AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Hey there! How are you?
Now that I'm back to work full-time, it's looking like updates are going to be once a week at most. So I want to ask: If you had a preferred day of the week for me to update, which day would it be? What's your favourite day of the week to catch up on stories?
I like trying to save all my notifications up for a Friday night so I can read over the weekend, but sometimes if I've got a quiet night in I'll catch up on a chapter or two after work.
Drop me a DM or hit the review button and let me know which day you prefer.
Thanks as always to everyone who has read, reviewed or favourited. I hope you enjoy today's chapter!
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT | ENCHANTED DOMINION
The royal castle in the Enchanted Dominion was breath-taking; so picture-perfect it was as though it had been lifted straight from one of Kairi's childhood storybooks. Towering turrets of silver-grey brick were capped with meticulous rows of purple slate, each bearing a colourful pennant that danced in the breeze. The outer wall was completely impenetrable, breaking only for a tall, narrow arch at the end of a long stone bridge. Kairi tried not to gawk at the gleaming portcullis that hung overhead as they crossed the narrow drawbridge, all too aware of the guards on either side watching them closely as they passed in to the bustling courtyard.
The air inside the castle grounds was electric. Armoured guards stood to attention at every entrance and doorway while people hurried from one part of the forecourt to another, clutching colourful tapestries or overloaded baskets, while the air was filled with an excitable chatter. Kairi wondered if it was normal here; Aurora had seemed so poised and subdued, but she supposed that didn't mean her world had to be.
Eventually they found the entrance to the castle. The towering doors stood open wide, with guards stationed on either side both inside and out, and the great audience chamber beyond was just as busy. Attendants and stewards were hurrying this way and that, some climbing teetering ladders to hang extravagant banners from the rafters whilst others carried nails and hammers and bundles of brightly-coloured cloth. They barely seemed to notice Kairi and the others as they stood awkwardly near the doorway, regarding them with little more than a passing glance as they skirted around the group.
Suddenly Kairi was painfully aware that none of them had visited this world before. Aqua, Terra and Ven had been able to give some vague pointers on the world and how to find the royal castle, but beyond that they had no real clue as to where they might find Aurora or the Good Fairies. Kairi hadn't thought to ask because she hadn't expected the castle to be so big or so busy (Terra had certainly given the impression that it would be much quieter), and if the castle was half as big or as busy inside as it was outside then it could easily take them a day or more to find the princess. Naminé gasped suddenly, and tugged on Kairi's arm with one hand while the other pointed to three glistening balls of light that had floated in to the great hall through a window; small orbs of red, green and blue. They swam through the air like fireflies before coming to hover before the group where they released a burst in to colourful showers of glittering sparkles. Flora, Fauna and Merriweather appeared then, each greeting the group with a warm smile.
"Here you are, dears," Flora said brightly. "We were wondering when you would be arriving."
"You were expecting us?" Kairi asked. Fauna nodded.
"Yen Sid told us that you would be visiting," she said. "We're so glad you're here."
"And not a moment too soon," Merriweather agreed with a scowl. "We need you to take a look at-"
"Hush, now, Merriweather," Flora said with a strained smile. "Why don't we make our guests more comfortable first? I'm sure Aurora will be happy to see you all, and Phillip too. And you can meet little Briar Rose."
"Who's that?" Donald asked. Flora smiled.
"You'll see."
The Fairies led them up a great stone staircase towards the upper floors of the castle. The hallways were deserted here, and Kairi couldn't help but notice the strained tension that grew in the silence. She certainly didn't miss the uncertain glances the Fairies exchanged every now and then, or how they'd glance anxiously out of every window as they passed. Eventually they came to a halt before an ornately-carved wooden door where Flora knocked three times.
"Aurora, dear, it's only us," Flora greeted warmly. "May we come in?"
There came the sound of heavy footsteps and then the door was opening, revealing a tall, handsome man with gleaming auburn hair and a charming smile which quickly melted to confusion as he took in Kairi and the others.
"Oh – hello!" he greeted warmly, though his eyes were keen as he studied them. "Who… Forgive me, we weren't expecting guests."
"Philip, dear, these are the friends we told you about," Flora began before introducing each of them. The tension seemed to ease from his shoulders then and his smile brightened.
