News Update Review The past couple of days have been busy with updates on the new installments in the Kingdom Hearts series. We first have Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road confirmed to be released on June 22, 2020 as a mobile game. We will finally know what happened in the past to have Xehanort become a Keyblade Master of Darkness, not light. With five new characters confirmed to be present in the game in addition to Eqarues and Xehanort, we're super excited for the story. The second news has everyone on the edge with Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, especially as it's confirmed to be a rhythm game. Before the confirmation on June 16, a lot of people and myself included were curious yet dreading if it was going to a rhythm game using the same or similar mechanics like in Atlantica (KH2) and/or the Melody Catcher Reality Shift in Symphony of Sorcery (KH: DDD). I looked on the brighter side of things and thought of how the game would work involving interacting with music. The use of Unreal Engines for the graphics, Yoko Shimomura compositions as either classics or varied renditions of the classics, including the Kingdom Hearts: Orchestra Concert music, and the story revolving (mostly) around Kairi on her journey to find Sora. The 2020 Trailer showcased what Melody of Memory will look like and how it will function, better - maybe beyond better- than I and other fans initially theorized. [All images are found on Google Image] When I first read the word "melody" in the title, I thought it had relations to music; thus a rhythm game. It reminds me the Fantasia (1940) world called "Symphony of Sorcery" in Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance. The concept of "Sound Idea" to "dispel the darkness" (Mickey, KH:DDD) from the tainted musical score inspired another idea that I will explain later in the post. [Idea 4] The mechanics are vastly different than the previous games, which makes it more exciting! The story of the game remained unknown until the trailer released today. Fans theorized Kairi would finally get her own game where she traverses inside her Heart to find any clue on how and where to find Sora. That seems to be the case as she has more screen time in the trailer. [Source: YouTube SQUARE ENIX] Flashbacks This brings up the next and most important news. After confirming Melody of Memory as a rhythm game, it transitions into a static disruption that leads to cinematic cutscenes of what to expect and flashbacks. Fans already guessed the flashbacks belong to Kairi because her memories of Radiant Garden in Birth by Sleep were hazy. [Source: Screenshots from YouTube SQUARE ENIX] [Images found on Google Images] Supports "Personal Note" The following 4 screenshots are most talked about because it visualizes what both the Kingdom Hearts Light Novel and Ansem Report 11 talked about. In the Light Novel, there's a few pages where Apprentice Xehanort (really Terranort) asked where "the girl" was. Aeleus, one of the Apprentices of Ansem the Wise and a Palace Guard, told him she's sleeping in the "pod". Personal Note: I thought the "pod" was referred to the Memory Pods in The Old Mansion in Twilight Town. The same pods that Sora. Donald, and Goofy slept for a year for Namine to completely restore the damage she caused in their memories in Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories. Sora's pod was bigger, resembling a white flower that when open, it's a blossomed flower. Since Terranort was examining her, I thought they used a pod like Sora's. Donald and Goofy pods are simpler and smaller. That would make sense for them to use since she was a child at the time of these experiments. In the Report: “I have chosen one special girl. I do not know if she possesses a power like that of the Princesses. But, there is a chance, and this is an experiment. She may lead me to the place where the one holding the key is… I shall send her off to the ocean of other worlds.” [source: Kingdom Hearts Wiki - Ansem Reports] Kairi was a child, 4 years old in Birth by Sleep. One year later after Terranort was given refuge in Radiant Garden under the Answem the Wise's apprenticeship, Darkness took over the world. Kairi, 5 years old, was sent to Destiny Islands. There was a meteor shower happening and Kairi fell from the sky onto the shores, where she was discovered by Sora [depicted in Kingdom Hearts Manga]. When she awoke, she had amnesia. With only her name remember, she didn't know where she came from, how she arrived on the Islands, what happened to her home and family. Five years worth of memory were "gone". In the KH universe, the memories are hidden than forgotten. Kairi claims to not know about her past in the original Kingdom Hearts game, but later states those memories are hazy for her when Aqua brought up their meeting in the Radiant Garden. My personal thought is that Kairi did have amnesia for awhile with the exception of her name. It's likely that over time she has flashbacks or visions or dreams so muddled and hazy that she can't find the truth. Another personal thought revolves around the ability of her Nobody, Namine, aka "The Witch". She's a unique Nobody born from both Sora and Kairi's Hearts after the events of the original Kingdom Hearts game. She has the ability to alter, destroy, and restore memories of Sora and those around him. Considering her abilities, I suspect she could uncover hidden memories buried deep within one's Heart. In Re:Mind, Riku states she's currently with the Twilight Gang - Lea, Isa, Roxas, Xion, Hayner, Pence, and Olette - looking for clues in Roxas's and Xion's memories. If given a chance, perhaps she can work with Kairi to fully unlock her hidden memories even though the latter is experiencing some flashbacks. The Ark Speaking of flashbacks, the picture below is also the talk in the fandom [Sceenshot taken from YouTube SQUARE ENIX] It's machine that has made its appearance before. [Image found on Google Images] This is the machine Sora and gang finds in a room in Hollow Bastion. At the time, we couldn't interact with it. We just entered this room and see this machine, fight enemies that appeared, and get a chest. [Image found on Google Images] Later in Kingdom Hearts Union X (KHUx), we see Malificent in a room where the machine is. The name of machine is called The Ark. Next, we see Lauriam, who is the original person of Marluxio (Nobody), enter and tells her to leave. When she refused, he summons his keyblade and proceeds to attack her. In a different cutscene, Lauriam wakes up in a now damaged room, including the machine. Injured, he proceeds to exit the room with a limp. Given The Ark was damaged and later made its appearance in Kingdom Hearts and in the Trailer, I wonder if they're exactly the same machine? If so, that means that Radiant Garden is a section of the once Daybreak Town. Scala ad Caelum was built on top of Daybreak Town, as seen when Sora and the gang fought Armored Xehanort underwater. Or were two machines made - 1 in Daybreak Town (KHUx) and 1 in Radiant Garden (KH, Trailer)? Could it have been the Master of Masters who built them? Who knows? Stars and Ideas [Screenshots taken from YouTube SQUARE ENIX] The following photos bring up other ideas I have. Here we see Kairi and Riku in The Final World. Idea 1: What if this portion is at the start of Melody of Memory like in KH3 as the opening cinematic cutscenes? Tetsuya Nomura told the public the Final World and Dive to the Heart takes place at the end of the game's plot. So what if these screenshot are actually scenes that happen at the end or towards the end of the game, but are brought to the start of the game as an opening? Idea 2: What if Kairi and Riku go to The Final World in the middle of the game because it's the hardest place to reach? Chirithy explained in KH3 that in order for someone to reach this place, they would have to either enter a very deep sleep that's near Death or actually die. Since Kairi has been sleeping for a year an Riku has been having strange dreams, they both enter the world by going under a very deep slumber that it takes there. Sora has done it countless times before, but he didn't realize it until Chirithy explained it to him. Idea 3: After the duo arrives, they're encountered by a group of Stars I have two options for this idea:
Kairi's Heart Fragments [Screenshots from YouTube SQUARE ENIX] [Mentioned on my tumblr@katukutataka and @khhcfi] In KH3 Re:Mind, Sora had to find Kairi’s fragments of Heart in Scala ad Caelum in order to undo what Master Xehanort did in the story. He manages to gather 5 Fragments from all of Scala ad Caelum. When put together, it creates a 5-petal flower. Also serves a reference to the Paopu Fruit they shared on Destiny Islands. Master Xehanort broke her Heart into 7 Fragments, so Sora was short of 2. He had to search someplace else because he ran out of time before the Other Sora and his companions arrived to fight against Master Xehanort. Through the connection of Hearts, he found the 6th Fragment in Riku. [Destiny Trio for life!] The 7th Fragment is found in King Mickey’s Heart, which I thought was surprising. I thought it’d be found in Aqua’s Heart since she saved Kairi in Birth by Sleep from the Unversed in Radiant Garden. However, I think because King Mickey was in trouble during the heat of the moment that Sora just went into his Heart. The mouse king also encountered Kairi the same time as Aqua and have interacted with her on numerous occasions throughout the games. Once Sora had all 7 Fragments, it formed the 5-petal flower with a base at the bottom serving as leafs. Her Heart Flower glowed to reveal the Keyhole that Kairi passed though. In the Kingdom Hearts 2020 Trailer, we see the same Flower appear before Kairi. It spins then glows and breaks apart once more into single Fragment. The photos shows 7 Pink Lights. The Lights seem to be heading in various directions. Sora is seen holding a pink light. I suspect that it’s one of Kairi’s that somehow found its way to him. Perhaps the purpose of scattering her Heart Flower was to find Sora. That way, she can sense where the Fragments are and travel the distance to meet him. I’m not sure if the remaining Fragments will either go to Sora or return to Kairi with the exception of the one that found him. You can see in the last photo (bottom right) that Sora has the smallest smile as he's holding Kairi's Pink Light. I suppose is nostalgic of his brief quest in KH3 to find all 7 Fragments and/or he's comforted by the familiar presence. Other Observations Something struck me when I looked back at The Secret Reports in Kingdom Hearts 3. KH3 secret report 3: Experiments of the Heart Notes on Subject X, Excerpt 1-- Subject was found in the central square shortly after dawn. Female, approximately fifteen years old. After seven days' observation, she spoke her first words, but could not provide a name. Subject exhibits signs of profound amnesia, and displays concern about which world this is. Her words suggest that she departed her home world with others, though she cannot recall the names of her erstwhile companions. All efforts to explore those memories have met with a rejection response. After his initial experiments on me, Ansem the Wise ceased his research into the heart, his hand stayed by some fear I cannot fathom. Yet this new subject is like me: devoid of memories. She is the perfect sample upon which to continue my master's work. She, too, could benefit from it: by traversing the heart, we have a direct path into memory. I myself have begun to reclaim my lost past thanks to these very experiments. Who is she? Whence has she come? These are questions no scientist could ignore. And the words she muttered, "May your heart be your guiding key"... —Xehanort [Source: Kingdom Hearts Wiki - The Secret Reports (KH3)] Yes, I'm very aware that Xehanort is referring to Subject X - Skuld. However, the bolded section of the report really struck me odd in an interesting way.
