Sora is completely unsurprised to find Kairi's side of the bed empty when he awakens in the morning. But that of course doesn't mean he doesn't miss her presence. His first act upon becoming fully conscious is to roll over and breathe deeply of the scent she'd left on her pillow.
He'd really love to keep that up longer, but he knows today is a big day. As mellow as Kairi had seemed about wedding planning last night, he knows she'll be just as manic, if not more so, already today. Add to that Azlyn and Telary's last minute jitters and Riku having to talk to a girl, and Sora's fully resigned to be an available ear to listen.
So he rolls over and stands up, shaking his head to clear the last sleepy cobwebs. As he stands, Sora wonders if Riku has a line on some coffee yet. Usually the caffeinated beverage does little for the Keybearer, but for as big a day as this he's willing to try.
Once he's up and dressed, Sora decides to go and see Telary first thing. Azlyn's beauty regimen will no doubt already be underway, and for some reason over the last few weeks he's absorbed every detail of it. He's quite content with the mani-pedi he got yesterday.
"Hey, Tel?" Sora asks, knocking politely on the door. "Can I come in, man? Just wanna see how you're…"
"It isn't locked," Tel replies, voice muffled. Sora cheerfully swings the door open, smiling as he enters the room. Telary sits on his bed, still in his pajamas (a green long-sleeve shirt and blue pants with silver Disney Castle emblems on them). The wizard smiles back at his younger friend. "Good morning, Sora. Did you sleep well?"
"Yep!" Sora replies, happily flopping down next to him. "I always do when I come here. And Kairi…"
Silence. After a few tense seconds, the boys turn to look at each other. Each wears an impassive expression. They betray nothing. And yet the lingering knowledge that Sora had shared a bed with Telary's sister last night hangs in the air.
"W-well," Telary says, finally finding his voice, "I'm very glad. About your sleeping well."
"Good," Sora replies, looking away and nodding slowly. "Y'know, uh, I was so tired last night that I just, y'know, fell right into bed and went straight to sleep."
A quirked eyebrow from the redhead. "Really?"
More nodding, though now Sora turns to look Telary in the eyes. "Straight to sleep. Head to pillow to dreamland in under thirty seconds. So anyway, how are you feeling? About stuff."
Telary sighs, shaking his head as he falls back against the mattress. Sora follows him, laughing as the wizard temporarily bounces back into the air.
"Honestly?" Telary replies once he's settled, staring straight up at the ceiling. "To even my own surprise, I am one-hundred percent calm right now."
"Really? One-hundred percent?"
"Strange, isn't it?" The wizard laughs, his smile growing bigger. "I usually live my life hopping from one nerve to another, but today… Today I know one thing. No matter what happens, whether I mess something up or outside forces are at play, I know that by the time today is over, Azlyn and I are going to be married. That is the one undeniable truth. The woman I love and I are going to be joined together. Anything that could concern me is, frankly, not worth getting worked up over."
Sora just stares at him, memorizing every detail of the older man's face. He looks so serene, completely at peace. Sora has seen many sides of Telary over the years, the entire range of emotions from good to bad, but he doesn't think he's ever seen him like this.
"I love you, man," the Keybearer says after a few moments. His right arm flops onto the wizard's chest, resting there. "You've always been there for me, in darkness and light. Even when you were scared or unsure, even when things seemed hopeless… I could look at you, and I just knew that things would work out. I could always come to you with anything I needed to talk about, and you always helped me through."
"Can't say I always knew exactly how," Telary quips with a fond smile.
Sora shrugs. "That might be the most amazing thing of all, Tel. You don't even have to try to be smart. Or wise or whatever. If you're half as good a husband as you are a friend, Azlyn is the luckiest girl in the whole universe. I mean that."
"I know you do." Telary sits up, still looking a Sora. "I'm glad to have you here to be a part of it. If it wasn't for you, this might never have happened."
Sora rolls off the bed, getting his feet under him and standing in one fluid motion. Looking at Telary, he shrugs. "Hey man, you don't have to tell me twice!"
"I guess I'll see you up there, at the altar?"
The Keybearer grins, backing toward the door. "Count on it, man. See ya then!" When he closes the door behind him, Sora is smiling. He heads for the stairs, whistling a happy tune as he goes.
If yesterday was busy, today Disney Castle is absolutely buzzing, people and magical mops rushing along the grand colonnade with deliberate haste. But it's easy enough to find Kairi, anchoring herself as order at the center of the chaos. She wears a purple blazer over a black dress, her red hair straight and neat. Her feet are clad in simple black flats, though Sora knows she has heels for the wedding. She'd spent quite a long time picking them out, and in turn Sora had spent a long time pretending he cared. As he gets closer, the Keybearer notices one last accessory adorning his girlfriend: a black headset, microphone, and earpiece. Well, that can't go without remark.
The redhead doesn't notice him at first, too busy directing flower arrangements. When she's not looking at huge groups of flowers being placed, her gaze is focused on the binder a mop is helpfully holding up under her face.
"Hey, Kairi!" Sora says cheerfully. No response. "Um, Kairi? Hello? KAIRI!"
"Heard you the first time," she replies, without even a glance. "And don't be annoying, or I'll put you on the same detail I gave Riku."
The Keybearer frowns. "What did you do to Riku?"
Kairi shrugs, pausing while she carefully scrutinizes whether reality is matching her illustrations. "He didn't seem to have anything to do other than make jokes. So, I decided to give him his own job for this morning. One more suitable to his maturity level."
Sora is just about to ask for clarification when he hears a loud cry ring out through the halls. It dies just as suddenly, but the Keyblade has already appeared in Sora's hand by then. He swivels, ready for danger.
What he isn't ready for, though, is the sight of Riku stumbling into view. A small duck dressed in red has wrapped themselves around his neck, while another in blue has a hold of the silver-haired young man's leg. Seconds later a third duck appears, wearing green and holding a small, bright orange colored pistol. Taking careful aim, he launches a foam dart with a whoosh of displaced air. Riku tries to raise his hands to block, but of course his hanger-on gets in the way. The dart strikes him in the forehead, its suction cup tip holding fast.
