CHAPTER 2 – Snow White
"Hang on, I think you've got them." Kairi carefully hands Roxas two more bouquets which proves nearly too much to handle. To be fair, they were huge. They were the size of Roxas's torso. Each.
"We need these?" Roxas asks. He tries peering at her through the colors.
"Yes." Kairi grunts when she lifts up her three. "They're gifts. Hostess gifts. Our thank you for their hospitality."
"How long are we staying in each world again?"
"About a day. I told the King to give me at least two, but honestly I don't think—whoa—it probably won't take that long." Kairi recovers from her near fall gracefully. Roxas tensed when he heard her distress, but the armfuls of flowers keep him from doing anything.
"Why flowers?"
Kairi opens the Gummi ship and sets hers inside. Roxas follows. He picks off a couple petals stuck to his clothes. Kairi laughs lightly, plucking a petal from his hair. She hands the delicate purple thing to him.
"Radiant Garden," she says, stating the name of the place they currently are in. "Flowers are a common gift around here. They were before the chaos, and we're trying to make it so this place is beautiful again. These are actually pretty cool." Kairi touches the tip of a yellow flower. "They went through a preservation method unique to here. They're meant to last longer without water or decay. They stay nice for years with little maintenance. Isn't that cool?"
"Really cool." Roxas looks at the flowers with new respect. When he sees Kairi get into the driver's seat, he hesitates. "Um, Kairi?"
"Hm?"
"Are you sure we shouldn't stay a night here? They seemed like they wanted—"
"No, it's fine. We don't have to," Kairi says simply. When she notices Roxas's curious eyes, she explains. "I'll see them after the school year. They'll get me the majority of the summer. They don't need me right now."
"I—I take it by your tone you aren't too happy about that."
Kairi shrugs. "It's what's going to happen. There's no changing it."
Kairi turns her face away from him, but Roxas can imagine the tinge of sadness residing there matching the slight dip in her tone. He drops the subject.
"Where are we going first?" he asks.
Kairi brightens. "To visit Snow White."
"Relax, Roxas," Kairi says for the third time. "She has no darkness in her. You could burn down her castle and still be on her good side."
Roxas shifts the flowers from one arm to the other. "I'm not nervous. I'm—I've never really met a princess before."
Kairi stops dead in her tracks. She whirls on him with an expression of amusement and disbelief causing Roxas to hug the flowers tighter to him. "And what might I be, Roxas?"
Roxas realizes his mistake and desperately backtracks. "No, you're a princess. You—that's different. You're you. I mean, I've known you since before I knew you were a princess so it didn't mean anything, at least not to me, at first..."
Kairi laughs. "It's fine. I don't exactly wear a crown and dish out commands. And I've never been able to balance a book on my head."
The embarrassed young man quickly changes the subject. "So, um—Snow White. How'd she get her name?"
"Snow White?" Kairi closes her eyes and recites. "Lips red as a rose, hair black as ebony, skin white as snow." She opens her eyes. "She's actually the nicest princess I've ever met, but I think she can't see darkness. That's her weakness."
"Princesses have weaknesses?"
"Everybody has a weakness. Princesses just don't have darkness as weakness," Kairi says.
She starts walking again. Roxas follows. His curiosity burns, wanting to know Kairi's weakness, but he shoves it aside. Now is not the time or place. Besides, she probably wouldn't tell him anyway. They aren't that close. Why would she give up such a powerful secret to someone she hardly knows, hardly trusts?
Roxas kicks a rock. He sneaks a glance at Kairi. Her resting face always makes her seem content, pleased with the world. Riku once told Roxas he constantly looks like he's got a rock in his shoe—annoyed. Roxas isn't annoyed. He rarely is, actually, but his buttons are easily pushed when someone is trying to push them. He can't help it after years of Axel—Lea, it's Lea now—dishing out irritating comments and random verbal jabs. He's got high defenses.
The trees eventually give way to a clearing. Hills stretch far into the distance. On one of the nearby hilltops lies a castle, pristine and shining in the light of the setting sun.
"There it is!" Kairi exclaims, suddenly picking up speed. "Come on, Roxas."
"Hey!"
