Author's Note: Hi everyone! This is my first entry in the Kingdom Hearts fandom, even though I've been a huge fan of the games for a long time. This fic came about thanks to Sandfire Kat who wrote my absolute favorite KH fanfiction of all time, Fading. After reading her fic, I was inspired to create my own, and now I'm well in progress of AUHoaUH. Just so you all know, I am 100% pleased with the fact that my fic title's abbreviation looks a bit like the sound someone might make while dying of dysentery.

As a quick aside, I have only played KH, CoM (not sure I even finished this one though), and KH2. For this reason, I might be a little off on my knowledge and would appreciate it if you guys pointed out any mistakes I make. I did do a little research on BBS for one of the characters you'll meet in this chapter. :) Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it, and please review with any questions or concerns you might have, as well as what you liked. Happy reading!

—

A Prophecy of Crown and Key

It was searingly cold in this place of pure darkness. Wisps of thought manifested slowly, painfully searing into being and then fizzling out. It hurt, peering through small eyes from so many directions. The shadows shifted and moved, undulating in waves. At first it was small, slow, but the peaks began to rise over time until they took form. A liquid black rose, lithe and tall and emitting an eerie green glow. Eyes. A face. A mouth. She breathed a deep gulp of air. Horns twisted out and ended in sharp points. Claws burst from her fingertips. The shadows dripped over her limbs, forming a black cloak.

She had returned.

It was slow, regaining power. Every shadow and every Heartless contributed to her. The darkness in people's hearts was a serum to her weakness. The jealousy, cruelty, anger that fueled her own blackened soul only made her grow stronger. Her heart cried out to the heavens for a vengeance she knew she would not receive—not without carrying it out herself, at least. But no matter. She would have her revenge, even if it were the last thing she ever had.

She grew in her anger and her thirst for vengeance, but she was resigned to wandering for many weeks, months, possibly a year—to think. To plan. She wandered from shadow to crevice, from dark depths to black chasms. The places where light shone too brightly, she shielded her eyes with her cloak and turned away. That infernal light. That wretched Keybearer. Green flames boiled from her hands, searing the air around her with a dry, poisonous smoke. What she needed was more power. She needed to smother the light, destroy it at its very source. And that would require power she did not yet have. Furious, she stalked forth, Shadows skirting at the hem of her cloak and nibbling at the rage that oozed from her.

In the darkness, she walked onward.

—

The sun might have been just a little too hot. A breeze swept over him, though, and Sora couldn't help but enjoy every second he spent here. Home. He missed his many friends, of course, and sometimes he even missed taking out Heartless—he still occasionally practiced skilled sweeps of his Keyblade just in case they ever returned. But he'd missed this more. Lying out in the sun, feeling warm sand between his toes, listening to the waves as they swept the shoreline... and being with Kairi and Riku.

He sighed with deep content and squinted his eyes open at the sun, then closed them again.

"I guess some things never change," the breeze playfully tossed Kairi's voice to his ears from somewhere behind him. He grinned.

"I'm okay with that," he called back, not bothering to move. He heard her footsteps approach, and sun's bright light dimmed before his closed eyelids. He opened them a crack again and gazed up at her, the sun forming a halo around her smiling face. He was lucky, he thought briefly, to have known her all along. After all his travels to so many worlds—after meeting so many princesses—he definitely had the prettiest girl of all to call his best friend.

"I think I'm still allowed to call you a lazy bum, especially since you've really been one lately." She stepped beside him and then settled down into the sand, lying out on her back just next to him. Covering her eyes with an arm and smiling with just as much content, she sighed as well.

"I'm okay with that, too," he yawned through the sentence and then grinned. Kairi gave a little snort, and he watched as she lowered her hand from her face, reached it down next to her and placed it lightly on his own hand. Their eyes locked, and he could feel his cheeks warming even more than the sun had done already.

He jolted and a smudge of blues and tans and whites replaced Kairi. He sat up with a jerk and stared around, his eyes coming to rest on Riku next to him.

"Whoops," he said, not sounding very sorry. He didn't look very sorry either, what with that smirk on his face.

"Aw maaannn," Sora groaned. "Why'd you wake me up?" He rubbed his eyes furiously and dug his heels into the sand.

"Do you not know what whoops means or something?" Riku snarked back. "I bumped you. There was a crab."

Sora's expression soured even more. "Are you still afraid of crabs?" he asked.

"I'm not afraid of crabs."

The brunet placed both hands in the sand in front of him, leaning closer to Riku with a sly grin. "So if I go catch a crab right now—"

"Then you'll look like an idiot, so nothing will change." Riku shoved his face away with his open palmed hand, and Sora sputtered a laugh.