"Of course! Please, come in." He stood back, his cape fluttering behind him as he swept an arm to invite them in. "Aurora is on the balcony."
"She shouldn't be," Merriweather muttered. Philip laughed.
"I'll let you tell her that," he chuckled. Merriweather folded her arms and wiggled her shoulders and scowled deeply.
"Don't worry, I will," she huffed.
Flora led them through a grand bedchamber decorated with flowers and swathes of heavy fabric before they emerged on to a large balcony. A thick rose bush had wormed its way in to the stone, climbing the wall and tumbling over the parapet. At the centre of the balcony was a small table and two delicate chairs where Aurora sat with her back to the door, draped in a glistening purple gown. A cluster of birds were crowded on the parapet, and they began to chirp and rustle their feathers as Kairi and the others approached. The largest, an elderly owl, eyed them warily before letting out a threatening hoot.
"Quiet, you," Merriweather grumbled, bustling to the front of the group and quickly skirting around the table to frown at Aurora. "You shouldn't be outside." Aurora laughed lightly.
"Rose wanted to see the sunset," she said. Merriweather folded her arms with a huff.
"Rose is asleep."
"At long last. She was most upset when you left." Merriweather pursed her lips and scrunched up her nose, but she was silenced by Flora who cleared her throat.
"Aurora, dear, you have guests." Aurora turned slightly in her chair, glancing over her shoulder. She caught sight of Kairi and her face lit up with a beautiful smile.
"Kairi! Oh how lovely to see you again!" She rose slowly from her chair, her arms clutching a heavy bundle of cloth against her chest as she slowly made her way towards them. "And Donald and Goofy. And you must be Naminé." Naminé stiffened in surprise and Kairi didn't miss the awkward tension in her smile.
"Y-yes, I am," she said.
"It's lovely to meet you," Aurora greeted.
"Aurora, you have a daughter?" Goofy asked, clasping his hands together. Aurora nodded, a tired smile falling over her rose-red lips.
"This is Briar Rose," she said. She stepped closer and pulled back a swathe of pink silk to reveal a tiny baby. Her face was angelic, with plump rosy cheeks and a thick golden curl right in the middle of her forehead. Kairi swallowed past the lump in her throat.
"She's beautiful," she breathed.
"Of course she is," Philip said softly from where he was leaning against the balcony door. "She takes after her mother. Although I do wish she would sleep like you sometimes." Aurora's smile tightened.
"She knows that something is wrong," she said softly, stroking her daughter's cheek with the back of her finger. Kairi frowned.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Here, dear," said Fauna. She waved her wand and a cup of steaming tea appeared in a shower of sparkles followed by a plate of biscuits which she handed to Kairi. "You should sit down. We all should."
"Inside," Merriweather harrumphed sternly.
"I agree," Flora said solemnly. Her red skirt flashed like fire as she quickly turned to lead them back inside. There was a small table with two plush armchairs near the balcony door; Aurora took one with Briar Rose still in her arms, and Kairi was ushered in to the other by Flora and Fauna. There was something about the way that Fauna patted the back of her hand that her stomach twist.
"Well?" Donald asked. "What's wrong?" Aurora glanced to Philip who quickly stood behind her and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. Fauna and Merriweather looked to Flora who fluttered her wings anxiously.
"We think that Maleficent is back."
Kairi was grateful for the tea then; she took a deep sip and tried to keep her hand from trembling. She could feel Naminé's eyes staring in to the side of her head but she kept her gaze on the floor as Donald and Goofy erupted.
"Maleficent?!" Donald exploded.
"What's she up to?"
"We don't know," Aurora sighed. "We don't even know for certain that it is her, only…"
"A barrier of thorns appeared near her castle three weeks ago," said Philip. "The night Briar Rose was born." Kairi paused, glancing towards Naminé. Three weeks… What had they been doing three weeks ago?
"Radiant Garden," Naminé murmured, following her train of thought. "We were at the manor with Vanitas when Radiant Garden was attacked." Kairi's stomach twisted; she remembered it well. Hordes of heartless and a giant shadow beast by her grandmother's cottage. Luxu had been there, but nobody had mentioned seeing Maleficent.
