Lillian's dory sailed through foggy waters until she finally saw a sandy beach at the foot of a large green forest covered hill. She looked around and could see tall and majestic mountains poking up above the fogbank. Lillian proceeded to run the dory aground, climbing out and pulling it a little further ashore to keep it from being swept away by the water. She then looked around, pulling up a hood over her head and starting to walk into the forest. As she walked, she noticed something peculiar.

"What are those?" Lillian pondered aloud as she saw a strange trail of small blue lights appearing near the ground, marking a hidden path for her to follow. Lillian turned and started following the lights through the forest, leading her to a strange clearing on the top of the hill where several large and tall stones sat arranged in a circle. One stone however had been knocked over and the skeletal remains of a massive bear claw stuck out beneath it. Lillian looked at the fallen menhir curiously. Her eyes suddenly lit up, showing her a vision, but unlike normal this was no vision of the future…

She saw two massive black bears battling one another, one covered in scars and broken weapons in its hide while the other defended a young red haired maiden. The mottled bear was suddenly knocked repeatedly into the menhir until it finally toppled onto him, crushing him to death. Lillian put her fingers over her eyes, rubbing them slightly at what she had seen.

"Was that-…?" she asked, realizing that she'd had her first vision of the past instead of the future. Lillian's contemplation was disrupted when she heard a rustling in the trees behind her. She turned and saw the red haired maiden from the vision come wandering out of the forest, an arrow knocked into her bow, ready to fire it at a moment's notice, but looking around curiously. She then spotted Lillian and looked at her curiously.

"Oh, hullo. Have ya seen a bear come this way?" Merida asked but Lillian shook her head.

"No but then I just got here." Lillian replied but her accent gave Merida pause.

"You sound like the lady that was here a while ago." Merida said as Lillian pulled back her hood with a worried expression.

"Older woman? Similar accent? Carried a funny sword? Air of the sea about her?" Lillian asked as Merida gave a nod.

"Aye, that's her. Oh! You must be Eraqus's bonnie lass!" Merida said as Lillian blinked in surprise.

"Oh you've met my fiancé." Lillian said with a smile.

"Aye. Although I must apologize, he accidentally won a contest to ask for my hand. I turned him down though. He wasn't aware I was the prize." Merida explained a little hesitantly. Lillian burst out laughing in response.

"That sounds like Eraqus!" she chortled.

"So no confusion eh? You're not goin' ta summon an angry bear to attack me too, are ya?" Merida asked hesitantly.

"Heavens no! Why would…ah, Millicent did that, didn't she?" Lillian asked, Merida nodding in response.

"Aye." She replied.

"Then on behalf of my sister, I owe you my deepest apologies. If there's anything I can do to help make amends…" Lillian said as Merida gave a slight nod.

"Well, there's takin' care of Mor'du." Merida replied as Lillian glanced at the fallen Menhir for a moment.

"Mor'du? Is that the name of the bear crushed beneath this stone?" Lillian asked, motioning towards the skeleton of the bear beneath the stone. Merida noticed it and blinked in surprise.

"Aye. So it is cursed." She muttered to herself.

"What's that?" Lillian asked, confused.

"Mor'du was slain a year ago. But that woman, your sister, she summoned Mor'du from the dead to attack Eraqus and me self." Merida said as Lillian looked at her in alarm.

"The dead? Impossible…or is it?" Lillian muttered before they heard a rustling in the woods nearby (Battle Music Cue: The Encounter – KH2 or Remix). They both turned to see the monstrous black bear in question emerge, growling at them as it approached. The two quickly adopted defensive postures, their weapons at the ready, both of them backing away from Mor'du as he continued to stalk towards them. Lillian's eyes started to sting as she stared at it.

"Ah, I get it. It's not actually Mor'du but more of a ghost." Lillian before Mor'du suddenly let out a loud roar at the two, sending out a cone of gold & purple energy rippling towards them. The two quickly dove in opposite directions, dodging the cone.

"If that's a ghost were you come from, I think I prefer me own shores!" Merida said, firing an arrow at Mor'du but the arrow ricocheted off his tough hide while still drawing his attention. Mor'du proceeded to rise up onto his haunches where Lillian could see the hourglass insignia on his stomach.

"A Displaced?!" she exclaimed before narrowing her gaze at the beast. Mor'du started to charge at Merida but was suddenly hit by a couple pot-shots of Firaga magic from Lillian's flintlock, Mor'du snarling at her out of the corner of its mangled eye.

