Yep, here's my fluff-fic set on "extra fluffy." It ended up longer than I thought it would… A lot longer… If you can stomach all of this without tossing your cookies, I for one, will be impressed.
Also, it will seem a section is skipped over. The reason behind this is that I hope to someday write out Kida's backstory (which has been outlined since summer 2002).
CHAPTER 1: Decisions
Milo opened his eyes, realizing his heart had finally decided to rest a moment during its eternal flight. It was free from worry, and when it did not prevent him, he had managed to sleep contentedly. He tried to sit up from his slouched position over the desk only to realize how sore he was from falling asleep there. He put a hand on the back of his neck and twisted it. His vertebrae popped a little, but he found himself yearning for the skilled hands of Doctor Sweet. He stood and stretched, looking at the pile of notes he had written on the Atlantean language last night, but his mind was not straying far from what was bestowing his heart with wings: Kida.
The linguist went to look out the window, crawling over his unused bed to get there. The combination of how high the lava was and the brightness of the crystallight told him it must be early morning. From his room in the palace he could see a few people here and there having risen early to start their day.
Now, it was time not only to start his day, but his new life. For everyone, it was a new world, Atlantis having been reborn, but for him it was something greater. It was a new place, a new schedule and new people with new discoveries. It was also a new love…
Stretching again, he felt an incredible happiness, an elated energy so great in his heart it made him almost wonder if the world had come into such unity it had come to life.
Milo went back to the desk and opened a small blue inkpot and a bottle of bright red berry juice. Taking a precious sheet of paper and folding it over, he began to write on the front. Making a love note for someone illiterate proved a delightful challenge. Using a straw-like instrument used by the artisans he wrote her name, and then sketched her oldest tattoo beside it, both in blue ink. The scholar thought a moment before marking on the inside. He pulled out a pencil and began to sketch himself and Kida in each other's arms, being careful not to make too many stray marks, as the eraser had already been half-chewed off. He inked the drawing blue, adding a red berry juice heart around them. Though he doubted she'd know the symbol's meaning, he would take great delight in telling her later.
He waved the paper a moment to dry it, and crept out through the door curtain. He climbed a few flights of stairs to a long hall and listened at the stone door. The man grew nervous when he heard nothing at first, but a soft sigh from within filled him with relief, and he snuck down to the throne room, placing the note on a pillow there, before sprinting out into the morning.
The marketplace was opening, the vendors setting up shop. Milo wandered a bit, trying to find his destination, as, unfortunately, there was no Shepherd's Journal to guide him this time. As he searched, he could not help his worry.
"Is this too early?" he wondered softly to himself. "This is only the third day I've known her. I love her so much. I thought I had loved Lisa, but… That doesn't even compare to these feelings! But… It's only been… Less that three days…"
The bookish man nearly passed the booth while he pondered, and swerved to go inside.
The shop was cozy inside, faintly lit with crystal-activated lamps. The light sparkled off of the jewelry displays, making the rubies shimmer in particular. The bits of Atlantean crystal glowed modestly in their homes.
"Hello, sir, what can I do for you?" The words in Atlantean came from a man sitting in a corner, doing some careful etching on a gold armband.
Milo found the words to reply in the correct language. "Yes, actually, I need--"
"That accent!" The shopkeeper, now speaking English, looked up from his work. "Milo Thatch! It is a pleasure to have you! What brings you here?"
"Well, I--"
"Oh, you must be here to pick up Kida's bracelet. I have not finished resizing it yet, I am afraid, but it will be done a little later today."
"Actually, no. But don't tell her I was here! It's a surprise."
"Your being here?"
"Well, getting something for her."
"Ooooooh, then what are you looking for?"
"Well, I need to rings, just alike if I can."
"Just alike? Is that some tradition in your world?"
"Not necessarily just alike, but the rings yes! It's… It's a way to tell her just how much I love her..."
The vendor looked amused. "I had gathered you did."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Milo, your smile conquers all others, even your own, of those I have seen."
The linguist rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess so… She's stolen my heart."
The vendor nearly dropped his work, eyes wide, and began to rise. "She has done what?! I did not know your people even had such a Heart! How could she--"
"No-no-no-no-no! Not that heart. I mean…" He put his hand on his chest. "This one. It means I love her."
The jeweler gave him an odd look. "You have some strange sayings in your culture." He sighed and sat back down.
"Yeah… So, um… How about those rings?"
"I will have to make a second. I do not often make the exact same ring again."
"That's okay. How long?"
"It depends on what you choose." The jeweler took out some wooden cases, each filed with rings. Milo looked at them, and, though they were all beautiful, they were all rather gaudy by American standards.
