Aladdin and Jasmine are getting married tonight. For real.
It's not the only thing, Telary knows, that's been postponed far too long. So, while Azlyn is finishing getting ready, he slips a note into the room she'd decided to share with Kairi after all the inter-couple fighting that had been taking place over the last day. Immediately after doing that, he heads off to their meeting spot, specially secured for this very purpose. He hopes it's enough.
A few minutes later, he hears the doors open. He turns around, his entire body freezing up at the sight before him. Azlyn stands just inside the room, wearing the same blue dress she had been during the Hollow Bastion Restoration Ball. Their first night together.
They've come a long way since then, Telary knows. Hopefully they have further to go still. It might all depend on these next few minutes.
"Hi," he says, starting things off slow.
Azlyn nods. "Um, hey. I read the, uh…"
"I figured."
Telary steps forward, ignoring the rather awkward silence. Azlyn doesn't move, just watches as her fiancée comes closer. Finally, the two are standing face-to-face.
"You have to talk to me, Az," Telary says, running a hand up her bare arm. She shivers a bit at the touch, turning her face away.
"Yeah," she admits, brushing past Telary and making her way further into the room. He turns, watching her. "I messed up, Telary. I really did."
He walks after her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Everybody does, Azlyn. Especially in a marriage. The important thing is that we can put our mistakes in the past." He takes a deep breath. "But doing that means talking. About what's really going on."
Azlyn nods.
"So, what's this about hating the wedding?" Telary says, letting go of her and leaning back against a stone table. The objects atop it rattle and shake. "It's gonna be big, loud, and all about you. I really can't see why you'd object to that." He pauses a moment, grimacing. "Was that harsh?"
"No," Azlyn assures him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "And you're right, I should be majorly excited about all of this! And, y'know, I'm excited about being married to you, and the cake, and wedding gifts. It's just…" She heaves a great sigh, turning and walking a few feet away. In a small voice that Telary almost doesn't even hear, she says, "It's all so… So normal."
"Normal?"
She nods, pursing her lips apprehensively. "I know, it sounds kinda dumb..."
Telary makes a small noise of protest, firmly shaking his head. "If you're concerned about it Azlyn, it's not dumb. What's important to you is important to me."
"It just feels like everything I snuck onto the Gummi ship to escape," she continues. "To me, it's not a celebration of how much we love each other. Just a big 'welcome back to boring life' party. I hate thinking about that life. Every time I do, it's like the walls are all closing in on me."
He steps closer to her. "That's why you kept talking about running away."
She shrugs. "I guess I had this crazy idea that if we started running, we'd never have to stop."
"But, Azlyn, c'mon. Sure things are gonna slow down. We can't just live our lives one adventure to the next. But we'll still have each other."
"Will we?" She looks at him with the saddest expression he's ever seen her wear. He opens his mouth to ask for further explanation, but she waves her hand to cut him off. "What if… What if we need that excitement to stay together? What if without adventures and enemies and trials to keep things interesting, we find out that's all we had? The rush, the danger."
"Azlyn…"
"We never fought on the Gummi ship, Telary," she interrupts, teary eyes shining in the room's candlelight. "When it was about saving the worlds, finding the King, helping Sora, we were so in sync. Things were different the second we got back to the castle, you know they were. And what about after the wedding, huh? No danger, no peril, just you and me. What if we can't make it work? What if it's not enough?"
Azlyn turns away, tears falling freely now. Finally, after months of keeping her feelings inside, she's stated her fears out loud. Telary watches her for a long moment. He's crying himself, overwhelmed and stunned that he hadn't been able to figure any of it out on his own. What kind of man is he, to have not seen the woman he loves hurting so much?
He goes to her, gently turning her to face him. They look at each other, tear-filled eyes locked together.
"I'm sorry I didn't see this, Azlyn," Telary says finally, breaking the silence. "I was just so glad to be back in my routine, so excited about the wedding, I never stopped to think about how things were for you. I'm the one who messed things up. Can you forgive me?"
