AN: Hey! xD Look at this: a brand new story in the Warrior Princess universe! I mentioned it in comments lol, but for those who do not know, I now have created for myself such a solid headcanon of Princess of Hearts' history, lore, and origins (and I even came up with some previous Princesses that showed up in Peaceful Hearts), that I started toying with the idea of writing some kinda "Princess Chronicles" thing, where I could explore that history and put those past Princesses into a story of their own!
So here we are! This is an anthology, a collection of short stories, fleshing out some of those past Princesses, and telling the stories of all new ones. :D Two of them you will recognize, if you've read Peaceful Hearts. The rest are total unknowns that have only existed in my drafts! xD And were honestly probably never going to show up on screen except as a little mention in a history book or something...but I decided I wanted to let their voices be heard, and do them some justice! :D
I REALLY LOOOVE anthologies that expand universes lol, like Tales of the Jedi and Empire, recently, for Star Wars, and Halo Legends for Halo's universe! Or the Animatrix series! So yeah, this anthology of mine is SUPER HEAVILY inspired by the anthologies of other medias that I love so much! :) And so, inspired by them, it's gonna be divided into "Parts", which take place during a key time in each character's life. Each character will have multiple parts to focus on them! These parts will also be pretty lengthy! They might also vary between 3-6!
Also like those beloved anthology prequel series', some of these will be happy and sweet, and others are just kinda tragic and dark. It's a mixed bag of tales - as anthologies should be! It also kinda skews darker/more mature in general than the mainline Warrior Princess series. Dealing with some more mature topics, more directly, such as: dysphoria, transphobia, abuse, and even suicide. So, yeah, fair warning and all. If you're brave, give it a read! Thank you!
Anyways, with that long author's note outta the way, let's get to it! 3 Because I actually pre-wrote a lot of these lol, so it won't interfere much with Warrior Princess 4!
Of course, as one last note. Every anthology needs a good framing device, right? And one that makes logical, in universe sense. So I made one for this. I will not tell you when it takes place. xD It's a mystery...I'll just say it takes place after "Warrior Princess 4: BBS".
Land Of Departure - Present Era
Kairi strode out from the shelves, a heavy tome held in her arms, and sat down heavily at the old table of polished marble.
She set the book down in front of her with care, opening it up and perusing the first few pages. She huffed, leaning forward and setting her chin in her hand. There was nothing in there about Princesses or Lights or anything else...
"Please tell me someone else is having better luck than me!" she moaned out.
A precarious, wobbling tower of books came forward - and then were dumped onto the table, revealing the girl behind it. Vor hopped up onto a chair, flashing a smile. "Do any of these help?"
Kairi looked over at the wave of books. She groaned and let her head fall straight down to the table. "Probably...somewhere in there... Someone who isn't me go through them all, please..."
"We might not need to," came the voice of Urd.
Kairi raised her head swiftly, brushing her hair out of her face.
Urd came to seat herself next to Kairi, setting a thin, small book on the desk. No: some kind of journal, or diary?
"A diary?" Kairi asked, wanting to confirm it.
Urd gave a nod, carefully opening up the cover. "You said that girl's name was 'Ai', didn't you?"
"Yes. Is that - hers?" Kairi said, leaning over to look.
"It seems to be," Urd replied.
"Oh - don't start reading it without me!" echoed the distant voice of another girl's. Quick footsteps raced across the library, and Erin came bursting out from between the shelves. She threw herself forward, almost tripping over a chair. She heaved a breath, smacking her hands down onto the table - rocking it violently.
Vor and Urd startled, staring at her.
"Sorry!" Erin said, blushing as she took her seat properly, pulling her hands in to her chest. She looked at Kairi, clearing her throat. "You're sure this girl was- one of my people? A teyrsei girl was a Princess of Heart, once?"
Kairi gave the girl a nod, and a small smile. "Yeah - I'm sure! She had the same eyes and everything. And the images on her Heart Station make way more sense now, too." She paused, then grinned. "What does Riku taste like, by the way?"
Erin flushed again, looking away now. Then she looked back at Kairi and cocked a grin of her own, her eyes glinting. She leaned forward, slinging an arm across the table. "Delicious, thanks! I can't wait to do it again!"
"You mean you haven't already? I thought you two would be all over each other!" Kairi retorted, setting her elbows down and leaning over the table to meet the girl's gaze, unyielding. "Weren't you at his house again last night?"
"That would've been sort of awkward, what with Cognis around and all - that girl sees everything, and you never know when she's even there," Erin refuted, laughing and shaking her head. "All you've got is the honor system, with her..."
"These Darknesses do reallyyyy seem to like being voyeurs..." Kairi agreed, giggling.
"Okay, what are we talking about here?" Urd said, flustered.
Vor hid her face behind her hands and turned away, kicking her feet.
"Nothing!" Kairi said cheerfully, sitting up again. She swiped the diary up, flipping through the pages gently, narrowing her eyes at it. "Where did you get this, anyways?"
"...From me," came an echoing male voice.
Kairi looked over to see the silver-haired young man striding across the room. He stopped at the table, gazing around at them all. He looked to Kairi - paused - raised his eyebrow.
"What?" said the time-traveler Xehanort. "Surely you know I'm just as interested in the history of the World as any of you are. And seeing as I am the one who found that for you, I think it's worth a seat at the table..."
"Sorry - girls-only research team," Kairi said sweetly, raising her eyebrows right back. "Unless there's some girl version of you running around out there - thanks for the find! Goodbye!"
"Hmph..." Xehanort looked to Urd, and Vor. "What do you say?"
"They're your friends, of course they're going to back you up," Kairi said quickly, rolling her eyes. "That doesn't mean anything."
"I'm sensing you have some sort of strong opposition to my inclusion here," Xehanort stated, with heavy sarcasm.
"You think?" Kairi retorted. "I wonder why."
"Do tell me."