Roxas rushes after her. He's pretty sure he's faster than her, but the flowers in his arms hinder him from keeping up. Keeping them nice is a priority.
Soon enough they reach the castle. Guards that stand watch outside the moat's bridge discuss something with Kairi. By the time Roxas catches up, the two men are already smiling and waving Kairi inside. Roxas follows. Sure, Kairi is an expected guest, but he still marvels at how quickly she charmed them.
By the second doorway, Kairi gives her credentials again. The large, grand doors open for her almost like magic. Inside a servant bows to her and Roxas.
"It is an honor to see you, Princess Kairi," he says. His mustache wiggles as he talks. "Her majesty will be along shortly."
"Thank you."
"May I take your package for you, your majesty?"
Yes. Please. Roxas's mind pleads. The flowers have somehow gained weight exponentially. But maybe it's a good idea that he keeps them. He's kind of a dirty, sweaty mess. The flowers hide his smell.
"No thank you. It is for her highness."
"Of course, madam. If you need anything else—"
"Kairi!"
A petite, black haired, fair skinned young lady comes down the stairs. Her yellow and blue dress emphasizes her red lips. All in all, her color palette is bold and beautiful.
This has to be Snow White.
"Kairi, how wonderful to see you." Snow White takes Kairi's hands in hers. Her smile may be small, but it reaches her eyes and softens her face even further. "How are you? Please, come in, come in."
Kairi is pulled further inside the castle. "Hi Snow! It's so good to see you. I brought you something."
"You did? Oh how kind of you!"
Kairi takes the flowers from Roxas and shows them to Snow White whose hands flutter around them, touching them delicately as praise flows past her lips.
It is then that Snow White notices Roxas. Her kind eyes seem brighter when she sees him. "Oh I'm so sorry. I did not see you. Who might you be?"
"Snow White, this is Roxas. He's a very good friend of mine. He thoughtfully offered to escort me on my visit." Kairi bites her lip, appearing nervous at the introduction from over Snow White's shoulder.
"Uh, yeah. Hi. I'm Roxas. It's—It's nice to meet you, your highness." Roxas extends his hand but retracts it back immediately. He tries bowing. It's awkward and unpracticed.
Snow White's bell-like laughter and gentle hand on his shoulder lessens his embarrassment. He slowly stands up again.
"My, aren't you a gentleman," she says. "Welcome. I'm Snow White."
"Snow White," Roxas repeats.
She nods. "You are most welcome here. Any friend of Kairi's is a friend of mine. A very good friend even. You must be very special."
Roxas finds himself blushing. He searches for words, silently pleading with his eyes to Kairi for help. She only smiles and nods which makes him blush even further.
"Thank you," is all he ends up saying.
The next day, Roxas finds himself trekking through the woods again. Only this time, he's riding a horse. Roxas has never ridden a horse before. He is extremely uncomfortable and tries not to let it show. Thankfully, Kairi and Snow White seem too engrossed in their conversation to notice him.
They've had one long conversation since the start of the day. And this conversation is a continuation of the one from last night. Dinner was certainly not a silent affair. Roxas, of course, was not left out. Neither was Prince Ferdinand, who turned out to be a man with good humor and a knack for making the person he is talking with feel like the most important person he has interacted with all day.
Thankfully, the small group nears their destination rather soon. Roxas's legs and lower back will be able to relax.
"Why are we meeting in the woods again?" Roxas asks after a while. Snow White is discussing something with her husband so Kairi is free for chatting.
"It's the Dwarfs' Woodlands. We agreed to do this the place she feels most...connected?" Kairi frowns as she searches for the right word. It doesn't suit her face, Roxas thinks. He's too used to her being happy. "Most—most—pure? I don't know how to explain it. The place that is most connected to her heart."
"Shouldn't that be her prince's castle?"
"No, but that's a close second. It's actually the place where she found the friendship and love of her extended family—the Dwarfs. They're the ones who watched over her at her lowest point. There! That's where we're going."
Roxas finally sees a small house nestled in clearing not too far away. Sunshine leaks through the treetops, illuminating the hay-covered roof. Smoke emits from the chimney, announcing someone's presence.
