Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Chapter 13– Discovered


Morning sunlight shined through the cracks in the curtains blocking Aqua's windows. Terra watched the light shine down on him and the lovely girl lying in his arms. Her hand gently placed on his bare chest and her steady breathing like music to his ears. The sheets covered them, but Terra believed Aqua's body heat was truly what kept him warm that last night.

'Let's see if this works,' he mused, leaning down to Aqua's face and kissing her.

A light whimper escaped her lips as she opened her eyes. The hand on Terra's chest moved to his face.

"Good morning," Aqua whispered.

"Hey."

"Uh… we really did that last night… didn't we?"

"Yeah… Are you okay, Aqua?"

"Happy. Very happy." Aqua cupped Terra's cheeks in her hands and pulled him back to her face, kissing him sweetly.

"Me too," he said as they parted.

"So, what am I? Your fairytale princess?"

"Huh?" Terra's eyebrows furrowed.

"Why'd you kiss me to wake me up like in Sleeping Beauty?"

"I thought it would be nice to try it." Terra smirked. Aqua smirked back and stroked his cheek.

"It was. But we are so dead if anyone finds out about this," she muttered said. Terra frowned. "The servants in this castle are blabby and if one of them finds out, they'll spread the news around and that news will eventually reach Caelum or Master Eraqus. We can't tell anyone. Even Ventus."

"That's true," Terra groaned. "I only wonder who would be the worst to find out."

"Eraqus for sure," Aqua said. "Caelum can't do anything to us."

"Then that means he can't stop me from doing this." Smirking again, Terra pressed his lips to Aqua's and she inched her hands into her lover's spiky hair, pulling him even closer to her. Terra caressed Aqua's body, sending a chill through her. She moved one hand and stroked Terra's muscles. His blood boiled where she touched him.

She would've liked to stay in her bed with Terra forever, but Aqua knew when to break the kiss. Terra tried, and failed, to pout. He just couldn't pull it off.

"We should get ready for the day," Aqua said. "Just, how are you gonna get out of here?" They sat up in her bed, Terra pulling her close to him again.

"Just make sure the hall's clear."

Terra climbed out of bed and grabbed his clothes. Aqua grabbed new clothes for the day and brushed her hair.

When they were ready, Aqua checked outside her door. The hall was deserted as it usually was around her room at that time of day.

"It's all clear. You should go now." Aqua stuck her head back inside.

"Do you want me to come back tonight?" Terra asked.

"Sure. I could use the company." The water maiden leaned back against the door as the earth knight leaned over her. Terra held her shoulders and Aqua reached for his face, kissing him sweetly, but quickly.

"I'll be back later."

Taking a quick peek outside again before leaving, Terra slipped away from Aqua's room and made it out of the hall without being noticed.

Ven was waiting for Terra outside his room.

"Where've you been?" the boy asked. "I've been here for half an hour!"

"Training," Terra said simply. He opened the door and Ven trotted into the room after him.

"No, you weren't," Ven said. "I looked in the courtyard we normally go to and in the soldiers' training field. You weren't there and neither was… Aqua. You were with her, weren't you?"

"Maybe."

"Tell me!"

"You don't need to know."

"But—"

"Ven, you're not old enough to know. Plus, why are you so interested in my relationship with Aqua?"

"Well, I want to know what love looks like!" Ven exclaimed. "Maybe so I can fall in love one day!"

Terra bent down to the boy's eye level and ruffled his blonde spikes.

"Good luck with that, Ven," the man replied. "I mean it. You're probably gonna find a great girl one day."

"Thanks, Terra. Now, stop that! It tickles!"

"Okay, go get some breakfast. I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes."

"Okay! I'll swipe some food!"

Ven sped out of the room. Terra laughed at the boy's enthusiasm. He certainly was eager and energetic. He walked to his dresser to get some clean clothes.

"Terra, don't think I don't know what you were up to last night."

The Keyblade Master of Earth jumped when he heard Caelum's voice behind him.

"What do you think I was up to?" Terra turned around to face the obnoxious prince.

Caelum slammed the door and marched right up to Terra. They glared at each other with an intensity that would've scared Ven well into his forties.

"You spent the night with Aqua."

"How would you know that if I did?"

"I saw you go into her room last night and overheard you both for the start of your conversation. Then, I heard muffled scuffling and left."

"Is it really your business what I do with Aqua?" Terra asked.

"Stay away from her," Caelum ordered.