"Nobody's been able to make it through the thorns to see if it really is her," Philip continued, "but who else could it be?"
"Philip's father took an army to try and cut it down, but it was no use," said Aurora. "They couldn't make a path large enough for them all to pass through, and nobody here can stand against her magic on their own."
"The only person to come away from an encounter with Maleficent is Philip," said Fauna.
"And I had Aqua and you three at my side," he said with a grimace. "I don't know if I could face her again."
"Can you fly over the thorns to see if she's inside?" Naminé asked the Fairies. Flora shook her head solemnly.
"We can't risk being away from Aurora for too long," she said. "And besides, if we saw her then she might see us, and we are powerless against her. Our magic can only be used to bring good and joy, it cannot be used to hex or to harm."
"Hexing her would bring me joy," Merriweather grumbled.
"We were hoping you might be able to take a look," Flora continued (with a stern sideways glance to Merriweather who folded her arms and sat heavily on the corner of the bed). "I know it's a lot to ask of you, Kairi, but-"
"Of course we'll do it!" Donald cheered. "If it's Maleficent, we'll show her!"
"Uh, I dunno, Donald," Goofy said apprehensively. He pressed his fingers together, and Kairi didn't miss the way he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Maybe we should let Kairi decide this one." Donald looked like he might object before understanding seemed to dawn on him and he sheepishly turned towards Kairi with an apologetic smile.
"We're sorry to ask it of you," Aurora said softly, reaching across the table to take Kairi's free hand in her own and squeeze it softly, "but Flora tells me that you're more than a match for her now." Kairi swallowed thickly. She supposed that could be true – she was certainly stronger now than Sora had been when he had first defeated her – but who knew what sort of powers Luxu had given Maleficent? She glanced to Donald and Goofy who were both smiling at her encouragingly and she clenched her teeth and set down her now empty teacup.
"It's all right. We'll do it," she said, surprised by how firm her voice sounded. Aurora's face melted in to a teary smile while Philip nodded solemnly.
"We will owe you a great debt, even if you find nothing at all," he said.
"We shall pay it in advance," Flora said decisively. "Naminé, dear, why don't you stay in here with Aurora? We'd like a word with Kairi before she goes on her way. Philip, you take Briar Rose. That's it. Kairi, come this way." Fauna reached for her hand and pulled her gently from the chair before following Flora across the bedroom and through a small doorway. Kairi caught Naminé's eye as Merriweather ushered her in to the room, and Naminé gave her a reassuring smile as she lowered herself in to the now empty chair.
The Fairies had taken her in to what Kairi could only assume was Aurora's dressing room. The left wall was lined with flowing gowns and cloaks whilst the right bore a rail filled with elaborately-embroidered doublets and pressed breeches. At the far end of the room, between two stained glass windows, stood a tall, well-polished mirror. The three Fairies stood before it, each facing Kairi with sad and somber expressions.
"Kairi, dear," Flora began, "we can't begin to tell you how sorry we are that we weren't able to better prepare you for the fight against Xehanort."
"Our magic can only be used for blessings and enchantments for health and happiness," said Fauna.
"We put all our best magic in to your dress," Merriweather added. Kairi shifted her weight uncomfortably.
"It's fine," she mumbled. "I'm sorry the dress was ruined." Flora waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh fiddle faddle, there's no need to apologise for that," she said. "It wasn't your fault in the slightest. Now we've been doing some thinking, and we would like to give you a new dress."
"Another one?" Kairi asked. "I still have the last dress you made. I'm sorry I didn't wear it today-"
"You can never have too many dresses," Flora said with a proud smile as if that was all there was to say on the matter. Perhaps it was. She withdrew her wand with a flourish and the others followed suit. "On the count of three, dears. One… Two… Three."
Three sparkling jets of light raced towards Kairi, hitting her square in the chest. A pleasant warmth began to spread over her body as her current clothes melted away. The magic wrapped itself around her stomach and draped itself over her shoulders, dancing around her legs and inbetween her toes. When at last it faded Flora looked horrified, Fauna was trying to stifle a giggle behind her hands, and Merriweather looked immensely proud of herself.
"Merriweather!" Flora scolded. Merriweather shrugged and stuck her nose in the air.
