Terra had become thinly sidetracked from his mission to travel across the worlds to locate a missing elderly mentor. He'd only felt it dutiful to protect those in distress, a responsibility which was perfectly attributed to the beautiful, yet internally wounded Cinderella, fraught with tears. Admittedly, while that reasoning justified escorting her to the royal ball, handling the dangerous Unversed; perhaps it didn't stretch with faultless logic to dancing with her. Though maybe a naive optimist would believe his act grew from instinctive realisation that she was a Princess, pure of heart and subsequently believing it necessary to keep watch of her. Of course that theory grew further feeble, as it became clear Terra and Cinderella weren't breaking apart anytime soon.
The royal ball was where their dance began, only as an act of mutual respect between them (so he'd say). Indeed, the other attendees initiated and concluded in that very same ballroom. Yet eventually, Terra and Cinderella found music was unneeded to inspire melody in their movement. Evident as they'd led themselves outside, through events they couldn't recall, slow dancing like the orchestra hadn't grown any fainter. Cinderella remained smiling in blissful comfort within Terra's arms, the latter having unknowingly tightened his holding her. Both were flooded with endless little thoughts over the unlikely wonder of the situation they'd fallen into, yet were also too focused on one another to dwell on them.
The first vocalisation since their dance began occurred with the clock's clamorous indication of midnight. Cinderella had gasped and apologised repeatedly to Terra, gathering the layers of her dress to begin fleeing. Terra's confusion was apparent initially, until he swiftly recalled the instruction her Godmother had left her and promptly understood the situation. Not another moment had been wasted when he'd readied his Keyblade, targeted Cinderella's ballgown and exclaimed, 'Stop' before she'd ran out of the spell's range.
Predictably puzzled, she was. Terra was quick to explain the spell he'd cast, while usually absent of any effect on clothing, would halt the vanishing of her dress. Her transformation from frantic worry, to overzealous joy glistened across the courtyard. She'd grabbed Terra's hand in gratitude and he felt the fortune of fairytales to be the centre of her happiness. He'd almost garnered physical pain from informing her the spell would only last 24 hours.
Cinderella's euphoria didn't lessen, a fact unsurprising, yet still amazing to Terra. The moment that stunned him most incredibly though, was when she'd said he'll simply have to return to dance with her. Each and every night. The comment perhaps wasn't intended for receiving with utmost sincerity. But Terra had swallowed his breath at her proposition, only nodding in agreement. He took her home on his glider that night. At the bottom of her home's stairway, his goodbye began stilted and awkwardly before he found the will to bow towards her. She gracefully curtsied in reply. Terra continued his mission the following day, struggling in productivity, his heart pumping in anticipation of tomorrow.
The perception of time for a galactic traveller was naturally odd. But the duration it took to reach the following evening felt especially, irregularly lengthy. Terra acquired the vigorous temptation to descend into the castle of dreams the moment its sun began to slumber. So of course he did. However, in an effort to allow his excitement to appear lesser, he stopped by a fashionably dressed, picnicking couple and asked where might he purchase such a Princely outfit.
Flickers of self-doubting embarrassment scoured his mind as he donned the deep blue suit with twinkling, polished black buttons. But as he awaited Cinderella outside her stairway, faith that she would appreciate it erased all concerns. Even an awareness of how his friends, Ventus and Aqua would react failed to dampen his mental atmosphere. In fact, since last night, he'd felt as though his inner darkness had been soothed. Perhaps that was mere delusion from riding the momentary ecstasy of the moment. But it allowed him to believe. An infectious side effect of Cinderella's company, he supposed. Though he'd never truly entertained applying the word to himself, he felt proud to even disguise himself as a gentleman for someone like her.
Eventually, the large entrance doors slowly pried open and Cinderella stepped out, expression immeasurably soft, stunningly beautiful as she was last night. The irresistible thoughts of her preparing herself for him could have emptied Terra's life force by itself. But like he'd rehearsed in his mind, he met her on the middle of the staircase and took her delicate, gloved hand in his own. It was a certainty that she'd felt his hand unprofessionally jitter when their fingers made contact, but he quickly moved past it. The way she grabbed her dress with her remaining hand as she walked down the stairs with him secured her royal title more than her absence of darkness.
