Author's note: Hi! This is a chapter a bit longer than the others and I'm sorry for the lack of action. I suggest that you play Magical Mystery from Kingdom Hearts 2 OST, until the line break. I hope you enjoy!
I pushed the heavy wooden doors open, only to be greeted by the imposing upward-spiraling staircase that I've come to know very well. Rapunzel stepped back, so subtly I barely perceived it. This place really must unsettle her.
My eyes scanned the room for Heartless, out of habit anyway, considering that Sora and Kairi were already half-way to Master Yen Sid's study.
"Hey, what's taking you so long?" Sora shouted, waving at both of us.
"We're coming!" I yelled back, before looking at them disappear into the spiraling distance, along with their indistinct chatter. I turned to Rapunzel, who studied the staircase carefully, hiding her lips. She seemed oblivious to everything else. Why did this place have such an unsettling effect on her?
I guess she noticed my stare, because she suddenly got out of her trance and broke the silence.
"Let's go" She nodded and we both made our way through the endless flight of stairs. Keeping in mind our unexpected encounter with the Heartless in Traverse Town, my senses remained alert. I was not going to be caught up by surprise. Ever again. Neither of us spoke along the way.
Eventually, we reached the bright portal that led to the study. Before entering, I shot my companion a sideways glance. Her eyes were unreadable.
"Yen Sid is in the other side." I told her as gently as I could, motioning to the glowing portal. She didn't respond, but determination seemed to be building behind her eyes, so I decided to give her time until she was ready. Her delicate voice caught me off guard.
"Riku… can I ask you something?"
"Sure" I responded, not really sure of what to expect. She bit her lower lip and nervously played with a strand of her hair hair, not meeting my eyes. I bit back a smile.
"Can we… can we cross together? W-would that be okay with you?" She spilled out her words.
A faint grin found its way into my lips, before I held out my arm to her. Relief seemed to cross her eyes, before her hands gently grasped my arm.
We exchanged a look before stepping through the portal and appearing in Yen Sid's study.
Everything remained unchanged: A tidy and wide room with plenty of dusty books that were contained in several shelves, and the same large four windows with the shapes of a moon and stars. Yen Sid waited for us, sitting behind his wooden desk as usual, Kairi and Sora standing in front of it. Their gazes turned to us, as we entered the room.
"Hello, Master Yen Sid" I said firmly, as Rapunzel stood next to me, hesitantly releasing my arm.
"Keyblade Master Riku, it is good to see you again. And you… You must be Rapunzel. I've been waiting for you." I sensed Rapunzel's puzzlement and imagined the questions that formed in her mind. Master Yen Sid stood up, hands regally folded behind his back. "Now that all of you are here, I'm afraid the stars bring me grave news."
Definitely not the way I would have liked this conversation to start.
"Worlds are falling to darkness. Once again. And as I am sure you have seen in your journey, Riku, the Heartless are attempting to take over the hearts of the worlds that are still vulnerable".
"Vulnerable?" Sora inquired, only to have Master Yen Sid lift his hand, asking him to wait.
"I sense a change in the forces of darkness. As you must remember, to defend the seven pure lights of the divided χ-blade, we need seven lights strong enough to withstand the thirteen darknesses. But Master Xehanort has come up with a plan to conveniently ensure his victory."
His words made me wince inwardly. However a part of me wasn't surprised at all. As if deep down I had already been expecting something of that nature. After all, I knew the ways of Xehanort's twisted mind.
And another part of me was afraid that perhaps I knew them too well.
"The light is nearly twice as powerful as the darkness. Which is why the thirteen darknesses almost double the number of lights. Master Xehanort's plan consists on strengthening the darkness by breaking the balance between it and its' opposite" Yen Sid continued.
"But… how?" Kairi murmured.
