Woohoo! On time! Feeling a lot better and this chapter just seemed to flow so... YAY!

Oh, at the dancing part later on, I was listening to a version of the Fairy Tail theme where the fast part comes first so if you want listen to it while you read. And talking of music, those brownies are still up for grabs! We're near(ish) to the end so I'd like to give some out before then.

Follow Cookies: SNOzzie6!

Review Cookies: Nightwing2593 and N00bcakeinc!


Chapter eleven – The best and the worst

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…" a small chorus of voices greeted Naminé as she entered the main downstairs room. "Happy birthday dear Naminé! Happy birthday to you!"

Three small pairs of arms wrapped themselves around the teen. Naminé laughed as she hugged Rydia, Marlene and Tiana back. The room laughed and clapped. Various people gathered around the now eighteen year old girl to wish her a happy birthday. These people included Riku's group, Tifa, Eudora (Tiana's mother), the three girls, Barret (Marlene's father who had arrived the night before and immediately started to get on with Naminé, despite their differences in personality), Mushu, Cri-Kee, even Khan and finally, Roxas.

"Xion wants to also wish you a happy birthday," Riku said to the girl. "She sent us a message."

"Aww! That's sweet! If I don't see her again, would you mind passing on my thanks?" Naminé requested, getting a nod in return.

Eventually Naminé was dragged away from the crowd by the three girls, who sat her down on a chair.

"Now we need to do your hair!" Marlene exclaimed gleefully.

The three girls all started to work on the strands of Naminé's long hair. Despite their youth, skilful fingers weaved in and out, taking the golden locks with them. The three giggled as they danced around, braiding the longer parts. It was as if they were dancing and Naminé was some kind of Maypole, her hair the ribbons, weaved into intricate patterns. Smaller braids flowed seamlessly into longer ones and eventually the completed braid was folded several times upon itself, so that Naminé wouldn't have to worry it getting in her way.

"Now for the flowers!" Rydia giggled.

The three seven year olds gently wove pale blue and lilac flowers into Naminé's hair. They spread the throughout and around the top of Naminé's head, akin to a crown. Pleased with their handiwork, they dragged Naminé to a mirror.

"Wow…" the teen whispered, taking in her reflection as various people called out compliments and Reno wolf-whistled.

She was borrowing a dress that Tifa had told her originally belonged Xion, although she never wore it any more. The dress was white and short sleeved, much like Naminé's usual one but instead of being pure white, small, sky blue embroidered flowers were scattered around the dress. At the hem was sky blue lace. Coupled with the flowers in her hair, Naminé had never worn anything so pretty. While she wouldn't admit it, it looked nice on her, suiting her pale skin.

"Well out you go! We'll be very busy, preparing something, no need to worry, just have fun!" Tifa said shoving Naminé, Roxas, Mushu, Cri-Kee and Khan out the door, not even giving Naminé a chance to thank the girls. She only just managed to snag her bag.

"Err…" Naminé shuffled awkwardly as the door as slammed behind them.

"Well…" Roxas said slowly, a little surprised at what Tifa had done. "I did say I'd show you around the city…."

"You sure did!" Mushu said indignantly, angry about his lack of screentime in the past couple of chapters.

"Should we get going?" Roxas asked nervously, offering his hand to Naminé.

"Yeah, let's," Naminé replied, trying desperately to stop blushing as she took his hand.

The small group wondered through the long winding streets. Mushu and Cri-Kee were riding on Khan's back, the horse in question sensibly not wearing his saddle so there's less chance of him, and ultimately Roxas, being recognised. Naminé noticed silver banners decorated with golden lilies being hung from windows.

"What are those for?" she asked, pointing them out with her free hand.

"Huh? The banners? They're there because today's the day the kingdom remembers the lost princess," Roxas explained, hoping Naminé would push further, and maybe realise who she is.

"The lost princess?" Naminé responded, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"Eighteen years ago, the princess of the kingdom was kidnapped. In the hope that they'll find her, the kingdom holds a celebration in her honour every year, and launches the kites. They hope that she'll see them and follow the light home," Roxas explained.

Naminé paused for a moment, thinking it over. Then: "Oh. Okay."

If this was an anime, Roxas' would be ghost white with blank eyes, a dark background behind him and the screen would shatter because of disbelief. Because this is not an anime, Roxas silently groaned and smiled at Naminé, hoping she wouldn't realise his annoyance. Khan and Cri-Kee rolled their eyes, while Mushu just took in the sights.