"Pretty, isn't it? You'll love the dwarfs. They're a lot of fun."
Turns out some of the dwarfs aren't there. Only Doc, Happy, and Dopey are there to greet the visitors with loud voices and sturdy handshakes. They're boisterous and easily amused as they greet their old friends and are introduced to the newest ones. Upon Doc's profuse apologies for not having everyone present, Roxas offers to fetch the others from the mines. Doc, rather quickly, offers Dopey to him as a guide. It's not too long of a walk so the duo sets out on foot (with much mental gratitude from Roxas who doesn't think he will be able to take another horseback ride).
Dopey may not talk, but he certainly can hold a wordless conversation. Roxas finds this out rather quickly. Dopey's exaggerated expressions and animated eyes have Roxas guessing—usually correctly—on what the dwarf wants to talk about.
When they reach the mines, Dopey is quick to retrieve the rest of his group. He explains through the faces he makes and the gestures to Roxas who exactly the newby is and what he is here for. The others' guesses hit the target rather quickly, having gotten used to Dopey's way of communication. They seem to trust their mute friend's wordless explanation much quicker than Roxas's offering of it verbally. Grumpy is the only one to not take him at face value. He keeps a rather pointed eye at the keyblade wielder as they pack up for the day.
Roxas tries ignoring the excessive attention. He distracts himself by peering into the mine and is surprised at the vast amount of jewels within it. He can't blame Grumpy for being overprotective of this place. It's three fortunes put together and then some.
Roxas picks at a deep red jewel—a ruby—glittering in the sunlight near the entrance. It's stuck in the cave wall. As he picks at the dirt and gravel keeping it there, he finds that it vaguely resembles a heart. Its familiarity pierces through him—it looks like the hearts freed from heartless after an encounter with a keyblade. But...its color is different. Deeper. The color reminds Roxas of Kairi's hair. He scratches it free and holds it in the middle of his palm. It is a heart shape. It's pretty. Almost flawless. A little misshapen but it makes up for that with its shiny surface.
Beautiful.
"Kid!"
Roxas nearly jumps out of his skin. He scrambles to catch the jewel he nearly drops. Grumpy stomps up to him, giving him the stink eye.
"I know yer not stealin'," Grumpy growls. "That ain't smart, kid."
"What? No! I—no. Sorry. I was only looking. I-It reminded me of someone." Roxas gives the ruby to Grumpy who takes it with a huff and a grumble before stomping out of the cave.
Roxas follows, feeling ashamed. He really was only looking. He wouldn't steal.
"Aw, don't feel bad," says a nasally voice. Sneezy. "He ain't too happy with anybody."
"You weren't stealin'," Sleepy says with a yawn.
Roxas feels the stress from the situation lifting. Not all the dwarfs are like the ill-tempered one. Roxas gives his thanks, and the group begins their trek back to the hut.
Halfway there, Dopey stumbles beside him in his oversized shirt. Despite his awkward steps, he stealthily slips something in Roxas's hand. Roxas looks down at the heart shaped ruby and gives Dopey a giant grin which is Dopey-speak for thank you.
Dopey smiles back in understanding.
The good-will floating through the room is almost too pure to believe. Roxas looks around at the joyous chaos. There seem to be four different conversations going on at once. Roxas isn't a part of any of them, but it's fascinating just listening. Supper had been a loud affair with each dwarf starting a sentence even before another finished theirs. This continued even into the cleanup as Snow White gently ordered for everyone present to help. Now with the cleanup finished, all present stand around the large room and chat, paying no mind to the rising volume level.
Above the chaos of the dwarfs and the laughter of Prince Ferdinand as he chats with Happy, Snow White and Kairi stand to the side, the picture of beauty and kindness. Their smiles beam as they gesture to each other then over to the room's occupants. There seem to be no cares in either princess's mind. It's a blinding sight—so much splendor in one concentrated spot.
It not much later that the dwarfs take up their instruments. Prince Ferdinand immediately goes to his wife's side, holds out his hand which she takes delicately, and leads her into the middle of the cleared floor.