"Aye that's a good beasty, focus on the Foreteller." Lillian said as she started to circle Mor'du, firing her flintlock at the ground to cast small stop spells that did nothing but made enough time magic to catch the Displaced's attention. Mor'du grunted before it leapt at her. Lillian ducked under the bear, running her Keyblade across its stomach as it passed overhead, Mor'du crashing to the ground behind her, crashing headfirst into a menhir. Lillian popped back up behind Mor'du, backing away from him as he staggered to his feet, turning towards her with an angry growl.

"This thing's tougher than the old Mor'du! My arrows aren't havin' any effect on him!" Merida exclaimed, keeping an arrow trained on it as Mor'du shook off its daze. Lillian quickly spun towards Merida, pointing her Keyblade at the young Princess.

"En-Fire!" she declared, Merida's bow adopting a fiery red glow to it. At that time, King Fergus and several other highlanders arrived from the road.

"Let's see if it likes you now!" Lillian said, Merida marveling at the bow for a brief moment before taking aim and firing an arrow at Mor'du, the arrow exploding in a burst of flames on impact, surprising Merida as well as Fergus and the Highlanders.

"How did she bloody do that?!" Fergus asked in surprise. The Highlanders stayed just outside the ring of menhir stones, the stones forming a makeshift perimeter.

"Da! We've got it!" Merida said just before Mor'du came charging towards the two. Lillian and Merida quickly started to flank him, taking potshots at it from the sides before Mor'du rose up on its haunches before slamming down onto the ground, sending out a powerful shockwave. Lillian quickly dove in front of Merida, summoning a Reflega around the two of them, the shockwave crashing against it, sending out a burst of light magic in all directions.

"That was too close!" Lillian yelped as Mor'du suddenly vanished in a burst of gold and black dust only to reappear in front of them on his haunches, a paw raised to swipe at them.

"Jump!" Lillian yelled, the two diving away just before Mor'du could strike them. The bear turned towards them with a frothing growl and a dark aura rising from him. Lillian realized what was going on.

"Something's empowering it. But how?" Lillian asked, sensing its increasing strength. Hiding in the trees though, a pair of golden eyes watched with a dark smile beneath its hood. Mor'du, suddenly got down onto all four of his legs again, clawing at the ground. It suddenly charged towards the two Princesses who bravely stood ready to fight it. But before the bear could reach it, Lillian saw something large and white blow past her from behind and tackle the massive bear, slowing it to a halt. She looked and saw the upper torso of a suit of white Keyblade Armor, grappling with Mor'du with superhuman strength.

"Looks like I got here just at the right time." A familiar voice said. Lillian looked over her shoulder to see Xehanort approaching, his hood over his head, left hand behind his back, and Keyblade at his right side.

"Xehanort! I'm glad to see you, but how did you know where I-…" Lillian said but Xehanort kept his eyes fixed on Mor'du as his Guardian Armor kept it at bay.

"Later. For now, I think I found a perfect wedding gift for you." Xehanort said as Lillian smirked at him slyly.

"Bear skin rug?" she asked as Xehanort chuckled.

"However did you guess?" he asked dryly. Mor'du shook off the Guardian Armor, the armor vanishing and returning to its master. A dark aura started to rise from Mor'du again as he rose up onto his haunches.

"Let's finish this!" Xehanort said, raising his hand and conjuring an Ethereal Blade.

"Let's go!" Lillian replied before she and Xehanort leapt at Mor'du, Merida knocking three arrows into her bow and taking aim at the bear, letting loose all three arrows that flew between Lillian and Xehanort, the arrows exploding on impacting the bear, disorienting it as Lillian leapt straight into her Afterimage Command Style and Xehanort started unleashing a series of quick strikes with both Keyblade and Ethereal Blade. Mor'du was unable to react as the two Keyblade Wielders and Merida peppered him with attacks from all directions. Mor'du finally let out a roar that launched the two Keyblade wielders back only for them to slide back and stand on either side of Merida.

"Begone!" Xehanort roared, conjuring a veritable wall of Ethereal Blades in the air behind him. Lillian took aim with her flintlock and Merida knocked back another three arrows. They then all let fly with a single massive shot that resulted in a pillar of white-blue light erupting from the center of the ring of menhir (End Battle Music). When the light faded, Mor'du had collapsed onto his belly, his fur turning an old grey and white before turning gold and black and finally crumbling into a mound of gold and black sands, before the sands themselves faded away.

"A Displaced? Fascinating." Xehanort said as he looked at the spot where Mor'du faded.

"It appeared around the time my sister was here, according to Merida." Lillian said as the princess approached.

"Aye, strange lady." Merida said as Xehanort and Lillian turned towards her.

"Thanks for the help, Merida." Lillian said as Merida rested her bow on her shoulder.

