I'll be adding some lore on my Deviantart (look up KristenKHVerne) if you want some lore dumps, and I've created a tumblr for it (link can be found on Deviantart journal I announced this on). I've dubbed this new lore "Verne's Expanded Lore". Go check there for more!

Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy © to Disney and Square Enix!

All OCs © to their respective creators!

Chapter 22: Autumnal Commencement

"YES!"

Roxas grinned, snapping a photo as Xion bounced around the kitchen. "It worked?"

The girl wildly gestured to the perfect pie next to her. "My meringue is PERFECT!"

Roxas took another photo of that perfect pumpkin meringue pie. "What kind of pie is the other one?"

"Not a pie. Cheesecake. The crust is done already. Do you want to help me?"

"And ruin your perfect desserts? Nope. Not after the last time."

"You didn't burn it that bad."

"Yeah… but I think I'll leave the baking and cooking to you."

She giggled and handed him a spoon, "You can help with the mixing at least."

He laughed. "I think I can handle that."

"You do that, while I make the mirror glaze."

"Doesn't the pie need to set overnight?" The boy glanced over at the recipe book.

She nodded. "Technically yes… but Aqua taught me a way to use magic to make it go faster."

"Magic is great."

"No kidding."

Roxas looked at the clock. "We have a few hours left before the dinner, so I don't think we need to rush."

"I know." Xion mixed in her gelatin. "But this is our first Autumnal Commencement. We're making food to share with the whole town. I want to make a good impression."

"The town already loves you."

The girl smiled as Roxas finished mixing. "Alright. Bring that over here." He walked over, carrying the cheesecake batter. "Gently pour it over the crust."

"Ok." The boy, carefully, poured the batter into the mold. "What now?"

"Watch this!"

Placing her hands on the outside of the mold, her hands began to glow blue as the air chilled around her. "Aqua said I should be able to feel it when it's finished." She closed her eyes, focusing on the magic until she eventually released her grasp, pulling back. "I think it's done."

Undoing the mold, the solidified cheesecake stood tall.

"Wow!"

"Aqua's an awesome baker, and she told me all these cool magic tricks to make them better and more… magical." She grabbed her glaze and Roxas could see this beautiful purple color with darker streaks of purple throughout it. Gently, pouring it over the top and then smoothing it, the cake shone in the kitchen light.

Stepping back, Roxas took another photo. "It's beautiful, Xi."

"Thank you!" She flashed a warm smile his way.

Huh…

Why did his face feel warm?

Eh, no matter.

"Hey, aren't you performing today as well?"

The girl froze. "Why did you have to remind me?"

"What's wrong?"

"I've never performed in front of people before…"

Oh.

The boy walked over, gently touching her arm. "You'll do fine. I know it."

"L-let's just go… Can you carry the pie?"

"Sure."

Slowly they walked into the town. It was nearly evening by this point, and the town buzzed with excitement.

As they walked inside, streamers covered in fake fall leaves hung around the buildings.

Massive tables lined the streets with benches on all sides.

Xion could see Isa laying out tablecloths across them. He and Axel left that morning to help with setup.

"Xion!" Miss Prudence saw her and waved. "The dessert tables are this way." The teens took the pie and cake over to an area close to the bistro. More tables stood, this time covered in food. "What did you bring, dear?"

"I made a pumpkin meringue pie and a grape cheesecake!"

"Oh, they look lovely. You're quite the baker."

"Thank you."

Setting them down, the girl noticed the other members of the drama club all gathering around a stage.

Apparently it was tradition for a group to perform at the Autumnal Commencement, and Ms. Jessie volunteered their club.

And of course, it was the opening song by her and Auston they wanted to have performed.

"Xion!" Cherri called.

The girl waved back, but went the other way.

"Xion! Over here!"

"Where is she going?"

"Xion!"

Roxas caught up to her. "Xion, where are you going?"

"I don't know."

"Then why don't you go to the others? You have to perform soon."

"I know!" She shuddered, her voice raised more than she intended.

Roxas paused.

She looked… afraid.

"Xion…"

"Just leave me alone."

She ran off into the crowd, vanishing from sight.

She couldn't go to the usual spots. They'd search there first. Same with the mansion.

Running down into the subway tunnels, the girl found a corner and curled up, her shoulders shaking.

She couldn't do it.

Get up in front of people and sing.

This was a mistake.

She never should've tried drama.

"Xion."

"Go away."

"No." A hand firmly came down on her shoulder before lifting up her chin.

"Fuu, just leave me alone."

"No."

"Please?"

"No." She jabbed a finger firmly, but not cruelly, at the girl's chest. "You're scared."

"Of course I'm scared. I'm going to perform in front of the whole town. What if I mess up?And everyone will be staring at me…"

"You've got this."

"How do you know that?"

Fuu knelt down, her eyes firm but kind. "You're brave."

Brave?

The older girl pointed at her again. "Faced worse before."

Xion clenched her fists.

Why did she feel so scared?

Fuu was right.

Xemnas was far more threatening than a crowd of people.

But she felt so terrified.

"Deep breath." Fuu instructed. "Don't look." Her hand waved over Xion's head. "Look here." She pointed at Xion's eyes. "Not here."

Look past the people.

Why didn't she think of that?

"Let's go." The older girl stood up. "Almost time."

