Author Note

I'm going to do all three Fable stories as a self insert because I really love the franchise, and I've wanted to write this story for ages. I started a while back and have been typing up chapters for a while. Now the first one is finished.

I had this cool idea that Gothic could reincarnate down his own bloodline so he'll have a body to be born into when the Hero is needed again. He will remember each life, so he will need less training each time as he'll be remembering rather than learning.

The first of these stories will be the shortest and not that interesting as Hero Gothic doesn't know enough abouts what is going on the changes things that much and it doesn't gain his full power till the end, but worth reading as the ending will be unexpected.

Also if you find a few things that don't make sense, you should know that its meant a little confusing and things get explained in the next story when Theresa has gathered all of the facts.

Hero Gothic I

Part 1

Oakvale – Albion

"Come on, wake up!" a voice said.

I'd been dreaming again. Remembering an old life, one that was becoming harder to recall everyday. I'd been here for what felt like years, although I couldn't really tell for sure how long it had been since I had died, but I had passed on that much I knew as the event was firmly fixed in my mind.

Only I hadn't really moved on it was more like I'd started again. I wasn't sure if I'd actually been reborn or if I'd been turned into a child and somehow inserted into this world. It was hard to tell because everyone here talked as if they had known me for years, but I had no long term memories of knowing them.

When I fully returned to reality, assuming that any of this was real, I found my head resting in my hands and that I was sitting on the porch outside the house. I'd never seen this place as my home. Which made it good that I didn't have to stay here in the long run.

Sadly that would only happen when a lot of people here was horrible killed, and what made that even worse was there nothing I could do prevent it. No one here would ever believe a kid if he told them bandits would attack, and I lacked the skills needed to even defend myself never mind anyone else.

"Daydreaming again, were you?" the voice asked "Just like your mother; mind always wandering, well, let wander off and find your sister, will you?".

I hid my wince upon hearing the word 'mother' as she was never around, so I'd never gotten attached. Instead I was being raised, again, by some guy who either was or at least seemed to think he was my father. It was annoying because I'd already grown up once, and I'd done fine without a father the last time so I didn't think I needed one now.

"Sure" I replied "Where is she?"

I assumed that she was where she always was, but since I was making an effort not to get attached to people I tried not to think about such things.

"She's out playing by the Barrow Fields gate" he needlessly told me "Daydreaming as well".

She didn't daydream really, she had visions of some sort that were about what was to come. However while Theresa might be able to see the future, I knew a lot more about what was going to happen than she did.

"Remember, you haven't given her a birthday present yet" my so called father then added.

Hearing that made me realise that today was the day this life would come to an end. I knew I couldn't save anyone as a helpless child, so long ago I'd decided to simply go through the motions so that I'd end up a the Hero's Guild. Then once I'd been trained I'd be able to make a difference and I'd be able to avenge all these people. Assuming I cared too by the time I was an adult.

"Don't tell me you forgot to get her one?" Brom asked me, pointlessly given that he knew I hadn't "Well I'm not bailing you out this time, son".

I gritted my teeth when he called me son, but I'd become something of an expert at hiding my true feelings so he didn't notice.

"Hmm, I tell you what, I'll give you a copper piece for each good deed you do around Oakvale, that should be enough to buy her a present, now get moving and stay out of trouble" Brom told me.

Unlike in the game they didn't just have gold coins here, in fact I'd only seen copper and silver pieces, and that was more than enough in these parts as most people traded rather than paid for things with cash. This family had real money because my 'mother' got lots of coins as rewards for doing quests. Which meant Brom had money to spend on educating his children about morals.

"I will" I said as I headed down the road

Even if there had been something I could say or do to save this village it was too late now. All I could do now was let events play out which meant doing good deeds, so I could earn five coins and buy a crappy box of chocolates for someone who wasn't really my sister.

Soon enough I spotted a little girl looking around for something, she was upset so I would have helped her even without a reward. After all I wasn't bad person.

