Disclaimer: KH is the property of Square-Enix and Disney.

This plot seems to be a rite of passage in so many anime and manga I have watched and read over the years. Plus with FFVII's history of a cross-dressing lead character I couldn't resist!

Special dedication to Koorino Megumi and Thymine because they both helped inspire me :D

This is for my fanfic100 challenge word 88 - School

Sora's got the lead role in the school play. Shame the lead is a princess… And guess who's playing the prince…

The Play

Kairi grinned. In return she received a look that could have killed.

Sora sat behind his classroom desk, arms crossed firmly over his chest. "I'm not doing it."

"Yes you are."

"I am not!"

"It's too late to back out now! This play is one of the biggest events of the Destiny Islands festival. You can't let everyone down. I know you're a lazy bum but that's just cruel!"

Sora's head thudded onto the desk. "Kairi!"

"Don't whinge!" She giggled remorselessly. "It'll be fun! And you'll look so cute in the costumes I'm designing."

He glared at her. "I don't know how you did it but you got me into this mess."

"I did not! It was totally fair and square! Your name came out the hat. That's that. You signed up to do the play anyway!"

"Yeah but not so I could be a girl's character!"

Kairi planted her hands on her hips and made a face. "Don't be so sexist!"

"What's sexist about me, a guy, not wanting to be a girl?"

Kairi just ignored him, sighing merrily and spinning around on her toes. "The play is going to be so great! It's one of my favourite stories too!"

"Oh. Right. Yeah. Uh…."

"You know! The one about the princess who has the power to see the future in her dreams." She gave an exasperated sigh when Sora continued to look blank. "Everything is fine until the day she dreams of the one she loves, the prince from the neighbouring country, being killed in battle. She tries to stop him but he won't listen. He refuses to believe her. She disguises herself to save him but she arrives too late. At the end he dies and she's left alone forever. She cries until the gods take pity and take her life as well."

Sora waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah I remember that one. You used to make us play it all the time. It was better when you were the princess." Sora sighed. "So, who is the prince anyway?"

"Ah…"

Kairi's silence and sudden fascination with her hands was not sitting well with Sora. He looked around the room, wincing when he noticed Tidus grinning manically at a group of other students and swinging a sword. "Don't tell me its Tidus!"

"No..."

That was a relief… Sora continued looking until his eyes fell upon another likely target. "Wakka?"

"No he's gonna be the princess' father."

Sora somehow managed to look even grimmer. "... Selphie?"

Kairi snorted. "As if she'd ever dress like a boy!"

"You're making me dress like a girl!"

"So? You're not Selphie. Have you ever seen Selphie when she's made to do something she doesn't like?" Kairi shuddered at the thought. "Besides most the girls aren't acting. We're doing all the other stuff. You're not the only one playing a girl. Tidus is as well – he's the princess' mother."

"But…" Sora pointed to where Tidus was still running around with the sword.

"Oh yeah well no one's told him yet. He reckons he's gonna be the leader of the prince's enemies. Riku and Wakka have the only male characters. The bad guys are being played by girls."

Sora groaned, his eyes still travelling the room. And then it clicked.

"No. No. WAY."

Kairi giggled nervously, holding her hands behind her back and rocking on her feet. "Yeah."

Riku spotted the pair and walked over. "Your knight in shining armour," he said to Sora with a bow. He smirked. "Mi'lady."

Sora let out a wail. "I won't do it!"

But he did. He took the script home and began learning his lines, much to his mother's amusement. She offered to help him learn his dialogue but he refused every time, blushing furiously.

He came home from school one day and found his mother flicking through the script. He grabbed it. "Mom!"

"Oh Sora it's all right! It's very romantic isn't it?"

"…Yes. Very."

"If you're the princess who's playing the prince?"

It took her all night to get the truth out her son.

---

Two weeks later and Sora knew everything he had to say off by heart. The group of students involved in the production had been practising after school and today was the penultimate rehearsal. In just two days the festival would open and the play would be performed to all the islanders. Thinking about it made Sora's stomach turn in knots.

