[Instead of answering, as the two of them draws closer, they'll feel a rushing gust of icy winds. There are small tornadoes that has formed, almost forming a protective ring around Ventus who's sitting curled up against a tree. He has his knees drawn up to his chest, fingers clutching at his hair.
When he hears Terra's voice through the amulet, the winds seems to lessen but there are wisps of darkness that blends in with the winds.
An echoing chant of your fault, your fault, your fault can almost be heard through the amulet--though it's unclear if the accusation is towards Terra or towards Ventus himself.]
[ She squeezes that hand, feeling for that wind once more - no, for anything that might indicate that they may be close to where Ventus might be.
The moment that she feels said winds is the moment she speaks. ] Terra! He's close by!
[ Her pace quickens the moment that she feels that darkness. Never mind how cold it is or how dangerous it may be. Ven's too important for them to just leave him be.
[He starts off with a quicker pace, but Aqua already beats him to it, so he ends up being the one dragged along by her hand. It's fine. All that matters for him, too, is making sure Ven is alright.]
Aqua! [Once they're close enough, he steels his arm and tries to jerk her to a stop without being too rough. The winds are dangerous. He wants to check on Ven, but doesn't want Aqua to also get hurt.] Be careful. [He moves in front of her protectively, but continues to carefully press forward a little bit at a time.]
And then the winds slowly begins to die down, but the chill remains. There are faint sounds of crying, or at least a muffled attempt not to cry. When he tears Terra's voice draw closer--clearer--Ventus curls up more. There's a patch of ice beneath him, slowly spreading as guilt slowly consumes him.
But the winds do part, letting the two of them through at last.]
[ Albeit trying to avoid that darkness - she had been grateful for Terra protecting her all the same. She looks to Terra when the winds die down, directing her gaze forward shortly after.
She finally slows her pace when she's close enough to Ven - stopping when he's at an arm's length. She reaches, hand gently resting on his shoulder.
She... doesn't know how much help she'll be, but perhaps where she fails, Terra can do more good than she can. Right now, she just wants Ventus to know that they're here for him. ] ... Ven. You don't have to go through this alone.
[ She hesitates before looking to Terra once more. After what she had told Ventus, how would Ven react with seeing him here? Was... it a bad idea to ask for his help? ]
[Terra looks somewhat guilty when Aqua glances back at him. He doesn't know if he should be here either. He thinks my fault and thinks of himself.
But Ven is his friend, more than anything.] Ven... [Slowly, he crouches down in front of the boy. He wants to hug Ven, feels like he owes it to Ven, so Ven doesn't think he's angry or upset. But he also doesn't want to crowd Ven's space.]
[Ventus is quiet, almost shrinking when they come close.
But then he looks up, hearing Terra's apology and--it hurts. It takes a second before he jumps forward, tackling Terra into a hug and clinging to him, tears soaking through his shirt. He shakes his head violently, clinging to his friend.]
No, I'm sorry. If...If it weren't for me---you wouldn't have fought the master. You...If you hadn't stepped in to stop him....
[He cries.
Ventus feels so guilty. So much self-loathing because he thinks he had been that final straw that pushed Terra to confront Eraqus like that. Regardless if Xehanort had manipulated Terra or not, Ventus still played a role in that, too.]
[Terra takes the brunt of the hit without falling over. Slowly, his arms fold down over Ven's shoulders, and he holds Ven to himself with one hand resting on the back of Ven's neck and his eyes glancing at Aqua.]
It's not your fault, Ven. [There's no uncertainty in his voice. He rubs the middle of Ven's shoulders reassuringly.] I miss Master Eraqus, too. What I did was... [His sigh is soft.] Auron's right.
No matter what, there was never a reason for our master to hurt you. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't change anything. I would still protect you.
[Ventus just shakes his head more at that, sobbing quietly as he clings to Terra.
He wants to say something, but all he can do is cry. Let his grief out and how it just seems to press down on them like a heavy weight. Remorse for his role in it. Grief that their master is dead.
Just feeling so sorry that it was Terra who did it.]
[ Terra looks so Aqua, looking to him for a moment. It's when Ventus apologizes that she finally moves - arms wrapping around the both of them in an embrace. At the least, she can do this much for the both of them. ]
.... Ven. It wasn't your fault. [ She wasn't there, but... she's certain of that much.
