Kingdom Hearts: Kairi's Story

Brother Bear

This is just a theory story.

I was watching "Brother Bear" recently, and I thought that it would be a perfect world for "Kingdom Hearts". And since we know that Master Yen Sid is going to be training Kairi to be a Keyblade Master, I thought it would be interesting to see her go to a world as part of her training. Just something about the world of "Brother Bear" made it feel like that would be a place where she would be able to fit into.

Being the writer I am, I decided to explore that idea. I doubt this will happen in the actual "Kingdom Hearts 3" game, but it will still be fun to explore.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "Kingdom Hearts" or "Brother Bear", I am merely exploring a possible story.

With that said, let's begin.


Kairi, training under Master Yen Sid to become a Keyblade Master, has advanced well in her training. Now, Yen Sid sends her to her first world visit. There, Kairi must help Kenai and Koda reach the mountain where the lights touch the earth as well as keeping the Heartless from devouring the hearts of her new friends.


The Mission

In the Mysterious Tower, up in the highest room, a wise old wizard donned in a blue robe and hat sat down in his chair and looked at his apprentice: a young girl, roughly in her mid-teens. She had dark auburn hair, crystal blue eyes, a pink strapless mini-dress with a black hood and white halter top underneath. On her left wrist were three bracelets. Around her waist was a black belt with a hip-bag on her left side, and on her feet were lilac sneakers. Around her neck was a black, leather circlet with a single silver bead.

"Kairi," Yen Sid said, gruffly stoking his beard, "you have advanced quickly in your training. You certainly show to have great skill in magic. You've already mastered all of the simple spells. You're combat techniques aren't too shabby either. You show fierce determination and hard work. No doubt you'll become a powerful Keyblade wielder someday."

"Thank you, Master." Kairi graciously nodded.

Ever since she was enlisted to be part of the battle to stop Xehanort, Kairi pushed herself hard so she could become just as skilled with a Keyblade as her best friends, Sora and Riku. She wanted to do everything in her power to help them, and the only way she could do that was to master her Keyblade training as soon as she could.

So far, all that hard work was paying off.

"Still," the wizard exhaled, "there is still the matter of you having little experience in other worlds."

Kairi glanced away, feeling just a little embarrassed.

That was indeed true. Unlike Sora and Riku, Kairi had been to very few worlds. Probably only six at the most, or at least that's what she could remember.

"Is…" the girl hesitated, "there any chance I can go to other worlds? I know I haven't completed my training yet, and I know Sora, Riku, and the others are fighting back the Heartless, but with Xehanort's power increasing by the day…"

"I know what you're saying Kairi," Yen Sid raised his hand slightly, "and I have been thinking about that. It is time for you to start going to other worlds."

Upon hearing the news, Kairi couldn't help but give a hopeful smile.

"In fact," the wizard continued, "being a Princess of Heart, you can also keep the darkness at bay. There is one world at the moment that needs your help. There is a terrible darkness that is threatening to devour the hearts of the worlds' residence. You must seek them out and protect them. With your power to repel the darkness, you should be able to keep them safe, or drive out the darkness that threatens to turn them into a Heartless."

"I understand, Master." Kairi nodded. "I'll do my best."

"I know you will." Yen Sid said, standing up.

The old wizard then walked from his seat and over to a small cabinet. He opened the cabinet and pulled out a shining, teal crystal that was in the shape of a star. He then turned and walked over to Kairi.

"This is a Star Shard." Yen Sid explained. "This will take you right to that world."

"Uh," Kairi hesitated, "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but King Mickey told me that when he used a Star Shard, it sent him to other worlds even without his command. I even saw it happen for myself, even though I was very young. What if that should happen to me?"

"It won't." Yen Sid replied. "The King told me about the incident and I have managed to prevent that from happening again."

Kairi let out a small-relieved sigh, although her uneasiness wasn't entirely subdued.

"Now listen carefully," the wizard placed a hand on his apprentice's shoulder, "when you get to that world, you must seek out a woman named Tanana. She will help you. Whatever she tells you to do, you must obey it. She'll explain everything you need to know. Do you understand?"

"Yes," the young girl nodded.

Yen Sid then handed the Star Shard to Kairi, who took it with just a small moment of hesitation.

"Good luck, Kairi." Yen Sid nodded. "I wish you a safe journey."

Kairi bowed out of respect. She then held the Star Shard close to her heart. She silently wished for it to take her to the world that Yen Sid had spoken of. In a swirl of flashing lights, Kairi seemed to turn into a small star before flickering out of the tower and into the limbo of the worlds.


In a split second, Kairi soon found herself stumbling for a few feet in a wood full of tall, redwood trees. When she regained her balance, she stared in awe at the landscape before her. In the distance, mountains capped with snow stretched for as far as her eyes could see. Just a few feet in front of her was a clearing with river rushing by. The air was clear, but at the same time rather chilly.

After the initial wonder of seeing this new world, Kairi then became aware of the fact that her cloths had changed. She looked over herself and saw that she was wearing a dark reddish-brown fur coat with a hood, fur pants, and fur boots.

"I guess this is more suitable than my other cloths," she smiled and shook her head.

Kairi then looked up, remembering her mission.

"Now I need to find Tanana," she said. "I just wish I knew where to start looking."

