I'll Be Your Light

by CrystalRainstorm

Iva, a girl of 15, is thrown into chaos when her home gets attacked by Heartless. Lost and alone, she latches on to the only other person near her - Riku. Can she help save him from destroying himself? What happens when he's gone? And how will Iva manage on her own? In progress, will most likely be in multiple parts.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter Two: Where Am I?

Darkness. A blank void. I looked around, trying to see something, anything. Suddenly, I was standing, and I looked down to see a blazing pure white surface. I almost felt as if I was standing on a light bulb. Upon closer inspection, I determined that this surface was the top of a large pillar that went down into the darkness until I couldn't see any more. I stepped away from the edge, nervous, and returned to what seemed to be the safest point: the center of the pillar.

It seemed I arrived just in time. The surface beneath me shook violently, causing me to fall to my knees. The shaking reminded me of not too long ago - the earthquake that made my world fall apart. Thoughts leapt unbidden to my mind; thoughts of Christine, who had died before my eyes; Kara, whose tear-stained face lingered too long in my head. Hayner, Pence, Olette, Rachel, Sasha, Chris... People who's fates I was unsure of. Even my parents, whom I could only remember with looks of fear and distaste towards me; I now realized that I wanted to see them safe.

And then I thought of Dylan, and the surface around me cracked. The shaking intensified, sending pieces of the pillar along the edge into the darkness. I found I didn't care. Tears were flowing freely down my face.

'Gone.' My best friend, my husband, my brother, my soul mate... he was dead. And I had watched him die. I had watched that thing steal his life away. I realized I was screaming. Screaming with rage and grief, screaming with fear. I screamed so loud that my voice went hoarse.

He was never coming back. I would never see my best friend again.

I curled up in a ball in the center of the pillar, on an unbroken piece. More pieces were slowly falling off the edge, and I knew that at some point, the piece beneath me would fall, too, but I couldn't bring myself to care. If I fell, I fell - it didn't matter anymore.

I wasn't aware of time passing, or of anything other than my grief. In fact, I didn't notice that the shaking was subsiding until it stopped altogether. I took a moment to quite my sobs, then looked up.

I was shocked to see that the surface was whole again, shining brightly as it had before. I could still see cracks in the circle, and the cracks separated two different colors of white - one seemed more like a cream color than the pure white it was originally.

Don't give up.

My sobbing increased again as I realized that I was going crazy. Only crazy people heard voices in their heads.

Come on! Do you really want to wallow in your misery forever?

"Maybe I do!" I shouted. "Maybe I can't get over this!"

You can, and you will. You deserve to live on.

"And he didn't?! What do you know? HUH?!"

You NEED to live on. Do you really think you should give up now? What about finding out what happened?

I paused. "... What do you know about it?"

Live on and maybe I'll tell you.

A strange warmth filled my body. I felt... better. Like I could handle it. Like I could handle myself.

Come back to the light. If you stay here, you'll be lost forever, and then you'll never know anything.

I stood carefully, thinking it odd that my legs didn't hurt like before. I looked down at them and saw that the burns were still there, covering my left leg in black, charred skin. I grimaced.

"How do I come back to the light?"

Just close your eyes, and wake up.

I closed my eyes.

*O*O*O*

Pain woke me. Almost my entire left leg was screaming in protest from the abuse it had endured. A few patches on my right leg were similar, although they didn't hurt as much. The rest of my body ached - the muscles in my legs were starting to cramp, and I could feel various scratches on my arms that I didn't know I had.

After a few minutes, I finally opened my eyes. At first, it was so dark that I couldn't see anything, but as my eyes adjusted, I found I was in a large, dimly lit room. Small green lamps hung on the walls, glaring off black paint and forming an eerie glow in the vaulted ceiling. The glassy floor was cold on my skin. I tried to move - only to cry out in pain as my muscles began to spasm. Tears blurred my vision. I groaned and shivered; my clothes were tattered, and they didn't provide much protection.

I tried to sit up again, nearly screaming when my leg stuck to the floor. I bit my lip so hard it bled, but after a few gruesome minutes, I was upright and gasping with tears pouring down my face. I wondered how I had managed to carry Kara around - and a horrible thought hit me.

'What if she's dead?'

