Dedicated to...wow, I've run out of cool names!

A/N: Happy 800th review! Whoo-hoo! As a present, I've made a nice, long chapter. Full of romance, action, and plot! Enjoy, faithful readers and reviewers. This one's for you.

Disclaimer: I own Kingdom Hearts only in my dreams.

ooo

Sora sprinted across the castle's stone bridge, driven to run. Another ear-splitting roar hurried his feet and his intentions became ever clear. Whatever the problem happened to be, it wasn't good. Not if the Beast was in this much pain. If the Organization was behind these guttural roars...

Sora skidded to a stop, his feet sliding on the icy path. He peered above him – toward the Beast's room. The persistent glow of his enchanted rose sparkled against the Gothic-style windows. Though a few of the panels appeared to be smashed.

Firm in his resolve, the Keyblade Master hurled himself against the mile-high main entrance. "Beast?" he called when he'd thrown open the doors. Sora stepped through the threshold, about as resolute as he could look. "BEAST?"

"ACH!" squealed a high-pitched, female voice. "No, no, no!"

Sora whipped around to face the direction the sound had come from. "Belle?" His eyes instantly fell to the floor where a tiny duster sat. The long, oak handle made up her neck – the tip, her face. Which didn't look very pleased. Sora opened his mouth to say something, but the only word to spill from his lips was: "Uhhh..."

"You ru-whin my floor!" the duster cried. She swatted his feet with her feathered end. "Shoo! Scat! Get out of 'ere you skound-drell!"

"Uhhh..." Sora noticed all the mud he'd tracked in. "Oh. I'm sorry about that." He rubbed the back of his neck and flashed his famous grin. He didn't bother turning around when he discerned Kairi and the others finally catch up to his mad dash.

Axel blinked at the attacking bundle of dark feathers. "Huh. You don't see that every day."

Kairi released a confused breath. She stood at Sora's side, unable to take her azure eyes off of the cursed duster.

"FIFI!"

Once more, the Key Bearer was forced to locate the manifestation of another accent. To his relief, it was Lumière, the candlestick. Someone he recognized. Lumière, his wicks ablaze, hopped over to the irate duster. "Fifi," he purred, his charming vocals on full throttle. "These are our guests! We do not harass guests!"

Fifi huffed. Her feathers bristled. "Even whes dey ru-whin my floor?"

Lumière tisked at her suing venom. He scooped the duster into his 'arms', charm oozing from his every, waxy poor. "Oh-ho, my darling. They are here to help!"

Fifi blushed. "Oh, Lumière," she giggled.

Axel's eyebrows shot into the air. "Candle's got game." He quickly, but deftly, covered Sora and Kairi's eyes. He wasn't about to let them get any ideas from this kind of fluff. That was all this trip needed. More romance. Even so, he couldn't stop ogling. As far as Axel was concerned, this was the opportune moment for note taking.

Unlucky for him, another inanimate object entered the scene. "Lumière!" a clock snapped sharply. "This is NO time for games!" The second and minute hands on his face whirled about in dynamic fury. When his beady, little eyes landed on those who towered over the snogging candlestick, he instantly donned another mood. This one cordial. "AH! Splendid! Sora!" The clock hobbled closer. "I could use your assist."

The Beast's mournful roar sent his servants to shaking. Lumière's flames sputtered out.

Kairi shoved Axel's hand from her face. "What's wrong with the Beast?" she asked.

Lumière's wicks flickered to life when he caught sight of this auburn-haired beauty. "Ah, cherie," he gushed. "It is, how you say...complicated."

Sora tore Axel's fingers away from his eyes, as well. "Complicated?"

Cogsworth fidgeted. "Well, you see...the fact of the matter is-urm-he won't tell us." He tugged at his crowned, wooden collar.

"What about Belle?" Sora pressed.

"That's the thing!" Lumière's melting forehead furrowed. "We can't find her."

ooo

Riku and Nevaeh watched the drama unfold below. One on the verge of making this Gaston fellow regret his every exploit and the other admiring the toned hunter for his obvious leadership qualities, handsome features, and gusto for evil.

"Let go of me!" Belle's father cried. He struggled with the figures that were currently dragging him toward the insane asylum carriage. With the old man merely in his night-clothes, and looking as sick as he did, such handling on his part wasn't boding very well.

Belle screamed, "STOP!" She sprinted back into her home, a nervous hand over her mouth.

Gaston just laughed at her theatrics.

Riku scowled.

Nevaeh issued butterfly kiss after butterfly kiss.

"Wait!" Belle reappeared, a silver hand-mirror against her chest. "I can prove to you that the Beast is real!" She ran her fingers over the relief design set at the antique's handle. "Show me the Beast," she whispered. Belle winced at the image that flooded her face with green. Sparks of electricity surged from the mirror's surface, illuminating what the mob's torches did not. The Princess spun the picture of her dearest friend toward all that stood before her. And their eyes widened in fear.

Riku and Nevaeh couldn't see what the mirror portrayed. They were too far away. But Riku knew perfectly well why the onlookers were terrified out of their minds. The Beast was a frightening individual. Especially when powered by a drive for his one and only.

"Is it dangerous?" someone asked.

Recoiling, the crowd chattered among themselves while Gaston stared at the image in awe.

"No," Belle assured. She tucked the mirror back to her person and stroked its edge. "He's kind and gentle and..." She smiled. "He's my friend."