"Yeah, sure." He leaned back and wiped his face with the back of a forearm.

"So what were you dreaming about, tomato-face?" Riku demanded, irritation in his voice. As if on cue, Sora's cheeks reddened.

"I dunno," he said far too quickly. "I forgot."

"You were muttering 'Kairi' over and over," Riku's words came with a small smirk, and he raised an eyebrow. He'd made sure to pronounce Kairi's name in agirly imitation of Sora's voice.

"I was!?"

"No," Riku snorted. "But now I know what you were dreaming about." He laughed loudly.

Sora sputtered for a second, opening his mouth to reply and then snapping it shut just as fast. "No fair," he finally said, crossing his arms.

"Since when have we ever played fair?" he asked. "But I guess I was usually the one dunking your head in the water when we used to race to the star tree."

Sora grinned up at the sky, fondly reminiscing. "True," he said with a little chuckle. "Hey, let's have one more go!" He suddenly exclaimed, balling his fists in excitement.

"Nah," Riku replied. He shifted in the sand and leaned back against the wooden sea wall.

"What do you mean nah? Talk about a sore winner."

"Nope. You're just being a sore loser," Riku retorted.

"No way. I could totally beat you now," Sora dug back, but Riku was very clearly ignoring him. He'd picked up a piece of a palm frond that'd fallen from the nearby tree and was twirling it in his hand nonchalantly.

Sora frowned, his arms crossed again. For a moment neither of them spoke a word. Waves lapped the shore lazily and a seagull cried out above as it soared past.

"Are you bored? Being home I mean," he asked, and Riku's eyebrows raised with sudden surprise. His eyes snapped to Sora, but the brunet was facing away, gazing out over the open ocean before them. His legs were crossed at the ankles, knees pulled up so he could lean his elbows on them.

"Not really," he said. "It's kinda weird for things to be so quiet, but bored? Nah." He was just a tad hesitant to speak the next words, but when no response came, he asked: "Are you?"

"Nope!" Sora turned and grinned at him. Then he let his smile fall and inspected Riku very closely. "You sure you're not bored?" Riku swatted a hand through the air dismissively, forcing Sora to lean away slightly.

"Yeah I'm sure. What kind of question is that, anyway?" He found himself unconsciously fisting a handful of sand before releasing it and smoothing it back down.

"Well, the last time we got bored and wanted to go exploring..." Sora let the end of the sentence hang in the air for a moment and shrugged. "I just don't want to have to save your butt all over again," he finished in a teasing tone.

Riku threw a punch, intending to hit Sora in the arm, but the boy had leapt up and flipped over the wall with a laugh before jogging out of sight. "I'm gonna see if Kairi's done yet!" He called as he ran off. Riku stood as well and watched his departing form, a curious frown resting on his lips. In truth, he wasn't sure how to react to the odd interaction. It had been less than two months since their final battle with Xemnas... since returning home. Sora had shown some signs that he wasn't entirely ready to be back on the islands, and honestly, Riku found comfort in that fact.

Because he wasn't quite ready to be back on the islands, either.

It was comforting to know that their timeless friendship had lasted through so much, and they still seemed to share a deep understanding of one another. But sometimes, like now, Riku wasn't entirely sure he did understand Sora fully.

—

Darkness was the only thing Maleficent saw anymore. It was thick before her yellow eyes, clinging to her vision. Her only companions were the Heartless, Shadows and Knights clanking and clamoring about her feet as she walked.

It had been so long since she had encountered another person that she flinched backward, raising her staff and alighting her hands with flames at the sight. The woman peered at her through an oval frame, surrounded by inky blackness. The cruelty on her face was unmistakable, and the knowing that seemed to linger in her smirk captivated Maleficent.

What did this woman know that she did not? She lunged forward, clawing at the glass, but it slipped from her grasp and sank away into the darkness just as quickly as it had come.

She would not stop until she found that woman.

Maleficent continued, sending Heartless this way and that until finally word was brought to her by a tiny Shadow skittering at her feet. She raised her hand and formed a portal for the first time in this lifetime, feeling the pleasing stretch of long neglected muscles.

It was grimy. Dirty. A filthy hovel. The stone walls were damp and slick with algae, fetid water dripping down them in jagged paths. A sparse few candles flickered dimly, and Maleficent raised her cloak again, shielding her sensitive eyes from the light until they adjusted to the change. After a few blinks, she stepped completely out of her portal and into the large stone chamber, eyes sweeping over the place. Ahead there was a closed wooden door, and across the room sat a cauldron with thick, grimy bubbles lazily rising to the top of a putrid green sludge within. Stars twinkled in the dark sky outside the lone window, covered in cobwebs.

