Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to be a real mix of excitement, love, happiness, surprises, shocks and a few unpleasant events that will take place. To be honest, with this chapter I want to do something that, in my eyes, is severely missing in the Kingdom Hearts games. To give you guys all a hint, only Kingdom Hearts ONE had a bit of this and even then it was only at the beginning, just before we leave the Destiny Islands for Traverse Town.
Anyone guess?
Venquine1990
Chapter 40
Various Surprises
30th of December 1995
Radiant Garden
Lea's POV
Christmas was exactly what the Weasleys and the others needed after hearing about what had been going on in Magical England. Molly had gone all out in her cooking and Harry had actually managed to convince her to have a few people help her. In the end Demyx, Harry, Molly, Aerith and Leon all worked together to create an expensive feast for the whole Garden to dine on. Yet not everyone in the Garden came as some people preferred to just spend Christmas with family.
This fact had left me with mixed feelings as, over the last few months, I have been wondering about the family that I, more or less, left behind when I became Axel, yet at the same time, as Christmas took place, I grew a sense of relief that none of my friends wondered about this. I know, when it comes to Roxas, Isa, Braig and the others from my universe, this is mostly because they themselves either don't have a family, like Roxas, or are just old enough to have left their families behind, like Isa and the apprentices of Ansem the Wise.
At the same time I thank my lucky stars over the fact that Harry and the others just think that I am old enough to be like Isa and the others. I am quite certain that, sooner or later, either Sirius, Damian, Harry or someone else will ask about my own parentage, probably either Sirius or Damian, but for now I am just in the belief that this conversation can be saved for another day. And considering what today is and what I have planned, I doubt any of the wizards and witches in question will disagree with me, which brings a grin to my face.
Scrooge has, yet again, managed to work his incredible magic, for a fair price as usual, and has turned the Plaza where I first met Ventus, where Aqua vanished into the Dark Realm and where Harry and the others entered this realm into a gorgeous center of color, delicious scents and a small crystal stage with a handsome looking wooden chair in the center of the stage. I myself am running a last minute check over everything, wanting not a single spot to be off or wrong on this very special day and waiting for Isa to bring Harry here.
I specifically asked my gorgeous mate to wear the same fancy robes as he was wearing for Sirius' trial on the day we first met and while confused and intrigued Harry complied. I myself am also wearing his favorite outfit, which I wore the first time I met up with Roxas, Isa, Xion and the Twilight Gang at the Clock Tower after defeating Master Xehanort. I really don't quite get why he loves this checkered shirt with black vest and black and red striped pants so much, but really want this to be special, so I just made sure to wear it today.
I take one last inspecting look at the crystal stage, the wooden chair and the soft and comfortable cushion that is laid into the chair and then turn my head, grinning like an idiot when I see Harry and Isa arrive at the outside of the plaza, Harry's bright green eyes widening and at the same time shining with amazement and love as he takes it all in. I move over and wrap my arms gently around his rotund waist as I thank Isa, who smirks and gives me a nod before he says:
"You know where to find me." I nod as Isa is the only one who knows what I actually have planned for today and I promised he would be the first one we would visit once I did my job. I am also very grateful and feeling greatly relieved that I have Isa back as my best friend as I have been having moments over the past few weeks of doubting whether or not I should do this or if what I have planned might not be too soon. Yet while Isa knows just why I'm doing this, has he also constantly reassured me that I am worrying over nothing.
"Even without the soul bond, I have no doubt you will get a positive answer. Just keep that memorized and calm down or you'll ruin the surprise yourself." He constantly gently but firmly told me and this helped me keep my cool around my mate and helped me keep it all a secret as well. Even when we heard the news of Voldemort's defeat and shared our first kiss, while tempting, I managed to keep my mouth shut and to not accidentally blurt out either my plan or the goal of it all. And now, with my mate in my arms on this special day, I feel very proud of that fact.
"Come on, this way." I gently coax Harry over to the stage, not quite planning to do the job just yet, but wanting to be there for when I do feel ready and Harry gasps in awe as he looks around while I guide him over. "How – how on – how in Keyblade's name did you get this done?""Remember those constructions Scrooge wanted to work on before New Year's Eve? Those were a lie so he could get this done. I paid him a bit of Munny to get it done."
"But – wait what? But that – that stage. It – there is no way that only cost a bit of Munny." Harry exclaims as he slowly crouches down, something that is now slowly becoming harder for him to do as his belly is growing a little bit more from time to time. "Actually he was planning to turn that into several new china collections to sell." I think to myself, but keep this quiet as I feel it would just ruin the moment that we have here.
