Seaside Dreams

Indarias stood still as the wind brushed through his hair. How long had it been now? How many dreams had he gone through? The orin looked silently out across the water, an occasional flock of dream creatures could be seen emerging in the waves. Indarias rarely visited such bright dreams. Peaceful. Quiet. But he found himself looking for someone. Looking for his bond. How long had it been? Since he had seen her? Aether had disappeared after the nightmares arose. Never said a word to him and left. Perhaps she didn't want to be with him anymore? Perhaps he wasn't enough anymore? Perhaps he never was enough. Never would be enough. Perhaps Aether never liked him. Perhaps...Perhaps a lot of things....Indarias took a deep breath rubbing his hoof in the false sand. His worry leaking into the environment around him. 

'You're more than enough Inda. You're my everything. I love you.'

Aether's past words comforted him little. He wished she could come back and tell that to him directly. Indarias shook that off and started to walk alone across the beach, looking for any sign that she might've been here...

~~~

Aether looked silently at the water splashing at their hooves. This was their first dream on their own in a long time. She dipped her head down, licking the water. Strawberry milkshake. Hm. Well, it is a dream? Did she want a strawberry milkshake at the moment? Maybe a little bit. She could ask Lulu when she got back home. Till then...She wanted to enjoy this. After all, this was her first dream on her own without corruption haunting her. To be honest...she couldn't remember much about it. She remembered losing her voice, losing her friends...and that was about it. Her life before corruption was foggy. Soul. Soul was still around. Soul was still her friend. Aether smiled a little and splashed in the waters. That's all she needed. A good trustworthy friend. One that didn't mind she didn't talk anymore. Soul was great for that. They often hung out together now, Aether able to relearn how to talk to her and Soul being able to open up to Aether as well. The perfect little duo.

Aether dipped their head into the water, looking for fish that might swim below. Hopefully nothing too big. She had weird memories of a big fish eating her. Probably from some fever corruption dream... But that wasn't the case this time. A small group of glowing fish came up and swam around her. They emitted such warmth. It was rather calming. But as quick as they came they fled as a shadow came over her. Aether lifted her head from the water and shook it off. Someone was behind her. She tilted her head back and forth to get all the water out before turning around. There was a bright blue orin standing behind her, wearing some weird outfit. She hadn't seen this orin in her life...Must've come around while she was in hiding. But that look on his face. It was like he had seen a ghost? He made a sudden move forward to try and hug her causing Aether to jump back into the water and the other orin to fall in. 

Aether awkwardly pawed at the water as the other stood back up. Indarias looked surprised, to say the least. Surprised a little hurt, maybe a bunch of other things. He shook the water from his outfit and stepped back into the sand to give her some distance, "Ae-aether. It's me?" Indarias whispered. The look on her face said it all. Aether had never seen this Orin ever. Something broke then. At that moment something snapped. What was this all for? What was he even doing? Aether didn't remember that's why she never came back. But what...what happened? What caused that? Why did she never tell him? Why didn't her sister tell him? Why was he the one left in the dark. His eyes closed and he looked up to the sky, searching for some answers. Whatever. He had a choice now. Leave her or try to start again. 

'You're the face of the Dream Guard. A bully. Orins hate you. Aether will never love you again. Not when you left her.'

Indarias looked back to the orin in front of him. Aether still inquisitively looking at him. He lifted a hoof and sighed a little before forcing a smile, "Sorry. I'm Yuri. Captain of the Dream Guard. I used to be a big fan of your music. But perhaps I was just another face in the crowd to you. Either way...it's lovely to meet you."

Aether seemed to straighten a little after that and smiled, a projection moving above her head into the shape of a hoof and waving hello at him. She...she was mute? Since when? Indarias didn't get time to ask as Aether playfully splashed water at him and then bounded off into the shallows, glancing back to see if he was coming. Indarias smiled a little. It may not be the same as before...but at least...at least he could try again.