Namine sat on the edge of a large queen sized canopy bed in a room that, to her, was like an odd hybrid of her room in Castle Oblivion and the White Room in the abandoned mansion in Twilight Town. The room was tall, with white walls while one wall had a large stained glass window with a reversed number seven outlined on it in white. She figured the reason it was reversed was so it looked correct from the outside. There were two doors on opposite sides of the room. One door, she discovered, led to a private yet very well furnished bathroom with golden fixtures on the tub, sink, showerhead, and even toilet. The other door led out into the hallway. The room had a long white wooden table with an eloquently made chair with the number seven on the back. On the table was a large white porcelain bowl of multicolored flowers. The bed was placed in the corner of the room by the stained glass window and was adorned with white sheets, pillows, and was surrounded by similar white curtains that were held together at the posts. Lying next to her on the bed was laid out a set of robes matching the ones worn by the others from earlier. There was also a pair of white boots on the floor next to her that when worn would reach halfway up her calves. On the table was also a drawing pad with a box of crayons.

Namine sighed to herself. She was alone in this weird chamber when the door to the hallway suddenly opened.

"Sister, I hope your room and new clothes are to your liking." One of the Sisters said as she entered with her hood up over her head.

"It's fine, thank you. But why am I here?" Namine asked as the Sister paused and looked at her curiously. She then reached up and pulled back the hood, revealing a head full of straight white hair that seemed white as snow. It was left dangling down around her shoulders. She had ruby red lips, rosy cheeks, and fair skin with a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

"Why, we rescued you, sister. We brought you home." The woman replied as she approached Namine.

"But, I was home. I was one with my Other. Why did you have that creature kidnap me?" Namine asked.

"So we could be together as a family of course. You were the last of our sisters and we couldn't bear to have the family incomplete." The woman said with a smile. Namine was confused.

"Family?" Namine asked curiously.

"Why of course. Get dressed into your new clothes and I'll introduce you to yours and my sisters." The woman said as Namine sighed and kicked off her sandals before she started putting on the boots.

"Who are you then?" Namine asked.

"I'm known as Third." The woman replied, earning a curious look from Namine.

"Third?" she asked as she zipped up the left boot.

"Of course. Your name is Seven." Third replied.

"No it's not. My name's Namine." Namine said, startling Third.

"You…you already have a name?" Third asked curiously as Namine nodded and zipped up the right boot before grabbing the new clothes and walking into the bathroom.

"Yeah, it's the name I was given a year ago." Namine replied, closing the door behind her.

"How very interesting. I will return shortly." Third said before she turned and left the room. She traveled through the hallway until she reached a chamber with the number one on a pair of large cathedral doors. She knocked on the right side door and the doors both opened for her like magic.

"What is it, Third?" a woman asked from inside, her back was turned to her and her hood was down allowing a head full of waist-length straight black hair to dangle behind her. She was standing in front of a white wooden desk, writing something down into a large book.

"Forgive me, sister, but it seems that there's a unique development with Seven. She claims to possess a name already." Third said from the hallway.

"That's not to be unexpected. She had rejoined with her Other when we found her. I imagine she gained a name as a result. However it makes no difference to us. She may choose to prefer that name, but for our sake she will be referred to as Seven." The woman said as she turned, revealing a black eye patch over her right eye and a single yellow eye visible.

"What course of action should I take?" Third asked curiously.

"Just keep your eye on her. Make sure she's prepared for her initiation." The woman said as she turned back to the table in front of her. Third bowed humbly as she backed away.

"As you command, First." Third replied as she turned and walked away, the doors to First's chambers closing behind her. When Third returned to Namine's room, she found her in the uniform, smoothing out the skirt portion of it.

"Ah, you've changed. And you look lovely." Third said with a smile as she approached.

"Thank you, but…I don't understand why you wanted me to change clothes." Namine said as Third shrugged.

