"Well, this is the place."

It was an unusual group that stood before the cozy little cottage belonging to the wizard Merlin that day. A young princess with bright red hair peered anxiously over the shoulder of her friend. Next to the two, and considerably shorter than the silver-haired young Keyblade Master he stood next to, was a walking, talking mouse.

In many worlds, such a sight would be strange, or even impossible. But this was Radiant Garden, the princess's former home. One might spot a talking duck selling ice cream in the outdoor marketplace, or a man who could fly with only one jet-black wing. The great and terrible Maleficent was rumored to lurk in the old castle, and some even swore they had spied mischievous fairies flitting about when night drew near.

Once in ruins and at the heart of a great evil, the past year or so had seen the citizens of Radiant Garden, led by the courageous Restoration Committee, work tirelessly to restore their home to its former glory. The cobblestone streets had been carefully replaced, and the walls down by the castle bailey were being rebuilt bit by bit. Even now, a plumber worked to return the once magnificent fountains, known the world over for their beautiful design, to their former splendor.

While the residents of this lovely world knew they still had much work to do to make everything as it once was, they never gave up hope. And whenever they did feel discouraged, they need only look at the brilliant sky, with its pinks and purples and shimmering lights, to find their inspiration once more.

It was to this world that our three visitors had arrived, luggage in hand. And it is here that our story begins.

oOo

It's strange. I don't think I've been here before, and yet...

That was the first thought that popped into Kairi's head as she stared at the house before her. Ever since they'd landed on Radiant Garden, she'd been hit with wave after wave of déjà vu. Seeing as how this world had been her home for the first several years of her young life, it wasn't surprising.

She took in every detail carefully, considering how this place would be her home once again for the next… well, it was anyone's guess as to how long she'd be here.

"Think we should knock?" Mickey asked, breaking her out of her reverie.

Riku set his luggage down and reached a hand to the door. He jumped back in surprise when a disembodied voice called, "No need to bother with formalities, come in, come in!"

Looking at his two companions and shrugging, Riku entered the little house.

"Merlin?" he called.

"Sorry, my boy. You'll have to excuse me, I'm busy training Lea at the moment. There's tea on the table, please help yourself."

At the mention of her kidnapper, Kairi stiffened.

"Oh, well Mickey and I can't stay long, we actually need to…"

Kairi put a hand on his arm.

Please, don't go yet.

Riku looked at her, and understanding filled his expression. But there was something akin to desperation in his eyes, too.

"It's Master Aqua, isn't it?" Kairi said.

Ever since her friend had learned of Master Aqua's tragic fate, he'd been single-mindedly focused on saving her.

"It's just that— when I was in the Realm of Darkness, I had friends to guide me home. But she's been alone, all this time."

Kairi forced a smile. She had to be brave.

"I understand."

Asking for more time with Riku was selfish, if it meant Master Aqua was stuck in the Realm of Darkness for even a moment longer than necessary.

King Mickey cut in. "It's okay, Riku. We can stay for a little while."

Surprised, Kairi turned to him, a question on her lips. He just smiled and shook his head.

Riku looked between his two friends. Kairi's eyes were filled with uncertainty, and he was reminded that Aqua wasn't the only one who needed him.

"You're right. We'll help you get settled in, then head out," he said at last.

The tea was delicious, chamomile with a hint of honey and lemon. A wave of tranquility settled over Kairi as her nerves calmed down. Riku studied his cup suspiciously after just a few sips, and then spent the next few minutes slipping sugar cubes into it at random intervals to hide the fact that he wasn't drinking it.

"Do you like the tea? It's my special recipe. It changes flavors and effects based on how you're feeling."

Riku raised his eyebrows, and he and Mickey exchanged glances. Kairi looked into her tea again, disconcerted. What had she just drunk, exactly?

"See that stone on the table in the corner? Yes, the one with the glowing runes. Touch the one shaped like a funny-looking 'K' and it'll bring you right outside of Kairi's room. Kairi and Riku, please make your way there. Oh, and Kairi, my dear, if you have any clothes suitable for training, please change into them. Mickey, I'd like to speak with you, so please press the 'T'-looking rune."

The three of them followed his directions. Kairi and Riku disappeared and then reappeared in a long hallway filled with doors. The one directly in front of them already had Kairi's name written on it, on a simple blue and white sign.

