Kaleidoscope

I slowly open my eyes to the sound of sweet humming and I groan a bit as my numerous wounds and soar muscles clamor in my awakened state. I wiggle my fingers and feel the bandages across my chest and arm; they are well wrapped.

The humming stops as I move my hand and a female voice says, "Are you hungry? You have been sleeping for about a day."

I open my eyes and blink in the sunlight as the woman pushes back the curtains. She is wearing a pink dress and has a pink ribbon in her hair. She smiles at me, "My name is Aerith. Merlin found you in the town square and had Leon and Cloud carry you and your companion back here to his cottage."

I smile back; I am relieved Merlin found us. I mutter, "I am a bit hungry."

Slowly, I sit up in the bed and lean against the head board. Nothing is broken and I can tell a potion or two has been administered.

Aerith returns swiftly with a tray of orange juice, toast and oatmeal. I am grateful and dig deep into the breakfast food.

I tell Aerith "thank you" around a bit of toast, embarrassed at my ravenous manner and the crumbs that now litter the bedspread. I did not realize how hungry I was.

Aerith again smiles, "I am glad you like it. Your friend has yet to still wake up even though he sustained fewer injuries than you," a worried look crosses her face, "his condition is…confusing. Merlin will let you know more. I told Merlin you are awake and he said he wants to talk to you."

I nod my head, "where is Terra?"

"Oh, he is just in the next room over."

"May I see him?"

Aerith bends over me collecting my tray, "of course."

"But first we need to talk and discuss and contemplate this most complicated situation you are in my dearest Aqua," says Merlin as he enters quietly though the bedroom door.

"Maybe she should take a shower and get dressed first Merlin. She just woke up," says Aerith intuitively.

Merlin stutters with embarrassment, "oh, oh, of course. I am sorry my dear, sometimes I don't think or maybe I just think too much. Come to the magic practice room when you are ready. It is down the hall and up the staircase."

"There are extra clothes in the closet here and towels in the bathroom. I know Merlin thinks the matter is urgent but feel free to take your time." Aerith said as she walks out of the room with the now dirty dishes.

"Thank you," I call out and crawl out of bed. A nice hot shower does sound good particularly since potions make my muscles tense from the rapid regrowth.

I unwrap the now unneeded bandages from my neck and arm. Not even a scar is left behind. Aerith and Merlin really know their healing spells. Time to jump into a hot steamy shower.

All freshened up and in a pair of cast off purple sweat pants with a white tank top, I exit my temporary room, sealing myself for the more then likely bad news. I can't stop wondering what happened to Terra. Is he still Terra?

Instead of going directly to the magic practice room, I slowly open the door to the room next to mine, careful to avoid creaking the hinges. I need to see Terra.

The room is pitch black dark, all blinds drawn, and it smells of sickness. Is Terra ok? I slowly pad into the room, toward the bed where the blankets slowly move up and down.

I can see a hand hanging out from the rumpled and twisted sheets; I slowly brush my fingers against the callused hand. Definitly Terra's. I peak over the covers toward the sounds of heavy breathing and deep groaning; Terra is not sleeping well.

Instead of brown hair, I see the shocking white strands protruding over the pillow. White not brown.

I gasp and run out of the room, slamming the door shut. Breathing hard, I run down toward the magic practice room. Xehanort, Xehanort, Xehanort is all I can think. I did not save Terra.

Merlin is sitting in the magic practice room at a small round table covered with assorted papers and cups of half drunken tea. He looks up at the sound of my fast and loud breathing.

"Terra!" I manage to squeak out.

"You snuck into his room did you now, Aqua. I was hoping to tell you this before you saw him."

"So is it Terra? He still looks like he is possessed"

"Xehanort still inhabits his body."

"Then why is he laying in the guest room? Shouldn't you be working to extract out Xehanort? Where is your magic laboratory? We should be in there right now with Terra trying to find a solution."