"Are you ready?" Riku asked, bringing him back to the present.

"No."

This scene was meant to be the most tragic in the play – the scene when the prince and princess said goodbye to each other for the last time. After they had gone through it to the director's liking there would be the dreaded costume fitting. For now though Sora had to make it through the dramatic scene without melting into the floor… or at least wishing that would happen.

"Sora would you relax?"

He laughed nervously. "That's easy for you to say Riku." Sora shifted a little in Riku's arms. "This is so weird."

"It'll be over soon. Let's just get on with it."

Sora smiled nervously. "Aren't I usually the optimistic one?"

The play's director, a senior called Ruby, clapped her hands together. "Okay ya'll let's get goin' darlin's! Sora, Riku this scene is the most important. Ya gotta put everythin' ya got into it!"

Sora let out a long suffering sigh before relaxing as best he could when his best friend had one hand placed in the small of his back and the other placed against his cheek.

"Princess I know it is hard for you to understand but I must leave. My country needs me to fight. I cannot let my people down."

Ignoring his urge to gulp Sora reached up for Riku's hand. "But you mustn't! I saw it in a dream. If you leave you'll…"

"That doesn't matter! The future hasn't been decided. All that matters is now, this moment. I have to go. I cannot stay."

Here was the line Sora always struggled with but today he was determined, embarrassing as it was, to get it right. Normally his tongue refused to budge and he stumbled over every word. But not today. "Is my love not enough for you? Do you still have to leave?"

"You know how much I love you. But," Riku stepped away. "I must leave. I will never allow the enemy to destroy my country. I can't let them harm these lands either. So I will go."

Sora turned away. "You're just leaving because you're bored. You always were, weren't you? I know how much you wish to see the rest of the world. In all our talks I knew where your heart really belonged." He took a few steps towards the front of the stage. He looked down at the wooden slates, imagining that he was, in fact, standing in a beautiful rose garden as the script dictated. "I will wait. There's nothing else I can do, is there? I know the truth but you won't listen…"

"It isn't possible for us to see the future. We're human! That power belongs only to the gods."

Sora laughed, remembering to sound bitter as Ruby always directed. "I suppose that makes me a god."

"You shouldn't blaspheme princess." Riku turned to exit the stage. "I shall see you soon." He began walking away.

"No wait!" Sora ran to his side and grabbed his arm. "I'm begging you! Don't…"

Riku shrugged himself free. "If you love me you'll let me go."

Sora's hand fell. Riku left the stage.

Ruby burst into applause. "That was perfect!" she declared. "Beautiful! Well I guess ya'll better go see the costume people." And with that she called out the names of the people she wanted on stage. "Time to get our fight scenes perfect!"

Sora slowly followed Riku who led the way to the classroom where the costumes were being prepared. Kairi stood at the door waiting for them. She waved them in and directed Riku over to where Selphie stood, a pile of clothes held in her arms. Meanwhile Sora's eyes had already found his outfit. He tried to escape but the school's best female fighters – Beatrix and Quistis – were blocking the classroom's only door.

"Come on Sora," Kairi said, tugging him towards the dress. "It's not difficult."

The closer he got the more he dreaded it. It looked so complicated. He had no idea how to get it on and even less of a notion as to how he would move in it. The top half was a long-sleeved bodice, white with red ribbons tying it tight around the back and decorating the baggy sleeves. The skirt was short at the front. It would probably only reach his knees. The back however hit the floor, a mass of cream and crimson fabrics that swished quietly. His feet were to be clad in slippers with yet more ribbons trailing from them to tie up his legs.

Sora slumped, knowing he was doomed to put the ensemble on. "How am I gonna wear all that?"

Kairi looked devious. "Take your uniform off and I'll show you."

"Here?" Sora's eyes widened as he took a quick headcount and noted the six girls in the room. "No way! Not happening!"

"Oh all right." Kairi carefully lifted the dress off the mannequin. She made Sora carry his shoes. "We'll go to the changing rooms."

