Chapter 27

Recollection

The trees were even more magnificent than Ben described. Each of them stood at different heights, decorated with dazzling lights and ornaments that sparkled as if made of stardust. Some were themed by color, others by aesthetic, or treats. Hinata was entranced by them all. They surrounded her like a forest straight out of a whimsical dream.

She stopped in front of a tree covered with flowers. The petals were dusted with snow, their stems woven together to create a garland amongst the white twinkling lights.

"Found you," Riku said from behind.

Hinata grinned, looking over her shoulder to see Riku walking towards her. "Was I hard to find?" she asked.

"Not too much, just had to ask a dozen different elves if they'd seen a candy fairy around." He chuckled. "Most of them looked at me like I was crazy."

"I think they were more confused why the Nutcracker was talking to them," Hinata replied while snickering.

"Maybe that too." He shrugged with a smirk.

They walked together, both of them admiring the trees around them.

"Have you gone to your room yet?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah, I dropped off some leftovers there. Pretty sure Ben and Jack are going to hand them out to the other elves around town."

"Of course they are." Hinata smiled. "Did you find presents under the tree? There were some in our room."

When Riku didn't reply right away, Hinata glanced up at him, head tilted in concern. He noticed her look and nodded with a soft smile.

"I did," he told her. "It was, um, a letter, actually."

"A letter?" Hinata repeated and Riku nodded.

"There was a lot in it, but something you might be interested to know is that Santa said he wouldn't tell Sora we were here."

"Then, that means Sora will show up here at some point." Hinata's gaze drifted towards the trees around them. "Would Santa really lie about it to him?"

"Knowing him, it would be more… dodging the question more than anything."

"That makes sense." She thought about it for a moment. "Did the letter say why he wouldn't tell Sora about us being here?"

"He knows I'll face Sora when I'm ready."

Hinata hummed with a soft smile.

"What about you?" he asked. Hinata looked up at him and he clarified, "What gift did you get?"

"I'm not completely sure," she replied. "But I think it's an empty summoning charm."

"Empty?" he repeated.

"Yeah, it looks a lot like the one you got from Bedivere, but without the glowing orb inside."

"Huh… I guess it's something we'll need later."

"I just wish I knew who it will summon eventually," she admitted.

"We'll find out when the time comes."

Their conversation fell to a lull as they walked. Comfortable silence rested between them, only talking when pointing out details on the trees. Their hands eventually met together, their thumbs occasionally brushing along their wrists. Hinata's wings occasionally batted, shimmering and matching the glowing swell of her tattoo. She caught Riku staring a couple times, a softened look on his face before he'd glance back to the trees. Every time she noticed, her heart fluttered, her wings matching the beat.

Reaching the tallest tree in the center of the forest, they slowed to a stop. Their necks craned to see the top, but they could only make out the glow of the star.

"So, after teaching some reindeer to fly, do you think you could get up to the top of the tree?" Riku asked.

Hinata exhaled with a smile. "Actually, yeah."

"Wanna find out who can get there first?" he asked, smirking with a quirked brow while Hinata laughed.

"Wouldn't exactly be fair," she pointed out. "Can't you just use a Corridor to get up there?"

Riku thought about it for a moment before chuckling. "I guess, but that wasn't even what I was thinking. I'm pretty sure I can fly up there."

"What?" Hinata exclaimed, stepping back with a laugh. "Since when can you fly?"

"One of the few perks of being Ansem." He shrugged.

Hinata crossed her arms, looking between him and the top of the tree. Her wings buzzed to life behind her and she smirked. "You're on." Without giving Riku the chance to react, she slipped into the air. "I better not see a Corridor when I get up there!" she called over the wind, hearing Riku laugh in response.

"You won't." Riku appeared beside her, particles of purple magic around him. He bumped her shoulder with his and swooped ahead. "But you might want to get faster if you want to beat me!"

Her heart swelled with a burst of happiness and excitement, her speed reacted in kind. She caught the glow of her wings radiating off of the ornaments as she passed them. Then she swept past Riku, taking a moment to twirl ahead of him with a laugh. Riku considerably slowed, his smirk wiped away, replaced with an expression Hinata had never seen from him before—a mixture of awe and wonderment that flushed Hinata's heart into a new melody. The concept of the race wisped out of her mind entirely.

Riku caught up to her, his eyes dancing over her face. He brushed her hair back behind her ear, his thumb grazing over her tattoo. Her wings and tattoo brightened in response and Riku seemed nearly entranced. Hinata watched him, her palms gently pressed against his chest. His heart beat strongly against her palms.

"Is everything alright?" she asked softly, afraid that if she spoke too loud, she'd shatter the moment.

Without a reply, Riku leaned forward and met his lips with hers. Hinata gasped, but quickly melted into the kiss. Her grip ever so slightly tightened along his chest. After a lingering moment, Riku rested his head against hers, his breath shaking.

"Sorry," he whispered, then chuckled breathlessly. "I hope that was alright."

Hinata giggled. "Of course it was, you goof… thank you."

"Yeah." He pulled back slightly, his eyes averted. "It's still a lot to get used to."