Only more unfortunate then that in Terra's preparation for what was predictable, he'd dismissed somehow the even more obvious. There was no music. Not even to start the night. How pitiful was he to lose sight of that vital aspect? He vocalised the concern to Cinderella, whom replied with a warm smile as she placed one hand on his shoulder. It was then she said what Terra intended to never forget.
My heart is supplying all the melody for me.
And so begun the second night of dancing. One night was a dream. A moment designed to be retold with nostalgic whimsy. A second night wasn't a dream. It was a hope. A possibility that this would be his life now. A life of swaying with the Princess who moved in starlight. He'd intended to escort her to the palace grounds for the evening. But the swift positioning of her hands upon him answered that plan. He optimistically theorised; her front garden, to her could be a place of magic, just as a Palace could, so long as you have the right partner.
Terra had looked at his hand repeatedly since the last night. Both in dumbfounded perplexity over how it had found such fortunate usage and in questioning of its owner. He wondered if under slightly altered circumstances, would Cinderella be endangered by or worried for or terribly disappointed in him, like everyone else seemed to be. The thought threatened to pierce his uplifted mood. Yet instead, she glowed with all the more specialness. He was glad their time together was unbeknownst to everyone. Not due to shame. No. It allowed their time together to feel even more akin to a dream. A blissful escape into heaven that no pain or fear or ruin could interfere.
However, one catastrophic mistake had been enacted the prior night. Terra would waste no time correcting it, no matter what his anxiousness demanded. Cinderella stepped out earlier this time. Her greeting smile had grown softer and her cheeks rosier, each passing night. She descended down the stairway, one hand on the rail, the other holding her gown. She'd informed Terra it was a small act she'd always yearned to try. Once her glass slippers took their first step into the soil, he slowly approached her, daring to dream the suspense of it all was as resonant to her. Taking her hand in his, he leaned down and kissed the back. It was his first time performing that act and the intoxicating adrenaline bubbled inside him, challenging his will to maintain a solemn expression. He looked back up at her, her other hand having covered her chest in light, feasibly performative flattery.
Terra hoped she felt like her title. The title she didn't even know she had. That was what mattered most.
They danced less that night. Only an hour passed when Cinderella had slowed their twirling and suggested they take a walk. So they did, across the small stone bridge atop the serene river, along the rocky pathway underneath cherry blossom trees. Between admiring the attractions, they spoke of their home lives and the visual beauties they contained. Of Terra's routine star gazing with his friends, of the ethereal world that could be witnessed in all detail from Cinderella's window. She seemed vague with her own details, but Terra didn't pay it mind. Their hands remained connected for the remainder of the night. He had learned that whether simply strolling through a quiet village or making chatter surrounding how she viewed the world; she didn't have to be swaying in his arms to mesmerise him.
Their walk's end was punctuated with the final dance of the night. Terra noted her lips were slightly parted and however obvious it was the third evening in, the possibility someone angelic as her could feel a flicker of the feeling he carried was a notion that had his own lips trembling. The previous night, he left her with a message that he looked forward to seeing her again. This evening, he only bid her goodnight. The routine had been cemented.
Cinderella was late this evening. Delayed just enough to plant seeds of worry in Terra's heart and flourish at an alarming rate. When the door finally creaked and the curve of a gleaming, silver shoulder sleeve appeared visible, Terra exhaled like he'd escaped a collapsing forest fire.
Though he attempted undermining his curiosity to avoid intrusiveness, Cinderella was scarce in details. Stating only she had extra work that needed doing. Though he believed her, that didn't explain how her happiness to be with him seemed mixed with traces of concealed sadness in her eyes. He reminded her he'd do anything in his power to help her. She replied with an anecdote about a piece of advice a stranger in the night had once bestowed her in a time of need. Strength of heart will carry her through the hardest of trials. Terra disguised his shock by emphasising with a light-hearted reminder that he was her dance partner after all and therefore should be informed. Almost implying their routine cemented a connection of trust akin to marriage. The comparison briefly shallowed his breath.