"Hey lovebirds! What's that noise?" he called out.

"HEY!" the duo shouted, before turning to each other and blushing, but still not letting go of each other's hand. Roxas listened carefully, trying to fight off his blush.

"We're near the main square! Come on!" he called out in joy.

He ran through the streets, pulling Naminé with him. Khan galloped, easily keeping pace while Mushu and Cri-Kee held on for their dear lives. They exited the narrow streets into a burst of colour. There they were, in the square. Various stalls littered the edges and a small group of musicians wondered around. On the side nearest to the palace in the centre of the city was a mosaic mural. It showed a man with dark hair, a woman with blue hair and in her arms, a baby with golden hair. Judging by the crowns on their heads, Naminé guessed that they were the king, queen and lost princess.

"Hey Naminé, there's something over there you might enjoy," Roxas said, pointing to the centre of the square.

Naminé peered towards where he was pointing. In the middle of the square was a large cluster of people… but they weren't standing up. They were kneeling down, drawing something with chalks. It took half a second for Naminé's face to light up. She could see that the artists were calling other people in, getting more people involved with their drawing.

"Roxas, can I…?" she asked, voice quiet in excitement.

"Of course. You don't need my permission," Roxas smiled.

Naminé gleefully ran towards the centre. A young girl with auburn hair noticed her and motioned for her to come over. Naminé knelt down next to her. The girl was drawing out a swirling design of flowers, a little apart from the main drawing. Said main drawing seemed to be of a young girl with golden hair much like her own. Naminé assumed it was the princess.

"Hi there," the auburn haired girl smiled."

"Hello," Naminé replied.

"I'm helping out with the border. Think ya can help me do some flowers? Some big, some small?" the girl asked.

"Sure!" Naminé replied eagerly.

She set to work, taking a hold of a yellow stick of chalk and sketching out a flower. This was unlike any of the art she had done on the walls of her tower. All of that had been on her own. Nobody had helped her. But this… was amazing! Previously, Naminé had no idea how art could link people. Now, so many people were getting involved with the chalk mural, they were all linked together. Everyone knew what each other was drawing and how their small part would affect the main piece. Slowly, a masterpiece of bursting colour shaped itself. Naminé moved on from simple flowers to helping with the kites at the top of the drawing. She laughed with everyone as they let the drawing dance from their fingertips.

Roxas watched for a short while. Eventually, somebody pulled him in to help, despite his protests that he was terrible at art. In the end, he helped with the simple things, like colouring the hair and sky. He had to admit, this was fun. He'd only ever gotten involved with this once before, and that was when Cloud, Ventus and Aerith were still alive, and Sora still with him. It had been on his first visit to the capital. Months before Sephiroth came. It felt nice, doing something that reminded him of them. Normally Roxas steered clear of activities that even remotely reminded him of his lost family. But along came Naminé. A shy girl who wormed her way into his heart. Maybe Mushu was on to something (although Roxas would never admit it). Naminé seemed to make the pain in his heart just… go away.

A large cheer surged through the large crowd as the drawing was finished. People broke away for something to eat.

"I didn't think you'd get involved!" Naminé smiled to Roxas, brushing some if the chalk dust off her hands.

"I didn't either," he admitted, doing the same. "But someone roped me in. It was fun though!"

"Yeah! I've never done anything like it before," Naminé said.

"I have. Once. When…" Roxas trailed off, the pain coming back.

A hand grasping his own made him look up. Naminé smiled at him and suddenly the pain vanished entirely. Roxas smiled back, giving her a wordless thanks. He pulled away and handed Naminé a small goat's cheese pie he'd bought. He handed one to Mushu and Cri-Kee as well, before giving Khan some apples. They happily began to eat their lunch.

As they finished, the musicians who had been moving around the square walked to the centre. They began to play. A lively, happy song, but a song of adventure, hardship and sadness laced underneath. So many emotions, blended into one song. Naminé felt the music move through her body. She could see people wanting to dance, but being afraid to be the first to move. She understood how they felt, because she was afraid too.

But Naminé didn't want to let fear rule her life again.

So she danced.

She moved away from the edge, into the centre. She didn't know if there was a set dance to the song but she didn't care. She moved her feet, her arms, her entire body, in time to the music. She let the rises and falls of the music take over. People watched and clapped a she danced, but still nobody joined her. So Naminé pulled them in. Much like how the artists had pulled the crowd in earlier. And slowly, they came. There was no set dance but nobody cared. It was just them and the music. The clapping of their hands, and the stamping of their feet.