My breath hitched, and I shut down that thought before it killed me. She was okay. I had made sure that she would be safe.

'But you couldn't save him, could you?'

My stomach clenched, and I almost threw up - but that would require moving, and that hurt too much. I barely bit back a sob, wrapping my arms around my waist.

After a few minutes used to calm myself down, I began to edge over to the wall. Every movement hurt, but I eventually relaxed against the wall. My hands were slick on the floor - I was sweating profusely, and by the way the room was breathing, I was sure I had a fever. I lay against the wall for a while, and as the room began to spin, I thought, 'I'm going to die.'

For some reason, I found this extremely funny, but I was too tired to laugh. My eyes closed as the room began to echo strangely.

As I fell asleep, my body felt suddenly light, and I felt one last surge of pain in my leg before it went completely numb.

I awoke to my body aching dully. A strange pressure covered my legs, and I felt like I was on a large cushion. Light filtered through my eyelids as they fluttered open. Another vaulted ceiling stretched above me, surrounded by creamy white walls. I looked around slowly, taking in a line of cots with white sheets. I glanced down, seeing my arm hooked up to an IV. I shivered and looked away - I hated needles.

A thin sheet that felt more like paper than fabric covered the lower half of my body, and my chest was covered by a paper gown. I felt like I was in a hospital. I used my free arm to carefully move the sheet from my legs, and I saw that they were wrapped with clean bandages. The small table next to my cot had an empty jar with the label 'Elixer.'

The door suddenly opened, causing me to jump. A boy with shoulder-length silver hair walked in, his face changing from passive to slightly surprised. He stepped up to the side of my cot and placed another jar on the table, along with a bottle of water and a rag.

"So, you're finally awake."

I stared at him for a moment before saying something. "Where am I?" My voice rasped. I wasn't sure if it was due to strain on my vocal chords from screaming, or if it was due to lack of use, but I knew I sounded bad.

The boy didn't answer me; he simply picked up the new Elixer and popped the cork out, offereing it to me. I didn't move. He rolled his eyes and held it closer. "If you don't drink it, I'll either force you to, or I'll put it in your IV, and that might not be too comfortable either way."

I reluctantly took it, feeling slightly awkward as he watched me drink it. My body flushed with sudden relief, but it left a strange aftertaste in my mouth. The boy took the bottle back smugly and took my arm. I looked at him in alarm.

"What are you doing?!"

"Taking your IV out. You don't need it now that you're awake." With seemingly practiced fingers, he cut off the IV flow and pulled the needle out, swiftly covering the small hole with a bandage. He threw away the materials and then looked at me. "You should be able to sit up now, what with all the Elixers you've had."

I took his signal with little grace, but I pushed myself up anyway. My body was merely stiff, though my legs still burned dully. I sighed when I was upright, glad to be able to move. The stiffness made me wonder how long I had been laying there.

"What the hell happened to you, anyway?" the boy asked quietly.

"Why should I answer your question when you won't answer mine?" I replied dryly, rubbing the goosebumps from my arms. I was getting chilly.

"I did answer your question."

"You told me you were taking my IV out."

"But I answered your question."

"Where am I?"

"The infirmary."

I glared at his little smug smile. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Now I've answered two of your questions. Time to answer mine: what happened to you?"

I looked down in my lap and gave him the shortest answer that I could think of while still telling the truth. "I don't know."

"You're telling me that you just popped up here, clothes tattered, covered in blood, and your leg nearly burnt off, and you don't know what happened?"

"It's none of your damn business anyway!" I snapped. The boy simply rolled his eyes, which were a strange shade of light blue.

"I practically saved your life when I found you. Don't I get a 'thank you' at least?"

"No."

Silence stretched for a few minutes while he stared at me as I fumed. I finally sighed heavily and spoke quietly. "How long have I been here?"

"You've been out for two days. This would have been the third."

"Two whole days..."

A few more moments of silence.

"Well? What happened?"

I looked away from him. "Fire. Lots of fire."

"Well, I guessed that on my own. But fire alone won't get you here - darkness does."

"The hell are you talking about?"

"Were you attacked?"

"What?"

"Were you attacked?" He looked suddenly eager. I gave him a suspicious look before slowly nodding. He sat back in his seat, looking smug and strangely... sad. "... I'm sorry."

