Love's Vagrant

Set during The Year Between: Post-Manhattan;

x.x.x

She wrapped her arms around herself as she wandered through the darkness. Icy tendrils reached for her, coiling up her ankles and around her waist. Regardless, she pressed on, suppressing a shiver. In truth, she probably should have used the Star Shard to flee to another world, but without proper control, how could they be certain that they'd land somewhere safe? After toiling away in that cathedral without pause, Aqua and Sora both needed rest. So, despite the way her legs wobbled and the heaviness of her eyelids, she continued her trek, step by step.

A small glimmer at the end of the corridor marked the end of the path, and so she stopped for a moment, panting. She felt a hand brush up against her shoulder, and when she looked to the side, she spotted Sora, standing perfectly straight, save for the slight curve of his spine. His eyes shone like headlights in the darkness, and a small frown lined his lips.

"Hey, are you sure this okay?" said Ven. "It's not too late to use the Star Shard. I don't want you wearing yourself out!"

She smiled wryly, unable to withhold her laughter. "Ven, Sora, I know you're trying to look out for me, but I'm fine. This is nothing compared to all those years I spent wandering alone."

Sora looked down, rubbing the back of his head, while Ven let out a soft, humming sound. While Aqua couldn't see his face, she pictured his brow furrowing and a hand sliding below his chin.

"Well, at least we're almost there. I dunno about you two, but I'm about ready to pass out."

Another laugh slipped out of her, and she reached down, ruffling Sora's hair. "Don't worry. Once we're in town, you can rest as long as you need. You've both earned it."

With that, Aqua turned back towards the distant light, following the path until soothing warmth replaced the chill of the corridor and voices flooded the air.

She stopped for a moment and soak in all the activity. Past the lampposts and up the nearby flight of steps, she spotted what a rather portly warthog with some kind of small, skinny creature resting on his back. It was tough to tell from a distance, but he looked to have tan fur and rings around his tail. The two looked down the steps, both let out a gasp, and dashed down at a surprising speed, given the warthog's stubby legs.

They breezed past a young man with light blond hair fashioned into a pompadour. He held a black journal in one hand, and as the two creatures zipped by, he snapped it shut and stepped to the side.

"Never a dull moment, I suppose." He chuckled and leaned against the handrail.

Moving further through the First District, Aqua looked to the left, gazing into one of the local restaurants. At one of the candlelit tables, she spotted a small, red creature with a long, skinny body, stubby horns, and a mustache. Some strange kind of lizard? He paced around the table with a miniature menu in hand. A little cricket watched him for a few seconds before turning to look at Aqua with a chirp. She waved and continued on her way, stopping only when the warthog and meerkat from earlier blew past her.

"Sheesh, they're in a hurry. Wonder what the rush is about…"

"Look, lizard," said the meerkat, "how much do ya want for that little cricket there? Me and Pumbaa are starving!"

"Lizard?! Haven't you ever seen a dragon before?" The dragon snorted smoke out his snout, scooping up the cricket with a huff. "And forget about the cricket, man! If you're so hungry, quit eyeballing my friend and sit down like everybody else."

"Aww…" The warthog's ears drooped, and he turned to an empty table. "But they don't serve bugs here!"

"Sure they do! Why, just the other day, there was a whole colony of ants here. You couldn't take one step without bumping into one of their brothers or cousins. And forget finding a table!"

Shaking her head, Aqua turned away from the restaurant and moved towards the neighboring shop. She took a few steps before she noticed Sora was still standing there, watching the bickering inside with wide eyes and one hand over his mouth. The sound of Ven's laughter clued her in, and she turned back around, nudging him away from the restaurant.

"Maybe we should give them some space, Sora. It's probably better if we don't attract attention."

"Ah, but I'm afraid you've already caught my eye."

Aqua's shoulders shot up at the sound of the voice. Breath hitching, the turned around, spotting the young man with the journal. Now that she got a closer look at him, she noticed leather gloves stretching up his arms and a pair of matching boots. He wore baggy, brown pants, a light blue shirt with an extremely fuzzy collar, and a silver belt adorned with small pouches and a sheath. He watched Aqua with a suspicious looking smile, and even when she looked away, she felt his eyes drilling into the back of her head.

"…Can I help you?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could help you. Far be it from me to leave a lady in need, and I don't believe I've ever seen you before. Are you new to Traverse Town?"

"No, I've visited a few times before."

"Truly?" The man reached for his chin. "But, miss, I know all the women here, and I'd never forget someone as beautiful as you! Why, you're like a shining sapphire of the sea."

Was he serious? Just hearing him speak sent heat rushing to Aqua's cheeks, and she stepped back, holding up her hands and shaking her head. "I-I'm really flattered, but I—"

A shadow stretched at her feet, and Sora sprung up, spreading his arms, puffing out his chest, and twisting his face into a glare. Instantly, the man jumped back, reaching for his sheath and withdrawing his sword.

