So, for a while I was using a different account since I couldn't remember the password to this one for the life of me, but I finally remembered, so I'm moving any stories I had posted to that other account to this one to clear up any confusion which is why stories on that account are now deleted. So, here is the soriku fantasy au I'm working on on my main account now, enjoy!
The forest has its own music. If one quiets their mind, their voice, they can hear it. The wind whistled a tune, using the leaves of trees and plants as its instruments. The boy smiled softly at the melody. It was rare to see a human so in tune with the forest, taking the time to listen to its soft voice, a voice that could easily be drowned out. In the stillness, he could even hear the quiet scampering of the rabbits as they stealthily ran through the underbrush. Waves of the cicadas' humming would overtake everything until it quieted once again. Everything..felt right here, nothing like how it was at home with schedules and tasks, always something to do. Here, he could be absolutely still and relaxed, letting the atmosphere and sounds of the forest overtake him. The world was quiet and still once when mystics and giants roamed the lands. He wondered if the stillness he felt here had any connection to those ancient times. Sure, there were probably conflicts as well back then, but they didn't last long as the ancient world didn't allow it to. Blocks of time..longer than any human could ever imagine. What was in those vast, forgotten times? Darkness, perhaps, or maybe there was something, but it was something no human could ever remember. He liked to imagine times of eternal peace during those forgotten periods, a time when life was beginning anew. For the first time in a while, the world was absolutely still besides the world's natural processes. It would rain, snow, yet the world remained still, untouched. Only the ancient trees and rocks remembered those times, a time when they were truly alone. How many times did this reset happen? And would it happen again sometime soon? He furrowed his brows at the thought. Conflict, blood, it stained this current world. Perhaps the universe or whatever ruled over this world would have enough eventually. What would happen? Where would he end up..his friends? It was as if the ancient energy of the forest was guiding his thoughts. In such deep thought and trying his hardest to see what he was never meant to see, the snap of a nearby stick startled him into sitting bolt upright. A week without rain had left the forest dry. The sound was piercing, like a bone cracking under pressure. Blinking his eyes open, he was met by harsh sunlight. His eyes were still trying to adjust from the darkness under his eye lids to the bright world outside. Squinting over in the direction of the sound, a figure stood just on the line of trees. The image was foggy, like looking at someone through opaque glass. It wasn't clear enough to make out anything discernible besides that it was a person who stood upright. Colors of silvery white and black were visible. Blinking a few more times for good measure, his eyes finally started to adjust to the light. Scanning over the figure, pointed ears protruded through white hair that seemed to shimmer against the sunlight much like water on the surface of a still pond, donning a dark cloak that seemed to shine with something woven into the fabric. The piercing eyes of an elf stared back into his. Stories of the elves spoke of their beauty and bravery, though the modern iterations had twisted the ancient ones to tell a different story. Still, he was mesmerized, caught in this impromptu staring contest. It seemed the white haired elf wasn't going to back down, standing as still as a figure in a painting. For a while, it was simply a mutual studying of the other. Neither of them attempted to move as the breeze gently blew around them.
The elf's eyes snapped towards a sudden voice, and in one graceful motion, he disappeared into the forest.
"Soraaaa! Hey, where did you wander off to?" Sora shook his head a couple of times, attempting to get his mind back to the present. In his defense, it was easy to lose track of time here. When he let himself get taken in by the gentle aura of the forest, he could lie there for hours letting his mind wander to other realms.
A girl was next to emerge from the trees. The look of annoyance on her face was obvious along with the fallen leaves in her hair, but she smiled upon seeing him.
"Did you hear me calling for you? You know, it'd be a lot easier to find you if you answered back," she said, offering him her hand.
"Sorry, Kairi. You know me. I was daydreaming as usual," Sora chuckled with an apologetic look. He accepted the helping hand, finding a dizzying sensation starting as soon as he got up. He held his head, waiting for it to pass.
"Geez, your zoning out is like on another level." She held onto his shoulders, so he wouldn't fall over until he seemed to be fine to stand on his own. "Come on, we need to get back to the palace. This is something you shouldn't be late for."
Kairi didn't give him much time to recover from his dizzy spell as she began walking back, taking the old worn path that wound its way through the forest to the palace grounds.
"Um, remind me again what's happening today," Sora said, scratching the back of his head. It seemed he always had his head in the clouds. Luckily, Kairi was usually there to remind him.
"This is important, Sora. Emissaries from one of the main Elven kingdoms are visiting today as guests. It's important that we try to make a good relationship with them and end these conflicts. I mean, we're the only kingdom that's really trying to make amends with the elves. And the prince being late to their arrival doesn't look very good on our part, now does it?" Kairi gave him a serious look which Sora answered with a nod of understanding.
"Ah, right, I remember now. I actually saw an elf in the forest earlier, right before you found me. We just kinda..looked at each other. It was weird but..kinda cool too." Sora kept replaying the memory in his mind, not wanting to forget it.
"That's strange. A lone elf doesn't usually linger around when there's a human nearby. But, I guess you're not really threatening." Kairi playfully bumped his arm. "It also helps that you always forget to take your keyblade with you when you go out. You're lucky you haven't run into bandits."
"Guess it just slips my mind haha." He noticed the one hanging off Kairi's belt. They were the main weapon of choice, though he seemed to always be the one person without one due to his own negligence.
Within the stone walls of the castle, the banners overhead and the multitude of paintings were a blur as he was rushed through to his chambers. The elves were due to arrive soon, and he needed to be changed out of his clothes which carried the dirt from the forest. With a flourish of scarlet, he donned a red cloak last.
His walking pace quickly turned into a run as trumpets resounded through the air, signaling a party's arrival. Sora's eyes squinted at the figures arriving in the distance. The harsh sunlight along with dust being kicked up by horses distorted the figures as he struggled to see, but the pointed ears were apparent. The elves were here.
As they started to dismount, he immediately bowed in respect. The important thing here was to create mutual respect and trust. Their help was essential. All sides would lose if they stay at odds. A sound began to form in his throat, but he kept his mouth sealed shut which most likely created a rather ridiculous expression. Same shimmery white hair, piercing topaz eyes, only now he was up close and personal, studying Sora in the same way he had back in the forest. Everything in the background seemed to fade out as he focused solely on the familiar elf. He glanced for a moment at the other's keyblade. The feeling of eyes on them reminded him of their current position.
"Er, oh, welcome! I'm Prince Sora," he blurted out, practically shooting his hand out towards the elf. The heat on his face only increased in intensity as the elf snickered at the sudden outburst.
"We humbly accept your hospitality, Prince Sora. I am the current elf prince, Riku." He bowed back, though Sora noted with much more grace than himself.
"Oh, you're a prince too? Not quite king yet, huh?"
"I'm afraid the king is rather busy, so I'm here instead. Sorry to disappoint, but you're one to talk coming from a kingdom with no king." His teasing tone was much more obvious.
"Yeah, well, I'll be king soon. Mark my words." Sora cleared his throat before his tone was interpreted as disrespectful by the elves that were watching their interaction like hawks. "A-anyways, I'll show you around the place, Riku."
He seemed friendly enough..in a slightly patronizing kind of way, but they were guests nonetheless.
As Riku followed behind him, Sora noted the feel of his presence. His footsteps were light, almost indiscernible, but deliberate in the way he walked. The feeling wasn't intense, but it was enough to know there was someone behind him like walking down an alleyway when you know there's someone there. Even when unseen, the sensation of his eyes on him felt like tiny needles just pricking lightly against the back of his neck. He noted to himself to maybe not piss Riku off if he could help it.