It was late at night and Namine was sitting quietly in her room, coloring on her drawing pad. She could tell through her powers that Nixe and the Riku Replica were still in transit back to Sublime City, Aqua and Si'Lea were headed for Nomanisan, and Sora was headed for Lantern Kingdom. All was seemingly okay. First had ordered all the Sisters to remain in the Palace until she could determine their next course of action in the light of Second's death. She could feel exhaustion taking its toll and soon she was climbing into bed. She didn't know that Third was lingering in the shadows in the hall outside her room, waiting for the light in Namine's room to go out. Soon enough the light went out and Third backed away into the shadows, a glare of disgust on her face.

Unbeknownst to her, the Sisterhood was gathering in an old and disused ballroom several floors up in the Palace. The ballroom had never been used in the entirety of the time the Sisterhood had occupied the Palace. It was dome shaped with large windows covered by tattered old curtains along the back wall, not unlike the ballroom from Beast's Castle only a little smaller. The ballroom was covered with dust and the aged chandelier had even crashed to the ground, the chain pulleys holding it up having long since broken from their mounts. First was stood near one of the windows in the darkness, the only source of light being the few beams of moonlight coming in through the holes in the curtains. Soon Third arrived with the other three Sisters.

"What is this about, Sister? Have we got a plan?" Fourth asked as they entered the room.

"I will make this simple, sisters. We have been betrayed." First said as the four looked at each other.

"Certainly not one of us." Fifth replied as First put her hands behind her back.

"Notice that there is one of us absent?" She said as they looked towards the spot to Sixth's left.

"Seven isn't here. Why?" Sixth asked.

"Because why invite the traitor to the meeting where we discuss the fact we even have a traitor, nitwit?!" First growled.

"Seven? But she killed that Keyblade Master didn't she? Killed her in cold blood! We all saw it!" Fifth said but Third shook her head.

"No. We saw what we were meant to see. The Keyblade Master still lives. The Magic Mirror confirmed it. The Keyblade Master faked her death after being warned through a series of intermediaries that Seven was aware she was being watched. The Keyblade Master faked her death to try and throw us off of Seven's trail." Third explained.

"Add to it, that Seven has consistently failed in each of her missions, subsequently weakening our hold on each world she goes to, is too consistent to be called mere incompetence. No. It points to direct yet subtle sabotage." First added as the sisters all scowled, hurt yet angered by the thought of Seven's betrayal.

"I always thought she was up to no good." Fourth sniffed haughtily.

"But what could possibly be in it for her? I mean there's no profit to be made with siding with the Keyblade Wielders." Fifth asked.

"Oh there is something to be gained. She wants to return to her Other, to resume her imprisonment. She likely believes that our fate is to return to our others or Fade back into Darkness. We've already seen one of our beloved Sisters be permanently denied her chance for independence, partly due to Seven's betrayal, and I don't want to see that happen again." First said as the sisters all nodded in agreement.

"So what's the plan? Kill her in her sleep?" Sixth asked.

"No. She doesn't deserve a quick and painless death. No, I want her to watch the worlds she tried to save burn. I want her to know her efforts were all in vain. I want her to suffer." First said as the sisters all nodded in agreement.

"So, we're giving her the Prishe treatment." Third commented.

"Not quite. The plan I have will make Seven's remaining days an absolute hell. She still thinks she has our confidence. That we trust her implicitly, that we think her to be the most powerful of us all. We will use this assumption to our advantage." First said as the sisters all looked at each other, voicing their agreement.

"What's the plan, dear sister?" Fifth asked as First smiled darkly.

"We will make Seven think she has an advantage over us. Make her assume that her part in our final act is the most vital. And then when the first trap is sprung, we spring the second and all will fall into place." First said as Fourth cleared her throat.

"And what is our role in all of this? What parts do we play?" Fourth asked but First seemed hesitant.

"I'd rather not mention it at the moment. But you will know when the time comes and you will know what to do when it does." First said as she turned away.

"So what do we do for now?" Sixth asked as First smiled darkly at them.

"For now we rest. Sleep. Save up our strength. The day will be upon us soon, when first blood is drawn in the final battle, we will arise as Queens!" She said with a grin.

"But we still don't-." Fourth said, earning a glare from First.