A scratching sound alerted her, and she stepped backwards quickly, green flames bursting from her hands, ready to be thrown. What she found was a cage hanging from the ceiling with three huddled mice inside, staring at her warily. Her green fire reflected in their wide eyes. She raised her lip in disgust and extinguished the flames, venturing past the cage and cauldron.

It was a cluttered room. Stone tables were covered in bottles of all sorts—obviously this spellcaster was a potions user. From the look of it, a skilled one. This might be exactly the kind of power she needed. Maleficent's mouth twisted into a venomous smirk as she reached a clawed finger forward and pressed it against one of the bottles closest to her, tilting it so that she could read the label. Her smirk widened to reveal teeth as she read read Draught of Disease.

She glanced over many more of the bottles. Brew of Hysteria. Vial of Sorrow. Tonic of Illusions. Elixir of Hypnosis. Devenustating Scourge. Phial of Death. It was endless. There was one potion in a larger bottle, the glass less dusty than the rest. Cosmesis Tonic. At this label, her mind wandered back to the woman she'd seen in the darkness. She'd carried hauntingly beautiful features. Apparently looks were important to this witch. Maleficent picked up this bottle, devious thoughts twisting through her mind as she tucked it into her robe.

She continued stepping quietly through the room, stopping when she reached a shelf. The collection of books was small, but her expression grew almost feral in her delight as she read the titles. Black Arts, Alchemy, Witchcraft, Black Magic, Disguises, Sorcery, Poisons... her eyes only grew more manic with each one. These books appeared ancient, probably filled with magic long forgotten.

A glorious assortment of complex spells, hexes, and curses were at her fingertips, and combined with her already powerful sorcery, she would be unstoppable. Suddenly, vengeance was at her fingertips.

She nearly laughed aloud but managed to stifle it to a quiet "hm," raising her eyes to the ceiling and clawing her hands out at her sides, envisioning the power she would wield so very, very soon.

Something moved.

She whirled toward the movement, flames licking up from her palms again, facing nothing. There was a wall with a small, oval mirror in its center, surrounded by various chains that carried tools, weapons—a broomstick, a shovel, a pick axe—but nothing that would have moved. Her eyes scanned the area, narrowed and still. And then she realized.

The window had been a mirror.

Maleficent did not release the flames as she stalked forward, her lips curling at the edges. From the other side of the mirror, she watched herself approach. She delighted to see that all but her reflection was bathed in darkness. The lit candles behind her shone like dim, flickering stars in the black backdrop of the mirror's reflection. This was a creation of true darkness.

"Well now," she said, her voice smooth and rich despite the months spent in silence. "What are your enchantments, dear mirror?" The question was quiet, almost personal, and for a second she caught movement inside the glass, like smoke rising. Her eyes widened with manic glee. "Show me King Mickey Mouse," she commanded next, raising her hands to brandish the tongues of green flame before the glass. Once again, the reflection of the flames was dim and shrouded in shadow. Another wave of smoke rose behind the glass, but it otherwise did nothing. She pursed her lips in thought and took a few steps back, still gazing at her reflection intensely.

"Magic mirror, o ruiner of doubt," A woman's voice echoed over the quiet space, and Maleficent whirled about, her eyes seeking the speaker but finding no one. Her green flames grew until they licked the ceiling, but the voice simply continued. "Why has this woman sought me out?" it asked, not a trace of amusement or play in in the deep tones.

Maleficent spun again, just in time to see the smoke rise behind the glass and a face appear inside the mirror.

"Maleficent, sorceress of another world, wielder of darkness, master of Heartless, seeks power with which to exact vengeance upon those who would snuff out her life a third time," it answered, the voice booming as though it were echoing across a monstrous chasm.

"Now you know who I am," Maleficent spoke with her chin raised, although her flames did not dim. "Tell me who you are, o witch who deigned to spy first upon me with her enchanted mirror," she delivered the words in a booming command of a voice and then stalked forward, to the center of the room, closer to where the voice had come from. Still, the entire chamber was empty. Her flames licked dangerously close to the table; several of the potions began to simmer.

"Do not presume to be my equal, sorceress, nor that I shall lend you my power," the disembodied voice returned. It bounced off the walls, but Maleficent stalked toward the origin of the sound, nearing where she'd first stepped inside. She narrowed her eyes, then smirked when she saw one of the mice in the cage standing free from the rest. It eyed her with unnatural stillness, standing on its hind legs. Behind it, the two other mice looked terrified, shivering as they pressed against the furthest bars.

"I am sure even a witch has a price," Maleficent responded. "With your potions and my spells, we are certain to achieve our goals together," she spoke in more of a purr now, a soothing lilt to her voice.

