'Tis me, again! Now this story is all the KH characters in a medieval setting. It may seem like a horribly basic storyline, a simple mashing of the concepts, but I promise it's so much more, so enjoy! And please review!
Light of Freedom
Chapter 1 - A Forced Betrayal
Roxas, a young, blonde-haired, skinny boy of fifteen, sat around the fire, his 21-year old best friend Axel next to him. Cloud Strife, leader of their group, spins his tales again. He'd heard this tale many times – His valiant defeat of Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo, 3 master mercenaries. He knew that everyone around this fire had heard the story even more than he had, but they were all listening with rapt attention, as if hearing Kadaj's dying words for the first time. The crowd, including Roxas, cheers. Tonight is a night to celebrate – what they had been fighting for years was finally vanquished.
The next day, word from overseas, where the thing in question perished, reached the capital city - King Sephiroth is dead.
Those were the whispers going around all the towns and cities in the Kingdom of Urobaus, over which Sephiroth ruled. His sixteen-year-old son Riku had already been crowned king, and would surely usher in a bright future. Roxas weaved in and out of the markets, zipping between people, easily shaking off the beggars that hassled him to buy their horribly crafted and sometimes half-broken goods. He had to confirm it, and so he had to move to the rendezvous point, where he would meet up with their friend.
Roxas arrived, and saw his fellow teenager, a brunette, sapphire-eyed boy, slightly shorter than Roxas, and just a few days younger. And yet, this teenager was captain of the palace guard, who had held and repaired the castle in times of war and when nature pitted it's horrible temper against their castle. This boy, also known for his incredible ability – an ability which only a few people would be given in all of history, and that was wield the legendary Keyblade. He held two of the fifteen Keyblades, those being the Kingdom Key and the Oathkeeper.
"Sora!" Roxas greeted his old pal. "Great to see you!"
Roxas strode over to his friend, who let out a loud guffaw, and greeted Roxas heartily. "Now Roxas, I'm sorry there's no time for pleasantries, but we must get down to business. Did you bring your Keyblades like I asked?"
Sora smiled as Roxas summoned the Royalty's Key (A.K.A. Mickey's Keyblade) and the Oblivion. "You see, Roxas – I could always count on you to deliver." Sora said, as he hung his head and clicked his fingers. Several palace guards appeared and began converging on Roxas.
Roxas backed away, looking to his friend for help. "Sora – What is the meaning of this? Call off your men – we're friends, right?" At this, Sora rose up. 'We're friends, right?' had always been the question to which Sora never wanted to say no. He was about to give the stop signal to the guards when out came the only person who could give commands to the guards higher than Sora's.
"Roxas, come in peace or we will kill you." King Riku said. The tall, silver haired boy then turned to Sora. "Well done. At this rate you'll be with your little love in no time." Riku said, stroking the boy's cheek with a look that Riku knew he was in control, and Sora could do nothing in retaliation. Sora batted away his hands.
Roxas saw this as Sora trying to fight back Riku. "Go on, Sora! Get him!" Roxas exclaimed – Sora could easily defeat a pampered little pup like Riku! Only Sora didn't respond, but instead tried to speak.
"Roxas, I-"
But Riku walked in and pushed Sora away. "This little rat can't do shit. You see, Roxas, your dear friend Sora, fell in love with some worthless cousin of mine – Princess Kairi. Now it just so happens that the Princesses Kairi and Namine are the only people I could loose the throne to, so I had no second thought and ordered their execution, but found out about my own captain of the palace guards, meeting up with Kairi in secret after night. How romantic. Sora begged for me to spare the life of Kairi, and I agreed to – but on the terms that Sora must help me hunt down and capture at least two of the other Keyblade wielders… And then lend me his own power. So it seems that I have two. Just one more to go, Sora, and you'll have your princess back in your arms."
Roxas couldn't take it in – his own best friend would never betray him. Never. "You're LYING!" Roxas roared, charging a guard with his Keyblade. He managed to take out three guards before he heard Riku shout the order for Sora to stop Roxas. Sora and Roxas were equal in strength, but Sora had the element of a surprise attack, pinning Roxas to a wall.
"I'm sorry, Roxas." He said before kneeing Roxas hard in the stomach. The image of Sora face, lowered in shame, faded out, and so did the noise of Riku's cackling laugh.
-- To Be Continued…
