The Black Mystery

Indeed, Beiyue was around.

She had stolen beauty pills for herself, making her skin lily-white and baby-soft again as well as smooth. With magic, manicure and pedicure for beautiful hands and feet are easy. And her shortened hair made to grow back to the waist length she used to have, healthy and thick, and silky-soft to touch.

That's a lot of pills stolen.

But with magic, she made her teeth very straight and pearly-white.

Having Bing with her broke through her cultivation to Arcane Levels of a Summoner. With Yen Sid's keyblade it was a lot easier, unlocking all levels a cultivator needs to unlock through pills and herbs or in the case of Summoners, change summons to cultivate. So she is powerful, moreso than Zhanye who didn't get the cheats she has.

She also only shows up to Dongling and ensuring she appears at mealtimes, serving Third Prince during family dinners as the 'mysterious cloaked person', who comes by to give her a sack of who-knows-what with a card that has 'for Dongling' on it, before disappearing into black smoky wisps.

'Dongling, who is that and what is that?' as her new boss, Third Prince asked her.

Dongling untied the sacks on the floor, and saw a glass jar of various beauty pills!

'Er...what are these?' Dongling asked, confused, holding up the jar.

'Those are expensive, top-grade beauty pills!' Yingye exclaimed, recognizing the pills. 'Who is that cloaked person who gave you those?!'

'B-beats me?' Dongling squeaked, just as baffled. 'Who on earth would give me these?! I don't even have suitors or well-wishers!'

Since it was addressed to her, she was allowed to have it.

It was a staged show by the two girls. The other maids were moaning in envy now!

She is also talking with her or teaching her the correct way of using 'that kind of magic' in her room in Third Prince's residence, as Dongling consumes her pills by schedule.

'But cultivation is also magical energy for our use and since you're still at Spirit Foundation Unlocking stage...yep, you really need to work hard.' said Beiyue thoughtfully.

'But how to change the names of the spells? People are gonna ask questions if I say funny words in spells...' Dongling pouted, twiddling her fingers.

'Hummm...lemme think so we can get away with this.' Beiyue said, locating supplies of writing materials in her mind and taking some there by teleportation.

This is what she wrote down.

Fire - Baohuo(fire bomb)

Water - Liushui(water stream)

Blizzard - Jingbing(ice crystal)

Thunder - Pili(thunderbolt)

Cure - Yidao(medical skill)

Aero - Zaifeng(calamity wind)

Gravity - Zhongli(gravitational force)

Magnet - Cili(magnetic force)

Stop - Tingdun(standstill)

Reflect - Motantiao(magic bounce)

And to use level two and three-tier versions, she has to double and triple the power and effect of the spell.

Beiyue also properly taught Dongling how to use Magic Lock-On, Magic Haste, Leaf Bracer(very important), Cure Boost(to be used in with Leaf Bracer), and a last resort: Endless Magic. She also taught Dongling how to Glide and Fly. But given her level, she at least needs a certain level of cultivation to sustain flight for at least, an hour without tiring, and how to use magic to make her have Superhuman Durability to absurd levels. But again, work hard in cultivating!

Beiyue would then take Dongling to the crags, and show her what the spells can do. And to a top-class cultivator like Beiyue, the spells done in her way, are frikking SCARY.

And then at home, Beiyue stole countless knowledge of Enchanter Magic Spells, from Grade 1 to Arcane Sorcery, and implanted them in Dongling's memories, as well as knowledge of Pills good for Healing and Recovery...even stealing a high-quality Censer for her. To 'legally have it', Beiyue disguised as another girl, carrying illusion sacks of gold ingots 'to pay' for a top-class Censer as the Pharmacist Guild keeps track of Censers sold to Pharmaceutical Practitioners, as well as pills made by who and whose pills sold that day so they can earn income. With her powerful illusions, they were convinced 'the customer' paid for the censer and recorded it down.

But she didn't bother recording the stolen pills as did Yan. Not like they can hunt down who stole and it'll be hard to tell who!

Whydunnit?

Because Dongling is an Earth Element and only those who are Earth Element can refine pills.

'Miss, this is way too much!' Dongling squeaked out, wide-eyed. By now, she is a maid who has the fairest smooth, baby-soft, lily-white skin like any high-class girl and vividly-colored, glossy, thick hair, and pills that will bring out her womanly charms come maidenhood. The Lotus Blossom Pill must be taken BEFORE one turns twelve and Dongling is already thirteen...way too late for that, now. At least, Beiyue straightened her teeth and dealt with dental issues. Beiyue only has four years' worth of pills in her life, but it was more than sufficient for her anyhow.

