"S-Si'Lea? Is it really you?" Aqua asked as she looked at the Master closely. After a second they suddenly both squealed with glee and threw their arms around each other as they hugged like the old friends they were. The rest of the table sat in stunned silence.

"Aqua, you blue haired tomboy! Where have you been hiding all these years?!" Si'Lea asked excitedly as they finally broke the hug.

"It's a long story, but the same could be asked about you! Where have you been?!" Aqua asked as Si'Lea casually motioned around the room.

"I've been here, doing what I can to keep the Darkness in check. It's a tough job, even tougher when you're the only Master here, but someone's gotta do it. But what about you? You look marvelous for a thirty one year old…no wait, thirty year old; I'm older than you by a year." Si'Lea said as Aqua shrugged and sat down. Si'Lea did the same.

"Like I said, it's a long story." Aqua said bashfully.

"Yeah, try being stuck in the Realm of-OW! Hey! What was that for?!" Sora yelped as he felt Aqua's pointy toed boot kick him in the shin.

"And this is your Apprentice, eh? Oh, pardon me. Former Apprentice. I wager that you and Nixe here are about the same age. If so it must indicate how good a teacher Aqua is." Si'Lea said as she leaned back while looking at Sora with an interested look. Nixe crossed her arms in minor annoyance at this.

"Well actually, Sora's just a fast learner. We weren't even Master and Apprentice for more than a few days before he proved himself as a Master. He also had some help. Ven gave him a little boost." Aqua said as Si'Lea's eyes widened and she turned to Aqua.

"Ven! How is that little spiky haired rascal? Oh and how's Terra? Does he still have those six pack abs?" Si'Lea asked with a lustful expression before Sora burst out laughing while Aqua's eye twitched in a mixture of annoyance at Sora and bashfulness at Si'Lea's bluntness.

"H-h-he's still got it I guess. Ven's fine, we're dating now." Aqua muttered.

"Oi! Enough about the Ven guy. Tell us more about that Terra!" Fang chortled as she leaned back slightly in her chair.

"Back off, Fang, he's mine!" Si'Lea argued with a grin, earning a challenging laugh from the L'Cie.

"Okay, I'm confused! Master, how do you know these two?" Nixe asked, now hopelessly lost.

"I think it's safe to say that Nixe speaks for most, if not, all of us, Master." Laaurim said, earning nods of agreement from most of the table.

"Well I suppose you all deserve an explanation. You see, Aqua and I were both Apprentices at the same time, only under different masters. She trained under Master Eraqus while I trained under Master Yen Sid. Aqua wasn't the only apprentice that Eraqus had. She was accompanied by a boy, Terra, and a little guy, kinda like Sora, named Ventus or Ven as we called him. This was all about, say, eleven or so years ago. Then I pass my Master's Qualification Exam and get sent out here." Si'Lea explained as Aqua face palmed.

"So this is where you were sent to!" Aqua exclaimed.

"What do you mean, Aqua?" Sora asked curiously.

"I'll explain later, Master Sora, but for now, I propose a toast!" Si'Lea declared as she raised a glass. Everyone followed suit and raised their glasses.

"To lost friends, finally reunited!" Si'Lea said, standing up. Aqua then stood up.

"And may they never be split apart!" Aqua added.

"Or forgotten!" Sora added, also standing up.

"Cheers!" "CHEERS!"

Later…

Si'Lea, Aqua, Sora, Nixe, and Laaurim entered the library, Aqua and Si'Lea laughing as they entered.

"And then remember how mad Terra got when he learned you were the one who had put itching powder in his bed sheets? Ooh was he red!" Si'Lea laughed, Aqua giggled as well.

"And not from the scratching!" Aqua added as Si'Lea howled with laughter while taking a seat at the desk. Sora and Nixe sat down on one of the love seats; Aqua sat down and reclined on the other while Laaurim chose to stand.

"Ah, such fun. (Sigh). So then…what exactly brings you all the way out here, Aqua? Did Master Yen Sid send you to check up on me or is the old sorcerer still alive?" Si'Lea asked with a chuckle.

