AN: Lol too much dialogue heavy made this chapter turn out as big as a normal chapter, instead of a vignette shorter thingy. :D At least it's only two scenes so technically it still fits?
Over the course of the next two weeks, a lot of things changed.
But the changes were...all good things.
Kairi got another bed in her room for Xion to use, pushed up against the opposite wall (they'd had to do a bit of furniture rearranging). No, in their room now. The room of sisters. It was a twin room, now, with each bed having its own little nightstand, and a shared dresser in the corner next to the closet. Thankfully, her desk hadn't had to go anywhere. Their desk.
And they'd gotten to go shopping - that big trip with dad.
Xion now had more outfits than she even knew what to do with. From cute little skirt and top combos, to little sundresses, and a few different pairs of shorts and comfy pants. Unlike Kairi, she was pretty minimalistic, all in all - she hadn't wanted any accessories. No bracelets, necklaces, or earrings of any kind. Nuh-uh, not for that girl! And that was fine. Because - well - not to be vain or anything like that, buuuut...Kairi thought Xion was more than pretty enough on her own. Basic Xion didn't even need anything extra to glow!
Kairi was finally allowed to start going back to school, as well. Xion, not just yet, though; dad had arranged for her to have a private tutor - special instruction. She needed to get up to speed on...well, the basics, first, before anything else. Before the daunting idea of being thrown into public school life, on top of normal life itself.
Things were new, and changing, and different...but for the better. Change...it didn't have to be so scary, Kairi thought.
She wasn't scared, anymore. About growing older, about growing apart, about all those fears and doubts she'd had before now. Because she saw now that...it really wasn't so bad. At least, compared to losing her entire world, and being sent on a universe-spanning adventure into the unknown. Into weirdness, madness, and magical nonsense. Into the darkest depths of her own mind, Heart, and past. No, ordinary life's march forward, and the things it brought, really weren't so frightening now. Because it could bring as much good into her life as bad. It could mean...so many...wonderful new things...
"...Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen- OH! You okay?!" Selphie was helping Xion up out of the sand - and helping her untangle her legs from the jump-rope.
"Was that...better than last time?" Xion spoke hopefully.
Selphie beamed at her, giving her a swift hug. "It was a new record, for sure! You lasted waaaay longer than last time!"
Xion smiled too, handing the jump-rope back to Selphie. She glanced down and brushed at herself, ridding her new clothes of sand.
Selphie took the rope, squared herself, and then started going at it quickly and easily.
"You're so much better at this than me..." Xion murmured, watching her.
Selphie laughed, shaking her head. "Aw, not really! It's just one of the only things I'm good at! Hey, how's that new dress feeling? It looks totally cuuuute on you."
Xion looked down at herself again. She tugged at her dress and shifted on her feet. She shook her head and reached up to dig her fingers under the thin straps of cloth. "It's...nice?"
"Well do you like it?" Selphie pressed.
Xion nodded hesitantly. "Yes...I think so. Everyone I talked to today told me it looks 'cute' or 'pretty' or 'good' or 'nice,'" she added.
"That's always nice, isn't it?" Selphie said, nodding as she stopped jumping her rope. "But you know what matters the most is that you like wearing it! The rest is just a pretty nice bonus," she added, with a wink and a giggle. "Especially if it's from people you really like-"
"Waaaah!" Tidus suddenly came flying across the beach, rolling and landing face-down in the sand. The dark blue Keyblade, Rainfell, fell out of his grasp to lay half-buried beside him. He groaned and sat up, shaking his blonde head of sandy hair. He turned back to gaze at Sora and Kairi across the beach. Then he grinned and fell flat on his back. "Guess you guys really did go on a crazy adventure - because there's no way you're this much better than when we last fought! And Kairi couldn't even fight at all, last I checked - no offense?"
Kairi grinned back, tossing her hair out of her eyes. "Oh, don't worry - none taken at all..."
Riku pushed off from the rickety old shack's wall, striding forward and raising a hand to casually recall Rainfell in a flash of light. "Alright, my turn. Sora, why don't you give him yours now?"
"Hehe - good luck!" Sora called to Tidus as he casually tossed his Keyblade out to him. It landed in the sand in front of Tidus, who quickly snatched it up in his hands.
