Chapter 5: She Knows (Narrator)

                He kept walking towards the light. The ones that shined ever so bright, emitting from the festivities. Laughter echoed about. Friends dragging along friends to see a stall here or watch something there or play with them there. The world still continued on, its movement unfazed by any person who was lost within any moment. A smile appeared on his face. It was the kind of smile where he felt at ease with the world…that in the moment he saw her happiness, he had wished that the world would have stopped for him to enjoy it just a tiny bit more. He hadn’t noticed her grip onto him had left. He has yet to even realize that she is no longer within his sights for all of his thoughts consisted of her and how happy she was receiving good news. How happy she was when she knew that even though her memories started filtering back, it wasn’t just all the bad ones that came. Even the good ones flowed in.  As he stepped foot onto the stone ground he turned to see if she was following. “Hey, Monique,” he turned and found he was by himself. “What the…OY! IS this some sort of joke?” he looked around, “Don’t play games with me!”

                “OY! If you keep yelling at yourself in public, I’m going to have to reconsider our friendship.”

                He turned to see Alexis and a curly blue haired boy around their age rummaging through the crowds to get to him. “Hey….I-I don’t suppose you’ve seen Monique…?”

                “Uh. No. She’s supposed to be with you,” she looked around, “Where is she?”

                “I…uh…kinda...lost her…” he sighed.

                “How do you kind of lose someone!? You either lose them or you…wait…HOW THE HELL DID YOU LOSE HER?”

                “Well…um…you see I took her to her parent’s altar.” He pointed to where he came from, “But I swear! She was following me when we left. I had her by the hand and when I got here…she wasn’t behind me.”

                She heavily sighed, “I swear sometimes I wonder how the hell you get out of bed in the morning without tripping on your stupidity.” She yanked Lee by the arm, stomping towards the altar, “We have to find her fast!”

                “Whoa, what’s the matter, Alexis?” The curly-q asked, “Why are you freaking out about this?”

                “Because, she likes him.” Lee’s eyes widened as Alexis continued to drag him through the forest.

                “And? What does that have to do with anything?”

                “Don’t you get it, Ben? The only reason that her…her inner darkness manifested into Annalyse is because of what you guys did to her. But she never held resentment towards any of you because she still wanted to make peace. All of that hatred and what not carried into Annalyse which caused her to hate Lee. If she sees her being happy with him, she’s going to open up the tragedy we kept away from her.”

                “S-seriously?” Lee asked. He managed to break away from Alexis’ hold, running faster than ever towards the altar. A red blur found its way to Lee’s eyesight causing him to stop in his tracks. Along with Alexis and the curly-q boy, they found Monique passed out on the forest floor. He picked her up and scanned her entire body for any marks or scratches. “This is bad…”

                “What is?” Alexis looked around.

                “L-Look at her arms…” From the upper to the lower scratches had appeared. Blood dripped out. Her eyes were open yet shallow. He tried desperately to awaken her yet it seemed that her conscious was stripped away from her physical body.

                “We…we should take her to Lilith…” curly-q suggested, “Maybe she could help.”

                “I-I think she’s the only one who can help, Ben.”

                Lee picked her up, cradling her in his arms. She was amazingly light, couldn’t weigh more than a pound of flower (well at least to Lee).

                They left the area, rushing towards the capital building where the statues of the fallen heroes stood. In there at the very center of the room sat a girl with goldie-brown locks that dropped a few inches past her shoulders. Her dull expression gazed off into the blank abyss that was nothing but an empty entry way. She gave a heavy sigh, “While everyone’s out having fun, I’m stuck here since brother decided to take a supper long time on the mission.”

WHOOOOOOSSSHH!

                A sudden gush of wind slammed the doors wide open, causing her whole nervous system to snap her out of her boredom, “Wh-what the?” She started walking towards the front door. “Lilith!” someone cried out, “We need your help!”

                She cockd her head to the side, “A-Alexis?”

                Lee jolted straight inside, “We need your help.”

                “What’s going on?” she looked at Monique, “What happened?”

                “We’re not entirely sure…” Ben followed behind Alexis, “She was like that when we found her.”

                She inspected her a bit more, scanning her mind for anything that seemed amiss, “I see…” She looked at the three, “I need you guys to do something for me”

                “What is it?”

                “Ben, since I can’t be able to pull them out when the time is necessary, I’m going to need you to stay here and hold onto the life line I’ll be passing to you. When I give you the signal, you are going to have to pull us all out.”

                “Wait what are you talking about?” Lee asked.

                “Listen, her conscious is trapped inside of her…possibly reliving the nightmare you had Karin lock away. In order to retrieve her, I’m producing a sort of life-line to attach to you and Alexis and Monique so when you find Monique you’ll be able to attach it to her and Ben will be able to pull her out.” She hovers her hand over Monique’s head and started to pull a string from her forehead. Voices were swimming out as if the string pulled her very thoughts right out. She laughed as well as Alexis and Ben when they heard many of them were about Lee.

                Lee blushed.

                Lilith proceeded pulling the string, attaching it to Alexis and Lee. Horrified screams echoed from the other end. “Both of your conscious will be intertwined and enter her sub-conscious. Just be aware that even though you are within a friend’s mind, you may get lost and find unappealing things. Be safe and stay together.”

                They both nodded. Their eyes closed tight from reality.

                Darkness. Pitch black darkness. That’s all they ever saw. All around was just an empty void that filled their beloved friend’s mind. Lee grew increasingly worried that she may never awaken from her nightmare and that she’ll find out the horrible truth which occurred when she was young and unknowing of her gifts. Gifts that grew to be a curse for those who knew what the darkness that grew inside did. Alexis saw how much this affected him and said, “It’s not going to do you good to be worried over her.”

                “Wh-what if she never forgives me for this…” he said.

                She sighed, “She’s not that type of person.”

                “I took away a part of her life that haunted her and kept it away from her. Wh-what if…all she sees is what I’ve done?”

                “She’ll see you in a different light and probably keep away from you, but that isn’t going to stop her from actually…you know…loving you.”

                Voices echoed from the other side. The room started disintegrating, black pieces peeling away to reveal a fluorescent sunset where trees were filled to the tip with leaves. “We gotta find her fast.” Alexis suggested. “I don’t know if this is the worst part…or if it’s just the beginning.” Lee nodded. The two went searching around. High and low but no Monique around nor in the flow. At the end of their search, they ended up at a spot way too familiar. It was a rock wall, the rock wall in which where Monique had been cornered and the kids had tortured her. Alexis saw Monique running towards it, catching her before the fall of it. “Monique!” she called out.

