Nebula awoke suddenly, a throbbing in her skull more powerful than she had ever experienced before. The thudding of it causing her to wince painfully.
She gingerly touched her fingers to her forehead and hissed in pain.
"I apologize. Your trip below was a rough one to be sure. I think you may have brushed your head against a rock. Not much at all. Nothing serious, of course.", came a sultry feminine voice.
The words echoed off of the cavern walls.
Nebula looked around as she sat up.
A distant dripping could be heard, like water falling from the ceiling.
Above her were rocky faces lit with a blue and glowing light.
"Like I said though, your head hardly touched it. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.", the voice said, seemingly closer.
"Who's there?", Nebula asked shakily. Her body vibrating with fear.
A deep chuckle came from behind her and she spun as quickly as she could to see its source.
There was nothing there, just a long dark hallway of cavernous rock.
She noticed a movement to her left and watched as water swirled with movement and slowed to a stand-still.
"Who, you ask?", came the voice and another splash of water.
Nebula spun to her right as the water bubbled and boiled.
A dragon rose from the water in a flourish. Her long tail moving in a dance-like fashion and her body spinning, water flying from the surface of her skin.
She landed on the rock beside Nebula without hardly a sound.
"I'm Aqua of course. The dragon of the west. One of the Five. The Queen of Water and ruler of Lanayru.", she said with a gleeful laugh as though she had greatly anticipated the reveal.
Nebulas eyes widened with shock and disbelief.
"But it was thought that you were gone. You've not been seen for years.", Nebula whispered to herself.
Lanayru threw her head back and laughed boisterously.
"Oh I'm alive and well, love. And I've got some business to attend to. And I think you'll be quite useful.", she said sinisterly.
"Business?", Nebula asked through a tightened throat.
The stories of the water dragon rushing through her mind.
Specifically the ones about her relentless pursuit of what she wants, even at the expense of lives.
Aqua chuckled low in her throat.
"You are galaxian, yes? And Lucius, well, he's your god and you seek to be by his side?", Aqua said empathetically.
Nebula nodded slowly, unsure of where the conversation was going.
Aqua clicked her tongue.
"But that human girl is in the way. Now what shall we do about that?", Aqua asked, slowly circling Nebula on the rock plateau they resided on.
Nebula shook her head.
"Why would you help me?", she asked hesitantly.
"Because in helping you, I will be one step closer to what I want.", Aqua said daintily.
"Which is?", Nebula asked, her patience growing thin.
"Now, now. In all good time my dear. For now, let's get you cleaned up. We have much to discuss.", Aqua said, making her way down the dark cavern hall.
Nebula stood feebly and hobbled her way behind the dragon. Unsure of what was happening but nonetheless thankful to no longer be stranded.
They made their way down the hall, Nebula stumbling on the jagged rock floor as she went. Her eyes made for the dark, she still could only see rock wall, the light of the stars did not reach this place.
It felt an eternity before they stepped into a opening in the cave.
The ceilings high, waterfalls falling from various holes in the ceiling and filling the pools below.
She worked her way across the room and into another hall. This one almost as long as the last.
*How bloody far are we to go?*, Nebula wondered to herself.
They entered another large room, this one with shallow pools of water housing coral and water flora.
Everything glowed with a blue green shine from what looked like a carpeting of moss that scattered itself across the room.
The air smelled of salt and the moisture was so thick that it wetted Nebula's hair to her face and neck.
Aqua stopped at what looked like a throne made of brightly colored coral and took a seat.
The dragon stared at her for a few moments before Nebula nervously licked her lips, the taste of salt filling her mouth.
"My lady, I'm unsure of what you need from me.", she said haltingly.
Suddenly water nymphs appeared around her, removing her clothing and replacing it with wrappings of seaweed that soothed her skin.
"You see, I need to get into the Midnight Forest. A feat that, as things are now, is nearly impossible. The way undulating, constantly changing and hidden on top of that. But with you galaxian, it shall be significantly easier.", Aqua giggled excitedly.
Nebula shook her head in dismay.
