Disclaimer: First and only one in this story. I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
(A/N): And I'm back with another Kingdom Hearts story! In fact I'm back by popular demand!
*Mika walks up taps Jade on the shoulder* Uh Jade? We ain't back by popular demand. Keyblade of the Heart got around only 70 reviews. About a third of them were from The Unknowing Herald.
Jade: So wait why am I here writing this prequel then?
Mika: Cause I'm awesome and I'd *censored because it's just too graphic for even an M fic* you if I didn't get my own story.
Sol: Sis. This story is about Luna and I.
*Mika checks script for Bonds* Damnit! I have a minor role again! Well at least I have Rin this time. Gonna get laid in this story I can just feel it.
Luna: Actually Mika this fic is rated T. Heck sex technically isn't even allowed on this site. Besides Jade didn't write anything close to a lemon in Keyblade of the Heart and that was rated M.
Mika: What's a gal got to do ta get laid around here?! Herald! I know you're reading this. Jade's given you rights to me. I wanna shag some hot chick!
Rin: You better be talking about me Mika!
Mike: course Rin of course. It's not like I think Aqua's hot or anything.
*Jade pinches the bridge of his nose* Anywho. I'm back with the prequel to Keyblade of the Heart. Don't worry you don't need to know anything about that story to get this one. It's a prequel after all. With that said though the following mess down below is the two flashbacks scenes from KotH. I've made sure that they can stand on their own here but next chapter is when the real story begins. Oh and I'm not titling the chapters this time.
Prologue
Luna walked through the door leading to the main room where the Knights dealt with requests. She had been called in for the newest mission. Her partner was the bookworm Sol. She was annoyed that the captain was sending her out with such a useless ally. Wasn't she strong enough to deal with a couple of monsters on her own? The captain was sitting behind the counter talking with another potential customer. Her soon to be partner was sitting in a chair book in hand like always. If he wasn't such a bookworm Luna would have thought him cute with his shaggy brown hair and chiseled face. Oddly enough gold colored eyes scanned the pages of the book. Like her he wore the Knights uniform of black shirt and pants, only Luna opted for the knee length skirt, with a blood red overcoat. On the back of the coat would be two swords crossed over a shield, the symbol of their group. Attached to his waist was the standard long sword. Approaching him she noticed a parchment in his lap, no doubt the mission's details. She cleared her throat to get his attention. The man reading ignored her as if she wasn't there at all. Now Luna didn't consider herself vain but she'd been told, and harassed, by a lot of the male members often enough to know she was good looking. Her skin for some reason just didn't tan no matter how long she spent out in the sun. This gave her a fair complexion that drove a lot of men up the walls. Her raven black hair which flowed down to her waist like a curtain of silk only highlighted how pale she was. She wasn't super busty like some of the maids the men fancied but she definitely had enough to attract the vast majority of the male species. Like her new partner Luna's eyes were a rare gold color. So when this Sol guy didn't give her even a glance she felt her feminine pride sustain a small wound.
Luna cleared her throat again only this time louder. Now she had his attention. Slamming his book shut and he got up handing her the parchment. Breaking the seal Luna read the full details of what they were going to be doing. Like she knew before it was a simple killing mission. They were to go to some ruins north of the city and clear out all the monsters for some mages of the king. By the time she was done reading the orders Sol was gone. With a sigh she headed out of the building figuring she could at least get ready before she had to find the man again. Luna got out the door to find Sol standing next to a pair of chestnut brown horses. Both horses were ready with saddles and the normal pack of items they got for missions. Silently Sol climbed onto one of the horses waiting for her to do the same.
Great not only does he do nothing but read, he's a mute.
Since Luna still had the scroll, with the map, she took the lead.
After an hour or two of riding Luna thought she was in hell. At least when she was partnered up before her companion would talk to her. But as one would guess Sol was reading a book as they rode towards their destination. She couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"What is so interesting about that book you're reading?"
Luna waited for the brown haired boy to answer. After a few polite seconds of waiting she asked him again. She tried two more times getting louder each time. It was evident that he was ignoring her. She led her horse up next to his and took the book out of his hands. He started daggers at her and reached to take the book back.
