A Second Chance

Castle Oblivion

Haaa.....

Hi! >.>

So sorry for the delay. Writer's block has been horrible, life has been busy, etc. But I always feel the need for a creative outlet so I've been writing, and not publishing anything, in my downtime. I struggled with how I'd handle the next couple chapters and for whatever reason it just all kind of clicked the other day. So here we are.

If even just one person is left and enjoys this series, then my job is done <3

[YEN SID'S TOWER]

You'd never know it from looking at the tower from the outside, but Yen Sid's tower was actually quite spacious once you got past the godforsaken stairs. The top floor was huge, filled with bedrooms, offices, and, luckily enough, a fully stocked kitchen. Turns out it's pretty handy living with a powerful magician.

Unluckily, none of you can cook.

"This is embarrassing," Riku speaks up, watching you, Sora, and Lea with slightly raised brows, his arms crossed over his chest as he leans a shoulder against the wooden doorway.

"Shut it," you snap, peering over at Sora, who's wearing a lopsided chef's hat he found who-knows-where as he messily whips a laughable amount of eggs in a bowl with a whisk. "Those look done."

"'Kay!" he happily replies, plopping the bowl on the counter and placing his hands on his hips as he proudly looks over at you. "Now what?"

"We cook them?" Lea guesses, snapping a finger so the stovetop lights up with a flame.

"Duh," you laugh, picking up the bowl and marching to the stove, dumping the contents into a skillet placed over the flame.

"Three people to cook eggs," Riku muses, pushing himself off the wall as he saunters inside, grabbing a wooden spoon from a group of utensils in a jar next to the stove, handing it to you. "Need some help?"

"From you? Never," you retort, not bothering to look at his smug face as you grab the spoon from his hands.

He rolls his eyes, resting an elbow on the counter as he watches you carefully stir at the almost overflowing liquidy eggs in the skillet.

"I can help," Aqua offers gently from her position perched on a tall bar stool at the island on the other side of the stove.

"You need to rest! No way," Sora tells her with a shake of his head.

Aqua is about to argue, but she decides against it, settling into a soft smile instead. The meal is looking a little questionable, but it's the thought that counts. Plus she hasn't eaten in almost two decades, so who is she to turn down a free meal. She'll need all the strength she can get for the next step.

"How's it feel? Being back," Lea asks, drawing the woman from her thoughts as she glances over at the redhead.

"Um..." she trails off, not quite sure how to respond when she realizes that he's toasting slices of bread one at a time inbetween his hands with a quick burst of flames before stacking them on a plate. But she's quickly learning that you've surrounded yourself with some interesting individuals during her absence. "Surreal. I thought I was lost forever. It's going to take awhile to adjust to being free and back in the Light."

You subtly glance over your shoulder, mindlessly stirring the eggs every couple seconds as you study your old friend. You're dying to ask when you can leave to go find Ven and bring him home. But you know she needs to rest and regain her strength. Another very selfish part of you is filled with guilt and anxiety at Ven coming back, though. How could you face him, after you befriended his number one sworn enemy. How will Aqua react, and Terra? Were you ready for the truth to come to light?