"YOU WHAT!?"

Hikari was staring at her sister in a state of pure shock, her eyes wide and her mouth dropped open. Yumi winced, covering her ears as the echo of her sister's voice vibrated off the walls of their house.

"I... met... and fought the Prince?" Yumi replied, speaking softly in hopes that her sister wouldn't freak out and scream again.

"... I'm shocked that you met him, but fighting him... for Light sake that is just a lot to process..." Hikari admitted, staring at the phone in Yumi's hand. "Though... gotta admit nice to see him... he's kinda cute too..."

Yumi only looked aside as her sister said that, hiding the blush at that sentence. "There's something else, too..."

Hikari blinked, looking at her sister as if she had just said she was a fifteen foot elephant heartless, "You met, fought, and snapped a picture of the Prince. What else could you POSSIBLY have to add to this already unbelievable story!?"

Yumi fidgeted under her sister's stare. "Well... since, technically, I fought him to a standstill with only my shield... he was impressed, and..." She then muttered the next part, almost as if she couldn't believe it was real herself.

"He what? What did he do?!"

"He asked me to be his bodyguard for the coronation!"

Hikari blinked, then began to pace the room. "I don't believe you... I mean, it's already unbelievable that you fought him, but then you drop that bombshell on me and I just-" With a frustrated growl, she turned on her heel after a feather flew past her face. "WILL YOU TWO BEHAVE FOR ONE BLOODY SECOND!?"

Yumi blinked, turning to see her sister was glaring at the two boys in the room, each one holding an almost deflated pillow in their hands. The boy closest to her blew a feather that was threatening to poke his green eye, the feather floating up and landing on his silver hair, which framed his face and draped down to his lower neck. "Sorry, Hikari, we were bored." He dropped the pillow, more feathers flying out and sticking to his black, short sleeved hoodie, one even threatening to fall into his white undershirt. The boy then yawned a bit, sitting on the ground which only caused more feathers to stick to his dark blue pants, his hands reaching for his black and white shoes as he stretched. "What are we talking about?"

"The fact that my sister did the impossible, and has more to add to that already impossible story, Ren!" Hikari shouted, giving him an irritated stare.

"Oh, so that's where she was when I came over", Ren mused, tilting his head and looking at Yumi with an impressed expression. "Quite the feat, I say."

"Eh, it's not that special," the other boy said, brushing some feathers out of his long, upper back length black hair, his yellow eyes following one as it floated daintily to the floor. "Prince or not, this guy doesn't sound all that grand to me."

"That's because you're a sour sport, Shun," Hikari grumbled, now giving him the same treatment as he brushed feathers off his black pants, the feathers falling onto his shoes, which were similar in color.

"Hey, I'm hard to impress, what can I say?" Shun stated, crossing his arms over his grey , short sleeved shirt. "Gonna take more then some prince to do that."

"Then why did you want to sneak in to meet him?" Ren said smugly.

Shun's eyes got a bit wider, his arms falling as he scratched the back of his head a bit. "Well..."

"I heard about what happened with you, Shun... the guards didn't hurt you, did they?" Yumi asked, concerned.

Shun smirked at that, sideways glancing at Hikari as he flexed a bit. "Not at all! Gonna take more then a few hired hands to hurt me!"

Hikari only gave a sigh in response, "Yeah... but you have no problem saying 'ouch' whenever my sister hits you with her shield."

At that, Shun got flustered again, only crossing his arms and grumbling about how the shield was made of metal and that would hurt anyone. Ren, meanwhile, only looked back at Yumi. "Bodyguard, huh? Guess that means you won't be sitting with us, then?"

"P-probably not", Yumi said, giving him a sheepish smile. She then brought her hands together, her fingers fidgeting a bit. "Honestly... I have no idea how I did that. Maybe my training with Grandpa paid off more than I thought it would... it still doesn't feel real..."

"What happened, exactly?" Hikari asked, looking at her sister with newfound interest. "Don't get me wrong, you're good... but from how you described the Prince, he sounded like he could fight Grandpa, and WIN!"

"I'm not sure... it was like... time just slowed down, yeah?" Yumi said, gesturing with her hands.. "Suddenly, I was moving before I even thought. I pinned his weapon down with my foot, since he was aiming at my legs, and... then I hit him with a right hook... I think I overextended a bit and-" She froze in her description, her eyes widening and her lips forming a silent scream for a second. "I hit him in the FACE! Why did he hire me when I hit him in the FACE?!"

"I dunno, maybe to arrest you in front of a watching audience?" Shun laughed, entertained by the thought of Yumi decking the Prince.

"NOT funny, Shun!" Hikari snapped, glaring at the feather covered teen, before turning to her sister with a look of confusion on her face. "I dunno... maybe he was impressed by what he saw."

