Alternate Univsere - Once Upon a Time

by Hayz3ll

Summary:

The Summers family finds themselves under the effects of a dark curse. Used mostly FC members as cursed folk; however, I might return later to rework this story into an expanded world...Maybe...

Timeline: Post-Dawntrail

Chapter 1: The Lost Boy

With a raise of his sword and his trusted horse rearing under him, Prince Phillip earned the cheers of his people. Today was the day he'd slay the vile Maleficent and awaken the sleeping beauty trapped beyond the bramble moor about Forbidden Mountain, laid to wait in the wicked dragon's castle. Or so he thought. As he raced through the Enchanted Forest his horse stumbled over a tripwire sending him careening, armour and all, into some soft bushes.

A groan escaped his armour before his fell from his head and onto the dirt road in front of a pair of small feet. Hazily he looked up, finding a young boy staring down at him, brow furrowed. "Dad! There you are."

Phillip blinked, tilting his head as he rolled backward onto his ass then sat up. "I think you're greatly mistaken young sir. I have yet to find my princess and start my family. Actually, I'm on my way now to rescue said princess from a rather scary dragon. The forest isn't the safest place to be until I vanquish her. Perhaps you should return to the village before you get hurt."

The boy sighed and crossed his arms. "That's not happening. You're going to come with me and help me find father so we can go back home where we belong," he said defiantly.

"Wait. So you're looking for your dad then. I misheard. Well, I should be getting to Aurora but…I suppose the dragon won't harm her as long as she remains asleep. I'll help you find your dad. Where did you see him last," Prince Phillip offered, giving the boy a smile.

"I found my dad! You're him! We need find father now. He probably thinks he's some weird story-tale guy too," the boy said, furrowing his brow. "You're under a curse or something, the Prince from Sleeping Beauty…and I guess that means Uncle Hayzel is probably asleep in the dragon's tower. He's not the one you're supposed to rescue! Uncle Carter is…or should. You've gotta come with me instead."

Phillip chuckled, putting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "You've got a wild imagination young sire. My younger brother's name is Paul…And you say the princess is not a princess but a prince? Well, I suppose that matters little to me. They were all the same enchanting in the glade where I-"

"That's all Storytale nonsense! You're not Princes at all! You're Keith Summers! And your husband is G'raha Tia! I have a big sister G'khenna and I'm your son Kirian," the boy shouted, causing Phillip to take a step back.

Of course he didn't believe the boy, but he was starting to see he was becoming increasingly distressed the more he was rebutted. "G'raha Tia…that name does sound familiar….That's the Crystal Exarch! From the Realm Reborn books! My mother read those to us as a child…You're saying I'm his husband? The um…what was he. Keith was just one of the Scions was he not? Not really a featured character but I think there were a few stories about him…Friends with the Warriors of Light though."

Kirian nodded. "Yes! That's exactly who you are! And all your friends are here too! They're stuck miserable as Storytale characters and the only way to fix everything is to break this stupid curse!"

Phillip grimaced then looked around. "Are you from the town? Perhaps we should go back…So that way we can find more information about where your father might be."

"Hells! You don't believe me. Fine. We'll go back to the village and I'll prove it to you," Kirian huffed before storming off ahead.

Phillip sighed, looking over his shoulder toward the clouded moors where his love awaited him. Still, he could not turn his back on the troubled youth, and so he indulged him by following along, horse in tow.

By the time they reached the village, the sun had begun it's decent onto the horizon. Shopkeepers were starting to shutter their windows for the evening while the miners, field hands, and castle attendants returned from their duties and ventured out to unwind at a pub or with friends. Kirian led Phillip through the streets until finally stopping in front of a toy shop called 'Geppetto's.'

"What do you remember about the Warrior, U'rahn Nuhn?" Kirian asked.

"He's every little knight's favourite hero. A lion man with a heart of gold. He was the last of the chosen to save the world, the favourite of the goddess. She loved him so much that she put a piece of herself in every world to watch over him. Let's see…he also proved himself to be a wise leader and had a bunch of daughters and a son…and I think married an automaton right?"

