Chapter 4: The Princesses

Kairi slowly came out an exhaustive, dreamless sleep, groaning, "Ugh..."

Sore... soreness everywhere...

Though, no pain...

She slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in a bed, under the covers, in an unfamiliar and rather plain room. "Where...?"

"Ah, awake at last dear," came a gentle voice.

Kairi turned her head to see a middle-aged woman sitting next to her bed in a chair. Her first instinct would have been to jump in surprise... yet... she felt so calm in the woman's presence. She was tall, in a full blue gown with a white opening around her coral bone. She had a gold necklace around her neck, a matching gold tiara on her head and long blonde hair. Her eyes were a kind blue, looking Kairi over with a soft smile.

Kairi felt... felt like she knew this woman somehow... she...

"A...aurora?" she questioned, not sure how she knew the name, bringing her hands up to her own lips afterwords in confusion.

The woman, Aurora, chuckled softly. "It is normal, for one Princess of Heart, to recognize another, though, that you know my name is curious."

Kairi looked at her, baffled. "Princess of Heart...?"

Aurora gave her a patient look. "You have not a clue, do you child, whom you are?"

Kairi frowned in thought. "The voice in that weird dream... on that mural... it called me that."

Aurora studied her curiously. "Oh? Would you care to tell me of it, child?"

"Well... I was falling through water towards a mural, I saw myself painted on it with a Keyblade..." Kairi began.

She froze. "Keyblade."

Everything came back to her at once. The dream. The night. The loss. Everyone dying. The final stand. The rescue.

Kairi bowed her head, tears streaming down her face, starting to hiccup. "T-they're all g-gone..."

Aurora was on the bed in an instant wrapping a comforting hand around her shoulder and leaning in to kiss her forehead before pulling Kairi's head to her shoulder. "Shhh child, shh."

Kairi couldn't stop herself from sobbing deeply into the woman's shoulder, as much as she didn't want to show that weakness infront of a stranger, even one as seemingly nice as Aurora. Her body wracked itself, her throat going tight and sore as minutes went by, she just couldn't stop seeing her friends and family having their hearts torn out in her head. Aurora gave a soft sigh and a brief glow of light emanated from her fingers. A minute later, the pattering of footsteps come to the door, and people walked in. She caught glimpses of other woman, and as each walked into the room, calmness washed over Kairi...

It felt...

Unnatural.

Her sobs stopped in moments, the effect these people apparently had on her scarred Kairi, and she couldn't help but look at them, and Aurora, with a hint of fear. "W-what are y-you doing to me?"

Aurora gave her a patient, if but sad look. "There is no reason to fear us child. We merely shared in your pain, distributed it amongst us to make it more bearable for you."

Kairi stared at her. What...?

"Each of us has lost a home, and those we cared for. We have learned how to suffer it well," explained Aurora, "Woe be it that it had to pass to begin with."

Kairi went silent, her eyes turning to eye the five woman watching her with sad expressions on their faces. "Who... are you all?"

The first of them was a woman slightly younger than Aurora. She had tied up blonde hair, and kind blue eyes. She wore a brown dress, with white sleeves, and an apron attached to the bottom of the dress.

She tilted her head and introduced herself. "I am Cinderella."

The next one bore similar clothes to Cinderella, except blue instead of brown. Her hair and eyes were brown, but still equally kind. She had a hunch that sensation of 'kindness' was shared among all of them. She had a blue ribbon tied up in the back of her hair.

She crossed her arms and smiled at Kairi. "I am Belle."

The next one was dressed the most revealing out of the group, a bit more than Kairi herself would have been comfortable with. She thought she had read about that kind of clothes or seen it in a store once, a bedlah? It, and the poofy pants she had on blue. She had rather large golden earrings on, almost hidden by her thick and long hair held back by a blue ribbon with a sapphire set in it. She had a golden necklace as well. Her kind, dark brown eyes regarded Kairi softly.

"Jasmine," was all she offered quietly.

The next was a young woman a bit older than Kairi was. She looked even more innocent, if but highly naive looking, than the rest. She had a long yellow skirt, a blue bodice top, and a red cape. Her black hair was shorter than the rest. Her brown eyes were no less kind than.

The woman tilted her head. "Snow White."

The final one was a girl a bit younger than Kairi was, maybe ten or so. She had on a blue dress and a white pinafore, her barely revealed legs showing white tights. She had long blonde hair with a black ribbon, and kind blue eyes.

She curtsied. "I'm Alice."

Kairi's gaze went back and forth between them all, mesmerized by them. This... feeling of knowing... was utterly confusing her. She had never met a single one of them, yet, she felt as if she knew them all her entire life. Not to mention...

Her eyes went wide. "That's... a lot of light..."

Like... holy crap... she just felt it all of the sudden. The gathered light of all six of the others... it was intense, but was also sooooo warming. She almost felt the desire to just drift off into sleep in their presence.

Aurora chuckled. "You could say, child, it's a common trait of a Princess of Heart."

Kairi frowned at that term. "What IS a Princess of Heart?"

