Aqua stood waiting in the streets, off to the side - under the shade of a building's awning.

After her great declaration...that just left the awkwardness of waiting around for something to actually happen.

Whatever would happen here.

She wished she had a Keyblade...or just a weapon - any weapon...

Relying only on magic, even for her, was a path to limited fighting capabilities - even when combined with hand to hand combat. She was a sword mage fighter for a reason - not a pure witch or sorceress! Her magical powers were meant to compliment and support her sword-fighting...not to be relied on completely on their own. She had never trained for that kind of fighting. She wasn't the type who could just wave her hand and perform great feats of pure magic and power, raising golems and structures, or teleporting on a whim, or turning invisible-

Her senses suddenly rang in her ears, alerting her to a presence. A danger.

She turned to look around herself, then stared straight ahead.

Directly in front of her, in a flash of blue light, the air shimmered, and a person became visible to her, their shape and colors all melting into place, like someone was painting with a brush on the very air itself. A three-dimensional canvas.

Some kind of invisibility spell...

It was a mage - that much was obvious. They were also a woman (again, something more than obvious to Aqua). This woman was in her mid or early twenties - slender, average height. She had shoulder-length hair that was a two-toned coloration - the left side was a vibrant purple, while the right was a faded lemonade pink. Her bangs were parted to one side, covering her right eye. Her visible left eye was a forest green, like pine trees. She wore a long, loose robe of purple and black, with hanging tassels on the sleeves and around the waist straps. There was also a hood on it - but it wasn't currently up. She also looked to be wearing small, tight purple ankle-boots. Lastly, Aqua took notice of the symbol stitched onto the chest of the woman's robes; it was familiar, in some way, but Aqua couldn't really recall from where... She was sure it had something to do with the Zitol military, however, so this was definitely...probably the one who had been searching for her through the scrying orb.

For a long moment, they stood staring at each other. The woman's visible eye blinked, an arm rose up, and then...

"Oh...my...gods!" the woman's voice came, high and breathy and hushed. "You are totally one hundred percent the lost princess, aren't you?! I'd bet on those odds!"

Aqua blinked. She glanced over at Natsumi, whose beautiful face held a similar look of complete surprise. "I-" Aqua started, then stopped. Then started again. "Yes. I am her. I mean - I am me. I'm...that princess. Of Zitol." She stopped, sighing and flushing intensely. "I'm sorry, I just wasn't...expecting a warm welcome, I guess...but it's- a relief!"

"It's sooooo much more of a relief for the rest of us, trust me!" the woman went on, in excited tones as she stepped forward, clasping her hands into fists in front of herself. "But we have to like, make sure you're actually her and all, you know, and that it's not just me!" She paused, swallowing. Then she shook her head and gave a wide grin. "Sooooo...hold still, I promise this magic's not gonna kill!"

Aqua took in a breath, raising her arms slowly out of her cloak and holding them up. "A-Alright...I'm not moving. I understand that you have to make sure." She hesitated. "What's your name, by the way?"

The woman hummed as she waved her hand about in front of her, causing pink lines to be drawn in the wake of her fingers. She drew and formed a sigil - then tapped at it. It flashed brightly, and began to pulse regularly now...almost like a heartbeat. "Special operatives like me can't just go giving out our names to anyone who asks! But if you're really the princess then I'm not going to...risk getting...assigned a horrible task?" She spoke haltingly, losing her enthusiasm and falling into uncertainty, her grin fading to a frown. She exhaled out of her nose and hung her head. She raised her hand smacked herself on the side of the head. It looked painful to Aqua. "I'm sorry, that wasn't my best; this really is life's suckiest test..." the woman spoke again, with a moan.

"Are you...okay?" Aqua said hesitantly, staring at the woman now in bafflement. And a little worry, honestly.

The woman perked up startlingly fast, setting her hand on a hip, and twisting her other one into a thumbs up. "I am totally okay! But the fact that you asked really made my day!"