"Three more points!" the green-clad duck (Louie, if Sora's memory is correct) declares. He waves his toy gun in the air victoriously.
"But I get two for holding him!" the red (Huey) says. "One for Dewey!"
"Why one?" Dewey protests from down on Riku's leg. "I'm holding him down too!"
"Yeah, but his leg," Huey explains, shaking his head. "I've got him by the neck, that's worth way more points."
"You know what?" Louie says suddenly, looking contemplative. "I got him straight-on bullseye, which I think should be worth five. Boom, headshot!"
"I think you're on to something," Huey agrees. "If we're going to assign point values, then we should definitely develop a broader system…"
"How many points," Riku suddenly says, drawing the brother's attention to him, "is this worth?" With a playful cry, Riku kicks out hard, startling Dewey out of his grip and sending the young duck flying. He lands atop his brother, both of them yelping but also laughing.
As for Huey, he turns his head back to face Riku, their eyes meeting. The duck's are widened by surprise, and Riku's sparkle with the thrill of victory. Unwilling to discover the consequences of his hold, Huey releases the young man's neck ad slides down his body. Once his feet are on the floor, he immediately flees off down the hallway. Dewey and Louie scramble to their feet, quickly joining their brother in his retreat. Riku barely takes the time to wave acknowledgment to Sora before he's off as well, grinning widely.
"Huh," Sora mutters. He turns to Kairi with a bemused expression. "I never thought Riku liked kids. Remember how he'd never hold any of the islanders' babies, even if they were totally okay with it?"
"This one doesn't look as healthy," Kairi says, completely ignoring her boyfriend. She plucks a lilac out of a large pot before waving the mop carrying it to its task. Turning to Sora, she holds out the flower. It looks perfectly nice as far as the Keybearer can tell, but this really isn't his area so he doesn't argue. "Could you take care of this for me, Sora? Please?"
He reaches out and gingerly grabs the flower's stem. "Sure thing. Uh, Kairi… Look, I don't want to start anything but… Are you okay? You seem kind of…"
"Bitchy, yeah," the redhead admits, shaking her head. When it stops, she looks half as vibrant as usual. "Sorry, Sora. I guess now that it's crunch time I'm just stressing out. Ever since I woke up this morning it's like I've been… I don't know, but not one-hundred percent."
Sora moves closer, gently resting his hand on her shoulder. "Kairi, if you need a break I'm sure everybody will get it. You don't need to run yourself down like this. Just call Miss Daisy or the queen and I'm sure they'd be happy to take over for a bit."
"I should get more breakfast than just that yogurt," she admits, sighing. "Yeah, I think I should take a few minutes. Not a long time though! I'll just go find Daisy, she should be around."
Sora frowns. "Why don't you just call her?" He gestures to her headset, bringing her face into view. Her visibly reddening face. Suddenly, an amusing despite the situation thought hits him. "Kairi… Is that headpiece not actually connected to anyone else?"
Kairi's face starts morphing into the same shade as her hair. "Uh…" She holds a hand to her forehead, sagging dramatically. "Wow, you were spot-on about that overtired thing. I really need to, y'know, go and… Go." She takes off, far more quickly than anyone actually overtired would ever be able to. Sora watches her go, bemusement momentarily edging out his concern.
King Mickey swerves to avoid the fleeing Kairi. When he turns to puzzle, the mouse wears a confused expression. "Uh, is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine," Sora assures him, still amused at his last little joke. "She seriously needs to take a break, and like a dozen chill pills, but nothing serious."
"That's good," Mickey says, nodding. "Say, Chip and Dale just called me up to say that the crew from Radiant Garden are almost in. Care to join me on the Welcome Wagon?"
The thought of his friends lights a fire in Sora. "Yeah, awesome!" He practically skips over to Mickey, though the pair assume a normal walking pace for the trip itself.
"Gosh," Mickey declares, watching as a pair of pigs rush by with some streamers, "been quite a while since I've seen the castle bustling about this much. Hectic as it is, it's certainly a nice sight."
"Totally," Sora agrees easily. He notices Huey from the corner of his eye, deftly rolling from one marble pillar to another. Riku follows a moment later, apparently teamed up with the red-clad duck now. Shaking his head at the antics, the Keybearer focuses on the king once more. "So, I talked to Telary and he seemed really ready."
"That's good," Mickey replies with a nod.
"How are you feeling about everything?" the boy asks, suddenly curious. "I mean, you sounded pretty, y'know, emotional about it last night. Great speech, by the way."
"Aw, thanks." They're in the garden now, the one not being used as a dance floor tonight. Mickey swings open the doors to the Gummi hangar, and they stroll in without pause. "Sora, I'm happier today than I have been in a long time. I meant every word I said last night. Azlyn and Telary are going to do great things together." He pauses a moment, lips pursed. "But, of course, they can't do it alone. A partnership like marriage is a great foundation, but they'll need great friends alongside them to take them all the way." The king turns, stopping in front of Sora and looking up into his face, expression sober. "I assume I can count of you to be that kind of friend for them, Sora?"
Sora looks down on the king, visibly confused. Something about this moment, his response to this question, seems quite solemn indeed. Still, there's only one answer he can give. "Of course, Your Majesty. Azlyn and Telary are like family to me, more than that. I'll always be there for them, whatever they need. That's a promise."
Mickey relaxes, his serious expression fading into a bright smile. "I know you will, Sora. But thanks for easing an old mouse's heart and saying it out loud for me!" Without another word, the mouse turns on his heel and starts down the passage once again.
Sora contemplates the odd exchange the rest of the way to the hangar. But as soon as he catches sight of the dark blue and red Gummi ship just settling into its berth, his focus shifts. His mind has been buzzing with questions about the garden for a while, and now he can finally get his answers. Plus, seeing his friends on the Restoration Committee again is great, even if it's only been about a week since the last time.
