Hey guys! So I haven't been updating because my internet has been out for about a month now. Lightning hit my house... like no shit. It really did and knocked out a few things in our house, including internet. I have been writing for weeks now and this story popped in my head. I'm not sure if any of you watched those Barbie movies as a kid but this is based off the Barbie version of Princess and the Pauper because I was obsessed with it as a child. I didn't want to use the common name so I went with The Prince and The Peasant. Yeah I'm totally lame. BUT ENJOY.
Disclaimer: If I owned Kingdom Hearts... all my ships would be cannon.
-Ash
The young prince stared out the palace window in sorrow. His mother, Queen Tifa, was forcing him to marry a young princess from Twilight Town. He sighed, rolling his pencil up and down the desk. Why him of all people? Why didn't he get the chance to fall in love and marry who he wanted? He already loved someone else…
"Prince Sora?"
The brunette whipped his head up at his tutor, Kairi. He shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts, "Um, yes?"
Kairi brushed a red strand of hair from her shoulder, "Are you even paying attention? I've been trying to teach you this problem for five minutes now."
Sora groaned, "I'm sorry Kairi. I guess my mind is just wandering."
"About the arranged marriage?"
"Maybe a little."
The redhead giggled, "Prince Sora, it's okay to be nervous about the marriage. You hadn't really expected it. Our kingdom is running out of money, you know. We knew this might have to happen so that our kingdom won't fall." She sighed, "I know it's not what you had planned, but it's what has to be done."
"I know. I just wanted to experience love… But I will do whatever means necessary for my people. Oh and Kairi?" Sora replied.
"Yes, Prince Sora?"
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?"
Kairi sighed, "Like one thousand."
Sora grinned, "Exactly. So don't. Please? I want one person to treat me like a friend and not royalty around here. Riku's my best friend, but he still refuses to call me just 'Sora'. So if you don't mind…?"
"I got it… Sora."
The boy gave a grateful smile, "Thank you."
"Prince Sora!"
The brunette spun on his heals to face his intruder. The door of his room burst open and he stared at the culprit: Riku.
"Um, yeah Riku?" Sora asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"I'm sorry to intrude but the Queen wants your presence right away!"
Sora sighed, "Okay."
When Sora arrived in the large room, he saw his mother sitting on her throne at the center. Prim and proper as she always was. Although, much to Sora's despair, his mother's assistant Xehanort stood beside her thrown and stared him down.
Sora made an attempt to lighten the mood, "So what's shaking, Mom?"
His mother glared at him and the boy retracted, "I mean… Mother, what is it that you need?"
Tifa sighed, "Better. Now, I wanted to inform you that you will be meeting Princess Namine within the next twenty-four hours. I expect you to be dressed and prepared to meet her first thing in the morning."
Sora grew bold in the moment, "Mom… what if I love someone else?"
The palace crew gasped and Tifa's eyebrows shot up past her hairline. She opened her mouth to speak but Xehanort piped in before she could, "Please, Prince Sora, like you know anything about love."
"I do… I know how much my mother loved my father. I saw it…" The young prince peeped.
"Oh sure, sure. But you've never experienced it. You don't actually know how you feel when you're in love, silly boy. Plus, this marriage isn't about 'love' it's about money. Our kingdom has lost all of its gold, Sora. It's up to you to return our kingdom to what it once was. The people are suffering down there. Don't you want to do what's best for your people?"
The brunette gave a sigh, "Yes I do…"
"'Don't you want to do what's best for your people, Sora?' Meh, blah, blah." Sora mocked in anger, "Like he knows what the hell he's talking about!"
"Sora! Language!" Kairi gasped.
"What! I just, ugh, I know what's best for this kingdom! And giving me a random princess to marry isn't going to solve this! We need to go down to the caves and look for gold. They say there's nothing left but there must be. I know it."
"Sora, you know those tunnels aren't safe. They'll surely give any day now." She replied as she wrote down his next assignment.
"Kairi, take me to the village."
She choked on her own spit, "What?"
"Let me go see the village for myself. I want a taste of freedom before this marriage and I want to see my people."
"You're joking right? They'll never let you leave this castle." Kairi replied.
"Then sneak me out. We'll be fine."
"Sora… I don't know about this."
"Please? For me?"
"Fine."
"Yay!"
The carriage road up in the streets and Sora poked his head out of the curtains. Kairi grabbed him by a strand of spiked hair and yanked him back in.
"Are you crazy? You can't let people know you're here! Put this on." She said as she handed him a hooded cloak.
"This is… really ugly." He replied.
"I didn't say it was pretty. But it will blend you in and no one will know it's you."
"Alright…"
The young prince did as he was told and slipped the cloak on over his clothes. The pair got out of the carriage and headed down the streets. Sora gazed among his people and smiled at a few small children playing on the sidewalk. However, his smile vanished when he saw a few men boarding up another tunnel that once led to a cave of gold. Maybe he did have to marry this princess. It was his duty to his people, after all…
Kairi turned to him, "I'm going to go find us something to drink, okay? Don't you go too far okay?"
