FG: Hey, we're back with Chapter 3! I have a kinda bad announcement to make; I can't put you guys in CC2. Sorry about this, but it'll take longer to put you guys in. Good news; one of you will be in the next chapter! YEAH! But I'm not telling who.

Sora: It's Bernie's turn to do the disclaimer, but she and Dia are busy singing stuff.

Dia and Bernie: Though many times, we're given rhymes that are quite un-singable!

Sora: See?

Riku: Anyway, we've got a special guest doing the disclaimer! Please welcome FG's friend who is often depicted in bikinis, Colin!

Colin: (walks in) Hi. FG had to drag me away from King and I practice to be here, but now that I'm here, I'm…creeped out. Her fanfictions involving her little Kingdom Hearts obsession are really immature.

FG: Yeah, that's Colin. He's obsessed with saying I'm obsessed. But he's still my friend!

Colin: I guess. Well, time for the disclaimer. The short one-

FG: HEY! YOU'RE TALL! I'M AT A FINE HEIGHT, 5-FOOT-2! YOU'RE, LIKE, 5-FOOT-6!

Colin: Like I was saying, the short one doesn't own anybody except for Emma, Dia, Jake, Bernie, Robin, Alissa, Taylor, and Coeur. Can I go now?

FG: It depends, can I draw you and Ms. Wild doing the can-can in bikinis?

Colin: NO! YEESH! I'll stay here…for a few minutes.

FG: MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Ms. Wild is the perfect example of a weird substitute teacher. Our normal teacher was on maternity leave, so we had Ms. Wild. She never says always. She says 'ahways'. But she's not from the South or anywhere like that.

Colin: She has a big, pointy nose. Think of a female Ryan Stiles from 'Whose Line is it Anyway'.

FG: Yup. She's a very happy person. TOO happy. Well, let's stop talking about substitute teachers. Here's Chapter 3!

Colin: …can I go now?

FG: Only if you like bikinis.

Colin: (sigh) Weirdo…

… … … … … … … … …

"Wow, this goes fast!" Bernie pressed her face against the minivan window. "Look at all the trees! They're like blurs!"

Coeur nuzzled her owner. "Myew!" she agreed.

Kairi stroked the genet's head. "You're so cute, Coeur."

"Hey, Bernie?" Emma turned around in her seat. "Doesn't Coeur mean 'heart' in French?"

"Oui, Mademoiselle Emma." Bernie looked away from the glass and smiled.

"Does it have anything to do with Kingdom Hearts?"

She nodded. "Again, oui. She was one of Haiiro's three gifts; fortune-telling, the Uranaishi Gloves…" Bernie held up a hand, which was covered by an orange, fingerless glove. "…and Coeur. She's supposed to have some sort of magical powers, but I'm not sure of what they are."

"How did you meet Haiiro?" Jake asked. There were only seven seats in the minivan, so he was sitting on Emma's lap, and Emma was sitting in the trunk. However, the trunk had rolled up sleeping bag, and was connected to the rest of the car like a normal seat, so it was relatively comfortable.

Bernie scratched her head. "You really want to hear the whole story?" Everyone except Dia, who was driving, and Robin, who couldn't care less about most things, nodded enthusiastically. "Okay, then! Here goes."

… … …

FLASHBACK

I sat in my basement, playing Kingdom Hearts A few of my friends laughed at me, because I was seventeen at the time, but I liked it. I had just beaten the game when I got a call. I picked up the phone, and a strange voice started talking.

"Is this Miss Soleil?" it asked. I gave a little 'Mmm-hmm'. It said, "Good…I…huh? What?" He seemed to be talking with someone on his end. "Really? But why should I…I do NOT care, Haiiro. I pick…why?" He was silent. I heard a faint voice similar to this guy's. "Is that so? Well, then. I suppose…yes. You are technically me, so I suppose you are smart. Hmm? Yes. Miss Soleil?"

"Yeah…?" I asked, very confused. Who was this guy? And who was Haiiro?

The guy chuckled. "Uh…wrong number." He hung up.

I sighed and plopped down on my beanbag chair. "That was weird."

… … …

That night, I had a weird dream. A man that looked like Ansem talked to me. He said he was the other guy, Haiiro, and explained what the phone call was about. A girl from Chicago named Emma Baecker had been chosen instead of me to destroy Sora. "Do not feel left out. She was chosen because of her love for the game, and because she had beaten it many times," he told me.

"I wanted to go in the game!" I whined. Thinking back, I feel selfish. Now that the Heartless are in the real world, I know how Emma must've felt. At the time, she was the only one who could protect Sora and fix the game for good. I just wanted to play.