Yuffie is first down the ramp, wearing a sleeveless black dress with a silver necklace. She looks excited as she ever does, grinning widely. Phineas and Ferb follow behind her, both wearing gray suits, white shirts, and ties. Phineas's is orange, and Ferb's green. Then Aerith, in pink as always but with an empire waist and even wider skirt. LeBlanc is dressed as demurely as Sora has ever seen her, in a sky-blue pantsuit (unbuttoned to show ample cleavage, it must be noted). A small metal orb floats slightly above her, and Sora knows one of Tron's sub-programs is riding inside. Leon and Cid come last, both in fairly standard black suits. The only difference is Cid's massive cummerbund, which actually just seems to be a white version of his usual toolbelt. Some things you just can't take away from a man.
"Welcome, everyone!" Mickey says, bright and cheerful as he opens his arms in greeting. "So glad all of you could make it, and I am sure the kids are too."
"Wouldn't miss this for the worlds!" Yuffie says, sliding dramatically to a halt. "Nice to meet ya, King Mickey. Name's Yuffie Kisaragi, great ninja!"
"You don't have to call her that second part," Sora informs the king, smiling fondly. "Good to see you, Yuffie. Good to see everybody!"
"You as well, Sora," Aerith says, nodding demurely at the boy. Then she turns to Mickey, dropping into a curtsy. "Your Majesty, it is an honor to be in your castle."
"Yes, simply marvelous!" LeBlanc concurs with her usual exaggeration. Of course, the look she's giving the hangar isn't terribly impressed.
"Ferb and I have never met a king before," Phineas says. "Or a talking mouse either. Kinda makes me wish Perry were anthropomorphic. It would be a lot easier to keep track of him that way!"
Ferb nods once, crisply.
"Good to see you again, Your Majesty," Leon says with his usual seriousness, bowing slightly at the waist. "As Aerith said, we're honored to be here."
"Damn straight!" Cid chimes in. His eyes are everywhere but at the king and Sora, too entranced by the Gummi hangar. "This is one hell of an operation ya got goin' on here, Mickey."
"Cid!" Leon, LeBlanc, and Aerith all admonish the mechanic. He rolls his eyes, shrugging.
Mickey's giggling at the antics. "No need to get all up in arms, guys. I'm glad we're able to impress you, Cid. Ansem the Wise used to talk at some length about your technical know-how."
The mention of Radiant Garden's fallen leader sobers things for a brief moment.
Sora decides to perk things back up. "Hey, nice to see you here too, Tron. I'm especially looking forward to seeing you dance at the reception!"
"Uh, hello to you too, Sora," Tron replies, his voice coming out apprehensive from the mobile platform's speakers. "I'm afraid this form isn't exactly equipped for 'getting down' as the Users would say."
"Ferb and I can fix that!" Phineas says. "We'll need some parts and equipment, of course, but I'm sure we can whip up a platform that'll better display your moves."
Mickey looks at the kid with considerable puzzlement. "Aren't you fellas a little young to be doing robotic engineering?"
Phineas just smiles. "Yes, yes we are!"
The king shrugs it off. "Well, I hope you don't mind waiting around a bit. You're pretty early, you understand."
Leon nods. "That's fine, Your Majesty."
"In fact," Aerith adds, "if you need any help, we'd be happy to pitch in."
"We would?" Yuffie and LeBlanc asks simultaneously, both of them drooping at the prospect.
"Yes," Aerith confirms, giving both of them a stern, unyielding look. "We very much would."
Mickey leads the way out of the hangar, speaking with Cid in more detail about the Gummi hangar. Sora hangs back, catching Leon at the rear of the group. The Restoration Committee leader gives him a look.
"I was just wondering," the Keybearer says, "about how things are going. Y'know, with Bright Oasis and everything."
Leon nods. "Oh. Well, we've started to open the lines of communication. Apparently Laguna is on track to win the presidency by a landslide. I've had a few conversations with him about how best to move forward, and we've informed the garden's citizens. Everybody seems pretty eager to reconnect. I even invited Laguna and some of his staff for a visit, with the Restoration Ball going on in two weeks."
"Restoration Ball time again already?" Sora says, shaking his head at the thought. Time really does fly when there's no imminent doom hanging over the universe. But as interesting as all the information about inter-government cooperation had been, the Keybearer is more interested in a different cooperation entirely. "And, uh… Have you and, um…"
"I haven't spoken to Rinoa since," Leon replies, the words quiet as his jaw tightens noticeably. "And I don't plan to, Sora. I'm not ready yet."
Sora nods, hoping it looks respectful. "Yeah, okay. Sorry I brought it up, I just…"
They're in the garden now, and suddenly a loud cry interrupts the scene. Sora's looking around frantically for the source when Riku comes diving out of a bush, dart gun in hand. He skids to a stop and turns, firing off a foam round. It catches Louie Duck in the shoulder, just as he comes leaping out of the same bush, his gun also at the ready.
Riku's frantically trying to replace his round when Dewey clears the foliage, firing his own dart. It smacks into Riku's stomach and bounces off. That doesn't bother the silver-haired young man. The fact that Dewey keeps coming, leaping up and tackling him to the ground, does. Riku lands in the grass with a loud exclamation of pain and shock. He's in for an even greater shock when he looks up to see that he's landed directly at Mickey and Yuffie's feet.
"Uh," he says, searching for words that aren't there. After a second, he manages, "Hey, everybody. Good to, uh, see you all again."
"And just how much of me are you seeing?" Yuffie asks, stepping back and pulling her skirt closer around her legs.
"What, no!" Riku declares, sitting up hard and fast enough to send Dewey flying. He scrambles to his feet, looking over the Radiant Garden procession like a frightened animal. He finally decides to directly address Mickey, who he at least feels comfortable around most of the time. "I was just keeping the kids busy. Kairi told me to, called it my 'duty to the wedding'. So…"
Mickey holds up his gloved hands, stopping Riku and concealing his own grin at the same time. "By all means, carry on. It is your duty, after all!" The king gestures forward, walking off most with the Radiant Garden citizens following. Phineas and Ferb stay behind, looking intrigued at the duck siblings.
