Welcome back, Wielders! Here are with a new chapter. I hope you all are ready for a new chapter, and possibly a new Princess. Enjoy!

Tenebrae made sure to give a report to the Prince when the small group made it back to the castle. He informed the Prince about the ghost of the Queen. He even mentioned the vault under the castle. The Prince said he would send a group to investigate it.

True to her word, Snow White had prepared a large dinner for Tenebrae and the Dwarves. It was some of the most delicious food he had tasted. The Dwarves must have agreed if their jubilee was anything to go from. Tenebrae watched the men enjoy themselves, a small smile on his lips.

After his fight with the Queen, Tenebrae chose to spend a few more days in the Woodlands. He spent some time exchanging information with the Prince and Princess. He was told the Queen had been jealous of Snow White. She had gone so far as to change into a hag and poison Snow White. All because she was not considered the fairest in the land.

Tenebrae used the few days to train as well. The Heartless were still around, providing him a challenge. He accompanied the Dwarves and fought the Heartless in the mine. They were able to stay safe, and he got some practice in.

Tenebrae said his goodbyes in the morning. He left the castle and went to the Dwarves cottage to let them know. He told them of his departure and wished them well. When he finished, Tenebrae headed into the woods to open a portal.

'Cinderella's bravery, Snow White's self-sacrificing will,' he thought, 'Both of the Princesses possess strong positive traits. Something their Lights boosted. Are all of the Princesses of Heart like this?'

Tenebrae stepped though his portal at the thought. He focused on another powerful Light. And when he exited the portal, he didn't understand why.

Tenebrae's portal deposited him on a long bridge. Behind him, he could see woods. But it was the structure in front of him that caught his attention. He stood before a magnificent castle. The stonework was intricate, and the architecture was amazing. It looked every bit the castle Tenebrae knew it was.

'This place?' Tenebrae thought, as he walked to the castle. 'This castle was always interesting to traverse. I wonder how much has changed since the Unions?'

Tenebrae was able to squeeze through the gate into the courtyard. It was dark out as Tenebrae got closer to the castle. He couldn't help but admire the majesty of everything around him. The castle, the grounds… the statue swinging an axe!?

Tenebrae ducked back in time to avoid being decapitated. He flipped backwards and used his hands to push himself away. He jumped back some distance to analyze the situation.

A few statues in the courtyard came to life. Each were outfitted with a weapon. The movements were stiff but unpredictable. The statues had a strong feeling of Darkness coming from them.

'Heartless?' Tenebrae thought, summoning his Keyblade. 'Or magic of this world? Either way, these things are dangerous.'

Tenebrae blocked a strike from a stone mace. He pushed it away and struck the statue. The statue skidded back but didn't break. Tenebrae's arms stung from the backlash.

'Well, those are definitely stone,' Tenebrae thought with a wince. 'but they are not immune to my weapon.'

Tenebrae coated Kingdom Key D in flames. He rushed the group of statues. He clashed weapons with one of the statues, before aiming a fireball at its face. Tenebrae released the attack, destroying the head and releasing a heart.

'Heartless!' Tenebrae jumped back in surprise. 'They are possessing the statues!?'

Tenebrae ducked under an axe swing to the head. He countered by swinging his flame coated Keyblade at the statue's head. In a shower of stone and Darkness, a heart was released.

Tenebrae decided to be pre-emptive with the last statue. He swung at it, but the statue blocked with its own weapon. Tenebrae could feel the stone as they clashed, sending shockwaves up his arms. He attempted a few more swings that got blocked, before jumping away.

Tenebrae dismissed his Keyblade. He held his hands forward and let loose a barrage of fireballs. They all missed the Heartless statue, but surrounded it, stopping its movement.

"Converge and burst!" Tenebrae shouted as the fireballs all collided with the Heartless. The resulting explosion bringing a smile to his face.

Tenebrae sighed as the last Heartless statue released its heart. He watched it ascend and thought. The most prominent thought was how the Heartless could possess an inanimate object. Would that mean the Darkness could give sentience?

Tenebrae shook his head of the outlandish thought. He walked to the doors of the castle. He tested them to see if they would budge. To his surprise, Tenebrae was able to easily open the doors.