                “A-Alexis?” She had answered. She ran towards her and held her tightly “Alexis…Alexis I’m scared…what…what just happened? What’s going on I don’t understand.”

                “It’s alright, come on we have to go.”

                “I-I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

                “What’s wrong?” She looked at her.

                “Wh-why is h-he here?” She stared at Lee, “A-am I to be mocked at? Laughed at? Humiliated again?”

                He turned his head away from Monique, “Come on Alexis. Let’s just go.”

                “What are you saying? You brought her all the way to Lilith, searched all around for her and now you just want to give up and go?” Alexis furiously asked.

                He stopped and pondered a thought for a moment. He then sighed and said, “Of course not.” He turned to look at the two, “But I’m getting real tired of this fucking act, Annaylse. Why don’t you be so freaking kind as to drop it and tell us where she is?”

                “What?” Alexis pushed her away.

                She maniacally laughed, “Oh how ever did you know that I wasn’t her? Was it the way I talked? The way I acted?”

                “Tch. You don’t think I don’t know her? I didn’t dismiss any of the thoughts that initially came out of her head. I heard them all. She was worried about not seeing me again.” Lee took ahold of Annaylse by the collar, “Now give her back before I make you give her back.” Claws started forming on his free hand.

                “Whoa there Tiberius. If you destroy me now, how will you ever know where she is?”

                “Stop playing games with us.” Alexis glared at her.

                Annalyse sighed, “Ohh fine. You both are a bunch of party poopers.” She snapped her fingers. Instantly, the scenery changed. From the sunset in the forest to the sunny morning of the island where water continuously fell from the top. Monique was lying on the wooden ramp that descended to the beach. Lee ran towards her, “Monique!” He cried out, “Monique wake up!” he raised her body up. “Please. Wake up.”

                “What did you do to her?!” Alexis grabbed Annalyse.

                She sighed once more, “Tried showing the kid what had actually happened but she refused to see it. Refused to open it. Said if Lee had locked it away he probably had a good reason too. Kept thinking about him and eventually some of the memories before she came back to Destiny Island leaked in, causing her to faint.” She pushed Alexis away. “I may want to ruin her, but I am her sword and shield. Not just a beautiful monster. And because I do get so much enjoyment from seeing you in pain,” She stared at Lee, “I think it’s best if you tell her every detail.” She disappeared from sight, leaving Alexis, Lee and Monique on the beach.

                Alexis walked over to them, staring at Monique as she quietly slept. “Wh-what are we going to do now?”

                Lee stared at Monique for the longest time, pondering every motive that he could come up with and all the consequences that may cause it to fall. In the end, he said to Alexis, “Switch places with me.” Alexis nodded and did so. She watched Lee walk towards the cave her brother, Sora, had went in when searching for Kairi. “Wh-what are you doing?” She asked.

                He placed his hand on the makeshift door that blocked off any entrance into the cave, “Making a guardian. This cave…it held memories not only for Sora but for you guys as well…this guardian that I am placing will keep all of her memories before her mission here…but more importantly, it’ll keep all the bad ones away from her. It’ll guide her out of this place and will only show it if she’s in a critical condition. For now…this is the best I can do.”

                Her eyelids started slowly opening. She looked around, trying to figure out where she was. In the midst of her search she saw Alexis staring at her, “Wh-where am I?” She got up, still looking around, “Wh-why are we back on Destiny Islands?” She turned to see Lee coming towards them, “And what is h-he doing here?”

                His eyes widened. He didn’t believe that the memories that leaked were those. The ones where he wished never existed. “We’re here because we’re trynna get you back.” Alexis stood up, “Come on, let’s go home.” She smiled.

                “I-I’m afraid though…”

                “Afraid of what?”

                “Afraid that when I go back home...back to my birth home…I won’t…I won’t realize what I’m supposed to do. I won’t remember what I’m supposed to do. What my parents left me behind…I can’t remember anything. All those pieces of memories that comes trinkling back in just scares me because what if I’m just…a…monster…?”

                “You’re not a monster.” Lee said, “You’re just someone who, like many of us, have suffered due to their perspective gifts. Besides…you have friends who’ll help you and guide you to where you have to be. You’re not alone.”

                “A-are you one of them?” she asked, “Are you one of my ‘friends’? Last...the last thing I remember before waking up here is that…you hated me…”

                “Oh come on now” Alexis grabbed Monique by the hand and grabbed Lee’s as well, “If he hated you he wouldn’t have taken you to the festival nor would he wouldn’t have carried you all the way to a friend of ours to get your head examined then come all the way over here just to get you back home?” Monique shook her head, “Then he obviously has a thing for you.”

                Lee blushed, “Sh-shut up.”

                “And he didn’t deny it too.” She laughed, “Alright let’s go home yeah?”

                “Pull them out, Ben!” Lilith shouted. Ben nodded and, with all his might, began pulling onto the glowing thread that was given to him. He assumed since it was three relatively average weighted people that it would be a tad hard to pull them all out at once. However, since they were merely conscious that he was pulling out all he had to do was a simple tug and the three came out awakening in their unconscious bodies. Both Alexis and Ben left the area, leaving Lee and Monique with Lilith. “Y-you both should go back out. The fireworks are to begin soon.” She smiled.

                “I-I just kinda want to go back to the room…” Monique said.

                Lee looked outside the open doors, watching as the world still continued on as if nothing ever phases it. “Hey…can we use the roof to watch it?” Lee asked, ignoring Monique’s request to go back to the room.

                “Sure! Use it as long as you want too.” She smiled. Lee took Monique by the arm and walked her up the stairs, up to the roof to get a better view of firework show.  “C-Come on I don’t want to be here.” She pleaded, “I just want to go back to the room.”

                “Please…” he asked, “Just allow me this little moment in time to try and figure out the best way to tell you everything that happened before the mission. Before you lost your memory.”

                

Chapter 4: Falling Star Festival (Monique)

               I feel like a part of me is gone. Like this huge part of my thirteen years of living has completely disappeared. I wonder about the rest of it…was it all just a complete lie…or did it all really happen.

               A flickering flame grew from the palm of my hand. The more I thought so depressingly, the dimmer the light shined. I assume my emotions affect my powers…correlation eh? Does this mean if I were to have violent thoughts the flames will shine brighter? “Thoughts like those are the reasons why I’m here, dear.” Annalyse, my assumingly alter-ego, whispered.

               “What do you mean by that?” I asked.

               She giggled, “If I told you what it means, I’d ruin your date. Wouldn’t want that~”

               “D-Date?!?” I blushed.

               A knock came at my door, “May I come in?” it was Karin.

               “Uh s-sure.” I responded.