And Yuffie, smirking at the still-rattled Riku. "And all Sora ever said about you is how 'serious' you were always trying to be."
"The kids…" Riku repeats, gesturing helplessly at Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
"Looks like they're giving you some trouble." Yuffie steps forward, right up in Riku's bubble. "Maybe you could use a hand." In one quick motion, she grabs his gun, loads it, and fires a dart that smacks into Louie's torso.
The duck's brothers laugh. "Nice shot, lady," Dewey compliments the ninja. He turns to Phineas and Ferb then, grinning. "Hey, we've got some more guns in our room. Wanna play?"
"Sure," Phineas says with a shrug. "Although, if we had access to some tubing and a few aerosol canisters, we could probably…"
The kids walk off, eagerly discussing ways to kick their game up a notch. Riku watches, and Sora notices his friend's frown. "Huh. Guess they don't want to play with me anymore."
Yuffie puts a hand on his arm. "Hey, I'd be happy to play with you instead."
The silver-haired young man is still deciding how to respond to that when a loud shout cuts through the air. "Oh, RI-KU!"
The voice of Clarabelle Cow sets Riku immediately on edge. "Uh, on second thought," he hastily tells Yuffie, "I really should be getting ready about now, huh? The perfect wedding look doesn't happen without some effort, y'know. See ya, bye!" He starts running, in the opposite direction of Clarabelle's voice.
The head housekeeper arrives only seconds too late to spot him, looking around for the object of her affection. Upon confirming his absence, she frowns deeply.
"You just missed him, I'm afraid," Sora informs her with a shrug. "Said it was time for him to get ready."
Clarabelle kicks at the ground. "Darn. I hadn't gotten a chance to talk to him all morning, not with those wretched children around! I suppose I'll just have to see if I can catch him before the ceremony."
"Guess so," Sora says sympathetically. With a wave, she departs huffily.
"What's with her?" Yuffie asks, hands on her hips.
"Nothing serious," the Keybearer assures her. "It's just that she has this weird crush on Riku, and as sad as it is it's also kinda hilarious. There's no returned feelings on his part, though."
"Good," the great ninja concedes. Then, as if realizing what she just said, she adds, "I mean, good thing he got away, then."
"Don't mess around with me, Yuffie," Sora says, rolling his eyes. Her eyes bug out a little. "I mean, I think it's great that you're into Riku. He deserves somebody who is." He steps forward, his voice dropping and tone becoming serious. "So don't mess around with him, either. We're friends and everything, but if you hurt Riku then we're going to have a problem, okay?"
Yuffie steps back, raising her hands defensively. "Hey, no problem Sora. Gee, you really can be scary when you want to."
He shrugs. "I'm sure it'll never come to that. By the way, where's Quistis and Merlin?"
"Q preferred to stay and keep an eye on things," Yuffie says. "And Merlin said he didn't trust any of Cid's 'damn fool bucket of bolts flying contraptions' and said he'd come his own way."
"Okay," Sora replies with an easy nod. "Well, Riku running off actually reminded me that I should probably start getting ready. See you at the ceremony?"
"Sure thing!"
KH-KH-KH
Mickey stands alone in his room, examining his reflection in the mirror. It's been some time since he's had occasion to wear his old tuxedo, but luckily it still fits. He adjusts the lapels just a bit more, carefully making sure it looks good. He'll only get to walk Azlyn down the aisle once, after all.
His adjustments crinkle the paper in his pocket, reminding him of the other big event he's going to preside over today. The king takes a deep breath.
The door opens with a light creak, reminding him that getting a little oil on the hinge would not be an unworthy project. But that thought is quickly pushed aside. After all, who but his beloved wife would be entering his bedroom at this moment. A short talk with Minnie is just what he needs.
But when the king turns around, it is not the queen that stands before him. In fact, it's pretty much the last person he'd expect. He's stunned for a moment, all rational thought subsumed by surprised.
It's just the opening the intruder needs.
KH-KH-KH
Telary tries his best to remember how good and calm he felt this morning. He'd given that big speech to Sora about the absence of nerves, and it had been a pretty good one. If only he could give himself the same speech now.
"This is no time to get psyched out!" Donald Duck yells, frowning at his former apprentice. It's pretty harsh, but the suit he's wearing is making the court magician more than a little testy. "The wedding is in ten minutes! Practically everybody's already seated. Now or never, Tel!" It's not the greatest of pep talks.
He checks his tie again, giving it a few light tugs. Seems secure. His belt is buckled, the special silver Disney Castle emblem buckle shining in the fluorescent lighting. His hair hardly needed any attention, just his classic undercut. All in all, he should be ready.
"You look great."
It feels like a weight lifts off his chest, hearing that voice. He turns, smiling wide, to see Kairi closing the door behind her. His little sister looks beautiful, if a little over-professional for a wedding, in her black dress and dusky pink blazer.
"Mr. Duck?" the redhead asks, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Would you mind terribly if I talked to my brother alone for a minute?"
For a moment it looks like the royal magician is about to protest, but after getting a look at Kairi's sincere eyes he relents. "Sure thing, Miss Kairi. Just be mindful of the schedule, is all." Before he goes, he throws a last look at Telary over his shoulder. "See ya out there, Tel. And try to relax, would ya? This is the happiest day of your life!"
Kairi closes the door behind him, and it doesn't escape Telary's notice how she leans on it a few seconds longer than would be normal. Frowning, he approached her with his arms held out. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Everybody keeps asking me that." The redhead sighs, turning to face her brother. She's smiling, but it hardly looks genuine. "They all think I'm overworking myself or something."
"You have been doing a lot," Telary points out, reaching out and laying his right hand gently on her shoulder. "And it's been a huge help, and I'm super grateful. Azlyn isn't terribly bothered by all the little details, and no one has been able to draw out more input from her than you."