Aurora explained softly. "Princesses of Heart are woman born with heart's of pure light, without darkness. There are always seven of us, no more, no less. If one of us should perish, another would be born to take her place. Our light... is to be honest, one of the last few things keeping the Realm of Light in existence anymore. So much of it has been drowned in darkness over the last decade."

Kairi's eyebrows furrowed. "No darkness...? That's not natural."

Aurora slowly shook her head. "Perhaps, perhaps not, but, it at least allows us to never suffer the fate of becoming a Heartless."

Kairi perked at that, a wave of pure, raw relief washing over her. "Well, guess I don't have a problem with being a 'Princess of Heart' then, if only for that."

She shot Aurora's dress a dirty look. "You're not putting me in one of those though, not on your life."

There was a collective laugh at that.

"So then child, will you tell us your name?" inquired Aurora.

"I'm Kairi," Kairi offered in response.

That, to her surprise, gave Aurora pause. She noted a number of the other princesses also giving her name thought.

"Oh, isn't that the name that Sora is always chasing after?" asked Alice.

Kairi blinked. "Sora?"

Aurora gave Kairi another once over. "Red hair, blue eyes, radiating light. It would appear the brief description he was given does fit."

"Wonder if he realizes he found her," mused Belle.

"Considering the smile on his face when he brought her in, he most likely suspects it," answered Jasmine.

Kairi gave them a perplexed look. "Umm... why was he looking for me?"

Aurora shook her head. "All he ever told us was that it was a mission he had been given when he was a small child. He asked each of us if we had seen someone matching that brief description when he first met us."

That... made even less sense to her than someone randomly looking for her.

Belle gave a small laugh. "Riku complains about him 'goofing off' in other worlds looking for you when he's out on assignment from the Masters."

Kairi separated herself from Aurora and sat up on her own. "Masters...?"

"You are in the Land of Departure, in the Princesses suite of the castle," explained Aurora, "We were all rescued and taken here during the fall of our worlds for safety by the Keyblade Masters."

Kairi gripped her blanket tightly and spoke bitterly, "So, they were just as late trying to save your worlds as they were mine."

Aurora sighed and gave her a patient look. "Kairi, there is nothing the Masters can do anymore, not against the darkness devouring the Realm of Light whole. That thing is unstoppable, and unrelenting, it consumes everything in it's path, people and world's alike. It has gorged itself beyond measure. They cannot fight it anymore, they haven't been able to in years. If they were to face it, all they would do is feed their hearts to it and greatly empower it more than it already is."

"Then they're not real Masters as far as I'm concerned, I know Master Aqua could have stopped it before it became this strong," she said bitterly.

There was an immense, and heavy silence in the room all of the sudden. The unnatural calmness the other princesses radiated failed, revealing extreme unease.

"Kairi... how do you know that name?" asked Aurora, a bit of force and unease in her voice.

"Ten years ago, Master Aqua saved me, chose me, she promised she'd come back and teach me about myself, about light and darkness, about the Keyblade," Kairi whispered reverently.

Now the feeling of unease warped into awkwardness and felt uncomfortable. None of the Princesses, even Aurora, were looking at her anymore, each of them had found some corner or object to stare at.

Kairi looked at them in confusion. "What?"

When none of them responded, she grew annoyed. "Fine, whatever, and anyway, where's my Keyblade?"

Aurora pointed silently towards the nearby wall. Ah, there Oathkeeper was! An instinct took over her, and she held out her hand towards it. In a flash of light, the Keyblade disappeared and reappeared in her hand. It could do that?! Awesome... even if she lost her Keyblade, she could just call it back to her. She ran a hand over the Keyblade lovingly. Master Aqua's gift had finally come to her, even if it had come late, it was at last in her hands...

"A Princess of Heart as a wielder," mused Aurora, studying her, "I don't think there has ever been one before."

"Or as a fighter," said Belle, walking over and poking the little visible muscle on Kairi's arms, "Look at these!"

Kairi bated the woman's hands away. "Hey!"

Belle gave her a teasing smile. Kairi merely scowled in response. She could see why none of them were fighters. They were just... to girly for her... didn't look like they trained or fought at all. Did they even do basic exercising?

"Her light seems unusually strong for her age," pointed out Cinderella, "Neither Alice or Snow White, the two closest to her in age, are close to as strong as she is with it. To be honest, Aurora, you're the only one stronger than her with it, being eldest in all."

Aurora tilted her head in acknowledgement. "She's aligned her light towards combat and personal strength. Though, while it is strong, from what I can feel it is still very much unrefined."

"Well, it's not like I had anyone around to really teach me how to use it," muttered Kairi, "I kind of winged it. I can only do basic things consciously. The big stuff only comes out when I'm in danger, I don't really have control over it."

"Big stuff...?" questioned Jasmine.

"Umm... I wiped an entire district clean of Heartless a few years ago with a nova of light, and then last night...," she began before trailing off uncomfortably.

"I assume then that bright light far off in the night's sky was you," said Aurora, her eyes appraising Kairi in a new light, "We could see it all the way from our windows on this world."