"While your old dress is beautiful, you will find that your new clothes will be much more to your liking. This is what we wear inside the Palace, but for venturing outside of it, we have something different." Third replied, earning a curious look from Namine.

"The Palace?" Namine asked.

"Why of course. The Palace of Eternity. The very place that we are in now." Third replied.

"I've never heard of this place." Namine said as Third smiled sweetly at her.

"It's alright. Come, the other sisters are dying to meet you." Third said as she extended a hand which Namine hesitantly took hold of before being led out of the room and into the hallway. As they walked, Namine noticed a familiar symbol on the walls. It looked like the Nobody symbol but with a heart outlined around it, the bottom point of the heart disappearing behind the Nobody symbol. (A/N: Think the heart design as seen on all the KH logos.) They turned a corner which revealed a short hallway with a pair of tall white double doors with the same Nobody/Heart logo on both sides of the door. The doors promptly opened for them, revealing a large round commons room with two additional doors, one directly ahead and the other directly to the left of the door Namine and Third had entered. To the right sat an empty alcove. The room had a number of large square flower basins along the walls, each filled with a variety of different flowers. Within the room, stood the other four hooded women who immediately turned towards the two as they arrived.

"Seven, these are our sisters." Third introduced as each of the women pulled back their hoods.

"Hello, Seven. I am Second." One of the women said. She was a little taller than the others. Her skin, like most of the others, was fair. Her hair was brown and kept in a ponytail. Her eyes were blue.

"And I am Fourth." The youngest looking of the bunch, a ten year old girl, said with her arms crossed while looking down her nose at Namine, with a prideful smile on her face. Her hair was thick and a deep orange color which was tied with a black head band. The fact she was looking down her nose at Namine was quite an accomplishment since she was at least a head shorter compared to Namine.

"I'm Fifth." A taller woman with dark skin and long blond hair said. Her eyes were a dark brown. She had a white headband around her head but studded with several shimmering jewels and gems embedded in it.

"And I'm Sixth." A young woman with fiery red hair tied up with a black band on the back of her head. Her eyes were also a dark brown and she had a thin hard covered brown book with the Nobody/Heart logo on the cover under her arm. She was noticeably curvier than the rest of the sisters and her outfit highlighted this.

"So you're Seventh? Can't say that I'm impressed." Fourth said with a haughty sniff.

"She doesn't look like she's worth much." Fifth added.

"Oh but looks can be deceiving." A new woman's voice said as they all turned and saw First entering.

"Welcome, Sister. I am First." First said with a smile and a bow. Namine was noticeably nervous around them all, but First especially.

"P-Please…why am I here?" Namine asked meekly.

"Why? Oh geez." Sixth mumbled.

"Hush!" First hissed to the woman who recoiled fearfully. First then turned back to Namine with a pleasant smile.

"Now then, Seven, to answer your question, the reason we brought you here is because you are our sister. We've been worried sick about your absence and we've needed to complete our family for the longest time. We rescued you from a life without the independence we all share by freeing you from that girl's heart." First explained with a caring tone.

"But I was happy there. I chose to rejoin with Kairi. It was the only way I could feel whole." Namine said but First wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Become one with your other? How revolting. Doing so would give up the freedom we each possess. We would be doomed to watch through eyes that are not ours, to listen through ears that we do not control, to feel what another feels, and not have a single opinion in the matter. It is a life of imprisonment. That is another reason why we rescued you, Seven, to free you from that life." First said as Namine looked down at the floor.

"But, why bring me here? What do you need me for?" Namine asked.

"Because we are a family and we must stand as a family. We must use the power within each of us to try and achieve our single goal to obtain…hearts." First answered. Namine's eyes widened and she looked up at First with a look of shock.

"Hearts?" She asked.

"How else can we feel whole and still retain our independence?" Second asked with a grin.

"By using our combined powers, we can gain hearts and unlock our true powers, and perhaps…even our memories." Third added, confusing Namine.