"I can rest once the ceremony is over," Kairi replies, sagging just a little into Tel's touch. "Well, okay, I guess there's still the reception to see to, but…" She notices her brother smirking. "What? What's so funny?"
"You," Telary replies simply, removing his hand from her shoulder. Instead, he turns around to lean against the door next to her. "It is so, so good to have you in my life, Kairi. Every day I'm amazed and so glad that we found each other. Somehow, you get me in ways other people can't. Even Azlyn sometimes."
"What are friends for?" she says, smirking at him. After a moment, it softens into a grin. "Thank you for the opportunity to help with your wedding. As hard as I've had to work at it, this is something I could only have dreamed of doing when I was little. And I could only have dreamed of having someone in my life as kind and caring as you, too." Tears start pooling in her eyes, and she hastily wipes them away. "My big brother. I love you, y'know?"
Tel's tearing up to, but he just lets them fall. "I know. And I love you too, sis. Like I said, so glad to have you in my life."
"Right back at you."
They hug, smiling all the way through the embrace. Whatever obstacles they've faced in life, nothing can ever break the bond they share.
Kairi breaks the embrace, however, after a few seconds. She wipes away a few tears, turning to the room's mirror and making sure her mascara isn't too badly smudged. It's not as perfect as she would like, but a minute of minor work will have it good as new.
"Well, I just wanted to wish you luck," she says, trying hard to regain her professional demeanor. After a moment, she does. "I'd better get out there and make sure everything's perfect. You and Azlyn deserve perfect."
Telary smirks at her. "And I'm one-hundred percent certain you'll be able to give it to us. But, hey, make sure you sit down afterwards, huh?"
She rolls her eyes, but nevertheless nods as she pushes the door open. "Yes, sir." With a last playful salute, she's gone. The door gently slides shut behind her. Telary stares at it for a moment, once again breathing in just how lucky a man he is.
His nerves are a thing of the past now, and when the wizard turns back to the mirror it is with complete confidence. No matter what happens, Azlyn is about to be his wife. As he gives his tie one last adjustment, he allows himself to revel in the security that knowledge brings. He's ready.
Another soft knock on the door. Telary hardly pays any mind to it, still focused on psyching up. Then he it opening in the mirror, just a slight crack. For a second, he's wary for some reason he can't quite explain.
"Hey, Telary," Mickey's voice calls softly into the room. The wizard allows himself to relax, shaking his head at having been so foolishly worried for even a second. "Mind if I come in?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," he replies, turning to the door with a grin. He probably doesn't need yet another pep talk, but talking to the king is always welcome.
But when the door swings open fully, it's not King Mickey standing there. Caught off guard, Telary barely has time to yelp in surprise before there's a flash of light. Then, everything goes dark.
KH-KH-KH
"You can't even go to your own wedding without being all knighty," Sora comments, leaning back in his seat and examining Azlyn. They're in the castle library, converted into Azlyn's dressing room for today's ceremony.
She examines herself as well, gazing into the full length mirror in front of her. True, she hardly looks like a traditional bride. Instead of a white dress, with a shiny beaded bodice and long flowing skirt, she wears a uniform. The Disney Castle Guard dress uniform really doesn't see all that much use, excepting a few minor celebrations and the yearly anniversary of King Mickey and Queen Minnie's rule. But Azlyn has always admired the look, dreamed of the day when she would earn the right to wear one. When the time came to select her wedding dress, it had been a no brainer.
It's the right color at least, all white. A white jacket with shiny gold buttons, the crest of Disney Castle pinned to the lapel, and golden epaulets. Underneath that, a crisp white shirt and cream-colored tie. Normally white pants complete the ensemble, but Azlyn had opted for a pleated skirt for this occasion. She admires her reflection in the mirror, proud to be wearing this uniform on the most important day of her life.
"I think I look great," she replies, tugging a bit on her jacket's lapels.
"I didn't say you didn't!" Sora declares, holding up his hands defensively. "It's just not what I think of when you say 'wedding'. Which I guess makes it perfect for you. When do you do things I expect?"
"My own Maid of Honor," Azlyn quips without missing a beat, "and you still don't have me figured out." She pauses, briefly glancing at Sora before she twirls around.
"And yet you still manage to act all girly," the Keybearer teases. "Lot of sides to you, aren't there Az?"
She nods, smoothing down her skirt. At least she starts to, before looking up at Sora with a pensive expression. "Do you really think I can make this work?"
"It isn't that hard Azlyn. All you have to do is walk in a straight line and…"
"Not that, moron," the bride snaps. "I mean, do you think me and Tel really have what it takes to go all the way? Be together forever, I mean. Seems like a long time, when I stop and think about it."
Sora pushes off from his lean against the wall, crossing the room to stand by his friend's side. "Azlyn overthinking things," he says, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Who'd have ever thought we'd see that day? In all seriousness, though, Az, you and Tel are meant to be. Forever and ever, til death and all that stuff. Everybody knows it. Including you, so stop stressing."
"You're right," she agrees with a wide grin. "This is no time to sit around whining about doubts and feelings. Who am I, Riku?"
Sora lets the insult to his best friend go, simply rolling his eyes instead. Then, suddenly, he becomes a lot more serious. "Speaking of emotional stuff, there is one last thing before I go."
"What? Don't tell me you're about to declare undying…"
"Azlyn," Sora says, his voice iron-firm. He's looking the knight right in her eyes. "I'm being serious here, okay?" He takes a deep breath, using Azlyn's stunned silence to his advantage. "Minnie told you all that stuff about, y'know, bridal accessories and whatever. Old and new…"
"Borrowed, blue," Azlyn repeats, like they're items on a grocery list. "Yeah, I got all that stuff I think. Actually, I think Minnie said something about having to wait for the 'borrowed'…"
"That's what I'm talking about." Sora reaches up and back around his neck, to the clasp of his necklace. It takes some fiddling, but eventually he gets it open. He solemnly slides the chain off his neck. Then, Sora offers his crown necklace to Azlyn. His eyes are getting wet, a single tear sliding down his face. "I, um, I think you should borrow this. To wear in your wedding."
