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 should probably have expected this. But he still initially starts for a second, blinking at the light and seeing the two of them suddenly there like that. His head tilts as he is about to introduce himself when Beat pipes in about Rhyme being friendly.]

Aqua told me about you. Her and Link were really worried. Ah, I'm Ven! One of Aqua's friends from home. But come on, we gotta show her you're both okay!

[Yup. Cue Ven just reaching for their hands and trying to then make to bring them back out to where Aqua and the others were probably still talking and glaring at Joshua.]

[twewy_npcs]

Beat started to pull back his hand, but Rhyme took Ven's offered hand, grabbed Beat's wrist and made him do so as well, grinning. "Nice to meet you, Ven!" She was eager to see Aqua again. And... Link....

[windslept]

Same here. Any friend of Aqua's is our friend too. She'll be relieved to know you're both okay! And you can meet Terra too!

[He exclaims with a grin as he rushes to drag them over to the others. To Aqua specifically, and Link. Probably he just expects Beat to follow even if the other ends up pulling back his hand from Ven's. He doesn't think twice on it but some people aren't as big on touching, he supposes. As long as Beat still follows, it didn't really matter if they were holding hands or not.]

Aqua! They're fine! They're here!

And merging back?

[twewy_npcs]

Rhyme was smiling brightly at Ven's comments. "Any friend of hers is our friend as well," she said happily. And then seeing them... "LINK! Neku!" The first was joy the second surprise as well as friendly greeting. What was Neku doing here?"

"Bwaaaaaah!Do you know who that is, yo?" Beat asked, pulling Rhyme free from Ven and shoving her behind him protectively.

sounds like a good time to, yes.

[windslept]

Right! Ah -- ? Wh -- ?

[He's cut off in surprise at the feeling of Rhyme's hand being wrenched from his, glancing back to the blond siblings with wide eyes in initial confusion. But even he can figure who they were probably wary of.]

....Joshua you mean? Me, Terra and Aqua can probably handle him. It's alright.

Re: sounds like a good time to, yes.

[younghero]

Link’s ears actually perked as soon as he saw Rhyme and her brother. And both would be getting a hug from the slight teen as he nearly bowled both over.

“I’m so glad to see you! You have no idea!”

Even now he positioned himself between the two and Joshua.

Re: sounds like a good time to, yes.

[twewy_npcs]

"BWAAAAAAAH" Beat said, squirming a bit.

Rhyme returned the hug easily. not looking at all flushed or flustered like her partner. "We're happy to see you too!"

"Rhyme," Neku almost whispered then turned to face Joshua again.

Aqua stood that much taller, having more people to defend. She would greet them after, for now she would Watch Link's back so he could safely hug them.

Joshua however... his eyes narrowed. "What have you done?" he asked his voice almost ice.

"Me? Nothing, well, you said I could give them the pins. But my power? Did nothing," Mr. H said. He shook his head, and sighed. "Give it up, Josh. It's over."

[windslept]

What did I do? We were looking for Rhyme and found her is all.

[Isn't it a good thing? That the two were back again? At least. Ven had assumed as much given how worried Aqua and Link had been over the girl. Let alone the other with her. Beat. Of course Ven had wanted to help if he could. And well, any friend of Aqua's was surely to be his friend too. Once they got to know each other and all.]

[younghero]

Link released Beat and Rhyme, giving Ven an apologetic look. "It's complicated," he said quietly before fixing a glare on Joshua.

"You were the one that wanted to play games with heroes. You have no one to blame but yourself if you don't like the results."

[twewy_npcs]

Josh glared at Link. "You have no idea the games you are now meddling in."

"Games with rules, like how a player who wants to challenge the Composer without erasing him," MR. H said casually, "needs the backing of at least two Reapers."

"Yes, thank you," Josh said tightly.

"No one here wants you erased Josh," Neku said quietly, "but we're not letting you continue as Composer either."

"And you think they'd support you?" Josh asked, then laughed, finding his footing again. "Someone who until his first game didn't think other people even had value? Someone who told people to shut up rather than listening to them? You think they would trust you, as Composer?"

[windslept]

I'm not as familiar with the rules or whatever exactly. I just wanted to help. Since Aqua and Link were worried about Rhyme and all....

[He only has what Aqua told him to go on. But it sounded like Neku had at least been learning. Grown from his experience and relationships as he formed friendships with these people in learning to listen to them and value them? Wasn't that a good thing that he had changed now? That he was growing and learning from it?]

But...you're even saying that Neku's learned from the game. He's grown since then to try be better. Isn't that what people would want?

[younghero]

“The Game is a fight for the right to exist. It’s sick,” Link explained with a grimace.

“And Neku doesn’t speak for all of us.”

When one was a reincarnated hero, and knew that his future descendants and reincarnations as well as Zelda’s were all doomed to fight the same reincarnation of Ganondorf—one was ok with permanent solutions.

Link couldn’t break the cycle Hyrule was cursed to endure. But, he was willing to help remove a cause of suffering where he saw it.

[twewy_npcs]

"That has always been the game, changing composers won't change that," Joshua said to Link. "And no one asked you," he said to Ven. "So kindly butt out."