Instead of that I just happily wait while my mate takes a look around, the fences that are around the plaza and covered with paper also showing several pictures that Isa was willing to get copies off so he could have them on the inside of the fenced area, just for this while the outside warned outsiders to just leave the construction workers to their job. "This is – wow, this is even more amazing than what Demyx did to the nursery." Harry gasps and I smile, even though I disagree with him.
Demyx, after getting his butt handed to him by Harry over the horrible job he did with the paint job before our arrival, had really gone all out with his second chance and when he was done, he had created a masterpiece. The four walls each show a different scene, yet Demyx managed to make each scene flows into the next one flawlessly. The Islands of Destiny Islands into the Savannah of the Pride Lands into the dessert of Agrabah and finally the Old Mansion of Twilight Town.
Demyx had admitted that he had, initially, wanted to the Clock Tower of Central Station but he hadn't been able to come up with a good way to make that transition back into the Island. "But I checked the Manor and it turns out that there is actually a bit of a river flowing to the right of the garden walls, so I decided to use that instead. Hope you don't mind." He added and we had assured him that we hadn't, that we loved the idea and the end results.
Then suddenly, just as Harry is admiring the beauty of the flowers that are just off to the side of the stage, a strange sense of foreboding makes a chill run down my spine. I look at him and, for reasons I just don't understand, feel a sudden urge to speed up my plans for today. "Harry, come over here, my love." I tell him, trying to lovingly encourage him over instead of letting him know of how I feel right now and Harry's face lights up as he walks over.
I smile back at him, even though a part of me wants to check the fences that are separating us from the outside world, as if I feel that someone is suddenly going to tear them down and attack either Harry or me. The urge to summon my Keyblade also comes up, my heart beating with the need to unleash its intense and incredible magic, but I firmly think to myself: "No, whatever will try to ruin this, I will meet it head-on after I'm done doing what I need to do."
And with that thought I take both of Harry's hands in mine and ask: "Love, do you know what day it is?" And Harry's befuddled look makes me let out a snort as I say: "It's been exactly three months since we first met, love. That's why I wanted to do this today. I was kind of thinking of doing this next month, but – well, the results of what I have planned might make it better that I do this now." And while I say this, I guide Harry up the stairs.
I do this slowly and one step at a time, constantly making sure that I am one step ahead of him before pulling him up on the dais with me. I gently coax him into sitting down on the cushioned wooden seat and while keeping a hold of his left hand, I let go of his right and instead put my own left hand on his pregnant belly for just a loving moment before moving it to the back pocket of my pants. I take and release a deep breath and begin the speech I have been preparing all week.
"Harry, my love. Destiny chose you for me and I won't ever be able to properly thank them for that. I don't mean this wrong or hurtful, but being with you feels like the reward for defeating Master Xehanort I didn't even know, at the time, I had wanted. At the time I had just wanted to get my friends back, but, now that I have spent the last three months in your presence, I can't ever imagine myself without you. Just the thought alone feels foreign to me and makes me feel the way Axel did when Roxas walked out on him.
What's more, Destiny wanting to bring us together helped you take out the one source that has made your life miserable for the past fourteen years and you hardly actually had to do anything yourself. Still, I think the fact that, even now, you are carrying the source that started all of that to be a reward that just got placed on top of the reward I got when I first met you. And, I will be honest with you, if it hadn't been for this little bundle of joy, I probably would have waited much longer with this."
"With what? What are you trying to say, Lea?" Harry asks, apparently too entranced by my words to notice that I have gone down on one knee and that I have pulled my hand out of my back pocket. I send the gorgeous, handsome, lovable and utterly amazing young lad a dazzling smile and whisper: "I'm not saying anything, my love. I just want to ask you if –.""THERE YOU ARE!"
A shrill voice shrieks, making another chill run down my spine, while my whole body tenses in shocked horror and while I had been down on one knee, do I swiftly turn around and jump up, summoning my Keyblade and taking a protective stance in front of Harry. This even as my eyes widen and my heart starts to beat in feared horror as I see someone I never thought I'd see again tear through the fences and march over.
A woman in her late thirties, but who also has red hair that is greying all over is marching over to us, her forest green eyes ablaze with furious indignation and a clear need to discipline, a look that I used to fear before I grew to resent it in my younger years. The woman has clear but slim muscles in her arms and while I don't like it, I know that I have most of my build from her, though this is partly because I never knew her partner. And while the woman is holding an umbrella in one of her hands, I know it's one that she can turn into a really painful weapon if she wants to.
