The sun is just beginning to set as people gather in the Coliseum arena's stands once again. Instead of anticipating the thrill of watching a good match, they're all excited to celebrate the Megara Cup's big winners.
The winners in question stand together in the eastern entrance tunnel, along with their friends, plus Phil and Icarus. The occasion is, for the most part, a pretty joyous one. The lone exception stands against the wall, watching the happy carrying on with a pronounced frown.
Azlyn doesn't even know why she came along for this, really. It's not like she'll be able to really enjoy any part of it. Besides Telary, none of the others have spoken to her since the final match's end. And even her fiancée's conversation had been rather short.
Just as the knight decides that her best recourse would be to leave, she spies someone detach themselves from the group, making his way over to her. Azlyn finds herself unable to stop from tensing up, swallowing thickly as Sora approaches her.
"Hey," he says after a few moments of silence, hands in his pockets. Azlyn does her best to avoid looking directly at the boy, but a sideways glance reveals that he is staring straight at her.
With a deep breath, the knight summons up the courage to face him directly. "Hey," she replies, making sure to clamp down an any pesky emotions before they can bleed through. "So, I guess… I guess you heard what happened."
"I did," Sora replies, though whether he's angry about the situation or not Azlyn can't tell in the slightest. There's another stretch of silence between them, filling the air like a thick smog. "Azlyn, I…"
"Man of Honor," the knight blurts, surprising her spiky-haired friend. He raises a very puzzled eyebrow at her, so she explains. "No more 'Maid of Honor' jokes, okay? We'll change the title to Man of Honor, and uh, you can have the first piece of cake!"
For a moment, Sora just lets his mouth hang open. Obviously this was not what he had in mid when he ventured over here to talk with Azlyn. Truthfully, he isn't sure what he was going to say. Something stern, probably, about how her obsession with munny is taking a dangerous turn, and kinda absurd on the face of it considering she grew up in a castle and has never really known much need for it, but…
Well, honestly he hates confrontations with people who aren't trying to kill his friends or rule the universe or park in handicapped spots or whatever. She's obviously sorry about the whole thing, and even gave up all her fortune to save him. Well, actually it was his fortune, but he was being completely honest when he said he didn't care about that kind of stuff.
"I want out of dress shopping," is his reply, carefully paired with a small smirk. Azlyn finally seems to relax, letting a grin of her own play across her face. "And, uh, I go to the bachelor party, not the bachelorette!"
"That can be arranged," Azlyn says, grin widening. Then one eyebrow raises and she adds, with considerable cheekiness, "It means I'll have to actually hire a stripper, but I guess that can be arranged."
Laughing, Sora surges forward and hugs her. She returns it, a rather rare occasion. For a moment, the Keybearer just lets himself enjoy it. Then, he whispers, "Do anything like this again, and I won't even try to stop Riku from doing whatever he thinks is necessary."
She snorts bemusedly, despite the fact that he's quite serious. Oh well, it might be better to let her go on thinking that.
"Hate to interrupt," Kairi says from behind the pair. They pull away from each other, and suddenly Azlyn notices that the redhead looks in no way as forgiving as her boyfriend. "We're about to get called on."
Sora jogs over to the entrance, but Azlyn stops Kairi. For a moment they just stare at each other, before finally Kairi takes the initiative to break the silence.
"If he forgives you, so do I," is all she says. "Maybe not as quickly, but I'll try to get there soon. Alright?"
"I understand, Kairi," Azlyn replies with a serious nod. Then she grins at the other girl, a twinkle in her eye. "By the way, that was one badass takedown. Plus, y'know, fighting for half an hour straight against a guy with four arms."
"That means a lot coming from you," the Princess of Heart says, just as Sora takes her hand and pulls her out into full view of the screaming fans in the arena.
"Here they are, the Megara Cup champion team, Sora and Kairi!" Hermes is flying around like an absolute madman, revving up the crowd as much as possible.
