"Wake up, Morannocky! Wake up! It's only a bad dream!" called an urgent, older voice. Morannocky's eyes shot open an immediately met the golden orbs of Xehanort, his "adopted" older brother. His brother's hands were clamped tightly around his shoulders with a grip strong enough to crush steel. His eyes like the autumn mornings were filled with concern. His hand hovered briefly over Morannocky's sweat-laden forehead before it rested against his hairline. "That's was quite a scream, buddy, are you alright?"
Morannocky suddenly realized that his chest was heaving with anxiety and his body wet and hot from sweat. He slowly pushed the thick covers of his bed back from his chest before resting the back of his hand against his burning forehead. "I…I don't know."
"Are you ill? Should I go get Master Ansem?" Xehanort asked, standing up slowly. His little brother shook his toasted caramel colored head and with great effort, managed to sit up.
"I'm good…what time is it?" he asked, rubbing his face wearily.
"Seven thirty-nine in the morning," Xehanort replied after glancing at his wristwatch. "Maybe you should rest awhile. You look awful."
"I feel so tired…and I went to bed early last night too," Morannocky said, wondering if he should bring up the strange dream he had just awakened from. Seeing the expectant and slightly sinister glint in the man's eyes, he decided against it. Xehanort chuckled lightly, golden eyes flashing and silver hair glinting in the dawn light peeping through the large bay window. He turned and glanced out that window over the ocean. Morannocky's room in the Radiant Garden palace overlooked the glistening sea so that the boy may enjoy the sunrises and sunsets that God painted over the sky each morning and dusk.
He turned back toward Morannocky. "You might want to get up soon though."
"Why?" Morannocky asked, resting his chin against his knees. Xehanort randomly brushed some lint off his white lab coat and straightened his purple necktie.
"Her Eminence, Claudia, let the cook have the morning to his self and she has cooked breakfast for everyone," Xehanort said, winking. Already, Morannocky's mouth began to water despite the fact that he wasn't hungry the slightest bit. He would never miss one of his mother's meals if he could help it. Although she was the wife of Ansem the Wise, the king of Radiant Garden, and it was improper for the queen to cook, Claudia bent the rules once in awhile simply because she liked to cook and she liked to treat her small family to her own cuisine. Morannocky was the only one who would cheat the Grim Reaper out of death for one of Claudia's delicious meals.
His appetite refused to be satiated as he wolfed down pancakes dripping with the finest maple syrup Radiant Garden had to offer and the most scrumptious of sausages and fruit salads. His mother glared at the boy used a slice of rosy dragonfruit to make a silly grin. The lady's hair the color of burnt umber was pulled back delicately and accented with a band of glistening jewels. Ringlets curled down above her forehead and added to her distasted gaze. Morannocky, to his benefit, caught his mother's scornful gaze at his manners and he decided that using his napkin would be appropriate. His father chuckled at the way his son straightened up his manners in the blink of an eye. The golden-eyed king turned to his wife in silent thanks. Xehanort merely rolled his eyes and sipped a crystal chalice of grapefruit juice.
The whole way through breakfast, the king seemed bothered and Morannocky itched to know what it was. Ansem would cast his eyes down at his china plate and then rub his beard lightly. Morannocky had learned that this meant his father was troubled. Finally, he worked up the nerve to ask him. "Dad?"
"Yes, my son?" Ansem asked and sipped coffee to keep the suspicion down.
"Are you okay? You seemed kind of…well, worried," Morannocky pointed out. Claudia had picked up on her husband's distress much before Morannocky, be had decided to remain silent.
"Yes, Ansem, do tell!" she said softly, quickly shifting her hand to cover his. "I've sensed it all morning."
Ansem decided he could no longer hide it and smiled. "I've decided to take on another apprentice."
Claudia seemed content and happy about the decision, Morannocky looked puzzled, and Xehanort froze in the middle of drinking some red tea. He set the teacup down and patted his lips lightly with his napkin. He turned to his master and questioned, "What brought on this…pronouncement, master?"
"There is a young man graduating Meridian Springs High School and has lost both parents recently due to illnesses. When I learned that no will was left and that relatives had siphoned all his parents' money from their bank account, leaving the young man nothing, I sent for him to learn the nature of the situation. Upon meeting him, I have found him to be an intelligent, brilliant young man. With nowhere to go, I offered him apprenticeship which he gratefully accepted," Ansem explained and drank some lemon water to rest his voice for a moment.
"So I'm going to have a comrade?" Xehanort asked, laughing lightly at the thought of no longer having Ansem's full attention.
"Yes. He'll be moving in today and I'd like you and Morannocky to greet him warmly," Ansem said.
"What's his name?" Morannocky asked, leaning his elbows on the table, earning another scowl from Claudia.
"His name is Braig Eran Tempest from Scysren City," Ansem said. He grinned slightly. "I'm sure you two will get along with him just fine…he's an adrenaline junkie I'm told."