Once upon a time, there was a land where everyone lived happily ever after
But the Happily Ever Afters have since gone away, leaving nothing but darkness, corruption and a world without a hero of the story
Lovino stepped over the pebbled path that led through the woods. He pulled his cloak tighter around himself as the chilled morning air brushed over his skin, sending goosebumps up his pale arms and legs. The red material draped over him, making him feel safer as he walked. Over and over, his grandfather had warned him about walking alone through the woods, something about wolves, but he wasn't afraid! Or so he told himself. He just liked proving the old man wrong when he showed up to the small house, oh so conveniently placed in the middle of nowhere.
A shiver ran up his spine as he glanced around at the impossible tall trees. "There's no such things as big bad wolves…" he mumbled softly under his breath, brushing the feeling off on the cool morning air. He tugged the red hood a bit further over his head. It wasn't much, but it still let him feel just a bit more secure.
As time went on and the golden yellow sun sank further over the top of the green trees, Lovino felt eyes on him. He almost always did coming through this part of the woods. "There's no such thing!" he reminded himself, though he was less sure now than before that his words were even true to begin with.
Lovino found himself pausing moments later, a man just up ahead was resting on a log, leaned against a tree. Lovino took a step closer, a feeling of excitement and fear running down his back and through his stomach. The man looked to be just taller than with thick curls of dark hair tucked under a newsboy hat. His skin was dusted with a rough tan and he seemed a bit rugged with his sharp jaw and broad shoulders. Lovino jumped when the man moved, his green eyes trained on Lovino with an intent look.
Lovino continued on his way, forcing himself to look away. He wanted to swing the basket of food into the stranger's face when he heard the crunching of his footsteps behind him, but had to force himself not too. The terrified young man clung to said basket with a vice grip as he picked up his pace.
"Why are you running so fast?" the man behind him said, grabbing his shoulder.
Lovino whipped around and slammed his hand into the other's cheek as hard as he could. The man stood there, confused for a moment. "You dropped this." he turned his head to face Lovino again, a smile spread across his face. He knew he'd been a bit scary, so he didn't hold it against Lovino for being frightened.
In his hands, he held a coin bag that had fallen from Lovino's pocket as he hurried away from the stranger.
Lovino snatched it up out of his hand, "Thank you." he mumbled, his cheeks red from pure embarrassment. How could he possibly assume this guy would hurt him? His damned grandfather was always putting those thoughts in his head! "Sorry… for hitting you." he said, tucking the little bag back into his pocket.
"It's fine, I've been hit by bigger and brattier." the man beamed, his voice light and full of an energy he couldn't quite explain, but made him feel a bit at ease with him. "What are you doing out in these woods anyway? I've never seen you here before and it's not always safe out here. I mean, aren't you afraid of wolves?"
Lovino's cheeks puffed up and he immediately went to give this man the same speech he gave his grandfather, "I'm not afraid of wolves!" he snapped, angrily, "I know how to handle them any day." he boasted with a nod. Of course this was all a lie and he knew it.
The man chuckled softly, "Is that so? That's wonderful~ Wolves are very dangerous creatures."
"I'm not afraid!"
"I know, I know, I heard you." he smiled.
The cloaked man huffed, "What are you doing out here then? Aren't you afraid of wolves?"
A glint of joy and something Lovino didn't quite recognize lit up in the other man's eyes, "Not anymore, now that you're here~" he cooed softly, making Lovino's cheeks light up with flattery now. Oh this man knew the way to his heart! Well, at least the way to flirt properly.
"Ha ha." Lovino scoffed, "Very funny. Really, aren't you scared you're going to get eaten?"
"Not really." the other answered truthfully, "Like you, I know how to handle them and not get attacked." he said with confidence.
Lovino raised his brow, but said nothing on the matter. Maybe he could talk the other into escorting him the rest of the way. If he knew how to ward off wolves, then Lovino wanted him to travel with him the rest of the way. "Somehow, I don't believe you." Lovino said with a hum. Maybe he could trick the other.
"Why wouldn't you believe me?" he asked.
"Because I like proof. I don't think you can handle yourself against a wolf." he said, matter of factly.
The other man blinked and pouted slightly, "I can too! Should I travel with you to prove it?"
Lovino grinned. Bingo. "I don't know. I suppose that might work if we ran into a wolf." he looked at his nails pretending to be uninterested, a smirk playing at his lips
"Great, then let's get going~" the man grinned.
He nodded and began walking towards his grandfather's house. However, once again, he paused, "I don't even know your name…"
"Me? I'm Antonio. And you?"
"Lovino."
Antonio smiled, "It's nice to meet you, Lovino." he moved to start walking again, but a whooshing noise, followed by a loud clack echoed around them.
They both looked to the tree and saw an axe embedded in the bark. Antonio swallowed hard and looked up the brush covered hill where a tall, well built man glared down at them. He was covered head to toe in a long, tattered brown coat. On his head was a dark rimmed hat, and a scarf covered most of his face, his eyes poking out from over top, but only to be covered by some sort of mask, or goggles.
"I don't suppose you know how to handle murderers…?" Lovino asked, his voice trembling.
"Not at all. Run!" he turned and pulled Lovino off the path and down the hill.