Thank you for reading this long and dense post! It's a lot to process with the amount of information that's being released everyday for Melody of Memory and Dark Road's release in a few days.
Always welcomed to share it on other sites but please give me FULL CREDIT. I worked really hard for this and I don't want people sharing my ideas without giving proper credit. Let me know what you think by commenting on my website or sending a comment/ask on either or both of my tumblr pages: https://katukutataka.tumblr.com/ https://khhcfi.tumblr.com/ [if links don't work, copy and paste it your search bar] Thanks and stay tuned for more to come!
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A lot of people are buzzing around on Twitter and Tumblr regarding the information that was released on the Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road Twitter page. New screenshots lead to theories rapidly rising in a span of a few hours! [Screenshots provided by Kingdom Heart: Dark Road Twitter] Specifically the second image had a lot of people excited! What's most interesting is The Wizard that's standing in front of the class. Everyone the KH Fandom thinks he is Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings, or at the very least resembles the character with good reason. The robe, the hat, the long hair, and the beard bears strong resemblance to Gandalf that it's easy to think these two are similar. However, YouTube HMK made a quick video with the idea that The Wizard is Odin, The Wanderer from Norse Mythology. [YouTube Video provided at the bottom of the post] Tetsuya Nomura revealed the new four characters in Dark Road named after certain figures in Norse Mythology: [The following photos and name definitions are provided by Leamax on kh13.com] If Nomura is going to use more Norse names, then it seems plausible that The Wizard may be named or inspired by Odin, The Wanderer. Odin disguised himself in robes to wander the Nine Realms to seek knowledge. Although he identified with several different names during his travels, folklore and mythology referred him as The Wanderer. Looking back at the first screenshot, the resemblance is very similar to The Wanderer's portrait with the exception of the emblem on the belt. Picture Source: Google Image Some fans may think one or the other or both options: 1)The Wizard isn't Xehanort's and Eraques's Keyblade Master. If The Wizard is inspired by Odin, then it's plausible the former's role in Dark Road is to teach the students Magic. All types of Magic Spells, Magic-based attacks, and summoning spells. Maybe give historical lectures of their predecessors, the Keyblade War in Kingdom Hearts Unchained X, the Dandelions, how Scala ad Caelum became about, Daybreak Town, etcetera. Much like how Merlin, The Fairy Godmother, and the Three Good Fairies are wizards/warlocks/sorcerer/magician/witches/sorceress/fairies (take your preferred term) that teach, guide, and aid the Keyblade Wielders. 2) The Wizard is a Keyblade Master who retired and is teaching the next generation of Wielders. If that's the case, then The Wizard is similar to Master Yen Sid, who retired from wielding the Keyblade to teach his apprentices while overseeing Light and Darkness in the Worlds. Speaking of Master Yen Sid, YouTube HMK did point out the empty chair in the classroom screenshot so I wonder if that the former's seat? Yen Sid did train together Xehanort and Eraques when they were younger, so it's very possible. How did you react to the news? What are your thoughts? Xemnas observes the young child as she’s surrounded by the other natives. She isn’t anything like what he remembered in her original home; however, she did lead him to something needed for his plan.
Things will fall into their proper places in time. The man waited until she’s in bed, though he knows that she is having trouble sleeping despite it being a year since then. As he expected, she opens her window to lean out and see the stars. There’s a twinge of sadness in her eyes--her usual Light is still present as always, but it’s slightly dimmed. Now is the time. Kairi turns around when she hears something like it’s being opened. She jumps when a strange person in a black hood appears. Fear easily crept into her, causing her body to shake. “Wh-who are you?” The person lowers his hood--Kairi gasps. A sudden image flashes in her head--silver hair and golden eyes. “I...know...you.” She says slowly. “Do you remember me?” He watches her eyes flicker from side to side as her expression twists in pain. “Xeha...nort…” She carefully says the name, “You’re Xehanort.” The man steps closer to the edge of the bed and kneels on one knee. He did his best to give her the smile she remember--it appears that it worked because she crawled closer to him. “Xehanort, what happened?” He gently pats her head with his gloved hand, “You needn’t worry about it for now.” She holds his larger hand in both of her smaller ones, “Why are you here?” “I found the others from home, Kairi. I’ve come to take you to them.” Hope alights her eyes again. She opens her mouth the speak, but looks down instead. “What’s wrong, little one?” “Does that mean I won’t be able to come back here?” She looks up at him. “You wish to return.” A statement than a question. She nods, “The people here are really nice and I’ve made new friends. I...I want to see the others, too, but…” “Kairi,” He has her attention, “If you want to see the others yet still return to this world, you must promise me something.” She blinks before nodding, “At night, I will come and take you to the others. You may spend time with them as long as you want before you return to this world. However, you must never tell anyone about me.” “Why? Wouldn’t it better if they knew there are people like us? From a different home?” “Understand this, little one,it’s best if they don’t know. What happened to our home is a result of too many knowing about other worlds.” Her tiny fingers tighten around his hand, “I promise I won’t tell anyone.” “Good.” he stands up and gives her an affectionate ruffle of her hair, “I must go, little one. Remember our promise and I will appear to you tomorrow night.” At her nod, he vanishes into thin air. Kairi quickly ran after him, but she now stands where he disappeared. She clutches her pendant, feeling safer when she does. The following day, she keeps her promise to not tell anyone about him--not even to her new friends, Sora and Riku. She wants to tell them, to let them know there are people from her original home. But to see her other friends, she must keep it a secret for now. That night, her adoptive father puts her to bed. He’s a really nice man and didn’t ask about her past or where she came from. Her time with him is short, yet it feels like much longer. She waits for a few minutes before changing into her outing clothing and waits for Xehanort. She waits there for about ten minutes before something appears in her room--it’s black and purple swirls that dance around to create an opening. Seeing that gives her the chills all over her body. A moment later, a person comes through and lowers their hood. As soon as she recognizes the familiar silver hair, she runs to hug his legs. She smiles when he ruffles her head. “Are you ready?” He picks up her and holds her in one arm. She nods excitedly. Though she is scared of the portal in front of them, she feels safer in his presence. Xehanort walks through the portal and the first thing she notices is how much colder it is. “It’s cold!” she softly exclaims as she clung closer to his coat. “The journey won’t be long.” He reassures. She looks around their surroundings--it’s blue with a peachy pink color on the bottom; there’s white symbols all around the walls that slowly move about. “What is this place?” she asks. “This is the space between worlds. It is called Between and Betwinx.” she nods and continues to look. Xehanort takes this chance to look at her--she’s not affected by the darkness within this space. As expected as one of the Princesses of Heart. Another portal opens in front of them and Kairi notices white. White, gray, and black. In the corner of her eye, she sees motion--she gasps, “Ienzo!” Xehanort puts her down on her feet and watches the little redhead run to the little boy with hair covering half of his face. “Oof!” The force of the redhead caused the two to crash onto the ground with her in his arms. “Kairi.” He lifts them both up so that they’re sitting on the ground. “You’re okay.” she says in between a hiccup then pulls away. Tears are threatened to spill from her blue eyes. “Hey, what about us?” she blinks when she looks up to see two other boys, “I guess you don’t miss us. Whoa!” Kairi leaps at the two and manages to wrap her arms around their necks. “Guess you were wrong.” The other one states. All of sudden, both started feeling physical pain--Kairi pulls on both of their hair in each hand with a sharp pull. “Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Kairi! Let go!” the one with his hair in her left hand whines. The one supports Kairi in his arms and pries their hair out of her little hands. “Jeez! I think you gave me a bald spot!” “You lied to me! Both of you lied to me!” She exclaims with her tears now staining her slightly pink cheeks. “You said to stick together.” she sniffs. The two look at each other before the redhead says, “I know, but things got out of control. Besides, you were the one that disappeared on us.” He pinches both of cheeks. “Wea!” She whines and bats her hands at his. “Awe. Still a cheeky brat.” Kairi manages to slap his own cheeks with her palms, causing him to let go--now, there’s a red mark on both of his face. “You deserved that one.” kairi looks at the person who’s holding her. His attention is brought back to her when he feels her small fingers touch his forehead. “Isa..what happened?” Green eyes narrowed ever so slightly yet allowed her to feel the bandages. “Don’t worry about it. It was an accident.” He stares at her wet blue eyes. She didn’t comment on it. “Bet he looks even more scarier with that now.” Lea teases. “Isa’s better than you anyway.” Kairi laughs at Lea’s reaction; Isa only smirks. “Kairi! How can you say that? We’re both redheads! Traitor.” She sticks out her tongue at him and he responds with an ugly face. “Some things don’t change.” she turns away from their contest to see a big and tall man. “Aeleus!” She holds her arms out to him and the man easily takes her from Isa. “Hello, Princess.” “Princess? Pfft! That’s a cheeky brat you’re holding!” Lea remarks. “Princess Cheeky Brat.” Ienzo adds, causing Lea to laugh. Kairi pouts with her cheeks puffed outwards. “Oh~ better watch out or she’ll bite you.” She hears the voice above her so she looks up and giggles at the man hovering over them, “Heya squirt!” He reaches down to ruffle her hair, “Braig!” “So you got it memorized, huh?” “Hey! That’s my line!” Lea proclaims as the one eyed man uprights himself on the ground. “Yeah, yeah. Picked this up for ya, kid.” Braig snaps his fingers and small black portal opens above the two. She caught the item that dropped down--”It’s a moogle plushie!” It is indeed but wears the same black coat that everyone else is wearing. She hugs the plushie close to her body with a big smile. “How come you never gave us anything?” Lea asks. “You three don’t need anything else. Besides, that’s for Kairi to take when she goes home.” “She’s not staying?” Ienzo asks. “Unfortunately, she is not.” Xehanort approaches, “People would begin to wonder where she went if she suddenly disappeared.” “But Xehanort said he’ll take me here at night!” She adds. “Not every night. You still need to sleep.” She nods. “Back in prison.” She sighs and looks around in her new ‘home’. They didn’t put her in the same cage as last time--she bitterly laughs when they learned from their mistake; instead, they gave her a normal room with no exit door. There’s a large window giving her a view of the world. There’s a twin size bed, a night stand, a desk, a wall closet, and her own private bathroom.