"And don't think you'll do any better against me than them just because I can't see," Riku told Tidus smugly.
Tidus gripped Sora's weapon with unfamiliarity, falling into his usual battle stance. "Hey, I've been watching you fight with them for days now; I'm not going to make that mistake," he murmured out, with a small chuckle.
Riku fell into his own stance again, stretching out his free arm, and raising Rainfell to be held parallel with that arm. "Show me what you've got, then."
"Yeah, wipe the floor with him, Riku!" Sora cheered, grinning widely in anticipation.
"Go Tidus!" Kairi shouted gleefully. "Don't let him psych you out - his ego's always been his biggest weakness, and it's only gotten bigger! If he underestimates you, you have more of a chance, in fact!"
Riku gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes, along with a little snort that might have almost been a laugh. "Thanks, Kairi - but, you know, you're also right. I won't be underestimating Tidus here. He could always get lucky, I suppose...and we can't have that, can we?"
Tidus didn't look too pleased about his chances of victory. But he gripped Sora's weapon tighter, and then burst into motion, racing forward across the sand. He jumped up and slashed down for Riku; Riku dodged it with an effortless backwards handspring.
Then, Riku came back for Tidus with a sweeping horizontal strike!
Tidus ducked under it, and then lashed out with a swing of his own.
Riku leapt back to avoid it - and Tidus kept coming, pressing the attack.
"Hah! And people say I'm overconfident?" Riku laughed, raising his weapon in a defensive position, ready to meet Tidus again. "Don't push your luck!"
Tidus ran at Riku again - however, at the last second, he dropped down into a slide, slashing for Riku's legs as he went under his guard!
Riku jumped up high, flipping in the air before coming back down again. "Nice try, I'll give you that! But that...is all you get!"
Riku went on the offensive now, swinging at Tidus repeatedly, swiftly, causing the latter boy to go into a furious retreat - and a panicked attempt to block each blow. He didn't have much success there at all. Riku rained down strike after strike, before finally, suddenly going low and sweeping Tidus's legs out from under him. Riku stepped in, putting his foot on Tidus's chest, pointing Rainfell down at him.
Tidus gazed up at him in disbelief, gasping. Then he let out a cry and slumped back into the sand, letting Sora's Keyblade go. "Aw, man - again?!"
Kairi dropped straight down into the sand with a huff, throwing up her hands.
"Guess you bet on the wrong guy," Sora teased, dropping down beside her, laughing. He pulled his knee in and turned to her, grinning at her.
"I guess so," Kairi agreed, laughing too. "I still have faith in Tidus, though. One day, he'll get it."
"Heh! If he keeps sparring with us, definitely," Sora said, nodding. "He'll catch up in no time."
"Hmm..." Kairi's gaze roamed the beach, finding Xion and Selphie again. "What about you, Selphie? Want to give it a try?"
Selphie gaped, mouth open, blinking her green eyes quickly. "You mean you want me to line up for a free butt-whooping? No thanks, Kairi! But thanks for offering!" she added, with the smallest hint of sarcasm. The only sarcasm Selphie was capable of.
"Come on," Kairi insisted, getting up and summoning her Keyblade. She strode over to her friend, offering the weapon out to her. "You'll never know until you try."
"You really fight with that thing...?" Tidus spoke, climbing to his feet and brushing himself off.
"What's wrong with my Keyblade?" Kairi said instantly, whirling on him. "Oh, is it too girly, is that it? Huuuh?"
"N-no - not at all, it's- I'm sure it's...great!" Tidus stammered, holding up his hands.
"Uh-huh. Real convincing," Kairi retorted. "Let me tell you something, Tidus: this Keyblade's cut down monsters bigger than any buildings you've ever seen, and it's taken out some of the baddest, most powerful villains in the entire universe!"
"Hey, I believe you!" Tidus said firmly, scratching his head.
"I don't think swords are ever gonna be my thing," Selphie said to Kairi, holding a finger to her mouth. She glanced down at her jump-rope, then gave a small, impish grin. "I really think this suits me a lot better!"
"Right - you have always been great with a whip," Kairi agreed. She turned and walked a few feet away, then turned back to face her friend. "Come on, then. You're fighting me - just some fun between girl friends," she added quickly.