"Ok…"

Standing up, the girl followed Fuu back outside.

By the stage, Ms. Jessie stood with the others. "Xion! There you are! What happened?"

"I…"

"Stage fright." Fuu said plainly.

Auston flashed her a smile. "That happens. Don't worry about the people, just focus on the song. You're a great singer, so you'll be fine."

"Alright."

Ms. Jessie checked her watch. "Ok, you two, go to the sandlot. You have time for one practice before we have to perform. Go."

"Let's go, Xi!" Auston grabbed her hand and they took off.

From their seats as close to the stage as they could get, Roxas held up his camera as Isa held up his gummi phone.

Roxas on picture duty.

Isa on video duty.

"And now!" Ms. Jessie stood on the stage, "A short preview of our play this year, I'd like to present Auston and Xion performing 'The Start of Something New'!"

Everyone cheered as the two stepped up on stage.

"You've got this, Xion!" Axel cheered as the girl kept her eyes glued to the ground.

They saw her take a deep breath as the music began.

Auston's voice came first, clear.

But when Xion started to sing, Roxas felt his breath hitch.

"She's… amazing…" TJ sat nearby.

Hayner turned to Roxas. "Dude!"

The boy continued to take photos as Xion looked up, her eyes looking out over the crowd. Her confidence growing with every note.

As the song ended, the crowd jumped to their feet, cheering.

Xion's face turned a bright red as she and Auston bowed and left the stage.

The boy turned to her. "You did amazing!"

"Thank you. So did you." Taking a slow breath, she felt her heightened nerves calming slightly as she left the stage.

"Hey… Xion." Auston scratched the back of his head. "Would you like to sit by me during the meal?"

"Oh, are all the drama club members sitting together?"

"No… I just…"

"Xion!"

The girl turned just in time to get tackled by Joy. "That was amazing! Everyone wants to talk to you!"

"Really?"

"Th-then you better go." Auston sighed. "See you at school."

"Ok! Bye Auston! You did awesome."

"So did you, Xion…"

He watched the girl go back to her friends, and saw as Roxas immediately gave her a hug.

"Oh well…"

"Not only can you sing, but that cake…" Axel rubbed his stomach. "You're going to have to make another one. That was so good!"

"If that's what you want for your birthday, let me know." She giggled.

Isa grinned as he looked down at his gummi phone. "Look at this." He held it down for her to see.

"You did not record me and send it to everyone!?"

"And if I did?"

The girl lunged for his phone. "Delete it!"

"Too late!" He laughed. "Want to see the comments?"

"There are comments?"

Roxas laughed. "Let me see!"

Holding down his phone, Isa grinned as both teens, completely forgetting the fact they had their own phones and could look at the comments themselves, looked at his phone.

Riku: Wow! She's really good! :)

Aqua: Go Xion!

Mickey: Xion! Your voice is so beautiful!

Ienzo: A star in the making.

Terra: You're amazing! Can't wait for the full show.

The girl giggled as she held the phone. All those fears and worries seemed so small now.

She'd have to thank Fuu for her help.

Click.

Roxas snapped another photo.

"What was that for?"

"Your smile." He averted his eyes. "It was… just a really warm and pretty smile."

Oh?

Her cheeks heated up slightly.

"Well, thank you."

Neither of them caught Isa and Axel glancing at each other, smirking.

Roxas pulled a book off his bookshelf, opening it up to a set of empty pages. He wrote: "Autumnal Commencement" on a page and began pasting pictures on the page.

Photos of Xion baking her pie and cake, which looked just as delicious as the real things.

Photos of the decoration, including some of Isa and Axel setting up. The streamers of leaves, the tables, and benches. Some people made scarecrows, not scary ones, but pretty ones all decorated.

He took photos of all the food. Tables and tables of it.

He heard in school that since this festival was to celebrate the true start of autumn, the foods all had to have autumn ingredients. So many dishes had corn, squash, zucchini, apples, pumpkins, grapes, and other ingredients like that.

Delicious!

But his favorite photos were of Xion singing. He could see her journey from her staring at the floor and singing to when she stood, holding her microphone, staring out over the crowd, a smile on her face.

Then there was the photo of Xion looking at the phone.

That one, he put on his bulletin board with his other favorite pictures.

"Hey." Xion came in, glancing at the bulletin board. "That is a good photo."

"Yeah, it is. You want it?"

"No, it's a good memory. You're good at keeping memories…" She sat on the bed. "Have you been thinking about the future lately?"

He shrugged. "A bit. But I don't know if it's really a big deal right now. I know our teachers have been saying to start thinking about what we want to do for college in a few years. But I'm good for now. I'll figure it out. Have you been thinking about it?"

She nodded. "I think I want to bake or cook some more. Maybe I'll have a restaurant or a bakery."

"That's a cool idea. You are a great cook. But we do have a few years."

"Yeah, we do." She smiles. "I just wanted to bounce the idea off someone, since it kind of felt a little silly to have such a big idea so many years away."

Roxas sat beside her. "I don't think it's silly. I know that Olette already knows what she wants to do. Iunia and Nico too."

"True." Xion yawned. "Well, I'll be going to bed. See you."

"Goodnight."

Another holiday in the books for this world. It'll be on the lore document I make later, but the Autumnal Commencement falls on September 22nd. So that should give you a good timeline, as this story started around the end of July.