Heart Themed Canvas [UsUk]

Heartless [Ch.1]

A fairytale will continue until it's had its happily ever after.

Once upon a time. That's how these things usually start, isn't it? Fairytales. Those magical things that always end with happiness and a kiss. The prince will always save the damsel in distress, the evil queen will always die, everyone who helped them gets a happy ending. Any danger is easily removed, anything that could stop them is easily taken out. You know there is no danger because good will always win. True love will always prevail.

This one is different. Most fairytales can get it right on the first try, and if not the second one. Some may have a few kinks put in here and there that will stop them from getting what they want and so they may have to try once more. This particular one has a kink that can be rather hard to overcome if not handled right the first time.

It begins with two children, Alfred and Arthur. Not the usual fairytale, no princess to save, no prince to do the saving. They start as paupers, as friends. They know not what dangers will come to them, they don't even know anything beyond the fact that they're friends. But eventually, a deal is struck, and their hearts are the ones to pay.

"Come on, Arthur! Don't be such a scaredy cat!" Alfred teased, running happily through the forest, climbing over rocks and roots. He was a brave young boy, bright blue eyes that could light up any room, wheat-colored hair that shone even in the moonlight, and a dazzling smile that could put any star to shame.

"If you would slow down!" Arthur puffed, trying in vain to catch up to the hyperactive child in front of him. He was a bit different, with a magic of his own. His dark green eyes easily matched the darkened forest around them and his bright stock of blonde hair made him easy to find in the darkness. "I can hardly catch up with you!"

"Then maybe you should move faster," Alfred laughed, looking back as he stopped next to a tree to catch his breath that he had just noticed he lost.

"Why are we even out here?" Arthur asked once he had caught up to Alfred and sat against the trunk of the tree. "I thought your mother told us not to go into the forest at night." Arthur looked around the forest anxiously, half expecting some monster to come out at any second.

"Nothing bad's gonna happen," Alfred scoffed. "It's the same as it is during the day."

"I don't think so," Arthur rubbed his arms to try to get them warm. It was a little cold tonight... "It's a lot colder."

"Yeah, well, you can deal with that," Alfred laughed. "Come on! I wanna go climb a tree or something!"

"How can you climb when you can't even see anything?" Arthur sighed, looking up at the moon. It was full, which did put him on edge slightly, but it was an odd color. "Alfred."

"It's actually really easy to climb a tree," Alfred said triumphantly, easily ignoring Arthur. "I mean, getting up to the branches in the first place is kind of hard, but after that it only gets easier!"

"Alfred."

"You just feel around for the branch and then you can keep climbing!"

"Alfred!"

"And then once you get to the top, getting back down is as easy as jumping!" Alfred whirled around to face the tree, tracing his fingers along the trunk. "It's really fun. I don't know why you don't try it."

"Alfred."

"What?" Alfred whined, looking back to Arthur, barely able to see him in the lighting.

"The moon is purple," Arthur stayed where he was, staring at the full, purple moon in front of them. Alfred shakily looked up at it. They knew what a purple moon meant, everyone did. It was practically a sign of death to anyone who was caught under it. It was a sign the wizard was coming.