Miyu felt like she was in a horrible nightmare she couldn't wake up from.

Dad was strong. Dad was powerful. He was the strongest and most powerful man in her entire world. The past six months, he'd started teaching her and Haruto how to use their Keyblades, and she was impressed by how much he knew, by how good he was at this, by how easily he fought whatever came across his path. But right now, he was passed out in Mom's arms, and Mom was frantically trying to revive him.

Miyu had never seen her mother this scared, ever. Her face was pale and her eyes were wide and her voice was shaking as she healed Dad and told Haruto to call Uncle Riku. Seeing her parents like this made Miyu realize how frail and human they really were. They weren't gods or superheroes, they were just a mother and father trying to keep their family safe. All because Miyu had dropped the ball.

This was all her fault. She and Haruto had taken Dad's Gummi Ship to go exploring. They hadn't realized Emi was onboard until they were halfway to this world, and by then they figured they'd get in big trouble if they went back. Besides, she and Haruto felt confident this would be a safe world and that any dangers could be easily dealt with with their newfound Keyblade skills.

How wrong they were, and that became obvious as soon as the monster attacked.

Poor Emi was still sobbing her heart out as she shivered from the cold, and Miyu put an arm around her to try to comfort her. But her younger sister kept babbling about how it was her fault Daddy was hurt, he'd protected her and now he wouldn't wake up—

Mom placed a hand on Dad's side again, and light glowed from her palm. "Stay with me," she commanded, her voice breaking. A few more tears slipped down her cheeks, and Miyu never wanted to see Mom cry like this again. Mom was always so calm, always so steady and dependable. She shouldn't be crying. She shouldn't.

Just when Miyu feared all hope was gone, Mom cupped Dad's face, then closed her eyes and sealed her lips against his. A kiss? Did that mean she was giving up? That she wanted to say goodbye before—

Oh. This wasn't just any old kiss. A powerful burst of light came from Mom and surrounded Dad, flying to the places he was injured. Haruto's mouth dropped open, Emi stopped crying, and Miyu's eyes went wide. None of them had ever seen Mom use her powers like this before. The light was healing Dad, closing his wounds and stopping the bleeding and patching him up before their very eyes.

Maybe all those romantic fairytale stories Miyu secretly read and loved, the ones her friends would tease her about if they knew she liked them… maybe there was some truth to them after all.

Of course, the fairytales didn't go into much detail about how hard it was to save someone from death. Mom's face grew paler and her hands shook, but she didn't stop the flow of light. Not even when Dad's eyes fluttered open. Miyu gasped. They looked so blue against his ashen face.

"Kairi…" he murmured, his voice so tender and loving it made Miyu want to cry. She was scared she'd never hear his voice again, and she hadn't realized how lucky she was to have two parents who adored each other so much until now.

Mom smiled weakly and caressed Dad's cheek. "Rest, my love, rest and heal."

Dad smiled and closed his eyes, and Miyu could've sworn there was a healthy flush to his cheeks again. Mom kissed his forehead, but when she straightened, she was trembling all over and fighting to stay awake. As the light coming from her dimmed, she glanced at Miyu.

"Watch your brother and sister till Riku arrives. It shouldn't be long."

Miyu nodded, and Mom's eyes shut. A moment later, she was slumped over Dad's sleeping form as the rain steadily fell on them both. No wonder she hadn't used magic like that before. It had completely drained her energy.

"Mom?" Emi said, tears filling her eyes again as she scooted closer.

"It's okay, she's just asleep." Miyu said. She put her arm around her sister again and hoped Uncle Riku would be here soon. He would know how to get them all back to safety.

"Uncle Riku's almost here," Haruto said as he tapped something into his Gummiphone. Miyu considered telling Haruto to take Emi back to the Gummi Ship, but it was a little ways away and what if another monster appeared? Best to just stay put until Uncle Riku got here.