He held her closer that night. He'd grown confident enough in his ability to dance with her that he could dedicate a finger to soothingly caressing her back. Their expressions have softened to a peaceful contentment, letting their minds drift as they sway. As the night continued, their dance slowed down to a gentle rocking back and forth. Terra's arms are almost cradling her. Her chin rested on his shoulder.
He wasn't sure what about her susceptible frame inspired the thought in his head. But the moment it settled in him, he felt impossibly strived to act on it. How absurd it is then that despite the intimacy they'd shared, this activated his nerves. Still, he refused the concerns of his fear and stated towards Cinderella, he needs to tell her something.
The Princess withdrew her resting head to face Terra. Her face was beautifully gentle in curiousness. Terra let her wonder float in the air, purely to behold her. Before he stated matter-of-factly; she looks beautiful. Her mouth hung loose and Terra mused how this could possibly be newfound knowledge. The seconds, as blissful as the rest passed and she replied an illuminating thank you. He added that he felt foolish for not stating it sooner. She acknowledged him via a brief laugh through sealed lips before telling him he's as handsome as can be.
And despite everything, that stunned him. Partially from the life he lead of never considering something he deemed trivial as looks. Partially from the woman claiming it. She even asked if he believed her. He told her he does. Only because of the woman who inspired him to believe.
Their sways slowed and slowed until their bodies were languidly tilting, faintly escaping stillness. Cinderella's eyes sealed halfway and Terra knew the moment. Only the moon and the flowers would remember how it looked when their lips met in a tender kiss.
Terra had reunited with Ventus and Aqua today. It had been a frantic, worrisome, even foreboding day. A fact of which seemed to display in the both of them. Yet Terra was rather optimistic. Carefree even. Aqua had been accusatory of his time in other worlds, insisting he had caused trouble. An act he would have preferred she hadn't performed. But he felt at ease. He disagreed with the decisions she and Master Eraqus took. But mutually, they temporarily parted ways, continuing their journeys and letting themselves breathe. Aqua seemed bewildered and Ventus at a loss. But he noticed the slightest trace of a smile threaten the latter's face. And Terra was happy. For now at least, his darkness was purified.
Though not entirely quenched by the acts of misbehaving thugs. A sharpshooting rogue had imperilled both him and Master Xehanort, resulting in a skirmish threatening to reverse his progress. Though that mishap didn't confuse the direction of his life like the Master's advice. The idea of Eraqus being the misguided, to embrace the darkness. While he doubted neither elderly wielder, ordinarily, he'd fear he may walk down the wrong path and pay the price. For now, he merely asked himself. Were he to tell her of this, what would she say? He believed her advice would be simple. To trust in his heart and of those he loved. Which would mean not abandoning them. Regardless of what happened. Though he chose to go his own way for now, that belief quieted his worries. The power of merely the imagery of that woman.
The temptation to do something as absurd as purchase gifts from every shop in Radiant Garden for her coursed his barely in touch mind. He sustained reason all the way to her home entrance, his new favourite location, challenged only by everywhere else they had made their own. Despite all that took place, his mind hadn't escaped her face, though that wasn't particularly differentiated from the preceding days either.
When Terra took Cinderella's hand, he didn't have to fret himself over his words, silence having proven the reliable language of the nights. Yet this time, he felt an evolution had occurred that demanded a statement. A world of beautiful potential openings could have escaped him, though the end choice was wishing her a good evening. It seemed unfavourable when compared to the big kiss she gave him to follow it. It wasn't a wonder he momentarily forgot about the cobalt petalled flower he'd brought her. He was glad to have remembered; presenting it resulted in a thrilling re-enactment of what occurred mere seconds prior.
There was newfound bravery in the air. Accentuated by Terra vocally acknowledging her as a Princess, looking at her without fear of appearing too love-struck. Sprinkles of moments across the night that culminated in Cinderella whispering, concisely and wonderfully, how happy she is. Terra's only dissatisfaction came from inability to bestow her the world. To not offer everything was a disservice to her.