"Through fear. Something a good friend of mine was very aware of years ago" He sighed heavily, a glint of dark sorrow crossing his penetrating eyes. "Fear has misled many potential Keyblade Masters. Very promising and gifted ones. And now Xehanort is using fear to corrupt as many hearts as he can to empower the darkness, thus breaking the balance. However, this time I'm afraid he is collaborating with someone. A very dark being. One completely devoid of light"
"Wha- Who is it?" Sora clenched his fists.
"There are some things even the stars cannot tell me. Nevertheless, I do know that it is with the assistance of this dark presence that he has been sending Heartless, not only to those worlds that are most prone to give into despair and fear, but also to those whose light shines brightly, for they represent the most dangerous threat in the successful development of his plan".
"What about Traverse Town?" I stepped closer.
"As you know, Traverse Town only appears when someone is in need of shelter. It consists of the remnants of worlds whose hearts have been stolen by the Heartless. Since Xehanort is attempting to consume the worlds until they completely fall into darkness, it is a matter of time before Traverse Town naturally becomes the perfect place to induce fear into the hearts of those fortunate enough to survive such destruction."
"Because they already are afraid…" Rapunzel's voice trembled just slightly, a sad knowing dawning in her eyes, showing her deep comprehension of the situation. Sora glanced down, probably in response of the memories that started rushing into his mind.
"Yes, that is correct, Rapunzel." Master Yen Sid bowed his head briefly "I understand that is your case. I know that you came here seeking for answers and loved ones, but unfortunately the stars have not revealed me much more than what you already know. However, I do possess the certainty that you're here for a reason. You see, everything is connected. Though worlds and hearts may seem far apart and out of reach, they remain connected by invisible ties. You have a part to play in this story. Sometimes the connections aren't clear, but they're always there." He assured, as Rapunzel locked her attentive eyes with his, slowly taking in and making sense of his words.
"As to why Master Riku chose to bring you here, I'll hear about later." He shot me quick glance, before continuing. "We must be ready. This is why you -Sora, Kairi and Lea- are to be tested for the mark of a true Keyblade Master"
"It was about time" A new voice spoke from behind, startling everyone in the room, but Master Yen Sid. An unmistakable, tall figure with fiery red hair and a pair of green eyes turned out to be its owner.
"Lea!" Kairi, Sora and I said in unison, on the verge of summoning our weapons.
"Gee, what's the fuzz about?" Lea pushed himself off the wall that he was leaning on, setting us at ease, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"As I was saying," We turned to face Master Yen Sid again "The road will not be easy. Overcoming your fears will be an essential part of your test in order to deal with the task at hand. We must find the two missing lights in order to gird ourselves for the great clash with darkness that lies before us. And considering Xehanort's intentions, we must also turn to our allies in other worlds."
Bewilderment washed over us and expectancy filled the air. Master Yen Sid extended enigmatically both of his arms in front of him.
"It is my pleasure to introduce you to…" With a loud clap of his hands, a luminous portal emerged from one of the walls, glowing with a strong white light, only to be crossed by a tall and thin man that resembled Yen Sid somewhat. King Mickey followed right after him.
The man in crimson-red robes had silver hair and a quite lengthy beard, along with light blue eyes that hid behind half-moon spectacles. I couldn't help but notice the strong light that emanated from his almost ethereal presence.
"…Albus Dumbledore"
The mysterious man offered us a kind smile and bowed his head. "You may be wondering why I am joining you in a meeting as important as this one. You see, I don't believe there is an ordinary world. But the world I come from has very particular traits. It is a world of magic. A world of wizards and witches"
"Woah! No way! How come we never been there before?" Sora gasped, not even trying to contain his amazement. Albus grinned.
"I am here because I have reason to believe the two evil presences that you are looking for are hiding in my world. I am the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" Our eyes grew wider with every word he spoke, but his voice continued as calm and peaceful as if he were talking about the most trivial subject in the world.