"Didn't all of this start because you were way too obsessed with the distant past?" Kairi said, holding his gaze. "Sorry if I'm a little wary about letting you dive into secret Princess lore and history. You might run with it and come to your own terrifying conclusions that spell doom for the rest of us. And that isn't an exaggeration, is it? We all know that."
Xehanort slowly stepped around the table, grasping a chair and dragging it back. He sat down in it, next to Erin. He leaned forward and propped himself up on an elbow, his fist to his cheek. He glanced at Kairi, and gave an amused smirk. "I'll try not to read between any lines, then, and just take things at face value - if that puts you at ease, Princess."
"Ugh...it gives me the worst, grossest shivers to hear you calling me 'princess.' Please never do it again. Just call me Kairi."
Xehanort nodded, straightening up. The amused look fell away. He looked her in the eyes, giving a nod. "Alright...Kairi it is, then." He hesitated. "Please - would you let me take part in this project of yours? I do have an honest interest in it - no evil plans."
Kairi gazed back at him fiercely. "Is that a promise?"
"Cross my Heart, and hope to-"
"Don't say cross, either!"
"Really? You expect me to avoid the letter 'X' in your presence, as well? My name literally starts with the letter!" Xehanort exclaimed, exasperated. "I thought we were meant to be making things between each other at least a little less than impossible?"
Kairi sighed. "Ugh...okay, fine. Just - sit there and shut up. I'm reading now!"
"By all means," Xehanort laughed.
Kairi hated that it sounded so genuine. The smug...evil bastard...acting like he was just another guy!
She could really see how this arrogant, self-centered jackass went on to become the kind of man he did.
Ugh.
She ducked her head, ran her fingers over the old, crinkled pages of the diary, and started to read the first words aloud...
"'My name is Ai, and this is a record of my personal thoughts and feelings in my life so far, and my recollections, starting from when I first learned I was a Princess of Heart - or, as my people called it: the Avalisa Eris. When I first heard-'"
"What?!" Erin's voice exclaimed, high and shocked, interrupting Kairi.
"What?" Kairi said, lowering the book and meeting the girl's eyes.
Erin struggled for a moment, her eyes jittering. Then she sat back in her seat and slid down in it. "Nothing - sorry - go on..."
"No, come on. What is it?" Kairi insisted.
"It's really nothing. It's just...I thought the stories of the Avalisa Eris were all just myths and legends," Erin elaborated slowly. "And I never would've connected them to...the Princesses of Heart. But, of course, it makes so much sense now, doesn't it?"
"Does it?" Kairi said politely.
"Yes!" Erin sat up again, smiling now. "My name's a derivative of the word: Eris, Erin. See? Erin means 'fierce, strong', in the gendered sense - the feminine. And Eris has always meant something like 'girl, or woman', as an older, more basic word. It's more literal than the modern name - my name."
"That's really neat," Kairi said with a smile. "And what about the other part of it? Avalisa...?"
"That one's more obvious. I really should've seen it. It means 'light', or 'bright!'" Erin explained. "Taken altogether, you get something like: the girl-slash-woman of light."
"Girl slash?" Kairi said, batting her eyes innocently. "Now we're really talking, huh?"
"Oh, shut up!" Erin laughed loudly, covering her mouth. "Just read the thing, would you?"
"Okay, okay - reading the thing. Nobody interrupt me!"
"Why are you only looking at me while you say that?" Xehanort murmured.
"Shut up! Reading! Ahem..." Kairi lifted the diary once more, and started to read again...
Sometime In The Distant Past
His name was Ai.
He liked his name - it was just about the only thing he liked about himself.
It was simple, it was easy. It was...it just fit.
It meant he didn't have to talk very much.
No long, complicated name he'd have to stammer over and explain...
He was just...Ai.
Just Ai.
The way he liked it.
It wasn't perfect or anything...but it was-
He shook his head, tugging at his clothes and wandering out of the town - to the edge of the vast island.
He stopped next to a large tree with its hanging lilac leaves.
He looked out over the edge - to the grassy fields below, spied through the clouds.
He gazed out at the distant mountains.
He wished he could leave - go down there.
It wasn't that he was some brave explorer or anything - it was just...that it was probably better than staying up here all the time...
He turned away, walking back inland. He walked alongside a river stream. He stopped and turned, catching his own reflection in its surface. He sighed as he bent down, staring at himself.
The short black hair, the glowing pink eyes...
The face staring back at him, pale and freckled...
He frowned, closing his eyes and turning away. He continued on, heading back into town.
His eyes rose to the huge, stone archway on the other side of the island, towering over everything else. The blue lines of light flowing across the arch, from one end to the other. As he watched, electricity crackled across it, and a flash of blue light burst to fill the archway. From out of the arch came a group of six, huge, winged dragons with various colored scales and features. They circled the island, before swooping down to land on the east edge, somewhere in the fields - by the big, deep lake.
Ai refocused, stepping onto the paved cobblestone streets. He avoided crowds and gazes, making his way home with a squirming stomach.
Someday, he'd be like them, he thought - but he didn't really believe it all too much...
It would be nice though...wouldn't it?
He reached the front door of his little home. He stopped, counting to five - shuffling his feet. He breathed in and out. He waited some more...
He knew he had to just do it, though.
With the way he'd walked out like that earlier-
He stepped forward and pulled the door open by its thin iron handle.
"You finally decided to come back and apologize?"
The voice came from the kitchen, as his eyes were still adjusting to the dark.
He blinked quickly, watching as his mother came stalking out to stand before him. She crossed her arms as she looked at him, her long black hair hanging messily down her shoulders.
"Don't just stand there staring at me - give me an answer," she said, snapping.
Ai joined his hands at his waist, dropping his gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry...You're right, I- I got mad and I shouldn't have said that..."
Mother stared at him, her eyes narrowed. Then she dropped her arms with a sigh, turning away and disappearing back into the kitchen.
Ai forced his feet to move, following her. He lingered in the entryway, watching her move around the room.