"Is there something wrong?"
"What?" He realized he let it show, and silently reprimanded himself. "Well, they're all very pretty but… I was hoping for something a little bit more… plain?"
The jeweler gave him an odd look, but glanced over the cases himself.
"What about… Hey! This one!" Milo plucked a lonely ring from the display, looking it over. It was relatively intricate, but neither garish nor feminine. There was a Crystal-like design that emphasized the strong, hopeful glow of the Atlantean crystal amongst the gold and silver. "Actually, this would be perfect for both of us!"
"Does the ring fit you?"
He slipped it on. "Hey, it does! How about-- Jiminy Christmas! I don't know Kida's ring size!"
The shopkeeper laughed. "Then it is good I learned long ago."
"Because she's royalty?"
"Of course."
"Oh, you're lifesaver!"
The jeweler smiled at that. "…I have started on a similar ring that may be her size. It would be easy to convert it if so. This is a fairly simple one. Besides, I can make this ring using a blank, if need be. I need to finish Kida's bracelet first."
"Oh, definitely. Don't let her see the ring, okay?"
"Of course."
"I'll check in later then. Thanks!"
"I will see you!"
Milo exited, heading back to the palace to continue his studies. The world was blessed with peace, and he beamed brighter than the Crystal could ever hope to.
The first sensation that came to her was a slight ache, but she had grown used to it. It had been there since the Heart of Atlantis had called her, but it, like her fatigue from the ordeal, was fading. Tomorrow it would probably be gone. Her face would probably still itch from the tattoos, however.
The new queen uncurled and stretched, not fully aware yet. After all, her thoughts centered on an intrinsic world at that moment. Today was her first full day as queen, the short but formal ceremony held the day before.
The thought of that rank was strange on her lips, she had found. It was not that she did not believe she could do the job adequately or that she felt like her mother must have, but the knowledge of who was lost to give her that title caused her heart pain.
Eyes still closed, she thought about her loving father and how deeply she missed him. Before her own ceremony had been his. The king's body was cremated by way of a funeral pyre, glittering gold, and his ashes thrown into the winds and waters of Atlantis, soon to make it into the lava where he would join the earth itself. Kida kept her eyes closed a moment longer, having felt the tears well up behind her lids. The waters receded, and she opened her eyes, blinking at the light and the remnants of what was left of the tears. She closed her eyes again, drowsy, and her mind went back to the thoughts of yesterday.
Kida paused at the doorway, looking out at the new world, a world her father would never see. Sadly she clutched her crystal, holding back the tears. She wiped her face, as tears had already escaped her eyes earlier. She was tired both physically and emotionally. The woman put a hand on the great stone door of the palace. Her family was gone.
Yes, Atlantis had been saved, but she felt she had not. The explorers would be leaving later that day, and with them, her first true love, a love she realized before it was too late, something she thought she would never find. Milo had come to her world, and with him, love journeyed down to her. The feeling, not just his acts, was changing her world. When his visited hers, she found it could be heartless, and it had taken advantage of her trust, but his coming showed her something else. Love is meant to be found in one's life, even briefly. She longed to feel his arms around her again at that moment, but it was her fault he was not there. Kida remembered saying she needed to be with her father alone. Hoping his spirit would stay near his body, she wept out how much she loved him and her apologies and regrets. He was right. Now that she was taking the throne, she did understand what he had done, through Milo's retelling. She did not agree, but she did understand.
The new queen stepped outside. A large part of her wanted to go up with him, but she knew she could not. As amazing as his world must be, her duty was in Atlantis, and she would be forever leaving a new life behind by not going with him. Even before it was too late, her regrets grew. As her bare feet stepped upon cold stone streets, she did not know how she could manage it. After all he had done, she had no clue how she could say goodbye. Except for when she thought of her father, her thoughts centered on him, as she knew she would every day of her life. On her way to meet Milo she wondered how it might be to spend her life with him, what could be, and what she knew could not. Since the moment she found him, she felt something, realized what had been missing, unfulfilled. It was only a few hours ago Kida felt it well up inside her, grow stronger and take hold of her.
Now, as she moved on past her father's death, she would have to pretend to move past the hero's departure. No one could take his place. She knew a part of her would always go out to be with him, no matter what her life or his became. Kida would miss his voice, his face, and forever remember her short time with him. Atlantis would never forget him. How could she?
She had fallen in love, but Milo would not be there to catch her. Tears fell.
The linguist paused among his papers and sighed. He simply could not think straight, and he chuckled to himself, since he knew well why. Milo rested his elbow on the desk, supporting his chin with his hand as he remembered the previous day.
