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The area was pitch black. There was nothing all around her but darkness. She opened her eyes only a bit, seeing the endless blackness around her. She closed her eyes once more as she continued to fall.
Suddenly, she was awoken. By what, she didn't know. Something just told her to wake up, and as she opened her eyes, she saw the image below her, getting closer. It was a large stained glass mural. In the center was an image of the icon of her husband and King, which she knew anywhere. In the right ear was an image of him, his eyes closed, looking relaxed. In the left ear was an image of herself, it mirroring the one of her husband. In the center of the icon, was a heart. A simple heart, light pink in color. Around the icon, as she could make out as she fell closer to it, was images of their castle, their friends, and... a few images of her and her husband together. She smiled, as each image depicted an event that had actually happened. One was of them at the beach, playing tag. Another was of them in the courtyard, running and laughing as it poured the rain. And another was of him on one knee, the day he proposed to her.
She fell slowly onto the glass, her feet touching down. Oddly enough, she was still in her pink dress. She quirked a brow, and looked around. All she could see was darkness, save for the bright stain glass she stood upon. Suddenly, before her rose three pedestals, each bearing the icon of her and her husband in the center. But over top of each was a weapon, floating freely. A sword in the center, a staff to the left, and a shield to he right. She stepped closer to them, and suddenly, in her mind, a voice rang out.
The choice you make decides your fate. Choose well, for there is no going back.
She couldn't make out the voice, whether it was male or female, she just heard it. Looking forward, she approached each weapon and took them, examining them. And with each, she heard that same voice again.
This staff grants you the power of the Mystic. Do you seek this power?
She shook her head and let go of it, the staff floating from her hand and returning to its place above the pedestal.
This shield grants you the power of the Defender. Do you seek this power?
She shook her head, and let go of the shield, it also returning to its place above its pedestal. The final weapon she picked up was the sword. She instantly took a liking to how comfortable the grip was, and gave it a swing. Above the hilt, was the familiar icon again. As she gave it another swing, she thought of her King, of how he was a wielder of the Keyblade, of how hard he'd fought for more than a decade to save and protect the words, and... She smiled. Of how kind, sweet, and gentle he was. How he'd always make her laugh, how he'd pick random moments to woo her, or to just be funny or cute to make her giggle. And of how he had promised to protect her.
This sword grants you the power of the Warrior. Do you seek this power?
She gripped the handle firmly. "I won't be weak. I won't be helpless." She nodded, lowering the sword. Suddenly the pedestals disappeared, and she heard that voice again.
There will be times you have to fight. Be ready...
Suddenly, familiar creatures emerged from the glass, seemingly appearing out of nothingness. It sent a chill down her spine seeing them again. That ebony black skin, those yellow glowing eyes...
"Heartless?!" she gasped, glancing around. However, although scared, she gripped the sword tightly with both hands. With a swing the first Shadow was sent flying backward. She jumped at the second one and swung again, it vanishing into a wisp of black mist. The one she had hit before jumped toward her, but she jumped back, dodging its attack, and quickly retaliated, swinging once again, and defeating it. The third Shadow, she noticed out of the corner of her eye, attempted to catch her off guard by sneaking up behind her, having sunk into the glass.
She smirked. And in a whirl, the Shadow had met its match. She lowered the sword as she stood, taking several deep breaths. She smiled to herself. That... actually felt pretty good. Suddenly she heard that voice again.
You'll have to protect yourself, and...
Her eyes widened as she sucked in a breath as he appeared before her. "...Mickey...?" He turned around, tilting his head as he gave his usual smile before giving that adorable chuckle that always made her heart melt. Then the shadows appeared around him. "Mickey! Look out!" She took her stance once more, and noticed him do the same. She leapt into action, swinging her sword and eliminating the Shadows that circled them. Six. She had counted. Six Heartless had fallen to her blade. As she panted for breath, she turned, seeing him relaxing his stance. She smiled, and reached out to him, but then he began to glow, and vanished before her. Her heart sank.
...you'll have to protect those around you.
That voice again. She was relieved that it wasn't actually her husband in danger, but was this voice playing with her? Where was she anyway?
You'll face even darker challenges ahead. Are you sure you wish to proceed?
