Chapter 4: Follow Your Heart

In her and Drew's room, Aqua was crying her eyes out. It was her first day as a princess, and she hadn't done one thing right. She felt a small tap on her arms and looked up to see Sora, Riku, and Iris there.

"Hey, Aqua." Sora said with a smile. "Don't cry. If you're not happy, then none of us are."

"Sora, what am I gonna do?" Aqua asked. "I'm a complete failure as a princess."

Iris reached into her glove and pulled out a handkerchief, passing it to Aqua, who took it, but it was much too small for her, having been made for the mice.

"Why can't I learn to do this right?" Aqua then turned and looked in her vanity mirror. "Yeach. Look at me!"

"It's safe to say that you don't look like you." Sora agreed.

"Hey…" Aqua said. Everything suddenly became clear. Of course she didn't look like herself. She had spent so much time being what everyone else thought a princess should be, she was letting go of who she was. "You're right. Something's not right here."

"Like those stewed prunes." Riku pointed out.

"Exactly, Riku." Aqua said. "Also, why do they have to keep the palace so dark? Not to mention that snoozer of a dance and those boring colors that all look the same."

"And those stewed prunes!" Riku called out.

"Especially those rules about keeping commoners out of the palace. For goodness' sake, I was practically a dish maid when Drew married me, and he loves me because I'm me. I've been spending too much time worrying about someone else's rules about who I should be and how I should dress. First thing to take care of is this hairdo. I like it plain just fine."

Aqua undid the ribbon in her hair and let it fall down as she changed back into her casual clothes and curtseyed to her friends.

"I know I can do this." Aqua said with a smile. "I just have to stop trying to obey someone else's rules."

"So what are you gonna do?" Riku asked.

"Riku, I'm going to plan this banquet my way." Aqua said with a smile.

"Can we start with the stewed prunes?" Riku begged.

()()()()()

At the gate of the palace a few minutes later, Aqua turned to the gate guard with Selpie at her side nervous but smiling.

"Open the gates!" Aqua called out. The kind man did so, and Aqua walked out.

Who's to say the rules must stay the same forever more?

Whoever made them had to change the rules that came before!

So make your own way.

Show the beauty within.

When you follow your heart,

There's no heart you can't win!

Xion walked out to find the gates opened and gaped. She just told Aqua earlier this morning that the gates were only opened to royalty, and here they were flung wide open with Aqua and Selpie walking out of them!

Xion caught up with Aqua as she gave an invitation to the royal banquet to a flower salesman.

"Aqua," Xion tried to say patiently, but she was failing pretty badly. "Roxas and Namine wouldn't approve! You're supposed to be inviting dukes and counts and other aristocrats!"

"I am inviting them." Aqua said. "But I'm also inviting all my friends here in the village too."

"Aqua, I'd strongly advise against it." Xion said as she opened a small book that held all the addresses of the nobility that usually attended the banquet. "It's simply not how things are done."

"Well perhaps it's time to change how things are done and try something new." Aqua said calmly as she gently used Xion's hands to close the book. "Drop this off in my room if you don't mind."

Aqua then handed an invitation to a bald baker about two years older than Aqua as he smiled and dropped the dough he was kneading, which caused flour to spray all over Xion's front.

"Lovely." Xion said through her teeth.

So reach for the sky,

It's not high as it seems!

Just follow your heart.

Go as far as your dreams!

At the kitchen, Aqua sighed.

"This party needs help." Aqua said simply. "Starting with desert."

"Down with prunes!" Riku called out.

"Who doesn't love chocolate?" Sora asked as he pushed down a can full of chocolate powder.

"Mm… Chocolate…" Riku said as his mouth watered like mad. He then accidentally knocked over a bottle of milk that mixed in with the chocolate.

"Chocolate pudding." Aqua said with a smile. "Now that's a desert. Excellent work, you two."

"Heh-heh." Riku said with a smile as he put his hand against a jar. When he looked to see what he was leaning on, he saw he was leaning against a jar of prunes and quickly backed away in disgust. "Bwah!"

