A/N: So I did a lot of editing cuz I looked back at what I wrote and cringed …if you read this before you might see that the quality has in fact improved some, though the main plot still remains the same no worries, parts will be changed, grammar will be better (hopefully), and it just over all flows more naturally…if you are reading this just now lucky you and no worries just ENJOY

Disclaimer: You know what this is so don't make me actually write it out.

Chapter 1: Bedtime stories, Beliefs, and Boredom

I don't remember much about my grandmother…I was very young when she passed on, however of what I do remember always makes me smile or laugh. I know that after she passed on things got harder and I became the very meaning of the word lonely…I still am…However there is one memory that won't ever seem to fade nor does it make the greatest amount of sense, I suppose that's to be expected though because you see…my grandmother always was a rather… exotic woman…

"Now listen closely Asuna…" Asuna's grandmother said leaning forward towards the young girl so as to insure she had her full attention, "People will always say that fairies are nothing but myths, however I'll tell you right now; that's a lie. They are as real as you and me. Don't let anyone convince you differently." She said, face full with passion and not an ounce of doubt in her words. She was dead serious and determined not to let the girl's cold hearted mother fill her with false logic and reason. She would not fail this child like she failed the child's mother.

"But Grandma…If they are real how come no one has ever seen one?" Asuna replied as doubtful as ever, she always was a child that went more for facts than fairy tales.

"Because fairies don't take kindly to those who state them a myth and well…" Her grandmother cut off a look of hesitation and sadness.

"Well what?"

"It's a sad story maybe I'll tell you when you're older…Anyway the point is because of these rather tragic events between humans and fairies…" she trailed off for only a moment, but that was all Asuna needed to jump in with the questions.

"What tragic events? You haven't told me anything about any tragic events!" she interrupted with a frustrated tone, but soon resorting to pouting after as her grandmother didn't seem to be budging.

"As I said it's a story for when you're older…if you still believe in them by then that is" She responded with a smile.

"Ah geez grandma I'm six years old! I'm a big girl now!"

Laughter sounded through the air

"Yes your all grown up I see…then maybe we should start looking into more proper chores and a job for the big girl no?" While the sarcasm was clear in her voice, Asuna was much too little to understand and missed it entirely.

"What?! No I take it back, I'm halfway." The little girl interjected trying her best to save herself from the horrors of such a thing as responsibilities.

"Halfway?" Her grandmother asked with a single raised eyebrow.

"I'm not big and I'm not little! I'm halfway!" was the clever response.

"Oh, I see…so you found yourself a loophole."

"What's a loophole?" that was a good question...the kind her grandmother figured was too complex for a six year old to understand the answer to.

"Ah…Never mind that, as I was saying before ; since those events no one has seen a fairy, the story is that they left back to their own world and refuse to interact with humans anymore…" The girls grandmother sighed as she looked out the window feeling the heavy burden of what her ancestors did so many years before, "Every action has a consequence Asuna, remember that." She stated with a serious face as the little girl just tilted her head curiously.

"But if you can't see them then how do you know that they exist!" was her only response still doubting her grandmother's words.

"Because the world is filled to the brim with magical things we can't see or explain, they can be as simple as new life or as great as a miracle, Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing. "

"When's the last time someone saw a fairy then?" Asuna inquired finally getting into the idea.

"A long long time ago…generations before you or me, long enough for people to write them off as myths and forget about them…" she explained her voice sounding dark, like the words were poison.

"Then why do you remember them?"

"I don't, I have nothing solid to base this belief off of other than the words of my mother, as she had her mother before and so on…I just chose to believe."

"Oh, then I'll believe with you grandma!"

After that she smiled, patted me on the head and I went home. My mother being a workaholic was and still is to this day never home, my father left long before my birth, leaving only my grandmother to take care of me throughout the day. However that was the last conversation I ever had with her, that night grandma had a stroke and after laying on the cold floor all night, passed on.

It was soon after that that I decided there couldn't be any possible way that something so perfectly magical as "fairies" could exist in such a cold world, Reality is what it is…I didn't have the time or the want to waste it on thinking about fantasies…Because the cold reality was my grandmother was dead, and I was so very lost and lonely… I still am.

