MEL

I woke up the next morning to find that I still held Riku's blindfold in my hands. I decided that it was good luck charm so I tied it around my belt. Everyone was gone except Axel who remained sleeping in the floor muttering something. I got off the bed and knelt down beside him.

"Got it…. memorized…..?" He mumbled.

I giggled quietly and put my hand on his arm.

"Axel… Axel wake up."

His eyes opened and he looked up at me.

"Oh, hey Mel. Did you get a good night's sleep?" He asked.

"Yes I did… some how…"

My hand traveled down to the blindfold.

Could it be this? Maybe it truly will be my security and comfort.

Axel seemed to notice my security and he smiled.

"Whose is that?"

"Oh…. It's Riku's. I think it was what helped me sleep last night…."

"Ooh….." He cooed.

"Shut up! He said he didn't need it anymore and so he gave it to me last night…. Then he made me fall asleep…." I pouted.

AXEL

Okay, I may not have 'the sixth sense' or a friggin' Keyblade, but I'm not stupid. I know what it's like to fall for someone and Mel is not fooling me. She is totally diggin' Riku.

"Uh-huh…. Alright…. So where is everyone?"

"I don't know…. That's why I woke you up…"

"Oh…. Great," I said sarcastically, "This is what I wanted to do as soon as I got up…"

Mel smiled and rolled her eyes. I stood up and brushed off my black shirt.

"You know…. I really miss my cloak. It was really durable…. And warm…"

"Oh brother…" Mel began, "You know…. I sure did pick a whiner for my best friend…"

I looked down at her with puppy-dog eyes.

"I'm your best friend??"

"Not if you continue to annoy me…" She laughed.

"Right."

We walked out the front door and walked down to the beach. Waka and Tidus were playing Blitz Ball again and Riku was sitting alone in the tide.

"Riku, what are you doing?" Mel called out as she ran over to him.

I scratched the back of my head and looked around. This place really was beautiful. I didn't have time to look when I swung by to capture Kairi. I still feel really bad about that. Riku turned around and a smile spread across his face.

Was that a smile, from Riku??

He stood up and brushed the sand from his baggy jeans.

This is interesting….

I began to walk over to them.

"Well…. Sora and Kairi are already over on the island. I decided to wait here for Axel and you."

Nice cover up. Putting my name first. Hah! That's an old trick! So Riku likes Mel?? Wait….

"So…. Are we going to practice the spells?" Mel asked.

"Yes…."

"So…."

"Okay…. Let's go."

Riku put his thumb in his pocket and his hand hung loosely from it. Mel turned around and stuck her tongue out at me for now particular reason.

"Meanie…" I jarred.

She turned back around and grinned. Riku led us to his boat and the three of us climbed in.

With Riku…. I'm not so sure that he likes her. She just likes him. That's the usual relationship. Two words…..' one way'.

After getting on the island we met Sora and Kairi sitting on the…. Poup . .Paopaah… Paopou Tree… island….. Thingy and then we got ready for some teachings. I went first. Kairi, Sora, and Riku sat on the strange tree and observed as Mel stood in the middle of the small island.

"Alright, Mel. I want you to close your eyes. And get out you Keyblade"

She did as she was told.

"Good Girl…" I cooed, "Now…. Remember the words?"

"Firaga….." She grumbled.

"Good. You have a good memory…I want you to feel the magic deep within you and speak those words."

MEL

I felt the warmth within me and I knew that was the magic I seeked. I smiled as I felt Axel's presence circling me. The Paopou tree was behind me so they were safe. I was going to show Axel.

Heh...Heh...Heh…

I felt Axel's presence circling around me. Just as he came to my left…

"Firaga!" I cried.

I quickly pointed the blade at him and fire came from within me, through the blade then out wards at Axel. They weren't just wimpy flames either. It was scorching river of fire. Axel suddenly brought out his circular weapons and vanquished my creation. He smiled at me.

"Nice try…. Now without trying to kill me… you going to learn my trick. The Firewall. I want you to put you Keyblade up. You don't need it for your magic. Your magic lies within you, not your Keyblade."

I whisked away my blade and listened to Axel.

"Spread your arms out to either side of you… good… now find the magic and speak the words. I know the whole 'find the magic' line is cheesy. But it will become second nature here in a few days…"

"Try the next few minutes…." Riku muttered.

"Well…. Yeah."

I felt the warmth flow within my veins and I flung out my arms.

"Firaga!!" I cried.

I felt warm wind flow around me and when I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by a wall of fire, even taller than Axel's. I saw my wall part just a bit as Axel came through.

"Not bad at all. It's already bigger than mine…" He grinned.

Suddenly the flames disappear and Riku stood before me. He peered at me through his silver bangs.

"Alright… I want to teach you a couple of things. First… it's Dark Shield. So touch the magic. Now I want you to block my attack."

RIKU

She closed her eyes and then they slightly opened. They were white.

Is that her magic??

I took out my Keyblade and ran up to her. I launched myself in the air and attacked her. Suddenly I hit a wall and bounced back. I hit the dirt.

That guard was really strong. Mine doesn't throw people backwards any more than a foot.

I was lying on my back. Mel as low to the ground but then she straightened her stance. The white in her eyes disappeared. She smiled triumphantly. I sat up and looked up at her in wonder.