Selphie let out a huff, shaking her head furiously. Then she hopped on her feet and unfurled her jump-rope beside her. "'Kay! Ready for fun when you are!"
Kairi smiled, holding her weapon loose at her side. "Okay. Three, two-"
Suddenly, a familiar blue portal burst to life on the island's beach, out in the shoreline. The water sweeping in and then pulling back again beneath it...
Out of that portal came a familiar figure - a tall, slender woman with short cut blue hair. She froze immediately upon stepping out, her gaze sweeping up the beach, finding Tidus and Selphie.
"It's okay - we told them about everything," Kairi called out, smiling and waving as she ran to meet the woman. Her Master.
"Aqua! Doh - I mean, Master!" Sora cried, running across the beach to join Kairi, a huge grin on his face. "It's been a while - how's everything going?"
Aqua gazed at him - then at Kairi. She still looked doubtful as her eyes flickered out to Selphie and Tidus again. But then she sighed, shaking her head and brushing her hair back. And then she smiled, setting a hand on her hip. "I'm fine - Terra and Ven are fine, too," she added, turning back to the portal.
As if on cue, Master Terra and Ventus emerged from the portal together. It dissipated behind them immediately, blinking out of existence.
Kairi eyed her Master for a moment before just going for it; she hugged Aqua quickly and firmly; the woman was surprised for a moment, but hugged her back, patting at her.
Kairi turned and hugged Terra too, who was even more surprised. And lastly, she tackled Ven!
"Oof - g-good to see you too, Kairi!" Ven gasped out, laughing. "H-hey Sora - Riku - everything been going OK here?" he said, raising a hand to wave at them from the ground.
"Things have never been better!" Sora grinned.
"Debatable..." Riku muttered.
"Oh, give. It. A. Rest!" Kairi growled, letting Ven go and hopping to her feet again. Ven stood as well, brushing himself off and shaking his head quickly to get the sand out.
"Is everything okay?" Terra asked, frowning at Riku with concern.
"No, it- doesn't matter..." Riku muttered.
"He's been like this for - going on three weeks now," Kairi rolled her eyes. "He keeps fighting it."
"Fighting what?" Terra frowned.
"Not being a stick-in-the-mud," Sora said, flashing a wide grin at Riku.
Riku sighed, turning away and crossing his arms. "I know that tone of voice of yours, and I don't appreciate it..."
"Anyways, what about you guys?" Kairi asked her Master. "How are things at Land of Departure? Oh, and do you know anything about Namine or Roxas? How about Lauriam and the others?"
"Namine and Roxas are fine," Aqua said. "Namine...chose to go off and be with Luxu in Twilight Town - Roxas went with them, after some discussion. Lauriam, Elrena, Strelitzia and Skuld...along with some 'friends' that Luxu apparently dragged into the present from the past when he went to distract Xehanort...all chose to take up residence in Scala Ad Caelum. The place where our Master grew up and trained," she finished, in a tone that clearly meant she heavily disapproved. Even despised the very idea...
"I'm sure the Master would be happy knowing that one of those cities was seeing use again after being abandoned for so long," Terra spoke, glancing at her, as if they'd had the argument before. Many times.
Aqua let out a huff and stalked forward, past Kairi, Sora and Riku - going to meet Xion, Tidus and Selphie. "Hi - Xion. You look lovely today!"
Xion beamed, though ducked her head all the same as she nodded. "Thanks...Master Aqua."
"Have you been doing well here - with Kairi, I presume?" Aqua went on lightly.
Xion glanced up at Aqua. She nodded again, more certain. "Yes," she said clearly. "I...like being here. I like- I'm happy here. Her dad adopted me."
"That's wonderful," Aqua beamed right back. "I'm so happy for you." She finally turned to focus on Tidus and Selphie. "And you two are...friends of theirs?"
Selphie gaped at Aqua, blinking rapidly as her cheeks began to turn pink. "W-wow, you're really pretty!" she blurted out.
Aqua froze, blinking back at the girl. Her own face was taken by a light blush. "Oh...thank you...?"
Kairi giggled loudly. "Okay, Selphie - down, girl! She's way too old for you!"
"She doesn't look that much older than us - she could hang out with Lulu and nobody would bat an eye!" Selphie protested.
