[Kingdom Hearts AU] Someone to Watch Out for You

One Small Choice

The idea behind the Million Dreams Award seemed just like that; a dream. Ventus had listened carefully as Queen Minnie -along with Huey, Dewey, and Louie- explained why Captain Justice, or rather, Pete, had been so adamant on getting votes for this elusive award. It was a small token of appreciation from the citizens of Disney Town to their most exemplary peer. It was a way of saying thanks, and to help bring awareness toward how everyone around here looked out for each other. After the fight with Aqua and Terra back in Radiant Garden, Ven wasn't sure if anyone had his back now. So the thought that the assurance still existed? It felt very dreamlike- almost silly in its own way too.

"Wish somebody was looking out for me." Ven mused, mostly to himself.

"What did you say, dear?"

Ven jumped. He had been so lost in his thoughts, he didn't think anyone had heard him. The boy looked down to see that Queen Minnie was giving him a kind smile. A moment more and he was bashfully rubbing the back of his neck.

"O-oh, it was nothing." he sheepishly told her. "I was just talking to myself. Honest. I should really get going though."

The queen gave a curious tilt of her head. "Where to, if you don't mind me asking?"

For this, Ven found he didn't have a clear answer. Instead he hesitated. Queen Minnie noticed this, then gave a small look around the area. Huey, Dewey, and Louie had already gone back to the ice cream machine, and everyone else was enjoying the rest of the festivities. Making a choice, Minnie moved a bit closer to Ven so she could place her hand against his.

"You're welcome to stay." she offered in a kind, hushed voice. "I'm not an expert on such things, but I can tell you have a lot going on in your heart. Isn't that right?"

Ven jumped at the idea. Was it that obvious he still felt bad about the fight with Terra and Aqua back in Radiant Garden? Disney Town had been a good distraction for most of it. Almost everyone here (spare Pete, now that he thought about it) was rather friendly, and quite a few Ven could see himself hanging out with every now and again. If it wasn't for the fact that the masked boy, Vanitas, was still lurking around...

But did he even care about that anymore? It's not like he knew if he and Terra were even real friends anymore. And something about this world made it feel like Vanitas couldn't come here even if he tried- with very few places having the Unversed even pop up. Not a single one even messed up the main festivities either. There was a natural light in this world, and, in a way, Ven almost didn't want to leave it.

"I... I had a fight with two of my best friends." the boy found himself admitting. "I don't even know if we're actually friends anymore..."

"Oh yes." Queen Minnie nodded. "Matters like that should be addressed as soon as possible. Are you able to contact them?"

Ven gave a shake of his head. "No. Not that I know of. I just have this," he pulled out his Wayfinder to show her, "And while my friend said it does have a bit of magic to it, it's not enough to bring them here."

Queen Minnie let out a soft 'oh' in appreciation over the little trinket.

"It's very beautiful." she said to him. "It was made with a lot of love, too."

"You think so?" Ven wondered as he put the Wayfinder back in his pocket.

"Oh, I know so." Minnie grinned. "It makes me think that, no matter where your friends are now, they're also wondering the same thing you are. Just give it some time, and I'm sure the three of you will be together again in no time!"

"Thanks."

Minnie gave him another genuine smile as she waved good bye. It did not take long for Ventus to suddenly feel very, very alone.

"Queen Minnie, wait!" he found himself shouting after her.

And to her credit, she immediately stopped- something Ven was actually surprised by.

"What is it, dear?" she asked as she came back over. Her genuine demeanor hit a certain part of Ven's heart. For the first time in awhile, he completely believed that he would be safe if he stood by her side. It was like having a mother gently nudge you out of the nest, but not forcing anything out of your comfort zone.

"I might stay a bit longer." Ven told her- not that he sounded too sure of himself. "But not for too long."

Minnie never wavered from her friendly smile. "Of course." she agreed. "Stay for as long as you need. We won't force you either way."

"Thank you, your majesty..."

"As long as you're comfortable, Ventus dear. That's all I ask."

Once more giving him a wave good bye, Queen Minnie returned to Dream Festival and to her citizens participating within. Ven watched her leave, unsure of what else to do. It felt like he could do everything and nothing at the same time. Maybe he could just give himself time to relax? He could even wait to see if Terra and Aqua came to see the Dream Festival as well. He'd have the opportunity to make things up with them! Maybe. There were so many maybes running through the boy's head, he didn't know which one to focus on first.

All his thoughts went to a dead stop when something large and yellow barrelled him over. The world was in a blur as something wet kept licking at his face. When Ven finally gathered two and two together, he discovered a large yellow dog looking down at him with a charming little grin. On the dog's red collar, Ven noticed the name Pluto was etched.

"Hi." Ven carefully croaked to the dog. Pluto, in return, happily panted in Ven's face. As he tried to work himself up, Ven then grunted to the dog, "Can I get up please?"

Pluto's response was a delighted 'woof', which Ven soon took as a resounding 'no'.

Regardless of the bark's true meaning, Pluto did get off of Ven after a few more happy face licks. Ven worked himself up with a groan. As he brushed himself off, Pluto carefully sniffed by his pockets. It was out of the corner of his eye that Ven noticed Pluto take out the Wayfinder. And it was in horror when the yellow pooch bounded off with it.

"Hey!" Ven sounded. "Come back! Pluto, you have to give that back now! That charm is important to me! Pluto, stop!"

The dog did not listen in the slightest. With his tail wagging in glee, Pluto pushed past the white door leading to Disney Castle and continued his path inside. Ven followed him until he also got to those doors. He looked over them as if they were the gates to some mystical library that had all of life's answers. Which is silly, of course, but he was taught each world had their own rules, after all. It might not have been out of place here.

But what if he couldn't find his way back out? Ven bit his lip in thought. He looked back to the rest of Disney Town, noting how Minnie was happily talking to her lady in waiting about the Million Dreams vote. Minnie was a good queen- Ven didn't know her well but he could believe that much. If he got stuck in the castle or whatever, he was sure she'd understand that it was because some dog took his friend's good luck charm. Queen Minnie could understand. He knew she would.

Giving himself a firm nod, Ventus pressed on through to Disney Castle's forecourt. He would get his Wayfinder back from Pluto, and then he may just get some rest after all this excitement. Maybe the queen knew a place where he could stay for the night? But only one night. He promised himself he wouldn't stay for long in this world, but when was the last time he made a real, meaningful promise to anyone but Terra or Aqua? One that they, invariably or accidentally, ended up breaking anyway?

What he didn't know was that this one choice would lead to one very important change. One that no one, least of all Ven, would be aware of for another eleven years. He would never realize that Vanitas was his other half. He would never know what became of Terra (whose heart was taken by Xehanort) or Aqua (who fell into the Realm of Darkness). Even if he had known that Aqua would come to Disney Town after him, he would have been too preoccupied with Pluto to even meet her for the Million Dreams Award reveal.

And to those consequences we explore, because -although Ven's life was arguably easier in the ten years before Sora took the Keyblade in hand- no one avoids fate with a repercussion or two.

Here's hoping that they're good ones.