"Close enough…," Kirian said with a shrug before pointing into the window, past the hanging puppets and throw a small part in the curtain. Inside, an orange haired man quietly carved wood in a chair as he rocked, alone. "That's him. That's U'rahn Nuhn!"

"No…that's Geppetto the toy maker," Phillip said, gesturing above to the wooden sign bearing the man's name then to the toys hanging in the window.

Kirian scowled, "Look at the toys. Don't they look familiar," he asked, pointing to one that had a black and white painted face and a little crown atop it's head then to another that bared a striking resemblance to it's maker.

"This one does a little. It's a little Geppetto," the prince said, giving a firm nod when he was sure of it.

"No! That's supposed to be U'rahn Tia! Instead he's a lifeless puppet and U'rahn is miserable without his loved ones. Don't you want to help him," Kirian asked.

"Geppetto isn't miserable! He brings joy to all the townsfolk with his stories and puppet shows," Phillip pointed out.

Kirian crossed his arms then looked down at his feet. "Right, he's happy on the surface. That's why this curse is so good. You can't really tell something is wrong…Everyone here settles for an almost happily-ever-after because they don't no better or no one can see what's really in their hearts…The real Geppetto's puppet came to life. The Blue Fairy granted him a wish to be a real boy if he was honest, brave, and true and Geppetto got to have the family he always wanted…He doesn't even get that in this messed up place."

Phillip frowned as the boy sulked then reached out to ruffle his hair. "The Blue Fairy hasn't been seen in eons kid. And when I look through that window I see a guy that brings happiness to everyone around him. Surely, you can see that too."

"That's not happiness though! You can just say your happy or fine and everyone just believes you. Just like you can just say you love someone but that doesn't make it true," the boy said bitterly. "Let's try this…can you remember what you did yesterday?"

"Well…I met Aurora in the glades and fell madly in love with them," Phillip said, recalling dancing in the woods.

"And the day before that," Kirian pressed.

"I…well…," Phillip started before finding himself drawing a blank. A briefest dread set in on him, but it passed quickly. "That was two days ago. It was just a regular day? I did normal stuff."

Kirian raised his brow at the prince then shook his head. "You're definitely my dad."

Though the boy had said it before, Phillip felt this time Kirian had meant it as an insult somehow. Before he could raise another question, the clock-tower struck seven bells. Alerted, Kirian looked up then took off back toward the Enchanted Forest. "Oi! Get back here! You can't go into the forest this late," Phillip called out.

Worried for the boy's safety, he chased him, golden twilight nearly blinding his view as Kirian deftly weaved through trees ahead of him. Slowed by his armour, Phillip started to unbuckle his plating and letting it fall behind him in a trail until he was just in his tunic, leathers, and grieves.

Panting, he finally came to a stop where the trees broke into a flowered meadow. Ahead, a small cottage set nestled just beyond a small creek under a rather large willow. Outside, a tall slender man tended to laundry while Kiran watched, squatted down behind some fencing. Phillip hurried after the boy then joined him. "Who's this supposed to be?"

"The brother of the Shieldmaiden…huh, I guess that works in both realms. Regardless, he's the fairest wisest man in all the land and has caught the attention of the Princess of the Sea. Unfortunately…the Evil Queen of the Twisted Forest also wants the attention of the Princess of the Sea."

"The Evil Queen? Oh, that's the forest with the trees that throw apples at you," Phillip said with a little shudder.

"That's the one…but they're really, well, the Shieldmaiden's good friends…and father's friends too. They're supposed to be really lovey-dovey with each other but here they're all twisted up because of the curse. The Evil Queen is mean and jealous here but in the real world a really nice lady with a cool house on a boat! But here she hasn't been able to be close to her friends…I don't know all the details because you say I'm not old enough to know yet…but now…," Kirian said, pointing to a woman in a green dress striding through the field with a basket of apples on her arm.

"Huh. She's gonna bring him apples? That's not really evil. Unless she pelts him with them," Phillip mused.

"No! They're poisoned," Kirian huffed, "They're gonna curse him into a eternal slumber only true love's kiss can break.

"So….we just get the Princess of the Sea to come and kiss him awake then," Phillip said. "Text book curse breaker."

