~ Have faith in your dreams, and someday ~

~ Your rainbow will come smiling through ~


He was going to lose his heart and body. In glorious battle no less.

Terra just didn't know that yet.


It was one thing to be sent into battle with demonic and evil creatures. That made sense. To both his niche sensibilities and his honed skills. It was a single objective with a single goal. Do damage and stay alive. It was easy. It wasn't hard to understand and he excelled at it.

The last two worlds showed him that. But this world? At this time of night?

Being asked to dance? To attend a real, royal ball dance with a sweet 'local' girl? Then to be asked by said girl to dance?

That was a test of skill that he never had considered to be a possibility for himself. The woman had but one request for his dutiful service, having risked his life by escorting her to the ball and then taking it upon himself to keep her safe and out of harm's way when necessary. The beasties of purple and black had threatened her, and he raised his blade to protect her. And when she asked that she be honored with a dance for his valiant effort, he initially said 'no.'

He had danced only once before and that was a mistake. It was just a few short years ago-

"It isn't so horrible, once you get the pattern down." Terra's eyes shifted from the empty spot on the patio floor that he was preemptively scouting for the next carrying sweep of the box step and his own wandering thoughts when he was interrupted by a gentle voice. It was when she pleaded with beseeching heartbreaking eyes, that he relented and agreed to a single dance. Though he asked in return for them to share their private soiree out on the balcony landing away from the rest of the party. To save her from the embarrassment when he would eventually bring heel to glass and make her regret ever asking for his hand in the first place.

The broad shouldered, strong keyblade wielder was then met with a pair of tender blue eyes and the most sincere smile he's ever seen offworld. Ventus still had that innocence when he smiled that made Terra's heart swell with happiness. But he could see a similar naïveté and joyous aura in the warmth of this young woman's grin. Must be because of her pristine heart. The light of it could rival sunshine with its rays of warmth.

Her blonde hair pulled up in a twist with a bejeweled band of baby blue with these glistening jewels at the twin ends of the band.

The exercise of seeking out the Princesses of Heart and his own personal goal of hunting down and finding Master Xehanort had become something of a wash for the young, strapping apprentice. And it started off as horrible as any outing could ever begin.

He had successfully relinquished a Princess' pure and powerful heart from their slumbering body under the control of a horned witch that possessed him for a short time. He had done battle with the spirit of a magic mirror after having been requested to hunt down and eventually refusing to kill a young woman by the name of Snow White by a woman who requested that he put her heart in a box. A young woman who he had scared off and who had run away into the darkness of the forest.

Currently, he's zero for two when it comes to properly dealing with damsels in distress. A score that weighed heavy on his heart.

When he had heard that the darling young woman's step sisters and mother had torn her dress and left her a sobbing mess, he mentally wondered if he was a good few hours earlier, if he would have been somehow coerced into being the one to sully and tear this woman's dress to ruins at the behest of an evil woman who had despised her for her youth and beauty.

Given his track record, he disappointingly imagined he would have done so without hesitation.

This sparked an irritation in the young man that made his jaw clench and his shoulders tighten. Did he have such an unforeseen problem with these maidens of pure heart or did he have an odd adherence to the mistresses of the dark? Either side of that damned coin wasn't a side he was too keen on being on. So much for being Master material -

"Terra?" Her voice cut through the static and noise of his mind. He mentally shook himself clear, and refocused. He was in the middle of a dance and he didn't want to forget that. Lest he step on her foot by accident or trip over her beautiful gown carelessly. Light forbid he do such a crime. That gown of hers was this twinkling starlight powder blue with ivory sleeves. It was beautiful, even if he knew nothing about dresses, found himself admiring it. Her gloved fingers gently pinched his shoulder, gathering his attention. "Terra? Are you alright?"

She had asked as she felt the muscles in his neck constrict. It was as if an in motion wave had been stilled. The roll of his powerful shoulder held in suspension. Not that she could truly complain though. It was as though she gripped solid stone as she held him. It was rigid, tough and was unwilling to bend under any pressure. He was so powerful, she could see it and feel it in his form.

"Fine." He grumbled under his breath, his eyes squinting and his hand that tucked under and against her shoulder readjusted. His bare fingertips grazed her soft shoulder blade as he did so. Skimming over her with the gentlest brush. Her hand that was lined against his own felt his fingers trace against her knuckles absentmindedly. His grounding back in reality met with a tension felt in her hand. He was dancing. And he reminded himself so. "I was just… thinking. Sorry about that."

