Kingdom Hearts: Rise Above The X

by CryptidGrimnoir137

In the weeks following the Second Keyblade War, Axel has made a quiet life in Twilight Town with Roxas and Xion. But a quiet life and wielding a Keyblade aren't exactly compatible. Axel is still haunted by those he couldn't save. Roxas and Xion have questions too, as usual. With new powers, they'll find the answers. Whatever's out there, the three of them will face together.

64. Chapter 64

Chapter 64: The Rose and the Light

A/N: I do not own Kingdom Hearts. It is the property of Square Enix and the Walt Disney Company. I do not own the Dresden Files, which is the property of Jim Butcher.

This is a creative work that I do not profit off of in any way.

Hello, my dearest readers, hello!

I hope you are all doing well! From the looks of things, Spring is well on its way and Winter is over, for now, at least…mostly.

We're getting deeper into the meat of Rise Above the X. We're going further up into the Disney canon and I hope I do this justice for all of you.

Where we last left off, we looked at the six of Walt Disney's most classic characters and their perspectives on the conflicts at hand. It was definitely a challenge to try and write from their perspectives, but I think I pulled it off.

We're redirecting attention now, my readers. We'll be going back to the Sea Salt Trio and their friends.

Let us follow Roxas, Axel, Xion and now, Kairi, as the four of them embark on the newest leg of this adventure!

oooo

"And with that, we should be able to set things up that Hayner, Pence and Olette will be able to take their classes with King Mickey's court, or with Merlin, and then return home every evening. I think that may be best for all involved."

"That does sound pretty cool," Lea nodded at Ienzo. His face was kind of fuzzy over the larger projection, but it made it easier than gripping his Gummiphone all the time. "Glad we were able to get them home. Have to admit, their parents seemed a little too eager to agree to let them come with us."

"I suspect that they saw this as an opportunity for their children to grow…sometimes a bird needs to leave its nest, so the saying goes," Ienzo said. "Though I definitely see your point. As important as your work is, Lea, and make no mistake, I am in awe of the things you've done in recent weeks."

"Yeah, well, we work hard," Lea said. He glanced down at Roxas, Xion and Kairi. Roxas was slumping in his seat, nodding off. Xion and Kairi were staring up at Ienzo, Kairi's eyes bright and alert while Xion's were clouded with concern. "Not sure how long we'll be for the next world, so keep an eye on those three for us, will you?"

"But of course. I find their companionship most pleasurable. Pence and Olette in particular have keen minds for research and Hayner's as determined as any who would wield a Keyblade," Ienzo agreed. "I'll be signing off, now, if none of you have anything else that you need to say?"

"Can you tell Even I say 'hi,'" Xion asked. "I know it's kind of silly…but he's always so busy and he's never the one who talks to us."

"I'll relay the message…directly," Ienzo smiled at Xion. "Until we meet again, Lea. Signing off."

The screen went blank and Kairi picked her Gummiphone out of the projecting doohickey it'd been attached to in the Gummi Ship's computer.

"Glad to see he's doing well," Kairi said. "And they really managed to fix it so that people in Radiant Garden can travel to other worlds without a Gummi Ship? What would Master Yen Sid or King Mickey think?"

"I doubt King Mickey really minds," Lea snorted, but then his expression darkened. "I don't really care what Master Yen Sid has to say about this. It's not like anybody who didn't already know about other worlds is going to be using that sort of technology."

In spite of everything, tension lingered in the room. Xion looked down at her hand. There was a flash of light and then Xion gave a small gasp of pain. Her Keyblade hadn't come. No Keyblade, no chakrams, no claymore…no magic. Lea's teeth tightened. The peace from the Destiny Islands wasn't lasting…the conflict with Maleficent hung over their heads. And the way Xion had her Keyblade taken away from her. That rotten, old, archaic…

"Don't."

"Xion?" Kairi asked. "Don't what?"

"Don't talk about Master Yen Sid like that…please," Xion said. She looked up at Lea, her eyes shining. "He…he's our Master, Axel."

"He doesn't have the right to treat you that way," Roxas spoke up, raising his head. He still had bags under his eyes, but if anything, they only made him look fiercer. "He doesn't know what he's talking about. Aqua, either."

"And if we start fighting each other, Maleficent's gonna win," Xion bit her lip and drew her legs to her chest. She rested her head on her knees. "This stress…this anger. It's like before…when Eris shot Isa. You don't think…"

Xion's mouth widened and then she put a hand to her mouth. Kairi looked confused, but Roxas looked alarmed.

