Author's Note: This is AU.
Title: Where Butterflies Never Die
Summary: After the murder of her family, Santana Lopez has never been the same. She stalks the forest of Allai, claiming it as her own after her last sibling was slain. The people of the East know never to trespass onto her property, as all trespassers are killed soon after. However, as the South threatens war on the East, Santana fears for her forest. She is known to be the strongest warrior in all of the East, but not even she can fight an entire army alone.
Princess Brittany S. Pierce is destined to take over the thrown in less than a month. Her parents were assassinated while she was still at a young age, though following her fifteenth birthday, she is to inherit all of the East. Unfortunately, the threat of war lingers in the air as King Noah of the South is convinced that the East rightfully belongs to him, as well as the rest of the world. The princess's army is weak, as so many were killed in their last war against the West. She understands that in order to keep her kingdom safe, she must recruit more people into her army.
Making an extremely risky journey into Allai, Brittany begs Santana for her aid in the war against the South. Reluctantly, Santana agrees, though a series of events sends the two on a journey to the North to beg Queen Quinn and King Finn for their help. Through this journey, the two learn that they are not as different as they have always believed themselves to be.
Rating: M, for violence and language, and later chapters ;)
Pairings: Brittany/Santana mostly, with mentions/hints of Quinn/Finn, Rachel/Noah, and Tina/Mike
"He is dead, Santana."
Those were the first words that she acknowledged from the moment of her father's death. Her brothers had all run off, searching for the murderer that still lurked in the forest. Only her sister had stayed behind, gently covering their father's body with an orange, silk blanket they had stolen the month before. Santana stood paralyzed, unable to think clearly. All she wished to do at the moment was run off, find her father's killer, and get her revenge.
Her sister would never allow it, however. With Santana's extreme anger issues, she would probably destroy an entire city, whether she had found her father's killer before or after. Now all she could do was hope that her brother's did not give the person an easy death. She wished for the murderer to suffer just as her father had. To see their life flashing before their eyes. To realize they had been defeated by us, and not the other way around.
It had been only two weeks later before another attack. Her father's murderer was never found, leaving the siblings that still stood to believe it was that same person who had killed Santana's brother, Alexander. One by one, they all fell, until only Santana stood alone. She had waited for weeks, months, years, but they never came after her.
She was alone, leaving her to claim the forest of Allai as her own. Slowly but surely, she gained the respect of those who already lived in Allai with her, though those of the East only grew to fear her.
Santana did not mind, however. How could she? She was powerful. She was feared. She was everything she oculd hope to be.
"Princess Brittany?" a small voice called. Brittany's head rose slowly from her pillow as she called for whoever it was to enter her room. Her voice was laced with fatigue, coming out raspy as she wished for nothing more than to sleep for just an hour longer.
A girl younger than Brittany walked in, holding a red cloak with black markings on it. Brittany instantly shot upright in bed, her heart already racing. She had heard the tales of Santana Lopez. The cloak matched the exact description of the one that Santana was known to wear when she came out of Allai and into the city.
"This is a replica," the girl said quickly when she noticed Brittany's reaction. "The General wishes for you to wear this. It is the only way you will not be swarmed by followers when you go into the city today. The citizens will think of you only as Santana, and will avoid you at all costs. It is the perfect disguise for you to go into Allai in."
"What?!" Brittany practically shouted. "You wish for me to go into Allai? So that I can get killed?! Are you insane, Carson? Santana will murder me the moment I step foot into her forest."
"Maybe she will. Maybe she will not. There is a fifty-fifity chance, Princess Brittany. You must speak to her, beg for her help. You and I both know that King Noah plans on making an attack on the East. She is our only hope. At least consider the options, Princess."
With that, Carson walked out of the room, leaving the cloak behind. Cautiously, Brittany got out of bed and walked over to the piece of clothing, looking at it suspiciously.
Carson had been right. Santana Lopez was the only hope for the East.