She took a deep breath and opened the door. Inside was a simple wooden bed with a patchwork quilt and fluffy pillow, and next to the bed were a dresser with four drawers and a lamp on top. Most of the floor was covered in an ancient-looking rug with elaborate designs. Off to the side were two more doors, one for a closet, and the other for a bathroom with an antique white and gold bathtub and matching sink.

It was charming, in its own quaint way. She kicked off her shoes, set her bag by the bed, and sat on it, breathing deeply. The room gave off the faintest smell of salt water and old books. Maybe it was enchanted, too.

Riku still stood by the door.

"You can come in." She laughed as he made his towards her, ducking through the doorframe so he didn't hit his head. She patted the spot on the bed next to her and he sat down.

"So, what do you think?" he asked, taking in the room around him.

"I like it. It reminds me of home."

"Good. Look, Kairi, I'm sorry that you have to train with the guy who kidnapped you—"

She waved her hand back and forth, cutting him off.

"You don't need to apologize. It's not your fault. By the way, thank you… thank you for staying."

I know you'd rather be searching for Master Aqua right now, so it means the world to me that you put your mission off for just a little while longer to comfort me.

He cleared his throat. "Um, sure. Look, I don't know if it'll make you feel any better, but Axel, I mean Lea, did help us out of a tight spot recently."

Kairi frowned. "King Mickey said that he saved Sora, right? That's good, but I still don't trust him."

"Good. He should earn your trust himself. But even then, you don't owe him anything. Even if you are training together. Just remember that, okay?"

"Yeah."

She wanted to learn how to fight, just not like this.

"I think his heart's in the right place. But if anything happens, you let me know, okay?" He put a hand on her shoulder. "My loyalty lies with you and Sora, first and foremost."

She nodded. "Agreed."

The reassurance his words provided, the way he was still looking out for her and protecting her, calmed her heart. If only she could protect him in the same way.

Well, that's why she was here, right?

Riku stood, the words on his mind now out in the open.

"Well, I guess I should get going. You've got training to start."

Kairi summoned her Keyblade and held it in front of her. The memories of how Riku had helped her summon it for the first time filled her mind, and she smiled.

"You're a natural, Kairi. Just watch, you'll be joining me and Sora in no time."

Kairi let it disappear. "Thanks, Riku."

She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled. "You'll find Aqua, I know it. They couldn't have picked anyone better for the job."

"You really think so?"

The doubt and uncertainty in his eyes betrayed how he still felt about himself.

I wish you could see yourself the way Sora and I do, she thought sadly.

"I know so. You weren't made a Master for nothing."

She grabbed his hand again. Digging a pen out of the pouch on her waist, she drew a smiley face on the bandage around his wrist, scribbling a quick message underneath for him to read later.

"There. For good luck."

Riku turned his wrist this way and that, trying to read what she'd written and cracking up when he finally did.

"Now who's acting like Sora?" he said, shaking his head.

"Hey, that's a Kairi original. And my magic works, you know," she said seriously. "It's brought Sora back to me every time. So I know it'll work for you, too. You'll find Aqua and we'll all be together again before you know it."

He looked at her for a moment before a smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"Thanks, Kairi. See you soon."

He picked up his bag, disappearing into the hall as she closed the door behind him.

She was alone. She plopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling and sighing. The empty, sinking feeling that overtook her was not helping.

Well, no use in putting it off. It was time to get changed and meet her new companions.

oOo

"Come in, my dear, come in," Merlin called.

Kairi peeked into the room. An elderly man wearing a matching blue hat and robes with a long white beard and spectacles greeted her. A tall figure with spiky red hair turned and faced her as well.

Her stomach lurched at the sight of him. She forced the door open wide enough to slip through, and as soon as it was shut, she braced herself against it, the wood rubbing up against the skin left exposed by her tank top.

Axel looked different, there was no mistaking that. Gone were the distinctive teardrop-shaped tattoos underneath his eyes, and gone was the black robe. In their place, he wore simple sweats, and his hair was pulled back with a headband.

"Kairi!" he shouted, running over.

It was all she could do to force herself to stay in place. She'd never been fast or particularly strong, but if her life depended on it, she could probably put up a good fight…

"Lea, my boy, no need to run about like an excited puppy," Merlin scolded. "Give the girl her space. Actually, why don't you take a break? I'd like to speak with Kairi alone."

