Beyond The Cage |★| Naminé & Stella

stellaceria:

{☆} — If she were to be honest, Stella did not know where to even begin to describe her situation, much less to a young girl such as Namine. Had she been aware of the calamities happening beyond her world despite being confined to these mansion walls? Yet she had undeniably hinted the slightest possibility of being acquainted to the person Stella sought. But now that she thought about it, it was through a strange hooded man that she even stumbled through the forest in the first place — alluding to a person deep in the woods who may be of help to the princess. It was then that the pieces had started to come together in her head…

                                                                       Had he been referring to Namine all along?  

However, the young blond’s innocent inquiry had triggered Stella to look back into her recollections of that dreadful day; the memory of her childhood friend, soon to be crowned as the future king, seizing her hand as they attempted to flee from legions of powerful Heartless that had occupied the palace. Their world had been caught unprepared by the sudden invasion, and the Heartless’ growing numbers easily overwhelmed the Royal Guard. In a last-ditch effort, the prince had made himself decoy to buy Stella precious time to escape, creating a portal leading back to the realm of a light — a skill she never imagined him possessing. Before the corridor came to a close, severing all connections to their world and to him forever, Stella had prayed — hoped that his conscience had been strong enough to resist the darkness from snaring his heart. She had made it her mission to bring him back from the realm of darkness ever since, even if it meant having to forfeit her own heart in the process.

Stella would do everything in her power to save him. And she had dire need of the Keyblade Master’s power to do so.

“…In grave danger. You see, I come from one of many worlds consumed by the darkness.” The maiden responded to Namine simply, staring contemplatively at folded hands before her. “Rumors have circulated of a boy able to liberate worlds from the Heartless utilizing a special key. I seek his aid in order to help restore my world and its denizens back to its former state.”

Before it was too late.

“I have been informed that he was last seen in this small town, however…“ Stella turned to face the younger blonde once again, a pleading countenance visible on her face as she spoke in a voice laced with sincerity. ”Should you have any information to his whereabouts, Namine, I would appreciate it wholeheartedly.”

         _{A case of losing one’s home world, she supposed, albeit it was not so simple and plain as that. There were many worlds that had been consumed by darkness, many tainted and pulled into a deep lull, full of heartless and without any sign of life that had been there before. That was what keyblade masters were generally for, as far as she could understand—purifying the worlds once more, bringing them back to their former prosperity without the burden of darkness and heartless.}

         _{It was difficult to tell just how long this young woman, Stella, had been looking for the young man who would be the supposed savior of her world, if it was not too late. Sora, in all of his heroism and for all of his selfless acts, would certainly jump at the chance to help her to the best of his abilities, and she knew that well. Even without the pleading and the clear desperation that was falling upon the woman, he would help her happily and without pause.}

                  _{For a moment, just a moment, she tried to place herself in the other blonde’s shoes. In her position, in her mind, to understand the deep desire to save her home, a desire strong enough to seek out a stranger who was rumored to be able to help her in her quest. While she was unable to fully understand and sympathize with the woman, there was still remnants of memories and feelings that laid deep within her, of her time in Castle Oblivion, the desperation that she felt. A different kind of desperation, a different kind of desire, but it would all cumulate into a similar thing, she supposed.}

                                                      _{And she had always been bad at lying anyways.}

         _{Absently rubbing her thumb along the swell of her hand, just beneath the base of her opposite thumb, she gazed at the practical stranger before her. Surely she meant no harm, and only sought aid, and there was no harm in telling her of Sora’s whereabouts—but the problem was truly that she had no idea. There were so many worlds that he could be in, and it was difficult to tell just where he had gone…}

                           _{”He was here,” she said, a gentle confirmation.}

                                             _{”But I don’t know of his whereabouts right now.”}