There's so much she feels like she doesn't know - but, that's a question she can save for another time. What's most important right now is being there for the both of them. ] Please, don't blame yourself.
Carefully, he gathers Ven up on his chest and manages to stand under Ven's weighted guilt as Aqua comes to them. One arm keeps Ven supported, and the other loops around Aqua's middle so the two of them can squish Ven into a hug.]
I'm sorry for not finding another way to convince the master not to fight. I'm sorry... I took him from you and Aqua. I should have found another way. Ven... [He can't really do anything except rest his head against Ven's own.] He told me he was sorry. He didn't mean to hurt you. I think he was afraid. Like I was. About the darkness.
He tried to be good to us. I know his heart is safe.
[ She's relieved that Ventus has calmed down a little, but her grip still tightens a bit - holding them firmly, yet gently all the same. She'll do this for as long as the both of them need it. ] ... Terra, Ven--
Master Eraqus... He wouldn't want either of you to blame yourselves for what happened. [ Her voice wavers a bit, eyes stinging with tears - but, she quickly fights back any tears that were threatening to fall. Right now... she wants to be strong for the both of them. ] I know that... He'd want us to find happiness - to stay strong.
[Terra’s hand moves up to cup the back of Aqua’s neck. He nods in acknowledgement at her.] Aqua’s right. [Though, of course, it’s hard not to think about what he should have done better, differently.] I’m still sorry about our master, Ven.
I just... didn’t want him to hurt you.
[Ven means too much to the both of them. He hadn’t lied. Doing it again would yield the same results.] We’re here for you, Ven. You don’t have to be alone. We understand. [But he knows it’s hard on Ven anyway.]
[It's the main question running in his mind. Ventus finds it somehow poetic that of all the times he learned about their master, it'd be during Selenium.]
I didn't... want you to be upset. [The most important thing, of course.] And... [Secondly, if he's honest:] I was afraid. I didn't mean to let it go that far.
I was afraid... of what you'd think of me.
[Ven had looked up to him so much, and he just ended up being a giant dumpster fire.]
[Terra still feels bad anyway. Frowning, he reaches back to card his fingers through Ven's hair and hug him singularly for a moment.] I know... I'm so sorry, Ven.
Master's heart was strong. I know we'll see him again one day. [He glances from Ven to Aqua, looking apologetic.] I won't lose to the darkness. I can't. Not when you're both counting on me.
You aren't alone. [ It's Aqua's turn to look apologetic. ] Master Eraqus would want us to be there for one another. [ Terra... he can count on them, too. She doesn't want him to feel burdened with feeling like he needs to take care of everything on his own. ]
And, I know that... even if we aren't always together, our hearts are connected.
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gently pops in here...??
When he hears Terra's voice through the amulet, the winds seems to lessen but there are wisps of darkness that blends in with the winds.
An echoing chant of your fault, your fault, your fault can almost be heard through the amulet--though it's unclear if the accusation is towards Terra or towards Ventus himself.]
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The moment that she feels said winds is the moment she speaks. ] Terra! He's close by!
[ Her pace quickens the moment that she feels that darkness. Never mind how cold it is or how dangerous it may be. Ven's too important for them to just leave him be.
But... those words... Who were they meant for? ]
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Aqua! [Once they're close enough, he steels his arm and tries to jerk her to a stop without being too rough. The winds are dangerous. He wants to check on Ven, but doesn't want Aqua to also get hurt.] Be careful. [He moves in front of her protectively, but continues to carefully press forward a little bit at a time.]
Ven? It's us.
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And then the winds slowly begins to die down, but the chill remains. There are faint sounds of crying, or at least a muffled attempt not to cry. When he tears Terra's voice draw closer--clearer--Ventus curls up more. There's a patch of ice beneath him, slowly spreading as guilt slowly consumes him.
But the winds do part, letting the two of them through at last.]
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She finally slows her pace when she's close enough to Ven - stopping when he's at an arm's length. She reaches, hand gently resting on his shoulder.
She... doesn't know how much help she'll be, but perhaps where she fails, Terra can do more good than she can. Right now, she just wants Ventus to know that they're here for him. ] ... Ven. You don't have to go through this alone.
