Somewhere out there,
there's this tree with star-shaped fruit...
As long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it,
nothing can ever drive you apart...
You will always find your way back to each other...
An unbreakable connection...
—Master Aqua
♥ ♥ ♥
Angry.
That's how Sora felt. He felt angry at his father, as he walked into the throne hall. It's modest braziers half encompassing each of the six, pearl white, columns light up every part of the throne hall and cover the hall in warm reds and oranges. The stained glass windows in the arched ceiling dance in the flickering light, while statuettes look down upon the obsidian floor of this ostentatious hall.
A turquoise rug runs from the throne down the center and loops back from both left and right while pointed banners with ornate borders the walls. Between each banner stands a large candlestick, many of them have been lit and in turn illuminate the statuettes of conquerors and victors below them. Extensive, colored glass windows are covered by veils colored the same maroon as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with embellished borders and jewels.
A noble throne of marble sits in front of a giant painting of the kingdom and is adjoined by two equally impressive seats for the royal highness' direct family. The throne is covered in simple motifs, and fixed on the wide backside is a lavish star. The thin pillows are a light blue and these too have been adorned with embellished tufts. Those wishing to listen to their royal highness can do so on the several opulent, albeit uncomfortable marble benches, all of which are facing the center of the hall. Those of higher standing can instead take seat in the opulent mezzanines overlooking the throne, on the balcony.
Sitting in his throne (the one in the middle) was none other than Sora's father, King of Kingdom Hearts, Cloud Strife. Sora walks to the front of the pedestal, and gets on his right knee, bowing.
"Rise, my son." The king said, sitting tall, in his chair.
"You asked to speak with me, father?" Sora asked, looking into the cool of his father's blue eyes.
"Yes. In my best interest, I've hired some of the strongest keyblade wielders, to protect and keep an eye on you." The kings said, sternly.
"So, what you're saying is that you don't trust me?" Sora said, even more angrier than before, considering he feels his father doesn't trust him.
"That's exactly what he's saying, your royal highness." Someone said, entering the room with his two companions following behind him.
"Ah! Here they are." The king stood. "Son, meet Terra, Aqua, and Ventus."
Terra is tall young man with brown hair that reaches to the base of his neck in the back and is styled into rather messy, vertical spikes and bangs that frame his face. He has blue eyes and slightly tanned skin. Terra wore two intersecting straps over his chest, though his red ones are rather different, dropping much lower down and almost resembling criss-crossed suspenders. He wears a skintight, black, high-collared shirt, showing that he is rather muscular. Terra's pants bear a distinct feudal Japanese style; his belt is tied like an obi-sash and he wears hakama (traditional samurai pants distinguished by the large pleats). His hakama are dark grey near the top, with several loops for his belt and two buttons, both of which are undone. The rest of the pants are tan with a small, lighter stripe of tan on the bottom hem. Terra wears a plain black wristband on his right arm, while his left arm is significantly more armored.
Like his companions, Terra wears armor on one arm, with his bearing similarities to both of his companions. Terra's armor shares the large, ornate crest (colored gold) with Ventus and the long, segmented section (each segment alternating between dark grey and dark red) with Aqua, though Terra's is much longer, reaching all the way to the bottom of his hand. He also wears a black, fingerless glove on his hand and what appears to be a black gauntlet on his forearm, over the segmented armor, which also has small pieces of dark red armor on it. Finally, his armored boots are dark brown and gold.
Aqua has a tall and slender figure, about as thin as Ventus and standing a few inches shorter than Terra. She has blue eyes and medium-length blue hair, mostly parted to her left. She wears a black and navy blue, high-collared halter top, a black corset with two pairs of white laces and black shorts. She has two pink straps intersecting over her chest, with a silver badge similar to badges also worn by Ventus and Terra over the intersection.
On Aqua's arms are white bell-sleeves and tan, fingerless gloves. She also wears a small, segmented piece of armor on each of her upper arms. She wears black stockings reaching about halfway up her thighs, leaving a small area of bare skin. There are two strips of blue cloth draped over each of her hips, along with a smaller, white strip of cloth tied around her waist and draped in the same manner. Her silver boots are pointed and armored, with a sharp "hook" on the outer side of each.
Ventus is one of the two gentlemen, who had dinner with Lady Larxene, so there is no need for the explanation.
"Hey there!" Ventus waves at Sora.
"Wait, you hired Ventus?" Sora looked to his father. "He's already a castle guard. Why hire him."
"I promised to help find someone for him, if he did what I asked." The king spoke, suddenly glaring. "Which is to watch over and protect you! Now, leave, I must attend my work, that you left for me!"
"Of course, father." Sora spoke, then pushed passed the WayFinders, who soon rushed to follow him out.
"Terra, I know the King has asked for us three specifically, but must get back to my work. There's a light in this world. I must find it." Aqua whispered to Terra.
"Alright, I'll cover for you." Terra said.
"Thank you, Terra." Aqua smiled, and told Ventus and Sora that she had to leave.
"Why is she leaving?" Sora asked.
"She has some of her own business she needs to take care of." Terra explained.
"Whatever." Sora tolled his eyes.
"Hey! Don't disrespect your elders!" Terra scolded, Sora. "Besides, it's not like you can wield a keyblade."
"Oh, really?" Sora raised an eyebrow.
Sora flicked both his arms and hands behind him, in his battle stance. From his hands came a glowing yellow light, two keyblades materialize in his hands. His clothes now had a yellow tint.
"You we're saying?" He smirked.
"H-How?" Terra questioned. "That's impossible!"
"Actually, it's quite simple. I'm the prince." Sora stated.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Terra asked.
"What Sora means to say, is that he was born with the magic and power to summon, not one, but two keyblades." Ventura explained.
"So, you wanna train?" Sora said, with a slight smirk, tapping one of his keyblades on his shoulder from behind.
♥ ♥ ♥
Inside Larxene's manor, Kairiella carries the dirty dishes from the dinner. She proceeds to pick one up at a time, to clean it, occasionally wiping away some sweat. Someone was coming down the stairs, but she didn't pay any attention to them.
"Ella." Kairiella ignored the sound of her aunt's voice. "Ella!"
Kairiella continued to ignore Larxene's annoying voice. Larxene then became, as furious as a savage nymph, when she grabbed a hold of her niece's shoulder, vivaciously turning her around.
"Listen hear, you twat, I don't know what's gotten into, but there will be non of it in my house." She started, "Now, the Royal Messenger has gone around to every house in town giving them these invitations for the Prince's Masquerade Ball tonight."
Larxene showed Kairiella the four envelopes, before tucking them away like a deck of cards.
"Will I be attending?" Kairiella asked, with great courage.
"Of course, not." Larxene laughed. "You will tend to your cousins, helping them ready. After we leave, you are to stay here and clean this entire manor... spotless."
"What?! But that's not—"
"Ah, ah, ah. It's completely fair. A mere servant girl should not be attending with her higher ups." Larxene stated.
Mᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢᴜɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴋᴇʏ...
What was that?
׺°"˜'"°º× ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛs ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ׺°"˜'"°º×
❝ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘛𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. ❞