Milo paced along the ancient dock as he waited for her, a smitten smile on his face wider than a stone giant could express. He looked around, feeling he was truly in paradise. Of course, to him, anyplace she was would be heaven. The linguist had already told the others of his decision. He didn't care that it surprised them. Once he had dreamed about standing alongside his grandfather as one of the greatest explorers of all time. Milo did not care any longer what others thought as far as that went. He knew what he achieved, and he could not leave after tasting paradise. He'd follow Kida anywhere, and if she was in Atlantis, the place he had always dreamed of finding, he would not mind in the slightest. He would just be following his heart, as he always did. As long as she loved him, he felt he could do anything. Nothing would happen to him. The pains of the world had been healed by her touch, by her love. For the first time in his life, the lingering loneliness had gone away, the void filled.
Then it struck him. All his life he had searched for Atlantis. Kida, as queen, actually was Atlantis in a sense, even to the point of becoming one with what kept it alive to this day, what let it avoid the sleep of death. His dream had become real, and he would not walk away, planning to stay here and live it. He did not fear the changes about to occur in his life, but rather, embraced them.
Kida had walked on water. He would try it himself if that was what it took. His heart beat for her, thunder in his ears when he closed his eyes, a wonderful feeling filling him whenever he did so. He had never felt so free in his life, and he knew Kida must feel the same in that respect. The feeling within him was intense and glorious, and his grin was proof he could not hold it in.
Sure, they had come for treasure, simple money. He knew they had nothing. It was only something material. There was treasure in the wonder of love.
When Kida saw him standing there, her heart filled her with energy and elation, a feeling she knew could not last. She wanted him to stay forever with her, and she found herself praying so badly for it. She was desperate to stay with him, but she knew she could say nothing. He would want to return to his own home, and, as much as she wanted to, she knew it would be too much to ask him to forever leave it, as it would be too much for her to abandon her home. Kida thought about being blunt about it anyway, but doubted it would get her anywhere. She came to him, gently putting a hand on his shoulder.
Milo jumped at her touch, and whirled around awkwardly.
"I am sorry!"
He paused, just to look at her a second before speaking. "No, that's perfectly okay!" The scholar actually wished she'd touch him again. He just now realized how soft it had felt, how warm her hand was on his bare skin and even through the tank top. "Hey there, Kida."
"Hello…" He noticed her hesitation. "…Though I suppose this is no time to say 'hello.'"
Milo stood close to her. "Of course it is," he grinned.
"Our last time, then… You have done so much for all of us, Milo. You will never be forgotten."
He hummed a short chuckle. "Doesn't matter if I am. I know I just did the right thing. But this isn't our last time, Kida."
The scholar saw quite a change in her. She paused, lips parted and eyes widening. "What? Is this not… Goodbye?" The wind played with her white hair, serenely beautiful and strange at the same time.
"No. If you will permit me, your highness," he bowed slightly, but reverently, "I would love to immigrate here."
Kida was obviously struck speechless and awestruck.
"I haven't seen a depiction of paradise I liked better than here, Kida… May I?"
She bit her lip and tossed her arms around him. "Of course you can!" He felt bits of new moisture evaporate from his skin, and he held her tight. To feel her in his arms was bliss. "Please stay!"
He looked down at her, as she had buried her face in his shoulder. Milo smiled affectionately, and placed his head on hers.
She stared sleepily at the window, breaking her mind away from memory and was amazed at how bright it seemed. With realization her eyes grew wide, and she threw off the sheets, rushing to the window.
Kida, in her fatigue, had badly overslept. The Crystal had already lit the world well, and the streets were bustling with activity.
"YAHD-lu-goh-nikh, I have much to do! I wish to Decide today!" She threw off her nightgown, deciding she did not have time for the preparation needed to put on her royal robes and fix her hair for her crown. Kida had a lot to do before she could even consider her Decision.
Besides, her street clothes were more comfortable. She threw on her sarong, grabbed her anklets and armband, ran a quick comb through her layered white hair, and as she rushed out she tied her lovelock with leather.
When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she noticed a piece of parchment sitting on the throne. Curiosity overtaking her, she stepped toward it, picking it up with careful fingers. There was some word written on the front of it that she could not decider, but the blue tattoo markings made it clear it was for her. It had to be from Milo, since no one else could read or write Atlantean. Brushing the bangs from her face, she opened it.
Her face blossomed in smile as her heart melted, and she sat down a moment on the throne, laying back in complete bliss. The strange symbol in which their forms were inscribed she found somehow enchanting. To her it appeared as a shape made with sweet berry juice on the paper, the two lobes on top tapering down to a single point. She sighed, looking dreamy as her breath exuded her ecstasy into the air.
