A/N: So this has been an epic!fic idea in my brain for a realllllly long time and i finally got it out into words. Its the most planned story I've had since MBFG so I'm super excited!

Obviously I don't own Glee, if I did Chord would still be on and Darren and Blaine would be a distant memory.

The Light in Me Will Guide You Home: Prologue

Once upon a time, in two lands far far away, a very special connection was forged. The heir to the kingdom of Valhaven, already had a strong young son, a sturdy, brave child who seemed to be perfect for the son of royalty. But on this night, the crown prince and princess' wish for another child, to marry for an alliance, to strengthen their rule, was fulfilled, in double.

The princess gave birth to healthy, though tiny, twins; a boy and girl. The prince and the king were both overjoyed by the news. Yet another son to help rule the kingdom, fight battles, and marry a foreign princess and a fair daughter, who they already could see would be quite a beauty, to marry another ruler and strengthen or create bonds with another kingdom.

The entire kingdom was lit up with fireworks that night, by order of the king, to celebrate the birth of the prince and princess. As the nurse took the small pink bundle from the crown prince and walked past the window, the baby princess lifted her tiny head to look out at the bright lights.

In the far kingdom of Rhodarea, a brown haired toddler escaped from her mother's grasp, running to look out the window. The queen followed her youngest child, kneeling beside the small princess as she gazed out the window in wonder, her eyes searching like she'd seen the most wonderful thing ever. Though the queen looked far out, she couldn't see whatever was giving the princess so much delight.

As the nurse stepped away from the window to lay the baby in her ornate cradle, and the queen scooped up her daughter, tickling her gently before tucking her into bed with a kiss, the spark that had flashed between the two young princesses, far apart yet together for a moment, was broken, not to be rekindled for many years.

As the years went on, both princesses grew, as all children of course must do. And their lives and personalities, well they were as different as the kingdoms they came from.

Young Princess Quinn of Valhaven, grew up surrounded by siblings, or so she felt. Her older brother, Finn thought he ruled them all, and in a way he did. The children rarely saw their parents and by the age of seven, the heir to the throne had all the servants running to answer his every command. Though Quinn would never say it to his face, she thought Finn was perhaps the stupidest person ever, and honestly, if he told her any more about how great an athlete he was she would strangle him.

Quinn's twin brother, Sam, was the only person who could ever calm the fiery princess down. Sam was different from Quinn and Finn, the reason he could mediate their arguments so well. While he excelled at the athletics that the kingdom prided itself on, Sam was quieter, more introverted than his siblings. Though definitely not shy, Sam had secrets, secrets he couldn't ever tell anyone, which made him more guarded than the others.

The youngest of the heirs of Valhaven was Brittany. Brittany was the brightest spot in the cold palace of Valhaven. No one could ever really be angry at Britt, least of all Quinn. Her younger sister was the only one Quinn had never yelled at in her life. Except her parents, the elegant and unapproachable king and queen; Quinn wouldn't dare cross them.

Everyone in the palace deferred first to the king, then the queen, then Finn, and then Quinn. With a snap of her fingers the blond princess could send servants running, for whatever she wished for, and she could never remember being denied a material pleasure. No one would dare say no to the young princess who even as a child, struck fear into the hearts of all those she considered her inferiors.

Princess Rachel of Rhodarea, on the other hand, was the youngest of three children, and while the oldest, Santana, and she never seemed to see eye to eye, Rachel was her brother Noah's darling, and he was her hero. Everyone in the palace was accustomed to the fact that if Noah passed, Rachel would be right behind, and often vice versa. Although it worried their parents sometimes, Noah taught Rachel everything he knew, even if it was something she maybe shouldn't know.

Rachel was the shining light in the Rhodarean palace, always skipping through the gilded halls, singing to herself or out loud. The king and queen thoroughly encouraged her music, finding singing tutors and dancing teachers and even dramatic instructors for their family's jewel. In any other family, the older two siblings might have been jealous of their spoiled baby sister, yet each of the royal children of Rhodarea was just as spoiled, given everything they could ask for by their parents; loved and treasured by all.

Yet all three children were generous, as they had been taught to be. From a young age, they'd traveled with their father to give food to the poor of the kingdom. And with all of Rachel's artistic training, she thought herself a perfect teacher for the servant's children, and everyone in the palace. The story Noah would treasure and retell far into adulthood was of the day his tiny sister coerced the king into a dance lesson, guiding him across the grand ballroom as he avoided stepping on her small toes.

But all good things have an end, or so they say. And the end of Princess Rachel's carefree childhood came a bit too soon.

A/N: So what do you think? There's a lonely little button down there that you should send some love to.