"Aye, not a problem. But we better take a look around for more of the little beasts." Merida said as Xehanort gave a nod.

"Good idea, I'll join you in a moment." Xehanort said, Merida giving a nod and hurrying to join her fellow highlanders as they went about searching for more of the Displaced. Xehanort quietly pulled back his hood.

"Have you seen your sister lately, Lillian?" Xehanort asked as Lillian shrugged, turning towards him.

"Not lately. I wonder if she-PFFT!" Lillian spluttered, doubling over and covering her mouth, shaking with laughter at the sight of Xehanort's bald head. Xehanort smiled and rolled his eyes, shaking his head as Lillian collapsed onto one knee.

"What-the-…what the bloody 'ell mate! You look like a round shot with eyes!" Lillian cackled, dropping back into her pirate accent. Xehanort merely crossed his arms over his chest, smiling at her while running his tongue over his teeth, quietly and patiently waiting for her to recover.

"Hmm, I wonder if I could hit your ship from here." He pondered, instantly making her gasp, leaping to her feet with a serious expression.

"Belay that mate." She warned in a low voice.

"Now that I have your attention, perhaps we might get back on the subject." Xehanort said as Lillian cleared her throat.

"I've not seen her sense visiting one of the other worlds recently. I'm really worried that…maybe she might be lost to us." Lillian said, back in her normal accent as Xehanort sighed in apparent disappointment.

"Are you prepared to do what must be done then? Could you raise your blade against her? To kill her?" Xehanort asked as Lillian glanced away, hesitant in her expressions.

"I…I dunno." She replied as Xehanort gave her a grim look.

"I understand your reluctance. It's hard to consider the thought of someone you've cared so deeply for being felled by your own blade. Especially when they're blood." Xehanort said as Lillian gave a nod.

"Especially when." She muttered. Xehanort then glanced away towards one of the paths cutting through the forest.

"I'm going to check on something real quick. Give you some time to think things over. Make no mistake though. At the end of the day, I hope Millicent can see her error and return to you. I'd rather not see the two of you broken apart." He said before turning and starting to walk away down the path, pulling his hood over his head as he did. A small dark smile appeared on his face as he walked away. Lillian now stood alone within the ring of menhir, a worried look on her face.

"You hear how he talks about me now." A familiar voice said from nearby. Lillian spun around to see Millicent, her hood over her head, and her eyes a now more recognizable shade of yellow, standing just within the shadows of the forest.

"Milly…" Lillian said as "Millicent" let out a sigh.

"Isn't it obvious to you yet that he means to betray you? To betray us?" "Millicent" asked as Lillian glanced towards the path Xehanort had taken, the Keyblade Master having disappeared down the path.

"Betray us in what way? I've never seen Xehanort's future. I have only your word that he'll fall to the Darkness. And lately, your word has been very suspect. Besides he's still very much a good friend." Lillian said as "Millicent" sighed in frustration again (Music cue: Mother Knows Best (Reprise) – Tangled).

"A friend? Please, Lilly, he's demented! This is why you never should have left! Dear, this whole screen that he's invented Just proves he's too dangerous to be left alive! Why should you trust him, come on now, really? Think about it? You think that he's a friend?!" Millicent said as Lillian scowled sadly at her.

"Don't be silly, Come with Sissy. Milly…" Millicent sang, her arms open and outstretched but Lillian took a step back.

"No!" she snapped, causing Millicent's eyes to widen in surprise for a moment.

"No? Oh, I see how it is." Millicent said with a sneer down her nose at Lillian.

"Lillian knows best!
Lillian's so mature now,
such a clever grownup miss!"

Millicent sang condescendingly, reaching for something hidden beneath her coat. She then turned towards Lillian and sang…

"Lillian knows best!
Fine, if you're so sure now,
go ahead, then give him this! Ha!"

Millicent then threw a familiar book to Lillian who caught it. Lillian looked and saw it was Millicent's Master's Tome. Millicent then continued, singing…

"This is why he's here!
Don't let him deceive you!
Give it to him, watch, you'll see!"

Lillian held the book close to her chest, looking at Millicent in surprise and disbelief as she circled around her, singing…

"Trust me, my dear!
That's how fast he'll betray you!"
I won't say, I told you so!"

Millicent then spun towards her angrily as she continued to circle back around towards the forest.

"No, Lillian knows best!
So if he's such a good friend,
go and put him to the test!"

Lillian watched, almost teary eyed as Millicent started to back away towards the forest, singing…

"If he's lying,
don't come crying!
Milly knows best!"

