Opening: Good day, readers! After many times watching the Swan Princess, I could no longer deny the similarities between characters from the movie and characters from Hetalia. For future reference I'm taking poetic license, and now as Authoress I decree that Arthur is younger than Alfred in this story! This fic will have songs from the film.
I own nothing sadly…
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Chapter 1: This is my idea…
Once upon a time, there was a great and prosperous kingdom with a sad king named William. He despaired, because he was growing old and had no heir to take his place. Then, happily, a son was born. A prince. And he was given the name… Arthur.
Everyone came forth to celebrate the royal birth. Many kings and queens, and among them was the fairly young widow Elizabeta and her sweet son Prince Alfred.
Little Alfred walked up to present his gift to the baby in his cradle. A golden locket with a swan engraved on it was dangled for a moment before being dropped in the child's waiting hands. Arthur giggled and Alfred grinned with pride. William and Elizabeta, seeing this cute exchange glanced at one another. Elizabeta squeaked with joy at the silent deal.
It was then that William and Elizabeta happened upon the same idea, that when they were older Alfred and Arthur would be brought together every summer in the hopes that they would fall in love and their kingdoms would be united.
But unknown to all was the plot of the great evil sorcerer, Ivan. Arthur's birth was of little concern. He was preparing to take Williams kingdom by way of the forbidden arts.
Ivan was down in his secret chambers trailing his hands through the air, colored smoke following his will. It formed a scene of William holding Arthur and then dissolved into a great beast. Suddenly, the door was broken in. William's guards tore everything apart and Ivan and his servant, Toris, were captured.
On the eve of his assault, William attacked. And Ivan's powers were plunged into darkness.
Despite calls for his death, the enchanter was only banished.
Ivan tossed off his cuffs and scowled at the king. "I'm not done with you yet Willy. Some day, I'll get my power back! And when I do, Everything you own, Everything you love… Will be mine!" He threatened with a horse shout and a dark smile. William merely glared and pointed out past the boundaries of his land. Ivan turned and stalked away.
Many feared King William, too kind, but in time the threat was forgotten and thoughts turned to that not too distant summer when Alfred and Arthur would meet…
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The day was bright and sunny. A blond chamberlain stood upon a tower excitedly chuckling upon sighting the guests through his scope. "Like, oh here they come! Hehe!" Sliding down he sounded the trumpet to announce the arrival.
King William began. "Dear Elizabeta, as lovely as ever." The queen smiled charmingly. "And who might this strapping man be? Young prince Alfred, no doubt." He winked. Elizabeta returned it.
"Welcome to our fair kingdom your highness, and to you little prince." Arthur hopped down from his horse. William nudged him forward Elizabeta did the same with Alfred.
"Go on, Alfred." She giggled nervously when he wouldn't move. "Dear, go on."
"Mom…" He begged.
"Alfred." She chastised lightly. He sighed and marched over to the waiting Arthur.
"Hello Prince Arthur, I'm very pleased to meet you." Alfred forced himself to say.
"Pleased to meet you; Prince Alfred." Arthur said with a bow. When he looked up his host was already walking back to his mother. He frowned.
"Ah, ah, ah." Elizabeta gave a twirl of her finger and Alfred turned around irritably. He took Arthur's hand and kissed it as quickly as he could. Then scrubbed at his mouth using his sleeve. Arthur rubbed off the kiss on his shirt.
'I can't believe I'm stuck with him all summer! I'll bet he doesn't wrestle, hunt, or box!'
'He looks conceited.'
'What a total bummer!'
'If I get lucky, I'll get chicken pox.'
"So happy you could come!"
"So happy to be here!"
'How I'd like to run.' They thought.
"This is not my idea…"
"This isn't my idea…"
"Of fun!" Sung the princes.
The families moved inside the castle and while Arthur and Alfred dueled with wooden swords the parents discussed. Not noticing when Arthur tripped Alfred on the stair steps and then pounced, a fight breaking out.
"The children seem to get along quite nicely!" Elizabeta said.
"We'll join our lands if this arrangement clicks!" William returned.
"My dear King William, that's my point. Precisely."
"It's such good parenting."
"And politics."
"So happy we agree."
"I think we've got a deal." William said.
"Alfred's quite a catch."
"This is my idea!"
Elizabeta cut him off. "This is my idea!"
"Of a match!" They both sang. As the two princes ran past, both were caught and held away from each other.
"And such fun!" The queen laughed.
-A few years later-
Over in William's lands, the king was calling up to his son in his room.
"Good heavens, child! Don't dawdle! We can't keep Alfred waiting!"
