Quick as she was, Kairi's sorcery still left much to be desired. She was already two firagas into destroying a standard dining chair when four blue tables floated above her head.
She got to work on the set, dodging out of the center of the dining room to the southeast corner where she could ice blast two tables from one angle. But by the time she had finished off one blue table, a yellow sofa and two red benches had swirled into the assortment.
Soon the room was a cyclone of primary colors, swirling and spinning and gaining speed around her. She blasted random spells in every direction, ducking from a chair that swooped too low and dodging a drawer that had flung off of a purple dresser. She didn't even know what purple was supposed to be.
"Kairi?" Merlin called from the doorway. "Are you still in here?" The wizard raised his arms high over his head and halted the furniture in midair.
"I thought maybe I'd do a little more training on my own today." She sat up, panting, and covered in sweat.
"You've certainly met the requirement for 'a little,'" Merlin speculated. "Have you been in here since our session ended this afternoon?"
"It never hurts to practice!" Kairi replied sanguinely.
"That, my dear, is false. Or have my lessons not been sufficiently disciplined?" Kairi lifted herself up and stood alert, ready for anything. "To become stronger, one must also have rest, both physically and mentally, to renew and endure. You can't learn while wearing yourself too thin."
"I understand Master." She had been hoping for an impromptu physical lesson, but alas came another mental one. "I won't be too much longer."
"I admire your tenacity, dearie, but I will not let you torment yourself with these absurd expectations." Merlin waved his wand and the furniture popped like giant bubbles, sprinkling into nothing. The old, oaken dining room table reappeared in the center of the room. "Now, there are a few old friends of mine eager to meet you. They're waiting in the foyer. Do go out and greet them, will you dear?"
A gust of wind hurried her out of the dining room and slammed the door behind her. Kairi huffed, shooting a glare at the solid oak. She can walk using her own free will, she thought, facing the grand, vacant hall.
"Hello?" She called out to no one. The foyer lay bare as it had always been. Without the faintest idea who Merlin would permit her company, she assumed the matter to be important. She hoped against hope it would be her friends. Surely, though, that was only setting herself up for disappointment, so she let that thought go.
"We will keep it simple, and practical to boot. We'll put her in trousers. Yes, yes trousers! Short like her skirts- ah.. what do they call them in this world?" Voices reverberated off the walls. Kairi looked all around her, but there was no way to tell where they were coming from.
"Shorts. But her eyes-"
"And of course the ensemble will be pink-"
"But she likes skirts. She's always worn them. They suit her, and she is darling in them." A third, more genial voice chimed in.
Three glowing orbs, one red, one blue, and one green appeared out of thin air before Kairi. The light grew rapidly, exploding magic dust that glimmered into three fairies, each with their respective color.
"What if she dressed in blue? We've never seen her in blue, and it would bring out her beautiful blue eyes." The blue fairy argued. The red fairy sighed emphatically.
"I really don't think she-"
"Ex-cuse me?" Kairi broke in softly.
"Oh, hello my dear! It's so nice to finally meet you." Said the red one. "We were sent by Master Yen Sid to provide for you suitable attire fit for a keyblade wielder. You may call me Flora,"
"Yes! Yes, we have known you and your friends for quite some time, yet we have never been properly introduced. My name is Fauna." The kindly green one added.
"I'm Merryweather." Said the blue fairy. "Gosh, you are lovely."
"Yes, such radiant light," cooed Fauna.
"Yes, of course, dears, she's still one of the seven, which is why we mustn't stay long." Flora instructed. "A certain rotten fairy could be tracking us this instant."
The self-made leader levitated at once and flew around the room, drawing the curtains, shielding all view of the outside world and locking every door. Fauna ascended from where she stood, lighting the chandelier directly above her as Merryweather handled the wall sconces.
"Now," Flora gleamed, a twinkle in her eye, "let's get to work."
After bidding her farewells to her dear new friends, Kairi found herself walking through the large double doors, through the ruins of the courtyard and into the dense, dark wood. The breeze tickled her neck, and her new short hair made her feel light and free. Her custom-made dress was more flexible than the school athletic attire she had brought from home, weather and flame resistant yet surprisingly breathable. She couldn't wait to unlock and experiment the various abilities the fairies spoke of. She had seen Sora transform hundreds of times, so it shouldn't be too difficult.