Not that they need much help on that score. Everyone seems to be screaming as the victors walk across the field. Many of them have even started up a chant. "SO-RA, KAI-RI, SO-RA, KAI-RI!"
The couple take it all in with wide smiles, waving back at their many, many fans. Hercules, standing to the side with a huge golden trophy in his hands, watches them with a grin of his own. That scrawny little kid has certainly come a long way since they first met.
"Sora, Kairi," the demigod booms in as loud a voice as he can muster, "I hereby congratulate you on your victory, and present you with the Megara Cup!"
KH-KH-KH
As the massive trophy exchanges hands, Hades watches from the arena's shadows. Today might not have been the perfect victory he'd envisioned, but in his line of work the god has learned to take what you can get.
"So, it would seem you failed," the unmistakable voice of Maleficent asks from behind. Frowning, he turns to face her.
"From one perspective, maybe."
"My perspective," the witch declares icily. She sets forward, the green gem of her staff glowing. "Pathetic, prizing mere gold over the Keybearer at your beck and call. One might even consider it reneging on our deal."
"I didn't sign nothin'," Hades shoots back, quite unconcerned.
"I was going to offer you a position in my new alliance," Maleficent continues. "Give you a chance to perhaps grasp the victory that has so long alluded you. A chance to observe real power at work…"
"Heard it all before, toots," the god interrupts. "And don't think just because you got a little more firepower on your side maybe a few more and stronger bandmates, that any of it means squat. Do what you want, I ain't setting myself up for disappointment again."
"Very well," the witch replies haughtily. "If that is your decision, so be it. At least I gained one new follower today."
"I desire not power, My Lady," Gilgamesh promises, standing behind the witch with his head bowed solemnly. "But a chance to see the Keybearer Sora and his allies laid low… I would take any chance for that."
"Good luck," Hades chuckles, turning back to the celebration as the pair behind him exit via dark portal.
KH-KH-KH
Sora takes the trophy, examining it for a moment. Then, he turns to the crowd. "This is a good day for me, and I'm happy to have this." He sighs, shaking his head in bemusement. "But I can't hardly say I deserve this." The crowd hushes even further, shocked. "All the credit for this victory is due to one person, and one person only." He turns to his girlfriend, holding out the cup to her. "Kairi, you really won this one. Which means that you're the one who deserves this."
Kairi has tears in her eyes as she accepts the trophy, and even more come as Azlyn, Telary, and Riku rush out onto the field. First Azlyn crashes into her for another hug, and in that moment the redhead knows she's forgiven her friend.
Riku whispers something to Telary, causing a grin to spout on he wizard's face. Before Kairi can hardly even register what's happening, the older boys have her up on their shoulders. Sora joins her a moment later, and with reckless abandon they lean into a kiss, which of course only drives the crowd more wild.
After a moment they pull back, and facing her wild, appreciative public, Kairi holds the Megara Cup high and triumpant.
Every night a star is, bright inside a star is,
Burning bright a star is born!
And so ends yet another Keys to the Kingdom adventure. I thought this one was okay, but maybe it was a better idea in my head than it turned out on paper. I'm not ashamed of it or anything, but... Well, what can you do.
Okay, so a few things. First of all, I have a few ties in the poll, so if anyone hasn't voted yet, that will be a big help to me. Second, Life Goes On is taking a bit of a hiatus, so I can fully plan out the last two parts of it and finish Chain of Memories, which is very close to completion. Once that is finished, I'll be back to finish this story, and then it's on to Keys to the Kingdom III. I hope to have II out before E3 in June, where there are rumors a KH III release date is being announced. Whether that's true or not, I want to get my saga conclusion chugging along before then. And third of all, another very small KttK project is going to be coming out soon, so keep your eyes out for that.
Shoutouts to TheIrishWriter, Bezerker21, and Spiderfan626 for their reviews. Until next time, guys!