"If I didn't know better," Gaston growled. "I'd say you were in love with this Beast!" He closed what distance there was in between him and the Princess before ripping the mirror from her hands. "How could you love such a monster?"

Belle's brown eyes flashed in retaliation. "He's no monster, Gaston! You are!"

Gaston ignored her, though it was noticeable that his pride had been somewhat bruised. "The Beast will gorge upon our lands! He'll hunt our children!" He towered over a woman and her offspring, frightening them with his words. "Make off with them in the night!"

"NO!" Belle argued.

"Through the mist, through the woods, to an enchanted castle. It's a nightmare, but it's one exciting ride." Gaston poked his right-hand, gremlin-looking man in his pudgy chest. "Say and prayer and we're there at a drawbridge at a castle and there's something truly terrible inside." Gaston studied the mirror again. "It's a beast – he's got fangs – razor sharp ones." He flexed his hand. "Master claws, killer claws for the feed. Hear him roar, see him foam, but we're not coming home until he's DEAD!" Gaston bellowed. He thrust the magical mirror forward to where everyone could see what it reflected. "GOOD AND DEAD! KILL THE BEAST!"

"Please! Gaston!"

"Lock Belle and her father in the cellar," he sneered. "We don't want them warning the creature." He stood confidant, cloak whipping his muscular sides, while the lackeys did all the dirty work for him.

Belle's pleas for help were almost nonexistent now. Her weak fists were but dull thuds against the decrepit, cellar door. "NO!"

Gaston spoke over her tears. "It's time to take some action, boys." He tucked his gloved thumbs (along with the Princess' mirror) into his belt. "It's time to follow me!"

ooo

Kairi gazed in the direction of the West Wing, mortified by the roars that emitted from the darkened halls. It sounded to her as if the Beast was in real torment. From what his servants said, the root of his grief must be Belle, the other Princess of Heart. Kairi rubbed her upper arms. The lofty ceilings, the inky shadows of the palace, the emptiness of the Beast's home...there was no wonder why he howled.

And she feared that she'd be stuck in such a place one day.

"Oh," Cogsworth sighed. "I just hope they haven't had another spat."

Sora had warned Kairi that the worlds he frequented were anything but normal. So far, this one took the cake. Mermaids were all fine and dandy. Breathing under water was a miracle in and of itself. But talking household items? Kairi didn't understand. However, she was sure to be enlightened later on.

"Don't worry." Sora knelt down and patted the clock's polished shoulder. "I'll go speak with him."

Kairi smiled to herself, admiring the Keyblade Master's charms. Lucky...that's what she was. Lucky.

Axel's grumbling stomach interrupted her musings.

Sora stood up in wake of the hunger pangs. "While I'm gone, can you get them something to eat?" He threw his thumb over his shoulder, directing Lumière's attention to his ruffled companions.

"Why of course!" The candlestick hobbled over and tugged at Axel's pants. "Be our guest, sir!" Somehow, he managed to produce a whistle by pursing his wax-lips around his right, gold-plated candleholder and exhaling with all his might.

Immediately, a silver tea trolley barreled out of the kitchen, laden with fine china and elegant cups filled to the brim with steaming tea. "Mrs. Pots, at your service, dears," the white teapot announced. "I hope you're hungry! We've prepared a lovely spread..." Her round face fell. "What with the Master out of sorts, it'll go to waste."

Donald rubbed his feathered fingers together. "I can help, too!"

Mrs. Pots smiled. "Wonderful!" Her trolley began to retreat from whence it came. "Follow me everyone!"

Kairi, being intrigued with these speaking items, was the first to obey the teapot's instructions. As Axel, Donald, and Goofy brushed past her in their hast to fill their empty bellies, she caught sight of Sora heading in the opposite direction. Right toward the grand staircase.

The Key Bearer's pace was one of confidence. Even amidst the Beast's mourning howls. He melded with the darkness, his hand now on the railing...

Kairi took only a moment to think her actions through. She could tail him, like she wanted with every fiber of her being. Or she could make him happy and stay where she needed. Not because, funny enough, she was needed in the dinning hall, but because it would ease Sora's mind to know she was safe in the hands of his friends. Kairi hated to think what would happen if he lost his concentration like he had during the scuff with Ursula. Or Vanessa. Whatever. Kairi was sure it had been her fault – the whole nearly-being strangled incident.

So, weighing her choices, the Princess stuck with the rest of the group...now farther behind due to her hesitation. As Kairi walked, leather armor squeaking softly, she watched (no doubt, with amusement) as the King's royal magician and royal guard were sucked into Lumière's supper song.

"Be. Our. Guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test..."

ooo

Nevaeh kept Gaston's hunting/mob party in her sights until the man of her dreams was well out of range. The only thing that got her head in the game was Riku. He'd been speaking to her in a rather lethargic manner for quite some time now. She imagined that he was finally relying on physical contact to revive his day-dreaming partner because she'd failed to respond to anything else.

Nevaeh stumbled after the silver-haired youth, not completely used to his leading-by-the-hand. That was her deal. No matter, no matter. So what if Riku was taking lessons from little ol' her? She had bigger fish to fry. Nevaeh dug her heels into the ground. She built up two, very impressive mounds of frost before Riku whipped around, teeth bared.

"WHAT?" he snapped.

They were now mere feet from Belle's cellar door. Nevaeh's intrusion to Riku's plan was working on his nerves. If that wasn't the most adorable thing under the sun. Nevaeh stifled a giggle. "I think it would be best if we went after Mr. Gaston."

