Archive of Our Own

Foreteller Invi stopped outside of the abandoned warehouse in Daybreak Town’s marketplace. From the slits on her snake mask, she noticed the time on the distant Clock Tower and turned her attention to the warehouse again. She definitely hadn't stayed too late at the daycare center; it was past curfew, yet the shaky voice of someone singing through their crying warbled from the building. A sense of panic rose in her; with it being so late and with the negative emotions that could come from something sad--

Invi took care to open the door quietly as the sobs became more pronounced. She took a step inside and realized who was there. But why was that young woman here? She had supposedly already had the worst of her pain forgotten. There shouldn't have been any reason for this exact location to be where she ended up.

The lone figure in the middle of the charred structure was clutching a Divine Rose Keyblade with one hand. Her other hand was pressed into her face in a failed attempt to stop the flow of tears.

Why did things have to turn out like this? Why did something that she could fix have to break her like this? It wasn’t hard to make friends, she had always thought, yet she purposely isolated herself from others because she knew that they couldn't deal with her--not after what happened two years ago. That, and the news that Lux needed to be collected at a faster rate...

What were these words coming from her? She was always quick to come up with song lyrics for impromptu performances, but something was causing her muse to be stronger than before. Something felt warm against her back.

"Let me fly into the winds of time to when words weren't needed; fidelis est cor meum; let me sing a melody that empowers me to protect the hearts of all; fidelis veritas; let me embrace the ethereal essence brought upon me to fuel the light; fidelis ad finem..."

Invi watched as the Keyblade in the Wielder's hand began to lose its signature petals; they darkened until they were pitch black and joined together to form a sturdy ribbon that was attached at the top of the blade. The thorny vines straightened to form golden musical symbols that escaped her, but Ira would recognize. The light purple blade began to brighten until it was a stunning silvery blue that was reminiscent of Invi's own mask. Some of the petals from earlier had formed two more musical symbols and strings that connected them as the teeth of the Keyblade. The Keychain with a rose on it fell to the ground with no area to tether it to.

The young woman looked up in shock as she registered the fact that someone was in front of her. “L-Lady Invi?" she stammered. "I-I-I’m so, so sorry, I know I’m out past curfew, I know I said earlier I was going straight home--” were the only words spoken as Invi approached. She looked around in panic before noticing the new Keyblade in her hands. The sight of it in place of Divine Rose caused her sobs to renew.

Through her tears, she saw Invi pause and kneel down to reach into a satchel at her side. 

“Boop."

The younger woman's crying dwindled down to sniffles out of confusion. There was a red panda plushie dabbing away at her tears; she realized that Lady Invi must have been at the daycare most of the day dealing with toddlers. Of course, it would be preposterous to assume that at the end of the day, Lady Invi would know how to work with someone only five years younger than her. 

Michi realized that she must have looked quite the mess to the Foreteller. Her strawberry-blonde hair was free from its usual high ponytail, spilling over her shoulders and down her back. Pink carnations and viscaria flowers lay scattered on her lap and around her--the stems on the flowers looked to have been undone. Though the whites of her eyes must have been red from crying, she could see a vague reflection of her forget-me-not colored eyes on Lady Invi's mask.

“You’re one of Gula’s members, aren’t you?” Michi heard Invi ask. She knew Invi was looking at the muted yellow sash holding the girl's pink furisode together. The young woman gave the Foreteller a couple of nods in response, nudging the plushie away.

“...Yeah...I met with Master Gula this evening to discuss a new system for party searches, because...you know, our Union is contributing the least amount of Lux. It’s...concerning because, well, we’re all supposed to be fighting the darkness, yet-” She brought her free hand to her head in confusion, eyebrows furrowed. Talking would distract her from everything odd going on. “Yet why does this competition for who gets the most Lux exist? It makes no sense, and it’s stressful, and it breaks friendships-"

She heard the splatter of her tears on the warehouse's charred floors and felt the plushie against her face again.

"I know it’s upsetting, Michi," Invi said in a low yet caring tone. "We’d all love to address the issue too...It's something the other Foretellers and I were due to discuss soon. For now, though, we should get you home. Just because you're 18 now...there’s still a reason we have a curfew implemented.” There was a pause before Michi saw Invi's attention go to the steely blue Keyblade. “What about this?” 

