destinystrings | 001 | ❝What I really need is a spell to cast...❞

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001 | ❝What I really need is a spell to cast...❞

Who: Aqua and YOU...
Where: Pisces Apartments.
Summary: A Scorpio native tried to attack her, she did what any reasonable Aquarius would do in the circumstances.
Warnings: Magic, perma-Fear status, Persona awakenings and things/people flying out windows..........

Somehow, and she has no idea how, but all the scorpions for the most part she could just sense. It was weird, and even stronger than her own sensing of light and darkness. She wasn't sure whether to be afraid of it or not, but she was terrified of the things she could sense... and the other people who were acting s-strangely...

But she was a Keyblade Master and part of the night guard. She has to be out there, helping. Yet she was too scared to even leave the apartments...

That's when one of those with the strange eyes started coming for her and she found herself paralyzed in fear as she curled up there in the corner. She'd never seen them before except maybe a quick glance around town somewhere when she'd quietly gone for supplies, but she couldn't help the muted scream as they got closer.

'Help me-!'

In hindsight, she will likely smack herself on the forehead for letting fear and paranoia grip her so tightly, but that's when she opens her eyes in surprise. Right there in front of her was a water nymph, waving her hand once even though as she floated there, it was like her entire being was in water... It was so beautiful that for a split second, the fear didn't register with her mind.

'I am thou...'

"Eudora..."

But that Muzzle Shot didn't deter the native Scorpio for long. They were approaching her yet again, and with another scream, there was a brief burst of gold light, a matching magical golden lasso, and oooout the window the masked local went! Oops?

She didn't care. All she knew was she could help somehow and even if she was afraid, there were people here she needed to make sure they were okay.

Even though all she wanted to do was...curl up in the corner...

...

Okay yeah those scorpions are terrifying, after all. Some of them may just be finding themselves on fire. If she can stop shaking long enough to use enough Fire spells to go into Firestorm. If not, she is just going to hide in the corner of the pool area. Nope! Nothing to see here, folks! That toooootally isn't broken glass from a window or anything. Ha ha... ha...

She misses her deceased Master so much right now.

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Xion was already on her way out, to be sure. The announcement about her floor had been reason enough. She'd been hoping to make it outside, to some sort of defensible position, but those screams were... pretty attention-catching.

Xion sprinted into the pool area, coat on and ready for... anything, when she spotted someone familiar hudding in a corner, surrounded by scorpions.

"Aqua!"

She raised a hand, gathering the energy for Firaga spell, which burst from her fingertips, hurtled towards the scorpion and exploded on contact, taking out a few, not to mention attracting their attention.

Her bad, bitty. Her bad. It did not help that she always kind of detested scorpions even before this madness begun. Now she had a seemingly logical reason to fear them, especially considering how she could hear it... that scream of doom and oh god it's going to end they're-

No. No,, that wasn't-

Aqua clutched her head, trying to concentrate but wanting to just run. Eudora could tell her where to go, where was safer. She just needed to listen... oh. Oh, that energy was familiar.

"Xion?"

She looked up just in time to see that Friaga spell, blinking. Well, it wasn't too bad but she could use a little help with execution. No no, stop. No thinking like a teacher right now the world is going to end why the hell does she feel like Chicken Little right about now-

The scorpions do seem to be distracted, some that were lucky had fallen into the pool in efforts to stop, drop and crawl away. However, Aqua only added more insult to injury. With a single raise of a hand, yellow energy formed and bound them all in a large circle.

"K-kill them... It's coming..."

Xion couldn't help but watch the gold energy with a bit of wonderment. She was unquestionably the best mage of her and Roxas and Axel (save for Fire, which was and always would be Axel's specialty), but she couldn't even begin to do anything like that.

Still, that's a pretty clear instruction, with something more worrying behind it to boot. The word she was speaking aside, Xion may never have met Aqua prior to Hinoto-Ri, but this was... still a very different impression from the one she'd gotten when they'd met the day Xion arrived.

First things first though, the scorpions needed taking care of.

Xion raised her hand once more, sending out a few Days-brand Fire spells, which homed in on their target and incinerated them.