               She walked into the room, closing the door behind her. She carried a gift wrapped with tan-ish paper and tied up with a white ribbon with a pair of wooden sandals on top. “This is for you.” She smiled, handing me the gift.

               “What is it?”

               “Open it and find out~”

               I ripped it open. It was a fluorescent-orange floral…dress?

               “It’s a yukata. I figured since Lee wanted to take you out to the Falling Star Fest that you should go in one of these.” She grinned, “It’ll make him gush!”

               Ah!! Now it’s an official date! I thought.  

               “Now let’s get you dressed up!” 

               “Ahh!! Waaiit!! Isn’t this going a tad bit overboard?? I could just go in jeans and wh—”

               “Non-sense! If my brother wants to take my friend out, it has to be in style!”

               Half an hour later, a loud bang continuously echoed for a few seconds, “Oy! Are you ready in there?” Lee angrily asked.

               “Just a minute!!” Karin answered, “She’s almost done!” Karin finished tying the red ribbon around my waist and clipped on an orange monarch butterfly, pinning my hair up.

               “Karin? What are you–” the door swung open from the inside.

               “She’s all ready.” Karin smiled.

               “This is really hard to walk around in.” I fumbled trying to get to the door.

               Lee stared in amazement. A bit of pink grew on his cheek.

               “Well, what do you think?” Karin asked.

               Lee straightened his back, “I should probably stop hunching or else she’ll get taller than me in no time.” He took my hand, “C-come on, we’re going to be late.”

               “Have fun you two~” Karin shouted as if she were blessing our date.

               “She’s just too much.” Lee sighed.

               I laughed a bit.

               “I’m so glad you’re having fun . . .”

               “That sounded sincere.”

               “It is.” He kept walking towards the town, still holding my hand, “Are…are you still sad?”

               “About?”

               “You’re never going to live on the islands. . . Riku’s memories of you are gone too…”

               “Oh…that’s right…Alexis told me about that when I got back to the hospital room last night. Because this world and all those who inhabit it are supposed to protect something important…the place most people know as Kingdom Hearts…all of our existence must be erased.” I looked up at the sky, “I’m a tad bit sad….but I guess it has to be…if that’s what fate has planned then it’s alright…I suppose. No use crying over spilled milk.”

               “Such a clichéd line.” He sighed,” Although, I was really expecting water works.”

               “Oh, so you want me to cry?”

               “Not really. I like it when you’re happy.”

               I blushed.

               “When you’re happy…the world is right.” He kept walking, “I-I’m sorry...”

               “For what?” I giggled a bit, “Having a really cheesy line?”

               He shook his head. He kept walking, a bit farther away from me. He took a step into the dark foggy city. It seemed as if the sun hadn’t risen, as if it was blown out in a single puff. Like we missed the whole festival (it’s barely noon! I swear! ). “For what’s about to happen…”

               “Eh?” I walked slowly behind him inside the town. It was erringly quiet and dark for a Tuesday afternoon. “Why? What’s going on?” With only an inch away from us, a spark of lightning zoomed past us. I watched it as it pierced through a muscular Taurus that stood on its hind legs, obliterating it within seconds. Two people in red capes rand right through me, running towards the outskirts of the city.

               “This is the beginning of the end. The battle of Endersteen. Guess they started the festival earlier…”

               “What do you mean? What’s going on??”

               “The Falling Star Festival always presents the history of our world and how we came to be through the usage of Illusion magic. If we aren’t there in the center to hear the story tellers bring it to life, our hearts automatically get lost within the illusion world.” He sighed, turning to me, “This means, you’ll get to know what happened to your parents.”

               “My parents?” the salty sea water crashed into my lower ankles, soaking the bottom of the yukata. The ocean? In the middle of the city!?  I heard the cries of infants, as if they were separated from their mothers.

               “Sh. Shhh. Hush little one. Everything will be alright.” A soft, comforting voice hummed to me.

               “Eh?” the scene moved all at once, fast forwarding me to a place where a woman in a white cloak was bending down to a basket cradle.

               “Don’t worry, Monique. Mommy and Daddy…will…will always love you and watch over you. We will always be proud of you…”I walked a little closer to her, trying to see who it was, “I’m…I’m so sorry...” the woman in white stood up.

               “Sorry? You’re giving up your only child?” Someone cynically asked.

               “Whose there?” she asked, looking around.

               “You can’t protect her, can you?” A man in a black hoodie stood in front of the woman, “Why don’t you call it quits and hand them over to me?”

               “You!” a staff materialized from thin air, “You’re the one who started it all, you’re the one who killed the other two! I’m not giving you my life nor am I giving you my pride and joy!”

               “I’ll set them free from their destinies,” he held up a crystal ball with two small spheres of light roaming about in it.

               “You’re…you’re trying to open the gates!?”

               “It would have been easier if you all would have cooperated so I wouldn’t have to sacrifice your children’s lives.”

               “You’re not laying one hand on them! Besides, you won’t catch much with that rubber ball!”

               The man looked down to find the crystal ball he was holding disappeared, “Such childish tricks won’t get you that far.”

               “Heh, it’s all I actually need. Cody! Get out of here!” She shouted.

               “Not without you!” a boy shouted back.

               “You have to…” her lips curved into a devastating smile, the kind that a pained mother used when she knew she was at her end, “You have to survive to protect her. She’s your sister now. You have to protect her because you’re all she has left now. I leave her to you.” Something grabbed the boy and gently placed him where the baskets were. Before she could send them off, the man in the black hoodie struck her down.

               “Your efforts are all in vein.” He sneered.

               “Heh.” She coughed, “Let’s just see how wrong you are”

               “DON’T! YOU’RE ALREADY AT YOUR LIMIT!” the boy shouted, “Please! Let me help you! If you use any more energy, your life force will go out!”

               She lifted her arm up “Aros!” a strong gust of wind blew away all the baskets and the boy, sending them far away. She steadily rose up from the ground, “L-Let’s dance.”

               “Sakura!” the boy shouted, “Please! Don’t die..”

               “Sakura?” I ran towards the battle scene, hoping that in some weird way, I’d be able to stop it.

               “You fool!” he angrily shouted.

               “Heh. I knew you needed that thing to get Accilia. I also am aware that of what happens when I die. That she’ll be put back to where I found her and that there’s not much you nor I can do about it.”

               “What a foolish card to play!”

               “The last gamble I can ever make.” She smiled, “Forgive me, Monique, I can’t be with you.”  Moments passed by and her physical form disappeared, her body fluttering in the wind as pieces of lights.

               “M-Mom…?”  I reached out for her. My hands phased through her body, through all of the flying light particles. Even if it was for a brief moment, I wanted to feel her…at least once…but what was I thinking reaching out to a woman a part of memories that I never even knew existed? What is the point in me experiencing this when there is nothing that I could ever do to bring her back to life.