"A Heartless? Here?!" He grimaced and shuddered, pointing his sword at Sora's chest. "Stand back, miss! I'll not have this beast—"

Sora sprung backwards before he finished, crouching low to the ground, slamming his eyes shut, and shielding his face with his arms. He trembled, scuttling backwards, and the man lowered his weapon, eyebrow raised. Breathing in, Aqua stepped out in front of Sora, then knelt beside him, resting a hand on his back. Her expression stiffened, and she looked up at the man, speaking with a heavy tone.

"He's not a beast—he's my friend, and I have to ask that you put that weapon away."

"I… I see." His words came out hoarse, and he looked the other way. The man deflated, shoulders sagging as he slipped his sword back into its scabbard. "My apologies, miss. I had just assumed—"

"I understand." Aqua rose to her feet, breathing a soft sigh. "You have every reason to stay on guard. If he were any other Heartless, I would have done the same."

"But obviously he's not." The man eyed Sora, stroking his chin. "Heartless don't cower—they attack, yet your friend hasn't lifted a claw." He trudged closer, a small, uneven smile lining his lips. "No, you bravely stood as her shield, and in public, no less. Such chivalry demands respect!"

Gulping, Sora lowered his hands and cracked his eyes open. Still shaking, he dug into his pocket and grabbed his notepad and pen. 'So you're not scared?'

"Ah, so you can write!" The man's smile only widened. "And no, I'm not scared. Surprised, yes, but I'll have you know that I've braved dungeons teeming with fearsome monsters, battled against an immortal, and aided in the awakening of four crystals in hopes of saving my world. So, needless to say, I've faced my share of creatures far more terrifying than you. Gigas Lich comes to mind…"

The man's smile was infectious. Before long, Aqua felt her lips start moving on their own accord. "It sounds like you've had quite the adventure."

"Of course! And I'd be more than happy to tell you more if you'd like. But first, I believe an introduction is in order." He stood back up, taking a bow. "My name is Ringabel… or so they call me."

She reached out to shake his hand, gesturing to Sora. "I'm Aqua, and this is Sora." She paused, thinking back on what he said. "You said that everyone calls you Ringabel… Does that mean it's not your real name?"

"I'm afraid I couldn't tell you." He shook his head, flipping through his journal. "I lost all my memories, you see, and this journal's the only clue I have as to who I was."

"So he's like me… Huh, that's some coincidence."

Sort of, anyway. There were some obvious differences. For one, she couldn't really see Ven flirting with girls. Just the thought squeezed a giggle out of her. And even looking past the obvious personality differences, where Ringabel had his journal, Ven arrived to the Land of Departure as a blank slate, barely able to process basic questions, let alone speak.

She couldn't begin to imagine what it felt like, losing every last shred of one's identity. Friends, family, and a home all gone in an instant. All she could really say was, "I'm so sorry to hear that… Do you have any idea how it happened?"

"None whatsoever. Even the journal is remarkably vague." He shut the book, tucking it into his pocket. "I used to believe it held the future in its pages, but recently…" He grimaced, shaking his head again.

"Is something wrong?"

"You needn't wory, my dear!" His laughter rang strangely hollow, and he looked to her with a stiff smile. "So… What exactly brought you to Traverse Town? You seemed in quite the hurry."

Sora finally stood up, straightening his back and scribbling another message. 'We came here to pick up supplies… and get some sleep.'

Aqua nodded. "We were just about to head into the Second District, after—"

"The Second District? And I suppose you planned to stay in the hotel?"

"With luck. Why, did something happen?"

"Nothing… happened, per se, but I'm afraid they've no vacancies at the moment."

Sora's journal hit the pavement, and he scrambled backwards, mouth hanging wide open. Likewise, Aqua stepped back, covering her mouth with her hand.

"I don't understand. How could they fill up so fast, unless..."

"You must remember that this is a haven for lost souls, whose worlds have been lost to the darkness." Sighing, he looked up at the starry sky. "Unfortunately, worlds continue to vanish every night, their residents scattered to the winds and sent here, if they're lucky..."

There was something about the way he spoke that sounded… strange. Soft, somber, with no signs of his earlier enthusiasm. Aqua approached Ringabel, leaning to the side to get a read on him. A deep frown had carved itself into his face. He stared at the stars with a furrowed brow, his posture stiff and rigid.

"Ringabel…" She placed a hand on his shoulder, and he tensed, averting his eyes. "Did… something happen to your world?" She hated to be so direct, but his actions sent a message where his words had failed. For whatever reason, Ringabel's heart cried out in pain. And if he had made it to Traverse Town, then there must have been a reason for it.

It took several moments for him to speak, let alone react. At first, he turned his gaze towards the double doors leading into the town. He shut his eyes, reaching for his brow, then moved away, shoulders sagging. "Aqua, Sora… I… Hm."