When he arrived, panting because he must've come here as fast as he could, Miyu was struck by how unlike his normal self he was. Dad was passionate and emotional and, as Mom affectionately called him, a massive dork, but Uncle Riku always kept his cool, always stayed calm, always helped her feel at ease. He took one look at Mom and Dad passed out on the ground, however, and his jaw tightened and fear flashed through his eyes.

"They're okay, they're just asleep," Miyu said, and he relaxed a little.

"Miyu, get Emi inside the Gummi Ship. Haruto, stay with your dad. I'll carry Kairi to the ship first, and then we'll take him back together."

Miyu was impressed by how easily Uncle Riku lifted Mom into his arms, like she weighed nothing. That same pained look from before appeared in his eyes again though as he carried her to the Gummi Ship and Miyu followed close behind with a frightened, drenched Emi in tow.

Maybe this wasn't the first time Uncle Riku had seen Mom like this. She remembered Mom's story from when she'd lost her heart and fallen into a deep sleep. Uncle Riku and Dad had both tried to help her, but Dad had only succeeded in reviving her by releasing her heart along with his own.

When they boarded the Gummi Ship, Uncle Riku rested her on the big cot below deck and used a few spells to dry them all off. Miyu grabbed a blanket and put it over Mom, then found another blanket and wrapped it around Emi.

"Here, Emi, let's go get a snack," she said, hoping to get her sister's mind off of what was happening, and Uncle Riku nodded.

"I'll be right back," he promised.

Miyu led Emi to the little kitchenette and grabbed some gummy snacks out of one of the cabinets.

"Here," she said, then poked around for a clean glass so she could grab her some water too. Once that was done, she urged her sister to eat and drink.

Emi just clutched the water glass in her hands as her eyes filled with tears. "Daddy got hurt because of me."

"No, it's my fault," Miyu said. "I should have taken you home the moment Haruto found you onboard."

"I shouldn't have snuck onboard," Emi tearfully said. "I just… I miss playing with you guys."

Miyu felt like a lead weight had settled in her stomach. She hadn't realized how left out her little sister had felt. It all made so much sense. Miyu and Haruto were training to use Keyblades together, but Emi had to watch from the sidelines. No wonder she'd snuck onboard.

"I'm sorry," Miyu said. "I promise I'll play with you again."

As she sat there and coaxed Emi into eating more gummy snacks, she wondered if Mom and Dad had been right after all to wait to give them Keyblades. Had they been worried she and Haruto and Emi would get hurt? Was this what they'd been trying to prevent?

Miyu was really the only one old enough to have a Keyblade according to their rules, but she'd overheard some hushed conversations that had led to Haruto getting a Keyblade at the same time too. Typical, he always benefited from her hard work at negotiating new privileges for herself.

Still, it was probably the right call to give him one too. They were only two years apart, and he would've been upset if she got a Keyblade but he didn't. The result though was that Emi was now the only one without a Keyblade. But she was only eight, way too young for all the danger they'd been through today.

"Will Mommy and Daddy be okay?" Emi asked as she sniffed and rubbed her eyes.

"Yes," Miyu said. She was pretty sure they would at least.

Emi was so tired that she fell asleep in Miyu's lap, and Miyu put her in one of the other cots, a smaller one built just for her. Uncle Riku and Haruto arrived shortly afterwards, carrying Dad, and they laid him next to Mom. Mom stirred a little in her sleep and moved closer, as if she knew he was there. Dad for his part seemed to relax a little, even though he was still fast asleep, and Miyu grabbed another blanket and draped it over him.

"Let them rest for now," Uncle Riku said. "Sora definitely shouldn't wake up yet, and Kairi used magic that'll keep her asleep for a few more hours. She should wake up shortly before we get home." He ruffled Haruto's hair. "Why don't you come up top and help me drive?"

"Sure," Haruto said. "So long as Mom and Dad will be okay."

"I'll watch them," Miyu promised. "Emi too."

As Haruto and Uncle Riku trekked above deck, Miyu wrapped herself in a blanket and settled in to watch over her sister and parents.

It was the least she could do after everything that had happened.