"She's twenty-eight, not eighteen - she spent ten years in a place where time was...weird," Kairi replied firmly. "She only looks younger, trust me."
"It's true," Aqua told Selphie, with a small smile that was both a little embarrassed and...a little apologetic. "I'm sorry. But - um - so your name is...Selphie? It's nice to meet you. And you are...?" she went on quickly, turning to Tidus.
"I'm Tidus," the boy said, with an open snicker on Selphie's behalf. "Good to meet you too - uh, Master Aqua?"
"It's good to meet you, too," Aqua said sincerely. "But please, you can just call me Aqua. Only my students have to call me 'Master.'"
"How has...Skuld been doing?" Kairi asked. That woman had seemed so...hurt, before. Not really all there. And she was one of Ven's old friends...from his life before, in another World, another era completely.
Ven himself perked up at the question. He came forward quickly, with a broad smile on his face. "Namine's been working herself to the bone every day with her. None of us likes seeing her do it, but...Skuld's doing a lot better now than ever before. She's been talking now, a bit, and doing some other stuff on her own too. And she remembers things from before, at least...fragments. I've been going over to see her every couple of days, too. Spending time with her. And she has Lauriam and Elrena there with her all the time, so that helps the most."
"That's great!" Kairi enthused, beaming. She looked to Master Aqua as she spoke next. "Well, speaking of keeping up with training, I think we'd all like to continue with ours, too. Sora, Riku and I have been at the local swordsmanship dojo, and sparring in our off time - but it isn't the same, obviously."
"I'd be happy to continue your training," Aqua smiled. She hesitated. "But, I think that conversation is one we should include your families in, now. It wouldn't be right, otherwise; it would be disrespectful and irresponsible."
Kairi frowned, but nodded. "Okay..."
"Have you told your parents about anything that's been going on?" Terra asked, speaking up at last.
"Yeah - we got that one out of the way, first night," Sora grinned. "My mom seems pretty okay with it all now. Well...as long as I don't bring it up around her."
"Same here," Kairi said. "Dad still gets upset when he hears some of the things we've gone through, but...he understands. He tries to, anyways."
"Don't even bother with my parents," Riku scoffed. "There's no chance they're going to say yes. Not my mom, anyways."
"If that's true, then it won't hurt to ask," Terra said simply.
"They're not going to be your biggest fan," Riku responded, laughing humorlessly. "They can't accept that I did the things I did on my own. They tried blaming themselves, and that didn't work. Then mom decided to blame you for 'showing up to me and putting crazy ideas in my head as a little kid.'"
"Well, that's not exactly inaccurate," Terra said quietly, bowing his head. "If I hadn't Bequeathed you, if I hadn't spoken to you about-"
"Come on, dude," Riku said, scoffing. "That isn't true and we both know it. Mom just doesn't want to see it. I was obsessed with other worlds even before you appeared to me that day. One way or another, that's the path I would have gone down..."
"And I thought we already worked through all of this, ourselves," Terra said gently. "Yes, part of it was your desires, your emotions - but it was the darkness that distorted and overtook your Heart. Normal, in control you never would have consciously chosen to do the things you did. We both know that. You're being far too hard on yourself, still. You were a kid, and there was a corrupting influence involved. More than just the darkness - there was Xehanort's Heartless there, influencing you. But, all of that aside, I'd say you've gone above and beyond trying to make up for it. Not to mention the clear remorse you feel inside. That's a factor, too. It all factors in."
"Good luck telling mom that, then."
"I'm going to," Terra stated.
"Like I said: good luck with that," Riku reiterated. "If you think I'm bad about this...where do you think I get it from?"
Terra gave a small grin. "So it will be a challenge - but I'm willing to take it on."
"Hey, if Roxas and Namine aren't staying at Land of Departure or anything, then did Roxas quit being your apprentice?" Sora asked Terra curiously.
Terra turned in surprise. But he shook his head. "He was pretty adamant about not quitting his training, even if he agreed to go be with his sister. He still comes over for a few hours, in the evening, each day. It seems to be doing him a lot of good, being over there with Namine - he's been a lot more receptive to my instructions than he was previously."
"That's good," Sora said earnestly.
"All right, why don't we just go and get this over with?" Riku spoke up suddenly, in long-suffering tones. "Let's grab a boat, let's get back home and just...do this already."