She nods, just the slightest dip of her chin. Then she kisses him, long and slow. He practically melts into it, pulling her close against him. Her arms come up to wrap around his neck.
"Of course I forgive you," Azlyn says when they finally pull away. "I should have talked to you too. But planning the wedding made you so happy, I didn't want to ruin it for you."
"I want you to understand something, Azlyn," Telary says, pulling back just a few centimeters. "I love you no matter what's going on around us. Peril be damned, I love you. More than anything. Nothing can change that."
She jumps forward, tightly wrapping him back up in her arms. He lets her, burying his face in her hair.
"And I'll tell you something else," he continues, his voice muffled against her head. "Our adventures won't end with the wedding, Azlyn." Reaching up, he tilts her chin up so their gazes meet once again. "If anything, it's only the beginning."
"Oh boy," Azlyn groans, grinning at her future husband. "This is all leading up to some 'marriage is our greatest adventure' line, isn't it?"
"Is it that obvious?"
Azlyn nods, laughing. "Did Sora help you work on this speech? 'Cause that sounds like just the kind of sappy…"
"It's true though," the wizard interrupts her. "You wanna talk about peril, Azlyn? We almost lost each other over some silly miscommunication. I don't know about you, but that scared me more than any Organization XIII scheme."
"Me too," she agrees. "We'll just have to make sure nothing like that ever happens again." They kiss again. Pulling away, she gives the surrounding room a quick inspection. "The only thing I don't get is, why here? Unless you just thought I'd be at my most relaxed surrounded by gold."
Telary looks around the Agrabah palace treasure room, until his eyes finally settle on the woman in front of him. He clears his throat, looking sheepish all of the sudden.
"Well," he begins, nervously coughing once. "You know, you weren't entirely wrong before. About, um… About not having enough, uh, alone time."
Azlyn laughs, eyes lighting up as a huge smile spreads across her face. "So this was, what, your way of getting me in the mood?"
"Well, I know how much you like treasure rooms…"
Telary reaches out suddenly to grab her around the waist, picking her up and spinning around before setting her on the table. She opens her mouth to say something, but before she can he cuts her off with a sharp, passionate kiss. Her arms come up again, wrapping around his neck and pulling him down deeper into it.
"I have a feeling, though," he pants out once they part for air, "that you're about to like this one a whole lot more."
KH-KH-KH
Sora stands outside the entrance to the wedding pavilion, hands in the pockets of his suit. He can hear the rest of the groomsmen inside, Cassim ranting about his younger days while Genie makes jokes. He should probably go in, reassure Aladdin that this wedding ceremony is for sure going to go off without a hitch. But there's something he has to do first.
"Jasmine's almost ready."
Kari's voice comes from behind, nearly startling the Keybearer out of his skin. He quickly spins around, finding the redhead giggling behind her hand.
"Sorry," she apologizes, though it hardly sounds sincere through all the laughter. "What are you standing around out here for? Genie getting on your nerves?"
Sora snorts, grinning. "I don't know who this Barbra Streisand he keeps talking about is, but I'm pretty sure I never want to hear one of her songs again." His smirk fades, expression becoming serious as he looks at Kairi. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you. Apologize."
She nods, taking his hand and leading him a little further away from the commotion of the pavilion.
"It was the wrong thing to say," he says once they've found a secluded enough spot by the gardens' largest fountain. "That 'real Keyblade wielder' thing. I was just trying to…"
"Protect me," Kairi finishes for him, nodding demurely.
"I don't like seeing you in danger, Kairi," he says, taking one of her hands. "I remember when I heard the Organization had their hands on you. All because of our relationship. I never want to feel like that again."
"Of course not." She lets go of his hand, taking a step back. "But, c'mon, Sora. There's no way to guarantee that. If we know anything, it's that the universe is a dangerous place, especially wherever a Keyblade master goes. And anywhere you go, I'm going with you. That's just the way it's going to be from now on. I won't stay behind anymore, and it's not like you can just lock me up." She chuckles. "I mean, you literally can't!"
Sora can't help but roll his eyes. "Oh boy, Keyblade humor." He softens, looking at Kairi with his lower lip between his teeth. "But, you're right. It just took me a while to really accept it."
