Scene 3 - Training

Training was nice. Training was wonderful, really. Yen Sid instructed her on a lot of mental exercises, which were alright, but what she really enjoyed was the training with the King, often with Donald and Goofy helping out. Donald coached her in magic, and Goofy was usually her sparring partner. (It was less "sparring" and more "hitting Goofy with her Keyblade while he used his shield to block", but it still counted as practice.)

Right now it was just her and the King practicing. He was walking her through basic forms and stances, which wasn't as much fun as hitting Goofy around, but was certainly preferable to Yen Sid's meditation lessons. The King had an endless well of patience, it seemed, though he wasn't the best when it came to explaining things. When he got flustered, it was more often with himself than it was with Kairi.

"Is that all for today, Your Majesty?" Kairi asked, on their third break, as she cast a squinting glance at the sky. That was habit more than it was anything else, seeing as the sky was caught in an eternal twilight and she could not actually tell time by it. Still, they had been at this for a while, and while she could not outright tell the King she wanted to quit, she did want to get back to Riku's thalassa charm. It'd been a few days since finding all the shells—and thus, since training started—but she hadn't had a lot of time to work on it, with all the training and question asking. (She would pry more answers out of Yen Sid if it killed her.)

The King nodded, and banished his Keyblade. "Yeah, I think that's enough," he said. Then he broke into an uneasy smile. "By the way, Kairi, there's no need for all the 'Your Majesty's—just Mickey is fine, you know?"

Kairi raised her eyebrows. She couldn't say she was surprised, entirely. He scowled every time Donald or Goofy called him it, if only briefly, though she'd chalked that up to him being a little exasperated to have his closest friends be so formal with him, constantly. Still, while she knew the King well by now, she could not comfortably call them friends, and so she had to check: "Are you sure?" she asked.

The King—Mickey—nodded. "I'm sure. Let's head back inside and see how Riku and Sora are doing."

Yen Sid had said it could take a few more days for Sora and Riku to complete their task and return. How they did not need food or water or anything in this state, Kairi still didn't understand, but she'd been assured they were fine, and would be fine. Goofy had quietly told her it was magic, and that she should leave it at that, and she understood. She just wasn't used to being able to explain things with a mere "it's magic", and it would be a long time before she would be.

Kairi sighed and settled herself down on the ground, next to Riku this time. She would sit between the two of them, but there wasn't enough room, and she feared jostling them, lest it mess up their test. She started stringing the next thalassa shell onto the charm, thinking about what question she would ask Yen Sid next. There was always more questions to ask about the Keyblade War, which he was happy to answer, though she was getting the feeling he was running out of new answers to impart on her. She'd asked about Xehanort a few times, and might press more about him, but those conversations usually ended in Yen Sid grumbling and stroking his beard, as if worried about something. She could never pry hard enough to figure out what, though she had—briefly—sensed something… unsettling. Something that she thought came from Sora's heart, but it was gone before she could be sure. Yen Sid had not answered that question when she'd asked, and she'd since given up on asking any questions about Sora and Riku's test, because it was clear Yen Sid was not going to answer any more than how many Keyholes they had locked so far.

"How's the charm coming along?" Goofy asked, as he passed her. He looked like he was heading for one of the windows, but he paused so that he could talk to her.

"Huh? Oh. It's coming," Kairi replied. She hastily started stitching again, having forgotten to while lost in her thoughts.

"That's great!" Goofy said, beaming. He headed over to join Donald at the larger, moon-shaped window.

"Gee, I hope Sora and Riku are alright…" Donald sighed.

"They'll be fine as long as they're together," Kairi assured him, though perhaps not with as much conviction as normal. I only wish I could be with them, she thought, not for the first time.

"Master Yen Sid," the King—Mickey—said. There was an uneasiness in his tone that made Kairi's hands still, for a moment. "Listen, I know I might just be worryin', but do ya think—"

"Look! A raven!" Goofy called, before Mickey could finish. Kairi looked up to see the black bird shoot through the window and over Goofy's head. It looked like it was carrying a scroll in its claws, and something else in its mouth. Something that caught the dim light and glinted, for a moment.

The raven had flown to Yen Sid's desk before Kairi could be sure, dropping the items and leaving through another one of the windows. Kairi got to her feet and moved so she could see the desk, just as Mickey trotted up to it and paused. He did not even look at the scroll, his attention solely fixed on the other object—a crown. He picked it up between his fingers, and swallowed so hard Kairi could see it.