While she can open a Corridor of Light, she knows there’s a spell around the entire space to prevent her from using any magic. She thought about the window, but considering the height, the glowing teal pit of abyss, and the lack of strength, she knows she doesn’t stand a chance of survival. Kairi sighs before going to the closet--as expected, the familiar black coats are an abundant supply. There’s also black pants and shorts, black boots--the feminine version--and gray and white tops. She’s lucky she found clean female undergarments. She grabs undergarments, a shirt and short, then heads to the attached bathroom. Luckily, it’s full in stock of basic essentials. As much as she wanted to relax longer in her shower, she had to cut it short given her paranoia. She’s ruffling her hair with her towel when she senses someone coming into her room. She immediately opens the door, the steam escapes into her bedroom, and she sees a familiar face holding a tray of food. “Feeling better?” His accent is one that she’ll never forget. “Yes.” She takes the tray from his hands to set it on the table, “Thank you for bringing food.” “Of course. We wouldn’t want our Princess to starve.” Her left eye twitched at the words “our Princess” yet chose not to comment. “You have my gratitude.” She hears a portal open and she’s alone once more. The redhead begins eating after she fixes her damp hair. It’s a white stew with chicken, potatoes, and carrots, some slices of bread, plenty of water, and even a little dessert. Normally she would suspect it to be poisoned; however, considering that she just awoke for who knows how long so she disregards that method. If they were going to kill her, they would’ve done so while she was unconscious. After finishing her meal, she goes back into the bathroom to wash her clothing. They’re magically enhanced to repair any wears and tears along with keeping it clean no matter how dirty she becomes. Being in this room means her clothing are back to normal. Her legs became stiff after standing by the sink for a while. She hangs her clothing by the shower rails so there’s no droplets all over the floor. She grabs her belt bag, which they surprisingly didn’t take from her. She laughs at the comical way it bulks up because the bag is also magically enhanced. She sits on the floor against the side of the bed to lay out all her items. This helps her pass the time. She checks the potions and elixirs she has; they become regular drinks without their magical properties. She stands up, though she had a wobble because of her legs. Aside from that, she stretches her body with her arms above her head--a satisfied noise is heard. Instead of flopping down on the bed, she sits on the window sill to look at the view. There’s really nothing to look at so she takes this moment to reflect on past events. She remembers her and Riku were in Traverse Town to investigate recent activities. They suspected it was the Heartless again or the Nightmares, but it was a trap. Ansem and Xemnas appeared and they engaged in battle: Riku vs. Ansem and Kairi vs. Xemnas. She was certain they were winning the battle until the duo sensed something coming. They had to retreat if there’s reinforcements coming in, but Ansem pulled Riku away and disappeared in a portal in the ground. Kairi remembers him shouting her to get away before they get her. Despite her desire to save her friend, he was right. Kairi managed to evade Xemnas with the help of her summons, but their reinforcement came in sooner than she anticipated. She tried to escape from the two members of the Organization, but their reinforcement eventually got her. She specifically remembers feeling sleepy as well as sluggish--she clicks her tongue when she realized he used a spell combination of Sleep and Stop. She combs one hand through her now cold hair and sighs; she’s worried about Riku. Did Ansem let him go after they took her? Was he severely injured? What will the others think? What will happen to her now? “Keep making that face and you’ll get wrinkles.” a laid back voice teases. She looks up at the ceiling to find the sniper peering at her. “How nice of you to care.” She leans back against the edge of the wall, “Come to check on me or deliver a message?” “Both. The higher ups decided to let you rest for a couple of days since you took major damage and you’ve been asleep for a while.” “How long was I asleep for?” “As if I know. You know very well how time is different between worlds.” “Right. Should I prepare myself when the higher ups decide to meet with me?” His shrug looks sort of funny since he’s upside down, “Like preparation is going to help you. Do what you want, kid.” With that, he leaves her alone. Kairi wakes up in the same bed she fell asleep on. “Not a dream.” She mumbles out as she rolls onto her back. Her mind spaces out while her eyes stare at the empty ceiling. Some minutes pass before she gets up and walks to the desk, where she drinks some of the leftover water in the pitcher. She looks around her room once more before moving to the opposite wall of the bed. “May as well do some yoga.” “That looks complicated.” She slightly glances over her shoulder to find the same guy with the accent with another tray of food. She looks out the window once again deciding to remain silent. She hears him switch the trays of food before hearing the portal open then close. Kairi finishes her yoga session then walks over to the desk; a plate of an omelette, a bowl of fruit, a glass of juice, and more water in the pitcher. She drinks some water then takes a quick shower--her original clothing is still damp so another day of wearing their clothing. Once dressed, she digs into her breakfast. It’ll be some time before someone else comes to give her lunch. She tried to speak with Namine through their connection, but it seems they can’t hear each other’s voice. They can briefly see each other--she tries to give her counterpart a reassuring smile and she receives one filled with worry. Their connection was very brief, leaving her bored now. Her body is feeling better given she had proper rest and actual meals. She is worried for what’s to come when she has to meet the true Organization. Out of nowhere, the need to sing something came to her. This usually happens and she’s not too sure why; it does calm her down a little. Taking a deep breath, she begins to sing. She’s not surprised about the amount of echoing in the room given the lack of furniture to absorb it. She’d sing song after song to fill in the silence. It is rather lonely and boring without Pluto. She wonders how he’s doing--the last time she saw him was on Destiny Islands when they walked through the portal. Speaking of portals, she hears one opening--she immediately stops singing and sits up. “Awe! Why’d you stop?” That voice…”Demyx?” She calls out and the figure pulls down his hood. “Yup! Good to see you, Princess!” She blinks at him; he still looks the same as last time but his eyes are different--they’re golden instead of sea green. “You...became part of…” Her shoulders sink in disappointment and sadness. “Huh? Surprised because of the eyes?” He puts a hand on his hip and waves the other hand, “Yeah, I was surprised too. I thought after disappearing, we’d be gone for sure. But then I open my eyes and here I am still.” “So you are.” She comments. There’s an awkward pause before he speaks again, “Why’d you stop singing?” “Why’d you come here?” She counters. He lets out an amused scoff, “Touche. I came here because I can hear you sing. I think the whole castle can hear you.” Kairi arches an eyebrow, “ I highly doubt the echoes can resonate outside of this room.” “Welp! WE can hear it.” “Could it be the pointed ears? You know most animals can hear sounds at higher pitches than normal humans.” She did her best not to laugh at his pout, “Ah. Even your ears fold down when you pout.” Demyx rapidly covers his ears, “They do not!” He watches her laugh out loud. “How are you feeling?” She calms down from her fit of laughter and a bitter smile replaces her joyous one, “Better than when I first woke up.” Demyx sits down in the chair by the desk, “Good to hear. So, about those songs.” She allows herself to do an eye roll and leans on the palms of her hands, “How long have you been singing?” “Some odd years now. Keeps me sane and free from boredom, I suppose.” Water suddenly gathers in Demyx’s hands--it materializes into an instrument she recalls last time. “Do a duet with me.” She pursed her lips, “I don’t think I know any lyrics that would fit the sound of the sitar.” He lets out an amused grin, “Don’t underestimate my musical talents.” She shakes her head, “Alright then. Take the lead.” It’s safe to say they’ve been in a musical session for a couple of hours now given that the usual server appears with food. Plus, Kairi’s throat is beginning to get sore. “I’m surprised you made that horrid sound into something pleasant. Must be part of the Princess of Heart deal.” He states. “More like a talent, really.” She shrugs as she eats her lunch. “Are you always this humble?” “Are you always this nosy?” “Curious.” “Curiosity means you are nosy. It could cost you your life.” “A gamble of chance to uncover mysteries and secrets.” “A gamble of fate to determine what will happen when they are uncovered.” An amused smile appears on his face; he flicks his hand to reveal a full deck of cards, “Do you play?” “Depends on what game. Unfortunately, I don't have much to wager on--or more precisely, I don’t have much to wager on given my predicament.” “We’ll be playing poker. I hope you know the rules.” She nods, “If I win, you tell me about yourself. If you win, you get to pick what you want to eat.” Her eyes shine in interest. “What about Demyx?” “If I win, then you both have to make a song with me!” “Do we have an agreement?” The dealer asks, “Deal!” They went for three rounds; Demyx lost the very first round, but he decided to stay. Kairi won the second round--she requested a dessert pastry for dinner. At the end of the third round, she wins again. She wants a burger with fries and a milkshake as well. “I thought girls like you want to watch their calories.” Luxord, she learns, states. “I’m not like most girls. A deal is a deal so I expect nothing less.” “Very well.” All the cards but one disappear. He holds it out to her-- “The Queen of Hearts. Really, can you be more cliche?” She takes the card anyway. “I beg to differ. There’s no other card more suitable for you, Princess.” “That’s ‘Queen’ to you, Joker.” A low chuckle is heard from the gambler. He opens a portal, “I shall prepare your desired meal, Your Majesty” “I think it’s time I left too. I’m starting to feel claustrophobic.” Demyx waves at her and the duo leaves. Kairi flops onto her back on the bed and looks at the card with a slight frown, “Queen of Hearts, huh?” The image of the other Queen of Hearts pops into her head--Alice wasn’t kidding when the cards don't do her justice. She tosses the card onto the bed and shifts so that she’s looking at the window. Kairi opens her eyes and lifts half of her body up--a portal opens with Luxord coming in with her dinner. “Enjoy your dinner.” He places it on the desk and leaves--he hears her thanks. Kairi wakes up with her mind wide awake. She gets up to do her morning routine--Demyx comes in with breakfast. “The higher up want to meet with you. We’ll leave once you're ready.” She