Disclaimer: I don't own Kindom Hearts of Wheel of Time.

Kairi walked down a darkened hallway, she was dreaming, she knew it for a dream, but it didn't end. Along the walls were paintings, seen clearly even in the darkness.

A world of Power. A land where flight was common, food and plants flourished, starvation was forgotten, and war had faded away. It was a utopia. Then, a great act, a hole was drilled in search of power. Darkness was released. Hatred was sown, death reigned and Light fought Shadow, the 13 champions of Darkness and their blood-thirsty troops fought the forces of light, and were winning, for dark power aided them. Then from the Light a champion rose bearing a banner with a dragon upon it. He gathered other men and rode to the hole, using their Power they sealed it and the thirteen, but their Power was tainted by the Darkness and they were consumed by madness, they ravaged and broke the world. Years passed and the darkness fell back. Alone, women of Power fought on. The time before darkness has faded into legend. The seal weakens, three young men fight to hold the seal, and bend the world itself with their presence. One walks among the wolves. One wields Power under the dragon banner. One gambles with the darkness, and walks among the ages.

This was the story told by the paintings, but it lacked detail. Walking on Kairi came to a room with 3 pedestals. Upon the first rested a crest with a wolf standing before a hammer and an axe.

Power of strength, the power to destroy your enemies at close range, is this the power you seek?

She examined the second, on it rested a circle with two pure halves, one white and one black connected by a sinuous line.

The power of magic and its kin. The power to bend the world to your will. Is this the power you seek?

Finally, she examined the third, upon it rested a crest, a silver fox head in front of a set of dice, with ravens on each side.

The powers of the rogue, the power to deceive your enemies. Is this the power you seek?

She walked back to the one with the circle, "I accept the power of magic and sacrifice the power of the rogue!" She woke up.

The Wheel of Time tuns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the age that gave it birth comes again. In one age called the third age by some, an age yet to come, an age long past, a wind rose in the Borderlands. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings but it was a beginning.

The wind swept down across a thread the wheel could not weave, a thread which could weave itself freely. It blew across the unconcious form of a young girl.

"Where am I?" Kairi looked around to find herself in an ice cold forest, it was snowing. Suddenly, a strange beast burst into sight. It looked human, except for the ram's horns, hooves, and claws. Pulling out her keyblade, she struck at it, and had it blocked. After several more strikes, she realized it would be difficult to kill with her keyblade, so she quickly pointed and yelled "Fire." Nothing happened. Why won't it work? She screamed as it was struck at her… and was stopped by a sword blade, in front of her stood a tall man with a rope around his forehead, he was about six feet tall, and wore a cloak which seemed to shift in color, concealing him to a certain degree. He dispatched the creature in three blows, unfortunately, she couldn't see his technique clearly. "Who are you?" she asked. He turned around, his face seemed to be all planes and angles, and as impassive as stone. "You may call me Lan, why are you here? The borderlands is no place for someone as untrained as you." She looked at him., "Borderlands?" she thought, but what she said was, " I don't know how I got here. What was that thing?" He looked at her quizzically, " No matter where your from, you should have heard of trollocs. Who are you?"

"I'm Kairi."

"Well, Kairi, why don't you join me at the fire?"

"Gladly."

They walked over to his campsite, sitting down, she asked him, "How did you kill it? I couldn't land a blow." "Where's your weapon?" Holding out her hand, she summoned her keyblade, "Right here." He looked shocked, "How?" "I don't really know." "Well, a weapon is only as good as its wielder, let's see how good you are, he threw a practice sword at her, it was clearly made for two handed wielding. She walked over to a clearing where he was waiting.

"Okay , first we'll learn basic blocking, try to stop my attack." He came at her with a horizontal strike, she used Sora's blocking technique. She stopped the attack, but was pushed back slightly, and left open, Lan came at her from her lower right, and struck her in the side, hard. "All right, try this, bring your sword hilt up to your shoulder, then across you body at a 40 degree angle across your body, then before the blow lands, push forward, to counter act their sword's momentum. This will stop a horizontal strike, use both hands. Then if he follows it up with a vertical strike, all you need to do is rotate the blade, and perhaps lower or raise you arms. However, these techniques aren't perfect, and must be adapted for different attacks. Try again." He swung, she brought up her guard and stopped the attack, he came at her from above, and she failed to block it. "Try again."