Kairi felt a huge wave of relief. Merlin, at least, seemed to get it. She gave him a grateful look, and the old wizard returned it with the slightest tilt of his head.

Axel backed off, apologetic. She moved aside to let him through the door, carefully avoiding his eyes. When he had finally left, she approached Merlin.

"You must be Merlin," she said.

"That is correct."

There was something about him that seemed familiar.

"I feel like we've met before, sir."

The wizard's lips twitched. "Indeed we have. I believe I used to tell you stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table when you were just a little girl."

"And his magical sword Excalibur! I remember now!" Kairi said, clasping her hands excitedly. "I used to listen to you in the town square with my grandma!"

"You always did love my stories."

"Please, tell me more of them!" Kairi begged, completely forgetting for a moment where she was and why she was here.

The old wizard chuckled and waved his hands in the air. "All in due time, my dear, all in due time. First, we have business to discuss."

"Oh, sorry," Kairi muttered. It was hard not to let her enthusiasm get the better of her sometimes.

"No need to apologize. Better to be overly enthusiastic than apathetic. Now, I'd like to give you a little test of sorts, to see where you're at. Is that alright?"

"A test? What kind of test?" she asked, tilting her head to one side. She didn't know that much about wielding a Keyblade yet, so how could he possibly expect her to…

"Well, I can't tell you that. It's a part of the test."

"Um, okay."

"You'll find that learning through experience is better than just reading a book, although reading does have its time and place." The wizard gestured at an enormous bookshelf in the corner, filled with books of all different shapes and colors and sizes. She stared at them, trying to make out some of the titles.

"Ahem."

She turned her attention back to Merlin. "Sorry!"

"Are you ready?"

"Ummmm, yes?"

"Summon your Keyblade."

Kairi held her hand out, staring at it intently. The blade soon materialized, and she drew herself into the battle stance Riku had taught her.

Merlin sighed. "Oh good, you're already off to a better start than Lea. It took us days to get him to summon his."

Kairi dropped her Keyblade to her side in surprise. "Seriously? But I thought that he—"

With a quick flourish of his wand, Merlin cast a spell that hit Kairi full force. The world around her sped up, or was it that her limbs moved as if she were wading through molasses?

Merlin's mischievous face warped all around her, sending weak magic spells her way. She dodged a blizzard spell just in the nick of time. Then his aero spell caught her and sent her flying. He followed it up with a gravity spell that suspended her in midair, stopping her from crashing into the wall. She fell to the ground with a thud and winced.

She refused to give up. Struggling to her feet, she dove out of the way of his next spell. The next minute or so was spent running around, trying to avoid his attacks and get in a few of her own. Each moment was a learning opportunity, but each moment was also wearing down her energy.

She saw her window and took it. She charged at him and swung her Keyblade. Right as it would have connected with his body, he disappeared into a puff of smoke.

The momentum sent her sprawling, and her Keyblade flew from her hands. A light tap on her back told her she was defeated.

"Not bad, not bad at all," Merlin said, gathering his robes and returning to his seat.

Kairi stood, wiping the sweat from her brow and readjusting her ponytail. She faced her new teacher expectantly. He tucked his wand back into his robe and looked up.

"You're a very aggressive fighter. Your defense could use some work, and you clearly don't know any magic, but you've got potential. Why no one's bothered to teach you until now, especially with your latent magic ability, I'll never know."

"My latent magic ability?"

The old wizard readjusted his glasses and peered closer at her. "Well goodness, didn't anyone ever tell you? As a Princess of Heart, you could be one of the most powerful mages of this age. Why, with the right training, you could harness your powers to heal armies, stop an attack in its tracks, reverse even the direst of conditions! There is a reason you and your fellow princesses have been sought after. Together, you have the power to create and destroy entire worlds."

Kairi was silent, letting the words sink in.

Me? Powerful?

She'd never felt powerful in her entire life. None of her so-called powers had saved her from being ripped away from her original home, or prevented her heart from being torn from her body, or stopped Sora from disappearing before her very eyes, or kept her from forgetting about him, or spared her from being kidnapped…

The old wizard's expression softened.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

She shook her head.

"A princess who, through the power of her love, turned her friend into a human again, after he became one of the very monsters he once fought. She can see his heart's true form, no matter what his outward appearance may be. Doesn't that remind you of all the stories I used to tell you?"

Kairi clutched the necklace around her neck. She didn't know how Merlin knew about that, but the way he spoke almost made her believe him. It really did sound like a fairytale.

