It was years later when the story started to pick up again. Our main characters were at the age of teenagers, deeply invested in their new lives. Arthur that of a prince; Alfred that of a slave. Neither of them remember the other, or even want to. Little do they know, fate will push them together yet again.


"Oi! Art!"

"For the last bloody time, my name is Arthur," came the annoyed reply.

"Don't back sass me!" Scott stuck his head out of the doorway to glare at his adopted brother, who was leaning against the wall just outside his door, glaring at him. "I-"

"Saved my life, I know," Arthur rolled his eyes. "You know, I half wish you just left me there to rot."

"Don't wish something like that!" Ian gasped, sticking his own head out of his own doorway.

"It's not like I was in any danger," Arthur rolled his eyes. "You lot keep saying there's nothing special about me. There was no magic in me for the bloody wizard to want."

Ian and Scott shared a glance before Ian disappeared back into his room.

"What the bloody hell did you want, anyway?" Arthur sighed. "I was already coming by to fetch you for lunch."

"Ah, we got this annoyin' letter about keepin' some noble happy," Scott smirked, holding out a piece of paper.

"And you want me to deal with it?" Arthur sighed, snatching the letter.

"What else are ye good for?" Scott laughed.

"Whatever," Arthur rolled his eyes, reading through the letter. "Lord Ivan?" Arthur glanced up at his brother.

"Aye," Scott nodded, smirking. "I don't want te deal with 'im, so you do."

"Why the bloody hell do I have to deal with him?!" Arthur snapped at him.

"He's just creepy," Scott rolled his eyes. "Nothin' te worry about too much."

"Obviously you haven't heard the rumors," Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Jesus!" Ian yelled, stumbling out of his room with soot covering his clothes.

"What happened to you?" Arthur asked.

"Wee fire," Ian chuckled slightly.

"What rumors were ye talking about?" Scott asked Arthur, his serious demeanor putting Arthur on edge.

"What rock do you live under?" Arthur scoffed, turning around swiftly. "If you don't hurry, lunch will get cold."

Scott and Ian glanced at each other as Arthur walked down the hallway.

"He caused the fire, didn't he?" Scott asked, glancing at Ian. He kept his voice quiet, just in case Arthur could hear them.

"You really shouldn't piss him off that much," Ian sighed. "This is the fifth fire this month. We can't keep hiding this from him."

"We have to," Scott muttered. "The wizard hasn't found his apprentice yet. If it possibly could be 'im, we need to keep 'im safe. His magic keeps growing stronger, we can't let the wizard find 'im."

"Stop making him angry," Ian sighed and started down the hallway. Leaving Arthur alone when he was awake was always a bad idea. Something would light on fire or maybe even something would float. Those were the hardest to hide from him…

"What rumor?" Scott asked himself, walking towards the dining hall.

The castle they lived in was grand, beautiful, a perfect fairytale castle. As far as Arthur could remember, he was raised here. However, he didn't know the story Scott would tell, of finding him alone in the woods during the purple moon. He didn't remember that at all… And apparently he was crying? Not possible, not him.

Arthur read through the letter over and over again throughout their lunch, which Scott and Ian stayed surprisingly quiet during. He couldn't believe he was going to be forced to see Lord Ivan, of all people. His brothers forced him to do a lot of the hard work they didn't want to do, just because he was the youngest. And yet, despite all of this behavior, they spoiled him! They would hardly let him do much on his own, especially at night. He wasn't permitted to leave his room after sundown, his room didn't even have windows.

"What rumor?" Scott asked suddenly, when Arthur was almost done eating.

"What does it matter?" Arthur chuckled, shaking his head.

"Hi," Connor, the last brother, walked in, yawning, before he plopped down on an open chair. Immediately, the servants rushed to give him his food.

"Look who's finally awake," Ian laughed.

"What rumor?" Scott demanded, his voice near a shout.

"Bloody hell," Arthur sighed. "It's the rumor that Lord Ivan is the evil wizard. How have you not heard that one?"

"What?" Connor sat upright, seemingly awake now.

"I'll go," Ian said quickly.

"What do you care?" Arthur scoffed. "All of a sudden, you don't want me to do all the hard work for you?"

"You aren't going," Scott stated.

"And why not?" Arthur sighed, shaking his head. "Just a few minutes ago, you wanted me to go. Why the change in thought?"

"I am your elder, you listen to me," Scott narrowed his eyes at him. "You are not to go."

"Make me," Arthur narrowed his eyes at him.

"Damn…" Ian muttered, standing up. It seemed his goblet tipped and his pants were soaked in water. "Spilled."

"I'm not an idiot," Arthur rolled his eyes and sat up, tossing his napkin onto the table. "I know you're hiding something."

Connor stood up suddenly, holding an apple high above his head. "Just checking to see if this is a good apple…"

"I'm going," Arthur stated, leaving the room.

"Well, he's going to suspect something now!" Connor groaned, slouching in his seat.

"Next he'll be moving people," Ian muttered.

"How could I not think of Ivan?" Scott sighed, standing up from the table himself. "Dammit! It seems so obvious!"

"What do we do now?" Ian asked. "We can't let him go and if one of us goes, I'm sure we'll try to take him on to keep Arthur safe."

"We aren't sure if the wizard's Ivan," Connor stated. "It could not be."

"Lord Ivan's heartless servant?" Scott stated. "A part of the legend of the wizard is that he struck a bargain with some kids a few years back. One of them sacrificed his own soul to save the other. I don't think it's some coincidence that Arthur doesn't remember a thing before I found him or why he was cryin' so hard."

