The Phantom
"Ah, and there is our troublemaker." Even commented, staring at a display showing a wall of slowly scrolling numbers.
Sitting on an examination chair nearby, Ventus stared at the screen in confusion. "What? But I don't…?"
"Oh, I don't expect you to be able to see it. One needs a practiced eye and a familiarity with this analysis system to detect the patterns in the data." Even replied. He tapped a command into the computer, and a few moments later a paper came out of a printer next to him. Even took it and handed it to Ventus.
"Here. This is a visual representation of the data. Should be easier for a layman to interpret." He said.
Ventus looked at the black and white picture in his hands, like an X-ray. Right in the middle was the shape of a heart, his heart. Mostly it was a bright white in coloring. But in one corner there was a black shape, sharp in its contrast with the rest of his heart.
"Yeah. And there it is. There he is. Vanitas…" Ventus said quietly.
"Indeed. And even the early data I have collected about him is most fascinating. I look forward to present my findings to you and the rest soon." Even said.
"Any ideas yet how to get him out of my heart?" He asked.
"That is hardly the problem we face, young man. That is an answer I'd say we have already. A keyblade would suffice to get this creature out of you. And I believe some of the equipment here could likely be rigged to produce a similar result." Even said dismissively.
"No, according to Naminé's report the challenge before us is twofold. One, how to remove Vanitas from your heart without damaging or destroying it. Two, how to contain him once separated from you long enough to have chance to deal with him. Because I have no doubt in my mind that he would prove extremely uncooperative the moment he emerges. And all the while we would have to ensure he doesn't manage to render himself into a state where he would be invulnerable to us." He detailed.
"When Xehanort first removed Vanitas from your heart, I presume he used a keyblade to do so?" He inquired.
"Yeah. And just like you said that did… a lot of damage. I almost didn't survive it." Ventus said.
"But you were able to recover?" Even asked.
Ventus nodded. "I got lucky. Sora's heart found me when it was still brand new. He was somehow able to repair the damage, to restore the parts of me that I had lost. That kept my heart from falling apart completely. And with the help of Eraqus, Aqua and Terra I was able to get better eventually."
"Hmm. Maybe that is a clue for what we need to do. Though of course even then we are left with a whole host of other problems…" Even said, about to launch into a monologue of his own ponderings.
Without warning Ienzo rushed into the lab, Chirithy right at his heels. "Ventus! Come quickly!" He shouted.
"Ienzo, really? I would think you of all people would have the decorum to knock before you come barging…" Even began to complain.
"It's Aqua!" Chirithy cut in, completely ignoring Even.
"Aqua? What about her!?" Ventus asked, perking up.
"She… she just arrived in the courtyard when she fainted! There is something wrong with her." Chirithy explained.
"What? Oh no!" Ventus exclaimed before jumping off his chair and running through the door, with Ienzo and Chirithy running right after him. Even tried to say something, but before he even got his mouth open the three of them were already gone.
"Huh. I'd better go see what this is about." He pondered to himself.
"Tron, would you kindly begin compiling the readings so far gathered? I wish to begin analyzing them as soon as possible." He said to the computer.
"Of course." A voice replied from the machine.
Satisfied that matters were proceeding in an acceptable manner, Even too left the laboratory, heading outside.
Ven ran as fast as his feet could carry him. In the courtyard Dilan and Aeleus were kneeling around Aqua, but stood up and backed away as soon as he got there. Paying them little mind he knelt down and shook Aqua by the shoulder.
"Aqua! Aqua!" He called her name. No response. Aqua did not even stir. Dammit. He needed more help here. He took his phone into his hand…
When Aqua's eyes opened she realized she was standing on a circle of glass, atop a pillar than extended endlessly downwards until it vanished from sight. It was the only feature here, all around it there was nothing but an endless black void. Looking down, she recognized her own image on the glass. With some sorrow she noted the long scratches spreading outward from where her heart would have been, like something sharp had been dragged along the glass. Almost like claw marks. There were other images too. There was Terra, and Ventus, and… wait, what? Why were those here?
Aqua knelt down, brushing the surface of the glass with her hand. "How can this be? This makes no sense. Why are there images of Xehanort and Vanitas in my heart?"
"Because they too shaped you, who you are as a person." A voice echoed from all around, Aqua jumping to her feet with a gasp. "They impacted your destiny, altering your course. And they've been in your thoughts often, as you've spent time hating them for what they did to you. To your friends. Just as you've spent time hating me."
