Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light.
Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it.
They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts.
The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people's hearts.
It covered everything, and the world disappeared.
But small fragments of light survived... in the hearts of children.
With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world.
The true light sleeps deep within the darkness.
That's why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other.
But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open, and the true light return.
So listen, child.
Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you.
Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you.
Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away.
( Pretty much same as I put up last year, these are two different eras of prompts for open-play winter solstice scenes, based around canon lore and some of my own Radiant Garden holiday ideas. Feel free to jump in wherever you'd like, write your own starters, and link this post to your friends. Cross-canon visitors are especially welcome in the 'Now' scenario. Happy Solstice Day!)
(Then....)
Birth By Sleep Era, Pre-Heartless
On Winter Solstice, the day of shortest light and greatest darkness, the Kingdom of Radiant Garden celebrates the hope which seeds from little lights within the hearts of its children. The ancient legends are told again among families, and each child is given a floating lantern made of fragile paper, which they are to steward and carefully decorate until sunset, when the lamps are lit.
Once the sky is dark, children with their families parade to the outer ring of the city, where they hold their lanterns aloft and send them skyward, often with a silent wish. It is said that these purest of hearts hold the greatest power of them all, and the Solstice wishes are special ones.
Once the lanterns have flown too high to be seen, the night sky explodes with a dazzling display of magnificent fireworks, engineered by Cid and some of the guards, with a little bit of magical help from the wizard Merlin, who is never away on mysterious holiday during this particular festival.
After the ceremony, there is a great feast held at the castle, which opens its doors to everyone. The food is warming, with music and laughter shared among all to chase the darkness away and keep spirits lively and bright. Solidarity, hope and good cheer are the virtues of the evening, and the young are treasured as precious sources of light for tonight and the continuing tomorrow.
Although many try to stay up through the whole night to greet the sunrise, young children are traditionally permitted to curl up exhausted from the festivities in their parents' beds while the older generation takes over the watchful vigil.
...and Now.
(Post- Dream Drop Distance, Pre-KH3!)
A just few days before the annual solstice, Tron has alerted the users of some recovered records in the old database.
Pictures and personal journals of past midwinter festivals reawaken long-forgotten memories of the old traditions, and The
Hollow Bastion Radiant Garden Restoration Committee has unanimously decided to reinstate the holiday this year.
Although the Kingdom is still under construction and not as populated, everyone is excited to make the most of reviving an old custom... even Ansem's former apprentices, recently returned, who are sweeping away shadows and dust in the castle to prepare for a festive reception.
Luckily, there's just enough time to get the word out to the keybearers, friends and diplomatic retinue from other worlds, as well as extending a very special invitation to their estranged princess of heart, Kairi.
But will the looming threat of Xehanort's return and an invitation intercepted by one of Maleficent's minions turn the festival into a disaster?
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