She ripped open a cabinet - slammed a metal pan down hard enough to make Ai startle on the spot. She stood with her back to him, her hands on the scratched up wooden countertop. Her head turned, one eye looking at him from across the room. "Do you even care that Reona's out there fighting for you - for everyone? That she's risking her life, every day, in that stupid fucking war, against those katani bastards?"
"Of c-course I care...she's- mom!" Ai said quickly, pressing his hands together and shifting his stance. "She-"
"But you can't even bother to stick around and help me make a nice, welcome home meal for her?" mother interrupted, quiet and pointed. "You said what was the point. You said 'It's not like we see her for more than a few-'"
"I- I know, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, okay? I'm sorry..."
Mother whipped around, stalking forward furiously. "All you can ever do is say you're sorry! Why can't you just use your words and say something useful for once!"
Ai backpedaled-
She stopped, turning, and slammed her fist down through the kitchen table. She gave a heaving breath, pulling her hand free with a scattering of splinters and pieces. She breathed harshly for a long minute, silent. Then she looked over at him again. Her face changed. The lines went away. Her eyes fluttered. She let a breath go, her shoulders falling. She leaned over the table, shaking her head. Then she pushed away from it, straightening again. She raised a shaking hand and pushed it through her hair, pushing it all back. She turned to face him, looking at him with a face of softness and remorse. "I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I'm sorry, honey. It's just...I just...you have no idea how hard it is for me right now. Reona could die at any moment, they could send someone to tell us that your mom is dead. And I have to deal with that, and I have to keep my job, keep this house going, and also keep taking care of you-"
"I'm sorry..." Ai whispered again. He glanced at her. He opened his mouth again quickly. "I- I know- it's hard for you- I don't want to- to- make things worse. I don't...I just...it's hard for me too..."
Mother sighed again. She nodded. She walked forward and pulled him into a tight hug. "I know. But can you just...try to make it easier for me? For both of us? Please?"
"Yes..."
Mother pulled away. She looked down at him with a smile. She reached up and caressed his face. "Good. Thank you. Now come and help me get things ready for Reona. She'll be back in four days now. I want it all done for her."
Ai nodded, trying to smile. "Okay."
Ai was in his room when he heard the knock on the front door.
He stayed where he was, listening as his mother went to answer it.
"Eleah Varse?" came an unfamiliar woman's voice.
"Yes. Who are you?"
"Noemie Shirika," the woman replied. "I'm a member of the Court Of Far-Eyes."
"Court of Far...why would you come all the way out here?" mother asked. "Is it Reona? Did you see something about her? Is she-"
"Your wife is fine, as far as anyone knows," the woman, Shirika, said calmly. "This isn't about her. It's about Ai."
"About- what?" Mother's voice was one of pure confusion.
"Could I come inside, please? And can you fetch your child for me? Ai needs to be present for this discussion."
"Of course..."
Light, brief footsteps, and then mother appeared in the doorway to Ai's room. "Honey, can you come out here? Someone- very important wants to talk to us," she asked kindly.
Ai nodded, getting up and exiting his room. Mother led him over to the sofa, sitting him down in it. Then she sat down next to him.
The guest, Shirika, sat in a small armchair.
Now that Ai could see her, he saw that she was tall, with short-cut blonde hair and tanned skin.
"Alright, we're waiting," mother spoke first. "What is this about?"
"I'll...cut right to the chase," Shirika began, slow and clear. "Recently, a group of our greatest Diviners...have informed the Court that the Avalisa Eris will soon be among us." The woman paused. She looked at Ai. "They've said it's going to be Ai."
Silence, for a long moment.
"What?" Mother said blankly.
"The Avalisa Eris - it's going to be Ai," Shirika repeated clearly.
Mother laughed loudly. "No, it's not. That's ridiculous, and it's just plain impossible."
"Our Seers are rarely wrong. Why do you think we've won so many battles? And in this matter, they can't be wrong," Shirika said bluntly.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but that is my son, not a girl," mother responded, just as blunt.
Ai felt a deep knot in his stomach, dropping his head.
The other woman gazed over at Ai. A small smile came to her lips. "Is that so?"
"Ugh. I'm not justifying that with an answer. Tell your Seers they're dead wrong this time. They've mistaken him for someone else."
"The Avalisa Eris is always a girl - and the Avalisa is never wrong. It's a fact of nature. A universal constant. It can no more choose wrong than a-"
"Well, it has this time, clearly," mother cut across. "It's a mistake. My son can't be the Avalisa Eris, because he isn't an Eris!"
"Well, according to the universe and fate itself: yes, Ai is." Shirika gave a pregnant pause. "But why don't we ask for Ai's opinion? Ai - what do you think about this?"
"I...um..." Ai dug his hands into his shirt hem. "If- if the Seers, and the universe...said so...then...it can't be- wrong, can it...?" But...that would mean...he...he...?
"There you go," the woman nodded.
Mother's face blanched. "I won't entertain this. It's wrong."
"Wrong?" Shirika said, gazing at mother. "How so?"
Mother looked flustered. She looked at Ai. Then she tossed her head of dark hair. "Just look at him! You look at him, you see a boy. That's it."
"If you're only looking skin deep, maybe - but I'm sure if you were to look deeper than that, you'd find a Heart that-"
"Look, I don't know how you do things on your island - but here on this one, we don't just let boys be girls, or-"
"That is an interesting opinion for someone who's part of a people who are most well known for our changing bodies," Shirika said mildly. "Here on this little island of yours, have you started falling for enemy propaganda? If I'm not mistaken, isn't your wife, Reona Varse, an active soldier on the front lines as we speak?"
"She uses the strengths and powers she has to fight for her people - that's completely different!" mother exclaimed. "That's not just- just deciding, on a whim, to- to do something that has no benefit or purpose-"
"No benefit or purpose?" Shirika narrowed her eyes. "I've known a lot of people in my life, on my island, who can say very happily that it's been of incredible benefit to them. Not even just the choice or opportunity to change, but the mere fact that they can show their Heart's truth to the world without fear or judgement."