Her hand slid over his resting along her cheek. "I know what you mean." She kissed his palm and her lips curved into a lopsided smile when he looked at her. "Come on."

With their hands linked, they flew to the top of the tree. The star's warmth greeted them. Thick yellow glass with glitter shimmering throughout constructed the tree topper. It stood taller than both of them combined with enough space for them to easily land. They landed on one of its long spiny arms coated with snow. Upon landing, Hinata slipped her hand from Riku's grasp and shut her eyes.

Breathing in deeply, she beckoned the warmth in her chest. The same warmth she used to channel her flying abilities. She imagined it spreading around her, forming a cozy haven from the shivering winds just as she'd seen around the reindeer cabin. A momentary emptiness called from her heart as the magic left, but it dissipated the moment Riku's hand ran along her shoulder. Opening her eyes, she smiled breathlessly at the sight of snowflakes landing on an iridescent barrier domed around them.

"That's a neat trick," Riku said. "Did Velcia teach you that?"

"Sort of." She admired the barrier a moment longer before turning her attention to him. "I saw this barrier around the cabin where I trained the reindeer. And with how Velcia's taught me how to sense elements around me and experiment with them—" she shrugged with a smile.

"You were able to figure it out," he surmised for her, sitting down and bringing her along with him. "That's pretty impressive."

"Thanks," she laughed softly. "I've seen Velcia do things like that all the time. I figure it's time I start figuring it out too."

"I'm glad she's been able to help you," Riku said, looking out over Christmas Town.

"Me too," she replied with a near whisper, her fingers curling against the star beneath her.

Christmas Town seemed so tiny beneath them, nestled between snowy mountains. Through the barrier, it was difficult to make out particular details of the town, but it was a beautiful sight all the same. Colors and lights all mixed together into a rainbow across the snow. Despite the beauty, Hinata struggled to enjoy it. The happiness and whimsy that had been gradually building since they arrived waned. Hinata suspected it to be due to the use of her own magic to create the haven around them. She let out a long breath, closing her eyes and replaying all of the wonderful things she'd experienced in Christmas Town, desperate to bury the anxiety once again. Just for a little while longer.

Riku's hand ran along her back, coaxing her to open her eyes. She inhaled sharply, her fingers fidgeting with her dress. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I don't know—"

"It's fine," he assured her. "It's on my mind too."

Hinata nodded in understanding, absently chewing on her bottom lip. Riku continued to rub her back and she eventually moved to rest her head along his shoulder.

"We can talk about it, if you want," he said quietly.

She swallowed hard and nodded, but neither of them said anything right away. They fell into their thoughts, staring out at the wintery landscape. Hinata eventually closed her eyes, listening to Riku breathing. Without realizing it, her own breath matched his own and it brought a sense of relaxation over her.

"I woke up in the Realm of Darkness," Riku suddenly said and Hinata felt sick to her stomach, but she remained silent and listened. "What's weird is that it was different than I remember it, but I knew where I was anyway. Velcia didn't show up right away, I don't know how long I was there waiting, but it felt… probably a lot longer than it really was."

"I felt the same," Hinata murmured, her eyes still shut. "Like I was trapped."

"Yeah…" Riku squeezed her shoulder. "It didn't feel like a dream."

"It didn't," she agreed. "It was too real."

Riku took a deep breath. "After Velcia showed up though, things moved quicker. She got me moving and trying to find a way out. And we found Hollow Bastion eventually." He scoffed. "And you can imagine all the people we saw there."

"Maleficent?" Hinata asked.

"And Ansem." He nodded. "And… actually, you."

Hinata sat up. "Yeah?"

Swallowing thickly, Riku looked out over Christmas Town. "I think they were memories of you with me in Hollow Bastion." He chuckled. "You had really long hair."

Hinata breathily laughed, but it faltered quickly. She looked down at her hands fidgeting with a thick candy embroidery on her dress. The texture brought her enough distraction from the growing sick sensation in her gut. "What sort of things did you remember?" she asked.

Riku didn't reply right away and Hinata's hands tightened around the embroidery.

"It wasn't you," she said. Riku closed his eyes with a wince. "Xehanort, Ansem, whatever you want to call him, he was the one controlling you. I've never once blamed you for that."

"You didn't write about it in your journals, I had no…" His voice trailed off and he sighed. "I mean, I get why you didn't, it's just… I can't believe I put you through that."

"Riku—"

"How could you look at me again after that?" he asked, his voice ever so slightly straining. "After everything I did in Hollow Bastion, and then I nearly killed you?"

"It wasn't you," Hinata repeated.

Riku scoffed and flung his hands out. "I let Ansem in. I wouldn't look like this if I didn't."

"And he lied every step of the way." Hinata grabbed his wrist. "Trust me, I know… You aren't the only one that fell for it."

He looked up towards the stars and let out a long breath. "I thought I had worked past everything. Talking about it now though, I have more work to do."

"I think we all do."