"I wonder what's wrong. He's acting like a totally different person now."

And yet, when he turned around, a grin flashed across his face, masking whatever sorrow he wore just moments ago. "You know, Traverse Town's inn may be full, but there is a place where you can stay, and I'd be honored to escort you there."

Another place? Aqua's eyes flittered around the district. She doubted they'd find anything here, save for more businesses. And while she remembered seeing a few stray houses in the second and third districts, was it really fair to take them for themselves? Ringabel had a point: this was a world for those who had lost their homes. That hotel must have filled up for a reason.

What more incentive did she need? Kneeling by Sora's side, she said, "Well, what do you think? I won't force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."

Sora tapped his pen against the page. 'Well, he seems nice, and it's not like we've got anywhere else to go. I say we follow him for now, and if it turns out to be some kinda trap, then we can worry.'

"Besides, I'm not convinced he's feeling any better. If you ask me, he could use the company."

Of course. And what if that was why he invited them along? Standing up once more, Aqua turned to Ringabel. "We'd be grateful for whatever help you can give us. Just let us know if there's anything we can do in return."

"Perhaps a little moonlit stroll between the two of us?" He chuckled, eying Sora, who huffed and folded his arms. "No need to worry. I'll treat her like an angel."

"I…" Aqua cleared her throat. "As nice as that sounds, I'd hate to leave Sora behind. It wouldn't feel right.

"Ah, a dedicated friend! Well, if that's what you wish, then I'll not stand between you two. It'd put a damper on the romantic atmosphere, but a woman's happiness is worth a few sacrifices."

"Romance? Geez, this guy's shameless…"

Maybe a little, but at least his heart was in the right place. And perhaps he was just lonely. It was difficult to say right now, but when Ringabel started waving towards the town's entrance, Aqua set those thoughts aside, waving to Sora and then following his lead. As the three passed the restaurant, Aqua felt more eyes drilling into her and stepped in front of Sora, blocking him from view. Then, when they finally reached the towering, wood doors, Ringabel shoved them wide open with both of his hands, standing in place long enough for Aqua to slip through.

When the doors swung shut, she found herself immersed in darkness, with only faint glimmers of light illuminating the path. Her boots clanked on the hard stone below. Squinting, she barely made out yellow lines painted into the pavement and spaced several yards apart. In some of these spaces, she noticed blocky ships, some bright red, others deep blue, pieced together by strange geometric pieces. Pyramids, cubes, triangles, and trapezoids formed the wings, cannons, and hulls of each ship, just like the vessel that Kairi and the others used.

"Aqua, aren't you coming? It's just a bit further."

"Oh! Right." She laughed sheepishly, then turned back around, proceeding after Ringabel towards scattered, orange lights. As they drew closer, a monstrous, black shadow came into focus. Towers rose from the base of the form, small sails hanging stiff in the stagnant air. The shape appeared rounded at the bottom, but flat up top, save for a few lumps and bulges intermixed with the lights.

Before long, the shadow shifted into something clearer. Beneath the light of the stars, Aqua made out a faint, woody texture. Spotted rooftops nestled between towers and masts. A few steps further, and she stopped, stumbled back, and gawked at what she saw.

Hovering in the empty space around them, a gargantuan boat greeted them with the sounds of muffled voices and a blaring trumpet. And yet, was it really a boat at all? Tipping her head all the way back, Aqua's eyes scanned the ship up and down. It reached high into the sky and stretched out for what felt like miles. Those rooftops she saw belonged to cottages lumped together along the ship deck, many of which bore white cloth in place of shingled roofing. This was no mere boat at all, but a flying fortress. Perhaps a town? Whatever it was, Ringabel pressed on as if unfazed by what he saw. He stopped once and glanced back at her and Sora, giving a hearty laugh.

"Impressive, isn't it? To think that one ship could house an entire town… And just wait until you see it up close."

Without warning, Sora darted past her, scrambling on all fours towards the ship. Fighting back a laugh, Aqua dashed after him, and soon she spotted a gangplank extended from the ship to the very end of the path. Ringabel had already made it halfway up and stopped, waiting along the edge. He only budged when Sora reached him, stepping out in front of him and holding up one of his hands.

"Now hold on a moment, Sora. It may be best for you to lay low for the time being, at least until I alert the Proprietress."

Sora shrank back, nodding his head and slumping. A few seconds later, he sank down, flattening himself into a shadow. Aqua continued moving up the gangplank, stepping around him as she walked. Once they reached the very top, Ringabel nudged two wooden doors open, clearing the path onto the deck.