Kirian seemed to get lost in thought for a moment then shook his head. "The problem is…the Prince of the Sea is well…at sea," he said before hearing a thud in the distance.

The two looked around the fence, watching as the Evil Queen fled back into the forest, leaving the slender man on the ground clutching a bitten apple. "Heck! I suppose I should have stopped that," Phillip sighed before watching Kirian take off.

Once more the prince gave chase, finding the boy squatting over the stranger's body then folding his arms over his chest, putting his empty hands flat on his shoulders. "His friends will be by later and put him away…if the Prince of the Sea can ever get back to him they'll probably wake him…but they could also be stuck on a voyage forever unable to get back. If you'd just remember who you were you could save him now!"

Phillip frowned, looking up as the sun finally started to fade beyond the trees while a dark blue sky crept in behind them. He reached out, about to pet the boy's shoulder but Kirian jerked away. "Come on! If you still don't believe me then maybe you will if you meet with someone you're closer to!"

"Fine. We'll go to one more place," Phillip agreed, pulling down a sheet from the line to cover the man's lifeless body before letting the boy lead him back toward the forest.

Phillip could tell they were getting farther away, to where his kingdom brushed up against the neighbouring one. The trees thinning, he found himself on the grounds of a rather large estate. Approaching the mansion upon it, he spotted a carriage as two beautifully dressed women came out. "They must be going to Charming's ball. I could be getting ready for that myself with Aurora at my side right now," he sighed wistfully.

"Prince Haurchfaunt's ball," Kirian corrected.

"My neighbor…is the smiling knight from Heavensward?" Phllip laughed, watching as a young maid came out and handed them their heels to put on in the carriage.

"Thank you Ella," one of the glamour woman sang.

"These dresses are beautiful. It's a shame you couldn't finish yours," the other said.

"Oh! It's no bother at all. You should go and have your fun! I don't like dancing anyway. Tell me all about it when you return," the girl named Ella said, blowing a kiss as the carriage started to move on. Phillp watched quietly as the young woman looked up into the sky, fingers lacing together almost in prayer.

Phillip cocked his head then leaned over to whisper, "What's she doin-"

"Shh," Kirian hissed, watching quietly until Ella went back inside. "Everything is wrong here…"

"Let me guess. That's supposed to be Thalia, the great love of Prince Hien? She seems happy enough to stay home," he pointed out.

"Yeah! Your good friend has to stay home and not meet one of the loves of her life. Doesn't that make you upset? I guess she's Cinderella here. In that story her evil sisters ruin her dress along with her wicked step-mother and she can't go to the ball! Then the Blue Fairy comes and makes her a gown and crystal slippers so that she can meet the prince and they can fall in love. Here…she's just content to watch because her sisters are nice instead…,"Kirian grunted.

"Isn't that good? She loves her sisters so much. I wish my brothers got along that well…," Phillip mused.

"Probably cause their real sisters…," Kirian said weakly.

"Huh?"

"Nothing…you don't believe me anyway," the boy answered before slumping and starting back toward the village.

Phillip followed, feeling a bit bad for the boy. He didn't want to encourage his fantasy; however, he hated to see him looking so sad. "So…how did we all get cursed," he found himself asking, thinking it might clear up some issues.

"I…," Kirian started. "I got upset at everyone. I said a lot of stuff I didn't mean again…And so I used one of my aetheryte tickets to get away and ended up at the Great Gubal Library. Father said to stay out of the children's section because a lot of books were still kinda messed up from all the ambient aether, but where else was I going to go? I was just minding my own business and this man in a black hood came up and offered me a book and said if I wished hard enough that I could live in a place that only had happy endings. I thought it was just another stupid Storytale book but everything was kinda different…and then I fell asleep and woke up in it."

"Ah, so then you think it's a bad dream," Phillip said with a nod.

"It's not a dream! It's a cursed world. No one's actually happy here! I'm sure not. I miss you…and father…and even my sister," he huffed.

Phillip paused, "Yeah? Well…if that's the case. Who's your folks here?"

"That would be me," an annoyed voice cut in.

Turning the two found a tired looking man in a furred jacket standing impatiently at the village's gate with a gilded carriage behind him with the flag of the empire waving from it. "The Uniter! Emperor, apologies," Phillip said, getting to one knee with a deep bow for the ultimate ruler of all the joined kingdoms of the land.

