BEFORE THE STORY BEGINS: AN AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys! So, as you may of noticed, this is a Monday, not a Friday. I was planning to only update on Fridays, but as I was writing I realized that what I was originally planning to make one chapter is actually much more palatable as two. So, to keep me from just sitting around, waiting to post this on Friday, I decided to just update today. Enjoy!

Also, I've noticed that the letter "a" in Tony's speech have been disappearing. This was because I've been using the "at" symbol used in e-mail for them. However, I have since stopped, and edited the past chapters so you can see when he uses the letter "a".

Another thing: you may of noticed that this story now has a cover. I finally actually drew something! Yay! Anyway, I posted a transparent version on the Fantalia blog, in case you want to check out the design or something.

Anyway, onto the story!

Once Upon A Time…

Alfred's life TRULY began.

It was as if everything was born anew. Suddenly, the sky was bluer, the clouds brighter and puffier. The grass was greener, and the leaves swayed with life. As he descended from Arthur's hill, oh, Arthur's lonely, lonely hill, he could feel the sun seep into his skin and the crisp air coarse through his body. He could see his destiny now. He would rescue the prince, he would battle the monster and he would return home victorious, living a long life basked in the glory of his success. Most of all, he would prove Arthur wrong. How could that stupid old wizard whose shut himself out from the world for YEARS know remotely anything about the world? Or Alfred himself? Sauntering up to the perfect hero, dictating what would happen if he seized his destiny. Acting like he knew more about Alfred than Alfred himself did! Stupid, stupid old man! Alfred knew Alfred MUCH more than Arthur did, and Alfred knew that Alfred was a HERO. No old has-been with talent but a disliking of people and sunshine would get to Alfred. No way indeed. He would find the prince, slay the monster, and save him. He would return as the rightful best hero in the entire world. He would show Arthur that-

"h3Y, a1Fr3D" Tony interrupted his thoughts "i Ju$T r3a1iZ3D, W3 n3V3R a$k3D aRTh3r wH3R3 tH3 pR1NC3 wA$."

"No, no we didn't!" Alfred realized that he had no idea where he was going. Or who the prince was. Or, you know, who kidnapped him.

Oh shit.

"wHaT ar3 w3 G0nnA d0 n0W?"

Oh SHIT.

"Umm," Alfred glanced around "I don't really know."

Great. Way to go, Arthur. Way to FUCK UP my story! I can't believe this. Arthur was supposed to provide all the exposition! But no, he had to let stupid COMMON SENSE and CARING HUMAN NATURE into the picture! 'Oh, Alfred shouldn't go on some quest, he's way too young.' 'Oh, destiny isn't real, it's just a lie we tell kids.' 'Oh, you're gonna get killed, just like every other 'hero' before you.' WHO CARES, ARTHUR! IT'S JUST A STORY! BESIDES, ALFRED HAS GOT ME TO LOOK AFTER HIM! IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT HIS WELL-BEING AND AM ONLY INTERESTED IN GETTING POPULAR BY TELLING A FRESH NEW VERSION OF THE CLASSIC FAIRYTALE! I'LL KEEP HIM SAFE! SAFER THAN YOU DID WITH-

Okay. You know what? It doesn't matter. I'm not gonna just let some flaw ruin my entire story. No, I'll just… improvise.

Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Just hang on. Don't go anywhere, reader!

Alfred frowned. He had this odd feeling inside… sure; he had to make choices in his life before. But this felt… different. Like there were no strict choices: there was nothing planned for him, no destiny. Was this how Arthur felt all the time?

Hold on. Got it. I just need…

What should he do? What could he do? Great. His first five minutes of freedom, and Alfred was stumped on what to do.

Fairies! Come here! I need you back in the story!

He felt like there should be a distinct route. Something… was wrong.

FAIRIES! C'mon! Back in the story!

But the fairies did not come, making our narrator even more frustrated.

Ugh, where are they? It's not like they have anything better to do. COME ON, FAIRIES! MOVE IT!

Alfred was just thinking of turning back when someone came to his rescue-

(Here's a hint. It wasn't the fairies.)

Goddamn it!

A whisper came from the trees behind him. "Follow me." It said. Alfred turned around, stepping back in panic. "Who said that?" he questioned.

Yes, WHO DID SAY THAT? I didn't plan for another character to enter the story so soon! The fairies were supposed to come! Oh, why won't anyone listen to me?

"Shush." The voice commanded. "I'll introduce myself… later. Just come with me." Alfred squinted, finally making out a dark cloaked figure hiding in the tree branches. He wondered how this shadowy form got up there.

But Alfred was hesitant. "How can I trust you?"

There was a long pause. "Just… please… follow me." The voice quivered. Alfred gave Tony a sideways glance. Tony did the magical-sea-serpent-inside-an-even-more-magical-silver-bubble equivalent of a shrug.

Alfred! Alfred! Listen to me! Don't trust whoever this guy is! Don't! Under any circumstances! He's not a part of my story!

But Alfred would not, no, could not, listen. Instead, he gave the shadowed figure a slight nod. Although our hero could not see it, the figure smiled. It leaped down from its shelter in the branches, making its way through the forest. Alfred tentatively followed. Tony floated a good twenty feet behind him, checking their trail in case anyone would dare to follow.

For the entire trek through the dense woodland, the shadow did not speak. In fact, it didn't even look back. Alfred was surprised at this. He thought that perhaps the figure would want to get to know who it was leading through the forest. After all, it did seem like it wanted Alfred to follow it pretty badly. So why all the mystery? After about five minutes walking in silence, Alfred decided to be the first to break the ice and ask the questions.

"So… what's your name?"

No reply. Alfred frowned.