"Hush!" she hissed before smiling. (Music Cue: My Lullaby – Lion King 2: Simba's Pride)

"Hush, my little sister. We will need all our strength for the battle to come." First said as she approached, putting her arms around Fourth and Third's backs as she sang…

"Sleep, my fellow sisters.
Let your dreams take wing.
One day when first blood is drawn,
we will all be queens."

"I bet you sleep well at nights, don't you?" Sixth commented.

"Have you seen her bed? I bet she does!" Fifth added.

"Ah but it hasn't been without adversity!" First said with a scowl, walking about the room as she sang…

"I've been exiled, persecuted
left alone with no defense.
When I think of what that brute did,
I get a little tense!"

She sang, one of her swords appearing in her hand. She then smiled and dismissed her sword before singing…

"But I dream a dream so pretty,
that I don't feel so depressed,
'Cause it soothes my inner naughty,
and it helps me get some rest."

She sang before a sadistic grin appeared on her face, relishing her reoccurring dream as she sang…

"The sound of Si'Lea's dying gasp!
Her daughter squealing in my grasp!
The townsfolk and their mournful cry!
That's my lullaby!"

She then turned towards the fallen chandelier, admiring it thoughtfully for a moment as she sang…

"Now the past I've tried forgetting,
and my foes I could forgive.
Trouble is, I knows it's petty,
but I hate to let them live."

She sang before obliterating the chandelier with a fireball, its smashed pieces flying everywhere as Third slinked over towards her with a curious smile on her face, singing…

"So you found yourself some hobby, that'll chase Si'Lea up a tree?"

Third asked as First smiled approvingly, singing…

"Oh, the battle may be bloody, but that kind of works for me."

First then looked towards the ceiling, grinning as her pet dragon hatchling descended from overhead, landing on her shoulder as she sang…

"The melody of angry growls!
A counterpoint of painful howls!
A symphony of death, oh my!
That's my lullaby!"

First then pulled her hood over her head, taking the hatchling onto her hand, gently rubbing it behind its fringe while singing…

"Two is gone, but First is still around,
to love this little lass.
Till I learned that she's a killer,
with a lust for being bad!"

She then turned towards Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth who were huddled around a magic orb in Fourth's hands, the orb showing an image of a sleeping Namine, the three Nobodies scowling at her visage.

"Sleep you little traitor!" Fourth hissed in disgust.

"What a sneaky little thing." Fifth added with a sneer. Sixth then looked towards the ceiling with a proud smirk before singing…

"One day when first blood is drawn…"

They then heard First continue, a fireball in each hand, partially illuminating the room, as she sang…

"We will all be Queens!"

The then turned and ignited the torn curtains in the ballroom, lighting the entire room in an orange glow, the smoke from the flames flowing out the broken windows as First sang…

"The pounding of the drums of war!
The thrill of Darkness as it soars!"

Third and Fourth then chimed in…

"Our Independence!" Third cheered with a grin, Fourth raising a hand with matching grin.

"Testify!" she cheered as First put a hand to her ear with a dark smile, singing…

"I can hear the cheering!"

"FIRST! OH WHAT A GAL!" the other sisters cheered in unison as First turned and hurled a fireball at the window behind her, shattering it and stepping out towards the balcony, singing as the glow of the flames lit the sky above…

"And our time is nearing,
and then our flag will fly,
against a blood-red sky!"

She grinned up at the sky, the sisters joining her on the balcony as they sang in unison…

"That's my lulla-by-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y!"

Meanwhile in Twilight Town…

It was night in town now but Riku couldn't tell that from the lack of natural light as he sat in the light of the pod room. Riku was seated on a box in the pod room, staring at the wrecked coffin that once held the Riku Replica, deep in thought. His thoughts were partially disturbed when he heard footsteps in the hall outside.

"Mind if I join you?" Kairi asked as she walked in.

"Kairi. Sure." Riku said, surprised to see the Princess of Heart. Kairi approached and pulled another box over, sitting down on it so she was facing towards the coffin as well.

"Having trouble sleeping?" Kairi asked.

"My head just won't stop spinning. I can't figure out these mysteries. The key to solving them lies with Namine, I'm sure of it. But the not being able to do anything to speed up her rescue and get those mysteries solved is just…Gah!" Riku grunted, Kairi nodding sympathetically.

