Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or Disney characters. Sachiel and Destiny are my own characters and may be used with permission.

Half a Heart: Destiny's Story

Part Three: Collecting The Princesses

A/N: Well, hello! Third chapter is up and I'm terribly sorry that it took so long to write. I've had horrible writer's block and just no motivation to write!! I hope you enjoy the story, please read and review.

"Where are we?" I asked quietly, looking up to the older boy. A new world, obviously, but... which world? Looking around, I drank in the surroundings. We were in a small room, furnished with a bed, a table, a stove and a few other miscellaneous items around the place. On the table sat two small bottles. One orange and one blue.

Sachiel walked towards the table, picking up the blue bottle. With only a moment's hesitation, he lifted the vial to his lips, drinking about half a swallow. He handed it to me and, before my eyes, he started to shrink. He was as tall as me when I rubbed my eyes, but when I looked again, he was no bigger than a foot.

"S-Sachiel?"

"Drink the rest of that and follow me." He murmured. I watched him walk across the floor towards a hole in the wall.

"W-What?" I took a step after him, biting my lip. I didn't want to drink it. What would happen if it made me too small? What if I couldn't get bigger?

"You ask too many questions. Just do it."

I looked to the small bottle between my fingers and slowly put it to my mouth, drinking the rest down. Suddenly, there was pain. It started from my chest, and it spread all the way through my body. I shut my eyes, tight, wanting it to pass. When I opened them again, I was just a little smaller than Sachiel-- who had disappeared into the hole.

I walked through the doorway, peering around for the older boy. "Sachiel?" I called quietly. It seemed that I was outside now; there were roses growing on tall hedges that surrounded the area. It was green and it smelled earthy. I was outside, in the sunlight, and I still couldn't feel warmth...

I finally spotted the boy. He had climbed up the hedges on one side, and was standing on the top, his eyes lowered to the ground. I could hear voices, but I couldn't tell what was going on.

I bit my lip and hooked my fingers into the dark green leaves. Luckily, I didn't cut my hands open on any thorns. I made my way up the hedge, slowly, hoping not to fall.

"You're slow..." The boy murmured, glancing to me as I pulled myself up onto the flat part of the hedges. I rose to my feet, quivering slightly.

I glared. "Well, I'm sorry, but I happen to have no upper body strength."

"You talk too much."

"Why are we here? What are we doing?"

Sachiel rubbed his temples, looking back at me. "Too. Many. Questions." He growled and then shook his head, looking back to the ground. "We're...borrowing someone."

"Borrowing...someone? You mean like, kidnapping!?"

The boy smirked. "I suppose you could say that."

"No! That's wrong, Sachiel!"

"Shut up, would you?" The boy murmured, crouching down to watch the scene below us.

"This girl is the culprit. Why? Because I say so, that's why! How do you plead?" The question came from a plump woman, dressed in a very bright red. It almost hurt my eyes to look at. The men that posed as bodyguards were nothing more than cards.

"Not Guilty!" This time, the cry came from a young girl. Her blonde curls fell over her shoulders and were tied neatly back with a blue bow to match her dress. She wasn't very old and she certainly didn't look guilty of anything.

"And what do you have to say in your defense?" Asked the woman angrily, who I learned to be the Queen of Hearts.

"Why, I've done nothing wrong!" The child, Alice, shouted back. She didn't seem happy at all. I looked to Sachiel.

"So who are we kidnapping, then, huh?"

"Her. The kid." He muttered, nodding his head towards the blonde. "She's the Princess." My eyes widened. Not only were we going to kidnap someone, but a child? I sighed heavily.

"Why?" I murmured, biting my lip. "Why, Sachiel?"

"Destiny, I said stop asking questions." The boy growled, narrowing his golden eyes at me. I pouted and hugged myself, turning my attention back to what was going on. My heart, or whatever was left of it, I suppose, nearly stopped. Sora.

The keyblade's chosen one was standing behind Alice, weapon in hand. He looked ready to fight to protect the girl. And I certainly didn't want to fight him. I gave a sigh and turned away. I didn't want to even look at Sora. It made me think of Destiny Islands and how much I wanted to go back, even though I had only been away for a short time.

After a few moments of arguing, Sora ran off into the forest to gather clues or something of the sort. Sachiel nudged me with his elbow.

"Ready?"

"For what?" I murmured, looking up to him. He opened a portal and stepped inside, beckoning me to follow with his finger. I hesitated, looking around before stepping inside. The portals were just so... strange. This was only the second time I had ventured into one.

It felt like I couldn't breathe. It looked like it could go on forever in all directions, but felt as though I was in a space no bigger than a closet at the same time. And it was dark. That was my least favorite part of all.

"W-Where are we going?" I asked softly, not liking the eerie silence at all.

Sachiel said nothing, but simply pointed ahead, where light was visible. In just a moment, we were back into the light and I was relieved.

It looked like we were in the same place that we had just left, but the shrubbery was thicker and there was a golden cage in front of us. Inside the cage was Alice, her back turned to us. Her fingers were hooked around the small bars that kept her captive.