She joined him in looking at the stars for a moment before drawing her attention to her hand around his wrist. Even with all the assurance she gave him about him still being Riku in Ansem's body, there were moments it really stood out to her how different he was. His larger hands were more callused than Riku's used to be. His face was harder and mature in a way that sometimes felt intimidating. She often tried to ignore it and find the things that were still the Riku she knew and loved. Grasping his hand, she smiled as he immediately gave her a soft squeeze. There it was.

"I did struggle with it for a while," she admitted. Riku slowly looked down from the stars as she continued, "I would have nightmares about it almost every night and sometimes I'd worry that if I ever did see you again, I'd be afraid of letting you touch me. It was awful…" She looked up at him and smiled sadly. "But then I did see you again. And I could tell Ansem was gone. Everything you did, it was hard to go through, but I saw how much you grew from it and worked to get out of it. And honestly, that just made me fall more in love with you."

His eyes danced over her face. "We've… had this talk before… haven't we?"

Hinata's smile grew and she laughed softly. "Yes, but you don't remember it. Or didn't? I guess. Maybe you do now." She licked her lips and her smile grew. "It was when we reunited for the first time after I was stuck on Montressor. And it was the first time I told you I loved you."

Riku half smiled and looked down at their hands. "I don't think I'll ever understand why you do."

"You don't have to."

Riku's other hand went to Hinata's and he examined her small hand in his. His smile gradually fell and he asked, "How did you know it wasn't me that did it?"

"It was your eyes," Hinata answered. Riku darted his attention up to her, seemingly surprised by her quick answer. "It's similar to now in this form. I know it's you just by your eyes. But during that moment in Hollow Bastion, the eyes I saw were dark and hollow. I recognized them, but they weren't yours."

"It really is like Mickey said," Riku realized. "The eyes can't lie."

Hinata hummed with a nod. "Were there other memories you saw?"

"A lot," he chuckled. "Sora and Kairi even showed up. But I don't think they were really a memory as much as just… something for me to face."

"How did that go?" she asked.

"They… asked why I haven't gone to find them yet." He took a breath. "I can't stop thinking about it."

"Do you want to find them?" she asked.

He nodded. "There was a moment when all four of us were together, laughing. I didn't realize how much I miss that." He smirked. "And Sora and Kairi tackled me when they realized it was me."

"Of course they did," Hinata laughed. "I know they would be happy to see you, even like this."

"Maybe." His smile waned. "But… It made me realize I want to be paying more attention to Sora's mission. Helping out in the background."

"You should," Hinata encouraged.

"You think so?" he asked. "What about Thaanix?"

"I know you'll be there when I need you," Hinata assured him. "But right now Sora needs you. You've done so much to get him back. And now he needs someone watching over him. Someone that's not a weird guy staring at a dozen computer screens all day."

Riku snickered, despite himself.

"And, I have a team behind me," she continued. "A really good one. We'll be ok. If and when I need you to swoop in and save the day, I'll let you know."

He chuckled, and looked down at their hands as he nodded. "I'll be there."

"Handsome and stylish as always, I'm sure." Hinata smirked when Riku laughed.

"I don't know about that," he replied, looking back up at her. "But thanks."

"Of course." She smiled, before looking up towards her barrier. It remained strong and didn't seem to be directly sapping her energy, but she felt its power all the same.

"Do you want me to put something up so you can dispel it?" he asked.

Hinata pursed her lips and shook her head. "Oddly enough, I think it's fine. I was just checking on it."

Riku carefully stood up and ran his hand through the barrier. It wavered around his fingertips, sparkling with rainbow iridescent light. "I've never seen a barrier like this before."

"I hadn't either before I saw it today." Hinata joined him in flowing her hand through the shield. "I think it's part of Christmas Town's particular magic. Velcia got a book on it and how it works. Maybe I'll learn more about it from that."

"It's pretty amazing you were able to figure it out yourself like that," he told her.

"Once I figured out the flying magic, I just tried to use the same principle for this," she explained. "But thank you."

Riku looked over at her as she admired the magic. "Do you… need to talk about your dream?"

Hinata's hand froze and she shivered. Her wings batted in erratic spurts, but her feet remained on the ground. For the first time since it formed, the barrier flickered and Hinata drew back her hand to her chest.

"You don't have to if you aren't ready." Riku placed his hand on her shoulder.

She placed her hand over his. "I know I need to… and part of me wants to. Just to get it out in the open. But I don't know how to even start." She noticed her wings batting against her back without so much as an ember glow. With a humorless chuckle, she motioned over her shoulder. "And I don't want to fly away by accident."

Riku exhaled with a smile. "Well we can fix that, at least."

Grabbing her hand, he led her towards the center of the star where the spine combined with the base. He sat down, his back pressed against a vertical spine, and helped Hinata down in front of him. Her back rested along his chest, keeping her wings pinned.

"Like on the sled," Hinata recalled, her body warming..

"Mhm." Riku coaxed her into resting fully against him. "Do you think you could dispel the barrier? I'll put one up."

"Oh, sure." Hinata closed her eyes and willed the warmth away.