Finally a reaction.
"Now, what is so interesting about this book?" Luna asked once again.
"Why do you care?" was all Sol said in return.
"Because you've had your nose in it since I've seen you."
Sol rolled his eyes. "If you really want to know it's a journal of an explorer who traveled around these parts. I thought it'd be nice to know more about the ruins we're going to. Unlike some people, I do research on the places I'm sent."
Luna was silenced. She tossed him back the journal. He was right; research on the ruins would be great. The people who built it most likely put traps in if the book had clues on how to avoid them that meant that Luna would continue to live at least a little longer. Let's face it life as a mercenary was a dangerous one. She could, and should have a few times, die at any moment on a job.
Still not wanting to sit in silence Luna probed Sol's mind to find out what he had learned about their destination. He confirmed the existence of traps, no surprise to either of them, and that it was only a one story building so they wouldn't have to worry about a basement full of monsters. The reason they were sent out was because it had once been home to a group mages. Magic wasn't something the normal person practiced but the mages of the king paid insane sums of money for magical artifacts hence why the two were sent out to clear the way for the mages. Luna had learned a simple fire spell so she didn't have to carry around a tinderbox or resort to rubbing two sticks together like a fool. After learning all Sol knew about the ruins she asked more personal questions. She found out he dabbled in magic and he knew three spells actually. He had come from a family in the slums. He joined the Knights because he had gotten letters from his elder sister telling him about all the good times she had while she was with them. His older sister had gone off a few years back to join a more famous mercenary group and she had stopped sending letters. Of course he questioned her just as much. She, like him, had come out of the slums. Luna joined the Knights because they were the only group around that would actually send a girl out on missions and take in anyone no questions asked. Unlike Sol she was an only child and her parents had died long ago. They spent the next few hours talking about jobs they had done and the idiots that they had worked with before. It wasn't long until they found themselves outside of the ruins.
Luna drew her long sword as she walked up to a wooden door. Sol was behind her sword in hand. One of the things she learned was that he wasn't the strongest guy out there. Rather he looked for weakness and fought defensively. He was the exact opposite of her. Luna made a weakness in her opponent by chopping off limbs. With the loud creaking sound that accompanied any old door the two made their way in. Luna was instantly glad she had a companion. Standing in the middle of the room was a Behemoth King. The creature was known for killing groups of people with ease. Sol tapped her shoulder and pointed to a hallway. She followed behind him as they very carefully made their way over. Once they were in the hall Sol used the hand signs taught by the Knights.
Lead, monster, trap.
At the end he pointed to a mark on the floor. It was a magical symbol colored green. Luna had seen it before, anything that walked across it would trigger the trap and be inflicted with deadly poison. Luna smiled at Sol. He was brilliant; if they could get the Behemoth King to walk over it they could make quick work of the large monster. Luna only saw one problem with the plan. How were they to get over the trap themselves so that they could lead the Behemoth King to it? She asked Sol the question. He reached into his pack and drew out a red crystal. Her mouth dropped in awe at the artifact he held. It was a transport stone. It could teleport them only a few feet due to its small size but she was sure it could get them over the glyph. Their plan set the two started to make noise to attract the monster. They heard and felt it coming at them before they saw the Behemoth King charging down the hallway. Sol touched the stone to Luna and moved them, not over the glyph, but behind the charging monster. A flash of green light let them know that the trap had been triggered. Wasting no time Luna ran forward and starting her assault on her foe. Since the glyph's poison had done most of the work the two warriors felled one of the stronger monsters known to man. After the defeat of the Behemoth King killing the Flans, Goblins, and other random monsters that plagued the ruins was child's play.
When they had gotten back to headquarters Luna had a newfound respect for Sol. After submitting their report the captain called them to his room after hours to congratulate them on a job well done. He also informed them that if they could take down such a strong monster together that they could expect to be paired up again for future missions.