Lovino yelped in fear as he tried to keep up with the other. He was fast, almost too fast for Lovino. Which Lovino found odd because he was a quick runner. He shook the thought and turned his head back to see the man was chasing them, axe back in his hand.
Whipping back around to face the direction he was running, he prayed they made it out of this alive. His heart pounded in his chest and sweat beaded down his face and back, but he kept running for dear life. The young man didn't dare stop in fear his life would be taken from him far too early.
He should have kept walking. Or never left his own home in the first place! His grandfather had been right all along. Lovino stumbled, tripping over his own feet. He landed against Antonio's back, sending them both to the ground and tumbling down the hill. Pain exploded all over Lovino's body every time he hit the ground and the world spun around him. Finally, they came to a stop at the bottom of the hill.
Dazed, Antonio looked up and around. The man chasing them was no where in sight. He didn't want to risk it though, especially when he didn't recognize anything. He helped Lovino back up to his feet and fixed his own hat before leading Lovino off down through the trees, trying to find a good place to hide.
Lovino looked around and frowned as they passed through a rusted gate and crossed into an overgrown pumpkin patch. There were big and small, almost white to a dark orange in color and spread out over the area. There was a large house in almost complete ruin. "We can hide in there…"
"Too obvious." Antonio said, turning to lead Lovino through more pumpkin, but towards what appeared to be a long path through the trees. He accepted it and walked with him through the winding path. It ended at a gazebo. The two sighed in relief and sat down on the seats to breathe and relax for a moment.
"What was that about…?" Lovino asked, looking up at Antonio. "Did you know him?"
"No." Antonio muttered, "I didn't know him, but I have a few guesses as to why he was coming after us." he said, fixing his hat, "But it doesn't matter. What we need to do is get to a village and find help before he gets-" he paused and stared at something.
Lovino looked over, "Oh my…" he whispered. Getting up, he walked over to a silken pillow sitting on the bench that circled the gazebo. Resting on top of it was a beautiful glass slipper. It was absolutely gorgeous despite the dust and dirt that clung to it from years and years of sitting there. Lovino gently ran his fingers over it.
"Is that a shoe… made of glass?" Antonio asked, walking over as well.
"Yeah, it is…" he said picking it up. He dusted it off and used the edge of his cloak to clean it up as best as he possibly could, just trying to make it shine like it once did. "It's beautiful…"
Antonio gingerly took it out of Lovino's hands, "I know what this is... They said it was lost over 100 years ago."
"What is it?"
"The lost slipper of the great Queen Cinderella. You know the story right?" Lovino shook his head. "Well, before she was a lovely Queen, she was a maid in her own home. But with a gift from her Fairy Godmother," He stood, turning to Lovino "She went to a ball, where she met her Prince. But she had to run away at Midnight, only leaving her Glass Slipper behind. So, the Prince searched for days and days, looking through the whole kingdom seeing who would fit the shoes." He leaned on one knee, "They say they would only fit those with pure hearts. Let's see if that's true."
Before Lovino could protest, his left shoe was removed. Antonio gently slipped the shoe on his foot. "Perfect fit." Antonio said with a smirk.
"How the hell-" Before Lovino could finish the shoe lit up in gold, lighting the ground. Words wrote themselves on the stone of floor.
A treasure, a journey, a certain happy end,
For the good, the kind, to those whose hearts they lend.
One clue to another and this one the start.
Find the tallest stalk, think with your heart.
Find it way up high
With the Giants in the sky.
"A Treasure?" Antonio said reading it over. "I've heard of this... The great Royal treasure. Said to have gold and magical objects tucked away for the next great hero. People have been searching for years."
"How do you know all this stuff?" Lovino asked looking at the slipper on his foot. It kind of looked nice.
"I like history." he said to which Lovino laughed. "What?" Antonio asked with a confused look.
"I dunno. I just... I think it's kinda funny. You don't seem like a typical history buff. You seem more like..."
"Like?"
" Wild... Like a wolf." Lovino said before he laughed. "Or maybe a small dog, one who barks and growls while it shakes in fear."
"Says the little boy afraid of the big bad wolf." Antonio whispered leaning closer to him, his eyes seeming to glow. "But that's unimportant. What is important, is that this is a clue leading to treasure Lovino. I do not think you are quite wrapping your mind around that. Riches, gold. Money."
Lovino's eyes widened. He was so turned around from being chased by a murderer and having a handsome man slip an ancient shoe on his foot that he wasn't quite able to process the discovery of an ancient magical treasure quest.
"Oh." He paused reading the gold words. "Oh! Oh my god." Lovino's mind went straight to him finally using the money to leave his village and live a life without his family bearing down on him. Where he could do what he liked. "We have to find it."
"Why should I take you with me?" Antonio asked with a playful grin. "I already know what this clue means, so why do I need little brat like you? I'll admit you're cute but why should I take you with me?"
"Because...!" Lovino looked down at the slipper. "The shoe fit me. It's obviously meant for me! What if the other clues need me to activate them?"
"Good point. So, together then?" He held out his hand to Lovino. "We'll find the treasure and split it."
"Right."
"Hope you don't mind sharing with a wolf." Antonio said with a grin, his teeth sharp and his eyes glowing yellow.
"No, I- What?"