Chapter Text
There was a book, a book that belonged through generations and generations to the family bloodline of the Heart. Ink on pages of a silver and gold book cover told stories of the first ever born Hearts and their sons from on and on. But one of the last chapters to date was cursed to their bloodline, so much that for years It was considered a bad omen for one to be born with one ounce of silver hair. And it all started within Fifth generation of the Hearts Bloodline and their only son, Sora.
Sora was a boy educated by his parents to be one day be worthy on the place he’ll have to take as heir of the crown, to the depends of his freedom and will of adventure. He could only imagine through books and writings of authors rather than his own experience, what could be the outside that he was isolated from. Still Sora lived to his parent expectations, learning the duties of the King he will become by the two counselors his father presented to him, Donald Duck a short and short-tempered Duck and Goofy a good-hearted friend of him even if he is a bit forgetful sometimes.
But one day his mother became extremely ill, so much she couldn’t stand out of bed for even a second and needed a recurring care to maintain her in this life. Sora’s father was greatly affected by this situation and always was by the Queen side, hoping to recomfort her through the great torment she was living. During this period, Donald and Goofy educated him, and slowly became a bigger part of Sora’s life by becoming his substitute parent figures, according to him the liberty his parents always forbidden, going outside. For a simple day he was allowed to wonder the streets of his own kingdom, Sora was always grateful to them for that.
Few months after the Queen passed away, plunging his father in great grief. He became more hostile and colder toward Sora and everyone in the palace, searching for any explanation and responsible for his sorrow. Slowly blaming his people for the work of a disease. He soon set every and any source of food to an unimaginable price, starving multiple of the one that had barely anything to eat. Taxes flew, and manifestation raised, that always ended up tarnishing the stones of the street in a scarlet red. Sora was against the action of his father, he thought that nobody had to suffer a fate like theirs, but powerless and with his failed attempts to make his father snap out of his anger and pain, he could only watch as his people died one by one.
Time has passed and with Sora’s father dead and gone prematurely, Sora, who barely hit his sixteen, had now the terrible mission to fix a kingdom in shambles. With his people who had lost trust in him and the nearby kingdoms who see him like the son of a tyrant, it was hard to find any financial help to bring back their glorious economy and their fabulous admiration. Sora was desperate, and seeing letters of different kingdom refusing to help him didn’t ease his pain at all. That was until a letter from the Light kingdom arrived and gave him hope, their daughter Kairi had insisted to come and talk to him in person believing he might be different from his father and could be trusted. She will arrive tomorrow morning and will dine with him, if he could prove that he could be trusted, the princess Kairi would gladly finance him to build back what was the grand Kingdom of The Hearts was before it’s down fall. Sora was now ecstatic; he had finally been given a chance to make things right and wasn’t about to throw always his chance.
The next day everything was set for the princess arrival, and Sora was presentable as he’d ever been. The huge doors of the palace opened to show a petit lady with red hair and elegant dress decorated with laces and jewels and a beautiful cherry blossom parfum embalming the whole reception with her sent. She was indeed wealthy form her appearance, and her grace was unmatched. Sora welcomed her with the most kind and calming voice he could take, he then presented her the whole palace a bit dusty and deserted by life. Kairi was wonderfully surprised, the prince was kind to the only servant that stayed in those ruins to maintain them, he was beautiful and joyful, and shared the same values as her, but Kairi was a smart individual and didn’t let that simple fact get to her. He spoke to the princess thanking her for the hope she gave him, and after dinner she was charmed, the prince Sora was a fine and educated young man ready to do anything for his people, nothing like the rumors that runs thought the paths of the kingdoms. She was so bewitched by his manners that she made a proposition that enchanted Sora, she proposed an arranged marriage, a union that would permit an assured financial help form her and her kingdom. Sora accepted, not thinking twice about the consequences.
Sora was now fiancée to the princess Kairi, and with the money she provided he was able to make the destroyed his croplands and farms into wonderful garden with flourishing food and cattle for his people. The prince even put himself to work and help his community and farmers for the well-being of the crops and animals. And whit time he started to grow attached to the princess, some much we could have considered them as true lovers.
Everything was seeming to go his way until a few years his counselors Donald and Goofy, introduced him to his new personal guard, a silver haired, named Riku. He was a man of culture, from the best institute of the grand Yensid, he knew how to fight, and most importantly how to set back on fire the emotion of longing freedom that Sora had concealed for now years. This man was distant at first, only Sora made the first moves hoping to start something with this newcomer. It was not until tow month later, after Kairi kissed affectionally his cheek goodbye, that he dared come by, like scary wolf, which Sora softly laughed about amused. When you truly looked at him, he acted like one, his head was held high, and his eyes looked him down making him know that he was untrusted and suspicious, unknown.