A deer was wandering through the field, entirely isolated. Perhaps having lost itself, perusing into unknown reaches of its forest. It clopped through the grass, twitching its worried head in different directions. Terra and Cinderella only became aware of it when its shaking silhouette broke their trance, deep into this night's dancing. The former hadn't ever witnessed a deer in person before. He later discovered neither had his partner. Surprising information, considering how fearlessly she approached it and how naturally she managed to befriend it. With every sentence she gently uttered, with every loving question posed, she stroked its head, down to its back with motherly warmth.
A few minutes passed before two more sizable, mature deer entered their perspective and they parted ways with their short-lived companion. But as the family re-entered the shadows, Terra pointed out a family of bluebirds perched by the pond. Just as Cinderella observed two chubby bunny rabbits, nestled by an oak tree. A tree with a parade of squirrels scuttling around the branches.
Together, they seated themselves on a glimmering powder blue bench, beholding the teeming nature before them. The mundanity of these creatures was as lovely as the constellations overlaying the azure sky. Cinderella leaned gently into Terra's shoulder as his arm wrapped around her, gently caressing her forearm. They remained like this for some time, occasionally adjusting to kiss.
Terra eventually announced how quiet he noticed this world always appeared to be. Cinderella hummed in agreement, supposing it didn't occur to her as she knows very few people as is. Her statement caused Terra to dwell on his own circle of people before he informed her how few he also knew. Even his biological parents, only terribly briefly. He's surprised when learning she shares the same loss of family. The knowledge pierced him. Yet it amplified his feelings for her even further. As he cradled her, he felt all the more grateful to win the lottery of knowing her for even a singular evening. A feeling he whispers to her.
Their eyes avert to two tortoises, further into the landscape. Though the vision of them is foggy, the motion of their heads massaging one another in affection can be discerned. Terra might have once been slightly sickened by the mushy display of sweetness. He briefly mused the irony. Cinderella pondered how now and then, she'd spot couples of animals, always together, seemingly content as can be. Terra replied how nice the visual sounds. But she commented on how she'd sometimes wonder how they felt. She's less audible when she states she's glad to have fallen in love and found out.
With fragile delicacy, his hands roamed much of his lover. The bodice of her dress, her smooth arms, her creamy cheek. All so soft, yet scorching under his touch. Equally, when she touches him, wherever of him she makes contact with sends his mind into an intoxicating haze. The universe around him feels so different to how it once did.
The Gods couldn't abide him forever. Terra appeared that night to find Cinderella's world flooding. And though the rain added aquatic beauty to the enchanting gardens, even his love-struck self considered dancing in these conditions impractical. He pondered cancelling this singular night before immediately dispelling such ludicrous concepts. What would she expect of him? The question had him deciding it was only right that he enter her house.
Stepping inside, it was apparent, despite his awareness of her living upstairs, reaching her would prove challenging. He'd raise an eyebrow over her calling this borderline castle a house, were it not for his own hypocrisy. He ascended staircase after staircase, marvelling the spotlessness of every room. The staff were surely paid highly. He feared entering the wrong room now and again, though the fortunate sound of unfortunate snoring behind closed doors indicated where he shouldn't step foot.
With the creaks of the wooden steps to the building's highest room, Terra grew slightly fearful of Cinderella's absence. However, the worry quickly disintegrated as he heard, oddly among what sounded like several boys on helium, Cinderella's muffled, but no less heavenly voice singing from behind the final door.
Inhaling a breath, noting his preceding excitement before their nights began may never cease, he gingerly knocked against the wooden door. The noises immediately ceased. Terra's face contorted in slight confusion before wondering if he'd frightened her. Eventually, one word was spoken with notable nervousness.
Stepmother?
