Ross wakes up and is what seems an endless ocean. No, he's not awake. He's dreaming. Naturally and without realizing, the first thing he does in the dream is shift into his aqueous form, a skill that he has used many times before and will use many times to come.
Ross took a while to simply swim through the tropical water. He swam up, it seemed that there was no surface. He swam down, he could find no bottom. He swam in straight lines, he found no end. I've never seen so much water....Where'd it all come from?" He had stopped swimming and for a few seconds there was a movement to the water he had not felt before. For a moment, nothing happened, then he felt as if he was no longer alone. From the water materialized a man with only a thin layer of hair atop his head, and a long white beard, all blued like his own hair. In the man's left hand, a long trident. In his right, an orb of water that seemed....Different from the water surrounding it. It seemed more solid, as if it was frozen, but warm. His voice thundered towards Ross, but seemed dampened by the water. "Hello, Ross."
Ross, awestruck, simply returned to his Guardian form. He felt he had to show difference to this magnificent being. The being merely put his hand on Ross' shoulder. "There is no need for that. We are equals. I need you as much as you need me." The being looked down, saddened. There was obviously some reason he had brought Ross here, but he was not going to enjoy telling him about it. "There are harsh tides coming to your world. I'm afraid it may already be too late. However, it was a step in the right direction what you did for Kata, bringing her to Cura like that."
Ross stops the man, confused. "Kata? Maisha? Who are these people?"
Enlightenment dawns on the being's face. "Oh, I'm sorry, it's been a long time since I've known them personally. Back when I was a Guardian, those were the names of Remillia and Kysa as you know them." He pauses, making a mental note to call Guardians by the names Ross understands. Satisfied, he continues, "Kysa will be able to repair Remillia, but that is only the beginning. There are larger threats than her magic taint. Cyra is a threat. She is fighting it, but she's always been trouble. The darkness as well. It is extremely dangerous....However, he is in the same situation as Pyro was. He is not in control of his aspect. That is all I can tell you for now, but please, take these."
Ross graciously accepts the artifacts offered to him. The same artifacts that the aspect was holding: The trident and the orb of water. He observes them more closely. The trident has markings all along its six foot shaft, all perfect and intricately carved. The points are not in line as Ross had originally thought, but instead curve in a sort or triangle shape. It almost seems as if three long spears were merged into on trident to make this weapon. The orb seems to be made of water, unsurprisingly, but Ross is at a loss for how the orb could stay separate from the water around it. It seemed somehow purer, yet had exactly the same appearance.
Ross looks to where his aspect was to question it about the gifts, but it had dissipated into the water.
The water around him started to shimmer, and the realm of water began to fade. Ross was reluctant to leave, but knew that he couldn't stay. He woke from the dream satisfied, he knew that all things that happened in Guardians' sleep had significance. He had the artifacts in his hands to prove it, he couldn't hide the trident, but he did put the orb in his pocket. He stood up, perfectly rested, yet he had only been asleep for a few minutes at most, but the the dream seemed hours. He looked at the Guardians around him. Hope and Zwn, sitting on the ground. Kysa and Alouette doing something...Probably talking about boys or doing their nails or something. And Remillia. Ross looks down at her expecting her to still be passed out, but she is awake asking, "Hey, where am I?"
After the shock of seeing her awake, Ross is eager to answer her questions. He sits down next to her and says, "You're at the crater. How are you feeling?"
((Gotta love the hyper-reaction Ross has in water \o/ - For logic's sake: Ross' consciousness was taken by his aspect (in the form of Poseidon, I was thinking perhaps if a certain Guardian did particularly well in their life, they could take over as the aspect itself. Sound decent enough?) to a realm of completely water, and as we all know Ross heals and rests incredibly fast in water.))