               A flash of light emerged, casing the time to fast forward. Tears welded up. I’ve never felt this sad in my life or perhaps I have but I don’t recall nor remember. I found Lee standing near what it seemed to be a gate leading to town. He turned to face me, noticing the tears that welded up and streamed down my face. “What’s wrong?”

               “I…I think I just watched…my... mom die….” Sparks of memories started appearing in my head. I remember my mom and Accilia…together as one. She was a host for her. A key. She saved my life by sacrificing hers and gave Accilia freedom from their bond. Yet she still attached to me…as if owing my mom a favor. “Wh-what kind of life did I live?”

               “I-I’m sorry.” Lee mumbled with a touch of sadness, “You…you had to go through that again. You have to remember the kind of person you were…and the life they left behind for you.”

               “Th-they? My dad too? Where is he?” I asked

               “….Are you sure you want to know?”

               I nodded.

               He stepped aside from my view revealing a distant time where the buildings disintegrated into trees. Seas and seas of trees with wide pathways leading to stone circle implanted on the ground with a keyhole chiseled on its surface. A small mouse, probably no more than two feet tall, ran passed us with a blade shaped as a key. He rushed towards the stone circle where a man in a black cloak was on the verge of collapsing. “Heal!” the mouse shouted. A light green energy surrounded the man, healing his wounds and giving him strength to stand on his own.

               “Mickey…” he asked, “wh-what are you still doing here?”

               “Came to help!” he readied himself for battle.

               “Please escape with the others.” He pleaded “I-I’ll handle this on my own.”

               “Fat chance!” a small yellow mouse with a pair of blue goggles appeared by the mouse’s side.

               “We don’t leave friends behind!” A small girl with flowing white hair, pasty face and fiery spirit stood near the mouse.

               “Pikachu…M-Mavis…” A bit of smile showed on his face.

               “I had the others go on and help the others escape.” Mavis smiled, “We’ll be able to pull of this

last round together!”

               “Such fiery confidence…” the black coated man trapped the black cloaked man.

               “Titian!” They all shouted.

               A force-field surrounded the two, blocking off any means of entry. The black coated man confronted Titian, “Give up the locations and I’ll spare you.”

               “I would rather die by your hands than betray the ones who’ve bestowed their lives on my shoulders.” Titian stood his ground, “I won’t let you touch any of those kids. I won’t let my comrades’ nor my wife’s death be in vein. I’ll erase you from this world before I let that happen!”

               “How are you going to accomplish that?” he sneered.

               “By sacrificing my own life. Please! Gather!” He held up his hand in the air, using a spark of flame as a signal. Three orbs of light danced around the signal, circling round and round.

               “Wh-what is the meaning of this?”

               “You are not only standing on the entrance of Kingdom Hearts. This very place is also the keyhole that locks this world, restarting it once the pieces have been placed back. Xehanort, I will erase you from this world. You will no longer hold the knowledge you possess and you will no longer be able to set foot onto this world. From now on, I, as the last bestowed warrior of this world will forever banish you from this plane.” The three orbs surrounded him, slowly engulfing him, “Amplify…point one…Sacrifice”

               The man in the black coat tried escaping but was caught by chains that emerged from underground. The keyhole they stood on shined a bright light, slowly engulfing both of them.

               “Wait! If you do that you’ll…you’ll never be able to live that dream! Don’t go!” Mavis pounded away at the force-field.

               Titian laughed. “I-I’m sorry. I set myself up for a fool’s dream.” He smiled, “I won’t be able to get to live it out…will I?” he looked at Mavis, Pikachu and Mickey, “Please. When you see Monique, tell her…her parents want the very best for her and we are always proud of her.” The ground below started breaking apart. Rocks and concrete part sinking into the unknown. Xehanort fell through the rocks. Titian stared at the trio for the very last time, mouthing off the words “Good-bye” before deteriorating into small fragments of light.

Everything happened too fast…without any stops in between without any sort of pause…it…just happened. The death of two people who brought me into the world…the death of the only two people I probably had any connections with gone. Sounds from the festivities started trinkling in like the first few raindrops that fall from the sky before a heavy rain comes on by. People started walking through that scene, laughing and chatting as if nothing had ever happened. I stood looking at the scene, staring at every inch of it, even with people walking around it. I-I just couldn’t move. My feet were planted on the ground. My mind still comprehending what just went on.

“Hey.” I heard a voice call out.  “You okay?”

I shook my head

“I’m sorry…I-I didn’t want you to relive that…”

“Then why did I have to?” tears welded up, “Why did you have to show me…all of that?”

“Because you were going to know sooner or later. It was better sooner.”

I looked around at the happy folks who continued to mosey on throughout the festivities, “Why…why aren’t they sad? Why didn’t they see it?”

“Because we walked right through the illusion world. They saw what the illusionists wanted them to see however we saw what our hearts and minds lead us to see.”

“So I…I wanted to see my parents die?”

“You wanted to remember the kind of people your parents were. The kind of heroes they were.” He took me by the hand, guiding me through the plaza we were in, pulling me around the corner. He pointed at the crowd of people roaming about the busy streets. “This was their and our result”

“Ours?” I looked at Lee.
“The majority of the people you see here are orphans. The rest, people who couldn’t belong anywhere. They all gather here because this is where they feel they can belong. Everyone’s parents who’ve participated in the war, including yours and mine, sacrificed their lives to preserve this.” Kids ran about in there summer dresses and yukatas while carrying paper lanterns. Stands gave away food and drinks and even toys from winning games. No form of currency was exchanged. Just warm smiles and polite thank you’s. Everyone was a young face. No wrinkles or spots of anything on their skin, just young people moseying about and keeping their eyes on the younger ones.

“Everyone…everyone here…”

“Orphaned or misplaced” he looked at me, “Let me take you to this place…” he pulled me away, “You’re going to want to see it.”

“Eh?” I reluctantly followed, “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He smiled.

We walked through the main street where vendors were planted left and right. The aromas danced from their respective places and roamed around the skies, finding their way to my nose. Paper lanterns lit up the darkened streets, some managed to float up into the sky. We walked past the capital building where statues of fallen heroes were placed. My wooden sandals were wearing out from all the walking…note to self: do not wear wooden sandals when walking around too much. Not fun! He stopped in front of a particular set of statues that laid in a garden. A garden filled fields and fields of lilies, roses, sunflowers and irises. “It’s over here.” He pulled me towards a statue altar of the people I’ve been following around in that illusion world.