"No. I can do whatever I want. And the same goes for Aqua. A Keyblade Master has more authority than any royal family of a world. So, Aqua and I have authority over you. And you can't do anything about our relationship. If we want to be together, you have no say in this. It's our say."

"I am the Prince of Seaside Haven. You were born in this world, as was Aqua. I can do anything I want to any person of this world, my father being the one exception. And he's too stubborn to listen to me with his garbage about true love."

"He believes in it," Terra protested. "And he knows that Aqua's and my love for each other is strong. That's something you can't take from us!"

"Well, I'm going to make Aqua mine. I'll do anything," Caelum proclaimed. "I will not let you stand in my way."

"She's going to refuse you!" Terra snarled. "And if you get too close to her, she's going to ignore you and walk away. And if you attempt anything, remember, I'm far more powerful than you, as is she."

Caelum pondered Terra's words. The man's strength was great. He certainly didn't have Aqua's magical talent, but his physical power was dangerous with his Keyblade.

Wait… the Keyblade?

Terra eyed Caelum's face, which had turned into a deadly smirk. He actually backed up with wide eyes.

"What do you say to ending this little dispute?" Caelum asked.

"What are you talking about?" Terra crossed his arms.

"We have a battle," the prince offered. "The winner gets Aqua. And you may not use your Keyblade. That's an unfair advantage against a normal human."

"I'm not wagering her in a battle, Caelum. That's immature and stupid. And girls are not prizes. Letting Aqua decide is better."

"And she's chosen you, which I will not settle for, Terra. I want Aqua for myself. And I will do whatever I must to make her mine."

Terra could practically see Darkness swarming around Caelum. Black aura was swirling in his eyes, small yellow flecks appearing in the center. And it was stemming from his fingertips. Caelum clenched his fists and the dark swirls disappeared.

"You might want to get over yourself, Your Maje-stink. Aqua can't stand you. And neither can I. And I'm going to take her with me when I leave."

"Is that forcing her or her own choice?"

"I promised her and she agreed."

"Well, you're not going to be able to keep that promise. Because I'll tell Eraqus the instant you try to make another move with her. And if I'm not mistaken, Keyblade wielders cannot fall in love."

"That means you can't have her either. A Keyblade wielder isn't allowed to be in a relationship like that. Which means neither of us should interact with Aqua that way."

"The difference is… Eraqus won't do anything to me since he technically doesn't have any authority over me. However, he has authority over you. And he can punish you for interacting with Aqua that way."

As much as Terra hated him, Caelum had a point. Eraqus was the only person who actually had power over his two students. He could easily punish them if he found out about their romance. Especially after last night.

"Why can't you just let it go, Caelum?" Terra asked.

"Because I'm not one to just give up," the prince responded. "So, do we have a deal? I'll battle you. One on one, with simple swords as our weapons. First to draw blood from his opponent wins and gets Aqua for himself. And if you win, I'll also keep my mouth shut about the whole thing and I won't tell Eraqus. Sound good?"

"Fine. I'll accept your challenge. But remember this, you're not going to win, Caelum. I've never even seen you practice battle skills."

"True, but I've watched you and Aqua for years. I know all of your moves. So, I have a bit of an advantage."

"I have my own advantage. I've trained in wielding weapons longer than you have," Terra pointed out. 'And I can also use magic,' he thought.

"Well, we'll just see. Come to the soldiers' training area at noon tomorrow. I'll be waiting."

Caelum left in a swish of robes. Terra slammed the door behind him, frustrated at the mess he'd just gotten himself and Aqua into.

"What's his problem?" Terra muttered. "Can't he take a hint?" He slammed his fist into the wall.

"Well, no matter what, I will not lose to him. He's not going to take Aqua away from me!"

Terra didn't go to the kitchen to meet Ven. He stayed shut up in his room the rest of the day, irritated that he'd let Caelum play him like he did. He was now putting the girl he loved on the line.

He was furious with himself.

Terra didn't return to Aqua's room that night either. He wasn't going to get in more trouble with her than he was already in.

In his dreams, Terra was alone with Aqua. They were just lying down in a bed of sand. Once he took note of the sand, Terra noticed that he and Aqua were on a beach, in the exact same spot where they'd been on that day Aqua had shown her inner talent for dancing.

"I won't let anything happen," Terra whispered to dream Aqua.

"I know you won't," she replied, caressing his face.

"I'm going to make sure everything is alright for us. I promise."


Oh boy… Drama.

Also, since it was mentioned, I don't own Sleeping Beauty either. But I do love fairytales and the Disney movie. Plus, I can't wait to play through that world in BBS!