Prologue:
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a beautiful and glorious kingdom. It was a peaceful land that flourished through the ages, full of rolling hills and clear, glistening streams. Everone sought to live in harmony with the land, and the rulers worked out among the people. In the center of the kingdom, enshrined in the courtyard of a large castle, stood a magnificent keyblade embedded in a small pedestal. It was the kingdom's coronation ritual that a person would have to pull the keyblade from its pedestal to become the next king. But the key would only choose one with a kind and righteous heart to rule; a device set in place by the gods to protect the land and its people.
The current ruler was a noble king named Cloud Strife, under whom the land had flourished for many years. It was during this peaceful time that the king's firstborn son, Roxas, was born. He was the spitting image of his father, and Cloud sent word far and wide of the joyous event. All of the land rejoiced at his birth and, as the years passed, Roxas grew to be as kind, wise, and handsome as his father.
Roxas had a quiet and shy disposition, but he was very open and friendly with people as he got to know them better. He had a good sense of humor and was willing to take responsibility for his actions, even at a young age. He followed his father on trips to the surrounding villages, from Traverse Town to Hollow Bastion, spending time getting to know the people who would one day follow him. He showed them kindness and honesty and they loved him for it. Always on such trips, Cloud could not help but smile down at his son, knowing that in time he would become a great ruler, even greater than he himself had been.
It was the night of Roxas's 9th birthday when a mysterious man appeared at the castle, calling himself Lord Vexen. Roxas had discovered him unconscious as he wandered in the gardens with his father, and Cloud personally stayed with him to help him recover. It was at this time that Vexen became very close to Cloud, becoming something of a trusted advisor and scientific authority. He knew many secrets of science and magic, and he could always recommend a good plan when it came to dealing with the people's complaints. He showed the king all of his plans and the two men began working together.
Soon, Cloud became so occupied with his work that Roxas hardly ever saw his father. The sudden change was shocking and uncomfortable, but Roxas respected that the needs of the people would sometimes outweigh his own, and thus he did his best to hold his peace. He was not yet old enough to attend the court meetings, and he never seemed to catch Cloud's attention for very long after the meetings were over. He respected the importance of his father's work, but he could not help but feel lonely in Cloud's absence. Roxas then began to wander the castle absent-mindedly, learning what he could from servants and soldiers, but his meetings with his father were brief and few. He heard rumors that something had changed in his father, making him colder and less focused. Though Roxas was a bit troubled by this news, he decided to have faith, and continued looking for opportunities to see his father.
He never spoke to Lord Vexen, as the strange man stayed mostly with his father and paid him little mind. But one day, when Roxas was 11, Vexen advised the king that the countryside was dangerous and that the prince should not be allowed to leave the castle walls by himself. He claimed to be protecting the boy's, and ultimately the kingdom's, interests and well-being, but when Roxas heard the news, he became sad and angry. He didn't understand why his father and Vexen were so intent on keeping him locked in the castle. When he sought his father out, he eventually managed to catch him alone with the exception of Lord Vexen. He begged his father, crying like a child, pleading not to do this. That he loved the people and the kingdom and that no one would try to hurt him! The whole matter was ridiculous!
But Cloud watched him silently, with unseeing eyes, ignoring his requests and finally he ordered Roxas to his room. Roxas was lead unwillingly from the room, his father not looking at him as he left. The king was tired and upset by the whole affair, but Vexen seemed fairly pleased with himself, and he assured the king that the boy was young and understood little of the importance of his safety. After all, he was the kingdom's future. Roxas kept to himself for a while, refusing to speak to his father or anyone else for almost a week. But he knew that arguing was useless. Eventually Roxas accepted his fate, and resolved to apologize for challenging his father's authority and fighting with him over something that now seemed so small. He just wanted to see his father smiling warmly at him again; they hadn't played or read together in so long......
One day Roxas wandered a dark corridor lined with covered windows and suits of armor, looking for the room where his father was working. It was later in the day and all of the guests from the villages had gone home, so he hoped he could catch his father in the audience chamber. He wanted to apologize so badly....
Suddenly Roxas felt himself collide with something hard, the impact knocking him down. As he looked up and rushed out an apology, he realized we was staring up at Lord Vexen. The man was scowling at him slightly, the darkness and fear in his eyes hidden well by the dimly lit corridor. Although Roxas was in no mood to be pleasant with this man, his manners got the better of him and he stood up, offering Lord Vexen a small, but dignified bow. "I'm sorry, my lord. I wasn't looking where I was going. Um.., h-have you seen my father anywhere?" Vexen looked down at him in slight surprise, but then his features twisted into a small but cruel smile, and without a word, he glided past Roxas down the hall and disappeared.
Roxas starred after him, confused, but the idea struck him then. Maybe Father won't be busy today! He brushed himself off from where he had fallen and sprinted down the hall to the door. He opened the far door slightly, smiling brightly as he saw the sillouehte of his father in a nearby chair. Roxas called out a greeting, "Good day, father! I've been looking everywhere for you! I'm...." But as he took in the sight, the last of his words were caught with his throat. That was when he screamed.....
The king's funeral was brief; Cloud had never been one for lengthy ceremonies in life. All the kingdom turned out to mourn their fallen leader, watching his cremation with silence or stifled sobbing. The official story was that the king had a heart attack and died in his sleep, but a rumor spread that Lord Vexen may have had a hand in it, though no one would dare question his loyalty and wisdom while he was in earshot. Zack, the king's captain of the guard, stood close to the pyre, holding the sobbing prince close as he watched sadly. Roxas neither confirmed nor denounced the rumors, but instead had remained silent for several days. The servants and few friends he had didn't know how they could comfort him, and he remained wracked with grief for a long time after.
The law of the land held that until Roxas was ready to rule at the age of 17, the king's trusted advisor was to manage the affairs of state, and so, without dispute, Vexen rose to power. His rule was harsh and violent; he levied high taxes on the people and imprisoned many who could not afford to pay. He was violent and unpredictable at times, occasionally raiding villages and kidnapping people who he later used as servants. Roxas was deeply saddened by this, but he knew that he could do nothing to stop it right now. Vexen was often cruel to him as well, making him work like the servants. But Roxas resolved himself to remain cheerful and hopeful for the sake of the people, afraid that if he allowed himself to lose heart, they would also. Vexen became jealous of the people's unconditional love for Roxas and of his kindness and beauty, so he forced him to stay in the castle and work. Meanwhile, as the years went by, Vexen worked day and night, experimenting and researching with all matter of sciences and black magics, desiring to eventually remove the keyblade from its pedestal himself. He became more desperate and frustrated every year, and some people feared he would slip into madness. Vexen swore to himself that he would be the kingdom's only true ruler and keep his power and authority forever. He would do whatever it took, remove whoever or whatever he needed to, to get there.