A month passed…

"Good job Kairi, most people take longer to master defensive techniques, but you could stop a hold off a halfman's attacks for half an hour at your level." Lan said, congratulating her. Light, let us hope it doesn't come to that! Lan wasn't finished yet though, "Now, you must learn to attack, swordplay is taught as sword forms, which are simply different attacks which have been named and seperated to ease training, they aren't necessary for learning, much less real battle, but they do. We'll start with "Parting the Silk" and "Boar Rushes Down The Mountain." Now, bring your sword to you left side and bring it up at about 95 degrees to you right shoulder." She attempted the form. "Not bad Kairi, but it was to large an angle, it needs to be closer to horizontal. That is "Parting the Silk." "Boar Rushes Down The Mountain" is the vertical equivalent. Try to perform it." She did. "Not bad, but, once again, the angle was off. Now try Parting the Silk…"

2 months later…

" All right, you've learned 10 of the basic sword forms. Now you will begin learning advanced forms, and finish the basic ones on your own time."

9 months later…

"Amazing Kairi. Amazing, only a year and nearly a blademaster already, it takes most people 2 or 3 years at least. We're going over to Shienar tomorrow for supplies, it will be you first time." Lan is more emotional than usual, he's smiling and slightly hesitant right now, like this is odd, something embarrassing, but something he wants to do. Lan looked towards her," Since you have no known origins, it would be looked down upon if you spoke to the King about being declared a blademaster, presumptuous, some would say. So, as is my right as King of Malkier, an uncrowned king of a dead nation, but still a king, I have arranged for you and your descendants to be recognized as being of the Malkieri. You are now Kairi, of the Malkieri house Mandar'teren." Kairi was in shock, "Lan, thank you, you can't imagine how much this means to me. Peace! Me, a Malkieri! Thank you so much, Lan. This means the world to me!" Lan seemed stunned by her enthusiasm, "You earned it Kairi, but we should rest while we can. We have a long ride ahead of us." Kairi was jolted out of her excitement for a moment, Ride! As in, ride on a horse? Light! Best to get some sleep for now.

The next day Lan took her to the horses, and explained the basics of riding her horse, her warhorse, apparently, he'd decided to start her on the type of horse she'd probably ride most. It was a brown mare, large, but considerably smaller than Mandarb." Surprisingly, she had quite a gift for it, and stayed on without great difficulty, even at a gallop. That night as they started to set up camp they were attacked by 20 trollocs and 3 myrddraal. Lan quickly disposed of the trollocs and a myrddraal while Kairi killed the other 2 myrddraal without injury, an impressive feat. As Kairi caught her breath, Lan felt pride in his student rise to the surface.

3 days later they reached Shienar's capital. "So this is it, Fal Dara." The streets were busy and the number of people was overwhelming after 8 months alone with Lan. As he walked by the guards, they saluted Lan and Kairi. "Tai'shar Malkier!" True Blood of Malkier Kairi turned to them and repeated the gesture, "Tai'shar Shienar!" They appeared surprised, they hadn't realized she was Malkieri. For the last 3 days Lan had been teaching her proper etiquette for a Malkieri blademaster. "Okay Kairi, we're here," Lan said as they reached the palace, remember how to request the testing for being formally made a blademaster. As your teacher I can't interfere or judge you, and I must attend to some things. I'll meet you in the dining hall for dinner." He walked away. So now I'm alone to face the Lord of Fal Dara. She walked up the stairs, to the palace. Then down the halls to the lobby in front of the throne room. She turned to the guards, "On behalf of Al'Lan Mandragoran, Uncrowned King of the Malkieri, I request an audience with Agelmar, Lord of Fal Dara." The guard relayed the message. "You may pass." When she walked in she saw Lord Agelmar standing before her, "My lord, al'Lan Mandragoran requests my testing for the title of Blademaster. Will you agree to his request?" " Yes, the testing shall be performed by the Blademaster Balatar, who you will combat to prove your skill, if you achieve victory you will be granted the title of Blademaster. Do you agree to these terms." "Yes," She responded. Then proceed to the testing chamber, it was a simple room, with a large arena in the center, she stepped into the ring. Her opponent, a six foot tall man, in leather armor, stepped into the arena. She called the keyblade, and began the battle. Parting the Silk met Boar Rushes Down the Mountain, Lightning of Three Prongs met Parting the Silk, Rocks Falling Down The Mountain was blocked. The Moon Rises over the Lakes became Moon on the Water, evading the Heron Spreads Its Wings, making contact, and becoming Falling Leaf, becoming Leaf on the Breeze, ending with Moon Rises Over Water. Winning it for Kairi, who quickly dispelled the keyblade. Her opponent was injured, but not fatally. Agelmar turned to her, "You are now declared a Blademaster. Your teacher will give you your sword." Smiling at her, he left.