Azlyn reaches out to take it, almost reverent in the way she handles the chain. The knight stares at it for a long moment, then asks Sora to put it on. Turning around, she allows him to clasp the necklace around her neck. She looks at the pendant once more, touching it fondly before she turns back to Sora. Her best friend, Telary notwithstanding.
"Thanks, Sora," she tells him, far more sincere than he can ever remember her being. "It, uh, means a lot to me that you would give me this."
"I do expect it back, though," he says, mockingly waving a finger at the bride. "It is something borrowed for a reason."
She nods, one last bit of sentiment shining in her eyes. Then her usual aloof playfulness returns, in the time it takes to wipe her eyes one last time. "Okay, that's enough emotional crap. Quick, make a joke about me being stubborn, loud, anything!"
"I think I'm good," he replies with a grin of his own. "Alright, now I guess it's time for me to get going. I'll see you…"
The Keybearer is interrupted by a knock on the door. He figures it must be Kairi, making sure Sora gets out onto the altar. He's just rolling his eyes when, to his surprise, King Mickey's voice calls through the door, asking permission to come in.
"Sure, Your Majesty," Azlyn says, looking at herself in the mirror one more time. It's through the reflection she realizes that it is not Mickey walking through the door.
They're approximately the same size and overall shape, and the individual certainly possesses distinct black ears. But instead of the round, almost dinner plate sized ovals of Disney Castle's king, they're long and floppy rabbit's ears. He wears blue shorts with black suspenders and a white shirt.
Before Azlyn or Sora even have time to ask, another figure enters the room. A large cat the pair know all too well. Pete smiles at them, already tossing a bomb. Sora's hand is open to call the Keyblade when the orb explodes, releasing a batch of dark grey goo. It engulfs the Keybearer, thickening and sending him falling to the floor.
Azlyn tries to move quickly, but the white heels she wears throw off her balance for just the slightest moment. It's all the time a female duck dressed in black clothes needs to mutter a spell, flinging it with her right hand while the left repeats a bizarre series of motions. A blast of pure invisible force bowls into the knight, knocking her to the floor.
"I suggest we hurry," the witch-duck declares, her voice lightly accented. She looks a bit strained. "I can't hold up this illusion forever."
"No worries," Pete says, his hand held up with thumb and middle finger held in a snapping position. "Quick trips are a specialty, today." Then, Maleficent's oafish minion does something Azlyn and Sora know is an impossibility. With a snap of his pudgy fingers, the fat cat summons a vortex of dark energy.
Neither of them are able to so much as cry out before they're engulfed in darkness.
KH-KH-KH
Sora is still stunned when the black fades from his vision. How could Pete have done that? Darkness can't exist in Disney Castle, not as long as the Cornerstone of Light protects the keep. In fact, when the Keybearer looks up, he realizes that he's in the Cornerstone's chamber. Its high ceiling is up above, and he can vaguely hear muffled chatter from everyone in the Audience Chamber above.
Looking up and listening is about all he can do, though. Whatever had been in Pete's bomb, it's hardened into a glue-like shell, preventing all movement. He struggles, but the effort is futile.
"Anybody wanna fill me in on just what the hell is happening here?" Azlyn demands from just to Sora's left.
"I'm curious as well," Telary chimes in.
"I'd just like to be able to see what's going on," Sora whines. He calls out mentally for the Keyblade. When it appears in its usual burst of light, the blade only clatters to the chamber floor.
"Nice try, kid," Pete's mocking voice declares, smugness dripping from every syllable. "This ain't gonna be so easy as a brawl. But Magica, turn the kid over would ya? I'd hate for him to miss out on all the fun!"
Sora and the mystery gel containing him flop over ninety-degrees, thankfully changing his perspective. Or at least, he's thankful until he realizes just how nasty the current predicament is. He's in the Cornerstone chamber all right, but instead of the shining green orb with a white light shining inside, he sees a bubble of teeming black sludge. Shafts of light shine out through small gaps, but more and more are slowly closing before his eyes.
Azlyn and Telary are on the floor beside him, watching the black orb with similar concerned expressions. Three figures stand by it, looking contemptuously down at the trio. Pete, of course, dressed in his usual attire and grinning like an evil loon. The duck woman in a lacy black dress, a small black raven perched on her shoulder. And last of all is a very tall figure with a mousy face and ears like the king, dressed in black pants and a long white lab coat.
"Now that I can see you," the Keybearer says, "I have to agree with Azlyn and Telary. What's going on, Pete? Who are your cronies, how'd you get into the castle, and what's going on with the Cornerstone?"
"Oh, I'd be just tickled to explain, Keyboy," Pete gloats. "But first, I think it's only fair we have our full audience in attendance. You can bring out the boat boy, Ears."
King Mickey stumbles out from behind the Cornerstone, looking quite bedraggled in his rumpled tuxedo and blackening eyes. The rabbit from before follows him out, looking grim but satisfied as he gives the king another push that sends him to his knees beside Telary.
"Your Majesty!" the wizard cries, immediately starting to examine the disheveled king. "What did they do to you?"
"Just giving my dear brother a taste of what he deserves," the rabbit declares, bitterness and hatred giving the words an ugly quality. "And this is only round one!"
"Okay, I know Pete, Magica DeSpell, and Mortimer," Azlyn says, looking at each villain in turn until she arrives on the rabbit. "It's like a who's who of Mouseburg scumbags. But who exactly are you?"
"So, you never told them, did ya?" the rabbit addresses the king with more angry contempt. "Why don't you go ahead and introduce me, little brother?"
"Brother!" Azlyn, Telary, and Sora blurt simultaneously.
"That's…" Telary begins, before stopping and shaking his head. "That's absurd, right?"
"Afraid not, Tel," Mickey answers, his voice matching the rest of him. "Fellas, this is Oswald. It's just like he said. He's my older brother."