Riku's lip curled. Whether at the title or her itinerary change, Nevaeh'd never know.

"We need to help Belle. We'll worry about your boyfriend later."

Heat seized Heaven's insides like a vice. She jerked Riku around to face her. "What did you say?"

Riku didn't have any qualms with this test of nerve. What with his height advantage, it appeared as if he were antagonizing Nevaeh to stand against him. Maybe, in reality, he was. By his own will or not, who could say. "Boyfriend," he bit. Riku said the word slowly. Allowed it to cut.

Nevaeh stood on her tip-toes. Her braided hair wafted in the chilly wind. But it looked as if it were floating from the intensity of their argument. "Who I fancy is my business!" She threw back her pale, moonlit shoulders and balled her hands into knuckle-popping fists.

Riku squared his jaw. He rebuttaled, "Whatever happened to 'love is just a game'? With that attitude, nobody will ever return your affections." He didn't even mind when Nevaeh's nose caused his own to scrunch from the amount of bodily force she was throwing into him.

"You can't talk to me like that, Mr. Riku!"

"I believe I just did."

"FINE!"

"GOOD!"

There was complete and utter silence for about thirty seconds. The two contenders stood chest-to-chest, facing heated clouds of their adversary's breath.

"Hello?" Belle's voice called. "Is anyone there?"

Nevaeh's nostrils flared. "You save your precious Princess, then." She stepped away and formed the snake-ish Keyblade in her hands, indifferent to Riku's death-glares. "This is our good-bye, sir." Her chin lifted high into the air. "Farewell." Nevaeh spun on her heel and ambled on her way, immersing herself into the gloom of the forest once more. She hefted her sword to her shoulder and didn't look back.

Not even a parting glance.

ooo

Sora was half-way up the first part of the grand staircase when his body automatically reversed direction on its own. He knew, without a doubt, that this was his individual doing. Not Roxas. But it confused him, nonetheless. By the time he saw Kairi making for the kitchen door, he called out her name.

The Princess barely had time to turn around. "Sora? Wha-"

He took her in his arms and kissed on the lips before she could say anymore. Sora himself was startled at his shameless, unabashed actions. Not that it mattered for more than a second or two. He withdrew to catch his breath...for, suddenly, he was faint. Something here was making him...

Sora caught sight of his fingers as they slipped through Kairi's hair, almost with a mind of their own. What horrified him most of all was that they were tinged with black. And it was spreading. What happened to his twenty-four hours? He was with Kairi, wasn't he? He was practically hugging her...he was touching her. Why? Sora closed his yellowing eyes.

Dizzy. He felt dizzy. Sora could also sense the disease spreading through him like an unsurpassed heat. It fueled him to find a cure: the one that lay in his arms. Sora hovered his mouth next to Kairi's, doing his best to inhale her purified breath. He became more desperate with each waning minute-hour-however long they'd been standing there. So he kissed her again...and again...and again...his persistence terrified him.

What did he think he was doing?

Sora bit back an astonished cry of pain when his bones cracked underneath his skin. The disease was taking him. Already, he was under the majority of its control. Sora opened his eyes to see how much the virus had progressed. He wanted to know how much time he had left. Wanted to know how much time he had to say "I love you". His throat was too packed with gobs of darkness and sorrow to verbally admit his feelings.

He'd declare it with a kiss. Anywhere he could plant it. As many as he could with his allotted time.

Sora then stumbled onto something that took his last, conscious breath. He wasn't consumed by the disease. Not fully. His body, hair, clothes...they were all bathed in shadow. But not light-consuming darkness like before. What he saw was almost a precursor to his ailing state. Likewise, Kairi wasn't her normal self, either. Every inch of her, same as he, perforated power. Yet, the opposite. While he radiated with gloom, she radiated with luminosity.

Both of them, he discerned, were forerunners of what they would turn out to be. Light and Dark. Black and White. Day and Night. In this newfound status – this stream of awareness – Sora came to understand that they could never coexist as they were. Impossible wasn't even a strong enough word.

He didn't know how this came to be such an adamant fact. But it was there. And it stung.

Kairi seemed to realize this, too. All the same, she reached out her fair, glowing hand to caress his face.

Sora leaned into the stroke, not bothering to recoil at the sound of his sizzling skin; it burned under the Princess' fingertips. In spite of this, caring wasn't an issue.

Kairi slipped away. She was afraid she was hurting him, wasn't she? Sora took her hand in his, biting back the pain he felt with her standing so near. He couldn't speak. He couldn't anything; this was his way of saying: "I don't mind. I can love you through the pain." It was amazing to him that he was in his right mind. Though not wholly cognizant. He responded to Kairi as he always did. With kindness. Affection. His animalistic tendencies where nowhere to be found.

Sora drew Kairi closer to him again, admiring how beautiful she was. Even as his flesh screamed not to; his nose, his forehead, his lips...all of them were soon to be assaulted with light – the Princess was going along with his lead.

Silencing his sharp intake of breath when she kissed him wasn't an option. To put it simply: it hurt. It hurt a lot. But her lips were too sweet to reject. Sora held his Princess at her waist, making sure she wouldn't escape from him least she thought she was causing him more aches than she was worth. If that was viable.