She was the envy of all maids in the Palace.

'In a world like this, increase your value to increase your backing, Dongling.' said Beiyue. 'Tomorrow is the last day of school for a two week winter vacation...so tomorrow, come with cousin to school. For our little show.' she said with a wink. 'The palace knows by now you got pills from me, buuut not all else. Right?' she grinned.

'Yeah!'

xxx

Lingyang School, the next day...

In the Royal Carriage, was a rather tense situation.

The royal children sat at the front carriage, the other attendants were in the second one.

The tension: GLOOMY!

But attacking the maid is not worth their life due to her backing.

And come Lunch Time...

'I wonder if that black cloak will appear again.' Yingye wondered as the royal siblings hardly dined together as a group.

Yingye would either go solo or with her blood brother Zhanye.

Jing would hang out with his fiancee Lin Wanyi.

Third Prince would hang out with friends and his fiancee Meng Hongling.

But on their father's orders, they must dine together to see the Black Cloak again for the second time, and find out who it is!

Because as Dongling says, 'who on earth would give her those' and she doesn't have suitors, nevermind well-wishers giving her gifts being a war orphan Princess Royal took in. In interrogation to vet her words as truth via sorcery, she really doesn't have one as she was wary and cynical of 'this one guy' for good reason.

So the person's identity, must be found out!

They waited and tense...

Cue a black smoky appearance of the black cloak.

In a blink, she was close by. What speed!

With a black gloved hand, the person gave Dongling a cheap Space Ring...Zhanye took the chance to grab the arm. He felt something hard and bulky on the wrist area. Armor?

'?!'

'Got you.' he said. 'Why are you around Dongling?' Zhanye demanded.

'1+1?'

'2.' said Zhanye, humoring the revealed female.

'...you should know by now.'

It hit the royals.

That question was a hint as to why Dongling indeed!

'B-Beiyue?' Zhanye croaked out as with her spare hand, she removed her hood, causing her cloak to become a shoulder cape, revealing her strange fashion of choice. Her face was blank of emotion, as opposed to the happy girlish faces Dongling knew she made when she was sneaking around to be with her.

'Are you back for real?!' Yingye asked hopefully.

'No.'

'Why?! There's things you've got to know!' Yingye cried.

'Whatever they may be, its irrelevant and I don't care.' said Beiyue, getting her wrist back from Zhanye and went to walk away. Her words stung deep, that she doesn't care any more.

'But home is here! With us!' Zhanye called out. 'There's so much we have to tell you!'

'Home? Don't make me laugh...' Beiyue scoffed coldly, speaking in a drawl to emphasize her words. 'A friend once told me home is where your heart is. A home is a place...a warm, safe place to go back to, where people who care for you wait for you to come home.' she told them.

'My home is elsewhere, in a place full of warm light...and warm hands that held mine. This society has none of that.' she said, walking away. 'I only came to give Dongling power she needs to survive this garbage of a world full of evil people whose main concern is how to elevate one's status, use this or that person and discard them later when they outlived their usefulness...stab or be stabbed. Steal or be stolen from.'

'The place I can call home, have genuinely good, kind people...sincere with their goodness. Their smiles are real and warm, their smiles didn't have honeyed poison with malicious intent. I almost couldn't believe it's so real, just like how mother and Dongling's smiles towards me are.' said Beiyue, looking at the gray, wintery sky. 'My new foster father showed me what a father really should be. And I got an older sister who was like warm light. I actually have friends. Things I'll never have here.'

'Beiyue...'

Beiyue is a darkness user. But while she was disciplined in its usage because simply by being born with this power, she was a resident of the Realm of Darkness who grew up in the Realm of Light. She has a degree of immunity, but when it comes to things she hates...she gets slightly influenced. Evident by how she talked, dripping in contempt.

'I'd take Dongling with me if I could, but a calamity destroyed my new home, and I got separated from the survivors...my friends. We were the only ones left.' said Beiyue. 'I simply came here to help Dongling out before I go out. That, is it.' she opened a Corridor of Darkness and put her hood on and her cape became a cloak again.

'No! Don't go!' Yingye begged, but she was gone into that black space she made. 'Gone...brother, what do we do?'

'Well, what else can we do? Father would want to know.' said Zhanye. 'And Jing, what's with those?' he asked, seeing the paper Jing got and a jade pendant bearing the symbol of Anguo Prefecture.

