Sold to the Archbishop of Hell (Black Buter/Kuroshitsuji Fanfic)

The Ice King (OVA Part 1)- In Sickness and In Health

Fairy tails are pieces of fiction born from a fantasy. A memory we twist to make better or worse. A want. A need. A happy or sad ending.

Not all fairy tails are born of happiness, however. Some begin sad and grow happy. Some the opposite.

There are hero's. There are villains. A grey area was not something one would expect from either. Except, there was one. A small safe haven for players of either side. A place where magic flowed strong and made them forget their hate, greed, need for revenge, or even just plain mischief. This village was one of their most sacred places. A visit was allowed any time they liked, but once a year was where the real fun was.

A festival was thrown, in honor of that cooperation. Cinderella could be seen walking down the street with her Step Mother. Captain Hook playing darts with Peter Pan. The Little Mermaid doing tricks in the lake with The Sea Witch. Snow White sharing cherry pie with The Evil Queen. Jafar charming snakes with Aladdin. All was happy here.

Was, being the key term.

Maria, born in this small pocket of happiness, remembered a time when it was happy and carefree. No one hating each other or having to take what they needed. That was, however, before the ice came.

*******

"Maria, wait for me!" a young boy called after her, trying to keep up with his elder sister.

"Hurry up, Alois," she smiled as she stopped and turned to him. "Mother is waiting for these apples from the Queen. You know how she loves them but can only get them once a year! We must not keep her waiting." He caught up with her and she took his hand, going slower this time so he could stay at her pace. She weaved in between the people she admired so much, careful not to run into any of them as she smiled at them.

They all smiled back. It was hard not to smile to the innocent young girl with the hair of raven silk and eyes that put the clearest of seas to shame. She was not completely 'normal', however. The magic had worked its way into her and gave her the ear and tail of a cat. She was still adored, none the less.

"Maria, can I hold the basket of apples?" Alois asked. She turned to the young blonde haired boy with big blue eyes lighter than her own.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" she asked worriedly. "The basket is heavy."

"I can handle it!" Alois smiled enthusiastically. "I promise I will not drop them!"

"Alright," she smiled back. They stopped running and she carefully handed them to him, making sure they were secure in his hands before continuing on, going at a slower pace. Someone accidentally bumped into him without realizing it, causing five apples to spill out of the basket and roll along the streets. They both stopped and watched them go. He looked up, tears brimming in his eyes as he thought he was going to be scolded. She offered him a smile instead. "Do not worry. I will get them. Do you remember the way home?" He nodded. "Good. Take the apples to Mother, now." He continued on. "And do not run."

She looked around the street, finding one apple after the other until only one was left, the rest held in the fold of her dress she was holding like a basket. She became worried when she had difficulty finding it. Her mother was pregnant and it seemed she was craving these apples more and more. She did not want to disappoint her by coming back with even one less.

Her eyes widened in happiness as she spotted it a ways away from her down the street. She ran toward it and reached out for it just as someones foot accidentally kicked it further down. She ran after it, stopping and looking up slowly as it rolled against the heel of a tall boot and stopped.

The tall figure, concealed in an ice blue cloak that skimmed the ground, leaned down and picked up the apple. She stared up at him, clearly a male by his broad shoulders and very flat chest, as he straightened up, looking from the apple to her.