"The creatures that you've come to know as the Heartless have made several appearances in the school grounds and are growing stronger by the second. I do not intend to expose my students to the danger they represent along with that of the broken balance between light and darkness. So, as I've discussed with Master Yen Sid, we would like you to come to my school in order for you to find the source of this increasing darkness. It is unknown to me what Xehanort's next steps are. But if you find him, you could prevent him from unleashing darkness over the entire universe before the important battle begins. We believe he's looking for something. Besides, King Mickey and I are carrying out an extensive research on where the two remaining lights are and so far, it looks very promising. However, I can't fully focus on it if I need to keep the darkness at bay. You must act as you see fit." He calmly placed his hand on his wrist. "The decision is up to you"
Long after Dumbledore departed to his own world along with Mickey, and everyone else headed to their bedrooms, Yen Sid and I held a very long-lasting conversation. Once it was over, I dragged my feet to my own room.
My mind was crammed with racing thoughts that kept demanding my attention forcefully. I kicked my shoes off and let myself fall backwards into the bed, shutting my eyes as I replayed in my head all the events and the new information of the day. Whether it was voluntarily or out of habit, I couldn't tell anymore nor did I care.
The mark of mastery for Lea, Sora and Kairi would be way different than mine. Unlocking sleeping keyholes vs. Finding and bringing down a source of darkness as undercover magic students in order to find the two lights…
Yen Sid said they would need the supervision of a Keyblade Master. I don't even feel like one. And then everything we talked about Rapunzel… Anyways, I'm supposed to protect her now. How did I even end up as her personal bodyguard in a world of wizards and witches? What a stupid question. I knew exactly how. Her presence alone disturbs the Heartless, so that'll lead us straight to Xehanort's warren. I opposed to her being used as bait. Yen Sid insisted because it'll make things easier and we have no time to waste. I knew he was right. He suggested I protected her. I agreed. Simple as that.
I sighed. Wizards and witches… And I thought Halloween Town was the craziest world I would be in…
*Flashback*
"You will have to drink this potion. It'll give you full knowledge and the magic ability of a fifth grader, which is the grade you will be in" Dumbledore handed us all, but Lea, a vial with a suspiciously light blue glowing liquid within. "You, Lea, will drink these two."
He handed him a vial that contained a slimy light green liquid and one that had a dark purple color. For a moment I was relieved I wasn't the one drinking that.
"One will mildly rejuvenate you, while the other one will give you the magic level of a seventh grader."
"So, I get to know more and look younger? Look who's lucky today! It's nice not getting the icky job for once" Lea smirked lightening the mood, managing to get a smile from both Kairi and Rapunzel. He introduced himself to her and began chatting.
"But I don't get it. Why don't you just give these potions to your students?" Dumbledore seemed to be a little amused at my question.
"For a start, they are temporary. And can only be drunk once or…" He pursed his lips as he looked up in search for an answer, before meeting my eyes again "…Let's just say they have quite serious counterproductive effects."
*End of flashback*
I forced my eyes open and started unfolding the parchment that was tightly clasped in my hand, before extending it in front of my face. My eyes scanned it carefully in the dim light. Dumbledore said it was the list of everything we would need for the school year. The idea of pretending to be an exchange magic student didn't exactly please me, but if both Dumbledore and Master Yen Sid suspected that Xehanort was hiding there, I was more than willing to go. At least Dumbledore said we would have reduced schedules to still be able to travel throughout the worlds if needed.
My arms fell to my sides and my eyes closed once again with a deep sigh. I knew I should try to get some sleep. But I also knew that wasn't going to be happening any time soon. Not with the endless flow of thoughts that kept discharging violently into my head.
But I knew just the remedy for that.
The door closing behind me with a soft click before I made my way into the now empty study. As my feet advanced calmly and my eyes wandered about the dim room, I swiftly ran my fingers through the spines of the thick books in the shelves, until the sudden and unexpected sensation of air brought me to a halt. A book was missing.
'Yen Sid must in the mood for a late night reading' I thought to myself, and resolved to head towards my real target. The moon-shaped window.
I intended to star-gaze the night away, even though I knew perfectly that the night in the Mysterious Tower was eternal. Just as I was about to give myself permission to get lost into the wonders of the skies above, a golden flash in the corner of my eye stole my attention. A beatiful, long cascade of gold that almost reached the ground delicately swayed in the air.