"Yen Sid isn't possessed, kiddo," Lea shook his head. "It would be a lot easier if that were the case but…it isn't. Remember what it was like with Isa? He knew something was influencing him. Someone was trying to take him over like he was a puppet…you know what that's like, don't you?"

As soon as he said it, Lea regretted it. He couldn't have found any way to phrase that better? Like a puppet?! Lea wasn't sure whether or not he could hear Axel screaming at him inside his heart, or if he was simply losing his mind. For her part, Xion blushed and her eyes shined for a moment with unshed tears.

"Er, right," Lea said. "Um, where we heading off to next?"

"The Enchanted Dominion…that's what Master Yen Sid said at least," Kairi said. "Inezo said some records called it Enchanted Domain, but I remember the Good Fairies telling me a bit about it when we were training with Merlin. It's where they came from. Maleficent too…"

"Maybe if we're lucky, we can kill the old witch," Lea muttered. He was severely tempted to use a word that wasn't witch, but tensions were high enough already. "Maybe there's some shining crystal or cauldron that keeps her alive and we can smash it…"

"I think Sora said something about Maleficent having a platform that can levitate," Kairi said. "But beyond that, I don't remember."

"Yeah, that does sound familiar," Lea said. "But we all gave Maleficent a wide berth in the Organization. Ironic, given that Xemnas was gathering thirteen darknesses when she was after the Princesses…"

"It's still going to be a while before we get there, though. Tell me more about what's happened," Kairi said, sitting down next to Xion and kicking her legs lightly. Dressed in their fairy-made clothing, they had never looked more identical. and Lea's heart twitched "I want to hear about your adventures. Don't leave anything out!"

Roxas gathered up ice creams and handed one each to Kairi and Xion, while keeping a pile of ice creams for himself.

"Or tell us about something from when you were a kid!" Roxas said, taking a bite of ice cream. "Something that isn't just you explaining something everyone but me and Xion knows!"

oooo

The forest was thick with trees. All forests were thick with trees, Kairi guessed. That's what made them forests. She'd seen her share of groves on her islands—usually coconut trees or palm trees. Oh, she'd also seen banana trees…but technically, those were ferns. But never a proper forest like this—she hadn't visited the woods in Twilight Town, though Pence and Hayner had offered to show her back when she'd first stumbled into Twilight Town. And every other world she'd visited…it'd been castles mostly—Radiant Garden, Disney Castle, the Land of Departure, or else towns. Traverse Town didn't seem to have even a tree, let alone a forest.

And yet, there was something very familiar about all of this. Kairi felt for sure that she'd been here.

"Are you sure we've never been here?" Kairi asked. "This is almost exactly like the forest we trained in, when we were learning to use Keyblades."

"Positive," Axel said. "But I'm betting this is where Merlin got the idea. These are the same types of trees…needle-y and sappy."

"Coniferous," Kairi corrected. "C'mon Axel, that's second-grade science."

"Why would you even know that?" Axel asked. "There's nothing but sand on your islands! And coconuts!"

"I loved science in school. The books on plants and animals, especially," Kairi grinned. "Of course, those books also said that there was no proof of life on other planets and look how that turned out."

"Coniferous?" Xion repeated. "That means needles?"

"Actually, it means cones…" Kairi said, picking up a pine cone off the ground. "But basically. These trees won't lose their leaves when autumn comes."

"Lose their leaves?" Roxas asked. "That's…that's weird. Do the trees get sick?"

"No," Kairi shook her head. "The leaves just wither and die…but it's a good thing! The leaves eventually break down and that feeds the tree."

"Oh…" Roxas said. "Like ice cream?"

"Uh…not exactly," Kairi said. "See the way a plant makes food involves chemical reactions with sunlight and…you're doing that on purpose! You have the same tell that Sora does!"

Roxas flashed an unrepentant grin and Kairi couldn't help but smile back at him. Back when they were on the islands, Sora used to ask her questions about science. Sometimes, he'd already know the answer and just wanted her to show off. Classic, wonderful Sora…

"Where exactly are we going?" Axel asked. "I kind of missed that part."

"This is Enchanted Domain," Kairi said. "This is where one of the old Princesses of Heart lives, Aurora. Sora talked to her at Hollow Bastion, but I don't remember meeting her…those days are kind of hazy."

The days were hazy, but most of what Kairi remembered from waking up after Sora released his heart was fear. Ansem standing before her, saying she had served her purpose, but now it was over. Riku, glowing, emerging from Ansem and screaming for her to run. And then the Heartless swarming them…and Sora restored. And then Traverse Town…

"I know that," Axel countered. "I meant, why should we all be here in the forest, instead of one the castles? Aren't there two different castles like twenty miles from here in either direction?"