We got close enough to the altar to read its descriptions:

In loving memory of Titian and Sakura Hyori

Who sacrificed their lives to save the future

Whose only regret is leaving their precious gift to the world

Their only wish is to hope the home they saved will be enough for her

“Welcome Home, Monique”

               “This is where your parents decided to have their altar at. Your mom always did enjoy the beauty behind this world.”

               “How did you know this?”

               “My parents were close to your parents.” He pointed to the other side of the field, “Their altar is on the other side.” He observed the fluorescent orange sky, watching as the clouds sailed by, “Mom died when she was assisting the escape plan for the children. Dad died because he refused to sell out his comrades in order to save his own life.”

              I frowned. “That’s awful…and heroic in a way.” I looked at him, “You’re really proud of them, aren’t you?”

              He nodded, “They died and lived like heroes.” A smidge of a smile rode across his face, “Even though they knew they weren’t going to make it out alive, they all saw it to the end, hoping for the best out of the situation given.”

               I looked at the altar, “You know…when I try remembering the past…I would remember all the times I was bullied for being an orphan and told my parents never loved me. When I tried remembering anything about my life here…” tears welded up, “I remember feeling unloved by everyone around me. However…reading this…remembering all of those notes that were locked inside of that house…I…I’m…relieved…to know that even in the afterlife…they will always love me…”

               “Your…” he patted my head, “Your parents adored you.” He smiled at me and I smiled back. He then took me by the hand, guiding me back through the flowery field.

               I felt my grasp slip away from his. He walked farther and farther away. I tried catching up with him but once he entered the town area, he disappeared, “Hey…Lee..! Wait up!!” I called out. No answer, not even a response. I looked around the area, hoping it would be just a lame prank, “Come on…hey Lee! This isn’t funny!”

               “Fu-fu-fu.”

               I turned around, “Hello? Who’s there?”

               “A lost pup, eh?”

               “Please show yourself!”

               “What will you do?” something wrapped itself around me, “You lost your memories. Nothing to help the Great Monique fight. No one to help you. You’re just a helpless little pup. As helpless as I found you that day.”

               “A-Analyse?”

               “Bingo” she devilishly smiled.

               “Wh-what are you doing here?”

               Something wrapped around me, constricting me from movement. “Though I didn’t want to ruin your little date…”she sighed, “I do despise seeing you happy with him. Getting all cuddly with the monster who made you this way. With the person who’s done you more harm than ever. He says he wants to keep you safe from all the harm there is but he’s the one who causes it the most.” She chuckles, “He even thinks keeping those pieces of memories away from you will allow you to continue further yet…without those memories your powers will never reach its true potential.”

               “Wh-what?” I tried prying myself loose from the constriction, “What are you talking about?” screams started echoing about the fields. Lights darkened. The trees stopped flowing with the wind. The world stopped for a bitter moment and the only sounds that echoed were pained children, screaming for mercy. Scars crossed themselves amongst my wrists and upper arms, some forming words and others just lines that dragged on and on. “What’s going on!?” I cried, “Someone! Please help!”

               A mirror appeared before me. I stared at it, my eyes scanning my whole entire body. Everything I was feeling had not appeared. It’s as if it wasn’t just reflecting me…but showing me another…me? “I’m just trying to show you…” it’s mouth moved, her voice emitting through its vocal cords, “What you were like…” the reflection’s skin started peeling away. Bit by bit, the skin peeled from a creamy white to a greyish color. The outlines as black as the pitched night, as if a black-and-white character was plastered onto the mirror. Its eyes dipped in a devilish red. The smile curved with stiches. “Don’t you remember how much terror we brought?”

~Fin~

Chapter 3: Memory Start (Monique)

                I feel empty. It’s as if I don’t exist. As if I’ve never had existed…like my existence didn’t tie onto anything and just kind of disappeared. An empty existence…empty…oh so empty…

                “Oh” a distant voice called out, “Are you finally awake or are you still dreaming?”

                “Wh-wha? Who’s there?” I called out.

                Part of the room started to chip away the darkness, revealing a room with white walls. A shadow casted from where I was standing into the white room and from that shadow appeared a dark figure that molded into a clone of me. Her entire body looked like something from a black and white cartoon with pure blood-red eyes that colored her entire eyeball. My eyes widened at the sight of her. Her lips curved into a crooked smile, the kind that made your skin shiver upon sight. “Awe, don’t tell me you don’t remember?” her eyebrows curved into an arc, “It’s me, Annalyse. You have to remember. I practically ruined your life~”

                “Wh-wha?” +I backed away.

                “Come on~! Don’t tell me it’s something you really thought you could forget. I’m the darkness that seeps in your heart. What you allowed yourself to grow.” Her face got closer to mine, leaning closer to me, “You have to remember all the dead bodies that you were surrounded in. The beautiful blood red on your hands. The symphony of screams that echoed about the land. That was a work of masterpiece I created.”

                “Wh-what are you t-talking about?” I backed away from her, “I-I didn’t do anything like that!” I looked at my shaking hands, “I-I know I –”splatter stains of blood appeared all over my hands. The echoes of screams rang about my head as lifeless bodies phased in all around. Tears started streaming down my face as I looked about.

                “Annalyse…” a familiar mature voice rang about. The bodies disappeared as well as the screams and stains on my hand. A tall pale woman with golden blonde hair and crystal clear eyes stood behind Annalyse. “Don’t harass her.”

                “Awe, come on, Accillia! You said I could great her. It wouldn’t be fun if I just said ‘Hello’” Annalyse whined.

                “I told you to not harm her.” She then turned to me and asked, “Are you alright?”

                “A-Accillia?” I responded as if I knew her.

                “Yes.” She nodded, “Do you have your memories back?”

                I shook my head, “N-no. It’s just that…somewhere deep inside my heart, I feel like I know you.”

                She checked my forehead, then gave a huge sigh of disappointment, “I see what went wrong.”

                “Hmm?” Annalyse cocked her head to the side, “What’s the diagnose, doc?”

                “Someone’s tampered with her memories. There are broken links and missing pieces. It’ll take some time to recover them all, or at least the ones that will help her along her journey.”

                “Ho? I guess someone doesn’t want you to regain your true potential~”

                “Wh-what do you mean?” I asked, “What’s going on??”

                Accillia patted my head, “We’ll fill you in as much as we can, but the rest, the rest is up to the path you take afterwards.”

                I slightly nodded, “Whatever helps me remember what’s important.”

                “Then let’s begin.” A flood of images started to appear all around me. It felt like pieces of broken glass melding to one another. Fragments of dialogues that once floated about my mind started to make sense again.