"Enough with this. Go back where you came from, tell your Diviners not to bother us again."
The woman stood, her eyes on Ai. "Your child is going to be our Avalisa Eris, whether you can comprehend or accept it - or not. I only hope when the time comes, that you'll turn your attitude around, and show Ai the support and love she is going to need."
She? She...she...
The woman had said it...someone had said it...!
It made Ai look up at her, her hands withdrawing slightly from her shirt's folds-
Her hands?
Why had he just thought that...?
"Get. OUT!" mother said loudly to the woman, jumping to her feet.
Shirika nodded, turning and leaving the house.
Ai didn't want her to go...especially not when mother was all angry like this now...because of her.
Mother turned toward him, letting out a huff and setting her hands on her hips. "The nerve of that woman. Can you believe the nonsense she was trying to peddle?" she said airily. "Those big islanders can never admit it when they get something wrong. Some girl here is probably the Avalisa Eris, but that bullshit...they should get their eyes checked."
"Y-yes...it was...crazy of her," Ai agreed quietly, relieved that the angry outburst hadn't come at all. It was a small miracle...
Mother beamed at him warmly, coming over and stroking his hair. "I'm proud of you."
Ai smiled back at her, basking in the praise, in that expression - that smile of hers.
But...something was still wrong with his stomach...
Why?
Ai sat down on the bed, letting out a relaxed breath.
He looked up at the curved, stone ceiling with a smile.
"It sounds like your mom didn't take it that well."
Ai straightened his head, looking over at Emiko, who had just sat down beside him.
She was staring at him closely, her face framed by her shoulder-length red hair's curled locks, which was styled with deep blue highlights.
He ducked his head, setting his hands in his lap.
"She didn't yell at you or anything did she?" Emiko spoke again, quiet and casual.
"No!" Ai refuted. "She said she was proud of me..."
"That's probably a first."
"Stop..."
Emiko frowned. "Come on, Ai, you've told me before-"
"She can be- intense sometimes- but she just- has strong emotions," Ai cut across. "She always says sorry. She makes it up to me. She gave me fifty seps and said I could buy anything I wanted at the shops."
"Neat. How many times has she said sorry by now, and then just does it again later anyways?"
Ai pressed his shaking hands together, shaking his head at her. "You- you don't live there...you don't know her...she just- seems bad, because you're not there for when she's good...she's usually good! She's under a lot of stress, with mom being gone and-"
Emiko made a strange noise. She leaned over, reaching across herself to put her hand on his arm. "Okay, Ai...alright. Sorry."
Ai breathed, lifting his head. He gave her a smile. "It's okay..."
Emiko let her hand fall away, jumping to her feet. She strode over to her tall, polished wooden dresser, digging through the hangars of clothes after throwing open the doors. She took one outfit out, then turned and came back to Ai. She looked at him as she tossed it down onto the bed.
Ai stared at her in confusion. "What...?" he said. "Are you planning on wearing that to the welcome home party...?"
Emiko shook her head, smiling. "No, I thought maybe you'd want to give it a go," she said casually.
"W-what? Why- why would I...want to do that...?" Ai stammered, staring up at her.
Emiko tutted, twirling on the spot and sitting down next to him again. She leaned back on her arms, turning her head to gaze into his eyes. "If you're supposed to be the next Avalisa Eris - the seventh one we've had in the entirety of history - you have to look the part. No girl friend of mine is going to the welcome home party looking like - that." She gestured with an absent hand.
Ai flushed, looking away, staring hard at the wall. Something like panic more than anxiety was rising inside his chest. "F-funny...but it's not- it's not true...It can't be true. Mother was right. They- they got it wrong, over there. I can't be...that. Because I'm not a girl..."
"Are you sure about that?" Emiko said, in a quiet voice. "You remember Jill, right? They moved away a while back - down to one of those big surface cities? The one that got hit by that katani assault a few weeks ago?"
"Sure...why...?" Ai asked, nodding slowly.
"Well, he's Julius now." Ai saw Emiko shrug from the corner of his vision, as she spoke the words.
"So...?" Ai said hesitantly.
"So, it's not some crazy, wild thing," Emiko huffed. "There's some famous people in history who were the same way - and in stories and myths. And, people more close to home. Real people, who you know."
"So?" Ai repeated. "That doesn't mean...doesn't mean I...have to be the same way?"
"Alright, maybe not," Emiko agreed. "But the Diviners aren't wrong. The universe isn't wrong. If you're the new Avalisa Eris, you're a girl - simple. Maybe not in your body, but in your Heart. And isn't that what matters most?"
"I..." Ai looked away again, the panic shooting up to new heights. "No...no, that's- that's- just..." Words failed him completely, as sometimes happened, and he fell into total silence, his lips moving and failing to talk any more.
Emiko sighed. She suddenly hugged him. "Sorry - sorry. Okay? Forget it. Just relax and let's have a little fun. I'll get the yama board out."
Ai just nodded, trying to get himself under control again.
Trying to make this weird feeling just go away.
The next day, Ai went back over to Emiko's house.
Mother seemed to have taken the whole visit from Ms. Shirika personally or something. She'd been in a weird mood the past two days, going on about- well- getting into long rants about the larger islands, about "people like that Shirika woman", and about the things Ms. Shirika had said.
It was all just making Ai way too stressed out and uncomfortable...
On the other hand, he couldn't stop thinking about what Ms. Shirika had said, himself. Or what Emiko had said. Or...
The Diviners aren't wrong. The world wasn't wrong. It didn't get it wrong...
It couldn't just get it wrong...any more than it could just make a river flow up the side of a mountain...
Which meant it had to be right...which meant- Ai had to be-
But how? Why? When even he didn't- when he hadn't-
"Oh - damn - Ai!"
Ai startled, almost walking into a wall. He stopped and looked through the doorway of Emiko's room - then flushed and turned away, covering his face. "Sorry...sorry!"
