Clothes Make the Kingdom

Kairi, Tine, and Riku sat in living room of Riku's house. It was several days later and they were still a bit shaken up by their battle with Larxene. Their wounds were almost healed, but they still were nervous and on edge in case of another attack.

"How's your hand, Tine?" asked Kairi. All of Tine's wounds had been fine, except for her hand which Larxene's dagger had penetrated during her defense of Walker.

Tine flexed her fingers and winced. "It still hurts a little, and it's stiff, but otherwise it feels fine. I'm made of stronger stuff than that" she joked. It was a joke which no one laughed at; all remembered that she was Kingdom Hearts.

"I wish I could say the same thing" said Riku, his face blushing red. Riku had suffered other, more embarrassing problems. Larxene's shock had temporarily damaged his central nervous system. Walker had injected Riku was adrenaline to get him moving again, but it wasn't a cure. Only time could do that. In the meantime however, Riku had been suffering from bouts of weakness…and bladder control problems. Kairi and Tine couldn't tease him about it; he had saved their lives with his sacrifice.

"I've been recovering" said Kairi. Her wounds were still bandaged and she had been ordered to avoid all rough playing of any sports, lest they open again. The doctors had assured her and her parents grimly that if something like that were to happen, then she would bleed to death before she could get to a hospital.

"So what are we going to do?" Tine asked.

"Do you know what we're doing?" Kairi said suddenly, angrily.

"What's that?" Riku asked.

"We're waiting!" she screamed at the empty house. "We're waiting for Sora and Donald and Goofy to get their asses here and tell us that they defeated the Organization with no trouble at all, and then Sora's going to do his hero bit, with that cheesy smile and---don't you dare shush me Namine---and then we'll all say how happy we are that they won."

"We will be happy" said Tine. "I'm tired of having the Organization on my back. It gets annoying after a while."

"I guess it does. It's sort of annoying that we have to bail your butt out all the time" said Kairi.

"I've been thinking" said Riku. "Maybe we should leave the Islands again. You know, find Sora. He's bound have taken the Organization down a few pegs. And we've helped him."

"I think that's a good idea" said a voice in the kitchen.

"Oh, damn it, what now?!" Riku said, summoning Way To Dawn. It had taken their Keyblades a while to regenerate after the fierce battle with Larxene. They all saw a woman dressed in a blue robe and blue pointed hat and veil walk toward them. Women dressed in a red and green version of those clothes stood behind her.

"Who are you?" Tine asked. "What are you doing in Riku's house?"

The blue robed woman smiled. "I am Flora" she said. She pointed to the ones in the red and green. This is Merrywhether and Fauna. We're here to help you, so relax."

"Yes" said Funa. "Now…." She looked at Tine. "So this is Kingdom Hearts. Amazing! And so pretty a form to put it in."

Tine blushed and coughed. "I…what did you come to help me with?" she demanded. "Who are you agents of? I sense some kind of power supporting you."

"Well, well" said Merrywhether. "Brains as well as strength and importance. We are the three servants of Yen Sid. Perhaps you've heard of him?"

Kairi and Tine shook their heads. Riku nodded. "I've heard of him. Maleficent used to say she was afraid of him ruining her plans with his great magic."

Flora chuckled grimly. "As well she should be afraid! Master Yen Sid's magic is very powerful. It is a blessing of that magic that we have come to deliver to you, Tine."

"What do you have to give to me?" Tine asked. "I don't need any magic to help me. I have Riot to help me fight. It's done well against the Organization and their Nobodies."

Fauna smiled at Tine and walked around her. Abruptly she pulled out a long tape measure and measured Tine from head to foot. "Hmmm…well, those are your measurements" she said. She laughed. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone besides Flora and Merrywhether. We women have to keep some secrets."

"Uh….yeah, okay" said Tine.

Flora pointed to Riku and Kairi with her finger. "I think you two need to leave the room. What we're going to do and say to Tine requires her lovely ears only!" she said this in a sweet voice, but her eyes were serious.

"But---" Kairi went to protest, but Riku pulled on her arm.

"Come on, Kairi" he said. "If those three are servants of Yen Sid, then their magic will be very powerful. I don't really feel like fighting them for something like a bit of info, especially when we're still recovering." Kairi fought down her urge to argue and left the room with Riku.

When they were gone, Merrywhether pointed at the door. A glittering pink shield formed over the entrance. "Why did you do that?" Tine asked. "I trust Riku and Kairi. They won't try to break the door down. I'm not really happy with the way you've treated my friends."

"I am sorry for that, child" said Flora. "But you must believe us when we say that this requires you only. Tine, you are already familiar with what you are, correct?"

