Connected Hearts - A PSL for Aqua, Ven, Terra, Link, and the TWEWY crew...

[aquawayfinder]

The connection between their hearts was strong. Stronger now that Aqua was alive again and had Terra and Ven's strength behind her. She lifted off the ground with her glider. The Aqua this Terra and Ven knew wasn't afraid of heights, so she was hopeful they wouldn't notice that she was terrified. Her armor hid much. And there was no time to be afraid. Link and Rhyme needed her. She focused on Link first, their connection stronger. Finding it, she flew her glider from the world, knowing that Terra and Ven would be right behind her.

She expected them to touch down in Shibuya. She didn't expect to find Link.... in the space between words. "L...Link?" He had no armor, it was dangerous for someone to be between worlds like this.... Fear for her friend swamped fear for herself. They needed to get armor on him, they needed to help... somehow...

Comments

[windslept]

[Ven and Terra don't know what Link looks like to recognize him so easily as Aqua does. They just follow her, figuring she knows the way to this Shibuya she had been talking about. Expecting to go there to look for him and rescue him from this game. From the UG and the Noise and all she'd told them about in that strange world.

So of course they aren't prepared for this either. They pause when she does. Glancing to each other and then Aqua.]

W-what do we do?

[Ven asks, wondering if he could figure offering his armour if that might fit the other. At least until they get down to the nearest world to figure something out.]

[younghero]

The last thing the Ascended expected to see was other people. He jumped, startled for a moment before staring at Aqua.

“Aqua? Oh—hey—hey, what’re you doing here? Did they lie again?! Are you not okay?!”

Link noticed the others with her. “Oh. Hi.” He gave a little awkward wave.

[aquawayfinder]

"It isn't safe to stay too long in the space between worlds, come with us and we can talk, Okay, Link? You can come into my armor again if you need to."

[windslept]

Aqua's okay! We came to help you! Can the armour cover two people?

[Ven wasn't sure, not having tried that before. Not having needed to. It's just been him that wore it, after all. He hasn't tried to include someone else as well. Wondering if that might work. That'd be the ideal situation, in having them all covered that way, without one of them being without, as they make their way to the nearest world to then figure what to do.]

[younghero]

“Oh. Oh, no, I’m fine. I’m an Ascended—and I’m able to travel between worlds no problem.”

He gave them all a reassuring smile.

“I’m tougher than I look. Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll come with you.”

[aquawayfinder]

"My nanoarmor can, but alright." She wasn't sure that he was correct, but it was better to not argue here in case he was wrong. "Follow us," she said, heading back to the world where they had been. "Everyone stay close," she said. She wasn't willing to loose any of them. Not again.

[windslept]

Nanoarmour?

[Ven asks, but he does relent in giving a nod. He and Terra also moving close to follow her. Heading back with her and now Link. Both also keeping an eye on him that he keeps up and sticks with them too. Not wanting to lose the guy now they had finally found him and all.]

[younghero]

Link stayed close, following the others and matching their pace. Occasionally his hand flitted to a pouch on his belt as he checked to see if his ocarina was still there, before it went to his back to make sure his sword was still present.

[aquawayfinder]

She brought them to the room where she had awoken Ven, hoping that it looked different enough for Terra to come to where they were gradually. It was the safest place that she could think of to bring them all. She was all too happy to get off of her glider and vanish it, as she turned to face the very brightly lit room.

"This is a safe place to talk," she said, keeping her armor on just a moment more. She needed to regain her composure, and it hid the fact that she was keeping an eye on Terra...

[windslept]

[Ven spent so much time here. He recognizes it, of course. From when he did finally wake with getting his heart back from Sora, healed and all. He glances around, biting his lip but doesn't outright say anything as he dismisses the glider and armor. Terra dismisses his too, glancing around at the room he had been searching for for so long.]

Where to start?

[He asks, glancing to Ven before setting to watch Link to ensure their new friend was alright.]

[younghero]

"First of all, those guys? They're dirty liars. You can't trust any of 'em. After you left, Aqua, that stinking jerk tried to get me to play again! I refused, because, why would I steal someone else's chance to live?"

Though this group had never met Shadow, the look in Link's eyes right now was very reminiscent of him. Which of course, made sense considering they shared a soul.

"And then it turned out I wasn't even actually dead to begin with!"

