*Sob* I can't believe this is already the last chapter of One Last Fairytale. While it took a long time finishing it, I find it rather hard to express myself whether to rejoice or wept upon this story completion. But anyway, I hope you all will enjoy reading this fiction until the every fibre of it, so let's start off with the final chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Last Fairytale and Hetalia at all.
One Last Fairytale: Once Upon a Time
Alfred stared onto the portrait that hung on the wall, the latest one out of the many that recorded the images of every ruler and their family ever since the kingdom was founded. Arthur and Francis stood side-by-side, wearing the outfit and cloak that kings wore for their coronation, on their heads rested the crowns of kings. Both were regal in their posture and look, showing the authority as the monarch of the kingdom. By their side, stood Alfred and his brother, Matthew who wore their prince crown as they stood by their fathers' side taking the portrait.
How long has it been since those days?
Alfred was so deep into his thoughts that he didn't notice Kiku entering the room. Kiku walked up and stood next to Alfred. When the king did not responded, he reached out his hand to gently nudge to other as to snap him out of his trance. Sky blue eyes met dark brown orbs as they connected.
"Our guests have arrived, are you ready to meet them?" Kiku asked softly.
Alfred carried himself regally as how a king should be. "We should get start now, the quicker the better." He summoned one of the servants and gave his order, "See to it that the high princes and princess were escorted to the court room, we will have a meeting soon." The servant bowed and left to do as what he indicated.
"Alfred-san, your coat is not straight enough." Kiku reprimanded as he walked up to help him adjust his coat to look more presentable. "You're hopeless. Even until now, you still can't dress properly. How are you going to tell your father that?"
"It just got ruffled a bit, nothing much." Alfred shrugged, but he let Kiku helped him do it anyway since he enjoyed such moment. The moment when Kiku brushed his coat just in front of his chest, Alfred took the opportunity to wrap both his arms around the smaller man and enveloped him in a tight embrace. All the moment Kiku could only 'eep' in surprise.
"Caught ya." Alfred smirked teasingly, noting how cute his husband look being vulnerable and blushing. He ran one hand across Kiku's back and teased his exposed neck and ear.
"A-Ah… A-Alfred, sto-stop…" Kiku moaned. "We got work to do, we can't do this now."
"I don't care, I want to be with you." Alfred insisted like a stubborn little child.
"We can do that after the meeting is finished." Kiku said, wriggling himself free from Alfred's arms.
Alfred managed a pout. "Aww, but even when you're not busy with work, you always had yourself full with the kids."
Kiku sighed and lightly punched Alfred on the shoulder. "I thought it is you who want to have kids." He said. "Anyway, you should stop behaving like this, you're a king."
But Alfred is not going to let Kiku go. In one swift movement, he held Kiku's waist and slammed him onto a wall. "I don't care." He said, facing Kiku. "All I want is you and only you." He then slammed his lip onto Kiku's, their tongues engaged in a battle for dominance. He was about to continue with his little game but a servant knocked on the door interrupted them.
"Sir, the preparations are done and our guests were in. Are you going to enter?" Kiku used this as his chance to break himself off from his husband's strong arms. "We should go." He said, dusting his clothes. Alfred sighed and shrugged, he just can't help when it comes to Kiku. "If you say so." He mumbled.
"By the way," Kiku added, "I really enjoy intimate moment with you. It's just that… We got things important to do. But if you wish, maybe we can do it together tonight." Alfred perked up at Kiku's offer and he quickly took it. "Then I will see to it tonight." He grinned mischievously.
Alfred and Kiku entered side-by-side into the court room where nobles from other kingdoms awaits. The meeting soon commenced with monthly report and discussion about crisis and funds of the kingdom, it was just the same as always.
Alfred didn't even remember how long did the meeting go, but he was eager to leave the moment the meeting had finally adjourned. "Thanks for the hard work." Ludwig said giving his shoulder a pat. Alfred acknowledged with a smile and a nod. The royals walked out of the room as they discussed about having a private feasts among the families.
It has been five years since Alfred ascended to the throne. Francis passed away ten years after he was married, and Arthur followed just a year after that. Though saddened with his parents' death, he knew that they were reunited in a place where no one will ever tear them apart and ruin their happy lives again. He knew that he will meet them, and Mattie too in the future, but this is just not the time yet. What remains of his day is to treasure the people he cared and every single minute of living, because that is what people meant a happy life.
"It seems like you manage to get a hold on it. I'm impressed." Ivan teased, Gilbert smirked as he laughed. Alfred's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"I didn't expect you to return." Alfred said.
"Oh, c'mon, we are an awesome pair." Gilbert laughed. "And we can always come and go whenever we want, don't want any of the merry event."
Ludwig sighed and shook his head. "Brother, it's good seeing you again." He said.
