Chapter One- Normalcy
I'm in a floor length pink dress with roses. Everything is so big…maybe I'm just small. Then I catch a glance at myself in the mirror. I'm seven. My long blonde hair is flowing freely almost encasing me. It looks like it has never been cut. This looks so unlike me, but I don't have time to think about that. My legs carry me, as I worry about being late. My friend told me to meet her out front. Her name is Kairi.
This place is huge and fancy. Yet, my seven year old brain has it all mapped out like I've lived here my entire life. Except, I don't remember ever being here and people keep staring at me with fake smiles. They all dress nicely with expensive dresses and fashionable tuxedos. The adults mumble a hello along with a bow or curtsy.
A feeling of curiosity crept into my skin as I wondered why I needed to meet her out front; we tend to avoid that place because strange people stop by there. I faltered at the front hall and glanced backwards. A huge portrait of a family hung overhead- a father and mother and a boy and a girl and I could not forget the dog, Leon. Below this huge portrait was the main staircase in all its shining glory. The staircase was split in two with portraits of the past monarchs posted on the walls besides the stairs. I stepped over to the newest one- the one of a man, he reminded me of a fatherly figure. He looked perfect with his spiky blonde hair, ocean blue eyes, and stern gaze. He truly was an amazing ruler.
The old, large clock tower chimed and snapped me out of it. I skipped over to the heavy, wooden doors and gave a lovely smile and the two guards returned the smile and pushed them open. The sun was rapidly falling. The large stone wall that kept me trapped inside the castle looked as tough as ever.
I sat down at the fountain and looked around for my friend. She was nowhere. I frowned. Am I that late? No, I couldn't be. Just a few more minutes and then I'll go back inside.
"Hello, dear," purred a silky voice.
I looked around, "who's there?"
"Such a young thing, come over here," it cooed.
Glancing over my shoulder, I followed the voice into the shadows.
"Perfect," laughed the voice.
"Who is this?" I demanded.
The laughter grew and I felt someone grasp my arms and I shrieked in alarm. A hand clamped over my mouth. There were at least three people talking about what to do with me. Something hit my head and my world flew out of focus but there was no pain. Finally, my voice of reason kicked in. I'm dreaming. This is my dream, not theirs and now it's time I wake up. Come on, wake up, wake up, wake up!
My body flung itself up and I gasped for air, looking around disoriented. Sleeping on the floor with a thin tan blanket, the sun has not quite risen for the whole place is pitch black. Exhaling I laid my head back onto the concrete ground and blinked.
It seemed so real. These dreams have been occurring more and more often each time, they get more realistic and more violent. What was worse was that voice. The soothing tone, it belonged to a female, but who? And why a palace? I certainly was not royalty by any means. Perhaps getting some air would do me some good.
I kicked the blanket off and pulled back the curtain and let moonlight filter in. My house was a tiny room with the blanket, an old cannon ball blast as a window with a thin blanket as a curtain, and that was about it. The moonlight cast a translucent look on my pale skin and I stepped out of its path.
A growl emitted from my stomach and I knew I needed to distract myself. Once out of the room the cold night-time air bit into my exposed skin. My bare feet made little slopping noises on the sandy path.
I rubbed my arms hoping to warm them up, but it did not help. I'd always assumed these dreams were just me imagining my life before I was seven…anything before then gets foggy. Like who are my parents? Do I have siblings? Were we rich? Did they abandon me? Did I run away? No, daydreaming won't help. I plopped down underneath a tree and looked up at the stars and against my better judgment, started thinking about my parents.
When I reopened my eyes the sun was blazing right on my face. I grumbled and rubbed my eyes. By now, the growling was constant and I decided it time to find food. The shops were always so well stocked and I was craving some bread. Sneakily, I waltzed over to the corner stall with the red and white stripes.
The vender was busily selling goods to a commoner. Perfect timing, I thought and snatched a piece and hid it under my tunic. He turned and scowled at me.
"I do not want trash hanging around here," he grumbled, turning up his nose.
"Your wish is my command," I stated sarcastically and strolled off.
Well, hah to him. I hustled back to my room not wanting to attract attention.
"Hey, Blondie, over here!" called out a voice.
I whipped my head in that direction and grinned at what I saw. My three friends- Hayner, Pence, and Olette. The trio beckoned me over to them in the alleyway. I happily obliged. At the time, they were munching on a watermelon. I plopped besides Hayner and took a bite out of my bread. It was so soft and tasty.
"Good?" Hayner asked softly.
I smiled, "delicious, how's the watermelon?"
"Perfect," he grinned.
Hayner was the one I knew the longest. He found me when I was starting out on the streets- lost and confused. I wore a ragged old pink dress he said, but I had no recollection of it. He took care of me. Hayner is now twenty-one. Three years older than me. He is a good foot taller than me and has chocolate brown eyes and blonde hair. I've always looked up to him after that like a brother, but he took it the other way.
His hand slipped over mine and I shifted away. Hayner made a slight face but covered it up. Pence is Hayner's wingman. He is twenty, black haired, dark eyes, and a bit heavier. He works for the butcher and Olette is his little sister. She is my age. Olette is tall and has brown hair and green eyes. She always says how jealous she is of how tiny I am. I laugh it off.