The little creature's mouth opened almost mechanically, then moved no more as a stream of words poured forth. "I do not bargain with intruders and thieves. Begone before I make a fine wall art with your hide!"

"Shall I burn your lovely potions laboratory to chars and vapors as I leave?" She asked, voice still smooth and calm. The flames still raging about her grew even larger, and the three nearest potion bottles clattered as their contents began to boil. For a moment, there was silence. Then, with a flourish of fabric and howling wind, a woman appeared before her, black cloak settling around her shoulders and brushing the floor. A crown sat upon her head, and her neck was framed by a large, regal collar. "I see I'm in the presence of royalty," Maleficent stated. "Forgive me for not bowing," she added, sneering. The woman only stared with cold, hard eyes, her red lips not giving so much as a twitch. After some scrutiny, she spoke.

"What do you want?" Her voice was edged, hard and sharp like a knife. Maleficent raised an eyebrow and smirked once again.

"Why, didn't your dear mirror already tell you? I seek vengeance. Power. I plan to snuff the light from many worlds and bring darkness to all the realms. Us—our kind—we can live in peace, not pestered by the irritating light of the good-hearted," she grew in excitement as she spoke.

The queen gazed at her impassively. Her face may as well have been etched from stone. But thoughts whirled through her mind as she did. She'd seen far more, knew far more of this sorceress than she'd let on. They sought vengeance against the same party... in a way. These Keybearers had to be stopped before they multiplied further. Grimhilde herself, despite all her magic, had barely survived her encounter with the dwarves—had failed to kill Snow White—and those key-wielding fools held partial blame. Now, as her power finally returned to her, she had plans.

"And what, praytell, can you guarantee for me should I assist you in your quest?" she asked Maleficent finally, her green eyes piercing and cold.

Maleficent's teeth glinted in the darkness as her lips parted in a terrible smile.

"Why, eternal life and beauty, my dear," she reached into her robe and pulled the Cosmesis Tonic from within as she spoke. The queen's eyes grew wide, and she spun to look back at the table, finding the bottle indeed missing. Her head snapped back to Maleficent, eyes murderous. But the sorceress only tossed the bottle forward to her. "It will be useless to you when we have finished," she said.

Grimhilde caught the bottle like a mother might catch her own infant, but then she looked up.

"Come," Maleficent spoke the words calmly. "We have much to discuss."

—

Kairi was just saying her goodbyes with Selphie when Sora rounded a corner into town, grabbing a palm tree to take the turn as sharply as he could. He almost careened straight into the girls but managed a quick maneuver, flipping off the tree and landing perfectly on his feet before them.

"Hey, Kairi!" His face lit up and he threw his hands behind his head, mildly embarrassed. "And Selphie," he seemed to add it as an afterthought.

"Hi Sora," Kairi pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and smiled back just as brightly.

"What a show off," Selphie waved her hand through the hair dismissively. Next to her, Kairi gave an amused look of agreement. She didn't seem to expect Selphie's response to that: the brunette snickered and give her friend a knowing grin.

"You ready?" Sora asked her. He was already turning back the way he came, leaving Kairi to shoo her friend with her cheeks puffed in agitation.

"Yeah, let's go," she said.

"Have fun you two," Selphie called out, winking. Kairi turned red. Sora only grinned and told her to do the same.

"You know you're a little late," Kairi teased as the two began walking toward the beach.

He spun to face her mid-step and began walking backwards, scratching the back of his head. "I fell asleep and almost forgot," he said, punctuating the statement with a impish little "heh!" and then spinning around again to fall into step with her.

"You lazy bum," Kairi shook her head. When only her footsteps continued, she paused and turned to look back. He had stopped and was smiling warmly. "Sora?" In spite of herself, she felt her face heating under his gaze.

"Ah, it really brought me back," he glanced skyward and stepped forward. "Just like the old days!" He added.

"Yeah," she said, a bit more wistfully than she'd intended. Then, her face falling into something a bit more serious, and a bit more emotional, she murmured her next words to him. "I really missed you."

Sora's mind immediately drifted back to his dream and he swallowed, eyes widening. "Uh, yeah," he said, turning to face forward and walk again. "I missed you too, Kairi," he added in a more serious, gentle tone. They walked side-by-side again, and he watched as the wind blew her hair back, getting another smile out of her as she brushed that lock behind her ear again. When her hand fell to her side, his eyes followed it.

Kairi used to have warm hands. He knew that from when they were little and they used to hold hands frequently, adventuring into dark little caverns. When she got scared, he'd hold her hand and lead the way, promising to protect her from any monsters that might appear.

