Sorry for another delay, everypeoples! Been working and all that jazz. ^_^ I've also been enjoying the sunshine, as well as letting the Christmas spirit creep in early, 'cause come on—it's only THREE MONTHS AWAY. Yikes! Don't expect any Christmas fics from me this year, unless my inner muse surprises me.

I've been looking forward to this chapter a whole lot, 'cause this is one of the main incidents I had in mind when I was concocting this story in my head. Y'all already know I don't own the song I'm going to use, so we'll just get that out of the way and get right to it!

By the way, THIS IS A TID-BIT PLOT CHAPTER.

"You don't pay me; we don't even exist. We're just a clever visual metaphor used to personify the abstract concept of thought."—Spongebob's Brain People, Spongebob Squarepants (I might have used this one before, I'm not sure)

Chapter 11: Vanilla Twilight
"There has to be a way to get them out of this that even the Council can't refuse," said Hana, rubbing her forehead with her fingertips.

"I agree, Master," said Mr. Matthews, "Try as he might, Lord Hopa can't break every Tribe custom." He sighed and covered his eyes with one hand. "The only way I see is if someone else contested for her hand, but that would defeat the purpose."

A sneaky smile stretched the master's lips.

"Unless the contender released her from the engagement," she said, "It's happened before."

"Lenne is a beautiful girl, Master," he nodded, "There are plenty of young men who would gladly step up to claim her, but who would break it off?"

"The only other young man she knows on this iceberg," said Hana, "if he's willing."

"What are you thinking, Hana-dono?" asked Mrs. Matthews.

"I'm thinking we ruffle Hopa's feathers a bit," she answered.

Shota led his fiancé to the first fall we described, the one that flowed like smooth water from a silver pitcher.

"This is my favorite one," he said, "Put your hand in it and you'll see why."

The magic Lenne felt in this place intensified as she stretched her hand toward the fall; it was warm and tingled in her fingertips, and she could see her reflection wavering on the surface.

Its temperature surprised her; instead of sub-zero cold that numbed on contact, it was cool and refreshing like a forest spring! She stared at her reflection, feeling the magic come alive.

Then she gasped and whipped her hand back. Her reflection had changed into someone else!

"It changed, didn't it?" Shota asked, amused. She nodded and reached for it again, tentatively this time. As her fingers slipped into the water, it happened again. The reflection was not her own.

The wide eyes were soft brown.

The hair was short and blonde.

The clothes were a white Sunday shirt and dark brown dress pants.

The reflection was Robin!

Her eyes wavered and misted up a bit, and her nose and cheeks blushed red as she reached in her other hand as well. Robin's beautiful face mirrored her own shocked expressions.

"It shows your true love!" she breathed in emotional amazement.

"That's what I think, too," he nodded and leaned up next to her. "Hey, he looks like a cool guy!" Now her whole face flared up.

"You can see him?" she asked.

"Yep," he said, "Would you like to see mine?"

"Um, sure," she nodded. She had a pretty good guess as to who it was that proved to be accurate when Shota slipped his left hand into the water; its reflection was smaller and paler than his, and its coat sleeve was pale yellow with white fur trim. A heart-shaped face framed by soft, short-cut, pale orange hair smiled back at him with round emerald eyes that sparkled. She was cute and petite, reminding Lenne a little of Naminé.

"This is Yumi," he said softly, "Yumi Lillian Stafford. She's half Irish, half Japanese."

"She's so cute!" Lenne exclaimed, "Does she live here?"

"Yeah, in the Twin Peaks district," he answered, "It's not far from here."

"I would say I'd love to meet her," she said, "but that might be awkward."

"It's okay," he said, "Maybe after we find a way to break this off, I'll introduce you to her."

"Deal," she nodded.

"Come on," he sighed and withdrew his hand, "We'd better head back."

"Okay." Lenne removed her hand; for a moment, the two fiancés looked at their own reflections. Then they left the cavern arm-in-arm with a promise of a return.

Their spirits picked up a bit as they skidded over the water; it always cheered Shota up to go for a ride.

"Shota, wait!" he heard Lenne gasp, "Go back a bit!"

He held his hands out, stopped the canoe, and pointed both hands sideways and down to put it in reverse. They pulled back next to what Shota knew was Snowbird's Nest, the orphanage funded by the Royal Council.

Lenne hopped out and ran to the fountain made of dark green marble, in which stood a statue of a small child with long hair in a billowing dress. A tiny bird statue fluttered in her cupped hands and water flowed from them. The child was smiling brightly with her eyes pinched shut.

