A Blooming Key Ch. 02

Five years later.

The morning sun shines through the curtains of a young child's room. The child stirs from her slumber. She wants to sleep in just a little longer. But then something wet and slobbery runs across her face.

"Pluto!" Bloom giggles. "That tickles," she sits up and starts petting the yellow dog. "Okay, okay. I'm up." the child then gasps. "Do you know what today is?" As if to reply, the dog barks "That's right, boy. It's my birthday!" she hops out of bed and starts getting dressed.

"Mickey and Minnie said that it was going to be big today!" she steps out wearing a light blue dress. "Oh, I can't wait!" she runs out of the room. Once outside her room, she bumps into someone.

"Yaaaa-hoo-hoo-hooey!" Goofy shouts as he tumbles into a set of armor, over a Broom Servant, and out the window.

"Uh-oh!" Bloom runs over to the window along with Donald to look outside. They find that Goofy's pants were caught by a flagpole. "Sorry, Uncle Goofy!"

"Don't worry about it, Bloom," he reassures her. "It was an accident. Ah-hyuck!"

"Ah phooey!" Donald turns to her. "You need to be more careful. Not only have I told you not to be running through the halls, but I know that the King and Queen has as well."

Bloom looks down.

The Duck glares at her for a moment before sighing. "Aw, I can't stay mad at you. Not on your birthday," he pats her on the head.

The girl lets out a giggle. "Thanks, Uncle Donald. I haven't seen you around for a while. How come?"

"Well, you see, Bloom. I'm about to be an uncle," he boasts. As this conversation is going on, Goofy manages to climb back up to the window and falls in.

The redhead tilts her head. "But you're already an uncle? My uncle."

"Uh, well, you see.."

"Donald has been watching some eggs," Goofy speaks up from the floor. "Eggs that would soon hatch into his nephews."

"Really?" Blooms hops in place.

"Yeah!" Donald pulls out a photo. "Wanna see?" and hands it over to the child. It was a simple picture of three eggs sitting on a large pillow.

Bloom examines the image. "Babies come from eggs?" she looks up at the wizard and knight who looks at on another uneasily. "Did I come from an egg?"

"You see, Bloom, we actually—" Goofy is interrupted by Donald places his hands around the dog's muzzle.

"If I didn't come from an egg, then is that why I'm different?"

"That is not something she should hear from us!" the duck scolds. "The King and Queen should be the ones to tell her."

"Tell her what?" comes the voice of the Queen. She walks up to the three with Daisey following behind.

Donald and Goofy glance at each other before looking at the little girl.

The girl tells her, "Why I'm different."

The Queen closes her eyes before releasing a sigh while her lady in waiting glares at the wizard.

"I had hoped you'd be older before you asked that question," she walks up to the child. "Come with me, Bloom. There's something you need to see."

.oOo.

In the library, Mickey is at his desk, signing some documents while listening to Pete's rambling.

"And that's why I need more ships, your majesty," the cat finishes.

Mickey sighs. "Pete, there's no need for that many ships. We live in a time of peace. There's no reason to prepare for war."

At this, Pete stomps his foot. "What's the point of being captain of a naval fleet if there's hardly any ships to—" he is cut off by the door opening.

In walks Minnie with Bloom next to her, followed by Donald, Daisey, Goofy, and Pluto.

"Mickey," the Queen addresses him. "It's time."

"Are you sure?" he hops out of his seat and runs up to her. "She's still so young."

Minnie nods. "She already asked," the Queen places a hand on the little girl's shoulder.

Mickey looks upon Bloom and sees that she is refusing to meet anyone's eyes. He nods before addressing everyone else in the room. "May we have a moment alone, everyone?"

With that, the other occupants in the room leaves one by one, aside from Pluto who decides to stay with the King, Queen, and Bloom.

As Pete passes by he turns to the little girl. The big cat reaches into his back pocket. He pulls out a small gift box that rests between his finger and thumb. "Here you go. Happy birthday, Squirt! It's not much, just a little flower for the flower." The naval officer then makes his retreat.