"Have you accepted it now?"
"Sure have." Reaching up, Sora places an arm around his girl's shoulders. "You wanna know the moment I really knew I'd gone too far?"
Kairi smirks at him playfully. "What?"
"When I actually, seriously thought for a second that you couldn't handle Pete." He grimaces, shaking his head in disgust. "I tell ya Kairi, if that isn't the definition of 'stupidly overprotective', I don't know what is."
She laughs, leaning her head against his. "Well, he did manage to get the drop on me for a second there."
"Because I distracted you."
She shrugs. "I was actually trying to avoid bringing up that specific point, but since you mentioned it first, yeah." Shaking her head, she moves to stand in front of him. "Anyway, what I'm getting at here is that I'm no master warrior yet. I'm gonna need some help. Just a little."
Sora quirks an eyebrow at the girl, shocked and curious. "What are you saying? You wanna be, what, my Keyblade student?"
"In a manner of speaking," she says with a nod. "I'm not calling you 'master' or anything, and at the first sign of any 'hot for teacher' jokes I'm running the other way, but… Sure. Telary's already agreed to give me some magic lessons. You can handle swordplay."
"And cool lines," Sora adds with a cheesy grin that sends his girlfriend's eyes rolling. A moment later, he becomes serious. "Speaking of Telary, do you think him and Az are gonna be okay?"
"Those two are gonna be fine," Kairi assures him. "A love like that can't be undone so easy."
"No," Sora agrees, taking her hand. "It sure can't." Kairi rolls her eyes again, but leans in to kiss Sora anyway. "So, I take it you and Telary have gotten past your awkward phase?
Kairi nods, beaming ear to ear. "We sure have! I tell ya Sora, this brother-sister thing is really gonna work out. Guess what?"
"What?"
"Since Azlyn's not loving all the wedding planning," the redhead announces, "Tel asked me to help him with the details. Can you believe it? Me, planning a royal wedding!"
Sora frowns. "They're not royalty, Kairi."
"It's gonna take place in a castle, Sora," Kairi says reproachfully. "That's royal enough for me." A sudden look comes over the Princess of Heart's face, her grin turning mischievous. "It's a real honor. Y'know, for a maid like me!"
"So you know about that, then?" The Keybearer sighs, shaking his head in amused frustration. "This is just like Azlyn, you know. To do something really nice and set me up for eternal humiliation all at once."
"That's just how I roll," the knight-in-question's voice speaks up suddenly. Turning, Kairi and Sora spot Azlyn and Telary walking up to the fountain, arm-in-arm.
"I take it things are better, then?" Sora immediately asks. After all he's been through with Azlyn and Telary, tact is hardly of great concern.
"Everything is going to be just fine," Telary assures the Keybearer, planting a quick kiss atop Azlyn's head.
"That's great news," Kairi says, beaming at her brother and his fiancée.
"Because it means you still get to play wedding planner?" Sora teases.
"That may be some small part of it," the girl admits with a sheepish shrug. "But mostly I'm just happy for you two."
"I get final say on everything though," Azlyn states firmly, shaking a finger at her wedding planner.
"Including wedding party titles?" Sora sighs.
The knight laughs, smirking. "Oh, hell yeah!"
"Can't I be Tel's best man?" the Keybearer suggests, looking at the wizard with sad puppy dog eyes.
"Uh, sorry Sora," Telary says, rubbing guiltily at the back on his neck. "I kind of already asked Donald. And I can't go back on that now, he's so excited."
"When the King got married, he totally snubbed Ol' Birdbrain for Captain Goofy," Azlyn reveals. "The duck's still super bitter about it."
A great noise suddenly rises up all around, the calling of a grand trumpet.
"That seems like our cue," Sora says, helping Kairi up from her seat on the fountain.
The quartet set off across the garden, Kairi and Telary ending up walking ahead of Azlyn and Sora. The redheaded siblings talk amongst themselves the whole way.
"Okay," Sora says to Azlyn once he's sure the other pair won't hear him. "Where?"