"And, she saved her friends from wasting away in the Realm of Darkness without so much as lifting a Keyblade. Strength comes in many different forms, my dear."

What he was saying was true, but that didn't change why she was here.

"I still want to learn how to fight."

"Indeed. Your friends mean well, and you've been patient. But the best way to keep you safe is to teach you how to defend yourself. You merely lack the training, not the strength of heart or will."

Kairi nodded, and Merlin continued.

"Now, a few quick housekeeping things. Training will start daily at nine sharp, and finish by around five, with breaks for lunch and tea. Some days we may finish earlier, some later. The time in the evening is yours. You are free to do whatever you wish. While we are in the chamber, my magic will slow the flow of time, so much less of it will pass in here than in the rest of Radiant Garden, almost as if we're on a different world. But you will still continue to age relative to your home world, so don't worry about that."

"Okay. Is it alright to visit other parts of Radiant Garden during my free time?"

Merlin stroked his beard in thought. "Hmmmm… I can't say I'd originally planned on that, but if you really want to…"

"It's my grandmother, sir. I want to see her."

The old wizard's expression softened. "I understand. You are free to visit her any time you like. Just let me know beforehand."

"Of course."

"Well, that's about all I have to tell you. Is there anything else?"

A slight blush crept across her cheeks. "Actually, there is something… Is there any way for me to send letters?"

"That depends. Who are you trying to send them to?"

"Sora."

"Ah. If he were staying in one place, it would be a simple manner. But since he's moving around so much, in and out of various realms, it might be a bit trickier…"

Bummer.

Her head drooped before she answered. "I see. I'll just find another way to keep in touch with him then."

"I can still send them, the timing may just be a bit off, since not much of it will pass outside compared to in here—"

Lots of time would pass for her… not much time for him… lots of days and things to write about in the same time it would take for him to visit a world or two…

"That's alright. I think I've got another idea."

She nodded, a twinkle in her eye. Yes, it was the perfect idea.

"If you say so. Let me know if you change your mind. And one more thing."

"Yes?"

"When Lea was a Nobody, he kidnapped you, didn't he?"

Kairi's eyes went wide. How did he know about that?

"Well, yes, he did, but—"

"How do I know, you may wonder? Well, you'll find that I experience time a bit —differently from other people. But that is not what we are discussing. I know Lea means well, and he is trying to make amends, but the decision to train with him is up to you. No one will blame you for not wanting to work with your kidnapper."

Merlin was giving her the choice?

She clutched the necklace around her neck again, thinking hard.

On the one hand, she really didn't want to be around Axel. She didn't trust him one bit, despite what the others had said.

But on the other hand, a part of her deep down knew that she had to let go of her resentment eventually. Like Riku had said, she didn't owe Axel anything. But for her own sake, she wanted to move on. Maybe the best way to do that would be to avoid him completely. But he was an ally now. With an enemy like Xehanort, they didn't have the luxury of picking and choosing their allies. If she wanted to fight, she knew she'd have to deal with being around him eventually.

"To be honest, I don't really want to train with him."

The old wizard nodded in understanding.

"But I also want to do what's best for everyone. We need as much help as we can get. If I want to fight too, I'll have to put aside my feelings for now."

Merlin shook his head. "You'll do nothing of the sort. Shoving aside the anger and hurt you rightfully feel will backfire spectacularly."

This was one of the few times someone had so carefully considered her feelings about the matter. Even Riku and King Mickey had been quick to reassure her that Axel was on their side now.

"So you're saying I should deal with it? How?"

"Well, I think an apology from Lea would be a start. If you're going to train with him, he owes you that much at least. But he has to really mean it. I won't interfere with the process."

Kairi nodded. A forced apology would be no apology at all.

"But if at any time, you feel uncomfortable around him, let me know," Merlin continued. "If you train with him, it is by choice and not by force. This arrangement can end at any time. Just say the word."

She relaxed. She felt better already, knowing she had more control over her situation than she'd originally thought.

"Understood."

"That being said, I may put the two of you in difficult situations where you'll have to work together to solve them. Is that alright?"

"I guess we'll find out."

"That's the spirit. Well then, my dear, are you ready?"