She hoped it would rush back into her and fill the void, but instead it fell away with the snow. A few snowflakes swayed down onto Hinata's legs before another shield flashed around them. Violet hues swirled over the crystal-like shield. Hinata recognized it as one she made herself in her dream. The recognition caused her to breath in sharply.

"Will you be alright keeping it up for so long?" she asked.

"I'll be fine," he assured her, his voice rumbling in his chest. "If I need to put it down later, we can handle a bit of snowfall."

"I guess that's true," she replied, her fingers fidgeting with another piece of embroidery on her dress. "It's funny how I was so confident with reassuring you, but the moment it's my turn to talk about everything, I'm frozen."

"You've always been like that, from what I can remember," he said. "You're always there to help everyone you care about, even at the cost of yourself. You've been listening to me and you set up this entire trip for everyone else, but now I'm here for you. And I'm not planning on going anywhere."

Hinata's throat strained and she choked out a laugh. "God, you're going to make me cry."

Riku chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around her, gently holding her. "Just start whenever you're ready."

Breathing in deeply, Hinata leaned back into Riku and shut her eyes. He didn't question her or push her to start. Instead, he waited patiently, both of them taking the moment to enjoy the other's warmth and comfort. If it weren't for the swirling icky sensation in her gut, Hinata was sure she could have fallen asleep.

Minutes passed before Hinata started. "I.. woke up on Kamino."

Riku's grip tightened around her, but he didn't say anything.

"It was in my cell and it was raining outside." She breathed in deeply, her throat dry. "It was like I was there again, you know? But at least when I was there before there was life around me. James in my cell, even the Organization Replicas or the Kaminoans. But, I was completely alone. And I couldn't get out. I was stuck in some sort of loop. Every time I passed through a door, I was back at my cell. It was…" Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. "It drove me to a point I honestly haven't been to before."

"And you were the last one for Velcia to get to…" Riku said quietly, resting his head along her shoulder.

Hinata nodded. "Sometimes things would happen. There were windows down a hall that showed memories, but they didn't seem quite right. Or maybe I forgot the details that really happened and the memories were reminding me. Throwing things I've done in my face, the people I left behind."

"I don't think you've left—"

"I know I did," she cut him off, catching her tone and letting out a breath. "Sorry, it's still fresh."

"It's fine," he assured her, running his hand along her arm. "Take a breath."

She did as he said, inhaling deeping and blowing out the breath. "I let Isa and Lea be manipulated by our old Master. I didn't have to include them in all that training, but I did. And they always backed me up. We did everything together. I should have known something was up with my old Master, and after the memories I saw during my dream… there's no way I didn't."

"You just told me that Ansem lied to both of us every step of the way," Riku reminded her. "You can't blame yourself like that. He was your old Master, he was supposed to be someone you could trust."

She shook her head, her voice strained, "I didn't even tell you the memories I saw."

"It doesn't matter," he told her. "I know you and I know the way Ansem works. Whatever happened isn't something you should blame yourself for."

Hinata didn't reply right away. He used the same argument she used on him just minutes before, and she didn't want to believe it. She swallowed thickly, her body sweating uncomfortably as flashes of the nightmare rushed through her mind.

"Would you mind summoning Soul Eater?" she asked eventually.

Riku paused, but eventually lifted his hand and with a flash of darkness the blade appeared in his hand. Hinata held out her hands and he handed it to her. She ran her fingers over its details. The rivets in the red bat wing, the indents and carvings in the blue spine, then the polished glass over the eye. Scuffs and scratches marred Soul Eater over its many battles, but the eye remained pristine.

"I saw a Keyblade similar to Soul Eater in my dream," she told him. "At first I thought it was my mind making a weapon up by combining random elements from blades I've seen. But… Velcia recognized it too."

"She did?" Riku asked. "How?"

"She said an old man wielded it when he and Vanitas attacked her family…" She replied, still looking at the eye. "Why would my old Master have the same blade?"

A chill washed over both of them and Hinata looked over her shoulder at him, noticing how pale he'd gotten.

Riku cleared his throat. "It… could have been passed down. I think Mickey called it bequeathing a Keyblade."

"Would it look the same each time it was passed down?" she asked.

"I don't know," he admitted. "That's something we'll have to ask DiZ. But… that means whoever wields that Keyblade has been involved in all of our lives. Velcia, you, me… And why does it look similar to Soul Eater?"

"That's what I've been wondering too." She ran her finger over the eye of the blade, feeling a slight dark sensation that reminded her too much of the Keyblade in her dream. "The Keyblade had an eye just like this one. And it had details reminiscent of a bat in its hilt."

"That eye has always creeped me out," Riku replied.

"Do you feel a rush of darkness when you wield it?" she asked.

"Not exactly," he explained, taking it back from her and holding it by its hilt. "It feeds off the darkness inside of me. The more darkness I have, the stronger it is."

"Could a blade be imbued with darkness to the point that it fills you with darkness when you hold it?" she asked.

"I feel like it would be possible," he replied, dispelling Soul Eater away. "Why?"

"And can specific memories be locked away? Like by magic?" she asked another question without answering. Her hand wound around her locket around her neck as she turned to face him, her wings batting erratically behind her back.