"Okay, I'm sorry, but I have to ask," Aqua sighed, trying to be delicate. "Why exactly are you-"

"Why am I rhyming all of my sentences?" the woman cut across, quick and peppy. "I get that it's like, totally annoying - but I'm not just...just..." She faltered again. She furrowed her brows, then shook her head and threw up her hands. "Toying!" she burst out with.

"Okay..." Aqua said slowly. "I'm sorry, but I still don't quite understand..."

"Oh, it's like this whole looong and boooring story," the woman replied. "But the short version of the story is that I was cursed by this huge bitch of a witch - hah, that one was free - to only be able to speak in, like, poetry? Rhymes, you know! It was punitory!"

Aqua stared at the woman in both horror, and shameful, well, sort of...inappropriate amusement. She stamped it down immediately! "I- see. That sounds terrible!"

The woman grinned, waggling her fingers at Aqua. "Don't be sorry; it usually makes me the life of the party. Annnd as time's gone on, I've kinda figured out that there's at least a little bit of wriggle room with it than I first thought...at first...turn...on?"

Aqua tried to give the woman a comforting smile. She looked at the pulsing symbol, focusing on it quickly. "Has this spell told you who I am yet?"

"Huh wha- oh yeah, yeah, totally, the spell already did its thing like, ten seconds ago!" the woman said swiftly, waving a hand enthusiastically (and wiping away the sigil like erasing a cloud). Then she dropped it straight to her side, taking a deep breath and becoming suddenly serious and calm. She dropped down to the dirt, to one knee, bowing to Aqua then and there!

"Oh, please, you don't have to do that!" Aqua said, blushing and waving her hands. "Please stand up! It's okay. I- if you've gotten proof I'm the princess, then can you tell me your name now?"

The woman jumped up again like a spring. She beamed at Aqua, her eye shimmering now as it fixed to her. "I'm S.R.O Vivian Vars, at your humble service, Your Highness!"

"S...R...O?" Aqua frowned. Why did that sound familiar, too? A history lesson, some important...

"Serene Rose Operative, Your Highness," Vivian helpfully informed. Really, very promptly.

Uncomfortably promptly, to Aqua...

"Of course - Serene Roses," Aqua murmured, as the flash of a memory returned to her at last. The information...as scant as it still was, admittedly. The Serene Roses were just what Vivian had said: a special, secretive military organization that served the royal family directly, carrying out orders and missions that sometimes required a...different approach than the usual soldiers and armies. But mainly, their day to day job was to protect and guard the royal family by staying close by, and looking out for imminent threats. They were mostly made up of mages, weren't they? Highly trained, and highly powerful ones. The best protection anyone could have in this world.

Aqua remembered being surrounded by them as a child. And she remembered the times when she'd managed to escape the castle to go see Scarlet (usually from out of a bathroom, or her own bedroom, the only places she could be alone and have privacy) - only to have the Roses appear out of nowhere and drag her back again...

"...can I say, Your Highness, that you look incredible for your age!" Vivian was saying. She took a strange, long pause, before swallowing and speaking again with, "It's way better than the state we all thought we were going to find you in, after all this time - just ask our best mages."

"Thank you, you're very sweet," Aqua told her kindly - and embarrassedly. She coughed into her hand, turning to Natsumi and gesturing to her. "Anyways, this is my...traveling companion, Natsumi...just Natsumi. She's been helping me make the long, hard journey across the continent to reach home again, after so long. I couldn't have gotten this far without her. She's incredible, really."

Vivian looked at Natsumi, then at Aqua. Then she looked past them - to the old, squat motel building. Her lips tugged into a wide smile. "I'm sure she is, Your Highness! But it's time for the Serene Roses to take it from here - only the finest! If you'd please come with me, I'll escort you to-"

"Sorry - one moment, please," Aqua interrupted, holding up her hand. "Sorry!" She quickly turned to Natsumi, facing her fully. "Are you sure you really still want to do this?"

Natsumi smiled at her. "Things seem nice enough, for now. Besides...what else would I do, Miss Aqua, really?"