And, just like none of it had taken place, Sora found himself. He released Kairi with a shaky sigh of relief. His voice and his thoughts returned to him as one. It was so much to take in, Sora almost sank to his knees. He'd never been so thankful to have Kairi in his arms, supporting him the way she did. Her face was clammy to the touch, but that didn't stop him from tracing her features. Over and over again.

Kairi offered Sora an inquisitive look. One that made him crave to kiss her. "I don't know," Sora whispered. And he didn't.

Another roar from the West Wing forced the Keyblade Master to reluctantly step aside. He had a job to do. This mystery would have to wait.

ooo

Riku was, for lack of a better word, mad. Good riddance to that nuisance of a girl! He didn't need her. She could return to being Tarsus' right-hand woman if she wanted. At least it would give him a good reason to defeat her in battle.

Once Nevaeh was out of sight, Riku was left feeling quite empty. There was nothing present to sic his spite upon. Nothing worthwhile, anyway, apart from a heavy fog, frosted ground, a little hut, and Tony Sarmiento...

Sarmiento?

Riku would have balked at the sight of the Mastery stooge if he hadn't been so peeved in the first place. Belle's attempts at opening the locked cellar door rattled his weary brain into action. "What do you want?" he snapped. "Ready to lose again?" Riku's Keyblade buzzed against his hand – he hadn't even realized that he'd called it to his being. His steely eyes were locked on Sarmieto's violet.

Tony smirked. "Ohz, come on, Key Bearer. Do youze really think I'm that pathetic, eh?" Sarmiento turned his head in the direction Nevaeh had taken. "Looks like she'll be mine again, soons 'nough."

Riku bristled.

"Tells me..." Sarmiento stepped to the side, hands deeply buried in his dark suspenders. "How do yaz manipulate my Mastah's disease?" He tilted his head to where his shining eyes were no longer visible beneath his leather hat. "I'llz make it worth your while."

Riku shifted, not wanting Tony out of his line of sight. If it was a fight Sarmiento wanted, it was a fight he was going to get. Riku swallowed back a burning lump in his throat, surprised at where such a surging emotion came from. More than likely, his tightened gut. "I'll never tell you," Riku hissed. He worried, momentarily, how Tony uncovered such a detail. Tarsus must be cleverer than Riku'd given him credit for. But since Sarmiento was inquiring, Riku doubted the Master knew he'd been infused with Xemnas' Heartless. Who'd called himself Ansem. "And there's nothing you can do to make me tell you."

Sarmiento tisked. "Nevah say nevah." His gaze, once more, drifted toward the forest. "Youze tell me, and precious 'Vaeh won't be pushin' up daisies, understand?" Tony came to a stop, looking as relaxed as if they were chatting about the weather. "Youze don't..." He withdrew one of his hands from his pockets and swiped a finger across his throat. "It really willz be good-bye, then, won't it?"

ooo

Sora strode through the West Wing, not in the least bit daunted by the creepy statues. Even though they were figures of stone writhing in grief. He'd grown used to the décor. The Beast sure did have a weird sense of taste when it came to embellishing his castle. In all reality, Sora supposed it reflected his anguish.

The Keyblade Master continued on his way down the ever-long hallway. His feet thudded against the campaign-colored rug, muffled by its thickness. He swiped aside low-hanging curtains that were fastened above on the curved keystones. The fabric nearly dissolved against his fingers, they were so moth-ridden. The servants may have cleaned up the place, but they hadn't done much in this area. For good reason. Anyone that moved within a few feet of that enchanted rose was going to get a face-full of furry fist.

Sora knew. He remembered.

"Beast?" Sora called. He stepped closer to the daunting, wooden door that would lead to the Prince's bedchamber. Sora noticed that it was cracked so he took a peek in before asking once more, "Beast?"

The room was a mess. Like it had been the first time he'd seen it. But...Sora had the vague inclination that the Beast had tried to make things presentable, only to fail. There wasn't any dust. No dirt clusters of who-knew-what. But everything was torn. New, but rendered asunder. It gave Sora a bad feeling in the put of his stomach. Especially when he saw the size of the claw marks in several, well-sized planks of wood.

Sora's bright, blue eyes fell upon the Master of the castle. He was standing near the fogged window that was twice his height and width, back to the entrance of his bedroom. Dressed in the same clothes he'd worn the night of Belle's requested ball, too. "Beast..."

"Sora?" The Beast's broad shoulders tensed. He sounded surprised that the Key Bearer was in his abode. It didn't last long. "Leave me," he said. Quietly. Softly. Gently, even. The Beast attempted to hide the little table that stood next to him. However, the tale-tell glow of the magical flower's power gave his intentions away. For he had been mostly made up of shadow with the exception of the rose's pink light. And now he was nothing but a black blotch against the cloudy, night sky.

"How many pedals are left?" Sora asked. He didn't think he had time to beat around the bush. Being polite took time. Time they didn't have.

The Beast hugged the glass casing closer to his chest...according to the sound of the container's bottom sliding across the polished surface of the stand. "Does it matter?"

Sora stepped farther into the room. "It does to me."

The Beast was silent in wake of his answer. "I..." he began. "I let her go."

Sora recoiled. He suspected that Belle had run away. Or something similar. True, such an act was totally out of character for someone as strong as the Princess, but...everyone has their limitations. "You let her go? Why?" Why would the Beast do such a thing when his life was on the line? When he was so close to returning to normal? To defeating the curse?

"Because..."

