Mei remained silent as the two strangers entered the room. The older of the two was yelling at the teenage girl. A reason she did not know, but dared not to ask. Mei appeared not to be seen or was being ignored at the moment. Whichever one it might be, they didn't look at her. She glanced over to where Xehanort was, but he was no longer there. Whatever the two were arguing about it escalated. The older woman grabbed the girl and yanked a wooden, looked handcrafted, bow and tossed it into the fire. Mei wasnted to interfere but resisted knowing that she would only cause more distress.
The younger girl gasped then marched out of the room in a fit of rage. A Snap was heard from the fire. The bowstring had snapped from under the heat of the fire. Mei wasn't sure what was going on, but it seemed quite grave. The woman was frantically trying to reclaim the bow, as if regretting what she had done earlier.
"Oh Merida.." The woman's voice was cracking and tears were streaming down her face.
"Umm Excuse me..." Mei said softly, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. The woman looked up, shocked, but still in deep sadness.
"Child... Who are you and how did you get in here?" She croaked, attempting to hold back more tears.
"My name is Mei... and I don't know how I got here. I just woke up in the bed." She said, only remembering that much.
"You...Go bring my Merida back. Please. I'll give you anything." The woman pleaded as she rose. Mei was silent, but nodded and asked for the woman's name.
"Elinor. Elinor Dunbroth."
"All right. I'll bring her back any ideas where she might have run off to?" Mei asked. Elinor was still caked in tears as she looked at Mei.
"Yes. The woods. She loves to go out there. Very unfitting for a princess. You can borrow one of my horses."
Mei thanked Elinor and left the room then exited the castle where she ended up in the courtyard. Outside there seemed to be another disagreement, except this time it was with three men. A short, stout one with spiky blond hair, a tall skinny man with messy black hair. The last was tall and muscular his hair was a dirty blonde, but they covered his eyes. Mei was tempted to ask what was wrong, but she knew it was not her place to. With that thought she headed toward the stables which was just right of the main gate. There stoood three horses and four stalls. Mei walked over to the empty one and read the name plaque. Angus. This must be the horse Merida took. Mei looked around for a stablehand. She found him, but he seemed to preoccupide with the arguing men.
With the Stablehands help or not she was going to get a horse and bring Merida back. She walked over to a light brown Clydsdale with a black mane and read his name plaque. Shea. Shea grunted nervously at Mei, but quickly calmed down once she gently took ahold of his reigns and lead him out of the stables. Mei mounted the horse and whipped his reigns to guide him to the forest.
For about thirty minutes Shea and Mei rode silently in the densly covered forest. Slowly a figure came into view, as they pressed closer it was revealed to be a large rock formation around a circular pattarn. Shea stopped abruptly, surprising the girl, but she was able to stay on top of the horse.
"Whoa Shea!" The Clydsdale reared up on its hind legs, as if frightened by something.
"Shea! Shea!" Finally Shea relaxed a little, but his movements stilled remained antsy. Mei jumped off the horse and walked into the middle of the rock formations. Why did this rocks upset Shea so much? Suddenly tiny creatures appeared. They were a dark purple with tiny limps, and their eyes had a yellow twinkle, but seemed empty. As if they were searching for something.
"Wha-!? What are these?!" Mei's voice was shrill and fearful.
"Call forth the Keyblade, Mei Hearts!" Shouted a familiar old voice.
"Xehanort! She gasped staring at the man in the black cloak. "Help me! What are these things!" One of the dark monsters extended its hand and scratched Mei. She winced and jumped back.
"I can not help you child. Call forth the Keyblade!" Xehanort said sharply. "The power inside you needs to be awaken! Allow it child, heed its call!"
Mei looked back over at the monsters and took a deep breath. Closing her eyes she instinctively opened her right hand. Suddenly she felt something in it and opened her eyes. There, in her hands, was a Keyblade. The Keyblade was a forest green color with light blue flames around it. It had a more circular handle than square. Mei was stunned at the weapon in her hand, but was also mystified by its beauty. Quickly the small creatures attacked again, but Mei reacted just as fast. Slicing at them swiftly and defeated them. Once they vanished a light appeared from them as a form of a heart. It flew away into the sky and disappeared. Mei's Keyblade also vanished once they were defeated.
"Well done Mei." Said Xehanort, congratulating her, his hands behind his back as he approached the girl. She blushed slightly feeling proud, but also greatly confused.
"Xehanort. What were those monsters... and what did I just have?"
The old man had a smile plastered on his wrinkled face. He seemed awfully pleased by the results she had given him.
"Those creatures, my dear Mei, are called Heartless and the blade you just weilded is called a Keyblade."
Mei began asking the old man questions revolving the two subjects. Xehanort, who was more than pleased, answered fruitfully, but was also quite careful on what he shared. After a few mintues of Q&A Mei seemed content with his answers, trusting him completly.
"Heartless and Keyblades..." Mei put her arm forward and opend her hand as he had instructed. Right when she did that the Keyblade appeared again.
"That Keyblade is called Will O'Wisp" Exclaimed Xehanort.
"It's so pretty... and it chose me. Wow." Said Mei in amazement.
"Yes, now shouldn't you be searching for a girl?"
"Right! Thanks Xehanort!" She withdrew her Keyblade and raced back to Shea and mounted him. Xehanort nonchalantly walks over to her and grasped her hand. "Wait..." His voice trailed off as he looked away from her, back toward the rock formation. Mei looked as well and saw a small floating blue flame. It had small white eyes and gestured in a way as if to say Follow me.
"Follow the Wisp Mei. They will lead you." Said Xehanort letting go of her hand.
"Thank you again Xehanort, you have been so helpful and kind to me. I hope we will meet again soon!"
Shea apprehensivly walked toward the Wisp. Once the two were close the lone Wisp disappeared then reappeared with more Wisps. A path of Wisps leading deeper into the woods. Shea reared up and followed the Wisp path. As they rode away, Xehanort watched. A smirk across his face. He turned his back and summonded a dark purple portal and walked through it. As soon as he did, it closed and the woods continued to play a silent song.