Author's note: Hope you enjoy!
{ 263 }
After your talk with Demyx, Hayner had gone back to his room and you had gone back to yours. You were reeling from Demyx's confession, but you thought it was adorable. In the time you had known him you wouldn't have thought he'd like anyone that way. Now you were determined to see if Yuffie liked anyone. You clambered into bed ready to go to sleep however you stopped and looked out at the balcony, the clouds were starting to get greyer than normal, snow was coming. You sighed softly, another snowy Christmas but this time the castle was going to be lively with all your friends. You shivered slightly before snuggling under your covers, you reach out and switched your lamp off and falling into a deep sleep.
{ 264 }
Monday had arrived and gone you had all spent the day chatting with your parents and sleeping. Arrangements had been made for Tuesday to go sightseeing around the Kingdom. You were currently sitting in your causal dress waiting for Locke. Your brother was pacing backwards and forwards as Yuffie yawned slightly and put her feet up causing Aqua to clear her throat. Yuffie begrudgingly put her feet down.
"We're not in Destiny Island Yuffie, refrain from being a savage." Ignis mused, Yuffie stuck out her tongue and Rikku giggled,
"stop being unladylike Yuffie." She teased, you all had a laugh until the doors opened and in walked Locke.
"Good morning everyone!" Locke said happily, he walked over to you and Hayner and bowed before gliding next to Cindy and taking her by the hand. "Who is ready to see the whole castle and the Kingdom?" He asked, a gleam in his eyes. Everyone nodded enthusiastically. He nodded and winked at you, "well then, let's get started. Follow me." He announced and began to walk towards the doors.
"Now then, Hollow Bastion Castle was founded almost 500 years ago by the very late Ansem. The prince and princess are his descendants." Locke continued to talk about the castle as everyone looked around and stared at everything. Hayner yawned slightly as they headed through the halls. You linked arms with Serah as Prompto snapped picture after picture. Locke turned back and wrapped his arm around Kairi's shoulder.
"Now as you can see the architecture has remained almost untouched since its original construction." He explained, Kairi's cheeks reddened and you shook your head with a smirk on your lips. Axel's eye began to twitch and Reno was about to jump for Locke however Lightning and Gladiolus grabbed them keeping them still causing Pence and Hayner to start chuckling quietly.
"That would be why it looks so old and boring." Sora sighed sadly, Olette's eyes widened and she elbowed him in the ribs causing him to double over and Zack to laugh. Locke glanced back at them with an eyebrow raised as they walked into another hallway.
"Other that the odd explosion that is." He mused, Sora nodded his head slowly an impressed look on his face.
"Ok less boring." He said, Vanitas shoved him forward and rolled his eyes, everyone began to chat around you as you headed down the hallway.
"Errrmmm Locke... why are there armour stands everywhere? They're kinda creepy." Iris said with a slight whimper. Locke suddenly appeared beside her and wrapped his arm around her.
"They are simply for decoration, however they used to be used as a deterrent to those planning on attacking the castle. It makes it look like we have more guards than we do." He held her close, causing her to blush, "but if you are still worried I'll protect you." He gave her a wink and Gladiolus' eyes narrowed and he clenched his fists. Axel and Reno gave him a smirk and folded their arms.
"Not so funny when it's your sister is it." They said together. Gladiolus shook his head in frustration as Hayner and Pence began laughing again.
"Now if you will follow me through to the Silver hall." He said walking away from the girls and pushing open the door. You and your friends enter a massive hall and all your friends' jaws dropped in awe and wonder.
"This is amazing!" Rikku screamed, Tifa glanced around. The beautiful marble stretched 100 feet out in front of them before reaching a love heart shaped staircase. The handrails were adorned with silver and blue accents swirling all the way to the top. The stairs themselves were consisted of a red carpet following to grand doors at the top.
"Wow. I know where I'd like to get married." She mused, you smiled at her as Serah dragged you around to look at everything. Locke came to a stop in the middle of the room and took Cindy by the hand and began to waltz with her.
"The royal family, host many events here in this hall. It is tradition to dance in these halls and often the family will begin their parties with this very waltz. Cindy you are a wonderful dancer." He said spinning her out and finishing his dance with her causing Terra and Tidus to groan. Locke turned around to face a door. "Many a duke and duchess have entered our halls through those doors." He said, your friends all gawp at the 10 foot jewel encrusted doors with blue and silver once again swirling over to the large marble pillars that skirted the hall. He continued to walk around taking the girls with him.
"As you can see we have many factions that have pledged there allegiance to us." He said, as he waved hand at all of the banners that hang from every other pillar. Noctis came to a stop beside you and Hayner and Pence.