Her worrisome tone was worthy of rumination. But for now, he confirmed it wasn't, producing an irresistible gasp, followed by heart pumping footsteps, each growing louder. The door opened and there she was, still gleaming in her twinkling ballgown of white-blue. She stepped towards him and they shared a sweet, tender kiss. Though even as his mind left himself, Terra swore he heard an 'aww' chorused by those helium takers. In jest, he asked if she'd noticed the rain, given its vicious attacking of the ceiling. She replied she simply had a feeling he'd come to her. Thrilled over fulfilling her heart's optimism, he offered to escort her to the house's ballroom. Yet she denied him. Requesting they stay in her bedroom tonight instead. Terra was puzzled and even suddenly mildly red-faced. She only added that she favoured her room most. He internally questioned it, yet couldn't deny the Princess' wants. And so he held her hand as he stepped into her room. And his attention was immediately compromised.
The cheapness of this attic was not what he expected from Cinderella's resting quarters. Beyond that still; he usually wouldn't be distracted by rodents, but the mice sat atop every furniture piece were too distinct to go unnoticed. One even bizarrely appeared to be holding a hair curler. Terra began questioning Cinderella's awareness of them, only for her to place a finger over his lips. Followed by a request to enjoy the night. The place wasn't roomy, but it clearly meant the world to her. So accommodate her, he would.
Terra didn't leave the world that night. He didn't know what time it was, but he hoped they'd barely entered the morning. Cinderella's eyes were softly sealed shut, her pink lips pursed with every peaceful breath, her hair nestled into his neck. He caressed his hand across her strawberry blonde locks. He noted he'd never seen them down before, yet he adored them like he always had. Her sleeping body was the perfect weight on Terra's chest. He lovingly stroked her back as he watched her. They'd been this way for what must have been an hour minimally. He should have slept, yet lacked desire to. He was in heaven.
The mice had scuttled away in their rest holes. Eventually, between little tales about the weather and some embarrassingly precious statements, Cinderella had informed Terra of her friendship with the mice perusing her attic. How they even assisted in readying her for each night with him. Terra was happier than he was surprised. He'd learned of equally strange concepts on his otherworldly travels. And of course she could befriend a species as delicate as mice. If any being could, why wouldn't she?
A rush of affection cascaded through him and he averted his eyes from the ceiling, back to her again. He smiled softly and pressed his lips against her forehead. He'd adjusted his body so she could rest comfortably as possible. So she'd awake in the morning with no strain. So her breasts could press against his sternum without unpleasant pressure. Even if in the form of the littlest gestures, he wanted her to live how she deserved to live. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he wanted to hold her in his arms. And now, after what he'd finally pieced together during his time under her weight, he only wanted to hold her tighter.
Because amidst the mental haze, there was anger. Most heavily at himself for forgetting her first words to him, the day they met. He'd been so distracted by her sorrowful state, he hadn't retained those responsible. Her stepfamily. No knowledge could remove the beauty of the nights they spent together. But the dawning realisation of what occurred and what may have occurred in between boiled his blood. Ideas of how to solve her situation plagued his mind, all tempting, none rationale. Whatever would be done, there'd be little delay.
His thoughts were tapered by a flicker from behind the attic's curtains. He considered ignoring it, especially when the alternative would mean shifting from his intimate situation. But minutes passed and the flickering remained. With monumental carefulness, he made it to the window and withdrawing the curtain, came face to face with a floating sparkle of golden light. Initially, he only watched it, trying to place its meaning. When suddenly, the voice of Master Xehanort croaked.
Master Terra. We must speak at once!
He hated to and he didn't understand how he'd been found. But with a kiss upon Cinderella's lips, he departed.
Terra fell to the ground. Exhaustion pulsated through his body, to a degree that the gravel of the Keyblade Graveyard felt more gratifying to sink into than his own bed. He was content to lie there for a while. Maybe just recalibrate himself for a few years. Perhaps he would have, had a hand not eventually found him and lifted him from the dirt.
Positioned before Master Eraqus, they shared a heavy look. And he recharged nigh immediately, enveloping his master in a tearful hug, thanking him for everything. They'd won. Despite the threats on Ventus' life he witnessed, he managed to learn and understand Eraqus' actions. Despite the power Xehanort presented when revealing himself before them with his true intentions, beckoning them to The Keyblade Graveyard, they faced it together, comforted when the other person was with them. Despite Vanitas, despite Braig, despite alleged destiny; they had survived. Had Eraqus not aided Terra, Ventus and Aqua in battling Master Xehanort, they may have fallen. Had Terra and Eraqus' battle not defused from needing to understand each other, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Above all, had Terra's darkness not been soothed, he might have suffered the most grotesque fate to exist.