Kairi watched him head off for the rickety old pier, frowning (and as, a moment later, Terra quickly started off after the boy). She shook her head and turned to Master Aqua. "We should probably do the same, Master. Not that I think dad won't like you or anything like that!" she added swiftly. "I've been telling him about you for the past few weeks now, about how you've treated us and the things we've been through together - how it's all been good things - and how amazing of a person you are, and I'm sure he'll see that."
"Maybe we shouldn't have her meet my mom just yet..." Sora said anxiously. "She's going to be way more...hehe, well, everyone here knows how my mom is! We shouldn't subject Master Aqua to that - not on her first visit..."
Aqua looked at him in amusement. She blew a breath. "I appreciate the concern, Sora, but I think I can handle it. Whatever she has to say, however she feels, I'm sure it's all rooted in concern for you. And that's perfectly understandable. Any good parent would have a few things to say in this situation...So I'll gladly give her the chance to say it."
"R-right..just - you know - don't regret that later..." Sora laughed nervously.
"Sora, I've faced far worse in my life than an angry parent," Aqua responded. "I'll be fine."
"Okay, suuuure...I believe you," Sora replied.
"Well, you can still come and meet our dad first," Kairi told Aqua quickly, with a smile at Xion. "We'll start with something positive, and then you can get to the...potentially negative one."
"If that's how you want to do this," Aqua said, nodding.
"It would just be...training, then?" dad spoke, as he sat facing Master Aqua across the kitchen table. "No different from the time she spends at the swordsmanship dojo now - except...with magic involved?"
Aqua nodded, giving a small smile. "Yes. That's right." She hesitated, glancing at Kairi and Xion, who were sitting on the sidelines. "The worlds are at peace now. The threats that they faced before - disappearing into darkness, invasions by the Heartless - are no longer an issue. The world barriers were restored, and Keyholes across every world we've investigated all seem to have been locked now, too."
"Then...I think I can allow this for her - for both of them," dad finally said, nodding back. "But...if anything happens again, I- I don't want to see them having to put any of this to use again."
"Dad," Kairi said, frowning. "I-"
"We agree on that," Aqua cut across, holding dad's gaze. "It was a burden that none of these children should have had to bear. But myself, Terra and Ventus were all, in our own ways, lost or trapped - it was Kairi and her friends who found us, saved us, brought us back. And during this period, they were already committed, they already had the power, and we couldn't have stopped them. They'd lost their home, their families, their whole world. Literally. And there were other, more personal reasons for their involvement. Finding a friend, simply doing what was right...and I suspect, partially revenge."
"These Keyblades, this power, this responsibility that comes with it...can anyone take that on?" dad asked.
Master Aqua shook her head. "Not just anyone, no. It takes strength of Heart, and certain other qualities, for a Keyblade to choose a wielder. But there's never a guarantee of that, even if you were given the ability to wield one. Riku, for example, was Bequeathed ten years ago now - but it wasn't until recently that a Keyblade finally came to him."
"And Kairi?" dad said.
Aqua's mouth opened, then closed again. Her cheeks...took on a pink tinge! She glanced at Kairi again. "Her circumstances were...altogether, very different. I'm still not even sure...how she can wield at all. Are you?" she spoke to Kairi directly.
"Huh?" Kairi stared. Then she frowned. In all their time together...the question hadn't ever come up. But why? Why had she never questioned it? It was true, she wasn't like Riku or Sora! She couldn't ever recall anyone...Bequeathing her. But... "The only Keyblade wielder I can ever remember meeting was you, Master. That time in Radiant Garden, ten years ago. You and King Mickey, that is. But...neither of you gave me the power?"
Aqua shook her head. "Unless Mickey came back later, no. Or...someone else. I never..." She trailed off, her face full of deep contemplation. Of memory. After a long minute, she gasped. Then, she laughed! "That can't be it!"
"What?" Kairi said.
Aqua blushed again, raising her hand to her mouth. "There was a moment, when I was protecting you - when you first ran to my side - and you...you looked at me, at my Keyblade, and you put your hand on mine. On my weapon hand."
"What?!" Kairi squeaked. "Are you saying I got the power of the Keyblade- by-"
"By accident...yes..." Aqua murmured, flushing deeper than ever, looking away.
