Hello everyone, I'm back! I apologize for the long delay, from February, there's a heavy cold weather that took out the power and almost water in my home, then last month I've celebrate my birthday but I survived and now I'm back on my feet! Here is my next chapter of the story, this is how my OC's life began before the Journey.
Enjoy!
I do not own Kingdom Hearts. I only own my OC.
Chapter 2: The Beginning
Normal POV
1999, Houston, TX
The sound of a newborn baby cries in the patient's room. In the Room, was filled with baby gifts and balloons for the young woman along with her husband and two sons, one who is older was 9 years old and the other was only 2 years old.
As the baby calms down in the bundle and opened its eyes, the mother had tears of joy in her eyes while holding her new child. A baby girl.
"Ay dios mio… (Oh my God…) She's beautiful!" The mother exclaimed in joy. "Isn't she, Mi amor (My love)?"
"Si, mi vida. (Yes, my life.)" The father replied as he was standing next to her.
The brothers were sitting on either side of the bed, they're crawling over to look at their new baby sister who is looking at them confusedly.
"She is pretty. Like you, Mami." A 9-year-old said. Mother smiled at her son for appreciation. "Let's just hope she's not going to be more annoying as Leonel." He smirked at his younger brother.
2-year-old, Leonel, look at him as disbelieve and yelled babbled back to him with his arms out shaking in anger. The mother uses her free hand to pat her younger son's back to calm him down.
"Now now, Leonel. Herman was only kidding, right?" She smiled at him, then turn serious to her eldest son.
"Of course, I am." Herman said. "So, what is her name?"
The mother and father looked at each other with bulged out eyes as if they still haven't figure out what they want to name their daughter.
"Ay Carlos, después de trabajar tanto en el baby shower de nuestra hija la semana pasada todavía no hemos encontrado un nombre para ella. (Oh Carlos, after working so hard on our daughter's baby shower last week we still haven't find a name for her.)" She said to her husband known as Carlos.
"Cálmate, Elizabeth. Ya se nos ocurrirá algo. (Calm down, Elizabeth. We'll figure something out.)" Carlos said.
He started to think of a name that fit his baby but no avail. He started to pray a little to God to give him an answer while he turned to the window, it was nighttime; the sky is pure dark with few stars and the full moon appeared, then something pops in his head like a lightbulb as a remembrance. Carlos smiled and turned back to his wife as the baby looked at him curious.
"How about… Laila?" He suggested with a genuine smile.
"Laila?" His family said in unison.
"Yeah, it means Dark Beauty or Night Beauty from Hebrew and our baby resembles it. Since I love astronomy, she has black hair as the night sky, her light medium skin glows like the full moon." Carlos explained while he strokes the baby's rosy cheeks with his finger. "And finally, don't get me started on her beautiful eyes."
Carlos and Elizabeth looked at their newborn and he is right. The girl's eyes are blue, not just any blue. Sapphire blue. As her eyes shimmered, she smiles a little and raise her small hand to grab his finger. Carlos continues "Never in my entire life I've seen a child with natural sapphire eyes! They're like the ocean that glisten in the night on a beach which another part that I love in life: viewing the sea at day and night on the shore, she's most certainly been blessed by God."
"But which one, Dad? There is a variation of that name." Herman said.
"Hmm, That's true. Let's see… I know! It spelled L-A-I-L-A." Carlos replied.
"Laila… I love it." Elizabeth said while smiling to her baby.
"Yeah, me too. It's a very pretty name." Herman said as Leonel nodded eagerly.
Carlos softly smiled and return his glance towards Laila. "Then it's settled. Our third child in the family." He picked her up and carried in his arms from Elizabeths' and give her a kiss on her forehead while Laila cooed.
"Welcome to the world, Laila. Laila Lozano… Mi princesa. (My princess.)". Carlos said as Laila continues to coo with an open smile.
4 years later…
At the neighborhood park, The Lozano family is spending time with Elizabeth's sister's family to celebrate two of her three sons' birthday in a gazebo. The adults are enjoying themselves while the kids are playing in the playground, but one child is sitting on the swing; swinging a little, while watching her brothers and cousins play, not that she feels lonely, she's exhausted from running around and decided to rest. Wearing a white flowy spaghetti-strapped shirt with different kinds of flowers around the hem, pink leggings that stopped at the calves, and white sandals. She feels the summer breeze as her short hair ruffled.