When she turned to glance at him, Sora seemed to be in deep thought. "Whatcha thinking about?" she asked. He nearly jumped, placing his palms out between the two.

"Nothing," he said a little too loudly.

She really looked curious now. "That was not a nothing sort of look. What was it?" she asked, fairly certain he wouldn't tell her—he was one of the most stubborn people she knew.

That's why she was so surprised when he came clean.

"Hand temperature!" he spat without thinking, and immediately his expression shifted into a cross between regret and surprise.

"Hand temperature." It was less of a question and more of an amused confirmation. She raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah like, you know," a hand flew to the back of his head again, and he rubbed at the nape of his neck. "Like, people's hands."

She couldn't help herself—she gave a little pfft and then laughed, no longer walking. "What?" he demanded, hands on his hips now.

"You are so weird," she told him.

"I am not," he announced, but she shook her head, foregoing a response to continue walking instead. They were nearing the bridge now—that meant they would be walking single file in a moment. It was this thought that made her ignore the mild embarrassment she felt. She reached out for his hand.

At first her fingers only brushed his, their hands swaying toward each other and then apart. It might be amusing to her at any other moment, but right now she was finding it quite irritating that his gait included swinging his arms so emphatically. Biting down on her lip, she sped up and managed to clasp his hand, nearly tripping in the process.

"Huh?" Sora squeezed her hand tightly and raised it up, steadying her. "You okay?"

He seemed to realize only when he saw her red red face that he was holding her hand tightly in his. Simultaneously, they jumped apart, eyes wide.

"Sorry!" she said quickly. "I was... clumsy," she bit her lip.

"No, it's okay!" he put his hands up placatingly.

For a moment, they stared at one another in silence. Then Kairi gave a little sigh through her nose and stepped forward again, turning her face up toward him. "Sora," she said. Their eyes locked, breaths coming slow and shallow and filled with emotion despite their utter silence. She lifted her hand, reaching toward him.

The sudden sound of laughter peeled through the air, and the two broke apart once more. This time, they spun away from each other, both a bit dazed. Wakka ran up to the bridge on the other side. He jumped up and flipped, kicking a ball in midair to Tidus before landing on the wooden planks. They dashed across, laughing.

"You guys okay?" Wakka asked when he neared the two, stepping off the bridge with a hint of hesitation. Then: "Aw man, are you guys fighting?" he asked, a look of childish disgust on his features.

"No!" Sora raised his hands, palms out.

"Not at all!" Kairi said just as quickly. Wakka only looked more suspicious than he already had, and Tidus came up behind him, the ball twirling expertly on his index finger.

"Dude, I bet they were kissing," the blond said, his laughter ringing out again. At this, the two became even more red.

"That's none of your business!" Sora shouted, taking a stance before Kairi as though protecting her from their mockery. It might have actually looked impressive if his voice wasn't trembling mildly and his face so red that he appeared suspiciously like a tomato.

"Hey man, not bad," Wakka nodded, looking impressed. Then he gave a wink and strolled past. Tidus stayed behind a little longer—to pucker his lips at the two. Annoyed, Sora grabbed Kairi by the hand and stomped forward. Tidus was laughing—but it died in his throat when he spied the scorn on Kairi's face. He took a step back and blinked with mild alarm before heading after his friend.

Kairi's cheeks were still blushing as Sora led her across the bridge. It was nostalgic, walking like this with their hands clasped. She had so many memories of watching the back of his head as he bravely marched them into even the scariest of places. Suddenly, the contact broke.

"Oh, sorry," he flashed her a quick grin over his shoulder. Kairi wanted nothing more than to tell him how much he didn't have to apologize for taking her hand. Ever. She opened her mouth to say it, but her voice was quiet in the wind.

"Hey Riku!" Sora called out, drowning any words she had managed to say. He glanced back at her with a big grin. "C'mon Kairi!" he called and then headed forward at a run.

She ran forward as well, replacing her little frown with a smile. There was always next time.

—

Grimhilde led the way, her long cape flowing behind her gracefully as she climbed the stairs. The castle had the look of something once magnificent, once stunningly beautiful. Now, boarded windows lined the great hallway they traversed, and doors lay smashed off their hinges or burned. They passed a room with an ornate oval frame on the wall, lined with symbols of witchcraft. On the floor before it were the shattered remains of a mirror. Torn curtains laid about the floor about the shards, and the top of a broken pick axe was stuck in the caved-in door.

Dust flew into the air with every step they took. It hung thickly from the chandeliers, covered every inch of the place like a disease. Maleficent's yellow eyes inspected everything about her, satisfied with the fall from grace.