Aqua stared at the woman in silence, for a long moment. The thought came to her that she might not have been the only one running away, hiding, delaying inevitable feelings and experiences. All of Natsumi's talk of adventure, excitement, her willingness to just abandon her home and everything else to follow Aqua across the world...was it all just the most blindingly obvious way of avoiding having to think about or deal with her feelings of loss, and grief, and anguish...over her children...? Okay, Aqua would give the woman credit and say she probably did just have this naturally easygoing and upbeat attitude, but beyond that...

"Okay," Aqua said softly, smiling back.

"Forgive the impertinence, Princess, but are you bringing this woman with you?" asked Vivian, hesitant.

"Yes, I am," Aqua said firmly, drawing herself up as she turned back to Vivian.

Vivian peered at Natsumi critically, actually leaning forward, with hands on her hips. Then she leaned back and gave a nod. She put her arms at her sides and gave a brief bow to Aqua. She cleared her throat loudly, schooling her features. "As you say, Your Highness. Let's go, then - this is a train we don't want to miss. Literally, it's...it's a train."

"Alright," Aqua said carefully. "Lead the way, please."

"Yes, ma'am!"

There was some of that peppiness again, then. Aqua had really wondered where it had gone, replaced with this attempt at professionalism...

She really didn't want people to start being all- formal with her and such. She'd rather people just- be themselves. Princess or not. Future...Queen...or not, too! Respect for authority was nice and good, yes, but when it came at the cost of bonds, and led to people suppressing their own Hearts and personalities..that was a step too far to Aqua. Becoming a Keyblade Master hadn't been worth the rift it had caused between her, Terra and Ven...she knew that was the truth now.

So why had she made such a stupid decision again...?

Well, there was no taking it back now.

She couldn't leave this world; she was stuck. Trapped. Condemned.

Again.

Aqua sighed to herself. Loudly.

They walked to the edge of the town, where, after waiting for around an hour or so, a train did arrive. A long, metal, bulky but rounded train. Vivian got them on board by showing a small ID card to the ticket collector, in a secretive and discrete way. Aqua had insisted on paying, though, and had given the conductor woman the money anyways - for herself and Natsumi, at least.

Inside the train, as they moved through the carriages, Aqua noticed it wasn't exactly the most crowded of places. There were a lot of seats, dining cars with tables and such, even - but few actual passengers.

Vivian led Aqua and Natsumi to a specific carriage, and opened a sliding door to a decently sized room (length-wise, at least). It was taking up a good portion of the train car's space all on its own, was why. It was a well-decorated, expensive-looking room, compared to the rest of the train; a carpeted floor, hanging lights, a framed, large round window, a set of table and chairs all its own, and two large beds with polished nightstands of dark wood.

"Is this all...really necessary?" Aqua said hesitantly. "It's all just a bit - much."

A high, girly voice whispered in her ear, reminding her that she had lived most of her life in two separate, extravagant castles.

Which, Aqua admitted, was true - but she'd stopped seeing the Land of Departure as anything like Ancewell's royal palace...a long time ago. She'd just seen it as...a home. A place she loved. A place she was safe. And happy, for the first time in her life. A place where she had friends. And even...maybe something like a family.

"Don't worry; I'll be in the next room over," Vivian said instantly, with a beaming smile. "I won't get in the way of your sleepovers - or hangovers! Yes, nailed that one..."

Aqua blushed; Natsumi just laughed, loudly and heartily, a hand to her lips.

"We'd appreciate that very much, thank you," Natsumi told Vivian warmly.

"S-sleepovers, yes; hangovers, no!" Aqua still tried to clarify. She honestly hadn't tried to drink since her last, past night out with Elrena...which was a while ago by this point!

"Her Highness can do what she wants," Vivian responded, that smile still fixed into place, as she gave a swift and low bow. "At least until her debutante." She paused. "I don't really know what kinda life you've been living these past twenty years...but it's not for my ears. I just hope it's been a good one, if I can say so, and not, like, one that's been...full of tears?"