"She looks good in blue." Kairi glanced down; whilst she couldn't see the outfit in its entirety, it was impossible to miss the fact that everything was bright blue. She tugged at the scalloped hem of her skirt and bit her lip.
"It's beautiful," she said, not quite able to meet their eyes, "but-"
"Don't worry, dear, it wasn't supposed to be this colour." Flora shot Merriweather a stern look and Merriweather frowned and grumbled under her breath. "Let's do it properly this time." After another flourish of magic the Fairies seemed satisfied (well, all except Merriweather whose eyes were pinched and whose lips were pressed in to an angry line). They stood back and gestured for Kairi to step closer to the mirror.
The dress was pale pink, with a gleaming silver zip that ran all the way up the front, open a little at the top to reveal a flash of white against her chest. The scalloped hem fell mid-way down her thigh, revealing black leggings which stopped just above her knees. Two dark belts crossed over her stomach, each bearing a black pouch which sat just behind her hip and was secured to the dress by two buckles on each side that would keep the pouches in place even when she ran. Below the buckles were pockets, and Kairi slipped her hands inside to confirm her suspicions that they were far bigger on the inside than they looked from the outside.
The Fairies had also given her a cropped, short-sleeved jacket; black with a panel of dark grey running down the tops of her arms and a burst of pink fabric at the sleeves and the hems and the outside of her hood. The top of the collar was pinned back with gleaming silver studs to reveal the grey and pink plaid lining. Her hands were covered in protective gauntlets, with flashes of pink at the cuffs and wrapping around her wrists. For her feet, the Fairies had given her sturdy black boots with thick, rubber soles that hugged her calves.
The outfit didn't just look good, though – it felt good. Maybe it was because the jacket and gauntlets reminded her so much of Sora, or perhaps it was the buckles on her hips like Riku or the straps across her midriff that made her think of Aqua. Maybe it was the little purple armband peeking out from beneath the sleeve of her left arm or the thin black choker around her neck that reminded her of a younger Kairi who swore to never be parted from her friends again. Most likely it was the blessings and enchantments woven in to the fabric, sending magic and strength coursing through her veins. Whatever it was, as Kairi looked in the mirror she found that she felt – for the first time in a very long time – as though she could take on just about anything.
Even Maleficent.
By the time they returned to the bedroom Naminé was already at work; she and Aurora were sitting across the table with their hands clasped and their eyes closed. Philip was dozing on the bed with Briar Rose sound asleep on his chest while Donald and Goofy had taken the seats on the balcony. She caught their eye and they quietly tip-toed in to the hallway where the Fairies took a moment to refresh the enchantments on their weapons and clothes before sending them on their way with a supply of elixirs and a map to the Forbidden Mountain.
"And take this," Flora added. She waved her wand, causing a flurry of sparks that swarmed together to form a beautiful glass-like orb with a galaxy of swirling stars inside. "We cannot help you fight, but if you need help and you can't call for it yourself, squeeze this orb and we'll ask Yen Sid to summon the others." Kairi nodded and thanked her as she slipped the orb in to her pocket.
They passed back out of the castle and followed the map through the forest. The sun was setting as they emerged on the other side, and the sky had turned an ominous crimson. A wall of black thorns awaited them – jagged, twisted trunks as thick as trees with spikes as long as Kairi's forearm. Kairi could feel lingering traces of dark magic, but it was faint and fading. She summoned her keyblade and took a deep breath before swinging it high overhead, sending a pulse of magic down the shaft that flared as the blade collided with the nearest vine. The bramble shuddered and the nearest vines quickly retreated back in to the earth.
"Why don't you try with just magic?" Goofy suggested. Donald puffed up his chest and quickly made his way to the front of the group.
"Allow me!" He lowered his staff and released several firaza spells towards a thick bundle of brambles. They twisted and writhed as they disappeared back in to the ground, leaving behind an opening that was large enough to walk through.
Cutting through the forest of thorns was tedious and tiring. Magic was most effective, and Donald kept up a near-constant stream of fire, while Kairi found it easier (and far more satisfying) to hit them instead. Goofy brought up the rear, keeping them supplied with ethers and elixers when their magic ran low and watching their backs. As they emerged from the thorns at the foot of the mountain, Kairi stopped and glanced back, studying the shadows carefully.