The knight gives him a coy look. "Where what?" she asks innocently.
"Please, don't even try that," the Keybearer chuckles, shaking his head. "I totally know your 'just had sex in an inappropriate place' look. I don't know what it says about me that I do, but I know it for sure."
"Treasure room!" Azlyn happily announces.
Sora lets out a soft whistle. "Wow. I'm surprised that whole wing of the palace didn't just collapse."
After a few more seconds, Azlyn looks up at him. "You and Kairi are good now too?"
"Great, actually," he replies with a confident nod. "We're gonna start doing Keyblade training now. Might need your help, actually. I'll need someone who won't go easy on her."
"Cool." There's a thoughtful moment, then, "You sure you don't wanna wait until after the wedding to start teaching Kairi to kick ass?"
Sora's face scrunches up in confusion. "Why would I do that?"
"I guess you don't," Azlyn admits with a shrug. "Gonna be one hell of a fight for that bouquet though! You're not, y'know, really mad about the Maid of Honor thing, are you? Because, y'know, joking aside… You are my best friend."
"I know, you goof," he shoots back, playfully punching at her shoulder. "Besides, you've got Kairi in charge of planning a major event for you." He gives her an evil smirk. "Believe me, that is gonna be revenge enough."
KH-KH-KH
The wedding pavilion almost seems too big this time. No longer is the large outdoor structure packed with visitors from across the Seven Deserts, dignitaries and political allies. Just a few friends, and two proud fathers.
But, somehow, Jasmine feels more right about walking down the aisle tonight than when she'd been surrounded by hundreds of guests.
Genie weeps openly, comically large tears spurting from his eyes like a fountain. Iago is something of a mess too, if the way he's clutching to Abu is any indication. Cassim and the sultan's reactions are more demure, but there's no doubt that both men's eyes shine as their children hold hands in front of the altar.
Sora looks on with pride and joy too. And not just for Aladdin and Jasmine, as great and fulfilling as the sight of their union is. Every few seconds, he can't help but glance down the line of his friends, all standing together as they take in the proceedings.
He never could have predicted the course of the last three days, standing on that beach back home. What was supposed to be a nice, simple weekend had nearly turned deadly. The group had certainly been put to the test, this time perhaps more by internal squabbles than fights with outside forces. But, even after all that, here they are. Standing together, bound to one another by love and friendship.
Before this had all started, he'd thought he was leaving him. But he realizes now that that isn't the case. As long as his friends are with him, home is sure to come along.
Their lives are hardly average. But, if you ask Sora, there's no other way he'd rather have it. In fact, he can hardly wait to see what happens the next time they get together.
So salaam worthy friends,
Come back soon, that's the end,
'Til another Arabian night!
And that, friends and readers, wraps up the first story of Keys to the Kingdom: Life Goes On. I gotta say, I'm rather happy with it. After a long time spent retelling someone else's story, it feels good to go a little ways in my own direction.
As a special treat, here's the sneak peek summary of LGO's next story, Law of the Jungle:
"When the pressures of wedding planning begin to wear them down, Azlyn and Telary take the Destiny Islands trio camping for a weekend in the wilds of Deep Jungle. But this is the first time Riku has come along on such a trip, and conflicts sparked by old resentments threaten the gang's good time. That and Tarzan's enemy Queen La, who has her sights set on making Sora her new king of the jungle."
That's right, we're going back to Deep Jungle! This next one will be very interesting for a few reasons
A) This is the most original the plot has been since KttK II's Port Royal 2nd visit. No movie to follow this time. The source material is also rather obscure, unless I just happened to catch a lot of big fans of Disney's old Tarzan TV show. Seems unlikely somehow.
B) Part of the reason I'm making this story is to test the chemistry of a new trio: Riku, Azlyn, and Telary. See, my hope with Keys to the Kingdom III is to be able to mix and match the big five (Sora, Azlyn, Telary, Riku, and Kairi) when I'm putting together parties.
Anyway, this next part might take a bit longer to piece together, but I hope you'll be there waiting when it gets uploaded. Until next time!