A dull thudding sound followed her as she stepped through. A patchwork of planks formed the path ahead, with barrels and crates pressed up against one of the ship's rounded walls. The music, once soft and distant now boomed to her right, and she whirled around, eying a hanging, wood sign, painted red with the image of a mug. Smoke wafted out from within the open door. Light glimmered beneath the sign, courtesy of a single, metal lantern. To the side of the door, she spotted a lanky, red fox leaned up against the wall, with a white top hat sitting on his head, a tattered blue cape wrapped around his torso, and patchy green pants. He grasped a mug in his hand, and twirled a cigar in his other hand. Next to him, a shaggy, brown cat dressed in purple and gold took a swig of his own mug and hiccupped. He stumbled over his cape, topping over and sending his crooked hat flying.

"Ah, I forgot to mention. We get our share of… unique guests here."

"I can see that." A soft laugh escaped Aqua as she helping the cat to his feet. He wobbled a little bit, cheeks flushed, and scooped up his hat, putting it on lopsided. Snickering, his fox friend reached out and straightened it before taking a bow.

"Well, well, Ringabel! Here with another date, are we? And a real beauty. I'm almost jealous!"

"I wouldn't call it a date," said Aqua.

"No? But surely he's tried to charm you, just like every other woman he sets his eyes—mmph!"

Ringabel slapped his hand over his mouth. "Please, you'll give her the wrong idea."

"It's all right." She suppressed another laugh behind a tight smile. "I already know you mean well."

"Well, what can I say? All it takes is a woman's beauty to set my heart ablaze." He flipped his hair, then stepped away from the fox, moving halfway into an open doorway. "In any case, I believe it's time you met the Proprietress. Shall we carry on?"

Following Ringabel's lead, Aqua slipped through the doorway, stopping only once to watch as the fox took another puff of his cigar.

One step inside, and the dense stench of smoke flooded her senses. She covered her mouth, muffling a cough. Stepping further inside, she eyed the crowds lined up at the bar, circled around the tables, and hobbling across the floor, faces beet red and with mugs in hand. A lightly tanned man with brown hair fashioned into dreadlocks leaned over one of the tabletops, muttering something about deserted islands and sea turtles… to a sea turtle, in fact. The turtle grinned, burst out laughing, and responded by mentioning something called the EAC. She briefly considered listening in, but the blare of a trumpet once again kicked up, drowning out the assorted murmurs altogether.

Aqua looked past the glimmering candles on the tables—including one living candelabra seated next to a small, wooden clock. She followed the sound of the music until she caught sight of a stage tucked into the room's far left corner, nestled between the wall and a brown grand piano… played by a Siamese cat, of all things. Squinting, she moved away from the bar and towards the stage, lined with more cats, including a shaggy grey one clutching a bass violin, a frail, yellow cat strumming a ukulele, a bandanna toting cat with an accordion, and in the center of it all, a somewhat pudgy black cat with a bowler hat and a trumpet held in his paw.

He and an orange tomcat pranced around one another, smacking their paws together. The music slowed, and the two began to sing.

Everybody wants to be a cat, because a cat's the only cat who knows where it's at
Tell me, everybody's pickin' up that feline beat, 'cause everything else is obsolete

"Coming, Aqua?"

Ringabel's voice made Aqua jump, and she whipped around, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry. This place is just so lively, I couldn't help myself."

He grinned, waving one of his hands. "I can't blame you. Next to Traverse Town, you'd be hard pressed to find another place that brings together people from so many different worlds."

"But how did they all get here? Unless things have changed over the past few months, world travel should still be uncommon—impossible for most people."

He wandered over to the bar, taking a seat on a vacant stool. For a split second, his grin faded again, but as soon as Aqua blinked, it was fixed to his face again. "Perhaps under normal circumstances, but we've worked hard to make Grandship another haven for wayward souls—and unlike Traverse Town, this town flies."

"I see…" Aqua lowered herself onto the neighboring seat, folding her hands. "Then do you take this ship all across the worlds?"

"We sure do!" came a new voice, and when Aqua looked up, she spotted a short, pudgy woman smiling up at her. She wore a pink bandanna tied around her white hair, which stretched to the bottom of her neck. A white collar wrapped around her neck and shoulders, fixed to the top of a brown shirt and a long, white skirt.

At the sound of her voice, Ringabel perked up, flipped around, and planted himself on the neighboring stool. "Ah, Proprietress! Just the woman I was looking for!"

"Could've fooled me. You looked pretty busy with your friend here." She burst out laughing, turning her eyes on Aqua. "I hope he hasn't been too big of a handful. You won't believe the number of times he's walked in here with a huge, red mark on his cheek."

Aqua bit her lip and covered her mouth, looking the other way. "…I can sort of see why. He's not exactly subtle."

"Oh!" Ringabel leaned back, gripping at the front of his shirt. "You wound me, Aqua. …Er, anyway, Proprietress, I was wondering if perhaps Aqua could rest at the Inn tonight. Traverse Town's awfully packed, and she and her companion have nowhere else to turn."