Once the scorpions Aqua had used Bind on were out of the way, Xion closed the gap between them. Safety in numbers - that was something she knew all too well.

"Are you okay? What's coming?"

It's too good to be a coincidence that they were assigned rooms so close to one another, then. She was by far the most versatile in magic of her friends, even though this was one skill they could all perform.

She got to her feet when the familiarity of Fire spells lit the circle of binding even more. Her knees were still shaking, but she could not cower as much as she wanted to. It was illogical... she should be fine as it was. Why was she so panicked ~~and why were there little ghosts in her line of vision i mean uh~~.

Aqua shook her head.

"Mm. I haven't been myself, lately..." 'Sorry.' She managed to keep more of her composure around someone else. For some reason, it was easier than when alone. That's when she looked to the scorpions' corpses as she spoke the next few words. "S-something like them... I can't really describe it."

Well, even if it was a skill all three of Aqua and her friends could perform, it was beyond Xion's knowledge. And Aqua might find herself being asked questions about it (and maybe even magic lessons) later.

Xion pursed her lips firmly, shaking her head at the apology. They could worry about it later. Whatever this "thing" was that was coming, it sounded bad, and therefore much more important. Like some of the Heartless they'd fought, the big ones.

"We should probably stick together, then," she said. It worked back home with Roxas and Axel, and it would work just fine here, right?

Maybe she'd just plain offer them later on, when she wasn't fear-stricken and likely sick because of it. Darn astrological hell. Messing her up like no one's business.

Wait until the 13th Hour. No one will be happy at all.

"...Mm." She nodded faintly, but then recalled something. "-You were assigned on one of the floors that they warned us to stay off of too, right?"

Xion stepped a little closer, holding out a hand to help Aqua up if she wanted it. As for the question... she winced a little.

"Yeah... the person they're warning us about... actually lives right across from me," she admitted, "I was able to get out of there before she found me, though."

She... sounds maybe the tiniest bit shaken but overall eerily calm at the idea that her neighbor was basically about to go on a murderous rampage and she just narrowly avoided getting caught up in that. Living in a perpetual state of danger and risk... kind of did that to you. Something Aqua would know, really, especially once astrological hell was no longer an issue.

"Where do you think we should go?" she added. Outside didn't sound much safer, perhaps even worse, but...

...Oh, ouch. She could second that wince, if she weren't already.

"...I see." That really sucked, and it went without saying. She nodded, thankful for the help up as she dusts herself off and shakily casts Esuna. It was going to be her best friend by the time midnight and thus the 'hidden hour' came around at this rate.

Also, yes, that tone was far too familiar to her for her own good. For either of them, really. Though with her skill set...

"There's the option of barricading my room with magic, since while it's still in immediate danger from the person they warned us about, it's a floor higher. Other than that..." Well, it was obvious in her eyes, even though she was doing all she could to keep from shaking. "...I can't exactly just sit back and watch everything fall to chaos, even if I'm scared out of my wits."

Kind of bound by duty, this one. "N-not to mention most of my magic would likely cause massive amounts of property damage."

A large group of scorpions moved in unison. As it grew closer, they scuttled away, revealing a man, his expression distorted into a twisted grin, eyes yellow from the tell-tale infection.

"Are you scared, Chica?" he asked. "Perhaps Michel should teach you a thing or two..."

She knew that grin... she knew that grin all too well.

The smell of smoke, of electricity charging the air as ice crystals shot out at every which way as they fought to the best of their ability. Earth pillars slamming them in the gut or knocking them into the air, abandoned Keyblades crashing into them and shattering armor... the laughter... the laughter...

she shook her head, clutching it with one hand while the other summoned Master Keeper once again. That yellow... how she's come to both fear and hate it during her stay in her self-made prison surrounded by nothing but darkness and a sea of glowing yellow eyes.

Need to get away need to get away need to get away... wait, Michel?

"G-get away... I don't want to hurt you."

May want to listen to the frightened girl, floor mate...

Edited 2012-10-24 06:40 (UTC)

Oh you mean press on harder, correct? Her call only got him to step in, in a twisted way of thinking he could actually help her out. Be releasing her of suffering, of course.

