Chapter Text
The room swelled with life as person after person fell through the door all wanting to see what the announcement the queen was making could be. Sparks flashed across the ceiling as the queen displayed her magic. Small strips of metal wound thin along the ceiling tossed the lightning from pillar to pillar as the queen casually waved her hand, throwing a new spark into the air. The room tasted of electricity, felt magnetic as hair began to rise and sparks flew as the people brushed against each other. She was always the first to give everyone in the ballroom a fantastic show of her rare magic as they waited with bated breath. It gave her pride to show that she was powerful and chosen with the gift of magic, her smile never faltered as she greeted the guests; thanking them for joining them on the most special of occasions. It had been so long since the royals had called an open ball, surely they had to have some news so grandiose it couldn’t wait to be printed in the papers but needed to be shared and celebrated right here and now with lavish displays of wealth and power.
Kaminari Denki wanted to run, run as far away as he possibly could. He could feel the sparks in the air, taste how the electricity was filling the room, doing nothing but charging his powers to near excess. He didn’t want this, there had to be something that he could-
“Denki my love! My sweet sweet chosen child.” His mother came to him with open arms, something that had been rare until recently. He accepted her embrace with a small sigh before stepping back, looking around them to see no one of much importance if he was to take his parents' advice and ignore the guards.
“Mother, I don’t-”
“I know you’re excited but keep your head straight, you’ve still not mastered your magic and there is no room for error tonight. You will be the center of attention. We all know how much you love that. Smile and do your best to be the good prince we know you are. Don’t say anything that you think is smart but will embarrass us and keep your opinions to yourself. No one wants to follow a king that-”
She had cut him off but he had stopped listening to her long ramble of instructions as soon as the word king left her mouth. Right, he was to be announced as the next in line for the throne. As the only royal child to inherit his mothers affinity for lightning magic he was naturally next to be crowned. He would do anything to give his older brother this power. He could go back to being the charismatic brainless prince that everyone believed he was and could go on his adventures, help those in need, live a somewhat normal life.
“Denki!” Fingers snapped in front of his face sending a small spark to bite at his nose. He blinked and looked at his mother quickly smiling, shedding every emotion from his face but happy as he put on the mask of the charismatic prince.
“Sorry Mother, of course, I will be on my best behavior.” He promised with a hand over his heart even though he was almost certain he would not be able to keep it. She smiled at him, gently patting at his cheek.
“Good boy Denki. But again, just smile, you have such a wonderful personality. Don’t ruin it by proving your beauty outshines your brain.” She said softly before giving one more sharp pat and making her way back to the main room to be ready to announce him to the village as the crown prince.
Denki sighed and made his way to the hall window, leaning against the open frame he took a deep breath attempting to center himself. It smelled like salt, fresh air, he could hear animals chittering as they made their way to the sea for their nightly hunts.
The sea, he could see it, just barely in the distance, illuminated by the light of the moon and boats journeying to gods know where. He silently wished to be on one of those boats, the light from the lantern there to illuminate his way and his page as he was able to read what he wanted in peace for the first time since the magic started flowing through his limbs. He would give anything to be sailing, leaving this island and becoming a nameless no one with nothing to their name only in search of… peace, freedom, someone that cared about him as he is.
He let out a cold, lonely chuckle at the thought that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. He carefully pushed himself away from the window, looking to the ornate hall clock as it ticked away the minutes. At ten he was to be announced the new crown prince and adopt all the duties of the crown. It was five minutes till. His mother would be making a speech now. He walked to the ballroom doorway carefully nudging the door so he would be able to hear when he was to make his grand entrance. The Kaminari’s were nothing if not showmen.
His eyes quickly drifted to his older brother. Raijin, he was meant for the throne, he wanted the crown, he was brave and unmoveable. He would be the kind of king their mother was pushing Denki to be. If only the magic had gone to him, if only there was a way to transfer it somehow.
“I, Queen Raiden Kaminari, fair and kind ruler of this island, have brought you, from all walks of life together today to honor the magic in the air around us and the beauty of its mystery.” His mother stepped forward, addressing the crowd as the minutes ticked by, only two minutes left.
If he jumped out the window now would he be able to make it to the sea before the guards caught up to him? No, probably not. Only one minute now. His hand is on the door ready to push it open with a flourish as he's been instructed to when his name is called.
“-am happy to introduce my beautiful, charming, and handsome son Denki Kaminari as your crowned prince!”
