Orizoint was nervous about dinner, it was already a tough pill to swallow that his daughter would possibly end up working for those vampires. But he just hoped that tonight would be perfect, as he watched the Dollmaker following silently behind him, her doll Angie was a few trees behind them, as the father made his way through the dark village. The howls of the lycans didn't help make Orizont's nerves any better, he didn't know whether Donna ordered them to kill him, or if his mind was just thinking of the worst scenarios.

"Something on your mind?" Donna said, asking the father barely raising her voice above a whisper, even in the harsh snow, Orizont could tell what she had said, it had taken him years of working in the harshest conditions under Lord Moreau to hear even the tiniest whisper in even the cruelest snowstorm.

"I'd never admit this to Aqua, but I'm worried about her, I'm terrified to think of tomorrow, and watch the horror on her face as that vampiric bitch drags her to the castle. I prayed every night for as long as I could to Mother Miranda, to any gods, even the fabled goddess of light that she'd be saved from that oversized woman. I just don't know what I'd do if this dinner fails, and tomorrow the worst comes." Orizont said, as he looked up at the snow, the only things he had left were Aqua and the snow that his wife loved, so why did looking at it hurt more than usual, was it his wife's way of judging him from beyond the grave, or whatever wine bottle that Alcina poured her into her greedy hands.

"Have you tried telling her the truth, I imagine the weight of everything is tearing you down. I know the feeling every day, I wake up and wonder why me and Angie are still here, it has been a year since the death of my family, and Miranda took me into her family, but I don't feel happy about it. I still wake up screaming in the night, looking at the maids that I killed, sometimes I would find myself looking at my parents' eyes, they stare at me with eyes of hate and disgust for what I've become. I still wish that I could tell them I'm sorry for my actions, but I know that I can't change the past only to affect the future in my own way. So after dinner, tell her how you feel, and I'll see about taking her tomorrow if Miranda lets me." Donna said, whispering to Orizont, as she felt her hands burn as the cold winds, and snow assaulted her mourning garb, they needed to get moving before she froze to death.

"I'll give it a shot, shall we hurry, I doubt Aqua will wait once dinner gets cold, and tell your doll to come closer, the snow is already scary enough at this time of night." Orizont said, walking deeper into the dead trees and fresh snow, Donna following behind him, as she started to wonder what Aqua was like, and was she the one to help heal her broken heart.

--

Aqua was getting worried about her father as she took dinner out of the oven to cool. She knew her father was up to something, she just didn't know what, he never went to see anybody in the village after Miko had been sent to the castle. Maybe he was visiting Moreau in some crazy attempt to save her ass and it was taking longer than he had expected.

Thankfully she didn't have to wait too long as she heard the sound of the front door opening, and the thunderous footsteps of her father were felt throughout their tiny household. Aqua let out a small sigh as she began setting the food down on the family dining table, she hoped that their guest would like the meal, the last time she even cooked for anyone was for Elrena and her father, the event wasn't the best, but then Elrena had gotten drunk right before coming over, and her father dragged her back home. Maybe tonight would be different, Aqua just did as her father told her whenever a guest was over, put on a smile, looked decent enough to be human, and made sure that the house and food were done before they arrived. Thankfully the house was done, and things were looking good as Aqua watched her father enter the kitchen, giving him a small smile, watching the tall man pull out a chair for their guest, and then signaling them to enter the kitchen.

It wasn't until she saw the family's newest guest that Aqua realized what had taken her father so long. She saw a figure dressed in black holding a doll dawned in a tattered wedding dress, and Aqua couldn't believe what she was seeing. Donna Beneviento the fourth lord of the village, and her doll Angie were in their kitchen, about to eat a meal with Orizont and her. Aqua felt the need to rub her eyes, she started to wonder if this was real, why would Donna be in her house, and why her father invited the one lord who had no involvement in her life since childhood. Was Donna the person she went to see about saving her from Alcina's gasp? Aqua wondered if her friend was even enough or if she even remembered her only visit to the manor.