I looked back down at my lap, my anger dissipating. I stayed silent, trying to block the memories from returning. It hurt to think about - no. 'Don't think about it, Iva. Don't think about it.'

"Hellooo?" the boy's voice called me out of my thoughts. I glanced up at him. "You zoned out there for a minute."

"Sorry."

"... Can you stand?"

"You expect me to stand on this leg, after being unconscious for two days?"

"You should be okay to walk now. Those Elixers are powerful healers, and I gave you a lot." I vaguely recalled the name of the drink, and I remembered that they were fairly expensive because they worked well. I felt a little bad for using so many.

I looked back up at the boy, who was looking at me expectantly. I sighed and shrugged, debating on whether or not to get up. The boy stood and offered his hand to help me. I hesitated, then threw the sheet off my legs - the bandages were stark white against the blue paper gown I wore. I grasped his hand and used all the willpower I could muster to move my legs - which, surprisingly, didn't hurt all that much, and responded fairly well to my moving them. I set my feet on the floor and gingerly tested my weight on them before standing up, only to fall back down again. The boy caught my arm as my knees gave out, lowering me gently back onto the cot. I groaned and shut my eyes against the head rush that was causing the room to spin.

"You okay...?"

"I'm fine. Let's try that again."

It took me three more tries to stand up, and almost five to take a step forward. I hoped that I didn't have to walk very far, as I didn't think that my legs could take it. The boy stood to my right, keeping an arm around my waist to keep me steady. He pulled my arm over his shoulders (he was only a few inches taller than me) and took a tentative step forward. He began to lead the way to the door, which opened up into a dark hallway much like the first room I saw. He turned me to the right, and we set off, me hobbling and him supporting.

I was the first to break the silence after a few minutes. "So, I just realized that I don't even know your name."

"What do you think my name is?"

"I would say Steve, but you don't seem like a Steve. Kyle?" He shook his head. "Bob? Zack? Josh?"

"My name's Riku. Do I look like a person with a boring name like that?"

"Hey, I've got friends with 'plain' names!"

"Well, then."

We struggled on in silence for a few more moments. "... I'm Iva."

"Interesting name."

"How much farther do we have to go?"

"Do your legs hurt?"

"Well, yes, but - " I yelped as Riku suddenly bent down and pressed his other arm to the back of my knees, quickly but gently picking me up. I latched my arms around his neck unconsciously, afraid of falling. Riku chuckled softly.

"What, afraid I'll drop you?"

"Look, I - I can walk just fine! I don't like being picked up! Put me down, please!"

"Nah, we're almost there. Besides, you're not that heavy. See? That's where we're going." He nodded towards a large door at the end of the hall. I tightened my arms a bit and breathed deeply. I had made an understatement when I said that I didn't like being picked up - I downright hated it.

We arrived at the door quickly, and it swung open as we approached, startling me. The room beyond was large and dim, with glassy black floors and walls, and more vaulted ceilings. Small green lamps hung here and there, but they weren't what caused the eerie glow (and chill) in the room. In the center stood a simple stone pedestal with a green aura emanating from the center. It pulsed with a slow, steady rhythm, sending off small waves of mist that cascaded down onto the floor. The green lanterns made it all the more creepy; a chill ran up my spine, giving me goosebumps.

"I need you to stand now," Riku said suddenly. He lowered my legs carefully to the ground and supported me as I stood, not letting go until he was sure I could keep my balance. He then turned to face the pulsing green light, his face becoming strangely impassive. "Maleficent. She's here."

The light grew suddenly bright, hurting my eyes, as a large pillar of green flames erupted next to it. The light vanished, and as my eyes adjusted to the gloom again, I saw a strangely shaped silhouette.

"Welcome, my dear girl," a woman said. Her voice was cold, but destructively soft. It gave me chills worse than the room did.

The lamps along the walls seemed to glow brighter, casting the woman in a green light - I though her skin looked a bit too green to be just the light. As I looked her over, I shuddered; a long, high-collared black cloak, a heavy staff with an orb on top, and growing out of the top of her head was a pair of twisted black horns, thicker around than my arm. She stepped forward and began to walk slowly around me, staring at me with cold eyes. I felt very vulnerable in my hospital gown, and I realized I was shivering - whether from the cold or from the 'freaked out' factor, I wasn't sure.