She lowered her head. She knew her King. He'd never back down. At times it frustrated her, how stubborn he was, never knowing when to quit. Yet... she also admired him for it. The courage and strength he showed. It was admirable, and inspiring. The edge of her lips curled up. "Hmph." Her resolve was set. She lifted her head, a smirk crossing her lips. "Bring it."
A path opened up before her. Colored glass panels, one row consisting of one color which then changed to another, stretched out before her. They arched around to what was another glass image, which was then on top of a glass column in the distance. She didn't hesitate, and started running up the path. She realized that fighting Heartless in a dress was not the most comfortable thing in the world. She reached behind herself and adjusted her underwear. Fighting Heartless also seemed to really cause one's underwear to ride up. She made a mental note that if she made a habit out of this, she should really consider wearing something that provided more freedom.
Clearing the top of the column, she found the same images on this stain glass that was on the other, except the main color of it was different. And before her lay a silver door. It was unlike any door she'd seen before. It had a beautiful shape and design to it, yet it retained a mystifying aura about it. She approached it cautiously, lifting her blade in case it was a trap.
Beyond this door lies no rest. Once you step through your path is set. So prepare yourself...
She took a deep breath, and gripped her sword. She took a look around before placing her hand on the handle of the door. "This place is boring anyway..." She opened it, and lifted her free arm to shield herself from the white light that poured out from beyond the door. As it faded, she found herself in someplace she wasn't expecting.
The courtyard at the castle. Her home.
"What the...?" She looked around. Everything looked like it did when she was there, except... There was just an odd feeling. Like something was out of place. There were no birds, no butterflies. Glancing up, she saw the clouds weren't moving. As if time itself had stopped.
The darkness grows ever closer. It's even in places you wouldn't expect. Where there's light...
The earth rumbled beneath her, making her stagger as she stabbed the sword into the ground to catch her balance.
...there's darkness.
A shadow, much larger than those she'd faced before, emerged from the ground. It grew and grew, becoming taller than the walls around the courtyard. Its glowing yellow eyes seemed to pierce her soul as it loomed over top of her.
"What... the heck is that thing?!" She saw the giant hole in the slender body of it; a heart shape. "Right... A Heartless." She recalled going over the journals the King had written, as well as checking the data regarding Sora's journey's before. She stood, pulling up her sword and gripped it with both hands. "...Darkside..."
She squeaked in surprise as the ground beneath her suddenly cracked. The cracks spread around the castle grounds, creating jagged circles and crevices. The circular pieces of the earth flew up and levitated in the air. She quickly examined them, noticing that she could use them as a path right up to the monster's face. She smirked. "Heh. Big mistake." She leapt onto the first platform, dodging a swing from one of Darkside's claws. She chuckled. "You're slower than I thought you'd be." She did a flip as she jumped over top of its other claw, and landed on another platform as she continued her ascension.
Landing on the next platform, it shook and tilted. She gasped and jabbed the blade into the platform, holding herself up. She saw the Heartless rear back its claw, and knew it was going to attack. "Don't bet on it, buddy." She jumped at just the right moment, and landed on the creatures arm. Reading her blade, she ran up its arm to its face and began her attack. Slash after slash was dealt to its face, and after several, it finally gave out. "Gahh!" she cried as she landed the final blow. "You know what they say: The bigger they are the harder they fall!"
She backfliped off the creature, landing on the nearest platform, and started jumping down to each nearby one as Darkside tumbled down behind her. After she jumped off the last platform and onto the ground, she quickly turned around, seeing the giant Heartless just in time as it fell down before her, a massive cloud of mist erupting from around it. The mist continued to grow, and soon swallowed up one of the nearby shrubs. But it didn't stop, it continued to grow.
She panicked. Soon she'd be swallowed up as well. She looked around, but saw no way out. The darkness had overrun the courtyard, blocking any exit, and it was inching closer to her. She tried casting her Light spell, and it seemed to caused the darkness to hold off, but only momentarily. As soon as the light disappeared, the darkness advanced closer. She wouldn't have enough magic or strength to maintain her spell for long.
She felt the cold concrete of the wall behind her as she pressed her back against it. She was trapped. She gripped her sword, as memories of her loved ones flashed through her mind. When she thought of her King and husband, a tear rolled down her cheek. "I'm... I'm sorry, Mickey..." The darkness was only inches from her feet. She thought of him again, deciding that if this was it, she wanted her last thought to be of the one she cared for the most.