concluded that he’s staying to escort her. She eats first before taking a quick shower and dressed in her original clothing now that it’s fully dry. She attaches the belt bag and she’s ready. Demyx notices a glimmer of light encompassing her. A pure Heart filled with Light truly is an odd thing. Kairi remembers this odd space in-between dimensions. It’s rather cold in this space--another reason why they would be wearing the coats, she guessed. They exit through another portal and the first thing she sees is a familiar balcony with a glass ceiling. She turns her head to see the others waiting; all of whom revealed their faces--they all have the same eye colors. She makes eye contact with Luxord and nods her head in acknowledgement, “Joker.” “Queen of Hearts.” He nods back at her with a slight smirk. “Her, a queen? Please. She doesn’t even fit the part.” The only other female present remarks--a sudden twinge of fear and hate came to Kairi. “Namine?” “And you are? With that hairstyle, those eyes, and that shrill voice? Mm. No wonder Demyx didn’t ask you to sing.” She arches her eyebrow. Demyx turns grimm. The woman glares, “Think you’re funny, huh?” “Considering I do see some amused faces, yes.” A coy smile appears. She can hear something crackling--almost sizzling--in the air around them. “She’s an electric type. Makes sense.” “Now, now. Hold your horses, Larxene.” Xigbar starts, “You’ll get the chance to have the cat fight you’ve been itching for soon enough. The big boss gotta give the signal, after all.” “Typical of men to anticipate a cat fight.” Kairi remarks. “It’s famous in bar fights.” She scoffs with an amused smirk, “Not wrong. Placing bets then?” “Same bets?” Luxord arches an eyebrow. “Same bets.” “What you got to offer, missy?” Xigbar inquires. “If she wins, she gets to choose her next meal. If I win, she has to tell me something about herself.” “And if I win, then both Kairi and Luxord have to sing a song.” “Hmph. Childish.” Ansem remarks. “What say you, mate? You’re in?” “Do you drink?” Xigbar asks. “I’m 16.” “Legal enough.” “Still a minor in some worlds.” “Still legal enough in others.” His signature cocky smirk is present, “Is this world included?” “What, can’t handle your liquor?” She has the decency to snort unladylike, “Please. You’re going to regret having a drinking session with me.” “In that case, you lose, you and I are having a drinking contest.” “Deal.” She holds her hand out to him and his cold gloved one grasped it. “Why not have a drink now?”Xigbar asks. She shrugs, “Fine with me.” “Don’t get so cocky now.” Luxord provides the mugs filled to the brim of beer, “You still have to go through trials we have in store for you.” She takes the mug and raises up, “Then maybe the blonde one gets a chance to win.” she clinks her mug against Xigbar’s, “Cheers. Drink in 1,2,3!” They all watch her chugg the entire mug within seconds. She tilts her head back before facing straight again now with an empty mug. Demyx cracks up at Luxord’s and Xigbar’s face of disbelief. She wipes her lips at the back of her wrist and her own cocky smirk appears, “So, what have you got to offer since I won?” The one eyed man barks a laughter, “We’re keeping her!” “In that case.” She steals his drink and finishes it within seconds. “So, about those trials.” She looks at the eldest man in the eyes. When Master Yen Sid said that things might change when I went back in time, he wasn’t kidding. The events that occurred before--the ones when the Island disappeared and when Sora fought Riku---they were the same. Exactly the same, but this time I paid more attention to my surroundings. It was quite the experience to see both sides of what happened. I vaguely remember the events the first time they occurred; I would see two different things at the same time and be confused at which ones were real. I thought it was a dream merging with another dream.
Looking at the events that occurred again in full awareness, it’s scary and sad. I debated whether to tell Sora and Riku of this timeline what happened on both ends if I ever saw them again. However, things got complicated. I remember exactly how I felt on the Islands living the “normal” life. I go to school, I go home, I attend my duties as the adoptive daughter of the mayor, I’d play with Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka, I’d spend countless hours looking at the small Children’s Island. My memories of Sora disappearing while the memories of Riku were intact and then suddenly remembering the forgotten boy’s name after releasing my bottled letter into the ocean. When I was kidnapped by Axel, Lea’s Nobody, I felt so helpless and weak. I wasn’t able to defend myself; I was scared. However, I found something that changed my perspective of him--he wasn’t a total bad guy because he wanted to save a friend he lost. At that time, I didn’t know who he referred to. Later on when I began my training with him, I remember him telling me he meant he wanted to save Roxas. He also wanted to save Saix, the Nobody of Isa, his former friend. It was hard for me to accept that Saix was also the same boy that used to watch after me with Lea when we were all kids. I begged the question of what happened between those two when they entered the Organization. Lea wouldn’t tell me and I didn’t push him. Darkness can change people paired with losing a home of friends and family. I can understand why he had lost hope and eventually the light within. I can’t say exactly, but I had similar feelings when I came to the Islands. Then again, I had it “easy.” In this timeline, things have completely changed. Unlike fleeing like a scared child after Sora released his Heart for the sake of releasing mine, I ran with Donald and Goofy to get away from Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. I didn’t want to risk exposing myself wielding a Keyblade in front of him so as the three of us stood in the Lobby surrounded by Heartless, I managed to summon magic spells. Admittedly, they weren’t of the highest level considering that only my mind and memories traveled back in time to the small body of mine. Luckily, I traveled a little back in time before the completion of the raft and when the Darkness took over. I was able to practice my magic spells, but it wasn’t enough time to fully develop my skills. To my credit, the magic spells I have now are quite effective! “Since when were you able to use magic, Kairi?” Donald asked after we cleared a large amount of Heartless. Right when I was about to tell a little white lie, Goofy informed there’s another Heartless just looking at us. Without having to look at my old memories, I just knew that it was Sora. I confidently approached the Heartless then kneeled to give it a hug. “Kairi! What are you doing?” “Sora. Come back.” Bright white light shone and in the midst of it, I can feel a familiar warmth emitting from a familiar person--Sora is back. As touching as the reunion is, we couldn’t stay long because of the Heartless swarming the area now. We escaped to the gummi ship and took refuge in Traverse Town like last time. But… “I didn’t know you were able to use magic, Kairi!” Sora had his signature grin that means he’s proud of me. I guess Donald asked Sora if I was able to use magic before. “Oh?” I gave a cheeky laugh. “Well, I learned from the best.” “Huh? Who?” “You, silly!” “Me? But my magic isn’t that great! And how did you know I can use magic?” I tapped the left side of his chest, where the heart is. “Because I was always with you, I was able to experience things that I never thought would happen,” I retracted my finger back to see him place his own hand on his heart. “Because you were always with me?” “She meant she was always in your heart.” “Uh-huh!” I gave the best embarrassed smile I could give. “I always saw you use magic so I thought that maybe I could try it too. I wasn’t sure if it’d work, but I’m glad that it did.” “What?! So that means that you didn’t know how to use magic before then?” “Nope!” I giggled at his downcast look. “It doesn’t matter now. You have a mission to do, Sora.” He looked up at me with seriousness. “Right! I have to defeat Ansem and bring Riku back. That way, we can all go home!” I only nodded with a bittersweet smile. I reached into my pocket then handed him the Lucky Charm. “Be sure to bring this back to me.” “Don’t worry! I will.” “Don’t ever forget. Wherever you are, I’m always with you.” “Of course!” Just like that, Sora went back to Hollow Bastion to defeat Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. I didn’t sit there idly; I ventured out to the other Districts to practice my magic. I didn’t want to risk summoning my Keyblade in case I’m being watched so I had to rely on my magic for now. The problem is that my body isn’t used to using this much stamina so the use of various magic spells tired me out faster. I had to use some of the munny I collected after each wave of Heartless--I still wonder why they carry munny-- to purchase some Potions, Ethers, and few Elixirs. I only have a few more hours at best to get as much practice as I can with actual moving targets….perhaps it’s best to visit Merlin instead. I’ll have to fight through hordes of Heartless along the way anyway. “Ah! You must be the Princess of Heart!” Merlin, one of the great wizards who trained me with magic, greeted me. “What brings you here?” “I would like to improve my magic skills. Please.” “Magic? It’s unheard of a Princess of Hearts wielding magic abilities.” “Please! I don’t have much time before I must return to my home world.” Merlin looked at me with uncertainty then released a sigh. “One can’t learn magic in just a few hours. It takes years of practice; however, you did ask to improve your magic skills, correct?” “Yes. I already learned the basics and used magic against the Heartless as I came here.” “Is that so? Then given the time limit, we mustn't dilly-dally! Come!” Instead of waiting for him to test me in what I already know, I decided to go ahead and do it. I didn’t have enough time to go through the tutorials--I need to get strong to help Sora and others later in this timeline. I internally apologized to Merlin countless times as I rushed through the course. It wasn’t until that he stopped me to give me a book about magic spells. I remember reading through his book piles learning new magic spells, but this is one book that I haven’t read yet. It was something that he said wasn’t right for me. It’s possible his reasonings for giving me this book now is because he knows how dire the situation is. “Are you sure? I don’t know when I’ll be able to give this back to you.” He looked at the book with a fond expression. “My dear, I believe you will need this book for the journey ahead. Much like you don’t know when you’ll return this book to me, I don’t know when I’ll be there to guide you. But I do believe that we will meet again.” I smiled and clutched the book closer to my chest. “I swear to never lose this book! Thank you so much!” He placed his worn hand on my shoulder with a content smile. And just like that, I watch on the shoreline of the returning Islands that Sora is yelling something that I never got the chance to hear. I completely forgotten about that moment and it didn’t matter anyway because things weren’t going to be the exact same. At least that’s what I thought. It’s only been a few weeks since the Islands came back. No one else