Chapter Four: Moment's Wonder

Kairi woke to the gentle neigh of her stallion. She stuck her head outside.

It was nighttime, but she could tell that in an hour or two the sun would rise and greet the camp.

She washed, combed her hair and dressed in her training clothes, attaching her keyblade to a belt she had on. She ventured outside and was greeted by Black, who trotted to her..

"Hey boy- how are you?"

He neighed happily, and then nuzzled her hand with his forehead. Kairi chuckled, then looked in his intelligent blue eyes.

"Alright, I'm going for a walk. If Mulan wakes up or anything is happening, neigh."

Black backed up, and then nodded his head.

Kairi walked to a place Mulan had told her was the best way to relax- a hilltop (A/N: the hilltop where Shang sat overlooking the pole, in the movie? That one.)

She approached the hill, and then sighted a figure sitting down (she already on top).

The spiky hair and baggy clothes were unmistakable.

"Sora? Is that you?"

He turned, and smiled. "Yeah, it's me. Please sit, Kairi." She did so.

"So, you like to come here too?"

"Yes- I found out from Mulan. Before a first day, I always like to hide somewhere and get my courage up."

"Me too. Hey, a question I forgot to pose last night."

"Where Mulan embarrassed us?"

He blushed. "Yeah. What is the connection between you and Axel?"

Kairi sighed, and then sadly rested her head on her knees.

Sora saw the gesture. "You don't have to answer, you know."

"No, you must know. If you find out later it'll be a lot more painful, because the response could come from Axel himself."

"Ok, I'm ready when you are."

Kairi took a deep breath.

"I knew Axel when I was small. My aunt, Sophia, was obsessed with marriage. She wanted me married at an early age. No, please, don't look at me like that."

Sora had looked disgusted. His eyes held sympathy, but his face held dislike (on the subject)

"It was a blow for my parents and I.

"So my aunt, driven by her obsession, came to Axel and his father. He was 6, I was 3. Axel liked me the moment he saw me. His father got jealous when my aunt wanted someone else to marry me.

"He threatened her, vowing that if his son was not given what he wanted, she and my family would die.

"My aunt, scared by threats, ran for her life. And Axel's father lived up to his vow. He came one night, set fire to my house, and killed my parents."

"How did you survive?"

"Mickey teleported me, took care of me, just for a few days, and then left me in the care of some peasants who taught me how to fight. When I was 13, they were murdered.

"The night they died, I was teleported to the castle. I saw the Princesses, and Queen Minnie in the centre. She produced this keyblade. The Princesses told me how to use it, and that I could finally take care of myself. But before I left, they told me that I would have a partner. They showed me you, fighting Heartless."

"That's why I could talk so easily to you!" said Sora, slapping his forehead. "We have a sort of connection, because Goofy and Donald showed me you fighting Axel!"

"Yes, I did fight him. He always vows to have me. I won't let him."

Sora chuckled. "I agree."

Kairi laughed, and the two just looked at each other for a few moments, thoughts coursing through their minds.

The two were suddenly distracted by some neighs.

Black.

Kairi stood. "Black!"

Another neigh. Kairi ran, Sora running next to her.

"Kairi, what's happening?"

"I don't know, but I hope it's nothing too serious."

The two reached Black, who was neighing. Mulan was outside, her hands on her hips.

"Black!" Kairi said. She crossed her arms across her chest. "I told you to neigh if anything bad happened."

Sora chuckled. "Apparently it did."

The group laughed, Mulan pouted.

"Kairi, Sora. Shang told me to tell you to bring your horses for training."

"Why?"

"Apparently he wants to use you as demonstrations for the solders."

"Great," said Kairi. "Just great."

"Why?" Sora said. Apparently he did not see troubles Kairi's way.

"If we mess up, then everyone's going to tease me about it."

"No one's going to tease you, Kairi", said Mulan. "I won't let them, and neither will you."

The bell rung. "Let's go warm up the horses", suggested Sora. "We've got a big day on us."

The sun was already up, flooding the land with light.

Kairi whistled, bridle, reins and blanket in hand. She didn't know that Sora was watching her.

"Come on boy, let's get you ready."

Black snorted, jerking his head in the air. What? Today was rest day.

"I know, Black. We all deserve a rest, but today's not a day to rest."

Black stamped his foot. No.

Kairi rolled her eyes. Good thing she was patient.

"You can kill Shang later."

Black neighed contentedly, then trotted to her. Sora chuckled, and then prepared his own stallion; unaware of the fact Kairi was glancing at him every now and then. Kairi put on the bridle and then attached the reins to the mouthpiece. She then placed the blue blanket on him.

He was ready.

Kairi mounted, and then trotted to Sora, who was mounting. He had place don the blanket, too.

"Well, shall we leave?"

Sora grinned. "Yeah, let's go." Sora led to the warm up ring. They dismounted.

Now Sora didn't trust his horse like Kairi did. Sora liked to tie his horse; Kairi, trusting Black, let him go, knowing he never strayed to far.

Sora attached a lunge rein and let his horse circle around him. Ivory already knew the drill, so he just trotted around Sora.

Kairi looked at the white stallion. "Hmmm, he is a bit bigger…

Sora looked at what Kairi was going to do, and was very surprised.

Kairi was whispering to the horse.

"Black- run around the ring. When you feel warmed up, stop and come to me."

He nodded; stretching his long elegant neck, black mane flowing, he started warming up on the inside of the ring, Kairi chaperoning.. He trotted, then cantered, and then galloped.

Sora gasped.

Kairi looked at Sora and laughed. He was standing, eyes wide open, jaw to the ground, and she knew why.

They say that the Arabian was made from the wind. Graceful, fast, smooth.

And they were right.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meaningless chapter, I think… I'll update. Thank you for all the reviews. It is good that you like my story.

Longer chapter coming soon!

P.S. be prepared for Atlantis, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sleeping Beauty, and the like. I have a feeling this is going to be a very long fanfic…