Years later within the hidden realm of Alfheim

A loud sigh could be heard throughout the massive room, two guards stood on either side of the room's exit. One rolled their eyes while the other just shook his head, this had to be at least the fifteenth time in the last hour that the boy had done that.

"What's the point of having royalty? All we do is sit around and let other people do everything else for us…Do you have any idea how boring that is?" the young black haired teen (sprawled across a massive and rather elegant bed in the middle of the room) complained, mostly to himself as he stared up at the ceiling, for what seemed like the millionth time that evening.

"You know what kid, that sounds like a pretty good deal to me…Do you know what it's like to be broke and have to do everything for yourself and sometimes others? " came the slightly irritable response of one of the guards, though if you looked closely you would catch the sight of him holding back a smile. He could understand just from guarding over the boy 24/7 that his life was indeed rather dull.

"How bout we trade places, I'd rather be broke then sit around for the rest of my life." the teen responded as he sat up to look the guard in the eye.

He was an interesting guard. Though that was to be expected as the Prince always seemed to surround himself with the most unique kinds of fairies. Normal fair folk in his company was apparently too much to ask for of the strange Prince, this of course meant the personal guards he selected himself were never far from such criteria's. While this guard could be seen as normal at first glance, his rather exotic behavior and little piece of rebellion to the uniform (a red bandanna tied around his reddish hair) would tell you otherwise. Not to mention that he's never afraid to speak his opinion.

"Nah your life is a little to…fanciful for me."

There was a moment of silence as they both just stared each other down "Klein…" the teen started breaking the silence, "One of these days I'm going to throw you into the dungeon." He finished with a playful smile that few ever get to witness; of course it wasn't a real threat. After all who would throw one of their only friends into the dungeon? If anything that would only add to his boredom.

"Sure you are." Klein agreed playing along, "Just remember the day you do you'll lose the one person you dump all your petty burdens on…such as boredom."

"Non-sense I'll still have Agil here to drive insane." He replied with a false death glare still worthy enough to send chills down the average fairies back; the guards, now immune to it, had seen it multiple times before and were at first one of those unfortunate few. It didn't help that the young prince's eyes were gray in color, nor the fact that he seemed to love the color black seeing as they had yet to see him wear any other color. Even so it was quite the dent to their pride back then, to be shaken by an eight year olds glare…Yet neither of the two had left his side since…There was just something about the young Prince before them that drew everyone in and made them want to stay at his side.

"I think I'll throw you in there today" the teen continued with a nod of his head and a straight face like he just came to a serious decision.

"You said that yesterday, and the day before that too." Klein responded, laughter in his eyes.

"Whatever."

"Ah Kirito, your birthday is tomorrow correct? You'll be turning seventeen, any big plans for the celebration?" The other guard piped in, mostly because this conversation was well beyond old to him. He was a massive man...it wasn't that he was fat in fact he was very fit, he just seemed to tower over every one and was rather big.

"Come on Agil do you really need confirmation from him? Of course he's probably planning something outrageous! This is Kirito we're talking about, trouble follows him everywhere." Klein stated with a shake of his head.

"Hey, Klein I think your forgetting I'm still in the room." Kirito spoke with a scowl

"Nah Princess I couldn't ever forget you, especially since Agil and I are always by your side." Klein stated like it was an obvious fact, a goofy grin spread across his face throughout the whole time he was talking.

"Who are you calling princess?!"

"Except when we switch out with the other two guards…" Agil stated ignoring the pissed of response from Kirito.

"Aww come on Agil, stop one upping me!" Klein groaned annoyed.

Agil laughed, "It's not my fault you say stupid things so often." He stated quite bluntly to which Kirito could be heard mumbling something off to the side that sounded vaguely like "The idiot."

His insult was of course ignored not to anyone's surprise. His two guards were too busy bickering at each other to notice really.

Kirito groaned, if he had to listen to another one of these arguments… "Hey can't we go for a flight around town or something? I'm getting stir crazy here." He cut in before it could get worse.

The argument immediately halted as they turned to respond to the question "No." they both stated without a single hesitation or thought on the matter.

"You didn't even consider it…Why not?"

"Your mother specifically ordered us the keep you in your room today. She doesn't want you causing ruckus the day before your birthday."

