So, I was struck with an idea earlier in the week and it bore 'My Love Never Dies'... go check it out when you get the chance!
It won't become a full story because I'm backed up with this story and another request... so don't expect it for at least a month...
Without further ado, let's go on with the story!
The prince and his friend were in the stables, finishing up the last of packing supplies for the trip. Terra had a large black arabian horse outfitted with a few quivers full of arrows and extra bows. Ven's white stallion was packed with the same but it also carried their sleeping bags, food, and water for days.
"We're only gonna be gone for a night, right Terra?" Ven asked.
"Mother and Father would like that we did come back after one night away. But, I'm not coming back until I find Surane. If I at least know she's okay, then I'll come back." Terra explained.
"Then, we could be gone for days! Maybe even a few weeks!"
"Maybe... If you really want to find Iris, you would do it for her." Terra countered.
Ventus really did want to find Iris. He just wanted a better plan instead of two teenagers riding in the Forbidden Forest for awhile with no protection except themselves. He had a point.
"You're right! Let's go save them!" Ven cheered, climbing on top of his horse.
Terra smiled and boarded his horse as well. The two set off for the forest at a blinding speed. When they reached the entrance, both boys readied their bows and arrows.
"Terra, what does this animal look like?" Ven whispered, though it was unnecessary.
"It's a shape shifting creature. Hopefully we can find it in it's vulnerable form so we can kill it off quickly."
"What do you think the form will be?"
"Not sure, it might be anything. It could even be a human in disguise. The thing to look for is anything suspicious."
"Suspicious...got it..." Ven repeated.
The horses trotted slowly into the forest.
At the magic lake, the girls went over a small recon plan to get to Terra's castle. Surane and Kairi would fly to the castle using the quickest route. Iris and Aqua would stay at the lake and distract Xemnas if he came back early. Chances supposed that Surane and Kairi wouldn't be back till late sunset or nightfall, so now was better than ever.
"What if Xemnas sees you flying away?" Aqua asked, paranoid.
"He probably wouldn't care at first. At the very least, he would put Larxene to keep an eye on me for the next few days." Surane answered, slightly confident.
"Or he will use his magic to summon you back and take even further advantage of you..."
Everyone glared at Aqua. She shrugged her shoulders, knowing that it was a likely outcome. In fact, it was the most anticipated outcome for Surane. Things would get much worse than the first time and nothing would save her. It was a risk, no doubt. But Surane held her head high. No fear!
"Let's get going. It's already the afternoon." Kairi said.
The two flying creatures took to the skies, leaving Iris with the negative blue dancer nobody. The Forbidden Forest laid out in front of Surane and Kairi like the map. It was large and took up two-thirds of the path to the castle. It was the shortest path compared to a boat on the ocean, but clearly unsafe. Who knows what lurked in there?
That's the exact thought Terra had after a few minutes of being in the forest. It didn't take long to start hearing strange noises here and there. The horses were not too thrilled about being in there as well. Ven swallowed nervously and constantly aimed his bow at random sounds.
"What was that?" he shrieked.
A soft rustle was in some nearby bushes. Terra shot an arrow at the base of the plants and a small bunny hopped out, scared for it's life.
"It's just a rabbit." Terra said.
"That could've been the creature that took Iris!" Ven announced in a whisper.
"Ven, we shouldn't separate-" Terra started.
It was too late. The blonde boy set his horse after the rabbit and their chase was on. The prince rolled his eyes and let his horse walk cautiously around the area. The trees lingered over them like large umbrellas, blocking out the sun. Occasionally, a clear patch of sunlight would sneak through and illuminated areas in the forest.
Above the trees, Surane was flying just over the two boys. She noticed little opening into the forest below. At one point, she thought she saw Ventus riding by on a white horse.
"Wait, that boy looks familiar..." she told Kairi.
"Don't go down there. It could be a hunter."
"But, what if it's someone who knows Terra? We can lead him to the lake and explain what's going on!"
"No! That's too dangerous! You know the plan!"
"It's worth a shot..." Surane mused, diving down into a forest clearing.
Kairi kept her height while watching Surane go down. If she just gave it a few minutes, Surane would be flying back up in no time. The wyvern flew inbetween trees and around the shrubery but the boy was nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately for her, Terra noticed the flying creature swoop down just awhile ago.
"Odd... Wyverns are extinct... It was proven a few years ago. Why would one be wandering around by itself? Especially if it's mate is nowhere to be found? That's it! It's something suspicious! This must be the thing that took Surane." he whispered to himself.