"Aqua, Aqua, calm down." Merlin picks up a steaming cup of tea and takes a sip. "Sit down and let me explain what I know." A chair rushes toward me and bumps into my shins causing me to fall into the seat. "Have some tea. It calms the heart." A steaming tea cup flies into my hand. It smells of chamomile.

"Aqua, as a key blade master, Ericus would have explained the mechanics of a heart to you, but because of all this chaos, it looks like the job is left to my spotty knowledge of the subject." Merlin blows slowly on his tea. "A heart is vulnerable and so there is a protective outer layer that only keyblade masters can open or reseal closed. The stronger the heart the stronger the seal. There is speculation that love also acts as an intricate unlocking agent for the significant other, but I am wandering off topic. Terra has a lock around his heart as do you and I."

Merlin takes a small sip of his tea and continues, "Xehanort was trying to pick that lock so he could consume Terra's heart."

I begin to ask how to stop Xehanort when my cup of tea flies toward my mouth, forcing me to take a drink.

"You ended your fight with Xehanort/Terra with a strike to the heart. I am not sure if this was intentional, but you forcefully placed your key into the lock around Terra's heart. Now, instead of being able to pick the lock, Xehanort will have to break through the protection itself, which is a feat that takes a large amount of energy. Terra has a particularly strong heart since he can handle a key blade, so the only worth while way of capturing Terra's heart is to open the lock. My guess is that Xehanort is going to try to get you to remove your keyblade so he can resume picking the lock."

"So I can no longer use my keyblade?"

"Not unless you want Xehanort to fully consume Terra's heart. It must stay in Terra's heart lock." Merlin sighs, "I am probably also safe in assuming that this means Xehanort is going to call out to all his evil monsters to come after you to force you into a situation where you have to use your keyblade. This is the fate of most heroes."

"I am no hero." I say looking at the floor in guilt. If only I could have saved Master Ericus and Ven and now Terra.

"What a cliché thing to say Aqua. Let's try to be original and not lie to ourselves either."

"But," the tea cup flies again toward my mouth again but by now there is no more tea.

Merlin continues, "Tomorrow you will start training with a new weapon in order to protect yourself from the probable upcoming hoard. I am going to continue my research on Terra's condition while Aerith continues with his healing regiment. Terra's body must be in great turmoil now with the invader Xehanort hiding inside. It will take awhile for him to reawaken." Merlin sips at his tea, "You should also take advantage of this time to rest and prepare. Report to this room again tomorrow morning at 7am to begin training. Leon will not like it if you are late."

"But, Merlin, I have not been able to ask my questions." I say, a little angry at the gentle old man.

"All in good time dear, all in good time. Now, be out, be out," he waves his hands towards the door which opens, "I need to continue my research! See you my dear!"

The chair I was sitting on moves from under me and I am swiftly ejected out the door. I turn around in the staircase just to watch the door slam shut. The tea cup is still in my hand.

I glare and huff at the door, setting the teacup on the small end-table decorating the shabby stairs. Next time Merlin will not brush me off so easily. I need to know more about this heart lock and whether Terra will be Terra when he wakes up! Also, how can I find Ven's sleeping heart and how can I make thing right? I need to know!

I walk down the staircase and into the hall muttering to myself, "I guess now is not the time for knowing." At least that is what Master Ericus would have said.

I slow at Terra's door and again open it quietly. The room is still dark and Terra is still sleeping. I tread over to the bed; my mind a whirlwind of questions, guilt and fear but mostly exhaustion. I am still not recovered entirely from the fight.

Looking down at Terra, I am no longer started by the silver locks and instead I brush my hand over his brow, like I used to when he or Ven was sick. "Oh Terra, what can I do?" He doesn't respond and keeps breathing deeply.

My eyelids grow heavy and I kick off my slip on shoes. Slowly, I lay on the bed next to Terra; his body heating up the sheets to make a warm cocoon. I am a child again, seeking out Terra to protect me from a nightmare. To bad I cannot wake up from this dream. I curl up next to Terra's back and swiftly fall into troubled sleep.