The Prince, The Knight, and the Warlock's Apprentice
Chapter 1: Lighthearted
Once upon a time, on a sunny summer morning, there was a baby crying in the woods.
It wept and wailed as its legs kicked and thrashed in a burlap swaddle. It cried so hard that the sound drifted passed the trees, into the heavens, toward the dark reaches of space.
The sun was the first to hear the noise. It broke through the leaves to tickle the babe's cheeks.
"Don't cry!" The sun said, "I'll give you the gift of my light to make your smile beam. Your joy will be warm and comforting to all around you."
The baby was appeased for some time, but eventually, the sun ebbed away in favor of night. The darkness crept across the babe, and in fear, it began to wail once more.
Hearing the sound, the stars shuddered and twinkled at him.
"Please don't cry!" They begged, "We'll give you the gift of our light to make your eyes sparkle! All those who look within them will be taken with their endless beauty!"
This also pleased the child for some time, but eventually, a chill set in and the wailing resumed.
This time, the full moon heard the noise. Feeling the baby's sorrow cascading up to the heavens, the moon couldn't help but comfort the child with her beams.
"Hush now," Cooed the moon, "Little one, do not cry any longer. I will give you the gift of my light, so your heart will be full to bursting with it. True beauty is not in the face, but in the soul… and yours will be as pure as the light of the moon."
Now that the child was filled with light, he couldn't help but drift into a comforting sleep; it was a sleep deeper and more restful than any babe before him ever knew.
But then, once the dawn came, a stranger sensing the powerful light came to find its source…
"No, no, no, no…" The prince hissed.
Sitting at his desk, he stared down at the fist clenched before him. Thin streams of golden light wafted from between his fingers. It lit the paperwork and lacquered wood below him in a warm glow.
If he concentrated hard enough he could eventually will the "sunspots"—his name for the phenomenon—away. If he waited long enough, with deep enough meditation, eventually the light would wane. This morning, though, was the worst possible one for attempting any form of concentration.
Relenting, he relaxed his fingers and let the light appear in his palms unhindered. To stare at it directly would some days feel like admiring a burning hearth… but on this day, it felt like glancing at the sun. Were the stars in his palms powered by something like his stress, then it made sense to burn so brightly.
"Please," He begged the little stars, or suns, or whatever they might be, "Please, please… not today…"
Yet they shined on, still drifting their golden, glittering tendrils into the air.
The prince groaned and leaned back in his desk chair, his hands limp atop his paper-strewn desk. He looked to the grand windowed doors of his bedroom, where the noontime sun was just out of sight.
The sunspots were always right on time: appearing just when the sun was highest in the sky. Passed the doors was his balcony, his most beloved place in the castle. This was mainly for the seclusion and privacy it provided, while simultaneously having a fantastic overlook of the castle grounds.
The prince tapped his glowing fingers, which surprisingly never seemed to burn or harm anything, against the papers upon his desk. When the sunspots first appeared a mere month ago, his initial instinct was to hide and repress them… but was it his concentration that was making them fade? Or simply the passage of time? What would happen if—
The prince stood up and swiftly approached the door. He threw the doors open and looked up to the sky. The breeze tousled his hair and clothes, the bright summer sun warming his face. He couldn't help the smile. There was something about the sunshine that always, without fail, brought a smile to his face.
The prince held his balled fists forward. Something in the back of his mind made him wonder what would happen if he tried this. What kept him from trying this before was the fear that exposing light to light would somehow make it worse… but today, he was desperate. And in a hurry. And stressed.
Taking a deep breath and squeezing his eyes shut, the prince uncurled his fingers.
A surge of something washed over him.
He risked a glance… but then fully opened both eyes when he saw what was happening. From his sunspots lifted the smallest of orbs, drifting heavenward, like golden dandelion fuzz. Trapped between the emotions of wonder and confusion, he could only stare as the sunspots slowly shrunk from their glittering release.
On a lark, he wiggled his fingers. To his delight, they began to alter the light with their movement. He began to twist and roll it, shaping it into evanescent shapes like one would mold clay. A hawk, a butterfly, a wolf, the moon… he was simply amazed that such a feat could be possible.
A sharp knock ripped him from his reverie—one, two, pause, one, two, three. Then, a deep voice, "Ventus?"
The prince knew exactly who this was.
His hands collapsed upon the shape, dissolving it. He did an about-face, his hands knotting tightly behind his back. He hoped with all his might that the sun would block out any tendrils that may escape.
Ventus' ornate bedroom door opened to reveal his father. King Eraqus, no matter where he went or who's presence he was in, carried himself with a sure posture and a piercing gaze. Even still, Ventus and all the kingdom knew Eraqus had a heart of gold beneath this commanding veneer.
To mask his unlikely pose, Ventus pulled his shoulders back to mimic the king's stature. "Good afternoon, Father."