"Actually he didn't even mention you. We came here on a rescue mission, actually." Aqua replied, causing Si'Lea to lean forward curiously.

"A rescue mission?"

"We're looking for someone. A girl with long blond hair in a white dress and blue sandals." Sora explained. Si'Lea pondered for a moment in thought.

"Hmm. The only person I know of in this whole town that's both a girl and a blond, is Arlene but I don't think that she's the one you're looking for." Si'Lea said.

"Actually, Master Sora reacted quite hostile towards Arlene, along with myself, Ludro, and even Medy." Laaurim said, causing Si'Lea to look at Sora curiously.

"What brought this on?" Si'Lea asked as Sora sighed.

"It's a long story." Sora replied.

"Sora's encountered and subsequently defeated their Nobodies. They explained that they had fallen into Darkness over a year ago and Sora encountered their Nobodies and then proceeded to defeat them, allowing them to return to the worlds." Aqua explained as Si'Lea gave an impressed whistle.

"Well-well-well-well-WELL! How intriguing. But back to the topic at hand. Who is this girl that you're looking for?" Si'Lea asked.

"She's…kinda, in a way, my girlfriend." Sora said. Aqua caught his meaning but the others didn't.

"Oh come on, either she is or she isn't your girlfriend, Sora. Which is it?!" Nixe groaned.

"Calm down, Nixe. Could you be more specific, Sora?" Si'Lea asked as Sora scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Well, it's kinda hard to explain. See, I also have a Nobody. His name's Roxas and he's become a part of me now." Sora said. An understanding look swept Si'Lea's face.

"Ah, and this girl became your Nobody's girlfriend while he existed beyond you, is that it?" Si'Lea asked.

"Yes, but there's more to it than that." Sora replied.

"She's also a Nobody. Sora's girlfriend's nobody to be more specific." Aqua added as Si'Lea nodded understandingly. Nixe however was confused.

"I think I'm getting a headache trying to understand all this." Nixe said.

"Let me see if I have it straight then. Sora and his girlfriend both lose their hearts and create Nobodies. As a result their nobodies become boyfriend and girlfriend like their Others are…however there's one thing that I don't understand. Nobodies have no emotions, so how can they feel a thing such as love?" Si'Lea asked.

"Pardon me, Master, but wouldn't the Keyblade have an impact on the creation of a Nobody?" Laaurim asked.

"That's an interesting idea, Laaurim. Does your girlfriend have a Keyblade as well, Sora?" Si'Lea asked as Sora nodded.

"Yeah, I'm training her myself." Sora said before getting a stifled laugh from Nixe.

"Ooh! Someone's-gonna-get-a-lecture!" Nixe giggled in a singsong voice.

"Not really. I've read of Masters who end up marrying their Apprentices. Sora has the right to date his apprentice. Heck, if Eraqus wanted to ask Aqua out he could have." Si'Lea said as Aqua and Sora both shuddered.

"Ugh, Si'Lea that's disgusting! The man was like my own father!" Aqua groaned. Si'Lea chuckled.

"Would you have preferred Master Xehanort then?" Si'Lea asked. The air around Aqua and Sora both darkened at the mention of the traitorous Master.

"Don't say his name ever again, Si'Lea. I know you haven't been where we have, but never acknowledge him as a Master ever again." Aqua said as Si'Lea arched a curious eyebrow.

"Okay, there better be a story behind this." Si'Lea said as Aqua and Sora both nodded.

"Well…" Aqua and Sora said in unison before they started giving an abridged version of Xehanort's actions over eleven years ago.

"He created the X-Blade?" Si'Lea asked in stunned shock.

"Twice. First using Ven and Vanitas, then a second time using his and Kairi's hearts." Sora answered.

"Then Vanitas forged it a third time using Sora just a few weeks ago. Luckily Kairi and the rest of us were able to stop him and destroy him once and for all." Aqua added. Nixe was very confused.

"And then there was the incident with our evil doppelgangers after that, but that's a different matter entirely and they never forged the X-Blade." Sora added.

"Uh, what's so special about forging a Keyblade?" Nixe asked confused. She hadn't picked up on the unique spelling for the X-Blade.