Aqua frowned, looking away. Then, down at her feet. She blew a breath and raised her head. "Of course you can say so. I appreciate the concern for my- well-being! And I think I can say that, while my life...definitely hasn't been easy at times...I think the good I've had in it did come to outweigh the bad. I think it's still outweighing it."

"I'm so glad to hear that, whew, what a relief!" Vivian exclaimed. She froze, then cleared her throat and schooled herself again. She gave another bow, then retreated to the door. "I'll keep this brief, and just...go and...stop giving you- grief?"

"Of course. You can do go and do- whatever you want," Aqua told her, feeling pity for the woman now. "Just - relax - have some water. Erm...you're off duty for now?"

"Oh thank gods - by your leave, Your Highness!" Vivian said breathlessly, disappearing through the doorway and closing it shut behind her swiftly.

Natsumi eyed the door. She turned and went over to one of the large beds, and sat down on its ironed sheets. "Well, she's an amusing person, isn't she. I wouldn't mind getting to know her better sometime. Though she is a 'special operative'. Her entire demeanor could just be an act to make us drop our guard."

Aqua moved to the bed to join the woman, laying down on it with a loud sigh. "I hate to agree with that - but you could be right. If you are...it's definitely working."

It was a real conundrum, wasn't it?

On the one hand, she wanted to just be able to take people at their word - at face value.

On the other hand...she'd been fooled before. Terribly fooled.

Xehanort, Maleficent...Luxu...

Was she going to let herself be a fool again, or was she going to go with her instincts (and training)?

What did her Heart say about this Vivian woman?

Well...it said she was genuine.

But could Aqua trust that?

She knew well, too, how Hearts could lead people astray...

"I want to trust her - but let's keep our eyes peeled," Aqua said finally.

"And our ears open," Natsumi nodded, smiling.

Aqua smiled too. "Yes. Those too."

The train's journey wasn't a short one.

In fact, it was one that would take several days. Four days, if it made good time on its all-encompassing route across the continent.

Aqua spent the first two days talking with Natsumi and Vivian, and exploring the train (despite Vivian's protests that it was "dangerous" and that she had to "look out for the Princess's safety above all else"). She was adamant in her resolve to not let this decision end up with her being trapped again. Anywhere. For any reason.

On the third day, Aqua woke feeling a little more comfortable and a little less...completely jarred by life on a constantly moving train.

It was certainly one of those new experiences she'd been looking forward to having out here.

Aqua ate some breakfast and went wandering down along the train cars - with Natsumi beside her, and Vivian trailing along behind her (she always insisted on being close by, at least, "just in case"). Aqua didn't really want to act like she had in her childhood and try to give the woman the slip or anything, because she liked to think she was more mature than that by now - and because she wasn't at that emotionally furious and frustrated point with her bodyguard...yet.

And at least it was just one woman, this time...not an entire, suffocating retinue. One woman who was pleasant to be around, at that! Not some wary, stern, faceless person, like she remembered them all being as a little girl...

Although...speaking of which...

"Do you really have to just...wear that all the time?" Aqua spoke, as she sat down in the spacious and entirely empty lounge car, on a velvety cushioned sofa. She gestured to Vivian's robes. "Even out here, in these desert areas?"

Vivian sat down on her left, a good few feet apart from Aqua - while Natsumi sat on her right, significantly closer. Vivian turned and gave Aqua a nod and a smile, her eye glinting. "If it was a normal outfit, it'd be totally sucky, sure - but it's our uniform! It's magically enchanted and enhanced to make sure that...no matter what the situation or environment...we can still...optimally perform."

Aqua smiled back, nodding. "That's good," she said, in honest relief. She had honestly wondered if Zitol's military wanted their elite and secret operatives passing out from heat stroke all the time...

She turned in her seat to look out the window, watching the world passing by. The deserts were becoming more bountiful - shrubs and plants were much more common, dotting the landscape. She even spotted creeks and streams, and a full, rushing river near a mountain. They would be out of this region soon, and into more green pastures. Literally. They would have to pass through a border checkpoint, and then on through a new area, where they would finally get to the edge of Zitol territory, and-

Suddenly the glass shattered in Aqua's face, the wind howled - and an arm reached in, grabbed her by the neck, and tore her out of the train car before she even knew what was happening to her!