Roxas was again content with staying on the side, although deep down he was itching to join the dance. He didn't know if being psychic came with the hair thing but Naminé just suddenly appeared and pulled him into the dance. At first, he tried to pull away, but relaxed as he too, felt the music take him away. Roxas took Naminé's hand and danced with her. Not caring what other people would think as they danced. From the sidelines, Mushu looked murderous at someone trying to steal away his girl (in the uncle/brotherly sense (I have weird uncles (and brothers))) and was about to storm off and bite Roxas in…. the behind, when Cri-Kee stopped him and chirped.

"Yeah… you're right. My baby, all grown up," he conceded, tears now in his eyes.

The dancing continued for hours. When one dance finished, another would start. Some even had words and the crowd would sing, their voices blending in harmony. They sang and danced their way through a melody of sad and happy songs. Songs of love and songs of heartbreak. And finally sunset came. The music stopped and people, still laughing and joined together almost like a family, began to walk off.

"Hey Naminé," Roxas said quietly, placing his hand on his companion's shoulder. "It's time."

They were on a row boat. Roxas, Naminé, Mushu and Cri-Kee. Khan was too big for the boat and stayed behind on a pier. To make up for it, Roxas gave him a large bag of apples, which Khan gratefully accepted (but only when Roxas had assured him that he'd bought most of them). They were rowing out into the harbour.

"Why here though?" Naminé asked as Roxas stopped rowing.

"It's the best place to see the kites," he explained. "And I figured it's your birthday slash best day of your life, so you ought to get the best view you could."

"Thank you," Naminé said blushing.

Roxas smiled. He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. He then handed it to Naminé. A necklace on a silver chain, with a small glass pendant.

"Here. For you. Happy birthday," he said, as Naminé put it on.

"Roxas! Thank you!" she exclaimed admiring it.

Kairi was in her best pale pink and white gown. She walked out on to the main balcony of the palace. Her parents were there, waiting for her. She gave them each a small smile before walking to the kite, its white Materia lantern glowing. Instead of letting it fly into the air on her own, Kairi turned to her parents and motioned for them to set it flying with her. Together, they placed a hand onto the kite and gently lifted it up into air.

None of them tried to hide their tears.

Naminé gasped as she watched the first kite float away from the palace. Soon after, an array of multi-coloured lights floated into the air as the rest of the people began to release their kites. Against the backdrop of the sunset, a rainbow of stars took flight. Roxas was right. This truly was the best place to view it. And slowly, Naminé saw the world the way you're supposed to see it. All the colours, right next to you. Not through a window, cut away from everything. This was beauty. Every emotion possible coursed through her. Happiness of course, sad because now she'd reached her dream and she didn't know what to do, excited again being obvious, anger at her mother for keeping this beauty from her.

Roxas laughed as he watched her. She gasped in delight like a small child. But he too was amazed by the kites. Even if you'd seen then before as he had, they were still an amazing sight. Two kites flew dangerously close to the water. Roxas gently grabbed on and handed it to Naminé, who took it. Together, they released the pair of kites into the air.

And Roxas realised deep down that he was starting to care a lot more than he thought he would.

"Hey Naminé," he whispered. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you," she whispered back.

Once more, Naminé decided to take a chance and risk it. She reached into the bag she had taken with her and pulled something out, before handing it to Roxas. The crown.

"I was going to give this to you earlier," she admitted. "But I was scared that you'd abandon me."

He took it.

"Naminé…. I wouldn't abandon you. You're my friend. To be honest, I only wanted it so that I could sell it and you the money to escape the Organization… but now, I think I'm going to give it back," he smiled, putting his hand on hers.

It felt like the perfect moment to lean in and kiss her. And Roxas nearly did, but something on the shore distracted him. Two men lit up by torchlight. Staring at him. He knew these men. Xigbar and Saïx.

"Roxas, where are you going?" Naminé asked.

"I saw somebody over there who looked familiar. Don't worry. It's probably just some neutrals, but better safe than sorry," Roxas replied, walking away. "I'll only be a minute!"

Satisfied that Naminé had accepted his answer, he quickened his pace. He hoped she hadn't realised the nervous way that he was clutching the bag, or that he was holding it at all. Roxas knew what he had to do. He had to give them the crown, so that he and Naminé could be safe.

He didn't notice Cri-Kee and Mushu tailing him.