Once there Sora did as he was told and Kairi helped him pull the dress over his head. She helped him slide his arms into the sleeves and then zipped the dress closed and tied the various ribbons. He sat on a bench and watched as Kairi patiently wrapped the slippers' ribbons up to his knees were she tied them into bows at the backs of his legs. When he was dressed Sora looked at himself in the mirror, looking as though he'd abandoned all hope of ever holding his fragile ego in one piece.

"It's perfect!" Kairi said happily.

"So long ego," Sora mourned. "It was nice knowing you."

"Okay now walk around a little. I need to see how the skirts move."

Sora managed to walk two steps before he stepped on the dress' train, got tangled in the skirt and hit the ground. Kairi was in hysterics, clutching a nearby wall to stay standing.

Grimacing, Sora pummelled the floor with his fists. "Why?" He demanded the smooth, chequered ground. "Why won't you swallow me?"

Kairi eventually recovered from her outburst and helped Sora back to his feet. After teaching him the basics of staying on one's feet while in a skirt she began to ponder over something else.

"Don't look at me like that," Sora muttered.

"What can I do with your hair?"

His hands flew up to his head. "Nothing! Leave it alone!"

"You can't be a princess looking like that!"

"I don't want to be a princess!"

Kairi pulled his hands off his head. "I suppose I could try…gravity."

"Huh?"

She tugged his hair down but as soon as she released it the brown mess sprung back into shape. "No that's not going to work… Oh well. I suppose your hair's already quite long." She walked around him in a speculative circle. "Hm I wonder…" She took his hand and led him back to the main costume room.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at Sora. The girls were all clapping and labelling him 'cute', 'adorable' and other assorted pet names. Riku, dressed in a black and navy blue regal suit accompanied by a sash adorned with a royal insignia Selphie had designed, looked as though he was in pain from the effort of not guffawing. Tidus, who was also in a dress and was having his hair dyed grey, gave Sora a sympathetic nod. Wakka was chuckling. Sora figured Wakka had probably laughed the biggest laughs at Tidus. The other boys in the room, those playing ladies-in-waiting and soldiers, had joined the opposing sides – those sympathetic to Sora's state and those who thought it was hilarious.

Kairi sat Sora down and began attacking his hair with a brush. It was hard work getting Sora's hair to do what she wanted it to do. She brought it under control with the aid of hair ties. Sora watched Kairi's progress in the mirror, feeling every last drop of his pride withering away. The majority of his hair was soon restrained in two bunches at the back of his head. She kept the longer of his bangs back with a thick velvet headband that was red and patterned with white flower designs. Only the bangs that fell over his forehead remained free of Kairi's hair regime.

Ruby came in not too long after Kairi had finished. "All right ever'one! We are gonna have a final run-through tonight in full costume. Tomorrow night the teacher's are gonna be watchin' so we ain't leavin' tonight 'til I'm certain it's perfect." She spun around and flounced off, arms swinging by her sides as though she were about to break into dance.

Riku appeared by Sora's side. He held out an arm. "Are you ready mi'lady?"

Sora groaned and accepted Riku's help, figuring he was less likely to trip over if he had someone to hold on to.

"Have I told you…" Riku paused to bring his massive smirk back under control. "Have I told you, princess, that you look beautiful tonight?"

"Shut it Riku," Sora hissed.

Kairi giggled from behind. "Oh Sora Riku's only practising his lines."

"I. Don't. Care."

Riku melodramatically waved his free arm, holding his hand to his head as if in a swoon. "Oh my dear princess!" He moaned. "Your love has forsaken me! I was a fool to ignore you!" And here he fell to his knees and grabbed Sora's legs. "Forgive me!"

"Riku!"

"That's what I wanna see!" Ruby's voice boomed from up ahead. "Emotion! Passion!"

"Yeah Riku, you're a great actor," Kairi said. "You should join a troupe."

"Yeah, one in an asylum," Sora muttered.

Riku ignored him, laughing as he stood up. "Maybe it's my calling in life." He turned to Sora. "You really do make a good girl."