"Then he really could be the apprentice," Connor muttered.

"Which means we need to make sure he doesn't go," Ian stated.

"We'll tell him," Scott stated. "Tell him who he really is. If he's gonna be as powerful as the wizard, then he could fight against him."

"Princes!" a servant came rushing into the room. "Sir Arthur has left."


Arthur huffed, the breath of air making the lock of hair in front of his eyes move out of the way. In front of him laid the castle of Lord Ivan. It was just as creepy as the owner. Arthur had only met Lord Ivan once, at a dinner. It was one of his first as a prince and so his brothers were watching over him like hawks, over protecting him as always.

"Arthur?" at the mention of his name, Arthur turned to look at the familiar voice to his right. Surprisingly, another carriage had made its arrival. "I did not expect your frères to allow you to come." Arthur rolled his eyes. Prince Francis stood proudly in front of his own carriage, his long, soft blonde locks floating in the wind and his sky blue eyes dancing with a smile.

"They didn't," Arthur stated. Francis blinked and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"

"I received a letter, too," Francis smirked. "This is all simply for the sake of relations."

"I do hope not in the kind you're thinking," Arthur sighed, straightening out his clothes.

"I have heard some rumors about his manservant," Francis laughed and Arthur rolled his eyes. "He is quite the eye-catcher."

"Let's just get this over with," Arthur sighed and started walking forward.

"Why did you come here against your brothers' wishes?" Francis asked, following him close behind.

"They are too over protective," Arthur sighed and walked up to the door. "I'm trying to prove to them that I am not a child."

"They are not protective over you because they think-" Francis was cut off by the door being opened, revealing a young man in a simple suit. He had his head bowed to them, but Arthur had a feeling that there was something familiar about him.

"My master welcomes you," the man stood up, revealing dull blue eyes that seemed to have the potential for more and dull wheat hair. This man was definitely familiar…but how? Arthur tried to focus on him, but he turned around and started walking.

"Merci," Francis muttered and walked ahead of Arthur. Arthur blinked a few times before coming back to reality and quickly following them inside. The doors closed loudly behind them and suddenly Arthur felt a little uneasy.

"This is your first time out without one of your brothers with you, non?" Francis asked Arthur quietly.

"Yes," Arthur sighed, looking at the ground. "It can't be that big of a deal. I am practically a full grown man now, after all."

"There is a reason they care so much for you," Francis said seriously.

"You've heard the rumors, correct?" Arthur asked.

"Oui," Francis nodded solemnly. "You shouldn't have come."

"Why not?" Arthur asked.

"Privet!" a surprisingly jolly voice chimed, forcing the attention of the two princes to the front of the room. The servant made a motion with his hand, making them stop, and then walked ahead, to stand next to Lord Ivan. He had a bright smile on his face, though it had an air that put Arthur on edge. He seemed slightly familiar; the silver-like quality of his hair, the deep purple of his eyes… "Welcome!"

Lord Ivan stood up and walked up to them, the servant following him not a foot behind. He held out a hand to Francis, who simply took it, shaking it happily.

"Prince Francis?" Ivan asked.

"Oui," Francis nodded and Ivan turned his attention to Arthur.

"And which Kirkland do I have the pleasure to meet?" Ivan asked happily.

"Arthur Kirkland," Arthur replied easily and took Ivan's outstretched hand. Right after touching him, Arthur felt a massive wave of nausea and weakness overwhelm him. He felt his knees begin to buckle, but Ivan released his hand, making him feel normal once again.

"Pleasure to meet you," Ivan smiled, giving Arthur a strange look that made a very strange pit appear in his stomach. "Fredka will show you your rooms."

"Yes, sir," Fredka nodded once and started walking to one of the doors to the right.

Francis motioned for Arthur to go first and Arthur shakily nodded. He almost looked back at Ivan, but quickly thought better of it and stared ahead at the other mystery man; Fredka. He seemed so familiar…but not, at the same time.

"Prince Francis," Fredka came to a door and swiftly opened it.

"Merci, Fredka," Francis stated and gave Arthur one of his "looks" before disappearing inside the door. He gave that look all the time to Arthur whenever he thought that it would be a good time for Arthur to try to…find a princess, shall we say. Francis was the only person that knew Arthur's deepest secret; the fact that he didn't like women, but rather men.

Arthur sent him a glare before continuing to follow Fredka down the hallway. It was awkward and quiet, of course, but Arthur didn't quite mind it. He kept staring at him, despite his better judgment not to. There was just something about this man, he felt like he should remember something like him… Perhaps…he was from when Scott found him in the forest.

"Leave," Fredka's voice brought Arthur back to reality.

"E-Excuse me?" Arthur asked. Fredka stopped in front of a door, looking down at the ground.

"Get out of here," Fredka stated, looking back up at him. His face held no emotion, nor did his voice. But Arthur still felt a need to follow his advice and run away.

"I cannot do that," Arthur shook his head. "I have a duty-"

"Fine," Fredka said, opening the door, and then departing down the hallway.

"Who are you…?" Arthur muttered to himself before walking into the room and closing the door.

Maybe he should have let his brothers come instead…


Prologue 2! So they meet again... And Francis gets introduced! And if any of you are curious, Scott, Ian, and Connor are Scottland, Wales, and Ireland. I love thinking of them as good brothers rather than the horrible douche bags some people make them. In this story, they just made sure he didn't feel special, that there was nothing too major about him because they want to hide him from the wizard. Because they're cool like that.

Anywho, please review! It's totally freaking awesome if you do, dudes!