Chapter Twelve:

Dark Deeds in the Castle of Dreams

She arrived under the cover of night. However the moon was shining so brightly, it might as well had been day. Kiera stared in awe at the shimmering white castle with ivory towers.

“Cinderella lives here?” She wondered aloud, “It’s…so beautiful!”

.

“Ve-hn! Wait up!”

Kiera jumped and whirled around.

That sounded like…

Kiera instinctively ducked behind one of the grand oak trees standing in the courtyard. She heard someone sprint past the tree, then stopped.

“Come on Kiera! I wanna see what happens!” A voice exclaimed.

That voice…I know that voice…

Kiera took a deep breath, bracing herself for what she was about to see. It was the boy! The boy from her visions! The one whom Kiera’s heart ached whenever she thought of him! The one from her past! And her heart ached again; She drifted out of the cover of the oak and reached out her hand longingly for him

“Ventus…!”

“Huh?”

She hastily covered her mouth and whirled back around, her back against the tree. The boy halted. His eyes went narrow. He had stopped halfway up the long flight of stairs.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” He exclaimed, hostile.

Kiera held her breath, squinting her eyes shut. Her heart raced as she touched it. She was silent, praying that he wouldn’t find her. Merlin was right. The action of interfering with the history of this world was tempting. But it was her history! Tears started dripping from her eyes. She didn’t want to hold them back or breath, prevent any sign of her to Ventus.

“Ven!”

and looked down towards the bottom. Finally, Another child ran breathlessly past the tree, a girl. Kiera was even more shocked. The girl looked just like her! Her hair was much more long and flowing compared to Kiera’s short hair, and she wore a carmine red blouse with brown overalls, and silver pants with big brown boots.

“Don’t leave me, ya little eager-beaver!” Past-Kiera exclaimed.

It was then that Past-Kier noticed something wrong.

“Ven, you okay?” She asked.

Ventus was silent for a moment, then he chuckled with a grin.

“Sorry, I thought I heard something. Come on!”

He grabbed her hand and pulled Past-Kiera along up the stairs. Past-Kiera chuckled.

“You know, Cinderella’s been waiting for this her whole life. Shouldn’t we just leave her in peace?” She asked.

“I just wanna make sure everything goes the way it should!” Ventus insisted.

Past-Kiera sighed.

“Okay, one quick peek, but you know we still need to find Terra.”

“I know. We will!”

“Terra? Who is Terra?”

Then, before Kiera knew it, the two children vanished inside the castle.

.

Kiera let out her breath. She leaned forward onto her knees. She wiped her eyes clear of tears.

“He was here!” Kiera thought, causing her tears to keep flowing, “He was here and I couldn’t even speak to him! Stupid time travel rules!” She sobbed. She stood there for a long moment, letting the tears freely flow.

“Don’t be sad Kiera. I’m here. Always. In your heart.”

Kiera opened her eyes. She sighed, smiling sadly.

“Thanks Light Friend.”

Then, she summoned her armor and vehicle.

“I’ve wasted enough time here.” She decided.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

When Kiera used the starshard to take her further towards the present, she landed in a vastly different Castle of Dreams. Instead of a calm, tranquil, star-filled night sky with a dazzling white castle in its front, the stars were blotted out, and covered in thick, purple clouds, and a terrifying electric storm. Kiera looked around, and saw that only the castle remained, and the rest of the world crumbled away. Kiera disabled her armor and vehicle and raced towards the castle.

.

“Henry!? Where are you!?”

A woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a sparkling white dress sprinted into the courtyard. Her eyes were filled with terror at the confusion of what was happening to her home. She tried to flee through the exit, but only found a dark abyss beneath her feet. Just then, she heard a voice say:

“Princess.”

She whirled around. A boy with silver hair and green eyes, stepped out of a purple, smoky portal. He reached out his hand to her.

“Come with me, Princess Cinderella,” he said, in a low, monotone voice, “I will get you to safety.”

“Who are you? Where is Henry?” the woman asked.

“He has been lost to the darkness. But there is a way to save him. She will know how to save him.”

.

Kiera ran breathless as the world crumbled behind her. The storm was worsening. Every lightning strike violently shook the ground. She was running out of time.

“Henry!?”

She whirled around. She could see a woman fleeing for her life into another courtyard. Kiera ran to catch up with her. The courtyard was outlined in square green hedges, which Kiera had to jump over to get inside, as the entrance had crumbled away.

.

Finally, she saw the woman. However, when Kiera reached her, her heart nearly stopped.

“Riku!?” she cried.

It was too late to try and conceal herself now. Riku slowly turned his head to face her. He seemed surprise.

“Kiera!? What’re you doing here?” Riku exclaimed.

“What are you doing here!?” Kiera exclaimed, “I been worried sick about you! We’ve been looking everywhere for you and Kairi!”

“It would take too long to explain” said Riku.

He turned back to the princess.

“Cinderella, we’re running out of time. Take my hand.”

Riku once again stretched out his hand to Cinderella. Cinderella hesitated. Kiera had a bad feeling. The way Riku carried himself, was the same way he did during the night of the storm. Something was off.

.

“Wait-!”

Riku grabbed Cinderella’s wrist. Cinderella was shocked, and try to pull away but Riku’s grip was tight.

“Let me go!” She shouted.

“We don’t have time to stand here and argue!” Riku snapped, then said in a more menacing tone, “The Door awaits.”

.

“Riku, stop!” Kiera cried, “What is wrong with you!?”

Riku looked at Kiera.

“We’ll see each other soon, I promise” he said, in more of a whisper, and slightly more sincere.

Then, with a cry, Cinderella disappeared with Riku into the portal.

.

“RIKU!!!”

Kiera ran to try and jump into the portal. However, it dissipated before she could. Kiera’s heart sank.

Something had overtaken him, something dark. Something dangerous.

“Riku…!” She cried in anguish.

She then realized the crumbling world was catching up to her and there was thunder quaking the earth. Kiera snapped back to reality. She summoned her armor and vehicle. She hopped inside, grabbed the starshard, and disappeared in a flash of light.