"The way is hidden from me, mistress. I only appeared on the beach after trying for hours to enter the forest. Once I gave up, I accidentally got lost and found myself at your waters edge. I am afraid I would be of no assistance in the matter.", she said miserably.
A small part of her had allowed herself to hope that Aqua meant what she said by helping her be by the lords side.
But if she could not be of assistance, she was sure the offer would be revoked.
Aqua sighed whimsically.
"You only need the right resources my dear! You needn't fret. After some good rest, and a little trade, we'll have you in that impenetrable fortress in no time.", she said nonchalantly.
Nebulas brows rose in surprise.
"A trade?", she asked slowly.
Aqua nodded and smiled slyly.
"Nothing much, really. At least, not compared to what you'll be getting in return of course.", Aqua said as she stepped across the room to the galaxian.
More nymphs appeared and draped a transparent Shaw over the dragon before turning to mist and disappearing once more.
The dragon leaned in close to Nebula's face, having to bend forward slightly to do so.
"Come and I will show you.", Aqua said, her voice low and almost inaudible if not for her closeness.
Nebula swallowed hard before slowly making her way to an adjacent room that Aqua entered.
The one was significantly smaller, a large jewel in the center.
"A pearl. One of the rarest of its kind. A black pearl. A regular pearl possess the ability to absorb a spell and cast it out when desired, a one time thing typically. A black pearl on the other hand has the ability to trade powers between sources.", Aqua said as she lovingly stroked the jewel.
"Like I said, a small trade.", she said with a wave of her hand.
"What do you want from me?", Nebula asked, attempting to keep her desperation at bay.
"I want Midnight Magic.", Aqua said softly.
Nebula flinched as if she had been struck.
"That would be blasphemous my lady. That would be the equivalent of taking one of my limbs.", Nebula said despairingly.
Aqua nodded and rose a hand to halt her words.
"In return, you will possess my power. More power than you could imagine. Your ability to find your way into the forest is in your blood. You are galaxian. It will be more difficult without your midnight magic but not impossible. And certainly easier than me doing it myself. We will trade for a time and once you've entered the forest I will transport to you, using your energy as a tether, and we will trade back. Simple as that.", Aqua said with a carefree wave of her hand.
Nebula hesitated.
The idea of losing her magic terrified her but the plan seemed simple enough.
"Why do you want into the Midnight Forest, my lady?", Nebula asked.
Aqua shrugged.
"I'm in need of some materials and I thought I ought to visit my old friend Lucius. We are friends you know. I'm sure I could put in a good word for you.", Aqua said confidently.
Nebulas heart skipped a beat.
This could be the solution to her problem.
With enough power she could easily eliminate the human girl.
Then she could summon the mistress. Once there, she would vouch for her and secure her place beside Lucius.
It seemed hard to believe that all she wanted were some ingredients and a visit to a friend but she feared pushing for more information.
This could be her only way to achieve her dream, she wouldn't throw it away carelessly.
"All this trouble for such small things?", Nebula asked slowly.
Aqua sighed and shook her head sadly.
"You see, my dear, I seek to create a Seeing Stone. My lover, he is, very ill you see and some of the things I need can be found in the Midnight Forest.", Aqua said, a tear rolling gently down her cheek. "When the refuges formed it became almost impossible to communicate between the Folk kingdoms. Otherwise I would have sent to Lucius for such items.", she said nodding to herself.
Nebula thought of her own love for the Lord of Midnight and how devastated she would be if he had fallen ill.
Nebula took a step forward.
"I'll do it.", she said firmly. She smiled joyfully internally.
It was a win-win situation. She would get the king and she would also be helping one of the Five at the same time. Her reputation would border on outright fame.
Aqua gently wiped her tear from her cheek before smiling and nodding.
"Come then, and we shall get started.", she said waving Nebula forward.
"Will it hurt?", Nebula asked nervously.
Aqua shook her head.
"Only the smallest bit. Not much at all dear, no need to worry.", Aqua said, her smile sickeningly sweet.