Kingdom Hearts: The Legendary 8th Princess of Heart

Chapter 19: Visiting the 100 Acre Wood/Renewed Resolve

(3rd) POV:

On a ship, Riku looks down at Kairi, whose body has yet to move an inch. Riku couldn't tell which was worse for him: that the so-called friends he had been looking for betrayed him, that Harmony isn't returning his feeling for her because she likes somebody else, or that Kairi's heart is actually...

"So, Kairi's like a lifeless puppet now?" Riku asks, saddened by this fact.

"I'm afraid so," Maleficent's daughter says.

"And her heart was..." Riku tries to say.

"Taken by the Heartless, no doubt," Maleficent says.

"Tell me! What can I do?" Riku asks, practically begging, if it meant saving Kairi.

At this Maleficent is glad, knowing that her daughter's plan worked. Now all that's left is to make sure that Riku becomes a perfect asset for her plans.

"There are seven maidens of the purest heart. We call them the princesses of heart," Maleficent explains. "Gather them together, and a door will open to the heart of all worlds. Withing lies untold wisdom. There, you will surely find a way to recover Kairi's heart."

"But there is one problem, I'm afraid," Maleficent's daughter begins to say. "According to legend, once every 1,000 years, an eighth princess of heart is born. Even with all seven princesses together, the door will not open without the eighth. It is also said that her power is far more powerful, and purer, than the other princesses of heart. And that is what makes her so special."

"You're talking about Harmony, aren't you?" Riku asks.

"Oh? What makes you so sure that it's her?" Maleficent asks.

"I've known her ever since we were kids. There was always something about her, something that made me feel like she shone brighter than the sun itself. Like you said, the eighth princesses is more pure than the others. Harmony's the only one I can think of that fits that description," Riku says. "Tell me something. If I use Harmony's power, will that bring back Kairi's heart?"

"Much more than that," Maleficent's daughter says. "By opening the door, you might even be able to travel back in time, and set things the way they should be. For example, instead of Asch, you might be given the chance to make Harmony change her mind, and choose you instead. That way, she can finally belong to you, and no one else. What do you say? Not a bad deal, right?"

Maleficent's daughter holds her hand out, to shake, ready to offer Riku this chance. Riku puts some thought into it, almost finding it too good to be true. Can it really be true? Will opening the door really help him in making Harmony fall for him instead of Asch? It was all or nothing. To seal the deal, Riku shakes hands with Maleficent's daughter, making Maleficent smirk evilly.

"Now, I'll grant you a marvelous gift," Maleficent says. "The power to control the Heartless."

A green aura envelopes Riku, which he gladly accepts. "Soon, Kairi. Soon," he says to his friend.

And soon, Harmony, you and I can start from scratch, and be together like we should be.

(Harmony's) POV:

After escaping Monstro's body, we all agree to head back to Traverse Town. Each of us have our own thoughts to work out, after what happened between us and Riku.

"I sure hope Pinocchio and Geppetto are okay," Goofy says.

"Mieuuuu. I'm worried about them," Mieu says, his ears drooping.