"So, Locke, is gonna continue to flirt with every girl here..." He asked, you nodded and Hayner folded his arms over his chest.
"Just you wait till the Christmas party..." He mused as you all watch Locke tell stories and jokes making all the girls laugh and swoon for him. Minus a couple who were more interested in the sights.
"And now adjacent to the silver hall is as I'm sure you guess is the..." He paused and everyone looked at him.
"Kitchen?" Roxas said, Ven put his hand up.
"Armoury?"
Prompto bounced up and down.
"I know this! Bouncy castle?"
Everyone stared at him and Locke raised his eyebrow before leaning over to Hayner.
"I thought your friends were smart?"
"Academically smart. Common sense smart, no." He laughed, Genesis snorted.
"Speak for yourself."
Locke nodded.
"Quite... no it's the Golden hall." He answered, Prompto nodded.
"Oh that makes sense." He laughed, everyone followed Locke and you trailed at the back with Luna.
"Why is it called the golden hall?" She asked, you smiled.
"You'll see." You answered, Locke pushed open the massive golden doors that lead in, they all stand silently as the light from the other side washes over them. Zexion stepped forward.
"Is that real gold?" He said, the room is the same as the last one but twice the size with deep swirls of gold through the marble floors. Each pillar is draped in grape vines glittering with golden fruits. The doors at the top of the staircase is identical to that of the silver hall with one difference. The doors are twice the size! Beautifully intricate gem designs cover the enormous doors. They all silently glance at {Name} who smiles and points up. There was a big crystal chandelier over 10 feet wide elegantly dangling from the ceiling sparkling in the lights.
"I found heaven." Yuna squealed, Tidus sighed.
"Well. She's never leaving here." He whispered to you causing you to giggle.
"This hall is for our most royal of guests." He said as he continued through the hall.
{ 265 }
You and your friends continued your tour, passing through both dining halls and the kitchen where Yuffie had managed to get her hand stuck in a jar after Cloud said that there were royal cookies inside, which she believed. Afterwards they found themselves climbing a winding staircase that felt like it went on forever. Eventually they were overlooking 4 floors of nerdy bliss. Lining all the walls were bookcase after bookcase.
"This place is amazing! I'm never leaving!" Aqua squealed excitedly. Terra and Ven shook their heads in embarrassment.
"Man you are such a nerd." Terra mused, Ven nodded.
"You know, we should leave her." Leon said, Ven once again nodded in agreement.
"Please do!" She yelled, disappearing into the books. Yuffie walked over to you and Xion, still pulling on her hand that was stuck in the jar.
"What even are royal cookies?" Xion asked, you shook your head knowing there is no such thing.
"Cloud's a dick." Yuffie grumbled as everyone continued looking around the library, Locke had taken this as a moment to flirt with the girls who weren't interested in books.
{ 266 }
Once the library had been thoroughly looked at, they had all made it to the top floor of the library and everyone followed a railing around until they reached another long winding corridor.
"You know this would have been so much cooler if there was a secret bookcase." Prompto moaned, Paine raised her eyebrow at him.
"Are you serious?" She asked, he nodded.
"Yeah, like the kind where you pull out a specific book and the whole thing moves revealing a passageway." He explained, Noctis sighed and ruffled the blondes hair.
"You are one of a kind." He mused, Prompto pouted.
"Aw come on it would be fun!" He insisted, you and Hayner smile slightly as Locke looks back from the front to Prompto.
"Don't be ridiculous. The secret passage is on the other side of the library." He mused, before turning back to Rikku and Iris and they both giggle.
"Why can't we use the secret passageway?" Kairi asked thoughtfully. Locke glanced at her,
"because that one doesn't lead to the spa." He explained, suddenly the majority of the girls let out an excited squeal before Rikku, Cindy and Vanille race forward.
"They sure are excited." Leon chuckled, Vanitas came to a stop beside him and Yuffie
"That really shouldn't surprise you..." He glanced at Yuffie "still can't get your hand out?" He mused, Yuffie looked at him with sad eyes.
"I hate Cloud." She pouted sadly. As they continued on their journey round your home. They suddenly felt like they were going around in circles with so many identical rooms.
"Are all of these guest rooms?" Luna asked, everyone staring around at each room.
"You could invite the whole school over and still have spare..." Reno muttered, Hayner raised an eyebrow.
"Do not get any ideas!" He yelled causing a few of you to laugh as you all headed away from the spare rooms and to the spa.
{ 267 }
Locke stared at the sign and you tilted your head to the side.
"Huh... did you know about this?" You asked, Locke frowned.
"Must have missed the memo... sorry ladies." He apologised, a few of the girls cried at the devasting news of the spa being under refurbishment. Locke wrapped his arm around Cindy and Aqua's shoulders.