At that, Millicent angrily turned towards the forest, disappearing into its shadows, leaving Lillian clutching the book in her arms. She looked down at the book curiously, opening it and quietly flipping through a few pages, but nothing in it showed anything about the Tempest. None of the information inside made any sense to her. Only one page seemed to stand out to her, a page with what appeared to be two identical Keyblades crossed in an X. The blades had non-descript silver shafts with yellow guards and brown/black grips, and a silver tooth with the cutting of what looked to be a three-pointed crown. These two blades seemed to have a longer pointed blade emerging from between them. An annotation beneath it read…

"The Ex-blade?" she read aloud softly, confused by its meaning. She then heard approaching footsteps and saw Xehanort approaching.

"Nothing up the road. Merida and her friends have headed back towards their home and-…what've you got there?" he asked as she closed the book, looking at its cover for a moment.

"I…think Milly may have left something inside that bear." Lillian said as she turned towards Xehanort, who noticed the book right off.

"Oh, did she?" he asked. Lillian looked at the tome hesitantly, remembering Millicent's warnings, but she also noticed her obvious falling to Darkness and wondered if these warnings weren't simply the ravings of a lunatic. She finally took a breath.

"I understand that there's been some dispute between you and my sister. What about?" Lillian asked, curiously. Xehanort gave a casual shrug.

"My research. She wouldn't let me read any of the books in her private library. She's even hidden them from me out of spite. I don't understand why she would want to do this." Xehanort replied as Lillian looked at the book again.

"And your research is on the Keyblade War, correct?" She asked, Xehanort giving a nod in response.

"That's right." He replied.

"Then…maybe this will help. I skimmed through it but found nothing regarding the Tempest. But then it was just a quick peek. Maybe a Master like you or Master Yen Sid could make sense of what's in here." Lillian said as she held out the book for Xehanort to take. Xehanort arched a curious eyebrow but then smiled gently at her.

"I will return this when I am finished. At the least, I will leave it with Master Yen Sid to return to you, and hopefully to Millicent should she see the error of her ways." Xehanort said as he took the book, tucking it under his arm. Lillian gave an appreciative nod.

"Thank you. I do have one question. In your own journeys, have you seen Eraqus? Is he alright?" Lillian asked as Xehanort smiled and gave a nod.

"Last I saw him, he was headed in his own direction. Oh, he found Master Ory by the way. Last I heard he was resting up in Disneylahn. But one thing Eraqus mentioned was concerning. It seems that the Traveler and Ultimecia are targeting Dandelions." Xehanort said as Lillian's eyes widened in alarm.

"The Dandelions! So that's their game." She muttered.

"Indeed. According to Eraqus, there is one in Radiant Garden. I need to investigate something more pressing right now, so could I convince you to investigate it for me?" Xehanort asked as Lillian gave a nod.

"Of course, say no more." She said as Xehanort smiled at her appreciatively.

"Good. Thank you." He replied as they both pulled their hoods up over their heads.

"Be careful out there, Xehanort. We've got our trust in you to help us sort things out. Don't betray that trust." She said, pleadingly. Xehanort gave a humble bow.

"I would never." He replied as Lillian smiled, reassured of his integrity, before turning and walking back towards the shore where her dory awaited her. At the same time, Xehanort turned away and smiled at the tome in his hands.

"Knowledge for knowledge." Xehanort said, raising his hand to conjure a stylized letter X that floated in his hand for a moment before disappearing. He then smiled and summoned his armor and glider before taking to the stars.

…

Meanwhile, back in Radiant Garden, on the empty mesa outside of the city, the Traveler arrived in a Corridor of Darkness, looking around curiously. Finally, after a moment, he spotted what he was looking for. On one of the rocks was a shimmering stylized letter X. The Traveler picked up the rock, revealing the white card with the Mark of Mastery insignia on it that Master Ory had created.

"A pleasure doing business with you, Master Xehanort." The Traveler said as he touched the card, a brief flash of light appearing from within his darkened hood before the card evaporated into dust in his hand. The Traveler chuckled to himself before looking towards the city.

"That leaves only one piece to remove from the board, and another to take its place." The Traveler said before vanishing in a Corridor of Darkness.

End Chapter 25

The Song above was a slightly reworked version of "Mother Knows Best (Reprise)" from Disney's Tangled.

And so concludes the Brave world. The Sword in the Stone World is also concluded as well at this point. There were a couple of things I had wanted to do but had to cut due to the pacing of the story. The first was a battle between Madam Mim and Xehanort in the Sword in the Stone World. The other was an encounter between Xehanort and a younger Maleficent (the Angelina Jolee version). Both were cut due to pacing.