"I sense something special about you, dear..." she said softly when she stopped in front of me. Her hand came up and cupped my cheek, causing me to flinch; her sharp nails dug into my skin to hold me still. "Such empty eyes... Don't worry, Princess. I will take good care of you." Her voice turned sickly sweet. She turned to look over her shoulder at Riku. "Get this poor dear into a room and help her find some clothes. Use another Elixer if you must - now that she's away, she'll metabolize it much faster. My dear," she cooed, turning back to me, "I will see you once you are healed. I hope you will make yourself at home here." She backed up, and in another blinding pillar of flame, she was gone.

My eyes had time to adjust before Riku moved. He stepped in front of me and offered a jar, which I assumed was another Elixer. I looked at him to confirm that he wanted me to drink it before taking it and drinking it quickly; so quickly, in fact, that I nearly choked on it, and I hacked a couple of times before I could breathe again. My legs suddenly stopped aching, and my back lost its stiffness. I breathed a sigh of relief once all the pain had gone from my body, and I was suddenly very aware that all I had one was a paper gown and bandages. I looked down at the floor, embarrassed.

"Feel better?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. You're lucky - there's only one more bedroom in this whole castle that's suitable for living. Follow me - I'll lead you up there."

We began a long trek through huge hallways, winding staircases, and strange elevators. I was hopelessly turned around; I didn't think that I would ever be able to find my way anywhere.

Just as the bandages began to get uncomfortable (they were rubbing against my burns), Riku stopped in front of a simple oak door. The hallway we were in was much brighter, with soft, warm lamps along the walls. I noticed a rug on the floor, adding warm colors to the hallway.

"This will be your room. Don't worry about getting lost; I'll help you find your way until you can make it on your own. It's really not that hard - those lifts are hard to figure out, though." He gently pushed the door open and ushered me inside.

The room was elegantly beautiful. The bed was large and covered with a plush caramel comforter, matching the carved wooden headboard. On the opposite wall hung floor-length curtains, obscuring part of a glass door that lead out to a small balcony. To my left was a vanity, and a small potted plant sat in the back corner, next to two doors on the right wall. I felt my jaw drop at how pretty the room was - my first impression of this place was dark and gloomy, not classy and elegant. Riku chuckled as if he could read my mind.

"This castle is actually really nice. The only gloomy places are where Maleficent stays. Anyway... Stay here for a minute. I'm gonna go grab some munny, and some temporary clothes for you. You should be able to take those bandages off now, by the way. I'll bring another Elixer just in case."

"O-kay...?" I wondered what kind of clothes he would bring as he left the room. I stood there in silence for a moment before moving and sitting on the edge of the bed. My feet hit a plush carpet, and I was suddenly aware that my feet were bare. Had they been bare this whole time? I figured that was the reason I was so cold - no shoes or socks will do that.

I looked intently at the bandages, trying to figure out how to unravel them. I finally found a small tag near the top of my thigh, and by pulling on it, I began unwrapping my legs. The thought of seeing my burns scared me, so I tried to avert my eyes.

It made no difference. Underneath the bandages, my legs were covered in raised pink scars. I bit my lip and winced; it still hurt from when I made it bleed. After a few moments, all the bandages were in a wad on the floor, and cool air was hitting my burns. They gave off heat like a bad sunburn. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they were doing - Riku wasn't kidding when he said that Elixers were powerful healers.

I sat there on the bed, looking around the room and admiring things, until Riku came back. A knock sounded on the door before it opened, and he walked in carrying a small stack of clothes. He set them on the bed next to me and gave me a calculating glance.

"... You look like you got hit by a truck."

"Oh, thanks," I retorted as I grabbed the shirt next to me. It looked like I would be baggy, but I could make do. "Don't tell me I'm gonna get stuck with wearing this all the time..."

"Why do you think I got munny? We're going to buy you new clothes." He said it with a biting tone, as if he couldn't believe that I hadn't grasped that fact. "Just change into these. You'll have to forget about shoes until we can buy you some - and don't worry, munny isn't an issue." He turned around, putting his back to me. "Go ahead and change, I won't look."