Finally they reached a massive throne room, and the queen's regal gait took her directly to her throne. It was designed in the likeness of a peacock, the stone carved into intricate feathers, forming a halo over her head. Several of them were broken off—they lay on the floor nearby, as though the throne had at one point been hurled to the ground and then put back.

She sat at her broken throne with all the grace and beauty a queen could desire. Her cape spilled to the side, cascading over the stairs majestically.

Maleficent plucked a piece of dust from her sleeve, a look of boredom on her features.

If Grimhilde was irritated by Maleficent's attitude, she did not show it. Instead, she sat as impassive as ever, her gaze quiet and still. She regarded the sorceress squarely and then spoke, a certain demand in her voice. "I request a blood oath." From within her cloak, she withdrew a dagger. The golden sheath was carved with intricate designs of stars and swirling patterns.

"A blood oath? You must be truly foolish if you believe I'd commit to something so petty," Maleficent returned, letting out a haughty laugh and staring into the crystal sphere atop her staff. "I shall do no such thing," now her eyes flicked to Grimhilde's.

"If you seek my assistance, I shall require an oath," the queen stated just as calmly. "You may take your time to consider its wording, but I shall not offer so much as a potion until it is done." Carefully, she slid the dagger back into her cloak and blinked slowly, expectantly at Maleficent. The sorceress sneered back at her.

"And how shall I swear my oath without knowing whether your insipid powers can offer me assistance at all? Preposterous," she barked out the last word and slammed her staff to the floor with a loud thud. Grimhilde's fingers clenched the arms of her throne, her nails scraping against stone. It lasted only a short moment before she relaxed, allowing them to rest still.

"Then perhaps you shall take your leave after all," she stated. Maleficent's eyes narrowed, and the queen continued, raising her chin. "You would not be here if you did not believe my powers to be of use, sorceress. But this petty bickering will bring us no accord. Let us find a catalyst for both our goals," she smirked as the words slipped from her mouth.

Maleficent arched an eyebrow and waited as Grimhilde murmured a quiet spell. The queen held her hand out, cupped in the air, and above it her mirror faded into view, hovering. The queen turned her gaze to it.

"Magic mirror, speaker only of truth, what shall lead to both our goals: her power and my eternal youth?"

"The answer you seek is guarded well indeed. In a castle of white, glowing with pristine light, protected by a powerful and ancient source of magic, you shall find a prophecy," the mirror's deep voice reverberated throughout the cavernous throne room.

"Where is this castle?" Maleficent demanded. Grimhilde's lips twitched here, her brows furrowing ever so slightly. When her mirror answered, her mouth flattened into a thin slash of anger.

"The prophecy lies in another world, guarded by a mouse," the mirror intoned.

Maleficent's eyes flashed with anger. "That infernal mouse," she hissed, flames sizzling up from her hands. Grimhilde eyed her with a calm, dull stare for just a moment before turning back to her mirror.

"Tell me, dear slave, of what does this prophecy speak?" she asked.

"So well guarded it is that the words are hidden even from my enchanted sight. I see its existence and no more," the mirror responded. She breathed through her nose, an almost inaudible sound of frustration.

"How shall I find this prophecy?" Maleficent demanded, stepping forward. Again Grimhilde's eyes narrowed.

"It is the fourth tome on the fourth shelf of the fourth case, surrounded by blue and clothed in brown. Within the book, on the nine hundred eighty-fourth page, you shall find the prophecy written in red ink, decorated with key and crown." At this, Maleficent's gaze dropped to the floor, her fist clenching around her staff.

"The Mouse," she whispered, eyes narrowing. Then, even more quietly: "Or the boy."

"Obtaining this prophecy shall ensure that we both achieve our goals?" Grimhilde asked, her eyes boring suspiciously at Maleficent's form. The sorceress's head was bowed, and she gazed at the orb decorating her staff with a thoughtful gaze.

"It may," he answered ominously. Her eyes narrowed, sliding back to the face behind the glass. She opened her mouth to respond, but the mirror began to fade from sight, ghostlike. With a look of shock, her eyes snapped back to Maleficent, and she quickly banished the apparition in a flash of smoke. When the sorceress looked up from her staff, her expression was determined.

"The mouse's castle," she pronounced the words with disdain. "Is heavily guarded with magic. If I set foot inside, guards and charms alike will foil my every step," she seemed to hate her own admission, biting off the words in quiet anger.

"Your power quavers before a mouse?" Grimhilde spoke quietly, a smirk forming on her lips.

"Smile, witch, and recover the prophecy on your own if you possess such power," she hissed, her chin raised. There was a certain confidence in her eyes despite her own admission to weakness, and Grimhilde felt her smirk disappearing.

