Please Don't Go [Open]

“Not who?”

A hand reached out for Aqua’s through the Darkness, a simple instinctive gesture piercing the veil of sleep and the tenebrosity that lurked beneath even the depths of unconsciousness. The Dark World’s sky was a gem-studded void, the crystalline fragments of fallen worlds drifting through a vacuous cosmos awash with deep lavender nebulas and auroras that flickered through the dead-space like great guttering candles. It reminded Roxas of somewhere, a stygian sea upon whose shore he’d been asked a question that’d changed everything. But thoughts swam in the tumble of frozen fallen stars. All Roxas knew that he was dreaming, probably, and falling…or maybe some else was, both a familiar face and a complete stranger.

The numinous midnight flickered for a moment, switching to a free-falling skydive through a sun-illumined clouds. All was brightness, memory of light that yet refused to die. That remembered refulgence revealed Ventus, a small wiry youth with an unruly mop of sandy hair tossed by rushed winds. Yet his clothing was a different cut despite bearing a familiar checkerboard pattern, though it was a more subtle wistfulness that set this boy apart from the Wayward Wind. Through the churn of memories the fall continued, dancing between the cloudscapes of two opposed planes of existence.

“I don’t think your’re a failure,” came that familiar tenor again as a hand still strained to reach across the turbulence of their descent.


Aqua

((OOC: hope that works for what you were going for))

Muse Music

"Hey...."

Dreams were a funny thing. They showed so many things. So many options. Nightmares or happiness... What you could or couldn't do. Dreams could show a person things they never well... Dreamed of! Whether good or bad. That was Skuld's thoughts when she heard that gentle voice among the darkness around them. Real or fake? Did it really matter? No... No it really didn't. Whether this was dream or reality made no difference in what Skuld thought. This woman... She was suffering. That was clear to Skuld. She needed help, someone to not let go. Their was a presence there already. She could feel that much. One good and one... Not so much. Skuld didn't know her personally but that didn't matter.

"Hey come on... Stopping here certainly won't solve anything will it?"

She tried to speak to her. Whether real or not Skuld wasn't to fond of losing someone else to that darkness. It had already taken so many both past and present. So many who suffered for reasons she still couldn't bear. Their wasn't need for any more pain like that. That's why it didn't matter to her what this void of darkness was. All that mattered was the person who's voice she heard, the one that needed help-support.

"I can relate.... It can be hard to keep going with the thought that they might be gone...

She didn't participate in the war... But she was all to aware of it's results. That Graveyard would forever serve as a mark of friends lost. Loved ones lost. For everyone it was different but on that day 'loss' was all their was for anyone involved. That Skuld saved even one from that pain was enough, that she could do so again now was all the reason she needed not to stand by. Sometimes a person just needed to know they wearn't alone, needed a shoulder to lean on.

"But I don't think your a failure"

A second hand reached out for her. Though this one wasn't likely familiar to the keyblade master, it offered support none the less. It mirrored the words of the other one reaching out-sought to defy the acceptance the other one brought down.

"I for one... Don't think they'd want you to go down here, I know Ventus woudn't, what about you?"

That was two hands. It was none of her buisness. For all she knew this could be a wild dream but... She didn't think it was. Even if it happened to be so it didn't change anything for her. The life was just as important, it meant just as much. Enough had been lost to the blackness. Taking another was simply out of the question.

No... Just like before... Even if she could only bring one soul back from the brink.

That was enough for her.

Aqua @tapir @mx

(Ooc:hope you don't mind me butting in here!)

Slowly sinking as thoughts of failure and disappointment consumed her heart. What if she had done things differently? Should she have let Terra sink into the darkness and saved herself? Should she have forced Ventus home kicking and screaming? Would any of this have prevented the fate that lead the three children to this point in their lives. If she hadn’t been so adamant on helping maybe things would have been different. She could feel the darkness seeping into her skin tainting her flesh. The pain from this was excruciating as she would let out a scream of despair. Tears filled her blue eyes as each second of the darkness contorted in her body. Was this the pain Terra went through? How could he have been so strong? Was she really this weak of a person? Her vision became cloudy from the swirling pools of darkness and the tears that fell from her face. She needed help, but she had been alone for so long that she couldn’t imagine anyone coming to her aide.