That afternoon, in the dining hall Lan asked her to meet him in the armory. Kairi, in light of your victory, and choice of weapon, a heron marked blade would only be an encumbrance, so I have something for you, he held up a key chain with a heron on it, " This will show your a blademaster, while the heron a sword would be better, this will be less trouble, just put it on you weapon to represent your rank. She attached it to the keyblade, and it transformed into a near copy of Lan's sword, with a heron on the blade. Lan seemed only moderately surprised, "That will work even better. I also had this prepared, I don't know if you can carry it with you, but here it is." He pulled aside a drape to reveal a full set of armor, much like his, with no helmet, and lighter plates. Stunned, Kairi looked to Lan, "Thank you, it is exquisite, I may not always be able to carry it, but I will when I can, and insure that is safe at other times. You have given me so much Lan, I wish I had something to offer in return." Lan smiled, " You've already given me a student I can be proud, a student who can carry on my legacy. You are always welcome at my home, and in my camp. Peace favor your sword." She smiled, "Peace favor your sword."

A year after parting with Lan, Kairi was sitting in a pleasant Ebou Dari inn, the Wandering Woman. It had seemed appropriate, although she was still just a girl, she hadn't aged since arriving, she didn't know why, but didn't really care either. After leaving Lan, she had started working as mercenary. She was somewhat well known, but not exactly famous either. She dabbled in Daes Daesmar, and was owed a few favors by certain nobles, mostly from Cairhein. There were rumors of a hunt for the horn, and she was considering taking the oath, there was little work, and she couldn't, she wouldn't take another profession. She'd recently heard her first alias, the name she was called by those who feared her, the Gatekeeper. They claimed her keyblade was the key to the gates of hell (they called it the Pit of Doom), for many of them it was. She thought of her old friends occasionally, but she was content here for now. Thankfully, she wasn't well known in Ebou Dar, and could move around normally, without being watched by everyone. She had gotten to know the innkeeper, Setalle Anan fairly well, Setalle was a bit chatty and annoying. 'Why do so many people talk so much really? They don't need to talk for an hour when a simple 'no' would suffice.' Besides that though Setalle was quite pleasant. Kairi was about to ask for more wine when one of the customer staying upstairs fell down the stairs, landed on their head, got up and walked away without so much as a limp, if looking slightly flustered. It wasn't that surprising, she always seemed to see such things. She'd always wondered what caused them.

She started up again, walking towards the bar, but turned when she noticed a Cairhein woman with an ageless face. 'Aes Sedai, best to avoid her, they always cause trouble, I'm relatively string-free and want to stay that way.' She was almost out the door, almost gone, when, "Young lady may I speak to you for a moment. We may speak in my chambers." She turned, it was the Aes Sedai. 'Might as well hear her out. She'd drag me their anyway.' "Alright, lead the way." As they walked up the stairs, Kairi wondered why she was relaxed, shouldn't an Aes Sedai put her on edge? Once in the room she looked at the Aes Sedai, who calmly sat down in a chair and said, "My name is Moiraine and I am an Aes Sedai, I have heard of you, and am obligated to do certain things. First, I must inform you that you can channel." "What! I can't cha-" "Don't interrupt! Second, I am to promise, and do promise, not to seek to control you." Kairi was confused, why was she obligated to do that? "Thirdly I must train you to use your power. Lastly, I must give you this. I actually don't know why I should; it's blank." She pulled out a book and gave it to Kairi. Kairi opened it. There were words on the first page.