"Yes" said Tine. "I know that I am Kingdom Hearts. What of it, besides more things I already know?"

"Shhh" said Fauna. "I know that you think you know all, but that is not true. Do you know of the balance?"

"The balance?" Tine asked.

"Yes the balance between the Light and Dark?"

"N…no" Tine said. She sighed and sat on the couch. "You'd better tell me."

Gradually the three fairies explained the balance and the worlds. When they had finished, Tine shuddered. "Who else besides you and the mages knows about this?" she demanded.

"Sora and his friends know" said Flora. "They are determined to stop Xemnas at all costs. As are we."

"What about me?" Tine asked. "I could just say I don't want any part of this whole thing, and just run away right here and now. What stops me from opening a Dark Corridor and leaving?"

"You can run, but you cannot hide from what you are, Tine" said Merrywhether. She touched Tine's chest and Tine felt the same crowded feeling of too many memories that she had after the Heart Redemption Spell. She groaned and fell to the floor on her knees.

"Merrywhether!" Fauna said.

"She needs to understand what she is to this universe" said Merrywhether. "Just because you are Kingdom Hearts does not mean that you can act like a spoiled brat. Just the opposite. You have a responsibility, girl." She went to help Tine up, but Tine snarled and swept her hand away.

"You sound just like that bitch Maleficent" Tine said. "Are you saying that this is my destiny? I don't believe in destiny."

"We are not saying that this is your destiny" said Flora. "We are saying that there are some things that cannot be averted. This is one of them. It is not destiny. It is merely the efforts of all who are involved, good and evil. Like a machine that has various parts that function to move one another, this whole thing is moving toward its end…for better or for worse."

"Only in this case 'worse' means the destruction of the universe" said Merrywhether.

"Which brings us to our second point" said Fauna, looking pointedly at the other two as if to say that they had spent enough time grilling Tine with this topic. "We have used our magic to fashion enchanted attire that will allow you to utilize the opposing section of the balance."

"What?" Tine asked.

"We've made magic clothes that allow you to use your light powers" said Flora.

"But that's impossible!" said Tine. "No one can wield both light and dark powers at the same time!"

"Ah, but you are not just anyone, Tine" said Merrywhether. "You are Kingdom Hearts and can use both sides of the balance. So far you have been using only dark power because you were made to use it. It is in your genetics to prefer the dark side. It was put in there by Maleficent, curse her."

"But the clothes we have made for you allow you to use the other side of your nature" said Fauna. "If you can use the power of light and darkness…you will be infinitely more powerful. Powerful enough to prevail at the time of the final confrontation with Xemnas that is sure to come."

Merrywhether motioned for Tine to get up. "Now, let's see how you like them." The three of them pointed at Tine. There was a flash of light as Tine's current clothes went up in a plume of white smoke. When it cleared, she was wearing an old fashioned polka dotted dress.

"What the fuck?!" Tine screamed.

"Sorry, sorry, no need to use profanity" said Flora. "Alright girls, let's try it again." They all pointed again. This time, when the smoke cleared, Tine was wearing a long trench coat, a business shirt and brown pants held up by suspenders and a fedora hat on her head.

"If this is what I have to deal with…" she growled.

"Wait, one more time" they said. They all pointed and another flash of white smoke went off. When it cleared, Tine sucked in her breath. She was wearing a short black jacket (like the one Roxas has) with white t-shirt. Silver runes were emblazoned on the back of the jacket. The zipper was shaped like a heart. Her legs were clad in gray jeans with a multitude of pockets on the outside. Her sneakers had been replaced by ankle high boots almost like Sora's. The Heartless symbol necklace she had always worn was gone, signaling the end of her dependence on the darkness.

"It's beautiful" said Tine. "Thank you so much!"

"These clothes will never have to be washed" said Flora. "They repel dirt and only the greatest of magical attacks can tear them. They will allow you to use light or darkness as you please. Like we said before, it is not that you cannot use both powers, you just don't know how."

Tine grinned. "I do know! I do know how to do it now!"

"Good, good" said Flora. "Unfortunately, unlike the ones we gave to Sora, they will not transform you into something else when you go to a world where your human form is not needed."

"Huh? Why not?" Tine asked.

"Because the magic required to overcome the barriers that Maleficent put inside you to bar the power of light was too much to fit other stuff into the clothes" said Merrywhether.

Tine shrugged. "I guess I can't have everything. Well, thanks. But it's not like I'm going anywhere anytime soon. So it doesn't matter about the transformations, does it?"

Actually, yes it does" said Fauna. "Soon you will have need of these clothes. Whether you leave this world or not, Xemnas or his minions will find you. Then it will be a fight, not just for your own existence, but for the universe itself."