Rainbow's POV

The halls of Aeatria's palace shimmered with the golden glow of the setting sun, casting intricate patterns along the marble floors. Soarin led me through a hallway I hadn't explored yet, his steps purposeful but calm.

"Where are we going?" I asked, trailing behind him.

He glanced back at me with a knowing smirk. "You'll see. Just trust me."

I rolled my eyes but kept following. When Soarin had that look on his face, it usually meant he was about to show me something extraordinary.

We stopped in front of a set of double doors, their frames carved with swirling designs of stars and vines. Soarin pressed his hand to the intricate engraving in the center, and with a faint hum, the doors slid open, revealing a room bathed in soft, iridescent light.

I stepped inside, and my breath hitched.

The room was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Glass cases lined the walls, each containing dazzling jewelry: necklaces that seemed to shimmer with captured moonlight, rings with gemstones so pure they looked alive, and bracelets that sparkled as if they held tiny stars. But none of them compared to the centerpiece of the room.

On a pedestal at the far end, encased in crystal-clear glass, was a crown.

It wasn't like the crowns I'd seen in books or movies. This one looked alive, as if it were crafted from the essence of Aeatria itself. Delicate silver vines twisted around a glowing blue gem at its center, the light pulsing faintly, like a heartbeat. Tiny gemstones, each a different color, sparkled along the edges, catching the light and casting rainbows across the room. It looks like this:

"Whoa..." I whispered, stepping closer.

Soarin moved beside me, his expression softening as he gazed at the crown. "This is the Crown of Aeatria. It's been passed down through generations, worn only by those the spirits deem worthy."

I tilted my head, studying the intricate craftsmanship. "It's beautiful. So... this is what I'll wear during the coronation?"

He nodded. "Yes. But it's not just for show." He gestured to the glass case. "This crown is enchanted. It recognizes its true ruler, and only they can wear it. That's why no one else is allowed to touch it except for you, me, and Queen Iduna."

I frowned, leaning in to inspect the glowing gem. "What happens if someone else tries?"

Soarin's lips curled into a wry smile. "Let's just say the crown has a way of... discouraging anyone who doesn't belong."

I raised an eyebrow. "Encouraging how?"

He chuckled. "Let's hope you never have to find out."

I couldn't help but laugh softly. "Sounds intense."

"It is," he agreed, his tone growing serious now. "But there's more. During the coronation, when the crown is placed on your head, something magical will happen."

I blinked, intrigued. "Magical? Like what?"

Soarin crossed his arms, a playful glint in his eye. "That's for you to find out. Let's just say the crown doesn't just sit there—it chooses to crown you. The spirits have their own way of making the moment unforgettable."

I then stared at the crown, my reflection barely visible in the glass. The weight of his words sank in, mingling with the growing nervousness I'd been feeling about the coronation.

"It's... a lot to take in," I admitted quietly.

The soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. Soarin glanced at me before calling out, "Come in."

The door creaked open, revealing one of the palace guards. His helmet gleamed under the light, but his stern expression softened as he spoke. "Pardon the interruption, Your highnesses, but there are a few children outside who are asking to meet with you."

I blinked in surprise. "Children?"

"Yes, Princess. They've been waiting eagerly in the garden," the guard explained, his tone warm.

Soarin turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "What do you think? Should we go see what's going on?"

I shrugged, already heading toward the door. "Of course! Let's not keep them waiting."

We followed the guard through the winding hallways of the palace until we stepped out into the sprawling garden. The moment we appeared, a chorus of excited giggles and shouts erupted from a small group of children gathered near the fountain.

"There they are!" a little girl cried, pointing at us.

A boy no older than seven bounded forward, his energy unmatched. "Princess Rainbow, can you come play with us?"

I exchanged a glance with Soarin, who was already smiling. "Play, huh?" he said, crouching to their level. "What kind of games are we talking about?"

"Tag!" one of the boys shouted.

"No, hide and seek!" argued another.

"Braiding hair!" a girl chimed in, clutching a small bundle of flowers in her hands.

I couldn't help but laugh at their enthusiasm. "Alright, alright, one thing at a time. Let's head over there," I said, gesturing toward a grassy patch surrounded by colorful flower beds.

The kids cheered as they led the way, their laughter filling the air. Soarin and I followed, and before long, we were immersed in their games.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✨ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✨ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✨

The boys immediately challenged Soarin to a game of tag, declaring him "it" without giving him a chance to argue. With an exaggerated groan, he sprinted after them, his long strides making the kids squeal as they scattered in every direction.

Meanwhile, a few of the girls surrounded me, their eyes wide with excitement.

"Can we braid your hair, Princess Rainbow?" one of them asked shyly, holding up a comb and ribbons.

I knelt down, smiling. "Sure. Just go easy on me—I'm not used to this stuff."

They giggled and set to work, their tiny fingers surprisingly nimble as they twisted and wove my hair into intricate braids. The comb occasionally tugged, making me wince, but their excitement was infectious.

As they worked, I caught Soarin out of the corner of my eye. He had two boys clinging to his back while another tried to tickle him into submission. His laughter was rich and genuine, and I found myself smiling without even realizing it.

"Done!" one of the girls announced, stepping back to admire her work.

Another girl tilted her head thoughtfully. "Wait, it's missing something." She darted toward a flower bed, plucking a handful of blooms before returning. "Here! Let's add these." This is what she looks like:

I sat patiently as they tucked the flowers into my braids, their chatter lively and innocent. When they finally stepped back again, Soarin strolled over, brushing dirt off his sleeves.