Amazed, Lenne read the plaque on the fountain: Donated By the Shirohi Snowbird Children's Fund in Memorandum of Princess Shirohi Snowbird.

"What's up, Lenne?" Shota asked.

"Um," she said, blushing, "I haven't seen this yet. It's really pretty."

"Yeah," he nodded, "This is the Tribe's orphanage, Snowbird's Nest. That little girl is Princess Shirohi. She died when she was only eight years old."

"Really?" she said, "That's awful."

"I know," he agreed, "I was just a kid when it happened, but I remember how devastated Princess Moe was. She's her big sister; she was really distraught when Shirohi got so sick. When she died, Moe abdicated her claim to the throne and left the Tribe, taking the body with her so she could live near wherever she buried her sister.

"I wish she'd have stayed, though. We could use her right now."

Lenne said nothing, just stared at the fountain, not trusting her mouth right now.

"I'm sorry," she shook her head, "I just thought it was cool."

"No problem," he smiled, "Let me know if you see anything else you want to look at."

"Well, look who's back," said Master Hana as the young people pulled up, "Our runaway bride and groom!" She took Lenne's hand and helped her out. "Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, Master," she chirped, "Shota's a perfect gentleman!"

"Well, I'm glad you think so," said the old lady, "because I've invited him and his parents to have dinner with us at our apartment building tonight."

"Okay," said Lenne, "Sounds fun." She turned to Shota. "Thanks for the outing, Shota. (she curtsied) I had a great time!"

"No problem, Miss Lenne," he bowed, "I'll see you tonight!"

Ame opened her eyes, facing straight ahead; she'd seen Lenne's outing with her fiancé but chose not to mention it, especially in front of Robin. He was already getting antsy; she didn't need him to be jealous, too!

"Miss Ame," said the captain of the yacht as he approached her at the prow.

"Yes, Charlie?" she smiled.

"We'll reach the North Pole by about 10 o'clock tonight," he reported, "Just thought I'd let you know."

"Thanks, Charlie," she said, "And thanks for doing this."

"Just doing my job, ma'am," he responded as he touched his cap.

"Hi, Miss Water," said Robin, "How is she?"

"She's fine," she said and rubbed his head, "You know, you can call me Ame if you want to."

"I know," he smiled sheepishly, "I just like to because it's the closest thing to Mother."

Ame blushed pink and smiled dearly. She put an arm around his shoulders while he leaned on the rail.

"I don't care what anyone says," she murmured, "You always were and always will be the son of my heart."

Robin's eyes, watching the ocean, got a little misty and he covered her hand on his shoulders with his own.

"We'll get her back, tori-kun," she murmured into his hair, "I promise." She kissed him gently on the temple and went to talk to Riku.

"Is he okay?" he asked with concern. He'd been watching them because he enjoyed seeing Ame in her caring state. It made her look adorable to him, thought he'd never tell her so.

"He'll be fine," she sighed and held his hands, "I think he's having Lenne withdrawals. It's okay, though; I've got an idea that I think will help both of them."

She waited until the late end of twilight that evening.

"Robin," she said, "Come with me, please."

The young magician obediently followed her up a flight of steps to a small patio on top of the cabin, where a keyboard was standing by itself. Robin stopped.

"What is this, Miss Water?" he asked blankly.

"As we speak, Lenne and Master Hana are dining with some friends," she said, only half-lying for his benefit, "Wouldn't it be nice if they had some mood music?"

Robin stared at her, still drawing a blank.

"The kind that would reach across the stars," Ame prompted, "and touch her heart, and let her know that we're almost there?"

Ding!

"Oh!" said Robin, "Yes, of course." He blushed and smiled bashfully. "Sorry." Ame beamed understandingly.

"Just play whatever's in your heart," she advised as he sat on the bench to the keyboard. He ran his fingertips lightly over the smooth white keys as he thought and felt the magic awakening in his priceless heart.

In his heart's eye, rather than his mind's eye, he could see Lenne at ten years old, catching fireflies in Granda's massive backyard. He could see her with a look of surprise on her sweet face that turned into a happy smile as one of the elusive, luminescent insects floated over her cupped hands. As he recalled, that had been the first time he'd sung her that "Fireflies" song by his favorite band.

That did it; he smiled and nodded as he decided to sing another song from his favorite band. His right hand struck a note chord; the words were half a second behind.

The stars lean down to kiss you
and I lie awake and miss you
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere

Ame sat on a nearby seat by the rail and watched him, smiling. Robin closed his eyes.

