Two Names, Two Cakes
Firewane 22, 250
It’s another morning.
Altin is still passed out on his side of the bed while Arabella lays awake, just staring at the ceiling of the conjured homestead. The sheets quietly rustle as she slips out of bed and puts on her coat before stepping out onto the balcony to watch the sunrise. While the weather may change depending on the seasons, or her subconscious, in truth it was the same view every time. The entire construction— no, reconstruction— of the castle is of a home she had not seen in many years. A waterfall cascades down from the spring atop one of the two mountains that flank the castle into a gentle stream slowly ebbing its way off the edge to become the mists that permeated and caressed the surrounding banks. Morning arrives, a break of sunlight slowly peeks over the horizon and makes the dew shimmer as the cold blues and greys give way to warm yellows and reds and, eventually, becomes a brilliant white.
The same thing every time, and yet a part of her always hoped to see her Master out in the courtyard performing his morning routine or Terra and Ventus drilling on the old training course. A part of her always missed them but so much had changed since she left home. She was in a faraway land with a new identity, Terra had become possessed by the evil Xehanort, Ven was trapped in stasis for over a decade, and her Master...her Master was gone now. At least she had managed to free Terra and break the Sequester spell around the Land of Departure to release Ven. Though she stayed with them both for a short while to help them recover from their ordeals, neither had really been themselves at the time and she needed to leave again as soon as they were able.
'Has it really been ten years since...'
Focus! She needed to get ready to...was there something important happening today? No...just the usual routine...right? Finish up ritual prep, morning exercises, breakfast, and then teleport Altin to Vareholm where they would split up to do their daily training. Then they would meet up for lunch and she would spend time at the clothier looking at fabrics and seeing if there were any new designs or something to pass the time while he was at work. Come back to the studio in the late afternoon, conjure the homestead, eat dinner prepared either by hand or the conjured servants, work on a few projects to wind down, and then bed. Just an ordinary day.
Putting on her clothes for the day, Ara noted that Altin was already out of bed and likely waiting for her in the kitchen. She followed after him, stepping out of her portal and ready to start preparing a meal for three only to be surprised. Truly surprised. But not by Kinsara and Altin both fussing about in the kitchen, making an attempt at breakfast and having already prepared a wide, miraculously unburnt, spread. No. Instead, there were two other very familiar faces just sitting at the table, laughing and talking as if not a single thing had changed.
Blink. She stands speechless, struggling to process the scene in front of her. It’s Ven that notices her first, turning to her with a look of surprise that quickly becomes excitement and draws the attention of the others.
“AQUA!” Two voices call out.
“ARA!” Shout the other two.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” They all cheer together. Shock. The gangly, blond goofball charges up from his seat first to wrap his arms around her. Her stunned mind registers that he’s still shorter than her but catching up quickly. React. “Ven! Terra! What are you—? Has it already been—?” She’s smiling and fighting back happy tears threatening to crawl down her cheek. She returns Ven’s squeeze with one of her own and puts a hand on his head to ruffle his hair, “Guess as I get older, you’re getting taller huh?” “We were hoping to surprise you,” Terra trades with Ven and gives her a warm hug. “Yeah! Your boyfriend Sent us and we’d totally spaced on time because...well...you know.” Ventus looks a little sad but quickly a grin starts to beam from his face and melt away any reverberated remembrance. Altin comes up to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Happy birthday, babe! I hope the waffles aren’t too charred...I mean I won’t taste the difference buu—,” she cuts him off by wrapping her arms around him tightly and nuzzling her crystal-haired head into his neck. “Thank you,” she whispers into his ear as she holds him for several moments. “Thank you...so much.” Eventually, she releases him and turns to sit at the table and catch up with old friends. The day is filled with laughter, some solemn remembrances, and stories of embarrassing proportions for all parties until dinner is served. Afterwards, Ventus runs off somewhere while Altin gives a signal to Kinsara. Both come back into the room with boxes. Cake boxes. “Oh...uh, we thought...,” is both the look and the voiced opinion before they place both cakes down in front of the birthday girl. “Well, cake is cake, right babe?” Altin grins as they are both opened to reveal a whipped cream frosted cake topped with strawberries. ‘Happy Birthday Aqua,’ written on the one from her past.
‘Happy Birthday Ara,’ written on the one from her present. Who am I? The song is sung and all the guests join in. The name part becomes muddled and is easily laughed off by all there. Who...am I? What fun! They cut both the cakes and take pieces from one and stick them in the other to make an even bigger cake. Smile. Slices are passed out to everyone, choosing either whipped cream or strawberry frosting. It doesn’t matter. The love, the joy, the joking, it all merges together...like the frosting and the cakes. Tears finally run down her cheeks but are quickly wiped away as she tries to gather herself. It had been so long, her past life so separate from her present life. But now? Now she watches as everyone gathers inside her conjured home for a slumber party. Her old family works with her new one to arrange a mass of blankets and pillows and, for the first time in over a decade, the halls of the old castle echo with laughter. We’re together. Aqua? Arabella? She’s both. It's weird and it’s complicated and it’s just great to have both of her lives come together as one.
“ARA!” Shout the other two.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” They all cheer together. Shock. The gangly, blond goofball charges up from his seat first to wrap his arms around her. Her stunned mind registers that he’s still shorter than her but catching up quickly. React. “Ven! Terra! What are you—? Has it already been—?” She’s smiling and fighting back happy tears threatening to crawl down her cheek. She returns Ven’s squeeze with one of her own and puts a hand on his head to ruffle his hair, “Guess as I get older, you’re getting taller huh?” “We were hoping to surprise you,” Terra trades with Ven and gives her a warm hug. “Yeah! Your boyfriend Sent us and we’d totally spaced on time because...well...you know.” Ventus looks a little sad but quickly a grin starts to beam from his face and melt away any reverberated remembrance. Altin comes up to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Happy birthday, babe! I hope the waffles aren’t too charred...I mean I won’t taste the difference buu—,” she cuts him off by wrapping her arms around him tightly and nuzzling her crystal-haired head into his neck. “Thank you,” she whispers into his ear as she holds him for several moments. “Thank you...so much.” Eventually, she releases him and turns to sit at the table and catch up with old friends. The day is filled with laughter, some solemn remembrances, and stories of embarrassing proportions for all parties until dinner is served. Afterwards, Ventus runs off somewhere while Altin gives a signal to Kinsara. Both come back into the room with boxes. Cake boxes. “Oh...uh, we thought...,” is both the look and the voiced opinion before they place both cakes down in front of the birthday girl. “Well, cake is cake, right babe?” Altin grins as they are both opened to reveal a whipped cream frosted cake topped with strawberries. ‘Happy Birthday Aqua,’ written on the one from her past.
‘Happy Birthday Ara,’ written on the one from her present. Who am I? The song is sung and all the guests join in. The name part becomes muddled and is easily laughed off by all there. Who...am I? What fun! They cut both the cakes and take pieces from one and stick them in the other to make an even bigger cake. Smile. Slices are passed out to everyone, choosing either whipped cream or strawberry frosting. It doesn’t matter. The love, the joy, the joking, it all merges together...like the frosting and the cakes. Tears finally run down her cheeks but are quickly wiped away as she tries to gather herself. It had been so long, her past life so separate from her present life. But now? Now she watches as everyone gathers inside her conjured home for a slumber party. Her old family works with her new one to arrange a mass of blankets and pillows and, for the first time in over a decade, the halls of the old castle echo with laughter. We’re together. Aqua? Arabella? She’s both. It's weird and it’s complicated and it’s just great to have both of her lives come together as one.
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