Uncharted Territory

Set during The Year Between, after Chapter 35;

x.x.x

It hadn't quite dawned on him until he returned from Twilight Town that he'd finally have a place to stay. Somewhere stable. Somewhere safe. A place even the Nobodies couldn't reach them. Months had passed since the events at Castle Oblivion, since Vexen's death and his and Naminé's decision to lead the lives of runaways. Hollow Bastion had been the closest thing to home, and even it was too good to last. Sure, with Marluxia gone, they could always go back, but even Leon's gang couldn't protect them from everything. And frankly, he didn't want to weigh them down. They'd been gone to him and Naminé, but they had their own problems, like restoring the town.

But now things had changed.

As soon as he came back, Mickey led the Replica and Naminé through one of the tower's spiral stairways, stopping at a small door decked out in the typical star and moon patterns. Inside, he found a small, round room with two beds against the wall, a crescent window resting between them. Each bed had its own nightstand, one with a star-shaped lamp, the other with another crescent shape. The cushions rested on polished wood frames with fluffy blue comforters spread smoothly over the top. Gaping at the sight, the Replica inched closer, pressing his hand against the bed just to make sure it was real.

His hand gently sank into the blanket, which was soft as a cloud. When Naminé seated herself on the neighboring bed, her eyes became wide and round, and she shifted around, almost as if she couldn't believe where she was. And who could blame her? The beds back at the castle were stiff as bricks, with blankets as thin as paper. But these? These were almost like foam, and when the Replica rolled onto his back, he felt the mattress sink slightly under his weight. Just enough to mold itself around him.

With his arms tucked under his head, he blew a soft, contended sigh. "Man, he really went all out."

Giggling, Mickey nudged the door shut with his shoe, then made his way over to the duo. "Well, we both want ya to feel welcome here."

"And we already do." Naminé bowed her head, hands clasped over her chest. "It's just going to take some getting used to."

"Aw, well there's no rush! Take all the time ya need."

Leaning into his palms, the Replica pushed himself back up and draped his legs over the bed. "Still sorta feels like a dream. I mean, you're King Mickey. Donald and Goofy have been searching for you all this time, and after all that, we're the ones who wound up finding you… Talk about ironic."

Mickey's mouth took on a small o shape, and then he looked down, rubbing the back of his head. "But I told 'em to look after the Keybearer, not to go huntin' for me!"

"Well, as soon as they found Riku, they started dragging him along on a wild goose chase. Their so-called mission was to find you and bring you back."

He covered his mouth, then drooped over with his eyes on the floor. "Gosh. I didn't mean to worry 'em…"

"Heh. If it makes you feel any better, they loosened up eventually. Besides, Riku was kind of a bonehead at first." Pausing, he smiled sheepishly. "Heck, I was an even bigger bonehead."

Biting her lip, Naminé looked off to the side, while she grabbed the hem of her dress. She didn't say anything, but that small gesture slapped the Replica in the face. Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. He knew her guilt was still fresh.

But before he got a chance to cheer her up, Mickey's gaze returned to the two of them, and a smile returned to his face. "Well, forget about who ya mighta been before! All that really matters is who you are right now."

"That's a good outlook," said Naminé, still keeping her eyes off the two. "I wish I could be as cheerful as you, but…"

Mickey tugged himself onto the bed, giving him a bright, warm grin. "Well, don't force it. It sounds like you've been through some rough experiences, and that's not the kinda thing that builds confidence."

"We both have, but I think Naminé's got it worse." Blowing a soft sigh, the Replica rested his cheek in his palm. "She was the one who created my memories, and if that's not bad enough, she had the whole Organization breathing own her neck."

She ducked her head, then gave a small nod. "It's true. They kept calling me a witch, used blackmail to keep me in my place… I'd like to think I'm getting better now, but it's still a little hard to shake."

Where before he wore a smile, Mickey's face hardened to a scowl, and his tiny hands balled into fists. "I still can't believe it. How could anybody treat children like tools?"

"Because they don't care. Technically, they can't." For some reason Naminé flinched, but once again she nodded.

"It's impossible for Nobodies to feel guilt. That's why they're able to do such terrible things…"

The Replica lowered his brow, pushing down from his bed and joining the others. "You know, Naminé, if you want to talk about something else—"

"Hey, I know!" said Mickey. "Why don't ya tell me more about yourselves?"

The Replica's arms dropped to his sides, and he stared dumbfounded for a few seconds. What could he even say when he was still sorting out his identity? He didn't have a name, most of his personality traits came from Riku. When he still occasionally lapsed into his false identity, how could he say anything with confidence that it wasn't just a borrowed trait?

But if he said that, he'd just upset Naminé again, and that was the last thing he ever wanted.

So, what to say? Where to begin? There must've been at least something he could share.

When words failed him, Naminé hummed, her face calm and relaxed. "Well, you're brave and considerate, for starters. You might be stubborn sometimes, but I think we can both tell how much you care, and you're always the first to defend me."

"…Right." And even if those traits did start off as Riku's, they were still his, too. So maybe it was better to leave Riku out of this and focus on his own experiences.

Straightening his back, the Replica gave a low chuckle and gestured loosely as he spoke. "I like sunsets and stargazing, I live for competition, and I'm always up for a good spar. If it's raining, I'm fine with reading books, but I'd rather be outside exploring."

"Oh, so you're an adventurer, too!" And soon Mickey joined in the laughter. "I know how ya feel. Back before I became an apprentice, me and my pals used to always go out on picnics together. And after I started training, I was always rarin' to see new worlds. I even snuck out a few times!"

"Ha. Well, Naminé and I used to run off after our missions. We'd bring Sora's Nobody, head out to Neverland, and spend the night looking at the stars." As he said this, he peered out the window. That was one experience that was theirs and theirs alone. "I guess if there's one perk to all this traveling, it's that we've gotten to visit cool places and build our own experiences."

"Exactly," said Naminé. "I'd never gone far from the castle before, but now I've seen so many different worlds, and I've met people who see me for who I am." Pausing, she looked to Mickey. "But since you asked, I really enjoy traveling, and I've loved being able to help people on the way."

"And with the way you're fixin' Riku's memories, I'd say you're off to a great start!" Looking between the two of them, Mickey added, "But don't forget to let us help you, too."

"But haven't you done enough?" said the Replica. "You helped us trounce Marluxia, brought us here… I don't want to overdo it."

Mickey's smile softened, and he folded his arms in his lap. "Aw, who said anything about overdoing it? I know you two've put up with a lot, so I wanna make up for it in any way I can."

"Man, at this rate you're gonna spoil us."

Still, after everything they'd faced, maybe that wasn't so bad.

x.x.x

A/N: One of the things I regretted when writing TYB was not showcasing more of Mickey's friendship with Rep and Naminé. Since I had so much ground to cover, there was only so much I could keep. Thankfully, Side Stories allows me to go back and fill in the blanks.

I have another scene planned that I may write up soon. One of these days, I'll actually write side stuff for Act 2 and Act 1 again. More recent scenes are just easier because they're fresher. But, if there's anything in Act 1 or Act 2 era you'd like to see in more detail, I'll happily add it to my list.