Aqua's eyes narrowed, and it took all her self control to remember that Ven can defend himself, to keep from moving closer to him, to let him stand on his own as Master. She still wanted to protect him.

"It is over, Josh," Neku said softly. "Just accept it. You spent all this time playing games, sooner or later you were going to lose."

[windslept]

I'm -- Okay.

[Ven is about to protest. But well. They aren't wrong. Ven isn't as familiar with all this, with Joshua, as the others. So it makes sense to leave this to them, he thinks. What they say makes sense. And so far it isn't like there's been actual fighting or anything that he might need to help defend them or anything. So he decides to let Beat and Neku and the others handle it, keeping where he was behind Aqua with Beat and Rhyme.]

[younghero]

Link just stared at Joshua, his expression flat. He was willing to help Neku however he could.

“How many reapers do you need to back you? You have my support.”

[aquawayfinder]

"Two, ears," Mr. H said.

"What needs to happen beyond getting their support?" Aqua asked.

"If the Composer fights it? A new game with very different rules, but the loser is finished forever. If the Composer steps down willingly... he has options, and no new game has to start. The new Composer would gain power over the current game."

"And if we just take him out and erase him, yo?" Beat asked.

Aqua shook her head. "I'd rather not risk anyone here. And there is no need." She stood tall, looking at Josh. "If you choose to fight, you have to fight all of us. I'm not using pins and psychs, I'm not a player. Terra, Ven, and I... we aren't beholden to this world's rules. And I suspect Link no longer is either."

Josh seemed to be considering his options...

[windslept]

I haven't played this game but I heard about it a little from Aqua. I don't have pins or anything but I do have my Keyblade. If we have to fight. I got your back, Aqua. Always.

[Ven gives his support, summoning the Keyblade just in case. To be ready if it does come to fighting. Though probably in the shop like this isn't the best location for it, really. Ven's just figuring to be ready if it comes to that. If Joshua were to try anything.]

[younghero]

Link drew himself up, the Triforce of Courage glowing softly on the back of his left hand.

“So....how is this going to go?”

[twewy_npcs]

Aqua nodded, not quite daring to flash a smile back at Ven. Her eyes were locked on Joshua.

Joshua laughed and pulled at a lock of his hair, studying it, seemingly unconcerned by everything. He gave his creepy giggle. "Well, if everyone is so certain, it could be fun to see what kind of Composer Neku could make. And... how long he can last." HE smirked. He clearly had a plan. "Alright then, Neku, under one condition, we'll give this a shot," as though it were both temporary and his idea. "The lot of them not actually from Shibuya? Gone, and stay gone for as long as I survive. I fin they are a headache I'd rather not suffer during your tenure..."

[windslept]

We can't help? I mean at least....we figured helping out Rhyme though? Like Aqua wanted. That's still something.

[From what Joshua says, Ven isn't sure if he means they have to leave now and won't necessarily even find out about the result and how things go, or if he just means he wants them to stay out of the competition or whatever between him and Neku and head off right after that or something. He glances to Aqua, unsure how to feel on it.]

[younghero]

"Define, 'gone'."

Link wasn't an idiot.

[twewy_npcs]

Josh looked at Link. "Not the trusting sort, are you?" he asked, grinning. "Oh calm down, if I killed you all here you'd still BE here. Just in the UG. I want you gone as in out of my hair. As in anyone not born in Shibuya leaves this world. Stays off it. And those from here, stay."

He smirked. "You want me to step down? Without a new game? Fine. The fee is that. You never see your friends here again."

Rhyme looked at them all alarmed. Never see Link and Aqua again?

Beat looked uncomfortable. Neku was glaring. Mr. H was rubbing the back of his neck. "And how exactly are we defining not from here?"

"Vibrate however you please. I don't care."

Aqua set her jaw and looked to the others. She would abide by Link and Rhyme and Neku's choice, since they were the ones most affected. But she did have this to say. "Our hearts will always be connected. No matter what sky we are under." She looked to Link. "And my offer to you is still open." Always would be.

[windslept]

[Ven isn't sure it's really his place to step in and say anything. This isn't his choice. He doesn't know any of them as well as Aqua does and this doesn't impact him as much as it would the rest of them. But he does feel sympathy at the idea of them being separated? He was asleep, granted, but even so. Being apart from friends was tough, was difficult, even if they were connected, as Aqua said.]

Never? But...

[Maybe there would be a way to at least keep in touch somehow? That Aqua could still talk to them somehow or other?]

[younghero]

Link took a breath.

"What do you think Aqua? Do you think Beat and Rhyme will be okay?"

It was especially important to him that Rhyme would be okay. He'd lost too many friends. Asriel and Kenny back in Nautilus. Saria back home. Navi. Being separated he could handle....if he knew they were safe.

[aquawayfinder]

"'Corse she'll be a'right, yo," Beat said before Aqua could reply. "She's got us, dun she?" he asked rubbing his nose.

Aqua laughed lightly. "I think she will be alright. And we'll have our Wayfinders. And there is nothing to say that someday they won't find and visit us." And she had one other idea, but she would tell Link that.. away from Joshua. "If there is a way that we can help this world, without anyone getting hurt... I think this is what we need to do. Of course, if he doesn't keep his word... we will be free to return," she added, making sure they all heard THAT part.