Aqua tried to pinpoint the voice, frantically turning her head. But the sound seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. It sounded… eerily familiar…
At the same time she felt the air become bitterly cold. Her breath was misting in the air, the glass beneath her feet starting to frost over.
"Who are you!? Show yourself!" She demanded.
"As you wish." The voice said again, this time coming from directly behind her. Aqua turned and…
There she stood, looking at her. Her exact copy, except in all the ways she was not. The darkened clothes, the white hair, those sharp yellow eyes…
"What's wrong? Didn't you just ask to see me?" The Phantom mocked.
"Y-you… you speak!?" Aqua breathed.
The Phantom smirked. "At long last."
"But… how!? I'm in the light! I remember being in the Realm of Light! You can't speak while I'm there! You don't have a voice in the Light!" Aqua shouted, backing away a step.
"It used to be that way. But things have changed. I'm different now. More powerful." The Phantom said.
"Stronger? How are you stronger?" Aqua said in disbelief. She had had Kairi's light to help her, and she had felt better with it. But had it not worked in truth? "No. You're lying. You must be!"
"She has been quite a bother, I'll admit. But do you remember what Naminé said? Light can conceal the presence of Darkness. As she can conceal me from your attention. With a sky full of stars one can easily forget the darkness that separates them." The Phantom replied. Aqua meanwhile growled. She had quite forgotten the Phantom could hear her thoughts. Her shadow had probably been watching her every interaction from the sidelines. The look on the Phantom's face told her it was exactly so.
The Phantom raised a hand, a small light appearing above her palm. Like a candlelight hanging in the air. Aqua gasped at the effects. In that light the Phantom's appearance had changed. She now looked exactly like her: Blue hair, blue eyes, the works.
"The light chases the darkness away. When the sun hangs high in the sky you could be forgiven for forgetting the shadows exist at all. Only where the light does not reach do they still linger. But shadows are not destroyed by this. Darkness is the absence of light, and light must ever expend strength to keep us away. And once the light is spent, lo and behold what comes back?" The Phantom said.
She closed her hand, the light vanished, and her appearance returned to white hair and yellow eyes. She grinned. "I do."
"I guess that makes me the true self. I'm what's left… when all the rest is gone." She continued.
The Phantom spread her arms wide. "This… this is what you truly are. You really should accept that. Embrace it. It's the only way for you to stop hurting. Give in to the darkness and you'll feel better. Submit and be released from your pain."
Aqua's eyebrows knitted in anger as she clenched her fist. "No… no. Never. You'll never have me, you hear! You are nothing! You're just a disease I'd do well to rid myself of! I'm never going to give in to you! Not ever!"
The Phantom seemed quite displeased with her answer. "Then walk your longer path, hero. You'll travel through barbed wire and broken glass. And I'll still be waiting for you at your journey's end." She sneered.
Aqua shook her head as her scowl deepened. "No… shut up…"
"Look upon me. This is your truth. The one and only. This is what you really are!" The Phantom continued to taunt. "And no matter where you go you won't be able to run from this. Because I am you! And one day you will no longer manage to deny me."
"SHUT UP!" Aqua shouted, calling her keyblade and charging toward the Phantom. She struck with all her might. But just as her strike would have connected the Phantom… just wasn't there anymore, her keyblade passing through empty air. Her feet skidding on the frozen glass, the momentum carried her right to the edge of her Heart Station. She was left her swaying dangerously close to a drop into an endless abyss, flailing her arms to keep her balance. And then she felt a displacement of air as the Phantom reappeared behind her, grabbing her by the scruff of her neck and tossing her on her back on the glass surface.
Aqua lay where she had fallen, staring at her dark self with frightened eyes and rubbing the back of her neck. The Phantom's touch had been as cold as steel in midwinter. She felt where those fingers had been so clearly she was sure the Phantom's touch had left marks on her skin. The glass beneath them had by now been encased in such a thick armoring of ice you could not even see the surface.
The Phantom smiled and took a step forward. But without warning she was halted in her tracks by a light shining behind Aqua. The Phantom retreated several steps, shielding her eyes from the light with her hands.
"That meddlesome little…" The Phantom snarled.
The light carried the gentle warmth of a sun, the ice around them beginning to thaw.
"Well… it seems I'm faced with another setback. Consider yourself fortunate." Her dark self said, obviously displeased.