"Sheesh, is it really that bad?"

"It was pretty crowded," said Aqua. "But I suppose it can't be helped, given the state of the worlds right now."

"Believe me, sweetheart, we know that better than anybody."

Ringabel bristled. "Shouldn't we stay focused on more immediate matters?"

"So you haven't told her yet? Well, I won't push ya." She shook her head. "Anyway, what's this about a companion? I don't see anyone else here."

"Oh, Sora's a little shy." Aqua looked down, spotting a shivering shadow. "Plus, he's so young that I wasn't sure he'd be allowed here." It wasn't a complete lie; a tavern was no place for a young boy, even with good-natured company all around.

"Ha, don't you worry about that. I'm not about to hand out drinks to a kid, but I'd be more than happy to fix you some grub if you're feeling hungry."

"Excellent!" said Ringabel. "I assure you, Aqua, there's no finer cook in all the worlds! I once met a rat in Paris who came awfully close, but even he couldn't compete with the Proprietress' expertise."

The Proprietress snickered. "So what'll it be? We got braised shanks, spicy seafood steak, omelets, country-style stew… You name it, and chances are I can cook it."

"Though, personally, I highly recommend the seafood steak. It's simply to die for!"

Aqua leaned down, whispering to the shadow. "Well? What would you like, Sora?"

"Aw, you know him. The second she mentioned seafood, he went nuts down here!"

"Then that settles it." She sat up straight, looking to the Proprietress. "I'll have two seafood steaks and a salad, please."

"Good gravy, girl! You must be famished." The Proprietress puffed out her chest. "Well, don't worry. Since you're a first-timer, it'll be on the house."

"Oh, but you don't have to… I'm more than willing to pay."

"Nonsense! Look around—we've got plenty of paying customers here. A couple free meals won't bring this ship down."

"If you're sure…" She looked down again, spotting Sora's shadow resting beneath the bar. For a split-second, his spiky hair breached the floor, and he gazed up at her with wide, yellow eyes. Immediately, Aqua glanced to the Proprietress again, leaning over the counter. "Wait, before you go… there's something you should probably know about my friend."

The Proprietress stopped, glancing over her shoulder. "Well, I'm all ears."

She held her breath for a moment, peeking under the bar, then back at the Proprietress. "Could you come a little closer?" Blinking, the Proprietress obliged, and Aqua continued at a whisper. "You see, Proprietress, my friend is…" She stopped, eying Sora's shadow again.

"…It's okay, Aqua. She'd have to find out sooner or later."

True… Well, there was no point in delaying the inevitable.

"…He's a Heartless."

"A Heartless?!" She hobbled backwards, mouth hanging open. "Are you pulling my leg?"

"Actually, she's not." Ringabel looked down, exhaling softly. "But I assure you, Proprietress, Sora is an unusual case."

"I don't know, Ringabel. If the patrons found out there was a Heartless onboard, they'd probably turn this whole place upside-down." She cast a glance across the room, a deep frown lining her lips. "And besides, you were the one who wanted to make Grandship a safe space for all the refugees out there."

"I know, and make no mistake: I've not forgiven those beasts for what they've done. But even so, I've seen enough to say with full confidence that this boy is an exception."

"Please," said Aqua. "I know it sounds crazy, but I promise no harm will come to you or the refugees."

In the corner of her eye, Aqua thought she saw a shadow move. Looking down, she found the floor bare, save for the shadows cast by the stools and the bar itself. Gasping, she leaned over the counter's edge, spotting a black shape slithering around the Proprietress' feet. What was he thinking? Slamming both her hands down on the countertop, Aqua jerked forward, about to call out to him, but her eyes wandered back towards the tables, to the feline performers on the stage, all blissfully unaware. If she called too much attention to Sora, wouldn't that put him in just as much danger?

All she could do was stare as he rose from the floor.

Not even a second passed before the Proprietress yelped, jumping back against the bar. Flinching, Sora stepped back, shakily reaching into his pocket and scooping out his notepad.

'I won't hurt you. Promise.'

"I… huh?" She pushed away from the counter, striding close to Sora. He scrambled back and bumped into a shelf lined with glass bottles, and the Proprietress burst out laughing. "Well, I'll be! It's just a kid."

Sora gulped, then nodded, scrawling an uneven message. 'If you still want me to leave, I can. I don't wanna make anyone uncomfortable…'

"Aw, don't you worry about that." She patted him on the head. "I'd be careful about showing yourself to the rest of the ship, but you don't look like a threat at all. You're not even that scary looking."

'I'm not?' His brow furrowed, and he looked at his claws.

"Naw. Believe me, I deal with drunkards on a daily basis—and that's scary."

'But what about everybody else? If they lost their homes to the Heartless…'

"Well, I know Zatz won't be too happy if he hears about this, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna throw you overboard. I say make yourself comfortable, and I'll get your food whipped up in a jiffy."

