I watched Crystal intently. She kept adjusting Lilly in her arms as if she was too heavy, but she refused to let anyone else carry Lilly. I sensed that she was attempting to hide something from me but I could not determine what. Every time moved to help her she stepped away.

But that was not the only thing on my mind. I was still thinking about the silver-haired stranger I had encountered earlier. For some reason I felt drawn to him, but I feared getting close because I could not recall meeting him. I was afraid it was a trap, or maybe a trick.

"Roxanne, are you alright," said a meek voice coming from my left shoulder.

I turned to see Rosaline staring at me intently. She was wearing a pair of sky blue jeans with holes worn out in both knees. Her shirt fit her loosely, and was grey in color. She always looked adorable, like a little kid.

"I am fine, just worried about Crystal carrying Lilly on her own. She looks weak. Maybe it's because of how late it is," I said in response.

"I am sure it's just late. Crystal wouldn't try and hide something from you."

"I hope your right Rosaline. I just get this feeling that she and Lilly always have something they are not telling me. Something important."

"Don't worry so much kid," said another voice coming from my right side.

I smiled because I knew who it was. She adorned herself in tight jeans with a water pattern bleached into them. Her top was white with a hint of mint green to it. It flowed loosely, and allowed everyone to see the halter of her swimsuit.

"Yeah remember what the pig thing in that one world said... Hakuna matata," sang another person on my right.

I smiled and laughed, as Daina, and Alex began to sing hakuna matata softly.

Alex was wearing her tight black shirt that had a dark red fire pattern to it, and black shorts with the red thread. She had on half gloves that were bright red.

I began to sing along and Rosaline skipped along with the three of us. A couple of the others joined with the four of us, but the majority of my guardians just shook their heads. The older ones found this behavior foolish, and constantly reminded us that we have to grow up sometime.

Before I knew it, we had reached the tavern. The tavern's exterior was covered in what looked like sandstone bricks. Its windows were dark in frame and contained stained yellow glass. I held the wooden door open for Crystal, who went in first, followed by Xyenne who talked to the Tavern keeper. We knew him well, because of how often I gave concerts for him. He agreed to let all of us stay for two concerts, and a club performance. Crystal made her way down the hall to the dining area.

"Can we have some drinks, it doesn't matter if we have to pay or not. I just need some strong coffee badly," she called over her shoulder.

"That's not a problem at all," replied the tavern keeper.

He was a short man. Barely my height. He had shaggy brown hair and sharp green eyes. His shoulders were broad, and his stomach lumped out a little. All his features were rather sharp giving him an appearance of unpleasantness. However, the opposite was true. He was a rather kind gentleman always willing to lend a helping hand. He was married with two kids. One boy, Timmy, and a little girl, Gloria. They were both adorable, but I rarely saw them now that they had school.

We all made our way down to the dining area. The halls were lit with old-fashioned as lamps, and had wood paneling on the walls. When the tavern owner came in with the coffee, he gave Crystal a key. She went to the room to lay Lilly down. Shortly after she left, the group we had met earlier came in. Mickey walked up to our group and began talking to me.

"Roxanne is everything alright," he asked.

"Yeah everything's fine. Lilly got attacked, but she will be ok," I responded watching the tavern keeper now walking toward me.

"I'll tell you what. I'll fix a whole meal for every one of you, it you," he said pointing at me. "Sing for a while. Three songs are all I ask."

I looked at him wearily but shook my head in agreement. I pulled a stool up on the stage, and the tavern owner switched on the mike. I noticed that everyone except my group had separated out. The group that came with Xemnas sat separately from those that had arrived with Mickey.

"Not to many," Crystal said entering the room. "You have to meet the prince tomorrow."

I scowled at her deeply, and several of my guardians shook their head, while others refused to make eye contact with anyone but the table. Daina, Alex, and Rosaline, joined me on the stage, and readied their instruments.

First, we sang Hum hallelujah.

It flowed beautifully, but used plenty of my energy. I decided I would have to take it slower.

Swing Life Away. I loved this song ever since I first heard it. Btu by the time I was done, I new I only had the energy to sing one more song.

Best of me. It put a smile o several faces. I took my bow and returned to the group.

"That's enough. Everyone to bed. Now," demanded Crystal.

I moaned but followed orders. I did not want to get up in the morning, and I did not want to have to meet the prince. But most of all I did not want to marry someone. I knew there was a person was out there, I felt it in my heart. I also knew he was not a prince by any means. What I really wanted was to solve the nagging feeling I had. The nagging feeling tat the one I was searching for was close. But, I knew I could not find him. Why go through the frustration? Besides, Lilly said he does not exist.

I could not sleep at all that night. I tossed and turned for hours. Always too hot or too cold. I could not get comfortable no matter what. Front, Back, left, or right, it was all uncomfortable. Eventually I gave up and left a note on the nightstand. I tiptoed down the halls and headed for the seaport. When I got outside, the sky was full of starts that seemed to lead me to my destination. Every one of the stars winked at me as I ran. Finally, I reached the dock. I walked up and down it admiring the water. Its clear cool blue tone and its crystal complexity baffled me. Finally, I could not walk any further and took a seat on the dock. I used my magic to call the water to me. I pooled it all together and gave it another spell.