"Isn't that - impossible?" Kairi choked out. "I thought you had to deliberately do the whole-"
"As I've said before, the ceremony is...a formality, a ritual built around the passing of the power itself. But it never had any meaning besides...being tradition..." Aqua whispered, sounding aghast at herself. Like she was being blasphemous. "Anyone with the power of a Master, title or not, ceremony or not, if their Keyblade were to be held by a strong, worthy Hearted person...they have the capability to gift that power to someone else."
"But you didn't even do that, did you?" Kairi said, fighting her hardest not to submit to a giggle fit. "You can't have intended to give me the power then, could you...? Were you thinking about it-"
"N-no! That was the last thing on my mind!" Aqua exclaimed, stammering. "I never would have- but...it's only..."
"What?"
"Keyblades are sentient weapons in their own right," Aqua murmured out. "Since you were already a Heart of Pure Light - a Princess of Heart - I guess that you already had the makings of a potential wielder. Your Heart was already...of the right temperament and strength...to be chosen, even at that age, even way back then. My Keyblade must have sensed that, and...gifted you the power. Though that power, as I said, lay as dormant in you as it did Riku - until the day it was truly needed. Until the day a Keyblade finally chose to appear to you, on the night these islands fell to darkness...and you needed it most."
Kairi flushed, risking a look at dad. "Okay, well, that's that mystery solved...Funny, right?"
"If your power was by accident, that's even more reason for me to not want you using it again," dad said softly. "It shouldn't have to be you. Not at your age. Now I'll ask again, being more specific, Master Aqua: can anyone...of any age...wield a Keyblade?"
"Potentially, yes - as long as their Heart had the makings," Aqua replied.
"Then why don't you recruit adults? Why teenagers? Why kids?"
"The worlds...are vast and complex," Aqua spoke carefully. "And you'll find that between them all, ideas about things like the age of responsibility, or majority, or adulthood, differs from one to the next. Even inside each world, it differs from nation to nation, society to society." She paused, then went on. "I suppose there are other, more practical reasons for choosing children, though. Their Hearts are purer, not usually weathered by time or experiences that would...make it harder for them to wield. Adults, for so many reasons, have such complicated, scarred, heavy Hearts. The odds of finding an adult Heart capable of taking on the power, of summoning a Keyblade after...it would be infinitely more difficult. That's why, historically, yes, it's been children who are taken in and trained to become future wielders. You could take...a hundred children, and eighty to ninety-five of them would be able to summon a Keyblade of their own, given the time. Now, if you took a hundred adults...the numbers would be much lower: anywhere between five and twenty, and that's being generous."
"I can understand that, I suppose," dad said quietly.
Master Aqua drew a breath, bowing her head. Then- "I...was a child who had a more difficult time getting my Keyblade. My- my Heart was...weathered. It took me a little over a year to finally summon it. Now imagine an adult trying to do the same. The worlds wouldn't have enough protectors, the legacy of the Keyblade wouldn't be able to be sustained."
"I know that in many cultures across many worlds, it's an immoral, unethical thing - a failing - but that is why the children aren't even typically allowed to leave the realm of study and sparring sessions until they're at or close to their age of majority, or adulthood. At least the ages where they're naturally expected to be taking on jobs or other responsibilities," Aqua continued. "What's happened these past six months...is as far from the norm as possible, I can promise you that. The worlds were in chaos, it was an apocalyptic event, spanning the universe. In times of peace, things are very different."
"Myself, and my friends Terra and Ventus, for instance, were never even going to leave our world of training and study until we were all well into our twenties," Aqua went on. "But, like the situation these past six months...ten years ago, circumstances arose that threatened the very stability of the universe, and we were reluctantly allowed to go out into the worlds to investigate. And to help protect the seven Princesses of Heart. We ended up getting caught in a greater scheme, and we took losses and suffered hardships no one should ever have to, true, but...life is unpredictable. Especially the life of a Keyblade wielder. Although, even then, at the time, I'd just been named a Master, and I was at least eighteen years of age - while Terra was already twenty."
"Now, I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to avoid allowing your children, these children, to become involved in such a terrible situation again," said Aqua firmly. "But I do have to tell you that if they want to get involved, they'll find a way. They have that power - more power than any normal child - and if they choose to use it, there's nothing you or even I could do to stop them. Trust me, I know that one personally. I had to deal with a runaway Ventus before. It was...very trying, on top of everything else at the time."
