Cloud woke from his rest in Sephiroth's lap.
What woke him up was literally lights flashing before his eyes as the worlds lit the sky once more.
For once, the other mans' embrace was soothing. Hand carding his hair, trying to soothe the younger man.
The two watched the landscape and skies change before their very eyes.
Seeing as this interaction wasn't leading to a fight anytime soon, Cloud relaxed and enjoyed the show.
~/~
Abandoning the library, Belle ran to the roar of her friend.
Only to scream as the castle was tearing itself apart.
Something came from behind her to gag her mouth. Looking back, was a determined Oogie Boogie and his Trick or Treaters.
They bound and gagged her and tossed her in the walking tub.
What startled her more was the protective stances they took around her.
Oogie opened a Dark Corridor and the group went in.
In the distance she saw Beast charging towards them.
Oogie calmly looked back at the Beast and waited until he was inside before closing it behind them.
The portal opened to the large bridge to Beasts' castle.
Both Princess and Beast were struck by what they were witnessing.
Oogie lifted her gently out of the tub and helped her stand.
The two were rendered speechless as the rest departed back into the corridor in a swirl of Dark smoke.
~/~
Alice awakens on the Jolly Roger in transit between worlds.
She was disoriented until she remembered.
On their day off, she and Ariel asked to see the ship. Ariel told her previously how she only ever saw sunken ships after a storm, never a functioning one.
Ever patient in explaining various everyday items, Alice remained ever curious about their aquatic friend. Seeing everything from a new perspective.
Ever skittish around a mermaid/siren, the pirates reluctantly let her aboard the ship.
One pirate was brave enough to ask her to Transform, having only seen the Neverland mermaids, and the obstacle course didn't provide good viewing due to the skirmishes with the Heartless taking their focus.
Apparently an Atlantican mermaid was different from a Neverland mermaid, because they watched in awe as they both Transformed. At some point, Ursula grew bored enough to join them. Hovering new Captain Hook on the upper decks to watch them.
He handed the Sea Witch his flask and they shared a drink.
Eventually, the girls helped the crew with their tasks as the ship took flight, indulging the girls' curiosity.
He was grudgingly impressed with the wenches' enthusiasm to learn the ropes.
Captain Hook looked smug at the trio of women's awed gaze as they set sail.
And apparently that was a good idea overall, because the scenery suddenly shifted.
And suddenly the stars themselves started shooting in all directions around them!
Which brings us back presently.
Alice felt a rope around her waist and men shouting.
They were tugging her back towards them.
Groaning awake, she sees them doing the same to a still sleeping Ariel on the other side.
The two mermaids were a fair distance from the ship and what seems to be the literal ends of the rope as the crew tried to reel them back to the ship.
Aside from the horror of… falling off the ship..? Flying? Drifting?
She looked around briefly to see herself surrounded by shooting stars lighting up the deep night around them.
Shaking her head, she grabbed the rope to reorient herself.
"I'm going to retrieve Ariel!" She shouted back to their relief.
She untied the rope and swam to her friend.
~/~
Snow White opened her eyes to find herself in a meadow as the stars soared overhead.
She knows these flowers.
And as they rose with the stars, she knew these trees.
She's not afraid of them anymore.
Smiling bittersweetly, she lay there missing her friends.
That is, until she remembered that communication spell.
She grinned. It's not over yet!
~/~
Cinderella leaned on a high balcony, heights shorter than what she became used to in recent weeks.
Lights rippled out from the castle as the surrounding areas reformed themselves.
It was so… magical!
A hand gripped her shoulder and she looked back to see the Fairy Godmother give her a warm smile.
The two continued to watch the restoration.
~/~
Jasmine woke to someone shaking her shoulder.
"Jasmine!"
Groaning, she opened her eyes to her father in the palace. "Papa?"
She was quickly engulfed in his embrace.
Over his shoulder, she noticed Jafar near the door.
He nodded at her silent question.
She mouthed a thank you to him before returning her fathers' hug.
~/~
Aurora awoke to feeling weightless.
Recognizing the green magic swirls as Maleficent's magic. She relaxed and took in her surroundings.
They were in the woods-
She knows these woods.
Turning her head, she sees the cottage she and her Aunts lived in. Was Maleficent taking her home?
The crow of Diaval startled her as he flew overhead.
The pig-guards she came to know at the castle wobbled ahead as they ran ahead to the cottage.
They were righting the furniture and tidying up.
Eventually, she noticed the two stopped moving and Aura turned her gaze to Maleficent watching her before smiling with a nod.
The witch eased her down to the ground so the younger could stand.
"Thank you." Aurora breathed.
"I shall give you tomorrow off to settle, then I shall bring one of them to escort you to me."
Aurora gasped in excitement. "Are we-?"
"Continuing your lessons? Indeed. I expect you to be bright and early. I shall not be kept waiting." She hmphed before opening a Dark Corridor and disappearing with the rest of them.
~/~
Kairi grew quiet as they walked down the path through a field.
She had a lot to think about.