"Kairi?" Donald asked. "What's wrong?"
"There were no heartless," she said. She turned back, eyeing the mountain warily. "If it's Maleficent, then why isn't she using the heartless?"
"But if it's not Maleficent, then who created the thorns?" Goofy asked.
"Maybe Maleficent made them, but someone else is inside the castle," Donald suggested. Kairi swallowed thickly. What if Luxu and the others had tired of the barren wasteland of the Keyblade Graveyard, and Maleficent had offered them her castle instead? Kairi tried not to shiver at the thought of the Apprentices waiting for them atop the mountain. She wrapped her fingers around the orb; it took everything she had not to squeeze.
They began their ascent, slowly climbing a narrow path that cut through looming, rocky crags. Donald and Goofy were doing their best to keep up a steady stream of pleasant conversation, but Kairi found she couldn't follow it for long. Every time she opened her mouth she thought her heart might leap out of her throat, and so she added the occasional non-committal hum here and there and did her best to ignore the worried glances Donald and Goofy exchanged behind her back.
Eventually the path began to level out and they finally emerged on to a large empty shelf of rock. A jagged stone archway marked the beginning of a narrow path that twisted its way towards a towering castle built on an impossibly tall rocky stack. The sun had well and truly set now, and the castle was little more than a green-black silhouette against the early evening sky. A single window flickered with a dim green flame; someone was here.
Kairi kept her eyes on the castle as they approached, too scared to look down in to the black abyss below. A lingering stench of darkness filled the air, familiar in a way that made Kairi's stomach churn, but it was faint. Stale. Stronger by the thorns than it was here, and Kairi didn't know if that made the situation better or worse. The drawbridge was lowered, planks of rotted wood bound together with heavy chains and rusted nails. They passed through three separate portcullises, all of which stood open enough for them to pass through with ease. Whoever was staying in the castle must have been confident enough in the strength of Maleficent's thorns. Or (a worrying but far more likely scenario) they were more than confident that they could deal with anyone able to make it to the castle.
Inside, the castle appeared deserted. The crumbling walls of the forecourt stood dark and unmanned, and the dilapidated corridors were silent aside from the occasional drip of water or the whistling of the wind. Kairi shivered, tugging her hood close around her neck to keep the chill from sneaking down her back. Eventually they found themselves in a large audience chamber. The room was an enormous circle, with a large sunken pit at its centre where a small pile of wood had been left burning; the dying emerald flames made sickly shadows dance across the mottled walls. The pillars stood tall, despite missing large chunks of stone, and several bore tattered pennants of purple and green fabric that were so threadbare that Kairi couldn't have made out the sigil even in broad daylight. Opposite the entrance, stone steps led to a raised platform where an ancient throne had been set in an elaborate stone alcove. There seemed to be something there; the light from the fire danced over a dark mound that had been draped over the seat-
CAW! CAW!
Kairi stifled a scream and clutched at her keyblade. Donald and Goofy quickly fell in behind her, and their presence was the only thing that kept her from fleeing. Diablo swooped overhead, flying close enough that his claws caught Kairi's hair. She couldn't stop the whimper that rose in her throat, but she was able to throw a small bubble shield around them to stop Diablo from attacking them again. He crashed against it, and Kairi winced as she heard his claws skitter over the shield's surface. It sounded just like when he used to walk along the lid of her coffin.
"Come to finish me off, have you?"
The shadow on the throne moved; folds of black fabric fell to the floor as Maleficent raised her head. Dark eyes settled on Kairi and Maleficent grimaced. "Of all the Guardians of Light, I should have known that he would send you to finish the job."
"What are you talking about?" Donald demanded, brandishing his staff. Maleficent eyed it hungrily. Diablo dove for it, crashing in to the shield and letting out an irritated caw before he resumed circling overhead like a vulture.
"Strange… Perhaps he did not send you after all. It does not matter. An end is an end, after all, no matter how it comes." Kairi's racing heart slowed, and the pounding in her ears began to ebb as she studied the witch. Her skin was more green than grey, and there was a heaviness to her shoulders as she sat slumped in the throne that Kairi had never seen before. She swallowed thickly and tightened her grip on her keyblade.