She could barely make out the voice of a boy. She looked up and even though the pain was still coursing through her body she could make out a hand. Who was calling out for her? She couldn’t tell, but she heard the familiar timber of his voice. Could it really be him? “Ven?” Aqua questioned as she saw the hand reach for her. How could this be? Wasn’t he in a state of unconsciousness? Had someone found him and awoken him? Was it even really him or was it just the darkness playing tricks on her again? “No you can’t be,” Aqua said in defeat. There was no way Ven could be here she had made sure he was secure. No one could have found him so this had to be an imposter or an illusion. Why was the realm of darkness such a tormenting place to be?



Then another figure appeared within her vision this time one she was all too familiar with. “Master Xehanort,” Aqua said with spite. What was he doing here? Everything that happened to the trio was all his fault. How could she ever forgive the decrepit old croon? Then he spoke to her and his words hit like a dagger through her fragile heart. The darkness around her swirled ever stronger now as she said, “accept it?” Was he instructing her on accepting her failures or was he referring to the darkness? If it was the former it would certainly be the first time he ever gave her good advice, but if her thoughts were correct it was the later. “No,” Aqua said meekly in defiance, “I can’t.” She tried her best to picture Ven and Terra and how much pain they must be in now because of her failures. Yet the images in her mind began to waver. The two boys were starting to become a mass of tan, orange, black, white, and yellow all mixed together into a brown to black goo in her mind. What was happening? Was she forgetting them? “No,” Aqua yelled to herself trying to fight the darkness. She couldn’t forget her friends. She placed her hands upon her head trying to bring them back into focus in her mind. She closed her eyes hoping maybe if she concentrated she could beat this.



Next she heard the voice of a young girl. One that Aqua had no familiarity of. She was speaking words of encouragement in an attempt to bring Aqua back from her despair. “Nothing I have done has solved anything,” Aqua responded in misery. She had been searching and trying for so long. Aqua was so tired of fighting and pushing herself with no reprieve. The girl continued to talk to which Aqua sharply accused, “How could you understand?” How could anyone understand the pain she was in? What kind of anguish could this girl have suffered that would be on par to the horror in this keybladers heart? She was a failure and this girl couldn’t convince her that she wasn’t. It was true of course that Ventus wouldn’t want Aqua to sink into darkness though. “Wait,” Aqua said in alarm. Did she say Ventus? Did she know him? “How do you…Agghhhh!” She began to scream again as the darkness began to tear into her again. It must have sensed the small amount of hope she had gained from the girl’s words and decided to rip her into her tighter. It felt like she was being restrained by some chains and the more she defied it the harder it became to resist. She could feel her thoughts become muggy and her vision blurry again.



She could feel herself slipping and fading in and out of consciousness. “Ven…Terra,” she wept softly as her voice was giving out. Was this truly the end of the poor girl? Was everything she worked hard for and strived to be only in vain? Was what Master Xehanort said coming to be? How could this happen to her? Why couldn’t she resist? Suddenly another voice appeared this of the boy whom she rescued from the darkness. “Terra?” she questioned faintly. Was it really him? She watched as he walked towards her and it was like a brilliant light was setting flame to her heart. A war was now waging in her heart as light and darkness filled her. Yet despite this third hand reaching for her she couldn’t stop the dark thoughts from manifesting. “You can’t be real,” she said with sorrow. She had been made a fool of by the illusions before and was not about to fall from them again.



Her body was now completely surrounded by the darkness, but despite this she suddenly had the strength to get up. Standing she faced the three people whose hands were outstretched to her and the air began to move. The darkness that surrounded her began to dissipate as she faced the people whom were to be her rescuers. Her appearance was now ragged and torn but it wasn’t until her face was shown that things were different. Her eyes glowed an amber yellow in place of the blue crystals they were before. She glared at the people in front of her before declaring, “You’re too late.”