Between the girls NOT losing their hearts this time. And consequently her not sharing one with Sora. That means no Namine or Roxas.
From what she recalled, the blonde had control over Sora's memories due to the strange circumstances of her creation.
With Sora in Castle oblivion. No, Sora leading Aqua back to the Land of Departure, what's going to happen next?
What will happen to Riku? With him being possessed before, his dark self and Replika were used by Xehanort in the war later on.
Just preventing these two things changed so much later on.
And then there is the Cloaked Xehanorts' heart to think about. Without possessing Riku, what happened to it-?!
Riku's hand on her shoulder startled her from her thoughts.
"You ok?"
She immediately felt bad for worrying him. Her first instinct was to say that she's fine, but realized that would make him worry more and make him feel left out..
Sighing, she then promptly used him as a sounding board for her worries.
~/~
Like the last time they came here, Sora, Mickey and Aqua walked up to Castle Oblivion.
"We made it." Aqua breathed relieved. "Shall we wait for you friends?" She offered.
Grateful, he nodded and the group took the chance to rest.
~/~
Captain Hook, absolutely not giving any fucks, flew his ship over to where Alice's home was.
In daylight.
Over the city leading to it.
Slowing to a stop over the manor, her family came outside to see what was going on!
"Papa!" Alice waved from the side.
Still as a mermaid, she startled her family as she swam down a short distance away and Transformed back into her gym clothes and ran into her parents arms.
Extremely baffled as to what's going on, the Pirates cheering farewell didn't help matters at all!
Captain Hook and Ursula stood/hovered next to the rail and gave her a nod in farewell.
Ariel also swam to her, turned back and walked over to give her friend a hug goodbye, taking a moment to introduce herself before leaving with the pirates.
Alice waved back enthusiastically and repeatedly thanked them for the ride home.
The ship rose back into the sky letting the clouds ripple in their wake.
~/~
Sebastian, King Triton and his daughters were on the surface surrounded by guards watching the strange meteor shower.
How they missed their sister so...
It was almost dawn when the lights slowly stopped shooting across the sky.
Until they saw it.
A large pirate ship soaring down from the sky.
Guards quickly took a defensive stance and King Triton brandished his Trident at the ready.
Holding their ground, they waited to see what the ship would do.
Slowing to a stop, the ship turned to see Ariel herself helping the Pirates ease the ship to a stop.
"Ariel!" Triton exclaimed happily.
"Daddy!" She waved back enthusiastically.
The merfolk were surprised when they realized she had legs instead of a tail.
Finishing her task, she hugged the more friendly Pirates goodbye before leaping on top of the railing facing her family.
Triton noted a hint of pride when he saw how confident she looked. A light in her eyes that wasn't there before her departure.
Grinning, Ariel suddenly leapt off the side and took a dive into the water. A flash midair and she suddenly had her tail back.
Excitedly leaping over the water like a dolphin, she tackled her family into a hug.
Up on deck, Ursula handed back the flask after she finished it.
Sharing a nod of understanding, they parted ways, Ursula more calmly swimming to the sea below and being greeted by Flotsum and Jetsum.
Ursula took one look at the family before turning back to her lair.
Captain Hook sailed away for the last time back to Neverland before the world Borders stabilized again.
~/~
Later that evening.
Ursula sat in her vanity. She has been staring at it all day to the unending worry of her precious poopsies.
The two eels eyed their mistress wondering what was wrong.
Movement in the tunnels snapped them out of it, thinking it was another customer.
Sighing the sea witch forced a welcoming smile on her face to greet her next victim.
Before she froze at the sight of the newcomer.
Ariel.
She had a worn satchel over her shoulder with her companions Flounder and Sebastian cowering behind her.
"I'm here for the next lesson!" Ariel grinned.
Ursula just stared at the girl.
Gaping more like.
Soon, she started chuckling, which turned into a full belly laugh.
"Indeed! Let's begin, shall we?"
The eels just shared a look in utter confusion.
~/~
Snow white walked determinedly towards her stepmother's secret chambers below the castle where she did her magic. Prince charming and the Dwarves right behind her.
They were utterly baffled by her strange behavior.
"I need to practice so I don't lose what I've learned!" She declared as she circled in place to study the area. "Will you help me?"
They just continued to stare.
~/~
Getting ready for bed, Alice looked at the books in her room in determination.
She refused to let what she learned go to waste!
Plucking books from the shelves, she discarded the nonsense and fairy tales.
Then she noticed how empty it looked. She faced the door where she heard her father talking.
Grinning, she ran to her father. He sets sail all the time and is a good businessman. He'll know how to tailor her studies!
And then there's Wonderland, she can practice what she learned there!
~/~
Prince Eric and his father watched confused as Cinderella wielded that broom like a sword in the castle gym.
The guards were utterly confused by this behavior until one guard started giving her tips.
Beaming, she looked grateful and paid attention like a woman on a mission.
Shaking his head in fond amusement, the prince joined in.
Her smile lit up the room as he did.