"We're supposed to be looking for a cottage, right?" Xion asked. "Where the Good Fairies live?"

"Yes," Kairi nodded. "The Good Fairies should be the ones we speak to. They know Princess Aurora and they're also really powerful. If Maleficent is going after really powerful wizards, then they'll be targets too."

They walked on—Kairi noticed that Roxas and Xion were holding hands. Kairi smiled. They definitely seemed to be doing better now than they'd been when they first visited the islands. Roxas pushed a tree branch out of the way, so it wouldn't hit Xion in the face. As he let it go back, it did hit Axel in the belly.

"Which begs the question of why they left Yen Sid's tower," Axel grunted. "I mean, if you're going to be a threat to Maleficent, why not be under his guard…how are we even going to find one teeny little cottage into the forest, anyhow? And oh…there it is."

The cottage was very small, tucked into a large tree. It looked mostly like it was made of stone and wood, with a thatched roof. There was an old mill wheel in a small ditch right beside it. It looked very snug…and also very easy to keep hidden. Had Kairi not known to be looking for it, she doubted she would have noticed it was there in the first place.

A short woman dressed in blue robes stepped out of the cottage with a broom in hand. She tutted to herself and then looked up when she saw them. A delighted grin spread across her face.

"Oh! Look who's here!" Merryweather exclaimed. "Flora! Fauna! We have company! More company than we thought we'd have! Kairi, Roxas, all of you do come in, come in!"

"It's nice to see you again," Kairi sad. "There's some things we needed to talk to you about."

Before Kairi could say anything else, Merryweather seized her hand and began tugging her into the cottage. Roxas and Xion were right behind her. Axel hit his head on the doorframe trying to duck inside.

"Ow!"

The inside of the cottage was as snug as the outside. The furniture was carved all of wood, though it also looked as if several parts of the wall were part of the tree trunk itself. The floor was made of wooden planks, sturdy under her boots. Kairi smiled as she saw the three Good Fairies: Flora, Fauna and Merryweather.

"Oh ho," Flora said. "How lovely to see you all. Roxas, Xion, I trust that the new clothes are suiting you nicely for your mission?"

"Um, right," Roxas said, flexing his fingers. His blue jacket almost seemed to shimmer. "They're working great."

"They're lovely," Xion said quietly, bowing before the fairies. "Thank you. I'm sorry I haven't thanked you for them till now."

"Where are you talking about, dear?" Fauna asked. "You thanked us for them when we first made them for you…is everything alright? You look most troubled."

"I'm worried for you," Xion said. "I think you may be in danger. Maleficent…she's planning something. Something bad…and I think she may want to hurt you."

"Oh, that no-good, dirty, rotten old witch!" Merryweather huffed. "She's always planning something and it's never anything good! She cursed our Briar Rose, she called up the Heartless, she took our princess away and ruined our world and we couldn't go home for years. If she comes around here again, I'll…I'll…"

"That's enough, Merryweather!" Flora said sharply. "You know as well as I that our magic can only be used to make people happy!"

"Could you use it to turn Yen Sid into a frog?" Axel asked. "That would make me happy, if nothing else."

"Axel!" Kairi and Roxas shouted in unison. Xion flushed bright red and Flora and Fauna looked horrified.

"Absolutely not!" Flora exclaimed. "The very idea, Lea! How could you even suggest such a thing?"

"It was just a joke," Axel muttered. "Forget I mentioned it. But if you'd been there, you wouldn't disagree."

Xion blushed redder than ever and Roxas squeezed her fingers. Kairi placed a hand on her shoulder. Flora frowned at Axel and Merryweather looked more curious than angry, but Fauna clapped her hands.

"It's all good!" Fauna said. "You can help me, Lea! We're having company and you can help me prepare a cake!"

"A cake?!" Axel exclaimed. "I can't bake a cake! Who's the company anyway?"

"Oh, fiddlesticks," Fauna clucked her tongue. "Anybody can bake a cake. It's just a matter of experience. It was only a few years ago when I baked my very first fancy cake and now I get to bake another! And you can help me!"

"I think that would be proper," Flora agreed. "Lea, your disrespect for Master Yen Sid can be rectified by helping prepare Briar Rose a cake!"

"What's this about a cake now?" A new voice, one that was faintly familiar, called. "Just what are you three dears up to?"

"Up to?"

"Up to?"

"Up to? Oh, Briar Rose!" Flora called out. "Our dear princess, Briar Rose! You've come at last!"

Kairi turned her head and looked towards the door. A young woman, older than her or Xion, but younger than Axel at any rate, was smiling at them, through the half-door. She cracked the door open and entered the cottage, ducking her head under the frame, as if she'd done it a thousand times before. She wore a white blouse and a black corset…Kairi's heart twinged with warmth.