remembered what happened that night except for the black storm. I remember the first time when I asked about that night and some thought I was crazy or something. That died down and things continued as if nothing exciting happened. This time, I didn’t bother asking what the others thought about that night because I focused on improving my magic skills. Keep in mind that I had to continue with my daily life of going to school, doing activities, and keeping up my tasks as the mayor’s daughter. Not to mention that there wasn’t a secret place on the Island for me to train--even the private garden that my foster father has. So the best option was the Children’s Island. Naturally, I had to figure a routine to train everyday because of school and that kids would still play on the island. I settled on training in the evening to late hours. It’s risky because there are watchmen on the main shorelands scouting about and I’m pretty sure that people would panic if they saw a huge fireball appearing out of nowhere! Or see sudden lightning strikes when there’s no storm. So for that situation, I had to conjure up a Mirror Dimension, a space in reality that doesn’t disrupt the nature of reality. Essentially, I become invisible and can do whatever I want in this space. The downside of this spell is that people can become lost in this space because they confuse reality with this mirrored reality. During my battle against Young Xehanort, I had to bring him in this dimension when we confronted each other in a crowded city. I didn’t want to risk the lives of the bystanders so this was the best option. Another downside of this spell is that it requires a large amount of energy and concentration to conjure and maintain this space. When I fought Young Xehanort, it was an easy task; with my current self now, it’ll take a while. This is what I mainly focused on for my training. Fortunately, I was able to summon the space but maintained it for a few minutes. Before, I could maintain it for hours. However, this amount will suffice for now and it’s all that i needed. By now, my magic skills upgraded to Level 2. It’s an achievement given how little time I had before HE appeared on the Island. By the time I finished my training, it’s night time. I ate under the stars with a few small white balls of light I created--to be honest, I made these up when I was playing around with magic spells before. After eating, I sighed. “By now, they should be in---!” I immediately got to a stance as I faced in the direction where the portal appears. The all too familiar black coat bearing figure walks through then the portal closes behind it. “Who are you?” The hooded figure didn’t say anything but took a step forward. I motioned the balls of light at the figure’s direction; while they may have dodged it, they didn’t expect the light to suddenly explode in a larger radius. The damage is quite effective because it brought the intruder to its knees--I didn’t waste anytime and conjured Blizzara. The ice latched onto its body and slowly crept its way further. I knew the ice wouldn’t be enough to stop them, but it’s the best I can do for now because I’m saving the rest of my remaining stamina to summon Reflera or for Cura or Level 1 spell. The hooded figure slowly stood up with the ice shattering in the process. “What do you want? Why are you here?” Still not saying anything. Instead, the figure begins circling me. “Did they come to kidnap me? But why? Do they plan to use me against Sora and Riku?” I moved closer to the water as the figure continued to circle me. When my foot was touching the water, the figure suddenly charged towards me. I waited until he was within arm’s reach then I moved to the side. I summoned thunder around my fists and attacked with quick jabs; the thunder transferred to his body. He staggers giving me the chance to do more hand-to-hand combat damage with fire this time. The small fires latched onto his coat burns parts of it, but with one swing of his hand the fire is extinguished. The next moment, the figure is bombarding me with swift moves causing me to dodge and block with a portion of Reflect. I blocked his right hook with a partial barrier; obviously, his height gave him the advantage of pushing me down. I looked straight into his face and I only saw a smirk before things got hazy. I can feel my eyes getting heavy and my body becoming limp--he used Sleep! The hooded figure stood straight to let his opponent stumble forward, but she didn’t fall forward. Clearly she is struggling to fight off the sleeping spell. “What..exactly…” She didn’t manage to finish her sentence because the spell finally got her. He caught her before she could fall to the sand. The hooded figure had the girl in one arm with her body resting against his side; he opened the portal with his free hand. The portal closes as he walks in. The hooded figure enters a room of white and other various shades of gay. There are few decoratives items such as white and gray flowers in a white-gray vase, blank portraits, a small bed with white sheets against one of the walls, and a table with two chairs. At the table sit a young girl with long blonde hair in a white dress and sandals. In her hand is a blue colored pencil sliding across the sketchbook in her other hand. She looked up when the hooded figure entered with the unconscious redhead. “Is that…” The hooded figure placed the redhead on the bed then looked back to the other girl. “It’s time.” Kairi knew that something is wrong with herself. In her head, she can feel the memories being torn apart and being rearranged. She knew Namine was working on her memory. She wants to wake up and tell her what is going, but senses another presence in the room. “Namine!” The blonde girl paused in her drawing to look at the unconscious one. “If you can hear me, don’t say anything out loud. Just continue drawing.” Namine continues to draw, but at a slower pace. “You know who I am?” “Yes. I need your help!” “My help?” “I have so much to tell you, but I can’t do anything with him keeping a watchful eye on us.” “What do you plan to do?” Another portal opened to reveal another figure wearing the same coat with its face concealed. This caused the other hooded figure to focus his attention to the newcomer. While Kairi may not be able to open her eyes, she can sense a great deal of tension being lifted off. She immediately casted the Mirror Dimension spell around the two girls. Namine being observant of her counterpart, looked around herself in surprise. “Namine.” The blonde focused her attention back to the redhead, who’s now awake but hasn’t moved. “Don’t worry. They won’t be able to hear or see us talking. I don’t have much time so please, just listen and trust me.” “Are you sure about this?” Namine asked. “What if they caught on about your plan?” “I don’t doubt one of them has already. This never happened in the first place and I don’t know why he’s doing this. But what I had just told you is all true. Since I can’t use the Corridor of Darkness portals, I’m going to have to rely on you.” Namine looked down at the sketchbook in hand then glanced at the figures waiting and watching. “I’ll try my best.” Kairi smiled. “Good. Now get back into place. We can’t let them think I’m awake.” With a nod, Namine resumed her position of drawing as Kairi closed her eyes. “How long before she’s ready?” One of the figures asked Namine. “I’m not sure. The memories she has are tied with the boy. If I break those chains before he arrives at the Castle, then he’ll forget about her.” “Proceed.” Namine looked back at the one who brought Kairi here. “It is best if those memories of each other are forgotten.” Namine looked down then to Kairi. “Is it just her memories of Sora?” “And the memories of her childhood on the Islands.” The blonde turned the page for a new canvas. She picked up a different color then began to draw. During the last thirty-six hours of Kairi lying in bed with Namine releasing the chains of parts of her memory, Xemnas introduced Roxas into The Organization. Axel is entrusted with keeping an eye on him. Namine is working on the last bit of Kairi’s memory; in truth, she didn’t expect to see what she had seen. It is confusing and she isn’t sure what to do now; however, she did what she was told beforehand. “Namine.” The blonde girl turned to face Xemnas and Saix approaching them. “Is she almost ready?” Saix asked. “Yes. I’m almost done with the last of her memory. Once it’s done, she will wake in a few hours at best.” “Are you certain that she will not remember the Keyblade Hero and her childhood memories?” Xemnas asked. “Yes. The only memories she has are her leaning about magic.” The two men watch as Namine completes the last drawing then closes the sketchbook. It suddenly glowed in a white light then it vanished. The redhead’s body twitched followed by a low moan. Kairi slowly opens her eyes, blinking to get rid of the grogginess. Despite feeling stiff for not moving for three days, she slowly sat up then stretched to relieve her sore body. When she looked around her surroundings, her eyes landed on the three people in the room. “Who...are you?” She asked in a hoarse whisper since she hasn’t eaten or drank anything. Kairi looks up when Xemnas approaches her. “Do you remember who you are?” She blinks then her brows burrow together trying to remember. “Kairi.” A sudden headache came over causing her to clutch her head. “My head...hurts.” She winced as it continued to pound her skull. Xemnas continues to watch her struggle before turning to his partner; the other man grabbed Namine by her upper arm then dragged her out of the room. Xemnas looked back at Kairi, who seems to have calmed down a bit. There’s still signs of her struggling with her memory. In his hand, a black robe appeared; he handed the robe to her. She only looked at him confused, but took it nonetheless. “When you wear that robe, you are a part of something greater.” “Something greater?” “Indeed.” He paused. “Tell me, do you feel anything?” She looked confused then looked down. She focused on what to feel emotionally. “I...don’t. I’m not sure if I can feel any emotional feelings.” Kairi looked at him. “What happened to me?” “In time, you will understand what you are. For now, you have just woken up and need more rest.” She only nodded. “So this is really happening, huh?” “Where are we anyway?” “You needn’t worry about this place. You will not be staying here for long.” He offers his hand to her in which she took. He helps her stand up; she wobbly stood up but stood on her own eventually. Kairi finally took a moment to look down at her clothes--apparently someone changed her clothes! She hoped that Namine was the one, but she really doubts it. Instead of her summer clothing, she is now wearing black leggings paired with black knee-high heeled boots and a dark gray V-neck shirt. Thankfully, her signature necklace is still around her neck. Feeling cold, she puts on the coat that’s thicker than she thought. She also felt something in one of the pockets--they are black leather gloves. When Kairi looked back at Xemnas, he extended his hand. “It’s time for you to meet the others.” In the where Nothing Gathers, thirteen chairs of various heights are all occupied. Some wear their hoods so their identity is concealed while others are revealed. “Good tiding, friends. Two new members have been chosen to wear the