Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Chapter 11– Threats

Two months passed since Terra's enigmatic meeting with King Nox. He still pondered the king's words. He'd known about his and Aqua's love longer than they knew they had been falling for each other. And what was more, Nox supported him over Caelum, his own son, to be with the water maiden.

However, due to the complications of Keyblade wielder laws, the two young Keyblade Masters could not truly be together. It would shame their Master that his two pupils had become involved in a romance when they knew better.

Terra was currently in his room, trying to figure out a way to get away from Seaside Haven with Aqua. He'd promised her that he would keep her safe from Caelum, even if it meant leaving their home.

He would do anything to be with her.

But too many restrictions were in the way.

"What am I going to do?"

Terra rolled over in his bed. His elbow bumped the wall the furniture lay against. He stared at the wall for another ten minutes before it gave him a headache and he decided to look out the window above the bed.

His room overlooked the soldiers' training courtyard. It was empty save for a person with a short mess of blue hair atop her head.

Terra sighed when he saw Aqua down below, training with her Keyblade. She was practicing her swordsmanship and a few movements that combined physical strength with magic.

She danced through an obstacle course of swinging axes. Her refined grace entranced Terra as he watched. He was so mystified by his beloved that he failed to notice his door opening.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" a drawling voice asked. Terra groaned the instant he heard it. Caelum wanted something and the Earth Keyblade Master had a feeling he wasn't going to like what the royal pain had to say.

He turned his gaze from Aqua to see Caelum leaning in the doorway.

"What do you want? And how do you know I was looking at Aqua?"

"I'm not an idiot, Terra."

"Could've fooled me," Terra muttered.

"Pardon me?"

"I didn't say anything."

Caelum took a deep breath (Terra held back a snicker when he saw the prince's nostrils flare), walked over to one of the armchairs, and sat down.

"You didn't answer my first question. What do you want?" Terra repeated.

"To let you know that I know you're going behind my back with Aqua," the prince said.

"Excuse me?" Terra cocked an eyebrow.

"Have you used magic on her or something to make her fall in love with you?"

"She truly loves me and I truly love her back," Terra hissed. "We've been at this for years, Caelum. It's time for you to give up."

"Well, I've been at it for years," Caelum said. "Attempting to win her affection while you just sat back and did nothing to even get her attention. And she ended up choosing you." He glared at the Keyblade Master.

"So you're out of luck," Terra sarcastically remarked. "Now, get out."

"I'm not finished with you," Caelum said. "End your relationship with Aqua, or I'll use every ounce of my authority as your prince to get rid of you."

"You have no authority over me, Aqua, or Eraqus," Terra said. "Keyblade Masters have higher authority than a royal family."

"While that's true, you are still residents of this world and this is where you were born and neither of you even knew you were Keyblade wielders until you were six years old!" Caelum retorted. "So, think of it this way; if you'd never become Keyblade wielders, I'd still have my authority over you and I could declare that Aqua would be my wife."

"She'll never marry you!" Terra snapped. "She wouldn't even if we weren't Keyblade wielders! And your father wouldn't support that either!"

"How dare you! Of course my father would!"

"He told me he supports true love! And that's what Aqua has with me! She'll never love you! Heck, she has never even liked you! And she and I had more chance of meeting outside this castle as regular kids than you would've if we'd never been Keyblade wielders."

"My father is a blind man!" Caelum roared. "Just because he thinks he knows what true love feels like doesn't mean it's true! And just because he thinks you have it with Aqua, just means he's spreading crazy theories."

The prince stood up and walked to Terra's door, his hand on the knob.

"Heed my words," Caelum said, "stay away from Aqua."

"You have no power over me," Terra said. "I can do whatever I want."

"Stay away from her or I'll tell Eraqus about your affair."

Terra's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Caelum smirked.

He had now crossed the line. Dragging Eraqus into it. The new Keyblade Master would be a dead man if his Master found out.

"If I'm not allowed to be with her, than I don't see why any other man should be allowed," Caelum sneered. "Besides, that's the law of Keyblade wielders. They cannot fall in love. So, what's more important? Your lover? Or your Master's honor? You'd disgrace him if he found out his prodigies were going behind his back in a romance."

Terra eyed the prince's deadly smirk. Caelum left and Terra plunked down on his bed. Thinking about what to do.

"He played the Eraqus card? For real?" Terra hit his head against the wall.

"What am I going to do?"

'Your heart has guided you thus far with Aqua. Let it continue to guide you through this difficult time for you both,' a voice whispered in his head. King Nox's voice.

"But what does that mean? Let my heart guide me? Well, how does it do that?" The earth knight grabbed his pillow and tossed it at the armchair Caelum had been sitting in.

Terra lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the king's strange advice.

It was somewhat related to the question Aqua had asked a week prior to his meeting with Nox, how his heart felt when he was around her.

"Well, how does… your heart… feel when you're around me?" she had asked.

"My heart? That's an odd question."

"Just answer it!"

"Well, my heart surges with warmth when I see you. Anytime I'm near you or that I've touched you, I've felt that same warmth. My heart… it's telling me to be happy. And to make sure you're happy."

And she had smiled that beautiful smile of hers, just for him. And he'd been happy.

"I think I see now," Terra mused aloud. "I need to listen to my heart. Just like Aqua is able to do. That's how she found out she loved me. She listened to her heart. Now, I need to listen to mine."

But he decided on one more thing. He needed to talk to Aqua. When Caelum wouldn't get in his way.

Short chapter and argument. I know. The next chapter will make up for it.

Speaking of that… brace yourself for the next chapter. Ugh… I can't believe I'm doing this.

Review?