Haiiro laughed. "So does she. But she has accepted her mission, which will become yours."

"Mine?" I asked.

"Yes. In two years, you will get two powers. I will give you one right now. This is Coeur." A small, cat-like thing pranced out from behind Haiiro. "She has unique abilities, but they will not awaken until the time comes. Keep her safe."

I carefully picked her up. "These small-spotted genets are pretty common sights in France," I murmured. "Even if we live in Wisconsin now, my parents won't make a big deal if I say she's a pet. Pretty big genet fans." Coeur took on a human-like expression as she watched me talk to myself, so I talked to her. "You'll love my house, Coeur."

"Myew!"

… … …

The next year, my mom announced I had gotten into Northwestern College in Illinois. "You'll only be a state away, so we can see each other every weekend!" she gushed in a way that only a mom can.

"Yeah, that's…nice, Mom…" I replied quietly. Coeur rolled her eyes. I don't know if that was a power or not, but sometimes, she was almost human.

Dad smiled. "If you want, you can go next summer, and stay in the dorms until the term starts!"

"YES." My eyes shot open. "I want to go early."

Coeur pawed my head. "Myew?"

I mumbled, "Haiiro says that I have to find the girl who was chosen instead of me, one year from now. It's been a year since he said two years."

"Myew." Knowing that was the best answer she'd get, my animal pal relaxed and tapped her thin, speckled tail against my back. "Myew." The second one was more like a sigh than a comment.

"Don't worry, you'll like Illinois."

Coeur leapt off my shoulder and trotted back to bed. "Myew, myeeeeeeew myew…"

I blinked. "Why would we be dragged all over the US? We're just meeting that girl in Chicago!" Coeur stopped in her tracks. "What do you know that I don't?"

Dad chuckled. "Talking to your genet again, Bernadette?" He ruffled my hair, making it look even frizzier than usual. "Let's eat out in honor of your acceptance!"

"Okay. I want to go to that big restaurant near the Great Wolf Lodge with the good cheese curds." I ran after Coeur, then scooped her up like…well, some things are better left unsaid. "You're coming too. And you're explaining everything."

… … …

"The two years are almost up."

In my dream, I nodded to Haiiro. "Coeur told me. I made her tell everything…"

Coeur suddenly materialized. "Myew…" She licked her scraped tail. I admit, I got a little rough during the interrogation.

"Coeur!" I screeched. "What're you doing here?"

"Myew." She yawned and curled up on the floor of the dark space that was my mind.

I put a finger on my chin. "Human-like expressions…the ability to pop into my dreams at will. Two powers so far…" I looked desperately at the man who had given her to me. "…but when do the really COOL powers kick up?"

"When the time comes. That reminds me…when you get to Illinois, you will meet up with the girl, the game characters, and three of her real-world teammates. They all have a special ability. You are the seer." A pair of open gloves and a light floated to me. "These are your last powers."

I slipped the gloves on. "No weapon?"

"These ARE weapons," Haiiro explained. "Try to use magic."

"Um…" I held out one hand. "Firaga!" Nothing happened. "Oh, yeah. Too early. Fire!" A flame shot out of my hand. "Thunder!" Lightning nearly struck Coeur. "Sorry! Blizzard!" A cold wind blasted through the area. "Cool! Um…do I have Water?"

Haiiro shrugged, but he had a knowing expression. "Who knows?"

"Water!" A pail's worth of water dumped on my face. "Stupid gloves…" I murmured. Pushing many a strand of hair out of my face, I asked, "What powers do the others have?"

"Emma is the elementalist. The next, Dia, is a possessor. She made Ansem act very feminine, along with Maester Seymour Guado."

I gasped. "She got to go into FFX too?"

Haiiro nodded. "Yes. Moving along, Dia's younger brother, Jake, is an animist. At the moment, he can make creatures speak and do other humanlike things."

Coeur was my first thought. "Did that Jake do this to Coeur? Make her act human?"

He looked a little uncomfortable. "There is another reason for that. You will find out sooner or later. The next, Robin, has not been found yet. Her is strength. Even fist attacks are extra strong, but she cannot take too many hits. You are the seer, and can vaguely figure out what the future brings. I must leave you now." He disappeared.

"Myew!" Coeur stood up and also disappeared. Finally, I disappeared.

… … …

A week later, or two days ago, same thing, we arrived in Illinois. Our car was attacked by Heartless, so we had to walk a few miles, but it was fine. I decided to get a few Heartless before coming to Chicago, where Haiiro said you lived, Emma. He gave us the address. Nobody was home, so I looked at the next address, your house, Dia.