"Oh don't worry. I don't think you'll be able to hurt me at all," he whispers, kneeling down to be closer to her level, a soft laugh in his lips. The eyes continue to shine behind the mask. "But if you try to hurt me, I promise I'll make you hurt more..."

No, no she meant get the hell away from her because you are not yourself and she is not herself and that could only spell disaster for anyone who came near either one of them. Her eyes narrow, right hand clutching her Master's blade all the tighter. His voice made her blood run cold, yet Eudora's voice was trying to whisper something...

Don't be scared.

...Like that could be A Thing when she couldn't help it. He was so close and smelled of death and oh god if he gets any closer, she'll-

"...Drift!"

Oops, too late.She lifted her strangely-shaped blade during her shriek, black light rippling out in a circle with her as the center. If it hits him, Michel's going to find himself suspended in midair and unable to move for fifteen seconds.Enjoy the HP drainage, she's going to try and get farther away from him.

He had to help people. He just kept that in mind, despite the fact that he was absolutely terrified and just wanted to go home. But he could do this. He could -

... did someone just go out the window?

Link headed over to investigate, and spotted someone trying to approach a young woman. He summoned Epona, and blasted them with a Hama spell. The person fell to the ground, and he rushed over towards her.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

Yes, yes that was someone going out the window. They tried to hurt her, after all. Clearly throwing someone out the window was less deadly than the alternatives, and boy, did she have plenty of them.

Aqua leaned against the wall when she noticed the would-be attacker fall to the ground after a sudden light. This presence... It wasn't familiar at all, but the light that came from it. It was a relief after so long of being alone in nothing but darkness, and though there were plenty of people here, it was hard to completely adjust to the situation after so long.

So long...

"...I've been better." She wanted to go back to her apartment, but it was dangerous and she could feel the dread every time she thought about returning upstairs.

"... I know the feeling." He was just barely holding up himself, and he noticed that even Epona was spooking sometimes. He held out a hand to her, trying to comfort her.

She wasn't alone. He wasn't alone. Even if he didn't know her, they'd get through this together. They'd all be okay.

"It's not safe in here. It might be better to find a place to hide out that's more easily defended."

Poor Epona. She seemed like such a nice pony-Persona (n-not that she had a soft spot for ponies, nope. no idea what you are talking about!). Aqua hesitated for a second, but then she realized something.

"...Eudora."

The water nymph appeared behind her, raising a single hand even more timidly than she had when using Muzzle Shot earlier. This time though, all it was was a simple Blue Wall skill. Think of it as a 'thank you' as she takes that hand. They could be afraid together.

"I-I'm better in wide-open spaces. Most of my spells have a wide range."

Edited 2012-10-29 22:51 (UTC)

He smiled, and squeezed her hand gently, like Saria used to do when he was little and scared.

"We'll get out further from the building, but still stay close so that we can defend it, all right?" He pulled out the Master Sword with his other hand, taking comfort in the fact that it still seemed as bright and unscarred as ever. It was still whole, and he was still a hero.

And as a hero, he had to help people, even if he was scared.

Riku... is not entirely sure what has been going on the last few days, though he hasn't had much time to ask questions in between helping out the local people with their scorpion troubles (and trying to calm down some of the strangely very panicky ones) and keeping himself clear from those troubles (Esuna has come very handy so far).

He had kind of hoped to catch a break once back at the apartment building, but it's almost as bad here as it is outs-

That's when he senses it, that familiar light and a strange twist of Darkness clinging to it - fear?! - and he doesn't even think twice about storming out towards the pool area and pushing himself upwards, gathering magic to unleash Meteor Crash upon the scorpions (and maybe cause some property damage).

~~Keybitty's not so bitty anymore, isn't he?~~

~~No, no he isn't.~~

Aqua blinked in surprise for only a second. This strange blend of Darkness and Light, one she had not sensed in likely years... Of course, she thought she had a few times by now, especially on the nights she didn't pass out from exhaustion the moment she made it to her bed (we do not talk about the weekends...ever). Esuna, for some reason, did not work as well as she'd liked nor for very long. It was likely the only reason she managed to teleport away from the strong presence of death on the fifth floor in the first place.