Riku just about dodged the punch. He grinned at Sora before walking off to join up with Wakka. The older pair headed off, laughing at their friends' misfortune. Tidus came to stand by Sora's side. "I feel your pain man."

"You really don't."

Luckily for Sora the night's rehearsal went off without a hitch, as did the final dress rehearsal in front of the teachers the next day. Sora's form tutor Mr. Ito seemed especially amused to see his strangest student in full female costume, leaving said student contemplating how he could get out of the rest of the year's schooling and thereby avoid the man entirely.

Before Sora was emotionally ready (a readiness that would probably take years to achieve) it was the night of the play. He and all the other actors and actresses were already in costume and he was seated under Kairi's hairstyling hands for the last time. They were all gathered at Destiny Islands' large outdoor amphitheatre and despite being in one of the backstage rooms the noise of the crowd was still fantastic.

Sora was glad he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.

"Two minutes ya'll!" Ruby announced, rushing through with her clipboard and pencil. "Places! Places!"

"The stage will eat me," Sora muttered as Kairi finished up. "The stage will eat me and I'll wake up and all of this would've just been a nightmare."

Kairi gave his hand a squeeze. "I think you're brave. Don't worry, it'll go fine."

"Yeah I know. But I'm never gonna live this down," Sora replied morosely.

She pushed him towards the stage. "You'll be all right. Good luck! Break a… um, just good luck!"

He managed a tiny, nervous smile. "Thanks Kairi for all your help. I'll do my best."

Sora stepped onto the stage, the thick curtain still blocking the audience from view. He laid down on the bed that was waiting for him and took a few steadying breaths. And then the curtain was up and the lights were blaring down on him from above.

The play had begun.

Sora let out a scream (an easy thing to do despite the fact his voice had recently started to break) and jerked upright on the bed. "What a terrible dream!"

The play was off to a good start. Tidus was the next on stage.

"My dear child!" he cried, hurrying to where Sora sat on the bed. "I heard your cries. Whatever's the matter?"

"Mother I had a terrible dream." Sora hugged Tidus. "The one I love the most was taken from me."

"Princess fear not, it was just a dream."

"No. You know it wasn't."

"I…"

Sora pulled out of Tidus' arms and stood up. He walked across the stage a little way, so focused on what he had to do that he didn't notice the flashes of cameras from the crowd. "I must see him, I must see the prince. Father!" He called out. "Father hurry!"

Wakka came bustling on the stage, crown on his head and fake beard clinging to his face. "Princess whatever's the matter?"

"You must call for the prince immediately! I have to speak with him. It's terribly important that I…"

"Don't worry! He is already on his way. His father is sending him as an emissary. Our two great nations are allied against the land of our enemy." Wakka walked downstage. "A great battle approaches, a battle that will decide who finally wins."

"But father…!"

"Ah worry not my dearest ones." Wakka returned to Sora and Tidus. "These things need not concern beautiful women." He held out his hands and the other two took them. "Let us go to breakfast."

The scene changed and Riku stepped onto the stage accompanied by his soldiers. They discussed the war but it wasn't long before the soldiers were teasing the prince about his love for the other nation's princess.

"I've seen the way you look at her!" Soldier One laughed. "The blushing and the nervous eyes."

"Young love is funny," commented Soldier Two.

"And she looks at you exactly the same," Soldier Three went on. "This time you'll both have to tell each other."

"Yes," Soldier One agreed. "You should tell her before you go off to war and become a great hero."

"After that there's no way she'd turn you down!" Soldier Two promised.

Riku looked upwards. "Yes, you are right. This time I will tell the princess how I feel."

There was another scene change. Various royal officials introduced the guests to the king Wakka, the queen Tidus and, of course, the princess Sora. Soon Riku and Sora were the only ones left on stage.

"Prince…"

"Princess there is something I must share with you!"

Sora held his hands to his chest. "Yes?"

Riku stepped up to him, took his hands and went down on one knee. "Princess I am in love with you."