Kirito rolled his eyes annoyed, "Yes because that makes sense..." he stated with heavy sarcasm leaking from every word he spoke. "But you know-"

"No." they both cut in

"You don't even know what I was going to say." Kirito dead panned.

"You were going to say something along the lines of: what she doesn't know won't hurt her." Agil answered bluntly.

Kirito's face deflated noticeably. "Ok, so you did know…"

"Honestly I fear the day you're named King." Klein stated with a shake of his head.

"I'm not going to become king."

"What?!" Klein screamed practically falling over in shock.

Always the dramatic one

"What do you mean you won't be king? You're the only heir." Agil asked baffled.

The land of Alfheim was doomed based upon his answer.

Both guards stared, waiting for his answer, Klein staying on the floor figuring if he fainted it would hurt less that way.

"I just don't want to."

Agil sat down on the floor next to Klein in exasperation.

Alfheim really was doomed.

The three were only allowed a moment more of silence before it was abruptly broken…

"Kirito!" a beautiful fairy woman called as she barged into the room.

Kirito looked at the woman in irritation. He loved his mom he really did but…

"Mom…why is it so hard to knock?"

She has this tendency to drive him nuts.

"Hmm? Why does it matter your never doing anything anyway?" the Queen asked with genuine confusion on her face.

Kirito's left eye twitched in frustration yet the rest of his face remained as stoic as ever, "I would be if you didn't keep me in here so often. But that…that's well beyond the point, just knock when you want in my room." She stared at him for a long moment, blinked, and then quickly backed up a step so she was directly standing in the door way and knocked twice. Kirito dead panned, "No mom, you're a little out of order there…next time do it before you even open the door."

She also wasn't the sharpest tool in the box

"Oh..."

"Ah geez how are you even running a country?!"

Well he lasted a whole five minutes at least

"Never mind that" She stated with a smile, "About your party I was thinking…" silence filled the room as she seemed to trail off from what she was about to say.

"What? You were thinking what?" he prodded when it didn't seem like she was going to continue on her own.

"Huh?" She stared at him uncomprehending what he meant.

Kirito just sighed, "You…you forgot didn't you?"

"Ah! I did! Oh and it was important too, I just know it was! But I lost my train of thought when I saw your guards on the floor. Why are they on the floor?! Did you do something? Are they dead?" Klein and Agil leaped to their feet as the queen rambled on; clearly she was well beyond flustered.

The Queen's sanity has always been an arguable matter since the king had passed away, especially when she was high in stress. She has always had a rather lively personality as well; add her strange anxiety problems and you really wonder how someone with such a colorful personality could give birth to such a stoic child.

Or rule a kingdom (something Kirito clearly wonders everyday)

"N-no milady we um… we were just-" Klein stumbled trying to calm her down.

The queen screamed instead, Kirito just casually plugged his ears with his fingers like this was nothing, after all he had seen it plenty of times before. Klein and Agil screamed in response only adding to the chaos. 'The idiots' was all Kirito had to think on the matter.

"Zombies! Undead! Help!"

"Oh dear…We really need to do something about her anxiety, it's bordering on delusional." Kirito muttered to himself unfazed as he looked around the room for something he could use to fix the situation.

"No you're mistaken, were alive! See!" Klein yelled over her in a desperate attempt to calm her down, of course him yelling only made it worse.

"Klein, don't yell at the queen you idiot!" Agil half shouted at Klein annoyed.

"I'm starting to get a head ache…" Kirito muttered as his eyes landed on the perfect thing to solve the noise problem. "Bingo."

"HEL-" Her sentence was cut off abruptly as large book collided with her face.

"Ow!" was all she said as she rubbed her nose and stooped down to pick up the book and glare at it.

"Mom, go drink a cup of tea and take a nap. They're obviously alive." The woman stared up at her son for a long moment before nodding in understanding, she really lost her cool there and she knew it.

"Ah…Sorry sorry, I was up all night filing papers; really you know my anxiety only gets this bad when I don't sleep well…" she mumbled embarrassed

"No, I'm starting to wonder if it's something else…" Kirito stated completely serious.

The queen frowned, "Very funny Kirito." She sighed, "However I think I'll take that suggestion of yours and catch some sleep, tea sounds rather nice right now too." She muttered more to herself than her son.