                I took a few steps back, my hand holding my head, “I-I’m remembering…” I began sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss that, apparently, was my mind. I remembered the first time I had discovered my powers. And…to be frank, that was the worst day to ever discover them. I was just turning six, and for whatever reason, I was feeling a bit sad. I was on the edge of the docks, watching as the waves came on by. It was mid-afternoon, and I had a thought to myself about how big waves could get. That thought transmitted a signal from my brain to motion my hand as if I could move something back and forth. Eventually, I had felt like my hand was holding onto something really heavy as I continued this weird motion. I heard people gazing at amusement that at this time of day, the waves were growing bigger and bigger. When I stopped the motion, the length of the wave decreased and the curiosity of those who watched grew. The people who saw me there noted me as a “freak” and thus began the days of my torments. Through those torments, I began harboring hatred that manifested itself into Annalyse. Though, this is a story for a different day. I did not really want to see the horrors that I’ve done. Whatever I had done, it was a tragedy. A tragedy I never told Riku. I kept everything to myself and ended up cutting because it was the only way to escape the harsh torments. When we were allowed on the island, Riku, Sora, and Kairi were out playing on one side while Karin, Alexis, and I were playing on the other. We eventually got separated from them and ended up on a world called Titian. Memories from there were a bit fuzzy and all I could recall was feeling alone. I remember hatching furry black egg and came out a fuzzy black wolf I named Shadow. “Sh-Shadow? H-how could I forget about him???” I looked around the abyss, looking for him. After a few seconds, I laughed at myself. How could I find a small black furry wolf when all I could see was darkness?

                A bark was heard from the distance. It increasingly grew louder and louder as the sounds approached closer to me. Scratching and pitter-patter noises that scattered about the floor suddenly stopped. I cocked my head to the side, wondering what noise was that. All of the sudden, soft pads with a bit of a sharp end was on my chest. I backed up a bit then held onto the thing that jumped on me. “MOMMA!” I heard it shout, “Momma! It’s really you!!” it’s head nuzzled on me.

                “S-Shadow?” my eyes widened a bit. I tried looking down. I fuzz-ball with pointy ears had looked up to me with its marble sized yellow eyes.

                “I got lost trying to find you but I finally did! Do you remember now?”

                I shook my head, “I-I just remember you. I-I’m sorry.” I started crying, “I-I almost forgot you. I almost forgot something that holds importance to me.” Shadow was the black little fuzz-ball that hatched from that egg a whole while back. I was told it was of importance that I keep in mind of his existence. I assume, from where I come from, this lil’ guy can’t survive if I die.

                “Don’t cry, momma.” He licked my lower chin, “When you wake up, you’ll recover what you’ve once lost.” Shadow’s essence slowly started to disappear.

                “WAI-WAIT!” I tried holding onto him, “Wha-what do you mean by that? Don’t leave me!” Shadow completely disappeared from my sight. I fell to my knees, sobbing, “P-please…c-come back…” Memories continued to flow throughout the dark abyss. I recalled finding Accillia in a winter wasteland and being told that I was a “vessel” for her.  That eventually, there will come a time when bad people will come after me. When someone will try to use me to get to a sacred place thought to be lost within the darkness. A place called Kingdom Hearts.

                I don’t understand any of this. Why me? Of all the people in the world they could have chosen, why did it have to be me? What was so special about me? Why am I destined to be this? What…am…I? I felt like I was falling down the abyss. Falling into an endless pit I really believed was my mind. I looked around and saw a flash of bright, shinning, light from down below. Either that’s the tunnel out of here or I just died and I’m now going to see what’s on the other side. If I died, that would be fine. I lost everything I have, why should I go any further? My eyes shut themselves closed. I felt like I was finally going to go.

The calm waves splashed onto my feet. Seagulls were laughing. The ocean breeze was just…right…wait…what? The heck? My eyes immediately shot open, my eyeballs darting everywhere trying to make sense of what was going on. I ran my fingers through the soft, golden brown sand and realized I was home. I got up and shook the sand off my hair and dashed straight towards the Seaside Shack, zooming up the stairs. As I was about to run across the bridge, I stopped myself and sank to my knees. “What am I doing?” I asked myself. “My friends know something I don’t. These memories I had seem to be false and the ones I’m supposed to have seem to be false to and…and…” tears started streaming down my face. “Who am I? What am I?” The surroundings started falling apart. Everything was breaking away. It’s as if this was all painted on glass walls and some snot-nosed-brat threw bricks at them. Like shattered dreams falling down from the skies.

My sobbing echoed about the abyss.

A distant voice called out.

“Huh?’ I sniffled a bit, “Wh-who’s there?”

“Why so glum?” I turned to see a blonde girl with evergreen eyes staring at me.

“Wh-who are you?” I asked.

“What? You can’t be serious can you? You don’t remember me?” She chuckled a bit, “Though, of course, the way I treated you, you shouldn’t remember me.”

“A-And why not?”

She pointed at my arm, “You started cutting again when I was in your life.”

“H-huh?” I looked at my arm and noticed scars. It wasn’t just across the street on the arm, it was words as well. Words etched into my body like I was giving myself free tattoos. “Bu-but this can’t be…I-I…”

“You would never do that right?” She sighed, “But you did, even after you promised Karin you wouldn’t anymore.”

“H-How did you know that…” I looked at her, “J-Just who are you?”

“My name is Terra. Terra Evergreen. When you were nine, you came to ― we met and I gave you such a hard time.” She looked around the abyss, “It’s funny though, you’d have a part of me right here. Even though I made you suffer, you still kept a part of me. Maybe it was on purpose though.

“Wh-What do you mean?”

“It’s obvious. I’m probably meant to keep you on the right track since we are still the same.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll figure it all out soon.” Pigments of her skin started shedding off from her, disappearing into the darkness.

“Wait! I-I don’t understand! What’s going on? If you know who I am then tell me!”

She laughed, “Don’t worry. You’re Monique Hyori. The girl who’s going to help the save the worlds and who’s going to aid the Seven of Light into victory against the Thirteen of Darkness.” She smiled, “The girl who’s going to help create a paradise for everyone. The girl who’s destiny will intertwine with others. Don’t worry. You just need to wake up.”

“Wait…what?”

A flash of light caused me to awaken. Awaken for good. I hope.

I woke up and found myself scanning about the room as I started to slowly lift my head up. Vision was still blurry. Sounds didn’t click in. It was as if my entire sensory system wasn’t fully functioning. I tried peering out to see who was here; tried listening for voices, but nothing seemed to click. Images faded in and out. My perception was dropping along with my hearing. Noises were flaring up my ear. Its intensity grew louder and louder. As if a high pitched scream mixed entered through my earholes and increasingly grew louder as it passed by each hair cell and into my brain. As if the screams of tortured souls rang about. I bent my knees, drawing my kneecaps closer to me. I buried my face in my upper legs, trying to rock the pain away. I wanted to cry out for help, but my words choked itself, slithering right back down my throat. This…this is the absolute worst. I feel like I’m drowning in a pit of violent screams and I can’t find my voice to call out for help.