robe.” For those whose eyes were closed, they opened their eyes to see the newcomers. “I am pleased to announce, Number XIV, Xion.” One of the two walked in the very center of the circle platform with her hood on so no one could see her face. “And Number XV, Kairi.” The redhead appeared next to the other one through a portal and her hood was down. She tilts her head up to look at the new faces. There were hushed whispers amongst some of the members. “I expect all of you to welcome these new members.” Xemnas stated that they silenced the mumbles. “Xemnas, what is the meaning of this? Why is--” One of the older members started. “Vexen.” The older member stopped talking with one look from the Superior. “Axel, Demyx, take our new members and show them around the castle. We wouldn’t want them to get lost.” “Why do I always have to babysit?” The other redhead asked but got down to approach them. He looked at Kairi with a grim expression before he barked, “Demyx! Hurry and get down here.” A guy with a mullet came down. “Why do I have to go too? You’re already capable enough on your own.” “Quite whining. I have to look out for Roxas as well so you may as well start being useful.” The guy with the mullet, Demyx, sighed. “Fine.” “So this is what we call the training room.” Axel said gesturing the large open space. Kairi hasn’t been here before the last time she was here, but then again she didn’t have the luxury to stroll around the castle. “This is where we train the new recruits and train every now and then. So feel free to come here whenever you want.” “Will you or the others be training us?” “Probably. If that’s what Xemnas and Saix wants us to do.” “Oh great. Is this going to be another Roxas thing?” “Nah, I doubt it. Besides, these two seem more aware than he was when he first joined.” Axel waved it off. “Anyway, let’s move on.” After the tour, the two girls were shown to their rooms. The other girl, Xion, remains in her room while Kairi decided to walk around. She knew she should be resting with this headache still pounding in her head, but after three days of not doing anything, she felt the need for a little stroll. Kairi found the kitchen again so she began looking through the cabinets and fridge to see if there’s anything to eat. Surprisingly, everything is fully stocked. She wasn’t sure if her body is up for something heavy and greasy so she settled with making some tomato soup and bread. She wasn’t sure if the others would want some, but she still made plenty in case they get hungry. “Number XV.” Kairi squealed causing her to spin around with the wooden spoon in hand that’s still covered in hot tomato soup. When she looked at who startled her, she blinks and stutters an apology to the blue haired man with the ‘X on his face. Well, he also got some tomato soup on his face now. “What are you doing, Number XV?” he asks after wiping his face. “I was making tomato soup.” She moved to the side to reveal the simmering pot. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was and I didn’t want to disturb anyone so I made it myself.” She paused. “Do..you want...to try some?” He only stares at her and she blinks in response. “Make me a bowl.” Was all he said before he turned to sit on the table. Kairi nods then continues cooking the soup. “So it was you cooking.” Kairi flinched when another voice startled her. A very familiar face stands in the doorway; his book in the nook of his arm, blue-purple-gray hair covering the majority of his face, and his blank expression. “Would you like some? I made plenty in case the others want it.” “I suppose so. That mission earlier tired me out.” He took a seat diagonal to the other member while Kairi made another bowl. She watch them take a spoonful into their mouths; she let out a small smile when they either made a nod or a sound of approval. Kairi decided to take seat on the counter-island. For a while, they ate in silence until Kairi decided to get to know them. “So, um, who are you exactly?” The two men glance at each other. “So she really doesn’t remember us.” The one with the purple hair stated. “As you know, we are ranked by a number system. You are Number XV. I’m Number VI, Zexion. This is Number VII, Saix.” “I see.” “So what does she remember?” Zexion ask Saix more than her. “It’s best to ask her if you’re so curious.” Saix said. “You don’t know, do you?” Saix looks at Zexion, who only places a spoon of soup into his mouth. “There are certain things she remembers such as magic spells. Anything before that is up to her.” Silence hung in the air once more. The young redhead went to get another helping of her food; she noticed that Saix began washing his bowl. “How was it?” “It was good.” A smile tug on her lips at his curt reply. Zexion stayed seated at the table now with his large black book. Kairi grabbed his bowl. “Did you want seconds?” “No.” He didn’t glance up to see her nod then wash his bowl. Zexion peered through his bangs to look at Kairi. He didn’t understand why Xemnas decided to have her in the Organization. However, he didn’t deny the familiar sense of joy and relief when he sees her in person again. Another thing that still bothers him: does she really not remember them? Based on her facial expressions, he doesn’t see a sign of recognition. If what Saix said is true, then maybe she doesn’t remember at all. “Kairi.” the name rolled off his tongue. “What do you remember before coming to this Organization?” Kairi tilts her head as she looks upwards to the side. Zexion fought the tugging on his lips. “She still has that habit.” He thought as he waits for her to respond. “Well, I was in a different castle. It’s white like this one, but I wasn’t able to see anything else beyond the walls.” “Anything else? Saix did mention you can remember magic spells.” “I’m not sure where I came from specifically. I woke up in the other castle, Xemnas was there, another girl was there with blonde hair, and one other members was there, but I didn’t see his face. Then I came here.” “What about certain people? If you aren’t able to recall where you came from, perhaps you can recall familiar faces.” Kairi blinks at him for a moment, then hears a ringing in her ears followed by a sudden headache. She clutches her head and shuts her eyes tight. Zexion is surprised by her sudden behavior. He isn’t sure what to do so he watches her until she appears to have calmed down. Her facial expression softens and mutters an apology, “As soon as I try to remember something, I hear a ringing sound and get a headache.” “I see.” “May I ask why do you ask if I’m able to remember stuff before I came here?” “I ask because each of us has memories of our previous lives, before we lost our hearts.” He paused to look at her again. “I suppose you’re similar to Number XIII, Roxas. He doesn’t have memories before coming to this place.” “What does it mean...if we don’t have memories?” “It simply means that you have amnesia. It takes a while for a Nobody to recall the memories.” He pauses. “Perhaps yours will take longer.” “Nobody? Is that we are because we don’t have hearts?” “That is correct. We are nothing more than empty shells containing only our memories. We don’t have hearts, but we remember what it was like--that’s what makes us special.” “I see. But aren’t there different types of Nobodies? I saw them while I given a tour.” “We are of a higher rank of Nobodies. The ones you see are less than what we are. We can customize them to fit our preferences.” “Mm.” Another questions comes to mind. “What do you specialize in?” “Illusions and magic.” A smile beams towards at him. “Maybe you and I can train together? It’d be nice to train with someone with more experience.” Zexion raises an eyebrow. “I suppose so.” Eventually, the young redhead goes to her given room. Everything is white with different shades of grey and then black. There’s a bed, a desk, a large window, a low bookshelf, and lights emitting from the ceiling. She walks around the room to get used to the space; she does wonder about her closet space. On the wall across her bed, there’s an outline as if there’s supposed to be a door. She pressed her hand against the wall and head a soft click; the wall popped out so she moved out of the way to let it fully extend. Well, that answered her question. Inside the closet are coats hanging on the hangers, white, grey, and black shirts. Undergarments are inside the two drawers as well as other lady essentials. Extra pairs of boots and bath towels are present, too. She decided to shower since she hasn’t showered in about three-four days and she never felt more gross than ever. The showers are combined so both girls and boys can shower at the same time. Thankfully, the stalls aren’t see-through and it looks like no one is claiming them. There are extra shampoos, conditioners, and soaps at the counter; she grabs one of each then heads to the stalls. There are two baskets outside of each stall so she puts her laundry in one and clean clothes in the other. Kairi relaxes under the hot water for a few minutes then applies shampoo. While she may not be able to remember her childhood in the Islands, she certainly remembers something from her past: singing in the shower. She always liked to do that because it helps her pass the time. She thought about a song she helped composed before. Don’t think about anything Don’t even speak Please just smile for me I still can’t believe it Everything feels like a dream Don’t try to disappear Is it true? Is it true? You You So beautiful, so terrifying Untrue Untrue You You You Be by my side Will you promise me If I touch you I’m afraid you’d fly away or break I’m afraid afraid afraid I wanna stop time When this moment is done Would it be like a fantasy Would I forget you I’m afraid afraid afraid Butterfly, like a Butterfly Almost Butterfly, bu butterfly like Butterfly, like a butterfly Almost Butterfly, bu butterfly like You’re like a Butterfly I stare at you from afar If I touch, will I lose you? This mud like Night, you light it up A little gesture And I suddenly forget about reality You’re like stroking wind You’re like a softly lying dust You’re there but I can’t reach you Stop You’re like a dream to me, butterfly, high Untrue Untrue You You You Be by my side Will you promise me If I touch you I’m afraid you’d fly away or break I’m afraid afraid afraid I wanna stop time When this moment is done Would it be like a fantasy Would I forget you I’m afraid afraid afraid My heart lets out a desperate sound I can’t tell if it’s fantasy or reality My paradise Please don’t go deep into the woods My heart pours affection on you My feelings melt and leak (I just wanna dissolve) My love is eternal It’s all FREE for you baby Be by my side Will you promise me If I touch you I’m afraid you’d fly away or break I’m afraid afraid afraid I wanna stop time When this moment is done Would it be like a fantasy Would I forget you I’m afraid afraid afraid Butterfly, like a butterfly Almost Butterfly, bu butterfly like Butterfly, like a butterfly Almost Butterfly, bu butterfly like [Bts - Butterfly English Version] Kairi sighs as she sinks into her chair in her private studies. It’s been a few years since the Keyblade War, her coronation of being Queen of Radiant Garden, and reconstructing the broken world. The world came a long way with how it was Hollow Bastion to what it is now--the city is much better than it’s old self.
