Summary: Ami has lived her whole life confined within the walls of Hollow Bastion's grand castle. A place where she spent her days training as Maleficent's protege. The powerful fairy always kept her close, never allowing her to explore, always teaching her of her vast array of knowledge and power. But when the days were done and Ami had time alone, she dreamt of places other than the castle she was kept. She felt the day she could venture off on her own would never come, until one day...it did.


Dearly Beloved

High up in the sky, at the top most tip of a colossal and twisted castle, a young girl sat dangling her feet off of a small ledge. It was a hidden space barely large enough for two that she had found between the tower spires, a secret place. She smiled as she cupped her hands around her mouth and called out to the endless void stretched before her.

"Hello out there!" She turned her head and held a hand to her ear, listening for the faint echo of her booming voice as it bounced back from the rising falls below. From high above where she sat, she could see far beyond the castle she was kept, out into the vast world before her filled with mystery. "Who am I kidding?" She sighed as she ran a hand through her wavy, chestnut brown hair and leaned back to lay against the cold, concrete ledge. Her honey and golden-brown eyes scanned the sky as she looked to the clouds with envy. She watched as they floated on by, venturing farther than she'd ever dreamed of. "There's nothing out there." Her voice was full of defeat. She brought a hand to her chest and twirled her fingers absentmindedly around a dainty and golden heart-shaped locket circling her neck. She sat up and inspected the back, bringing it closer to her eyes to examine the small print, words that may as well have been in a different language, since the phrase that was engraved had always been foreign to her.

"May the light of the world guide you, Ami."

She slowly unclasped the locket and held it out in front of her, suspending it over the ledge and watching in a daze as it swayed with the breeze. She could let go, loosen her grasp and send it plummeting to the emptiness of the world beneath her. If she dropped it, it's vague message would no longer bother her, the secrets it held would remain just that. But she found that no matter how badly she wanted to let go, her grip remained tight around the locket. She had this item all her life, ten years had gone by and still she couldn't crack the code. The mystery it was shrouded in both intrigued and infuriated her.

She sighed as she put the locket back around her neck and under her white shirt as she zipped up her grey and black jacket, keeping it out of sight. Ami was tempted to try and unlock it again, but remembered all her previous attempts were in vain. The key shaped lock on the side was picked enough that it should have broken by now, but the locket remained clasped tight. She could have wasted the day away trying to fight it open, but after reading the same message over and over and getting nowhere, she decided maybe it was better to just keep it out sight and out of mind for now. She brought her hand over her chest again. "It's all I have left...from my past."

Ami leaned back and closed her eyes, focusing instead on the warmth of the shining sun beaming down on her and the rushing sounds of the falls. It was a rare, beautiful day in Hollow Bastion and Ami could have spent the entire morning daydreaming up here. This is where she spent most of her time, starting her day peaking out into the world she yearned to explore, imagining what might lie beyond the castle gates. Up here, she could be anything she wanted to be, dream any dream she crafted, spend as much time away from the watchful eyes of-

"Maleficent!" Ami gasped as she quickly stood and realized the sun had set well into mid-day. She was late for her training, and for her chores around the castle. Ami brushed off her jeans and slipped on her white and blue sneakers as she hurried through the makeshift door from her ledge and down towards the castle lifts below. How could she have lost track of the time?

"May the light of the world guide you, Ami."

The irony of the message made her chuckle as she rushed to the ground level of the castle, Hollow Bastion didn't seem to have much light in it, but it had been a place to call home for the last ten years. Ami reflected on her time here as she tip toed through the dark halls, keeping an eye out for any yellow eyes lurking in the shadows. She had explored every nook and cranny of this castle, knew where to spend all her time and also none of it. The dimly lit halls being on the top of her 'places to avoid spending too much time in' list. The Heartless, or creatures without hearts, never seemed to bother her, but she never wanted her back turned to them either. The Heartless seemed to be the only other inhabitants of Hollow Bastion, and with no one else around besides Maleficent, after a while Ami began to sort of like the company, from a distance. As a child, Maleficent said they were already here when the pair arrived. She felt a wave of relief as she began to see the end of the hall and felt drawn to the bright lights reflecting off the stained glass windows from above as she entered the lift station. Areas of the castle like these were very much at the top of her 'places to spend too much time in' list.