With that, she strutted around the corner and vanished. Several minutes later, she marched back out with a whole tray of food, steam drifting off from the boxes of seafood, garnished with lemon and greens. After thanking the Proprietress, the three moved away from the bar, slipped out through the door, and out into the cool night air. The wood stairs beneath them creaked and wobbled. The salty stench of beer faded, replaced by the tangy aroma of the steaks. Despite Aqua's protests, Ringabel carried all three boxes in his arms. One nearly fell to the floor, but Aqua dashed up to him and caught it before it hit the deck.

Soon even the sounds of music faded, replaced by the soft chirping of crickets. A sweet aroma pulled Aqua's eyes toward the pink blossoms and vines coiled around the railing. Faint glimmers from nearby lanterns marked a small clustering of buildings up ahead. One bore a wooden sign marked with a sword, another a curvy staff, and a third displayed a bottle above the door. Ringabel brushed past these three shops, stopping at a building with a blue sign marked 'Inn.'

"I suppose we could slip inside, but then we'd miss out on this spectacular view!"

The sky glittered. Pale beams of light brushed against the deck, pulling Aqua's eyes high over head, to a full moon, shining with a dim blue halo. Though she took a quick glimpse at the Inn, Aqua refused to budge, instead leaning against the rail and fixing her eyes on the sky above.

"It's been too long since I've gazed at the stars…"

Not since that night all those years ago, seated at the cliff side in the soft, moist grass. Surrounded by friends… So different from now, standing in the midst of a strange new town filled with strange new people, beneath a sky so much darker than before.

"I just wish there was a way to keep the sky shining bright." Ringabel sighed, opening his to-go box. "The truth is, when I see the stars fade, I feel so helpless. There are so many worlds out there, lying out of reach, yet the Heartless bridge those distances with little effort, snuffing out the light in an instant…"

Popping out of his shadow, Sora crawled closer, taking a box and then standing up at his full height. He took a small bite of the fish, then slouched, setting the box down and writing another message. 'I know the feeling. My world got swallowed by the Heartless, too, and then I got stuck with the creeps who controlled them…'

Ringabel growled, gripping his fork tight. "You must mean Maleficent."

Sora dropped his pen and leaned back, arms dangling at his side. His face crinkled up, and he snapped up his pen again. 'Wait, you know about her?'

"I've… heard stories, at any rate. Tales of a wicked fairy and her cohorts capturing princesses, plunging the worlds deep into the darkness' depths…"

'And she tricked me into thinking she was my friend.' He stabbed his pen through the page, gritting his teeth.

"A cruel temptress, then. I should have expected nothing less… But, for what it's worth, I doubt you're truly to blame. You were just a cog in her scheme—she was the one actively attacking the worlds, was she not?"

He nodded slowly, hanging his head. 'Her and the others. They're all gone now, but that's not gonna bring those worlds back. Nothing will 'til the Door to Darkness closes.'

"And that would require the aid of the Keybearer…" He took a small bite of his fish before turning around and leaning his back into the railing. "Truth be told, I've kept my hopes up that I might encounter him one day. That perhaps he might be able to assist me…"

So he knew about Keyblades… With a soft hum, Aqua set her food down and extended her right arm. She breathed in, curling her fingers in as a flash burst from her palm. At first, Ringabel yelped, shielding his eyes and turning his head. Upon looking at Aqua's weapon, he leaped back and stared.

"A Keyblade? But I could have sworn that the Keybearer was a young boy…"

"Well, that isn't entirely untrue. Riku's a boy, and for a while, he was the only active Keybearer out there." She lowered her weapon. "But that's all changed now. Instead of one, there are five of us all fighting to keep the worlds safe. In fact, we just sealed a Keyhole before we left for Traverse Town."

"…Remarkable." Ringabel's posture straightened. He flung his shoulders back, lifted his chin, and grinned even wider than he had before. "I knew there was something special about you, but a Keybearer? A true hero standing before my eyes, shimmering brighter than all the stars combined… Oh, the man who wins your heart will be a lucky man indeed."

Aqua fumbled her box, averting her gaze. How could Ringabel change moods so swiftly? Just a few seconds ago, he seemed so subdued, but now he was back to flirting with her? Even going so far as to bring up love so bluntly? Trying to regain her composure, she inhaled, wiped her bangs out of her eyes, and shook her head.

"You said you needed help. Is there anything I can do?"

Ringabel hesitated, looking away for a split-second, then back again. "…Yes. You're probably one of the only ones who can help me."

"Then what do you need? Please, I think we both owe you for how kind you've treated us."

He pulled his eyes off of her, gazing across at the Inn sign. "You had asked me earlier if something had become of my world… Well, you were right."