As it dawned on Aqua what was happening a wide, almost savage grin appeared on her face.
"There, you see? I'm not alone with you anymore. My friends know of you now. I have their power to protect me, just like they have mine. We are all of us… together!" She said triumphantly.
The Phantom merely scoffed at her. "You are all of you flies, caught in the spider's web."
And just like that Aqua's smile disappeared. "Huh? What do you…?"
"Enjoy your victory while you can. But do not delude yourself into thinking it will last. Your friends won't always be there to protect you. I'm patient. I can wait to get my prize. And when I do gain control I'll be sure to thank your friends for interfering. First your boyfriend, then Ventus, then your student. Then all the rest of them." The Phantom said.
She turned around and began to leave before stopping. "And maybe you'll be watching as I do. You already know I can make that happen. So think on that for a moment. Is it really worth it to force me to wait and make me mad at you?" She said over her shoulder.
Then she walked away, her outline becoming blurry as she merged with the shadows and disappeared. Aqua meanwhile was enveloped by the light shining behind her.
Aqua's eyes opened slowly, to the sight of a familiar face. Terra had gathered her in his arms, looking down at her, eyes almost teary from worry. She was no longer wearing her armor, and it looked like they were still in the courtyard where she had fallen.
"Terra…? You're here? You came for me?" She asked, lifting a hand to caress his cheek.
"Of course I did. As soon as I heard. And not just me." Terra replied softly.
Aqua turned her head, seeing that Ventus and Kairi also here, with Dilan and Aeleus standing a bit further back and Ienzo just arriving at the scene.
"Aqua… what happened?" Ventus asked, looking extremely concerned.
Aqua hesitated before answering, aware of her audience. But she realized there was no getting out of this one without giving some kind of explanation. Maybe the time had come, as much as she had tried to avoid ending up in this situation.
"I…S-she spoke. She came to me when I fell unconscious, and she spoke to me! She has never done that before. Never in the realm of light." She told them, her voice quivering.
"She… did?" But how? And how did you end up unconscious?" Terra asked.
"I don't know. I don't. I was just travelling in the lane when I began feeling… cold. I felt it before when we went to get Roxas and Xion. And again on the way back. But those times it went away as soon as I left the Lane. I thought this time would be the same. But I was wrong." Aqua said.
"This was already happening before?" Terra asked. "So when you looked a bit unwell when we went to the Kingdom… this is what that was about. Aqua, why didn't you say anything?"
"I'm sorry. I really thought this was a minor thing. I didn't want to worry you. I didn't realize this could happen. I didn't realize she could do this to me." Aqua replied.
"Wait. What are you talking about? Who is this *she*?" Kairi asked, confused. She also noted that Terra and Ventus looked more worried than puzzled. They knew what this was about she realized.
"It's… it's a long story." Aqua said, bowing her head in embarrassment. "I'll explain everything, but… please. Not here. I'd like to go home…."
Terra was about to agree with her request when Ienzo spoke up. "Perhaps we should make sure that is safe to do first. I mean… if going through the lanes causes these attacks, then doing it again could trigger another. Perhaps she would be better off staying here for the time being."
"What?" Aqua gasped as it dawned on her what Ienzo was suggesting. "You don't mean that. You can't meant to confine me here!"
"It might be for your own good. Just until we know doing otherwise is safe for you." He replied.
Aqua looked at Terra with pleading eyes. "Don't let them." She mouthed silently. She was sure Ienzo meant well, but right now this could not have been more unwelcome. The very idea conjured an image of sitting in a lab, answering questions from a bunch of scientists trying to decide if she was a dangerous thing that needed to be locked away. Right now, while she was still shaken by her encounter with the Phantom and feeling extremely embarrassed that this was now all out in the open… she did not feel like she could stomach it.
She had only come for a short visit and she had just regained her ability travel between worlds. The last thing she wanted now was to be deprived of it again. And she definitely didn't want to be denied a chance to go home.
Terra meanwhile hovered with indecision, unsure which one was in the right.
"Let's just… think about this for a moment. Try to figure out how this all works." He finally said.
"Aqua… the feeling of coldness you described… is it still there? Is the Phantom still trying to come back?" He asked. His expression told her he wanted the truth and only the truth. She closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment.
"No. I mean… I can still feel her, as always, but… you all being here seems to have done something to drive her back again." She finally said.
"Wait a second. She mentioned…" Aqua then mumbled. Her eyes turned to Kairi. "She spoke about you. Said that you've been a hindrance to her. That you've been… concealing her from my attention."