"Memories?" She asked.

"Yes Seven, we are not true Nobodies. We have something that Nobodies lack and lack something Nobodies have." Fifth said as Sixth nodded.

"We lack memories of our past lives, yet we possess something greater." Sixth said as First grinned.

"We possess…emotions." First said, startling Namine.

"Emotions? You all have emotions but lack memories?" Namine asked. It was starting to sound eerily familiar to her.

"But what use is she to us, First? She doesn't even have a weapon or a power." Fourth said with a haughty sniff. Namine looked at her curiously.

"Um…why is there a kid in here?" Namine asked innocently. Fourth immediately flew into a rage, Sixth grabbing and holding onto her by the collar to keep her from attacking Namine as she clawed at her and screamed…

"WHAT-I'M-NOT-A-LITTLE-KID-I'M-MORE-POWERFUL-THAN-YOU-CAN-IMAGINE-WHY-I'VE-FACED-ENEMIES-YOU-COULD-NEVER-HOPE-TO-DEFEAT-AND-LIVE-YOU-DON'T-EVEN-HAVE-POWERS-OR-WEAPONS!" Fourth shrieked angrily.

"That will change, Fourth." First said as she slid around and put her left arm around Namine.

"Now then, Seven, do you have any sort of magic ability?" First asked as she led her towards the empty alcove.

"I-I-I'm a Witch." Namine stammered nervously.

"Big deal, so are the rest of us." Fifth groaned.

"It's true, Seven. All of us are Witches. We each can manipulate a particular part of a person and bend them to our will in such a way. For example, Fourth can manipulate a person's pride, Fifth plays on their greed, and Sixth plays on their lust." First explained as Namine blinked in surprise before lowering her head nervously.

"Memories." She muttered.

"Memories? Hmm, that's an interesting…and useful skill." Second said with a grin.

"And are you able to defend yourself?" First asked as Namine turned and looked up at her.

"Defend myself?" she asked.

"Of course. There are going to be those who will try to destroy us. Those who will try and deny us our rightful destiny to obtain hearts. To prevent this, we must defend ourselves." First said as Namine shrugged.

"But I don't-…" she said but was interrupted by a bright flash of light in her right hand that caused the other six to pause with curious expressions. First's expression however started as shock but slowly morphed into a sinister grin when she saw what Namine held in her hands. It was a long white blade with a series of twisting and curling decorations along it, culminating in a single tooth with a similar pattern. The guard was similarly designed while the handle remained simple. The Keychain was that of a heart but with the white twist and curl design. (See A/N at the bottom) More importantly, it was a…

"A Keyblade." First said as she grinned.

"What? Where did this-…" Namine said as she beheld the beautiful white Keyblade in her hands.

"It does not matter, Seven. What matters now, is that you're one of us!" First declared as the sisters cheered with glee. (Music Cue: Welcome to the Forty Thieves – Aladdin & the King of Thieves) Then Second clapped Namine on the shoulder as she sang…

"Congratulations Bub!
You've joined the club and everybody here agrees!
We got the finest blend of nearly whole women!"

Then the whole group sang in unison…

"Welcome to the Sisterhood!"

Then Third sang…

"A sorority of thugs that you can trust,
there's nothing up our fourteen sleeves!"

Then Fourth sang as she shoved Namine into a chair that magically appeared beneath her…

"Got lots a grub to share!
Pull up an easy chair!"

Then they all sang again…

"Welcome to the Sisterhood!"

Then Fifth sang…

"Now you get to lie and cheat!
Never have to brush your teeth!
But we always aim to please,
care for one another, you'll never miss your Other!"

"Oh you'll love these guys." Third chuckled before Sixth sang…

"Scheming up a scam out on the lam!
Taking whatever we please!
And if you like to lurk, you're gonna love this work!"

Then they all sang in unison…

"Welcome to the Sisterhood!"