She followed the thin sunlit path shining through the colossal pines, over the rope bridge, and up the slope until, at last, she saw the freckles of blue sky guiding her towards the clearing. Off the side of a cliff rolling hills and sprawling trees outstretched as far as the eye could see. Pink and yellow flowers sprinkled the grassy slope, almost glowing in the setting sun. There, perched on the jagged rock sat a tall redhead in a heavy black cloak.
Over the past few weeks, since that day at Central Station, Axel had taken to coming to this spot after training to contemplate. Kairi joined him sometimes, shooting the breeze and occasionally talking battle strategies. Something had shifted in their dynamic, she felt far more comfortable being alone with Axel, they were like friends.
"Hey Axel," Kairi greeted.
"Hey! Liking the look," said Axel with a small smile, "you cut your hair too."
"Mhmm" She twisted from side to side, displaying the mismatched frilly plaid and black pleated patterns on the sides of her skirt. It was a small detail, but it made the dress feel one thousand percent more her, a little quirky and unexpected- and was caused entirely by accident.
She had spent almost an hour with the good fairies, happily contributing ideas and openly expressing her opinion. Apparently, Sora was never too involved with his own sartorial choices, which didn't surprise Kairi in the slightest, and Riku was never around when those decisions were made for him. Kairi, however, had a wonderful time, giggling at their incessant squabbling over the most insignificant details that, to them, was in some ways unavoidable. Kairi nodded and took a seat next to Axel.
"Oh! And I got better shoes too, like you suggested! Look!" Kairi held up a boot and rotated her ankle around. "I asked them to give me combat boots like you. They didn't know what that meant, took a little explaining, but eventually, they made me these!"
"They?"
"The Three Good Fairies- they're friends of Merlin. They did all this. They had to fly off, though, but they promised to visit again soon."
"Our Rose was one of the seven pure lights." Fauna had told her while running a brush through her hair. "You probably met her- erm, Princess Aurora?" Kairi remembered, but she never had much time with the other girls. "I used to comb through her long golden curls like this all the time." Fauna had sighed then, away in her memories.
"Someone's happy," Axel observed. "Perhaps that bracelet really works."
"Or perhaps the fairies gave me a little more magic." She said with a grin.
"Oh really? What'd they do, cast the spell 'glee' on your boots?"
"No, but they did make them water, fire, and time-travel proof."
"What on earth is 'time-travel proof?'" Axel asked. Kairi winced.
"I was hoping you could tell me." Axel shrugged and shook his head, dumbfounded.
"Well, looks like you're well prepared for anything Merlin could throw at you."
"Mmhm! Hey, maybe next time they're around you can ask them for some new clothes."
"Hmph. I don't even know what I'd wear. Feels like anything else at this point would look ridiculous on me."
"Not as ridiculous as black leather in this heat."
"Hey, this suits me. Brings out my vibrant hair." Axel tossed his head to the side and flipped his spiky locks. Kairi chuckled.
"Whatever you say."
"Heh. Seriously, what's gotten into you?" asked Axel. Kairi held up her foot again and gestured to her boot. "No," he shook his head, "it's more than that."
Kairi had argued the benefit for many of the additional functions the fairies had deemed necessary, stating that she wouldn't have much use for them, always being hidden away and all.
"Nonsense!" Flora had countered. "The power you possess is one-of-a-kind, strong beyond even our understanding. They'll make use out of you."
"Yes," added Merryweather, "Thank goodness Aurora doesn't wield a keyblade, I'd hate to think of her off fighting everyone else's wars."
"Hush," Flora then commanded, "Don't talk about war, you'll scare the poor girl." But Kairi didn't feel scared. She was emboldened, on her path, going in the right direction.
"Just-" Kairi began, "All of this. I feel like destiny is on my side."
"Hmph. Well, that's good for you," Axel sneered.
"Don't you believe in Destiny?"
"How do you people say things like that without a shred of sarcasm?"
"Is that a no?"
"It's an- I don't know. I guess I've been destined to live, though everyone around me changes. If I do have a touch of fate, I think I've pretty much used it all."
"Well, that's a ridiculous assumption," Kairi smiled, "how could you possibly know that?" Axel considered for a moment.
"The cat had nine lives," he replied, "what happens when it reaches the tenth? And what if the cat finds himself alone, lost in the darkness, without any of the cats he cared about? What's a cat to do?" Her smile faded.
"I get that." There was a moment of silence. Kairi leaned back on her palms and stared at the sun. "I'd like to get a cat someday, though I like dogs, too." Axel laughed.
