A Second Chance

Aqua

Well............ hello!

*awkward laugh*

My personal life took a weird turn these past 2 years! In a good way! New job, got married, etc. But y'know, it's always bothered me that I never finished this series, and I think I got enough creative juices left in me to get this thing finished. I'm really sorry for vanishing for so long but I REALLY want to get this completed, even if no one reads it :3

I'm for sure rusty tho, so I hope I haven't lost my skillz or all of my lovely readers in my absence. Thanks! Missed you guys!

♥ Alex

[♥]

"Just call me the Master."

The next thing you know, you're crippled with pain, doubled over as you cough uncontrollably. The water filling your lungs is finally escaping as you gasp and cough, desperate to expel the liquid and breathe fresh air as your consciousness is retained. The peace you felt while drowning is replaced with pain, and all you can do is pray for it to end soon.

It finally does after about a minute, and you remain perched on all fours, your breath rattled and weak as you pant for air. The beach is silent besides your breathing, and for a moment you even allow yourself to wonder who the hell you just talked to... until you hear the distinct sound of footsteps, boots crunching on the sand.

"So weak," a voice that sounds oddly familiar and yet eerily detached echoes through the silence.

Whoever it is... it's not Terra. It's definitely a girl. Your eyes narrow at the realization, willing yourself to look up at your greeter. Standing before you, her outfit now black and dark purple, is the one person you've been trying to find. Her face is pulled into an angry scowl, but her face is the same, the one you've been dreaming of since you were separated.

"A-Aqua?" you stammer, your eyes immediately filling with tears at the sight.

After all the pain, the torment, the insufferable waiting... She was finally here, in front of you. It was such an overwhelming feeling of relief that you started to feel woozy again, your fingers digging into the sand as you drop your head and take a moment to gain your composure. After a couple deep breaths you look back up, a smile on your face, until you notice she's staring at you with an expression of hate and her eyes are a deep yellow.

"Some friend you've turned out to be," she says with a scoff, her upper lip curling up in a sneer. "You abandoned me. Left me here, in this prison, for more than a decade. You knew what it would do to me... but you didn't care."

Her voice is so unemotional, it makes you want to burst into tears. But you stay firm, your eyes remaining locked on hers as you slowly stand to your feet.

"I cared more than you'd ever know," you tell her, holding your arms up in surrender as her eyes narrow angrily. This... isn't Aqua. "I thought about you every second of every day –"

"Then why'd it take you this long to come here?!" she snaps, summoning her Keyblade and pointing it right at you. If looks could kill, you'd be dead. "I've been alone here, while you've been enjoying your life. You abandoned all of us."

Well, that hurt, having her spell out your worst fears. The reason why you hated even looking at yourself. You were weak...

"No," you sob, shaking your head once as your throat tightens with discomfort. "It's not that simple, Aqua. Please, just come with me. Let's go home."

You take a step towards her, your hand outreached. Her gaze flits down to your hand before her eyes once again meet yours. In the blink of an eye, her Keyblade is summoned, sinking down and into your palm. You cry out, stumbling backwards as you grab onto your hand. The blood is flowing, a deep gash in your left hand the parting gift from your old friend.