"That or he fell for her," Ren added. Everyone stared at him blankly, the silver haired teen looking at them all in confusion. "What!? It was just a suggestion! People fall in love for weirder reasons!"

"N-not funny!" Yumi said, her cheeks turning bright red at that as she still looked absolutely terrified. "I feel really bad that I hit him, I do NOT need that confusion in my life, too!"

"Well... I still think he was just impressed by what he saw," Hikari noted, before another detail reared it's head. "Oh boy... how do we cover this one up with Strict Number 1 and 2..."

"Say the Prince fell in love with their daughter?" Shun suggested, laughing, which only earned him a swift smack on the head from Hikari.

"I-I can't hide that from them!" Yumi said, now in full panic mode. She stood up, starting to pace the floor in rapid, anxious steps. "If I try to lie to them, they'll figure it out as soon as they see me standing there with him! And then they'll learn how I got the job, and they'll ground me for life, and Grandpa's gonna stop training me, and-"

"What's this about me not training you anymore?"

"M-Master!" Ren stuttered, bowing as a new figure entered the room. The old man stepped slowly, stroking his long, white beard as he ran his hand along his purple robe, straightening out the few wrinkles. He then ran his hand over his white hair, looking to each teen, as if reading their very soul.

"Alright, what is going on?" he asked, his voice piercing the hearts of them all, the effect of it instant.

"I snuck into the Twilight Citadel and fought Prince Tenmei and now he wants me to be his body guard for the coronation!" Yumi blurted out, her eyes wide as she could not stop the stream of words from escaping.

"Yumi! Shut up!" Hikari hissed.

"Can't!" Yumi sobbed, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Too scared!"

Hiroto stroked his beard some more, before he smiled. "Two students fighting one another... well, can't say that's the first time that's happened. Ren and Shun exist after all."

"Hey!" both of them said at once.

Yumi blinked, her demeanor only becoming slightly less stiff as she stared at her grandfather. "You... you're not mad at me?" she said with a sniff.

"Why would I be?" he asked, looking at her with a genuine look. "After all, you're only a child... I could give you a heart attack with some of the things I did in my youth... besides, everything turned out okay, so it's not like it matters, now does it? I'll talk to my daughter and see if we can't squeak you out of a punishment, hmm? It would be a shame for you to miss an important job due to being grounded."

Yumi gave a sigh, falling back onto her seat with a shaky breath, trying to recollect herself. "Oh, thank the Light..."

"Wait... students?" Ren suddenly realized, widening his eyes at his teacher. "You mean that-..."

"Correct," Hiroto grinned. "About time one of you realized I said that... yes, I trained Tenmei. After all, he IS the heir to the throne, and that has been the duty of many of teachers in the past."

"You trained the Prince?" Hikari finally caught up, wide eyed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

At that, Hiroto feigned emotional hurt. "I do tell you girls about my stories, but usually you drown them out or fall asleep!"

At that, Yumi felt her emotions spike once more, and she turned bright red yet again. "Grandpa! Not in front of Ren and Shun!" she hissed.

"Ah well, next time I'll tell you the one about how I acquired my Keyblade," Hiroto winked, turning to the door and looking over his shoulder at Ren. "Speaking of, after the event tomorrow we might work on summoning yours, Ren!"

Ren paused at this, looking at bit flustered. "Master... I'm still not sure I am a Keyblade Wielder. You say I am, but I just-"

"Oh, quit that!" Hiroto added, looking at him with his signature piercing look. "I know a Keyblader when I see it, and trust me, you are one... a very special one at that... anyway, time to prepare for a talk with my daughter..." And with that, he walked out of the room, muttering something about becoming too old for this.

Ren sighed at that, waving his hand in the air as if swinging a sword. "I've done all the training exercises, can basically disarm a person using only a stick, and have even been in danger before... so if I am worthy of a Keyblade, why hasn't mine appeared yet?"

Hikari looked at Ren with pity, frowning a bit. "It'll come to you in time... you just need to be patient."

Shun laughed at that, "Ren and patient don't mix."

"Funny," Hikari glared at him, a bit of bite on her words.

"Don't listen to him, Ren", Yumi said, giving him an encouraging smile. "I mean... if I... somehow impressed the prince... then you definitely have what it takes to summon a keyblade. Grandpa Hiroto isn't usually wrong about stuff like this." She reached over, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving a reassuring squeeze. "Just... have faith in him, alright?"

"That's right!" Hikari added, placing her hand on his other shoulder. "Besides, once you summon your Keyblade, Shun won't stand a chance!"

"Have to put me down, huh?" Shun asked, looking hurt from her words.

"Yeah... thanks guys!" Ren smiled, giving them a reaffirming nod, before looking forward and stretching out his hand, as if calling for something. "Maybe when I do summon my Keyblade, I can join the royal guard... that'd be something, huh?"

