Hello Wielders! Holiday season was interesting, but hey, Happy New Years to all! I hope you guys do your best and achieve the dreams you have.
Anyways, storywise, we are going into a new World, and thanks to the games, we get to have a somewhat original plot. So without further ado, let's get on with the story.


Tenebrae chose to spend a couple days in the Castle of Dreams. Luckily, there was no flux of Darkness. The Light of Cinderella and the Prince kept it at bay. And from what Tenebrae could sense, the Stepmother lost her link to the Darkness when she was sent away. Tenebrae guessed after she failed, she lost her link.

Tenebrae walked around the castle. He had seen Cinderella and the Prince around the last few days. They were always smiling when they were together. He even remembered seeing Anastasia, she was spending time with a young man in the castle.

'I should get going,' Tenebrae thought as he walked to the dining hall. 'Doesn't seem like there will be any change. Hopefully, no one else gets the ability to use magic and change the timeline.'

Tenebrae walked into the dining hall. It was late in the morning, so he only saw Anastasia. She had just finished eating when she saw him.

"Oh, good morning," Anastasia said with a smile. "Did you need something?"

Tenebrae smiled and shook his head. "Good morning, Miss Anastasia. And I was looking for the Prince and Princess. Have you seen them?"

"They were here about 30 minutes ago," Anastasia said. "I was savoring the food here, so I ate a bit slower. Everyone else already left to start their days."

Tenebrae nodded. "Alright. If you see any of the Royal Family, tell them I said thank you. I enjoyed my stay, but I need to go."

Anastasia curtsied as he left. "I'll be sure to pass along the message. Be safe."

Tenebrae waved behind as he walked out. He took his time going through the halls. He thought about all the events that transpired. A smile graced his lips as he made it to the main hall.

'To be able to find love again,' Tenebrae thought. 'Despite a different time and changing memories too. But…' he looked at his hand and clenched his fist. 'Will a touch really be all one needs? Will it help me with Laci? If I even find her again…"

"Leaving so soon?" a voice called as Tenebrae made it to the door. Tenebrae turned and saw Cinderella and the Prince descend the staircase. "The mice saw you. And I just bumped into Anastasia, who gave us a message."

"I intended to tell you both personally," Tenebrae said. "But I needed to leave sooner than I thought."

"Will you be back?" the Prince asked.

Tenebrae nodded. "I plan to. And hopefully, I'll have some friends who would love to meet you." Tenebrae gave a courteous bow. "Thank you for everything."

Tenebrae was surprised when Cinderella came up to him and hugged him. Tenebrae smiled as he patted her back. When Cinderella pulled back to smile at him, her Light nearly blinded him. There was a feeling of connection and pain as she stepped back.

"Please be safe," Cinderella said. "And come back soon."

"I will," Tenebrae said as he left.

Tenebrae walked down the staircase and down the path. He walked until he came to the trees in the path. Tenebrae stepped behind one before opening a portal.

'I need to find another World with a strong Light,' he thought, stepping through. 'But which World would that be?'

Tenebrae exited the portal. He had been deposited in a dark wood. The trees did not seem inviting, almost like they could come to life. Tenebrae thought he saw on move.

"I forgot how creepy the Dwarf Woodlands are," Tenebrae said as he walked through the woods. "This place also has a strong Light. But I also sense an imbalance. Guess I need to keep my eyes and senses open."

As soon as he said that something grabbed his wrist. His instinct kicked in as his free hand caught fire and he pressed the flame on his arm. Tenebrae saw wood burn away as the thing on his arm let go.

"And trees are coming alive!?" Tenebrae summoned his Keyblade. "I will be so relieved if this is one of those stupid dreams."

Tenebrae turned in time to see the trees getting closer. There were various gnarled faces as the trees approached. The wooden limbs moved in an unnatural way. Tenebrae had little time to react.