With no further ado, Terra aimed an arrow straight at the wyvern's chest. He pulled back the drawstring and waited for the creature to come closer. Surane saw a figure in the distance and flew slowly towards it. The figure started to look like Terra. It was Terra! He was looking for her! Wait, he was holding something, liek a bow and arrow. Sunlight hit the arrow's head and shined in her eyes. The arrow was aimed at her! Terra was going to kill her!
"This one's for Surane!" Terra shouted, coming out of his hiding spot.
He let go of the drawstring and the arrow flew right at Surane. At the absolute last second, Kairi dived down and pushed Surane out of the way.
"Damn it!" Terra shouted after watching the scene. "Ven! I need back-up!"
Surane and Kairi flew back up to the skies and headed back to Surane's kingdom. The princess couldn't help but cry at the moment. It hurt to see Terra aim a weapon at her, but, of course, he didn't know it was really her. But still, she felt terrible.
"Surane, what are you doing?" Kairi asked, trying to keep up.
"I have to get Terra to see me! The real me!" she answered back, flying faster.
"We're gonna lose them though!"
"I'm sorry, but that last shot he made was a close call! I'm not taking chances." Surane apologized.
At that moment, another arrow zoomed inbetween them. Catching them off guard, they lost balance and tumbled a little. Down below, Terra and Ven were riding their horses, trying to follow the flying creatures.
"I almost had one of them!" Ven yelled to Terra, reloading his bow.
"Just keep your eye on them! I want that wyvern and angel star dead before they transform into something hideous."
"What about Surane and Iris?"
"They will lead us to the girls, then we kill them!" Terra grinned.
"Fair enough." smiled Ven.
The sun was going down quickly. The girls made it back to Surane's castle just before the moon started peaking in the horizon. The boys were not far behind. Aqua and Iris waved the creatures to the food shed. They all huddled down.
"So, how'd it go?" Iris asked immediately.
"We went to the forest, Surane nearly got killed by Terra, and we led him and Ven back here." Kairi recapped.
Aqua gasped, ready to start her 'I told you this might happen' rant. Surane cut her off before the chance was given.
"It was an accident. If I show him tonight that I'm the wyvern then all will be well."
"Okay, I guess. But you better time it right. It's gonna be a cloudy night." Iris commented.
The dusk was right. Large clouds started rolling in and covering the moon at various seconds. Timing was key tonight. On the other side of the lake, Terra and Ven were taking in the scene. Their horses were unpacked and grazing at the apple trees. The lake was right in front of Terra.
"I guess we have to camp here..." Terra sighed, disappointed that they lost the creatures.
"We might have better luck tomorrow." Ven said, getting his sleeping bag ready.
"Yeah..."
The prince sat down at the lake and looked at the deep blue water with sadness. He missed Surane now more than ever. If there was just one way to see her again for at least a minute, it would be enough to have him keep going for the rest of his life. Looking at the water, he saw a few strong ripples reach the shore at his feet. Now looking up, he saw the wyvern resting on the lake.
"Ven, get a bow and arrow. This is my last chance." he said urgently.
His friend got up and fufilled his request. Surane watched the boys, waiting for the moon to start the transformation. In the sky, the moon was covered up by thick dark clouds. The magic couldn't start until the entire moon was reflected in the lake. The princess was a sitting duck.
In a few minutes, Terra had another arrow aimed at her. The clouds hadn't cleared away competely yet.
"Now, give me Surane or I will kill you!" the prince shouted at the creature.
Since dark creatures and regular humans couldn't communicate well, Surane only blinked her eyes at him. Terra moved closer to the wyvern and she didn't move an inch.
"This is your last chance! Give me Surane!" he shouted at her.
The clouds were almost cleared away from the moon. All she needed was a few more seconds of time. Terra felt that he couldn't wait any more. He was just about to let the arrow go when something hit him in the back of his head. It was a blue nobody dancer throwing rocks at him.
"Filthy animal!" he yelled.
At that moment, a strange yellow light illuminated the lake. Terra turned back around to the wyvern and saw it surrounded by purple and yellow magic water.
"What the-" was all he could get out.
The water swirled up in a water spout around the wyvern. Wings were arms and claws were legs once again. The water started clearing off to reveal the one thing he wanted most in the world, Surane.
Cliffhanger!
So, what's Terra's reaction to this transformation?
Stay tuned to find out!