She summoned her Keyblade and nodded. It was finally time.

oOo

Dear Sora,

You may be wondering why this is an entry in my diary instead of a letter. Well, I wanted to write you letters. But Merlin said that that because you're moving around a lot, and hardly any time is passing for me, it would be difficult to get them to you on time. So I came up with another idea. I'll write about my training and day-to-day life instead, and give it to you when I see you again. I'm going to work hard, and I can't wait to show you all the progress I've made when I see you next.

I'm training with Merlin right now, back on the world where I'm originally from: Radiant Garden. You've been here many times now, right? I have a confession to make: when you asked, I lied when I said I didn't remember it. But I was worried about Riku's obsession with getting off Destiny Islands, knowing what had happened to my world. I knew that if I told you the truth, you would tell him. In the end, hiding things from the two of you was pointless though. Especially since I showed you some of my memories when I was inside your heart anyway. Sorry for not telling you earlier.

It's funny how so much has changed, and yet how familiar it all still feels. I haven't had the chance to explore yet (busy day), but I want to see if my old haunts are still there. I'd like to show them to you someday. There's a really pretty fountain that my grandma used to take me to, I wonder if it's still there. I'll let you know if I find it.

Merlin says he knows you well, and that he even helped train you! He used to tell me stories when I was little, and it was good to hear them again. My favorite is about King Arthur and his magical sword Excalibur. I begged to hear the rest, but he said all in due time, all in due time. Someday, I'll get the full story out of him! You wouldn't happen to know it, would you? I know you wanted to name our raft Excalibur, after all.

To be honest, Sora, I wish you were the one training me. Either you or Riku. It's not because Merlin's a bad teacher; in fact, the opposite is true. It's because I'm training with Axel Lea (still not used to calling him that, and probably won't ever be).

I know, I know, he's on our side now, right? And we need all the allies we can get. It's why Yen Sid finally decided to train me, I guess (about time, might I add!). And Riku and King Mickey told me it would be okay. But I don't know, I still feel uneasy around him.

I mean, he acts so awkward and regretful and sorry. But I'm not feeling very forgiving yet, especially after all the times he hit me with his Keyblade today – the man needs to learn that a Keyblade is not a chakram and shouldn't be thrown like one, and I got the bruises to prove it! I also have a bad feeling about how much he likes fire – if my hair's shorter the next time I see you, you'll know why.

I know you though. You're naturally forgiving, and you'd probably say that we can trust him now and that I should give him a chance. But I've also seen how you treat people who have hurt me, so then again, maybe not.

I don't hate him, I guess, but I'm still not ready to trust him. For now, I'll train with him so I can get stronger, but the only thing we have in common is our end goal. And our hair color, I guess. Don't expect me to become friends with him.

Okay, I'm exhausted and should get some sleep. Because of the way the Time Chamber works, hardly any time has passed on the outside, but for me it's been hours of work.

Yours truly,

Kairi

P.S. I don't know all the details, but since Merlin explained that the Time Chamber is kind of like being in a different world, a much longer time will pass in the chamber than in Radiant Garden during the same duration.

To be honest, it gives me a bit of a headache trying to understand, but just remember that I'll have been in here for a much shorter time in the real world than you might think.

So don't worry, I'm not about to miss your birthday or magically become a few years older than you! My aging stays constant relative to Destiny Islands, no matter how long I've been in the chamber. Merlin hopes I'll only be in here a few weeks at most of real time, and so do I. I can't wait to get out there and help you fight!

oOo

A/N: The inspiration for this story came when I played 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. Kairi and Lea will be training together in Kingdom Hearts 3, and since the game will probably mainly focus on Sora's journey, I came up with some ideas of my own for Kairi's role.

Before I knew it, a one shot had become a full-blown story in its own right. I'd written about half of it when the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra World Tour kicked off, and you better believe I was thrilled to hear that Kairi writes a letter to Sora sometime during the events of KH3. Some of the details from the letter are included in this story, but it also does its own thing from time to time.

I've tried to be very careful about Kingdom Hearts lore, magic, weapons, attack names, etc., but if you've noticed any mistakes, feel free to let me know.

There is Sokai stuff throughout the story, but the main focus will be on Kairi's training, as well as how she reconnects with her past and comes to terms with being around Lea.

I wrote this story so that it could conceivably fit in with what we know about Kingdom Hearts 3 so far. I've tried to keep characterization, in particular the way each character speaks, in line with canon, so any critiques on that front especially are welcome.

Thanks for reading!