'...divorce paper inside an enchanted paper.' Jing croaked. 'Mother once told me that she was friends with Royal Aunt...and its out of this friendship that Xue Che and Beiyue are engaged after she's born...mother was hopeful but, what the hell happened that Beiyue wants divorce?'

On this enchanted paper, memories will appear if ripped in half.
After that, triplicate documents will come out regarding my
declaration of Divorce with Xue Che. - Beiyue

'We'll know soon. Its a one-time thing no doubt.' said Third Prince. 'We'll have to rip it with the need-to-know people around as a precaution.'

'Right...'

xxx

In the Lanes, Beiyue was there, walking on a path she made using darkness.

In her lessons, prior to the release of the Heartless, the worlds were surrounded by barriers to prevent outside interference, making it impossible for different worlds to have contact. However, the arrival of the Heartless caused the barriers between the worlds to crumble and disappear, and some worlds were consumed by the eldritch horde. Gummi Blocks are pieces of these broken barriers. And from these Gummi Blocks, Gummi Ships are made to make safe travel possible as before, only Keyblade Wielders wearing Armor can travel using their Keyblade Gliders.

Users of darkness like herself can use Dark Corridors for travel.

For first timers, she'll do it the hard way first. Then upon knowing where is what place, she can now effortlessly relocate herself at will.

For now, it's a long walk! Not only that, she also has rules to follow.

Those who travel between worlds are advised to avoid meddling in the affairs of other worlds and informing their inhabitants of the existence of other worlds. In order to maintain a balance of separation, one must magically alter their physical appearances in certain worlds to avoid standing out.

She's curious and a little excited.

She learned how to look like a monster should she go into a world of monsters, and how to look like a mermaid in a sea world! Exciting exciting~!

Her inner child is excited.

'Alrighty! Let's go!'

She was advised to go to Traverse Town first.

It was a world-town created, when worlds before Destiny Islands were destroyed. Its where all survivors go to and learned 'the secret' the horrifying way. So the world financial magnate Scrooge McDuck is in collaboration with King Mickey to send resources to Traverse Town, paid for by the royal family so the people won't be sitting ducks.

And its a world of eternal night sky.

'Phew, here after a week.' she sighed tiredly. 'I'm so tired.' she sighed as she tucked away her cape into her space ring. She amassed enough munny from killing Heartless that devoured people and weirdly enough, have money on them. Its easy to make a living this way! But its also telling that the bigger, uglier ones have more money than the smaller ones. Just how bad are they in life, that they got a lot of money before...becoming a Heartless. And how had they gotten all that money? Crime?

Only possibility.

She's rich with ahem, ill-gotten money...erps.

Whatever.

She went to the store operated by three duck kids and bought herself a tent, and a lot of Ether. Its all she needs.

She also ate in a nearby pub as its been DAYS since she last ate!

'Ughh, I'm hungry~I hope food here is good.' she mused with a sigh as she looked up what's for sale.

She ordered beef stew with coconut water drink.

Then she walked around to explore...and ask around for her friends.

'Well, we've seen that boy around.' said a man, looking at an illusion of Sora. 'We haven't seen the other two. That guy comes and goes with a duck and a dog.'

'A duck and a dog...?' Beiyue blinked owlishly.

'Yup. Look for Leon. He's the Head of the Heartless Resistance. That group defends us from those monsters. Maybe they'd know more.'

'Thanks mister!'

She was given directions. The Resistance's Headquarters is in the Third District...and it's overrun by Heartless. Why live there when the first district is perfectly peaceful...?

'Gee, this is one way to stay in shape, if you're a self-proclaimed group called Heartless Resistance!' she swore as she summoned her training sword and fought her way through the hordes that showed up.

She fared just fine, and dealt with twenty Heartless, and used magic to gather the money left behind.

'Phew...'

'Looks like you're doing well.' Beiyue got startled and turned to see Riku. 'You've come far.'

'Riku!' Beiyue squeaked. 'Have you seen Kairi? She's the only one among us who can't fight and I'm getting worried.' she babbled in a hurry. 'I'm here to ask the Resistance...after that little scuffle.'

'Scuffle.' Riku snorted in bemusement.

'Yeah. Have you learned about those monsters just incase? According to my Master, they're the reason our world is gone.' Beiyue explained. 'They destroyed Destiny Islands when they got into our world and ate our world's heart. Somebody opened our world's Keyhole and let them in.' said Beiyue glumly.

Riku listened to her words.