Sora's brow furrowed from the amount of sorrow that dripped from the Beast's voice.

"I love her."

(A/N: Can you tell this is my favorite Disney Princess movie of ALL TIME! Oh my gasp...be still my heart.)

ooo

Nevaeh slipped through the slush, comfortable with her surroundings. She dimly recalled that her world was riddled with snow. She knew it like the back of her hand...or what she remembered, would be more accurate. Nevaeh kept her mind on the cold and away from the little quarrel she'd had with the only friend she could name. It was his fault, after all. Who was Mr. Riku to control whom she admired and whom she didn't?

Nevaeh bared her teeth as she sprinted against the blustery wind. All she had to do was wait until she happened upon Gaston and the rest of the mob. Surely, they wouldn't be hard to find. Already, Nevaeh could hear their chant:

"Sally forth! Tally ho! Grab your sword! Grab your bow!"

Heaven rolled her eyes. Music...how she loathed it. Unless it suited her purpose. An image of Riku sprawled out on the beach in Atlantica came to her mind, but she shunned it. She'd really screwed up this time. Riku had never been on the best of terms with her. They were both forces to be reckoned with. They could hardly make what relationship they'd had last longer than it did. It was just the way they were. Loners. And that was how it was going to stay.

Nevaeh followed the twinkling lights of the mob's torches. When she finally caught up, she wormed her way through the unsuspecting, burley men, her head no more than coming up to their stomachs. Elbowing was an added discomfort for them. She laughed at the ones doubled over in her wake; Nevaeh leapt into the air and landed, cat-like, at the peak of the insane asylum carriage. "Oh, Mr. Gaston," she simpered sweetly. "I don't think you want to continue with your quest."

Gaston, who'd been leading his party atop a black stallion, tugged on the reins enough for his horse to come to a stop. He turned in his saddle, not very amused. "And why not, little girl?" he derided. "Are you in love with this Beast, too?"

Nevaeh straightened, her eyes closed against all scrutiny. This was the second person today that had labeled someone as her lover when they weren't. How infuriating! "I should say not," Nevaeh said. Calm. Cool. Collected. "However, if you insist on taking another step, I'm afraid I'll have to kill you."

Heaven opened one of her eyes, just barely, when all she heard was crickets.

Then an explosion of guffaws greeted her. Even the ones writhing on the dirt path were working up measured chuckles. It was hard to ignore.

Gaston, in stitches, slapped his toned thigh. "You?" He couldn't stem his laughter. "Beat me? Why, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!"

Both of Nevaeh's orange eyes snapped open to their fullest extent. "I hardly make idle threats!"

Gaston disregarded her. As an alternative, he snapped his fingers.

Nevaeh'd been expecting someone such as the hunter's half-wit minion to try and deal with her the best he could. Like Gaston was underestimating her power. But she was dead wrong. (Hindsight, Nevaeh supposed that there was a first time for everything.) Her foundation wobbled, trying to contain whatever it was within the asylum carriage. Nevaeh flung out her arms to steady her balance. A gigantic, black, four-fingered hand exploded from below to snatch one of her ankles, nearly covering her entire calf.

"Hey, dere, sweetheart," said the creature underneath her. "So you must be the gal Sarmiento told me about. HEH-HEEEH!"

Nevaeh gasped. "Let go of me!" she ordered. "Let go now or I shall slice you to ribbons!"

"The Pete aint gonna be shown up by some big-talkin', wanna-be hero!" He tightened his grip and pulled.

Nevaeh didn't have much of a chance to prevent this. She sank below the splintering wood as if she'd been sucked into a black hole, itself. Tendrils of darkness seeped through her newly inhabited prison; she was being consumed by it. For an unbelievable moment, her struggling ceased and the carriage stopped wobbling here and there. But that was before...

BAM!

The entire Pete-mobile shattered into thousands of pieces, throwing Maleficent's understudy a good thirty feet in front of Gaston. He felled two trees in the process.

Nevaeh was left where the charred remains of the carriage lay. Beaten by darkness, all she could do was stand. Her singed hair was blazed from its braid and her body was covered in burns. Luckily, her exhaustion didn't last very long. Nevaeh took a few deep breaths, happy that the others around her were too startled to do more than gape, before she sauntered toward the leader of the group. This mob was like a snake. If she crushed it's head, then the body would stop moving altogether.

"Now..." Nevaeh sighed. She blew what was left of her sooted hair over her shoulder. "It's your turn." Neveah positioned her sword at her side, took a firm hold with both of her hands, and sprinted as quickly as she could in Gaston's direction, face set.

Gaston, unfortunately, had other ideas. Ones that didn't include being impaled by a Keyblade. He watched Nevaeh approach, right on the verge of yawning. The hunter didn't even blink when the white-haired girl triggered a trap of his. A hidden net, camouflaged by the snow, scooped Nevaeh high into the air. She'd been too fast for it to fasten all of her...she now dangled by the same foot Pete had grabbed. The same one that was scorched by darkness. Whatever had occurred to that part of her body, it was enough to render Nevaeh unconscious. For now.

Gaston searched his side for his tranquilizer gun. He hefted it into his hands, pressed the butt to his shoulder, aimed, and fired a round at Nevaeh's neck. Then Gaston pulled the trigger twice more for precautionary measures. What did he care if the amount of drugs left the girl in her current state permanently?

Pete sat upright. He rubbed his noggin with a heavy hand. "Ohhh," he moaned. "That little lady knows how to hit."