"Briar Rose…a princess…" Kairi placed a hand over her heart. "Wait…you're Princess Aurora."

"You must be Kairi," Princess Aurora said. "I've heard a bit about you…from Sora."

"Oh, right…" Kairi began rubbing her arm. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Xion doing the same thing. "You were there, in Hollow Bastion. Sora rescued you, released your captured heart."

"Saved the worlds entire, he did," Princess Aurora said. "I spoke so little to him, but your name was always on his tongue. It's good to meet you properly, Kairi."

"It's…nice to meet you too," Kairi said. "I…er…um…I wish I knew what else I wanted to say."

"I think we have time enough to discuss things," Princess Aurora said. "I would…oh, Phillip! You are here, aren't you love?"

A man considerably taller than Princess Aurora ducked his head into the cottage. He wore simple clothing, but it looked well-made, though his scarlet robe was striking.

"Prince Phillip!" Flora sang. "How wonderful to see you. It's been far too long since your last visit."

"And you are lovelier now than you were then, Aunt Flora," Prince Phillip said, taking her hand and kissing her fingers. "And you have…visitors."

"Prince Phillip…your Majesty," Xion said, kneeling down to bow to him. Her head pressed against the floor. Kairi knelt down beside her and she thought she could hear Xion trembling.

"Good morning, Miss…" Prince Phillip hesitated. "Forgive me, I don't believe we've been properly introduced. You are?"

"This is Kairi and Xion, and Roxas and Lea. They're Keybearers, Prince Phillip," Merryweather piped up and stepping forward, just as Kairi helped Xion to her feet. "Just like Master Aqua!"

"Keybearers?" Prince Phillip asked. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open. He looked from Kairi to Roxas and Xion to Axel. Then, he dropped to one knee. "It is an honor…"

Kairi felt her own face flush and judging from the expressions on Roxas and Xion's faces, they were not used to being bowed to. Kairi found she didn't really like it either. That sort of reverence…it didn't feel right. She didn't even know Prince Phillip, however much the Good Fairies and Princess Aurora seemed to like him.

"It's getting awfully crowded in here," Merryweather said. "Rose, dear, why don't you take Kairi and Xion for a walk…you can gather up some berries."

"Oh, yes," Flora said, clapping her hands. "I think berries would be just what we need. Go and pick some berries, my dears."

"Lots of berries!" Fauna exclaimed, fetching a woven basket. "That's just the thing we need!"

"But what about Roxas? Axel? Roxas!" Xion called as Merryweather began patting her and Kairi on the back. Flora took Princess Aurora by the hand and led her back to the door as well.

"Never you mind dears," Flora said. "We have things all settled here—oh no! Don't you go anywhere, Lea. Fauna needs your help with the cake, now!"

Kairi didn't raise a fuss as the Good Fairies shooed them out of the cottage. It had been getting rather crowded in the cottage. Hitched up to a post was a majestic white stallion with a black mane and tail. He nickered at them and Princess Aurora gave him a gentle wave. The horse gave a nod and then went back to grazing.

"I suppose fetching berries is what we'll do," Princes Aurora said. "Just a moment, Kairi…and Xion was it? I'm not quite ready."

Princess Aurora slipped off her shoes and set them neatly on the steps leading up to the door. She pressed her bare feet against the forest floor. Kairi grinned.

"You heard her, Xion," Kairi said, crouching down to unlatch her own boots. "We're not ready to pick any berries."

"Wait, what?" Xion asked. "We have to take our shoes off to go berry-picking? I've never gone berry-picking before. Is it a rule?"

"We don't have…actually, yes," Kairi nodded and bent down to undo the straps on Xion's boots. They really were strikingly like her own boots. "Yes, you do."

"But why?" Xion asked. "I don't see why it's required."

"Because I'm your big sister and I said so," Kairi said, exactly as she would say to Namine. Xion gaped at her and Kairi renewed her efforts to get Xion's boots off. "Hold still."

Xion's protests died as Kairi managed to pull her boots off. Kairi stepped out of her own and placed them next to Xion's.

"There," Kairi said, pressing her bare toes against Xion's—the smaller girl gave a tiny gasp of laughter. "Let's get those berries."

oooo

It was curious, walking through the forest without shoes. Xion stepped uneasily from one foot to the other. Her toes curled into fists and blades of grass and needles. It wasn't like walking on the beach on the Destiny Islands. It was cooler in the forest and the ground was at the same time firmer than sand and maybe more slippery, with its needles and twigs. And the grass tickled. Kairi grinned widely when she heard Xion giggle.