Riku's brow knitted in concern. He looked away and thought about it. "Some sort of magic brought you and Kairi to the Islands and both of you forgot random things about your homeworld. So yeah. Probably a really advanced magic."

Hinata nodded, nearly choking on the lump in her throat. "I worried about that."

"You found a memory you hadn't seen before…?" he realized and Hinata nodded. "It has to do with the Keyblade?"

"And my old Master," she told him, unable to look him in the eye as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I… think I know why he wanted me in the Organization. Why they made Thaanix… all of it."

When she didn't continue right away, Riku rested his hand along her knee. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out."

"I know…" She took in a long breath. "My Master, I think… he bequeathed his Keyblade to me."

"And then locked the memory away with magic," Riku surmised, cursing under his breath when Hinata nodded. "Can you summon the Keyblade?"

"I could in the dream," she replied, ashamed. "It… made me a different person when I did. This rush of adrenaline and whispers in my head that seemed to claw their way into my heart and find all the insecurities and shame I have about myself, made me believe them. I said and did things…" She raked her hand through her hair, letting out a shaking breath. "Riku, I'm scared. What if I can summon it? What if it takes me over? Why me? Why would he choose me? I don't want it, I never wanted it! I didn't know what he meant back then and—and—"

Riku cut her off, pulling her into his arms. Hinata gasped, crashing against his chest and his racing heart. Her chest heaved breathlessly, her hands clinging to his coat. Everything closed in around her, even the barrier around them suffocated her.

"I-I can't breathe," she choked out.

"You can," he murmured into her hair. "You can."

She pulled away from Riku and scrambled to stand. "Sorry, sorry, I'm—" She wrapped her arms around herself and turned around, pacing away.

Riku stood and with a flick of his wrist, the barrier flickered away. Snowflakes danced around them. The chill of the air filled Hinata's lungs and she gasped, breathing in deeply and suddenly. Tears stung the corners of her eyes, but she roughly wiped them away, before leaning on her knees and heaving. Her wings hummed with a droning sound that only made the panic settle in worse. Riku placed his hand firmly on her back, keeping her there.

"You're safe here," he said gently. "We'll talk to DiZ when we get back and figure this out. There's a lot we don't know yet about Keyblades, but he will, or will know where to send us to find out."

She whimpered, but nodded. Standing up straight, she turned and rushed into his arms. Riku stumbled back a step, but held her close.

"Whatever happens, you're still you," he told her.

Her hands clung to him as she took deep long breaths. Riku held her, allowing the snow to fall and dust their clothes. The wind swirled roughly around them, but the chill of it helped lull Hinata back to reality.

Minutes passed, enough for the red of Riku's coat to be spotted white. Hinata's breathing calmed, her wings settled and Riku's heartbeat kept her thoughts quiet. She pulled back from Riku, just enough to see his face.

"Hey," he greeted her with a soft smile.

Hinata smiled then sheepishly looked away, pushing back her hair.

"It's ok." He grabbed her hand. "I meant it earlier, we'll figure it out. You're not alone in this."

"Thank you." She squeezed his hand.

"You know, I think Mrs. Claus said we needed to have some cocoa tonight before we head to bed." He smirked when Hinata looked up at him. "Want to go get some with me?"

Hinata looked down towards Christmas Town, its wonderment inching back into her. With a soft smile, she drew her attention back up to him. "I'd like that."

Velcia leaned back in her seat, stretching her back. Her new book laid across the desk in front of her, as well as an opened notebook already filled with scribbled notes from her studies. The fireplace crackled behind her, mixing with Sam's soft muffled snoring as she laid face down on the bed. Velcia glanced back at her friend, a fond, amused smile tipping her mouth. It seemed Sam did indeed plan on staying in that exact spot the rest of the night.

The plushness of the bed beckoned Velcia, but she didn't dare give into it. She hadn't noticed, but she'd situated her chair to be as far from the bed as possible while she buried her attention into her new book. Despite her aversion, she was thankful Sam managed to get some well deserved rest.

Footsteps crunched the snow outside the home, louder than the gentle thuds of the elves Velcia had grown accustomed to. Peeking out the window, she spotted Hinata walking hand and hand with Riku. They stopped in front of the door, both of them laughing about something. Velcia considered getting up from her seat to welcome them in, but then Riku leaned down to kiss Hinata's cheek and she quickly looked away, deciding to leave them to their private moment.

Their soft muffled voices spoke outside the door. Velcia couldn't make out the words, nor did she attempt to, but she couldn't help but smile every time she heard them laugh. It did her some good to hear joy in their voices. She went back to her studies, only pausing when the door opened and a rush of cold wind billowed into the room. Even with the magic coating around her clothes she shivered and looked up to see Hinata leaned up against the shut door, a softened lovestruck smile across her face.

"Welcome back," Velcia greeted with a gentle voice, so as to not disturb Sam's slumber. "How were the trees?"

"Even more amazing than Ben described," Hinata replied, coming up beside the desk and scanning over her notes. "How about things here?"