His eyes widened slightly when he saw me. "Wow."

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You should probably keep it like that," he said, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You look good."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool. "It's just flowers and braids, Soarin. No big deal."

"Uh-huh." His teasing tone didn't help, and I found myself looking away, suddenly very interested in the grass.

Before I could respond, one of the boys ran up to Soarin, waving a stick. "King Soarin! Will you joust (Not the slang one) with me?"

"Joust?" Soarin echoed, pretending to consider it. "Alright, but only if you promise not to go easy on me."

The boy grinned, already gearing up for the "battle."

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✨ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✨ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✨

As the games continued, the sky above began to darken, and a cool breeze rustled the trees. I barely had time to look up before the first raindrop landed on my cheek.

"Uh-oh," Soarin said, glancing at the sky.

Within seconds, the drizzle turned into a steady shower. The kids squealed, scattering in every direction—but not to seek shelter. Instead, they leaped into puddles, laughing as the rain soaked their clothes.

I looked at Soarin, and he shrugged. "Guess we're playing in the rain now."

I laughed, throwing my arms out and tilting my head back to feel the cool drops on my face. The kids ran circles around us, their energy unstoppable. One of the girls grabbed my hand, pulling me toward a puddle.

"Come on, Princess Rainbow! Jump with me!"

I didn't need convincing. With a laugh, I jumped into the puddle, water splashing everywhere. The girl giggled, and soon the rest of the kids joined in, creating a symphony of laughter and splashes.

Soarin, not to be outdone, slid into the biggest puddle he could find, sending a wave of water cascading over everyone.

"Soarin!" I shouted, trying to sound mad but failing miserably as I burst into laughter.

"You're welcome!" he called back, grinning like a kid himself. I couldn't help but steal a glance at Soarin as he stood there, drenched from head to toe. His hair clung to his forehead, droplets of water dripping down his sharp jawline and along his strong shoulders. The rain-soaked fabric of his shirt clung to his chest, outlining his toned muscles in a way that made her heart race, even in the midst of all the chaos. There was something about how carefree he looked, standing there with that irresistible grin, his eyes sparkling despite being drenched. He looked effortlessly cool, even sexy, in a way that made me breath catch. I couldn't deny it—Soarin, soaking wet, somehow made the whole mess look downright charming...

"If you're done checking me out, we can continue to play," Soarin said with a playful smirk, wiping the rainwater from his face.

"I was not checking you out," I said, crossing my arms, trying to sound confident despite my flushed face. I quickly turned my attention to the kids, hoping to distract myself from the teasing.

Soarin raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Oh, really?" he said, his grin widening. "Because you looked like you were really... observing every detail."

"I was just—" I started, but a girl nearby interrupted.

"Ooooooo! Princess Rainbow loves King Soarin!" she teased, laughing with the others.

"I don't!!" I exclaimed, my face now a deep shade of red. "Let's just continue to play!" I said, desperate to change the subject and avoid further teasing.

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By the time the rain began to let up, we were all soaked and muddy, but no one seemed to care. The kids collapsed onto the grass, their laughter slowly fading into contented giggles.

I sat down beside them, wringing water out of my hair—carefully avoiding the flowers still woven into it. Soarin flopped onto the ground next to me, his hair plastered to his forehead.

"That was fun," he said, his voice light.

"Yeah," I agreed, smiling as I watched the kids chatter amongst themselves. "It really was."

One of the boys crawled over, his muddy hands reaching for Soarin's arm. "King Soarin, can we do this again tomorrow?"

Soarin chuckled, ruffling the boy's wet hair. "We'll see. But you've got to promise to behave yourselves, alright?"

The boy nodded solemnly, then turned to me. "Princess Rainbow, will you come too?"

I nodded, ruffling his hair in return. "Of course. But only if you promise not to get me this muddy next time."

He giggled and ran off to join the others, leaving Soarin and me alone for a moment.

"Looks like you've got some fans," Soarin teased, nudging me with his shoulder.

"Yeah, well, you're not doing so bad yourself," I shot back, grinning.

We sat there for a while longer, watching the kids play as the clouds began to clear. And for the first time in a long while, I felt completely at peace. The rain continued to fall, soaking us all, but there was something comforting about it—something carefree. I could hear the laughter of the kids as they played, but there was also an odd stillness in the moment. And then, I felt it—Soarin's eyes on me.

I turned toward him, wondering why his gaze felt different today, and then he spoke.

"You know, you're really beautiful," Soarin said, his voice soft but sincere.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, wow. I did not know that." I had never been told that before, and for some strange reason, hearing it from Soarin made my heart flutter in a way I couldn't explain.

"No, truly," he continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone as he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed against my skin lightly, sending a jolt of warmth through me.

We sat there, just staring at each other. My breath caught in my throat as I realized how close he was now. The world around us seemed to fade, and all I could focus on was the feeling of his presence, the look in his eyes that I couldn't quite interpret. I felt him inching closer to my face, and I was frozen, unsure of what to do. My heart was pounding in my chest.

And then—

"OH COME ON JUST KISS!!" a little girl suddenly yelled, interrupting the moment.

"KISS?!!!" Soarin and I both screamed in unison, our faces going bright red with embarrassment.

The girl giggled, her hands on her hips. "You two are so obvious!"

We both burst out laughing, trying to mask how flustered we were. Soarin wiped his eyes, still chuckling, and I could barely keep my composure. I looked at him, still grinning.