Gaston frowned. He threw his gun to Lafu who buckled under its weight. "Just take care of her."

Pete nodded. "Right. You go after dat Beast up ahead like we planned." He smiled, overly-haughty. "Using my Heartless to win! And in return-"

"In return I hand over the Beast's castle so the witch you serve can have a new throne-yes-yes-I know." Gaston gathered his stallion's reins in his hands once more. He scanned what damage Nevaeh had caused with a burning fire in his stony eyes. "Make her pay," he whispered.

Pete removed a Chaser talon from his pocket. One dripping with a virus Samiento had said was dangerous enough to destroy any Keyblade Bearer. "I'll make sure of it."

ooo

Axel, a little tipsy from over-eating, picked up a steak knife that scampered by his dormant plate at the dining table. He used the squealing utensil to pick what was left of his meal from his teeth. When he was finished, Axel released the miffed knife and patted his bulging belly. "...cheese soufflé, pie and pudding on flambé..." he hummed. Axel roved his greasy pointers around in tune. "Now that's what I call dinner and a show."

Donald and Goofy were similarly slumped in their seats.

"Gee-willikers," Goofy ha-yucked. "That there was some good eatin'."

Donald nodded his agreement. He started to fall asleep, but a sudden realization forced his baby-blue eyes to pop back open. "Hey..." He leaned forward against the table (though it was hard with such a full gut) and peered down the way. The only things he saw were moving dishes. "Where're Sora and Kairi?"

Axel shrugged his shoulders. "They're probably off smoochin' somewhere."

Goofy rubbed the tip of his nose and chuckled.

"Are not," Kairi's voice echoed from behind them.

Axel leapt to his feet and bowed the best he could, given his current circumstance. "Oh! Princess! I didn't know you were here..." He looked about as hangdog as could be expected.

Kairi only laughed. When she sobered enough to explain herself, the Princess slowly made her way to one of the empty chairs. It moved on her behalf and tried its best to wrap a napkin around her neck. "No thank you," she said with a smile. "I'll eat later."

Axel prepared to copy his charge. But his chair already thought him finished and, therefore, moved aside to do whatever it was chairs did when someone wasn't sitting in them. "OOF!" Axel collapsed to his bottom. The only part of his body to be seen was a tuft of red hair. "C'mon, Princess. Try the gray stuff. It's delicious!"

Goofy had better sense. (As wild as that sounds.) "So, where's Sora?" he asked.

Kairi folded her hands over her leather skirt. She picked at one of the studs. "He went to go see the Beast, remember? I'm not going with him this time." She didn't feel like expounding on the other thing that'd happened on his way to visit. "Sora thinks he can talk some sense into the Prince."

Axel hoisted himself to his feet. "Well, the best of luck to Roxas." He turned his attention to the kitchen doors. They were swinging open and shut, open and shut. Due to all the little, cursed beings running back and forth from one area to the next. "I think I'm going to give my compliments to the chef." He stalked forward as Lumière and Cogsworth emerged from the pyro's destination.

"Ah!" the candlestick beamed. Literally. "Did my friends enjoy their meal?"

Before anyone could answer, the dinning room doors burst open, revealing one panicked Sora.

"Mon Key Bearer!" Lumière laughed. "Here at last!"

Cogsworth plodded toward Sora on his stubby, wooden legs. "What did the Master say?" he asked. The clock's eyes pleaded for good news.

Sora couldn't face such a visage so he inclined his neck to look at the ceiling above. "He said...he let her go."

There was absolute silence in the hall. All the dishes, forks, knives, cups, candlesticks, and chairs, refused to move in light of this surprising information. Donald and Goofy, mouths agape, stared at one another, speechless. Kairi continued to pick at her battle-wear.

Then, quite suddenly: "HE DID WHAT?"

ooo

"You sick-"

Sarmiento waved a threatening finger. "Ah-ah-ah!"

Riku fought off the waves of nausea that hit him in the back of his neck. The tip of the Keyblade he held fell to the ground; he suddenly didn't have the energy to support the weapon anymore. Nevaeh? In danger? Why did he care so much? Blast it all! She was compromising his mission even when she wasn't around.

It was always going to be this way, wasn't it? For reasons he couldn't fathom, Nevaeh was bound to haunt his mind. Be it only minutes after she left him or years. BLAST! Nevaeh can handle herself, Riku thought in a convincing tone. She can handle herself.

"If you run, you might be able to save her," Sarmiento taunted.

Riku looked up at Tony, worn out from all these stupid emotions. They made his head feel heavy. He wanted them to go away. Riku needed an outlet to siphon his passion into oblivion. Feelings were completely unnecessary.

Riku's eyesight pinpointed a gleaming object over Sarmiento's shoulder. From the way it reflected in the night, it appeared to be something smooth, sharp, and dangerous. Riku was sure his weary mind wasn't fabricating its movement. The angled weapon leaned forward, being fastened on a long staff. It hovered close to the ground before righting again...how bizarre...

Tony was saying something else, but Riku had already drowned him out. There was no sense in continuing to listen to that piece of filth. He'd heard enough. Heaven was in trouble. That was all he needed to know. Riku watched the axe head repeat the chopping action over and over again, trying his best not to appear too curious. When he heard a tiny voice shout: "Here we go!" and saw the belly of the machine that the axe was attached to...