"That… that must be it! That is why it didn't happen the last time! There was a Princess of Heart on both ends. But here there were none before Kairi arrived." She then realized.
But then her expression became worried. "But, why do I need that light so much now? I could make do without it before. What has changed…?"
Kairi's expression also became even more concerned as she listened to Aqua's ponderings. What was the thing that her light was keeping at bay? This… Phantom they spoke of? She thought back to the day when she had heard Aqua speak in anger to something she had seen in the window…
"You really trust what the Phantom says?" Terra asked with a frown.
"It does make some kind of sense though. She didn't start waking up until the two of you showed up." Ventus pointed out.
Terra considered. "So… you believe that if Kairi is with you, you can leave this world safely?"
Aqua considered her answer carefully. She had already overestimated herself today. For the sake of everyone she needed to be absolutely sure this time around.
"I-I believe so. I'm willing to give it a shot… if you'll allow it." She then said.
Terra nodded slowly. "Okay… okay. In that case… let's get you home."
Aqua managed a smile. "Yes. Let's."
"Terra, Kairi, Ven… thank you." She said, looking at each of them in turn.
"Ah, there you all are. So what has occurred?" Even asked, finally arriving at the scene.
"I'm leaving for a while. I'll come back later." Ventus told him.
"Oh." Even said, looking surprised. "Well, that is certainly your right, as per our agreement. Though there really are more tests that we should be running…"
"I'll come back later." Ventus repeated a bit more sternly.
"Chirithy, come on." He told his spirit.
"I, uh, trust you will keep us all informed of the situation at least?" Ienzo said as Terra was helping Aqua to her feet.
"If there is something you need to know, you will be told. But for now, please let us handle this ourselves." Terra replied. With that they all put their armor on and left through a portal, Chirithy jumping up and vanishing right before Ventus entered the gate.
"And they're all gone, once again." Even said to himself. He turned to Ienzo. "Well, since you are unlikely to unexpectedly charge off, perhaps you'd care to explain what just happened here?"
Aqua and the others returned to the Land of departure. There they gathered all that were present to the infirmary, so that Roxas and Xion could hear what Aqua had to say. Once everyone was there she began explaining her situation to them. She wrung her hands through the entire telling, her words faltering several times. Just discussing this topic made her feel strangely dirty, a burning sense of shame refusing to leave her. That she had tried to keep this a secret for so long only made this that much worse. But there was no going back now. So she continued her telling. Once she was finished a troubled silence lingered. Aqua was deflated, sitting on a chair, staring at her feet, unable to even look the others in the eye.
Kairi had her arms crossed, leaning against a wall and looking at the ground. "Naminé and I… we had actually figured out some of this before now. That you were dealing with some personal issues. And that this might be related to the darkness. But this is far more serious than I realized."
"Why are we only hearing about this now? Why didn't you say anything? We could have tried to help." She asked.
Aqua shrunk in on herself a bit more. "I'm sorry. I know I should not have done that. I just wasn't ready. This isn't a pleasant thing for me to talk about. I guess… a part of me was hoping that all of this would just go away on its own. That I would find some way to set this right without needing to involve any of you."
"A vain hope it seems…" She added quietly.
"At least you did it now. Better late than never I say." Elrena said. "But wow, is this a lot. I mean I knew you had some difficulties with your darkness. But not that you saw your reflection as a dark version of yourself all the time. Or that your darkness apparently has a mind of its own."
"You knew about this?" Kairi asked, frowning.
"About as much as you did. We had our first encounter with this issue when we rescued these three from the Realm of Darkness. Knew from the start that her heart wasn't quite working like it should be. But this… whew. Even I didn't expect this much." Elrena confirmed.
"I'm in awe. Back in the Organization no one could shut you up about anything. And this is the time you decide to clam up and not tell anyone?" Lea commented.
Elrena shot him a glare. "You clearly don't know me as well as you think you do. Which surprises absolutely no one, I'm sure."
"I don't think it was the place of any of us that knew to speak about this without permission." Terra said. "This was Aqua's decision to make. We had no business going against her wishes."
"Even knowing how bad it really was? Even knowing speaking out could get her help?" Roxas questioned.
"Even then." Terra said.
"If I was in her place, would you be speaking out? Even knowing I would disapprove?" Xion pointed out. To that Roxas apparently had no good answer.