"I know what you mean. I'm worried about Namine. I know Sora will bring her back. He has to. She's connected to him." Kairi said, earning a curious look from Riku.

"Connected to him?" Riku asked as Kairi looked at him.

"Has Sora ever shown you that weird list of his?" she asked as Riku nodded.

"Yeah that list of titles and names he got from that dream of his? What about it?" Riku asked as Kairi looked forward, not looking at anything in particular.

"Everyone on that list is connected to Sora. Everyone on that list is suffering somehow and only Sora can end their suffering. And I know, beyond a shadow of doubt, Namine is on that list. She's the Witch." Kairi explained, earning a curious look from Riku.

"What makes you say that?" he asked as Kairi's eyes relaxed, her gaze, confused and oddly saddened.

"Because she's suffering, Riku. She's never told me what it was, but I could feel it. Every time she saw Sora, she felt two different emotions. She felt joy at seeing Roxas within him but she also felt something else when she saw Sora. Guilt. She feels guilty about something to do with Sora. I don't know why or how, but she is suffering." Kairi explained as Riku looked away from her in thought.

"Maybe it has something to do with my memories too. So many questions, and virtually no way to answer them until she returns." Riku said as Kairi nodded. They were silent for a moment before Kairi looked at the floor in thought.

"Hey…you ever wonder why we aren't on that list?" Kairi asked as Riku looked towards her again.

"Who's to say we're not?" he asked but Kairi shook her head.

"No. I don't think we are. I feel like we're not on the list. But I don't know why. We're his best friend and girlfriend, but we're not on his list. Why aren't we? Aren't we connected to him?" Kairi asked as Riku looked away with a shrug.

"I would think so." Riku replied.

"Man, some friends you are." A familiar voice said from the doorway. They turned and saw Axel entering the pod room.

"Axel?" Kairi asked.

"You really can't see how the two of you are connected to Sora? I mean, I've seen it since the beginning and I didn't even have a heart to begin with." Axel said as he crossed his arms over his chest, standing in front of them but with his right side facing towards them.

"What do you see then, Axel?" Riku asked as Axel smiled, looking straight ahead.

"Back when I caught up with Roxas after he absorbed Xion. Back when I'd been left with no choice but to eliminate him, I knew there was something different about him. He'd grown more powerful. That power was shown by his ability to wield two Keyblades. But before that, I knew about the two of you. I knew that, somehow, you were connected to him. When I saw the two Keyblades Roxas carried, I didn't have to guess where they came from. How he wielded them both at the same time was the dome scratcher but not where those particular Keyblades came from. Just one look at them was enough to tell me all I needed to. They came from the two of you." Axel explained as Riku and Kairi looked at each other.

"Oathkeeper?" Kairi asked.

"And Oblivion. I see what you mean." Riku said as Axel turned towards them.

"Sora's own heart carries the Kingdom Key, his first pick Keyblade. Roxas and the absorbed Xion grant him the ability and skill to wield two Keyblades at one time. Xion and Roxas's memories combined forge the Two Become One Keyblade, granting Sora a second Keyblade. But the two of you, the connections he has with the two of you, forged two Keyblades: Oathkeeper and Oblivion. Not a bad bit of observation for an ex-Nobody pyromaniac huh?" Axel asked with a smirk as the two smiled towards each other and then towards Axel.

"Wow, shown up by Axel." Riku commented, Axel's smirk tightening.

"Got it memorized?" he asked.

"I see it now. Those two Keyblades mean more to Sora than simple Keyblades. They're the physical form of the bonds we've formed with each other." Kairi said as Riku chuckled.

"Yeah. Guess we're connected to him more than we realize. I guess that's why we didn't make that list of his. We should've known we were connected to him so he didn't even need to add us to the list." Riku commented.

"So now that we've got the warm fuzzies out of the way, come on. We need to get some rest." Axel said as they all stood up and headed for the door. As they walked through the hallway, Kairi looked at Axel curiously.

"Axel?"

"Yo?"

"You knew Namine in Castle Oblivion, right?" Kairi asked, Axel visibly frowning in shame at the memory.