Princess Aurora, for her part, seemed a lot more at home in the forest than Xion would have expected. Kairi was adopted and had grown up on the Islands, but Princess Aurora was a princess. She should have grown up in a big, fancy castle, not in the woods. But as she walked through the forest, Princess Aurora looked almost…Xion wasn't sure what word to use, actually. Almost in-human, but not in a bad way.

"So, you know the Good Fairies?" Xion asked. "They're very nice."

"Indeed, I do," Princess Aurora said. "They're my aunts, they are. Those three dears raised me as their own."

"Aunts?" Xion asked. "So, you're part fairy then? I guess that explains a few things…er, you looked really, really pretty in the woods. Almost too pretty to be human."

"Oh no, dear," Princess Aurora shook her head. "I have no blood relations with those three, but I love and cherish them. From the moment of my christening, they were supporting me. You might even say that they are my fairy godmothers."

"Fairy Godmother?" Xion asked. "But I thought she was…um…er…never mind."

"If you're worried about revealing something that should remain secretive, you needn't worry. I know the existence of other worlds. And you are not wrong—my aunts are quite like Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, though I've never met her," Princess Aurora said. "I have a few questions of my own. Kairi, I know that we never properly met in Hollow Bastion, but I do not recall you or Sora mentioning you had a sister. I must say, the resemblance is striking. I never had a sister of my own, but I think I would have liked to."

"It's complicated," Kairi said, taking a step back to stand next to Xion. "But Xion's my sister."

Xion's heart wrenched and a lump formed in her throat. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

You think that? You really, really think that? After everything I did to you? Kairi…you're wonderful. I'm not nearly good enough for you to call me your sister.

Kairi was smiling at her, her eyes shining as bright as stars. Brighter than the sun. She was radiant.

I need to keep you safe. I can't let anything happen to you. I need to atone for the things I did. I helped Xehanort do so many horrible, terrible things…

"I…thank you, Kairi," Xion said quietly. "Um, Princess Aurora, I think it was Merryweather who said she wanted us to pick berries. Do you know any good places?"

"Oh yes," Princess Aurora said. "There are many lovely groves where berries grow. I remember them all. I will show them to you."

They walked in silence for a few minutes. The ground beneath Xion's feet was mossy now. Soft and almost squishy, but not quite as ticklish as the grass had been. Eventually, they came to a break in the trees. There were a lot of bushes here, some of them only coming up to Xion's chest, but a few were almost as tall as she was—a couple of them might even be taller.

"Raspberries!" Kairi exclaimed. "Oh, these look delicious!"

The bushes were covered with berries, each no bigger than Xion's thumbnail. There were dark red. Princess Aurora plucked a few berries off the nearest bush and placed them in her basket. Kairi did the same—though she stopped to eat a few of the berries herself. Xion pulled a berry off as gently as she could. She pressed it between her fingers. She never realized a berry could be bumpy before. She put it into Princess Aurora's basket without a word.

"Xion, you have to try one of these," Kairi said, holding out a berry. "They're absolutely wonderful!"

"Oh, I don't know, Kairi. We should save these for—gulp!" Xion tried not to gag—Kairi had flicked the berry into her open mouth. "That is good!"

"Hmm," Princess Aurora smiled. "There is something to be said about berries being best right off the bush. And there's plenty more where these came from, Xion."

They picked raspberries for a few more minutes and then Aurora began leading them down another trail. Xion felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. As they walked, birds began to flutter down. Princess Aurora lifted a finger and a bird landed on it, as if it were a perch. Another fluttered by and landed on Princess Aurora's shoulder. Xion felt a third land on her head, but didn't try to shoo it away. And then Princess Aurora began to sing.

It didn't sound like words, exactly. More like very long "ooohs" and "aaaahs," but it was still pretty…stunningly pretty. Kairi joined in a minute later and the birds had begun chirping in tune with Princess Aurora's song. Xion smiled. Kairi's voice was radiant. More birds were fluttering down from the branchs—songbirds of all different colors. Red and blue and golden-brown. And their chirping had become a real melody.

"Sing with us, Xion!" Kairi called as a little blue bird flew in small circles around her head. "Sing!"

"I don't know," Xion shook her head as two small rabbits hopped down the path in front of her. One of them stood up on its little legs and waved at Xion. "My voice isn't really good for singing."

"None of that!" Kairi said, grasping her hand and intertwining their fingers. "We have the same voice, Xion. And if anything, yours is prettier than mine. Sing!"

Xion glanced at Kairi and then at Princess Aurora. They were both smiling at her. Their eyes were so kind, so gentle. And Kairi's fingers…they were soft. Like a sister's…

Crack!