In the ball room, the orchestra was playing one of their favorite songs at the request of Aqua as she taught Selpie a dance her father had taught her when she was five at her first party.

"We never get to dance like this!" Selpie said excitedly as Wally's cousin Tidus, Yuffie, and Serah appeared.

"You wanted us and Tidus, Your Highness?" Serah asked.

"Yup." Aqua said. "Tidus why don't you learn the new dance from Selpie, and I'll practice my posture, and you two study and repeat."

With the books on her head, Aqua started to dance with both Yuffie and Serah before having them do it instead as she, Serah, Tidus, and Yuffie all danced around together.

Dare if you want to! Don't fear you'll fall!

Take a chance 'cause it's better than never to chance it at all!

As they danced, Tidus and Selpie ended up kissing while Aqua smiled, and Sora, Riku, and Iris looked on.

To complete the picture of perfection, Xion rushed in, and her eyes practically popped out of her head.

"It simply isn't done!" Xion called out, but no one paid her any mind. "IT SIMPLY ISN'T DONE!"

"'It simply isn't done.'" Sora said in his best impression of Xion and began dancing with Iris as Riku clapped in time with the music.

There's a world for the changing,

And you've just begun!

Don't let them tell you,

It's simply not done!

When you follow your heart,

You'll shine bright as the sun…!

Yuffie walked up to Aqua.

"Your highness, sand or broth?" Yuffie asked as she held up two napkins.

"Which color do you like, Yuffie?" Raven asked.

"Well, the royal family's colors are red, yellow, and white." Yuffie said after a moment. "I always thought maybe… No, it's stupid."

"Hey, my father always told me the only stupid idea is the one you don't say." Aqua said as she put her hand on Yuffie's shoulder.

"Okay." Yuffie said with a smile. "I thought maybe for the royal banquet, we could have all three royal colors as napkins, alternating between red, yellow, and white, all along the table."

"Perfect." Aqua said with a smile. "Just one more thing to do."

Aqua opened the curtains in the main hall as the light shown in.

"Oh, it's an amazing day." Yuffie said with a smile.

"Ming dynasty in a vase, what will Roxas and Namine say?" Xion shrieked as she rushed up.

"Look, I know this is a big change, but I have to try this my way." Aqua said calmly.

"Well I hope you know what you're doing." Xion said with a reluctant sigh as Tidus and Selpie walked up.

"Your Highness…" Tidus gasped. "Your Highness… Tifa's… Tifa's water… Oh man, I could go for some water right about now."

"Selpie, could you get Tidus some water?" Aqua asked.

"No problem." Selpie said.

"Now Yuffie, what's going on?" Aqua asked.

"Tifa's water broke!" Yuffie called out.

"Oh boy." Aqua said. "Tidus, you keep Cloud out of my room. Yuffie, bring Serah and Selpie to my room."

()()()()()

Outside Aqua and Drew's room, Tidus nervously waited with Cloud as he gulped.

"Hey, don't worry pal." Tidus said. "I'm sure Tifa will be fine."

"What's going on now?" Xion asked as she showed up.

"Tifa's having her puppies." Tidus said.

"In the princess and prince's room?" Xion squeaked.

"Yup." Tidus said.

"Is nothing in this palace sacred anymore?" Xion shrieked. "Next thing you know, Aqua's going to go and change the royal family crest to… Something else!"

Yuffie peeped out through the door crack.

"Tifa's started pushing." Yuffie said.

"Okay Cloud, the ball's in the court." Tidus said.

Yuffie walked out a few minutes later.

"The puppies are here!" Yuffie said excitedly.

"Wait a go lover boy!" Tidus said. "You're a father!"

Cloud barked happily.

"How many?" Tidus asked.

"One." Yuffie said.

"Two!" Serah called out.

"Two." Yuffie amended.

"Three!" Selpie called out.

"Four!" Aqua called out.

"Four?" Tidus said. "Four puppies, wait a go Cloud!"

"Six!" Selpie's voice called out.

"Seven!" Aqua called out.

"Eight!" Serah called out.

"Okay, she's done." Aqua finished.