"Is that all you got out of what I said?"
"No," Kairi tittered, "I know what you said, but it's rather cynical, don't you think? I mean, you're on the side of the light now, right?"
"Well, yeah..."
"Then destiny is on your side, too. The light will never fail you." Kairi took a beat, remembering. "Even in the deepest darkness, when all else seems lost, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you." She grinned and pointed to her temple. "Got it memorized."
"Hmph. Is that something they teach in princess school?"
"No," Kairi traced the outline of a large cloud in the shape of a whale. She remembered, vaguely, how terrified she and Sora felt whilst trapped in such a monstrous beast. "My grandmother used to tell me that all the time."
"Grandmother?" Axel asked. Kairi didn't say anything, only nodding soberly. "Sorry," he said after an awkward moment, "I didn't mean to kill your mood."
"It's okay," she chirped, "you didn't." Still, it seemed as if there was nothing more to say. The whale had dissolved, scattered into a sea of clouds.
"Say, Kairi," Axel began, "have I ever told you why the sun sets red?"
The next morning began like any other. Kairi dressed, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and combed her hair before descending the nearest staircase where she would normally find Merlin waiting in the open dining room with breakfast on the table, prepared by the various animate objects under his employment. But things took a different turn today; the foyer didn't smell of tea and toast, the dining room doors were closed, and Kairi found nothing and no one on the other side of the double doors.
"He's outta town," Axel said, coming out of the kitchen with a slice of burnt bread. "This was on the table," he said, handing her a piece of parchment paper.
My dear pupils-
It appears there are urgent matters that need my attention abroad.
As a safety precaution, I cannot disclose my whereabouts.
I shall return shortly, I trust you two will get along until then.
Eat, get enough rest, and don't dilly dally!
Resume with your daily exercises as if I'm there. I'll know if you don't.
Be well, my lads.
-Merlin
"Hm," She contemplated, returning the letter, "I wonder what was so urgent." When she pulled her arm back, a sharp pain pierced through her armpit to her shoulder blade. "Ouch," she winced.
"Something wrong?"
"It's my swinging arm, I think I slept on it." She said, rolling her elbow back in circles. "My cure spells work only so well, best when conjured right after taking a hit, but they don't quite get to these chronic aches." She relaxed her arm and shook it off. "It's not that bad though."
"Here, try this," Axel said, pulling a green vile from his coat pocket. "But don't drink too much, it might make you nauseous. It's pretty strong stuff, meant to be shared." Kairi accepted the potion, uncorked the stopper, and took a tiny sip. The pain instantly melted away. Kairi studied the label, Mega-Elixir. It must have cost a small fortune.
"Okay, seriously, how are you so rich?" She asked incredulously.
As part of their welcoming package, Merlin had given both of them a neatly organized basket containing the essentials; two potions, one hi-potion, one ether, one elixir and a pouch containing 40 munny. The master always halted his attacks long before either of them were in fatal danger, and healed them frequently throughout the rigorous exercises. Their sore muscles and aching joints that persisted afterward, however, had to be attended to themselves. Both Kairi and Axel's supply was gone by the end of the first week.
"I know how big a payout the master's fake heartless give." She said, folding her arms and tilting her head to the side.
"Yes, but I bet you don't know how much real heartless give."
"Real heartless?" Kairi stiffened. "Where?"
"Relax, they're not here, but there are a few in the real Twilight Town."
"What?" Kairi asked, "How did you?" Kairi looked around her, as if someone may be eavesdropping. "When?" She whispered.
"Weekends, before you guys get up."
"Is that allowed?"
"Haven't asked. Easiest just to assume it is."
"Well if there are heartless there, it might be dangerous! Do you know why the heartless are there? Someone could be summoning them!"
"Easy! The place has always been infested with something or another. Nothing your miracle worker boyfriend could change."
"He's not my..." Kairi evaded it, "Are you sure it's safe?"
"Yes." He affirmed. "No one can track me while I have this on," he pulled on his collar, "and I stick to the woods. Tons of heartless, they don't even see it coming." He grinned. Kairi thought a moment.
"Can I come?" She asked.
"I don't know about that," he replied, rubbing his temple.
"Oh come on!" She said, determined. "You said yourself that it was safe."
"Safe for me. I don't know if it would be safe for you." Kairi smirked.
"Easiest just to assume it is."