@tapir  @mx  Skuld  Terra

The developments to follow were most peculiar, if certainly not interesting. The elderly man remained rooted to his spot upon the surface of the placid water, eyes still locked with the form of the girl that struggled in her vision. Deeper the darkness would seek to pull her physical body, yet Xehanort, like the phantoms within the vision so earnestly desired, would not let the remains of this broken Master wither away into the abyss. The focus would remain on the heart within, as he would aim to channel his own darkness into it in hopes to tether it, anchor her within the endless sea that sought to devour the remnant. Though as Xehanort would aim this accomplishment, more phantoms would appear within the vision, even as he felt the girl’s heart teeter closer toward his control. If it was the only means to pull her heart out of this hellish pit, then it was dire that Eraqus’ prized pupil listen to the advice he had given.

The phantoms continued to reach where they could not grasp, daring to interfere where the business was not their own. They prattled on about feints and farces that would eventually come undone, preached half truths of which their ignorant undeveloped mind could barely conceive. This girl he did not recognize, and surprisingly what Xehanort would surmise as the resurfaced Terra, were both looked upon with lazy contempt. A small scoff would emit from the back of the real Xehanort’s throat. There was a shallow amusement in this display, yet he could not say that it was not entirely unexpected. The misguided youth had served his purpose, provided the tool he required to create then leash the hordes of the Heartless and Nobodies, gave him access to yet another vessel to help unlock the desired contents of the box. Though what did this fool know of this game they now played? How far out of their depths were each of them? Even without a physical presence here, the bonds of the heart could only endure so much at the edge of the map. Inevitably they would shatter, and Xehanort would see it done.

The vision Xehanort would take a single step forward when the shadows of despair and rage began to triumph within Aqua. As he did so, a surge of power to enforce the darkness invading the girl would swell forward from the incorporeal ground at his feet. Xehanort would take another step, and yet another violent shockwave would emit and shake the foundations of the vision to disorient the participants. Another step was taken toward Aqua, and onward the disruption would continue. Step after step would conjure this violence all stemmed from seemingly harmless ripples forming from the steps by his boots. Another step, and another. Another. Several more. Many more, until at last the storm of concussive thunder and quaking would cease, as the vision Xehanort came to stand next to the dream Aqua. Both real and vision Xehanort would smirk devilishly toward the meddling phantoms. There were no words given, as for any there were no need. That acid-like gold stare would lock with that of Eraqus’ prodigal son, triumphantly certain the boy would recognize yet another of his failures in Aqua.

Like before all that Terra hoped for was just beyond his reach, where Xehanort dangled those desires for him to play into his hands once again. The echo of a memory would then resonate between the two opposing hearts, as though Xehanort were speaking to the hapless youth directly.

Do you see how powerless you are to save them!?

Skuld Terra Aqua @tapir

She was falling. All of her words, her feelings, they reflected his own once...So this was what it looked like to see someone else be consumed by that same doubt and fear? It burned in his mind to watch this, watch her suffer in what she believed to be isolation. Even if he wanted to deny it, he still felt the pain of his own experiences with those haunting shadows of doubt. He didn't want to watch his friend suffer the same. He reached out towards her yet again.

"Aqua, I know what you're going through. I walked that path once-

And then Xehanort began walking forward, interrupting Terra's attempts to reach out to Aqua with his words. His steps. Every singe one of them was incredibly painful. Each one bringing forth another memory of Xehanort's victory over him and his friends. Terra clutched desperately to his head as his vision became blurred, was this...Xehanort's true power? Could he not win even now? Terra tried to walk forward towards Aqua, stumbling as he did so before stopping entirely. The violent storm of hatred and evil coming from this man's mere steps intensified the closer he got to Aqua until finally his movements brought Terra to his knees.

"Nghhh...St...op it!"

He balled his hands into fists, watching on as Aqua became consumed slowly...But surely. The light he gave off began to fade away as he sat there. All of the people he had failed... Eraqus, Aqua, Ventus...Was his second chance just a mistake? Xehanort's harsh words rang out repeatedly within Terra's mind, sharp pains and despair filled him. But in the corner of his vision, he saw the other two...Still reaching out for Aqua despite Xehanort's efforts. Ven...He wasn't giving up. ... No, this wasn't Ventus, it was...Someone who shared a connection of the heart with him. But...even despite that, he still wanted to save Aqua. Xehanort's words did little to stop the boy.