"Kairi, look out!"

Xion charged forward, sending the bird that had perched in her hair flying, knocking Kairi down to the ground. A moment later, a large tree branch landed right where Kairi had been standing. It split open as it hit the ground, sending splinters everywhere.

"Whoa!" Kairi said, her eyes widening as she got back to her feet. "That was close. Thank you, Xion…Xion?"

Xion was trying not to tremble and she didn't think she was doing a very good job. The fallen tree branch was huge—as big around as one of Pete's arms. It could have hurt Kairi so badly if it had hit her.

"Xion, are you alright? You didn't get hurt, did you? No splinters?"

Xion wasn't hurt…but that didn't matter as much as Kairi not being hurt. She couldn't let anything happen to Kairi. Or to Princess Aurora, either. Slowly, Xion lifted her head and swallowed hard.

Princess Aurora was staring down at her. Her expression was…Xion couldn't remember the word. Concerned wasn't right. Confused wasn't right either. But Kairi was already reaching down to help Xion to her feet. A moment later, Kairi flung her arms around Xion's neck. Xion leaned her head against Kairi's shoulder. She could feel Kairi's heartbeat…Kairi was alright. Kairi was alright.

Good.

xxxx

Princess Aurora wasn't one to dwell on embarrassing things. She asked no questions about why Xion had reacted the way she did to the falling tree branch. For that, Xion was very grateful. Princess Aurora led them further through the forest, stopping to pick berries along the way—blackberries and blueberries and something she called worthleberries. The basket was getting very full.

The girls came to a brook and Princess Aurora set the basket down, next to a boulder large enough to lean back against. She placed her bare feet in the water. Kairi sat down beside her and then tugged Xion's hand. Slowly, Xion lowered herself to the ground. The water was very cold.

"You'll get used to it, dear," Princess Aurora said. "I often find that a moment of quiet with still waters is most helpful."

The brook had a current, so Xion wasn't entirely sure it counted as "still." "Gentle," maybe, the current was such that Xion only just felt it—it wasn't nearly as noticeable as the ocean tides were on the Islands.

"There now, that's better, isn't it?" Princess Aurora said. She smiled brightly and held out her finger for another songbird to perch on. "As it happens, this is the same brook where Phillip and I met for the first time."

"Really?" Kairi asked. "What was it like?"

"He startled me, I must admit," Princess Aurora answered. "He was a stranger and my aunts didn't want me to speak to strangers, but there was something about him. It was as if we had met, once upon a dream. And when he began to sing with me…it was something unlike anything I had ever felt before. I had fallen in love."

"That's wonderful," Kairi whispered. "Something that you've never felt before. It was kind of like that for me and Sora…"

"With Sora?" Princess Aurora smiled. "I might have known. As I understand it, he's always been quite taken with you, Kairi."

They didn't talk very much for a few minutes. Instead, Princess Aurora started to sing again. There still weren't many words that Xion could make out, but the birds loved it. And the rabbits from before had followed them to the brook. One of them nuzzled against Xion's arm and let her pet it on the head. And then finally an owl—an owl—swooped down silently and began churring with Princess Aurora's notes. It was beautiful.

The gentleness of the brook waters, the singing of the birds and Princess Aurora's voice, the slight breeze that blew through Xion's hair…all of it was beautiful. Kairi raised one bare foot out of the water to gently splash at Xion. Xion began to laugh quietly. And then Xion remembered why they had come to this world in the first place.

"Princess Aurora, this is going to sound like an odd question. Are there such things as ghosts in this world?" Xion asked. "Maleficent has been planning something bad…and a lot of it has to do with ghosts and things that should be dead. Is there any sort of bad magic like that here?"

Princess Aurora stared at Xion, her eyes widening. There was something to it, then. Something that scared her.

"Well, dears, it's not something that many like to think about," Princess Aurora said. "But, there is such a thing. We call it the Wild Hunt…"

oooo

"Alright, dear, now the cookbook says that we need to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites…hmm, bother. Our eggs are brown. Do you think that would make a difference?"

"No, I don't think it's going to make any difference. Besides, that's not what an egg white is anyway. That's the part of the egg you eat that isn't the yolk."

"Oh my goodness, so it is. But then why would they call it an egg white? It's much more an opaque color, wouldn't you say?"

Roxas shook his head as he watched Axel try his best to keep control of the kitchen. With the number of times that Axel had accidentally set something on fire back in Twilight Town, it was pretty ironic to see him trying to help Fauna cook. Flora and Merryweather were tutting over cups of tea. Prince Phillip stared straight ahead at Roxas. He was considerably taller than Roxas, but still much shorter than Axel.