She had made it to the Great Crest in record time, and tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the largest of lifts to make its slow crawl over to her side of the castle. When it approached she hurried on and circled it, making sure its mystical barriers were up for her journey back across. Ami took a seat and crisscrossed her legs in the middle of the lift as she basked in the sun once again, watching as she passed by the Great Crest of the castle. Ami stared in awe like she did every time she made this journey. The castle truly was breathtaking, hauntingly in a way, but still breathtaking.

"This will be your new home." Maleficent's voice rang in Ami's ears. She was a small child when she was brought here by Maleficent. Too young to remember a life before this one, Ami relied on Maleficent to fill the gaps. "You were all alone when I found you, your world was being destroyed by a malevolent ruler and so I brought you here. I had been on a long search for you. You are destined for a grand purpose, and will be quite useful to me." From that moment on Ami had been indebted to Maleficent, she saved her life after all, and where would Ami go? She had no home to return to. So Ami made what she could as a home out of Hollow Bastion. Upon arrival, Maleficent revealed herself to be a powerful fairy, and already had plans in motion for this 'grand purpose' she spoke of. For she was in need of an apprentice, and Ami was the one she had chosen.

"Lucky me."

Ami hastily jumped from the lift to the High Tower and ran her hand along the gothic banister as she made her way downstairs towards the Castle Chapel. Another day of training and work ahead of her.

"I will train you to become my protege, you will learn my magic, my power. You will one day be ruler of this world, and many others, alongside me."

Ami paused at the top of the next staircase. "My purpose." She said aloud looking down at her hands before her eyes traveled back up towards her secret place, a place she wanted to turn and hurry back to. It was the only place where Ami could be free. She looked away from the spot and took a deep breath. Maleficent wasn't all that bad, and Ami truly wasn't ungrateful for being brought here by her. It was just that with all she had to offer, she never once offered Ami the freedom to choose. Ami sighed as she held her gaze longingly towards the sky. She dreamed of visiting far off places, of exploring the rest of this world. The sky went on for miles, it seemed, but Ami had only ever seen a small part of it. She wondered if Maleficent would ever give her the chance to explore.

"You are not ready yet, stay with me and train."

It was the same excuse every time. Maybe Maleficent did have a point, sure Ami still had trouble casting portals, but how much more training did she need really? She sure felt ready to experience the outside world.

She turned from the last staircase and approached the Castle Chapel. As Ami reached the end of the hall waiting for her on a pedestal was Maleficent. Her smile was wide as Ami walked forward and Maleficent held her staff high beckoning Ami forward as the green orb atop it shone brightly. She waved her black and purple robes as she sauntered towards the young girl. A sigh of relief washed over her as she had arrived just on time.

But confusion filled her face as she noticed Maleficent leading her down towards the Grand Hall instead of the hidden room where Ami trained.

"My dear child," Maleficent held out her arm for Ami as they walked. Ami gulped and gave her best bow before leading Maleficent down the rest of the hall.

"There will be no work today." She pointed her thin finger forward as Ami opened the castle gates, revealing the walkway to the lift that would take them down towards the falls. Maleficent's voice was eloquent yet stern. Ami had learned at a very young age to never speak out of turn, and to obey. "Today we have a visitor." Maleficent lifted her chin and tapped a finger to the orb on her staff. "They come from a far away world, their home it seems, was destroyed. Let us go and greet them."

Ami stared in disbelief, she didn't know what to think of his news. Her heart began to race and pound harshly against her chest. "A...visitor?" Ami thought as she stood frozen in place. As Ami's mind began to wander to all sorts of thoughts the stern voice of Maleficent quickly brought her back to the castle gates and from her anxious state. She quickly turned her head to see Maleficent start down the walkway and she hurried to catch up.

"Ami." Maleficent beckoned her.

"Coming." Ami whispered as she bowed her head again while Maleficent led the way.

As they approached the falls, Ami's thoughts were rushing in all different directions again as she'd imagined who this mysterious stranger could be. In all the time Ami had lived in the castle, they had never had a visitor before. It had always just been Ami, Maleficent and the Heartless. Every day here for the last ten years had been the same, but today felt different. A chill ran down her spine in both excitement and fear.

"Someone from another world?"

With each step came a new thought racing thought Ami's mind. Were they a powerful fairy like Maleficent? A villain that looked to take this castle for their own? Or...someone more like a knight in shining armor, come to take Ami from this place?

"No," Ami shook her head, "much to cliche." She had spent many nights reading in the castle library, piling book after book on the small table under the staircase there. Some were filled with pictures of far away worlds, others with instructions for potions and mysterious items, some in languages she didn't understand, but most were stories of fairytales. She liked those best as a child.