'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly,
but I'll miss your arms around me
I'll send a postcard to you, dear,
'cause I wish you were here

The keyboard shone with waving lights of his magic as it called out the techno part of the music. The other passengers heard and turned to watch him. He looked up at the silver-blue, aqua-green twilight sky.

I'll watch the night turn light blue,
but it's not the same without you
because it takes two to whisper quietly

He lowered his gaze to the keyboard.

The silence isn't so bad
'til I look at my hands and feel sad,
'cause the spaces between my fingers
are right where yours fit perfectly

That last line gave Aang a brief childhood flashback of those nights Lenne used to lie in his bed with him and hold his hand when he had nightmares. She was always awake when he fell asleep, like she was his guardian angel. He sighed and hugged himself, bitterly missing his beloved onee-chan.

I'll find a pose in new ways,
for I haven't slept in two days
'Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone

Back on the North Pole in the Silver Crystal apartments, Lenne was sitting around a table in the fancy cafeteria with Master Hana and the Matthewses when she felt a tiny tendril of magic gently trying to touch her in the back of her mind.

She gently touched the side of her head with her fingertips; she could faintly hear something, like a radio turned almost all the way down.

But, drenched in vanilla twilight,
I'll sit on the front porch all night
waist-deep in thought because when I think of you,
I don't feel so alone

"You okay, Lenne?" Shota quietly asked.

"Yeah, I just…" she answered distractedly, "I-I think I hear something, but I can't quite…" She stood up and excused herself; concerned for her, Shota followed her as she followed the faint trail of magic back up to her own apartment.

I don't feel so alone

She could feel its weak reach for her, like the hand of someone drowning, and she tried to reach back for it.

I don't feel so alone

Robin's magic was weakening with the distraction of his sadness, and he looked lonely down at the keyboard.

As many times as I blink,
I'll think of you tonight

As he played the little instrumental break, Ame felt the young man's magic flowing around near the floor; it was slow and sad, like him, but it was also powerful and strong, like a puddle of lighter fluid. She decided to light a match and toss it.

I'll think of you tonight

She stood behind him and draped her hands over his shoulders; down on the deck, Aang, his cousins, his father, and Sora and Kairi could all feel the magic stirring like a pot of water coming to a boil. They did their best to add their own magic to the mix.

Their was a half-second pause; then, boosted by the support of his friends being channeled through Ame's hands and the love he felt for Lenne, Robin firmly struck the keys. A swarm of fireflies burst from under his fingertips, multiplying as they climbed toward the stars.

At the exact moment this first happened, Robin sang with reaffirmed confidence as his eyes shone in the fireflies' glow.

When violet eyes get brighter
and heavy wings grow lighter,
I'll taste the sky and feel alive again!

Now Lenne and Shota could both hear it clear as a bell, as if someone had cranked up a stereo, and the room was filled with a million dancing fireflies!

"What's going on?" Shota asked wondrously.

"It's him," Lenne smiled softly.

And I'll forget the world that I knew,
but I swear I won't forget you!
Oh, if my voice could reach back through the past
and whisper in your ear

The enchanted glowing lights swirled around her with a salty breeze (courtesy of Shitaro, unbeknownst to her) and she got goosebumps as she distinctively heard Robin's voice very close to her.

Oh, darling, I wish you were here!

The fireflies flew everywhere and then out to the small balcony of the room; Lenne ran out to it and watched them rise over the ice walls of the Pole and fly out in a line like a fish with a long fin. They were showing her where her family was!

"That's incredible!" Shota exclaimed behind her, "What is that?"

"That's my family!" she answered excitedly, "They're on their way!"

"Really?" he smiled brightly, "How do you know?" She looked away with a soft red blush.

"Robin and I have this thing," she smiled shyly, "Any time a firefly or a swarm of them appears to me, it means he's very close and he'll be coming for me very soon."

Shota smiled kindly.

"He's never let you down before, has he?" he said. She shook her head.

"You know," he continued, "I think I'd like to meet this Robin guy."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because you look really cute when you talk about him," he said, "and the more I hear about him, the more I like him."

"Thank you, Shota," she said, "Come on. Let's go tell Master Hana!"

Author's Review:
FINALLY! IT'S DONE! I'm so sorry it took so long! I don't know when I can update again, but I promise I'll try! Please leave questions and comments and cookies! And tell me what you're gonna be for Halloween! Why? I dunno! It's just fun!

Again, many thanks and props for Luna-chan for her inspiring poetry! I heart you!