"Now, Roxas," Phillip said, crossing his arms. "You say that you've been fighting Maleficent. The Good Fairies say that you are able to wield a Keyblade."

"Two Keyblades," Roxas corrected. He held out his hands and in a flash, Oathkeeer and Oblivion appeared. Phillip gave a small cry of astonishment. "You know Master Aqua?"

"We met some time ago," Phillip said. "Maybe two years? I'm not sure how long it would have been for her, given that our world fell to darkness not long after she visited our realm. She is, I trust, a friend of yours?"

Friend was probably not the word that Roxas would use. He'd only fought alongside Aqua three times—once in Kingdom Hearts, against those Replicas. And then in the Hall of the Cornerstone, when the Phantom Blot shattered it. And then again, when Maleficent had tried to turn Xion's shadow into a weapon. He knew very little about Aqua as a person, beyond her being completely in agreement with Yen Sid's decision to take away Xion's Keyblade.

"We've met," Roxas said simply. "Master Aqua is one of our teachers…she's had a Keyblade for a lot longer than I've trained with mine."

"I see," Phillip said, though Roxas was pretty sure he was just being polite. "Well, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Roxas. I have to admit, I am surprised to be seeing a Keybearer. The last few months have been very still, with regards to any such business as Heartless or whatever such monsters that don't belong in these woods."

"It's been too quiet, if you ask me," Merryweather piped up. "Maleficent is planning something, I'm sure of it. I think there's merit in listening to what Roxas has to say, Phillip."

"Now dear sister, there's no need to be so sharp," Flora said. "That being said, I do agree. If Maleficent has anything to do with this, then you must listen, Phillip."

"It's not just stealing power," Roxas shook his head and dismissed his Keyblades. "Phillip, are there any stories or places around here where there could be ghosts?"

"Well…" Phillip said. "There is such thing as the Wild Hunt. There's many stories about these woods—elves and sprites and nymphs. There's the Good Fairies, of course, and plenty of stories of other fae. But the Wild Hunt…Roxas, I'm not sure how true these legends are."

"From what I've seen, most legends are true," Roxas said. "People just pretend they aren't true, but that doesn't stop them from making sure they're safe from the stuff the legends talk about."

"There's no swaying you?" Phillip asked. "Very well…the Wild Hunt rides at night. Some say they only hunt under the light of a full moon. Some say they ride only during thunderstorms."

"And who is they?" Roxas asked. "Who is the Wild Hunt? Heartless? Nobodies? The Unversed are extinct, so it can't be them."

"Simply put? A collection of lost souls," Phillip said. "Some say they were once human. Others say they are still human and are either dead and dying, being driven into Hell. A few legends say that they are demons, denizens of the fiery pits."

"That sounds…scary,"

"There are other legends," Phillip shook his head. "I'm honestly not sure which ones are closest to the truth. Some say that they are neither human nor demon, but a Faerie Court that has taken to riding in pursuit of prey."

"Faerie Court?" Roxas said. "Is there a difference between them and regular fairies?"

"Ooh, those are regular fairies, Roxas! And don't even think of comparing us to them!" Merryweather interrupted. "We use our magic for Good and only for Good. We bring joy and happiness and peace to others. Faerie Courts seek only to better themselves no matter who ends up getting hurt!"

"They hunt on horseback," Phillip continued—ignoring both Merryweather's anger and Flora's attempts to get her to calm down. "And with them are a pack of dogs. Some say these dogs are wolves. Others say they are the Hounds of Hell. Once they begin to pursue, they never cease the Hunt. Until dawn breaks, they will chase their prey until they catch it, or if it joins them willingly."

"Can they be fought?" Roxas asked, looking down at his hands. "Most of the monsters I've fought, I've been able to beat with my Keyblade."

"I honestly don't know if that'd work this time," Phillip said. "If the legends are anything to go by, even Keybearers might not be able to stand up to the Hunt."

"You fought Maleficent, didn't you?" Roxas said. "Isn't she a powerful witch? How much worse can the Hunt be?"

"Supremely," Phillip said. "Maleficent boasts power like none other, but she was only the one—her underlings were no match, even with their great numbers, for Master Aqua and myself once we had our bearings."

"I've seen Keybearers fight a thousand Heartless at one time," Roxas countered. "I wouldn't be so sure we can't take them."

That was the truth. Roxas couldn't remember everything from when he had been within Sora, but the memory of swarms upon swarms of Heartless descending upon Hollow Bastion and Sora and his friends fighting them all was something Roxas wouldn't forget for a very long time. It had been then that Axel had revealed the truth of the Organizations plans—to rebuild an artificial Kingdom Hearts. And Sora had given the Organization over a thousand hearts that day.