The young woman shook her head. “I...this is new to me,” she murmured as she lifted the Keyblade up--it was much lighter than she was used to. “Where is Divine Rose? I can’t seem to bring it back.” Michi looked at the ground after rubbing her eyes and noticed small medallions scattered below her hands that she’d known to have fused with Divine Rose. She'd worked hard to earn Munny and even the rare Jewels to be able to obtain these medals to help bolster Divine Rose. She collected them tentatively and stowed them in her pocket near the tied portion of her Union’s sash. As the Keyblade dematerialized in a blinding white light, she finally mustered the nerve to look up. “T-thank you, Lady Invi."

Invi gave her a small smile. “Let’s get you home before any Heartless appear.”

The two walked back silently after they made sure the warehouse was sealed properly. After some time, they passed through the Marketplace, where very few shops and businesses remained open. Michi sniffled again and felt a small tug at her sleeve as Invi directed them both in the direction of Luxbucks.

A small bell chimed as the door opened and the teenager looked somewhat bashful as the Moogle at the counter was bouncing from seeing a Foreteller in the shop.

“Is there anything you’d like?” Invi asked her softly.

“Oh, er...it’s late so I probably don’t need caffeine itself, but, hm...just a small iced tea is fine. Something herbal,” she said softly as she reached into her pouch to get the Munny to pay for her drink, though Invi pressed a hand to stop her.

The Foreteller ordered their drinks--getting an extra-hot white mocha herself--and they left the shop not long after so that they could get back to the 2nd District where Michi lived.

The teenager sipped on her iced tea silently as she became lost in her thoughts. Being treated like this was a generous gesture. If it had been Master Ira to find her in the Warehouse, she’d have gotten a stern talking to, as she’d witnessed earlier in the evening in Waterfront Park between him and Invi. That, and with her and Ira having a strained relationship due to unfortunate happenings in their past, perhaps she was lucky that this came to be.

"You’ll have to tell Master Gula about this, won’t you?” Michi finally asked as she pressed the tip of her snaggletooth into the hole of the periwinkle straw once they got past clearance from the Moogle that overwatched the 2nd District's residence services.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Invi responded as they walked past the Fountain and began going down the stairs into the 2nd District. “Again, you know very well why we have a curfew. Your emotional state made it all the more dangerous,” she continued. “...Gula may get onto you, but you know it’s for good intentions,” she elaborated as the duo approached an array of houses. “The other Foretellers and I will send a Chirithy for you when we decide where to talk to you,” she responded softly before she reached over to pat the girl's head.

It was an oddly comforting gesture.

“Thank you again, Lady Invi.” The younger adult smiled as she bid Invi goodnight and stepped into the house. She unlocked the door and stepped inside tentatively, closing the door and heading upstairs quietly. There were winces and she could hear some complaints as some stairs creaked, but the exhaustion from crying earlier didn't give her room to care as much as she normally would have. Once in her own room and having closed the door, a long sigh escaped her as she slid down against it and curled up.

“Why are you back so late--oh no, what happened?” A small voice asked as a Chirithy bounded from around the corner to her. Michi heard their tone change from stern to concerned upon noticing her.

Michi looked up from where she was sitting and patted their head with a half-hearted attempt at a smile. “A lot, Chelsie. Super busy day and just...I should...sleep. Too much to think about.” She stood up and took off her shoes to set them in the doorway. The sudden movement and the resulting clinking of the medals in her pocket caught the spirit’s attention.

“Hey, aren’t those your medals for Divine Rose?” Chelsie asked curiously as they inspected the sound. “What happened?”

“...It’s been a long day Chelsie, I’ll tell you tomorrow? Or you could do that thing where you just look over my memories while I sleep.” She picked Chelsie up with one arm and carried them past the entry hall, the living room, and finally to her bedroom. Michi set the empty Luxbucks cup down on her nightstand and rolled onto the bed. It felt nice to not be kneeling on the floor. “I’ll have to see Master Gula tomorrow and he’s going to yell at me, I’m sure…”

She felt Chelsie nuzzle her--the feeling calmed her instantaneously. Half of her wanted to get up and change her clothes because she still had done a mission before all the evening events transpired, but the side of her that just wanted to sleep began to take over. Part of that must have been Chelsie's influence due to their Dream Eater powers. As Michi began to doze off, she heard Chelsie murmuring to themselves in a fussy tone. She really was lucky to be surrounded by people who showed unexpected kindness.