...

Riku. Please, Riku. Riku, please. Did you not know that property damage was always A Thing when it came to Keyblade Mastery?

Well, he likely knew, now. Her eyes widened for a brief moment before she tried Esuna once more. It didn't fully cover the effect, but at least she managed a Crawling Fire before she sensed Eudora spooking within her soul. That certainly did not help...

"...Riku?"

My, he'd grown. Even from the last time she saw him in Abax, though she highly doubted he recalled that.

...Admittedly he does by now.

He straightened once he effects of his attack dispersed, scanning the surroundings for her, lips twitching up into a smile when he caught sight of her.

Well, it looked like she was okay for the most part, but yeah. He should probably check, shouldn't he?

"Uh yeah, it's me." (Being recognized is a good sign, right?) "You all right?"

Well, so long as he learned it. Besides, damage could always be repaired. Sometimes lives couldn't be if they were stolen.

Flames were still licking around the tip of Master Keeper when he replied, and she couldn't help but manage a tight-lipped, faint smile. Whatever it was out there had her shaken to the core, and she hated that fear because she knew all too well where fear led to when one lost themselves to it. That was one of the many doctrines she would not cast aside, especially after where falling into fear had led Terra.

Still, facing them... well, she wouldn't be able to face the boss, but-

"Mm... just shaken up." Understatement, judging by the very small but potent fear in her heart. ...At least it wasn't as bad as Orpheus? "-You've grown even more since the last time I saw you."

A hint? Maybe.

True, true.

He lowered Way to the Dawn a little, glancing around once more to see if there were any more of their enemies left ready to attack while making his way to her quickly.

There is some trace of worry in his expression - he's never seen her like this, and what's going on right now is by far less worse than certain battles they had faced in Promenade. He smiles at her hint though; there is no need to fish for him, not when Xion had already told him of Aqua's presence... and her remembering the world they had last seen each other in.

"Yeah... it's been a while again, since Promenade; for me at least."

Though, admittedly, not quite as much of a while.

Being in Astrological Hell sucked, plain and simple.

She sighed, lowering the Keyblade in hand slightly. She noticed that worry and shook her head; don't worry about her. She'd still fight, because as a Master, she was bound by her duty to protect others. Not that she didn't want to in the first place. Really, this was completely illogical to be so fearful...

Acknowledging Promenade helped. No mention of Abax, though? Huh... so now she definitely knew two different Rikus. Headbeings, this was confusing.

"Mm, same... though that's been around six years for me."

What is telling time in the realm of Darkness. She does not know aside from the guesses due to the clue she had via toe tag two years ago.

Edited 2012-11-11 01:48 (UTC)

Sure does; Riku can tell just by watching from the sidelines.

It might be illogical, but fear is fear regardless of logic. While that's certainly no reason to falter because of it, suppressing it isn't really any good either. Though Aqua surely knows that, right?

Nope no mentioning of Abax; mentioning the place would only get her a confused frown. ~~Right mun, wrong Riku!~~ ~~I mean-~~

His eyes widen a little for just a moment; that's certainly longer than it's been for him... and she still looks the same as she had in Promenade. Age-wise at last.

"...For me, it's been close to two."

It's funny; it seems far less and much more at the same time. Almost a little bit like a different lifetime.

She knows. Oh, does she know. It was how Terra was so easily manipulated, along with the thirst for vengeance that she tried to talk him out of (and failed, but she got points for trying, right?).

Welcome to the confusion corner. Maybe it was her light reflecting the dark at all times, but she never aged. Like she was a wandering heart, just searching for a way home. To follow the light back and ending up wandering as she fought countless battles.

It only frustrated her because she knows she shouldn't be scared, yet she is.

"Mm. It's almost funny, how times can flow differently."

(She'll always get points for trying!)

But he can certainly sympathize some at least - he's had more than one talk about vengeance and revenge with Di- Ansem, the Wise... with somewhat more success he supposes. Considering how things had ended for that old man.