Tenebrae jumped back as the first tree limb swung at him. His back hit another tree, which he ducked away from. His instinct was the only thing that kept him from getting caught by tree limbs. He used a fire spell to blast the tree behind him, before charging ahead.

Tenebrae coated his Keyblade in flames as he charged the grove. Luckily, it only took one strike before the trees went dormant. It took him about a minute, but his mana use had him panting for breath.

'Not really a dream,' Tenebrae thought, lowering his guard, 'But for the trees to come to life? I would have expected Heartless to strike. But I guess that is a side effect of the imbalance.'

Tenebrae decided to locate the source of the Light. His senses reached out and he found it. He turned to the north, feeling the Light coming from there. Tenebrae started to walk.

It took Tenebrae about 10 minutes to make it out of the woods. The change of scenery was a surprise to the Seeker. He stepped out into a flower glade. The bright sky and color were a stark contrast to the darkness and gloom of the woods.

'And it looks like the Light is still a ways off,' Tenebrae thought. 'And if I remember, I think it was Snow White. She was a Princess even before meeting her Prince. Was she at Hollow Bastion like Belle? Her Light feels pure enough. But there is something more.'

Tenebrae walked through the flowers. He was sure to be careful not to step on any of them. He stepped over a small bridge that crossed over a small stream.

Tenebrae noticed a stone wall as he kept walking. After a little more walking, Tenebrae caught sight of a castle. Even from the outside of the gate, he could see how magnificent it was. It looked like there was some intense cleaning happening. There were vines along the wall, and Tenebrae could see some remnants on the castle itself.

Tenebrae approached the gate and saw a pair of guards. He stopped a few feet away. "Good day."

"Good day," one of the guards responded. "What business do you have here?"

"I'm merely a traveler," Tenebrae said. "I've been traveling for a while and was hoping to find refuge. I heard tale of your Prince and Princess offering hospitality to the wary. Is that true?"

"It is," the same guard said. "But right now, we are unable to house guests. By the Princess's orders, none are to enter the castle. Only those given prior entry are allowed."

'Something happened?' Tenebrae thought.

He smiled and nodded. "I understand. Then I shall take my leave. Is there a chance I'll able to gain an audience with them?"

"Return on the morrow," the guard said with a salute. "And you will have your answer."

Tenebrae nodded, before turning to leave. 'A day? I barely remember this World, but I guess I can do some recon.'

As Tenebrae left, he decided to see if he could find a place to rest. He took his time, going through the glade and the woods. He was more cautious in the latter, making sure the trees did not spring to life. He did breathe a sigh of relief when he made it to the opposite end unharmed.

Upon exiting the south end of the woods, Tenebrae was surprised by the sight. There was a clearing in the woods that housed a cottage. Tenebrae was surprised to see the building. As he approached, he was even more surprised.

Tenebrae walked up to the cottage. He couldn't tell why, but he felt like it was smaller than it should have been. Even when comparing it to the castle, the cottage didn't seem habitable.

'This place is small,' Tenebrae thought, measuring his height with the door frame. 'Someone else resided in this World. I feel like I'm forgetting something.'

Tenebrae decided to keep moving, since he still had some daylight. He spotted a path off to the side of the cottage. It was between some trees, but Tenebrae did see a change of terrain.

Taking the path, Tenebrae crossed over a fallen log. There was a river below, with many rocks through it. After crossing, Tenebrae was met with another sight.

Tenebrae stood in front of a mine entrance. He gave a quick whistle as he entered. It was already excavated quite a bit. He guessed by more than one person. He noticed tracks and carts as well as and sections blocked off inside.

Tenebrae noticed something sparkling in the mine walls. He approached one and saw various gems embedded in the rock. They were ready to be retrieved but had been left alone.

'Any one of these are worth a fortune,' Tenebrae thought. 'But they haven't been removed. I guess the miners are waiting for the right moment.'

