Epilogue

The sea shimmered precariously against the harsh coast, sending foam and rotten sea weed towards her feet. She gazed at the water apathetically, lifting her toe and moving it in a circle.

The water moved a little faster against her, rising with the change in the tides. It was almost enough for her to consider sitting somewhere else. But she kept still, her legs crossed as she sat there, rubbing her knuckles against a smooth rock. She didn't have to fear the ocean. It was simply a sign.

Someone else was coming.

As the thought settled peacefully in her mind a new figure in a rather dismal looking black robe walked up to her. She turned her head, giving the moonlight a chance to shine on her blue hair. A few minutes passed as the water continued to crash next to them. Then she smiled, though the smile never reached her eyes. "I didn't expect to see you here so soon."

A deep chuckle came out of the figure's lips before he said, "It's actually been a while...a few years in fact."

She laughed too then, because he should have known better. He really should have. "Please, Ansem, you know I can't tell time from here."

He sat next to her then, rubbing his fingers. "You could have come too, you know. You didn't have to stay here."

"I'm waiting," she said simply, and from her tone it was clear that she was done with the subject.

Ansem persisted anyway. "Aqua...there comes a time when people like us don't receive a second chance."

"You're confusing me, doctor."

"You've felt it, haven't you? The darkness' pull over your body...your heart..."

Aqua turned, her voice slightly guarded. "My light hasn't faded. It will never fade," she said cryptically. He noticed her white hand clutching some sort of pendant. He caught a flash of blue teal before she concealed it.

Ansem sighed. "Regardless of the strength you have in your heart...if you don't try to escape soon-"

"I may never be able too."

Nothing else had to be said at that moment, so the water simply spoke for them. However, Aqua opened her mouth several times only to stop and fidget. After the fifth time Ansem decided to intervene. "What is it, child?"

She rolled her eyes before speaking. "So...what does it feel like?"

It was easy from her unsteady tone what she was referring too. It was the substance that made this place so dreadful, the thing that made this realm as bleak as darkness. It was a world without a sun.

"Aqua, it's not something that can be explained. Surely you must remember what it was like," he paused, as if he knew it was a bad thing to say.

"Right. I should be able to recall something...even if it has been over ten years, correct?" There was a hint of sarcasm this time, though he could detect more sadness in her response than anything else.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm qualified to give you an accurate description." He stared at the waves calmly. "For most of my time back I was stuck in a basement."

Aqua smirked lightly, "What were you doing then? Surely you had to go outside at some point?"

He chuckled bitterly. "No. I was too occupied with my plans for vengeance. I missed the point, even when it was right in front of me..."

"Ah." Aqua coughed, rubbing her own arms gingerly before glancing at him. "You know you're not the only person to land here today."

Ansem turned towards her rapidly, lifting his hood away so that he could stare at her face. "You're not serious."

"Well, again I'm not sure if it was exactly one day or not...could have been weeks." She shrugged. "The main thing is that he seems...new."

"New how?" Ansem placed his hands on Aqua's shoulders as panic flashed through his eyes. "What did you see, Aqua?"

She removed his hands and stood up. "I'm not sure. But he seemed too bright. I don't think he's ever been in the this realm before."

"Where is he?" Ansem was now standing up, glancing around their barren island with frenzied motions. It was impossible to conceive, no, he would not believe it. He simply couldn't stand if So- "Where is he, Aqua?"

She calmly led him to another part of the island, not that there was much variety. There was no plant life, no animals, and definitely no built establishments. The only thing present was a rather large mixture of dark smoke and wind mainly settled in the middle of their island. No one ever walked close to it.

Once they had reached the other side, Aqua pointed. "He's over there. He generally sticks close to the shoreline most of the time. I already tried talking to him, but he wouldn't say anything."

Ansem grunted. "It's a typical response for newcomers. Don't worry, I'll take it from here."

She smiled sadly at the figure before nodding. "Tell him I said hi," She said before turning and walking away.

Ansem shook his head for a moment before approaching their guest. The person was also dressed in a dark cloak with a hood, but their head was bent at an angle, as if he were looking at the sky.

Ansem appraised the figure from afar. Hmmm, he's taller than Sora. It has to be someone else. Perhaps one of my apprentices? He walked a little closer. "Excuse me, who are you?"

As Aqua had said, the stranger was predictably silent. All of his attention seemed to be chained to the sky. Though he was a little disappointed, Ansem decided to stand by the man anyway, taking his turn to glance at the sky.

There were no stars to be found, not one speck of light. The moon was shining somewhere in the midst of the horizen, but besides that they were completely in the dark. Ansem was having a hard time figuring out why anyone would want to spend their time looking at the sky in the first place, but he kept his head up. He was rewarded with one sentence.

"Stay safe up there, _"

Ansem blinked, turning his head. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

The figure turned toward him, hood still obscuring his face. "Just saying goodbye to a friend."

"You said a name. What was it?"

Ansem couldn't tell if the man was glaring at him or not, but after a couple of seconds passed the figure simply shrugged and walked away. Ansem thought through the words in his head, glaring at the sand. "That name...I've heard it before. But for some reason I can't comprehend it now..."

As he continued to mumble at the sand, the figure watched from a few feet away. He lifted his hood, revealing sharp, red spikes that shined in their world of darkness. He looked back up at the sky and smiled.