"I do possess a potion," she rubbed two fingertips together in thought. "A shield against protective spells—temporary, so its user shall require great haste. You will gather the book quickly and return to me," she stood now.

"Do not dare give me commands!" Maleficent's voice was suddenly a terrible cry, and flames erupted around her, casting jagged green light that danced about the walls and ceiling. Grimhilde did not flinch, even as hot air sent her cape and cloak both billowing up behind her and whipping about. "Not when you, powerless queen, cannot maintain even a mere summoning spell more than a moment!"

At this, Grimhilde's expression finally darkened, her mouth twisting with anger and her eyes narrowed. She did not speak, however. The sorceress' horns appeared to twist and move as they reflected the sinister green light, and she glared with incredible hatred at the queen. When the flames had calmed, the queen finally spoke.

"I shall remind you once, and just once," Grimhilde finally spoke now, still poised and calm like the queen she was. "You have intruded upon my castle, and you shall not expect my help beyond this without a blood oath," there was an edge to her voice that wasn't there before, cutting through the words dangerously.

At that she stalked forward again, passing Maleficent without sparing another glance, and headed for her laboratory.

The sorceress followed after a moment, a smile returning to her lips. If getting into that Mouse's castle proved as easy as a potion, perhaps this alliance would be even more fruitful than she'd anticipated.

—

Maleficent stepped into the pristine white room, her lips drawn into a tight frown. It was disgusting. Blinding. A wound of a place.

She could feel the enchantments eating away at her cloaking spell already, so she stepped forward hastily. Her eyes scanned the rows and rows of books. The shelves stretched to the ceiling and lined much of the large room. The fourth case, the fourth shelf, the fourth book. Her eyes spied the thick brown tome almost immediately. Two books with blue covers sat on either side of it. It looked ancient.

A click sounded off, and she spun in place, face gnarling angrily. An enchanted broomstick stepped inside and closed the door behind it. The object marched forward and began dusting, ignoring her presence completely. Maleficent smirked, satisfied with the cloaking spell.

She stalked forward and pulled the book from its spot, whirling around and immediately ducking back into her dark portal. The book in her hand thudded against some unseen barrier as she walked through, falling to the floor of the library. Another spell. Maleficent clenched her jaw, eyes murderous.

Dutifully, the enchanted broomstick turned and approached as though to pick it up for her. In her rage, she shot a fury of flames at it, reducing it to ash in an instant. Then she snatched the tome from the floor and tore it open, uttering a spell quietly as she waved her hand over the pages.

Voices outside. That infernal squealing queen. Maleficent ground her teeth and continued to speak her enchantment. It was here. She would just have to find it and read it quickly. She finished the spell just as the door clicked open, and the book's pages fanned before her, flipping as though a great gust of wind were tearing over them, then finally settling on a hand-written page detailed in red ink.

"Oh my!" Queen Minnie squeaked as soon as she opened the door, clapping a hand to her mouth. "Oh, Maleficent! You wicked woman!" she shouted, casting a spell at the sorceress. It bounced off the cloaking charm harmlessly. Despite her urgency, Maleficent took a moment to roll her eyes before returning to the book. She skimmed over the page as quickly as she could. The large text was composed of meticulous calligraphy, hand-scrawled in whimsical letters. She skimmed over the words hastily, snatching the important pieces as she felt the cloaking spell begin to flicker away. ...worlds will be plunged into darkness. A key to restore light... ...the crowning of the Benevolent King. Countless worlds will genuflect to the Benevolent King. ...bowing to the great king. The Benevolent King shall be the key...

"Pearl!" Minnie shouted for the third time since Maleficent had started reading. This time it smashed into Maleficent's hands, flinging the book upward. The tome crashed to the floor, slamming closed. "Leave at once!" Minnie shouted, her high pitched voice far more irritating than her attacks. Maleficent whirled on the mouse not with anger but manic glee, backing into her portal before the castle's protective spells detected her uncloaked presence.

"Remember this day, little mouse. This is the moment you and your darling king's undoing began," her voice came echoing from the portal, still undulating and sending wisps of smokey blackness in every direction. She cackled an ominous, echoing laugh before closing the portal and disappearing.

Minnie heaved a great sigh of relief and unclenched her hands. She stooped down to pick up the book. "Oh, Mickey," she sighed to the empty room.

—

Maleficent did not immediately return to the queen's lair. She stood in the darkness, Heartless once again at her side, crowding around her cloak, skittering about her. Countless worlds will genuflect to the Benevolent King. The pristine calligraphy was etched into her brain.

A wicked smile crept onto her lips, and she leaned back in the darkness and cackled. Heartless skittered back as flames surged and swirled around her.

