The Best Thought Out Plans
Chapter 1: Chance Encounter in the Woods

Disclaimer: Owned by a person with more creativity than me.
Author's Notes: I couldn't resist.
Summary: (AU) Slaying the dragon was the first step. Falling in love was the second. Tamaki x Haruhi.


Once upon a time, there lived a benevolent king who ruled a small kingdom with justice and compassion. People came from far and wide to seek his unusual, but well-meaning counsel and to bask in his general magnificence. The citizens of Ouran held a great love for him and the royal family, and all was in harmony.

And just when the people didn't think they could be any happier, the kingdom was graced with the birth of a handsome prince with hair like flaxen gold and blue eyes that sparkled more merrily than the stars. Prince Tamaki brought much joy with his kindness and good-humor and all watched eagerly at his transformation from a sweet child to a dashing young man. News of his great beauty spread throughout the lands and it wasn't long before letters began to arrive from neighboring kingdoms seeking to form an alliance through marriage.

Though Tamaki was unfailingly kind and thoughtful towards every princess he met, he paid no special consideration to any particular girl. He claimed to love them all, but could never say he was actually "in love" with any of them. For you see, the prince was a romantic at heart and as such, would never consider a union without love. And so, despite the orders of the King and protestations of court, he refused each and every match that was proposed.

The king was almost at his wit's end when his wise, enigmatic advisor proposed an ingenious plan.

"Your Majesty, suppose he is given some leeway in choosing his own bride," Ootori suggested as his jewel encrusted staff clicked on the marble floor. The King was pacing the length of the enormously lavish red carpet and his advisor had no choice but to follow suit or spend the rest of the time shouting across the throne room.

"Have we not given him a wide selection of beautiful princesses to choose from?" King Suou demanded, his wide blue eyes flashing with hurt indignation. "Any one of them would be a wonderful addition to the kingdom and yet he refuses choose one and settle down. Now, mother and I have been more than indulgent in this matter and quite frankly, I am of mind to simply choose a girl at random and be done with it." The King stopped suddenly in the middle of his pacing, as if struck with a brilliant idea. Turning to his advisor, he asked eagerly, "Do you think I could make a royal decree and simply order him to get married? If I'm not mistaken, my word is law around here."

"I believe such an order will have the opposite effect on him, milord," Ootori stated calmly. The King was getting a tad overexcited in his haste to secure the Suou line. Tamaki was likely to be his only child and should the unthinkable happen, the kingdom would be left without an heir. "We wouldn't want him to do anything rash," the king's advisor continued. "Let's not forget what happened on his thirteenth birthday."

The King shuddered at the memory. No one should have to be subjected to such unearthly wailing. "Then what would you propose, Ootori?"

His dark haired advisor smiled craftily and was slightly amused when the King suppressed a small shudder. That look never boded well for the receiver. "If I'm not mistaken, your Majesty, the prince is of age to go adventuring. Perhaps if he were given a small task of rescuing a captive princess from the clutches of a great monster, he would find love in the midst of battle."

The King rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yes, yes, I see where you're going with this. High tension, flaring passion, and a dash of danger to top it off…" He trailed off dreamily, apparently lost in his own youthful memories. "Ah, to be young and full of vigor!"

"I'll draw up the papers immediately, sire."


"Somehow, I get the feeling that my father has something to do with this," Kyoya said with a frown as he watched the prince rifling through his belongings.

The dark haired boy was the third son of the King's personal advisor, and as such enjoyed a close relationship with the prince. They had been together through many trials and tribulations when they were younger and were not often seen without the other's company. Kyoya was the one who tempered the prince's recklessness with his stoic demeanor and cool logic, and while many may wonder how two different individuals became such fast friends, the bond between the two boys was undeniable.

"Now, Kyoya," the prince smiled indulgently as he triumphantly unearthed his dragon hide boots from underneath his other garments. "This sort of thing happens all the time. As a prince, it is my duty, nay my privilege, to uphold the laws of chivalry and protect damsels in distress from evil, malignant influences." He frowned slightly as he tried to tug the boots on. "Do you think it's time for me to get a new fitting?"

Kyoya ignored the prince's question. "But don't you find it strange that no other prince was dispatched to rescue this princess? Surely we would've heard news of one or two failed attempts before now."