Sachiel cracked his fingers before holding one hand out, palm to Alice, as he watched black-purple tendrils – the same ones he had used on me – curl from his hands and move towards Alice.

They started at her legs, snaking their way up to her arms and mouth. When she turned to scream, one moved across her mouth. The heartless boy raised an eyebrow, satisfied with himself apparently.

She went to pull at the thick, rope-like darkness at her wrists, but they only tightened, making the girl look around, eyes wide.

I bit my lip and turned away, feeling horrible.

"Get her." Sachiel said, turning to me and crossing his arms. "Now, we have to get back to Lord Ansem before he gets angry."

I nodded slowly, moving over and pulling at the back of the cage. To my surprise, it came swinging open quite easily and I sighed. I reached in, grabbing Alice's wrists. I pulled her out, sighing. Her eyes widened more and she dug her heels into the ground, shaking her head. She didn't want to go, but... what choice did I have?

Sachiel rolled his eyes. "Hurry up."

I glared at him, pulling her with all of my weight. But she was about my size and she wouldn't budge!

After several unsuccessful moments of pulling on her, Sachiel finally came over, taking her wrists and easily pulling her forward. I mumbled angrily as I followed him and the frightened girl.

"We've returned, Lord Ansem." Sachiel said loudly as we walked into the library. He started up the semi-spiral staircase and moved to his desk, bowing and pulling Alice with him. I stayed down, twisting my hands together. That man scared me and I didn't want anything to do with him. So, I figured if I stayed down here, he wouldn't see me. But I quickly found out that I was wrong.

"Destiny, get up here!" Sachiel growled at me, glaring.

I hesitated again before I hurried up the stairs, bowing instantly. "I'm sorry, Lord Ansem." I murmured softly. He simply waved his hand to dismiss it.

"You have finished your mission... Sachiel, please show Alice to her room... Destiny, you may leave."

I waited for Sachiel to stand before I did the same, giving another small bow before hurrying back down the stairs, muttering to myself.

I decided to head to the Rising Falls. It was my favorite place in all of Hollow Bastion. It was the lightest part of the world – which really isn't saying much – and it was just so pretty. I stopped on the way there to grab my sketch book. I felt like drawing.

Giving a look around, I carefully moved a couple blocks of ice down from the top and settled down, sitting cross legged. I felt my bare skin press against the ice, but it didn't bother me at all.

"What are you doing?" Sachiel murmured, bending over my shoulder. I was a third of the way through my drawing. It was the little princess Alice. She had her arms behind her back, but there weren't many details yet.

"I'm drawing." I murmured, glancing up at him before returning to the picture.

Sachiel watched in silence for a few moments before asking another question. "Who?"

"That little girl we had to kidnap." I murmured, starting to add in some of her facial details.

"...Why? Do you feel bad or something?" He murmured, leaning a bit closer to look at the pad. His head was right beside mine and I nearly jumped a foot when I felt him put a hand on my shoulder.

"...yes, I feel bad..." I muttered quietly after a moment of silence. I moved down to add the lace onto her little dress as I waited for Sachiel's next query.

He stayed silent, watching my hands move. It was a little awkward. My mommy-- I mean, my mother-- used to say that I was good at drawing, but I'd never had anyone pay this much attention to me before.

I glanced up to him and smiled softly before concentrating on finishing my drawing again. Maybe if he stayed quiet, I could forget he was there.

Finally, I finished completely and I was proud of myself. I really liked it. I made a mental note to show it to Alice. I wanted her to know that I was sorry for having to take her away and that I didn't have any malicious intent. I knew she had to be scared, in a new world all by herself...

"...you're good at that." Sachiel muttered and I frowned, looking up at him. I doubted that I'd ever get a compliment from him. He was so stoic and he only seemed to care about Ansem.

"Uh...uh, thanks?" I murmured softly, looking up to him.

He said nothing, turning away and shaking his shaggy, blonde hair from his face. He obviously didn't give compliments very often. But that made sense, I guess. After all, it had only been Ansem and himself living in Hollow Bastion for who knows how long, right?

I closed the pad and stood slowly, nearly slipping on the ice. I grabbed onto Sachiel for support and blushed deeply, standing up straight.

"Sorry..."

He said nothing, turning and already starting to go up to the Lift Stop. I hurried up after him, book clutched close to my body. I gave one last look around before we stepped onto the floating platform and we ascended to the castle.

"Hey, Sachiel?"

"Hm?"

"Why are you and Lord Ansem the only two that live here?"

"You live here too, Destiny..." He muttered.

"Of course! I knew that, but, I meant aside from me! Three people in such a huge castle?"

He shrugged. "I don't know." I couldn't tell if he was lying, or he really didn't know. But I decided to not ask anymore questions. He said I asked too many already.

End Part Three

A/N: Crappy ending, I know, I know. And I'm sorry for it. But I'm lazy and I really want to get these first three chapters posted. So please read and review, thanks!