In the morning on the fifth day the key bearers + princess helped Darkwing Duck thwart a bank robbery and round up prisoners from a jailbreak. A very exciting way to begin the day. Once Gosalyn learned the others were superheroes too, she wanted to know absolutely everything about their adventures and the bad guys they'd defeated. Of course by everything she meant everything. A detailed recollection of every single swing given to every single villain. It took a while to satisfy her questions. Darkwing, whos' only major flaw was ego had a hard time swallowing all the attention being directed to someone else.
After a quick lunch break, the afternoon hours were swept away sledding and ice skating with Anna, Kristoff, Elsa and Olaf in Arendelle. No matter where they went, everyone made fast friends. Olaf of course wanted warm hugs from everybody. Kairi thought he was adorable. Anna took notice of how Rachel was looking at Riku throughout the visit, as well as the way he looked at her. Rachel was like a sister to them and they were very acute to her feelings as she was to theirs. Kairi made sure to confirm their thoughts before Rachel could say anything. Then the sisters were very interested in Riku, hoping to find out more about the guy who'd turned their friend into quite the smitten kitten.
The day ended in Radiant Garden. Kairi was astounded and in awe to finally be in the world where she was born without the worlds being in jeopardy. She wanted to see everything. The city, the squares and of course the castle. Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, Tifa and Cid had continued their duties as the city's guardians. Ansem the Wise had been like the king and maintained order. But with him gone someone needed to step up to keep the peace.
Kairi went through the castle so quickly her friends had to run to keep up. She wanted to see everything but she was often torn between taking a closer look at something and seeing what was around the next corner. The way she was going one might have thought this was her very last chance to see home. Still, sometimes the obvious (like having friends who own an interdimensional reformed pirate ship who were willing to play taxi driver) eludes people. Eventually she was so overwhelmed with awe and joy she got way-legged and fell to her knees crying.
Eventually they worked their way up to a balcony and watched the sunset pour over the city. Kairi regained her footing but was so happy she hadn't stopped crying. Every time she seemed to get ahold of herself she would see something else, get emotional and the tears would flow once again. She closed her eyes and felt the evening breeze begin to float in. She breathed in deeply the smell of flowers and chimney smoke. The crimson, gold and violet rays of the departing sun painting the cities rooftops and streets were what made the joyous tears flow without restraint. But it wasn't Sora she reached to in this happy moment. Kairi stood between Rachel and Bryan and held each of their hands firmly as they looked out over the great city. Now she could fully appreciate the unique bond she had with the Masters.
They were all born of Radiant Garden.
At some point in their lives they all must have walked the same streets, breathed the same air, felt the same breeze, observed the same sunrises and watched the same stars.
Once Kairi got a grip on herself, Sora, Rachel and Bryan took her and Riku to Merlin's house for a surprise visit. The old wizard was giddy as a school boy to see them all again safe and sound. Instantly he prepared tea. Merlin admitted this charming visit caught him off guard but was no less welcome (surprisingly for someone supposed to be able to see into the future). Archimedes was there too. Rachel and Bryan could see right through is grumpy old owl act. He was happy to see them too. Merlin had in fact only come home just that morning from Disney Castle to discuss a great many things with King Mickey and Master Yen Sid. The wizard would not be pressed to say more. What Master Yen Sid chose to share with his students was not his business.
Sora asked Merlin if he could go back inside his magic book to say hello to Pooh, Piglet and the others. Kairi asked what he was talking about. He told her all about the book "The 100 Acre Wood". Of course that sounded interesting so everyone wanted to come.
"This must be the magic book Merlin told me about that one time." Rachel said primarily to Bryan as they walked down a forested dirt path.
"Merlin told you about it but you haven't explored it yet? You've been missing out!" Sora said. He knocked on the door that said Mr. Sanders in gold letters above it. No one answered.
"Well it was just in passing. And in a letter no less. He mentioned it when he gave me one of my own."
"You have a magic book?" Kairi said excitedly.
"I'll tell you about it later." Rachel promised.
"Is no one here?" Bryan asked. "You know," He said looking thoughtful, mostly to his sister. "It is a little bit stupid all the times we've been here and knew about his magic book we never actually asked about it.
After peaking into every window Sora confirmed Pooh was not at home. He wasn't worried. He had a few ideas where he might be. He wasn't at the honey tree or Rabbit's house. Eventually they found Pooh Bear and his friends taking turns pushing each other on the swing on the hill. Sora had just about run up the hill before Tigger bounced him and they tumbled back down to the bottom.
The group sat and talked for a while. Roo wanted to play hide and seek so they did. But it was getting dark in the 100 Acre Wood so it was once again time to say goodbye. But each departure became easier, especially for Pooh and friends. Sora had proven time and time again that he made true on his promises to return.
Merlin offered them a nightcap but the friends were fine with going back to the ship. Sora and company were surprised to hear they still had one place left to go. Riku asked Bryan where they were going so late but he wouldn't answer.
