The raven circled the kingdom, looking for strange anomaly from above. He knew he only had a few hours to work before the sun went down. It was a little after noon now. Suddenly, colours caught his eye. Sprouting out of the tree came intervals of red sparks, then blue sparks, then red again, then blue again. It was most definitely not natural and highly suspicious. The raven decided to investigate. He descended and circled to find that the sparks were shooting out of the chimney of a small cottage in a clearing in the forest.

Inside the structure, two enemies faced each other, shielding themselves with various pieces of furniture. In the middle of the room was a set of clothing, a red brown suit excellently tailored. In a flash of blue sparks it changed to an elegant light blue ball gown with off the shoulder sleeves. Immediately a flash of red sparks changed it back. "HE'S A BOY, YOU BLOODY WANKER, LET HIM WEAR SOME PANTS!"

"NOT ONLY IS THAT COLOUR COMPLETELY WRONG FOR HIM, BUT HIS LITHE FIGURE DESERVES A MORE GENTLE LOOK!"

The small, dark haired man sighed from his work in the kitchen. The cake he was making had been dyed from stray sparks from the battle taking place only one room away so that it was a blue-purple with red-purple trimming. All in all though he was quite proud of it. Three tiers, it was simple and edible.

Suddenly, he paused, ears perked up. Light singing reached him through the walls and the yelling. Flashing a bright white light from his wand so as to catch the other two's attention, he then motioned to his ears and then to the front door, indicating the arrival of their charge. The two nodded and ignored the suit to finish cleaning up at a silent, rapid pace. As Arthur dragged Kiku away from the cake Francis took the opportunity to change the suit back to the dress before they hid. A second after they hid, Arthur hissed, "God dammit! Who the fucking hell left the mop running?" The implement was still dancing about the room. Francis ended its short life with a wave of his wand, letting the worker, so full of promise and charisma, fall to the floor, lifeless.

Seconds later, the front door swung open, "Ve! Hey guys! I'm home!" He closed the lower half of the door and stepped farther into the room. He saw the dress and the cake and gasped with delight.

"Surprise!" The three jumped him.

"Happy birthday!" Francis kissed his cheeks.

Feliciano laughed delightedly, "Thank you so much! Today has just been the most wonderful day~," his caramel eyes glittered with happiness, "Just wait 'til you meet him!"

The three froze. "Him?" Arthur asked.

"Feli," Kiku reasoned, "You weren't supposed to speak to strangers."

Feliciano gave a mischievous smile, "Oh, but he wasn't a stranger, ve. We've met before."

"When?"

"Once upon a dream~" He picked up the Japanese man as he began twirling him around the room, humming a song.

"Oh dear," Kiku mumbled, "He's in love."

"With a man, none the less!" Arthur fumed, crossing his arms.

Francis stepped in and placed a gentle hand on the oblivious Italian's shoulder. Feli turned quickly to look at him. "Ma chère petite fleur," he spoke softly and his eyes were sad, "You cannot be with him."

Feli let Kiku fall away, "Ve, but why not? I am sixteen, after all."

Francis bit his lip but didn't speak. It was Arthur who finally explained, "Because, love, you're already betrothed."

Caramel eyes widened and tears sprung to their corners, "You mean… to be married?"

The Englishman couldn't even bring himself to say a sarcastic remark, "Yes, to be married. To a princess to be exact."

"Ve, that's impossible. That would make me…."

"A prince?" Kiku helped, "You are. You, the prince of the Italian kingdom, have been betrothed to the princess of Germania since you were born."

Feliciano shook his head wordlessly. Francis, too, cried for the poor man, "I'm sorry mon amour, but you must never see that young man again."

Feliciano pulled from the embrace and covered his face with his hands, now fully weeping at one of life's most painful losses, "No! It's not fair!" He ran to his room and slammed the door behind him.

Arthur valiantly tried to wipe away tears but Francis and Kiku just let them fall. "And we thought he'd be so happy…"

In their despair they never noticed the raven at the half-closed door.

~X~

As per their agreement with the King sixteen years ago, the three faeries, now back in their original forms, bundled up the mourning prince and escorted him to the castle. The setting sun cast a fiery orange-red glow around the palace walls as they entered from the side. Down several passageways and up two flights of stairs, the group eventually came to the waiting room where Feliciano was to stay until he met the princess after the sun had set. Inside were a large bed, tall windows, a fireplace, and a vanity set. Gently Francis set the unnaturally quiet Italian down as the other two got to work closing the curtains. Then the three gathered by him. Arthur spoke softly, "One final gift, we may give to thee," wands swirled up in unison, "A crown to wear in grace and beauty." He caught the shimmering headpiece and set it upon auburn hair.

Feliciano stared at himself alone in the mirror, now red brown suit fitting him perfectly, a crown fit for a real prince, and a princess waiting for him. Once again he felt his heart shatter into thousands of pieces as he dissolved into muted weeping.

The three looked at each other and Arthur was the first to move, stroking Feli's hair before leaving. Kiku too touched the young prince before exiting. Francis hesitated, hand never really leaving him. All he wanted to do was to pull him into an embrace and tell him that he could be with whoever the fuck he wanted.

But things didn't work like that. Instead, Francis sighed and gave him a quick squeeze before making to leave. But Feli tugged his sleeve and whispered a quiet request into his ear. Francis smiled softly and complied. With a sweep of his wand the suit turned back into the light blue gown. As Francis left Feliciano looked at himself in the mirror before setting down his head onto the vanity to sob for the loss of what has been, what could have been and what will happen. He mourned for the dissolution of a dream and of a love that could have been. And he wept for an alien future he knows will hold nothing for him. Not anymore.

Ma chère petite fleur-My dear little flower

Short chapter is short.

Ok. I do not endorse 16 year old marriages; that's ridiculous. It was how the movie went so I rolled with it.

Heh, I made Feli wear a dress. XD