-Mika Flashback-
Walking through the woods with her newest client was a mercenary by the name of Mika. She was tall for a woman almost hitting six feet in height. Most of her height came from her long legs that were covered by a pair of black pants. Blonde hair that was dirty from travel was cut short so that it didn't get in her eyes when she was fighting.A loose fitting blue shirt hid the small curves of Mika's chest. Working out and fighting monsters did exactly equal a big chest. She still had enough of a figure that she couldn't be mistakened for a guy though. Her golden eyes darted every which way on the lookout for anything that might jump out of the woods to attack them.
Mika's client woman by the name of Rin. The woman was of the same height as Mika. Short dark blue hair framed an innocent face as sapphire eyes stared ahead sometimes darting back and forth as a branch snapped or the wind rustled the leaves too loudly. Now whereas Mika had a warrior's body muscles and scars gained from fighting monsters, Rin had a smaller more "feminine" body. Her skin was pale as a ghost from staying in the house taking care of "womanly" duties and her frame was slender as a twig. That wasn't to say she wasn't a busty woman though and her hips could entrance any man that walked by, or in this case Mika. That was the hard part about liking women. You couldn't really just proclaim it out loud without causing a large scene and many people trying to burn you at the stake for such things. Everyone Mika had run into, other than her younger brother, had thought there was a demon inside of her making her chase after women instead. No one ever caught her though as she was an apt Mage and with a simple Thunder spell she could scare away most idiots.
Rin had contracted Mika into taking her through the Goblin's Forest. At first Mika had been against it as nothing in the forest was enough of a challenge for a mercenary of her skill. Then when Rin offered twenty thousand munny for a simple trip Mika leapt at the offer. The normal rate for going through the Goblin's Forest was only five thousand. Being offered four times the normal pay Mika would have been stupid to pass it up. Now however, walking alongside the silent as a church mouse Rin, Mika started to regret her choice. The woman hadn't spoken since they left the village and that was four days ago. Even after Mika had asked her why she wanted to go through the forest or why she was willing to pay so much for Mika's services the blue haired woman had remained silent. After four days though the silent Rin broke her, well silence, as they reached the halfway marker for the forest.
"Miss Mika I would like to stop here for the day." She said in a soft voice that Mika almost could hear.
Miss Mika. I like the sounds of that. Mika thought to herself as she looked at the woman in confusion.
"Now why would you want to do that?" Mika asked. "It's not even noon yet. There's still over half a day of sunlight left to use."
"Because there is a rare plant that grow around here and it makes the most wonderful blue for painting." Rin said with a smile as she walked off the path and into the woods.
"Oh no you don't" Mika said grabbing Rin's shoulder and pulling her back onto the path. "There are goblins in there and your contract is only for escorting you through the forest."
"Exactly Miss Mika. I plan to travel through the forest. It is not my fault you failed to ask if I planned to use the trail." Rin explained the loophole to Mika her voice no longer soft but commanding. "Or did you think I would pay such high prices for something so easy as an escort on a path. I know the rates for you mercenaries and twenty thousand is still more than enough to cover this expedition into the forest."
The complete one eighty personality had caught Mika off guard. She had been outplayed. This woman had tricked her into doing more work than she had originally thought but the pay was still high. She could always quit and leave Rin alone in the forest but that just wouldn't sit right with Mika later. Especially if anything happened to her after she left.
"Alright smarty skirt, let's go get you this plant." Mika growled as she walked into the forest ahead of her client.
"I'm sorry to have tricked you but I didn't think anyone would come in here simply to help me get a flower. I had already tried three other mercenaries before you and they laughed at me and said 'If a woman wants flowers she should get her man to get it for her.' Then they all offered to show me what real men can do." Rin explained her voice having gone back to the previous soft and almost scared sound.
"Yeah most guys are pigs." Mika stated as they walked deeper into the forest. The trees were becoming more clustered together and Mika could smell swamps on the wind. "Listen do you know where exactly these flowers are supposed to be growing?"
"Yes in the center of the forest on trees that grown near the swamps. The decay of goblins that die in the swamp give life to the trees which in turn provide a special enzyme to these flowers that make their paste a very unique blue. As an artist it is my job to provide my clients with the best paintings I can." Rin told Mika as they continued towards the swamps.