Life was okay for Ami in Hollow Bastion, but the nagging feeling of wanting something more grew and grew inside her heart each day. The older she became the sooner she realized that she wasn't going to be a part of any of the fairytales she read about, that she needed to be her own knight. But for the past few nights, she had found herself dreaming of faraway places more than usual. She felt her heart longing for somewhere new, somewhere far away from the castle. She'd often dream of a mysterious figure reaching out to her, but as their hands were just about to join...she'd wake up.

That's why she was both excited and fearful of this moment. Perhaps she could convince their visitor to take her away with them, maybe she would stow away in their vessel of transport...

"That could work." Ami thought before the sound of Maleficent tapping her staff to the ground caused her to pause. Ami stopped walking and felt a heavy guilt fill her heart as she looked up to her guardian. How could she leave Maleficent behind? After saving her life, raising her, and spending the last ten years training and taking care of her how could Ami just leave her alone in this empty castle?

"But she'll never let me leave." Ami looked away from Maleficent and back at the castle. "I could always come back, right?" As a war raged on in Ami's mind Maleficent brought a hand to her shoulder causing Ami to snap back to reality and be pulled from her thoughts and focus her attention on the rising falls.

"See there? Now, let us go and welcome him." Ami was so lost in her thoughts she hadn't realized they had approached the falls. She retreated from Maleficent's grasp and stood slightly behind her as her eyes travelled down to the bottom of the rising water, focusing on a figure kneeling below. Ami's brow furrowed as she glanced up at Maleficent and then back down to the figure.

As Maleficent and Ami got closer, the figure came into light, revealing a young boy not much older than Ami herself.

"But..he's-he's just a teenager like me!" Confused, Ami inspected the young boy before her. His silver hair slightly reached above his shoulders and his clothing was something she had never seen before. He wore only a sleeveless yellow shirt and blue pants that weren't nearly as blue as his eyes. Ami cocked her head to the side and wondered where in the worlds he had come from. She noticed that the boy had no ship by him, that it was just him and him alone.

Maleficent raised her arms and held her staff high, her voice echoed throughout the falls.

"Welcome to Hollow Bastion." Her grin reached from ear to ear, she lowered her staff and aimed it back at the castle, motioning for him to follow the pair back to the castle gates and into the Grand Hall. Ami tried to look ahead, holding Maleficent's arm and she lead her back to the castle, but she couldn't help to keep glancing slightly behind to get a better look at this stranger.

The boy seemed both in awe of Hollow Bastion and distracted, he looked as if he couldn't believe he were here. Ami studied his expression and wondered to herself. "How did he get here? Where could he have come from?"

As they entered the Grand Hall, Maleficent took her arm from Ami and had her pause next to her before the fountain. Ami tensed up as the boy stopped in front of them, now facing the pair and curiously looked around the room, glancing briefly at Ami and then focusing his attention to Maleficent.

"My boy, what is your name?" Maleficent's questions never really sounded like questions, more like demands. Her voice always somber and serious. The boy, however, when he spoke revealed a voice that was calm, cool and collected.

"I'm Riku."

Ami remained silent as Maleficent pursed her lips and brought a hand to her chest.

'I am Maleficent, ruler of this world." She brought her hand down and placed it on Ami's shoulder. Her long and thin fingers holding her tightly as Ami's eyes traveled down to her feet. "This is Ami, she resides here in this castle with me. It seems you traveled from someplace quite far away." Ami glanced up making eye contact with Riku, but she quickly turned her attention back to the ground, only looking back up after she felt his attention leave her and focus back to Maleficent.

"So this really is a different world..." Ami heard him whisper to himself as he brought his hand to his chin and paused for a moment, before a slight look of worry flashed across his cool demeanor and his eyes quickly scanned the room. "Did anyone else arrive with me? Or maybe before me? My friends..." He looked back at the door behind him that remained closed. "Sora...Kairi..." Riku whispered as he crossed his arms and lowered his head.

"No dear. It was only you who arrived here." Ami watched as Riku's arms uncrossed and his shoulders slumped, he clenched his fists as a small yet subtle look of defeat filled his face.

"Ah, but poor child, do not despair. You are welcome to rest here. In the meantime perhaps I can think of a way to aid you to find these friends." Maleficent cooed.

Riku raised an eyebrow at her and Ami watched as she figured inside Riku's mind he was weighing the pros and cons of accepting her offer. Selfishly, Ami was hoping he would accept, and she could use this boy as a way out of the castle. Suddenly, and to the surprise of herself, Maleficent and Riku, Ami's voice bubbled up from her throat and took the pair from their conversation.