"It's a different discussion for a different time, Nixe. Something that perhaps we Masters should keep to ourselves for the time being." Si'Lea replied. Her answer seemed to satisfy Nixe.

"So Xehanort's dead, Hmm?" Si'Lea asked.

"And Master Eraqus." Aqua added somberly.

"That is a loss. Eraqus I mean. But at least the worlds still have Aqua and Sora to protect them." Si'Lea said as Sora realized something.

"Omigosh! We've forgotten about the King!" Sora exclaimed as Aqua's eyes widened but Si'Lea, Nixe, and Laaurim each arched a confused eyebrow.

"By the worlds! We have!" Aqua gasped.

"King? What King?" Si'Lea asked as the other two nodded.

"Oh, sorry, we came here with a friend of ours. Perhaps you know him. King Mickey Mouse?" Aqua asked as Si'Lea's eyes widened.

"Mickey's here?" Si'Lea asked in shock.

"Yeah, he came here with us but we haven't seen or heard from him since before we arrived here!" Sora replied.

"So Mickey's here. How about that." Si'Lea chuckled delightedly.

"Forgive my ignorance, Master, but who is this Mickey person?" Laaurim asked.

"Mickey Mouse was one of Master Yen Sid's two apprentices before me. He's the King of his world but one of the nicest guys I've ever met. I was brought in on the tail end of their training but Mickey had to leave early to deal with his Royal Duties. Just as my training was finishing up, Mickey came back to Master Yen Sid to finish his own." Si'Lea explained.

"So what shall we do about finding their friend, Master?" Nixe asked as Si'Lea leaned back in thought.

"I'm still trying to figure out what would be so special about finding a particular Nobody. Could the Nobody wield a Keyblade?" Si'Lea asked but Sora and Aqua looked at each other curiously.

"We don't know. Kairi can but we don't know about her Nobody." Aqua replied but Sora looked worried.

"Actually…there are two things about her that might be the reasons for her kidnapping." Sora said thoughtfully.

"What would that be, Sora?" Si'Lea asked.

"She's a witch." Aqua answered as Si'Lea and Nixe's eyes widened.

"What! A witch?" Nixe asked in shock.

"Well, Witch is probably too strong a word for her." Aqua said.

"She has the power to enter, re-arrange, or even create memories. She used this power on me once over a year ago. She indirectly caused me to fall asleep for a whole year as she restored my memories link by link." Sora explained.

"How did she get such powers?" Laaurim asked curiously.

"It's probably the same as the second theory for her kidnapping. Her other, Kairi, is also a Princess of Heart." Aqua added as Si'Lea leaned back in thought.

"Which brings up another question. Does this nobody exist beyond her Other or had they become one as well?" Si'Lea asked.

"They had become one shortly before the defeat of Xemnas, Xehanort's Nobody." Sora answered.

"They identified the kidnapper as the Phantom Blot." Laaurim added, causing Si'Lea's eye to widen for a moment before narrowing in anger.

"First. I somehow suspected that she was behind all this." Si'Lea growled under her breath.

"First?" Sora and Aqua both asked in unison.

"The First Sister. We call her First for short." Laaurim replied.

"You mean this Sisterhood of Seven is behind her kidnapping?" Sora asked. Nixe promptly leapt off the couch and summoned her Keyblade.

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go get 'er!" Nixe declared.

"Nixe, you will do no such thing!" Si'Lea said, earning confused looks from Sora, Aqua, and Nixe.

"What? Why can't we go rescue her?" Sora asked angrily, Roxas briefly appearing over him. Si'Lea turned and nodded to Laaurim who nodded back before moving around and placing a hand on Nixe's shoulder.

"Aww not again!" Nixe groaned as she was escorted out of the Library.

"(Sigh) Sorry about that. I didn't mean you two, I only meant Nixe. I can't have Nixe running off before she's a Master. She's too inexperienced…and there's one other thing too." Si'Lea said hesitantly.

"What is it?" Aqua asked. Si'Lea sighed again before answering.