Emiko's laugh rang out. He heard rustling clothes, and then the creak of her bed. "Don't say sorry; it's my fault - I didn't think you'd be over today. Not so early, either..."
"Sorry..." Ai repeated. "I was just...thinking, and- I wanted to see you..."
"Well, come on in," Emiko said.
"Are you..." Ai trailed off.
"Would I invite you in if I wasn't?" Emiko said, amused. "Turn around and take the risk...or go home."
Ai frowned. He dropped his hand, turning on the spot. He felt relieved to see Emiko sprawled out on her bed - dressed again. Dressed in a long, dark red dress. Straps, a plunging neck, and a slit up one side of the ruffled hem. He stared at her, feeling a twinging in his chest. A tightness. A-
"You're spacing out a lot today," Emiko spoke again. Her face shined with worry as she swung herself up into a sitting position. She leaned forward and put her hands on her legs (one of them exposed way too high up the thigh, bare, through the parted leg slit. "And you just did it again."
Ai shook his head, starting across the room quickly and sitting down with her. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Emiko said automatically. "I'm guessing you like my dress?"
"Yes...it's really- pretty..."
"Thanks," Emiko said, with a bright smile. "So, what are you wearing to the party?"
Ai sat there, looking out across the room. He looked at Emiko's dresser, remembering the last time he'd been here... He sighed. "I don't know...just...normal stuff, probably..."
"Normal stuff."
"Yes...what else would I wear...?" Ai murmured.
"What you actually might want to wear, for once, instead of what your mom buys you," Emiko said casually.
"Mom- knows me. She knows what I like..."
"Really? Come on, Ai..."
"What?"
Emiko stared at him, intensely, in the face. She leaned in closer. Her hair fell forward into her face...
Her hand moved across the bed, laying over his.
"What're you...doing...?" Ai breathed.
"Looking for your Heart," Emiko said quietly.
"What...?"
"Eyes are the window to the Heart. I'm trying to get a look at it - I want to see what's in there."
"Stop being...weird...please? It's just- me in there..."
"You're right. The Avalisa Eris is locked up in there, somewhere - and she's desperate to get out. Or maybe...she's scared to," Emiko whispered out. "But I could help her out. I am her best friend, after all..."
Ai pulled his hand away, turning away from her with a sharp exhale. His body trembled as he dropped his chin to his chest.
He tried to control it all, to stop...
Emiko didn't talk again. She didn't touch him.
It went on like this for a minute or two. Maybe longer. Then...
Ai swallowed, lifting his head and turning back to her. He looked at her dress, then away again quickly. His gaze wandered across her room...to her dresser. It was wide open, showing off her outfits. "I...last time...what you said..."
"What did I say?"
"About...and what you said this time - going to the welcome party...what I'd wear..." Ai's voice shook. Could he even dare to say the words? "If- If I am- supposed to be the next...if I am...if it's never wrong..."
"Yes...?"
"Can I...try on...one of your- your...?"
"Sure," Emiko said simply, standing and striding across the room. She rustled through her clothes before pulling out a long, plain white dress. A summer's sundress. She came back to him, looking down at him with a critical eye. Then she nodded. "It's going to be a little too big for you - I've always been taller than you, that's a fact - but you can make it work."
Ai stared up at her. At the dress... His Heart flipped in his chest. He stood, nodding. Emiko held the dress out to him...and he took it carefully. He stared at her face, then looked around.
"Right." Emiko strode over to the door, pushing it shut and sliding the lock into place. She stood there, her back to him. She raised a hand, waving blindly. Her other hand came up over her eyes. "Alright, go for it. No one's walking in on you, and I'm not looking. I want to be surprised at how nice you look, Avalisa Eris."
Ai stared at her backside. He looked at the dress in his grasp. He ran his fingers over it...he turned it over...
He backed up across the room, and slowly changed clothes. After he was done (after he'd dropped some things, once or twice), he kicked his old clothes into the corner with a blush. He took a deep breath, holding his hands in front of his chest. Then he let them fall to his sides. Then, he brought them back up again. He felt- there were shivers and tingles going all over his body now, the world felt dizzy and weird...
"Are you good?" Emiko's voice came.
Ai opened his mouth, trying to speak. He tried again. "I- y-yes..." he finally got out, in a whisper that shook horribly.
"Alright. Surprise me." Emiko threw out her arms and twirled around, striking a pose. She let her arms fall, stepping forward, her gaze looking him over. Up and down...
Ai turned away, tightening his arms on his body. "I- I know...it looks...stupid..."
"Are you crazy?" Emiko said, a wide grin taking over her face. "You're already killing it in that! Imagine what it'd be like with some makeup, and-"
"You...really think that?" Ai interrupted, quiet.
Emiko set a hand to her hip, giving a nod. "Have I ever said anything I didn't mean? Ai: You. Are. Adorable."
Ai gazed at his best friend...feeling a big smile growing on his face. One he couldn't remember when the last time was...that it had even been there before. He suddenly felt nice, he felt good, he felt right-
"So, you're wearing that to the welcome party, right?" Emiko spoke again.
Ai's smile vanished. He looked down. "No! No...I- that's...insane..."
"Come on, you-"
"NO!" The word tore out of him in fear and panic.
Emiko frowned, stepping back. She nodded. "Alright...if that's what you want. Sorry I asked."
He wasn't the Avalisa Eris. He wasn't...he wasn't...he couldn't just wear...to his mom's welcome home party!
"Turn around...so I can get this thing off," Ai said quietly.
"Sure." Emiko obeyed, walking off and turning her back to him again. "You can keep it if you want. You don't have to wear it again - just throw it under your bed or something. But I don't want it anymore, now that someone else has worn it," she said in an even tone.
Ai stopped, in the middle of changing. He looked down at the dress in his hands. "Fine..." he muttered.
He didn't want to argue with her...he'd just put it under his bed, like she said, and forget about it.
