Eterna {Kingdom Hearts 2013 Watty Award} {Romance, Semi-OC}

Chapter 7: Endless Loops of Where and Why

A/N: I know. It has been forever and a half since I last posted a new chapter, of anything, really. I wish life were an excuse, but as it is, it's actually a valid reason as to why I suddenly stopped writing and why I lost inspiration along the way. But never fret! I am back, and hopefully to stay. If I pull another stunt like this, however, just know that life is chaotic for me at the moment. 

As a treat! This chapter is my longest yet, with over seven-thousand words, to boot. I am really proud of it, seeing as I haven't written a single story in almost a year. And what makes it even better, we finally get some answers as to what I hope can be your questions! I have no doubt in mind you will still be as confused as before, but trust me, you will know everything, in due time. ;)

And what a way to start than a new POV! We get to see Alicia's side, finally! That small cameo back in chapter three doesn't count, really. xD

Let me know what you guys and gals think! Please, feedback would be much appreciated. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of its characters. No money is being made out of this.

Warnings: Just a few curse words. Might just be one, though. -legasp!- Isa is not swearing as much in chappies?! The world will surely come to an end! o; (Also, please note, this has not been proof-read at all. Typos galore~ :D)

oooOooo

Alicia walked through the halls of the castle trying to take in everything at once, trying to forget that, for just a short moment in time, she existed, that she was here and not where she was supposed to be. The birds fluttered here and there, whispering to each other things she would never understand. The breeze caressed her hair while the sun bathed her skin in warmth, hugging her just as her mother would.

Mom, she thought, but then shook her head because thinking of her would only cause her pain and despair.  Then she stopped shaking because that made her wings hurt.

Wings. Not something you heard of every day. Well, unless one were talking about birds or bees or butterflies. But applied to human beings? No. Such a thing was unimaginable in so many ways, yet there she was, standing completely immobile while feeling the damn things flutter behind her. There was no way in hell that they could remove them from her back –they had already tried to no avail- so how was she going to get used to them, to the power they gave her?

Power. She never sought it out, not in any way or form. But it had sought her out and had chosen her, out of all people. What was she going to do with it anyway? She wasn't a Keyblade Master, by all means, so why did the worlds need her all of a sudden? It wasn't like she could make things better or worse… could she?

Her steps faltered as her head gave a firm yes to that one question, and as an example as of why that question merited a yes, an image of Riku flashed to the forefront of her mind.

“Riku…,” she softly whispered.

She hadn't seen him ever since that day when he woke up. She remembered staying with him for the remainder of the day- after the annoying voice in her head had given her body back- trying to soothe both his and her own fears by staying next to the only person she could really trust anymore. Even though the King had instructed her to stay by his side, seeing as she was the only one who could actually keep him calm (this she still didn't know why), she decided to stay with him out of her own reasons, and that was that. No need to make Riku feel like the prisoner he was soon to become.

Maybe that was why he suddenly left. Or maybe it was the fact that he’d tried to hurt people he cared about. Or maybe, just maybe, he left to avoid having to look at her face more than he had to before. Not only did she have wings now, she still had that damn scar. What a wonderful way to make her self-esteem bloom, eh? And not just that, if he looked at her, he would be reminded of what happened over that that wretched place, just like she had been once she laid eyes on him.