'In a way...we got what we wanted...and we paid a big price.' said Beiyue gloomily. 'Too big.'

Riku patted her head.

He knows some things alright. He had known what those monsters are. It seems they got their own respective mentors.

'Yeah. We'll find Kairi, and we'll wonder what to do next.' said Riku. 'So your master gave you your sword?'

'Yup, it's a training weapon.' said Beiyue, taking out her sword. Its a sword fit for a girl in appearance. Cute. 'When my heart gets stronger, it will change form and be stronger against Heartless. But if my heart weakens, it'll become brittle until it breaks. Sure, master can fix it again buuuut I'll be punished with a Penalty Exam and I don't wanna know...' she said sheepishly. 'Master was really hard on me in these past few months. But I think I'm as good as you boys now.'

'That's good to know. Why not come with me?' Riku suggested. 'I'm hanging out with my mentor. I'm sure you got nowhere else to go.'

Beiyue looked thoughtful while inwardly nervous.

One, she wants reassurance that she's not alone and hanging out with Riku and show how reliable she can be, so maybe he'll like her?

'Well, since living I thought of camping out...why not?' she said. 'I hope your teacher has a nice place.'

'Ohhh she does. Its too big for three people if you ask me.' Riku snorted. 'By the way, you look different.' he said, noting that like five years ago, her skin was snow-white, and her hair crazy-long. She's as pretty as ever. She wasn't the island's most beautiful girl for nothing!

'Well, I had to go back to my original world for some stuff...and I stole the pills I needed to restore my original appearance before I can walk around there.' Beiyue explained. 'In my world, you do NOT cut your hair, as its a sacred gift your parents gave you. You only cut it if it went past your ankles. That's the only legal haircut you're allowed to have, and trimming your bangs for good looks.' she taught him. 'However, short hair means its cut off because you committed a heinous crime, before they toss you in jail or caused your family great public shame your family head will cut your hair short and disown you on the spot.'

'That's why it took me a while to get used to the island culture with short hair...I mean, I never had my hair so short even though I never committed any crime nor shame.'

'That explains it.' Riku looked thoughtful with an armfold. When they were kids, Beiyue was very VERY iffy about cutting her hair, until Heatstroke got to her so she hung up her dress and had to be reassured about cutting her hair off because she was TERRIFIED. 'Sooo you gonna trim it? Where we're going, its bothersome. There are many worlds where long hair is very inconvenient.' he would say. 'Just grow it again when you visit your world again.'

'Right...' Beiyue removed her ponytail and made her hair go straight. Riku watched how long her hair can be as she is a princess. Royal Blood. Further shown by her flawless, lily-white skin. She 'got some color' in her years in the islands, but restored her appearance upon visiting her world.

She used fire to cut it to desired length before tying her hair up again. She burned her cut-offs.

Now, she can cut her hair without worry about culture clash.

Riku then raised a hand and opened...a Corridor of Darkness.

Beiyue's jaws dropped.

'R-Riku, you can open a Corridor...but your element!' Beiyue squeaked out, stunned. 'Your element aligns with the Realm of Light! Are you gonna be OK?!' she cried worriedly. 'Residents of the Realm of Light will be prone to Darkness Corruptive Influence unlike people born with an affinity for it...you better have a strong heart for this, Riku!'

'Don't worry, I have or I'm long goners.' Riku grinned. 'I know what I got myself into when I learned these skills. Come on, let's go.'

And Beiyue went with Riku to...a hallway with stone walls and carpet.

'Er...?'

'Welcome to Hollow Bastion, Maleficent's Castle.'

Riku introduced the place to her.

Beiyue's mind was racing.

"RIKU YOU MOROOOON!" her mind exploded as she maintained her poker face.

Maleficent.

Sworn enemy of the Fairy Godmothers back in Yen Sid's place as she's responsible for Princess Aurora's disappearance.

Perhaps, she'll make use of her...unique situation.

What do Greeks call it again? Oh yeah! Trojan Horse!

She'll be one.

She ensured Riku will never blab she has a mentor and tell Maleficent that he rescued her and will be his assistant.

'An assistant eh? What can you do, young lady?' Maleficent asked Beiyue.

'Well, ladies can do what men can't do!' said Beiyue smugly with an armfold.

'Oi oi.' Riku sweatdropped.

'Hooo? You even smell like our kind. A resident of darkness.' Maleficent mused, sensing Beiyue's dark powers. 'You have brought home a talent, Riku. She'll be of use.'