"Needn't apologize at all. But… If you wouldn't mind sharing…" She whispered to him, her head shifting position to meet his vague cerulean gaze. They held a hesitance and sense of woe. His stoic gaze faltered as he heard her speak. Those eyes of his shifting and his last breath sharp and quick. She couldn't have him settled in such a state. "I would love to listen."

Terra had the intention to lie, just as Eraqus instructed him to do. Maybe lie is too harsh of a word. Especially for the tender hearted Cinderella.

Neglecting to tell the truth. That felt more honest. And weighed better on his conscience.

Meddling in the affairs of other worlds and all that secrecy was the way of the Keyblade Wielder. Eraqus had sworn up and down for numerous years of upholding the natural order. And lying about the existence of other worlds. The only way to keep the order was to lie. However, given he hadn't been such a dutiful pupil as of late…

"I am…" He took in a low and steady breath, exhaling it along her shoulder and slowly pulling his eyes from hers as he felt his jaw clench. "I just… What do you do when you just make mistake after mistake?"

"Well, it is doesn't hurt anyone then you try agai-"

"But it had." Terra stops mid turn, his hands dropping to his side as he approaches the stone guardrail overlooking the garden. The very same place that they walked through a short while ago. His eyes scanned for Unverse, attempting to find any way to escape this foreign experience and find something familiar. "What if I hurt someone?"

Luckily for the world at large and rather inconvenient to Terra, there are no Unverse to be found. If he were not in the presence of a lady, his vocabulary would quickly become crass and he would wear his irritation on his face. He chose to let his powerful hands to instead grip the stone and squeeze. Letting his frustration sink into the railing.

Cinderella slowly closed the distance between the two and stood alongside him. Her fingers interlaced together as they rested against her waist. Her eyes tracing his profile and the intense look of his eyes. He seemed upset, despite his rather still face. His eyes held a frustration and a sullen stare that she recognized in herself on occasion. Having to keep composed, even in the most trying circumstances.

"I had… I have done damage." Terra admitted to her, his tongue uncomfortable in his mouth and his hands beginning to tremble. "All my life I was taught to do good and make right. And then, I stumbled. And some paid the cost of it…"

Cinderella heard what he said in earnest and thought of it for a moment. She pulled her hands up to rest them under her chin, her eyes still watching him for any change in his expression.

"Did you do so intentionally?" She asked with a squint of her left eye and an inquiring dip of the chin. He shook his head, each rotation pulling his eyes tighter together, his face and body flinching while his hands squeezed the brick tighter. As if she physically struck him. She felt her heart ache at the sight. "Mistakes are inevitable, Terra."

"I can't make mistakes, though." Terra noted with a stern look across the darkened skies and a harsh bite in his tone. "When I do, people get hurt."

Terra, you mustn't be afraid of losing. Fear leads to obsession with power, and obsession beckons the darkness.

His master's words ring harshly in his head. He can't be afraid of losing. But when he has lost, evil has triumphed. How can one not be afraid of such a disastrous outcome? A young innocent woman losing her heart, scaring another half to death and into the mercy of some terrifying dark forest?

The silence that follows is needed for him to process and to catch his breath, and she gives him some breadth to feel the chilling air and to listen to muffled music behind the glass doors. Any chance for him to begin to relax and ease his spirit. There was a thundering pain that echoed in his mind and stuck his heart. She couldn't let him suffer, not when he's been so kind. She reaches out to him, letting her hand rest along his shoulders. He recoils at the touch but doesn't shift in his spot.

"As a warrior, I imagine that you shoulder a lot of responsibility for your work." She stated with a little nod, before she let her fingers trace along the edges of his shoulder blades and felt the heat radiating off his body through his shirt and her gloves. Goodness, he ran hotter than hearth flames. "It is a lot to risk your life in the name of honor and dignity. Doing what is noble and right. But that is a responsibility that you must know you are capable of carrying. Even if you stumble."

"Cinderella, I can't-" He is distracted as he feels her hand reach over and take hold of his cheek, her finger hooks his chin and pulls his attention back to her. Their sky blue eyes meet and she feels him suck in a quick breath as he fully faces her. That's when he notices that she is smiling so beautifully, her dazzling smile making his heart skip not one but two beats.

"You might have made a mistake or two… but to me? What you have done for me tonight?" Her fingertips trace his chin as she crooks her head to the side. His strong jaw, that stoic expression on his face, spiky hazel locks and those breathtaking eyes made him such a handsome young man. Like a hero from one of her fairytales. "You've proven to me that you're a true knight twice over. With armor, to boot."