"Don't bother with that. He's just a dreamed up version of some old geezer that antagonised father," Kirian grunted, fists balling.

"This old geezer has seen to it that every want you could possibly have has been tended to. Horses. Swords. Toys. Friends. I've brought them all to your feet and yet you still play the ungrateful son…," the Emporer sighed, shaking his head. "Let's go home Kirian. You've bothered the prince enough with your story telling."

"I don't have to go anywhere with you! You're not my real dad," Kirian shouted before taking a step back and digging into his pocket.

A deep, exhausted sigh came from the Emperor. "Please, Kirian. Come along and we'll… I don't know. We'll find you something that pleases you. It is late though and I'm tired."

"I'm never going anywhere with you again old man," the boy said, pulling something from his pocket then shoving it into his mouth. Kirian started to shake then dropped to his knees.

"Kirian!" screamed both the Emperor and the Prince.

Rushing in, the Emperor caught the boy before he could fall onto his face. Like the slender man in the meadow, he was lifeless. Panicked, the man shook his son and shouted for him to awaken, causing a apple that had a bite and piece picked from it to fall onto the ground and roll to Kirian's feet.

"Oh no…," Phillip breathed out.

"What is that!? What did he eat," the Emperor demanded, standing up with Kirian in his arms.

"A cursed apple…from the Evil Queen," Phillip breathed out, reaching out to touch Kirian's cheek only to have his hand smacked away.

"Don't you touch him! I'll see that witch and her forest burned to ashes! Guards! We must away to the castle and send for the wisest mages in the land," barked the Emperor as he strode into his carriage, delicately setting his son inside.

With that, he was gone. Shaking, Phillip just watched him disappear down the road until he was gone. As he stood there, he felt something streak down his cheek. Touching his face, he found himself starting to cry, but before the thought of what it could meant formed, he felt himself tackled to the ground.

Chapter 2: The Second Star on the Right

"Oi! Get off," Phillip grunted, struggling under someone small in frame but with rather firm upper body strength.

"Aye! I shall, after I make off with your coin purse," a playful laugh sounded, "Surely a friend of the Emperor carries a rather large sum about him. I've yet to meet a lordling that didn't like to have some pocket change to boast with."

Phillip squirmed, laughing as the other's fingers nimbly moved about his sides, pawing for a treasure that wasn't there. "C-Cut it out," he laughed before finally finding strength to wrap a leg around the other and pin them down. "Gotcha," he said, emerald eyes beaming down into a pair of surprised ruby ones.

"You pinned me," the thief breathed out through a cloth bandana. "And here I thought you were just some mewling dandy crying in the streets."

"I…I had a long afternoon," Phillip stammered before squinting at the other. Using a knee to pin the other's chest down, he tugged the the thief's mask down then blinked. "You're that Robin Hood fellow. The thief that seals from the rich to give to the poor?"

"I would say I'm reclaiming what other's are rightfully owed. I'm not a thief. I'm a hero," the captured man pouted.

"Yeah….well, maybe you are," Phillip said before disarming the other, tossing his bow and dagger far from reach. "You should have used your arrows. Would have felled me properly."

"I'm no murderer," Robin retorted, ears folding back.

"Well, I'm no dandy…at least I don't think I am. I was supposed to be doing some heroing today myself. Save a princess…or I guess it turns out a prince. Instead I got pulled on some crazy goose chase with this kid who said I was his father of all things," Phillip said before rolling off the other and laying out beside the thief, mind too occupied with the day's events to perceive him as a threat. "I'd have to have been barely older than him to even manage that. Not to mention he thought I was some great hero married to Exarch from the Realm Reborn books. Said everyone in the kingdom was someone from the books and trapped as Storytale characters.

"The powerful Wizard that lived in the Crystal Tower? He's my favourite…after the Warriors of Light of course," Robin said. "What marvellous things can come from such a young mind."

Phillip sat up, frowning. "Yes, but now he's taken ill from a poison apple…Only true loves kiss will wake him. Maybe that's it. His father seemed to care for him. Perhaps that's all he needs! The Emperor just needs to give him a quick peck on the head. I'm sure that will not only wake him but make him see his father loves him dearly and he doesn't need to look further! Thank you thief!"