"Thanks, I guess," I said, standing carefully. I pulled the pants on slowly, trying not to rub my burns. The jeans were baggy, but Riku brought a belt, which barely fit. For once, I was glad I had wide hips. I then practically ripped the scratchy gown off, glad to be free. My bra, which used to be white, was now mottled red with blood from scratches on my shoulders, and some of it seemed scorched. I cringed at the thought of having to buy a new one. I was glad that the shirt that Riku brought was black; when I pulled it on, it fit better than I thought it would. It was still too big, but only by a few sizes.

"Okay, you can turn around now," I said as I walked towards the vanity.

Riku turned around just in time to see my look of horror as I saw myself in the mirror. My hair was a tangled, knotted mess, and some of it was burnt off. I had mascara and tear streaks down my face, along with dried sweat and what seemed to be soot.

"God, I do look like I got hit by a truck!" I frantically began searching for something to tie my hair back - anything would do, as long as I could get it out of my face long enough to wash the dirt off.

"Hey, it's not that bad... What are you looking for?"

"A hair tie, a ribbon, a string, something! I need to put my hair up and wash my face - I'll deal with everything else later. But I am not going anywhere looking like this." I hugged and rummaged through the vanity, letting out a cry of triumph as I located a long black ribbon.

"You know, I didn't really have you pegged as one of those girly-girls. I guess I was wrong."

"Well," I said, throwing my damaged hair into a messy bun, "I'm not one of those 'girly-girls.' I do, however, care about not looking like complete shit." I looked in the mirror, satisfied with the bun. I couldn't see the damage, and it didn't look too bad. I turned back to Riku. "Is there somewhere I can wash my face?"

"There's a bathroom right through there," he replied, pointing to the door on the wall opposite me that was closest to the balcony. I nodded my thanks and entered, pausing only because the bathroom was pretty, too. I rolled my eyes and immediately went to the sink, turning on the tap.

My reflection was downright scary. The mascara streaks were fading off my pale face - which was weird in itself because I was generally tan due to spending so much time outside. My eyes had a frantic, yet strangely dull look to them. A few strands of dirty hair had already fallen out of my bun and into my face. I sighed and yanked the hand towel off the wall (the bathroom seemed stocked with everything required for a long stay) and plunged it into the now-warm water, soaking it. I scrubbed my face clean, leaving black stains on the towel. My eyes looked bland without mascara, but at least I was clean. I shut off the tap and dried my face on a towel hanging next to the tub, and then walked back out to where Riku was waiting. He raised an eyebrow.

"Can we go yet?"

"Where are we going again?"

"I never said where we were going."

I glared. "Fine. Lead the way, smart-ass."

Riku smirked and beckoned, walking out the door. I shuffled forward, the too-big jeans rustling against my legs. He lead me down the hallway, back through the convoluted elevators, and back into the dark room where I'd met Maleficent. I shuddered; I was not excited to be back in here.

"What is it, my dear?" a voice called, sickeningly sweet. Maleficent appeared in a burst of bright green flame, her cloak flapping menacingly around her.

"I need to get to Traverse Town. Iva needs new clothes, and that's the safest place. Will you take us there?" Riku answered coolly. Maleficent nodded slowly.

"Very well. Come here, my dears." Her staff vanished, and she held her arms out in what I thought was supposed to be an innocent gesture, but came off as more menacing. I glanced over at Riku in question, but he had already stepped close enough to her that her hand reached his shoulder. They looked at me expectantly. I cautiously stepped closer until her hand rested on my shoulder.

Flames erupted around us, and I screamed as the room disappeared.

My shriek rebounded off the walls of the alleyway. I jumped away and pressed myself flat against a brick building, afraid that I would go up in flames again. Maleficent sneered, and Riku struggled to hide a smirk.

"What?!" I demanded.

"I shall return in two hours to collect you, darlings. Meet me here," Maleficent said. She took a step back, and with even more flames, she vanished.

Riku walked up to me with a huge grin on his face. "I must say, even I didn't freak out that much when she took me somewhere."

"Well, sorry for being nervous around fire!" I snapped. "In case you forgot, I almost burned my leg off!"