'Guess someone forgot to lock up,' he thought as he entered the hall. 'But now, I'm technically trespassing.'

Tenebrae wasn't too sure about his next course of action. If he looked around, he could be caught and considered a thief. If he called out, he would draw attention to himself. Either action only spoke of a negative outcome.

Tenebrae decided to try the lesser of the two stupid decisions. "Hello! Is there anyone here? I was hoping to find lodging for the night. I got a little lost."

Tenebrae could hear the echo of his own voice. What he did not hear was a response. Tenebrae wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. No other sounds could have meant no other living beings.

'This place looks well-maintained,' he thought as he walked toward a set of stairs. 'And with the Heartless here, someone needs to be around. I guess I should extend my senses.'

Tenebrae closed his eyes an took a breath. When he exhaled, he reached out his mind to get a feel of the area. Tenebrae was able to sense a lot of foreign magic. He also sensed the Darkness of the Heartless. His eyes opened when he felt a Light. It was the same Light he had felt back in Hollow Bastion.

'So, she is from here?' Tenebrae thought. 'Belle was her name, I believe. I guess her World was restored after that meteor shower.'

Tenebrae wasn't sure how to proceed. He hadn't encountered any individual of the castle. And even though he could sense them; he hadn't seen any Heartless besides the ones outside. Tenebrae was a bit worried but was confident in Belle's Light.

He decided it would be best to meet with her. Maybe Belle could give him some insight. Tenebrae tried to get a location on her Light. When he did, he was led up the eastern staircase. He ascended those stairs.

Tenebrae took the stairs into another hall. Just like the rest of the castle he had seen, this hall s well maintained. There was hardly any dust or dirt. Even the windows looked spotless, with light coming through the clear panes. Tenebrae whistled in surprise.

'It would take more than one person to keep this place maintained,' Tenebrae thought as he walked through the wing. 'But why haven't I seen anyone else? I can sense other presences, even if Belle's Light is the strongest. Where is everyone else?'

Tenebrae made it to a door on the end of the hall. It was impressive in structure and design. Tenebrae couldn't help but feel impressed and annoyed.

'Focus on the big picture,' Tenebrae thought. 'I need to see what is going on.'

Tenebrae knocked on the door. He listened as he heard shuffling behind the door. It was obvious someone was with Belle. But no one opened the door right away.

Tenebrae waited for a few minutes. He kept silent just in case. The shuffling stopped and the door opened slightly. Tenebrae couldn't see into the room, as a piece of clothing was thrown into his face as soon as the door opened. The force caused him to be thrown back and fall backwards.

Tenebrae pulled the cloth off his face, growling. Though not a moment too late, as a large piece of furniture was falling over him. Tenebrae rolled out of the way in time to avoid getting crushed. He pushed himself up to look at the furniture. A beige wardrobe with a green door was in the spot he had just occupied.

Sparing a glance to the door, Tenebrae saw it was closed. He hadn't had a chance to see who was at the door. He decided to examine the wardrobe instead. It seemed to be pretty heavy, so he wasn't sure how it could have been thrown.

Tenebrae went to open the door of the wardrobe. He wanted to see how much was in it and get an accurate weight. The door opened easily, then closed on its own. Tenebrae blinked in surprise before trying to open the wardrobe door again.

Tenebrae felt resistance this time. He let go of the door and looked at his hand. He looked at the door again, confused. The confusion turned to pain, when the door of the wardrobe swung open and smacked him in the face. A drawer near the bottom slammed into his shin, causing the Seeker to grab both his face and leg.

"Motherfu…!" Tenebrae growled, jumping in pain. "What was that!?"

"You should know not to just manhandle a lady," a voice said. "For shame, young man."

Tenebrae jumped back from the wardrobe. The voice had come from it, sounding like an older woman. Tenebrae looked around but didn't see anyone.

"Manhandle a lady?" he asked aloud. "Who's even talking?"

"Why me, of course."

Tenebrae stared at the wardrobe. It was the only other thing in the hallway with him. Tenebrae let his eyes wander up to the top of the wardrobe. His eyes met the face of a stern woman.