Tenebrae was about to reach out and touch one of the gems, when he heard a yell. He turned to the source. It sounded like many voices all shouting. It had come from deeper in the mine.

'A rockslide?' Tenebrae though as he ran. He jumped over any pits and descended deeper into the mine. 'And I guess I was right about others being in the World. I just hope they are safe.'

When Tenebrae made it past the threshold, his instinct kicked in. He ducked just in time to avoid a gem impacting his head. Tenebrae followed the trajectory and wasn't surprised with what he saw.

"Heartless!" Tenebrae summoned Kingdom Key D and stared at the threat. The Heartless seemed to be sentient bags full of gem. They had a creepy smile and a lens over one of their yellow eyes. The ribbon-like arms took another gem and aimed at the Seeker.

"Bag o' Jewels!?" Tenebrae said aloud. "These things were annoying with only one. And who knows if there are other Heartless close by."

Tenebrae released his aura to draw the Heartless' attention. Luckily, it did the trick, all the Heartless turned to him. Unluckily, it did the trick, as all the Heartless chucked various gems at him. Tenebrae swung his Keyblade at each projectile.

When the barrage stopped, Tenebrae rushed in. He coated Kingdom Key d in flames and struck the first Bag o' Jewels. It ripped in two and evaporated, releasing its heart. He turned quickly and was able to blast a second with a well-timed fireball. He knocked back the gem of another before jumping out of the fray.

"Focus!" Tenebrae let his mana flare as fire collected in his free hand. With a swing of his coated hand, fire filled the mine. He was able to burn the remaining Heartless to cinders. Tenebrae had a near feral smile as they burned. The hearts within were released.

Tenebrae took a deep breath to calm down. He wasn't sure why, but he felt an immense Darkness coming from the mine. It seemed to be coming from deeper in the mine. It felt like it was calling him.

"Do you think we can trust him?"

The new voice brought Tenebrae back to his senses. He looked around, trying to match what he heard to a mouth. Besides a few charred remains, he was by himself.

"It's obvious he's a thief!" Another voice yelled. "He's here to steal our jewels."

"Now, now," a calmer voice spoke, "He did get mid of the ronsters, uh... monsters. Maybe he isn't so bad."

Tenebrae dismissed his Keyblade and sighed. He stood up straight and held up his hands. It was obvious these voices were around him and wary of him. The best he could do was seem non-threatening. Even if he did just scorch some of the room he was in.

"I came here because I heard shouting," Tenebrae said aloud. "I've encountered those creatures before. I only came to help. I am no thief."

Tenebrae waited as he heard hushed whispers. Whoever these guys were, they didn't have a strong presence. They did seem to be denizens of the World because they kept mentioning the mine and the gems. Tenebrae did his best to stay put and keep his temper leveled.

After a few minutes, the voices stopped whispering. Tenebrae heard movement. From various parts of the room seven… men? made their presences known. These men were less than half of Tenebrae's height. All were wearing a tunic of sorts and a felt hat. They had various expressions on their faces.

The one that looked angry gave Tenebrae a look. "I still don't trust you, but you got rid of those monsters."

"I'm not asking for trust," Tenebrae said. "Just knowledge and information. I'm curious about those monsters."

The one that looked shy spoke next. "Oh yeah, they appeared in the mine recently. We always avoid them while we work."

The one that was smiling, nodded and spoke next. "But we always keep a cheery mood and our work."

"I see," Tenebrae said, putting a hand to his chin. "Had anything happened before they appeared?"

The one that looked sick sneezed before he spoke, "Not really. But we also haven't seen Snow White lately."

The one that looked tired yawned before speaking next. "Yeah, we miss her stories and treats."

'I doubt that is a coincidence,' Tenebrae thought. 'But she is a Princess. I'm surprised she would leave her castle.'

Tenebrae looked over the men again. "When was the last time you saw Snow White?"

The one with glasses tapped his head, thinking. "I think it was past lunch… I mean last month. She had a fright and has been gone since."