Terra nodded to Xion. "But it's done now. Now we all know the truth."
As the others were arguing Aqua finally dared to look up, exchanging a few looks with the others. And what she saw in their eyes caused a wrenching feeling in her heart. Her gaze dropped back to the floor.
"Stop that! Stop looking at me like…" She suddenly exclaimed, stunning the others into silence.
"Please, I… I'm still me. You know that, right? I didn't talk about this because I didn't want people to start treating me differently. I don't want to be pitied. So please, don't… do that to me." She pleaded.
A brief silence.
"Sorry. We didn't mean it like that. We just want to help." Xion said.
"And you're absolutely right. You're still you despite everything, and we shouldn't start treating you differently." Lea said.
"…But I think we're all rightfully a little bit worried about the plus one you're talking about." He added.
"Indeed. We really should find out more about what kind of a being we are really dealing with here." Lauriam said.
"Don't we know that already? The Phantom is her darkness. You could say she is Aqua's heartless." Ventus said.
"That could well prove to be the case. But it occurs to me that there might be another possibility." Lauriam said.
"What do you mean? What other… no. No, no, no. It can't be. Not within her." Ventus said.
"Huh? What is he… w-what are you talking about?" Aqua asked.
"…I think Lauriam is trying to imply that the Phantom… could actually be something like Vanitas.
"What? That…" Aqua gasped, fear flashing in her eyes. Could that really be possible? That she had been carrying one of those things around without even knowing it?
"I don't know if it's the case." Lauriam admitted. "But Ventus claims there are more than the one. And if her darkness is acting up this aggressively, I think there is a possibility."
"Listen to what you're saying Lauriam. There is no way that… that…" Ventus began to say before he tapered to a halt. He was reminded of the words of an old friend: Darkness could hide anywhere. Even inside someone.
"You didn't know about the one you carry either. Not the first time or the second. Both of those times we stumbled across it by accident. These things are nothing of not sneaky." Lauriam countered.
"But… this does feel like the darkness I was born with. Stronger. Much stronger. But the same one." Aqua said.
"In that case are you absolutely sure that this isn't something that could have nestled in your heart during your time in the Realm of Darkness? Or at some other point? Are you sure you could tell the difference?" He asked.
"I…I…" She stammered.
Lauriam nodded. "I think we would be better off knowing for sure, one way or the other. But how would we go about figuring it out…?"
"I could find this out for us, if we really need to." Naminé spoke up. "Assuming that is okay with you of course?" She asked of Aqua.
Aqua took some time to consider. "Do it. Maybe we'll learn something new. Maybe I'll even find out what I need to do to put an end to this and get better." She finally said.
Naminé nodded. "All right then."
"Okay. Thanks, Naminé." Lauriam said. "Just… be careful, alright? Considering what happened last time."
"I will be. I know what to look out for this time." Naminé promised.
"Right then. I think that's enough Inquisition for one day. She's had a rough day, so we'll give the three of you some time alone." Lauriam said, looking at Aqua, Terra and Ventus.
"Ven, we can catch up more later if you like." He added to Ventus.
"Yeah…" Ventus said quietly.
And so Lauriam and Elrena left through the door. Lea chose to stay with Roxas and Xion for the time being, and Kairi decided to stay with him. Terra, Aqua and Ventus told Naminé they would do the test in a few hours' time. Then the four of them went on their way as well.
Later that day Naminé, Terra and Aqua got together in Terra's room. Aqua sat down on the bed, with Terra and Ventus right next to her to comfort her. Naminé meanwhile settled on a chair and began to draw. As she worked she took a moment to ponder the strange nature of her drawing skills. It only ever seemed to work when she was recreating someone's memories. Now and then she had tried to draw things on her own; landscapes and such. But those never seemed to turn out properly. Like she couldn't translate the things she saw into paper.
Sometimes it did bother her. That this seemed to be the only skill she had. Then again… there was still time. She was young, especially considering the short time she had actually existed as a person. One day she would have other things she was good at. Right now though? This was the one and only skill the people around her needed of her. And she would provide.
Perhaps twenty minutes passed in silence as she was drawing. Along the way her expression turned sad. Once her work was complete she took a few moments to examine the image. And she suppressed a gasp. She had drawn Aqua with the corners of her mouth turned downwards in a frown, droplets of tears falling from her cheeks. Above and behind her there hovered a shadowy silhouette exactly in Aqua's shape, face featureless except for two glowing yellow eyes. On the background she had drawn a large heart shape, broken in two down the middle. One half white, the other black.
