there's always a way

Not too long ago, he had found himself in a situation in which he was in a conflict with Xehanort to try and reclaim control of his own body, the next thing he knew, he had his own body back, and had signed a contract to end up in this strange place. It was rather cold outside, the place filled to the brim with white powdery snow. It was very reminiscent of the many winters he had spent in the mountains back in the Land of Departure. As kids, he and Aqua always enjoyed playing in the snow, whether it be snowball fights, making snow angels, or building snow forts. It was memories like those that truly made him miss his best friends.

Up ahead of him was a fairly large lodge, looking just about as inviting as anything. It was pretty cold outside, so hopefully he’d be able to warm himself up at least a little bit. Opening the door slowly, his eyes widened slightly as he walked into a fancy room full of tons of different people, socializing, eating, drinking, you name it. Come to think of it, it had been quite a long time since he last had a good meal. In plain sight was a large table that had several different kinds of food, almost unlike anything he had ever seen before. Seeing all the food before him just made him all the more hungry, he just couldn’t wait anymore.

There was just so much food, he honestly wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to eat. However. the food that immediately caught his eye was the several different kinds of sushi. It had been way too long since he had any, let alone any kind of decent food. Not even sure what type of sushi to get, he decided to just try every kind and filled his entire plate with several of every kind of sushi available. He then picked up a glass, filling it with what he presumed was juice before taking a quick sip of the liquid in his glass. It tasted different, unlike any other kind of juice he’d had before, but it was not bad. It was kind of sweet.

Yet they were also haunting, mocking. After that time she saw Terra in the remnants of Castle of Dreams it kept happening, again and again, although Aqua felt that over time it was less of the realm playing memory tricks than her own mind slowly devolving with her own despair. She saw Ven too. Neither of them would ever speak to her. Sometimes they would reach, but she would turn around and they’d be gone. It was maddening. 

It was a constant reminder of her not losing hope but also how lonely she had become. Driven to the point of seeing things that she shouldn’t.

She still saw things she knew shouldn’t exist here-- the beady yellow eyes of the shadow monsters from her universe lurked in every corner, only for her to blink and they’d be gone completely. Aqua wondered in time if these visions-- hallucinations-- would go away, but as she saw a glimpse of Terra’s hakama, her heart sank. She was doing it again.

Aqua turned around and shut her eyes tight for a few moments, her hand hovering over the hidden pocket she kept her Wayfinder charm in. She opened her eyes and turned around, fully expecting him to be gone, like time and time before. 

But he was still there.

Hope flowered and bloomed in Aqua’s chest-- if she was seeing things she knew she would be crushed, but she had to take this chance, just one more time.

It wasn’t until a second later she could recognize the sad and lonely expression and tone that she eased up, looking down in embarrassment. Obviously this woman had been through a lot, and she had lost someone very dear to her too. How pathetic she was to instantly think violence. Almost like her own warrior training had too much of an effect on her.

“Honestly… he wouldn’t. If he ever learned I kept his helmet like this… well I’m not sure but I know he wouldn’t be happy I’ve been holding on.” It was true, she even told herself she wouldn’t get hung up over his death, and he had told her not to grieve. She didn’t grieve, but she felt the need to keep holding on. Like letting go of the helmet would mean to forget him completely. 

But at the same time those rough nights it felt nice to have a “friend” to talk to. She could sometimes almost hear what his replies would be too. And sometimes she swore she heard him saying her name or calling her “lady” and it disgusted her, but made her hold on all the more.

“The snow…. isn’t really a place to talk about this. I just got a house so uhh… it’s warmer.” Samus honestly hated how awkward she was, plus it was like she could offer tea or anything warm as a drink either because her house was basically empty. But still… outside in the cold was the last place Samus really wanted to talk about something emotional. 

“Well, it is a nice gesture, at least...” Holding on... The blue-haired warrior was no stranger to that, in fact it was all she could do for years, although Aqua wasn’t sure how much good or harm it did in the end. Once she had always thought her friends needed her, but it was clear now that she needed them, to constantly remind her not to lose heart or hope.

Aqua perked up at the mention of going somewhere warmer-- her brain hadn’t quite gotten used to the fact shelter was readily available right now, of course they didn’t have to talk out here in the cold. “Right, that’d probably be best. My name is Aqua, it’s good to meet you Samus.” Her blue gaze swept towards the sleigh... Talking with someone else about similar experiences sounded pretty good right now. She could use some new friends. “Really? I’d like that a lot.”

Moving was so nice to do, after four days Samus was already sick of either having to go out into public or be confined to one room. She needed space and she needed to be alone. Simple as that.

After moving most of her clothes and other items from her room to the house, she finally was left with the dreaded helmet. The helmet of her closest friend and former CO whom had died. She had kept it to remember him and his bravery. Sure she still had the little gifts he had given her but nothing compared to that. It was everything to her and it was always there but at the same time having anyone know was…. well…. scary.

They would think she was weak or something, she hated people thinking she was weak. She hadn’t spent her entire life training and fighting to be called weak, and now here she was, in the cold, gripping onto a helmet like it was her life, and looking anxious as hell.

“Don’t worry Adam, we’ll be there soon. I know you don’t like the cold.” She mumbled to the helmet, gripping onto it a little tighter while waiting for a sled. 

She figured she could go beyond the town-- there were rumors of shadowy creatures and she was reminded of the beady yellow eyes that haunted her dreams-- but without her magic it could prove to be too dangerous, it was a risk the Keyblade Master was not willing to take. There would be no fulfilling of the vague goal given to her if she died out there.

Despite being alone for what she was sure amounted to years, maybe decades, her training and discipline as a keybearer never wavered nor did her desire to help those in need, so when she spotted a woman looking thoroughly upset, her heart twinged. She knew that look on her face, that loneliness. It was hard to be here by oneself.

The helmet’s visor shape vaguely reminded her of Terra and Ven’s armor, and Aqua’s hand instinctively went to her pocket to pull out her Wayfinder for comfort. They would be here soon-- she wished for them to be together again... It’d happen, she had to believe. She told herself no more false hopes in the Realm of Darkness, but maybe she could hope here.

Young(ish) Eraqus and babby Aqua and Terra after their keyblade training.

something i doodled earlier (WEll. it’s more cobbled together than a “doodle;” this took a little more than 2 hours i think)

Oh.

“--wait, it’s alcoholic?” If this had ever happened back at the Land of Departure, she’d be in so much troub--

“Excuse me… have you seen my dad?” A slightly distressed Nanako tugged at the strangers clothing, hoping to get her attention.

Welcome, Aqua of the Empress Arcana!

Your Persona, Brightcrest, will lie dormant until danger awakens it.Upon awakening, it will learn Aqua and HamaYour weapon will be the Master’s Defender

You retain the ability to use short ranged teleportation

Good luck and enjoy your stay!