"All the more reason for me to set forth and rescue the fair maiden," Tamaki sighed, going down on one knee and striking a dramatic pose. Idly, Kyoya wondered if the dew kissed flowers that often surrounded his friend appeared at will or simply coincided with the prince's particular moods. He never would understand the motivation behind that particular fairy godmother's blessing.

"Clearly, no one else is up to the task and so it falls on me to do battle with a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon and return the beautiful princess back to her rightful kingdom." He leapt to his feet, unsheathed his sword, and began dueling with an imaginary dragon on one booted foot. "Take that! And that!"

"Still, I think I should accompany you on--"

The blond prince shook his head, cutting off his friend. "No, Kyoya," he said with uncharacteristic seriousness. "I need to do this by myself, without your help, or else…" He didn't complete his thought. Both knew what Tamaki desired above all else was the approval of his grandmother, the Dowager Queen. The successful conclusion of this quest would allow him to rise in her esteem and perhaps finally gain a place in her heart.

"I understand," the dark haired boy said gravely, rising with a small bow. "I will not interfere." With that, he turned and made to exit the prince's chambers.

"Thank you," Tamaki said with gratitude, his ever-present smile returning. He was touched by his friend's easy acceptance and wondered again for the hundredth time what he would do without Kyoya in the following weeks. The mission wouldn't be easy, and it would be the first time he had ever stepped foot outside the palace without his usual companions.

"And Your Highness," the dark haired boy said suddenly, turning slightly from the door. "I hope you realize your boot is on the wrong foot."


The prince set out immediately the following morning on the fastest horse in the stable. His adventure guidebook had stated clearly the rules and regulations governing the art of questing. There had been other helpful books on the subject in the Royal Library and Tamaki was eager to put his knowledge to the test.

The first was that he had to be equipped with a fast, yet impressive looking charger. In the beginning, Tamaki had been uncertain about taking this particular horse. Buttercup was rumored to be undependable, flighty, with a tendency to throw off his rider. Confronted with anything larger than a housecat, he was liable to bolt to the hinterlands. Buttercup was only rarely brought out to display the correct amount of pomp and state on festival days—and even then on a close leash.

Next was the equipment. The blonde haired prince had been careful to choose a well-made sword from the endless supply in the family vault. The sword Tamaki decided on belonged to his great-great-great uncle and was completely dragon-fire proofed. Reported to have slain countless numbers of scaly, fire-breathing reptiles, it was appropriately honored with the name 'Dragon Slayer' with enough flourish to please the royal aesthetic.

Armed with all the immediate necessities, the prince wasted no time in setting out at the break of dawn. His father had grudgingly approved after he saw that the orange-yellow backdrop added an added dramatic element. They parted with suspiciously wet eyes, and as his son disappeared over the last hill, the King was seen clutching at his advisor and weeping shamelessly into the folds of his velvet outer-coat.

Tamaki, on the other hand, rode out confidently, taking in the new sights and smells the early morning had to offer. By all accounts, the quest was starting off smashingly, which put him in a generous mood.

However, the prince had hardly set foot in the forest when he became lost in the twists and turns of the woodland pathways. The elaborately crafted map that his father had provided for him, specifically for this mission, was completely unhelpful in determining his current position. He had tried to backtrack, and then redouble his efforts at finding the correct path out of the forest, but all the trees looked identical to the other.

Tired and hungry, the prince decided to stop for a few moments to cool off and rest, partaking in the delicious food the cook packed for him. He had just started in on the roasted pheasant with apple glaze when he spotted a sudden movement in the clearing.

It took him a moment to realize that it was a scaly creature with broad stripes and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Its golden eyes looked at the prince unblinkingly and Tamaki found himself backing away slowly, his hands going immediately to the sword on his hip.

The monster seemed content to just watch him, but Tamaki was taking no chances. Still backing away, he finally reached his mount, who was dancing in place uneasily. Sensing the Buttercup's distress, Tamaki made a decision. He would not allow his horse to be eaten by some nefarious beast, who would no doubt be so invigorated by such a hearty lunch that the creature would continue to wreak further mischief.

With a great cry, the prince took his sword and swung down on the tether holding the horse, releasing the horse from his post. Tamaki watched with grim satisfaction as the horse reared once with a loud whinny and took off into the woods at lightning speed. That would teach the creature to expect an easy meal.

