Mei rode off deeper into the woods, following the glowing blue wisps that led her through a path of more azure blue flames. Shea rode cautiously with its temporary rider to a small, vine covered cottage. It looked like to be made from the trunk of a tree that was angled to the side, almost like a 'U' shaped trunk. The cottage had smoke bellowing from the chimney of the wooden cottage. Coincidently the wisps led them straight to the cottage, the last of the glowing wisps stopped at the base of the door. Its white eyes shined up at them solemnly before disappearing with quick hissing noise.
The girl jumped off Shea and approached the cracked wooden door of the old cottage. She was about to knock when the door burst open and a scraggly looking crow flew out. It flew to a branch directly above Mei and eyed them with an amusing interest. It seemed to smile at them, in an almost creepy way, but Mei shook it off.
"Are you here for a wish too?" Cawed the crow hoarsely, but loud enough for Mei to hear and jump back in surprise. She looked up at the Crow questioningly. Did that Crow just talk? The dark bird opened its beak again.
"Caw! Did you hear me?" Mei's eyes widened at the sight and of her hears actually being right about hearing the large crow talking.
"A W-Wish? What do you mean?" The crow tilted its head and looked inside the cottage, Mei did also and saw a short old woman walking out.
She had wiry gray hair and a long, hooked noise. Her ears were large and drooping, her left ear had a circle earing with a swirling pattern while the left had a small bone hanging down vertically. Her right eye squinted a little, the other was wide open though with a dim yellow color. The crow flew to her and landed on the woman's shoulder and whispered something into her ear.
"Not here for a wish? Then why are you here dearie? Don't tell me the wisps led you here too." She said with rushed tone.
"Uhh actually they did. But I don't want anything, I was just looking for someone. A red headed girl with a torn blue dress-"
"Ah the feisty red haired princess!" The woman waved her finger at Mei. "Yes. She was here, but left quite awhile ago after I gave her one wish. Now if you don't mind I have to go. Going off for a little convention! Ta-ta!" The woman closed her door and snapped her fingers. The house made a whish sound before the woman smiled and walked off, a bag packed over her shoulder and the crow on the other. The crow looked over at Mei and spoke.
"If you hurry you just might run into her, Although its getting late now. Might want to try tomorrow morning. Caw!" Both the woman and the bird vanished in the blink of an eye and left Shea and Mei alone.
Mei stood there and placed her hand on Shea's nose. Comforting him. Shea seemed to have settled down more after the strange woman had left. However, now their only clue was to head to the castle, but it was getting dark out like the talking crow said. She looked up and saw the peach colored sky slowly turn into a dark abyss. The stars began peeking out from behind the dark curtain in the sky.
"We better find a place to rest, shouldn't we? We'll look for the girl tomorrow." Mei patted Shea's neck and guided him slowly around the forest. Although she didn't have the slightest clue where she was going, she felt like she should just trust her gut feeling and it told her to go north... At least she thought it was north.
Lucky for both of them after about two hours of walking in the woods they stumbled upon a river with a small waterfall. Mei guided Shea to the water and allowed her friend to drink. Poor horse hasn't had a drink all day and must be thirsty! Of course Mei wasn't that better off either. She bent down onto her knees and dived her hands in the water, cupping them together and taking a big gulp of water into her parched, dry throat. She let out a sigh of satisfaction when she finished. Mei sat down on the rocky bedded ground and stared at the sky's reflection in the water.
Today has been such a strange day. I remember Riku and Sora... and darkness on Destiny Island... The next thing I know I'm here. In another world! Thanks to Xehanort. He saved me and probably saved Sora and Riku too. I also learned about Keyblades and those strange creatures known as Heartless. It's so much to take in, but I want to learn more! I want to learn about other worlds besides this! I want to learn about Heartless... and Keyblades. Why I have a Keyblade. Xehanort said that the Keyblade chooses it's wielders, why was I chosen? Where is Riku and Sora? Where's Kairi?
Mei was nudged gently by Shea, she petted him affectionately and kissed his head. The horse seemed content being around Mei. To bad she couldn't keep him, she was only borrowing him to find the girl after all. Soon they would have to depart and go separate ways. This thought saddened her, but it is what it is.
"Let's rest for tonight Shea." She said and the horse nodded, as though it understood her. Shea laid down next to Mei and placed its head on the ground next to her feet. Mei patted his head and slowly began drifting off to sleep.

Next morning Mei was awoken by boisterous laughter and equally as loud grunts. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the red haired girl in the water with a large black bear. She quickly shot awake and rushed toward the girl, her keyblade instantly appearing in her hand. The red haired girl saw her and took a step back, the bear did also, and charged at Mei. Mei swung her blade at the bear's hand, whose paw was coming down on her with brute force. They clashed and Mei struggled to keep the weight of the bear's paw above her.
"Wait, stop! Don't hurt her!" Shouted the girl and Mei looked at her with astonishment.
"What do you mean! Wasn't it attacking you?!"
"No! This is my mother!"
"What!?" Mei focus broke and the bear's paw crashed down on Mei, but she was able to get out of the way just in time, but a claw scraped her and blood peeked through a small wound on her sword arm.
"What do you mean? How could a bear be your mother?" Mei asked as she looked at the bear. It still seemed angry, but didn't attack. It looked at Mei, as if inspecting her and recognizing her from somewhere. Suddenly the bear stood up on it's hind legs and trudged to the red haired girl.
