A Tale of Three Princesses

Written by Chiharu Tanaka

A/n: The title is subject to change, because it's pretty crappy and straight to the point. However, I hope that you enjoy this little bugger that won't get off my mind these past few days! The story will be simple, with not too much drama, some magic (it is a fairytale), friendship, family togetherness, and romance.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts nor Disney. They belong to Square-Enix and Disney.

Prologue

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, stood a castle that faced the blue ocean over a small cliff. Waves occasionally crashed the beach that was just a short walk away from a small gate connecting it to the castle. The gate was located at the walls of the castle's interior garden, filled with roses, daises and lilies of every kind; which served as quite the delight to the eyes with its myriad of colours surrounding the spacious, well-kept area. A simple, white-domed gazebo at the centre was a place where one could just sit and watch the tranquillity of the gardens. Following a white stone-paved road, it would show the way to the large doors leading to the main building of the castle itself.

Within that large, multiple-towered building made of bricks of the finest quality, there lived a king and his three princesses. King Ansem was loved by his subjects, as he was wise in matters of the world and the kingdom, but kind-hearted as always cared for the well-being of his people. People of this small, but prosperous kingdom of Destin led happy, enriched lives thanks to their ruler, with most of them working as fishermen, farmers or merchants, even sailors who bring the goods of their fertile land and seas across the oceans to other countries.

The King was a man well into his fifties, with slicked back long blond hair and blood-red eyes that always instilled friend and foe alike with awe, reflecting his years and years of experience. His wife was the late Queen Marina, who had passed away just ten years before this tale began. She left the kingdom with three beautiful daughters; the three princesses of Destin that were the king's pride and joy.

The eldest princess was nineteen years of age, and her name was Naminé. She had blond hair just like her father, which she left cascading over her right shoulder, and the same bright blue eyes that her mother possessed. Her attire was always elegant and always white or a pale pastel shade. She was the most shy and demure of the three princesses, rarely speaking much and always following as she was ordered to. She found great pleasure in drawing and painting, one of the passions and talent that she inherited from her mother. Princess Naminé also frequently visited the people, trying to get along with them as well as her shy self possibly could. Her chamber was at the west tower, where the entire room was white in colour, as most of her furniture was, together with the many paintings and sketches she hung on the stark walls.

The middle princess was seventeen years of age, and her name was Kairi. She was the daughter that resembled their mother the most, because of her shoulder-length wine-red hair and the same blue eyes as Queen Marina's. She also resembled the late Queen because of her outgoing, spirited attitude, and she is often rebellious against the King. Princess Kairi would dress as vivaciously and prettily as she can, because she loved beautiful clothes, fashionable shoes and glittery jewelleries. Most people agree that she was the most attractive and extroverted of the three princesses, willing to debate with her father in a variety of matters ranging from the clothes she wore to the right for her to skip etiquette class. Her chamber was at the north tower, where the entire room was decorated with a cherry pink wall and velvety red sofas, sheets and mahogany tables, including her large closet and dressing table.

The youngest princess was fifteen years of age, and her name was Xion. She had short raven black hair, from her maternal grandfather, and the blue eyes that was the same shade as her sisters' and her mother's. She was the brightest and most composed of the three princesses, speaking only after giving much thought and although caring, never wants to show it. Because of her boyish look and attitude, her attire usually consists of simple, no-frills-or-laces dresses that always have the colour black in them. Even though she only spent time with her mother until she was five, Xion shared her mother's love for the sea, particularly in collecting seashells. Her favourite room in the castle was its library, which was filled with books about the outside world, and she was the one who most frequently visits the beach near the castle. Her chamber was located at the east tower, where her entire room was painted a sea blue, decorated with many of the large and small seashells she and her mother had collected over the years.

Our tale begins when the kingdom of Destin was under threat from the enemy empire of Vide and their cruel leader, Xemnas and his massive army of demons. Rumours have spread far and wide about how this cruel man started his reign of terror by summoning demons of the Darkness to do his bidding, claiming the many lands of which he did not own and became his from the conquering of these small countries. A messenger was sent by ship to their neighbouring land further northeast, the kingdom of Radieux; a country three to four times bigger than Destin in size, manpower and development. Radieux was approaching the industrial stage, and received many goods from the small fertile country. The southern border of their kingdom was connected to Destin by a few large hills, which was why the sea route was opted instead.

The messenger returned a few months later with a letter from the King of Radieux, Cecil, suggesting an idea which was to unite the two kingdoms to become one large nation that would surely be strong enough to fend off the Vide Empire, and ensure peace to their people. King Ansem asked his advisor whether this was a good idea. The frail old man gave the reasoning that the king was getting older and he had no sons who could ascend to the throne after him and that the kingdom of Radieux was very influential and powerful. In the end, the wise old King decided to go ahead with the plan to marry one of his daughters to the Radieux royal family – of which Ansem remembered that King Cecil and Queen Rosa only had one son.

Now, the question that troubled his wise old mind was – which daughter will be the one to marry the Prince of Radieux?

To be continued…

A/n: Okay! I hope that was quite the opening. Stay tuned to see the continuation! Read & review, thanks!

[EDIT 03 June 2010] I'm finding difficulties in writing the story, so I'm changing a few things. The story will retain the Namiku pairing, but I cannot assure you for the rest. Forgive me for putting up the whole voting system in the first place.

Also, there will be no OCs, except for those absolutely necessary minor characters (like Marina).

Destin, Vide and Radieux are French for Destiny, Void and Radiant – taken from the appropriate worlds from the game. (I don't speak French, so forgive me if I got it wrong).