Cold Water

XI

Inside the ice castle, Aqua was pacing back and forth, trying to keep her powers under control. "Get it together. Control it," she said to herself, breathing heavily. It was like being confined in her room all over again. "Don't feel. Don't feel. Don't feel!" Things didn't seem to be going Aqua's way as the walls around her darkened and ice spiked started to form.

"Aqua, it's okay. Don't worry about it-"

"I stuck my sister!" Aqua interrupted Terra. The brunette sighed and deeply kissed her, making her stop and relax. She pulled away and smiled at him, "Thanks, Terra..."

"No, problem..." He smiled.

"You have to go after her!" Aqua said, calmly. "I will be fine and I can take care of myself. Piri's probably cold and alone. Go to her."

"But-"

"Go now!" She said and he sighed, giving her one last kiss.

"Very well, my queen..."

~

Meanwhile, Piri and the others were walking to go see Riku and Sora's friends while Donald rode on Goofy's back. "Look Goofy, the sky's awake," the snow duck said as he watched the aurora borealis light up the night sky.

Sora then noticed Piri was shivering and asked worryingly, "Are you cold?"

"A little," Piri replied. Riku was about to put his arm around her, but he hesitated and mentally slapped himself for even thinking of doing that. Sora and Ven saw this and pouted quietly.

"I really thought he was going to put his arm around her..." Sora pouted and Ven nodded in agreement.

Riku saw a slow smoking geyser and brought the bluette over to it. Once she touched the smoke, Piri felt a lot warmer.

"So about my friends," Riku started to explain as they kept walking, "well, actually, they're more like family. When I was a kid, it was just me, Sora, and Goofy till they took us in."

"They did?" Ven asked.

"Yeah," he replied with a nod. Then he said nervously, "I want to warn you though, they can be a little inappropriate…and…loud. Very loud. They're also stubborn at times and a little overbearing. And heavy, really heavy believe me. I mean, you'll get it. They mean well, and-"

"Riku," Piri interrupted, touching his shoulder, "They sound wonderful."

"Okay then," Riku said with Sora giggling and showing them a yard full of boulders.

"Meet our family!" The brunette then started talking to the rocks. "Hey guys! Long time no see!"

"They're…rocks," Piri said awkwardly. She definitely wasn't expecting this.

"Oh... hehe." Ven recognized this place and quietly looked around, seeing if there was anything else to see. 'If hasn't changed much... Though some of the trolls are bigger now!'

"They're crazy," Donald whispered to the stunned the bluette, "I'll distract them while you guys run." HE then started pretending to talk to the rocks just so Sora and Riku wouldn't be offended, saying loudly, "Hi Goofy and Sora's family! It's nice to meet you!" Donald then whispered to Piri, "Because I love you Piri, I insist you run." He then went back to talking to the rocks. "I understand that you're love experts!" The snow duck noticed that Piri still hadn't moved. "Why aren't you running?"