"Why… this is Minnie's…" he said, very slowly.

Minnie was the Queen—his wife. Kairi chewed her tongue, watching Mickey. Her heart felt like it was in her throat, even though it was not entirely her distress to feel. She did not know Minnie, not personally, but Mickey talked about her enough, and if he didn't, then Donald and Goofy did. She sounded like a very wonderful woman—er, mouse.

"The letter?" Yen Sid prompted.

Mickey looked up, blinking for a second as if he did not understand. Then he jolted. "Right!" he said, setting the crown down very carefully. He unrolled the scroll with trembling hands, and read over it. He appeared to get tenser and tenser with each word he read, until finally, he gasped aloud.

"What's it say?" Kairi asked. Goofy looked like he'd been about to ask the same question.

Mickey looked up from the letter. He started to speak, hesitated, before finally saying: "It's from Maleficent. She's kidnapped Minnie."

"She has Queen Minnie?!" Donald and Goofy yelped, in perfect unison.

"She wants me to return to Disney Castle," Mickey continued. "Or… Or else…"

"Mickey, there is no time to waste!" Yen Sid said.

Mickey nodded, setting the letter down. The distant look on his face became determination, and he nodded again. "Right!" he agreed. He picked up Minnie's crown and started for the door. "You fellas stay here, alright?" he said, nodding at Donald and Goofy.

They both immediately snapped to attention.

"King Mickey! We're going with you!" Goofy declared.

"Yeah! We can't let you go alone!"

Mickey stared at them a moment, and then broke into a grin. "Gosh, I guess you're right! Friends need to stick together, huh?" He turned to Yen Sid, looking quite a bit brighter. "Master Yen Sid, we'll be right back! I promise!"

"Uhm-" Kairi began, before the three could reach the door. The words caught on her lips a moment—while Mickey had told her to call him simply Mickey, it was much easier to do that in her head than it was to do it out loud. "Can I- Can I go with?" she asked.

Mickey and Donald and Goofy exchanged glances, and then Goofy said:

"I don't see why not."

"But we have to hurry!" Donald said, with a worried glance at Mickey. Kairi nodded, to say she understood—both the need for haste, and Donald's worry. She cast a look at Sora and Riku, sending them both a determined smile. You two better stay safe while I'm gone!

And then they were out the door, which lead immediately to outside, rather than down a flight or so of stairs first. Kairi understood that this was Yen Sid's doing, with his magic, and did not question it, instead hurrying to the Gummi Ship along with everyone else.

The drive was tense. Mickey was constantly shifting in his seat, eyes fixed on Minnie's crown in his hands. Donald was curled like a wire about to spring, and his driving was worse than it normally was.

Just as she thought it, Goofy reached a hand closer to the controls. "Hey, Donald, maybe I should—"

"I got it!" Donald snapped.

Goofy sighed, then turned around in his seat to look at Mickey. "We're almost there," he said, with a smile. "Everything's gonna be just fine!"

"Mm?" Mickey looked up at him, then cracked a smile too. It was not the brightest smile Kairi had seen on his face. "Yeah. I know. Just… worried."

They arrived at Disney Castle in one piece, thankfully. Mickey was the first to climb out of the ship and race out of sight, and Donald was soon after him. Goofy waited for Kairi though, which she thanked him for.

"Wouldn't want you getting lost," he replied. "This way!"

Kairi wasn't sure where they were heading—a throne room? That would seem most likely, if the Queen was a hostage. Where else would a villain wait? It also seemed in Maleficent's tastes, not that Kairi knew very much about the witch. And, hadn't they all been on some sort of truce last time they met…? She thought they had been, but regardless, it was definitely broken now.

She was right about Maleficent waiting the throne room, though she had not imagined a throne room this size. Unsurprising, though, was Maleficent lounging in one of the two thrones, and—whatever her minion's name was—was holding Minnie. Minnie did not appear distressed, only watchful, sharp eyes considering the situation.

Kairi made to summon her Keyblade, but Goofy stopped her. "Don't want them hurting the Queen," he whispered. Kairi lowered her hand, cursing herself for not thinking of that.

"Pete, you big thug!" Donald called, once they were close enough not to all be shouting at each other in order to be heard. Pete. That's what his name was. Kairi almost thought I knew that, before, realizing, no. She had not known that.

