Flowing one attack into another, Xehanort was able to knock back the few heartless that spawned around him. Taking them out with a final fire spell, he dismissed his blade as he caught his breath. The dark creatures weren’t all that threatening on their own, but Xehanort now knew that it was their sheer numbers that were trouble. 

He’d been walking this path for a while now. There haven’t been very many encounters with the heartless, but it was still worrying. The paths and signs that were around where he woke up suggest that people do live here. Walking the paths with all the heartless around would be very dangerous for the locals. 

Xehanort tried not to let his thoughts wander too far. He had to stay focussed. Find Eraqus and Yen Sid. Or at least find something other than this forest! 

Luck must have finally been on his side as he walked on. Xehanort could hear voices in the distance of the silent forest. Following them, he stopped at the edge of a clearing. It was brighter here than the forest, he noticed, but not only that! There was a large table in the clearing, covered in a plethora of teapots and cups and surrounded by mismatched chairs. At the far end of the table sat a small man with a large hat. He was talking animatedly to the empty chair at his side. 

Confused, Xehanort looked closer. The chair was in fact empty, but the man was speaking to what looked to be a mouse sat on the table with its own small cup of tea. Not wanting to be rude, he walked further into the clearing so they could see him. 

“Oh! Miss Alice! Do come join us for tea!” The man in the large hat said when he noticed Xehanort enter. Xehanort cocked his head in confusion, looking around himself to see if there were any ‘Alice’ near him that the man could have been talking to. Coming up empty, he furrowed his brows further. 

“Alice! Miss Alice!” Another person spoke from closer by. Too quick for Xehanort to react, the voice’s owner grabs him by the wrists and starts bouncing around. Dragging the baffled keyblade wielder around in a sort of wild dance while he kept on talking. “We were expecting you, dear!”, “Have you grown since the last you were here, Miss Alice? You’ve gotten so tall!” Xehanort’s stuttered questions and words of reluctance falling on deaf ears as he attempted to get away.

Long ears, Xehanort notices as his dance partner releases him. The brown rabbit in a red suit jacket guiding him into one of the chairs at the table. 

“My dear, Miss Alice! You simply must have some tea!” The man in the hat leaned over the table to pour him a cup.

“Alice? I-I’m not--” He was cut off with something sweet being shoved in his open mouth. 

“Not polite to speak with your mouth full, dear.” what?  Xehanort was baffled by these people. He swallowed the bite he forcibly took from the little treat and attempted, again, to speak. 

“Excuse me, I’m not Alice. I’m looking for my friends.” The three others at the table weren’t even looking at him now, the mouse had fallen asleep, the rabbit was busy organizing the small cakes in rows and the man in the hat was focussed on his own cup of tea. He peered into the cup for a long moment before slamming it down. 

“Clean cup!” he yelled rather loudly. “Move down!” He stood, grabbing the sleeping mouse and scooching over one chair. 

“Move down, move down!!” the rabbit on Xehanort's other side pushed him in the same direction the other man went. He kept pushing at him until Xehanort stood and switched chairs. This was certainly the oddest thing to happen to him today. 

“Mr. Hatter! Mr. Hare!” a feminine voice cut through the clearing. Everyone at the table turning toward the newcomer. 

Newcomers. Xehanort noted with a smile as he recognized the two friends he’d been looking for joined by a young girl. 

“Alice! My dear girl!” Mr. Hatter, Xehanort assumed was the man’s name, said before narrowing his eyes and turning back toward Xehanort. “Imposter!” he accused.

“I told you! I’m not Alice! Do I look like an Alice to you?” Xehanort retorted, not even caring about the snickers he heard from Eraqus. This place was ridiculous. He stood from the table as Alice spoke to the rabbit and Mr. Hatter and made his way over to Eraqus and Yen Sid.

“You found me! I was looking for you!” 

“Alice led us here. Were you having a tea party without us?!” Eraqus faked offence at the notion, putting his fists on his hips and leaning forward as if to scold him, but the effect was lost with the smile he couldn’t hide.  

Xehanort was going to reply but was distracted when he looked up to see Yen Sid, arms crossed. “Sid? You alright?” He asked, his friend looking up at him when he spoke. 

“He’s been grumpy.” Eraqus said. “C’mon Sid, we’ll figure it out.”

They heard steps approach and turned to see the girl returning to them. “Terribly sorry about that.” She apologized, looking at Xehanort. Most likely referring to the little identity mixup. The men continued their tea party behind her. 

“It’s fine.” Xehanort assured. “So, you must be Alice.” 