Was that… hair?
I peeked my head through the window and glanced upwards. A figure quietly sat in the cone-shaped roof against the moon light, oblivious to my presence.
A few nimble moves were enough for me to reach the roof and I made the figure jump a bit.
"R-riku! What are you doing here?" Rapunzel asked a bit breathily, slowly going back to her relaxed state.
"I could ask you the same" I shrugged and sat next to her. The corners of her mouth rose, although it seemed a little forced.
"I came to look at the stars. I used to do that all the time back in my world" She hugged her knees, and her gaze traveled to the starry sky. I joined her.
"Already getting familiar with the Keybladers jargon, huh?"
"I guess" She chuckled faintly, but genuinely this time. "And you?"
"I'm already pretty familiarized with it"
"That's not what I meant" She shot me a mock sideways glare and I was the one that smiled a little this time.
"Same as you. Couldn't sleep" I leaned my elbows on the inclined roof and yanked my head back to get a better view of the sky.
"Neither could I" She murmured. "How did your talk with Master Yen Sid go, Master Riku?"
"Don't call me that" Unlike the frown that formed in my face, I could sense a brief triumphant smirk forming in her lips. "But it went fine, thanks for asking. I got a lot to think about, though…" I shot her a quick glance that she didn't notice before turning my gaze back to the stars "How do you feel about going to Hogwarts?"
She didn't reply and I turned my head to her. My question changed her mood in one second. A sigh escaped from her lips, lowering her gaze.
"That's the exact reason I'm here"
I leaned on my forearm, lying aside as I did so, giving her my undivided attention. "What do you mean?"
She remained silent for a few moments again.
"It's just… I don't belong here" She hugged her knees tighter, neither looking at me nor at the sky.
"What are you talking about?" My voice softened and she finally seemed to be willing to share her true thoughts on the matter.
"Everything… everything is just too overwhelming. I-I mean, a few days ago I barely knew what was out my own home, let alone even knowing other worlds existed -which is wonderful by the way because I've been dreaming about them my entire life- but I'm no Keybearer. I'm no Keyblade Master and I'm not even sure what that means! I can't fight like you and your friends and I definitely can't track down a powerful source of darkness! Much less bring it down, and all of that while pretending to be a student of magic! Don't get me wrong, that part sounds pretty exciting actually…" She let out a brief but lively chuckle that reminded me of tiny bells "…But this is just- This is too much, Riku" She brushed her hair back, before looking at me again. "And the worst part is I really wanna keep seeing what's out there. I really do." The quick tempo of her voice slowed down. "I'm really happy because I've seen and learned so much. But I still don't know where my mother and my friend are. And a battle, and Heartless, and the seven lights against the thirteen darknesses… that- I can't do anything about that! Those are things I know nothing about. " She hid her face in her hands and let out a sigh in frustration. I repressed the instant surge of guilt her words caused in me, but I couldn't tell her everything. I sat up and shortened the distance between us, stopping my hand in the air half-way to her arm. What was I doing? I hesitantly took it back and shook the thoughts out of my head.
"Well, that's something I can fix"
She turned her head up to look at me.
"I made you a promise, remember? I told you I would explain you everything once we were safe and I don't know but…" I pretended to look around before meeting her eyes again. "…I see no danger. And you don't look sleepy and I don't intend to sleep until you do, so…" I offered her a mild smile.
Her brilliant grin was all the thanks I needed.
"But you still heard what Yen Sid said, Rapunzel. You do have a part to play in this story, even if it's not very clear right now. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough"
"I do believe what Yen Sid said, but… how am I supposed to find out what my part is? And what if I do find out? What do I do then?"
"You just have to ask your heart" I replied sincerely and her worries seemed to melt away, for that moment at least. We gazed back into the sky and I began to tell her the old tale about a united universe in a remote era, in which people lived in peace and surrounded by the warmth of light...