"Eight puppies." Tidus said with a smile. "Cloud, that's excellent."

"Uh-oh." Aqua said. "We lost one."

"Oh man." Tidus said. "I'm sorry boy."

Aqua then came out.

"No seriously." Aqua said. "We lost one. He crawled off of the bed and he's hiding under it."

Cloud walked into the room and got under the bed as he brought the missing puppy out from under it as the newborn puppy was holding a stuffed rabbit in his teeth.

"Oh, he found Bunny." Aqua said as she took the rabbit from the puppy. "I thought I lost this little guy in the move."

Cloud then hopped on top of the bed and set his new son down and nudged him towards Tifa as she began cleaning all the puppies. The one who had gotten away squirmed, but he didn't get far.

"Now we have another surprise for Drew and his parents." Aqua said with a smile.

()()()()()

At the time of the royal banquet, Aqua was wearing a repaired version of her mother's white gown and white cloak as she breathed in.

"How do I look, guys?" Aqua asked.

"They're here, Aqua." Sora said as Aqua looked out to see all the carriages.

"Well…" Aqua sighed. "It's too late to turn back now."

At the ball room, Aqua saw everyone dancing to a lively tune and really enjoying themselves. Aqua smiled. So far, so good.

The children were all playing ring-around-the-rosy to the music.

()()()()()

Up on a decorative banister, the mice watched with a smile.

"Now this dance is more like it." Sora said with a smile.

()()()()()

When Raven noticed a duchess standing alone and watching the others enviously, Aqua introduced her to the flower merchant, and the two hit it off at once and started dancing.

"Oh, this dance is horrifying!" Xion called out.

Aqua shrugged. She knew she couldn't please everyone. As she walked on, she ran into Ienzo as he held up a flower.

"Oh hello." Aqua said. "And who are you?"

"I'm Ienzo." Ienzo said with a smile.

"No." Aqua said in mocked surprise. "You can't be Ienzo. Ienzo is just a little baby, and you're a big boy."

"Oh yes." Ienzo said. "It's me."

"Well thanks for the rose, Ienzo." Aqua said with a smile. "Mind being my dance partner until my husband arrives?"

"Yay!" Ienzo called out as Aqua picked Ienzo up, held his hand and twirled around with him in her arms.

()()()()()

Meanwhile, the mice took a small amount of food for their own while everyone else was too busy to notice.

()()()()()

At that moment, the fanfare started, and everyone stopped as Roxas, Namine, Drew, and Wally arrived.

"Pudding!" Selpie said as she rushed forward, slipped and the bowl of pudding flew off the tray before Tidus managed to catch it.

"Phew." Tidus sighed.

"Nice catch." Roxas said.

"Hm…" Namine said. "This looks interesting."

"Here it comes." Xion sighed.

"Who opened those curtains?" Roxas asked.

"It was all Princess Aqua's doing!" Xion said.

"Well good for you, dear." Namine said. "Roxas, look. A full moon, just like when you proposed."

"I know." Roxas said with a smile.

"I tried to teach her, guys." Xion explained, but Roxas and Namine had already taken a look at the guests.

"Commoners are in the palace?" Namine asked blankly as if she'd never even considered the possibility.

"She simply refused to listen." Xion went on as Roxas and Namine walked up to Neku and Shiki.

"Well welcome to all of you, especially to you Mr. and Mrs. Sakuraba." Roxas said with a smile. "Once again, thanks for helping us fix our wagon wheel the day before last."

"Think nothing of it, sire." Neku said with a smile.

"It's a scandal!" Xion went on.

"Um… Hi Roxas… Namine." Aqua said nervously.

"Hello dear." Namine said with a smile. "Remind me and Roxas never to separate you and Drew again. He wouldn't stop talking about you and worrying about you."

"Heh-heh." Drew said with a nervous smile.

"Also, what's for desert?" Roxas asked.

"Chocolate pudding." Aqua said.

"No prunes for desert?" Namine asked.

"It's an absolute outrage!" Xion called out.

"Excellent." Roxas said. "I never could stand those things. We only ate them because my father was constipated for a few months before he passed on."