"But things are...peaceful again, now?" Dad said, gazing at her intently. "So even if they were to keep training with you - as you said, they wouldn't be...seeing any action until they'd reached...eighteen, at least?"
Aqua hesitated. "I'm sure you know that peace is...relative. In every world, every nation, there are still conflicts. There are wars, there are systemic issues and other problems that are always going on somewhere. But, we Keyblade wielders only step in if a threat is either from another world or...if it's something that threatens many worlds. And that is something that's been thankfully rare throughout history. Otherwise, it's our policy to let the worlds sort out their problems themselves." She flushed a little, looking away. "Not to be so blasé about all of this, but we really were just caught at the worst of times."
"And if something were to come up?" Dad asked. "Would you want them to participate?"
"Okay, dad, stop already!" Kairi said firmly. "I've been all over the worlds, I've fought monsters the size of skyscrapers - literally - I've beaten evil witches and body-stealing psychos! I've faced off against the man who was the whole reason I ended up here when I was little! Multiple times, in multiple different forms and bodies! And we won more than we lost, and now we saved the worlds and things are fine! I'm fine! I'm still here! Can't you give me just a little credit here? Please? I am not the normal, helpless little fourteen year old girl from six months ago! I can handle myself, I can handle- anything!"
"Three weeks ago, from my perspective, still," Dad responded.
"Dad."
"Kairi-"
"NO, I DON'T NEED YOU TREATING ME LIKE I'M A HELPLESS, FRAGILE - DAMSEL!" Kairi erupted, leaping to her feet. "YOU DON'T NEED TO PROTECT ME - I DON'T NEED YOU TO ANYMORE! IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AGAIN, LIKE BEFORE, I'M GOING TO BE THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN PROTECT YOU - THIS WHOLE ISLAND! Me, Xion, Sora, and Riku! So give us more than just credit - give us- give us some respect! For what we've done, for what we can do! Because treating me like it was all a fantasy, or some dream I had at night, that is disrespectful to everything I've been through! To what we've all been through! It hurts dad, okay? It hurts more than anything else!"
Kairi saw how taken aback dad was. She saw the pain of his own that flashed in his eyes. She turned away to avoid it - and Aqua's disapproving look, as well.
"I'm sorry," dad said quietly. "I never meant to dismiss or belittle...any of the pain, or- sacrifices that you've had to bear. I never meant to wave away any of the things you've experienced out there in these worlds. It's just that I...I couldn't bear to see you have to go through any of it again..."
"You can't stop it, dad," Kairi said flatly. "If something happens again, if something comes for these islands..."
"Will it?" Dad whispered, looking to Aqua.
Aqua sighed. "I won't lie and tell you that everything from the last conflict was resolved - the man who orchestrated it all is still...at large. But, from how the final encounter went, we can be reasonably certain that he's going to run and hide for the- the foreseeable future. He's failed three times over, and he knows his opposition is too strong to tackle head on. At least...not on his own. He'll wait, he'll hide, he'll come up with some new plan. But it might be a while before he feels confident enough to begin to move again."
"How long?"
"It could be months, or a year, or even five or ten," Aqua replied. "He plans for the long term. He plays...the long game. Which works to our advantage as much as his. As I've said, last time he tried anything, it was ten years ago. He had to spend ten years working up to his goals - the plans he tried to carry out over the course of the last six months. He's trying to attain 'godhood', and that isn't something you get done in a weekend," she finished. She snorted derisively at the word "godhood."
"Then it might not even be..." Dad looked to Kairi and Xion with hope. With relief.
"We hope so," Aqua said freely, her face soft. "It's not just the children that could use a break," she added, with a rare touch of humor.
"Of course..." dad replied, nodding to her. "If you need a place for that, we would welcome you here - and your friends," he added kindly.
"Thank you," Aqua smiled, returning the nod. "We might actually take you up on the offer. This has always been a beautiful, peaceful world, and I've wanted to see more of it for...some time now."
"Come back any time," Kairi said. "We'll leave a boat out for you. Though, we'll have to show you a better spot to portal in to..."
"I would love to," Aqua said sincerely.