Leonel, 6 years old soon to be 7 in the Fall, walked up to his little sister, Laila, now 4 years old. He's been looking out for her and only one who gives her a laugh. Even though she's four, she's been learning hard on how to pronouncedly speak, but some words are confusing.
"Hey Laila, what are you doing?" He said in concern.
"Oh nothing, just relaxing after all that running on the playground. It's kinda hard without girls my age to play with, since they're all in a different event with their families today." Laila replied.
By the look on Laila's face, Leonel thinks she might be bored but he has an idea to turn that frown upside down. He grabbed her hand and say "I know how to make you happy. C'mon, there's something I want to show you."
As two siblings of the group weren't playing, they're heading to a spot where no adult could find it. Hand in hand, Laila was curious of where her big brother is taking her until she saw a huge oak tree that has flowers and a big base of it.
"Hey Leo, where are we going?" Laila questioned.
"You'll see, Sis." He said in smirked.
Once they've arrived at the base of the tree, Leonel got down on one knee and turned to Laila. "I've wanted to show you this on your next birthday, but I think now is the right time."
"What is it?" She bended down on her knees next to him. Leonel pushed the bush aside and dig up the soil, at first Laila thought he was crazy as she only sees nothing but a bark until it was open door by a small rope her brother pulled. She gasped with her hands held up and look through the tree hollow, it was dimmed and warm inside. As she looked back to Leonel with an expression of 'Are you sure this is safe?', he gently smiled and took her hand.
"Don't worry, Sis. It's ok." He said. Laila was anxious about this, but she knows she can trust him with all her heart. She gives him a small smile in return.
"Ladies first." He said as a gentleman. With his hand gestured to the hollow, Laila crawled into it while Leonel followed her and closed the door.
Once entered the inside of the tree, in awed, Laila discovered an open area of the tree with writings on the trunk wall. Standing up and spin around, she looked at some flowers with every leaves branch is decorated, and the sunlight is coming through the hole above them.
"What is this place?" She questioned in amazed.
"Laila, this is the place where you will cherish your life moments. Our cousins and Herman found this when they're your age before they show it to me. I called it: The Tree of Memories." He replied.
"The Tree of Memories…Does Mommy and Daddy know about this?" She said.
"No. I wanted to tell them, but I don't know how they'll react. You know how they are when they find something new." He said in pout.
"Oh right." Ah, it's true, whenever we tell something or someone new, our parents get very weird like what's the word? 'Suspicous'(Suspicious). I know they are trying to protect us, but they can't keep doing it forever not even we grew up. She thought.
As Laila walks around, she found one of the writings with dates on the wall, raised her right hand and touch the one that said 'Leonel and Herman's new sister, Laila. 03-17-1999'.
Leonel walked behind and stand next to her. "Me and Herman carved this moment after you're born and visit this park for the first time. It was one of my favorite moments of mines and Herman's life." He genuinely smiled.
Laila smiled brightly as she admired her brother for putting her date of birth as a memory of her life. She continues to look at more memories '1st visit to Sea World in San Antonio, Leonel and Laila's Academy Graduation, 1st visit to an Amusement Boardwalk, etc.'. She really like the second one, her graduation in La Amistad Academy, that was the time when she dances her very first waltz in the ceremony. She felt like a princess for the first time in her own ball. Although, those days over there have been hard at times because she can easily get scared to answer questions when the teacher ask her and sits alone during lunch time.
Though her Academy days aren't the best, she's becoming stronger, forget the bad memories, and only keep the good ones.
Leonel took her hand and brings her to an open space on the wall. Curious as she is, he took out a small knife that was underneath a rock and started to write letters.
Once he's finished, Laila looked and read aloud 'Laila's visit to Tree of Memories'. Surprised, she looked back to her brother.
"As of now Sis, you are an official member of this place. Whenever you have a memory that you want to cherish, you can visit here anytime you want." Leonel said in sincere.
Laila returned her smile and hugged Leonel tightly which he returned it; their sibling bond have become strong ever since the beginning of her life.
"I love you, Leo. You're the best brother I have ever had." She said in appreciate.