"You think Luxu sent us." It wasn't a question. She shivered as she felt Maleficent's eyes upon her again.
"And why shouldn't I?" she asked. "I'm sure it's been a great disappointment to him that I have survived this long. It was only a matter of time before he came to see me off for good." She lifted a trembling hand and Diablo stopped his circling and fluttered to her side, landing on her finger and allowing her to place him on the arm of the throne. She stroked his feathers absently. "Well, go on then. Have your vengeance." Her voice was calm and resigned in a hollow sort of way, and Kairi found herself feeling – of all things – sorry for her.
"What happened?" The words left her mouth before she could stop them, and she could feel Donald and Goofy's surprise. She didn't honestly expect an answer, and so she was caught off-guard when Maleficent sat back heavily in the throne and turned her eyes towards the fire.
"He promised me everything I wanted," she said softly. "Power over this world and many more… total control over the Realm of Darkness… all I had to do was show him how to control the heartless. A fair exchange, I thought, until he took more than we agreed."
"What did he take?" Goofy asked. Her eyes narrowed.
"Everything." She waved her free hand and Kairi found herself staring down at the fire; Maleficent's staff lay abandoned between the pyre and the platform. The green orb at the top had been shattered, leaving behind a sputtering spark of green magic. "I had just enough strength to return home and protect myself, but my powers have not returned since. No potion, spell or ritual can bring them back. Once upon a time they called me the Mistress of All Evil, and now look at me... barely able to keep a fire in my own hearth..." She turned her attention back to Kairi, and for a moment everything around them ceased to exist. Kairi's breath caught in her throat and an icy chill settled around her heart. "End it, princess. Finish me and take the justice rightfully owed to you."
Kairi was aware of her feet moving. She heard Donald and Goofy call out her name as she circled the great pit and climbed the stone stairs. She saw Maleficent's exhausted grin as she came to a halt before the throne, keyblade in hand.
"No."
The smile fell. Diablo let out an angry caw and he barrelled towards her. Kairi deflected him with a glancing blow of magic that sent him veering in to a nearby wall. He slumped heavily to the ground and Maleficent scowled.
"You fool!" she spat. "You have the chance to destroy me and you would throw it away? You stupid girl-"
"You saved Sora's life once," Kairi answered. She drew herself up tall, watching as Maleficent froze with her mouth half-open, and she realised that she was no longer afraid. She banished her keyblade and let her hands hang loose by her sides. "If it weren't for you, I could have lost him a long time ago." Maleficent glared at her.
"I didn't do it for his sake-"
"I don't care," Kairi retorted. "You saved his life, and now I'm repaying that debt. But I'm warning you, Maleficent, if our paths cross again I will not show you the same kindness."
"Kindness?" she hissed. "You would leave me here, alone and defenceless, and call it kindness? I thought you Princesses of Heart were supposed to be good-"
"It isn't my fault that you're in this mess," Kairi countered. "That's your doing. You'll have to live with the consequences of your actions, just like everyone else, but now you have a second chance. That's the kindness I'm giving you." Kairi turned on her heel and made her way back down the stairs, forcing herself not to run. Maleficent chuckled mirthlessly in the back of her throat; the sound sent shivers up Kairi's spine.
"You certainly have come a long way, haven't you?" she spat. "You were nothing but a scared little girl when I first found you, and now look at you. Threatening a dead woman." Kairi didn't turn; she kept her steps measured as she circled the pit, her eyes glued to Donald and Goofy who were watching Maleficent closely. "There is no life for me here. There are no second chances for me. You may not have killed me now, but you have doomed me to death nonetheless."
"You doomed yourself!" Donald spat. Kairi tried not to grimace; she couldn't imagine a life of solitude living alone in a crumbling castle. But, then again, she couldn't imagine doing half of the things Maleficent had done. Still, as she re-joined Donald and Goofy she found herself turning back to the witch. Maleficent was slumped on the edge of the throne, her head bowed as she leant heavily against the armrest. Diablo nipped affectionately at her bony fingers, and Kairi didn't miss how they shivered. She lifted her keyblade and poured all of her magic in to the fire. It flared in response, releasing a burst of light and warmth that made Kairi's hair dance as the flames turned orange. Maleficent looked up at her again, a confused frown playing across her hollow face.