"I am not a thief," Robin protested again, tail thrashing against the ground before blinking as a hand was offered to help him to his feet.

"Right, hero then. Since you are so noble, you wouldn't happen to have a horse nearby that I might ride upon? I imagine in your…line of work you have a buddy that can run pretty fast," Phillip mused, looking around.

Robin stared, bewildered at how cavalier the man was for just being robbed. "I. Well, yes, I do. Certainly you have your own steed…or steeds even by looking at you."

"Yes, but there's no time! Lead the way," Phillip pressed, pushing on Robin forward as he collected his things.

Robin flicked his tail, digging his heels in a bit as he was pushed but ultimately moving on the other's command, taking him to his hidden steed. Arriving at his horse, he climbed up into the saddle then held out his hand.

"Er…," Phillip started, taking the other's hand hesitantly. "There's no need for you to accompany me. I'll return your steed on my word," he assured Robin as he settled down behind him and took the reigns from behind.

"I'm loathe to trust a nobleman just as you are to trust a perceived thief. Besides…if you're going to the Emperor's then you might serve as a distraction for myself to…reclaim some things from him."

"I'm more than a nobleman," Phillip said, squeezing the horse a few times to get him into a dash. "I'm a prince!"

Robin's ears perked at the revelation, letting out a groan for his rotten luck this evening. As fast as the steed could take them, they raced through the kingdom, giving chase to the carriage that had managed a good head start. Pushing the horse a bit too much out the gate, it soon slowed to a steady pace as they entered the countryside.

"Do you hate me," Phillip asked, breaking the silence. "Rather, my family…or the royal families in general?"

Robin jumped, Phillip's lips practically against his ears from the close proximity. "Hate is a strong word. Perhaps there are some kingdoms in our empire that I loathe…resent is probably a better word. Your kind work people to the bone for your balls and feasts and they see next to nothing in compensation. Some places are worse and tax them for existing in the realm, yet do nothing in kind to improve the lives of the people's labour and money they take."

"That's horrible," Phillip replied angrily. "I can't imagine my father doing that. I'm sure that there is more we could provide for our people. It would twist my stomach to think that there would be someone for want of something basic like food living in my realm."

"Well you'd be surprised what your neighbours get up to then. Though, if you found yourself among your people and they were hungry, what would you do," Robin asked, curious to see what detached answer a prince would give.

"They'd have food from the royal stores and I'd see everyone that needed a meal had one, even if I had to make it and serve it myself," Philliip said, steering the horse off the road toward a stream for it to get some water. Stopped, he slid off the horse then helped Robin down to stretch his legs. "I'm…not certain all my people are as happy as could be, but I'd want them to be. I'm not so stupid that I don't know where my food comes from."

"That is…a rather a surprise to hear from someone like you," Robin said before shaking his head. "Ultimately meaningless until you put it into action though."

Phillip snorted in annoyance then looked at the other. "Fine then. When I return and rescue my…er, prince, I shall have my father decree any who want a meal can have one at our table should they desire it. I shall show you that I honour my word."

Robin smirked. "Alright then. I'll look forward to having a meal made by your hands," he said.

"Right! And then I shall take a reward from you," Phillip said, patting Robin's horse as he slurped up water from the stream.

"And what shall that be? What can I offer a prince," Robin asked.

Phillip thought a moment. "A kiss."

"A kiss? Right after you save your prince imagine they'd be rather cross if you have a rogue like me stealing your affection," Robin teased.

"Upon my signet. A pledge of fealty to the realm that you won't…well, re-purpose our wealth so long as we are treating our people good," the prince corrected, face spreading with crimson. "You'd have asylum in our kingdom afterwards should your…heroics see you in dire straights. I know a good person when I see one after all."

"You'd have to do a fair bit more than sharing a meal for that. A good kingdom would be one in which there is no king to rule, but a representative of the people to see that their efforts and wealth are not hoarded by a small few," Robin mused before leaning up in close to the blushing prince. "However, you've impressed me thus and I suppose do deserve a small reward for being far more idyllic than I thought possible."