"So?" Aqua asked, having noted Naminé had finished her work.
A single tear rolled down from Naminé's eye as she lowered her drawing down to her lap. "Aqua, these memories from the Dark… they're so much. So terrible. I'm so sorry you have to bear them. So sorry about what happened to you."
"Enough about that." Aqua said impatiently. "What did you find out about the Phantom?"
"She is not one of the Formless Darknesses." Naminé replied.
"Well, that is a relief to know at least." Terra said. "So that would mean the Phantom really is her own darkness. But why is it this active?"
Naminé bowed he head. "Your heart… I'm afraid has become divided."
"Divided?" Ventus repeated.
She nodded. "One part of you is the one here with us now. The other half of you is a creature of shadows, forged from your anger and fear, your misery and despair."
"Well… me and just about everyone else in existence right?" Aqua said.
Naminé shook her head. "No. The rest of us carry darkness, and may fall prey to it under the right circumstances. But we know the darkness is part of us, and so it does not become something distinct. Not until we become Heartless at least. But your case is different."
"Different how?" Aqua asked.
"From your memories I can see that from an early age you were taught to dislike the darkness. To hate it even. And so you came to regard the light side of your heart as your only true self. The dark portion of you was an infection to be locked away and shunned, never acknowledged as a part of you. When your heart was still brimming with light that hardly mattered. The hint of darkness was too little to become anything more. But when you fell to the Realm of Darkness things changed. The shadow claimed a stronger foothold in your heart. And still you only accepted your light as yourself. A large segment of yourself, left without identity or direction. Abandoned. And so that half of you created those things for itself. That's how the Phantom was born. Two independent personalities formed from one heart." Naminé explained.
Aqua looked visibly shaken, hugging herself tightly, looking away from Naminé. Terra had his hands on her shoulders, while Ventus leaned a bit closer, looking at her with an expression of worry.
"And now she rages against you, seeking your destruction." Naminé continued.
"Why? What does she want?" Ventus asked.
"She wants control. She had that briefly in the Realm of Darkness before Sora was able to drive her back. Now the Phantom desires to retake that at any cost. She wants to erase the Aqua we know so she is the only one left." She explained.
"So she wants do destroy me. I think I knew that about her. And I suppose that's fair game. I want the same for her." Aqua said defiantly.
"Yes. And unfortunately that is part of the problem." Naminé said.
"What… what do you mean?" Aqua asked.
"You fear her and hate her. I believe I glimpsed a memory of you saying that very thing. But those emotions are rooted in darkness, which is what she is. Feeling that way about her only makes her more powerful. And the stronger she is the more you fear and hate her. And the wheel just spins on and on." Naminé said.
"Oh, no…" Aqua gasped. She had known. She had known all along. But she had thought she had found her solution. Why hadn't it worked?"
"We've sought to give her more light, to help her recover. And with Kairi's light we hoped we'd have enough to finally drive the Phantom away for good, so that she could heal fully. Was all that for nothing?" Terra asked her question for her.
"Not at all. You have helped her. You've given her time and kept the Phantom from taking her choices from her. And Kairi's light… she needs that now more than ever. But for any amount of light to heal her, the problem must be fixed at the source." Naminé
"So what must I do? How do I destroy the Phantom?" Aqua asked.
Naminé sighed and shook her head. "Aqua… people don't destroy their darkness. Wanting to is why this is all going wrong."
"There must be some way. Something I can do." Aqua said, almost pleading.
"Light can contain her. And with enough of it perhaps that can be stretched indefinitely. But the Phantom would never stop looking for ways to break through and seize control. But there might be another way. A way to end this permanently." Naminé said.
"And what way is that?" Aqua asked.
Much to Aqua's annoyance Naminé became hesitant. "It might not be an easy choice for you to make…"
Aqua stood up suddenly, surprising the others in the room. "Naminé. I am at the end of my wits here. I don't want to keep having to deal with this for the rest of my life. So if you have some way to solve this, then tell me."
Naminé nodded slowly, gathering her courage. "The Phantom exist because of darkness in you that you are unable to accept as part of you. But if you can change that you can end the Phantom's existence as a thing independent from the rest of you. If you can accept your darkness and learn to control it…" She said, letting her suggestion hang in the air.
Aqua was left dumbstruck, unable to even find the words at first. "What? You mean…? No. No! Absolutely not! How could you even suggest that?!"