Yet this thought reminds me of who is sitting – or now probably standing – behind me and this makes my muscles tense up and I feel ready for a battle if it comes down to it. Yet then I remember who else is behind me and I think: "No, I will not be that kind of father." And suddenly another thought hits me like a Thunder spell, one that makes me smirk, dismiss my Keyblade and take a confident stance in front of my mate as I clearly state:
"Seize your actions, mother. I am an eighteen year old adult and have a home of my own. I am no longer living under either your roof or rules and feel most insulted that you would not only violate the law and all of the requests of Mr. McDuck to leave this site alone but also intrude upon my desire to celebrate my –." But then, while I had noticed the woman falter upon hearing my firm tone, I actually have to act fast and grab onto her umbrella with both hands as she tries to strike me.
The woman's eyes widen for a second time just like when she faltered and this time I add a hint of warning to my tone as I say: "Mother, I am an adult, not a child. There is no reason you could have for trying to strike me like that. Now, I am reasonable, so I will give you the chance of choosing between two options. Either you will start to use this umbrella the way it's meant to, against rain, or, if you attempt to strike me again, I will be forced to defend myself and I will burn it to a crisp. I am now going to let go of your umbrella, the choice is yours."
And yet the second that I let go, the woman proves that she is beyond reason as she shouts: "YOU DARE TO THREATEN ME, YOUR OWN MOTHER, YOU UNGRATEFUL CRETIN!" But while I want to snap my fingers and incinerate the umbrella, we both get shocked when suddenly, from behind me, Harry shouts: "I'll show you ungrateful, EXPELLIARMUS!" And the disarming spell hits the woman straight in her chest, launching her off of the stage and down into the dirt and flowers.
"What are you doing, child? Can't you see that I'm here to save you from this mongrel I am forced to call my son? Oh, you poor thing! That disgrace is forcing you to wear the wrong prescription with glasses, isn't he? I knew I went too easy on you growing up, you stupid failure of human existence. Well, no more. You are –." But while her words sting and feel like shots fired directly at my heart an while her allegations of me actively hurting Harry infuriate the both of us, do I still stop my mate as he wants to lunge at her.
"Harry love, don't. Do not stoop to her level. She's not worth it.""She – she – she –." Harry snarls and spits and I pull him close against my form while still mindful of his pregnant stomach and whisper: "Harry, think of the baby. Don't let her upset you like this. Just remember what I just told her. I'm an adult, Harry. She has no say over me, no matter what her delusions may tell her.""That doesn't give her the right to insult you like that."
"No, the unfortunate punishment of being this waste of space's mother gives me that right, the only privilege that that horrible title gave me and the only positive that I have had for the last almost nineteen years of my life. Now you little frea –.""Mother, I will only say this once. If you value your health at all, you will not call me that.""Are you actually threatening me, your own mother while holding that poor soul hostage?
Ugh, I thought the fact that you somehow used dark magic to enforce an unwanted life upon some poor unfortunate soul was bad enough, but now I see just how low you have sunken without my guidance. No more, you disgusting little bit of vermin. Your life is changing starting today and I am going to try twice as hard as I did before to turn you into something that might, if I somehow succeed, at the very least slightly resemble an adequate human being. Though with you being who you are, I doubt I will ever actually manage that."
"LEA, GIVE ME BACK MY WAND THIS INSTANCE SO I CAN BLOODY RIP HER TO SHREDS!" Harry yells right into my ear, but then another voice sounds from behind me that firmly states: "That will not be necessary, Harry." We both turn around, Harry's rage still obviously close to the surface and I see Ansem the Wise standing behind us alongside Dilan and Aeleus, all three of them having looks on their faces that closely resemble the anger on Harry's face.
"We have been keeping an eye on this woman for some time now and were of the belief that, like Lea, she had simply moved on with her life. However, while we knew of her relation to Lea, we had no idea that she had forced such an upbringing upon him. Needless to say, none of us are ready or willing to even let her in the delusion that we will give her a chance for that. Dilan, get her. Lea –." But because I suddenly remember upon what I am standing, I strongly say: "Not today."
Ansem the Wise nods, his eyes proving that he knows exactly why I said this and while Dilan roughly pulls the woman out of the ruined flowers and slaps a pair of handcuffs onto her wrists, she shouts: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? Arresting me? He's the criminal of our family. For goodness sake, look at that –.""At destiny's magic, which brought two soul mates and two universes together at the same time? At a form of life you decided to insult even before it was born?"