And that’s when all started to go downhill.
«So, cat got your tongue?”
the silver haired boy looked at him with a gaze somewhat offended, the words of the prince who just smiled at him surprised him. He stood still proud and tall, only answering by a simple gaze.
“Sorry, I know it was very rude for me to ask it like that.”
Sora looked at him where he could have sworn that for a moment shorter than a second his glare had softened. He just fixed each other in a long silence, before Sora spoke again standing up from his office to face him, somewhat amazed by the tall guard standing in front of his face.
“Sora, the prince of the kingdom and soon king, you?”
His guard seemed to tense down; he hesitate before answering.
“Riku your majesty, here to protect you, that’s my duty.”
“We always told me that students that went through the troubles of Yensid’s teaching were acting cold and insensitive to basic human emotions, but I never believed them.”
“Well, if I can permit myself this commentary, your grace, but you are very gullible if you think so.”
“Using smart words, I see… and how so?”
“I am cold and insensitive, or at least from what people came conclusion to.”
“I just think those people don't have feelings sometimes, no matter what they got going in their personal and daily life”
“Some have, others make believe they dont, young prince."
"Guess your more interesting than others aren't ya ?" Sora said with smile. Riku garbed the wrist of the prince who tried to pat him.
"I always been told that princes are distinguished and mature, i never believed them" Sora laughed, soon joined by Riku's own soft laugh. As Sora laugh died down and he slowly gained his composure back, he proposed him to join him tomorrow with Kairi for their morning walk, maybe to introduce him to the princess more personally. Riku accepted with glee, before returning to his duty soon after.
As Riku walked down the corridors, he crossed way with the counselors of his majesty Donald Duck and Goofy who seemed in a hurry to reach the prince room, but like Riku previously said he had duties that his upper chief, the General Axel, gave him to fulfill for today. Some of them included set everything up for the prince wedding, and this wedding is sure to be grand with the numbers of things Riku got on his to do list, from specific candles, to vague flowers he wasn't sure existed, yet something kept bothering him on his way to the city. I urge to see the prince again, his soul seamed attracted to him like a moth to flame, what could that feeling be ? He soon exited his thought as rapidly as he entered them, Such futile emotion can get in-between his duties, and he knows better than anyone that he can't let his father down.
When Riku arrived in the streets of the city that was lees windy and cold that usual, and more importantly filled with noise of markets and pepole, he let himself wonder trough the unknown streets of his now new living city. And upon his search and buying he append to encounter some nuisance along the way. Tow guards being openly jerks to a young maiden with long golden hair.
"Leave me alone! This is mine!" she said holding to dear life to a small bag they tried to steal.
"Oh poor thing! what are you gonna do?"
"Please! This is the only things we have left! ah!" the bag flew away into the air, and hit the ground to reveal a few golden coins a sliver of silvers and a bunch of small pennies that the guards took no time to steal before leaving the woman crying on the cold tiles of the avenue. RIku who had witness this awful display walk toward the blond maiden.
"If your are looking for my money, well im sorry but i- oh!" the maiden looked at Riku a bit surprised to see him.
"Are you okay miss ?"
"Oh, thank you sir but i have seen better days..." she sighed defeated.
"What happened ?"
"Oh, those pesky guards stole me and my friends rent we worked so hard for, we are getting kick out in a month and today is the last day we got to reach the due.... Oh what will we become?"
"That's awful, nobody deserves that. Please let me help you, how much is your due ?"
"Oh, 2000 munnies why is that sir-" Riku gave to the woman the rest of the munnies he had from the budget given by the General.
"Oh sir, Oh Nomura bless you soul! you are me and my friend's savior! Thank you so much Mister?"
"Riku, and you ?" she smiled tenderly her joy brought back anew
"Mine's Namine, I have to go sir, but oh i could not thank you enough!"
and that's with a bright smile Riku went back at the castle, knowing he was get scolded at by Axel once again.
"Riku it is the third time this week! You know the princess wants this marriage to be set the sonner possible, but how can we when you bring back half of the stuff asked!" Axel said in pissed of tone, he was expecting Riku to come back with half the stuff again but this time it was a thrid ! At this rate he'll have to make more convincing arguments to her majesty to explain to her why her wedding isn't already set. Yet he can't blame Riku for helping someone else.
"Yes, Yes, i know Axel, but she had troubles, couldn't leave her in the dirt."
"Lisent, your gonna have to assit the Prince in horse ridding in the near by forest in short time, so i wont hold you now, but tonight you'll be on the weapon duty"
"Aw come on Axel! it is boring as it can be! i have other things to do!"