The small hero took a deep breath to steady himself. "But, we gotta get Rhyme outta there. I don't care what it takes, she doesn't deserve that. No one does."

[aquawayfinder]

She vanished her armor and then swept Link up into a hug, before shifting to face him from enough away that talking wouldn't be awkward. "Slow down, Link. Of course we're going to help her." They tried to make him play again....? "Your family, were they taken again? And what do you mean you weren't dead to begin with...?"

[windslept]

I thought Aqua said only those that died played that Reaper Game or something?

[Ven asked, confused. But either way, if they could help, he wants to. To at least try. If one of Aqua's other friends might be in trouble. Even if it means possibly running into that Joshua. She had been going to take them to find Link anyway. So it doesn't really matter if they need to go find someone else this time. Just makes it easier now, right? With having four of them instead of three now.]

We'll help you find her.

[Terra agrees, giving a nod.]

[younghero]

"They cheated," he told Ven.

Link shook his head and reassured Aqua. "No, no, they're fine. And they--I don't know what they were thinking, but, apparently HE thought I'd compete again and I told them I'd choose oblivion over that. Sunglasses Jerk thanked me for not playing again."

Someone did not take kindly to the nickname Ears, and it showed.

[aquawayfinder]

Aqua gave him another hug as she considered all of this. "If they tried to get you to compete again... what did they take from you to try to force you?" she asked, They would have to get whatever it was back, as well as saving Rhyme...

[windslept]

It'd be kinda hard to cheat with not being able to play unless you were dead though, right?

[Not that Ven really knows how this works. Beyond what Aqua told him. It's probably a whole other thing to be experiencing it with the game once you are there and dead yourself. He does look worried though, brow furrowing and lips in a slight pout as Aqua asks about the price. Terra watches, arms crossed as he listens too.]

[younghero]

"They didn't take my family again for the second round," he said quietly. "And I refused to play, so, no fee needed."

He smiled slightly. "They told me to choose between being erased or becoming a reaper. I refused to do that too. Heroes don't beg."

Link shook his head. "I was never dead, the absolute utter--" he used a few words he normally reserved for Ganondorf, "manipulated and lied---that worthless---" He took a steadying breath.

"Joshua," he finally said when he had some composure, "was just manipulating me. Long story short, I was actually able to leave as soon as I tried."

[aquawayfinder]

She rested her hands on his shoulders. "I am glad that you were able to get away. And to know that you aren't actually dead, my friend." She said, gently. "We should go and see how we can help Rhyme, and between the four of us, perhaps we can find a way to ensure that no one else is treated this way. This so called game ends today." She stood fully, shoulders back, proud and tall. "Is there anything that I still need to go before we leave?"

[windslept]

Aqua mentioned Joshua to us. But even if you're safe and your family is okay, if you still have another friend that needs help, we can try.

[Terra gives a nod of agreement to Ven's determination. Though they aren't as familiar with this world or the situation, who they were looking for or who this Joshua really was....that didn't matter. If they had the chance to help Aqua's friend, they would.]

[younghero]

"I should probably mention that technically they turned me into a Reaper. So, uh, that might be a thing when we go back...."

If it wasn't, the boy would be forever grateful to all three goddesses. If it was, it was just par for the course.

"But...thank you. All of you." He gave the group a small smile.

[aquawayfinder]

"They.... what?" she asked, stunned. "Why?" How....? Just... what? "What exactly... does that mean?"

[windslept]

You guys have mentioned the Reapers but I'm not sure exactly on how that would work? What does that mean?

[Was Link really okay? Ven is not quite sure on the details given he didn't spend time there in Shibuya with them, neither had Terra, but they both seem confused and concerned at hearing that. Wondering what that might mean. Whether it was still okay to take him back to help this Rhyme. Or at least, Terra was wondering now on how safe it was, while Ven just seems more concerned for Link.]

[younghero]

"I don't know. I really don't. It shouldn't matter anywhere else, but, back there..."

Link trailed off. He shared the amount of concern they felt--not for himself, but, for the safety of the others involved.

[aquawayfinder]

"Then one thing we need to do while we are there is to figure out how to undo that and restore you."

[windslept]

How? Do you know how to do that? How to help him get back to normal from being one of those...Reapers?

[Ven asks, unsure on what this might mean. How to restore Link to his usual self again. But if there were a way, answers, it would surely be back on that same world, right? Terra gives a shrug in reminding Ven he has no more idea on this than the blond.]