Being elected as Queen at the age of 19 to now, age 23 of the blooming world, Kairi rested her head on her desk. “Taking a nap, Your Majesty? I recommend you rest in your bed.” She turned her head to see her trusted advisor and a long lost childhood friend, Ienzo. He was her mage when her, him, and Aeleus--a trusted palace guard--journeyed together. Kairi signs again while tilting her head upright with her chin still resting on top of her desk. “A nap does sound nice right not, but I still have many things to do.” Ienzo placed a cup of hot coffee in front of her. “Surely the caffeine will boost your energy.” Kairi straightened her back then took a sip of the hot drink. “Unfortunately, caffeine doesn't give me the boosted energy I need anymore. Rather, it just speeds up my heart rate causing me to be jittery and use the bathroom more frequently.” She takes another sip. “Still, thank you for making this. You’re coffee is better than Dilan’s.” Ienzo tilts his head with an upward eyebrow. He takes the seat in front of her and relaxes. “Munny for your thought?” The young queen hummed in thought while looking at the coffee. She is having an internal debate whether or not to tell him what Master Yen Sid and King Mickey told her a few weeks ago. “Come in.” The door to Master Yen Sid’s study opened revealing Kairi in black long-sleeve loosely tucked in a floral A-line skirt paired with black ankle boots with silver buckles. Her hair has certainly grown in length; it’s already reached passed the middle of her back. “It has been a while, Queen Kairi. I trust things are progressing well?” The old yet still powerful Keyblade Master and Sorcerer asked. Kairi beamed a smile as she joined her master and comrade, King Mickey, at the table. “It has been a long time, Master Yen Sid, King Mickey. Restoring Radiant Garden was a tough process, but the world is much better. You two should visit sometime.” “Of course! I can’t wait to see how much has changed.” Mickey chimed. The trio caught up with things as of late until Master Yen Sid brought up the main reason why he brought his students here. “Kairi,” The serious tone in her Master’s voice has her full attention. “While it is great to hear you are ruling Radiant Garden with little problems, I believe that it’s time for you to consider marriage.” Kairi’s eyes widened as her lips parted slightly. “Pardon?” She looked to Mickey, who looked rather uncomfortable. “M-marriage? Don’t think it’s a bit sudden?” “Well,” Mickey started, “Master Yen Sid and I talked about it and we both agree that you should find a suitable man to marry and help you rule Radiant Garden.” “Are you saying that I can’t rule my queendom just because I’m a woman?” “No! We’re proud of you to be the rightful ruler of Radiant Garden, but…” Mickey has to be careful with his next words, “Don’t you think you should start considering getting married and having a family of your own?” Kairi opened her mouth to say something, but she caught herself. “...I have thought about getting married and starting a family, but nothing like this. Not to mention, I haven’t had the time as of late!” She looked down at her hands. “Besides, who would marry me and try not to take my world from me?” Mickey placed his hand on top of hers. “Kairi, we’re not asking you to find a husband right way. We’re just asking you to start considering it for the future.” “Kairi,” She slowly looks at her Master’s face, “You are an excellent Keyblade Warrior and astonishing Sorceress. With your strong heart and wits, you govern your queendom better than what the previous rulers did. You are selfless; however, you should also take the time to find a suitable husband.” The young queen looked down at her hands once more. “I suppose you are right. If I’m to continue ruling, I wouldn’t want to rule alone.” “You’re not alone! You have your advisors and guards to help you.” “Yes.” She paused. “I guess the only problem really is who will be my future husband and king. I don’t want to just marry someone who has intentions of overthrowing me for his selfish desires.” She let out an embarrassed smile. “I also hope none of you planned an arranged marriage for me.” “Oh, no! We wouldn’t do that to you! We want you to decide when you’re ready.” She smiled in turn. “Regarding who, there are a few potential suitors.” Master Yen Sid stated. Kairi only blinked in response. “Perhaps the other Keyblade Warriors would be best.” Her eyes widened. “As in Sora or Riku?!” “There’s also Lea...and Ventus.” Mickey added despite being hesitant to say Ven’s name. The young queen frantically looks between the two. “I can’t impose such a heavy burden to Sora or Riku! They have their own lives and homes in Destiny Islands! And-and Lea is ten years older than me! He’s 33!” “As you know, there’s really no age limit in love and in marriage.” Her Master’s words caused her to blush. “T-true. But still! And Ventus is technically the same age as Lea. He...just looks young because he’s been asleep so his body didn’t physically age that much.” Not to mention, Ven is also Lea’s best friend. Kairi looks up when her master lets out a chuckle. “You have a point. We will not force you to choose and you don’t have to rush.” “Right.” It’s been a week since she met with her Master and the King; she still thinks about what they said about her getting married. Sure, she had thoughts about it--back in Destiny Islands, she figured she’d marry someone she loves and have a family of her own while being the Mayor. After she found out about her original home world--Radiant Garden--is in need of another ruler, she was given this position. Naturally, this caused internal conflict of the young redhead. The Keyblade War against Xehanort just ended and not even a month later was she called by her Master and the King to discuss her position as the Queen. The Restoration Committee thought she’s a suitable person being she is a Keyblade Warrior and the Princess of Heart of Radiant Garden. They also knew that she’d be uncertain since it’s a heavy burden. Regardless, she took the position because she felt it was the right decision. It’s not as if she was entirely alone; the Restoration Committee and Ansem’s old Apprentices helped her regain her old memories of what the world used to look like and use that data to transform the world to a more modern one. There are still elements of the old world present, but for the most part it’s changed. Ienzo noticed that his young queen has been spacing out more than usual after she returned from her meeting with the old Sorcerer and the mouse King. The youngest apprentice and advisor thought it they discussed something that requires careful consideration. As of late, she’s been spacing out to the point where he has to repeatedly call her name out and give her a look of worry. “I’m fine, really! I just have a lot on my mind.” She says each time he asks her. “Clearly.” He isn’t the only one to notice; the other apprentices and former Organization XIII members also noticed. Since her return, they’ve seen her trip over nothing, they’d hear her mumble some things to herself. She also distanced herself from Lea, or is at least a little awkward towards him. “Did I do something to upset you?” Lea asked her right after a meeting ended. “No.” She blinked at him. “Really? Then why do you distance yourself from me then?” He leans in close to her face and she only blinks. Right when she was about to say something, he pulls away. “Could it be that you’ve finally fallen for me?” “Excuse me?” She gave him a look while crossing her arms. “Oh, this outta be good.” Braig joked. “Now, I knew this would happen, but I can’t blame you. I mean, who could resist these charms?” Lea places a hand under his chin and gave a grin to prove a point. Kairi only gave him an unimpressed look. “I’m not sorry to disappoint you, Lea, but you’re charms aren’t enough to make my heart flutter.” A smile made way. “And that’s coming from a Princess of Heart.” Snickers and stifled laughs were heard as the older redhead gaped at his queen. Kairi only wrinkled her nose in mirth as she spun around and walks away with Ienzo and Isa smirking. “Oh~! Rejected by Her Majesty herself!” Edym taunted. One day, Kairi realized that her guards and advisor weren’t in the palace. Ienzo is attending business with Even about the new science department, Lea and Isa are with Leon training the new recruits, Edym is checking on the water systems, Arlene is checking on the electrical systems, Dilan is busy with preparing food for the day, Aeleus is patrolling the grounds, Braig is with Cid discussing on new weapons, Rould is checking on the business markets, Lumiara is checking on the landscaping. Taking this chance of finally being alone, the young Queen decides to visit Aerith and Yuffie to discuss about some things. “Man that Leon is a pain. He’s even worse than you, Isa.” Lea said. “You’re lucky it’s not me being in charge of training the new recruits.” The bluenette remarked. “Yeah. You would have scared them off!” Edym remarked yet shrunk when he saw the bluenette’s glare. Ienzo only rolled his eyes, but then stopped in his tracks. “Her Majesty?” The other men stopped to follow their youngest member’s line of vision. Their young Queen is standing in front of the fountain in the Main Square. It appears that she’s in a daze for she doesn’t sense their presence. “Wonder what’s she doing here.” Lea remarked. “Queen Ka--HMMMPH?!” Lea quickly covered Edym’s mouth. “Quiet, you idiot! We shouldn’t let her see us!” He roughly whispered. “Indeed. We should follow her and see what she’s up to.” Isa suggested. Ever since Kairi accepted him back into their homeworld and gave him a position as one of her personal guard, he re-learned to care for her. Even he questions his Queen’s behavior. Ienzo conjured a stealth spell to conceal their presence and mute their noise to the others. Kairi already sensed their presence and knew that Ienzo would use a spell to hide them as they trail her around. She decides to play oblivious and let them follow her...to a certain degree. “Queen Kairi!” She turned her head to see the ever energetic Yuffie and the ever calm Aerith approach her. “So why did you call us?” “How about we talk somewhere private? I don’t want to talk about it out in the open.” “Is something wrong, Your Majesty?” “Yeah! You’ve been out of it ever since you got back from Master Yen Sid’s place.” Yuffie suddenly leaned in too close for Kairi’s comfort. ‘What did he do?” Kairi sighed with her shoulders slacking. “C’mon. Let’s go somewhere else.” She began walking with the others following. “Don’t you think this is a little weird? She’s just hanging out with those two.” Edym stated. “Her Majesty hasn’t been herself as of late and if she’s going to tell those two, we may as well listen in.” Ienzo stated. “Who knew little Ienzo was nosy.” Lea teased. “You of all people should know how nosey I can be. I am merely concerned with Her Majesty.” “They went inside that cafe!” Edym informed. “So what did you want to talk about?” Aerith asked after they ordered their food. Kairi looked outside of the windows; she can sense the others are coming closer. She conjures an illusion to throw them off. “Ugh, Queen Kairi? Everything okay?” Yuffie leans in closer to the young queen’s face. “Yeah. I’m just making sure there aren’t people trying to eavesdrop.” The