There was a collective 'aw' from the audience. The crowd's reaction made Sora blush hotly but thankfully it was perfect for the scene.

"Prince." Sora very carefully crouched down as well. "I love you as well."

The lights dimmed as the pair embraced. The next few scenes marked the passing of time with the prince and princess enjoying time together but interspersing that with scenes of warfare and strategic planning. Eventually the play arrived at the farewell scene.

Riku and Sora stood back to back on stage. Riku was looking upwards stoically; a sword held in his hands while Sora's saddened eyes remained on the ground. Some of his stubborn hair had worked itself free of Kairi's best efforts but, like his earlier blushing, the hair that hid his face only added to the emotion of the scene. Backstage Kairi had to repeatedly keep Ruby quiet because the director was constantly squealing jubilantly. It was all going so well!

Riku began saying his lines. "Princess, I cannot stay any longer. Our time has been brief but perfect. I hate to leave but I must."

"We spent too many years denying our true feelings," Sora replied. "And now I stand to lose you forever."

Riku turned. "What do you mean?"

Sora faced Riku. "I had a dream. A terrible dream. I saw you die."

Riku laughed. "A silly dream has you worried? Princess surely you know I am an able warrior." He stepped up to Sora and pulled him into his arms. "I'll not die so easily."

"But you will!" Sora cried out, resting his head on Riku's shoulder. "You will die. I know what I saw. The truth always lies in my dreams."

Riku lifted a hand to Sora's cheek. "Princess I know it is hard for you to understand but I must leave. My country needs me to fight. I cannot let my people down."

"But you mustn't! I saw it in a dream!" Sora paused for a moment. He made himself imagine all the pain he would feel if the people most important in his life went away. It was surprisingly powerful. Sora's breath shuddered out of him. His face fell. "If you leave you'll…"

"That doesn't matter!" Riku snapped. "The future hasn't been decided. All that matters is now, this moment. I have to go. I cannot stay."

Sora pulled back a little, meeting Riku's eyes with an intent resolve. He wasn't going to ruin the play. He opened his mouth and the words came out without his cheeks flaming. "Is my love not enough for you? Do you still have to leave?"

"You know how much I love you. But I must leave. I will never allow the enemy to destroy my country. I can't let them harm these lands either. So I will go."

Free from Riku's arms Sora turned away. "You're just leaving because you're bored. You always were, weren't you? In all our talks I knew where your heart really belonged. I know how much you wish to see the rest of the world." Sora stood centre stage, gazing up at the stars in the night sky. He took a deep breath and nodded to the heavens. "I will wait. There's nothing else I can do, is there? I know the truth but you won't listen…"

"It isn't possible for us to see the future. We're human! That power belongs only to the gods."

Sora laughed bitterly and looked over his shoulder to Riku. "I suppose that makes me a god."

"You shouldn't blaspheme princess." Riku turned to leave. "I shall see you soon." He began walking away.

"No wait!" Sora ran to his side and grabbed his arm. "I'm begging you! Don't…"

Riku shrugged himself free. "If you love me you'll let me go."

Sora's hand fell. Riku left the stage. Sora returned to the centre where he fell to ground and hid his head in his arms.

"Why?" he cried out. "Why won't the one I love believe me? Why can't he accept my words as truth?" He pushed himself up and thumped the stage (this time without the silent wish for the floor to swallow him). "I cannot live without him but I cannot leave this castle and save him!" Sora pushed himself up. "Why am I being so foolish? The princess might not be able to leave but a normal girl could. I know what I must do! I shall disguise myself and follow him. Somehow I will save him!"

Sora hurried off stage and the lights faded to black, coming back up onto a fight scene between Riku and Beatrix, the leader of the enemy army. Both had been quickly covered with various splotches of fake blood and all around them lay the bodies of their comrades. Beatrix somersaulted over Riku and moved as if to slash his back. He stumbled, his sword clattering to the ground. Then Beatrix stabbed him in the back, her sword retracting inside itself to look as though it had gone into Riku's body. She pulled it back and the sword regained it's full length. Riku fell to the ground, apparently dead.