“That I am.” She smiled. “And you must be Xehanort, these two told me about you.” she gestured to his friends. “I’m so glad we found you. The forest can be dangerous.”

“Aww, Xeh can hold his own.” Eraqus threw an arm across his shoulders in a gesture growing increasingly familiar for the two of them. 

“If he’s not distracted by that curiosity of his.” Yen Sid added, stepping forward. He looked less grumpy now, at least, if the smirk is anything to go by.

Alice giggled. “Curiosity does often lead to trouble, you know.” 

“Oh, don’t I know it.” Xehanort agreed with a chuckle of his own. 

“Oh right!” Eraqus set down his cup and reached into his pockets. They were now sitting at the opposite end of the table from Mr. Hatter and Mr. rabbit. Alice had thankfully convinced the two to leave them all to enjoy the tea and sweets on their own.The boys thanked Mr. Hatter for the hospitality. The only exception was the dormouse, sound asleep and curled in Alice’s hand on her lap. Leaning across the table in interest, Xehanort quickly recognized a second fragment of the star-shaped object that had brought them here. He pulled out the piece he’d found as Eraqus continued speaking. “Alice said she found this near me. It’s a piece of that star from the desk right?”

“I found one too when I woke up.” Xehanort said, showing the piece. Yen Sid hummed and pulled out a third one. 

“I haven’t seen it before, Grandfather never told me about anything like it either.”

“Can it be fixed, I wonder?” Xehanort said, holding a hand out toward Eraqus who handed him the piece. Xehanort was only attempting to see if the edges of the break lined up, but as soon as the pieces touched, they attached themselves seamlessly to everyone’s surprise.

“Oh, how curious!” Alice exclaimed at the sight of the pieces merging. 

Excited by the turn of events, Xehanort grinned wide and grabbed for Yen Sid’s piece. Smile falling as the boy jerked his hand away. “Hey, you wanna fix it or not?” He asked.

“What if it activates again?” 

“Maybe it’ll take us back to the tower?” Eraqus supplied. 

“And if it doesn’t? Will we get separated again?”

“You could try holding hands?” The boys all look to Alice when she suggests it. 

“That’s not a bad idea.” Xehanort agrees. “If we hold onto each other, maybe we’ll stay together.”

“It’s worth a shot!” Eraqus agrees, jumping out of his seat. 

“Heh, finish your tea, Era. We should wait until we’re all ready.” Xehanort chuckled before turning back to Yen Sid. “Sound good?” he asked, smiling as Yen Sid nods his agreement.

They took another half hour or so. Talking with Alice, drinking tea, and eating sweets. They made sure to thank Mr. Hatter again before walking back down the paths to another clearing where they wouldn’t make a scene. 

“You sure you’ll be alright walking back?” Eraqus asked Alice. They weren’t far from the garden now, and well past the area where the Heartless had attacked them before, but he couldn’t help being nervous of her going back on her own. 

“I’ll be fine, Eraqus. Really.” She assured him before taking a few steps back. “Now, go on then.” 

Yen Sid and Xehanort both pulled the pieces back out, looking down at them and then to each other before looking back at the girl. “If this works, this is goodbye then.” Xehanort began. 

“Thanks for everything, Alice.” Eraqus told her with a smile. Alice smiled brightly at them in return. 

“Goodbye.” she said simply. 

Eraqus took his place between his two friends. Pulling them all together with his arms around their waists. They both returned the gesture, raising their opposite hands with the pieces of the star in front of them. 

“Okay, hold on tight.” Xehanort reminded them. Feeling Eraqus bunch up the cloth on his side in his fist, clutching on tightly. 

Once ready, they all shared glances and nodded. Xehanort and Yen Sid bring their pieces together where they fused with a bright flash of light. Brightening ever more as the three screwed their eyes shut against the glare. The light and the sinking, nauseous feeling washing over them being their only signs that the star had activated. 

Knock knock.

The group of them turned toward the door when Ienzo knocked. The young scientist had a smile on his face. 

“You look happy.” Lea observed. A smile of his own on his face. 

“Shouldn’t we all be?” Ienzo said, walking farther into the room. Letting the clipboard he held fall to his side. “You’ve all claimed quite the victory. Saving the Worlds and all.”

“That was all Sora.” Xion chuckled into her hand. 

“Kid’s a show off, right Isa?” Lea laughed and playfully nudged his friend’s arm. Lightly of course, Isa was still recovering from being recompleted. The blue haired man merely hummed a smile in response, nudging Lea back. 