"I, ah, said, what's your name?" Still no reply. Alfred decided to change subjects. Perhaps the figure didn't have a name, and therefore couldn't reply to his question. Yeah. That made perfect sense.

"Where do you live?" Alfred tried again. No answer. Was this figure purposely ignoring him?

"Why did you want me to follow you?" No response. Alfred was beginning to feel a bit agitated. So this odd shadow guy just pops out of nowhere, orders him to follow him, but doesn't answer any of his questions? Fine, Alfred thought. He won't answer me? Well, I'll just keep asking questions!

I have no idea what Alfred's logic is. He seems to think that annoying the hell out of someone will get them to speak. Which, giving him credit, probably will. But it could also end up with him getting punched in the face. Don't use this tactic at home, reader.

"Hey, shadow-man thing. What's your favorite color?"

"Do you like people?"

"If I had a sword on me, would you freak out?"

"How old are you?"

"Do you hang around forests often?"

"Do you enjoy nature?"

"Is it your profession to not talk?"

"Are you, like, setting a record or something?"

"Do you always wear that cloak?"

"Are you a hero?"

"Are you a prince?"

"Do you need help with something?"

"Are you a sorcerer?"

"Are you a ghost?"

The figure swung around on that question. Through the opening in its cloak, Alfred could see the horrified expression on its face. Its –no, his, he was clearly male- crystalline blue eyes shone through the darkness, like tiny shards of a clear sky, wide with shock. His pale face, with stubble at the chin, seemed to conflict with the sun. Some strands of his hair could be seen, a glossy blond color. He stared back at Alfred with the saddest expression our hero had ever seen. For a few seconds, time seemed to stop.

Who is this man! He's not a part of the story! What's going on?

"I-I'm sorry." Alfred stammered, unsure of what he was apologizing for.

"That's okay. Just- be quiet and follow me." The man replied. When he opened his mouth Alfred could see quite clearly his teeth- sharp, sharper then human teeth could ever be. His canines looked the most lethal- they were not mere teeth, but fangs. Alfred's heart started to pound. No. All the signs pointed to what he was thinking: the pale skin, the fangs, the love of heights, the black cloak. He had heard the legends, the things Arthur used to tell him, the cautionary tales to stay away. But here he was, face to face with a…

Vampire! That man is a vampire! No no no! This cannot do! No vampires in my story! This is a fairy tale! Alfred, turn around right now!

Alfred was dumbstruck. Was he really going to follow a vampire? He would be insane not to turn around. He gave Tony a helpless glance. Tony pretended not to notice.

Tony! Tell Alfred to turn around!

Tony did nothing.

Tony! TONY!

For some reason, Alfred was not going to turn around. He… he felt like he had to follow this strange vampire, as if it was his destiny. And there was… something else. Something that told him to trust the oddly cloaked figure, as if he… knew him from long ago.

Is Alfred INSANE! WHAT IS HE DOING! Ugh, this story is going to the dogs! Reader, if you would like to put this fairytale gone wrong down, I won't blame you. Personally, I would really like to stop telling it.

But I won't, because I can fix this. Yeah… I can totally fix this! No worries! I just have to…

Oh, who am I kidding? It's all gone to hell.

The next fifteen minutes were spent walking in silence. Alfred didn't want to anger the vampire, so he shut up. The cloaked figure quickened his pace. Our hero had to jog to keep up. In his head, a storm was brewing.

'Alfred !' the sensible side of Alfred commanded. 'Turn back immediately! Remember what Arthur told you? VAMPIRES DON'T HAVE SOULS. He will EAT YOU ALIVE.'

'Then why hasn't he yet?' the reckless side of Alfred questioned. 'I mean, there's not a soul in sight! If he wanted to eat me, he might as well!'

'I bet he's waiting to get to his pack, so they could all FEAST on your CARCASS.' The sensible side of Alfred retaliated.

'That's werewolves, not vampires! Besides, I just have… I just have a feeling that he means the best for me.'

'So you're going to just go with this stupid feeling?'

'I… yeah. Yeah, I am.'

Finally, the cloaked figure stopped. Alfred glanced around. They weren't anywhere. No houses or any signs of life were in sight. There was only a clearing in the center of the woodland, but even that was overgrown and wild. Alfred nervously glanced at the vampire. He seemed focus, and alert, fatigue from their walk not taking any toil on his senses. Why would he bring Alfred here?

'To eat you.' The sensible side of Alfred concluded. Our hero's breathing began to speed up. His palms were moist and clammy.

Alfred, get out of there!

But he did not run. No matter how foolish it was, he trusted this odd man, for some reason or another.

Why do I even try to add sense to this?

The vampire turned to him. Alfred caught his breath. This was it. In five minutes, he could be dead. Alfred wondered what happens when you die. He knew that some people can get a sorcerer to brew a potion for them that will turn them into a ghost. Surely Arthur would do that for our hero. But what if Alfred didn't become a ghost? He supposed it would be almost like sleeping, but you would never wake up. Just an endless darkness, as the living cast you underneath the ground to perish. Arthur believed in heaven- a place where you become an angel after you die. But he also believed in hell, a place where you would undergo endless suffering for the rest of eternity. Obviously, Alfred would go to heaven, if it even existed. But what about hell? Was the vampire in front of him a creature of the place? Could he be sent onto Earth to lead heroes like Alfred into the forest, making them trust him, and then killing them? Our hero shivered.

"Do you even know my name?" The vampire broke Alfred's thoughts. Alfred shook his head. "It's Francis. I suppose you don't-" Francis glanced to the side, catching himself mid-sentence. "I'm taking you to see a friend. He can help new heroes like you."

"Why?"

Francis looked back at our hero. "What?"

"Why… why are you helping me?" At this, Francis stared down at the earth.

"I believe that that question would be better for all of us to go unanswered."