Tenebrae blinked. The face on the wardrobe blinked. Tenebrae let out a loud scream, jumping back to put distance between them. He summoned he Keyblade but his entire body was shaking in fear.

"W-wh-what are you!?" he shouted, "You can talk!? Are you a Heartless!?"

"How rude." The wardrobe looked to be moving, making a motion like it was puffing out a chest. "I am Madam Armoire. I am not heartless. That would be you, young man."

'Talking furniture…' Tenebrae thought, 'Furniture is talking!?'

Tenebrae pointed his Keyblade at the wardrobe. He was hoping to keep his distance. "How are you talking? And, if you aren't a Heartless, why did you try to crush me?"

"Why are you trespassing in Master's castle?" Madam Armoire asked back. "Who are you to be asking questions?"

Tenebrae tensed at the questions. She had him there. He was an unwanted guest. The last thing he needed was more trouble.

Tenebrae relaxed and lowered Kingdom Key D. "I'm a traveler. I came upon this castle by chance. I had made my presence known when I entered. However, no one responded, so I assumed the castle was empty."

"Everyone is trying to sleep," Madam Armoire said, "So, no one is around to answer. Now that you know, I ask that you kindly leave. Unless you want more pain."

"Is it possible to request an audience with your Master?" Tenebrae asked. "I wanted to offer my services against certain creatures I saw outside. Will that be possible?"

"If you mean those strange shadowy creatures, there is no need," Madam Armoire said. "Master says he fought them before. I doubt we will need any assistance."

"I still wish to speak with him," Tenebrae growled. "Those creatures are more dangerous than anything you know. My weapon is the only thing that can truly beat them!" He lifted his Keyblade to emphasize his point.

"And I'm telling YOU," Madam Armoire walked closer to the Seeker, towering over him, "We don't need your services. The Master does not want any visitors and can handle those creatures on his own."

Tenebrae growled but stood his ground. Even if this Master had a strong enough heart, it wouldn't last. Tenebrae knew the Heartless could rouse the Darkness in one's heart. And if it went unchecked, even if there was a Princess of Heart close by, this Master could be in danger. But he wasn't sure how to explain that without upsetting World Order.

"Madam Armoire?" a new voice called, "Please, can I talk to him at least?"

Madam Armoire moved aside, revealing a young woman. Her long brown hair was down and tied off with a blue ribbon. He hazel eyes looked at Tenebrae, then his Keyblade, with intrigue. Instead of the golden ballgown he saw before, she was dressed in a white blouse under a blue dress. Even now, she matched her namesake perfectly.

"Do you know this ruffian, Mademoiselle Belle?" Madam Armoire asked.

"I may…" Belle said hesitantly. "Or at least, someone like him."

The living wardrobe looked at Belle, concerned. She eyed Tenebrae before walking behind him. She started moving towards the door, pushing him.

"Fine, I can let you talk for a little while," the wardrobe said, huffing. "But once the Mademoiselle is done with you, you leave. Understand?"

"Yes, yes!" Tenebrae growled, trying to keep his footing. "No need to push."

Belle giggled at the scene. She walked into the room first, followed soon after by Tenebrae and Madam Armoire. Tenebrae took a second to glance around the room.

While it was simple, was still lavish. The bed had a canopy with silk curtains. The dresser and full body mirror were beautifully crafted. The window had a view of the moon over the woods. Tenebrae had to admit the room was fit for a Princess.

Belle went to sit on the bed. Madam Armoire left the room and closed the door behind her. Tenebrae sighed from relief, as he walked up to Belle. The Princess of Heart looked up at him.

"That weapon you have," Belle looked uncomfortable, "Do you know a boy named Sora? He was at Hollow Bastion with that strange device."

Tenebrae shook his head. "Sorry, but I have not actually met him. I am aware of him though."

Belle looked upset. It looked like the answer she received was what she wanted. Tenebrae wasn't sure why she was upset.

"Miss Belle," he said, getting her attention, "I'm sure he is doing well. Though, he isn't the reason I'm here. My name is Tenebrae, and I was hoping to help any way I can."