"Lose something?" I enquired.

It had been a long time since I'd played the first Fable game and while I knew this girl had lost her teddy I didn't know where it was.

"I've lost Rosie! I left her behind and I can't remember where. Her stuffing needs changing today and I can't find her! Please help!" the small child requested of me.

As heroic quests went this was a milk run, but I figured that it was best to start out small.

"Sure, what's she look like?" I asked.

I half expected to see a crudely drawn poster with the words 'Have You Seen My Teddy' pasted on a nearby wall.

"She's a lovely little furry bear with a blue patch on her back"

Well that narrowed it down at least. There weren't that many children in the area and therefore not that many Teddy Bears, so it would just be a matter of checking that her toy hadn't gotten mixed in with some other child's things.

"I will keep an eye out for her" I promised the little girl.

At that point I had to leave as I was having horrible mental images of the child lying dead in a ditch, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out a way to save her life. She wouldn't just go and hide somewhere until the morning, and if I somehow managed to convince her run far away she'd most likely end up being eaten by wolves.

After putting aside such dark thoughts, I saw a larger boy around my age, physically at least, pushing around a small kid. I loathed bullies so I decided to step in.

"What the hell you think you doing?!" I yelled.

It was the kid who was getting bullied who replied.

"Get him off me! Please help! He goes around the town beating up anyone smaller than him but you look strong, I bet you could scare him off for good!" the little boy begged.

Then I realised that I had no idea how to fight. I didn't even know if I could be a Hero, but the worse the bully could do me was give me a bleeding nose and things like that didn't seem so bad when you remembered dying.

I just walked up to the bully and hit him as hard as I could. I'd closed my fist, which meant I hurt my hand, but the kid picking on others was a lot worse off than me.

"I'm sorry! I'll leave him alone, just please don't hit me again!" the boy said as he ran off to find his Mummy.

Hitting him had been really satisfying. I'd been bullied during my first childhood so that had been payback.

"Thank you! You stopped him good! Thank you" the boy said while handing me the teddy bear with the blue patch "I'll let you look after Rosie, she'll be safe with you!"

As I headed back to where the little girl was waiting for me I reached the part of the village where the warehouses were.

"Oh, thank goodness!" a loud voice called out "Listen, lad, could you do me a favour?"

While the sun was no longer high the sky it wasn't going to set just yet so I knew I had time.

"What's the problem?" I asked.

He was just going to request that I guard the place for him while he went for a piss, and that was no big deal.

"I've got to...er, you know, answer a call of nature, stay here and watch this stock for me, there's a good lad, just stand between those two stacks and don't move!" he instructed.

That seemed simply enough

"Right won't be long!" he said while running off.

I stood between the two stacks and looked around. My feet didn't move but my head kept turning so that I would see any trouble coming. Soon enough a small child approached me. The boy had a look of mischief in his eyes I'd seen in it in the mirror once than once.

"Can I help you?" I enquired of the young lad.

I was filled with that sense of importance a kid gets when given adult responsibilities. It was embarrassing how much I was enjoying this.

"My cousin says that the barrel in these warehouses might have stuff in them" the boy informed me "So while he's away, let' smash his barrels up and see what's inside!".

I just shook my head.

"You're too scared" teased the brat "You're just a big blubbering girl!"

Hearing that made me roll my eyes. When it came to name calling this little guy was a total amateur.

"Come on!" urged the kid "Let's go and break some stuff."

It was amazing how not tempted I was to do that.

"Come on!" the child pleaded "There's still time before he gets back!"

Rather than keep my mouth shut, as would have been wise, I responded.

"No thank you" I said.

I could only hope this would be over soon as the kid's voice was already starting to get on my nerves.

"Fine have it your way" the brat remarked as the man who should be guarding the crates came running back.

The job was well done. Not that it mattered as this place would most likely be burned to the ground in a matter of hours. Which had made the whole thing rather meaningless.