"I live there too!" Jake complained in the present.

Going back to the story, a tall man answered the door, wearing Ansem's jacket. His eyes looked red. "Who're you?" he asked coldly.

"Um…are…Dia and Jake here?"

"I don't know who you're talking about."

"Um…"

He slammed the door. Coeur hissed at him, then pawed my head like she usually does. "Myew!"

"The fortune-telling power? Oh, yeah!" I looked around the lawn. "What can I use?" Coeur gave me a dead dandelion. "I'll give it a shot." I picked off a bunch, nine to be exact. The seeds changed colors and floated away. "Follow those seeds!" I commanded.

… … …

We ended up at Lincolnwood Town Mall, right when you guys walked in. A few Heartless appeared nearby. I pointed at you guys. "Coeur, follow them. I have to go fight for a while. No, wait, stay-" Too late. Coeur ran inside the mall. I sighed loudly, then fought.

It only took five minutes to get rid of the Heartless. Okay, that's a long time to destroy a few. Anyway, I ran inside. Instinctively, I went to KB Toys. Who could find some kids and Kingdom Hearts characters when KB Toys got a new shipment of anime plushies? That's not all, though. Haiiro description of Jake seemed like he was the kind who could live in KB Toys.

I immediately looked at the anime toys. I heard a conversation about DDR in the distance, but ignored it. After a while, someone cracked up and yelled, "LOOK AT THE KING!"

Joined by some other customers, I stared. A little boy was standing with Donald and Goofy! "Way to go…" Donald mumbled.

The boy, who I guessed was Jake, told them, "Don't worry. She looks about twenty." Correct. "She wouldn't know about Kingdom Hearts." Dream on, kid.

After some other statements that I couldn't hear, they left the store. Coeur, where are you? I thought. Finally, Coeur appeared and jumped onto my shoulder. "Coeur, I told you not to run off."

Coeur looked both apologetic and defensive. "Myew. Myew, myew, myew."

She had confirmed my suspicions; the girl and her friends were in this mall, and that boy was Jake. "Really? I thought so. But we shouldn't do anything yet."

"Myew?" Coeur licked her paw, probably sore from running.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not just being shy. It's not the right time." It wasn't. They were probably getting used to Robin. They didn't need me.

Coeur narrowed her eyes. "Myew?"

Again, she was asking why. I sighed again. "Because I said so." We left the store.

… … …

Coeur and I sat on a bench outside Lincolnwood Town Mall. "It's almost time, Coeur. He told me."

"Myew?" After nearly attacking her for information, Coeur hadn't completely forgiven me, and was testing my nerves.

Yet again, I sighed. "What do you mean, 'he who'? You know." How could Coeur, of all people…uh, animals…not know I was talking about Haiiro? That's when you guys walked by. You know how it goes from there.

END FLASHBACK

… … …

Robin crossed her arms. "Whatever."

"So you WERE watching us!" Jake cried.

"I had no idea some furball was following us." Donald didn't look happy. "You could've been a spy for Guardian. I would've knocked you out." Coeur unsheathed her claws and hissed. The talking duck shrunk back. "Or…not."

Riku looked at Bernie. "Well, Haiiro knows something about Coeur we don't. Guess we'll have to figure it out."

It was Coeur's turn to press her face against the window. Dia stopped driving, due to a mob of cars, and no will to crush them. "Sorry, guys. Little stop."

Coeur paid no attention; she was looking outside at a clump of trees. A silhouette waved from between them. Coeur waved back.

… … … … … … … … …

Colin: You're obsessed with genets. When we went to the zoo, and we went to the mammal house, you were all, "Coliiiiiiin! Come look at the kiiiiiiiiitty!"

FG: Shut up. I bet you guys are wondering who Coeur waved at…her name's Miaow. I can't tell you who she is, though.

Miaow: SECRET! (runs off)

Colin: You're obsessed with insanity.

FG: You're obsessed with saying I'm obsessed.

Colin: You're obsessed with saying I'm obsessed with saying you're obsessed.

FG: You're obsessed with saying I'm obsessed with saying you're obsessed with saying I'm obsessed.

Colin: You're…um…how many times do I say obsessed this time?

FG: I don't know.

Colin: Whatever. Can I go NOW?

FG: …fine.

Colin: No bikini?

FG: …no bikini.

Colin: Good. (walks away)

Miaow: (returns) Your friend is weird.

Jake: I think he's funny!

Riku: Nah, he's closer to weird.

Jake: But he's still funny.

Riku: I guess.

FG: Stay tuned next for the next chapter, along with the next Ultra-Author's Note, when we get another special guest to do the disclaimer! FG out, yo.