He's never been long enough in that realm to be able to contribute on that issue, a couple of weeks at longest... he really wishes they had found her back then, him and the King. Ten years in the Realm of Darkness is... a wish that he reserves for very few, very certain enemies. Though those would probably even like it there.

"Well... it's not like we didn't know that already."

Given certain shenanigans with older Soras or being turned ten years younger and so.

(Yaaaay. ;u;)

He shouldn't worry about it too much. She was very capable of sustaining not just herself, but reflecting Darkness with ease without any additional power. Though, she really would like to get back to their worlds. From what she'd seen before, it sounded like they were having a hard time.

"Fair enough."

Oh man don't remind her she'll start snickering at Terra being 13 again.

((cozy)!)

He'd never doubt her ability to survive, to keep surviving in that place, but it's not about that... She shouldn't have to stay there, not if it can be helped. Not if one of them - be it him or the King or Sora or really anybody - could reach her and help her back to the Realm of Light.

(And she's right; they could maybe kind of use the help too.)

He grins at her and then relaxes... though not to the point where he dismisses his weapon. There are still enemies around after all, and Aqua isn't in the best conditions to be taking on them with that perma-fear status.

"...We should see about getting inside."

Get out of the danger zone. Yes, he's doing the worrying and being protective thing now, try him. :|

Maybe not, but she'd do what she could until then. It was the least she could do when she was in her right mind.But right now? Right now she is just trying to focus on that familiar light and dark mixture that had thanked her so long ago for what she'd once done out of necessity and facilitated his overcoming the one man she would never be able to forgive.

Though that protective thing earns a face.

"...No."

Oh yes, she will try him. She is terrified, but even so... she looks to meet his gaze. Well, try to. It's a little hard to focus when trying not to go into a full-blown panic. Maybe she'd thank a certain golden-eyed freak the next time she saw him for at least having the courtesy of forcing her to learn to face fear.

"I... can't leave anyone else out there. It's a d-duty of a Master to ensure the safety and b-balance of the worlds."

just please don't make her go into scorpio district she begs of thee...

He has half-expected her to protest; he would be doing the same if their positions were reversed. Still, this situation calls for a voice of reason, and if that's his part to play then he's more than fine with that.

"Aqua... I understand, but... you aren't in any condition to keep fighting. I won't let you."

It's breaking his heart to see her like this, unable to meet his eyes despite her best tries - it's so different from the woman he remembers, the one, who had pulled him out of trouble more than once during that week, who had seen his memory of Castle Oblivion, who had known of his short comings, but hadn't judged.

Who had been his teacher for however short.

It's this world's fault, he knows that, and he's angry that it is doing this to her of all people, and he can't help but admire her for her stubbornness, because he knows she is trying her best.

And that's why...

"...If this is truly a Master's duty... then please leave it up to me."

He is a Keyblade Master himself now after all, no matter that he still can't quite believe it himself, no matter that he still doesn't know exactly this means for him.

Looking at her right now, it's time that he starts pulling his share of the weight that comes with it anyways, he'd say. It's not a responsibility anyone should be left alone with.

That implied that someone in a panic could listen to reason. There was a reason a certain member of the original seven was being restrained, after all. In fact, she almost glares before she stops herself.

...She'd said something along the same lines as that to Terra once before, hadn't she? And the Master always said that fear led to obsession, and then Darkness. That...was a path she could not follow. She could dive into the dark, could fight it and turn her sorrow into strength (as her Persona had whispered), but never follow it in that sense.

Aqua glanced down for a moment, shaking her head as she clutched the wayfinder resting against her chest, whispering under her breath something that was likely hard to make out, or would if it wasn't just one syllable.

Ven...

She has to make it back to the Light for him, doesn't she? ...Light, she feels like a fool. Letting herself be degraded to this, and yet-

And yet she hears what he says, and even more, what's implied. That's when she looks up, focuses on the blade in his hand, and a smile begins to creep across her lips for the first time since they'd left that shared dream. However panicked and nervous she may feel, there is one thing she can do and will always do.

"...told you so."