He held his hands up in surrender and laughed lightly, and then began walking down the alley. "Come on. We'll find you some clothes, and I need to grab some more Elixers. I used a lot on you."

I cringed and followed him out into a large square bustling with people. The sun was beginning to set behind a large clock tower that proudly chimed its bell for six o' clock. Riku gently took my elbow and pulled me through the crowd, stopping at what seemed to be a general clothing store. A sign on the door read 'NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE.' I stopped short a few yards away, getting a questioning look from Riku.

"I can't go in," I explained, pointing to my feet. "No shoes."

"Oh, sure you can. Don't worry about it. Come on, already, we don't have that long." He pulled me into the store, ignoring my words of protest.

The store was much larger inside than it looked. Racks of clothes were covering nearly every inch of the floor; what didn't fit on the racks was stacked neatly in shelves on the walls. Along the back was hung displays of shoes next to a few changing rooms.

"Hey!"

I jumped and focused on the perky brunette who had just appeared in front of us. "Oh, hello."

She looked me over with a calculating glance and nodded to herself. "You need new clothes. I'm assuming this isn't what you normally wear. Skirts or pants?"

She spoke quickly, giving me little time to respond. "Um, pants."

"Blouse?"

"No."

"Favorite color."

"R-red."

"Got it. Follow me. Sir, are you with her?" Riku nodded silently and put his hands in his pockets. "Awesome! Why don't you go get her some sneakers or something? What size shoe do you wear?"

"An eight."

"You heard her! Go!" Riku raised his eyebrows, but shrugged and walked off. The brunette turned to me, beaming. "So! My name is Stephanie, and I'm going to help you get some new clothes whether you like it or not!" She grabbed my elbow and took off, pulling my flustered self along. She practically shoved me into a changing room and put her hands on her hips. "So, what style do you like?"

"Um, something I can work out in?"

"Loose or tight?"

"Tight."

"Long-sleeved, short-sleeved, or sleeveless?"

"Sleeveless."

"Yoga or compression pants?"

"Compression."

"Stay here - I will be RIGHT back!" And she disappeared in a flurry.

Riku came up with a smirk on his face. "Well, she was definitely a strange one."

"Aren't we all sometimes?" I asked, sighing.

"I guess you could say that." He held up his hand, dangling a pair of simple black sneakers in front of me. They looked comfy, flexible, and suitable for running. "Here. I found socks, too." He tossed the shoes and a pack of socks into the corner of the dressing room as Stephanie returned with a sizeable bundle of clothes.

"Here you go!" I got some different styles of pants and tank tops. Do you need any, er..." She shot Riku a glance, then glanced down at my too-baggy shirt. Comprehension filled my mind.

"That would be great. 34 B. Nothing fancy."

"Got it! Start trying on that stuff, and we'll go from there!" She handed me the clothes and bustled off again.

"What was that about?" Riku asked.

"Nothing!" I said quickly, ducking into the changing room and shutting the door.

Stephanie had given me a small selection of different styles of compression pants, in varying shades of red. The tops were all black, with different styles. I tugged off the belt that Riku had lent me; the pants were so baggy that they fell straight to the floor. I suppressed a giggled while I pulled on a pair of compression pants, relieved to be in pants that actually fit (and surprised that Stephanie had managed to guess my size). The shirt fell off next, and I was just about to pull a tank top over my abused bra when a knock sounded on the door.

"Hey! I got you some more stuff. I hope it's the right size!" A small plastic bag dangled from Stephanie's hand over the door - bless her heart, she didn't want to embarrass me at all.

"Thank you so much," I said, taking the bag. Inside were a few simple black sports bras that actually provided support, and multiple pairs of soft black underwear. I nearly squealed with delight, yanking off my ruined bra and slipping on a new one, and then tugging on a tank top that had flexible boning in the fabric for shape.

"Well, are you done yet? Come on, let's see!" Stephanie called out. I laughed and opened the door, stepping into view self-consciously. Stephanie whistled, and Riku raised an eyebrow.

"Well, then! I guess I did alright! What do you think? Do you like it?"

I nodded enthusiastically and thanked her, then turned to Riku. "How much munny do we have?"

"Enough. Trust me. Get whatever you need."