At eighteen, I am five foot two inches and weigh around ninety pounds because of my poor diet. I have shoulder length platinum blonde hair, pale skin, and big baby blue eyes. Hayner says he can just imagine what the ocean looks like just by looking through my eyes.
"Whatcha thinking about, Blondie?" asked Hayner.
I gazed up at the palace looming in front of us, "what it would be like to be royalty."
"You're a princess to me," Hayner grinned, nudging me.
I smiled, "you're too kind."
Pence and Olette exchanged a look, "well, we'll leave you two be…"
I opened my mouth to object, but Hayner interjects, "bye!"
The siblings wander off, Olette giving me one last glance before turning the corner and out of our view. I sigh and hug my knees, my back against the crumbling wall. Hayner scoots beside me.
"You know what I saw we do?" he asks, trying to cheer me up.
"What?" I ask, humoring him.
"We leave this here place and go live in the woods, just us, and raise a family of our own. I can hunt and you can cook. It'll be us and a small, cozy cabin. It'd be perfect," he explained.
I looked up at him, bewildered, "we can't just leave Pence and Olette."
"They'd be happy for us," he told me, giving my hand a squeeze.
"I'll think about it. Now, I must go," I told him, removing my hand and disappearing around the corner.
He hollered a wait, but I acted like I did not hear him. Sure, he was nice and would take care of me, but I did not love him. Then again, maybe the dreams would stop but, then again he's like my brother…that would be weird. I shook it off and saw all of the entertainers out and about.
A man balanced on needles, snake charmers, someone swallowing a sword, people walking on fire. I'd always enjoyed walking on fire. I stopped and watched. The man was very good, but then yelling broke my concentration. My head turned around and I saw men pulling Pence away and Olette screaming. Instantly, I raced over towards them.
"Let him go!" I demanded.
"He is under arrest," spat the head guard.
"What did he do?" I asked, a frown plastered on my face.
"Stealing from his majesty," another guard told me, one with longer blonde hair, he seemed a bit more sympathetic.
"What? That's crazy! Pence would never do anything like that!" I objected.
The head guard shoved past me, making me tumble into the mud. I clenched my fist and yelled at them. In a fit of anger, I grasped a rock and chucked it at his head. He wheeled around, enraged, and the next thing I knew his hand was on my neck and I was gasping for air.
"Now, maybe you won't attack an officer," he spat.
Using my strength, I kicked him in the gut and tore off after Pence. I had almost reached them; Olette was quick on my heels. I was about twenty feet away when he was taken inside the gates and I thought I could make it, they closed slowly and I leaped. My body made impact and flew backwards onto the ground and an 'uff' escaped my lips.
Olette cried out in dismay and pounded on the door. Quickly, I got up and pulled her away from the door and dragged her away knowing the mean guard was lurking somewhere. Eventually, she stopped resisting and just sniffled the rest of the walk to my house. Once inside, I looked at her. Her emerald eyes were puffy and red. I set her down and wrapped an arm around her trying to console.
"Olette, I am so sorry. I should have been faster," I told her softly.
"No. You did everything perfectly. I cowered at their swords and now he's gone!" she wailed loudly.
"Shh, no, shh, honey, that's not it at all," I whispered, holding her closer.
That night Olette cried herself to sleep. I gave her the blanket and I stayed awake making sure she did not do anything reckless. It was a terrible night for a storm came over us.
The prince paced about his room. The time had finally come for him to select a princess to wed. A knock came on his door and he allowed the person in. it was none other than Kairi, the lady in waiting to his mother.
"My lord, you should close your window, there is a storm coming," she scolded him, closing the door to the balcony.
"How is my queen?" he asked her, sitting on the bed.
A frown twitched on her face but then vanished, "she is weakening I am sorry to say, but let us not speak of sad matters…have you decided where to go first?"
By now the lady was sitting next to the young prince, "no. I am going to the marketplace, I wish to meet someone."
"Who?" the girl asked, worry seeping into her voice.
The prince grinned, "That is for me to know. Now if you shall excuse me, I must meet with Riku."
The red-head named Kairi sighed and bid him farewell with a curtsy and longing glance. He sighed relieved. Kairi followed him around like a lost puppy and set him on edge. He ran a hand through his gravity-defying brown hair before exiting his large bedroom. The guards had just returned with their latest prisoner and Riku should be in the front room.
The prince descended the stairs where a group of guards gathered. Riku, the eldest with silver locks was in the middle.
"Ah, my prince," Riku said, bowing and excused himself from the group.
"Come with me, my old friend," the brunette ordered.
Riku obliged and they walked off into a deserted hallway, "Sora, what is it? You look terrible."
"The prisoner you brought, there was a girl that tried to defend him, what is her name?" Sora, the prince, asked the guard.
Riku raised an eyebrow, "you know you cannot marry a commoner."
"Do you know her name or not?" Sora asked, growing irritated.
The guard sighed, "Namine. The girl's name is Namine."