Winter Solstice Festival

[radiantwisdom]

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.

Then....

On the 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 carefully till 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 all. Once the lanterns have flown too high to be seen, the night sky explodes with a dazzling display of magnificent fireworks.
 

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, Children traditionally are permitted to curl up exhausted from the festivities in their parents' beds.

 

...and Now.

A just few days before the solstice, Tron has alerted the users of some recovered records in the 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, 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 and friends in other worlds, as well as extend a very special invitation to the princesses of heart.. 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?
 

 

Comments

[defrostedpride]

Even doesn't notice Ienzo at first; he's thoroughly absorbed in his work, and besides, it isn't his turn to mind the child. At least, he doesn't think it is, when he finally notices that he has familiar company. But he wouldn't put it past whoever's job it is to drop him off without Even's noticing and run off to enjoy aspects of the festival not appropriate for children (or just not interesting to Ienzo).

"Enjoying yourself?" he asks, looking over with half an eye as he shores up the foundation with the rest of his attention.

[radiantschemer]

Ienzo chews at his bun with a soft noise of assent, meticulous about keeping the sticky filling off his fingers and sleeves. No one really deposited him here... Ansem had looked away for a moment, jovially greeting some children in the street by the town bakery, and the boy had nipped pastry right off the cooling tray in the window and slipped away before his preoccupied guardian had given him much notice.

Master Ansem was easily distracted for a man called wise, and easier to give the slip than Even, who had the pealing, piercing kind of voice that would often stop him before he'd wandered off too far.

He looks the ice sculpture up and down with critical curiosity, wondering how difficult that sort of magic was, or if it were simple as wishing it into existence. If he really did have free reign over what to make of his holidays, Ienzo would have gone down to Merlin's house for some practical lessons with his own magic, but staying close to Even would get him in less trouble....tempting as it was to spend the morning transfigured into a squirrel. He'd been told there would be no studies today, they were all to take a well-deserved break.

"How do you do it?" He finally dares asking, well aware that he might get a very technical answer, and not minding that too much. It was better than feeling smothered in his youth, or having his cheeks pinched and gushed at by the strangers in town.

[defrostedpride]

A technical answer he is likely to have. Even enjoys explaining what he's doing, especially if it makes him sound brilliant.

"It's a variation on the ice magic used in combat," he begins his lecture, "only, obviously, much refined. Blizzard spells and similar are created to combine magical force, gesture, and intent in a specific, formulaic manner - much preferable in most combat situations, where time to think is at a premium." At least, so he's been told. He learned basic combat magic, but when would he ever have the need to use it? "However, there is no reason inherent to the theory why the ice should take that shape and that only; it's simply that the spell as it is taught produces that precise result. With more advanced study - you won't have started the theory necessary to back this yet - it is possible to customize spells and retain a great deal more fine control over the manifestation."

[radiantschemer]

Ienzo allows Even his babbling time, all the while carefully studying the half finished ice sculpt behind him, carefully tracing the shapes with his eyes and making silent note of the smooth surfaces.

After about halfway through it's apparent he isn't really listening, but crafting miniature castles in the air of his own, all ephemeral spires and immaterial imitations of geometric shapes, translucent like ice, but cast in paler shades of violet.

Merlin says he may yet find his own magical affinities in due time, as he is young, and his will still immature. But Ienzo doesn't have the patience to wait around for whatever element suits him, or until someone puts an advanced theory book in his hands and tells him it's time to begin learning at a higher level. He is powerful enough to please himself on cheap imitations.