King Eraqus melted into exasperation, and it was then that Prince Ventus noticed his father's frazzled edges.
"Ventus, have you started getting ready? The guests will be appearing any moment—I've been looking everywhere for the chef, and my advisor, and we seem to be missing a maid… and you're still up here—"
"Father," Ventus smiled reassuringly, "I promise I won't be late to my own party. As soon as I'm ready, I'll help with the preparations."
Eraqus seemed to take pause at this, as is usual with many of Ventus' smiles. Something about this simple change of expression always seemed to alter the mood of those around him. It's part of why so many in the kingdom had labeled him "beloved prince," or "handsome prince," or "dreamiest prince," or any number of silly compliments that merely served to embarrass or annoy him.
After a moment of thought, the king sighed. "I cannot ask you to assist with preparations for your birthday ball, Ventus."
Ventus couldn't help the thought of, More like my adoption ball. He responded with, "It is a good thing you didn't ask then. Consider the blatant cry of help ignored… while I simply…" He shrugged, "Figure out where I'm needed."
The king nodded once in appreciation, "Ventus, you will make a fine husband to your future queen yet."
At this, Ventus had to stifle a grimace. Eraqus was always going on and on about this mysterious "future queen," certainly the one that would bear from her loins a great many grandbabies to coddle… but the truth of the matter was simply not meant for this day.
Ventus faked his brightest beaming smile, "If you say so, father."
In time, Ventus assured himself, his own children would be much like himself: happily adopted. The main difference between him and his father would not be a widower status… but instead, a husband.
King Eraqus beamed right back at Ventus… but then, his brows furrowed.
"Say… what do you have behind you, Ventus?"
A jolt of surprise shot through the prince like lightning. Inwardly, he cursed Eraqus' eye, which seemed to be ever so sharp even under duress.
Among other things, Eraqus still had no idea about the sunspot phenomenon and Ventus planned to keep it that way. Besides, with how busy Eraqus was running the kingdom, and now finding his only son a suitor on top of it, there's no way a reveal of this nature would go lightly. Neighboring kingdoms already had a negative view of the King's choice to adopt a son instead of simply taking a new wife to impregnate... who knows what would happen if word got out about Ventus' mysterious magical powers?
Ventus also realized he had been holding that pose for a lot longer than would seem normal—but were the sunspots gone? Can his father see the tendrils of light?
Ventus began to splutter the first part of a lie when a level voice emanated from behind the king: "Your majesty, pardon the intrusion. Your advisor is looking for you in the foyer—"
This news had completely cleared the king's attention threshold, as he whipped around in an instant.
"Ah, finally he shows himself! I must meet him there immediately. Please stay with Ventus and make sure he's ready soon. I'm counting on you." After a final shout back to Ventus, "Don't be late!" Eraqus stormed off.
Replacing Eraqus in the doorway was a figure wrapped in gold and copper armor. The knight closed the door behind him. Then, he removed his rabbit-like helmet to reveal brunette tresses and deep blue eyes.
Ventus sighed, his shoulders completely relaxing, "Thank you for yet another save, Terra."
Terra dipped his chin and leaned forward briefly in a mock-bow. "Always my pleasure, dear prince." Then, he cocked a brow, "How are the sunspots today?"
Being Ventus' closest friend, confidant, and official royal guard, Terra was the only one who knew about the sunspots. Ventus had sworn the taller man to absolute secrecy, much to Terra's chagrin, while he figured out the mystery of the recurring phenomenon.
Ventus released his white-knuckled grip to bring his hands forward. He looked uneasily down at his palms... and to his relief, they were back to normal.
"Gone for now, it seems…" The prince twisted his lips into a sneer, "But it would have been nice not to have my father barge in like that in the first place."
Typically, the knight was guarding the prince's room when the sunspots would manifest around noontime to turn away any visitors.
As Terra approached the center of the room, he shrugged. "With how busy today has been, we've been stretched pretty thin… even I'm having to help out." He flopped his body down on the massive chaise lounge at the end of Ventus' bed, his armor clattering and creaking with the action. Terra let out a long sigh, settled his hands behind his head, and shut his eyes. "Why your father doesn't just let his servants handle things is beyond me. Does a king really need to involve himself in every little thing?"
Ventus shook his head, "I really wish you wouldn't lay on that in your armor…" The prince came into the room, turned his desk chair to face Terra, and sat down. "You know how my father is. He loves to help. And he won't waste an opportunity to micromanage. It all comes from a kind place though."
Terra scoffed through his nose, "Indeed it does. I often worry he uses kindness as too much of an excuse, however."
Though Ventus agreed with this sentiment wholeheartedly, he certainly had his own worries to manage at the moment. With the appearance of the sunspots, all focus had been diverted to them… leaving the king to wreak his "terror" of kindness all over the palace. The time would come for the truth, but for now, he only had Terra to console him.