With that, Robin pressed his lips against Phillip's, hand on some rope. He intended to take his opportunity to bind the other in the wake of the shock of their embrace…instead, he felt himself fill with light. Aether pulsed from them as they kissed, creating a pulse that blew through the fields beyond. His memories came from flooding back to him as he was enraptured in his lover's arms. "Keith…," he panted.

"Raha…," Keith echoed before letting out a sharp breath. "Thals' balls. My head…"

G'raha rubbed his own temple, finding himself to have similar discomfort as two different lives collided in his mind. "Just…sit still for a moment. I've experienced this before. Everything is sort of…refilling itself into the what is you and what was you…"

"Don't speak in riddles, you're making it worse," Keith groaned before flopping down on his ass.

"Gods…I remember…I remember G'khenna and Kirian arguing…then he ran off and we found him with that book," G'raha recalled.

"Right. He said something about that when he found me. Some guy in a black robe…you think an Ascian? That can't be right… They're all gone now right? They're supposed to be anyway" Keith said, flopping back into the grass.

"I'm uncertain…the Emperor though, that was Emet-Selch I am certain…and yet, that also is an impossibility. This world has faces of the departed in it too, perhaps to make it palatable for us trapped in it," G'raha mused.

Keith thought for a moment, playing over his afternoon with his son. "Kirian…said something about the happily-ever-afters being…just enough to hide people's unhappiness. That's…a really messed up curse. It's broken now though, right? We remember who we are."

"Nothing good comes from the Gubal Library. I keep telling all of you this but you refuse to listen," G'raha sighed. "It seems we've broke through; however, if it were broken I'd think we'd be freed from the spell entirely. I imagine Kirian is the one it has targeted so he must be the key to breaking it. We must hurry before Emet-Selch harms him."

Keith crossed his arms. "I don't think he's going to do that…I think that Emet-Selch guy really believes he's Kirian's father. He was really upset when he fell under his sleeping curse…It might be hard getting through to see him though, let alone be allowed to wake him. I don't suppose you're able to do any conjuring?"

"I don't seem to have magick here sadly," G'raha said, giving a flit of his wrist trying to ignite even the smallest bit of aether.

"Well…I suppose I have an idea…but you won't like it too much," Keith sighed.

G'raha's ears folded as Keith told him the plan. Re-saddling their horse, they hurried off to the Emperor's Castle, Keith's ring enough to get them to the door at the very least. Once dismounted, Keith roughly gripped G'raha by the wrists then marched him inside the palace. "I've brought the thief Robin Hood," he called out, "I wish to present him to the Emperor."

Hurrying forward, several knights surrounded them before escorting them into the throne room. There they found the Emperor in a chamber of gold, hovering over their son, wringing his gloved hands as he fret. "I told you I am not to be disturbed!"

"Your excellency, the prince of Ulstead is here having captured Robin Hood of Loxley. The one that has been terrorizing the other regents with his constant attacks," a knight explained.

The Emperor looked up, sad eyes uncaring. "So lock him away. Or let him go. If I need gold, I can just make it. Leave me…I wish to preserve my son in peace," he said, eyes looking down toward Kirian.

"Midas…" Keith trailed. "Gold…preserve…"

Sounding familiar, Keith looked about until laying eyes on a lifelike statue. "Oh no…"

"Hells! Let me go," G'raha growled, shaking free of the loose bindings. "Get away from our son!"

Midas turned, eyes flaring. "What did you say!? He is not your son! He is mine," he yelled, pulling a glove from his hand.

Keith looked about him as knights pulled away then fled the room, frightened of the ungloved hand. He swallowed, "Easy now. We know how to break his curse. You want to wake him right? He just needs someone who love's him to give him a peck on the head."

"And you think I'll let you? Some prince and his thief friend that is delusional enough to think they are my heir's true fathers? Nonsense…he shall…he shall immortalized," Midas said, hand lowering.

"You mustn't! Surely there is another way to wake him," G'raha pleaded, getting on his knees. "Let us prove it."

"You will keep your distance thief. Or I shall do more than imprison you. Perhaps sell you as a gilded trophy to the highest bidder," Midas threatened.