Sarmiento seemed fully aware of the situation because his body vanished into a puff of darkness when the whatever-it-was rolled forward and down the hill...right through him. Or where he used to be. Riku only just managed to dodge out of harms way. Only just managed not to have his head cleaved into two.

He'd work out the oh-my-gosh-I-was-inches-from-death factor later.

Riku made sure the machine destroyed the cellar door before bolting out of sight. He wasn't needed here. Albeit, the events that had occurred were beyond confusing. Thoughts such as: What in the world was that thing? and Who in their right mind had driven it into Belle's house? were a few. Riku suppressed the questions that were close to leaving him overwhelmed and brought to the surface all the adrenaline he possessed.

If he was too late...he'd never forgive himself. Riku made a promise, then and there, that he'd be a better friend. Even if it was to someone he disliked.

Riku's shoes slid against the melting snow. He didn't have a handle on how he knew where he was going. He just did. Possibly determined by the amount of darkness allocated in one area. Maybe that was what drew him to Nevaeh in the first place.

No. Couldn't think about that now. Riku shut down all focus. Except for that on the presence of evil. Tunnel-visioned. That was a good word for what he was experiencing. Tunnel-visioned.

Riku skated down the side of a wooded hill. The darkness he perceived spiked to a sickening amount. Besides that, he could almost feel Tarsus' disease. And thick words accompanied it: "I'll show you to mess with me, little lady!"

It wasn't Gaston's voice...but close enough. Whoever it happened to be, Riku'd make them wish they'd never been born.

Riku burst onto a trampled path, taking in a sight that set his blood to simmer. Some large...bear...cat...oh, Lord, he didn't know, was holding a bound Nevaeh in his Goliath fist. Riku reached out his hand, about to shout "STOP!", but he found that the stranger's claw was...in his possession. Riku balked at the sight; his surprise was short-lived. He crushed the talon in his fist and made to beat the mess out of Nevaeh's captor.

Unfortunately, the large...thing...was already running away.

"You'll both pay for this!" he shouted over his shoulder once he'd vanished in the mist. "Bet on it; that's a promise from The Pete!"

Riku didn't bother chasing The Pete down. His first priority was Nevaeh. Riku rushed to her side, practically drenched in sweat from his run. And from fear, if he was honest. Riku beat yet another lump in his throat into submission and knelt down next to the mummified girl. With a faltering heartbeat, he discovered...

That she was asleep.

Exasperated, Riku shook her awake.

Nevaeh blinked open her lazy eyes. "Mr. Riku?" she tried to ask. It came out rather muffled since, well, every inch of her was encased with rope. More that likely, this was to stall their progress. Riku wondered how she'd gotten this way.

Nevaeh screamed. "MMM!" She didn't look very happy.

"Hold still. I'll cut you free." Riku lifted his Keyblade and rested the sharpened tip against her ties. He would have started to saw the rope if it hadn't been for the fact that there was the risk in cutting Nevaeh. Not that Heaven would've cared. She was tough – she was used to pain.

Still...

Riku opted to disentangle her. Once he had her mouth free, he asked, "Are you alright?"

She scoffed at such a question. "Oh. I'm peachy, Mr. Riku. That's why I'm bound against my will. It was all a part of my plan." A section of her bindings were wound about her nose. As a result, her speech was nasally. Riku had a hard time not pointing such an observation out. "What took you so long?" she wheezed.

Riku blinked. He couldn't believe she... "I went to grab a drink at the town's Tavern," he said in monotone. "Where do you think?" He cut off his building frustration. "I ran into Sarmiento."

"Is he an underage drinker, too?" Nevaeh quipped.

"Hn." Riku gnawed on his bottom lip to keep from smacking Heaven over the top of her head. "How was your date with Mr. Gaston?"

Languid, Nevaeh shrugged his question away as if it were an annoying pest. "All brawn and no brains make Heaven a bored girl." She shifted her weight against the ground, waiting for Riku to finish fumbling with the knots at her collar. She watched him with heavy-lidded eyes, a completely different smirk on her face. In what little light the moon reflected, it appeared as if she were blushing. Maybe.

Enough to where you'd refer to yourself in third person? Riku desired to say. But, for some reason, he stayed his want. He was too relieved that Nevaeh was alive. He didn't need to initiate an argument right now. Though, by his previous dealings, he could have if he so chose. Tired of mishandling Heaven's bonds, Riku forced the heat of the spell of Fire to his fingertips. He pinched the thick rope together with his pointer and thumb until it sizzled away. Successful, Riku unraveled Nevaeh, finally freeing her pear-like hair. Such locks deserved to be liberated. They fanned out behind her while she struggled to sit upright.

"Stop fidgeting."

Nevaeh lifted a narrow eyebrow. She didn't reply to his command and, instead, shifted when it was necessary to wind the rope around her upper arms and back. "I hate being a damsel in distress," she sighed. Nevaeh tugged her elbows free.

"You survived without the use of your hands or your feet. I'd call that an accomplishment." Riku detested applauding Heaven, but there was little sense in not congratulating her. Especially when her pride had been wounded. He yanked the coil of rope to Nevaeh's midsection.

Heaven unfurled her arms. She stretched them over her head on the frosted ground...arched her back to and fro like one just having woken from a blissful dream. Nevaeh wound her fingers through her tresses and relaxed, at long last, satisfied with her freedom while Riku toiled with the ropes at her waist.

Or, that was what he was supposed to be doing.