Ai woke up in his bed with a warmth in his chest.
A heat through his whole body!
He sat up in the dark, placing a hand to his chest.
He breathed, running a hand through sweating hair.
He looked out the window of his room, to the wide street.
A light glowed dimly, lighting up the room. Ai looked down, realizing it was coming from himself. His chest - where his heart was. Shining from between his fingers...
A golden yellow light.
Magic particles shimmered around his hand, like fireflies.
In a bit of a panic, he dropped his hand and threw himself back down on his bed, pulling the blankets up.
He shut his eyes tight, trying to force himself back to sleep again.
But Ai couldn't hope to deny or ignore it now - not anymore...
Because that strange light...all the stories and records...they painted a clear picture. It was unlike any magic anyone else knew of.
It was the magic...of the Avalisa Eris.
A light that shined in the dark, standing out against all others.
Which meant that he- that- Ai...that...
That she...was really the new Avalisa Eris. She was...she. Her. No matter what anyone said, no matter what mother thought, no matter what...because the world had chosen her - because this magic, this light...had known she was, before even Ai had!
Maybe...that should have been scary, on some level...to think you were one thing your whole life, and then to suddenly just...realize you were something else. That something else had seen it in you before you had. But...he wasn't afraid of it. He wasn't freaking out. He- she- she- she was just-
She was.
She opened her eyes. She took a deep breath, looking down at her hand again...
Her lips formed a small, secretive smile, as a sense of lightness flooded her body in a way she'd never felt before.
There wasn't fear, or anxiety, or any of that, in that moment. There was nervousness and uncertainty, but...not doubt. Both this mysterious power, and even Emiko had seemed to see it in her.
And now she saw it too. And she...she wanted to accept it.
If this was what she was, what she was meant to be...she wanted to try to be it.
Because, past the fear and panic of the moment, of change, of new and unfamiliar things - she had found that wearing that dress of Emiko's had had felt good. Nice. Right. And she wanted that feeling again.
And...she wanted this...this lack of weight on her shoulders and in her chest now to last forever.
After two more days of fighting with herself - wanting to back out and call it all off, then wanting to just do it - she finally settled on...
Just do it.
The day wore on, into evening. Half an hour before the party...Ai shut her door and pulled the outfit out from under her bed.
She shrugged off her normal clothing, and got herself into the dress.
She looked down at herself, and then, to the window.
She took a breath - let it go - took in another. And another...
Don't do this - you can't do this - you can do this - you're the Avalisa Eris-
Ai clenched a fist, exhaling sharply, and a golden light flashed from her hand wildly, fading in and then out again.
She breathed, staring at it...and it steadied, and it stayed. And it glowed.
I have to do this, or I never will...
Ai let her arm fall, the light disappearing, and she went to her window and climbed out of it as quietly as she could.
She landed out on the grass, and crept her way out behind the rows of buildings, staying to the dark. She moved forward, passing a large tree by...until she came to the back of the island.
The massive archway looming above - in the grassy fields, behind the town.
Ai hesitated there, for a long time, watching as people gathered in the field. More and more. Crowds growing...
Voices and chaos and light. She wasn't a fan of that on the best of days...but this time it was going to help her. She threw back her shoulders and strode out across the field, entering the crowds alone. Her eyes searched them all for one other person, desperate...
"Hey!" A hand grabbed her arm, startling her.
Ai turned, and stared into the face of Emiko. "Em..." she breathed in pure relief.
Emiko smiled. She stepped back, looking Ai up and down. Then she nodded. "Still looking good...Eris."
"Thanks...you too..." Ai murmured, flushing.
"Thanks! That means a lot, coming from our-"
"Please s-stop!"
"You're not making your grand announcement tonight?"
"No...I'm j-just- going to hang back...I-" Ai stopped. "This isn't about me. It's about my mom, and...everybody else."
Emiko shook her head, giving a disappointed look. "Come on, Ai. You know nothing's ever going to be more important than the return of the Avalisa Eris for the first time in centuries."
"Just...stop t-talking about it, p-please. Just...for tonight."
"Okay..." Emiko sighed, brushing at her hair. "But you can't hide it forever. Neither can your mom. And when it all comes out, you're going to shine."
Ai stared at her, her heart beating fast. Then she spun away and strode off, disappearing through a group of four, and weaving around others.
She hurried on across the grass, keeping her head on a swivel. Hoping to not see mom - Eleah, anyway. She wanted to see Reona again, she did, it was just that she'd been gone for so long, always gone, always...
Ai suddenly bumped into someone, bouncing back hard. She flinched, raising her hands to her chest, and stared up into the face of a woman.
A woman with dark green hair in a pixie cut. She wore a long green gown and glinting emerald earrings. Her face was angular, and her eyes were a deep...purple?
Ai stared into those eyes for a moment, confused. She'd never heard of anyone with purple eyes before-
"Hey, are you okay there, kid?"
Ai dropped her hands to her waist, nodding, and looking away quickly. "S-sorry..." she got out, choked.
"It's alright," the woman assured.
Ai turned away, hurrying off-
"It was nice to meet you...Avalisa Eris."
She stopped. She breathed, quick and panicked. She slowly turned, looking back at the woman. "H...how...do you...?" A Seer? A Diviner...?
The woman gave a small grin, raising a hand to pass it over her hair - flicking one of her earrings. "The name's Sera."
"...A- my name's Ai. A-I."
"Ai...what a beautiful name - for a beautiful girl."
Ai startled, choking all over again. "I...thank you..." she whispered. "Are you- here for someone?" Ai couldn't remember ever seeing this woman around town before...
The woman, Sera, she smiled lightly, a hand going to a hip. "Someone. These people, who come back from a war...they carry the darkness of it all in their Hearts. The things they see and do out there...it doesn't just get left behind. And when they bring it home, sometimes...especially when that darkness comes into proximity of a great light..." The woman trailed off, her smile fading. She shook her head. "I'm sorry - that's insensitive of me. This is a celebration."