"Why did you never tell us about him?" Azlyn demands, pursing her lips.
"Considering the company he keeps, I'd say he's not exactly the kind of family member you brag about," Telary points out, strangely deadpan under the circumstances.
"It was back when I first started traveling, training under Yen Sid," Mickey describes dully, his eyes fixated on the floor. "I didn't want Minnie to get overwhelmed, y'know, with all the duties of state and such. So I asked my brother to help out." He looks up, his eyes narrowing and his voice taking on an angry quality. "He got the idea in his head the kingdom would be better off if he was in charge!"
"I'm the oldest, I was always the most responsible growing up!" Oswald yells back, placing his hands defiantly on his hips. "You just lucked into bein' king cause you were in the right place to catch that Minnie's eyes. And at the first chance you got to ditch the crown and go off on adventures, you jumped on it." He shrugs. "So yeah, I decided it was time for a change. And when little brother came back and found out, he had me shipped off. And apparently erased every last mention of me off the books!"
"Did you really?" Sora asks, quite taken aback.
Mickey looks to the floor again, defeated. "Yes. I hate to say it but… Yes, I banished Oswald. And I guess I didn't wanna deal with all the feelings, so… So I pretty much got rid of everything that would remind me of him."
"Never once thinking about how stupid and selfish that was," Oswald says, shaking his head.
"So where, exactly, did you get banished to?" Telary asks.
"Apparently some place his buddy Yen Sid showed him," the rabbit replies. "Another dimension or something. All I know is, it was only through freak luck that the inhabitants there found me, took me back to their village."
Mickey looks up, eyes wide and frowning.
Oswald doesn't notice, too caught up in his backstory. "Place was rough country, so I did my best to help out. Unlike my brother here, they appreciated my help. Eventually, I guess I got used to it. I even figured that would be enough, at least until Mickey came to his senses. So, I stayed."
"He had a pretty sweet deal goin', too," Pete chimes in. "By the time the boat boy king gave me the shove off too, he was practically runnin' the place! I figure that's why he turned Maleficent down."
"I honestly believed that Mickey would eventually realize he'd done me wrong," Oswald continues. "Boy was I an idiot, huh? By the time I realized you were never gonna pull through for me, it was too late by years!"
"So, why would you come back now?" Sora asks, frowning. "I mean, if you're happy with your life in that other dimension…"
"Why you gotta ruin my wedding, huh?" Azlyn rages. She stands, but a wave from Magica puts her back down to her knees. "This is supposed to be the greatest day of my friggin' life, but instead of kissing the groom I gotta sit here and listen to family court!"
"As it happens, you just hit the nail on the head, Azlyn," Oswald says. He steps closer, hand lowering to the pocket of his trousers. "Today's supposed to be Mickey's big triumph. The brats he took pity on tie the knot, and he gets to read out his grand proclamation for all the land to hear." He pulls out a piece of paper. It's dirty and rumpled, by undeniably Disney Castle royal stationary. The rabbit holds it out to Telary. "Here, why don't you take a read?"
Cautiously, the wizard takes the paper. He reads it once to himself, eyes widening as he does. Azlyn and Sora shoot him expectant looks, and he clears his throat. "It's an official proclamation from King Mickey of Disney Castle. Declaring me and Azlyn the heirs to the throne."
Azlyn nearly chokes on her own spit, gasping for breath and coughing wildly. "We're what?"
"And that isn't all it says, is it?" Oswald prompts, his eyes narrowed.
"N-no," Telary admits, reading a few lines over again. "It also says that, 'to ensure no conflicts could occur to the line of succession, Oswald Rabbit is to be returned to Disney Castle, and receive his proper due.'"
Mickey stands up, gesturing wildly. "Oswald, ya have to understand, I didn't mean it like you…!"
"Save the excuses, brother," Oswald interrupts, stepping forward and angrily pushing the king back down. He snatches the paper from Telary, holding it up in Mickey's face. "I know your handwriting, I know your signature. And I know how insecure you are under that brave and wise front you put up for everyone. It wasn't enough to ship me off, now that your stupid kids are getting their shot, you've gotta make sure I don't come back around like Petey and cause trouble!"
"Oswald, I swear that isn't what I wrote!" Mickey says, openly begging his brother to listen. "At least, I didn't mean it like you think. Why believe Pete, huh?"
"And how would he get a copy of a royal proclamation anyway?" Azlyn chimes in.
"It's called careful planning and cunning stealth!" Pete declares, offended. "Things've been so crazy around here with your big shindig gettin' planned, sneaking in and out was easier than ever!"
Telary and Azlyn wince at that.
"Once Pete came to me with the dirt about your little plans, Mickey," Oswald declares, arms folded as he looks down at his younger brother, "I knew the time of contentedly sitting back in the Wasteland was over. So I let the oaf take me back home. And wouldn't you know it, turns out I'm not the only person you've managed to tick off royally."
"I was gonna ask," Sora chimes in. "Didn't want to disrupt the family drama or big revelations and everything, but who are those other guys?"
""I'll explain later," Azlyn says. "What I wanna know is, what exactly are you planning on doing to us now that you're here?"
"And what are you doing to the Cornerstone?" Telary adds, nervously glancing at the mostly concealed orb.
"I can take that last inquiry!" Mortimer Mouse says, stepping forward with a huge grin on his face. "Working together with Madame DeSpell, I, Mortimer Mouse, have combined magic and technology into the most fiendishly clever device ever devised by mouse. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages…"
"It is called the Blot," Magica interrupts, frowning at her boisterous cohort. "To make a long story short, it absorbs the magical energy of the Cornerstone of Light in order to replicate itself. It also insulates the orb's power to block its effects."
"What!" Mickey cries. He thrusts a hand forward, and for a moment nothing happens. Frowning, he instead pushes his other hand forward, and orb of light exploding forth.