"I'm only past the first three chapters and already I feel like I have a new understanding of this world's magic." Velcia flipped through a few of the pages in the book. "I think you'll enjoy it."

Hinata smiled and gave Velcia's shoulder a squeeze as she went to the bed. Laying on her stomach, Hinata summoned her journal and flipped to the newest blank page. Allowing her privacy, Velcia also went back into her studies. Their pens scritching across the paper and pages turning were the only sounds shared between them for the following hours.

Velcia's mind danced with all of the new knowledge she learned. Page after page she poured over the diagrams and personal notes with such a fervent interest that even surprised her. Another snore momentarily brought her out of her trance and she glanced over her shoulder to find Hinata fast asleep, her cheek resting on her open journal with a pen still loosely in her hand. Velcia smiled at first, but then caught a pang of worry in her chest.

"She can't be trapped again," she reminded herself, closing her eyes and turning back towards her work. "She needs her rest."

It took longer than she would have liked to absorb herself back in her studies. She couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to wake Hinata, just in case. But she ignored the worry and continued to work. She wasn't sure how long.

Velcia's stomach rumbled and she finally paused, allowing her sore hand to put down her pen. It was only then that she realized just how long she'd been studying. The flames of the fireplace dimmed to embers. Peaks of sunlight sparkled over the mountainside. Velcia rubbed her heavy eyes and yawned. Looking back to her still sleeping friends, she saw more than enough room for her to climb in and join without disturbing them. Her weary body yearned for it, but the trill of anxiety in her chest made her look away.

Her stomach rumbled again and Velcia sighed, pushing back her chair. "I suppose some food and tea would do me some good."

Her muscles didn't appreciate her standing after so many hours sitting. They strained and trembled slightly until Velcia stretched, but remained absently sore even as Velcia left the house. The chill of the air momentarily whisked away her exhaustion and Velcia ran her hands along her arms, making her way towards the main courtyard. Snow crunched beneath her feet. It shimmered under the rising sun with hues of pinks and blues. Velcia admired it as she walked.

Reaching the courtyard, she spotted the same building she had that lovely dinner in the night before. Smoke billowed out from the bricked chimney and Velcia slowed her walk in slight surprise. She had yet to see anyone awake and hoped she wouldn't be intruding. Regardless, she continued and went inside.

The warm scent of bread greeted her upon entry, along with the sound of sizzling pans and sloshing water. Nostalgic comfort washed over her.

"Now who could that be so early in the morning?" Mrs. Claus asked from around the corner in the kitchen.

"Good morning." Velcia peeked her head into the kitchen before entering completely. Her hands folded in front of her. "I thought I would see if I could make myself some tea. But I would also be happy to assist in whatever you're preparing."

"Oh Velcia!" Mrs. Claus put down a wooden spoon she was using to manage a filled steaming pot of porridge. She walked around the counter and grabbed Velcia's hands into her own. "I didn't get much of a chance to chat with you at dinner last night. What's wrong?" She placed the back of her hand against Velcia's forehead, much to Velcia's surprise. "Are you not feeling well?"

Velcia chuckled, blushing. "No, no, I'm alright. But thank you for the concern." She looked at the full steaming kitchen. "Are you already preparing breakfast?"

"Just the prep work!" Mrs. Claus replied, ushering Velcia towards the stools on the other side of the bar. "So many dishes need to simmer and bake." She sighed and waved her hands. "It can be maddening keeping track of it all!"

"I can imagine." Velcia sat on one of the stools nearest to the wall. "Is there anything I could do to help?"

"Oh no no, don't you worry about a thing."

Mrs. Claus went to a porcelain pot decorated with paintings of baubles and cookies. Opening the lid, a billow of steam fogged her glasses. Velcia caught a chuckle in her chest but then was met with a tantalizing aromatic scent of fresh peppermint and rosemary. She closed her eyes and took a deep appreciative whiff.

"That smells delicious," she said, opening her eyes. "What is it?"

"Tea! My own blend." Mrs. Claus placed a mug in front of Velcia with a peppermint stick to stir the drink.

"Oh! Thank you." Velcia lifted the peppermint and sucked the liquid off the end of it, her eyes widening with excitement. "Is this by chance from the Candy Cane Forest?"

"I wouldn't serve anything less!" Mrs. Claus bowed adorably and dramatically, much to Velcia's amusement.

"When I read about the forest, I couldn't possibly imagine it," Velcia told her before dipping the stick into the tea again and putting it in her mouth once more. "It really does taste fresh as the book described."

Mrs. Claus got back to work. "There is nothing quite like a food freshly sourced!"

"I suppose that is true," Velcia laughed softly, thoroughly enjoying the tea.

Mrs. Claus allowed Velcia to drink her tea, even refilling it once it was gone before she asked, "I don't mean to pry dear, but I do believe I recall the Candy Cane Forest being near the end of the book you were given. Surely you didn't spend the entire night reading it?"

Velcia looked up at her, then sheepishly down at her drink, idly stirring it with the melting peppermint. "I admit I got slightly carried away with my excitement."