She reached over to tug on his armored pauldron, shaking it gently. He snickered under his breath as he nonchalantly reached up to rest his hand along her hand. Giving her a soft squeeze of appreciation as he did so. She stifled a little giggle at the sensation of his hand on hers. Years of battle left his fingers rough on contact, yet he handled her with the gentleness one would expect a gentleman would give to a lady. Tenderness laced throughout his touch. A serene gesture that he wasn't sure he was capable of. However, when he moved to relinquish his hand, he faltered and stopped just as his fingertips trailed the heel of her wrist.

"You mustn't be hard on yourself, Terra." Cinderella whispered with an eloquence befitting a maiden of purest heart. Enough that he almost believed her. "You're strong, stronger in ways you don't even know."

He was always told that it was his strength and physical power that was the thing he should be most proud of. He could start scattering the earth and chopping trees in a few hard chops before his voice dropped and his shoulders broadened. And when his muscles started packing and he grew in height, the young man grew to an impressive and intimidating stature. He towered over Eraqus and Aqua soon enough, and he loomed over Ventus.

Eraqus had his own choice words to say about Terra's application towards the magical arts and his rather lacking agility, but the Master himself was genuinely impressed by the sheer amount of physical prowess that the apprentice held. He was strong.

But hardly did he ever need to be gentle. Nor did anyone expect that of him.

He recalled finding a nightingale once when he was a young lad about ten years ago. It took the better part of an hour and a lot of pursed lip sucking and cooing at the bird, but he tried so hard to tenderly scoop the small creature into his hands. Determined to save its life and take it to Eraqus for safe keeping. When Aqua found him halfway home, she started crying when she thought he actually brought harm to the bird.

Since then? No more soft hands. Only taut fists.

Even if Aqua forgot and teased him for remembering her crying to Eraqus over something so trivial. When he remembered it as her being so scared of him hurting something that was so small and fragile.

"You're thinking again." She teased, her eyes catching the way his eyes squinted, as if he were mentally recalling a conversation and he was thumbing through the lines as one would flip through a book trying to find their proper place. She noticed his hand hesitantly combing over the back of her hand once again, the warmth returning to heat up her glove. "May I ask?"

"I remember… A bird. When I was younger." Terra smirked quickly before he swatted it away with a crinkle of his nose and quick huff. "I wanted to save it but… My friend was scared that I had hurt it. Because… well. I'm me. Because I am just this brute that-"

"There is power in tangible strength. There is…" Cinderella let her hands take hold of his. She felt his calloused knuckles as her thumbs brushed over them. She glanced up at him, noticing just now just how significantly taller he was than her. She barely came to his mid-torso, having to crook her neck up to properly meet his gaze. "But the strength of the Heart is the most powerful thing, I believe. True strength lies in how gentle your hands can be, regardless of the damage they can cause."

Terra smiled weakly, as she rolled his wrists around and let his hands unfurl in her palms. He absentmindedly locked his elbows and shoulders, as to not put too much weight into her hands. She stared into his palms, her smile peeked out for a moment before she spoke again. Her fingertips tracing from the heel of his palm out to each of his digits. The sensation of her fingertips nearly made him chuckle, but succeeded in making him smile. A sight that warmed her heart.

"I am sorry you believe yourself to be this brute, who can only do harm. But in my eyes, your tender touch is the strongest thing about you… and that heart of yours." Cinderella spoke softly, as if she were speaking a gentle prayer. "The strength of your heart… that's what matters to me."

"Strength of heart will carry you through the hardest of trials." Terra somberly said, his eyes watching her eyes glance up to meet his. Enamored by the quote he recited. Their blue eyes connect as they feel a chill run down each of their spines. Terra clenched his jaw as he turned his attention back to his hands. "That's something Mother wrote once… it always made me feel better when I tried to remember her."

"Did you know your mother well?" Cinderella asked, her eyes fixated on him as her hands slowly interlaced with his own. He was transfixed by her gaze, and the way starlight caught in her stare, that he hardly noticed.

"No." Terra whispered, shaking his head just enough to not break the connection he held with her. He felt his jaw's tension loosen, as he felt his heart begin to mumble out words that he wouldn't dare to speak in private, much less to another set of ears. But with her? He felt as though he had no walls, he had no fear. It was Cinderella. "No, she… Mother passed away when I was young enough to forget her face… and my father. Well, I watched him die, and wish I could forget his face. That was all before my Master came for me. Took me in."