"Fat chance!" Shun laughed jokingly. "I'll be in the royal guard way before you!"

"Yeah, right!" Ren smirked, reaching over and gently punching Shun's shoulder. "As if they'd let a troublemaker like you in!" Shun couldn't argue that, and let out a chuckle of his own.

"Well, when you do get there, remember who your senior is!" Yumi stated, placing her hands on her hips and puffing up a bit. Everyone in the room began to laugh at that.

XxXxXxX

"I'm back!" Ren shouted, walking into the foyer of the two floor house, kicking off his shoes revealing grey socks.

"Ren, you're just in time!" a masculine voice came from the kitchen. "Help me prep the sweets were going to hand off at the coronation tomorrow!"

"Shouldn't that be something Mom handles?" Ren asked, looking worried at the thought of his father being near anything edible.

"Oh, settle down," his father stated, sounding a bit hurt. "Your mom already cooked them, and we just need to put them in containers so they don't go bad. Now get in here!"

"Alright," Ren nodded, walking into the kitchen, where his father was moving cookies, brownies, and other delicious treats into various clear containers.

"Still wearing your lab coat, huh Dad?" Ren asked, looking over his father's white outfit.

"Just got home," his dad stated, looking tired, bags practically forming under his brown eyes as they spoke. "Heard there was a ruckus in the castle earlier as well, so they made me stay late to be sure... even though that is not my job..."

Ren had to hold back his laugh, knowing exactly what said 'ruckus' was. "Sounds like you had an eventful day."

Ren's dad laughed, picking up a huge tray and dumping the contents all at once into another container. "And then I come home and have to do this... well, your mom was the one cooking all day, so I don't blame her for wanting to rest."

Ren looked at his father and frowned a bit, "Wasn't the best day for me either..."

"Don't tell me that kid Shun got you and Hikari in trouble again..."

"N-no," Ren stuttered, though the quirk of his father's eyebrow told him that he wasn't buying it. "J-just failed to summon my Keyblade is all."

"Ah, well... that'll come in time..." the father paused, looking at the next tray of sweets. He then looked back at his son, an alarmingly calm look on his face despite the stress he had been through that day. "Have I ever told you about the Legend of the Prince of Twilight?"

Ren rolled his eyes at that, "Yes... repeatedly. But why is that important now?"

At first, it seemed like he was going to say something else, but Ren watched as his father only shook his head, returning to the task at hand. "Don't worry about it... just promise me you will attend tomorrow, ok?"

"Not that I have a choice," Ren added with a bit of salt. "If Mom doesn't make me go, Master Hiroto will. And if Master Hiroto doesn't make me go, Hikari will! And if Hikari doesn't make me go, then-"

"I think I get the picture", his old man chuckled. "But still...?"

Ren looked at his father with a bit of skeptical wonder, before finally sighing. "Yeah... I'll be there. Even though it is my birthday and I'd rather be spending it doing ANYTHING else."

"I promise, as soon as it's done, we'll take you to your favorite places to celebrate", he said with a weary smile. "Now, give me a hand, will you? The sooner we're done, the sooner we can all take a break."

XxXxXxX

"Couldn't have gotten us better seats, Hikari?" Shun asked with a bitter tone, trying to see over the head of a tall man sitting in front of him.

"Hey, I don't choose where other people sit. Now quiet," Hikari hissed, glaring over at him. "They're about to start."

Almost like clockwork, the sound of the trumpets filled the air. Ren looked over at the castle steps as several guards began to file out in formation, each one staring straight ahead and not wavering once in their movements. They all stepped to the side as a tall, sculpted figure stepped forward. His hair was a silvery grey, and a goatee framed his mouth perfectly as he walked along. His crown was silver and plain, showing both his regality and his humanity. He wore only a fine suit, with tassels hanging from his shoulders. His many badges showed his military service, and his yellow eyes stared out toward the crowd before him. Ren could see the prince stepping forward as well, with Yumi following close behind him. She was dressed in an elegant suit as well, wielding a much fancier shield on her arm. Despite it's ornate appearance, she seemed to hold it like she had been all her life, showing off her mastery of the shield.

Tenmei himself did not wear a crown yet; he would be crowned once his title had been announced. He looked out toward the crowd, and Ren could've sworn that his brow furrowed a bit in confusion as he looked over his people. "Is it just me, or does the prince look... worried?" Ren stated, glancing over at Hikari and Shun.

"Probably the first time he's seen this many people before," Shun suggested, shrugging. "Don't forget, it is his first time being exposed to the public."

Ren looked at him for a moment longer, before turning back to Tenmei. As he looked at the Prince's face, he could almost feel the same sense of dread the Prince seemed to be feeling... in fact, it felt as though something terrible might happen at any moment.

