Hey Guys! Guess who's back! Yeah, so after what is a longer wait than I really wanted, I'm finally posing the first chapter of The Firebird. Man, I'm so excited to see what you guys think. I really feel like I'm stepping out on a limb with this one by combining different stories, and I hope you like it! In case you haven't read my other story in this line, I recommend you do, otherwise this might get confusing for you. Anyway, this is somewhat a prequel to Hetalia Fairytales; Part 1: Sleeping Beauty, and the story will continue to where it meets that story line... Anyway, I hope you enjoy and I'll take to you guys later!

Tino Väinämöinen/ Firebird/ Phoenix: Finland

Lukas: Norway

Emperor Wolfgang: Germinia

The Fire Bird

Prologue

Tino stood on an outside balcony on one of the towers of Athenais' castle, leaning over the marble railing as he reminisced. Tino stiffened as he heard footsteps behind him, he looked over his shoulder to see a familiar form standing in the doorway. Tino relaxed slightly and stood up straight, he turned to face his companion "Hello Elizabeta" Tino told the lead Fae in monotone.

"Hello Tino" Elizabeta replied with a soft smile. She walked over to the railing beside him and stared out into the night sky.

Tino followed her gaze and saw she was staring at a bright blue star just to the north of them. "Have you heard the story of the Blue Fairy?" Elizabeta asked him.

Tino shook his head "I can't say I have" he replied, curious as to where this conversation was going.

The corner of Elizabeta's mouth flicked into a slight smile "It's said, that if you make a wish upon the North Star with all your heart, a fairy dressed in a gown of blue starlight will come down from the heavens and grant your wish… But only if you are true of heart and your wish will not only benefit you, but those around you" Elizabeta explained to the young prince, her eyes never leaving the star.

Tino stared at her curiously for a moment "You are not quite what you seem are you Elizabeta?" he asked quietly.

Elizabeta remained silent for a moment, she slowly looked to meet Tino's gaze. Her irises glowed the same diamond white he'd seen back in Hibernia's castle, sparkling with an enormous amount of magic. Elizabeta smirked at Tino "I am very much like you were when you were with Hibernia, Prince Tino. Confined to a form unlike your true one, limited to the power it allowed you to use… Am I correct?"

Tino stared at her for a second before nodding "It was never easy" he murmured.

"Tell me…"

Not long ago, nearly nineteen years before the Sleeping Beauty and his Prince met, and saved the kingdom from the clutches of a certain evil Fae, a young man by the name of Tino Väinämöinen lived in a small village under the rule of Emperor Wolfgang. Tino was a kind young man, with an extraordinary when it came to metalsmithing, or the making of jewelry and other fine objects. He was renowned throughout the country for his breathtaking metal skills and sought after by many a merchant in the hopes they could persuade him to work with them.

But Tino was a humble young man, he enjoyed his simple life, living with his parents and other family members. He kindly told them he would sell as much of his work as anyone ever wanted, but he would not leave the village of his birth. And so time passed, and Tino continued his trade. Just after what would be the eighteen year precursor to the end of Hibernia's curse, Tino returned home to visit his parents, only to find he'd been replaced… by a baby brother.

Even though Tino was known for his kindness, he couldn't help but feel hatred towards his sibling. Tino's parents had had another child, and not told Tino about it for nearly two years until he found out… his anger was quite understandable. His parents had named the boy Lukas… He had similar looks to those of his older brother's; blonde hair, eyes so dark blue they nearly matched the color of Tino's violet ones. However; the reason Tino's parents had hidden Lukas away, not only from Tino, but from the world as well, soon became apparent.

It was clear Lukas was, different, in a sense. When Tino asked his parents about it, they explained to the best of their ability. As it turned out, Lukas, had magical abilities. He had the ability to see mystical creatures, and had already shown promise when it came to magic skill.

Over the next few months, Tino eventually grew closer to his younger sibling, coming to love the child. And then one day, Emperor Wolfgang's soldiers showed up at the door of the family's house. They told Tino and his parents that the Emperor had heard of a child with magic abilities and wished his to be brought under the care of the royals. They also told the family they had two choices, comply and hand Lukas over to them, or die by the military's hand and have Lukas forcibly removed from them. Tino and Lukas' parents refused instantly, and closed the door on them.

Only too soon the shock of the reality of their situation hit the family. The boy's mother wept upon realizing they would lose their precious son and their father could barely contain his anger. Tino however, merely sat with Lukas, examining the playful three year-old. Tino couldn't understand why; why had his brother been chosen to bear such a gift, and he was too young to even understand why his parents and older brother were so upset. Yet, even though they knew what it might cost them, the family decided to keep Lukas from the King…

When the soldiers visited them again, the family refused once more, determination in their eyes and hearts. The soldiers grimly promised they would be back, and at that time, they would forcibly remove Lukas from his family. Tino and his parents knew there was no way they could outrun King Wolfgang's army, he was too strong a military power to ever let that happen. So the family waited; two weeks later, nearly an exact month from the soldiers' first visit to the house, the soldiers came a final time, bringing with them a sorcerer of their own.

Tino, his parents, and Lukas all stood outside their cottage, waiting for the soldiers to make their move. This time, the soldiers didn't even try to reason with the family, the sorcerer stepped forward. Several soldiers moved around him, coming to take Lukas. Tino tensed, preparing his body to spring at a moments notice. And it all went to chaos. One moment, the soldiers were reaching to grab Lukas, the next Lukas was screaming. Magic force ripped around the conflict, as Lukas clung to his mother, the soldiers to pry him away from her. The boy's father yelled and tried to fight them, only to be knocked unconscious by the sorcerer. Lukas screamed in terror once more, and a shield of deep blue magic (the same as his eyes) exploded from the nearly three year-old. The soldiers flew backward and slammed into the ground.

The sorcerer stepped forward with a snarl, and raised his hand, aiming it at Lukas. Something snapped in the back of Tino's mind. As a fiery spell was unleashed in the direction of his brother, Tino ran and threw himself in front of Lukas. There was an explosion of bright white light that temporarily blinded everyone in the area. When the light faded, everyone looked to see, where Tino had formerly been standing, a small pile… of ash. Believing their older son to be dead, Tino's parents grabbed Lukas and rushed back into the cottage with terrible screaming. The soldiers and sorcerer realized what had happened and realized, to try and take their only remaining child, would be too inhumane. They left the family to grieve in peace.

Yet because they all left the scene, no one was there when, from the ashes, poked the small head of a newborn phoenix, or firebird…

Tino, in his new form, reached near adulthood by nighttime. After realizing what had become of him, Tino stealthily peered into the cottage to see his family weeping and mourning his death. Tino wished to comfort them, yet he knew he couldn't in his current form. So Tino silently vowed to himself that he would search the land until he found a way to return to his former form. As he went to leave the cottage, Tino noticed Lukas staring at him with wide, shock full eyes. A horrible feeling of guilt and pain entered Tino's chest upon seeing his beloved younger brother in such a state.

Tino gently plucked one of his long tail feathers and dropped it through the open window. Tino took off, soaring into the night sky. He only looked back once, and saw Lukas staring out the window with wide eyes, in his hand, the long feather Tino had dropped for him.

And so Tino's journey began…

Thanks for reading guys! You have no idea how much I appreciate it. Anyway, please rate and review. And if you really liked it, feel free to favorite and both me and the story! I am also now a beta reader, so if any of my fellow writers need something to be beta read, feel free to contact me! Anyway... Hyvästi!