"I love you, too, Laila. If you have any problems, don't be scared to talk to me. I'll always be there for you." He replied to his beloved Sister.
As the siblings release each other, a sound of calling them came from the hole above them. "LEO! LAILA!" Then suddenly, the tree trunk door opened and revealed a rich skin, hazel eyes, and dark brown curly short hair pre-teen. He was one of the birthday boys of their Aunt, His name is Bryan, 2nd younger Cousin.
"Oh, there you guys are. I see that you brought Laila here of our secret Tree of Memories, Leo." Bryan said.
"Yeah, I thought now is the time to show her our hideout, B." Leonel replied while Laila smiled and nodded eagerly.
"Well, it's a good thing you did, Couz. She deserves to know early." Bryan enthusiastically said. "Now, c'mon, It's time for the cake!"
The siblings got so excited they've rushed to the door and close it. After putting the bush back where it was so no one would see it, Leonel and Bryan are about run to the gazebo, but they stopped when Laila is down on one knee trying to fix her sandal strap.
Laila looked up and say, "You guys go, I'll be right there.". They both nodded and run back to their family. Then, she looked up at the tree as she was still amazed to find a place where she can treasure her memories.
It took awhile for Laila to hook back one of the holes in the strap, but she finally managed it. As she rises from the ground, she dusted off dirt from her legging, then unexpectedly, a tall shadow covered her from behind which made her turn around and sharply gasped.
What she saw was a tall brown cloaked figure and his face was darkly shrouded. Laila hesitantly stepped back with her clenched hands held up until about five feet away.
"Um… Can I help you?" She asked in hesitate.
"I've come to see the door to this world." An unknown figure replied.
"H-huh?" Laila confused.
"This world has been connected." He said in fascinate. "Tied to the darkness… soon to be completely eclipsed."
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Still confused, her small hands starting to sweat and so was her forehead. "Maybe it's best I tell my daddy about your problem."
"Hmph, so, it's true, you do not yet know what lies beyond the door." He spoke.
"What door? I-I don't understand." She said in a little frustration.
"There is so very much to learn. You understand so little. How will you protect the purest of hearts you were destined to be?" He disgraces her.
Purest…of hearts? Laila thought. Somewhere inside her heart snapped like something will happen to her soon, but another part is that she thinks that this mysterious man is crazy and just ignoring her questions and answers. 'Ok, now I understand why I need to stay away from people I don't know.'
"Listen Sir, I don't know where you come from or what 'door and destined to be' you were talking about, but I want you to leave me alone or else!" Laila exclaimed with a frown.
He continues to insult her "A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing."
Laila gaped as she gets scared. Her spine is starting to shiver to every bone she can feel. True, she can't understand for what he means, it's like those words he said will might haunt her. Just as she was about to reply…
"Laila!" A familiar voice called her.
She turned to see Leonel calling her with his hand cupped around his mouth like a small megaphone. Almost forgot about the party, Laila's sapphire eyes bulged out in fright.
"Sorry sir, you might want to-" She spoke then stopped.
When she turned around once again and found that the mysterious man is gone! Vanished without a trace! She rubbed her eyes by her clenched fists to see if she was just dreaming but nothing else happen after that. Laila was shocked at first but calms down later. Still, those man's words seem to bother her for a reason but what?
"Come on, Laila! Or else you're gonna missed the end piece of the cake!" Leonel exclaimed.
"Uh… Coming!" She stammeredly replied.
Laila walked backwards a little as if the brown cloaked man comes back but nothing, then suddenly, run fast as she could back to her family.
Later at night…
After the party, Laila and Leonel returned to their Aunt's apartment home along with their families. The guest kids went back home. With music going on, the parents are relaxing and enjoying themselves in the living room while the kids are in the cousins' room.
Laila was sitting on one of her cousins' bed having a 2nd piece of chocolate cake, just staring, and poking at it. She loves the cake, but she can't stop thinking about what happen earlier.
'This world has been connected?' 'Tied to the darkness?' 'I understand so little' What does he mean by that? And what's this about a door? It makes me feel like that maybe he knows about me. Or maybe it's just my imagination. She thought.
"This is so cool!" Bryan exclaimed.