"Maybe...I could be of use to you in your search?" Ami's voice was barely above a whisper as she kept her gaze at the floor. She clicked her heels together and focused afraid to look in her directly in the eyes as she felt Maleficent's glare pierce right through her. "This is the only stranger to visit here, what if this chance doesn't ever come again?" Ami cleared her throat and spoke louder. "I-I have been training under Maleficent for a very long time, I could go with you and be an extra set of eyes..." Ami held her arm tightly as her eyes finally glanced up and over towards Riku. To Ami's surprise, Maleficent flashed a wicked smile and brought her hand to Ami's shoulder again.

"Ami...what a...wondrous idea." Ami held her breath, was she hearing things? Had Maleficent really agreed? It couldn't be that easy.

Maleficent let go of Ami's shoulder and tapped her staff against the ground as she approached Riku.

"You may be accompanied by my protege Ami, to aid you in your search." Maleficent placed a hand on the orb atop her staff as it emitted a green glow, the murky light traveled and passed through Riku as he coughed and waved his hand. "Ami holds a power like mine and has worked hard in her training. She could be of great use to you. And to further help you I may also bestow this power to you as a gift." Ami found herself smiling at the high praise from Maleficent, excitement filled her at the thought of finally seeing the outside worlds. "I only ask in return you aid her in her future tasks of documenting the things you see as you travel, a task I have been preparing her for. A fair enough trade."

"Power? To find my friends?" Riku scoffed and shook his head. "Thanks but I don't think I'll need any help finding them." But Riku's confidence didn't sound as strong as earlier as he looked around realizing he had no way off of this world and no way to possibly reach other ones to search for these friends he had mentioned.

Maleficent grinned as she lowered her staff towards Riku and nodded slightly while the staff's orb began to glow. "Ah, I see. But what you do not see is what you could become with this gift, I would think on it before such a swift refusal." Ami watched as Riku's interest was peaked, he leaned in closer to the orb and Ami wondered what it was that it had shown him.

"A gift, huh?" Riku asked smugly as he backed away from the orb. Whatever he had seen had quickly changed his mind.

"I told you, I hold a great power." She held her staff tightly and lifted it towards Riku. "This power can be used to find the friends you seek, the ones you called out to from the rising falls, and more."

Ami watched as Maleficent rubbed the orb again, a fog started to fill the air again as figures began to appear in the middle of the room, at first they were hard to make out. But as Riku stepped closer, examining them, the images became clear.

"Sora! Kairi!" He yelled. Ami watched as he reached out his hand for them, but lowered it in defeat when he realized it was only just an illusion. Riku held a longing gaze, to be with his friends. He looked past the fog at Maleficent, while she stared at him with only a look of satisfaction in her eyes as he realized the outcome of the agreement.

"These are the friends you seek, are they not?" Maleficent already had the answer she was looking for. "Join with us, and we will help you find them."

She pursed her lips. "Now I may bestow upon you unlimited potential, Riku. But I need you first to prove yourself useful to me. If you cannot prove your worth...I will leave you to the Heartless." Ami held her breath, Maleficent's cruelty baring its wicked teeth.

Maleficent walked towards Riku, the clack of her heels the only noise in the room, becoming louder with each step she took. While she was walking she waved her hand as a small pool of darkness appeared in front of Riku, and out from its depth a small Shadow appeared. It's beady, yellow eyes scanning the room. Riku eyes locked onto it.

"But should you prove yourself useful, the Heartless will be under your control, you will be able to travel to any world you choose, and find your dear friends."

"Remember to stay in the light, Ami." A strange whisper filled Ami's ears. She turned her head slightly.

"Huh?" But there was no one in this room other than Maleficent, Riku and herself.

"May the light of the world guide you, Ami."

Maleficent turned back towards Ami. "That goes for you as well, Ami." Maleficent smiled as she stood in front of her. Ami looked up to her and simply nodded, bowing her head and standing tall as she walked back to Maleficent's side.

"So what do I have to do?" Riku asked eager to begin.

The wicked grin was back on Maleficent's face, she was solely focused on Riku as Ami retreated more behind her.

"Let us not rush. You two will have to prove your strength and that you make an adequate team. For now, Ami will show you to your quarters to rest. I will prepare the trials and call for you when it is time." Maleficent disappeared into the darkness, leaving Riku and Ami standing in the Grand Hall all left with their thoughts, and surrounded by the darkness left in her wake.


Thanks for reading!