Just when I was at the edge of pain, ready to plunge into death, a soft, warm, familiar scent embraced me. I heard its calming tone calling out to me. As if the calmness of the tone shattered the roaring voices. The life line that I needed to bring me back to my senses. I tried tilting my head from my knees so I may catch a glimpse of who was comforting me. Vision bit by bit was sharpening. I saw a boy in a gray long sleeved shirt, strands of his silver hair fell on my shoulders. My hearing slowly caught onto the sound waves of words for small  bits of his voice echoed, “…alright…”

I wanted to call out a name, but nothing came to mind. He was slowly letting me go. His warmth slowly cooling off. I slid my legs under my bum and tried reaching out to him. I reached for his arm and pulled him back closer to me. “Don’t go.” I pleaded.

The boy’s hand grabbed mine and pulled me in closer, “I won’t.” He responded.

Sounds started filtering in. Images started to appear, painting the environment around me. The fuzzy images I once saw started to focus. I was finally able to see people in a hospital room …wait…whoa whoa whoa wait!! Hospital room? How did I end up in the infirmary?? I looked up at the person holding me and realized it was Lee, the boy who tried keeping me at the docks. I slowly backed off and gave a quick apology.

“Ah! So you can see?” A cheerful tone asked.   

I looked to see who it was. A man with a white toga, dark grey eyes, dark spikey brown hair and pale skin was observing me from across the room, bearing a smile across his face.

I gave a slight nod, a bit of blush splotted on each of my cheeks.

“What a great improvement!” He cheered, “You were out for a week. I was hoping something good came from that!”

“A-A week?” I astonishingly asked.

“Mhm. That’s right. You were as stiff as a stick! The only thing that moved was your belly.”

My eyeballs sunk down, “It…It felt like I’ve only been in there for hours though…”

“You’re awake!!!!” I heard Alexis and Karin shout from outside the rom. They were both in long black capes wearing black T’s. They both ran up to hug me. I have never been so confused in my entire life. I awake from what seemed like hours of sleep from these creepy weir dreams to find myself being constantly hugged in a hospital. Did I come back from the dead or something? What the hell did I miss in the past week?

“We were so worried about you! Karin cried.

“Are you alright?”  Alexis asked.

“Um…physically I’m fine...but…” I pushed them away, “I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on. Like, why are you guys dressed up like that? Why in the world is this kid,” I pointed at Lee, “here hugging me a-and” I shook my head, “I-I just don’t understand what’s going on.”

“Hmmm.” The toga-man walked up towards me, examining me closer, “It seems that you’re memories haven’t come back yet.”

“Obviously not if I’ve been questioning everything.” I rolled my eyes. “Please…before I have a headache from trying to piece this all by myself, can someone fill me in all the details?”

“Still the same old, as I see it.” The toga man smiled, “But before any of us can fill you in, please tell, us what do you remember?”

“Not a whole lot. I remember discovering my abilities…and ending up on a weird place after getting separated from Riku. Then I meet a person by the name of Accilia and that’s pretty much it. The details are hazy.” I sighed. I looked at the toga man, focusing on all the details that make him up. “You…” I said, “You look familiar…”

“Oh! Where are my manners?” he took a bow, “I’m Kingdra. Surely you’ll remember me now.”

I pondered his statement for a while. Trying to retrace in my mind where I’ve heard that name before, I found a memory leading to others. I remembered somoee greeting us when we first entered this world. When I found myself isolated from everyone, he trained me and taught me to protect those that mattered to me. I slightly nodded.

“Great! So it seems that by name, you can recall some memories. Perhaps some training and skill brush up are also linked to your memories.”

I nodded.

“We’ll start that the day after tomorrow seeing how there is festivities going on in the time being. Well then, ta, ta for now kiddos. I must be off to do some duties.” Kingdra left the room, leaving Karin, Alexis, and Lee behind. I scratched my head, trying to figure out what just happened. If what Kingdra said was true about recalling memories from just names, maybe faces would work too! It wouldn’t work with Karin and Alexis since I’ve already know both of them.

I stared at Lee’s facial features for a bit. Such sad blue-green eyes he has. It’s as if he’s trying to repress all the emotions he bears but it doesn’t work. His eyes meet mine and the sadness formed into confusion, “What?”

“Hm? Nothing.” I quickly looked the other way.

“What’s wrong, Monique?” Karin asked.

“It’s just…I’m trying to remember stuff…I don’t think it works with Lee though…because…I already knew his name the” I air quoted “‘first’ time we meet…but I don’t remember anything else. Nothing connects.”

Lee sighed, “Maybe you should rest a bit more then.”

“I’ve been sleeping for a week now; I don’t think I should take in more sleep. That’ll ruin my whole sleep cycle.”

Alexis chucked a bit.

“What’s so funny?” Lee sneered at Alexis.

“It’s just that, she remembers Kingdra more than she remembers you and you spend more time with her than he does.” She smiled, “Maybe you’re blocking off all of those bad memories you’ve had with her.”

“Eh?” I asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Shut it.” Lee said, “I-It’s nothing, Monique.”

“It’s not ‘nothing’ if you get so upset about it.” I sighed. Lee looked at me with a bit of shock then scowled at me. “Well, whatever.”

“She’s awake!? REALLY!? WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THIS!?” I heard a familiar voice yelp from the hall.

“Please keep it down.” Another responded. “She’s in that room.”

“CAAAAPPPTIAAAN!!” a pale-ish girl(?) with orange fox-like ears, black-berry hair and hazel eyes shouted. She jumped from the ground and hurled for me. Lee stepped aside just in time for her to hug me, “I-I was so worried. You were like gone for a year and then I hear you lost all of your memories and y-you were like asleep for a week and I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU CAPTAIN.” She cried.

“Eh?” the word “Captain” hit me like someone watching as a bunch of papers take flight in the wind then land straight across their faces. “C-Captain?” I questioned.

~*~*~

                I remembered meeting her somewhere…in a world I was so unfamiliar with. I remember extending my hand out to her, offering her a place of belonging. At that point she called me captain…

                “Ugh, Tina. How many times do I gotta tell ya? It’s Monique! Call me Captain on the battlefield. But outside, call me Monique!” I heard myself talking with an annoyed tone.

                “But…” the girl who came to hug me stuttered.