Be a tease of a doting mother type. Always was, always will be. Even though, just as she'd said into the ocean breeze of the islands he lived out his early childhood peacefully... she would never have wished her friends - no, family's - lives on him and his friends. Perhaps it's bittersweet that she has to acknowledge that reality that despite her best efforts, it came to fruition regardless.

Yet she smiles still, even though inside she was still panicking. He'd given her just enough fuel to try and distract her even with the scorpion monsters still exploding around them (she regrets nothing).

"...Very well, Master Riku. But on one condition."

If anyone can, it's Aqua! But yeah, Riku is very much prepared to knock her out with Sleepga, if that ends up being necessary.

It does look like it won't be though and he can't quite help the very quiet sigh of relieve, even as he answers her 'told her so' with a look that is somewhere between sheepish, embarrassed and defiant, because so what, he knows now that he's worthy of that Keyblade of his, but as far as his Master-worth goes... well, Master Yen Sid should know what he's doing and now is kind of the time to prove that himself, he supposes.

...Though, conditions always have him wary.

"...And what is that?"

Jsyk, if he doesn't like it, he'll go with the Sleepga option.

Aqua simply responds to that look with a fragile smile; an action she isn't used to anymore.Lately, there hasn't been much to smile about, and even now... This light was so familiar and while she'd distracted from her complete terror of the scorpions, the fear of watching what happened to her friends occur again in the next generation was amplified. Maybe... this was how Ven felt at that time so long ago, watching Terra fight on, and seeing her struck down.

There's more than one reason why she holds a fist over her heart, clasping it with her other hand as she chokes out her Persona's name again; the water nymph appears, hands trembling as much as she is trying to keep hers from doing the same, and it looks like it's pointing a finger at Riku--

...Only for a barrier of some sort to form around him and shimmer just out of visibility range. He'll find his defense against water-based attacks has increased.

...

"Come back safely."

She trusts you to come back, but if he is injured in any way ever she swears that they'll pay.

Riku tenses when that... - what is that really? - appears, and points at him - and all that keeps him from leaping away is the fact that he trusts Aqua, even in the state that she is in now. Still he gasps lightly in surprise when that protection magic flares around him and then shimmers away, and still he can feel it linger around him, and slowly that look of confusion ebbs into a smile.

"I think, I can do that."

He will, even. And well, as far as injuries go... he has more than mastered Curaga by now and between himself and his Dream Eaters, that hopefully won't be much of an issues. Not if he can help it anyways.

To be honest, it's just instinctual as to how she knows who and what it is. Maybe after this Hour has passed, she will study them in further depth. She is a mage, after all; knowing the arcane and lore is one of the many things she must learn to fully understand its power. But right now? ...Yeah, she's just trying and failing to focus on his Light.

"I'm holding you do that, Riku."

~~or so help her you are grounded, mister.~~

"Don't worry."

He's not the same as he was in Promenade. He can more than hold his own against some scorpion monsters - even over a longer stretch of time, if needed.

~~That so? Well then, try him.~~

She gave him a look at that, because, really? You are expecting her to think rationally when she is focusing on the worry to not outright panic? Because logically she knows, but logic is on a holiday with the British and they are meeting the Nazis for tea at three o'clock.

By which we mean what is logic it likely got caught in a Mega Flare.

~~do you really want to test mom. doooo yoooou?~~

But he isn't expecting her to think rationally. He isn't even expecting logic of her. All he hopes, is that she still knows how to trust and that she can hold onto that until the worst of the curse is over.

~~...Maybe.~~

Sorry Riku, but with as much as she does trust, worry sometimes overrides (just ask Terra and Ven that). Though she will try and dislike having to wait.

~~...You're so on.~~

Well, he'll just send her a last not before he goes off and tries this Master-thing.

"See you soon."

He won't make her wait long, if he can help it.

~~Bring it!~~

"Good luck..."

It was muttered, maybe, but at least by the time he got back, she'd be sane??? Maybe??? (yes)

~~brought it so fast that you didn't even see it coming~~

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001 | ❝What I really need is a spell to cast...❞

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...I cannot take this thread seriously, anymore. /points up

.....Fffhhhh

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