"I uhh... I got a wish from a witch here in the forest. I was hoping to change my mom to change my fate of getting married- but I didn't mean to change her into a BEAR! I just..." The girl produced a single tear, but wiped it away. "I looked for the witch again, she wasn't there. Said, but left a message. She said I had to mend the bond. Fate be changed, mend the bond torn by pride. So my mother and I are trying to find clues."
"Is your mother Elinor Dunbroth?"
"Yes, and I'm Merida Dunbroth. You are?"
"Mei Saku."
"Strange name. Anyway, I see you have a Clydesdale with you. Borrowed it? Make sure you bring it back, but for now would you mind coming with us to find about the riddle?"
Mei wasn't sure what to do. She found the girl she was looking for, but she hasn't seen any signs of Xehanort for some time. Maybe if she helped this girl and her mother there would be a way for her to contact Xehanort again. Maybe... just... maybe.
"Sure. I have nothing else to do. Now where do we-"
Follow...Me...
Mei and Merida both looked around. Shea reared up in fear as he did last time when he saw the blue ghosts. Elinor plopped down on all fours and sniffed the air. Her head jerked to the right and she saw floating blue flames with white eyes. She instantly charged at it and tried to trap it within her paws, however when she got close the wisp would disappear and reappear somewhere else. She continued to chase them around, running into a tree and a large rock. Merida rushed to her mother and said something quietly that Mei couldn't hear. Merida pointed to an open space and wisp appeared to where she pointed.
Follow...Me...
Elinor looked at the wisp then to Merida. She nodded and walked to the wisp slowly. As they approached the wisp vanished once again, but reappeared with several other wisps into a glowing blue path to who knows where. Merida and Elinor looked at each other then Merida looked at Mei. She smiled at Mei and beckoned her towards her.
"We are going to follow the wisps. They will show us the way."

The two girls, along with Elinor and Shea headed up a long mountainous path. As they continued to walk a deep fog began swarming around them. It was difficult for any of them to see. But as they reached the top a small stone arch stood on top of the stair way path. Merida and Elinor looked at the sigil on the top of the arch with great interest. Past the archway were ruins. Stone pillars of a long collapsed building, more accurately a castle. The feeling was eerie, foreboding, a long sensing of hate, revenge, and power seemed to linger in the area. Mei could feel another presence in the area besides them. Something dark, something... heartless. Her blue flamed weapon quickly appeared and no sooner than it did the shadowy creatures appeared from the ground. Their glowing eyes gleaming with hunger for a the darkness inside a heart.
"W-What are those!" Merida shouted as she pulled out a bow. Elinor roared at the dark enemies while Shea cowered in fear.
"They are called Heartless. Be careful, they will steal your heart if your not careful!" Mei charged forward, slashing at the nearest Heartless with her blade and destroying it. Both Elinor and Merida joined in and helped Mei attack the evil beings, soon all the Heartless were destroyed and the eerie silence returned to the ruins. Merida returned her weapon and glanced down at Mei's blade.
"That's a strange weapon. Looks sort of like a flaming key. But it sure is effective against those monsters. We better be careful, there might be more around here." Mei nodded in agreement and kept Will O' Wisp out for defensive measures.
As the group entered deeper into the ruins a medium sized hole was seen on the ground. Inside it was dark, but something in there caught Merida's eye. She jumped down, much to Elinor's protest, to the bottom of the hole. It wasn't deep, maybe three foot drop. Mei followed her. She didn't want Merida to be down there alone, who knows what might pop up, like more Heartless. Merida walked over to a stone carving that was cut on one of the sides. On one side it showed three men, while the one that was cut off held a lone man. Merida touched the tablet and gasped.
"What's wrong?" Mei said. She could feel something approaching. Something more dark and evil than the Heartless. She looked over at Merida then to a gaping darkened doorway in front of her. She thought she heard scraping, like claws dragging against the floor.
"The prince from the story... the witch said she gave a prince the power of ten men and the tablet is split like... like the tapestry in my room! Oh no!"
A large bear with scars and arrows all over it's body appeared through the doorway. It had a glowing yellow eye and a red eye that raged with fury. The teeth were marred and stained with blood. The claws were sharp, long almost ten inches long.
"The prince is Mor'du!" Merida said, her eyes wide with fear and the bear roared, charging at Merida and completely ignoring Mei. Merida ran to the side, causing Mor'du to run into the wall, causing the place to tremble a bit. Mei run up the ramp and jumped up, Elinor grabbed her and hauled her up with her enormous strength. Merida was next, she was about ready to jump when Mor'du charged at her again. Merida jumped and Elinor reached out desperately to grab her daughter and succeeded.
Merida jumped onto Elinor's back and the two quickly ran off away from the ruins. Running desperately to get away from Mor'du. Mei and right behind them, on the back of Shea who was just as frantically trying to escape the place as much as everyone else. They ran and ran through the fog until Ellinor slowed to a halt, Shea did the same and Mei understood way. The fog was clearing and the menhir's came into view. Elinor slightly bumped into it and it wobbled a little.
The four breathed heavily, but felt like the lingering presence of death was gone... and Mor'du more importantly was gone! Shea gave a sigh of relief, along with Mei. Merida hopped off of her mother's back and turned to Mei.
"I know what I have to do! Mend the bond torn by pride. The tapestry in my room. If I fix it, I can change mom back! Mei, you must come with me." Merida pleaded to Mei.
"Of course. I'll do whatever I can to help you Merida. Just tell me what to do."
"Well first. We need to get back to the castle. Where my father is... Who hates bears..." Elinor gave a sorrowful sigh. "Mom, I will change you back, I promise."