“Right, Isa.” Ienzo lifted his clipboard again, remembering the reason he’d come in. “You’re extensive vital check came back. And, great news! Nothing seems out of the ordinary. And we have confirmed a complete heart with the scans. Just a little more rest and you should be good to go.” He smiled at him. “And I know I said it before, but it’s really good to have you back. “

There were smiles all around the room at the good news. Even Roxas and Xion, who had been wary of the man who used to be so cold to them, were relieved and happy to know that he was alright. 

“Thank you, Ienzo. It.. is good.. to be back.” He spoke slowly. 

“Of course.” the young scientist said before another thought came to him. “Oh, I meant to tell you all, the others arrived early this morning and we are preparing the vessel for Namine. Everything should be ready soon if any of you would like to be there when she wakes. We’re confident that the Heart transfer will work.”

At the mention of Namine,  Xion and Roxas perked up. They both owed her for what she did for them. 

Standing, Roxas asked first. “Where is she?” 

“Down in the lab, I’ll take you there if you like.” 

“Yea.  Xion?” He looked back as she got to her feet, adjusting the new blouse and skirt they had bought her that morning. Roxas, too, had found an outfit exactly like the one he’d worn in the data Twilight Town that he’d immediately changed into. They’d never wear those coats again. 

“I’ll wait here.” Lea said. “Don’t want to overwhelm the girl. We’ll go see her after.” He told them with an easy smile. 

Ienzo led Roxas and Xion to where the others were gathered in the lab. The vessel for Namine lay on a medical chair near the center of the room, surrounded by machines. 

In the room were all the people they expected to be there, those who were connected or new Namine in one sense or another. A large group of friends there to greet her. Well, and the scientists. 

“Alright,” DiZ-er, Ansem --as they’d been told when they arrived the night before-- said soon after they entered. Turning from the computer screens he’d been focused on. “The data all seems in order. Sora, Kairi. If you would.” He gestured and smiled at them before backing away. Roxas noted that he backed into a corner away from where Namine would see him but still in the room in case anything went wrong. Smart man. 

“Right!” Sora said as he and Kairi approached where Namine lay. Sora took a deep breath and summoned his Keyblade. The same Kingdom Key that Roxas and Xion used to share. 

Aiming the tip right at Kairi’s heart, Sora made an unlocking motion and the tip of his keyblade lit up. A ball of light emerged from Kairi’s chest as she gasped. A Heart! That was Namine’s Heart! 

Squinting through the new light in the room, Roxas watched as Sora carefully moved his keyblade away and Kairi lifted her hands to cradle the heart. Once it was securely in her grasp, Sora dismissed his blade. 

Smiling, Kairi moved to Namine’s side. “Time to wake up now, Namine.” She said so softly, Roxas wasn’t sure if she actually said it. Then Kairi lowered her hands, the heart with them to rest over Namine’s chest. Where she opened her hands, letting the heart join it’s new vessel. 

There was a flash of light then as the heart made contact. Roxas brought a hand up to shield his eyes from the blinding light. Just then he felt something touch his hand and jumped a little before realizing it was only Xion. He held her hand tight as the light subsided. 

When they were all able to see again, there were a few moments with no change. Namine’s eyes remained closed and everyone’s breath was held. Then there was a sound, then another. Steady beeps coming from a machine at her side. Heartbeats. 

And then, Namine opened her eyes.

Isa waited until Roxas and Xion were out of ear shot to speak again. “Lea, you can go see your friend. I’ll be fine.”

“I know that.” Lea assured. “I’d just... rather not go down there again.” He turned away, narrowing his eyes at the ground. Isa didn’t ask, Lea knew that he understood enough about it to not need to ask. He was thankful for that.

Do do do do dododo do dooooo

Lea sucked in a breath through his nose as he pulled his gummiphone from the pocket of his new jacket. Pausing to glance at Isa, who just gestured to go ahead, he answered the call. Ven’s face taking up the screen. 

“Woah, cool! It worked!” The blonde mused, making Lea chuckle. 

Recognizing the voice, Isa furrowed his brows. Roxas was just here. “Who is that?” he asked in confusion. 

“Oh, Isa! Remember that boy we met when we were kids?” Lea angled the phone so Isa could see the boy in question.

“Isa! It’s good to see you!” Ven exclaimed when he could see the other man. 

“V-Ven?! How did.. You haven’t changed a bit!” The boy looked exactly the same as he remembered. Just like Roxas. 

The blonde scratched his cheek. “Heh, that’s a long story. Oh, but Lea!”

“Right here.”

“We… may have a problem.”

Lea furrowed his brows at the boy. “What kind of problem?”

“The we-can’t-find-the-Masters kind of problem?”

“Wait what?!”