Chapter Text
Prompt: King & Queen
The boy in black looked over the board before looking over to his friend. “Seven black pieces, and...?”
The boy in white grinned as he held the piece with the crown over the game board. “Just watch,” he answered as he brought the piece down.
“Stop.”
Only for the boy in black to grab his hand before the piece could make contact with the board. The boy in white looked up with a raised eyebrow. “What, you don’t wanna play?” He pulled his hand out of his friend’s loosening grip. “You’re not mad about losing, are you?”
“I told you, I never lose. And I’m not passing up a new game.” The boy in black answered with a smirk before easing himself off the windowsill. “We’ve just been playing for a long time and I need to stretch my legs for a minute or two.”
His friend looked out the window, to the sun sinking on the horizon. “Yeah, I guess that’s fair. Feels like forever since we started this game.”
“Though I’m surprised you still want to use that piece as your king.” The comment from the boy in black got his friend’s attention. He pointed to the crowned piece in the boy in white’s hands. “You practically put it to death to win.”
The boy in white rolled the piece in his hands for a moment before answering quietly. “Well. Maybe I want to give it a chance to really win this time. To have a happy ending with his queen.” His eyes fell on the piece sitting on the side of the board. The queen piece with the star on it’s top had protected the king again and again. Only for a final move by the opponent to remove it from the board. Honestly it was kind of…
“They’re just game pieces.” The boy in black’s words cut through his friend’s thoughts. He was already opening the door to go walk the halls. “I’ll be back here in an hour or two.”
The boy in white sighed seeing his friend leave. His eyes fell on the game board. For many, the games played on the board were just that. Games to pass the time. But for some the pieces and moves were driven by something more. Fantasies that blurred the edge of reality. Stories so compelling that they could be believed to be real. Whispers were heard in town that these games were lives that others lived in another time and place.
On one level, the boy knew the pieces and the board was just metal and stone. That in the grand scheme of things, where a piece ended up was just how the game ended.
And yet…
He stood alone in the city, building lights Illuminating the night. In a dream or a nightmare he knew this place. The world where he fought Yozora in a desperate battle to hold on. For the moment it seemed that challenge was over. Now he needed to find a way home. Back to his friends.
Back to her.
His hand lingered for a moment in his pocket, feeling the seashells she had bound together. It was one of the few things he still had with him on his journey besides his keyblade. A charm meant to protect sailors lost at sea. Though he had no ship and there was no water in sight, the charm still gave him hope.
Perhaps it was the power she held as a princess of heart. Her light giving his heart the hope it needed. Perhaps it was the memory of the time they shared before he faded away. Seeing what they could of the lives they had saved. Maybe it was just her, the strength she had to always try, and the kindness that she shared with her friends.
But without a doubt, it was because he loved her. That was why he needed to come home.
The sound of iron cracking the pavement caught his attention. Drawing his keyblade, as he saw the iron giant glaring at him down the road. He stepped forward with a promise in his heart
Kairi…someday we’ll see each other again.
She stood before Aqua in the land of departure. There was still so much she had to learn about the keyblade before she could join Riku in his search. Skills and abilities she had only begun to scratch the surface of. But she was ready to learn. To prepare for the fight to bring her friends home.
To see him again.
Her mind lingered on the promise they made. To share their lives together. To protect one another no matter the danger. Even as death sought to claim them, the bond between them kept them out of its grip. Though he had faded away from this universe into another, she could still feel a connection between the two of them.
Perhaps it was because of the strength he held in his heart. That spirit inspiring her to follow him. Perhaps it was the time they shared together, to see what they could before he could hold on no longer. Maybe it was just him. A heart that could reach out and reach anyone, and a smile that showed how much he cared.
But without a doubt, it was because she loved him. That was why she needed to bring him home.
In a flash of light, Aqua summoned her keyblade to her side. She followed suit, caling Destiny’s Embrace to her hands. She stepped forward with a promise in her heart.
Sora…someday we’ll see each other again.
“Someday soon,” The boy in white murmured as he looked to the king and queen in his hands. Together in this moment outside time.
With a click at the door, he set the queen off to the side. Her time had yet to come. For now, the king needed to take the field. The boy in black looked at him with an ever confident smile. “Shall we begin?”
So a new game began with the coming of the night sky.