"Thanks, lad you've done me a big favour, I'll let your dad know what a splendid watchman you made" he said

I just nodded in reply and walked off. It wasn't long before I spotted the little girl whose Teddy Bear I had recovered.

"Look who I found" I said holding out the bear "Rosie's back!".

I'd always seen Teddy Bears as boys, but this one was a girl the toy even smelled feminine.

"You found Rosie! Thank you so much!" the girl said before heading home "Come on Rosie, let's change your stuffing"

I was just about to go and look for more good deeds when someone got my attention so I went over to talk to the gent.

"Hello" I said.

This was the merchant I'd been planning to come see once I had enough money for the box of chocolates.

"Hello, lad!" the businessperson greeted "I'm a Trader, I wander the world buying and selling wares, especially for fine folk such as your good self. Some little girl I spoke to said that you have a sister and it's her birthday".

In a small village like this everyone knew everything going on because they hadn't invented TV yet, so there was nothing else to do after dark other than talk to each other. Since I was a loner by nature I found it off-putting, but I still listened to what people had to say.

"And it seems you haven't got her a present yet" the trader added "It just so happens that I have a rather nice box of sweets here that are guaranteed to put a smile on any sister face, for only four copper pieces"

Given that a pint of beer cost two copper pieces that meant the candy wasn't that great, but it wasn't as if I was loaded with cash.

"I will have to get back to you on that" I then said.

First of all I needed to find out if I'd done enough to get the needed money out of 'Dad'.

"Maybe later, but hurry, before I eat them myself!" the Trader joked.

I wasn't worried as no merchant with a brain would partake of his own stock as that would cut into his profits. Besides it wouldn't take me that long to get a few coins.

" Yahoo! Come here a second" a woman called before I'd even made a dozen steps towards the house I lived in.

"What is it Mrs?" I polity enquired.

There was no sense not being well mannered.

"Do you know where's that filthy layabout husband of mine is?" the local asked me before supplying her own answer "With some woman, I don't doubt".

Since I'd heard this lecture before I was tempted to zone out, like I had been doing for what seemed like years now, but somehow I found the strength to listen.

"I run his house. I bring up his children, and what do I get in return?" she asked rhetorically "Nothing!"

Unlike in the world I'd been born in divorce was actually rather rare here, and there wasn't even town hall around to register for such a thing, so all this woman could do was complain about her husband.

"If you find him let me know, won't you?" she requested.

That lecture had been a lot shorter than normal so I was willing to agree to anything if it got me away from the woman before she could lay into me about how evil men were.

"I will" I promised.

It wasn't long before I found him as all I had to do was following the sound giggling that came from around the back of a house. When I went to investigate I spotted the terrible husband with another woman.

"Hello" I said

The one good thing about being a kid is that people always assume your dumber than you actually are, or at least a lot more innocent, so they figure that you'll believe their lies, and it was sometimes possible to use that to your advantage.

"What?! I was just...I'm...I've never met this woman before" the cheating man lied "Who is she?"

He could not act at all. Even if I had only been a child I wouldn't have been fooled for a moment.

"Look, sonny. Keep your mouth shut about this, right? My wife's at home with our little ones and I'm supposed to be working" explained the bad husband "but a man should be entitled to do what he like, don't you think?"

Not when you got married, as soon as you exchanged those rings, a man lost his freedom. Which was why I'd never gotten married, and hopefully never would.

"Tell you what, if you keep this little secret, I'll give you a silver piece" the man offered.

That was tempting a whole silver piece could buy a lot of chocolate.

"Okay" was my answer.

I made my facial expression as blank as possible so the asshole would mistakenly think that I didn't understand exactly what was happening here.

"Just don't tell my wife I can't let her find out about this" the bloke instructed as he handed me my money.

"Sure" I said while walking off,

I then returned to the upset wife, but I did so causally in case the cheater looked to see where I was going.