"'Knew her' wouldn't be the term I'd use. Imprisoned-her-and-then-turned-her-loose-for-my-own-selfish-reasons would be the term I'd use." Axel replied.

"Still you knew her as she was, before she rejoined with me." Kairi said as Axel gave a nod.

"Yeah, why?" he asked.

"Did…did she seem…ashamed of something? Like she felt guilty about doing something? Something to do with Sora?" Kairi asked as Axel gave a nod.

"Oh boy did she. You forget, she's the one who scrambled Sora's memories so bad it took a year to bring him back. Even while she was doing it, she was ashamed of herself for even doing it in the first place." Axel replied as Kairi pondered.

"But was there something specific, something that would make her feel guilty even long after Sora was restored?" Kairi asked as Axel scratched the back of his head.

"Probably still the fact she scrambled his memories. That kind of guilt can stick with you, even after you've been forgiven. I know I still regret kidnapping you way back when. Your forgiving me back during that whole incident with the Keyblade Rebels won't ever fully erase that guilt." Axel said but Kairi sighed in frustration.

"You don't think it's that, do you Kairi?" Riku asked, although it was more of a statement.

"I feel like there's something more specific. Something she did to Sora while manipulating his memories that makes her feel guilty. I guess I'm in the same boat as you Riku. Until Sora brings Namine back, we're both stuck with questions that only Namine can help us answer." Kairi said as they reached the front doors to the mansion.

"Yeah. Looks like it." Riku said as they headed back towards town.

Meanwhile…

Namine was physically asleep but being a Nobody, she couldn't dream. Instead, her mind was free to wander while her body rested. In her mind, she was within a place largely reminiscent to the Station of Awakening only instead of an infinite darkness, it was an infinite grey, with long lengths of taught chain strung in all directions. The stained glass window on the floor beneath her was of her, curled up and asleep.

This is what Namine saw whenever she entered another person's memories, be it her own or someone else's. She was stood in the center of her pillar but soon heard the loud metallic clunking of larger chains and turned to see another pillar being drawn in from the distance, the pillar coming to a stop near hers, a crude rope bridge made of chains and white and grey stained glass panels forming between the two, allowing Namine to cross. Namine quietly crossed over to this other pillar, the bridge remaining in place as a length of chain started to slowly rise straight up from the stained glass on the floor, phasing through the floor as if it were nothing. Namine watched the chain rise at an increasing speed for a while, the chain becoming more and more weathered the further along it went, indicating the gradual decay of memories.

Finally, the chain stopped moving at an unusual point. The length she had come to was far less weathered than the rest and made of a silver chain as opposed to the black wrought-iron like material on the rest of the chain. More peculiar was that at the lower end of the chain where the silver met iron at the bottom, there were two separate lengths of the wrought-iron chain. One was partially attached to the silver chain at the points where the silver and iron intersected. This one chain that dangled to the side was held in place by the silver chain, as if it had been fused with the silver. The other dangled freely from the bottom but went further down towards the very base of the chain where the earliest memories existed. Namine pulled the chain upward again to where she could see the base of the chain. This one loose length was connected with the rest of the chain at the base.

Namine frowned sadly at these two separate lengths and started to pull at the loose end of the semi-attached chain, pulling it down until she could see the end of it. Dangling on the end of the chain was a simple silver metal charm bracelet with only a single charm on it. The charm was a simple three pointed crown, exactly like one Namine knew very well. Namine then looked down at the image in the stained glass window beneath her feet with a tear of guilt.

"I didn't want to use these memories against you. I'm sorry I ever used them. My work to repair your memories is not yet finished. When this is over, you will likely hate me for what I've done. But these are memories you must have returned to you. I made a promise to repair them and I will. But not yet. You can't be distracted right now. When this is over, your memories will be restored." Namine said softly, tears running down her cheeks before the chain rapidly retracted back into the pillar, leaving only the stained glass window image of Sora, lying asleep. She quietly turned and started walking back towards her own pillar, Sora's own starting to drift back into the shadows.

End Chapter 50

Namine is feeling guilty about something. What is she feeling guilty about? What are the memories she used against Sora? Find out in the chapters to come.

The song above was a slightly reworked version of "My Lullaby" from Disney's "The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride." As usual, I do not own the song.