"It was taken by the Heartless, wasn't it?" She reached for his shoulder. "Ringabel, if there's anything you feel you need to say, please do. Sora and I are more than willing to listen."

"I had a feeling you'd say that." He cracked a half-smile. "And I appreciate it, Aqua. Truly, I do…"

Sora held up his notepad, seating himself at his side. 'So what happened?'

"It's… a long story." He flipped through his journal and lowered his brow. "You remember what I said about the crystals, don't you?"

"Yes. You said that awakening them would save your world…"

"And for the longest time, we believed that it would. You see, a great darkness had swept across all of Luxendarc." He wandered over to the edge of the deck, gripping the rail. "The breeze, once soft and gentle, faded, leaving the desert air stagnant and the people without power. The sea, once teeming with life, turned foul… putrid, the stench of death radiating from the shore. Lava spread like a plague across the landscape, mountains rose to insurmountable heights, and worst of all, a great chasm ruptured the earth, swallowing an entire village in an instant…"

His words felt like pins pricking her skin. Her mouth went dry, a lump swelled in her throat, and Aqua hugged her shoulders, shuddering. "Was this because of the Heartless?"

"Yes. The source of the problem stemmed from Luxendarc's four crystals, all of which became corroded by a thick, foul darkness and four equally treacherous beasts."

'Like Gigas Lich?'

"Ah, yes. Gigas Lich was but one of many Heartless that emerged from the crystals. Before him, we encountered Orthros, a two-headed dog wielding fire and flame. Then came Rusalka, a creature of water with the irritating tendency to duplicate itself, and Chaugmar, a hideous, pulsating beast with a nearly impenetrable shield… and, believe it or not, they weren't our only problems."

Of course. It was never that simple, was it? "Did you ever meet a group called the Organization?"

"The fellows in the black coats? I've only heard of them in passing. No, we had our hands full dealing with the Eternian Forces… It's a complicated affair, but suffice it to say, Eternia didn't take kindly to us awakening the crystals and nearly killed us on more than one occasion!"

"What?!" Aqua bumped into the rail, fumbling her box once again. "But why would they try and kill you? If awakening the crystals cured them of their darkness…"

Ringabel held up his free hand. "As I said, it's a complex ordeal, one rife with political and religious strife, a clashing of ideals, and a side of betrayal… Obviously, they didn't succeed in killing us, or I wouldn't be here now. In fact, we awakened all four of the crystals, defeated the Duchy, and with the arrival of an immense pillar of light, it seemed as though our journey had finally reached its end…"

"But it didn't." That much was clear from his word choice alone.

"No, it was only the beginning of a nightmare…" He barked out a hoarse laugh. "We drove this ship into the Holy Pillar, and when we did, we were immediately attacked by the Dark Knight Alternis Dim… one of Eternia's Council of Six and…" Ringabel cringed, his eyes slamming shut. "Well, at any rate, we managed to hold Alternis off for a short while, but the ship started rocking and the blinding light of the Holy Pillar faded out of sight. There was a deafening roar. Gold eyes glistened all around us. Shadows swarmed the deck—we tried to hold them off, but in the end…"

His eyes fell to his hands, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "…In the end, I watched helplessly as the shadows, the winds, and the tremors pulled my friends away from me and Luxendarc's star faded from the sky…"

The picture formed clearly in her head. Shining light surrounding the deck, shadows leaking through, oozing on board, claws lashing. Eyes glowing. Teeth snapping. The very foundation of the ship rattling as the light flickered out… She didn't know of these friends—she assumed they weren't the Proprietress or this 'Zatz' they had mentioned, but even without faces or names, the sounds of screams echoed within her skull. Silent, Aqua turned around, eyes scanning the deck of signs of wear and tear; she saw nothing, not a single board out of place.

The only apparent damage came from Ringabel himself, face downcast, posture slack, his eyes fixed on the boards beneath his feet. Breathing in, Aqua took a small step closer. She had every intention of closing the distance between them, but instead, Sora hopped to his feet, placed the back of his hand against his lower arm, and raised his notebook.

'Don't give up. I'm sure your friends are still out there somewhere! They've gotta be.'

"…I know. Tiz, Agnès, Edea… they're all too strong to be snuffed out by shadows. I shouldn't lose faith, and yet…" He stepped back, resting a hand on the rail. "I've searched everywhere. Every world I've encountered, I've scoured from top to bottom with no success—not even a sign."

"Is that why you've taken in refugees?"

"Yes…" He turned to look her in the eye, his expression firm, and his voice equally so. "As I said before, only the most fortunate end up in Traverse Town, and even those that do often end up separated from friends, families, and loved ones, scattered across the vastness of space."

"But most people can't bridge those gaps… " She looked over the ledge, watching people pass in and out of the tavern below. "I think I'm starting to understand now. You said that Grandship can fly... Does that mean you're trying to bring those people back together?"