"Are you a Seer or something? Is- something...bad going to happen tonight?" Ai chanced, asking. "Did you...see it?"
The woman looked around her. She stepped in, and she bent down, hands on her knees. "Between you and me, honey...something like that. I've seen...signs lately. So I'm here to...well, just in case. I suppose you could call me...security."
"S-so a...special operative...?"
The woman considered her. Then she gave a gentle laugh, and nodded. "As special as yourself, sweetie." She straightened up tall, gave a little wave with her fingers, and turned to stride away, disappearing into the crowd.
Ai looked around herself, squinting in the dark. She turned away and walked off to stand under a tree, hoping she could just pass this all by without being seen.
She passed the minutes by, her eyes on the arch...
After a while, after more and more people had gathered, it finally opened.
The light shined out on the field, and the edge of the town, lighting it all up with a blue glow.
A moment passed, and then they came through.
One after another!
Not from the air - on the ground.
Ai watched from afar, trying to see one person in the crowd...
After it seemed like the last of them had arrived, Ai was left feeling a tight, terrible disappointment in her chest and throat. But then-
She caught sight of the messy blonde hair - a flash of a face as people moved apart, with one eye damaged and furrowed. The red uniform, and the ribbon on her wrist.
Ai started to move forward, hoping she could just slip in and greet her, get in a hug, before-
Mom appeared in the crowds, and then she was moving toward Reona and throwing her arms around her. Kissing her, tears and joy all over her face.
Ai stood rooted to the spot, her breath catching. She breathed in and out, shallow and fast, curling her shaking hands at her sides.
She wanted to just go...she wanted to just...
But she couldn't do that to Reona, or to any of these people tonight. She...
This was stupid, this was a mistake, this was-
Ai gasped as a golden light flashed in the dark - from herself! She looked down in panic, staring at her fists. She opened her palms - and light flashed again, blinding her!
"No, no, stop it! Stop, I just-" Ai pleaded with herself, with her body, with this- light magic inside her-
It flared up again, bursting out of her chest in a huge flash, warming her entire body.
Voices were raising - heads were turning - people were looking over at her now!
Ai stared back at the crowd, shaking her head and backing away, holding her fists to her chest. Her back hit the tree. She cursed and turned away, ready to just run and-
"Ai..? Ai, is that...!"
Reona was starting forward swiftly across the grass - almost jogging, almost running, herself!
Ai froze, taking in quivering breaths, staring into the dark.
"Ai!" Reona's voice was right next to her now. "It is you! Hey-"
Ai shook her head mutely, letting out an uncontrollable gasp, as tears burst free. "I'm s-sorry..." she quavered out. "I- you- sorry..."
"What are you sorry for?" Reona spoke, quiet. "Ai - look at me. Just look at me. Please."
Ai obeyed, turning her head slowly.
Her mom's face was just...
So soft, so warm, so-
"I...this- tonight- not about me..." Ai struggled to get out, staring into that face, as shame and guilt washed over her.
Reona gave a smile, looking her up and down. She reached out and grabbed Ai's hand, pulling it up before her. She stared at the golden glow coming from it, at the particles of light swirling around it like embers... "Maybe it should be, from the looks of this! Do you know what this is, Ai?"
Ai nodded wordlessly. Helpless. "It's-"
"What is this?" came mom's voice. Not Reona's.
Ai cringed, pulling her hand free and smacking it to her side. Then, she hid both hands behind her back.
Mom looked Ai over, totally aghast. Speechless. She turned to Reona, shaking. "I'm so sorry. I have no idea what he was thinking, coming here like- like that! To be so damned disrespectful and inappropriate on your homecoming night! He's not going to get away with-" She paused, drawing in a sharp breath. She stepped forward and seized Ai's arm. "What the hell were you thinking? How could you do this to her, to all of them? How-"
"Leave her alone, Eleah," Reona's voice came, sharp and clear.
Mom released Ai due to pure shock, rounding on Reona. "W-what...? Did you already KNOW? Has he been writing to you behind my back?"
"It's nothing like that," Reona said, shaking her head. She looked at Ai, tilting her head somewhat. "It's not how I would have liked to find this out about- her, but I'm not going to-"
"How can you just be fine with this?" mom interrupted, still seeming more shocked than angry. "This is ridiculous, it's-"
"Eleah, when you're out there - down there - it doesn't matter who you're fighting beside. It doesn't matter what they look like, or what they wear. All that matters is that they're the person that has your back," Reona said, her messy blonde hair swaying, hanging over her damaged eye. "You accept them for who they are, and you trust in them. Or you're dead. No matter what island they come from, no matter what city, or religion, or-"
"What kind of freaks have you been spending your time with out there? I knew it was a mistake to let you go!" mom erupted wildly.
Reona blinked, rearing back like she'd been punched in the face. "They are not freaks - and neither is Ai," she said firmly, after a deep breath. "Ai is..." She gently reached out, taking Ai's arm and pulling it out from behind her. Revealing her magical, glowing hand. "Our daughter is the Avalisa Eris! It's an honor, Eleah! It's the most amazing, wonderful honor to ever happen to anyone - to any family - in over two centuries! And that belongs to us! That power chose our daughter, our Ai - that's even more of a cause for celebration than-"
"But it's impossible!" mom shouted out. "However he has it, he obviously stole it - from an actual, worthy girl!"
"How would Ai have done that?" Reona said, staring at mom now with narrowed eyes.
"How should I know? Ask him!" Mom snapped. "But it's the only reasonable explanation for this! Obviously, he stole it from whoever it was actually meant to go to here! And whoever that girl is, she deserves it back!"
As Ai stared at her mom, suddenly she saw a...a dark haze surround her body. At first she couldn't believe it, but...it was real! It was dark magic.
Mom stalked forward, grabbing Ai's arm and yanking her forward. Shaking her. "Tell me how you did this! Tell me how you stole this light-!"
