Hey Hachi here! I hope you'll all like our new story.
Summary: Leon is the young prince of Radiant Gardens and is thrust into a world full of trouble when his father dies. Now he must reclaim the kingdom from his Uncle's control.
Disclaimer: we do not own kingdom hearts.
~The Birth of a Prince~
Laguna paced around his throne room as he awaited the birth of his first born. His wife had not gone into labor but an hour ago. He wished he could be with his wife during this time but knew that he couldn't. He'd been kicked out of the room the moment the doctor entered. He was worried about Raine; she hadn't been feeling well the last few days. He feared she would have complications with the birth.
He glanced to the door way as he heard someone approach. His younger brother Ansem approached him swiftly. He and his brother were nothing alike. His brother had silver hair and golden eyes, while he had dark brown hair and green eyes. Ansem also believed he was too soft for a king. Ansem believed that to rule you needed power and absolute control.
He faced Ansem fully as he approached. He looked over Ansem's shoulders as he saw two more figures approach. The first he noticed was Ansem's good friend Sephiroth. He had long platinum blonde hair with a hint of silver and cat like green eyes. The man stared coolly and coldly at Laguna, as if attempting to intimidate him.
The other was a woman the size of a fairy, she even had bat like wings. Paine was Laguna's advisor and assistant in all matters of ruling the kingdom. She had silver hair with a hint of black in it and crimson red eyes. Her skin was slightly paler then the three men that she stood next to. Her piercing eyes stared at Laguna coolly.
"I heard that Raine has gone into labor." Ansem said.
"Yes. She went into labor about an hour ago." Laguna said.
"So the next ruler will be born today." Paine stated.
"Is it a prince or a princess?" Sephiroth asked tensely.
"We do not know. But we decided that we could not care for which it is. It will be our first born and that's all that matters." Laguna stated.
"I'm sure the little one will be a great joy to our kingdom." Paine added.
Laguna nodded as he walked to the doors that led to the balcony. He looked out over the town below the castle. His castle rested in the center of a city that rested over the water. The walls that surrounded the city and castle were old and had plants growing on it from the fact that the city had huge gardens. Outside the city walls were platforms that floated over the water and were peaceful to walk through. They had vast flower gardens on each of them. Down below just outside the castle was the town and the citizens walked through the streets peacefully. The castle town though it was old seemed to be just as mysterious and wonderful as it was when it was first built. Radiant Gardens was known for another thing besides its flower gardens and that was its fountains. Fountains were scattered around town. He could barely make out the fountain court from the balcony. He could see the water falling from the platforms as water fountains squirted up at different intervals. There were water ways that wound their ways all throughout the city. As the sun set the water turned from a clear blue to a beautiful blue, pink, purple mix from the sun's remaining light.
As the last light of day was about to disappear, one of the ladies in waiting walked into the throne room. She walked to the door of the balcony and bowed to Laguna as he turned to look at her.
"Your child has been born, sir." she said.
"Thank you, Rinoa." Laguna said as he swept past her.
He hurried out of the throne room and down the hall. He approached the door of Raine and his bedroom. He took a deep breath before he opened the door. As he entered the doctor bowed to him as he approached the bed.
He smiled as he looked down at his wife. Raine had dark brown hair like himself and blue eyes. Her hair was pulled back by a yellow headband. She smiled weakly up at him as she held a blue bundle in her arms. Laguna looked down at the bundle as he sat on the edge of the bed. She handed the bundle to Laguna after he sat.
Laguna pulled the bundle aside so he could see his child. The baby was so small and its small hand reached out and grasped Laguna's finger. He could see that the baby eyes were a shade of blue. He could faintly see specks of blonde hair that he knew would most likely turn to brown as the baby grew older.
"It's our son." Raine said.
Laguna looked at her and smiled before looking back to his son. He smiled down at the baby and held him carefully.
"He needs a name." Raine said.
"What do you wish to call him?" Laguna asked.
"Squall." Raine said.
"Squall?" Laguna asked.
"Yes, as in storm. I believe that he will take the kingdom by storm." Raine laughed.
"Why do you say that?" Laguna asked.
"Call it mother's intuition." Raine said with a weak laugh.
"You must be tired." Laguna said as he watched his wife.
"Yes, I am." Raine replied.
Laguna handed Squall over to Rinoa who stood nearby. He leaned over and gave Raine a kiss on the lips before making sure she was comfortable for bed. He stood and saw the doctor stood by the door. He walked over to the door and glanced back into the room. He watched as Rinoa set Squall into a crib and as Raine fell asleep.
As he stepped out of the bedroom he followed the doctor a little ways down the hall. The doctor turned to him and gave him a grave look. Laguna feared the worst as he faced the doctor.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news." Said Dr. Kadowaki.
"Is something wrong with Squall?" Laguna asked her.
"Squall is healthy." Dr. Kadowaki answered.