"Aqua, please…" Naminé tried to say.
"You listen to me. I'm never giving in to the darkness. I'm never giving in to her! She is never going to win, you hear me!?" Aqua cut her off, her voice rising to shouting as she went on. Naminé flinched, unused to being screamed at.
"Aqua, you can't keep doing this to yourself! You're fighting a war against a piece of yourself! A piece that only gets stronger the more you want to hurt it! You have to stop this before you're going to kill yourself. The Phantom will destroy you!" She then shouted back.
"Enough! Enough!" Aqua snapped.
She suppressed a hysterical giggle. "I can't believe this. I come to you for help and this is your plan? After everything the darkness did to me, this is what you'd have me… it's a joke. A joke, all of it! Just… urgh!" She was pacing the room now throwing her arms.
"Aqua… Aqua! Please, calm down!" Terra said, standing up in turn.
"Calm down? Calm down!? WHAT DO I HAVE TO BE CALM ABOUT!?" She shouted at him.
"This was a mistake. I should never have agreed to this. It's just garbage! GARBAGE!" She growled.
With that she stormed off, slamming the door behind her.
"Aqua!" Ven shouted, and he and Terra ran after her.
Naminé sighed again and bowed her head, rubbing at her temples. "Oh, great work Naminé. Such tact. Just exceptional how you phrased yourself. She is certainly going to accept her darkness now." She muttered to herself, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"So it really is as I feared. Kairi is more like a painkiller. As long as she's around she can keep the Blue from feeling the darkness too strongly, so she can be mostly herself. But even Kairi's light hasn't erased the darkness Blue carries. So the moment they are too far apart the feeling of darkness comes back to her and hits her really hard." Elrena commented later. The two of them had gone for a walk outside the castle to clear their thoughts.
"Poor lass. Must be hard figuring it out this way. And she seemed to be doing so well too." Lauriam said.
"Yeah…" Elrena agreed glumly. "Well, if nothing else, then at least this is all in the open now. No need any longer to keep on pretending like we don't know anything about what is happening to her."
There was a pause as she considered something. "Speaking of which, I think I will be making my own visit to Radiant Garden now." She then added.
"You will? May I ask what for?" Lauriam inquired.
"There is this certain someone dubbed *the wise* I want to have a chat with about all of this. Wanted to do it the first time we were there too but couldn't. But I suppose there no harm in having that conversation now. Plus I had a related idea I wanted to run by the folks there. Might not do a whole lot to fix the real issue with Blue, but maybe it will come in handy."
Lauriam nodded. "Okay. I'll wait for your return in that case."
"Shouldn't take me long. I imagine something like this is rather high on their list of priorities." She replied.
Just then a Dark Corridor opened, catching their attention. A new but familiar figure stepped through.
"Is that… Saix? No, wait, that's not right. Isa! That was the name. But why is he… oh, that's right! Axel asked him to come here earlier." Elrena pondered aloud. She pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. "Of all the times he could have picked…" She said with a humorless chuckle.
"Hey there, Isa. Long time no see." She then spoke up in greeting.
"Uhm… yeah. Long time." Isa responded. "I dare say the last time we were all different people."
"You can say that again." Lauriam said with a huff.
Isa frowned. "Is something the matter? You look rather morose. Or are those expressions usual for your somebody selves?"
"No, not really. We just had a big revelation today. About Aqua." Elrena said. "She…"
Elrena was cut off by the sight of Aqua pushing open the castle doors, running down the steps. They tried to greet her, but she just stormed past them, rushing in the direction of the forest and the training grounds. Some moments later Terra and Ventus also ran past, chasing after her. They didn't have anything more to say than she did.
"What in-? What was that about?" Elrena asked.
"Can't say. But apparently whatever Naminé found out wasn't to her liking." Lauriam said.
"There's apparently more going on here than I knew. But perhaps I'd best discuss it with Lea and the rest of the gang. Do you know where they are?" Isa said.
"Roxas and Xion are in the infirmary. And Lea is probably still there with them. Come on. We'll show you the way."
"Uh, should we try to do something about Blue? I mean the way she just stormed past us like that…" Elrena said.
"I don't think there is much we can do at the moment. Given the look in her eyes I think she needs to cool off before anyone can try talking with her. I know you want to help, but right now we'd best just stay clear." Lauriam said.
"Okay… okay…" Elrena said,