And then there was that girl. He didn't recognize her, but from her words, she knew Ventus as well. So that was why... She didn't waver at all. Her words spoke of past pains, fears, doubts...So why? Why didn't she give in to Xehanort's power? The keyblade war. Was that really what she had witnessed? Her words, they reminded him of why he rose up from that dead wasteland. Why he came here, why he reached out to Aqua to begin with.

...He understood. Through the words of those two, why they weren't surrendering.



He slowly stood back up, he was unsteady for only a moment, but he met Xehanort's dark glare, never looking away for even a moment. He firmly raised his arm to point at Xehanort.

"No. I won't let you win again! Everyone's hearts, they're all united towards a single goal. I can't ever lose against you as long as I stand beside them."

His light returned dimly, he began to walk towards Aqua once more, the light that he gave off growing ever brighter with each step. Every single motion he made reminded him of what brought him to this moment, his friends. His dreams. His goals, and the responsibilities placed onto him by Eraqus. All of these positive memories flooded back into his mind.

"Aqua, remember our dream? To become keyblade masters. It's something all three of us shared. You didn't think I'd just leave you out of that, did you?"

His smile returned as he stood in front of his friend. The light he gave off was...Almost blinding. But it was warm, inviting. He reached out for her still. Even if he wasn't physical in this place...Even if he wasn't really even there, he was going to show to Aqua that his efforts were real. That she wasn't alone, even if the darkness made her believe so.

"Just as they said...It's not too late. I believe in you, Aqua. After all. You're stronger than you think."

He remembered. How she bested him in combat back then. But it wasn't a bitter memory anymore, now it was a reminder. A reminder that Aqua wasn't a failure as she had told herself. Even if she fell, he'd just have to drag her back into the light. He looked over at Skuld, and then to Roxas. Nodding to them both.

"You've got people who care about you. We're all here to bring you back home. I know what this feels like...I've been there. All those fears come to the surface, and you just want to bear it alone. But please, Aqua. Let us help. You don't have to fight alone anymore. Even if I can't reach you in this place...I'll find you, I promise. I'll make all of this right."

Xehanort was still powerful...But Terra wasn't alone anymore.

_________

Aqua @tapir @mx Skuld

Aqua was conflicted, That much Skuld could tell clear as day. The darkness had seeped into her, grabbed tight and refused to let go. It brought all her deepest regrets... Fears... And sadness to the surface. Used them to contain her, control her.. consume her. If this kept up...

"No!"

The younger keybearer called out. She had seen all this before. She had heard about it. Fought against someone consumed by it... She wouldn't let another person go through that horrible feeling. That all consuming terror. The darkness eating you inside and out until you were no longer anything resembling what you were. She couldn't let that happen. So many friends fell to that power. And she could see it now beginning on Aqua. Her arms.. her legs... Her eyes. They were all signs of that consumption coming down fast. She didn't know everything but she knew that for it to be this deep but not have consumed her... Aqua had been through a lot.

The girl apologized.

"No you don't have to... I know... What it's like"

And then she dashed forward, but was to late as she collapsed over the spot Aqua once was, having tried to grab her before she could vanish through the corridor complelty. She stared at the darkned ground around her. Only she and the man called Terra remaned-a light glow now surrounded her body. Another familiar feeling. She failed, and now it was time to go. She had let down yet another person. Ventus... Larium... Ephemer... Her masters... Invi and Ava. So many people she couldn't help, so many she let down when it mattered most. All she could do was pick up the pieces, save what she could and try to steer things right the next time.

Was that all their was, was that her role?

"No.. not this time, It won't happen again"

She lifted herself back to her feet, turning back to the only other person here, the one that stayed alongside her till the end trying to help his friend. The light was consuming her body, she had time to say only one thing before she woke, and so she did, her words were heartfelt and her eyes kind,determined, She meant it. This time....

"Don't worry..."

Her eyes fluttered open, and the keybearer rose to a sitting positon in the bed she had gone to sleep in. Looking around the room she had rented she finally looked out the window, repeating the words to herself as she stared out towards the sky. A promise made in a dream so far away now.

"....I will save her"

[Exit]