"Then why are you still standing here?"

She looked at her son again for a long moment, frown deepening.

"Honestly… you need to fine tune those manners of yours young man." She stated with a huff.

Kirito just rolled his eyes, "Good night mom." Was his only response

The queen's face softened up as she smiled, "Good night Kirito" before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind her softly.

The two guards stared after her in disbelief, as Kirito flopped back on his bed with a sigh.

"You threw a book at her-" Agil started

"and she didn't react to it very much at all.." Klein continued.

"yet she scolded you for a little attitude." Agil finished.

They both turned to stare at the young prince in disbelief, only to find him passed out on his bed.

Klein just shook his head, "There is something very wrong with this family." He mumbled quietly.

Agil sighed, "Keep it up and you really will land in the dungeon, saying things like that about them." He chuckled.

"I can't help it if it is true though…" was Klein's only response.

Human realm

"Asuna! Wait for me!" Now eighteen years old, since a couple months back, Asuna turned around at the sound of her name being called, long coppery hair bellowing in the wind as she did so. She smiled, but that smile was quickly replaced with that of a look of confusion.

"Silica? I thought your school didn't get out for at least an hour more..."

"Yeah your school is way better than ours, but we got out earlier today!" the young girl by the name of Silica said with a big smile.

"Ah, that makes sense, how is school going for you anyway? You're a first year right?"

"Not for much longer!" Despite the difference in age and grade, as Asuna is a third year, the two were incredibly close. They lived right next door to each other since they were little kids and with Asuna's Mom always being at work and Silica living with her rather grumpy grandparents they quickly became each other's friends. The two had met about a month after Asuna's grandmother passed and had been like sisters since.

"Ah, you're right, there's only one week left till summer break huh? Well I suppose for me its graduation, I'll have to start looking into jobs and colleges and the like… Joy." To say Asuna wasn't all that excited was an understatement, she knew she would be spending an average boring summer alone in her house, as Silica would be staying at her family's summer house for most of the summer and Asuna herself was not very social. Not to mention she hated all the planning that one had to do for their future, in her opinion life was too unpredictable to be planned.

"You're just going to sit in your house and play video games all summer aren't you." Silica stated with a frown.

Asuna laughed, "Well do you have any better suggestions as of what I should spend it doing?"

"Yes, you should go get yourself a boyfriend." Was the blunt response

Asuna dead panned, of all things it was always that choice that Silica jumped to. It wasn't like she had all that much right to talk about it like it was a necessity either, seeing as she was lacking her own boyfriend.

She sighed, "I wish it were that simple but you know me, even if I managed to find a guy it would only end horribly."

"Not if you let down your guard a little, You hardly let even me in, if we hadn't met all those years ago I doubt we would have ever become as close as we are now or friends at all for that matter."

Asuna just sighed again, "Yes, yes you've made your point." she said in exasperation as they came to a stop in front of their houses, "I'll see you tomorrow." she said with a smile.

"Huh? Why can't we spend time together tonight?"

"I can't, my mom wants me to go through grandma's stuff tonight… She wants to start renting out her house." Asuna explained with a clear look of exasperation. Her grandmother's house was a rather secluded little cottage at the edge of a park forest, it seemed like something pulled directly out of a fairy tale, however despite its size it was jam packed with things which meant it would take a lot of effort to clean out.

"And that doesn't bother you?" Silica asked with clear concern.

"Which part, the cleaning or the renting?"

"The renting part." She answered.

"It does but it's unreasonable of me to feel that way, at the end of the day it's still just an empty house. Keeping it that way isn't going to bring my grandmother back so…I think it's for the best."

"Oh, I see…Well see you tomorrow before I leave ok? Oh and if you need any help-"

"No you have a lot of packing and planning to do, don't worry I'll be just fine." Asuna interrupted with a kind smile. Silica smiled back in sympathy.

"Well, if you say so…Later Asuna!"

"Bye Silica!" They both waved at each other before each heading into their own houses to get ready for the busy night ahead of them both.

Little did Asuna know that by the end of the week her entire world would be flipped upside down.

A/N: Thanks for reading I'll try to update frequently but no promises (I am in college so...) , Please review if you have the time, The more reviews there are the more motivated I will be so...See ya later