As the darkness enveloped her feet, she found she couldn't move them. It traveled up her legs and body, like a thick liquid, and soon it swallowed her.
Darkness. Cold, empty darkness.
She was falling in darkness again, trapped in the abyss of nothingness.
"Minnie..."
Her eyes opened. She knew that voice. She'd know it anywhere. But all she saw was darkness.
"Minnie."
It was more clear that time. And as the voice traveled through the air, she felt her senses come to. Then she saw it. The bright light within the darkness. It was so bright and warm, and as it drew closer to her, she saw a familiar form materialize from within.
"Aw, Min. Ya can't give up now. Ya've got more light in ya than ya realize." He winked as he finished, his warm smile like a soothing touch to her body.
She smiled as she reached for him. "Mickey..." She took his hand, and felt warmth flow through her very being, as her heart began to soar.
He chuckled. "Just think of what brings yer light out. Everybody's got somethin'. Just let your light be yer guide." With a wink he let go of her hand, and started moving back away from her. She tried reaching for him again but found she couldn't. "I believe in you..." With that, he faded, the light around him disappearing with him.
She thought of his words, and raised a hand to her chest. She found the heart shaped locket he'd given her, and opened it up. Inside were pictures of them together, one arm around each other as they smiled happily at the camera. She rubbed her fingers across the pictures, and felt another tear streak down her cheek. "Mickey..." She closed the locket, and gripped it in her palm. "I won't give up. I can't give up." She closed her eyes, letting thought and memories of them together flood her mind. "I won't lose to the darkness. Not when you've fought so hard against it. If you can fight it, then so can I." She opened her eyes and looked at the locket. As long as he believed in her, she still had a reason to fight. Screw the darkness. "Thanks, Mickey."
A burst of white light erupted around her, vanquishing the darkness.
She awoke with a soft gasp, panting for breath softly. She quickly realized she was back in her bedroom. She glanced toward the window, seeing the beautiful moonlight and glistening stars outside as they shone down from above. She turned to her side, and smiled, relief flooding through her.
He was sound asleep beside her. His back turned, the covers rose and fell softly to his breathing. His left ear twitched as he slumbered, and she felt her heart explode, having to be careful as she giggled softly so as not to wake him. She turned back to the window again, gazing out at the stars and moon. She brought her knees up to her chest as she thought of her dream.
...Or was it even a dream?
Everything seemed so real. The way she felt, even the way the Heartless moved... Was it really just a dream, or...? She looked back to the window. What could it have meant? She turned back to her slumbering companion, and smiled. She laid back down as she rolled onto her side facing him, and moved an arm around him as she pressed her front against his back. Dream or not, it didn't matter. Somehow, she felt oddly at ease. She believed it to be because the dream - be it a dream or not - had shown her that the source of her light was the very one sleeping next to her. He was her light, her light within the darkness. When she thought of him, it had vanquished the darkness, and she felt like she could do anything.
She snuggled up to him as she relaxed, and tilted her head upward to plant a soft kiss on the bottom of his ear. "Thanks, sweetie," she whispered. "For lighting my way through the darkness."
She heard him snore. And pressed her face into his back in an attempt to muffle her giggles. She felt him shift after a second, and he rolled onto his back and opened his sleepy eyes to look at her.
He yawned. "Wut time's zit?"
She giggled, and softly kissed his cheek. "Waaay too early to get up. Go back to sleep, sweetie. We can still lay her for several more hours."
He smiled a drowsy, adorable smile. "Sounds gud t' me." He rolled over facing her and wrapped an arm around her. She returned his action by snuggling closer, nuzzling her head underneath his chin. "Night, Min," Mickey said sleepily.
"Goodnight, Mickey," Minnie said, and sighed a relaxed sigh as she closed her eyes, letting the soft beating of his heart lull her back to sleep.
Right there, with him, she felt safe. And no matter what, she would protect him. He might have a duty as King to protect the worlds, but she had a duty as his Queen and wife to protect him. And whatever lay ahead, she knew that they could face it together.
Everyone has light within them. But the source of that light varies from one to another... It may be closer than you think...
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