Pushing through the trees, Roxas reached his fellow comrades.

"Listen, I'm sorry for ditching you and everything that happened at Three Days. But I have the crown. I'll give it to you, and we can just forget this," Roxas said, throwing the crown towards them and backing away.

Xigbar smirked evilly. He loaded an arrow and sent it whizzing past Roxas' ear. The young thief stopped in his tracks.

"The crown's all well and good," Xigbar commented flippantly. "But it's a little tacky. And we sent a message to the Superior. We want something else now."

"What do you want?" Roxas asked, trying to fight the worried feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Well tiger, that injury I gave you is gone. Magic eh? Now what do you think we want?" Xigbar asked with a cocky grin.

Oh Roxas knew alright. He reached for his knives.

"A girl with magic hair would be very useful to us," Saïx droned, having snuck behind Roxas.

In a flash, Roxas' world went dark.

"Ahh *censored*," Mushu cursed from his and Cri-Kee's hiding place.

Naminé was alone. Mushu and Cri-Kee had gone to follow Roxas but none of the three had come back yet. She was starting to get very worried. Maybe those people Roxas saw were guards? Maybe they'd hurt him? Worried thoughts raged through her mind. But a simple rustle in the bushes knocked them all away.

"Roxas? About time! I was starting to…." Naminé didn't finish.

"Roxas? Sorry but my name's Xigbar," a dark cloaked man said, emerging from the bushes.

"You're…" Naminé recognised him as the one who has shot Roxas. "What have you done to him?!"

"I've done nothing," Xigbar chuckled. "He left out of his own free will."

Gesturing with his left arm, Xigbar pointed out something on the water. A boat with a single lantern. On that boat was a man with blonde hair, and he was holding a crown. Naminé's world came crashing down around her. He'd abandoned her.

"Now miss, come with us. The Organization could use that special hair of yours," another man said.

Naminé screamed as the two men tried to grab her. She held her hands up and tried to lash out at them and knock them away. But deep down, she knew that it would be impossible. They were much bigger and stronger than she was.

"Get away!" a voice screamed.

Naminé watched as both the men crumpled to the floor. Behind them was a woman holding a wooden rod. Naminé knew who this woman was. She ran to her, and flung her arms around her saviour.

"Mother! You were right! You were right about everything!" she sobbed.

"I know Naminé. I know. Come. Let's go home," Maleficent murmured, holding the crying girl in her arms.

"Ahh *censored*," Mushu cursed again.

How he saw exactly what was going on from the boat was a mystery, for which we must claim FanFiction logic (or the author forgot her plans for him).

Khan looked up as he heard a scuffle coming from his left.

"Get off! They have her! I have to help her! Let me go!" a voice screamed. Roxas' voice.

Khan watched helplessly as guards dragged Roxas away, recognising him. He then realised what had happened. Somebody had taken Naminé and sent Roxas over to the guards. Khan bolted up. But he knew that nothing he could do would stop the guards. Khan needed help.

"Hey! Khan-y baby!" Mushu said, appearing from nowhere and using his 'smooth-talk' voice. "We need to get to Tifa's place."

Under normal circumstances, Khan would refuse, not wanting to b ordered about by anyone but Sora, but these weren't normal circumstances. He understood the urgency of the situation. Making sure Mushu and Cri-Kee were on his back, he set off through the streets of the capital. It must have looked very odd, a horse charging through the streets with what appeared to be a lizard ("DRAGON! Say it with me. Dra-gon.") and a cricket on its back. It took them five minutes to reach 7th Heaven and barge through the unlocked door.

"SUR…prise?" several voices petered out, questioning the lack off Roxas and Naminé.

"Long story short. Roxas met up with some bad dudes from the Organization and tried to give them the crown back but it turns out they wanted Naminé instead because of her magic hair but you guys don't really know about that so they knocked him out and put him on a boat with the crown so that the guards would find him and arrest him and Naminé would think he abandoned her and then they tried to take her away but her hag of a mother knocked them out and tricked Naminé into going with her and ruining the best day of her life!" Mushu explained. He then passed out from lack of oxygen.

Everyone in the room blinked.

"Ahh *censored*," Reno swore.


Well... that was interesting.

Heads up: my holidays start next week. You'd think I'd get more time to write but because I'm travelling around England (I'm not really, but it feels like it) staying in some places, visiting relatives in others, I won't get as much time to write and updates will be irregular.

But I'm sure you can cope!

Review/follow/fave for cookies!