"Don't worry I'm sure you'll love this next part of the tour." He gave them both a wink and they blushed slightly.
"You know unless it involves the words sauna or facials I doubt it." Serah muttered. Locke smiled at her and everyone continued walking.
"We'll just see." He said. You all wind through long corridors and go through many doors until you all find yourselves at the top of a large staircase with grand golden doors. Locke pushes them open and all mouths drop at the sight of four grand thrones.
"Oh my god!" Kairi screamed as she jumped up and down running around the throne room with Xion and Vanille.
"This is amazing!" Sora gasped.
"Shit you're a princess!?" Zack gawped, everyone looked at him in dismay and you smiled slightly. His cheeks reddened and he ran his hand through his hair. "What? It just suddenly hit, you know? That's their throne! This is their castle!" He began to babble on and you and Hayner sighed sadly.
"It's still pretty awesome." Riku said nudging your shoulder lightly, you smiled up at him. Locke clapped his hands.
"Alright, so now you've seen these thrones we have some more places to see." He said, he gave you a nod and you smirked walking to the back of the thrones with Hayner.
"Okay, you guys can't tell anyone about this." You said, you peered behind the smallest throne and flicked a small hidden button. A panel behind the wall began to move and it slid open. Prompto let out a very high pitch squeal, causing Hayner to chuckle before putting his finger to his lips.
"Tell no one." He whispered, everyone followed you, Hayner and Locke and once everyone was through the door closed behind them. Namine let out a squeak and grabbed onto Olette's arm.
"We can't see." She said, as Namine gripped her tighter.
"Put your phones on." Locke said softly, Cloud, Tifa and Locke pulled out their phones and switched on their lights. You trailed your hand along the wall until you came to a hole in the floor.
"Okay, this is super creepy." Pence whined, you smiled slightly as your brother jumped down the hole and disappeared. Ignis blinked and Locke gestured to everyone to go down.
"Really? Is this even safe?" He asked, Iris perched at the edge and stared down.
"It's dark down there too." She said. You shrugged your shoulders.
"You could all stay up here... where the ghosts can get you." You teased, Pence ran passed you and jumped down. You suddenly heard him cheering.
"Oh my god it's a slide!" He yelled, you laughed slightly until you heard a yelp and a thud.
"Damn it Pence. Watch where you're landing." He yelled, everyone laughed quietly before one by one everyone began to jump down the hole and onto a slide. You watched him go before jumping down last, you slid down the slide until you came out at the bottom.
"That was so cool!" Xion exclaimed, you nodded.
"That was one long slide." Yuna mused, causing you to chuckle. Hayner shrugged his shoulders.
"Best escape route ever." He said. Once everyone was out, they all glanced around.
"We're at the back of the castle. This way." Locke said taking the lead once more. As you all walked on Locke went on about the courtyard as everyone snapped pictures of how big it was and how green and well kept it was. You and Hayner were getting bored so you kept playing eye spy until Locke snapped his fingers at you two.
"You two, do you want to introduce your horses or shall I?" He asked, you both snapped to attention and stared at the stables.
"You have horses?!" Cindy cried grabbing both of you and dragging you both into the stables.
"Yeah." Hayner said, as everyone else followed. Axel stepped closer as he heard neighing. You stopped by a jet black horse, who nodded her head up and down once she spotted you.
"Okay guys, this is my horse Midnight." You introduced, Lightning came up and patted your horse.
"She's gorgeous." She said, you smiled as Lightning continued to stroke Midnight.
"This is Chestnut, my horse." Hayner said proudly, Vanille cooed slightly at the chestnut coloured horse.
"Wow, he's so tall." She said patting Chestnut. Hayner nodded.
"And these two are Gentiana's and Marlene's." Locke said before he clapped his hands. Everyone stopped fussing over the horses and talking and looked at Locke.
"Well, that concludes the Castle tour. We will meet again in an hour for your tour of the Kingdom." He said, he bowed to you and Hayner.
"Thanks Locke." He said, Tifa nodded.
"Yes thank you this has been amazing." She said, Locke smirked before he left and you all slowly made your way back to the castle. Everyone asking so many questions and chatting excitedly about the castle itself.
{ 268 }
You groaned and flopped down onto your bed. You all had gone around the kingdom and boy did your feet hurt. You rolled over and shimmied out of your clothes before crawling under the covers. You hoped all your friends had enjoyed their day and you were looking forward to some quiet time. You closed your eyes and let out a content sigh. Everyone had gotten along so well and no one argued, though you were sure everyone was far too excited to see your home than argue. You reached your hand out and switched off the lamp, before curling up ready for sleep.
Winter here!
Part two coming right up!
Love