Belle nodded. "I thank you, Tenebrae. But as Madam Armoire said, it won't be necessary. The Master of this house is a fierce warrior. He assisted Sora in that other castle."

"I see," Tenebrae crossed his arms and sighed. "I guess there is no helping it then. But can ask about the Master then?"

"He's a stubborn, prideful fool," Belle said in a huff. She later sighed and smiled. "But he cares about everyone here. He can be sweet, even though he is a little rough. Recently, he just secludes himself and doesn't want to see anyone."

'Strong and caring,' Tenebrae thought, 'There are enough traits to indicate a strong enough heart. But if he is as seclusive and paranoid as I'm guessing, then his heart is in danger.'

"Well, that's good to hear," Tenebrae said, smiling to Belle. "I'm still a bit worried. But I guess I should heed the warnings given. I'll be taking my leave, Miss Belle."

"Please be careful," Belle said. "And I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. If you meet Sora, please tell him I said hello."

Tenebrae nodded before leaving the room. He leaned on the door and sighed. He saw Madam Armoire across the hall. She looked a bit smug. Tenebrae pushed off the door and waved at the wardrobe. He headed down the hall without looking back.

Tenebrae descended the stairs into the main hall. He wasn't sure he wanted to really leave. Even if the residents of the World could fight, fighting the Heartless was different. Tenebrae decided to try and cull the numbers a bit. He doubted their weapons could truly get rid of the Heartless.

Tenebrae was in the entry hall when he felt a spike of Darkness. Various Heartless appeared, some Shadows, Soldiers, and Hook Bats. Tenebrae summoned his Keyblade and rushed the Heartless.

The Bats were the hardest to deal with. They kept staying out of reach, which gave the other groups openings. Tenebrae worked on the grounded Heartless first. It took him a bit of time, but he got rid of the Soldiers and Shadows. He was able to focus on the Bats, using their anatomy against them. When the last heart was released, Tenebrae relaxed.

Tenebrae was about to leave when he heard a noise. From deeper within the castle, Tenebrae heard a deep roar. Tenebrae tensed and got ready for battle. He waited in the entry hall, expecting something to happen.

When nothing followed the roar, Tenebrae eased up. He exited the castle but kept his Keyblade out. He needed to leave soon, before more trouble came his way. As much as he wanted to stay, the last thing he needed was to cause problems. The roar was concerning but he already promised he would leave.

Tenebrae exited the castle. He stretched as he dismissed his Keyblade. He walked down the stone steps into the courtyard. Tenebrae noticed that the statues he had fought had reconstructed. The statues were also in different positions from before.

Tenebrae was about to head to the bridge to leave but stopped when he heard a noise. It sounded like heels on stone. He looked for the source and saw a hidden door that was on a stone tower. Tenebrae was sure it wasn't there when he first arrived.

'That's new,' Tenebrae thought. 'I know I told the residents I would leave. But if this area is secret, the I can be in and out without them knowing.'

Tenebrae walked up to the hidden door. He was surprised he had not seen the door beforehand, as he walked in. The stonework was well done, like other parts of the castle. Even though the stairs were dusty and had a few cobwebs, it didn't detract from the craftmanship.

Tenebrae ascended the stairs. He noticed the staircase spiraled up, which matched the circular structure of the tower. When he made it to the top, he did his best to memorize the layout. He wasn't sure how high up he was, but he could tell the area was connected to the castle.

He walked into the area and was surprised to see some boxes. Tenebrae looked along the walls and noticed a door in one. Looking into the door, Tenebrae saw a grand ballroom below. It was definitely something Tenebrae should have expected.

Tenebrae kept investigating. There wasn't much more to find since it was just two hallways. Even the boxes he saw didn't really add much.

Tenebrae was ready to leave officially. Since there wasn't anything else, he turned to leave. Before he could even take his first step, he caught sight of someone. It was someone the Seeker had not expected to see. -

Cliffhangers! Who did he see? Who is the Master? Why was there a living wardrobe!? I mean two of those questions are obvious if you've seen the movie or played any of the KH games, lol.
On a serious note, I'm excited for how the chapters are turning out. And I'm hoping you all are enjoying it too. Until next time Wielders!