other two women look at each other. “What’s going on?” Kairi took a moment before speaking. “Remember when I met with Master Yen Sid and King Mickey?” The two nod their heads. “They suggest that I start finding a suitable husband and future king.” “WHAT?” The cafe became silent at the sudden examination. “Sorry about that.” Kairi said. The patreons carry on with their agenda as the others recovered. “So marriage?!” Yuffie whispered. “Well, if you think about it, she is young and in her prime. Sooner or later, she’ll have to have a family of her own.” Aerith reasoned with Yuffie nodding. “And to pass it down to the next generation.” The ninja added. They paused to say thanks as a server brought their food to the table. “What else did they say?” Kairi took a sip of her drink first. “Master Yen Sid said that Riku, Sora, and Lea are good suitors, but I’m not really sure.” “You know, I thought you and Sora would have hit it off.” Yuffie says. “I don’t deny that I had feelings for him. However, after training with the Keyblade and then the War with Xehanort, I don’t feel the same way towards Sora.” “And Riku?” Aerith hinted. “I had some feelings for him too. Actually,” Kairi’s face turned a shade of light pink, “I started developing feelings for him during my training. He taught me many things and then I got the feelings all of a sudden.” “How do you feel about them now? You three haven’t seen each other often anymore.” “Yeah.” The young queen leaned back in her chair. “I don’t have romantic feelings for either of them anymore. Not to mention, I feel bad for placing a heavy burden on either of them. I know that Sora isn’t one to sit still and fill paperwork; he can make some irrational decisions if not given enough information. Riku, on the other hand, is more of a conservative type. Patient and logical, yet he can sometimes get too caught with himself about the past.” “Lea?” Yuffie suggests. “You do realize he’s ten years older than me, right?” “So? There’s no age limit when it comes to love.” Kairi made a face causing the other two to giggle. “There are plenty of couples with major age differences as long as one isn’t a minor.” “True.” “The age difference isn’t the only thing, is it?” “Partly. I’ve always considered Lea to be like the older brother I never had. Even when I don’t completely remember the past, I do remember that he and Isa would always babysit me. When I joined the Organization, he was assigned to look out for me. Then came the training together then the war and now, he’s one of the royal palace guards. “ Kairi took a bite out of her scone and chewed slowly. “I did thought about him as a suitor. He’s one of the original residents before the Fall. He helped build the world it is today. He’s there when I needed someone to talk to. As you know, he’s like fire. It can be hard to maintain sometimes and it can go out of control in the next moment. I know he isn’t like that, but I don’t want to burden him as well.” “So does this mean Isa is also out of the question?” Yuffie asks. “Isa?” Kairi took a moment to think about it. “Hmm...I’m not sure. He is best friends with Lea. He’s loyal, I admit. He’s stern and reserverved. Although I’ve seen him go Berserk before and it’d be hard for anyone else to snap him out of it. He hasn’t gone Berserk in a long time, but who’s to say that he won’t go Berserk and harm the innocent? Plus, I think he deems himself unworthy for all of the things he did during his time in the Organization. Every now and then, he’d talk about what he did in the past and still have some guilt within him.” Kairi made a face. “They also suggest Ventus since he’s about my age. If you really think about it, he’s actually ten years older than me like Lea and Isa.” “Ventus, huh? I don’t know him too well so I don’t know what to make of him.” Yuffie shrugs. “I feel the same way. I mean, he’s a nice guy. He definitely reminds me of Sora and a little bit of Riku. However, he and Roxas are identical in terms of looks. Like, exactly identical. Surely there are few differences such as their personality and eyes.” “Then what’s wrong with going out with him?” Kairi hesitates. “Appearance and personality aside, I’m not sure about him. He’s been through a lot and I’m not sure if he would consider dating me. What’s more is to consider being king of this world.” “Okay. If not those three, then maybe Edym?” “Edym, huh?” Kairi suddenly giggles. “I don’t think he’ll like the idea of doing a lot more activities and services than he does now. He hates doing paperwork, he may not be the brightest of the bunch or the strongest either. He’s mostly aloof, but he knows when to get serious. To be honest, I can’t see him as a king.” “Yeah! He’s perfect as the Royal Jester!” “Yuffie.” Aerith lightheartedly scolder. “Then how about Ienzo?” “Ienzo?!” Kairi is quite taken aback. “Oh yeah! He’d be a good match!” “But-!” “Think about it: he’s the closest age to you. You two know each other since you were kids. Man, I remember you two were very close that I wished you two would get together later on.” Aerith places her drink on the table. “In addition, he fought along with you during your journey. You two fought side-by-side against Young Xehanort and won. He’s your advisor so he knows you the best out of everyone.” “He’s really smart.” Yuffie adds with a tone. “He’s tactful.” Aerith adds. “He’s quite the looker especially when he uncovers his face.” Yuffie waves her hand in the air and Kairi’s jaw dropped with a laugh. “Oh my gosh!” The redhead covered her eyes laughing. “See! See! Even you agree! You know he’s quite attractive” Kairi, her face covered with one hand, shakes her head while laughing. She sighs then drinks her iced coffee. In the meantime… “Dammit, Kairi!” Lea shouts against the songs they’ve been trapped to listen to. Edym is singing along with a little dance. Isa and Ienzo have their arms crossed with the occasional twitch of the eye. “Can’t you get us out?” “Her illusion magic is unfortunately superior than mine. Knowing her, she probably casted a double illusion spell that could be far worse than this.” “UGH!” Lea slammed his palms against his ears to block this noise. “Seriously, Your Majesty! You should give him a try! Besides, who else would be more fitting that him?” “That is true….I just don’t think he’d be interested in me.” Aerith and Yuffie exchange glances. “Trust us, Queen Kairi.” Aerith grabs her hand for reassurance. “I’m sure he feels the same to you.” “Eh? How can you tell?” “For someone who’s very bright, you can be so dull sometimes” Yuffie sighs with shake of her head. “What do you mean?!” “How about this: starting today, pay more attention to Ienzo. See how he acts around you and what you do and say. You’ll be surprise!” “Hm...I’ll give it a try.” Both women smiled at each other. Kairi looked out the window and can see that her men are still trapped in her illusion. She almost felt sorry for them. Almost, but not enough. She finishes her meal then puts the money on the table. “Well, I best head back. I have many things to do.” “Do you want us to walk you back?” “No. I’ll be okay. I need some time alone to think about what we talked about.” “If you say so.” The three of them said goodbye outside of the cafe then parted ways. When Kairi is in a secluded area, she snaps her fingers to break the illusions. A grin crept onto her face as her guards and advisor lay on the floor defeated. Well, Edym looks happy. “So, how was the music?” “You knew we were following you!” Lea accused. “Of course!” “If you knew, then why didn’t you say anything?” “Because I knew you’d try to eavesdrop anyway.” “What was so important that you had to trap us in your illusions?” Kairi posed in her signature carefree and flirty stance. “I’m not telling. If it was so important, I would’ve already told you guys.” The four men sigh, but follow her back to the palace. Like what Aerith and Yuffie told her before, Kairi became more observant towards Ienzo. She didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until one meeting she had with the rest of the staff--the Restoration Committee, the Former Organization XIII members, and other residential community representatives. During this meeting, they are discussing possible trades with other worlds aside from Destiny Islands and Disney’s Castle. Kairi herself has thought about such action since there are only so much that those two worlds can provide. There’s the issue with the land beyond the Outer Gardens--the Heartless has returned. “I will personally conduct an investigation to see how grave the Heartless are. So please, inform the locals that they are not to go beyond the borders. We’ve suffered many losses as it is.” Kairi writes a reminder in her own agenda. “Anything else about this subject before we move on?” She looks across the room then lands on Ienzo who opens to speak. “I have a theory.” At her nod, he proceeds. “We have two Keyblade Master, yourself and Lea. While you two are powerful in your own rights, Her Majesty’s Light is strong enough to eliminate countless of Heartless.” Kairi irks an eyebrow upward. “You’re suggesting that I expand my Light throughout the world.” “Perhaps not the entire world because not everyone is able to travel beyond the border. If you expand your Light to cover the Kingdom, then we’d have less to worry about our citizens being victims to the Darkness.” Kairi nods with a sigh. “While that is a great idea, you have to realize that I can’t be the only one to maintain the Light. The people in this Kingdom also retain some Light within themselves. I can, however, provide a barrier with my own Light as the primary protection. I also ask that the People aid me to strengthen the barrier.” “We are always willing to aid our Queen for the benefit of our Home, but how can we help with you the barrier?” “As I said before, all of you hold a fraction of Light that will never go out. So long as you believe in me and what is right, the barrier will get even stronger. Naturally, we will have backup plans in event that something happens to the barrier but I will talk more with Leading Scientists Even and Ienzo.” She sees the two said men nod their heads. “When we come up with solutions, I’ll be sure to inform you all.” Kairi offers a smile of reassurance. “Now, onto the next topic.” As she looked down to her agenda, she also saw a glimpse of Ienzo smiling. Is it just her or was his smile different? The long meeting ended on a good note; Kairi and her guards watch the representatives leave the meeting room. The young queen finally stood up to stretch. “Shall we have lunch in the garden?” Ienzo suggests. “That’d be nice.” They all have lunch outside where the weather is perfect. Kairi took the time to look Ienzo; she made it seem like she’s looking at something else. “Is something wrong, Your Majesty?” Kairi inhaled then took a sip of her iced tea. “I’m thinking about your idea. It’s logical and achievable, but we’ll need something more than just Light.” “Hey now. We just got out of a meeting--a long meeting mind you. How about you ease your mind for a while, huh?” Lea suggested followed by a yawn. “He’s right. While we covered important topics, you need to rest.” Isa adds. The young queen hums in response as she sips her tea again. |
Monthly Archive
September 2021
AuthorHi there! My name is Kristine and welcome to my website! |