"My beloved citizens... it is on this day that we celebrate the crowning of our Prince", the king bellowed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "It is not only the day of our sacred coronation... but it is also my son's fifteenth birthday." This caused Ren to blink in surprise, as it was also HIS fifteenth birthday on this very day. "I am humbled to not only share his crowning with you all... but to also share in the joy that his birth has brought our family and kingdom is more than I could ever ask for. I thank you all for the wondrous gifts you have brought today, and will ask that all of you stay, if you would, to celebrate with us. Of course, it is only a request; should you have urgent business, I will not find offense in you leaving a bit early." The king gave the first smile of his whole speech, showing that he, indeed, was happy with the day. "And now... we shall crown my son... Tenmei... the next Prince of Twilight."

"He forgot the Citadel part," Shun critiqued, looking bored.

"Must be from the pressure," Hikari noted, looking towards Ren and Shun, before realizing the Ren was glancing around in a frantic matter. "Ren, are you ok?"

"Something's wrong..." Ren muttered, looking worried.

Meanwhile, on stage, Yumi noticed the same thing with Tenmei. "Your highness...?"

That was when Tenmei turned to her, a look of fear on his face. "You need to go. Now."

"W-what?" she asked softly, confused. "I'm supposed to-"

"I know what you're supposed to do, Yumi, but trust me on this; go to your family. Do not let them out of your sight." He looked forward, staring at one specific spot in front of them. "Darkness is coming... and I don't think our guards will be able to handle it."

Almost as soon as he said that, a dark portal appeared out of nowhere, causing gasps and mummers from the crowd of people gathered there. From the darkness, stepped an elderly man, his hair black and grey in streaks, his orange eyes locked on the king, hatred practically flowing from his glance. "Hello... old friend."

"Xao!" the king bellowed, glaring back in vehement disdain. "You have no business being here, traitor! Turn back and flee now, before I have you killed on sight!"

Xao only scoffed at this, unthreatened by the declaration on his life. "You're underestimating me, Yami... you think I am still the same man I was fifteen years ago... but you are dead wrong, my former friend..."

"How dare you-!" King Yami moved to reach for his sword, but his son stepped forward, catching his father's shoulder. It only took one glance from his son to know something was wrong; fear was clearly evident in Tenmei's eyes, even though he was doing his best to look strong. The prince then stepped froward, staring Xao down.

"Why have you returned, Xao, enemy of the Citadel?" he asked, trying to look strong for his people. "I'm certain you didn't show up to wish me a happy birthday."

"You're correct in your assumption, Prince," Xao stated, spitting the last word with the upmost loathing in his voice. "I am here... to give a demonstration."

"A demonstration..." a guard to Tenmei's right muttered, almost laughing. "Please... YOU DIE HERE!"

"WAIT!" King Yami shouted, but it was too late. The guard ran forward, and was instantly struck down by Xao, who pulled a sword as if from nowhere, almost as if he had summoned it to his side. Yumi gasped, not having even seen the man move, her instincts telling her immediately that not only was she outmatched, but everyone else here was as well.

"That... was just one heart," Xao muttered, hunger in his eyes. "And now, Prince Tenmei... watch as your entire kingdom is fed to my dark army."

Tenmei gave a glare, steeling his nerves. He knew he didn't stand a chance. But if what Xao said was true, then he had more than enough dark power to push this world to ruin. But it was his sworn duty to protect his people. And so, he threw off the ceremonial cape he had been forced to wear, and held his hand up. "Then... by my right, and as my first action as Prince of Twilight... I will do everything in my power to defy you, Xao!"

A flash of light and shadow formed in his hand, and the crowd gasped. Even Xao was shocked. The weapon in Tenmei's hand was a Keyblade unlike any other. The main shaft was evident, reminiscent of the most basic keyblade frames, but it was decorated with tendrils of light and darkness that traveled along the blade, coming to a point to make the tip and teeth. Four teeth on one side, pointed outward and painted black, and four teeth on the other, facing inward as they reflected the purest light. The handle was reminiscent of a sun on one side, the white spikes pointing outward, away from his fingers, while the black moon curved over the other side, completing the arc. A heart, broken in half and colored white and black, hung from the base of the handle, swinging by its chain as he swung the blade into position.

Tenmei had summoned the legendary keyblade, Twilight's Guardian.

Xao recovered from his shock, a sinister smile forming on his face. "Unexpected... but not unwelcome... in fact, this is going to make this even more enjoyable for me." With a snap of his fingers, more shadows appeared like the one Xao emerged from, only these were smaller, and coming from them were ant like creatures with yellow eyes, which glowed in hunger as they looked around, moving erratically. A few people screamed as the creatures swarmed the area, panic raising rapidly as the lust for blood filled the air.

"Kill them all."