He grinned at his tutor, "Yes ma'am."
"You know that sun is shining. We'll keep riding. Doesn't matter where."
Sora cocked his head at the singing… What a nice voice…
The blond boy strummed the pick against his guitar as he sat on the gazebo's steps. Coins were dropped into his tin can as he continued to sing.
"Cause we got that open pathway. Leading our way. As long as you are there, yeah. We can go anywhere."
More coins dropped as the blond finished up his song. He smiled and reached for the cup, but was barely in his hands before it was snatched away.
"I'll take that." A voice sneered above him as he poured the money into his hand before dropping the can on the ground.
"What!" The blond cried as he stared down at the can.
"You still have debt to pay to me. That or you could just go live on the street, you know. I don't have to take care of you, Roxas. I'm doing it out of the goodness of my heart." The taller man growled.
"Like you have any…" The boy muttered with an eye roll.
The man bent down into the young man's face, "What was that?"
"I said: 'Yes Uncle Xemnas.'"
"That's what I thought you said. Get back to work, and stop dreaming of trying to be a singer. Because that will never happen." Xemnas replied as he stormed off back into his store.
Roxas sighed and placed his guitar into its case before throwing it over his shoulder. He then bent down to receive the tin. Just as it left the ground a hand dropped multiple coins into the can. Two pairs of ocean eyes met as Roxas looked up at the generous hero.
The blond then stared down into the can, "W-Wow, I can't take this much money, sir."
Sora grinned, "Of course you can. Someone with your talent deserves that much. I mean, wasn't that the amount you had before that man took it?"
"But, that was from singing all day. Not just from one person. And I think this is actually more than what I had." Roxas replied.
"Well good! That means more for you!" Sora said with another big grin, "So what's your name?"
"Oh. My name? It's Roxas."
"Wow! What a cool name! My name is Sora."
Roxas raised an eyebrow, "Sora? You have the same name as the prince."
"Well actually…" Sora slipped the hood off of his head, "Guilty as charged."
"Woah, your majesty it's so nice to meet you." Roxas replied with a bow.
"No, no, no, no! Don't do that." The brunette pulled the hood back over his head, "I'm not supposed to be here for one thing. Don't bring attention this way… and besides, I hate being called that."
"Why? Living in a castle would be amazing!" The poor boy said.
"No, no it's not. It's horrible. I can't go anywhere. I'd love to have what you have. Free to do as you please and love who you want."
"No. I don't get to do that. I'm imprisoned by my uncle. He makes me work for him."
"As a singing monkey?" Sora joked.
"Ha, I wish. No, he owns the store down on Main Street: Xemnas' Watches and Knickknacks. It makes me hate my life." Roxas replied with a sigh.
"I love that store though. I get a lot of presents from Kair… Kairi! I left without her knowing! Oh no, she's going to kill me!" The prince panicked.
"No, luckily for you, I know your voice from ten feet away." A female voice chimed.
Sora cried, "Kairi! I'm sorry, I just found Roxas here. He sings so well! I had to listen to him!"
Kairi gazed over the prince's shoulder before letting out a gasp. The cups slipped from her hands as she stared at the stranger. She spun her head back and forth between the two. Her mouth seemed as if it were going to reach the ground.
Sora titled his head at her like a confused cat, "What is it, Kairi?"
"You two look identical! If you had the same hair I wouldn't be able to tell you apart!" She exclaimed.
The two boys looked at each other. "I guess I didn't really notice it." Roxas said.
"How can you not! Wow. This is insane." Kairi stared at the two boys in disbelief.
"Well, let's see if we're really identical. Do you have this birthmark?" Sora asked as he pulled up the cloak and part of his shirt to show a small brown birthmark shaped slightly like a heart.
Roxas let out a chuckle, "Nope," He raised his shirt slightly, "Guess not."
"Well, the hair makes you two different too. Plus, Sora I'm pretty sure not many people have that birthmark." Kairi replied.
"Hey, it was worth a shot." The prince murmured.
"Oh crap, Sora. It's starting to get dark! We have to get you back. Riku can't cover for us much longer." Kairi exclaimed.
Sora sighed, "I guess you're right. It was nice meeting you, Roxas."
The blond grinned, "You too, Prince Sora."
"Sora. Just Sora." He said.
"Okay…Sora." Roxas smiled as he waved the two off.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Sora shot up from his bed with a start. He gazed around the room before sliding off the bed.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The brunette spun around and faced the door. The sound was coming from downstairs! He swung open his door and took down the stairs. He got to the large doors and saw them beginning to crack open.
"Who goes there?" He snapped.
Suddenly, he realized there was someone else behind him, but it was too late. A sack was thrown over him and the world went black.
"Queen Tifa! Queen Tifa!" Xehanort cried as he ran into the throne room.
Tifa crossed her arms with a scoff, "Please, what is it Xehanort? What is the problem? I'm in a meeting with King Cloud about the marriage of his daughter."
"It seems that Prince Sora has run away!"