A determined look grew on her face. "Yes! The Decision will be made today." Gently she put the note back and pranced over the stepping-stones of the water garden, departing into the late morning.
The mid daylight had brought more than just the huntress. Every once in a while she would spot others exploring the new parts of the city. Not only was this exploration something she needed to do for her people, but she was thoroughly enjoying it. Kida hoped she could take Milo to explore later that night. Surely, she thought, he would love it.
Much of the risen ruins had been covered to some extent with sea mosses and weeds. Some explorers came just to harvest the rich bounty of corals exposed and dying in hopes to make jewelry and pieces of artwork.
The air smelled sweetly of the decay of water flora and the beginning growth of new plants. Kida inhaled, marveling at the scents as she climbed a moss-covered pillar.
To her surprise, the moss did not provide the foothold she expected, and she slid. A quick hand caught a crack in the stone support and kept her from falling. She looked around as she dangled, noting debris seemed to be obscuring what appeared to be a doorway to a building she had seen at a distance during her swims. Pulling herself back up, she descended safely to investigate. After a moment, she tried to move some of the rock as best she could, grunting, and created a short tunnel of sorts by sheer accident. She crawled under, narrowly avoiding hitting her head. Praying the door opened inward, she pushed hard, until the door finally slid with a great, grinding noise.
It was dark inside, and Kida wrinkled her nose at the old, slightly moldy smell. Holding up her crystal, she noticed shelves upon shelves as far as she could possibly see. Approaching, eyes wide, she noticed scrolls and books lining them, untouched for millennia.
She grabbed a book and opened it, running her fingers along words and letters she could not read. Instantly she thought of Milo, the outsider who came who could actually read her language.
"Judging that he is a scholar, he will love this." Kida smiled as she whispered, looking forward to his surprise.
Milo sighed, and then pulled out his watch. He did not know how long it would be before he forgot to wind it and his time was thrown off.
"Hmm, fifteen till six." The linguist peered out, noting the lava had already begun to recede. He picked up his scrolls of notes, his ink, and his pencil, and put them in a satchel. "Well, if the ring isn't ready, I could at least show her this tonight."
With the help of a Ketak, he sped off to the marketplace and the jeweler's. Milo burst into the shop, excited.
"Milo, there you are!" came the man's voice as he peered past a few customers.
"Is it ready?"
"I just finished."
"Great!" He noted the other customers smiling at his enthusiasm. His grin growing slightly sheepish, he pulled a pouch from the gold sash of his tunic. "I, um… I'm not familiar with Atlantean currency quite yet… I don't even know if I'm carrying enough with me."
"That is perfectly acceptable. We are not yet familiar with reading!" the shopkeeper joked.
"Well, um…" The scholar dumped the contents of the pouch into his hand and the jeweler looked it over. "Would this be enough?"
"…It should be." He held out his hand and Milo gave him the money. "It is just a little more than what you need… But for what you have done for our people…" He handed him back half the money.
"My gosh! No, no, you don't need to do that. That's too generous."
"It is the least I can personally do to thank you for what you have done. Please, take these at half price." The jeweler took his hand and put the rings in his palm, closing his fingers as a sign of insistence. "Besides, I seem to be doing especially well today. The new ring came easy for me."
Milo, in surprise, took his hand away and looked at the rings, making sure first Kida's, then his, were perfect.
"Are they satisfactory?"
"Oh, yes, yes! My gosh, thank you so much, sir! You will not regret this!"
The vendor laughed. "Why would I? And thank you for everything."
Milo smiled back half in enthusiasm and half in modesty as he turned. "Nah, it was nothing…" He heard something called after him, but he could not quite make it out. He slipped the coins and rings back into his pouch, which he put away. Looking down the street, his heart shot upward.
There was Kida, examining a pot of spices at a booth, sniffing a pinch of it between her fingers. He rushed over, watching as she paid for it.
Yet his mind still wondered as he thought of proposing to her immediately. Milo was sure she loved him, but it still seemed so quick.
As she turned in a hurried fashion, her eyes lit up. "Milo! It is nice to see you!" It was obvious what she said was an understatement from her expression.
"Exactly the same to you too, Kida. Exactly the same…" He paused a moment before he fished the pouch from his sash. "Kida? I have something very important to--"
The queen looked disappointed with herself, shifting the weight of the spice pot. "I am sorry, but I cannot talk, Milo. I am expected at an evening feast immediately."
"Oh… Well, um… That's okay. I guess it can wait if you really have to go…"
"Thank you. I want to hear it very much. When we speak later at the hideaway, and when you show me what you have discovered of our written language, I may have something very important to tell you."