"Welcome to our house, please let me get you a drink, and some food, Ms. Beneviento! Aqua said, as she felt her voice starting to crack under the weight of her nerves. Aqua could only look at the Dollmaker, she could only imagine those lifeless eyes of Donna staring deeper into her soul, she just prayed that her lord would show some mercy towards her tonight. Aqua rushed to grab a cup and the tea kettle, everything had to be perfect but Aqua could feel everything shaking, she was scared, it reminded her of that fateful day when Miko brought her to house Beneviento as a child,

"You don't need to try that hard! Just serve us something decent and tell us about yourself and we'll see if it's worth saving your ass!" Angie declared, floating over to Aqua, watching the teen like a hawk, Orizont took a seat keeping quiet as it was now up to Aqua to save herself.

--

Donna was interested, to say the least, she could tell that Aqua was like everyone else in the village, afraid of her power and the lives that she had wrongfully taken but she still tried to be kind, despite all the fear she was facing in these quick few moments, Donna could see there was more to the blue-haired girl in front of her. She even agreed with Angie, Aqua simply needed to serve her something decent and tell us even the most basic things about her. Thankfully she was halfway through all of Donna's needs for the teen. She could tell by looking at the simple feast of buttered bread, and Bird, and Beast Pillaf that Aqua could cook, and judging by the smell it was going to be the first good meal she had since her parents died. Silently the doll maker slid part of her mourning veil to the other side of her face, allowing Aqua to see her dead gray eye. Donna grabbed a spoon and started eating the smallest bites known to man, and then she ate more, enough until the plate was done, and the tiniest of smiles could be seen on her face.

"Aqua, thank you for the food, I don't think I've ever had something that good in a long while, so now that I know you can cook, please tell me a little about yourself. What do you do for fun, why should I take you into my manor, I ask this because I don't just want a cook or a cleaner, I want a friend to experience all of my joy and sorrow together." Donna said, wiping off some butter that had been stuck to her lips, as she waited for Aqua to respond to her question. Donna knew what she said was true, she didn't care about Aqua being good at housework, she just needed someone to make her feel like she mattered in the cold village and silent manor that she called home.

--

Aqua was surprised, to say the least, she hadn't expected Donna to eat her food, let alone compliment her, the only thing she had left was to talk about herself, but she didn't know what to say. What could she say that she was from a family of more spiritual importance, that she had a crush on Elrena and got rejected in a heartbeat, that she loved to watch the snow because it reminded her of Miko, the first time they danced together?

"I guess I like the snow falling, and I like the smell of chocolate. Sorry, I didn't think I was meeting you tonight and going to have a conversation. Um, I like to practice hunting, as I know that the Lycans are a big issue in the village, and it makes food a little more difficult to get outside of paying the Duke. I have been working out, and I tend to head into the forest to hunt for deer, and rabbits, it's the reason for the best part of tonight's dinner. Father gets an amount from the Duke, and I'll hunt and provide the rest of whatever is needed." Aqua let out a feeling of warmth coming from inside of her chest. She didn't know why she was feeling embarrassed, and yet full of happiness to have someone to talk to, that or it was heartburn from eating dinner quickly, so Father and Donna would be waiting.

"I see, I guess Orizont should be happy to have you as his daughter, while I am in no need of a hunter, I will admit that the lycans are getting out of hand. We'd better get going, I think I heard enough, and tomorrow is gonna be a big day for the both of us, so please rest Aqua. Hopefully tomorrow you'll be under my house, and then we can truly continue this conversation at a more peaceful time. Let's go, Angie, we got a long walk ahead of us." Donna said, standing up from the table, grabbing Angie, and making her way out into the harsh snow and winds that plagued the village. Aqua and Orizont were silent, Aqua had barely spoken, but Donna made it seem like the one moment she used was more than enough to justify the want to take her to the creepy manor. They could only hope that it was enough to make a difference and that Donna would be able to pull it off.

--

"So why did you decide to rush things, she was trying to speak, and from what you said dinner was good," Angie shouted as the pair made their way to the gates that led to house Beneviento.