"Hey Mrs. I found him" I informed the woman who surname I had forgotten.

It had hardly taken any time so she could have located him if she had really wanted to do.

"You have?" she asked, seeking more details.

Which I was more than happy to supply.

"He's over there with another woman" I said while pointing at the house her husband was hiding behind "They must be good friends because they hugging a lot and kissing too".

Not for the first time I figured I might end up an evil Hero as screwing with people was kinda fun.

"Right, I'm going to turn him into Balverine food! Thank you, young sir, for telling me" she said before running off

Seconds later I heard.

"WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON THAT MAN!"

While her voice then lowered, it was still loud enough for everyone to hear what she said next.

"I ought to chop it right off! ! My mother was right about you!" we could all now hear.

Now even I was feeling a little sympathy for the guy, but since I had betrayed him I decided to get out of sight. I had more than enough money for the chocolate now, but since I wanted to keep the silver piece I returned 'home' for my hard earned cash.

"Well done lad. Here's your reward for those good deeds" Brom said with a smile while handing me the money I had earn "Well, I think you may have enough there, son.

By now the sun was starting to set so I ran down towards the travelling merchant as fast my skinny legs would allow me

"You're lucky, I've still got these sweets" the Trader said once I had found him "Give me five copper pieces and they're yours"

I couldn't help put haggling when I heard the price increase.

"You said it was four earlier" I pointed out.

I felt I was being ripped off here.

"That was this afternoon when I had a lot more stock" the trader explained to me "Supply and demand young man. I have limited supply and you have demand".

More likely he knew that I was running out of time and had decided to jack up the price as he knew I didn't have time to haggle.

"Fine whatever" I said as I handed over the silver piece and took my change "Just give me the sweets".

I finally got the box that was the object of my quest. Now all I had to do was to take the item to my 'sister' and I was done.

"Young sir, they're yours" the Trader said as I ran off "Wish your sister happy birthday from me now, won't you?"

I then headed outside the village and I approached the fields where my 'sister' was playing under a large oak tree.

"Hello, Gothic" Theresa greeted.

For the life of me I had no why she kept calling me that as it wasn't my name, and she freaked me in other ways that I didn't like to think about.

"I'm sorry if I woke you up last night, it was another one of those dreams" Theresa then said.

She had prophetic dreams as well as visions, they were nothing compared to my knowledge of the future, but she at least talked about what she knew. Not that anyone but me ever listened.

"Really? What was this one about?" I asked.

Already some of her predictions had come to pass so they were worth listening to.

"I was standing in this field when something happened, but I can't remember what" she told me.

Well that wasn't much to go on, and I got the sense that she was purposely not telling me something. Which no doubt meant that she had foreseen the bandit attack.

"That's it?" I asked her "You didn't see this week lotto numbers?".

Not that they had a lottery here.

"Never mind that. I'm still waiting for my present!" Theresa said as her mood changed.

Nothing makes a girl happier than getting free stuff. Which seemed a little shallow to me, but mystic powers or not she was only a child.

"Happy birthday!" I told her while holding the box out "Three guesses as to what it is".

She only needed one.

"I knew you were going to bring me chocolates. It is just like my dream" she said as she took the box.

The sun was now setting and I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I could almost see and hear what was to come.

"Wait! There's something wrong" Theresa then said.

I sighed and tried to think of something I could say or do that would someone make this all better.

"Sorry" I told the Seer "I wish I could have done something".

Before Theresa could say anything about that someone screamed.

"Bandits!" a voice then called out.

I felt my eyes widen in horror as a man dropped dead not meters away from where I was standing.

"It's really happening...they're here! You've got to hide!" Theresa shouted at me

In the background I heard yells that meant more bandits approaching. Which meant that it was time for me to hide and try not to watch as most of the people I knew died. But even as I hid I didn't look away simply because I couldn't.