"So you paint for a living?" Mika questioned easily thinking of ten things she would rather do than sit in front of a canvas and paint pretty pictures.
"But of course. I just said that." Rin giggled.
"Right." Mika said as she rubbed the back of her head in unease. "So do you need this for a painting you're doing now?"
"Yes but the painting isn't for a client. I have been working on a painting for myself of a knight and an Ice Dragon but I need this blue for the dragon's underbelly. None of the blues I have seem to match the icy blue of her scales." Rin informed Mika
"So you like those knights in shining armor slaying beasts stories?" Mika questioned
"Oh no." Rin said quickly. "The knight and dragon are working together to stop a dark force from entering the valley. The creatures a very peculiar and I've only seen them in my dreams. They are small and black with large flat feet and they are hunched over. They have round heads and two large yellows eyes. Little antennas twitch on their heads as the waddle about."
"If I ever saw such a funny looking creature I'd laugh myself to death." Mika proclaimed. Such a creature wouldn't make for much sport it sounded. If it did exists it probably won it's fights by making it's opponent laugh itself to death.
"Yes they do appear to be funny looking but a power exists in them and it strikes fear into my heart." Rin said with a shudder. "Oh Miss Mika!" Rin shouted. "There on the bottom of that tree."
Mika followed Rin's line of sight and spotted a blue flower. Its stem was a blood red colour leading up to very pale blue almost white petals. The petals were arranged in a perfect circle like a little landing pad for small insects. Mika went to go and pluck the flower but was stopped as she felt the air around her charge. Recognizing the familiar feel of magic Mika threw up a Shell spell around her and Rin. Lightning converged on the green shield causing cracks to appear in it.
Horse laughter echoed through the forest. The sounds of the forest's inhabitants. Goblins walked out from behind trees and into Mika's view. They were your standard green skinned, ugly as hell, dressed in loincloths, goblins. There were three wearing bone necklaces and a feathered headdress marking them as shamans. Stupid as goblins were the magic they managed to cast was powerful.
Clutching the spears of the humans they had actually managed to kill six goblins charged screaming their heads off. Reaching over her shoulder Mika grabbed her staff and magically undid the latch holding it on her back. Whipping it over her shoulder the end of the metallic rod slammed into the first goblin's head knocking him out.
"Stay near me Rin" Mika instructed.
The woman nodded her head and stood behind Mika putting the mercenary between her and the goblins. With a smile Mika stood her ground as the remaining five goblins tried attacking her all at once. Two of them tripped over their companions dropping their spears on the ground. Another one of the uncoordinated creatures then tripped on the fallen spear as he tried to throw his and managed to skewer on of the other three charging goblins. This was exactly why Mika had thought there was no challenge in the goblins forest. The idiotic things killed themselves before they even got to you. How anyone managed to lose to them was a mystery.
One lone goblin kept the charge going and thrust the point of the spear towards Mika who swatted it away with her staff and then followed it up with by bringing the staff down on the goblins head like she had done with the first one. As it fell down dead a jet of flame shot out from one of the shamans. Water gushed out of Mika's hand as she pointed her palm at the flames. The opposing elements clashed and canceled each other out. Using the moisture in the air from her attack she crystallized it into ice spears and slammed them into the fallen goblins leaving her with just the shamans to deal with.
Lightning from one of the other shamans flew towards Rin as Mika finished off the goblins on the ground. Unable to cast again so quickly Mika did the only thing she could think of. Spinning herself towards the lightning she extended her staff out. The metal staff acted as a lightning rod and pulled the spell into it and to Mika. As the electricity coursed through her Mika swore loudly. Once the effects of the spell wore off she was pissed to say the least. Sending her own Thunder spell at the creature she ran at it giving the goblin a choice of death by lightning or by angered Mage. It chose the first letting the spell slam into its body. Falling to the ground the goblin twitched a few times before the strength of Mika's spell finished it off.
Turning her attention to the remaining shamans Mika sent a dual jet of ice at them both. Without hesitation the two magic goblins turned tail and ran away from the magical mercenary. With a nod of her head like she expected as much Mika put her staff back into its holder magically sealing the clasps.