Keith panicked, stepping forward, keeping his hands out where the other could see him. "There's a way. For certain to know. When Kirian ate the apple, his hand went over his face. His whole hand. That's a proportional thing in a family. Father's, sons, brothers, all the same. That means if you were his dad yours would also cover your face," he said, raising his hand slowly toward his own face.

Midas scowled but lifted his hand absently. Once spread before his face, Keith rushed forward, shoving his body into the Emperor's so that his hand would slap against himself. He let out a scream as gold started to spread from his finger tips onto his cheek. "Thing is though…he's adopted…but still my son," he panted, touching himself, afraid he might have accidentally had contact with the man.

G'raha rushed in, hugging Keith from behind. "You stupid idiot. A prank like that could have gotten you killed," he wheezed as Midas's screams silenced, his body solid gold.

"I had to take a chance…," Keith said before kneeing down by his son with G'raha. Together, they leaned then kissed Kirian on the forehead- Yet nothing happened.

"It…didn't work," Keith breathed out. "It didn't work…it didn't…"

G'raha reached out, grasping Keith's hand as he started to spiral into a panic. "Just breathe…We broke the curse…Maybe because we broke our curse, we're no longer beholden to the rules of this world and thus are outliers…," he said evenly, trying to hide the worry in his voice to afford only one of them breaking down for the moment.

"What are we supposed to do then? Get cursed again!? What good will that do? We won't know each other…or Kirian…This is some higher magic that we don't know how to access, or can't. It's not like some fairy is going to come our way," Keith lamented.

"Fairy? Why would a fairy help," G'raha asked.

"Something Kirian said. The Blue Fairy that shows up in all the storytales to help. She doesn't come around anymore to help people get their happy endings," he said, stroking his hand over his son's head.

"Because they're content…they're not so miserable they need their miracles," G'raha breathed out. "But we are…Keith. We've lost our son here. Without the magic, he won't ever wake up."

Keith grit his teeth hard then let out a choked sob. "I should have believed him. He was trying to tell me…and I couldn't believe what he was saying. I couldn't see my own son for who he is," he let out, tears starting to stream down his face. "And a part of me knew…somehow…it just wasn't strong enough to fully come out y'know…if I'd just…let my imagination….Raha…I'm sorry…our boy…"

"I know…There was nothing you could have done…I don't blame you…," G'raha said, hugging his arms around Keith, letting his tears come too as he tried to keep himself from breaking down with the other. Taking deep breaths, he looked to the nearest window and out into the night sky. "Just…hold a wish in your heart. Believe in it so strongly that it might kill you if it doesn't come true."

"It might…it just might if we cannot fix this," Keith wailed into his husbands arms.

G'raha swallowed, eyes upon the second star to the right of the morning sky. It began to twinkle just a little bright before pulsing a brilliant blue. Soon it streaked across the sky then weaved until growing larger and larger until finally it a brilliant force of aether burst through the window. The couple winced before they found a miqo'te girl in a bright blue dress staring at them looking concerned.

"Oh my. This won't due. We can't have you crying now. Come on, dry your tears…for the Blue Fairy is here," she sang, giving a flourish of her wand.

Keith sat up, rubbing his eyes before looking up at the girl…their daughter.

"Kehnna!?" the two exclaimed in unison.

"I've been called many things before, but never a Khenna. Is that something like a Fairy Godmother? Or is it something more akin to a witch? A good one of course," she asked sweetly.

"Gods this is more bizarre than Emet-Selch being here," G'raha said, finding his daughter's sugary sweet change all a bit too much.

"She'd hate this if she was aware," Keith chuckled between sniffles. "Sure. Witch. Godmother. Whatever, just help our son."

The Blue Fairy strode over, bending over Kirian then wiggling her wand about him. "Well…this is just a silly sleeping curse. True love's kiss should do the trick. Love from a parent will do. On you go, just a little peck right here," she said, swatting his forehead with the tip of her wand.

"We tried that….we were cursed too, so we're thinking that it won't work because ours is already broken," G'raha explained. "Though…you seem to be so perhaps. Will you kiss his forehead?"

"Me? Well. I love everything; however, that isn't true love. It is more of…agape," she hummed.