The Blot reacts, a portion of its substance flying out from the Cornerstone's coating. The small machines spread themselves like a wall, blocking the light magic and turning it into so much ineffective sparkle before returning to the main mass.
Oswald grins at the sight. "Did we forget to mention its combat possibilities?"
"Block the Cornerstone's effects?" Telary repeats as if he hadn't even noticed what just happened, furrowing his brow. "But that means no more protection from Darkness, which means…"
"Dark portal service in and out," Oswald finishes, blatantly stealing the moment from Pete. The fat cat grimaces. "A convenient way to get ourselves around without being suspected."
"Yeah, that's one thing," Azlyn points out, rolling her eyes. "But you can't be so stupid to not know it also opens this place up like a Heartless buffet table!"
Now Oswald looks confused. "Heartless? What are you talking about?"
"Don't pay no mind to them, Ears," Pete assures the rabbit, shrugging the knight's comment off. "Oh, uh, hey! Why dontcha let 'em know what's gonna happen to them now?"
Oswald's confusion remains for a brief moment, but then the opportunity to gloat comes to the forefront of his mind. He grins sadistically at the heroes. "Oh yeah, that's right. Now, Mickey, we're gonna see how you like banishment, eh?" He steps forward, eyes dancing with wicked glee. "I'm afraid you'll find you're not quite so popular among the gremlins. This time it's me who got to write the history on you!"
"Oswald, you've gotta see reason!" Mickey pleads, shifting forward so he's actually on his knees before his brother. "These people, ya don't know what they're like. What they're gonna do…"
The rabbit doesn't seem to care, reaching out to slap his brother across the face. "Can't be any worse than what you were planning for me."
"Oh, yes it can!" Azlyn declares, giving Oswald a glare Sora hasn't seen from her since Riku's evil days.
"Don't let yourself be blinded by anger," Telary begs, hands clasped as if in prayer. "As soon as he can, Pete's going to summon an army of dark creatures. The Heartless."
"They're bad news, big time," Sora agrees. "If you won't listen to the king, at least listen to us!"
"Oh, they'd say anything to stop you from gettin' yer revenge," Pete argues, shrugging dismissively.
Oswald frowns at the fat cat. "I dunno, Pete. You have always been a shady character. Why don't you humor them, huh? Tell me about these Heartless?"
Sora, Azlyn, and Telary exchange hopeful looks. It seems they've made a breakthrough, small as it is. Hope blossoms in Sora's chest, only to quickly die at the sound of Pete's sudden laugh. Magica and Mortimer join in after a moment, all three villains howling while Oswald's frown increases and his proud ears begin to droop.
"What are you all laughing about!" Oswald demands, stamping a foot at his cohorts. "What are they talking about?"
Mickey winces as the laughter continues. "Oh, Oswald," he whispers dejectedly.
"Sakes alive, this is just too good!" Pete declares, wiping a tear from one eye as he gets his laughter under control. "Y'see, turns out they're exactly right Ears. As soon as that Blot stuff finishes fully blocking out the Cornerstone's power, this place is gonna turn easy pickings for the Heartless!"
"So they weren't lying!" Oswald's whole body shakes, fists clenched tight. "I should've known from the start that you…"
"Ya really should've, squirt," Pete agrees, grinning darkly. "But you were too consummated by hatred and bitterness to give it a second thought. All it took was a little whisperin' in yer ear about payback to get ya to play along. Now, I'm afraid yer brother and his cronies ain't gonna be the only ones makin' their way back to the Wasteland forever!"
"But why?" Oswald demands, stomping his foot again. "Why take me out of the Wasteland, why involve me at all? What did I offer you?"
"Take a look at the expression on the dear king's face, if you would," Magica prompts the rabbit. Indeed, Mickey does look more defeated than anyone present can ever remember. "Betrayed by one he loves."
"Who'd rather team up with his worst enemies than try to make amends," Mortimer adds.
"All the reason I need," Pete declares, grinning widely. "Plus, you ain't exactly my favorite person neither, Ears. Always messing around with my steamboat!"
"You won't get away with this!" Sora declares, wriggling uselessly. "Even with us gone, my friends up there will stop you!"
Pete shrugs again. "Eh, we'll see about that. Can't hurt our chances none though."
"What chances!" Azlyn yells defiantly, leaping straight at the fat cat with her fists ready to fly. Telary stands as well, hands already preparing the gestures to summon his most devastating spells.
Pete grins at the sight, raising his arm and opening his hand to reveal a silver band around one wide digit. The ring glows with a silvery light for just a brief second, and then the bride and groom simply vanish into thin air. Sora's prone, encased form is close enough to be affected too, disappearing in the same flash.
Mickey watches it all with the same resigned, sad look on his face. Oswald takes note of the expression, and for the first time finds it isn't bringing him joy. Then the rabbit turns to Pete, who's smiling along with the other villains.
"Happy trails, Ears," the fat cat gloats. "Consider it a gift, the opportunity for some good ol' one-to-one with yer bro."
"Speaking of one-on-one," Mortimer announces with a truly sick, smirk, "can't wait to see that queen of yours, Mick."
That's the final straw for the mouse king. He hurtles himself off the floor, lunging for the villains with his hand outstretched. For the briefest moment, the Keyblade he found in the Realm of Darkness flashes into his hand. Then it, along with its wielder and his duped brother, disappear.
Pete just admires his handiwork for a moment, before turning back to his cohorts. The Blot plugs its last small holes in the Cornerstone's coating, none of its magical light able to break through. "Well, well, well," he gloats, snapping his fingers and summoning a cadre of Neoshadows out of the hall's floor. "Whaddya say we go tell everybody this wedding's canceled, eh?"
My goal was to have this out less than a week after the first chapter, and lo I succeeded! it helps that a lot of this was just emotions and character interactions, which are usually pretty easy for me. The end section plot stuff gave me a bit of trouble and I had to move a few last bits of exposition to the next chapter, but it's all good.
Shoutouts to goddragonking and Nightwing2013 for their reviews of last chapter. Until next time, hopefully once again in less than a week.