When Eraqus patted his shoulder and, among many kind words, applauded him for containing his darkness, Terra was overjoyed. Eraqus added he must have learned some valuable lessons on his journey through the worlds. Terra resisted the temptation to tell him who he felt might be most responsible of all. The woman of pure light. The one who had purified his heart. The one who allowed him to see the best in the universe and its people, no matter what the context may suggest.
After an encore of hugs, tears and relief among the Land Of Departure's residents, it was time to return home. So the others said anyway. But as they readied themselves, Terra refused. In fact, he denied returning there altogether. Eraqus, Ventus and Aqua were thoroughly puzzled. When asked to explain himself, Terra simply added, with an aura of happiness they didn't recognise, that he felt it was his time to move on. Though he wasn't a master, he didn't need to isolate himself. He'd been there nearly his life and there were other things to pursue. A feeling that could be appreciated by his friends and mentor, but to have this epiphany now of all times? Was it perhaps the result of a mental crisis from the many near death experiences just suffered?
Terra laughingly welcomed the subsequent confusion when he stated there's a time limit he must accommodate. And as he readied his glider, he asked Ventus and Aqua if either had met Cinderella. Ventus brightened at the name, acknowledging her fondly. But predictably, he wondered why Terra would mention her now. He only smiled and drove through a portal out of the battlefield. If his little brother didn't piece it together, he imagined the others would soon piece it with him.
It's commonly known that waking up in a different bed is a surreal experience to adjust to. Initially, it feels incorrect. You feel strange, like you've entered a separate life. In the beginning, for minutes at a time, you may feel you're dreaming, because the changes in circumstances are so peculiar to your routine ridden mind, it's as if you've transferred to another existence.
Only select portions of that feeling applied to Terra.
He woke up alone in his double sized bed, and smiled fervently to still be there. Discarding basic necessities, the bedroom was still relatively empty. What they had decorated the room with had been achieved notably swiftly, thanks to the other house attendant's affinity for bonding with animals. Still, Terra deemed it the best bedroom in the universe. Despite it only being one floor from the entrance, providing a lesser view than what his company was used to, she vocalised her agreement.
Each morning, he spent specific amounts of time delaying before descending the stairs. Long enough to build excitement to see her. Not long enough that his yearning grew agonising. He'd walk down and enter the kitchen to see Cinderella by the stove, concocting her surprise of the day. The most ordinary thing. Yet Terra had simply watched her do so with elegant gracefulness many times already.
Her back would always be turned to him when he arrived. Because he knew how she liked it when he slowly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, whispering a good morning in her ear. If repeating the same habits inevitably grew mundane, it would be a long time before turning Cinderella around from her cooking to kiss her lips felt as such.
She often wore a practical top, with an elegant skirt and a bow snuggling her styled hair, completed with twinkling earrings. Whenever she acknowledged her clothing, she smiled with beautiful gratitude to simply live so ordinarily. If it could be called that. Terra didn't believe the concept of casual clothing when she donned it. When he'd playfully twirl her in the centre of their living room, she'd still have the smile of the belle of the ball. Speaking of which; Ventus, Aqua and Eraqus had visited, meaning Terra's time with her wasn't entirely the secret it once was.
But they still knew not the best part.
That night, as was quite regular, the living room furniture and ornaments had their positions adjusted to create space. Then Cinderella occupied the bedroom to ready herself, while Terra remained in the living room to do the same. Their time apart was always what ignited the most excitement.
When finally together, they'd hum a gentle melody as they begun to dance. No matter where their minds were before, doing so transported them to their own world. Where only the sounds of the melody of their hearts, and whispers of I love you could reach.
Cinderella had saved him and magically, so had her dress. Terra felt blessed.