The bouncy tune and sudden vocals from the dwarfs have Roxas clapping his hands and tapping his foot. He can't help laughing when Kairi is guided by Dopey to the floor. The dance is a random one, but it works. The fun they are having far outweighs looking silly. And though Dopey looks silly, he gets extra points for his enthusiasm. Roxas has never seen such a vigorous dancer.
Snow White and Kairi get passed around plenty, each man (and dwarf) demanding a dance with the lovely ladies. Roxas shouldn't be surprised when he sees Kairi adapt well to whatever partner she has at that moment. Isn't it a default characteristic, a Princess of Heart being able to dance?
But her ultimate test comes when she breaks away from the crowd and grabs Roxas's hand.
"Wha—oh no. No, no," Roxas protests. "Kairi, I have no idea how to dance."
Happy overhears his fear and announces it to the room. "Aw, come on, son. I'm sure you can do it! Just wiggle your arms and shuffle your feet." Happy's encouragement is accompanied by example.
"I don't—"
"Get yer feet movin'!" Grumpy shouts from his organ.
"You'll pick up on it quickly, I promise," Prince Ferdinand says.
Kairi takes Roxas's hands in her own. "Roxas, look at me."
Roxas does so, unable to deny her.
"Please try? For me?"
The big eyes again. The pleading, slightly pouty look. How can he possibly say no? (He can't.)
"...Ok."
Kairi brightens. When she starts moving Roxas tries following her, but she shakes him free of that. "No, just be yourself! Feel it."
"Feel it. Right." Roxas huffs. (Feel it. How is he supposed to do that?)
Then the dwarfs pick up the pace. They begin yodeling, adding extra bounce to the music. Roxas feels the song grab hold of him and urge him to move. He still follows Kairi, but soon enough he is moving on his own accord without guidance. Kairi dances beside him which eventually turns into them dancing together which turns out to be fun. They're moving faster and faster until the song hits its climax and everyone ends the song with a shout, nearly collapsing on the floor from the energy spent. Everyone applauds the instrumentalists. They would beg for another song but a moment of recovery is necessary.
Kairi leans forward and hugs Roxas. "You did great!"
Roxas isn't sure if his face feels warm from exertion or his companion's enthusiastic praise. "Ah, thanks."
Kairi pulls away and wags a finger at him. "If we ever get the chance, you better dance with me again."
"Yeah, sure."
"You promise?"
Roxas smiles. "I promise."
After that, things wind down. Tea is passed around. The conversation goes from animated to lulled. Each person feels the spell of the night settle over them. Roxas feels his eye droop a time or two, but he forces himself to take another sip of tea and pay attention.
When the group settles into near silence, Kairi stands and turns to Snow White. "Shall we?"
Snow White picks up the skirt of her dress and stands. "It would be my pleasure. Excuse us, please."
The two princesses step into the middle of the room. Roxas follows. Prince Ferdinand comes to stand beside him. The dwarfs settle among the two gentlemen, eager to watch. They've seen it before even. Roxas has not.
Kairi and Snow White hold up their hands and press their palms to each other's, mirroring one another. Kairi takes a deep breath and Snow White gives a little hum. Kairi whispers something to Snow White who nods and replies. They both smile and close their eyes.
It's amazing, almost unbelievable, watching the progression if this. Between the princesses' conjoined hands, a light floats between them. That light seems to spark something, making the middle of their chests—their hearts—begin glowing as well.
A small breeze rushes through the room. It startles no one, not even Roxas who has not experienced this before. He watches in awe as the princesses interlace their fingers which in turn causes the light to grow brighter. They smile. The light grows brighter still until they both close their eyes and turn their faces upwards and release their breath simultaneously.
Then the light fades. It's over. The two ladies embrace with those same bright smiles and a little laughter.
Roxas isn't sure exactly what he witnessed, but it was beautiful.
The night soon wraps up after this. The goodbyes are long and full of laughter. Everyone has to say their own personal goodbye. Roxas shakes the dwarfs' hands and bows to the royalty. Snow White accepts the bow and gives one in return. Yet immediately after it, she takes both of Roxas's hands between her own. She squeezes them lightly and gives him a smile so bright and so accepting that he almost feels like he should shy away from such a welcoming sight.
