This is a story I've been wanting to write for a very long time. Because I was always interested in the idea that Prince Charming had a twin.


Prologue: Twin Sons

The last thing James remembered was being stabbed in the chest after proving himself to King Midas. But, as he looked around, the prince found that his body was lying on an altar. Father and several of the guards were watching over him, mourning his loss. "Goodbye, my son," Father said.

If he was meant to be dead – the guards were carrying his body away – how was James still around? How was he watching this? Something to look into later. But, for now, he wondered how his father was going to deal with the dragon that plagued Midas's kingdom. It seemed as if a guard wondered that as well. "Your Majesty, there is no time to grieve. If Midas learns he is dead, he will find another warrior to slay his dragon and we will never see an ounce of his gold," the guard said.

Father nodded. "Yes, yes. The kingdom must survive."

"So what are we to do?" the guard asked.

That was a good question. James watched from the front of the room, almost as if he were hovering in the room. "I have asked for help. It should be here soon," Father informed the guard.

A strange figure, like a demon, appeared behind the occupants of the room. If James was still alive, his sword would already be drawn and pressed up against the creature's neck. However, Father did no such thing. He merely grimaced at the sight at the demonic figure, when he – it might have been a demonic-looking creature, but James knew it was a male – spoke: "Oh, it's here."

"Leave us," Father said imperiously.

An order from one of the guards came and it did not take long before Father and the demonic-creature were left alone. The demon spoke: "So this is how you treat my gifts? You really must be more careful."

"He was not a gift. He was my son," Father said gruffly.

"A son I gave you," the demon pointed out.

Wait…what?

"In a deal we made. You did me no favors," Father – was he? – said.

The demon nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, I did. Shame you and the queen couldn't conceive a child on your own. My price for that was a pittance. But now that she's gone, well, I assume that conceiving another heir is out of the question – let alone a dragon slayer," he stated, grinning maliciously.

What the hell had James walked into? Father – if he could still call him that – eyed the demon warily. "Then let's do another deal," he said. "Bring him back. I need my son to do this. I'll give you anything."

"Anything?" the demon asked.

"What do you want?" Father wondered.

James was almost afraid to know.

The demon smiled gleefully. It was almost as if he did not expect to get what he wanted. Well, James sure as hell did not plan on acquiescing to his demands. Not given what he now knew about his own father. Or, adopted father, he supposed. "There's a magic wand I desire. It belongs to a certain fairy godmother, whose patron to your family. And I want to know her whereabouts."

Out of sheer desperation for the kingdom (they were in great need of Midas's gold), Father agreed to the demon's request. "Done. Now tell me – how do I bring my son back to slay the dragon?" he asked.

The demon let out a hollow laugh. In the pit of his stomach, James already knew the answer. "Bring him back? Oh, no, that's out of the question. He's dead. Magic can do much, but not that," he mocked.

"But you just said —" Father protested.

"Nothing about resurrection," the demon countered.

"Then, my kingdom is lost. I'm alone," Father said.

However, the demon did not back down. "Oh, dear. Oh, dearie dearie dear," he murmured. "Did I not tell you, that I could have your son slay the dragon? And am I not a man of my word?"

"I thought you said he was gone forever?" Father insisted.

"Oh, that he is. But his brother…" the demon began.

"His what?" Father – and James – questioned.

"His twin brother. Did I not mention there was another?" he asked.

There was…there was another? He had a brother? Oh, if only James met his brother – he wanted to assume that it was his twin; that was the only way that Midas would be fooled by this charade – prior to his death. James would have had some fun with that knowledge; and certainly would have kept it to himself. Father did not know. It would have made life far more interesting than anything he had been through while he was growing up. Well, if James was lingering around as a spirit, he might as well have checked on this supposed brother of his. James wanted to be sure that this brother of his was up to the challenge of being a prince – and heir to the kingdom.

There wasn't much to do as a spirit, so James followed the demonic creature to a small farm on the outskirts of the kingdom. A young man – his identical twin – was tending to the sheep. A shepherd? Was a shepherd seriously going to become the prince? That was the only answer that made sense. As James watching the scene play out before him, he watched as a middle-aged woman approached his twin. His brother's mother, James supposed. His birth mother, if he thought about it.

"Mother! How was the market?" his twin asked.

"It was…interesting," the woman said.

Interesting. That was not really the best way to describe things. Not as far as James could tell. However, he was but an unseen observer in these proceedings. He had no say in the matter. "Interesting?" his twin asked, eyeing his mother cautiously. "Normally you come back cursing the prices."

The woman waved it off, trying not to make a big deal. James could see right through that, however. "Oh, well, that's still the case. But this time, I had a very interesting talk with the grain merchant."

James could practically see where his twin's mother – his birth mother – was headed with this conversation. It was something that Father planned on doing had he not died. The woman was attempting to give her son (her remaining son, James thought bitterly) a chance at happiness. At least, that's what she thought she was doing. James wasn't so sure that his twin appreciated such a thing.

"Grain? We don't need any grain," his twin insisted.

The woman sighed, looking at her son. "He has a daughter. She's ready for marriage. He thinks the two of you would make a great couple," she explained. James scoffed. He didn't think that it would.

"Mother…" the young man started.

"I know, I know. I hate myself for even bringing it up," she said.

"Let me guess – she has a dowry that will save the farm?" he stated.

"We are running out of options," his mother pleaded.

The young man sighed. He did not appreciate this. "Mother, please. As poor as we are, love is one thing I can afford. I will find a way to save this farm, but I won't do it by marrying for riches. When I marry, I want it to be because I choose to spend the rest of my life with someone I love."

"When are you going to learn? You can't have everything," she warned.

That was very true. James learned that at a young age. Though he was a royal, the chances of him getting everything he ever wanted were slim to none. Duty came first. It always would. And, if that demon was meant to appear – James was sure that he would – his twin (whatever his name was; he wasn't really sure) would have to go through this as well. It was just how things were meant to be.

James wanted to believe that his twin would have a good life masquerading as him, but it looked as if he was more content with the simple way of life. If he agreed to the charade, his twin would have to make a great adjustment to his life. It was a different way of life. It would take its toll on him.

"Or perhaps he can," a voice said.

James stiffened. That was him. That was the demon. Oh, how he longed to get rid of that monster. It was because of him that James never got the chance to know his twin brother. And, now…his twin was being dragged into this as well. It wasn't fair to anyone. Especially to him. It wasn't right.


Author's Note: The next few chapters of this story will focus on James. Chapter three or four will be when Emma makes an appearance.