"Then what's wrong?" Laguna asked.
"I'm afraid that the birth was hard on Raine. Seeing as she has been sick the last few days I fear that she won't pull through." Dr. Kadowaki answered gloomily.
"But she might, right?" Laguna asked hopefully.
"She might. But the chances aren't great." Dr. Kadowaki.
Laguna looked down as the news sunk in. Dr. Kadowaki placed her hand on his shoulder in comfort. He looked up at her his eyes clouded in despair.
"She was frail to begin with. So I'm not surprised that the pregnancy was difficult on her. But since she seemed so healthy throughout the whole pregnancy I thought she would survive." Dr. Kadowaki stated.
"I understand." Laguna said.
"Laguna, please listen to me. You should spend as much time with Raine as possible in case she doesn't make it." Dr. Kadowaki said.
"I will. Thank you." Laguna said.
Dr. Kadowaki walked away from him as he turned to re-enter the bedroom. Rinoa bowed to him as she left the room. He walked over to the bed and lay down next to Raine. He turned on his side to look at her and she did the same. He smiled at her as she smiled back.
"I love you." He told her.
"I love you, too. He's beautiful isn't he?" Raine asked.
"He is." Laguna agreed.
"Promise me something." Raine said.
"Anything." Laguna agreed.
"If something happens to me, promise that you won't be sad. I want you to live and take care of Squall." Rain stated.
"Nothing is going to happen!" Laguna said.
"Laguna. You and I both know that isn't true." Raine said sadly.
"I don't want to even think about losing you." Laguna replied sadly.
"You will never lose me." Raine said.
"I know. Because you're going to pull through." Laguna said.
"No, because I'll always be a part of you and Squall." Raine said.
"Raine…" Laguna started.
"I'll always be with you. You just might not see me. But I'll be watching over you both." Raine said with a smile.
Laguna could only nod as he pulled Raine into a hug. He felt her hug him back as they drifted off to sleep. He felt her tears fall onto his shirt as his own fell. He fell asleep hoping that she would be fine and that they would be a family.
Laguna awoke to crying the next morning. He pulled away from Raine as he left the bed. He picked Squall up and turned back to Raine. He sat on the bed and reached out a hand to brush her hair out of her face as she slept. He froze when he felt her ice cold skin. He stared at her as a knock sounded at the door.
Paine flew in followed by Dr. Kadowaki who had come to check on Squall. Laguna turned to look at them a grief-stricken look on his face.
"I'm sorry, Laguna." Dr. Kadowaki said as she walked over.
Paine flew next to Laguna as Dr. Kadowaki examined Raine just in case. Her face was emotionless but her eyes showed her sadness as the Doctor finished her examination.
"I'm sorry. She's passed." Dr. Kadowaki said.
"At least it seemed to be in the middle of the night." Paine said.
"Yes. She passed peacefully." Dr. Kadowaki agreed.
Laguna stood and left the room with Squall in his arms. He walked to the throne room and out onto the balcony. He stood there staring out over the town as he held Squall close to him. He saw Paine land on the ledge of the balcony and look at him. He heard three other sets of feet approach the balcony. He watched as a young man with red hair stood next to him.
The man had green eyes and had a tattoo triangle under each of his eyes. His fiery red hair spiked out backwards. The young man was Axel, the kingdom's Shaman. He knew a bit of magic from the old ages and was said to be able to talk with the kings of old.
"So, what is the young prince's name?" Axel asked.
"Squall Leonheart Loire." Laguna said.
"A good name. I can see that he will have quite a destiny." Axel said.
Laguna turned to Axel and held Squall out to him. Axel took Squall as Ansem and Sephiroth watched from the doorway. He ran his hand over Squall's head allowing the spirits to flow from him to Squall.
Ansem glared at the baby in Axel's arms as Laguna watched Axel. Once Axel was finished Laguna took the child back and turned to face the other two. Ansem stopped glaring as his brother turned to him.
"Raine has passed." Laguna said.
"I am so sorry to hear that." Ansem said sympathetically.
"But she will live on inside Squall and I." Laguna stated.
"If you need some time away from being king…" Ansem started.
"No. Raine would not wish me to brush off my duties. She wishes me to live and for Squall to live happily." Laguna said as he smiled at his son.
"Sire?" Paine asked.
"Prepare the ceremony for Squall's birth. As well as one for Raine's death." Laguna ordered Paine.
"Of course, Sire. Raine's ceremony will be dealt with first. Then the kingdom can rejoice in the birth of your heir." Paine agreed.
Laguna stared down at the baby in his arms with a smile. He heard Ansem and Sephiroth leave the throne room. Axel stood next to Laguna smiling at the baby as well as Paine watched from the side.
~End Prologue~
I hope you all enjoyed the prologue. If you're all wondering where Yuna and Rikku are you'll just have to wait to find out! And I hope I did a good job describing Radiant Gardens.
Please review!
~Hachi