Bloom glances at the box before opening it. Within it, she finds a small silver broach of a rose.

Mickey then kneels next to the girl. "Exactly what was your question, Bloom?"

The child looks away "Why am I different?" she finally asks. "I know I'm not a mouse like you two," she looks up at Mickey and Minnie. "I'm not a dog like Uncle Goofy." At that Pluto barks at her. "Or you, Pluto," the girl giggles. "I'm definitely not a duck like Uncle Donald or Aunt Daisey. So, what am I?"

The King sighs, "That one is actually an easy one, Bloom," he goes over to his desk and pulls out a large book. "I told you a little about Master Yen Sid before, Right?" the mouse receives a nod from the child. "What we never told you was that he is much like you. A human," setting the book down he starts turning the pages.

"A human?"

Mickey nods. "Yes," he stops at a page. "One of the many gifts, Yen Sid has bestowed upon me is this book. It allows you to take a glance at other worlds. Let's try this one called Twilight Town," the King reaches out a hand for the little girl.

Bloom walks up to him with Minnie right behind her and Pluto places his front paws onto the desk next to Mickey.

The King places a hand on the book. The book starts glowing as does the rest of the room. In an instant, the environment changed to a town district full of shops and many people not too different from her. She sees a group of kids playing with these bats.

Without thinking, Bloom runs towards the other children as Pluto does the same with a rat he spots. "Hi! I'm Bloo—" she stops once she passes through them.

Mickey and Minnie walk up to her with the Queen telling her. "We're not really here, Bloom."

Pluto continues his chase for the rat.

"The book only projects us to this world," Mickey says. "We can see them, but they cannot see us."

Pluto goes to pounce at it only to go right through and headbutts a wall.

Bloom glances back at the other children before looking back at the place around her. "Is this where I came from?"

Mickey scratches his head. "We actually don't know where you came from. You just showed up in the garden one night and Minnie and I decided to take care of you."

The redhaired child starts tearing up. "Does this mean you're not my real family?"

"Oh, Bloom!" Minnie wipes away the child's tears. "We are your real family. Nothing will ever change that. Even if we manage to find out where you truly came from. When Mickey and I found you, Bloom, we fell in love with you and we agreed that no matter what, we'll raise you as if you were our own."

Bloom then hugs the Queen who accepts the girl's embrace. They are soon joined by Mickey and even Pluto nuzzles next to the girl.

The world around them shimmered and they find themselves back in the library.

"Now then," Mickey is the first to break away. "I do believe that today is someone's special day. Who was it for again?" he asks as he glances at the redhaired girl.

"Ooh, ooh! I know!" Bloom hops in place. "It's mine!" she beams.

"Oh! is that right?" the King laughs. "We better get going then."

.oOo.

Bloom opens a small box, "I new bracelet!" she puts the multicolored charm around her wrist. "Thank you!" the girl turns towards the two small chipmunks.

"Golly! It was nothing," Chip insists.

"Nothing?" Dale turns to his brother, "You know how hard it was to make that? And out of spare Gummi Blocks no less."

"I love it anyway," the child tells them.

The girl looks over at the many gifts she got from her family. Bloom is currently wearing an oversized wizard's hat from Donald. The duck was ecstatic when she showed interest in magic and the King and Queen has agreed to let him teach her some magic when she's older. From Goofy, she received some new shoes that matches the dress Daisey gotten her. Bloom is pretty sure that Daisey helped him pick them out. The girl is currently holding an old stuffed teddy bear that was given to her from Scrooge. She knows that it was either something the old duck had dug out of his attic or got from a thrift store, but Bloom doesn't love it any less.

"We have one more gift for you," Minnie says as she and Mickey approach the child.

Mickey hands her a small box. "It's just a little something to remind you that no matter what, Minnie and I will always be with you."

Bloom opens the box and finds a heart shaped locket that has the impression of the royal family. She opens it to see what's inside. "It's empty?"