"My dear Sora," she reached a hand out and caressed the flames before her. "Who would have guessed you would be destined for such greatness?"

—

"Queen Minnie!" Donald and Goofy burst into the room simultaneously, nearly falling over each other.

"Oh!" Minnie nearly dropped the book in her hands. "Donald, Goofy, it was terrible! Maleficent was here!" she cried, expression fearful.

"Maleficent!" Donald looked around the room with alarm, then anger. "How does she keep coming back?" he demanded, fists clenched.

"She's already gone? Gawrsh, we were only alerted just a minute ago." Goofy scratched the back of his head.

"Oh it was terrible!" Minnie squeaked. "It was like she was completely protected from magic, even the castle's. And she said this was the beginning of our undoing!" She looked fretful, hugging the old book to her.

The two castle guards were offering her consolations when her ears suddenly twitched. "It's Mickey!" she squealed, heading toward the door immediately.

Mickey was already nearly at the promenade when they ran into each other, and he hugged Minnie tightly, trying to calm her down.

"It was just terrible," she relayed again how Maleficent had appeared. Then, quietly, she handed him the book. "I saw page she was looking at, but not the number. It had red text and two drawings—a key and a crown." Mickey frowned.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Minnie," he said softly, pulling her into another tight hug.

"What'll we do, Mickey?" she asked him after a moment, handing him the large tome. He took it into his hands somberly.

"Let's head to the study," he said softly. As they headed in, he nodded to his two guards and best confidants.

"Donald, Goofy, if you could—"

"On it!" Donald answered with a salute. He spun into a guarding position outside the door, and Goofy followed suit. Mickey smiled.

"Thank you," he said. He and Minnie headed inside, and he placed the large brown book down onto his desk before finally opening the cover.

The king began flipping through pages almost too quickly for the eye to catch, stopping to double-check only when he saw red ink. The pages flashed by, all ancient and stiff and covered in detailed calligraphy. There were enough books in his castle to keep a person busy for a lifetime, and he could hardly say he had much time to read in the first place. This book in particular was one he'd never cracked before. Now, catching sight of interesting words and drawings, he was tempted several times to stop and read. Pushing aside his curiosity, he continued onward, seeking only what Minnie had described. Finally, a red key flashed by. He skipped back to the page quickly and opened it in full.

At the top right of the page, the intricate border was curling around the image of a key. At the bottom left, a three-pointed crown. The red text scrawled over the page was in flawless calligraphy, a fine work of many hours' work.

"Minnie," he said softly, moving the book over on the desk as she approached. "Is this the page you saw?" he asked.

"Yes, Mickey, that's the one. I'm sure of it," she replied, nodding firmly. Together, the two read the page, their eyes widening.

"Oh, dear! Is this talking about you, Mickey?" she asked, her hands coming to her mouth. Something between worry and pride was on her features. Mickey only frowned, his expression darkening more and more as he finished reading the lengthy and detailed prophecy.

"I don't know." He paused. "I don't think so," he added, a little more quietly. "But I don't think it matters who it's about." He said these words carefully, as though he were testing how they sounded in the air. Minnie waited quietly, watching his thoughtful face. "What matters is who Maleficent thinks it's about, and there are only two of us that I can think of." At this, he looked at Minnie, his eyes solemn. "I have to leave, Minnie, but I'll come back," he told her. She looked as though she were trying to suppress her worry desperately.

"I trust you, Mickey," she dipped her head into a nod. His eyes softened, and he took that chance to nose her forehead affectionately.

"I'm going to put the castle on high alert. I still don't know what kind of spell Maleficent used to get in, but it seems like she got what she wanted." He stated the words with confidence, but then he sighed, his brows upturning with worry. "I don't plan to leave for long," he placed a hand on hers, gently.

"A king must do what he must do," Minnie replied with a single assured nod. "Go on, Mickey. I'll be waiting for you."

He closed the book and stepped out of the room. "Donald, Goofy," he stated. The two were posted just outside the door; they immediately jumped to attention.

"Your majesty!" they replied in unison.

"We're leaving," he stated, stepping forward and heading toward the throne room. They both balked.

"Now?" Donald asked.

"Now." Mickey gave a nod. He paused, smiling over his shoulder at them. "We have some friends to visit."

—

Thanks for reading! I'm hoping I got everyone in character... it felt like a bit of a struggle with Sora, Riku, and Kairi for some reason. Let me know how I did! Just a note—this chapter was particularly long, and while future chapters may be of the same length, there's also a good possibility they will be significantly shorter. It depends on what needs to be in there! Stick around because this story will get interesting very quickly. (You can't see my face right now, but I'm smirking deviously.)