Nevaeh's gaze returned to Riku's face after exploring the tops of the barren, snow-laden trees. When she found that he was staring at her, she smiled her sly, all-knowing grin. "Mr. Riku," she said, turning her head so that the moonlight fell onto her slender neck. "What are you looking at?"

Riku seemed to realize what he was doing. Instead of acting like he'd done nothing of the sort, he replied, "You." Then he went back to burning knots.

"And why?" Nevaeh reclined on her elbows and waited for his answer.

Riku took his sweet time putting together a decent sentence. "You're happy," he huffed, now focusing on her lower thighs. "It's a rare sight."

Nevaeh nodded and sat erect. "I suppose." She watched her partner labor with her legs, not in any rush to aide him. She hunched her shoulders before sliding her hands against the melting snow. Her support left everything to be desired. But Nevaeh still wanted to watch...so she reached out and took a handful of Riku's white jacket: right at the shoulder.

Riku hesitated at her touch, but kept working. He ripped the last of the rope away from Nevaeh's ankles and helped the girl to her feet. Riku looked her over; just to make sure she wasn't hiding some hidden lacerations. The only thing he could see was severe rope-burn, a few puncture wounds that didn't look like they originated from Chaser talons, and some scattered burns. Nothing a Cure spell couldn't fix.

"I'm fine," Nevaeh snapped. Her orange eyes lit. "It appears I must thank you for saving my life."

Riku shook his head. "Friends don't owe each other anything-"

"What if I want to?" She stepped closer to him without releasing her hold on his shoulder. Her eyebrows peaked. "Hm?"

"Then thank me and be done with it," Riku snarled. Though he did so pretty quietly. She was too close to be yelling. Come to think of it...she was so near, it was boarder-lining uncomfortable. It was at that moment that Riku came to understand what her 'thank-you' was going to be. "Don't..."

Like Nevaeh was one to listen to him.

Riku balked just enough for Heaven to miss the majority of his mouth. But instead of finishing his retreat, he stood there and dealt with her lips at the corner of his. She didn't seem fazed that he'd moved on her. Not in the slightest. Nevaeh pressed on. Softly, surprise-surprise. Who knew she could be this gentle?

Riku sighed, grateful that her aim was off...grateful for many a reason. A few of which he didn't want to reveal to himself. His moan quickly turned to that of quiet frustration. There was some inner yearning to tilt his head and receive the full experience of Nevaeh's kiss. But he supposed it was only his hormones.

Before Riku knew it, Nevaeh was finished with him; his chest heaved. "Heaven..."

She nuzzled her nose against his nose, undaunted by the silver-haired boy's whispered threat. Almost opposite of the way she'd treated him earlier. To make amends. "It's written, Mr. Riku, that damsel's give their rescuer's a kiss. I'm not about to break any age-old tradition." Nevaeh humphed. "I'm sorry, but it had to be done." She nodded her head as if she'd preformed a very strict sense of duty before spinning away. Her unbound hair skipped across Riku's cheeks.

Those strands felt much better smacking his face this way than they did when they were in a braid.

ooo

Gaston looked upon the multi-tiered castle. It hung in the distance like a mighty barrier, hazy purple against the low-hanging clouds. The master hunter reigned in his eagerness and continued to press his black stallion at an even pace. Its hooves clopped along the muddy trail, through the melting snow. With each clip, Gaston's evil grin grew.

He'd win Belle one way or another. Even if that meant killing her true love. A Beast.

Such thinking made Gaston sick to his stomach. Who was Belle to choose some monster over him? She was mad. That had to be the answer. Insane just like her old man. "Take whatever booty you can find!" he shouted to his followers. "But remember! The Beast is MINE!"

ooo

Tarsus watched Eric's Kingdom burn. He was in perfect rapture, standing above the village in the shadows. He loved destruction. Death. Power. He lusted for it all. In truth, Tarsus was rather enjoying the view...that is, until Sarmiento decided to interrupt with an update.

"Mastah?" A dark sphere-of-a-portal formed at Tarsus' side, revealing Tony's smirking face.

"What is it?"

"Youze was dead on, Mastah." Sarmiento scratched his cheek, eyebrows hidden behind his cap. "I don't understands it, but dis Riku fella really does have dah powah to control your disease."

Tarsus revealed nothing in his expression. If it could be seen at all; he was hooded. As always. "I see."

"I think he might even have feelin's for our 'Vaeh."

Tarsus chuckled under his breath. Just as he assumed. "Leave them be, for now. They are on good terms?"

"Yes, Mastah. If kisses mean anything." There was a hint of sourness in Sarmiento's tone.

"Then we'll use those terms to our benefit. When Riku's power becomes a problem."

Tony nodded. "What about the Princess Kairi?"

"She's progressing as planned. And Sora's slowly succumbing to the illness. Above all, he must be the one to perish first." Tarsus smiled. His vampire teeth glinted in the light of the inferno below him. "All according to plan."

(A/N: Snap...a Ted Dekker ending! Sorry about the cliff, guys. You know I love ya!)

ooo

A/N: This, I believe, is one of my better chapters. If you didn't know, I was having major writer's block problems for the past couple of updates. Twenty-one pages! Whoo-ho! All for you guys. I hope it was a blast-of-a-read.

Still writing Deleted Scenes!

No chapter preview this time. I'm pooped.

Leave a review and I'll get back to you! Yay, rhymes.

God bless!