"What you choose to do now is up to you," Kairi said. "I hope you make the right choice." She didn't know if there even was a right choice for someone as evil as Maleficent, but it seemed like the right thing to say. She glanced to Donald and Goofy who were both watching her carefully, and she offered them a small smile before leading them out of the throne room.
"Beware the box."
Kairi stopped mid-step and turned back, glancing at Maleficent over her shoulder. Maleficent was watching her closely and Kairi tried not to shudder.
"Why?" she asked. "What's inside it?"
"I would tell you if I knew, but I do not. The only person who seems to know the true contents of the box is Luxu, and he did not divulge that information to me nor to the Foretellers."
"The Foretellers?" Goofy asked. Maleficent's gaze never left Kairi.
"You know them as the Apprentices – a false name to help them convince you of their false tales. Whatever lies within the box, it is at the heart of their Master's plans."
"Who is their Master?" Kairi asked.
"They would not say," she answered. Then, after a thoughtful pause, she added: "I wonder that they do not even know themselves. They are simply following orders, though some, I think, are beginning to question the nature of the missions they have been given." Kairi thought of Axel and his conversation with Invi. Perhaps she had been genuine after all.
"What about Sora?" Kairi asked. "What does he have to do with all of this?"
"I could not say," Maleficent answered. Something unreadable passed over her face and she sat a little taller in her chair, fingers reaching out to smooth Diablo's feathers. "Be wary of him. I sense nothing of the boy within the heartless. I fear it is too late, and that his heart has already been lost to darkness." Kairi's blood ran cold and she clenched her hands in to fists to keep from blasting the witch with magic.
"You're wrong," she said. "I'll bring him back. I know I will." Maleficent's lips twitched in to a smirk and her eyes flashed.
"Believe what you will," she sneered, "but even now I can sense there is more of Sora's heart in your body than in his. You would be a fool on a fool's errand, but you're familiar with those, I suppose."
"Hey!" Donald huffed. "What's that supposed to mean?" She snapped her gaze towards him and seemed irritated when he merely glared right back at her.
"Begone," she hissed. "Let me live out my last days in peace. Tell Aurora she will not hear from me so long as I do not hear from her. I'm sure I will not be missed at the presentation of the princess." She curled back in to the throne, disappearing behind her robes. Diablo cawed and launched himself in to the air before diving quickly towards them. Kairi threw up a shield just in time, and as Diablo crashed against it they hurried from the room and heaved the rotten door closed behind them. Kairi took off at a run then, and she didn't stop until they had cleared the forest of thorns where she tripped over her heavy feet and tumbled in to the grass.
"Kairi!" Goofy cried. He dropped heavily to his knees next to her and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"She's wrong," she said. "We're not too late to save Sora. We're not." Goofy wrapped his arms around her and brought her in to his chest, but she didn't cry. She heard Donald walking closer and felt him stroking her back gently.
"He's going to be just fine," he said. "When we get back to the castle, we can ask Naminé what she thinks. She can tell us what she feels when she connects people to Sora's heart." Kairi tasted bile in her throat. She already knew what Naminé felt – a connection that faded in to the darkness. She shook her head and pulled away from Goofy, quickly rising to her feet.
"I'll call Naminé and ask her to meet us outside the castle," she said firmly, pulling her phone from her pocket. "I'll tell her about Maleficent. Donald, you should fly the ship while Goofy tells Mickey and the others. It looks like everything Invi said is true."
Soooo someone (me) decided mid-way through this chapter that Kairi needed another new outfit. Then someone (you'll never guess who) decided that instead of just sketching it on the back of a post-it note like I normally do, I should try and do it properly and put some effort in. And then someone (three guesses!) decided that instead of just leaving it as a Reference Sketch That Turned Out Way Better Than Expected, it would be a great idea to add a fancy background and turn it in to a fake Game Start Screen.
If you want to see Kairi's new outfit, head on over to Tumblr. Search 'Undesirable13', '#khivthesearchforhope' or rip the link from my bio. (If you're on PC the post is stuck to the top of the page; if you're on mobile you may have to scroll a bit.)
Let me know what you thought of today's chapter, don't forget to tell me what your favourite day is for story updates, and I'll see you next time.