"consider this as a punishment, now go, the prince is waiting in the stable"
Riku sighed exasperated as he drag himself through the corridors knowing what awaits him tonight. At the stable Sora was brushing a brown horse, one of his favorite which he gave the name "Miaou-Waou". He was the fastes and the most competent of all the stable, other would have choose him for that but Sora choose him by pure hasard, he just happened to connect with the horse and the horse to connect with him, nothing more to it. Sora looked to the side to meet Riku's gaze and smiled softly. He stopped brushing Miaou-waou and gave him a treat before putting the saddle on his back, and setting himself on his back. Riku was given a white one already set and ready to go on which he got on and reached Sora side before he finally spoke.
"You're lucky, Kairi wasn't free to go on our ballad, so i gave you her horse, consider this as a privilege." he said with a smirk
"Yes your highness."
"I can see he loves you already, you are a lucky man Riku. now let's go shall we?"
The tow boy wondered through the trees and their leaves, the shoe of their horses crushing the grass and dead bushes, wind gushing through little spaces as strings of water decorated the dirt. Sora dared let his mind wonder to the songs of the birds while Riku, he, was on high alert, the forest it a perfect place for any sort of ambush and attempt to end the prince life, and he couldn't let that happen. Yet he found himself staring most of the time at the prince, elegant on his horse galloping to the warm air at peace and unaware of the possible danger. The subject of his focus also noticed and stopped his mount to ask.
"What is it that you found so appealing to myself that you are obligated to fix it?" he asked curious, his head tilling to the side like a cute puppy.
"Oh, i was wondering how a prince as know as you are wasn't afraid of those woods." The prince smiled tenderly, and looked straight ahead, he seemed so tense.
"What do you think if we stop by the lake ?"
"Of course your highness"
Sora and Riku stopped by a small lake to make their horses drink, Riku jumped down from his mount petting it gently to the horse content. Sora was looking at him, true, but how could he not ? His guard was a very interesting one, his hair was similar to the prettiest silver, freshly cut from what seems a month ago, his aquamarine eyes were harshly digging through the souls , almost ripping it out the truth of anyone, he face was of a beautiful pale skin shining with the sun. Sora truly thought he was just as pretty as his fiancé.
He slowly got close to the prince, still on his horse, to assit him if needed. Sora started to get off his mount but Miaou-waou did a harsh mouvent witch caused Sora to loose balance and head for the ground. But while he was waiting for an impact that didn't come, Riku had prevented his fall by caring him in his arms in a bridal style in a swift movement. When the prince heard a heartbeat he dared look to witness himself in a awkward situation; him in the arms of his guard under the eyes of his horse that seemed pleased by the situation. Riku gently put the crown prince down, still close to him with one of his hand on his back the other on his hip. On the other hand, Riku was screaming internally, he was panicking and his heart was racing. Not because of the fear, no, he had learn to control most of this feeling years ago, this was new, unexcepted, and yet warm. While fear replaced his gut with ice, this was burning his inside to the ground. Riku wasn't moving fixing the blue eyes of the prince in a expression of terror.
"Riku? Is everything all right ? you seem terrorized..."
"Oh, oh ! Your majesty, i should be asking you that, you dont have anything do you ?" Riku said snapping out of his thought, worried.
"No, no I'm fine because of you, thank you Riku."
Sora was also surprised, where Riku's hands were set he felt an intense warmth, a warmth so nice and sweet. Sora was curious of what could it be, he never felt that way. Could it be perhaps be some sort of magic ? He doesn't know and to him it was is the most exciting part. He was thrown off by Riku asking him to swordfight to kill time and giving him a wooden sword, and that's when a bubbling feeling exploded in his whole being, like something very pleasant that he conceded for years, a smile as brighter than the sun was plastered on his face as he garbed the sword and put himself in position, pointing his sword in Riku's direction, he did the same an the both of them engaged in a duel.
They battled for hours the sun was now setting at the horizon, and they both decided to return at the palace, hopping on their horse they raced laughing through the woods as rain poured down on the lands soaking them both before they could reach the stable, they were stilling laughing arrived to their destination and as they took care of the horses. Sora never felt at such ease with someone outside of Kairi, and he was glad to see him again soon. When he reached the room where he reside he was welcomed by his sweet Kairi kissing him softly as she welcomed him home.
"Say sweatheart ? may i ask you a question?"
"Anything love?"
"How do you see your guard? The young Riku?"
"He is a good friend, why so dear?" he said kissing her forehead tenderly
"I dont trust him." Sora sat beside her holding her frail body filled by her love for him.
"Why so?" He said with his puppy eyes, she laughed softly and put a hand on his face stroking his cheek softly.
"Forget about it you convince me" she said laying on his embrace.
And as the princess drove back to sleep in her lover arms she thought, maybe he isn't right.