Bryan docked the King at its usual spot at the Mysterious Tower. The Masters had just shown their friends their home world. Now it was time to show them their home.
"We get to stay here!" Sora exploded.
"It looks just like your sculpture!" Kairi said. She was thrilled to finally be able to visit the place Rachel and Bryan spoke so fondly of.
"Welcome to our home sweet home." Rachel said with a bow.
"This is awesome! I never had a chance to explore much of the Tower before."
"Exploring can wait for tomorrow. We'll show you where the guest rooms are." Bryan led the way up the stairs.
The Masters took their friends up the stairs and down a hall to three doors that stood side-by-side. They were so close together the only thing separating them was the doorframes.
"What are these? Broom closets?" Riku asked.
"This is where you'll be staying." Rachel told him, announcing like they were allowed the honor of the master suite or something.
Riku looked over the arrangement again and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Just look inside." Bryan said.
Sora stepped up first and opened the first door. He and his friends looked in. Beyond the door was a complete room! The room was themed for the ocean. A realistic crystal octopus hung upside down on the ceiling with glowing orbs in each of its dangling legs. Much more unique than a typical crystal chandelier. The bed was a wooden ship with a mattress on top with drawers and a short ladder on its side. The carpet was the color of sand. The walls were painted with ocean creatures that looked incredibly lifelike. The wall by the bed was painted with a vibrant reef. The other wall was the open ocean.
"Mine!" Kairi cried.
"Watch this." Rachel said. She held up a fist and flicked her wrist like she were ringing a bell. Slowly at first the fish and dolphins on the walls began to move and swim about. Majestic whales danced their underwater ballet. Crabs scuttled around the reef. Bright nudibranchs slowly slid along at their sluggish pace, their colorful feathers all whispy in the water. A crystal orb in the center of a table in the middle of the room glowed blue and cast lights upon the ceiling like sunlight on the ocean sand. Light music played with the melodic cries of the flute and echoed the haunting melodies of the whale songs.
"I may never leave this room again." Kairi said breathless.
"I've come in here a time or two to kill the hours myself. Like going to the aquarium without paying admission." Rachel said. "To make it stop just flick your wrist the way I did a second ago."
"Why would I want to stop this?" Kairi put her hand on the wall and a playful dolphin came to investigate no differently than if they really were at an aquarium.
The next room was perfectly round, like being in an upside down fish bowl. Sora was about to stride right in but Riku grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. The floor had been done with a perfect illusion of being high up in a tall tree and looking down. They carefully tested the flooring. It felt like painted hardwood but they couldn't find even the tiniest plank seam. The walls could also be brought to life. Birds of all types would occasionally fly by, singing or screeching. The clouds moved by a phantom wind. Fog coiled by in the forest below. To the right of the door (which looked like the hollow of a tree) a portion of the tree trunk bulged outward and a thick branch stretched out several feet then twisted into the branches and twigs like a nest at the end. Drawers were cut into the trunk. Kairi brushed her hand against the branch. It was hard to tell it wasn't real. The bed was round and extremely plushy. Sora jumped, twisted and landed on his back.
"Oh! Oh, guys you gotta try this! It's like lying on a warm marshmallow. I call it!"
"Oh sure!" Riku said. I'll probably be left with the room with a pink carousel and a giant teacup for a bed."
"That would be hilarious." Sora said.
"Don't worry, the last one isn't bad." Bryan told him.
The last room looked like a stony cliff and rock quarry. Like the others, the walls were painted with such an exquisite illusion it was hard to see where wall and floor met. The wall scene showed a sun kissed ocean of stone that sloped downhill to a turquoise lake at the bottom. The back wall was textured like a rocky cliff and the bed was carved from a platform in the wall.
Sora wasn't paying as much attention to the third room as trying to figure out how the strange space between the rooms worked. He kept sticking his head between the two rooms to see how a room existed where a wall should be. Kairi started doing it too.
"Sora, stop that." Bryan said. "Kairi, you too."
"But this is-how can it? Even with magic-how?" Sora stuttered.
"I tried too but it just makes your head hurt. Just step back, say 'magic is amazing' and go get cake."
"Is that an option?" Kairi asked.
"Let's make it one."
They all went down to the stone kitchen and a small cake was already cut into five pieces. There were five plates, five forks, five cups and a pitcher of cold milk.
"Who made that? Riku asked, astonished by the speed.
"The kitchen," Bryan said.
"It's always been that way." Rachel added.
"You mean from upstairs the kitchen made a cake when I asked about it?" Kairi asked.
"It's heavily enchanted." Rachel explained.
The friends ate their cake and talked about magic. Satisfied with the cake in their teeth and refreshed by a tall glass of milk the quintet retired to their rooms. Sleep didn't take long to claim any of them. A long hard day of adventuring would do that to anybody.
Thus concluded the fifth day.