Ari panted, appalled and perplexed herself by her heated reaction to Riku's demand. What was happening to her? She almost never lost her temper and when she did it never came to screaming or throwing. A tear fell from her eye, sliding down her pale cheek and hitting the hardwood floor with a little splat. No. Don't cry. You have to be strong. Don't let it control you. She thought wiping away the watery track the tear made. Three days shouldn't be too hard. She thought more cheerfully. That is, if they don't bother me again. They were the ones who provoked her weren't they? If they'd have just left her alone like she'd asked – but Ari dismissed that thought. They were only concerned for her and she didn't want to think on the matter any more. Better she didn't think of them at all.
Ari thought then of her father. She learned upon returning to Radiant Garden that Riku was mistaken in telling her that her father was dead. After Sora defeated Xemnas, she found out that her father's machine, to convert Kingdom Hearts into data, exploded and no one knew what happened to him. It was generally accepted that he was dead. Ari knew that dead or alive, she would never see her father again. She missed him terribly. They had been very close. He was her best friend, especially after Ari's mother died. It was hard for both of them, but more so for Ansem. His daughter looked so much like her mother, but Ari was practically his shadow. She was so much like him. As a little girl, Ari would follow him everywhere; even when she wasn't supposed to and that often got Ari into trouble.
Back at Radiant Garden it was currently being discussed whether or not Ari would succeed her father. Ari didn't think she that she couldn't rule, but she would prefer not to. She liked to travel and see the worlds. How could she govern a world she was always away from? This was exactly the issue being debated at Radiant Garden by the committee. Leon and Arieth thought Ari shouldn't be obligated to rule and should be able to do as she wanted. The two thought that elections were the most prudent course of action. Sid and Yuffie thought that elections would prove too much trouble and that it would just be easier for Ari to take the throne. Elections might breed dissent and disagreement. Merlin however, took both sides of the argument and never seemed be able to settle on one. And then there was that new guy. The creepy little man who had weaseled his way into the committee. He was mum as to his opinion. The others seemed to like him, but Ari distrusted him. His name was Souta and he had been admitted to the committee shortly after Sora and company had restored the worlds back to the norm.
Ari was confused as to what to do. She would like not to have the burden of ruling but if she had to, of course she'd take the throne. It was all so very confusing. What was going to happen to the people if her heart was lost to darkness? Ari worried for her home's safety. Had it survived the heartless attach?
These thoughts ran through Ari's mind. Circled and looped, drifted in and out, and raced around in her restless head until they drove her to exhaustion and she slept.