"First is after her. Years ago, First sensed Nixe's ability to wield a Keyblade before Nixe even knew about it herself. I stopped First from doing anything so as a result, First has made it her goal to steal Nixe's heart for some nefarious purpose. I'm not sure what exactly. I've been forced to remain here in Sublime City to keep Nixe safe and train her to become a Keyblade Master. Once that's accomplished, then I can afford to leave the city in her hands and go out and confront First and the Sisterhood face to face." Si'Lea explained.

"So you mean you haven't been able to go to the other worlds?" Aqua asked as Si'Lea shook her head.

"Not since I swore to protect Nixe until she became a Master." Si'Lea answered.

"Doesn't she have any parents to go to?" Sora asked but again Si'Lea shook her head.

"Her father is dead. Has been for a long time. I spirited her and her mother away from another world but her mother's heart was taken years ago by the First Sister and the Phantom Blot back when Nixe was only four. I took her in after I rescued her from First and I've treated her like my own daughter. That's why I'm so protective of her." Si'Lea replied.

"So then what do we do now?" Sora asked.

"We've got to find Namine. We should probably start by searching the other worlds." Aqua said as Si'Lea nodded.

"A good idea, but can I ask something?" Si'Lea asked.

"What is it?" Aqua asked back.

"Can I come with? I haven't left this world in almost ten years and I feel like I've been neglecting my duty to the other worlds by staying here for so long." Si'Lea said with a pleading gesture.

"I thought you needed to protect Nixe." Sora said.

"Well, see that's where I need to ask something of you, Master Sora. I was wondering if, perhaps, you wouldn't mind staying here while Aqua and I went looking for your friend, Namine was it? I mean it'll give Aqua and I a chance to catch up and Nixe will have a Master and someone her own age to watch out for her and keep her safe." Si'Lea said as Sora paused in thought for a moment. Part of him wanted to search for Namine while another part didn't mind staying and yet another part was undecided. Naturally Roxas was the part that wanted to search, and Xion was undecided.

"Can I get back to you on that? I can't quite decide at the moment." Sora said as Si'Lea nodded.

"By all means." Si'Lea said with a smile.

"Why not just let Sora and Nixe go search one direction and the two of us search another direction?" Aqua suggested, earning a glare from Si'Lea.

"Not happening, Aqua. Nixe's not leaving this world until she's a Master. I mean, you never got to leave the Land of Departure until you were a Master, right?" Si'Lea asked.

"But Ven and Terra did. Ven left without permission though and I didn't have any choice in the matter. I kinda got sent to another world by force." Sora said with a shrug.

"And you got to visit the Land of Departure whenever Master Yen Sid came to visit Master Eraqus." Aqua added as Si'Lea sighed.

"Look, Nixe's my apprentice and I'm training her in my own way. I don't feel comfortable with her leaving Sublime City until she's ready. She's only got two of her tier two Command Styles and two of her Shot Locks down. She's not ready yet." Si'Lea explained.

"Alright, we'll respect your wishes, then." Aqua said as she and Sora both stood up.

"Thank you." Si'Lea said appreciatively as she too stood up.

"One more question. Why does everyone call you Master?" Aqua asked.

"Oh they're just being polite. That's all." Si'Lea replied as they headed out the door and into the foyer.

"Say, Aqua, do you mind if we take a look around town before we leave? I kinda want to see if we can find the King or perhaps a lead on where we can find Namine, first." Sora said as Aqua smiled and nodded.

"Sure thing Sora. Si'Lea would you like to join us?" Aqua asked as Si'Lea smiled and nodded.

"I'd be honored." She replied as they headed out the front doors, unaware that Nixe was watching from the door opposite the library.

End Chapter 7.

I would like to point out that both Si'Lea and Nixe have names that are anagrams of something else. I'll give you a hint: Si'Lea is to Yen Sid as Nixe is to Eraqus. Extra hint: Take the apostrophe out of Si'Lea's name before trying the anagram. Let me know what your answers are. I'll post them once both names have been correctly guessed.

Oh one more thing, Si'Lea's name is pronounced like Sigh-Lee. Again, can't get the accent marks to show up for some stupid reason.