--If you are reading this then you are the next to walk my path. This book, among others, will help give you the knowledge to succeed, use it as you will. This path has many forks and many endings, tread carefully. As you grow new chapters will unlock. Once Moiraine is done teaching you, I'd suggest going to the woods south of Caemlyn; you may meet some of my old friends there.

P.S. Don't start acting like the other Aes Sedai, you'll need allies, and that will gain you none. --

Kairi laughed at the ending, but found the rest confusing. "Who gave this to you?" "An old friend from my childhood, he used to visit occasionally, one day he came by our home and told us he was leaving for a while, that he might not ever come back. He asked me to give the bearer of your weapon this, he said much would depend on this person and he had to give what help he could. Sometime later I got a message from him, he said I'd be leaving for Tar Valon soon and that if the wielder of that sword could channel, I must teach her, or help him learn if he was male, protect him from the reds. So here I am, all these years later."

Suddenly a voice spoke from behind her. A familiar voice. Kairi gasped in shock. "Moiraine, did you find who you were looking fo- light! Kairi, is that you? What happened? Moiraine! Why is Kairi here? I won't let you control her, you have me, the Aes Sedai won't have my student as well!

Kairi spun around at the voice. It couldn't be, he couldn't be here. "Lan!" It was him, he was actually here, and it took everything she had not to rush over to him. Moiraine turned silently and spoke, "Lan, what is the meaning of this?" Lan looked at her coldly, "I thought I made my meaning clear. Leave Kairi out of your plots!" Kairi grinned at him, "Don't worry Lan, I'm here of my own free will." He looked slightly taken aback at her calmness. Moiraine looked slightly confused, but it rapidly disappeared under a mask of Aes Sedai serenity. "Do you two know each othe-" There was a banging heard downstairs and a voice could be heard yelling. "Where is the Tar Valon witch! Tell me where she is and I won't burn this light-forsaken inn down!" Moiraine looked momentarily surprised, but quickly recovered, "Whitecloaks are here, Kairi come with us. Moiraine channeled earth to create footholds in the stone wall outside, Kairi quietly stepped down and got on a black stallion that she'd chosen for his similarity to Mandarb, named Manshima or "Sword" (She kept him in the inn's stable). Behind her she heard Lan and Moiraine mount as well. Moraine took off at a gallop, followed by Lan and herself. Kairi looked towards Lan, "What happened?"

"After you left I spent most of my time fighting Trollocs, my life lost purpose and I just wandered around with some old friends of mine. Later I met Moiraine and got caught up in an incident with the Black Ajah. After that was over Moiraine asked to bond me, I agreed."

"Never thought you would become a warder."

"What about you?"

"I've spent my time as a mercenary, I'm not exactly proud of it, but all I can do is fight. I've made quite a name for myself though, people started calling me the Gatekeeper."

Lan almost lost control of his horse at Kairi's announcement. "What! You're the Gatekeeper!" He laughed loudly at a sudden thought, "The Greens are going to be dissapointed they've all been looking for this "Gatekeeper" to become one of their warders!" She'd never thought Lan could laugh this much.

"Lan, are you okay?"

"Sorry, I'm fine. It was just because the Greens have been asking me for weeks who the Gatekeeper was, and now I find out that it's you. Did you know that, according to rumors, your six foot tall and wear black armor stained with the blood of your victims?"

"Somehow I'm not surprised by it, who'd want to admit they were beaten by a five and a half foot tall young women in leather armor? At least they got the black part right though."

Moiraine interrupted their conversation by stopping at a strange stone pillar. She turned towards Kairi, "Place your hand on the pillar and focus on this symbol, empty your mind till you see a light and then embrace that light, it will take us to a safe haven I've found. Kairi listened to her and emptied her mind, she could 'see' a strange light in the distance, she tried to grasp it. The whitecloaks were growing closer. It wasn't working. She turned her will against the light, drawing it to her, then finally successfully embraced the light and felt it rip through her, pouring into the symbol, fire burned her lungs and the wind sought to throw her off her feet. She felt the world shift and quickly lost conciousness.