"Oh for magic's sake, use what little brain a guard like you might need, will you? The only reason that life hasn't decided to end itself is because it's not yet smart enough to realize who its father is. No life created by that failure of mine could ever be happy and you are all just condemning –." But then suddenly Aeleus summons his Claymore and presses it closely against the woman's throat, his voice hoarse with anger as he warns her: "One – more – word."
And while the woman was actually dumb enough to insult Dilan, she seems to know Aeleus well enough to take his warning seriously. She keeps quiet and Dilan forcefully pushes her to start walking, leading her out of the enclosed area. And as he uses his own wind magic to close the fences around us again after leaving, I release a breath I hadn't even known I was holding until that time. "I am truly sorry, Lea. Like I said, we have been keeping an eye on her, but –."
"But when you thought she had moved on you stopped the recon. I understand Master Ansem, and I don't blame you. I just hate the fact that it had to happen on my three-month anniversary. Please meet with me the day after tomorrow. My mate is going to have a rough enough start of the new year as it is. I'd rather go back to my attempt to give him a bit of light to focus on when he journeys tomorrow." Ansem and Aeleus nod, yet as they leave, I ask: "Aeleus?"
"We went to college together. I was a few years her senior and tasked with keeping her in line. I did so – until she graduated." I nod at the man, understanding the things he isn't saying and the man turns to me as he says: "When she told me, Lea, she was not like this. You reminded me of her reaction to her own news when you told me yours. And I know you well enough, Lea, to know that you will never make her mistakes.""You keep that memorized."
I jest with the man, him sending me a small smirk before he follows Master Ansem out of the enclosure. Yet Master Ansem himself falters at the fences and turns back to look at me as he says: "Just so you know, Lea. I have Roxas looking for your other parent as we speak. And I am quite confident that we are on the verge of finding him." And while the man had been at the Christmas feast, his words make me feel as if I suddenly got his gift handed to me and then times so many dozen times I am feeling lightheaded with shock.
The man leaves, Aeleus closing the enclosure behind the two of them and it takes me a few minutes to realize that Harry is calling out to me. I turn to him, the boy having gone back to sit on the chair and he asks: "Are – are you okay? I – I mean, that – that – that witch! She – she couldn't – there – there is no way –.""Yeah, she's my lovely little old mum, the woman that birthed me eighteen years ago.""HOW? You two are nothing alike!"
Harry yells and this makes me laugh as I say: "Thank you, love. That's the best compliment you could give me. And besides, don't forget what you and Sirius told me about his mum. It's really not that different from that." Harry gapes at me and I snicker before using one finger to push his mouth a little further closed and then closing the gap between us, gently and lovingly kissing him before I say: "Just forget it for now, love. We've got more important things to focus on."
"What? Like what?" Harry asks, looking completely befuddled and while part of me hates the fact that this got delayed, do I retake my position from before, pull my little gift from my vest's pocket – in which I had put it in haste when I turned on my spot – and reach it out to my soul mate as I ask: "Like the question I wanted to ask you before we got disturbed. Harry James Potter, would you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my husband?"
Harry sacks down into the chair he is sitting in, which makes me worry if I had caused him too many shocks for one night. But then, while the next shout is twice as loud as any of the other shouts that have sounded through the enclosure this past night, while I feel as I might just go deaf tonight and while I find myself not at all caring for this potential fact, the boy jumps me, making us both fall off the stage as he yells for the world to hear: "YEEEEEEESSSSSSS!"
Of course yes!
What did you expect? That Harry would say no? Also, don't expect the wedding chapter to be anything grand. Harry and Lea are just going to want to tie the knot to make sure that their child can inherit and won't be considered a bastard child or anything. That, to be honest, is the whole reason I even have this chapter. Otherwise, I would have had to decide on a different kind of scene for that woman to interrupt.
Also, I'm sure that a lot of you are wondering why she doesn't have a name. To be honest, that has three reasons. One, there is no name known to the wiki or any other official source. Heck, Lea's parents are never mentioned, not even in Birth By Sleep when he's just a kid. Two, the woman is really just a means to an end. I don't care for her, but I have plans to bring in Lea's father who will play a much bigger role in Lea's life. I just wanted her as the "reason" that never happened. She was simply needed for Lea's backstory. Three,
I just don't care,
Venquine1990