It was not the only thing that had changed since his ascension to the throne, many things had changed as well. Most of the previous high rulers and nobles had passed on. High Prince Antonio succumbed two years before Francis, Lovino stayed strong despite losing his lover. He refused to marry, stating his desire to stay loyal to Antonio. Roderich and Vash had passed on too, and now Elizaveta had Liech as her only company as they spent most of their time reminiscing the past. Gilbert and Ivan had their vows exchanged shortly after Antonio's passing, saying that they don't need anything glamorous for their little engagement since they disliked functional events. After that, Gilbert abdicated his position as High Prince of West Kingdom and passed on the throne to his brother, Ludwig who married Feliciano, and both the West Kingdom and Southeast Kingdom were united, just like how High Prince Roman and Germania had always been. And now, Ivan and Gilbert left on an adventure travelling across the world, they were hardly seen being home now. Alfred missed them, but gave them his blessing.
But it doesn't meant that all these years have been filled with sorrows. There were some joys to be remembered in Alfred's heart. Arthur's research on childbearing and lineage survival has been proven true and is now being widely used as a method for royal male couples to have children. Seven years after his marriage, he welcomed his first child into the world, a boy with blonde hair like his and dark orbs like Kiku, they named him Matthew, after his deceased twin brother. And in another three years, they had a beautiful girl called Kireina. Ludwig and Feliciano also went on having a couple of children, making them his cousins. Natalia and Toris had a boy called Alexander and a girl called Anya. It was possibly their most happy moment with them having a family and children to raise.
Has everyone been happy? Alfred could've say, yes. Though not everything went as planned, but everyone managed to get through their sorrowful moment and found happiness in it. It has been a hard time but everyone was happy. He believed that was what his parents wished for him, and they were too, with what they had been through and now and forever and always.
The royal families gathered for a family dinner during the night and spent chatting and entertaining each other for the day, with the children playing aside and Ivan and Gilbert sharing their adventure stories and some reminiscence of the past.
"You seem to enjoy this moment a lot, don't you?" Kiku asked as he took a seat next to Alfred.
"Nothin's better than a family being together." Alfred said. "It's all we have by now."
"Do you miss your family?" Kiku asked knowingly. Years of marriage had made him understood Alfred better and he can even tell what the other was thinking.
Alfred shrugged. "They were what I had in the past. But now all I can do is live on with my new family." He said looking at the noble families enjoying their time chatting with each other.
"We will always be by your side, Alfred." Kiku said. "I know separation can be a rather painful thing, but don't forget that you still got us by your side. There's always more than one person who will be by your side to care for you."
The king managed a smile before planting a kiss on Kiku's cheek. "I won't lose you all again. That's my promise."
"Papa." Matthew chose to call at this moment as he ran up to his parents, Kireina followed closely behind. Alfred instinctively lifted both his children onto his lap. Matthew immediately giggled and began playing with his father like a child wanting attention while Kireina just sat quietly watching their interaction. It is obvious that Matthew took after Alfred's loud behaviour and Kireina has Kiku's mature and quiet aptitude. Kiku did find it interesting that opposite attract.
"There's more to come." Kiku said. Alfred tore his attention away from his son and to find the other children had come to sit by his foot. "Why hello, little ones, what would you like to do today?"
"We wanna hear ya tell us a story." One of Ludwig's child said. "About the story of two best friends." Another said. "No, I wanna hear the story about the adventure of a prince." Alexander cut in.
"Papa, I wanna hear your story about the hero prince." Matthew chose to interject in at the same time. Alfred stifled a small laugh before asking Kireina. "What about you, my little princess, what kind of story do you wish to hear?" The black-haired girl looked up at her father with unfathomable blue eyes before shaking her head, "anything…" she barely said a word even already at age 5.
"I think it will be good if we tell them all the story." Kiku said as he picked Kireina from Alfred's lap.
Alfred beamed a charming smile at his husband. "You're right. It'll be better when we have more stories to share and tell. What didya said, kids?" All the kids clapped in joy as they sat down, eyes focused on him waiting him to deliver his story.
Memories once again flowed in Alfred's mind, reminiscing of the past where his fathers and brother would tell him his favourite stories, which were part of their stories as well. He knew he will never forget them, just like how they will be remembered in history books about their marks on the kingdom. As he looked back into the past, he began telling his story.
"Once Upon a Time…"
~Fin~
AAAAAND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER! Woohoo, second long fiction finally finished, though the ending is kinda bittersweet. I'm surprised that I can actually finished this although it took over two years to have this complete. It is all thanks to you all who read and reviewed that I manage to finish this fanfiction and I hope you all are satisfied with this completed version of story that was once left behind by Kari Kurofai.
And of course, we need to give our special thanks to the original author, Kari Kurofai who came up with this beautiful fanfiction. This is not my original story, I just picked up from where the original author left off and continued according to what she had given me.
And most of all, I hope you all will continue enjoy reading my story. I already had a new story in my mind and I will have this new story posted up when I got the free time to do so. For now, thank you and goodbye for now and see you all in the next fanfic.
Another sidenote to add, Kireina translate to 'beautiful' in Japanese. I just kinda think this name suited Alfred's daughter the best as it reflected Kiku's as well.