"Of course. I know firsthand the pain of losing a world, and I want to aid those less fortunate than me. If I can't find my friends, then I can at least try to reunite the refugees with those they cherish. At least then, I'll be sparing them from the pain I bear each day…"

And to think that before, she'd seen him as an eccentric stranger. Now that he'd peeled away the façade, Aqua saw the scars running deep into his heart. To lose friends was never easy—even now, she had no idea what became of Terra, save for one grim possibility. Yet Ringabel had lost three friends and an entire world, save for his ship and two companions. He made it sound like he was too paralyzed to act—that had to place even more weight on his back. Add that to his searches, all in vain, and it was a wonder he'd managed to hold on as long as he had, putting forth a confident front, no doubt to mask his woes.

A tap on the knee pulled Aqua's attention down to Sora, who looked to her with a frown and his notepad in both hands. 'We're gonna help him, right?'

"Of course." She turned to Ringabel, gripping his shoulder. "Ringabel, I'm amazed at what you've done. It must be a huge burden on you, but here you are, helping all these strangers without getting help in return." She placed her other hand on Sora's back, her lips curling into a smile. "I think it's time we changed that."

"I… Then you'll really search for them?"

"Of course we will. Right, Sora?"

Nodding, Sora swept his pen across the paper. 'We've still got tons of worlds to save, anyway, so we'll just look twice as hard, that way we can find your friends and the Keyholes!'

"Two birds, one stone, eh?" A soft chuckle snuck out of him, and he once again flipped through his journal. "Well, you'll want to know what they look like before you start searching. Lucky for you, my journal has an image of all three of them together."

True to his word, he held up his journal to reveal a full-page illustration, sketched in pencil. To the far left, a young girl clad in armor clutched a Katana in her hand. She wore a bow in her shoulder-length hair, and a scowl lined her face. A boy with short, messy hair knelt next to her, dressed in nothing but a tunic and baggy pants. He crouched behind a shield and pressed the tip of his broadsword into the ground. Another young woman stood behind him, facing to the right with a staff in hand. A black and white dress extended past her knees. Her dark hair stretched down to her waist, and she clutched one hand over her heart.

Aqua looked over the image two more times, memorizing their faces, their clothes, every little feature helped. Once she'd ingrained the image in her mind, she peered at the inn, then back to Ringabel.

"We'll start searching as soon as we leave tomorrow, all right? I can't promise we'll find them right away, but as soon as we do, we'll send them straight to you."

'Yep! All I've gotta do is open a portal, and that'll be easy.'

Ringabel dropped his journal, standing speechless for several long seconds. His lips twitched, and he looked the other way, resting his palm over his chest. "Thank you… Truly, from the bottom of my heart. If there's anything I can do to repay you—"

"There's no need," said Aqua. "Friendship is priceless, and I'll be happy enough once I've brought you all back together."

"Then shall we spend the rest of the night enjoying each other's company?" He tucked his journal away, and finally picked up his food. "I suspect we'll all have a long day tomorrow, so we might as well embrace the peace while it lasts, hm?"

Yes. Tomorrow marked the start of a new beginning. A chance to make a difference not only in the lives of countless worlds, but of a new friend, and a new ally. In the end, perhaps it was fate that led Sora and Aqua through the corridor. Had they taken the Star Shard, they would have missed their chance at meeting Ringabel, learning his story, and freeing him from the burdens that shackled him up until now.

Wherever the Star Shard took them next, she could only hope that Ringabel's friends weren't too far behind, but for now, she was content to stand beneath the stars, surrounded by friends both old and new.

x.x.x

END NOTE: One thing that's been sorely missing from Antipode is Square Enix cameos. I won't lie: I'm far more knowledgeable about Disney than Final Fantasy, which is why I've stuck with the characters introduced in KH1 as opposed to inserting new FF characters. However, while my FF knowledge is limited, I do know Bravely Default, which is not only a spiritual successor to classic Final Fantasy, but a Square game as well. Ringabel is my favorite character in the game, Bravely Default has themes of darkness, and I thought, hm, this could work. I thought that perhaps the Grandship could work as its own traveling town, much like how Captain Hook's ship could travel through space, and the idea basically exploded.

I chose to put this under Side Stories because, although you could argue the developments here are important for Sora and Aqua's journey, it ultimately doesn't contribute to TYB's main narrative. It's a fun little detour and a chance to flesh out the Antipode universe a bit more, but given that TYB already has a lot going on, I figured this scene would be better placed here.

Still, I hope you enjoyed. :D Now that school's almost out, I have a lot more side stories planned, so I leave you all with one little question. What would you like to see next? The main side scenes I want to write next include XIII visiting Manhattan and bumping into both Axel and the Gargoyles crew, a short scene which will explain how Scrooge's nephews went from Traverse Town to Hollow Bastion, and Mickey's meeting with Mary Poppins.