a day, sometimes more. I never thought... I never thought she would hide stuff from the Master. Or from us."

"If only you knew... Let me tell you a story, Ven. A story of how Aqua, no matter how pure and kind and everything she is, disobeyed Master Eraqus's orders and got us into probably the biggest mess ever."

Aqua buried her head in her hands. She knew the story he was about to tell. Oh dear, she knew exactly which one it was.

"It happened a few years ago, before you joined us. It was Aqua's 15th birthday, and she had wanted more than anything to visit another world. Which one did not matter, she just wanted to get out of this place for a day. But the Master refused, because she was still young, immature, and travelling through the Lanes Between was incredibly dangerous. The Master had a meeting with Master Yen Sid and left us alone. We were old enough to deal with ourselves for a couple of days, he said. He opened the Lanes Between to go to Master Yen Sid and left. An hour after he was gone, she came to my room, her armour on, and asked me if I wanted to know what was outside, in the sky. I told her the Master forbade us to leave, but nothing I could say would change her mind: she would go, with, or without me. I tagged along, partly because it would be safer to travel in groups, but also because I was curious as well. I was so terrified the Master would find us out... But she laughed it off and said that he wouldn't know.

"Nothing happened in our travel through space. We landed in a forest that was beautiful. I don't think I've even seen her happier than that day: she took off her armour, her shoes, and was running barefooted all over the place, laughing and dancing. I was a lot uneasier than her, still worried about the Master.

"And then, a wild boar appeared out of nowhere and charged us. I summoned my keyblade, wanting to defend ourselves, but she yelled at me not to hurt the animal – we were the foreigners here and we had no right to hurt anything. So instead, we climbed up a tree and waited for three hours for it to leave. She still had no shoes, and her feet were bleeding, cut by the tree trunk. After the animal was gone, we decided it was time to come back home. When we did... Master Eraqus was waiting for us. You've never seen him that angry, Ven, and I swear you don't want to see that. I was grounded, but Aqua told him she would be taking the whole responsibility for that and that she did not feel any regret for disobeying. She had to clean the whole castle, was not allowed out of her room but for meals, training and chores, and she was not allowed to speak with me until she had apologized to the Master."

Ven whistled. "And she did?"

"A month later, she apologized for worrying the Master and for putting me in danger. But she never to this day apologized for disobeying."

Aqua was embarrassed. She did not want Ven to find out about this story, ever.

"See, Ventus, Aqua is not the docile and obedient child people tend to think she is. She does what she seems right to her. She usually follows the Master's orders because she finds them fair. But she is a free soul, you cannot lock her up or force her to do things against her will. I think this is why she finds Vanitas's company enjoyable: he is probably more free than us, he questions things. He's not on our side, but I don't think he blindly obeys Master Xehanort either. They are breaking rules just by talking to each other, but that's probably how she remembers she is actually free."

Aqua had to stop herself from rushing into the room and throw her arms around Terra. She had never known he knew her so well. It even appeared he understood things about her, and about her relationship with Vanitas, that she had not understood yet herself.

She quietly stood up and went to the kitchen to wash her cup. When she went to sleep, the boys were done talking and back to their respective rooms.

She stood in front of the door for a whole minute, hesitating, and then knocked. A groan answered to her and she slowly opened the door.

"Hey Terra. I have troubles sleeping. Do you think I could...?"

He looked at her for a few seconds, before tenderly smiling. "Sure. Come over."

She shyly lied down next to him, like they would do when they were younger. She knew they were too old for that, but she didn't care. Just like he had said : she was free.

He pulled the blanket over her, and soon enough she was actually asleep, cuddling up next to him, letting his familiar scent bring her back to that tree where they waited for three hours in each other's arms.

Yay, I could finally put some more of my headcanon: Aqua is actually a thug! ... Well, she isn't, she's still Mama Aqua and I do love her, but I didn't want her to be just the docile girl people think she is. She had to be more than that.
Also, random trivia : back then, they were in Bambi's world. This information is pretty useless, but here, you know.

I will try to post the next chapter on Saturday! Do you like snow? 'cuz that's going to be the title of the next chap!