"And those monsters appeared when?" Tenebrae asked.

"Maybe a day after that," Glasses said. "And it gets worse the deeper we go."

Tenebrae turned his attention to the inner mines. And just like what was said, the Darkness within felt much stronger. It felt strong enough to match Snow White's light. That was a bad omen.

"But you all don't seem too worried," Tenebrae inquired, turning to the men. "You all have been working for the last month I take it?"

The angry one puffed out his chest. "Well of course. We Dwarves are a hearty bunch. Ain't nothing gonna keep us from work. Not some monsters or ghosts."

"I see," Tenebrae said. "Well that is fair. I guess introductions are necessary. I want you all to know I have no interest in your mine. I just want to figure out how to get rid of the monsters. I'm called Tenebrae."

The Dwarf with glasses introduced himself first. "Well met, Tenebrae. I'm Doc."

The shy Dwarf spoke next. "I'm Bashful."

The sick looking Dwarf sneezed. "I'm Sneezy."

The smiling Dwarf waved. "I'm Happy."

The tired looking Dwarf yawned. "I'm Sleepy."

The angry Dwarf growled. "I'm Grumpy." He then pointed to another. Tenebrae realized he hadn't spoken yet. "And that there is Dopey."

"Nice to meet all of you," Tenebrae said with a nod. "I would say you all should stay away, but I have a feeling you won't listen."

The Dwarves shook their heads, smiling. Tenebrae chuckled before going deeper into the mine. He walked along the tracks as he progressed. Tenebrae was surprised with how little light there was the deeper he went.

Some Heartless did spawn as he progressed. Bat like Heartless with hooks worked in tandem with some Shadows. Tenebrae was able to handle both types. His flames burned through any Heartless that stood in his way.

After finishing off the Heartless, Tenebrae made it to the end of the mine. He entered a closed off room. Within it, he felt the Darkness at its strongest. He looked around and saw nothing though.

"Okay, I'm sure this is the location," Tenebrae said aloud. "But what could be the source."

Tenebrae felt a chill as a voice spoke. "Leave this place! My vengeance is not with thee boy!"

Tenebrae slid into his stance. He looked around for the voice. It sounded female, but wispy. It wasn't the voice of a living person.

"Vengeance or no, I came to get rid of you," Tenebrae said. "You will not be getting your wish."

Darkness gathered in front of Tenebrae. It took form and woman was in front of the Seeker. She was dressed in regal clothes, with a headpiece covering her hair and neck. Her blue eyes pierced into his, causing a shiver to run through his system. She was a beautiful woman, but she was no longer a physical being.

"Leave here!" The woman yelled. "Lest you as well wish for my wrath!"

Tenebrae summoned his Keyblade. "Sorry lady! I don't do well when someone tells me what to do. So I'll just do what I came to do!"

Tenebrae jumped at the woman, swinging his Keyblade. Right before he made contact, the woman dispersed. The Darkness of her form collected behind him. Tenebrae turned quickly, letting loose some purple flames as he did. Unfortunately, nothing was behind him, so the flames struck a wall.

"You are a fool," the woman said. Tenebrae wasn't sure where she was. "But you will be useful. Submit to me and do my will!"

Tenebrae felt a chill as Darkness surrounded him. The chill soon turned to pain as another conscience was forcing its way into his mind. The Darkness almost corroded it.

"I am no one's puppet!" Tenebrae shouted.

He expelled all his mana. His aura was enough to make a ward around his mind and body. The task proved too much for him though. Tenebrae collapsed, having drained himself of his remaining energy. -


And there we go, everyone! Interesting encounters, but no Princess? I guess you'll have to tune in next time to see what happens.
I will say, there wasn't much of extra movies or videos for Snow white, so I got to have some fun and make a plot all my own. So if something seems weird, my bad XD. Until next time, Happy New Year and may your Heart be your guiding Key.