They then started walking around in a circle around First, each giving Namine a dark grin or a sinister smile as they passed before singing…

"Welcome to the Sisterhood!"

Then First stepped forward, sliding an arm around Namine as she sang…

"Together we're the perfect team.
Larceny is in the genes.
Dare to share the family dream."

Then Fifth jumped up with both hands full of munny…

"Live a life of leisure, counting all your treasure!"

Then they formed a line in front of Namine, approaching slowly with dark grins on their face as Namine cowered in her chair as they sang…

"As the final new found sister of the gang,
that no one alive ever leaves!"

Then Second sang…

"Ya gotta snatch and sneak…"

Then Third added…

"…or else your future's bleak!"

Then Fourth sang…

"We got a life time contract that you're bound to keep!"

Then Fifth and Sixth sang in unison…

"If ya wanna keep your skin, you'd better fit right in!"

Then they pulled Namine out of her chair and into the center of the five as First took her by the hand with an evil grin as the others sang…

"Wel-Wel-Welcome to the-…
Wel-Wel-Welcome to the Sis-TER-HO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-OD!"

(End Music)

"Now then, Seven, how well do you use that Keyblade of yours?" First asked as Namine blushed nervously.

"I…I didn't even know I had it until just now." Namine said earning annoyed looks from Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth.

"She doesn't know how to use her Keyblade? How terrific." Fifth said sarcastically.

"Hush! We'll train her to use it. You needn't worry Seven, you're in excellent hands." First said with a chuckle.

"Come, Seven, your training shall begin immediately." Second said as she and Sixth walked out of the chamber with a scared Namine in their grasp. As soon as they had left the chamber, Fourth groaned in annoyance.

"This one will not do." Fourth said with a sniff.

"You have no say in the matter, Four. Seven is inexperienced but that can be remedied. Nevertheless, she might just be of some use…so long as we can keep her away from those two Keyblade wielding strangers that arrived recently. Apparently, she knows at least one of them. However, perhaps we can get the daughter away from the Master now that they're here." First said as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

"How are we going to do that? That Keyblade Master is surprisingly competent at driving us off." Fifth asked curiously.

"Oh I believe that problem will be solved for us with the arrival of those two newcomers. I can see within my old friend's heart and I can tell she yearns to go back out into the worlds. If she will leave with them, then we can swoop in and get the daughter to leave her world as well…and I know just how to do it. Third, Fifth, I believe your talents will be put to good use here. Watch Sublime City for any sign of Si'Lea's departure and when she leaves, go and use your powers to…convince the daughter to leave." First said with a grin as the two sisters looked at each other and smiled before turning and leaving.

"I imagine that things are about to look up for us." Fourth said as she walked out of the room, leaving First alone by herself.

"Oh indeed they are…indeed they are."

End Chapter 7.

The Song Above was an altered version of "Welcome to the Forty Thieves" from Disney's "Aladdin and the King of Thieves." I call this version "Welcome to the Sisterhood."

The Palace of Eternity's theme is "Sacred Moon" the 358/2 Days version.

A/N: Okay, I'm borrowing Monty Oum's designs for her Keyblade (the fan made version of "Lunar Eclipse," not the 358/2 Days version). If you check the Dead Fantasy wiki page (Yes such a thing exists) then you'll find an image of the Keyblade.

On a different note, I had received a question from some readers during the writing of The Second Darkness, asking if I had to choose a song other than Utada Hikaru's Sanctuary or Simple and Clean, for the theme song of this story, what would it be? Well I thought I might as well answer this question ahead of time for this story as well.

For the opening theme, it would have to be (and don't judge) "Gee" by the Korean group, Girls' Generation (It was on a Dead Fantasy music video and it got stuck in my head while I was watching a montage of epic KH scenes which gave me the idea) and for the closing theme…Mmm, I'd have to go with "Bakusou Yume Uta" by Diggy-Mo (Bakusou Yume Uta was the third closing theme for the Soul Eater Anime)