Key of Unity

Chapter 3: Light's Return

The suggestion of friendship—of not being alone anymore—finally broke through her resistance. Aqua nodded, allowing Mickey to lead her from the study to a small but comfortable chamber several floors up.

"The Fairies have enchanted this room," Mickey explained as he showed her in. "No darkness can reach you here. You'll be safe while you heal."

Aqua stood in the center of the room, feeling oddly disoriented by comfort after so long in hostile terrain. A real bed. Clean clothes laid out. A window showing stars. Such simple things, yet now they seemed like impossible luxuries.

"Your Majesty," she said as Mickey turned to leave. "Thank you."

Mickey smiled warmly. "Get some rest, Aqua. Tomorrow, we'll start planning how to find Ven and Terra." He hesitated, then added, "And Andrew too. I promise."

Left alone, Aqua moved to the window, gazing out at the stars she'd thought she might never see again. Somewhere out there, Ven was sleeping, waiting for her to find him. Terra was lost, his body stolen by Xehanort.

And Andrew was trapped in darkness, fighting alone because he'd chosen her freedom over his own.

"I'll find a way back for you," she whispered, pressing her palm against the cool glass. "I promise, Andrew. This isn't goodbye."

In the Realm of Darkness, Andrew fought on, unaware that in the Realm of Light, a Master and a King were already planning his rescue. Unaware that the sacrifice he'd made had shifted the course of destiny in ways even the ancient guides hadn't foreseen.

The chessboard had been rearranged. New pieces had entered play.

And somewhere in the shadows, watching eyes took note, recognizing that plans laid long ago would need to be reconsidered in light of one stubborn heart's refusal to follow the prescribed path.

Aqua woke with a start, disoriented by the softness beneath her and the absence of constant danger. Moonlight streamed through the window, painting silver patterns across unfamiliar walls. For a moment, panic gripped her—then memory returned.

The Mysterious Tower. She had escaped the Realm of Darkness.

Because Andrew had stayed behind.

She sat up, pushing tangled blue hair from her face. Sleep had brought no rest. Her dreams had been plagued by shadows, by yellow eyes, by the image of Andrew surrounded by Heartless as the portal closed between them.

"I should have been stronger," she whispered to the empty room. "I should have pulled you through with me."

But even as she spoke the words, she knew it wasn't possible. The portal had been designed for one—a cosmic loophole manipulated by whatever guide had spoken to Andrew, a being powerful enough to briefly bridge the gap between realms.

Aqua rose from the bed, drawn to the window. The night sky was clear, stars glittering against the velvet darkness. How strange that darkness could be beautiful here, when in the realm she'd escaped, it had been nothing but a prison, a constant threat.

She summoned her Keyblade, studying it in the moonlight. Rainfell appeared, but Aqua immediately sensed the difference. The weapon felt heavier, its light dimmer. The corruption of darkness still lingered within her, affecting her connection to her most trusted tool.

"Master Yen Sid was right," she murmured, dismissing the Keyblade. "I need to recover before I can help anyone."

The admission chafed against her every instinct. While she rested in safety, Andrew fought for survival. While she slept in a comfortable bed, Ven continued his endless slumber. While she enjoyed freedom, Terra remained Xehanort's prisoner.