kingdoms_of_auradon | Let's See What's In The Cards (Mmhm)

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Let's See What's In The Cards (Mmhm)

The weather was still bitterly cold, and the snow was still thick on the ground, but it was finally possible to at least go outside by the front doors. The King and Queen have still forbidden anyone from staying overnight at the museum district in case it started snowing again. But the King could be seen outside trying to shovel snow enough to make a path to the castle at the least.

The snow was still too thick to get easily anywhere not shoveled, and the snow was so heavy that even beasted out, Ben needed to take constant breaks inside to sit down and dry off. This wasn't going to be a fast task.

It was only made harder when it started. For those who slept, it would start after they have fully awoken for the day. For those who don't sleep, they'd find that they had fallen into a pleasant daydream, even if it wasn't normal for them to do so. When they came out of it, that was when it would start for them.

But what is it, exactly?

Small snippets of memories, playing for anyone who was with the person remembering to see. But the thing was, these memories... were memories the person had not yet made. Memories of the future.

Not enough to give answers, probably not enough to give reassurances for much other than "oh hey, I do have a future after all," but generally pleasant, and short. Hey, it will give people a thing to talk about, at least. Especially since this will go on for the next two weeks or so.

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Sephiroth nodded. "I will never stop looking for him until I know the truth."

And he knew that might never happen, especially if Zack was either dead or a Heartless himself. But he would not give up.

"If I wind up leaving with you when we leave here, then I will help you look, of course."

"I would appreciate that. I've asked people on every world I've been to if they have seen him. So far no one has."

"While we are here, I can help you learn how to strength the hearts' bonds so you can follow them, which should also help."

"I would be most interested in learning that," Sephiroth said. "But it can be taught if the other person in such a bond is not present?"

"It can. Because it starts with strengthening your own heart."

Sephiroth nodded thoughtfully. "I have already learned a great deal about strengthening my heart in other scenarios, but I don't know much about strengthening bonds with others."

"Then that is something we very much can work on."

"I look forward to it," Sephiroth said.

He pondered a moment, then said, "Do you have any theories on why we are seeing scenes that haven't happened?"

Aqua opened her mouth to reply when...

Another Parting

"Aqua?" Ven asked, sounding and looking sad. "Are you really leaving?"

Aqua nodded, sad as well. She walked over and stroked his hair, leaving her hand on the back of her head. "It's time, Ven. I need to leave now. Before it is too hard to leave at all."

"Then don't leave at all, Aqua! Stay!"

"She can't," Terra said. "And you know it."

Aqua's free hand moved, so her arm could go around his shoulders. "I'll miss you both. And you'll both always be in my heart."

"No!" Ven said. "I don't know it! Why can't you stay?"

"Because," Aqua said, gently. "You already have her. If I stay, we'll destroy each other. And there will still only be one of us."

"But..."

"No, Ven. Don't make this harder than it has to be," Terra said. He turned to Aqua. "No matter which you you are, your heart is connected to ours. That's never going to change." He rested a hand on her chest, over her heart. "May your heart be your guiding key, Master Aqua. And may it always lead you where you need to be."

Ven sniffed then nodded. "Terra's right. We're always with you, Aqua. Even if we wish we could actually go with you. But there's another us out there waiting for you, and I bet they miss you as much as we would." He took a deep breath. "May your heart be your guiding key. But.. if it ever wants to guide you back for a visit... that would be okay too."

She hugged them both, kissed the top of Ven's head. "Thank you, both. My heart is always with you. May your hearts be your guiding keys. Master Terra. Master Ven." She stepped back, summoned her Keyblade, and bowed with it crossed over her chest.

They summoned their Keyblades and returned the gesture.

Aqua blinked, wiping a tear. She looked to him as the image faded. "No, I do not know... but I am grateful all the same."

Sephiroth watched the scene, despite feeling uncomfortable to see something that he imagined should have been private. But he slowly nodded. It was nice, to see new scenes with Zack ... even though they seemed too incredible to be real.

"I wonder how long it will go on."

Would he miss them when they stopped? Or would he be relieved not to keep seeing things he was sure were only fantasies that could never happen?

"... What would that mean, that you and another you would destroy each other? Like a time paradox? Or would it just be too uncomfortable for there to be two?"

"None of the odd happenings here seem to last more than a few weeks at least, and most last far less times. Not sure if that is a curse or a blessing this time. As for what I meant... it is something of a long story," she warned. "And one probably not interesting to most people it doesn't directly impact."

Sephiroth wasn't sure either.

He nodded. "I wouldn't trouble you about it, except for the concern of what if I encounter another me with a Zack someday? Would there be any danger that I would inadvertently destroy the other me?"

"Ah, on that score I can reassure you. While it has happened a number of times to me, other than one possible moment of concern with Naminé, I have never seen anyone else absorb their other self. I am uncertain why it happens with me, however."

That was encouraging, although he was definitely unsettled by the news of it repeatedly happening.

"You have accidentally absorbed multiple other yous?"

And there was no way to restore them?

She took a deep breath and then nodded. "Once I understood what was going on, however, I was able to stop it from happening again."

"That's good, at least.... If you absorbed rather than actually destroying them, do their spirits live on in you?"

Perhaps it was the hero in him that was concerned for others he had never met.

She nodded. "I have full memories of all of those lives. Though I have since learned how to gain the memories of others of my lives without absorbing or taking away anything that needs to remain there."

"That is an impressive skill. Is there any way to restore the others to their separate bodies?"

"Not that I have found," she said softly, with real regret. "and to be honest? I'm not sure which of my memories would split off at this point. All of them have mixed and they are all... me."

"I see," he said quietly, with a grim nod. Perhaps he would try to search for a way, if he ever got back home.... "That sounds ... very confusing. You're not sure at all which of the memories are uniquely yours anymore?"

"It is more... that they are all mine now. I remember the childhood where I grew up on an island in a much larger world, and the child hood where I had free run of the whole of the world. Where Ven came to us so short a time before we parted ways and in which Ven was with us since he was about five. They're all real to me. They're all me, to me."

He nodded slowly. "... Would you even want to let go of the memories?" Especially if some might be happier than her actual life....

"If it would help someone else, I would be willing to."

"Perhaps someday there will be a solution to restore them," Sephiroth said. It was a disturbing problem. He hated to think the other Aquas would never be free.

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