"Please. Just humor us," Keith said, wiping his face.

"Well. Alright then. Wouldn't it be fun if I was the hero that saves the day with a kiss for a change. It's been eons since someone's needed me anyway so who am I to say no," she sang before bending over.

With a small kiss, another pulse of aether burst through them, bringing Kirian to sit up with a gasp before a second pulse burst from him. The world of storytales faded away and they were once more in the children's library with G'raha immediately closing the book and chucking it across the room before enacting a ward about it. "No more of that, thank you."

"What…happend," G'khenna said, rubbing her head. "What did you do to me you little twerp!?"

Kirian yelped as she gripped him by the collar, her tail flailing about behind her in anger until Keith pulled her back. "Easy now. A little magic went a bit haywire. Everything's fine now."

"Mostly fine," G'raha said, wincing as his link-pearl started to go off. "It seems…this curse might have effected more than just us here."

"Well, it was an accident. I'm sure it'll be okay," Keith waved off before kneeling beside Kirian. "Hey. I'm sorry I didn't believe you in there. That curse had me out of my mind. You know that right? You know Raha and I consider you our sons and there is nothing we wouldn't do to find you if we lost you, right?"

Kirian sniffled a bit but turned away, feigning brave. "Yeah, well. If I found father we'd have probably got out of there faster…but…thanks for knowing how to wake me and break the curse and stuff."

Keith chuckled. "Well, you're the one that figured it all out. I just remembered the stuff you said and we sort of put it together. And if it wasn't for your sister here we'd still be stuck," he said, patting his extremely annoyed daughter on the back.

"What did she do," Kirian asked, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow. "It's her fault I ran away in the first place."

G'raha winced as he tugged his linkpearl free and pocketed it. Problems for later. "I was wondering what caused this outburst of disowning us," he said, looking at his daughter crossly.

"What? He was upset because you told him he couldn't go study in Radz-at-Han to be an alchemist by himself. All I said was that I could go where I pleased because I'm the favourite and he took that to mean because he wasn't well, y'know…blood related," G'khenna answered, voice getting smaller with shame.

"More like the favourite to be grounded," Keith huffed before putting his arm around his son. "Kirian, we have no favourites. Khenna is just old enough to be an adventurer and go off on her own…and even when she does she goes with her friends…Yeah, there were some great escapes when she was younger; however, she was still five years older, technically, than you are now."

"Yeah but…Gulool Ja is joining the Dawnsgaurd. I want to go study so that way I can be his royal chemist when we get older," he said. "He's away from him home…"

"With his family and probably heavily supervised at all times. If one of your uncles lived out in Radz-at-Han, though it would kill me every minute to not see you, we'd figure it out…Besides, your dad is really smart and we've got a lot of friends in Sharlayan. If you're serious, there's plenty of people to teach you."

"Yeah…but Radz-at-Han has the greatest alchemists in the world. We read that in a book," he Kirian pointed out.

"A subject for another time," G'raha said, petting his son. "I have a very good friend there that I'm sure would love to meet you though. Perhaps we can start making visits there together. For now though, it is late and we should get home to rest before."

"Alright…," Kirian said with a nod."

G'khenna fidgeted a bit with the hem of her shirt, looking away. "I'm sorry little brother…"

Kirian stared a moment but gave a nod to acknowledge what was said. Keith sighed then gave a little laugh as he knelt down to offer his back to his son. "You both should be more grateful for one another. We have undeniable proof you two love each other dearly, deep down."

"How's that?" Kirian asked, climbing up on Keith's back.

"Well, you two broke the curse. True love's kiss. G'k gave you a little peck right on the forehead and then it was over," Keith sang.

"What!? She kissed me! Ew! Gross," Kirian whined, rubbing his forehead with his hand as Keith and Raha laughed.

"I'm sure it wasn't pleasant for me either," G'khenna huffed.

"Oh. You were excited to do it. You were a regular sugar plum fairy. I'm surprised there isn't glitter everywhere now," G'raha teased.

The siblings soon began to bemoan what had happened as the family left the library. As they exited, G'raha reached over, putting his hands in husbands' before heading home together.

 

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 3 of WoL/Raha Week 2025