Kairi was about to take a step forward when she heard the sound of leafs rustling come from behind her. She jumped in alarm and spun around. However, when she saw what had caused the noise, she relaxed a little.

Standing just a few feet away from her was a small old woman dressed a coat of caribou fur and animal-skinned boots. Her long, white braided hair fell down to her knees. Her eyes were of a dark brown and were filled wisdom and kindness. Across her nose, just between her eyes, were two think red bands that looked as if they had been painted on.

"Hello, my dear," the woman said to Kairi.

"Hello," Kairi nodded. "Um, I seem to be lost. Can you tell me where I can find someone named…uh…Tanana?"

"I am she," the woman answered with a nod.

"Oh," the young girl replied, slightly surprised.

"Please," Tanana walked towards Kairi, "forgive me if this seems like an odd question, but…do you have a mystical weapon of some kind."

Kairi blinked. That certainly was an odd question to ask. However…

"You mean this?" the girl replied.

Kairi then held out her hand and summoned her Keyblade. In a flash of light, the magical and mysterious weapon materialized in her hand. Tanana looked at it with amazement for a moment before smiling.

"Then you are the one the Great Spirits spoke of," the shaman said with hopefulness.

"Great Spirits?" Kairi questioned.

"Yes," Tanana nodded, "they sent me a vision of a young girl with a mystical weapon coming to save our world from creatures of darkness."

"Creatures of darkness?" Kairi said, becoming alert. "You mean the Heartless?"

"So that's what they're called." Tanana mumbled before turning back to Kairi. "Oh, forgive me, I must have gotten carried away. You said you were looking for me?"

"Yes," the redheaded girl nodded, "but I think we're already on the same page. I'm here to save this world from the Heartless. But I was told they were going after specific people."

Tanana gave a worried face.

"It must be Kenai," she whispered.

"Kenai?" Kairi asked.

"Yes," Tanana hung her head sadly. "He's from my tribe. Last night, he killed a bear out of vengeance."

"What?" Kairi's eyes widened at the news. "Why would he do that?"

The shaman sighed heavily.

"Because Kenai lost his older brother, Sitka, in a fight with the bear. Although the bear didn't actually kill his brother, Kenai was so consumed by anger and sadness that it clouded his judgment. The result, he killed the bear."

Kairi frowned in sorrow.

"But when he did," Tanana continued, "the Great Spirits came down. Kenai deceased brother, Sitka, who is now a Spirit, turned him into a bear."

"Really?" Kairi blinked.

"I know he did it to teach Kenai a lesson," the shaman turned and stared at the nearby river, "but something happened that Sitka never intended to. Mysterious and dark creatures started coming into this world. Just last night, after I found Kenai unconscious by the river, I saw that he was surrounded by those creatures; the ones you call "Heartless"."

Kairi gasped, but Tanana continued.

"I was able to call on the Great Spirits to fend them off, but I'm afraid they will still be in pursuit of him."

Tanana then turned to Kairi.

"That I believe that is where you come in, my dear."

"Yes," Kairi nodded. "I promise I'll make sure that the Heartless don't devour Kenai's heart. I just need to know where he is."

"He should be heading for the mountain where the lights touch the earth." Tanana said. "But before you go, you will need some necessities."

Tanana reached under her coat and pulled out a large bag. She then handed it to Kairi, who graciously accepted it and slung it over her shoulder.

"You will also need to be able to talk to Kenai when you find him." Tanana said. "But I'm sure the Great Spirits will help with that. Seeing as you have a hint of magic about you, it shouldn't be a problem. But there is something else you need to know."

"What is it?" Kairi asked.

"Kenai second eldest brother, Denahi," Tanana's voice became more serious, "he thinks that Kenai was killed by the bear Kenai was pursuing. However, he doesn't know that he is hunting his own brother."

"Oh dear," Kairi cupped her hand over her mouth. "I should tell him."

"No," Tanana said, "you mustn't. Sitka made it this way for both Kenai and Denahi's sake. I know he is trying to teach them both something important. You may protect Kenai from the Heartless, and Denahi when he attacks, but you mustn't let Denahi know that the bear he pursues is actually Kenai."

Kairi stared at Tanana with uneasiness and concern. Something about not letting Denahi know about Kenai just sounded wrong to her. That was the kind of information she wouldn't want to keep from anyone, especially from a brother who is hunting his own brother without knowing he is.

Still, she remembered what Master Yen Sid told her:

"Tanana will help you. Whatever she tells you to do, you must obey it."

Although she still had doubts about this, she forced herself to put them aside. This was an important mission and she couldn't make compromises; at least not yet.

"Alright." Kairi slowly nodded. "I'll do what you said."

"Thank you." Tanana smiled and nodded. "You should be able to find Kenai in that direction."

Tanana gestured over to the right, revealing a path leading through the forest. Kairi took a step forward. She turned around to thank Tanana, but found that the shaman was gone. She had just vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared.

Kairi stared at the spot where Tanana had been for a moment. She then turned around and looked down the path. Uncertainty began to creep into her mind as she stared through the forest. This was her first mission and she had already been given a lot of information. She knew that if she messed anything up, it could spell disaster for this world.

Could she face the journey ahead of her?

"Well," Kairi exhaled, "only one way to find out."

Gripping her Keyblade, the young girl set out through forest, ready to take on the challenge before her. All she could hope for now was that her courage would see her through, and her heart wouldn't fail her.