"I have triumphed this day for the land of Alexandria!" Beatrix proclaimed, raising her sword over her head. "These kingdoms now belong to Queen Garnet!"

She left the stage just as Sora came on. His new outfit had only been completed the morning of the play. It was far simpler than his other – a knee-length brown sailor-style dress complete with a white collar, red tie, ankle high white socks and black buckled shoes. The hair band and ribbons were gone as well, simple ties keeping his hair appropriately feminine. He saw Riku and fell to his knees by his side.

"Prince? Prince! Answer me!"

Riku looked up weakly. "Princess. Forgive me. You were right. I…I am…I love…" He died with a drawn out, rattling gasp.

"No! No!" And Sora threw himself over Riku's body, pretending to cry loudly.

From the audience came the sounds of sobbing. Backstage students were grinning at each other broadly. If the audience were so affected that meant the play was a hit! Ruby looked like she was ready to faint from joy.

Meanwhile on stage the final scene was behind played out. Behind Sora stood three female students, Celes, Rinoa and Quistis, all dressed in white. They were the goddesses who had come to take the princess' life.

"Do not cry princess," Celes said. "Be at ease."

"How?" Sora demanded. "How can I rest when the one I love is gone?"

"Will there not be another you can love more?" Rinoa asked.

"Never!"

"Then allow us to ease your pain," Quistis said. "We will take your soul off this world. After that you will never know pain again."

"But you will be dead," Rinoa warned.

"And never will you return to this life," Celes added.

Sora nodded, clutching Riku's limp hand. "I will die. Only then will the pain be gone. I cannot live without him."

Bright light flashed on the stage. Sora slumped over Riku's body, also dead. The curtain fell.

Applause boomed out from the amphitheatre. Fireworks began exploding in the skies as they always did at the end of the festival's opening play. When the curtain went back up Sora and Riku took the first bow. Roses were thrown up on stage and Sora meekly gathered them up. He and Riku stepped aside for the rest of the cast and crew to take their bow. Ruby came on last, bouncing and waving.

And then it was over.

"Thank goodness!" Sora sighed once the curtain fell.

"Nice acting Sora," Riku complimented. "I didn't know you had it in you."

"You too Riku. Thanks for not making me laugh or anything."

"What does that mean?"

"You know, those lines about me loving you and you loving me. I was really dreading that you'd make a weird face or something and I'd totally lose it. Thanks for not doing that."

"You're welcome… I think."

Sora grinned at his best friend. "I guess it was kinda fun after all huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I'm never doing it again though."

"I might."

"Yeah you wait 'til you play the princess."

"Sora, Riku you are stars!" Ruby gushed, rushing over and bear hugging the pair. "I wanna have botha ya in alla my plays!"

"You were both great!" Kairi congratulated. "I didn't think you'd both manage some of those lines but you did. It was amazing! Plus I know I saw your moms crying. Nice work!"

"Oops," Sora said. "I didn't mean to do that."

"Nah, it's a good thing," Riku replied. Then he added, "It means you've got some blackmail material to use against her if she ever tries to show people photos of you in your outfit."

Sora considered, for a moment, the implications of such photographic evidence. "That's why I didn't wanna do this!" He wailed.

Despite his previous problems with skirts Sora threw caution to the wind and with his arms full of roses he ran off stage. He thanked people for their compliments as he ran by but didn't wait for them to pass him the extra roses they found lying on stage. Sora charged into the changing rooms and didn't bother to shut the door behind him. Putting his roses on a chair and freeing his hair Sora ran to where his own clothes waited.

"Pants!" He cried out, hugging his school uniform for the first time in his life. "Pants I never knew I could love you so, so, so much!"

The End!

That was so much fun!

Reference check!

Celes: Final Fantasy VI

Rinoa and Quistis: Final Fantasy VIII

Ruby, Beatrix, Alexandria, Queen Garnet: Final Fantasy IX

Thank you for reading!