However, as he attempted to pull his sword from the tree, the blonde prince found to his dismay that it was completely imbedded in the wood. Furthermore, the monster seemed uninterested in following the horse and Tamaki realized with a sinking feeling that perhaps allowing his horse to run away without him hadn't been one of his better ideas. The monster now seemed much too interested in him!

The beast took a step forward and Tamaki gulped. He swore he could feel his life flashing before his eyes and he moaned miserably. Was this how his adventure would end? Being eaten by some horrid scaly creature without ever rescuing the poor princess?

It seemed that imminent death was upon him when suddenly, a youth in brown cap appeared out of no where and leapt nimbly in front of him and the monster. The boy untied his cloak and threw it over beast, impeding its line of vision.

The monster thrashed about for a bit before the boy took hold of the corners of his cloak and scooped it up in a make-shift bag. Turning to the prince, the boy cocked his head to the side and asked, "Are you alright, your highness?"

It was all Tamaki could do to stop himself from weeping in relief. "Brave sir, you have rescued me from the clutches of the evil dragon," Prince Tamaki declared regally. "As a token of appreciation, my father shall bequeath upon you one-third of his kingdom and half the gold in the treasury."

The youth stuck his hand in the bag and withdrew it a few moments later, holding the monster gently in his hand. "You mean this lizard?"

Tamaki stepped back, pointing a trembling finger at it. "Monster! Back! Get it away from meeeee!"

"Alright, alright," the boy held up a placating hand. "Look, I'll set it down over there, where it can't hurt you."

The prince's eyes widened dramatically. "How do you know that it won't return once it's released and pierce my flesh with its poisoned barbs?"

"For one thing, it's not poisonous," the boy stated, stroking the lizard absently. "Secondly, it's probably more afraid of you than you are of it."

"Highly unlikely," Tamaki sniffed. But he made no other complaints as the lad walked a few feet away from him and released the wild animal back into the bushes. As its tail disappeared into the foliage, the prince gave a little shudder.

"If you don't mind me asking," the boy had turned back to look at him with curious eyes. "Why are you here? Are you lost?"

The golden haired prince drew himself up regally. "Indeed, brave lad, I am not lost, but on my way to seek out an adventure. I will perform a wondrously dashing deed of a heroic nature that will highlight my manly prowess and bring glory upon the kingdom."

"And you were looking to engage in such a feat in the King's forest?" the boy's skeptical tone showed what he thought of that particular idea. It was well known that the most dangerous thing on the palace grounds were rabbits. And perhaps the occasional buck.

The prince blushed. "Well, you see, I was on my way to the Plains of Fire when I became inexplicably lost within the wilds of my own home. I had stopped to take a rest and regroup my thoughts when that monster set itself upon me with its gashing teeth and--" He trailed off at the look the other boy was giving him. He cleared his throat and straightened up. "If you could just give me directions to the Plains of Fire, I would be most indebted to you, good sir."

"The Plains of Fire is a great distance away from here," the dark haired boy said worriedly. "I'm not sure if going alone and on foot is such a good idea…"

"Nonsense," Tamaki said cheerfully. "I shall just purchase a new horse in the next town and gallop on out to the Plains and return with the princess in no time."

"Princess?"

"My father entrusted me with a sacred mission," The prince said gravely. "To rescue the beautiful Princess Éclair Tonnerre who has been kidnapped by a wicked wizard most foul. She is kept prisoner by a great, monstrous dragon in a cave somewhere in the Plains of Fire--no doubt in great distress and suffering from abject hunger."

The boy blinked at the explanation. "I see."

The prince nodded sagely, wearing the most sympathetic expression on his face. "Yes, well, now you see the urgency behind my quest. I must fetch her and return with all haste. Now, would you be so kind as to divulge the secret path to the Plains of Fire?"

The dark haired youth regarded the prince with a thoughtful expression for some time and then finally sighed. "I suppose there's no help for it then. Come with me, I'll show you to the next town. Then, I'll provide you with a map to find your princess."

At this, Prince Tamaki burst out in a radiant smile, leaving the boy in front of him a bit stunned. Clearly, the youth had been unprepared for the onslaught of dew-laden roses. "I thank you, kind sir, from the bottom of my heart. My father will hear of this great kindness when I return to the palace and will reward you greatly, Master…err…" He blushed as he realized he was not even properly acquainted with his savior.

"Haruhi," the boy supplied for him as he adjusted his cap. "Haruhi Fujioka."