She really is going to surpass us all. She won't need us to protect her. She'll probably be protecting us on this journey.

"Uh… good. Now… I want you to learn Dark Aura. It's like fire. You have to aim it…. But please don't aim at me… or anyone else…"

She giggled as her eyes turned white. I turned around and glanced at Sora and Axel. They seemed to be a bit petrified, too. She was getting used to her magic now. I circled her and she gracefully brought her hands together and stretched her arms out in front of her. An electric blue of power shot from her index fingers. The blue was so bright; it reminded me of her eyes. The surge was so big that it swallowed a palm tree and hit the sea. I looked at her. Her eyes turned to their blue. She looked up at the palm tree. It was now leaning backwards from the force.

"Oops..."

"That was cool…. Okay. Now Curaga. For instance we can work on that tree. You can't cure yourself with this spell. I know it doesn't sound very fair. But if you think about it, it makes sense. If you close to death… and you magic is tied into your energy source, then by curing yourself could kill you anyway."

She gave me a thoughtful look. She understood.

"Alright….. now for all these spells, once you get used to them, you won't even have to yell them out loud. Most of the time even if you just think about it, it will happen."

Her eyes turned white but they never left the tree. She raised her hand in the air and a green smoke spiraled around the tree. The palm tree stood up straight, the huge leaves grew larger, and coconuts grew. It looked healthier now then it had for all the years I've grown up here. She turned around and looked up at me.

"How was that?" She asked.

"Perfect…" I said with a smile.

MEL

Sora hopped down from the tree as Riku began to walk off, but then he turned back around and saw his blindfold tied to my belt. A half-smiled splayed across his face.

"Why are you keeping it?" He asked.

"Because you gave it to me….and I believe it's use is not over yet."

Riku nodded and walked towards the Paopou Tree. Sora came up to me.

"Okay…. So I'm going to teach you Thundaga and then Kairi wants to give you a few things after I'm done…"

I looked up at her and she gave me the sweetest smile. I touched the magic instantly.

"Okay… I'm ready…"

"Uh… right… okay…"

I let go of the magic. Sora couldn't look me in the eyes or anything.

"Sora? What's the matter?"

"Well…. You eyes turn white… when you reach you magic…. I've never seen anything like it…"

"Maybe it's the light within me…"

"Yeah… that would also explain why you could see through Riku's blindfold as well…."

"Wha-?"

"Yeah… he told me…"

"Oh…"

"So… juts do what you do best. If you think you are strong enough, then use Thundaga, but don't hit us nor the trees…."

"Okay…. I'll try…"

I touched the magic again, feeling the warmth fill my blood and my heart. I felt my feet leave the ground….

"What…." I began, but I almost lost the magic and almost fell.

In any case, I held onto the magic and yelled Thundaga. As the lightening bolts jolted through the sky, I saw one head towards Riku and Axel. In mid-air, I darted towards it and warped in front of it. I had seen Sora do it on the game…

I wonder if it would work…

I kicked the bolt and it shot off in a different direction. Another bolts aimed for a palm tree. I warped in front of that bolt and kicked it elsewhere. Noting else was in danger so I lowered myself to the ground and let go of the magic inside of me. Everyone came up to me.

"Whoa….. I'm kind of scared of you now…" Axel said.

I glanced behind me. I knew Donald and Goofy were here…. Some how. They both stared at me.

"Gwarsh," Goofy said, "You're already better than Donald…."

Donald crossed his arms and made a significant 'hmph'.

"Sorry, Donald." Sora said.

"Yeah, yeah." Donald grumbled.

Kairi walked up to me.

"You know….. you've been a really good friend and I am really going to miss you." She said with a soft smile.

I hugged her.

"You've been one of the best friends I've ever had… in fact all of you have. I've never had friends before….. so… thank you. Thank you Kairi, for welcoming me into your home. I love you. You're an amazing person. Sora will be very happy with you."

She blushed then handed me two small pink bags.

"I realize now that you don't like pink….. but they are bags that you can attach to your belt. You can carry potions and stuff in it. They will help you along you journey…."

I smiled as I latched them on and untied Riku's blindfold. It retied it around my left wrist.

"And also….." She handed me a necklace; "I have one just like it. So wherever you go, I am there too…"

I put it around my neck and hugged Kairi tightly.

"I don't think this is the end. If anything happens and I make it out okay…. I will meet you here…. Right on the Paopou Island."

Tears came to my eyes and also to Kairi's.

"Bye Kairi…"

"Bye Melody….. I'm glad to have met you… and when I am waiting for the boys… I'll be waiting for you too."

I smiled. Axel and Riku both smiled down at me as we walked off and left Sora alone with Kairi.

SORA

I walked over to Kairi and pulled her into my chest. She began to cry.

"Sora….. promise you'll be back and promise you'll bring Melody with you….."

"Alright…… I promise…"

I kissed her head and then her lips lightly.

"I'll be back….. I promise!" He said as he turned and left.

KAIRI

I will never forget the Paopou fruit we had shared.

He will come back. He always does. He always keeps his promises. Melody…. will she come back though? It does not matter though. I will wait for her, just as I waited for Sora and Riku's return so long ago. Or was it that long ago?

I will never forget the long stories we had told.

He promised. He promised.

Naminé will never forget Roxas, either. We will be together again.

He promised…..I promised…..