[ She hesitates before looking to Terra once more. After what she had told Ventus, how would Ven react with seeing him here? Was... it a bad idea to ask for his help? ]
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But Ven is his friend, more than anything.] Ven... [Slowly, he crouches down in front of the boy. He wants to hug Ven, feels like he owes it to Ven, so Ven doesn't think he's angry or upset. But he also doesn't want to crowd Ven's space.]
I'm sorry.
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But then he looks up, hearing Terra's apology and--it hurts. It takes a second before he jumps forward, tackling Terra into a hug and clinging to him, tears soaking through his shirt. He shakes his head violently, clinging to his friend.]
No, I'm sorry. If...If it weren't for me---you wouldn't have fought the master. You...If you hadn't stepped in to stop him....
[He cries.
Ventus feels so guilty. So much self-loathing because he thinks he had been that final straw that pushed Terra to confront Eraqus like that. Regardless if Xehanort had manipulated Terra or not, Ventus still played a role in that, too.]
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She just wishes that she could do more - that things could be different. ]
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It's not your fault, Ven. [There's no uncertainty in his voice. He rubs the middle of Ven's shoulders reassuringly.] I miss Master Eraqus, too. What I did was... [His sigh is soft.] Auron's right.
No matter what, there was never a reason for our master to hurt you. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't change anything. I would still protect you.
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He wants to say something, but all he can do is cry. Let his grief out and how it just seems to press down on them like a heavy weight. Remorse for his role in it. Grief that their master is dead.
Just feeling so sorry that it was Terra who did it.]
...I’m sorry.
[He chokes out. If only he was stronger—]
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.... Ven. It wasn't your fault. [ She wasn't there, but... she's certain of that much.
There's so much she feels like she doesn't know - but, that's a question she can save for another time. What's most important right now is being there for the both of them. ] Please, don't blame yourself.
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Carefully, he gathers Ven up on his chest and manages to stand under Ven's weighted guilt as Aqua comes to them. One arm keeps Ven supported, and the other loops around Aqua's middle so the two of them can squish Ven into a hug.]
I'm sorry for not finding another way to convince the master not to fight. I'm sorry... I took him from you and Aqua. I should have found another way. Ven... [He can't really do anything except rest his head against Ven's own.] He told me he was sorry. He didn't mean to hurt you. I think he was afraid. Like I was. About the darkness.
He tried to be good to us. I know his heart is safe.
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Ventus takes a minute or two before he pulls back, teary eyes looking up at Terra.]
....you shouldn't apologize either.
[None of them...could really help with what's been done.
Ventus just curls more against them.]
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Master Eraqus... He wouldn't want either of you to blame yourselves for what happened. [ Her voice wavers a bit, eyes stinging with tears - but, she quickly fights back any tears that were threatening to fall. Right now... she wants to be strong for the both of them. ] I know that... He'd want us to find happiness - to stay strong.
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I just... didn’t want him to hurt you.
[Ven means too much to the both of them. He hadn’t lied. Doing it again would yield the same results.] We’re here for you, Ven. You don’t have to be alone. We understand. [But he knows it’s hard on Ven anyway.]
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[He slowly nods at last.]
Why...didn't you tell me before?
[It's the main question running in his mind. Ventus finds it somehow poetic that of all the times he learned about their master, it'd be during Selenium.]
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[ If she could take it back and tell him all of this in another way, she would. He should have known. much sooner than this. ]
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I was afraid... of what you'd think of me.
[Ven had looked up to him so much, and he just ended up being a giant dumpster fire.]
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[He knows they're both feeling regret.]
But I still did.
[It isn't a jab at either of them, just a fact.
Still, he looks up at Terra, shaking his head.]
Terra...no matter what you do, you're still my friend. Even if you go down a dark path, Aqua and I will light your way back to us.
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Ven and I... we would never turn you away. Nor would we let you fall to darkness.
[ The three of them would be there for one another. That... was something they had failed to do before. ]
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Master's heart was strong. I know we'll see him again one day. [He glances from Ven to Aqua, looking apologetic.] I won't lose to the darkness. I can't. Not when you're both counting on me.
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[A grumble and a pout.]
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And, I know that... even if we aren't always together, our hearts are connected.