A/N: Just wanna thank EtoileCyberPrima and Kiryn for their support. You girls rock! And long live the Terra/Cinderella fandom! Here's a shout to my readers: Please check out EtoileCyberPrima and Kiryn's profile. They're professional at writing, each with their own unique style. ;)
Title: A Dream is a Wish
Intended Pairings: Terella, Namora and VanAqua
Genres: Angst/Drama/Romance
Disclaimer: All rights go to Square Enix and Walt Disney. I don't own any of the characters.
'A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep.
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru...'
Sora watched the raindrops pour down the window, sliding like pairs of crystal blue serpents into paths eroded by time. The road behind him was shrinking as well as the gloomy woodlands. He glanced over his shoulder at the trees that faded into the storm, branches hustling wildly in the howling wind. The car shook from side to side on the stony pavement yet his sister kept on a cheerful demeanour.
"At least the kids are asleep. It's sore enough listening to this crying weather," Sora murmured, leaning his elbow on the side and glancing at the toddlers that snored in the backseats.
They had her looks, he admitted inwardly. Their tawny hair and large cerulean eyes were identical to Cinderella's. The latter hummed gently and drove the old car as if the weather didn't bother her at all.
"Cindy, are you sure we should be leaving Charming's land? Why won't you fight?" Sora said.
One of Cinderella's dainty hands left the steering wheel and fingers brushed over a golden ring. Sora noticed her brilliant blue eyes, the only feature of hers that he had, glaze over with darkness. She hadn't appeared so doleful since the funeral.
"It's for the best," Cinderella spoke softly.
Sora fiddled with his seat-belt. Being a boy of seventeen, he understood that every adult wanted to be loved and his sister was one of them. She had endured a life of many tortures; this was another one. A hand ran through his unruly chestnut-coloured hair. His eyes met Cinderella's and she beamed at him with one of her most brilliant smiles.
"You worry too much, sweetheart," she told him. Sora scoffed and rolled his eyes before giving her a goofy grin.
"Gosh Cindy, you're not my mum," he chuckled. Her tinkling laughter followed
He only met her four years ago but they had grown so close that they're bond was as unbreakable as diamonds inside the earth's core. He would do anything for her happiness even if he had to fake a smile just to hear her laugh. The day he first came to know her was memorized clearly in his mind.
The newlyweds sat on the regal chairs as a thirteen-year old boy was accompanied into the room by the Grand Duke. The boy was glaring at the floor, blue eyes brimming with miserable tears. A clenched fist tightened on a parchment of paper that he held. The prince with the ebony hair spoke out first.
"What is this? He is just a child from a mediocre family. Why do you bring him here?"
"Sire, he has a letter from his recently deceased mother stating that he is related to Cinderella," the Grand Duke explained, straightening his shoulders and unaware of the boy's scowl darkening.
"Pffft! What utter nonsense. This is the tenth time we have to bear with such claims," the prince jeered, waving a hand dismissively in the air, "Tell the boy to -"
"It's Sora!" the child exclaimed with ire raging in his shimmering eyes, "My name is Sora!"
There followed a disheartened cry and a tantrum of fists banging on the floor. The newly-crowned princess ran from her chair and took the boy into her arms, rubbing his back reassuringly. Sora noticed that the princess was still a child herself, possibly no older than seventeen.
"Dear, may I read your mother's letter?" she asked, wiping his tears. The prince complained that she shouldn't be wasting her time with yet another person who pretended to be family but she was adamant with her decision. The princess took the parchment from Sora. Her eyes scanned through the writing and Sora could envision the words floating through the atmosphere because he had read the letter so many times himself.
'Lady Tremaine,
I have asked you before to tell Cinderella of her half-brother but I received no reply. My disease has spread to a stage beyond the help of doctors and I desperately need Sora to meet the only family he has left. Cinderella has no knowledge of his existence due to her father not telling her about our affair. He was a good man and always will be though he has left this world a long time ago.
I implore you to take Sora and give a place in your home, in your hearts for my own heart is too weak to love him anymore. I must let him go but I will be eternally happy to know if he is living with family once again.
I will not give my name as to hide my identity for the sake of Cinderella's father's reputation.
Yours Sincerely,
A dying mother'
A hand covered her mouth and Cinderella's face was now tear-stricken. Sora sniffed and wiped his nose with his sleeve, avoiding a look at the glaring face of Prince Charming.
"You're family...you're my brother!" the princess exclaimed, embracing the child tightly, her hand stroking his hair and her voice breaking into sobs.
Sora closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the scent of jasmine and musk filled his nostrils. It was her scent and he was glad that he found her because she filled the void in his world after his mother passed away. She took the role of guiding him like a mother but loving him like a sister. Not to mention, he was the uncle of two annoying brats...But that didn't matter as long they kept out of trouble.