"I suppose it happens to all of us from time to time," Mrs. Claus seemingly accepted her answer. "I do hope you will be able to rest before you leave."

"Thank you." Velcia smiled up at her, then took another drink to avoid saying much else on the matter.

She was relieved when the door opened and a rush of snowflakes flew into the hall. Both her and Mrs. Claus paused to see who it was and smiled when Riku turned the corner.

"I thought I said I would handle the prep this morning," Riku pointed out, dusting off the snow gathered on his red coat.

"I never agreed to that," Mrs. Claus told him, tipping up her nose but then chuckling at herself as she put in a loaf of bread in the oven.

Riku fondly rolled his eyes, walking behind the counter to wash his hands while Velcia snickered at their banter.

"Good morning, Riku," Velcia greeted.

He half-smiled with a nod towards her. "Did you manage to get any rest?" he asked.

Velcia wished people would stop asking her that. "I was enraptured with a book I received from Santa," she explained. "Before I knew it, the sun was beginning to rise and I'd worked up an appetite."

Riku chuckled. "Sounds like a fun night."

She took another sip of her tea. "And you?"

"I didn't really try to sleep," he admitted. "But even if I wanted to, Ben couldn't stay quiet for more than a minute at a time so…" he shrugged, smirking when Velcia choked on her tea with a laugh.

"That sounds like a long night, if I'm being honest." Velcia dabbed her lips with a napkin after recovering from a mixture of coughing and laughing.

"A little bit," he chuckled. "I didn't mind it too much though."

"Oh you two," Mrs. Claus sighed. "You all are supposed to be resting and recuperating here in Christmas Town! How can you do that if you don't sleep?"

"We will when we're ready." Riku told her, drying his hands. "How about you take a break? I'll—"

"Don't you start with that already, young man!" Mrs. Claus scolded him, hitting him gently with a towel making him laugh. "This is my kitchen and I'll decide when I'm done! Now go fetch the sweet bread dough."

Riku put up his hands. "Alright alright."

Velcia smiled from behind her mug, watching as the two of them fell into a rhythm of cooking. It reminded her of the evenings on Eos, watching Ignis prepare meals for the team. And just like then, there was an excited anticipation inside her to see it all come together.

None of them really said much to each other, other than Mrs. Claus and Riku asking questions about the food.

Velcia's thoughts eventually wandered as she nibbled on the last bit of the peppermint stick.

It seemed she wasn't the only one unable to sleep that night. Even if Riku hadn't admitted to it himself, she could see his exhaustion. She could see the weary bags under his eyes and the way he'd blink rapidly when watching a pot for too long. Mrs. Claus was right that they did need their rest, but Velcia greatly appreciated Riku's response. They would when they were ready.

"Would you like a bite?" Mrs. Claus asked.

Velcia blinked, seeing a spoon of porridge in front of her. She nodded emphatically and leaned forward, opening her mouth and taking in the warm bite. Notes of cozy cinnamon and nutmeg danced on her palette and she hummed in appreciation.

Bringing her hand to her mouth, she said, "Oh it's lovely!"

"Good!" Mrs. Claus beamed, placing the spoon into the sink. "It will only get better as it simmers." She ran her hands over her apron and looked around the kitchen, then up to Riku. "I suppose that's it for now."

"Seems like it." Riku untied his apron and folded it on the counter.

"Velcia, would you like to join us in the dining room?" Mrs. Claus asked. "I could pour you some more tea, or a cup of cocoa!"

Velcia giggled. "Some water will be fine. I think two cups of warm drink is enough for now."

Gathering their drinks, they went across the hall to the dining room and sat around the table. They sipped on their drinks, enjoying the quiet morning as the sun slowly painted the town. One by one, elves began their days. Velcia watched them with a soft smile, even noticing Sherry beginning her daily duties.

"Is it too much for me to ask where all of you are heading next?" Mrs. Claus asked.

Velcia looked towards her, then at Riku.

"We're not sure yet," Riku answered honestly. "That will really depend on what Hinata wants."

Mrs. Claus hummed, nodding as she stared into her cocoa with a subtle frown.

"Are you concerned about it?" Velcia asked.

"Oh I shouldn't be," Mrs. Clause replied. "I admit I don't know the entirety of what all of you went through in that haunting Halloween Town, but it doesn't sit right in these old bones to have so much on your young shoulders."

Velcia's heart softened and she reached her hand forward, placing it over Mrs. Claus'. "It's very sweet of you to consider."

"We'll be alright," Riku said, giving a nod when Velcia looked up at him. "We have each other to lean on and help each other through. Like Velcia's already done for me."

Velcia warmed from the recognition, smiling to herself. "I'm just thankful I was able to help."

"It's so important for all of you to be there for each other." Mrs. Claus patted Velcia's hand over her own. "I know the burdens are great, but you shouldn't suffer them alone." She looked up at Velcia, then Riku. "You have to promise to talk with each other, share your worries and experiences, let the others in." She sighed and waved her hand flippantly. "I know, I know, I'm putting my nose where it doesn't belong. Santa will have a few words for me later on, I'm sure."