"Well let's get your flowers and get out of here before they come back with more." Mika said walking over to the tree where the blue flower sat undisturbed.
Picking the flower up Mika held it out towards Rin who took it in her gloved hand placing it in a large bottle. Together they both searched for more of the flowers and after half an hour of searching they had collected a dozen of them. Rin stated that they would be more than enough for her to use and even experiment with. They walked back to the path they originally deviated from. When they reached the well-worn path and light shone down on them Mika started to feel dizzy. Shaking it off and thinking that it was simply an after effect of the Thunder attack she suffered Mika continued to the path.
"Okay then do you really need to go through the forest to do you want to head back?" Mika questioned as she stood in the middle of the path her thumbs pointing in opposite directions.
"I want to head back Miss Mika. I live in the city where we first met. If you would be so kind as to take me there I would very much appreciate it."
"Then let's get going."
This time on the walk through the forest Rin was more talkative. She told Mika of paintings that she had done for clients. Rin was very descriptive of both the people she painted for and the art that she created for them. Apparently Rin's work was in high demand even among the nobles and it was because of them that she was able to sell her paintings cheaper to the regular citizens. Rin never put anything less than her all into any painting so even the common folk could have her best work hanging up in their homes. Her business sense was extraordinary and when Mika asked how she learned all of this Rin told her that her father had been a merchant. The trade routes, buildings, and everything associated with her father's business had gone to her younger brother. Her brother did finance her once in a great while if Rin couldn't find anyone to sell to.
"I don't live off of Siruis' money though." Rin stated sternly. "I have only had to ask for a couple hundred munny once. He did however make it clear that a woman of twenty three should find a man and settle down. 'It is how things are done dear sister' he said."
"I'm twenty two and gladly single." Mika declared with a grin. "Course it's a hell of a lot harder when you go off fighting whenever you please and finding someone to accept that."
"I find it very brave that you put your life at risk to help people."
"It's not always helping someone though. Helping one person can very easily mean hurting another. More often than you'd think I have to fight another mercenary who's been hired to prevent me from doing my job." Mika replied a twinge of sadness in her voice. "It's hard to do sometimes. Even more so when you have to fight someone that saved your life. All mercenaries know that it's a part of our job. Occupational hazard you might say."
"Why do you do it then?" Rin asked in a polite but curious tone.
"The pay's good if you have the skill. I started off in a group but once my skills developed I left and started out on my own. I get to pick my own jobs and get to demand my own prices that I don't have to split with anyone else." Mika told her. "Then there's months where you can't find shit for work and have to resort to doing things like farm work to keep food in your belly."
"Is this one of those months?" Rin giggled.
Mika hung her head. "That obvious?"
"Now that I've gotten to know you better."
"Gotten to know me better? We've been talking for less than a day."
"You wouldn't have come into the forest for the flowers if it wasn't one of those months." Rin pointed out. "This is clear because you seem to think highly of yourself and for good reason. After seeing you take those goblins out and protecting me so easily you must be highly skilled."
The two kept walking back to the village and talking about things they had seen and done. With each sunrise Mika felt a small pain in her hand that went away after she mentally shook it off. After the four days of walking back they came to the village where the two women met. Rin led Mika to her home a small wooden structure that looked like your standard peasant home.
The sun was high in the sky as Mika went to say goodbye to her employer. As she reached into her pouch to get the contract and have Rin sign it saying her work was completed Mika once again felt the small pain in her hand. Only this time it didn't go away as she tried to ignore it like before. The small annoyance that had plagued her for the last few days became a roaring fire that ignited her arm in pain. It didn't stop at her arm though as pain continued to cover her entire body.
Seeing Mika in pain Rin opened her door and ran over to Mika linking her arms under the fallen woman's then proceeded to try to drag the mercenary into her home. Mika was much heavier then she looked though and it took a great deal of strength on Rin's part to manage to get her over the threshold. Once they were inside Rin continued to drag Mika towards her bed. With a great deal of effort Rin hoisted Mika onto the bed.
"Just stay here I'll be back with an herbalist." Rin said.
Even through her pain Mika couldn't help but think. Yeah like I'm going anywhere.