Laila snapped her thoughts and watching her birthday cousins, Bryan and his eldest brother, Ricky, finish setting up their PlayStation 2 with a new game that Ricky got for his birthday present. She saw the disc holder box with a picture and name 'Kingdom Hearts'. When she first saw the front picture of a boy standing above looking at the night sky with big heart shaped moon along his friends including Donald and Goofy, she was suddenly hit with a pounding headache with her eyes closed.
XXXXX - Future Vision
After Leon convince the chosen keyblade wielder to join the king's best friends in the Third District, they are introducing themselves before starting their journey.
"Donald Duck." Donald introduced with his hand out.
"Name's Goofy." Goofy said as he puts his on top of Donald's.
"I'm Sora." Sora said as he put his hand on top of both.
The trio looked back at the new recruit, grown-up Laila. She is scared and nervous about this adventure since this whole thing is new to her, meaning she falls into a game where she is not supposed to be there and the only way to go back home is to help the heroes. Looking at their kind eyes with each smile, she knew that she will be ok as long as she's with them. Laila walked towards them and slowly putting her hand on top of Sora's. She put a small smile on her face.
"I'm Laila." Laila said.
XXXXX – End of the vision
Laila raised her hand to her temple and rubbed it slightly in a vain attempt to soothe the pain. The little pain really gives her a headache, something about the vision make her frustrated about today so she decided to forget this ever happened. Once the headache is gone, she finished the rest of the cake and watched the video game.
Little did she know, she missed the beginning of the opening and looking at the ending. Then suddenly, Laila got hypnotized when she saw the boy's face underwater when he took a step a flock of doves fly out from under him, revealing that he is standing on a picture of Snow White.
The moment she saw the mural of Snow White, the girl softly gasped at the intense pain building in her forehead, the edges of her vision began to blur slightly, and her eyesight appeared to grow fuzzy. The room began to spin, she blinked then fainted and fall on her side on the bed.
"Hey Laila, it's the princess you've watched." Leonel said then looks back at her. "Oh."
Only to find her asleep, he thinks it best to let her go and continue to watch Kingdom Hearts.
"It's better if we let her go to sleep. She had a long day today." Leonel softly said.
"Yeah, it's probably passed her curfew." Ricky said while smiling at his little cousin, Bryan and their youngest brother, Jeffery, nodded.
"Maybe next time we will show her about this game because she loves Disney and so do I." Leonel said in a gentle smile.
Unbeknownst to the boys, they thought she fell asleep but truth is, she passed out.
Unknown POV
(Insert: "Dive into the Heart" Song. Kingdom Hearts original/1.5 Remix version.)
In the realm of darkness, frowning little Laila was deep in slumber on her right side with her arms close to her face on the floor. Her head was in pain once again after some incidents happen today including the vision she had. Everything is quiet until a bright blue light appeared above Laila and blue particles drizzled on her. The headache was completely gone by that action, and Laila relaxed in calm form of sleep with an open mouth, Breathing in and out.
Laila…
From now on, I will be watching you throughout your life. Once you became a young woman, your journey with the other chosen wielder of the keyblade will begin. Soon, you will find the answers you seek, and your life will change forever.
Sweet Dreams… My Princess Guardian.
Author's Note:
Whew! Finished! Boy, that was a long chapter I've first type. To answer your questions from my thoughts, this story will be the Final Mix/1.5 Remix version, I am just bringing back certain memories from the first one I've seen from my life before making the remastered one of my own. And yes, I will be making more stories of the trilogy. Kingdom Hearts 2 and 3. Feel free to send me theory ideas for this story or my future stories on PM.
Some parts will be based on my life from childhood to present. My OCs, Laila and Leonel, will mostly be inspired by me and my brother. You know, what I mean. The Park is inspired by my childhood park.
There are different shades/tones of Sapphire which it took me a while to find the right color for Laila. Laila's eyes are Sapphire Blue or Blue Sapphire. Still confused, here is a copy link example to see the detail of Oval Blue Sapphire: www dot doamore dot com/gemstones/blue-sapphires/oval-blue-sapphires/
Don't worry, I'll translate the Spanish language into English.
I don't know how long will each chapter be when I type, it depends on where my imagination takes me and the life I had with Kingdom Hearts.