                “No butts! That’s an order.”

                “Yeah, if you don’t follow her orders, she’ll punish you till you do what she wants you to do.” Someone snickered.

                “Oh shush, Kin!”

~*~*~

                “Tina…? I asked, “I-is that you?”

                Tina gasped, “You remember me? Everything about me!?”

                “S-Sorta.”

                “Well ain’t that great, “Lee scoffed.

                “Eh? Did I do something wrong?” I asked Lee.

                “Oh he’s just jealous because when we went to rescue you, you called him Riku.” Tina snickered.

                I did? I thought to myself.

                “Shut your pie hole before I remind everyone of the time you almost confessed to Kin!” Lee angrily responded.

                “Oy! You promised you’d never speak of that!”

                “Oy! Yer in a patient’s room!” Alexis shouted, “So keep yer traps shut before you all get us kicked out!!”

                I chuckled louder than I should have.

                Everyone stared at me with a mixture of confusion and joy.

                “I-I’m sorry,” I laughed, “It’s just been a long time since I heard Alexis trying to contradict herself.”

                Alexis laughed a bit, then finally got what I just said, “Whatchu talking ‘bout?”

                “You always do that,” I laughed, “When you try to get people to stop breaking the rules, you do it yourself so you can catch everyone’s attention.”

                “Oh, you mean like that time when everyone was being loud in the library and she yelled ‘Shut up!!’ to everyone and she was the only one who got kicked out?” Karin giggled.

                “Yeah! Ahaha! It was so hilarious, you were so mad at us for getting you kicked out because everyone said you were the only loudmouth around.” I laughed.

                “I’m so glad you’re happy now” Alexis rolled her eyes. Her sarcasm still remains the same.

                “Ah!” Karin pulled Alexis to the side and whispered something in her ear.

                “Oh! You’re right. Listen, we gotta go and get stuff ready for tomorrow.” Alexis said to me.

                “What’s tomorrow?” I asked.

                Tina gasped, “Oh…that’s right…you don’t remember. Tomorrow is the Falling Star’s Festival! You must come. You’ll get a whole lot of history from it!” Tina started walking towards the door, “You’ll get all of them back, Captain! I know of it!”

                I sighed, “Okay.” I just hope she’s sure.

                “So, we’ll leave you in the care of Lee!” they all shouted.

                “What? Why me?” Lee asked.

                “Because, you’re the only one we can count on. ‘Sides, Kingdra said you had already done all that you needed to” Alexis smiled at him.

                “Please, big brother…for me?” Karin pleaded.

                Lee sighed, “Alright, alright. I got her.”

                “GREAT! Bye, bye you two. Have fun!” the trio left the room, leaving me with Lee. Something tells me, he really doesn’t want to be in here with me.

                “Listen…” I looked at Lee who had an annoyed look on his face, “If you don’t want to stay, its fine. I can take care of myself. Besides, it’s not like I can run anywhere. I don’t even know where I am at.”

                “Sounded like you did when you asked what tomorrow was.” He scowled.

                 “I like to sound smart. I thought you would know that since you insist you know me oh so well.” Ah, here I go again. I do this every time I want to get to know someone who I might like. I’ll either act like a sarcastic asshole or an asshole or just a know-it-all punk who’s attempting at pissing everyone off.

                Lee didn’t respond.

                I got up from my hospital bed. “I’m sorry if that remark made you feel uncomfortable.” I slowly walked to the door, standing near him.

                “Where do you think you’re going?”

                “Uh, out? Fresh air does the mind and body some good.” I walked out, hoping he wouldn’t follow.

                I felt his presence near, slowly stalking me out the building. Guess I didn’t hope hard enough. “You don’t have to follow me” I repeated myself.

                “I promised Karin that I’d look after you.” He responded.

                I realized what Karin called him before she left, “So…” I stopped in my tracks, looking up at the twilight covered sky with oddly shaped clouds floating on by, “Am I imagining things, or did Karin call you her older brother?”

                “You’re not. By blood, we are brother and sister.”

                “Ah, I see. How nice.” I smiled. “And I can safely assume Alexis has a sister out there? One by the name of Terra Evergreen?”

                Lee’s eyes widened a bit, “How…how do you know that name?”

                “When I was asleep, she appeared in my dreams. She woke me up.”

                “Terra…Terra isn’t Alexis’ sister…rather her cousin who so happened to be born on the same day as Alexis, just a few moments later. Her mother is Alexis’ mother’s twin sister.” He walked closer to me, “Do you remember anything about her?”

                “Nothing in particular. She said she bullied me and was surprised to find herself in my mind. Though, I would be surprised too. Kids who bully me don’t necessarily become memorialized in my thoughts nor in my mind.”

                “I-I see.” I felt a slight sigh of disappointment in his tone.

                “You know.” I turned to look at him, giving him my best smile, “If it makes you feel sad being near me, then don’t be near me.”

                “Wh-what do you mean?”

                “You emit this negative, depressed, persona and it’s no fun to be around that. It actually kind of bums down my mood more than usual.” I sighed, “I’m trying to forget the fact that I’ve lost someone…that…I may never be able to see…your mood towards me isn’t helping that cause…”

                He face palmed, “Shit. I-I wasn’t sup―I’m sorry…I really am.”

                “For what?”

                “For everything.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, “Listen. Tomorrow’s the greatest festival that ever happened here. It’s a chance to see all the history in beautiful colors. A-and I know, they all want you to go…but it’s sorta like a pair thing. Like you know, take a date-event kinda thing.”

                “Uh-huh…”

                “And…I was wondering if you’d let me…uh…what’s the word…um…escort you?”

                I chuckled a bit, “‘Escort’ me?”

                He blushed a bit, “Hey! I’m trying here.”

                “Trying a little too hard.”

                “Well, is it a yes or a no?”

                I laughed a bit more, “Yeah, yeah. I’ll let you escort me.” I smiled. “Promise me you won’t be as depressing as you are now though.”

                “I won’t. Besides…I’ll help you regain what you’ve lost.”

                What I’ve lost…eh? What have I lost besides a sense of my mind and a sense in the world? Whatever world I am on, anyhow. What have I even gotten myself into? If what Lee is promising me…then maybe the truth that was hidden from me will be revealed. The truth…I remember when I was laying down on the beach on the island where Terra woke me up there was a door behind the waterfall with a peculiar emblem. I don’t know why I didn’t go towards that door…maybe it was because I was so convinced that Riku was where he normally was and that whole disappearing act was just a dream. Maybe…whatever Lee will help me regain…will allow me to go through that door...or perhaps…I’m already so far down that door I haven’t realized how far the white bunny went.