I gave him a skeptical look, but moved to go back into the changing room. Stephanie grabbed my arm.

"Wait! Do you REALLY want to change back into those clothes?"

"Not really..."

"Do you want these clothes?"

"I was planning on getting them, yes."

"Then keep them on! Here," she turned me around and yanked the tags from my clothes, then pushed me back into the changing room. "Go ahead and put on those shoes, too. I'll ring them up when you get finished. Come up to the counter when you're ready, okay?"

"Sure! Thanks a bunch, Stephanie."

"It's my pleasure!" She skipped off.

I sat and opened the pack of socks (which were also black - I was beginning to see a theme here) and pulled on a pair, then tugged on my shoes. "Stephanie's a nice girl."

Riku nodded, staying silent as I gathered all the clothes in a neat pile. The clothes that Riku lent me (and my battered bra) went into the back of underwear that Stephanie gave me. I check the tags on everything to make sure that it was all the same size, satisfied when I found it was. I gathered the clothes in my arms, and we set off towards the register.

Stephanie cheerfully rang up my order. Riku pulled a handful of munny out of his pocket; I deliberately didn't look to see how much it all cost.

"Well, thanks a lot for your help, Stephanie," I said as I picked up the large bag on the counter.

"It was my pleasure. You have a good evening!"

I smiled over my shoulder and stepped out into the cool evening air.

Riku sighed. "We've still got a little while here. Do you want to get some food? I'm hungry."

"Food sounds like a great idea."

Almost an hour later, we were wandering the town, our bellies full.

"Hey! Hey, wait!"

I whirled around to see Stephanie running towards us, clutching something in her hands. She stopped in front of us, panting.

"I... thought... you might... want a jacket." She huffed and held out her hand, dropping the object into my arms. I held it out, realizing that it was a nice, new denim jacket. Upon my inquiring glance, Stephanie smiled softly. "You must understand - we get a lot of people here who survive their worlds getting attacked or destroyed. I see it so often, and I know that look. I like to do something nice for these people, because I know it must be tough, so I got you a jacket. I figured that you might be a little chilly what with all those tank tops." She looked at me expectantly.

I stared in shock. "I... don't know what to say! Just... thank you. Really." I slipped the jacket on, tugging it down - it was a perfect fit.

Stephanie grinned. "You're welcome. I need to get back to work. Come back any time, okay? I look forward to seeing you again!"

I smiled softly and waved as she bustled off like a little tornado. I tugged the jacket closer around me. Stephanie was right - it was chilly, and I was thankful for the warmth.

"Well, that was nice of her," Riku commented. He sounded slightly surprised. "Come on. It's almost time to meet up with that witch."

I sighed and followed him back out to the plaza, which was now devoid of people. The clock tower chimed again, proudly proclaiming that it was eight o' clock. I looked around the plaza for Maleficent. Riku settled down on a bench. I took that as a sign to wait, so I walked over to the fountain and began examining it. Stained glass covered the back wall, glowing from an internal light.

Something brushed against my leg, like a cat. I turned to look at it, only to stop short.

A large black ant-thing with huge yellow eyes stared straight back at me, its antennae quivering.

I screamed, there was a bright flash, and I was somehow seated on the ground, staring at a large black scorch mark on the cement before me.

"My, my," a voice cooed. I looked up to see Maleficent striding towards me, Riku trailing behind with a strange expression on his face.

"Thank you," I blurted.

"Whatever for?"

"Y-you... blew up that ant thing!"

Maleficent chuckled. Her eyes were bright. "No, my dear. You did."

"I what?" I stood up and brushed the dusty residue off my pants - I hadn't had them for two hours and they were already dirty. I felt very flustered as I picked up my bag of clothes.

"You used magic, child. It is untamed, untrained - and very dangerous. This isn't the first time it's happened, is it?"

I looked at her with distrust, my heart beating hard. I didn't want to believe her, but she made sense. It wasn't the first time it had happened. Vases, dishes, the remote... I didn't want to think about it.

Maleficent held out her hand, her other already on Riku's shoulder. "Come, now. Let's get back to our world, and I will soon teach you how to control your power."

I looked at her warily, then sighed and stepped forward, figuring that I had no choice.

I just hoped that I wouldn't regret it.