"…Okay, then. Go eat, drink and be married. MERRY! Merry! Go… eat, drink… and be… merry." The linguist felt ready to slap himself for his slip.
He watched as Kida gave him an odd look, then one to slight concern and thought. After a second, she said, "Very well, then. I will see you later. Goodbye, Milo!"
She embraced him quickly before sprinting off, and Milo simply stood there grinning, feeling all-aglow from it.
Kida licked the corner of her mouth as she paced away from the gourdhouse. The food had been quite good, she was relieved they had been thrilled with the spice, and talking with friends had never ceased to be the highlight of her day.
Despite her good time, she still clutched her crystal anxiously.
"Does he feel the same way I do? I know he must, for his actions seem to indicate it. How he holds my hand… The note he left for me… Yet he has said nothing. Do these actions mean something different in his culture? Does an embrace only denote friendship to him?" She thoughtfully ran her fingers along her resized bracelet.
As she neared the tattoo parlor, she mused about one last thing. "At least no one will think ill of me." Out of the multitude of people she new in her home, she knew of no one who had been wed so quickly and had an unhappy marriage. Kida sighed, having one good thought to fall back on as she passed through the curtain.
Even if he did not love her, she did have a surprise for him in which she could take delight in his happiness. The amazingly preserved library would surely enthrall Milo.
"Hello, Kida, what brings you here tonight?" The tattooist was washing his hands, and a young girl was still grimacing from the pain of getting a tattoo on her arm.
"Hello, Neshak. Something very important, but first, do you plan on returning to the hunt?"
The man did not answer for a moment, taking the time to apply a salve, sparkling with crystal fragments, onto the girl's skin, and rubbing hard. "Now, do not wash this off for an hour, understood, Nisha?"
"Yes! Can I show Mother, now?"
"You know your way to the Opera House, yes?"
"Yes, she said she would be there!"
"Agreed, then. Take care, little one!"
"Bye!" The girl smiled up at Kida as she giggled her way out.
"Little Nisha… Now, to you Kida. No, I have no real plan to. As good as you have said I am, I prefer a quieter life. The fishermen are thriving now, since the recent cataclysm, and hunting I have heard is doing better as well. It is occurring so fast! If I am not needed, I would prefer not to, but if I am, I would be happy to help. Now… Why are you here at closing? What could be so important? You received your characteristics tattoo as a child, and you now have your rank tattoos for being queen…"
"I…" Her mind wandered slightly as she smiled.
"Ah, I see. You have made your Decision. It is Milo, is it not?"
"Yes, but… I do worry. I have not yet determined if he loves me. He seems to, but he has said nothing, nor has tried to kiss me. Is it possible his actions mean something different in his culture?"
The man shrugged. "Do you love him?"
"With all of my spirit!"
"Then do not fear, Kida. It will work out. After all, you must have some hope. Why else would you be here? More accurately, you must suspect he does."
Kida was silent a moment, a confirmation in itself. "…But is it too much to expect? I believe I see it reflected in his eyes, but I could well be my own desire to see it."
"No. Deep in your spirit you know what he feels. You are hesitant to jump to conclusions, but you know."
Kida paused, thoughtful, before finally speaking. "…Then let it be done."
"Where and which?" Grinning, Neshak pulled out sketches of various tattoos and variations.
Kida held up her left hand. "Our love need not be hidden by sleeve or sash. Let it be for all to always see, no matter the clothes."
"That sounds wise. Here." He handed the queen the sketches. "Which do you like?"
Kida shuffled through a few minutes before responding. "This one is nice, but… I like the streaks of that design rather than the angles of this."
"That is an interesting variation! You would like to replace the angles with the streaks so they come inward to the circle?"
"If that cane be done, yes!"
"One moment…" He took an ink trough, dipped it into a vial of blue ink, and sketched it on a new sheet. "An excellent idea. Not as sharp, but still bold… Sit down. I will be with you in a moment."
She did so, and after a few minutes Neshak returned with his tools. "Are you ready?"
"More than I will ever be."
The tattooist censed the back of her hand with numbing solutions, prepared the crystal needle, and then applied the ink to the back of Kida's hand. She cringed slightly as the needle penetrated her skin, a mixture of pain and relief as the instrument simultaneously healed. To repair the remaining skin damage, Neshak healed with his own crystal and applied the salve to her skin, relieving the pain to nothing but an itch, a reminder of the healing process.
After paying him and bidding her thanks, she walked to the hideout, her heart a mix of emotions. She kept one eye on her feet, the other on the back of her hand. Yet seeing the faces of others who noticed and recognized the mark warmed her heart more, especially when they playfully teased it was finally her time.