Arthur sighed and yelled down any excuse he could think up. "I haven't packed or washed my hair and father I get seasick!"
In Elizabeta's castle much the same was happening as she came in Alfred's room to find him shooting arrows at a badly drawn picture of Arthur.
"They soon will be arriving. Is that the respect you're showing?"
"You make me kiss his hand again, I swear I'm gonna be sick!" He gagged.
They met up at the docks, William cheerfully meeting Elizabeta.
"One day prince Alfred will be his intended!"
"Splendid!" She replied.
A boy with brown hair and a curl sticking out from the side shot a tomato from a slingshot at Arthur. He and Alfred laughed as the prince glared down at them.
'We've tried all summer, but we just can't lose him!' Alfred thought as he and his new friend Lovino slid down the stair banister. Arthur tried to follow, but crashed at the bottom of the steps.
"Hey, guys! Wait up!" He shouted after them.
"Quick, put on some speed." Lovino whispered. The both ran up a rope ladder into a tree house on the palace grounds. Then pulled it up as Arthur arrived.
"When picking teams…"
"Or friends…"
"I'd never choose him."
"You think he'd take a hint and learn to read." Lovino unfurled a sign at Arthur that said 'No girls allowed' a dark grin followed. The younger prince growled.
"This really isn't fair."
"We really couldn't care!" They remarked.
"Boys it's all or none!" He kicked a support beam and the whole fort came crashing down.
Arthur wound up leaving the castle with several injuries, but it wasn't as bad as the terrible twits who had injuries and were being chewed out by Elizabeta.
"This is not my idea…" He groaned.
"This isn't my idea…"
"Of fun."
-More years later-
The servants in their homes whispered around the growing teens.
"Long before they met, Arthur and Alfred were destined to be wedded. However, anyone could see, the only point on which they didn't disagree… was that the very thought of summer time, was dreaded."
Another visit rolled around with both participants trying to avoid it.
Alfred complained to Lovino. "He tries to talk me into playing dress up." He gestured to Arthur wearing a crown. "He's always flirting with the castle guards!"
Lovino smirked. "I think you really sort of like him, fess up."
"I'd like him better if he'd lose at cards." As they played the game, Alfred put his cards down with Lovino giving him signals from behind Arthur.
"Four 7's and a 10."
"I think I've won again." A smirk followed.
"Every time, he's won!" They sighed.
"This is my idea."
"This isn't my idea…"
"Of fun."
The townspeople spoke as the 'couple' rode through town in the royal carriage.
"We need a royal wedding. I'd love to be invited." Called the women to the teens. Arthur waved and Alfred teased him.
"At least we'll get a holiday, to rest our plows and axes." The men mused.
"Some day these two will marry. Two lands will be united." As the guest prince boarded the ship a tomato hit Alfred in the face and anyone that was looking at the ship could see Arthur tossing a slingshot into the sea.
"And with some luck their marriage may result in lower taxes."
-Couple years more-
'What if Arthur doesn't go for the merger?' William wrote the queen in worry.
She wrote back. 'Urge him!'
The parents both tried to reason with the young adults. But the doors were closed before they could be fully opened and unbeknownst to either prince simultaneous woes were spoken.
"For as long as I remember we've been told we'd someday wed. Every June until September…"
"All their pushing and annoying hints!" Elizabeta pushed Alfred to the ball room.
"I've got bruises with their fingerprints." Arthur was lifted by his arms and carried there.
The door closed as Alfred tried to escape. 'I can do much better, I am sure!'
'He's so immature!' Arthur thought.
They both turned slowly and awe washed over their features. A smile on every face looking in and on the princes' faces as well.
'I see him smiling and my knees start buckling. I see inside him and my doubts are gone.' Arthur felt lighter than air.
Alfred was amazed. 'He started out as such an ugly duckling. And somehow suddenly became a swan.'
'So happy to be here.'
'Til now I never knew.'
'It is you I've been dreaming of.' They joined in the middle of the room and danced slowly, eyes never parting.
'This is my idea.' Arthur.
'This is my idea.' Alfred.
"What a good idea, such a charming and romantic notion!" Chorused the king and queen. Flying in behind them were servants and cooks and musicians all singing along.
"This is my idea, such a good idea, what a good idea, such a powerful and magic potion. This is exactly my idea of Love…"
The couple seemed oblivious to the gazes on them, still dancing and enjoying the closeness.
'This is my idea.'
'This is my idea.'
'This is my idea… of Love.' A proper kiss was shared between them. A perfect moment of everlasting love.
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Pretty good, huh? What could possibly ruin this beautiful scene?
Review to find out, because otherwise I'm not moving the plot an inch.