"Aqua wasn't speaking for herself, she wasn't acting like the normal person that Orizont and Moreau made her out to be. I can tell that the fear of our presence and the looming feeling of Alcina's castle has made her feel broken, she was unable to speak normally. However, if we can save her from the castle, I shall make her open up, one way or another. Angie, I think she is the one, I could feel it, Aqua might be the one to truly bring us happiness, I know we only met for a few minutes, but I believe that she is the one, and I don't know what to do if she is the one. I didn't think about it when I was talking to Orizont, or even at the dinner table, but I think I have met Aqua before, as a child. she was with Miko the day before Claudia died, I believe we played in the snow, and I was happy." Donna declared as she looked up at the falling snow, she had made up her mind, that tomorrow Aqua would be saved, and she would not lose another friend to the castle, and Alcina's sinister temptations over her maids.

"Well then let's get home before you freeze your ass off, I'd rather not see our new blueberry be together with a frozen Moldsicle," Angie yelled as Donna began running deeper into the forest. She wanted to see that moment again, the girl in white dancing in the snow, watching the blues of her hair swiftly acting like a paintbrush against the whites and gray of her broken world. Donna wanted to feel that feeling again, the day she was truly happy, and then have even more if the gods would let her.

--

"I must say are you sure that the Dollmaker is the best choice, surely I can do better to create our savior." Kay whispered as she watched the pitch-black Dollmaker running over her old bridge, through the hills of graves and dolls nearing the gardens of house Beneviento.

"I think it's romantic, the shy Dollmaker who longs for love and compassion, with the blue-haired bombshell that will fight for her love, as soon as she feels safe again, I think they are perfect for each other. This will create one of the most romantic Sora's ever, even if the tragedy is a little too much for me. Trust me, Five as a mother and romantic at heart, this is the best you're gonna get, so embrace the beauty that lives in this dark world." Six declared, smiling at the start of what was likely an everblooming romance.

"I hope you're right, now let's go home, this world is just too cold," Kay said, holding her white cloak tighter as she summoned a portal of light, running through it to the warmth of their castle in a place in between all.

"Weakling, live in the ocean for once in your life, the cold feels normal to us merfolk. heck, even the waters of Destiny Island were nothing compared to this place, you need to lighten up before One kills us all. Why am I the only one to see that romance, and friendship is the key to saving us all?" Six whispered as she pulled out a locket, her blue and yellow eyes gazed upon a picture of her sitting between two giant mermaids. Six wanted to cry, but she couldn't yet. Her family wasn't free from the foolishness that was her sisters, they were gonna get everybody killed.

"I guess it's up to me to be the hero, fine sisters, if you want Sora's, champions, hope. I'll give it to you, but I will make sure that you'll never see them succeed, only those of love and romance shall be allowed to live in our paradise." Six, no that was a codename for the sisters, Kay was too simple for those who knew of them by religion and travel. The day that her plans would go into action, would Six return to the name that was given to her by her Son, she would be known by her true name, Aphrodite.

--

Aqua could only look at her father, she didn't know what to say or think at the moment. She wanted him to speak, comfort her after her nervous dinner with Donna Beneviento, and the possibility of this being the last talk they would have before her eventual death at the castle. But Orizont just stood silently, as he rubbed his black beard, he was in his own headspace at the moment, and this made Aqua scared.

Orizont wasn't one to keep his thoughts hidden, when Miko died, he declared to the village that he was gonna fight a lord just to feel human again, and the man ended up in front of their house the very next day, Orizont had fought Karl Heisenberg right outside of his factory until the priest was nothing more than a weaker man forced to be bedridden for a week due to his thoughts.

"Aqua, if they take you, I shall go through the front door and fight Alcina, and her daughters just so you can run. I promise you that with all my being, you will be safe, I know I failed you as a father, but just know this. I will always love you, and in the case that Donna can't come through and save you, please know that I am sorry for not being there when Miko died, or when Elrena broke your heart. But I have always loved you, and no matter what I know that the gods will make sure your aftermath is the most important thing you could ever want.

"We should go to bed, tomorrow is either a big day of work or our last day in the village, finally to be returned into Miko's arms in a place more warm and heavenly than the most beautiful parts of our village." Orizont declared as he exited the kitchen, leaving Aqua alone to tend to the dishes and realize that her father had just attempted to apologize to her for all the things she had wished for him to do ever since Miko had died last year. Aqua could feel her eyes starting to water as she began to clean, she didn't know what to think about her father or how the events of tomorrow would be, she just hoped that tomorrow was a good day.