"Terra… The strangest thing happened just before my father came in. Instead of suppressing the sunspots, I tried to see what happened when I actually went under the sun and into the light." He gazed down at his fingers, flexing them, "I was able to… shape it–the light I mean. Almost like clay. And yet, so much more of it was drifting toward the sky. I'm not sure what it means."
The knight cracked his eyes open to glower at the prince. Bluntly, he responded, "I wish you'd just tell someone. Or let me help you."
"With how protective my father is? He would lose his mind… and with how excited he is to find me a suitor, he can't possibly divert his focus."
The last consideration, the political one, was left unsaid; it hung in the space betwixt them like a cunning spider with a wide web. They both thought of a hundred, maybe a thousand, problems that would have been solved were it not for the political implications… Ventus' sunspots notwithstanding.
Terra sighed and sat up on the chaise, "Listen, I know it's your birthday—"
"Adoption day," Ventus reminded him, "It's something I'm quite proud of, need I remind you?"
Terra leveled a facetious look at him, "Well, birthday or adoption day. Whatever it is, one is objectively less difficult to explain. Either way, it's your day, but I must say that you owe me yet again for another save on this."
The prince laughed, his face gleaming, "At this point, I really have no way to repay you."
"Except you do." With a light clattering of armor, Terra stood and walked toward Ventus. He laid a firm hand on the prince's shoulder, saying steadily, "Find someone who can help you. Talk to someone about your sunspots that isn't me… figure it out so we can get to the bottom of this. That's how you can repay me."
Ventus smiled up at his oldest and dearest friend, and Terra unconsciously mirrored the expression. "You're right, Terra… I'll do what I can. Thank you."
The knight returned the sentiment with a few stiff pats on the shoulder, "Well, I must return before party preparations get even worse… duty calls, as they say." The tall man turned to leave. At the door, he held out the helmet to replace it upon his head. "Say," He ventured, gazing down at the reflective surface, "Will our most mysterious knight make an appearance after the party tonight?"
"I suppose we'll find out, won't we?"
Terra's only response was to snicker, put on his helmet, and exit.
Ventus quickly approached the door to lock it behind his friend. Then, he pressed his back against the sturdy wood and sighed.
He couldn't help but roll his eyes at Terra's request. Yeah right, who in this wide kingdom could he possibly trust with such a secret? Let alone someone with experience and knowledge in magic. His father hadn't had a court mage since his adoption. The only other person he knew of with any kind of inkling was said court mage, who was his father's oldest friend.
He couldn't help the shiver that tickled his spine. The man was King Eraquis elder by merely a year, and yet he looked decades older. Ventus' father always explained it as "wisened from magic," as if the hunched man had to sell years off his life to harness the unseen quintessence around him.
Ventus held his open palms toward his face. He couldn't help the thought that this power might be drawing the same lifeforce from his own body. Surely magic was a give and take, and not an endless well. But still… underneath the sun, it was as if this parallel truly came to life. The grand orb in the sky was giving him power–letting him shape the sunspots–just as it drew the power away. What could this mean?
He sighed, "I just… don't know what to do." He pushed off the door, deciding that he would return to this mystery after the weight of tonight's celebration was freed from his mind.
Unbeknownst to him, a knight lingered on the other side of the door. The knight waited a moment, the longest moment, listening for Ventus to push away from the door himself. In his mind, thoughts of the prince spun in dreamy pirouettes across his mind. Ventus' words echoed, A suitor, a suitor, a suitor…his heart throbbed painfully each time.
Terra thought, I wish I knew what to do as well, Ventus. Then, he pushed off the door and returned to his duties. Tonight was the last night to get his feelings mixed up in anything. This was Ventus' day, and the prince would be at his most vulnerable.
It was up to Terra to protect him.
Exeunt.
A/N: Heeeeeeeey! This one probably came out of nowhere! It did for me too! It's the first fanfiction since The Night that I actually planned from start to finish! Does that guarantee I'll finish writing it? That's… to be discovered, I'm afraid.
This one came about in an odd series of steps. First, the start of the pandemic had me stressed the hell out, so I dove into Disney movies as an escape. Then, I dove into books next–the big series that became my obsession was the Grishaverse. I love, love, loooooove Leigh Bardugo's writing style. I want to be her when I grow up, for real! Then, when I was caught up with her books, I plunged back into the Kingdom Hearts series (because replaying the games always makes me feel better).
I knew for a while after my VenVan fic that I wanted to write something else with them, but I was struggling with where to start. I had the dumb thought, "What if I made an AU where Ventus is Alina and Vanitas is the Darkling and Terra is Mal? Haaaah!" But then I realized… what if I make a fairy tale-like story about them instead? I drew a little inspiration from the Grishaverse, as you can see, and now I'm trying something different than my usual stuff. I guess we'll see how it goes!
And no, I haven't written that book yet… but I'm trying. :)
Please please PLEASE favorite, review, ask questions, send kudos, add bookmarks… anything!