Right on time he pushed the door open to some cheering, some confusion and a lot of mumbling. He was no one’s first choice, the magic simply proved that with power he could muscle his way through the line whether he wanted to or not.
He bowed and waved to the crowd, smiling so brilliantly many people joined in on the clapping. Personality was something Denki had by the bucket. He was funny, charming, had a way of putting people at ease when they were with him, he was the portrait of a personable prince with no brain. That’s what people called him anyway. He is a brainless charmer. That was fine, they could believe that. He knew that in his free time he studied ancient laws, languages, and magics of many different species. He had no use for military advancement, he didn’t care that green and yellow gems being placed together looked tacky and made the crown loose face. He wanted to show people a better way to filter water, how to build their farms with new technology from the mainlands.
He was fine being brainless to the masses because he knew that he wasn’t. Carefully he lifted his hand, sparks beginning to arch across his fingers as he let out a small genuine smile for the first time all night. Despite the responsibility that came with the power, he did love the way it felt. He let the sparks go with a flick of his wrist to land amongst the ones his mother had been throwing all evening. He could feel his smile growing wider as she continued to display his powers, showing the room just why he was crowned and not his worthy brother.
“Prince Denki, my dear sweet child, come here and we have a final surprise for you.” The Queen waved her hand to the young prince, taking him in pure excitement as she motioned for the ‘surprise’ to be brought in. He wasn’t told there would be anything else on the itinerary for the night. He was meant to show his powers, talk with the guests to show that he is an amazing example of what a prince should be and then go to bed and dream that none of this had happened.
The grand doors opened, revealing a woman, probably his age, in purple and black clothing that he didn’t recognize from the island. Had his mother brought a scholar from the mainland for him to talk with. This was the best surprise he could possibly imagine. His smile once again lights up his face, shining brightly against his already honey sweet aura.
“This is Princess Kyoka Jiro, your fiancee!” Denki froze, he could feel for a millisecond his smile drop before he fixed his composure and smiled broadly at the woman before them. She looked as uncomfortable as Denki felt. He nodded to his mother and stepped down to greet her. The woman looked up at him and shook her head.
“Prince Kaminari. I will do all I can to be the partner you wish to rule with.” The words were rehearsed and cold, they had no care behind them and no desire to be found. He looked at her with a touch of understanding in his eyes as he nodded stiffly. He couldn’t do this, he couldn’t do this. It wasn’t right, there was no way someone was going to make him do something so drastic.
“And I yours.” He said for the crowd as he started to devise a plan.
The rest of the party was quiet Princess Jiro offered him glances here and there often with her nose pointed to the floor seeming to actively avoid everyone that even so much as tried to talk to her. He could understand that. Which is why he excused himself early feigning a dizzy spell from an overuse of his power. His mother huffed but sent him away.
Quietly he made his way through the halls, stopping in certain rooms, collecting small gems that could fit into his pants pockets inconspicuously as he went. Once he made it to his room he made quick work of emptying his jewelry boxes, gem collections, and changed into the most plain thing he could find. He threw a deep mustard seed yellow cloak over his shoulders in hopes that it would aid in concealing his identity for long enough. He started packing some of his more simple clothes into a small bag he typically used for carrying books around the castle when there was a small gasp.
Denki spun around as fast as he could to find his arraigned fiancee standing at the door staring at him with a look of shock and almost relief.
“Please, don’t tell them. I can’t be the king. I can’t. I won’t say you let me go if I get caught. Just please. Let me go. I know you don’t want this either.” He said quickly grabbing the woman’s hands, holding them in his own. She smiled softly, knowingly before nodding.
“I’ll say you were asleep when I came to check on you. Better get running.” She said with a resolute nod. He smiled and kissed her knuckles gently before making his way to his window, having every intention to climb down as he had many times before.
“Hey Sparky.” She called as he sat on the windows edge, looking at the ledge a few feet beneath him. He looked back and offered her a smile at this nickname. She smiled for the first time since he’d met her.
“Thank you.”
Denki gave her a genuine smile, offered her a small salute before jumping down, starting his run as soon as his feet finally met solid ground. He held his bag close, feeling the weight of what was now everything he owned hit his side with each foot fall of his pounding run.
By the time they noticed he wasn’t in the castle anymore it would be too late. He would be gone. Denki Kaminari laughed, truly laughed, as he ran toward the ocean, ready for anything the sea had to throw at him.