The dark haze burst - and Ai's world exploded in pain, as her mom's grasp tightened on her arm tenfold!
"I- I-" Ai choked out in pain, squirming.
Mom's hand lashed out - her fist - across Ai's face (harder than it ever had before).
Everything spun, stars burst...
Ai's whole body had twisted with the blow, she didn't even realize until she blinked and-
And then Reona was pulling mom off of her, pushing her away, as mom was yelling and cursing (cursing Ai)...
Ai fell back onto the ground, holding her arm, trying not to cry, or whimper - but she wasn't succeeding...
A motion to her left, in the dark, and then someone was kneeling next to her, and...then a green light shrouded her arm, and it- the pain eased and something slid back into place inside her.
"Are you okay, honey?"
Ai looked up, wincing, and saw the woman from before. Sera? She gasped, looking back down at her arm. She moved her fingers...poked at herself...then, she nodded. "I- think so? B-but how...?"
"Healing magic."
"I...didn't know there was Healing magic..."
Sera froze, for some reason, looking - surprised? Caught off her guard? Or just...caught...? "Well, not many people know it. It's not surprising you haven't heard-"
A cold wave washed over Ai, and then a billowing purple energy exploded in the middle of the field. Mom was at the center of it. She was standing there, her face twisting, her arms shaking in front of her...and then purple flames erupted around her, and-
She vanished...as a purple cocoon of strange energy enveloped her!
Sera turned her head sharply, her mouth open. Then her lips pressed tight. She rose to her feet, her arm coming up - and then there was a flash of white light in the darkness, and there was a strange sword in her hand. "Stay here," she said, starting forward quickly, hurrying across the grass. Toward mom...
The purple cocoon broke, wisps of energy flying outward...and a monster came out of it.
Some kind of small dragon (only the size of a one story house), with entwined tendrils of purple and red, and glowing yellow eyes, and large wings that pulsed with blue energy.
Sera suddenly sped up in an instant, leaping up and coming down on the monster with her weapon!
She was fighting it, leaping and twisting, sending out blasts of energy and beams of light, vanishing and reappearing all over the place - sending out waves of ice and crackling lightning! Ai could barely even keep up with it!
Meanwhile, that dark haze, the dark magic, it was...moving, spreading, jumping from person to person...falling over the chaotic, yelling crowds...
Where was Reona? Where had she gone? Where...?!
Ai desperately searched, straining her eyes in the flashing of lights and magic, as the dragon rose up and flared its wings and sent out twisting beams of purple energy that hit the ground and exploded...sending people scattering...
She finally spotted her, in a gap in the crowd.
Reona had her red sword in her hand - she was fighting the dragon, along with that Sera woman!
But the dragon was...hadn't it been...? Somehow...?
But that's...mom...?
Dark pools of dark magic suddenly started to appear on the ground around the area. Up out of them came...more monsters! Dark creatures, in strange shapes. Jet black, with yellow eyes!
The creatures turned, setting their eyes on Ai!
Ai stood there, frozen again, as they started to run at her.
Three of them jumped at her with claws swiping-
"AI!"
Suddenly Reona was tackling her, rolling with her!
The monsters flew past them, landing on the ground and whipping back around.
Reona gasped as she pushed herself up, a dark purple gash down her back!
"M-mom, are you-" Ai said, terrified.
Reona gave a pained smile, taking her hand and pulling her up to her feet. "I'm f-"
A dark purple orb erupted from Reona's chest, swirling around her as her body went rigid, her eyes wide open.
Ai stumbled back, staring...
Orange and purple energy burst out around Reona - and then a new monster was floating in the air in front of Ai. A tall, muscled monster with a hole in its chest, and a large sword in its hand.
"M-mom...?"
A light suddenly burst to life to Ai's left - and then a shape came flying out of the darkness, slamming into her and taking her into a strange, swirling blue portal!
Ai rolled on the ground, in a mess of light and colors and crackling yellow lightning - something warm and soft was holding her, pressing to her-
Then the light faded, and the warm wind fled her.
It was quiet, and cold. And dark again.
The warmth left her, as a voice let out a harsh breath of air.
"Are you okay?!" a familiar voice urgently spoke.
Ai sat up, shaking her head and turning to see...Sera?
The woman moved forward across the ground, reaching out to touch Ai's face - her shoulders. Looking her over. "Tell me you're okay, hon. Come on. Or tell me if you're not."
Ai swallowed. She shook her head. She opened her mouth. "I...fine...?"
"Thank goodness..." the woman sighed, sitting back.
Ai blinked at her, then she looked away. Looked around.
She blinked again, staring in pure confusion and a new kind of fear.
"What...where..." she whispered.
She didn't understand...where this was. What this was! It was unlike anything she'd ever...heard of...
"I know it's different - it's confusing - I know, and I'll explain everything to you," Sera spoke, quick and quiet. "I just couldn't take you back to Scala - we're not supposed to interfere, especially with Princesses - but...I also couldn't just leave you there...not with all of that..." She trailed off, shaking her head. She reached up and ran a hand through her short cut hair. She leaned forward again, reaching out to touch Ai's arm. "Hey - honey - listen, I-"
"What happened to- mom?" Ai choked out. "What- happened to- to Reona, to- and those monsters, that was dark magic, it was- the corruption, it's not supposed to- how?!"
Sera's face fell, it twisted, and she leaned in even closer and took Ai into a warm, soft hug. "I know, I know - I'm sorry, honey, I'm so sorry..."
And...what about Emiko, too...?
AN: Because we do NOT TALK ENOUGH about that one scene from Traverse Town of the rando person becoming a Heartless right in front of Sora's eyes. They're like multiversal zombies on steroids, and it is truly HORRIFYING. Like, if an average joe gets tagged, you're DONE. POOF! We need to go into that way more lol! We spend so much time with the untouchable elites and super warriors...but to the normal dude in San Fransokyo or Agrabah? Worst nightmare!