Phillip looked at Roxas, staring hard at him, as if Roxas were some sort of puzzle that he couldn't quite figure out. If Phillip was cautious about this Wild Hunt, that did make sense. This was his world after all. But it reminded Roxas more of the Headless Horseman than anything else they'd seen and fought. That had been a struggle…but it wasn't related to Maleficent's conflict. The Horseman appeared to have haunted Sleepy Hollow long before Maleficent got involved. Judging from what Phillip said, it sounded like the Wild Hunt had been around for even longer, if he wasn't sure which story was true.

Bang!

"Oh my gosh! That's not what the book says is supposed to happen!"

"Oh, Fauna dear, what are you doing?!"

"Auggh!" Axel called out. "Roxas, if I hear you repeat anything I say in the next five minutes, you'll be grounded until you're my age!"

"Perhaps we should step outside," Phillip suggested. "If memory serves, this will prove most complicated."

"Oh, I'll go too," Merryweather said. "We left the broom outside anyhow. But I better set the mop up first."

She pulled out her wand and set a beam of glowing sparkles at a mop and bucket set against the table. At once, the mop began to move on its own. Merryweather smiled and scurryd out the cottage door. Roxas and Phillip followed after her.

"That's better, isn't it," Merryweather said. "I never did see the point in not using magic. It's a part of who we are."

"You weren't using magic?" Roxas asked. "When was this?"

"Oh, it was when we were hiding Rose from that horrible old witch Maleficent," Merryweather said. "It was Flora's idea that we not use any magic, since that would attract attention. But it was all nonsense—if we'd used magic more often, we may have been able to protect Rose more securely."

"You kept her hidden the whole of the sixteen years?" Phillip asked. "That must have been quite the sacrifice. You've done a lot for Aurora."

"She wasn't Princess Aurora to us," Merryweather shook her head. "She was our lovely Briar Rose. Our shining light in this dark forest."

A shining light…Aurora was one of the seven Princesses of Heart. She had helped keep the darkness at bay in Hollow Bastion. But what would have happened so that Aurora wasn't a Princess of Heart anymore? She seemed nice enough.

"And that's not even how awful it was having to go without using any magic for sixteen years, when our wands were just upstairs in a dresser," Merryweather said. "It just made it that much more frustrating."

"You went without your wand for sixteen years?" Roxas repeated. "I have a hard time imagining that long a time…"

It hadn't even been that long ago that Roxas could barely comprehend a month-long vacation. He shook his head. Sixteen years was longer than Sora or Kairi had even existed from birth. Philip looked a bit taken aback himself.

"Give or take a few nights," Merryweather said. "But yes, for sixteen years. It's hard to imagine, isn't it. I would think my wand means as much to mean as your Keyblade means to you."

"What would have done, if someone had taken away your wand?" Roxas said. "Because you didn't use magic the way you were supposed to…"

The question escaped his mouth before Roxas even realized what he had said. Phillip blinked twice, but then excused himself so he could tend to his horse. His stallion, a large white horse with a black mane, whinnied at Phillip as he got close and began patting it on the nose.

"Is this about Master Yen Sid?" Merryweather asked. "He told us what happened….and know this, Roxas. Whatever my sisters think, I think Xion was completely justified in what she did. The Blue Fairy may not be one of us Good Fairies, but she's still fighting for the Light."

Roxas turned his head away. Merryweather agreed with Xion? That was…that wasn't what he'd expected to hear. There were three pairs of shoes set neatly against the steps of the cottage. A moment later, he thought he heard singing. And then, Xion emerged from the forest, with an owl perched on her shoulder and a small red songbird nesting in her hair. Kairi and Aurora were right behind her. Xion looked amazingly happy…the way she took Kairi's hand and more birds flew around their heads. And Xion was singing…not completely in-synch with Aurora…but she was in synch with Kairi.

Roxas grinned. Xion's hair was a mess with the way the birds were using it as a nest. Her cheeks and nose were red with the start of sunburn. There were smears of berries around her lips. But Roxas was pretty sure she had never looked more beautiful. It was more clear to him now than it had ever been. Xion might not be a Princess of Heart like Kairi—and he wasn't sure why Aurora was no longer one of the Hearts—but she was what he was fighting to protect…and soon she'd be fighting by his side again.

A/N: Here we go, my dearest readers! We're getting into material I've wanted to cover for months! Kairi as a big sister is a lot of fun to write and Prince Phillip was interesting—I don't think he's quite the blank slate as his reputation would indicate.

Thank you for reading my dear, dear readers! Please leave a comment if you're so inclined! Tell me what you think!

I appreciate each and every one of you!