"I'm sorry about your family. I know a similar pain. I lost my parents too," Cinderella spoke in a hush back to him, giving him a weak smile and a short breath before continuing. "My father married Ms. Tremaine after my mother passed. When Father… well he brought her and her daughters into my life before he…"

"I'm sorry." Terra mumbled, reaching up to cup her cheek and feeling a shuddering breath roll out of his chest. She instinctively leaned into his hand, letting her soft cheek rest against his rough yet gentle hand. The hesitation in his hand as he worried that he would hurt her too. That was until she raised her hand to rest against the back of his own. Keeping his hand on her. Showing him that she trusted him not to hurt her. That she trusted him to handle her tenderly.

This wave of sympathy washed over him and nearly brought him to tears.

"I'm so sorry." He apologized for his circumstances. He had been fortunate enough to have Aqua and Eraqus, and eventually Ventus entered his life. He had a relatively normal upbringing for a Keyblade apprentice barring the life he had before he was taken under the care of Eraqus. But Cinderella? She didn't have an Eraqus, or an Aqua or Ven.

She had wicked Tremaine and two horrid step-sisters. He felt his body roll as he wondered if Eraqus would be so heartless to deny her sanctuary back home? To allow him to take her away from this place that took her loving parents from her and left her in the care of a heartless woman?

"You needn't apologize." Cinderella said with a warm glow to her cheeks as she rocked in her spot. "If none of that happened, I wouldn't be here now. As painful as it is, it made me who I am. I wouldn't have met you. And I am forever grateful for that. My Knight in Shining Armor."

"I wouldn't go that far… I feel like a proper knight knows how to dance." Terra teased as he shook his head and glanced at her lips for the briefest moment. Seeing her tongue peek out of her mouth for a brief second. His chest got tighter under his shirt. "Sorry for my poor dancing, I must've made for a bad partner."

"Nonsense." Cinderella assured the Keyblade Wielder. Her head shaking slightly as she kept her gaze rested. "I think you are a wonderful dancer. Was that your first time ever dancing?"

"Second." Terra clarified with a short shrug as he glanced over to his left. Peering out over the garden once again before he took in a heavy breath as he shook his head. "I actually danced with my friend once. It was for her birthday and it was supposed to be her, 'present' from me."

Terra recalled Aqua had turned fourteen and she had requested that Terra indulge her in a fantasy of hers. And since it was her birthday, he couldn't just say no.

She requested that he ask her to dance and to sway with her in the light of stars that night after Eraqus had retired in secret. He had recently moved the girl from the West Wing where his pupils were raised to the East Wing in her own quarters. This was only a short time before Ventus had arrived with Xehanort but Terra had missed his neighbor and best friend.

Eraqus mentioned something along the lines of, 'boys and girls need to start being separated as they grow up.' A practice foreign to Aqua but familiar to Terra. As she grew up in a world housed by family, Terra grew up in a child's room and board after the passing of his parents. So, he was accustomed to boy and girl quarters.

And with that, Eraqus had stopped their slumber parties, late night chats and made sure they had several walls between them when unsupervised. Aqua hated it for a short time but respected the master's wishes as his word was law. Terra had recently been given the talk during the room switch and figured shortly after that Eraqus didn't want some baby Keyblade Wielders to be roaming about because they were-

Terra cringed at recalling the conversation he had with Master Eraqus. It took a long time to disassociate the awkward connection between growing bodies and Keyblades and Keyholes. He remembered it took a solid month before he could even summon his blade back to his hand without whinging. But back to the dancing.

"I had never danced before." Terra admitted as he slowly dragged his thumb across her cheek. She blew out a mellow breath through her nose, a wave of relaxation rolled over her as her head went limp for a brief moment and just enjoyed the gentle strokes of his hand. "And she asked me to dance. Aqua was so excited and I was so nervous. I must've stepped on her foot like eight times."

"That's sweet of you." Cinderella whispered as she took her eyes off of him and rested them on his bicep. Seeing it flex effortlessly in his sleeve. The ball of pure muscle tugging against the fabric. "Are you courting this Aqua?"

"Courting?" Terra inquired before quickly realizing what she was implying. "Oh! No. No, I'm- I'm not courting Aqua. She's just a friend."

"Why not?" Cinderella asked before she took her hands together and slowly pulled her gloves off. Her pale fingertips traced the inside of his forearm and felt the sturdiness of his body beneath her fingertips. He stifled a moan, the tenderness of her touch was something he could get used to.

"I'm… I have a duty to uphold." Terra clarified, with a shrug and a short smile. "Maybe one day I'll court a maiden."