"Thug works for me!" Pete laughed. "We all got our place, don't we?"

"Hmph! No underling of mine will be insulted so!" Maleficent said. It seemed to be for Pete as much as for Donald, based on the glare Maleficent shot Pete and the way he winced. Then a smile spread on Maleficent's face—a false smile if Kairi had ever seen one. "Besides," she continued. "I have great things in store for dear Pete, and all the worlds, once they are mine!"

"That day's never going to come, Maleficent," Mickey argued. For being so nervous on the drive here, he'd recovered well. He still clutched Minnie's crown tightly in one hand.

Maleficent tsked. "I'd suggest reconsidering. Unless, of course, the Queen's life means nothing to you?"

"Mickey! Don't you listen to her!" Minnie called. She'd shoved one of Pete's large hands away from her, so she could speak. "You can't let Maleficent have her—"

Pete noticed, and covered her mouth again, muffling the rest she had to say. Kairi tensed, and Mickey jumped.

"No! Minnie!" He reached out toward her, then remembered himself. Kairi saw him take a deep breath before he turned his attention back to Maleficent. "Alright, then. Tell us what you want."

Maleficent pretended to consider it, then swept to her feet. "Mm, perhaps… Shall I start with this world? Though, I must say I preferred it in its darker permutation."

Pete nodded his agreement.

"You're lying!" Donald quacked.

Mickey nodded. "He's right. Not even you would go through this much trouble just for that!"

"Hmm… but…" Goofy scratched his head. "Didn't she go through even more trouble last time she tried to take the castle…?" No one but Kairi was paying him enough attention to answer, and Kairi didn't know the answer.

"What is it you're really after?" Mickey demanded.

Maleficent sighed, dramatically, and then smiled. What was it with villains and smiling like they were so pleased with everything, anyway? "Very perceptive," Maleficent admitted. "Well, as you know, I've been looking to take the worlds as my own—I tried gathering the seven pure hearts, but the power that granted me was not enough." Kairi swore Maleficent's attention flickered to her, just for a moment. "Then it occurred to me… You have the 'data' for all the worlds, do you not?"

Kairi frowned, not understanding, but Mickey and Donald and Goofy all seemed to. Pete chuckled, and Maleficent's smile widened. She held her hand out.

"And now, you will give it to me."

"No!" Donald shouted.

"Uh-oh!" Goofy gasped.

"What do ya want it for?" Mickey asked. He did not sound as threatening as he probably could've. Kairi just wished she had time to ask what they all meant by this—she would have to ask later.

Maleficent scoffed. "I'm afraid that is no concern of yours!"

Mickey looked about ready to dart forward and attack, but Pete waggled his finger at him. "Ah-ah-ah! Wouldn't want our Royal Minnie Mousiness getting a boo-boo, would we?"

Donald and Goofy exchanged worried glances. Maleficent stepped forward, running a hand over the orb in her staff. Kairi's skin prickled at the feel of the uncast spell.

"I see you have failed to see the futility of your situation. Very well…" Maleficent swung her staff. "Face your doom!"

A dark spell of some sort flew at Mickey. Kairi summoned her Keyblade before she realized it—Mickey might have had summoned his, as well, except he was still holding Minnie's crown. Before Kairi could move, a weapon she thought she recognized flew in from behind her. Her eyes widened in surprise, in part from the shock of it, but also because—

It landed in front of Mickey, blocking Maleficent's blast. It was a good thing Mickey was so small. A second weapon like the first—yes, she definitely recognized them—flew at Pete. It didn't hit, but distracted him long enough for Minnie to get in a well-placed burst of light. She was running to stand behind Mickey before the dust completely settled. Both of the weapons—both of the chakrams—dissolved into ash.

Minnie safely behind him, and her crown in his left hand, Mickey summoned his Keyblade. He pointed it straight at Maleficent. "You lose…!"

Maleficent scowled. Pete scrambled to his feet, and rubbed at his head. When Maleficent said nothing, he turned to her. "Uh, ya know, I think the pipsqueak's right. We better hit the road!"

"Fine." Maleficent wrinkled her nose. "You have won this time, 'Your Majesties', but I know now that what I seek lies behind these walls. Trust that I will eliminate you in due time." She opened one of those dark portals and was gone, Pete hurrying after her.