"Plus, I know a certain prince whose favorite desert was chocolate." Namine said with a wry smile.

"Ah, Mom." Drew said as he blushed again.

"Oh, one more thing I have to show all of you." Aqua said as she rushed out with Selpie, Serah, and Yuffie. They all then returned with two of Tifa and Cloud's new puppies held in each of their hands.

"Aw…" The entire crowd of people said as the youngest puppy, the one who had hidden under the bed, sniffed around and opened her eyes as he looked all over and struggled to get lose, but being only a day old, she didn't do too well.

"Oh, look at these little darlings." Namine cooed as she took the struggling puppy out of qua's right hand and looked at him. The puppy stopped struggling and stared at Namine before she whimpered and managed to get herself put on the ground as, barely getting to his feet, he walked around and sniffed.

"Oh, wait little girl." Drew said as he picked the puppy up. "You might get hurt."

The puppy then looked down and saw her reflection as she starred and tilted her head as her reflection did the same.

"Oh, these puppies are so cute." Namine said. "Now we really have something to celebrate."

The puppy managed to get free again and pawed at her reflection.

"Well you are an oddball, aren't you Kairi?" Aqua asked as she picked the puppy up again and put him in a cushioned basket with his two brothers and five sisters. "Hey, that's a pretty good name. Kairi."

"So what happened to the music?" Namine asked. "Everybody, dance!"

Everyone smiled, and the dance resumed.

"I'm guessing I missed quite a few things." Drew said with a smile.

"You have no idea." Aqua said with a smile. The two then kissed again.

"We always said we needed some new traditions around here." Roxas said as he shook Xion's hand. "You did a fine job teaching her, Xion."

"But…" Xion stammered. "I barely taught her anything."

"Well I guess we should call it fate for someone so kind and independent fell for our boy." Namine said. "After dinner, we should get to know each other a little more."

"Go on, Xion, dance." Roxas said with a smile as he directed her to Wally. "You're missing all the fun."

At that moment, a tango started and Wally started.

"I was never one to back away from a tango." Hayner said with a smile.

"Oh well." Xion said with a smile, and the two danced.

"Young lady, you did an excellent job with this banquet." Namine said. "We should leave you in charge of all our parties… Except two."

"What two?" Aqua asked.

"Drew's birthdays and yours." Namine said. "I'm still going to handle those… Well because I want to."

"Fine by me." Aqua said with a smile.

"Once again, a splendid job with this banquet." Roxas said. "You and Xion make an excellent team."

"Actually it's the princess who deserves all your praises, you two." Xion said with a smile. "And I am honored to be at Aqua's service."

"Well this looks like the start of a great friendship." Aqua said as Kairi got out of the basket and ended up walking towards the party when Tifa grabbed her with her teeth and set her back with her brothers and sisters.

()()()()()

On the banister, Sora was dancing with Iris, and Riku was dancing with Hikari while Surane simply relaxed.

()()()()()

Just as the music stopped, Roxas and Namine escorted Drew and Aqua to their thrones and had them sit down.

"Naimne and I knew Drew had chosen well." Roxas said with a smile. "You're a natural at being a princess."

Roxas then put a bright blue tiara on Aqua's head as she smiled. Everyone cheered and clapped as the puppies made small barks.

"Another dance!" Namine called out.

"You know, I'm glad you do things your own way." Drew said. "It's the only way to truly be proud of what you've done."

"Well someday I'll get this princess thing right." Aqua said as she blushed slightly.

"I think that day is today." Drew said with a smile as he and Aqua kissed.

Just after finishing the first chapter, everyone took a break to talk about Aqua's first few days at the castle.

"Well Aqua sure turned things around here." Aerith said with a smile.

"Yeah!" Riku said. "No more stewed prunes!"

"Arf!" Kairi barked excitedly as he pawed a picture of Aqua and Drew kissing.

Chaos dose not own Cinderella or kingdom hearts, but she owns Iris, Surane belongs to SuraneSpiral, Hikari belongs to WingBladeWeaver1357, and Drew belongs to RedDiEnd.