"It's fine," Velcia assured her with a soft laugh. "Thank you. It is a good reminder." She took a breath and tapped her fingers along the sides of her cup. "I'll admit I haven't been sure how to talk about what happened with the others."

"You aren't alone in that," Riku told her. "I think it would be good for all of us to talk it through. But there's no need to force yourself until you're ready."

Velcia hummed and nodded, while Mrs. Claus took the cue to change the subject to something much more lighthearted. They talked and enjoyed their drinks, eventually they headed back to the kitchen, leaving Velcia alone in the dining room. She wasn't alone for long as others gradually showed up and filled up the dining room. Sam had a relentless bedhead, even along the fur on her legs that she couldn't smooth out. Velcia helped her with her magic, using a combination of wind and water magic that caught the attention of the other elves. By the time the food was completely prepared, Velcia's anxiety had slipped far back to the corners of her mind.

Unlike with dinner the night before, everyone dug into the food like a buffet. Even Velcia took a few bites before she looked around and noticed someone was still missing. She glanced up towards Riku and he seemed to be realizing the same.

"Should I check on Hinata?" Velcia asked, unsure her voice carried over the jumble of elves and clattering silverware.

Riku seemed to understand enough and waved his hand in a dismissive way before turning to head to the door himself. She watched him leave, then looked back at the previously tantalizing food. Suddenly, she didn't have much of an appetite.

Riku threaded between the multiple elves around Christmas Town. He came to the conclusion that they weren't used to having tall people around as many of them went directly into his foot path or froze and gawked up at him towering above them. Still, he managed to get past them and make his way back to their rooms.

Velcia's concern about Hinata had been plain across her face and Riku couldn't deny that he felt slightly worried too. There was still so much they didn't understand about what happened. Riku shook the thoughts out of his head and focused on finding Hinata before jumping to conclusions.

Reaching the girls' room, he peeked in the window and saw an empty bed. He crossed his arms and looked around for any sign of her, making sure to also check the sky.

"I guess I don't have to worry, at least," he muttered.

"Oh! Hi Riku!" Hinata called from behind.

Riku turned around, smiling when he saw Hinata flying towards him with two small reindeer, that Riku assumed to be Holly and Jolly, not far behind. She lowered and landed a few feet away from him, about to say something before both the reindeer ran into her back and all three of them tumbled to the snow. He couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

Hinata sputtered and pushed herself up onto her elbows. "Ok, we really need to work on your landings."

Holly and Jolly bleated and scrambled off of her.

"Oh that was a hoot!" Josie cackled, jogging up to the group with her short stubby legs. "Do ya believe me now? They don't know nothin about slowin down."

"I believed you before!" Hinata pointed out, standing up completely and ruffling the snow off her dress.

"Getting some extra training in this morning?" Riku asked.

"Trying to," Hinata laughed.

"My land, the Nutcracker's here too!" Josie exclaimed. "Ya'll plannin on putting the show on early this year?"

Riku looked to Hinata, arms still crossed.

"I've tried to explain the whole thing." Hinata shrugged, putting out her hands. "There's no show… hopefully."

"Well that's a shame, but still happy to see ya both regardless." Josie wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders and craned her neck to look up at Riku completely. "So what can we do for ya?"

"I was checking up on Hinata," Riku answered, placing his hand on Hinata's shoulder. "We didn't see her at breakfast."

"Oh! Is it happening already?" Hinata asked, then looked at the reindeer and Josie. "Do you think we could continue afterwards?"

"Sure, sure," Josie waved her off. "I'll take Holly and Jolly round town. The elves love the little things." She snickered. "And Hermey hates when I distract them, so that will be fun."

Both Riku and Hinata chuckled as they said their goodbyes and walked away together.

"Sorry if I worried you," Hinata said.

"I figured everything would be fine," he told her. "Velcia and I just wanted to be sure everything was alright."

"Yeah, that makes sense." She ran her thumb over the engravings on her locket. "I would be concerned about it too. I wasn't expecting to fall asleep." She giggled. "I even drooled on my journal, which was not fun to wake up to."

Riku laughed. "I'm glad you got some rest, at least."

"Were you able to?" she asked, frowning when he shook his head. "I don't think Velcia did either. I don't remember her ever coming to bed."

"She didn't," he replied, looking up at the rising chimney smoke from the building they headed to. "She was at the kitchen with Mrs. Claus even before I was. But, she's doing alright. Just shaken, I think."

"Like all of us are," Hinata said. "I hope she'll be alright. I can't imagine everything she went through… especially with Thaanix."

"She'll talk to us about it when she's ready," Riku said, realizing he was expressing that sentiment an awful lot lately. "But for now, let's get some food."

Hinata smiled up at him. "I'm looking forward to it!"

**Author's Note: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this chapter! Lots of big things are coming up and I'm so excited to get to them.

Just as a quick clarification in case there's confusion, Hinata doesn't know how Keyblades work. She doesn't know that she won't actually get Xehanort's Keyblade IF she can actually ever wield one. It will be explained to her at some point as she works through this and figures it all out.

I hope you have a wonderful week!**