Jasmine crossed her arms and frowned. "Wonder if I should have asked Aladdin to teach me how to use a sword when I had the chance..."

Aurora softly chuckled. "That option left us when we left our youth. Our light settled into what we are now, to try to temper it another way wouldn't have the results you'd seek."

Alice hesitated, looking uncertain and a little afraid. "W-what about me? I'm still young, am I going to have to learn how to fight? I don't want to..."

Aurora got off the bed and knelt down next to Alice. "No one should fight if they do not wish to, and if the Masters get any ideas for you by looking at Kairi, I'll set them straight on that matter. Understand?"

Alice looked relieved and nodded. "Yes, thank you!"

Kairi held back her tongue. If Alice could learn to fight and become strong enough to make a difference, in Kairi's opinion she should. But, it wasn't honestly her choice. Not to mention... she supposed Aurora was right, no one should be forced into a life they don't want to live.

Kairi pushed her blanket away and swung her legs off the bed, reaching down to massage a sore knee before closing her eyes and pouring a bit of light from her hands down into it. "Ahh... there we go."

"Still sore? We healed your wounds, but...," began Aurora.

Kairi waved it off. "It's fine, and thank you for that."

Aurora gave her a warm smile. "You're welcome."

Kairi repeated the process, putting a bit of warming light into her sore spots before standing up. "So... where are these 'Keyblade Masters'?

"Master Yen Sid sent word for the others to return when Sora brought you here, hopefully they will all be gathered in a few hours," said Aurora.

Kairi frowned. "Why gather them just for me?"

Aurora gave her a patient look. "You are the seventh and final Princess of Heart. That you have been found and brought to safety is a celebratory occasion. In addition, you are one chosen by the Keyblade, that would require them to come and meet you, to select a Master for you to learn from..."

Kairi narrowed her eyes. "Master Aqua is my master, no one else!"

Aurora looked uncomfortable. "Kairi... she..."

The eldest Princess of Heart trailed off, reaching a hand up to massage her forehead.

"She what?" demanded Kairi, starting to feel a little unsettled.

Aurora shook her head slowly, her eyes turning to give the other Princesses a warning look. "It's not for us to say. Ask the Masters."

Kairi had already accepted after hearing Stitch's words back in Traverse Town that something had happened to Master Aqua, that she was lost somewhere. But... to hearing her fate being skirted around like this was making he legs feel like jello and her stomach twist. She was starting to get the feeling whatever had happened to her master was a lot worse than being lost. It scared her...

"Fine, whose currently here? You mentioned a Yen Sid?" asked Kairi, brushing away her growing anxiety.

"Master Yen Sid is a... retired Keyblade Master, he still advises and aids the active Masters with his wisdom and magic," explained Aurora, "He relocated his tower to the Land of Departure for safety with his magic some years ago."

"I believe Master Eraqus is present as well," chimed in Belle, "Otherwise, it's just the two boys. Master Terra, Master Ventus, and Master Mickey are currently elsewhere."

Terra. Ventus as in Ven...

Those were the two names Stitch had given her, the friends the little blue creature had said were looking for Aqua ten years ago. Well... if they were Aqua's friends, maybe she was being a little dismissive. She could probably learn a thing or two from them.

"Who is Eraqus?" asked Kairi, shifting focus.

"Master Eraqus was the steward of the Land of Departure before passing the mantel to Master Terra. He was the teacher and Master of Terra, Ventus... and Aqua," explained Aurora.

Kairi's eyes went wide. The master of her master?! Woah... she had never even considered it, but, Master Aqua DID have to have been taught to wield a Keyblade by someone. Now THIS guy, she had to meet, she'd be more than willing to learn from him!

"Where is he at the moment?" asked Kairi eagerly.

"Scolding his two wards for breaking procedure," said Aurora with amusement.

Kairi frowned. "Does this 'breaking procedure' have anything to do with saving my life?"

There was a twinkle in Aurora's eye. "Perhaps."

Ah great... he was probably just as stuck up and strict as Leon was. But, like Leon, he'd probably be an excellent teacher. Tsk.

A mischievous smile spread across Kairi's face. "Well, I suppose I ought to go 'rescue' my rescuers then. Can you take me to them?"

Aurora glanced at the bed. "You should take the time to rest while you can Kairi."

She shook her head. "No thanks, just take me to them."

"I have a feeling you're going to be a rather stubborn addition to the Land of Departure, aren't you?" asked Aurora with amusement.

Kairi rolled her eyes and made for the door. "I'll find them myself if you don't want to take me."

"Alright alright," said Aurora before turning to the other princesses, "That will be all dears, I assume the Masters will call for us at some point in regards to Kairi."

With that, Aurora left, and Kairi followed out behind her...

Author's Notes:

Simple chapter, Kairi meeting the other Princesses, learning a little about herself and the Keybearers, not to mention the skirting of the 'Aqua' issue.

Next chapter: Kairi meets Sora, Riku, and Eraqus, amongst potentially other things, depending on how far I decide to go in that chapter.