Okay, third chapter. Hopefully I won’t lose the flow. Gosh, darnit, what am I saying? I always lose my flow. To new readers: please comment or subscribe! Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not own pics. (Gosh, their smiles are...)

Repost: 7/30/13

We Are One...For Your Heart

Less than a day later, the twelve princes of EXO received your mail. They rallied up in one of the castle’s lounge rooms, celebrating the mail delivery. The younger ones began to jump up and down ecstatically like Tao and Kai, eager to read your individual replies.

Tao climbed onto Yixing’s lap who sat on the couch. The panda-eyed boy held up your letter in his brother’s blinking face. “Helm me read it,” demanded the little time prince.

Yixing smiled. With Tao cuddled against his chest, he read aloud your letter in an optimistic tone, the panda-eyed boy marveling over the contents wondrously.

Everyone else took a seat, or like Yifan, leaned against the wall. Kai and Sehun needed major assistance from Suho and Luhan to read your letters to them. Kyungsoo managed well on his own, occasionally seeking Chen’s help.

“Aris says I’m the best at soccer, but wants me to learn more sportsmanship,” Xiumin recited out loud. He jutted out his lips. “Aww, I have to be nice to Yeol and Baek when I win?”

“Aris praised me for my improvement in training and is grateful for my devotion,” said Luhan, looking proud.

Chanyeol beamed. “Aris says to stay healthy, but understands my for sweets. Hehe, I’ll keep my smile pearly white just for her!”

“Aris sayz she hopes I master my teleportashun soon so we can see each other moar!” Kai exclaimed giddily, crazed by the mere thought. He had to work hard then.

Looking up from his letter, Chen smiled handsomely. “Aris really misses us, doesn’t she?”

“Yes!” Kyungsoo chimed. Everyone else nodded in agreement.

Yifan, who was still in his own secluded spot leaning against the wall, wore an indulgent smile as he mused over your exuberant words filled with profuse support. He especially like this particular line.

Honestly, Yifan, I do see you as a wonderful future king. I can’t wait for that to happen! I’ll be the proudest person at the coronation!

I’ll be the king if you’ll be my queen, he thought dreamily to himself. He could imagine you being his wife and queen quite realistically.

Influentially curious, Baekhyun skipped over to his tall, skinny brother and raised himself onto his tippy-toes, giving him the height to wave his dainty hand in front of Yifan’s dreamy face.

“Fannnnnie,” sang the light prince, eyes big and bright. “What did Aris say to you?”

Yifan was fished out of his reverie. He stuffed your letter in his pocket for safe keeping and smiled coolly. “She says I’ll definitely make a good king in the future.”

Xiumin rolled his eyes, peeved. “You don’t have to brag. We know.”

“She might choose me as her husband since I have more to offer,” Yifan said arrogantly.

“Aris is not self-centered enough to choose someone like you,” Luhan countered confidently, chin raised in the air. “She adores me the most!”

“Nuh uh!” Sehun protested, joining the squabble with a pout. He tugged on Luhan’s shirt hem. “She likez me moar!”

“Aris is too mature to like someone she considers a brother,” Yifan asserted reasonably. He regarded the youngest four who stared back at him innocently. I rest my case, he deadpanned. “You four are definitely out of the question.”

“SO!” Chanyeol refuted, jabbing a daring finger at the eldest three. “You three are TOO OLD for her!” Xiumin, Luhan, and Yifan flinched at the straightforward accusation—it was brutally true. “So don’t talk like you’re any better!”

 “Right,” Yixing agreed with a nod, finding his courage to fight for you. “We’re more suited for her,” he said, indicating himself, Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Suho, and Chen. Those four nodded, siding with the healer.

“We’re not too old or too young,” Suho affirmed, logical as ever. “And we’re smart enough.”

“But that doesn’t really matter unless you factor in Aris’s feelings,” Luhan intervened, a slight crease between his brows. “She has to fall for us romantically.”

“That’s right...” Suho absently murmured, looking elsewhere.

“But she always says she loves us all,” Baekhyun mumbled. Why did you have to love all of them? It made things more complicated!

The princes pondered about your relationship with them seriously. You were their happiness and light, the reason why they could smile and experience blissfulness. But you could only be one of theirs. This, by far, was the hardest challenge the brothers had to face. They were equal rivals for your heart.

Yifan glanced up and regarded all of his brothers. “How about this? We pledge that we will try to win her heart, but promise, above all things, that we’ll always be brothers no matter what. We’re still young and have all the time in the world. When we’re growing up with Aris, she’s bound to choose one of us then.”

His brothers seemed game by the idea and nodded in unison. “Yes!”

“Alright, gather around!” he commanded. Twelve princes converged together into a tight, squished circle, hands piled on top of each other. Yifan began the vow in a strong, clear voice:

“We, the twelve princes of EXO, promise to honorably and justifiably win the heart and hand of Princess Aris of SHINee World! But no matter what, on the inside, even as we grow older, we will always remain the same, and therefore, we will always be brothers. We are the guardians of EXO! WE ARE ONE!”

“WE ARE ONE!” they all shouted and threw their hands in the air.

Their fervor, their commitment, their impenetrable bond told you nothing could break them apart. Not even the unforetold future.

Forever and always, we’ll be brothers. Because we are one.

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