She was his shelter when the rest of the world threw bombs in his direction and no matter how tough the situation seemed, she cradled him under her wing, helping him slowly find himself as he grew into the adolescent he was today. One could have hoped for another family member when his have been dead for so long, but he didn't dream to find a sister, a mother and a friend at the same time.
"Where will we be heading? The Castle of Dreams is far from our reach now," he said, averting his attention back to the dark clouds and whistling wind.
"Radiant Garden seems like a good idea to me. You have a place for school there and I can find a job," Cinderella replied.
Sora's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Cinderella didn't have home education. She didn't even have the chance to go to school because of her stepmother. She knew the language but was slow at reading and writing. Charming didn't want her to complete her education either. He preferred if she stuck to 'tasks meant for women.'
He was worried though. Who would look after the kids if he was to go to school and Cindy would work with her job but the bigger question was, which job would suit her considering her lack of education?
"It's the start of a new life Sora. Cheer up!" she laughed at his puzzled expression. Sora sighed and smiled for her sake.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"We're finally here."
Cinderella brought the car to a halt outside tall apartment blocks. By now, the shadows of the night had engulfed the large city until only the peaks of buildings were visible in the pounding rain. Jane, the older toddler, was awake and Sora had to coax her with chocolate to stop her from crying. The brunet took Victor into his arms and followed Cinderella into the building with Jane tagging along. The street was dimly lit with street-lamps that flickered subtly in the thick mist of the storm.
"Uncle Sora, the dark is so scawey!"
"I know, Jane but remember you have to be brave if you want the monsters to stop following you. They only jump out at children who are scared," Sora teased.
"Then I will twy to be bwave," Jane exclaimed but quickly held Sora's trousers when she heard a door creak nearby.
Luckily, their apartment block was on the first floor so they didn't have to do too much walking. The bells of midnight echoed outside as they opened the door to their apartment. Sora stepped inside, inhaling the scent of dust and old wood before coughing. Cinderella, on the other, rejoiced at how wonderful the rooms looked after switching the lights on.
The rooms weren't too small but they weren't luxurious either. There was a kitchen with a toilet fitted with a bath-tub outside the narrow hallway. Sora sighed with relief at finding a bed ready with down-filled pillows and duvets. Most of the homely utensils were there since the apartment didn't entirely belong to them.
The doorbell rang instantly and Sora heard Cinderella leave the kitchen. She scurried to the hallway.
"Sora, I think they're the landlords," she called out.
Sora kissed Jane goodnight on one of the beds and placed Victor into the cot that he set up. He didn't expect the landlords to arrive at this time. A husky female voice followed after Cinderella's and more footsteps thudded towards the kitchen. The adolescent curiously made his way to where his sister chatted. The landlord—or landlady in this case, was a medium height raven-haired woman with crimson eyes. She was well toned and dare he say, with a large bust. Otherwise, Sora sensed an aura of kindness emanate from her.
"Ah, this must be your brother? I am Tifa Lockhart," the woman smiled and extended her hand. Sora shook it, surprised at how calloused her hands were for a woman. They were the signs of a hardworker.
"Pleasure to meet you," Sora replied with an equally friendly smile. Cinderella suggested on them at drinking some to tea to which Tifa declined at first, but reluctantly agreed. They sat among the table, discussing the long journey to Radiant Garden.
"I understand your situation, Mrs. Charming and that is why you will only have to pay half the rent but you must find a job soon. I can help you but I must pay the expenses for this apartment too, you know?" Tifa said.
"Oh but I do. I will be looking for a job, starting from tomorrow," Cinderella stated with nod.
She gripped her hot mug of steamy tea, inhaling its cocoa smell. Sora threw four cubes of sugar into his drink, having always preferred sugary tastes over bitter ones. He glanced at Tifa who barely touched her mug but grinned at both of them.
"Sora will be attending school tomorrow morning? You know, my daughter Naminé goes to the same school," she said with a wink before sipping more of her tea.
"Oh how wonderful! Sora will make a friend already," Cinderella exclaimed blissfully. Sora relented on rolling his eyes at his sister's enthusiasm, earning a chuckle form Tifa's part.
"Naminé is a bit on the cynical side so I hope you're witty enough to catch her attention," the ebony haired woman clarified.
"I like meeting new people and making new friends so I doubt that your daughter will regret in meeting me," Sora grinned and more laughter followed.
"Because if you keep on believing in your dreams then friends will always be there," Cinderella said softly.
Sora gazed back at the warm cup in his palms. Dreams were easier to follow provided that one never wished to wake up.
'No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
Then the dream that you wish will come true'
~'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' by Waltz Disney's Cinderella (1950)