"We wanted you to decide what to put in it," Minnie tells her.

Bloom hugs them, "Thank you."

The two mice smile at her. "You're welcome, dear."

Goofy shouts, "Look out!" Everyone turns to see that the knight is carrying a large cake with broom servants scurrying around him, making sure Goofy doesn't drop it. "Woah!" he ends up tripping over one of the brooms and the cake went flying through the air.

Just as the dessert was mere inches from the ground, it stopped and then was moved right side up before resting on the table.

"That could have been messy," a new voice says. Standing there is none other than the great sorcerer.

"Yen Sid!" Everyone but Bloom exclaims.

The old man nods, "Pardon the intrusion. I heard that it was someone's special day and I decided to drop in," he approaches the little girl who hides behind the Queen. "No need to be afraid, child. We met once before, but you were too young to remember."

Bloom finally came out from behind Minnie and got a good look at him. "Y-you're like me," she realizes as the Queen puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"A human? Indeed. Though, I see something more inside you. A potential of great power."

"Will that power let me see other worlds?"

"Perhaps, Bloom. However, that is not for me to say. Only select few outside of those wielding a keyblade have the privilege to do so," the sorcerer then glances at the cake and with a wave of a hand, lit candles appear on it. "Now, I believe you have a wish to make, young one."

Bloom nods and rushes over the cake. "I wish I could have a keyblade. That way, someday I could travel to other worlds so that I can find out where I came from," with that, the girl blows out the candles.

Mickey looks sadly at Bloom. A few minutes later, the King approaches the sorcerer. "Master Yen Sid? I would like to talk to you about that offer."

Yen Sid nods. "Are you sure, Mickey? To become my apprentice will mean spending less time with your family."

The mouse nods. "I understand, but I would like to help Bloom. I know that wielding a keyblade has more responsibilities than that, but I'm willing to do anything for her."

"Even training her yourself to use a keyblade?"

That catches the King off guard. "I-I don't know about that."

"How about this. To show your resolve, to train under my guidance you must agree to take everything I teach you and pass it on to her."

Mickey looks back at the laughing little girl he has come to care about. "Okay," he agrees and turns to the sorcerer.

"I'll give you time to get your affairs in order, apprentice," with that, Yen Sid teleports away.

.oOo.

Bloom now stands in the garden with everyone else. The servants are carrying some luggage through the hedge castle.

"Why do you have to go?" the child cries.

"Bloom," the King walks up to her. "This is a great opportunity for anyone. Besides, if I learn to use the keyblade then I'll have a chance to travel the worlds and perhaps find where you came from."

The little girl hugs him. "Just promise me you'll come home."

"That is a promise that I'll never break," Mickey and Bloom share a smile before the mouse breaks away from her and enters through the doors of the hedge castle.

Minnie walks up to Bloom, "Don't worry, sweetheart. Mickey will be back before you know it. you'll see."

.oOo.

It has been a year since Bloom last saw Mickey. She still hears from him through letters. But that's not the same as talking to him in person.

A lot has happened in that time. They opened a festival in the town just outside the castle. That had many games and activities going on. Bloom managed to forget that the King is not there.

The child was happy. Until Pete got himself banished. He was never the nicest person, but he had always showed kindness to Bloom in his own way. She still wears the broach he got her.

Bloom now sits in her room as the night takes over the sky. Looking up, the redhaired girl spots a bright star shining in the sky. The second one to the right. "I wish that my dad will come back soon."

At that moment, the door squeaks open. Bloom's first thought was that it was Minnie coming to wish her a goodnight. That is until the voice speaks up.

"Bloom?"

Turning around, the girl sees Mickey standing there with Minnie right behind him.

She him into hug him. "You're back."

"Of course I am," the King accepts her embrace. "I promised you, didn't I?"

"You did," Bloom breaks away. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," Mickey steps away and summons a blue weapon decorated with stars. "I have another promise to keep," he then holds the handle towards her.

Without being told, Bloom slowly grabs the handle.

End