Aqua's whole body was pulled out into open air, caught in a steely grasp - and then she was being pulled upward...and then slammed down onto the whipping, windy metal rooftop of the train, hard enough to knock any remaining air out of her lungs.

She gasped for that air, her hands found the hand still squeezing at her throat-

And then her mind caught up with her situation, and she realized she was staring up into a face.

She realized...she was staring up into a familiar face.

It was older, it was worn, it was cut, it was dirty, it was gaunt - but the undeniable proof of identity was still there on that face, after all this time... An older, faded, curved and jagged scar that started from under the right eye, and curved down to just underneath the lips.

Deep, blood red eyes gazed down on Aqua, wide and jittery. Tangled, long strands of darkest red hair that bordered on black whipped about wildly. But the owner of that hair didn't seem to care...to notice...all she had her eyes on...was Aqua.

Aqua forgot to even struggle, let alone breathe, as she stared up into that face. Her mind barely registered the darkening edges of her own vision, or that the hand squeezing the life from her wasn't even flesh and blood, but dirty, scratched, mechanical steel that could have matched the train's rooftop itself...

She couldn't give voice to the shock, confusion, and horror she felt in that moment. All she had was her thoughts...and old, childhood memories that flashed before her eyes.

Scarlet...

Scarlet suddenly pulled her up off the roof of the train, then slammed her back down again. She bent down low, pushing her face into Aqua's, baring teeth out of trembling lips, her eyes narrowing into slits, burning and shimmering. Then, the woman's face went lower; Aqua felt the hot breath against her ear, whipped away by the winds. And then the voice...for her alone...

"You're not even going to try to fight me? After all this time? You owe me!"

Something inside of Aqua started to work again.

She brought her knee slamming up into Scarlet's stomach, gathered magic inside her in an instant, and hurled her off with superhuman strength.

Scarlet's hand wrenched free of her throat - and then woman herself was taken by the wind, rolling and slamming across the roof of the train car. In all that twisting and turning, though, at some point she got her hands under her - and her metallic limb punched down into the metal roof and stopped her wild movements in their tracks. She crouched there, low, and her head whipped up - those eyes staring at Aqua again. Burning with-

Not that wild fury or insane rage from before - oh, that was there, yes - but accompanying it now was...something that Aqua knew well on that girl's (now woman's) face: happiness. Joy. As rare as it was...

Aqua slowly stood up, sucking in air as the world rushed back to her in full. She tilted her hand at her side to show her palm; a swirling purple, magical gravity circle formed under her feet, and then purple particles fluttered up around her. She let her hand relax, letting the magic circle vanish, and began taking casual, confident strides toward...Scarlet. Unaffected by the train's barreling speeds, by force or pressure, or winds now.

Scarlet gazed at her with genuine surprise. Then her lips spread into a wide smile as she slammed her flesh-and-blood hand onto the train, a purple light bursting up around her as well. A quick flash - and then she was standing up too, now, like they were inside the train rather than outside of it.

Suddenly, a roaring of orange flames exploded up between them - a massive hole was burned through the rooftop in an instant, the edges charred and melted. From up out of that hole came Natsumi, her sword out and in hand - and Vivian, who landed in-between Aqua and Scarlet.

Vivian's eyes instantly found Scarlet - as did Natsumi's.

Scarlet's eyes flickered from one to the other, and then past them, straight to Aqua. Her hands curled at her sides, her hair swirling about her face and shoulders...

Then she exploded into motion, throwing herself forward.

AN: YES Scarlet is unashamedly kinda inspired by Winter Soldier and also NERO from Devil May Cry lol! xD I will not deny that. :D Imitation is a form of flattery or whatever, right? And it's not like it's not a TROPE to have cyborg badass lone warriors in fiction. Kai Leng anyone? Ghost In The Shell? xD I rest my case and feel no guilt.