Disclaimer: I do not own the Phantom of the Opera...or Shrek...
Ok, so this is my story for a-partofthenarrative's tumblr "Once Upon Another Time Project" for more fairy-tale inspired AUs! I'm a Believer came on the radio last night and inspiration struck for this Shrek AU! While Erik is not an ogre and there aren't any talking animals, I do hope you guys still enjoy it! hehe This is the prologue so it's fairly short, but important!
Also, the awesome cover art is courtesy of Stamina-Overlook!
No idea how long this will be, maybe 10 chapters? 15 at most?
We'll see...hahaha
Happy fairytale reading and don't forget to check out all the other awesome fairy tale AU stories coming out!
It was long, long ago, in a land not too far away, where two kingdoms laid waiting…watching and praying.
There was to be the birth of not just one child, but two, a fulfillment of a promise that both kingdoms knew. For one kingdom another prince, as the prophets foretold, the other a princess, who was a mere three hours old. Their parents had grown desperate and neither were thriving, it seemed as though everything around them was dying. Wars in distant lands had brought famine and plague, every oracle could only see futures quite vague. It was with this dreadful possibility so near that both Kings and Queens had started to fear. What was to become of their kingdoms and people they loved? What would happen if they weren't to plan a step above? With this threatening feeling hanging o'er their heads, the two kingdoms hatched plans to be wed. There was no doubt that the future seemed truly forlorn, however both Queens had children yet to be born. It was against olden prophecy and wisdom well known, but times were troubled and could the future really be foretold? Times ahead seemed grim and each kingdom was warned, but still a betrothal seemed the best plan going forward. On their own, neither land would stand chance, but together? Well, together, perhaps, they might could change present circumstance.
When the sun was high above (with not a cloud in the sky) two voices rang out their first infant cries. It was then that each child was wrapped in a quilt and brought by their fathers to an altar they had built. With no one but each other and footmen who waited nearby in a carriage, each promised their own newborn child's hand in marriage. One kingdom had power, weapons, and riches; the other had music, magic, and witches. Standing alone, each had their own strengths, but both sides knew that united they could grow to great lengths. It was on this promise that each understood, twenty years from that day, a marriage would end the babes' childhoods. Their kingdoms would join and bring peace to the land, this they agreed upon with a shake of their hands.
Six years passed steadfastly until one dreadful night, when a knock sounded loud from a weary traveler passing by. The moon was quite high and the hour quite late, so late that no guards even stood at the gate. The King had been jolted awake from his slumber when from outside his window the knocking echoed like thunder. He dressed in his robe and flew down the stairs, anxious and confused as to why the stranger was there. He opened the door to reveal a hunched-over man whose cloak was so dirty the white appeared tan. Most likely a gypsy from the traveling camp, a clan, the King knew, to be filled with cruel tramps. With narrowed eyes the King examined the shaking man across the threshold, his heart not yet deciding to mellow.
"My dear, fellow man," the wary King started, "what brings you to my home while it stands utterly unguarded?"
With the bow of his head and an old, crinkly smile, the traveler lifted his eyes towards the squire.
"My majesty, forgive me for I know the night grows cold, but I came to ask for a favor that unto me was foretold."
Knowing the power behind inevitable visions, the King nodded his head, deciding to listen.
"My daughter…my daughter has fallen quite ill," the traveller explained, his shaking now stilled. "I have sought every remedy through every near land, but each one seems to dismiss me with callous demand."
"I see and I hear you." The King crossed his arms. "My beloved Queen met her end due to illness' cunning charms."
What the King said was as true as the promise of weeds in a garden, the whole tragic deal had left his poor widower's heart hardened. It was with this hard heart that he stood there that night, knowing deep in his core that something wasn't quite right.
"What is it you seek?" he asked despite his grim notion. "Have you come to request aid in a potion?"
The old man shook his head and his words became jumbled. "N-n-no my kind King, I stand before you humbled. I have been told of the music that has no earthly twin…music, that if I am not mistaken, comes from your enchanted violin."
At this the King froze, eyes opened wide and took a breath before trying to reply. "How do you know of the violin's power? Just how many kingdoms have you already scoured?"
"I have searched far and wide, but the prophet was clear: no medicine can heal except that which she can hear. Please, I beg you, from one father to another," the poor man cried with a shudder.
The King held his tongue— how could he agree? A violin with such a power was indeed a rarity. True it was his, passed down from his father, and his father before him and each one before the other. Its music was pure and could play every melody, but the knowledge of how was shroud in secrecy. Only the worthy could play it with ease, and the only knowing judge was the violin itself, you see. It was locked away tight with bolt and with hook, it was locked away to protect it from criminal and crook.
"Please might I have it to heal my poor daughter," the beggar asked once again, but the King did not stutter.
"I cannot permit you to use the violin, for it is old and brittle and strings worn thin."
"But, my King! I ask for no shelter nor water, only to borrow the violin on behalf of my daughter."
The King pursed his lips and shook his his head no. The violin had to be earned, surely this man knew so?
The older man snarled and gritted his teeth. "You are a greedy man, selfish and mean."
The King was taken aback, quite befuddled. How quickly this man turned from kind to disgruntled. Before the King could defend his decision, the man before him rose tall and dropped his cloak with skilled precision. The wrinkly old gypsy had transformed much to the King's surprise and in his place stood a man with fire in his eyes. Black smoke erupted from the ground and shrouded him like a hovering robe from all around.
"I have watched from the distance as your kingdom grew weak, hoping that you still had sympathy for the meek."
The King cowered and fell to his knees, shielding himself as he begged and wailed 'please'.
"I have witnessed enough!" the god-like figured cried. "You, pitiful King, shall be the first to die…your reign shall cease and your people forgotten, your wealth will deplete and all magic turn rotten…however, because someone need tell of the tale, locked away by herself, your daughter I'll spare. A curse to live with all of her life until a love who is worthy makes her a wife. Only then shall my punishment have run its course, only then will your kingdom come back with full force."
"No! Please, she is all I have left and she is promised to another," the King yelled out as he wept.
"Ah…but that wasn't enough when I came to you?" the creature threw back, his pride hurt too. "Your palaces will crumble, your kingdom shall fall. Justice will be had, once and for all!"
With no further words, like the wind he vanished and took the still sleeping child whom he had banished. With her he took the gold violin, before starting the fire that began from within. The flames devoured all in its grasp, and on the other side of the distant land, a young prince had awoken with a fevered gasp. Meanwhile, deep in the thick of the forrest under the cover of branches, the shadowy creature brought the small princess to hide, without any scratches. He left her there, high above in a tower, replacing her memory with one that would overpower. None except one lone lady lived near, one whose trust the creature held dear. She promised to protect her from any who might come to lay claim, with this knowledge the creature left just as quick as he came.
The thickets grew dense and the princess was forgot, turning into a nothing but a mere legend that peasants and kings alike told their lot. The kingdom that once stood tall did not even rust, instead it returned to the earth, dust to dust.
And so it was here that the legend was born…of a lost princess whose kingdom nobody mourned…
To be continued...
P.S. before anyone asks, the rest of the story will not be in verse! haha! Thanks for reading, would love to hear what you guys think of it! The next update will be longer (and sooner rather than later hopefully!)