"Is the one I love close," I asked the water.

The word yes appeared in shaky letters.

"Can you show him to me?"

The water told me no and drizzled out of my hands and back to the sea. I cried softly.

"I don't understand. Why can't I see him? I know I've met him."

I lay down on the dock and closed my eyes listening to the ocean. The waves flowed in and out, spraying my body as it passed by. Soon the soothing sound put me fast asleep.

When I awoke Rosaline was there bedside me.

She told me what had happened at the tavern before she left.

My alarm sounded waking everyone up. Lilly and Crystal entered my room to start getting me ready for my meeting. Their hair was messed up and they both wore the same uniformed pajamas.

"Where is she," screamed Lilly as she helped Crystal rummage through my room.

Alex and Crystal stopped in front of the door.

"What are you two doing," asked Daina.

"What does it look like?! Roxanne ran off somewhere and she is supposed to meet the prince in a couple of hours," yelled Crystal.

Alex calmly walked by Crystal and picked up the note I had left on the table. She then proceeded to read it aloud.

"Couldn't sleep, went to the pier. Love Roxanne. Gee... I wonder where she is," said Alex rolling her eyes.

"Haven't got a clue," said Daina sarcastically.

Crystal and Lilly both looked at Alex and Daina like they were going to kill them both.

Crystal snatched the note, and the two took off for the pier.

Alex and Daina continued to the dining area for breakfast. Mickey and Xemnas's group soon joined.

Alex and Daina challenged Ziya and Zephyra to a dance off. When that was over there was a chugging contest of everyone's favorite drinks. It ended in a tie between Alex, and Daina. Everyone was laughing and having a great time. They turned up the music and Alex, and Daina got everybody up and moving.

"Where's is Rosaline," asked Marabelle.

"No clue," responded Luna.

We sat in silence after she had finished.

"I don't want to marry him Rosaline," I said facing her.

Rosaline had joined me at daybreak to watch the sunrise.

"I know, but you don't have a choice."

"I wish there was some way out of this."

"So do I. I want you to find that guy you always dream about."

"So do I. I wish I could just picture him, and hear his voice clearly. I know he is close by."

"Really!"

"Yup, I even tested it out, but the spell wouldn't show me his face."

"Roxanne," yelled two familiar voices from behind me.

Rosaline and I turned to face the voices.

Lilly approached me first grabbing me by the arm.

"Come. You must get ready now. We've only got an hour."

I unwilling got to my feet and went back with Crystal and Lilly. Rosaline followed closely behind.

Back at the Tavern, they shoved me into a dress, and did my make-up. Then they shoved me out the door and hurried me down to the common area where I was to meet the prince and his father.

As I reached the area, I noticed a dark presence surrounding it.

The king and his son approached us. The son examined me like a piece of meat. He looked exactly like I thought he would. Handsome and stuck up. His father seemed to be an older version of him.

"Father isn't there anyone, well prettier, or less weak."

I bit my lip to keep from lunging at the boy.

"My son this is the fairest lady of them all."

"But she is so..."

I could not hear the rest because he was whispering.

Suddenly my heart started pounding. I turned quickly and fired a spell at the pureling behind me. I watched as more appeared surrounding the area along with heartless. Lilly, Crystal, and I surrounded the king and his son and began fighting them. But the more we killed the bigger they got. Soon one in particular caught my attention. I remained focused on getting to it, killing all the others that got in my way. By the time I got to it, the others were all dead. I knew what was special about this one. This one had Marabelle's heart. I killed it with one fatal blow, and caught the heart.

"What are you doing," asked Lilly approaching me.

"It's Marabelle's heart."

"Are you certain," asked Crystal.

"Positive. I need to get it to her soon."

"Ahem."

The three of us turned to the king and his son.

"We must decide and get this done first. Besides this takes precedence over some stupid thing," said the king pointing to the heart.

Lilly's temper flared. She knew what she must do. Something that had nagged at her until she had banished the darkness from her heart. But now that the darkness was back, and so was the nagging. Telling her to break tradition.

"Your son is unfit to marry her. I cannot force her to marry anyone, nor can I say that I wish to."

"How dare you," roared the king.

But he was to late the three of us had turned our backs and taken off towards the Tavern.

"MARABELLE," I screamed running into the dining center.

Everyone fell quite as I entered, and walked towards Marabelle.

"I found your heart, Marabelle," I said to her, letting her see the light it emitted.

"Oh, Roxanne. How can I ever repay you?"

"I told all of you, that if you would stay with me, I would find your hearts. You owe me nothing Marabelle. You have kept your end of the bargain. I promise I will find the rest of yours," I said turning to everyone.

"I've decided. That I don't want mine back Roxanne," said Xyenne with her head bowed.

-The End-

Elizabeth Rose Austin