"It was wonderful meeting you," Snow White says in her sugary-sweet voice. "I look forward to seeing you again, brave knight and special friend of Kairi."
Roxas's face warms. "Heh. Thanks. You've all been great. I'll come back to visit."
"You promise?"
"Promise."
Then Kairi is beside him. She has finished giving each dwarf a kiss on the top of their bald heads. (Though Roxas saw Dopey try to steal one on the lips. Kairi shut that down subtly and politely.)
"I'll bring him back, don't worry," she says.
With that, the two visitors depart, waving goodbye as they enter the dark forest and trek towards their Gummi ship. A full moon guides their way.
Both are in high spirits. Roxas glances at Kairi. Some of the glow from earlier hasn't left, at least not in her expression. She's practically beaming with happiness. (It makes her look extra pretty.)
"So I take it ensuring the connection went well? I've never seen it before, but it looked like everything was good," Roxas says.
Kairi hums in agreement. "Everything went great. I forgot how good it feels to have the connection this strong. I don't often recognize it. When I do, it's reassuring. It...I didn't recognize the connection until after Sora gave me my heart back. Now that I know it's there, it's, I don't know, encouraging. Comforting. Does that make sense?"
Roxas smiles. "Yeah, it does." He knows how it feels to have a connection to another heart. He still sometimes feels like he does with Sora. They're one despite being separate beings, no matter how much Sora insists otherwise. They used his heart to help create Roxas's. (There's no escaping the truth.) "Do you still feel the other princesses?"
Kairi nods. "I do. Every other one is weaker now than the line with Snow White, but they will end up with the same strength after—"
Suddenly, Kairi summons her keyblade and stops in her tracks. She grabs Roxas's hand and halts him too. She stares just past his left shoulder at something beyond. Roxas summons his own keyblade and looks to where her eyes are glued. He sees—nothing. Then again, there could be anything hiding in the shadows the moon creates.
"What is it?" Roxas whispers
The young princess doesn't answer. Her grip on Roxas tightens. He expects her to rush into an attack at any second, but she remains rooted in place. Staring. Her face looks paler than before—or maybe that's the moonlight.
"Kairi," Roxas tries again.
Kairi blinks and seems to come back. She lets go of his hand, and her keyblade disappears.
"What is it?"
Kairi shakes her head. "I'm—I'm not sure. I don't think it was anything. I'm probably imagining it."
"You sure?" Roxas keeps his keyblade in hand, not convinced of the danger's passing. "I'll take a look around."
"No." Kairi takes hold of Roxas's hand again. Roxas looks at her and is startled to see the fear in her face. When she had the keyblade in hand, there was no fear. Uncertainty maybe, but not fear. Now there is fear. Stark fear blatantly written on her face.
"Please," she says. "Please don't leave. Stay with me."
Roxas's heart reaches out to her. The urge to reassure her is overwhelming. "I won't leave. I'm with you." His voice softens automatically. He hasn't had to use this tone often. (He forgot he could. But Kairi needing to hear it brings it out.)
Kairi's shaky sigh of relief worries Roxas. "Thank you," she says. "Can we get out of here? I'm...not fond of the dark. Not anymore anyway."
That Roxas can understand wholeheartedly. He keeps her hand in his and stays a step ahead of her. He keeps his keyblade out just in case as he guides her back to the Gummi ship. Once inside, before he can take a seat, Kairi wraps her arms around him.
She's hugging him.
Roxas stamps down his surprise and wraps his arms around her. "Kairi? You ok?"
Kairi pulls back. She smiles at him, that bright princess smile of hers that could make birds sing and butterflies appear. "I'm ok now. I got a little scared, that's all. Thank you for not leaving me."
Roxas feels the corners of his mouth turn upward. "It's what I'm here for. I'm here for you."
Is that a blush? Is Kairi blushing? Roxas curses the low lights of the night setting in the Gummi ship. He wants to know if he made Kairi blush. Sure she's smiling, but the way she ducks her head and her eyes shine...does that mean he made her blush?
Roxas's newfound heart flutters at the thought.
Snow White is my second favorite Disney princess. I hold her in high esteem. I hope I did her justice.