"If there ever is a day…" Cinderella's voice grew more bold, her lips pulled into a sincere smile. "If it isn't too forward, would you consider me, my Knight?"

Terra sucked in a breath before he huffed it back out. That's when he notices her eyes are half lidded, her lips pulled back into a smile of pure ecstasy, and lips pursed and leaning closer to him. Tempting him, begging him.

How could a knight resist the request of his Princess?

When his lips met hers, his hands shifted down to rest along her waist. His thumbs grazing the edges of her hips as he crooked his neck and pressed into her with an unprecedented and newly awoken desire. Her hands reached up and raked across his broad shoulders before she traced the edges of his toned arms and finally resting them on his taut forearms. Goodness is he powerful. She imagined he could lift her without issue, which made her heart accelerate.

Giving him assuring rubs and squeezes while her lips pressed harder into his own. Her body melted into his, and he had to turn his back toward the guardrail to lean her against his. Her chest now bumped up and rested against his own. His breathing getting heavier and his hands tightly gripping her dress. Afraid she would burst into smoke and disappear from this waking dream.

She broke for a few short breaths, Terra did as well. A strand of joined saliva trickled down his chin as his thumbs massaged her waist and held her close to him. He reached up with a flat palm and combed over her throat to hook along the back of her neck. She suppressed a moan, feeling her body pulsing with heat and her mind dashing. He shuddered in delight and he ached for more.

"Terra? Please?" She requested with strained pleading eyes and wet lips. He more than happily obliged.


Terra had to catch his breath eventually. As did she.

He had found them a secluded spot away from the party and had been able to enjoy each other's company without the fear of wandering eyes. The stone bench they had found was perfect for them.

He traced circles along the open space between her shoulders with his fingers as his nose was buried in her golden locks. Breathing her in with every breath. Eyes shut in pure joy as he takes measured breaths.

Her cheek rested against his broad chest, her fingers tracing over the surface of his abdomen and blocking out each of his toned muscles. She felt his heart beating under her ear, and was delighted that he was so excited to be near her.

But it couldn't last. There were still dangers out in the realm and Xehanort was still missing. Terra pulled his hand into a fist and knocked it against the stone seat.

"I'll need to leave soon." Terra whispered. He felt her body quake and it nearly broke his heart. She pulled herself up off of his chest to stare at him. Her blue eyes glistening with held back tears and her hand grabbing a handful of his shirt. "I'm needed out there."

"Won't you return? I'd be fond of seeing you again. Terra, I would very much like to see you again." She had said finally, with her cheeks a bloody red, her eyes scanning across his broad and muscular chest, his thick neck left with light traces of her nail marks and her eyes resting finally along his thin smile with slightly swollen lips. The thought of her lips pressing against his again flashes in her mind, her cheeks warming and her heart racing fast in her chest. If she had another night with him, just one more night... "If not for you I would not have- I mean that-it's just that I-"

"I will." Terra said sincerely, his lips breaking that thin stoic look and held a gracious and true smile. One that reflected the warmth that she had stirred in his chest. One that Cinderella couldn't help but feel a similar sensation in her own heart. Terra's hand rose to cup her warm rosy cheek. His thumb gently brushing over her skin with the tender strokes, his eyes closed tightly as he pressed his forehead to hers. The free hand he had left had gone to her own hand and held it tightly. His thumb brushed over her small knuckles before he brought them up to press the dainty hand to the heat of his lips. Feeling her shiver in delight as she feels his lips quiver when he fights a joyous roll of laughter from escaping. His nose exhaled a hot breath as he wished to have had just one more hour to spend with her. Every minute a blessing he knew he had to be thankful for. "I will return to you. I promise, my princess."

And when he left that night, his glider zooming as though it were a shooting star that raced across the sparkling evening sky, she held her hand to her chest and thanked every glistening midnight star and every ray of morning sunshine that she found him that night. And that he found her.

He would return to her, she believed that he would.

He never did return.


He is going to lose his heart and body. In glorious battle no less.

However, a small piece of that beating heart is to be left with a darling girl who reminded him how powerful it is just to believe. No matter how impossible things seem, a powerful enough dream will always be enough to light the darkness.

A girl with the kindest eyes and the sweetest smile that motivated him to try and overcome the darkness that took quarter in his heart. Who would still motivate him, even when all hope was lost.

For her, for his Cinderella, he wouldn't just try.

He continued to fight and light his way through the dark no matter what challenges he faced. No matter how perilous the situation. Even when he lost everything and became nothing but a hollowed out knight on a barren dead world.

He would keep on believing.